As you travel along your journey, keep your eyes focused on the new beginings. Glance back only enough to remember where you came from, but not enough to turn around and go back.
~ Charlie Walker
New Beginnings
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Cross-Stitch of Life
Cross-stitch is a beautiful piece of work when completed.
The hours spent pulling different colors of thread through a fabric, in X shaped stitches to create a scene, patterns, phrases, flowers, people, and so many other things are a skilled piece of artwork. The beauty of the finished product is stunning for all to behold.
The hidden backside of it, though, is a complete mess. Thread going from one spot to another, in a gridded pattern, using different stiching patterens at times, that ends up looking like a bowl of spaghetti. A complete disaster that is often hidden and unseen when completed, and so different than what the finished piece is seen by others.
People are much like a cross-stitch piece. We see the beauty and outward appearance of a seemingly happy and wonderful human being. What we mostly do not see is the mess and turmoil deep inside, that is hidden from the world.
The distress of everyday life that causes chaos deep within. The smile and the persona that hides all of the inward battles and is projected in a beautiful smile, a kind action or word.
However; there is the cleaner version of cross-stitch. The version that took more time and work to make the front a work of art and the back cleaned up and neat.
People are exactly like that, and go through that same transformation when they work on their inner self. A cleaned up and better projected inner version that is amazing for themselves and for the world to see.
All it takes is a little work, dedication, faith, belief, effort, and a willingness to make ourselves beautiful inside and out, leaving a masterpiece for all to see.
Be the cross-stitch master piece in life.
1 Peter 3:4 NIV
Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Weakness
Weakness is a trait that everyone has in some form or fashion. It covers different facets of our lives.
It may be in the form of a physical lack of strength, good health, firmness, vigor, or feebleness.
It may be a lack of effort, energy, enthusiasm, or a feeling of an inadequate or defective quality in a person’s character.
It might be a self-indulgent liking or special fondness of something or an object of special desire; something very difficult to resist, like chocolates, candy, soft drinks, tv, hobbies, etc.
Then there are those weaknesses of addictions, habits, drinking, gambling, smoking, self-loathing, and so forth.
No weakness is greater than another. They are all as hard as the next and everyone has their own struggles with them.
How we handle them, seek help for them, and work on getting through and past them that matters. Prayer, counseling, the ear of a friend, self-help, and even groups can help.
Never consider a weakness as a failure; it is a part of life that we face, and from our weaknesses come our strengths, and our best qualities arise for all to see.
Your weakness is your super power.
Isaiah 40:29 NIV
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Practice
Practice is used in everything in life.
It is said that practice makes perfect.
Though it may or may not make things perfect, it does make things and us far better in so many ways.
Practice is not just reserved for sports, athletics, musical instruments, singing, and so on. Practicing having a good mental attitude, being polite, helping others, praising all, respecting people, encouragement, self-improvement, and the list goes on.
Practice being the best that you can possibly be, doing the best in everything you do, and treating others the best that you can is the best practice that you could ever do.
Practice makes us as perfect as we possibly can be; if we are only willing to do it.
Romans 12:13 NIV
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Focus
Focus
Focus! How many times have you heard that in your life?
It is such a simple term, something that seems so easy to do, but can be lost in an instant. We start fine, our mind trained on what we need to do, then poof, just like that we are thinking of something else.
We have that “Squirrel Effect”. We can’t decide which way to go and we find ourselves stuck in the middle of the road with oncoming traffic. Our minds drift to other things and we lose sight of what we are doing. We think we have it; we call it multitasking or too many tabs open. But we keep loading things onto our plates, filling them to the brim, burying what we were working on, and shifting our focus all over the place and to other things. Before we know it, we have lost track of the original thought pattern and what we were focused on, scrambling to get back to what we needed to get done.
Keeping your focus takes work, determination, and a mindset that is void of detractions. Putting on the blinders to block out all things around, saying no to oncoming things, or setting them aside for later. It takes a lot of effort, willpower, and a desire to finish a task at hand before taking on another. Like a set of binoculars, when it becomes out of focus, everything blurs together, making it hard to see.
Remind yourself to focus on what is at hand when other things fill your mind. Do not let distractions, people, events, work, and other things take away from what you are trying to get done. Prioritize what needs to come first and work on it, then move to the next when completed. Take a step back, relax, take a deep breath, pray, remove the confusion, stress, and anguish created by a lack of focus, and turn it into a positive outlook and accomplishment.
Focus on your focus. Remain steadfast and make room for the peace that is rewarded at the end.
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Being a Survivor
Being a survivor is far more than meets the eye.
It is a major event in peoples lives. For some, it is surviving tragic events, cancer, other illnesses, or the loss of loved ones. For others, it is surviving struggles with physical, mental and emotional impairments. Then there are those that are surviving daily challenges in life such as unemployment, loss of income or barely making it, having a place to live, taking care of and feeding a family, staying healthy and surviving what the world throws at them.
Surviving is deep-seated in each person that takes a lot of effort, willpower, fear, desire, strength that you did not know that you even had, and a willingness to face and overcome something that is far bigger than you.
Being a survivor is much more than winning; it is the beginning of a new journey in your life. It changes your life forever and opens your mind, heart and spirit to the blessings in life that we take for granted everyday and a side of yourself that you may not even realize existed. It humbles you, teaches you lessons, and makes you stronger than you have ever been. Own it! You deserve it!
Being a survivor is one of the greatest blessings and gifts that is given to us.
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Restoration
Restoration is the act of returning something to its former or like new condition.
Many people restore antiques, furniture, vehicles, homes, and the list goes on. Some do it for a living, and some do it for the simple pleasure, the experience of it, and that rewarding feeling of seeing something that is old, neglected, or broken and returning it to its original or former condition.
We humans are just like all of those other things. Our bodies change, our health, and, most importantly, our mindset. Some will have surgery done for the cosmetic parts and some will have surgery to replace broken parts such as hips or knees, but the mental part is the hardest. Counselors, Phycologists, and others can help in the process, but our own mindset, faith and determination are the answer.
Restoring our minds is an essential need for a healthy life. Removing negative thoughts, actions, anger, bitterness and the negative mindset is essential. Replacing it with positive thoughts, filling it with love, compassion, forgiveness and happiness is what is needed to cleanse the mind.
Cleanse the mind daily, multiple times and as long as needed. Take time to release the pressures of work, events, and the stresses of the day to rejuvenate and restore it to the beautiful mind that it is.
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Be The Sticky Note
Be the sticky note of life. Sticky notes are wonderful for keeping up with things, reminders, taking notes, and various other uses.
The best use of them is leaving little notes to friends, family, loved ones, co-workers, and strangers. Little love notes, words of encouragement, positive thoughts, bible verses, drawings like a smiley face, a kiss, something silly, or anything to brighten one’s day.
Leaving a sticky note in places, on the refrigerator, bathroom mirror, lunchboxes, backpacks, etc. is a great way to show someone that you care and miss them, or in places that strangers may find them so that it may bring joy to someones life.
Most do not walk around with a sticky note on their person, but being the sticky note adds a whole new level and is very personable.
Everything that you would write down, you can convey in person, by voice, with a smile, sign language and by acts of kindness, along with a gentle soothing word that can change the mindset and attitude of a person and make their day a happy one.
Be the sticky note and change a life and yours today.
Romans 12:10 NIV
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
You are Amazing
You are amazing, is a phrase everyone needs to hear, know and believe.
It should be engraved in our brains and not forgotten. We have a tendency to forget this in the midst of the daily chaos of the world. You can start to lose a bit of our strength and self-worth that lets doubt and fear creep into our minds.
When this happens, remember all the things that you have gone through and troubles that arose; think about how far you have come and the lessons learned.
Think about each time you faced a valley and the battles that you won in the middle of them. Think about the fears, the anxieties, the uncertainties, the joy, the peace, the release and the rewards of surviving and overcoming each and everyone.
It is at that moment that you realize just how amazing you are. Treasure it and keep it at the fore front of your mind.
Remind others just how amazing they are all the time and why they are.
Three little words can make a difference and change a person’s life and yours forever.
Psalms 139:14 NIV
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
The Extra Mile
Going that extra mile is a cliché that so many use as a term rather than giving the phrase the impact it deserves. It is a simple term, yet is very complex in it’s variety of meanings.
Going the extra mile is going above and beyond, having a desire to give more than is expected; reaching out and helping people, doing things without being asked or expected, caring enough to dig deeper within one’s self to do more, without self-grattitude or motives.
It is the willingness to go the extra mile for another person or people with a caring heart and loving attitude.
Always go that extra mile for yourself and for others, because the blessings and the joy that it brings, is worth every step of the way.
Matthew 5:41 NIV
If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
Journey-of-Inspirations 