When someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does He give them the opportunity to be patient?
If they prayed for courage, do you think God gave them courage? Or do you think He gives them the opportunity to be courageous?
If they prayed for the family to be closer, do you think he gives them warm fuzzy feelings? Or does God give them the opportunity to love one another.
The best gifts given in life are the opportunities that we have to explore and learn on our own. Be thankful for the ability given to us to learn daily and cherish those the blessings forever.
Have you taken your opportunities lately?
Proverbs 3:13 NIV Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
They can consume a building, a house or a forest, and other things fast. All they need are the three elements; fuel, oxygen and heat in the right amount of mixture; and is is going. Remove one element and it is out.
Most fires can be contained and put out in a timely fashion, and then there are those; like a forest fire; that can roar out of control, destroying everything in its path.
Just like those fires ; people have fires in their personal lives that need controlling and put out. Some are small and can be extinguished in no time; then there are those that burn out of control, seemingly consuming us.
Recognizing the elements that create these little fires in your life; can help control some of them; by putting them out before they ever get started. Having a plan in your life on how to deal with certain things that create these fires will help.
Learning and growing from those fires makes us stronger, wiser and more prepared for future fires. The lessons learned along the way; are tomorrows gifts and blessings.
Be a firefighter and learn to put out the fires in your life; reap the peace and the blessings along the way.
Think about everything; the good, the bad, the pitfalls, valleys, and the mountain tops. The accomplishments and the failures, the dead ends, and the clear paths along your journey.
Take a moment and reflect on your life, and think about how it has led you to where you are right now. The prayers answered and the ones not answered the way you wanted; the lessons learned along the way and the growth you experienced from it all.
Everything happens for a reason. There is a plan for your life and all things come together when the time is right.
Count your blessings for it all, and be thankful for every step along the way.
All of that is what made your journey so unique and you so very special.
The environment that you surround yourself in, effects your attitude.
Environment
Changing your environment can, and will change your attitude. Don’t let conditions, things, people, or circumstances bring you down. Making a change, will change your whole life.
Stay positive, make changes, and lead a healthier and happier life.
Doors come in all sizes, shapes, and forms. Some are massive and heavy, small and light, made of wood, metal, glass, etc. and with locks; that you can open and close at will.
Doors
Then there are those doors that are invisible and you can’t see them; but they are there. Some of them will open and some stay locked forever.
These are the doors that require faith. The ones that you can’t physically open; the ones that you can’t always understand why they remain closed; the ones that seemingly force you to take a different path and door.
Not all doors are meant for us; or are good for the well being of our lives. There are hidden traps, disasters, and unknown events that cause havoc upon us.
Then there are some that are seemingly great, but are not meant for us right then; because it is not time for that door to open; or a better door lies ahead.
Understanding this and having the patience to wait is hard, and will take every ounce of your strength to get through. It may take, days, weeks, months, and even years for one to open; but the benefits of waiting are worth the reward that waits upon you.
Be thankful for the blessings of closed doors, detours, and roadblocks. They protect you from paths and places that are not meant for you, your family or your friends.
Lean not on your own understanding, but on your faith.
Revelation 3:8 NIV I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Flaws What we think is a flaw, sometimes is what makes someone or something so very special.
Flaws
Flaws show up in many ways. Some are visual; like a crack, blemish, a mark, a chip, a knothole in wood, or a distortion in a pattern. Some are invisible that we only think we can see; then some are not flaws at all; but are something very beautiful that appears uniquely different.
At first glance we look and see something that we think is hideous, unsightly, or unworthy.
We tend to focus on the imperfections and flaws so much; that we miss the actual beauty that the flaw gives to the masterpiece itself.
Humans do the same thing with their lives. They focus on the imperfections and flaws that they see. They begin to see things that they think are flaws; extra wrinkles, love handles, gray hair, droops and sags, and a variety of other things that bring on anxieties and self-doubt.
No matter how much they fight against it and try to ignore the flaws, self-doubt creeps in; causing anxiety and distress. The battle to once again seek perfection, creates hurt, anguish, conjures blame, denial and resentment; that robs them of the joy and the actual beauty inside and out.
Our idea of perfection is not the same as the ideas of others and God’s; that we tend to ignore and not listen to.
Instead; we should realize the beauty in all the flaws and imperfections that we think we see. Knowing that we were created by an incredible, awe-inspiring Creator just as we were meant to be. Each and everyone, made similar, but very uniquely in our own ways, that creates the value and self-worth that is very special and very priceless.
Flaws are never bad; they are a blessing and a thing of beauty in the creation of all things.
Embrace your flaws; show the world and yourself how special you really are.
Psalms 139:14 NIV I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Balancing your daily life can be quite the task. With work, family, chores, children, school, hobbies, church, errands, and other outside distractions; days, weeks, and even months can become hard.
Balance your life
Prioritizing and finding the time to fit it all in can become extremely stressful: especially if you are doing it alone. Like a juggler; you can only have so many balls in the air; before you begin to drop some.
Understanding that it is only possible to fit so many things into one day and that some things must wait is the key. Removing things that are not essential; is perfectly fine and does not make you a failure.
Being humble is ok; and asking for help from friends or family can save your sanity, your health and your family.
Find that balance for a healthier, happier and more stress-free life.
Psalms 68:19 NIV Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Don’t let it consume you or define you. Rise above it; turn it around; and move forward. A good attitude and determination will bring you through all things.
Every day is a new day and a fresh start to your life. Live it the best you can and enjoy each moment of it. Life is too precious not to.
Journey-of-Inspirations 