Tag Archives: Faith

Your backpack

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Your backpack

How much does your backpack weigh?
Imagine having a backpack on your back and you start loading things in it.

Your backpack

Depending on what you are doing and for how long; dictates what you are going to load. Be it backpacking, hiking, walking, school, work, picnic, and so forth. Each task requires different things and amounts, and that can lead to a very heavy backpack.

The same holds true for your everyday life.
Imagine putting on a backpack and loading it with daily things. From your personal and professional life, family life, friends, neighbors, community, schools, activities, events, church, health, chores and trying to work in some time for rest.

You have to load your backpack light as if you were going on a week-long backpacking trip in the mountains. The exception is; load your backpack with only what you need.

Your daily life is the same. Pack for what you need. It is ok to not be able to get everything done and have to shift things to the next day; or the weekend. If you load your backpack full; it will be heavy, hard to carry and tiring.

Understanding that not everything is a priority, and that it is perfectly fine to let things that are not urgent wait.

Check your backpack in the morning and empty out the unnecessary stuff. Release those burdens to the Lord, and let him guide your way. Never overload yourself, never stop, and never give up. Carry only the burdens that you need.

Psalms 68:19 NIV
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

Needs

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What are your needs?

Needs

Most of the time; our needs and our wants are two separate items. There are times that our needs and wants are the same; but for the most part they generally are not.

We have desires for things that enhance our lives; but they are not essentials to survive in our lives. Our minds seemingly convince us that we have to have them to live.

We desire a new TV, a swimming pool, a fishing rod, an outdoor kitchen, and so on; but all those things are not the items for our existance.

The realistic needs are; shelter, food, water, clothes, some sort of transportation to get around, a job; to bring in money to pay for it all and survive. But all of these needs can be basic, minimal, and far from luxurious. Just enough to get by on.

Then there are mental needs; such as friendships, companionships, spiritual, support, and love. These are the needs that keep up the sanity, help avoid depression, and bring happiness and comfort.

There are so many needs and desires that we want in our life. The most important part; is to understand what is a need and what is a desire.

Having faith and trusting that all your needs will be met; is a blessing from above.

2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Life is like a box of chocolates

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As Forrest Gump said; Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what your going to get.

Life is like a box of Chocolates

Those words ring very true in life. You never know what you will get from one day to the next.

Everyday seemingly starts the same, and may seem like any other day; but in the blink of an eye; it can all change just that fast. A bad day can turn out amazing and and amazing day can turn dark fast.

So; eat up and savor every moment that life has to offer.

Opportunity

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Opportunity is a beautiful thing when taken.

Opportunity

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,

Fires

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Fires are a very dangerous element.

Fires

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.

Scars

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Scars are a part of everyone’s life.

Scars

So many different things happen in peoples lives that make it difficult for them to get past and let go of. The list is long; from personal, to professional, hurt, from others, to the loss of loved ones and everything in between.

It takes a lot of work, prayer, counseling for some, meditation, self-help, and determination to overcome it all. The healing process can be long as well.

In the mix of it all; there are blessings to be found from the growth, learning, and the scars. The release of the past is liberating, and the freshness of a new start is rejuvenating.

Let go of the past; let the Lord heal your heart, count your blessings, and enjoy the start of your new journey in life.

Psalms 25:17 NIV
Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.

Environment

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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

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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.

Consequence

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Consequence is a result or effect that happens with every choice, action, decision, or condition.

Consequence

Not all consequences are bad; in fact, many are good; depending on the result and type of actions committed.

Keep your actions pure with healthy thoughts and good choices; so that you will have better results and favorable consequences.

Healthy Mind – Healthy Life.
Positive Mind – Positive Life.

Flaws

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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.