Tag Archives: learning

Needs

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.

Opportunity

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

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.

The Race

The race; the epic battle of the tortoise and the hare. The timeless fable of an overconfident hare that was sure it could beat the slow moving tortoise.

The Race

While the story seems to be about the race; it is a metaphor about life.

Life is like a race; realistically, a marathon. It has a beginning and an end, with a lot of distance in between. So many things can happen along the way; obstacles can pop up, staying focused, pushing yourself when you hit the wall, and pacing yourself to finish.

Rushing to the end and trying to have, and accomplish everything in life is not always the important part of the race. Slow and steady, enjoying the run and scenery along the way, will bring far more pleasures to life.

It is not important how you start the race; but how you run the race and finish it that matters. Enjoy the race of life and all that it offers.

Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is a powerful driving force filled with excitement. It is an energy that flows through the body and mind to accomplish one’s desires.

Enthusiasm

Life without enthusiasm can lead to unpleasant results and thoughts of failure.

Power your life and journey with positive enthusiasm and feel the energy grow.

Be the One

Be the one that helps others look forward to tomorrow.

The one that gives hope; the one that brings smiles; the one that fills others with love.

Be the one that gives others encouragement to help other people.

Be the one that helps change lives.
Be the one that wants to make a difference.

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.

Focus

Focus

Focus! How many times have you heard that in your life?

Focus

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.

Restoration

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.

The Mentor

The Mentor

Being a mentor is a gift for both the mentor and the student. They are a teacher, guidance counselor, coach, motivational person, and a guide. It takes understanding, patience, a caring and loving attitude, and a desire to understand the student’s strengths and weaknesses. 

Learning their abilities or lack thereof, their personalities, capabilities, and the person as a whole, understanding that each person is different from anyone else and may need to learn by various means.

Then working with them, guiding, teaching, offering emotional support, advising, and providing wisdom that will mold and shape them to become the best person they can be on their journey in life.

Being a mentor to someone is an extraordinary blessing that takes desire, a willing attitude, a loving heart, dedication, and commitment.

Bless the mentors that helped change so many lives in the world and in so many ways.