No motivation to work?

Years ago, I hated the family business and felt imposed upon to do what I never wanted to do. I was resentful and at times, uncooperative. Failure in my own career goals didn't make things any easier. Still as time passed, I tried to look for some advantages for being where I was and to be thankful for what I didn't have to put up with as some do on their regular jobs.

So, if you're lacking motivation to go to work or just plain hate your job, consider the following:

1. Remind yourself that your current employment is temporary. Think about the reason(s) for being there.


2. Your purpose at that job is to work. Forget about your co-workers' habits and issues. Skip majoring in minors. You never know who may be watching your performance. Other than God, that is, because He sees, hears, and knows everything we do, say, and think. What we sow, we reap.


3. Your faithfulness at where you are now may take you places you never dreamed of. But you could miss out if you were to quit now.


4. If you have a relationship with God, you should perform on the job as though you're doing it for Him, and not your boss. Then He'll reward you in ways you might not expect. That's what He's done with me, and told me about His future plans for my life. So I know the best for me is yet to come.

This is not about religion, but a relationship. If you let Him guide you, He'll provide you the energy, motivation, wisdom and understanding needed to fulfill your goals according to His will.

A relationship with God starts by asking Jesus Christ to come into your heart, and that He would forgive you of all your sins.

Thank Him for dying for you, and that you believe that He rose from the dead. Tell Him that you'll live for Him.

Then talk to God everyday, follow His Life Manual daily from the Bible, beginning with St. John from an easy-reading version.

Make friends at a local Bible-teaching church.

Getting over being too Shy

I used to be in an emotional "box" to avoid ridicule, personal attack, or embarassment. But now I know who I am, and have just as much right to an opinion as the next person. I can choose to refrain from saying things that cause harm or lead to arguments, or make good conversation that can help.

It took getting to know myself better, and being more careful of how I think before speaking. Sometimes, what a person says influences how he or she feels. What you think or say of yourself, you become. So now I listen more closely before deciding on whether I should say anything. If there's something I can contribute, I'll add to the conversation. If I share similar interests or experiences, I may mention them to help break the ice. Or get the point across that I disagree.

Nowhere: A town of complacency & rejected opportunity

I've found that there are two major groups of people when it comes to progress: producers and consumers. Producers are aggressive and seek to change the status quo. They're risk-takers who prepare themselves and aren't hindered by obstacles. At the other end, there are those who have potential and the opportunity, but don't want to do anything to move forward. Some consumers are whiners who wish for more and criticize the people who just get things done.



The reason why certain people don't try to excel is that they like their comfort zone, predictable settings, and freedom from challenges. They may be fearful of potential failure at the next level, or loss of friends. They may hate to learn something new or assume more responsibility. Threat of confrontations, mistakes, different personalities, and other issues are difficult for some passive people to handle.


As I get older, I'm learning to be bold enough to take risks. I've decided that when I make a mistake, to learn from it and move on. My goal is to fulfill my God-given purpose, not make excuses.

To whom much is given, much is required. In other words, great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!

Why Suicide?

I'm amazed at the numerous online postings people make about considering suicide. It proves that we're not designed to be self-sufficient. There's only so much we can take. If you're reading this and believe you've reached the end of your rope, think about this:

We all have alot to live for. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not talking about religion, but a relationship: God created us to be like Him in character, to flourish, to live in abundance, for His pleasure. This is enough of a reason to live.

If everyone abandoned you, God would still take care of you if you put Him first. This relationship starts by trusting, confessing Jesus Christ with your mouth, and believing in your heart that He rose from the dead. Then you'll be saved from wrong living and eternal destruction. He made you, gave you talents, skills, and abilities you probably haven't discovered yet. They are all meant for you to use for God. If you keep Him first in your heart, He'll draw closer and show you how to live, and guide you in the right path.

If you didn't know, suicide is still murder. Unrepented murderers don't go to heaven when they die. Those who lived in disobedience to God spend eternity in hell, where there's no relief from suffering or torment. Don't fall for the idea that when you die, that's the end of existence. Unlike lower animals, our souls live on.

If you want a fresh start to go in a better direction, it takes only a little faith that God, the only One who really knows you, will help you. But you must believe He will. He helped me when I was miserable, and He still does. I'm not that tormented, insecure, crybaby, introverted, and frustrated person I used to be.

Let God do a new thing in you and pray the following aloud:
"Dear Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive me of my sin. Wash me and cleanse me. Set me free. Jesus, thank You that You died for me. I believe that You are risen from the dead and that You’re coming back again for me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord for saving me. I’m forgiven and I’m on my way to Heaven because I have Jesus in my heart. Amen."

If you meant what you just prayed, Congratulations, and welcome to the family of God! Be sure to tell someone you've accepted Jesus Christ into your life.

Keep the relationship going by
o Talking to God everyday about everything. Spend time alone with Him, ask for His help, in the name of Jesus Christ
o Reading, meditating, and applying His Word daily from the Bible to your life. Start with St. John and I John from the Message or Amplified Bible version.
o Making friends at a local Bible-teaching, Holy Spirit-led church, where you can be encouraged in your walk of faith
o Telling others about Jesus Christ.

Being Cranky & Moody: Why let it make your day?

Isn't it strange how it's generally much easier to be bad than good, mad than glad, sad than happy, or moody than bubbly? The problem is, we don't like the results later. Most of us wouldn't think of eating filth, but we find it convenient to watch, speak, listen to, and/or behave like it.

But there's hope when it comes to getting a grip on moodiness before it seizes you:
1. Take a break by listening to calming, slow music
2. Look at beautiful, uplifting scenery.
3. Consider that someone else is worse off than you; count your blessings
4. Remember that everything in life, good and bad, is temporary.
5. Be aware that God knows every situation, thought, word, and act. He also owns everything and can fix anything. Having a relationship (not religion!), with Him through Jesus Christ, leads to wisdom, understanding, joy, peace, creativity, and alot more. If you don't have this relationship, pray aloud to invite Jesus Christ to come into your heart, and believe that He rose from the dead. Leave your way of thinking and go His way. Then He'll help you deal with your problems, so you focus on what's really important.

School Days Challenges

Like many kids, I ran into classmates who made it clear that they wanted a confrontation. Elementary, junior high, senior high- it didn't matter. Human nature is the same no matter where you go. Being as soft and passive as I was, I often did little or nothing in response. Other times, I relied on adults to defend me.

Whether it was an offer of a french fry that I didn't know had fallen on the floor, to name-calling, to intimidating looks and sarcastic comments due to jealousy, I had my share of irritants. Yet, the one thing I'd learned as I grew older, is that life is a two-way street for many, if not most people. That is, despite the ugly side, acts of kindness, respect, and thoughtfulness do exist. Sometimes I've been shown favor when I least expected it, without my having worn makeup, special clothing or hairstyle, or said a word.

So, if you're a kid or know one who's having it rough at school or elsewhere, consider this:

• Try going to places where you know the troublemaker(s) won't likely be. Examples are a library, museum, or someplace else that's educational. Fools don't typically stay where wisdom is found. If you're at school, choose a different class time or lunch period, if possible. Avoid being alone.


• When the bully insults you, look him or her straight in the eye, resist the comments with the truth, and walk away. Only an idiot will keep talking by himself. Don't get close enough to be touched, but resist if necessary.


• If it's possible, have someone videotape any confrontations and report them to the principal or some other authority. Truthfully explain what's been going on.


• Don't get revenge or stoop to the troublemaker's level, or you'll look and sound as foolish as he or she is. Chances are that the bully has some unresolved issues and is looking for a scapegoat.


• Do something kind. I know it's contrary to human nature, but if your enemy has any conscience, your good acts may make him feel ashamed for his behavior. It may take time for the effects to occur, so you may have to repeat your good deeds several times.


• Find something fun to do as a distraction. Otherwise, you may let these problems interfere with your studies and relationships.


• Talk to God about all your problems. He is a very present help in the time of trouble. If you mean business with Him, He'll settle the issue. Then you need to live for Him as your best Friend, by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
  

Helpful hints for loners...

If you were to ask me how to be your own best friend, I'd suggest:

• Letting go of bad habits and adopt good ones.



• Going after the healthy things you enjoy.



• Listening to encouraging, inspiring, and motivated people, so their conversation will rub off on you.



• Staying away from angry, gossiping, arrogant, and immoral people. Their ways will lead you in the wrong direction.



• Taking classes in something that will help you increase your potential. An unused mind is a wasted one.

But I'd also say it's healthy to have others in your life besides yourself. So if you want to make friends, be friendly. There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Is Home the same since school started?

Anxiety can make a student feel miserable. School activities, pressures to perform well, homework load, home life, etc. can affect feelings, not just at home, but anywhere.

There are different ways to cope with school anxiety. Examples: doing some household chores, getting involved in an outside recreational activity to help someone. An idle mind is the devil's workshop, and if a person keeps sitting around thinking about being miserable, that unseen evil will start putting more junk in the head. The key is to stay busy.

It's also important to be good to oneself- connect with some hobby, visit a pleasant scene to uplift spirits for awhile. Listening to calm, soft music helps and some can even be therapeutic.
Best of all, I'd suggest telling God all about the problems with school and home life. He made everyone for Himself and knows all about us and where we're going. When we're in a committed relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ, He'll guide and lead us. Visit http://www.powertochange.com/.

Getting myself together before true love arrives

I've heard that to be a wife, be or act like one before you are one. So that's what I've been practicing, consciously or subconsciously, before true love arrives. It's probably also a good idea to learn how the opposite sex thinks, to avoid many conflicts and miscommunication. After all, men think differently from women.

Because of a good relationship with my male relatives, I make it a habit of treating them the way I generally would with my husband-to-be. Examples are developing skills, being a better cook, an early riser and organizer. In other words, I try to make up for the weak points I've noticed in the guys. A good wife should be like a crown to her husband, a woman of discretion, and prudent. When you try to make him look good, he'll likely praise you and look nowhere else for happiness.

A good source of wife wisdom is found in Proverbs chapter 31, verses 10-31 from the Bible's Old testament. For easier reading, I suggest the Contemporary English Version, the Message or Amplified Bible version. A good relationship with God by accepting Jesus Christ is the path toward healthy human relationships. And a prudent wife is sent by the Lord.

It's about Trust...

It seems that trust is becoming more of a challenge these days. But it's not impossible- I guess it just takes patience, and a risk.

• Building trust requires being faithful, sincere, dependable when asked to do something.



• Don't lie or make excuses when you've made a mistake.



• Be accountable and consistent.



• Admit when you're wrong and stop doing what's wrong.



• Forgive others when they make mistakes.



• Learn to give and be kind.

About Getting Attention...

I'm sure there are lots of ways to get attention- some good, like trying to rescue someone in distress. There are bad ways, too, like flaunting and flirting for selfish means.

I think the best way to get attention is to show genuine concern about people, and display some gifted ability to help solve their problems.

Journeys with the Family

Since I was a child, I enjoyed traveling by car, air, and on rare occasions, by train, with my family. It was fun to stretch out on the back seat as my dad drove long distances down South and western destinations. While heading to Georgia, we'd stop at Stuckey's store/snack shop and enjoy pecan rolls. When preparing to travel by plane, there was excitement in the air when my mom would wake up my little brother and me early in the morning to get ready. Those days were dear to my childhood. They led me to becoming a little spoiled, in fact.

Many years passed, and my mother did, too. So I became the queen of the household and found great pleasure in making family travel plans. Though it has been aggravating at times, I still hold fond memories of my brother driving us to Las Vegas or to the mountains. Eating, laughing and talking together along the way have been one of my pleasures. Flying abroad to other countries where we've never visited before prove to be a valuable treasure and experience.

Travelling together on a train's sleeping car and by cruise ship are beautiful events which I'll never forget. And being able to enjoy a trip and returning home without incident, accident, terrorism, or illness are blessings from the Lord.

Life is like a journey; some wonderful experiences can be repeated. Some, we'll never enjoy together again. So, I'll count all my blessings, because they make me rich.

Is Procrastination Dragging You Down?

As I've observed people and the hassle they go through trying to get things done and beating deadlines, I know more than ever, that procrastination is a big enemy. Even while in school, I started on homework and projects long before their due dates.

Here's what I do:

1. Before doing anything, make a list of things to be done for the day. For some people, this may mean writing it down, others can get away with making a mental picture.



2. Number these tasks according to priority, i.e, the most important down to the least important.



3. Next, start doing the most important according to your list and work your way down.



4. Consider rewarding yourself in some healthy manner for the day.

Fed up with school? Don't Quit!

If you've started college, hang in there, don't quit. You'll eventually encounter other and/or more problems and regrets if you do. Friends and acquaintances may eventually forget about you, but you'll need an education.

Years ago, I chose the wrong college major. But I stuck it out and graduated even though a few peers became discourage and left school. But at least my degree shows that I'm trainable and have great potential.

You don't have to be like others, so resist the pressure to join the crowd and give up. Instead, find some healthy, sound club or community group that support hobbies you like, and make friends there. Or spend time in sensible solo activities to take your mind off things. While you're alone, talk to God. He welcomes people who are sick and tired. Leave your burdens with Him, trust in Him because He cares about you, when others don't.

Where my thoughts go, actions and destiny follow...

Do thoughts really affect your life?

You bet! The more you think about something, the more likely you're to talk about it, and act on those thoughts. Actions don't occur overnight; the person who did them planned it beforehand, whether good or bad. It took many years of wasting my time daydreaming and fantasizing before I learned this fact.

That's why we have to be sure our hearts are centered on the best treasure. Our mouths speak about whatever is in the heart. Those words affect us and other people. The best treasure isn't found on earth where it can be stolen, destroyed, corroded, become sick, or die.

It's eternal life, through Jesus Christ.

Why are some people so negative and angry?

My guess is probably, among others,

• Injustice;


• Abuse by others (emotional, sexual, physical, verbal, etc.);


• Disappointment and discouragement;


• Failure...

But there's a way out of it, even for people who are so negative and know the end results of their behavior: To come to God in faith and let Him heal them from the inside out.

Can't open up to other people??

Because of intimidation, sometimes I went to great lengths to prevent what I thought would hurt other people or embarrass myself.

Fear of people brings a trap, and sometimes what we think people may conclude about us may never occur, or not as badly as we thought. As for me, after spending quality time pouring out all my feelings to God about this (as if He didn't already know!), not only did I blossom out through different responsibilities, others noticed the change as well. A trusting relationship with God (not religion!) through His Son Jesus, makes a difference in one's life from the INSIDE OUT, through His help.

Not enough self-esteem?

For a long time, one of my problems was to make myself feel ok to be around others. But I've learned that I don't have to do anything to be liked- some people accept me regardless. For the rest, who cares? I'll just be myself.

For those of you who have self-esteem issues, why not consider this:
We must recognize that each of us is unique and marvelously made like no one else. We must not let other people define who we are, sing, talk, etc. as long as what we're doing is right- in God's eyes. Everyone should realize that we're made in God's image for His pleasure, not other people's. If we live for Him, we'll likely get favor and draw others to us, so there will be no need to follow, chase, or strive to be like others or get them to like us.

Why are we on this planet???

What I'm about to say is NOT religion...

We are put on this earth, made in God's image, to fulfill His purposes. Not ours. It's possible to work out, be successful, be wealthy, have a high IQ, have a happy marriage, etc. But it's life spent in vain, if it excludes a relationship with God, through His Son, Jesus Christ.He made us to serve Him, worship Him, trust Him, live for Him, develop His character/nature, learn to love others made in His image, minister to and encourage others for Him, and carry His message of the Good News to others.With a relationship with God, He works within us to develop of sense of meaning and gives direction to our lives and future, even if we're not rich, good-looking, famous, or otherwise valuable in man's eyes.

Anyway, after finding myself verrrry frustrated with my life, I learned that life was not about me. Then I poured out everything I felt to God, who began to speak personally to me about my future. I now have peace and know where I'm headed. He's promised to be with me wherever I go. The same can apply to anyone who sincerely calls upon the Lord. To learn more, visit http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/.

Nowhere But Up

If you've been there, done that, got a job, family, money, etc., and still feel like you're missing something, you may be right.

Years ago, I was miserable despite a healthy home life, plenty of food, a college degree, no rent to pay, etc. Life only became passionate and exciting when I learned that life is not about me and mine, but that I was designed for God's objectives.

Sorry, this isn't about religion. But relationship.

Once I got my relationship straight, life had a deeper meaning. I found myself becoming promoted in ways I hadn't planned on, without my having to struggle to get it. God set me up for His reason. If you really get your life on course with Him, you'll find new energy, joy, peace, and excitement.

A Walk in the Park with a King

It must've been during the late 1970's or early 1980's when I gained a learning experience about someone I hardly knew. My brother had wanted a dog apparently without being aware of the responsibility required. Although my dad and I were the main ones who ended up feeding him, the dog probably still remained frustrated because no one had the patience to spend quality time with him. I say this because he would often jump over the fence to get a different view of the environment.

One day, I decided to take him for a much-needed walk. I mean, I really walked him. I took him through the neighborhood, over the freeway overpass, through a very large park full of trees, people, etc. If I recall correctly, it was a struggle to hold onto the leash that day. King enjoyed that walk, only I didn't know just how happy he was.
When we exited the park on the other side, we crossed the street. As weheaded downhill, King suddenly stopped and turned around to look at me with his big brown eyes. Then, as he stood up on his big, German shepherd-mix hind legs, he wrapped his front paws around my waist and looked at me with eyes expressing immense gratitude as he wagged his tail.
King released his grip and walked a few more paces ahead of me. I guess he decided that one demonstration of appreciation wasn't enough, because seconds later, he repeated the same affection as before. It was as if he wasn't just holding me for starved affection; it was more like saying, "It's about time- I can't tell you how much I needed to get out and see the world. Thank you so much."

One of the greatest values of life is to make time for those we love. Even with a King.