Some people are in your life for one reason only--to feed off you. They soak up your energy, enthusiasm, wisdom, time, CD's, DVD's, sofa, car, jewelry, shoes, or whatever you have that appeals to them. It's easy to form bonds with these people because they're always around; but it's a trap. I don't have to tell you to watch out for these non-symbiotic relationships because you know; you've been sapped before. I just wonder if some of us happen to be that way and we don't know it. Are you the culprit?
Consider this a friendly reminder to take with you joy, love, peace, laughter, encouragement, wisdom, and whatever other talents or qualities you have by which someone you know can benefit. It's not always about monetary offerings (but who doesn't like getting treated on occasion too); it's about nurturing those you claim to love, and being fed in the process. Look at the babies. They come here with nothing, needing everything; yet, when have you ever felt so important, so valuable, so warm and so unconditionally loved as when that little face smiles and reaches for you? If I didn't know that feeling, and if I hadn't been blessed...
Women are always saying they don't need a man to validate them. Okay, I don't know what they mean by that exactly, and it's probably different for each woman, but let me play devil's advocate here briefly. Adam was on earth alone, the only one of his kind. He saw the animals paired up and eventually he got his own mate, designed just for him. They were to do some very important things with the land, and with themselves. Follow me now.
Woman was designed for man, to be a complement to man, and they were to fulfill each other's needs--the design was perfect, you know. When they sinned, God said to Eve, "your craving will be for your husband." I didn't make this up; Genesis 3:16, people. So while some of our more forward-thinking, ambitious predecessors sought to expand women's rights and changed the world, and though that's all good, know that we were made for men, and therefore feel it when they are absent from our lives. We feel it when they are present in our lives too, and don't we feel all the more powerful, sexy, desirable, and feminine when we have a man of our very own? ...
Someone recently mused, "the purpose of it all is...," and I don't know what he was going through at the time, but he got me to thinking about life. The way I see it, in their perfect state, humans were created with more than the basic equipment. They had the capacity for far more than we do in our imperfection; but still we inherit the basics, for starters. For example, we have senses designed to take in the life experience--eyes to see (colors, flowers, oh he's fine!), ears to hear (sweet music, a baby's first word), a mouth to taste (mercy--food is my friend), nerve endings to help us feel (infant kisses, warm massage, great sex--hello!), a nose to smell (your favorite fragrance, baking, breakfast). But we were given so much more too--vision to see what is and what's not in front of us; instinct, intuition, imagination, and so on. Feel where I'm going with this?
We are so wonderfully made, that even in our imperfect state, the majority of us are able to enjoy so much, on so many levels, for whatever time we are allowed to be here. Then we also have free will that allows us to make...
"For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark: and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be."--Matthew 24:38, 39.
So I got to thinking, we can get so caught up in our own mess, so distracted by what we can see, so busy doing whatever we deem worthy at the time, we miss really important things. When I turned on Sprout this morning, Cookie Monster was telling us the meaning of the word important. He said something that means a lot to you; that's important. But I happen to know that sometimes we let those things that mean a lot to us simmer on the backburner until we get through this, or finish that, or rearrange this over here. And that's not really fair, nor is it wise. We put off going to school until.... We put off fixing that resume up until.... We slack on grocery shopping until.... It goes from big stuff to seemingly small stuff, but it's true. And then...
Time is a luxury.You have been afforded the opportunity to utilize yours for anything you choose.But what have you done thus far?I know you've heard this before, but what if your time was up in like ten minutes? What if you died suddenly? What have you done (not what do you plan to do)?Who would miss you?Whose life have you affected?Do your loved ones even know they're loved ones?Does anything matter to you, or are you just here taking up space for a time? What are you missing? What about your kids? What are you doing with the time you have been given? So many questions, so little time.
From the mind of: Tonya D. Floyd, No better time than the present... www.Versatili-T.com
I was thinking about how sometimes we get so preoccupied, we forget to praise God despite the circumstances. You know how when things are going very well, and bricks are falling into place, and the sun is shining—we can’t help but give God glory for what He’s done in our lives? Then sometimes when things are on the flip side, we pray and we pray and we pray, but we can’t see as clearly how things were wonderful at another time, how we were delivered the last time, or how we felt when we knew God was in our corner and the world wasn’t so big and bad. I didn’t say we ignore it or forget; I said we can’t see it as clearly as the good times. Well, I’m guilty too, so I figured I’d remind everyone in my reach including myself to take a good snapshot of that higher-than-high, wonderful, over-the-top feeling and keep it in our pocket to peek at when the skies are gray and the worst is all you can see around you. Then make it your business to describe that feeling and the gifts received when you were on top, giving God the glory...
If you're wondering why you are missing something, or if you feel like you’re less than whole, or if you’re waiting for something good to happen in your life, perhaps you can speed up the process of getting whatever it is you’re lacking by offering kindnesses to others in the meantime. It’s possible--and probable--that your good things are on the way, but perhaps you just need to remember to focus on giving rather than receiving. Even if you’re someone who often helps others out, helps old ladies cross the street, or donates whatever to whomever, you could be overlooking the obvious, and that could be holding you back.
We don’t usually get to choose our own assignments to better us. They’re chosen for us, and when they present themselves, we must view them as opportunities for growth and move accordingly. And don’t worry if you feel you can’t do it; just ask for help and it’s there. If we choose to reject these assignments or ignore them, we hold up our own blessings. It’s like when we as parents instruct our children to do specific things, and they choose instead to do what’s more pleasant or easier, or to do...
I was thinking yesterday how sometimes we will say we're doing the best we can at some task or fulfilling some request, and we can actually believe it; then it occurred to me that in most cases like that, there's a lot more we could be doing, or doing differently. I just asked myself as I was getting us all ready to leave the house, and I got my son to practice a little later than he would like, if Jesus was at the field waiting for me that day, would I have gotten there sooner? Or if I were being tested by God, would I really say I did the best I could at getting there, and know it?
Yeah, I know it's not really that serious, or it may seem so, but if you put it in that type of perspective all the time, regardless of how big or small the situation or scenario is to you at the time, you'll probably be doing the best you can more often. I mean, who doesn't have room for improvement? I'm just saying....
From the mind of: Tonya D. Floyd,
It's easy to say anything; making it so isn't always...
It seems to be all about haters today--Tigger is on the radio talking about them, and earlier I had a few thoughts about the same topic. Then the email came, and I'll get back to that. Let's just say for a second that I can accept it when "little people" do their best to belittle me and my efforts, because my rewards come in various forms, and I have no shortage of blessings. But then let's forget for a brief moment that humility is a prerequisite, and speak on how sometimes situations can make us feel so undervalued, misused, and downright indignant that we seek not only praise for what was accomplished, but tangible, valuable, and downright loud 'n clear acknowledgments that other people get to witness. "GIVE ME MY DUE!"
I'm saying I'm a winner--a formidable opponent, tenacious bulldog, or whatever else you can think of that says if she takes it on, she plans to do it better than it's ever been done, and you will remember her name. I'm saying in my home life, work life, at school, with my kids at school, whenever and wherever I go, I'm either all up in something, to win it, or I couldn't...
1. Hello again. It's been a minute, but I got some things on my mind. First, I was talking to a friend yesterday and commands like honor your father and your mother; a husband should love his wife as his own body; a wife should have deep respect for her husband; and love your neighbor came up. Let me tell you that I know how hard, how seemingly impossible it can be to do any or all of the above, because some people are just not worthy--from what we can see. But the commands came from above, and they were just that--commands; not optional. Add to that the level of respect you're supposed to have for your superiors at work, and your instructors, and things can get real tough real fast.
All I can tell you is I'm right there with you on that; the thing is you can't write them off and walk away clean. You do your best, you pray for help, you pray for them, and you refuse to allow their junk to change how you walk. And recall that their problems are not necessarily yours, neither is there any shame--for you--in whatever tasteless, immature, or despicable things they...
[More]
