Menu for Success

It just melts my heart when my daughter tells her son, "Grab Mimi's hand"; and he looks at me, smiles, and boldly grabs my hand assured he is safe and protected when we are out in public somewhere shopping. Or my Granddaughters and other Grandson will come to me out of the blue while I am watching TV or we are playing board games, and sit on my lap or lay their head on my shoulder or chest, lovingly; whereas, they know they will NEVER be told, "Get off of me"!They trust and believe those acts of love are loved by Mimi and welcomed!  My Grandson and Son-in-Law! Hang on! Dad's Got you! Matthew 18:1-3 AMPC "At that time the disciples came up and asked Jesus, Who then is [really] the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And He called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them, And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never

Negative words tear people down and exposes them.  "Every prudent man deals with knowledge, but a [self-confident] fool exposes and flaunts his folly." (Proverbs 13:16 AMPC)  (Folly biblical definition: 2a. : criminally or tragically foolish actions or conduct. b. obsolete : evil, wickedness especially : lewd behavior.) Confronting someone is different than badgering someone! Badgering means to repeatedly pester.  "By pride and insolence comes only contention, but with well-advised is skillful and Godly Wisdom." (Proverbs 13:10 AMPC)  When we lovingly and patiently correct others the response will be peaceful, loving and accepting also; however, words spoken in anger and with the intention to hurt, comes from a malicious and wicked heart. Hurtful words repeatedly play over in a person's mind (like a broken record) of how they don't measure up to the World's standards; therefore putting that person in the forefront of a sure target for Sat

As outlined in the Amplified Bible - The Book of James Chapter 1:1-27 I. The Essence of True Religion Read the paragraph above the outline Photo taken by G.Smith 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered abroad [among the Gentiles in the dispersion]: Greetings (rejoice)! 2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly , without reproac

Why do I feel like a failure! Am I really a failure? Have I truly hit rock bottom? What is going on?  Close up of rocks! Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”           and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. (I Peter 2:7-8 NIV) Have I surrounded myself with chaos, self-pity, selfish desires and wants; with the assumption: “This is how life is supposed to be”. Yes, that's it, this is how life is! I'm not the only one stressed out, tossing and turning with worry, on anti-depression pills, and in constant fear and doubt of what will happen or better yet, what is going to happen? Jealousy is normal, and so is doubt and worry! Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels co

The students who marched boldly, stepped out and reached out to gain the attention of our leaders. It is a sad situation and the act of violence that truly needs to cease! As I briefly listened, the stories were not just with our schools, but in our communities, our homes, and our jobs. We are in harms way every where we go. It's not the guns, or is it poverty, wealth or the situation our lives have turned to; it's deeper than that! It comes back to the fear, the anger, and the hate that is warring in our spirit and soul to ignite the violence and use weapons that destroy and kill.  Picture Courtesy of my nephew Dere While listening to the protestors, I heard anger, fear, and exhaustion in their voices also; because they too want change that moves all of us to a state of "Peace" and "Love"!  Not so long ago, we heard, "Black lives matter"; and now it's back to addressing the numerous and continuous shootings in the schools.  The struggl