Menu for Success

Yes ma’am----It’s time to clean house! Nope not that kind of house cleaning~ I’m talking about the junk we fill our minds with - - - such as:  worry, doubt, fear, anger, hate, resentment, unforgiveness, selfishness, hurtful words, lust, and irresponsibility! Whew Wee, with all of that dust and dirt in there, I don’t think I’ll be able to have a relaxing visit with you. Maybe, I’ll come back another day, however; don’t hesitate to ask for help! I’d be glad to assist you. Just let me know in what area you need help with. I won’t stand over you or force you do all of the cleaning in one day – It’ll probably take a while; as you can see it’s accumulated quite a mess? Just an FYI ~ dirt and dust settles deep in cracks and crevices; so don’t lose the enthusiasm! I have the perfect tool to help also! My number one tool is the Word! Girl, I use it faithfully, and believe me, it CLEANS HOUSE! You can use it for everything: c leaning worry, cleaning doubt, cleaning fear and s...

What does it take to be a winner?  Could it be perseverance, determination, hard work, integrity, or perhaps a winning attitude? I’m actually asking you! What drives you to be a winner? Could it be passion, you have something to prove, or enjoy the challenge? I know from being an athlete, I did not like to lose; however, we all lose at something.  I recall getting out there in practice determined it will not happen again. Or I would get a “C” on a paper that I knew deserved an “A” in my mind. So instead of getting upset and just not trying, I would ask the teacher what I did wrong. Once he/she explained to me why I got that “C”, I swallowed my pride and used that information to improve each time we had a writing assignment~ until I received that “A”!  And it didn’t stop with just that one! We as a people (in general) want the “A”; however, we don’t do “A” work! We throw a bone at you and feel it’s enough!  What it takes to be a winner is “discipline”, fir...

In order to be better in anything, we need to seek someone who will push us to be better. Take for instance someone who is smarter than you are. If you hang around them long enough, you will understand and in many instances begin to want what they want and have what they have, so you seek to do the things they do. If they have a way of studying that is better and more effective, then you will adopt their way of studying ~ and before you know it, you are doing better in school, reading better, testing better, and even feeling confident about your studies. Remember if you are smart, there is someone who is smarter, if you are pretty, there is someone who is prettier, if you can run fast, sooner or later, there will be someone who can run faster. All of these wonderful God given talents have a way of getting us noticed and admired~ Yes, the attention we get is awesome and even gives us confidence. Sometimes though, it is the wrong type of confidence and we develop what is called ...

I know I have mentioned that I was a substitute teacher and preferred high school students over elementary and daycare. I could relate to them better, they are self sufficient, and they can come to class on their own and leave on their own.  At the age I am now, it is convenient and less hands on! What I didn’t enjoy was the degradation these children faced from being neglected by their parents at such a young age, that when they were in high school, many of them were not mentally handicapped, but considerably behind other children on their level due to various reasons. It’s important to set aside at least an hour a night for homework, reading, and any other school projects that need parents’ involvement. I have always said and still say, you take God out of anything, you have chaos! If he is not in your home, there is chaos, if he is not in the schools, we have armed police to assist with children who also come armed, if we take him out of our daily lives...

My sister and I had a discussion in regards to a married couple who were at odds with each other about who was right in a family issue. This is not about marriage; but about how there is no such thing as a grey area in this instance. It is right or wrong, there is no grey area. It might not be simple to some; but I'll give you an example. If you have already re-modeled your bedroom, painted it, purchased the furniture and all the beautiful accessories that goes in it - --- Now all you need is the bedding and the room will be complete! So with the bedding being the only thing left to do; you decide, you want others opinions over your husband's. So what do we do, we ask a friend, neighbor, co-worker and Mom or Dad. Guess what? They didn't help either! So you compromise - Mom likes this one; which is pretty, and my husband likes this one; which will also work ~ so you choose something down the middle so you can please your Mother and your Husband. In this example, t...

Father as we approach the Holiday season, help us to be mindful of those around us. Our neighbor  who  lives alone, a co-worker who is miles away from home and has no money to be with family this  year, a person in  jail, that is out of sight, but not out of mind; or a single Mother with four  small  childre who is struggling to put food on the table. Those who are blessed should always look  for  opportunities to be a blessing! Therefore seek out ways to conquer Satan, on purpose , by  helping our forgotten brothers and sisters in Christ!  In Jesus Name, Amen! And so it is! “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” – Luke 14:13,14 ESV

My Mother is still alive and doing well; however, I remember when we were young, she cooked and baked often. Along with her five children, she always cooked in excess on many occasions; because she was and still does think about those around her who are in need.  At Christmas time, was the most vivid memories I have of her baking for days (or so it seemed like it to me). She would bake at least five different types of home-made cookies, peppermint, cinnamon, and clove flavored hard rock candy, bourbon balls, fruit cakes, peanut butter and chocolate fudge, top and bottom layer cake (which is a chewy caramel like top over a cake like crust); pecan pies, and me my sister would always do our cookies as well. My sister baked what was called Christmas wreath cookies and I baked what was called Christmas Tree cookies in addition to what our Mother would bake. There is much more, but I'll stop! Every year she would make up at least ten Christmas tens full of all those delici...

While my sister was standing in line to purchase her lunch, she noticed three children; who were obliviously brother and sisters, waiting patiently for their Mother to bring them their lunch. They had some very nice Nike shoes on and adorable designer Jackets (she wasn't sure what designer, but she said they were nice). She said in her mind, "They look so cute"! Until the Mother came over with one drink for three children to share. She couldn't help but stare, because the children began to fight over the one drink. In the midst of them fighting, the Mother snatched the drink and passed it around to each child herself, so they all could get a few sips.  My sister offered to buy two more drinks so that all the children would have their own; however, the Mother refused and said in a harsh tone, "No thank you, they can share"!  Well I got a call shortly after that and when I answered the phone, I don't think I was able so say too much ...

# 8 Self-Respect (n) - proper pride; dignity Oh yes, I did not do well in Business Law. To be honest, I could have cared less about court cases, what the law says about landlord rights, tenant rights, labor law rights, etc. After all, I had a home, a full time job (that at the time, I had no intention of leaving), and I was married with children. I decided to go back to college after the kids were school age, to better my life and theirs~so I thought! I was working third shift, 40 hours a week; and juggling Motherhood and being a wife. Well - all of that together did not mix well at all!  Of course I was tired. In between classes, I would go to the student lounge and sleep ~ there was also times I would doze while driving their and back home. One day while driving home, I was so sleepy, I just could not keep my eyes open. However, when I did realize I had fallen asleep,  I was heading towards the median on a four lane highway. You talk about being scared straight. I kn...

Who cares if I wake up this morning and decide I don’t want to go to work! Who cares if my house is so messy, the floor is not easily identified! Who cares if I drink on a daily basis; that causes the alcohol to become a stronghold (held captive to it)! Who cares if I sleep around with many people and develop an incurable disease! Who cares if I sit around feeling sorry for myself, and I’m not mindful of those around me who are hurting also! Who cares if I sit around gossiping about my friends and neighbors; after all, they are the ones who are giving me a reason to gossip! Who cares if I bought an outfit for $250 and there is no food in my house for my children! Who cares if I lay in bed at night crying, because I am lonely! Who cares about me when my clothes are ragged and torn; whereas, I attend church for comfort and fellowship; and no one acknowledges my existence! Who cares that I am in prison for life of a crime I did not commit! Who cares if I get pregnant ...

I quickly woke up to a very loud sound about three mornings ago. It was a sound I could not grasp. Could it be a hurt dog? “What was it", I asked myself. I looked at the time on my cell phone; which was 4:34 am and laid there for a few minutes. Then I said, “Well whatever it is, God will reveal it to me soon”! It was now 7:00 am and time for my granddaughter to get up for school. My daughter always gets her up and ready; and I asked if she heard that horrendous sound this morning. She said, “Yes”! Her husband got up to see what it was, and said it was a coyote. My son-in-law usually works nights, so when he woke up for the day, I asked him what he saw. He said there were two very large coyotes; one was underneath the balcony eating something, and the other one was just about 3 feet away eating berries off a tree and digging in the ground for more! He went on to say he stood there until they decided to move in another direction ~ unnoticed! “Hmmm, I wonder what this ...

I know as a person, I perform better when I’m encouraged, praised, and shown love by the actions of others! It puts a pep in my step, a smile on my face, and nothing will get in the way of that good feeling that comes over me when I receive all of that goodness and Godliness! So much goodness, that we pass it on to others along the way. We see a little lady going across the street and are so filled with joy, we sprint to help her get there safe ~ or, a Mother who is trying to quiet her child down, and has three other ones standing by that are just as upset as the baby, but know they need to help Mom out by being quiet, so your heart just reaches out to them and the baby, and you give them each a bag of pretzels – with Mother’s approval of course! Or, you are driving down the road, and someone cuts in front of you and you have to slam the breaks on to keep from hitting them. You are so full of God’s love and joy, you give them a big smile and say a prayer so that they will get...

TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY - PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE! Please remember to vote and pray for those already in office and those being elected to office WORLDWIDE! Those who are Christians have somehow strayed from the word and belittle our leaders and Presidents, regardless of political parties, race, and office. I myself have done so, and forgotten what God had said about it. Our prayers give our leaders wisdom and Godly ways to govern and lead us. Like Romans 13:1 says, Let every  person be subject to the governing authorities for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (ESV) And I Timothy 2:1-4 says: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be sa...

Me and my best friend were at Dunkin Donuts in Tennessee just last week and a young woman was in there on the cell phone. She could have been texting, surfing, or even chatting with someone ~ we were not sure; however, my friend said, "She is so engrossed with being on that phone, she is not aware of anybody around her". That is so true! We as a human race are replacing interaction with each other with technology. I know when I was substitute teaching, so many of the teenagers could not even walk down the hall with their head up, because they were texting someone on the phone. It is detrimental to their learning and their success! UNLESS, they are using it in a positive way. Technology is so amazing how we are able to reach people world wide! But, like she said, we are so oblivious to those around us, we overlook how important it is to interact with others, especially our family. We use it to date, bully others, argue, and even send inappropriate pictures that can ruin...