Born for a Purpose

Have you ever let an irritating person or event ruin your whole day? Do you hold onto bitter feelings or grudges that affect you for days or weeks at a time? Today I wanted to share 3 steps for getting over the bitter feelings, annoyances, irritations and other obstacles keeping you from having a happy and peaceful day. This thought was shared with me by one of my dental assistants a few months ago and I've wanted to write about it ever since. As best I can tell, it comes from a book called  Fuel  by  Jeremy Chin.  I haven’t read the book so I hope I don’t butcher his meaning and intent. You will recognize the 3 steps from your childhood as the method for putting out a fire on your body:  Stop. Drop. Roll. Before getting into each of those, let’s talk about “fire”. Obviously we are using fire as a metaphor for that feeling of being angry, worked up, annoyed, and frustrated. Have you ever been so angry it felt like you were on fire? I kn...

Close to His Heart! "He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young." {Isaiah 40:11, NIV} The Good Shepherd cares for his sheep. He leads them where the grass is lush. He leads them to clear, fresh streams. He protects them from the animals that would attack and kill. He keeps his flock together. Not  one sheep is ever lost. He leads purposefully and gently. Sometimes he picks up the weak ones and holds them in his arms. He carries them close to his heart so they can hear it beat. Maybe today you feel weak in body. The procedures and treatments have drained your strength. Your energy is gone. Maybe you feel weak emotionally. Anxiety has overtaken your thoughts. Worry has worn you down. Perhaps you are spiritually weak. You have given in to temptation . . . again. You are frustrated by constant failure. If you are exhausted in body, soul and/or spirit, ask Jesus to gather you in hi...

22 Things Happy People Do Differently There are two types of people in the world: those who choose to be happy, and those who choose to be unhappy. Contrary to popular belief, happiness doesn't come from fame, fortune, other people, or material possessions. Rather, it comes from within. The richest person in the world could be miserable while a homeless person could be right outside, smiling and content with their life. Happy people are happy because they  make  themselves happy. They maintain a positive outlook on life and remain at peace with themselves. The question is: how do they do that? It’s quite simple. Happy people have good habits that enhance their lives. They do things differently. Ask any happy person, and they will tell you that they … 1. Don’t hold grudges. Happy people understand that it’s better to forgive and forget than to let their negative feelings crowd out their positive feelings. Holding a grudge has a lot of detrimental effects...

Armed with Strength! "It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure." {2 Samuel 22:33} Perpetua was a 26-year-old mother with a nursing baby when she was imprisoned for refusing to bow before idols. Despite her father appearing with the infant in his arms and pleading for her to sacrifice to idols, she refused. “Are you a Christian?” the judge asked. “I am a Christian,” was her answer. Perpetua was ordered to be killed by wild beasts. As the young woman entered the arena she sang a hymn of triumph. Several men were torn to pieces by leopards and bears. Perpetua and another young woman were stripped of their clothes and hung up in nets to be gored by a bull. When the bull failed to kill her, gladiators were given the task. “Perpetua was assigned to a trembling young man who stabbed her weakly several times . . . When she saw how upset the young man was, Perpetua guided his sword to a vital area and died.” (John Foxe, Christian Martyrs of the World, pgs.12-14). ...