When you care to give the very best!!

 The Gift of Giving, often misunderstood, often misused, and far too often misguided. The actual practice of giving, or what should be the practice, has lost its place in many societies today, and so today I want to help change that.  Today I want to bring you my take on giving.  I want to make a few suggestions, and it is my hope that you will walk away with a new vitality.  I hope you will see things a little differently, and in those subtle differences maybe make a small course correction from where you were headed.

We have different reasons for giving, but at the end of the day what matters most is the heart motive for giving.  I've been in so many situations that called for giving, and that is when the process begins, and just as importantly when the rational is used for each gift. Let me explain, and maybe you will see where I'm going with this. We give gifts for many reasons. Obviously the two biggest days of the year for gift giving is Christmas, and or course Birthdays.  We will spend hour on top of hour trying to figure out the prefect gift.  Countless hours of sleep are lost each year as you toss and turn trying to figure out what to get, how to present it, and hope against hope that your gut was telling the right thing to give. Seems to me that the stress one succumbs too in the process of selecting the perfect gift, in presenting the perfect give, somehow takes away from the joy of giving the perfect gift. Am I wrong? 

I can remember trying to figure out what to do about Christmas shopping.  Now in Christmas shopping it is critical that you match what is anticipated from other family members.  As if one has ESP and can come within two cents of what someone else spent, and now the hunt was on to find the right priced item that may or may not be exactly what you were thinking about getting, but since the parameters were changed midstream you had no choice but change your choice of gifts. Kind of takes away the intent of giving wouldn't you say?  I guess the question that arises from this scenario is this: are you giving because you truly want to, or are you giving because it is expected of you?  When I am expected to do something I can tell you it takes all the joy out of it, and when all the joy is removed from the equation, then more often than not so is the reward.  I'm never looking for a pat on the back or something given in return.  What I desire is knowing that I heard from God and that I followed through.  Keeping up with the Jones' is just not the game I wish to participate in when it comes too giving.  

Most everyone has been in the situation when you truly desired to give, but in that moment did not have the resources to do much of anything.  Let me ask this, and you don't have to answer but just think about it. Has anyone not gone to a party, after you said you would be there, because you were unable for whatever reason to get a gift for the occasion?  I've been there, and I've allowed my fear of what others would think to stop me from enjoying what I had been invited to participate in.  Sometimes gift giving takes on a whole new meaning based on ones financial standing or status, and often the true meaning gets lost based on the expectations of others round you, and your very own expectations.

For a moment let's forget about gifts in general and look at giving motives, or should I say giving prompters.  Why do we desire to give?  What are our own motivations?  Each person is different, and each time we give we are going to be challenged to stand on those things we believe, verses what others expect.  Quite frankly I am over having to meet someone else's expectation of my giving habits. If I choose to simply provide a card with words of encouragement and love for a particular event, should that be looked  down upon because it wasn't as splendid as the flashy new car sitting in the driveway?  Sadly we pretty much know the answer to that question, but that doesn't make it right.  We simply have to worry less about other's impressions of our actions, or their critique of our gift selection, and focus more on what we are being lead to do, and stick to that leading.

I love to give, working on the receiving portion of that equation, but love to give.  What I don't love is when I fall into the trap of having to fit in with the giving. What I don't like is having to do what others have set up as a standard.  Don't misunderstand, there are times when limits or parameters are required, but what I am talking about are the mental limits or parameters that others place on you.  When did the free process of giving, giving with love, giving with compassion, giving with thought, when did that all become legalistic and far less free?  When did giving stop being fun, and when did we become victims to our own giving?  Quite frankly I am tired of having to live up to someone else's expectations, and it's time we all just say enough is enough.  Here's my new baseline: I will do as I want, as I please, as I am directed to do by my Creator, and if anyone has an issue with that, you can take it up with God. How's that sound?  Think it may be time to put joy and happiness back into giving, and walk away from the whole expectation setting crowd?

I want to give because I love to give.  I may not always pick out the right gift, but it is my belief that if I base my choice on what I am being guided to do, then it will be the perfect gift.  Perfection for the moment, perfection for the person, and perfection for the situation.  I give with zero expectation of a return on my investment from the person I just gave to.  I give with zero expectation of how they will use the gift.  If you desire to regift it next year, hey, makes for less shopping for that pesky gift swap at the Office Christmas Party.  I don't give to get, I give because that is my nature, and that is what I truly love doing.  My desire to give is based on my love of self, and wanting others to know they are loved just as much.  My motivation for giving is to change a life.  My motivation for giving is love.  My motivation for giving is nothing more than accepting the joy of giving, and to be honest that is good enough for me. 

I can't and won't tell you how to give, or why to give.  What I will challenge you with is that you decide why you give, and just know the real reason.  We all will have different reasons, different motives, but when all is said and done, was God involved with your decision?  Big, small, new or used, matters not.  Any gift based on love will be the perfect gift, even if the recipient doesn't see it yet.  When one plants a seed it will come to full maturity at some point, and a gift given may take time to germinate, may take time to grown, but it will never come back void when you have followed your heart, and done what was in the perfection of your design. 

When you care to give the very best, give from your heart.  When you care to give the very best cover it in love.  When you care to give the very best then it doesn't matter what you give, what matters is you. When your desire is to give the very best, then I can assure you that will happen. Never give up on giving, and never doubt the significance of your willingness to give, that in and of it self will change the world.

Let the doubters doubt, and let the believers do.

We have all faced periods of doubt in our lives at one point in time.  People have told us what to do, what to be, what we should think, and so on.  Just because someone says something does not make it true, and the sooner you are able to release yourself from other's expectations, the sooner you can step out into those things that were created for you, placed in you to do, and become the individual you were always intended to be.  Today I want to talk about you, the real you, and not what others have made you out to be.  Today I want to encourage you to take an inventory of all that is inside of you, and why it has been placed in you.  

I talk about truth a whole lot.  I talk about the difference between truth and fiction, the difference between your truth and what others have said should be your truth.  Most of the time what others think, what others say has very little to do with what you were sent here to do, and the sooner you come to this realization the sooner you can step out into your destiny. There are so many people who have not woken up to the fact that they have a mission to complete.  Many go through life trying to fit into what others expect of them.  Far too often we attempt to place a round peg into a square hole.  If you believe that you are unique, that you are different than anyone else, why in creation would you try to be something you're not?  Why do people attempt to replicate someone else's characteristics, and why do they leave their true nature, their real self standing idle, only to be swept away in the false hope of being someone else?  Sadly those who try to emulate someone else have not taken the time to accept who they really are.  Why might you ask does this happen?  It happens because one has yet to realize just how incredible they are.  

There are plenty of people around you whose destiny is never to discover their destiny.  They live in a perpetual wandering mode of operation because they have allowed others to dictate their steps.  These individuals for whatever reason, have decided that it's better to go with the flow, and not rock the boat.  Standing firm in who and what you are may not be the popular thing to do in today's society, but at the end of the day, it's the only thing you should concern yourself with.  I can remember as a youngster watching impressionist.  They sounded very close to the one they were impersonating, but you could always pick up on the subtle differences.  In this case close was not perfection, as perfection could on come to the one that was being impersonated.  If you are attempting to be like someone else because you desire to be more like them, do you think you will ever get to the point when you are just like them?  It's impossible, and if you try you will be chasing that cat's tail forever, never being able to catch it.  The only real option we have in life, at least the option that makes the most sense, is being who you were created to be.  

I know I must sound like a broken record when I talk about truth verses fiction.  It seems like the majority of my time is spent encouraging you to step out into your authentic self.  There are so many doubters walking around right now, people who profess something but don't actually believe what they are spotting off at.  There comes a time when each of us are going to have to make the decision to either walk in our truth or forever wander about wondering what this world is really all about, and wondering if you will ever fit in.  Trust me when I tell you there have periods in my life when I doubted me.  I wasn't sure who I was, what I was, and why I was here.  I'm not sure there is anyone alive today who couldn't say the same thing.  The key to it all is putting away what others say, what others expect, and simply doing what makes you happy, without regard to what others might think about your choices.  If you believe that God broke the mold when he created you, why would you desire to place yourself in someone else's mold?  Why in Heaven's name would you choose to be something you're not simply because someone said you needed to do something this way or that way?  If you desire to walk free from man's expectations, then make that decision to walk free and not worry what anyone else may say or do.

Freedom, true freedom, comes when you release yourself from all and anything that comes from someone's opinion, when that someone has never been exposed to the same things you have been exposed to.  We all have experienced different things, and that is because what we experience, what lessons we have learned, have been placed in front of us to get us to the point where we can step out into our destiny.  
The things I have learned in life were there to get me where I am at today.  Likewise, the things you have gone through have prepared you for where you are right now.  We have to get away from one size fits all.  You have gone through certain things because you had to go through certain things.  In the perfection of the Universe is the perfection of your design, and your calling.  You may question some of the things that have happened to you.  Often in the middle of a storm one is not able to see the end result, but trust me when I say that at the end of every lesson you will know why you had to go through this lesson.  Most people will ask why bad things happen to good people, and why do bad people seem to get all the breaks.  Might I suggest that you not think to much on what happens with others, rather look at what is happening to you, and the lessons you have learned thus far.  When you can see the importance of what you may have just gone through, you will see the beauty of what you are going to step out into.

It is time to believe in you.  It is time to begin doing, and not simply looking at others, dreaming that you can be like them, when you are anything but them.  Your uniqueness is something that can not be overstated.  Your destiny is so perfect, so beautiful, so amazing, one wonders why anyone would want to run away from their destiny.  The time has come to let the doubters role around in their own muck and mire, and to begin to do. The time has come to embrace all that you are, and accept your calling.  The time has come to step out, to have no fear, and to enjoy the reason for being here.  If one looks at life through the eyes of trepidation, one is not seeing life through the eyes of their creator.  Life is nothing to fear.  Destiny is nothing to fear.  Embrace life, embrace destiny, and know that each event, each experience will get you one step closer to where you need to be.  Let go of doubt, let go of fear, and simply believe.  Believe that there are no mistakes, and everything around you is there for a purpose.  Trust me, the more you know, the more you will do, and the more you do, the better life is.  Get out there and see where life takes you.

Do you jump, or do you stay?

 Life is full of decisions.  Do I stay?  Do I go?  Is this real? Is this make believe?  Is left right, or is right left?  I know of no one who doesn't have to make decisions on a daily basis.  Decision making is part of our human makeup.  Some times we make the right decision, sometimes we don't.  What I'd like to do today is share with you what I believe to be the greatest decision one will ever have to make, or at least have the opportunity to make.  It is a decision that will fundamentally change your life forever once you make it, if you make it that is.  

What is the decision I speak of?  It is deciding whether you will walk in your destiny, or you won't.  It is deciding whether you will accept the calling in your life, or you won't.  It is coming to the conclusion that you have been placed here on this earth for a specific reason, and you are going to pick up your calling and run with it. What never seems to amaze me are people who have absolutely no clue that they are here for a reason.  So many people walk about aimlessly never ever coming to a point where they realize that they are not here on this planet just for the free popcorn.  

People are adrift.  Now not all people, but many people simply are oblivious to what they were created to do.  Can we place blame on anyone in particular for this occurrence, not really.  People are not here merely to take up space, or use up the oxygen, and yet many seem to be doing just that.  Sadness is not knowing that you have been called to greatness, called to walk in your power, called to do something so much bigger than yourself.  How odd that so many people simply go with the flow, when the flow is exactly where you should stay away from.  I want you to imagine that right in front of you is a Gold Platter filled with everything you desire.  This platter has your calling, has your talents, has all that you are, all that you will ever be, and all you have to do is pick it up and accept it.  Why would you not pick it up, own it, stand in it, and be blessed by it?  Sadly most people who walk away from this platter do so because some idiot told them it wasn't for them.  Sadly some idiot told them that blessings are only for a few select people, and you just aren't one of them.  Sadly some idiot was just that an idiot.  The time has come to realize that most people do not have your best interest at heart, and the sooner you realize this, the sooner you can step out into who you are, doing what you were created to do, and simply let the doubters and unbelievers stew in their own misery.

So I ask the question once more, do you jump, jump off into your destiny, or do you stay put, and accept less of life?  I fully get that the unknown is sometimes mysterious, sometimes scary, often overpowering, but what is the alternative?  If you stay put you will never know the fullness of your calling, the completeness of who you are.  If you stay put you are leaving the best part of you at the staring line.  Contrary to what many may have told you in the past, you do have something to offer, you do have gifts and talents, and you have a reason for being here right now.  

I get how fear can grip some people.  Why would any sane individual leave something they know for something unfamiliar, something unknown, something they can't even see at the moment?  Let's be real and honest for a moment, there are more people who would chose not to move on, then those who would look past the doubt, the fear, and jump.  My encouragement to you today is to step away from the doubters, the talk down to you kind of people, and instead take the leap.  Certainly stepping off that cliff with blind faith is not simple, but staying put and never knowing the real you, the purpose of your life, the reason for being here, I believe that is worth the risk.  Let's talk about risk for a bit.  There's a common saying about risk verses reward.  The greater the risk, the bigger the reward.  If you believe this then is it any wonder why some people never step out?  They in their nominal human mind can not justify the risk for what they perceive as minimal reward.  If standing in your power, walking in your destiny, knowing the real you is minimal, then I guess I'll take minimal any time, but I assure you it is anything but minimal.

I know I talk and write about Destiny a whole lot, some say too much, some say not enough.  No matter what others may say or think I have been created to help others discover and walk in their destiny.  At the end of the day that's pretty much all I care about.  That's not to say I don't think about my family, friends, loved ones, and of course my dogs, but destiny is almost certainly the center of all I do.  I guess I have a few simple beliefs.  I believe in my Creator, first and foremost.  I believe I was created for a specific purpose, and my choice is to accept that calling and do it to the best of my abilities.  Have you ever asked yourself what your purpose is?  Have you ever given any thought as to why you are here in this moment?  I know people who go through life with absolutely no direction.  The ups and downs take them to withering heights of chaos.  Is that any way to live?  I fully understand the challenges of life, not always pleasant.  I can grasp the significance of having to make tough decisions.  What I can't quite grasp is why anyone would want to go through life without  a vision, a dream, a passion.  Maybe people run from passion, run from dreams and visions simply because they do not want to be accountable.  Guess what?  The day will come when you are going to have to make a decision.  Will you follow your dreams, or will you walk away?  No one, and I mean no one can escape that moment in time, the decision moment, will you or will you not accept your calling?

So once again let me ask, will you jump or will you stay?  Trust me when I tell you this walking in your destiny is not something to fear, rather it is something to embrace.  If you can imagine endless unlimited joy, peace, and happiness, then you can imagine what life will be like when you accept your destiny and take the first step toward it.  Your creation was perfection as you are perfection, as your destiny is perfection.  I'm not saying you will never make a mistake, but let's not confuse missteps, or even failure as anything but a learning opportunity.  Mistakes or missteps do not, will never, and can't stop destiny.  Yes it may slow it down, but in the perfection of God time is not God's concern.  Man may focus on time but I can tell you that God does not. You will be where you need to be, when you need to be there, doing the things you need to be doing.  You might call it faith, you might call it luck, but if it were me I would call it God.  

It's time to tighten up your shoe laces and take that leap.  Staying put is no longer an option, and staying put has never been where you were supposed to be.  Freedom comes when you no longer are bound by another's thoughts, words, actions, and instead take the leap.  Trust me, you will be thankful you did.

The Call of the Wild

What is the Call of the Wild?  Does this calling have anything to do with why we are here in this existence?  Well today I want to provide you my two cents on this incredibly important topic, and it is my hope that you will walk away with a new perspective of things.  As much as I would like to believe that I have all the answers, I do not.  I am forced to dig, and dig, and dig for answers on a daily basis.  That being said, when I do come up with an answer, I latch on to it, and try to never let it go.  Well one answer that I got not long ago was this concept of the Call of the Wild, and why it is so pivotal in our lives.  

If you were able to put yourself into the life of any wild animal what do you think you would discover?  Do you for a moment think that this animal is concerned with what they have to wear? Do you think they are concerned with this bill or that bill? Does this animal walk around consumed by what they just saw on the news or read about in the newspaper?  Animals in the wild are born with instinct.  Animals in the wild will very rarely deviate from this, and those that came before them, and those that will come after them, they too are born with this instinct. There is no doubt that when a wolf gives birth to a pup the mother and father will raise it to know the landscape.  It will be taught about gathering food, seeking shelter, and how to manage their surroundings. What doesn't have to be taught is the instinct that is inside.  Would you believe me if I told you that you also have a Call of the Wild?  You do have instincts that when acted upon will provide you what you need, in the moment you need it.

If you look at a Pack of Wolfs there is a pecking order so to speak.  The leader of the pack, the Alpha Male has proven himself, and has assumed the position as Leader of the Pack.  What people fail to realize is that this leader has instincts, but instincts that are no different from the instincts of other members of the pack.  Wolfs have different instincts than bears.  Bears have different instincts from deer.  Inherent in each species are characteristics specific for this species and necessary for the survival of the species. What would human life be like if people operated from instinct, and not from what they see or hear from others?  I'm not saying we can't learn from others, but instinct is not something that can be taught.  Instinct has to be discovered, and the only way you can discover it is if you first acknowledge that you have it.  

Why am I covering this topic today?  Far too many people are basing everything they do in life on what can be conceived through what others are putting out there, and what others are putting out sadly may not be in your best interest, nor is it something you should be basing decisions on.  While instinct is truth, as it is embedded into your person by that which created you, outside influence is not always pure as the driven snow.  My question to many is why would you base a life changing decision on something that is patently  false?  If you base any decision on false information, what are the chances that the results of your decision will be less than stellar?  It's a pretty sure bet that things will not work out as they should, and you will be left to pick up the pieces, and have to start all over.  

Your intuition, your instinct, your call of the wild is what was placed in you to assist, to ensure that you always have the correct information, or at least the tools to distinguish between truth and fiction.  Your call of the wild was placed in you so that you would have a pure, unadulterated source of knowledge.  I guess the great divide is why some choose to follow this intuition, and why others simply discard it and pay it no mind.  In the wild failure to embrace instinct is going to end up costing one's life.  How often do we come back with the retort "Boy I wish I hadn't done that."?  Now we often second guess ourselves, and results from various studies have identified that our first impression, our first instinct, is often the correct one.  Problems arise when we allow our own instincts to be taken over by things we have seen, read about, or heard.  Much information that we put into our mind is not founded on anything factual, yet we base our decisions on unfounded information.  

We have natural instincts.  The time has come that we incorporate these into our lives, and not simply look at them as something like a myth.  I can't do anything to make you, or force you to listen to your instincts, but I certainly can advise you that if you want to help yourself you might want to reacquaint yourself with that still small voice that is trying to keep you out of harms way.  What saddens me is when I see people who are so dependent on what others say to guide them through life, and never ever make the decision to stand on their own two feet, and simply listen to what their own intuition/instinct is telling them to do.  Have we become so used to having the assistance of others, that we have given up on helping ourselves with the tools we already have inside of us?  There comes a time is each person's life when they are going to have to decide what to do.  Will you simply go with the flow, or will you reach out and listen to that Call of the Wild?  Will you finally realize that you have a flawless, perfect spirit, and in the perfection of your spirit, you have everything you need to live life to the fullest?  

I love animals.  I love seeing them, I love trying to figure out what they might be thinking, and what they might be planning.  I love seeing how they interact with members of their immediate family, and those who might be close by.  They appear to live in freedom, something that most mortals find impossible to do.  Isn't it time that we live in freedom, no longer bound by unbelief, no longer shackled to what someone else says we need to do?  When we live in freedom we live the way we were always intended to live.  The time has come when we will need to decide what path to take.  At the end of the day it is always going to be your own decision what course to set out on.  It is my suggestion that you do what your intuition tells you to do.  It's not difficult, well at least it shouldn't be.

Animals in the wild are sheer perfection, they are an example for us.  Maybe it's time to embrace all that you are, which includes intuition and instinct, and step forward and do those things that you were created to do.  Trust me, life changes when you decide to follow your true nature, and not simply do what others expect of you.  Freedom my friends is what you should be looking at, walking in, and living daily.  Be blessed and know that you have all you need to rise above it all.

 

Recognize your Greatness and power, it's all you.

 There's always a moment in time when things change. We go from knowing nothing, to knowing what we believe is all that life has to offer.  We can understand with our minds our power and greatness, but there is such a difference between knowing or thinking something, and actually walking in something.  Today I want to encourage you to embrace your greatness, your power, and instead of simply acknowledging it, actually begin to walk in it.

While our Eternal Spirit is fully formed, fully mature, all knowing, all powerful at the time of our creation, knowing that is a different story.  Standing in your greatness and power is a choice.  Much like you choose what you are going to wear on any given day, so to you have to choose to walk in your greatness and power.  The Majestic Tiger is aware of its power.  Certainly there are many tigers in a streak, and at any given time one may be the leader, while all the others will fall into line with the leader.  The leader must choose to believe it the power and greatness that it has.  In the absence of walking in this, it cannot be the leader.  

When I got up this morning I had made the determination to simply not write this weekend.  I just wasn't feeling it, and I thought let's just wait and I'll post again next week.  I would think that many authors have questioned whether their words really have any significance, let alone merit.  Missing a week was not going to be the end of the world, at least that's how I saw it.  Let me tell you, when the Creator of the Universe says you might want to reconsider your decision, then you might want to reconsider.  I was told that missing a week might not be the end of the world for me, but what if it was the end of the world for someone else.  I was point blank asked the question: what right did I have not to publish, as someone needs this info.  There are times when I might be a little slow on the uptake, but this particular time, there was no doubt that I just got spanked by my Creator.  Even after my subtle, yet forceful rebuke, I was unsure of what I was going to write about today, but fear not, God's request came through clearly, and forcibly.  

Why am I talking, or writing about greatness and power today?  We are fast approaching a moment in time when every occupant of this planet is going to come to a cross roads.  We are approaching a moment when each of us will have to decide, will I go along just for the ride, or will I chart my own path, walk in my greatness and power, and stand to battle all those who would rather I fall away and do nothing?  The Leader of a Streak of Tigers knows of its greatness and power, any doubt of this would jeopardize its position as a leader.  What leaders do you know, and I mean real leaders, who have made the decision to step away from their power and might?  A true leader will embrace all that has been placed in them to lead.  A true leader will walk in their power, and greatness.  Power and greatness is not something to brag about.  Power and greatness is not something to wear as a badge of honor.  Power and greatness is there to embolden the rest of humanity to take their rightful place.  The time has come to remove pride and arrogance from the equation and simply walk in your power and greatness for the betterment of humanity.

All that I do, all that I am was placed in me to aid and benefit those around me.  I am no greater than anyone else.  Each of us have a calling, each of us are equipped to do those things we have been called to do, and each of us has a part to play.  We must as a society, as a member of humanity, get away from measuring things man's way, and instead looking at things the way God sees things.  We are so quick to judge what others do.  We see accomplishments and we measure our success against what others have done or are doing.  Let me clue you into something, and I've said this many, many, many times in the past: what you do is not measured on size or scope.  It is measured on you doing what you have been asked to do, whether it affects one, or millions. 

I encourage each of you to reflect on what I am saying this morning.  I encourage each of you to embrace your greatness and power, and in doing so recognize that you have been called to do something so much greater than you might think.  We limit our visions because we have been limited in the past by conditioning that made us believe that we are little, and not important in the lightest.  This is so far from the truth of who and what you really are.  The time has come to put down limiting beliefs and instead step out into the greatness and power that was placed in you from the beginning of time.

We have much to accomplish, and each of us has a part to play in what is about to be thrust upon  this planet.  You can walk away from your calling, but that doesn't mean you don't have a calling.  You will never escape what God has placed in you to do.  You can ignore it, you can turn a blind eye, deny it, not believe it, but it won't depart from you, I can assure you of that.  My advise is embrace what you are being asked to do, embrace the fact that you are fully equipped to do what you are being asked to do, and embrace the beauty of your greatness and power.  Trust me, life changes when you do just that.

New Beginnings

Ever wondered what it would be like to start all over again, to start fresh with no limitations, no expectations, no one telling you that you can't do this, or can't do that?  Ever wonder what it would be like to simply have a new beginning?  Well today I want to delve into this subject, and in the process just share some thoughts as to where we are on this journey, and where it must might take you.

Each of us start out with a clean slate, and an empty book, at least that is the perception of many, many people.  Would you believe me if I told you that your empty page, your empty book, was anything but empty?  Your entire life was designed completely  even before your conception.  The Creator of the Universe knew every aspect of your life from day one until your final breath.  God knew of your ups, your downs, your good days, and bad.  Every step you have made in life has already been known.  There was never a time when the Creator of the Universe was unaware of what was happening to you.  The book I speak about, the empty page is just a tool for you to see what is happening in your life, what you are planning for your life, and ultimately what you experienced throughout your life.

We learn from the past.  Sadly many people lock themselves in the past and never move forward to the present, which makes it impossible to even see a glimpse of the future.  There is no denying that we learn from past events.  What we have gone through in life has placed us where we are at in this present moment.  What's most important is that you realize that each day is new, each day brings new possibilities, new opportunity.  Each day is an empty page in a book just waiting for you to share with others.  Just because something happened in the past does not mean it will remain in the future, nor does is relegate you to a life of rinse and repeat.  

We are all entering a phase of New Beginnings.  Each of us has that empty canvas just waiting for you to paint your new landscape.  You get to decide what you write, what you paint.  Certainly there will be people around you who will have some input into what you do, how you do it, but ultimately it is always going to be your decision as to what you do, where you go, who you are.  Far too many people allow others to control them.  You must come to the determination that you have the ultimate decision in what you step out into.  God can provide you the vision, but you must decide to accept the calling and step out into your destiny.  I sometimes wonder why people sit idle and do nothing in life.  Could it be they are afraid of what awaits them?  Could they doubt their abilities?  Might someone just not know?  Your spirit, your true essence knows all, has all the answers, and is the greatest guide the world has ever known.  Sadly many have not acquainted themselves with their spirit.  Many go through each day simply wandering in the wilderness with hope against hope that one day they may stumble into something positive.  Waiting and doing nothing is never the answer.  I understand that some have issues with trust, and trusting what your spirit is telling you to do will not come easy, especially if you are unfamiliar with the sound of your spirit.  At the end of the day you have the decision to make, will you follow what God is telling you to do, or will you simply try to navigate life based on your own merits?  

There are many gifted and talented people who populate the world at this present period of time.  Many have learned to follow the leading of their spirit, many have learned through trial and error, and others are simply lucky at life.  No matter what one has gone through, you must know that what has happened in the past does not mean you are locked into it forever.  Once you have filled a page with words, with your narrative, it is time to flip that page, and simply start another.  Each page should be filled with newness.  Each page should paint a picture of you, of your life, of your dreams, of your visions. Each page of your book should be something that others can benefit from.  We are not here simply to take, we are truly here to give, to give the best part of who we are to others, so they might benefit.

If I were to open up your book, would I be able to see who you are?  Would I be able to see where you are headed?  Would I even have the opportunity to learn from your life?  There are too many people today who simply refuse to open up their book for others to read.  Is this because of fear?  Fearful that others will know what you have gone through, what your struggles are, where you have had doubt, fear, or anxiety?  We all have faced these same things at one time or another in our life, but if you cannot own them, then you are doomed to repeat them time and time again, remember rinse and repeat.

I want you to open up your own book today, flip to an empty page, and prepare yourself to write your story, your story, your words.  You might be surprised who could benefit from your experiences.  It might floor you to learn that many people look up to you, depend on you, desire to know more about you because you inspire them.  What better way to tell them your story then to let them read about it.  Now I'm not saying that everyone needs to actually write a book, my words today are more of a metaphor, but I think you get my drift.  If you decide not to open up your book and write your own story I'm afraid you will miss out on something truly amazing.

New beginnings is just that, newness, but a newness that is in the fullness of who you are, what you are.  New beginnings is the ability to let go of yesterday and embrace today.  New beginnings is realizing that no matter what has happened in the past it does not have to define you.  How many times have you started a new job, no one knowing you, and realizing that you get to start fresh, not having to carry the mistakes of the past with you into this new endeavor?  Certainly there may be some unanswered questions, could even be a little bit of uneasiness as you step into something new, but newness is a wonderful thing.  The simple fact is this:  each day you live is in the newness of God.  Each day you get to step out into a new day, and it doesn't matter what happened the day before.  When we can look at life this way we free ourselves up from many expectations we have placed on ourselves.

New Beginnings are here.  New Beginnings are for you.  New Beginnings are from God, freely given to you each day, and given to you so you might live a life of true understanding, a life of pleasure, and a life of freedom.  Stand in these New Beginnings and realize how blessed you are to be able to participate in them.  I leave you love, light, peace, joy, and happiness.

 

I hear Angels...

 I hear tell that Angels are among us.  I've heard that Angels in vast numbers can stand on the head of a pin.  I've even heard that Angels have the innate ability to disguise themselves in an effort not to be discovered.  You don't say!!!  

Most everyone I know has thought about Angels in the past.  Most if not all will at least acknowledge the possibility that Angels exist.  But how much do we really know about these Angelic Beings, and more importantly why they are here in our midst?  What I want to do today is shed some light on this topic, and in doing so, provide you with hope, understanding, and maybe a little direction.

Numerous books have been written about Angels.  Paintings, statues, monuments are everywhere depicting Angels.  At some point in time I would think that people would grasp the reality of these beings, and in doing so understand their purpose.  We've been told that Angels are God's messengers.  If this be true, what message are they suppose to bring us?  Good tidings?  Tales of what is about to come to pass?  Guidance?  In the absence of knowing or believing in Angels, I guess it really doesn't matter what type of message they bring to us.  It is my hope that you will dispose of any negative thoughts in regards to the existence of Angles, and instead begin to see their purpose.  At the end of the day only you have the ability to decide what to believe in and what not to believe in.  Sadly, many people will never accept the concept of Angels until they run smack dab into one.  Suffice it to say just because one can't see an Angel, or one has never experienced Angelic activity,  that does not mean they don't exist.

As children we were taught that we each have a Guardian Angel.  The role of these Creations is to watch over, protect, and guide.  Like any written word today, one needs to either accept it, or discard it.  You may take some time to come to your own conclusions, but let me say this: just because you can't see something doesn't make it not real.  I've never seen an Angel, at least in all of its glory.  I'm sure I've had occasions where I have been right in the middle of a bunch of Angels, but their true identity was not revealed to me.  I've often asked to see one.  Why I haven't up to this point I can only guess, but just because one hasn't appeared is not cause for me to doubt, and I suggest you see it the same way.

Many might ask why am I talking or writing about this today.  My desire is that you come to an understanding that you have been given authority over these Angelic Beings, and they are here to help, guide, instruct, and otherwise be your partner.  If you have this resource, is there any logical reason why you would not want to partake in it?  If I gave each of you your dream home, or dream car, said it was yours to do with as you wish, would it make any sense whatsoever for you not to partake in said car or home?  The answer is quite simple, it's yours, use it.  Why then when we have been given these beings for our own use do we choose to ignore it, or even doubt the existence?  Once again it comes down to the old adage that if one can't see, touch, feel, smell, or hear, then obviously there is no truth, and what we speak of can't really exist.  Let me ask you this:  have you ever seen the face of God?  Most have not, and yet most believe in a Divine Power.  Can you see air? Most can't see it, yet you need it to live, and it is there even when you can't see it.  I know this may all seem silly, and that's ok, often we are confounded with simple things because we attempt to complicate them.  

The fact that Angels exist can't or shouldn't be debated.  What should be done is coming to an understanding of why they are here, and why you should be using them in everything you do.  Understanding that you have Angels, that they are here to assist, and that they can only really do what you ask them to do, is the first step in establishing a long lasting relationship with these heavenly friends.  What causes me confusion is the resistance of some to even acknowledge that Angels exist, let alone that they are here for us.  If you were the Commanding Officer of a Standing Army, the one who has sole control of the operation of the Army, would you simply sit down on the sideline and never provide marching orders for your army, while everything around you was being over taken by the enemy?  Quite frankly if you did that, you would suck as a Commanding Officer.  Why is it then, as the Commander of your Legions of Angels, you have yet to provide them their Marching Orders?  Why are you sitting on the sidelines not taking action?  

Here is my suggestion for you today, and if I were you I would pay attention to what I am about to share with you.  If you have not made it a point to incorporate your Angels, and yes I said your Angels, into your daily life and activity, I suggest you begin to do it now.  If you have not sent your messengers out to do what needs to be done, do it now.  If you have not asked your Angels to plow the fields in front of you, do it now.  Whatever it is that is causing you to doubt that you have these marvelous beings assigned to you, stop doubting.  Remember, we have not because we ask not, and we ask not, because we don't believe.  Stop not believing.  Start accepting that you have been blessed to have oversight of these beings, and they are simply waiting to hear from you.  Don't allow doubt to rob you of one of the strongest forces in the ever expanding Universe.  Don't allow doubt to step in and stop what is yours, what has been set up for you, what was created just for you.  

It is time to release your Angels to accomplish their mission on your behalf.  It is time to issue those marching orders.  It is time to accept your position as Commander, and use your Army for its intended purpose.  You have been given charge over your Angles, the time has come to do what you have been asked to do by your Creator.  Set these beautiful beings to flight, and see if life doesn't change in a very big way.