What I did on my Summer Vacation!

 I have made the decision to start my Summer Hiatus a week early, as I need the break.  Not that writing is so tiring, it is not, but life can be challenging, and so I have opted to simply treat myself to an extra week of rest and relaxation.  That being said, this will be my last Blog until my return the first Saturday of September, hence the title to today's blog.  Whereas I have no real idea what I will be doing over the next three months, there are a few things I would like you to ponder, and maybe we can have a discussion about it when I return.  Do we have a deal?

There is zero doubt that many have been tried and tested by fire over the last few years.  Many have succumbed to battles, others have survived, and many have simply scratched their heads wondering what in the world is going on right now. What I'd like you to do over the next few months is paint your story, your canvas,  of what you would like to do, like to be, like to experience.  It is in visioning things, that things come to pass.  We can focus on all the negative, but then negativity is the only thing that awaits you.  On the other side of the coin is seeing life the way life is supposed to be, inserting yourself into what life is supposed to be like.  No matter what might be going on around you, you are the only one who can control how you see something, how you react to things, and ultimately what you do on any given day.

If I had the ability to reach out and grant each of you your heart's desire I would do so.  If I had the ability to flip a switch and immediately the world would be as it was originally designed to be, I would also do that. Too many people are trapped in what they believe they need to be, and not what they were created to be.  The freedom to be you, the freedom to embrace the real you, the freedom to simply be has always been there, yet it has been torn away from most people by virtue of the conditioning of man.  Now I could go on for days talking about man's conditioning, but suffice it to say, man's conditioning has done you no favors.  We have been taught what we can do, what we should do, and most of the time it is contrary to what is in each individuals heart.  What I'd like you to do is look into your heart, listen to your heart, and follow what is in your heart.  Certainly those things in your heart may seem impossible to do, they may even scare you a bit due to the enormity of them, but once you embrace what is in your heart, then and only then will you be positioning yourself in the place you were always intended to be.

I want to go off topic for just a bit and say this: peace and tranquillity need to be accepted.  One can dangle the carrot of peace and tranquility in front of you, but that only leads to a never ending search for it, always reaching but never quite getting there.  It's kind of like that commercial with the fisherman who has the dollar bill on the end of his line and taunting the young lady who is trying to reach for it.  Well peace and tranquillity is nothing that you have to chase, it is something you just have to accept.  Not always the easiest thing to do, but believe it or not it is there for you if you will take it by the hand and walk with it.

So let's get back to the topic at hand, whatever are you going to do for the next few months?  If it were me, and this is just my opinion, but if it were me I would find time to simply relax, rest, and do something fun. Having fun with life seems to have been left on the side of the road some time ago.  We all get wrapped around the axel from time to time, but it seems that once you leave or depart that path of Joy, it becomes increasingly more difficult to get back on it.  Might I suggest you make a bee line for the Joy Path and never look back.  It may seem impossible, or just difficult to do, but is anything really impossible?  Picking up joy, peace, harmony is a choice.  You can either operate in all three or be void of them in your life, in which case my guess is life would pretty much suck.  Do yourself a favor and just think about peace and harmony.  Ask yourself what would life look like if peace, joy, and harmony were all three present at the same time?  One very wise man once said that if you can imagine anything you can create anything.  Well if you can imagine a life dominated by peace, joy, love, happiness, and tons of harmony, then chances are you will be walking in it. 

I love to write, but I equally love my time away from it because each year as I take time away I fill that time with me.  I am able to grow, I am able to dream, I am able to see things in a different light, and often what I see is what is about to come into play in my life.  If one never takes time for themselves and is always doing for others, the time will come when you will have nothing to offer others as you are empty.  Taking time for you is in reality a selfless act.  You cannot help others if you are not filled to the brim with your own peace, your own joy, and your own harmony with the rest of creation.  I'm not sure how we got so off track with the whole I need to work myself to the bone and will only take time for me when I get done.  Truth be told, there will always be those who have need, but if you can't take care of you, there won't be any of you left to help others.  Might I suggest that you take the next three months to fill your tank.  Trust me the world is probably not going to come to an end in three months, and if it does, oh well, we know the ending and how we fair.  

Allow me to end with this, and I hope it brings comfort, understanding, and a tiny bit of peace.  You are a remarkable creation.  You were placed here to do some remarkable things.  If you are not quite familiar with what You have been created to do, then now may be the time to ask the questions of your creator.  In the absence of asking the question, you will never have the answers.  When one begins to grasp the vastness of who they are, then and only then can they celebrate what they are going to be doing.  If one can only see small, then life will become even smaller.  When one sees the truth in who and what they are, then one can begin to walk in those things that were meant for them, and in walking in them, open of the gates of possibility.  

So let me ask you, what will you be doing on your Summer Vacation?  The choice is yours to make, and although it may be clouded by certain outside influences, if you listen to your heart, you will get the right answers.  Have a wonderful three months, and I will see you on the other side.  We have much work to do, and we each have a part, but we can only succeed when you are rested, when you are assured of what you are doing, and only when you buy into the importance of you.  It's a glorious time to be alive, and it is a wonderful time to walk in those things that are meant for you.  Have a blessed day.  I leave you love, light, peace, joy, and happiness.

For the Greater Good

 What is the Greater Good?  Does it exist in the world today?  Is there a way to determine what is the Greater Good, and even if you can find it or describe it, is it something that anyone even concerns themselves with any longer?  Now it may seem like I'm heading down a negative path, but I can assure that what I have to share today is very positive.  Today I want to inspire you, and at the same time let you know that you are set up perfectly to make a mark on this planet, and touch the lives of countless people, some of which you might never meet. 

Now let me address the picture associated with today's Blog.  The word "Grateful" should resonate with every individual.  There are times when we fully understand this word, when we walk in gratefulness, when we embrace gratefulness.  Sadly there are many who haven't felt this in a long time, but let's hope we can change that today.  When one is grateful one is aware of the blessings that abound around them.  Many of these blessings are for the individual, some are for the masses.  Either way being grateful is a state of mind, and it is this state of mind that will bring comfort, in some cases understanding, and mostly it brings peace.  Some might be asking what does being grateful have to do with the greater good.  Allow me a moment to explain, and I do believe you will see where I am going with this.

Each of us has a calling, a mission, a purpose.  This charge we have been given is not to hoard up for ourselves, rather to administer to the rest of the world, to those around us.  Our calling, our mission, our purpose and passions are for the greater good.  The talents each of you have are in you so you might accomplish your mission in this life.  I would suggest to each of you that this one simple truth should cause absolute gratefulness to surround you.  If you are not grateful, then I doubt very seriously that you are aware of your calling, nor will you ever accomplish it.  I don't say that as a judgement, rather it comes from a place of sadness as operating, walking in, living your purpose is the single greatest honor there is.

The Greater Good is simply placing the needs of others above your own needs.  I'm not saying that you should ignore the needs you have, or the needs of family and friends, but let's be real for a moment, and this is where the rubber hits the road.  If you are only thinking about yourself, then does it really matter what you have, what you do, or where you might be going?  At the end of the day what you think you have will only be a modicum of what you could truly have.  When your focus is on the greater good then it is impossible to out give God.  When your focus is on giving then you have assimilated to the world of the greater good.  Too many people fail to give because they are afraid of loosing what they have.  Sadly what they have has provided them their identity.  They have become what they drive, why they do for work, and they have missed who they truly are, or are at least unaware of who and what they are. 

When we work towards the greater good we open the gates of blessing.  I for one am grateful, there's that word again, but I am grateful for all that I have been asked to do.  Certainly there are times when I might come up short, when I might make a mistake, but I still move forward and do what I can do to the best of my abilities.  It is in my attempts, in my desire to walk in my calling that I find peace, where I find joy and happiness, where I find completion.  If you are constantly striving for more, seeking to hide it away for a rainy day, I can assure you that you will never have enough.  Comfort does not come because you have a huge house, fancy car, of large sums of money.  Comfort comes when you know you are walking in the perfect will of God, when you embrace all that you are, and when you joyfully give.  Now let me say this, least you think I am against having nice things.  You can have all the nice things in the world as long as those nice things don't have you.  When you only identify with what you own, that is a problem.  Being blessed is having the desires of your heart.  If those desires are in you, they are there and have been placed there for a reason.  Maturity knows what to do with the blessings, how to act with the blessings.  Sadly many people cry out to God for a blessing and when it doesn't come right away they feel God has abandoned them, not wanting to bless them.  The truth of the matter is that God may be waiting for the perfect time as if you receive it too early on in your journey you may not be ready for it.

Everything you are, everything you have, everything you think is ultimately for the greater good.  That doesn't mean you won't enjoy the fruits of your labor, it simply means your focus is not just on "Me" it is in fact on what you can do for others.  We live in a world where so many look out for number one.  We participate in a society where what you have is what places you are the community wish list for status.  Now not everyone is looking for status, but let's be real for a moment.  There are probably more people in the world who are looking for status than those who are not.  Doing things for the greater good of humanity may not be glamorous, it may not be seen as the thing to do.  Doing things for the greater good may never get you into a Hall of Fame.  However, doing things for the greater good will ultimately fill you with something that can't be bought with money, can't be replaced by fame or fortune, and can't be manufactured by those around you who know nothing about the greater good.  The knowing, the understanding, the acceptance of your calling is what will provide you with all the riches in the world. I don't mean monetarily, I mean riches in knowing that you get to do what you were created to do.  

It is time to seek out those things that will benefit others, things that will change the world, things that are for the greater good.  This is why you were called, chosen, and why you see things a little differently than most others around you.  Stand in your visions, your dreams, your passions.  I promise you that doing this will indeed change humanity, and after all isn't that what's important?  

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. 

When the time is right, you will know!

 If you are like me, I have out run God many times.  Instead of operating from a prudent position I decided to go like gang busters and do my thing.  Care to know how things turned out? Let's just say I learned my lesson and now wait for the right time.  Like many things in life we often want it now, and in the wanting it now, we don't always take into consideration that now might not be the right time.  This obviously leads to the question, what is the right time?  Today I hope to answer that for you, and provide you with a few things to ponder, as if you didn't have enough on your plate already.  

As I've said many times in the past we all have a passion, a purpose.  When we finally accept this fact it's very easy to dive right in, not realizing that there is always a perfect time for execution of your plan, and knowing that perfect time is key to the success of your endeavors.  Sadly many people miss the signs that will come to them in regards to perfect timing, and in missing these signs what was a very good thing ends up in having to pick up the many pieces of a broken dream.  Fear not, just because you made an error in timing does not mean a dream is dead, far from it.  It simply means you need to regroup and attempt it again.

We as humans have been conditioned to live under a time standard, expecting certain things at certain times, trying always to predict what the perfect time is.  Sadly time, as we know it, is an illusion.  When one talks about a dream, a vision, a purpose, a passion, time should never come into the conversation in as much as we often place false deadlines.  Don't misunderstand me, we live with time, but time should never be the absolute in what plans we have, when we institute those plans, and ultimately what our expectations are in regards to when we do something.  I know it's somewhat confusing, but stick with me for a moment and I think you will see where I am taking all of this.

Have you ever prayed for God to open a door for you?  I know I have, and at times it seems as though the wait is taking forever. In the perfection of your design, there is perfection in the timing of stepping out into your destiny, your purpose.  It is when we out run God that we smack right into the door that is not quite ready to be opening.  Patience is not always easy to stand in, but it is advisable to always display patience when God's timing is involved.  Do you think for one minute that your plans are any less valid simply because you have entered what you perceive as a delay?  When I tell you that I have learned the hard way about God's timing, I have learned the hard way.  I have seen things come crashing down because I wanted it my way, and in my timing.  Now God is forgiving, and oh so gracious, and we will have the opportunity to make things right, even if we have messed things up.  My encouragement to you is simply look for signs.  Look for the the open doors, and once opened, run through them.  There's nothing worse than sitting around complaining that things are not moving, and right in front of you is an open door.  What's the old adage, one can't see the forest because they are too close to the trees.  Often we are standing right in front of the open door, but in our desire to do it in our own time, we miss what is right in front of us. I have been guilty of this many times in the past, and luckily for me I have learned a lesson and make every effort not to make the same mistake twice.

There are so many people who feel that they have failed because they have yet to see their dreams come into existence.  First off failure is never fatal, and it certainly is not the end of things.  Many people have failed miserably with things and yet they go on to do some pretty incredible things in life.  It is only when we cease to move forward, when we throw our dreams on the dust heap, that we fail.  Can you name me anyone who hasn't come up against a wall, a challenge, a distraction?  Most everyone I know has had this happen, and luckily for them they didn't allow this to stop them.  We must never let go of our dreams and realize that they will manifest at the perfect time, and in the perfect manner.  True diligence is working through each perceived delay, each setback, every distraction.  When you approach your dreams with certainty, when you realize that each dream is a stepping stone to your destiny, then and only then will you be able to accept delays, distractions, and setbacks, and know that they all play a part in God's perfect timing.

So when will you know the time is right?  Do the planets all have to line up.  Do you need a neon sign lit up with your next step?  You will know the time is right when you are able to hear what your spirit is telling you.  Sadly many, many people have yet to familiarize themselves with the voice of their own spirit.  I could write a book on that, but for right now suffice it to say knowing what your spirit is telling you is going to eliminate a ton of delays, distractions, and setbacks.  It certainly would be great if we never had to wait, if we never had to listen, look, be aware of God's signs for us, if we could just have it delivered to us on a Silver Platter, but you and I both know that that probably is not going to be the way God communicates with you.  Anything worth having is worth working for, and getting signs from the Creator the Universe is no different.  Too many people want things for nothing and have absolutely no skin in the game.  If you are not willing to invest yourself into your dreams and visions, then why in the world would you get mad at God for what you perceive to be a delay in getting what you want?  

If you have the faith to believe that you have a purpose, then you have the faith to see the signs of when the time is right to step out into those dreams.  Our timing may not be perfect, but God's is.  Our ability to walk in our purpose is going to be dependent on your ability to see and understand God's clues.  If we open up our Spiritual Eyes we will see what we need to see, allowing us to do those things we need to do. I have learned to accept God's timing, and why?  I've learned through trial and error.  I've made some dumb moves in my time, and after being burned numerous times I have learned to wait on God's perfect timing.  Will I get it right from here on in?  Probably not, but it won't be for a lack of trying.  Sometimes we just need to take the first step and let God do the rest, understanding that his timing is perfect, and ours often isn't.  

You will know when the time is right, but you will also discover when you have outrun God.  Given the option to do it in God's time or your own, what makes more sense? I know the answer is obvious, but I still like to challenge you when I can.  Know this: you have the ability to hear, you have the ability to see, and you have the ability to know the timing of God.  Don't doubt it.  Your dreams, your destiny is not going to go away, and if you think that your Creator is not going to keep it in your mind, you don't know God.  Your purpose needs to come to fruition, and God will let you know when the time is right, trust me on this.

When you know, you know.

Funny thing.  I was halfway through writing the blog this morning, and I was told to discard it, and instead go out on this path.  I have learned to listen to that still small voice, and so I am moving forward on what I believe is needed by someone today.  I dare say that most, if not the vast majority of people have been experiencing some battles as of late.  Some of this battles may only be slight hiccup for some, while others seem almost insurmountable.  No matter where you fall on the spectrum I want to provide a little encouragement this morning, and in doing so, provide you with a path to complete your mission here on earth.

If you are like me, you probably have an idea that life is much more than what you might see at the moment.  If you are like me, you most likely have this gut feeling that there is something that you were placed here to do.  If you are like me, you are waiting for a sign, waiting for a door to be opened, or simply waiting for direction.  The simple fact that you know that you know that there is something for you to do is really the first step in the process.  Sadly, there are many who never come to the understanding that there is something for them to do, something that they were created for.  Today I want to shed some light on what that something might be, and encourage you to step out into it.  

There's this fallacy floating around that we are just here willy nilly.  There are people who feel as though that life in general is nothing more than going through the paces, being born, living for a specific period of time, and then departing this existence for the afterlife.  Now while this scenario may be correct, there is a part of life that many have yet to figure out, yet to accept or acknowledge, and that part is the main reason you brought here in the first place. I don't care who you are, where you came from, when all is said and done there comes a time when you are going to have to decide if you are going to walk in your destiny, or simply go through life ignoring what has undoubtedly been haunting you for years and years.  Let's be honest for a moment and state the obvious: everyone alive, past, present, and future was brought here with a mission, a purpose.  While many will go through life ignoring this calling, it is still there, and it is waiting for you to embrace it.  

I see so many people who go through life feeling trapped in a profession that they would give up in an instant if only they had a way out, or something to take its place.  If you are driving to work on a Monday Morning just praying that your place of employment has burnt to the ground, I think it's a fair assessment that you are not doing what you were created to do.  I get people feel trapped in their current job because of various financial responsibilities they have, the mortgage, tuition, and the like.  These things in no way change the fact that you have been created to do something very specific, and the sooner you know this, or at least accept this, the sooner you can step out into those things you were created to do. 

How many people do you know who have asked the question, Is this as good as it gets?  I've got to tell you that asking this question is a sure sign that you have yet to pick up on those dreams and passions inside of you.  I'm not pointing fingers, nor am I judging.  I just know that until such time as you can accept your Divine Calling, everything else in life is going to pale in comparison to what you truly want and desire.  When you know that you know that there has to be more to life than what you might be experiencing in the moment, that is the time when you just may open up to what is inside of you to do.  Let me ask you this simple question: if you could be doing anything right now, without regard to schooling or money, without regard to location or various resources, what would it be?  If you could start all over and do that one thing that you are passionate about, what would it be?  

I learned a long time ago what I was destined for, what my destiny was, but I can assure you it didn't come easy.  I had become what I did, and what I owned, and that is how I measured my worth.  It took loosing it all to realize that I wasn't what I drove, where I lived, or what I did for work. Was the transition easy? No not really, it actually kind of sucked at the beginning, but boy am I glad I went through it.  I learned who and what I was, and it allowed me to accept my destiny.  Each of you will have to make that decision at some point, if you haven't already.  Life changes dramatically when you finally decide to do what is in your heart to do.  Life changes because you have begun to focus on your purpose, and not on what others expect of you, or think you should be doing.

Most people agree that change kind of bites.  Most people fight change because they have never been brought into the loop as to the reason for change.  Most idiot employers simply say do this or do that, almost always contrary to the current way of doing something, but seemingly omitting the reason for the change.  This is an absolute formula for disarray, confusion, and ultimately a break down in morale.  However, when the reason for a change is broadly disseminated it is easier to accept, and there is far less turmoil.  Such is life when we are faced with changing everything we thought we knew, and instead picking up on what is really your purpose, and not the purpose that others have picked out for you.  Will you have the ability to leave everything behind and step out into your new reality?  Some will be able to make the shift easily, others will only go kicking and screaming.  No matter what your path is to your destiny, the end will always be as it was intended, and that ending will be a thing of beauty.

When you know that you know that you have a destiny, then the journey to it is something you can smile about, enjoy, and ultimately be fulfilled by it.  So given the option to stay where you're at, you know that place that you hope burns down one day, or stepping out into what drives you, inspires you, fills you with excitement, what is the better option in your opinion?  

I alone cannot make you decide.  I can encourage, I can motivate, I can even kick you in the backside from time to time, but what I can't do is make the decision for you.  As much as I'd like to scream from the Mountain Top to anyone who will listen "Wake Up", even then there will be those who are deaf to what I am saying or encouraging others to step out into.  Do yourself a favor and simply think about what I am saying today.  I don't expect someone to literally walk into their HR Department Monday Morning and quit.  If however you feel as though there is more to life than what you are experiencing at the moment, then simply open yourself up to the possibility of other doors opening for you to step through.  

When you know that you know that you have a destiny, then change can come, and that change can be embraced.  When you know that you know that you have a destiny,  your new perspective on things will be turning on the light and having the darkness go away.  When you know that you know that you have a destiny, well let's just life is going to get interesting pretty darn quickly.  Might I suggest that you open yourself up to the possibility that change is good, destiny is yours, and the sooner you step out into that destiny, the sooner you can see how great life really is.  Think about it, but don't too much time, people need what you have to offer.

When do I take the first step?

One of life's greatest questions is, when do I do what is in my heart to do?  If you have ever asked yourself this question then you are in good company.   In fact, if you haven't asked this question then I wonder what you're waiting for.  If you think for a moment that you don't have a destiny, that one thing that you were born to do, well I'm sorry, you're mistaken.  Every living, breathing human being has a destiny.  Now some will discover it early in live, and others will be looking, and looking, and looking, for what seems like a lifetime.  It matters not when you finally discover and agree to walk in your destiny, as there will be time to complete what you were sent here to do.  

What I want to do today is get you to make a decision.  Will you be what you were created to be, or will you settle for what others have told you that you had to be?  Will you finally decide to take that first step into a journey of 1000 miles?  When all is said and done only you can make the decision when you will step out into your destiny.  It is my hope that you make that decision, and that you embrace your destiny with everything inside of you.

Everyone has dreams, they have desires, and they have a passion.  All of these three things are what will ultimately lead you to the reason you were created in the first place.  Everyone has heard me say that you being here in this time is not a mistake, and you being here right now is in the perfection of your creator. We are not on this planet just for the free popcorn, and the sooner you realize that you have a calling, the sooner you can step out into said calling.  Problems arise when some idiot tells you that what you desire to do is not really anything that will benefit you.  First off, most of the time those things that have been placed in you to do are not meant for your benefit but for others.  That's not to say you aren't supposed to make a living.  What I'm saying is take a look at the bigger picture.  If you are focused on accomplishing what God has called you to do, I don't think you are going to have to worry about how you will make a living.  Contrary to what others may say living with prosperity and abundance is not out of God's character, and therefore is just as much for you as anyone else.  We can tackle the issue of abundance and prosperity another time, suffice it to say God is a God of abundance, and we'll just leave it at that.

Sadly, there are many hindrances that cause people to stay stagnant and unwilling to move forward in those things that have been placed in their heart to do.  At some point in your life it is probably certain that someone, at some time, has told you that you shouldn't do something, or can't do it.  They may have tried to say that you can't make a living doing what you desire, and might as well stop even thinking about it.  So many dreams are crushed by those who have never even given thought to their own dreams, and would rather crush yours vice go after theirs.  Don't fall into this trap, never, never, never.  Your dreams have been placed in you for a specific reason, and non one owns your dreams except you.  End of story...case closed...

When ever I do a talk I'm asked from various people how do they determine what is a dream, what is a vision.  First and foremost, dreams and visions are stepping stones to your destiny.  Second, and maybe more important than any other fact, you have all you need to accomplish your dreams and visions.  God would not ask you to do something that you were not equipped to do.  Certainly you might need assistance, but that's ok, many hands make light work.  One of the greatest mistakes I've made in my life is always feeling that I had to do everything myself.  I had this crazy notion that unless I did it all by myself that somehow what I accomplished would be less valuable to me in someway.  I'm glad to say that I have outgrown this phase of my life, and I gladly accept assistance now.  What's important is not whether you do it alone or with help, but that you simply do what is being asked of you.  

I realize that stepping out into the unknown is not always an easy task, but to those who have  been given a lot, a lot is expected of you.  If you have been given a dream, a destiny, which you have, then there is something that you need to do with it.  Only you can accomplish the things in you, as you are the only one who has been given your specific dream.  Certainly some will have similar dreams, but not exact.  Your personality will always go along with supporting your dreams and visions.  If someone says you need to change, don't do it.  Leaders will always be leaders.  Those who love to serve others, will always try to serve.  Let's put it this way, stop trying to fit a squad peg into a round hole.  If you are a leader, then great lead away.  Your personality is perfectly formed to do what you have been asked to do, God does not make mistakes, so know you are you for a reason. 

So the question I have is when?  When will you take that first step?  If you have begun your journey, no matter how long you have been on it, know that you will always be given what you need.  Life takes many paths, and the key to success is knowing what path to go down. There is always a right path and a wrong path.  Problems arise when you are unsure of what path to take, and this is complicated more when you have yet to familiarize yourself with the sound of your spirit, who will always provide you with truth. If you find it hard to hear from God, and let's face it, many seem to be in this boat, know that all is not lost.  If God wants to speak to you, he will speak to you, and in reality there is nothing you can do to stop it.  Don't misunderstand, you can run from God, but at the end of the day, God's will will be done.  There is example after example of people who have run away and ultimately have their Come to Jesus moment.  What's the old adage you can run but you can't hide.  When God has a job for you to do, he will do everything to get you to see that it would be better to follow his guidance.  

Taking the first step is entirely up to you.  No-one can make you take it before you are ready.  Certainly we can provide encouragement, but it is your decision to make, and only yours.  That being said, I would strongly suggest that you seek out guidance, and if moved, which you will be, take action.  There is much to accomplish, and you have a part to play in what is about to take place all over this planet.  We are entering a time where we will see many wonderful and marvelous things, my suggestions is not to miss any of it.  When we walk in our destiny, we will know the joy of all things, and that is something that is worth all the money in the world.  You can take that to the bank.

Where Our Journey Begins.

Today I simply want to speak about you, your journey, your destiny, and how you fit into the ever increasing Universe.  So many people feel as though they are insignificant, small, tiny, or no worth.  This belief is so contrary to the real you, and I need you to realize the real you, and just how important you are to the order of things in this huge, and largely unknown Universe.  

We begin our journey as new borns, and while we know very little in the natural sense, our Spirit is fully developed, mature, and otherwise unlimited in its abilities.  Sadly most individuals never take the time to understand the spiritual aspect of life, and thus limiting what they are able to do, or in many cases what they were created to do in the first place.  I know I sound like a broken record when I talk about tapping into your spiritual side.  I know I sound like a broken record when I remind you that we as humans simply inhabit a mortal body.  That broken record continues to play when I remind you that the Creator of the Universe created your spirit long before your physical body was formed in your mother's womb.  Sadly many go through life never familiarizing themselves with this truth, and in missing this truth, miss out on many, many things in life.

If one believes in Eternal Life after you leave these mortal coils, then that begs the question what is eternal life?  I'm not going to delve into the hereafter today, rather I want you to consider this one thing, and if you disagree, that's ok, we are always free to hold our own truths, our own beliefs.  If your spirit is going to live on eternally after you die, when does this period start?  Does eternity start tomorrow, or did it start yesterday?   Silly question I know, but don't you think it deserves an answer?  If Eternity is forever, meaning it is infinite in scope, does that not lead one to believe that if we are going to live forever in spirit, then we have lived forever in spirit?  If something infinite has no end, then it also means that it has no beginning.  I'm not here to define Quantum Physics, or argue to validity of non-destructible energy.  What I want to do is simply give you food for thought.  We are energy, and as such energy can neither be created or destroyed as set down in the First Law of Thermodynamics.  If in fact this law is true, then all the energy that occupies the ever expanding Universe has always been here, and will be here until the end of time.  In my years of study I have never had anyone argue this point, and not agree about the lifespan of energy.  I have on the other hand had people very upset because they claim this is new age poppycock.  

When Christ came against the Pharisees he was considered New Age as he was quite vocal about the hypocrisies being displayed daily by the Religious Elite.  Christ walked in his fullness.  Christ understood that he was Spirit first and foremost, and encouraged all that would listen to follow his example.  Sadly we have been conditioned over the generations to believe that being lead by our own spirit is somehow some mystical magical, never to be uttered, way of life. We have been told that if anything comes from anything other than a Chosen Elite member of a Church then we are being misled or deceived.  Sorry folks, I just can't embrace stupidity and ignorance.  We have a Spirit, it is me.  We have a Spirit, it is you.  I guess you can argue the point until the cows come home, but if you think or believe in life after death, then how can anyone not believe they are spirit first and foremost?  

Why am I trying to pound on this idea or philosophy today?  We have been sold a bill of goods over our lifetime.  We have been made to feel insignificant.  We have been told to sit down, shut up, and take life as it is.  God help you if you come at me with this dibble.  We are so powerful, so all knowing, so unlimited in our abilities, and yet who do you know who is operating this way?  We have been dumbed down over the generations to believe in our limitations, the limitations that man has placed on us.  I can assure you that your Creator, God, never limited you, nor does the Creator of the Universe want you to walk around thinking you are anything other than Superior, beautiful creations able to create.  

Why do you think that the Religious Elite of this world want you to stay dumbed down?  Might it be that if you knew of your true abilities, those things placed in you at the time of your creation, that cannot be taken away, that if you were aware of them, then you wouldn't need these people to control every aspect of your life?  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against religion, but walking in your true nature is not religion.  Walking in your true essence is knowing you are Spirit.  Walking in Spirit threatens those who have tried to control you.  I'm sure I have alienated quite a few today, and if what I am writing offends you, I can't do much about that.  People have lived in fear because they knew there was more to life than what has been told to them, but when they stepped out into those things that their spirit was telling them to step out into, they were dismissed by the would be Religious Leaders as heretics, loose cannons.  When you do anything that threatens the establishment the first thing they do is try to take you down.  I'm tired of being controlled by those who feel they have earned the right to dictate my actions, my beliefs. Sorry, not sorry, you can take your limiting beliefs, your demands, and push them on someone else.  I know what I am, who I am, what I've been, and I will stand in those things.  I am powerful, unlimited in abilities, and I am a divine eternal being.  If you truly believe that you will live eternally after death, how can you doubt your power right now?  

If you fail to recognize the Unlimited, and I do mean Unlimited ability of your own Spirit, then you are going to fall prey to those who want you to believe you are anything but unlimited.  When you walk in your power you are a threat to those who are attempting to keep you pushed down.  Why are there people who try to control you?  Why are there people who think they are better than you, and you should be subject to their desires to direct your steps?  It's time we cut away from the rules of man, and instead walk in what God has placed in you.  The sooner you recognize your abilities, the sooner you say no to man's control, the sooner you can be what you were always intended to be.  

If what I am saying today makes you cringe, maybe you need to take some time and ask God if you are actually aware of what God has placed in you.  We were never meant to be controlled by man, rather we should be lead by our Spirit which is lead by God.  I will let you ponder this.  We are infinite beings.  We will never die, and as such, at some point in time we will be privy to the greatest mystery of life, what awaits us on the other side.  The time has come to step out into why we were created, and what we were created to do.  Look at it this way:  if so much energy has been used to keep us in slavery, what have they been trying to hide from us?  When you can answer that question, you will be on your way to understanding the purpose behind your creation.  Never give up, never give in, and know that who you are is who you are supposed to be.  I leave you light, love, peace, joy, and happiness.