Sure as hell?

“Sure as hell..”

I am sure that at some point in your life, you, or someone around you has used that phrase.

“That sure as hell will never happen” or,

“I sure as hell didn’t expect that.”

Like so many other little phrases and statements, it has found it’s place in everyday conversation, used by so many people, without even thinking..

Have you ever heard anyone say “... Sure as Heaven...”? I know I haven’t.. Why is that? Are we so certain that hell exists, and forget about Heaven? Or are we all so bogged down with all the negativity in life, that it becomes easier to associate with the negative, rather than hold on to the positive? The truth is, so many people enjoy being miserable. People c rave attention, which is acceptable, we are human, but it seems that the only way to gain attention is to seek sympathy. And the best way to gain sympathy is to emphasise all the hardships and suffering that you are going through.. I will be the first person to admit that I am guilty on all counts! The other day a very good friend of mine helped me to realise that. He has just returned from a business trip on the other side of the world. When I look at his accomplishments, I feel like a failure.. But when he laid everything out, it got me thinking..

How great would it be if we could “Accentuate the positive, and eliminate the negative”? If we could be more grateful for what we do have, and not so obsessed with what we don’t, I bet you’d be pleasantly surprised at all the blessings that you overlook!

Over the past two weeks I have achieved some of the greatest accomplishments in my life, both personally, professionally, in my relationships with people, and in my relationship with Christ. I have had so many major victories! Here is the problem.. I have created this paradox within my perspective. That is, I am so desperate to succeed in certain things, that when I achieve something else, I overlook it, then I lose focus, and feel like I haven’t succeeded, even though I just have! Then when I go back, it’s not good enough, so my success is a failure. Confused? Me too.. I like to call this “cognitive distortion”. So we take something that we know is real, and, for no good reason, we doubt it or question it, and somehow prove to ourselves that it is wrong..

Back to my point.. You see how easy it is to forget about the positive, and surround yourself with negativity or loneliness. So we bring ourselves down, and take everybody else with us. Then we ask ourselves, “Where is all the good in the world?” When all along, it’s right in front of us! Just take hold of it and embrace it! It was Mahatma Ghandi who said, “Be the change you want to see in the world..” I like that. Lets stop looking at the bad things in life, and lets focus on the good, and grow it! If you want to get the attention of someone, do it with a smile, or a hug..

If we could all just be a little bit more cheerful, I bet we could start a chain reaction. Imagine a world full of people who are happy? A world full of people who are filled with Christ? We were given the gift of life, so how about we appreciate it? I SURE AS HEAVEN WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT!!

Special People

With the way the world is going; everybody busy, work, school, commitments, obligations, it all gets a bit hectic, and sometimes we forget about the important things. I hope this helps you to stop and take stock of the things that matter most to you..
One day, a young boy approaches his mother, who is busy working on her laptop. A single mom, she puts all her time into making sure that she can provide for her two children, taking care of school fees, bill payments, and everything in between..

"Mommy...", The little boy says, in a hushed voice, afraid to disturb his mom. "How much do you get paid per hour?"
"That's none of you business." She replies abruptly, still focusing on the work she is doing.
"Please Mommy, I would really like to know how much you get paid per hour."
Seeing that her son is going to persist, she doesn't need the distraction, so she decides to just answer him, "Fifty dollars."
The little boy looks at his hands, counting on his fingers, he pauses, then replies, "Mommy... Could I please borrow Twenty dollars?"
The mother takes her glasses off, slowly turns to look at her son, her eyes still adjusting from the light of her computer screen, with an annoyed expression on her face, quickly growing impatient, "Twenty dollars? Is that the only reason you asked me how much I get paid? Just so that I could give you Twenty dollars?"
The little boy's bottom lip starts to quiver. "Please Mommy, could I borrow Twenty dollars, it's for something important, I promise."
Eventually the mother decides to do whatever she needs to, in order to eliminate this distraction. She leans across and pulls her black leather purse out of her hand-bag. Unclasping the small silver buckle, she opens her purse and retrieves a folded Twenty dollar note, and stretches across to her son, who slowly pulls it from her fingers. "Thank you." The little boy says excitedly, before turning and dashing out the door and into his bedroom.
The mother, having lost her train of thought, and curious about what her son is up to, closes her laptop, lifts herself to her feet, and quietly follows, into her son's bedroom, where she sees him sitting on his bed, pulling a handful of notes from under his pillow, counting them out onto his lap.
"Why did you ask me for money if you already have all that? What are you up to?"
The little boy, stunned by his mother's harsh tone, but determined to finish his task, folds all the notes neatly together, slides off his bed, his little feet silently landing on the carpet beneath him, shuffles timidly towards his mother, his short arm out-stretched towards her, handing over the money. He says, "Mommy, here is Fifty dollars. Please could I buy one hour of your time so that you can come downstairs and have supper with us before bedtime?"
The mother, finally realising what her son was trying to accomplish, with tears beginning to well up in her eyes, falls to her knees, and embraces her son in her arms. "Come, lets go have supper."

When life gets a bit too frantic, some times we forget what is really important to us. It is easy to overlook the amazing things that are right in front of us. God doesn't charge you a single cent for His time, yet Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could spend time with the ones we love. Don't you think we ought to find a bit of time in our busy lives to share with Him in return?

Appreciating God

Appreciation. What does this word mean to you? Recently a friend of mine felt guilty about not appreciating all of God's blessings in her life, a beautiful family, a great husband, and two healthy sons, all she'd ever wanted; because she way having "one of those days", for no apparent reason. This got me thinking, (as most things do).. How much do we REALLY appreciate the people in our lives, and all of God's blessings? And how often do you show your appreciation?

I came to realise, after a few perplexing, and somewhat inconclusive conversations with others, as well as within myself; that sometimes it is important to go without something, or to sacrifice something of significance, tangible or other. In this way, the acknowledgement of it's absence brings about an appreciation, without which we often take things for granted.

As I delved deeper within my own experiences, as well as those of friends and family, I derived a few examples of what I'm getting at. For any working individual, who is required to go away on business for any period of time, be it a brief stop-over in a neighbouring town, or an extended stay in China, whatever the case may be, the absence is felt, and often dreaded. I personally think it should be embraced; because I'm sure that there are people that you see, and things yo walk past everyday, all of which mean the world to you, but you forget to appreciate, and sometimes take for granted. Remember the last sunrise you saw, or a flower you found in a field; remember how it made you feel whilst you could see it, and appreciate it? Why can't it be like that with everything else? Especially with God, Who created all these things?

I pray for a day when appreciation finally finds it's way back into our minds, and our hearts.A day when a husband will bring his wife flowers, not for any occasion, but just to let her know that she is appreciated? I long for a day when every person can spend some time in the presence of Christ. Not only at the times when we pray for a blessing or forgiveness, but just because we appreciate the sacrifice that was made on the cross; because that was more blessing and forgiveness than you could ever pray for, and it was all done unconditionally, long before you were even born! So why can't we always appreciate the gift of life? I'm afraid that after a while it gets taken for granted, and is only appreciated when it is too late. Don't be afraid to show someone or something, or God, your appreciation. And don't get all forlorn and distraught when you have to go without someone or something, it will only be gone for a while, but God will never leave your side. -One moment of sacrifice brings about a greater appreciation than a lifetime of  longing-. Hey, that's deep, and it is my own quote, I hope that it is remembered one day, when I'm gone..

So why not stop for a few minutes to take in that sunrise, or to smell that flower? Why not tell someone that they mean the world to you, just because they do. And why not take a moment to praise God, for all the little things He has created that make up your beautiful life? I believe that if you stop and notice something or someone, and the memory of it stays with you, it was put right there, at that moment, not by coincidence, but by God,  for you to notice, as a gift. Why not take the time to appreciate it?

"I would rather be able to appreciate the things I can not have, that to have things I am not able to appreciate." - Elbert Hubbard.

Making the difference..

What a hectic week it's been so far!!

It seems like everything is happening all at once! Have you ever felt like that?

I've been working for a new company for almost a month now. As is usually the case, things were slow to start, and I spent a lot of time messing around, goofing off, and just waiting for stuff to happen! After a while I realized that I needed to be more pro-active. I wanted to make the best of each day and try and find meaning in what I was doing. So, I did something that I haven't really done for a while.. I prayed.. Now, nobody ever showed me how, of told me why, I'm just fumbling along I guess.. And then - and please don't think I'm getting all preachy - things started to happen! Work literally poured in, and now I'm totally over-whelmed with work, but I LOVE IT!! Impossible deadlines, ridiculous workloads, and difficult customers, finally, I know I am where I belong!

Work aside, my personal life is a joke.. I think that is why I get lost in my work, so I don't have to face myself.. But anyway.. I'm also fumbling down that path gradually. But today, as I was leaving the gym this morning, on my way to work, I saw a friend from my church, whom I haven't seen for a while, so I went to give her a hug, as I usually do.. I didn't say anything, and neither did she, but something wasn't right.. She was upset.. At this point I still don't know what it is that is upsetting her.. But we cried together.. I don't know why, but we did.. Then I did something pretty weird, which surprised her just as much as myself.. I prayed for her, in the gym, with a bunch of sweaty knuckle-heads "pumping iron" around us.. But it didn't matter. I knew she needed it, but what I didn't know was that I did too..

That's the second time this week that I have just prayed. Not thought things through, not said something encouraging, not made a plan like I usually do. I just prayed.. And you know what, I hope it happens again, because it feels like I've made a new friend! I finally feel like there is someone I can confide in no matter what! All my silly little problems, all the things I don't want to discuss with anyone else right now.

What's my point? Don't be afraid to pray. Even if it's just a casual chat with God, or some quiet time, or just in your head.. Just spell out whats on your mind, and on your heart. Someone is listening.. And do me a favour, hug someone. I don't mean a random stranger, (that might not go down too well,) but if you see someone who looks like they need it, just give them a hug! I promise it will make a difference, to them, and to you.. It's the best way of showing a bit of love. Ooooh, that's a strong word.. Yeah it is, but it's a gift, given to us by God for one purpose, to share! Because his love for us is unconditional, and infinite, so you can afford to give a bit away every now and then!

Part of the puzzle..

Why is it so hard to fit in? As human beings we often find ourselves longing to be a part of something.. Something bigger, something better... For a fortunate few, it is easy.. It's easy to fit in. For others, it is a constant struggle to be accepted. Or is it a constant struggle to accept ourselves?

I'm back in that familiar territory again.. Back to feeling like I don't fit in.. On the surface it seems like every time I involve myself in anything, I bring my own special qualities, as is the case with any person. You have a talent or trait, for which you are accepted and appreciated.. But after a while the novelty wares off, and your "special something" just becomes something that you do, or something you are. All of a sudden it goes from being appreciated, to expected, and then taken for granted. By the end, it (you) are completely overlooked. So now I've got that feeling again... Just like back in school, at home, or where I used to work.. Trying so hard to fit in, by just being me.. Not pretending, just being the "odd-ball".

Some people accept you for who you are, whilst others expect you to conform to their standards and way of life before you can fit in. It is only then that we are really tested.. God made us in His image.. So... in order to fit in, are we willing to change who we are, how we were created, just to be accepted? From someone who has always had a hard time fitting in, sometimes that doesn't sound like a bad idea... Change your style or your sense of humour to be noticed and accepted? No big deal...

But it is a big deal.. God made me the way I am. I was raised a certain way, and I believe in what I believe, because I know it is right. Deep down, something inside of me will not change.. This is who I am.. One thing I know is that it is impossible to be accepted, or to be loved, or even to be able to love.. if you are unable to accept and love yourself. I guess that's where I fall short.. You cannot be accepted, by your friends, your family, or anyone else, if you cannot accept yourself, and accept that you were made the way you are, and that you don't fit in perfectly, because if you did, you wouldn't stick out.. And if you do not stick out, you will never be noticed.. How tragic would it be if an amazing, unique piece of God's work went un-noticed by the world?? If anyone can ever derive anything from this, just be yourself.

Don't try and be special, you are special, so just be exactly that! Now to try and practise what I preach..