It seems like I receive a scam attempt every day. They come from everywhere: text messages, email and phone calls. I sometimes wonder how many people fall for this stuff.
There are some very bright people behind the trickery. They put a lot of thought and energy into cheating others. What a waste. If these people would use their creativity for good rather than evil, there’s no telling how far they could go.
Be aware, and be careful. It only takes one slip up to get scammed…
I have read multiple studies that say over 85% of adults in the United States don’t like themselves. They look in the mirror and want to turn away from their own image. This goes beyond just physical appearance.
Self-acceptance is something you must work on if this is a struggle for you. I’m not suggesting an inflated ego or false confidence. Merely accepting yourself and who you were created to be is a good first step.
The challenges life has thrown your way can become obstacles to a healthy self image. When you were a child, you couldn’t wait to make your mark on the world. Then life threw you some curves and perhaps you allowed them to shake your confidence.
No more. This is the dividing line of your life. There is nothing random about your life. You aren’t here as the result of a whimsical, careless Creator. There is a great purpose attached to your existence. Don’t quit until you find it. Then act on it.
You might have been knocked around in life. Most of us have been. But you are still in the game unless you decide you don’t want to be.
Keep going…
We clean our homes when we want the dust and dirt to be gone. Make it vanish, so to speak.
Magicians and illusionists cause things to disappear before our eyes. We do our best to figure out how they do it, but we aren’t successful in our efforts.
Why can’t we make bad things go away?? Sometimes things happen and we just can’t get our heads around why. Upon occasion, things occur because we made a regretful decision. There are no do overs in life.
Bad things and awful people won’t go away on their own. But we can get the process started…
Bullseye! This word is like magic when you’re in a shooting contest. You hit the center of the target.
In today’s world, certain groups have had targets placed on them. Most of them are unwarranted and unwarranted. Tesla owners have seen their cars get keyed or painted with swastikas. What good that could come from this is a mystery, but it’s never okay to intentionally damage someone’s property.
During his time, Jesus had a target on his back. In Jesus’ case, he was targeted by the religious leaders not the criminals. In fact, some of the criminals were followers of Jesus (more on that in a future piece). Jesus didn’t care. He was on a mission given to him by the Father.
People seek attention, thereby becoming targets themselves. That’s fine. If fame is what you’re looking for, make sure that when someone hits the bullseye they are spreading goodness into the world…
A clairvoyant is someone who claims to be able to predict future events. While there have been some people who have been successful at this, occasionally, their long term track record is suspect.
Charlatans have taken advantage of people ever since the beginning of time as we know it. I’m not talking about the prophets. They never missed the mark. I mean the palm readers and the people who hold seances. These types are using people.
If you want to know your future, here’s some bad news. You won’t. Think back ten years ago. Did your life change in ways you couldn’t have predicted? Of course it did. If our future was revealed to us by a supernatural force, we wouldn’t understand it.
God holds our futures in His hands. Let’s leave it to Him who already has everything figured out. God doesn’t need our help, nor does He share His plans with the clairvoyants…
Have you ever known a control freak? During the course of my life I have known several. They can be difficult personalities to be around, especially when you’re trying to collaborate as a team.
We live our lives, make plans, and we believe we have a good bit of control about what happens. And we take a lot for granted. But things don’t simply happen because of our efforts. We have a mostly silent partner!
Today’s reminder is that God is in control of everything. Literally everything. He even allows the bad things that happen in life. God doesn’t cause evil, but He does allow it to happen. And only God can bring good from bad, no matter how bad things are.
Take a moment to acknowledge and thank your silent partner during the day. Thank Him for the good, and thank Him for what you learned from the bad.
And remember, our silent partner is on our side. Always…
At sea, an S. O. S. call is issued when imminent danger exists. It stands for “Save Our Souls.” Mayday is an internationally recognized call which signals a life-threatening emergency situation.
What are the signs you put out to let people know you are distressed? Perhaps you isolate yourself and keep others away so they don’t see you in your weakness. Maybe you throw yourself into a bottle, thinking that by numbing yourself out you won’t feel the pain.
The best way to handle the times you feel stressed and at your wits end is to reach out to your friends. Let them know what’s going on with you. There’s no shame in going through a dark period. Everyone has. You don’t have to do it alone.
I encourage you to go outward when you feel like going within. Human connection is vital for mental health. We are wired to be in community with others.
Never be afraid to be yourself when in the company of others. You aren’t alone…
When we hear about red flags, we know some kind of warning is coming. Red flags are placed on beaches where it’s unsafe for swimming. And they are placed on construction sites when there’s a reason to pause building.
Some people demonstrate behavior that should come with a red flag. Constant lying, being rude to restaurant servers, saying hurtful things and putting others down while declaring their own superiority are clearly warning signs you should stay away. These types of people operate in a world of their own self-interest. You cannot fix them. They can only help themselves.
Find the people who bring out the best in you. Those who honor and respect you are a true treasure. They are a rare breed in today’s society, but they are out there.
Look for the green flags. Green is good!
Empathy or compassion. Which is it?
Empathy is shared experience, while compassion is showing you care but can’t relate because you haven’t had the same experience. For example, I know many people who have lost children. That’s a level of pain that I have not experienced. Yet, I feel for them because I know they are hurting. I don’t know how they feel, though.
When I see illegal members of a violent gang being deported, I always wonder what happened to them to cause them to go down the road of evil. I truly wish things had turned out different for them.
Lead your life with care and compassion for others. We are all in this life together…
It’s believed that people who are dying speak the truth. Their time has run out so there’s no reason to lie.
The first words recorded that Jesus said from the cross were, “Father. Forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” Forgive them? Up until this moment, Jesus had been pretty quiet during his sham trials. Now, exhausted, beaten into a bloody mess, and dying he asks God to forgive the ones who were killing him.
The words of Jesus apply today as well. We usually don’t know what we are doing. We wander through life, trying to make it work out and find some meaning while we’re at it. God gave us a guide, The Bible, but we must read it and apply what it says for it to work. And it helps to talk to God during the day, asking for guidance and help when we screw up!
Don’t wait until it’s too late to find why you’re here. It’s not to make a bunch of money, retire and die. No. There’s more. Much more.
Find it. Start with the guide God gave us. He won’t steer you wrong. Ever…
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