Love your neighbor as yourself. -- Luke 10:27 (NIV)

I have always thought people should treat each other like they want to be treated. But when I read this with my literal mind I think it gives the people that do not love their self an out. Maybe that is why there is so many people treating others terribly. I believe we should treat others as people of great value. Your mind might quickly say it doesn't matter how people treat me. As a child I had no say in how people treated me. I thought I deserved any mistreatment that happened and it didn't matter. That is not really true no matter how much I bought into it or how much you buy into it. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. If you choose not to return that same loving treatment shame on you. That still gives me no right to return cruel treatment with cruel treatment. Reality is: deep inside it really does matter how each of us are treated. Let's be an example of someone that follows the golden rule "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". So when someone imitates your behavior it will be one of loving self and neighbor. Have a great day loving each other.

GRAB A HOLD AND HANG ON

There have been days I felt like I was going to drown, in the troubles of life. I was going under for the third time and I was sure no one even noticed. I tried to yell but the troubles kept pouring in choking me, making me powerless. I could not get the words that I needed out to ask for the help I longed for. I thought I heard someone yell to just reach up and grab their hand. I could not believe there was someone there so I did not reach out. Again I heard a voice saying give me your troubles. I reached up my hand and I felt a strong hand taking mine. "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters (troubles)." (Psalm 18:16) I almost missed the help that was offered. I challenge you to listen, reach your hand out and don't miss the help. Have a great day.

What is courage?

 

I think it is when someone keeps going even when they feel like they cannot take another step. Like the lion on the Wizard of Oz. He kept going on his journey to the wizard even though he came across obstacles that were frightful. He kept putting one foot in front of the other and kept moving. There were times he needed encouragement from his friends but he kept going. Also when his friends needed him he was there for them. His whole journey to the wizard was showing courage. He felt like he didn't have it until the wizard gave him a metal that said courage. But the truth is he had it all along. How many times do you think you have no courage at all? Stop and evaluate. When things get hard do you keep getting up? Do you take a step when you feel like you just can't? Do you keep pushing when you think things are just too frightful? My friend you have courage if you answer yes to any of those questions. You might need friends to help you but there is nothing wrong with that. As friends we should be there to lend a helping hand to those that are weak. You will not always be weak. Hold your head high and take courage my friend. If you need me I am here to help as my friends have there for me. Have a great day.

Gel Pen Magic

 

A number of years ago when gel pens first came out I thought they were the greatest. Then came black paper to use with those fabulous pens. Of course I had to have both. I thought it was awesome to see how that ink showed up on the paper. A regular pen was harder to read and was not half as bright. The ink from the gel pen made the words look like they was going to jump off the paper. The once dull black paper was given a new bright look, that was very cool. I think that is kind of how our lives are sometimes. We have made mistakes and darkened our lives. We use a pencil trying to right the wrong but it is hardly even noticed. Then we go to a regular pen that will make a bigger impression to find the result is still not the best. Try as we might we cannot brighten our lives very much. Discouragement sets in leaving us wondering can life get better. Then if we're not careful we just start moping around living in that darkness. Woe is me attitude. To change the gloom we need to allow God to write His grace on the darkness of our heart. It will improve our lives permitting us to see things in a brighter, healthier way. I think I will do my best to allow God to use His gel pen on my life. What about you?