Making Something Out of Nothing

God is always capable of making something out of nothing.

"The earth was without form, and void ..." (Genesis 1:2); today it is a multinational conglomerate. Remember when there was a void in your life, seemed to be no way up or out, and then suddenly a way was cleared. What about when you were down to your last dime and didn't know where the next one was coming from; it came from somewhere. When you were at your wits end, the wolves were on your heels and you had reached the end of your rope, somehow you rose above it and lived to talk, even to laugh about it. You may think you did it on your own, by yourself, without help from anyone, but you didn't realize where the help was coming from. So the next time you find yourself in need, ask, who can make something out of nothing?

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Another thought flowing through my mind.

Can you imagine not doing what you're doing in your life right now, but doing something completely different? Something exciting, fun, even risky, like quitting your job and traveling around the world. Or working part-time and going to school full time to study scuba diving or basket weaving. Or owning your own home, business, plane or boat. If you can imagine it, why aren't you doing it? I'll tell you what I think.

The moment you think about it, we think about all the reasons we can't. "How will I pay my bills?" "Who will take care of my family?" "Where will I get money?" "What will people say?" Well, here's another question. How do we ever expect to be happy or at peace if we stay where we are? If we don't allow ourselves to dream, to dare, to move up, out, forward; how will we ever know what we are really capable of? Looking at it this way, what's the worst that can happen? We could end up right where we started, doing exactly what we are doing.

Although I sometimes find it hard, I say, "Oh, what the heck, go for it anyway."

Peace and Blessings!

Connected

We were born with the potential to walk an extraordinarily successful path. On this path, success is about being fulfilled in every area of our life, and it comes more easily and naturally because it is perfectly tailored to our unique gifts, experiences, and passion. We're connected with God, ourself, our values, and the people who matter most to us. Without hesitation, we can answer the questions. Why are we here? The life we live exemplifies that purpose. All the answers we need to live that extraordinary life lie within us ... within me. But to access those answers, we must listen to our life.

Listening to our life is a learned skill that can be refined and then used as a powerful tool for success. It may sound mysterious, but it simply means paying attention to the events, experiences, nudges, and passion that can steer us in the best possible direction - toward the unique path of our life's highest potential. Listening to our life involves connecting with God, ourself, and the people we encounter to get directions for finding and staying on our path. It is about being curious enough and honest enough to answer the important questions that will enable us to grow. It is about using what we hear to create a vision that pulls us forward and open our mind to the creativity that will unlock doors and create experiences at a higher level than we have ever experienced.

Listening to our life gives us both the confidence to keep walking our path even when it seems nothing is coming together the way we hoped and the tenacity to flow smoothly through the twists and turns that threaten to knock us off course. It also opens us to the rich and abundant rewards of living generously and with purpose and passion.

On the path to extraordinary success, failures along the way offer lessons that lead us to victories. The heartaches and pain cultivate drive, compassion, and understanding we need to live at our highest potential. The mistakes, when we learn from them, give us insight that propels us forward on our journey.

Consider for a moment the chain of events that led you to the life you are living right now. Isn't is amazing how one thing leads to another and another until we arrive at one particular moment and place in time? Sometimes it's the place we're supposed to be, and sometimes we simply know that another path awaits us and we yearn to find it. A persistent voice whispers softly but urgently: "You're going in the wrong direction. There's a path over here with your name on it." Even if we are unaware of where our path is, God will find a way to lead us to our destiny - and connect us with the right people who cross our path. This key is listening to what our life is trying to tell us, following the voice of the Holy Spirit, and walking directly onto our own unique path.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your path.

- Proverbs 3:5-6

Figment of Your Imagination? What Do You Stand For?

I would venture to say one good way to know whether something is working is to actually see it work. No matter what your philosophy, regardless how much you believe it, if it does not produce, it may be seen as worthless. God is the same way. We can talk about Him, sing about Him, pray to Him, for Him and about Him, but if His glory is not produced in our lives, what are we really saying? The way for God to be seen is through our lives. Our lives need to reflect all the things we say God is.

We are His hands, feet, eyes and voice. Our lives reflect who and what God is. Are we living a happy life? Are we thinking peaceful thoughts? The only way for God to demonstrate who He is, is for us to do it for Him.

We must demonstrate what we know about God in the way we think, talk, walk and live. God is peace. God is strength. God is mercy. God is forgiving. God is all knowing, all powerful, abundant, radiant life. God is love. To know God is to be like Him. All else is a figment of your imagination. When is the last time you looked at yourself and saw God?

God is as dependent upon you as you are on Him - Mahalia Jackson

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Another thought crossed my mind.

If you had to tell someone in ten words or less what you stand for in life, what would you say?

It might be noble to speak of liberation for all people of color, but what do you stand for? Perhaps you would take up the cause of starving or abused children, but what do you stand for? The freedom of political prisoners? Decent housing? Equitable distribution of food and natural resources? An end to all wars and warlike aggression? Or perhaps it's education? It is good, honorable and very noble to have a cause, but before you can do that, you must be able to stand on your own two feet.

More battles are lost in this life to weary soldiers than are lost for lack of cause. What do you stand for? How about peace of mind, radiant health, truth and honesty, visible use of your God given talents, gifts and abilities, or maybe just plain old love. When you are standing on well-cared-for and rested feet, you can be victorious in any cause.

A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.

-- El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)

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Truth Is More Than A Mental Exercise

The human mind is always searching for truth. The mind guides us through books. It interprets our experiences. It limits us based on our exposure. The mind searches to find truth, not realizing that truth was never lost. Unfortunately, truth cannot reveal itself in a mind that is busy with personal chatter. That chatter refers to what we think we need or want and what we say.

Unlike truth, our mental chatter may have nothing to do with what is real. The only way to find truth is to go deep within the self and to live from that consciousness and understanding. The truth is the reality of who we are from the inside out, and that is something we rarely think about.

Truth is the joy of living, of being, of having a connection to everyone and everything, without thought of malice or condemnation on any part of us. Truth is the spirit of life.

Affirmation: I will live in the light of truth.