I have been blessed.
How? You ask.
Let me explain.
When I was lost...when I was living for myself,
I was given a gift.
At the time, I didn't realize he was a gift.
My soul was tortured, my mind was controlled.
I would get rid of this gift, that was my choice.
But God, you are good. You are love.
You showed me the future of the course that I was on.
And you gave me the courage to walk away from that destructive path.
I repented and I accepted your love and the gift you'd given me.
Your peace enveloped me and in you my faith grew.
I dedicated my gift to you, because without you he would not exist.
To this day I am amazed at the gift you gave to me.
I did not deserve him.
I was not prepared for such an awesome gift.
But you looked at my heart.
You knew that I would love this gift.
That I would appreciate him EVERYDAY.
That I would do my best to mold this gift into someone extrodinary in your eyes.
So now I say thank you.
Thank you for this gift.
Though I don't feel worthy of him or of the challenge to raise him properly in your eyes, I ask for your strength, for your wisdom and for your discernment to be the best steward I can of the gift that you've blessed me with.
And may his legacy reveal a strong reflection of you and your unfailing love for all.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Long live...US ALL
Over the past couple weeks we've been bombarded by the tragic news of the death of several famous and iconic people. From Ed McMahon to Farrah Fawcett and from Michael Jackson to salesman, Billy Mays; the compounding news of each loss in such a short time span began to weigh heavily on my heart. We were being inundated with death and the realization that mortality does not discriminate based on social status or age hit me.
Upon hearing the various medical causes of death of these public figures including pneumonia, cancer, heart problems and even alleged drug overdose, I began to take an introspective analysis of my own life. And I found risky behavior, nutritional neglect, and unnecessary stressors that could all lead to my premature demise if I didn't address each one of them soon.
I realized that my first change needed to come from the heart. Proverbs 3:1-2 tells us, "Do not forget my(God's)law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you." As I began to draw closer to God, many harmful habits in my life that needed to be dealt with were revealed to me.
Now that the spiritual issues were being addressed, it was time for me to reflect on the physical aspects of increasing my quality of life. I had become lackadaisical in my workouts; I had replaced most of my evening jogs with lying on the couch and watching the TV. Whatsmore, I had also traded in my healthy, home-cooked meals for fast food on a more regular basis. Consequently, the money being wasted on this unhealthy habit had highlighted my third problem area of mental stressors which manifest itself thru financial lack.
Poor money management and thoughtless spending sprees had caused unnecessary stress in my life. I had been blaming other people for my financial lack all along when I came to the awareness that my job provided me with enough income to live comfortably if I cut out all the superfluous shopping.
With little recent changes such as reviving my running routine, eating a more balanced diet, cutting down on trips to the store and living more within my means, I believe I have increased my quality level of life. Furthermore, allowing God to work on my heart has brought me peace, joy and confidence.
This healing process reminds me of part of a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem in which he states, "Joy and Temperance and Repose slam the door on the doctor's nose."
So, I encourage you to do an honest evaluation of your own life and address the issues that may be stunting your longevity. Maybe you have a tendancy to speed in your car, or perhaps you don't wait long enough after your last drink before you drive. Have you been putting off that routine doctor's exam? Or maybe it's just as simple as adopting a more optimistic attitude in life and giving all of your worries to God. Whatever your personal analysis reveals, please take action immediately...don't wait. You have people in your life who care about you and people who rely on you to live a long, abundant life.
I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
~Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson
Upon hearing the various medical causes of death of these public figures including pneumonia, cancer, heart problems and even alleged drug overdose, I began to take an introspective analysis of my own life. And I found risky behavior, nutritional neglect, and unnecessary stressors that could all lead to my premature demise if I didn't address each one of them soon.
I realized that my first change needed to come from the heart. Proverbs 3:1-2 tells us, "Do not forget my(God's)law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you." As I began to draw closer to God, many harmful habits in my life that needed to be dealt with were revealed to me.
Now that the spiritual issues were being addressed, it was time for me to reflect on the physical aspects of increasing my quality of life. I had become lackadaisical in my workouts; I had replaced most of my evening jogs with lying on the couch and watching the TV. Whatsmore, I had also traded in my healthy, home-cooked meals for fast food on a more regular basis. Consequently, the money being wasted on this unhealthy habit had highlighted my third problem area of mental stressors which manifest itself thru financial lack.
Poor money management and thoughtless spending sprees had caused unnecessary stress in my life. I had been blaming other people for my financial lack all along when I came to the awareness that my job provided me with enough income to live comfortably if I cut out all the superfluous shopping.
With little recent changes such as reviving my running routine, eating a more balanced diet, cutting down on trips to the store and living more within my means, I believe I have increased my quality level of life. Furthermore, allowing God to work on my heart has brought me peace, joy and confidence.
This healing process reminds me of part of a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem in which he states, "Joy and Temperance and Repose slam the door on the doctor's nose."
So, I encourage you to do an honest evaluation of your own life and address the issues that may be stunting your longevity. Maybe you have a tendancy to speed in your car, or perhaps you don't wait long enough after your last drink before you drive. Have you been putting off that routine doctor's exam? Or maybe it's just as simple as adopting a more optimistic attitude in life and giving all of your worries to God. Whatever your personal analysis reveals, please take action immediately...don't wait. You have people in your life who care about you and people who rely on you to live a long, abundant life.
I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
~Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)