Hope Leads to Faith

I wish I could Keep in mind that God can provide, God will provide, and God does provide. - Maria Gubbels.

I the past month, I lost my job with the law firm with which I was working because of differences in our directions and the attorneys felt my past would hurt their reputation with their clients and could be used as ammunition by their enemies.  I am grateful for this challenge as I too felt that my talents were not being used to their best effort and my dreams are not their dreams.  They are decent people; flawed human beings like all of us.  I wish them all happiness and success.  So, now, I must face myself and my dreams - do I make excuses why I am not living my passion to do I do what my heart and mind tell me to at the risk of failure - THIS IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF ALL OF US. 

It is easy to settle in work, marriage, and life generally...I am grateful to this firm for pushing me out of my comfort zone and forcing me to be the best I can be.

Never give up just before the miracle happens...

DONT GIVE UP





Don't give up.....
This is not my story and it was given to me from a friend in Kenya, so I believe it is not his story.  I believe it cam from Joel Osteen, but it may not be hitsory either, so it is your story...
One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots".
"I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others."
He said.
"The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me.
"You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?"
I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never, Never, Never Give up.
Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,
tell the problem how Great the Lord is!

If you want what you never had, then you have to do what you have never done.

I was told when I got sober, I had to only change one thing - everything.  I was also told I could start dreaming again.  However, I tried to fulfill my dreams before my drinking took over my life and I achieved many dreams, but still I have many more to achieve.  In order for me to achieve what I have never accomplished or have (materially, spiritually, emotionally and otherwise) I must be willing to try new things and do things differently.  I need to be willing to do the things that I don't want to do and have the courage to do things that I have never done.  My experience is that running a race, going to a new place, starting a new adventure is doing things that I have never done - and, whether the result is good or bad never matters.  I have a new experience and I am always better for it! 

Valentine's Day - The Story of St. Valentine

Be My Valentine
O, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind.

— Henri F. Amiel

The legend of St. Valentine goes back to the early days of Christianity when Christians were being persecuted by the Romans. One Christian, Valentinus, was tried as a heretic and sentenced to death. In prison, Valentinus befriended a guard who respected his wis–dom, and soon the guard brought his seven-year-old blind daughter, Julia, to Valentinus for lessons. Daily, the two talked of important things, and Julia developed a deep love and respect for her mentor. One day Julia asked him, “Valentinus, do you think I will ever be able to see? ”

Valentinus thought for a moment and answered, “With love in your heart and belief in God, anything is possible, Julia. ”

At that moment, Julia was overtaken with a flash of light, and suddenly her eyesight was restored. “Valentinus, I can see! ” the child shouted.

“Praise be to God, ” he humbly answered.    The next day when Julia came to visit Valentinus, he was gone. He had been taken to his execution. Julia found this note:

My Dear Julia,
Although we shall never see each other again, know that I will always love you. You are very dear to me. I will stay unseen by your side, and I will live in your heart. I believe in you.
Your Valentine

Be a true valentine by reminding your beloved ones that they are unlimited. Inspire them to trust their heart’s wisdom, and miracles will occur. And if you are your own valentine, remember that all the love you need is within you, just as you are, right where you are.

I pray to remind my loved ones of their highest possibilities.
I create miracles by using the vision of divine love.

This meditation is an excerpt from Alan Cohen's meditation book, A Deep Breath of Life.

Meditation and Changes in the Brain

How meditation may change the brain - 8 weeks to results

Difficulties.

Difficulties are a part of life. Opportunities for growth. Stretching our minds, our bodies, our perceptions, our intellect and emotions. “There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer; no disease that enough love will not heal; no door that enough love will not open; no gulf that enough love will not bridge; no wall that enough love will not throw down; no sin that enough love will not redeem ... It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble; how hopeless the outlook; how muddled the tangle; how great the mistake. A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all. If only you could love enough you would be the happiest and most powerful being in the world ...” - Emmet Fox

Hope and Courage, again.

So I have been asked to leave my job because the law firm is afraid what people may think of my past...That's ok. They have that right.  February is the month of HOPE and so God will give me opportunities to test my power of HOPE.  As Martin Luther King said "Everything great that is done in this world is done by hope!"