Grateful hearts

I met the most wonderful and positive person today, Coach Davenport. He coaches basketball at Bellarmine College. He is just a powerful person to listen to and so encouraging. And he has a powerful voice! I guess you have to so the team can hear you over the crowds cheering!

Well he talked and encouraged the group I was in to be grateful. He said that it only takes 1.63 seconds to say thank you to the bus driver, your school teacher as you are leaving, someone helping you. We are part of something incredible and that it isn't about me, but our focus should be on each other. Not what I do, but what WE do.

This is so true. Not only in sports, or at work, but in our everyday lives. If we take the time to encourage someone, to just say thank you for the small stuff, how much more positive our world would be?

Coach said that we aren't good enough on our own. We need each other to bring out the best in each of us. 

This is your assignment.....Find something positive to say to your co-worker, parent, bus driver, boss, brother or sister (yes, I know that may be a hard thing to do!). EVERYDAY!! When you start to encourage others, you will see the negativity leave and a much more happier world. And when you do this everyday, your focus will be on the positivity of this world and blind to the negative. 

Philippians 2:3–4

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Love to all,

cycle of habits

Have you ever felt like you are in a cycle? A cycle of just repeating your habits you are trying to break? I mean, you make a stand for yourself and just keep going back to the old  habit.  For example, on Sunday, you pray with your full heart to God that you will watch what you say, your words, your actions and asking God to forgive you of the past week and lead you into this next week. You feel good because you are ready to tackle work, the people you meet (ie Walmart!) and the world. Then by Wednesday, you are back into your habits.  

Yes, I am talking about me!! But I am sure I am not alone in this. I have many faults, but you know what? I know I can start over that day. This is what GRACE is. I hear a lot about receiving grace or giving grace to others. But do you actually give YOURSELF grace? Do you forgive yourself? This is a hard thing to do. We beat ourselves up over the smallest things and dwell on them. When all we have to do is forgive ourselves.  God forgives us, why can't we?

I heard a song and it said "thank God for Sunday morning".  I thank God for every morning. Because I know I don't need to wait to Sunday morning to be forgiven. I just need to confess and try my best to not repeat it and be the best person I can be. And WHEN I fail, I know I can get back up and start over. And I don't have to do it alone. 

God's grace never ends. He will continue to give you that grace as long as you come to him with an open heart in forgiveness.

God's grace flows from the essence of his being: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6, ESV)

Love to all,