Category: Spiritual

Through out my life, faith, hope and love have carried me through some very difficult times.  Early on, I would light a candle in my bedroom to remind me that God was in charge and was working out the situation according to His will for me . . . for my life . . .  and to keep my focus on Him. 

Eventually, I came up with my own mantra to remind me that "this too shall pass" (based on Acts 2:21).  I would repeat these words to myself as I went for walks around the pond to remind me to focus on what was in my control and leave the rest to God who was working out the situation according  to His will for me . . . for my life (Proverbs 3:5-6).  This was and still is my mantra:

Faith is fear-less . . . Hope is worry-less . . . Love is end-less . . . 

Most of the time, I tried to reflect on the temporary nature of the present difficulty . . . to see the positive in the situation and remind myself there was a lesson to be learned from what I was going through.  Looking back, I can see the lessons and I have grown -  spiritually, emotionally and mentally . . . 

'Til the next time . . . 

FAITH stimulates success . . . HOPE sustains success . . . LOVE sanctifies success . . . 

Success comes in a number of different forms depending on how a person defines success.  The dictionary defines success as "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose". 

Throughout my life I've had many challenges as all of us do.  It was hard for me to think of being successful when I would dwell on the challenges - I just saw the failures. 

Now, looking back, I see many successes in my life.  (Sometimes it is hard to see the forest for the trees).  I realized that I had been too involved in the details of a problem to look at the situation as a whole. 

I learned there are times in our lives when we need to step back or away from our situation and see it from a different perspective.  It can make all the difference in the world.

Faith in a higher being, hope for a better tomorrow, and love from and for the people that surround and support us in our lives . . . 

'Til the next time . . . 

I am reminded today of one of my favorite quotes from "A Daily Devotional Calendar" (Twenty years of Possibility Thinking slogans from the writings of Dr. Robert H. Schuller):  

"Selfishness turns life into burdens, while selflessness turns burdens into life." 

"We give thanks to God always for you all . . . remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience . . .

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

We have all carried burdens throughout our lives - some more than others.  Yet, how we choose to deal with them makes all the difference in the world.  I have witnessed some pretty selfless people in my life, even in the face of tremendous adversity, put others first.  I wish I was better at that . . . 

How do you see yourself:  selfish or selfless?

'Til the next time . . . 

MY FAITH STATEMENT:

"I am a child of God, made possible through the awesome and glorious gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who died so my sins would be forever forgiven, giving me the promise of salvation and eternal life." ~ mjk 09/28/03

MY MISSION STATEMENT:

"To personally know and share the love of God through my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and as I prepare for eternity, to live my life in a way that is deserving of His love and friendship." ~ mjk 09/28/03

MY LIFE'S PURPOSE STATEMENT:

"My goal in life is to live a Christ-centered life . . . and to experience all that comes with it." ~ mjk 11/20/04

MY LIFE'S MOTTO:

"To always be faithful" and "To thine own self be true."

‘Til the next time . . . 

In 2003, I interviewed for a secretarial position at a local church. I was asked what my faith statement was and I couldn't come up with anything. My fate was sealed.

However, I did join an individual group at that church which was just beginning Rick Warren's "40 Days of Purpose" with the entire congregation over the next 40 days. It was perfect for me because I had been searching for my "purpose" in life - so began the next part of my "journey for life."

As a result, I wrote my faith statement. Later, I also wrote my mission statement and my life's purpose statement, and decided on my motto.

'Til the next time, God bless . . .