LiveFreeLoveHard

I need to be reminded of how much God truly loves me.   We all have a generic sense that God loves us.   We’ve heard the song, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so…”   Even with knowing how much God loves me, I still struggle with understanding how that love for me plays out in my life.   God doesn’t love the way we love.   His love is beyond what we even consider.   His love is so specific, so precise and so definite.   Some days, when I’m being nice to my family and I’ve paid my tithes, or given money to someone less fortunate – I feel loved by God.   At least, I may feel more lovable because I’m doing things that God would approve of.   There are many other times when I don’t feel so wonderful.   I may have snapped at a friend or said I couldn’t help out with something when I know I could’ve.   There are times when I am in direct violation of the will of God for my life.   Those times I feel awful.   I pray that God will forgive me and help me to walk accor

You don’t need long legs and a flawless appearance to be a model.   You just need to care about the people who care about you.   Often times we only think of ourselves, what we feel like or don’t feel like doing; what we want or do not want.   All around us, we are taught to look out for Numero Uno.   We should certainly be conscious of what is best for ourselves, but we should not neglect the impact our lives have on others.   Someone is always watching, even when you don’t think they are.   A younger cousin, a sister, a distant friend, a stranger, all with eyes on you to see who you are and what you are doing.   I’m not trying to make you paranoid, just aware.   Be good to one another.   It’s alright to go out of your way to help someone else.   Live for something or someone other than yourself.   Be a model friend, a model woman, a model man, a model parent, a model child, a model co-worker, a model boss.   It isn’t always about you.   Someone else may be blessed by seeing yo

Proverbs 4:25 “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe.   Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”   We all need a plan in life.   Even if it’s just a 1,2, or 3 year plan we need something to keep us focused and to keep us motivated in the morning.   Some have already found their calling and are actively pursuing their dreams.   Most of us are still searching for something that feels just right to us and we haven’t quite stumbled upon or discovered it yet.   That’s ok.   I felt like I was being left behind as I saw family and friends get married, have children, buy homes, start their dream career, and travel to places I’ve only dreamed of.   I wanted to be there or at least on the right path.   Why hadn’t I discovered a passion and drive for myself?   Why couldn’t I discover my dreams and start pursuing them with vigor?     It’s difficult to know what

Don’t be drunk with wine because that will ruin your life, but be filled with the Holy Spirit… Ephesians 5:18   My battle with alcoholism has been a long and rough one.   It didn’t matter the hour and it didn’t matter the day, I would be down for a drink.   Everybody drinks, I thought.   How could I have a problem? I wasn’t doing anything out of the norm from what everyone else was doing.   However, alcohol had pernicious effects on my life.   Rarely, if ever, was I able to drink without going overboard.   Once I had the first drink, it was harder to turn down the next one.   I would often not stop drinking until I was forced to by passing out, or running out of time, because most places stopped selling alcohol at 2:00 a.m.   I blacked out often, never really remembering the events of the evening.   In the moment it would seem as though I was having the time of my life, yet the morning after I’d have to do a reconnaissance of the night and I wasn’t impressed.   I was cast f