It is so hard to live knowing you are in the "red" and rarely have that feeling of being in the "black."  Red feels like I can't make this happen, I am unable to create this outcome. I exist knowing that I have never had the experience of being out of "red" for very long. I drown in red, forever that feeling of red. Red is so heavy.

Well start thinking and believing in black. Think of black as the new red. Because black is coming and you must prepare to embrace it. Do whatever you need to but be ready. Believe


Habakkuk 2:2-3 ESV And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision;  make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

My dear Miley. First let me begin by saying I love you my young sister. I love your independence, your drive, your spirit and your determination to stand out on your terms.
I was first introduced to you by my then 7 year old daughter. So together we grew to admire you. My daughter Hannah was even proud to be called, "Hannah Montana." She loves music more than anything. You helped her believe music can shape the mind, body, spirit. Your posters hung on her wall, your acting and music on her iPod, DVR, computer, and later her first phone. Whether willing and wanting, you became the big sister she never had. Yours was the 'theme" behind her first really big dinner and party she hosted for her closest friends. You Miley helped my baby become a young lady.

Miley what I am about to say, I say again with love and complete care for you. I say this hoping you hear it from me or from someone else not afraid to say it to you. Miley you have disappointed me. I am very not happy with who you are racing to become. You are being driven into a dark place that way too much work and tears will be involved to bring you back from it. In that place my dear Miley, your money, your so called friends, your demons, your very soul will wrestle you down to keep you believing you have it under control. As long as these things control you, this dark place will play the worst tricks on you.  And you will wonder how it came to this?

And the thing I will remember most, is that my daughter and I were among your biggest fans. You taught my Hannah what it is like to follow your dreams. I pray now that you do not teach her the truth about Molly and how it stole you from you with your permission.

So Miley, I will take it from here. In my house you have done enough. I pray that in your house you awake and realize how much you are worth saving and worth really being loved.

If you are alive you have something to be thankful for. If you are alive and well you can be joyful. If you are alive and well and know where that joy and wellness comes from then you are living with a blush. Share your blush with others, tell them why you are blushing. Celebrate it! Rejoice in it!


Paul says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess.
5:16-18).

Because nothing in life is free! And if you don't believe me just ask the cow mooing in the corner clinching Hebrews 13:4 in her hoof.

We are better when we are able to get to know one another inside then out. Tough thing is society does not organically work that way. We live in a world of judging the outside and if that test is passed testing the inside. I wonder how much richer the fabric of our lives would be if we followed God's direction on this.

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV 
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

So you have decided that you love you. Great, that is number one. Love thyself before others love you back. But, let's keep it interesting. Consider these other dos/don'ts.
2. Do not sabotage it. Do right always.
3. Do live your life as "THE EXAMPLE"
4. Do put yourself first and others  too.
5. Do forgive yourself, you deserve it.

James 4:17 ESV / So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Who among us has never made a mistake? Never had regrets? Never needed a do over? Never ever ever wished they had one more chance to get something very wrong nearly right?

We serve a mighty God. So know today you get that do over! Take it!

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I  do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,Philippians 3:13      
               

Depression is more than just sadness. People with depression may experience a lack of interest and pleasure in daily activities, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or excessive sleeping, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt and recurrent  thoughts of death or suicide.
Depression is the most common mental disorder. Fortunately, depression is
treatable. A combination of therapy and antidepressant medication can help
ensure recovery. SOURCE: American Psychological Assoc.

I think we all know someone who suffers from depression. I am sure of it. Just consider all the chaos and confusion going on around us. We all deal with stress and uncertainty in different ways. We should not judge one another and depression should not be a dirty word.

If you think you might be suffering or know someone else who may need help with depression for goodness sake do something. Don't wait!

Psalms 34:17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-depression-15-helpful-scriptures/#ixzz2cX1U2nx8

Funny how relationships work between men and women. Even the best relationships can fall into the cross hairs of "Oh no he didn't" and "Oh now she is really trying me." Well after a few decades of being in or near a relationship of one form or another with the opposite sex I think I can provide some "senior" perspective.

First, let's look at when men and women argue. Men want the argument to be short and one dimensional ....e.g. stick to the subject at hand. Women will take the argument back  4-5 years before she even met you and will stay up until dawn to have that last word. Men to save you some time, we also really need to hear the words, "you are right, I was wrong."

Second, let's visit the subject of chores. Men just want to know what they need to do and above all, do not want to be reminded every hour on the hour. Women like to write down that list in about three places and we need updates along the way. Then when all is done we can feel like "we" have accomplished something together.

Lastly, the "L" word. That stands for LIKE. Men will tell you they love you once and truly believe that will carry them way down the peace and happiness road. Women love hearing "like" from their man. I like the dinner you made, I like that the kids are happy, I like that dress, I like coming home to you,

Start the conversation. www.liveyourawesomelife.com

Really, you ask? The Butler is a Hollywood movie that should make African Americans feel good. It is a movie about a man who served 8 Presidents at the White House. It has a lot of grade "A" quality actors who worked way under scale to bring the product to the big screen, a win for all! So then, why all the buzz? Don't worry, Blacks will flock to see it to support their own.
To this I say, "hockey puck"! The big deal of THE BUTLER is indeed the butler story itself whether it is told on the big screen or not.  The butler is not an African American story/movie. It is an American story/movie. Eugene Allen (July 14, 1919 – March 31, 2010) worked  for the White House for 34 years until he retired as the head butler in 1986. He started in the White House in 1952 as a "pantry man" and over the years rose in his position until finally attaining the most prestigious rank of butlers serving in the White House, Maître d'hôtel. Eugene Allen did all of this in the heat of the civil rights movement that shaped the America we know today.
I can't wait to see the movie for the first of what is likely to be many times.
To me, the butler is not only a big deal it is the real deal!

Would you invite him in? Would you hesitate, perhaps take time to fix yourself up, straighten up around you? Would you take time to change your appearance?  Would you run around the house hiding things, tucking things out of the way? Would you bring out your bible and put it in clear view?

Where would sit and talk? What would be your opening line? How would you greet him? Would you know what to say? Would you want more time to brush up on the bible first? Would you know his story? Be able to relate to him? 

If Jesus came knocking, would you feel ready to invite him in? 
Now ask yourself this, has Jesus been knocking every single day through others all of your life? Did you answer? Or are you still running around your house looking for the bible you put up?

While in Turkey and Greece this summer one thing I could not miss seeing were these pretty blue beads with an eye on them. You see these adoring "eyes" everywhere including hanging from people, ceilings, door knobs and  even trees. Read on to see why. I got mine (necklace in this picture) and bought my friends evil eye jewelry as keepsakes. Now that I have learned more of what the symbol means around the world going back literally thousands of years, I am especially glad I have mine. Well judge for yourself but I will tell you, many cultures around the world take the evil eye extremely seriously. What is the evil eye meaning? 

My mother used to say, "You will never really know yourself until you have children." I understand that. I am trying so so hard to demonstrate by example those qualities I want to see in my children. Those qualities are care, fairness, honesty, integrity, truth, and strength.
I try extra extra hard to mirror these qualities everyday. I have a real emotional fear that if I don't show my children consistently and enough these qualities in me then they may see me as not authentic. I could not bear to see that look in their eyes. So I keep trying, keep making myself better as I try to make them better too.