Looking...

Look up

God will never leave of forsake you.

His word is a light unto your path.

Look out

Confide in a friend

Seek comfort and counsel in local resources.

Look in

Take an inventory of your feelings.

Journal your thoughts, ideas and progress.

Look for truth

Gather information and research your options.

Often natural inclinations are in opposition to God's ways.

Look realistically

Resist the temptation to change others.

Change what you can, accept what you cannot.

Look for balance

Take care of yourself.

Get enough rest, eat healthy,attempt to simplify life.

Look for laughter

A cheerful heart is like good medicine.

Choose joyful music, uplifting books, optimistic friends.

Look for hope

This too shall pass.

Dwell on what is good and worthy of praise.

Look for comfort

Read the Psalms.

Let others encourage you and find ways to encourage others.

Look for God's purpose.

Every experience has spiritual significance.

Press closer to God and allow him to deepen your faith.

-Glenda Hotton

Professor of Home Economics, Masters College

The office

I think one of my favorite TV shows is The Office.

How hope acts

There is a lot going on in some of my friends lives right now. I hope this helps them.

1. Hope looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst in them.


2. Hope opens the doors where despair closes them.


3. Hope discovers what can be done instead of grumbling about what cannot be done.


4. Hope draws its power from a deep trust in God and the basic goodness of mankind.


5. Hope lights a candle instead of cursing the darkness.


6. Hope regards problems, small or large as opportunities.


7. Hope cherishes no illusions, nor does it yield to cynicism.

We can always hope.......

-Father James Keller

God's stress management plan

I normally don't press my religion on anyone. I thought this was interesting.

1. Workout your difficulties with others.

2. Help those around you.

3. Rejoice in the Lord always.

4. Slow down and be gentle.

5. Remember that God is near.

6. Let go of all your anxieties.

7. Hand them over to god.

8. Allow God's peace to guard your heart and soul.

10. Focus on the positives of life.

11. Do what you already knew you should do.

12. Be content with whatever situation you are in.

13. Claim the promise that "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

14. Accept the help and encouragement of others.

15. Trust God to meet all of your needs.

16. Give God all the glory.

The Apostle Paul

Letter to Philippians, Chapter4

Milestones

Me and my wife have reached a milestone in our marriage. We have been married 13 years. Usually 13 is a unlucky number but I don't see it that way.

Let's count the 13 reasons me and my wife are lucky.

The first four are obvious.

1. Monica

2. Mia

3. Sofie

4. Brianna

5. Nice house

6. Good jobs

7. Good communication

8. A house full of love

9. Work through problems

10.Raising a houseful of kids (I would not have it any other way)

11.Loving extended family

12.Nice neighborhood

13.Good health

I met my wife in church. She was the choir director. I kind of new we would get married eventually but there was an event that moved things along. This was the birth of my oldest daughter Brianna. This event made us strong right from the start. Since Brianna's birth there has been three other daughters. I think my purpose in life is to raise these girls into responsible young women. I guess life works in funny ways. Now I can never be without any of them.

And so the story goes..

I am continuing to work on my dad's book in my spare time. I have no time limit to finish this but I have set a goal to have it completed this year. It is a learning process for me but I feel that I can get it done in the correct manner. It can be hard since I work full time trying to manage a household full of kids. There are times when I come home so mentally drained from work that I don't want to do anything but have dinner, play with the kids and put everyone to bed.

But back to the book about my dad, he continues to supply me with stories about his past. I am continuing to edit them and I am starting to think about how I want to pitch this book and to whom. I know I have enough material to pitch the book now but I want to make sure I am ready. It is a project that I have committed to and I am determined to see it through.

I hope one day that my girls can make the time to write about me in a blog or abook . I don't really consider my life really interesting to this point. I continue to believe that my dad did so much more at my age than I think I will do in a lifetime. Maybe the next forty years of life will be a little bit more interesting with all kinds of twists and turns!

Wondering....

There is a lot going on in the world right now. Earthquakes , floods, forest fires and viruses. I hope that all lives can be spared but sometimes that is not always the case. I am not sure what God's plan is for some of us. Nobody knows. I just know that we need to help those in need. Maybe that is our mission. Helping the needy should be top priority. At one time I have been in need and I am sure some of you were in need at one point.

As of this writing death toll estimates are at 100,000. As each day passes the chances of finding someone alive in the rubble diminishes drastically. The U.S is taking the lead and has dispatched warships and troops to Haiti. We are also being asked on Twitter and Facebook to donate money for Haiti . This country needs our help. Soon there will be a telethon sponsored by many Hollywood heavyweights led by George Clooney,asking for our help. MTV and eleven other broadcast networks have signed on to air the 2 hour telethon next week.

"Hope for Haiti" telethon will raise money for five relief agencies currently working in the ravaged country. It will also be co-hosted by Anderson Cooper in Haiti and Wycleaf John. It will air on MTV, CBS, ABC, FOX,CNN, BET, CMT, CW and other networks.

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Please give.