Do you ever find yourself wondering why things happen? Maybe you question the way the world is, suicides, shootings, anger and hatred seem to be on the news every day. Maybe you question circumstances in your own life or in the life of someone close to you. Often times we are plagued with the age old question of "Why do bad things happen to good people?" But as we look around at life's seeming injustices or at the condition of our world, we have to remember that there are two forces at work. There is a force of evil which desires to "steal, kill, and destroy." But there is also a force of Good which seeks that we might "have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
I was reminded yesterday about the story of Joseph in the Bible. Joseph was a man who had every reason to ask God "Why?" He was stripped of his position and his possessions as a young man and thrown into a pit in the desert, only to be pulled out and sold into slavery in a foreign country. His own brothers did this to him. Later, after years of working as a slave to a man named Potiphar, he had finally proven his worth and gained a position of power. He was second in command of a large Egyptian household. But he was sabotaged yet again. Falsely accused, he was robbed of his position once more and sent to prison. He spent years in prison, during which time he could have become bitter and discouraged, but he held on to his faith. Eventually, through his visions from God, he became associated with Pharaoh, was taken out of prison, and given the position of second in command of all the land of Egypt. And it was this position which allowed him to rescue not only the land of Egypt, but his entire family (the ones who sold him into slavery all those years ago) from starvation and destruction through seven years of famine. (Genesis 37-50) Looking at the whole picture of Joseph's life, we can see that his circumstances were leading him to exactly where he needed to be and preparing him to be the man who could rescue an entire nation. But in midst of all those circumstances, Joseph couldn't see what was coming next. He simply had to trust that God's plan would work out for good in the end. I think part of the reason God dedicated an entire 13 chapters to the story of Joseph is so we could be reminded that in our life we may have terrible circumstances, and we may not understand them, but if we will remain in faith, God will use those circumstances for good.
Cheryl McGuinness, the wife of the Co-pilot of one of the American Airlines flights which crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, said it this way, "I believe that his [God's] purposes are greater than we can begin to comprehend, and the answers to our questions are often far beyond our ability to understand." (Taken from Cheryl's book, Beauty from Ashes) We have a great God, and even in the midst of our darkest days, He will never abandon us. Do not lose hope if you are facing difficult times. The enemy tries to use our circumstances to destroy us, but God uses them to do great and amazing things we never could have anticipated. Do not grow weary in well doing my friend. God has a great plan for your life. I pray you know how much you are loved. Make this a great week! I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
Monday, September 10, 2018
Sunday, September 9, 2018
An Intersection of Wills
Hi there! I was thinking a lot today about selfishness, but maybe not in the way that you would think. I know there are a lot of philosophies out there on selfishness today. One author tells you not to be selfish and to put others first. Another expert tells you that you must put yourself first so that you can then care for others, and in a way, both these ideas are true. However, I was thinking today not so much about whether or not to be selfish, but about what happens when two selfish people intersect. And to be fair, I think we all are selfish people from time to time. It's easy to get into a mindset of feeling like we are always in need, and when we do that we always begin to look at others with the mentality of what they can do for us or what we need from them. And it's not that it's bad to need others to do things for you. For example, in my work setting, I need my employees to perform their jobs, and I want them to do it as efficiently as possible. As a mother, I need my child to follow my instructions, and I want him to do it with a good attitude. Much of what we do in life is based on our thought process of what we need others to do in order for our day to run smoothly. The problem is that everyone else is also thinking about what they need others to do for their day to run smoothly, and this is where the intersection happens.
I may be thinking that I need to get somewhere quickly, and so I get angry when the person in front of me at the store takes too long at the cash register, while the person at the register may be thinking that they need to feed their family, but they have a limited amount of funds and getting that coupon put in right or making sure that their total does not exceed a certain amount is extremely important. Each of us is thinking about what we need, and getting frustrated that things are not going our way. The cashier may be thinking that she needs to get to her lunch break so she can go to a doctor's appointment she scheduled. Consequently she is frustrated by having to wait for her manager to come make the correction to the purchase. We each have a need, and in our selfishness we forget that the people around us also have needs. What happens when selfish people intersect is a traffic jam of wills, and the result is injury, insult, and division.
How often have you grumbled and complained because someone expected you to do something for them that you did not have the time or the desire to do? That person may not have even realized they inconvenienced you because they were only thinking about their needs. Likewise, you may have inadvertently done the same thing someone else. It's so important that we wake up and start looking beyond ourselves. If we truly want to love others and build lasting relationships and change the climate of our culture, then we must begin to think about others. We must choose to be understanding rather than upset, conscientious of others instead of confrontational with others, and we must begin to view each intersection of wills as an opportunity to meet the needs of others. As you start a new week tomorrow, keep in mind the needs of others around you, and try to see things from their perspectives. You will find yourself offended less often when you know that people are not deliberately trying to anger you, they are simply trying to meet their needs the same way as you are trying to meet yours. Give a little grace today, and it will go a long way towards making your day more peaceful and joyful. Make it a great week! I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
I may be thinking that I need to get somewhere quickly, and so I get angry when the person in front of me at the store takes too long at the cash register, while the person at the register may be thinking that they need to feed their family, but they have a limited amount of funds and getting that coupon put in right or making sure that their total does not exceed a certain amount is extremely important. Each of us is thinking about what we need, and getting frustrated that things are not going our way. The cashier may be thinking that she needs to get to her lunch break so she can go to a doctor's appointment she scheduled. Consequently she is frustrated by having to wait for her manager to come make the correction to the purchase. We each have a need, and in our selfishness we forget that the people around us also have needs. What happens when selfish people intersect is a traffic jam of wills, and the result is injury, insult, and division.
How often have you grumbled and complained because someone expected you to do something for them that you did not have the time or the desire to do? That person may not have even realized they inconvenienced you because they were only thinking about their needs. Likewise, you may have inadvertently done the same thing someone else. It's so important that we wake up and start looking beyond ourselves. If we truly want to love others and build lasting relationships and change the climate of our culture, then we must begin to think about others. We must choose to be understanding rather than upset, conscientious of others instead of confrontational with others, and we must begin to view each intersection of wills as an opportunity to meet the needs of others. As you start a new week tomorrow, keep in mind the needs of others around you, and try to see things from their perspectives. You will find yourself offended less often when you know that people are not deliberately trying to anger you, they are simply trying to meet their needs the same way as you are trying to meet yours. Give a little grace today, and it will go a long way towards making your day more peaceful and joyful. Make it a great week! I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Hitting the Trail
Today I want to share a few thoughts with you that I had while I was running this morning. Now, to be fair, it has been over a year since I have run. Prior to that I had become an avid runner. I was going to the trail almost every day, and on my days off I was running around 7 miles. But then I hit a snag. Two snags in fact. In June of last year I dropped a dresser on my foot and ended up in a boot for a month. It's safe to say this effectively stopped my running for a period of time. And just about the time when I was thinking my foot had healed enough to start again, I was bitten by a dog on my other foot. This prevented me from running for a few more weeks, and after that it got cold and snowy, and from that time on I basically gave up on running. In fact, I haven't even attempted to run since last June. My body had gotten to a place where I thought of myself as someone who "used to run."
Have you ever been there? Maybe not with running, but with your life in general? Maybe something got you off track with your career. Maybe you got sidelined by illness, having kids, or caring for a loved one, and maybe now you think of yourself as someone who "used to have a good career." Maybe it's your health. Maybe your travel schedule or your family schedule caused you to start making poor food choices and stop exercising, and now you feel like you are just someone who "used to be healthy." Maybe you used to be strong spiritually. You were grounded in your faith and had a strong relationship with God, but maybe you made a wrong choice, and then another, and another, until you aren't even sure now where you are at with God. You just see yourself as someone who "used to be religious."
We all have things in life that knock us off course, change our direction, or slow us down for a time. But many times we continue that pattern long after the original cause for our change in direction is gone. But what I want to remind you today is that it is never to late to get back on course. You can be someone who has a great career, is an avid runner, is healthy, has a strong relationship with God, or any number of life goals you may have let fall by the wayside. You won't get there by looking back at what you used to be though. You can only get to where you should be by looking ahead and starting one step at a time down the right path.
When I started down the trail jogging today, at first it felt heavenly. I had a spring in my step, and it felt so good to be running again. But after a few hundred feet my body started to question, "Are we really doing this? We're going to keep running?" My lungs and legs wanted to stop, but my brain said, "Just keep moving." And when I made it almost around the track I realized something. I was letting go of the past, running free of my false ideas about my inabilities, and when I crossed the line to finish the lap, I knew in my head, "I did it. I am still a runner."
Let this be a reminder to you that no matter how long you've been off the path or no matter how far you are from where you were, all you need to do to become what you're meant to be is take the first step, then another, and another. Don't quit. Finish the first lap, and when you do, you will once again know that you can do it, and you have done it, and you are making it. Don't let the past lie to you about who you are now and what you can be in the future. Get out there and hit the trail today. I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
Have you ever been there? Maybe not with running, but with your life in general? Maybe something got you off track with your career. Maybe you got sidelined by illness, having kids, or caring for a loved one, and maybe now you think of yourself as someone who "used to have a good career." Maybe it's your health. Maybe your travel schedule or your family schedule caused you to start making poor food choices and stop exercising, and now you feel like you are just someone who "used to be healthy." Maybe you used to be strong spiritually. You were grounded in your faith and had a strong relationship with God, but maybe you made a wrong choice, and then another, and another, until you aren't even sure now where you are at with God. You just see yourself as someone who "used to be religious."
We all have things in life that knock us off course, change our direction, or slow us down for a time. But many times we continue that pattern long after the original cause for our change in direction is gone. But what I want to remind you today is that it is never to late to get back on course. You can be someone who has a great career, is an avid runner, is healthy, has a strong relationship with God, or any number of life goals you may have let fall by the wayside. You won't get there by looking back at what you used to be though. You can only get to where you should be by looking ahead and starting one step at a time down the right path.
When I started down the trail jogging today, at first it felt heavenly. I had a spring in my step, and it felt so good to be running again. But after a few hundred feet my body started to question, "Are we really doing this? We're going to keep running?" My lungs and legs wanted to stop, but my brain said, "Just keep moving." And when I made it almost around the track I realized something. I was letting go of the past, running free of my false ideas about my inabilities, and when I crossed the line to finish the lap, I knew in my head, "I did it. I am still a runner."
Let this be a reminder to you that no matter how long you've been off the path or no matter how far you are from where you were, all you need to do to become what you're meant to be is take the first step, then another, and another. Don't quit. Finish the first lap, and when you do, you will once again know that you can do it, and you have done it, and you are making it. Don't let the past lie to you about who you are now and what you can be in the future. Get out there and hit the trail today. I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
Friday, August 24, 2018
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Have you ever been on one of those train rides or roller-coasters or waterslides that goes into a dark tunnel. One of the ones that is pitch black and you have no idea where you are going. Now, I know some of you would never go on a ride like that, and that's ok, but for those of us who do, we go on the ride, and we don't panic when it goes into the dark because we know that the tracks lead back out into the light. We can enjoy the thrill of the unknown because we know that eventually we will end up where we are supposed to be.
But what about when that happens in life? When you are traveling along just fine and then suddenly everything goes black, or when you suddenly can't find your way and you just seem to be being pushed along with the days. It is during these times of darkness, confusion, or seeming lostness that we must lean into our faith, and more importantly, trust the promises of the One who inspires our faith. Often times we know in our hearts the promises God has given us: for a hope and future (Jeremiah 29:11), for all things to work out for good (Romans 8:28), for healing (Isaiah 53:5), forgiveness (1 John 1:9), for supernatural provision (2 Peter 1:3), and for so many other things. But sometimes we choose to only see the darkness around us, rather than looking ahead, knowing with confidence that the light of hope will appear in the distance.
When we remind ourselves that God is the one who built the tracks, and He knows exactly where we are headed, then we can be at peace even when we are unsure of where God is taking us. We can have assurance He is bringing us towards something good. We can fix our eyes ahead of us and rest in the knowledge that we are headed toward the light. Do not let times of darkness or confusion in your life cause you to derail yourself or your progress. Cling to the hope we have in God's promises and continue to walk down the path. I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Playing the Losing Game
Good Morning Friends! Have you ever become so entrenched in your own struggles that you forget for a time that other people are struggling too? I believe we often get tied up in our "woe is me" attitude, and we block out the fact that other people might be going through the same things and could use our help. The other day my son told me the he and his friends were having an argument about which of them has the worst life. (Insert eye roll here.) Now, none of these boys has a bad life... not even slightly. But my son was angry because his friend had told him "Bad stuff happens in everybody's life." Basically a nice way of saying, "Get over yourself." And although we can all shake our heads at a few boys tossing around their problems as if the world rested on their shoulders, don't we as adults do the same thing? How often when a friend tells us about a situation they are experiencing do we jump in and begin to "one-up" them with what we are going through. Essentially, we are playing the "who has the worst life" game without even realizing it.
You see, my son's friend was right. We all have bad things happen in our lives. We all have hurts and losses and disappointments. But we also all have blessings, good things we can be thankful for, and things to celebrate. Maybe it's time we started reminding each other of the victories in our lives instead of keeping score of the losses. We are never too busy to give a friend a hug and some words of encouragement. We should never be so focused on ourselves that we can't reach out to someone else. Now, maybe you aren't able to fill their exact need right now. Maybe you can't write a check that will cover their need, but you can send a card with Scriptures to lift them up. Maybe you don't have time to go cook or clean for someone who just had surgery, but you can send a gift card for a pizza delivery service. There are all kinds of ways we can be a blessing to someone, even in the midst of our own struggles.
I'm not saying our own problems aren't real. Believe me, I know. I have recently gone through a time of heartache where it was all I could do some days to get out of bed. And during those days, I can tell you that I wasn't thinking much about other people's hurts, but I can tell you that the little ways people reached out to me.. a message on Facebook, a gift card to take my family out to dinner, looking out for me and checking in when they knew I wasn't doing well, meant the world to me as I wrestled with my own hurts. And as I started to recover, looking for little things I could do to lift others up went a long way towards healing my spirit as well. If you are in the midst of a great struggle right now, my heart aches for you, because I know how much life can hurt, but I also want you to know that you are not alone in the valley, that you will come out on the other side, and while you are in the desert, take a look around... you might find there is someone who needs you to take their hand and walk through it with them. I love you very much, and I cannot wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
You see, my son's friend was right. We all have bad things happen in our lives. We all have hurts and losses and disappointments. But we also all have blessings, good things we can be thankful for, and things to celebrate. Maybe it's time we started reminding each other of the victories in our lives instead of keeping score of the losses. We are never too busy to give a friend a hug and some words of encouragement. We should never be so focused on ourselves that we can't reach out to someone else. Now, maybe you aren't able to fill their exact need right now. Maybe you can't write a check that will cover their need, but you can send a card with Scriptures to lift them up. Maybe you don't have time to go cook or clean for someone who just had surgery, but you can send a gift card for a pizza delivery service. There are all kinds of ways we can be a blessing to someone, even in the midst of our own struggles.
I'm not saying our own problems aren't real. Believe me, I know. I have recently gone through a time of heartache where it was all I could do some days to get out of bed. And during those days, I can tell you that I wasn't thinking much about other people's hurts, but I can tell you that the little ways people reached out to me.. a message on Facebook, a gift card to take my family out to dinner, looking out for me and checking in when they knew I wasn't doing well, meant the world to me as I wrestled with my own hurts. And as I started to recover, looking for little things I could do to lift others up went a long way towards healing my spirit as well. If you are in the midst of a great struggle right now, my heart aches for you, because I know how much life can hurt, but I also want you to know that you are not alone in the valley, that you will come out on the other side, and while you are in the desert, take a look around... you might find there is someone who needs you to take their hand and walk through it with them. I love you very much, and I cannot wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Playing the Waiting Game
The waiting lesson has been one I have had to learn over and over again. It seems there is always something on the horizon for which we must wait another day, month, year, etc... I was talking yesterday about a recent frustration I had faced when my brother made the profound statement, "If I were you I would be excited because this means that God has something awesome in store." Wow! What a powerful insight. Do we have enough faith to rejoice when we don't get what we want because we know God is bringing us to something much better? If we truly know the heart of our God is to bless us and give us good gifts, then Yes! Romans assures us that "He works all things together for the good of them that love Him." (Romans 8:28)
Take courage then, my friend. If you are waiting for your next blessing, do so with a grateful heart, knowing that God is working it out in the best possible way. Don't walk around frustrated you don't have what you want yet. Go around celebrating the goodness of our God, and your times of waiting will seem to fly by. After all, "A cheerful heart is good medicine." (Proverbs 17:22)
Whatever you are waiting for today, do so with an expectant joy, knowing that the Father loves to give good gifts to His children. (Matthew 7:11) You have a great future ahead of you if you are willing to wait for it in patience and faith. Get out there and celebrate through your waiting! I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.L.W.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
A Rough Road
Hello there! It's been a while. Have you ever found yourself faced with a difficult phase of life and wondering if you are on the right path? Maybe you were sure you were headed in the right direction, but everything just seems to be slowing you down and tripping you up along the way. We sometimes have the tendency to think that if things aren't going smoothly we aren't meant to travel that path. But just because things aren't easy doesn't mean you are going the wrong way. Moses in the book of Exodus faced opposition from Pharaoh day after day. (Exodus 5-12) He was told "No" over and over again. He could have begun to question whether God was really going to deliver Israel or whether he had really been called to lead them to freedom, but God was using the setbacks and delays to set them up for a triumphant exodus from Egypt. When Pharaoh finally did let them leave, they left with gold and silver in abundance because the Egyptians were so eager to see them get out. God was preparing them to receive all these blessings through all the tribulations they faced.
Similarly, maybe you felt God was calling you to do something, but when you proceeded to do what He asked things became difficult. Maybe you faced loss or hardship, and these situations left you doubting your direction. Do not give up when the road becomes difficult. If you are willing to stay the course and hold on to faith, you will come out more triumphant and more blessed than you could have imagined in the first place. Like the pressure that forms the diamond out of the rock, the difficulties you face are forming you into a person who shines and who is more valuable and beautiful inside and out.
If you are struggling today, know that God loves you, and that you can "count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of you faith produces patience. Patience must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4) When you come out on the other side of your battles you will not lack anything. You will be complete. Keep your chin up. Your victory is waiting for you. I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
Similarly, maybe you felt God was calling you to do something, but when you proceeded to do what He asked things became difficult. Maybe you faced loss or hardship, and these situations left you doubting your direction. Do not give up when the road becomes difficult. If you are willing to stay the course and hold on to faith, you will come out more triumphant and more blessed than you could have imagined in the first place. Like the pressure that forms the diamond out of the rock, the difficulties you face are forming you into a person who shines and who is more valuable and beautiful inside and out.
If you are struggling today, know that God loves you, and that you can "count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of you faith produces patience. Patience must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4) When you come out on the other side of your battles you will not lack anything. You will be complete. Keep your chin up. Your victory is waiting for you. I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Making the Right Choices
Good Morning Friends! I want to talk to you today about the difference between fear and lack of peace. Now, on the surface, these two things may seem almost identical, but if we are to make the right life choices, we must absolutely learn the difference between the two.
When I was a kid, I had a tough time understanding this concept, and as a result I thought that anytime I felt afraid or anxious about something I should not do that thing. But as adults I believe most of us know there are things which may cause us anxiety, but we can choose to overcome that and be more successful because of it, some of these include public speaking, flying, traveling, moving, etc. Many of these things may come with a bit of fear attached to them because they are new or unfamiliar. This does not mean we shouldn't do them, it just means we may have to overcome fear in order to do what we need to do.
However, there is a difference between feeling scared because something is new or different and feeling a lack of peace. A lack of peace is that uneasy feeling in your body and mind telling you that something is not right and you need to get away from whatever that is. When you feel a lack of peace, you need to tune into what your Spirit is telling you and listen. Whether it makes logical sense or not, listen to what gives you peace. Many times an opportunity may look wonderful, but if it does not give you peace, RUN from it. Do not linger in situations that fail to give you peace. You will only risk loss, heart ache, and negative consequences.
Often times new opportunities come with a bit of fear or doubt simply because they are new, and this is where it is vital that we know what our Spirit is saying. Do you feel afraid because this is new, or is there something deeper there? Are you lacking peace about it? The answer to this question should determine your course of action. If you feel afraid simply because it's new, then begin retraining your mind and body to like this new transition and enjoy the changes associated with the new phase you are in. But if you are lacking peace, pray, pray, pray about what your next move should be, and get to a place of peace ASAP! Nothing is worth losing your peace over.
I hope that you new doors of opportunity are opening for you my friend, and I pray that you are in tune to the Spirit to know which doors to step through. Let peace guide you, and never let fear stop you from tackling new challenges. I love you, and I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
When I was a kid, I had a tough time understanding this concept, and as a result I thought that anytime I felt afraid or anxious about something I should not do that thing. But as adults I believe most of us know there are things which may cause us anxiety, but we can choose to overcome that and be more successful because of it, some of these include public speaking, flying, traveling, moving, etc. Many of these things may come with a bit of fear attached to them because they are new or unfamiliar. This does not mean we shouldn't do them, it just means we may have to overcome fear in order to do what we need to do.
However, there is a difference between feeling scared because something is new or different and feeling a lack of peace. A lack of peace is that uneasy feeling in your body and mind telling you that something is not right and you need to get away from whatever that is. When you feel a lack of peace, you need to tune into what your Spirit is telling you and listen. Whether it makes logical sense or not, listen to what gives you peace. Many times an opportunity may look wonderful, but if it does not give you peace, RUN from it. Do not linger in situations that fail to give you peace. You will only risk loss, heart ache, and negative consequences.
Often times new opportunities come with a bit of fear or doubt simply because they are new, and this is where it is vital that we know what our Spirit is saying. Do you feel afraid because this is new, or is there something deeper there? Are you lacking peace about it? The answer to this question should determine your course of action. If you feel afraid simply because it's new, then begin retraining your mind and body to like this new transition and enjoy the changes associated with the new phase you are in. But if you are lacking peace, pray, pray, pray about what your next move should be, and get to a place of peace ASAP! Nothing is worth losing your peace over.
I hope that you new doors of opportunity are opening for you my friend, and I pray that you are in tune to the Spirit to know which doors to step through. Let peace guide you, and never let fear stop you from tackling new challenges. I love you, and I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
Monday, July 16, 2018
Start Your Day Right
Good Morning! Happy Monday! Are you ready for the week? If not, check out How To Have a Great Week when you finish reading today's blog. I want to talk to you this morning about setting the tone for your day. How do you usually start your morning? Are you rushed? Frustrated? Can't find your keys? Do you wake up early or late? Breakfast or no? The way that you start your morning often times sets the mood for your entire day. Have you ever noticed that if you wake up late and feel stressed in the morning your whole day seems to kind of continue in that pattern? Successful people are often known to be early risers, and here's why... they wake up early to prepare! I've heard speaker's call this concept "The Hour of Power." But it's a fairly easy strategy which you can use to bolster your attitude and productivity too.
It's so important to start your day from a position of peace, preparedness and positivity, and you can do this by intentionally setting aside a little extra time each morning to build some new habits. My morning looks something like this....
7AM- Read Scripture and Pray
8AM-Blog/Read (Personal growth books)
9AM-Write
10AM-Get Ready for Work
Now, obviously this is more than an hour's time, and not everyone has the luxury of going into work at 11 am like me. However, on days when I have to be at work at 7AM, I simply shorten the list to Scripture and Prayer time and Blogging, and I get my reading and writing done later in the day. The important thing for me is to make sure that I spend my time with God first thing in the morning so that I am in the right frame of mind to face my day and then to get my blog written so that it does not get neglected. (Oftentimes what we put off doing does not get done). I can't tell you what you need to put in your morning quiet time.. it might be exercise, meditation, or a healthy breakfast, but I can tell you that having a morning time set aside to focus yourself and prepare yourself for the day is essential to being your most productive. If you don't set your intention for the day, the day has a way of setting your intentions for you, and that's not usually a good thing.
Another important way to set the tone for the day is often missed during our daily commute. Perhaps you turn on the radio or the news on your drive or walk to work. Often times we mindlessly listen to whatever is on, and we lose a valuable opportunity to prepare ourselves to have our best day. Personally, I like to use my few minutes on the way to work to put my mind and attitude in the right place. I listen to an uplifting audio or my recorded affirmations on the way to work, and I also have a playlist of only positive music which I turn on when I have longer commute days. Be purposeful about what you put into your mind, especially first thing in the morning, and you will find that it affects your whole day.
If you are looking to grow yourself, succeed at whatever you need to accomplish today, and do it all with a positive attitude, then begin today to change your morning routine and set yourself up for a winning day. I hope you make this a productive and positive week! I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
It's so important to start your day from a position of peace, preparedness and positivity, and you can do this by intentionally setting aside a little extra time each morning to build some new habits. My morning looks something like this....
7AM- Read Scripture and Pray
8AM-Blog/Read (Personal growth books)
9AM-Write
10AM-Get Ready for Work
Now, obviously this is more than an hour's time, and not everyone has the luxury of going into work at 11 am like me. However, on days when I have to be at work at 7AM, I simply shorten the list to Scripture and Prayer time and Blogging, and I get my reading and writing done later in the day. The important thing for me is to make sure that I spend my time with God first thing in the morning so that I am in the right frame of mind to face my day and then to get my blog written so that it does not get neglected. (Oftentimes what we put off doing does not get done). I can't tell you what you need to put in your morning quiet time.. it might be exercise, meditation, or a healthy breakfast, but I can tell you that having a morning time set aside to focus yourself and prepare yourself for the day is essential to being your most productive. If you don't set your intention for the day, the day has a way of setting your intentions for you, and that's not usually a good thing.
Another important way to set the tone for the day is often missed during our daily commute. Perhaps you turn on the radio or the news on your drive or walk to work. Often times we mindlessly listen to whatever is on, and we lose a valuable opportunity to prepare ourselves to have our best day. Personally, I like to use my few minutes on the way to work to put my mind and attitude in the right place. I listen to an uplifting audio or my recorded affirmations on the way to work, and I also have a playlist of only positive music which I turn on when I have longer commute days. Be purposeful about what you put into your mind, especially first thing in the morning, and you will find that it affects your whole day.
If you are looking to grow yourself, succeed at whatever you need to accomplish today, and do it all with a positive attitude, then begin today to change your morning routine and set yourself up for a winning day. I hope you make this a productive and positive week! I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Getting a Little Bit Political
Hi friends! I hope you are doing well today. I just wanted to share with you a few thoughts this afternoon about politics and relationships. I normally stay as far away from the politically charged debates circulating on social media, and I don't spout my opinion unless asked for it (for the most part, anyway.) You see, I used to be a person who liked to argue. I argued my points with teachers, professors, classmates, friends, and strangers, but then one day I started to realize that all my arguing was not winning others to my side, and in fact, it was probably doing more to push them in the opposite direction. The truth is, people's beliefs are deeply personal to them and are often based on their experiences. The majority of the time people will not be swayed to your way of thinking using logic an reasoning. No matter how many "facts" you give someone, you will not change what their experiences are.
For myself, my support for the Pro-Life movement stems not just from my belief that God created all humans and we should therefore protect their lives. It is also solidified forever in my heart because I held my tiny infant girl who was born at eighteen weeks (a time when abortion is still allowed in some states). I saw her fingers and toes and looked at her precious face, and no one will ever be able to convince me that a fetus is not a baby because of what I have experienced. But just because that is my experience does not mean someone else does not have a deeply personal experience which causes them to be Pro-Choice. Our differing beliefs do not mean I cannot love someone who believes the opposite of me. I have friends and family who believe many things that contradict my beliefs, and that's ok. The only thing that means is that we will probably vote for different candidates on election day and support different charities with our time and money.
Somehow we as a nation seem to have forgotten that it's ok to have different opinions and be our own individuals. We've forgotten that we can all choose to live with one another and love one another regardless of if you voted for red or blue. It's not our job to tell others how to think. But we can share our experiences with one another, and maybe we will start to gain a better understanding of the other side by doing so. Let's start reaching out hands of healing, not pushing others away and creating division. Let's learn to bridge the gap between our opinions and simply say, "We think differently, but I still love you." If we can start to do this, I believe we will all be better off, and our communities and country will be too.
No matter what political/social/economical/religious ideas you hold, know that I love you, and I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
For myself, my support for the Pro-Life movement stems not just from my belief that God created all humans and we should therefore protect their lives. It is also solidified forever in my heart because I held my tiny infant girl who was born at eighteen weeks (a time when abortion is still allowed in some states). I saw her fingers and toes and looked at her precious face, and no one will ever be able to convince me that a fetus is not a baby because of what I have experienced. But just because that is my experience does not mean someone else does not have a deeply personal experience which causes them to be Pro-Choice. Our differing beliefs do not mean I cannot love someone who believes the opposite of me. I have friends and family who believe many things that contradict my beliefs, and that's ok. The only thing that means is that we will probably vote for different candidates on election day and support different charities with our time and money.
Somehow we as a nation seem to have forgotten that it's ok to have different opinions and be our own individuals. We've forgotten that we can all choose to live with one another and love one another regardless of if you voted for red or blue. It's not our job to tell others how to think. But we can share our experiences with one another, and maybe we will start to gain a better understanding of the other side by doing so. Let's start reaching out hands of healing, not pushing others away and creating division. Let's learn to bridge the gap between our opinions and simply say, "We think differently, but I still love you." If we can start to do this, I believe we will all be better off, and our communities and country will be too.
No matter what political/social/economical/religious ideas you hold, know that I love you, and I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.
Saturday, July 14, 2018
The Problem With Pride
Good Morning Friends! I want to talk to you today about the quiet power called Humility. When I started this blog I had two prayers which I have prayed every day since beginning it. The first was that God would give me the words to write, and the second was that God would keep me humble. I firmly believed from the very beginning that great things were going to come out of this blog, but I also knew that every talent and gift I have comes from God, and therefore I had nothing to boast about. The thing is, God can use us when we're humble. But when we start letting our ego get in the way, we halt our own progress.
We have to approach life with the remembrance that "every good and perfect gift" comes from God. (James 1:17) We often think of this verse in reference to material things, like money, children, homes, etc, but this also applies to things like promotions, favor, friendships, and opportunities. It can be easy for us to get it into our heads that we are something great and that we have built our empires on our own strength, but this is a dangerous position to be in, for "pride goes before destruction" (Proverbs 16:18) And when we begin to think that we are responsible for the creation of the good things in our lives, we are like the foolish man who built his house upon the sand. (Matthew 7:24-27) See, you may have a talent or strength which you think has carried you thus far, and you may put a lot of confidence in it. But the problem is, when the rains come, as they inevitably will, if you are only looking to yourself as the sole constructor of your universe, you will soon find that your weaknesses can destroy you. Conversely, when we give God the glory for all the good we have received, knowing that our blessings come only from Him, when the struggles of life begin to attack us, we can trust that His strength will work through our weaknesses and bring us victories that we could have never accomplished on our own. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Take some time today to evaluate where your attitude is. Are you trusting in your own strength and giving yourself a pat on the back for all your accomplishments, or are you remaining humble and thankful that God has blessed you with great things? Start taking the praise you receive and giving it back to God, and start trusting Him to continue blessing you with good things. You will find that when your confidence is not in yourself, when the storms come, you won't have to depend on your own strength to fix them, but you can simply and humbly bask in God's goodness and let Him carry you through.
Keep moving forward and stay humble with each victory. I'm so excited to see you succeed!
~K.W.
We have to approach life with the remembrance that "every good and perfect gift" comes from God. (James 1:17) We often think of this verse in reference to material things, like money, children, homes, etc, but this also applies to things like promotions, favor, friendships, and opportunities. It can be easy for us to get it into our heads that we are something great and that we have built our empires on our own strength, but this is a dangerous position to be in, for "pride goes before destruction" (Proverbs 16:18) And when we begin to think that we are responsible for the creation of the good things in our lives, we are like the foolish man who built his house upon the sand. (Matthew 7:24-27) See, you may have a talent or strength which you think has carried you thus far, and you may put a lot of confidence in it. But the problem is, when the rains come, as they inevitably will, if you are only looking to yourself as the sole constructor of your universe, you will soon find that your weaknesses can destroy you. Conversely, when we give God the glory for all the good we have received, knowing that our blessings come only from Him, when the struggles of life begin to attack us, we can trust that His strength will work through our weaknesses and bring us victories that we could have never accomplished on our own. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Take some time today to evaluate where your attitude is. Are you trusting in your own strength and giving yourself a pat on the back for all your accomplishments, or are you remaining humble and thankful that God has blessed you with great things? Start taking the praise you receive and giving it back to God, and start trusting Him to continue blessing you with good things. You will find that when your confidence is not in yourself, when the storms come, you won't have to depend on your own strength to fix them, but you can simply and humbly bask in God's goodness and let Him carry you through.
Keep moving forward and stay humble with each victory. I'm so excited to see you succeed!
~K.W.
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