Spiritual Motivation and Insight

[CrimsonTide4]

1. Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

2. Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

3. Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

4. Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.

5. Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

6. Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this
fragile thread that binds us together.

7. Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

8. Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

9. Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, but also where you are going.

10. Don't forget that a person's greatest emotional need is to feel
appreciated.

11. Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

12. Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

[CrimsonTide4]

Smart women get the nice guys because they don't lower their standards for men or anyone else for that matter.

Smart women dont take the attitude that if this is the best you can do, will do.

They'll just go to the dance without an escort, the movie without a date, and the rest of their lives without the true companion constantly celebrated on FM radio.

A smart woman has figured out that her biological clock is not really ticking that loud, that her grandmother was still fertile well into her fifties, and anyway, if she had wanted a rug rat, she would have had one by now.

Smart women have also worked out that all the media hype about not finding a husband when you're growing older is BS promulgated by male-owned media machines to make women desperate and compliant. To make sure that men will
always have their pick of scared women to choose from and that they won't have to work any harder at being decent.

Smart women have learned that the important question is not "Will I ever get married?" but "Do I want to get married?" (Or "Why on earth would I want to get married?").

Smart women know that you can ALWAYS settle for less than what you really want. You can always get serious with a guy you're not really in love with or one who doesn't treat you exactly right. So there's no point in making any compromises today or tomorrow either for that matter. There's always going to be time to do the wrong thing.

Smart women aren't lonely enough. They've noticed you get a lot done when you're on your own.

Smart women have often drawn the conclusion that sugar daddies aren't worth it. If you allow someone to buy you, he's going to think he owns you. (Imagine that).

Smart women know it's a hell of a lot easier to figure out what you're good at and make your own money than it is to entertain some tyrant. This frees you up to see a nice guy, whether he has money or not.

Smart women have also freed themselves from the psychological need to be dominated by their men.

Smart women like to feel powerful themselves and appreciate men who can handle that.

Smart women have adopted a firm line with men that can best be
summarized: "treat me right or take a picture of me." I have an architect friend who has an even better line - Whether it's a design not worth building or a relationship not worth any more investment, she shouts, "NEXT!"

Smart women are over men who fear commitment, who can't control their hormonal urges, who grunt instead of making conversation, who aren't reasonably punctual, who won't spring for an occasional evening out on the town, who don't listen, who don't know how to be supportive of their smart women's dreams.

Smart women know that being a jerk doesn't make a guy exciting.

Smart women are excited by men who call everyday without being pushy, who do what they say, who know how to say "I love you" and more importantly, how to act out that love in 100 ways that prove it.

In other words, smart women are no longer attracted to the bad boys. They've been out with all the bad boys. Yawn. Been there, done that. Now they cultivate the bad boy in the nice boys they go out with, which is something COMPLETELY different.

Take it from a grateful, recovering nice woman: SMART IS BETTER.

[CrimsonTide4]

Most of us (men and women) spend an enormous amount of time making sure we're physically beautiful.

Society dictates to us what beauty is or should be.

We're determined to be the perfect height, shape and size, wear the latest designer clothes and buy the finest material things.

There's very little effort put into spiritual grooming.

Just think what the outcome might be if we spent as much time grooming our spirits, our souls, as we spend in the beauty and nail salons and shopping.

The one thing that's so wonderful and powerful about spiritual grooming is that Calvin, Donna, Tommy, Boss, Guess and Max have no fashions, designs, or makeup that can beautify your spirit.

Spiritual beauty comes from the one and only designer, The Almighty.

Spiritual grooming requires time alone to think and soul search.

It means taking inventory of your personal life and determining what's wrong and right about one's self.

Having a beautiful spirit surpasses physical beauty because your soul won't require acceptance from society but assurance from God that you are His unique creation, and therefore, BEAUTIFUL!

When your spirit's beautiful, kindness, love, compassion and
understanding are your wardrobe of choice. Giving, sharing, teaching, reaching are your daily accessories and makeup.

Your warm smile, gentle touch, positive attitude and humble disposition are your appeal.

With your spiritual beauty, God's beauty, you'll attract other God like spirits in your relationships with people.

Until we learn to spiritually groom ourselves, we'll always be unhappy with ourselves, and always attract negative spirits to us, and continue to have un-satisfying relationships in our lives. Think about it!

Remember....You Are "BEAUTIFUL".

[CrimsonTide4]

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the
air.
You name them:
Work,
Family,
Health,
Friends and
Spirit.

If you are keeping all of these in the air you will soon understand
that
work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.

But the other four balls - family, health, friends and spirit are made
of
glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed,
marked,
nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You
must
understand that and strive for balance in your life.

[CrimsonTide4]

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!


The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. Love and peace be with you forever, Amen. WE SERVE A FAITHFUL GOD.

[CrimsonTide4]

Some people have a way of bringing out the worst in us. Sometimes it is the way they talk to us. For some reason they think we don’t know things they do. It just makes you crazy! Some people just show up with their face and hair and attitude and that look that makes your skin crawl. You try to be nice. You really try to like them. Yet no matter how hard you try, they just
bring out the ugly in you. The next time you are in the company of someone like this, ask your self, “Why am I giving this person my power?” Better yet, you might want to remember that God works through people- all the time!

All people, no matter what you think about them, are embodiment of the same divine energy in you. They may not know it. You may not see it. Sometimes they may not act divine, but actions do not change the truth. People are God’s hands and feet, eyes and ears. People are God’s students and God’s
teachers. God will test you, teach you, and love you through the being of another person. Your job is to honor and respect people for the part of God they are.

The next time you are challenged by one of those nerve-wracking people, remember that God is in your face! How you respond to and treat other people is always a reflection of what you know and believe about.

"FAITH IN THE VALLEY: RESPECT:"

[CrimsonTide4]

Do not undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Do not set your goals by what other people deem important.
Only you know what is best for you.

Do not take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Do not let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past nor for the future.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Do not give up when you have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
It is fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Do not be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Do not shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.

Do not dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams is to be without hope.
To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Do not run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been but also where you are going.
Life is not a race but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

[CrimsonTide4]

"Live your life without regret."

(An original by Natasha Munson)

The last thing you want to do in life is look back and regret the
choices you did or did not make. There is no way to go back, no way to correct life. Once a choice is made, it usually has lasting effects. So you have to look at your life and where you want to be clearly. Make decisions that will get you the most out of life.

It is very painful to look back on life and say, I wish I had done this or that. It's something I vowed I would never do to myself. I advise you to make the same vow and stick to it. This vow is not simple. You have to realize that when you say I vow never to regret, you are confirming that you will do things in your life. You will live life to the fullest. You will make decisions that enrich your life. You will do things that are new to you. You will try to create a life you love. This is a commitment to yourself. It is a commitment you must make.

When you make a commitment to yourself you establish a certain level of achievement for yourself. There are things you will have to accomplish in order for your life to be fulfilled. Since you do not want to regret not seeking opportunities and challenges you will be more open to thinking in your best interest and making wise choices.

When you get off track in life, remember that there is a bigger purpose for your life that God knows. So although you may wonder why you did this or that. In the scheme of things it was meant to happen. Everything happens for a reason.

While your life and the fulfillment of it are the main focus, you also
do not want to regret the way you did or did not treat others. It is important to treat others as you would want to be treated. When you accomplish things in life, give back to others in some way. Live a life that in the end you can say I loved, I lived, I laughed, I helped, I learned.

Lesson: Live your life in a way that you never have to look back and say I wish I could do this over.

Excerpt from, Life Lessons for My Black Girls: How to Make Wise Choices and Live A Life You Love! By Natasha Munson.

[CrimsonTide4]

I Am Too Blessed To Be Stressed &
Too Anointed To Be Disappointed

I refuse to be discouraged, to be sad or to cry.
I refuse to be downhearted and here's the reason why:

I have a God who is almighty; who is sovereign and supreme;
I have a God who loves me, and I am on his team.
He is all wise and powerful; Jesus is His Name;
though everything else is changeable, My God remains the same.

I refuse to be defeated. My eyes are on my GOD.
He has promised to be with me, as through this life I trod.
I am looking past my circumstances, to heaven's throne above.
My prayers have reached the heart of God. I am resting in his love.

I give thanks to him in everything. My eyes are on his face.
The battle is his; the victory is mine; He will help me win the race.

I repeat, I'M TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED"
You have just taken a dose of encouragement.

[CrimsonTide4]

Maybe what you need is a spiritual diet! A spiritual diet will cut down on the excess weight you carry around in your soul. The people who disappointed you or hurt you. The weight of things you should have done, could have done or wanted to do, but couldn’t bring yourself to do. As a matter of fact, that weight around your middle could be those people you’ve been hanging around or allowing to hang onto you. The heaviness in your legs could be all those things you convinced yourself you were not smart enough, good enough, or ready enough to do. That sluggish, heavy feeling you have in your heart might be your dreams, goals and fantasies. You haven’t put them to use, so they’ve turned to weight spiritual weight, which has your whole life, weighed down.

Yes! I believe a spiritual diet is exactly what you need! You can start right now with a heaping portion of forgiveness smothered in surrender. You will also need a big helping of laughter three or four times a day. Next, you must begin each day with prayer, followed by a dose of gratitude. For the next six to eight weeks, sprinkle everything with faith, wash it down with courage, and let your dessert be swig of confidence. If you follow these directions with all of your heart, you will experience a miraculous weight loss.

[CrimsonTide4]

I once read that struggle; suffering and conflict are like magnets that draw us closer to God. It is not until we feel totally helpless, confused, and sometimes desperate, that we become willing or able to turn to the awesome power of life and living our creator offers us. We may know God exists. We may understand our connection to God. Yet it seems that it is not until we are down or on the way down that we invite God’s presence and power into our life. It doesn’t have to be this way. God not only offers emergence care S/he is a source of preventive care.

Your creator always wants the best for you. Your creator has a mission, plan and purpose designed just for you. Sometimes when things are going our way, when they are comfortable or easy, we forget about God. We get off track, out of line, we move away from the plan, mission and purpose. Difficulties in life are no meant to break us or break us down. Our greatest challenge may be a simple reminder, the only way we will remember that there is a higher authority to whom we are accountable. The real challenge we face is to keep God. God’s word, and God’s way in the forefront of our mind- in good times as well as bad.

[CrimsonTide4]

Words to live by....



1.Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and
height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts,
gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the
devil's workshop," the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things. When the children are young, that is
all that you can afford. When they are in college, that is all
that you can afford. When you are on retirement, that is all that you can afford!

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh so much that you can be tracked in the store by your distinctive laughter. (MY mother used to call this being "a loud mouth" but that was a long time ago!)

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only
person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive, don't put out a mailbox on the highway of death and just wait in residence for your mail.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family,
pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is
your refuge.

8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,
improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Go to the mall, the next county, a
foreign country, but not to guilt country.

10. Tell the people you love, that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER Life is not measured by the number of
breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

[CrimsonTide4]

Thought for Today

A 12 STEP PROGRAM - 12 steps to reach your goals

1) Take care of your health. You need energy, stamina and clear thinking to fly with the eagles.

2) You don't need a lot of people, just the right people in your life. Start networking and making positive alliances.

3) People will respect and respond to your tenancity. Hang in there.

4) Your goals require discipline and determination. Put some iron in your soul. Get up and do the things you don't want to do so that later you can do the things you want to do.

5) Things that are out of sight are out of mind. USE and keep a big calendar in sight to keep you organized and on track.

6) Think it. Ink it. Get it out of your head and on paper. Avoid
generalizations. Be specific about your goals.

7) Observe your learning style. If you are a visual learner, read books and watch inspirational/motivational videos. If you are an auditory learner, listen to motivational tapes at least once a week.

8) Have a feedback system so that you are accountable to someone for your progress.

9) Keep your faith strong with prayer, praise and worship.

10) Change is a part of life. Expect the unexpected. Remain focused yet flexible.

11) Have balance and some fun to avoid burnout. Don't neglect family, friends and some fun which reduce stress.

12) Set yourself up to win. Set small achievable goals. Reward yourself. Give yourself points. Build on the small successes. Think big but take small steps.
-- by Jewel Diamond Taylor


"For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." Philippians 4:13 NLT

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1. The best way to get even is to forget.

2. Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.

3. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

4. Some folks wear their halos much too tight.

5. Some marriages are made in heaven, but they ALL have to be maintained on earth.

6. Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 days, then
perhaps giving "advice" to God, isn't such a good idea!

7. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up.

8. Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will get knocked down by the traffic from both ways.

9. Words are windows to the heart.

10. A skeptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it's a forgery.

11. It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill -- just add a little dirt.

12. A successful marriage isn't finding the right person -- it's being the right person.

13. The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its
ground.

14. Too many people offer God prayers, with claw marks all
over them.

15. The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it.

16. To forgive is to set the prisoner free, and then discover
the prisoner was you.

17. You have to wonder about humans, they think God is dead and Elvis/TuPac is alive!

18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again.
Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it
sticks out its neck.

20. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence,
you can bet the water bill is higher.

21. You are richer today if you have laughed, given or
forgiven.

[CrimsonTide4]

Quiet Confidence
+++++++++++++++++++

The strongest confidence is quiet confidence. It does not boast
and is not arrogant. Quiet confidence pays no attention to those
who ridicule it simply because of their own insecurities. Quiet
confidence does what is right, no matter what others may think.

Quiet confidence is built from substance, and is not just made
for show. It is genuine and as such, it is powerful. Quiet
confidence does not seek the easy way out. Quiet confidence finds the true and the right way through whatever situations or obstacles there are. It makes no grand promises. Yet it delivers much value.

Quiet confidence is not overly concerned with appearances. Quiet
confidence simply gets things done. You don't always see it, nor
do you often think about it. Yet quiet confidence works tirelessly
behind the scenes, bringing you many good and valuable things.

Quiet confidence is real, persistent confidence that makes a
positive difference every day. Try some yourself, and see how
much real and lasting value it can add to your world.