by Brian Tracy

Decide How to React
It is not what happens to you that counts. It is how you react to what happens to you, especially when you have unexpected problems of any kind.

Here are four things you can do to assure that your attitude is the very best it can be, under all circumstances.

Focus on the Future
First, whatever challenges you face, focus on the future rather than on the past. Instead of worrying about who did what and who is to blame, focus on where you want to be and what you want to do. Get a clear mental image of your ideal successful future, and then take whatever action you can to begin moving in that direction. Get your mind, your thoughts, and your mental images on the future.

Think About the Future
Second, whenever you’re faced with a difficulty, focus on the solution rather than on the problem. Think and talk about the ideal solution to the obstacle or setback, rather than wasting time rehashing and reflecting on the problem.

Solutions are inherently positive, whereas problems are inherently negative. The instant that you begin thinking in terms of solutions, you become a positive and constructive human being.

Look for the Good
Third, assume that something good is hidden within each difficulty or challenge. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, a major proponent of positive thinking, once said, “Whenever God wants to give us a gift, he wraps it up in a problem." The bigger the gift you have coming, the bigger the problem you will receive. But the wonderful thing is that if you look for the gift, you will always find it.

Seek the Valuable Lesson
Fourth, assume that whatever situation you are facing at the moment is exactly the right situation you need to ultimately be successful. This situation has been sent to you to help you learn something, to help you become better, to help you expand and grow.

Decide to Be Positive
A Positive Mental Attitude is indispensable to your success. You can be as positive as you want to be if you will simply think about the future, focus on the solution and look for the good. If you do what other successful people do, if you use your mind to exert mental control over the situation, you will be positive and cheerful most of the time. And you will reap the benefits enjoyed by all successful people.

Action Exercises
Here are three steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into action:

First, become solution-oriented with every difficulty you face. Make a habit of looking for the answers to your questions, the solutions to your problems.

Second, seek for the valuable lesson in every adversity. Make a list of every idea or insight you can gain from every setback or difficulty.

Third, think on paper. Take some time to write out every detail of the problem, and then take the most logical next step to solve it.

-- Brian Tracy

by Melissa Taylor

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ; he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"   2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Devotion:

Once a liar, always a liar.  Once a bitter person, always a bitter person.  Once a failure, always a failure.  Once impure, always impure.  Once a bad mom, always a bad mom.  Once a person living in fear, always a person living in fear.  "Once a ____, always a ____." 

What did you fill in the blank with?  Do you have anything from your past that still defines you?  I have good news for you. You can stop living like this today.

Who is Jesus to you?  That is a question we all need to answer.  Jesus' disciples were asked this in Matthew 16:15.  ^"Then Jesus asked them, 'But who do you say I am?'" (CEV).  Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (v.16).  How would you answer Jesus' question?

So many of us know and believe Jesus is indeed the Son of the living God, but what does that mean to us in terms of our identity? The Bible tells us in John 3:16-18 that God loved us so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but live forever in eternity.  "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! No one who has faith in God's Son will be condemned." (CEV)

Did you notice that last part?  Jesus did not die for our sins so that we would live under condemnation of them.  Nor did He die so we would forever be labeled and falsely identified by our sins.  He died so we would be set free from our sins and their shame, labels, and condemnation.  Don't believe anyone who tells you different.  Know who Jesus, your Savior from sin, is and rest in that truth.

Maya Angelo said, "When people show you who they are, believe them...the first time."  I will have to disregard Ms. Angelo's statement.  "Once a ___, does not make me (or you) always a ____."  Why?  Because of who Jesus is in us. Our God is not only a God of second chances, He is a God of infinite chances, forgiveness and grace.  

We can't change what people think about us.  Sure, we can try to explain how we've changed, but often others will define us by one or more sins we've committed in the past.  It's happened to me before. Even though I may have once earned the "Once/Always" names I was called, I know that's not who I truly am.  Our identity is NOT in what we did, but in who and Whose we ARE.

"Once a ___, always a ___"?  No ma'am, that is not true in the context of Christ!  In Christ, you are washed clean.  Look again at our key verse, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the old has gone, the new has come."  The old has gone.  Gone.  Gone.  It's gone!  Answer the question Jesus asks, "Who do you say I am?" And believe the answer that He is your Savior from condemnation.  You are a new creation in Christ Jesus.  No person or past action can take that from you because, "Once a beloved child of God, always a beloved child of God."  That is the truth!

The Power of Thought

I received this inspirational thought today from a friend and I would like to share it with you. The Storm & The Driver One day a young lady was driving along with her father. They came upon a storm, and the young lady asked her father, what should I do? He said "keep driving".  Cars began to pull over to the side, the storm was getting worse. "What should I do?" The young lady asked. "Keep driving," her father replied. On up a few feet, she noticed that eighteen wheelers were also pulling over. She told her dad, "I must pull over, I can barely see ahead. It is terrible, and everyone is pulling over!" Her father told her, "Don't give up, just keep driving!" Now the storm was terrible, but she never stopped driving, and soon she could see a little more clearly.  After a couple of more miles, she was again on dry land, and the sun came out. Her father said, "Now you can pull over and get out". She said "But why now?" He said " When you get out, look back at all the people that gave up and are still in the storm, because you never gave up your storm is now over." This is a testimony for anyone who is going through "hard times". Just because everyone else, even the strongest, gives up. You don't have to...if you keep going, soon your storm will be over and the sun will shine upon your face again. This story touched me! I hope it touched you! Feel free to pass the link to this site to someone you know, who is going through tough times.  Tell them never give up, because GOD will never give up on them! "I can do all things throught Christ, who Strengthens me!"

"No, that's what God gave you two arms for: To carry me!" -- My five-year-old daughter

Chris' Commentary:
Okay, the conversation before this: I was walking a short distance with my then five- and six-year-old daughters. The five-year-old was dragging behind and complaining that she was tired. She said, "Dad, will you carry me?" I replied, "Nope, that's what God gave you two legs for: So you can walk." Then came her amazingly quick retort: "No, that's what God gave you two arms for: To carry me!" The lessons you learn from little ones!

Action Point:
What did God give you your arms for today? Take some time to be sure to build something beautiful or carry someone along or defend someone weak. Wave hello, lift something up that needs to be lifted or give someone a hug. Use your arms to make yourself successful today. Use your arms to help someone else. That's what God gave them to you for!

I started in network marketing back in 2007.  I spend one year working a system where all you had to do was market to drive traffic to your web page.  This proved not to be as easy as it sounded and the system has a few flaws that made sales of the product sold not quite so easy.  After one year on this system I followed my heart and left the marketing tool behind and decided to give sales on my own a try. 

I will admit I am not a sales person and though I refused to make phone calls I still managed to make as many sales in 2 months as I did on the previous system I was using to market for the last year.  Though I was starting to gain momentum I knew in my heart I would be out of business soon unless I found another marketing tool to help make a significant amount of sales in a shorter time frame.

I followed my heart and prayed for an answer.  Then one day last month I got an email from a friend who was associated with the old marketing system I was using.  I trusted this person as well as knew God was trying to show me a path to follow.  I did what it took to get started with this marketing system even though it was still in prelaunch stage.  Now I am part of a system that allows me to market my previous product as well as more products at a wider range of pricing.

I share this information as a way to show others that you do not have to live your life going to a job each day.  As a former banker who knew I deserved more, I now live a life where I can spend as much or as little time I want working my business.  I have many networking sites and I open my heart to anyone who wants to know more about who I am and how I live life.  I am a man who helps others in order to help make this world a better place.

I invite you to get to know me as well as learn what I am about .  Take the time to look into who I am as well as the product you may see associated with my webpages.  I have a mission to make this world a better place.  I work as this mission one person at a time.  I try to have a positive affect on every person who comes into my life and do something to show love as well as share ideas how to make live more enjoyable.

I am honored and blessed to be part of the team who put this system together that I use to market.  This system simply gives me the means to live the lifestyle that I have grown accustomed to living.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

May God guide you in all you do.  Prayer is the pause that empowers.

Kenneth Winston

kwinston62@msn.com

708-203-7644

http://www.globalresortsnetwork.com/livefreewinston/biz

"My family gave me values that have sustained me through situations that would challenge any person. My personal relationship with the Lord inspires me in all I do." ~Kathy Ireland

by Luann Prater

This is a great story and I can't tell you how many times I have seen children try to catch those soapy bubbles in their mouths and then make a face when they realize that the bubbles taste like soap!

"Look grandma, this makes super-duper bubbles!" my grandson squealed.  The new bubble gun I bought him at Cracker Barrel was indeed a marvel at propelling hundreds of soapy spheres at the touch of a button.  He entertained himself for hours, shooting bubbles then chasing them across the yard.

At some point he decided catching them in his mouth might be fun, to which I warned it might make him sick.  Grandpa chimed in, "That bubble might go down in your tummy and get bigger and bigger!"  Matt stopped in his tracks, fixated on my husband, and replied, "Is that what happened to you grandpa?"  This four-year old comment made me chuckle and then ponder.

What does God see when He looks at me?  Does He see a wide-eyed child who simply believes Him?  I'm afraid that innocent, uncomplicated girl got lost. And I don't think I'm alone in this.  Simple faith is a rare find. 

In this information age, the journey for knowledge has become the driving force in our society.  As Dragnet's Sgt. Joe Friday always said, "Just the facts, ma'am."  Faith gets pushed aside in exchange for internet wisdom.  If you haven't been bitten by the know-it-all mentality, you simply haven't let your fingers do the walking across your keyboard!  Do you want to find out how to build a house, take apart an engine, or stay up on the latest news?  Google it.  You can instantly become an expert in almost in field!  So if God tells me to, "Go," my first instinct is to research the web for direction, instead of trusting His voice. 

During a concert performance recently, our church choir wore costumes from Bible times.  It struck me as I watched and saw only their faces showing, how each one had a childlike image. No one out-dressed the other.  No one was thinner or heavier.  No hair was perfectly styled. They all had rosy cheeks, bright smiles and joy in their eyes.  The prevailing trait we find in children - innocence - shone through.  I found myself wondering if that is what God sees when He looks at us, simple children.

When we come to Jesus it is critical to come like a child, innocent and amazed.  My grandson simply believed his grandpa.  When was the last time you simply believed God?  No analyzing the situation.  No studying alternative theories.  Plain and simple, childlike trust in the One who created the heavens, the earth and you.

Today, I want to focus on coming to Him as a child.  I want to stop the grown-up worry and gaze lovingly into His Word.  Today, I want to enjoy being "the least among you all" so I can spend time with the greatest, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This is a great lesson that was sent to me from
one of my personal coaches that inspires me.
This simple exercise that can help you learn
to forgive yourself and forgive others. It can
help you heal.

Here is your quote for the day:

"The practice of forgiveness is our
most important contribution to the
healing of the world." ~Marianne Williamson

In order to reach true enlightenment,
we must learn to forgive wholly and
completely. Hanging on to anger and
resentment is one of the most debilitating
things we can do.

One of the biggest reasons for disease is
the unwillingness to forgive. Many people
hang onto anger and resentment towards
others or themselves. Emotions are energy.
When the energy gets blocked, especially
toxic energy like anger and resentment,
it turns into disease and physical ailments
in our body.

Forgiveness is one of the greatest acts of
love. By forgiving, you are not saying that
you condone a persons actions. You are saying
that they are a child of God, they are one with you
and they did the best they knew how at that
time.

We need to learn to forgive even the most horrific
acts. We must learn to come from a place of
unconditional love and non judgement. When we
can forgive anyone for anything, we heal ourselves,
we heal them and we do our part to heal the world.

Not only must we learn to forgive others, we MUST
learn to forgive ourselves. Most people carry some
form of guilt of something they have done or didn't
do. Recognize that you did the best you knew how
at the time. Holding onto guilt will not change
the past. If anything, through the Law Of Attraction,
it will cause you to attract and act in a similar
way in the future.

Remember we are one. We are all doing the best
we know how, given the circumstances and life
experience we each have. When we can all
master non judgement, unconditional love and
unconditional forgiveness, we will ALL truly
experience heaven here on earth.

Here is an exercise that can greatly heal your heart and
spirit. Make a list of everyone you are holding onto
anger or resentment towards, including yourself.

One day at a time, write a letter to each person on
that list, including yourself. In that letter express
all of your feelings 100% open and honestly. Then,
in that letter, write your forgiveness for that
person and the circumstances or acts that occurred.

After you have written the letter, fold it up and
put it away somewhere. Hold onto the letter for three
days. In three days take the letter out and make the
decision if you want to mail the letter or rip it
up and throw it away. It is not necessary for the
other person to read the letter, unless you really
want them to. This exercise is for you.

You will be amazed at how free you will feel after
releasing those feelings. Chances are, if you have
been 'stuffing your emotions', a lot of powerful
emotions will surface and probably be there for
a few days. Sit with those emotions. You are
cleansing yourself.

Ryan Pearson
Personal Empowerment Coach

WHEREAS, The Senate of the United States; devoutly recognizing the Supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.

And Whereas, it is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

And, insomuch as we know that, by His Divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People. We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God.

We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope, authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty seventh.

Abraham Lincoln,
President

William H Seward,
Secretary of State

Today I started my day with the return of an old friend into my life.  This friend went back over 12 years and left my life due to non exeptance of the person whom I share my life with.

I love all in this world and this is something that has only been learned in the last 5 years.  I used to judge people based on looks, money as possessions.  I had to learn my lesson in life the hard way and I must give proper thanks to God for helping me see the errors of my way.

I see my old friend has also opened their heart to fellow love of mankind and it is this love that allows us to forgive as well as love those who have less then good in their hearts.

I try to love each and every person on this planet no matter how bad that person may effect me.  It is this love that helps me grow stronger in my relations with a vast array of friends around the globe.

Share love with those others that you seek to be loved by.  It is that love that will help make this world a better place.

This content was in an email that I had received from a friend that is now a second time cancer survivor.

 She is 38 years old, a wife, mother, a dear friend and a high school teacher where my daughter goes to school.

This is the message that was at the end of the email: Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to also send it to the person who sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them.

As usual I did forward this onto several others, but it really did touch my heart I thought that I would post it where thousands could also be touched.

Please enjoy this short, sweet story… and just maybe you too will take time to run in the rain!

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target.

She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.

I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, “Mom let's run through the rain,” she said.

“What?” Mom asked.

“Let's run through the rain!”, she repeated.

“No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,” Mom replied.

This young child waited a minute and repeated: “Mom, let's run through the rain.”

“We'll get soaked if we do,” Mom said.

“No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

“This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”

“Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!''

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life.

A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

“Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,” Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.

They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories... so, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Take the time to live!!!

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other -- and don't forget to run in the rain!