39389 Blog Feed: ThereisHope 2008-06-17 07:06:07 ThereisHope Your e-mail address 80623 2008-03-28 19:55:00 Honesty is a character trait that is very important in a person's life. Yet, I find that today, honesty among and between people is severely lacking.

People need to be upfront and clear with others about what is expected, and what needs to happen in a given situation. For example, if a person is applying for a job, goes to the interview and then is told he/she needs to take a test first to see if they are qualified
for the job or position, without having been told before they came that the test was required, is to me, a form of dishonesty on the part of the prospective employer. For me, that situation would turn me off to the company, and would cause me to not accept the job if it was offered.

It would have been better and much easier for the company to tell the person before they went to the interview that a test would be required than to cover-up this fact and then surprise it on the person when he/she arrived for the interview appointment.

I have always found that honesty is the only policy and that the person who is honest in all things shows a tremendous amount of character and is respected and well-liked by those they encounter and work with.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

]]> 80618 2008-03-28 19:50:00 Honesty is a character trait that is very important in a person's life. Yet, I fins that today,
honesty among and between people is severely lacking.

People need to be upfront and clear with others about what is expected, and what needs to happen in a given situation. For example, if a person is applying for a job, goes to the interview  and then is told he/she needs to take a test first to see if they are qualified
for the job or position, without having been told before they came that the test was required, is to me, a form of dishonesty on the part of the prospective employer. For me, that situation would turn me off to the company, and would cause me to not accept the job if it was offered.

It would have been better and much easier for the company to tell the person before they went to the interview that a test would be required than to cover-up this fact and then surprise it on the person when he/she arrived for the interview appointment.

I have always found that honesty is the only policy and that the person who is honest in all things shows a tremendous amount of character and is respected and well-liked by those they encounter and work with.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

]]> 79344 2008-03-25 10:49:56  If you want to have a blessed and successful life, then you should be a blessing to others.

One way we can be both blessed and a blessing to others is when we provide encouragement and support to those needing assistance, advice or counsel.

In my role as both an Educational Consultant/Mentor Coach and as a Christian Internet Ministry Counselor, I have had numerous opportunities to reach out to others and provide them with support, encouragement, resources, prayer, and counsel.

It is such a wonderful experience when someone you have given counsel to or provided support and encouragement contacts you at a later date and thanks you for helping them get through a difficult situation or trial in their life.

I encourage those who read this to consider how they can use their skills, talents and abilities and provide support, encouragement and mentoring towards others.

]]> 78490 2008-03-22 16:47:25 I have come to learn that one of the greatest character traits that a person can have is that of Love and love unconditionally.

No matter what has happened to them or how they have been treated by others, people who have love are looked up to and admired by others.

Love restores, comforts and develops a person's character while hate destroys, angers, and makes one a bitter person- always angry at everyone and everybody.

For me, I see love as requiring a person to forgive those who have wronged or hurt them. Sometimes, this is not an easy thing or task for us to do.

However, I have found that when I forgive someone for the wrong they have done and reach out to them in love and forgiveness, I feel much better emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally.

Love is the beginning of the Healing Process.

I encourage everyone who reads this to let go of the bitterness and resentment they have over past events and situations in their life, and to reach out to those who wronged them in a spirit of Love and Forgiveness.




]]> 78034 2008-03-21 14:01:44 Learning how to be humble is sometimes a very difficult and painful experience.

I can say first hand that from all of the struggles, trials, difficulties and problems I have faced over the past four years that I have learned what being humble is all about.

All too often, we forget to check our "Pride" and allow it to take over and completely control our lives. We see others as being inferior to us. When we see others in trouble, we say "that can never happen to me."  or "I am much better than he/she is".

The reality is that misfortunes, tragedies and trials can and do happen to all of us.

Everyone I have found is going through some personal trial or struggle in their life.
What I have learned from my struggles and trials is empathy- being able to understand what and how others who are struggling are feeling. Also, I have learned how to not focus on my own troubles, but to reach out and be an encourager to others.

I encourage everyone who reads this to start thinking about others and to begin to show compassion, support, and encouragement to others. This I believe will allow you to have a Blessed and fullfilled life full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness.

]]> 76508 2008-03-18 19:26:52 We all have the power to choose how we react or respond to certain events or situations that happen in our everyday lives.

How we choose to act and respond can either lift us up and make us stronger, or can tear us down and make us weaker.

I have made the choice in my life with the current situation, trials and difficulties I am facing to live, act and respond in a positive manner.

I look for the good and not the bad. I see the things and events that have happened to me as opportunities to help me develop my moral, ethical, and spiritual character.
I believe and know in my heart that current situations and struggles will get better.

I have chosen to live, think, and act positively.

I know in my heart and mind that situations and things will get better.

]]> 76194 2008-03-17 20:39:09 In life, there will always be setbacks, problems, trials, struggles, and difficulties.

All too often I hear and read about people who when faced with problem after problem after problem felt that there was no longer any way out and Just Gave Up!!

For me, giving up is an easy way of not facing or dealing with a problem or difficulty.

Instead, I would rather fight, and fight, and continue to fight. I would not stop until I was able to solve the problem or resolve the difficulty.

I urge everyone who reads this to Fight!!

Be Like Rocky Balboa!!

We can all be champions!

Never Quit and Never Lose Hope!!
]]> 75619 2008-03-16 09:14:45 Our Thoughts are very powerful.
They can either destroy us or cause us to become a better person. If we believe and think that we are never going to be something in life, never going to get well, never going to find the right someone, or never going to be better off financially, then those things will happen. However, if we believe that things will change, that we will find the right person for our life, that we will get better, that we will be successful in life, then that will happen.A recent book I read entitled The Mind is a Battlefield deals with the issue of How our Thoughts can control what we believe, do, say or act. Negative thoughts or beliefs produce a low self-image, "victim" mentality, and failure after failure. Positive thoughts or beliefs produce a positive self-image, "winner" mentality, and success in our life.I choose to see myself as an Overcomer and a winner in life.
What do You Believe?

How Do You See Yourself? ]]> 74743 2008-03-13 09:41:22 All of us have had to deal with adversity at some point in our life.

For some of us, it seems that our struggles, trials, frustrations and setbacks in life never seem to stop. We don't know if it ever will get better.

At times, we even question why these difficulties keep happening. Is it because I am a bad person? Did I do something wrong? Does God love me? Why is God letting these things happen to me?

We can either view all of our struggles, difficulties, and challenges in one of two ways- We can either see and view our adversities as being a curse, or we can see our adversities, struggles and difficulties in life as being a blessing.

I personally have chosen to see my struggles, challenges and adversities as being a blessing in that they have made me a much stronger individual and have helped to develop my moral and spiritual character.

How do you view your adversities in life? Curse or Blessing. The choice is yours.

]]> 73930 2008-03-11 08:21:45 It seems that we are constantly faced with battles, struggles and frustrations in our life.
We may have health issues. We may in fact have serious, medical issues with no cure.
We may be suffering from severe financial problems, such as loss of a job, burdened with financial debt, or even facing bancruptcy. We may be suffering from emotional turmoil in our life, such as divorce, death of a loved one, or difficulty with family members.

These are all very real problems that many people are facing each and every day. And for many, they feel so overwhelmed that they just give up completely. They Just Quit!

We all have heard the cliche of "Quitters never Win, and Winners never Quit."

I am here to tell you from my own experience, my own struggles, my own frustrations and challenges that no matter what obstacle you face, Don't Quit!!

I have found that one way to become a Winner, an "overcomer" if you will, is to always keep a Positive Outlook. Become proactive. Take that step to change. Believe in your heart and mind that things will get better. Believe in yourself. Know that You have worth and Value to God. Things will get better.

Be a Winner, not a Quitter!!


]]> 73246 2008-03-09 10:30:33 All too often, I have seen that a person's past controls their future.
I have seen it in my own life, where people would criticize me and tell me that I was worthless and would not amount to anything.

I have also seen it in others lives as well. The person who used drugs and feels there is no way to stop. The Gambler who doesn't feel they can quit. The sexual addict or shopaholic who can't stop their behavior. The workaholic who feels that their job is their very existence and without it, they would be a nobody. Aftere all, these people have thought that their situations are permanent, and once in them, they can never get out of them. This is, I see, a sad view on life today.

We don't have to let our past life and actions control or dictate what will happen to us today or next week or next year or in the years to come.

God gives each one of us the ability to change the way we live. It is ours for the asking.

What we need to do is to reprogram our minds, thoughts emotions and actions. We need to reflect on what we were doing and ask ourselves this question- Is what I was or am still doing now bringing me peace, joy and contentment in my life?

If your answer is "no", then I urge you to reflect on what needs to be done in your life to change and break the bonds of the negative situations that have been in control of your life.

You and I can change and make our lives better- There is Hope.

My hope is in God's will and desire to change me and make me a better person. I know I want that in my life. What about you?



]]> 72679 2008-03-08 08:54:30 I am a firm believer that there are only two types of people in life- those that are givers and those who only take, take, and take.

The Giver is the one who is considerate of others, treats others with respect, kindness and dignity, and is willing to help others and those in need as much as they can.

On the Other hand, The Taker is the one who only cares about himself or herself, demeans others, turns a deaf ear to others cries for help or assistance, and will exploit and use other people for their own personal gain or self-gratification.

The Takers don't care who they hurt or how much pain, ruin or destruction they bring to others. Takers gloat over other people's misfortunes, and will take advantage of everyone. Takers have no social or moral conscience.

The Lord Jesus Christ was a Giver. As a Christian, I want and always try to pattern my life after Him and let Him be my Role Model.

I want to be remembered as someone who was a Giver and showed compassion, mercy, and love to others.

How about You?





]]> 72397 2008-03-07 07:45:40 People always like to focus on the negative events and situations in their life instead of on the good things that can and will happen if they Let God intervene.

I have found that in my own life, I tend to dwell more on my current situation and all of my trials and struggles which causes me to lose hope and drag my thoughts, actions and attitude down. I have to confess, that this type of negative "stinkin thinking" is not healthy and only causes more grief in life.

What I need to do, and I encourage everyone who reads this to do this too, is to do as God has told us and to focus our thoughts on the good, positive things that He has in store for each one of us.

We need to see ourselves as being blessed, highly favored, and being the head instead of the tail.

We need to all be overcomers of all of our trials and struggles and not succomb to being victims of our negative thoughts and thinking.

When we are able to see ourselves as being successful overcomers of our current trials, struggles, thoughts and attitudes, then and only then will God be able to truly Bless our lives and fill it with His Goodness, Favor, and Abundant Blessings that He has for us.



]]> 71100 2008-03-04 08:37:11 In Romans 8:29, The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, " to be conformed to the image of God."

What exactly does that mean?

I believe that it means we are to be living our life in a Christ-Like fashion- i.e., having our life produce all of the fruits of the Spirit- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness and Self-Contol.

When God's truth confronts us and we are questioned about the current state of how we are living our life, we usually do one of two things: Reject God, Reject the truth, and continue to live as materialists and hedonists who are only focused on "Me, Me, Me" and "I, I, I," or reaxamine our way of thinking and our lifestyle and then Yield to God so we can be fashioned into His likeness and thus be a better person who is caring, compassionate, loving, thoughtful, considerate, generous, patient, and slow to anger when confronted with life's problems or difficulties.

I encourage those who read this to stop, re-examine your current state of mind, thinking and your current situation, and decide which one you would choose-
continuing to do what you are doing now (even though it is not working) or reexamining your life and making changes to become a better person.
Which one will you choose?

]]> 70670 2008-03-03 09:09:32 Turn Your Face towards God and let Him Help you with your struggles.


Time and time again, when we are faced with struggles, temptations or difficulties in our life, we feel and think that we can solve these on our own without any help whatsoever. This type of thinking is foolishness, and will lead to our destruction and loss of faith.

What we need to do is to turn our needs over to God, and let Him bear our burdens.

We do not need to go it alone.

Philippians 4:19 says: "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

In my own personal life with all of my trials and struggles, I have found that when I try to solve them by myself, I end up feeling frustrated and hurt.

However, when I ask, seek and believe that the Lord will be there for me and will help me in all things and in all situations, I feel peace, contentment and joy in my life.

What do you want in your life? Peace, joy and contentment, or anxiety, frustration, depression and hurt.

If you want to have a happy, peaceful and joyful life, then I urge you to Let Go and Let God.









]]> 70204 2008-03-02 10:38:05 Man's weakness has always been his downfall.

Look at Adam and Eve? They were told not to eat the apple in the Garden of Eden. Yet, they disobeyed God. Why? Because they were tempted and didn't listen.

Man is always being tempted. More Money.More Power. More material things.
Materialism, Hedonism, and a "Me, Me", Me," mentality has caused so much chaos, confusion and destruction in this country.

It's time that we start to think about what we can do to reach out and help others, instead of trying to do things that benefit us at the expense of hurt and destruction of others.

God is Love; He wants us to show our love for others, just as He shows and gives His Love to us.

I urge everyone who reads this to examine their hearts and to reach out to others and do what you can to make this world a better place for all people.

When we see someone suffering or struggling, dont' laugh at them or make fun of them or of their situation. It could very well happen to you.

The Lord Jesus Christ makes it very clear in His Word: "Don't Judge, lest you be Judged."

]]> 69938 2008-03-01 12:24:23 No matter what we face, we have to believe that God is in Control.
Facing Serious Illnesses? Look to God for Answers.
Facing financial difficulties? Seek God's Face.
Facing Foreclosure or Eviction? God has a plan for your deliverance!!

We need to look to God for the answers to all of our difficulties and not try to solve them using our own ways.

God already knows and sees our problems, and will not abandom those who call on Him and acknowledge Him.

The Lord Jesus Christ is a God of Miracles.

Let Him do a miracle in your life today!

Then, after you have received your miracle, remember to share what the Lord has done for you with others so they, too can be blessed and then seek God's Face and look to Him for their miracle!

]]> 68878 2008-02-27 11:57:06 I saw an article today in our local paper that talked about how stress and anger can prevent a person from getting better.

A recent medical study done by researchers at Ohio State University found that when we are under stress, our body produces Cortisol. This production of Cortisol prevents our body from healing if we are suffering from any type of injury or chronic illness.

Those of us who are suffering from stress or any form of chronic illness need to stop focusing on our problems, and begin to believe that we will get better and that situations and circumstances in our lives will also improve.

We need to believe in positive thinking, and to hold aand keep a positive attitude that what we are experiencing is only temporary, and not permanent.



]]> 68434 2008-02-26 08:37:00 Throughout the past four years where I have suffered from physical illness and emotional and financial worry, I have come to learn that worry only creates additional physical and emotional sickness in a person.

As a Christian and believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I know in my heart that I have nothing to worry about because God is in control!!

The Bible tells us as Christians that we are to bring all of our cares, concerns and troubles to the Lord and He will place them upon His shoulders and will bear our burdens.

This is something that I struggle with daily, and know that others are struggling with this as well.

I encourage you to let Jesus Christ be in control of every aspect of your life and allow Him to bear all of your burdens.



]]> 68035 2008-02-25 09:16:13 Throughout the past four years of physical illness and financial trials, I have learned that the only true friend you have, other than my wife (she is my Angel who has stayed with me and been by my side this entire time) is the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
It is sad that even your own family members who profess to be "Christians" would abandon you and not even offer any assistance or help when knowing you are struggling to survive. However, the Lord Jesus Christ is not like that. He sees our sufferings, and will take care of us- His Children.  We can stand on the scripture of 1 John 4:4- "Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."
God sees our sufferings, knows our hearts, and will deliver us!!

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