In the Headlines vol.3

I guess this is my own personal headline: I was part of my company’s massive liquidation on Monday.

So I am jobless, and currently applying for any job I could qualify for. It’s funny though cause I’ve not enjoyed my job over the last six months or so, and in part it is a relief that I don’t have go and deal with all the drama.

Financially I may not be able to stay at home very long, but I plan on making most of that time in my preparations for a writer’s conference in California. There are two stories I would like to hammer out so that they will be at their best when the land in the hands of agents and publishers.

This job loss might be God preparing the way for my writing, or that’s what I’m telling myself for now.

I wish you all blessings and encouragement wherever you are in life.

“Trust in the Lord, with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. But in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.” –Prov 3:5-6

Jan. 29, 2007, 11:42PM
Lexicon will focus on drugs
By ANASTASIA USTINOVACopyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
www.chron.com

Lexicon Genetics said Monday it is scaling down its genetic research and will eliminate 18 percent of its staff as it focuses on drug discovery and development.

The Woodlands-based company, which develops genetically engineered mice to help in human drug development, said the cuts will affect 133 of 592 employees in its headquarters.
"We believe we can grow into a next-generation pharmaceutical company," said Arthur Sands, Lexicon's president and CEO. "That growth will be in the areas of pharmaceutical development, marketing and commercialization."

Sands said in the coming years the company plans to begin human trials with 10 drug candidates it has developed, including drugs to treat Alzheimer's, irritable bowel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

To reflect the strategy, the company said it will change its name to Lexicon Pharmaceuticals.

Define Your Christianity

Many times the biggest struggle for Christian teens is when they make the jump from High School to College. Over 50% of church-going teens fall out of faith when they step out on their own.

Why is that?

Well a lot of it has to do with teens not understanding or calling Christianity their own. Often parents have the good intention to take their kids to church every Sunday, and often in the teenage years it turns to dragging them to church. But just going to church doesn’t ensure the strength of faith one needs before going off on their own. Because if the parent is the instigator of faith when the parent is absent from the picture in a college situation the teens give up because the motivator isn’t there to ‘make’ them go.

So what’s the solution?

Teens need to learn to call Christianity there own, not just follow the trends or the pushing of their parents. And this is where a good strong youth group comes in. Teens are full of questions about their world, and the same should be true for Christianity. Pastors, and Youth directors should fuel and encourage the questions of their youth. Because that is the only way they are going to learn what their faith actually means to them, and the life ahead of them.

Knowing what the Bible says and what Christianity stands for is the only way to combat the trappings of our world. In Ephesians 6:10-18 is the famous ‘armor of God’ verse. Which includes:
· The belt of truth
· The breastplate of righteousness
· Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
· The shield of faith
· The helmet of salvation
· The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Can you see it? The only active weapon we are equipped with is the word of GOD. And with any weapon you have to be trained in how to use it, and this training should begin at the very moment kids/teen/adults pray to receive Christ. That is when we sign on to be a part of the army of God, and if we aren’t trained and shown the faith and pride that comes with being a part of Kingdom warriors it is easier to defect and return to the calls and trappings of the world that surrounds us.

With anything you choose to believe you need to know as much as you can about it so that you can speak that faith to others, and feel strong along the battle lines.

If you look at the men and women of the United States armed forces you will see a trend of people getting tattoos of their company or outfit, etc. It is amazing to see that we want to ware the pride and commitment of being a soldier for all to see. The same is true in the army of God, but our tattoo is branded on our heart. Christ enthroned in our hearts is the symbol we bare to the world in our actions and words.

Are you branded for God? Do you wonder how to fight the world that surrounds you as a teen? Check out the website below, and know we are fighting for you, praying for you, and here to encourage you.

http://www.battlecry.com/

Slow Dance

This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital.

SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rainS
lapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.T
ime is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each dayOn the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,W
e'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,L
et a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say, "Hi”

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
***
As the years pass we loose the insight of childhood. Wonderful insights, dreams and inspirations come from the minds that don’t loose sight of this.

The Sunday JOLT vol.3

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”- James 1:5

“For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”- Matthew 7:8

The verses above are two that seem to frustrate many people of faith. We are told over and over to pray, ask God for the wants and needs in our life. When we don’t see a dramatic answer we think God isn’t listening, or is punishing us. But have you considered that you are asking the wrong question?

Because God is always listening, ready, and willing to share his love and provision for you. Granted if you ask to win a million dollars because the bank account is at 29 cents, and God doesn’t dish out the exact amount doesn’t mean he doesn’t care or know about the bills that will be coming next week.

God is an amazing, and knows your needs. He also knows the best way to help you and encourage you to grow closer to him. If it would benefit your faith and reliance on God to get a millions dollars, God would make that happen. But many times it is the process of climbing out of the ‘pit of despair’ on the strength of God is life altering, and of greater joy than money on a silver platter. You may be saying nope the silver platter would be better, but just listen to yourself for a moment. Don’t you sound like a kid not getting what they want? But when this situation came up in your younger years, your parents had the wisdom to help groom your character and perseverance. It’s the same with God. He knows best, and will do nothing to harm you.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your path straight.” –Prov. 3:5-6

But this doesn’t mean don’t ask. In God’s amazing wisdom he knew we, in our sinful nature, would struggle with pride. And in asking God in prayer we submit ourselves humbly before him to show willingness for his help, his aid, and his provision.

I know I struggled greatly with asking for help, control freak that I am, and that struggle affects my prayer life often. But it’s when I come before him broken, and wanting his glory in all things that I am able to see God work in amazing ways.

Try it. Try asking without agenda, without expectation, but with a heart for God’s will and glory, and see what he does inside your heart and in your life. It is a condition of the heart to ask for help, and great reward is waiting for those who put aside their pride and openly accept God’s will and promises for our lives.

May you be blessed and encouraged

RandoM-E vol.2

COUNT DOWN TO CALIFORNIA!
60 DAYS

It is an odd and amazing thing for God to reveal to you a calling. What’s even more awkward is when you and God get your wires crossed.

Growing up I loved animals, and on my block I was the go to girl for strays and puppies. So in my ‘intelligence’ I decided I would grow up to be a Veterinarian. Taking care of animals must be my purpose, and God’s calling for my life.

It is amazing to look back and see God’s more subtle hints toward my real passion, writing. I was constantly coming up with on going stories for my toys to play out. In third grade, me and my friends would go out to the playground at recess and act out the stories that I wrote in class. I was always writing poetry, and entering contests and things for my school literary magazine. Then at sixteen, a story came to me in a dream, and it was so real and so moving for me that I had to write it down. So at sixteen I started writing officially, but I was still stuck on my Veterinarian kick, even with all these hints. Did I mention that I’m stubborn sometimes too?

But God has his reasons for putting Vet School on my radar, because that’s how I met my husband, and I wouldn’t trade in the set backs if that meant loosing him.

So now with sixty days left I am preparing for a Writer’s Conference in Mt. Hermon, California. In sixty days I will have the opportunity to break out, and get my manuscripts on the desks of agents and publishers.

All through my preparation I have seen God move through the words I put on the page, and I want nothing more than for him to be glorified by the stories in my head.

Keep your eyes out, one day you will find a book on the shelf by Valerie Fentress.

God Bless!

Friday Funnies

The Friday franticness had begun.
Don’t worry the weekend is almost here.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

ENJOY THE WEEKEND

Thursday SHORTS vol.2

The LAST HIGH

The tunicate was tied tight, he hands shook as the needle neared his vein. The jumpiness would end in seconds. The warmth and the calm he was addicted to swam up his arm as he emptied the syringe. He dropped the needle to the ground and sat back to revel in the sensation flowing through his body.

A strange light flashed before his eyes in the darkness of the warehouse filled with the putrid stench of junkies. He feared it was a police flashlight, but when he looked up he saw two kids. A boy about eight and a little girl no older than three, holding tight to a limp teddy bear.

“You kids shouldn’t be here,” he mumbled through the heroine haze surrounding him.
“Why?” the young boy asked. “Does this look like a safe place, kid?” The little girl looked up to the boy with eyes filled with concern as they looked around.
“But you’re supposed to be a fireman, so we’ll be safe,” The boy said with a confident smile. The little girl sat on the filth covered floor to play with her bear.
“What? I’m not a fireman.”
“That’s what you told me you would be. Is this what firemen do?”
“No, kid this is what junkies do,” he said trying to turn his body away from the children. “Is that a type of fireman?”
“No.”
“But that’s what you wanted to be, Randall.” They way the boy said that same turned the man to face the children. He blinked his eyes trying to focus in on the boy’s face.
“How do you know me?”
“We’re best friends. Well back when you wanted to be a fireman.”
“This must be bad stuff.” he said rubbing his arm. “Look kid I don’t have any eight year old best friends.”
"We were friends a long time ago, before I died.” The man’s mind reeled with memories. His childhood came flashing across his mind in a painful jolt. The boyhood friend, the fire, the pain.
“Malcolm?”
“Yep, that’s me.”
“But you’re dead. And who is she?” Randall asked his eyes focusing on the rosy cheeked girl playing in a place lacking any joy or beauty without her glowing presence.
“Her name is Clara, and you were supposed to save her on your first night as a fireman.” Malcolm answered. Randall’s eyes filled with tears as he watched the child play.
“And you’re both dead?”
“Yes.”
“Am I dying?” Randall asked as his chest ached and his fingers trembled as Clara stood from playing and walked over to him. “I can change. I can be a fireman. I can save people.”
“Come play,” Clara said offering her hand to him. Randall could not refuse the little girl’s blue eyes. With her touch the pain in his chest subsided. It felt as though he stood but his legs didn’t move.
“Where will I go?” Randall asked as the children led him out of the warehouse. “We don’t decide.” Malcolm and Clara said in unison. Their answer surprised him. His mind raced over the events of his life. Had he been good enough? Had he smiled or helped enough? The soft fingers of Clara slipped out of his hands as his soul sank with each memory and fear filled him as the source of light drew near.

In the Headlines vol.2

Study: World falling behind on 2015 education goal

POSTED: 3:23 p.m. EST, January 18, 2007 www.cnn.com

It’s hard to imagine the benefits of education in the American society. Education is a saturated subject, and is hit with so much disdain by students that we can’t take a step back and think about our world without an educations system.

Granted the education system isn’t perfect, but the very success of America is dependant on its citizens being educated. I’m not saying everyone needs a doctorate degree. But the ability to learn and seek out information in order to ensure our government remains ‘for the people, by the people’.

School isn’t just to stuff information into ones head, or to keep kids out of trouble. Watch the headlines and you will see that’s not true. School is there to give people the tools to learn and think forward.

In many of the countries that lack education programs find themselves stuck in poverty. The cycle of poverty exists in the US too, and it is hard to break. But it is being broken by those that step up and see their education as a tool to make a better life.
And it seems even if you get a degree of any kind that education doesn’t end with your graduation. Education is a continual process, because our world is constantly changing, and it’s the tools you get from high school, etc. that allow you to move forward.

Success and happiness are not determined by what kind of degree you have, but the ability to learn and grow is what helps people be successful.
So when you step into a classroom, cherish it. It is a gift, and a new day. A new chance to make a life for yourself, for your future.

TWEENY TIMES vol.2

This is one of my favorite pictures, because what you see in yourself is how you portray yourself to the rest of the world.
Your heart, your passion, your words and actions speak more of who you are than what is in the mirror.

And in Christ you have been given power. Power from the Holy Spirit and this isn’t earthly power like that of Donald Trump and Hollywood starlets, but a power and peace to know who you are. You are a child of GOD. That is who you are, and in that is your purpose.

Just that knowledge is worth so much more than anything in this world. If you took a poll of the wealth of the world you would see that it doesn’t out weigh those without money. But if you look closely at those of faith that are without earthly wealth; happiness and fulfillment still remain, because of who they are in GOD. They know and are content on their knowledge that it is GOD who provides, and GOD who saves, and GOD who loves them for who they are.

That is an amazing encouragement. We serve an awesome GOD. If you’re searching to find who you are in this world I encourage you to post a comment, and maybe together we can encourage and support one another in a world that thinks it can do without GOD

The Monday Motivator

When you feel down and out or even on the verge of extinction, don’t forget you have people pulling for you

SICHUAN, China -- One zoo in southwest China has
its hands full with 16 baby pandas.

The Sichuan Wolong Panda Protection and Breed Center is dealing with the results of a breeding boom -- 16 pandas have been born since July, 2006. The brood includes five sets of twins. The cubs are weighed and measured every five days.The heaviest tips the scale at just over 24 pounds, while the lightest weighs about 11 pounds. The pandas are due to stop suckling by February, 2007 just about the time they'll start learning to walk. Once weaned, the panda cubs will attend panda kindergarten. In the meantime, more little ones are expected at the center since 38 giant pandas were artificially impregnated.

The Sunday JOLT -1/22

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”-Roman’s 15:5-6

Wow what a statement! Wow what a challenge!

I think this verse shows us the hardest parts of being a Christian; standing together for the Glory of GOD. My heart aches and trembles when people ask me what religion I am and expect Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist, etc. My answer remains, Christian. Our own humanity has chopped up Christianity into little pieces that discredit one another and confuse non-believers to no end. It even confuses and frustrates me from time to time.
So what did Paul mean by a Spirit of unity?

He didn’t mean let’s all get together and agree with one another no matter what. But no matter the denomination we cling to, we shouldn’t discredit others that also hold to the truth of the Bible. The words of our mouths and the actions of our hands should magnify God.

I’m sure most of you remember Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I am from Houston, Texas so many of the victims of this storm found themselves on Houston soil. I had the opportunity to volunteer with Operation Compassion. An organization put together in the aftermath of Katrina by many churches and denominations throughout Houston. Let me tell you that was an amazing feeling. To see and be a part of God’s church moving as one body under the umbrella of Christianity instead of denomination-clicks.

“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free…” [Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, etc.] -1 Corinthians 12:12-13

We all fall under the umbrella of CHRISTIAN that should be our marker, our banner to the entire world. That is what defines us, CHRIST. His body, his blood, his resurrection.
If we hold to that standard, and it’s not an easy one, then can you imagine what a force we would be in the spirit of unity all for the glory of GOD.

May you be blessed and encouraged!

RandoM-E

TODAY in History:
January 20th…

1690 Clarinet is invented, in Nüremberg, Germany
1864 General Sherman begins his march to the South
1914 Henry Ford introduces assembly line, for T-Fords
1952 Rationing of coffee in Netherlands ends
1981 FCC frees stations to air as many commercials an hour as they wish
1990 "Simpsons" premiered on Fox-TV

Isn’t History great?!

Thought for the day :
“Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all.”

c.o. - http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/

Friday Funnies

Care of co-worker email :

A woman stopped by unannounced at her recently married son's house. She rang the doorbell and walked in. She was shocked to see her daughter-in-law lying on the couch, totally naked. Soft music was playing, and the aroma of perfume filled the room.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm waiting for my husband to come home from work," the daughter-in-law answered.

"But you're naked!" the mother-in-law exclaimed.

"This is my love dress," the daughter-in-law explained.
"Love dress? But you're naked!"

"My husband loves me to wear this dress," she explained. It excites him to no end. Every time he sees me in this dress, he instantly becomes romantic and ravages me for hours on end. He can't get enough of me."

When the mother-in-law got home, she undressed, showered, put on her best perfume, dimmed the lights, put on a romantic CD, and lay on the couch waiting for her husband to arrive. Finally her husband came home. He walked in and saw her lying there so provocatively. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"This is my love dress," she whispered sensually.

"Needs ironing," he said, "What's for dinner?"

His funeral will be held Thursday.



ENJOY THE WEEKEND

Thursday SHORTS- Willow Wind

The darkness changed to hues of orange and pink as music began to dance around her. A light breeze tickled the hairs over her neck as her eyes opened to the memories that stretched before her.

She was outside their cabin in New Mexico; a place she hadn’t been in years. It seemed like only yesterday that she and her husband had spent their honeymoon wrapped up in a blanket on the porch. She turned to look at the wooden cabin hoping to see the man she missed desperately. From inside she heard laughter that rang through the hills around her, but she couldn’t join in the fun. This had happened before, but last time it was a different song ringing in her ears.

The tune urged her forward; she went up each stair holding tight to the railing. Once on the porch, she breathed deep at the effort it took to pull-up those steps. Over the years she had run and jumped like a gazelle with her daughter up and down those small stairs, but why did she struggle so now? Nothing seemed to make sense.

“Mom,” a child-like voice shouted joyfully. She turned back toward the lawn to see her daughter jumping rope in the noon time sun. Her head was spinning as the music continued, but she couldn’t help watching her six year old daughter’s gleeful attempt at jumping rope. Her rich brown hair bounced around her face, and she treasured the precious freckles on her nose.

“Wow Hannah, look at you go,” she heard someone say. She turned around to the doorway and there stood the image of herself.

What’s going on? Is this a dream? Why are these memories playing out before me? Why is this music so familiar? Then the image of her daughter and the mountains before her faded into darkness as the music ceased. No please, I have more questions.

She almost gave into the darkness but the music came again, and she now found herself in her kitchen. Her Saturday morning pancakes were cooking on the griddle, but the usual smell of blueberries did not fill her nose. She stepped closer to the window and watched the weeping willows sway with the music that surrounded her.

“Mom,” she heard her sweet Hannah say. She turned to see the memory of herself flipping pancakes. Her beloved Daniel read the paper, while the twelve year old Hannah sat on the counter.

“Yes dear.”
“Why do I have to practice?’
“You chose the clarinet, Hannah, so you have to practice,” she watched herself say.
“Besides, you play beautifully,” Daniel said with his contagious smile.
“I’ll never get these solos right.”

“Just keep practicing, Hannah. I love to hear you play,” she heard herself say as the memory of herself stepped over and kissed Hannah’s forehead. She felt like crying, but the tears wouldn’t come. A new level of frustration came over her as the music faded

No, I need answers. Why is this happening? She tried to shout but the words wouldn’t come. The music pulled her away from the kitchen, and as the music slowed and softened she turned to find herself in another familiar spot.

The willow trees of her old Savannah home danced before her. She took in a deep breath, wanting to take in the warm sweet smells of her childhood home, but instead the smell of bleach and latex filled her nose. What’s going on?

“Will you marry me,” she heard Daniel say as she turned around and looked at the young face of her husband knelling beneath the swaying branches. It had been the most romantic moment of her life, but then something tingled in her mind as the music in her ears began to crescendo. She turned from the warm colors of a Savannah evening to the blue hues of night. Flashing before her were the lights of the local theatre. The title of Les Miserables was before her. People were leaving the theatre still looking at the Playbills to refer characters to actors. She watched Daniel and herself exit the theater walking arm and arm. Then she rushed to join them on the other side of the street. All the while, something inside began to shake as the sharp musical melodies continued playing.

“I’ll get the car, madam,” Daniel had said with a slight grin.
“Oh please, don’t be silly,” the vision of herself said holding tight to Daniel’s hand.
This is how it happened.
“Let me be the gentleman on our anniversary,” Daniel insisted as he dashed off across the street.

Go with him, she found herself trying to say as the musical tones deepened. Then the lights came, followed by screeching tires. The music stopped and the darkness set in around her.

***
“You don’t have to practice so much, Hannah.”
“I know, Dad, but my recital solos are coming up. I really think Mom enjoys it.”
“Baby, she’s-”
“I know she’s in a coma, but the music allows me to hold on to the memories,” Hannah said as she looked over at her mother’s still frame. She listened to the incessant beeping of the machines that surrounded them both. Then wet her reed, and again began playing her clarinet.

The darkness inside illuminated to hopeful memories, once again.©2006

In the Headlines

Supernova Destroys "Pillars of Creation” January 10, 2007

—In a thousand years, astronomers predict, people on Earth will see the iconic "Pillars of Creation" get toppled by a supernova, the explosive death of a giant star.
The pillars are dense clouds of gas in the Eagle Nebula, a star nursery in the constellation Serpens, near Sagittarius. They were made famous by a dramatic 1995 Hubble Space Telescope image (inset).

The tricky part is that the forecast is based on evidence that the pillars were demolished by the supernova's shockwave about 6,000 years ago.

"[They] have been destroyed. I use the past tense because the nebula is 7,000 light-years away," said Nicholas Flagey, a French doctoral student working for NASA. In other words, light from the nebula has taken 7,000 years to reach Earth, and everything we see is that much out of date.

This recent infrared image of the Eagle Nebula shows a bubble of hot, rapidly expanding material directly behind the pillars, Flagey reported on January 8 at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle, Washington.
www.nationalgeographics.com

Do you know what amazes me the most about this headline? Well it’s that God is bigger than our universe and the next. He is bigger than a nebula 7,000 light-years away. He is the creator, bigger than all he universes, and yet he cares so deeply for every hair on your head, and every beat of your heart.
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” –Mark 6:28-30

The Big Chill

Well it's a bit chilly down here in Texas, and I know anyone that reads this from up north is laughing at us right now.

It is currently 33 degrees outside, and everyone is freaking out about ice. Granted we don't get much ice along the Gulf coast, but I think it's humerous that at the first sign of ice everything shuts down. So let's put this into perspective.

Houston currently 33 with a wind chill 23 degrees
Helena, MT currently 15 degrees with a wind chill 9 degrees
Duluth, MN 6 degree with a wind chill -10 degrees, and can you believe it the kids in Duluth had to go to school today, while half of Houston kids got a second day off from school, and I had to go to work.

Now science and physics are not different down here in the lone star state. Water does freeze at only 32 degrees, but 33 is close enough for us.

They say everything is bigger in Texas, well the fear of driving on more that a dirt road falls into that catagory. (Sorry- that's just a stereotype, but funny none the less)

Happy Driving

Be safe out there, and wha

TWEENY TIMES

So why would a twenty six year old have a day or her blogs dedicated to teens? Because the teen years were pretty hard for me, and I’m sure there are others that face the awkwardness and the questions that come with been a teen or even a young adult. The teen years are about self discovery and growing into one’s self that I thought I would lend a few encouraging words and thoughts about that phase we all went through.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!
Male or female, no matter what the mirror tells you, you are beautiful. Now how do I know this through a blog, you ask? If you are a human being, granted your parakeet can’t check her email, you are beautifully and wonderfully made.

Now wait I know what you’re saying. That’s what beautiful people say. HA, would be my natural response, but inside my heart I know that God made me just the way I am. And God doesn’t make mistakes. So which little self inflicting little voice in your head told you that- Satan.

Yep, that’s who. That mental trickster doesn’t want you to believe in the words and love of God. And the message that God made you for a purpose and perfectly for his glory is the last thing the trickster want’s you to believe.

Hence why ‘perfection’ is flooded in the media, and commercials flaunt the ‘beautiful’ people. FYI even the beautiful people think their mediocre, because that’s what the media tells them too. They hid it well, but they have the same insecurities you do.

You are more than what stares back at you in the mirror. You are an amazing God created, God loved, person. Hold on to that truth and turn from the dangers of the world provided by the mirror.
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

The Monday Motivator

January 15, 2007 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

What a day to start my Monday motivator. It’s hard not to be motivated by the life and words of Martin Luther King Jr. His life was a testament to standing firm and moving forward for truth and humanity.

Many times today we are going to hear the ever famous “I have a Dream Speech”. Do you know that you are that dream? You are one of the many to make a move forward in establishing that dream’s reality.

“And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!” –MLK Jr. August 23, 1963

You may think yourself only one person and what can one person do? Well Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, and Martin Luther King Jr. refused to be oppressed by the limitations put on him because of his ethnicity.

You can make such a change today. You can step forward and help one life. In doing so, you have started a wave of humanity and compassion that will continue forward with no end. You just have to convince yourself that you can help, and in doing so give someone the chance to dream their own dream.

The Sunday JOLT:

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. –Romans 15:4

So how relevant is a book written just less than two thousand years ago. Well if we go by book sales, the Bible, year after year is on the best seller list, and has been for centuries. There are about one hundred million copies sold every year, in 3,000 languages. I think that might beat out Steven King or Nora Roberts.
But what makes the bible different than other ‘holy books’? Well let’s see…
The Book of Mormon was written by one man, Joseph Smith, in 1830. The Qur’an was written by one man, Mohammed, over the course of twenty-three years in the 12th century as an addition to the Torah (the Bible’s Old Testament). Those are just two examples. How does the Bible compare?

· It was written over a period of 1600 years. 1,400 BC- first century A.D.
· Written by more than 40 authors - kings, poor people, fishermen, poets, government
officials, teachers, prophets.
· Written in three languages.
· Written on three continents - Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Wow can you imagine forty authors from all walks of life, from different cultures and times of history sitting around to write one book with the same message? My husband and I have a hard enough time deciding what’s for dinner
The Bible is a book whose words speak to me on a daily basis, and even if I’ve read one portion before, I can read it again and receive new insights months or years later. Because it is more than a book, it is a window into the very nature of God, and his will for our lives. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow...-Hebrews 4:12
And like the verse from Romans above says that the Scriptures are to give us hope. The Old Testament to shows us how God moves among ordinary people to make them extraordinary in His glory. And the New Testament to show us God is faithful to his promises, and will continue day after day. Because He is the same yesterday and today and forever(Heb 13:8).

May you be blessed and encouraged.

For more information check these sites out:
http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/
http://www.greatcom.org/laws/english/flash/

http://www.lproof.org/

Motivation...

Have you ever come to a point where your mind and your body are at war?
Not literally ( been there done that) , but that cross roads where your ideas and the williness to step up don't match. I come to this point often and I must say I loose out just about everytime.
Is this because of the laziness that's been bred into our culture over the last ten to twenty years? Or is it Satan's attempt to keep me away from God's purpose?
Both are probably true, and I know God has the solution (But that's another can of worms.)
Even in my everyday job I am at war. I work in biomedical genetics, and I desire to write for a living. I love science and medicine, but can't escape the stories in my head. And yes these are different than the voices in there. Just kidding. No asylums refences please. ;)
In moments like these I am amazed at the complexities of the human brain. All that we discover, think, contemplate, and worry over. Can you imagine the God that put it together? That thought in itself blows me away, and makes a Gary Larson cartoon come to mind.
But how do we step up and get started? Where does the laziness end?
will the questions never cease...nope. Only God has the answers. :)