Finding Your Way Home

Well I've been away from things for a while and I have lost my way a bit. Now school is out and things are starting to settle into a weird routine. The kids do their thing and I do mine. My oldest is only 10 and she's already into the hormonal pre-teen stage. We do our fair share of butting heads. I actually try to avoid her on some days.

Then yesterday, out of the blue, and completely by accident, an old friend called me. I haven't seen or talked to her in years. Her daughter is now 17, almost 18. In the period of 2 or 3 years my poor friend has been through quite an ordeal.

She got divorced from the only real father figure her daughter ever knew. Her daughter has run off any man that she has shown any interest in. Then the laundry list with her daughter began. She dropped out of school, got arrested for shoplifting, was involved with drugs and much more.

After talking with her it dawned on me that this was God giving me a wake up call. From the outside looking in I saw that her daughter was craving attention and direction and her mother was too busy trying to earn a living and make a new life for them after the divorce. I'm not blaming her, things happen, life happens. Sometimes we're too close to the situation to make certain decisions.

This was my "aha" moment. MY daughter needs guidance and direction and attention. This is hard with three other kids and a husband that works A LOT. But after our short conversation I knew that God was trying to get me to see that now is the time to refocus my attention onto my children, to teach them what they need to know. Not just about reading and writing and math, but about manners, about God and Jesus, about staying true to yourself, having compassion and loving your neighbor, about following your dreams and God's plan.

So when the world has you in a fit perhaps it's time to focus on God, his ways and his timing. Take a step outside youself and circumstances and make your way home.

Positive Thinking

I have been studying and reading a great deal about positive thinking. I have been verbally attacked for discussing "The Secret". I personally believe that it is a very enlightening book. However, there are some people that find it very anti-Christian.

I don not promote the idea that whatever you wish for you will receive. I promote the idea that if you are still, quiet, pray and listen to your heart (where Jesus resides) then you will be lead to God's will for your life. That will becomes your will and when you align yourself with God's will then things begin to happen. If you believe they will happen then they will. However, if you are a "victim" and do not believe in what God plans for you then you will not receive it. Perhaps in some ways you are not really ready for it.(Just my opinion) I have been in the doubters boat many a time. I know that it's easier to be negative than to be positive.

Now is the time to remember that God not only wants to take care of our needs, he wants us to prosper and bless others. If we give when we have little (time, money, food, etc) then how much more could we do for others of we are prosperous and truly, deeply, happy.

What is God's plan for you? Are you a victim or a victor? Did Jesus think positively or negatively?