What Keeps You Grounded?

At the beginning of this year, I made a commitment to do something each day to remind myself that I must stay grounded as much as possible, if not at all times. My goal was to make a gratitude journal that only included the things I am grateful for each day. That’s it, plain and simple. Nothing complex.

My main challenge was to be committed each day to write an entry of gratitude, regardless of how my day went. God used this task to remind me of how humble and grateful I must remain. On some days, I was simply grateful that God’s wrath did not rain down on me due to an un-Godly thought, un-Godly speech or my behavior. On days like that, I have to thank God that I recognized my shortcomings and asked His forgiveness. As of this day, I have to say that since January 1, 2011, I made an entry into my Gratitude Journal every single day. Sometimes I am reminded to do it before I go to bed and on other days, I make an entry earlier in the day. This daily task was a little difficult at times, but more often than not, it was the one thing that helped me to be reminded of how awesome God is.

With the help of The Lord, I try to not become entrapped with me, myself and I, which could lead to the hazards of making unwise decisions that will catapult into mass destruction. I think when you recognize and acknowledge your spiritual groundedness, your spiritual senses are awakened with a renewed sense of purpose, awareness and direction. When I rest in assurance that God is in control, then I will find contentment in His perpetual love, peace, joy and blessings.

So in the midst of things going right or awry, what keeps you grounded every single day?

Thanksgiving Day Wishes!

“Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”
- Psalm 95:2 NIV

Up all night preparing your Thanksgiving Day feast? Well, before you take a bite out of any of those delectables, be sure to really reflect on the true essence of what the word thanksgiving means. There are so many people in our communities and around the world hurting and hungry right now trying to find a soup kitchen in order to get a meal today or any other day through the week.

Let us not take for granted the things that so many would consider a luxury, which includes overcoming hunger and homelessness. Stop and look at your holiday spread, look at your loved ones who you are surrounded by, examine your surroundings and remember that this day and any other day is not about your selfish pride, but about how you can be the servant and contributor to society that God needs for you to be. Thanksgiving is not about one day of the year, but about every day throughout the year.

Have a Safe, Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
- Psalm 100:4 NIV

An Ethereal Optical Illusion

As with most of the population, I needed the assistance of wearing corrective lens since I was in the 3rd grade. So, for ¾ of my life, in order to see clearly I needed eyeglasses, contact lens and sometimes both. As I get more mature (I simply refrain and sometimes cringe from saying the word older), fine print smaller than a 12 point font size becomes difficult to focus, especially if I have been on the computer for extended periods of time.

A few nights ago, I went to bed about 1:00 in the morning. After turning the lights off and removing my glasses to go to bed, through the Palladian window in my bathroom came the glow of a beautiful half moon. I had to stop for a moment before getting in my bed, put my glasses back on and moon gaze for a moment.

After standing there for a couple of minutes staring at the moon, I saw this night star as I have never seen it before. I took my glasses off and peered at the moon again. Due to my nearsightedness, the moon appeared full, not half. Although with my glasses on, my focus was clearer and I saw the moon as it actually appeared that night. However, the feeling I felt with my glasses off defined a different, spiritual emotion for me.

I love absorbing the sight of a full moon each month. It simply makes me look up to the heavens and take in this awesome night light and everything surrounding it. But since I missed seeing the full moon this month due to inclimate weather, this moment was one that made me look and visualize the fullness of its brilliance in a completely different light (no pun intended). Although this was an ethereal optical illusion, that moment of what I thought I saw, made me realize that God has a way of allowing you to see, what others look at but do not see, even if you are nearsighted like me.

Celebrating Veterans Day: Thank You

Happy Veterans Day!

In celebration of Military Appreciation Month, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of our veterans and active military personnel serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. We are grateful to all of our men and women who continue to protect the host of freedoms that we enjoy and often take for granted.

To the families of these amazing and heroic soldiers, we understand how difficult it is when your loved ones are scheduled for deployment, especially to hostile territory. I salute all of our courageous men and women of the armed forces for your bravery in serving our country every single day. Thank you!

International Day of Prayer

On Sunday November 13, 2011 (the second Sunday), millions of people will participate in International Day of Prayer. Around the world, many Christians continue to be denied or persecuted for their freedom of religion. The purpose of International Day of Prayer is to pray fervently for Christians who are suffering, as well as for their oppressors, to raise awareness and urge advocacy on behalf of their faith.

I am a strong believer in the power of prayer. Although it may seem like they are not answered sometimes, they are. The answers may not be in the context of how we want them answered. So often society complains about horrific occurrences that we witness directly or indirectly. We frequently cry out about what needs to be done about these tragedies, but we fail to fall on our knees and seek God’s guidance for a peaceful resolve. If we join together in fervent prayer and abide by God’s principles (not simply a principle that is easy and convenient for us, but all of them) we could see some remarkable changes and amazing miracles happen around the world.

Let’s look beyond International Day of Prayer and commit to praying daily for all of our brothers and sisters who are being oppressed unrighteously.