Retrospect, Gratitude and a Happy New Year

Alas, we have arrived at that pivotal time when we review the various events that took place this year and evaluate how they affected us. We cannot brood over how tough our storms were, but celebrate just how miraculous we navigated through them. When you think about those times you felt like you were in the eye of a tornado, remember how God turned the situation into a gentle breeze. When you think about the torrential rains and dark clouds that filled many of your days, remember how you watched as the sun broke through those clouds and the rain turned into a soothing shower. When you think about your life being shaken up like a violent earthquake reaching the highest range on the Richter scale, remember that you weren’t crushed to death by falling through the cracks.

Last year, I challenged readers to create a “Gratitude or Thankful Journal” for each day of the year. The objective of a Gratitude Journal is to keep thankfulness in perspective. You must write at least one entry in your journal every day, no matter how you feel. That’s at least 365 reasons why you are grateful each year. You could be thankful for good health, an unexpected gift someone gave you, a raise on your job, grateful that you didn’t get into an accident while driving to and from your destination, or that God kept you and your family safe and sound. You could also be thankful for the opportunity to get another step closer towards your goals.

In retrospect, we think about the past and adopt new ways to make things better. In gratitude, we live passionately, with purpose and continue dancing to the music even when no music is playing. For a happy new year, we adjust our attitudes to be an asset, instead of a liability, to humanity.

With continued peace and abundant prosperity, always celebrate life with your head held high, love in your heart and a song to continue dancing to. Happy New Year everyone!

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Happy Kwanzaa!

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday about the festival of the first harvest of the crops. It begins on December 26, and lasts for seven days. The name Kwanzaa, sometimes spelled Kwanza, comes from a phrase which means "first fruits" in Swahili, an East African language. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga and first celebrated in 1966 - 1967. Each day is focused on Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles.

Nguzo Saba (Social and Spiritual Principles)

1. UMOJA (UNITY) (oo-MOE-jah)
2. KUJICHAGULIA (SELF DETERMINATION) (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah)
3. UJIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY) (oo-JEE-mah)
4. UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS) (oo-JAH-mah)
5. NIA (PURPOSE) (nee-AH)
6. KUUMBA (CREATIVITY) (koo-OOM-bah)
7. IMANI (FAITH) (ee-MAH-nee)

Happy Kwanzaa everyone!

Why is Christmas Time So Stressful?

Every year I watch television shows and read articles giving tips on how to avoid being stressed out during the Christmas holiday season. Yes, this is a very busy time of the year, especially in retail. For years, the topic continues to address practical ways to de-stress yourself during the holidays. This opinion piece will not give you a step-by-step list of things to do in order to avoid getting stressed out during the Christmas season. In fact, if we are still discussing this, then we just aren’t getting it.

Somehow, we have gotten wrapped up and trapped into the commercialism of what we made Christmas to be. Our focus is diverted from the true reason why we commemorate such a monumental Holy holiday. When I watch people camp outside of stores in the early morning hours of Black Friday for advertised door busters, and in some situations, a few people start fighting over a sale item, I wonder if it is really worth it. Honestly, I do not think it is.

I celebrate Christmas throughout the year and not just in that 24-hour time span on December 25th. Every day I give praise and commemorate the birth and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Every day, I try to practice peace on earth and goodwill towards everyone with diligence. When I want to buy a gift for someone, I do not need to wait for a special occasion to do so.

During Christmas, we see tons of reenactments of the manger scene. That scene should be indelibly imprinted in our minds, hearts and behavior. If it is, we will truly understand the concept of humbleness and live each day in the spirit of Christmas. When you see a manger scene, is there something about that scene that makes you stressed? I do not know about you, but for me I am reminded that it is not about me, but “for” me. The calm of this scene makes me realize that we are serving a greater purpose than the typical stressed induced frenzy we get trapped into during this time of the year.

There are some gifts I would really like to receive for Christmas, but money can’t buy them. The jovialness and love I received from family and friends who have passed away cannot be wrapped in a cute little package and tucked under the Christmas tree. I miss my mother dearly, and I remember how she painstakingly decorated the Christmas tree every year, as if she was competing in a contest. I hold on to those wonderful memories of my mother and other close family members and friends who are gone. Since it’s impossible to have them here for Christmas, they are wrapped in a spectacular gift box in my memory. As I look at those family members and friends I love dearly who are still here, I cherish their priceless love.

So when we sing, “Oh Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining…” try looking up from time to time at night and see that the stars continue to shine brightly. Try not to be hellacious throughout the year and make the peace that we sing about on Christmas, be our mantra every day. Why is Christmas time so stressful? It isn’t. We allow the nonessentials to induce stress. If we could embrace every day with that Christmas spirit we lovingly capture during this time of the year, then we would not have to worry about being stressed out at all.

Merry Christmas! Be safe out there and celebrate responsibly.

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Celebrate Life!

"It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone." — Rose Kennedy

I do not wait for a designated time to celebrate the gift of life! I do not wait until a death occurs, to appreciate life. There is not a day that goes by where I do not thank God for blessing me with the breath of life.

There are certain memories during the Christmas season, as well as other holidays, that take us to a gloomy place. Many people were here this time last year, but are not this year. There is a constant void left in our hearts of loved ones we miss dearly that could never be replaced. As we look at the way our lives have changed through tragedy, pain, health challenges, abuse or financial difficulty, we try to hold on to a sense of hope by strengthening our faith. We may be bruised, but we are not broken.

In the hustle and bustle of our lives, we have to stop frequently and breathe. Although we cannot change the events of the past, we have the ability to change our attitudes when approaching the possibilities of the future. We must inhale a newness of life every day and exhale the toxins of distress.

Today, find something to smile about even if your heart is aching. We may not be able to erase those memories of sadness, but we can intensify our pursuit of happiness! Celebrate life!

www.kymgmoore.com

Encouraging Quote

"One can never consent to creep, when one feels an impulse to soar"
- Helen Keller

December is AIDS Awareness Month

AIDS Awareness Month begins each year with World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. It is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) pandemic, caused by the spread of HIV infection. HIV( Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk The awareness campaign is commemorated with events around the world.

Did you know that an estimated 56,300 Americans are infected with HIV each year? Were you aware that approximately 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS?

To learn more about HIV/AIDS, please visit http://www.aids.gov/. Thank you. Peace & Blessings Always!

Celebrating Advent and Hanukkah

This is the first week we are celebrating Advent and the second day of Hanukkah.
Advent (meaning “arrival” or “coming”) is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. It celebrates the revelation of God in Christ where all of creation will be reconciled to God. There are four Sundays in Advent and the primary sanctuary color has historically been purple.


Hanukkah is a Jewish festival celebrated for eight days and nights, marking the rededication to Judaism of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC. It is celebrated by the kindling of eight lights. Hanukkah starts on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasts for eight days. Kislev is the Hebrew month corresponding to November – December.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!!!

Did you know that in 1941, Thanksgiving was finally sanctioned by Congress as a legal holiday that is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November? When the Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower arrived at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620 their first winter was devastating. Many of the original colonists perished.

It is believed that if it weren’t for the help of the Native Americans, the Pilgrims would not have survived through the year. The harvest of 1621 was bountiful and the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast that included 91 Indians who helped them survive their first year.

As we reflect on this tidbit of Thanksgiving Day trivia, let us remember to do the following things to show how thankful we are throughout the year:

Give thanks for a new day,
it’s a gift from God.

Give thanks for your food,
someone had to plant, grow and harvest it.

Give thanks for your freedom,
someone gave up their life for it.

Give thanks to your elders,
they pioneered the way for your journey.

Give thanks for your job,
thousands of people are unemployed.

Give thanks for your home
far too many are sleeping on the streets.

Give thanks always
it gives value to your life and improves your attitude.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Continued Peace & Bountiful Blessings!

Kym Gordon Moore

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

My Editorial Soapbox About the Transportation Security Administration

I don’t plan to travel by airplane any time soon, but I am a little dismayed by recent complaints targeted towards the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), regarding the security measures taking place at our airports. While I don’t agree with any form of invasive or inappropriate touching, regardless of who it is, I have to say that we can’t let our guard down, simply because some people find it inconvenient and time consuming to go through these security measures. While nothing is foolproof, at least we have something in place that will help to ease the anxiousness of many travelers.

Now, for some reason it seems like many people in our country have short-term memory about recent terrorist threats and attacks occurring around the world. It is also no secret that a lot of hostility and hatred is pointed toward the United States of America. Our enemies have just as much high tech access as we do, and they watch our pattern of behavior with razor sharp observation. We cannot continue to assume that all of these terrorists live in caves or underground bunkers. They are blending in with everyone else to avoid drawing attention to their plots. We are even finding increased reports of terroristic recruiting and sleeper cells among our own citizens. In the most unlikely places we are finding homegrown terrorists in our own backyards.

Recently, there was a report on our local news about a 16-year-old high school student caught with a lot of bomb making ingredients in his home. Surprisingly, his mother said she had no idea what her son was up to. The 16-year-old was arrested, because he allegedly made a bomb that he inserted inside a “writing pen,” then placed it on one of his teacher’s desk at school. The pen was intended to harm the teacher, but another student apparently picked up the pen first. The pen exploded, causing serious injury to that student. Yep, an undetected, regular writing pen did some serious damage to an innocent victim. Was this teenage suspect from an ethnic culture or with a foreign background that we stereotypically equate with terrorism? Not at all. This is a young man who you would probably least suspect. One has to wonder the magnitude of damage or how many lives could have perished if something as unsuspecting as a writing pen was planted in a few of our transportation systems.

Another thing I “don’t” agree with regarding recent complaints about the TSA, is not requiring children to go through some type of security check. I say this because of a conversation I had with my husband who is a Vietnam Veteran. Although in the United States we value the lives of our children, in some hostile regions, particularly where they start training children very early to sacrifice their lives for combat, by any means necessary, is a very real thing. I heard stories that my husband and a few former Vietnam Vets told about children holding a weapon directed at them when they were fighting the war, and they naturally assumed that the child was playing with a toy. How far from the truth that was. Many soldiers found out too late that these children easily infiltrated their platoon and the troops never knew what hit them. The compassionate spirit of our soldiers could not allow them to shoot and kill these children, but when you are staring down the barrel of an assault machine gun or see them take the pin out of a hand grenade, you have to make a life or death decision. Now, we may not think like that in our country, but there are cultures who train their children early, to become human weapons of destruction. Although I think these children are victims, they are only following directions and doing what they are told to do, just as we normally train our children to listen and follow the rules. Thus, the innocent become malicious. It’s scary, but it’s real.

We have to stop whining about the little inconveniences that make us stop and heed certain warnings. If something tragic happened, then some folks would be protesting and screaming about why the government didn’t protect us better. I do not suggest that we live in fear. But our world is quite different from the way it used to be. There are people out here who have little regard for human life. There are people out here who hate just because. As long as we continue to be divided on an issue that I really don’t think should be up for discussion right now, adversaries are taking notice of our distractions and quarrelling, and know just when to plan their attack. We could end up being our own worst enemy.

Sometimes I think we tend to be very spoiled in this country and don’t truly appreciate the freedoms we have and those who made sacrifices for us to enjoy those freedoms. It’s a part of life, when we have to endure some little inconveniences from time to time. Now this is not a PSA for the TSA, but it is their responsibility to do what they are assigned to do. As law-abiding citizens, we should be on our knees praying for ways that we can help make things better, instead of being a hindrance.

As you go about your everyday routine, let’s learn to be grateful instead of being unappreciative. Let’s learn to be the United States of America, instead of the Divided States of America. This is not about religious, financial, ethnic or political affiliations. This country has an impressive melting pot of diversity. This is about unification. This is about sustaining love and the pursuit of happiness. In unity, there is strength. In division, there is weakness. Let us focus on being an asset instead of a liability.

Peace and blessings to everyone. Be safe out there!

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”
- Matthew 12:25 (NIV)

Don't Quit!

Don't Quit!

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out,

The silver tint on the clouds of doubt,

And you can never tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar.

So, stick to the fight when you're hardest hit

It's when things go wrong that you mustn't quit.

—Unknown

Happy Veterans Day 2010

Today we are celebrating Veterans Day, which is also known as Armistice Day. Veteran’s Day is typically celebrated on November 11th and was first incorporated by President Wilson as Armistice Day in 1919. Other countries still recognize November 11th as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in honor of the Armistice treaty, which ended World War I. In 1954, Congress changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

To all of our veterans near and far, retired or still on active duty, regardless of which war you fought in, we not only honor you for your service today, but every day. If it wasn’t for your patriotism to serve your country, we would not have the freedoms we enjoy today. Thank you and may God continue to bless you and your family.

The Face of Diabetes

November is American Diabetes Awareness Month. Every month since Easter Sunday 2003, I can never forget what this vicious disease stole from me. My mother died from complications resulting from diabetes. My grandmother and several members of our family also succumbed to this dreadful disease previously, so I definitely take it personal.

As a member of that high risk group of individuals who will potentially develop this disease, I try to practice as many preventative measures as I can. Research is continuing to reveal some alarming statistics that show a steady increase in diabetes. Often many people don’t realize that it could cause a stroke, heart attack, blindness, kidney failure and/or amputations. The mission of the American Diabetes Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Do you know the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes? Are genetics involved? Are you at risk? If you are, do you know what to do in order to control this disease? Did you know that one out of every three children born today will face a future with diabetes if current trends continue? Diabetes is not merely a condition, but a disease with deadly consequences.

Our families continue to be effected by the perils of this deadly disease every single day. We can’t continue to keep putting off doing something about it when there is a ton of information out there to help us become better advocates. Join the movement to stop diabetes. Do it today! Check out this link to the American Diabetes Association and educate yourself on what you can do to make a difference in your family’s life. http://www.diabetes.org/

To Your Health,
Kym Gordon Moore

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Today is MAKE A DIFFERENCE Day!

“In every community there is work to be done. In every nation there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do it.”
- Marianne Williamson

Millions of Americans are committed to and participating in projects of good deeds on this annual day of volunteering, “Make A Difference Day.” Kids, families, celebrities, professional athletes, corporate citizens, governmental leaders and students alike are doing something to make a difference in their communities on the nation's largest day of service. Volunteerism is energizing! When people volunteer, they find a need that they are passionate about in order to help others. One person doing little things can truly make a big difference in someone’s life.

You do not have to be a celebrity in order to make a monumental gift from your heart. Although money is definitely needed in helping many causes, the random acts of kindness are the impressions that make lasting memories. We applaud everyone who is participating in this largest national day of service, but we salute you even more if you are volunteering and making a difference throughout the year.

“To show great love for God and our neighbor we need not do great things. It is how much love we put in the doing that makes our offering something beautiful for God.”
- Mother Teresa

Domestic Violence = Deadly Consequences

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Recently, I was reading in our local newspaper some disturbing reports about more abused women seeking emergency shelter due to an increase in domestic violence. Regardless of the causes, there is a tremendous amount of stress on many families due to a myriad of reasons. Some oppressors are not strong enough to divert their frustrations and anxieties on something positive or solutions-based. Instead violence seems to be the most logical way they handle these frustrations. Regardless of the reasons for domestic violence, there are more people, including innocent children who are acutely victimized. Recently in the news, we have witnessed the deadly consequences that result from domestic violence in murder/suicide cases.

There are many organizations providing a safe house for women and children who are fleeing from a dangerous abuser and seeking emergency refuge. If you are being abused or know someone who is, please seek help as quickly as possible. The abuse will not just simply go away completely. Sometimes the abuser will halt for a moment, but when something sets them off again, you do not know whether it’s going to be your last breath, that of your children or even other family members.

I often meet many women through some of my volunteer work, who barely escaped their abuser with just the clothes they have on their backs. Many people who have not been in a serious situation such as domestic violence or being a victim in some way, are clueless why these victims (mostly women), do not pack a bag and leave immediately. Trust me, it’s not that simple sometimes. These abusers are intimidators and the victims feel powerless. Often the victims have no money, no family or friends to turn to and they continue to suffer silently and often cover up and defend their abusers. Recognizing the signs of abusive relations is something that you must be aware of. When a so-called love tap turns into a boxing match...that’s abuse. Start planning how you will escape. You are being held hostage mentally, emotionally and physically. At some point, once the victim turn their fear into courage, they will escape their abusers.

We are going to have to stop the madness of this disease that’s eating away at our families, leaving serious scars and taking innocent lives. To learn more about how you can become involved in the Domestic Violence Awareness initiative, please check out this website:

The Mission of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is to organize for collective power by advancing transformative work, thinking and leadership of communities and individuals working to end the violence in our lives. http://www.ncadv.org/

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

National Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. While there is a laundry list of various monthly observances occurring and celebrated during the month of October, they include these two causes we are witnessing and experiencing, that are so crucial to the survival of family and friends.

Please read this resourceful article that we found published in the New York Times about Breast Cancer: http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/breast-cancer/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier.

To learn more about how you can become involved in the Domestic Violence Awareness initiative, please check out these websites: http://www.ncadv.org/ or http://dvam.vawnet.org/.

We cannot stand by and allow these two diseases to rob our families of life and longevity. We invite you to read more about them and help out in any way you can. Your community and your family cannot be ignored.

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Have You Considered Donating Life?

I’m sure we all have been asked by our physicians or an emergency room staff member if we are an organ donor. Did it ever occur to you to register as an organ donor? Nope, I am not talking about donating that musical instrument with strong spiritual sounds ringing from the keyboards that you often find in worship institutions. I’m speaking of organs such as kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and the intestines. Or tissue donation such as corneas, the middle ear, skin, heart valves, bone, veins, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

Recently, I was sent a survey to complete for an organization I am a member of, in a campaign to get its members to register as an organ donor. I have to admit that I thought about signing up, but never really pursued the thought any further. After watching the 2002 movie “John Q” starring Denzel Washington, it made me rethink my hesitation and decision to give life after death. In case many of you have not seen this movie, John Q is a film by Nick Cassavetes; starring Denzel Washington as John Quincy Archibald, a father and husband whose son is diagnosed with an enlarged heart and then finds out he cannot receive a transplant because his HMO insurance will not cover it. Therefore, he decides to take a hospital full of patient’s hostage until the hospital puts his son's name on the recipient's list. As the movie climaxes, just when John Q decides to take his life so that his son could have his heart, a young lady who was in a fatal car accident, was an organ donor and miraculously her heart was flown to the hospital to be implanted in John Q’s son. (Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Q)

Here are some interesting facts from the website of Donate Life America, to help you understand the truth vs. the myths of organ donation:

Fact: Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or medical history.

Fact: All major religions in the United States support organ, eye and tissue donation and see it as the final act of love and generosity toward others.

Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ, eye and tissue donation can only be considered after you are deceased.

Fact: When you are on the waiting list for an organ, what really counts is the severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type, and other important medical information, not your financial status or celebrity status.

Fact: An open casket funeral is possible for organ, eye and tissue donors. Through the entire donation process the body is treated with care, respect and dignity.

Fact: There is no cost to the donor or their family for organ or tissue donation.

A national computer network, the OPTN (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network) matches donated organs with recipients throughout the country. Transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic background. Consequently, a lack of organs donated by multicultural populations can contribute to longer waiting periods for transplantation.

For more information, check out these following websites: http://organdonor.gov/ and http://www.donatelife.net/. Also, check out this clip of a touching story where a little girl’s heart, becomes a humungous gift of life, that gives a mother a second chance! http://news.mydaily.com/2010/09/23/heart-to-heart/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl8%7Csec1_lnk2%7C172553.

Sense of Connection

(Includes excerpts from the book, Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit, by Kym Gordon Moore)

The early morning hours are one of the most tranquil times of the day to watch life unfold all around me and take in how much nature changed overnight. I notice so many new flower buds or tiny leaves beginning to sprout from the branches on my plants and trees. My attitude is to celebrate life every moment of the day. Normally, as I start my day off in prayer and meditation, I’m always talking to God. Like a little chatter box, I always seem to have something to talk to God about. But, on one particular morning, the LORD clearly spoke to me and told me to sit outside and be quiet. He challenged me to use this quiet time to become connected to all of my senses. This directive took me by surprise and I had no idea what was in store for me.

I realize that in our lives we will always go through one challenge or another. It’s how we choose to deal with it, while trying to sustain a sense of peace, even in the midst of chaotic circumstances, that makes the difference. I discovered that my assignment this morning reached beyond reading my Bible. A supernatural conversation was about to take place and to my surprise, it was a healing and reenergizing session.

There is a time when we must sit still, listen and observe. You can’t hear when there’s a lot of background noise and hurriedness going on around you. Confusion, challenges and problems stir up anxiousness, worriation and weakness. Each sensory organ serves a unique, fundamental purpose and is designed to work together. As I run into people who may be challenged in, or devoid of one or more of their physical senses, I notice that their other functioning senses become more intuitive. Their weaker senses rely on their stronger senses, similar to the way a backup generator kicks in, when the electrical power goes out.

Our sense of connection makes us messengers of hope, so use your senses wisely. As I look around nowadays, I see far too many instances where people are so broken, that they’ve given up hope. If they lost hope, then their faith is displaced, due to distractions and a disconnection from their Power Source (God the Father). When we operate in Godly wisdom, we will be able to see hear, taste, touch and smell beyond human comprehension. This is the poetry of spiritual saturation versus emotional stimulation.

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Rising From the Ashes of 9/11

As we remember the events of September 11, 2001, I hope that as a nation of resilient people, we are stronger, wiser and more unified than we have been. Monumental disasters always test the human spirit and although we don’t forget, we move forward with courage, important lessons that we learned and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

In light of the extremist ramblings from a few citizens in this country, as well as around the world, we must remember that the events that took place on 9/11 didn’t kill us, but made us stronger. We must be mindful not to clump everyone from a particular race, religion, creed, culture or socioeconomic status in one category, due to these particular extremists, because that will continue to be the kindling that reignites the inferno. Other horrific terroristic attacks that took place on our soil, by our own citizens, brought us together to the table of peace as we transcended the brutality. The 1995 Oklahoma City Bombings, the 1921 Black Wall Street Massacre, the countless nationwide school and college shootings, or the daily criminal elements preying on the innocent, are just a few.

“The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.” Genesis 4:10-11 (New International Version)

We will always find that diabolical element in all sectors of our local, national and global communities, but that doesn’t mean that the people of those communities embrace the extremists among their own. We must understand that many of these masterminds of evil may not be caught, yet their deeds will catch up with them. We must also realize that if we were to assassinate the leaders of radicalism, there are still the “seeds” they planted, continuing to germinate and spread like a weed that we have to contend with. But let us not walk around in fear or as prisoners of our emotions. Neither let us get trigger-happy, nor crucify the innocent as a form of retaliation, because it will only make matters worse. In order to be healed, we must understand with our hearts.

So on this day, we won’t cast aside the importance or side-effects of our memories. But, let us not get trapped in the abyss of hatred, bitterness and depression in spite of our hurt and woundedness. We won’t forget those lives that were lost, or the people never found, because just like the twin towers, they will always be landmarks in our hearts. Although we wish we could, we can’t go back and rewrite the past, but we will celebrate our gift of life, freedom, equality and hopefully wisdom! We strive for world peace, but we must first start with charity in our own homes, communities, municipalities, schools, businesses and worship institutions, before it can resonate internationally.

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." -Colossians 3:13-15 (King James Version)

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. Check out more about this memorable holiday at http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm.

Exercise caution and responsibility! Have a safe and celebratory Labor Day everyone!

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Saluting Charles L. Webber, Founder of Faith Ministries, Inc.

Established in 1999 and inspired by the blessed, miraculous birth of his daughter Faith, Pastor Charles L. Webber became the Founder and CEO of Faith Ministries, Incorporated. Faith Ministries, Inc. is located in Shelby, North Carolina and serves the surrounding townships and cities of Cleveland and Gaston counties. Pastor Webber understands that the greatest assets in our community are the people who live there. Quite often, people do not know where to go or who to contact when they are in need of core necessities. Faith Ministries, Inc. collaborates and builds alliances with various community agencies, community-based ministries, local and statewide businesses, to serve as an intermediary to help find the answers to the questions many members of the community need. The motto of Faith Ministries, Inc. is “The substance of things hoped for!”

Charles Webber realizes that we have to stop the generational poverty, illiteracy and carnage that plague more communities than we care to count. “We are not ignorant to the fact that these problems can become catastrophic once these issues start to hemorrhage into our neighborhoods,” he says. After reading a recent report with alarming statistics about the plight of at-risk youth in the surrounding communities, Charles Webber decided to engage these youngsters in something they enjoy doing, while requiring them to become actively involved in some type of community outreach activity.

He designed and is launching a new program in 2011 called “Storming for Success.” This summer youth development program will enable 50-75 underprivileged and disadvantaged boys and girls between the ages of 13-18 to receive some much needed support and assistance in three key areas: academic enrichment, life skills training, and job-seeking/employment skills training. Sessions will be conducted by former NBA and college players about the value of participating in AAU sports. Local and area leaders will speak to participants about job-seeking skills, developing good work and academic study habits, effectively dealing with peer pressure, proper etiquette at home and in the community, as well as several other personal empowerment sessions. The objective is to teach the youth how to pay it forward to others naturally, while building character and life skills for their future.

As we discovered with many local nonprofit organizations, Faith Ministries, Inc. does not receive any state or federal funding and depend on in-kind donations to keep their community programs operating. For more information about Faith Ministries, Inc. and how you can help, please visit their website at http://www.ministryoffaithinc.org/. While there, you may sign up for their FREE e-newsletter, The Fountain where you can keep up with all of the latest community projects Faith Ministries, Inc. is spearheading and participating in. For inquiries, you may contact Pastor Charles Webber at info@ministryoffaithinc.org.

Favorite Things for a CAUSE salutes Pastor Charles L. Webber for never giving up hope when situations, people and circumstances appear hopeless. Faith Ministries, Inc. is not only the substance of things hoped for, but it is undoubtedly the evidence of things not seen!

Congratulations April Faith Eason, Winner of “In the Spirit of Inspiration” Book Give-a-way!

When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.
-- Helen Keller

April Faith Eason is a 29-year-old single mother of two boys who are nine and ten. She is a full time student majoring in social work at UNC Charlotte. She is very passionate about being able to travel to Africa and helping to educate and provide medical treatment for those infected with HIV/AIDS after completion of her BSW. April loves God with all of her heart. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose says April. She believes that God is preparing her to go places she has never been and to see things she has never seen.

Congratulations April! Thank you for your support and be blessed by your great reads.

www.kymgmoore.com

Congratulations Carolyn Graham-Murray, Winner of “In the Spirit of Inspiration” Book Give-a-way!

Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward.
-- Henry Ford

Carolyn Graham-Murray, one of our "In the Spirit of Inspiration" Grand Prize winners, lives in Columbia, South Carolina. She is a graduate of Benedict College and the mother of one son, Brandon Murray. She is a member of the Young Chapel Church in Columbia, where she serves as the Planning Committee Coordinator. She is an Account Executive for Fashion Fair Cosmetics covering the Southeastern part of South Carolina and August, Georgia regions. Her favorite hobbies include cooking, entertaining and reading great magazines. Her motto is “Put God First!”

Congratulations Carolyn! Thank you for your support and be blessed by your great reads.

www.kymgmoore.com

GRADUATION DAY 2010!

The day seemed so surreal as I marched into the Time Warner Arena behind hundreds of Masters Degree candidates to the area where people stood in front of our section holding oversized flags on poles that clearly identified who we were. Even as I glanced over at the neighboring section of students where oversized flags indicated that they were the Bachelors Degree candidates, I was reminded of the journey I took, when I sat in the same section as I graduated from the University of South Carolina 30 years ago. Thirty years ago? Yep, exactly 30 years and 3 months ago! Even in the excitement of cheering family members and friends who packed the designated visitors section of the arena and over 800 degree candidates, I am swept away by the sounds of the bag-pipes as the ceremony began.

Now, sitting here the day after Commencement Exercises, I believe it is finally setting in that I sat in an audience of my peers, listening to inspiring speeches, and then walking down the aisle to march on stage and shake the hands of college officials, congratulating me on another one of my monumental achievements. Just hearing the bittersweet sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance” indicates that we shall stand tall, collapse in the arms of our accomplishments and grasp our mandate to serve our purpose as God intends. Now that I am an official Masters of Business Administration Degree recipient, I am elated and grateful to God for getting me through some difficult and frustrating days of climbing this academic mountain. One of my nieces asked me, “so what are you going to do next?” I said, “I’m not sure exactly what it is, but it will entail climbing a bigger mountain as I keep dancing and celebrating life!” And as Forrest Gump says: “That’s all I have to say about that!” But stay tuned! I just may surprise myself! I am not ruling out a doctorate degree at this point!

I encourage you to dream bigger dreams, turn your visions into reality, extend your hands to help someone along the way and encourage them to go to the mountaintop and experience excellence and greatness. Be all that you can be and remember…time waits for no one!

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

A Soul Stirring Multi-Cultural Experience!

I had the honor and pleasure of attending a fabulous event on Wednesday evening, August 4, 2010 that was hosted by the Women’s Inter-Cultural Exchange (WIE) and The Light Factory located in Spirit Square, in uptown Charlotte, NC. The exhibition, “My Family, My Culture” was such a powerful, emotional and spiritual experience. WIE members used the power of photography to tell stories that illustrated their culture, their families and their everyday lives. As you viewed each exhibit and read the myriad of stories representing a diversity of cultures of Native American, African American, Italian, Indian, Hispanic and many others, we discovered that we are so much alike. For more information about the Women’s Inter-Cultural Exchange, visit their website at http://www.wi-ce.org/.

The Light Factory, a contemporary museum of photography and film, spearheaded the creation of the museum quality exhibits for each one of the participants. If you live in Charlotte, North Carolina, I urge you to take some time to visit The Light Factory, whose mission reaches the school system and the community to teach them about the power of photography and the aesthetics surrounding this amazing art form. Here is the information for only one of four contemporary museums of photography and film in the United States:

The Light Factory
345 North College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina
704-333-9755
http://www.lightfactory.org/

For the Rest of 2010

As of today, August 1, 2010, we can officially say that we have 5 months remaining in this year. Just like everyone else, I continue to have my share of challenges in one area or another and sometimes the agony from the pressure seems unbearable. On the other hand, I am reminded to celebrate my life’s purpose and achievements. When I think about my short-term and long-term strategy for emerging from the ashes of discouragement, adversity and alleged defeat, I reflect on this scripture that has become my daily mantra: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

I welcome and grip a sense of peace that tells me to focus on God instead of my circumstances. I pray that I can truly be a catalyst of encouragement to others that energizes their spirit to strive towards upward mobility, instead of downward stagnation. Sometimes life deals us an unexpected deck of cards where the odds seem to be stacked against us. Yet, we take the hand we are dealt, and ask God to show us His divine plan, through possibilities that seem humanly impossible.

May we continue to embrace the fruits of the spirit that will lead us to our divine calling and the impact we make on others: Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness and Temperance. Let us reenergize our minds, body and spirit. However, if we are caught up in the midst of a ball of confusion, that often hits us like a run-a-way freight train, we must remember to step out of that circle of chaos into the arms of quiet serenity extended from God. Continue to be encouraged by embracing the peace within. Do not allow the current challenges of life to dictate the rest of the chapter you are writing for the balance of this year.

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Grab the Torch© Caught Our Attention

In the midst of some challenging circumstances that we see in the various sectors of our lives, there still remains a constant sense of humanity that resonates beyond our reach. Throughout our communities, worship institutions, educational institutions and social networks, we witness many young people stepping up to the plate, to help those who may be suffering, lonely or less fortunate than they are. We applaud these young people who are not afraid to reach out and use their creative juices to set some profound examples of humanitarianism, hope and encouragement.

One of the organizations that recently caught our attention is Grab the Torch©. According to their website,

Grab The Torch© recognized the importance of preparing the next generation for their upcoming role and responsibility as volunteers, board and committee members and visionaries for the non-profit world long before the current economic crisis. There has never been a more critical time in our history to understand and support philanthropy and the global greater good than right now. The students need an understanding and foundation to prepare themselves for their upcoming role in society. It will be a road map for their future; a tool to guide, not to dictate. The students will take many directions, some following their families, some going 180 degrees due to personal affinities. We will encourage participation on any level. There are endless pieces of the greater good puzzle, each student holds a valuable role for the greater good.

Why not think about hosting a philanthropy camp for the children in your neighborhood, church or school. Be sure to set the example as well, so that our young people can see your convictions in action. The rewards will be greater than you think. For more information about Grab the Torch©, you can check out their website: http://www.grabthetorch.org/index.htm.

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Ten Ideas for Everyday Outreach | Articles | BuildingChurchLeaders.com

I came across this article with some simple tips on easily reaching out to everyday people in a sincere and practical way. I hope you will find these tips helpful, as a reminder to continue practicing a kind, random act of service to others who may really need it just when they least expect it! Have a beautiful and prospersous day everyone!

Ten Ideas for Everyday Outreach
No elaborate planning necessary.
By Dana Wilkerson

1. Pay attention to the people around you in your neighborhood or at work. Send up an arrow prayer as you walk by them.

2. Be mindful of those who serve you—bank tellers, grocery store clerks, fast food workers. Look them in the eye and tell them you appreciate their service.

3. Leave a note of encouragement on a coworker's desk or on the windshield of their car.

4. When you walk past a piece of trash on the ground, pick it up and throw it in a garbage can.

5. When someone says they're having a bad day, stop and ask if you can pray for them right there.

6. At the drive-thru, pay for the meal of the person behind you.

7. Stop and talk with a homeless person. Find out their story.

8. Before leaving a restaurant, jot a thank you note to your server and leave it on the table or call the manager over and explain how much you enjoyed the service.

9. Go out of your way to be friendly to a prickly person.

10. When you're talking with someone, give them the gift of your full attention.

Ten Ideas for Everyday Outreach Articles BuildingChurchLeaders.com

It's In The Valleys I Grow

Are you feeling a little discouraged today? Do you feel like things are just falling apart all around you? Or do you feel like you are smack dab in the middle of a Level 7 tornado and can’t find your way out? Is your money playing that “now you see me, now you don’t” game? Are there people in your life who have a negative or resentful spirit, are non-supportive or those who have disappointed you in one way or another? Are family members or friends acting irrationally and probably borderline psychotic? Are the bills stacking up and you feel like your life is in utter chaos?

Well, let us say this to you: “Be encouraged today, no matter what’s going on.” Step outside of that circle of chaos! Yes, we know that this is easier said than done. No, we do not know what type of circumstances you may be facing at this moment, but rest assure you honestly can’t worry about it. Everyone is going through one adversity or another right now as you are reading this. There is no easy solution or magical formula to overcoming your challenges, but there is one thing that works and it is the gift of prayer. But the key to prayer, is not just engaging in it when you are in dire straits. Do it through the good times and do it with a grateful heart. Worrying will only make you more stressed out and sick. When that happens, then you are faced with another problem…medical bills!

So as we take one day at a time, let’s do it with gratitude, no matter what. This poem, written by Jane Eggleston has been circulating for years now and after rereading it, it reminds you of the strength you get from some of life’s most unpredictable circumstances, in the valleys of your life! If you read it before, it’s good to read again. Be strong and be encouraged!

It's In The Valleys I Grow

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,

Full of sorrow, trouble and woe

It's then I have to remember

That it's in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountaintop

And never experienced pain,

I would never appreciate God's love

And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn

And my growth is very slow,

Sometimes I need the mountain tops,

But it's in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand

Why things happen as they do,

But I am very sure of one thing.

My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing

When I picture Christ on the cross

He went through the valley of death;

His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining

When I'm feeling so very low.

Just give me a gentle reminder

That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord

And use my life each day

To share your love with others

And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord

For this one thing I know

The mountain tops are glorious

But it's in the valleys I grow!

(This poem was written by Jane Eggleston who currently lives in Virginia. Her son Jeff states, "She is a wonderful person, loves Jesus and has been the best mother anyone could ever ask for." What a fitting tribute to any mother.)

NON-PROFITS: It isn’t too early to think about your end-of-the-year fundraising

As you strengthen your relationship with your organization’s supporters, emphasizing those tax deductions can be especially appealing to your donors. Tax breaks are major influencers to your supporters. Charitable donations are tax-deductible expenses and must be itemized. If your donors have any questions about filling out a Form 1040 Schedule A, advise them to consult with their tax preparer on claiming their deductions and the percentage limits on their particular overall tax deductions. Such limits include:

· Generally, you can deduct cash contributions in full up to 50% of your adjusted gross income.
· Generally, you can deduct property contributions in full up to 30% of your adjusted gross income.
· Generally, you can deduct contributions of appreciated capital gains assets in full up to 20% of your adjusted gross income.

The excess of these limits on Charitable contributions can possibly be carried over for a maximum of five years. Individuals still need to consult their tax preparers regarding their particular situation. Here is a great article published by Network for Good entitled “Holidays in July: Get a Jump on End-of-the-Year Fundraising” by Rebecca Higman and Julie Stofer, that lists some great tips on kicking off your holiday fundraising right now. http://www.fundraising123.org/article/holidays-july-get-jump-end-year-fundraising

www.kymgmoore.com

My Challenge To You On This 2010 Independence Day!

As we embark on this traditional day in July when we celebrate our independence, let’s take a brief trip down memory lane about the real story behind our 4th of July celebration.

Independence Day, or the 4th of July as we refer to it here in the United States, is a federal holiday that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, on July 4, 1776. The Declaration announced that the 13 American Colonies (Maine - then part of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, Georgia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island), were no longer a part of the British Empire and are now independent states.

There is so much to be proud of in this great country of ours and we must be ever so mindful to never take our freedom, which so many fought and died for, for granted. With that in mind, it is very painful to realize that so many Americans do not know some of the basic allegiances and tributes to our country. On this day, if you do not know any of the following, I urge all of you to learn these and many other historical facts that shaped the United States into the great country it is today.

Pledge of Allegience (an oath of loyalty to the national flag and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892. It should be recited while standing at attention with the right hand over the heart; military personnel must salute.) http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm.

My Country Tis of Thee (Song) http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh697.sht.

Oh Beautiful (Song) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/b/obfsskis.htm.

The Star Spangled Banner (Song) http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/spangle.htm.

How can we expect others to respect our country if we don’t know it’s history and respect it ourselves! So today, empower yourself! Stand tall and be proud!

May God continue to strengthen us as a united people and may we continue to pray for the truths that united us as a Christian-founded nation, based on strong Biblical principles that we need to get back on track with today! God bless all of you!

HAPPY 4th of JULY Everyone!

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Free Nonprofit 911 Training Sessions!

Sign Up Now for These FREE Nonprofit 911 Training Sessions

Date/Time
Training
Registration

Tuesday, July 13
1 pm ET
Join Beth Kanter and Allison Fine, authors of The Networked Nonprofit for a discussion of How to Use Social Media to Accomplish More with Less
Call includes a book giveaway
RegisterNow

Tuesday, July 20
1 pm ET
The Upside of Irrationality
Are your donors as rational as you think they are?
with Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality
RegisterNow

For more information about the services, seminars and other non-profit helpmates from Network for Good, check out their website: http://www1.networkforgood.org/.

1st Anniversary of Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit

A year ago I announced the birth and launch of my book, "Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit." It has been an exciting year and I am truly blessed by all of you who purchased or received the book as a gift. I will be announcing the birth of another book coming soon. Many people asked for information on where to purchase "Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit" and I promised to repost where the book is available. Your local bookstore can order it for you if they do not have it in stock. Simply supply them with my full name and the complete title of the book. Or if you prefer, you can order it from one of the following online locations:

Barnes and Noble
http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=book&ATH=Kym%20Gordon%20Moore

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Diversities-Gifts-Kym-Gordon-Moore/dp/1432730428/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246509821&sr=1-1

BOOKS-A-MILLION
http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781432730420?id=4754127318109

Thanks once again to all of you for a very exciting year! I look forward to sharing more upcoming releases very soon! Peace & Blessings Everyone!

Kym Gordon Moore
Author of Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit
http://www.kymgmoore.com/

"No one can see your visions and dreams as clearly as you can. Purpose is the key to creation, manifested through vision!" - Kym Gordon Moore

Saluting the First Graders of Wilderness Oak Elementary School

We came across an inspiring and exciting story about a class of first graders attending Wilderness Oak Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas. The Today Show featured this story last week about the student’s humanitarian effort to do something special for the children of Haiti. Incredibly, these kids (remember this is a group of “first graders”) raised over $9,000 to help the small victims of this earthquake shattered country.

For their remarkable work and unselfish hearts, they were selected over other competing schools, to travel to Orlando, Florida and visit the new Harry Potter Theme Park. When it was reported that one parent told their child not to be disappointed if their school did not win, that child responded by saying, “It was okay, because the children of Haiti already won!” Oh what we could learn from the mouth of babes!

Read more about this exciting story at: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/local_first-grade_class_wins_extraordinary_contest_94485919.html

I hope everyone will smile at this story and yet, be inspired by having big hearts like these children and the children around us. Deciding to help someone or some cause does not have to be a national story, neither do you need a wad of money, but it will indeed make a tremendous difference in the lives you sincerely touch. Be inspired, and then become an inspiration!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

To all of our Fathers, Sons, Brothers, Uncles, Grandfathers, Nephews, Men-in-laws and Friends, we want to say to you on this special, commemorative day, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! Celebrate the specialness and importance of this day, every day! Father’s play such a vital role in our lives and it is so important to be the role models that would invoke others to live and make this world a better place. Thank you fathers for all you do to make a positive difference in so many lives.

What’s On Your Summer Reading List?

Can you believe summer is here? Well you probably can since we've been having some serious record hot, scorching temperatures here in the South! Moreover, what's summer without a great glass of southern sweetened iced tea or lemonade, and some good reads to wet our literary appetite? Well, leave it to Oprah Winfrey to come up with her 2010 Summer Reading List. There may be some books listed that you read and probably some you intend to read, but there is a variety of genres to choose from. O’s Summer List includes:

Kings of the Earth
By Jon Clinch

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
By Aimee Bender

Someone Knows My Name
By Lawrence Hill

Words That Matter
By The Oprah Magazine - HarperStudio

Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It
By Maile Meloy

If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This
By Robin Black

My Name Is Mary Sutter
By Robin Oliveira

The Madonnas of Echo Park
By Brando Skyhorse

Parrot & Olivier in America
By Peter Carey

Dombey and Son
By Charles Dickens

Elizabeth Street
By Laurie Fabiano

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott
By Kelly O'Connor McNees

The Hundred-Foot Journey
By Richard C. Morais

What Is Left the Daughter
By Howard Norman

Father of the Rain
By Lily King

The Passage
By Justin Cronin

American Music
By Jane Mendelsohn

The Summer We Read Gatsby
By Danielle Ganek

Someone Will Be with You Shortly: Notes from a Perfectly Imperfect Life
By Lisa Kogan

How Did You Get This Number
By Sloane Crosley

For more information and a brief description of these books, click on this link to learn more:
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Summer-Reading-List-Summer-Books/1

If you have any good reads that you would like to share with our audience, please include the book’s title and author’s full name. If you have a link to the book, feel free to include that too.

Good reading everyone!

7 Key Things to "Know" Before Desperation Leads to Victimization

During desperate times, desperate people do desperate things! The recession and current state of our economy, has seen a resurgence of many past schemes and the creation of new, savvier scams. Sadly, it is also revealing how so many people, especially those experiencing financial duress, are becoming prime targets by scammers and swindlers appearing to come to their rescue and solve their desperate dilemmas. We also find perpetrators preying on those suffering from loneliness, searching for love and companionship, those with extremely low self-esteem or needy for something that is absent from their lives. Victims tend to grasp a hold of any indication of possible hope, even if is risky.

Too often we are reading or hearing reports about people preying on people who don't "know" and those they suspect won't bother to investigate before leaping. Unknowing leads to vulnerability, slavery, bondage and strongholds. The predators preying on the weak, uneducated, feeble and hungry, will eat you alive if you don't have a good defense of "knowledge." If someone tries to pressure you into making a hasty decision that your gut feeling is telling you to wait, then by all means say "no" before leaping into a situation you may regret later. It's a warning from your spirit. Many use fear tactics to confuse and fog your thinking. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Con-artists also take advantage of people during natural disasters. They make their mission look absolutely legitimate and wind up ripping off honest, hard working people who are already victims. These scammers make it difficult for us to trust and patronize those businesses rooted in genuine goodwill that are operating legally and legitimately.

Victimization isn't always caused by lawbreakers. Consumer debt is extremely high and the main culprits are credit cards. The fine print listed in the contracts of many legitimate businesses (ie. Credit card companies) may contain complex jargon that we usually don't bother to read, because the information is incomprehensible and in a font size requiring the use of a magnifying glass! Now, many consumers are literally drowning in a sea of debt due to exorbitant fees and outrageous interest rate hikes. Does it seem fair? No. Is it legal? Yes it is. This is ultimately having an effect on people's physical health, mental stress and stability, marriage, family, jobs and any type of meaningful relationship you may have.

Here are a few of the scams floating in cyberspace and through any other available source of communications it can infiltrate:

• ID Theft: Beware of services that offer to correct problems requiring you to give up too much personal information that could jeopardize your identity.
• Targeting senior citizens
• Lottery Scams
• Chain letters and pyramid scams: Beware of get rich quick schemes. Although many people feel that they could spot these scams a mile away, many are becoming quite sophisticated and are not so obviously detected.
• Job employment scams (Investigate some of those work-from-home opportunities that guarantee to pay you thousands of dollars without any experience).
• Internet scams
• Banking scams (online and offline)
• Money laundering cover-ups
• Mobile phone scams
• Investment scams
• Healthcare/Pharmaceutical scams
• Charity Scams
• Dating Scams
  

Here are 7 key things you should "know" about consumer protection during desperate times:

1. Take time to research. Check with the Better Business Bureau if needed or other consumer advocacy groups. Many suspected criminal practices continue to operate because a complaint has not been filed by previous victims. You don't always need an attorney to do this.

2. Exercise your rights to file a complaint with your state's Attorney General. If you go to your Attorney General's website, you will find some great information on protecting yourself from consumer fraud, consumer protection and victim's services.

3. Avoid tactics trying to pressure you into making a hurried financial decision convincing you to think, "It's now or never!"

4. Do not give out personal information, social security numbers, credit card or checking account information, unless you are setting up payment arrangements with a legitimate creditor that you are dealing with.

5. Never, ever give out your passwords or personal identification numbers to anyone calling or emailing you to verify it, because your records have been compromised. They are the ones getting ready to compromise your records as soon as they get the information they need from you.

6. Get a free annual copy of your credit report.

7. Check your bank and credit card statements frequently.

People are always trying to make big bucks, however they can and whenever they can. Now more than ever, we have to be aware that the floodgates of scammers and swindlers is wide open. We probably cannot wipe out all of these cells, but we can certainly make a dent in their global operations. Fallibility is not an option when you are trying to avoid victimization. You can't always prevent becoming a victim of some type, but for those things and situations that invoke a sense of anxiousness in your gut, use some good ole common sense and walk away from it. You'll be happy that you did.