Measure Success

One of the hardest things to do is measure success in anything and that goes for our purpose as well.

I believe the measure of success has to be earned over time. We have to realize that there will be failures well as successes.

The most important thing is to learn from both success and failures. They allow us to have a measuring stick in everything we do.

The most important thing is not to have our success at an unrealistic level. Over time we can raise the level of success.

When we begin working with someone we never should look at the full measure of success. Other words every step forward should be looked at success. A step backwards should only meant to be a little failure to look forward to the success ahead.

So success should never be really measured during the time with any one person.

Remember to that we were created for a purpose so success should be already built in though failures are part of life as well.

Confidence

The main ingredient in our purpose beyond the gifts and talents is confidence.

Yes we have to believe in what we are doing with our purpose.

Of course at times doubt will come in however we need to find a way not to waiver.

Those we mentor or lead must feel the confidence that we have in ourselves and helping them as well.

They must believe in us well as becoming confident in themselves.

Confidence is not something we show it is something we have.

These words I am saying for you than you have it all to do your purpose.

 Of course it does take time and experience to have the confidence however remember to your purpose has always been with you even if you just discovered your purpose.  

Finding Your Way

Often it takes us a while to find our way. It can take years to do so.

I believe it has only been five years possibly less that I realized what my purpose in life is.

It is exciting to know when you find out this can be true.

Often we think our job and along with family is the only purpose we have . Actually it is a good thing however when you realize that there is even more to our lives excitement can boil over.

I believe a very good purpose is to help others to find their way. Can be very fulfilling and be excited about as well to see others find their way.

I enjoy hearing stories about how people have discovered their purpose.  Joy happens for everyone involved.

Often finding the right path after going so long on the wrong path is exciting too. Actually our purpose can be to help others we have found that walked the wrong path in the same we did.

If you are still looking to find your way it is OK as well. I am sure that you will find it soon. Making mistakes shouldn’t keep us from getting where we should go. 

Remember that at some point everyone has made mistakes. 

The most important thing is to learn from them. So never let mistakes allow you to never get on the right path. Amen!

Changing World

We were created for a purpose in changing the world or at the very least those around the part of the world we live.

We don’t necessarily have to do big things as I have mentioned before but can be little things as well.

Remember to that not everyone can or should talk a lot. It is a purpose for some of course however your actions can speak more volumes than talking.

Those you see will watch your moves. I have had people tell me how much I have affected their lives without saying anything in regards to the areas they mention.

Be kind to others, have eye contact and smile as often as you can. Not always easy to do but good sound advice.

Remember to treat others like you want to be treated.

I am sure you are changing your part of the world without even realizing it. Keep up the good work. God bless and peace to you.

Revelation

When it comes to our purpose or anything else that is productive begins with revelation.

This can happen by God telling us directly by his Holy Spirit or through other people. We can get revelation when meditating as well.

We can ask for wisdom that can bring revelation too. This can help us with others. Not that we would know every detail but how to help them. Revelation and wisdom can be two gifts that we have been given.

It is possible that we have revelation without realizing it. We may have had revelation for so many years that we presume it is part of our makeup. Whatever the case use revelation to the best of your ability and at the right time; revelation can change the world we live in.

The Joy of Fall

No matter how lovely summer is there is joy of fall for me.

Actually here in the Pacific Northwest we have the privilege of having all four seasons.

Although we don’t have the luxury of having the sun coming out for a few months other than peaking itself out for a few minutes once in a while.

I love the flowers and the smell of the fresh air. Seeing grass turning green after a hot summer and try summer.

Saturday I was in my favorite coffee shop and a young couple I know came in along with their two very young daughters. The last time I had seen the girls were when they were babies now they talk and do the things they do.

What I really liked was the girls were all smiling and waving at me from the beginning. Of course they don’t remember me from their last visit and probably not this one when we see each other again. They made me feel loved and there is nothing better than that.

I have to say the best thing about fall is love. It feels the part of the season. Of course I know that cloudy days are ahead along with the rain. The last few days haven’t been able to see Mt. Rainier with the clouds being in the way.

I love to close my eyes enjoying the fresh air. It is like going to the ocean except not hearing the waves rush in.

Fall I hope you stick around a while before winter arrives.   

Weather Change

I know that there are some places where the weather doesn’t change much in September however here where I live it does.

The last several years the summer goes longer starting earlier. This year we had hot weather that began in May going through into September. In June we had some spots where it was the normal weather. We used to say here that summer didn’t start until July 4^th.

Until four years ago we never had the temperatures get into the nineties where now at least we have a few days. This year I believe we had six days in the nineties. The rest of the summer we had it in the high eighties.

Now it is September the temperatures have dropped down into the sixties and seventies along with having a little rain. The raining season usually starts in late September or early October.  The little rain we have had has been happening at night or early mornings.

We actually don’t get as much rain as people think we do. Our annual rainfall depending where we live is 35-40 inches annually. What makes us think it rains a lot is that we have a lot of cloudy days plus steady rainfall. We don’t have a lot of downpours though we do on occasion. It is the cloudy days that bother me more than the rain. I really like it when the sun decides to peak out once in a while during the winter.

To say all this we should all look at making changes in our lives as well. Doesn’t have to be big changes because we probably don’t need to but always little changes are good.

I believe rain can symbolize where we can soak things in. Our lives can become dry so at times we need to have rain pour on us. This can be done by asking God to do it and being around family and friends. After a hot summer with rain brings refreshing and we can use that as well. So take your time to be refreshed and let life become renewed this time of the year. Amen!

Determination

 

At the beginning of the year I called this year to be “let’s do it”.

I feel it takes determination to do the things we should sometimes. Living a life of purpose isn’t always easy. In fact it can be difficult although we have been given the tools to do so or it wouldn’t be our life of purpose.

Determination can mean that we have to push through when times get difficult. This would be with our own life or someone else we are mentoring or spending time with.

Determination can mean that we have to help others to push through as well. We have to encourage them in moving forward with change in their lives if that is necessary as well.

Thursday night I went to the small group that I belong in that meets twice a month (I am not the leader by the way). The theme that I may call it was on “grace and faith”. Different people shared how they felt grace and faith worked together. What came up a few times were negative thoughts or words that people speak whether directly to us or not. 

We can listen to television or radio where the news is negative. Of course much of the news is that way however how much of it will we let in on a daily basis. That is something we have to decide on our own.

Deciding to stay away from negative people often can take determination as well. This is especially true if they are family or close friends. Staying away doesn’t have to mean that we stop relationship with them but we can’t let their negative thoughts become our negative thoughts.  

Often conversations we have with others can rub off on us even without realizing it. Advice to would be to think before speaking: not an easy thing to give up we are used to doing so.

Let’s take this time right now to think about determination and how we have in the past work with it or how we want to use it in the present and future. Have yourself a wonderful and blessed weekend.

Enjoy Being Happy

Like so many things in our lives like love, joy, hope, peace and faith to name a few being happy comes down to a choice.

Another thing about being happy comes down to the person. What makes me happy can totally be different than for others.

Situations and circumstances can define when we are happy as well. We can be happy when life seems to be along great but not so much when it is not. So I think we must do is too decide that we will be happy regardless what is going on in our lives. Not an easy task for sure.

Since being happy is a choice than we must decide to do so at the beginning of the day and let it go throughout the day. Again not easy: for example how will you feel when your tire goes flat or your car breaks down on the way to work or even worse on the way home from work. 

I know we all have shared times of sorrow so being happy seems to be out of the way for us when that happens but turning it around being determined to be happy is good.

All In Love

When it comes to our purpose the number one ingredient should be love.

We should love what our purpose is along with loving those who share it with.

Our purpose in life isn’t going to be easy all the time. In fact there will be times that it will be hard. We weren’t given our purpose to make life for us to be easier. Also we must realize what a responsibility and honor given the purpose we have.

I would have to say the toughest time is someone rejects our purpose. We give them advice and they don’t listen at all. It isn’t that we will be always right but rejection is still one of the hardest things in life to deal with. This is especially true when the person we are trying to help we have known for a long time. Important thing to know is not to reject the person in return however there are times when the situation doesn’t work out. Remember to they could return at a later date so always have an open door policy. This is where love really comes in.

Be The Team

When it comes to our purpose we do have to realize we are part of a team whether as leader or mentor.

We are a team when we are a family or even a couple. Not only do we love one another our hearts and our will must be together.

We think the same way and our purpose work together even though we are unique individuals. Our gifts and talents are different in some ways however they can work together. As a team we accomplish things together because two or more are stronger than one by themselves. We encourage one another especially in times of trouble. We are the strongest of the weakest member of the team. 

Every member of the team has a single gift however they can accomplish much. Be a team member no matter how things might look on the outside. It is the inside that is important.

Sadness In The Camp

Every family goes through something that can be shocking well as sad. I heard this news in my family Sunday night. I am not able to give out whom and the details because it should stay private however please pray for my family.

In fact if you can and believe in prayer please pray for every family who reads this blog. I am sure things happen that we have no idea about. When one member of the family hurts we all hurt. (see 1 Corinthians 12:26)

This is why a very good reason for all of us to encourage one another during the good times well as bad times. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Amen!

Surrounded By The Opposition

Friday night I went to the Mariners game at Safeco Field in Seattle to see them play the New York Yankees. I knew there likely were a lot of Yankee fans at the game however I didn’t know how many until one of their batters hit a home run in the second inning when a large applause happened.

This made me think often we are around people that are rooting for the other team as well. What I mean by that they don’t think the same way we do unless you are at church or a political rally. Every day we run into people who we may call as friends or fellow employees but they don’t think the same way we do. They likely come from another upbringing where they never attend church or their political view point is opposite of ours. Also it can be they have a different personality as well. We are all created unique so that means we are all wired differently to. Often we get along because we choose to but doesn’t change that we are surrounded by the opposition. It is all good if we realize that it is OK to be around Yankee fans. LOL.

Another thing is we are all spiritual beings though we may not practice it so much but we are. I am saying this because we have Satan or the Devil or whatever name you want to stamp on him that opposes us and he puts thoughts in our minds that are not really our own. So he is an opposing force that we have to fight against every day. He can use other people to put thoughts in our minds that we are not valued at all. We all have friends but those who are not friends many of them probably don’t care much about us though they may be kind to us. We can see this by how popular we are with others besides those close to us.

What we must do is be friends with those who look like they don’t have friends at all. This will add to our list of friends besides likely the ones we are called out to reach in our purpose. We were destined to meet up with them as well.

Anyway do your very best to treat others kindly though they have an opposing view on things and then go to battle on the thoughts that are in your mind that is contrary to your way of thinking. Let Satan know you won’t accept the thoughts he puts in your mind. So resist him and he will flee away.