Being You

I am sure that I have mentioned it before and I will again multiple times but the most important thing is being you.

Yes everyone should see the real you. If they don’t accept that they don’t deserve you in their life.

Often we care what others think of us and that isn’t right. We need to have confidence in ourselves and we love the person we are.

I am not saying this because I have mastered being myself or loving myself because I haven’t. The important thing is that I continue working on it along with everyone else.

Our family and friends love us for who we are or at least they should anyway. Be you and the world will be the best for it. Amen!

What You Feel

I have been told by experienced writers to write what you feel or doing at the moment.

I believe the same goes when you meet someone and share with them whether it is a good saying or encouragement.

We can all use a good word from someone else. This is especially true when they tell us what a good person we are.

We need to tell the truth when they have been not so good to us as well. They need to know when they have hurt our feelings as well. We don’t have to be unkind just doing the right thing.

So the next time you see someone give them a kind word. You can even go further as well. If the person isn’t much of a friend it is still important to say something kind well as a nice smile. Who knows you might have won over a new friend.

Sunrise

It is nice to see the light is on outside when I get up in the morning.

It is close for the sun to rise soon when waking and we can get on with our lives earlier.

The strangest time is going to bed dark and waking up dark or maybe it is when getting off work it is dark.

Whatever the case I enjoy seeing the sun earlier in the day. I can get on with my purpose sooner.

Having so many rainy days along with clouds it will be nice for warmer weather and the sun. Everyone’s attitude is so much better in spring.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend doing what you are meant to do. Amen!

Encouraging Others

At least in my country, people think because you don’t agree with them that you are judging which can be the farthest from the truth.

Encouraging others doesn’t mean that you agree with them either. Encouraging can be speaking the truth as well.

Encouraging and love go together. Telling others the truth is like telling your child what they are doing is wrong. You tell your child what they are doing wrong because you love them and you don’t want them to go the wrong direction.

So the next time someone says that you are judging them say no, I love you.

The important thing is not to put too much emotion when you are speaking to another. This is when judging does go in. There is not much you can do other than say I love you if they don’t accept what you are saying. Amen!

Talents and Gifting Do Run in Families

Though we get our talents and gifts from God many of them run in our families.

My older brother Dick was brilliant in math. He probably knew more math than most of us would ever know about or even cared for that matter. The world lost a great man and soul when he died at the age of 38. I still miss him a great deal although he has been gone for a long time. Other members of the family have been good at math as well though not at his level. We believe we have a math gene.

Thursday I received a copy of my cousin Jennifer Nightingale’s first novel called Alberta and the Spark. It is about a 13-year-old girl living in the Pacific Northwest during the 1970s along with a close friend Felix. We have had a few other relatives writing as well. Jennifer and I one of our great-great grandfather’s was a writer as well although he didn’t do it as an occupation. He wrote about the history in the area he lived in England.

Jennifer has always loved reading books all of her life like many in my family along with the outdoors. She has written poetry as well so I expect some in this book well as about books and then there is music. I am sure Alberta loves music too.

Her writing is somewhat like mine but I am sure she has her own style. Also, she has a purpose to reach people in a different avenue than I.

So though talent and gifting can be the same within a family the purpose of using it can be different.  I figure that I will learn more about my cousin well as her purpose. If you are interested in buying her book https://www.nestuccaspitpress.com/publications/newest-publications/alberta-spark/.

Like so many in my family, I am sure she will be surprised by her success with this book. I have a family that not only I am proud of but how humble they are as well.

Traveling Man

I look forward to the day where I can do more traveling. I like to go places I haven’t been to before plus returning to some I have been too.

I not only want to see the places for beauty but to see the people as well. Even hang out with people for a while. Give them encouragement while I pass through town.

When that will be I am not sure but it will be a good time I know. I look forward to writing about my experiences as well.

Living a life of purpose is to invest our lives into those around us. Encourage and change lives in the gifts and talents God has given to us.

Our investing doesn’t have to be big. In fact, those we touch should be the ones who feel the impact the most.

We can live our life of purpose in a quiet way by putting others first above our self. It can be an exciting way to live. Amen!

Taking Responsibility

I am sure here in the USA we will hear a lot of promises from the democrats going into the 2020 election.

 Although I am not a fan of President Trump I am less fan of the Democratic Party. What they think about abortion is one reason. Another they have candidates who want to go to socialism. I am sure there are those who live in socialist countries that can give us the negative well as the positive.

There is health care here in the USA that needs help because people can go bankrupt if they sick like with cancer. Should they lose all their savings? On the other hand, should the government pay for all health care? I say no. People do need to pay a reasonable amount of health care that will cover them no matter how ill they become.

There should be other ways to help the needy without causing everyone to take on the responsibility. I don’t know the answers but socialism I believe isn’t.

I believe the rich should help the poor because they can afford it. I am talking about those who are million and billionaires because they have more money than they could ever spend. I know they live a life in a way I will never find.

More we help our neighbors the better we will be. The government isn’t the answer overall. It is my view anyway.

Helping our neighbors includes encouraging one another as well. It is a very important part of living a life of purpose. I hope you agree.

Favorite Animal

We all have a favorite animal in our life. For me, it has been cats only because I have had more of them than a dog. Of course, there are other animals that we feel we like a lot too.

An animal can make us feel really good about ourselves along with being a member of the family. We can go to the zoo as well to see some favorite animals too. I like bears and tigers among my favorites.

I know people that are more attached to animals than they are to fellow human beings. I can understand that to some degree however I think it is sad that we have to love animals more than people.

Enjoy the animals you have but remember to love and care for people to. Use the gifts you have and the animals that you care for and they care for you to help people. I am sure we will be amazed by the outcome.

A Wonderful Weekend

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Those who went to church for Easter I hope your life changed for the better as well.

There are a lot of self-help books out and I am sure they do help to some degree, however, only God can help us change. We have this nature in us that gets in the way a lot of the time. We can see this nature in children that is for sure.

We can be involved in bible studies which are a good thing but without asking God for help and for us to repent a lot of Bible studying will only do so much.

I read the Bible every day both in the Old and New Testament. I ask God to give me new insight into what I am reading. I try not to do it in a manner of studying instead receiving revelation.

Anyway my thoughts and encouragement for today; have yourself a good week as well. Until next time God bless you.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone; this means that Jesus Christ is alive after being crucified. On the third day, his body was not found when they rolled away his tomb.

This is great news because he went to be with his father God and is sitting beside him. Someday he will come again for those who are still alive.

Those who believe in him and are no longer alive will be resurrected in the same way as Christ. Each person will have new bodies plus they will be recognized by all those who knew them.

This is either truth or being crazy. I go for truth because how could this be made up. It takes faith to believe as well. So be someone with faith.  Amen!

All About Love

Whether you believe in God or not or Jesus or not or you have a lot of questions like I and others do it is all about love.

God created the earth because he loved us and thought of us way back then. You look at pictures of you along with your family right after you were born and the love for you on their faces God’s was greater.

We all have questions that we feel need to be answered and someday when we see him face to face he will answer them all. His love though for us when we are face to face with him we may not care about the questions any longer because it will all be about love.

This is something for us all to think about whether right now or at another time. Love is what life is about.

Good Friday

I want to wish everyone a wonderful Good Friday. What made it good was what happened on Sunday but we will get to that.

None of us can really imagine how terrible the death of Jesus Christ was. It was the worst kind of death anyone could ever have. The joy of it all he did it for us. Something we should be thankful for is God’s grace.

Jesus Christ paid for every one of our sins regardless of how big or small. You ask why? He loves us so dearly. You don’t know the fullness of his love you will someday.

Celebrate today for the great love he has for us. Turn the other cheek and love someone today. Amen!

Maundy Thursday

During this Holy Week, this day is called Maundy Thursday. It means commandment in Latin. Jesus spent his last Passover with his disciples which included a meal. This is like communion when you break bread in remembrance of him.

At least here in the United States families don’t eat a meal together as often as they used too. I know in Europe they still do so on a regular basis. Jesus felt strongly that we should eat together as often as possible with family and friends. In the same manner as he still wants to have a relationship with us.

For some going to church is just a religious experience. The rest of the time they have no thoughts of Christ or God but he wants that to change. He wants to fellowship and a meal with us on a regular basis. So come together as often as possible to remember him well as spending time with family. Amen!

This Is The Time

As Christians continue to celebrate Holy Week we know Jesus knew this was the time that his purpose was being fulfilled. He knew he was going to the cross to die for all mankind along with being risen in three days as well.

I know too we have all situations where we knew it was the time and we didn’t always follow through. We still have regrets because we didn’t do what we knew we should have done.

The most likely reason we didn’t go through it at the time because of fear or another word we were chicken. Whatever the reason we should do whatever it is when the time comes.

Maybe it wouldn’t be like we thought it should be but on the other hand better to find out for sure. Our lives change depending on what we decide at any given moment. Let’s make today the time.

Be Victorious

One of the steps of living a life of purpose is being victorious. It doesn’t mean we are perfect and we will have some losses along the way. In fact, we overcome the losses along the way.

Everyone has battles along the way too. Being victorious goes with faith, love, hope, and peace; at the end is crossing the finish line with a big smile.

Others will see the victories that come along in your life. It will give them the steps to follow as well. They will realize that they were created for a life of purpose too. Amen!

Discover Yourself

This week in Christianity the church calls it “Holy Week”. I think it would be a good time for us all to take at least a few minutes to meditate each day to discover more about ourselves. We could end up being surprised.

Discovering more about us can lead to knowing what our purpose and destiny are too. Holy week is supposed to be where we deny ourselves in the same manner that Christ did. He knew exactly the reason he was here on earth.

Denying along with our purpose is what everything should be like when it comes to our life. Our purpose is supposed to help others in whatever manner we are here. Whether we are famous or an average person we are here to benefit others. Amen!   

A Family Affair

                               
                                                              Finn and Seamus

Though we were created for a unique purpose and destiny our gifts and talents usually are a family affair.

My cousin Susan her grandsons Finn and Seamus participated in a poetry contest this week. Finn won gold in his age group while Seamus finished second. Their dad Robin, Susan’s son and David the grandfather both have participated in poetry contests as well; so the talent and gifting in the area of poetry for the family.

It is so important to pass down the gifts and talents you have to your children and grandchildren. It helps them develop and find their purpose.

Meeting People

I have mentioned a number of times I enjoy meeting people. You could say it is part of my purpose.

I enjoy finding out where new people are from and what their story is about. I meet most of these people at the coffee shop or the grocery store.

Most of these people are either new to the area or they have been here for a number of years. When they find out that I have lived here most of my life they say “things have changed haven’t they?” The answer is yes for sure.

I look forward to meeting even more people especially in the future traveling I hope anyway. How much travel will depend on my health?

I just had a thought in my mind. Though I write about life purpose I am not sure whether I have ever asked anyone what they feel their purpose is. Actually in ministry when giving them what I feel is their purpose they will respond whether feel right about it but I haven’t outside of ministry. I feel now it is the right time to do so. This should give even more of their story.

Until next time enjoy your weekend and what you are doing with your purpose. Amen!

Inspiration

                                                      Willie Mays my boyhood hero

We all have had someone we admired that helped in a way to inspire us to be who we are today. We had a teacher or a mentor that we wanted to be like. Also, this goes for an athlete, or an actor, or whatever field we enjoy. Someone who had similar talents we have.

I grew up a baseball fan along with football and basketball. My favorite baseball player was Willie Mays. He played baseball in a manner that made it look easy. He played center field in a manner where he could run down any fly ball. Also, he hit a lot of home runs.

Living in the Seattle area I had the privilege of watching Ken Griffey, Jr for ten years in a Mariner uniform who had many of the same qualities as Willie Mays.

We have to remember that no one is perfect which includes those who we inspire to be like. In fact, they may have disappointed us by their actions in some manner too. It doesn’t take away what they did that inspired us to be like them. We should look at the qualities that inspired us in the first place.

Though it is important to be me it is good that I learned and wanted to be like different people. I hope I am doing the same for others too. Amen!

Are You Excited

I figure this is a question we all should ask ourselves whether we are excited in living out our life of purpose. We really should be.

I am not saying that living our life of purpose is easy because it isn’t most of the time. We can have self-doubt at times for sure. I certainly know I do. It takes faith to be able to live our life in the right way.

I do hope that I am making in a difference in others’ lives even when I don’t see the results.  Often others see what we are doing from a distance. This is where we are most effective is living a life that others look at from afar. They may never tell us but how their lives change gives us a good idea.

Humble Heart

When it comes to our life whether it has to do with our purpose or leadership is to have a humble heart.

We will accomplish a lot with a humble heart. This means we will put other people ahead of ourselves.

When it comes to leading the best leaders are those who have humble hearts. In the same way, they put those under their lead ahead of themselves.

A humble heart means that you think of the team ahead of yourself. Whether it has to do with purpose or leadership, in the end, it has to do with a team or a group in whole.

If we struggle with having a humble heart we need to change. We will be successful when we have a humble heart. We don’t get a humble heart to become successful it is the by-product by doing so.

I try to have a humble heart because I know that I don’t know everything. I believe that a humble heart will bring wisdom as well. We will be better people with a humble heart. Let’s have a world with a lot of people with humble hearts. Amen!

Fun Time

I do have to remind you though living a life of purpose is serious business it is still important to have fun. In fact, when you are really doing your life purpose it should be fun most of the time.

This doesn’t mean that you don’t stop being serious when those you are helping with have issues to deal with.

Whether you are encouraging others or mentoring in some way solving issues is the most important thing in the long run.

On Sunday at church the ministry team I worked with we spoke and minister to a lady new to the church. She has had Parkinson’s disease for over a decade. She felt areas in her life were causing the disease in part. She like many people have questions about spiritual matters so we dealt with what level she could understand. We hope she is able to cope with the disease and other things better going forward.

When it came to her life purpose I felt strongly that love is in the middle of all she is supposed to do. Also, she enjoys working and creating things; sounded like it was true for her.

Besides posting about life purpose if you would like to send me an email to my personal account herbnightingale@gmail.com and I will let you know what I believe might be your life purpose and destiny. It may not the full purpose but in partial. Whatever I am feeling at the time; another word for purpose and destiny is God’s original design.

Thank you again for reading here and I hope your life is changing in a wonderful way.

Battle Within

This is the last week of lent before next week is Holy Week. I find in my heart there is a battle within and this is a good time to reflect. Not only to reflect but to do something about it.

The battle is spiritual. We don’t fight against flesh and blood. The enemy of our soul doesn’t want us to live out our life purpose. He distracts us as often as he can and puts doubt in our minds.

We have had circumstances in our lives the enemy has used to get us sidetracked from our purpose and destiny. This is a good time to repent and turn back to God.

Let this week and the weeks ahead be special and new becoming the soldiers of our purpose of destiny. Amen! 

What Is Life Purpose?

Since I write about life purpose I am sure there are those who wonder what I mean by life purpose. There are others who write about life purpose beyond me because all you have to do is a search and enter life purpose.

What I mean by life purpose if you have wondered before. Well God created us all for a purpose. He has given us gifts and talents to help us along the way. The important thing to know what God’s purpose is for your life. It can take some time and you will make mistakes along the way which is OK by the way.

I expect there are different areas for your life purpose as well. For example, your family is an important part of your purpose. This is whether you are a child, parent, or grandparent. Also, your job is a part of your life purpose as well.

Family and job may not be the only parts of your purpose though they likely will take up a good part of the time. You belong to a health club, a charity, or church than they make up another part of your purpose. The same goes for your friends.  You may have different talents and gifts to be used in each of the purposes you have. Remember too that your personality fits in with your purpose as well.

How much time you are involved in each area is important too. Since family and work are at the top of the list they need to take up the most time as well. What I mean by this is that you can’t neglect either family or work to go after other purposes. All the other purposes need to be prioritized. Also, you need to have the support of your family as well. In fact, your family can be part of your other purposes. Actually, they should be. Oh yes, don’t forget to take time out for yourself once in a while as well. Sort of like a vacation. Alright!

Continuing On

In my last writing, I mentioned it may take a while to realize our purpose but we should still continue on.

The most important thing in my book anyway is for us to have a good time with it. The main reason we were created with a purpose is to enjoy it along with why we are here.

Others will see our purpose more fully when they see how much enjoyment we are getting out of it. Also, we should not push our purpose on others either. Often those who are zealous go too far so people think they are a bit nuts which is probably true.

The most important thing for us all is to be true to ourselves. It will be amazing where we can go. Alright!!

Taking Our Steps

The first thing for us to know is our purpose than we have to figure out what we do with our purpose.

Although I do know my purpose, for the most part, I am still working all things out. Actually it could be a lifetime doing so.

I believe another step beside us knowing our purpose is that others recognize our purpose as well. The reason it sometimes can take a while for us to get totally into our purpose.

There are areas that I am still working on but they won’t happen until others not only recognize them but ask me to come on board whether it is a business, a non-profit organization, or a church. 

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try because we do need to use our gifts and talents to reach our full purpose. Although I am writing here the full reason for my doing so may still be some time ahead. Only time will actually tell. In the meantime, I will continue here doing so. Even when I go further I still plan to continue writing here. There is nothing like the beginning to make the craft the best.

Also, I want to encourage you all to become the best person you can be. I am sure each day you are getting better. Amen!  

Getting Around Town

I really enjoy living in a small town like Gig Harbor because you see a lot of the same people all the time whether at the coffee shop, grocery store, or pharmacy. This goes for out walking as well.

What is even more special is when I run into someone from my past once in a while.  Sometimes I hear someone yelling my name then we stop for a conversation for a few minutes depending on how much time each of us has. Yesterday I had that experience with a woman I knew in school. She had some questions on the apartment where I live because she is thinking of moving in. When we departed she said I hope I move in next to you. I am not sure the odds of that but it is a good thought and it would be nice to see her more often although I don’t see those others living nearby that often.

When she left I felt like she made my day at least and I hope she felt the same way as well. This is what our purpose in life is all about making others feel good about themselves even if it is for only a moment. We can all use someone who helps us forget our troubles for a little while or make life so much better. I figure whatever our life is like right now it can always be better don’t you think?

So wherever you go today your purpose can just be saying hello with a smile. We can make a change in someone’s life by being there for them even for a moment. Amen!

Love Yourself

The hardest thing in life I feel is loving yourself. At least that is how I feel anyway.

We are often the hardest critic when it comes to us early on in life others seem to criticize us extremely well. We have classmates who will make fun of us and this doesn’t count our siblings than parents often put expectations on us we feel we can’t meet. Actually the last one parent expectations I didn’t have to deal with. Actually classmates were the hardest. I have forgiven them though not easy to forget at the same time.

I feel our purpose in life is to help others it isn’t a bad idea to help ourselves first. We can actually benefit others by loving us.

The greatest thing about our life experiences is we can help those who have gone through similar experiences. This doesn’t matter whether they are young or old. So take everything you have experience and use it to help those who are struggling through the same thing now. You not only help them you will probably help yourself too. Amen!

Open the Door

For us to get things done we have to take the first step by opening the door and walk right in.

Sometimes it does take time for us to get our purpose underway. This blog took me a few weeks before I actually started it. I knew I should write the blog but wasn’t sure when to start. We just have to do it and see where things go. This goes for adding on to our purpose as well.

We may be walking out our purpose but there can be more doors to go through for us. Likely we have a number of purposes in our lives than just one or two. It takes us to discover and take chances as well. We won’t know until we risk it.

I know I am looking forward to other purposes as well. I am working on the ones I have right now but there are more things to see on my path. I look forward to sharing them when they come up. 

A Family Letter

I feel every time I write here it is like sending a family letter. I hope you feel the same way.

Even though we may have never met in person we are family. I hope we do meet at some point in this life whether at my place or yours.

Living a life of purpose keeps us on focus to the reason we are here in the first place. We were created for a purpose beyond ourselves. We are here for the purpose of others. For each of us the purpose is different. The importance is for us to discover the purpose to the fullest and act on it the best we can.

I am sure you feel the same way as I do this is enjoying a family letter every time. Amen!