--Let Go and Let God--

The story about Jonah and the whale is a perfect example of releasing and cutting people out of your life. In the story a huge storm came and the men on the ship knew that is was cause Jonah was aboard the boat. Now the men didn't want to throw him over but they knew it was a must to calm the storm. The thing was, it was also a must for Jonah cause little did he know that God had a plan for him already. See God had a whale ready to swallow him cause it was the only way he would listen.

The point I'm trying to make is that there will be people in your life that you MUST cut out not only for your sake but for theirs also. You must trust that God will take care of them beyond you. Trust that He has a plan ready for them just like He does for you. So many times it's not people holding us back but it's us not letting go. Sometimes letting go is the only way for you AND others to move foward!!!

--Confidence--

The lack of self-confidence combined with insecurities can not only kill you on the inside but what it can do is push those who love you away. Since you don't love yourself, you can't understand how anyone could love what you see. What I've learned is that those who truely love us see past our imperfections. The key is to see ourselves in the same way of those who love us or better yet, to see ourselves the way GOD sees us. He is Creator of all, which includes us. All His creation is a work of art and luckily we fall into that catagory of beauty!

--The Real Thing--

An officer who worked at the U.S. Treasurey was asked how he detected a counterfiet dollar bill from the real ones. His answer was quite simple. He said that they are trained so many hours a day handling the real thing, so when it comes to a fake dollar bill, it's quite easy to detect.

The same goes with the voice of God, many times we can't decern if its His voice speaking to us or not. I hear it so often asked, How do you know what Gods voice sounds like? The only way I can explain it to you is the same way they detect a counterfiet dollar bill. The one way you can decern Gods voice from a fake is to spend time with Him. We must get a "feel for the real". The more time you spend in prayer, the more you begin to hear what He says and how He says it.

God speaks to each of us in different ways but just like a close friend or brother, when they speak, you just know it. The same goes with God, when He speaks, you'll just know it! Build that relationship with Him, it's vital!!!

--Keep Growing--

One of lifes most ultimate disasters that can befall upon us is that we would feel that we have arrived. That we have achieved all our goals and we have made it to the top. The moment you have this feeling, growth ceases! It's fine to achieve your goals in life but the moment you do, you better have a lot more to shoot for. NEVER STOP GROWING!!!

--Opportunities--

When we pray and ask God for something and don't get it in the way we want, we tend to be shocked. We also tend to think that God's not listening to us or being mean. But this is what i've learned, when we pray for wisdom, God doesn't just give us the wisdom but opportunities to be wise. When we ask for courage, He'll give us opportunities to be courageous.

God wants you to put what He's given you into practice. What good is it if we store away all our gifts and potential? Some of us just need that little push that God is so willing to give us and many times we don't even realize it.

So question; What Are You Doing With Your Opportunities???