Author: Jennifer Mills

Life matters. Your life matters. 

This hour matters. This day matters. 

What you are doing makes a difference. Your commitment to excellence and integrity makes a difference. 

Nothing you do is worthless, yet everything you do can be improved upon. No one you encounter is perfect, yet everyone has something unique to offer. 

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But it’s better, and just as realistic, to be filled with wonder and amazement. 

Live every moment of life as if it matters. And you’ll know without the slightest doubt that it does. 

— Ralph Marston

What does another person‘s mood, tone of voice, negative energy or weird circumstances have to do with my course of action today? Nothing, unless I decide otherwise.
I have learned I don’t have to react just because I have been provoked, and I don’t have to take harsh words to heart. I have to remember responding to situations is like talking to a child who sometimes doesn’t know how to let their feelings out- that some people are in pain and I have to show compassion. I sometimes have to show compassion to myself so I don’t flip out- and then find humor in the day’s ongoing situations…
When I have a compassionate and open mind to adversity, I can get through whatever the day brings in a way that is not a challenge but a way to make it more exciting.

Resentments poison your life.

It’s not necessary to keep reviewing how I’ve been hurt, to assign blame, or determine damages. Resenting people is just a waste of energy.
I may not resolve everything with the person in question – though that might be pleasant if it came to pass. I just want to be rid of the resentment because it prevents me from experiencing joy. 

Today I will try to shift my energy to where it will do some good. I will pray to remove the negative energy and choose to be happy. 

If I am holding a resentment, I can simply ask for relief, for peace of mind in the present moment. I will remind myself that this relief will come in God’s time. Then I can grow, be patient, and wait.

“ No man can think clearly when his fists are clenched” -George Jean Nathan

We all make mistakes. We will learn from those mistakes. Amends can be made for any harm we have done, and we can change our behavior and attitude so that we won’t repeat the same errors. Thus, even painful past experiences can help us learn to create a better future. 
The greatest obstacle to this learning process is shame. Shame is an excuse to hate ourselves today for something we did or didn’t do in the past. There’s no room in the shame filled mind for the fact that we did our best at the time, no room to accept that as human beings we are bound to make mistakes.
If I feel ashamed, I need a reality check because my thinking is probably distorted. Even though it may take great courage, I will interrupt the self-destructive thoughts and make room for more Loving and nurturing point of view.  Shame is a sham. Forgive yourself and move on.

With letting go of the past, I may discover that even my most embarrassing moments can bless my life by teaching me to turn in a more positive direction.
“The ultimate lesson all of us had to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well“ 
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Perhaps the most effective prayer uttered by Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane was “Father, all things are possible onto you. Let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless not my will, but yours be done.”

You achieve an enormous sense of self worth when you realize that you are teamed up with God and doing wonderful work in this world. There is a plan for your life. Nothing can happen with you as long as you think that you are worthless, ineffective, and unworthy. God can only do great things through self confident human beings. You build yourself up to self-confidence when you have pursued your faith, followed your life with integrity, and ask for forgiveness.

The real purpose of your faith is to look at your team and know with God all things are possible.

No matter what has happened in your life, God is there for you. And as hard and as crazy as it may sound, when the walls collapse and the world tumbles in, and when it looks like everything that we’ve loved is lost, that is the time to say “Thank you God!”
As I say this I cringe… “oh that’s too hard to do. You don’t know what I’ve lost! How can I possibly think God? I don’t want to thank him. I want to argue with him. I want to put things back the way they were.”
Of course you want God to repair the damage that is deflating you, disappointing you, discouraging you, or defeating you. You want your job back, you want your money back, you want your loved one back; you want your health back.
This is the most crucial time to say “Thank you God.”

Your faith in believing in what is meant to be, accepting it and moving on is how to make your life the best it can be…that is what life is all about.

When life gives you complications, stresses and brings the unthinkable, that is when your Faith needs to be the strongest. Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem free life. Part of you is wanting the resolution of all difficulties- This is a false hope! Life will bring challenges and this is the time to trust your higher power and time to learn and grow. Embrace whatever the difficulty is as today is another day to make choices that are best for your healing. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that God is your shield from the storm. Refuse to waste energy worrying, and you will have strength to spare. Keep your Faith and you will get through this…to new calm, peaceful, sunny days ahead.

Imagine what you want and with focus and perseverance make it happen.

A possibility thinking person when faced with a new concept is charged with excitement and sees a great opportunity.

Possibility thinkers have trained themselves to look for the positive possibilities in all areas of life. They have learned how to overcome inferiority complexes and live confidently; listen to new ideas and evaluate them carefully; see opportunity, sized them and sees them courageously; welcome challenging problems and solve them creatively; face personal tragedies with equanimity and if possible use them constructively.

Possibility thinkers are people just like you and me but when faced with a mountain they do not quit. They keep on driving until they climb over, find a pass-through, tunnel underneath – or simply stay and turn the mountain into a gold mine.

Today, think about what you want that would change your life and world…. then do something to make it happen.

We have the power to change the world for the better, one interaction at a time…🙌🏻💙🙏

Faith Filled Friday
2020 was a year of challenge and fear. 2021 is the year of HOPE!

THIS IS A TRUE STORY

I went for a walk in this new year on a gravel path and it was a very gray day. There was ice and some frozen snow on the path so I had to watch my step so I wouldn’t fall. I was pondering the past year and all that 2020 brought. I still can’t believe all of the immense changes that occurred with the pandemic, protests, rioting, sickness, deaths, presidential election and so many other things that will never be the same. People made decisions, situations occurred, and there is not much I can do about what happened…life is different. As I walked on that path, I looked ahead and saw a bright red cardinal land on a branch that I was headed towards. I saw that vibrant bird and my gray surroundings didn’t matter. My focus was on this beautiful bird. I saw that brilliant color and also saw hope, courage and peace in that bird.

Last year was like being on that path. As I walk into the new year, The Cardinal is the hope for 2021. 2020 was about facing fears-especially the fear of despair. 2021 is about being alive again and having the courage to face change and accept what has happened and move on. Have intention. It’s about trusting yourself and your faith. It’s about knowing your own beliefs and your own truths that are filled with integrity and light, then taking all of it and focus on them just like that bright Red Cardinal’s brilliance.

FYI a google search says “Cardinals appear when angels are near. Cardinals appear when loved ones are near. To this day, red cardinals are one of the most common spiritual signs that people receive from Heaven. The word cardinal comes from the Latin word cardo that means hinge. It is serving as the hinge on the doorway between Earth and Spirit, delivering messages back and forth.”

#hope2021

You will be a different person by the time your dark days pass. The future will be a better place if you become a better person because of your predicament.
How can adversity change you for the better? Look at who and where you are and where you want to go. Learn. You’ve made mistakes. Every single human has; no person is perfect. Lean on the best counsel you can find. Be genuinely humble. Lift others. All around you today, and in all of your tomorrows, there are human beings who are in bad straits. Turn your scars into stars. Teach others what you’ve learned the hard way.
What you do with your problem is far more important than what your problem does to you.