I Take off the MASK!

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Your past does not define your future. Who you think you are today does not define who you could become. It certainly doesn’t define God’s great plans for you. You are still alive. You can change and dream and move. You can start right now where you are to get to that place where you should be. Let no one deprive you of your hope or your dreams.

“Still a dreamer, yet more of a realist than ever before, I knew this was my time to sail. On the horizon I saw the shining future, as before. The difference now was that I felt the wind at my back. I was ready.”  -Chris Gardner, The Pursuit of Happyness

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Ready to Start Again!

Who are the truly beautiful? Are they the celebrities we see on television? Are they the fashion models that wear the finest clothes? Are they the rich and the famous only?

What about those who are patient and true? What about those who are humble and pure? What about those who, instead of trying to improve their physical looks, spend their resources helping the poor, the sick and the dying?

There is a kind of beauty that lasts, a beauty that penetrates the heart and soul without language, without cost, without pretense. Those who follow the path of goodness are those who are truly beautiful.

“True beauty must come, must be grown, from within…” – Ralph Trine

“Baby steps count, as long as you are going forward. You add them all up, and one day you look back and you’ll be surprised at where you might get to.” – Chris Gardner

You don’t always have to take big leaps in order to secure a great future. Small steps count, especially small steps that we can consistently make everyday. Start today. Never let a day pass without making even a small step forward towards the future you desire. You will get there someday. It all depends on what you do today.

“It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward.” – Old Chinese Proverb

“You see, you closed your eyes. That was the difference. Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too–even when you’re in the dark. Even when you’re falling.”  -Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie

Faith in a person comes from knowing that person well. Because when we know a person that intimately, we learn to trust not only by the things we see or hear but by the things we have known and felt with our hearts. How well do we really know someone? Is it enough to know what’s truly in their hearts even when we cannot understand what they’re saying or doing? Is it enough to give them our trust even when other people would try to convince us otherwise?

There are people we have known our whole lives. They have been with us through good times and bad times. They have seen us at our worst and they have suffered with us during our darkest hours. They are the ones who have sacrificed a lot for us and who would gladly lay down their lives for our sake. For these people, we can gladly give our hearts full of trust.

“But it does not seem that I can trust anyone,’ said Frodo.
Sam looked at him unhappily. ‘It all depends on what you want,’ put in Merry. ‘You can trust us to stick with you through thick and thin–to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours–closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo.”
– J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me… Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip?” – John 14:1,9 (WEB)

“The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” – Psalm 28:7, NIV

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The Importance of Trust in a Relationship
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There are many things that don’t go well in life, things that don’t go according to plan.  What’s amazing is that despite all the hassles, delays and obstacles, life goes on, things change, and circumstances often improve beyond how we imagined they could. 

There is a certain flow in life that is well like the flow of water in a river.  The water often encounters stones or branches along its path, but somehow, the current eventually finds its way and the river continues to flow, blessing creatures along its way, being the source of life that it is.

Today, remember that river when you encounter what seems like hindrances or blocks that frustrate your plans.  Keep the faith and persevere, and you will eventually fulfill your heart’s desires.

“…delight yourself in the LORD,and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4, WEB-BE