Beauty Tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anybody.

Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years -only grows!

written by Sam Levenson

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” … And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 2:18, 22-24

Twelve Good Thoughts

1. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

2. Love is when you take away the feeling, the passion, and the romance in a relationship and find out that you still care for that person.

3. When the door of happiness closes, another opens but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

4. The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

5. It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

6. There are things you'd love to hear that you would never hear from the person who you would like to hear from, but don't be so deaf as not to hear it from the one who says it from their heart.

7. Don't go for looks, they can deceive. Don't go for wealth, in the end it fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.

8. Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

9. A careless word may kindle strife, a cruel word may wreck a life, a timely word may level stress, a loving word may heal and bless.

10. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

11. Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.

12. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

 "For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And He gave them right standing with Himself, and He promised them His glory. 

 Romans 8:29-32

Living a Passionate, Inspired Life

As a teacher or a leader or any kind, it is necessary for you to be able to reach the people you are responsible for in a way that ignites a fire in them.  Some people have this ability innately.  They can't really tell you what they do that is any different from the next leader, but they know that it works. Others learn how to do it by watching friends or colleagues and practicing very hard.  What is it that they have or what do they do that makes them so successful?  Let's take a closer look...

The first trait you will find in these leaders is passion.  Passion isn't something that you have and hold on to.  Passion is something that flows through you.  When you know in your heart that what you are doing is exactly what you're on this earth to do- no doubts, no questions, this is it- then you have found your passion.  This is not to say that you are not afraid, for when you step into your passion, in many cases the work in front of you is overwhelming.  You may not have any idea how you're going to climb that mountain, but you know that you must!

The second trait you will see is inspiration.  Inspiration is what happens when we have found our purpose, when we are "in-spirit."  When we are living our lives passionately, we find inspiration in most everything that we do.  It is impossible not to do so.  We are intended to listen to that still, small voice within us that will tell us, unequivocally, that what we are doing is right or wrong for us.  Inspiration and passion create courage to face the challenges and the unknown. 

So the third trait you will see is courage.  You see, each of these traits builds on the other.  When you are living a passionate, inspired life, you won't have to look far for the courage to do what you've determined you must do.  You know, you have faith, that you are taking the correct steps, that you're on the right path for your own purpose.  You are committed, with every fiber of your being, to your that goal.

The fourth trait is commitment.  A passionate, inspired life will lead you to a commitment to do whatever it takes to follow your dream.  You won't allow anything or anyone to deter you from your mission.  It's not just your head telling you to do this thing, your heart won't allow you to do anything less.  You'll be able to set your priorities and reach your goals.  When you fall short, as we all do on occasion, you'll allow yourself the grace to accept that failure knowing there is no stopping.

The fifth trait is grace.  When you hit those roadblocks, grace will show you a new way.  Innovation and creativity will become second nature to you.  After all, failure is not an option.  You've just learned another way NOT to get where you want to go.  You move on, ready for new challenges knowing that you will meet them and succeed.

Finally, when you are living a passionate, inspired life you will generate integrity and trust.  Because you are living your dream, there is no need for deceit and greed.  Your courage will allow you to remain true to yourself in ways you didn't even know you were capable of.  Your lesser self no longer exists.  You have banished it to the past.  You have reached a new plain of enlightenment, never to return to a world of lack and of not being all that you were intended to be.

Being a leader is living a life of passion and then lighting that spark in others around you, simply because you show by example.  Your friends and family see how happy and content you are and they want the same for themselves.  They follow your lead.  Remember, Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  Let it begin with you!

Commitment

Commitment:  an agreement or pledge to do something in the future; something pledged; the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled. These are some of the definitions of  the word commitment according to Merriam Webster's dictionary.  While there are those who believe that I should be 'commited' (that is a whole other post that I will write later), I am talking about the act of committing-to something or to someone.  When you are committed you promise to do something, to be faithful to something or someone, to fulfill an obligation. All of us commit to something every day; maybe it's your job or your marriage or your church.  

Yesterday I watched my nephew play in his last basketball game of the season.  This is not the first time I have watched him play, nor will it be the last.  He is committed to basketball.  Not only does he play during the school year, he plays during the summer months as well in a city league with games every weekend and practice at least once every day.  That does not count the extra work that he does at home and in the weight room.  He is committed.  

Then there are my friends.  Many of them are celebrating their thirty-fifth wedding anniversaries (or close to it).  They found each other in high school and they have remained committed to each other all this time.  What an accomplishment, especially in today's 'throw-away' world!  They are committed.

I have a wonderful lady who has just started taking piano lessons from me.  She is my age and has started lessons several times before, over the years, but life always seemed to get in the way.  She has decided that this will be the time.  She is passionate about learning not only how to play but to play well this time.  She is committed.

As I was thinking about this, this morning, I began to wonder about the difference between being committed and being unwaveringly committed.  I am including an article by Lori Hamann on the Faith page of Simply Faith.  Please take a minute to read through it, but as I was contemplating the difference between being committed and being unwaveringly committed, I began to try to remember the times in my life when I have been 'unwaveringly committed' to something.  What am I 'unwaveringly committed' to today?  Sometimes there are unpleasant consequences for being committed to something at this level.  

There is the very real possibility that those closest to you will not understand and may even ridicule you for your choice.  It may mean, like my nephew and my piano student, that extra time and effort is required.  There may be monetary challenges.  As in the case of my friends, it may mean compromise and understanding with love and God being the center of their unions.  

But to be unwaveringly committed to something that you know is right for you, is to feel the hand of God touching and guiding your every step.  There is no feeling like it as you become empowered beyond your wildest imagination.  You trust, you know, you understand that there are no other options for you but this one.  You understand that there are going to be challenges but you are prepared to face them knowing that whatever comes your way, you will face and persevere. 

So, I ask you this morning to consider what it is that you are unwaveringly committed to today?  Is there anything?  If so, what is it and what, exactly, are you willing to do or not do for it?  If you can't think of anything, why not?  Remember that still, small voice I talked about a few days ago?  Maybe it's too still and too small.  Maybe it's time to 'tune in' and listen to what it's telling you.  We all have something that God put in us to be passionate about.  What is yours?