Always say I love you...

In reflecting about Danielle, I realized that Danielle never got off the phone without saying she loved you. Ask around or if you knew her you could tell me AMEN! I used to be annoyed that she would do that because I felt it became insignificant if you used it too much. She always said it and if I didn't say it back she'd correct me swiftly. I learned to always say I love you to people that way too. You never know when it will be the last time you get to say it.

Joel Osteen gave a very significant preaching last week about Enjoying the Journey. People are making a living but not making a life. We need to invest time with our children and family. Lack of investment in family can make you a very lonely person.

Take this advice from me, if need be, say no to opportunities at work if it means less time with your children, take walks with them, always have dinner together, go to their ballgames, go to their plays and all their recitals even if you're busy.

Your children are only little once, enjoy them while they still want to hang around with you because there will come a day when they are grown and gone out of the house when that annoying call for Mommy or Daddy will be greatly missed. Slow down and enjoy the journey.

Forgive Past Hurts...are you kidding me?

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 5:31-32 (KJV)

This verse means so much to me. During the loss of Danielle, it was very difficult for me to see anything else but hurt until I realized that with forgiveness and without anger I felt so much better. Did you know that unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment block the flow of God's blessings for your life? Holding on to the hurts of your past can poison your present and limit your future. But when you let go of these emotional wounds, you open the door to the life of victory that God has planned for you!

So trade your sorrow for His joy. Trade your shame for His peace. Trade your insecurities for His love and mercy. We are not defined by our past. We are defined by God's Word and His plan for our lives.

I did so I know you can...If you've never read Total Forgiveness by R.T. Kendall, please do it. I read this book last week and it changed me forever. I thought I had already forgiven but I had no clue of TOTAL forgiveness until I read this book. It will be the best thing you ever did!