Pay attention to what isn't being said

The SOFEI Group has counseled and trained many women who seem to pay more attention to what people tell them (e.g., their significant other or spouse) and not what they show them. Remember the saying Action speaks louder than words. What keeps women clinging onto the words of their loved ones while ignoring their actions? Hope for change, fear, blind love, or their religion?

People normally show us their truth. However, some women second guess their intuition and what’s presented to them. Example, a man’s truth maybe sexual or financial infidelity – the woman’s reality is she’s living or in a relationship with a man who cannot be trusted. A man’s truth maybe, he’s married with children - a woman’s reality that dates him is she’s an adulterer and a person that doesn’t value the sacredness of marriage. Lastly, a man’s truth maybe physical, emotional, or verbal abuse – a woman’s reality is depression, fear; hope for change, low self-esteem or self-worth.

Women have to take charge of their lives and stop allowing their lives to be controlled or manipulated by false statements and be motivated by the true actions of others. Maya Angelou states, When people show you who they are, believe them. And, don’t view their truth through your ‘lens of potential’ because we all have potential, but only action creates change.

Should the Government Accumulate Debt for the Poor?

Deuteronomy 15:11 states, For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

The Israelites were instructed by God to help the poor when they arrived to possess the Promised Land to serve as a reminder of God's gift of freedom after their enslavement in Egypt.

Some believe people that are poor brought it on themselves, and this belief makes it easy to close our hearts and hands towards them. Helping the poor demonstrates our faith in God and our country. Ignoring to care for the poor for any reason forfeits our humanitarian duty to care for our fellow citizens during their greatest time of need.

The battle between Congress and the President on strategies to serve the poor isn’t simply about the rising debt, but the different attitudes towards poverty. Not extending unemployment benefits or decreasing government entitlement programs may decrease the National debt, but it will not prevent the poor from sinking deeper into an oppressive state.

When the hearts of more American citizens become like God’s, we will give more without passing judgment or making excuses. If God can look beyond our faults to meet our needs, we should do the same.

The government shouldn’t accumulate debt to help the poor, but it should build a compassionate approach to handle it.

If You Think...

If you think you can’t accomplish your dreams and aspirations, renew your mind with “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

If you think you’ve been defeated, you are “more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:37)

If you think the world’s system has control over you, remember “greater is He that’s within you, than he that’s in the world.” (I John 4:4)

If you think you’re not loved and no cares for you, “God cares.” (I Peter 5:6-7)

If you think you’ve been cursed and nothing good will ever happen to you, “there is no good thing God will withhold from those who walk upright.” (Psalm 84:11)

If you think your efforts are going in the wrong direction, “the steps of a good [wo]man are ordered by the Lord.” (Psalm 37:23)

If you think your hard work is going unnoticed, “do not grow weary in well doing for in due season you shall reap!” (Galatians 6:9)

If you think your spouse will not surrender his will and life to God, they can become saved by the way we live (I Corinthians 7:13-14).

If you think it's impossible for a loved one’s life to be transformed, “all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

If you think God forgets to bless you when others are being showered with blessings, “God is no respecter of persons.” (Acts 10:34)

If you think your sins can’t be forgiven, confess them to God, because “He is just to forgive us of all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)

If you think you can become saved based on good deeds, “it’s by grace that we are saved, not because of our works.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

If you think you have no purpose to live, God created us for His glory. (Isaiah 43.7)

If you think you’re unattractive, you came from the mind of God and “He fearfully and wonderfully made you”. (Psalm 139:14)

If you think it’s pointless to pursue your dreams or desires, “delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of our heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

If you think your enemies have the upper hand, don’t fret because “God will make your enemies your footstool.” (Psalm 110:1)

If you think everyone is against you because you’re a Christian, “if God is for us He is more than the world is against us.” (Romans 8:31)

If you think your job is drudgery, try completing your tasks “heartily unto the Lord and not unto men.” (Colossians 3:23)

If you think your gift is nothing compared to others, “every good and perfect gift comes from above.” (James 1:17)

If you think your life is headed for a dead end, “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

If you ever feel alone, God will “never leave us nor forsake us!” (Hebrews 13:5)

If your life is in turmoil and without peace, “keep your mind stayed on God and He’ll keep you in perfect peace.” (Isaiah 26:3)

The correlation between the window and the mind

While sitting in traffic one morning, a woman looked and commented about a dirty white car in her passenger lane. To further validate, she rolled her window down and discovered the white car was clean, and her car window was dirty.

This experience is a valuable example about our minds. Our minds can be as clean or dirty as car windows depending on the environment or the number of times the car or windows are cleaned.

Here are a few suggestions to get a clean mind:

• If you're a habitual negative thinker, get real with yourself and discover the root cause(s)
• Separate yourself from negative people and environments - even family members
• Watch what you feed your mind and determine its impact
• Read God’s word and meditate daily
• Become a non-conformist to the trends of the world
• Eat right and exercise to exert negative energy and get proper rest
• Forgive people that have wronged or hurt you and realize their actions could be a result of unhealed wounds or pain
• When a negative thought comes to mind, immediately replace it with a positive one

Finally, Proverbs 23:7a states, For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.The way you think and feel about yourself and others will be reflected in your behavior. A transformed life starts with a transformed mind.

Now's the Time

Now's the time to not dwell on mistakes of the past nor worry about what the future may hold. It's time to live now. Today, Relishing every beautiful moment; making the most of every opportunity to grow and to serve.

Now's the time to quit wishing that things could have been different yesterday, last month, last year. Today is the day to express your best. Today is the day to express love. Today is the day to be free and happy, at peace in mind and body, successful in all you undertake.

Instead of wondering how things can change, instead of wondering where you can begin, realize the time is now!

You're not bound by old thoughts, old fears, or old beliefs that once held you in bondage.

In Christ you can be free. In Christ you can become new. In Christ you can do all things.

You can be a blessing and live joyously. You have the power to change things now. What are you waiting for? Time is ticking.

The Power of The Tongue

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. This idiom has been quoted by many children to indicate name calling or words will never hurt them.

Proverbs 18:21 states, Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. So, words can hurt or empower!

How will you use your use your tongue today? Will you speak life or death into the lives of others? What will you speak into yourself? If you choose death, why bother speaking?

My Sister's Keeper

When my sisters are weak, I become their strength.
When my sisters are blind, I become their eyes so they can see.
When my sisters cannot hear, I become their ears to help them listen.
When my sisters are perplexed, I become their intuition for certainty.
When my sisters are weeping, I become element that wipes their weeping eyes.
When my sisters are sorrowful, I become their laughter.
When my sisters are experiencing pain, I become their healer.
When society puts my sisters down, I lift them up with honor and praise.
When my sisters reveal their human frailties, I become their covering.
When my sister's husbands or male companions approach me for temporary pleasure, I become my sister's compass to lead their loved ones back home.

I’m my sister’s keeper.