Stop it!

http://youtu.be/Ow0lr63y4Mw

Sharing builds trust... by Maribeth Jordan

I once had a raccoon come up to the bird feeder at night and eat what dropped on the ground... Every night like clockwork she would be there. I started to throw some food out for her - she would watch me, hesitate and then sneak to go eat it. Soon it became a habit for her to come sit by the bird feeder and wait for me to throw some food. This continued on for about a month....  one night I was so engrossed in a movie I forgot about her.... well she didn't forget about me because to my surprise she was at the glass door standing on her hind legs peering in through the window to see if I was there....:) It got to the point where I could go outside and she would stand right by my feet and take food from my hand.

One night it stopped - no raccoon.  Over the next couple of nights it was the same thing....nights turned into weeks and before I knew it a month had passed and she was simply gone. I couldn't imagine what had happened to her. It was sad and I felt like I had lost a little friend.

One evening my husband and I were grilling steaks out on the back patio and coming up from the back hill was the raccoon and five little ones following her! I was so excited I ran in the house and grabbed a box of peanut butter Captain Crunch to give her and her little ones. Needless to say they loved the cereal and were so excited they were running all around our feet and trying to come into the house form the sliding glass door... they were eating out of our hands and the mama was just sitting back watching this all happen.

There is a point to this story... it is amazing what time in building trust can do. This scared female raccoon who once snook up to the feeder was now bringing her babies for us to feed! I think as humans we think to much.... we let our emotions get in the way of peace, joy and happiness. We want it NOW... sometimes in life it takes time for things to change - circumstances, feelings, trust and so forth. We can learn alot from this raccoon. She proceeded with caution and the good was building in time. With time she got closer and closer.... I kept on feeding her and she kept coming back because it was good for her. We can compare this to how we treat other people. If we have burnt a bridge we can build that bridge back by doing small things that would build trust... being persistent like the raccoon or being faithful to give like me... whether your situation is the "raccoon" or "me"( the persister or the giver) it does take effort and willingness... each one has to be faithful in their part not worrying about the other.... if you know you have been doing/acting right then just wait... lots of little surprises may be just around the corner for you to!

Remember this... sharing builds trust.

Starving for... by Maribeth Jordan

I know this picture is disturbing but it is supposed to be... it shows just how selfish and blind we have become to those in need. If this picture doesn't bother you then I would say your heart has turned cold. The sad part about this message is most will read it, feel bad but do little or nothing to change it because it's "not my problem". Let me say one thing here - we are called to love one another no matter where they are.

I did something yesterday that I was very ashamed of. While driving out of a parking lot I saw a homeless man with a large sack over his back trying to get the attention of a few drivers heading out towards the main road - I was one of those drivers and kept on driving. The excuses started pouring into my mind justifying my actions... "he looked bad, unhealthy, what if he was unsafe" and "I am on a tight schedule today I didn't have time". SO WHAT -would it have hurt for me to stop, roll down my window and see what he wanted? I then knew my selfishness failed a test from God and I immediately asked for forgiveness and began to pray for this man - that was the very least I could do and perhaps the best.

I understand not everyone can financially give to help those less fortunate but we all have the ability to pray for others. Pray prompts the Lord into action... you may not see the action but his promise is to answer prayer. Seek and ye shall find (that's a decision) knock and the door will be opened (that's an action). We have to decide first and then take action.

The best index to a person's character is how he treats people who can't do him any good, and how he treats people who can't fight back.

A New Year a "good" Beginning... by Maribeth Jordan

January 1 a New Year? Why not May, October or December? Because that's just the way it is and has always been... I overheard this conversation between an adult and a child. Well I'm sure you can guess which one asked the question. A good question it was and a weak response at best. The child brings up a good point - why not any other time for a "New" year. New beginning's are everyday you open your eyes and take another breath. Your thoughts then actions determine your beginnings and ends. Every day your gifted is another chance to choose.

Instead of a wishing you a Happy New Year I thought I would share some wise direction from Proverbs...
There are six things which the Lord hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.

These words are said to be a guide for us. If we don't do any of these things how would our life be? GOOD! No good can come from bad behavior and no bad can come from good behavior. If you want something good in your life you have to be good in the first place.

So would it now be appropriate to wish you all a GOOD New Year instead of a Happy one? Yes I think so because with the good you will be happy.

Have a "good" New Year my friends...

Maribeth

The fire that burns... by Maribeth Jordan

It is a shame to see some people wrapped up in bitterness and resentment. You can typically see these emotions on ones face and if not, it will soon appear. These emotions are like acid... slowly eating away at your body, mind and soul. Many emotions and illnesses stem from bitterness and resentment. Depression, anxiety, anger/hostility, drug/alcohol addiction, etc... IBS, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, flare ups of many viruses and several cancers.

Why do people create this living hell for themselves? I believe it is an inability to let go and accept. I also believe it is a form of control (or lack of control in the mind). You cannot be bitter and grow spiritually, emotionally or mentally. If you are one suffering from these feelings I would ask you what exactly are you wanting? Can you change that? Many situations cannot be changed because either the offender has passed away or hurt another person so badly they suffer scars either physically or emotionally. If a situation cannot be changed you still can be cut free from these entangling feelings by accepting your situation.

If a person has passed that you are bitter with I recommend you visiting the grave site.... simply have your time to talk without interruption. If the person is alive and you simply cannot face that person then ask yourself if it is worth stewing over if he/she is not in your life... if they are a part of your life/family and he/she is unavoidable and you are the one who holds the bitterness and resentment then you my friend have to pick yourself up by your boot straps and face the giant... whether it's your fault or not. The only way to put a fire out is to address it or it will burn until it' finished and die out - a slow death.

To address a situation that you feel is not your fault is not weak as many may think - it is in fact the strong one who approaches. To be bitter and full of resentment is allowing another person and or a situation to control your mind... you are simply giving your power and strength away.

There is NO situation worth these emotions - NONE, whether it be murder, rape, divorce, etc... Yield to the attitudes we are commanded to have. Love, kindness, patience towards one another. We are to forgive 70x7 and that simply means there is no limit. Think of it this way, if someone has hurt you so badly how sad for that person that they had to be this way... you can NOT be a happy person and hurt another no matter what. To hurt another person is selfish and selfishness is simply fear. Remember hurt people hurt people... it is as simple as that. Stop hurting yourself and forgive that person who hurt you simply because we are commanded to do so and because we are forgiven of all of our sins - great and small. Letting go is not forgetting, it is freeing yourself to blossom into the beautiful flower.. and beautiful flowers bring joy to others!

Just when you think your problems are big.... by Maribeth Jordan

I had a customer come into my store last Sunday looking for a supplement to help his wife's hot flashes. As I walked him to the location of where they were he proceeded to tell me his wife has stage 4 breast cancer so he didn't want the supplement to aggravate that any further. I noticed he was very distraught (understandably so) and found him something that would work naturally for her without aggravating the estrogen levels and the cancer. He got a phone call while looking at the item so I left him alone and continued on with my work. After a few minutes past I heard his voice thanking me from down the aisle and heading towards the door. I asked him if the supplement I choose for him would work and he said his wife wanted to check with her doctor because she was afraid to take anything at this point. I asked how she was doing and my customer said "Vicki is not doing so well, after removing 18 lymph nodes and chemotherapy the cancer has come back and at this point there is nothing left anyone can do". He started to cry....

He then proceeded to tell me right before her diagnoses he lost his job and they did not have health insurance so this cancer has done more damage financially, emotionally and mentally then he could ever imagine.... the bank wants their house back. I asked for his name since he told me his wife's name... Robert, he said. Robert told me he has been married to Vicki for 30 years and that she was his best friend. He told me in 30 years he had never lied to her and when the sheriffs dept came to his house to serve him his eviction papers from the bank he didn't have the heart to tell her why. Vicki asked why the sheriffs dept was at their house and he told her it was for a neighborhood watch.... he told me that lie is eating him up inside and he just couldn't tell her they are losing their home while she is dying.

Robert said he could care less about the house, it was Vicki he was concerned with... he said, "I don't know what I'm going to do without her". As tears continued to fall from his eyes I felt his pain, fear, and isolation... he continues to tell me his mother died two months earlier and his father nine months earlier from that. This man has lost two parents and is in the process of losing his wife and home all in one year - ugghhhh.

After talking for a while longer I asked Robert to come back soon and let me know how things are. I told him I would (and am still doing) pray for both of them. After he left I was so overwhelmed with emotion I stepped off the floor to "breath".

I have heard all sorts of "problems" from my customers about this holiday season...I myself have complained about some things, but after listening to Robert it makes all of life's trivial matters worthless. There is always someone else with much worse circumstances. We must be thankful for what we have and give to those who don't have... that being time or resources. Let's face it, we will all cross the bridge of "circumstances". Many of us are on that bridge and many will never make it across. Start building a solid bridge now so that when your time comes the foundation on which you stand will be firm.

All the money in the world couldn't save Steve Jobs and it won't save Vicki... The trials we face may differ but because they are personal to each one of us they are painful and you cannot buy strength or peace... just remember they are a gift from the Lord - but only for those who know Him. The verse I gave Robert was Romans 8:28. You may think your strong now but just want until the storm hits - will you be ready?

Please pray for this couple - Robert and Vicki

Stone Soup

Many years ago three soldiers, hungry and weary of battle, came upon a small village. The villagers, suffering a meager harvest and the many years of war, quickly hid what little they had to eat and met the three at the village square, wringing their hands and bemoaning the lack of anything to eat.

The soldiers spoke quietly among themselves and the first soldier then turned to the village elders. "Your tired fields have left you nothing to share, so we will share what little we have: the secret of how to make soup from stones."

Naturally the villagers were intrigued and soon a fire was put to the town's greatest kettle as the soldiers dropped in three smooth stones. "Now this will be a fine soup", said the second soldier; "but a pinch of salt and some parsley would make it wonderful!" Up jumped a villager, crying "What luck! I've just remembered where some's been left!" And off she ran, returning with an apronful of parsley and a turnip. As the kettle boiled on, the memory of the village improved: soon barley, carrots, beef and cream had found their way into the great pot, and a cask of wine was rolled into the square as all sat down to feast.

They ate and danced and sang well into the night, refreshed by the feast and their new-found friends. In the morning the three soldiers awoke to find the entire village standing before them. At their feet lay a satchel of the village's best breads and cheese. "You have given us the greatest of gifts: the secret of how to make soup from stones", said an elder, "and we shall never forget." The third soldier turned to the crowd, and said: "There is no secret, but this is certain: it is only by sharing that we may make a feast". And off the soldiers wandered, down the road.