bitter or better

 

well my dear ones,

 

 

A few days ago, a man came in to

check out our Tai Chi class

with a thought toward joining.

 

I’ll call him Marvin,

mostly because that’s his name. =>

 

I spoke with him for a few minutes after class

and found he did a couple of tours overseas,

suffered a traumatic brain injury,

and then had a stroke

so that he now has to walk with a cane.

 

One might expect him to be a little bitter

about the hand he’s been dealt,

but actually, he’s quite the opposite;

on the bitter or better thing,

he chose better.

He’s all,

“Praise God; I’m still alive,

 still walking, and I’m going

 to get better.”

 

I’ve done enough martial arts

for a long enough time to know

that our mental state has

a direct effect on our physical state.

With an excellent attitude like he has,

I’m sure he will get better.

 

As for the rest of us,

it’s our choice,

but whenever we choose “better,”

choose to focus on the positive

no matter what our situation,

our lives will improve.

 

Have a great week! =)

 

grace, peace, and love to you,

dave

the pinnacle

 

 

well my dear ones,

 

 

I hope you have been having

a great Valentine’s Day so far.

Now, if you will, let me add to it.

 

So, what do you think

is the pinnacle of all creation?

The sun?  The moon?  The stars?

Actually, it’s you; it’s me; it’s us.

 

“For we are God’s masterpiece.

 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,

 so we can do the good things

 he planned for us long ago.”

   --- Ephesians 2:10

 

There’s only one thing in the universe

created in the image of God,

and that would be us.

Not even angels can make that claim.

Pretty cool, yes?

 

Do you ever get down on yourself?

Think you’re not all you can be?

 

Then take a look in the mirror

and consider this:

You are the pinnacle of creation,

God’s masterpiece.

And God loves you with a love

that you cannot in this lifetime

even begin to fathom.

 

How’s that for a Valentine?

 

Happy Valentine’s Day to you!

 

 

Have a great week! =)

 

grace, peace, and love to you,

dave

speak life

 

 

well my dear ones,

 

 

As you well know by now,

I’m all about speaking a word of encouragement

whenever and wherever I get the chance.

 

However, I’m far from the only one

who likes to do that;

the singer, TobyMac, has a new song out,

“Speak Life,” that’s all about that very thing.

 

You can see the lyrics here:

 

http://www.songlyrics.com/tobymac/speak-life-lyrics/

 

He got his inspiration for the song

from this quote by his favorite author:

 

"Anyone we come in contact with,

 we either offer them life,

 or we drain them.

 There is no neutral exchange.”

--- Brennan Manning (from his book, Abba Child)

 

 

TobyMac said,

“That means that everyone I talk to,

I have the opportunity to offer life to.

 

Literally, I can speak life to people.

My words can be used

to turn someone’s life around,

to encourage him or her,

to be compassion,

to be love.”

 

I love that.

 

We have the power to choose

what we will do with our words,

and our words have the power

to lift someone else up

when they may be at their lowest.

 

I hope you speak life to many.

 

 

Have a great week! =)

 

grace, peace, and love to you,

dave

 

 

“Do not let any unwholesome talk

 come out of your mouths,

 but only what is helpful for building others up

 according to their needs,

 that it may benefit those who listen.”

 --- Ephesians 4:29