We have all heard the words, in our American Declaration of Independence, that tell us that everyone in this country is entitled to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Those of us who went to church and Sunday school as children, were also taught to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. We…
We have all been discouraged from time to time, especially when things do not work out as we had hoped they would. The word “discouraged” literally means to be deprived of courage, hope, or confidence. It may take the form of feeling disheartened, dispirited, intimidated, disparaged, depressed or daunted. Whatever is causing the situation we…
Self-confidence is a belief in one’s own abilities and judgment, specifically, the conviction that one can successfully handle challenges and achieve desired outcomes. It’s a positive feeling of trust in oneself and one’s capacity to perform tasks effectively. Confidence is not about arrogance or feeling superior to others, but rather a quiet, inner sense of…
“Agape” (pronounced ah-gape’) means open mouthed, as in a physical expression of wonder, awe, surprise, or astonishment. “Agape” (pronounced ah-gah-pay) love is a divine kind of love that is selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial. It is not based on feelings, attraction, or even family ties. It is the love that God has for us. It is never…
A simple definition of the word virtue is: “doing what is right and avoid doing what is wrong.” A virtuous person is one who has a strong moral compass and sets and lives by very high ethical and moral standards. Such a person might be described as good, kind, honest, decent, honorable, just and principled. …
Scams are so pervasive that Americans will lose over $10 billion this year in fraudulent schemes. Major newspapers have printed many articles about protecting yourself from common scams. Typical safeguards include watching out for fake charities, double-checking websites since deceptive links can be just a few characters different than the real one, don’t answer unsolicited emails or…
Sometime in the early 1970s, I became aware that I had no credit rating since, at that time, all credit assessments were based on the husband’s income and credit history. This did not seem right to me because it meant that should something happen to my husband, or if we were to be divorced, I…
A paradox is a statement or situation that seems contradictory or absurd, but when examined more closely, reveals a hidden truth or insightful perspective. A real-life example is the paradox of choice, where having more choices can lead to feeling more overwhelmed and less satisfied than having fewer choices. It is the concept of “less is…
A covenant is an agreement or contract. It can be in the form of a written, legal document or can simply be a promise wherein both parties agree to certain types of behavior. A rental agreement might be in the form of a signed lease, or it can be a less formal agreement with the…
Everyone and everything have limits, except God. There is a limit to how much weight a human being can lift. Even heavy equipment can only lift a certain amount of weight. We say we have a phone plan with “unlimited talk, text and data”. But in spite of what the contract says, it only holds…