What Is the World Coming To?

RANT: With all that is happening in our world with the Ferguson ruling, New York killing, etc., I felt it necessary to post this piece I read on theGotquestions.org website only moments ago. Our world is in a state of discomposure and unrest which is wreaking havoc on our society's sense of justice and security. No justice, no peace! There is one race and all life matters therein! This is the time for unity according to race. . . THE HUMAN RACE! This is not merely about blacks against whites, nor other races against one another this is about the human race, the right to live, and what is right and what is wrong!

Taking the life of unarmed human beings is wrong! Exalting yourself to the position of judge, jury, and then executioner is WRONG! Using your authority to bring hurt or harm to others, you have sworn to protect is WRONG! Something has to change now! As a people we shall overcome this senseless injustice plaguing our society, creating hostile division, and discontent in our communities. United we stand and divided we fall for heinous acts of fury committed against the Black community by law officials who are not being held accountable for their actions. Hate, racism, and violence are not new issues in America, they are simply coming to a head.

My Christian heart is vexed with current events, however, I am prayerful that God is ever present, in control, and actively bringing resolve to this unfortunate, scary, and often times, hopeless condition of things. I am optimistic that this will bring some sense of peace to those of you who have felt the impact of recent events. God bless and good journey! ~ Tay (L.I.F.E with Purpose)
Question: "What does the Bible say about racism, prejudice, and discrimination?"

Answer: The first thing to understand in this discussion is that there is only one race—the human race. Caucasians, Africans, Asians, Indians, Arabs, and Jews are not different races. Rather, they are different ethnicities of the human race. All human beings have the same physical characteristics (with minor variations, of course). More importantly, all human beings are equally created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to lay down His life for us (John 3:16). The “world” obviously includes all ethnic groups.

God does not show partiality or favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9), and neither should we. James 2:4 describes those who discriminate as “judges with evil thoughts.” Instead, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (James 2:8). In the Old Testament, God divided humanity into two “racial” groups: Jews and Gentiles. God’s intent was for the Jews to be a kingdom of priests, ministering to the Gentile nations. Instead, for the most part, the Jews became proud of their status and despised the Gentiles. Jesus Christ put an end to this, destroying the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14). All forms of racism, prejudice, and discrimination are affronts to the work of Christ on the cross.

Jesus commands us to love one another as He loves us (John 13:34). If God is impartial and loves us with impartiality, then we need to love others with that same high standard. Jesus teaches in Matthew 25 that whatever we do to the least of His brothers, we do to Him. If we treat a person with contempt, we are mistreating a person created in God’s image; we are hurting somebody whom God loves and for whom Jesus died.

Racism, in varying forms and to various degrees, has been a plague on humanity for thousands of years. Brothers and sisters of all ethnicities, this should not be. Victims of racism, prejudice, and discrimination need to forgive. Ephesians 4:32 declares, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Racists may not deserve your forgiveness, but we deserved God’s forgiveness far less. Those who practice racism, prejudice, and discrimination need to repent. “Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13). May Galatians 3:28 be completely realized, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Hearts that Love . . .

My Random Thought: "Lies wreck lives creating false realities while saying "nothing," says everything. Who can trust you when your actions speak louder than your words accompanied by waves of stability, fleeting security, and flying fists? I trust what you say, until you say "I didn't say that!" then I'm left with scattered confusion, doubt, and worry. The truth is hearts that love don't use hands that hurt, nor do they sow chaos, cultivate fear, manipulate, or lie and wait for innocent blood. Domestic violence ruins lives leaving scars only the victim can truly understand and a hurt in the heart deep as a cannon that ONLY God can heal.

When you act in violence you destroy someone else's life, sense of security, and the very ability to trust wholeheartedly, producing a being who is only a shadow of their former self. This becomes more than ripples in the fabric of their subconsciousness, they are stains in the presence of time ever to come. So please, think before you react; because once you commit an act of violence . . . You can't take it back!" ~ Tay (L.I.F.E with Purpose)

Grateful Thanksgiving?

Greetings, 

This time of year is notorious for bringing into view the little things we could be thankful for that throughout the year seem to be outside of our focus. What blessings have you have missed an opportunity to say "Thank you" for in hustle and bustle of your busy life? Are you blessed with genuine loving connections, are you working a job that affords you the ability to pay your monthly bills (are you operating in your purpose), is your car running, or even simpler than this, were you able to get up and out of the bed this morning despite the desire to just lay there? Whatever you're appreciative of, having an attitude of gratitude multiplies the potential impact that gratefulness can have on your life thus, creating a more positive attitude. Looking at your circumstances through grateful glasses is essential to your ability to move pass adversity with an optimistic, motivated, and determined mindset onto the successful completion of any goal or objective.

Life is filled with choices and how we view our individual life circumstances is swaddled in the awareness of how to make choices that makes healthy, sound, and clear choices that make a difference. Being thankful reminds us of the challenges we've overcome throughout the year and recharges our faith and commitment to our respective journey. Over the next 7 days, I challenge you to keep and Attitude of Gratitude Journal every evening at the close of your day. Take a moment to record all the things (you can think of) you are grateful for in your life (no matter how minor they may be) today. Doing this you may discover several things come to mind that you may not have previously considered blessings and begin to take form and shape giving you a new perspective. You have the right and the ability to change your mind, tweaking your focus and truly bring about a new life direction.

This holiday don’t just be thankful, sport your grateful rose colored glasses until you see the blessings in your environment. Happy Thanksgiving! ~ Tay (L.I.F.E with Purpose)

We take so many things for granted

The Power of Words

Yesterday I facilitated an Unlocking Negativity workshop for a group of kids who were eager to strip away the negative labels branded on them by people in their lives who were ignorant to the damage their mere words could cause to a developing self-esteem. Each child began tearing down their individual emotional walls with a loud "I am NOT. . ." and filled in the blank with all sorts of discouraging, hurtful, disrespectful, and demeaning comments, phases, and adjectives; each more degrading than the last. Nevertheless, the children were glowing as they realized the negative things being said to them did not define them and they had a choice to accept or deny the labels others were trying to impose upon them. When we discussed what made them feel free they celebrated love, relationships that built them up, individuals that believed in them, and opportunities to help others. These kiddos were taking out they're emotional trash never to pick it up again and replacing it with positive self-talk and recognized self-worth.

My heart was overcome with joy! The smiles on their faces as they opened up and shared freely could have illuminated an entire room from wall to wall! Triumphant these young people had gotten a taste of what being loved on felt like and the courage in using their voices and they wanted more of it! When the class wrapped, a happy group of little people surrounded me with arms open wide ready to receive a well earned good job hug, of which I was more than happy to give before we parted ways. So often we are blind to the impact our words can have on the lives and hearts of those around us.

Instead of guarding our words, thinking before we unleash hurtful messages out onto an unsuspecting loved one, coworker, child, or friend we selfishly hide behind "freedom of speech." The freedom to speak is not permission to batter others, break their spirits, or tear them down it's the right and privilege to speak life into an individual at anytime and in any place to help build him/her back up. It is said that life or death rest in the tongue. Don't take someone else's life by carelessly using your right to speak as the right to abuse. We are better than that! Good journey! ~ Tay (L.I.F.E with Purpose)

Hope

What I find so amazing about choosing to be positive is how we reap the benefit of increased hope!! Hope fuels our faith, faith fuels our perseverance, perseverance fuels our motivation and so on and so forth. God has gifted us the one power that we abuse most often . . . Choice. Its up to us to learn how to use the power of choice wisely to create a world we can all delight in living in. Be positive. ~ Tay (L.I.F.E with Purpose)

Becoming a Published Author: The Writer is by Nature A Dreamer

The Writer is by Nature A Dreamer. - Carson McCullers.

Becoming a published author was the foremost defining moment of my existence thus far and, to be honest, I never imagined that I could do it. At one period I gave up dreaming about it as I didn't see it in my future any longer. I had written several manuscripts, outlined many stories, and recorded most of my thoughts throughout my life in the hopes that they would take shape into more. Yet none of them ever found their way to the publisher's desk. Writer's block, busy schedules, discontent, fear, and that negative little voice in the back of my head shouting "Why write something that nobody will want to take in the first place?" were all things which contributed to my procrastination and/or lack of stick-to-itiveness throughout the procedure. 

As I exercised a lack luster commitment throughout the writing process, it wasn't until I realized that I was cheating myself out of what would ultimately made me happy that I began to pray and ask God, "What is the good in knowing this wonderful information if no one will ever want to read it?" My heart was drowning in disappointment, fear of the unknown, and my own self-imposed fallacies about my ability to bring this collective of life saving principles I had learned together in organization to share them with others who might also need the directions and support during times of uncertainty in life. Writing was my guardian angel, the vehicle whereby I would find peace, tranquility, and the restoration of my staying power to continue pressing on. When the final word was written closing out Best Piece of Advice, my heart felt a sense of relief unlike ever before. The sagacity of completion and accomplishment overwhelmed me.

Nevertheless, that nagging dread “Would anyone read it? Would the message of hope and success concepts transcend the invisible messenger?” the echoing voice in my head on repeat over and over again. “Who are you and why should anyone listen to what you have to say?” Then, just as the moon is overtaken by the light of day, the voice of my creator boldly spoke bringing life to my mission and encouragement to my heart --“They will listen because you were anointed to speak.” With that, I questioned no more yet instead, I picked up my pen and finished my story. I forged forward, and on February 6, 2014, I self-published my first manuscript “Best Piece of Advice, Coaching Your Own Life Workbook.” a day that will live in satisfaction and fulfillment in my heart throughout my lifetime.

I finished what I had started with whopping success! To date, there have been 205 copies of BPA sold on Amazon.com! I have begun using BPA as an empowerment tool to help enlighten, motivate, and assist my clients with creating the life they desire to live with positive results! The message of hope outrivals the messenger when the vessel is called and ordained by God to deliver the directive. When I stepped out of self and no longer made it about me, and whether or not people would or would not receive “my” message, the communication became easier to convey. Sharing these values outlined in BPA was not about me yet it was about sharing the memo of optimism for the potential to live a life of satisfaction, contentment, and joy.

Today I am working on my second edition of Best Piece of Advice entitled, “Hey YOU!” and the

process isn't as taxing as it was in the beginning. I trust the process; set realistically attainable goals, take breaks when necessary, and constantly believe on God for encouragement when needed. I am moving forward in faith one word at a time, until I see the finish line before me. To God is the glory, amen! To each of you I say, don’t give up, keep the faith, and never stop trusting that your dreams can and will come true. Good journey! 

The Show Must Go On . . .

Welcome back readers! 

Or maybe the welcome back should be strained to me as I've been the one who has been M.I.A. Anywho, there has been so much going on over the past year: I published my first coaching tool workbook (Best Piece of Advice, Coaching Your Own Life Workbook) in February of this year on Amazon.com, had several book releases and workshops to advance it, and managed to start work on my next workbook entitled "Hey You! It’s Your Life Workbook" due to be finished in the summer of 2015.

Have there been some tests? Yes, of course there have! Life is filled with roadblocks, detours, and challenges. . . It’s supposed to be! How else are we to build strength of character, integrity, and resilience? Nevertheless, I am motivated and determined to keep moving forward until the completion of my journey. Our dreams are our responsibility to make manifest which can only happen through the action we are willing to take to bring those dreams to fruition. Setting goals along with supporting action steps is quickest way to accomplishment. So how do you set goals? Here, let me show you!

Write your goals:

o Be Specific

 Goals need a start date and, preferably, an end date (Goals need to be measurable – how will you know that you have met the goals?)

o Be realistic but challenge yourself

 A goal should be a stretch for you – difficult, but achievable

o Your values need to be reflected in your goal

 If you don’t match your values to the goal, you won’t believe in the goal

2. Develop an action plan Write what you need to do to reach your goals

 Include dates whenever possible to identify when each step of the action plan will be completed

 Include the resources you will need to successfully complete the goal. These might include asking a friend for help, meeting with a teacher, gathering required materials, and setting a timeline so you can complete the goal on time.

3. Reflect on your goal progress:

o Check to see if you are following your timeline – does it need to be adjusted?

o Did you meet – or not meet – your goal?

 What helped you meet your goal? Or what prevented you from meeting your goal?

 What did you learn from setting this goal that will help you next time you set goals?

4. Reward yourself when you complete your goals:

Celebrate your success!!

And there you have it; you’ve finished what you’ve started! No goal is too big or too small to be chunked down into pieces you can swallow if you take the time out to do so. It’s your turn, set some realistic goals for yourself and be sure that you arrive at your dream destination! Good journey!