Be An Encourager

by Kay Heitsch

Be an Encourager. The world has plenty of critics already. ~ Inspirational Quotes ~

It doesn't matter what the subject most people have an opinion. Sorry to say many times people like to voice their critical opinion rather than to be an encourager.

Our Bible verse says, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 GSV

The world sure does have plenty of critics! Let's be an Encourager and build people up. The world doesn't need another critic!

How Do You See Yourself

by Kay Heitsch

It is always how we see ourselves and the attitude that we carry in life. It is never someone else's opinion. ~ How Do You See Yourself Quotes ~

I know people, who in my opinion, are beautiful! However, they do not see themselves that way.

Our Bible verse is one of my favorites. Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. Proverbs 4:23 GNB

We have to be very careful how we think, especially about ourselves. Our life is shaped by our thoughts and attitudes. It is never someone else's opinion.

Be Comfortable In Your Own Skin

by Kay Heitsch

Just be you! Be comfortable in your own skin. Be yourself because an original is worth more than a copy. ~ Quotes ~

I don't know about you but I like to be around people who are natural. They aren't trying to impress. They are comfortable with who they are and are not trying to be someone else.

Our Bible verse says, "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it." Psalm 139:14 NLT

We can be thankful that we are wonderfully complex. We are an original and an original is worth more than a copy! When we are comfortable in our own skin others feel comfortable around us.

No Parking

by Kay Heitsch

The past is your lesson. The present is your gift. The future is your motivation. Keep Moving Forward Quotes

Too often people park at the point of their pain. It's sad but true. We can't start the next chapter in our life if we keep re-reading the last one. We have to keep moving forward because life never stops.

Our Bible verse is one that changed my life. "Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." John 5:8 NIV

We've all had pain in our lives. But let's not park there. Like this Bible verse says, Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!" Our past is our lesson. The present is our gift. The future is our motivation. Let's keep moving forward because life never stops! No Parking!

Challenge Yourself

by Kay Heitsch

When you can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what's happening. ~ Encouragement Quotes

It would be interesting to think about challenging ourselves to control the way we respond to things we can't control.

Our Bible verse says, "It is better to be patient than powerful. It is better to win control over yourself than over whole cities." Proverbs 16:32 GNT

We can't always control what's happening, but we can challenge ourselves to control the way we respond. Like the Bible verse says, It's better to win control over yourself than over whole cities.

People Talk

by Kay Heitsch

Over the years I have had many people talk about me. Sadly to say, a lot was very negative.

At first, as a teenager, I put on a tough act and said I didn't give a 'blank' what they said. But I'll admit when I got older the hateful things bothered me greatly. When I thought about the mean things that were said directly or mostly indirectly I would cry.

One day I came across this Bible verse that helped me. It read, "It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe." Proverbs 29:25 GNT

There's a quote that goes, "The greatest prison people live in is the fear of what other people think about them."

People talk! But we can break out of the prison of fear of what people think or say about us when we know how dangerous it is. As for me, I'm going to trust the LORD because I know when I do I am safe.

The Greatest Prison

by Kay Heitsch

The greatest prison people live in is the fear of what other people think about them. ~ How Others Perceive Us Quotes ~

I don't know why we are concerned about what other people think about us. There's another quote that says, "You probably wouldn't worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do."

Our Bible verse says, "It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe." Proverbs 29:25 GNT

It is a dangerous thing to be concerned with what other people think about us. The greatest prison people live in is the fear of what other people think about them. We can break out of that prison when we trust the LORD. Then we will be safe.

Be The Best You

 by Kay Heitsch

What you think about yourself is more important than what people think of you. Be The Best You Quotes

Our Bible verse says, "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it." Psalm 139:14 NLT

If we really believe that we are God's workmanship and His workmanship is complexed and marvelous we won't be concerned about what others think.

Be the best you! What we think about ourselves is more important than what people think of us.

Downplay Your Problems

by Kay Heitsch

Whatever you focus on grows. Faith or Fear. Worry or Confidence. Doubt or Belief. It's your choice. ~ What You Focus On Grows Quotes.

We need to downplay our problems and turn our focus to the Problem Solver. When we turn our focus to the Problem Solver He is on the throne and not the things that cause us stress.

Our Bible verse says, "O our God, won't you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help." 2 Chronicles 20:12

We may not know what to do in many situations. We feel powerless against our problems. However, we can take our problems off the throne and stop focusing on them. We may not know what to do but we can focus on the Lord for help. When we do then faith, confidence and belief will grow.

Let's downplay our problems and focus on the Problem Solver.

Enjoy The Good TImes

by Kay Heitsch

Live Love & Laugh! Enjoy the good times with your family and friends. ~ Sharing Memories ~

Yesterday I watched DVDs from the videos I had made of summer picnics we shared with family and friends many years ago. It was fun to see how the kids had grown from year to year. I especially loved listening to all the laughter and feeling the love that was shown in these DVDs.

Our Bible verse tells us, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:" Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is a time for every season. These picnics have come and gone but the precious memories of the good times shared with family and friends live on.

It Is What It Is

by Kay Heitsch

Life is not what it's supposed to be. It is what it is! The way we cope with it is what makes the difference. ~ Inspirational Quotes

We all know that life is not fair at times. It is what it is! The way will we cope will make the difference.

Our Bible verse shows us the best way to cope. "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NLT

Life is not what it's supposed to be. It is what it is! However, we can cope with anything and have peace when we have Christ. He makes all the difference.

Be Helpful

by Kay Heitsch

Be Helpful!  When you see a person without a smile give them one of yours.  ~ Smile Quotes ~

You never know what a smile can do. When we wear a smile it may be the reason others smile too.

Our Bible verse says, "Smiling faces make you happy, and good news makes you feel better." Proverbs 15:30 GNT

Seeing a smiling face makes us happy. So when we see a person without a smile lets give them one of ours. Let's be helpful and give away our smiles today and every day!

What Do You Want?

by Kay Heitsch

"Do what you 'have' to do to do what you 'want' to do." ~ Denzel Washington ~

There are many things that we want to do. But are we willing to do what we have to do to get it?

Our Bible verse says, Work hard and cheerfully at all you do...Colossians 3:23 TLB

No matter what we want to do we need to work hard and cheerfully. I believe this means to keep a good attitude while we're doing what we 'have' to do to do what we 'want' to do.

The Choices We Make Today

by Kay Heitsch

I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday. ~ Inspirational Quotes ~

We all have choices to make every day. Whether we like it or not the choices we made yesterday will have an impact on who we are today.

Our Bible verse says, "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life so that you and your descendants might live! Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT

We sure do have choices. Some of our choices bring blessings and some bring curses. Choices, options, decisions abound. May the choices we make today reflect our hopes, not our fears.

The Things You Take For Granted

by Kay Heitsch

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~ Take For Granted Quotes ~

It's interesting how we take things for granted until they're gone or when we're having an issue. How often do we take for granted the ability to breathe? How about being able to see, hear and eat?   I've had different family members who had difficulty breathing; others who could not see, hear, eat or drink.

There's another quote I love. "The things you take for granted someone else is praying for."

Our Bible verse says, "I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done." Psalm 9:1 NLT

Let's stop and think of all the marvelous things we take for granted. These things deserve our praise. Never forget that the things we often take for granted someone else is praying for.

You Are Marvelous

by Kay Heitsch

You are good enough, smart enough, beautiful enough, and strong enough. Never let insecurity run your life. ~ Tell Yourself Good News Quotes ~

It doesn't do us any good to put ourselves down. Yes, there are things that we may need to change, but we will do ourselves a favor if we focus on the positive.

Our Bible verse says, "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it." Psalm 139:14 NLT

If we know we are wonderfully complexed and marvelous we also know we are good enough, smart enough, beautiful enough and strong enough. Let's tell ourselves good news about ourselves. When we do we'll never let insecurity run our lives.

Autograph Your Work

by Kay Heitsch

Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence. ~ Do A Good Job Quotes ~

I hadn't thought of how the way we do our work as a self-portrait, but it sure is. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they do a job.

Our Bible verse says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people." Colossians 3:23 GNB

Whatever we do let's autograph our work with excellence. Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it.

How Things Work Out

by Kay Heitsch

"Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out." John Wooden

We don't know how everything will work out. But if we keep a positive attitude we will look for the best.

Our Bible verse says, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 NLT

When we know that God causes everything to work together for our good we know things will work out for our best. Let's remember that things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out.

Slip 'N' Slide

by Kay Heitsch

"When life rains on your parade--bring out the slip 'n' slide." ~ Waiting On The World To Change Quotes ~

This quote is funny but it will help us enjoy our lives even if it rains on our parade. We can't wait until the world changes to be happy.

I love this Bible verse, "This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 NASB

Even if life rains on our parade we can bring out the slip 'n' slide and enjoy the journey. We can't wait for the world to change to be happy. The choice is ours.

Lesson Learned

by Kay Heitsch

You can't change the past, but you can change the way you look at it. So treat the bad as a lesson and move on. ~ New Beginnings Quotes ~

I met an interesting guy at PF last week. He shared with me several life experiences he had gone through. After each, he would say, "Lesson learned!"

The following Bible verse is one I have highlighted in my Bible. "Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways." Proverbs 20:30 GNT

Unfortunately, we can't change the past, but we can change the way we look at it. We can treat the painful experiences we go through as lessons learned and move on.

The Most Important Key To Success

by Kay Heitsch

The most important key to success is having the discipline to do what you know should be done even when you don't feel like doing it. ~ Motivational Quotes ~

"I don't feel like it" is an excuse most of us use when we don't want to do something we know we should do. Sometimes it's hard to discipline ourselves when our feelings don't go along with what needs to be done.

Our Bible verse says, "If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done." Ecclesiastes 11:4

If we wait for perfect conditions we'll never get anything done. We need to use discipline to do what we know needs to be done whether we feel like it or not. Discipline is the most important key to success.

Better Than We Can Imagine

by Kay Heitsch

Just because the past didn't turn out like you wanted it to doesn't mean the future can't be better than you imagined. Life Quotes

I think everyone has some idea about what they think their life is supposed to be. But very often it doesn't turn out as we would like. However, this doesn't mean our future can't be better than we imagined.

Our Bible verse says, No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13 NLT

The past is the past. It may not have turned out the way we wanted it to but we can look forward to the future and what lies ahead. Our future just may be better than we can imagine.

Stay Focused

by Kay Heitsch

We can always choose to perceive things differently. We can focus on what's wrong in life, or we can focus on what's right. ~ Focus Quotes ~

Yesterday I saw a great example of the ability to stay focused. I saw a person ignore the disruptions going on around them and they stayed focused on their goal. It was a great lesson on how to stay focused.

Our Bible verse says, Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you. Proverbs 4:25 GWT

When we have a goal we need to stay focused. Let's look straight ahead and stay focused on what's in front. We can always choose to focus on what's wrong or we can stay focused on what's right.

Give It A Try

by Kay Heitsch

"Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try." ~ Try Something New Quotes ~

Today our grandson Noah is starting ice hockey lessons. He has wanted to try ice hockey for the last 2 years. Noah is special needs and he really doesn't like being cold so we were wondering how he would do.

Our daughter sent pictures of Noah on the ice with his skates on. So far so good.

Our Bible verse says, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 NIV

Whenever we try something new we need to be strong and courageous. We don't need to be afraid or discouraged because the LORD is with us. Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try.

Don't Wait

by Kay Heitsch

Don't wait for things to get easier, simpler, or better. Life will always be complicated. Learn to be happy now. Otherwise, you'll run out of time. ~ Quotes ~

What are we waiting for? Life is what it is. There are good days and not so good days. We only have so much time here.

One of my favorite Bible verses says, "This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 NASB

Don't wait for things to get easier, simpler, or better. Life will always be complicated. Learn to be happy now, Otherwise, we'll run out of time. This is the day! Let's rejoice and be glad in it!

You Are Chosen

by Kay Heitsch

Don't look at other people and wish you were like them. You are special and God loves you uniquely. He has chosen you. ~ You Are Chosen By God Quotes ~

It's a great feeling to be chosen and each and every one of us has been chosen by God.

Years ago when I came across this Bible verse it had a real impact on my life it says, "You didn't choose Me. I chose you... See John 15:16 NLT

We don't have to wish we were like other people. We are all special and God loves us uniquely. He has chosen us!

Focus On Possibilities

by Kay Heitsch

When you focus on problems you'll have more problems. When you focus on possibilities you'll have more opportunities. ~ Focus On Your Good Qualities Quotes ~

It's interesting that what we focus on grows. A lot of our life is controlled by what we focus on. We all have good qualities. Instead of thinking about what we aren't we'd be much better off to think about our possibilities.

Today I saw this Bible verse in a different way. "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8 NLT

What would happen in our lives if we fixed our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise about ourselves? I'm sure if we focus on our possibilities we'd have more opportunities.

Train Your Mind

by Kay Heitsch

Train your mind to see the good in every situation. ~ Thoughts Quotes ~

No matter what the circumstance we can choose the way we see them. There's a quote that says, Change the way you see things and the things you see will change. I like that!

Our Bible verse says, "Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes." Ephesians 4:23 NLT

When we train ourselves to let the Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes we will see the good in every situation.

You'd Never Invite A Thief

by Kay Heitsch

"You'd never invite a thief into your house. So why allow thoughts that steal your joy to make themselves at home in your mind?" ~ Quotes ~

Why do we allow thoughts that steal our joy to make themselves at home in our minds? Now that's a good question!

Our Bible verse tells us to take every thought captive. (see 2 Corinthians 10:5) But what should we think about? This verse says, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8 NLT

Let's think about what we're thinking about. We would never invite a thief into our house. So why allow thoughts that steal our joy make themselves at home in our minds? Let's keep our joy!

God's Got This!

by Kay Heitsch

Note to self: Stay in peace. Faith over fear. God's got this! ~ God's Got This quotes ~

Sometimes we need to write a note to ourselves when we are in a situation that causes us to worry and lose our peace. We need to remember that God's got this!

Our Bible verse says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 NIV

When we start to feel unsettled about a situation we can remind ourselves to stay in peace. Faith over fear. And always remember...God's Got This!

Relationship

Relationship by Kay Heitsch

The longer I go about living, I see it's the relationship that is most meaningful. ~ Quotes ~

I learned this life lesson years ago after Todd died. Todd's friends started to come over to the house. I told them they could pick out something of Todd's that was meaningful to them. Many picked a spike out of his running shoes.

Why a spike? A spike reminded them of the relationship they had with Todd. Our relationships are what make life meaningful.

Today's Bible verse is all about relationships, "You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27 NLT

How true, it's the relationship that is most meaningful. It's our relationship with the LORD, our neighbors, and ourselves that give life meaning.