“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

John 13:13-17

You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Every year we celebrate the holy season of Advent, O God. Every year we pray those beautiful prayers of longing and waiting, and sing those lovely songs of hope and promise.

“If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees—alone or with loved ones—give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that His Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve Him and keep His commandments. He will take you by the hand and His promises will be kept.”

“Make up your mind that no matter what comes your way, no matter how difficult, no matter how unfair, you will do more than simply survive. You will thrive in spite of it.”

Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

1 Peter 4:11
Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

“Life is about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward, and savoring the journey.” 

Romans 2:7

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

Never let a problem to be solved become more important than the person to be loved.

1 Timothy 1:5
But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith

“Anyone can hide. Facing up to things, working through them, that's what makes you strong.”

James 1:12

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

"I can be changed by what happens to me but I refuse to be reduced by it."

James 1:2-3
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12:12

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

Psalm 31:24
Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD.

Life is messy, but sometimes when we get though the mess, we find out who we really are. 

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Actions prove who someone is,  word just prove who they want to be. 

1 Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

I thought I was broken and needed fixing. Not True ! I was hurt and needed healing, a completely different concept. 

John 14:27
“Wen I go way, I goin make you guys hearts rest inside, da kine rest dat ony I can give. All da stuff inside da world no can make you guys rest inside lidat. No let yoa heart come all funny kine inside! No scared!

"Sometimes the things you complain most about, are the things you care most about. Unfortunately, we don't always know that until it's too late."

Acts 20:35
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

“You don’t have to be blood to be family.”
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Never underestimate the pain of a person, because in all honesty, everyone is struggling. some people are better at hiding it than others.

Psalm 9:9-10 “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

There are two ways or spreading light: be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. 

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27

Have you tried going out for a nice, peaceful walk lately? You know, get "away from it all", get back to nature, "listen" to the quiet sounds of God's green Earth? Well, unless you're a lumberjack, fat chance of hearing anything but car horns, pagers, cell phones, radios, tv's, and other signs of the modern age. Do you ever wonder what God thinks of all this noise, and how hard it must be for Him to get through to us? This brings us back to the subject of prayer, and the fact that it is supposed to be a 2-way communication time with the Father. Many times, our prayers are simply a reflection of the noisy world we live in..."God I need this, do this, help me with this, thanks for this and that, etc. etc." Then, 3 seconds after we say, "amen," we're back hitting redial on the cell phone gabbing about the latest episode of Friends. That time is probably one of the most important parts of prayer...listening to what God has to say to us. I think we all struggle with this, because in our mind, we've done our part, now it's up to God to deliver. Well, it's time to stop, get quiet, and listen to the answers to the prayers we are lifting up. Maybe you'll hear an answer, maybe you won't, but if you aren't listening, you'll never know.

God has a purpose behind every problem. He uses circumstances to develop our character. In fact, he depends more on circumstances to make us like Jesus than he depends on our reading the Bible.

James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

“Everytime people ask me if I’m okay, it’s just a reminder that I’m not”
Sometimes, we keep on telling ourselves that we’re okay and we live on it, however if someone would ask you this question
it would make you think and realize that you're not okay.

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

" Love all, Trust a few, Do wrong to none."

Proverbs 22:24-25
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, 25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.

Be Fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.

II Chronicles 15:7
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

When men & Women come together some have been following Jesus for a long time some for a short time, some know a hole lot of
some know very little, some have great faith, some have little faith, but everyone in the best of their abilities is moving in the same direction trying to create a place where they actually feel like they belong. that's called shine where everyone knows your name.