Some Lessons Learned Recently...

Some advice from lessons I've recently learned:

1. When you're given a gift, just say 'thank you' and if you must, be gracously grateful. Nothing irks me more then someone who can't receive a gift.

Mind you, I know this came into my mind because I'm the very person who needs to hear this advice. As much as I get annoyed when gifts I give aren't readily received, I know that I do the same thing. That's why its important for me to live these lessons I've learned. If you ask to hear from God, He'll speak. Hebrews 4:12 says that His Word is like a double edged sword, exposing the deepest parts of our nature and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.* I'm learning to listen to God's voice--and to say 'thank you.'

2. Don't let your thoughts convince you that what you're thinking, is reality. Assuming anything is for asswipes.

There were a couple of times that I thought my sister was mad at me. 'Why is she mad at me? I didn't do anything to her!' When I asked her directly if there was a problem, she told me 'no,' without any attitude. She was just tired and her phone was being difficult, and I was overreacting to my own assumptions. Don't let the devil make you crazy--he's a liar from the beginning.**Lies enjoys putting little seeds of hate or doubt to disrupt your love life. This leads to assumptions and opens the door to strife. If you believe in Love, you have to trust Love. And trusting Love means you also should be able to confront Lies with Truth. When lies want to tell you something negative about someone, make sure you make decisions based on Love. Or else your assumptions will do nothing but bring you grief.

3. When given an opportunity, whatever it may be, it is always best to focus on that moment and enjoy it-live in it-experience its totality-and be present in it.

We all have opportunities to learn something. To grow in some way. To gain insight into an old experience. Or to ponder a new thought. Whatever the circumstance, open your heart and mind to let God teach you something. But more importantly, to let God encourage you to live each moment given. Take it in---every moment, so that you leave it with no regrets, and you make every moment count for something.

Just a few thoughts on my mind.

*Hebrews 4:12 (Amp) For the Word that god speaks is alive and full of power (making it active, operative, energizing, and effective); it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and (the immortal) spirit, and of joints and marrow (of the deepest parts of our nature), exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

**John 8;44 (Amp) You b elong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. when he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

***Psalm 119:130 (Amp) The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.