 The outcome may be the destination, however the journey builds character, wisdom, and insight. We often set our eyes on the destination, which people can call the goal, the milestone, the finish line. But it’s the path we take to get there that truly defines us. Every challenge, every setback, and every small victory along the way shapes who we are becoming. The destination gives us direction, but it’s the journey that builds our strength, our wisdom, and our character. In the end, it’s not just about where we arrive. It is about how we grow as we make our way there. Going through the journey can tell you a lot about WHO YOU ARE.
There may be a voice in your head, but you aren't sure who it is. You knew it wasn't your voice. You had already confirmed to yourself it was time to give up. "Keep going," the voice said. It wouldn't let up. It was God speaking in a soft voice in your head. A reminder He loves you, and anything can be done with Him. You see during the journey, even in times of challenge, He is still cheering you on and seeing the end. Congratulations from Him when you reach that goal. You see, He is your biggest cheerleader. He does not want to see any of his children fall. Just remember that faith is unseen but always there. Amen!
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Money literacy teaches you how to use money to serve you. Remember He gives you 100% of what is yours so giving him a portion is only fair. It was never ours to begin with. The bible is our guide to life, therefore our guide to financial literacy tips. Some of the messages you can pull from the Bible are:
  I know you protect me anytime I am left to my own devices. You guide me to a solution. I am never alone, thank you God! A diamond starts as coal to become beautiful and desirable. It needs to be placed in the hottest part of the flame. I am not a diamond yet but I feel the heat, thank you! If I wasn't put under so much heat, and pressure, I wouldn't be able to be pure. Or exude such brilliance.
Do our intentions make us more pure?  When Jesus was crucified, his followers were devastated. They had assumed that, as Messiah, Jesus wouldn’t die. But now he had been crucified. His followers were afraid that the same thing might happen to them. So they hid from the authorities and they forgot all the promises that Jesus had made about His resurrection. Jesus had told them about the resurrection, but that was hard to believe when He was on the cross.
This scene brings to mind an Old Testament prophecy from Zechariah 13:7: “Strike the shepherd and the sheep with scatter.” Jesus had referred to this prophecy several times in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27. And, in fact, when Jesus (“the Shepherd”) was struck, His followers (“the sheep”) did scatter! They would eventually regroup, but in this moment, they were afraid, lost, and leaderless. Groups need leaders. In business, CEOs or other leaders shape direction and give guidance. Without leadership, groups fall apart. The same thing happens in any organization: governments, families, even churches. Leaders are crucial. And good leaders are even more important. Good leadership exhibits confidence, concern for the team, vision, honesty, decisiveness, responsibility, accountability, empathy, and focus. Without good leaders, organizations fall apart. The lesson is clear: sheep need shepherds! The disciples needed Jesus. And we need the Good Shepherd too. I have always liked the taste of pomegranates but after realizing all the benefits I have gone head first, not only in the research, but in the consumption of the fruit. It actually could have been a pomegranate, and not an apple, that was the forbidden fruit of Adam and Eve. Although the fruit is tempting it is pretty hard to eat. You have to cut into the hard husk to get to the small delicate seeds. It also expands your thinking (and taste buds) for ways to pack in antioxidants for overall health. Some of the ways pomegranates to support your health journey are: 1. Supports Heart Health 2. May Promote Urinary Health 3. May Assist Blood Sugar Control 4. Promote Digestive Health 5. May Reduce Cancer Risk 6. May Improve Exercise Endurance 7. May Protect Against Cognitive Disease The potential benefits of pomegranate seeds and their juice include improved heart, gut, and skin health, as well as improved memory, reduced joint pain, and more. You can read more about these benefits here: https://www.verywellhealth.com/pomegranate-11828597 My recommendation is to have pomegranates on hand for an easy healthy snack. My tip is to buy some ready-to-eat, peeled and sealed, so you are more likely to eat them throughout the day. I do like to sometimes get the full fruit because it is therapeutic to pick and eat them out one at a time. Since the pomegranate season is between September and January, with peak harvest in the early fall, this is the time to find them in your local supermarket. So go buy a couple today.   They hosted a carnival where I live. My first instinct was to say “no”. Meredith reminded me of my own words and brought this back into my memory. I wrote a piece about “going to the dumb BBQ,” where I talked about choosing opportunities and not letting them pass, however small or trivial they may feel.
This is another opportunity to explore life. Life isn't always butterflies. Sometimes it can be dumb. Looking back, all of this could have been taken away from me. But I made a decision to rise above. I decided to live and keep experiencing life, keeping Him first. So I am choosing to “go to the dumb carnival.” At the end of the day life is full of experiences- good and bad. You won't know what it will be until you go. They could be the highlight of your life or your downfall. When life is knocking at your door and you do not open it, you are missing opportunities. When you hear the knock today- open the dang door. I recently discovered Antonio Grasso and his version of the acronym, FOCUS. I resonate with the acronym and elaborate on how it applies to me. I encourage you to see if you can add this to your life. F - Follow: Stay dedicated to your chosen path or goal. What I do is focus on Him. That is my chosen path. The birds, the bees, and everything in between are all Him. O - One: Concentrate on a single goal to avoid distractions and be more efficient. My number one goal in life is being the best version of myself for my family. Family is everything. I want to not only provide but demonstrate strength, loyalty, perseverance, honesty, and integrity. I’m not saying I don’t have my own things I do, I just keep them in mind while I lean into daily tasks to make me live long and prosper. C - Course: Choose a clear and steady direction to make consistent progress. When you run a marathon, you do not start with a bunch of miles all at once. You start by jogging and taking it one step at a time. U - Until: Persist through challenges until you reach your desired outcome. You come across a day here and there that you are defeated. You can spend time with God and rest and relax. Then let yourself come back to your direction easily without being off course for too long. S - Successful: With patience and commitment, you will achieve your goals. When I first started to follow a process like this, I would get frustrated because I wasn’t seeing fast results. But I stayed FOCUSed and let myself see the progress over time. It isn't a pony trick that will only work with one thing; if you are patient and persistent, good things will come your way. Don’t lose your focus.   When I don't feel you, is when I need to pray, read the bible, and know that you're in control of my life and the fellow brother, or sister. The thing is we are all broken, we all need Jesus, we all make mistakes, we need His grace. After being saved we are a new creation in Christ, our posture, and our actions change for the better. Understand we are to stand out.
And be the salt of the earth. What does salt do? It purifies, and adds flavor. "Salt of the earth" comes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:13, where He calls His followers the "salt of the earth". The metaphor signifies that believers should have a positive and preserving influence on the world, adding i.e., "flavor" and spiritual value to society. Similar to how salt preserves food and enhances its taste. If believers lose their spiritual "favor," they become ineffective and not enhancing the world. Are you going to be salt for the earth?  Beauty is the fire within, held by the Holy Spirit. What is God’s will for my life? What choices will I make when the time comes? It is hard to decide when there are so many paths, but not my will—Yours be done.
God cares deeply about who you are. He knows who you are now and who you will become. It is His will, not ours. Stop what you’re doing and follow Him. The Lord’s first priority for me is to become holy. Let Jesus work within you; He cannot do His work if you do not allow Him to fully dwell within you. Our faith will be tested through hard times before we reach the good. Motives matter—the “why” before the “what.” It’s not about what I want; that is why the Lord calls us to deny ourselves. He encourages restraint in pleasure so we do not dwell on the individualism of life. As I reflect on my purpose, I remember to bring every choice before God. Whatever I do, I will serve Christ in it. At your worst, you’ll be just right for the right person. They’ll accept your flaws and stand by you. True love takes work. When you find someone you're willing to step up for, you see their value in your life—and the impact you have together. Look to the future as you start the next generation. Become unstoppable together. What is your WHY? Do you and your partner’s WHY make you both come together or detract? If you have kids the WHY needs to be focused on family and the kids. This IS the next generation and they will be here a long time after we are gone. Why hold them back from being successful? You want them to be stronger than you. Not just physically but emotionally, financially, and spiritually. In a round about way making the world a better place, will help the next generation. So be the salt of the earth. Help your neighbors, care about the environment and people as a whole. All this will take work, but when you have each other to lean on it doesn't seem so formidable.  |
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