Darkness Can Not Exist in Light

We all know at least once person that is covered in darkness. Not actually physically, but have you ever known someone who just lacked the capacity to be happy for others? If you got a promotion, they would remind you how much more work it will be. If you bought a new home they would just say you have no idea what you're getting yourself into.

And down the road when you say you're tired from working so much or you aren't sure how you're going to scrape together the money to pay for a home repair - these same people whip out a great big "I TOLD YOU SO" and it's a little demoralizing to hear. And they actually seem stronger for having said it to you.

Do you know why? That is spreading darkness and it when you allow your own personal light to be extinguished by someone else's darkness, it actually gives them power. The key is to pull deep within yourself and ask that you be given strength. The Divine will listen and no, a miracle sack of cash won't drop onto your front porch from the sky - but ask for strength and the ways to handle your problems will be shown to you. You may happen upon a television show about time management, your boss may suddenly feel your workload is too much and give you an assistant or disburse your duties to other employees; help with your home repair may come in the form of a relative offering to help with a loan or maybe a contractor that is willing to give you a form of credit for the repairs - the key is to have your eyes open after you ask and then remember to stay strong and never let anyone extinguish your inner light through deeds or words again.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

If You Feel Empty Inside..There is a Cure

The holiday season is fast upon us and it makes a number of people feel just awful.

I want to remind you of a great quote from St. Alphone Liguori, "The more we empty ourselves to make room for God's love, the more he fills us with himself and the more united to him will we be".

And this is so true. When you have that empty feeling of loneliness come over you, simply ask to have your heart filled with love. You'll be amazed how quickly it will happen. You may feel warmth wash over your body and that is God's embrace.

The emptiness you feel is because you aren't walking with the Divine. It's just a matter of asking. It's God's plan that he will always be there for you , but you must go to him and ask to walk the path and you will be welcomed with open arms, no matter what sins your past holds - remember - above all that the Divine loves you and understands even more than you do your own failings as a person and your true capacity to be a good person.

If you're ready to have a great feeling from within this upcoming holiday season, just ask!

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Finding Joy Through Patience

There are many times in our lives when we end up getting overwhelmed with everything going on around us. With busy schedules, demanding jobs, ongoing bills and so on, it is a wonder that we can even muster the slightest smile. After all of the things that can come about, one thing that you need to remember is that patience truly is a virtue.

When you have children or other people in your life that you need to care for, it can end up being quite difficult to remember that everyone is only human. Being human means that you can only do so much, and that everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Remain patient and let the others in your life know that you are there for them to guide them and lend a helping hand wherever you can. This little bit of patience can really go a long way, especially when it comes to children.

Although you may feel like you have had enough and you are just about ready to give up and snap, patience can guide you through even the toughest of obstacles. Once you are able to remain patient, you will see that the calm that you will feel can help you to process your feelings better. These thoughts and feelings can then trickle down to others around you, making whatever comes your way dissolve before you know it. While patience isn't always something that comes easy, a quick second to remember how much it can help can make a world of difference in your whole day.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Stand By Your Beliefs

If you end up finding yourself in a situation where there is an overwhelming presence around you where people do not share the same beliefs, it is very important that you stand true and stick to what you believe in. All too often, folks will begin to feel as though their feelings and beliefs are the minority, so they end up keeping their thoughts bottled up inside. Because you are stronger that that on the inside as well as the outside, you should never be afraid to let your ideals and personality shine through no matter what the majority thinks.

One thing remains true, and that is that you can always gather strength from within. No matter what negative comments or forces come your way, you always have your true thoughts and identity on the inside that you can hold onto. Even the person who tries their hardest to knock you down will never be able to succeed as long as you have that inner strength through your faith and beliefs.

When you stand your ground and stick to your beliefs, you are then able to shed some light on them to others around you who may be in need of guidance. While preaching and persuasion is never a savory thought, you can simply be there to lend a few words about the strength that you have if they are looking for you to share. One thing will always remain true, and that is as long as you have the faith and inner strength to keep you grounded, you will then be able to share in love, joy and life with everyone around you.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Prayer Can Heal From The Inside Out

Long, long ago, people learned that there was something special and rewarding to come out of prayer. No matter what kind of forces surround you or what kind of path you take, it remains true that the power of prayer is truly indescribable. All you have to do is speak with someone who was touched with the answering of prayers and you too will see that there is something special behind such a time honored practice.

Whether you come from a strong religious background or you are just now finding your path in life through a higher power, prayer can be an amazing way to build you up from the inside out. Some people will say that they turn to prayer on a daily basis in order to give them that little extra push that they are looking for to help them not only to meet, but to exceed their goals. By having even the shortest time to think or pray about something that is on your mind, you can receive the benefits ten fold.

If you happen to find yourself in the terrible situation where you have been stricken with grief or some sort of strife, prayer can be a wonderful way to heal. From self-spoken pep talks when you are alone to prayer groups where you feed off of the strength of others around you, the power of prayer is truly a force to be reckoned with. The next time you feel as though you have nowhere else to turn, perhaps some form of prayer will be helpful in your healing process.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Holding Onto Faith During Trials And Tribulation

No matter what life ends up throwing your way, you should try your best to remain true to yourself as well as your faith in a higher power. As human beings, we all have a series of hurdles to jump and paths to cross. It is only natural that you will feel overwhelmed once in a while no matter how strong you are on the inside. For many people, finding their place in life with their faith behind them holding strong is the best way to get through anything that they may encounter.

Often times, you are put into situations where you simply cannot believe you can take any more emotional struggle or pain. Perhaps you have a close friend or a family member who has been diagnosed with some sort of illness or they are going through a tragedy in their own life. These, as well as many others, are situations where you will find that your faith and inner strength will come through for you, giving you a way to carry on and remain solid for everyone else around you.

Although you will end up confused and overwhelmed when faced with tough situations, it is nice to have a great foundation of faith and strength that you can turn to. Many people before you will be quick to tell you that life can go by quickly, however only a select few can share with you that they really learned a lesson about inner strength and the value of faith along with all that it can do for you when it counts the most.

Labels: forgiveness, love, peace, positive-thinking, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Words are Endowed with Power

Words can be extremely powerful, and how we use them in our lives is a very critical matter. We have the power to build or destroy lives and relationships at every level by our choice of words. While thoughts are always the derivative of words and actions: it's our words that can become the most obvious indicator of what we are thinking.

Everyone, no matter what his or her station in life, needs approval and encouragement. We often see stark and moody pictures in our minds of those in charge withholding praise from an employee or associate for a job well done. Or, another picture that comes to mind is a child hoping without success, that a parent, teacher, or friend, will acknowledge their achievements. While praise and words of encouragement should never be the main focus in a physical world, a word given in a positive manner at the right time can work miracles in someone's life.

The opposite can occur as well! The right word given, if the intent is to harm, at the right moment can do a great deal of damage to a person's confidence and faith. On the receiving end, a person has to move forward and ignore the power of negative words. If you're the kind of person that is self-confident, and aware of where you fit in the world, the negative energy won't find lodgment within your mind or soul. Most importantly, a kind word used in response of a negative one, will put the power right back in your hands-where it needs to be.

Labels: forgiveness, love, miracles, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Success Leaves Clues

Life is not as complicated as we often think! Success leaves clues that are easy to follow. The term and meaning of success, will be as varied as there are people on the planet. However, if we look at success as the act of attaining or achieving a goal or dream, then the clues can easily be discovered.

First, nothing happens just by chance. A person may in fact be at the right place and time for an event to occur; but it's no mystery that opportunity meets up with those who are best prepared! It's always good to note that opportunity is always looking to express itself through someone's talent or abilities. If you examine someone's life that appears to be successful, more often than not, the preparation phase has been on going throughout his or her entire lives.

It all starts with the preparation phase. Yes, there are going to be many that seem to be connected in the right ways from birth. There are also going to be many people less fortunate that any one of us. For the young or old, rich or poor, or the culturally aggressive or culturally oppressed, the need to find one's self prepared is always going to be the biggest and most important challenge.

This preparation will take the form of knowledge, skills, commitment, opportunity, and being socially connected to the people, places, and circumstances that allow us to move forward. Preparation is the key, and this will be the most important clue in the lives of the successful.

Labels: forgiveness, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

The Gift of Struggle

Struggles are often the least thing that any of us want to experience. However, it is our struggles that set us free to achieve the greater things in life. Struggles are the experiences and challenges that set the stage for accumulating knowledge-and knowledge as we all know is power.

Too many years ago to remember the exact date, I remember standing in a beautiful woodland area in Ohio, and watching the caterpillars emerge after a long hibernation from their cocoons. I was fascinated with nature, and the endless variety of birds and insects that filled the woods on any given day. That day was a special day, as I decided that I would help the slow process of nature along, and help free the caterpillar form its prison.

I didn't know that the unfair struggle through the tiny opening of the cocoon was an act that would force the fluids through its body-and out into its wings. The struggle of the tiny butterfly is an indication of what many of us will go through in life. If we can we just hold on and endure what seems life unfair pain, there is always a magnificent reward that will follow, and we'll soar the heavens rather than grovel on the ground.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

The Purpose of Life

Finding the purpose in life is a mystery that we all wrestle with, and for those fortunate enough to make the discovery, their lives are never quite the same. One thing is for sure, if you have life, movement, and being; your purpose is buried deep within you. Watching children at play is interesting to say the least, but if we look close enough, there is a hint early on what a child's hidden talents might be.

If given enough love and encouragement to express in a positive manner, these little ones will develop a mindset that will align itself with divinity, and thus their faith in God will allow them to develop the skills and talents that will be helpful to a world sorely in need. When you peel away all of the hype, the true purpose of life has to be a service that will uplift mankind through each of us-if only by one small degree at a time.

The world is an extremely busy place, and we've all seemed to have forgotten the fact that true spiritual growth is implemented the moment we personally decide to make a difference in our own lives, and the lives of others. So, take a moment and reflect on the talents you've been given! Great or small, there will always be someone or some cause that can benefit by your dignified expression of them. And, the immediate reward is the wonderful feeling that you've somehow made a difference.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Trust?

It's so easy to say you trust someone. You trust God, you trust you neighbor and you may trust your friends; but do you really?

Many people have learned the hard way that trust isn't something to be freely given to other people; misplaced trust has caused more hard feelings than almost anything other action known to humankind.

The one trust that you can rely on is the trust in God. Circumstances may become hard, or you may not understand why things are the way they are; however once you look back on a hard situation how often have you said to yourself, "I would have never met/done/learned such a thing if I had not gone through that".

And it's true. You may not always be able to rely on the your neighbors, friends and relatives but trust above all, God loves you and you will always be able to trust His word above all.

Labels: forgiveness, love, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Finding the Will to Move On

When tragedy strikes, and it will, staying stuck in the moment will not anyone any good. Life is made up of the hills and valleys, and the good and the bad. Moving on with one's life means understanding that things are going to happen, and not always as we've planned them to. It means that we must come to an understanding that we are measured not by what happens to us-but rather in how we choose to respond.

The best approach is to deal with what is happening with an open mind, and not take the attitude "Why me?" There are going to be many things in life that will leave us perplexed, and wanting for a viable explanation. Sometimes, the answer will not be there. However, in every situation and experience, there is something valuable that we can learn if we allow ourselves to open up to it.

This also means that one has to have faith that there is a higher source working behind the scenes, and that all things are working towards the advancement and betterment of mankind. This belief is essential, because it frees us from the fear that we are alone, and that life is just a random act of circumstances. The pain becomes durable, and in time, we find the inner strength to move beyond the challenges. We develop the faith that our trials and tribulations are honing and preparing us for something better. And, if we can do this, we get one step closer to finding the will to move past the things we feel are bad, as well as the things we think are good that might be impeding our journey.

Labels: habits, love, miracles, positive-thinking, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Seeds in the Soil

The beautiful thing about the mystery of God's Universe, is that the answers to some of the most complex things: are right there in front of us. Seeds grow in the soil because they're able to absorb the life-giving qualities and chemicals contained in the surrounding soil. And, the wonderful thing about a seed, is that it contains the blueprint of everything that it can become.

Thoughts that we think are much the same way, and act in the field of God much the same way. This is why we must always be careful what we think. Thoughts have the power to attract the conditions, people, and circumstances into our lives that coincide with our vibrational level of thinking.

This is why the teachings of Christ always warn and individual to be careful of the thoughts they entertain. It's far better to attract good into one's life, then the opposite. And thinking positive, means that one will do things that are positive. Doing positive things in life, such as helping those who are in need, volunteering your time and energy and so on, will place you in a position to reap later on the positive things in life you've sewn.

Of course, the best service is given without the thought of a reward in mind. This frees one from doing things in a selfish manner, even though the intent is grounded in a need to help and be of service. We can see the answers all around us in nature of what will happen to good thoughts well planted and nurtured daily. And, we can also see the effect of what happens if negative thinking is allowed to take over our lives and flourish. Planting good thoughts in the fertile ground of the soul will lead to building a monumental life.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking

 posted by Friends of Leah   

The Mind in the Heart

"Pray with the mind in the heart", is a wonderful quote attributed to St. Theophan the Recluse. And it's very true.

Many people have prayer confused with a wish fulfillment service. You do not pray to win the lottery, for Prince Charming to enter your life or to lose 30 pounds by eating donuts for every meal. It just doesn't work that way. Put your mind in your heart and realize what you really need to be happy - ask for the way to be shown for you to accomplish your goals.

If you truly need an influx of cash and you pray to win the lottery on a regular basis - be prepared for the other answer to a prayer, "no". Instead pray for a way to be shown for you to bring more money into your life. Doors will open if you only ask and it's up to you to walk through them. But when you put your mind in your heart and ask for what you really need - God truly listens and gives because He loves you above all.

Labels: love, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Being Strong Has Nothing to do With Your Strength

Have you ever been faced with a hard situation? The loss of a job, losing a loved one to a terminal illness or accident; illness in yourself, break up of a relationship or other reason can all take their toll and it can leave you feeling defeated and depressed.

However, time passes and the Divine will lend you strength as you truly need it and you'll find looking back at situations you may not even be certain how on earth you handled tough times. The reason is that you may not be a physically strong person but that has nothing to do with the strength within yourself and the ability to draw strength from above.

People will say "God has a plan" for everything that happens and they are right. There really is a plan and sometimes we have to go through some tough times to grow as people - but grow we do and just remember that you're never truly alone and when you need strength to help conquer a tough situation, ask for help and you'll be carried by faith through the worst of times.

Labels: habits, love, miracles, peace, positive-thinking, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

It is Only Your Life If Your Life It

If you have ever found yourself sitting back, wishing that you could do something that you are witnessing others being a part of, you need to take control and live your life. After all, if you do not stand up and live your life the way that makes you happy and fulfilled, then you are not really living at all.

For some people, there is a certain amount of fear that comes over them when it comes to taking a major step and going forward into new areas. This could mean anything from bungee jumping with your friends on the weekend or even standing up and giving a lecture in front of a large gathering of people. However, if you do not take the initiative to overcome these obstacles, you will never end up reaching your final goal. Only with the right amount of drive and mindset will you be able to achieve everything that your heart desires.

The great thing about living your life to the fullest is that everyone around you will start to benefit from your new outlook on life and the way that you are taking charge. You may find that others will be inspired by you, taking the same journey that you are in order to bring their soul to a happy and fulfilled level. Only by standing up and stepping up can you find a true happiness in your life that comes complete with plenty of benefits along the way.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, positive-thinking, thankful, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Conquering Food Addictions

Did you know that there are millions of people who are unaware of the current battle that they are enduring with a food addiction? It is true. All over the globe, there are people who do not even realize the hold that food had taken in their lives. Sadly, many of these souls are lost to their food and eating addiction and before they know it, it is too late.

If you ever find that you are reaching for food in order to help you put out some of the fires that blaze during your daily workings, then you may be battling food addiction. Many people end up taking food as a sort of buffer to help them deal with their everyday problems. For many, certain foods are a wonderful way to comfort them and cradle their emotions.

When you feel as though you are having a problem with certain foods or even a number of foods, it is best to try to get to the core of the issue at hand. Reach inside your soul and find out what the underlying problems may be. Once you face these problems head on, you will be able to step back and wield a firm hand with any foods that you are craving to help quell your emotions.

Know that you are not alone, as there are many others like you finding food as a sort of cushion to help lessen the blow of everyday troubles. Once you realize that food is sustenance, not substance for your life, you will be on the road for a healthier lifestyle, both emotionally and physically.

Labels: forgiveness, habits, love, miracles, positive-thinking, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Forgiven and Forgotten

When someone has caused you pain, part of forgiveness is not to bring up their transgression every time you get angry again. It's common to want to hurt even those closest to you with sharp words when you're angry, but part of forgiveness is to also let the past go and move forward.

Bad old memories can fade and sting a lot less when you replace them with new ones. If someone comes to you and explains how they have gone against you or expresses their sorrow for a situation that has come between you, and you tell that person that you forgive them. Mean it in your heart and understand those are more than just words.

When you forgive someone you have to truly believe that not only are they sorry, but you will have to resist any urges you might have to make that person "pay" for whatever they've done. It's sometimes hard to do - but forgiveness is a two part activity and your part is to uphold the forgiven part and not indulge in petty grievances.

It's easy to forgive and move on, when you have hate and bad feelings in your heart, ask that those feelings be replaced by boundless love and you'll find that it's really easy to forgive and forget.

Labels: forgiveness, love, positive-thinking

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Can Love Heal All?

You already know that you can only truly love somebody once you have been able to learn how to love yourself.

After that, do you think that it is actually possible to let love heal? Some people may not realize just how strong the power of love really can be. It can come in all shapes and forms, and once you are able to experience it, you really cannot deny all of the power and strength that love can give to everyone who allows true love into their hearts and souls.Living by the moment and taking in every special occasion along the way are a couple of the side roads that true love will take you on.

When you are actually able to experience a love the is not selfish, one that does not judge, you will be able to look outside yourself in order to give of yourself to others in a way that is stronger than you could ever imagine. Whether your love comes from within or you feel as though you have a true love connection with a higher power, the feeling that divine and inspirational love can provide is simply phenomenal.Is joy something that you have been searching for?

Letting love enter your heart is one sure way to guarantee you will be able to experience immense joy. After finding out what true, inspirational love is really all about, it is simple to see that love really can heal. Whether or not you allow love the ability to heal all is a choice that you have to make from within.

Labels: forgiveness, love, peace, positive-thinking, well being

 posted by Friends of Leah   

True Giving And Your Soul

Have you ever stepped back to reflect upon the kinds of things that you like to do for others from time to time? Generally, there is nothing more rewarding than being able to give of yourself in order to really brighten another individual's day. Sometimes, it is even the smallest gestures that count towards a feeling of warmth along with an uplifted spirit.

Whether you are giving your precious time to help out your local charity or you are even taking the initiative to give care to a friend or loved one who has a certain illness, truly giving of yourself can be an incredible feeling. If you think about the rewards that can come along with giving, it almost seems unfair that such a stunning feeling can come about without having to spend any money whatsoever. True giving comes from the heart and soul. The kind of giving of yourself that overflows with kindness and utter joy is something that many people wish they could achieve.

Giving can be look at in so many different ways as well. Think of the last time you shared a word of wisdom with an individual who was younger than you and quite impressionable. Perhaps you even gave up your seat on the bus in order for a pregnant woman to take it over and rest her feet. The little things can mean so much that when you give even further you can really move mountains and make a difference, not only in your life but also in the lives of everyone who you come into contact with.

Labels: forgiveness, love, miracles

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Has God Turned His Back On You?

In truth, it hasn't happened. Indeed you'll find when you the most alone in the world and the most vulnerable - the spirit of the Divine is closer than ever and giving you strength to overcome obstacles in your life.

Yes it can certainly seem that there is a God that doesn't care when people are taken unfairly from you, a job that seemed it would last and then didn't and when the person you thought you'd be with forever turns out to not be such a great catch - it's easy to blame all those things on a vindictive God that is punishing you but that's not really the case.

Unfortunately, we set ourselves up for a lot of our own hardships, running with a bad crowd, doing things the easy way - can lead to a path that isn't healthy or productive for us. Certainly no one asks for cancer or to lose a loved one and in those hard situations you need to reach deep and ask for strength to be given. Those are tough lessons to learn and they hurt a lot but through it you can find the compassion to help others in a similar situation get through it.

When you feel that God has turned his back on you and your prayers aren't being heard, I promise He is listening to your every word, he just wants you to put a little effort into your situation too. Stay strong and continue to move forward and you'll see miracles happen.

Labels: love, peace

 posted by Friends of Leah   

Opening Your Heart

If you find that you need healing, you must open your heart first and foremost. You need to believe that the healing will come to you and that you deserve it.

You'd be amazed at how much sickness in people is caused by negativity, bad feelings and guilt. There is nothing that you can do or have done that will not be forgiven. The Divine loves you no matter how badly you feel you have acted and you must begin healing by learning to love yourself.

Understand that no matter what kind of life you have lead up to the point you ask for forgiveness and healing - you can start anew and begin again. You only need ask and you must ask from your heart and sincerely and absolutely mean it. You can fool everyone on the planet, but you can not fool the Divine. If you don't really mean it, the spirit won't touch you just yet. Although paths may begin to open that will lead in the direction of healing your mind, body and spirit once you start looking into it.

If you're truly ready to rid yourself of the blackness and negative feelings in yourself and you feel that nothing is going right and you are often forgotten, it may be time to find your inner light. Everyone has an inner light deep inside, some souls just find theirs grows dim from the stress of living an unfulfilling life. You don't have to go anywhere special or do anything special. Simply close your eyes and ask the Divine to come to you. Say that you're ready to be filled with the love of the Creator and you will find very quickly, your request has been answered.
Walk a new path and find the true person you were meant to be, open your heart and let it be filled with love.

Labels: love

 posted by Friends of Leah