Share Your Gifts!

Don’t let fear stop you; it is selfish NOT to share your gifts and talents with the world. ~ Dr. Angela Kowitz Orobko

 At times (like right now) I need to remind myself that I need to share my talents; it is selfish of me to hold back. God bestowed upon me many wonderful gifts to impart with others. He does not want me to hoard them and judge them. Who am I decide if I am good enough? That is only for God to decide. My words, my art, my insights are important. If I need to hear and see it, then most likely others need to read and see them, too.

We all have gifts, talents and experiences that are unique to us. No one else has the same exact ones. We connect and interact with others, build relationships and communities when we share our unique gifts and experiences. Empower others to see your value. Allow them to appreciate you and your unique talents. Don’t let fear make you appear selfish! You are amazing! Go out and share your gifts, talents and experiences. And, keep in mind, you cannot please everyone, but you can please yourself. Do what you please and you will find you will delight others.

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Bad Moments

Bad moments do not make you a bad person. ~ Dr. Angela Kowitz Orobko

We all have our “moments”, but those moments do not make us bad people. Each of us have our own unique sensitivities and coping skills. Another’s actions may or may not evoke a reaction from me; but, it would evoke a reaction from someone else.  That reaction does not make that person bad. It is only when he or she is not sorry for the reaction or bad moment that would taint his or her character.

Empower your loved ones. Give them the opportunity to forgive you and to need them. People feel valued and appreciated when you consider their emotions, ask for forgiveness and/or help. Our vulnerabilities such as bad moments make us human. How we choose to act after our bad moments is what really counts.

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We Are Relatives

With all things and in all things, we are relatives. ~ Sioux

Every living being is connected to each other. We affect each other in many different ways and in so many levels. When people become aware that when their thoughts, emotions, words and actions truly affect everyone, not just to whom or what they were directing their thoughts, emotions, words or actions, then love and kindness can start to grow and prevail. Furthermore, these things come back to affect ourselves. Joy begets more joy. Sadness and anger tends to beget more sadness and anger.

If people can truly see that we are all connected, then we can become compassionate. Would you pass your loved ones on the street if they were in need? No. But, many will pass by those whom they feel no connection, right? The road to enlightenment and true Christianity is being able to see everyone as Jesus does, as beloved friends and family. The question we must continue to ask ourselves, can we and will we do that? It is truly up to you and me.

“Don’t worry about telling God how big your storm is…..”

“Don’t worry about telling God how big your storm is…..tell the storm how big your God is!”

My sister shared this quote with me, which came from her co-worker, Randy who can’t remember from where he heard it. You know, Jesus Christ has our backs. He will get us through any storm. We just need to remember how powerful our God is! And, it is awesome to know that God is within us!

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16 NIV)

It is empowering to know that God is with us always. “Come close to God, and God will come close to you…(James 4:8) Faith and love sustains us, as it is the God in us that gives us the fortitude to get through the largest of storms in our lives. It is God and the Love in our hearts that allows us to see the blessings in those storms. Happiness and joy need not be elusive. We just need to remember we are not alone and that happiness has never left us.

Another thought that has crossed my mind today, “Why is it that sometimes we wish to be something we are not instead of wishing to be who we already are?” We are exactly who and where we need to be. The thoughts in our hearts become reality. It is only when we believe we are exactly the person we want to be that we are joyful. What are you telling yourself and your storm today?

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A Challenge is a Gift

All day I have been getting the message  from various sources that challenges are blessings in disguise. Challenges are a gift and an opportunity to learn. Hard experiences leave lingering memories and prepare us for opportunities we could not even begin to comprehend or grasp. 

One e-mail I received today stated (paraphrased), “If you understood the extraordinary gifts every single challenge in your life makes possible, even inevitable, you’d celebrate your challenges as the foresight that they are of new beginnings, spectacular change, and enhanced superpowers. ” The radio station I have listened to on and off all day, also relayed a very similar message, not just once, and not the same disc jockey!

In another e-mail I was told, “…that nothing has to happen immediately, this minute, or right now. It’s okay to pause for just a moment. Just take a breath. Then go quietly inside (to reflect and meditate). Ask Life Itself (God) to lead you to your best outcome. There is nothing you have to do, really, except to get out of your own way.”

Challenges remind us that we need to let go of our own self-reliance and ask for help. It is beautiful when hardship is met with care and kind people who truly wish to give love and support. Challenges remind us that we are not alone and that we can lean on God and people with whom Jesus and the Holy Spirit work through to help us in our time of sorrows and challenges.  All we need to do is ask. 

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Gifts of Love Update 4

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Today was a day filled with activity. I spent 4 hours volunteering time at the local library helping to prepare for their annual used book sale. All the proceeds will go to enhancing our library and it programs. I could feel the positive energy that we had in sorting the books, setting them out, and arranging them.

Teamwork was abundant and it felt great to be part of it. We used our time effectively and it looks like everything will be ready for the preview sale for the Friends of the Library tomorrow night and the kickoff sale for the public on Friday morning. 

Later, I prepared my materials so I could teach my Art for the Creative Heart class. Unfortunately, enrollment was too low at this time and it will need to be postponed until I can have a full class to make it worthwhile for everyone involved. I have so many wonderful activities planned that will allow the students to explore in a nurturing way their creative spirit with joy, free of fear and anxiety of not being good enough. Art is not about perfection, it is about expression. Art is an extension of who we are and allowing our creativity to flow in that very moment we hold a pencil, pen, paintbrush, marker or crayon.

I used my extra time this evening to finish 3 more Gifts of Love. The images are shared below.

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Gifts of Love Update 2

What a beautiful day! I was able to interact with quite a few people today as I went to the library to renew my books and I went to Good Friday church service. Good Friday service always touches my heart and soul in such a significant way. It is a profound reminder of how our Saviour Jesus Christ sacrificed his earthbound life to pay for the sins of humanity because God’s love for us is so immense and wonderful. Below are more pictures of my progress with my Gifts of Love campaign. I feel I will be able to start distributing these Gifts next week. 

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Spring Cleaning Thine Spirit

I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call  you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, 3, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: 4 one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 

23 and that you be renewed in the spirit (of your minds), 24 and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of the truth.  25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK the TRUTH, each one to his neighbor, for we are connected (members one of another). 26 BE ANGRY but DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun set on your anger, 27 and do not leave room for evil thoughts (the devil). 28 The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work with his [own] hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need. 29 No foul language should come out of  your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification that it may impart grace to those who hear it.

 32 BE KIND to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, as God has forgiven you in Christ. (Eph 4:1-6, 23-29,32)  

Each spring as the Easter season approaches, there is a period of time (Lent) where people prepare their heart and souls through meditation and fasting, as did Jesus did prior to His crucifixion and resurrection. This is the perfect time of the year to do some “Spring Cleaning” in our inner spaces in addition to our physical environments. It is a wonderful time for reflection, meditation and prayer as the days grow longer, the temperatures get warmer and flowers start blooming. Meditation and reflection is a fabulous way for people to examine their purpose. Are we doing everything we can to be love for others? How can we do more to forgive and help ourselves and others (as we have been forgiven)? How can we do less (affliction of stress on ourselves and others)? Nature’s renewal is the perfect setting for spiritual cleansing. I invite you to look inward with love and compassion as you clear out the cobwebs of hurt and regret from your heart. In the book of Ephesians, Paul offers a prayer that is befitting for this..

¹³ Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory. ¹⁴ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, BEING ROOTED and GROUNDED in LOVE, ¹⁸ may be STRONG to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the LOVE of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. ²⁰ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, ²¹ unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:13-21)  

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Compassion

Compassion is made up of the Latin prefix “com-“, which means with, together or in association; and, the suffix “-passion,” which refers to Jesus Christ’s sufferings on the cross or can mean suffering. Simply put, compassion means in association with suffering. Wikipedia describes compassion as a virtue in which the emotional dimensions and capabilities of empathy and sympathy for the suffering of others are considered as part of love.

Compassion to me is holding the hand of another who is in pain either emotionally or physically (or both) and being present for him or her. You are there completely to support another being with unconditional love. Compassion is holding another physically or simply holding his or her intentions during times of distress and anguish. Compassion is one of the most loving gestures we can have for each other. It is BEING love to another human being no matter what the circumstances are. It is more than saying, “I LOVE YOU.” It is SHOWING, “I LOVE YOU!” 

I want to dedicate this blog to my tia Gladys…I LOVE YOU, SO VERY MUCH tia Gladys!!!!

My aunt Gladys has always had compassion for everyone she has come in contact. She has been LOVE for so many people. I am so happy knowing that now everyone has compassion for her as she goes through this period in her life. 

PLEASE, have compassion for all your loved ones and then go beyond. May GOD and LOVE be with ALL of your loved ones especially those who are ailing or in crisis. Thank you for reading my blog. God Bless You and May the Light of Love and Life be with you and your all those you hold dear to your heart always. With love, joy and blessings…Angi