Turmoil? Peace? Balance...

USE IT OR LOSE IT

READ ARTICLE



USE IT OR LOSE IT, My Faith Zone, affirmation, confirmation, inspiration, vicki hinze, faith, spirituality, religion

A DEEPER REST

READ ARTICLE


deeper rest, peace, contentment, vicki hinze, vickihinze, my faith zone, spirituality, affirmation, inspiration, confirmation

New Feature Article: Life's Messy

I've posted a new feature article, LIFE'S MESSY. CLEAN IT UP, on my www.vickihinze.com website in the "Feature Articles" section. To read the artcile, click HERE.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO BE DOING?

READ ARTICLE

Affirmation, inspiration, confirmation, destiny, fulfillment, contentment, wrong road, right path, career guidance, duty of man, vickihinze, Vicki Hinze, Faith Zone, spirituality, faith

WHEN THE STUDENT IS READY...

READ ARTICLE

mentor, student, insight, understanding,spirituality, affirmation, confirmation, inspiration, vickihinze, Vicki Hinze

HARD TO LOVE

READ ARTICLE

FAITH PROCLAMATION

READ ARTICLE

©2008, Vicki Hinze

www.vickihinze.com

We’re busy making Christmas lists--both of things we want and things we want to give others.

We shop, often until we drop--multiple times--seeking the perfect gift for that someone special to us, often going to amazing lengths to make sure everything is just so, that the perfect gift is not only acquired but presented wrapped perfectly in the perfect paper and trimmed with the perfect bow.

We search our minds and hearts and speak blessings over our gifts, anticipating the reaction of that special someone when s/he sees it, opens it. We eagerly await the ooohs and ahhhs and the squeals of joy and pure, unabashed delight.

We take joy in giving. Heartfelt and sincere. Open and honest in child-like glee.

We relish the scents: fresh pine from our trees and wreaths, cookies baking, roast turkey filling the house. Cider and cinnamon and all the unique Christmas scents we reserve only for this special time of year.

We attend special programs, special parties and gatherings. We pluck strangers names and wishes off trees and make them come true. We feed and clothe others, buy gifts for children in foreign countries we will never see. We open our minds and hearts and, yes, our wallets, and we think of others. We do for others. We are aware of others.

These things are all a part of the spirit of Christmas.

God charged us to love one another. Christ reiterated it, delivering the message to us personally. Throughout the years, many have repeated it using the same and different words, like Mother Teresa, who suggested we do little things with great love.

Over and again we have been told and reminded, and been blessed with the refrain. And especially at Christmas time we hear and listen. Often at Christmas we focus outside ourselves and on the needs and wishes of others. We embrace the spirit of Christmas.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we took a lesson from Dickens’ Scrooge and embraced Christmas every day? Yes, perhaps that is idealistic and in the view of some unrealistic. But is it really?

Is it so difficult to embrace that child-like joy at giving and doing for others? Is it really impossible to keep our hearts and minds open? To think of others as well as ourselves?

For some it may be. But others will consider it a great liberation. A license to be joyful--guilt-free!

So many of us have been conditioned to believe that we must scramble and snatch to get what we want. The fear of less or none drives greed and corruption, and we all know those things are far too prevalent. It often takes a long time to realize that we don’t have to scramble and snatch. It’s a myth that just isn’t true. There’s more than enough. Ours is a God of more than enough who desires us to live life abundantly. And sooner or later we discover another truth: READ MORE

Tags: Love, Christmas spirit, Christmas season, affirmation, confirmation, inspiration, belief, BELIEVERS ACTIONS, vicki hinze, truth,

LIVING OUR BEST LIFE: PART 2

LIVING OUR BEST LIFE: PART 2
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2008
LIVING OUR BEST LIFE: PART 2 ©2008, Vicki Hinze


Being disciplined. Discipline doesn't come easily, particularly to creative types. Actually, I doubt it's easy for any type, but where would we be...
READ MORE...

Tags:living our best life, spirituality, PROVERBS, wisdom, discernment, respect for authority, respect, gifts, trials, giving in, giving up, inspiration, affirmation, confirmation, ITW, MWA, ACFW, ACRA, AG, RWA, authors

Living Our Best Life: Part 1

LIVING OUR BEST LIFE: PART 1
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2008
WARNING: This is a no-edit zone...


LIVING OUR BEST LIFE: PART 1 ©2008, Vicki Hinze

We all want to live the best life we can live. We have many different views on what our best live is and how to...
READ MORE...


Tags:living our best life, spirituality, PROVERBS, wisdom, discernment, respect for authority, respect, gifts, trials, giving in, giving up, inspiration, affirmation, confirmation, ITW, MWA, ACFW, ACRA, AG, RWA, authors

Chances

How many chances does one get to get things right?

We’re mistake-ridden.  We make errors in judgment, use criteria that later proves faulty.  We goof, screw up, mess up.  We blow off when we should embrace, embrace when we should shun, shun when we should hold on with both hands in white-knuckle grips. 

We don’t set out to do the wrong thing, or say the wrong thing, or to hurt others.  We often don’t realize that we have until we discover it later--sometimes through a third party.  It isn’t arrogance, we’re just, well, clueless.

Everyone has moments where they’re clueless.  Everyone takes a staggered step and slides off into a ditch now and then.  We’re human, and even if we are acting deliberately, thoughtfully, and with care, we’re going to make mistakes.

It isn’t a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.  And really it isn’t a matter of the mistake we make so much as it is a matter of our reaction to it.

READ MORE


Blessings,

Vicki
©2008, Vicki Hinze