Live Prepared

As followers of Jesus, we are called to…

“…Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬ (Emphasis added)

We can’t expect people to observe what Jesus has commanded us unless we are also observing His commands ourselves.

Do we want people to learn about God’s love? Then we need to show God’s love to people. Do we want people to learn about Jesus’ compassion? Then we need to be compassionate. Do we want people to give generously? Then we need to be good stewards of our money. Do we want people to study God’s Word? Then we need to study it for ourselves.

When you give Jesus control over your life, you allow His love, joy, and hope to transform you. As this happens, your life becomes an act of worship that reveals His hope within you.

When you live like Jesus, people are drawn to Jesus in you.

As you worship Jesus with your life, you will be able to honestly say that Christ in you is your hope and glory—and people will believe it because they see the evidence.

They might not like who you are or agree with what you believe, but they won’t be able to find a logical reason to hate you when your life is centered around loving people the way Jesus loved you.

So as you go about each day, aim to live with gentleness and respect toward everyone—and let Jesus’ joy, love, and hope permeate your heart, mind, and relationships.

Credit:  A friend sent this to me… ❤

Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight (Official Music Video)

Lifelong Commitment

For couples so eager to call it quits and throw in the towel on your relationship because everything isn’t ‘perfect’… here is some food for thought.

Lifelong commitment is not what most people think it is. It’s not waking up every morning to make breakfast and eat together. It’s not cuddling in bed until both of you fall asleep. It’s not a clean home filled with laughter and love making every day.

It’s someone who steals all the covers, and snores, it’s slammed doors and a few harsh words at times.

It’s stubbornly disagreeing and giving each other the silent treatment until your hearts heal, and then forgiveness.

It’s coming home to the same person every day that you know loves and cares about you in spite of, and because of, who you are.

It’s laughing about the one time you accidentally did something stupid.

It’s about dirty laundry and unmade beds.

It’s about helping each other with the hard work of life.

It’s about swallowing the nagging words instead of saying them out loud.

It’s about eating the easiest meal you can make and sitting down together at a late hour because you both had a crazy day.

It’s when you have an emotional breakdown and your love lays down with you and holds you, and tells you everything is going to be okay. And you believe them.

It’s about still loving someone even though sometimes they make you absolutely insane.

Loving someone isn’t always easy, sometimes it’s hard. But it is amazing and comforting and one of the best things you will ever experience.

Credit:  A Facebook Post

Mississippi Born: Cynthia Geary

Cynthia Geary was born on March 21, 1965 in Jackson.

She is an actress best known for her role as Shelly Tambo on the television series Northern Exposure (1990–1995), which earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

Geary’s acting career began with a series of national commercials, including spots for Coca-Cola and General Motors.

She soon had numerous guest starring roles on a variety of television programs, made-for-television movies and independent films, including a small part in Smoke Signals, a film based on the short stories of Native American author Sherman Alexie.

Geary played the mother of the Olsen twins in their 1992 made-for-TV movie To Grandmother’s House We Go, appeared in the 1997 movie When Time Expires, and is the female lead in 8 Seconds.

She received Primetime Emmy nominations—two years in a row (1992, 1993)–for Best Supporting Actress, based on her role in Northern Exposure (1990-1995), an ensemble comedy set in rural Alaska.

She voiced the character of Katia Anderson in the second game of the Professor Layton video game series, Professor Layton and the Diabolical/Pandora’s Box.

Geary’s latest movie, Due Justice, was released in 2023.

The Morale Of This Story Is

AN OLD WOMAN WALKED UP AND TIED HER OLD MULE TO THE HITCHING POST.

AS SHE STOOD THERE, BRUSHING SOME OF THE DUST FROM HER FACE AND CLOTHES, A YOUNG GUNSLINGER STEPPED OUT OF THE SALOON WITH A GUN IN ONE HAND AND A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY IN THE OTHER.

THE YOUNG GUNSLINGER LOOKED AT THE OLD WOMAN AND LAUGHED, “HEY OLD WOMAN, HAVE YOU EVER DANCED?”

THE OLD WOMAN LOOKED UP AT THE GUNSLINGER AND SAID, “NO,… I NEVER DID DANCE… NEVER REALLY WANTED TO.”

A CROWD HAD GATHERED AS THE GUNSLINGER GRINNED AND SAID “WELL, YOU OLD BAG, YOU’RE GONNA DANCE NOW,” AND STARTED SHOOTING AT THE OLD WOMAN’S FEET.

THE OLD WOMAN PROSPECTOR — NOT WANTING TO GET HER TOE BLOWN OFF –STARTED HOPPING AROUND.

EVERYBODY WAS LAUGHING. WHEN HIS LAST BULLET HAD BEEN FIRED, THE YOUNG GUNSLINGER, STILL LAUGHING, HOLSTERED HIS GUN AND TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK INTO THE SALOON.

THE OLD WOMAN TURNED TO HER PACK MULE, PULLED OUT A DOUBLE-BARRELED SHOTGUN, AND COCKED BOTH HAMMERS.THE LOUD CLICKS CARRIED CLEARLY THROUGH THE DESERT AIR, AND THE CROWD STOPPED LAUGHING IMMEDIATELY.

THE YOUNG GUNSLINGER HEARD THE SOUNDS, TOO, AND HE TURNED AROUND VERY SLOWLY.

THE SILENCE WAS ALMOST DEAFENING.

THE CROWD WATCHED AS THE YOUNG GUNMAN STARED AT THE OLD WOMAN AND THE LARGE GAPING HOLES OF THOSE TWIN BARRELS.

THE BARRELS OF THE SHOTGUN NEVER WAVERED IN THE OLD WOMAN’S HANDS, AS SHE QUIETLY SAID, “SON, HAVE YOU EVER KISSED A MULE’S ASS?”

THE GUNSLINGER SWALLOWED HARD AND SAID, “NO M’AM… BUT I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO.

THERE ARE FIVE LESSONS HERE FOR ALL OF US:

1 – Never be arrogant.
2 – Don’t waste ammunition.
3 – Whiskey makes you think you’re smarter than you are.
4 – Always make sure you know who has the power.
5 – Don’t mess with old women; they didn’t get old by being stupid.

Reading & Writing

What activities do you lose yourself in?

Two of my favorite pastimes, passions are reading & writing … I truly can and do lose myself in it.

Reading is a hobby I enjoy. It brings benefits like expanding my mind and boosting my creativity.

For me, books provide an escape from stress, helps me to relax, and soothes my mental well-being.

Writing is a relationship between me and my computer (keyboard). I do my best expressions through my writing.

Mississippi Born: Charley Pride

Charley Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi, on March 18, 1938. He was one of eleven children born to sharecroppers and cotton pickers. Pride grew up working in the fields near his home and developed two loves, country music and baseball.

At age fourteen he bought his first guitar, a Silvertone, from Sears and taught himself how to play. According to childhood friends, he played both baseball and the six-string every day.

In 1955 Pride traveled to Loew’s State Theatre in Memphis for a talent competition. The next day he attended a baseball tryout and landed a job as a pitcher and outfielder in the Negro Leagues. In late 1956 he was drafted by the US Army, and he served through early 1958. He subsequently resumed his baseball career, playing in the Negro Leagues in the late 1950s before moving to Montana and working as a smelter and playing semipro ball in the early 1960s. After unsuccessful tryouts with Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Angels and New York Mets, his baseball career came to an end.

While in Montana, Pride had begun a music career, singing the national anthem at baseball games and performing in honky tonks and nightclubs. He went to Nashville, where a recording session with Jack Clement led to his signing with Chet Atkins, vice president of RCA Records. In 1965 RCA released Pride’s first single, “Snakes Crawl at Night.” Pride had his first No. 1 single with 1969’s “All I Have to Offer You (Is Me).” In 1971 he released “Kiss an Angel Good Morning,” which became his best-selling record and earned a Grammy Award as the year’s Best Country Song. That year, he also earned the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist Awards.

Pride’s résumé includes thirty-six No. 1 singles and more than seventy million albums sold. He made his first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry on 1 January 1967, and as he recalled, “Ernest Tubb brought me on, and I was more nervous than a cat on a hot tin roof.” On 1 May 1993 he became the first black member of the Grand Ole Opry. In 2000 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 2008 he received a lifetime achievement award from the Mississippi Arts Commission. With his smooth, baritone voice, Pride took concertgoers back to a time in country music before the flash and glamour of many of today’s current singers.

Charley Pride passed away on December 12, 2020.

Turn A Negative Into A Positive

Be gentle and encouraging with yourself.

If a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and respond with affirmations of what is good about you.

Think about things you’re thankful for in your life.

Instead of getting down about something, find something to be happy about and use this optimistic thought to replace your pessimistic thoughts. 

Christians are often just as guilty of negativity and grumbling as those who do not know God.

We often forget Jesus’s words, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!

I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Negativity was one of the Israelites’ gravest sins after God brought them out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and destroyed their enemies with a single, crashing wave (Exodus 14:16–18).

Yet, as soon as the Israelites weren’t getting what they wanted, they began to grumble against God (Numbers 14:27).

Rather than rejoice over all God had done for them and trust that He would continue to provide, they murmured and complained.

The Lord hears when we do that, and it greatly displeases Him (1 Corinthians 10:10–11; John 6:43).

In the Beatitudes (Luke 6:20–23), Jesus gave us a glimpse into that better life. 

First Timothy 4:12 tells us to “set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

It is important to always keep in mind that, for the unbeliever, this world is as close to heaven as they will ever be.

For the Christian, this world is as close to hell as we will ever be.

When we live with that as our focus, we have the tools to combat the world’s negativity and model the abundant life Jesus came to give us (John 10:10).

We need to rewire our brain from negativity.

Rewiring our brain to be more positive requires a few key ingredients: patience, commitment, and moment-by-moment intention.

And also pray about the situation and surround yourself around positive people.

Teddy Swims – Lose Control (Live)

Jaten Collin Dimsdale, also known pseudonymously as Teddy Swims, is an American singer-songwriter, whose music blends genres including R&B, soul, country, and pop. 

He originally attracted fans through his cover performances on his YouTube channel, and his third extended play “Tough Love” (2022), became his first solo music to enter the US Billboard 200.

Swims rose to prominence in 2023, after his single “Lose Control“, topped the music charts and reached the top ten across Europe including the US and UK.

It is considered as his breakout single as a artist.

It was preceded by the release of his debut studio album I’ve Tried Everything, But Therapy (Part I), which reached the top ten in Australia and Netherlands.

In 2024, he was named at MTVs “Push Artist of February“.

Swims grew up in Conyers, Georgia.

His father introduced him to soul music at an early age by way of artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Al Green.

Swims’ family were football enthusiasts; he had been playing football for ten years when, during his second year at Salem High School, one of his teachers suggested he and a few of his teammates sign up for a musical theater class.

The teacher also said he should join the chorus.

Swims discovered his passion for performance through his experience in high-school theater, where he performed in musicals such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as well as Shakespeare plays. 

He began playing instruments including piano and ukulele and watched YouTube videos of singers to help develop his vocal technique.

Can I make Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme FASTER than ordering one?

Personal Autonomy: Your Life Choices

Let’s face it, we all make choices – big and small – on a daily basis.

And not everyone is going to agree with them.

It’s our human desire for validation that often leads us to feel obliged to explain our decisions.

But here’s the thing: You’re the one living your life, not them.

Whether it’s about your career, your relationships, or even your dietary habits, you get to call the shots.

So next time you find yourself on the verge of justifying a personal decision, remember this: Your life choices are just that – yours.

You don’t owe anyone an explanation for them.

As long as you’re not harming others or breaking any laws, you have the autonomy to make decisions based on what feels right for you.

And that’s completely okay.

Credit:  Lucas Graham

Old Age Is Hell – Part 2

When I was a teenager/young adult (in my 20s), I considered ‘old age’ to be people in their 60s and older. Now that I’m at that age now, I’m looking at ‘old age’ differently.

My grandfather use to say, getting older is a privilege and it means that you didn’t die young.

In my post from yesterday, I stated, “Gina throughout the years – the outside looks better than the inside feels. 😕”

The reason I said that is because when most people look at me, they think I’m as healthy as an ox. Truth be told, I have a few invisible illnesses.

An invisible illness is a health condition that isn’t outwardly visible but can limit or challenge a person in some way.

When I have flare ups/episodes, they are very debilitating and painful. Which means I’m out of commission for 1-3 days or longer.

As we aged nowadays, our looks seem to be reverting backwards, but sometimes our bodies (health wise) haven’t caught up with reverting backwards.

I’m thankful for my aging journey although some days are painful, it could be worst.

Aging gracefully is a mindset by having an optimistic spirit and a sense of purpose.

I practice regular habits to help me to age gracefully in spite of my illnesses:

1) Live In The Moment, Making Memories

2) Forgive Yourself And Others

3) Laugh

4) Stay Curious, Stay Engage

5) Exercise, Healthy Diet

6) Meditate, Listen To Music

7) Be Grateful

I still like the poem from yesterday though 😉

Old Age Is Hell

Face full of wrinkles, got a second chin
Hair is all greying, needs dying again
Don’t quite remember these curves being there
And when did my hips get so big and square

Eyesight is failing, hearing bout gone
Arms waving bye bye, lost all their tone
OMG what happened to my chest
What used to point onward now points SE & SW

Gravity is not prejudice, it grabs us all
What once was so perky has taken a big fall
Arther and Rhitis have both moved in
Now Bengay and Icyhot are my new best friends

They say that the memory is the first thing to go
Slowly forgetting all that we know
Mother Nature is cruel, this we know well
Take it from me, old age is hell.

Credit:  Lisha Forshee

Gina throughout the years – the outside looks better than the inside feels. 😕

Mississippi Born: Woodie Assaf

Woodie Assaf was born on March 15, 1917 in McComb. He was a weatherman. Assaf started working for WLBT television in Jackson on December 20, 1953, the first day it went on the air and worked there until he retired in 2001.

In the beginning he did a variety of jobs at the station, including recording commercials, selling advertising, and reporting news, sports and weather. Eventually he became the “weather man,” giving weather reports on the station. He was not a meteorologist and qualified all his weather reports with the line “The weatherman says…”.

At the time of his retirement, he had the second longest tenure as a weatherman at the same station in U.S. broadcasting history. Only Dick Goddard surpassed Assaf at 55 years, with the last 50 at WJW in Cleveland.

Assaf was a fixture in fundraising and community activities. He annually hosted the Easter Seals Telethon. In 1969 he hosted a benefit starring Bob Hope that raised over $2.5 million for victims of Hurricane Camille. He emceed numerous beauty pageants and special events throughout the state. In 1996 he carried the Olympic torch, representing WLBT-TV.

In 1999, a Clarion-Ledger readers’ poll voted him Mississippi’s most popular TV personality of the millennium.

Assaf died of natural causes at Riggs Manor Retirement Center in Raymond on November 13, 2009.

Let Go

What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?

Don’t blow things out of proportion by hitting ‘replay’ in your mind.

Accept that bad feelings are occasionally unavoidable.

Use pleasant activities like reading, walking, listening to music, or talking to a friend to free your mind.

Learn what triggers those negative feelings so you can prepare in advance.

Exercise lowers your level of stress chemicals and allows you to cope better with negative emotions.

When all else fails, learn to let go and let God.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard – In Spite Of Me (ft. Ciara)

Incredible! Quick Dinner Ready in 10 Minutes! Simple and Delicious Tortilla Recipe

Listening To Him

In our journey of faith, we often seek God’s guidance and direction for the decisions we face.

However, there are moments when we find it difficult to hear God’s voice clearly, especially when we have already made up our minds about what we want Him to say.

This struggle arises from the tension between our human desires and God’s perfect will.

We tend to have preconceived notions about how God should respond to our prayers or guide us.

We may come to God with our own plans, dreams, and desires, hoping for His affirmation rather than seeking His truth.

However, this approach limits our ability to hear God’s voice clearly.

It is crucial to acknowledge our tendency to mold God’s words to fit our own desires and instead approach Him with humility and openness.

No

I don’t want to be around negative people; they don’t uplift or inspire me, then it’s a “no”.

When something or someone resonates with you, it often evokes a strong emotional response.

It may elicit feelings of joy, sadness, excitement, inspiration, or nostalgia.

You might find yourself deeply moved or touched by the subject matter or the way it is expressed.

If I am not feeling anything positive, then why bother.

Owl

Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?

The owl is the most rare spirit animal and creature.

In the case you encounter an owl, the universe is giving you a sign.

This animal represents wisdom, patience, solitude, deep connection, and intuitive knowledge.

An owl’s wide-eyes is known to pierce deceit and encourage you to see beyond the illusions created in your head.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Something can be very different from how it seems or appears to be.

If someone tells you that “appearances can be deceptive,” they mean you should look closely at your surroundings because the truth might not be obvious. 

Judging others based on their appearance is a practice that perpetuates discrimination, stereotypes, and unfair treatment.

It is vital to understand that appearances alone do not accurately reflect a person’s character, abilities, or worth.

Life Is A Series Of Crossroads

Life is a series of interconnected moments, each marked by the choices we make.

From the seemingly trivial to the profound, decisions define the trajectory of our existence.

They serve as compass points, guiding us through the labyrinth of experiences, influencing our growth, relationships, and the ultimate realization of our aspirations.

The art of decision-making is a multifaceted skill, shaped by our values, experiences, and the complex interplay of emotions and logic.

Whether trivial or life-altering, every decision carries significance, contributing to the tapestry of our lives.

Sometimes you find yourself surrounded by unhealthy people or things and you realize you have lost focus on making the right choices.

We often forget in our journey to the “top” or to that “place on the map” that there will be crossroads.

Those moments in life when we are faced with a dilemma – which road do I take?

Do I take the road that is going to get me THERE (as you point again), in the quickest time or in the easiest way, even if it means compromising my values?

Do I take that road even if it means not showing up to the party as the person I know I should be – a person of integrity, a person people can trust, a person with values?

So yes, life is definitely about choices. And, these choices, define YOU. Who do you want to be? You are NOW at that crossroad – which path do you take to get THERE.

It’s Alright It’s OK

Failure Is Not An Option

A lack of tenacity can be blamed to why people don’t succeed in life and end up failing.

You can be talented, you can be intelligent but if you don’t combine these two with persistence, you’ll eventually fail.

A lack of persistence is one of the biggest obstacles to success.

A person who wants to pursue a goal can be inexperienced, with a lack of need skills and knowledge, and without the proper attitude, mindset, and traits of personality for achieving success.

Awareness

…an ability to understand, recognize, observe, or react to something…

The more aware we are, the more likely we can start to see the patterns in our thoughts, words, and behaviors.

In other words, we can start to see patterns in how we deal with challenges in both our work and personal lives.

Among other things, we can start to see patterns in how we deal with our interactions with others.

We may come to realize that we are attracting the same kind of personal or romantic relationships over and over again, relationships that might be negative or even toxic and therefore not serve our highest good.

Awareness in our self and others … 👀

We may come to realize that we have a habit of wanting to lash out at others or take revenge if they demand too much of us.

We may realize that we only like to look at our side of the “story” instead of realizing that there are many sides to the same story or issue.

Knowing why we think, feel, and do things is essential and, importantly, is the beginning of real freedom and meaning in our lives.

If we delve deep enough, we’ll reach the two things that motivate us most:  love and conscience.

Speak Up & Ask For What You Need

Work for what you want, pray for what you need, and fight for what you’ve always dreamt about.

If you don’t communicate your desires or needs, you can’t expect them to be fulfilled.

Cast of ‘A Different World’ reunites after 35 years on TODAY

Destiny

Do you believe in fate/destiny?

Remember that Fate is something that is predetermined by an outside force, while Destiny is determined by the choices and actions taken by an individual.

Think of Fate as something that is out of your control, while Destiny is something that you can control through your choices and actions.

Fate and Destiny are not interchangeable.

That being said, I believe in Destiny.

Blocking Blessings

God sometimes delays blessings because He wants us to see Him.

God also delays because He’s usually doing something bigger than our situation.

The easiest way to attract more blessings in your life is to encourage and acknowledge the good things you already have going on by celebrating them.

When you encourage and praise the blessings you have already been given, you become an energetic match for receiving even more blessings!

God commands blessings on obedience—His blessing resides in and on His will fulfilled.

When you are in His will through your obedience, you have the legal and spiritual right to command the blessing upon your life in agreement with God’s Word.

You can only bless what God has already blessed!

Beyonce – TEXAS HOLD ‘EM

What’s all the controversy about? Music is not about race.

We as listeners shouldn’t limit ourselves to only the artists we’re expected to like and we also shouldn’t avoid listening to some artists just because they don’t fit the stereotypical mold.

I love all types of genre.

I’m always drawn to songs that unleash some sort of emotion, whether that be joy or sadness.

And I think that the reason artists make music is to do the exact same thing because like any art form, music is a way of expressing oneself.

Songs that can take you back in time to good memories or that can inspire you in some way are the core of what music was always meant to be.