Stand up and keep walking.....

Okay so there I was sitting with a cup of Milo in front of the TV watching a movie thinking about absolutely nothing. The main character was such a 'nice' guy and for some reason it just seemed that everybody treated him badly.....that life was dealing him a bad hand.

Memories of my life then started flashing through my mind in which I related to what he was going through.....and then I started feeling really sorry for him, just as I felt sorry for myself. Could it be? How did I ignore this for so long.....decieving myself? I felt sorry for myself!!!!!

This is not good.....this is not good at all!!!!

Why, because sorrow is the very thing that keeps you from moving forward in life. And sorrow makes you believe that you are not worth it!!

I almost got angry at....no I did get angry with the guy in the movie!!!! Stop feeling sorry for yourself dude! Do not accept being treated with no respect!! Get up man...just stand up for what you are worth!! You are not getting knocked down by life and other people....you are allowing yourself to be knocked down and eventually you even expect it and start looking for reasons to prove it to yourself.

It all comes down to RESPECT. 

Respect is a huge word. Respect encaptulates everything in life.....every choice we make.....every action we take......every attitude we carry......every word we utter!

If you don't love someone with respect, then you don't love that person.
If you don't display friendship with respect, then you are not a friend to that person.
If you do not respect yourself, then you are not able to be yourself.

And NOTHING justifies you treating anyone without respect. The moment you have to explain or convince or justify your action of disrespect......then you are fooling yourself and the other person.

For some reason we have lost the true meaning and intensity of the word respect. Like you can treat people without it when it suits you and then still expect to be 'respected' yourself. Hahahahahaa, seriously....stop kidding yourself!!!! You will eventually find yourself alone, this I can promise you.

Listen to me carefully now......stand up, open your eyes to the truth and keep walking! 


You are worth being loved with respect, being treated with respect!!

DO NOT accept anything less and do not treat people with anything less. Why? Because you are worth it!!!! And this, being worth it, is the one thing that you do not have to convince anyone of! Turning your back when treated with disrespect you do not have to explain or justify to no one!

You are worth it!!!!

So stand up, respect yourself and keep walking. We all want to finish well, so then start living well and surround yourself with people who treat you well.

Listen to what you are saying

I have to admit that I am guilty sitting here and writing this message. Guilty for not having shared what is on my heart and letting it build up inside me to the extend that I am a bomb of frustration waiting to explode!

There is one little sentence written in the Bible, Matt 5:37, that is so simple that we all know it yet we do not stop to fathom the importance and impact thereof. "Let your yes be your yes, and your no be your no!"

This little sentence impacts greatly on trust, self-esteem, relationship, choices and communication.

What I want to focus on is the meaning, the true meaning of words that we use. We are so quick to say things to others and apply words to our own lives, yet we never stop to consider the true meaning of those words. What we need to remember is that the very minute you say something to someone you instantly create a expectation with that person.

So what we need to pay attention to is the definition of that word you used on which the commitment was made and the expectation was created. Do you really know what the true definition is of that word? And are you truly willing and able to fullfill the true definition of that word....not just the part that suits you, but the entire definition of that word?

When you call someone your friend......do you know what the true and full meaning of 'friend' is and are you willing to be that true friend unconditionally?
When you use the word loyalty.......do you know what that word truly means and are you able to place it accurately within the context where it applies?
When you tell someone you love them......do you know what you are really saying? The attitude, the commitment, the respect and the compassion that comes with that word?

When you say yes......it is just that! Not only until it suits you, it means yes. Your character will be written based on your actions in line with your words, today, tomorrow and forever!

So stop for a minute before you speak, before you make commitment and before you say yes or no. Think, think again and make sure you can put your name next to every word you use because if you like it or not you are signing your name next to every word you use.

That is the only thing in life that no one can take from you...the one thing that only YOU can give away....and that is your word.

Think before you speak before you act.....and enjoy the person you choose to be!

The choices we make.....

It was like that yesterday, it was like that the day before and it was the same this morning. Yes, each day starts exactly the same.....with you having to make a choice.

We make choices everyday, some we are conscious of and others we are not. These choices they affect others, not just ourselves and not always in good ways. For these we sometimes are truly sorry and other times we are so caught up in our own ego and self rightiousness that we justify hurting others.

In the end we all will follow our own path no matter where it leads. One day you will look back and see your mistakes....we are not perfect. Yet these choices have consequences and some you can never put right again. Some caused you to lose things you can never get back again (friendship, marriage, business deal). Some leads to the end of a chapter so that you can start a new chapter in life (new job, new relationship, new life as a whole!).

All things, good and bad, starts with a choice. Do not make a choice if you are not certain.....while at the same time do not delay making an effort to ask questions to gain certainty. Avoiding to make a choice and taking constructive action simply leads to more pressure and tention.

These choices are there for you to make everyday. I can only hope that you try to make them with the same effort you wish to live by. The same effort that you wish for someone else to honor you with, even if it means to accept something you did not want right now.

I can only wish for you to learn from your mistakes and choices you made....and to share with others the good ones you made hoping it will benefit them one day. So become aware before you make a choice....for in every moment it is impossible for you to know all. Ask questions.....listen, really listen.....come clean with your intentions and be open to grow.

In the end, I guess all that matters is that you try to leave this place a little better than when you got here. To be part of something greater than just yourself.

The time is now.....it starts with your next choice.

Honestly.....is this real?

We hear the words integrity, authenticity and commitment used so much and thrown around today like eating Rice Crispies.....snap, crackle and pop.....and we hope things will change!

I am the first to put my hand in the air out of guilt here. I am talking about being a true and honest child of God. Not just a Christian as that word is used by many for the comfort it brings and the fake life that actually represents it in their own life.

Yes we all make mistakes, but there is a big difference between a honest mistake and knowing that you are doing something that is not good or just plain wrong.....and then still doing it! If I am married, there is a couple of things that you know is not good to do or say...things that will make that marriage fake. Like cheating on your spouse.....abusing that person....being involved with porn....flirting with others.....etc.

This is the same with saying that we are a Christian.....or I prefer saying that I am a child of God. Do you really know what it means to be a child of God? That commitment or decision you make to be in relationship with God?

Yet we are so quick to justify our 'sinful' or poor choices by saying that 'we are just human', or 'that is just who I am', and 'I don't want to judge them', even 'what friend would I be if I say no'.

So how real are you willing to be as a person? How true are you willing to be in your relationship with a God that loves you so much!!!!! A God that every moment of every day is placing His heart on the table for you in hope of love.....and with the risk to be rejected by you in a moment of knowing selfishness of sin. Yet He loves you so much He just comes back for more.....He is so jealously in love with you that He does not take no for an answer.....regardless of you showing with your behavior that you do not choose Him, He still tells you and shows you that He loves you, that His heart did not change for you, that He still wants you just as you are!!!!!

We expect everything from the awesome love of God that He promises...yet we are only willing to give what suits us and when it suits us!!!!! I mean are we kidding ourselves?!!! Really!! Hahahahahahaa, when we buy something we expect to get the whole thing we paid for.....if just a little piece is missing, we are so quick to react and demand to get what we paid for!!! Jesus paid for you in full my friend!! Are you still going to knowingly just give what suits you and when it suits you? WHat do you truly expect in return from Jesus and from God then? I mean be real here!

O what love!!!! Jesus sits there waiting anxiously to fill your heart with His love....a love that is so great that He was willing...and not just willing, but He did die for YOU!! And your actions every day reflect your love towards Him.

I have been blessed by the grace of God to receive a second chance in life when He saved my life in an accident.....I am sitting today and reflecting on what I am doing with that chance...with my life....with my choices.....as my chance in life to ensure I am going to heaven might end today. O how futile my excuses will sound on that day when I stand before God....."but God you know that is just who I am.....", "God you know it was just a innocent flirt", etc. 

I urge you to take this moment.......I thank God that by grace I received a moment like now.....as I did nothing to deserve this moment....it is just His love! His true, jealous, relentless and unconditional love for you and me!!!!!!

The time is now

Two years ago I was in an accident where God saved my life, medically they can’t explain how I am alive today. I was on my mountain bike and took a great fall. Just about 40m ahead of me was a turn I intended to take, yet I never made it.

A while after my recovery the Lord laid it on my heart how I intended to take that turn and never made it. He showed me how this reflects in our lives, just how many times God will bring something to our attention, or a friend shares wisdom and we are quick to ignore it.....to say ‘maybe later’. Yet chances are that we never get to that ‘later’ we always accept will just be there. Just like I never reached that turn in the road. Just like you are reading this now and saying: "yeah whatever".

I had the most wonderful week of my life recently, yet at the same time the greatest heartache. God brought something to my attention during this great week, yet I ignored it and said, ‘oh well, I know but maybe next time!’ Well it ended with me never getting that next time.

And the sad part with not paying instant attention to something that God brings to your awareness, is that it not only impacts your life but also that of others. In this case someone that was so dear to my heart. And I hurt her greatly.
I know it takes two to tango as they say, but I have to take responsibility for my actions and choices and not point the finger.

So my question is, where in my life....where in your life has God tried to get your attention and you are choosing to rather ignore it. We say maybe next time just because the choice we have to make does not suit us, does not feel nice or convenient in that moment.

Well the consequences are and always will be far more inconvenient. So live each moment in a way that you are proud of. In a way that people you care about will be proud of. In a way that God will always be proud of.

You have this one life, this one moment!

Oh how one moment of ignorance can cause a lifetime of sorrow? I pray that you open your eyes and open your heart to hear from God and listen.....and obey now, in that moment. Not later, for later may never be there. Not next time as it may never come.

I wish you courage, I wish you the strength and I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness. You are worth it!

True purpose?

Have you ever met someone and after a while you wonder what the purpose was? Especially if that person had a profound impact on your life, good or bad.

I for one have been there a few times. The ones that turned out good is easy to handle and we are greatful. Yet when things don't turn out that well, we are left with scars and questions. We are quick to look towards that person to blame them just to make us feel better. This however leaves us unchanged and no better off at all, just stuck where we have always been in that area of our life.

The scary reality is that in time you will find yourself there again as a result of YOU not having grown. Be it in your finances, relationships, love, work or hobbies. Every now and then someone will cross your path just to open your eyes, but if you are not willing to change.....you will just push that person away and keep on your path. And that path will just stay the same with the same outcomes untill you eventually choose to take another path.

Taking that other path is not easy because it will change your life. You will loose 'friends', and you will make new ones. You will have people reject you, tell you how stupid you are and what big mistake you are making. And going through that is tough cause it was your comfort zone for so long.

But your life and your future is in your hands. And if you truly want what is good then you are going to have to face these challenges. But I can guarantee you that there are people out there who want what is best for you and will support you through these times, cause they were there as well at some point.

Nothing will change without changes taking place!

The goodness and Godly truth in life will not change, no matter how you justify your actions just to avoid change. If you are honest with yourself, those people (friends) who you might loose, are their lives the one that you want? I bet you not. The one thing that I have learned is to not take advice from people regarding a given situation if their lives are not what you want in that situation. If someone is bad with finances....don't take their advice. If your friend has a relationship or marriage that you don't want, do not lend your ear to them. That is foolish and will keep you bound to that very place you are.

What does the Truth say on your sitaution? What does God say, how does He feel about your actions? That should be your measure, nothing else. Then my wish is that you have the courage and strength to act in line and hold on! Cause in the end, only you will know....you will gain.....or you will loose the very thing that you are after....that joy and happiness and love and peace.

Seeing is believing!

So many times I have found myself talking to people, sharing wisdom and insights, just to find myself talking to.....well, myself!

We have all heard the saying that talk is cheap. Well on the one hand it is cheap because it is so much easier to talk than it is to act in line with what you are talking about. Yet on the other hand talk is not cheap, it is bloody expensive!

It can cost you your integrity, your trust, your self-esteem and your self-belief. It can cost you your job, your business and your face value in the business world. It can cost you your most prized relationships, your marriage, your friends and your children. And worst of all, it can cost you your name!

Just the past week I caught myself in a situation where my actions was not in line with my character. And it is so easy to justify these actions just to make myself feel better. But justifying it does not change the truth.

Fortunately one can restore your word, your trust. By being honest and open to yourself first of all it becomes possible to be open and honest with others involved and thereby starting to act in line with what you are saying to then start restoring your character.

We all make mistakes. A friend and previous boss of mine once shared something so powerful with me. I made a big mistake and kept it hidden for some time. Then one day I went to him and with all truth and honesty shared this mistake. He then told me that it is not what I did back then......but what I did now that proves what person I am. It blew me away and motivated me so much more to keep walking in line with my word and in all truth and honesty.

Where in your life are you not walking in line with your word? Where does your actions not ressemble what you are saying? Chances are that in these very areas you are experiencing difficulties.

Make the choice today to turn your life around and start the journey towards the future that you are dreaming of. You have the ability, we all have the ability within us to let others see (experience) what we believe and therefore become empowered in our lives.

Go for it....take the step and let tomorrow be different. You've got what it takes in you!

You are worth it!