Life with Meaning

Today's reflection from my heart is about living a life that is full, meaningful and productive for others. I went to see the doctor last week and he took an extra moment just to thank me for all the work I've done with the elderly and the ill patients who do not have family. It meant a lot. I didn't even know he knew about any of those things. It's nice to know my life has meaning not only for me but for others also.

To My Best Facebook Friends

I love bragging on my friends. On Facebook, I've made the kind of friends that makes you want to travel long distances just to meet and hug them once. Today, I want to sincerely thank these women for being a vital part of my life, for praying for me, for always having something encouraging on their walls:

Samantha Richards

Saundra Dalton

Lacresha Hayes

Erica Newton

Sabriena Williams

Debbie Todd

Rita Garcia

Janet Macor

Jannel Hall

I love you all and hopefully one day, I will get the meet those of you I hadn't met already.

A Great Inheritance

Today's reflection is about inheritance. What are you leaving behind for your children, grandchildren and so on? I'm not speaking of money and houses. I speak of values and skills. Yesterday was the joy of my life to have my grandchildren help me make preserves. They were amazed to learn how jelly/jam is made. And I could see a light in the eyes of my granddaughter. She learned something and enjoyed herself.

When I was a child, I remember learning to cook, clean, sew, quilt and garden from my mother and my aunt. I loved every minute of it once they pulled my attention from playing. I passed most of that knowledge on to my children but they hadn't bothered to teach my grandchildren, so I decided to do it myself.

A great inheritance is more than physical possessions. Leaving behind a piece of history, however, is priceless. Leaving a piece of your passion and your drive is priceless. Don't underestimate the power of time spent doing things new together.

2 Months without Coffee

It's been a solid two months and I've been without my morning and afternoon coffee. I'm sleeping better than ever and my energy level is up. My vision is clearer than before and I have much less nervousness. I'd love to hear from those who are also kicking the coffee.

Need Your Prayers

I have recently stopped visiting the nursing homes here in Louisville. My health and medication sometimes make it difficult to drive or even to get out of bed. I ask for your sincere prayers because I really love spending time with the elderly and learning from them. I love visiting hospitals and bringing food to the shelter. I hate when I'm not able to keep my schedule. I believe God for healing everyday and know that He is able.

Keep Your Optimism

Today's reflection is about optimism. It isn't always easy to see the brighter side of things. Sometimes, we lose hope in God and usually it is just about the time we need it most. Do not give up on God. Keep hope alive. Believe that things will get better and somehow, they will. Believe that life won't always be a sad tale, and somehow it won't.

Faith, Hope, Belief, Trust, Reliance

Pray Always

A person's knees says more about their faith than all the signs, bumper stickers, t-shirts and Christian books in the world. Be a person of prayer. The Bible admonishes us to pray without ceasing. Again, it tells us also that men ought to always pray. Let's take our relationship with God to a new level by simply spending more time communing with Him. You may be surprised at what you learn about the heart and character of God.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

Urgent prayer needed for Jason Hughes and Natalie Martinez. They were in a car accident. Both are in critical condition. Pray also for their families. Thank you.

Kicking the Coffee

Today I am sans coffee. I'm starting to realize that the caffeine is making my insomnia worse. After a couple of hours of research, I'm almost certain that caffeine after a certain hour makes it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep.

I encourage you, friends, to go lite on the coffee intake. I will keep everyone posted.

Call to Salvation

Heaven is a real place, as is hell. Sometimes, because we can't perceive the spiritual world with our five senses, we nullify it and all the warnings the Bible gives us. But just because you cannot touch, taste, smell, see or hear heaven and hell does not change the fact that they exist.

God doesn't desire to punish anyone, nor send anyone into eternal damnation. In fact, it isn't His choice. It's yours! Choose Christ today. Let Him come into your heart and guide you throughout the rest of your life. You won't be sorry and I promise you, your life will be the better for it. Mine is. I'm joyful all the time, even times of loss, because I know my Savior personally.

Family Reflections

Today's reflection is about family time. I know it's difficult to get all the family together when everyone is working various shifts, but the task is worth the fight.

Family meals and discussions are vital to a healthy relationship amongst the members. Sometimes, it pays to shut the television off, turn off all the electronic gadgets, including the phone, and sit down for supper with your family. Take a day out of the week and visit with one another, sincerely inquiring about daily happenings.

Our families are disconnecting and it saddens me. But we can do something about it. Even if it doesn't quite work the way you planned the first few times, keep trying. Don't give up on building a close knit family unit.

Be Kind to Your Body

Today's reflection is about healthy bodies. I remember when I was a young girl. I never imagined that one day I would be unable to speak. I never imagined I'd deal with debilitating diseases that make it difficult to get up and down stairs, to open jars of pickles, and fold laundry. I was carefree as it concerned my physical abilities.

Today, I hate I was not more thankful to God for something so simple as ability to move around on my own without pain. Please appreciate your body. Be kind to it because the days will come when the abuse you serve it now will show up later on.

LACRESHA HAYES - Enigma or Servant?

Lacresha has been a friend to me for a very long time and while many of these questions I knew already, she surprised me again with some of her answers. I hope you enjoy!

Q. Lacresha, you're coming up on several new book releases. Could you tell us more about them?

A. Yes. This year will see DRAMA hit Amazon kindle. BLACK DAKOTA and THE SNARE OF A STRANGE WOMAN will be released to print. I believe these three will be some of my best performers yet.

Q. What's new in your life?

A. Well, of course I'm battling several chronic illnesses, one of which interferes with my ability to type some days. I've been working on completing a series, yet untitled, of books about strong women overcoming real life challenges. I'm also trying to light a fire under my husband's behind because he has a great book he's finished that needs to be released for the public's eye.

Q. How has the chronic pain you experience affected your writing speed and concentration?

A. Honestly, it has slowed the process down quite a bit. I find myself having to be more focused with very little distraction because writing during pain can be very tedious. No complaints, though. At least I am still able to write, albeit at a slower pace.

Q. What advice do you give writers/authors in this recession and troubling publishing times?

A. I tell aspiring and professional writers both to think outside the box. Don't give up hope because there are many avenues into print. The thing is to keep your goals clear. Know what you want to get out of your career and let that be your reward even when sales are low.

Q. We want to stay in touch with you. Where can you be reached?

A. My primary website is http://www.lacreshahayes.com or you can reach me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Bebo and Twitter. You can reach me by email at lacresha.hayes@gmail.com for speaking engagements or to arrange author appearances, or just to send me a review/feedback.

Past Experience

Where you been is not the full definition of who you are or will be. You are an enormous being and it takes more than your past experiences to define you. God has to define you and show you who you're really meant to be. So many giants are living like mice. God wants your eyes to be opened once again. God loves you and I do too.

Pathway of the Righteous

Today, let God open your eyes so that you can see who He truly is and what He truly desires for your lives. We need to take time out with people who are suffering and dying of loneliness along the pathway of the righteous. So then the question becomes, who is the righteous? It certainly isn't the ones who kick dust in the face of the down-trodden. Once we become more like our Father, then we begin to see ourselves and others the way He sees us.

Lord, open our eyes wide and help us to see and understand!

Young Ladies

Since being on Facebook, I've learned so much about our young ladies of today. So many of them are lacking fathering and they seek it in all the wrong places.

Let's please pray for our children, for our teenagers and for the adults they'll eventually become. Pray still has power!

Peace is Like...

Peace is like a quiet stream. There's silence and calm though much may be going on. Peace is like being taken up into the eye of the storm. You can see destruction everywhere but you can't help but realize that you're somehow safe. Peace is like the stillness of a house in the wee hours of the morning when everyone is asleep. Yes, there are people there, but you don't hear them. You see them, but it doesn't interfere with who you are.

Seek peace and pursue it.

Life Interrupted, Thanks to the Snow

With all the snow that is on the ground, I've not been able to move around much. I've not been to the library or the nursing homes and hospitals, which is a part of my normal routine. However, I have been able to cuddle up in the arms of Abba Father and let Him soothe my soul, rest my mind and enlighten every fiber of my being with His wisdom and love.

Sometimes, the world needs to slow down so God can speak and minister to our hearts. Sometimes, life interrupted is the best way to live. It's not about interruptions but what we do as we await it to be put back on track.

The Voices Have Been Silenced

Most unfortunately, people are dying daily without the hope of salvation. They are dying without ever fully embracing the warm and unending love of God. They are dying without ever having lived.

In the wake of the Arizona shootings, I am stunned that more churches are not rallying to bring in souls. I am stunned that the Christian voices that once so loudly spoke out for truth are now being silenced by hectic, harmful and sinful lifestyles or by their love of money.

As people, we all make a choice daily to do something for the next woman or man, or to do nothing at all for anyone but ourselves. I choose righteous living and teaching over selfishness. I choose God's love and the opportunity to spread it. We must all make our own choices, but if you choose not to do anything, then you forfeit your right to voice your opinion.

I am crying out for bold, outspoken, righteous men and women of God to arise and come to the forefront. We, as a nation, need you. More importantly, God is calling you!