by | May 25, 2013 · 6:08 am

Looking Back–5/25/2013

026Looking back on my life, I see many things I wish I hadn’t done and some bad habits I wish I hadn’t started. The main things I regret is are those that caused pain or unhappiness to others, even though the majority of those times I hurt others were unintentional , there were a few I did with the intent to cause harm. I regret them all, even my worst enemy is my friend in my heart and even though I have forgiven myself and be forgiven by grace I still feel the need to express my sorrow for my hurtful deeds of the past. I was hurt far more times than I have caused hurt in my youth and to those who hurt me I send forgiveness and my best wishes.  Besides bad habits and poor choices in my past there are things I either chose not to do or never had the opportunity to do that still wears upon my mind. Mainly never having children of my own and my stupid mistake of leaving high school before I graduated.

Looking back on my life  I see the many good things I did and the joy I had found with the few friends I had been blessed with. The good times we had and the times when we were sad. It all added up to help make me the person I am today. All the right or wrong choices, the good and bad I had done to me and the good and bad I had  done to others.

Live and learn they say and I did just that. I have come away from my youth knowing a lot about myself and others, I have learned what is not important and I still am learning about those things that are truly important.  I pray I shall have many years to live in order to learn, love and experience those things I haven’t yet experienced.

The past is to be learned by not lived in, the present is the moment we need to focus on and the future is but the result of both our past and present.

Ray Barbier

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by | May 17, 2013 · 8:16 pm

To be alive is one of the greatest gifts

IMG_1281To be alive is one of the greatest gifts that has been given to us all. We get to experience life and all of its ups and downs. Granted it would be nice if life was all ups,  but then would we really be able to appreciate all the greatness of life if we didn’t have some bad times mixed in? Well maybe but I think the sour grapes we occasionally have to eat make the sweet grapes even better when we find them.

“Sometimes life is Bittersweet, but when we show love to others and we  are blessed with love from others life seems so much sweeter.” .

Ray Barbier

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by | April 13, 2013 · 8:24 am

Devotion

I would just like to share one of my devotions.

Read Exodus 3-5

But Moses said to God “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt” – Exodus 3:11

Rhema: This is one of the great stories on the bible of how God used Moses to save the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt.
There will always come a time when we question our capabilities, if we can do this or not. “Can I really do this?” I think I’m not the best” “I’m just an average person” “I’m too old or I’m too young” – those are just part of excuses when face with challenges or trials. Those things paralyze us from doing greater things. But the Lord assured us, “I call you for a greater purpose.” Everything that happens on our life was part His great plan on our lives.

Reflection: “O Lord I have never been eloquent neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant I am slow of speech and tongue – Exodus 4:10

Sometimes God is calling us but because of our numerous excuses, we refused to His calling. I used to be like this. I used my excuses to paralyze my system. But then I realized that I won’t grow if I’ll let these excuses eat my system. I begin to realize that God created me to become the best on His eyes. So I know that there’s no room for excuses ‘coz God has greater plan on my life.

Motivation: “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” – Exodus 4:12 “I will be with you” Exodus 3:12

God always assures us that He’s at our side. That He won’t leave us nor forsake us. When venturing new thing, I used to have a lot of fears. But when I had a change of perspective on everything, I begin to realize that God is with me as long as I glorify and acknowledge Him in everything that I do.

Application: We are more than conquerors. It’s time to turn our weaknesses into strength. Stop making excuses because we’re all born for this!

God bless everyone! I missed blogging here (Please do check my personal blog http://amaeguerrero.wordpress.com)

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by | April 6, 2013 · 11:27 am

Thought of the day 4-16-2013

Change starts within yourself, if you can not make the change within yourself then you have little hope of inspiring it in others. When change manifests itself within you it tends to show, others see the change and some will follow by your example. Others may only be inspired to seek change within themselves and then the chain reaction begins. Most change comes slowly and sometimes it is very hard to recognize but in time its fruits will come to bear.

 Change comes from within and flows outward just like love and serenity.

Ray Barbier

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by | March 26, 2013 · 1:06 pm

Rich or poor, strong or weak

p10056Success, what is true success? Is the person who has all the money and possessions they could want successful or is it the person who has what he needs, a family whom they love and happiness from that love? Me personally, I would choose being happy and surrounded by love than all the riches or power of this world. I guess it boils down to ones point of view and perspective on life. To me being rich only opens one up to be a target for trouble and removes one from the reality of being human. One becomes so distracted and overwhelmed by greed and lust for power that they lose their sense of humanity and fairness. They can become self-absorbed, selfish and that leads to elitism which only creates the illusion we are of different classes and statures.

This is not to say their isn’t any financially wealthy people out there that are good-hearted or compassionate, it just is to say when money becomes more important than the lives of others then what humanity one has becomes diminished.  Individuality is not the division of the whole, it is the recognition of the differences within the parts that make the whole what it is. We must not forget we are a part of the whole of humanity.  Rich or poor, strong or weak, we are all a part of this great race we call humanity and we should take care of the needs of our fellow humans.

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by | March 9, 2013 · 3:28 pm

what we make them is our own choice

008Sometimes I think we get so wrapped up in what we don’t have, what we think we want and how we believe things should be that we lose sight of the things we have been blessed with. It isn’t what you want or what you do not have that matters it is the things you have been blessed with that is important. If you neglect those you love or ignore the blessings you have you may wind up losing them all.

If you think there is greener grass somewhere else then you need to wake up and see your grass is only in need of some maintenance. No relationship be it in love, business or friendship will last if it’s neglected or if its taken for granted. Love needs to be nurtured in order for it to grow and for it to last. If we all paid more attention to that which we have been blessed with we would see we really don’t need anything else to be happy. If we can get beyond the illusions of the grass looking greener in the next yard we may notice our own lawns are what we made them and what we make them is our own choice. True it takes two to make a relationship to work but it takes one to make change and inspire change in the other. Someone has to make the first move and work hard to improve the relationship. Usually if one cares and shows it the other will follow if there was love there to begin with.

Don’t let the glitter, fancy lights and other distractions pull you away from and steal from you the blessings and gifts God has given you.

Ray Barbier

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by | March 1, 2013 · 11:41 pm

Just some thoughts – 3/1/2013

006We walk through life blinded by all the new toys available each day and numb from the constant bombardment of our senses by the advertisements surrounding us everywhere we go. We live in a world that runs on consumerism, the working class makes, sells and buys the majority of the products on the market but it’s the select few who become rich from it all. We allow our pursuit of happiness to be defined as having the newest and best products and we tend to put a lot of the really important things in life at a lower priority than they should be.

When I was growing up my parents didn’t focus on giving us the most expensive clothes or the biggest gifts during birthdays and holidays they focused move on making sure we were healthy, happy and that we knew what respect, love and family was about. They gave us freedom but they also laid down guidelines or rules to try to keep us out of  trouble. They were not concerned if we kids had a A.T.V. like the neighbors kids and that taught us not to envy and not to be materialistic. Love is not the gifts your given, love is the gift in itself.

Like any parents they made mistakes, they didn’t teach us everything we needed to know to face the world but they did at least gave us a good foundation to start with.

The point I was trying to convey before I wandered off in my writing as I usually do is that my parents didn’t allow the distractions of life to get in the way of what was important, well at least 98% of the time. They did have a life outside of us kids at times but they tried hard not to let it interfere with our family and did what they could to include us in as much of it they could.

Life is full of flashing lights, bells, beeps and neat toys to distract us, we need to remember to refocus on the important things in life when those distractions come up.

Just some thoughts – 3/1/2013

Ray Barbier

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by | February 24, 2013 · 2:52 pm

Our bodies are not designed to be idle as much as we allow

p10053Exercise is not only for the body but it is for the mind as well, Seems when you give your body a workout you tend to lift your spirits and increase the blood flow to your brain and that is a good thing for sure. Research has been done into exercise and depression and has shown that physical activity does help lower the occurrence or strength of the depression. I can tell you from experience it does have a positive effect on stress and your emotional well-being.

Our bodies are not designed to be idle as much as we allow them to be and this is one of the causes for obesity  and poor cardiovascular health. Eating a good diet alone is not enough to keep in shape, so we need to get out and get moving. As the old saying  goes, a body in motion keeps in motion.

Just some thoughts

Ray Barbier

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by | January 29, 2013 · 3:24 pm

live a kind life and be kindhearted

Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber ...

Live with Authority, speak in authority, do all you do with authority and for God. Be kind, live a kind life and be kindhearted for that is what God wants all of us to be. Love and live life in his love, love others through him and let them feel the love God has for all. Be rid of fear and do not spread fear for it is the work of the devil. Fear keeps us from serving God more than it does anything else. Spread the Gospel (Good News) so everyone can know of God’s love for us all.  Accept the gifts and blessings God give you and be thankful for all you have received.

God Bless you all.

Ray Barbier

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by | January 28, 2013 · 4:21 pm

So many reasons why bullying exists

KIDS0060So much has changed in my lifetime but yet so little, Bullying which was quite rampant in my day, my mother and fathers day and the generations prior and it is still as rampant now. The only difference is now they have taken it to a whole new level and do it with modern technology. Cyber bullying is  this generations way of shaming and degrading their peers. Nude photos, pornographic videos put on many different social networks including the giant FB. To prevent it we need to have to enforce the laws on the books so that the bullies realize there is a penalty for their actions, we need to change the attitude that boys will be boys and the idea someone else’s pain and sorrows is entertaining. The lack of respect for others and for themselves is one of the problems. The sad part the victim usually gets bashed and shamed for their mistake and the bully gets kudos. That is just plain wrong, If we teach our children to have respect for themselves and others this would help keep some of this down. There is so many reasons why bullying exists and not just one way to fix to problem. All we can do is to teach our children not to be hateful, disrespectful and how being a good person is truly the right way to be.

Parents, School officials, educators and the police should work together to find solutions to the problem, it is our children after all and regardless of which side our child is on we want better for our children and want them to be happy as well as safe at home and school.

Just some thoughts I had on a Monday.

Ray Barbier

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