Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.

- Albert Einstein

Have you ever been, for example, so angry at someone that it seemed just so hard to forgive that person? It even got to the point where you were losing sleep over it, couldn't function at work or perform daily tasks and/or even became easily angered toward other people that were not even involved because you were so bitter?

And then you start to remember that old sermon that the pastor preached a couple of Sundays ago on "forgiving your enemies" and "keeping peace." But you know the way you're feeling is wrong, and being the faithful Christian that you are, you "must" have peace with that person that got you so bitter. So you put it in your head for the moment that "you must forgive" because "the pastor said so" and because "it's the Christian rules..."

However, what are we forgetting here???

It's not that you "must" forgive, but you should want to forgive! It should not be forced! Because what happens if it's forced? Well that means today you can be "forced" to peace, but tomorrow, it can come back! Because why? You didn't want to forgive in the first place! You never nicked the problem in the first place, and like an underlying, undeveloped pimple hiding beneath the surface, it comes up! Nastier than ever!

So how do we want to forgive? Well, by understanding! If you understand why this or that happened and how it happened and understand what to do to fix it, it becomes resolved! God wants to give us answers, but we just have to listen. With understanding, comes divine peace from God that no man can ever rock again! And you become a rock!

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.

Anne Frank

When we get lonely, scared and sad, can you figure out what we always like to do? Eat that half-gallon bowl of icecream? Sulk in our bed and watch sad movies from morning, noon to night? Have a drink a couple of drinks?... Any of these scenarios sound familiar to you? Well some advice from me to you...

Get OUT the house and LIVE!

Sometimes as imperfect human beings we like to go to the negative things to "solve" our issues instead of finding the root of the problem. In order for us to get to the bottom of our situation, we must step back from the problematic place and find a positive place to be to clear our minds. A place that takes you away from the source of pain. Because think about it - say if you try to stay in the same spot as the place that gives you the pain... How then are you ever going to resolve your pain when it's there by default? That's why you got to get away. Once you find that special place, whether it be a walk in the park, the beach, or a place that's special to you... then you can have a better understanding of you, what makes you you and what makes you happy. Then maybe, just maybe, you will feel the presence of God and think, "Well, I was bothered God, and I was feeling a bit hopeless, but you know what? I'm alive!."

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.

-The Holy Bible, King James Version, Matthew 6:34

Have you ever had a stressful day at work? Or feel overwhelmed and stretched living pay check to pay check? Or worry about how you're even going to pay for the electricity, water and house rent that happen to be all due and fall on the same due date? No worries! Did you wake up alive today? Well, you must have because you are reading this! And that means you're living! We all have these anxieties and worries... but the good news is God always makes a way! We just have to believe! So what if that bill was a couple of days late or you didn't have the money - things always happen the way they should and not always how we planned. God always has a plan, AND a back-up plan for ALL of us.

So like the old saying goes, "There is reason for everything." You'll start to understand why that happened, because it was just your season for it to happen! Whether it was good or not so welcoming, it had to happen because change is a part of life! With patience and faith, you will see it pass and everything old becomes new again!

While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God's creation.

-Maya Angelou

It just boggles my mind to think that the majority of evolutionary theorists and scientists claim that everything can be explained scientifically or naturally by some huge explosion. But being a spiritual theorist, I claim to differ!

Think about how complex the human body is - we have matching arms, feet, ears, a complex and intricate set of organs, tissues, bone and even a heart that beats regularly and non-stop from the time we are born to the time we die. And on top of that, they all work together almost perfectly!

Well dear Mr. Scientist, in my opinion, if it was an "explosion" that caused ALL of this, well, that must of been quite an explosion! Because the last time I remembered, any explosion that I've known of caused a mess!

I am created by God, you are created by God, everything is created by God... isn't it wonderful to know that as imperfect human beings, God created us perfectly?

Faith becomes a bridge between where I am and where I want to go - it is a substance.

-TD Jakes

Just because you can't see something, doesn't mean that it's not there. If you have faith, then without your sight, you will know it's there. And therefore you can be confident...

So take this analogy and tie it in with your own lives - so what if it seems that you've been on a job hunt forever or you can't seem to find that special someone that you've longed for all your life... but guess what? Deep down inside, you know your mate or that terrific job is there - somewhere! It's like pain... you can't see it, but you CAN feel it!

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
- Reinhold Niebuhr

Sometimes we always are asking ourselves, What if I did this, or What would of happened if I didn't do this? or I wish I could of done this instead and none of this would be happening to me... etc. etc.

Well sometimes we got to let go of the What ifs and realize that what happens to us in life, is Just what it is. There is no such thing as a perfect life or perfect situation, but things always happen perfectly. So therefore, Let Go and Let God! There is a reason for EVERYTHING! And the name of it is LIFE! So LIVE!

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. - The Holy Bible: King James Version, Ephesians 6:10-12

Many of us Christians have consistently read this famous bible verse many of times... but do we really understand what it truly means? We are always watching people fight on reality shows, talk shows, at clubs and even in the streets, but what a lot of people don't really realize is that the true fight is within ourselves. So why are we too busy getting physical with other folks when we need to fight the source which is inside of us during our darkest times? If you can fight your own source, then you can stand and resist the attacks against people fighting you... think about it!