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Good and Evil

2009-02-21T17:44:00.001-06:00

I am about two chapters short of finishing The Shack. If you are breathing, I recommend this book to you. Although this book is fiction, the author relates God in such an amazingly loving, kind, accepting, real persona, who could resist a relationship with Him. The Shack is a metaphor for the place we hide our pain or shame. The short explanation of the book is one man’s journey to God through the suffering of the loss of a child.

I learned and relearned so much from this book I could go on and on…and probably will in another blog, but for now it was how WE judge what is good and evil. When you really think about it, we can and do, judge the same thing good at one point or time in our lives and bad at another. Even people in our lives, we judge as being good for us at one time, then later somehow not so much.

How can the loss of a child ever be seen as good? How can mass devastation ever be seen as good? I don’t believe it can, but I do believe that God brings good things out of bad situations. So many people blame God for the bad things that happen…sometimes even people that never even acknowledged God before, but now He is to blame. We have become good at judging…how sad.

I’m sharing because I found the book to bring out so much thought for me that I can’t get enough. I love to learn, I love to learn about God and my relationship with Him. I feel so blessed and I know my blessings come from God.

May God bless you and yours!

Kurt Warner

2009-01-31T14:47:00.001-06:00

Kurt Warner sums up two of my favorite things… a good Christian man and sports! Actually its church and sports…but those of you that are Christians know that WE are the church…not the four walls that surround us on Sunday mornings.

I could not be happier to see Kurt get another chance at a Super Bowl win and hopefully clinch a place in the Football Hall of Fame. He is a perfect example of a good leader…on and especially off the field. I am so grateful he chooses to honor the gifts and platform God has given him. He is an inspiration to me, as I’m sure he is to people everywhere!

God gave him is athletic ability and drive which has given him a platform that he continually chooses to use for good. He continually chooses to give God all the glory and bless others with his blessings. His is truly just a good guy…doing good things!

Other than the fact we had the occasional hello because we attended the same church when he lived in St. Louis, I do not know him personally, but he touches my life by doing good for people I don’t know either.

Go Cards! That rolls off my tongue quite regularly April through October (I think positively, yes it will be October!) because I love the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals, but right now it’s all for the Football Cardinals.

Choose to be a blessing to someone today and everyday!

Walk in Love

2009-01-02T00:13:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! I have never really been into resolutions, but I one of my goals for 2009 (actually a continuation from 2008 and will be for all my days) is to walk in love at all times. Obviously it goes without saying that it is not easy. And I’m sure some of you are thinking…WHAT! And others are thinking…don’t you do that anyway. Good for you for those of you in that group…what a blessing.

Now, I’m a loving, compassionate person, but if you consciously make the choice to walk in love…be ready to be tested. These are not necessarily big tests because a simple disagreement can lead to bad behavior. My prayer is to always honor the person or place I’m interacting with. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we all choose that. I may not be able to change the whole world, but the one thing I can change is me. I plan to have more peace in my life.

I pray you too choose to make a change that will bring you peace.

May your 2009 be filled with love, peace and joy!

Lesson Learned

2008-10-26T20:54:00.001-05:00

Do you view the challenges and so called tests that appear on your journey in life as yet another “problem” or do you look at them as lessons learned?

In recent years as I have changed my view to the latter. It’s made a huge difference in my life…it helps to keep me at peace with life. I don’t get upset when things don’t “look” the way I think they should. I don’t spend time in worry or feeling defeated. I look for the lesson and see where I can grow personally and spiritually.

This has been a process and it’s not always easy, but it’s worth the effort. I like who I’ve become and I love learning so I now study my lessons. I have found that when I look inside, for an answer to a challenge instead of looking at someone or something else to hold responsible, I feel better about the whole situation and resolving it.

Next time you feel tested take a look inside, instead of looking those around you, and see if there is a lesson to be learned.

Peace be with you!

Be open to see where you can give.

2008-09-28T20:22:00.001-05:00

Good day! I pray your day is a blessed one. Life is good for me…but then it always is. My oldest daughter was married last weekend to a wonderful young man. It was a beautiful day and ceremony. I couldn’t be happier for them or more proud. They are both incredibly talented and responsible young people.

Today as I was flipping channels as I was watching some of my favorite sports teams I came across a news story that brought tears to me eyes. Tears of joy…I love to witness the goodness that people share. The story was about an act of kindness from the owner of an AutoTire Service location and his employees that freely volunteered their time. They purchased the supplies and built a wheel chair access ramp to the home of a wheel chair bound young man and his family.

There is always an opportunity to make a difference for someone…we just need to open to see them. May you be open to see where you can give

What are you most passionate about?

2008-05-04T18:22:00.000-05:00

I learned a few years ago, that your purpose may lie in an area that really disturbs you. What I mean is what might be happening in the world that continually comes up for you and you get that ache right in your gut! The situation, circumstance or people tug at your heartstrings and you can’t let it go. You feel you have to do something about this, but you may not know what to do. You may be able to give financially to an organization that is providing a service already, such as feeding starving children, a breast cancer foundation, or one of many others. Giving financially is great…we all need to do that, but your purpose involves more that just giving your money. You need to take action…you need to get involved. Ones purpose may be a teacher, a pastor, an employee that loves his job and does it diligently. You are truly blessed if your “job” is your passion. I believe we all have one purpose…to serve! We are serving when ever we are giving to others using those gifts God has blessed us with.

I have only learned in that past year or so what I’m truly passionate about…now I’m passionate about many things, but what I feel I have to/want to do something about is our youth. Specifically…urban youth. I hate to see these young people wasting their lives and in some cases even killing each other. I believe they want better for themselves and I’m not willing to give up them. We all do what we know; unfortunately we don’t all grow up with the same benefits that help to form our choices. I’m not excusing anyone from what they do, but I have compassion and strong desire to help those that wish to make better choices.

I believe we are all good people. We are all children of God. We all deserve love, compassion and a chance to become what we can dream.

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mother Theresa

“You have to change the way people see themselves before you can change their behavior.” Bill Strickland

“It’s all in the way you think about people that often determines their behavior.” Bill Strickland

Where are you giving?

2008-04-09T20:32:00.000-05:00

Giving of yourself to someone or to an organization that assists others in need is the most incredible feeling you will ever have. To see the change you have helped to bring to someone’s life by the simple task of volunteering of your time is awesome. You don’t have to over do it. You don’t have to commit tons of time. Find the right organization that you are passionate about and seek where you can use your strengths in areas needed…have fun! Serving is why we were put on this beautiful earth in the first place.

I serve with Connections to Success (CtS), a non-profit whose vision is to “break the cycle of poverty, one family at a time. One of the committees I am a part of hosted a Fashion Show Gala to celebrate Connections 10th Anniversary this past weekend and raise awareness and funds for CtS. The event was amazing, but the feeling of knowing that hundreds of more St. Louisans are now able to give to CtS.

Get your “Give On!”

Who is Cari jo, Inc.?

2008-03-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

Cari jo, Inc., is an inspirational t-shirt line that believes in the spirit of giving…and lives it! We are passionate about supporting others in achieving their dreams. Cari jo, Inc. donates a portion of proceeds to charity, and just as important we volunteer our time. One of our favorite's, Connections to Success, a faith based non-profit whose vision is to “break the cycle of poverty, one family at a time.”

Our message is delivered as a single word of inspiration on the front of a t-shirt, but we’re not just about an encouraging word. We are about inspiring every individual to truly believe. Believe in them selves and each other, believe in their dreams, and believe that they can be the difference they wish to see in this world.

As founder, my vision is to inspire the world to share love and kindness with words of spiritual encouragement. My prayer is that everyone lives a life of peace, love and joy, and shares that with their communities and the world.

Passion will most likely be the theme in my blog because those things I’m passionate about are the things on my mind and my tongue or should I say the tip of my fingers.

And on the subject of a passion…a big one for me is St. Louis Cardinal Baseball…I love it! Opening day is tomorrow! Be there or be square!