State of Being>Feeling

Is the notion that “your attitude determines your altitude” valid? A lot of times we get in the “I’m feeling bad, so my day is going bad” mode, which isn’t the most strong mindset you can have. Overcoming feelings with your actual state of being shows TRUE STRENGTH. Just think if everybody acted off the way that they felt 100% of the time. The world would be in absolute disarray. And though that’s the common instinct of a general person, it’s feeble to believe that it MUST be that way. If you’re FEELING vulnerable, you don’t have to ACT vulnerable. If you’re FEELING scared, a scared person is not WHO YOU ARE. The idea that we are defined by our feelings is a LIE.

Just think in a sense of a marriage. If one or both spouses acted off the way that they felt at a given time, the divorce rate would be off the charts (more so than it is already). If a husband got upset with their wife because they felt slighted and requested a divorce, their immediate state of being would become a divorced man, not a slighted man. Your attitude SHOULD determine your state of being more than your feelings do, but that’s often not the case when your feelings determine our attitude. If that’s the day-by-day reality for you, your emotions may be driving your life more than you are. Selah. (THINK ON THAT.)

I challenge you to ignore your feelings and recognize what’s real. If you feel tired, your state of being is still BLESSED because you’re alive to tell somebody how you’re “feeling”. Recognize what’s REAL!

“Being an optimist after you’ve got everything you want doesn’t count.” ~Kin Hubbard

††Keep The Faith, Hope and Love Alive††

~~M.A.~~

Steve Jobs on the Ipad 2

"We've been working on this for a while and I didn't want to miss this." ~Steve Jobs (March 2, 2011 conference release of the Ipad 2)


These were the words of a fatigued, yet determined Steve Jobs. He was said to have been on his sickbed for an extended period of time leading up to the release of the Ipad 2. He was definitely there in the flesh with updated info on the Iphones, Ibooks, and the original Ipad. He seemed in great spirits as he said  "There's a lot of stuff going on and it's all good." 


"The Ipad is not just a personal computer, it's beyond that," said an apple consumer on the strip shown at the release. The Ipad 2 has undoubtable buzz that won't be silenced anytime soon. The frenzy over the second generation Ipad is almost as amazing as the fact that Jobs made his way to the release despite his illness. As he described all of the new features of the Ipad 2 (the camera, chip and faster speeds), all I could think was how determined he was to see the birthing of what he created. He's an example that nothing can really stop you when you're determined.


"The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't." ~Henry Ward Beecher


~M.A.~

Whose responsible? You?

“Arrogance diminishes wisdom” ~Arabian Proverb

What is your definition of “arrogance?” Do you often say that my confidence is mistaken for arrogance? What does that really mean? These are all rhetorical questions, but this one isn’t—where is the line drawn between “confidence” and “arrogance?” A friend of mine is quoted as saying “Arrogance is confidence with NO humility. So I guess the line would be humility or the lack thereof.” Another one of my friends is quoted as saying “You can still have humility and be confident...there is no humility in arrogance.” These two perspectives would allude to the assertion that humility is the line drawn between arrogance and confidence; that if you’re confident, but have NO humility, the arrogance is highlighted. #SELAH

Another perspective given by a close friend is that “Confidence is having faith. Arrogance is idolizing.” Which would imply that arrogance is TOTALLY rooted from self. Displaced confidence could very well be rooted from self as well, but the DEPTH of this idea would be that your confidence lies elsewhere. Whether you believe in God or not, the mainstay idea is that confidence requires another party--Arrogance doesn’t. The denotative meaning of “confidence” is “the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust.” #SELAH

My particular belief system falls under the concept of the denotative meaning. I rely on something and someone BIGGER than me. When you start getting the thought that something is controlled by YOU with no other party, that’s where the arrogance factor comes in. My confidence is rooted in something ETERNAL—GOD! I’m not stupid enough to just have confidence in myself. I need the BIGGER. #SELAH

Of course the depths and complexity of the idea of arrogance can go way further than this. Whatever your perspective on the issue, make sure your life lines with the perspective—that’s the key.

“The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, pride and arrogance.” ~Samuel Butler

††Keep the FAITH, HOPE & LOVE alive††

~M.A.~

Pimpin' Is Easy?

One of the biggest enigmas I’ve often thought about is if everyone on the face of this Earth is gifted to do at least one thing. As far as people I’ve had the discussion with, it’s about 50/50. Half the people think that everyone is gifted to do at least one thing, and the other half believe there’s no way everyone has some sort of talent. Whatever your belief, the thought of talent seems simple, but it’s kind of an elusive concept to grasp.

Talent is defined as “a special natural ability or aptitude,” with another definition saying “a capacity for achievement or success.” So in one case it’s looked at as something that’s natural and in another sense it’s looked at as something that has to be achieved. I look at talent as something that’s totally God given. Not by anything that we do, but because He gives it to us and chooses how to disperse the talent. It’s my faith in God that allows me to believe in the concept of talent. In Romans chapter 11, Paul said “for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” That’s what I believe—God freely gives.

So WHY IN THE WORLD did I title this post “Pimpin’ is easy?” Well because after you find your particular gift/gifts, the idea of “pimpin’” can make its way into your way of thinking and into your life and it can be EXTREMELY easy to do. A pimp is someone who solicits something for a gain in some form. I have seen SO many cases where people that have been INSANELY talented, have had their gifts pimped by someone else. I’ve also seen those same people pimpin’ their own gifts. By no means am I saying that your gifts shouldn’t open doors for you to be blessed, but I do think you should PROTECT your gift. Everybody isn’t ready to receive your gift. ALWAYS keep that in mind. Water your gift and help it grow. Be eeeeeeever so protective of your gift because it is God given. Lastly, think of your gift as your child. LOVE it! Spend time with it! STAY HUMBLE!

This isn’t just a “musician post” as I’m sure a few will take it. I believe that EVERYONE is gifted and the way you treat your gift/s is TOTALLY up to you.

Evelyn Mary Dunbar, who was the only salaried woman artist of the painters and sculptors employed during World War II, claimed that “We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.”  She had to endure some things to keep using her gift—you may have to as well.

Keep the faith, hope and love ALIVE

~M.A.~

Optimism: Blessing or Curse?

There are times in our lives where optimism is all we have. One being that time where we don’t really KNOW what’s going to ensue at a particular juncture in our life. In my eyes, optimism ultimately equates to faith. Are you optimistic in those times where it looks somber, bleak and you can’t see the light? Do you have enough optimism (faith) to KNOW there’s a light even if you can’t “see” it? Being optimistic is one of the greatest states you can EVER find yourself in. It’s a testament that situations don’t dictate your joy, happiness, tranquility, etc. It’s a testament of POWER!

Optimism gets looked at as a liability at times, but by whom? Probably by those who are un-optimistic. Whether it be before or after a particular situation, the way you react to it will say a lot about you. Are you the type that’s looking at the negative with a frown on your face after a situation? Sometimes you can even have a smile on your face, but still be REEKING with negativity. These people are DRAAAAINING! Not only is optimism defined as “hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something,” but also in a philosophical sense as “the belief that good must ultimately prevail over evil in the universe.” What a concept of FAITH! A (sincere) smile in the midst of a troubled situation can be equated to good overcoming evil. The feeble mindset of negativity is such a liability. Be optimistic isn’t a curse—it’s a BLESSING!

The famous Shirley Temple, who was looked at as an icon of a child actress in the 30’s and 40’s. She sung a song that I feel can be such an effective lifestyle called “Be Optimistic.”

Be optimistic! Don’t you be a grumpy


When the road gets bumpy
just smile
(smile and be happy!)



Your troubles can't be
as bad as all that


When you're sad as all that
no one loves you



Be optimistic! Don’t you be a mourner


Brighten up that corner
and smile


Don't wear a long face
It's never in style,
Be optimistic
And smile!

Don’t drain those around you. Be optimistic and be POSITIVE!

“Optimism is the foundation of courage.”  ~Nicholas Murray Butler

††Keep the faith and love alive††

~M.A.~

The free shall truth your set?

What is your definition of the “truth?” After you think about your definition, think if you live your life by that particular “truth.” Some people look at the truth as fragile, when it’s supposed to be something rock solid that we live off of. In actuality, living a life that’s separated from truth is a rocky bridge that’s CONSTANTLY swaying.

The denotative meaning of truth is “the quality or state of being true,” or “that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.” If the truth is supposed to “set us free,” why is it one of the most difficult things to keep consistent? I believe it’s because a lie, more often than not, makes things convenient. Even an “embellishment” goes against the truth. Rick Warren, evangelical minister and author, stated: “An embellishment is just a lie in a tuxedo.” Not telling the whole truth is still a lie. And the thing about a lie is, they just compound more lies. You can’t have one without another. Why live your life that way?

Thinking that you HAVE to tell lies, fibs, little white lies, etc. is like being handcuffed by the police or being in a wheelchair. You’re handicapped. You can’t keep it real. Thinking that you HAVE to lie says A LOT about yourself. I know I’m speaking on an issue that we probably have already attempted to wrap our minds around. However, the fact remains that we need to get better. There are ALWAYS ways to justify why we do what we do and I probably hear people try to justify why they lie above all other things. Let’s just try to get better. I’ve learned that if you do things the right way, in decency and order, the easier it is to be completely truthful. Be true with YOURSELF and make an honest attempt to be honest. I know it’s not easy all the time, but remember that sometimes the most difficult things are the things we need to grasp the most.

I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for truth - and truth rewarded me.  ~Simone de Beauvoir

†Keep the faith and keep love alive†

~M.A.~

The Humility Meter

“What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.”  ~Abraham Lincoln

How often do you “smell” yourself? The thing about skunks is, they use their stench as a predator-deterrent. I look at selfishness as a horrible stench. The idea of “humility” has so many different components. If you ALWAYS have to have to have the last word, you might need to check your humility meter. If you ALWAYS have to be right, you might need to check your humility meter. If you contact people to “see how they’re doing,” just so they can do something for you, you may need to check your humility meter, or your selfish meter—whichever one you choose.  And notice I’m saying “check” it. So I’m not necessarily saying these instances comply with lack of humility ALL the time, but I’m just saying check it. =)

Experts say “skunk spray causes no real damage to its victims, but it sure makes them uncomfortable.” That’s the same for a selfish being—it stinks. Announcing how “great” you are or think you may be fits into selfishness as well. You’re selfish in your praises. Your life should speak for itself right? Edward Frederick Halifax, former British Ambassador of Washington, made an awesome statement when he said “True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes.”  YOUR LIFE DOES THE SPEAKING! Or at least it should. I have by no means arrived when it comes to the lifestyle of total humility, but I definitely strive. I hope you do the same. I’m a firm believer in humbling yourself before God has to do it for you. HE WILL!

“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”~Luke 14:11

†Peace, Faith, Love, & Hope†

~M.A.~