We all have times were things become very difficult. That has been me the last few weeks. I confonted my wife about the distance that was forming in our lives. To my surprise she wanted to leave. How did this happen? Where did things go wrong? Did i do something? Was she doing something behind my back? All these questions and many more ran through my hand in the next few days. Things got rough, i couldnt eat, couldnt sleep, found no peace. All i could do was wonder what had happened. Through several conversations that upset my wife, and myself as well, i began to learn.

I learned first that she was upset with me for how i treated her and the kids. Since she has pointed out what i have done i can see what she speaks of. I have a habit to be selfish, even in conversation. I tend to manipulate things to what i want. If i cant get what i want i tend to belittle or pull down. Things between us have not grown much better so far. However, i believe in the power of God and Love.

I have made a promise to one of her family members to work on this marriage. Basically I am to take a set course of action on a daily basis, building upon what i learn from each day. This is designed to create a change in myself, a lasting change that will forever change my future. However, my wife still holds strong to her belief that God cannot help us, therapy cannot help us, and there is no way i can change, and stay changed. The joy of God is that he has given us each free will. The problem with free will is sometimes people choose what they believe is right for them at that time, and learn later that things are so much harder.

The lesson here is that we should avoid situations like these. Perhaps others can learn from my difficulties. Do not take your marriage for granted. Each day get up and make a choice to love your spouse and children. Do something every day to make them appreciate you, but dont do expecting something return. Do it simply for no other reason but love. Learn and follow through with this and your life will change, and if your marriage could change forever as well.

Failure is never the problem, its our response to the failure that hurts us or helps us. ~John Maxwell, A minute with Maxwell

John Maxwell is the one the upmost sought after teacher of leadership. John teaches us here that we should always look at failure with a learners eye. There are lessons we can learn from failure, and that is a positive. If we look at failure in a negative light we simply bring ourselves down and typically will learn not to do whatever caused us to fail. Another perfect quote for us to learn from this lesson is the paraphrased quote from Benjamin Franklin regarding the light bulb.

"We did not fail, we found 1000 ways not to make the light bulb, I only have to find one way to make it work."

"Within me burns a flame which has been passed from generations uncounted and its heat is a constant irritation to my spirit to become better than I am, and I will. I will fan this flame of dissatisfaction and proclaim my uniqueness to the world." ~Og Mandino, The Greatest Secret in the World.

We learn from this simple statement that we should not try to conform to the world around us. We were all created differently and we should celebrate our differences. We should use our uniqueness to and strengths that we have been blessed with to show the world who we are, and why we are here. With our God given gifts we should be better people so that others wonder what we have and strive to become like us, the children of God.

If we shy away from challenge, we dont grow or learn. If we take on the challenge - whether we are successful or not - it is a given that we will grow and expand who we are. That gain of "intellectual and emotional capital" is priceless. ~Kim Kiyosaki

No Weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt codemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. ~Isaiah 54:17 (KJV)

In this first lesson we are told that if we determine in our own hearts to confess the word of God over any and every situation, regardless of what the situation looks like then we will be blessed by the Lord. We must "Speak it" if we want to live it.

I have designed this blog to help focus learning in spiritualality, leadership, and discipline. I will primarily be posting at first quotes from books that i have read, possibly excerpts of books themselves that I am reading, as well as lessons that i have learned during the day. I will occasionally post pics of my journeys through my limited world at this time, and perhaps if God deems me worthy through the rest of the world later in life. I hope you enjoy reading through my blog, and learn something along the journey as we cross paths along the way. May each have their own blessings that they wish to share during their own journeys.