December 31, 2018

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue!

You have arrived at the end of a specific point in your life’s journey. Congratulations! Whatever has happened over the last year, you have made it through to the end. Give yourself a pat on the back and acknowledge with gratitude you reached a finish line again.

How do you feel about yourself, about your year, about your journey? Are there lessons you have learned, which if you implement in the new year, will make it even better than the last?

Will you carry from your past, into tomorrow and beyond, fears, frustrations anxiety, limitations, or heartbreak shattering your expectations for a new and better future, right out of the starting gate?

Will you allow transformation to come and wipe out those past challenges, opening up to you new vistas bringing love, hope, joy, peace and opportunities for abundant blessings?

Remember God has given you a gift to change your mindset and move you to a different and better place, even in the midst of the storm. The winds of opposition may be still blowing. The rain or even hail might be beating down on you. In the darkness of that hour there is a symbol of hope that appears in the splendour of the majestic colours of a rainbow promising, things will get better. The sky is blue, the sun is shining, and things will change. God is still in control and He loves and cares for you.

Songwriters E.Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen wrote these words to a song made famous by Judy Garland:
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops

Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow

Blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then oh why can’t I?

If happy little blue birds fly beyond the rainbow
Why oh why can’t I?


Do not let your past dictate you future. Forge a new path that releases your true greatness in the coming year.

December 30, 2018

Where Are You Going?

We are coming to the end of another year. Did the road you travelled on take you closer to the fulfilment of your goals, chief aim and dreams? Were the twists in the road perceived negatively or positively? Did the emotional valleys and mountains add to your journey, or did they only create frustration and disappointment?

How you chose to respond in each situation added to the collective total of whether you thought last year was a “good,” or a “bad” year. What you choose to remember about this year will impact your future. You can focus on what you believe to be positive and beneficial events and aspects of your journey, or you can choose the negative situations. Either way you will be increasing your data memory bank which will provide the foundational resources for how you will process events that take place in the coming year.

Live with a sense of appreciation and gratitude for what has been and you are more likely to continue to do more of the same in the future. There is such a thing as habits and they tend to operate on auto-pilot in our lives.

Fill your heart for your journey with that which is good. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (ESV). Commit to your prize, the goals, chief aim and dreams you have for your time on this planet. Make the coming year the time when your journey includes the reality of at least some aspects of your personal prize.

December 29, 2018

Get your life back on track!

Today there is a sense that the energy associated with Christmas is waning for another year. Thoughts and planning for a new year are in the making. For many people there is a return to the daily routine of “regular living.” It is time to consider getting back on track with identifying and living your dreams and passions.

What I am suggesting is much more than creating a list of New Year’s resolutions, which hold good intentions, but little in the way of true commitment to fulfil. What is it you really would like to do, or see happen in your life in the next year? As Napoleon Hill says, “You must define your dream and get a burning desire for its achievement.”

There must be a high level of interest and passion behind what it is you want to see accomplished. Creativity and imagination will have a role to play in seeing what you desire manifest in your life, but without a high level of desire and passion you will fail. There will be things that will come your way that will derail your plans and bring you to a halt unless you are committed to achieving what it is you really desire.

What do you believe is possible for you to achieve? Is it big enough to excite you, but small enough your faith can picture it as a reality? Take the next logical step on the path to get you where you want to go and then take the next one and keep on going.

If the track you are following is not taking you in the direction you want to go, change tracks. If you have somehow got derailed, make it a point to get back on the rails and move forward. You can do it. Look for the inner strength God can and will give you if you will say YES to the relationship with Him and trust in His guidance and help.

Proverbs 3:5-10 reminds us of some very important benefits and blessings when we do this. Solomon wrote, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

{6} in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. {7} Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. {8} This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. {9} Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; {10} then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

May this coming year bring your closer to the manifestation of your dreams, desires and goals.

December 28, 2018

What will you do with what you have?

Over the last few days the Canadian dollar has been very volatile against the value of other currencies, like the U.S. dollar and the Euro. What is interesting is that whatever fiat currency you are working with in your country of origin you are somewhat dependant upon that currency remaining stable and providing support for those who live within its jurisdictional borders.

When a currency collapses like in Venezuela and Greece the people in the country become victims of a political system that failed them. They were victims of propaganda and lies that mesmerized them into believing that what they were being told would work out to their benefit. Faith wrongly placed always has a high price tag to it.

The value of the Canadian dollar has historically been as low as it is against other currencies right now, but it has recovered. The debt load of the country has never been as large as it is now and our currency is no longer backed backed by any gold. It has been completely sold off. You might want to give consideration to transferring some fiat based money to gold currency sooner rather than later. Contact me if you are interested in doing that.

I am not interested in being a negative voice in terms of the economic future of our nation, or any other nation for that matter, but I do trust that you will seek to protect the financial foundations of your family from currency collapses, or currency resets, in the future. A mindset that has a constant expectation of bailout, or one of entitlement, is not sustainable. History has repeatedly shown this to be true.

We live in a world where money, or the lack of it, impacts how we live our lives. God’s Word is not silent on this matter. Jesus paid taxes. He lived in a world where both rich and poor existed. He also had praise for those who were faithful stewards of what they had and what they did with what they had. He commended their wisdom.

Please use wisdom in taking care of your families, wherever you may be living in the world. Changes are coming and redistribution of wealth will happen again.

December 27, 2018

It’s a new Ball! it’s a new ball!

I have mentioned in the past the excitement for life our border collie, Diamond exhibits. On Christmas day as we opened presents, Diamond was completely present and enthusiastic about what was taking place. She wanted to be part of the excitement and enjoy whatever everyone was discovering as they opened their gifts.

But nothing compared to her joy when she found out that there were some presents under the tree that had her name on. When it was her turn to open a present she was 100% committed to the task at hand. Her new ball was a highlight. Even when she was not wanting to play with it she laid it close by her like a prize possession. Her pull rope also received a lot of attention and will provide long term play value. But that muffin, it had to be dealt with immediately and completely.

The extended length of not just tail wagging, but full body wagging was amazing. Yes, she enjoyed some turkey when it was offered, but the time with helping with everyone’s presents provided the opportunity for a full night’s restful sleep after the excitement of the day.

I wonder what it would be like for people if they would allow themselves such a day of pure wonder, excitement and joy. What would it be like if they got out bed in the morning with an sense of expectation that each day would be like that? Would it be necessary to change what was done and how it was done to make such a life a possibility?

In the process of writing this article there was a time lapse between start and finish as Diamond brought me her ball with wide eyed excitement and expectation that it was a good time to play.

Make the best of your day and look for those things which will bring laughter, joy and benefit to your life. Proverbs 17:22 reminds us, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”