Poverty

We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.
       - Mother Teresa

This quote has opened my eyes. I used to think that poverty was just those who don’t make money, are starving, and homeless. I would of never thought that poverty is something like not be loved, or happy. 

This quote made me feel bad and was an eyeopener to me. I realized that I as well as many other have probably made someone feel, unwanted, unloved, or uncared which is the greatest poverty. 

It has affected my actions. I know make more of a conscious effort to love everyone and make them feel worthy, important and cared for. 

Isaiah 40:29-31

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
      - Isaiah 40:29-31

I think this verse is very true. I have found this through my own experiences. When I have felt so weak that I didn’t know what to do or to keep going I found strength through Him. I now that the strength came from Him it was something good that re-assured my faith. Only God could do something like renewing strength. 

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.
Oprah Winfrey
 

I think this quote is very true. I think it’s pretty similar to the concept that if you always complain than you will never be content with anything. Some of the happiest people don’t have that much because they don’t complain about it and are thankful. Being a snob and always wanting more is not the reality in life. If you are thankful for everything that you have than if you ever gain something than you will be so much more thankful than the people who always get things.

Volunteering- Giving back to the nation

"And in my own life, in my own small way, I've tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That's why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities. Because I believe that each of us - no matter what our age or background or walk of life - each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation."
Michelle Obama


I think this quote is really inspiring. I agree with her position and opinion in volunteering. I think that no one has to be great at one thing. Going out in the community and just volunteering your time and heart could mean the world to the person that is receiving your service.

Giving

"Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others." Elbert Hubbard

I completely agree with this quote. I volunteer at Poudre Valley Hospital and have met all types of people. People who know that they have a deadly disease like cancer, or a heart problem, a brain tumor, or know that there premature baby is really sick and might not make it. Having experiencing being around those people has taught me to be grateful for what I do have because I could have much less like those people. Most of those people don’t take for granted the time they have with their loved ones but cherish them and feel that they don’t need anything but for healing of their loved one and  another day with them. 

I have received so much more knowledge and appreciation for what I have from volunteering and giving to others. I used to always think that I need something and that what I have isn’t enough, but now I know that I am lucky to have the stuff I do and not be in those situations that some are in. 

Love and Laughter

“All you need in the world is love and laughter. That's all anybody needs. To have love in one hand and laughter in the other.”

August Wilson

I think this quote is very true. Laughter and love are some of the two greatest free things in this world that any one is capable of giving and experiencing. 

Having expensive things are nice, but aren’t necessary. Some of the happiest people I know don’t have much money, items, or even food.  Some of them are even pretty sick with cancer or other deadly diseases, but feel content because they have love and laughter which gives them pure and endless happiness.  

Psalm 34:17-18

Psalms 34:17-18

"The righteous cry out, and all the Lord hears, And delivers them of all their troubles. The Lord is near the broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit."

This verse has helped me through the toughest of my times. It gives me encouragement and peace to know that He is always listening and carries all of my troubles, so I don’t have to deal with them. I know that He is so close to me and won’t ever leave me when my heart is broken and I’m confused. I know that He will heal my heart when it is broken if I just cry out to him. 

Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.

Elizabeth Bibesco

I think this quote is really important. I think it speaks truth but all could be reworded differently. I think that when you give you should only remember the good not remember selfishly. 

Every time I give whether it’s my time and money I don’t selfishly remember. I only remember how good I felt while doing it and all of the amazing memories that I received from doing it. I will never forget what it is like to give to a homeless person and know the impact that I had on them or the times that I volunteer at my church or in the hospital. I have become so much more grateful for things through doing those things that I will never forget. 

When I receive or take things from people I don’t forget it because I know how honored I am to be receiving and taking something when someone else could be receiving that gift or act of kindness. 

Psalm 145:9

Psalm 145:9

The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are all over His works. 

This verse is so simple, but says so much. The part that stands out that is so amazing is The Lord is good to all. The word all means so so so much. It doesn’t say that the Lord is only good to those who do good things, don’t curse, don’t cheat, or  believe in him, etc. He is good to ALL. Whether someone commits a crime, cheats, is a different religion, or whatever he is good to ALL. It amazes me that is good to all. I know I can walk in the halls of my school and ask why do good things happen to them. It’s incredible that someone could be good to all. God see’s as all as sinners and every sin is the same no matter how small or big one may think it is. 

Dream

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe."

 Gail Devers 

This quote speaks the truth. If someone doesn’t believe in their dreams then they can’t come true. People have to work to turn their dreams into reality. You have to prioritize your time and be able to work on that goal. Your dreams won’t come true unless you believe and have a good attitude. There will be hard times, but the hard times is what should drive you even more to reach that dream. You must have faith in yourself and not under estimate what you are capable of achieving. No dream is impossible unless you believe and give your 110% effort. 

Forgiveness

Ephesians 4: 31-32

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

This verse opened me eyes and hit me pretty hard. Forgiveness isn’t the easiest thing. It is easy to say that you forgive someone, but do you really mean it? True forgiveness is when you wish only good for that person and love them as you do yourself. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that what they did was right, but that you moved on from it and it’s in the past. Even though when you forgive someone and you put it in the past it can also mean remembering. 

The part of this verse that really hits me is forgive one another, as God in Christ forgave you. God forgives us out of free will. When he forgives us he never holds that against us. 

It got me thinking, when I say that I forgive others do I fully forgive them? Most the time my answer is no. It’s hard for me to want the best for them and no evil when they did something to hurt me. 

Forgiveness for me takes time. It wouldn’t mean anything if I just forgave everyone right away. Would I actually mean it if I did? Personally I don’t think so. Sometimes it has even taken me a few months to forgive someone. 

This verse put forgiveness for me in a whole new perspective. I think about, what if God didn’t forgive me? I would never be set free. Sometimes I think that by forgiving others you are also setting yourself free. 

John 16:33

I have told you these things so that in me you have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage- I have conquered the world.”

John 16:33

What this quote from the bible means to me is that through Christ we can find peace. It’s not saying that we won’t have hard times ever. In fact, it says that we will have trouble and suffering. I think that if we didn’t have trouble or suffering than would we even know what peace was? This verse is telling us to not be afraid and take courage, be strong.  When he says “I have conquered the world” I think it means that anything is possible he had overcome everything we would ever be put through.

When I go through hard times I look at this verse and it gives me encouragement that everything will be ok, because he has conquered the world and that later I will have peace after my troubles and suffering.