How Do You Set Your Mind?
February 9, 2015
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The focus of the children
How beautiful and loving
Need direction from your word
Because you give life
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Love awakens us to joy
Arising each morning to pray
I will listen first then speak
Respond to the truth
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Truth always comes through kindness
Although at first it’s painful
To see the lies I live by
Keeps me in the darkness
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What are the lies that destroy
Do I really want to know
It’s painful to discover
My own false beliefs
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It takes courage to seek God
Not knowing what you will find
Can I believe He is real
Loves me as a son
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Such beauty among the young
Fresh, alive and full of love
Put your hand on the children
Trouble lies ahead
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We will focus on the joy
The promises and the friendship
Because there is certain hope
For those who believe
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I won’t live in fear
God promised, “I’ll be with you
Never leave or forsake you”
Courage will follow
When your love is much larger
Than all the trouble around
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I will set my mind
My heart and soul long for
The gift to live free
Focused on His greatest gift
His inexpressible love
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I was asked to speak this week by Lael Caldwell who leads a “Round Table of Business Men and Women” on the topic of “How Do You Set Your MInd?” I chose to share this message with the Woodmont Hills family yesterday. If you would like a copy you can email me at terrysmith5@comcast.net and I will give you the address where you can order it.
Last night I sat with Charlotte at a “Sweetheart Banquet” and was served and entertained by a group of amazing young people. The above reflections come out of listening and responding to yesterday’s experience and the reading of the Psalms this morning. Psalm 9 and 39 along with meditating on John 15:1-17 was the focus this morning.
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Setting my mind each day is absolutely the most important thing I do to take care of myself.
He Counts Your Tears
January 26, 2015
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When I am afraid
I will trust in you, O God
It’s your words I trust
How can mortal man hurt me
In God I trust; I will not fear
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Record my lament
You keep record of my tears
You even count them
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You always get the blame God
For the suffering and the pain
It is man’s abuse of man
Where are you, “O man?”
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In God I will trust
He’s the one with compassion
I see the heart of man hurt
Abuse and deceive
Give God the blame for lying
And not look in the mirror
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You have delivered my soul
Met me in desperation
Given your presence of love
In stillness I find
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I know the story
How God’s love became a man
He offered “abundant life”
I was skeptical
I looked closely at the man
A man of sorrows and grief
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He met the lonely
The broken and abandoned
Was gentle and kind
Gave hope to the hopeless ones
I know I was one of them
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I wept when I saw
The way he lived and he died
His personal touch
Reaches the most broken ones
He counts each person “Beloved”
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I once was desperate. Now I meet with desperate people. I’m desperate again. This time I bring hope to desperate people. Every human being is precious and needs to know they count. I discovered a God who not only counts the tears but sees the person and is pursuing each one. They don’t need my answers but need someone who is present listening and giving what I can. Can God really be that close? Psalms 26, 56, 86, 116 and 146 opened a window to an awareness of someone who is there with love and understanding.
You Are His Delight
January 7, 2015
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God searches the minds and hearts
Brings an end to violence
He makes the righteous secure
With forgiving love
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Trust in the Lord and do good
Delight yourself in the Lord
The desires of your heart come
As surely as breath
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Commit your way to the Lord
Trust in him and he will do this
His life will shine like the dawn
Break forth in your soul
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Be still before God
Wait patiently for guidance
Stop all the fretting
It leads only to evil
History tells us this truth
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Anger will kill you
The toxic part can destroy
Learn to channel it
By loving your enemy
The first place to start is you
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The meek inherit the land
Flourish in relationship
Look to the best interest
Of those closest to you
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The result will be peace
That passes understanding
So it is time to grow up
Be responsible
Stop blaming self and others
You hold the key to find life
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God will hold you up
I know this is true for sure
I have tasted this
By practicing His Presence
Walking in the light of love
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God delights in you
When you believe, wisdom comes
There is a future for you
His kindness and peace
Comes when you trust His love
Surrender all of the lies
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These reflections from Psalm 37 come from choosing how I will process this life. There are many views of life one can take. I chose to trust the God David spoke of in the Psalms. As a result I discovered an unshakable life filled with hope in the midst of the worst possible circumstances. Psalms has been like a mother to me over the last fifty years. The promises in this book I have found to be true, practical and life giving beyond words.
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My journey is told in the book “Delta Blues From Darkness to Light.” http://www.coachinglifematters.com/delta-blues.html
Best Friend Conversations
January 2, 2015
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Good conversation
Is a gift I want to have
With those I love most
I will include the stranger
And, also, my enemy
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Who will be my friend
I will be looking today
Ready to respond
Open to this adventure
Love with no expectations
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This I know is the hardest
For we wrong one another
Get offended easily
I know where to start
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I will start with me
The one I sleep with each night
This is the hardest
The one I offend a lot
I’m the one I hurt the most
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I found the secret
A way to forgive myself
To have a conversation
That’s gentle and kind
A way to love even me
In the darkness of my soul
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Ready for the ride
Mutual conversation
Is what I’m committed to
It’s the missing part
So I will not medicate
Keep doing the counterfeit
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I will like sleeping with myself
I have no choice about that
I will befriend my own soul
I’ll live in that joy
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I’ll take away the judgment
With real authenticity
I’ll train to forgive myself
And the one near me
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It is possible to live this. It is possible to overcome the darkness of the wounded soul and discover the joy. The impossible is possible when the deep soul decision is made to live and not die. Deciding to fight for my life is the most important decision I have made. I had to begin by caring about me. At that point I began to pay attention to my questions. Taking that responsibility has led me to discovering how to live in joy over the past fifty-three years. The pain, the reality of my own failure toward others and their failure to me is the most difficult road to navigate.
The best book I recommend to kick start this conversation was written by Jim Woodroof “Sayings that Saved My Sanity.” Write me and I will tell you how to get it. May all the best conversations take place for you in 2015. Your Story Matters http://www.yourstorymatters2him.com
Gentle in failure
December 26, 2009
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I’m always learning
I will be mindful of you
Of the things you say
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It will be my intention
To pay attention to you
To maintain an attitude
Of love and kindness
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My focus is important
On what holds life together
What motivates me each day
On what matters most
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I’ll be gentle in failure
With you and all those around
I have learned a basic truth
You get what you give
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© Terry S. Smith
December 26, 2009
Would you be willing?
November 4, 2009
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Would you be willing
To begin again each day
And see through new eyes
Would you be willing
To listen to the people
Who say you hurt them
Would you be willing
To ask them to forgive you
For whatever is your part
Not to be defensive
To let them know you accept
Your responsibility
Would you be willing
To declare your intentions
And admit your faults
Would you be willing
To choose to be kind
Even when you’re hurt
Would you be willing
To not judge motivation
And forgive freely
Would you be willing
To accept amazing love
To know that you are forgiven
And cherished by One
Who knows all of your story
And delights in your presence
© Terry S. Smith
written November 4, 2009
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light into darkness
October 29, 2009
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Bringing light into darkness
Letting kindness be the rule
Gentleness and compassion
From a higher love
Relationships will suffer
Until anger is addressed
Honestly and sincerely
In a timely way
I still have many questions
But now I know what matters
I want to know how to love
Myself and others
© Terry S. Smith
written October 29, 2009
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Intentional kindness
September 9, 2009
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Laughter is a good life sign
Good cheer is right medicine
For those we meet on the way
Lightness brings the light
Weep with those who weep
Be fully present with joy
And give peace where it is needed
Presence is power
Learn to live in the moment
Give intentional kindness
Your life is lived in a day
That is all we have
Remembering the past days
Can help us live now
Learn from your experience
Learn also from other’s lives
Awareness is most helpful
Create internal space
© Terry S. Smith
written October 27, 2008
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light breaks through darkness
August 31, 2009
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There were feelings of no hope
I sank in despair
In silence I ceased striving
Be quiet, be still; love comes
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Real truth is experienced
It cuts through to all levels
The mind, heart and soul reflected
Light breaks through darkness
There is a secret
Where a person does begin
The first step is just simply
Be responsible
For how you think and act
You will find the right questions
I have learned life is not fair
I have no control of you
I will decide who I’ll be
I choose to be kind
© Terry Smith
written August 31, 2009
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Your Story Matters 