THOUGHTS FOR VISION IN 2012

Thoughts for Vision is on the move for 2012!!!! Thank you all for your support throughout this year. Here is some of what's in store for the upcoming year:

1. More show guests--please contact me by email (thoughtsforvision@yahoo.com) or Skype (S. name: richsistah) if you are interested

2. More video blog posts (via You Tube)

3. WRITE THE VISION, MAKE IT PLAIN quarterly gatherings

4. Live broadcasting channel (via Livestream)

The best is yet to come. Please stay tuned!!!!

Have a wonderful and blessed New Year!!!!

SHARING YOUR LIGHT

Are you helping to build up others? John 8:12 says, "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life". We are to be like Jesus--we need to shine our light and make someone else's day brighter. Some people think that if they share their light with others, their light will go dim. Some people will even try to snuff other people's light out. But your light illuminates even more when you share it. Something to remember as we're going into this Christmas weekend. May you let your light shine ever so bright this holiday season. Take care and God bless.

Photo taken by Keith Smith

GOD IS NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT

Do you trust God with your WHOLE life? Psalm 37:3 says, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed". We need to stop treating God like a stepdaddy. We get into trouble trying to do things our way, and then we want God to fix it. GOD DOES NOT BLESS MESS!!!! We need to ask God straight up about any and every situation that comes into our life. God will always guide us in the right direction. Don't think about God after the fact; learn how to keep God first and foremost on your mind.

OUTLOOK FOR 2012

Are you excited about the upcoming year? If not, you should be. Always remember that your best days are always ahead of you. Don't use the past to determine where you are going to end up. Leave your past in the past, never to look upon it again. That's what God does; he throws our past into the sea of forgetfulness. Our past helps to make us stronger for the plan that God has for our life; it is not meant to break us down.

Take the time to ask God for direction when you need to do so. He will always guide us down the right path. Notice I didn't say the easy path; we will all go through struggles while we are on this earth. But don't let that stop you from believing for the best for yourself. Opportunities are always around us--you just have to set your mind to finding them. Take care and God bless.

A THANKSGIVING MOMENT

As God's children, we know that every day is Thanksgiving. This week marks the time of year to give God special thanks. Psalm 100:4 reminds us that God is worthy of all of the praise that is due to Him. Can we ever thank God enough for the life He has given us? Not really, but that's not going to stop me from trying. As you're celebrating this week, I urge you to give God the best praise of all. He is most deserving of it. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving each and every day.

1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY FOR THOUGHTS FOR VISION RADIO SHOW

I GIVE GOD ALL OF THE GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE. MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR LISTENING TO THE SHOW. I HOPE THAT IT HAS BEEN A BLESSING TO YOU ALL. AS THE LORD LEADS ME, I WILL FOLLOW. CHECK OUT TODAY'S SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY SHOW AT WWW.BLOGTALKRADIO.COM/THOUGHTSFORVISION. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT.

Photo taken by Tim Sabatino

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, THOUGHTS FOR VISION BLOG

Today marks a year since starting the Thoughts for Vision Blog. I just wanted to share words of encouragement to those that need it. Just know that with God, anything is possible. He will always be there for us at all times. I hope that you enjoy reading the blog. Please keep me in your prayers. Take care and God bless.

PRAYER=BREAKTHROUGH

Phil. 4:6 lets us know that we can make our requests known through prayer. Take the time to talk to God each and every day. Prayer is an essential part of our lives. Others can pray for you, but God wants to hear your voice. Just remember that prayer is not a monologue. God wants to talk to us as well to give us instruction. If you want a breakthrough, go before the Lord in prayer. Prayer is our strength and endurance. Don't go through life without it.

9/11 REFLECTIONS

THE LORD IS WITH US. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FAITH IN GOD. WE HONOR THOSE WHO WERE AFFECTED. PLEASE KEEP THE FAMILIES OF 9/11 IN YOUR PRAYERS.

BIRTHDAY REFLECTIONS

THANKING GOD FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF LIFE. LOOKING FORWARD TO ENJOYING MY SPECIAL DAY. THE LORD HAS BLESSED ME WITH A WONDERFUL LIFE AND WONDERFUL PEOPLE. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE LORD HAS YET IN STORE FOR ME. THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS PRECIOUS GIFT.

DON'T LOSE HOPE

Sometimes life can get you down. It seems as though when one problem ends, another begins. There is no reason to fear. God is there for us in good times and bad. He made us, as the Bible says, "more than conquerors"(Romans 8:37). The Lord will get you through any and every situation. Don't get weary along your journey. Ask God for strength and endurance to continue on. When things get tough, call on the Lord. He will show up and show out.

LOOK TO JESUS

Jesus Christ will lead you on the right path. He came so that we may have an abundant life. He wants us to have great expectation with each passing day. Jesus tells us that all things are possible with God's help. We can put our trust in Jesus because He is about God's business. He is our Prince of Peace--he will comfort you at all times. He is the way, the truth and the life. Call on Him when you need Him.

THE LORD IS GREAT

With the Lord on our side, we never have to do anything in our own strength. He will take what we have to offer Him, and He will use it greatly. We can trust that the Lord has our best interest in heart. The Lord is my everything; I could not do anything without Him. He is my strength and my refuge. The Lord is worthy of all the praise, honor and glory. You can count on Him always.

CELEBRATING AMERICA

WE ARE BLESSED TO BE LIVING IN THE USA. WE HAVE SO MANY FREEDOMS--THE MOST IMPORTANT BEING TO WORSHIP OUR GOD FREELY. NEVER TAKE THOSE FREEDOMS FOR GRANTED. HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY.

YOUR GIFTS WILL MAKE ROOM

We all have gifts and talents inside of us. God wants us to use our gifts to the best of our ability. We shouldn't allow people, past disappointments or even our negative thoughts get in the way of God's best for us. Some people say that they don't have any gifts, which is simply not true. If your gifts are not clear to you, then ask God to show you and be willing to tap into them. It's your decision how far you will go in life, so get out of your own way.

A FATHER'S LOVE

GOD BLESS ALL OF THE FATHERS ON TODAY AND EVERY DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROTECTING AND PROVIDING FOR YOUR FAMILIES. YOU GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO CARRY ON, AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD. WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THE LORD IS THERE ALWAYS

With everything that's going on in the world today (economic crisis, natural disasters, etc.), it's easy to get caught up in fear. Those that know the Lord have no reason to be afraid. He is there for us during trials and tribulations. He will strengthen us through our journey on this earth. Some people have lost so much during this time. But God is the God of restoration. Job trusted God during hard times and got back double of what he lost. Do you trust God with your life? He is always faithful through the storm.

A GOOD FRIEND

What are the keys to being a good friend? John 15:13 says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". Friends are there for you in good times and bad. Friends are there to build you up and encourage you. Friends are there to even tell you when you're doing wrong--that's definitely a true friend. Don't be a fair-weather friend. Show yourself to be a real friend, and real friends will be drawn to you.

HONORING THOSE WHO SERVE

A SPECIAL BLESSING GOES OUT TO THOSE SERVING OUR COUNTRY. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR MILITARY, POLICE, FIRE FIGHTERS AND THE LIKE FOR WHAT YOU DO TO KEEP US SAFE. WE HONOR THOSE WHO LIVES WERE LOST, AND THOSE WHO ARE HERE CONTINUING THE FIGHT. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

MAKE HEALTH A PRIORITY

Are you taking good care of yourself? 3 John 1:2 says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth". We must eat right, stay fit, manage stress and get lots of rest. To do the work that God calls us to do, we must have healthy bodies. God cares about how we treat ourselves; our bodies are a gift from Him as well. Some people make the grave mistake of taking care of everyone but themselves; we're no help to others when we don't put ourselves first. Money, fame, power and prestige means nothing when you don't have your health. So make a step towards health every day. Good health is a witness for God.

GOD IS MY EVERYTHING

God means everything to me. His Word guides me through the pathway of life. He is my present help in times of trouble. He knows me better than I know myself. For this and a lot more, all the glory, honor and praise belongs to Him. What does God mean to you? Take the time to seek God for yourself. With God in your life, you can never go wrong.

BEING GOD'S WITNESS

Do you take every opportunity to tell of God's goodness? God wants us to share with others about who He is and what He means to us. We're not supposed to just come to church and be spectators. We're not to be selfish--just thinking of what God can do for us and not getting to know him. God is looking for us to be willing servants. We have all been through trails and tribulations. Sharing our testimonies helps others to know that they can make it as well. Always strive to be effective witnesses for God.

MOTHER'S DAY BLESSINGS

YOU ONLY HAVE ONE MOTHER. SHOW HER SOME LOVE ON THIS MOTHER'S DAY AND EVERY DAY. A SPECIAL THANKS AND APPRECIATION GOES OUT TO ALL OF THE MOTHERS ON TODAY. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

THE BOOK OF PROVERBS

The book of Proverbs is considered the book of wisdom. It is written by Solomon, the son of David. There are so many verses that describe how we should conduct ourselves in our everyday lives. The infamous Proverbs 31 describe how to be virtuous women of excellence. Wisdom can take you to greater heights. So if you want to get more wiser, then read the book of Proverbs. It will greatly serve you in your walk with Christ.

EASTER REFLECTIONS

This is the week to remember the greatest gift that was ever given to mankind. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is a debt that we could never repay; the best part is that we don't have to. He loved us so much that He gave his life to save our lives. Jesus Christ rose from the grave; He is alive and well as ever. Where would we be if Jesus didn't love us so? I shudder to think about it. As you enjoy your Easter weekend, please take the time to reflect on what Jesus means to you. Take care and God bless.

GOOD WORKS DONE OUT OF LOVE FOR GOD

We should serve God simply because we love Him. Some people turn service for God into another chore that needs to be done. Some people serve just to get something in return. Some don't serve at all because of placing their trust in other things (money, work, etc.). God not only cares about the good works that you do, but also the attitude or motive behind them. The gift of life is God's gift to us; what we do with our lives is our gift to God.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS?

Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". Do you define success by money? Power? Prestige? Success is what you decide it's going to be. Search deep into your heart. What is your passion? Are you just going to climb the coporate ladder or are you willing to do whatever it takes to do what you love to do? The choice is yours.

PUTTING GOD FIRST

All this week on my radio show, I have been talking about having a closer relationship with God. We can easily get caught up in a rut with routines: going the same places, doing the same things, etc. As I always say, God is constantly talking to us; He wants us to be at one with Him. Sometimes we act as though we have time for everything else but God, which makes no sense whatsoever. He's ONLY the creator of the universe, right? He had plenty of time to create us, though. Psalms 139:14 says that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made". If He has time for us, surely we should MAKE time for Him. God is the VERY reason why we have life in the first place. Let's make Him first place in our lives.

THE "OMNI" OF GOD

OMNIPOTENT--ALL-POWERFUL

OMNIPRESENT--ALL-EXISTENT

OMNISCIENT--ALL-KNOWING

God is all. He is the sun and the moon. He is the clouds during the day, and the stars at night. He is in the very breath that I take each second. There is not a thing in this world that gets past Him. Do you trust Him with your life? The choice is yours.

WISDOM IS THE KEY TO GOD'S DIRECTION

Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction". So many people fill their lives up with so much stuff such as jobs, television, movies, sports and even church functions. But here is the problem: is any of the stuff that people involve themselves in is of the Lord's instruction? In other words, did God tell you to do what you're doing? So many people are complaining about how they are tired, broke or sick. Could it be that they are constantly running here and there, not taking the time out to talk to God about their situation? Most likely. Some people live for their own agenda instead of God's agenda; they are not hardly aware of the plan that God has for their lives. God knows us better than we know ourselves. So talk to Him and ask for His direction. Take care and God bless.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

WISHING YOU ALL HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS.

PAVE THE WAY FOR OTHERS

As we reflect on Black History month, what are you doing to make your community better? We are to be an example to others--those that we know and those that we don't know. What is your contribution to this world? Do you just look at the past heroes of yester-year and go, "Wow they were sure great!" or do you strive to make a difference of your own? Our kids need all of the help they can get to understand who they are and whose they are. There are so many opportunities out there just waiting for someone to take advantage of. If you're too tired to want more out of life, PLEASE TEACH YOUR KIDS TO WANT MORE. YOU OWE THEM THAT MUCH. Let's always try to do better and be better. Much love to all. Take care and God bless.

HAPPY M L K HOLIDAY!!!!

A VERY HAPPY MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY TO EVERYONE. THE DAY TO REMEMBER THE MAN, THE DREAM AND THE VISION. LET'S ALL STRIVE TO BE M L K'S IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES. TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS.

1ST VISION IN THE SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW

PLEASE TUNE INTO THE THOUGHTS FOR VISION RADIO SHOW TODAY FOR MY 1ST VISION IN THE SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW W/SHAUNE YOUNG, OWNER OF EXFOLATTE BODY SCRUB. I TRIED IT, AND IT'S A GREAT PRODUCT; IT'S INTENDED FOR USE FOR BOTH WOMEN AND MEN. CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE AT WWW.EXFOLATTE.COM. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT; CLICK ON THE BADGE LINK TO THE RIGHT AND GO TO THE RADIO PAGE TO LISTEN. TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS.

CONSECRATION TIME

WITH CONSECRATION STARTING AT WEST A THIS WEEK, I CANCELED THE SHOWS THAT WERE SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK. NO BLOGGING, NO RADIO SHOW, NO VISITING OTHER BTR SHOWS FOR AT LEAST A WEEK--MAYBE LONGER WITH THE LORD'S LEADING. PLEASE ENJOY THE ARCHIVED SHOWS FOR NOW. TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS.