Expressed love……

I was with my cousin yesterday. My
uncle passed away a few days
ago and I spoke at his funeral
service. My cousin is a very
successful attorney in Dallas.
He is 14 years older than me.

I’ve never seen anyone who
genuinely expressed love as
he does. He is always happy.
He is kind to everyone he meets.

I noticed today at lunch how
endearing he was to the sweet
little Korean waitress we had.
He is like that with everyone.

Charles, my cousin, is an inspiration
to me.

After the funeral, the funeral
director took us to Charles’ mother’s
grave. I knew he wanted me to
get out of the car with him
to walk over to his mother’s grave.

Charles had promised his five
daughters that he would
tell ‘Nenaw’, (the affectionate
name they gave their grandmother),
that they loved her still. ‘Nenaw’
has been gone for several years.

Charles stood at ‘Nenaw’s grave’.
I watched his lip begin to quiver
as he called out each of his
daughter’s names and told ‘Nenaw’
that she was loved and sorely
missed. He cried as he buried
his head into my shoulder.

I think that somehow, Nenaw
heard what he said. All I felt
was love.

I hope I can encourage you to
make love a priority in your life.
You’ll be happier, You’ll be more
fulfilled. And you’ll feel amazing
love in return.

Have a blessed and love-filled
weekend!

With great love from my heart to yours,
Michael

Love declines…..

I found a very interesting tool on
FB. It is called ‘Lexicon’. It tells
you how much a single word is
used on the FB network by users
like me and you.

I naturally wanted to find out about
the word ‘love’. It is very interesting
that during the last quarter of 2008,
there is a steady decline of the usage
of this word.

You can go and join Lexicon and see
for yourself. The link is at
http://www.facebook.com/lexicon .

You can also contrast two words like
‘love,hate’, ‘friend, enemy’, ‘good, bad’,
etc. I’m very happy to report that in
ALL of these words, that I contrasted,
the positive words were used far
more than the negative opposites.

Nonetheless, I’m wondering if there
is a direct parallel to the decline in the
usage of these words and what all
our economy, country and world
are going through.

The other night, I rewatched the
video documentary of “The United
States of America versus John
Lennon.” I was pretty young back
‘in the day’ when John and Yoko
staged their ‘love in’. However,
as I watched this video, I came
to a belief that I’m sure impacted
the war in Vietnam. I now believe
that the case for love and peace
ultimately ended the war.

I’m on a campaign today to not
only get men and women talking
about love, but, actually expressing
it to each other. Many of our
misguided thoughts and impressions
about love have distorted what love
really is all about.

I believe that love is going to
ultimately win the day. It is the
most powerful force that we
can express upon the planet.

That’s why I share my thoughts
with you each day. It is why I
share my love with you. I’m truly
honored that you would hear
my voice and choose to listen.
I’m amazed at how many people
respond to these thoughts.

I honestly feel amazing love
for you and for all who are
gathered here.

Today, I ask you to consider
these words I’ve shared with
you. How you feel and what you
say today, does make a difference.

I thank you for accepting my love
and for allowing me to be a part
of your life, your mind and your
heart.

Boundless love from my heart to yours,

Michael

Clarifying love……

Stephanie told me, “Ever since
I was a little girl, all I ever wanted
was someone who would love me.
But, no one ever has. I’ve never
known love in my life.”

I shared a short message with you
recently about there being only one
kind of love. That love is agape;
divine love; God’s love.

Years ago, I also found myself in a
place where I felt alone. I wanted
encouragement. I felt I had no one
to encourage me.

One day, I was feeling a bit sorry
for myself and was sad because
I did not feel encouraged.

As I was feeling this way and even
focusing on it, I heard the voice
within. It said, “Michael, you are
the greatest voice in your own
life. In fact, you listen to yourself
more than you listen to anyone else.
Encourage yourself.”

It was an epiphany for me. I started
encouraging myself that day.

Receiving love is much the same way.
As I’ve shared, you must first love
yourself. When you do this, you
choose love as a way of life. You
consciously begin to love others.

I found that as I encouraged myself,
I was filling myself up with encouragement.
When I did this, I could more easily
give encouragement to others.

True love, agape, is expressed in
eros and phileo. Eros is between
two people who go to a different
level of love in a romantic way.
Phileo is the brotherly love that you
feel for your friends in your life.

But, if you check the source of
both of these expressions of love,
you’ll find that they come from the
same reservoir of agape.

The scriptures tell us to, “Love God,
love others, love yourself.” There
is only one love. It is agape. You
choose this love as a way of life.

When you do, you’ll never feel
unloved again.

This is why, I can honestly say,
I love you.

Michael

Just a thought about the power of love….

Have you ever thought about the
true **power** of love? I mean,
what giving, living and receiving
love can affect?

Think about this. The folks of
my generation (now 50s
something) grew up in the
60s and 70s (just after the
dinosaurs vanished from the
earth .

All of the hippies and yippies
were talking about ‘love’. Now
I’m not sure that a lot of it
wasn’t actually about indulgence,
but the word ‘love’ was still
everywhere. The Beatles and
others were singing about
it. Our generation was
certainly talking about it.

Just think about how fashion,
society, culture, art, music,
religion and so much more
were influenced by this era
and its theme of love.

Think about how a simple
carpenter from Nazareth
(I’m talking about the town
in Israel; not the rock group affected the world. Jesus
is still affecting the world.
He came with a message
of love.

I could cite several other
examples of how people
promoted love and touched
and even changed, the
world.

Is hate more powerful than
love? That’s like asking if
the dark is more powerful
than the light? Of course
its not. Light always dispels
darkness. It can never get
‘dark enough’ to overcome
light.

Love is somehow thought
to be weak or passive. It
is not. Love is a spiritual
power that overcomes
every evil imaginable.

No **big** revelation.
Just think about the power
of love and what it can
do.

It is far more than amazing
when you consider it.

Just a thought.

Bounds of love to you today,
Michael

This will make your day…and someone else’s….

Five years ago, I was sitting on
a park bench ‘inside’ WalMart,
waiting on my mother. She was
doing some shopping and I had
driven her there.

A Colonel Sanders looking elderly
gentleman walked up and asked
if he could sit down beside me.
He obviously loved turquoise
jewelry. 4 rings. A bracelet
and his boa were all adorned
in the beautiful blue stone. They
all matched his glistening bright
blue eyes.

We chatted about WalMart,
Sam Walton and this commercial
power that has taken over America.

I pounced on the opportunity to
hear his story. I knew he had
one just by looking at him.

He told me several war stories
and about being in Italy, England
and Russia. We sat for nearly
an hour and he never came up
for air .

To say the least, I found every
detail amazingly intriguing and
gained quite an eduction from
this interesting man.

Every body has a story. They’ve
seen wonderful times and daunting
times. They are all dying for someone
who will listen.

Let me tell you a sure-fire, quick
way to enrich your own life today.
Somebody that you come into
contact with, is looking for
someone else who wants to hear
their story.

BE that someone today. Actually
look for someone who wants to
tell you their story. It won’t be
hard to find someone who is
dying to tell you about their
life. There are many.

However, there are few who
want to listen. Love others
today by listening to them.
Hear their stories. Listen
with your heart. You’ll be
amazed at how seemingly
common people aren’t
common at all. They’ve had
extraordinary experiences
and lives.

Make your own day today
by making someone else’s
day.

Have an amazing, love-filled day,

Michael

Mercy me….my prayer….

Living here in the South, I’ve
heard this expression many, many
times.

I remember, as a little boy around
the age of 10 or 11, I came into
my grandma’s house scared to
death. You see, there was a boy
named Jimmy who I had met on
the baseball field on the Crockett
Elementary School grounds.

I learned that Jimmy had just
been released from reform school.
That alone scared me. What
was worse, I said something that
made him mad at me. I don’t have
a clue what I said, I just know that
he threatened to beat me up.

I was scared.

When I got to my Mama Murphy’s
house, I told her that I had ran
almost the entire 3 blocks from
Crockett School. I explained to
her why and I remember that
all she said, over and over again
was, “Mercy me, mercy me,
mercy me.”

I think it was her way of saying
a little prayer over me and for
the fear that I was feeling of
Jimmy beating me up.

That phrase has stuck with me
for the past 40 years. However,
today it has different meaning to
me than it did then.

‘Mercy me’ today, means me asking
for and showing forgiveness to
myself. It is a type of prayer of
divine and self forgiveness.

I’m allowing it to become more
than a simple expression of emotion.
I’m choosing to make it my prayer. A
prayer for forgiveness for myself.
A prayer that helps me to be much
easier on myself.

You too might want to try it.
Maybe a small thing. But small
things can have amazing results.

Much love and ‘mercy’ to you,
Michael

Can YOU forgive yourself?…..

Bobby gave me permission to
share this short story with you.

He shared with me that his
biggest problem he had
in his life was forgiving
himself.

Ten years ago, Bobby found
himself in a marriage that
wasn’t working and was
down right verbally abusive.
He felt no love, no affection
and no care from his wife.

Bobby also had two teenage
children, ages 14 and 16 at
the time of the divorce.

Bobby repeated what several
have done in his unpleasant
marital situation. He started
having an affair and left
his family. He said that he
felt justified in leaving the
marriage, but now, couldn’t
forgive himself for abandoning
his children.

He said, “At first, it wasn’t all
that hard. I blamed ‘her’ for
not loving me and caring for
me like I wanted her to. I also
wanted to give her the same
care and affection. She wouldn’t
budge. My biggest regret wasn’t
that I got a divorce. That was
inevitable. The thing that I
can’t forgive myself for is that
I didn’t see my children for
nearly ten years after. Even
though she was horrible
when I tried and even though
I paid every penny of child
support in full and on time,
she gave me hell. So, I gave
up.”

There are many things that
you may not have forgiven
yourself for. Your inner voices
always condemning you and
judging you.

My dad was bi-polar. He was
never physically abusive of
us kids. However, he was
certainly mentally abusive.
He was a young father,
only 24 years old with 3
kids.

I will never attempt to justify
mental, psychological, physical
or religious abuse of any kind.
However, I have to some how
deal with the way I was raised
and bring some kind of closure
to it. You will have to do the
same if you are going to live
with any peace in your life.

I’ve found that a lot of people
are hard on themselves because
a parent was abusive some way,
during their childhood.

My encouragement to you today
is, stop the abuse in your head.
Consciously choose that you are
going to forgive yourself for
whatever has happened in your
past.

The starting point, I’ve found, is
to say outloud, ‘Michael, I forgive
you for all the mistakes you’ve
made in your life.’ And then,
if there are some ‘biggies’,
name them and begin the
process of forgiving yourself.

You DO deserve to feel loved
and be a peace in your own
heart and mind. You have
to be the one to start the
process. I’m here to
encourage you to get
started.

Remember, forgiveness is
for-giving love to yourself
and others.

Sending you great love today,

Michael

This will help you today……….

I want to share something with you
that I believe will inspire you today.
In fact, it will empower you to make
it through what you may be going
through.

I’m inspired by people who have gone
through the most unimaginable trials
and made it through with perseverance,
love and forgiveness. I’ve met a few.
In fact, there are some right here
among those in the Powerful Attitudes
group.

People just like you. You may have
been through the most horrible of
circumstances and events in your
life, but, there’s one thing I know
today.

YOU **CAN** MAKE IT THROUGH
WITH LOVE AND FORGIVENESS!

When you relive, with negative
emotions, such as hate, unforgiveness,
self-pity and blame, bad things
that have happened to you,
you don’t destroy those who
hurt you. You destroy your own
soul.

Forgiveness is ‘for-giving’. It is
choosing love as a standard
for your life. It is ‘for-giving’
love to someone (or many
people) who likely don’t deserve
to be forgiven.

What some might consider my
biggest fault is really, my biggest
strength. I love to give. I love
to give you encouragement
and love here in these messages.
I love tipping extra when I go
out to eat. I love giving a kind
word to someone that I see
who looks as if they can use
a kind word. I make it a priority
to treat the seemingly ‘little or
unimportant people in life’,
with respect, love, encouragement
and appreciation.

Yesterday, I went to a small grocery
market here in my hometown. My
mother has been a bit under the
weather and she needed some
food. I was out doing some
grocery shopping for her.

I went to the counter and a
late 30s, early 40s lady named
Marcia was there to take my
money at the cash register.
I asked her, “Marcia, how are
you doing today?”

She told me that she had
just moved to this store
from a store about 10
miles away (same chain).
She said that she was trying
to get used to THIS store
and it was ‘trying’ on her
patience.

I stood there and encouraged
her for no more than 2 minutes.

Her face lit up and she thanked
me for taking the time to talk
to her.

You see, love is ‘for-giving’.
Whether its showing love
to someone in your past who
may have hurt you (or even
tried to destroy your life) or
if it is someone like Marcia.

Choose today to give someone
your love. Its done in many
different ways. Also, choose
to give yourself the gift
of forgiving anyone and everyone
in your past (don’t forget to
forgive yourself; I’ll talk more
about that soon).

Feel the sincere love that I’m
sending to you today!

I appreciate you!

Michael

Faith, Hope and Love

I don’t about you, but I’m
definitely sensing that right
now is a very critical time
for our nation and the world.

The events of yesterday. The
first African American
president being sworn into
office. The economic crisis.
Some are saying that its
the worst we’ve had since
the great depression. We
aren’t engaged in one, but
TWO wars. Over ten trillion
dollars in national debt.
Corporate America unraveling
in many places and in various
ways.

Right now is a time for you and I to
rise up and act out three
virtues that we were instructed
to live out, many years ago.

What are they?

Faith, Hope and Love

We’ve got to hold on and have
faith in the future. We’ve got
to connect to our spiritual
core stronger than we’ve
ever done before.

We’ve got to continue to dream.
Faith is built on the foundation
of hope. Your hope equals your
dream.

Yesterday, the dream that Dr. King
talked about on the steps of
the Lincoln Memorial and echoed
onto the steps of Capitol, were
reversed. The prophetic words
of a southern black preacher
were fulfilled ‘in your hearing’
and in your viewing, yesterday.

Hope that is built on that
which is right, will prevail and
be manifested through your
faith.

And above all, we must make
the choice to stop blaming
and looking for fault, but instead
choose to unite in our love for
one another. Our love must
be based on the foundation
of the ‘truths that we hold
as self evident.’ The truths
of freedom. The truths of
unity.

Today, our politics have
far less to do with Republican,
Democrat of Independent.
It has to do with being an
American.

I want to encourage you
today to hold these pillars
of life, consciously in your
heart, your mind, your
meditations and your prayers.

Faith, Hope and Love are as
vital to you and me as the
meals we will eat today.
The supremacy of love is
as vital as the oxygen you
and I will breathe today.

I’m here to remind you
(and me).

I appreciate you with great
love,

Michael

“Where you’ll find your answer…..”

I’ve had an interesting week. A lot
of soul searching and digging deeper.
I read the book, ‘Power Vs. Force’
by Dr. David Hawkins. Interesting
book to say the least.

Dr. Hawkins is somewhat of a
controversial figure. That’s o.k. with
me. I’m not a ‘totalizing’ person.
I don’t ‘hate or love’ a book. I run
everything I read through my own
filter. What I see as truth and as
good for me, I keep. The rest
is there on a shelf should I ever
decide to do anything with it.

The big key that is divine confirmation
from this book (for me) is, love
is an amazing power. It is NOT
forceful. In addition, I received
further confirmation that my
divine connection is truly the
most powerful and trustworthy
power in my life.

I’ve never been one who slept
a lot. I’ve always been an early
riser. I know that most people
prefer not get up early. I do.
Always have. I like it and enjoy
it (its o.k. if you’re saying,
“Ugh!” . However, lately
I’ve been going to bed
earlier and sleeping a little
longer. Really good, sound
sleep.

I also try to go to sleep with
something profoundly spiritual
on my heart and mind. My
epiphanies usually come shortly
after waking up.

This morning, the voice within
said, “Your answer is found
within.” The guidance that
you want and need is found
in your heart. It is bathed
in love, cloaked in peace and
covered with joy. It is divine.
Spiritual.

It is quite likely what has been
leading you your entire life. It
is what is making your heart
to beat. It is what is making
‘life’ to continue in your body.

I’m expecting specific guidance
in my life. I’m looking for it
within. I’ve too many times,
sought it outside. I’ve tried
to ‘make it happen.’

Dr. Hawkins says that “God
is guiding your life. All that
it takes is for you to start
becoming aware of it.” He
calls this ‘awareness’ or
‘consciousness.’

The answer that you’re likely
seeking is inside of you. It
is in that ’still small voice.’

Listen in love.

I truly do feel divinely
connected with you as
my dear friend.

I’m offering this message
to you in great love,
Michael