Barbara Smith's Blog – August 2008 Archive (11)

Being The Best

August 25th, 2008

One thing I have learned through the years is that being the best is a good goal to have. Now sometimes we win a prize for being the best. We might get money or fame. That is ok, nothing wrong with money and fame! I would not mind a little of both myself! LOL! That is not what I am talking about though. What I am talking about is ever so much more important than money ever could be, and a million times more important than fame. I am talking about the… Continue

Loving God Is Not Enough

August 20th, 2008

Are you shocked? Well, that statement is true and I stand by it. A very important person in history felt the same way. He talked about and preached about it. He said we needed to do one other thing. The church leaders of his day were shocked too. So much so they wanted to kill him. He was the target of a huge plot, carried out perfectly. He was betrayed by his own man, someone very close to him. He was eventually capture, tried (with false… Continue

Beautiful People

August 19th, 2008

I have to say I am amazed at the beautiful people I have had the pleasure to meet in my life. I don’t mean their faces, though many , many of them have been beautiful too. I am speaking about the lovely hearts we meet as we go through life. Sweet people who make the day a little brighter.



I am also amazed, after getting to know them better, to find that many of those happy, sweet people are bearing heavy burdens. Often people are bearing… Continue

What is The Worst Thing That Can happen?

August 15th, 2008

I have been thinking about success and failure a lot lately. I have been reading and reading about people who were successful in meeting their goals. The thing that keeps standing out to me is that many of them really felt they did not have any particular talents. They did have a burning desire to succeed. They had a dream and they never lost sight of it. They never wavered. year after year they kept plugging away, eye fixed… Continue

It Can’t Be Done!

August 14th, 2008

I was watching the Olympics the other night. One of the men on the rings was able to pull himself from his body and legs sticking straight out behind into a handstand position without “bouncing”. By pure arm strength he tipped up slowly to a perfect upside-down T. it was amazing to watch, especially since the reporter said that before this man had done this move it was thought to be impossible. He said even two years ago the experts all said the… Continue

Falling Flat On Your Face

August 13th, 2008

Do you know what the difference is between those who fall flat on their faces and those who never do? Those who fall flat where actually trying to do something! I have done a lot of reading about successful people. The thing that stands out to me over and over is that they all fell flat many times. The things they wanted seemed out of reach. They did not have what they needed to reach their goals- or so it seemed. They failed a lot.… Continue

Second Chances

August 11th, 2008

Have you ever failed in a relationship that you really wanted, or that you really did not mean to mess up? I don’t just mean your love life here, though it can be that kind of relationship. I am speaking of any relationship- spouses, parents, children, friends, co-workers, etc. I know I have. I have blown several relationships in my life that I really, truly thought I was acting in the best way possible. My heart was right. I was doing the best I knew… Continue

Dirty Little Secrets…shuuuu

August 8th, 2008

How many of you hold on to some secret part of your past? Something you are ashamed of, have even asked God to forgive you for but, you can not forgive yourself?



I see this a lot. I think it is one of the slickest tricks Satan uses on us. He wants us to stay locked in guilt and shame so we will not be powerful in God’s kingdom. He knows your soul is not his to toy with, but he hopes by playing mind games with you he can keep you… Continue

I Dare You!

August 7th, 2008

Remember when you were a child, how you would dare each other to do crazy things? Sometimes you were frightened out of your whits, but you did not want to back down from a dare, so off you went! Well, I am going to dare you today. Let’s see if you are a scaredy cat now that you are grown!



I dare you to dream again! I dare you to actually dream of something you really want in this life, and then to go out and make that dream come true. As a… Continue

Giving Up

August 6th, 2008

I get a lot of mail from people who are ready to give up. They feel they have waited long enough. Their marriage is not what it should be. Sometimes it is not bad even, but it is not what they thought it would be. Like a fruit tree that has no fruit, they feel their marriage is not worth working on any more.



I have fruit trees behind my house. We planted those tree 16 years ago. Now 16 years is a long time. Through the years we have not gotten but… Continue

What Is The Worst Thing You Have Ever Done?

August 1st, 2008

Ok, I want you to think about it. Be honest with yourself. What is the worst thing you have ever done in your life? Don’t tell me, just think about it. Got it in your mind?



Now, What is the best thing you have ever done for someone ? Be honest, what is the very best thing you have ever done in your life? Got it in your mind?



Now, answer me this, which was harder for you to come up with? Most people can… Continue