Your Money or Your Life?

David Kellermann, the acting CFO of Freddie Mac was found dead at his home today in what police said was an apparent suicide.

Kellerman age 41 lived in a well off neighborhood of large single family homes with beautiful lawns. Country records show Kellermann's home worth about $900,000.

Mac lost more than $50 billion last year, and the government has pumped in $45 billion to keep the company afloat.

No doubt Kellerman was under a lot of pressure and my prayers are with his family.

Let's ask ourselves though, is any amount of money or lack there of; worth taking your own life?

I've never owned a $900,000 home, but I have owned several houses in my life, and very finely furnished with antiques but I wouldn't trade any of it for my own life. How do I know I wouldn't? I've had and I've had not. Just about four years ago I found myself homeless and jobless. I did have my Ford Explorer (that barely ran) that I lived in. It was my home. It wasn't easy, but I have to say it wasn't as hard as I had expected either. Maybe because I did have my Explorer to live in, but I believe maily because of my faith in God. I knew that God would take care of me no matter if I had a roof over my head or not; He would work it out. I never even considered once taking my life because of this.

The lack of money is not worth taking your life. The lack of a job is not worth taking your life. There are ebbs and flow in every Country, and in everyone's life also. There are times of abundance and there are times you may end up having nothing material at all. Just know this, that God knows what you're going through and even though it seems He's not paying attention to you at the moment, He really is and He's working in your favor to help you, to make sure you are provided for. He did in my life, and He will in yours too, if you have faith in Him! Trust in Him and He will guide you.
Work hard and do all you can to get back on your feet, keep your faith in Him; and you'll see things change, even if it's not right away; it will happen. After all you have His word on it "You reap what you sow, IF you faint not." So keep sowing, you will reap a harvest in due time.

May God fill you with His Wealth and Riches in your life,

Dexter

6 Steps to a Stronger Mind by Mark Victor Hansen

6 Steps to a Stronger Mind by Mark Victor Hansen

Our minds are all we've got. They are the source of who we, both personally and professionally, are. They determine our success or failure. They are our strength and our weakness.

With the quality of our entire lives resting on our minds, it's unbelievable that we choose to fill them with so much garbage. The amount of negativity from television, newspapers, tabloids and other media that bombards us on a daily basis is amazing. We would never think to fill our bodies with only junk food, right? Heck no. We know that if we ate nothing but French fries and ice cream we would experience negative consequences like skin blemishes, weight gain and rotting teeth.

But with mental junk food we don't see the physical consequences right away. When our minds are constantly filled with negativity and bad news, our minds begin to decay. That's why we need to develop a strong, Herculean-esque mind.

Developing your mental muscles will give you the power to accomplish anything you want in life. Sure, it takes some discipline on your part, but look at the world's greatest bodybuilders. They don't show up at the gym every once in a while. They create a workout schedule and they are at the gym every day, no matter what.

Hire yourself as your “mental manager.’ Figure out how much you're going to pay yourself and make up a job list. Here are six jobs to assign to yourself to create a stronger mind.

1. Read Right
How much good news do you see in the newspapers? Editors usually say, “If it bleeds, it leads.’ Not much chance of positivity there. So, read something else. Read books – good books. Books that motivate you. Books that inspire you. Look up some of the great inspirational authors on amazon.com or in your local bookstore. Read them every morning and/or every night, before you go to sleep.

2. Share Your Mind
Find someone, or a group of someone's, who have the same desire to share positivity. This is called masterminding. Great successes are created when great minds come together and think about the same things.

3. Find A Mentor
My mentor was Buckminster Fuller and I learned more from that man about life than I ever hoped to. Who are the people you admire most, whether you know them or not? Figure out whom you'd like to emulate and study them. If they offer seminars, attend them. If they've written books, read them. Just a few I'd recommend are: Tony Robbins, Dr. Wayne Dyer and Zig Ziglar.

4. Listen to Motivational/Inspirational CDs and Tapes
This is one of the most important habits you can create for yourself. Find inspirational audio messages and listen to them over and over. Earl Nightingale, one of the most brilliant thinkers of our time, had this to say on the subject: “Tape listening is the most important advance in technology since the invention of the printing press.’ With audio tapes and CDs, speakers can reach 10 times as many people as the printed word ever could.

5. Sign Up and Attend Seminars
The motivational messages you hear at seminars, and the inspirational people you meet, reinforce your self-esteem and positive thinking. You can search out seminars via the internet, newspapers or local colleges and universities.

6. Turn Off the Television
On average, the television set in an American home is on over 7 hours a day. Just like any bad habit, it needs to be broken. I'm not saying that all television is bad. Heck no. I'm simply recommending that you cut back on your television viewing. Decide how long you're going to watch television and then turn it off when you're time is up. Try cutting back your television viewing one hour every day at first. You can use that time to read a book, listen to a motivational tape, walk your dog or spend time with your family.

After reading these six steps maybe you're saying, “But Mark, I can't do it. I just don't know if I can be this dedicated to bettering myself?’ Who else are you going to be dedicated to if not yourself? Because when it comes right down to it, folks, you are all that you've got. Jobs and relationships come and go. Children grow up, leave the nest and get lives of their own. Then there you are, alone with yourself. Why not create a “you’ you can be proud of.

"Amaze yourself; manifest your full potential."

-- Mark Victor Hansen

The Ripple Effect

Have you ever thrown a stone into a still body of water such as a lake or pond? Isn't it neat to see the ripples that it creates from it, outward?

This is how our lives are even when we don't know it, we are making a difference in others lives (for positive or negative).

I'll give you a recent example of it in my own life. I enjoy taking an orange to work. My wife as sweet as she is, peals that orange for me before I go to work and puts it in a zip lock bag. Well one of my teammates happened to see my pealed orange and asked about it. I informed him that my wife peals the orange for me. He happened to mention it to his girlfriend, and now she peals him an orange to take to work also. Then as my teammate was telling me about it, another teammate overheard what we were talking about and she said "I think I'll do that for my boyfriend also!"
Here my wife is, in the kitchen all by herself pealing that orange because she loves me, and not thinking about how even that simple act can impact others; yet we see by my true story that it did and it does!

So whether we realize it or not, our lives, our actions, our words even; impact others.

Choose today to have a positive impact in someone's life. Spread out the Wealth and Riches in your own life! You never know how many it will touch.

Dexter

What's the Big Deal About Marriage?

What's the big deal about Marriage? "Why can't two people who love each other just live together."
"Marriage is just a piece of paper anyhow." "Marriage is death to a relationship, once you get married it's down hill from there!" "Marriage is old fashioned."

Have you heard people say these things? I'm sure you have. You might of even said them yourself at one time..



So what is the big deal about marriage? Is getting married just a legal document so one can qualify for benefits, and what about same sex marriage, if two people love one another shouldn't they be allowed to get married?

Since I write about Wealth and Riches here which involve the subject of relationships, I want to address this extremely important topic of marriage.

Marriage the way it was designed to be, is between a man and a woman in holy matrimony.
It is a commitment made with both the mind and the heart towards the person you have said you want to spend the rest of your life with. It is much more than a legal paper or a contract.
When a person is married their relationship is "holy". Holy meaning set apart, made special where you are only for that person, and that person only for you. You are reserved for each other, and no one else is suppose to be that close with you except your spouse.

First of all, woman was made for man as a helpmate. A partner. (See Genesis when God made Eve). Not man for man, nor woman for woman, but woman for man. You might be thinking from that statement that I hate gays and I'm a gay basher. I don't hate gays, but I do disagree with their lifestyle. I do not accept it as normal in any fashion. It is quite clear from how we are made physically that a man and a woman are to be together sexually and no other way. I do not believe that any State or Country should make gay marriage legal. And the States in the USA that have already made it legal, need to repent and define that marriage is to be between a man and a woman only.

With that basic information out of the way, let's talk more about what marriage can be:

Marriage was meant to be until "death do you part". I know there are exceptions, but I want to focus on the way it's meant to be. Ecclesiastes 9:9 HCSB "Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life."

Marriage is meant to be romantic. Yeah, even after you're married 20 plus years.
Sure there will be days where you don't "feel romantic" but over all if you are intentional you will have a romantic marriage. Song of Solomon is a great example of the desire a married couple can have towards each other.

Marriage is meant to be for you and your spouse only. This idea of swapping partners of commiting adultery will only bring hurt and pain into a marriage. Oh at first it will be extremely exciting, heart pumping thrilling even. But wait for the season to pass and you'll soon start reaping the consequences of swapping partners. It will bring misery upon you and your spouse. It can cause divorce in the long run and you'll wish you never had done it.

When you love your husband/wife with all your heart, you'll never want to be with anyone else.
You'll count them as special in your heart. You'll guard your heart and only let them in that special area where no else will have access. Only your mate will. You'll be able to open your heart wide open to this person with no fear of rejection, no fear of ridicule, only openness heart to heart baring all things to each other even when you are hurt by one another. When this is done, there is true in depth healing and a dare I say spiritual bonding that takes place between you two. It is beautiful beyond description. Accepting one another faults and all. It's the best relationship as close to heaven as you'll get not counting a relationship with God Himself. Your body is no longer your own, but it is your spouse's body now and their body is yours. Reserved only for one another. When a husband and wife submit to one another remembering that their body is not their own, then there is no rejection; only enjoyment of one another.

Marriage is more than a physical thing, it is spiritual also. (The two flesh shall be one) is more then just sex. More then a man going into a woman. You become one with each other when you are married. Harmony exists when the two are one. Sure there will be times of disagreement. That's only human. Yet deep down you know your marriage is suppose to have harmony. If it wasn't meant that a way, then you wouldn't get so upset when there isn't harmony. You would take it as normal. Which brings me to my next point.

Respect. Respect one another. Be tender towards each other. Never insulting one another with words and never causing physical harm even when your mind screams out "JUSTICE!"
Respect one another as if you were living with a King or a Queen.

Serve one another as if you were serving a King or Queen. How wonderful your marriage will be when you serve each other this way. Men, wash the dishes once in awhile and make the bed. You didn't marry a maid, you married your love. Women, show your man you love him by cooking a good meal for him. Don't let him go to work empty handed. Make him a good lunch (the night before if necessary) and put in a love note with it. Help keep his heart with you this way even when he's away from you at work and when your away from him.
Men, surprise your wife with a love letter on no special day and tell your woman you love her.

Don't take for granted your husband/wife. They may not be here tomorrow if you do. They are more important then the daily newspaper, the TV show, the movie; or anything else. Pay full attention to one another giving weight to each others words.

Oh I could go on and on. I've learned these things the hard way, and am writing you today in hopes that you will learn them just by reading instead of the hard way, hopefully avoiding lots of heart ache and bringing joy and true Wealth and Riches into your life; all of your life.

Blessings to you,

Dexter

What One TRILLION Dollars Looks like

All this talk about "stimulus packages" and "bailouts"...

A billion dollars...


A hundred billion dollars...


Eight hundred billion dollars...


One TRILLION dollars...


What does that look like? I mean, these various numbers are tossed around like so many doggie treats.


Stay with me ... to get a sense of what a trillion dollars looks like.


Take it slow....


We'll start with a $100 dollar bill. Currently the largest U.S. denomination in general circulation. Most everyone has seen them; slightly fewer have owned them.

A packet of one hundred $100 bills is less than 1/2" thick and contains $10,000. Fits in your pocket easily and is more than enough for a week or two of shamefully decadent fun.

Believe it or not, this next little pile is $1 million dollars (100 packets of $10,000). You could stuff that into a grocery bag and walk around with it.

While a measly $1 million looked a little unimpressive, $100 million is a little more respectable. It fits neatly on a standard pallet...

And $1 BILLION dollars... now we're really getting somewhere... $1,000,000,000 (one billion dollars)

Next we'll look at ONE TRILLION dollars. This is that number we've been hearing about so much. What is a trillion dollars? Well, it's a million million. It's a thousand billion. It's a one followed by 12 zeros. You ready for this? It's pretty surprising. Go ahead... Scroll down...



Ladies and gentlemen... I give you $1 trillion dollars...

(And notice those pallets are double stacked and how small the man looks.) So the next time you hear someone toss around the phrase "trillion dollars"... that's what they're talking about. Make sure you pass this on so everyone can see how much our government is really spending!!

Wanting something is not enough

Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way. Les Brown~

What is the one thing above all things that you desire in your life right now?

If you expect to get it, then you must hunger after this one thing. Long for it with every breath you have. You will think about it night and day, you will plan for it, work for it, breathe it, pray for it and sleep it. Only then will you know for sure that you will obtain it.

When you want something that bad, I believe it will happen.
I believe it from experience.
What if it doesn't happen you say? Then you'll die wanting it!
What if it takes you a month, a year, 10 years, 20 years! Will you give up? Not if you want it and believe God for it!

Every since I was in my 20's ( 2 1/2 decades ago) I've prayed and desired to have a daughter after I had my son Benjamin. (He was exactly what I prayed for, a boy to start with). Now I only have about less than a year to have the desire to have a girl! My wife's daughter (and as far as I'm concerned mine also) will be here with us!

Will you believe and not give up on your dream for that long or longer if you must?
If your answer is no, then it's not what you really desire with all your heart.
If your answer is yes, I encourage you to keep believing, keep moving forward until you reach your dream! Don't ever give up, no matter what comes your way. The doors will open for you if you keep knocking. So keep knocking, keep asking, keep moving in the direction you want. The Bible says if we do these things, God will answer us because He is our good Father who loves us. He did not ever say He would make it easier on us. He did not say we would not go through any trails. But He did say if you seek and knock, He will open the doors for us! And when those doors open my friend, it will all be worth it!

Determination

Wealth and Riches are yours,

Dexter

A Piece of the Pie?

A Piece of the Pie?

Have you heard the saying concerning money: "I just want a piece of the pie, that's all."

This is the problem many of us have when it comes to money. We think because someone that has a lot of money, must of made you a bit poorer.
In reality of how our money system works, there is plenty of pie to go around for everyone. It's not like this picture of the pie you see here, where there are only so many pieces and once all the pieces are gone, there's none left for anyone else.

We have an unlimited wealth supply available to us. We can "create" wealth. If you introduce a new product or service and rent it out or sell it; you have just created wealth for yourself. Something from nothing!
The lack of money is nonexistent. It's the poverty mentality that causes lack in our own life.

I'll tell you a true story of when I was in my early 20's. I use to have a pet rabbit that I kept in a rabbit cage. I would always feed him rabbit pellets or veggies of some sort like carrots or lettuce.
I fell upon financial hard times and did not even have enough money to buy any pellets or veggies for Rabbit. I knew though I was going to get some checks in 3 days, so I figured that as long as Rabbit had enough water he would be fine until I got paid...well I was wrong. Rabbit did not take to his forced fast very well at all. Actually he died on the 3rd day. It was too late to buy him some food by time my checks arrived in the mail. Wow, was I sad! Poor Rabbit depended on me to take care of him, and here I let him die of starvation.
While standing there thinking about poor dead Rabbit suddenly I relaized for the first time, had I just pulled some grass from the abundant green lawn I had, rabbit would have had food to eat in plenty!!

You see, my sight and thinking were limited. I was looking in only one direction to supply my need. Because of my limited thinking Rabbit suffered and died.

You might think, how stupid I was do of not realized this to start with, but how many people do I know that have the same limited sight in their own financial lives that just can only see their job as the way to have money, sometimes barely making a living, causing a shortage and suffering to those they love.

There are more ways to provide for all of your needs and then some if only you will SEE them.

Don't be like me when I was in my 20's. Look around and open your eyes and see the true Wealth and Riches around you!

Dexter