Worry Into Hope

I write the words that come to mind and wonder if anyone will ever receive blessing from them.  I worry.  I worry about:

  • my children doing what they feel led to do
  • not having a house to live in
  • my wife dying
  • being broke
  • being a nobody
  • failing at everything I do

You may never worry about those things or may think they’re silly, but I’ve fought them in my mind.  So in that realm, they are real.

Demons chase us, and we chase demons – in our minds.  They leave us alone for a little bit, but always come back to dance on the doorstep between the soul and the mind.  They’ll leave us alone when we’re dead, but not before we’ve wasted life and breath on them.  They’ll pursue and trick us into believing we could keep them at bay, knowing full well that we couldn’t.  That’s part of what makes us embittered – knowing we’ve lost before we’ve begun.

Seeing our roots but not recognizing them is one of the greatest losses in the world.  The way that we live is dependent on what we think.  The road is tough at times, but we have to believe that it will get better, otherwise there is no use in going on – and to stop going on is to think selfishly about the continuance of our own lives and that of others.

Words cannot encapsulate the fears that we have at times, nor the emotions and depths of that pressure.  Yet, in the midst of all the swirling mess, we have to believe that life is worth living.  The judgment and hatred that others cast upon us is the least important that we receive or get thrown our way.  Because in the midst of that anger lies the love from others that shall overcome hatred and win today, tomorrow, and the next day.

Whenever we deny death another day, we have done well.  In due time, we shall bring before the Almighty the list of our accomplishments and hope for recognition in the midst of hatred.  When standing there in that moment, we can but hope that the heavenly favor we seek will present itself to us in a kind and benevolent way.

If we have not been negelectful in our dealings with others, then the truth of the moment will ring out for all to see.  The meanderings of our minds will not deny us from completing our purpose.  It will keep us from doing it well, though.

We need to meander at times, in order to enjoy the sunsets and better understand the world around us.  It’s when we cut ourselves off from others completely and only do the tasks before us in our minds that we cease to understand the beauty that persists even in the midst of death and betrayal.

Heaven belongs in our hearts if we will allow it entrance.  Seek not the purposes of the world, but only fix eyes on the eternal blessings that await us in the end.  Forever is a long time to try to understand and grasp, but that is the angle at which our perceptions should be set.

***   ***   ***
Published online at
www.MartyReep.com
www.Scribd.com/mjreep

Marty at Amazon

And Hope Remains

According to ancient myths, Pandora opened a jar (sometimes translated as “box”) and as a result, released the evils of humanity.  Startled by what escaped, she quickly closed the lid, leaving Hope inside.

Side Note: Based on her other actions, she most likely opened the jar out of curiosity and not to be malicious.

Either way, what was done – was done.  There was no turning back the hands of time and reversing the deed.  Yet, Hope remained.

Yesterday, I was reminded of the same kind of thing.  I can’t return to earlier years and re-do anything.  Last time I checked, the present time continuum of the universe doesn’t grant “do-over” scenarios.  So, to wish I could go back and do things differently based on what I know now – only burns up precious resources through regrets, stress, and anger.

Instead, I will cling to hope and utilize the experiences of my past to better accept my path and to walk it well.

By the way, if you’re looking for an exciting young adult fiction series to read (or for somebody you know), then check out Trevor and the Dark Rider.  It’s intriguing, suspenseful, and connectable:

http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store/dp/B00DKYER5M

Writer’s Block? Can’t Finish Writing Your Book?

Need help to finish writing your book?  Need some encouragement or a swift kick in the butt?

Send me an email explaining your situation, and I’ll be glad to encourage you, give you some pointers, and help you bring your book-writing efforts to completion.

Sure you can read stuff online, but sometimes you just need a personal conversation to get you unstuck from the mud!

Don’t worry, I’m not trying to get your story idea or to steal it.  I already have so many storylines running through my head that I couldn’t write them all myself in two lifetimes!

In fact, I should probably hire some other ghostwriters and let them jam in the words.

So, why am I offering to help you finish your book?  I’m paying it forward.

Having successfully written, edited, and published 26 of my own books, I’m trying to repay people who encouraged me along the way by offering that encouragement to others who now need it.

****
Find out more about Marty and get his books here

The Time Is NOW!

When you set a goal and then continually work toward it, you stand in the gap between failure and success.  The “almost did” in your life changes to “is doing”, which in turn breeds all kinds of other success!

Your mental list of what you never even try AND what you attempt and complete will always be in the back of your mind acting either like an anchor that holds you down or an eagle that soars through the sky.

The time to move forward and accomplish your goal is

NOW!

Whatever is holding you back is most likely a mental perception or mis-perception that you need to change or let go of.

The universe has great things in store for you!  Move forward and accept them!

****
Find out more about Marty and get his books here

This week’s newspaper article

“Are You Where You Want to Be?”
…this week’s newspaper article is online here:
http://lincolnherald.net/main.asp?sectionid=26&subsectionid=247&articleid=2368

Enjoy! ~ Marty

Article 6 pic in LH

****
Find out more about Marty and get his books here

Other Parts of My Story

A while back, some folks hinted that I made it seem like I had never struggled through hard times and that things were always easy for me.  I laughed and brushed it off.  After doing some soul searching recently, I realized I should tell some other parts of my story.  I hope that the words below encourage you in the midst of whatever you are struggling with!

Here it is in a nutshell:

###
“About the Author:
In 1990, Marty Reep was homeless and living out of his truck. He came back from that by making money in real estate.

Then, the boom / bust in the 2000s caused him to go from being a millionaire in real estate to being $500,000 in debt.

Despite the odds, Marty continually overcomes life’s negative challenges and turns them into successes.

He has written more than 20 books and lives with his family in California.”
###

……
I’ve updated my Amazon Author Bio page to read the same.

****
Find out more about Marty and get his books here

BelieveDo (ch 28) – Savor Life, One Moment at a Time

…adapted from Believe. Do. And Follow Through!

Chapter 28

Some people try to find happiness and fulfillment in jobs, experiences, or other people, instead of by simply living their lives, everyday.  Happiness and fulfillment are real and can be enjoyed, if people will let things happen that were meant to happen.

When they try to force things to happen, they cause roadblocks in their minds and obstacles in their lives.  They have to realize that all of life doesn’t happen at once – it’s a process – a lifetime.

We forget that sometimes and get all bent out of shape, because things aren’t happening as fast as we think they should.

When you sit down to eat dinner, do you open your mouth and shove all your food in at the same time?  Of course not!  You would never do that.

You can’t fit the entire plate of food in there at once, let alone enjoy it.

Life is the same way – why would you expect to be able to do everything, let alone enjoy it, all at the same time?

Just as you savor a meal
one bite at a time,
savor life
one moment at a time.

****
Find out more about Marty and get his books here

BelieveDo (ch 27) – Handling Success and Recognition

…adapted from Believe. Do. And Follow Through!

Chapter 27

How you handle the fame you receive will show the character that was developed in you during the fameless, struggling times.

Whatever character that was built in you before this current moment, is the character that will show forth if stardom ever hits.

Meanwhile, all of the people that you interact with on a daily basis will benefit, or not, from your currently-existing character.

Does this make sense?

Think about it:  All of the people that you come into contact with each day: how do they perceive you to be in real life?  Whether that’s how you mean to be or not, that’s how you “come across.”

Perceptions are interesting things…that’s not to say go out and live solely how you want others to think of you.  Instead, consciously be aware of your subconscious actions.

Because in the end, you’re going to live the way you want to, anyway…This is an encouragement for you to do it consciously and with gusto.

Handle success graciously!

BelieveDo (ch 26) – Realization of a Dream

…adapted from Believe. Do. And Follow Through!

Chapter 26

Oftentimes, what appears to be ingenious or an “overnight success” is actually something that took years of work, retries, successes, and failures.  Likewise, someone will do things that seem odd, stupid, SciFi-ish, or just plain weird.  Then years later, other people will exclaim how brilliant and “ahead of his time” he was!

Ironic, isn’t it?

All of those ideas bring to mind the fantastic movie, Bottle Shock.  Based on a true story, it tells about the interconnected lives of half a dozen people, all trying to achieve their different dreams.

One of the main characters, Jim Barrett (the dad), had given up his partnership in a successful law firm in order to pursue his dream of making the world’s best wine.

Tirelessly working year after year, he experienced a number of successes and failures.  In the process, he had become an expert in winemaking, but few people outside of his immediate community knew it.  His pride, stubbornness, and self-perception were part of the problem.

Finally, he hit rock bottom: he was out of money and his latest effort had failed – the Chardonnay they spent so much time perfecting turned out murky-brown, instead of staying clear.

He was done.

He called some guys to come haul away the 500 cases of bad wine, and with his old, leather briefcase in hand, he drove to his old law firm.

He had worked so hard and had tried so many times to succeed.  Having to go back to where he had left must have been the ultimate sense of failure for him.

BUT…

While he was in a pit of despair, other people and other forces were working in his favor.  As fate would have it, the Chardonnay went back to being clear.  It turned out to be perfect – absolutely delicious and beautifully colored!

As Jim Barrett was in the midst of giving up, all of the pieces came together and produced for him the realization of his dream.

Later, at a “blind taste” wine competition in Paris, judges declared Barrett’s Chardonnay to be Number 1 in the world.

He had done it.  He HAD produced the perfect Chardonnay – the best in the world.  He realized his dream.

At the time, some of Barrett’s friends and colleagues told him that he was foolish for attempting what he did.  Yet, decades later, the world still acclaims his achievement and continuing successes.

Ironic, isn’t it?

What dreams are you trying to achieve or realize?

What things are you about to give up on?

Don’t quit.  While you have been toiling away, other people and other forces have been at work in your favor.  You just haven’t seen them.  That’s the way it works, sometimes.

Just when you are about to give up hope, your greatest success can still occur.  Your greatest miracle can yet show up.

See it through, and you will be amazed!  You, too, will then be able to say that you have been blessed with the Realization of a Dream.

Realize your dream!

****
Find out more about Marty and get his books here