Tag Archives: Prospering

What’s Your Story?

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I have had this title going off inside me for some time now. I hope that by the end of this post, you will be on the right path to finding your story.

I want to ask you a question – WHAT IS YOUR STORY? I’m sure this question prompts many different thoughts. We all have a story and each story will vary because no one path in this life is the same. But I want us to not look at our story as defined by the life we have lived; but instead, by the one life that was given.

1 Peter 2:9 (AMP) “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s} own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Now, let me ask you again after reading this scripture – WHAT’S YOUR STORY? Our real story starts as a YES. The very simple answer to a life-changing question. Do you believe?

We, as believers, have been chosen and set apart. We are designated for something great; royal above any royalty this world has ever seen. If we dig into the deep meaning of this word, “chosen” we find: “to pick, gather, picked from among the larger group for special services or privileges”. If you go back and reread the scripture now with this meaning and see it as God speaking personally to you, then you will see and know your true story. Your story is uncommon and there will never be another like yours. So live like it, and do it all to the glory of God!

Just a heads up, my next blog post is a kick-off on Kingdom Relationships.

Passion

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“When you catch a glimpse of your potential – that’s when passion is born.”
Zig Ziglar

I like how Zig brings the word “glimpse” into this quote. I believe many are not living a passionate life. So many have allowed the day-to-day things to become a place of comfort or just events and it bleeds over into every area of their life. If we could get a glimpse of the real us, we would live more passionately. Marriages become just a sustaining relationship with no positive emotion when passion is gone. Dreams sink into the memories of yesterday when passion is no more. Our work and service to others becomes nothing more than works when passion is gone. In anything we do, if passion is not present, then it cannot grow and many times it actually separates.

What is PASSION? According to Webster it is, “A strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something: a strong feeling (such as anger) that causes you to act in a dangerous way: a strong sexual or romantic feeling for someone.”

The absence of passion is something that many never see coming. It’s when the passion is completely gone that we normally see the result of its absence. I read a great book by C.S. Lewis titled “The Screw Tape Letters” and it focused around the theme of deception. Via deception, passion can easily become no more. Almost everything we start has some level of passion, but if the coals of passion are not daily stoked, they can easily be smothered out until the artic chill of lifelessness sets in.

“Live with passion”
Tony Robins

“Passion is the genesis to genius”
Tony Robins

You see, God created us for a purpose, but that is not revealed until we live on purpose. Passion is birthed from desire! My desire to serve my God, bless and serve my wife and be a blessing to family, friends and strangers comes from a desire to live a Kingdom life. These are also the ones that fuel me to fulfill my God given dreams.

“We must daily stoke the coals of passion”
Keith Spanberger

Here are a few steps you can take to rekindle passion in your life:
1. Realize it’s never too late to start over again. As long as you have breath it’s not too late.
2. Close the door to negativity. It might mean removing people or things; whatever it is, close the door on it.
3. Realize you are worth it. You deserve to live a passionate life in every area.
4. You’re not anyone else. Don’t try and be someone else or compare yourself to another. Realize that you are one of a kind. A Kingdom original. God created each of us as one of a kind, so be just that.
5. Stop making excuses. It will never be the perfect time to start, so you might as well start RIGHT NOW!
6. It does not have to be perfect to begin!

These are just a few thoughts and I’m sure you can add your own to this. I would love to hear your ideas and any other thoughts below.

So why not start now making today the day you start stoking the coals of passion in every area of your life. Let your spouse know that they are important to you. Let the world see your passion for life. Let your desire to live life to the fullest breath put passion into all that you do. I want to close with this scripture that was part of my Bible time yesterday. I hope it speaks loudly to you and pushes you to be and do more than you ever thought possible.

Galatians 6:9 (AMP) “And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.”

CHANGE

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change 4-9-15

“The one consistent thing about life is change.”
Dr. James Zirkle

When we think about change, most of the time it is not something that one looks forward to OR it’s for fear of something that could happen. Even the very definition “to become different, to make (someone or something) different, to become something else” can spark fear if it is not put into proper perspective.

2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”

Just knowing that change is needed is not enough, we must implement it. Honestly, we ALL have areas that must receive some type of change and in this post I am going to focus on one that hit home for me. It’s in the area of health and fitness. (Just an FYI, a Health and Fitness page will soon be coming to the http://www.kingdomthinking.org site and I have some awesome contributing editors that have a wealth of wisdom in this area!)

My wife, Debbie, and I have really tried to implement a cleaner eating and healthier lifestyle over the last few years. As you incorporate change, you will find one of two main reasons why someone decides to make a change. The first area brings us back to fear of what could be or even might be. Fear and faith cannot dwell together and fear will zap everything if we allow it in. The next area is one that is defined in a quote I read yesterday from Charlene Johnson, “In my 20’s I forced myself to workout – and my every effort was focused on getting a better body. Now in my 40’s the physical side effects are just a bonus. Now I see my fitness as a gift that helps my mental wellness, my quality of life, creativity, patience, strength, confidence and longevity. Funny how the wisdom and experiences change our perspective.” That quote pretty much summed up why we are making the life changes we are, but for those doing it in fear, you’re fighting a losing battle. It’s like trying to drive a car with no motor.

“Fear creates powerless pursuit.”
Keith Spanberger

I’m going to end this post here, but only for NOW! I want you to take a piece of paper and pen and write down the areas where you have allowed fear to take over. Now give these areas to God and walk away from them and NEVER look back. Last, destroy the paper and step into the peace of God that surpasses ALL understanding.

It’s time for YOU to live a fearless life, so live it on purpose with purpose!

When you feel like God’s not listening…..

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God-is-waiting

“The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you
want most for what you want right now”
Zig Ziglar

Have you ever had one of those days that makes you feel like God is just not up there hearing what you have to say? (Now this is NOT the time to get a holier-than-thou attitude and say, “Oh no, not me,” but instead, just be real.) WELL, “I” have been in this place and it’s not a good place to be in!

For most people, it’s hard to find joy in waiting, as we are a society that wants everything NOW. We teach our children to have patience, but when it comes to us and God and our prayers, we think we must have an instant miracle, move, and/or manifestation, or something must be wrong. We bounce back and forth between “is it me or is it you God, who is delaying this”? We track the response time as if the answers to our prayers are on a travel schedule. I believe that one of the secret recipes to a joyful Kingdom in life is finding joy in the moment. Now I will be the first to admit that this is NOT always easy. I have learned that in those times, the best thing I can do is reassure myself of God’s promises by daily diving into His Word. Here are a few anchor scriptures that I cling to:

Deut 31:6 (NKJ) “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

1 John 5:14 (AMP) “And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.”

Mark 11:24 (AMP) “For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].”

You see, the truth is that God never leaves us, He always hears us, and He never withholds from His kids. Even before we gave our life to Christ, He knew us and through the power of choice we either let Him in or keep Him at bay.

So how do we overcome?
1. Don’t let the situation change who you are. (I stole that from my wife!!!) – You see, we can’t let a temporary circumstance create a change in us, but instead, we must create a change in it.
2. Don’t give up! His Words in Mark 11:24 are powerful words to hang your prayers on. Make those three words your battle cry in tough times. I have my own three-word battle cry and it is “SUCK IT UP”. (CLICK to read “SUCK IT UP” post)
3. Continually fill yourself with the Word and don’t stop when things get good, but instead, make it your lifestyle. I like how Tony Robbins says that “leaders are readers,” but I take it one step further with what you put in you is what comes out during those tough times. A good business book can give you insight into certain techniques and processes, BUT nothing that truly pertains on how to live and thrive in His Kingdom. So get a good balance on what you are filling yourself up with, but always focus on the Word.
4. Stand no matter what! 1 John5:4 (AMP) “For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.”

Those are just a few thoughts that will help you in your daily life. I hope in some way you have been encouraged by this post and would ask that if you know someone else that could benefit from this, to please forward it to them.

QUESTION: How do you handle the season of WAIT?

I look forward to your response.

EYES OFF OF THE GIANTS!

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Eyes Off The Giants

Giants on this earth have been something we have read about dating back to the beginning chapters of the Bible. The reason the Jews were made to wander in the desert for 40 years after God delivered them from Pharaoh and parted the Red Sea, is because they didn’t believe God could help them defeat the giants (the descendants of Anak and the ancestors of Goliath). We watch movies about giants and read children’s fairytales about them. History reveals the reality of giants; but there are also those giants we ourselves create due to situations and circumstances that block us from achieving success in our daily life and even in the fulfillment of our dreams. They aren’t really there physically; BUT nonetheless, they feel so very real – almost to the point that you could touch them.

God has dreams for each of us; but I also know that there are those reading this post that have not yet realized what their dream is – YET. However, the time will come, and when it does, it will be an EPIC day.

We can read stories from the Bible and other books that are full of dreamers and the giants that tried to stop them. Authors, musicians, entrepreneurs, and people from all walks of life, will at some point encounter the giants I am talking about. As you move forward in whatever you do, you will likely encounter some giants of your own and the key to conquering them is to NEVER STOP moving forward! You are worth the success of an achieved dream; plus there are those that will be impacted by your dreams. Dreamers are not going to be birthed or grow up on their own, so we must NEVER give up on them or ourselves.

Question, what could you do NOW to make a greater impact than ever before in the forward motion in your dreams? Then start there and take it one step at a time.

I would encourage you to get yourself a journal, pen or pencil and keep it with you at all times because from my experience, thoughts, concepts, quotes and other miscellaneous ideas can hit you when you least expect it. Learn to live life “ready”. =)

Lastly, I want to speak to those dreamers or visionaries that are living in the shadows of another’s dreams. Remember that their dream cannot take the place of yours. We can help another move forward in theirs, but we still need to be moving forward with our own. I can remember the late Dr. James L. Zirkle, Co-Founder of Living Water Teaching Ministries saying this: “the best way to accomplish your dreams is to help someone else achieve theirs”.

So start the adventure today and do not look back and hold nothing back. Dream big and keep your eyes off those powerless fictional giants.

So that’s it for this week BUT I would love to hear back from you below with your questions, comments, suggestions and feed back. I also would like to encourage you to check out what we are doing on iTunes at:  CLICK HERE

Also, here is the link from last week’s Kingdom Thinking blog post on the topic of FEAR. CLICK HERE

I believe our life is truly meant to be the greatest adventure novel waiting to be written as we live it out. Start living the best life possible NOW on purpose with purpose. Live with no regrets and love without boundaries. Hold nothing back and charge life head on. I am excited for what’s next, because the excitement of anticipation and not knowing what is next is what births each breath in life.

So stand strong, live life loud and bold! Take this new day gladiator style, ruling and reigning it and not letting it reign you.

LivXtrem4Him

FEAR

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fear

Fear defined is “to be afraid of someone or something, to expect or worry about something bad”.

So many times in life, we live in fear of “what could be”. Many of those fears are based on false feelings based on no facts at all. Facts are not truth, but just information that life presents to try and knock us off course. We read in the Bible where the armies stood before Goliath in such fear that they just were hiding in their camp. All this changed when a sheep herder showed up one day bringing food who had already overcome his fears; NOTE – he overcame his fear!

I was watching a TV show on the very same day I was writing this post and the female actress said this, “You don’t ignore or hide from the things you’re afraid of”. For those that have listened to my podcasts, read my past blog posts or even heard me speak, you might have heard me say the statement: Taking life gladiator style. Gladiators to me were some of the most fearless combatants. I watch them in the movies charging their opponent head on, holding nothing back!

So back to the statement from the TV show and my thoughts about gladiators; we have got to learn to face our fears and charge at them, because as we do, we find out that they have no power BUT what power we allow them to have.

Debbie and I were just in Germany, spending time with our daughter and her husband. We traveled all over Germany and also to Holland, Belgium and Austria. (You can check out the pics on my Facebook page: CLICK HERE ) One of the things my son-in-law planned for us was the Kletterwald Rope course in Wiesbaden. (Here is the link to read more about them: CLICK HERE ) So we followed the direction of our fearless guide (AKA my son-in-law) and we skipped over at least three easier courses and entered onto the Red II (harder) course. Well with that said, “WOW”! Debbie and I were pushed hard throughout this rope adventure obstacle course in the trees, which I can assure you the US would not allow! Once in the trees, you have the option to suck it up and complete the course or call for help and be rescued by a rope course worker while hundreds of people below watch you wimp out. Anyways, we kicked that course’s BUTT! =)

I think about situations that range from dreamers being afraid of moving forward in their dreams or workers being afraid to face an abusive boss. Or spouses afraid to even talk to the one who has promised to be by their side no matter what. Fear is an enemy of ALL men and women; and again, can only be what we allow it to be.

We must learn to face fear big or small – no matter what it is. You have the power to overcome, to conquer, to triumph over every fear that could TRY and come your way.

So that’s it for this week BUT I would love to hear back from you below with your comments, suggestions and feed back. I also would like to encourage you to check out what we are doing on iTunes at: http://goo.gl/0kx3Ya

I believe our life is truly meant to be the greatest adventure novel waiting to be written as we live it out. Start living the best life possible NOW on purpose with purpose. Live with no regrets and love without boundaries. Hold nothing back and charge life head on. I am excited for what’s next, because the excitement of anticipation and not knowing of what is next is what births each breath in life.

So stand strong, live life loud and bold! Take this new day gladiator style, ruling and reigning it and not letting it reign you.

LivXtrem4Him

TODAY!

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Photo by RKS Photography

Photo by RKS Photography

I want to start this week’s post off with a quote. This quote is by Admiral – William H. McRaven as he addressed the 2014 UTA graduating class in Austin, TX. He said, “What starts here changes the world”. What a powerful statement! To me, it’s a challenge that all should take. I want my dreams to change the world for the better and live way beyond my lifetime.

Today we can make decisions to move forward into our dreams. We can learn to embrace uncertainty and rejoice in the ups and downs of life. I just read a statement that said, “Enjoy the downs in life because there can be no ups without them”! A successful life has so much to do with our perspective of it.

Stop waiting on the perfect time; but instead, decide to give your absolute best and leave the rest to God. I love listening to Dan Miller and one thing he teaches is that we need to stop waiting for the perfect time and start doing with what we have now. People are not seeking you for perfection, but instead, realness that they can learn and glean from to help them step-up to a new level.

So what could you do right NOW to start moving forward in your dream? Then do it and don’t look back!

Well that’s it for today, but we have many great past blog posts I would encourage you to check out and we are also on iTunes at: http://goo.gl/0kx3Ya

I believe our life is truly meant to be the greatest adventure novel waiting to be written as we live it out. Start living the best life possible NOW on purpose with purpose. Live with no regrets and love without boundaries. Hold nothing back and charge life head on. I am excited for what’s next, because the excitement of anticipation and not knowing of what is next is what births each breath in life.

So stand strong, live life loud and bold! Take this new day gladiator style, ruling and reigning it and not letting it reign you.

Please feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and or suggestions below.

LivXtrem4Him

Renewing the Mind to Kingdom Thinking (Part-7)

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images

This week we are continuing the series on “Renewing the Mind to Kingdom Thinking”. Here is the link to the previous post just in case you missed it: http://wp.me/p1zGjk-ea

Here is the link for last week’s Podcast: http://goo.gl/0kx3Ya

It’s been fun writing these posts, as I have been on this topic of “Renewing the Mind to Kingdom Thinking”. This week we are going to focus on US! I wish we could step outside of our own bodies and just watch us live for a while. I think it might help us to stop certain things we do in our daily lives and actions. My foundation scripture this week is found in Matt 7:3 (in the Amplified Bible) which says it like this, “Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye”? (The NKJ says plank instead of particle).

Let me rewind for a second and lay a foundation for my direction in this post. I can think back to a time in my life, BC (before Christ) when I had heard of something bad that had happened to a very well-known TV minister and I had responded in a way in which I am so ashamed of now. I was reminded of this over the past weeks, by many things that have been posted on social media sites against other ministers and those that are in the public eye that are making a difference. Now I know that there are those that are teaching things and carrying beliefs that are not purely lined up with the Word BUT I can’t find it in the Word where it is my place to call them out for this. I know that there are public watchdog groups that are always posting things about others and I also read about pastors calling others out from the platform and my heart just hurts. One, the platform is a place for revelations and not opinions. I feel that when we cross that line and start reposting and promoting these things that others are saying, we are stepping out of what the Bible has called us to do and be. The great commission is the only calling in the Bible and in that there is no office of public watchdog OR one that is calling Christians to picket or boycott. When we are doing this, how can we say we are different than the world? Our love for others and our passion for life is what separates us from so many. When we are focusing on what we do or don’t agree with, then how can we be looking for those that God has called us to be a blessing to or witness too??????

John 13:34, 35 AMP “I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].”

PLEASE don’t think I’m saying any of this to attack anyone; I am just trying to prompt us to true Kingdom Thinking. I want to inspire others to think before we join the train of slandering another when we could take the greatest stand and pray for them. God changed the heart of the Apostle Paul; He can change anyone! Prayer is the most powerful thing we can do for anyone other than offering them Christ.

I believe our life is truly meant to be the greatest adventure novel waiting to be written as we live it out. So start living the best life possible NOW on purpose with purpose. Live with no regrets and love without boundaries. Hold nothing back and charge life head on. I am excited for what’s next, because the excitement of anticipation and not knowing of what is next is what births each breath in life.

So stand strong, live life loud and bold! Take this new day gladiator style, ruling and reigning it and not letting it reign you.

LivXtrem4Him

Renewing the Mind to Kingdom Thinking (Part-5)

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This week we are continuing the series on “Renewing the Mind to Kingdom Thinking”. Here is the link to the previous post just in case you missed it: http://wp.me/p1zGjk-e2

In the process of renewing the mind, we will find a limitless list of topics. That’s because the renewing process has to be done in all areas of life and it must be a daily action. What do I mean by a daily action? Glad you asked =). Each day we awake to new encounters; some good and some bad. And with that, we can’t live using yesterday’s answers. This is why spending all your time jumping from book to book, blog to blog, and conference to conference will NOT give you the full answer to your questions. They will help add knowledge to your arsenal but only YOU can find the real answers to YOUR victories. It can’t be done for you; BUT this is what most people want to happen. We live in a society that mimics what others do expecting to get what they got without spending the time seeking it. One of my favorite scriptures is Matthew 6:33 where it tells us to “seek first the kingdom”. What is the Kingdom? It’s God Himself. We must learn that we are investing in ourselves when we answer the calling of that scripture.

You can read in the Bible about the new wine being poured into an old wine skin. The result of the new wine introduced into an old wine skin causes it to burst. We ourselves are like that old wine skin in the fact that we are trying to put new actions and dreams into our same old thinking. Business and ministries alike cannot be held to yesterday’s types and shadows. The way we did it yesterday was for yesterday; but today has to see a new level of leadership and attention.

I want to encourage you to renew your mind to the fact that yesterday might be filled with great victories and also horrible setbacks, BUT today is a new day. Take hold of it like no other day in your life and live it to the fullest.

I believe our life is truly meant to be the greatest adventure novel waiting to be written as we live it out. So start living the best life possible NOW on purpose with purpose. Live with no regrets and love without boundaries. Hold nothing back and charge life head on. I am excited for what’s next, because the excitement of anticipation and not knowing of what is next is what births each breath in life.

So stand strong, live life loud and bold! Take this new day gladiator style, ruling and reigning it and not letting it reign you.

LivXtrem4Him

Renewing The Mind To Kingdom Thinking (Part-1)

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In the coming weeks, we are going to be focusing on the topic of “Renewing The Mind To Kingdom Thinking”.  So first, grab a pen and journal/notebook because there is much to learn and writing it down and re-reading what you wrote, is key to growth.  So let’s hit the road on the adventure of a lifetime!

It does not matter if you are a Christian or not; my blog can change your life if you apply the principles.  I promise!  How can I make this promise?  Because they are not my principles AND they have been tried and proven true by many before you or I ever set foot on this earth.  I’m sharing the principles and concepts of the Creator of all things beyond even what we know.  You got it – GOD!  Now before you hit delete and move on, I challenge you to hear me out.  Stay with me in the coming weeks…  What do you have to lose?

Whether you believe as I do or not, your mind is always being renewed, good or bad.  The definition of the word “renewed” is:  To make new or as if new again, resume, repeat, regain, restore, revive, replenish, reestablish, to start over.  Daily things are trying to grab our thoughts and change our thinking.  That is how trends work.  You see it and maybe the fact of how it looks, sounds and who is promoting it, changes your thinking on it.  Here is an example: the 60’s and 70’s were a time for bell-bottom jeans and hip huggers, but when I was in elementary school, if you wore them then, you were laughed at.  Then someone with a voice that is being heard said they were cool again and BOOM they are back.  Minds are renewed and bell-bottoms became cool once again… got to love society!  We were created to take information in and then make decisions based on what we learn.  The problem is that what the world offers, is all about increasing themselves.  It’s about marketing and growth on an idea, dream, an individual, and not about you.

I want to share the real direction of the kick-off post.  You have been designed for something bigger than you could ever imagine.  God, the creator of the universe and all that is in it, created you.  Many might be saying, “But if He did that, then why am I in the place I’m in today?  Why has my life been so horrible and why am I here”?  That answer and every other answer to every other question you could think of is in one book.  You guessed it, the Bible!  Your life, the success of your marriage and even the growth and success of your business, is all in one book and that book is the Bible.

As for me, I did not grow up as a Christian and I could probably write “the book of wrong” better than most; BUT God set me up! YES, I was set up by God. I encountered a beautiful young lady and she introduced me to a life I never knew I needed. I have lived both sides of the fence, I guess you could say.  (So I do speak from experience when I say life is better on this side!)

This will be the kick-off scripture, Matthew 6:33 (Amplified Bible) “But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”

The importance of this scripture is that we will never know us until we first know Him and we will never have completeness not knowing ourselves!

HOMEWORK: Write down today’s date and the time and note the areas of your life that you want to see changed.  What are you believing God for?  Write that down.  The importance of this page and these notes will become evident to you as you learn and have your mind renewed to true Kingdom Thinking.

So that’s it for now, but tomorrow I will be releasing a Podcast which you can find on iTunes and by searching Kingdom Thinking or my name.  Then on Friday, I will be releasing a V-Cast on YouTube and it will be wrapped around this same theme and I do believe it will be helpful to you in this adventure.

I believe our life is truly meant to be the greatest adventure novel waiting to be written as we live it out.  So start living the best life possible NOW on purpose with purpose.  Live with no regrets and love without boundaries.  Hold nothing back and charge life head on.  I am excited for what’s next, because the excitement of anticipation and not knowing of what is next is what births each breath in life.

So stand strong, live life loud and bold! Take this new day gladiator style, ruling and reigning it and not letting it reign you.

LivXtrem4Him