My Prayer

My Prayer …….Thank you God!

 I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The Lord hears his people when they call him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned!

O Lord, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me. Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me. Turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me. Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles. Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing his servant with peace! The wicked borrow and never repay but the godly are generous givers. The Lord directs the steps of the godly. The godly always give generous loans to others and their children are a blessing. The godly offer good counsel, they teach right from wrong. I place my hope in the Lord. I will see the wicked destroyed. The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.

I am bent over and racked with pain. All evening long I walk around filled with grief. My health is broken. I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart. I am waiting on you, Lord! You must answer for me, O Lord my God. I am on the verge of collapse, facing constant pain. But I confess my sins, I am deeply sorry for what I have done. My enemies repay me evil for good and oppose me for pursuing good. Help me Lord!

I have trusted you with all my heart. I believed that God would make a way. I did not lean on my own understanding. I believed that I would receive exactly what I prayed for. I did everything  I knew to do and I have trusted you!  Yet the enemy still attacks me. Listen to me, my God! Do not ignore my cry for help! Please listen and answer me. Everything is falling apart! It is not an enemy, it is not the enemy, it is the man I love! He was my equal, my companion, my close friend. I trusted him! What a good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together, prayed together! I cry out in distress and Lord you hear my voice! As for my companion, he betrayed me! He broke his promises. His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. I am trusting you God to save me! I am believing in you God that you are in control! Oh Lord, if I had wings like a dove, I would fly away and be at rest!

In the name of Jesus, hear my cry Lord! In the name of Jesus

Reliable, Relevant Sources?

When I need to conduct research, I am one that goes to the old way of things, I look to use encyclopedias.  In today’s society I am able to use online encyclopedias which make it easier for me as far as getting to the information quickly.  Whether you do the research using book format (encyclopedia) or on the online encyclopedia, the facts are all true. When doing research for skill, educational purposes, writing a paper, completing schoolwork, or for one's personal use, you want nothing but the facts.  In addition, credible resources such as magazines and pamphlets as primary sources to support are also excellent materials for research. 

I am very successful with this research technique because computers and use of the Internet have made the process simple and more accessible than years ago.  I am able to quickly receive information to support my researched topic which in returns allows me to have more time to develop a more detailed and well thought out response when writing.  Even though our modern ways are very advanced in technology, the old school technique of researching and locating information serves to be the most beneficial because the process is teaching and one is learning. 

My strategy has been successful because I am not one to use opinions of others as part of my research.  Instead I like to use credible resources.  The only change that I might make is to use researched information from universities and colleges.  I understand that professors have already researched topics and published their response and writings and made them available as primary sources.  I like to use more of these to be able to focus on point of view of individuals. 

One must learn to use resources that have been verified and supported by research, such as, colleges and universities and published textbooks and readings.  Just because a title is given that has the letters "pedia" does not mean it is a valid resource.  That is why I suggest that all information taken from another source be verified and researched to be a fact before presenting it in one’s collective thoughts.  Do not assume that someone knows the answers and has presented the truth, verify the truth, I have always been told when you verify the truth the process is call research. 


"Never tell lies or be deceitful in what you say.  Keep looking straight ahead, without turning aside."  ~Provers 4:24-25

#LoveTG  

Diversity in Collaborative Learning

Having more than one student involved in the learning process generates a greater number of ideas. People think more clearly when they are talking as well as listening (a very good reason to participate actively in your classes). Creative brainstorming and group discussion encourage original thought. These habits also teach participants to consider alternative points of view carefully and to express and defend their own ideas clearly. As a group negotiates ideas and learns to agree on the most reliable thoughts, it moves closer to a surer solution.

 As we continue with higher education and move forward with better opportunities to learn not only about others but also about ourselves many of our beliefs grow out of personal experience and reinforcement. When these experiences are shared with others we interact, we learn, and we gain wisdom.  Even though collaboration has stereotypes or negative judgments that working in groups forces one to accept another’s ideas, this association of working in groups is not always the correct way of thinking.  We need to change our way of thinking and realize that one’s learning style is different because we are individuals and by working together with others one can interact and build together to be a critical thinker.  Critical thinkers are to be fair and open-minded, even if you don’t agree with certain ideas at first. Give them all a fair hearing, because your goal is to find the truth or the best action, not to confirm what you already believe.

 

#LoveTG

Steelers-Giants Game to Go on as Scheduled - ABC News

Steelers-Giants Game to Go on as Scheduled - ABC News

RIGHT OR WRONG?

One way to define what is right or what is wrong is to determine what is ethical.  When defining ethical, it is the determination of whether or not a person, place or thing is right or wrong.  It is the way in which an individual person views what is right or wrong based upon their own personal morals, beliefs and principles.  When one defines ethical they do not allow for what society says is right to dictate to them what they feel is right or wrong.  Saying this, I strongly believe that it is important to raise one's level of expectation and strive for high ethical standards.  One should not want to stay in stagnation, being in stagnation does not promote growth.  When there is growth, there is the development of wisdom.  

I teach that each individual person must find their own way, understand their own purpose and determine what they will allow and what they will not allow.  The way in which you do this is to determine what level of discipline you have.  What source do you gain guidance?  Many turn to education, others turn to guidance of their parents, but most people wait on their own life experiences to determine their discipline.  Many times we do not want to listen to what someone else has to say, but a lot of the pain that we go through could be eliminated if we would just listen.  Our pride does not allow for us to take advice from someone else because we are so determined to prove we are different.  Stop trying to prove who you are and just be you.  We are all individuals so therefore it should already be understood that we are different.  Take pride in becoming wise by learning from your experiences.  Wisdom develops over time, it is an understanding in one's heart and it is not found among fools.  Fools have no interest in understanding, they only want to voice their own opinions .  Therefore, be cautious, avoid danger and know that a peaceful heart leads to a healthy body, but a jealous heart is like cancer in the bones.  In order to gain wisdom you must live, for wisdom is gained over time and one's experiences, it is not anything you can buy or gain over night.  When determining what is ethical in order to lead you to becoming wise, ask how will you live to determine what is right or what is wrong. 

"People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed." Proverbs 13:13    #LoveTG 

THOUGHTS on STUDYING

Are you studying?  Whether it is academics, biblical or political, the question you must assess is "Are you Studying?" 

I believe it is difficult to study when one does not set aside a specific day and time to study.  If one does not have a scheduled time to complete their studies and then try to do so something else, for example, watching television, social networking, or cooking dinner, you will find that you are not concentrating on your studies.  You are multitasking to get several things done at once.  The question I would ask is, "What is the quality of your finished products?"  Hence why people pay more money for hand sewn clothes than store bought clothing; it’s the quality of work in the time it took to make it that has value not the quantity of time where more products could be made faster. 

Just as a job has set hours to work, you have to schedule time to get there and time to return home.  The job cannot be accomplished until you do so.  I look at studying to be much the same; it is my job, I must have time to read and study prior to being rewarded.  "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." ~2Thessalonians 3:10

#LoveTG

HALLOWEEN SCREAM #Halloween

Halloween Scream ... My son, dgarnes1025 is now a grown man, but I find joy in looking back over his pictures when he was a boy growing up. It is amazing at times to me that I took all these pictures of him while he was young. Fifteen years ago we did not have technology like we do today, and I am thankful and greatly blessed that I captured the memories to last a lifetime. #LoveTG