Christian Books – Donna Louis – Celebrate The Small Wins

Celebrate – to praise (someone or something) : to say that (someone or something) is great or important, to do something special or enjoyable for an important event, occasion, holiday, etc. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/celebrate

Win – to achieve victory in a fight, contest, game, etc., to get (something, such as a prize) by achieving victory in a fight, contest, game, etc., to get (something) by effort. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/win

Celebrations come in all sizes. It does not have to be a huge event with lots of people. It can be a one-person celebration depending on what the celebration is all about. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Celebrate The Small Wins

We should all celebrate the small wins in life as well as the big ones. When we accomplish something, we should be proud of the fact that we reached a goal we wanted to. Remember that God is the one that works along side us to accomplish these feats, but we still should be happy and celebrate. Not all the wins we receive may be goals we were striving for sometimes we are just gifted with wins which is awesome. No matter how small the win is we should celebrate it. Check out my website

Here are some examples of small wins:

Checking in at the weight center & being told you lost 2lbs.

Cutting down from 1 pack of cigarettes a day to ½ a pack

Being upgraded from a seat in coach to first class

The doctor tells you that according to your test results your health issue is improving

You are expecting a package delivery between 8-11am and the package shows up at 8:09am

You get an entire airplane row to yourself for your flight because the plane is not full

You are alive for another day which means God is not done with you yet

You make it safely to and fro on the roadways since there are so many accidents and fatalities everyday

You have signed up for gyms in the past and never went but now you are going and using the equipment

As a business owner you have made your first sale

You are finally able to forgive someone for the hurt they have caused you, not forgetting but forgiving

You start eating more healthy meals instead of a lot of fast food

You start reading your Bible daily and not just leaving it in your home as a dust collector

You find money in a pocket in your clothes that you forgot about even if it’s only $5.00

You’re running late for work, and you hit every green light and you make it to work on time

While at the supermarket you find an item you love and when you get to the cashier you find out it is on sale and you’re saving money

There are so many small wins we all receive daily in life, and we need to celebrate those wins. It doesn’t have to be that we go shopping, splurge and eat lots of things we shouldn’t or a host of other things that start taking us in the wrong direction and negates the wins. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Celebrate The Small Wins

Celebrate the small wins in life and prayers answered because once you have those wins that will help you to believe more, strive harder, and be bolder in your prayers to God.

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Lean On

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore, shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed”. – Geneses 2:21-25. Check out my website

And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of everything that creepeth upon the earth, there went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. – Genesis 7;6-9. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Lean On

There is something that stands out in the previous two passages. Do you knw what it is? God clearly wants us to have companionship and lean on each other. That was his reasoning for creating Eve so Adam would not be alone. That was his reason for commanding Noah to put two of every animal in the ark. God even says that in his word, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:20. Check out my website

Husbands and wives are to lean on each other. Children are to lean on their parents for wisdom and understanding until they are adults themselves. Our pets lean on us as they depend on us to care for them on a daily basis. Parents sometimes when they reach their golden years look to lean on their children for some assistance. God designed us to be a support system for each other and to lean on each other. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Lean On

Unfortunately, nowadays with all the stress, strife, chaos, and confusion in the world there are a lot of people having mental health issues especially since Covid entered our lives. There are so many clinics and places where you can go to get assistance and just to communicate with others. Communication is a major essence of life. Homeland Security launched a campaign that is titled, “If you see something say something.” In July 2010, DHS launched the campaign in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI), with the goal of training state and local law enforcement to recognize behaviors and indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime. – https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something/about-campaign.

This should not apply to just terrorism; this should apply to everything especially those that are suffering with mental health issues. This is one of the reasons why the suicide rate continues to climb rapidly especially with young people. If you are having any strange thoughts or feeling say something to someone. If you are a parent, friend, co-worker, family member, church buddy, etc. and you see signs in someone that looks to be depression, or anxiety or a host of other things please don’t just look the other way. If you see something, say something. This could save many lives.

Lean On and lift up those around you and God and the angels in heaven will be rejoicing!

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Receiving

Therefore, I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. – Mark 11:24

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. – Colossians 3:23-24

Are you good at receiving? If not, that is something you will need to cultivate. I don’t mean receiving on those special dates during the year. Sure, ever since we were children, we have been able to receive for our birthdays, graduation, Christmas, and growing older for dates such as Valentine’s Day, wedding anniversary, etc. I am speaking about being able to receive daily. It’s not just receiving gifts it is receiving on other levels. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Receiving

Many of us have difficulty receiving compliments. Women maybe better at this than men especially when it comes to glamour. Women receive compliments quite often about their makeup and that’s a good thing since it takes time to apply it. However, compliments come in all types. People give compliments about makeup, dress, hair, mannerism, etc. There are also characteristics compliments such as integrity, ethics, conscientiousness. People can also compliment you on your voice, your smile, how you make them want to be a better person. All of these are forms of receiving. Check out my website

When Jesus was here on earth, he gave us an extraordinary example of receiving. “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore, said he, Ye are not all clean. So, after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” – John 13:1-17. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Receiving

So, you can see from the previous passage that Jesus had to rebuke Simon Peter and chastise him when he told Jesus you shall not wash my feet. Jesus clearly showed us in this example that we have to be willing to receive at all times and the master is not greater than the servant.

Cultivate the attitude of receiving as it will bless your life.

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Conscientiousness

Conscientious – very careful about doing what you are supposed to do: concerned with doing something correctly. Meticulous, Careful, and Scrupulous. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conscientious

Are you a conscientious person or a person who does things haphazardly because you don’t care? These traits will tell people a lot about your character. These are things that prospective employers try to hone in on during your job interview. In your personal life as well as your professional life those surrounded around you want to see a person who is conscientious. Being careful and meticulous about what you do is a trait that will go along way with everyone. Your employer wants to see you exhibit this at work. Your spouse wants to see that you are conscientious with their feelings and your marriage. A true friend who loans you their car to use wants to be sure you will be careful while it is in your possession. Parents expect that when they drop off their children at daycare that the personnel are conscientious. People who own pets who are going on vacation and leave their pets at a boarding facility expect that while their extended family member their pet is separated from them the staff will handle and care for them in a conscientious manner. Check out my website

There is a TV show that my husband loves to watch called “Swamp People”. I am not an alligator person, so I only see it when I am in the kitchen, and he is watching it. I will say one thing if these people didn’t live in the bayou and were city people and into corporate America, they would be exceedingly rich. Not just millionaires but billionaires. Their drive, persistence, conscientiousness, never give up attitude, work ethic to fill all their tags for alligators they must catch in the one-month season is tremendous. They believe in hard work, dedication, and will endure the long hours if it takes their last breath. If you want to get ahead in life, don’t expect God to do it all for you. You have a part, and he has a part. If you do your part, he will do his! Christian Books – Donna Louis – Conscientiousness

Jesus was conscientious when he walked this earth with everyone he encountered. All the teachings he did, all the miracles he performed. Even with Lazarus when he raised him from the dead. Jesus realized that his power was bestowed upon him from his father God almighty and so he made sure he always prayed and showed reverence.

Being a conscientious person is one of the legacy’s that you want to leave in life so it can be admired, duplicated, and passed on. If you are not presently no worries just ask God to help you in that area and he will work with you. It’s never too late. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Conscientiousness

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Pain

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. – Lance Armstrong

Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave. – Mary Tyler Moore

You can’t get around pain and opposition, but you can try to be joyful in the trial, and thank yourself for the trial, and thank God for the strength to get through it. – Mary J. Blige

We have all felt some type of pain at one time or another in our lives even infant children. Whether it is the pain of a headache, toothache, birthing a child, the death of a child, the death of a parent, the loss of a home or apartment, the loss of a job or a business, the death of a spouse, the loss of a person walking out and leaving you, not getting approved for the loan, a bankruptcy, the loss of a limb, losing out on a promotion at work, the repossession of a vehicle, a devastating medical report, the list is endless. However whatever pain we may be enduring we must remember what God said, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Pain. Check out my website

There are a lot of buildings that are engineering marvels and for everyone of them there was great study and detail that went into the construction of them. According to where a building has been erected the engineers had to consider what havoc the elements might bring. For example, in Florida they need to consider the hurricane element and make sure the building is sturdy enough once completed.

Our heavenly father God almighty has considered all of that when he created you as to how much pain you would be able to endure. If you are still here and I’m sure you are because you are reading this then that means you have endured 100% of the pain that has come your way. While going through the challenges, tests, trials, and pain you thought you would never make it but here you are still standing. You are stronger than you think. Remember what the Bible says, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. – Ephesian 6:11-18. Check out my website

Don’t waste your pain because it is there to grow you up and develop you into the person God designed you to be when he created you. You have a bright future ahead of you. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Pain