I finished putting the boots in the box and as they walked closer I felt my heart overflowing with so much love. The tug on my heart then said, “Look closer.” At that moment, my eyes met the eyes of this precious little angel. She had the most beautiful blue eyes you could ever imagine. I stayed knelt down and began talking with her, “Hi honey, what’s your name?” The little girl tried to form the words to say her name but couldn’t. Her mom then softly responded, “Her name is Jenna.” I said, “Well, it is great to meet you Jenna. You have a very special soul, you know that?” I could see her eyes light up and her mom said, “Yes, she sure does.” Jenna then began to point to her left shoe all excited. I could feel her heart communicating directly with mine. It felt like I was living her excitement right along with her. I said, “You are excited because you got some new shoes.” Her mom then said, “Well, she actually only had to get a new left one.” Although the girl couldn’t speak, our hearts were able to communicate perfectly. The love and excitement that filled my heart and the store from this little angel was amazing.

I asked Jenna, “How old are you honey?” Her mom then said, “She will be 18 this Saturday.” I said, “Wow! Eighteen that is great. I hope you have a wonderful birthday and a lot of fun!” I couldn’t stop smiling just feeling so much gentleness, kindness, and love from this little angel. Her mom said to me, “Thank you so much for talking to her that was really nice of you.” I hesitated for a minute and thought why wouldn’t I talk with her then at that very moment it was as if I could see her thru the eyes of how most people in the world saw her. This little angel had a disorder of some type that prevented her from growing like other children. She was the size of about a 1 ½ year old. She was going to turn 18 years old Saturday, not 18 months. She could not walk on her own. She had no teeth on the top and a few scattered teeth on the bottom, spaced out and growing in every direction. Her skin was tight like leather so the bottom of her eyelids were pulled down as if someone was intentionally trying to make a strange face by taking their fingers and pulling the bottom of their eyelids down. My heart swelled. I smiled at her and said, “No, thank YOU for talking with me. This little angel just made my day today. The world needs to be filled with more hearts like hers, it would change the world.” Her mom smiled really big and I could feel Jenna’s heart smile even bigger. I felt something inside of me change that day as if the love from that special little angel brought my heart to an even higher level of love. I didn’t do anything special, I just saw her for her heart and not for her circumstances.

I was then reminded how important it is that we see people for their hearts and not what’s happening on the outside. If we can see every person as the love that is within each and every heart (no matter how buried it may be) then soon the world will be filled with hearts like Jenna’s.

It reminds me of a story I once heard about a new teacher. She was given a list of her students and noticed they all had their IQ scores to the right of their names. She thought, “Wow! What an opportunity to teach such bright kids.” She met each one of them and saw them for nothing less than the IQ scores that she saw by their names each and every roll call. At the end of the first quarter the principal called a meeting with her. She was asked how she is obtaining such great academic achievements with these students. She told them it wasn’t her at all but thought it was brilliant to put such highly gifted kids in a class together. The principal looked at her puzzled. The teacher went on to share all of the things the students were doing, their progress and what she expected by the end of the year. She said, “Thank you for sharing their IQ scores with me. It was a great help having them noted next to each student’s name.” The principal looked at her and said, “Those aren’t their IQ scores but their locker numbers.” The teacher looked at him in amazement. He then began to share with her that she had been given a class full of children who had been struggling with grades and behavior issues. They had never taken interest in school and actually none of the other teachers were able to reach them because they had so many issues. She was shocked because she had never had a problem with any of the children. The principal said what she had achieved was remarkable.

The powerful lesson about this story is the only thing that had changed was someone’s perspective. The new teacher believed in them and saw the good in them. As a result, amazing things happened … each kid became who they were meant to be.

I want to encourage you to see each person for who they were meant to be by looking into their hearts and right past any outside appearance or circumstances. When we decide to change our perspective to see only the good within others, we then can experience the same gift of peace and joy as felt thru hearts of angels like Jenna. Who’s the Jenna in your life?

With much love!

Sandi Rauwolf

I then saw this vision of the land of the misfit toys and then it dropped in my heart, how many people in the world are looked over, shoved off to the side, left standing in line all alone … shipped to an island feeling isolated and unloved? Everyone seems to have their own definition of what’s acceptable in a “toy” – to one person an airplane painted red is beautiful but to another it is anything but good. When the reality is that only God knows what is best for that little 4 year old boy whose mom is in the hospital fighting cancer. See some times we are sent those little gifts so we keep holding on and fighting the fight – and other times we are sent challenges to teach us some lessons but only God knows what is best for each of us. This is why it is important for us to ask Him what role He wants us to have in that person’s life before we make a decision based on personal feelings or beliefs. At times He may tell us to walk away because He needs that person to seek Him and other times He may say give them love because that bad behavior is their final cry out to the world before they try to take their own life.

He’s taught me through my own mistakes and experiences that when we let God do His job in other’s lives and quit trying to help Him all the time that is when we can really see His power. So I encourage you to turn to Him first in all things – that means things you may just assume is your role like being a parent, your job, or how you treat that “misfit toy”. Ask Him, “How do You want me to deal with my child who is being difficult right now?” Or, “How do You want me to handle this situation at work?” Or, “What role do you want me to take in this person’s life who the rest of the world is rejecting?” Give Him COMPLETE control and watch and see how He can change your life and those around you. We don’t realize how much we bind our own blessings by seeking everything in the world before God. So seek Him first in all things – turn to Him. It’s easy, just talk to Him, He’s there waiting. You can even ask Him to help you believe. He will lead you to all Truth.

I want to encourage each of you to pray this … ask if you are to go to the land of the misfit toys to pick up a toy you may have shipped there or possibly to bring some love to one who really needs it. The most important thing is allow Him to lead your steps because only He knows what each of us needs at the exact time we need it so there could be a toy right now crying out and God wants you to be the one to make a difference in their life. Ask Him and see what He says. :)

Have a blessed day! Love to you all!

Sandi Rauwolf
Author, Blessings Too Good

Let your light shine bright so the world will see it.

The question came into my heart, whose glasses are we wearing? Are we wearing the spiritual eyes God has given us to see good in all things or are we seeing things thru glasses the world has given us? What I mean is, as life happens every experience will change us in one way or another – the choice is ours as to how. It will either be another step to purifying our hearts (i.e. weeding out the things the world has planted within our hearts) or it will add negativity to our hearts if we allow it in.

Are you carrying within your heart … the hurt someone has brought that was so deep now everything you see is through the eyes of hurtfulness?

Are you carrying within your heart … the lies and betrayal someone you really cared about brought so everything you see is through the eyes of an untrusting heart?

Are you carrying within your heart … the guilt of past mistakes or current things you haven’t broken free from yet so everything you see is through the eyes of an unworthy heart?

Or are you carrying within your heart … the love from every person that has crossed your path especially the ones that came wrapped differently than you thought (bringing hurts, pains, mistakes, pushing you to your very limit) allowing you to see everything through the eyes of unconditional Love?

Imagine each of those experiences as another pair of glasses on your face. We know how silly it would look to walk around with 7 pairs of glasses – then why do we so easily accept the perspective of the negativity life has thrown at us whether thru our experiences or the experiences of others? I mean how many layers of perspectives are we seeing a situation through? Are we really seeing the situation with an untainted perspective? Do we understand the more glasses we are willing to put on, the more distorted the view becomes resulting eventually in seeing nothing but darkness?

I encourage you to take some time today and ask where your heart is and what prescription you are wearing, if it is not free of all the world tried to plant into your heart leaving only Love then ask God to help you see things thru His eyes – ask Him to weed out all the bitterness, unforgiveness, anger – all negativty allowing you only to wear His prescription so you don’t miss the blessings, help or Love He is trying to bring you … it begins by turning to Him first before anyone else including yourself.

Whose glasses are you wearing?

God bless you, love to you all!

Sandi Rauwolf
Author, Blessings Too Good

“What do you mean?”

He said, “People so easily look at the outer appearance and form a judgment based on things they could not possibly foresee.”

“Please go on, I’m listening.”

He continued, “That little unattractive caterpillar will form into a beautiful butterfly but only if someone doesn’t stomp on it.”

My heart instantly saddened at that Truth. He went on, “See each and every living creature in this world is a creation of mine. I have a plan for each of them even what appears to be an ugly caterpillar – actually, the life of a caterpillar is very symbolic to the life of my children.” I thought, GENIUS – yes, it is! The world sees others who are different from them whether it is appearance, religion, skin color, etc. as ugly caterpillars when the Truth is that everyone starts as a caterpillar – no one is born a butterfly. But once we are transformed into a beautiful butterfly it seems all too easy to forget the caterpillar stage we were once in ourselves.

Each caterpillar will face something in his life bringing him into that dark cocoon. It may be challenges with friends, at work, serious health issues, divorce, addiction, loss of a loved one, etc. – each of us face that challenging time in our life. But, those dark times are the moments we are being transformed into something magnificent. We can’t always see past the darkness at the time but if we remain still and trust the plan for us, we will continue to grow within the darkness thru no effort of our own but thru strength that can only come with complete surrender. With that new found strength, we begin breaking away a piece at a time of that shell which surrounds us until we begin to see light. The fight is not easy but once we can see even the smallest hint of light, a force within us brings the highest natural rush of adrenaline. It pushes us forward bringing strength to break away more and more of that shell which encompasses us until we are completely in the light, free of any constraints. As we emerge from that dark place that we worked so hard to break free from, we realize we have been given wings to fly over the earth as something beautiful. A Life we never thought possible.

If you are still in the caterpillar stage of your journey, I encourage you to see the beautiful butterfly God sees every time He looks at you. Please do NOT see an ugly caterpillar. EVERYONE is born to be a butterfly – EVERYONE. No caterpillar is too ugly, too lost or born to remain a caterpillar. Nor are we ever given a cocoon that is stronger than any strength within us allowing us to break free from it.

If you are already a butterfly, it may be difficult to comprehend that not long ago when you would look into the mirror, all you would see staring back was an ugly caterpillar so I encourage you please don’t forget what it felt like to be a caterpillar – that humbleness allows us to see each person around us as nothing less than a beautiful butterfly. It’s important because you know first-hand how incredible it feels to break free from a cocoon as a new creation experiencing a transformation so significant that it does not even seem possible and wouldn’t have been if someone had stomped on us.

Let us see the good and encourage one another no matter where we are today in our caterpillar journey knowing that we are ALL God’s children even those who seem less than “cute” in life right – they too some day will become a beautiful butterfly – so don’t stomp the caterpillars!

Love to you all!

Sandi Rauwolf
Author, Blessings Too Good
Written 06/15/09, Posted 06/25/09

2. LOVE OTHERS UNCONDITIONALLY – Yes, that means no matter what they do, you continue to love. It’s easy to love those who love you but when you can love others who do not yet know LOVE that takes great patience, strength, and humbleness. Turning the other cheek is not a sign of weakness but shows more strength than any fist could deliver (think about how much strength and self control it takes to turn the other cheek when someone is mistreating you – that speaks volumes about who you really are).

3. HAVE FAITH THAT NOTHING WILL SHAKE – When we have faith and believe, truly all things are possible – ALL things.

4. PRAY, PRAY, AND PRAY SOME MORE – The power of prayer is so incredibly powerful especially when done in numbers so be quick to offer a prayer to someone and just as quick to ask for one.

5. LISTEN TO THE TUGS ON YOUR HEART – The tugs where you know you need to check on someone or you know you shouldn’t do something. Many call this intuition or a gut feeling but it is God guiding you. When you learn to hear His voice clearly and listen to the guidance, you will be able to make decisions in your life that are going to bring abundant blessings to you and anyone who crosses your path.

6. BE KIND TO EVERYONE – a stranger, a friend, and your FAMILY.

7. LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN ALL THINGS – When we focus on the bad, that becomes all that we are capable of seeing but yet are confused as to why we seem to be surrounded by nothing good. When we look for the good then all we see is good and that is when we can truly find joy in all.

8. FORGIVE AND KEEP FORGIVING – we are to always forgive and that means over and over again. Remember you cannot change someone, only God can change someone so forgive them and pray that God will start to change their hearts. Only He can change us from the inside out.

9. SEEK PEACE – do everything you can to live a peaceful life and promote a peaceful life. Peace means freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, and anxiety – when you find peace, you want to help others find it because there’s nothing like it.

10. BE HAPPY – only you can decide how you will react to a situation, no one else can decide that for you. So don’t let life overwhelm you but instead focus on having joy and clear your mind of anything that doesn’t.

11. HELP OTHERS, DON’T JUST SAY YOU WANT TO … ACTUALLY DO IT! – give unselfishly of yourself. The world needs it. When you go out of your way to help someone whether it is a simple act of kindness like leaving change in the pop machine for the next person, letting someone cut in front of you in line at the grocery store, or you go on a missions trip – the gift you receive in/for giving unselfishly could not be purchased with all of the money in the world. I guarantee this is one thing that no matter what you are facing in life, it will help restore your soul. It just feels good! Don’t make excuses like I am focusing on my family right now – when we make time to help others, think of the incredible example we are to our children without saying a single word.

12. IF A SENTENCE EVER STARTS WITH “Please don’t tell anyone …” THEN IT IS BETTER LEFT UNSAID.

13. LET YOUR YES BE YES AND YOUR NO BE NO – never allow yourself in a situation where you need to make up an excuse, or tell a lie – again, let your Yes be Yes and your No be No.

14. BE COMPASSIONATE AND EMPATHETIC – when we can truly put ourselves in another’s shoes, our heart becomes merciful and our actions kind.

15. KEEP YOUR WORD – if you say something MEAN IT and DO IT, that means you must be mindful of all that you say, words cannot be taken back. A person’s word should count for something so make yours count.

16. DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS – you do not know what they are facing in life or if they have even been taught love. What if you are the only love God has sent into their path so they can learn from you but instead you judge them and turn away?

17. SAY YOU’RE SORRY AND MEAN IT – when you make a mistake, apologize from your heart and mean it. Do not expect anything in return (another words do not take away your apology even if someone doesn’t offer you their’s).

18. RESPECT OTHERS – when you respect another person, your actions tell them you care about them as a person and that they are worth something – remember God loves ALL His children.

19. THINK BEFORE YOU DO – if something is going to cause you to lose sleep, bring harm/hurt to yourself or others then NO amount of pleasure or fun in the world is worth it and I don’t care how good it feels/satisfies at the moment. It will just leave you feeling empty and it IS poison to your soul.

20. WHEN YOU FACE TROUBLES PUSH THRU THEM – it is our tendency to turn and try to run from difficult situations but if we are facing them, there is a REASON we are facing them. I have learned those difficult times are meant to teach us an important lesson that we need to be taught. The next time you face a difficult time, ask God to show you what it is He is teaching you – is it unconditional love? Patience? Forgiveness? Faith? …

21. SEEK WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE – pray for wisdom and knowledge, it is so important. God is waiting for us to ask Him to show us His way, to allow us to see things thru His eyes. So ask … when we ask for wisdom He will give it. Imagine having God’s Wisdom? Very powerful!!

22. DO GOOD – it’s a choice and again only we can make it, be eager to do good in this world. “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.” 1 Peter 3:13

23. DO NOT SEEK REVENGE – if someone wrongs you, forgive them immediately. Two wrongs do NOT make a right – so when you find yourself in a situation where you want to teach someone a lesson, give it to God instead otherwise evil becomes contagious and will spread destroying everything in its path. “Do not take revenge my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath for it is written, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.’” Romans 12:19

24. RENEWAL OF THE MIND IS CRITICAL – anything that does not promote love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, peacefulness, gentleness or self control is not from God and should be pushed out of our mind as fast as it enters. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

25. UNDERSTAND AND LIVE A LIFE OF INTEGRITY – I love dictionary.com’s definition of integrity. It is “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character, honesty.” When we renew our mind to living a life that represents integrity, we find a peace that is beyond our understanding. And although the world tries to convince us it is not possible to have peace in this life, we soon discover it obtainable and not so far outside of our reach after all. “…for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:16

26. WE LIVE LIFE TRYING TO FILL THE EMPTINESS IN OUR HEARTS WITH EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE ONE THING THAT WILL COMPLETE US AND THAT IS GOD.

I felt guided to share 26 things life taught me (versus any other number) because of the biblical significance of that number. In my last blog (titled 26 :) God led me to research the biblical importance of numbers. At the time, I had no idea that the Hebrew and Greek language (which are the two languages the original text of scripture was written in) are different from the English language in that each letter of the alphabet has a numeric equivalent. It is actually where 666 being equal to the anti-christ comes from – interesting, huh? Anyway, the number 26 represents the personal name of God. His name is stamped on everything including our hearts and minds. Once we open our hearts and minds to Him, He is able to begin teaching us His language. The parable in my last blog was this … 26 letters form thousands of words – literally infinite possibilities of creation once you know the language. So, 26 representing the name of God opens up infinite possibilities available to us once we learn His language – that is powerful!

I’m sorry for not getting this posted sooner, life has been so busy but in a GREAT way. I have had multiple radio interviews and am very excited that I have been invited to be a guest speaker for the Count It All Joy Women’s Retreat in Freemont, IN on 03/14/09. Following that I am booked to be on Celebration with Marcus & Joni Lamb on DayStar TV (www.daystar.com) out of Dallas, TX on 04/14/09. You can check my upcoming events on the Upcoming Events tab from my website www.blessingstoogood.com. I’m putting together multiple seminars and workshops as well to help others have a blessed life now – it is so exciting!

God never ceases to amaze me at all that He will do for us. The blessings that are waiting for us once we open our hearts and minds to Him (and learning His language) are unending and better than we could EVER imagine!! I’m pretty confident that most could use a few blessings in life right now so may you open your hearts and minds, seeking Him more than you ever did before so He can begin to pour His love and blessings into your life.

Love to you all!

Sandi Rauwolf
Author, Blessings Too Good

As with any relationship, it takes time, an open heart, love and a willingness to give it everything you’ve got to make it work – especially when times get hard.

My first step was getting to know God better. I knew about Him but had formed an opinion before I really knew Him – that was my first mistake and lesson God taught me. We are not to judge others. “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:2 This made me do some thinking that is for sure – do I really want to be judged the way I was unknowingly judging others? No way! It was time for me to pay attention to exactly how I perceived those around me and just how much judgment I was doing without even realizing it.

The message was clear. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 19:19) – love the world surrounding us. As I shared in my LOVE blog, I’ve always felt it is all about the love. “To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all …” (Mark 12:33). More important “than all” … that’s because with love in our hearts, it is much easier to see the world thru God’s eyes. It’s much easier not to judge. It’s much easier to love despite imperfections. It’s much easier to forgive. It’s much easier to give without expecting back. It’s much easier to unselfishly give our time to help others. It’s much easier to live with love. God is LOVE.

Pray for God to help you see the world thru His eyes. It’s amazing how differently you see things and what lessons He will teach you (and continue to teach you). My “impression” of God was wrong and it was keeping me from the life He had planned for me all along. I had a closed minded perspective and needed to open my mind and heart to Him and all He was doing in my life and in the lives of those around me.

I couldn’t help but think Wow! I was judging people and didn’t realize that not only was I judging but my judging was robbing me of the life God has planned for me and also robbing them of the unconditional love God wants amongst us. Who am I to judge someone or what they are doing in life just because it wouldn’t be something I would do? How many things do I do that someone else doesn’t approve of? How many mistakes have I made that God has forgiven me for but the world thru “judging” eyes would not be able to get past it because they aren’t seeing it thru His loving eyes?

At that moment, I knew I wanted to see others as God sees me. Growing up I was always reminded when you point the finger at someone else, look at your hand. How many fingers are pointing back in your direction? Exactly – many more than the one finger you are pointing towards someone else! That thought brings to mind what Jesus said, “If any of you is without sin, let them be the first to throw a stone …” (John 8:7).

How can we stand and judge anyone when none of us are free from sin? I also struggled with that realization. It took some time for me to admit out loud that I am a sinner. We are all sinners. But, my perception was that we had to be perfect to have a relationshp with God so how could I do that but not be free from every sin? Perplexing! There were so many rules, so many ways for me to disappoint God! It seemed impossible because I would always fall short of the Glory of God despite all of my attempts. So I talked to God about it A LOT praying for guidance and Wisdom. He continues to open my eyes to His Truth. We are ALL sinners and have been from the moment Adam ate from the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:17).

We are imperfect and forever will be on this earth and the denial that we are sinners is denying Truth. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 Job 1:18) This was a concept I hadn’t previously grasped and that is God knows I am a sinner but loves me despite my imperfections. He knows my heart. He knows my sins before I commit them just like when Jesus told Peter you will disown me three times before the rooster crows and Peter said “I will never disown you” but he did just as Jesus said (Matthew 26:34) but Jesus still loved him. So I realized God loves me, imperfections and all – that is why He sent his only son for my sins and yours.

Now there’s an idiom … here the ONE thing that was keeping me from God – sin (because I didn’t feel worthy) – is the whole reason I needed Christianity (Jesus so I could forever be forgiven of my sins).

Now this does not mean as Christians we have a license to sin. But what it means is not denying the fact that we are born sinners and to quit pretending we and others are suppose to be perfect in an imperfect world. Jesus is perfect. We are not, that is why we need Him. Once we understand this, God enters our hearts thru the Holy Spirit and begins changing us. He molds us as we walk our journey. When we fall or stray and trust me, He knows we are going to fall or stray. He is there to pick us up and bring us back. He surrounds us with people to support us, guide us in His Word, and love us despite our flaws – despite our imperfections – despite our sins because they understand too that we are all imperfect. Just remember that no matter how lost we may become, He will find His lost sheep.

Jesus told this parable in Luke 15:4-7 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.’”

So I’ll leave you with this thought … Who might you unknowingly be judging in your life today? I encourage you to take this first step in a REAL relationship with God. Talk to Him about it, pray for guidance and the ability to see the world thru His eyes. None of us are perfect. He knows that – but, He will come into our hearts and start changing us if we let Him in. Leave the judging to God so He may find His lost sheep whether it is you who may be feeling a little lost right now or someone close to you.

Blessings and Love!

Sandi :)