The Last Day

12-31-09 Thursday
Well the last day of the year is finally here. It’s a great time to reflect back on what we have come through over the last 365 days. The thing is though if we haven’t made changes in our lives then we will go through the same exact stuff in 2010. In order for ’10 to be our greatest year ever; then we have to approach the year with a different perspective and attitude. It is up to us to make it the greatest year. Don’t wait for someone else to make a move. At the same time; we need to be in a position to encourage others, help others, and to be a friend to others; in order to make this their greatest year yet. We have to get a hold of the idea that; it’s not about us.
I encourage you to begin the New Year with a fresh perspective and good attitude. Leave all the mess of ’09 right here in ’09; don’t take the baggage and garbage with you. Leave all your negative mindsets behind. Take nothing into the New Year that can hold you down. Release the anger, frustration, unforgiveness, bitterness, hurts, disappointments, and resentment behind. Take with you forgiveness, love, favor, encouragement, peace, joy, happiness, and determination with you.
If you know anyone who would like reading this blog please by all means invite them to join on facebook, or by going to www.scottwimberly.com or I can email it to them; whatever way is best for them.
Thank you so much for being an encouragement to me this year. So many you have dropped me notes during the year and I am so thankful for you all. I appreciate you all very much. Share the love with those close to you. Happy New Year’s Eve to everyone!

Fullness of Destiny

12-30-09 Wednesday
After reading the past few days notes you may be saying, “I just can’t let go of the stuff you are talking about,” or “It’s easy for you to say, but you don’t know what I have been through and done to me.” In either case you may be correct, but I do know what all the negative stuff in your life is doing to you. We can let go and move forward. We can’t move forward when we care going in circles. Stop hitting the repeat button and go forward. There is nothing in the world that is worth us not fulfilling our destiny. Let it go! If something is keeping you down and out; then it’s time to let it go. Let’s go into to the New Year free of baggage. Let’s operate in the fullness of our destiny in 2010.

Identity

12-29-09 Tuesday
As we get closer to end of ’09 and head into ’10, what will you identify with ’09? When people see you or think about you; how do they identify you? When you tell someone about yourself; how do you identify yourself? Do you identify with the negative things, the hurtful things, and the bad things that have occurred in your life or do you identify with the positive things, the good stuff that has taken place? What is your identity? We all have had stuff happen to us that was negative, bad, hurtful and even harmful, but do we have to identified by that? Let go of all of that stuff and get it out of your system. No matter how bad, we still have to get it out of us. Be identified by how you have bounced back, got back up, turned the negative into positive, bad into good, and harmful into helpful. What is your identity?

Forgive today

12-28-09 Monday
Over the past week I have witnessed an incredible act of forgiveness. In a situation where one person, already running from one accident, caused another accident where a person was killed; the parents immediately and completely forgave the man who caused their daughter’s death. Without going into details; trust me, being able to forgive as they have is incredible. Here at Christmas time, beginning to prepare for a wedding, birthday, and so on; these parents gave the gift of forgiveness. As we heard at the funeral; they forgave this person, yet we don’t forgive someone who said something about you, somebody did you wrong, etc. Please don’t take unforgiveness into the 2010. You can forgive those that have wronged you, no matter what has taken place. Then you are free of that situation. You will never reach your destiny with unforgiveness in your heart.

Clean and free

12-27-09 Sunday
As we get closer to the end of the year; it is time to let go of some stuff that we have picked up this year. Some things we want to carry over to the New Year, but there are some things that we really need to let go of right now. Let go of disappointments; whether someone disappointed you or you disappointed yourself; either way don’t carry it into 2010. Disappointment will drag you down and make you become weighed down, lose your peace, your joy, your happiness. However, when we let go of that disappointment we have more freedom than we did before the incident happened. Learn from whatever happened in your life that caused the disappointment. But don’t carry the negative side effects around inside you any longer. Release disappointment from your life. 2010 will be a much better year when we enter into it clean and free.

Take a look around

12-26-09 Saturday
We are beginning the last full week of the year. I hope that you have made this the best Christmas ever for someone else. There are so many folk that are just going through the motions; especially this time of year. However, we, and I do mean we, get so caught up in our own Christmas world that we don’t see the hurting people. I encourage us all to take the time to notice those around us and be an encourager to them. Not just in meaningless words or deeds, but sincerely mean whatever it is you decide to do to encourage those around you. Remember we all need uplifting and encouragement from time to time.

Merry Christmas

12-25-09 Friday
Merry Christmas!! I hope that this is the best and most awesome Christmas for you ever! The way to make sure that it is the best and most awesome for you; is to make it the best and most awesome for someone else. There is truth in; it is better to give than to receive. Take a look around you today and whether you give something or encourage someone; just do something to make someone else’s Christmas the best ever!
Thank you for making Embrace Your Destiny a success. If you have not gotten your copy yet go to www.scottwimberly.com and it is available. If you want it signed we can do that too. Thank you again. Love you all!! Merry Christmas!

No matter what

12-24-09 Thursday
Happy Christmas Eve! I really hope that you are having a great Christmas season with your family and friends. I determined yesterday that I will do what is right even when it hurts. It’s easy to do the right thing when it benefits us or when we are seen doing the right thing by others. However, what about when no one sees and it is not easy? That is when I want to do the right thing. I have determined that I will live with integrity in my life. This was the basis of what we are celebrating right now. Mary and Joseph did the right thing; despite it being unheard of and very difficult. What this couple did 2000 years ago should give us the incentive to do so today. To determine to do the right thing no matter how difficult.

Holding Pattern

12-23-09 Wednesday
We are getting so close to the end of the year. So many folk, me included, are saying they will be happy when this year is over. I am looking forward to getting a fresh start in ’10. There are so many things that I will be doing differently not just in the next year, but for the rest of my life. I don’t want to continue to stay in the same pattern I have been in for so long. It’s like an airplane in a holding pattern above the runway. In many ways for too long I have been in a holding pattern. It is time for change, growth, and maturity in some areas of my life.
First and foremost will be the way that I treat those close to me; my wife, daughter, mom, in-laws and so on. Basically the way I deal with people will be better. By learning that it’s not about me has really helped. That is what I will be working on for the New Year and the rest of my life.

Thankful

12-22-09 Tuesday
I am sitting here in the Best Western in Jackson; thinking back at all that took place yesterday. It was one of the best birthday’s I can remember. To be able to spend it with Melissa, Gloria, and Mama was awesome. However, I was able to add to that, Aunt Nora and some of the best friends I have ever had. We had a great time at the Pine City Bakery. I appreciate Kellie and her family for letting us use the place for that book signing. I also want to thank all of those that came by, some on purpose and some that just happened to be coming in to get a get sandwich. I appreciate you all very much! You never know how something like that is going to turn out, but you guys made it special for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present. Good friends and good food is hard to beat. There were so many notes from those that were unable to come too; I thank you just as much.
I hope that in a few months we can do it again when my next book; The Right Way not My Way becomes available. There are still some copies of Embrace Your Destiny at the Bakery; and they are signed. They are also available at www.scottwimberly.com Thank you again for making my birthday a great day.

Birthday

12-21-09 Monday
I would be telling a story if I said today was not a special day for me. I have always been a birthday boy. I hope that is not being selfish on my part. I also always try to remember other folk’s BD’s too. It is your special day; only comes once a year, thank ya Jesus. This year is especially great because I get to spend it with my beautiful wife, cutie pie daughter Gloria, my mom, my Aunt Nora, other family members and friends that I will see here in Jackson. It has been a tough year in the Wimberly house, but we have held on to that peace I have been talking about.
I am seeing that if I hold on to peace and truth that I can walk through anything that the world throws at me. Even when I make the wrong choices and make mistakes in my life; I know if I will quickly get back to the truth; then peace is right there waiting for me. When others have done me wrong if I will quickly find the truth of the situation; through prayer and forgiveness; then peace is right there again. At this point in my life I am not looking for a quick fix or get success quick things; I am searching for the things that will carry me through life; peace is right at the top of the list.
Hope to see you today at Pine City Bakery in Jackson, 11:30-12:30.

Peace leads

12-20-09 Sunday
While working out yesterday I thought about what does having peace in my life mean for me. I first thought that I would never have any more trouble or hard times; but then quickly realized that was not true. However, I did realize that having peace in my life would keep me during the trouble and hard times. There are times when peace will take you through hard times and lead you through trouble, but when you come through it the peace you have is even stronger. You will be tested in life; even if you have all the peace a person can contain. The testing is for our benefit though. Hold on to peace no matter what the situation. If you don’t have peace in your life right now; then it is time to get it.
If you are in Jackson, AL tomorrow; stop by Pine City Bakery 11:30-12:30. We will be there for a book signing. Even if you don’t care about getting the book; stop on by and visit anyways.

Year Evaluation

12-19-09 Saturday
As we get closer to the end of the year a lot of us reflect back on and evaluate the year. I think the older we get the more we do this. It is good to learn from the things that we went through during the year. Take the good things and build on those and learn from the mistakes that we made. I have made it my goal for ’10 to not repeat the mistakes or make any of the bad choices that I did this year. I have determined to be a much better person, be open, honest, clear, truthful, and transparent. I desire to have peace, joy, love and forgiveness in my life every day. I am not waiting until Jan 1st to make this choice. I have started now so that by the first of the year I will already be on my way.

Start living

12-18-09 Friday
Today is 6 years ago that my dad past away. Now, I am not trying to work your emotions. True it was a sad day in my life; it was not the end of my life. One life here did end, but many of us that he impacted have continued to live on. Many of you never met my dad or knew him very well, but he does live on in many of us. I wish that I could tell a story like he could; he could imitate each person in the story and make it sound like it was taking place right before your eyes.
I learned a lot of my dad; especially in the last six months, when he knew the end was getting close and he wanted to get his house in order. He was a completely different person those last few months and he wanted me to realize that you don’t need to wait until the end to make things right. This is so true, because we don’t know when our end is coming. So all of this to say, let’s begin today to live our lives the way we should. Get our house in order so to speak. Make all your relationships right. Hold no grudges, no unforgiveness, no anger, and no disappointments. Let all that stuff go and hold on to what is good in your life. Form healthy relationships with others and with yourself. Start living today for the rest of your life.

Truth over Facts

12-17-09 Thursday
We were talking about truth and what truth brings to us. I do agree that sometimes we might want to know the truth about ourselves or someone close to us, but in the end I hope that we all want to know the truth about everything. There is really no reason to be afraid of the truth. The saying is that; ‘the truth hurts.’ However once we know the truth; no doubt we are much better off because we know it. Too, knowing it and accepting and believing the truth are not the same. But truth is still truth no matter if we accept and believe it or not. That is what gives truth its strength; truth is true no matter what it make look like. I want the truth more than the facts.

2 questions

12-16-09 Wednesday
There are two fundamental and universal questions that we all ask of every person we meet and have a relationship with; whether it is superficial or a close relationship. Can I trust you? Do you really care about me? I can see now why I have so few close friends from both sides of this question. Am I trustworthy? And I do care about folk? At the same time do I trust people and do I think folk care about me? This is one thing that I will be working on everyday from now on. I will work on both sides of the questions. The thing is; is it better to have friends or to be a friend? I really think that it is better for people to call you friend than it is to have a bunch of friends and not be a friend. Anyways, it is something that I have been thinking about; being a friend and having friends.

Heart Check

12-15-09 Tuesday
We are at the half way point of the month and the end of the year is getting closer as well. I hope that you are considering making some life changes not just for next year, but for the rest of your life. Allowing you to be the real person you were created to be will be the result.
When we allow bitterness to take root in us, no matter where it came from, that bitterness will affect every part of our lives. For the next couple of weeks, let’s check our heart. Make sure there is no root of bitterness controlling our live. If you find any bitterness; which may show itself in various ways, then remove it immediately. If you find yourself anger, sarcastic, mean, unforgiving, short-tempered, and so on, chances are there is bitterness in your heart. Begin cleaning out your heart today. It will make all the difference in the world.

It's time

12-03-09 Monday
We talked about having peace, joy, rest, hope, freedom and so on in our lives. If we are going to have these things in our lives the bottom line is that we have to live a life of forgiveness. We have discussed forgiveness several times over the past year, but from time to time we have to be reminded to make sure we are forgiving. Don’t take any unforgiveness in the New Year. Between now and the end of the year get rid of all unforgiveness. To be able to forgive we need to take on love and humility. If we have those two qualities then forgiveness that is complete is attainable. Don’t let unforgiveness bring you down during the Christmas season. Allow the freedom, peace, joy, happiness, rest, and love come into your live through total forgiveness this year.

Reason for the season

12-13-09 Sunday
People are getting so stressed out; must be close to Christmas!! I used to always say, “Remember the reason for the season,” but I really see now that I still didn’t see it. What is the reason for the season? The birth of Jesus would have to be the majority reason. There are some that would have other answers, but Jesus’ birth to me is the reason. However, that is still not helping us, because we are so stressed out this time of year. It is sad really. If the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus, shouldn’t we have more peace, joy, rest, and hope this time of year? Seems like it to me. Whether or not you even believe in Jesus, are a Christian or not, attend church or not; it seems like we should have more peace, joy, rest, and hope during this time of year. Just a thought I suppose, but this year the Wimberly’s are going after those things and not the stressful things. We will see how it turns out.

Fake it?

12-12-09 Saturday
I heard the saying, ‘fake it ‘til you make it,’ the other day. I was thinking how many times we do just that, but never seem to make it. We act one way on the outside when we feel completely different on the inside. If we want to have peace and joy in our lives, or even just contentment, we have to have it on the inside first. A person can’t fake peace, joy, or even contentment. What do we have to do then to get ourselves in a place where we don’t have to try to fake it ‘til we make it? We have to go to the root of the issue. There is something that is keeping us from achieving peace, joy, and contentment. It is up to us to find it, not the outward stuff, but go to the root of the matter.

Trust Builders

12-11-09 Friday
We all have been disappointed and have disappointed people in our lives. It is how we handle the disappointing times in our lives that will factor in determining the quality of our lives. When someone has disappointed us, we have to forgive quickly and completely. Then we can begin the process of rebuilding the trust in that person. Forgivesness is not a process when you live a life of forgiveness. It is a process when you hold on to the unforgiveness. Trust on the other hand is a process. It can take awhile to rebuild trust, but once you have forgiven and allowed that to be taken out of your system them the trust can factor can be started once again. To live free and have peace; we must pratice forgiveness and be trust builders.

The Choice

12-10-09 Thursday
We don’t see things the way they really are; we see things the way we really are. We look at stuff from our past and our past, what we believe, is our perspective. From this then; what is your perspective like? Do you see things in the negative or the positive light? We have to choose whether or not we are going to see things positively or negatively. It is solely up to us. No one can determine this but us. Take the time to determine if you want to be joyful or mad, mean or nice, sweet or bitter and so on. The choice is yours.

Special Folk

12-09-09 Wednesday
As you get out and about today; be sure and treat everyone as if they were the most special person in the world. Rather than expect to be treated as special; treat others special. If you notice every major religion in the world today as some form of the Golden Rule; that tells me that it is important. We are being told to treat folk even better than we want to be treated. It takes the stronger person to do what is right first. So if you have had a run in with someone and you are waiting for them to make it right; stop waiting. Be the better person and go first; especially if you haven’t done anything wrong. Because somewhere down the line you have been the one who did someone wrong. So remember; treat others even better than you expect to be treated and do it with humility.
I am looking at having a book signing at Pine City Deli in Jackson on Dec. 21st, my birthday, from 11:30-12:30. If you have a copy of Embrace Your Destiny and would like for me to sign it or if you want to purchase a copy and have me sign it; we will have copies there, come by. If you would let me know if this is something you are interested in.

Filing System

12-08-09 Tuesday
I understand that we all have memories of our past. We have a filing system in our mind. One is the file of positive memories and the other is the file of negative memories. When we take a look at these files; which one is bigger in your mind? The one you go to and think about the most is the one that will be the largest. When something happens to you; do you immediately go to the negative file and pull it out and start going over all the negative things that have happened to you? That is like allowing a wound to almost heal and then breaking it open again and having to relive all the pain again. This is how some of us live everyday; constantly reliving all the past bad and negative experiences that have occurred in our lives. However, you can have a much better life. Begin to open the positive file. Begin to find the positive and the good in everything. The experience is the same, but how we deal with it can determine how we live our lives.

Shake it off

12-07-09 Monday
Shake it off. I have been told that so many times, but it is true when it comes to past disappointments and hurts. Sometimes we focus more on the rearview mirror than we do the front windshield. I don’t recommend that we do this when we are driving, because we will continually have wrecks. So why do we do this in our lives? If we focus all of our attention on our past we are bound to repeat it over and over again. Learn from the past; so not to repeat the mistakes and poor choices. However, if we continue to dwell in the past our live will be over and we will find we never got started. Shake off the disappointments and poor choices; continue to focus on your destiny.

Let it go

12-06-09 Sunday
We have talked about holding on to your dreams, but for some reason we hold on to our past instead. We so often allow our past to weigh us down. We remember every bad thing we have done and every bad thing that has happened to us. We let our past hold us back from moving up toward our destiny. I am learning to remember the past, but not to allow it to stop me. I don’t negate my past and things I have done and been done to me, but at the same time, I do not wallow in my past. I use it to move me closer to my destiny. Like I said, I am learning to do this; I am not there completely, but getting close. Let go of the past that is holding you down and back.

A good day

12-05-09 Saturday
I was so blessed yesterday to spend most of the day at Bryant-Denny Stadium at the Super Six. I went to see, my hometown, Jackson Aggies play Cherokee County in the 4-A State Championship. I had never seen so many folk from Jackson together at one time. The game was good, we lost unfortunately, but it was still a good day.
I watched the players, coaches, and fans as the game went back and forth. It was close the entire time. I was so proud of the way the team responded to what was happening on the field. They never gave up, never seemed to be complain or pout about anything. The coaches were awesome too; they encouraged when things went right and when things went wrong. The fans too, no bad mouthing or negative stuff that stood out. They stayed well after the game was over and supported the team.
There were a lot of life lessons to be learned yesterday if one was looking at from that perspective. There was far more than just a football game taking place. Boys were becoming men and men were becoming mentors and heroes. I learned that there is more than an Aggie Nation, but there is an Aggie Family. It is good to see this take place. We all need to see the bigger picture in life and put aside issues that cloud our perspective and encourage one another in spite of our differences.

Me too

12-04-09 Friday
Looks like Tuscaloosa is going to be full of Jackson folk today! Hope the Aggies can make them all very happy with a State Championship win!
I have seen since I started writing this blog, over a year ago, that whatever I write about I seem to walk in the middle of it. Talking about watching our words the past few days; has me watching my words. I really have to watch what I say to people. I am too quick to say something sarcastic or be short with people. I have had to apologize to Melissa and Gloria several times in the past few days. So when I say watch what you say; I put me at the top of the list. It would be so much better if I said encouraging words to folk and not discouraging words. It’s not enough that we stop saying the negative stuff, but we have to replace it with the positive stuff. Be positive in the words that you use. I will do the same.

The Things We Say

12-03-09 Thursday
The things we say. Have you just listened to how people talk; especially about themselves? Some of the things we say about us are out of this world. We speak more negative stuff about ourselves than we do anyone or anything else. Then we wonder why we never catch a break. Take the time to listen to what you are saying about yourself. You might just be surprised at what you hear. I believe that we live and die by what we say; especially the things we say over and over again. Those are the things that we believe. For the most part we don’t repeat things that we really don’t believe. What we say and what we believe, the majority of the time will line up. Be careful with your words. Even when you are joking around; watch what you say, because your words are powerful.

Our Words

12-02-09 Wednesday
Is there a situation that is staring you in the face that you feel like is keeping you from having the greatest year ever. We talked about yesterday about not removing your belief or your faith from that situation. You have to believe no matter what it looks like. There are things taking place in your life that you cannot see just yet. However, it is up to you whether these things are positive or negative. Just think back on the words that you are using each day. Are you using positive or negative words in your situation? Really do you use positive or negative words about any situation? There is incredible power in your words. Even if you think nobody is listening to you. The truth is; you are listening to you. We have to change our thought patterns; then our word patterns will change. Although it is not always easy; it is achievable. Thoughts lead to words which lead to habits which lead to our destiny.

Year End

12-01-2009 Tuesday
Wow! Can you believe we are starting the last month of the year? This year is almost over. At the beginning of the year did you plan on making this the greatest year of your life? How is that working out? For many it has been an awesome year; for some it has not, but the year is not over. If this has not been the greatest year of your life then you still have time. God is still working, but don’t begin to doubt. Don’t say, “I knew this was going to be a bad year,” “I never catch a break,” “I will never have an awesome year.” Those statements are some of the reasons you may not be having an awesome year. Don’t stop believing in what your future holds. Your most awesome days are still ahead. This is still going to be the most awesome year ever. And you know what? Next year is going to be even more awesome. Let’s finish the year strong! Don’t stop pressing.