“Give your God-given gifts maximum attention.”

God showers each and every one of us with talents. Some people do not tap into or utilize their natural talents. Life is lived happiest when God is our priority and we use the gifts He gave us. Natural gifts are unlearned and a part of how we live and behave.

When we discover the natural gifts that God has given to us, we should give them maximum attention. We should also share our talents with others. When we share with others, we learn a lot!

Are you sharing the natural gifts that God showered you with?

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“If you or someone you know has a doctor that does not believe in God, pray for that doctor and RUN in the opposite direction.”

Decades ago, there seemed to be only two types of doctors, one that writes prescriptions and the other that performs surgery. There are certainly going to be times when you require medicine and/or surgery.

In most, but not all cases, it really comes down to prevention of illness through health maintenance.

From my perspective, you have several choices; the mighty pen (a prescription), sword (surgery) or take care of yourself by having a deep personal relationship with God through prayer, eating healthy, drinking water, getting plenty of rest, sunshine, exercise, positive attitude and sharing Love with your family and friends.

If you have already been diagnosed with diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma; I believe that patients should be taking the least amount of medication for the maximum benefit while targeting their disease states and symptomology. Many patients have great room for improvement when they choose to take an active role in their health.

Every disease has an origin of inflammation. The disease process starts with cellular oxidation. We have trillions of cells in our body. The electrons in our cells like to be in pairs just like a married couple. When electrons are single and not in pairs, they are called free radicals. Free radicals inside our cells cause cellular damage through oxidation. Free radicals trash your cells. Think of a small child throwing toys all over a room. That is how free radicals trash your cells. Oxidation from free radicals causes inflammation, pain, disease and aging.

A physical example of how oxidation reveals itself would be the brown areas noticed when you are peeling apples or potatoes. We put the potatoes in water to prevent further oxidation. Another illustration of the effects of oxidation would be a tool which is rusting outside.

Anything that we can do to reduce inflammation by slowing down the oxidation process will help manage if not, cure disease states. The first step in slowing down oxidation is through antioxidants. We get antioxidants from whole foods, vitamins and essentially good nutrition. If we could completely stop the oxidation process on our cells, we would be able to stop the aging process!

Are you taking care of yourself both soulfully and physically?

3 John 1:2
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“Forgiveness ... is a great education for your heart.”

When we forgive others, the wisdom of our heart is shining above everything else.
There are many instances where forgiveness would not occur so quickly, or even at all, if it were up to our logical minds. We have a tendency to rationalize everything, especially when we feel someone has wronged us.

The main reason that we need to “give or get” forgiveness is because we often take others in our lives for granted but most importantly, it is what Jesus wants us to do.

Jesus forgave us for our past, present and future sins and we need to keep that in our minds and hearts the next time we are hesitating to give or seek forgiveness.

It is a good idea to pause and think about what you are going to say to someone before you say something you may regret later. Sometimes the way people respond to others is out of habit rather than Love.

True human forgiveness is when you tell someone you forgive them for something and do not mention it to them again later.

My lifelong friend and sister-in-Christ, Ann Davidson always gave forgiveness freely to everyone. She also encouraged people she knew to provide forgiveness to each other. She based her whole life around Love and forgiveness. Ann lived her life by example.

Have you given forgiveness to someone that needs to be forgiven?

Matthew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“Some people, we meet for only a brief moment ... but they may be the stepping stone for turning life-changing corners in our future.”

Have you ever noticed that God will bring you out of a situation or relationship that you should no longer be in whether you like it or not?

He literally will bring you out of it kicking and screaming if necessary. Sometimes, things get really ugly until they get better.

Be flexible enough to adapt for the better and bend without breaking. Thank God for every ending and beginning phase of your life. He is there with us in every step we take!

For many reasons, there may be people or places that you do not want to let go of at the time God decides it is time. Everything has a season in our lives even though we get attached to many people and places. These people and places become like glow-worms for us and we cling to them. We truly only need to hang onto God.

Reflect back on some of the times in your life, then, look at the way things are now. You would not be where you are today if God had not pulled you away from people and situations that were out of season for your life.

In the future, you may even cross paths with people from your past. When that occurs, you may notice how different the tone of the moment has changed into. You will thank God for answering your prayers according to His perfect plan.

Do you recall the stepping stones in your life and how do you feel about them?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to Love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

Is there someone that you have memories of as a child and wonder where they are or what happened to them?

Proverbs 27:17 
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“When you commit to something, do not slip at the end. See it all the way through. People tend to remember the ending of things rather than the beginning.”

Have you ever noticed that people tend to forget all of the work that it took to get you where you are right now?

They usually do not remember everything that happened up until the moment at hand. That is why it is important to follow things through. People tend to remember endings more than they do beginnings.

When you have a hard time with something in your life, people capture the mental picture of what is happening now and do not recall the memories of how hard you worked and how many people you have helped all along the way of your journey.

Having a setback in life is certainly not a failure. No one can be on top of their game all of the time. We appreciate the good times because we made it out of the storms.

Pray about everything before you make decisions. Give everything to God because He already owns it. We need to learn to become God dependent in His strength.

Are you going to follow through the next storm that you may find yourself in the midst of and discover your happy place?

Ecclesiastes 7:8
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“God's clock ... directs me, minute by minute, to put one foot in front of the other.”

When you get filled up with soul pain from experiences such as the passing of Loved ones and other life changing events, you begin to discover that life was meant to be lived in day tight compartments.

When Loved ones pass away or someone experiences a divorce or some type of breakup, it feels like you are in a “season of grief” because it is life altering. Times such as the aforementioned, are moments when it teaches us automatically just to learn to take one hour at a time and put one foot in front of the other.

The more experience you have with something, the easier it is to either fall in Love with it or “outgrow” it altogether. I had a lot of experience with planning things, and I just totally outgrew it. One direct reason I outgrew planning things was because of the sudden death of my second oldest daughter, Brenda. The next reason, was because of the death of my husband, Philip (P.F.) Minton, after suffering for fifteen months with cancer. The last reason, was because after all of the pain from the passing of Brenda and P.F., I realized that it had always been God and me.

It took these deaths to make me realize that no matter what, “it was and has always been about God and me.” That is the reality for everyone. No one can live your life or walk in your shoes, no matter how hard they try.

My daughter, Billie, had P.F.'s shoes covered in pewter after he passed away. They have been on her  fireplace since he passed away, September 17, 1997.

Often times, we all want to blame someone else for something that has gone wrong in our lives, and give ourselves the credit when things go right. The fact of the matter is, that no matter what, “it is about God and you, now and for eternity.”

Do you feel that learning to live in day tight compartments will prove to be an enrichment in your life?

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“A Thanksgiving memory.”

One Thanksgiving in particular, I remember my friend, Wilson. He helped so many people each day that he had forgotten that he was homeless himself. His focus was on making sure that homeless people had a meal and a roof over their heads even if only for one day. I learned a lot from Wilson, mainly that every meal counts when someone is hungry and in need.

During Thanksgiving, we join together as family and friends to give thanks to God for all of His Blessings and to give of ourselves. Each year, we never know who will be present at our table next year. We are all sisters and brothers-in-Christ and have such an abundance from God to be thankful for!

As Families and friends, we take turns leaning on each other throughout different stages of our lives. Our children are dependent upon us when they are young and then need our advice when they get older and have their own children. As parents, we need our parents for advice and then our parents need us as they grow older. Life becomes full circle.

Nothing ever stays the same so embrace and be thankful for every moment you have with your Loved ones. I thank President Lincoln for proclaiming Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday to be celebrated each November. Most of all, I thank God for all of the Love, health, happiness and increases in life from family, friends and the fruits of our labor.

You may find yourself in the presence of someone with a perceived slight from the past or present. Do yourself a favor this year by making a special effort to be kind and Loving to the ones who seem difficult to endure.

We should live our lives as if every day is Thanksgiving by showing kindness to others! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! God Bless and keep you safe, healthy and happy!

Is there someone that you feel you want to make a special effort to show kindness with today and during your next Thanksgiving holiday?

Psalm 95:2-3
Let us come before Him with Thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“It’s just business!”

“It’s just business” is a phrase which people tend to skirt behind when they are really saying that they have no problem taking advantage of you or someone else.

You should always do the right thing and be fair in every deal whether it is business or personal.

No one should use this phrase to justify their lack of morals and ethics when dealing with others.

It is wrong to take advantage of others, especially when you know you can.

Once, I sold a piece of property to a man that obviously had a weak business background. He was going to lose approximately $50,000 on the deal between us because of the way he wanted to make changes on the purchase agreement.

Although, it would have been to my financial advantage to say nothing to him about the loss he was about to receive, I showed him how I could not do the deal in the manner that he had changed it because it would be taking advantage of him.

He could not hardly believe that I was pointing out to him that he was going to lose money on a property that I was selling to him. I explained to him that I do not participate in a deal unless both parties benefit from it. A great deal is when both parties win!

Will you make sure that everyone wins during your next deal?

Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“Praying about your thoughts ... will change what you think.”

There are so many people that walk around with negative thoughts in their mind. When negative thoughts cloud your mind, negative decisions usually prevail. Negative thoughts put negative actions in motion.

Actually, it is difficult for me to even write the word “negative.” Another word that is difficult for me to use is “unfortunately.”

Once, I had a friend that used the term “unfortunately” so often that it made me vow to not ever use it. When you hear that word it automatically tells you upfront that the outcome is going to be unfavorable.

We should pray about everything! Prayer should start the moment you wake up each morning, thanking God for every day and blessing He gives to us!

When we pray about our thoughts, it causes us to change the way we think by eliminating negativity.

Prayer will cause your thoughts to become so positive that negativity will virtually vanish from your mind.

One of my close friends said this to me, “I would like to have some of what you have had that makes you behave the way you do.” What she really meant was that she had a void inside her and wanted to know what had filled up my heart. I explained to her that I had deepened my relationship with God.

Prayer to God through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior will change your heart and your thoughts!

Will you pray each morning when you first wake up and thank God for positive thoughts?

Romans 12:2 
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.