Last week when my four year-old Frankie, had a day off from school, I took her out to breakfast. She's my third (and final) child, forever getting carted along to swim meets and soccer tournaments, and I thought it might be fun for us to have a special meal together beyond the daily swirl of family life.

As soon as we'd ordered our waffle sticks and poached eggs and affixed a few outfits to the dolls in her favorite magnetic book, Frankie sighed deeply and said: "Tell me about Daddy."

I have been a single mom for 12 years. I had both of my children outside of marriage and they are from different men. I could be ashamed and for a long time I was. I could barely hold my head up on some days. It seemed like everyone was looking down on me and criticizing me about my life choices. I didn't set out to get pregnant but I didn't empower myself to not get pregnant. After a series of heartbreaks, disappointments, and disillusionment I decided that I had to make some changes.

Did you know that you really can change the world with your thoughts? While we all know that it is better to go through life with a loving, positive attitude, did you realize that your thoughts are actually sending real energy into the world and making changes there?

People used to believe that their thoughts and consciousness were limited to their physical bodies. However, with the discovery of Quantum Physics in the 20th century, it was proved that

Even the most confident of us appreciate some support from time to time. A smile, a nod, a quiet word can lift our mood in tense situations, maybe introduce a little humour and improve our perspective. Support can lift our spirits, motivate us to continue or simply alleviate stress at difficult times.

- Mentors and teachers are there to give us support and encouragement. They get to know us well

Did you know that you really can change the world with your thoughts? While we all know that it is better to go through life with a loving, positive attitude, did you realise that your thoughts are actually sending real energy into the world and making changes there?

3. For reasons that are impossible to explain, we human beings are incredibly precious to God.

One of the most breathtaking concepts in all of Scripture is the revelation that God knows each of us personally and that we are in His mind both day and night. There is simply no way to,

Excerpt from his book When God Doesn't Make Sense

2. God's timing is perfect, even when He appears catastrophically late.

One of the greatest destroyers of faith is timing that doesn't fit our preconceived notions. We live in a fast-paced world where we have come

I have been thinking for many years about those occasions when God doesn't make sense. I was in my late teens when the first "awesome why" came rocketing through my brain. I don't remember today what precipitated that troublesome thought, but I knew I had hit an issue that required more horsepower

Criticism is punitive

Our children judge themselves on the opinions we have of them. When we use harsh words, demeaning adjectives or a sarcastic tone of voice, we literally strip a child's core of self-confidence and make them less likely to try to please us.

Studies have shown that verbal abuse is more likely than physical abuse to damage children's self esteem.

Not only does it damage their soul

Do you talk with yourself? When we hear people talking aloud with themselves we may consider it weird. But have you noticed that all people, with no exception, talk silently with themselves? This, we do not consider odd or weird.

If someone hurts you in some way, or says something you do not like, what do you do? You enact a whole scene of anger in your mind! You envision yourself talking angrily; you shout at him and tell him some not so nice things. Sometimes people spend hours in such negative, destructive