The Ripple Effect

Ripple Effect

Everything that we do has consequences. This is common knowledge. What most people do not know is how far our ripple effect goes. What is a ripple effect? A ripple effect is when you do something either good or bad and it causes other people to do the same. One good deed done for a stranger can continue to be paid forward farther than anyone can ever imagine.

My personal experience of a ripple effect starts with a man who returned my wallet when it fell out of my pocket while shopping at Menards. I was in a rush and was carrying a few large items to my car when I did not realize that my wallet fell out of my pocket in the parking lot. It contained over $700 in cash. I was on my way to the bank when I realized that it was missing. I panicked and started looking through my car. When I could not find it I went back to Menards praying that someone would return it if I lost it there.

When I got to Menards I went to the service desk and asked if anyone found a wallet. They asked me my name and said that some man came in and found a wallet in the parking lot. I was relieved. Truthfully, I figured the money would be gone but there were things in my wallet that I could not replace which were more important. I was told by the service desk that the man refused to leave the wallet with them because it contained a lot of money. They told me that he was going to return it to the address on my license which was my brother's house in the next town over. I never updated my license when I moved out. I thanked them and ran to my car.

I was speeding to my brother's house hoping to meet this man to thank him when my brother called me and asked if I lost something. The man was at his house returning my wallet. I spoke with him on the phone and thanked him profusely. I offered him money for returning my wallet. All the man said to me was to pay it forward and that he would not accept any reward money. When I got to my brother's house the man was gone and I never met him. My brother said he seemed like a very nice man and made fun of me for losing my wallet...again (yes I have a problem with that).

So how did I pay it forward? A few months later I won a storage auction that contained items from a doctor's office. Apparently the previous owner was a plastic surgeon who got into a car accident and had to close his practice down for a few months while he recovered. He fell upon hard times and lost everything. I contacted the good doctor and gave him his medical records back, his diplomas and some personal items. He was amazed that someone cared enough to seek him out to return those important items. I ended up cutting him a good deal on buying some of his books back and other items that he did not want to lose. I even stored them for a few months so that he could get himself together financially to be able to purchase these items back. I was not able to give him everything free because I had money invested, but I made it easy for him to have the opportunity to get back the things that mattered most to him. He was beyond appreciative.

I think about the man that returned my wallet and how he went out of his way to make sure that I received everything back that I needed. In return I did the same for someone else and told the good doctor to pay it forward. Doctors have the ability to help people in a way that not everyone can. I sincerely hope that he remembers me and does something amazing for someone else.

The ripple effect of the man who returned my wallet could have a long reach. When we pass away we will be able to see our ripple effect and how far it really extends. Remember that when you have the opportunity to do something good or help someone. Sometimes it can be very inconvenient to help someone, but it is worth it! Keep your ripple effect going now!

Embraced by the Light

Embraced by the Light

There are no coincidences. We are guided by God and when he wants us to see something he will show us. This happened to me when I came across a book entitled "Embraced by the Light" by Betty Edie. Again, I was bored at the flea market and picked up another book. It was about a woman in the late 1970's who had a successful surgery and then died in her sleep later that day when she was alone in the hospital. She went to Heaven, received a "tour" and came back to tell her story.

Betty Edie's journey to Heaven is by far the most touching story that I have ever heard about in my life. If I could meet one person in this world I would probably choose Betty just because of how inspirational she is. I have never read about a near death experience (NDE) that was so detailed.

Betty went to Heaven and met with Jesus and he answered all of her questions. She asked things like "Why do bad things happen to good people?" The answer to this sent chills down my spine. An example that was given to her from Jesus was about a young man in his 20's who was killed by being hit by a bus. His family was devastated  and did not understand why that had to happen to him. What Jesus said was that before we are born we decide how we are going to die. Some of us decide to sacrifice ourselves early and in tragic accidents to help others and spread the message of love. If the bus driver that hit the young man hadn't killed him on accident then he would not be in jail. If he was not in jail he would have gotten into an even worse accident the following week killing many more people. In essence, this young man decided before he was born that he was going to sacrifice himself early to save other people. This helps the young man become closer to Jesus and spread the message of love.

God works in his own ways and what may seem tragic can actually be something positive. God loves us and is ultimately in control. Fears, worries and anxiety should all be given to God because he will always take care of us in the way that we need it.

Another thing Betty Edie experienced when she was on the other side was her ability to visit anyone that she wanted who was living. She was able to stop in at her home where her husband and children were. They could not see her but she could see them. This goes to show you that our loved ones are always with us and can visit us whenever we want them to. If you talk to them out loud they will be there to hear you. You may not be able to hear them but they can see and hear you. 

Spread the message of love now by visiting Betty's website www.EmbracedbytheLight.com

What is a Church? 90 Minutes in Heaven

The old saying "everything happens for a reason" is a phrase that we have all heard before. When we hear something over and over the principal of the message can easily get lost. The reason that this blog has officially started is because everything happens for a reason. Let me explain.

I am an amateur web designer who struggles every month financially. I also buy and sell delinquent storage auction items online and at flea markets. While I rented a booth at a local indoor flea market over the winter I noticed that not many people were walking through the doors. I have not read a book other than a web design book for school in years and decided to read one to kill some time when no customers were coming to my booth. Across the way there was a vendor that had thousands of books to choose from. I am not one for romance novels or fiction novels for that matter as I love to learn new things when I take the time to read so I picked up a book that caught my eye entitled "90 Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper.

The book was about a pastor that got into a bad car accident. He died, went to Heaven for 90 minutes and came back to tell his story. You would think that being in Heaven for 90 minutes is a long time, however it was not. Don was greeted at the gates of Heaven with angels singing all types of songs simultaneously. He saw relatives that have passed over and they were very excited to see him. He received messages of love and how important it is to spread unconditional love to everyone around us. Don was sent back into his body for a long recovery and now speaks regularly about his experience in Heaven and spreads the message of love to many.With Don already being a Pastor, he has been able to inspire thousands of people with his story of how wonderful Heaven really is and how the other side is truly amazing. His book inspired my personal interest in the afterlife and helped me become closer to God by spreading the message of love.

When people ask "What is a church?" The answer is simple. A church is a place of worship, a place for the community to come together and praise the good Lord. A church can come in all different forms. You do not necessarily have to have a building in order to organize a church or have a church setting. A church means spreading community and love to everyone and those in need. Spreading the message of love...even to those that many not deserve it is spreading the principals of the church, or what God would want us to do.