Driven Spirit
20 Powerful Bible Verses on Forgiving Others
20 Powerful Bible Verses on Forgiving Others
Posted 202 days ago

"Not forgiving is like drinking cat poison and then waiting for the rat to die." - Anne Lamott
How well do you forgive others?

I have really started to think about how…

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20 Powerful Bible Verses on Forgiving Others
Passionate Living
Admit a Mistake and Reclaim the Passions of Y…
Admit a Mistake and Reclaim the Passions of Y…
Posted 224 days ago

“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.”
Admitting a Mistake…

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Admit a Mistake and Reclaim the Passions of Y…
Powerful Resources
What Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies Taught M…
What Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies Taught M…
Posted 233 days ago

"Hope is contagious. Hope is like yeast and baking powder. It has an energy that makes things rise. If you want to know if you are good for others, ask yourself…

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What Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies Taught M…
Passionate Living
My Secret to Losing Weight Healthily Through …
My Secret to Losing Weight Healthily Through …
Posted 249 days ago

If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. ~Vincent Van Gogh
Three years ago, I weighed 210…

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My Secret to Losing Weight Healthily Through …
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Join Stephen on Facebook and Receive a Special Gift

Late last night I finally broke down and did it. I have been putting it off for months. Everyday that passed seemed to make it harder so I decided to end the procrastination.

I created a Facebook fan page for me as a writer.

Why A Personal Stephen Miracle Fan Page?

Many of you send me questions every day in regards to life, relationships and faith. These questions have really deepened my own desire to know more. The page allows another outlet for you to share these questions to me and also help out other members in the altNoise community.

We can all work together to truly encourage one another and make an impact on each of our own lives and the world.

This fan page excites me because it gives us a chance to really connect on a friend level unlike before. Facebook provides such an opportunity that really transforms how people can interact across the world. We are no longer limited by the geographical boundaries to find people who really want impact the world.

My Personal Motive for the Page

I’ll admit it. I have an additional motive for the page. I write all of my articles inspired by your comments, conversations, and concerns. Every single time that I open up a Word document to write a new article, I think about issues that I know are affecting you.

My personal desire is to provide a much deeper opportunity to write articles that truly empowers your life.

I want the chance for you to share your own struggle with finding a job or dealing with an annoying neighbor so that I can encourage you when you really need it. I don’t want to write articles that brings a slight smile to thousands of faces. I don’t care about thousands of faces.

I want to write articles that ignites God’s flame and vision for your life – Articles that inspires and empowers your soul to truly transform your life to a passionate purpose.

a Gift to the First 100 Fans

I have a special gift set up for the first 100 fans of the page. I am not going to say what it is. After all, I like to create intrigue. But I can say that it truly is a personal gift that I created from my own heart for you.

Every single 1 of the gifts will be unique and personalized  for you.

Click ‘Like’ on My Brand New Page

 

Should I Give Up on Him? Know When to Quit a Relationship

Disclaimer: This article is not intended for issues regarding marriage. The intended audience is those in a dating or engaged relationship.

Should I Give Up on Him?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. [Proverbs 3:5-6]

Should I Give Up on Him or Her?

Relationships are impossibly hard.

I think they are designed to be that way. We are all complex and, lets just be honest, annoying creatures. We live each day thinking about our own responsibilities and tasks. We become frustrated when the old man who innocently dialed the wrong number takes more than 20 seconds to figure out his mistake.

How do we handle living in a relationship where there is always someone interrupting our personal time?

Martians will think that we are insane!

We hate when people interrupt us, but we still yearn for someone who  will stay true with us. We know that at the end of the day we cannot do it alone nor do we want to. We come home after a stressful day and all of the frustrations melt away when we see that smile that says, “I am still here. We will do it together.”

But what happens when the smile vanishes?

Our Silly Addiction to the Intoxication of Love

[Read more...]

5 Tips to Attract and Finding Nice Guys

Attract and Finding a Nice Guy

attracting-finding-nice-guyLast week, I had an interesting conversation with an old female friend over the phone. We knew each other in college and I had a good crush on her. I didn’t pursue her because she was a friend and I didn’t get any vibes she was interested. I assumed she was googley-eyed for one of the John Mayer wannabe’s strutting through the school.

I was not John Mayer.

I am definitely more Steve Carell – strange and goofy. I always dreamt that I could be one of those suave and awesomely cool guys. You know, those guys that dress as they were the entertainment in a three ring circus but still exude cool from their pores. They can totally rock the flannel shirts and beaded jewelry.

I tried to wear flannel shirts once. I live in Florida. It was hot and I was told that I looked like the star character in a horror film. I had sneaking suspicion that it wasn’t a compliment.

Do the Nice Guys Know You Like Them?

[Read more...]

Seek the Face of God Through the Storm

seek the face of God

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. – Jeremiah 29:13-14a [NLT]

Seek the Face of God in Your Life

Do you honestly seek the face of God in your life?

I have a lot of questions racing through my head regarding my future and current situations. I don’t know if I should move or even where I should go. I ask myself if it is time for a career change. I ask God for the diligence so I can raise my children to succeed in life.

I pray that I see His plan.

but do I ever search for God’s face in my daily life?

Does God Truly Hear Me?

We all doubt our faith from time to time. You will encounter a day that your heart breaks down while driving in the car and you end up screaming, “God, are you there? Spread the skies so I can see your face!” You will look upward in hopes of finding a small glimmer of something spectacular so your faith will remain strong.

Nothing happens.

[Read more...]

Inspirational Thoughts on Love

Inspirational Thoughts on Love

enjoy living today

photo by Nicholaus Haskins

“If you have only one smile in you give it to the people you love.” – Maya Angelou

Love Powers Life

You stand in your room with only the reflection of yourself staring in the mirror to comfort you. You recite several hundred times how you are going to say it. Tonight is the night and you are committed to it.

I love you.

The most popular sentence in the history of the world is also the most difficult to actually form out of your mouth. It is estimated that we think about this sentence more than any other topic combined. Money, wealth, popularity and possessions don’t even compare.

We want to share the deepest parts of our heart with another person and feel their love in return.

God Created Love to Inspire Our Thoughts

[Read more...]

Enjoy Your Life Today! 25 Hilariously Creative Tips to Rock Living

enjoy living today

photo by Nicholaus Haskins

“It gives you hope in salvation and perspective in the life that we live today. Its nice to know that there is good out there in a world full of terror and evil.” -Robert Hayden

Bail Out of Reality and Enjoy Your Best Life Today

I hate logging into Facebook because friends will swamp me with chat messages. The same boring chat messages. It doesn’t matter the time of the day. My computer screen will mock me and send the horrifyingly dreadful Facebook ding with an evil red balloon over a name with the same repeated message.

“Hey, I’m bored. Talk to me.”

Guilt devours me as I ignore the first one. A few minutes later, my computer sasses me and sends me another. “Its been forever” this one reads. I cave and throw away the next 2 hours of my life.I love all of my friends and they are really precious to me, but sometimes I just want to reply..

“Duh, you are bored! Get off Facebook.” [Read more...]

7 Inspirational and Funny SpongeBob Quotes About Life

Grab the Ultimate in SpongeBob Geek Gear
Get Your own personalized Spongebob backpack, hoodie or shirt today.

SpongeBob Squarepants Subversive Quotes on Life

I admit it. My two sons love SpongeBob Squarepants.

I fought the pop culture icon of the decade for seemingly centuries. I vowed I would not allow my children to watch the strange looking creature that I was sure would fry brain cells quicker than the strongest marijuana Jamaica could produce. It was a battle I knew that I must fight in order to save the planet and produce intelligent children.

I caved.

It has been a year and my boys still laugh harder on every episode of this show than anything else they have ever seen and this includes the talking superhero trio of a turtle, guinea pig, and duck otherwise known as the Wonder Pets. I’ve accepted my fate as an average dad and have joined in the fun laughing alongside of them. You should see us all singing the theme song together all off key.

It’s the modern day portrayal of Dante’s Inferno.

SpongeBob’s Hidden Agenda

Recently, I started listening to what this yellow sponge with a love for the juicy Krabby Patty was subliminally teaching my children. Does this seemingly lovable creature have a hidden agenda to stupefy the world? Is there a secret conspiracy behind those blank but sweet eyes to take over the world?

I had to find out! [Read more...]

Win Hillsongs Critically Acclaimed Album Aftermath

Win Free Copy of Hillsong United Album Aftermath

Do you enjoy excellent worship music that inspires you to get closer to God?

Hillsong United’s Worship Albums Has Unmatched Success

Hillsong United is one of the single most successful worship bands of the last 20 years. One of their songs is almost guaranteed to be playing on a Christian radio station this very minute. Church worship bands all across the U.S. will play Hillsong’s “Mighty to Save” or any of their vast collection of songs this Sunday.

They began their historic rise to the top as a youth praise and worship band at the influential Hillsong church in Sydney, Australia. Their songs contrasted with the popular worship music of the day by writing more rock oriented music that appealed to the younger culture, but also have struck a strong chord with nearly everyone with their emotionally powerful lyrics.

Aftermath – Hillsong’s Newest Critically Acclaimed Album

They have produced over 10 combined studio and live albums which have culminated in their latest album – Aftermath. This is their second studio album and you will hear the band’s lyrical and musical growth in every one of their songs. The already smash-hit radio song, “Search My Heart”, is a beautiful arrangement that speaks to your humility to allow God to enter your heart and allow Him to transform your life.

This album will inspire you to get closer to God and allow Him to direct your life.

Win Your Free Copy of Aftermath

Do you want to know how to win their latest album, Aftermath?

I am probably preaching to the choir and you already know how powerful and inspiring Hillsong’s albums are. You only want to know how to win their latest album. What are the steps, amount of surveys and newsletters sign-ups you must grudgingly fill in order to get a chance to own this album?

none.

I am giving away this album to the altNoise community with no strings attached. Everyone of the noisemakers are all equally eligible to participate in the competition. It is my way to say thank you and give back to you in a fun and friendly game.

On March 15, I will randomly draw a name from our Facebook fan page. Somebody that is a fan of this website will win Hillsong United’s newest album and will listen to it by March 16th. The lucky winner will receive a Facebook message and email from me with a direct link from iTunes to download the entire album immediately after I draw the random name.

So all you have to do is click “like” on the sidebar’s fan page and you are instantly eligible to win!

Increase Your Odds

Of course, it wouldn’t be fun without a little more challenge. There is a fun way to increase your odds of winning. Every time you participate in the altNoise community, I will add another slip of your name to the hat.  You can stack the deck simply by being opinionated.

There are three ways that you can increase your odds in the competition.

  1. Comment on Articles. Every substantive comment you leave on any of our articles will get your name added to the hat. I know that your opinionated so here’s your chance to win something for it.
  2. Leave a Prayer Request. You have a burden on your heart and we have an online prayer wall that you can post your concerns. You can post 1 prayer request and we will add your name to the hat.
  3. Tag our Fan Page in a Facebook Status.  You can tag our Fan Page everyday from now until the 15th to add your name to the hat. There are 12 more days until the 15th which means you can have me write your name 12 additional times in addition to 1 prayer request and unlimited comments.

Are you ready?

This is your chance to win an excellent worship album in a fun and friendly manner. The more you participate in the community and have fun will lead to a greater likelihood of you winning. Hillsong United is one of my favorite worship bands. I love listening to their songs and I enjoy playing their songs on the guitar even more.

So get started today.

The 1 Secret of Happy Relationships in Lasting Love

Secret of Happy Relationships and Lasting Love

“Trust is to human relationships what faith is to gospel living. It is the beginning place, the foundation upon which more can be built. Where trust is, love can flourish” – Barbara Smith

enduring, lasting and happy relationships

photo by Adwriter

How is your relationship with your significant other?

Are you really happy?

My Failed Attempts at Lasting Love

I realize the irony in a single divorced 20-something man giving relationship advice to the general public. It is true that I could heed some other experts advice on dating and relationships. It isn’t my fault that I find the nearest escape route as soon as a potentially suitable partner takes notice in my unnaturally large head. I swear that I am just a hopeless romantic in an enduring search for the right woman for me.

Ya, I couldn’t even fool myself with that line.

Anyway, I will return to issue at hand. I miraculously discovered that I can give great relationship advice for other people as I’ve seen marriages restored, lives blossomed and unicorns created when I open my mouth. Maybe it is the mystery of the cosmos or maybe it is the revelation I discovered in an ancient Egyptian self-help book found at my public library. [Read more...]

Finding Comfort in God’s Protection

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” – Psalm 18:2 (NLT)

Finding Comfort in God’s Protection

finding comfort in God

photo by pinksherbert photography

Today, I turned on the news to find that a group of Christian missionaries were killed by Somali pirates. These missionaries enjoyed travelling the world while giving away Bibles and talking to people on their trip. I listened to an interview with a family member who considered one of the missionaries a mentor.

She cried as the reporters asked personal questions, but she relentlessly described her aunt’s personal strong faith.

An hour later, I saw video of the massacre taking place in Libya. The people of the country removed the cruel dictator, Moamar Gaddafi, and wanted a peaceful and free country. In response, Gaddafi formed a militia to slaughter anyone who opposed his leadership.

There are over 1300 declared homicides each month in the U.S. alone. The U.S. doesn’t stand out as the safest nor most dangerous. Many countries, such as Brazil and Columbia, have murder rates that would rival ancient barbaric civilizations.

How have we grown as a world? [Read more...]

I Carry Your Heart With Me

I Carry Your Heart With Me

I Carry Your Heart With Me

Photo by pimpexposure

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Love That Keeps Your Heart Beating

We all have ones that we have intimately loved but they vanish before our eyes. Maybe it is just time. Maybe it is stages

of life. Maybe it is the calling of our hearts that tells us it is time for a change. [Read more...]

Get Rid of Anger and Resentment in Relationships at the Source

How to Get Rid of Anger and Resentment in Relationships

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful – 2 Timothy 2:23-24

get rid of anger and resentment

photo by seyed mostafa zamani

Have you gotten into an argument today? How about yesterday?

My Anger and Resentment Hurts My Relationships

This verse really hit home with me today as I have been on edge the past few days and I’ve had to really think about how to get rid of anger and resentment in relationships. I’ve had a few family and work issues arise this week that just made me want to pull my hair out. No issue really life-altering or dramatic, but the little stressful events that get under your skin and just keep on digging.

Needless to say, people didn’t have pleasant conversations with me this week.

I caught myself blowing up at people that I really care about. Sure they did something that wasted my time or showed a lack of personal respect, but they didn’t do it on purpose. They didn’t set out on their agenda to put more stress into my life. [Read more...]

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