Start the Healing by Revealing Your Hurt

Job doesn’t hold back when he lets God know how angry he is: “I can't stand my life - I hate it! I'm putting it all out on the table, all the bitterness of my life - I'm holding back nothing” (Job 10:1 MSG).

God knew Job was upset. He just wanted Job to admit it, to get it off his chest.

The start healing is by revealing it. To get over emotional hurts, you have to share them with somebody.

Some of you are angry for things that happened in the past. The starting point is to say, “God, I’m still upset".  God is not going to fry you with a thunderbolt if you confess your feelings.

What is it in your life that you're pretending not to know? What hurt in your marriage/ relationship are you pretending is not there? What conflict in your family are you pretending isn't true?

You need to face up to it. That's the first step.

Maybe you’re trying to bury your past, but it keeps resurrecting itself. There are triggers everywhere that keep the memory alive. It keeps popping back because you haven’t dealt with it.

Close the door, move on to the present. Where you've been doesn’t matter. No closure without disclosure.

Talk About It
Try writing to God. He understands and he’s just waiting for you to talk to him about it. Putting your feelings on paper will help you express your heart to God.

-R. Warren

Charo tries to... I Like It Like That by HotChelleRae

Just having fun, being silly.


http://www.starmakerstudios.com/recording/121565640

Charo Sings again... Apologize by OneRepublic

So I recorded this after I got ready for work today. 

Be cool and laugh with me.

Live to the fullest, dance like no one is watching and sing even if you can't :)

http://www.starmakerstudios.com/recording/118953315

- Fun with iPad 

In Anger, Take Few Minutes

When you’re angry, don’t respond impulsively. Delay few minutes is a great tool in controlling it. Not saying delay indefinitely. The Bible says "don't let the sun go down while you are still angry".

When you start to get ticked off, take "time out". Give yourself time to reflect and think things through. Otherwise, you are likely to do the wrong thing.

We need to make a habit of stepping back, wait few minutes and look at the situation from God's point of view.

The Bible says a wise man lets his anger cool down (Proverbs 29:11). So, "cool it".
A modern translation might be: “The wise man waits and chills out.”

Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, said, “When angry, count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.”

A rebel shouts in anger; a wise man holds his temper in and cools it." (Proverbs 29:11 TLB)

Talk About It

Understanding the reason for your anger will give you greater patience and even the ability to overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11). Ask yourself three questions to help you understand why you are angry:

• Why am I angry?
• What do I really want?
• How can I get it?

-DH

Eliminate Negative Self-Talk

Long before psychology, God said your thoughts determine your feelings and your feelings determine your actions. If you want to change your life, you have to control the way you think.

You're constantly talking to yourself!  

Research indicates that most people speak at a rate of 150 to 200 words per minute, but the mind can listen to 500 to 600 words a minute. That's why you can listen and do something at the same time.  Our internal dialogue is at a rate of 1,300 words per minute. How? Because our mind sees in pictures, you can see a thought in a nanosecond! 

The problem is that a lot of us are like Job, who says, "Everything I say seems to condemn me" (Job 9:20).  He's saying, "Everything I say puts me down."

If you are typical to the human race, you are your own worst critic.

We often put ourselves down. When you say negative things, you're really pointing to the Creator who made you.

How do you eliminate negative self-talk so you can become a more confident person? 

The Bible teaches the principle of replacement.

Fix your thoughts on what's true, good and right. Think about the things you are thankful for and be glad.  In other words, don't think about your weaknesses. Focus on positivity.

"Father, thank you that I am valuable; I am significant; I am forgivable; I am capable."

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." (Proverbs 4:23 GN)

-DH

Focus on Reconciliation

When in conflict, concentrate more on reconciliation than resolution.

There’s a big difference: Reconciliation means to re-establish the relationship, but resolution means to resolve every issue by coming to agreement on everything. 

That's simply not going to happen. It does not matter if both of you love the Lord or in love with each other; there are some things you'll never agree on, because God has wired each of us differently.

But you can disagree without being disagreeable — that's called wisdom.

The Bible says in James 3, “Wisdom is peace loving and courteous. It allows discussion and it is willing to yield to others.” 

The Bible also says it's wise to compromise. You can have unity without uniformity. You can walk hand-in-hand without seeing eye-to-eye. You can have reconciliation without resolution of every issue.

When we focus on the relationship, the issues often become insignificant.

This is my challenge to you: In a world filled with conflict, war, prejudice, violence, partisanship, and broken relationships, commit to becoming an agent of reconciliation.

It is no accident that the first letter of P.E.A.C.E represents God’s goal for us to be peacemakers.

It’s always more rewarding to resolve the conflict than to dissolve the relationship.

-R. Warren

The Cookie Thief

A woman was waiting at the airport before her flight. She bought a book, a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book but happened to see, that the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be - grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.

So she munched the cookies and watched the clock, as the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I would blacken his eye.”

With each cookie she took, he took one too, when only one was left, she wondered what he would do. With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh, he took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other, she snatched it from him and thought… oooh, brother.

This guy has some nerve and rude, why he didn’t even show any gratitude!

She had never known when she had been so galled, and sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate, refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.

She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat, then she sought her book, which was almost complete.

As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise, there was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.

If mine are here, she moaned in despair, the others were his, and he tried to share. Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, that she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

-V. Cox

 

Toxic Inside

A study concluded that plainer cigarette packages would make smoking less appealing.

In response, they introduced a legislation that require tobacco companies to replace color, logos, and promotional text on cigarette packages with health warnings and images of diseased lungs.

In effect, the Marlboro Man would give way to the Grim Reaper in an effort to reduce the number of deaths caused by smoking. But cigarette packaging isn’t the only thing that may be tempting on the outside with a toxic product inside.

The Old Testament book of Proverbs urges us to carefully consider the long-term results of all our choices.

The recurring phrase “in the end” (Prov. 5:4; 25:8; 29:21) is a warning to look and ask if what we’re attracted to will ultimately lead to joy or sorrow, honor or disgrace, life or death.

The key to avoiding the tragic results of foolish choices is embracing God’s wisdom as our guide through life.

Wisdom is understanding what’s really important.

-ODB

A New Heart

God spoke the world into existence, and he spoke you into your mother’s womb. Even now, he can speak into the chaos of your life to bring it shape and form (Psalm 51:10).

God speaks into the void and the darkness of your life, creating for you a new beginning, hope and energy.

God can take a heart that is broken, impure, or failed and turn it into a heart that is whole, pure, and purposeful.

All you can do is submit to his sovereignty, humble yourself before him, and ask for help.

Pray, Father, make a fresh start in me. Speak into my heart and into my circumstances.

Renew in us a steadfast spirit, no longer chaotic or controlled by events, circumstances, or feelings.

-DH

Charo Singing Price Tag

So my brother's iPhone has this karaoke thingy so I thought I try :-)

Me singing "Price Tag".

 http://karaokeanywhere.api.joltsoft.net/public/view_performance/c45ae64fa263499a6f605b9ee351c7d2

10 Ways to Love

1. Listen without interrupting. (Proverbs 18)

2. Speak without accusing. (James 1:19)

3. Give without sparing. (Proverbs 21:26)

4. Pray without ceasing. (Colossians 1:9)

5. Answer without arguing. (Proverbs 17:1)

6. Share without pretending. (Ephesians 4:15)

7. Enjoy without complaint. (Philippians 2:14)

8. Trust without wavering. (Corinthians 13:7)

9. Forgive without punishing. (Colossians 3:13)

10. Promise without forgetting. (Proverbs 13.12)

Circle of Friends

Many high school students with autism or Down syndrome feel excluded and ignored. They often eat alone in a crowded cafeteria because other students don’t know how to relate to them or simply don’t care.

 

To address this need, speech therapist Barbara Palilis began “Circle of Friends” - a program that pairs students with disabilities with nondisabled peers for lunch dates and social activities.

 

Through this outreach, they continue to be enriched and changed through the gift of acceptance, friendship, and understanding.

 

Being included is at the heart of the gospel of Christ. “God, who is rich in mercy, . . . even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together.

Through faith, we “who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ”  Eph 2:13

Our privileged place as members of the “household of God” (v.19) should give us eyes to see and hearts to care for those around us who are ignored and alone.

If each of us would reach out in caring friendship to one person today, what a difference it would make for us all. 

Reach out in friendship and encourage the lonely; energize the weary.

- ODB

Confession Leads to Transformation

God allows a crisis to get our attention, and then he uses it to develop our character.

One thing that signals we’re changing is when we confess that we are  the problem.
We stop blaming other people, and we admit, “I am the problem with my life.”

Until you understand this, there can be no major change in your life.  
This is the breakthrough God knows we need.

Here’s the insight into this: We will never be able to change until we openly and honestly  and authentically admit our sin, our weakness, our fault, our frailty, our  character defects, confessing this to ourselves, to God, and to other people.

Talk About It

What do you think  you need to admit about yourself?

To  whom do you need to admit a sin or weakness?

-SD

Winning and Losing

The Masters Tournament is one of the most prestigious in professional golf. In 2009, Kenny Perry placed second after leading during the final round.

Writing in The New York Times, Bill Pennington described Perry as “disappointed but not despondent” after the loss.

“I’ll look back on it occasionally and wonder what I might have done differently, but I won’t dwell on it,” Perry said. I won’t let it dog me. There are many other things in life that matter more . . . . I’ll go home tonight with my family and we’ll have fun.”

The ability to look beyond our disappointments is essential. Our focus determines how we face the victories and defeats in life.

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2).

This way of thinking looks to Christ, rather than our achievements, for significance and validation. We seek Him, not success.

When we strive for excellence and give our best effort, losing hurts, but it doesn’t have to harm us. The key is where we set our minds and hearts.

Lord, thank You that You are the one who measures how we’ve done in life and determines
whether we’ve been successful. Help us to keep that focus even in disappointments.

When Christ is the center of your focus, everything else comes into proper perspective.

-ODB

Faulty Thinking

Four people, a pilot, a professor, a pastor, and a hiker were flying in a small plane when the engines died. The pilot said, “There are only three parachutes. Since this is my plane, I’m taking one of them.” He put it on and jumped out.

The professor said, “I’m brilliant and the world needs me, so I’m taking a parachute,” and he jumped out.

Then the pastor told the hiker, “I don’t want to be selfish, so you take the last parachute.” The hiker replied, “There are still two left, so we can each have one. The professor jumped out with my backpack instead of the parachute!”

Though the professor thought he would land safely, his assurance was based on faulty thinking.

Some people have an assurance of salvation based on faulty thinking. They believe that church attendance, baptism, or just being good will gain them approval from God.  But our thinking is faulty if it isn’t based on what God says in His Word.

God says that “all have sinned” and that we are His enemies. But through the death and resurrection of His Son, we can be made right with God (Rom. 3:23; 5:8-10).

By faith in what Christ has done, we can have peace with God and the assurance of eternal life in heaven.

If we could earn our salvation, Christ would not have died to provide it.

Ready For Love

Just love the song, her voice and intimate music vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxkMlS2nuU8

I am ready for love
Why are you hiding from me
I'd quickly give my freedom
To be held in your captivity

I am ready for love
All of the joy and the pain
And all the time that it takes
Just to stay in your good grace
Lately I've been thinking
Maybe you're not ready for me
Maybe you think I need to learn maturity
They say watch what you ask for
Cause you might receive
But if you ask me tomorrow
I'll say the same thing

I am ready for love
Would you please lend me your ear?
I promise I won't complain
I just need you to acknowledge I am here

If you give me half a chance
I'll prove this to you
I will be patient, kind, faithful and true
To a man who loves music
A man who loves art
Respect's the spirit world
And thinks with his heart

I am ready for love
If you'll take me in your hands
I will learn what you teach
And do the best that I can

I am ready for love
Here with an offering of
My voice, My Eyes, My soul, My mind

Tell me what is enough
To prove I am ready for love

I am ready.

Envy Makes You Miserable

Did you ever play "King of the Hill"?  You know the game: There's only room for one guy at the top. We’re envious of the person at the top and we like to make others envious of our position.

As adults, we still play that game — we just do it more subtly. "Hey! Look at me!
Notice the car I'm driving, my jewelry, my kids are smarter, the color of my credit card"

But the truth is, envy can make you miserable. It's an expression of insecurity.
When we feel inferior, we get envious.

When I was a kid, I got a new bicycle for Christmas. It had big wide handlebars and a banana seat. I thought I was hot. I was so proud of it until I saw my friend’s bike that was fancier. My joy went down the tubes. I was envious when I compared. 

When I look back, I realize the real problem was my low self-esteem. When we have it, we’ll always feel threatened by people who are more beautiful, better dressed, have more status, more education, and more charisma — or better bikes!

No one is immune to envy, and you probably know from experience that it can make you miserable.

Envy is to your soul what cancer is to your body. It will eat you alive if you don’t watch it.

Envy can cause us to become obsessed with changing our circumstances. We think the answer is more money, so we become consumed with making more money. The problem is that once you get to that level, there's a next level.

If you're motivated by envy, you're going to burn out, because there's always a next level.
Envy is a hidden sin. It is destructive!

It devalues others. It destroys relationships. It causes you to miss out on sharing in much joy, such as weddings, births, or promotions. Instead of being envious, God wants us to be happy when he blesses others.

When you learn to enjoy others' success, you’ll experience a lot more joy.


Talk About It

• What joyful experience has God made available to you that you were unable to appreciate because of your envy?

• What can you thank God for today that you already have?

 - Daily Hope

Leaving the City of Regret

I had no plan on taking this trip but found myself packing. I knew that no good would come out of this journey but the sucky baby in me went anyway -- to the annual “Guilt Trip”.

I got a ticket to fly with “NORTH WISH I HAD Airlines”. I got my tear up baggae which I could not check and carried it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a ton of memories of what might have been. No one greeted me as I entered the feeling crappy terminal to the “Regret City International Airport”. 

As I checked into “Last Resort Hotel”, I noticed that their hosting the city's most prestigious event, the annual “Pity Party”. I heard many of its leading citizens would be there so I wasn’t going to miss out on that.

First, the “Done Family”, you know - should have done, would have done, could have done. Then the big in the industry “I Had Group”, you probably recognize ole wish I had and his entourage. Of course, the dazzling couples Opportunities would be present, Missed Opportunities and Lost Opportunities.

The biggest company is the “Yesterdays”. Too many of them to count but each have a sad story to share.

Then “Shattered Dreams” would surely make an apperance and "Their Fault” would regale us with stories, I mean excuses - about how things had failed in his life. Each story would be loudly applaud by “Don’t Blame Me” and “I Couldn’t Help It”.

Well, to make a long story short, I went to the party thinking that it would help. But as usual, I became depressed.  As I thought about the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that the remainder of this trip and subsequent pity parties could be cancelled by ME!

I realize that I didn’t have to be there.

One thing going through my mind, I can’t change yesterday but I do have the power to make today a wonderful day. I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged , as well as encouraging to others.

So, I left the City of Regret immediately.

Am I sorry for mistakes I’ve made in the past?  Yes! 
But there is no physical way to undo them.

If you’re planning a trip to the City of Regret, please cancel your reservation.  Instead, take a trip to “Newness Town”. It's nice here so I got a permanent resident. My neighbour, “I Forgive Myself” and “The New Starts”  are so kind and helpful.

By the way, you don't need to bring and carry a heavy baggage. All load is lifted upon arrival.

God bless you in finding and living in this great town. When you come, look me up. I live on “I Can” Avenue. You won’t miss it, it’s by the famous Lake Love and Joyful Park across the street.

New Life

What does it mean to be "born again". 

No amount of going to church, no amount of Bible reading, no amount of praying, no amount of giving, no amount of good works.

We do these things not to get God to do something for us. 
It is because of what God has done for us.

All you can do is take the first step of faith and surrender.

Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIz2YlrnI2c

Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9Wua4HTtOI&feature=relmfu


-J.Meyer

Characteristics of Humility

Ever think you can handle things on your own?

Do you treat people poorly or you think you are better than them?

 

If the answer is yes to either one, you may be in danger of a very serious issue: pride.

 

Discover how to combat that pride with humility.

 

Part 1:

http://www.joycemeyer.org/BroadcastHome.aspx?video=Characteristics_of_Humility_–_Pt_1

Part 2:

http://www.joycemeyer.org/BroadcastHome.aspx?video=Characteristics_of_Humility_–_Pt_2


-J. Meyer

Confidence That Conquers

A good teaching about confidence.

There are many people with impressive talents, skills and capability who fail to fulfill things in their lives.

Why?  They lack confidence.

This message teaches a person's confidence level is one of the most reliable predictors of whether or not they will succeed in life.

Link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgOEG88Qksk


I challenge you to make a decision today. Begin claiming the promise in Philippians 4:13 as your own. Accept it by faith on the basis of your personal relationship with God and the promises made in the Bible.

Expect to be transformed as the Father reveals His perfect will for your life day by day. Instead of holding back in fear or uncertainty, you can move ahead in confidence that you have His assistance, direction, and provision to fulfill anything He calls you to do.


- Dr. Charles Stanley

A Man's Rib

Woman was made from the rib of man
She was not created from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be stepped upon

She was made from his side to be close to him
From beneath his arm to be protected by him
Near his heart to be loved by him.

Everything Happens for a Reason

It may not make sense now but it will later on...

Link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyQ5ZSMENF0&feature=related

Grace, shines on me

Beautiful song.

Link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=KBsCkZd-HU4

I was lost when ya found me here
You pulled me close and held me near
And I'm a fool but still you love
I'll be your fool for the king of love

He gave me wings so I could fly
And gave me a song to color the sky
And all I have is all from you
And all I want is all of you

It's grace, grace
I'm nothing without you
Grace, your grace
Shines on me

And there've been days when I've walked away
Too much to carry
Nothing left to say
Forgive me Lord when I'm weak and lost
You traded heaven for a wooden cross

And all these years you've carried me
You've been my eyes when I could not see
And beauty grows in the driving rain
Your ode of gladness in the times of pain

-Michael Smith

If Duck Had a Human Mind

An observation after two ducks get into a fight. The fight never lasts long and they separate towards opposite direction.  Then each will flap its wings vigorously few times, thus, releasing the surplus energy that built up during the fight.

After, they flap their wings and float off peacefully, as if nothing ever happened.

If the duck had a human mind, it would keep the fight alive by thinking, by story-making.

This would probably be the duck's story:  "I don't believe what he just did. He came within five inches of me. He thinks he owns this pond. He has no consideration for my private space. I'll never trust him again. He annoys me. I'm sure he's plotting something already. But i'm not going to stand for this. I'll teach him a lesson he won't forget."

And on and on the mind spins its tales, still thinking and talking about it days, months or even years later.

As far as the body is concerned, the fight is still continuing, and energy it generates in response to all those thoughts is emotion, which in turn generates more thinking. This becomes the emotional thinking of the ego.

You can see how problematic the duck's life would be if it had a human mind.

But this is how most humans live all the time. No situations or events is ever really finished. The mind and mind-made "me and my story" keep it going.

We are species that has lost its way. Everything natural, flower, tree, animal have important lessons to teach us if we would only stop, look and listen.

Our duck's lesson is this:  Flap your wings, which translate as "let go of the story" - and return to the only place of power:  the present moment.

-E.Tolle

Want To Get Along? Humble Yourself

If you want to stop the conflicts in your life and get along with others, learn to ask forgiveness from God and from those you hurt.

James 4:8 says, “Wash your hands and purify your hearts”.

Our hands represent our conduct, and our hearts represent our attitude.

Paul is basically saying: Clean up your act. Be sorry for your self-centeredness.

It is a big deal when someone you care about is hurt. Take it seriously. If someone says you hurt him, then you did. It may not be a big deal to you, but it was to him. Be willing to ask forgiveness.

Think of the person who causes the most conflict in your life. Would you consider resolving the conflict with that person? Are you willing to apologize for your part? Maybe he or she is 95% at fault, but your responsibility is to take care of your 5% and let God handle the rest.

How humbling would it be for you to say, “I know we’ve had our differences and I haven’t always been thoughtful. A lot of times I’ve thought more about myself than your needs.”

It wouldn’t just be humbling; it would be impossible without God’s grace.

The only way you’re going to change is to be humble, and the only way to be humble is to ask forgiveness.

The first step is the hardest, but it’s also the most important. It’s humbling, sure, but God gives grace to the humble. Maybe this week you need to write a letter or make a call. Take the first step.

God doesn’t want to keep you down on the ground. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”  The way to honor is humility.

I used to think the way to be honored by my wife and kids was to never admit that I was wrong. I figured if my kids thought I was wrong, they wouldn’t respect me any more. It wasn’t a surprise when I found out they already knew I wasn’t perfect. I found that the way I gained honor before my wife and kids was to admit I was wrong.

To be honored by your love ones and the Lord, you must humble yourself.

To stop the fighting, give in to God, get wise to Satan, grow closer to God, and be willing to ask forgiveness.


Talk About It

• Think of the last time you were the recipient of someone’s humble apology. What impact did it have on your relationship with that person and with the Lord?

• Is there someone you need to forgive today? Is there someone you need to go to and ask forgiveness?

• Do you believe that God can restore a relationship that you have given up on? What do you think he wants you to do to help make that happen?

-R. Warren

Breaking Free from Unhappiness

A woman in her 30's came to see me. As she greeted, I could sense the pain behind her polite smile. She started telling me her story and her smile changed into grimace of pain. She began to sob uncontrollably. She said she felt lonely and unfulfilled. There was anger and sadness.

As a child, she had been abused by a violent father. I saw quickly that her pain was not caused by her present life circumstances but by past heavy pain-body. Her body has become the filter through which she viewed her life situation. She was not yet able to see the link between the emotional pain and her thoughts, being completely identified with both. She could not yet see that she was feeding the pain-body with her thoughts. In other words, she lived with burden of a deeply unhappy self.

I directed the focus of her attention to what she was feeling inside her body and asked her to sense the emotion directly, instead of through the filter of her unhappy thoughts, her unhappy story. She said she expected me to show her the way out of her unhappiness. Reluctantly, she did what I asked her to do. Tears were rolling down her face, her whole body was shaking.

"At this moment, this is what you feel", I said. There is nothing you can do about the fact that at this moment, this is what you feel. Now, instead of wanting this moment to be different from the way it is, which adds more to the pain that is already there, is it possible for you to completely accept that this is what you feel right now?"


She was quiet for a moment.  Suddenly, she looked impatient and said angrily, "No, I don't want to accept this!"

"Who is speaking?" I asked her. You or the unhappines in you?  Can you see that your unhappiness about being unhappy is just another layer of unhappiness?"

She became quiet again.

"I am not asking you to do anything.  All I'm asking is that you find out whether it is possible for you to allow those feelings to be there. In other words, and this may sound strange, if you don't mind being unhappy, what happens to the unhappiness?  Don't you want to find out?"

She looked puzzled and while sitting silently, I noticed a significant shift in her energy and said,  "This is weird. I'm still unhappy but there's a space around it. It seems to matter less".

That space comes when there is inner acceptance of whatever you are experiencing in this present moment.

-E.Tolle

It's Up To You - Do Something!

There are those who would much rather burn bridges, than build one; who would disassociate than circulate themselves; who find great satisfaction in another person's sorrow and misery than being the source of one's joy and jubilation; the one who would prefer to have the world revolve around them than to be a part of a community; who often regards oneself as a victim of circumstance while failing to look at the mirror. Humility is abandoned, replaced by avarice, resentment, anger and the worst culprit of all: self-righteousness. The glass becomes half empty, and yet one drowns inside its ugly cesspool of negativity.

Life is too short to bathe oneself in a toxic concoction of petty grievances. Or any kind of grievance for that matter. Live life. Love life. In the final analysis, genuine reverence is an honour bestowed by others: it is earned, not coerced. "No Man Is An Island", my friend.

For all types of Love: romantic, family, friendly - Happy Love Day ♥

-Unknown

Brilliantly Flawed

A well-known actor said he enjoyed playing “flawed” characters in movies because people could relate better to an imperfect character.

Most of us would agree that it’s easier to understand people who aren’t perfect because we are imperfect.

God included stories in the Bible of people who were deceitful, weak, unreliable, and angry.

Take Jacob, who deceived his father so that he would receive a blessing (Gen. 27:1-29).

There was Gideon, who was unsure of God that he asked Him twice for proof that He would be faithful to do what He said He would do (Judg. 6:39).

Then Peter, who feared for his own safety, even denied knowing his friend and Lord (Mark 14:66-72).

But all people in these stories were able to overcome their shortcomings and ultimately became useful.  That happened when they depended on God and not on themselves.

God’s strength is made perfect in weakness,
For when we are weak He is strong;
He gives us His grace and His power
To overcome in us what’s wrong

It’s good to learn of our weakness if it drives us to lean on God’s strength.

- ODB

You Are For Me

So faithful, so constant and so true So powerful in all You do You fill me, You see me You know my every move You love for me to sing to You I know that You are for me, I know that You are for me I know that You will never forsake me in my weakness And I know that You have come now even if to write upon my heart To remind me who You are So patient, so gracious, so merciful and true So wonderful in all You do You fill me, You see me You know my every move You love for me to sing to You Lord, I know that You are for me, I know that You are for me I know that You will never forsake me in my weakness And I know that You have come now even if to write upon my heart To remind me Lord, I know that You are for me, I know that You are for me I know that You will never forsake me in my weakness And I know that You have come now even if to write upon my heart To remind me who You are To remind me I know that You are for me, I know that You are for me I know that You will never forsake me in my weakness And I know that You have come now even if to write upon my heart To remind me who You Are

Music Video:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbSMfL5LuSo

What Does Quiet Time Look Like?

Having a quiet time is like many other activities you might do in life. To be successful, it helps to have a plan.

The Bible says, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

So what does a daily quiet time look like?

First, be quiet before the Lord. The Bible calls it waiting on God. You start by simply sitting down and shutting up. As you do this, you’ll find yourself revving your engine down and calming yourself. 

Second, pray briefly. Start off with a short opening prayer. Ask God to open your mind and guide you. Ask him to cleanse your mind.

Read a portion of Scripture slowly. This is where your conversation with God begins. He starts speaking to you through his Word, and then you speak back to him through prayer. Read the Bible slowly. Don’t try to read too quickly or too much. The more slowly you read Scripture, the more you’re forced to think about what you’re reading.

Meditate on the Word. Spend some time chewing on what God is saying. Chew on the Word like cows chew on cud. Ponder and wrestle with it in your mind. There are lots of great methods for meditating on the Word. You can find specific ideas on how to meditate on the Bible in my book Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods.

Write down what you discover. When God speaks to you through his Word, care enough about what he is saying to write it down. Writing enables us to remember what God has said to us and record our discoveries.

Pray again. Be quiet. Ask God to show you his Word. Talk to God about what he has said to you. Tell him what you’re thinking about what he is saying. Talk to him about anything else that’s on your mind.
There’s not just one way to have a quiet time, but following a plan similar to this can get you started on a rewarding devotional journey.

Talk About It

• Have you ever thought about your quiet time as an intimate conversation with God?

• What distractions do you need to eliminate in order to “be quiet”?

R. Warren

Finding the Time & Place for Quiet Time

The time you spend with God is the most important part of your day.

When and Where you meet him is important. Consistency matters in both cases.

Mark 1:35 says that “very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed”.

Just because Jesus got up early to pray doesn’t mean you have to.

The key is this:  Give God the best part of your day. It's the time of day you’re the freshest - morning, afternoon or night.

Most importantly, give God the best part of your day and schedule your quiet time into your day like you would any appointment.

Start slowly. If you’ve never had a quiet time before, start with five minutes. Start small and let it grow gradually. Eventually, plan for 15 minutes each day. Who doesn’t have 15 minutes?

Find a special place to meet with God. Jesus had a special place to meet with the Father.

Luke 22:39 says, “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him”.  It was Jesus’ usual habit to go to the Mount of Olives. He had a regular place where he went and prayed.

What kind of place should you look for as your “regular place”?  It should be:

• Secluded:  Look for a place where you can be alone, where it’s quiet, and where you won’t be interrupted.  A place where you can pray aloud.
• Consistent:  Make it the same place every day.

Talk About It

• Take time now to identify your “when” and “where” for your quiet time.
• Share it with a close friend who will hold you accountable.
• What are the parts of your day to which you can give attention.  Put your quiet time at the top of that list.

- R. Warren