It Is Well

Psalm 121:1-2

I will lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

Our lives are full of peaks and valleys. When our mountain-top experiences turn suddenly to valleys of despair, we must have faith to keep going. Lord strengthen us we pray, so when our hearts are troubled, we will have the courage to proclaim even so, it is well with our souls.

9/30 Affirmation

Yesterday is behind me. Tomorrow is not important. Today is my everything. NOW is my reality.

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9/29 Affirmation

I have the power to find my path in life. I have the courage and perserverance to pursue it. I have the wisdom and knowledge to achieve it.

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9/29 Affirmation

I have the power to find my path in life. I have the courage and perserverance to pursue it. I have the wisdom and knowledge to achieve it.

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Don't just trust God for things; trust Him in things.

Weekly Wisdoms for the week of September 28, 2009

Don't just trust God for things; trust Him in things.
Too often, we fall into the trap of trusting God to give us more things—a new car, a bigger house, a better computer. We turn God into little more than a supernatural Santa Claus, who gives us what we want.

Although God does want his people to prosper and be blessed, it is much more important to him that you entrust him with your life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Trusting God is simply having faith in him—that he is who he says he is. In tough circumstances, trusting God means believing his promises, that he will work all things out for good. Trusting God does not mean trusting that he'll send Santa to give you what you want.

Especially during difficult times, putting your faith and trust in God brings rewards. Isaiah 26:3 says, You [God] will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Perfect peace is available if you're willing to trust God in the midst of challenging times.

Restoring - Take Initiative

September 28, 2009 Restoring Relationships: Take the initiative by Rick Warren "If you enter your place of worship and are about to make an offering, but you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God" (Matthew 5:23-24 Msg).

The second biblical step toward restoring a relationship is to take the initiative. It doesn't matter whether you are the offender or the offended, God expects you to make the first move. Don't wait for the other party. Go to them first. Restoring broken fellowship is so important, Jesus commanded that it even take priority over group worship. He said, "If you enter your place of worship and are about to make an offering, but you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God" (Matt. 5:23-24 Msg). When fellowship is strained or broken, plan a peace conference immediately. Don't procrastinate, make excuses, or promise, "I'll get around to it someday." Schedule a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible. Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worse. In conflict, time heals nothing; it causes hurts to fester. Acting quickly also reduces the spiritual damage to you. The Bible says sin, including unresolved conflict, blocks our fellowship with God and keeps our prayers from being answered, besides making us miserable. Job's friends reminded him, "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do," (Job 5:2, TEV) and "You're only hurting yourself with your anger" (Job 18:4, TEV). The success of a peace conference often depends on choosing the right time and place to meet. Don't meet when of you are tired, rushed or could be interrupted. The best time is when you both are at your best.

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Measure of Life

The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its
donation.

     -- Corrie ten Boom

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Believe in Yourself

Believe in Yourself

Believe in yourself.  Believe that you have what it takes to make it.  Believe that you are going to make it through.  Believe that you will persevere through the tough times.  Believe that you are equipped and prepared to deal with your problems.  Believe in yourself.  Even if (especially if) no one else does...

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There is never a "Right" time

There is Never a "Right" Time

There is never a "right" time.

All you have is a "right now" and that's pretty much it.

Do what you can in the now.

If you can't do it today, then plan for tomorrow or the next day or next year.

Because it's good to have long-range goals, five-year plans and the like. But just as important is that you have an effective use of your time "right now."

I can't stress the importance of effective time management. You can plan until you're blue in the face when you'll start that project or get started on that goal, but if you don't use your "right now" time to do it, it'll always remain a sketch on a drawing board, an idea, a hope or a dream.

The only way to make that dream be realized in the here and now is to get a start on it. Whether that means writing your proposal, cooking yourself a healthy meal, researching options for going back to school or organizing your house, your life, your head or whatever needs organizing.

Make your dreams a reality - NOW.

There never is a "right" time.

So stop waiting on it...

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Be Content!

Just a message to remind myself and my readers to stay content with what you have. Often times we lose focus and appreciation of the simple pleasures of life, then we begin dwelling on things we don't have and feel are necessary. I'm learning on a daily basis to trust in the presence and power of God; knowing that he will provide and answer according to his riches and glory. Instead of thinking with minds of lack, be content! Instead of stressing over the desire to keep up with society's standards, be content! Instead of worrying, be content! God has already worked it out and is the creator of answers and miracles. Be strong and encouraged knowing that God will not leave you nor forsake you. Now let's all be motivated and move forward in favor!

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with
what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."

Hebrews 13:5, New International Version

-Biron

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Let Go of Grudges

"Holding grudges will consume your emotional energy, if you let it."

Holding grudges uses lots of emotional energy. And, when your emotional energy is tied up in a grudge, it holds you in the past. Grudges hold energy hostage and it's not until you forgive that your energy can be restored.

Think of forgiveness as something you do for yourself. Think of it as something that makes you stronger, not weaker.

If you're holding grudges, let them go. Seek reconciliation if needed. If you find it hard to forgive then start with the small grudges and work your way up. The physical feeling of relief and the energy reclaimed will be well worth it.

Forgive today. It’s time to move on!

-Healthy Living

Today's Affirmation

I am free to be and choose life, blessing, success, and abundance! I have these qualities now! I experience peace, joy, happiness, and harmony daily and will experience these qualities forever in eternity. I am a magnet for the goodness of life, love, peace, wealth, success, abundance. All good things flow in me and through me and to me and I receive all good things freely and without hesitation. I am free! I am blessed! I am prosperous! I am abundant! I am whole! I am joyful!
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For those that are control freaks

For those of us who are control freaks, I have a word of consolation.

Let me reassure you of something you've always feared:

Here it is: If you just let go of your rigidly, over-planned life for just one second, it'll still be okay.

The world will not spin apart, life will not end as you know it and everything will most likely be just fine.

If you take a vacation from work, the work will still get done and you will not get fired.

If you allow your spouse to spend time with the kids, they will still get fed, take their naps, have their diapers changed and be the healthy, adorable kids you know them to be.

If you eat one thing more than you intended for lunch, you will not gain five pounds.

If you show up five minutes late for your appointment (due to totally unforeseen circumstances), your client will understand - especially if you're normally on time.

Similarly, if your life has not turned out to be what you expected thus far, you still have time.

If you still haven't found that perfect mate, there's still hope.

And if you see no plan or purpose for your life at all - you still have today.

Here's a final note to those of us who are control freaks:

You cannot control anyone or anything. As a matter of fact, you can barely control yourself. You can only do what you can do when you are able to do it. You have done the absolute best you can with what you have and you will continue to do better as you heal emotionally and learn more about life.

You are not in control and you never will be. There will always be circumstances that will happen whether or not you plan for every contingency. You will now have to learn what words and phrases like "go with the flow" "be flexible" and "be prepared for anything" really mean. Because that's LIFE. Unpredictable, illogical, yet filled with wonder.

Let go. Take a vacation. Take a day off. Eat a bowl of ice cream. It's okay - the world will not end. Take today to enjoy what you have right where you are - acknowledging you have done your absolute best to accomplish your dreams, further your career and make a difference in this world.

Forgive yourself for anything you've done wrong and mentally prepare yourself for the next challenge you will surely face.

And remember: YOU CANNOT CONTROL EVERYTHING.

So stop trying...

-Daily Meditations for Tough Times