People who have a sad past, need to be able to believe in a bright future. Proverbs 29:18 says that where there is no vision people perish. Some people are afraid to believe God for a vision. They think they are setting themselves up for a disappointment. They do not realize that they will be perpetually disappointed if they do not believe. It cost nothing to believe. Believe big and even if you get half it is better than believing for nothing and getting it all.
Consider the greatness of God as you observe His creation all around you, and remember that you are a masterpiece of God’s creation made in His very image! Take a moment and praise God for His excellence and thank Him for crowning you with glory and honour. Psalm 8:1-9
The following are wisdom and beautiful words. Read them and try to understand the deep meaning of what they are saying. These words are like the ten commandments to follow in life all the time. 1. Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout. 2. So why is a car's windshield so large and the rear view mirror so small? Because our past is not as important as our future. So, look ahead and move on. 3. Friendship is like a book. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write. 4. All things in life are temporary. If it's going well, enjoy it, that won't last long. If it's going badly, don't worry, that won't last long either. 5. Old friends are gold! New friends are diamonds! If you get a diamond, don't forget the gold! Because to hold a diamond, you always need a base of gold! 6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, God smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!" 7. When God solves your problems, you have faith in His abilities; when God doesn't solve your problems, He has faith in your abilities. 8. A blind person asked St. Anthony, "Can there be anything worse than losing eyesight?" He replied, "Yes, losing your vision!" 9. When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you. 10. Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's peace. "God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." Philippians 2:13 NLT
It is the Holy Spirit's job to produce Christ-like character in you. You cannot reproduce the character of Jesus on your own strength. New Year's resolutions, willpower, and best intentions are not enough. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives. The Bible says, "God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT). Mention "the power of the Holy Spirit," and many people think of miraculous demonstrations and intense emotions. But, most of the time, the Holy Spirit's power is released in your life in quiet, unassuming ways that you aren't even aware of or feel. Christ-likeness is not produced by imitation but by inhabitation. We allow Christ to live through us. How does this happen? Through the choices we make. We choose to follow Jesus in all situations and then trust God's Spirit to give us his power, love, faith, and wisdom to do it. Since God's Spirit lives inside of us, these things are always available for the asking. Not everyone is healthy enough to have a front row seat in your life.
There are some people in your life who need to be loved from a DISTANCE. It is amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of - or minimize your time with - those draining, negative, incompatible, 'not-going- anywhere' relationships or friendships. Observe the relationships around you. Pay close attention... Which ones lift, and which ones lean? Which ones encourage, and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill, and which ones are going downhill? When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse? Which ones always have drama, or don't really understand, know or appreciate you & the gifts that lie within you? Remember that the people you have around you will have an impact on your life, your values, your health, your relationships, income and your future. So, be careful when choosing the people you hang out with, as well as the information with which you will feed your mind. We should not share our dreams with negative people, nor feed our minds with negative thoughts. The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you... the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the FRONT ROW, and who should be moved to the balcony of your life. Ask for wisdom and discernment, and choose wisely the people who will sit in the front row of your life. You cannot change the people around you....but you CAN change the people you choose to be around! WHO IS IN YOUR FRONT ROW? When we come to Christ, God not only forgives us, he also adopts us! It would be enough if God just cleansed your name, but he does more. He gives you his name. It would be enough if God just set you free, but he does more. He takes you home.
Adoptive parents understand this more than anyone. We biological parents know well the earnest longing to have a child. But in many cases our cribs were filled easily. We decided to have a child and a child came. In fact sometimes the child came with no decision. I’ve heard of unplanned pregnancies, but I’ve never heard of an unplanned adoption. If anybody understands God’s ardor for his children, it’s someone who has rescued an orphan from despair, for that is what God has done for us. God sought you, found you, signed the papers and took you home! from The Great House of God JESUS PRAYED: "AND THE GLORY WHICH YOU GAVE ME I HAVE GIVEN THEM..." (John17:22) LIVE BOLDLY TODAY WITH THE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT YOU ARE THE MANIFESTATION , THE BRILLIANT RADIANCE, OF THE GLORY OF GOD- YES YOU ARE THE BRIGHTNESS OF GOD'S BEAUTY AND SPLENDOUR ON THE EARTH.... SAY TO YOURSELF "BECAUSE I AM HIGHLY FAVOURED, THEREFOR I AM THE GLORY OF GOD; THEREFOR I DON'T FAIL!!THEREFOR I AM A BLESSED FOREVER, HALLELUJAH!!!"...... Have a GLORIOUS day walking in the GLORY THAT YOU ARE....
Despite the picture-perfect impressions we get from upbeat Facebook posts or boastful holiday letters, even the healthiest marriages aren't 100% free of conflict. At some point, virtually everyone feels wronged by a romantic partner. Bob Navarra, PsyD, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), says that those feelings aren't what throw a marriage off course-it's how couples handle them. "While it may be frustrating that the toothpaste cap was left off, happy couples talk about these small things," he says. But when those emotions are swept under the rug, a more toxic variety of negativity begins to fester: resentment. Here, marriage experts share some of the most common reasons husbands resent their wives and how to protect your relationship. 1. Not fighting fair. Happy couples don't necessarily fight less, Dr. Navarra says; they just fight better, by "describing their own feelings and needs rather than labeling their partner as faulty." And the ball is probably in your court for that. Research shows that wives are more likely to bring up problems for discussion, while husbands are more likely to withdraw at the first sign of an argument. When this keeps happening, women tend to start conversations on a negative note, which only makes things worse. Instead of resorting to personal attacks-"You're such a slob!" "We're going to be late because of you!"-which lead to defensiveness, Dr. Navarra recommends sticking to "I-statements," such as "When (this happens), I feel (frustrated, angry). What I needed was..." 2. Treating him like a child. "A big issue I see in couples is a man resenting his partner because he feels she talks down to him," says Mary Kelleher, LMFT. This can leave him feeling "less-than," and nothing triggers resentment faster than inadequacy. So avoid threatening his independence-the way pressuring him to go for a promotion so he'll bring home more money may be perceived-suggests couples therapist Vagdevi Meunier, PsyD. "No one wants to feel 'managed' by a spouse," Dr. Meunier says 3. Involving other people in your marriage. What you might think of as harmless complaining to friends and family can actually break your husband's trust. It threatens the safety of the "couple bubble" you've created together. "Men find this humiliating and hurtful," says Norene Gonsiewski, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a couples' therapist at the Portland Relationship Center in Oregon. If you really need to vent, consider talking to a doctor or therapist to keep things confidential. 4. Not showing appreciation for thing he does right. "Men will never ask for it," Gonsiewski says, but regular doses of praise are important. "They need to hear that their wives are proud of them." Scott Haltzman, MD, author of The Secrets of Happily Married Women, notes that men tend to be more action-oriented than women, which means they show affection in different ways. "He may empty the dishwasher as a way of saying he cares about you." Haltzman's suggestion: "Pay attention to what he does, and let him know you notice." 5. Withholding sex as punishment. While women generally need emotional intimacy to make love, men express emotional intimacy through sex, says Marla Taviano, author of Is that All He Thinks About? When a wife turns down sex, in her husband's mind, "she's turning him down as a person," explains Taviano. Using sex as a bargaining chip to get your needs meet isn't negotiating-it's emotional blackmail, which can alienate him. "Withholding sex may make your partner feel less love from you and give you less love in return," says Dr. Haltzman. 6. Trying to change him. "Every person can change, but it's better to focus on our own changes, rather than our spouse's behaviors," says Anne Ziff, LMFT, author of Marrying Well. And yet, some women see marriage as a starting point for a "husband makeover." This isn't all bad-studies show that married men tend to eat healthier and have fewer problems with drugs and alcohol than single guys-but avoid creating a relationship in which your husband can't be himself. "When a man feels his home is not his castle, and he can't just be a guy-whether it's walking around in his boxers or letting out a burp-he'll feel like he's been put in a box where he has to act prim and proper all the time," Dr. Meunier says. Sometimes, it's smarter to let the little things slide. 7. Making important decisions without his input. Research shows that money is a top source of disagreements among married couples, even those with bigger budgets. In a lot of ways, money equals power, and balancing power is important to harmonious relationships, Meunier says. Whether you're considering booking a vacation or buying a dishwasher, your partner deserves a say. The same goes for decisions that affect how you and your husband spend your time, such as inviting company over for dinner or signing up your kids for soccer. Although it may seem simpler to beg for forgiveness instead of getting him on board, unilateral decision making can drive you two apart. 8. Not giving him the chance to be the kind of dad he wants to be. Mothers often parent differently than fathers, but not necessarily better. For instance, some studies show that parenting styles more common with dads, such as rough-and-tumble play, offer children unique developmental benefits. "Men's resentment grows as their children develop with gaps in their competency and independence, two attributes men rate highly," Gonsiewski says. "When a woman doesn't trust her husband to parent she sends a message that he's wrong and only she's right." Instead, "reinforce your husband for the positive contributions he makes to your children's lives," Dr. Haltzman recommends. 9. Acting jealous when he looks at other women. Men are visual creatures, Dr. Meunier says, so it's not surprising that a typical heterosexual man would notice a good-looking woman. "Women who understand this and don't take it personally minimize unproductive fights about jealousy." When a wife overreacts to a situation, her husband will likely feel defensive, and eventually, resentful. Dr. Meunier's advice? "Chill out." Responding to a visual cue isn't cause for worry, she says-curious comments or behaviors, like dropping your hand to head across the room to talk to another woman, could signify a lack of commitment to you. 10. Expecting immediate forgiveness after you apologize. Studies show that seeking and granting forgiveness greatly contributes to marital satisfaction and longevity. But beware of empty words. While apologizing manages conflict, Dr. Navarra says a simple "I'm sorry" often isn't enough. To truly earn her husband's forgiveness, a wife needs to show that she understands why her husband is upset. Dr. Haltzman recommends being specific about what you're apologizing for, accepting responsibility for what you did, acknowledging that you what you did was harmful and lastly, asking what you can do to make it up to him. "If you've gotten to the first three steps cleanly, most men will say 'forget about it' to the last question," Dr. Haltzman says. |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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