Food For Thought!

Taking things personally can be a wake up call that something inside of us needs to be looked at and healed. Instead of attacking, defending or withdrawing, we can ask: "what is it about my own beliefs that is being triggered by someone else's point of view or opinion? It's typically an aspect of the ego's wounded self image
that is reacting with indignation and righteousness. There is another way..

Thought For Today

If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.....

TODAYS AFFIRMATIONS

I can do anything! I fully trust and believe in myself.
I am a precious child of the Universe, unique, unrepeatable, prosperous, wise, and worthy. I choose to love and accept myself unconditionally as my Higher Power does. I choose to love and accept others.
At SUNRISE I rejoice. At SUNSET I am at peace. IN-BETWEEN I live with happiness, faith, and courage.


A SHIP is designed to take you places....So if your friendSHIP, partnerSHIP, companionSHIP or relationSHIP isn't taking you anywhere, its best to abandon that SHIP
Theres always two roads to choose from, the high road or the low road. One might get you there quicker but the other might be filled with more joyful scenery... I always choose the journey with the best intentions.

Enjoy your weekend!

Mistakes

Mistakes are embarrassing when they happen. But years later, you have a collection of mistakes called experience, which leads you to success!

I selected this one for those people who after doing a small mistake feel too much guilt. It's okay, but they should keep it in mind that every mistake has a lesson in it, something which should be learned from it.

MY SPIRITUAL CONNECTION

I experience and express the power of trust because . . . I know I am divinely hooked up and spiritually hooked in.

From the story of Daniel, in the Holy Bible, we learn what it means to truly be spiritually connected. You can call it the spiritual hook-up. Daniel had the gift of spiritual vision and prophecy. He also had a very strong faith in and connection to the spirit of his Creator. Faithful, Daniel relied upon and trusted his spiritual hook-up for guidance, which enabled him to do and accomplish many things that others could not do. People were quite jealous because they thought Daniel thought he was special.

When you know, like Daniel, that you are hooked up with your spiritual source, pleasing people becomes almost insignificant. Even when jealousy turns people against you or causes them to attack you, somehow you know you will be just fine. The worst possible thing you can do when attacked by spiritually jealous people is jump off your spiritual hook in an attempt to please or appease other human beings. This was the lesson that Daniel had to learn.

When Daniel refused to do what the king and his jealous cohorts wanted him to do, the spiritually jealous people convinced the king to throw Daniel into a den of hungry lions. Can you imagine!!! It takes more than the average share of trust, faith and obedience to stand up against a pack of ravenous lions. You must be willing to lose everything to honor your spiritual hook-up. Daniel passed the test! He was so hooked up, he walked right into the lions' den without batting an eye.


Until today, you may have believed that being hooked into people could and would sustain you in the tough times Just for today, hook into Spirit for protection and divine guidance in dealing with jealous or disruptive people.

Today I am devoted to experiencing and strengthening my spiritual connection!



From Until Today!

by Iyanla Vanzant

Gratitude

(¯`♥´¯) .♥.•*¨`*♫.•
´*.¸.•´♥ Take a moment today to be thankful for your blessings, especially the difficult times you endure along the way and although some days it is just difficult to do, remain positive and hopeful & know that tomorrow is another day...

(¯`♥´¯) .♥.•*¨`*♫.•
´*.¸.•´♥ Good morning, afternoon and evening my friends!

Food For Thought..

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious....Just a thought for today!

‎"A pretty good solution now is better than a perfect solution that will never come."


Remember this the next time you find yourself obsessing over a problem you're dealing with in your life. Acting without thinking can get you into trouble, but 'analysis paralysis' can get you stuck in the trap of stress and rumination. Think about your issue, then ACT, then move on. How might your life be less stressful if you practiced this idea today? Food for thought!!!

I HONOR MY NEEDS

Love creates an "us" without destroying the "me."

Love really is about people coming together to support each other. All the little tricks and games they play to get their needs met are just that, tricks and games. It would be so much simpler if we honored ourselves and trusted our partners enough to ask for what we need. Instead, we wait for them to figure it out; if they don't, we hold them responsible. What a cruel trick! When we let our partners know up front what we need, we have a greater chance of having the need met. We must know that our needs are important. Whether it's hugs and kisses, foot rubs, reassurance or Hershey syrup and whipped cream, our needs do matter. Once we let our partners know what we need, we must accept their honest answer as to whether or not they can meet those needs. If they cannot, we must decide if these are the people we want in our lives.



I honor my needs by letting my mate know what they are.



From Acts of Faith

by Iyanla Vanzant

No Condemnation

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 (NIV)

Do you ever hear the whispers of condemnation telling you that you're not what you should be, that you're always disappointing someone and that you'll never change?

I do. Unfortunately, self-condemnation is a default for me and, if I let it, it can wipe out my confidence as a woman, a nurse and a mother.

Thankfully, I'm just as familiar with God's promises as I am with Satan's lies. My heart has heard Jesus' gentle reminders of His love and goodness, like His "there is now no condemnation" promise in today's key verse.

However, although I know this truth that He speaks over me, I've learned that it's up to me to pause and respond to it. If I don't keep my ears tuned to His voice and my mind set on His thoughts, I forget His promises.

Condemning thoughts come back in and drown out the confidence I have through Christ.

One morning I was struggling with self-condemning thoughts and God guided me to these words written in my morning devotion: "Do not listen to voices of accusation for they are not from Me."

I opened my journal and responded from my heart:

Hello Lord. You know I often feel disappointed in myself and call myself names. You know my feelings have been hurt by someone's comments. Comments that cut me down and stole my confidence. Instead of feeling worthy, I feel like a loser. I hear You telling me not to listen to voices of accusation. Thank You for this reminder right when I needed it.

The devotion continued, "Pause before responding to people or situations, giving My Spirit space to act through you. Hasty words and actions leave no room for Me."

Again, I reached out to Him:

Lord, You know I spoke unkind words to my friend. Thank You for gently reminding me to "pause before responding." You are so faithful to speak truth to me. Thank You for these words-a reminder of what You want from me. I needed this today, right now.

If left to defend ourselves from self-condemnation or the condemnation of others, we'd be defeated every time. Thankfully we don't have to defend ourselves. In fact, God's Word promises, "the Lord himself will fight for" us. (Exodus 14:13-14, NLT)

We have the greatest defender in God and His Word. His truths re-build confidence that condemnation breaks down.

Our part is to know God's promises, respond to His truth, and believe it! Staying saturated in His Word and taking time to listen to His voice is the only way we can overcome condemnation. Reading devotions, digging into books on our specific area of struggle, participating in Bible studies and talking to Jesus through prayer helps re-build the confidence that is ours in Christ.

As we take the time to listen to Him today, let's ask Him to remind us that He is with us, He loves us, and that it's true: "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." And, that means you and me!

Dear Lord, when I forget, please remind me that I am not condemned. Help me to keep my eyes and thoughts on You. And to accept Your Word as truth so my confidence stays strong in You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Irish Blessing

May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you
and heaven accept you.
- Irish Blessing

Choose To Move Forward

It is human to make mistakes. The real problem comes when you allow those mistakes to take you in the wrong direction. Once you start down a certain road it is difficult to admit that you are going the wrong way and then have to turn around. But regardless of how difficult turning around may be, you will never be sorry when you choose to correct your mistakes rather that to compound them with denial or inaction. You always have a choice in life. So choose to move forward toward a better day.


" the man who makes no mistakes, does not usually make anything." William Conner Magee

Todays Thought

“I have discovered that life doesn’t actually knock you down. It does, however, provide you with many opportunities to evaluate your standing in life: what you stand on, what you stand for, how you stand within yourself and for yourself.” - Iyanla Vanzant


PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God today I surrender the problems that are plaguing my life today. I know that the battle is never mine. I also know the victory is and always lies in my trust in You and in You alone. So I trust today as I surrender these issues over to You that the battle is coming to an end through You. Father God I thank You and ask in Jesus Name. Amen

LOVE....It Just Is

How do you know when you are really in love? First of all, you would not have to ask the question. Love is knowing, it is not a condition or state of mind. When you are loving, you are not doubting, judging or fearing; you are in a state of acceptance. You accept yourself first, for who and what you are, and then the person you love, without question. You do not want to fix him, change him, control him or help him. You want for the person you love exactly what she wants for herself. When you are in love, you feel vulnerable and know that it is okay. You do not hide your feelings, change them to fix what you think the other person wants, and you do not question what you feel. When you are in love, you give, expecting nothing in return, not even love. Love is an inner process between you and yourself that you want to share with someone, everyone. Love is free. If your quest is to own, control, hold on to, protect, or take care of someone, they cannot be free and you are not in love. Love is never wrong, seldom right. It just is.



Love is in the midst of me.



From Acts of Faith

by Iyanla Vanzant

AFFIRMATION: I bravely accept difficult situations in my life. I realize moving through these situations will ultimately open something new and wonderful for me. I am a better person for my life experiences.
Beginning today and for the rest of my days I vow to love myself unconditionally. I AM empowered!




"He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything."
~ Arab Proverb