The Position of Power

The Position of Power


TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense”
(Proverbs 19:11, AMP)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Every day, we have opportunities to get upset, be frustrated or get offended. Maybe you had plans that didn’t work out, or someone was rude to you at the office. Maybe you were doing something that should have taken one hour, and it ended up taking three. Life is full of inconveniences, but even though we can’t always control our circumstances, we can control our reaction. I heard somebody say, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.”

We should always go out each day with a positive attitude, full of hope and expecting God’s favor. But at the same time, we should recognize that most days are not going to go exactly as we planned. Remember, we were created to live in peace. Peace is our position of power. If you get stressed because you got off schedule or upset because your child wouldn’t eat his breakfast, or frustrated because somebody offended you, you’re are giving away your power. Instead, make the decision to release those offenses and disappointments so you can live in peace and enjoy the day as a blessing God prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, today I release every care, concern, offense and disappointment to You. I choose to keep the peace that You have given me. I look forward to today knowing that You are with me and leading me in victory in Jesus’ name! Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Answer the Door to Joy

More from Joel & Victoria Osteen...

Answer the Door

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”
(Psalm 30:5, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
When you wake up each morning, God sends you a special delivery of joy. It’s like it comes knocking at the door of your heart every day. The problem is that some people never answer the door. It’s right there, month after month, year after year saying, “Come on! Let me in! You can be happy! You can cheer up! You can enjoy your life!” The way to answer the door is to get up and choose an attitude of faith and expectancy by declaring that “today is going to be a good day.” When you start the day like that, you are choosing to receive the gift of joy that God sent to you.

Today, make up your mind to answer the door to joy! Get up every morning and say, “Father, thank You for another beautiful day. I’m going to be happy. I’m going to enjoy this day because You are faithful. I’m going to brighten someone else’s life. I am choosing to receive Your gift of joy and passing it on to others because I love You, and I know that I am called for Your purposes!”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for the gift of joy every single morning. I choose right now to set my focus and heart on You. Help me, by Your Holy Spirit, to put You first each and every day so that I can know Your love and joy in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer

This is from Joel & Victoria Osteen's Word of the day...It is so inspiring...

Be Joyful in Hope

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”
(Romans 12:12, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
God has given you everything you need in order to enjoy your life. Think about that for a minute. What is keeping you from living life to the full? You may not be in the home you want. You may not have the exact job you would like. Maybe you’re single and really want to be married. If you focus on these temporary things, it opens the door to comparison and frustration.

It’s good to have big dreams. It’s good to want to increase. But if you start comparing yourself to others, it opens the door for the enemy to steal your joy. If you don’t learn to be happy where you are, you’ll never get to where you want to be. But if you’ll choose to be happy, refuse self-pity and refuse to complain, then you are sowing good seeds for God to take you where you want to be in your future.

Friend, realize today that God is directing your steps. You have a future and a hope. Take joy in knowing that He is working all things together for your good according to His divine plan. Stay in faith, focus on Him and obey His commands. Soon, you’ll see those new doors open so you can walk boldly into the place of blessing God has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, today I choose to put my hope and trust in You. I know that You are working all things together for my good. I refuse self-pity. I refuse to compare. I choose joy and the divine plan You have prepared for me in Jesus’ name! Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

The world is getting smaller...

Have you noticed as you get older the world gets smaller and younger... Everywhere I turn I find the spaces left for me are tinier and tinier...I don't suppose it could be me growing larger and larger...nahh. The men are definitely getting younger and younger. Where are all the MEN, not boys, but MEN?? Anyone who is in his 40's and a born-again Christian...where are you? Have you been shrunk out by the ever squishing spaces of life too? Man up & show yourselves...

Time to move on from self destructive habits and people...focus on what is truly important...the Lord & me...I have not spent nearly enough time with either in the past year.

2011, you have your work cut out for you...

"Let's roll..." Todd Beamer United Flight 93 09/11/2001

Well, we are nearing the end of a year that defies description. Everything has been life altering to say the least. I have just finished 6 months of work on a live theater show. While I have one more project this year, I no longer need to be in the theater building itself...except for watching others work to entertain me...

I am needing to get back to basics. Weight loss, exercise, better sleep habits, catching up with my non-theater and non-church friends, eliminating the drama of men in my life, and most importantly getting back into and staying in the Word of God.

I am enjoying a small Bible study group that meets every other week. Sometimes it is just the leaders and me...I love that...lot's of me time in the Word & in prayer.

Let's do this thing...let's roll...

It's the Little Things

Why is it the little things in life are what trip us up? We can have death, disaster, all sorts of tragedy happen, but put a mouse in our house...look out! My life has been turned absolutely upside down this past couple of weeks since I discovered an infestation in my apartment. We have tried DCon peanut butter traps, pouches of poison, and numerous prayers for them to just evaporate. I am going on very little sleep at this point. I just want to get back to the safety & serenity I felt in my own home. What really chafes me is that I am paying for this experience! Fortunately I have a resident manager who is somewhat sympathetic & is trying to come up with any solution.

I just need to get the heck out of Dodge...if I had more avaiable funds I would spend a night in a hotel just to get a good day & nights rest...

Life is what happens while you're busy making plans...

I have spent the better part of this year in mourning. Mourning over the loss of a job/income in January, mourning over the thought of losing my father, mourning over weight, and mourning over the actual loss of my father. It's time for life.

I went to my annual family reunion yesterday on a beautiful day here in the Pacific NW on a beautiful rocky river shore. I had with me my dad's side of the family and one good friend. The friend was there just for me...or so I thought... The friend soon bonded with my family and "played" pirates of the mighty Salmon River for most of the day...:) It was the best day I have had in a long time. I did not even have time to stop & realize who was missing. Yet when I stop now to think, I realize it was he who brought us all together. Heaven smiled.

Life goes on...Thank the Good Lord...

Achieving Normal...

How does one define normality? There are many opinions as to what qualifies as normal behavior, activities, moods, or lifestyles. Well, for me, normal is what gets you peaceful, mindless at times, and best of all what feels familiar.

Dad passed away 2 weeks ago on the 18th of June. It was a blessing and a relief by the time it happened. He is certainly much better off. The family will miss him forever, but we are comforted in the knowledge that we will see him again in the hereafter.

My mother & I have discussed the behavior side of normalcy. Are we behaving as people expect us to? Is it ok to be smiling & laughing? Should my face be somber? Very confusing.

I have certain friends who have been there for me during this entire process. They all fit into different categories. I would be able to talk to all of them about the process I have endured but it is in the way I speak with them that is different. Sometimes that difference is initiated by me, and sometimes by the needs of the friend.

There are some who are my "take me away from this" friends. They send me jokes or make me laugh or just listen to my inane blathering on a message or text. You know who you are and how you all fit into my life.

Some friends of mom's friends have wanted to get right in my face and "discuss" the issues...I'm sorry, have we met...?? Some advice if you are unsure what to say or do when a friend goes through a trama/tragedy...Just be there, just be yourself, There are no "right" things to say also no "wrong" things to say when the intent is good.

Just be ...normal...

Still Crazy After All These Years...

OK...so...dad still kicking...so to speak. He has actually had some great connecting moments with mom. Big SIGH of contentment there! I just know he is going to hold on until right around Father's Day. Anyway life does happen to motate right along. I am in a production of Present Laughter by Noel Coward at our theater company. The performances are set for June. I also get to walk in graduation ceremonies on June 17th. I had a really good birthday weekend recently...42...WOW! Where does the time go. As with most women in their 40's I feel like I am still 20 something (mentally that is).

So where is my sugar daddy??!! I felt sure he would make an appearance by now. I am thinking I may need to break up with my celebrity boyfriend...He is just not cutting the mustard. I have been thinking about some other boys...men...boys whatever lately any way. One is a new man at church. Not sure if he is interested but only time will tell. Also there is a younger one..sweet, funny, cute...young...but sweet, funny, cute...YOUNG...

Limbo

This last week I have very much felt "in limbo" as it were regarding reality. My father was in the hospital again for his alzheimers. The home staff kept thinking he had an infection but turned out it was severe dehydration. He is back at the home now & quite responsive. He recognized my sister who is visiting. That, of course, makes me sigh with contentment. Sharon is bi-polar, anxiety ridden, and prone to heavy depression. The mere fact she made the trip is miraculous. Her husband, Tim, made the journey with her. Tim is a brittle diabetic who is constantly sick. Between the two of them it is a wonder life goes on. They are examples of the phrase "there but for the grace of God go I". Seriously.

I have discovered, yet again, what an incredible group of friends I have. My family aint too shabby neither. :)

So begins the end of my father's life. He will have short spurts of responsive behavior combined with more hospital visits. Hospice services should be around the corner...

Survival

Well I survived jury week w/o having to ever step foot in the Courtroom. As far as my projects go...well the "best laid plans" as Steinbeck would say...Let's hope this next week goes better.

Went to another WW meeting this afternoon & found out I was up 1.something...it's ok though. There was a walking challenge and I need to take it. I once walked 9 miles for charity so I know I can do it again. The challenge is to walk a 5k in June.

My mother called me 2 days in a row re my father being in the home. Yesterday she was a bit down because he was not very responsive...today she called, very happy, to say he was responsive & using his walker she rented for him. He also said he was glad she was there...SIGH... :). It was good to hear that!

Off we go...

Coming Up For Air

Spending the last couple of months being ill in one way or another can make life quite stale. I've decided to come up for air. I am on for potential jury duty this week but am hoping I can have the week to finish my projects at home before a job offer comes. Providing a job offer does come. I had to try to reschedule 2 of them last week due to the respiratory flu. No response from either company after vms & email requests...How Rude!! I guess I am not wanting to work for those people! Well off to update the resume again & get ready to apply for more opportunities. Also must prepare for an audition coming up...more later...

Life changes...yet again

I came to visit my family in hopes of a nice quiet peaceful vacation...Yeah...that didn't happen. Sunday I went to see my father in his alzheimers nursing home...not good. Needless to say I had quite the shock & reacted accordingly. The rest of the day I fought not to eat away my frustrations. My mom & I did go shopping & fortunately I found the 80% clearance rack so I could shop away my frustrations & still have enough money to get home. Monday...I decided I was going to have my peaceful "feel sorry for myself" day...UH Huh...you guessed it, not happenin. I get a call at 4:30pm from my mother that dad is in the ER...brother. I get showered & dressed & get there, hospitals being my favorite vacation spot, to see my dad all gowned & wired up in a trauma room..."E.R" flashbacks. He was there just for some testing due to a possible infection but being there makes everything exaggerated x 10. However...a bright spot...he was fairly cognitive & when asked who I was, he knew! Finally about 6:30pm the nurse said they were going to test for a UTI & that the results would not be in for awhile so we went to dinner. Got a call there that he was being taken back to the home, so we went home. Tuesday...need prayer postings all over FB. Visited dad in the home & he was sound asleep but looked ok. Wednesday...complete veg out day, successfully. More prayer postings on FB, one quite awful. Something in the air. Thursday, today, went to a WW meeting and I have altogether lost 5.2 pounds!! So all is not lost...God is in His Heaven...and the world will just have to deal with it.

Life Changes

I have been remiss in blogging as you can see. My "liberated years" were seemingly restrained of late. Is that even possible to restrain liberation??!! Who even knows anymore.

I have joined the fighting guerillas known as Weight Watchers & have gotten off to a slow but steady start. I have 2 friends who walk & water me at least 1x per week (otherwise I have accidents). I recently completed a show at our local community theater as the director. Ahhh...getting to boss people around & tell them how to be creative...isn't that restraining their liberation??!! Who cares..these are my liberated years not theirs... Let them get as old as me & then they can have it back... Also, I have just graduated from college (several years after the "norm").

I am currently taking a long awaited, much needed vacation from the everyday. I purused the internet & poured over travel brochures and finally came up with the ultimate destination... my parent's house in small town, no it's not the end of the world but you can see it from here, America.

more later...I think mom might be reaching for the last rice cake...

Laughter is the best medicine

Liberation is the greatest feeling. Absolute freedom. That's what I have in Jesus Christ number 1 and also in my true friends. I know I can say how I feel & fight for what I believe in without question. I know I am respected by those that really matter. I have several times in the past actually dared to speak out on issues that mean something, and have been immediately shut down and written off by the world.

Liberation lets me laugh..out loud..all night long. Basking in the joy that I have the truth on my side.
I guess life really does begin at 40! :)

My first time

Well this is it...my first time...I have never blogged before. All my friends keep going on & on about their blog this & their blog that. I can't keep up. So ..as they say ..if you can't beat em..well you know.

I have found with each passing year tha I feel increasingly liberated. I have been categorized as a womanist as opposed to a feminist. I tend to agree. I will just leave the definitions to you. Not intending on starting any contraversies here.

Well I would not want to over exert myself on this my first time! I need to build my stamina for the future.