Tag: Choices

behavior, faith, God, Healing, Hope, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality

5 Ways Your Attitude Fuels Your Journey

As a man thinks, so he becomes. Have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy? For example, someone way back when tells you a loser. You believe it. (even though it is not true). You start to act like a loser. You set yourself up for failure time and time again. The minute that things start to go well, you throw the other shoe first and quit. Just because you “know what will happen”. I find I have lived much of my life upon the thoughts and beliefs of what other people have told me – even though it isn’t true! Growing for me means confronting these lies, replacing it with the Truth of God, and taking back my life.

Do you ever think about what you are thinking about?

What if our attitude was the fuel for our journey?

Is your tank full or are you running on empty?

5 Ways to Fuel Your Attitude

1. Own it

Owning my attitude has helped me heal. It is empowering. All of a sudden my focus has shifted. When you own your attitude you own your life. People can be jerks, bit that is their choice, not mine. I can choose my attitude despite what they do or don’t do. There is freedom in not having to please people. Just be yourself, I like that.

I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:9b-10 NKJV

2. Open it

Renewing my mind with the Word has helped me think better. I get to choose what I want to put in there. If I have a poor self image I need to open my mind to the idea that whatever I am thinking may not be true. Just because I thought it was true doesn’t mean that it is. There are people that have tried to put false words over my life. For a time I believed them. Today I know they were lies that I have believed. Just because someone said it does not make it true either.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – Romans 12:2 NIV

3. Change it

Admitting that I may need to change my thoughts on some things has helped me grow. It’s ok to make a new choice and change my mind. If I am reading the Word and drinking the fresh Living Word, then I should change my mind about some things!

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV

4. Grow it

Giving myself room to grow and make mistakes along this journey has helped me become new. With this space comes the ability to reassess and reevaluate my choices. It’s ok if things didn’t work out. That just tells me it’s time for a new choice!

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye. – Psalm 32:8 NKJV

5. Enjoy it

Not having to know all the answers helps me enjoy my life. I trust my God to lead me, comfort me, and direct my steps. Making the choice to trust God is a daily thing with me. That’s ok. That’s where I am at today. God is faithful. Everytime I turn to Him He answers. Yes, my attitude can fuel my life. Today I am learning to rest in God’s plans for my life and not my own. I don’t need to know all the answers ahead of time. I know Him who has the answers! Life can be such an adventure!

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. ¹Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NKJV

Healing, Hope, Prayer, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality, Videos, Women

Only Grace Can Fix Stupid!

I was talking to a few friends yesterday and we were sharing our struggles. Some of us struggle with our bad habits and trying to change. Yes, God is greater and He will change our hearts, but let’s face it – sometimes we just make stupid choices. As with all of this, I will start with myself. I have battled with the bad habit of smoking for over 8 years now. I didn’t smoke as a kid. I didn’t even start until I met my last husband and started going to those ‘wonderful’ 12 step meetings. Yeah. Drink coffee, smoke, and talk about how life sucks. And after that divorce I just kept going.

Now I have tried to quit. I tried the patch and felt like I was having a heart attack. I tried Chantix and almost went crazy again. Now, I have bought the lozenges to try again. I know I am not alone. My sister in Christ and I shared our struggles and agreed to pray for each other. last month I had a respiratory illness and the Dr. gave me an inhaler. And what did I do? Instead of using it as an opportunity to quit, I would go smoke and then use my inhaler. Yeah – stupid.

And then another sister and I were sharing about how those that we love continue to make bad choices about their health. It is so hard to see those you love continue to struggle with self destructive behavior. Especially when you know that God has put an amazing call on their life and great destiny in front of them.

Now I know why Paul started all those letters to the Churches with “Grace unto you…”. Yeah, he knew that we needed more grace. Grace that abounds to love and to live the way Christ wants us to. Grace to change our hearts and our minds. And grace to give to others so we don’t hit them over the head.

Yeah, only grace can fix stupid!

Without the Word of God there will be no change in ourselves or others. The Word is alive and is able to change our hearts and our thoughts – and finally our actions. Help us Lord, to see things from Your point of view. Transform these stubborn minds, in Jesus Name.

Idk about you, but today I am going to open up that Book of Life and eat! And I pray that those we love do the same. Give them a hunger and thirst for your Word Jesus.

The Cheerful Giver

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NKJV)

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5 NKJV

Healing, Quotes, Rejection, Spirituality

Learning What We Live

I came across this picture on Pinterest. I remember how true it is. And then I remember that anything I learned as a kid can be unlearned. Not all the behaviors I learned will benefit me in my future. And I had to let go of the pain to move forward. I had to forgive the offenders, forgive myself, and forgive God. I got kind of mad at God for a while there. I think we all do at times. We have our perfect little life all planned out and then…well you know, something happens. But can I share something with you? It’s ok. God will make good come out of it – He promised! And the best part of that is that after we gain new information we can always make a new choice. Our endings can be much better than our beginnings!

Quotes About Learning From Our Mistakes and Moving On

“Your life was meant for more than being a life-long doormat for deadbeats, losers, gossipers, nay-sayers, dream-crushers, energy vampires, users, abusers, ragers and passive-aggressive backstabbers.” ― Bryant McGill, Simple Reminders: Inspiration for Living Your Best Life

“A teachable spirit and a humbleness to admit your ignorance or your mistake will save you a lot of pain. However, if you’re a person who knows it all, then you’ve got a lot of heavy-hearted experiences coming your way.” ― Ron Carpenter Jr., The Necessity of an Enemy: How the Battle You Face Is Your Best Opportunity

“You have to make the decision to let go of the past if you want to move forward.” ― Bryant McGill, Simple Reminders: Inspiration for Living Your Best Life

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” ― Phillipians 3:12-14 NIV

“Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

“We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.” ― Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

“Stop focusing on your past mistakes. Don’t be ashamed of the things that you’ve done. We ALL have made mistakes. Don’t you see? All of those things helped shape you into the beautiful person that you are today! Hold your head up high because you didn’t allow your past mistakes to consume you. You learned! You conquered! You became a better YOU. Be proud of who you are TODAY!” ― Stephanie Lahart

“Mistakes should be examined, learned from, and discarded; not dwelled upon and stored.” ― Tim Fargo

“Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway: Quotes, Verse, & Grumblings for Every Day of the Year

“We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.” ― John Dewey

“As my Popo used to say, life is a tapestry we weave day by day with threads of different colors, some heavy and dark, others thin and bright, all the threads having their uses. The stupid things I did are already in the tapestry, indelible, but I’m not going to be weighed down by them till I die. What’s done is done; I have to look ahead.” ― Isabel Allende, Maya’s Notebook

Healing, Quotes, Spirituality

This is Your Opportunity

Opportunities come in strange packages sometimes. You know, you are expecting a pretty package, wrapped perfectly, with that pretty bow on top. And you receive a box, wrapped in an old brown grocery bag, beat up on the corners, that shakes when you rattle it. Yep. Not what we expect at all right?

Yet with every obstacle comes an opportunity to grow, an opportunity to change. And perhaps things will be better. No one likes a stagnant pool of water right? It’s all green and stinky. The water has to MOVE to be fresh. And so do we.

What would you do if things did NOT stay the same?

How do you respond to change?

Do you welcome it or run from it?

12 QUOTES ON OPPORTUNITIES

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”― Winston S. Churchill
“With each opportunity before me, God presented me with a choice. I could accept His offerings, His wisdom, His grace. Or I could choose to hold onto the pain, the anger and the resentment a little longer.” ― Sharon E. Rainey, Making a Pearl from the Grit of Life
” Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” ―Galatians 6:10 NIV
“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger–but recognize the opportunity.” ― John F. Kennedy
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”― Colossians 4:5 NIV
“Strength comes from struggle. When you learn to see your struggles as opportunities to become stronger, better, wiser, then your thinking shifts from “I can’t do this” to “I must do this.” ― Toni Sorenson
“Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty.”― Thomas S. Monson, Pathways To Perfection: Discourses Of Thomas S. Monson
“For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one], and [there are] many adversaries.”―1 Corinthains 18:9 AMP
“How would your life be different if…You didn’t allow yourself to be defined by your past? Let today be the day…You stop letting your history interfere with your destiny and awaken to the opportunity to release your greatest self.” ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” ― Abraham Lincoln
“We often miss opportunity because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work”― Thomas A. Edison
“It still holds true that man is most uniquely human when he turns obstacles into opportunities.” ― Eric Hoffer

Music, Spirituality, Videos

It’s OK to Let Go at the Crossroads

Diana. Walk forward. God promised to go before you and prepare the way. Just get up and walk. You will hear Him whisper the way.

Our family is moving in the next 2 weeks. Things happen. Things change. Lord, let me let go of what I thought was going to happen, and just walk forward with you – without all this baggage from the past. Show me Lord, I’m asking.

“O people who dwell in Zion at Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.

And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher.

And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.” -Isaiah 30:19-21 AMP

“Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live!”-Bob Marley

“Forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about letting go of another person’s throat……Forgiveness does not create a relationship. Unless people speak the truth about what they have done and change their mind and behavior, a relationship of trust is not possible. When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment, but without true change, no real relationship can be established………

Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive. But should they finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation………

Forgiveness does not excuse anything………You may have to declare your forgiveness a hundred times the first day and the second day, but the third day will be less and each day after, until one day you will realize that you have forgiven completely. And then one day you will pray for his wholeness……”
― Wm. Paul Young, The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity

“Don’t ever discount the wonder of your tears. They can be healing waters and a stream of joy. Sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak.”
― Wm. Paul Young, The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity

“Jesus?” he whispered as his voice choked “I feel so lost”

A hand reached out and squeezed his, and didn’t let go. “I know Mack. But it’s not true. I am with you and I’m not lost. I’m sorry it feels that way, but hear me clearly. You are not lost.”
― Wm. Paul Young, The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity

“Here I am at these crossroads again,
wondering what will never become of me.
Now and then, I’ll take one on the chin.
Because I wear my heart upon my sleeve.”
― Jerod Mankin

“Life presents us with moments of decision—crossroads where we either choose a new direction and move on, or cling to what we already have and be miserable.”
― Mary Buchan, Over iT: How to Live Above Your Circumstances and Beyond Yourself

Spirituality, Uncategorized

Are You the Tortoise or the Hare?

How do you see yourself these days? Are you a tortoise or a hare? Are you impulsive? Or does it take you forever to make a decision? Have things changed for you over the years?

I found a great character lesson online from this simple story. This is from LatoyaEdwards:

What we learn from Hare:

Pride comes before the fall: The Hare’s main character flaw is his pride. It’s what makes him think it’s okay to take a nap during the race and ultimately costs him a victory.

Fast isn’t always best: Hare is sure that he’ll win because he’s fast. But being the best at something isn’t always about speed. My oldest son struggles with this during school work. He likes to speed through his assignments so he can get on to the next thing. Most of the time it ends up taking him twice as long because he makes a lot of mistakes

Boasting is not a good way to make friends: Hare liked to brag about his speed. So much so that most of the other animals didn’t want anything to do with him. My boys are just learning that boasting about what they are good at can make others feel sad.

Lessons from Tortoise:

It can be good to be the underdog: I love that the slowest animal in the forest is able to work hard and win the race against the fastest animal in the forest. I like to point out to my boys that they can do more than they (and others) think they can.
Hard work leads to success: Tortoise put in his hours of preparation to get ready for the big race. He got in shape and had a plan. I remind my boys that that need to work hard at their tasks in order to success

I remember when I was younger. I was definitely the Hare. I did not think before I jumped. I would rush into whatever I wanted just because I could. But things have changed. I guess I got burned a few times. And learned from my mistakes. Today I am more like the tortoise. I am not so fast to jump into new things. I am slower in thought and deeds and more purposeful in my activities.

What about you? Are you a tortoise or hare?

Spirituality, Uncategorized

I Choose…

“I Choose Love…
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy…
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.I Choose Peace…
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so I may live.I Choose Patience…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so, Rather complain that the wait is to long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness…
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for that is how God has treated me.

I Choose Goodness…
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness…
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My friends will not question my word. And my family will not question my love.

I Choose Gentleness…
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I Choose Self-Control…
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then when this day is done I will place my head on my pillow and rest.”
― Max Lucado