Tag: heart

behavior, Deliverance, God, Healing, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality

Forgiveness is Not a Natural Thing for Most People

I was watching Longmire reruns when I heard this line, “Forgiveness is not a natural thing for most people.” That is true. When we get rejected or laughed at or betrayed it is not the first thought that comes to mind.

We are human after all. The first thought is more like:

  • I’m gonna get you for that
  • I will never forgive you
  • It’s over 
  • I will never trust you ever again 
  • I can’t wait to get my revenge

No wonder Jesus had so much to say about forgiveness. 

Have you ever met someone who refuses to forgive someone? They are angry, they are bitter, and they are stuck. You know, they repeat the same old story about how somebody wronged them every time you see them. They refuse to let it go. They gossip, they cut others down, and they stir up drama – all to get the focus off themselves. They blame everybody for everything. It’s sad really. You know they are miserable.

I have known people who harden their hearts and develop a root of bitterness. Roots grow deep. Once this happens they lose their joy and hope. You can’t tell them anything because they don’t want to hear it. They poison the lives of those they touch. They bring strife, division, and even hatred.

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; – Hebrews 12:14-15 NKJV

So what should we do? 

  1. Repent of any unforgiveness in our hearts. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind those we have not yet forgiven.
  2. Forgive them and forgive yourself for holding on to it. 
  3. Pray for the person you had a resentment against. Yes, pray for them. Ask God to bless them. Then you will be free of it. 
  4. Trust God to deal with it. “Vengeance is mine says the Lord, I will repay.” Let God take care of it. Trust Him to make it right.

What they did may be wrong. But so you really want to be stuck there forever? Do you really want to be tied to that wrong forever? God can’t deal with them or make it right until you let it go. 

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” – Matthew 6:14-15

God, Quotes, Spirituality

12 Heart of a Warrior Quotes

According to Dictionary.com a WARRIOR is

1.a person engaged or experienced in warfare; soldier.
2.a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness, as in politics or athletics.

Are you a warrior?

Do you fight for justice?

Do you stand up for the oppressed?

 

Learn to do good.
Seek justice,
Rebuke the ruthless,
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the [rights of the] widow [in court]. – Isaiah 1:17 AMP

12 Heart of a Warrior Quotes

  1. “The most important thing I learned is that soldiers watch what their leaders do. You can give them classes and lecture them forever, but it is your personal example they will follow.”– General Colin Powell

  2. “…It is a proud privilege to be a soldier – a good soldier … [with] discipline, self-respect, pride in his unit and his country, a high sense of duty and obligation to comrades and to his superiors, and a self confidence born of demonstrated ability.” ― George S. Patton Jr.

  3.  “Military power wins battles, but spiritual power wins wars.” – General George Marshall

  4.   “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” – President George Washington

  5. “The more you sweat in training, the less you will bleed in battle.”- Motto of Navy Seals

  6.  God of our fathers, who by land and sea have ever led us to victory, please continue your inspiring guidance in this the greatest of all conflicts. Strengthen my soul so that the weakening instinct of self-preservation, which besets all of us in battle, shall not blind me of my duty to my own manhood, to the glory of my calling, and to my responsibility to my fellow soldiers. Grant to our armed forces that disciplined valor and mutual confidence which insures success in war. Let me not mourn for the men who have died fighting, but rather let me be glad that such heroes have lived. If it be my lot to die, let me do so with courage and honor in a manner which will bring the greatest harm to the enemy, and please, oh Lord, protect and guide those I shall leave behind. Give us the victory, Lord.” –  General George Patton

  7. “It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.” — Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, USMC

  8. “I know what I’m capable of; I am a soldier now, a warrior. I am someone to fear, not hunt.” ― Pittacus Lore, The Rise of Nine

  9. “When you become a leader you give up the right to think about yourself.”– Gerald Brooks

  10. “We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship.” – Omar Bradley

  11. “I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but by how high he bounces when he hits bottom.” – General George S. Patton

  12. General Colin Powell’s Rules:

  • It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.

  • Get mad, then get over it.

  • Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.

  • It can be done!

  • Be careful what you choose. You may get it.

  • Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.

  • You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours.

  • Check small things.

  • Share credit.

  • Remain calm. Be kind.

  • Have a vision. Be demanding.

  • Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.

  • Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.



Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight. – 2 Samuel 10:12


 

For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. – Psalm 18:39



Want to really get inspired? Read the Navy Seal Code Warrior Creed Here:

https://navyseals.com/nsw/seal-code-warrior-creed/

Spirituality

HeartStrings for Valentines Day

Cupid’s Arrow

Write an ode to someone or something you love. Bonus points for poetry!

 

This is today’s daily post. I don’t really believe in Cupid. Some little fat dude with wings and arrows that shoots at you. Nope. Not real. I believe that love comes from God and He is the one who shows us what it is and what it isn’t. And there is no bow and arrow to make it all happen, lol!  HeartStrings – they pull at you from beyond. Love never dies. God’s love for us, and our love for each other lives on. We are loved, and we are not alone.

Love gives

Love forgives

Love never dies

 

If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).

Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. (1 Corinthians 13: 1-8 AMP)

 

HEARTSTRINGS

I miss you like
The stars miss the sun
Walk down memory lane
I know I’ll run
Into you there

I hear your voice
Echoing my name
I wander in the wind
And wonder if you’re still the same
I come undone
I come undone
Your Heartstrings capture me

Smell the sea, feel the sun
See the stars touch the night
Your Heartstrings capture me
Oh I come undone
I come undone

Linger longer
Rearrange my mind
Please make room for you to stay
As the days slip so quietly away
I come undone
I come undone

I hear your voice
Echoing my name
I wander in the wind
And wonder if you are still the same
Your Heartstrings capture me
I come undone
I come undone

Peace waves
Hope stays
Love lives forever
Love lives forever
Love lives forever

Credits:

Music & Lyrics – Diana Rasmussen ©2014
Melody & Lyrical Arrangement – Cyndi Corkran ©2014
Lyric Credits Diana Rasmussen/Lyrical Arrangement C Corkran

Music Credits – Diana Rasmussen/Melody C Corkran
Producer Credits –  Rasmussen/Corkran
Performance Credits – Keyboard

 

You can purchase ‘HeartStrings’ for 0.99 at the Google Play Store! Have a wonderful love day 😉

 

Healing, Music, Spirituality, Videos

Happy Birthday Opa!

Happy Birthday Opa!  This song is for you and Oma.  Your love for each other never dies – you showed us that.  And even though Oma may be dancing in Heaven today, I know she is waiting for you there.  And you two will dance under the moon again.  Love you, Diana

 

Song Description

I knew I couldn’t sing this one – it was ‘too close to home’ for me, so I asked Cyndi to do her magic…she is so talented and brings the heavenly element into this song. Bravo Cyndi, bravo!

 Story Behind the Song

I wrote this one for my father-in-law and mother-in-law. Opa was an Army man and he met Oma while stationed in Germany. They got married and traveled the world from station to station. They had 3 kids – Bob and Rick were born in Okinawa, Japan.  Kris was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After 20 years, they settled in Monroe, WI. I met Oma and Opa when I met my husband Bob. Their love for each other has inspired me ever since. Oma passed away in 2012, yet Opa still loves her – their love lasts forever. I know they will dance again in Heaven someday.

 

 

HEARTSTRINGS

I miss you like
The stars miss the sun
Walk down memory lane
I know I’ll run
Into you there

I hear your voice
Echoing my name
I wander in the wind
And wonder if you’re still the same
I come undone
I come undone
Your Heartstrings capture me

Smell the sea, feel the sun
See the stars touch the night
Your Heartstrings capture me
Oh I come undone
I come undone

Break

Linger longer
Rearrange my mind
Please make room for you to stay
As the days slip so quietly away
I come undone
I come undone

I hear your voice
Echoing my name
I wander in the wind
And wonder if you are still the same
Your Heartstrings capture me
I come undone
I come undone

Break

Peace waves
Hope stays
Love lives forever
Love lives forever
Love lives forever

 

Music & Lyrics
Diana Rasmussen
©2014
Melody & Lyrical Arrangement
Cyndi Corkran
©2014

Lyric Credits Diana Rasmussen/Lyrical Arrangement C Corkran
Music Credits Diana Rasmussen/Melody C Corkran
Producer Credits Rasmussen/Corkran
Performance Credits Keyboard

 

 

Healing, Music, Poetry, Spirituality, Videos

Heartstrings

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  – Maya Angelou

 

HEARTSTRINGS

Copyright 2014 Diana Rasmussen

I miss you like
the stars miss the sun
Walk down memory lane
I know I’ll run into you there

Smell the sea, feel the sun
see the stars, touch the night

I hear your voice
echo in my mind
wander in the wind
I come undone
Your heartstrings capture me

Linger longer
rearrange my mind
make room for you to stay
day quietly slips away

Peace waves
Hope stays

Smell the sea, feel the sun
see the stars, touch the night

I hear your voice
echo in my mind
wander in the wind
I come undone
Your heartstrings capture me

 

 

Healing, Music, Spirituality, Videos

I Will Not Lose Heart

 

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
The Message (MSG)

Related articles
Healing, Music, Poetry, Spirituality, The Blood of Jesus, Videos

The Book of My Heart – NaPoWriMo Day 10

God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes. (Psalm 18:24 MSG)

 

THE BOOK OF MY HEART

©2014 Diana Rasmussen

Pages unfinished
Secret pains hidden
Scribbles in margins
The mess of my life
Written in red

Come into my heart
turn mourning to joy
Mess into message
Test into testimony
Written in red

 

 

 

(Image Credits: Crosswalk.com and Pinterest)

 

 

Poetry, Spirituality

Silence and Solitude- NaPoWriMo Day 8

 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.

He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2 AMP)

 

SILENCE AND SOLITUDE

©2014 Diana Rasmussen

The most powerful prayers

are not heard out loud

with familiar platitudes

The cries of our hearts

are poured out to  God

in silence and solitude

(Image Sources: Pinterest)

 

 

 

 

Healing, Spirituality, Uncategorized

Melt My Hard Head
Isaiah 46:4 – Mike Evans (Photo credit: drmikeevans)

Are you a hard head? Stubborn? Set in your ways? Inflexible? How do you feel about change? Or trying new things? I always thought I was pretty easy going. Adaptable, sometimes a regular chameleon. Hahahaha! I got hit in the head with a snowball today when I read this today! Perhaps it is not so much about how I feel but more about how God feels. And He is more than able to do what he says.

Hallelujah, GOD is ready to help us!

Are you ready to let him? (Ouch, yep…)

GOD’S WORD FOR YOU:

This Is Serious Business, Rebels

The god Bel falls down, god Nebo slumps.
The no-god hunks of wood are loaded on mules
And have to be hauled off,
wearing out the poor mules—
Dead weight, burdens who can’t bear burdens,
hauled off to captivity.

“Listen to me, family of Jacob,
everyone that’s left of the family of Israel.
I’ve been carrying you on my back
from the day you were born,
And I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old.
I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and gray.
I’ve done it and will keep on doing it,
carrying you on my back, saving you.

“So to whom will you compare me, the Incomparable?
Can you picture me without reducing me?
People with a lot of money
hire craftsmen to make them gods.
The artisan delivers the god,
and they kneel and worship it!
They carry it around in holy parades,
then take it home and put it on a shelf.
And there it sits, day in and day out,
a dependable god, always right where you put it.
Say anything you want to it, it never talks back.
Of course, it never does anything either!

“Think about this. Wrap your minds around it.
This is serious business, rebels. Take it to heart.
Remember your history,
your long and rich history.
I am God, the only God you’ve had or ever will have—
incomparable, irreplaceable—
From the very beginning
telling you what the ending will be,
All along letting you in
on what is going to happen,
Assuring you, ‘I’m in this for the long haul,
I’ll do exactly what I set out to do,’
Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the east,
from a far country the man I chose to help me.
I’ve said it, and I’ll most certainly do it.
I’ve planned it, so it’s as good as done.

“Now listen to me:
You’re a hardheaded bunch and hard to help.
I’m ready to help you right now.
Deliverance is not a long-range plan.
Salvation isn’t on hold.
I’m putting salvation to work in Zion now,
and glory in Israel.” (Isaiah 46:1-13 MSG)

MY PRAYER FOR YOU:

Dear Lord,

I thank you for continuing to reveal more and more of yourself to us. You are so spot on Lord. I admit it, I sometimes let my hard head get in the way. Being stubborn and inflexible hurts. You are the ROCK God, not me. Forgive me Lord. Let 2014 be the year you melt my hard head, just like you melt the snow. Change my heart, and my hard head, and give me that new heart, the one that is soft and open towards you, in Jesus Name.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Related articles
Music, Uncategorized, Videos

We Remember

I dedicate this to Mary Ellen and Linda today. Both of them died on Sept 11th.  May they dance with the Angels on streets of gold today and always. And thanks to my husband Bob who made the video.

Love u t, and miss u mom…

D

“I LIFT MY HANDS” 

By Chris Tomlin

Be still, there is a healer

His love is deeper than the sea

His mercy, it is unfailing

His arms are fortress for the weak

Let faith arise

Let faith arise

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart

These things, I remember

You are faithful, God, forever

Be still, there is a river

That flows from Calvary’s tree

A fountain for the thirsty

Pure grace that washes over me

Let faith arise

Let faith arise

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart

These things, I remember

You are faithful, God, forever

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart

These things, I remember

You are faithful, God, forever

Let faith arise, let faith arise

Open my eyes, open my eyes

Let faith arise, let faith arise

Open my eyes, open my eyes

I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart

These things, I remember

You are faithful, God, forever

And I lift my hands to believe again

You are my refuge, You are my strength

As I pour out my heart

These things, I remember

You are faithful, God

You are faithful, God, forever

Let faith arise

Let faith arise

Songwriters

LOUIE GIGLIO, CHRIS TOMLIN, MATT MAHER

Read more: Chris Tomlin – I Lift My Hands Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Daily Post, Poetry, Uncategorized

Mirror, Mirror – Ask and See

Daily Prompt: Mirror, Mirror

Finish this sentence: “When I look in the mirror, I . . . “

Ask and See

©2013 Diana Rasmussen

When I look in the mirror
I ask and I see
What happened
to the younger me?
Is she in there
the girl I knew
before life happened
to change you?
Give me strength Lord
faith to believe
that I’m still me
despite my age.
Though wider now
with graying hair
let me shine
in spite of
wear and tear.
What the world
wants to throw away
is treasured by
You anyway.
Renew my youth
restore my mind
and help me see
Your loving
kindness
inside of me.
from emotionalyinspired.tumblr

But God told Samuel, “Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 MSG)