~I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.--Revelation 3:8~

This Month's Thoughts for:

Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

Psalm 43:3 NIV

Body-Now that all of the holiday celebrations are nearly over, it's time to look at taking care of ourselves. If you haven't already been, you need to find the right balance in life so that you can have time for exercise and to strengthen yourself.

Mind-Whether you're a student or a graduate, it's never too late to learn something new. Keep your eyes and ears open so that you may find guidance through God's word.

Spirit-Take time each day to pray and talk to God. He hears you.


Friday, February 5, 2010

Better to go hungry...

"She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat."~Proverbs 31:27 (Amplified Bible)

This isn't a post about dieting. I'm meditating on this verse from Proverbs tonight. I heard it as I was watching Joyce Meyer and it really resonated. Sometimes I can get into a rut and feel as though things simply aren't worth my trouble. This often happens when I let myself fall into discontent or self-pity and I always know when I am allowing this to happen. Thankfully, on most occasions I have been able to turn it around and get back on track. Sometimes it takes a little longer than others, but usually I can get my head on straight when I take time to remember the blessings that I have experienced in my life.

My sister shared something with me recently that put it all in perspective. I am prone to anxiety and when I slip into these "ruts," it isn't unusual for me to start panicking. What if I slip all the way back into depression? What if I can't get back on track? What if I really am not able to be the person I want to be? These thoughts can attack when I'm feeling my lowest and if I don't put my foot down, I run the risk of losing a great deal of or maybe even all of the ground that I have covered to this point. My sister's advice to me was this; when you start feeling anxious about something that is happening in your life, you need to ask yourself these three questions:

1. Is this something you haven't been through before?
2. Is this something you didn't expect?
3. Is this worse than anything you've been through before?

As I thought about these questions, I realized that my answers to all of them were simply, "NO!" During the last few episodes of anxiety that I've experienced, none of it was anything I hadn't been through before. None of it was unexpected. I had really brought the situation on myself. And none of it was worse than anything I had been through before. And even if it had been, there was really no reason to let it overshadow all of the work I've done to build my self-confidence, my self-esteem and my desire to help others. And I will not let my emotional highs and lows dictate the distance that I will travel in this life to do what I am here to do.

And so, the quote above really speaks to me. I will not eat the bread of idleness, no matter how much it calls to me. Sometimes, it's just better to go hungry and go on.

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Good for You!

Good for You!
Tips on healthy living, healthy loving and healthy habits!

Healthy Relationships: Where do you fit in?

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12 New International Version

In relationships, we are all put to the test in one way or another. Whether we are being taught a lesson in trusting others or in learning to love selflessly, we must always be on the lookout for signs that the enemy is lurking nearby. Sometimes what we think might be one of God's tests for us is actually our own ego struggling to overpower His influence in our lives.

If you are fighting constantly over the same issues with your significant other, take a step back and ask yourself, "What would God want me to do here?" It could be that He wants you to take enough pride in yourself to stand up for your right to be respected in the relationship. Maybe you need to step up and express your dissatisfaction with the way you are being treated in order to make your loved one understand what you need. Or maybe you are with someone who is treating you unfairly and God wants you to guard your heart.

If your usual tendency is to run away from a relationship when you aren't 100% satisfied with the other person's behavior, this could be an indicator that you aren't being realistic in your expectations. No one is perfect and learning to love one another's flaws as well as one's gifts is part of a healthy relationship.

A great resource for you to check out if you are having difficulty sustaining relationships is "Safe People" by Townsend and Cloud. I am currently going through a Bible Study with some ladies and we are using this book as our guide. There is alot of great information about boundaries and how to identify traits in others who may be unsafe for us. If you get a chance, check this one out.

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