Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
It’s so true that there are many things of which we have no control of our choices.
Decade in which we are born.
Parents. Birth location. Upbringing.
Physical attributes. Talents. IQ.
These things are given to us, and we have no say.
Yet, we do have a say in how we respond, in how we handle, and in how we carry on once we have them.
And this choosing results in our character.
Which is also a choice.
And it also will become our voice.
How we respond to the things we cannot control will determine our promotions, our successes, and our influences.
We are never a victim.
Being a victim is a choice. And that choice brings about our character.
When we choose to hate these things out of our control, or maybe just fight against them in a rage that wounds all those around us, it shows our character as rude, spiteful and selfish.
When we choose to embrace these things out of our control as chains, and we are just a martyr for the cause, or maybe we just can’t do any better because of all that has befallen us, it shows our character as weak, whiny and self centered.
Yet, when we choose to accept these things out of our control, fight against the things that would try to inhibit us, and become overcomers inspite of the pain, the turmoil and the difficulties, it shows our character as bold, courageous and focused.
And when we take this tenacious attitude a step further and begin to show others how to overcome their own obstacles, it shows our character as loving, giving, and outward seeking.
We can be a hero or a zero.
The choice is ours.
What will you choose today?
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Romans 8:37
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(Deleted GIF because it was corrupted and changing other blogs.)
I saw this little gif today, and it made me think how easily our perspective can change.
NOPE can change to HOPE
With one little shift in a letter.
Something broken can be healed with one little dot of super glue.
A rainy day can become sunny with one little wind surge.
The altered state can seem simple, small, and even insignificant,
But to the NOPE, it becomes HOPE.
To the broken, it becomes mended.
To the drenched, it becomes dry.
To the hopeless, it becomes a tomorrow.
Let your walk be realigned.
Let your vision be refocused.
Let your speech be rearranged.
Let your mind be rallied.
Let your heart be restored.
Love can overwhelm you.
Hope can consume you.
And you’ll never be the same.
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.
Sometimes, you just have to saddle up and ride the horse scared.
Sometimes, you’ve just got to take a deep breath and dive in deep.
Sometimes, you’ve got to put one foot in front of the other and keep climbing.
If you don’t, you may never see the landscape from the mountain too.
If you don’t, you may never experience the exhilaration of exploring the utopia of the abyss.
If you don’t, you may never realize that he courage you had hidden deep within.
So, take the plunge.
Take the ride or die.
Chase the dream and see what is to come.
You never know the freedom of success until you do.
And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
1 Chronicles 28:20
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
And bonus: when you’ve walked through the fire, and you’ve slain your dragon, there are those following.
And they need your victory.
So, be like Joan. Be not afraid.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The journey of grief seems so long, so treacherous, and so methodical.
If you dwell too much on the journey, you’ll wander along the creek side, lost.
Never stopping for a drink.
The water continues to flow along the path, and it is for your refreshing, your renewal.
For the journey is hard, and it’s not meant for eternity.
Stay alert and remain vigilant in the middle of the walk.
Stay revived and maintain the elements to survive.
Grief is like a thief if you’ll allow him to be.
He will steal days, years, even hours and minutes
He will steal joy and peace, prosperity and comfort.
Don’t let him stay too long, or he will even steal your sanity.
You can’t shut him out; for then, he will only come back with gained force.
But don’t open the gate wide to welcome; for he will consume all territory that is lonely.
Fortify the good within and remain watchful.
Maintain the gates with prayer, steadfastness and faith.
Let him walk through, but swing open the back door with a celebration and fanfare.
For he will always peek through the windows and the trellises, but he cannot set up to abide.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weepingmayendure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore, I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar. Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 42
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”
Sometimes, things just don’t turn out as they should.
Sometimes, dreams are stolen, hearts are broken, and everyone is left desolate.
Sometimes, life just sucks, and there’s not a lot of change you can bring.
Don’t shut off the pain.
Don’t hurry up the emotion.
And certainly, don’t act as if it never happened.
Just grieve a while longer.
Just let the tears roll down into a river.
Walk out to the shoreline and breathe a little deeper.
Step out on that mountain and sigh a little louder.
There are no rules that should confine.
There are no restrictions that should bind.
There are no expectations that should be resigned.
Just let the grief roll on until it’s run its course.
Just let the pain push through until its done.
Let your heart grieve a little while longer until it heals.
Let your soul exhale a little wider until it can stand.
And when the healing comes and the strength returns, stand tall and begin to run again.
And it will come.
Someday soon.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Psalm 34:18
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.
Jeremiah 17:14
For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’
You can close the lid and toss them into the bin, believing they’re done.
But as you pick up that larger box to throw them all away,
Those little suckers will come tumbling out like a waterfall.
When you bend over to pick up one, three more flip to the floor.
When you place those back on top, a whole passel come plummeting out,
As if they’ve got to make a nose-dive to the base level.
Almost like dominoes, they come cascading down the path.
Will they relent? Will they end?
They come back with every holiday and trend.
They push their way into every crevice, every crack,
Reaching for a new freedom, seeking shelter from what has been.
Will they be cast down? Will they bend?
I place them in the dark, into the new room
Waiting to surprise a new, non-alerted bloke
Waiting in earnest anticipation to capture another one’s journey bouncing down memory lane.
For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create…
Said to possibly be the oldest oak in Florida (Tampa area).
When you stop growing, you start dying
No matter your age, no matter your limitations
No matter your intelligence or your pedigree
Life and death is a choice we have
Growth or stagnation is our decision
What will you decide today?
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rootedand built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
There was a girl who got through the day with routines, laughter. and some memes...chores, laughs, smiles, and some cats...food, naps, plus coffee too...then yoga for the win... a warm bath, some books, and You Tube📺-hdtj💜
My journey didn’t stop with mere time travel or writing; it led me to become one of the most sought-after empaths, a soulful psychic who reads the hidden depths of the human spirit. I’ve been blessed—or perhaps burdened—with an ability that allows me to feel the emotions of people from every corner of time.
I am a licensed psychologist based in Greece. My love for housekeeping has inspired me to create this blog about home management and family relationships. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!
Dedicated to movie nerdom, nostalgia, and escape. In the late 90s, I worked at Blockbuster Video where they let me take home two free movies a day. I caught up on the classics and reviewed theatrical releases for Denver 'burbs newspapers and magazines. Today, while raising two young, beautiful daughters with my amazing wife, I look forward to anything rated R and not Bluey. Comments and dialogue encouraged!
the grizzle grist mill 