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.
When you come through it, those who saw your wound will be amazed at the lessened scar.
When you survive, those who didn’t begin with you will nod in agreement to your strength.
When you are thriving, you will be rejoicing how far you’ve come and how far you’re ready yet to run.
Let the silence scream.
And heal on.
He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is consideredperceptive.
*I do not own, posses, nor even know this site or name. Simply using meme found.
John Wayne once said, “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
That’s the success of life.
That’s true courage.
There are so many things that can hinder you, limit you or intimidate you.
And you can certainly let those things hold you back.
But you have a choice.
You get to choose whether you build a little cage around your life or set yourself free.
You get to choose whether every time something scares you, you set another bar in place till the cage has a lock and key,
Or whether you remove those bars of fear, intimidation and shame and loose yourself from that bondage.
I say, Saddle that horse and ride it.
You may not ride it too well.
You may bounce and jostle and even almost slip off, but just hold on!
Hold on and soon, you’ll be able to enjoy the ride.
And maybe later, you’ll be racing that horse through the country.
But you’ll never win if you quit, lay down or die.
So, saddle up! We’ve got a journey ahead of us!
You can do this thing!
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
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.’
Life can change with one phone call, one conversation, one unannounced visit.
No one is guaranteed the next year, the next day, or even the next hour.
What you decide to do with that will determine your life’s trajectory.
Sometimes, it’s not talent or even skill that causes one to survive well.
Often, it’s just sheer grit that causes the survival.
It’s the simple will power to get up, to keep breathing, to continue one step at a time.
You don’t have to be perfection, just live.
You don’t have to be a huge success, just stand.
You don’t have to be the American hero everyday, just fight.
Fight to survive. Fight to live. Fight to win.
There’s always someone coming behind you who needs to see your achievement in real time.
It may be the very inspiration for their next breath.
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
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.
There is a delicate balance between our own selfishness and walking in freedom.
There is a fine line between enduring till the end and not becoming a doormat.
There is a beautiful dance between knowing when to walk away and when to stay.
And it takes a mountain of courage to know when the time is right.
The journey is never the same for every person, and each one must not only have the ability to be honest with self,
But more often than not, you also need a coach who can walk alongside you and give guidance.
A coach is not like a loving friend.
A coach is not like a comforting mother.
A coach isn’t like a disciplining father.
And yet, a coach has a bit of all three of these wrapped up in one.
A coach wants the best for you.
A coach won’t drink the Koolaid of how great you are.
A coach can see further than you are right now and can help you get to those next steps to win.
A teacher instills knowledge for growth.
A counselor inputs wisdom for healing.
A coach imparts both along with tactics to spur you to success.
Finding a coach doesn’t seem to fit with the thought of having courage to walk away; yet, if you’ve ever been stuck between staying and going, having a coach makes all the difference in the world!
Moses coached Jethro, and Naomi coached Ruth.
As Christians, why should we be any different?
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.
Philippians 3:12-14
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showingintegrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
The road to success is filled with detours, roadblocks and alternate routes.
Where you decide to go will often determine where you end up.
Happenstance can occur, and you can end up on the “right” path, but truly this is a rarity.
Success takes focus.
Success takes hard work.
Success takes determination.
Success takes forward motion with no deviation.
You can’t find success by chaotic search, and you will never find it by standing still.
Success can only be found by just that…
A true search.
So, let’s go hunting and see what we find.
Enter by the narrowgate; for wide is the gateand broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrowis the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
(Yeah. Somebody spelled it wrong, and my grammar self is going crazy inside!)
Some people don’t really have to be crazy.
They’ve just committed themselves to being a certain way, and their stubbornness will not relent.
Others have lived undisciplined for so long that they have convinced themselves this is a good life.
Still others, have fully embraced their crazy, and they want everyone else to embrace it as somehow normal.
If you find yourself in one of these three categories, and you’re living life believing everyone is just giving you a hard time, or they’re all just so difficult to be around , or they never give you a break to be who you are, please hear me screaming at you across the cosmic divide.
STOP!! HALT!! RELEASE!! RELENT!! END NOW!
Stop right now, in your tracks, and listen a moment to reason.
Open your ears to wisdom calling to you.
No one accidentally becomes the “crazy one.”
No one stumbles into the pools of insanity.
It is a choice. And you make it everyday.
So, make the right decisions.
Choose the correct outcomes.
Your spouse will thank you. Your children will sing your praises. And friends will begin to visit again as you walk away from the crazies and embrace life!
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. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Philippians 3:13-16
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
You wait on your potential, wait through your potential and you wait for your potential to arrive. Waiting on your potential to grow and mature can sometimes be exhausting! It can be slow growth with lots of changes and adjustments.
You wait through your potential change and development to arrive at your giftings and abilities.
You wait through your potential shifting to get to your potential extension.
Have you ever met someone who seems to be a “skys the limit” kind of person? It seems they can do anything, be anything they desire, with no limitations?
This is what I’d describe as a potential extension. There is no limit to their potential, because it has extended beyond themselves.
This is where you find yourself awaiting the potential’s arrival or the limit of your potential.
It’s not a “sit down and wait” kind of potential.
It’s not a place of apathy and laziness, “simply growing old and fat,” awaiting your potential.
It’s not a “looking at the clock, awaiting the change to come to you” kind of potential…
It’s a place of pushing, striving and extending your limitations to reach further than you ever have before.
It’s a place of stretching and learning to thrive in your potential as if you have no limitations.
It’s a “how high can I jump and still land on my feet” attitude, a “let me try to fly just once” perspective.
This is your potential extension.
Are you ready for your stretch?
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
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.
[*I do not own nor possess this pic. Simple google search.]
Sometimes, you’re going to appear insane simply because you disagree… or at least, those in the River of conformity will say.
Sometimes, you’re going to sound crazy simply because you won’t comply… or at least, those in the push for an agenda will claim.
Sometimes, you’re going to wonder if you might be going nuts simply because you won’t say yes… or at least, those in the camp of trend, popularity and fame will declare.
Never allow those around you, and especially those against you, to convince you to jump off the cliff simply because every sheep on the planet has.
Make up your own mind.
Choose one Sovereign authority and follow Him.
His Truth is Absolute, and absolute Truth is, itself, exclusive.
Don’t lose it.
Don’t give it away.
And certainly, NEVER sell it to the highest bidder!
Truth is a precious gift. A precious commodity.
Hold on to it.
No matter the cost.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
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!
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