So, what are you doing with your life? What do you want to accomplish in this lifetime? Do you know? Have you ever taken the time to think about it? Did you write anything down? Huh? Huh? Did you? Did you?
Well, if you didn't, get off the computer, get a notebook, journal, whatever, get a pen, and start your list. Especially if you are young, but even if you're not. Do it now! Why are you still here? Go! Come on! I'm sure you have the things you need... Now just do it! I'll stop talking so you can go. Bye!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity. I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death. I lift mine arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day. So too, I will beat upon my heart with gratitude as I consider all who greeted yesterday’s sunrise who are no longer with the living today. I am indeed a blessed woman and today’s hours are but a bonus, underserved. Why have I been allowed to live this extra day when others, far better than I, have departed? Is it that they have accomplished their purpose while mine is yet to be achieved? Is this another opportunity for me to become the woman I know I can be? Is there a purpose in nature? Is this my day to excel?
I will live this day as if it is my last.
This is in one of the books I am reading, and I thought it was really good, so I'm sharing it with you! I want to live each day like this-- how about you?
I will live this day as if it is my last.
This is in one of the books I am reading, and I thought it was really good, so I'm sharing it with you! I want to live each day like this-- how about you?
Friday, April 10, 2009
The 20-40-60 Principle
When you are 20, you worry about what everyone thinks about you.
When you are 40, you don't care what anyone thinks of you.
When you are 60, you realize that no one was thinking about you all along!
Even when people criticize you, they aren't even thinking about it 5 minutes later!
Let's stop worrying what people are thinking about us, and think about what God is thinking about us!
When you are 40, you don't care what anyone thinks of you.
When you are 60, you realize that no one was thinking about you all along!
Even when people criticize you, they aren't even thinking about it 5 minutes later!
Let's stop worrying what people are thinking about us, and think about what God is thinking about us!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
1 John 3 Study
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
my thoughts: Wow, that is so amazing how much God loves us! He calls us His children-- I am His daughter! How awesome is that!? I'm praising God for His love to me. So, the world does not know me. I'm not of this world. The world does not know me because it doesn't know Him-My Father-It is not part of the family!
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
I will be like Him! How can that be? That is amazing! I will see Him- He will be revealed to me.
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Wow, if we have this hope and belief that we are God's children, we will be pure, like our Father. So maybe if we are not being pure, we need to focus on the promise that we are God's children.
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
If I sin, I am not obeying the laws. Sin is lawlessness. This verse is a bit strange to me, at least right here in this passage. Thoughts anyone?
5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
He came to take away my sins! That is great-- I really hate my sins! I can claim that promise, "He was manifested to take away our sins". In Him there is no sin-- I can trust Him and follow His example.
I am doing this study with a girl from the Rebelution forums. She is one of my accountability partners.
Does anyone else have any thoughts to add?
my thoughts: Wow, that is so amazing how much God loves us! He calls us His children-- I am His daughter! How awesome is that!? I'm praising God for His love to me. So, the world does not know me. I'm not of this world. The world does not know me because it doesn't know Him-My Father-It is not part of the family!
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
I will be like Him! How can that be? That is amazing! I will see Him- He will be revealed to me.
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Wow, if we have this hope and belief that we are God's children, we will be pure, like our Father. So maybe if we are not being pure, we need to focus on the promise that we are God's children.
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
If I sin, I am not obeying the laws. Sin is lawlessness. This verse is a bit strange to me, at least right here in this passage. Thoughts anyone?
5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
He came to take away my sins! That is great-- I really hate my sins! I can claim that promise, "He was manifested to take away our sins". In Him there is no sin-- I can trust Him and follow His example.
I am doing this study with a girl from the Rebelution forums. She is one of my accountability partners.
Does anyone else have any thoughts to add?
Winning and Whining, Part 2
I read, and have been reading, this great book called "The Top Ten Distinctions Between Winners and Whiners".
Distinction number 6 is that Winners listen more than they talk.
In the Bible, is it says: So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; James 1:19
Listening more than talking is also a sign of humility. Showing that you think about what the other person has to say as more important than what you have to say.
This has always been a problem for me: When someone is talking, I will start thinking about an experience that I had that was similar. And then I tend to just blurt it out! I am trying to keep my mind focused on what they are saying, instead of thinking about me and what I can add that will make me sound good, or whatever.
This is a big way to make friends and keep them, also. No one wants to feel like they are not being listened to! On the other hand, when someone is listening attentively, it makes us feel that our opinions, thoughts, and feelings are valued, that the person cares about us.
One way to show that you are listening is to ask questions about what they are talking about. Another is to say, "So, what you are saying is that _____________?" Another is to remember the details and then use them later on.
For example, one of the Bright Lights girls was telling me that she would like a purity ring. I asked questions about it, until I had a good idea of what she was looking for. She also mentioned that she had a hard time finding camouflage duct tape for her duct tape crafts.
She really is having a tough time right now, so I wanted to make sure she knew that I cared about her. So I sent her an email with links to websites that had the things she was looking for, along with a note. Here is her reply in part:
"Thank you for the links Carissa. You just mean so much to me that you took the time to find them. You are a great inspiration for my life and I love you so much I am crying right now."
So, as you can see, this listening stuff can really show someone how much you care!
Distinction number 6 is that Winners listen more than they talk.
In the Bible, is it says: So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; James 1:19
Listening more than talking is also a sign of humility. Showing that you think about what the other person has to say as more important than what you have to say.
This has always been a problem for me: When someone is talking, I will start thinking about an experience that I had that was similar. And then I tend to just blurt it out! I am trying to keep my mind focused on what they are saying, instead of thinking about me and what I can add that will make me sound good, or whatever.
This is a big way to make friends and keep them, also. No one wants to feel like they are not being listened to! On the other hand, when someone is listening attentively, it makes us feel that our opinions, thoughts, and feelings are valued, that the person cares about us.
One way to show that you are listening is to ask questions about what they are talking about. Another is to say, "So, what you are saying is that _____________?" Another is to remember the details and then use them later on.
For example, one of the Bright Lights girls was telling me that she would like a purity ring. I asked questions about it, until I had a good idea of what she was looking for. She also mentioned that she had a hard time finding camouflage duct tape for her duct tape crafts.
She really is having a tough time right now, so I wanted to make sure she knew that I cared about her. So I sent her an email with links to websites that had the things she was looking for, along with a note. Here is her reply in part:
"Thank you for the links Carissa. You just mean so much to me that you took the time to find them. You are a great inspiration for my life and I love you so much I am crying right now."
So, as you can see, this listening stuff can really show someone how much you care!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Winning and Whining, Part 1
Lately, I have been realizing the importance of using positive words. We need to be constantly focused on what is going well, what we are grateful for, and so on. Happier people live longer, have more friends, and are probably going to be more successful.
Words are extremely powerful! They can ruin some one's life-- or make it! They can get you where you want to go, or prevent you from reaching your goals. They can make or break a friendship. They can produce good results, or not-so-good ones.
In the Bible, it talks about the importance of controlling your tongue. For example:
Proverbs 18:21 (New King James Version)
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 21:23 (New King James Version)
23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.
Proverbs 13:3 (New King James Version)
3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Psalm 39:1 (New King James Version)
“I will guard my ways,
Lest I sin with my tongue;
will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,
the wicked are before me.”
James 3:4-7 (New King James Version)
4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
And so on...
I will add more later--I have to go make supper! :)
Words are extremely powerful! They can ruin some one's life-- or make it! They can get you where you want to go, or prevent you from reaching your goals. They can make or break a friendship. They can produce good results, or not-so-good ones.
In the Bible, it talks about the importance of controlling your tongue. For example:
Proverbs 18:21 (New King James Version)
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 21:23 (New King James Version)
23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.
Proverbs 13:3 (New King James Version)
3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Psalm 39:1 (New King James Version)
“I will guard my ways,
Lest I sin with my tongue;
will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,
the wicked are before me.”
James 3:4-7 (New King James Version)
4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
And so on...
I will add more later--I have to go make supper! :)
About "Rejoice Always"
I will be using this blog to share things God is teaching me or things He has already showed me (to some extent, at least :). Especially related to Himself, Christianity, girl topics, relationships, doing hard things and life in general. I hope and pray you will be encouraged and inspired here.
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