Thursday, June 30, 2011.

"Rejoice at your weakness. When you are weak I am strong. Strong to help, to cure, to protect."

1 Corinthians…

If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. –Albert Einstein.

2 Corinthians 12:: Paul's Visions and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and xrevelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man yin Christ who fourteen years ago was zcaught up to athe third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, bGod knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into cparadise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, bGod knows—4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, dexcept of my weaknesses—6 though if I should wish to boast, eI would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So fto keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,1 ga thorn was given me in the flesh, ha messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 iThree times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, j“My grace is sufficient for you, for kmy power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that lthe power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 mFor the sake of Christ, then, nI am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For owhen I am weak, then I am strong.

Concern for the Corinthian Church

11 pI have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was qnot at all inferior to these super-apostles, reven though I am nothing. 12 sThe signs of a true apostle were performed among you twith utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that uI myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14 Here vfor the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for wI seek not what is yours but you. For xchildren are not obligated to save up for their parents, but yparents for their children. 15 zI will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If aI love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that bI myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17 Did I take advantage of you cthrough any of those whom I sent to you? 18 dI urged Titus to go, and sent ethe brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is fin the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and gall for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps hwhen I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those iwho sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, jsexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Footnotes

[1] 12:7 Or hears from me, even because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited

Divine Compass…

Disgusted::

See the good in everybody. Love the good in them.

"Do not weigh yourself down with sorrows of the world. Look for the loving, the true, the brave in the many around you."

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world... For all that is in the world... is not of the Father, but is of the world..." (1 John 2:15-16)

Overwhelmed::

"It is not the passionate appeal that gains the Divine ear so much as the quiet placing of the difficulty and worry in the Divine hands."

"...you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary..." (Luke 10:41)

Rejected::

"Your need is My chance to help. Faith is all I need to manifest My Power."

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..." (Ephesians 3:20 )

No Direction::

"My Will is the unspeakably rich treasure. Seek it. Know it. Ask Me for it."

"Marvels beyond all your imaginings are unfolding. I am your Guide. Joy in that thought."

"Seek diligently for something to be glad and thankful about in every happening and soon no search will be required."

"Look on each difficulty as training to enable you to acquire My Peace."

"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them..."  (Psalm 119:165 )

"Let nothing touch the harmony of the real you that is hid with Me."

"Have no fear of the future. Be quiet, be still, and in that stillness comes strength."

"Consciousness of Me opens your whole nature to Me and that brings relief. Relief brings peace. Peace brings joy."

The Untitled First Draft about Conquering All By Conquering Nothing. Transcending Inadequacy, Revering Majesty, Recognizing Humility.

I look out and see him embracing the waves. he’s always checking on me, catches my weak spots and encourages them with a tip of the day. I know I’ve got nothing to worry about. if I tip, big whoop, help is only a few feet away; by the time I understood the situation help would be telling me step by step how to get back on our way.

air so breathable all my being gasped at its pureness and cleansed itself with every breath I took.

serenity rippled through my being in waves of silk.

steady waves embodied one of the grandest rhythms of nature, harmony.

"I have been a witness, and these pictures are

my testimony. The events I have recorded should

not be forgotten and must not be repeated."

-James Nachtwey-

"Know I am with you, ready to comfort, strengthen, and guide." –El Shaddai

“Know I am with you, ready to sustain, teach, and purify.” –Jehovah Jirah

heal this arrogant heart; I have not been a blameless ambassador for Your Great Name, please, let my foolishness not..

Stretch:: 1. Gracilis Muscle. 2. Iliopsoas Muscles. 3. External Abdominal Oblique Muscles.

Destress:: 1. Laugh out loud. 2. Clean the clutter. 3. Drink some orange juice. 4. Sing a song. 5. Take a walk. 6. Use Aromatherapy.

BetterDay:: 1. Make your bed. 2. Pack a snack (fruit,nuts) 3. Clear your desk. 4. Pump up the music. 5. Sniff a lemon! 6. Stretch! 7. Meditate&Breathe. 8. Keep a gratitude diary. 9. Turn off your electronics. 10. Prioritize.

5-10minEveryHour::

Change the scenery. If you're inside, go out. Upstairs? Go downstairs. The important thing is to move away from the desk or computer you’ve been glued to and focus on something else.

Take a good look around. Go outside, walk around, and really take in the sights, sounds, and smells. Describe the sky using as many adjectives as you can (fluffy, serene, wispy). How many birds can you count? What do you smell?

Get minty. Studies suggest peppermint makes you more alert mentally and physically. Enjoy peppermint candy or gum, take a whiff of peppermint oil, or even take a brain break to brush your teeth.

Be mindful. Meditation clears your thoughts and helps you focus your mind. It's easy: Sit or lie down in a quiet location away from your project. Breathe deeply and slowly through your nose. Focus your attention on a specific object (a pillow), image (a secluded beach), or mantra (a word like "calm" or "peace"). Keep at it until you feel relaxed and centered.

Energy:: 1. Eat your breakfast. oatmeal, grapenuts. 2. Do a downward dog. 3. Belt out your favorite tune. 4. Have a drink of water. 5. Go nuts. (almonds) 

The purpose of shifting your focus is to temporarily get your mind off whatever challenge has it tied up in knots. "Disengage from whatever is so stressful, and then come back to it," Fabick recommends.

Here are a few tricks that will help clear your mind and return you to problem solving refreshed and renewed:

• Choose something mindless. Play solitaire on your computer. Watch a funny video online. Clean out your refrigerator or organize your office filing cabinet. Give your brain a rest, and you'll have a clean slate for when you come back to problem solving.
• Switch gears. Instead of doing something mindless, another option is to do something mindful to get your brain occupied -- but in a different direction. Work on a crossword or jigsaw puzzle, or read a chapter of a thought-provoking book. The goal is to occupy yourself with a pleasant task, which provides the energy to regroup later.
• Walk away. Literally. Take a break from whatever you're doing and go outside for a walk. Exercise not only reinvigorates your body, but it also sends oxygen-rich blood surging to your brain. Research suggests that exercise might even trigger the growth of new brain cells. You’ll feel better after the physical activity, and the original problem will seem more manageable.
• Take a breather. If you're really worked up over a problem, what you need is some stress relief. Try whatever works for you, whether it's yoga, deep breathing, meditation, prayer, or just having a good laugh with a friend.

PEACE CORPS.

You need an understanding of people’s culture and a willingness to see things from their perspective, not require them to adjust to yours. -Dan McDonald (Volunteer in Thailand)

In many cultures, it’s the process that matters and not the outcome, so the ways in which you interact and communicate with people may become much more important than the things you actually achieve. -Karen Voetsch (Volunteer in Guinea)

It takes accepting that you don’t always have all the answers. You have to be willing and open to having your own assumptions, sensations, and world view challenged and questioned almost daily. -Helen Perry (Volunteer in Morocco)

Resolve.

I am finding that my ideal time for reading His Holy Scriptures may be in the morning, eating a balanced breakfast, sipping some coffee (or tea, or lemon water).

This book, “the practice of the presence OF GOD,” has already cleansed my mind with words of Truth.

“The dear brother remarked that we must give ourselves totally to God in both temporal and spiritual affairs. Our only happiness should come from doing God’s will, whether it brings us some pain or great pleasure. After all, if we are truly devoted to doing God’s will, pain and pleasure won’t make any difference to us.

We also need to be faithful, even in dry periods. It is during those dry spells that God tests our love for Him. We should take advantage of those times to practice our determination and our surrender to Him. This will often bring us to a maturity further on in our walk with God.”

The italicized words stuck out… like a sword before me. The bold words… they stuck out, then pierced my gut. All this, right after being cut with brutal conviction from Red Sea Rule #2: Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief.

…Red Sea Rule #_…Nicholas Herman…

Another practice that I am including in my resolve is this; to set aside certain times for prayer & processing each day.

The Best Productivity Tool You're Not Using

…

Jesus, You are my hope and stay…

My stay…

-verb

5. to support, prop, or hold up (sometimes followed by up ).

6. to sustain or strengthen mentally or spiritually.

7. to rest on (something, as a foundation or base) for support.

8. to cause something to become fixed or to rest on (a support, foundation, base, etc.)

-noun

21. Informal . staying power; endurance.

22. stay the course, to persevere; endure to completion.

2 obsolete : self-control, moderation

4: capacity for endurance

1: one that serves as a prop : support

…Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee…