SUNDAYS WITH JOYCE

 

WORD FOR TODAY

Wisdom

Acts 7:10..... And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

Philippians 1:9..... And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement:

Psalms 25:4; 27:10..... Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

Colossians 1:9..... For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

2 Timothy 2:7..... Consider that I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Ephesians 6:19

..... Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

James 3:13..... Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 3:17..... But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace- loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

2 Peter 1:5..... For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

2 Peter 3:18 .....But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

 

 

 

GOD MOVES IN ...

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a better taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

William Cowper

 

'...God has a way about making our lives reflect His eternal plan. Even when we think we are in charge, He lets us know who is really running the show. His wisdom is unfolding in our lives every day. Take time to thank Him for bringing you through dangers unseen, and problems solved, in His time....'

 

 

Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it./Andre Gide

One's first step in wisdom is to question everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything./Georg C. Lichtenberg

We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future./George Bernard Shaw

I do not want the peace that passeth understanding. I want the understanding which bringeth peace./Helen Keller

These days people seek knowledge, not wisdom. Knowledge is of the past, wisdom is of the future./Vernon Cooper

Daily OM...What Lies Beneath

Why We Lash Out Each one of us has experienced situations where we’ve found ourselves lashing out at someone without meaning to. We later berate ourselves for losing control and feel guilty for treating the other person badly. And while it is human nature that our emotions and moods will get the better of us from time to time, we can learn to navigate our feelings and negotiate difficult situations without losing our center. Often, when we lash out, it is because we are having a difficult time containing the emotions that are coming up inside of us. We may be feeling overwhelmed, afraid, frustrated, stressed out, or angry. Having these feelings boiling up inside of us can be very uncomfortable, and it is natural to want to release them. But when we release our feelings from our body by directing them outward and toward someone else, they inevitably impact the "innocent bystander" to whom we are directing this energy. They not only get the brunt of our anger, frustration, or stress, but also they can actually experience this energy as a physical force hitting their bodies. When you find yourself in a situation where you are about to lash out at the person in front of you, try to center yourself by breathing slowly and deeply. A few slow inhales and exhales can help dissipate the intensity of your feelings before they escape you. Later, when you find yourself in a more reflective state, sit down for a moment; recall the feelings in your body just before and during your outburst; note where you feel sensations coming up in your body; and ask yourself if they are connected to any core issue or experience from your life. If nothing comes to mind, then revisit the situation again, exaggerating the details of what happened by indulging in outlandish "what if" fantasies. Exaggerating events after the fact can help expose the unconscious subtext behind your heated response. Understanding the motivation behind your reactions can help you avoid lashing out again when a similar situation comes up.  In learning to navigate around your emotions, you are giving yourself the tools to feel better the next time your emotions start to boil. In doing so, you will be taking care of yourself by alleviating your own uncomfortable feelings while respecting and protecting those around you. Call 1-877-2-DAILYOM (1-877-232-4596) to listen to DailyOM messages on your phone for free. What do you think?

Sundays With Joyce

 

Who is God to you?

 

God has many names throughout the Old and New Testament.

Abraham called on the name of the Lord (Gen. 12:8; 13:4).

The Lord proclaimed His own name before Moses (Ex. 33:19; 34:5).

Israel was warned against profaning the name of the Lord (Lev. 13:21; 22:2, 32).

The name of the Lord was not to be taken in vain (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11).

The priests of Israel were to minister in the name of the Lord (Deut. 18:5; 21:5).

The name of God is called "wonderful" in Judges 13:18.

To call on the name of the Lord was to worship Him as God (Gen. 21:33; 26:25).

Salvation is through His name (John 1:12).

Believers are to gather in His name (Matt. 18:20).

Prayer is to be made in His name (John 14:13-14).

The servant of the Lord who bears the name of Christ will be hated (Matt. 10:22).

The book of Acts makes frequent mention of worship, service, and suffering in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:18; 5:28, 41; 10:43; 19:17).

(6) It is at the name of Jesus that every knee will one day bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11).

 

 

Jesus declares Himself throughout the New Testament as " I am… bread of life, I am… light of the world, I am… from above, I am… the door, I am… good shepherd, I am… resurrection and the life, I am… way, the truth and the life, I am… true vine, I am… Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty, I am… first and the last, I am… he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, I am… he which searcheth the reins and hearts, I am… root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."

 

" Today's inspiration is totally different, because it's coming to me as a question of who we think God is.  I couldn't get around it, as a matter of fact, I was afraid to try to....

I woke up this morning thinking, and  listening to God talking to my spirit, asking me who do I think He is.  I thought of phrases like ...a friend..a way maker...Prince of Peace..a healer...a wheel in the middle of a wheel....a burden bearer...all knowing..and etc, etc.  The list went on and on.

Who do you say He is?  What do you want from God?  Whatever you want, he has it.  If we turn to Him, He will give us the desires of our heart.  Every word I have heard since waking, on the radio is about who God is.  We all should be able to tell someone who He is, and what He has done for you.  With faith, and Prayer..He can be everything we desire Him to be, and He will do everything we need Him to do in our lives.  He is still in charge.

I just want to leave you with this thought:  if we truly believe He is who we say He is, and communicate with Him, He can give us all that we want in this world..."

Daily OM...Avoiding Negative Vibrations

 

Taking on the Energy of Others

There are times when you may find that being around certain individuals or groups of people leaves you with feelings of discomfort. It may be that spending time with a particular friend feels draining or that dealing with a specific coworker exhausts you.

Being around toxic or angry people is also draining. And you may even find that being surrounded by a crowd of people lowers your energy levels rather than perks you up. This is not that unusual.

Each of us radiates energy and is capable of being influenced by the energy of other people. It is important to learn how to shield yourself, so you don’t unknowingly take on someone else’s energy.

 While some people know how to instinctively protect themselves from being adversely affected by energy, most of us need to discover and practice the technique that works best.

There are a number of ways to avoid being affected by people’s energy. Shielding is one preventative technique you can use. Center yourself and envision being enveloped in a cocoon of loving and protective light.

This protective layer should allow you to consciously regulate the energy around you. The intent to shield oneself is all you need for this technique to work. You can even create a trigger word to assist you in quickly creating a shield.

Say this word each time you create a new shield, until the word and the shield become automatically associated in your mind.

If you run into a person whose energy you find draining, you may want to cleanse your own energy field after your encounter. Sage, cold showers, singing, mineral water baths, spending time in nature, and a simple break to recharge are all ways to accomplish this.

While it is important to know how to shield yourself from energy, there are those energies that you may not want to shut out.

The energy of laughter from a newborn baby, the feeling of joy radiating from someone in love, and the frequency of calm emanating from an enlightened teacher are just some of the energies coming from others that you may want to have around you.

Call 1-877-2-DAILYOM (1-877-232-4596) to listen to DailyOM messages on your phone for free.

What do you think?

Sundays With Joyce

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

 

Deuteronomy 31:6. --- Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you

Matthew 11:28-30–---Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Philippians 3:13-14---Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6---Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Revelation 21:3-4---And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

John 16:7---But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

John 14:1-4---"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Galatians 6:9---Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Psalm 42:5-6a---Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

1 Peter 1:3---Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

 

 

 

 

 

By Faith Not By Sight

In waking I give thanks
In what’s not known
I have to trust, My Father
That yesterday’s pain is gone
For you’ve given me this day
For me to rejoice
To faithfully follow
To willingly hear your voice
For trials will come sometimes
And burdens I’ll have to bare
But you promised me father
To always be there
So I’m standing on that promise
No matter what I go through
And just in case I stumble
I’m depending on you
For you hold the master plan
And your path is always right
So today I’m embarking
By faith and not by sight

 

Author: Stephanie Storey Morant

 

 

"Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be."

"Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do."

"Nine tenths of education is encouragement."

Seeing Voices..... A SPII Weekend CHallenge

 

"Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn't mean he lacks vision--Stevie Wonder"

 

Seeing voices
when I slowly stepp out
into the early morning Autumn air,
I bristle up against the elements
sunny, windy, and fair
....
taking a long deserved
nostalgic look
into the curious side of me
and the place inside my heart that you took

I find myself looking for the things
inside of you
that you try to hide from me,
hoping one day that you will confide in me
what makes you tick
what makes you happy
what makes you sick
what makes you cry

Leaves fall randomly against my face
as softly as the memories
of your smile
as softly as your voice
spoken
as softly as the hands I wish to caress
and the spells of silence
I wish were broken

Bristling up snugly
against the chill of the stirring air
wishing that carrying thoughts of you
inside of me long enough
will make you know how much I care

You are only a heart beat away
and even if I can't look into your eyes
I still want to stay
wherever you are at the end of the day

What is it that makes me fear
I ask my heart
Because my head has no idea

A woman's heart 
has always been a weakness for me
It is easy to find,

yet hard to keep

I replay your voice
over and over in my mind
I whisper your name into the air
into a wind I hope
is fair
and kind

I can't give up now...
after all the times I laid awake at night
dreaming of we

Can't you see
that this seems like to me
a surrendering of choice,
to make my own fate
to devise this scheme
to find you heart
to approach you
to bring you to me
and to successfully rescue you
....

from my dreams

jakuper (10/4/08)

DEAR LOVE...A SASSY 'LOVE LETTER' CHALLENGE

Dear Love,

My heart warns me against talking to you, because it would open up the same feelings that I have tried, unsuccessfully, to stave off for so very long. My heart has become my adversary, and yet my middle man, in the war that I have waged against you. You see, I do not deserve you. I do not trust you to do right by me. That's why we have so many problems.

Let me explain. Perfect love casts out all fear. Love forgives. Love understands. Love puts the other person's needs right up there with it's own. Love believes all things. Love is patient. Love is long suffering. Love is supposed to last forever, right? Well, you see...I didn't believe in you. I failed once again to see through my own limited vision, to how good we could have been for each other. But you came, once, twice, and for a unprecedented third time, looking for me. I ask myself every time, what do you really see in me? What is it that you see in me, knowing how imperfect I am, that you would keep on trying to change my whole outlook on life. You know I'm not going to do right. You know once I let you in, I'm going to expect you to be perfect. Why should you put up with my dysfunctional disposition when I would always hold back? I think you already know I might turn and run, once I fall deeply into you, because I don't ever expect you to be true to your word. My standards are pretty high when it comes to trusting my heart, mind, and body to you. Do you know what I'm giving up? Why should you listen to all my excuses about what you could bring into my life..won't be enough to keep a smile on my face, one day?

Love, I swear, if only I could believe in you....I know my whole life could be different. You got to admit, you play games, too. I mean, I looked for you, and it was hard, but you showed up. Several times. The first time, you accepted my excuse...I was too young. I was just out of high school, and trying to make something out of my life, to show my mother, who had died like weeks earlier, that I could be strong like she wanted me to. You took a back seat, but you always stayed with me.

When I thought I was grown enough to handle you, I presented my body to you. I gave my heart and soul to you. You gave it back. And I got mad at you, and told you I never would believe in you again. I took what you gave me..a son, and went about my way.

I know you tried to make up for how wrong that experience went, when you presented me with something that even I didn't know I wanted. You made a believer out of me, when you reached into my heart of hearts, and tried to fill a void that only you knew existed. You allowed me to meet the woman that was everything I wanted in a man. Even though we looked alike, were the same sex, and worked together, that didn't stop us from connecting in every way imaginable. At night, I lay on my bed, talking to you. Wondering why couldn't I have had it with him; and what are you trying to do...sending me everything I wanted...in a woman. Ohhh, we had many fights. You said yes. I said NO. She said Yes, and I kept saying NO. She wore me down, and my No became 'No way am I gonna miss this chance'. Love, you got to know that I always believed if you want love, you got to take a chance. (This would prove to be my Achilles Heel later on)

Love...You showed out! I did so many things I never thought I would do. I had so many firsts. I faced all kinds of opposition, taking on you. In her, I found a utopia. A coming out. A growth, spiritually, emotionally, and sexually. Which is why I always say, "feed the mind, the body, and the spirit" She fed all three. We grew up together. In that growth, I think things got a little too good to be true. It seems some people can become so happy that they look for something wrong. We went from my trying to be a poster child for gay rights, to her trying to just be normal, and be acceptable in her world. It became too hectic to keep up the reason for being happier than anyone we knew. Honestly Love...you showed off! lol Everyone was mad at us. We went under the radars for so long, that it seemed like everyone around us waged an all out war against us. Especially the happily married 'straight couples', the single men, single women, and her kids. You ain't supposed to be 'that' happy. Alas, you know what happened...yeah. But Love, I ain't mad at ya. It hurt like Hell....but it brought me to a place that I said I belonged. On the outside of love.

Obedient to my insecurities, and my failures, I learned to live without you. But, yes, I did see you standing there. I would often come out to play with you, but I knew, soon you'd have to leave me. I learned to accept that we were only playmates. I guess that was my downfall.

You see Love, you became to me a bliss that I courted, and was too afraid to obtain. You became a diversion from loneliness' pain. I would long for you when you were gone, but inside...deep where no one knows it but me...I miss you. Damn, I miss you. I learned to take whatever playtime you had to spend with me. I treasured each moment...I mean I had alot of them, too. Once a few years ago, I know you felt my pain, love, and you brought me so close to asking you to stay. but, you see...I have been through this. You come, it's good at first, we connect, we start out all cool, but Love...you flip the script too much for me to try to let you back in my life again. Every time I think I am close, or I don't want you to leave...I have to 'make myself' let you go.

Love, you see..I have learned to love you from afar. I know you're all that and a bag of chips, but...I can't have but one. One moment...when you mean everything to me. One moment when I would trade my heart, no..my life, if it would make you happy. One moment where I have eyes only for you. One moment when you are worth your weight in gold, and no one could tell me different. Nevertheless, I learned that these moments, while they are love, they are meant to experience in little doses. Yeah, I want the whole experience, but no longer do I trust it to last.

I respect you. I believe in you...but me and you....we always had a hard time getting along. And that's all good, too, because as much as I have tried to get away from you, you still move me...lol

You alright with me.  One of these days, I'm gonna do right by you....and you're gonna do right by me