Suffer little unforgiving heart…

We all know the bible verse “…A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones” (Prov 17v22) but do we really understand it.

There was a time I hated hearing it, I was in so much pain and hurt. I didn’t want anything but to just recount and replay in my head all that happened to me. All the wrongs that were done to me were somehow precious to me.

I was very young and bitter. Saddest thing is, the people who hurt me couldn’t have cared less if I was alive or dead.

And because they didn’t care, I started feeling less and less important; but more and more loving the thought of being a victim.

As time went, I realised that I was watching my life pass me by. I was wasting time being consumed in hatred and anger. While my peers were going for their dreams, I was sobbing every day.

I wanted to be happy, cheerful and ambitious again, but it was so foreign to me.

So I started doing things differently…

1.       I began by giving myself permission. Permission to laugh, to learn, to be wrong and not give myself a 3^rd degree, but rather accept that mistakes happen and the best thing it to learn from them.

 

2.       I forgave. I named every single person who wronged me and forgave them.

 

3.       Then I forgave me. Yes, there were times when I was so harsh and hard on myself and was really being unfair.

 

4.       I started listening more. Giving people a chance and really listen to their point of you. I learned that not every single person is the same. And there is good in all people.

 

 

5.       I accepted that I cannot ever change my past. It happened; ooh but guess what? I am still here because there is more for me to achieve, learn and enjoy.

 

6.       I started dreaming again and oh what amazing dreams have come into my heart and mind.

7.       I am still learning every day to be merry and cheerful…

Be blessed beyond.

Fortunate

Maturity comes from experience.

Maturity isn’t just about how old one is. It’s a lot of processes that one has gone through to certify them matured.

For instance one may have a great job with amazing benefits, but because they haven’t had any life lessons on money they might spend their earnings anyhow.

But one who has had a fair share of either poverty or financial strain will spend their earnings different.

Maturity comes from experience.

So why then are we quick to judge those who seem to be slow in grasping life. I mean we also didn’t know better until it happened to us. And did we even ask for “life changing experiences” to happen to us? No we didn’t; it just happened and we were changed by them.

It’s about awareness; calmly seeking understanding and as a result we become mature.

We all know life is the best teacher; but if life has taught others about certain things/experiences yet, how then do you judge?

For a girl who has had it all knows different to a girl who has never had it. She probably doesn’t know that one won’t die if they pass one day without a meal. She may also not know that one can be happy even without branded clothes.

Judge less and learn more.

Be blessed Beyond J

Fortunate.

Reap Time.

It’s amazing how people often have us all figured out. When we succeed, they assume our down fall is just around the corner.

But, they quite wrong actually!

We have been beaten and battered by struggles with poverty, insecurities and all else and now it’s Reap Time.

Our faith and hopes finally give birth to the realization of our dreams.

So yeah, I am blessed and it’s about to get even blessier!!

Deuteronomy 28:12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.

So I am going to sit back and be present in my blessings, just as I was present in my trails.

I am Blessed Beyond.

To all single sisters - Happy Valentine's Day!!

I am truly glad I missed out on some potential relationships when I was single, although it hurt at the time, today I look at the kind of relationship I have with my boyfriend and I am thankful.

See, before I met my boyfriend, I wasn’t confident in myself as a person. I was looking at these guys and thinking ‘oh my goodness, he is so out of my league…’

Chances are, had I dated these guys, I would have lost myself. Not their fault, but mine. I would have been so eager to please them so I could just to keep them, that I would have even accepted ill-treatment from them.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying my current relationship is perfect, but I am my own person. I am not giving so much of me until I feel there isn’t much of me left. I am not left drained emotionally trying to keep up with a man’s selfish demands. I am free to be myself (crazy-self, smart-self, strong-self and fragile-self) and that’s what a relationship is about. That you be yourself and be appreciated for who you are and what you have to offer.

So, if you are alone this Valentine’s Day, don’t worry or feel sad about, it’s all for a reason. Don’t feel desperate to be with someone, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being alone. And I often used to remind myself when I was single ‘I’d rather wait for the real thing that to chase after fake.’

Use this time to grow as an individual. If you want the real thing – then upgrade yourself to being the real thing.

I mean, if you wanting a man with certain high standards, then at least have half of those standards yourself, it’s only fair. And I know some will be quick to think I am referring to financial standards, partly yes. But it’s so much more than that; there are emotional standards, educational standards, social standards etc. you can’t want to have a non-smoker while you smoke, you have to give a little, to get a little.

But never settle.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Last year was my first year as a permanent employee and I was blessed beyond my expectations. I then asked God to give an opportunity to give as a way to thank Him for blessing me (taking me from unemployment to being permanently employed – as I know firsthand what a struggle it was to get here).

In about a month’s time my pastor gave out envelops for those who wanted to pledge their offerings, now this was a perfect opportunity for me to do what I had being longing to do. I didn’t offer a great amount no, I offered with a sincere heart, because no amount can be enough to repay God.

The reason I mention offering, is because some believe the offering is for the pastors. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Do you really believe God would call His children and then rely on us to feed/look after them? Not at all. Offering is a form of submission. It has nothing to do with the monetary value but sincerity-value. God knows we have so many things to sort out and pay, but He wants us to submit and put Him first and watch as He sorts it all out.

As I was preparing my offering I asked God to give my purpose and career a direction, now this was in March 2012.

In April 2012 I began to blog and in August 2012 I started a girl movement called I Beg To Differ, something I never believed I was capable of and it touch lives of young ladies. Sometime later, still in August I got a call to be Champion Editor in Chief of a youth magazine called Ambition Magazine.

The amazing part about this, is I was given some serious authority and it felt amazing. We are going live online in January 2013 and we trust to be a great success. And there are many other doors opening for me, doors I dreamed could open and all I can say is ‘Thank you Lord, for your love is far greater than my understanding and longing’

The Gist.

Proverbs 3:5-6

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

This is all those who have lost hope, I have been there and I know what it’s like. I worked at restaurants as a waitress and been a cashier at clothing stores; but I never stopped dreaming and believing. Every time you pray, the Lord listens and at His chosen time – He will deliver.

There’s a quote that says: "Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end." Very much true, so hold on and wait your turn.

Be blessed and fabulous at the same time.

Scriptures to Pray over Your Children

 

Rebekah - posted on 04/17/2009 (24 moms have responded)

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S C R I P T U R E S

To Confess Over Your Children

Proverbs 18:21 says, The tongue has the power of life and death. As parents, you have the power to speak life or death to your children and over your children. When you choose to speak the Word of God over your children, you are choosing to speak life over them. Jesus said in John 6:63, The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. The following are scriptural confessions that you can speak over your children – and as Isaiah 55:11 says – these words will not return to your empty, but will accomplish and achieve the purpose for which they are sent.

Exodus 20:12 I thank You Father, that my children honor and obey me, therefore, they please the Lord and will live a long life.
(Also found in Colossians 3:20 and Ephesians 6:2.)

Psalm 112:2 My children are blessed and will be mighty in the land.

Psalm 127:3 My children are a reward and gift from the Lord, and I will enjoy them.

Psalm 138:8 My children will fulfill God’s will and purpose for their lives.

Daniel 1:4 My children are children in whom there is no blemish, but they are well favored. They are skillful in wisdom, cunning in knowledge, and understand science. They have the ability to stand in the King’s palace and teach others.

Romans 12:2 My children are not being conformed to this world’s system, but they are constantly being transformed by the renewing of their mind, that they might know what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God for their lives.

I Corithians 6:18-19 My children will flee from all sexual immorality and impurity in thought, word or deed, and they will realize that their body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

I Timothy 4:12 My children are examples to others in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.


1. Salvation
Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
(Isaiah 45:8; II Timothy 2:10)

2. Growth in Grace
I pray that they may “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”.
(2 Peter 3:18)

3. Love
Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love through the Spirit who dwells in them.
(Ephesians 5:2, Galatians 5:22)

4. Honesty and Integrity
May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection.
(Psalm 25:21)

5. Self-Control
Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be “alert and self-controlled” in all they do.
(1 Thessalonians 5:6)

6. A Love for God’s Word
Father, help my children grow to find Your Word “more precious than gold, than much pure gold; and sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb”.
(Psalm 19:10)

7. Justice
God, help my children to love justice as You do and to “act justly” in all they do.
(Psalm 11:7, Micah 6:8)

8. Mercy
May my children always “be merciful, as their Father is merciful”.
(Luke 6:36)


9. Respect (for self, others, authority)
Father, grant that my children may “show proper respect to everyone,” as Your Word commands.
(1 Peter 2:17)

10. Strong, Biblical Self-Esteem
Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus”.
(Ephesians 2:10)

11. Faithfulness
“Let love and faithfulness never leave my children,” but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts.
(Proverbs 3:3)

12. A Passion for God
Lord, please instill in my children a soul with a craving for You, a heart that clings passionately to You.
(Psalm 63:8)

13. Responsibility
Grant that my children may learn responsibility, “for each one should carry his own load”.
(Galatians 6:5)

14. Kindness
Lord, may my children “always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else”.
(1 Thessalonians 5:15)

15. Generosity
Grant that my children may “be generous and willing to share and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age”.
(1 Timothy 6:18-19)

16. Peace, Peaceability
Father, let my children “make every effort to do what leads to peace”. (Romans 14:19)
17. Hope
May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13)

18. Perseverance
Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to “run with perseverance the race marked out for them”.
(Hebrews 12:1)

19. Humility
Lord, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all.
(Titus 3:2)

20. Compassion
Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion.
(Colossians 3:12)

21. Prayerfulness
Grant, Lord, that my children’s lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests”.
(Ephesians 6:18)

22. Contentment
Father, teach my children “the secret of being content in any and every situation…through Him who gives them strength”.
(Philippians 4:12-13)

23. Faith
I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them.
(Luke 17:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-40)

24. A Servant Heart
Lord, please help my children develop servant hearts, that they may “serve wholeheartedly as if they were serving the Lord, not men”.
(Ephesians 6:7)

25. Purity
“Create in them a pure heart, O God,” and let their purity of heart be shown in their actions.
(Psalm 51:10)

26. Willingness & Ability to Work Hard
Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work hard at everything they do, “as working for the Lord, not for men”.
(Colossians 3:23)

27. Self-Discipline
Father, I pray that my children may develop self-discipline, that they may acquire “a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair”.
(Proverbs 1:3)

28. A Heart for Missions
Lord, please help my children to develop a heart for missions, a desire to see Your glory declared among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among all peoples.
(Psalm 96:3)

29. Joy
May my children be filled “with the joy given by the Holy Spirit”.
(1 Thessalonians 1:6)

30. Courage
May my children always “be strong and courageous” in their character and in their actions.
(Deuteronomy 31:6)

Prayer From a Parent’s Heart

 

Written by Beth Scholes
As I sit down to write this article I am reminded of the awesome honour of being a parent. God has granted me the privilege of raising three of His special little ones, but with the privilege comes great responsibility and a lot of hard work. Perhaps more than any other area of life, parenting brings with it the capacity both for boundless joy and tremendous heartache. What can we do as parents to succeed at the task God has given us? Pray, Pray, Pray!
Parenting has not been an easy journey for me. I have had to face my own inadequacy and rely on God’s plan for my life and my children. Part of that process was God teaching me how to pray for my children. There is no exact science for this, but the Lord put it on my heart to write a prayer for each of my children.

Embracing it: I wasn’t ready to be a grandma!
Pray for your kids: Breakthrough Prayer

Why write a prayer? I had so many things that I wanted to remember to pray for each of my children, and writing it out really helped me to be concise. The written prayers reflect each child’s uniqueness, while also covering the basics in such a way that I don’t feel like I’m forgetting any important issues. I’d encourage you to give it a try.
Begin with a decision to take the time to pray for your children. This sounds simple, but it takes follow-through and commitment. When it comes to prayer, there is no substitute for time, and writing a well-crafted prayer for each child takes extra effort. But you will find that it’s well worth it.
Next, sit down and brainstorm a list of all the things you want to pray for. What is important to you as you raise your children in this difficult culture we live in? Try to catch a glimpse of the future: what kind of adults do you want your kids to become? Here are a few items on my prayer list:
* (Editor’s Note: Try printing out these prayer items and insert it in your Bible so you can be reminded to pray for your kids.)

• Purity: I pray for purity both for my kids and for their future spouses. Their spouses are out there somewhere, growing up as children right now, and what happens in their lives will greatly affect the life of my children down the road.
• Relationships: Above all, I pray that my kids will develop strong relationships with the Lord. I also pray for healthy relationships with their siblings, with friends, and with my husband and I as their parents.
• Protection: The world is a dangerous place in many ways. I pray for physical, spiritual and emotional protection for each child.
• Personal weaknesses: Every child has their own struggles, whether it’s lying, angry outbursts, disrespect, or any number of other issues. I pray that God will shape their character and turn their weaknesses to strengths.
• Thanks: Each child also has unique strengths that are God’s gift to our family. For some it’s charm, for others leadership ability or a sense of humour. I thank God for these special qualities and ask Him to continue to develop these characteristics in our children.

After brainstorming your list, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in writing the prayer. Then it’s finally time to sit down and start writing! In addition to working from the list, I try to incorporate scripture passages that are applicable to the situation. Because the Bible is God’s perfect Word, I believe it is very powerful in prayer.
Here is an example of what I wrote as part of a prayer regarding purity:
For a daughter:

“Lord, we ask for purity in her life and that of her husband. We ask for protection over their innocence and purity; protect them from others and wrong choices, call them to a higher standard. We ask for wisdom and discernment in teaching and preparing her for a life of purity and modesty. I also ask that you grant her husband’s parents wisdom as they raise a man of integrity.”

For a son:

“Lord, we pray against pornography and lust and its evil effects on his life both as a child and as an adult. Give us wisdom in teaching him to respect girls and women. Put a calling of purity upon his life that he will never use, abuse, or take advantage of girls or women. We ask for wisdom and discernment in teaching and preparing him for a life of purity.”

I pray blessing and biblical qualities for my children. The Bible has a lot to say about how we speak and the power of the tongue to do damage, but also to bring healing. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).

“Father we thank You for (insert your daughter’s name here), You have heaped us with bounty and we praise You for entrusting us with her. She is fearfully and wonderfully made. You chose her for us and we thank You for the gift she is to us. We bless her and ask that You fill her with “Whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, having virtue, or anything praiseworthy, let her think on these things.””

I pray for wisdom as a parent regarding specific issues for this child. The Bible says whoever lacks wisdom should ask…so I ask a lot! “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

“Lord, grant us wisdom. We ask that you would impress upon him that lying is wrong. Help us to train him to be a man of integrity and honesty starting now. We ask that you would raise him up to be an upright man; one who is pro-active for what is right. May he not be passive, but aggressive for truth and what is honourable.”

Relationships will be a lifelong pursuit for your children: relationships with family, friends and especially with the Lord. My dad prayed faithfully for a good Christian friend for me in high school. I am so thankful for those prayers, and I believe God has answered them many times over in my life. I thank God for many wonderful friends over the years.

“We ask Father that you would fill her life with good relationships, first with you Lord. Help her to seek after Godly things. We ask your blessing on our relationship with her, help us to express to her and for her to feel unconditional love; may she rise up and call us blessed. We ask for good friends for her; that she may feel accepted and influenced by good kids. Keep her path straight. We ask your blessing on her life by causing Godly people to positively influence her life at the crossroads she will face. Go before her and prepare the way.”

I hope this glance into my heart as a mother will encourage you in your parenting journey. As I conclude this article I want to share that the first prayer I wrote was a turning point for our family. I wrote that prayer out of desperation because I had tried everything the world has to offer, and yet nothing had worked. Truly God wanted to begin a work in me, and it started with turning my eyes upon the Lord and looking to Him for answers. As I look back I see a faithful God working in our lives. The true changes began when I took my eyes off changing my child and started changing myself.