Handbook for a better life

I'm sharing an email that I received today.

LIFE’S HANDBOOK FOR 2009

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything..
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about.

Scripture for Today - Perfect love conquers all

1 John 4:18 (KJV) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear:because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18 (AMP) There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].

1 John 4:18 (The Message) God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

Prayer for Boldness
from Prayers That Avail Much, Volume 1 by Word Ministries, Inc

Father, in the name of Jesus, I am of good courage, I pray that You grant to me that with all boldness I speak forth Your Word. I pray that freedom of utterance be given me that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news of the Gospel - that I may declare it boldly as I ought to do.

Father, I belive I recive that boldness now in the name of Jesus. Therefore, I have boldness to enter into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus. Because of my faith in Him, I dare to have boldness (courage and confidence) of free access - an unreserved approach to You with freedom and without fear. I can draw fearlessly and confidently and boldy near to Your throne of grace and receive mercy and find grace to help in good time for my every need. I am bold to pray. I come to the throne of God with my petitions, and for others who do not know how to ascend to the throne.

I will be bold toward Satan, demons, evils spirits, sickness, diesease, and poverty for Jesus is Head of all rule and authority - of every angelic principality and power. Disarming those who were ranged against us, Jesus made a bold display and public example of them triumphing overthem. I am bold to say, "Satan, you are a defeated foe, for my God and my Jesus reign!"

I take comfort and am encouraged and confidently and boldly say, "The Lord is my Helper, I will not be seized with alarm - I will not fear or dread or be terrified. What can man do to me?" I dare to proclaim the Word toward heaven, toward hell, and toward earth. I am bold as a lion for I have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I am complete in Him! Praise the name of Jesus!

Never would have made it

Two years and some months.

Healing. Forgiveness.

The bitter sting is gone. But the memories remain. Reminders of the pain and shame.

Yet, I am not bitter. I was very bitter, angry, hurt, and rejected for a few months. But God. Too many prayers and promises hanging in the balance.

However, when someone shares what they are experiencing which sounds so much like what I went through, tears flow. Prayers and encouraging words are offered.

Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:4 (Amp)

What has changed in two years and some months?

True repentance? Only God knows the heart. Who am I to judge?

I have changed, though.

Never would have made it without You...
I'm stronger.
I'm wiser.
I'm better.
Much better.
When I look back over all You brought me through, I can see that You were the One that I held onto.

Do I trust Him?

Several weeks ago, distressed, frustrated, and weary, I called a friend, fellow minister for advice. My voicemail didn't give hint that I was a "mess" and it didn't express the sense of urgency that I felt.

Fortunately, my friend called me back within an hour. Knowing that she (and her family) had recently made a very tough decision that would affect longtime relationships, I expressed my concerns without trying to be emotional. She put the right words in my mouth, "When do you cut your losses?"

Yep. That summed it up.

As we talked and she shared her personal experience, it became clear that I was not trusting God in my situation (the one that I was sharing with her, as well as others) .

When you have done all you know to do, stand.

Ephesians 6:13 (Amp) says "Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]."

I had prayed. Prayed for wisdom, protection, and vindication. Even prayed for my enemies. Spoke the Word.

Yet, I was stressing out.

If God was leading me to take a leap of faith, then why couldn't I do that?

If I believed God's word, then why couldn't I relax. 1Peter 5:7 says to cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.

I love the way The Message Bible breaks it down:

So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.
1Peter 5:6,7

After that conversation, daily I took stock of every area of my life where there was little or no trust. Flat out fear.

A week or so later, I was sitting at a stop light and noticed a construction crew to my left. Their company logo and message was painted on the truck's side. Their message was most powerful:

This company trusts in God.