live and let live

While these past two days I've been dealing with criticism from my aunt and another person who I don't know very well. At first it made me feel bad because I do have low self esteem and I felt the criticism was unnecessary. But the slogan "live and let live" made me realize that my aunt and this other person are there own people. They have there own journey in this life. Yes it hurts but I don't need to let it consume me. I decided not to say anything to them about there comments and I am going to let it go. I can't control them but I can control my reactions to the situation. I am choosing to ignore and be nice because that is in my power.

Christina

criticism

Lord, help me not to fear what others think of me. Help me to remember that because you saved me and your spirit lives within me the things judgmental people say can't ultimately hurt me. when people say things that are critical, let those things roll off my back and not stay in my mind or heart.Thank you that although hurtful words may come and go, my salvation lasts forever.

Payers for emotional wholeness by Stormie Omartian

How young is too young to get married? Why?

I think it really depends on the people. I'm engaged and am getting married to my fiance when he comes home. By then I will be 22 and he will be 25. But we love each other and have dated for 8 years. I have known about people just out of high school who got married and stayed together there whole lives and some who got divorced because as they got older they grew apart. I've heard of people waiting until they where older like 30's 40's and stayed together and some got divorced and just didn't get along anymore or whatever excuse they made. But, when you are in love you are. Marriage is a personal choice. Some people don't want to get married and some people do. For me I think it is important. I want to take his last name and I want to tell people "this is my husband."

That's just my opinion

Resentments

I have had a lot of resentment towards my aunt over the years. Mostly because of her verbal and emotional abuses towards me. It also frustrates me because I work for her and she always tells me what I should do work and non work related. But, today I decided to detach from her. I did was she asked me to do work related happily. I did not complain mentally or out load. When I started to get frustrated I said the serenity prayer. I calmed down and actually tried to meditate on the work I was doing and be in the moment and not let anger or worry take over. It worked. Then later when she changed my days and I had plans I'm still not sure what to do but I decided I would just do the best that I could and not let her changing my schedule effect today. I will just see what happens when the day arrives on what I choose to do or not to do. I went out to dinner with my aunt and she wanted me to get something else but I wanted the burger she was trying to make me feel bad in my opinion so I would get something else but I got the burger anyway. It ended up being a nice meal. I also have resentment towards Abby who tried to break up me and my fiance a year ago. I feel like I am slowly letting that go. I feel like I've forgiven her. I can say her name and type it without cringing lol. I know that if I ran into her on the street I would not be afraid of her I would just smile and leave it at that. I don't have resentment towards my fiance. I know that alcoholism is a disease. That is not an excuse but it's like cancer it might be in remissen but it's never completely gone. He will always be an A. I love him and he loves me we are both human I choose to stay with him and he has chosen to stay with me even though I am not perfect. I haven't always been the kindest person to him I treated him harshly and judged him because of his addictions I made him feel guilty when he already felt guilty. It just turned me into a mean person but he loved me anyway. So if he can accept me for who I am then I can and have accepted him for who he is. Thanks for letting me share.

delivered from fear

Lord sometimes I'm afraid of what might happen in the future. I submit all my fears to you and thank you that you will take them away from me. I lift up to you my greatest fear and ask that you will give me peace in place of fear. When troubling things happen to me or around me, help me to remember that you are on my side and will fight for me. If you are there for me then no one can succeed against me.

Lord, I thank you that no matter what has happened to me in the past, no matter what is happening in my circumstances now, you promise to never leave me or forsake me. Thank you that because you love me, I don't ever have to live in fear. I pray you would take away anything in my life that give's me good reason to be afraid. Keep me safe and protected where I am, And take me to a place of safety in the future.

Prayers for Emotional wholeness by Stormie Omartian

surrender

Today I feel like my HP is really guiding me along to get stuff done. I've been surrendering to the Lord all the situations in my life. Yesterday I had a good conversation with my fiance. It went really well. He respected my boundaries and I was using the program. Not telling him what to do. I didn't discuss the letter I wrote with him. He was feeling guilty as it was about hurting me and I didn't want to make him feel worse. Today I went to counseling and we covered a lot of information. My counselor told me I need to put myself first and the next time I talk to A I need to discuss the letter to get closure and find out what happened that month a year ago if he even remembers what happened. But, it's something I need to do for myself. Then I got a call from my church and they will be helping us out with groceries we will be able to go to there food pantry once a week from now until Christmas. I got a call from a mental health place to go talk to someone about medication. For me I think that might be the right thing and I do believe for me HP is guiding me on this one since I surrendered the situation. Then I got a call from this army pen pal register I signed about for so in about two weeks I will be able to write a soldier in Iraq. I really want to support our troops no matter what I believe about this war. I printed up a budget page so I will start working on that. I studied my GED today. Yes HP is guiding me today in all sorts of ways. Thanks for letting me share.

Christina

Just for today

I read this earlier today and wanted to share it.

Just for today give you life anew to God! Tell him, Full speed ahead! Just for today pour out your love and care for your family. Be "too nice" to everyone you meet. Just for today take your physical strength seriously and exert yourself. Just for today use that brain power God has given you to grow more beautiful in character. Just for today reach out and encourage your best friend in their spiritual journey. Just for today take one small step toward your goal you're trying to achieve. And finally, just for today make the commitment to wake up everyday of your life and repeat this pattern.

Lord, just for today I commit every single area of my life to you- every thought, every word, every action. Let this be a day in which I grow more and more into your image. Amen

Taken from A woman after God's own heart by Elizabeth George