What comes out of your mouth is every bit as crucial to your existence as to the air you breathe in. Every word you speak has consequences and directs the path you walk on. As I wrote earlier, you make choices every day and those choices form together to mold who you are.

As you speak from your mouth, so goes everything around you to conform itself to those words.

James 3:3-6 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

The tongue controls our path just as the rudder on a ship guides the direction it flows. God gave us the ability to speak with the anointing of our Lord Jesus Christ and to bring into our existence the source of His Love and Grace. We are made in His image!

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

This means so much more than just a mere reflection of His appearance. Far greater than the look of God we are made in the Likeness of God!

Genesis 5:1 This is the written account of Adam’s line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.

Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Do you follow? “Let us make man – For whose sake the rest of the creatures were made.” Man was to be a creature different from all that had been made. Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth must be put together in him, and he must be allied to both worlds. Can you see the authority given to man in the image of God? Can you get even a slight picture of the power we posses within us to control all that is ours and all that we were given authority over?

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

When God spoke … God Said “let there be man”, and God Said… , and God Said…etc… The original Text was more authoritative in that when God created man the words He spoke were more like “MAN BE!” and man came into being. For everything that came into being was from the breath of God through His Word! The Word was God, the Word was with God and the Word dwelt among us so that we may have the anointing of Jesus Christ and when you come into the Spirit (Born again) and realize the Spirit dwells in you through Faith, you can move mountains!

Matthew 21:21 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.

This may sound out of reach, but when you look at all the obstacles that come into your path, this tells you , that YOU have the power to remove them by FAITH and with your TONGUE. All of this and so much more is accomplished through Faith. When you believe, you bring in the Word of God in your soul and you begin to speak it with authority over the powers of this world and overcome them in His Grace!

Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

1 John 4:15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.

2 Corinthians 4:13-15 13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”b With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

OVERFLOW, amen! Abundant life, favor, blessed! It is all there for you when you believe. The story of Balaam’s Donkey in Numbers 22:21-41 Is a great example of how one can be on the wrong path and yet be given opportunity to be on the path to freedom but reminded to only speak what God puts into the mouth. (click the link to see the scripture)

Nothing is impossible with God! He sent His son so that we may live. Trust Him, trust His words. How we speak directs us, guides us and builds our tomorrows! Do you see that? Your tomorrow is built on the foundation that you lay down today. Jesus is a solid rock that never fails. We fail, but this is why God sent His son so that, under Grace, we may rise, repent, be forgiven and keep moving forward. When you realize that God is already there in our tomorrow, you release any worry you have today and spend time in thanksgiving and joy.

John 10:10 (Jesus said) I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Thank you Lord Jesus for your Loving Mercy and bless all who read this and bring them to a greater understanding of how they have the authority to bring good into their lives and to always keep their eyes focused on you and not on things of this world… amen.

peacebestill

photo credit: Bram & Vera

A nurse on the pediatric ward before listening to the little ones’ chests would plug the stethascope into their ears and let them listen to their own heart.. Their eyes would always light up with awe, but she never got a response equal to four year old David’s comment.

Gently she tucked the stethoscope into his ears and placed the disk over his heart. “Listen,” she said, “what do you suppose that is?”

He drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap, tap, tapping deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin and he asked, “Is that Jesus knocking?”

Blessed are those who walk with one hand held by God and the other one held by a friend.

Do not fear the future nor fear the unknown….

For God is already there )

Sometimes, I just have to STOP ~ and listen to the whispering voice telling me “Peace! Be Still”

photo credit: pimpexposure


Satan is the powerful enemy within. He tells us we are worthless beings who can not do anything right. He fills our heads with doubt and does everything in his power to convince us that we should rely on our own ability to work things out. He plays on our intellect to have us believe that we don’t always need God to work through the difficulties in life. He wants us to believe that we are not worthy of God’s Love and have to prove ourselves righteous before coming to God.

Satan… is a liar!

Come to God as you are. Do not pretend to be something that you are not. God will never reject His child. Speak to Him as a father. Allow Him to see you as you are. Make time to share yourself with God. Turn off all devices around the home, including the lights. Give all of yourself to Him and allow Him to reach down and touch you. Then listen as He speaks to you. You will then know that you are not alone. As you begin to walk in the path He lays out for you, you will see that, even during all the trials and tribulations of life, you are not alone:

Rom 5:3 – 5:5 ~
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Too many times we look at our troubles, bad choices in life and our mishaps which take our eyes off of Him. Keeping our eyes on Him and His purpose, we can get though the tribulations knowing that there is Hope for us still. God made the ultimate sacrifice for us by giving His Son to the world so that we may live. Let us not let this action be in vein by allowing the lies of Satan dominate us.

Job 37:14 ~
Listen to this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Secure yourself of His lasting Peace and stand in awe of our Lord. Triumph in Hope and let Him be your Refuge.

Psalm 46:10 ~
Be still, and know that I am God…

I can not express enough how much this all has meant to me in my life. As I reflect back, I regret hurting the ones that I love. But today, I can live in that regret and live myself condemned and not care about anyone or anything… Or, I can make something good come from out of it. “Hope” knowing that Hope will not disappoint. As I write, I write to myself as a reminder that I am never alone. It only seems that way when I turn my eyes from Him and listen to Satan try and convince me I am worthless. Forgive me Father… Release these chains and set me free… I am yours to do with as you please. Let me be a light of your Love and guide me where you need me to be.

Psalm 21:13 ~
Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

Religious Mall Religious Icons, Church Supplies, Byzantine Icons

(ARA) – Courtney Lovett didn’t want to let her friends down. Knowing that her friends wanted her to be happy, and disapproved of her compulsive urge to cut herself, helped Lovett break the cycle of her self-destructive behavior. Now Lovett and other students at West Brook, a high school on the East Coast, are reaching out to other young people, sharing their experiences in an effort to foster prevention and provide hope to others struggling with self-harming behaviors.

Cutting to control the pain

Hurting oneself externally comes in many forms. Cutting one’s skin with a sharp object is most common, but there’s also burning.

Lovett, a senior, used to engage in the latter. “It didn’t quite satisfy like I needed, but it would take the edge off and was small enough not to be noticed,” she says.

The satisfaction Lovett talks of is what gets people hooked on hurting themselves. Once they try one method, most usually want to try more to see what relief other methods will bring.

The temporary relief and satisfaction brought on by physically hurting oneself becomes an addictive quick fix for whatever emotional problems or difficult situations the person goes through.

One misconception, especially for cutters, is that people who hurt themselves are doing so in an attempt to end their life. Junior Sarah Ballin displays scars on her arm that have gotten her sent to a counselor every year since she’s had them.

The scars Ballin has on her arm have gotten her weird looks from teachers and fellow students. Cutters hope that, even if non-cutters don’t understand the behavior, they can have compassion and not judge based on the scars.

Deadly disorders take control of those desiring to be skinny

Other methods of handling emotions and stress such as eating disorders can be just as destructive as self-harm.

“The eating disorder mindset takes over people,” says Carolyn Costin, founder and clinical director of The Eating Disorder Center of California and Monte Nido residential centers and author of several books. “They will say ‘I don’t like cheese’ because they may be afraid of the fat. It’s actually fear that makes them say they don’t like it.”

Fear of food is just one potential part of an eating disorder, but the way the person feels after eating certain foods does influence the amount they intake or if they try getting rid of it afterwards.

Much like cutting and burning, eating disorders can become compulsive no matter what health risks may be encountered.

Common health risks associated with anorexia include electrolyte disturbances, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and loss of muscle mass. Recurring bouts of vomiting can also cause dehydration and disturbances in electrolytes, which are made worse with laxative or diuretic use or by consuming excessive quantities of water. Fatal abnormalities in heart rhythm can occur, the stomach can perforate from binging, and vomiting can cause tears in the esophagus, gastrointestinal bleeding, and ulcers. The more serious health risks take longer to be detected or to become worrisome enough for the people with eating disorders to seek help.

Reaching out, leaving shame behind

“The first step [in getting help] is acknowledging there is a problem,” Susan Steely, a licensed professional counselor of Good Therapy Works, a Midwestern counseling center, says. “Listening to other people [helps]; they may notice it or point it out first. Sometimes we can’t see the truth for ourselves. Seek someone in counseling to deal with [the problem].”

Professional guidance is often advised. Having friends or family supporting one’s recovery also helps.

“What really helped me [stop cutting] was that I had friends who said I shouldn’t do it,” Ballin says. “It wasn’t always enough, but it helped. I’d be like, ‘Kevin loves me, and I don’t want to let him down.’”

Costin also feels that having a support system around an individual during the recovery process makes a difference. For parents and friends to better help their loved one, she offers this advice: “Understand that the person is taken over by their illness. Friends and relatives have to align with the person against the illness. It is important not to be in battle with the person.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

When you think of drug addiction, what kind of picture do you get in your mind? Do you see a person dressed in tattered clothes sitting in a rain soaked alley with needle in hand? Do you picture addiction in terms of a person begging on the street for money to buy just one more hit? The picture of drug addiction can be either of these images, but you might surprised to learn that there is another side of drug addiction you may never have thought of.

Consider that the picture of drug addiction includes a man in a business suit sitting at a desk every day working a full-time job. He has a family, children, a dog, and a wife. To everyone else, he projects the picture of having it all. The only problem is, the pressure of life got to him and he looked for a way out. A colleague offered him some cocaine. He liked the way it made him feel. Now he juggles credit card advances to pay for his $100 a day habit.

The picture of drug addiction could also be the popular cheerleader at your child’s high school. She’s blonde, beautiful, smart, and personable. But every morning, she takes a shot of vodka to stop the shakes. At lunch, she drinks a six-pack in her car, and at night, she’s at all the parties drinking until someone has to bring her home because she’s passed out.

Finally, the picture of drug addiction could also be in the form of a bored housewife. She has three children, laundry, dishes, and many other responsibilities. She’s tired all the time and sometimes just can’t get out of bed because of her exhaustion. She saw something on television about housewives taking their child’s Ritalin for energy. She decides to try it with her own 7-year old’s medication. Now she has to make excuses to the pediatrician why her child has run out of medicine before he should have.

Sure, we all picture a person with drug addiction as the homeless, down-on-their luck bum (so to speak) begging on the streets for money to buy drugs, but the cold reality is that drug addiction occurs in all walks of life to all types of people. Drug addiction has no boundaries and doesn’t pick and choose its victims.

The picture of drug addiction has changed over the years to include your neighbor, your child’s teacher, and even possibly your clergy. No one is immune, but all can get help. If you notice drug addiction in someone you care about, have a talk with them and encourage them to get help for their problem. Maybe one day, the picture of drug addiction will be a blank canvas.

Drug Addiction

Alcohol and Drug Addiction can be cured. The success of the cure is fully dependant on the user. The user has to want to be cured. The wanting the cure can not come from any other outside influences like friends and family. While friends and family can be a great support system, the abuser has to want to change before any change can begin.

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Treatment Hotline – Counseling and Referrals in Substance Abuse Emergencies.

Cocaine Hotline – For Emergency Questions About Cocaine Use

Drug Abuse Information and Treatment Referral Line – For Drug-Releated Information, Referrals, to Local Treatment Programs and Support Groups

Marijuana Anonymous – For Information and Local Referrals

Parent / Friend Resources

Talking to your kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol is important and it isn’t as hard as you think. By having regular conversations with your children, they are up to 50% less likely to use. We’re here to help make talking even easier. We’ve got free, easy-to-use, research-based tools and tips to help you have ongoing conversations with your kids to keep them healthy and drug-free.

Across America, communities are mobilizing to build on HBO’s groundbreaking series ADDICTION, premiering March 15-18. Our colleagues at Join Together, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), and Faces & Voices of Recovery have united with HBO to promote the Addiction Project, which helps Americans understand addiction as a treatable brain disease, spotlights new treatment advancements, and provides hope for long-term recovery.

Visit www.AddictionAction.org to learn more about the project and find opportunities to mobilize your own community through house parties, Town Hall meetings, and other special community events already taking place in your area.

Drug Addiction Info

How can you stop Drug Addiction:

Volunteers are standing by to provide prayer, scriptural guidance and literature for people who call this line. The counselors will listen to you, pray with you and offer encouraging words.

This online book will help you to overcome sinful habits and break the generational curses in your life. You can view it chapter by chapter for a wealth of information.

from James – aka The Snow Man