Prayer is indeed a powerful weapon

Ephesians 6:18
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Philippians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Matthew 7:7-12
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Revelation 3:20
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

John 4:21-24
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Acts 13:38
“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

Psalm 116:4
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”

Lamentation 3:55-56
55 I called on your name, Lord,
    from the depths of the pit.
56 You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears
    to my cry for relief.”

Joel 2:32
32 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved;

Matthew 6:5-15
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Feeling great today

I don't have as many obsessive thought as I once had.  I am doing well.  Writing a journal is about being oneself and being true.  It took me a while to realize this.  I am doing so much better today.  I am sleepy right now, however.  I will be okay.

10 Journaling Tips to Help You Heal, Grow and Thrive

10 Journaling Tips to Help You Heal, Grow and Thrive
by Loran Hills

Here are 10 tips to get started:

1. Start writing about where you are in your life at this moment.

Describe your living situation, your work, and your relationships. Are you right where you want to be?

2. For five to ten minutes just start writing in a “stream of consciousness.”

Don’t edit your thoughts or feelings and don’t correct your grammar. Don’t censor your thoughts.

3. Start a dialogue with your inner child by writing in your subdominant hand.

Answer with your dominant hand. What issues emerge?

4. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by maintaining a daily list of things you appreciate, including uplifting quotes.

Keep it in one journal or in a separate section so that you can read through it all at once. When you feel down you can read through it for a boost of gratitude and happiness.

5. Start a journal of self-portraits.

You can take pictures, draw colors or shapes or collage images. Learn to love and accept yourself just the way you are today.

6. Keep a nature diary to connect with the natural world.

The world we live in is a magical and mysterious place. Record the things you notice about the sky, the weather, and the seasons.

7. Maintain a log of successes.

Begin by writing the big ones you remember then regularly jot down small successes that occur during the week. As you pay attention, your list will grow and inspire you.

8. Keep a log or playlist of your favorite songs.

Write about the moods they evoke. When you hear a song that triggers a strong memory, write down how you feel and explore that time and space of your life.

9. If there’s something you are struggling with or an event that’s disturbing you, write about it in the third person.

This will give you distance and provide a new perspective. Write down what you learned about yourself.

10. Develop your intuition.

Write down questions or concerns then take a deep breath and listen for a response from your Higher Self.  Let yourself write automatically. If you don’t get an answer right away, look for signs during the day.

We all have dark days, black moods, and anxious feelings. Use writing in a journal to explore the darkness. You will find your inner light when you do.

From source: TinyBuddha.com

"Harlem," by Langston Hughes (RIP)

What happens to a dream deferred?

      Does it dry up
      like a raisin in the sun?
      Or fester like a sore—
      And then run?
      Does it stink like rotten meat?
      Or crust and sugar over— s
      like a syrupy sweet?

      Maybe it just sags
      like a heavy load.

      Or does it explode?

I wonder what that means.  I know that there was a play called "A Raisin in the Sun" written by the late Lorraine Hansberry.  It was about a black family who was struggling during the racial climate of the 1960s. It was however debuted in 1959, so my timing is off.  I only watched the film and another modern adaptation.  The family ends up moving, but they have their concerns of course, for they were uncertain.  I believe that it was about being black in America at the time Langston Hughes wrote his poem.  He, James Baldwin, and Richard Wright are excellent writers who I highly recommend.  I realize that what is going on nowadays is an example of things staying the same as always.  The dreams of many of us as black people are still deferred.  There is a lot of tension right now, and I pray for a solution or solutions to all of this anger and tension.  I like the last part about the explosion..that is what today's articles in mass media are all about.

"Rolling in the Deep" by Adele

There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, it's bringing me out the dark
Finally I can see you crystal clear
[Clean version:] Go 'head and sell me out and I'll lay your ship bare
[Explicit version:] Go 'head and sell me out and I'll lay your shit bare
See how I leave with every piece of you
Don't underestimate the things that I will do
There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch
And it's bringing me out the dark
The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it, to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
Baby, I have no story to be told
But I've heard one on you
And I'm gonna make your head burn
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Make a home down there
As mine sure won't be shared
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
The scars of your love remind me of us
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
I can't help feeling
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it, to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hand
But you played it, with a beating
Throw your soul through every open door (woah)
Count your blessings to find what you look for (woah)
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold (woah)
You'll pay me back in kind and reap just what you sow (woah)
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
We could have had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
It all, it all, it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
But you played it
You played it
You played it
You played it to the beat.

"The Redemption" excerpt

A year later, Joy and Richard give birth to a boy named Manuel who looks like Richard.
Three years go by. Richard is always working and Joy grows increasingly unhappy. She
feels alone and taken for granted. She meets another man and they become friends.
Overtime, they grow closer and the affair begins. Joy begins to feel guilty about the
affair and Joy discovers that she is pregnant Richard does not know of this affair since
Joy covered her tracks. They give birth to a daughter, Lauren, but the child turns out not
to be his, but the other man's. Richard does not notice right away, but Joy notices.

She notices that Lauren doesn't have any of the same features as any member of Richard's
family, but the other man. Over time, Richard begins to suspect that the baby is not his
and they argue about Joy's possible infidelity. Despite Joy's denial, he does not believe
her, saying that Lauren looks exactly like her and that she is hurt that Richard does not
believe her. She wonders if anyone, such as his mother have anything to do with it,
which angers Richard. His mother has told him that she was the wrong woman for him.
She has given Joy the benefit of the doubt, but she never cared for her. Despite her
feelings, Richard tells his mother to stay out of it.

Over time, the couple grows apart. Joy meets another man and has affair. She feels
overwhelmed, but is hurt that Richard would not believe her lies. (Who can blame him?).
They grow closer and closer to the point where Joy believes that she is having a
relationship with this second man. They even sleep together at her house while he is
away. This time, she is caught in bed with this other man. Richard pulls out a gun and
the housekeeper calls the police, who arrests him. Joy files a report stating the fact that a
gun is pulled out on her and that he is crazy. The cops blocks him from hitting his wife
and he is taken off to jail to cool off. Once out of jail, Richard puts Joy out of the house.

"The Obsession"...excerpt

Jennifer is adventurous, fun loving, studious, spirited, charming, and engaging,
but not always in a good way. She can strike up a conversation with anyone.
But that can often get her into trouble in her family life as she has had numerous
affairs with some of the men in her troubled love life. She looks for the perfect
even though it seems she has the perfect life. She always marries the good guy,
but looks for the fantasy. She is addicted to love. She is addicted to fantasy.
She is addicted to perfection.

Her first marriage was at only 18 years old to a man named Ricky Garcia. The
marriage lasted only four years. They had three children: a daughter named
Daisy and twin girls Lea and Ruthie. The marriage was not a happy one. Both
had affairs and Ricky often drank to excess with his pals. Because of this and
the fact that they married young, there was friction between the couple and they
eventually divorce. Jennifer was not really in love with Ricky; he was just a guy
who she had a crush on and was obsessed with. Sadly, Jennifer is clueless as
to what true love means. She is addicted to love. She has tasted of love, but
never digested it. She falls and falls for men, but is seems the love is often
unrequited. Jennifer took the divorce hard and struggled to make ends meet to
take care of her three girls. But despite her obsessions, she somehow managed
to be a good mother or at least raise the girls to the best of her ability.

She worked many jobs including cashier, librarian, and waiting tables.
Sometimes, she worked more than one job at a time, but writing was her
passion. At work she would fantasize about the bad boy riding on his
motorcycle, the muscular hunk with the tossled blonde hair, and the handsome
athlete with the million dollar smile. Jennifer wanted to write about these people
and make a good living, to have a better life for herself and her daughters, not
wait tables, or punch cash registers forever. She wanted to have her books
published and one day she wanted to make something out of herself. She
wanted to be somebody. Jennifer Delgado was a dreamer most of all.

She met a handsome ITT student named Antonio Sullivan, or Tony for short. In
hindsight, which was 50/50, there have been red flags about THAT union from
the start as Jennifer Delgado, ever the dreamer, never stopped dreaming about
that perfect union. Fast forward a couple of years and Tony became a Software
Technician who owned his own firm and Jennifer Delgado-Sullivan finally made
her dreams come true. At first the marriage was part of the dream life Jennifer
always wanted. Her life was the enviable life she always wanted. Life could not
be any better. Over time, Jennifer began to grow bored with her husband and
carried on affairs with other men, hoping to find that proverbial soul mate. She
wanted to find that one true love only to be disappointed.

She "met" a man named Paolo Serreti, an Italian actor with striking good looks,a
lean, muscular body and thick, wavy flaxen hair. He was certainly a gorgeous
man and could melt any woman's heart, but Jennifer, it seemed, was the object
of his affections.
"We had a whirlwind romance. We wined and dined until the wee hours of the
morning..."
It was all in Jennifer's mind. It was just a thought, and a rather silly one at that.
She and her husband had not wined and dined like that in a while. Reality kicked
in, and needless to say, Jennifer doesn't deal with reality well. Jennifer over time
was beginning to neglect her marriage and began to neglect her daughters.
Ironically, her work did not suffer as the books she published were about
fantasies that she wish were a part of her life. Her fantasies over times further
began to rule over her until there was no point of return for her marriage.