December Word of the Month: BELIEVE

          This month's word of power is BELIEVE! The word is what this blog is all about. BELIEF is what gives your words power! Even if what you speak has not come to be yet, you BELIEVE it will come to be! You BELIEVE and speak the best into yourself, others, the world! This one thing really is the only thing that determines the boundaries of your world!         
          BELIEVE is defined as, "To accept as true or real." Do you see? It's not understanding what is real because you see it in front of you.. It what you accept and hold to be true, no matter what the world suggests. You are limited only by your vision and BELIEF.
          BELIEVE is also defined as, "To have confidence or trust in something or someone." Trust yourself. God says that everything that you need to succeed is already within you. Trust Him. for the last definition of BELIEVE is, "To have firm faith!" Remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Philippians 4:13 NLJV

November Word of the Month: BALANCE

The definition of balance is, " A state of equilibrium. Emotional stability." Or "taking everything into consideration."
          BALANCE actually comes from emotional stability. To have emotional stability, you must realize that your feelings are not meant to be your only resource for making decisions. We are supposed to weigh our feelings and reason. When we have taken "all that into consideration," we can make a good decision. Purely emotional decisions, don't consider the consequences of our actions, and are usually bad decisions. Have you ever said something stupid and/or hurtful in anger? Didn't you wish you could take the words back?
          To have BALANCE you have to understand the nature of feelings and make decisions based on standards/principals. Then decision making is easy. You have clarity on what you're trying to achieve. You know what's important to you. You know what kind of person you want to be. Any decision that could lead you away from that is discarded. For example, if you want to lose 30lbs., you don't eat McFlurry's and french fries for lunch. It may sound good but it puts you farther from your goal.
          Hard times financially and sacrifices made to reach goals can seem impossible to withstand. You have to have vision. Believe you can overcome anything because it's only temporary. This peace in knowing the harvest will come is BALANCE!

October Word of the Month: AUTHORITY

          AUTHORITY means the right and power to command and judge or determine things. It also means confidence. This definition makes an important distinction. It says you have the right to the power to command! God says, "If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say unto this sycamine tree, Be plucked up by the root, and be planted in the sea; and it would obey you." Luke 17:6. KJV You have the right and power to command! You just need faith and with that comes confidence!
          This word should hold great power in your life. Any time fear holds you back, remember your God given authority! Remember, just as negative thoughts can snowball into a pity party, positive action can multiply. Action towards your goal or dream will bring confidence and a sense of relief. Then you can work towards the things that really seem impossible. Then you can have one of those moments. "I've had my moments, days in the sun. Moments I was second to none. Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do...Lookin' at me now you might not know it. But I've had my moments."(Moments by Emerson Drive) Remember, "I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 NKJV

Outwitting the Devil

In the book, ”Outwitting the Devil” the author claims that he was able to force the devil into honestly answering questions. This may or may not be true. However, if you can get past the question of the source, you can learn to think about your thoughts in a whole new way.

            The book states that the devil does not dwell in some cave or other dwelling that is called hell. He lives in your thoughts and fears. He grows in strength when you do something he calls “drifting.” He has no actual physical body. No horns and red skin like in all the movies.  He is simply negative energy that lives in the minds of those who fear him. The devil claims that the 6 most effective fears for controlling human thought are poverty, criticism, ill health, loss of love, old age, and death. The biggest lie he uses is that, “I am standing just beyond the entrance gate of the next life, waiting to claim them after death for eternal punishment.” Then he points out, “Of course I cannot punish anyone, except in that person’s own mind, through some form of fear..” When we die and go to hell, we don’t just roast in a fire. We are, “taken over be me and their mind power is added to my being.” The devil is constantly working to control our minds so that later they will become his.

            I said that the devil grows in power when you “drift.” Let me try to define this word for you. Drifting is a habit.  “A drifter is someone who permits himself to be influenced and controlled by circumstances outside his own mind.” “A drifter has lots of opinions, but they are not his own. Most of them are supplied by me.” The devil says, “I enter the minds of people through thoughts which they believe to be their own.” In other words he starts when you are young and whispers little negative lies to you until you start to take them as truth. He tricks you into going through life without direction or purpose.

            Here are some examples of drifting: 1. Going into a marriage without a plan on how to live in harmony. This causes arguments over money, nagging about chores, and arguments over social activities. 2. Drifting from job to job or in and out of school. This causes a fear or poverty and keeps you with a lack of purpose. 3. Not saving and budgeting. This takes away hope for the future and really causes a fear or poverty. 4. A thought process dominated by negativity. This causes a snowball of negative actions and makes people constantly feel like a victim.

            The sad part of what the devil does is that he enslaves people. In my last post I said this post would explain how people can act contrary to their soul their whole lives because of fear. That is because they have been drifting their whole lives. For example, once I did something clumsy and my mom said, “Geez, you are so clumsy.” Then the devil came into my head and repeated that to me over and over. Without me realizing I adopted that as a personal trait. I would describe myself that way! It made me expect to drop things and trip up. Then the world delivered what I asked for until I was convinced that it was true. When I learned the power of words I realized what had happened. I have since started dancing and catching balls and playing game that require coordination. Guess what, I’m pretty good. I am not calling it a talent (gift given by God so you can fulfill your purpose in life). Still, all that time I was giving power away to the devil!

            So my plea to you is simple. Please realize the power you have over your world through your mind and use it. Don’t give it away or let it be used against you. Remember, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as
your soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2.

September Word of the Month: ASSOCIATE

          The reason that this word is powerful is because who you chose to do it with defines who you become as a person. It doesn't shape your soul. People can act contrary to who there soul is all their lives. This is usually done out of several fears. My next post will explain this in detail. But who you chose to ASSOCIATE with determines your thoughts, desires, interests, and goals.
          Lots of people seems familiar with the phrase, "You will be and average of the 5 people you spend the most time with." But writers all over blogs and websites are giving credit to the speakers that used it. Let me first set the record straight and point out that it was Napoleon Hill in the book "Think and Grow Rich." Secondly, let me point out that the book is called "THINK...and Grow Rich." If you master your words and therefore, your thoughts, you can succeed in anything!
          So let's talk about ASSOCIATION and how it affects who you are as a person. People are just wired this way. Remember in high school. Didn't everyone have small groups of friends. Football players all hung out together. Cheerleaders at my school were like the "it" crowd. All guys wanted to date them. Later you go to college and you have fraternities, sororities, and all the pot heads. You get into the real world and you get a job. You start hanging out with co-workers. Or you have college buddies over to watch football/NASCAR. You get older and you have kids. Now you hang out with all people with kids and talk about kids. When you are old you have friends over and play bridge or go to book clubs. When you make a friend you are looking for what you have in common.
          If you start hanging out with someone for a book club you may discuss things about the books. But then, you start to pick up each others speech patterns. Perhaps you don't have kids yet but all your friends do. How long will it be before those cute clothes, smiles, and sappy stories make you want kids too? If you hang out with people that are on unemployment and don't want a job. People who trash talk the government but want government to pay for everything. You will eventually develop a little entitlement mentality or start to dislike the government as well. You might hang out with a wiccan person and suffer some doubt about your christianity.  I'm not saying that you can't be christian and have a wiccan friend. I'm saying that if your do, you need to be positive of your beliefs. You need to be able to hear that friend and still keep your thoughts centered on your principal beliefs. Decide what is open for debate in your mind and what is not.
          Just as having someone be negative around you can hurt you by ASSOCIATION. Having someone positive around you can help keep you positive. It can give you a place to explore possibilities. John Maxwell once said that he doesn't build his weaknesses. He builds his strengths. Then he surrounds himself with people that are strong in the areas that he is weak. This method of ASSOCIATION is amazing! It makes you constantly feel as if you can do anything. It frees you up to just be the best you that you can be.
          Given all the we have just said about ASSOCIATION, I want you to stop and think for a minute. First, who are the 5 people you ASSOCIATE with the most? Is that really the ASSOCIATION that will get you what you want? Second, are you on someone's top 5 list? What impact is your ASSOCIATION having on their life?...

August Word of the Month: APPRECIATE

          APPRECIATE is a powerful word simply because you need to learn to do it. You need to have an attitude of gratitude. Learn to APPRECIATE everything. Time, money, possessions, relationships, family, and even your talents and abilities.
           Time with family is precious and needs to be APPRECIATED. Even if you only have a small amount of time with family, make it quality time. Life is a series of moments. When we leave this earth people remember and tell stories about those moments. So make them great stories. Remember to laugh and to cry and to laugh so hard that you cry!
           Many people don't APPRECIATE their money. All they think about is needing more. If you don't APPRECIATE what you have and mange it well, you will not be trusted with more.  So learn to budget money. Put your money towards things that show your priorities in life. Don't dwiddle away money on small immediate gratification. The bigger price you pay in immediate gratification the large a harvest you will reap when it's time to bring in your crop.
           If you APPRECIATE things, then you take better care of what you have and you work harder for the things that you want. You also have more respect for other people's property. For example, if you own a book, how do you treat it? Most people dog ear the pages. The binding of their books is split and pages are almost falling out. However, if they borrow a book from a library they return it in good condition. They don't want to have to pay for the book because of damages. Some people are so selfish that this works the other way. They treat their stuff like it was made of precious gold. Other peoples stuff doesn't matter to them. Therefore, they treat other people's property poorly. They throw it into a dirty seat in the car. They mark on the pages. They tear pages as they turn them. Other people just don't care about anyone's property. They will trash their stuff and other people's stuff. These last two type's are the people who write on bathroom stalls. There is a sub-group of these people that really bother me. They always write W.W.J.D. on the walls. My thoughts when I see that are, "Probably NOT write on public property!" If you APPRECIATE things and are grateful for what you have and the blessing people bring to your life, then you can truly appreciate the things you don't have and will work harder to get them. Plus, like I said before, the better you take care of what you have the more with which you will be trusted.
           Learn that everyone in your life can teach you something. Everyone you meet has value for that reason. Then you APPRECIATE everyone that comes into your life. Show that you appreciate people by having an attitude of gratitude. You show this attitude by listening to and serving them. When they express a need, try to fill it. That attitude of gratitude will make others APPRECIATE you more as well.
          Also APPRECIATE your own work. Take pride in what you do. If you live a life of significance that is based on principles, you will take certain actions. Gratitude that you are able to take that action and an APPRECIATION for the significance of that action gives you a sense of purpose!

July Word of the Month: AFFECT

          This word has power because it is your power. AFFECT means to influence or change or to touch the emotions of something. You can control you attitude and your actions. You can AFFECT them. Likewise you can AFFECT people around you. You can influence them by your attitude and actions. You can AFFECT what type of things happen to you. When you sow good actions you reap good reactions from others. This translates into opportunities and even material gains.
          I have talked many times about speaking thing into existence. You can speak how you feel about yourself and different situations. You can use your words to change your attitude. Your words AFFECT your thought process and with that, your emotions. The way you feel AFFECTS the way that you act. The way you act AFFECTS the way others perceive you.  The way others see you gives you influence over them. If you have a positive influence over them, you have power to AFFECT them.
          When you sow good seed, do good things, and stay positive you AFFECT the world around you. You start to attract good things and new opportunities. For example, your boss and other co-workers watch how you treat people at work. If you are good to a co-worker your boss may see you as a possible canidate for a management job. Or if you donate to American Cancer Society you might later receive a kidney when you need it. Sometimes you sow seed in one area of your life and reap a harvest in a different area. Maybe you help a friend with a place to stay while he is broke and laid off. However, maybe you reap a harvest by being blessed with a healthy family.
          So the next time that you feel stuck in a situation that makes you unhappy, look at the situation again. Maybe your actions can AFFECT it. If not you can always change you attitude about it. Lastly, maybe you aren't as stuck as you think. Maybe you are being pushed to move in another direction that you can't see yet. Remember AFFECT also means to change...

June Word of the Month: ADVENTURE

          ADVENTURE means to take a risk and to have an unusual or exciting experience! ADVENTURE is a powerful word because you should see much of life as an ADVENTURE.  Many people go to work, come home, watch tv, go to bed, and get up to do it all over again. They take no risks and they don't ever experience anything new, let alone exciting.
          You should always be trying new things and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. It builds character and teaches you to have confidence.  You have to take risks in order to gain confidence to take bigger ones. But when you do step out of your comfort zone and manage to survive it makes you feel like you did something of significance!
         The hardest part of chasing an ADVENTURE is having faith. I don't mean that in a spiritual way. Although that type of faith helps as well. By faith I mean certain belief in something. You need faith that you can do whatever you are setting out to do. You need faith that whatever circumstances are set before you, that you can overcome them. What gives you that faith? It's the knowledge that something greater lies ahead. For me that knowledge comes from spiritual faith. I believe that God wants me to prosper and be in good health, even as my soul prospers. (3 John 1:2) That knowledge that I will overcome gives me the faith to take risks, because they aren't really risks. That doesn't mean that I'm not scared or embarrassed. It just means that I am motivated to do it anyway. If you weren't scared or nervous or embarrassed, it wouldn't be an ADVENTURE!
   

Apology

          I want to apologize for not posting for so long. Someone sent me a virus that hacked all my email accounts and all my Google applications. I had to track down the virus and notify contacts that the virus was sending emails to them. Then I had to verify my ID and clean everything up.
          I will go ahead and post The Word of the Month posts for June- August all at once. Then hopefully we can get back to normal. Again I apologize to all readers. 

          I was totally taken back by the new look of blogger, but I really like it. I'm also using this post as a test. I was told that I could schedule posts I have already wrote to post at certain times. That would really help me get my, "Word of the Month" post out on time.
          Also I should mention that all the definition for the "Word of the Month" posts come from a the same dictionary. It is an American Heritage Dictionary-Third Edition.

May Word of the Month: ACTION

          ACTION means the state or  process of acting or doing. It means habitual or vigorous activity. It is defined simply as combat but also as important or exciting work. Action is a word of great power because it is something you can control. You and you alone decide how you will ACT and react to things. There are always circumstances in life but we decide how to react to them. It is simply a decision to stand still or move forward.
          ACTION truly is a process. Nothing worth having was ever easy to obtain. You take repeated small ACTIONS that add up to a larger result. You eat right each day and exercise each day or week to lose weight, for example. It is the ACTION that you take that makes the result rewarding and appreciated.
          ACTION is often habitual. Habits reveal the character, values, and goals of a person.  Your repeated ACTION suggests your priorities.  A person that wants to be healthy makes a habit of going to the gym. A person that makes there garden a priority every day, takes ACTION and weeds it daily.
          ACTION is defined as important or exciting work.  Every ACTION you take is extremely important! Every decision you make will effect you the rest of your life. You will have feelings about whether or not you took the proper ACTION. Those thoughts form your self image. They determine how your decide to ACT later. Who you are and how you are perceived by others is shaped by your ACTIONS. Besides if you are going to take ACTION, taking important and sometimes difficult ACTION, makes life more significant and fulfilling!      
           My favorite definition of ACTION is combat!  If you are taking important ACTION, then you are truly in combat. You are fighting for your principles and to kill your comfort zone. It is often hard to do what is right. It is usually not the easiest course of ACTION, but it is the right one. I dont know anyone that doesn't want to feel that their life meant something and/or that someone will remember them. People usually say they want to feel they, "made a mark on the world." You have a life of significance like that by being strong enough to take the hard ACTION consistently!
   

April Word of the Month: ABUNDANCE

          ABUNDANCE is such a powerful word! Even as I began to write this post I was feeling very unhappy. I felt as if I had an abundance of negative things in my life. I sat down and thought, "How do I write on this word when I don't feel I have it?"
          Then I went out on my porch and started listening to the birds chirp and I watch the morning mist literally roll by the door.  I remembered that it was Easter and what the holiday is celebrating. It's about the death and resurrection of Chist. God sent his only son to die for us. That reminded me of his love and how it says in the bible that God wants us to prosper and live a life of ABUNDANCE. Then I thought about all the blessings I have in my life. I thought about my awesome husband! I thought about our recent trip to Boone, NC to stay with friends Joseph and Misty Quattlebaum.  The trip was lots of fun! But it would have been boring without the company of such wonderful friends! I thought about the friends I'm going to see today. Friends that were more comforting than family when my dad passed and I fell apart! Truely I have an abundance of blessings in my life! The small stuff is really just small stuff. In five years it will not matter. But the good will still be there.
          ABUNDANCE is a powerful word! We all need to learn to see that ABUNDANCE of blessings in our life. I don't just mean at Thanksgiving, but everyday! Here is another key to harnessing the power of the word ABUNDANCE.  If you generally see that glass as half full. If you generally see the good in all things. You will generally find the good in all things. When all things are good, you have an ABUNDANCE, because it is all things! So right there is a daily action plan to harness the power of the word ABUNDANCE. Start looking daily at things and people with a positive attitude. Find the good in them until truely your cup runneth over!

Best Company Slogans

          Adverstising often uses the power of words to reach customers. Some companies understand customers very well and know how to appeal to them.  Here are some of the most insightful ones. I have grouped them according to the part of their customers to which they appeal.        
          Many of the technology companies have slogans about dreams and imagination. Some examples are  Agilent: "Dreams Made Real", Anritsu: "Discover What's Possible", and Cadence: "How Big Can You Dream?".  
          Many companies also paint an image of excellence. Some examples are  Airbus: "Setting the Standards", Ball Corporation: "The Leader in Small Space and Rocket Systems", BP Microsystems: "Setting the standard in Device Programming", and Cingular Wireless: "Raising the Bar". This is a very good slogan because it also plays on the multiple meanings of the word bar. Meaning both a long straight piece of material and bars that measure cell phone signal strength. 
          Other companies play on the fact that we have become a "microwave nation". We want what we want and we want it, and we want it NOW! Here are some examples Cisco Systems: "This is the Power of the Network. Now.", Dell Computer: "Get More out of Now",  Intersil: "Technology at the Speed of Life", and Thor Labs: "Photonics in the Fast Lane". 
          Other companies play on our dreams of a high tech future like The Jetsons. For example Ericsson: "Taking You Forward", Ford: "Built for the Road Ahead", IDT: "Powering What's Next", and Micron: "The Future of Memory".   
          Some companies understand the human need to be in control and make you feel they offer you just such control.  Companies like AMX: "It's Your World. Take Control", AT&T: "Your World. Delivered", General Dynamics: "Strength On Your Side", IFI: "The Power of Choice", Lockheed Martin: "We Never Forget Who We're Working For", RCAT Systems: "You push the limits. We measure it.", Vodafone: "How Are You?", and Verizon Wireless: "Can You Hear Me Now? Good.".
          Other companies focus on offering you simplicity. For example Linx Technologies: "Wireless Made Simple", Philips: "Sense and Simplicity", and vidaRF: "Simple Solutions for Complex Connections".
          Some companies have begun to understand the power of social networking and gear their advertising to promote networking and connections. Some examples are Linksys: "At Linksys - We are making connectivity easier", MegaPhase: "Our Customers Connect With Us™", and Nokia: "Connecting People".
          All these companies have been successful because they understood that words had power. They knew that, for example, the humor of the Verizon, "Can you hear me now?" slogan would stick in your head. They knew you would joke with friends about it. They were counting on it! They spend big bucks paying people to tell them how to get in your head. Words, slogans, and especially catchy jingles have the power to put any company in the front of your mind. With most people the brand they think has the most name recognition is the brand they consider to be the most used, best quality, and most trust-worthy brand.  I mean who doesn't remember, "doublemint, doublemint, go on and double it.."? Or "Always coca-cola..!" Or even, "My bologna has a first name. It's O-S-C-A-R...Cause Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A."? If it wasn't for that jingle I would not know how to spell bologna! 
          The point as always is folks, WORDS have power! Learn how to harness that power and use it to your advantage!
  

March's Word of the Month: ABSOLUTE

          ABSOLUTE means certain, positive, and not limited by restrictions.  This is one of the most powerful words I know.   I have said many times that you speak what you want into your life. To be able to speak those things you have to know ABSOLUTELY what it is you want in life.
          There is nothing that will make your life easier and bring you more peace than to be ABSOLUTELY positive about what your purpose is for living.  When you know what you are trying to achieve you make decisions based on whether they take you closer to or farther from your goal.  Suddenly you don't have to stress over decisions!
          ABSOLUTE also means not limited by restrictions. I love this word because it gives you freedom! When you are ABSOLUTE, you are determined to achieve something despite ALL obstacles.  Being ABSOLUTE means that you refuse to entertain the idea of failure. That gives you a huge sense of freedom. It makes choices and options seem possible that before seemed crazy. When you are ABSOLUTE you are looking for those options and the things you are looking for seem to present themselves. For example, let's says that you just bought a new Subaru Forester.  You may not have known anyone with this car. You may not remember seeing any in your town. However, as soon as you buy the car it is in the front of your thought process.  Now everywhere you go you keep seeing people with a Subaru Forester.  The same is true with goals.  If they are in the front of your thought process, ways to achieve them will appear before you!
          The key to ABSOLUTENESS is knowing that what you want is so strong of a desire that you would do anything for it. That you would sacrifice now to have this later. You have to know that is an easy sellout appears that you won't take it.  ABSOLUTE means concrete or root deep certainty that you will accept no alternative! People are drawn to someone that is in the hunt! Someone with that gleam in their eye that says I'm chasing a dream!
          Do you have something in your heart worth fighting for with ABSOLUTENESS?

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Leaky Faucet

          Sometimes our mouth is like a leaky faucet. Words just keep dripping out. We have to take intentional action to stop them.  We have to pull out a big wrench and clamp everything down tight!  Then when we turn on the water, it has to be ran through a filter!

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Febuary's Word of the Month: ABILITY

          I have decided to go through the dictionary alphabetically. I will chose one word a month that I feel has power and significance in my life. This month I have chose the word ABILITY!
         ABILITY means, "The power to do something. A skill or talent." This word is powerful! It literally means power! You have the ABILITY to do great things in this life! What sort of things do you chose to do? You have the ABILITY to live a life of significance!
          It is my personal belief that God gave everyone a specific set of ABILITIES so that they could fufill a divine purpose in this life! I believe that you should not dwell on skills you lack. Everything you need to succeed is within you. Instead I believe we should focus on our strongest ABILITIES and fufilling our purpose!
          What do you, my readers, consider to be some of your ABILITIES? Do you have a special talent? Can you sing or draw? Are you a poet? Maybe you can dance or act..I love to write! Do you have dreams of doing something with those ABILITIES?
          Remember ABILITY means power! So speak your ABILITIES boldly! Then watch as both you and your ABILITIES grow!

Word of the Month

          I want to start this post by saying thank you to all of those who have consistently supported me and continued to follow this blog! It means a great deal to me and I hope it has been a positive influence for you. However, this blog has lacked that same consistency. I have posted simply when the mood stuck me. I now will be posting once a month. This should help me be more focused on the positive. It should also give my readers a deserved comfort of knowing when to expect a post. Each month the post will be of a word that I feel has great power in my life and can in yours! These posts will be posted on the 1st of each month (starting Feb. 1st) unless I face some unexpected situation. Then they will be posted as soon as possible afterwards. I may still post other things as I am inspired. So I hope you will join me for a consistent study of the power of words!