A CHILD'S LETTER

DO YOU SEE ME?

Sometimes I’m too little to explain what’s going on with me. The pain I feel, the confusion, the betrayal. At times I tried to tell you, but you misunderstood me. Maybe you didn’t believe me or is it you didn’t want to believe that? I don’t like it when you leave me alone with them and no, I don’t want them to babysit me or make me go for a trip to the store with them. I trusted them and looked up to them, or did you bring them into our family thinking YOU trusted them? It’s not fair I can’t hurt them the way they hurt me, so I hide. No one can protect me from this monster, so I hide. Even when I  pretend to be invisible they find me. I tell them I don’t like it, but they ignore me. I wish someone would help me, SEE ME! I’m not the same happy child I used to be, don’t you see? I cry when I’m by myself because I don’t know what to do. I pray, Lord, please make the monster stop.

I’m a little older now, and they still find me. Not as much anymore, but they still hurt me. I wish you could see what I see. Please look closer, they pretend well. They said if I told anyone, especially you, that I would get in trouble. They even said they would hurt you. So I kept silent. I don’t feel good about what’s going on. What did I do to deserve this? Is anyone else going through this? Are my friends? I don’t want to tell them because they might not like me, so again, I keep silent. My grades are slipping, and I don’t care about how I look. The worse I look and the more clothes I put on, maybe they’ll leave me alone. I’m running away the first chance I get because I don’t feel safe here. I’m getting high or drunk the first time it’s offered, to help me

 
to forget. You couldn’t protect me, or you didn’t care. Don’t you see?

I have someone to protect me. They didn’t understand why it took so long for me to trust them. I was broken into pieces when they found me. Years have gone by and one by one we put the pieces back together. I learned how to love myself, and know my worth. I am somebody, and I will not let the actions of a monster dictate how my life turns out. It was not my fault and it wasn’t anything I did to provoke what happened. And now I’m a parent and I SEE YOU. -L.G.London

WRITE UP FRONT

WRITE UP FRONT

L.G.LONDON:  on real life, real people with “LONDONTALKS”

With an upcoming podcast in the works, time is really a luxury I look forward to. Never give up and pursue your dreams, if God gave it to you, believe it and stay on it. I’m blessed in all I have and fortunate for what’s to come. No-one, even I, thought that I would be the author of 3 published books and 3 more in process! Starting 3 other businesses which will all tie in together for my fathers' Kingdom! But God! Stay encouraged and on focus-L.G.

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

THE POWER OF THINKING

“Self-talk”. Endless thoughts of unspoken words running through your head. These thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of these “self-talks” can come from logic and reason. Other self-talks can come from misconceptions that you create from lack of information.

Positive thinking often starts with “self-talks”. It doesn’t mean that you ignore the reality of things going on in your life or the world, it just means that you have chosen to approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive manner. You have chosen that the best is going to happen and not the worst.

If the thoughts that run through your head are mostly negative, most likely your outlook on life is pessimistic (glass half empty). If your thoughts are mostly positive, you are likely optimistic (glass half full).

How do you know that your thoughts are negative? Here are common forms of negative thinking:

·      Filtering: you magnify the negative aspects of a situation and filter out all the positive ones. For example, even though you had a good day at work and completed all your assignments and you were given compliments on your work for doing such a good job. Later on that day, you focus on doing even more tasks and forget about the compliments you were given.

·      Personalizing: when anything bad happens, you immediately blame yourself. Let’s say for an example, you had plans to go out that evening with some friends and it gets cancelled, and you assume that they cancelled the plans because they didn’t want to be around you.

·      Catastrophizing: you immediately anticipate the worst. You spill coffee on your shirt and right away you think the rest of your day is going to be a disaster.

·      Polarizing: you see things as either good or bad. There is no in-between. You feel that you have to be perfect or you’re a total failure.

You can change the “habit” of negative thinking. The process is simple but with practice and time it can be done. You can start the process by identifying areas of change. First identify areas of your life that you think negative about, it could be work, a relationship, or your lifestyle. Tell yourself that in these areas you are going to start thinking positive.

Check yourself throughout the day, stop and evaluate what you’re thinking. Are your thoughts negative? If you find that they are, try to find a way to turn it around and put a positive spin on it.

Be open to humor. Give yourself permission to smile or laugh especially during difficult times. Seek humor in everyday happenings. When you laugh at life, you feel less stress.

Follow a healthy lifestyle. Exercise at least three times a week to positively affect mood and reduce stress. Follow a healthy diet to fuel your mind and body. Learn techniques to manage stress.

Mostly and importantly is to surround yourself with positive people. Make sure those in your life are positive, supportive people you can depend on to give helpful advice and feedback. Negative people increase stress levels, remember “misery likes company”, and “birds of a feather, flock together!”

Another step is to practice positive self-talk. Follow one simple rule: Don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to anyone else. Be gentle and encouraging with yourself. If a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and react with affirmations of what is good about you.

Putting positive thinking into practice

Negative self-talk	Positive thinking
I've never done it before.	It's an opportunity to learn something new.
It's too complicated.	I'll tackle it from a different angle.
I don't have the resources.	Necessity is the mother of invention.
I'm too lazy to get this done.	I wasn't able to fit it into my schedule, but I can re-examine some priorities.
There's no way it will work.	I can try to make it work.
It's too radical a change.	Let's take a chance.
No one bothers to communicate with me.	I'll see if I can open the channels of communication.
I'm not going to get any better at this.	I'll give it another try.

Some of the benefits of positive thinking are:

• Increased life span
• Lower rates of depression
• Lower levels of distress
• Greater resistance to the common cold
• Better psychological and physical well-being
• Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

I pray that this helps someone in the way that you think, and the way you approach life. I frequently had headaches and migraines until I used some of these methods of thinking. What I can change…I do, what I can’t…. I put in the hands of God. May God bless you.  – L.G. London

The Rose of Jericho

The Rose of Jericho

One of the names of this plant is, “the resurrection plant”.  It can grow in rocky landscape, extreme heat, or in dry soil. When the soil is moist after infrequent rain, this plant will absorb the water and grow rapidly.  When the soil dries, it cannot store water; instead it folds up its stems and tightens into a ball. It will then go into a state of dormancy. All the metabolic functions will reduce to a bare minimum, appearing to be dead. It can remain in this dormant condition for years. When the rain returns, the plant’s cells rehydrate. The stems unfold, metabolism increases, and growth resumes. Even DEAD resurrection plants will unfold if given water; re-hydrated cells expand even when there is no living protoplasm in them. The “Rose of Jericho’s” ability to seemingly return from the dead justifies its common name. They have survived millions of years, and adapting to its surroundings has been the key to its survival. It is an eminent example of perseverance.

Source: Karak Agro

Most of us will go through stages like the “Rose of Jericho”.  From death of loved ones, financial debts, loneliness, abuse, being misunderstood, or heart-broken, whatever the case may be. The circumstances has left you depleted and dried up, causing you to “tighten up in a ball”, appearing to be dead. You may have lost your joy, and depression and anxiety has replaced your peace. You may even feel like you can’t go on like this and you don’t want to face another day in this state because in your mind you feel like things will never change or get better. I want you to know that rain WILL come! If you give up now, how will you see your children/grandchildren when they’re grown? If you give up now, how will you know that the breakthrough or cure is around the corner? If you give up now, how will you meet the soul-mate that GOD ordained for you, not the one that left? Did he/she really give 100% to the relationship? Did they love you as much as you loved them? When you are apart, are they excited to see you again as you are them? If there is a no to any of those questions, you are better off without them. Nothing and no one is worth giving up for. Not a debt, or illness. NOTHING.  I have a friend who 3 years ago was diagnosed with Lupus. The majority of the time she was racked with pain and rarely left her house. Another dear friend of mine started a prayer line that she felt God lead her to do. Maybe 2 months of being on the prayer line that she faithfully, and daily went on, she testified that she had come from the Dr.’s office where they ran tests to check her levels, they found no traces of the Lupus!!!! Praise be to God!!! So there are still miracles being done. She is now going out ministering and attending church. She is enjoying life again and yesterday she told me that she feels like her old self again!!! What if she had given up? She wouldn't have seen that life got better. It also matters that she is surrounded by people who pour words of life into her, and a God who gave her “Living Water!”  Who do you have around you? Have positive people around you who care for you and pray life into your soul. Ask God to give you that living water to bring you back to life! Whatever you need prayer for, send an email to lglpublishing@gmail. I will add your request to the prayer list or call the line M-F PST 6pm @ 712-832-8310, then press 6553027# God bless.  –L.G.London

THE POWER OF FORGIVING.

THE POWER OF FORGIVING.

Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense, lets go of negative emotions such as vengefulness, with an increased ability to wish the offender well.

Almost everyone you know has been hurt by words or actions of someone. It may have even been by a stranger that said offensive remarks to you, maybe a co-worker who lied about you or spread malicious rumors and gossip about you. Maybe it was your partner who had an affair, or a family member who betrayed you. Or even someone you considered a friend who hurt you. These wounds can leave you with lasting feelings of anger, mistrust, bitterness or even vengeance.

But if you don’t learn to forgive, you might be the one who pays dearly for it. By forgiving you can have peace, hope, gratitude and joy.

Forgiveness helps you emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

When you forgive it helps you to move forward and focus on more positive parts of your life.

Sometimes when you forgive you will even begin to have some sort of compassion, or understanding for the one who hurt you. It doesn’t mean they’re not responsible for the hurt, nor does it minimize or justify the wrong done to you. We can forgive the person without excusing the act.

When you let go of grudges and bitterness it can lead to:

•   Healthier relationships
• Greater spiritual and psychological well-being
• Less anxiety, stress and hostility
• Lower blood pressure
• Fewer symptoms of depression
• Stronger immune system
• Improved heart health
• Higher self-esteem

It’s easy to hold a grudge when the one who hurt you is someone you loved and trusted. Trust me when I say you might become angry, sad or confused. You expect the offensive act to come from an enemy, stranger or opponent, but when it’s from someone close to you it totally blindsides you. When you are caught off guard, confusion may be one of the first emotions, then anger, that they would do that, then sadness that it occurred. If you choose to dwell on the hurtful situations, grudge filled with resentment, vengeance and hostility can take root. And if you continue to think on the negativity, it will overtake positive feelings and you might find yourself consumed with bitterness and a sense of injustice done towards you.

When we choose to not forgive, (and I’ve experienced some of these) expect some of the following to happen. You may:

• Bring anger and bitterness into every relationship and new experience
• Become so wrapped up in the wrong that you can't enjoy the present
• Become depressed or anxious
• Feel that your life lacks meaning or purpose, or that you're at odds with your spiritual beliefs
• Lose valuable and enriching connectedness with others

To forgive means to commit to a process of changing. To begin you might want to:

• Consider the value of forgiveness and its importance in your life at a given time
• Reflect on the facts of the situation, how you've reacted, and how this combination has affected your life, health and well-being
• Move away from your role as victim and release the control and power the offending person and situation have had in your life
• Remember Colossians 3:13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another. If any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Forgiveness is not easy, especially when the person who hurt you does not admit to wrong doing or express sorrow for the act. If this is the case and you find that it bothers you:

• Consider the situation from the other person's point of view.
• Ask yourself why he or she would behave in such a way. Perhaps you would have reacted similarly if you faced the same situation.
• Reflect on times you've hurt others and on those who've forgiven you.
• Write in a journal, pray  — or talk with a person you've found to be wise and compassionate, such as a spiritual leader, a mental health provider, or an impartial loved one or friend.
• Be aware that forgiveness is a process and even small hurts may need to be revisited and forgiven over and over again.

I want to leave some Q&A’s that I hope will help you in achieving your state of forgiveness.

Does forgiveness guarantee reconciliation?

If the hurtful event involved someone whose relationship you otherwise value, forgiveness can lead to reconciliation. This isn't always the case, however.

Reconciliation might be impossible if the offender has died or is unwilling to communicate with you. In other cases, reconciliation might not be appropriate. Still, forgiveness is possible — even if reconciliation isn't.

What if I have to interact with the person who hurt me but I don't want to?

If you haven't reached a state of forgiveness, being near the person who hurt you might prompt you to be tense and stressful. To handle these situations:

• Remember that you can choose to attend or avoid specific functions and gatherings. If you choose to attend, don't be surprised by a certain amount of awkwardness and perhaps even more intense feelings.
• Respect yourself and do what seems best.
• Do your best to keep an open heart and mind. You might find that the experience helps you to move forward with forgiveness.

What if the person I'm forgiving doesn't change?

Getting another person to change his or her actions, behavior or words isn't the point of forgiveness. Think of forgiveness more about how it can change your life — by bringing you peace, happiness, and emotional and spiritual healing. Forgiveness can take away the power the other person continues to wield in your life.

What if I'm the one who needs forgiveness?

The first step is to honestly assess and acknowledge the wrongs you've done and how those wrongs have affected others. At the same time, avoid judging yourself too harshly. You're human, and you'll make mistakes.

If you're truly sorry for something you've said or done, consider admitting it to those you've harmed. Speak of your sincere sorrow or regret, and specifically ask for forgiveness — without making excuses.

Remember, however, you can't force someone to forgive you. Others need to move to forgiveness in their own time. Whatever the outcome, commit to treating others with compassion, empathy and respect.

One of the most memorable times of forgiveness I experienced was when I was at work. There was a woman co-worker who for whatever reason developed a strong dislike for me. I’ve never given her any reason to have that attitude towards me but no matter how I tried to be nice to her, she had made it up in her mind that at all costs, she had to get rid of me. This woman made my life a living nightmare. She was going to my boss with complaints ranging from me talking and laughing to who I was teamed up to work with. When she wasn’t complaining about me laughing, she had a problem with the way I came into work without a smile. She even made special trips to Human Resources a couple times a week to complain about me. My bosses never called me in and HR never told me about the complaints. Because she loved to brag about what she was doing to me is how I found out. When she saw that nothing was being done from management she then began nasty rumors and slandering. It got to the point I wanted to quit. She was married to one of the Engineers who worked with management so I felt that maybe she had influence and could persuade them into believing her lies. My faith was truly tested. I didn’t understand why this was happening to me and why God was allowing it. I wanted to confront her and really put her in her place but God had other plans. He told me to hold my peace and he would fight my battle. It was one of the hardest things I had to do. This went on for a year and a half of not speaking out, not reacting negatively. During one of the many times I was crying out to the Lord about the injustice that was being done to me I heard in my spirit, “Pray for her”. WHAT?!! That was the first thing honestly that came to me, and almost every time I prayed I could hear that voice telling me, “Pray for her”. When I opened the bible for my daily study, the words “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hurt you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44. When I saw those words I knew what I had to do. At first I tried to pray for her out of obedience, but when I heard, “And mean it!” I knew I had to dig deeper. I kept praying for her until I actually meant it. I started thinking maybe she was going through something and that’s why she’s like that. I was still praying for her when the news came that she was being moved to another area. She continued to spread rumors of me but at least I didn’t have to be in close contact of her. I noticed after a while that I hadn’t seen her and heard she was on a medical. I still felt lead to pray for her, that her heart would change and whatever she was going through that the Lord would help her. Before long I heard she had been fired. I believe God gave her chances to change her heart and due to her own devices the traps and snares she had for me, she fell into.

Forgiveness is sometimes hard, but living with hatred, bitterness and anger is harder. Forgive someone today.

Love and Peace.   –L.G.