How to Turn Broken Dreams into New Beginnings

Whitney Hopler, Crosswalk.com Contributing Write

Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Sheridan Voysey's upcoming book, Resurrection Year: Turning Broken Dreams into New Beginnings (Thomas Nelson, 2013).

Have you ever had a dream you hoped would come true break apart instead? From a dream of parenthood that’s dashed by infertility to a dream about a career that eludes you when you can’t get a job in your field, broken dreams are a fact of life in this fallen world.

Experiencing a broken dream in your life can make you feel as if your hope has died along with your dream. But broken dreams are more than just endings; they’re also opportunities for new beginnings. The sadness and anger you feel can give way to peace and joy – if you choose to trust God to help you move on from the death of your dream to experience a life that’s full of His resurrection power.

Experiencing the Power of God’s Love

Written by Christina Patterson

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Jesus loves you. I’m really serious. Jesus loves you. I know you have heard it from your Sunday school teacher, your Christian friend, and that bumper sticker on the car that cut you off this morning. You have may have heard it so much that its meaning and power have diminished in your heart and mind.

God’s love for us is not some cliché that looks nice on a T-shirt or sounds good in a song. His love is power. His love is freedom. His love changes things.

Who Defines Your Worth?

Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
"You are precious and honored in my sight…" (Isaiah 43:4a, NIV).

Friend to Friend
Years ago, I bought my daughter a really cute jacket at the mall. It was a hoodie made of a cuddly fabric with cream, lavender, and mint green horizontal stripes. The jacket zipped up in the front and was well crafted, stylish, and simply adorable.

When I bought it, I felt like the price on the tag was a fair one, so I gladly pulled out my wallet and paid the retail amount. I was a kid in a candy store on the way home - fully anticipating a shriek of happiness from my little bag-of-beans when I gave it to her.

Delightfully, I wasn't disappointed. Kennedy loved her new coat, and I was pleased with my purchase. Happy dances all around… until a week later, when I saw the same jacket in the same store at a greatly reduced price. Are you tensing up with me? Suddenly, I felt schnookered! Ripped off. Taken advantage of. As soon as I saw the red line on the price tag of the unsold coats, everything changed in my mind – Kennedy's jacket wasn't worth what I paid for it.

How Your New Zodiac Sign Affects Your Diet Habits

By Theresa DeLay - DietsInReview.com

For some, following the Zodiac is a way of life. Whether a sun sign or a water sign, you can chock up a lot about who you are, and how are others are, based on when you were born and the alignment of the sun, moon, and stars on that date. People peg their personality, likes, dislikes, mannerisms, and more on their astrological sign. To some it's quality entertainment, to others, it's a cornerstone of their identity.

So if your astrological sign applies to all of that, why not link your diet habits to your astrological sign? Here's an overview of how each sign tends to diet. Does yours align, or did it miss the mark?

Dogs, Noseprints And Fingerprints

by walkertexasranger omments

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Your Life Is Shaped by Your Thoughts

by Rick Warren “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (Romans 12:2 NLT) You cannot become all God created you to be until you understand the five factors that influence your identity. The first two are chemistry (how you are made) and connections (your relationships). You are a product of the way God created you and of the relationships in your life.

Newsweek cover: Obama ‘first gay president’

By Dylan Stableford | The Ticket

It won't be nearly as controversial as Time magazine's breastfeeding cover, but Newsweek's May 21 issue declares Barack Obama the country's "first gay president."

The accompanying cover story was written by Andrew Sullivan, the popular--and openly gay--political blogger. The magazine even gives the commander-in-chief a rainbow halo.

How to avoid losing yourself in a relationship

By Tiffany Bailey | Yahoo! Contributor Network

When you are involved with someone for a long time, there is a possibility that you can lose yourself. The identity that you had before meeting your partner is still under the surface, but may need to be unleashed once in a while. It is important that you still have your own voice and opinions, even in the relationship. In order to avoid losing you, try to keep your routine the same. These are some activities you should continue to do, even after you are no longer single.

Keep your own voice

Make sure that you continue to speak for yourself. Giving someone else the power to voice opinions on your behalf can be incredibly dangerous. Even if you don't agree with what your partner does, don't sway just to please him. Keeping true to your beliefs will help you remain true to yourself and the people around you. I watched as a good friend lost her voice entirely in her relationship. She was having issues thinking for herself, and it seemed like she completely lost herself. It was incredibly sad to watch.

Remember who your friends are

Often when entering a new relationship, you lose sight of the people that have stuck by you through thick and thin. Your friends should remain important and highly active in your life. Continue to do the stuff you did with them before meeting your partner. If you are busier with your new situation, make sure you at least make time for your friends by going out once or twice a month. When I began dating my current boyfriend, it was hard for me to balance both. I was only able to see him on weekends due to work and distance, so I neglected my friends. It was not one of my finer moments, but I rectified the situation and things got better.

Develop an identity that is a mix between the new and old you

If you are putting on a "front" because of the new relationship, chances are people will notice. Finding an easy medium is the best way to go about this. Figure out what you will and won't compromise on, and go from there. Changing who you are in order to be with someone is not standard procedure. Make sure you know who you are, with and without him in your life. In the long run you will be happier and more comfortable in your own skin.

When you enter a partnership things are bound to change. Make sure you continue to be yourself and don't allow anyone to influence you otherwise. If you can't be the person you were before meeting him, it is not worth the continuation of the relationship. Remember that being yourself is the best and only way to go.

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