"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."~from ISAIAH 61 Bible verse for this Blog

APOLOGY to READERS who followed a SEARCH to HERE & didn't find it

On July 18, 2017, I drafted almost 3000 blog posts that I had published since 2008 when I began blogging, rather than edit each one. So if you clicked here from somewhere else and ended up with the post unavailable or error, I am sorry but this is why. It'd be too much work for me to go back and fix them. There's an explanation on 7/19/17 as I'm still learning.

Friday, September 30, 2022

RELATIONSHIP Help - Healthy or Unhealthy?

Because of my FULL MONTH plan for October, I needed to squeeze this blog post in as a Prelude, so that you might understand why RELATIONSHIP is my 2022 Word & even though I have only a few months left, I am not even close to digging into the complexities of my RELATIONSHIP(S) - mostly those earthly ones that need so much work, or I do. But any way you look at this, my RELATIONSHIPs have not been healthy, I think that I have admitted and indicated having unhealthy ones; and now I am exploring this possibility - that at least one is a Toxic Relationship. I'm just learning about this. I noticed some of the signs in the relationship of another person (dear to me) and then realized that it might also be in mine. So that is the topic of this blog post as I search and learn. Also since I am just learning something new to me, I advise you to seek the facts and truths yourselves, realizing that this is my disclaimer to any comments I make or you may read in the articles I link. Perhaps you may feel that I should wait until I know more, but right now I need to acknowledge this and hope it helps. 


As usual for me, I need to start out with defining a "toxic relationship". I read this in various places but sharing this one. Most of the links I share will lead you to other similar definitions and much more information. 

"A toxic relationship is one that makes you feel unsupported, misunderstood, demeaned, or attacked. On a basic level, any relationship that makes you feel worse rather than better can become toxic over time. Toxic relationships can exist in just about any context, from the playground to the boardroom to the bedroom " Very Well Mind "A relationship is toxic when your well-being is threatened in some way - emotionally, psychologically, and even physically." 

I have found various articles or sites that share Signs of Toxic Relationships from 5 to 7, up to 21. I chose depicting some of the Signs with this image:


  However I found this article of 21 Signs to be the most thorough and professional (in other words - trustworthy) - "21 Signs of Toxic Relationships" 
but "24 Signs You're in a Toxic Relationship and Need to Let Go" from Women's Health speaks volumes to me (and my past) - where was this back then? I skipped the intro and just skimmed the bold face 24 signs and clearly know that I indeed needed this back in my 20s and 30s for sure. 


[This is 1 of 3 Infographics shared by "Choosing Therapy" author of 21 Signs above]


Further reading showed me the Impacts of Toxic Relationships and How to Fix ... in the above article of 21 Signs ... as you continue reading, but as so often people have to be willing - willing to admit and wanting to find a remedy or change; which most often, is only one sided. Toxic relationships have long-lasting, life-changing impacts according to Psychology Today. My own experiences show me.

"Some of the physical side effects of a toxic relationship are disrupted sleep, poor nutrition, digestive issues, muscle tightness, fatigue/ feeling constantly worn down, and immunity issues (getting ill more often)." Source

The more I look (and read), the more I find and discover how much I needed this a long time ago; along with my 365 Daily Devotions ... book by Karla Downing and her excellent website and You Tube Channel - which is very helpful and it's not just for RELATIONSHIPS that are toxic. "Change My Relationship..." is continually changing me or causing me to see what I should have changed long ago in my life (but now, seemingly a little late - although I've been encouraged to hope - it's never too late (at least until you leave this earthly home). 

There's no way that I can conclude this blog post, because it's part of my on-going life process ... even though I am in the last season of my life, I am still learning and I hope changing myself and my RELATIONSHIPS - the difficult and the ones that I so appreciate that have blessed me, tolerated me and hopefully prayed for me. So I add this image as an alternative for an ending and perhaps in November & December, I can come back and summarize some progress with my 2022 Word: RELATIONSHIP - from Unhealthy to Healthy. I truly need work & God is so patient and helpful in showing me. 


Oh and one more thing - there are various Quizzes available to find out if you're in a Toxic Relationship or Who's the Toxic One... Are You in a Toxic Relationship?  These were just a few and not necessarily endorsed by me; search for your own that you feel comfortable with and beware of some. Check the source (lol).



Wednesday, September 28, 2022

The Last of my RELATIONSHIP search from JESUS LISTENS - Part 3


This is my third and final post of my search in JESUS LISTENS for My 2022 One Word - RELATIONSHIP. The last one covered August through September 29th. The first one was quite lengthy covering the entire first half of the year up until July 17th. This one will cover what's left from October - December in JESUS LISTENS, which is just a few.
 
"... My identity as a child of God gives my life meaning and purpose. My RELATIONSHIPS with other people improve as I relate to them with the love and forgiveness You've given me."~ October 23, Jesus Listens, page 310


" ... *this wastes a lot of time and energy; even worse, it distracts me from my RELATIONSHIP with You. Whenever this happens, please open my eyes so I can find You in the midst of my circumstances." ~ November 4, Jesus Listens, page 322

{I realize that *"this" does not make much sense out of the context of the full prayer}


"... Sometimes I get so focused on other things - difficulties and distractions in my life - that I *neglect my RELATIONSHIP with You. Help me to remember to put You first in my life, relating to You continually as my First Love. ..." ~ December 5, Jesus Listens, p. 355

*{I do not think I am "neglecting" my Relationship with my King, but I'm sure there were times 
in my life when I did, but not in the last 30 + years}


"... I am filled with Your fullness - flooded with You Yourself! (AMPC) (Ephesians 3:19) This is deeper, richer union than I can find in any human RELATIONSHIP. You know everything about me ..." ~p. 376, December 26, Jesus Listens


My intention of doing a search for my One Word RELATIONSHIP in my daily devotional book "Jesus Listens" of prayers & scriptures for this year was to take note and focus of the times that RELATIONSHIP is mentioned or comes up, even in a book, not specifically on RELATIONSHIPS but on the most important One in my life! Speaking with Him (through Prayer) but more importantly LISTENing to Jesus, through His Word ... has impacted me and deepened that RELATIONSHIP and made me more aware of our daily interaction (intermittently throughout the day and night) makes our RELATIONSHIP stronger. I hope that it helps me with the earthly ones and their RELATIONSHIP with Jesus (having one) and also with my other devotional for the full year to "Change My RELATIONSHIP" (that one is to basically work on earthly difficulties in RELATIONSHIPS - so I'm sure that there are many uses of the word RELATIONSHIP in that one (over 400) - on all kinds of RELATIONSHIPS (God & not so godly). The main aim of that book is to help me become healthy in my RELATIONSHIPS. It is filled with many concepts and ideas never learned or practiced in my life. It really is about a great deal of "change" needed. It starts with me. 



[I am posting this blog on a significant day with one of my family RELATIONSHIPs, that is no longer with us, this side of heaven, but I still celebrate his birthday. Our RELATIONSHIP needed work while he was here, because his role in my life affected my understanding of my Heavenly Father for many years besides the impact on our own earthly RELATIONSHIP yet he did the best he could by me & for me. Although our RELATIONSHIP was dysfunctional, he taught me many lessons and was very hard working. We were similar and yet very different in our perspectives. Some say I was his favorite, but all my life I never felt that I was, nor that I lived up to his expectations, nor that he was pleased with me. But he forgave me, in a final letter he wrote for our family, and that meant the world to me. Happy Birthday Dad! I love you.]




To my faithful visitors;
all of you who spend your valuable time here with me
I do appreciate you so much!

Thank you for taking your time to visit!

Love, Sweet blessings & Hugs!

DIOS TE BENDIGA
GOD BLESS YOU

always

Peggy