Book Review: The Confident Woman by Joyce Meyer

The book starts out like most Meyer books and while it could probably be at once gripping to a Joyce Meyer rookie, it wasn't for me, just because I've read some of her works before.

This book picked up middle way and struck a cord with me several times. I started reading this book at a time I really did need a boost of confidence because I had just started working again for a company I used to work for before I went full time working for the ministry. It helped me tremendously and I'm definitely happy I decided to read this books all the way through.

Here are some points I highlighted in the book:

• Confidence allows us to face life with boldness, openness, and honesty. It enables us to love without worry and to feel safe. It enables us to live authentically. We don't have to pretend to be someone we're not, because we are secure in who we are--even if we are different from those around us. I firmly believe that confidence gives us permission to be different, to be unique.
• People with low confidence, on the other hand, are not sure about anything. They are double-minded, indecisive people who constantly get frustrated with life. If they do make a decision, they are tormented by self-doubt. They second-guess themselves. As a result, they don't live boldly.
• Fear does not mean you are a coward. It only means that you need to be willing to face fear and do what you need to do anyway.
• Preparation equips us to move confidently.
• Don't despise the days of small beginnings. The small beginnings are usually all we can handle at the time. God will give more when He knows we are ready. Enjoy every step of your journey. Don't be in such a hurry to rush through things that you miss the lessons you can draw from each day.
• Prayer makes tremendous power available.
• God uses men and women who are set on obeying and pleasing Him, not those who are controlled by the fear of man. We all want to be liked and accepted but we cannot let that desire control us.
• The best way to overcome anything is to expose it. Anything hidden has power over us, but once it is brought into light, it can be dealt with and overcome.
• Confidence is holding on to a strong faith in God, a faith that is backed up with a complete knowledge and understanding that with God's help, you can do anything.
• Putting something off does not make it go away, it only allows more time to torment you. As Christians with the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us, surely we can manage to do an unpleasant task without dreading it and with a good attitude. God's power is not available just to make unpleasant things in our lives go away, it is frequently available to walk us through them courageously.

Rated: 4/5

Strike of Midnight Download

It's a little past 12mn. Just got home from having dinner and coffee with one of my good friends and constant Sunday companion Iris. This weekend has been quite uneventful. I have a nagging feeling I wasted my two days of rest because I've been staying up so late and waking up just as late. I always think that the following week will be different but end up continuing the pattern week after week. Got to discipline myself to get up early and sleep early and get a lot of meaningful things done in between.

As it is, the only thing I have to show for the entire weekend is this new blog and The Apprentice Celebrity Edition.

I'm thinking of going back to working out, by the way. It's just that the new workplace, my work hours, and my ministry time are always a concern. I know, I know. As my grandmother puts it: I'm always full of excuses when it comes to going to the gym. I'm thinking to even employ a trainer, just to help motivate me to go at it at least four times a week.

Gosh, I need to be disciplined...

Cowboys are cute!

I'm on the last stretch of The Celebrity Apprentice. It's down to the final four candidates - Piers, Carol, Lennox, and Trace.

I am still very partial toward Piers. But I have to say Trace Adkins is so cute! I love that he's so likeable. He's a man of few words but when he talks, it's impossible not be drawn to listen to that drawl of his. He's no pushover. In fact, he's pretty straight cut. He says what he means and means what he says. A real man's man.

Country guys are cool in my book.

A dose of celebrity reality TV

I've been watching The Apprentice Celebrity Edition for most of the day. While it's pretty amusing (Omarosa, Gene Simmons, and Piers Morgan are part of it), I'm not enjoying it as much as I did the normal run of The Apprentice.

My goodness, Piers is pretty aggravating. But Omarosa is over the top. I hope I never have to deal with someone like that. Glad to see on Google that Piers won though. While he can be obnoxious, I think he's a smart, stable guy.

Ushering in a new season of blogging

I must admit. I am not a very good blogger.

It frustrates me to no end that I cannot seem to keep a blog going.

I start. I stop. I start again. I stop again. I start yet again. I stop yet again.

You get the drift.

But I also have to admit. I am dead set on becoming the best blogger I can be.

Why is this so important to me?

Because it is.

I have a need to write. I have a need to have people read what I write. I have a need to write without having to be my own screening committee. I have the need to be able to write freely.

I hope you'll see me again sometime soon.