We’ve all heard the story of David and Goliath but many of us aren’t so bold in our faith that we would tackle the job of fighting an actual giant.

Or so we imagine.

If you think about it, we face giants every day…

We come up against giants of health issues, financial burdens, and relationship woes.

We wrestle with temptation and forgiveness.

We penetrate walls of anger, and scale mountains of gloom, despair and misery.

Giants, every one when it comes to exercising and building our faith.

So how are some ways we can face and overcome these?

Prayer: This goes without saying but how and what kind of praying? IMHO the best is when you find a scripture that addresses what you’re dealing with. Personalize it and stand firm.

Affirmations: Write and speak positive statements of resolution about your situation. Words have power and some say the written word is much more powerful. Don’t focus on the problem; focus on the answer or desired outcome.

Forgiveness: Sometimes the best way to deal with the giants in your life is to forgive…others, yourself, God.

Meditation: Take time to get quiet and listen to and appreciate the silence. Once your mind is quiet, God can speak to you.

Stay in the NOW: There is great comfort, peace and power is staying in the present. After all, many of our ‘giants’ are actually thoughts from our past or anxiety about the future. The bible tells us that “now” is the time of salvation and that “now faith” is the substance of things hoped for…. It’s OK to think, dream and plan for the future but not to the point of missing the blessings in your present (moment).

These are just a few ideas…. I’m sure you have your own way of facing the giants in your life, I’d love to hear them!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

PS: I will be traveling extensively June 13 - End of July or later so posts may not be consistent.

If you've read the "About this Blog" info in the sidebar, you'll know I've been on a spiritual quest for several decades now and that the purpose of this entire blog is to share with you, dear friends, books and podcasts, etc. that have inspired and helped me along my journey.

Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer is one of the earliest books along this path that impacted my thinking and life.

This book is filled with personal stories, scriptures, life lessons and wisdom the author has gained from her own life experieces and teaches you the power of our thoughts and words and the basics of taking every thought captive unto the mind of Christ, renewing your mind through the Word, and speaking positive.

Mine is an old version and was given to me from a wonderful lady who is still one of my BFF's today!

Now, there is a whole series of tools based on this book to help young people and adults with 100 Insights and a Study Guide​ to enhance your reading experience. 

If you or someone you love are bound by negative thinking, a pessimistic attitude or victim mentality, this book is another that will change your/their life!

I'd LOVE to know your experience in reading the books I feature on this blog so please feel free to contact me via email: [email protected] or the contact form here on the website.

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

I know many of my friends will worry that I not only read but am endorsing a book on Mediumship, but PLEASE, hear me out!

I discovered Suzanne Giesemann last year when Alex Ferrari of Next Level Soul interviewed her. Alex interviews many near death experiencers (NDEs), and it's only natural he'd interview a Medium. 

Like many, I hesitated on listening but something compelled me to and I am SO glad I did!

If you've known me for long, you know my beloved husband passed away in 2009. After his death, I had several "dreams" of interacting with him. I put dreams in quotation marks because I believe they were actual visits. All three were too vivid, as were their meanings, and I see and feel them clearly today.

I even had an encounter with my father after his death that I've shared with many family members and they, too, believe he communicated with me.

I also remember my mom telling me that her mother and grandmother - who died 13 days apart - had come to get her one night but she wouldn't go because we still needed her. She woke up on the floor beside her bed.

These are the reasons I've always been more fascinated by the spiritual realm than afraid. I have always believed in the afterlife and say all the time that the spiritual realm is "right here." As close to us as our next breath or thought or prayer.

If you've read some of my previous posts, you know I love stories like Heaven is for Real and Miracles from Heaven. Even Dr. / Reverand Dr. Jesse Duplantis shares his heavenly encounter as do many other pastors and laymen in the Church.

We all have instances in our life when we heard or felt God or our angels talking to us, so why can't we communicate with our loved ones?

Something to think about!

What I find most intriguing about Suzanne is not only her history (she was Asst. to the US Chief Naval Officer of the US during 9/11 and had a carrer as a Navy Officer for 20 years before) but the fact that she has been studied by Dr. Gary Swartz and is known as an "evidential" medium. Which means she asks for evidence that can't be found in a normal search from her client's loved ones. In her words, NOE (evidence of which there is "no other explanation" than hearing it "straight from the horse's mouth."

I've found her to be genuine and have read many of her books but this one, really snagged my interest. Mediumship: Sacred Conversations With Loved Ones From Across the Veil has a whole section of stories from others who've experienced "no other explanation" messages from their loved ones who have passed.

Whether or not you're interested in learning more about the afterlife, this book will give you hope in the midst of your grief.

I hope you'll suspend your doubts, fears and judgement long enough to check it, and Suzanne out.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

Good Morning and Welcome to 2025!
I pray your holidays were blessed and happy.

I received this beautiful book on Biblical Meditation from the publisher and let me tell you I am SO glad I did!

The author goes into great detail on the practice and benefits of Biblical meditation - slowing down, quieting the mind, hearing with the heart, deepening your spiritual practice and much, much more.

Focusing on the things we should "fix our thoughts on" from Philippians 4:8-9, Ms. Tucker gives us 3 or 4 scriptures in each category of thoughts we should cultivate (whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise) with a six-part framework for your meditation practice that guides you into silence, prayer, reading, meditating on and embodying God's word into your daily life.

Complete with an opening prayer and surrendering prayer and room to write what God is revealing to you through your time with Him, this lovely compilation will deepen your understanding of the Word and "grow your meditative muscles".

I highly recommend Present in Prayer to anyone who wants the blessings of Psalm 1, verse 3 to be evidnt in their life.

Until next time, happy meditating!
PamT

Many enter into the Christmas season expecting peace on earth and goodwill toward men. This is how it should be, or used to be, but ‘Christmas’ has become so commercialized that few of the original sentiments exist. For many, stress, painful memories, loneliness or grief over loved ones who are no longer present, steal the joy right out of the holidays.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

The Bible is filled with scriptures that talk about joy…..

“They that sow in tears will reap in joy, (Ps 126:5)” …. “Sorrow may last for a night, but joy will be found in the morning (Ps 30:5).”

One thing I’ve discovered is Joy, Happiness, and Bliss are all options we can choose.

I know, some of you are frowning right now but think about it.

When you get out of bed in the morning, you can choose how you want to go about your day. In those first few moments of waking, you are most susceptible to creating your day by the thoughts you think and feelings you allow to permeate your entire being.

So why not make them pleasant ones?

Here are a few ideas on how to increase the joy in your life….

Start each day with “I choose to be happy today” as your motto. Write this down and place it where you’ll see it upon waking and then carry it with you throughout your day.

Gratitude is one of the best ways to increase your joy. Think about and thank God for all the good in your life. Keeping a gratitude journal by your bed is an easy and effective way to do this. In fact, meditating on your blessings before you go to bed induces better sleep. If you’re not one to write things down, simply begin by saying “Thank You” as you open your eyes and be conscious of your blessings throughout your morning routine and daily activities and then again as you drift off to sleep.

Music is another way to feel and experience joy early in the mornings. If your alarm clock blares some hard country, loud rock or heavy metal, chances are you’re not going to wake up very joyful. Find a soft rock, classical or Christian music station and awake to songs of gladness. If your cell phone is your alarm, set the tone to something spiffy and joyful.

Share joy in every instance you can. Close your eyes and pray that divine joy go before you into every activity and conversation.

Send joy and blessings to everyone you come in contact with or pass on the street. Wave, smile, nod, and speak joy every chance you get.

These are just a few ideas but as you begin, I’m sure you’ll come up with more ways to increase the joy in your life and by doing so, increase joy in others’ lives also.

Does this guarantee you’ll never have a moment of sadness or a gloomy day?

Of course not!

We are all human and sadness, depression, etc. are normal, human emotions. However, making a determined effort to be more joyful will lessen the severity and length of those less-than-joyful times.

Philippians 4:4 encourages us to “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again, I say, "Rejoice!" 

May you find reasons to rejoice each day and may joy abound in your life.

Something to think about...
PamT
“Inspirational with an Edge!” ™
"Coaching in PJs" ™
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Other Scriptures on Joy: Esther 9:22; Job 41:22; Jeremiah 31:13; John 16:20 & 21

*©2012 Previously published as Pamela's Ponderings Dec. 2012