Saturday, January 31, 2009

Better Days are Coming!

By Kathi Macias

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death" (Revelation 12:11).

I don't know about you, but I prefer encouraging words to discouraging ones, positives messages to negative warnings. And as we turn the corner from 2008 to 2009, the media is full of discouraging, negative reports. We hear them everywhere, and if we aren't careful, we'll begin to believe them-and to live accordingly.

Does that mean none of those negative messages are true? Of course not. Many of them may be-and worse. But bad tidings and doomsday warnings should not dictate the tenor of our hearts or the fulfillment of our calling.

There is a common saying among Christians that we have "read the end of the Book-and we win!" There is no greater ending to any book than that very positive truth, my friends. Howeverif you've read the entire Book (and I certainly hope you have, many times over!), you know that we are not promised a problem-free existence in this world as we await that victorious final chapter.

And that's where the fear comes in. We let our focus drift from the final outcome to the temporal circumstances, and we forget that it's not up to us grit our teeth, pull ourselves up by the bootstraps, and somehow overcome impossible trials and challenges. God is the One-the only One-who can carry us through, safely and victoriously, to the end. And He has given us all we need to hang on to during the ride: the blood of the Lamb, which paid our price for sin and restored us to relationship with the Father; the ability to proclaim the gospel to all who will listen; and the perfect love that flows from the throne of God and melts away the fear of death with the promise of eternal life with Him.

That's all we will ever need, beloved. Regardless of what the world might throw at us in this New Year, we have the promise and the provision of God that enables us to look past the temporal and into the eternal, to keep our eyes fixed on the Prize and our hearts yearning for heaven. Nothing here can begin to compare for the things God has prepared for us once we pass from this life to the next. So rejoice in the New Year, my friends; don't be discouraged by negative reports, and remember, the best is yet to be! - 15784

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Break Up Pain -- How do I live with the Pain of Breaking Up?

By Allie Arensen

Ouch! There's a reason they call it heartache. It hurts! Break Up Pain is never easy to go through. And it is not uncommon to continue to have feelings for the person you have broken up with. It's much like grieving. But that's OK, because at least your feelings are acknowledging that the relationship has ended.

When it comes to dealing with a broken intimate relationship, it is important that you look past the pain (which is your heart talking -- and the heart is all emotions) and find a way to survive even when things seem impossible for the time being (which is your logical mind talking to you).

Going through a break up causes all kinds of feelings to manifest themselves. It is a very important time to talk things out with a trusted friend or family member. Talking is a natural release of feelings that is healthy. Not releasing feelings through talking causes them to grow and build.

Don't try to go it alone. Make certain you talk to someone you trust soon after the break up. Let your feelings go, and express them to your friend. If you wait months or years to do this, or never do it, you will have a very difficult time leading a constructive life.

When you talk with a close friend, you will probably hear their story. Almost everyone has had a break up in their past, and when you share your feelings, one with the other, you will find it is very healing. Hearing how others have gone through what you are going through makes it easier. And while a break up is serious, you will also learn that it is not life ending or even life defining. You may even, in time, be able to laugh at yourself.

Dwelling on the painful split from your lover will not help you, so instead you should work on getting better and moving on, which will allow you to stop dealing with break up pain and start dealing with moving on and finding someone new, perhaps even someone that has a better dynamic with you.

* Make sure you don't spend a lot of time alone. Spend time with friends and talk about your heartache.

* Life is not bad. You are not a loser. Get rid of these negative thoughts. Write out a gratitude list -- be thankful for the good things in your life. List your good qualities; you have them!

Your friends will probably realize that you're going through something serious, and they will more than likely dedicate themselves to trying to help you through the break up pain. If this is the case, don't blow them off, because going out and spending time with your friends and the people that you care about will be extremely helpful.

Sure. Break up pain is hard. But you will survive. The key thing is to allow yourself a brief period of mourning and crying, and then talk it out and get rid of it. Dwell on the positive things in your life, and build for the future. You will not only survive break up pain, you will find love and fulfillment. It just takes a little time. - 15784

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Say it With Flowers on Valentine's Day- Join the Conversation

By Mary Smith

Imagine having a conversation with someone. Now imagine trying to have that same conversation without speaking or writing. Suppose it was an intimate conversation with someone you love. Suppose the conversation was with someone you'd like to know better. How would you develop a relationship or even carry on a conversation without speech or writing?

That was the situation in Victorian England for much of the 1800's. Due to the strict social etiquette of the time, extreme discretion was required. Conversations of a romantic nature were strictly off-limits. But emotional expression cannot be denied for long. Symbolism and meaning became attached to everyday objects and gestures, and especially to flowers.

The result was "secret" messages hidden in bouquets of flowers. Different meanings were attached to every type and color of flower, how they were presented, and how they were received. Many of the messages were romantic in nature. Some messages were rejections, and even insults. An exchange of flowers became a complete conversation.

Small bouquets of mixed flowers, know as tussie-mussies, became quite popular. Together with the secret language of flowers, they allowed intentions to be declared, and refusals and acceptances to be made. They allowed the expression of wishes, thoughts and emotions that people of the time dared not speak aloud.

The secret codes eventually became so complex that people needed help understanding them. Code books, dictionaries and even complete books were written to help create and understand the messages.

The Victorians weren't the first to use flowers to express emotions. Many cultures including the Greeks, the Persians, and the Japanese had a flower language. While the exact meanings of flowers have changed over time to meet the needs of culture, the desire to express thoughts and emotions through flowers has remained to this day.

Many cultures had elaborate and lengthy courtship rituals. The giving and receiving of flowers was often an important part of the process. Those practices led to the prominent place of flowers in our modern culture. Valentines Day, Mothers Day, and Easter, among others, simply wouldn't be the same celebrations without flowers and plants.

Although we don't use flowers in quite the same way as the Victorians, we still use flowers to express our emotions. For Valentine's Day this year, rather than sending a simple message, such as "I love you" with roses, think about using a hidden message with a bouquet of mixed flowers. Search online for "language of flowers" to jump start your ideas. Don't forget to add a note to explain the hidden message. Remember to order Valentine flowers in advance for a timely delivery. - 15784

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Be the Princess You Always Dreamed of with a Cinderella Wedding

By Sophia C.

Now that you've found your Prince Charming, are you dreaming about your fairytale Cinderella wedding? You know, the kind of wedding where you get to dress up like a princess for the day, get treated royally and then head off into the sunset to live happily ever after. Even if you are not an actual princess, you can still have the Cinderella wedding from invitations to location and more. And you don't have to kiss a lot of frogs along the way!

Cinderella may have found her Prince Charming, but she had a lot of help from her Fairy Godmother. So make sure to get help from your friends and family members when you start planning this magical wedding. They will be delighted to help you live your dream. The Cinderella wedding theme is all about purity, beauty and true love. Keep these things in mind when picking out your wedding announcements, attire and planning your wedding decor.

Remember the beautiful ball gown and glass slippers that the fairy Godmother bestowed upon Cinderella? Well, with all the choices in wedding apparel, you will be able to find your own gown and tiara befitting of any princess.

Think Princess Dianna when choosing your wedding gown. With her long flowing bodice, sheer princess sleeves and lots of jewels, your wedding gown should be spectacular. Then top it with a crystal tiara, lots of jewels and a pair of clear shoes with lots of crystals. If you are planning a winter wedding, you can even find gorgeous gowns with velvet or fur embellishments to create even more princess-like glamor.

If you want to make your Cinderella themed wedding authentic, then you will want to create an atmosphere of being in a castle. Since most of us do not live in a castle, check with the local churches to see if any of them have high ceilings to create an ethereal feeling. If you want a Cinderella wedding that is filled with life and purity, then you may want to hold it outdoors or under a white pavilion. Where ever you choose to have your wedding, if you include lots of sparkle, it will be a magical event. Then be sure that your "carriage" arrives before midnight to whisk you and your Prince into the sunset. - 15784

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Uncommon Flower Delivery in Orlando

By Dick Naneek

This year, the Valentine's day falls on a saturday. This provides you an opportunity to be more creative with your flower delivery options in Orlando area.

First, from this day on pay attention to what your loved one does on Saturdays. Does she stay home and clean the house? Or does she workout at the gym at a certain time of the day? Is Saturday usually a workday for your special Valentine? Dont just have flowers delivered to the house when they arent there. Send them to work, or wherever they might be at a certain time.

Maybe Saturdays are spent with their parent, friend or sibling. Send the flowers to that persons house when you know your lover is going to be there. The most romantic Valentine gesture my husband gave me was having the delivery service drop off flowers to the elementary school when he knew I would be a parent helper for my kindergartners class. Not really an option for Saturdays, but a great example of knowing where I would be " and the element of surprise.

Perhaps you can manipulate the events to ensure your sweetie would be at a certain place at a certain time. Make dinner reservations at her favorite restaurant and arrange flower delivery while you are there. Have flowers delivered to your favorite nightclub while you are there, or have them sent ahead or during a movie time at the local theater. Ask for flower delivery anywhere in Orlando. Some places, obviously need to be contacted prior to your delivery to get specific details on how it would work.

The idea is; you can have flowers delivered anywhere in the Orlando area. Some places will need prior authorization or contact before your delivery can be made, but it can all be worked out.

Be careful with the flowers and their colors particularly the roses. They all convey a different meaning. Red rose means love, pink rose is to express your appreciation and gratefulness particularly for family and friends, orange is for desire, purple is for conveying love at first sight, white is for humbleness and respect while yellow is for happiness and friendship.

Knowing all this will help you impress your loved one when you send her a unique flower. You can tell her why you sent her an Azalea bouquet - because she is your first true love. Similarly, you can tell her that you sent Daffodils to remind her that she is the only one in your life.

There is nothing to worry about if you are not creative enough to select the best flowers on your own. Just ask the representatives at Orlando Flower Delivery. They will give you the best advice. - 15784

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Unique Personalized Anniversary Gift That Remembered

By Raymond Lam

Anniversaries are special occasions that require special gifting thoughts. Your usual gift just won't work because the recipient is expecting something special to make the occasion memorable. And if you can make it momentous, the recipient will never forget the anniversary throughout his or her life. Why not think out of the box, something unique and personalized?

Instead of giving them a usual gift, try to find something unique which will surprise and cherish them. A personalized or unique anniversary gift should be something memorable from the heart. That's why custom made figurine so popular among people who want to make something unique and personalized for their love one.

This anniversary gifts are not just unique but their impression is maximum on the mind of the recipient. Whether it's a wedding anniversary, birth anniversary or even a pet birth anniversary, you can always rely on customized figurines to do the work for you. Gone are the days when custom made figurines used to be the exclusive domain of celebrities. These innovative little toy-like things are now available at reduced prices so that even masses can make a gifting impression on the anniversaries of their loved ones.

The best part of anniversary custom made figurines is the ease with which they can be customized and personalized to give a unique feeling. The figurine face can be personalized into a look-alike of the recipient with the help of just a latest photograph of the recipient. The figurine costumes can be customized according to the anniversary. For instance, an anniversary custom made figurine can be transformed into a groom and a bride. Additionally, theme-based anniversary custom made figurines are a great way of adding another hue to your gift.

Similarly, birth anniversaries can be made memorable by gifting theme-based personalized and customized figurine. They may look miniature from the gifting point of view, but customized and personalized figurines can be termed as pocket-sized dynamos that have maximum effect on the recipient's mind. Of all the gifts that he or she might have received on the anniversary, your personalized gift will definitely shine through.

In fact, custom made figurine make a great present for any special occasion. The company team of expert artists can replicate the young hockey player in your family, the university graduate in your household and even a beloved pet. Wedding Gift Idea features a large variety of unique gift giving ideas for baby, wedding, men and women, office or home! I will definitely recommend this site to anyone who is looking for a unique personalized anniversary gift that will be remember. - 15784

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The female guide to diamonds

By Dan Joines

What girl would not like her own piece of these precious sparkling gemstones? Diamonds have symbolized different things over the course of human history. It has been used in ancient religious statues, it has been held up in a warrior's fist in battles, it has been on the crowns and scepters of kings, and it has won the love of many a bride-to-be. But in the 20th century, the diamond has been the spark and dream of many women around the world, even those of little girls.

They desire it for its beauty and glamour and what it signifies to them. It can mean everlasting romantic love in the form of an engagement or a wedding ring. It can be an expensive gift from a lover in the form of diamond earrings. And it can also mean independence and financial status when bought by the woman herself, in any form of jewelry setting.

So if a diamond is a girl's best friend, then a girl has got to learn all about it. It might be the most profitable and widely known gemstone in the world, but a diamond, in scientific terms, is basically a mineral made up on simple carbon atoms in a crystalline structure, formed deep inside the earth under extreme pressure and temperature for over millions of years.

It has been most popular in the 20th century due to the discovery of large amounts of diamonds in South African mines. It is now readily available in a lot of jewelry stores, but in order to purchase a good diamond, one must also know about the different characteristics that dictate its worth and beauty.

For High Quality Diamond Rings at 1/2 retail shop available at: Polished Diamonds.co.nz - The Diamond Ring Specialist in New Zealand

This diamond features are known as the 4 Cs, or Clarity, Color, Cut and Carat. There are also other aspects about a diamond other than these 4 major characteristics, but as a guideline, a diamond's cut, clarity, color and cut are what dictates its overall appearance and value.

When looking into buying a diamond, learn about what you want first, whether you want a diamond with a certain kind of cut, that is of a certain carat and color and to make sure that it does not have too many inclusions, which affect its clarity. Once you find out what you want, research on the price and set a budget. You should also learn about where you'll buy your diamond piece. Make sure to go to a reputable jeweler by asking recommendations from your friends and family. As for the diamond per se, ask the jeweler for conflict free diamonds.

A diamond is expensive, so make sure to learn all you can about it and buy from a reputable jewelry store. To further protect yourself, ask for money back guarantee. Online stores usually have a return policy valid for up to 30 days. - 15784

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Finding Love Online Dating Matches And You

By Ferda Shinsky

Is your journey of trying to find love harder than you anticipated? If you are single, you know that the dating world can be brutal. At times it feels that you will never find that special someone. Is there hope?

Don't quit yet! Whether you chose to use an old-fashioned or an up-to-the-minute online dating service, you can discover true love just around the corner. Offline or online, asking for help in making your way through the maze can speed your journey to a happy ending.

I know that there were misgivings in the past about online dating, but those days are gone. Recent technological advances have greatly improved the services offered online. For this reason, hundreds of thousands of people are finding their online dating match.

Online services offer a wider variety of offline services. This give you more options to find that special someone. Most people prefer online services because of this variety. Offline services are more localized in one area. Also, people just prefer to interact online.

Because of the extent of services available online, it is possible to find free online dating services. These appeal to many different people. Other online matching services charge their users fees, which may offer more and better options to their subscribers.

Paid services offer options and matching services that free sites cannot. They offer comprehensive methods and matching software that match people based on personality, location, income, interests, religion and other categories. This can greatly improve your chances of finding the ideal match in half the time.

It is important that you practice safety precautions when dating online. Never give out personal information right from the start. Trust has to be earned. You do not want to jump in too fast. You want to ensure that the person you are talking to is who they say they are.

Many former singles are now part of happy couples because of their success in online dating. The Internet is full of their success stories. If you know what you want in a partner, have been frustrated by your earlier attempts to find someone special and are ready to take the first step, an online dating service may be the right next step for you. What are you waiting for? Your new love may be waiting at a computer near you! - 15784

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Mistakes 90% Of Online Dating Singles Make

By Jason King

Online dating sites provide millions of dating singles worldwide the perfect chance to meet someone they're completely compatible with. Why is it that these singles can't use this extremely successful process of meeting someone to it's best potential?

Mistake 1

The first faux pas online daters make is just joining one online dating service. Only joining one online dating service limits your chances of dating another single, and it won't allow you any space for any mistakes. When you join more than one service ( they're all free to join ) you can try different things with your personal ad to see which approach gets you the best results. You can easily find out what works best for you.

Joining more than one online dating service gives you a much better opportunity of being sent messages. You can also see which service has the most singles living in your state.

Mistake 2

Not uploading a photo on your profile will seriously effect your online dating. Online daters that put their photo on their profile can obtain up to 20 times more contact than people without one.

Most people will choose to have only the profiles with photos appear in their search results. For you, this means that if you haven't got a photo on your internet dating profile you're not hardly ever going to get seen. Even if they don't choose this option no one is going to viewing a profile that hasn't got a photo on it.

Mistake 3

Treating your free trial like your membership for a lifetime will not allow you to start sending emails to other online daters. Many online daters start their guest membership, and that's it, and then they can't understand why no one sends a reply to their flirts. Other online daters, especially the women, want to be sent emails that have a message in them. They want to receive a message that has meaning, and shows them that you have looked at their profile.

Before you upgrade make sure you have given all the sites a good test first. Upgrading too early could lead to you signing up with the wrong dating web site.

Mistake 4

Online daters that don't login hardly ever are missing out on being contacted. Most internet dating agencies will show how many days it has been since you last logged in to your account. This lets other people know how determined you are on wanting to find a partner online. If you only login once a month to see if you have any messages I doubt you'll have any.

Logging in every day lets the matchmaking agency know that you're serious about finding a partner online. You will get rewarded when they show your profile nearer the top of the search results, and sometimes even on the homepage of the web site.

Stayng away from these mistakes will help you have a much more rewarding online dating experience. 90% of online daters get no where with their online matchmaking because they make the faux pas' above.

You will definitely be meeting another offline, and beginning a new relationship when you do online dating how it's suppose to be done. - 15784

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Applying Internet Dating Tips is Half the Battle

By Chaszey Sandhriel

So many dating coaches and even normal people who are proponents of internet dating will give you internet dating tips. The question is, how well have you been listening? I still see people who write out personal ads that look like real ads, and I wonder inwardly where these people have been getting their internet dating tips.

Following these internet dating tips might help your ad be differentiated from the jewelry ad or a gadget ad you last placed. Yes, I know that it's difficult for some to write about themselves. In a way we're either too modest and don't want to brag or we're too full of ourselves and that back fires too.

Here are some internet dating tips that just might make the difference for you.

Write out your profile in conversation style.

You will want to attract the right kind of people, and by "right" I mean "ideal" according to your standards. Should you entertain or inform your viewer? I think you should do both, if you can manage it, as long as the story communicates the real you. Tell them a short story about you. This could be anything from a funny childhood story (without giving out personal information), or a funny perception of a mundane thing. The more comfortable you make your viewers, the more likely they will initiate contact.

Your objective is for potential candidates to read your entire profile from top to bottom.

If you combine the elements of humor, information and flirting in your personal ad, it will come of as a good read. And, what happens to good reads? They get bookmarked! Your prospect might not initiate contact asap, but you can be sure that he or she will find ways to do so in the future when he's scouring his bookmarks for someone to talk to. What if the dating site does not have a book marking option? Well, then it's probably not worth your while to stay there. But before you get out of there, you should probably talk to the administrators of the dating site for tips on book marking. They might have a system that you just don't know about, or they could be offering it as a paid service.

3. Write a long description only if you can guarantee that the reader won't fall asleep half way down the page.

Think of this as rambling. Are you one of those who dislike listening to pointless ramble? You aren't alone. Many people will leave the page and never return if you bore them. Break your paragraphs into bullet points and don't be afraid to use colloquial words that identify your place of origin. A bit of local color is always interesting. - 15784

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How To Win Your Girlfriend Back: She Agreed To A Date - Now What?

By Rachel Davis

To understand how to win your girlfriend back, you need to realize the power that comes from certain experiences. One of your first steps in winning her back is to go out on another "first date." Most guys automatically think "dinner and movies" when they think date. But I want you to look at it differently...

It's so important to make this first date different. Don't worry - that doesn't mean it needs to be super romantic in the traditional sense. It means thinking of things you can do that will make her heart race. Things that are exciting and exhilirating!

If you can create an experience that is exciting and emotionally charged, you'll be creating a bond between the two of you. You'll create a strong imprint on her memory - something she won't soon forget.

It's true! Remember the last time you rode a bus, took a ferry, or flew in an airplane? Okay... how much to you remember about the person who was sitting next to you? Probably not much - I know I can't!

Now, let's say you were on the USAirways jetliner that had to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River not long ago.

As the pilot announces to brace for impact, you're thinking, "This is it... we're going to crash!"

Suddenly you hear sobbing and notice the little old lady sitting next to you. She looks a little like your Grandma - and she's even more scared than you are.

Without even thinking, you reach out and take her hand in yours. You give it a little squeeze and say, "It's okay. We're going to be okay."

So, here's a question for you... Do you think you'll ever forget that sweet little old lady? Will she ever forget you? No way! You'd never forget a single thing about that moment.

Now, I'm not saying you need to be in a plane crash or other traumatic experience on your first date - but your goal should be to make your date emotionally charged and exciting. And trust me... the ol' "dinner and movie" date isn't going to cut it.

In fact, try to create a few mini dates throughout the afternoon or evening. What can you do that will get that ol' heart pumping? One idea is a short roller coaster ride. If you live near a boardwalk, you could start your date there.

Remember, you're trying to create an experience - a bonding or re-bonding experience - for her. Something that she'll remember. And dinner and a movie isn't going to do it.

If you want to know how to win your girlfriend back, remember this. It's a sociologically proven principle that emotionally charged experiences promote bonding. You'll be smart to use it to your advantage on that first date! - 15784

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Heart Jewerly - Say I love you this year!

By Kellie Wilkenes

How to Buy heart jewelry

Diamonds are not the only best friends of women. In fact, any piece of jewelry is bound to put a smile on any women face. Sometimes, however, there are certain pieces of jewelry that look extremely spectacular but can be quite disheartening on the part of plus size women for the sole reason that they simply cannot find something the right size. Not anymore! heart jewelry pieces are now available in many jewelry stores found in the mall and over the Internet. If you are looking to purchase your very own heart jewelry, here are a few things you to help you in your search for that perfect heart jewelry piece over the Internet.

Get your measurements

This is especially important if you are purchasing your heart jewelry over the Internet. Since you are unable to fit these jewelry pieces, it would be crucial to know your measurements for to get the perfect fit for necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Even when you purchase plus size earrings, you will need to take the measurement between your earlobe and your shoulder. This is to ensure that whatever heart jewelry piece you will be getting, this would provide you the perfect fit which would give you the flattering look that you are looking for.

Know what you want

With so many designs and styles to choose from, it is important to know what particular style you would want when looking for a heart jewelry piece. heart jewelry designs range from the simple and classic to the ultra-modern and hip. If you are unsure what you are looking for, you can browse through magazines and websites for the latest trends and styles to give you ideas on what you want. Some of these websites would offer quizzes and self-evaluation tests that would allow you to figure out the kind of style that would suit your lifestyle and overall fashion sense. You can also ask suggestions from the jeweler attending to you for suggestions as well.

Get extensions

Many jewelry shops would often include extensions and extenders as part of the package of their heart jewelry pieces for necklaces and bracelets. Some however sell these separately. It is highly advisable to get a couple of extension clasps and to make sure that you would be able to wear your heart jewelry for a long, long time.

All in moderation

Just like any form of jewelry, heart jewelry pieces should be to accentuate your face and flatter your body. Getting the right size of stones and chains for your heart jewelry would make all the difference. Getting extremely thin chains and small stones can actually work even for plus size women. Just make sure that the size is the right size. You would not want your heart jewelry to highlight things that you would like to hide. The same holds true with accessories with large gemstones. Not all of the designs with humongous gemstones would work well for everyone. A best bet is to try out the heart jewelry piece and judge how it would look. If you are not satisfied or feel awkward about how it looks, look at something else. - 15784

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