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	<title>Power to Change &#187; Muriel Larson</title>
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	<itunes:author>Power to Change</itunes:author>
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		<itunes:name>Power to Change</itunes:name>
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		<title>Making Wise Choices</title>
		<link>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2008/08/18/making-wise-choices/</link>
		<comments>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2008/08/18/making-wise-choices/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><a href="http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Devotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devotional For Women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FamilyLife Devotionals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[abusive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[controlling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[decisions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[judgment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[temper]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelife.com/?p=6617</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[**Are you living in an abusive situation? One of our e-mail mentors would love to talk with you personally. http://christianwomentoday.com/chat/askus.html &#8220;Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Lisa fell head-over-heels in love [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>**Are you living in an abusive situation? One of our e-mail mentors would love to talk with you personally. http://christianwomentoday.com/chat/askus.html</p>
<p>&#8220;Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).</p>
<p>Lisa fell head-over-heels in love with Brad, a man she worked with. Her best friend, Kimberly. exclaimed enviously, “Wow! You sure have one great guy there! He’s so handsome, all the other gals are jealous of you. Better hang on to that guy!”</p>
<p>However, her mother perceived things in Brad that concerned her. “Honey, I think you’d better slow down in your relationship with Brad,” she said. “You’ve known each other for only a few months, and now you’re talking about marriage. But I don’t think you’d be happy with Brad. I’ve noticed he flirts with other girls. He’s inconsiderate of you and has a temper too.”</p>
<p>“But Mom, we love each other!” Lisa exclaimed. “And he wants to marry me!”</p>
<p>So Lisa listened to her heart and her friends and married Brad. And she became one of many women who have married controlling, abusive, and cheating men and spent years regretting it.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s not just young women and men who make mistakes in judgment. I get letters from hurting women of all ages who are still doing so.</p>
<p>“How can I keep from making another big mistake?” they ask.</p>
<p>How can we avoid making mistakes?  If we&#8217;re Christians, we have a supernatural source of wisdom: God.  We can seek His will not only on big decisions, but on seemingly small ones, too.  He is interested in every detail our lives.  As we pray, he will guide.</p>
<p>How does God guide his children?  He does it through the following:</p>
<p>Circumstances &#8211; What opportunities are available?</p>
<p>When I had to decide how I would support myself and my younger daughter, I had two choices: I was offered a full-time office job downtown, or I could take a big chance and become a full-time writer. Because of some scary experiences my fearful little girl had had, I felt it would be better for her if I stayed at home. So I sought the Lord for direction.</p>
<p>God’s Word &#8211; His word is a lamp to our feet. Ask Him to direct you through your reading of the Bible.</p>
<p>If I took the office job, I’d have a steady income. But if I became a full-time writer for the Lord, I would spend my time glorifying Him and helping others to know Him as their Savior. First Corinthians 10:31 reminded me, &#8220;Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.&#8221;  Although I knew God could use me where ever He lead me, this verse stirred by heart in the direction of writing.</p>
<p>Leading of the Spirit &#8211; John 16:13 says the Holy Spirit guides every willing heart up the right path.</p>
<p>&#8220;But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.&#8221;</p>
<p>As I prayed, I knew the Lord was leading me to step out by faith and be a full-time writer for Him—and He would supply all our needs. I did—and He did!</p>
<p>As you face decisions today trust the Lord to line up these three things as you seek His wisdom. Look at your circumstances, ask Him to guide you through His word, and listen to the voice of His Spirit as you spend time in prayer seeking His will.</p>
<p>He will lead you!</p>
<p>~Lord, lead me in the way I should go. Help me to seek our Your direction through Your Word and through listening prayer. Help me to do your will. Amen.</p>
<p>Questions:  How can we improve our relationship with the Lord so that we can know His leading? On what occasions should we seek God’s leading? How can we keep from making foolish mistakes?</p>
<p>About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/muriel-larson/</p>
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		<item>
		<title>A Child of the King</title>
		<link>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2009/07/13/a-child-of-the-king/</link>
		<comments>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2009/07/13/a-child-of-the-king/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:00:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><a href="http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Devotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devotional For Women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FamilyLife Devotionals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[actress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adulterers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bible]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[drunkards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[films]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[homosexual]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[husband]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[king]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lord Jesus Christ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Monaco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Muriel Larson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prince of Monaco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Princess Grace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prostitutes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[royal family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-esteem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[swindlers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thieves]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[worry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelife.com/?p=16092</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you confused and not sure what to do or where to turn? Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT. After she married the Prince of Monaco, the beautiful actress who became Princess Grace gave up her plans to return to films. “The citizens of Monaco [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><a href="http://womentodaymagazine.com/chat/ask_spirituality.html">Are you confused</a> and not sure what to do or where to turn? </em></p>
<p><strong><a href=" http://thelife.com/experience/chat/room/?channel=cwt-forum">Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat</a> today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.</strong></p>
<p>After she married the Prince of Monaco, the beautiful actress who became Princess Grace gave up her plans to return to films. “The citizens of Monaco thought that my continuing in my career would not be proper for a princess,” she declared. “The people of Monaco are dear to me and my first obligation is to them”.</p>
<p>What a good example this is of what God and people expect of those who have become children of the King through receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior! “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,” declared the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 2:9). Wow! If we are that, why should we worry about self-esteem?</p>
<p>Where do our first duties lie when we have joined God’s royal family? Do we dare continue in the same worldly pursuits we had when just plain people of the world? Or are we obliged to rise above degrading earthly things and live in accordance with our new royal station?</p>
<p>The Bible says, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-12). We are to be new persons.</p>
<p>The children of God have an obligation to live noble and righteous lives not only for their Father in Heaven, but also for the sake of their fellow human beings. If they see Christ in us, they may have a desire to know Him too. How can we witness to them about their need to receive Christ, if we are still living the same old way?</p>
<p>When we receive Christ, He implants a whole new life in us, according to Second Corinthians 5:17. Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us to put off “the old self” and put on the “new self.” When we do that, many of our old ways and habits will take wing, to be replaced by those becoming a child of the King.</p>
<p>Paul also said he would not become a slave of anything. Many stars of stage and screen actually seem to become enslaved by the idolization that comes with their being stars. The business gets in their blood. Princess Grace wisely chose to not only be a good wife and mother, but a princess devoted to her adopted people. The ways of her former life might have drawn her away from her husband, children, and people.</p>
<p>Since our Lord gave Himself completely for us, is He asking too much for us to live completely for Him? Just as the people of Monaco asked Princess Grace to gave up her former desires for them, so Christ, with His nail-pierced hands outstretched toward us, asks us to relinquish our desire for worldly attractions for Him. And He gave His life for us.</p>
<p><strong>Questions:</strong> Are there some old ways and habits that need to take wing in order for God to be first in your life? Why does God ask us to live noble and righteous lives?</p>
<p>About the Author <a href="http://thelife.com/blogs/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></p>
<p><em>Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, <a href="http://thelife.com/blogs/experience/devotionalformen/2009/07/13/will-he-be-ashamed-2/">Will He Be Ashamed?</a>, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog</em></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>A Handicap is a State of Mind</title>
		<link>http://powertochange.com/experience/life/handicap/</link>
		<comments>http://powertochange.com/experience/life/handicap/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:42:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><a href="http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Experience 55 Plus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Men-Experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Women-Experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dr. Muriel Larson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LIFE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Men]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purpose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-esteem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Women]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelife.com/?page_id=11804</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you know some handicapped persons who amaze you by their positive attitudes? I do. After a 29-year record of traffic safety, a Pennsylvania man had his driver&#8217;s license revoked because he had no arms.  After it was brought to the governor&#8217;s attention, however, the State Motor Vehicle Department was ordered to reconsider the decision [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-14028" title="handicap1" src="http://thelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/handicap1.jpg" alt="handicap1" />Do you know some handicapped persons who amaze you by their positive attitudes?</strong> I do. After a 29-year record of traffic safety, a Pennsylvania man had his driver&#8217;s license revoked because he had no arms.  After it was brought to the governor&#8217;s attention, however, the State Motor Vehicle Department was ordered to reconsider the decision and allow the man to take a new driver&#8217;s test in order to prove his ability.</p>
<p>Holding the steering wheel with his right foot and using his left foot for the floor pedals, the man demonstrated his driving skill.  The state policeman who administered the test admitted, &#8220;He drove very well.  There were no unusual incidents.  I took him on the standard driving course and then into downtown Lancaster through normal traffic.  He is very capable.&#8221; The man with no arms commented, &#8220;I don&#8217;t feel handicapped at all.  A handicap is a state of mind.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>It&#8217;s all in your mind</strong></p>
<p><strong>Just think how much more could we do as Christians if we did not excuse ourselves on the grounds of being incapable!</strong> Or do we tell ourselves that it&#8217;s not quite convenient?  When we are asked to teach a Bible class, to witness for Christ, or to serve in some other way, how do we answer?  &#8220;Oh, I can&#8217;t do that! I don&#8217;t have that kind of ability.&#8221;  If this is our response, it&#8217;s probably true; we are handicapped by our state of mind. And we allow that self-induced handicap to hinder God&#8217;s work!</p>
<p>The Bible says, &#8220;Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus&#8221; (Philippians 2:5).   Then it goes on to say how Christ humbled Himself and became obedient to death.  By dying to self, we can also become obedient to death. That means that we are to die to self centeredness. When we do so, Christ can live through us in direct proportion to the yieldedness of our lips, hands, feet and intelligence.</p>
<p><strong>Our strength is in God&#8217;s grace</strong></p>
<p>God told Paul (and each of us through Paul), &#8220;My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfect in weakness.&#8221;  Paul responded joyfully, &#8220;Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ&#8217;s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ&#8217;s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for when I am weak, then I am strong&#8221;  (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10). This holds true for us as well.</p>
<p>We see then, that <strong>even though we may be inconvenienced by a handicap &#8211; be it physical, mental or attitudinal &#8211; God is not limited in what He can do through us! </strong>In fact, He often uses us for His glory all the more. We can be assured that as we place complete dependence upon Jesus, He will empower us with His strength and enable us to do what He asks us to do. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, our efforts will be far more effective than if performed by some highly talented or intellectually gifts person who relies on himself and fails to see guidance from God. The Apostle Paul was brilliant, but his thorn in the flesh brought him down to complete reliance upon the Lord. And this is what made Paul&#8217;s ministry so fruitful.</p>
<p><strong>Some most outstanding Christians have been greatly used for Christ in spite of personal handicaps.</strong> Fanny Crosby was blind yet her music has stirred hearts through the years and still does. Joni Eareckson Tada became paralyzed from the neck down while an active teenage in the flower of her youth. Today she inspires millions by allowing God to use all that she is.</p>
<p>Has God been speaking to you about doing something in particular for Him?  Have you resisted, thinking yourself too inadequate? Don&#8217;t handicap yourself! Claim this ringing proclamation of the Apostle Paul, &#8220;I can do everything through him who gives me strength&#8221; (Philippians 4:13).</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>A Message of Comfort</title>
		<link>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2010/06/12/a-message-of-comfort/</link>
		<comments>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2010/06/12/a-message-of-comfort/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jun 2010 08:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><a href="http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Devotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devotional For Women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FamilyLife Devotionals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apostle Peter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[comfort]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[compassion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infirmities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lord Jesus Christ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Muriel Larson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[need]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[temptations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[troubles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2010/06/12/a-message-of-comfort/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you feel overwhelming stress, fear or anxiety? Can we pray for you? The Psalmist cried, &#8220;I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before you, and my groaning is not hidden from you&#8221; (Psalm 38:8,9, NKJV). Yes, our Lord Jesus [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-18675" title="devo-interact-icon-42x42" src="http://powertochange.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/devo-interact-icon-42x421.jpg" alt="" width="42" height="42" />Do you feel overwhelming stress, fear or anxiety? <a href="http://powertochange.com/experience/need-prayer/">Can we pray for you? </a><br />
</em><br />
The Psalmist cried, &#8220;I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before you, and my groaning is not hidden from you&#8221; (Psalm 38:8,9, NKJV).</p>
<p>Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is God, knows our every trouble and heartache. He hears our cries in the night. He knows the anguished unuttered cry in our hearts. He knows all our doubts and fears. He knows our stumbling and bewilderment.</p>
<p><em><strong>Jesus Cares</strong></em></p>
<p>Oh, yes, He cares! The Apostle Peter says you should be &#8220;casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you&#8221; (1 Peter 5:7, NKJV). Peter knew what he was talking about—for even after he had denied his Lord, Jesus still cared for him!</p>
<p>When Jesus walked upon the earth, He often showed His heartfelt compassion for people in many ways. &#8220;Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick&#8221; (Matthew 14:14, NKJV).</p>
<p>His compassion extended to individuals too: &#8220;When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, ‘Don&#8217;t cry’&#8221; (Luke 7:13, NKJV). These words were spoken to the widow when He raised her only son from the dead.</p>
<p><em><strong>Jesus Understands</strong></em></p>
<p>How precious it is to know that we have a Saviour who became obedient to the Father and took upon Himself the likeness of sinful flesh. &#8220;We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted  as we are yet without sin&#8221; (Hebrews 4:15, NKJV).</p>
<p>Our high priest, Jesus Christ, understands our weaknesses; He understands our temptations; He understands our broken hearts. He partook of our humanity. He walked the path that we are walking. He is touched—yes, touched!— with the feeling of our weaknesses. He sympathizes with us in them.</p>
<p><em><strong>Jesus Hears</strong></em></p>
<p>Hebrews 4:16 immediately follows the verse that says Jesus is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. It says, &#8220;Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.&#8221; These two verses are beautifully related to one another. The one verse tells us that Jesus cares; the next verse urges us to go to Him for mercy and for grace to help in time of need.</p>
<p><em><strong>Jesus will Meet Our Needs</strong></em></p>
<p>Hebrews 4:16 does not promise that our troubles and trials will completely disappear. A loved one may already be gone; our illness may continue on; our situation may remain the same, for a time at least. But it does promise &#8220;grace to help in time of need.&#8221; And this grace can prove to be one of the sweetest experiences we have in life. It is ours to claim!<br />
<strong><br />
Questions:</strong> Can you think of a person that was helped when he cried out to the Lord? Did all his troubles disappear? How did God help?</p>
<p>About the Author <a href="http://thelife.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></p>
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		<title>Above the Clouds</title>
		<link>http://powertochange.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/above-the-clouds/</link>
		<comments>http://powertochange.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/above-the-clouds/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 1970 19:01:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><a href="http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Devotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devotional For Women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FamilyLife Devotionals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelife.com/?page_id=8545</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[** Take our online interactive Bible study about how to beat stress: http://mag.thelife.com/study/beatstress.htmll?section=beatstress “Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7) We lived on the highest ridge in the scenic southwestern section of Wisconsin.  One day I headed to town to run some errands.  The beautiful sunshiny day lifted [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>** Take our online interactive Bible study about how to beat stress: <a href="http://mag.thelife.com/study/beatstress.htmll?section=beatstress">http://mag.thelife.com/study/beatstress.htmll?section=beatstress</a></p>
<p><em>“Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you”</em> (1 Peter 5:7)</p>
<p>We lived on the highest ridge in the scenic southwestern section of Wisconsin.  One day I headed to town to run some errands.  The beautiful sunshiny day lifted my spirit as I drove toward the asphalt road that led to town.  But as I headed down the steep hill I saw clouds blanketing the land below.</p>
<p>Shifting into second gear and cutting on my lights, I prayerfully continued on.  It was pea-soup fog all the way down.  In comparison to the ridge above, the town below looked dreary indeed</p>
<p>Returning home, when I got near the top I broke through the cloudbank into the golden rays of the sun.</p>
<p>When you&#8217;re under the clouds in the lowland, I thought, things look dreary indeed.  But above the clouds the light restores your spirit.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s just the way it is in life, isn&#8217;t it!  When we&#8217;re going through trials, things tend to look gloomy and depressing.  How long will this go on?, we wonder.  What&#8217;s going to happen?  And while we&#8217;re asking that question, we&#8217;re imagining the gloomiest scenario possible!</p>
<p>It goes just as my trip down to town did:</p>
<p>* Life seems to be going quite smoothly&#8211;and then we hit the clouds.  As Christians, however, we have some great resources.  As I went toward that cloudbank, I shifted gears and put on the lights.  So when we see trouble coming, or we start going through it, we can &#8220;shift gears&#8221; and &#8220;put on the light.&#8221; We can switch to &#8220;prayer mode,&#8221; and really start talking to our Lord who is the Light! And He can bring us through.</p>
<p>* When I went down into that cloudbank, I knew the visibility would be poor and I had better keep my eye on the road.  I knew also that I would be returning to the beautiful sunshiny day.  So it is with trials.  If we face the fact that we have to go through them, we can trust God’s promise that He will work everything for our good. But if we become angry, bitter, and resentful, we’ll be miserable. Yet if we keep looking to our Lord and depending on Him, we will know that above the clouds the sun is shining&#8211;and this trial will pass.</p>
<p>Dear Lord, help me to keep on trusting you, no matter what!</p>
<p><strong>Question</strong>: What anxiety have you experienced lately, or are you experiencing right now?</p>
<p>About this Author: <a href="http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/muriel-larson/">http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/muriel-larson/</a></p>
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		<title>Above the Clouds</title>
		<link>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2008/10/04/above-the-clouds-2/</link>
		<comments>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2008/10/04/above-the-clouds-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 09:00:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><a href="http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Devotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devotional For Men]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FamilyLife Devotionals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelife.com/?p=8561</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Muriel Larson Listen to this devotional read aloud online ** Take our online interactive Bible study about how to beat stress “Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7) We lived on the highest ridge in the scenic southwestern section of Wisconsin. One day I headed to town [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>By Muriel Larson</p>
<p><a href="http://thelife.com/blogs/experience/kindle/2008/10/04/above-the-clouds-4/">Listen to this devotional</a> read aloud online</p>
<p>** Take our <a href="http://mag.thelife.com/study/beatstress.htmll?section=beatstress">online interactive Bible study</a> about how to beat stress</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you”</em> (1 Peter 5:7)</p>
<p>We lived on the highest ridge in the scenic southwestern section of Wisconsin.  One day I headed to town to run some errands.  The beautiful sunshiny day lifted my spirit as I drove toward the asphalt road that led to town.  But as I headed down the steep hill I saw clouds blanketing the land below.</p>
<p>Shifting into second gear and cutting on my lights, I prayerfully continued on.  It was pea-soup fog all the way down.  In comparison to the ridge above, the town below looked dreary indeed</p>
<p>Returning home, when I got near the top I broke through the cloudbank into the golden rays of the sun.</p>
<p>When you&#8217;re under the clouds in the lowland, I thought, things look dreary indeed.  But above the clouds the light restores your spirit.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s just the way it is in life, isn&#8217;t it!  When we&#8217;re going through trials, things tend to look gloomy and depressing.  How long will this go on?, we wonder.  What&#8217;s going to happen?  And while we&#8217;re asking that question, we&#8217;re imagining the gloomiest scenario possible!</p>
<p>It goes just as my trip down to town did:</p>
<p>* Life seems to be going quite smoothly&#8211;and then we hit the clouds.  As Christians, however, we have some great resources.  As I went toward that cloudbank, I shifted gears and put on the lights.  So when we see trouble coming, or we start going through it, we can &#8220;shift gears&#8221; and &#8220;put on the light.&#8221; We can switch to &#8220;prayer mode,&#8221; and really start talking to our Lord who is the Light! And He can bring us through.</p>
<p>* When I went down into that cloudbank, I knew the visibility would be poor and I had better keep my eye on the road.  I knew also that I would be returning to the beautiful sunshiny day.  So it is with trials.  If we face the fact that we have to go through them, we can trust God’s promise that He will work everything for our good. But if we become angry, bitter, and resentful, we’ll be miserable. Yet if we keep looking to our Lord and depending on Him, we will know that above the clouds the sun is shining&#8211;and this trial will pass.</p>
<p>Dear Lord, help me to keep on trusting you, no matter what!</p>
<p>Permanent <a href="http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/above-the-clouds/">devotional link</a></p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Question</strong>: What anxiety have you experienced lately, or are you experiencing right now?</p>
<p>About this Author:<a href="http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/muriel-larson/"> Dr. Muriel Larson</a> <a href="http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/muriel-larson/"></a></p>
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		<title>Above the Clouds</title>
		<link>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2008/10/04/above-the-clouds-3/</link>
		<comments>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2008/10/04/above-the-clouds-3/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 09:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><a href="http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Devotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devotional For Women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FamilyLife Devotionals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelife.com/?p=8562</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Muriel Larson Listen to this devotional read aloud online ** Take our online interactive Bible study about how to beat stress “Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7) We lived on the highest ridge in the scenic southwestern section of Wisconsin. One day I headed to town [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>By Muriel Larson</p>
<p><a href="http://thelife.com/blogs/experience/kindle/2008/10/04/above-the-clouds-4/">Listen to this devotional</a> read aloud online</p>
<p>** Take our <a href="http://mag.thelife.com/study/beatstress.htmll?section=beatstress">online interactive Bible study</a> about how to beat stress</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you”</em> (1 Peter 5:7)</p>
<p>We lived on the highest ridge in the scenic southwestern section of Wisconsin.  One day I headed to town to run some errands.  The beautiful sunshiny day lifted my spirit as I drove toward the asphalt road that led to town.  But as I headed down the steep hill I saw clouds blanketing the land below.</p>
<p>Shifting into second gear and cutting on my lights, I prayerfully continued on.  It was pea-soup fog all the way down.  In comparison to the ridge above, the town below looked dreary indeed</p>
<p>Returning home, when I got near the top I broke through the cloudbank into the golden rays of the sun.</p>
<p>When you&#8217;re under the clouds in the lowland, I thought, things look dreary indeed.  But above the clouds the light restores your spirit.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s just the way it is in life, isn&#8217;t it!  When we&#8217;re going through trials, things tend to look gloomy and depressing.  How long will this go on?, we wonder.  What&#8217;s going to happen?  And while we&#8217;re asking that question, we&#8217;re imagining the gloomiest scenario possible!</p>
<p>It goes just as my trip down to town did:</p>
<p>* Life seems to be going quite smoothly&#8211;and then we hit the clouds.  As Christians, however, we have some great resources.  As I went toward that cloudbank, I shifted gears and put on the lights.  So when we see trouble coming, or we start going through it, we can &#8220;shift gears&#8221; and &#8220;put on the light.&#8221; We can switch to &#8220;prayer mode,&#8221; and really start talking to our Lord who is the Light! And He can bring us through.</p>
<p>* When I went down into that cloudbank, I knew the visibility would be poor and I had better keep my eye on the road.  I knew also that I would be returning to the beautiful sunshiny day.  So it is with trials.  If we face the fact that we have to go through them, we can trust God’s promise that He will work everything for our good. But if we become angry, bitter, and resentful, we’ll be miserable. Yet if we keep looking to our Lord and depending on Him, we will know that above the clouds the sun is shining&#8211;and this trial will pass.</p>
<p>Dear Lord, help me to keep on trusting you, no matter what!</p>
<p>Permanent <a href="http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/above-the-clouds/">devotional link</a></p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Question</strong>: What anxiety have you experienced lately, or are you experiencing right now?</p>
<p>About this Author: <a href="http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/muriel-larson/">Dr. Muriel Larson</a> <a href="http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/muriel-larson/"></a></p>
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		<title>Advice: Fear</title>
		<link>http://powertochange.com/experience/life/advicefear/</link>
		<comments>http://powertochange.com/experience/life/advicefear/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:12:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><a href="http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inspire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Men]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Muriel Larson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-esteem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[worry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelife.com/?page_id=5871</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am having a tough time conquering fear. I get frightened about the simple things. Sometimes at night, I worry about being alone, I worry about my family and I worry about not having enough money. I had a big problem with my car and I didn&#8217;t have the money at the time it broke [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img src="http://christianwomentoday.com/images/article/advice/fear/1.jpg" border="0" alt="" align="left" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>I am having a tough time conquering fear.</strong> I get frightened about the simple things. Sometimes at night, I worry about being alone, I worry about my family and I worry about not having enough money. I had a big problem with my car and I didn&#8217;t have the money at the time it broke down and I almost fell apart. After things worked out and I did get my car fixed, I then wondered why I was so frightened and worried. I need to stop doing this because I know its not healthy and I am making myself sick.</p>
<p><img src="http://christianwomentoday.com/images/article/advice/fear/2.jpg" border="0" alt="" align="left" />I lived in a difficult marriage for years. Early on, the Lord gave me a verse that helped me to have His peace through every trial: &#8220;Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God that passes all understanding will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus&#8221; (Philippians 4:6-7).</p>
<p><strong>I took that first problem to the Lord, prayed hard, thanked Him for all the help he had given me in the past &#8211; and I got the peace! It has worked every time for me!</strong></p>
<p>Psalm 34:4 is a verse I memorized. &#8220;I sought the Lord and He heard me, and He delivered me from all my fears.&#8221; Whenever a fear struck me, I said that verse to myself, closed my mind to the fear and it went away. Often we may become fearful just by dwelling on something that troubles us instead of turning it over to God.</p>
<p>These books might help you: <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Happiness Is A Choice</span> by Minirth and Meier; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Mastering Your Moods</span> by Meier/Arterburn/Minirth; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">How To Win Over Depression</span> by Tim LaHaye</p>
<p>In Christ&#8217;s love, Dr. Muriel</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Age is No Reason to Quit!</title>
		<link>http://powertochange.com/experience/spiritual-growth/noquit/</link>
		<comments>http://powertochange.com/experience/spiritual-growth/noquit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:52:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><a href="http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Experience 55 Plus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[discipleship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dr. Muriel Larson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[evangelism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ministry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-esteem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spiritual growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spirituality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Women]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelife.com/?page_id=11425</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Some ladies in their eighties like to keep their age a secret. Sprightly Bernice Cresswell of Greenville, SC was one who didn&#8217;t. In fact, every Mother&#8217;s Day in recent years she went forward at her church, Oak Crest Baptist, to receive the orchid for oldest mother in the church. Bernice was also one of those [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-17393" title="spiritualgrowth_noquit" src="http://powertochange.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/spiritualgrowth_noquit2.jpg" alt="spiritualgrowth_noquit" />Some ladies in their eighties like to keep their age a secret. </strong>Sprightly Bernice Cresswell of Greenville, SC was one who didn&#8217;t.</p>
<p>In fact, every Mother&#8217;s Day in recent years she went forward at her church, Oak Crest Baptist, to receive the orchid for oldest mother in the church.</p>
<p><strong>Bernice was also one of those stalwart Christians who hasn&#8217;t thrown in the towel on Christian service because of her age. </strong></p>
<p>She continued teaching Sunday School and singing in the church choir and she also used her considerable musical ability to God&#8217;s glory. In fact, she served as an assistant pianist at church and held weekly concerts and religious meetings at a nursing home.</p>
<blockquote dir="ltr"><p>&#8220;I try to play the old songs,&#8221; said Bernice, whose musical preferences on the piano ran towards classical and religious pieces. &#8220;Those are what the folks in rest homes love the most - like <em>Amazing Grace</em>, <em>What a Friend,</em> <em>In the Garden</em> and <em>When We All Get to Heaven</em>.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Bernice meets Thad</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Bernice had started playing the piano at rest homes some years before. Thus <strong>using her musical ability opened the way for her to have a personal ministry talking to various individuals about the Lord.</strong> One elderly black man, Thad, bitterly said, &#8220;Don&#8217;t talk to me about the Lord. I&#8217;ve been badly treated in my life. I didn&#8217;t deserve that!&#8221;</p>
<p>Bernice opened her Bible. &#8221;Well, Thad, I&#8217;m sure you know a lot of people have been treated unfairly. But God doesn&#8217;t approve of that! God really loves you, Thad. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for you &#8211; for your sins &#8211; so that you might go to heaven some day. Why not let me show you this from His Word?&#8221;</p>
<p>Thad grunted and Bernice went through God&#8217;s plan of salvation, Romans 3:23, 6:23; 5:8, 10:9-10, l3, and explained it.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&#8220;You see, Thad, we all have sinned and come short of God&#8217;s glory. But God showed His great love for us by sending His beloved Son Jesus to pay the price for our sins. The wages of sin is death and God&#8217;s gift to us is eternal life. To receive a gift, you have to take it, don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Yes, ma&#8217;am,&#8221; Thad agreed, staring at her.</p>
<p>&#8220;The Bible says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  Now who do you think &#8216;whosoever&#8217; means?&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Well, anybody, I guess. Does it mean me, too?&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;It certainly does! You can call on Jesus right now to save you, Thad, and He will. And He will give you His wonderful peace and joy, too!&#8221; After explaining further, Bernice invited Thad to pray with her to receive Jesus Christ as his Saviour. He humbly bowed his head and followed her in prayer.</p>
<p>&#8220;There was a big change in Thad after that,&#8221; Bernice told me. &#8221;He was a new man! Gone was the bitterness, the angry expression on his face. At last Thad knew peace in his heart. I still visit with Thad every week and we talk about the Lord together.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Beauty contest</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>One attractive white woman at the nursing home who had a stroke couldn&#8217;t talk much. But whenever they held a beauty contest at the home, this lady won hands down. Her favorite song was, <em>Precious Lord, Take My Hand</em>. When she couldn&#8217;t come to the meeting, Bernice visited her in her room to read the Bible to her and have prayer with her. In fact, <strong>Bernice often visited those who, for one reason or another, couldn&#8217;t attend the meetings. The social workers at the home appreciated the group&#8217;s coming each week.</strong> &#8220;You really bring these people out,&#8221; one said to Bernice. &#8221;Ordinarily some of them never participate in anything, but when you come they seem to join right in and come to more normality.&#8221; This was especially true of those whose minds had been disoriented by Alzheimer&#8217;s disease. &#8221;Even though they may not be able to hold a conversation,&#8221; Bernice said, &#8220;they join right in and sing all the words of the old hymns. It comes back to them!&#8221;</p>
<p>After the meeting with singing, special music and a short devotional, refreshments were served during which time the group could fellowship with the various patients.</p>
<p><strong>Never too old to serve!</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Bernice Cresswell took piano and violin lessons and played in an orchestra while attending Due West Women&#8217;s College (now Erskine) some years ago. After graduation and marriage, she served as church organist at several churches in the Greenville area. Besides being a wife and mother of two children, Bernice also taught first through fourth-graders for several years at Mountain Missionary School, a Baptist school that once operated in her area. At one time she also worked with the bus ministry of a large church she attended, visiting in homes to spread the gospel and offer residents free rides to church and Sunday School. But always her first love in service was her music.</p>
<blockquote dir="ltr"><p>&#8220;Looking back,&#8221; she said, <strong>&#8220;my real love for music, singing with different groups, playing piano and organ &#8211; using the talent God gave me in this field &#8211; has been a genuine pleasure for me!&#8221;</strong></p></blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">Even though Bernice Cresswell had a touch of arthritis, she kept right on playing for the Lord.</p>
<blockquote dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr">&#8220;There is joy in serving Jesus,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Why should I give up that joy just because of a few aches and pains? As long as I can move my fingers, I&#8217;ll go right on serving Him on the piano and as His witness!&#8221;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Bernice did just that. Not long after she shared her story with me, she became ill. Several days later, at the age of 87, Bernice went home to be with her Lord where I have no doubt she has already joined the heavenly choir &#8211; and maybe even has a harp to play on!</p>
<p><em>Note:  When I was church organist at Oak Crest, I played with Bernice on the piano from time to time. She always struck me as a very special person! &#8211; Muriel Larson</em></p>
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		<title>Anger, Sin and Trouble</title>
		<link>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2011/01/22/anger-sin-and-trouble-2/</link>
		<comments>http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2011/01/22/anger-sin-and-trouble-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 Jan 2011 09:00:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><a href="http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/">Muriel Larson</a></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[BreakThroughPrayer Womens Daily Devotionals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devotional For Women]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://powertochange.com/?p=24233</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you struggling with negative emotions? Take this study. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-18675" title="devo-interact-icon-42x42" src="http://powertochange.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/devo-interact-icon-42x421.jpg" alt="" width="42" height="42" />Are you struggling with negative emotions? <a href="http://lessons.powertochange.com/study/findfreedomdifficultemotions.html?section=findfreedomdifficultemotions">Take this study. </a></em></p>
<p>“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).</p>
<p>Vesuvius?  A coal mine blast?  A Fourth of July finale?  Nope, only Sarah blowing her top again!  She&#8217;s angry and she&#8217;s letting everybody know it.</p>
<p>When Sarah was a little kid, she discovered that temper tantrums helped her get her own way&#8211;sometimes.  So she&#8217;s been using the &#8220;little kid&#8221; approach ever since and still gets results with it.  In the face of her anger, other people give in to her.  She wins arguments but loses friends too! (And others like her may lose husbands, wives, or other relatives.)</p>
<p><strong>The worst things about our losing our tempers are the things we do and say when we lose them. </strong> &#8220;In your anger do not sin,&#8221; says Ephesians 4:26.  The trouble is that usually we do sin when we&#8217;re angry, don&#8217;t we?  Scripture in Ephesians 4 also warns against the use of bad language, bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, abusiveness and all kinds of malice.  (This list brings the Greek words originally used down to our understanding.) When we lose our tempers, somehow one or more of these things pop out, don&#8217;t they?</p>
<p><strong>Putting the new self in control</strong></p>
<p>The longer we have had a bad habit, the harder it is to overcome it.  <strong>However, Ephesians 4:22-24 tells Christians to &#8220;put off the old self,&#8221; and &#8220;put on the new self.&#8221; </strong> When we allow the Holy Spirit to control our actions, we put the &#8220;new self&#8221; in control and get the victory even over life-long habits.  But as long as we allow the old self to control our actions, we may find it difficult to overcome such things as temper tantrums, bad language, smoking, drinking, complaining, faultfinding, and stretching the truth.</p>
<p>This advice was given to persons who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior and have the Holy Spirit in them. In order to have this “new self” in the first place, we need to make sure that we have truly received Christ. To do that, read John 3 until it gets through to you, or check out on internet: http://powertochange.com/discover/faith/discoverpurpose/</p>
<p><strong>Biblical resources</strong></p>
<p>Some people may solve the anger problem by “counting to ten.&#8221; For a Christian, however, an even better method is to send up a quick call to the Lord to help you control that temper.  When you begin feeling as if you&#8217;re going to make like Vesuvius, ask the Lord right then to help you to be like Jesus and control yourself.</p>
<p><strong>Ask the Lord to help you forgive everyone who has ever hurt you. </strong>Then with His help proceed to do it. In this way you can be delivered from the deep-down anger in your soul that may pour out upon others at the least provocation. See Ephesians 4:32.</p>
<p>James 4:7 says, &#8220;Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.&#8221;   Often things that make us angry are temptations from Satan.  Whether temptation is from Satan or from our own worldly reaction, the solution is the same: &#8220;Come near to God, and he will come near to you&#8221; (James 4:8).</p>
<p><strong>When we depend on God&#8217;s help, we gain victory over losing our tempers. </strong> Each victory draws us closer to gaining control over our tempers, our lips, and our actions.  Christians who exhibit such control can be testimonies for Jesus Christ—and have much better relationships with other people!<br />
<strong><br />
Questions:</strong> Do you struggle with anger? If so, what has helped you to solve your anger problem?</p>
<p>TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Cool down your hot head</p>
<p>About the Author<a href="http://powertochange.com/blogposts/author/mlarson/"> Muriel Larson </a></p>
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