Sunday, July 8, 2018

Creflo Dollar Ministries Featuring: Reason #12: Youth Summer Olympics and POWER TO CHANGE INTO A BRAND NEW PERSON

Reason #12: Youth Summer Olympics [Video Below]

POWER TO CHANGE INTO A BRAND NEW PERSON

by Taffi Dollar |

Have you ever had a day so bad that you wished you were someone else? Many of us may have felt this way after going through a situation that left us feeling discouraged and disheartened. Perhaps we made so many wrong choices that we began to compare ourselves to someone else who seemed never to make any mistakes, and we wished we were more like them. Changing what we don’t like about ourselves is possible, but not through our own self-efforts.

When we identify something about ourselves we want to change, trying to enact that change through our own efforts is like fighting the forces of inertia. By ourselves, we can quickly become discouraged and give up, but asking God for His help brings real results. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). Any real and lasting change requires a shift in thinking, first. God’s will for us is to be able to change for the better; trusting Him in this area allows Him to begin the process.

If we’re struggling with selfishness, anger, bitterness, pride, or some other negative emotion that’s affecting our relationships, we don’t have to accept those qualities as simply part of who we are. God wants better things for us, and He gives us the power to change into a brand new person. Acknowledging that we need Jesus Christ in our lives, and accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, gives us a new start. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT).

Once we accept Jesus, studying God’s Word reveals increasingly deeper levels of knowledge that help us embrace the transformation taking place in us. As new creations in Christ, learning how to think differently is a gradual process. “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, NIV). As we learn a new mindset that agrees with what God says, our attitude improves, and people begin noticing the positive changes in our behavior.

Everyone makes mistakes, but we don’t have to get stuck on them by dwelling in the past. “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18, 19). We don’t have to be stranded in the wilderness of failed relationships, and our past behavior no longer has to define us. We can move forward in life and accept the joyful, happy relationships God sends us.

The changes God wants for us are like a breath of fresh air, and they empower us to succeed. Right-living starts with right-believing, and when we trust God to change us, it becomes obvious that He is the one working in us. “This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:23). The power comes from Him.

Saturday, July 7, 2018

1-800-PetMeds Presents The 2018 United Bowl On US Sports Net

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The Iowa Barnstormers (12-3) host the Sioux Falls Storm (12-3) in the 2018 United Bowl Championship [Live Stream Video Below]

Storm Outlast Rattlers, Advance to United Bowl

Matt Hinshaw/AZ Rattlers

Jun 24, 2018

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Arizona Rattlers (11-4) lost to the Sioux Falls Storm (12-3) by a score of 69-68 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona in front of 16,479 fans. This loss ends the Rattlers season, and the Storm advance to the 2018 United Bowl in Des Moines, Iowa.

It was a back-and-forth game that saw several lead changes, as the two teams traded scores throughout the game. A missed field goal by Arizona led to overtime. A blocked extra point following a Rattlers touchdown became the difference, as the Storm were able to score and convert the point after to escape with a one-point win.

The decision to run the clock down and kick the field goal didn't work out for the Rattlers, but Head Coach and General Manager Kevin Guy stands by his decision.

"That was our decision to manage the clock that way," Guy said. "I would manage it the same way again if we had to do it again. We're not going to second guess ourselves. At the end of the day we got to execute as players on the field."

It was another close loss for the Rattlers, who lost all four games this season by a total of 11 points. Coach Guy thought a lot of his players made some big plays, but the mental mistakes are what kept them from finishing the game.

"At the end of the day, we just weren't mentally tough enough to finish the game off," Guy said. "We lost four games by a total of eleven points, and that speaks to mental toughness. We were just good enough to get beat."

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Rattlers QB Verlon Reed Jr. went 15-of-18 and threw for 158 yards and five touchdowns. WR Dezmon Epps and WR Anthony each caught two touchdowns, while WR Jamal Miles ran in two scores and caught another.

Despite missing a majority of the season, Verlon Reed stepped in and made a big impact on offense, which really stood out to Coach Guy.

"We made the right move with putting Verlon in," Guy said. "He had a great night tonight. Made some plays with his feet. He delivered time after time in tough situations and showed some mental toughness."

Storm QB Lorenzo Brown Jr. went 13-of-22 and threw for 167 yards and four touchdowns. Brown also rushed for 72 yards and three touchdowns. WR Damons Powell caught two touchdowns, and RB Lyle McCombs scored twice.

Defensively for the Rattlers, DB Nathan Lindsey had an interception that he returned for a touchdown. DB Davontae Merriweather was the leading tackler with 7.5.

On defense for Sioux Falls, they totaled four tackles for loss as a team. DB Damond Smith was the leading tackler with 12.5.

The Rattlers started the game on offense, and pushed the ball to the red-zone. WR Jamal Miles would rush three yards for a touchdown, and put the Rattlers up 7-0 early in the first quarter.

A roughing the passer penalty by Arizona quickly put Sioux Falls in scoring position. The Storm tied the game up at seven after QB Lorenzo Brown rushed five yards for a touchdown.

The Rattlers responded with a 41-yard touchdown pass from QB Verlon Reed to WR Dezmon Epps, putting the Rattlers up 14-7.

Sioux Falls tied it up at 14 with a long pass of their own, as Brown found RB Lyle McCombs for a 31-yard touchdown.

A short kick and good return from Miles put the Rattlers in Storm territory to start their next drive. Reed connected with WR Anthony Amos for a 21-yard touchdown. K Sawyer Petre would miss the point-after attempt, putting Arizona back in front 20-14.

A penalty by Sioux Falls on the kickoff put them deep in their own territory to begin their next drive. Brown went deep and found WR Damond Powell for a 33-yard score, giving Sioux Falls the lead 21-20.

At the start of the second quarter, Reed would find Amos for an eight-yard touchdown, his second of the game, putting the Rattlers back in front 27-21.

The Storm would return the ensuing kickoff for touchdown, 49-yards by Powell, quickly regaining the lead, 28-27.

Arizona took the lead back when Miles rushed five yards for the go-ahead score, giving the Rattlers a 34-28 lead.

Sioux Falls responded with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Powell, taking a 35-34 lead.

The Rattlers regained the lead after Reed hit Miles for an 11-yard score, putting the Rattlers up 41-35.

The Storm found themselves pinned on their own one-yard line following the kickoff. Rattlers DB Nathan Lindsey intercepted the ball and return it for a touchdown, extending their lead to 48-35.

Near the end of the second quarter, a long field goal by Storm K Miles Bergner brought the score to 48-38 at halftime.

Sioux Falls started the second half with the ball. Brown strung together a few nice runs in a row and punched it in from one yard out, bringing the Storm within three.

The Storm took the lead after a 28-yard touchdown run from Brown, putting Sioux Falls ahead 52-48.

Near the end of the third quarter, a 15-yard touchdown run by WR Dezmon Epps put the Rattlers back in the lead 55-52.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Sioux Falls regained the lead with a two-yard touchdown run by McCombs, bringing the score to 59-55, Storm.

A two-yard run by Reed put the Arizona back in the lead 62-59.

Sioux Falls tied the game at 62 with a 30-yard field goal with 3:30 remaining.

The Rattlers took over in Storm territory after a late hit penalty by Sioux Falls. With eight-seconds remaining, K Sawyer Petre missed the potential go-ahead field goal to force overtime.

Arizona started overtime with the ball, and Reed connected with Epps for a 16-yard touchdown on fourth down. The point-after attempt was blocked by Sioux Falls, keeping the Rattlers lead at six.

The Storm scored on their first play, a 20-yard touchdown pass from Brown to WR Damien Ford. The point-after attempt was good, giving the Storm a 69-68 victory.

With the loss, the Arizona Rattlers finish the season with an 11-4 record. The Storm join the Iowa Barnstormers in a matchup for the 2018 United Bowl Championship. The game will be played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA on Saturday July 7th, with kickoff schedule for 7:05pm. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Barnstormers office at (515) 633-2255.

Barnstormers Clinch United Bowl Berth

Jun 23, 2018

Des Moines, IA – The Iowa Barnstormers (12-3) defeated the Nebraska Danger (4-11) by the score of 48-17. Barnstormers being the number one seed in the playoffs, hosted the Danger Friday night in Wells Fargo Arena. They will host the United Bowl July 7 at Wells Fargo Arena.

The Danger took an early lead in the first quarter scoring on a one yard pass from Gregory Hankerson Jr. to Donta Armstrong. The Barnstormers stalled their first drive, but with 1:16 left in the first quarter Drew Powell connected with Ryan Balentine on an eight yard pass to tie the game.

The Barnstormers defense was clicking to start the second quarter forcing the Danger to a 24 yard field goal made by Brad Hatfield. The eight play drive took 5:31 seconds off the clock, which put the Danger back in the lead with the score being 10-7. Drew Powell and the offense took the ball the down the field the next drive where he would punch in a one yard run to put the score at 14-10. Closing out the half with :12 seconds left, Powell ran 11 yards for his third touchdown of the night. That would conclude the scoring for the half, with the score being 20-10 Barnstormers.

Coming out of halftime the Barnstormers looked to extend their lead and they did just that with another Powell one yard touchdown run. Josh Gable kicked the extra point through to put the Barnstormers up 27-10 with 6:31 left in the third quarter. Hankerson Jr. looked to lead a comeback drive for the Danger by throwing a four yard touchdown pass to Angelo Pease late in the third quarter.
Rocky Hayes caps the night off with his second of three interceptions, taking it back to the endzone to seal the win for the Barnstormers, 48-17.

The Barnstormers await the winner of Saturday night's game between Sioux Falls Storm and Arizona Rattlers. The Barnstormers will host the United Bowl on Saturday, July 7 in Des Moines. The championship game will take place at Wells Fargo Arena and kick off at 7:05pm. Tickets are available, contact the Barnstormers front office at 515-633-2255.

Minding Your Business-12 Things To Consider When Starting A Home Based Business

Presented on US Sports Net By Yahoo Small Business!

By: Theuns Victor

Getting Out Of The "Rat-Race"

Are you tired of commuting to a job you hate? Then it is time to consider a change and making the decision is easy once you know;

"What, Where, When and How?"

The exhilaration of firing one's boss and having the freedom to get out of bed and into your own empire each day is dawning with more and more people each and every day.

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Simply not having to start the day commuting or having to sit in clogged up traffic for 2 to 4 hours a day already makes the thought of working for oneself the most desirable of all.

Getting out of the corporate world and the lifestyle associated with it is another consideration. Most people today get up in the morning imposing personal pressure on themselves just to go and do a job which nobody else would do and which they themselves hate with passion but, the truth of the matter is that the majority fall into this flow of life because that is what society require and that is what their ancestors did, which is to work the daily grind for 35 to 40 years just to be forgotten when they hit retirement.

Getting Started

The thought of working for oneself is a marvellous idea and you have decided this is what you want to do with the rest of your life but, the ugly truth is where does one begin?

Not having an idea of what you want to do with this Home Based Business of yours and simply jumping into a well of quicksand is something which can very quickly turn into a nightmare.

Myself I have been dreaming of having an online marketing business for almost 20 years. When the day came that I had the opportunity to start my own "Home Based Online Marketing Business" the tenacity and vigour with which I was soon brought to a screeching halt and woke up from the dream made me realize that jumping on the proverbial bandwagon online was not going to make me a successful businessman overnight and I realized that there were much more involved in building a business online.

Starting a business from scratch already is a huge challenge but starting such a business online brings out even more challenges and the volume of knowledge required to build and create a successful business is enormous in comparison to what one think you know.

Below follow "12 Must Consider Aspects to starting your first Home Based Business.

When considering the founding of your future successful Home Based Business include the following in your "To Do" List.

Quote: The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done... you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do". Lil Wayne End Quote

12 Pillars To Creating A Successful Home Based Business

1. Determine what it is you Wish to Accomplish. In other words establish a "WHY"?. Many fail in their attempts to start and grow a successful Home Based Business because they simply never set goals and decided where it is they want to go with the business. "Why are you doing what you have set out to do"?

2. Determine the Type of Business you want to create. It is of utmost importance that you decide whether your business is going to be an Online Business or an Offline Business or a combination of the two.

3. Get Organized. Many operations and projects have failed in the past simply because there is no drive to get organized. Every home has some free space available. Organize a place where you can establish an "office", maybe a small corner in the dining room, a place in the garage, any place where you can put a table or small desk to use as an office. Do not procrastinate on this; the easiest way to start is to get started! You and your family should realize that "work is work" and "home is home".

4. Determine a Routine. Even though you are working for yourself from home there are certain things that have to be done daily. Determining when you are going to do it is an essential element for success. Although you determine your hours the work that need to be done determine the number of hours and "When" these hours per day are allocated.

5. Determine your Niche. Trust me falling blindly into a pool of dark water could be very hazardous to your overall health. Establishing who you want to address with the product or service you want to render is paramount to success.

6. Determine the Model of Your Home Based Business. Some people have great success in recruiting people; others have success in working one on one. What you have to establish is whether your business is going to be a one man/woman operation or whether you want to get involved in a Multi Level Marketing system. Each has its benefits however, they also have certain limitations. Doing some research before making a final decision on what model you are going to follow could save a lot of time, frustration and disappointment.

7. Determine the solution to a problem. Now is a good time to determine which product or service you are going to provide to your future customers. Remember your overall priority should be to help people who are experiencing a specific problem. Maybe you have your own product or you are excellent in consulting people with a specific need and helping them to satisfy that need or solve their problem. If you do not have a product or service you could make use of Affiliate Marketing to provide the solution to their problem.

8. Acquire the Tools To Develop and Manage Your Business. If you have a computer and a mobile phone and you have established your home "office" you are already halfway through this process. However, if a large portion of your business is going to come via the internet you will need other tools to consider and to obtain. Here we think of things like registering a domain, creating a website, tracking in order to determine where your potential customers came from, autoresponders and various other requirements. Before going head first into signing up to site after site first do some research and find the best hosting, tracking and advertising sites you can. They will be with you for a long time so make sure you get this one right.

9. Register with Payment Processors and Affiliate Networks. This is a very important aspect. Before you go into just signing up to any or all payment processors and affiliate networks think back what exactly it is you want to accomplish. Many people get themselves so cluttered with sites which actually have no purpose for there "WHY" that they get lost in all the bookmarked sites in their web browser. When registering also take time to read through the terms and conditions and make sure that you have a fair idea of what the rules of these sites are and what influence they could or could not have to the success of your business.

10. Determine "HOW" You are going to Promote Your Business. Every business need advertising, whether online or offline. There are many ways of advertising and promoting your business however, some means of advertising work better for certain types of businesses than others. Before just getting into advertising and promoting it is essential that you do some research in this field as well. Before spending $100's and even $1,000's on advertising which don't work take the time and find the advertising tools which would work for your specific Niche. Trying to promote baseballs to football players would not do any good now would it?

11. Get Rid of the Junk. In your progress toward building up this business of yours if there is one thing you should absolutely not overlook it is the following:

• Offline you will find many who will try to talk you into posting an advertisement in their monthly bulletin. Be on the lookout. This could cost you plenty over time without bringing in a return on your investment simply for the reason that your ad is not relevant in relationship to other ads in the bulletin and the audience it is set to address. Avoid this kind of unnecessary cost.

• Online you will come across a multitude of offers promising overnight success and instant riches for a mere $7. These cheap products are the beginning of a process to suck you into a realm in which you will eventually max out your credit card, get into debt and month after month you will sit in agony not knowing where tomorrows food is going to come from. Take extra caution before investing in anything that looks even a little better than good, there are tons of places where you could find a similar product free which will keep the initial costs in establishing your business down.

• If the biggest portion of your business is going to be online specifically, do not get put of or discouraged by the so called experts out there telling you, you won't make it and you do not have the right mindset. Many of the so-called "gurus" and these "Super Marketers" use this as a tactic to suck you into their world. Toss it off and maintain focus.

• Finally lay the foundation and then build your house. You will come across geniuses who will put up the roof before they have built the walls and then hope to lay the foundation afterwards. One does not build a house without a foundation. Rather spend more time getting yourself organized, doing proper research, and getting all the tools in place to make a success of your business than to jump in, make a few quick bucks and then you find that you are on a dry sandbank in the middle of the ocean all on your own.
The preparation and planning of your business is 50% of the struggle won. Having to come back and do it over is frustrating and can cost you valuable time and a lot of unnecessary money.

12. Legalities and Other Rules. To save yourself hours of frustration and to be sure to understand what the Do's and Dont's are take time to read through some of the Terms and Conditions and Rules and Regulations as you signup to sites. Also it is a good idea to address things like Tax Requirements, Affiliate Agreements and things like this.

Trust me sometimes one is in a hurry and then because of a lack of the right information or a shortage thereof you can find yourself in a haven of frustration just for not clicking the right radio button, it happens.

The satisfaction of owning a business which one know you have build from the floor must be something every successful businessman/woman cherish at some point. However, the hurdles, barricades and pitfalls, in achieving this can bring many to a halt before they make that breakthrough to success.

Knowing what to do, how to be aware of the things which can and cannot influence one's success could bring a much higher success rate than is presently the case.

In your attempt to overcome these hurdles take note of what others have already experienced and learn from that instead of having to go to boot camp over and over.

After being in the military and part of the corporate world for 37 years I have been pushed into early retirement and decided that this was the time to chase my dream. Read my full bio at http://www.reducethebs.com/aboutus.html

CoachTube Presents: Jack Callaghan Diving Recruiting Video (Class of 2019)

Jack Callaghan (email: jackcallaghan7@gmail.com, cell: (650) 776-6926) Palo Alto High School Class of 2019 Stanford Diving Club [Video Below]

Presented on US Sports Net by CoachTube Swimming!
SteveHamann

Water Polo Goalkeeping: Skills, Drills, and Angles

by Steve Hamann

Water Polo Goalkeeping: Skills, Drills, and Angles provides a comprehensive review of the critical factors involved in proper positioning by the goalkeeper, relative to the location of the ball. The instructional coaching videos in this course detail how the goalkeeper should protect the goal in a variety of situations. The course also features information concerning conditioning suggestions for goalkeepers.

Among the topics covered:

Protect yourself
Egg-beater kick
Conditioning
Side-to-side
Variations of side-to-side
Jumping jacks
Pull-downs
Lob shots
Angles
Four-meter shots
6-on-5 positioning
Practice on your own

Steve HamannOlympian and All American Water Polo Goalie

Steve Hamann is one of the premier goalies in the history of the United States water polo. An Olympian, an All-American at every level of play, a member of the Water Polo Hall of Fame, and a United States National Team member from 1972-1984, Steve was twice voted the top goalkeeper in the world at the World Student Games in Moscow. Steve remains active in water polo. Since 1992, he has participated as a player at the master’s level. Steve is also a widely respected and sought-after clinician. He currently owns and operates the Steve Hamann Water Polo Clinic for Goalkeepers and Coaches.

Book This Course...

Let's Talk About Your Workout Program....

Workout Program

Workout Info

Discover various workout programs from starting a workout program to the morning workout, the 15 minute workout, the 30 minute workout to yoga and zumba and more!

Starting A Workout Program

Starting A Workout Program 4 Important Questions To Ask Before Starting A Workout Program Before you dive in and get started with your workout program, there are some important things that you should be considering. Unless you are fully prepared to...

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15 Minute Workouts Hitch Fit's 15 Minute Workouts! Got a quick 15 minutes? Don’t waste it in front of the TV! Pick up some dumb bells, crank out some crunches or go on a brisk jog around the neighborhood. You can easily burn 200 calories in just 1...

30 Minute Workouts

Morning Workout

How to get a Morning Workout to Work for You Morning Workout Regiments: The Why and How Mornings can be great! However, for many it may be the least productive part of the day. Prying yours eyes open just long enough to get your coffee is certainly...

Workout Program Accountability

Workout Program Accountability The Best Ways To Keep Yourself Accountable On Your Workout Program Do you find that after you start up on a fresh new diet or workout program, it’s only two weeks in and you’ve fallen off the bandwagon already? For man...

Yoga

Yoga Getting Fit with Yoga! Learn how to slim Down and tone Up with Yoga! Discover Yoga’s Amazing Muscle-Building Abilities! Learn about the Bikram Yoga Obsession and discover more benefits of couples Yoga!

Zumba Workout

Zumba Workout Zumba: A Wild Workout for Your Inner Party Animal! Have you been lifting the same weights or running the same route for years now? If you’re anything like us, adding something a little different to your daily routine will help you s...

Hitch Fit vs P90x

Hitch Fit vs P90x What is the Difference? VS. I get the question on a regular basis” What is the difference between Hitch Fit and P90x” My answer EVERYTHING... P90X The link below is their description of the...

The Truth About Cancer - Erin Elizabeth - Highlights 2016 - The Truth About Cancer LIVE || Holistic Doctors Death in the USA

Here is a little video of the highlights from Erin Elizabeth (from Health Nut News) presentation "The Holistic Doctors Death in North America and Beyond" at The Truth About Cancer Live Event 2016.[Video Below]

-------------------------------------------------- About The Truth About Cancer -------------------------------------------------- The Truth About Cancer’s mission is to inform, educate, and eradicate the pandemic of cancer in our modern world. Every single day, tens of thousands of people just like you are curing cancer (and/or preventing it) from destroying their bodies. It’s time to take matters into your own hands and educate yourself on real cancer prevention and treatments. It could save your life or the life of someone you love.

Erin Elizabeth, Health Nut News, Mercola, Dr. Mercola, Dr. Mercolas wife, The Truth About Cancer, Truth About Cancer, Ty Bollinger, A Global Quest, Global Quest, A Global Quest Episode 3, A Global Quest Episode 5, Global Quest Episode 4, Global Quest Episode 6, Alternative Cancer Cure, Cancer Cure, Natural Cures, How to beat cancer, Natural Cancer Cure, Quest for the Cures, Natural Medicine to fight cancer, how to fight cancer naturally, Holistic Doctor Death, Dr. Rassmus Death, Erin Elizabeth Mercola

Good Cops Great Cops-Handgun Disarms - A Reality Check and Self-Defense Tips - Training Partners And Realism

Can you disarm an attacker when threatened with a handgun? What are the odds of survival? We tested this with two spec ops veterans and a Zero REX 1 FX handgun. See the results for yourself. [Video Below]

Self-Defense Tips - Training Partners And Realism

By: G J Thomas

I've watched dozens of short video clips on the Internet showing me how to defend myself in nasty situations, yet I've never really tried any of these methods. In a bad situation, where I am confronted with an aggressor, I doubt that I would be able to do much to defend myself if all that I had ever done was watch these clips and hope my brain had stored the information. It's only when you actually get up and start practicing the moves you've seen that you can really consider yourself anywhere near equipped to defend yourself. Your body needs to rehearse the movements needed over and over again. You need to program your limbs to react very quickly to your brain's command in confrontational situations, and in a very specific way, and while most of the simple methods you can teach yourself online work very well, it is extremely important to practice as much as possible. If somebody comes at you with a knife ready to stab you, all your hard work should prevent you from freezing and putting yourself in more danger.

Bad45: Tacfit Bodyweight And Dumbell System

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One reason that I prefer to learn hand to hand combat techniques in the comfort of my own home is because I prefer having the choice between spending ten minutes teaching myself, or two hours teaching myself. That's what works best for me. I like to be able to watch a move, learn it, and practice it over and over again until I think that I've got it right. Lessons at a gym or training facility of some sort would not suit my needs at all. Sure, I could get hands-on instruction that I can appreciate would probably be better, but I know that sometimes I need more time to learn, sometimes less, and sometimes I have no time at all. Training myself at home is the perfect solution and it works, but I'm sure that I can teach myself faster, and to a higher standard if I have a good training partner.

Family and friends can help you perfect simple techniques

If you are learning hand to hand combat techniques for self-defense, and you are teaching yourself with the help of online guides and video demonstrations, than try grabbing a willing family member, or friend, to help you with your training. The moves you will teach yourself are far more quickly learned when you are training with somebody. The most important aspect of learning with the help of another human being is for your partner to act in the manner that a real attacker would. Do not just tell him to stand there while you go over the same techniques again and again. Instead you want him to try to attack you. Use soft, similar shaped household items to serve as knives, guns, or other weapons, and instruct your partner to try to strike you with them just as a real attacker might.

I also recommend advising your training partner to use loud, very harsh language during training, especially if you are not used to hearing curse words, or not used to being shouted at. It's surprising how much more powerful an attacker seems when he is using foul language that matches his aggressive and threatening demeanor. Many people have frozen in bad situations simply from the shock of being screamed at in this way, so prepare yourself for it. Instead of shying away from aggressive shouting you should incorporate it into your training.

Small successes in training give you huge confidence boosts

You cannot beat the feeling of triumph when you can successfully stop the attack over and over again because your practice has paid off and the methods you've taught yourself really do work. It's a definite pat-yourself-on-the-back-moment and your confidence levels will shoot up every time.

If a training partner is not a possibility for you then try to find something that you can use to be the aggressor. I have a friend who had no real life volunteer options so instead he used a coat stand as his training partner. He hung a jacket on the coat stand that he had stuffed with old clothes to simulate the attacker, and he trained himself to a good standard in this way. Use whatever method works best for your conditions. As long as you are safely practicing the moves in as realistic circumstances as you can then you'll make progress, and progress means you will be far better equipped to survive if you are ever unfortunate enough to be in a tough spot.

Joel Osteen Recent Messages Featuring: Victoria Osteen - Protect Your God-Sized Promises

You may be going through some difficult times right now, but hear this loud and clear. God says you are also blessed and highly favored. He has chosen you and put a seed of promise in you and given you an assignment that you need to protect. You need to get into an environment where it can grow, such as a good church where people know God and speak encouragement to your heart. Get His Word in you so that when you go out to birth what God put in you, you’ll withstand the challenges you’ll face. Protect what He’s given. This is message #767, "Protect Your God-Sized Promises", by Victoria Osteen. For more inspirational messages, visit https://www.JoelOsteen.com/Messages

Listen Closely and Follow

Joel Osteen

Many times we don't realize that God is speaking to us. We feel an impression on the inside, a prompting to be good to someone. That's not random. That's God talking to us. Or maybe you're in a situation that seems fine, but you feel an uneasiness. Something says, "It's not right. Stay away." That's not just your nerves. It's God protecting you. Don't ignore it, don't talk yourself out of it; just obey. If you'll follow that still, small voice, God says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go" (Psalm 32:8). The Holy Spirit is in each one of us to guide us. If we're listening to His still, small voice—the promptings, the suggestions, the alarms—He will save us from heartache and pain. He'll lead us into promotion and favor.

When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, He said, "Do not add other laws or subtract from these; just obey them" (Deuteronomy 4:2). He was saying, "Don't debate it, overanalyze it, or try to figure it out. Just do it." Too often we feel these impressions on the inside, but we dismiss them as not making sense, or override or overanalyze them. Don't talk yourself out of it. Just obey. Anytime you obey, a blessing will always follow.

A friend of mine was in a church service when he noticed a woman and something on the inside said, "Give her a gift." It was so strong. But his mind said, "She'll think you're crazy, and she doesn't look like she needs money." He kept pushing it off, but he couldn't get away from this impression. When he looked in his wallet, all he had was five dollars. He thought, "I'd be embarrassed to give her so little." But the longer he waited, the more miserable he felt. He knew he was supposed to do it. Finally he got his nerve up, walked over to her and said, "You don't know me, but I feel like I'm supposed to give you this," placing the dollars in her hand. She looked at it and started crying. She explained, "I only had enough gas to get to church. I asked God to give me the gas money to get back home." She hugged him and said, "You're the answer to my prayer!"

God knows what He's doing. He can see what you can't see. He has secrets He wants to whisper to you, inside information that will lead you down the best path for your life. If you'll be sensitive to His voice, there's no limit to where God will take you.