Worry LESS

Worry Less

                Worry less?  An oxymoron for sure, right?  Those two words simply do not belong together.  Is there such a concept?  Is it possible in this world of uncertainties, death, disease and destruction to worry less?

Take it from someone, whose bloodline is filled with worriers; YES.  The key is to understand your worries and the power they have in your life.  The topic of worry has been a struggle for humans for thousands of years.  So much so, that Jesus saw it important enough to teach about in his Sermon on the Mount.  We can learn vital lessons about our worries (and save thousands of $$ on prescriptions and doctor visits) by revisiting what Jesus says about worry:

1.       Worry cannot add one single minute to your day, so it truly is useless (Mt. 6:27).  Ironically, one of our biggest worries is the lack of time in the day to accomplish everything on our “to-do” list. If you can’t “worry more time into the day,” there must be a better solution.

2.       Worry indicates a lack of faith (Mt. 6:28-30).  Claiming to be a person with a strong faith, falling into the “Oh ye of little faith,” category is a hard pill to swallow.  I must remember however, that faith is the ability to maintain my inner strength (worry less) by trusting completely in the promises of God amid the problems of life.

3.       Worry may indicate that I am on the wrong path (Mt. 6:31-33).  God sometimes uses the uses the worries in my life to get my attention.  In other words, if I am taking care of the things that are important to God, he promises to take care of the things that are important to me.  Your worries may be an indication that God is too far down on your list of priorities.

4.       Worry indicates a distorted view of tomorrow (Mt. 6:34).  Jesus gives us a direct command to deal with today’s issues, and not worry about tomorrow’s.

We can summarize this lesson on worry by embracing, meditating and carrying one powerful verse with us wherever we go.  It’s a favorite of mine and a very special Sunday school teacher from my past (he now teaches my two older children.)  Matthew 6:33 reminds us, “But, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

                (Thanks, Roland for your love of Jesus and this verse.)  And reading my column!

Jesus Calling

I’ve often heard stories of men and women literally hearing God speak to them.  Countless books offer near-death experiences and devotions such as Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” tell of personal encounters with a God who longs and yearns to speak  to those that love Him.

                It seems, the more we long for a clearer understanding of God/Jesus/The Holy Spirit, the more we are bombarded with things like the Easter Bunny and planting spring bulbs before it’s too late.
                Before you are overwhelmed with what to put in that Easter Basket, let me share with you what God wants you to know this Easter weekend.  The message is one of hope, not destruction.  It reminds us that with a closer walk with God we can do all things, for we are strengthened.
                After the resurrection, Jesus spoke, ate, walked with and encouraged those that He loved.  The messages He shared then can encourage and give us hope even today.  Below are the three themes that were shared as Jesus appeared to those He loved after His resurrection.
                “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:10).  We, as parents, teens, children living in such a crazy world need to hear this very message.  How much better do you feel when you take a problem to a trusting friend or family member and they tell you it’s going to be ok.  Jesus wants you to know that it’s going to be okay.
                “Peace to you” (Luke 28:36).  So much more than the typical greeting this phrase holds today.  When Jesus spoke it, it was an assurance, a promise that things would work out and He would remain with those He loved.  Couldn’t we all use the assurance that we’re not going to be left alone?  That when someone promises forever, they mean forever?  Jesus wants you to know that you will never be alone.
“Why are you troubled?  Why do doubts arise in your hearts?” (Luke 24:38).  Jesus reminded those He loved, and He reminds us today that He had just done what no one else had ever done before.
 He conquered and defeated the biggest and scariest battle on Earth; death.  He was now standing before them, not as a spirit or as a ghost but in the flesh (Luke 24:39).  If He could do that, there should no longer be room for doubt.
                The messages Jesus shared following His resurrection are just as powerful and relevant today as they were then.  If you struggle to hear a God who loves you and is here for you, know the message above is as personal for you as it was the disciples and friends of Jesus.   
                May you be blessed this Easter weekend to hear Jesus Calling. 

In the Nick of Time

 

                My family and I are in the midst of a very real struggle in our lives right now.  One, which involves very real financial burdens and an uncertain future.  One that has put a wedge between my husband and myself and shifted the mood of our home greatly.

                I won’t share the details (I’m sure my husband will feel the above is already too much) but I share the scenario to offer hope and direction to the hundreds of other families facing similar situations. 
                Financial burdens, emotional struggles and uncertain futures are an all too common reality for most homes today. 
                And for many, the end is divorce, bankruptcy, and more uncertainty.  I can tell you without a doubt that amidst our struggles, there is still one very real reality in our home.  We have hope.
                At the onset of this situation, the first place I ran to (yes, my mom was a close second) was the bible.  There I found several verses that did not solve my problem, but gave me peace in coping.  (Isn’t that what we’re all looking for?)
                 “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive His mercy and we will find grace to help us in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16  (It’s worth noting that the Hebrew translation of the phrase “in time of need” bears a closer resemblance  to the phrase, “in the nick of time” or “at just the right time.”
                When we are hit suddenly (as my family was) with pain and suffering, we don’t always have time to make sense of the situation or know which direction we should go.  But we can know that God is there, and when we go to him boldly (tears and all) He is there to help, at just the time we need it.
                Another verse I have been carrying with me, is John 16:33.  “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”  We are reminded here, that God knows about all the struggles and burdens we will suffer, but he has already taken care of them. 
                I often visit my brother’s grave when I am hurting.  When I was there a few days ago, sitting in my car, tears streaming down my face, a song I had never heard came on the radio.  The lyrics reminded me that we are never too far, too gone, too late, or too wrong for God to take care of hurts we are experiencing.
                If you are in the midst of pain right now, may you experience the peace realizing that God knows all about it, and He has already taken care of it; “in the nick of time.”

Reduce Stress and Lose Weight Naturally

Reduce Your Stress and Lose Weight Automatically

                If one of your resolutions this year was to lose weight, you might want to add reducing stress to calorie counting.  Studies are indicating that people who experience significant amounts of stress on a regular basis weigh significantly more than those who combat stress in healthy ways.

                Science has now proven for us that very specific things happen in our brain when we are under stress.
 Our “hunger hormones” get out of whack and send crazy signals prompting us to eat more simple sugars and signaling that we are never full.
                To add insult to injury the stress hormone, cortisol is released in massive doses in our body when we are stressed and researchers now think that during this time more fat cells are created.  And more fat cells are created to hold more fat!
               The good news is that you don’t need a prescription to block the cortisol or regulate your hormones.  Why?  Because food is nature’s drug and choosing the right foods will do this automatically.  Eat the right foods and you can keep your hormones, your waistline and your stress in check.

Try adding the following goodies to your grocery list next week.  All are proven to help regulate hormones and balance stress (and therefore help you lose weight :)

·         Bananas:  Packed with potassium and vitamin B; heavy hitters in fighting stress
·         Leafy greens:  Chock full of calcium and magnesium which are proven to relax muscles and have calming effects on your brain.
·         Fatty fishes:  Loaded with Omega 3’s which boost happy hormones in our brain, like Serotonin, and regulate the release of Cortisol.
·         Nuts:  Raw almonds, especially.  Packed with magnesium, zinc, vitamins B and E, and healthy oils to boot. Just two or three servings per week are all you need to help manage stress and drastically lower your blood pressure.
·         Mangos: Virtual vitamins C powerhouse, mangos naturally reduce blood pressure.
·         Avocados: Once again, the presence of potassium and healthy fats, avocados are great for weight loss and stress reduction.

As with all issues in life, we were never meant to succeed without God’s word.  His word is

our sustenance and our most potent stress reliever.  He reminds me during times of stress to; “Cast all your burdens on the Lord, for He cares for you.”  1 Peter 5:7 and when I feel I can’t go on, He says; “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

Make Your Resolution Last

                                                                            

                O.K., here we go.  Its resolution time again.  That time of year we begin to make those commitments to better our lives, save our money, and lose those extra pounds.  And if you fear yours won’t last you’re not alone. 

                Statistics tell us that our will power and determination to keep our resolutions lasts a whopping two weeks!  Can you believe that?  We have less will power now than we did twenty years ago.  Back then, we held our ground until at least mid-February.

                So what has happened?  The obvious, of course; technology, fast fixes and credit cards have left us (and our children) wanting what we want NOW!

                But that’s not our only hang up, especially where behavior changes are concerned.  We have made the mistake of relying on our own willpower, our own motivation and our own determination to keep us going in the midst of incredible temptations lurking around every corner.

                Picture this; your New Year’s Resolution is to save money, yet the biggest sales occur, not the day after Thanksgiving but in the months of January and February!

                Or, your resolution is to be more patient with your spouse and children, yet, due to the cold weather and snow the entire family stays hunkered down in a living room for eight weeks, filled with Christmas decorations that need to be packed away, and dust piling up all around from a non-stop furnace!

                And of course, there is the ever popular “I am going to lose fifty pounds this year if it kills me.”  (Well it just might if you’re relying on your own will power to get it done.)

                Our problem is not our resolutions, but the one we look to for help in achieving them.  The bible tells me that when I am weak, my God is strong (2 Cor. 12:10.)   It tells me that my bible is a useful tool for equipping me for all the good works God has planned for me (2 Timothy 3:16.)  And it also tells me that at just the right time, God will raise me up and strengthen me (1 Peter 5:10.)

                If you intend to make resolutions this year, might I suggest a couple of tools to add to your brand new work-out clothes and budgeting journal?  Prayer and a bible.  As we say in our equipped meetings, “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil.4:13.)  (And that includes losing weight and living healthy.)

                If you are interested in losing weight and living healthier this year, check out the Equipped Ministries blog at www.equipped4him.blogspot.com or find us on Facebook: facebook.com/equippedministries for meeting times and locations.

Christmas Will Never Be the Same

                I know from personal experience that once a family loses a loved one, Christmas is never the same.  We are unable, (nor do we really want) to find the same joy we found in years past in the many traditions of Christmas.  Presents, shopping, baking etc., no longer lighten the mood and get us in the spirit the way they used too.  The one or ones we used to share these traditions with are no longer with us, so doing them brings little joy.

                The above is truer this year than ever before.  An entire community has lost their joy for Christmas.  We have lost little bakers in the kitchen, little voices in the Christmas musical, and quite possibly an entire cast for a holiday play.  Christmas will never be the same in Newtown, Connecticut.
                The unthinkable has happened yet again and we feel helpless to do anything about it.
 Upon first reading the headline last Friday morning “another school shooting,” I am ashamed to say that without reading the details, I turned my head.  “Not today, Lord,” I thought.  “I have plans to celebrate my nephew’s graduation from college, I can’t think about this today.”
                Later that day, well into the evening, my husband asked if I had heard.  As he proceeded to tell me, my knees nearly buckled and my heart broke.  Ashamed, that as I went about a normal fun-filled day, there were parents suffering, torn apart by the evil that is very present in this world.  Unable to even get to their precious little angels, due to the ongoing investigation. From that point on I watched. Not to act as the voyeur that I usually am, but to learn more about the forever changed families, begging God for unexplainable peace in the midst of tragedy, miracles buried in the pain.
                Just like always God has provided.  Over the course of the last few days, I have learned more about the little children of Sandy Hook Elementary.  The bright, creative, giving, empathetic, and energetic children, wise beyond their years.  Children, who were huge Victor Cruz fans, children who wanted to grow up and become firemen to protect others.
  And then there were the precious teachers and staff who ran toward the gunman and sacrificed their lives, so that others might live.  Could there be a better example of Jesus right here on Earth?
                Christmas will never be the same, and our only hope for finding joy at Christmastime is not the anticipation of Santa Claus and presents, but the greatest gift of all, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
                 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.  And the government shall be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:2, 6-7.
                No, Christmas will never be the same, but we can anticipate joy again.  Until then, we thank God for the following angels who now watch over their families and friends from heaven:
Charlotte Bacon-7, Daniel Barden-7, Jesse Lewis-6, Olivia Rose Engel-6, Josephine Gay-7,
 Madeline Hsu-6, Catherine Hubbard-6, Noah Pozner-6, Benjamin Wheeler-6, Anna Marque-Greene-6, James Matteoli-6, Grace Audrey McDonnell-7, Emile Parker-6, Jack Pinto-6, Chase Kowalski-7,
Caroline Previdi-6, Jessica Rekos-6, Allison Wyatt-6, Dylan Hockley-6, Avielle Richman-6,
 Rachel Davino-29, Dawn Hochspring (principal)-47, Anne Marie Murphy-52, Mary Sherlack-56,
 Victoria Soto-27, Lauren Rousseau-30
                As God says to us in His word, I believe these sweet angels say to us from heaven as well; “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

Ask, Search, Knock

 

                The other day in our bible study time, the kids and I came across a very familiar verse.  One that I have heard hundreds of times growing up, yet through discussion with my kids, gained a very new perspective.

 

In chapter 7 of the book of Matthew, verses 7 & 8, Jesus is well into his famous Sermon on the Mount.  Some refer to it as God’s call to righteousness, but I like to tell my kids that it is God’s list of “Do’s and don’ts.”         

                In this particular section we are told, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.  Keep on seeking and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who seeks, finds.  And everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7, 8.

                Now before I go any further, I must warn you, this verse is very likely to excite children when reading.  Why?  Because all they hear is the surface message; “keep asking and you will get….keep nagging and mom will finally give in…”  So after finally convincing the kids that this verse had nothing to do with IPods and Nike shoes, we dug in and learned a beautiful message.

                So often in reading this verse, we conclude that God must be telling us to pray harder, longer and more steadfast.  Although I am confident that doing the above could only benefit us, I am also very sure that it means so much more.

                When discussing the verse I asked a simple question.  “How do you ASK, SEARCH, and KNOCK for God?”  To which I received the simplest yet most profound answer.

                “I ask by praying, I search by reading my bible, and I knock by going to church.”  Now the statement may not seem profound in and of itself, but the concept surely is.

                How many of us feel as though we ask God for something and never receive it?  How many of us feel as though we have been searching for the answers to life’s burdens for years and coming up short with solutions?  And, how many of us feel we have knocked at God’s door until our knuckles are bleeding and no one answers?

                Yet, how many of us do all three of the above on a regular (and by regular, I mean daily) basis.  Even at our best, we are going to church once or twice a week, praying daily, yet our bible gathers dust on the bookshelf.

                If our burdens are to be lifted, God’s wisdom is to be granted and His direction for our lives provided, you and I must commit to ASK, SEARCH and KNOCK every day.