HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

"Behold, I will do

a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth..."

Isaiah 43:19 KJV

TELL GOD "THANK-YOU"

"Then the shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God

for all the things

that they had heard and seen. . ."


Luke 2:20 KJV

CHRISTMAS 2009

"Glory to God

in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill

toward men!"


Luke 2:14 KJV

THE PRINCE OF PEACE

I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly.

~ John 10:10 ~

If we've done any Christmas shopping this year, we can readily agree that things are indeed expensive. Even the so-called sale items are creating havoc on our tight budgets.

Many of us have made major cut-backs on gift-giving and have had to make do with what we can afford or possibly create.

Changes to long-held holiday traditions--in whatever form or fashion--creates unbelievable stress. No doubt, holiday shopping can stress even the best of us. And if our priorities aren't aligned properly, we suffer needless stress.

Sure, gift-giving has been a huge tradition throughout Christmases past and present, but the true essence of Christmas centers on JESUS.

When born as a baby on that first Christmas, Jesus brought abundant life to us all . . . including peace that surpasses all understanding.

One can buy, buy, buy with all the money in America, but one cannot buy peace. True peace cannot be bought or borrowed. TRUE PEACE CAN ONLY COME FROM THE PRINCE OF PEACE.

God has given us all the greatest gift of all. . .Jesus. Our abundance for all things at Christmastime and any time thereafter rest securely in the arms of the Prince of Peace.

Peace I leave with you . . .

WHAT WE BELIEVE

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see
the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
~Psalm 27:13~

IT'S BEGINNING to look a lot like Christmas . . .

Could it be that it looks and feels like Christmas because of what we believe?

Each year this time, wherever we are and whatever we are doing-- despite our stresses--we anticipate having a joyous Christmas season. We believe in "Merry Christmas," no matter who says what.

Isn't it awesome how we believe in the tradition of Christmas? Whether it's adoration for the merry season or the Majestic Savior, we harbor a deep-and-abiding belief.

This same fortified faith should dominate stress as well. True stress-survivors realize that what we believe sets the stage for what we'll receive.

Just consider how we conduct our lives and condition our hearts at Christmastime. Imagine dedicating identical energies and efforts to reducing stress.

When oppressed with stress, we can easily loose heart if we don't have a strong belief in a strong Being. When we insist on believing God for His best and refuse to waddle in senseless stress, we maintain that peace and joy in our hearts sought by so many at Christmas.

During the holiday season and all through the year, if we expect our hearts and minds to be filled with "heavenly peace," it's essential to examine what we believe.



Peace I leave with you . . .

WAITING ON THE LORD

Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends
of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is
unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might
He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint
and be weary,
And the young men
shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up
with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31 (NKJV)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

OH, Give Thanks To The LORD

For He is Good!

For His Mercy

Endures Forever.

GIVING THANKS

The LORD

Has Done

Great Things

For Us,

And We are Glad.

Psalm 126:3

THE INVITATION

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" ~Matthew 11:28-30~


OH, THE EXCITEMENT OF INVITATIONS!

Down through the years, we've opened invitations for this and invitations for that. Some interested us, and some didn't.

IMAGINE--in the midst of prolonged stress--opening an invitation from Jesus . . . just for us.

When caught up in a web of stresses, the ultimate invite can lighten cares and concerns and brighten our outlook on life.

Regardless of what some may say, those who have witnessed anointed invitations can bodly attest to the wonder it works when battling stress.

And guess what? Jesus extends this invitation to us all!

Peace I leave with you . . .

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

IF WE'VE STRUGGLED with stress over-and-over and back-to-back for extended periods of time, we eventually reach a point where we literally become stressed out.

Then one day we wake up to the fact that we are sick and tired of stress. We simply cannot stress anymore. As if by "Divine" strength, we make a conscious decision that we are K-I-S-S-I-N-G stress goodbye.

GOOD RIDDANCE!

Like the Late Great Gospel Singer, Frank Williams, We come to the conclusion that if "Jesus Can't Fix It, Nobody can!" And with every beat of our heart, we vow to lay our stresses at Jesus' feet, and to trust Him for the outcome.

It's rarely an easy decision to make. But as we sing our K-I-S-S-I-N-G song, surprisingly, we begin to feel a long-forgotten peace. Even if our issues still exist, our mind is at peace.

Once we make up our mind to kiss stress goodbye, we must be careful not to create any stress during the K-I-S-S-I-N-G process.

There's not a list of instructions to fret over. We need not make this harder than it has to be. The most easiest and effective way to kiss stress goodbye is just do it!

Let's kiss worry goodbye . . . kiss irritations and aggravations goodbye . . . kiss can't eat and can't sleep goodbye. . . and kiss grouchy goodbye.

There are no ifs or ands or buts about it; We can do it, if we set our mind to it!



Peace I leave with you . . .

WORD POWER

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."
Proverbs 18:21 KJV

Have there been days when someone spoke the very words we needed to hear?

Can we recall times and places, and people who eased our stressed mind simply by what they said? As some folk often say, their words were a soothing balm to our bleeding heart.

Certainly, we can remember not-so-pleasant times when someone's ill and offensive words left us sad and stressed.

Be not deceived, words are extremely powerful. They can heal and they can hurt. Words can be priceless and they can be plentiful . . . and most of all, they can be pure-thee-painful.

Proverbs, the Bible's book on life, teaches that death and life hinges on the tongue. Plain and simple, kind and caring words can enhance and give life new meaning--whereas harsh and unkind words destroy the joy of life and almost always create deadly stresses.

The words in Colossians 4:6 admonishes that our speech "always be with grace..." See, One never knows the effect words might have on deeply-troubled souls who desperately need life-changing words to push stress straight from the heart.

Peace I leave with you . . .

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . .
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

Gathered at a Class Reunion, a male classmate confided to a female classmate, "Back when we were in school, I had a crush on you."

Although the female already knew about this, she acted surprised.

Seriously "rapping" to her, he said, "If I had known then what I know now, Sweetie, I could have made you my girl."

Get the point?

Far too many of us live with similar if-I-had-known sentiments. Lack of knowledge is indeed a serious cause of stress. What we don't know can haunt us indefinitely, and ultimately, escalate our stresses.

People can claim "what we don't know won't hurt us" as much as they please, but it is not true. A great percentage of all our stresses stem from something we didn't know. Unexpected surprises have a way of stressing us in the twinkling of an eye.

Remember that old saying "Knowledge is key?" It's absolutely true! We need knowledge to have . . . to be . . . and to do all things . . . especially if we intend to reduce stress.



Peace I leave with you . . .

PRETEND

"I don't pretend." Ever heard anyone say that? Have we ever said that?

While pretending is often discouraged, it's proven to provide benefits and blessings.

Pretending is highly recommended for reducing stress.


In her timeless classic, "The Little Princess," Frances Hodgson Burnett's delightful Litte Sara was thrust into an unfortunate situation.

Instead of dwelling on how her life had dwindled from riches to rags, Sara took another approach. In the midst of her terrible circumstances, she pretended.

Realizing everything--and so much more-- that she'd pretended had mysteriously manifested before her eyes, The Little Princess happily declared, "I never pretended this good before!"

We, too, might be surprised what "good" pretending will do. Even if what we pretend never surfaces for us, we'll benefit from de-stressing our mind.

"I can't!" Some folk insist. "I just can't pretend."

Ma'am? Sir? With all due respect, there are times when it pays to pretend. Sometimes we are so pressed and depressed, struggling through stresses, that we're grateful for an opportunity to pretend.

One primary effort linked to our pretending is simply to "believe." See, that's the whole idea; hoping and believing. Don't stress over the fact that it's pretense. Relax and release those stresses.

It may sound a little silly, but seriously, pretending has its advantages. Let's think of it as a prelude to prayer. After all, If we can CONCEIVE IT, we can RECEIVE IT!

Peace I leave with you . . .

FAITH

Now faith

is the substance

of things hoped for,

the evidence of

things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

Peace I leave with you . . .

SEASONS

And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

TAKE YOUR TIME

AT THE VERY TIP of the Aegean Sea, lies an interesting Greek island known as IKARIA (ICARIA).

In addition to Ikaria's legendary beauty and clean mountain air and therapeutic hot springs, there's an authentic old world charm that surrounds the island and its people.

Studies reveal that Ikaria's people live much longer and more peaceful lives than we Americans. One of the most noted rarities of the Ikarians is their take on time.

It has been reported that the Ikarian people attribute no regard to time. They don't even use clocks. That's right, NO CLOCKS.

Quite often, one of the most complicated things involving our daily stresses is clock watching. Our efforts to "track time" and "be on time" and "utilize more time" steady increase our stresses.

The time-conscious thing contributes to many of our stresses by keeping us in a constant rush. And if there's one thing stress-survivors should never do, it's rushing. "Thou shall not rush" is definitely a top De-stress commandment.

We are not suggesting that we all load up our trucks and move to Ikaria, nor are we hinting to forfeit our time-related responsibilities. The intended purpose is to simply slow our pace--TAKE OUR TIME.

Take time to enjoy some of the joys of life. . .

Take time to savor the beauty of each new dawn.

Take time to admire the glory of the moon and the stars.

Take time to appreciate the sacrifices of friends and loved ones.

Take time to tell God thank-you for blessings large and small.

As we dedicate more time to the so-called little things in life, we'll begin to experience not only beauty and joy, but also the benefits of less stress.


Peace I leave with you . . .

PROMISES

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen,
to the glory of God through us.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

People make promises all the time and then fail to follow through.

It's sad but it's true. We sink easily into the nitty-gritty of stressfulness depending on the promises of unfaithful family and friends.

Let's not try and kid ourselves. Every promise is not created equal; Every person does not honor his/her word.

Bouncing from one stress to another, many of us learned the hard way whose promises we could depend on.

The words recorded in 2 Corinthians 1:20 assure us that God's promises are "YES" and "AMEN." They are absolutely real.

Those steadfast, immovable, always abounding promises of God are the stress-survivors ultimate life line.

We can depend on God. If He has promised "it" -- whatever it is -- we need not worry; we need not stress. We hold on just a little while longer to that "YES" and "AMEN."



Peace I leave with you . . .

HE WHO HELPS

I will lift up my eyes to the hills-

From whence comes my help.

My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.

The LORD shall preserve your going out
and your coming in
From this time forth,
and even forevermore.


Psalm 121, NKJV

Peace I leave with you . . .

DON'T COMPLAIN

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

We've had some good days, and we've had some hills to climb.

We've had some weary days and some sleepless nights.

Yet, when we look around and we think things over,

all of our good days outweighs our bad days, so we won't complain.

How many of us honestly don't complain?

Come on, shame the devil and tell the truth.
Whether for justifiable causes or petty-anny reasons,

fretting and complaining only makes stress worse.

When we choose to complain,

the thoughts and energies invested on our pity-parties

could just as powerfully be applied to our confidences.

Whether it's sickness, loneliness, debt, lack of money,

or caught-up in some other hard place of despair,

God knows every one of our stresses.

Though sometimes the clouds hang low,

and we can hardly see the road,

Just keep trusting and believing

until God comes and dries all our tears away

and turns our midnights into days.

Peace I leave with you . . .

ONE MORE

Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request.

Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground

covered with dew." ~Judges 6:39

From way back when to this present moment, the more some things changed, the more some remained the same.

Take, for instance, the concept of "One More." Who is it that doesn't believe in the reality of One More?

Throughout life, we've embraced the lifestyle of expecting one more chance-one more time-one more day-one more hour-one more minute-one more this and one more that.

Why, then, should we be surprised when one more stress surfaces in our lives?

Whoever we are and wherever we are, more often than not, stress surrounds us. It matters not whether we're minding our own affairs, meddling in someone else's, or merrily rolling along, stress affects us all.

Where do we run? Where do we hide?

Sadly, we can't run and we can't hide from stresses of this world. When troubled by the thought or the onset of one more stress, we determine to do as Gideon did.

We go to God in prayer and ask Him for what we want.

Peace I leave with you . . .

STEP OUT ON FAITH

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord

and depart from evil.

~ Proverbs 3:5-7 ~

Peace I leave with you . . .

DEAD HORSES

IT SOUNDS SO FUNNY to hear people say we're "Beating a dead horse to death."

Though none are guilty of actually beating horses, we stand accused of taking things to the extreme.

For instance . . . Our personal problems.

Notice how some survivors insist on explaining unfortunate incidents a thousand times. Over and over again.

Harping on negative people-places-and things elevates stress and stress-related issues.

Many times we dwell on the negative, even though it increases our stress. We fail to realize that the more we speak of ill situations, the more we think of them; and the more we think of them, the more we subject ourselves to stress.

Remaining in a negative rut keeps our stresses out of control.

If we are to reduce the ravages of stressful living, it's important to stop rehashing and rehearsing unfavorable stuff.

We may have to condition our mind to do this. That's okay. Go ahead and do whatever needs to be done. Read, write, pray, sing, dance, walk, run, ride . . . just find a way to stop needlessly repeating stresses.

Let's learn to eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive.


Peace I leave with you . . .

AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Who was it that first said, "Life is like a merry-go-round?"

We, who've witnessed different stages of life and watched situations go up-and-down, and around-and-around, are inclined to agree.

Let's recall a particular time when we were going in circles. Remember how it stressed us to be stuck in those cycles of going around and around and never gaining or retaining a thing?

Life's ups and downs can tremendously aggravate our stresses. Not only are we thrown for unexpected loops, but we're sometimes faced with issues spinning completely out of control.

Rest assured, in any phase of life, the more around-and-around-and-around we go, the more up-up-and-away our stress will be?

What choices do we have?

What do we do when life's merry-go-round causes us stress?

Proverbs 3 offers the ultimate solution to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. . ." As we experience mega-stresses over going around and around in circles, let's remember to trust God.



Peace I leave with you . . .

IMAGINATION

CAN WE safely say that we all, in one situation or another, have leaned to our imagination?

That, "Yes," we mistook something for real that really wasn't?

Many of us have perceived or believed things that have caused lots of stress solely because of imagination.


From seeing illusions, to feeling anxiety, to thinking terrible thoughts--our imagination revealed one thing, but we discovered another.

We might as well admit it, because we know it's true. We've been in situations similar to what The Temptations once sang, "It was just my 'magination, running away with me."

Imagination, itself, is not a bad thing. The power of positive imagination goes far beyond amazing. It's when we indulge ourselves to the point of creating stresses that causes us issues.

No doubt, we'll always be imagining. But we can minimize stresses from fogged imaginations by remembering these simple steps.

1) See things as they really are
2) Handle emotions with care
3) Consider the whole picture
4) Be receptive to the truth
5) Proceed with caution

Throughout life, even the best-of- the-best will experience some sort of jacked-up imagination. Before the stresses begin, let's be prepared to distinguish fact from fiction.




Peace I leave with you . . .

BLESS YOU!

The LORD bless you
and keep you;


The LORD make
His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;


The LORD turn
His face toward you
and give you peace.

~ Numbers 6:22-26 (NIV)

Peace I leave with you . . .

LIGHT OF THE WORLD

MATTHEW 5:14-16







YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and
put it under a bowl.

Instead they put it on its stand,
and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way,
let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven.



Peace I leave with you . . .

WHY ME?

"CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD . . . AND HE SHALL SUSTAIN YOU . . ." ~Psalm 55:22~

IS IT IMAGINED or is it indeed real that almost everywhere we go and everyone we see, all are dealing with some sort of stress?

If it's not one thing, it's another!

What did we do--or not do--to become so surrounded by adversity? Why is this senseless stress and all this mess making our lives miserable?

Why are we forever troubled and stressed over issues with the wrong people around us? AND why are we even moreso affected by the "supposedly" right people in our lives? How can we expect to overcome so much stress?

Weary and disgusted, we stagger from day to day, singing the same ole' song, "Why me?"

The "Why Me" syndrome has befriended the best of us. And we cannot seem to understand the "ifs," "ands," or "buts," about any of it. All we know for certain is that life has dumped it's dirt on us and we're constantly trying to dig ourselves from deep-down under.

The suggestion from Psalm 55 sheds some light amid our dark situations and stresses. Sure, casting our burden on the Lord is easier said than done. But, if we sincerely believe in God's grace and mercy, we're compelled to trust His Word and do as It says.

Times may be hard, but as those seasoned-survivors often say, "God is still on the throne. He sits high and looks low, and He never misses a thing." If we intend to be successful stress-survivors . . . God is our answer.


Peace I leave with you . . .

BELIEVE IT!

". . . For death is the destiny of every man." ~ Ecclesiastes 7:2 ~


"MICHAEL JACKSON JUST DIED . . . " A voice shouted through the phone line. "I can't believe it!"

A few minutes later the words - Hey everyone, Michael Jackson just died - scrolled across the cell phone screen.

All throughout the evening and well into the night, many stressed in awe and disbelief because one of America's biggest entertainment icons had encountered death.


Somehow during the sorrow and stress of Michael's death, one person did say, "It's hard to believe, but it proves that no one is exempt from death."

Death is not, and has rarely ever been, a pleasant subject. Although inevitable, it always seems to be so unfortunate. It produces stresses of the greatest kind.

God's Word in Ecclesiastes affirms that death comes to us all. Contrary to Michael Jackson's multi-million dollar hit, "Beat It," there's no way to beat death.

So be encouraged, everyone . . . everywhere. Stop stressing, stop sorrowing, and ultimately believe that death comes to claim us all.


Extending prayer and peace to Michael Jackson's family, friends, and fans.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

A

SPECIAL

PRAYER

FOR

FATHERS




GOD, bless all the fathers in the world.
Guide them to be good role models
and loving to all their children.

Help them to be a father like You are.
Give them grace and patience
to handle situations in a loving way.

Amen.


HAPPY FATHERS' DAY !!!

HAPPY JUNETEENTH

Oh, give thanks
to
the
Lord,
for He is good!

For
His mercy
endures
forever.

~Psalm 118:29~


Let's Celebrate Juneteenth
in the spirit of thanksgiving!

BACK WHEN

REMEMBER BACK WHEN a glass of ice-cold tea worked wonders for our stressed mind and body? Remember how we'd grab a tall glass and plunk in some ice and pour up that homemade tea?

AAAAHHH!!! That good cold stuff could soothe almost anything that ailed us?

Back then, our stresses didn't nearly compare with what we're confronted with nowadays. Sure, we had issues, but we also had scruples.

Back when iced-tea was tops, there were morals, and values, and decency, and respect, and kindness and love. People could overcome stress because they could count on one another.

No one struggled alone. Even in a time of barely-enough, people found a way to bear each other's burdens . . . And to share a tall glass of tea.

In times like these, when we're plagued with so much stress, iced-tea alone may not make even the slightest difference in the stresses we face.

But there's one thing for certain, people helping people can definitely reduce a whole lot of stresses.

Peace I leave with you . . .

The 23RD PSALM

THE LORD is my shepard; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever.

Peace I leave with you . . .

MAKING A MOVE

Every now and then, there comes a time when we find ourselves sitting in the middle of a really stressful dilemma.

No matter how hard we try, we're baffled with what to do and how to do it.

Our lives become more and more stressed while trying to decide which move to make.

There's this notable story about these men who visited a museum and saw a painting of a chess game. The painting depicted a player whose king was trapped. The painting was called "Checkmate."

Checkmate is a term that implies the situation is hopeless; there's no other options - the game is over. In other words, there are NO MORE MOVES!

One of the gentlemen looking at the Checkmate painting was an International Chess Champion. And he became quite captivated by it. "I'm bothered by this painting," he said to his friend. "I want to study it for awhile."

After some time, the Chess Champion spoke again, "We have to find the person who painted this. There is something wrong with this painting."

When the friend finally asked what was wrong, the Chess Champion replied, "The painting is titled 'Checkmate,' but in this painting, the king still has one more move!"

"The king still has one more move!"

JESUS - our LORD and KING - is King of Kings, and He's never slack on making a move. When we're stressed because we've exhausted all our moves, we can look to the Lord and be assured that KING JESUS always has one more move.



Peace I leave with you . . .

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

The Star Spangled Banner

~ Francis Scott Key ~


O! Say can you see
by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed
at the twilight's last gleaming.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars
through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd,
were so gallantly streaming?

And the Rockets' red glare,
the Bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night
that our Flag was still there;

O! Say, does that star-spangled Banner
yet wave,
O'er the Land of the free,
and the home of the brave?

SO PRETTY!

There's an undeniable obsession in the world today that's, oddly enough, known as "Pretty."

People from all walks of life--young and old--are in pursuit of all things pretty. They strive for what's pleasing to the eyes and compete for special attention.

Call it what we want, but pretty has become a huge stress. Everyone wants to be a part of the pretty phenomenon. We fuss in front of mirrors, and change and rearrange fashions, and shop till we drop, trying to harness a certain appearance.

So, why aren't we successful? Why can't we seem to manifest the essence of pretty? What is the secret formula for prettiness?

First of all, regardless of how much time and money and stress we spend at the malls, true beauty cannot be bought in packages. Pretty isn't acquired by way of extravagant clothes, remarkable hair, fancy nails, or perfect "10" physiques.

Likewise, pretty can't be duplicated from our favorite images - on or off the screen - nor can it borrowed from highly reputable sources.

Remember the old saying, "Pretty is as pretty does?" It's so true! Pretty is a unique quality that originates on the inside . . . then radiates outward. It's authentic. Unparalleled. And that's what makes it absolutely incredible.

Stop stressing over the pretty problem and start searching the soul, ensuring that the right qualities are there.


Peace I leave with you . . .

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

WHO CAN FIND
A VIRTUOUS WOMAN?

FOR HER PRICE IS
FAR ABOVE RUBIES...

STRENGTH AND HONOUR
ARE HER CLOTHING;

AND SHE SHALL REJOICE
IN TIME TO COME.



SHE OPENETH HER MOUTH WITH WISDOM;
AND IN HER TONGUE IS THE LAW OF KINDNESS.

SHE LOOKETH WELL TO THE WAYS OF HER HOUSEHOLD,
AND EATETH NOT THE BREAD OF IDLENESS.

HER CHILDREN ARISE UP, AND CALL HER BLESSED;
HER HUSBAND ALSO, AND HE PRAISETH HER.

MANY DAUGHTERS HAVE DONE VIRTUOUSLY,
BUT THOU EXCELLEST THEM ALL.

FAVOUR IS DECEITFUL, AND BEAUTY IS VAIN:
BUT A WOMAN THAT FEARETH THE LORD,
SHE SHALL BE PRAISED. . .

LOSSES

A middle-aged man confessed that during the time of a sudden illness, he lost "so much." His house, car, furnishings, and several other things he named. The sadness coming from his cracking voice was heartbreaking.

Hundreds of miles apart from him, sat a woman with eyes that seemed focused on something in "the great blue yonder." She too shared how, through a series of unfortunate events, she'd lost nearly everything she owned.

Many of us could share a story or two about our losses . . . and about the toll it's taken on us. Some of us have stressed so severely, we've literally made ourselves sick. And then, some of us have shed so many tears until we're all cried out.

What can we do when dealing with devastating losses? Whether it's our personal possessions or the loss of loved ones, we must strive to keep our stress levels down.

Sure, we're only human. Yet we must remember that losses are as much a part of life as are gains. We cannot live in this world without ever facing loss.

What helps us to survive is how we handle our losses. We don't give up . . . We press on. And as strong stress-survivors so often do, we put one foot in front of the other and keep moving on.

We keep hoping . . .

We keep praying . . .

We keep believing . . .

Knowing that, sooner or later, joy will come in the morning.


Peace I leave with you . . .

OUR PREROGATIVE

FOR CENTURIES, WE HAVE HARPED ON OUR PREROGATIVE . . . having things our way.

Even now, nine times out of ten, we get highly stressed when we aren't allowed "Our prerogative."

We say, we are free to make our own choices. And we honestly believe we possess the unique privilege of picking and choosing whatsoever we please in every area of life.

What's so amazing is, not only do we elevate stress wrestling our own prerogative, but we upset ourselves resisting other people's prerogative as well.

Somewhere in the midst of making our choices, we failed to realize that other people have prerogatives too. Just because things are not always outlined in black and white, as we've come to expect, doesn't mean we must surrender to stress.

Either we don't understand or accept the fact that others aren't required to fit into the scheme of our lives. And if and when they don't, it's their prerogative.

If all are created equal, why shouldn't we have equal choices? Why would we cause stress with one another simply because we aren't carbon copies?

If the girls have abandoned pantyhose and we can't stand the sight, let's look in another direction. If the guys have vowed to wash and shine their vehicles seven days a week, let's stay out of the way. Stop stressing because we all don't move in the same circles.

Being closed-minded and critical of other's choices can keep us stressed. Learning to respect (if not accept) other people's choices can ease our minds and afford genuine peace.


Peace I leave with you . . .

BETRAYAL

"For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known." ~Luke 12:2~





Be it a little or a lot, we all have experienced the stressful sting of betrayal. OUCH!!!

Each set of betraying circumstances -- no matter how, when, or where -- carries a certain degree of stressfulness. So any way we look at it, betrayal presents us countless stresses.

Try as we may, it's a huge challenge to move beyond betrayals when lied on, talked about, cheated or mistreated. Back-stabbing can upset even the best of us.

Recently, overnight singing sensation Susan Boyle said when initially faced with heartless sneers and giggles from an audience on TV show "Britain's Got Talent," she had to be courageous and continue on. That's the key to moving past betrayal . . . WE MUST KEEP-ON-KEEPING-ON.

Any time we're faced with thoughtless, cantankerous, and uncalled-for actions, we need to be armed with tried-and-true methods to keep moving forward.

Yes, betrayal can cause severe stress mentally, physically, and spiritually. But if we remain steadfast in our self-confidence and our self-love, we will survive.

Always keep in mind that we have a say-so in the matter too. Betrayal cannot stress us unless we allow it to. We do not have to roll over and wallow in dire stress, if we don't want to.

Learning to move past hurt and humiliation is never easy. But armed with de-stressing options can surely help us stress less.


Peace I leave with you . . .

EASTER "CHARADE"

IN MOST CASES, our Easter "Charade" magnifies our stress long before Easter arrives. What? Easter Charade?

Quite often, we associate the term "Charade" with the old guessing game. One somebody acts out a thing or a scene, while others try and guess what the word or phrase is. To some, it's a little stressful.

But that's not the type of charade we're involved with at Easter. Our Easter Charade is much like the classic one defined by Webster or Random House: Actions which have no meaning--which are simply for show or pretense.

HOW SO?

Well, now, there's the extended shopping for the extra-special Easter frocks. And those long visits to beauty and barber shops for our hair cuts and curls . . . and to the manicurist to have our nails done. Plus, the dreaded cleaning and cooking and sprucing-up things around the house.

By the time we've finished ripping and running and working to "prepare" for Easter, most of us are too exhausted to partake of the real reason for the Easter season. We miss the very thing we're stressing for.

We miss seeing the beauty of new life fresh from the Lord. We miss feeling the breath of His love upon us. We miss touching the blessings intended to enrich our lives. No wonder we're overcome with stress . . . we're missing the essence of what Easter is all about.

In the beginning, Easter was the time of resurrection and newness of life. And until we slow our roles and witness the blessings of the Lord's resurrection, stresses from our Easter Charade will continue.

HAPPY EASTER!

IMPERFECT PEOPLE

NORTH OR SOUTH -- East or West -- young, old, rich or poor, people are not perfect. Despite all the "cute" little lies, none of us are absolute angels. As so often stated, "Nobody is perfect."


Regardless of who says what . . . we all have flaws. Without a doubt, mine, yours, and ours are bound to surface from time to time -- in one way or another.

Even though we honestly agree with this, there's still considerable stress as to how to deal with people when their imperfections cross the line and become offensive.

Because we believe "people aren't perfect," does that acceptance, alone, spare us from the terrible stresses that some individuals cause? How many times can we literally turn the other cheek, especially when hit for no reason?

When face to face with inconsiderate or unpleasant people, what do we do? How do we remain calm and refrain from falling into the abyss of stress?

First and foremost, WE STAY FOCUSED. Remember that focus is key. And when we refuse to be intimidated or humiliated by imperfect actions or reactions, we shield ourselves from unnecessary stress.

And, by all means, WE KEEP A GOOD SPIRIT. "A Good Spirit?" Absolutely! We foster a positive attitude and strive to block negativity from our mind. We steer clear of silly and self-centered drama. Situations and circumstances flow far better when we keep a pleasant disposition.

Whether big flaws, little flaws, or those in-between, all of them can cause countless stresses. So when forced to deal with imperfections, instead of giving people a "piece" of our mind, we who are wise will be careful to maintain our "Peace" of mind.



Peace I leave with you . . .

SOMETHING WE LOVE

What are you doing, O devastated one? ~ Jeremiah 4:30, NIV ~

WHEN ASKED what are our hobbies, three-fourth of us will answer "none." A few might say something like cooking, sewing, watching TV, and talking on the phone.

However, serious stress-survivors proclaim a deep-and-abiding love for such things as fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, dancing, reading, writing, shopping, traveling, and many other fun adventures.

Statistics reveal that more money is spent annually on hobbies in the United States than in any other country on earth. To some, it is wasteful because hobbies are considered non-essential . . . That is, until a person tries one and personally discovers how hobbies help to reduce stress.

Let's Look at it like this: For all the stressful things that life demand we do--whether we want to or not--to have a special something that we love to turn to is indeed a welcomed relief to our stressed souls.

A friend of a friend once shared that he spent every day, doing something he loved. He swore that that was the key to his peace of mind. He encourages people to take out time every single day to do something they love.

So, what are we doing? Do the things we love out-weigh those we loathe? Or is it the opposite? Surely, what we do has to be of importance for in the Bible, during Jeremiah's days, this same question came from the Lord.

Think about it. How many of us can say that we're doing something we love EVERY DAY?

Peace I leave with you . . .

HELLO SUNSHINE!

YEAAAH...SPRING HAS ARRIVED... Along with it, the fascination of outdoor activities and the magnificent sunshine and fresh air.

Remember how, back in the day, our elders would insist that we go outside and play? They knew--in part if not totally--how important sunshine, fresh air, and exercise were to our well-being.

Cooped-up inside all the time with windows closed tight and covered with blinds and curtains, is a sure path to stress. We seem to have forsaken natural sunlight and fresh outdoor air. Please be warned, sunshine and fresh air are among the most essential elements needed to de-stress.

Researchers are quickly proving the tremendous benefits of the sun and how important it is to get outside and be active under it. Research also shows that sunshine is an effective treatment for stress and depression.

Amazingly, fresh air soothes the nerves, stimulates appetite, helps digestion, and induces sound, restful sleep--all of which are vital to reduce stress. But greater still, fresh air has a dynamic influence on the mind, imparting peace and serenity.

It's important that we remember how good it feels to be out in the sunshine and fresh air. And how relaxed we feel after spending time there. And one of the best ways to receive such benefits is to go out into the open air and exercise--walking, running, gardening, playing sports, or whatever suits us.

All considered, sunshine, fresh air, and exercise are a winning combination for stress. Let's start today and spend time outdoors. Let's get plenty of fresh air and sunshine, and let's allow "Mother Nature" to naturally soothe our souls.



Peace I leave with you . . .

LET'S DO LUNCH!

And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed

which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree

whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food."
~ Genesis 1:29 ~

Ever noticed that sluggish or sleepy feeling after eating lunch? After overindulging in non-nutritional foods?

When it comes to eating, we have gone our own way and given ourselves permission to glut on whatever we please. How can we expect to not be stressed?

One of the most shocking things is we're ready to pout every time our eating habits are addressed, but then, we're rallying prayer whenever health issues arise.

Sad to say, there's hardly a single one of us who isn't stressing behind some kind of disorder or disease. High blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis and obesity cause severe stress in nine out of ten lives.

In all honesty, we have to admit our addictions to typically BAD eating. Our Black American Diet largely consists of fried foods - especially meats - lots of pork, cooked-to-death vegetables, and plenty of processed foods and sweets.

Realizing that God has made provisions for us through the natural foods of this earth, we must feed our bodies food that's designed to de-stress them.

To be strong stress-survivors, we must focus on eating to live, rather than, living to eat. And instead of making poor choices and eating what tastes good to us, we must be mindful of what's good for us.


Peace I leave with you . . .

EXPECTATIONS

Remember how, in the beginning, we had such great expectations for certain things, only to discover later on that things were not like we thought?

Remember those terrible stresses? Here, again, most of us can identify with an old-faithful truth that warns, "Things are not always what they seem."

At one time or another, we've experienced dreadful headaches or heartaches from expectations gone wild. And the resulting stresses literally knocked us off our feet.

Once an obnoxious rich man bragged over the fact that he always drank "Kopi Luwak" -- world's rarest and most expensive coffee. This old man raved that Kopi Luwak coffee beans cost hundreds of dollars for a single pound of the exceptional-tasting coffee.

One day the rich tycoon was informed by a 45-year-career mechanic how the Kopi Luwak beans were processed. Interestingly enough, Indonesian cats eat the coffee beans and excrete them. The unique Kopi Luwak beans are then picked out of cats excrement.

Isn't that just like life? We, too, just like the rich man, have thought that we'd discovered the absolute grandest and the best -- all the while not having the slightest idea of the stinkin' truth.

So how do we chase those stresses away? One of the most profound things we can do is to do as the rich man did. When he found out the scoop about his beloved "Kopi Luwak," HE LAUGHED.

As many cups of cat-dung-confiscated coffee that he'd drunk, when the low-down dirty truth was exposed, he laughed and laughed.

Yeah . . . yeah . . . it sounds crazy, but sounding crazy is far better than actually being crazy. Sure, laughing at faulty expectations is easier said, than done. But laughter is a highly-proven stress reducer. So from now on, in situations where we're known to stress, LET'S LEARN TO LAUGH.


Peace I leave with you . . .

QUIET TIME

WHEN was the last time we sat down "alone" and enjoyed quiet, uninterrupted time? Do we regularly take mental breaks to release tension and stress, or do we indulge just every now and then?

To some, spending precious moments doing much-of-nothing seems like a waste of time. For those who are deeply bothered by stress, embracing quiet time is worth every single minute.

Solitude is an age-old art that's good for every ail. Not only is it an excellent relief for stress and anxiety, it is equally essential to the well being of our souls.

Spinning on life's merry-go-around and can barely think straight? Steal away to a private room or porch or backyard and spend time in tranquillity and peace. Even if it means locking up in the bathroom for a spell, find some quietness.

Basking in the blessings of quiet time can be rewarding regardless of who we are or what we do. When all around us is toxic and out of control, we do not have to be committed to the madness.

If we intend to greatly minimize our stresses, let's take time out to unwind and to liberate ourselves from daily drama.


Peace I leave with you . . .

PASSION

"There is in this world no such force as the force of a person
determined to rise." ~ W. E. B. DuBois ~


Looking back, we can see severe stresses from times and places where it seemed that certain classes of people were living their dream.

Many remember when elite Americans enjoyed stress-free lives, while dissatisfied others settled for mostly less-than-best.

People sacrificed unimaginable stresses trying to acquire a unique lease on life - as others obviously had. It finally became clear that one's yearning for a special kind of lifestyle was called "passion."

After generations of all kinds of stressful struggles, we came to the realization that our battles were a direct result of our passions. We discovered that passion was a divine inheritance for all.

One of the most astounding discoveries -among black, white, red, yellow, and pink - was that passion is not prejudice. It will dwell in any body's heart.

Let's ponder our own passions. Are we stressing-out while waiting for our dreams to come true? What are we doing, other than stressing, to keep the dreams alive?

Surely, if we are to live our long-awaited dreams, we have to take personal responsibility for seeking ways to grab hold of them. And the absolute first thing we must do is "believe."

Yes, yes, and yes again . . . "IF WE CAN BELIEVE IT, WE CAN ACHIEVE IT."


Peace I leave with you . . .