SWEET SENSATIONS

Looking for solutions to escape personal and professional stresses?

Wanting a way to release the stress and strain of demanding lifestyles?

Ever considered a Sabbatical?

After numerous ups and downs and negative turn arounds, stress-survivors welcome a refreshing break. We long to "lay our burdens down" and simply relax . . . No issues. No cares or concerns. Just sweet sensations.

Even though sabbaticals are generally associated with getaways for long periods of time, they don't necessarily have to be. Since it's our own personal sabbatical, we say what, we say when, and we say how long.

Yeah . . . yeah . . . yeah . . . money is tight, right? And we must be mindful of our spending. Truth is, if most of us wait until we can comfortably afford our sabbatical, we may be waiting forever.

So what do we do?

Be creative! Think of unique ways to pursue something fulfilling and fun. Solicit a friend or dare to venture alone.

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Whether we choose an hour, an afternoon, a weekend, or hopefully a whole week, let's pursue something (as long as it's not unhealthy or unholy) that promotes relaxation and restoration for deeply stressed souls.

All in favor of a sensational sabbatical say "AYE!"


Peace I leave with you . . .

LET US PRAY

Don't worry about anything;
Instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done.

Then you will experience God's Peace,
which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds
as you live in Christ Jesus.



Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

FOOLISHNESS

Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.
~ Proverbs 9:6, NKJV

Believe it or not, there’s an often overlooked stress for many of us that results from FOOLISHNESS.

Foolishness?

Yes, things that are absolutely out of order—unnecessary—uncouth—and of no benefit to ourselves or anyone else. Foolishness can be associated with any action or reaction that results in physical, mental, or emotional impairment or pain leading to stress.

Foolishness creeps in when we embrace people, places, or things that are detrimental to our well-being. This could involve health, wealth, family, finances, or friends.

While we can—most times—pinpoint the folly of others, we fall short in recognizing our own. Come to think of it, we stand accused of camouflaging the foolish things we inflict upon ourselves.

No doubt, even as adults, we are enticed by life’s frivolous feats. But successful stress-survivors must be mindful of the thin line between “simply having fun” and “doing something foolish.”

Ultimately, we reap what we sow. And though it’s quite common, it’s not always a case of what we’ve said or done to others. The silly things we do to ourselves can eventually haunt us and cause deep and emotional stresses.

Say, for instance, a person with diabetes gobbles from a table filled with sugary-Sweet cakes and pies. That’s silly! And if saying so offends us—knowing it’s bad for our health—then that’s even sillier.

As long as we allow destructive attitudes and actions to cause us stress, we can’t become wholehearted stress-survivors.

Let’s face it . . . some things aren’t worth stressing over—especially when it relates to foolishness.

Peace I leave with you . . .

FEAR NOT

"Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy . . . "
Luke 2:10

Have we considered our present economy and how it has countless people filled with fear? Have we stopped to think of all the stresses we're facing as a result of these fears?

In addition to our constant worry, we're plagued with strained relationships, less-than-best health, alienation of religious affections, declining self-confidence, and the list goes on and on.

Even though we live in the real world with chaos and confusion and are often confronted with fears of all kind, we cannot allow fear to dominate our lives.

It makes no difference if fear is brewing all around us. As victorious stress-survivors, we hold to the belief that "With God All Things are Possible." And we dare not be destroyed by fear.

Regardless of who says what, we live and have our being under the auspices of God. Not a single one of us exist of our own volition. By the same token, we -- of ourselves -- are no match for our stressful fears.

Since our lives are not preserved by our own attemps, we must embrace "the Source" for conquering fear.

God is in control of all things, and He is not riddled by our multitude of fears. He can conquer any fear, anytime, anywhere, and with anyone.

The Good Tidings? WE'RE STILL STANDING. WE'RE STILL BREATHING. WE'RE STILL WALKING AND TALKING. WE 'RE STILL LAUGHING AND PLAYING . . . AND WE'RE STILL BLESSED BY THE GRACE OF GOD.

Fear not, for behold, in the midst of all things BAD, it's always something GOOD to be grateful for.

Peace I leave with you . . .

THERE IS A PLACE!

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;. . ."
Psalm 91:1-2

Do we get sick and tired of worrying?

Don't we wish for a place to go and get away from worries and stress?

Surely there has to be somewhere that we can go to escape from so many stressful routines. Fortunately, some of us have found a place of serenity. But the majority of us have not.

Remember the blockbuster movie, LION KING? What's the one thing about the movie that quickly comes to mind?

HAKUNA MATATA!

For those who were really off into the Lion King, it didn't take long to grasp the meaning of the movie's most talked-about title. HAKUNA MATATA is a Swahili phrase that's translated as "No Worries."

Can we imagine . . . a place of no worries? Isn't that exactly what we want?

More and more each day, stress--survivors are seeking HAKUNA MATATA -- that secret place of peace. Psalm 91 reveals "the secret" to the secret place where we can go and get relief from all worries and stress.

GOD IS the Master of all stress-reduction. In His presence we can have peace in the midst of any kind of distress.

HAKUNA MATATA? Indeed, there is a place . . . in the secret place of GOD.

Peace I leave with you . . .

Valentine Wishes

JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID . . .

"WHOEVER DRINKS OF THIS WATER

WILL THIRST AGAIN,

BUT WHOEVER DRINKS OF THE WATER

THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM

WILL NEVER THIRST.

BUT THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM

WILL BECOME IN HIM A FOUNTAIN OF WATER

SPRINGING UP INTO EVERLASTING LIFE."


JOHN 4:13-14 (NKJV)

Peace I leave with you . . .