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 . . .