Cures for Stress BOOK

Many of the entries from Cures for Stress have been compiled into a full-blown book and eBook.  You can find it on Amazon.  It is an edited edition of the blogs and I’ve added a section called Practical Helps for Stress. The Cures for Stress blog and now in book format has been written to help people who struggle with stress issues, and more important;y, to point others to the way of salvation (which is also included in the book).  I have used the Internet platform to reach as many people as possible, and so far, have reached almost 400 readers from several different countries.  As one of those readers, I thank you very much for stopping by and taking the time to read!

If you have been following this blog and you think it might be helpful for others to read (who may only read eBooks and not bother with blogs as much), you would play a huge role in getting the book noticed by taking a moment to write a review of the book.  You don't even need to purchase the book!  How?  Just go to Amazon where Cures for Stress is listed. Scroll down the page and click on Customer Reviews where you can write a review based on the blogs you’ve been reading (most of which are in the book). You can also tag it to help more people find the right category for it (click on Tag this product).    

Amazon keeps a record of all the reviews it receives.  The more reviews it receives, the higher it will go on the most-read book list and it will move up on the reader scale as one of the more popular books.  It will also make it easier for people to find it without wading through a lot of other books about stress. 

NOTE:  If you do not yet own a Kindle book reader, you can now download the reader for free on Amazon.  In addition to your PC or Apple, you can download it onto your mobile phone as well. 

Also, if you would like to purchase the book, it is only $5.99.  If you would like to see a list of other eBooks I have published on Amazon, just type in my author name Linda McBurney-Gunhouse, and the other books available in the Kindle Store will appear (at greatly reduced prices to the printed copy!!).  If you decide to purchase any of these, you could also review them and this would be a tremendous help to us in our ministry of offering inexpensive inspirational books.  All of my other eBooks are also listed on our web page and linked to Amazon.

Thank you so much in advance for your help and may God Abundantly Bless You!

The Stress of Moving

Moving to a new place can be exciting and usually when we move, it is all for the better.  It will mean either a bigger place or a smaller more manageable one, a new neighbourhood, possibly new friends, and even a new way of life.  What could be wrong with that?  But, if you have ever moved, you will know the stress involved in such an undertaking.  Although I pride myself in being pretty organized, some days I can’t even find the most elementary of things, like my glasses or my house keys.  So the thought of packing every single thing I own, moving it to a different place, and then unpacking it and try to find a place for everything gives me enough reason to never want to move!  Moving is exhausting. But sometimes it can’t be helped.

For me, gone are the carefree days of packing a big suitcase and a couple of bags and tossing them into the back seat of a small car.   Because I do so many different things, in addition to my regular furniture, appliances, clothes, etc., now I would need moving vans.  Even so, judging by the many big houses (and over-crowded smaller ones) I’ve seen, I know I’m not the only one.  Many of us accumulate a lot of things over the course of time, and if we don’t regularly get rid of them, if we ever have to move we’ll have to do it all at that time. This will add stress upon stress to the move.  And good luck trying to find people help you sort through your stuff.  Even your kids won’t want to pitch in, and if they do, they might start getting rid of things you still want to keep (but maybe that’s a good thing).

    

It is wise to go through your things on a regular basis so that things don’t get out of hand when or if you do have to move.  It may take some time each time, but by the time you move, you will have saved yourself a lot of unnecessary grief.  As I mentioned in an earlier blog, when you’re going through your things, tackle only one project at a time, even down to doing one drawer at a time.  A few years ago, I went through all my things at our cottage where we once lived full time.  I felt so overwhelmed about making so many decisions that I prayed about each thing in question.  I had a bag for garbage and a bag for give-away.  By praying, I felt a peace about what I was getting rid of, and felt an assurance that I would never miss or need any of those items.  I may have missed an item or two later on, but truthfully, I never needed it in the first place.  By the time I was done, I literally filled an 8 by 10 storage shed with furniture and our things, filling bags and boxes with material, bedding, clothing, books and countless other things that we had no more use for.  Most of it was “some day” stuff – “some day” we’ll use this.  But that “some day” never came, so we happily got rid of it by donating it to a worthy cause.  What a great feeling of relief we experienced after freeing up some extra room both inside and out!

Deciding what to do with things is stressful enough because you don’t always know if you will need that item any more.  Have you ever sold an item at a garage sale and then forgot and a few months later started looking for that item?  It’s happened to me many times, but still, I do not regret getting rid of anything.  I appreciate the extra space more than collecting more and more things.  But many items or things just sit or remain stored away.  If you have forgotten that you even have it, are you really going to use it again?  I’m not talking about valuable things like heirloom jewelry or family history or special keepsakes.  I’m talking about nick-knacks, clothing, bedding, books, movies, and even old radios and TVs.  Some things are only for a season, like kid’s toys and clothing.  We must move on from childhood or other stages in life, and be open to new ventures.

Moving is not just a physical thing.  It is an emotional one as well.  Many times when we move, we are really moving on and we will not always need the things that served us well in our old place of residence.  So the stress that comes with moving is often related to emotional ties related to the good memories we had of living there or being there, as well as to the material things that bring back fond memories.  When my in-laws sold their house to move to a condo, it seemed that a lot of memories were still there, and for me, were still very much alive.  It was where my husband and I, to their astonishment, announced our engagement to be married, since they thought we were just good friends.  It is where we enjoyed many good meals and every winter for a few years, we house-sat while they went away on a winter cruise.  Even more difficult was when my parents sold their house and moved to an apartment downtown.  Now we would not be able to all stay together as a family because there were too many of us.  But still, we were so happy for my parents that now they didn’t have to worry about yard work.  They could go next door for coffee without having to start up the car on cold winter mornings.  Everything was close by and in walking distance.

Moving costs; and I don’t mean just financial.  When you move you have to give up a way of life, but you can’t move on to a better way of life without saying goodbye to the old.  Almost every move I ever made was for the better.  I wouldn’t likely go back to any of the places I once lived because I like where I am right now.  In so many ways, our spiritual life is like that.  In order to have a new life, you have to give up the old life.  When Jesus called the disciples, they left all to follow Him.  Jesus said that if we are to be His disciples we must count the cost:

Luke 14:26  "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27  And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33  … any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. NIV

When I received Jesus as my Lord and personal Savior, I can honestly say that I would never trade this new life for the old one.  Nothing could persuade me to go back for even a second, for that life is one that was not worth saving in comparison to the full, rich and meaningful life I live now because of Jesus and His boundless love for me. I know many other people would say exactly the same thing, and songs have been written about it.  Jesus is really the answer for everything in life, whether we are moving to a new location, or have decided we want a better, freer and more meaningful life. 

            

Stress & Natural Disasters

Is it just me or are there more natural disasters than ever before?  This year, I talked to people who lost their beloved cottages and property because of flood waters.  I witnessed part of a beautiful town’s park completely devastated by flood waters.  And then recently, it became personal.  I seemed to experience one small natural disaster after another (the week before was the car accident).  One day it rained from early morning to night and our relatively new sliding balcony door (which was not installed properly by the contracting company) leaked so much, we had to put a pail under it to catch the running drips.  Traffic lights were out all over the city and it seemed to take forever to get anywhere.  Then the next day I woke up to no power, and I had to do without power for about 12 hours.  If you’ve ever been without power for that length of time or longer, let me tell you, you start to think creatively.  Do you know how many things I utterly and completely take for granted, not to mention need, that are plugged in?

To begin with, I couldn’t have my perfect cup of coffee first thing in the morning.  So right off the bat, my day did not start well.  I know that may sound trite and petty, but I so look forward to that first cup of coffee to start my day! Then, I had no music.  I listen to easy-listening and sometimes classical music almost every day because it is soothing and helps me be creative.  Similarly, I make sure that every section of my home has a scented plug-in so each room has a lingering scent, which also will affect a person’s mood.  Suffice it to say, there were no lingering scents.  Okay, I can live without that.  But no computer?  How can I get my work done?  I had a long list of emails to get to, plus writing my blog, and working on scads of other computer-related projects.  I couldn’t even use the phone since it’s a radio phone.  All I had was my cell phone and so I was able to call out and also receive my email, and I could text if I had to.  Still, it was very disconcerting!  As morning turned into noon and then afternoon, and still, no power, it became a day of, “what ifs,” mainly, “What do we do if the power doesn’t come back on?”

By mid-afternoon I peeked into the fridge and freezer to see how much meat was unthawing.  We rarely buy meat, but one of the major grocery stores had all their meat on sale, and besides we had just bought a new barbecue for camping.  So we thought we’d invest in meat and try out the barbecue while our fall days are still warm.  If the power was not going to go on, I thought I’d go to the nearest grocery store and buy chunks of ice and put them in the freezer.  But so many things went through my mind that day that it really caused me to re-think this thing called electricity, and start to think of having some kind of emergency back-up system.  Investing in a generator came to mind earlier in the day, and I’ve also seriously considered solar energy (it’s free after you invest in the panels).  In fact, I saw a program about it on the Weather Channel, and they interviewed someone who ran his entire household and farm business using solar energy.  I was immediately interested and thought it was brilliant, as long as you don’t have a long cloudy spell.  

Having no lights felt strange, so I had to pull out all the flashlights I could find and then found a stash of candle holders and tea-lights.  I was prepared in advance for evening.  Having little else to do, I went out for awhile to do some shopping.  The really interesting event happened when I walked to a nearby grocery store.  I was just heading towards the clothing section (this was one of those super large grocery/department stores) when I heard a loud BANG and all the power went out and everyone gasped!  They had line-ups of people waiting to pay for their groceries.  The look of shock on everyone’s face was priceless!  Employees suddenly came out of nowhere and were running all over the place (funny how they aren’t around when you need help in finding something).  I had nothing in my hand to buy, so I ran to the nearest exit, and made it out seconds before they forced the door closed and wouldn’t let anyone in or out. 

Throughout the whole ordeal, one word kept coming to my mind, and that was “loss.”  In any natural disaster there is usually a loss of some kind.  It is not always as minor as mine; people lose their homes, vehicles, and properties.  Of course, it goes without saying that the greatest loss is life itself, and this happens all over the world where countless lives are lost due to hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, mud slides, avalanches, fires, and so on!  But even when there is no loss of life, losing what is familiar to us can completely change our way of life, even if only for a day.  It forces us to re-think about things, and especially the things we take for granted.  For me, I discovered by late in the day that I could probably learn to live without electricity.  I had done so for the better part of the day.  And a big plus is that I had the use of my cell phone and my car.  And I did enjoy what we barbecued for supper, so I could get pretty used to that, and if necessary, use it to boil water to make coffee in a coffee press.  I’m not sure about the writing, although I could still write with a pen and sheets of paper.  I could light scented candles for scent.  And at night, I could still use flashlights and bigger candles for light, and perhaps throw a log or two in the fireplace for warmth, ambiance and more light. 

Through this experience I thought more about our dependency on things, and that many times we forget to or fail to turn to God as our complete source of all that we need.  We may have all the conveniences, live in a nice house, and have enough money to live a good lifestyle, but what happens if we lose some or all of it? Are we too dependent on the things of this world and even mistakenly putting our trust in them?  Sometimes we think that if we just had more money it will give us what we need, but this is only superficial and will never be enough.  When my power went out, I may have had some money, but no amount of money was enough to turn the power on.  An outside source (hydro) was the only one that could do this and even if I had all the money in the world to pay them, they still couldn’t have helped me because first they had to find the source of the problem.  People without God do not know the source of their problem, so they turn to other things.  In our spiritual lives (which affects all of the rest of life), God already knows the source of our problem and He has a solution.  Our problem is that we are sinners and sin leads to death.  The solution is Jesus Christ; the only One who can give us life, even eternal life.  So we need Jesus, our only true source of life.

John 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  KJV

Perhaps today you are experiencing your own personal natural disaster.  You are trying to put your life back together, but you haven’t found a way that truly works.  If you would like to receive the life that Jesus gives, and turn to Him for your true source of all that you need, please go to our web page where you will find The Way of Salvation.  And if you are reading this and you already know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, then may God bless you as you let that real powerful light shine wherever you go.  

The Stress of Special Occasions

Even though most of us enjoy special occasions, there can be a great deal of stress involved, whether you are the one involved in the planning, or you are the one that people are celebrating, or even if you are merely attending.  This summer we had a family reunion.  Seeing us all together, I was amazed at how large our family had grown, and everyone except one, managed to make it.  We had a wonderful visit and the weather was beautiful too.  A great deal of planning and emailing back and forth went into this three day reunion.  We were scattered across the country and flights had to be booked.  Hotel arrangements had to be made and booking a special gathering place where we could all gather and share a meal and fellowship.  We even had an agenda so we’d have an idea where everyone was, which included meal times and suggestions for recreation.   

But in spite of careful planning, sometimes things happen beyond our control.  The hotel we had booked a couple of months earlier had a devastating fire two days before our arrival date!  So the planner in our family stayed up until 3 or 4 in the morning trying to find another hotel in that short time period, and she did!  It was even better than the first hotel, since it offered more amenities and was in a better location.  We were so pleased to all be together even for a short period of time and share our memories, our stories and photos, and also make new memories.    

In our family, we have had many such get-togethers all through the years and I have photos of each event, showing how we’ve changed and grown.  But some families are not as open to family reunions and special occasions and would rather avoid them altogether.  They find them stressful, either because it seems like a lot of bother trying to plan it and get everyone together, it’s too expensive, or because not everyone gets along.  In larger settings, when I’ve attended a friend’s wedding for instance, I’ve noticed that people’s feelings can get hurt if they start to feel left out, or if little cliques start to form shutting others out.  It’s always best to try and be a floater at these occasions – float from one person to another and try not to spend so much time with only one or two people.  And if it has been planned right and is feasible, there will be opportunity for everyone to mingle, while still giving attention to the person or people being celebrated.  

If you are a planner for any special occasion, then you are definitely in the hot seat.  As a planner for a special occasion (and I haven’t done too many of these), there are many things to think of.  If done right, after you’ve booked the restaurant or hall, then invited the people, you still need to order a cake, buy napkins and decorations and consider where you’ll seat everyone.  You wouldn’t think about this, but seating is a very important issue.  If you get this part wrong, you may make enemies or seat people with other people that don’t even get along.  Another thing about planning is that if you need to ask for help, you have to make sure the person(s) helping understand exactly what it is you are trying to achieve.  And you have to hope they will remember to do their part.  Sometimes a rival planner will try to thwart your plans because they see things differently.  I am sure this happens when weddings are being planned.  The bride’s family and the groom’s family may want two different things.  They may be of completely different faiths.  One family may allow alcohol, the other does not.  So if weddings are not planned in a way that accommodates both sides, weddings can start off the family dynamics in a negative way, and continue that way for many years to come!

Without a doubt, the greatest source of pressure when you’re a planner of any event is when you try to please everyone.  In some cases, it simply can’t be done.  I heard of a person who volunteered as the social event planner for his apartment complex.  He would meet with the residents and find out what their interests were and then plan events accordingly.  Some events went well and people seemed to be happy, and others did not go as well.  Some people chose to be critical, and yet they wouldn’t volunteer to help out!  In fact, it was such a difficult job with little reward (and a volunteer one at that), that he eventually gave up and quit. 

For anyone in a position of planning and all the stress that goes with that, the Bible offers some wonderful insights into how to do this without feeling as if you’ve entered a snake pit.  The first thing is to be humble about it.  A planner is really a server because you are (hopefully) considering the needs and wants of others.

Rom 12:10  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. NIV

 

Instead of striving for a perfect and flawless event, a planner needs to be focusing on relationships first and foremost, and I’m sure many good planners do this.  The question should be: How can I do this in a way that is pleasing to God, and at the same time blesses others?  When God is invited into the planning, there is peace and harmony even if every little detail isn’t perfect.  People will feel blessed and honored.  This has been the case when a church I attended offered a simple but delicious lunch after the service every Sunday.  Different ones volunteered to bring food each week.  It was extremely well thought-out.  Since it depended on where you stood in line, each Sunday you would be following a different person(s), and so you would end up sitting with someone different on a kind of rotation basis.  This way you eventually got to meet everyone in the church.  Everyone mingled and no one felt left out.

For anyone who is a recipient or a guest, the same principal of humility applies.  Many times, the bride and groom will cater to their guests (like handing each guest a piece of cake) and make sure everyone feels honored.  Some guests will go out of their way to smooth things over for the sake of other guests (like watching or playing with overly-hyper kids).  And recipients especially need to find ways to show gratitude to the one(s) who planned it all. 

It is God’s will for us to fellowship together and enjoy the company of others.  Imagine what a special occasion would look like if everyone put aside their own selves and instead devoted themselves to ensuring the comfort and happiness of others.  This is what is pleasing and honoring to God, not just when it comes to special occasions, but in every situation where another person is involved. 

                                                                                 

Stress & Home Life

Home is said to be the only place you can really go to find your center, i.e., it is where you go to escape the stresses of the world outside.  It is a place to store your stuff, and to happily decorate, where you eat, sleep and possibly socialize.  This is where your land line phone is, your mailbox, your computer, your favorite books, hobbies, your fridge, clothes, TV and so on.  Most importantly, this is likely where the rest of your family is as well, including your pets.  So you wouldn’t think home life would present stress issues, would you? And yet it can and so often does.  In fact, some people avoid going home or staying home, because they want to avoid all the work that awaits them there.  Others don’t want to be alone with their thoughts.  Some people find it boring to be at home, away from the action happening in the outside world.

Two of the most obvious stresses that immediately come to mind are the stress from other family members, and on the opposite end of the scale, the stress of being alone.  For instance, if you are a parent with more than one child, one of your stresses is likely making sure that your children are getting along and not fighting with each other.  Added to that, you are trying to train them and prepare them for school life, help them with their homework, or get them to clean their own room.  And if your children are real small, you may feel like you can never go out without hiring a babysitter.  Once they are older, you experience a whole new set of stresses once they start dating!  If you are single with no partner or children, one of your stresses may be loneliness and finding a way out of that.  There are other situations where home life can be stressful, for example, if you are unemployed, retired, or ill and unable to work for a time.  In each of these situations, it isn’t necessarily your “home” that is the source of stress, but the fact that you are “house-bound” either because you have no place to go, or don’t know where to go, or you are too sick or tired to go anywhere. 

As well, there can also be a great deal of stress if you work at home, either as a stay-at-home mom, housewife or househusband, or even if you work at home running your own business.  When I used to work in an office all day, I would long for the day I could work at home.  I wanted to write full time and have the freedom to pursue my artistic interests, on my own time and out of the comfort of my own home.  Finally, that day came and all by a miracle of God.  I thank God for opening up this door for me.  But working at home definitely has its challenges too.  You wouldn’t think that working at home would be associated with stress, but surprisingly, it can be and is.  For one thing, you need to be disciplined to actually get down to doing the work, and not being side-tracked in doing too many other things.  If you don’t set guidelines for yourself, your work will pile up and not get done.  The other obvious stress, and this has been discussed in many an article and magazine, is the lack of social interaction.  So if at all possible, it is important to go out, even briefly, and be with people and interact somehow.

But since most people work outside of their home, what can be done to make home a welcoming and peaceful retreat, and a place you look forward to going to?  As far as housework goes, or keeping a place clean, organized and liveable, that’s where some determination and sweat comes in.  Three areas that I find constantly need attending are the washrooms, kitchen and laundry.  Other jobs are sweeping and wiping floors, picking up clutter, feeding our cats and attending to their various wants, and trying to sort out the piles of mail we get.  Since I work at home, I am frequently trying to keep my work life separate from my home life, which can be most stressful since I do so many different things (writing, artwork, sewing, scrapbooking, etc.) and do not have one large separate workshop.  Often, my work is in two different residences and the other residence is 1½ hours away.  So I have to really think about what I’ll be doing each week, so I don’t forget something when I go to the other residence.

What I have learned, and read, is that whether you work at home or not, finding a way to be organized is paramount.  Remember all the HGTV shows about getting rid of clutter?  I remember a talk show that dealt with clutter and showed a woman who had accumulated so much stuff she couldn’t even find her furniture!  Her home was like a warehouse with piles and piles of goods she had bought, and there was only a narrow walkway in each room to get from room to room.  What a great incentive to think twice before you buy more than one item of the same thing because it’s on sale!  Nowadays, it isn’t difficult to find ways to stay organized and you can be very creative in doing so.  I use baskets for magazines, gift bags, and so on.  Otherwise, in my craft room, I keep everything in clear storage bins so I can see what’s in them.  I try to get rid of things all the time – they are donated, sold or thrown out altogether.  I try to make it a rule, especially when it comes to kitchen things, that if I buy something new, the old must go.  If I buy a new set of juice glasses, the old ones will be given away.  Otherwise, where would I store all these extra glasses?  Every season, I try to get rid of clothes to make room for new ones I may have bought.  And finally, I bought a hand-sized labeller.  If my storage box isn’t clear so that I can see what’s in it, I label my boxes so I can easily find things.  If you live in a smaller space, consider floor to ceiling shelving units.  These are great for books, photo albums, and DVD’s.  When it comes to housecleaning and organizing, take your time and make it something you enjoy.  Think of the freedom you’ll feel once it’s done and you’ve freed up some extra space by getting rid of some clutter.    

Finally, and this is most important, whenever you move to a new place, make it a habit to pray over each room.  Pray for God’s presence to be with you all the while you live in your new home.  In fact, you can do this at any time.  And start your day with prayer.  Ask God to guide you and lead you and ask for His perfect peace to be felt in your life and in your home.  Pray over and if possible, pray with your family.  You can do this after mealtime when (hopefully) everyone is together.  In our home, we pray together and discuss important issues together.  I can tell you, that when you invite God into your life, and into your living spaces, not only will you enjoy being at home more, but your guests will feel it too.  This is a great gift to give yourself, your friends and family since they may need a place to find peace and refuge from the hard day or difficult week they have just undergone. And what better way to relieve stress than to gather together your favorite people and enjoy a nice meal or even just a cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate cake?  For what really makes a house or an apartment a home is the people and the love we have for one another.  Our home can be a place of worship to God and sweet fellowship with one another, like in the first church recorded in the New Testament.  Look at the beautiful picture of fellowship presented here:

Act 2:42  They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Act 2:43  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

Act 2:44  All the believers were together and had everything in common.

Act 2:45  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

Act 2:46  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

Act 2:47  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. NIV

Have a wonderful day and enjoy your home and all the people (and pets) in it.  And if it feels too lonely, do a little dusting, put on the tea kettle, and invite someone over for a fun time of fellowship.   

Stress & Unfulfilled Dreams

If you are anything like me, some of your dreams have been fulfilled, but you are still waiting for others to come to fruition.  Living with unfulfilled dreams can leave us feeling frustrated, impatient, discontent and discouraged.  The stress comes when we try to make things happen on our own, without waiting for God’s perfect timing.  I’m not talking about the little dreams (like I’d like to re-do my bathroom or kitchen).  I’m talking about the really big life-changing dreams, like getting married, having children, or perhaps retiring early from a job and traveling all over the world.  Some dreams are definitely do-able, and others are not, without divine help.  This is what I discovered about one of my major dreams.

For many years, I lived with an unfulfilled dream. I wanted to be married, and as I got into my early 30s, I wondered if it would ever actually happen.  Many of my friends were already married and having children or already had them.  I was a bridesmaid several times, but never a bride!  Even though getting married was on the top of my dream list, I know I wasn’t ready for such a big step until about the last three years before it actually happened.  Through the years, I could have married the wrong person more than once (read more in my book The Journey of Oneness).  When I look back, I shudder to think about what a disaster it would have been!  But somehow I knew that the person I was dating was not the right one and that didn’t make it any easier either.  Perhaps the hardest part of waiting is the unknown, and we wonder, Is this something I should be wanting?  Or after a long time, we think, Should I just abandon this idea altogether?  But my desire and dream of being married never wavered or left me, even though I had given it over to God and had prayed about it many times.

I often think of Abraham and God’s promise to him of a son, when he and his wife Sarah, were well beyond their child-bearing years.  In fact Sarah laughed at the idea!  And yet, God was true to His promise, and Sarah had a son, and they named him Isaac.  Do we even know how many years Abraham and Sarah waited before God gave them a son?  Some say 14 years, others say 25 years.  Similarly, the Jewish people were promised a Messiah hundreds of years before He actually came to earth and was born to Joseph and Mary.  His lineage began with David, the first generation, and then Jesus was born from his line (42 generations later according to Matthew 1:17).  But if we go back to Genesis 3:15, God told the serpent He would send “enmity,” His own Son, who would crush his head (completely defeat him).  The Jewish people waited and waited for their Messiah, through tumultuous years where they would be nearly overcome by their enemies.  Many times they would wonder, Where is the promise of the Messiah?  

So what is this waiting all about?  When I was doing some research, I found a very interesting comment that might help answer this very important question.  The writer said that it is characteristic in the Bible that when God promises something, He sometimes waits until a person is completely incapable of bringing about the promise until they are practically dead.  In other words, they have to be beyond the ability to do anything themselves to bring it about, so that it is a complete miracle of God, and God is glorified by the spectacular workings in performing the impossible!  Wow!  That makes sense, doesn’t it?  The spring of the same year I was to be married (which was later in the fall), I remember distinctly asking God why I had to wait so long for a husband to come along.  God did answer me and spoke to my heart that the reason was because not everything was in place (my husband wasn’t a Christian yet), and that many more people would be affected (those that were still unmarried would be encouraged and those that were married would see our miracle and be drawn closer together).  When it did happen, it was a whirlwind of excitement and activity.  We had been platonic friends for five years, and had known each other for 10 years before that (15 years in total).  God turned the “friendship” into a beautiful romantic relationship, and we have enjoyed a strong and enjoyable marriage together ever since.  Our wedding was put together in three weeks and some of the guests said it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever attended.

How do you know when God is fulfilling your dreams?  You have no doubt because you are filled with a joy and a peace that nothing in this world, or nothing by your own hand can produce.  Scripture says:

Pro 10:22  The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

There are many other dreams in my life that have been fulfilled, but nothing quite as spectacular as the marriage one.  Each time I have had dreams (many of which I believe that God has placed in my heart), I have had to give them over to Him at some point.  Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his long-awaited son Isaac (see Genesis 22).  But God stopped him just before he sacrificed him and then God was pleased and promised him even greater blessings than He had first promised him many years before.

Gen 22:15  And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

Gen 22:16  And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

Gen 22:17  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

The lessons for me have similarly been, Do I love God even more than my cherished dreams, and am I willing to lay them down on an altar of sacrifice and abandon them altogether?

Dreams, especially God-given ones, are often what keep us going through the sometimes tough day-to-day grind of daily living.  They are there to give us hope, a future and something to look forward to.  Just because they are not happening right now, today, does not mean they will never happen.  God just wants to bless us with his very best, and He has a perfect timing.  The nice part is, we don’t have to strive to make them happen.  He will open the doors when it is time, and what a day of rejoicing when this happens!  God Bless you today whether you are waiting for your dreams to unfold or whether you are just now seeing them happen!

         

Stress & the Unexpected

What do you do when something unexpected happens to you?  You can plan and plan for your life to run smoothly, and yet, inevitably, things happen that are beyond our control.  Depending on what happens, like a car accident, or a major appliance breaking down, or a loved one suddenly becoming ill, can greatly add to or create stress in our life.  Not too long ago, I was involved in a car collision.  Nothing could have been done to prevent the collision.  Accidents, if anything, cause a great inconvenience.  I spent a couple of hours on the phone reporting the accident to the insurance companies, then had to find an auto-body repair shop who has an available courtesy car.  My plans were definitely thwarted because I really needed the vehicle.  Still, I am so thankful no one was injured.  Feeling shaken and greatly disturbed by it, I prayed and asked God, “Why?”  I had remembered to pray for safety that day, and yet, this still happened.  I didn’t get an answer right away, but I did read something in the Bible that caught my attention:

Ecc 8:6  Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

Ecc 8:7  For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

Ecc 8:8  There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.  KJV

None of us knows what each day will hold.  We can prepare for many things and do our best to circumvent and prevent disasters or avoid mishaps, but still, sometimes there is nothing we can do about it!  Life here on earth is not perfect.  It has its ups and downs, trials and challenges, and unexpected things will inevitably happen.  After the accident, I just wanted to run away, insulate myself from further accidents, and perhaps consider walking or taking the bus rather than drive a car on busy city streets where everyone is in such a hurry.  In these times of stress and uncertainty, we need to learn not just coping skills, but how to forge on, unafraid to face new challenges.

Many people are struggling with financial pressures.  Prices go up beyond our control and we are caught wondering how we’re going to pay for the unexpected inflated prices.  These are the times where our faith is tested to the limit.  I don’t know about you, but when unexpected things happen to me, I start searching the Bible for answers.  My mind may tell me the practical and most natural thing to do, like get another job to pay for the extra expenses, but God’s Word may say something completely different.  What are His promises when it comes to financial lack?  And what must I do to receive His promises of financial supply?

This is His promise.

Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. KJV

This is what I do.

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. KJV

It sounds simple.  He has already promised to supply and that’s a done deal.  As for what I do, I need to be more concerned about the things of God and the things that matter most to Him, and I will experience the supply that I need.  This is how it has always worked for me.

After the accident I was involved in, later that night I was unable to settle down to sleep, so I opened the Bible and read the following:

Psa 41:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. KJV

   

This got me to thinking, “Have I been too busy with my own issues and forgetting the Lord’s work (i.e. - seek ye first the kingdom of God), and have I failed to consider those much less fortunate that me?”  I knew almost immediately what I needed to do.  The next day, I took a full of bag of new craft items I had made and dropped them off at a center that accepts new items, and then they sell them.  The money they make goes to underdeveloped countries to help the underprivileged build up their economy and farmlands, etc.  I can’t tell you what this did for me.  Although I was still greatly troubled by the accident I had been in, I know that doing good for others is the absolute best antidote to not focusing on personal problems.  By doing this simple thing, I started to feel better knowing that I was able to help someone much worse off than me.  So I went a step further and I also went into their store and bought a couple of items I needed that were hand-made by people in third world countries, and every sale helps support their livelihood.  Then I started thinking about other ways to help people in need and other organizations where I can perhaps help out.

Every single person alive has personal problems, or they will sooner or later.  We need to help each other, and especially, help those in real dire need, like people in third world countries.  This is what doing God’s work is all about.  This is the Church, the Body of Christ, in action.  Think about this for a moment – Christ is the Head of the Church and every Christian is included in the Body of Christ.  Bodies are active, not inactive, unless they’re dead.  If Christ is the Head and He directs our paths, we must put ACTION to what He says to do in His Word.  This is a lesson I have to keep learning and keep doing until it becomes an ingrained habit.  Maybe it took an accident to jar me and get me moving in the right direction, or at least moving and contributing more to the Kingdom of God! 

Many unexpected things can and will happen to us throughout our lifetime, but this is no reason to take a back seat, cower and do nothing in case something else bad happens.  That’s not really living, that’s giving in to fear and defeat.  Instead, we can turn a seemingly negative situation around and turn it into a blessing.  In fact, the Bible tells us to do just that (Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NIV).  Maybe some of these problematic unexpected things that happen are really there to challenge us not only in our faith, but to give us an opportunity to test God’s Word.  Perhaps it’s a perfect chance to work on being more optimistic, and believe that God will do what He says in His Word when we act on it, regardless of how we may feel.

May we all find time today to consider those less fortunate than us, whether we’re having a good day or a more difficult day.  What a wonderful way to deal with all the unexpected things in life and turn things around, not only for ourselves, but for others in even greater need than we are.