Stress
I have read that watching an aquarium will lower blood pressure in most people. This is probably the reason they are seen in so many places; doctors’ waiting rooms, hospitals, anywhere where people might need something to help them relax.
As a society we have developed many ways for people to alleviate stress. Many are things that are very easily done. Certain fragrances seem to help, as does relaxing music. Many books have been written about the subject and much money is made selling products that claim to help.
The easiest way, is also one of the least expensive, prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 explains this. “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (The Message)
Some may claim that this sounds too easy. Praying once may not seem to help, but a continued and regular time of prayer will indeed relieve stress and lead you into a place in your life where troubles can be handled in a more positive manner.
Oct 6/09
Depressed?
I have read that many people associate the autumn season with sadness and depression. Personally, I love the fall, especially the days when the lake gets wild, the wind blows huge clouds across the sky and multicoloured leaves scurry everywhere. On the other hand, I can understand the feelings some people get. The leaves are falling from the trees and life appears to be leaving everything.
No matter the season, or our position in life, most people go through times of depression and sadness. The question is, where do we turn in these times? The answer is Jesus.
In John 14:27, Jesus tells us, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (KJV) That is promise on which we can depend. No matter what the state of our mind, if we turn to Him, He will give us peace.
Are you finding this time of your life depressing? Do you find sadness overwhelming your spirit? Take time to turn you thoughts and your words to Jesus. Talk to Him and allow him to replace your sadness and depression with His peace.
Oct13/09
Excitement
I can remember as a teenager (yes, I can remember back that far) going to see Fats Domino. His band came out and started to play and really no-one paid any attention. While they played, everyone just sat around and talked. Occasionally they looked at the stage, but really they were just background music. Then Fats Domino came out. The place went crazy even before he started to play. People stood up and started to jump and dance. A few even stood on the tables and danced. Somehow, he created this excitement by simply entering the room.
God wants that kind of response from us when we meet Him. Too often we think of God and church as something that should be very quiet and subdued. That is not His desire. In Psalm 22 David declares, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.”(KJV) The Hebrew word for praise in this verse is ‘halal’ which means, to celebrate, to rave and to be clamorously foolish. This does not sound quiet and subdued.
Maybe God does not want us to sit quietly. Maybe He wants us to celebrate and show how much we love Him. When we meet old friends we often celebrate with a party, why not the same when we meet with God?
Caring
The trouble with caring is that sometimes it hurts. Over the years I taught many children and came to know many parents. I love to read the back page of the newspaper to see who had a baby and who got married. I love to see them grow up. There have also been times when I have read sorrowful things. I’ve read where some have lost parents, some are ailing and some have died. Having taught them, I care for them and these things bring sorrow to me also.
I can not even imagine what Jesus endured. He cared for every single person; those who were already dead, those who were living and those yet to be born. When He died He took every sin, every pain, every sickness and every sorrow of theirs and mine with Him. Think about it. If I add up all the sorrows and pains in my life, He took them all upon Him in one instance on the cross. Multiply that times over 100 billion for all the people who have every lived. That’s what He carried with Him when He went to the cross.
I can now better understand Luke 22:44. “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground..” (KJV)
