Life's Challenges - Stories - Stress
| 36 CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS | The Teacup | |||
| How to Walk Through Life's Hot Spots | Today…I Choose | |||
| I Am God | Why God permits problems in your life | |||
| Perfect Peace | ||||
| The Burning Hut |
The Burning Hut
The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He
prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon
for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to
protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little
hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.
The worst had happened; everything was lost.
He was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was
approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.
"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.
"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
Remember next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a
smoke signal that summons the grace of God.
Author Unknown
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Today…I Choose
It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is
still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will
roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will
be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of the solitude will be replaced
by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be
invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve
hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a
choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.
I choose love...
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.
I choose joy...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation
to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as
anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any
problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I choose peace...
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose patience...
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who
takes my place, I will invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait
is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my
fists at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I choose kindness...
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. I will be kind to the rich for
they are afraid. And kind to the unkind for that is how God has treated me.
I choose goodness...
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked
before I boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness.
I choose faithfulness...
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My
associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my
children will never fear that their father will not come home.
I choose gentleness...
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be
only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a
demand, may it be only of myself.
I choose self-control...
I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse
to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk
only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only
by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I
fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my
head on my pillow and rest.
Author Unknown
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How to
Walk Through Life's Hot Spots
Keep on walking. A surefire way to get burned is to stop walking. When you are
afraid, or under extreme stress, or hurting -- keep going. You will get through
if you keep dealing with the everyday tasks at hand to the best of your ability.
!!! Persevere !!!
Remember that this difficult time will pass. It may feel that you are in a
repeating time warp, but realize that pain is time-limited. All problems have a
beginning and an end.
!!! Be Patient !!!
Make rough times work for you. Not everything is good, but the Bible reminds us
that everything can be used for good if you submit your will to God. Look for
ways to learn, grow, or cope in your pain or stress.
!!! Have Courage !!!
Take "what is" and make the most of it. Make lemonade from your lemons. You are
not called upon to create perfection from every situation, only to make the most
of it. Don't waste your time on ceaseless complaining, but look for meaning and
joy in all situations.
!!! Be Content !!!
Clean up your own trash. Stand on your own feet and don't try to blame others
for your problems. You are not a victim. Choose to live the rest of your life
with a controlled response to what is happening.
!!! Take Responsibility !!!
Be true to you. You will have more strength for dealing with ordeals in life if
you have the courage to be true to your own values. Hypocrisy destroys internal
energy.
!!! Model Integrity !!!
Be gladder than madder. Expressions of gratitude calm the soul and clear the
mind.
!!! Show Gratitude !!!
Have as much fun as you can. Anticipation of fun raises the level of your
energy. Learn to laugh through your trials.
!!! Display Humor !!!
Determine what is within your control You cannot control what happens to you,
but you can choose the frame you put around your experiences. You can choose how
you will deal with all situations.
!!! Exhibit Internal Control !!!
Be enthusiastic. Enthusiasm literally means, "God in us." If He is in you, let
your life so shine. Learn to love life.
!!! Show Your Passion !!!
Author Unknown
36
CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No, to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will
compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't
lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what
God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything
about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in
the garden, extra stamps, etc.,
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an
enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the
bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good
"Thank you, Jesus!"
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but yourself not at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've
never been grateful for before.
GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be
against us?" (Romans 8:31)
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Why
God permits problems in your life
The problems you face will either
defeat you or develop you depending on how you respond to them. Unfortunately
most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives.
They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider
what benefit they might bring.
Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:
God uses problems to DIRECT you. Sometimes God must light a fire under you to
get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to
change. Is God trying to get your attention? "Sometimes it takes a painful
situation to make us change our ways." Proverbs 20:30 (GN)
God uses problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags. If you want to know
what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God ever tested your
faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? "When you have many
kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these
troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience." James 1:2-3 (NCV)
God uses problems to CORRECT you. Some lessons we learn only through pain and
failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot
stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the
value of something, health, money and a relationship. By losing it. "It was the
best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to
your laws." Psalm 119:71-72 (LB)
God uses problems to PROTECT you. A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it
prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was
fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do.
His unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being convicted and sent
to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered.
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good." Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
God uses problems to PERFECT you. Problems, when responded to correctly, are
character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your
comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things
you're going to take with you into eternity. "We can rejoice when we run into
problems they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of
Character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it; until finally
our hope and faith are Strong and steady." Romans 5:3-4 (LB)
Here's the point: God is at work in your life-even when you do not recognize it
or understand it. But it's much easier and profitable when you cooperate with
Him. Print this out and read this regularly. Some of you could probably use this
right now!
"YOU ARE BLESSED -- THERE'S NO NEED TO BE STRESSED!"
Author Unknown
I Am God
My children, I am the Creator of ALL, and ALL power originates with ME! There is
no power in heaven or on earth that is able to thwart My purposes for your life
as you yield to Me. NONE!
Have I not promised that as you seek Me, you will find Me, when you seek Me with
all of your heart? Have I not said to ask, and you will receive? Ask then, and
let your hearts run wild and your imagination run vagabond, for you cannot plumb
the depths of My planning and provision for My own.
Does not My Word promise that if you seek My kingdom and My righteousness, all
else that is needed will be supplied? There is no need that I cannot meet, so
long as you look to Me to do so. There is no problem for which I cannot provide
a solution. There is no wound so deep that I cannot heal; and no situation for
which there is no remedy. I AM GOD, IS ANYTHING TOO DIFFICULT FOR ME?!
I ask of you your all, not some random portion of your affection. I seek to have
precedence over every area of your life. I, and I alone am to reign supreme in
your life. Yet I would remind you that I have offered to you My all. Yes, for I
have made available to you ALL that is needed to walk in victory and to truly
reign in this life. ALL power, ALL wisdom...all that is needed is readily
available through My Holy Spirit.
Do you lack anything? Then come to Me, and I will fill you to overflowing; and
in so doing, will satisfy the deepest longings of your soul. True fulfillment is
found in Me alone.
Hold Me not at arms length, but rather come into My embrace, for I wait with
arms open wide. I love you as none other could, and I long to lavish My love
upon you.
Author Unknown
Perfect Peace
There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best
picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but
there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful
towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white
clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was
an angry sky from which rain fell, in which lightening played. Down the side of
the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.
But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a
crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the
midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest ... perfect
peace.
Which picture do you think won the prize?
The King chose the second picture.
Do you know why?
"Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there
is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those
things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."
Author Unknown
Author Unknown