" A Cheerful heart is good medicine" Provebs 17:22
Laughter is good for your physical health
• Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
• Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
• Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
Laughter is good for your mental health
• Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing.
• Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more.
• Humor shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Laugher has social benefits as well:
• Strengthens relationships
• Attracts others to us
• Enhances teamwork
• Helps defuse conflict
• Promotes group bonding
Here are some ways to start:
• Smile. Smiling is the beginning of laughter. Like laughter, it’s contagious. Pioneers in “laugh therapy,” find it’s possible to laugh without even experiencing a funny event. The same holds for smiling. When you look at someone or see something even mildly pleasing, practice smiling.
• Count your blessings. Literally make a list. The simple act of considering the good things in your life will distance you from negative thoughts that are a barrier to humor and laughter. When in a state of sadness, we have further to travel to get to humor and laughter.
• When you hear laughter, move toward it. Sometimes humor and laughter are private, a shared joke among a small group, but usually not. More often, people are very happy to share something funny because it gives them an opportunity to laugh again and feed off the humor you find in it. When you hear laughter, seek it out and ask, “What’s funny?”
• Spend time with fun, playful people. These are people who laugh easily–both at themselves and at life’s absurdities–and who routinely find the humor in everyday events. Their playful point of view and laughter are contagious.
• Bring humor into conversations. Ask people, “What’s the funniest thing that happened to you today? This week? In your life?”
The following was found at www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm Go there to find more information on laughter.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Friday, July 3, 2009
A Prayer for Patriots
This is my prayer for our nation this Fourth of July:
Dear God,
Please do not send us anymore politicians. We have more than we can stand. They fill Washington DC, our statehouses and even our city and village halls. Lord, we don’t need anymore politicians in America, but we sure could use some patriots.
We do not need politicians who stand up for their party in blind loyalty; we need patriots who stand for your principles in uncompromising love for their country.
We do not need politicians who use people to seek power; we need patriots who will use power to serve people.
We do not need politicians who give their allegiance to lobbyist; we need patriots who give their all for liberty.
We do not politicians who will foist our freedoms away; we need patriots who will fight for our freedoms everyday.
God, our nation is in trouble. We need you now more than ever. And so my prayer is this, please send us some patriots… before it is too late
In Jesus name
Amen
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Proverbs 14:34
Dear God,
Please do not send us anymore politicians. We have more than we can stand. They fill Washington DC, our statehouses and even our city and village halls. Lord, we don’t need anymore politicians in America, but we sure could use some patriots.
We do not need politicians who stand up for their party in blind loyalty; we need patriots who stand for your principles in uncompromising love for their country.
We do not need politicians who use people to seek power; we need patriots who will use power to serve people.
We do not need politicians who give their allegiance to lobbyist; we need patriots who give their all for liberty.
We do not politicians who will foist our freedoms away; we need patriots who will fight for our freedoms everyday.
God, our nation is in trouble. We need you now more than ever. And so my prayer is this, please send us some patriots… before it is too late
In Jesus name
Amen
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Proverbs 14:34
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Dinosaurs and the Bible
In Sunday’s lesson on Dinosaurs and the Bible I said I would post a few websites on here that discuss dinosaurs from the Creationist’s point of view. Here are some:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/1999/11/05/dinosaurs-and-the-bible
http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/dinos.shtml
http://www.genesispark.com/genpark/bible/bible.htm
http://www.geocities.com/dinospin/
http://www.drdino.com/
http://www.darwinconspiracy.com/
Here are a few from the evolution point of view:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/
http://blog.everythingdinosaur.co.uk/blog/_archives/2008/8/22/3851028.html
http://dinosaurs.about.com/
http://www.allaboutscience.org/darwins-theory-of-evolution.htm
Happy studying
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/1999/11/05/dinosaurs-and-the-bible
http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/dinos.shtml
http://www.genesispark.com/genpark/bible/bible.htm
http://www.geocities.com/dinospin/
http://www.drdino.com/
http://www.darwinconspiracy.com/
Here are a few from the evolution point of view:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/
http://blog.everythingdinosaur.co.uk/blog/_archives/2008/8/22/3851028.html
http://dinosaurs.about.com/
http://www.allaboutscience.org/darwins-theory-of-evolution.htm
Happy studying
Sunday, April 19, 2009
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Is there ever a time when I should not tell the truth?
Ephesians 4:29 says “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Four verses earlier Paul says “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
Yet we do have some biblical incidents when people lied and was blessed by God. One is in Exodus 1. Here, we’re told that the Egyptians began to fear the Israelites that lived in their country. And the Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew mid-wives who always helped women deliver their babies: "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live."The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." (Exodus 1:16-19)
Now, were the mid-wives honest? No… they lied!These women were speaking to the Hitler of their day, the Stalin of their era. He was thug intent upon murdering all the boy children in Israel. Had they told him the truth there is no telling what evil he would have devised.
BUT THEY LIED! Yep they did. And how did God respond? “So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.” Exodus 1:20-21
He rewarded them! WHY? Because, what they did, they did for God. They didn’t lie because they feared for their own lives. They lied because they “feared God.”
Is there any lesson from this event? What would you say to this statement? “The only time we shouldn’t be telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth… is when that truth damages and destroys the people around us.” Does this wxcuse beign less than truthful in certain situations?
Jeff Strite shares the following story:
I once knew a man who was “honest” with his wife. He told her what a bad housekeeper she was. He told her what a rotten mother she was. He told her how unattractive she was. He emotionally brow beat her until she began to tell falsehoods to protect herself from his constant accusations.THEN when he caught her telling those lies… he told her that she was a liar.
Now what he told her always had a measure of truth to it.
· She probably wasn’t the best housekeeper in the world
· She probably wasn’t the perfect mother
· She may not have won any beauty contests
· AND she did lie to avoid his emotional abuse
This husband spoke “truth” to his wife: But it wasn’t a “wholesome” truthIt was NOT a truth he used to “edify” her. It was truth intended to drag her down and destroy her.
Paul tells us: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph. 4:29)And: We should always “Be kind and compassionate to one another... "
Ephesians 4:32
What do you think?
Ephesians 4:29 says “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Four verses earlier Paul says “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
Yet we do have some biblical incidents when people lied and was blessed by God. One is in Exodus 1. Here, we’re told that the Egyptians began to fear the Israelites that lived in their country. And the Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew mid-wives who always helped women deliver their babies: "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live."The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." (Exodus 1:16-19)
Now, were the mid-wives honest? No… they lied!These women were speaking to the Hitler of their day, the Stalin of their era. He was thug intent upon murdering all the boy children in Israel. Had they told him the truth there is no telling what evil he would have devised.
BUT THEY LIED! Yep they did. And how did God respond? “So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.” Exodus 1:20-21
He rewarded them! WHY? Because, what they did, they did for God. They didn’t lie because they feared for their own lives. They lied because they “feared God.”
Is there any lesson from this event? What would you say to this statement? “The only time we shouldn’t be telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth… is when that truth damages and destroys the people around us.” Does this wxcuse beign less than truthful in certain situations?
Jeff Strite shares the following story:
I once knew a man who was “honest” with his wife. He told her what a bad housekeeper she was. He told her what a rotten mother she was. He told her how unattractive she was. He emotionally brow beat her until she began to tell falsehoods to protect herself from his constant accusations.THEN when he caught her telling those lies… he told her that she was a liar.
Now what he told her always had a measure of truth to it.
· She probably wasn’t the best housekeeper in the world
· She probably wasn’t the perfect mother
· She may not have won any beauty contests
· AND she did lie to avoid his emotional abuse
This husband spoke “truth” to his wife: But it wasn’t a “wholesome” truthIt was NOT a truth he used to “edify” her. It was truth intended to drag her down and destroy her.
Paul tells us: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph. 4:29)And: We should always “Be kind and compassionate to one another... "
Ephesians 4:32
What do you think?
Sunday, January 25, 2009
A Lesson From my Sister's Blog
My sister has a blog that is often funny and inpisrational. This week she tells a story about and incident between her and her son Jack. It is cute and tells a powerful message hope you enjoy it.
I'm in the midst of Beth Moore's study, Believing God (It's very difficult for me to say Believing God instead of Believin' due to the impact of Steve Perry telling me "Don't stop believin'" all through my pre-teens.). I started attending this particular group around week 5 of the study, so I have been going back and watching the other lessons at night before I go to sleep. David somehow manages to dose off while I am doing this until I startle him with a random "Glory!" because when Beth tells somebody to say "Glory!", I know I am that somebody and I let it fly. "Glory!"
Beth also has us repeat a pledge with her at every session:
I believe God is who He says He is.
I believe God can do what He says He can do.
I believe I am who God says I am.
I believe I can do all things through Christ.
I believe God's word is alive and active in me.
Then at the end you declare "I'm believing God" complete with hand motions for emphasis. My struggles with doubt and distrust seem to multiply with my age as I get further away from that faith of a child, so reciting this pledge has been a great reminder to me to hold onto my belief. Anytime a fearful, distrusting thought pops in my head, Ive been stopping immediately and saying the pledge out loud. The looks on my children's face the first time I did it was priceless.
Now D.J. even jumps in with me. Johnny will applaud and cheer when I finish. Jack, however, is not so sure about this spontaneous pledging. Yesterday while waiting in line to pick D.J. up from school, I decided to just say the pledge out loud. As soon as I said, "Im believing God!" Jack declared, "Hey....mom, no, you don't be leavin' God. You stay with God" and then he started crying. "I don't want you to leave God". So then I had to attempt to explain to an almost four-year-old that BELIEVING is not the same as LEAVING. Now that's a daunting task. Who knew my innocent pledge would spark severe separation anxiety in my son? I guess you could say he's preached his first sermon.
From: http://walnutgrove1.blogspot.com/
I'm in the midst of Beth Moore's study, Believing God (It's very difficult for me to say Believing God instead of Believin' due to the impact of Steve Perry telling me "Don't stop believin'" all through my pre-teens.). I started attending this particular group around week 5 of the study, so I have been going back and watching the other lessons at night before I go to sleep. David somehow manages to dose off while I am doing this until I startle him with a random "Glory!" because when Beth tells somebody to say "Glory!", I know I am that somebody and I let it fly. "Glory!"
Beth also has us repeat a pledge with her at every session:
I believe God is who He says He is.
I believe God can do what He says He can do.
I believe I am who God says I am.
I believe I can do all things through Christ.
I believe God's word is alive and active in me.
Then at the end you declare "I'm believing God" complete with hand motions for emphasis. My struggles with doubt and distrust seem to multiply with my age as I get further away from that faith of a child, so reciting this pledge has been a great reminder to me to hold onto my belief. Anytime a fearful, distrusting thought pops in my head, Ive been stopping immediately and saying the pledge out loud. The looks on my children's face the first time I did it was priceless.
Now D.J. even jumps in with me. Johnny will applaud and cheer when I finish. Jack, however, is not so sure about this spontaneous pledging. Yesterday while waiting in line to pick D.J. up from school, I decided to just say the pledge out loud. As soon as I said, "Im believing God!" Jack declared, "Hey....mom, no, you don't be leavin' God. You stay with God" and then he started crying. "I don't want you to leave God". So then I had to attempt to explain to an almost four-year-old that BELIEVING is not the same as LEAVING. Now that's a daunting task. Who knew my innocent pledge would spark severe separation anxiety in my son? I guess you could say he's preached his first sermon.
From: http://walnutgrove1.blogspot.com/
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Glen Miller
On Tuesday a dear friend, mentor, teacher and shepherd went home. Glen Miller was a remarkable man. He taught me how to be a better husband, he taught me more about parenting than any person I have ever known. He was an elder who “smelled like sheep” because he was amongst them feeding, caring for and protecting them.
A successful businessman Glen would rather lose money than lose a friend or hurt the church. The last week of his battle against cancer he did not want pain medicine because he wanted to be alert when people came to see him. He told those who visited that he loved them and that God loved them. He shared with them the importance of family and the church. He finished strong.
His family and friends will miss him; our church has lost a patriarch. His wisdom will not be replaced. This community has lost a good man. But the tears we shed are for us not for him. Glen’s gone home – we experienced a loss but Glen won a great victory in Christ.
This man of God will be missed but his legacy of faith, family and love will live on.
A successful businessman Glen would rather lose money than lose a friend or hurt the church. The last week of his battle against cancer he did not want pain medicine because he wanted to be alert when people came to see him. He told those who visited that he loved them and that God loved them. He shared with them the importance of family and the church. He finished strong.
His family and friends will miss him; our church has lost a patriarch. His wisdom will not be replaced. This community has lost a good man. But the tears we shed are for us not for him. Glen’s gone home – we experienced a loss but Glen won a great victory in Christ.
This man of God will be missed but his legacy of faith, family and love will live on.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The Gift within the Gift
This past week I heard a story about a romantic husband (I know what you’re thinking but it wasn’t me) who gave his wife a special Christmas gift…. a pair of gloves. The wife was a little disappointed at the getting a cheap pair of gloves but at her husband’s insistence she tried them own only to discover that in each finger hole there was a one hundred dollar bill. She soon discovered the gift within the gift.
This is the season where the Christian world remembers the gift of Jesus given to us by the Father. Yet in all the hustle and bustle of Christmas we too can forget to see the gifts found within the gift of Jesus. Those gifts include:
GRACE: Grace is when God gives me what I need not what I deserve. There are only two ways I can be saved. Either be perfect or be a recipient of God’s grace. I have already blown the first option so I need the gift of God’s grace.
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11
INHERITANCE: As members of the family of God we get to share in the God’s inheritance. As those in the Old testament looked forward to the Promised Land we too as God’s children look forward to the ultimate inheritance of the glories of heaven (I Peter 1:4)
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:16-17
FORGIVENESS: By sending us His Son, God revealed his plan for Him to remove our guilt and sin. Jesus took on our punishment for our sin and through faith and obedience to the gospel we are cleansed by His blood. Through Jesus we can live a guilt free life and celebrate the gift of forgiveness found in the gift of the Christ.
“This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us. He sent his Son to die in our place to take away our sins.” I John 4:10 (NCV)
TRUE LIFE: God’s gift of Jesus not only benefits us in the next life but in this life as well. Accepting the gift of Jesus gives our life a whole new purpose and a deeper meaning. In this gift of Jesus we discover other gifts such as peace, joy and a relationship with Him.
(Jesus) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
As we celebrate Christmas with family and friends please take time to remember the Savior and gifts found within the gift God gave us. Have a Merry Christmas
This is the season where the Christian world remembers the gift of Jesus given to us by the Father. Yet in all the hustle and bustle of Christmas we too can forget to see the gifts found within the gift of Jesus. Those gifts include:
GRACE: Grace is when God gives me what I need not what I deserve. There are only two ways I can be saved. Either be perfect or be a recipient of God’s grace. I have already blown the first option so I need the gift of God’s grace.
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11
INHERITANCE: As members of the family of God we get to share in the God’s inheritance. As those in the Old testament looked forward to the Promised Land we too as God’s children look forward to the ultimate inheritance of the glories of heaven (I Peter 1:4)
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:16-17
FORGIVENESS: By sending us His Son, God revealed his plan for Him to remove our guilt and sin. Jesus took on our punishment for our sin and through faith and obedience to the gospel we are cleansed by His blood. Through Jesus we can live a guilt free life and celebrate the gift of forgiveness found in the gift of the Christ.
“This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us. He sent his Son to die in our place to take away our sins.” I John 4:10 (NCV)
TRUE LIFE: God’s gift of Jesus not only benefits us in the next life but in this life as well. Accepting the gift of Jesus gives our life a whole new purpose and a deeper meaning. In this gift of Jesus we discover other gifts such as peace, joy and a relationship with Him.
(Jesus) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
As we celebrate Christmas with family and friends please take time to remember the Savior and gifts found within the gift God gave us. Have a Merry Christmas
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