Reduce Your Stress With a Telescope

“Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.”
Benjamin Franklin



The girl looked at her reflection in the mirror; she was happy with what she saw. Her hair was shiny, her skin was smooth and her smile was bright. She was happy, that is, until she turned the mirror to the magnified side. There she saw only the ragged split ends of her hair, cavernous pores upon her face and crooked yellow teeth. In a split second her pleasure changed to depression. Seeing herself magnified close-up, this beautiful girl couldn’t imagine anyone considering her anything but grotesque.


Her story seems extreme. Yet, much of the stress we feel in life is caused by a similar distorted outlook. We completely lose sight of the big picture as we narrow our attention on the supposed defects in or around us.

• A distracted spouse becomes proof of their lack of love for us.
• A car cutting us off in traffic becomes disrespect warranting rage.
• An unexpected visit from a friend becomes an evaluation of our self-worth based on the cleanness level of our home.
• A co-worker not responding when we greet them in the hall becomes confirmation that no one likes us.
• A critique at work becomes corroboration that we will never accomplish anything of value.


The feeling of being stressed is not caused by events that happen to us, but is the result of our perception of those events. The way we view things has a tremendous impact on our ability to cope. We all experience stressful events in life, yet some are more resilient than others; much of that difference is found in the view we choose to take.


When we come under stress, a critical step is to take inventory of our thoughts to determine if we are looking at the situation with a balanced perspective or through intense magnification. One of the best antidotes to stress is trusting God’s purposes in the difficulties. When we do, we choose a wide-angled telescopic view instead of a microscopic one. With it we see the event in perspective as part of a plan. We don’t lose sight of the bigger picture, for we keep our focus on heaven instead of on ourselves.


The next time you’re feeling stressed, check and see. Did you grab your telescope or your microscope?




Message for the Journey:

One of the best antidotes to stress is seeing God’s purposes in the difficulties; and when we are unable to see the purpose to trust that one is there.


“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes for them.”
Romans 8:28


©AnnWilds2011
Original post 8-2010. Reposted with edits

 

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How to Protect Your Marriage From an Affair

Have you ever been hungry, I mean really hungry? One activity that leaves me ravenous is scuba diving. We'll come in from a day in the water and I feel like I could eat a horse. I'm also not nearly as picky as to what I eat as I normally am; just give me food.

Fortunately, for most of us hunger is not something we suffer from for very long. But when we are extremely hungry, we’ll eat whatever is available even if it's harmful. The poorest in Haiti are known to make cookies out of mud just to have something to feed their bellies.

When we hunger, we’ll choose good food over something that barely fills us. But the choice food has to be readily available. On the other hand, when we are extremely full, we don’t even have room for that extra piece of dessert - no matter how tempting it is.
That level of fullness, on an emotional basis, is what is necessary to protect our marriages from the threat of adultery. But so often we fail to truly feed our partner. At first, we feed each other well. We lavish them with affection, attention and love. But over time we may unintentionally stop providing a banquet and switch instead to crumbs. We can get caught up in the busyness of life, careers, kids or ourselves and unintentionally leave our loved one hungry.

Studies show that up to 55% of men and 45% of women admit to committing adultery. Unfortunately, this isn't limited to the secular world. Christian marriages suffer from high levels of adultery as well. 

According to research, the factors placing a marriage at greatest risk include:

1. Lack of love and affection
These are the essential ingredients in any marriage. Without them the relationship starves, making it easy for a partner to be tempted to stray. Speak your partner's love language and they'll be well fed.

2. Loneliness
Whether it's spent on a career or pursuing other interests, time apart can leave each other hungry. Make dedicated time to spend together as a couple and you'll stave off hunger.

3. Lack of intimacy
God created sex as a wonderful gift for marriage. Don't neglect your partner's needs or hold back sex as a penalty. Feed one another's emotions and bodies. 

The enemy delights in damaging Christian marriages. Don't help him by failing to feed your relationship. Be vigilant and protect yours from attack.




Message for the Journey:

Time, attention and love are the choice foods of any relationship. Be sure to serve them to your partner each day. Keep them full and they'll not hunger for another.

"He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet."
Proverbs 27:7






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The Best Way to Get Directions


 

When we'd go on vacation when I was little, my mom would drive. If she missed a turn, she didn't turn around. Instead, she'd find the next road that looked nice. If it seemed to be going the right way, she'd take it.

As you can imagine, her approach didn't always turn out well. Sometimes we'd end up near our intended destination. But more often we'd end up miles off course, adding many unnecessary hours to the journey. It would have been so much easier if she had had a GPS. Traveling with Mom was always an adventure.

Fortunately for us, we have been given a GPS- God 's Provided Spirit- to help guide our life journey. A shepherd follows his flock and calls out to them when they wander. Ours calls to us when our steps wander. He helps to ensure we safely reach our intended destination.


Recalculating:

Like a regular GPS, the Spirit provides direction but doesn't force us to make a course adjustment. That decision is ours alone to make.

Sometimes we don't want to turn. We enjoy the wrong road we're on; it may be easier or comfortable. It may be pleasurable or even profitable. Yet, no amount of earthly gain can change where the wrong road is leading, taking us further away from God's perfect plan for our lives.

He promises to guide us. Whether we turn right or left, He speaks to us directing us on the Way.

The question is, are we listening?





Message for the Journey:

The roads of life can be misleading; a way may look right but lead us away from God's perfect plan for our lives or even to destruction. But God promises to direct our steps when they wander off course; all we need do is listen expectantly for the sound of His voice and then obey.

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21












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A Hand to Hold

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”



When we're little our mothers hold our hand. They hold our hands when we cross the street to protect us from danger. They hold our hands when we're in crowds so we don’t get lost. And they hold our hands to show we belong with them. It’s a reassuring feeling to have someone hold our hand. We feel loved and secure.

Did you know that our heavenly Father also holds our hand? Isaiah 41:13 says “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” He holds our hand to protect us from danger. He holds our hand so we don’t get lost. And He holds our hand because we belong to Him.

When I was very little, I was in the store with my mother. We were stopped in front of some shelves; she was holding my hand. A pretty thing on the shelf attracted my attention, and I let go of her hand to take a closer look. Once my interest waned, I stepped back beside her and reached my hand up to take hers.

But after a moment, something didn’t feel right. I looked up and knew why. The lady smiling down at me holding my hand wasn’t my mother. I felt surprised- followed closely by shock and fear. I ran down the aisle calling “Momma! Momma!” I turned the corner and there she was. Relief washed over me. I ran to her and hugged her tightly.

When we are enticed by the pretty things of this world and let go of our Father’s hand, we can be certain that He never leaves us. Deuteronomy 31:8 says “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." We may leave God’s side, but He never leaves us. To find Him all we need do is reach out.




Message for the Journey:

As a child of God's, the Creator of the universe holds your hand. You are not alone. If, as children do, you've wandered away or have been distracted by the things of this world, rest assured your Father has never left your side. Just reach out- once again take His hand.



"Put your hand in the hand of the man who stills the water. Put your hand in the hand of the man who calms the sea."