How Jesus Handled Stress

When He called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Mark 8:34-37)

This doesn't say anything about following after man or man's ways. It says; Follow Me (Jesus).

Jesus came to give us a life of wholeness and fullness. He never run around in a panic. He was able to live at peace. He is our example, so how do we handle stress?

1. Identification: Know who you are. Children of God, His creation.

Jesus knew who He was. He spoke to the people and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won't have to walk in darkness because you will have the light that leads to life" (John 8:12).
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).
Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall never hunger again (John 6:35).

Don't let others tell you who you are!

2. Motivation: Know who your living for. Most people like "stuff." Are you living for self, others, or God?

I of Myself can do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me (John 5:30).
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him (John 8:29).

We can't be all things to all people. We all have expectations of who or what we are suppose to be. No one can pressure us without our permission. We don't have to live according to pressures and expectations of others.

There are amazing things God wants us to do. He is shaping us to do them.

He has given each of us SHAPE:

S-spiritual gifts
H-heart
A-abilities to perform
P-personalities
E-experiences

We all live for someone or something. Live for the right One.

3. Vocation: Know your calling. We are all called out to live different roles (we can't do it all). We are all unique and special.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love...(Ephesians 4:1).

What is contributing to your calling? Do that. Use the gifts He has given you. Your personality and your experiences.

4. Concentration: Focus on what matters most. If satan can't get you to be bad, he will keep you busy, blurry, and distracted.

Jesus was focused, knew what He was called to do and did it confidently.

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem...(Luke 9:51).

What we consider important usually doesn't matter for eternal purposes.

5. Meditation: Listen to God. Take the time to be alone with Father God, communicate (talk to) and listen. Give Him quality time.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there he prayed (Mark 1:35).

So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed (Luke 5:16).

Ask Him if He has anything to say to you, then LISTEN to Him. Don't let worldly things distract you.

6. Collaboration: Join a small group. Life is made for us to be together. We serve a relational God. Jesus modeled it.

Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons (Mark 3:14-15).

Believing you don't need anyone and thinking you can do it alone is selfish human pride.

7. Recreation: Take time to recharge, to rest your body.

And Jesus said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mark 6:31).

He makes me lie dow in green pastures, He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul...(Psalm 23: 2-3).

We need to make time to rest and relax. If we don't, God will make us one way or another.

8. Salvation: Give your life to Jesus Christ.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

What drives your life? What causes you to do what you do? Are you driven by pressures of this world or by purpose, God's purpose? Do you realize your spiritual potential that lies within you?

Don't let the voices of this world drown out the "still small voice" of Jesus.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting ALL your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Jesus doesn't want us living a life of pressure and stress. Find rest for your soul. Accept what He has done for you on the Cross.

Processing Your Destiny

God's destiny for your life is good, not disasterous.

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans of peace and not of evil, plans to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11)

See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. In that I command you this day to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes and His judgments that you may live and multiply, and the Lord your God shall bless you in the land which you go to possess....I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both you and your desendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

Will you follow God's plan or your plan in life? Life or death? Blessing or cursing?

How do you possess your destiny?

You must prepare a plan. Like the old saying goes, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keeps the law, happy is he (Proverbs 29:18).

You'll never experience your destiny if your stuck on the past ~ it's gone, move on!

What do you need to let go of? Don't allow that to become the focus of your life. Get ready to receive from God (Joshua 1:1-11).

When you make a plan, you usually achieve it. What would you like to see happen in your life, your marriage, your finances, your spirituality? Where would you like to see your life go?
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed (Proverbs 16:3).

You must build your life completely on God's Word, not just the foundation.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10)

You must courageously step out in faith. God will show up faithfully.
You will experience battles and blessings. The battles are to hel you grow in your character. Smith Wigglesworth said, "Great faith only comes through great trials."

No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will never fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous...(Joshua 1:5-6).

What Jordon River/obstacle do you need to overcome? If God tells you to do something, step out in faith.

Have I not commanded you to do this? So be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).

Fear will stop you from starting, discouragment will keep you from going forward.

God keeps His promises. Step out in faith.

Rainbow Gardening

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up...(Proverbs 12:25)

RAINBOW SEEDS~A miniature plastic bag with a teaspoon of colored sprinkles.

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS:

WHEN TO PLANT: Any season, but rainbows grow best just after a storm.

WHERE TO PLANT: In the light of the Son, preferably near a pot of gold.

HOW TO PLANT: Assume a kneeling position close to the earth. Dig a hole deep enough to hold the cause of your dark clouds. Place the cause and the seedss in the soil, cover with earth, then rise and stomp down with bothe feet. Walk away in faith.

HARVEST: When needed most.

I got to thinking about how a rainbow is a perfect picture of God's grace. It's a kind of refuge for our mind when storms threaten to rip us apart and flood our dwelling. In the rainbow we see God's promise that He will never again devastate life on earth.

Don't ponder over the "what-ifs" or "whys," neither question your abilities. Simply wait on Him and watch your garden grow.

When the mighty winds blow, and they will, God will miraculously place them at your back. When the floods begin to rage, and they will, He may tell you to keep paddling in faith, believing, while He calms the seas.

We don't have to worry about making a way. If it's His will, He works all things out in His own perfect timing.

He calls us through, around, over, and under. No foe can stop us, no poverty can starve us, no evil can diminish His call, for He has a glorious plan!

You can be a rainbow gardener by opening your heart even if your in pain yourself. Let someone know that although you don't have it altogether, you find comfort and help in the Lord.

Feedings In The Philippines

Jesus says; Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?...Therefore take no thought saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek), for your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself...(Matthew 6:25-34)

Material wealth gives a dangerous, false sense of security. The birds and lilies do not fret and worry, yet they have God's wealth in ways that man cannot duplicate. All of nature depends on God, and God never fails. Only mortal man depends on money, and money always fails.

God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies. He will feed and cloth us. He has great blessings for us if only we will yield to Him and live for the riches that last forever.
What a testimony it is to the world when we dare to practice "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto us."

Yes, it is right to plan for the future and even save for the future (1 Tim. 5:8). But it is a sin to worry about the future and permit tomorrow to rob us of todays blessings.

He knows that we need certain things in order to live. In fact, He has given us "richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17)

Jesus says that worry is sin. We may dignify worry by calling it by some other name; concern, burden, a cross to bear~but the results are the same.

Materialism will enslave the heart, the mind and the will. We become shackled by the material things of life.
Most of these people don't have the material things we have, let alone enough food to eat. They truly trust and depend on God to provide their daily needs.

It is such a blessing to be used by our Heavenly Father to help and encourage those less fortunate than us no matter where we live or where we go.

Those we served at the feedings have victory over worry...they have faith, trusting God to meet their needs, knowing their Heavenly Father cares for His children and, putting His will first in their lives daily so that He will be glorified.

No matter our circumstances, we should always have the assurance that God has not left our side and that dwelling in Him we receive our strength. The goodness of the Lord reaches from everlasting to everlasting and when we find ourselves discouraged or disheartened, all we need to do is return again to the Lord to be refreshed and renewed by His Spirit. The Scripture says the Joy of the Lord is your strength.

Have faith in God the Father, put Him first, He will meet your needs.

Be Rooted In Love

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge...that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)


There's nothing more fun in life than looking for the attention and personal love of the Father. He is waiting to show off His love and character to us in totally fresh and unique ways. He is such a genius, our God is! It would most likely bore Him to be anything but incredible and mysterious in all His ways.

I have been absolutely delighted in exploring the boundries of His love. I have not reached the edge of the width or the length, nor have I experienced the height or depth. Have faith and start looking for His love. If you have already found it, then there are still many more surprises ahead for you.

Just as love between a man and a woman will result in the conception and birth of a life, this love of God to you will spring forth life in you.

Experience His love today and forever.

Laughter

A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)

Most of the time we live in the calm stage, but the times of extreme hilarity have value too.
Laughter is like internal jogging...it improves emotional and mental health.

We need to learn how to laugh. Laughter and smiling are outward evidence of inward joy and they definitely make you feel better.

Joy is defined: to rejoice, a very glad feeling, happiness, great pleasure, delight. The expression or showing of such feeling.

SMILE ~ Many Christians are so sour~faced that they look like they were baptized in vinegar or lemon juice.
You are the light of the world, your smile is the switch to turn it on.
There is not much chance of laughter if you don't start with a smile.

We can be all by ourselves and smile and we don't even need a particular reason.

When we have a frown on our face, the corners of our mouth turned down, it begins to drag us down emotionally. But, when we smile, we sense a lifting of our countenance.

How long has it been since you laughed ~ really laughed? You will find that you feel better all over after a hearty healthy laugh. It's like your pipes are being cleaned out after a good laugh.

When tired and weary from dealing with daily life issues, a good hearty laugh seems to clean out the dusty, stale closets.
When God provides an opportunity to have a real good laugh, it seems to refresh you and lift the load off of your tired mind.

Rejoice in the Lord. Again I say, Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4) Here we are told twice to rejoice.

James 1:2 tells us ~ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials...he tells us the final outcome will be good.

Despite your problems, your trials, and temptations, you can be assured you will benefit in the end. Look ahead to the end and rejoice now! We need to laugh every day as much as possible. Laughter makes life more enjoyable and also keeps us HEALTHY.

God wants laughter interwoven into the rest of life. We need both, the serious and humorous sides.

We sanction crying in church as a holy and godly response, but laughter in church often is offensive to many people. We need more insight into the nature of God. Jesus laughed a lot more than most of us do.

According to Ecclesiastes 4, there is a time to laugh, so don't be afraid to laugh ~ even in church.

It is contagious!! When we are around someone who is depressed and negative, if we don't resist it, that person's depression and negativity starts to effect us. The same with happy, positive people. they make us feel better, help us forget our troubles for a while and their joy is contagious.

Are you too busy being serious and intense? When opportunity comes your way, enter in and get the most out of it. You may as well laugh when you have the opportunity, because you don't know how long it will be before you get another opportunity.

Jesus talked about joy and the fullness of joy.

Enter into the joy of the Lord. (Matthew 25:21)
Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing...(Romans 15:13)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...(Galatians 5:22)
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials...(James 1:2)
...you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1Peter 1:8)
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. (1John 1:4)
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. (Jude 24)

It takes a conscious effort to keep your heart merry. The enemy is always willing to steal or block our joy, and he will if we allow it.

The world cannot see our heart, they need expression. Our attitude should be pleasant, abundant with smiles, and we should laugh whenever possible

WARNING: Extreme hilarity has been known to cause smiles, decrease stress, and promote a good~ole time.

Try it...right now, frown and see how you feel...now smile and see how you feel.

Fear Not

Stormy winds fulfill His Word" Psalm 148:8

Is there no music in the heart of sorrow that the Lord of all has chosen for His own? Are you not nearer to the Master, have you not grown in faith, in patience, in prayerfulness, in thankful hope, since the time the storm winds first sighed across your life?

It is no small matter to grow nearer to God, it is worth all the tempest your soul has known. The heart of the Lord was yearning over you, and could not be satisified till His winds had driven your soul entirely into the refuge and protection of His love.

Do not tremble because of the winds of the future, your Lord will be living and loving tomorrow, even as He lives and loves today and no storm waits in your path but shall leave behind another record that your Heavenly Father is stronger than the tempest, nearer than the grief.

We are traveling home to that glorious shore where the chill winds never sweep, the hurricane makes no moan, yet, amid the rest of the painless Homeland, shall we not love the Lord a thousandfold more for every storm of earth in which He drew nerar to us, saying, "Fear not," and held us by the hand, and tenderly bore us through the hour that seemed the darkest?

Set your thoughts, not on the storm, but on the Love that rules the storm.
Mrs Charles E. Cowman

One Thing Is Necessary

With the economy the way it is, job losses, and the holiday's approaching, one thing is needful.

But one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:42 )

This is the word of Jesus. Someone who knows more than we do - and loves us more than we love ourselves. So, we need to listen and take heed. (After all, we should realize that Jesus did not say things for His own benefit, but to help us.)It is easy to get busy in life and let ourselves be distracted from what we know is important. That was the case with Martha, the sister of Mary, in the scripture quoted from above. Martha knew she needed to hear what Jesus' had to say - but she also knew that she was responsible for preparing something to eat.

What could she do?

We all face such problems - which are actually choices. We choose what our priorities are. We decide what we will spend our time and energy on. And we should choose wisely. (Here's a tip: if it won't be important one hundred years from now, it's not that important now, either).

In this situation, Jesus brought a calming - not a condemning - word to Martha. (Jesus is still not interested in condemning people, but in helping them).

In effect, Jesus said to not worry, but to put hearing what God has to say first, and then somehow things will work out with God's help. Jesus' is saying the same message to you, today.

The most important and productive way we can spend time is in getting God's wisdom, guidance, and help. Hearing and heeding His Word will pay rich dividends in this time, as well as for eternity.

Never forget that God can do more for you in one minute, than you could accomplish in a lifetime by yourself.

Don't make the wrong choices.

SAY THIS: I will listen to God's Word. Then, with God's help, I will make it.
God has seen you struggling (with something), He says it's over. A blessing is coming your way.