Stressed out - WAY OUT!!

Sometimes there seems to be no end of stress. Stress! What is stress? Websters definition puts it this way: 1 : constraining force or influence: as a : a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part ; especially : the intensity of this mutual force commonly expressed in pounds per square inch b : the deformation caused in a body by such a force c : a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation d : a state resulting from a stress ; especially : one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium e : STRAIN , PRESSURE .

I feel very stressed and sometimes I just don't know what to do about it. My job is extremely demanding, but I enjoy it. But, it stresses me out! Working 50+ hours a week, having a husband and 3 boys, a house to run, church, school stuff, etc. and etc., I don't have time to be stressed out. So, I have a secret. When you read Psalm 84, check out verses 5 -7.(notice I said "when" you read. Not if you read, you should be reading your Bible daily, even hourly if you need it) What a beautiful passage. "What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem." This passage to me says "refreshing", "de-stress". How wonderful it is that our God has made a place of refreshing for us. A place to go where we can rejuvenate and become "de-stressed". A place to kick our feet up and just enjoy the Father and his beautiful calming, peaceful presence. Remember that there are several refreshing passages in the Psalms. Psalm 23 probably being the most popular. In this particular Psalm, verse 2 says that He makes us lie down in green pastures, He leads us beside peaceful streams. Vs. 3 goes on and says that He renews our strength. God knew before we needed it that it would be there for us. In fact, He is the one that leads us to that place of rest and peace. That place of shedding the stress and havoc in our lives and being at peace once again. How awesome.

I hope that you take some time to soak in the Word today and find that peace that everyone needs. Even if you feel at peace and no stressed out, go camp out there anyway. He wants us to be refreshed so that we can go refresh others and be a blessing to Him.

Until we feast again,
Angelina ;)

Rainy days and Mondays

I'm sure that some of you don't remember the Carpenter's. I most certainly do. But probably only because my music teacher in the 5th and 6th grade made us memorize one of their albums. We had an entire packet of their songs. Once we memorized that bunch we had to memorize some Kenny Rodgers, Simon & Garfunkle, and some others I'm sure. Ok, enough of this. I don't want you to have to relive my past with me. I mentioned all that simply to bring to your memories (if you remember) the song the Carpenters sang called "Rainy Days and Mondays". Remember, they always get you down. Well, I can honestly say, that this was a rainy day, and a Monday. At least to start off the day. But in spite of that fact, I didn't let it get me down. Instead, "I'm on the Top of the World". (sorry, another Carpenter oldie, not necessarily a goodie).

Wow, I need to get off of this track. I'm simply trying to get to the point that I do not have bad days for the most part. I mean, we all have our days, I'm sure. But for me, unless something horrible has happened to my children, I'm having a pretty good day regardless of the circumstances. I certainly do not enjoy some of the blows that are thrown at me, but I make due with what I have to make it through. Do you know how? Huh? Can you take a guess? Well, it's this: "My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!" Ps. 108:1. What a Word! I love my God. I love His Words to me. I love camping out in the Psalms and just finding the one that fits my day.

I have a trick for you. Are you having a rainy day and/or a Monday? Here's what you do...Every emotion ever known to man is in the Psalms. Go there and read them until you find one that fits your mood, your circumstance, your issue, whatever. Read it. No matter how the Psalm starts out, it always ends up in praise to God. I haven't read one yet that didn't. Isn't that wonderful. My God knew I'd need this wonderful book of songs to Him. They are probably the best medicine for "Rainy days and Mondays".

Until we feast again,

Angelina ;)

Well, I never....

Have you ever heard somebody say, "Well, I never."? Never what? You never thought that thought, you never did something like that, etc.? Well, I'm here to tell you that "I never" did anything to deserve what Christ did for me. The older I get, the more thankful I am that I don't have to worry about my eternity. It's something that a lot of times I seem to take for granted, but just about everyday, something happens in my life that makes me step back and realize that I am precious to Him. No matter what others think, no matter what I may think. I am His. And to top that off "I never" did anything to make Him want to do anything for me. But you know what? He did anyway. What an awesome God we serve. I feel very inadequate in my life, but because of Him, I am more than a conqueror. I am victorious. I am redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. I am a friend of God. I am His child. Wow! He is everything to me. All my wants, my desires, my needs, they are all met in Him. And "I never" did a single thing to deserve any of it. But because He loves me. That's the only reason. He loves you too, blogger, whoever you may be who is reading this. Hallelujah! I just had to share this with you today. If no one reads it, then it was just for me, to remind me what kind of a God I serve.

Well, until we feast again,
Angelina ;)

Long time, no blog

Hi everyone. It's been a long time, but I'm finally posting something besides "hi". Cahlen, you should be proud. ;) Anyway, I got a picture in my mind last night about feasting. We were singing a song that our pastor wrote called "A Place Set For Me". It talks about being in his presence and how everything we need is there. Then the chorus speaks of coming to the table and feasting. Well, I pictured there to be this table that just went on for miles, I'm sure. On that table were different dishes of promises that God has for us. One dish was "provision", one dish was "healing", one was "grace", "mercy", "peace", etc., etc. Hopefully you get the picture. As people were feasting, I noticed some were gorging on one kind of promise and leaving everything else. I noticed others were eating several, but hardly any of what they took. Then I saw this group of people eating of everything. Eating all of the promises, but in a way where they were filled with all of them to the fullness of what that promise intended. They were eating a balanced meal. Wow! How interesting...how many of us only eat the things we enjoy leaving the other stuff to rot? We can't just have one dish all the time and expect to be healthy and fulfilled. We need all the food groups (the promises) in order for our lives to be healthy and happy. The Bible says that ALL the promises of God are "Yes and Amen". Why wouldn't we want to partake of them all? I know I do. Take this for what it's worth to you. I hope it blesses and encourages you to partake of the Master's table. He has one prepared just for you. Until we feast again, this is Angelina, signing off.