​An anxious heart weights a man down…   
                                                        Proverbs: 12:25
Hello Friend,
 
            Ecclesiastes 11:10 tells us to “banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles from your body.”  Worry can make you sick.   Jesus instructs us “not to worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body” (Matt 6:25).   Phil. 4:6 tells us “Do not be anxious about anything…but present your request to God and you will receive peace.” 
 
            So what do I do when I have these anxieties about my job, my health, my kids, or my marriage?  A little explanation here might help.  There is a distinct difference between worry and concern.
 
            Worry takes place in the mind—most often in the imagination.  We worry about things that have not yet happened.  It is the “what if” syndrome.  What if  this lump I feel is cancer?  What if  my teenager is using drugs?  What if  my spouse is cheating?  Psychologists tell us that we “rehearse our reactions” in our minds as if to help prepare for the real event.  Often worry paralyzes us and we don’t or can’t take action.  Worry is fear based.  The constant inundation of worry crushes our spirit and robs us of joy.
 
            Concern, on the other hand, is a reaction to a “real” crisis.  If your child has a high fever, that is a real concern.  If your blood pressure or cholesterol is too high, that is a real medical issue.  Instead of paralyzing us, concern propels us to positive action.  Go to the doctor, start exercising, and eat properly.  Seek counseling if necessary. 
 
            Just for today, put all of your “what ifs” aside and experience joy this day fully.  If you have a valid concern, take action.  Relax, and savor the day. 
 
Affirmation:  Today I will not become bogged down in worry or anxiety.  I will embrace life.  I will rejoice and be glad.
                                      Enjoying serenity together,
                                                           Linda

​These people are grumblers and complainers…
                                                        Jude 1:16
 
Hello Friend,
 
            Are you someone who always grumbles and complains?  Well, stop it! Don’t you know your words have power?  When you complain, you are releasing poison into your life.  Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no foul or polluting language come out of your mouth.”
 
            Complaining is not based on your circumstances—it’s based on the attitude of your heart.  If you keep the right attitude during your time of adversity, God will honor you.
 
            David had many trials in his life.  In Psalm 144, he asks God to rescue him from the power of aliens whose mouths speak falsehood.  He doesn’t want to hear the negative.   He tells God “I will sing to you a new song.”  This new song is a song of praise for the ordinary things in his life.  He doesn’t desire to be rich and famous.  Instead, David gives a litany of blessings he has already experienced.  When you have a heart full of gratitude, you have no room for complaining.  Scripture tells us “Happy and blessed are those people who make no cries of distress in public places “(Psalm 144:15).
 
            What new song do you need to sing?  When negative thoughts attack you, read over your praise list.
 
I praise God for:
1.________________________________________________________________
2.________________________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________________________
4.________________________________________________________________
5.________________________________________________________________
6.________________________________________________________________
7.________________________________________________________________
8.________________________________________________________________
 
Prayer:  God, I believe in the power of the spoken word.  Help me to have an attitude of gratitude.  Help me to speak words of praise.   Linda

  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.                                                                                      Matthew 5:3
 
Hello Friend,
           
            The above verse is from the Sermon on the Mount, also called “The Beatitudes” or “Be Attitudes.”  At this time, enormous crowds were following Jesus—he was the talk of the town.  His disciples, who were his closest associates, were tempted to feel important, proud, and arrogant.  Being with Jesus gave them the opportunity to receive money and power.  But, before speaking to the crowd, Jesus pulled his disciples aside and warned them of temptations they would inevitably have to face.  These beatitudes were a code of ethics for the disciples and for us.  
 
In Greek the word blessed is translated as happy, spiritually prosperous, with life-joy and God’s favor, regardless of their outward conditions.  Being poor in spirit means that we know we need God to strengthen us.  In essence, we’ll feel joy, peace, (the blessing) when we stop struggling with our issues and let God’s handle them (poor in spirit).  Being “poor in spirit” is a good thing because it means that you acknowledge your need for God’s help and strength—you’re a spiritual person. 
 
             When things are going well, we neglect our spiritual lives.  In times of trial, we struggle all by ourselves.  Like the disciples, we are arrogant and feel we don’t need God’s help.   On a scale of 1-10, 1 being low and 10 being high, how do you measure your need for God’s strength?  Have you experienced the blessing of His strength?
______________________________________________
1        2        3        4       5       6       7       8       9       10
 
           Lord, I know I need your strength and I’m ready to be blessed.
                                                                                         Linda