How do YOU spell relief?

In the Spring and Summer, I grow vegetables to relieve stress. 

Digging, pulling weeds, and tugging baby carrots and onions from the soil--even the smell of tomato plants--soothes and relaxes me. 

In the autumn, I bake. Kneading dough, mixing pumpkin bread and Christmas cookies, then inhaling the warm, spicy smells that dance across the kitchen make me feel safe and cozy.

As to winter, well. . . never mind. We won't talk about that today. 

How do YOU spell relief when you are stressed? 

P.S. I will be taking a blogging break for a few weeks. Happy Thanksgiving!

Why be thankful you don't have everything?

Be  thankful you don't already have everything you desire. 

If you did, what would there be to look forward to? 

Be thankful when you don't know something, 

for it gives you the opportunity to learn. 

Be thankful for the difficult times. 

During those times you grow. 

Be thankful for your limitations, 

because they give you opportunities for improvement. 

Be thankful for each new challenge, 

because it will build your strength and character. 

Be thankful for your mistakes. 

They will teach you valuable lessons. 

Be thankful when you're tired and weary, 
because it means you've made a difference. 

It's easy to be thankful for the good things. 

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who 

are also thankful for the setbacks. 

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. 

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, 

and they can become your blessings. 

--Author unknown. 

What from the above list are you thankful for today? 

Finding Your Favorite Color (It's not what you think)

Finding Your Favorite Colors- Bing images

My friend, Marty’s four-year-old son, Abel badly injured his thumb in their van door. The mending process required several painful stitches. Through the tears,  Abel held up his thumb and said, "Look—it’s my favorite color-red!" Making that discovery  got his mind off the pain.

     I marveled at his positive attitude. Abel found something to be happy about in the midst of a traumatic experience. Without realizing it, he was following the example of the Apostle Paul, who was thankful that his imprisonment was furthering the Gospel. And, Abel was serving as an example to me of a godly outlook, even though he is forty years younger than I!

•      How often do I complain that "I have nothing to wear" when  my closet is stuffed with clothes?   
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•      When my husband makes a mess, do I gripe at him, or am I thankful I have a husband? 
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•      Am I guilty of grumbling about the price of gas, or grateful to have a way to get around town besides my feet?

            I Thessalonians 5: 16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” This doesn’t mean God makes our lousy circumstances. That’s the devil’s job. But if we’ll decide to thank Him for the ‘favorite colors’ all around us, it will ease our pain. Our trust in Him will move His great big hand to rescue us and mend our hurts, no matter how serious.

        May I always remember this little guy’s powerfully big attitude, and follow his godly example of finding good in tough situations. Thank you, Abel, for teaching me gratefulness.

Do you try to find "your favorite color" in the midst of painful circumstances? Is there a special little person in your life who exemplifies a positive attitude? Do tell.

3 Fun Facts about Jesus

Occasionally I will do what my husband calls a “Bible dash” and read through the New Testament in as few days as possible. Last month I did that and discovered three fun facts about Jesus I think are significant.

     1.     Jesus is generous. 

            When Jesus multiplied a few little biscuits and fish from a young boy’s sack lunch to feed a multitude of  thousands, there were baskets of leftovers. And not just Red Riding Hood-sized baskets—these were enormous baskets!

            When Jesus told Peter to go catch a fish to pay his taxes, there was a coin in the fish’s mouth that equaled enough money to pay both Peter’s and Jesus’ taxes.

                  2. Jesus values children.

                        He tells us to become like them, not to look down on them, that the Father wants none of 

them to perish, and that we’re not to hinder them 

from coming to Him.

                       He stuck up for the children who 

praised him in the temple and defended the moms 

who brought their children to him to be blessed, rebuking his disciples when they tried to prevent the kids from coming to Jesus.

                 

3.   Jesus can prevent tragedy but sometimes he chooses to wait, so he can do a miracle. 

                             In the cases of Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus, Jesus could have  easily healed either one. Instead, he delayed and they died. Later on, he resurrected them. Sometimes a dream, a situation or a relationship in our lives seems dead. We wonder why Jesus doesn’t just step in an fix it. Why does he delay? Perhaps he waits, knowing that he wants to fully resurrect it, so we’ll see how much he loves us.

            I hope you’ll try a Bible dash sometime. I always find new insights I’d not seen before, and it’s fun to get an overall view of the whole Bible or the New Testament. 

What's Your Problem?

“I wish we didn’t have to live next door to the church; sometimes I feel like we have no privacy.”

“I’m about to go nuts revising this book—every time I fix something, a new problem crops up.”

“I’m not jealous of people, whose grand kids live near them, but I sure would love to be closer to mine—they are seven hours away, and we only see them three or four times a year.”

I’ve said all of the above. More than once. 

It occurred to me recently that all of them are high-class problems. 

Compared to most of the people in the world, I have it easy.


I have a home (the above photo is not mine, but we live in a lovely one provided by our church family). 


God gave me the talent to write books. And revise them. 



I have three terrific, talented grands and enough money to travel and see them. 

So—what am I complaining about? Lord, forgive me. 

Ever find yourself whining about your problems, then find someone worse off than you?