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Advent #2: Discovering Surprising Joy at Christmas

December 18, 2014 by

A short series in Advent focusing on a few significant snapshots of the Christmas story and the amazing gifts they reveal.

 

Christmas without a doubt is the most conflicted holiday.

For many it’s a time of joy and celebration. Watching the magic through the eyes of a child. Connecting with family and friends.

 

Photo Credit: Angela Marie Henrietta

Photo Credit: Angela Marie Henrietta

 

Yet, for many others it’s depressing.

Those grieving the loss of a loved one who won’t be at Christmas.

Those apart from their loved ones because of circumstances beyond their control.

Those recently divorced and experiencing Christmas alone.

Add to that the non-stop activities that many of us get caught up in which in the moment are fun but can leave us exhausted. And when the buzz wears off the depression returns even worse.

And Christmas so often disappoints because it just never seems to live up to the hype.

 

We see this conflict in the Christmas story.

 

 

[Read more…]

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God Rocks #18: Overcoming Worry (Part 2)

December 11, 2014 by

Part of the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

 

Worry runs rampant today. It and the accompanying stress some researchers say is the leading cause of illness.

We worry about our health, our finances, our family, the news. Frankly there’s never an end to what we can worry about is there? I mean have you ever woken up on a morning and thought, “Wow, everything is perfect today?” No neither have I.

 

Photo Credit: Troy Mason

Photo Credit: Troy Mason

 

But that’s only half the problem. Think about how so many people respond.

Some abuse alcohol or drugs as an escape. Others miss-use prescription drugs.

Some over eat to the point of obesity.

Many get lost in hours of TV or video games.

 

Yet, the problem is after all of those solutions nothing has been really fixed.

 

The problems and the worry remain. And the cures bring their own additional problems. Then that creates even more worry in a downward spiral. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Abundance, Happiness Tagged With: ,

God Rocks #17: Overcoming Worry

December 9, 2014 by

Part of the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

 

I was a worrier when I was young. I came from a long line of worriers.

Not that there weren’t things to worry about. Like everyone we went through our share of struggles.

 

Photo Credit: Moyan Brenn

Photo Credit: Moyan Brenn

 

 

I almost died when I was seven. My dad’s business went through a severe downturn when I was eight.

 

But we could also take worrying to a new height. We perfected it.

 

In college I worried about getting through tests. I worried about graduating. Then I worried about what I’d do after I graduated.

If that wasn’t enough at times when everything was going well and life was firing on all cylinders I’d worry about when everything would unravel.

And frankly though it seems almost humorous now it was devastating to live.

And I’m not alone. Worry and the accompanying stress are one of the biggest health issues people face. Worry is tough to solve and destructive in it’s results. [Read more…]

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God Rocks #16: Set Free to Live an Amazing Life

December 4, 2014 by

Part of the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

 

On the night I prayed, ever so hesitantly, to ask Jesus into my life I felt an incredible peace that’s hard to describe. Those early days were heady filled with a sense of joy and love I’d never known before.

Yet, soon the pressure of religious legalism crept in. Slowly my experience filled with requirements to live out this new life so God would be pleased with and bless me.

 

Photo Credit: Sander van der Wel

Photo Credit: Sander van der Wel

 

I even attended a popular three day seminar and came away with a huge red binder filled with steps to respond to every conceivable contingency in a way that would align me with God’s blessings.

 

I was overwhelmed and crushed. I felt like I was dying under the load.

 

And honestly many times I wished I’d never started down that path.

Have you ever been there? Are you living there right now? [Read more…]

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God Rocks #15: Breaking Into Daylight Out of Darkness

December 2, 2014 by

Part of the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

 

I’ve gotten where I hate to read the news quite often. And frankly I never watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio. I mean it’s depressing.

 

Photo Credit: uditha wickramanayaka

Photo Credit: uditha wickramanayaka

 

From ISIS butchering more innocent people.

To Russia invading Ukraine.

To some crazed gunman shooting people randomly he doesn’t even know.

To a police shooting and the subsequent riots.

To another incompetent blunder from our government.

To the latest probe of unethical behavior on Wall Street.

 

We seem to live in a world gone mad.

 

Yet, I think the world has always been crazed with darkness. The difference is now we get a front row seat to watch it 24/7.

And I find myself sometimes wondering, “How can we ever find daylight again?” [Read more…]

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God Rocks #13: Surprised by Joy Even when Rejected

November 25, 2014 by

Part of the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

 

Christians are being persecuted in greater numbers around the world today than at any time in history. You see it constantly in the news.

But frankly, we don’t need to go very far from home to find it.

 

Photo Credit: Sam Gewinski

Photo Credit: Sam Gewinski

 

What about the woman whose husband leaves her because she gave her life to Jesus and suddenly has changed?

What about the man passed up for promotion when he no longer feels comfortable going along with less than ethical business practices because his life has changed?

What about the friends you had who no longer want to hang out because you don’t party like you used to? [Read more…]

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God Rocks #12: Surprising Peace in the Midst of Anger

November 20, 2014 by

Part of the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

 

I was driving to work on the freeway when a car a ways in front of me pulled over from the far left lane into the middle lane without looking and cut off a guy in a pickup truck. He slammed on his brakes then immediately pulled into the left lane and sped up. Just as he passed the car that had cut him off he swerved to the right in front of it causing that driver to slam on her brakes almost causing an accident.

By this time I backed way off from them thinking, “Not sure what game you’re playing but I don’t want to be a part of it.”

Then I thought, “Really? All that anger for one mistake? Was it worth it?”

 

 

Photo Credit: Randy Rathbun

Photo Credit: Randy Rathbun

 

Yet, unfortunately I think that’s a picture of how so many people live in their relationships. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Happiness, Heaven, Love Tagged With: ,

God Rocks #10: Healing for Hurting Relationships

October 30, 2014 by

Part of the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

 

Divorce in our country is rampant. Over half of all marriages end in it. And by far the majority of serious relationships implode before they ever get to marriage.

 

Photo: Bert Kaufmann

Photo: Bert Kaufmann

 

 

The results are lives devastated. Families destroyed. Friends divided. Hearts broken. Confidence crushed.

 

Feeling as though your soul has been torn out. Your insides ripped apart.

 

Often it starts with a thoughtless comment or action. That’s followed by a sharp response. Retaliated by additional actions and words. Until the relationship spirals out of control.

Each feels the other one started it. Each one waits for the other to apologize and make amends.

Each thinks, “Well I’m not the one to blame.” And you know, they might be right. But the destruction is still just as real. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Happiness, Love Tagged With: ,

God Rocks #9: Finding Healing in our Failures

October 28, 2014 by

Part of the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

 

Unresolved guilt and shame is a leading cause of mental and emotional distress according to many authorities.

We hurt a loved one with a cutting word or betrayal. Then later we regret it and feel empty because we hurt the one we love.

 

Photo by Rowanhill

Photo by Rowanhill

 

 

We break our own moral values and wonder afterward, “How could I do something like that?” And we’re filled with shame and self condemnation.

 

So we try to fix the problem but sometimes we can’t.

 

So we ignore them thinking, “Well, everyone makes mistakes.”

And you know they do. But we’re still left with the lingering guilt which haunts us.

And often leaves us feeling far away from God. Maybe too far we think. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Happiness, Heaven

God Rocks #7: Unthinkable Peace in the Midst of Grief

October 21, 2014 by

Part of the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

 

All of us suffer losses. The loss of a loved one, the devastation of a divorce, the implosion of a career, a financial collapse.

And it leaves us reeling. Shocked at first. Then devastated as reality sets in. Angry at God or someone else. And finally depressed when we realize we can’t turn back the loss.

 

 

Photo by renu parkhl

Photo by renu parkhl

 

 

Some of you maybe in the midst of this mourning right now.

 

Grief overwhelms you. You’ve fought it but now you’re just numb. And you don’t know the way back out to the sunshine. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Happiness, Heaven Tagged With: ,
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