K-I-S-S-I-N-G

IF WE'VE STRUGGLED with stress over-and-over and back-to-back for extended periods of time, we eventually reach a point where we literally become stressed out.

Then one day we wake up to the fact that we are sick and tired of stress. We simply cannot stress anymore. As if by "Divine" strength, we make a conscious decision that we are K-I-S-S-I-N-G stress goodbye.

GOOD RIDDANCE!

Like the Late Great Gospel Singer, Frank Williams, We come to the conclusion that if "Jesus Can't Fix It, Nobody can!" And with every beat of our heart, we vow to lay our stresses at Jesus' feet, and to trust Him for the outcome.

It's rarely an easy decision to make. But as we sing our K-I-S-S-I-N-G song, surprisingly, we begin to feel a long-forgotten peace. Even if our issues still exist, our mind is at peace.

Once we make up our mind to kiss stress goodbye, we must be careful not to create any stress during the K-I-S-S-I-N-G process.

There's not a list of instructions to fret over. We need not make this harder than it has to be. The most easiest and effective way to kiss stress goodbye is just do it!

Let's kiss worry goodbye . . . kiss irritations and aggravations goodbye . . . kiss can't eat and can't sleep goodbye. . . and kiss grouchy goodbye.

There are no ifs or ands or buts about it; We can do it, if we set our mind to it!



Peace I leave with you . . .

WORD POWER

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."
Proverbs 18:21 KJV

Have there been days when someone spoke the very words we needed to hear?

Can we recall times and places, and people who eased our stressed mind simply by what they said? As some folk often say, their words were a soothing balm to our bleeding heart.

Certainly, we can remember not-so-pleasant times when someone's ill and offensive words left us sad and stressed.

Be not deceived, words are extremely powerful. They can heal and they can hurt. Words can be priceless and they can be plentiful . . . and most of all, they can be pure-thee-painful.

Proverbs, the Bible's book on life, teaches that death and life hinges on the tongue. Plain and simple, kind and caring words can enhance and give life new meaning--whereas harsh and unkind words destroy the joy of life and almost always create deadly stresses.

The words in Colossians 4:6 admonishes that our speech "always be with grace..." See, One never knows the effect words might have on deeply-troubled souls who desperately need life-changing words to push stress straight from the heart.

Peace I leave with you . . .

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . .
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

Gathered at a Class Reunion, a male classmate confided to a female classmate, "Back when we were in school, I had a crush on you."

Although the female already knew about this, she acted surprised.

Seriously "rapping" to her, he said, "If I had known then what I know now, Sweetie, I could have made you my girl."

Get the point?

Far too many of us live with similar if-I-had-known sentiments. Lack of knowledge is indeed a serious cause of stress. What we don't know can haunt us indefinitely, and ultimately, escalate our stresses.

People can claim "what we don't know won't hurt us" as much as they please, but it is not true. A great percentage of all our stresses stem from something we didn't know. Unexpected surprises have a way of stressing us in the twinkling of an eye.

Remember that old saying "Knowledge is key?" It's absolutely true! We need knowledge to have . . . to be . . . and to do all things . . . especially if we intend to reduce stress.



Peace I leave with you . . .

PRETEND

"I don't pretend." Ever heard anyone say that? Have we ever said that?

While pretending is often discouraged, it's proven to provide benefits and blessings.

Pretending is highly recommended for reducing stress.


In her timeless classic, "The Little Princess," Frances Hodgson Burnett's delightful Litte Sara was thrust into an unfortunate situation.

Instead of dwelling on how her life had dwindled from riches to rags, Sara took another approach. In the midst of her terrible circumstances, she pretended.

Realizing everything--and so much more-- that she'd pretended had mysteriously manifested before her eyes, The Little Princess happily declared, "I never pretended this good before!"

We, too, might be surprised what "good" pretending will do. Even if what we pretend never surfaces for us, we'll benefit from de-stressing our mind.

"I can't!" Some folk insist. "I just can't pretend."

Ma'am? Sir? With all due respect, there are times when it pays to pretend. Sometimes we are so pressed and depressed, struggling through stresses, that we're grateful for an opportunity to pretend.

One primary effort linked to our pretending is simply to "believe." See, that's the whole idea; hoping and believing. Don't stress over the fact that it's pretense. Relax and release those stresses.

It may sound a little silly, but seriously, pretending has its advantages. Let's think of it as a prelude to prayer. After all, If we can CONCEIVE IT, we can RECEIVE IT!

Peace I leave with you . . .

FAITH

Now faith

is the substance

of things hoped for,

the evidence of

things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

Peace I leave with you . . .

SEASONS

And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

TAKE YOUR TIME

AT THE VERY TIP of the Aegean Sea, lies an interesting Greek island known as IKARIA (ICARIA).

In addition to Ikaria's legendary beauty and clean mountain air and therapeutic hot springs, there's an authentic old world charm that surrounds the island and its people.

Studies reveal that Ikaria's people live much longer and more peaceful lives than we Americans. One of the most noted rarities of the Ikarians is their take on time.

It has been reported that the Ikarian people attribute no regard to time. They don't even use clocks. That's right, NO CLOCKS.

Quite often, one of the most complicated things involving our daily stresses is clock watching. Our efforts to "track time" and "be on time" and "utilize more time" steady increase our stresses.

The time-conscious thing contributes to many of our stresses by keeping us in a constant rush. And if there's one thing stress-survivors should never do, it's rushing. "Thou shall not rush" is definitely a top De-stress commandment.

We are not suggesting that we all load up our trucks and move to Ikaria, nor are we hinting to forfeit our time-related responsibilities. The intended purpose is to simply slow our pace--TAKE OUR TIME.

Take time to enjoy some of the joys of life. . .

Take time to savor the beauty of each new dawn.

Take time to admire the glory of the moon and the stars.

Take time to appreciate the sacrifices of friends and loved ones.

Take time to tell God thank-you for blessings large and small.

As we dedicate more time to the so-called little things in life, we'll begin to experience not only beauty and joy, but also the benefits of less stress.


Peace I leave with you . . .