Faith Turns The Impossible Into Reality

He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Genesis 15:5-6

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.God told Abraham that his physical descendants would be as many as the stars in heaven. Now when this statement was made, Abraham and Sarah were already past the child bearing age.

Nevertheless, God said it would happen. Now what is Abraham to do? He believed God! He acted upon this information. And for us, believing in the Bible, means acting upon what God said to us.

Then what does God do in response to Abraham's acting upon His statement concerning a child for himself and Sarai? (Abraham's old age made no difference to God.) When he acted on His word, God did two things. First, He counted Abraham's action upon His promise to have children the same as righteousness. (The word righteousness means cleared of all guilt.) Whatever sin may have been in Abraham's life, this was his freedom from his past. His believing God was counted for the clearance of all the guilt for all his sins.

Of course the second thing God did was give Abraham and Sarah their own, natural child. His name was Isaac. And later, Isaac brought forth Jacob and Esau.  Since God did the above miracle for Abraham, He can do the same thing or greater for us. Nothing is too big for God to do in our behalf.
We Christians are grafted into the Abrahamic blessing promises right along with Abraham. If we believe God he will bless us and those we know.  How comforting to know that what God did for Abraham, he can and will do an equal thing for us Christians today to meet our needs also.

Hormones and Happiness

Hormones play a big role in whether or not you are happy. In this article I will describe the factors they play in this area and what we can do to capitalise on them in order to be happy.

How Hormones Work 
Hormones are special chemical messengers that control most of the body’s processes. The endocrine glands create these special messengers and our body relies on them to function properly. How we treat our bodies and the substances we surround ourselves with makes a difference in how these hormones are able to help us. By learning what they do and how we can assist them in doing their job, we will be closer to our goal of happiness.

 What Hormones Are Related to Happiness? 
There are several hormones that can boost one’s happiness. The main ones include serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine. Serotonin has become quite well known in recent times. It is a neurotransmitter, which takes messages from one part of the brain to another. Serotonin is crucial in preventing depression and other mental illness, and problems occur when you have either a shortage of this hormone or when it is unable to do its job. Oxytocin is known as the "love hormone" and has a variety of jobs, which include helping people improve their social skills and minimizing fear. Dopamine is another neurotransmitter, and it is activated when a positive and unexpected circumstance happens - which is why it is known for its role in helping the brain learn about rewards. 

Natural Ways to Balance Your Hormones 
Hormones need to maintain a fine balance in order to allow you to function at optimum levels. Too much or too little of any hormone will cause short- and long-term problems health wise. Because our happiness is dependent on this, we are wise to do our best to find a healthy balance for all the hormones in our body, in order to create an environment that supports feeling good. Some important ways to keep your hormones in good balance and working order are to get sufficient sleep each night, exercise regularly and eliminate toxins from your daily life. Minimize stress in your life as much as possible, and avoid birth control pills if possible.

 Foods to Balance Your Hormones
Food plays an important role in the balance of hormones. There are many foods that you should make a point of eating on a daily basis, and many you should strive to avoid. Foods and nutrients that help your body balance hormones and keep you happy include healthy fats such as those found in coconut oil, avocados, nuts and wild salmon. Vitamin D is an important supplement, as is magnesium. A sufficient amount of clean proteins should be eaten, as well as plenty of vegetables. Your hormones play an essential role in your feelings of happiness. Keeping them balanced and working for you properly is important in order to ensure feelings of mental wellness. By following the guidelines above, you will be able to balance your hormones and live a life of happiness and satisfaction.

Jesus Loves You: This I Know

Jesus loves me! This I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

(Words by Anna B. Warner 1860; Music by William B. Bradbury 1861)
(Whitney Houston singing Jesus loves me: click here)

Is this simple song familiar to you? Did you ever sing it as a child? Kenneth Osbeck writes in 101 Hymn Stories, “Without doubt the hymn that has influenced children for Christ more than any other is this simply stated one, written in 1860 by Anna Bartlett Warner. Miss Warner wrote this text in collaboration with her sister Susan as a part of one of the best-selling novels of that day, a novel written by Susan entitled Say and Seal. Today few remember the plot of that novel…but the simple poem spoken by one of the characters, Mr. Linden, as he comforts Johnny Fox, a dying child, still remains the favorite hymn of children around the world to this day.” Osbeck writes that William Bradbury “composed the music for ‘Jesus Loves Me’ in 1861 especially for Anna Warner’s text and personally added the chorus to the four stanzas.”

Ah, the simple faith of childhood. Jesus loves me. How do I know?
Because the Bible tells me so. End of discussion.

Do you ever feel that, while He may love you (in a general sort of way because, after all. He IS God and maybe He HAS to love us), there’s always a certain amount of disapproval you sense from Him. Sure, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world…” and I’m a part of the world, so maybe His love is sort of a group thing–like saying “I love people, but there are some persons I’m not too sure about. Am I one of them to Him? Is God’s love like the love I show: sometimes yes and sometimes no? Do I feel God saying to me, “Okay, I love you but I really don’t like you.”

Maybe there’s something specific in my life that I feel keeps God from accepting me fully, or maybe there isn’t. Sometimes it’s just a general feeling that maybe He would love me completely, if only I’d start… or if only I’d stop…

Remember, I’m not talking about all the things we know and say to each other: “works” won’t get us there; we are saved by grace and grace alone, and so on and so on. We sing “Nothing you could do could make Him love you more. And nothing that you’ve done could make Him close the door.” We know that Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

But do you know it experientially? Be honest, with yourself, and with God. You may be someone who is confident of God’s love most of the time, or you may have a real problem in feeling for even a moment that God could possibly love you at all. If you’re in the latter category, please take some time to ask God to show you the truth. Approach Him with a sincere heart and persistent determination and be willing to be led by the Holy Spirit into an ever-growing love relationship with the Father.

There is a blessing in the certainty expressed in “Jesus Loves Me.” This I know because the Bible tells me so. It’s what Paul prayed for the Christians in Ephesus, and for us, when he wrote:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19)

This is also my prayer for you.  And remember Jesus loves you: this I know for the Bible says so.

Simple Pleasures in Life

Sometimes we make dramatic plans that are expected to bring happiness into our lives, whether it be a vacation, graduation or wedding. But the simple pleasures in life are what we can count on to give us continuous joy. When we appreciate and enjoy the simple things, the gratitude we feel will extend to other areas as well. Here are some of the simple pleasures that are worth making an effort to experience often.

Freshly Cut Grass
Freshly cut grass is enjoyable in every way. The smell and feel of it under your bare feet are fresh, and invigorate the senses. Try to experience this at least a few times each year, as the weather allows it.

Giving and Receiving Smiles
What a better way to experience a simple pleasure for free? Give smiles not only to your friends, but also to random strangers you pass on the street. You will be amazed at how good it feels to see first the surprise of others, and then their own smile in return.

The Endorphin Rush after Working Out
When you work out in a strenuous manner, you will get an endorphin rush as a reward. These natural, feel-good chemicals are sure to brighten your day. Work out in the morning in order to use this endorphin rush to help you be especially productive throughout the rest of your day.

Enjoying Your Favorite Food
Even if your favorite food is not especially healthy, allow yourself to have it every now and then. The feeling of your much-loved food will bring you a little boost of pleasure. Studies have shown that if you refrain from a particular food for a certain time, it will be even more enjoyable the next time you try it, so use this trick to make your favorite meal taste even better than usual.

Hot Cup of Coffee or Tea
Some of us survive on our daily coffee or tea. Even when it is a daily habit, it can bring much joy. As you sip on your beverage of choice, take some quiet time to enjoy every bit.

Making Snow Angels
This is not only for kids. Put on some warm clothes and simply fall into the snow. Feeling silly about this will not ruin the experience, just embrace the feeling of innocent fun that making snow angels can bring.

Laughing until It Hurts
Laughter is like medicine. Everyone should have an opportunity to laugh until it hurts at least once a day. Whether it is with a friend who could write comedy, or watching a good movie, take some time to laugh away your stress.

Getting a Massage
If you have never had a massage, give it a try. This hour of total relaxation will make your troubles feel as though they are melting away. Many individuals are even entitled to massages through employee benefits.

Walking in the Rain
Walking in the rain is one of life’s amazing simple pleasures. Dress warm, and go outside with or without an umbrella. Let the rain splash over your face as you stroll along, and be sure to jump in at least one puddle for old time’s sake.

Worship Your Way To A Smile
Fix your eyes on Jesus. He is the complete revealing of God your creator. What you see in Jesus as you look with an adoring heart is exactly who God truly is. . Give your heart and soul to worship. God will be blessed, and your very act of worship has the ability to supernaturally turn that frown upside-down.

 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you… (James 4:8)

Expensive fun is great, but can be hard to come by. Instead of waiting for your next vacation, indulge in one of these simple pleasures. By learning to appreciate the little things right next to you, you will find great fulfillment each and every day.