Where do my rights began as a Christian? There seems to be this uproar of Christians rights in the USA. Christians feel like their rights are being trampled on by non believers. This is my take on this subject. I am a born again conservative Christian.
I am also an American. As as American, my beliefs in God are just that, my beliefs. My rights end where yours began. As a Christian, I want to share God and his word with the world. One way of sharing is the way you live your life as a Christian. God's love will make you kinder, more loving, and more forgiving. If you live your life as a Christian, you will stand out in this world. We need to share the Bible. There is a difference with sharing what you believe and condemning someone with your beliefs. You are not God! You need to be worried about the sin in your life. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
I do not have the right as an American to go around verbally attacking people that do not believe the way I do. The United States was formed when many of the English speaking peoples on the Western shore of the Atlantic Ocean
renounced the authority of the King and Parliament of Great Britain. The English lived in
colonies, under governments authorized by the King. We need to remember why the English sailed for the Colonies.
The most popular reason was
the pursuit of religious liberty. When they lived in England, the Church of England was an official church. The King was the head of the Church of England. If you disagreed with
official Church teachings or refused to accept its authority, you were a dissenters. The dissenters were subject to serious discrimination. The dissenters were excluded from most professions, including government or law.
Some dissenters came to America,
where they felt safe to practice what they believed.
The most famous group of English immigrants that came to America was the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims were dissenters.
The Pilgrims were separatists, they rejected the authority of the English Church. The Pilgrims established the first permanent English settlement at
Plymouth, in 1620.
A major reason American was established so people could believe and worship how they saw fits without the Church of England interfering in their life. The Pilgrims were loyal subjects of the King, yet they did not want to accept his religion.
In America, we have many different religions. Most of these religions believe they are correct in their beliefs, and other religions are wrong. For some reason, people think everyone believes the way they do. This is simply not true! That is why there are so many different religions.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
What happened to common sense?
What happened to common sense? I hear this numerous times from people. When I
have meetings with other small business owners, I always hear someone saying what has happened to common sense.
I blame television and talk radio for sucking common sense out of many adults. The major source for doing away with common sense is the education system.
I have been perplexed by the large number of people that are simply brained washed. They believe any and everything they hear or read especially if it is negative or if it supports what they believe. What has been surprising to me is the number of people that fall into this category that are suppose to be educated.
No one and not any company is always correct 100 percent of the time. Perfect is impossible to achieve on this earth. Jesus Christ was the only perfect being to ever grace this world, all others fall way short. This is why it concerns me when I hear Christians stating any company or person is always right. Impossible!!
Fifteen years ago I use to think these people were not being truthful. I have come to realize these individuals are simply uneducated. They only listen and read what supports what they have been told. They do not think for themselves. These individuals are not able to see the world through others’ eyes. They are not capable of knowing all sides to an issues. They can not see the whole picture. They do not have common sense.
Seriously, I have discovered this to be true. Yes, people that are suppose to be educated only know one side to major life issues. I fear for many Christians. They mindlessly follow this one sided programing. How can a Christian believe any company or any person is always honest and is perfect? This premise goes against Christianity.
These same individuals lack common sense. They have been taught certain information. These individuals do not question the information they hear. They do not think about what they hear. They have been taught to accept the information as facts.
How did this happen? How did our country get in this kind of mess. Employers are always complaining about workers and people in general not having a lick of common sense. I have to deal with this daily. What to do?
It goes back to our education system. The education system is following a model that is frighting to me. Children and young adults are taught to focuses on clear facts with right or wrong answers. This type of information is easier to teach and test. This model of education does not prepare children and young adults to be able to think. In the real world, people need to know how to think outside the box. Many times in life, the solution to a problem is not black or white it may be gray. This model of education hinders creativity.
This education model puts children in a passive role. A passive role does not encourage creative thought. The present education system does not encourage children to think deeply. They are not taught or allowed to create or write meaningful questions. The children are not to question the information they are taught just memorize these facts. This method does not develop reasoning skills. This model of education has just about eliminated common sense.
Children do need to be taught facts. But just as important as facts, we need to teach children how to think. We need to teach how to reflect on facts and how the facts fit into the bigger picture. Our present way of memorizing a list of words, names, and books, is a poor way to judge who is educated. This is what we are doing in education these days. We need to teach children how to debate. They need to prepare an argument for both sides of an issue. In real life, the truth usually lies somewhere in between.
Alfred North Whitehead (1861 – 1947) mathematician and philosopher said, "knowledge does not keep any better than fish." In other words, "bits of disconnected knowledge are meaningless; all knowledge must find some imaginative application to the students' own lives, or else it becomes so much useless trivia, and the students themselves become good at parroting facts but not thinking for themselves."
have meetings with other small business owners, I always hear someone saying what has happened to common sense.
I blame television and talk radio for sucking common sense out of many adults. The major source for doing away with common sense is the education system.
I have been perplexed by the large number of people that are simply brained washed. They believe any and everything they hear or read especially if it is negative or if it supports what they believe. What has been surprising to me is the number of people that fall into this category that are suppose to be educated.
No one and not any company is always correct 100 percent of the time. Perfect is impossible to achieve on this earth. Jesus Christ was the only perfect being to ever grace this world, all others fall way short. This is why it concerns me when I hear Christians stating any company or person is always right. Impossible!!
Fifteen years ago I use to think these people were not being truthful. I have come to realize these individuals are simply uneducated. They only listen and read what supports what they have been told. They do not think for themselves. These individuals are not able to see the world through others’ eyes. They are not capable of knowing all sides to an issues. They can not see the whole picture. They do not have common sense.
Seriously, I have discovered this to be true. Yes, people that are suppose to be educated only know one side to major life issues. I fear for many Christians. They mindlessly follow this one sided programing. How can a Christian believe any company or any person is always honest and is perfect? This premise goes against Christianity.
These same individuals lack common sense. They have been taught certain information. These individuals do not question the information they hear. They do not think about what they hear. They have been taught to accept the information as facts.
How did this happen? How did our country get in this kind of mess. Employers are always complaining about workers and people in general not having a lick of common sense. I have to deal with this daily. What to do?
It goes back to our education system. The education system is following a model that is frighting to me. Children and young adults are taught to focuses on clear facts with right or wrong answers. This type of information is easier to teach and test. This model of education does not prepare children and young adults to be able to think. In the real world, people need to know how to think outside the box. Many times in life, the solution to a problem is not black or white it may be gray. This model of education hinders creativity.
This education model puts children in a passive role. A passive role does not encourage creative thought. The present education system does not encourage children to think deeply. They are not taught or allowed to create or write meaningful questions. The children are not to question the information they are taught just memorize these facts. This method does not develop reasoning skills. This model of education has just about eliminated common sense.
Children do need to be taught facts. But just as important as facts, we need to teach children how to think. We need to teach how to reflect on facts and how the facts fit into the bigger picture. Our present way of memorizing a list of words, names, and books, is a poor way to judge who is educated. This is what we are doing in education these days. We need to teach children how to debate. They need to prepare an argument for both sides of an issue. In real life, the truth usually lies somewhere in between.
Alfred North Whitehead (1861 – 1947) mathematician and philosopher said, "knowledge does not keep any better than fish." In other words, "bits of disconnected knowledge are meaningless; all knowledge must find some imaginative application to the students' own lives, or else it becomes so much useless trivia, and the students themselves become good at parroting facts but not thinking for themselves."
Familiarity
with a list of words, names, books, and ideas is a uniquely poor way to
judge who is well-educated. As the philosopher Alfred North Whitehead
observed long ago, “A merely well-informed man is the most useless bore
on God’s earth. . . . Scraps of information” are only worth something if
they are put to use, or at least “thrown into fresh combinations.” -
See more at:
http://www.theparentsunion.org/parental_engagement#sthash.RTzR72iV.dpuf
Familiarity with a list of words, names, books, and ideas is a uniquely
poor way to judge who is well-educated. As the philosopher Alfred North
Whitehead observed long ago, “A merely well-informed man is the most
useless bore on God’s earth. . . . Scraps of information” are only worth
something if they are put to use, or at least “thrown into fresh
combinations.” - See more at:
http://www.theparentsunion.org/parental_engagement#sthash.RTzR72iV.dpuf
Familiarity with a list of words, names, books, and ideas is a uniquely
poor way to judge who is well-educated. As the philosopher Alfred North
Whitehead observed long ago, “A merely well-informed man is the most
useless bore on God’s earth. . . . Scraps of information” are only worth
something if they are put to use, or at least “thrown into fresh
combinations.” - See more at:
http://www.theparentsunion.org/parental_engagement#sthash.RTzR72iV.dpuf
Familiarity with a list of words, names, books, and ideas is a uniquely
poor way to judge who is well-educated. As the philosopher Alfred North
Whitehead observed long ago, “A merely well-informed man is the most
useless bore on God’s earth. . . . Scraps of information” are only worth
something if they are put to use, or at least “thrown into fresh
combinations.” - See more at:
http://www.theparentsunion.org/parental_engagement#sthash.RTzR72iV.dpuf
Familiarity with a list of words, names, books, and ideas is a uniquely
poor way to judge who is well-educated. As the philosopher Alfred North
Whitehead observed long ago, “A merely well-informed man is the most
useless bore on God’s earth. . . . Scraps of information” are only worth
something if they are put to use, or at least “thrown into fresh
combinations.” - See more at:
http://www.theparentsunion.org/parental_engagement#sthash.RTzR72iV.dpuf
Monday, December 9, 2013
Hoildays and Stress
The holiday season can be a time of stress for many. Even though I love the holidays, I do acknowledge it can be a stressful time. This is a theme often seen in Christmas movies. It is often funny when viewed on the big screen. It is not so funny when it makes people unhappy and miserable.
The stressors can be parental problems, sibling rivalry, in-laws or an extended family member that is the sore spot. We all have someone that is a stressor in our families. It seems these people have a knack for knowing people's stress triggers. They can smell fear and sense uncertainly. They often drudge up unrealistic expectations. They are the ones that can bluntly bring up unpleasant issues for example divorce, affairs, financial setbacks, loss of a job, family problems, career problems, and the list goes on and on.... They ask questions like how much you earn? How much did your house or car cost? They ask nosy questions about your children's grades, careers and your children's personal lives. They often ask in a manner that seems like they care. The nosy individuals wants to know about other people's lives, and problems. The nosy individual can be extremely intrusive.
Some of these people seem to take pleasure in hurting others or starting trouble. They often try to build themselves up by tearing others down. These types of individuals usually have emotional problems. They often fight depression and anxiety. They can be filled with anger, and suffer from low self-esteem. They may seem to have it together, but in reality they have major issues. Some of these individuals are just simply filled with the devil. They are mean, evil, and wicked.
Let the person know the relationship is important to you. Simply and calmly tell them what they said or did bothers you. State you want to make sure that it does not happen again because you value the relationship.State it is alright if your feelings are hurt when talking about the situation.You want a honest conversation. Be calm, yet firm in establishing your boundaries, state your position but do not go into long explanations. Long explanations will only dilate your point. The bully can take a long explanation as a sign of weakiness and pounce on the situation.
When ask a question that makes you uncomfortable about relationships, or children simply, and kindly state that is a personal manner between you and the other person. If they continue to question you, state you do not discuss such situations. When being questioned about your adult children, simple and kindly tell the nosy person that is your child's personal business. If they persist with questions, inform the nosy person, you do not stick your nose in your child's personal life because it is not any of your business. If being taunted by an individual about mistakes you have made in the past, tell them this isn’t something you are talking about right now. When ask how much your car or home cost, tell them that is a personal and you do not discuss such manners. You can tell them you value the relationship and do not want to damage it. They need to stop talking about the situation. Period! Be direct and ask the person why are they asking you? Why do they want to know? Set the boundaries of the relationship and stick to your boundaries, most will get the message.
Human beings are all unique, yet we are all the same in many ways. Our stress level differs based on our personality and how we respond to situations. Some people let everything roll off their back. Yet others worry themselves sick. Set boundaries this holiday season and start enjoying a little less stress in life. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
The stressors can be parental problems, sibling rivalry, in-laws or an extended family member that is the sore spot. We all have someone that is a stressor in our families. It seems these people have a knack for knowing people's stress triggers. They can smell fear and sense uncertainly. They often drudge up unrealistic expectations. They are the ones that can bluntly bring up unpleasant issues for example divorce, affairs, financial setbacks, loss of a job, family problems, career problems, and the list goes on and on.... They ask questions like how much you earn? How much did your house or car cost? They ask nosy questions about your children's grades, careers and your children's personal lives. They often ask in a manner that seems like they care. The nosy individuals wants to know about other people's lives, and problems. The nosy individual can be extremely intrusive.
Some of these people seem to take pleasure in hurting others or starting trouble. They often try to build themselves up by tearing others down. These types of individuals usually have emotional problems. They often fight depression and anxiety. They can be filled with anger, and suffer from low self-esteem. They may seem to have it together, but in reality they have major issues. Some of these individuals are just simply filled with the devil. They are mean, evil, and wicked.
These individuals can only be effective if you let them. You have the power no manner who you are to take a stand, and do not back down from the bully. You need to acknowledge when your own autonomy, self rule, and self-esteem are being invaded. First and foremost you need to stop, step back and protect yourself in a calm voice. You can try to minimize hostility and confrontation by NOT focusing on the unwelcome behavior.
These bullies for the lack of a better word do not know the
definition of a boundary. They do not understand what
you are responsible for and what they are responsible for as human beings. The answer to your situation is boundaries. You need boundaries.
When setting boundaries you can not worry about being offense, you have a right to set or re-establish boundaries of your life. The best way to start setting boundaries is to show empathy, be positive and be clear about what you want and say it to the person.
When setting boundaries you can not worry about being offense, you have a right to set or re-establish boundaries of your life. The best way to start setting boundaries is to show empathy, be positive and be clear about what you want and say it to the person.
Let the person know the relationship is important to you. Simply and calmly tell them what they said or did bothers you. State you want to make sure that it does not happen again because you value the relationship.State it is alright if your feelings are hurt when talking about the situation.You want a honest conversation. Be calm, yet firm in establishing your boundaries, state your position but do not go into long explanations. Long explanations will only dilate your point. The bully can take a long explanation as a sign of weakiness and pounce on the situation.
We need to realize boundaries change over time. Behavior
that is appropriate between parents and small children will change as
the children grow in to adults. Parents often have a hard time with the new boundaries. They feel as though you are leaving them out of your life. This desperate feeling can lead to undesirable behavior in parents. Again, I want to remind you to show empathy, be positive and be clear about
what you want and say it to the person. Remind the person, the relationship is important to you.
Human beings are all unique, yet we are all the same in many ways. Our stress level differs based on our personality and how we respond to situations. Some people let everything roll off their back. Yet others worry themselves sick. Set boundaries this holiday season and start enjoying a little less stress in life. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Friday, December 6, 2013
Christmas Spirit
I just do not understand when people say I dread Christmas. I love Christmas and everything about the season. What happened to Christmas Spirit? Many people find it hard to be excited about Christmas. They do not have any Christmas Spirit. What is wrong?
Christmas is not really about gift giving and spending money. It is a feeling of love, warm fuzzy gestures from stranglers. It is a mood, a state of mind.
I have had several people ask me how do I always have Christmas Spirit year after year? I do not know what to say. I suggest reading your Bible. I have an overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude when I think about what Christ did for mankind. I love watching Christmas movies all year long. I highly suggest watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music especially if you are having trouble with the Spirit of Christmas.
I bake cookies, fudge and other goodies. It is nice to take baked goods to work, and give to friends. It is a nice feeling when people get excited and thank you for the goodies. I love to listen to Christmas music when I bake.
The next suggestion is to decorate. You do not have to spend money, use what you already have in your home, attic, or garage. Everyday items can become decorations. Decorate every room in your house, keep it simple but decorate. It puts a smile on my face to see all the pretty decorations.
Christmas cards are a simple and inexpensive way to keep in touch with family and friends. Display the Christmas cards you get in the mail. Wrap Christmas gifts while listening to Christmas music, and drinking hot cider, this always helps to get people in the Christmas Spirit.
Plan to get together with family for Christmas, go visit shut ins and take them some goodies if their diet permits. It puts a smile on peoples faces when you remember them and take the time to go see them.
A nice walk or drive to see Christmas lights always helps to put everyone in a holiday mood. Dress in bright colors this also helps.
Be kind to others and wish them a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holiday Season. Life is short this is one way to have fun and enjoy each and everyday.
Christmas is not really about gift giving and spending money. It is a feeling of love, warm fuzzy gestures from stranglers. It is a mood, a state of mind.
I have had several people ask me how do I always have Christmas Spirit year after year? I do not know what to say. I suggest reading your Bible. I have an overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude when I think about what Christ did for mankind. I love watching Christmas movies all year long. I highly suggest watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music especially if you are having trouble with the Spirit of Christmas.
I bake cookies, fudge and other goodies. It is nice to take baked goods to work, and give to friends. It is a nice feeling when people get excited and thank you for the goodies. I love to listen to Christmas music when I bake.
The next suggestion is to decorate. You do not have to spend money, use what you already have in your home, attic, or garage. Everyday items can become decorations. Decorate every room in your house, keep it simple but decorate. It puts a smile on my face to see all the pretty decorations.
Christmas cards are a simple and inexpensive way to keep in touch with family and friends. Display the Christmas cards you get in the mail. Wrap Christmas gifts while listening to Christmas music, and drinking hot cider, this always helps to get people in the Christmas Spirit.
Plan to get together with family for Christmas, go visit shut ins and take them some goodies if their diet permits. It puts a smile on peoples faces when you remember them and take the time to go see them.
A nice walk or drive to see Christmas lights always helps to put everyone in a holiday mood. Dress in bright colors this also helps.
Be kind to others and wish them a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holiday Season. Life is short this is one way to have fun and enjoy each and everyday.
Time Like Sand Through The Hourglass...
Time, is like sand through a hourglass, the seconds keep tick away. My time appears to be slipping away faster and faster.. I wake up on Monday morning and before I know it is Friday morning. My husband and I commend where has this week gone. I always try to plan ahead and it never seems like I can keep up with time.
Our time on this earth is short. We need to spend it in a positive manner. Our time is one of the most precious gifts we can give. How are you spending your time? Do you have time for God, family, and friends?
Our time on this earth is short. We need to spend it in a positive manner. Our time is one of the most precious gifts we can give. How are you spending your time? Do you have time for God, family, and friends?
Friday, November 15, 2013
A Happy Marriage
My husband has been told before by other men that their marriage is different than his. These men have observed us interacting and have come to this conclusion. I too have been ask before why am I so happy with my marriage. I can tell you right now we do not hold the secret to happiness. I think the key to a happy marriage is to be in love with and love the person. Many are in love with the ideal of being in love, but they are not really in love. There is a difference.
Life is not always a bowl of cherries. It is easier to be happy when times are good. The real test is when the going gets tough. If you love someone, then you pull together and work together to meet and over come life's hurdles. When you are unhappy with the other person, the smallest things seen to irritate you. During a trying time it helps to look at the other person's point of view and look at the situation as if you are a third party. I always try to look at life through my husbands eyes.
Another key item to a happy marriage is being intimate. Intimacy is important because it is when we let someone else enter our private world. Most people would define intimacy as a relationship that involves either physical or emotional intimacy. The emotional intimacy is often what couples lack. Emotional intimacy is what many women are seeking. The lack of emotional intimacy is the blueprint for many unhappy marriages. Emotional intimacy boils down to being a trust issue.
Men as a usual rule are not as emotional as women. Historically, men have not been taught to feel emotions. Thus, many men are afraid to feel emotions and do not know what to do with them when they do. They do not call each other up and say, I feel. Females of all ages do this. We vent to other women and men. Men as an usual rule do not have any practice with this emotional exercise. It is not that men do not have thoughts or feelings. They have learned to keep them bottled up inside. Some men are afraid to shows what is on the inside. They think it makes them look weak. This is hard for women to understand. Women share our feelings and thoughts all the time. It is a simple, easy task for women.
I am one of the lucky ones and I did not realize it. My husband and I share thoughts, hopes, and feelings. I have never had to wonder what he is thinking or feeling. It is uncanny at times we can finish each others sentences. There are times we can just look at one another and know what the other one thinks about something.
The secret to getting a man to open up with you and share his thoughts, feelings, fears, and concerns is not as hard as you might think. Men need to be able to feel comfortable so they can be themselves and share what they think and feel! So if you want a man to open up to you, he has to feel safe taking that risk with you. You have to accept him, as he is. You can not try to change him. When he shares his thoughts or feelings, you do not want to judge or correct them. Sharing thoughts and feelings is foreign to many men.
Another important key to a happy marriage is always be willing to apologize. A good rule of thumb is not to go to bed being angry with your spouse. Pride and being stubborn are two roadblocks to a happy marriage. It helps if you accept marital spats as an opportunity to resolve problems. It is okay to disagree. The key is learning how to work together to come up with a solution. It is a mistake to avoid conflict. Be honest and loving with your mate, share how you feel. Pray a lot!
Life is not always a bowl of cherries. It is easier to be happy when times are good. The real test is when the going gets tough. If you love someone, then you pull together and work together to meet and over come life's hurdles. When you are unhappy with the other person, the smallest things seen to irritate you. During a trying time it helps to look at the other person's point of view and look at the situation as if you are a third party. I always try to look at life through my husbands eyes.
Another key item to a happy marriage is being intimate. Intimacy is important because it is when we let someone else enter our private world. Most people would define intimacy as a relationship that involves either physical or emotional intimacy. The emotional intimacy is often what couples lack. Emotional intimacy is what many women are seeking. The lack of emotional intimacy is the blueprint for many unhappy marriages. Emotional intimacy boils down to being a trust issue.
Men as a usual rule are not as emotional as women. Historically, men have not been taught to feel emotions. Thus, many men are afraid to feel emotions and do not know what to do with them when they do. They do not call each other up and say, I feel. Females of all ages do this. We vent to other women and men. Men as an usual rule do not have any practice with this emotional exercise. It is not that men do not have thoughts or feelings. They have learned to keep them bottled up inside. Some men are afraid to shows what is on the inside. They think it makes them look weak. This is hard for women to understand. Women share our feelings and thoughts all the time. It is a simple, easy task for women.
I am one of the lucky ones and I did not realize it. My husband and I share thoughts, hopes, and feelings. I have never had to wonder what he is thinking or feeling. It is uncanny at times we can finish each others sentences. There are times we can just look at one another and know what the other one thinks about something.
The secret to getting a man to open up with you and share his thoughts, feelings, fears, and concerns is not as hard as you might think. Men need to be able to feel comfortable so they can be themselves and share what they think and feel! So if you want a man to open up to you, he has to feel safe taking that risk with you. You have to accept him, as he is. You can not try to change him. When he shares his thoughts or feelings, you do not want to judge or correct them. Sharing thoughts and feelings is foreign to many men.
Another important key to a happy marriage is always be willing to apologize. A good rule of thumb is not to go to bed being angry with your spouse. Pride and being stubborn are two roadblocks to a happy marriage. It helps if you accept marital spats as an opportunity to resolve problems. It is okay to disagree. The key is learning how to work together to come up with a solution. It is a mistake to avoid conflict. Be honest and loving with your mate, share how you feel. Pray a lot!
Monday, November 4, 2013
How I Deal With Change
Our lives are filled with unexpected surprises. We can not shelter or protect ourselves
from change. The best way to cope with change is to begin by accept
the reality of the inevitability of change. I personally like my life the way it is. I say I do not like change but I seem to deal with it in a positive manner.
The question is why do I and others dislike change? This is a good question which requires some soul searching. It has to be fear, fear of the unknown.
I see individuals that like change. They are always wanting to change something. They change their hair style, hair color, move furniture in their home, trade cars and the list goes on and on.. These people welcome change.
The individuals that dread change get anxious and stressed when faced with change. This can cause health problems. Life is always changing. We have to learn to live with this fact.
How do we learn to live with change? A positive attitude helps me deal with change. I try to accept change as an opportunity to grow. Since I am an optimist, I expect a positive outcome. I anticipate everything is going to turn out for the better.You never know what opportunity God has waiting for you around the corner.
The question is why do I and others dislike change? This is a good question which requires some soul searching. It has to be fear, fear of the unknown.
I see individuals that like change. They are always wanting to change something. They change their hair style, hair color, move furniture in their home, trade cars and the list goes on and on.. These people welcome change.
The individuals that dread change get anxious and stressed when faced with change. This can cause health problems. Life is always changing. We have to learn to live with this fact.
How do we learn to live with change? A positive attitude helps me deal with change. I try to accept change as an opportunity to grow. Since I am an optimist, I expect a positive outcome. I anticipate everything is going to turn out for the better.You never know what opportunity God has waiting for you around the corner.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
How To Be Happy!
I see many unhappy individuals that think money or material possessions will make them happy. They are constantly trying to fill the void in their life by consuming alcohol, food, or shopping. The problem is happiness
can not be consumed, it comes from within your soul. They are satisfying desires which only
brings fleeting happiness.
Happiness can not be achieved with money. Money may increase your comfort level in life, but comfort is not what makes people happy.
I have often been told I am a happy person. I guess it shows in our everyday life if we are happy. I have also been ask how can they find happiness? First and foremost it starts with your relationship with God. It is important to get the right amount of sleep, eat healthy, and exercise regularly. I think a grateful attitude is a must to being happy.
The other characteristic I think it takes to be happy is compassion. I have noticed people that lack compassion for others are always grumbling and complaining about something in life. When you give to others, it gives you a good feeling. I suggest you stop worrying and thinking about yourself and do something for others without resenting the act of kindness. I suggest volunteer at a school, nursing home, hospital, or church group. Set a goal everyday of finding and helping someone that needs food, clothing, or shelter. You do this and I promise you will be happy. When you are compassionate and help others, you get a wonderful feeling which is called happiness. I think when we are compassionate we are exhibiting a Christ like characteristic. I think this is what makes us happy.
Happiness can not be achieved with money. Money may increase your comfort level in life, but comfort is not what makes people happy.
I have often been told I am a happy person. I guess it shows in our everyday life if we are happy. I have also been ask how can they find happiness? First and foremost it starts with your relationship with God. It is important to get the right amount of sleep, eat healthy, and exercise regularly. I think a grateful attitude is a must to being happy.
The other characteristic I think it takes to be happy is compassion. I have noticed people that lack compassion for others are always grumbling and complaining about something in life. When you give to others, it gives you a good feeling. I suggest you stop worrying and thinking about yourself and do something for others without resenting the act of kindness. I suggest volunteer at a school, nursing home, hospital, or church group. Set a goal everyday of finding and helping someone that needs food, clothing, or shelter. You do this and I promise you will be happy. When you are compassionate and help others, you get a wonderful feeling which is called happiness. I think when we are compassionate we are exhibiting a Christ like characteristic. I think this is what makes us happy.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Are You Led By Holy Spirit?
I hear numerous people doubt and dispute that God, Our Father speaks to us. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. So many people have different ideas about the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit abides with each Christian. As Christians, we all need divine guidance and we get it from the Holy Spirit.
I look to the Word of God to find examples of the Holy Spirit leading men of God. Paul for example, refers to believers as “led by the Spirit” in Romans 8:14.
In Matthews 3:11, John the Baptist prepares the way.
Matthew 3:11 NIV
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
John 14:16 (KJV)
If you do not feel like you are being lead by the Holy Spirit then you need to be in prayer. How hard would it be to lead someone with whom you were not communicating? The same is true for the Holy Spirit. How can the Holy Spirit lead us if he can not communicate with us?
We have to learned to walk by the Spirit as Paul did in Galatians 5:16-25.
Galatians 5:16-25 (NIV)
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit
I look to the Word of God to find examples of the Holy Spirit leading men of God. Paul for example, refers to believers as “led by the Spirit” in Romans 8:14.
In Matthews 3:11, John the Baptist prepares the way.
Matthew 3:11 NIV 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
John 14:16 (KJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 16:7 (KJV)
John 16:7 (KJV)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
If you do not feel like you are being lead by the Holy Spirit then you need to be in prayer. How hard would it be to lead someone with whom you were not communicating? The same is true for the Holy Spirit. How can the Holy Spirit lead us if he can not communicate with us?
We have to learned to walk by the Spirit as Paul did in Galatians 5:16-25.
Galatians 5:16-25 (NIV)
17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit
How do we get the Holy Spirit leading our lives so we can walk in the Spirit? We have to
obey His promptings. The only way I know is by being aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence with you, and following His lead. We have to submit to the Holy Spirit even when we feel Him leading us in a direction maybe we do not understand. We need to listen and summit when the Holy Spirit leads us to take action do so immediately.
It is like a six sense the Spirit will warning you about danger, a temptation to sin that we may be unable to resist unless we obey Him without thinking. We have all learned this the hard way. We as Christians have all made terrible mistakes in our lives by not listening to the Holy Spirit. These mistakes tend to be a sin of some sort, or just not God's plan for our lives.
It is like a six sense the Spirit will warning you about danger, a temptation to sin that we may be unable to resist unless we obey Him without thinking. We have all learned this the hard way. We as Christians have all made terrible mistakes in our lives by not listening to the Holy Spirit. These mistakes tend to be a sin of some sort, or just not God's plan for our lives.
I met no strangers! God has given me the knack to be friendly with total strangers in a non threaten way. HE has also kept me safe from the possessed ones. I have often come across people really needing a friend. I always use this as a plug for Jesus. You should try this the next time you see someone down and out. The Spirit will give you the right words to encourage the person. HE always does me. The Holy Spirit wants to minister to that person. It is good to be the vehicle through which the Holy Spirit can work.
I like order and peace. I want everything to be in its proper place. It rarely is as I get older. The hardest lesson I had to learn was to let the Holy Spirit guide me in a direction I had not planned. I learned a long time ago the wisest thing to do was to submit to the Holy Spirit. As I grew and matured as a Christian, I realized God knows all things, past and the future. God's plan for my life is always for my benefit. God loves me and wants only the best for me.
My advice is to learn to listen to that still voice in your life and follow the Holy Spirit. Your life will be enriched beyond your imagination when you follow God's purpose for your life. I know my life has been.
I like order and peace. I want everything to be in its proper place. It rarely is as I get older. The hardest lesson I had to learn was to let the Holy Spirit guide me in a direction I had not planned. I learned a long time ago the wisest thing to do was to submit to the Holy Spirit. As I grew and matured as a Christian, I realized God knows all things, past and the future. God's plan for my life is always for my benefit. God loves me and wants only the best for me.
My advice is to learn to listen to that still voice in your life and follow the Holy Spirit. Your life will be enriched beyond your imagination when you follow God's purpose for your life. I know my life has been.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Life is Temporary and So are Troubles.
Life on this earth is temporary and so are troubles. It would be prudent to choose which how you want to focus your time and energy. I try to cherish each day I am alive. I try to focus on what is important. So many focus on their troubles instead of the joys of life. When I look to the scripture, it makes it clear we are not to worry about our needs. HE ask us, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matt. 6:27
Matthew 6:26-33 (NIV)
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
May I suggest when you have an issue or problem, you are dealing with spend even more time reading God's Word and more time praying. Just remember, "This too shall pass!"
Matthew 6:26-33 (NIV)27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
May I suggest when you have an issue or problem, you are dealing with spend even more time reading God's Word and more time praying. Just remember, "This too shall pass!"
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Eyes Wide Open
This phrase "Eyes Wide Open," keeps going through my mind the past couple of weeks. I realized Tuesday the Holy Spirit was speaking to me. The Holy Spirit is sharing a Word of Wisdom with me.
We learn from the Bible there will be times that a word of knowledge will not be enough to solve a problem. This is where we need a word of wisdom. A word of wisdom will give us the ability to be able to apply the knowledge that we already have on a particular issue.
I know from the medical knowledge my Mama is in a serious situation. She has Congestive Heart Failure, (CHF), Coronary Artery Disease, (CAD) diabetes, and edema which in her case is caused by heart failure.
She had been improving and doing great. The phrase "eyes wide open" kept going through my mind. I finally realized what the Holy Sprite was trying to prepare me to be realistic she is in heart failure. Her heart can not pump enough blood to meet her body's needs. Her heart's weaken pumping ability causes the buildup of fluid (edema) in the legs, ankles, and feet. She has also had a problem with a build up of fluid in the lungs. She has experienced extreme tiredness and shortness of breath.
I need to be realistic instead of optimist. I need to keep in mind the prognosis is not good. I need to keep my eyes wide open and see the real world instead of what I want the world to be.
We learn from the Bible there will be times that a word of knowledge will not be enough to solve a problem. This is where we need a word of wisdom. A word of wisdom will give us the ability to be able to apply the knowledge that we already have on a particular issue.
I know from the medical knowledge my Mama is in a serious situation. She has Congestive Heart Failure, (CHF), Coronary Artery Disease, (CAD) diabetes, and edema which in her case is caused by heart failure.
She had been improving and doing great. The phrase "eyes wide open" kept going through my mind. I finally realized what the Holy Sprite was trying to prepare me to be realistic she is in heart failure. Her heart can not pump enough blood to meet her body's needs. Her heart's weaken pumping ability causes the buildup of fluid (edema) in the legs, ankles, and feet. She has also had a problem with a build up of fluid in the lungs. She has experienced extreme tiredness and shortness of breath.
I need to be realistic instead of optimist. I need to keep in mind the prognosis is not good. I need to keep my eyes wide open and see the real world instead of what I want the world to be.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Mother's Day well spent
Last Saturday around noon my son returned from work sick. He had chest and sinus congestion. He went to bed. He continued to get worse Saturday into Sunday. He had a fever, plus other symptoms.
Sunday was a busy day. I went up and down the stairs to check on my son numerous times. I did laundry. When down stairs my son would ask for this and that, he has his own apartment downstairs. It was not the quite day my husband had planned for Mother's Day.
I wanted and needed to go to the Nursing Home to see Mama. The day was flying by hour after hour. My Mama used my brother cell phone and called around 6:00 pm. I told her I would be there in about 30 minutes. I finally got to the nursing home around 7:40 pm. We had a nice visit.
Mama is suppose to return home next Monday if she continues to improve with her physical therapy. I got a call from my son around 8:50 pm. I helped my Mama to bed around 9:30 pm. Due to the overworked, and under staffed nursing home, I put the adult brief on my Mama. We talked, laughed, and shared a nice time.
It was 11:00 pm and she needed to be changed. I needed to leave, remember I have a sick child at home. He was home with his Dad and girlfriend. His girlfriend is wonderful.
I pressed the call button. My Mama said it would be awhile before any one came. I went into the hall not a call light was on and all the rooms we quite. It was shift changing time. I decided to just change my Mama myself. We said our good-nights and I started home.
I arrived home to find my sons fever 102.9 F. I preceded to treat the fever with ibuprofen and a sponge bath. I used a few drops of Melaleuca Oil on the cloth. He started to feel better in a few minutes. I went to bed around 3:00 AM.
I was happy and content with the day. I felt satisfied with how the day had gone. I had taken care of my love ones. A very nice customer on Monday morning ask about my Mother's Day. I did a re-cap of my day. He felt sorry for me. There had not been any me time. I reassured the customer I was satisfied with how the day had went.
I love my son with my heart and soul, and taking care of my sick child is what a Mama does. It is my nature, my instinct, I would not have chosen to do anything else. As far as my Mama goes, I figure it was fitting that I changed her adult brief, since she changed my diapers when I was a baby.
My son is felling better, and my Mama has continued to improve.
Sunday was a busy day. I went up and down the stairs to check on my son numerous times. I did laundry. When down stairs my son would ask for this and that, he has his own apartment downstairs. It was not the quite day my husband had planned for Mother's Day.
I wanted and needed to go to the Nursing Home to see Mama. The day was flying by hour after hour. My Mama used my brother cell phone and called around 6:00 pm. I told her I would be there in about 30 minutes. I finally got to the nursing home around 7:40 pm. We had a nice visit.
Mama is suppose to return home next Monday if she continues to improve with her physical therapy. I got a call from my son around 8:50 pm. I helped my Mama to bed around 9:30 pm. Due to the overworked, and under staffed nursing home, I put the adult brief on my Mama. We talked, laughed, and shared a nice time.
It was 11:00 pm and she needed to be changed. I needed to leave, remember I have a sick child at home. He was home with his Dad and girlfriend. His girlfriend is wonderful.
I pressed the call button. My Mama said it would be awhile before any one came. I went into the hall not a call light was on and all the rooms we quite. It was shift changing time. I decided to just change my Mama myself. We said our good-nights and I started home.
I arrived home to find my sons fever 102.9 F. I preceded to treat the fever with ibuprofen and a sponge bath. I used a few drops of Melaleuca Oil on the cloth. He started to feel better in a few minutes. I went to bed around 3:00 AM.
I was happy and content with the day. I felt satisfied with how the day had gone. I had taken care of my love ones. A very nice customer on Monday morning ask about my Mother's Day. I did a re-cap of my day. He felt sorry for me. There had not been any me time. I reassured the customer I was satisfied with how the day had went. I love my son with my heart and soul, and taking care of my sick child is what a Mama does. It is my nature, my instinct, I would not have chosen to do anything else. As far as my Mama goes, I figure it was fitting that I changed her adult brief, since she changed my diapers when I was a baby.
My son is felling better, and my Mama has continued to improve.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Be Thankful For What You Have
My pet peeve is people not being thankful for what they have in life. I think gratitude means counting your blessings noticing the small things in life and being thankful for everything you have. There are so many things in our lives that we take for granted. I think we all make the mistake and take our health for granted. We expect life to be smooth without bumps. When we are thankful it
shifts our focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is
already present in your life. Life does not always go according to plan. I think many misunderstand the concept of gratitude. Anyone can be grateful when life
is good. But true gratitude comes when we do not get what we want or expect.
What can you do when life does not work out the way you wanted it to or the way you planned it to? Your career, relationships, and hobbies all take work. It even takes more work to make your dreams become a reality. You can't expect to succeed if you're just winging your way through life.You can improve your attitude by giving thanks. Gratitude makes people happier, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress. You need to start finding joy in the small things instead of holding out for big achievements and this will help you.
Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
When things don’t go your way, keep in mind every difficulty carries within it the seeds of an equal or greater benefit. You can ask yourself, what is good about this situation? Think about what can you learn, and how can I benefit from this experience? It is simple just be grateful for everything in life good or bad.
Psalm 95:2
What can you do when life does not work out the way you wanted it to or the way you planned it to? Your career, relationships, and hobbies all take work. It even takes more work to make your dreams become a reality. You can't expect to succeed if you're just winging your way through life.You can improve your attitude by giving thanks. Gratitude makes people happier, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress. You need to start finding joy in the small things instead of holding out for big achievements and this will help you.
Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
When things don’t go your way, keep in mind every difficulty carries within it the seeds of an equal or greater benefit. You can ask yourself, what is good about this situation? Think about what can you learn, and how can I benefit from this experience? It is simple just be grateful for everything in life good or bad.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Thoughts for the Day
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
KJV
Leaning on God's Help With Sugar & Carb Cravings
Do you reach out to God for help with your everyday struggles in life? Boy, I sure do. This is one of those times. I need and can only do this with God's help. This reminds me of an old hymn,
"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms".
"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms".
"What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms."
The following scripture Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV) gives me great comfort.
Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV) "The
eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and
he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy
them."
I want to start eating sugar free and low carbohydrate meals tomorrow. (I have been eating sugar and carbohydrates lately.) Sugar makes me feel bad after about 5-6 weeks, slow, joints ache, just plain old icky. It will take 4-6 days to get the sugar out of my system. The next few days will be sheer torture.
I want to start eating sugar free and low carbohydrate meals tomorrow. (I have been eating sugar and carbohydrates lately.) Sugar makes me feel bad after about 5-6 weeks, slow, joints ache, just plain old icky. It will take 4-6 days to get the sugar out of my system. The next few days will be sheer torture.
The past 33 days have been extremely stressful with my Mama's health crisis. I have eaten out more the past 32 days than I have the past two years. I am convinced eating out can be extremely unhealthy. I now have a new craving real hamburgers with real hamburger meat, onions, chill, lite mayo, hamburger buns. I need to get myself off the high carbohydrate foods.
Some people can gradually cut back on their sugar intake. I am not one of those kind of people. I think sugar cravings are best tackled cold turkey. I find that after four to six days of no sugar, the cravings stop completely. If you are going to try a sugar free diet be careful of hidden sources of sugar in foods such as, sauces, salad dressings, cereal, tomato sauce, and non-dairy milks.
Don’t make the mistake of swapping one poison for another. Artificial sweeteners such as Splenda and Aspartame can create sugar cravings. Stevia is naturally sweet. I use Stevia in my hot tea. Stevia seems to be one of the few natural sweeteners that does not trigger sugar cravings for me.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Stress
I ponder at the biological response to external situation know as stress. What is stress? Life can present situations or stressors that are perceived as a threat to
one’s well being. The challenge of dealing with stressors which exceeds the person’s resources. This triggers the body's stress response which is to fight or flight. This is when we experience stress. We all have stress in our lives for example a traffic jams can causes us to be late. This can led to a stressful situation.
Stress is a part of life. We have to learn to cope with stress. This usually involves adjusting to events while attempting to maintain emotional balance. Life is an evolving process with constant changes. Our coping to life occurs as life changes, these changes are perceived as stressful. Changes are stressful because changes require us to adapt, to adjust. The change does not always have to be negative to cause stress, positive changes such as getting married or having a baby can be stressful.
We get into trouble when we encounter a number of changes within a short amount of time. This usually creates a feeling that we are not in control of events in our life. This feeling can lead to low self-esteem and may even contribute to the development of anxiety and depression.
Many individuals often experience illnesses in response to stress. The stress can also cause an illness to rear its head. Stress may also complicate an illness. The effect of stressors that happens within a brief period of time may be cumulative and lead to serious problems. For example, when an individual experiences the death of a parent, get divorced, and lose their job within a brief period of time, they can be struggling to adjust to life events. This individual can experience a physical illness in response to the situation they are going through.
So how do we make the best of life? We learn to cope with life and stress. There are many easy and common coping strategies. I personally think this is a time in our life when we should reach out to God. This is an excellent time to grow in our relationship with God. We can reach out to our friends and work on maintaining emotionally supportive relationships we already have. Do not shut out your friends and family, this is often a response of some individuals. Some times we need to swallow our pride and ask others to help us.
Other coping mechanisms include lowering our expectation, life is not perfect. We need to be flexible in coping. Sometimes taking responsibility for the situation empowers us and helps lower our stress level. We can also work to resolve the situation. Many work toward resolve the situation by trying to change the source of stress. Other individuals deal with stress by putting distance between themselves and the source of stress. We often use several of the above coping strategies in order to cope with stressful events. Our individual personalities come into play with the differ styles and strategies of coping with stress. This can often complicate the situation.
How can we cope with stress? Personally one of the most important thing we can do is to reach out to God, and friends. Friends can be a big help by listening to your situation. It helps to vent. It can lower your stress level. One can participate in other stress reducing activities which can be an excellent overall approach to coping with stressors which leads to stress. These stress reducing techniques involve taking care of your body by sleeping 8 to 10 hours.
Exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress. We need to pay special attention to our diet. This is where I mess up and eat a diet high in carbohydrates. I also crave salt and sugar when I am stressed.
Other ways to cope with stress include taking short breaks or a short nap less than 30 minutes, this helps lower your stress level. Self medicating with drugs and alcohol only make the situation worse. It also helps to avoid caffeine and nicotine.
While we all agree stress is a part of life, it takes its toll on all of us in varying degrees. How we deal with stress depends in large part on who we are. There are times Christians become stressed because they don’t trust God to provide the basic necessities of life.
Matthew 6:24-30 (KJV)
I think this maybe the key to why we get stressed in the first place. We worry!!! We worry about about everything. We worry about providing for ourselves and families. We stress over material things and money. Many worry about making ends meet since many often live paycheck to paycheck. Other individuals become consumed by "things". They worry about maintaining their lifestyle also know as," keeping up with the Jones." God will provide your needs maybe not your wants, but definitely your needs.
Stress is a part of life. We have to learn to cope with stress. This usually involves adjusting to events while attempting to maintain emotional balance. Life is an evolving process with constant changes. Our coping to life occurs as life changes, these changes are perceived as stressful. Changes are stressful because changes require us to adapt, to adjust. The change does not always have to be negative to cause stress, positive changes such as getting married or having a baby can be stressful.
We get into trouble when we encounter a number of changes within a short amount of time. This usually creates a feeling that we are not in control of events in our life. This feeling can lead to low self-esteem and may even contribute to the development of anxiety and depression.
Many individuals often experience illnesses in response to stress. The stress can also cause an illness to rear its head. Stress may also complicate an illness. The effect of stressors that happens within a brief period of time may be cumulative and lead to serious problems. For example, when an individual experiences the death of a parent, get divorced, and lose their job within a brief period of time, they can be struggling to adjust to life events. This individual can experience a physical illness in response to the situation they are going through.
So how do we make the best of life? We learn to cope with life and stress. There are many easy and common coping strategies. I personally think this is a time in our life when we should reach out to God. This is an excellent time to grow in our relationship with God. We can reach out to our friends and work on maintaining emotionally supportive relationships we already have. Do not shut out your friends and family, this is often a response of some individuals. Some times we need to swallow our pride and ask others to help us.
Other coping mechanisms include lowering our expectation, life is not perfect. We need to be flexible in coping. Sometimes taking responsibility for the situation empowers us and helps lower our stress level. We can also work to resolve the situation. Many work toward resolve the situation by trying to change the source of stress. Other individuals deal with stress by putting distance between themselves and the source of stress. We often use several of the above coping strategies in order to cope with stressful events. Our individual personalities come into play with the differ styles and strategies of coping with stress. This can often complicate the situation.
How can we cope with stress? Personally one of the most important thing we can do is to reach out to God, and friends. Friends can be a big help by listening to your situation. It helps to vent. It can lower your stress level. One can participate in other stress reducing activities which can be an excellent overall approach to coping with stressors which leads to stress. These stress reducing techniques involve taking care of your body by sleeping 8 to 10 hours.
Exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress. We need to pay special attention to our diet. This is where I mess up and eat a diet high in carbohydrates. I also crave salt and sugar when I am stressed.
Other ways to cope with stress include taking short breaks or a short nap less than 30 minutes, this helps lower your stress level. Self medicating with drugs and alcohol only make the situation worse. It also helps to avoid caffeine and nicotine.
While we all agree stress is a part of life, it takes its toll on all of us in varying degrees. How we deal with stress depends in large part on who we are. There are times Christians become stressed because they don’t trust God to provide the basic necessities of life.
Matthew 6:24-30 (KJV)
"24 No
man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love
the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye
cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"
I think this maybe the key to why we get stressed in the first place. We worry!!! We worry about about everything. We worry about providing for ourselves and families. We stress over material things and money. Many worry about making ends meet since many often live paycheck to paycheck. Other individuals become consumed by "things". They worry about maintaining their lifestyle also know as," keeping up with the Jones." God will provide your needs maybe not your wants, but definitely your needs.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
I feel overwhelmed!
So much to do, and so little time to accomplish the things I need to do. I feel overwhelmed. I wonder do I manage my time wisely?
That said, I am always hearing people remark time is flying by as the older they get. I pondered this idea does time feel as though it is going faster as we age? In fact, it depends on the time-frame you are considering. Adults in mid-life report that the hours and days pass at what feels like a normal speed. It is the years they say pass faster.
So how do we slow down the pace of life? New and unique experiences seem to slow down time, we pay more attention to details. It is when we go to the same places and do the same things, we don't make distinct memories and time seems to fly by. I suggest you try to live more in the present. Try something new, first time or new experiences seem to slow down time. Being positive about the future helps to be more in the moment, just imagine a future full of hope and optimism.
I personally approach every day as a new opportunity to achieve my goals. I have always had an optimistic disposition. Every day gives you a new chance, a new opportunity. Every day we are alive is a gift from God so go and make the best of it.
That said, I am always hearing people remark time is flying by as the older they get. I pondered this idea does time feel as though it is going faster as we age? In fact, it depends on the time-frame you are considering. Adults in mid-life report that the hours and days pass at what feels like a normal speed. It is the years they say pass faster.
So how do we slow down the pace of life? New and unique experiences seem to slow down time, we pay more attention to details. It is when we go to the same places and do the same things, we don't make distinct memories and time seems to fly by. I suggest you try to live more in the present. Try something new, first time or new experiences seem to slow down time. Being positive about the future helps to be more in the moment, just imagine a future full of hope and optimism.
I personally approach every day as a new opportunity to achieve my goals. I have always had an optimistic disposition. Every day gives you a new chance, a new opportunity. Every day we are alive is a gift from God so go and make the best of it.
 |
| Mark Twain |
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The Journey Home
It was determined by Mama's doctors she needed to go to a rehabilitation facility to recover from her illness. Mama was moved via ambulance from the hospital in Charlotte to her hometown. She is in rehabilitation. We pray she regains her strength and is able to return home.
Her journey home got me thinking about people that have a desire to visit their childhood home or hometown. These individuals are lead by a desire to connect with their past. They visit their childhood homes, schools and playgrounds. It seems to help them make the link between the child they were and the person they are today.
I have noticed when people lose a parent, grandparent, sibling, or go through a divorce, many desire to get in touch with the values they were taught as children. I think this gives people warm fuzzy feelings they had as a child. Often this trip home tends to help people get their lives back on track.
It may not always be pleasant memories. This often can bring up psychological wounds left over from sad or traumatic childhoods. Often adults have the maturity to deal with memories which can be unpleasant. This is why visiting childhood memories can often be a satisfying and therapeutic experience.
This got me to thinking about coming home to God and the warm fuzzy feelings this gives us. This can help us grow and mature as a person and Christian.
"Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him." KJV Luke 8:39
Her journey home got me thinking about people that have a desire to visit their childhood home or hometown. These individuals are lead by a desire to connect with their past. They visit their childhood homes, schools and playgrounds. It seems to help them make the link between the child they were and the person they are today.
I have noticed when people lose a parent, grandparent, sibling, or go through a divorce, many desire to get in touch with the values they were taught as children. I think this gives people warm fuzzy feelings they had as a child. Often this trip home tends to help people get their lives back on track.
It may not always be pleasant memories. This often can bring up psychological wounds left over from sad or traumatic childhoods. Often adults have the maturity to deal with memories which can be unpleasant. This is why visiting childhood memories can often be a satisfying and therapeutic experience.
This got me to thinking about coming home to God and the warm fuzzy feelings this gives us. This can help us grow and mature as a person and Christian.
"Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to
pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but
he will bind up our wounds. (2) After two days he will
revive us; on the third day he will restore us
that we may live in his presence."
Hosea 6:1-6 and Acts 2:1-4
"Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him." KJV Luke 8:39
Sunday, April 28, 2013
A Plan To Stop The Sugar Addiction
How to stop the sugar addiction which leads to sugar cravings.
Many adults have been addicted to sugar for years. I have spent the past twenty-five years trying to become sugar free. I admit I succeed for six to eight months at a time and then fall off the wagon. I usually am not successful at getting right back on the wagon. I think it is a multifaceted process of become sugar free and living a life of sugar free.
In order to be successful at living a sugar free life, you need to learn about your body and the cravings for sugar. I discovered the cravings are much stronger after eating sugar. I have been successful at living sugar free when I tracked my eating with a food diary.
The food diary shows just how much sugar are you eating. I tracked how I felt after eating sugar. I want to understand why I want more and more sugar. I wanted to understand why I go back and get the second piece of pie, cake, brownie. One handful of peanut M&M's leads to another, and yet another handful. Why? What triggers a sugar binge? Why does one bite lead to a craving for more and more?
The journey of living a sugar free life starts by not eating sugar. This is where the food diary helps keep notes on how you feel. Detoxing sugar is not fun! But after four to six days without sugar, the physical cravings disappear. Once detoxed from sugar, this is how I have learned to live without sugar.
I have used the following step-by-step process to help me live a sugar free diet.
- I always eat breakfast within 30-45 minutes of waking up.
- I always include protein in my breakfast.
- I do not drink soda, or juice. I drink water, tea, and coffee.
- I always eat protein with each meal.
- I eat on a regular schedule with three meals a day. A snack of protein has helped me avoid sugar.
- Exercise of some fashion, a daily walk helps me feel better.
- Sleep is critical! This is where I have messed up in the past. A regular sleep pattern of eight plus hours is essential for success. When I am sleep deprived, I crave carbohydrates and eventually fall off the wagon and eat sugar.
- Meals must be prepared before you are hungry! It is easy to reach for carbohydrates and sugar filled snacks when you are hungry and trying to prepare a meal.
- Avoid stress if possible! If under stress, exercise, pray, meditate, take a long bath, shower, talk to a friend, try to avoid eating. This is where I have messed up in the past and have eaten sugar snacks.
- If you chose to eat sugar and want to continue on a sugar free diet, do not beat yourself up. The next day make the decision not to eat sugar. I have found this is a day to day process. Our world is filled with sugar snacks and drinks. It is hard to avoid the pitfalls but can be done.
Personal note: I have been eating sugar since Christmas Holidays. Stress and circumstances beyond my control have put me out of my comfort zone. The old habit of reaching for carbohydrates during stressful times has once again reared its ugly-head.
Heart Failure
April 18, 2013- Mother had been home since Tuesday April 16, evening. She is so fragile and weak. Her breathing is labored. We had to take her back to the hospital the morning of April 18, 2013. She was re-admitted with heart failure and rental failure.
She has had ups and downs this past week. We were waiting for her kidneys to get strong enough to handle the dye so they can do a heart catheterization. The decision was made to move her to Charlotte. This way a procedure could be performed if needed while doing the catheterization.
The heart catheterization was preformed and news was good. We give praise to God for this good news.
Mother is continuing to improve and get stronger Friday and Saturday. We are thankful for the strength she has gained.
She has had ups and downs this past week. We were waiting for her kidneys to get strong enough to handle the dye so they can do a heart catheterization. The decision was made to move her to Charlotte. This way a procedure could be performed if needed while doing the catheterization.
The heart catheterization was preformed and news was good. We give praise to God for this good news.
Mother is continuing to improve and get stronger Friday and Saturday. We are thankful for the strength she has gained.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
The Roller Coaster of Life
This week has been a roller coaster filled with highs and many lows. Mother was much weaklier and sicker when she left the hospital Tuesday than when she was twelve days earlier when she was admitted. We got to bring her home Tuesday evening. She was so weak and sick she could not walk more than two feet and she had to sit to rest. She had a heart attack in the hospital. Her kidneys are not functioning properly since her hospital stay. We had to help her get up from the chair just to walk 24 inches before she would have to sit and rest. It was a struggle to breath. She was total care and did not seem to be improving. She was re-admitted to the hospital Thursday.
If she lives, her doctor said she will have to go to a facility to recuperate and gain her strength. She is so sick and weak. She has several serious health problems. It is such a struggle to breath. It has become a catch 22. A medication that would help one issue will harm another issue.
Yesterday morning, when I left the hospital I felt like I was leaving my child at daycare. I keep telling myself she was in good hands. I hate she is with strangers. I wonder if that is scary to her? It is to me.
It was sad leaving the hospital last night. I am in prayer for the Lord's will be done in her life. I grief for lost shopping trips, and lost lunches. I wonder if she will be alive for this Mothers Day, her birthday, and Christmas? We have started the long good-bye.
If she lives, her doctor said she will have to go to a facility to recuperate and gain her strength. She is so sick and weak. She has several serious health problems. It is such a struggle to breath. It has become a catch 22. A medication that would help one issue will harm another issue.
Yesterday morning, when I left the hospital I felt like I was leaving my child at daycare. I keep telling myself she was in good hands. I hate she is with strangers. I wonder if that is scary to her? It is to me.
It was sad leaving the hospital last night. I am in prayer for the Lord's will be done in her life. I grief for lost shopping trips, and lost lunches. I wonder if she will be alive for this Mothers Day, her birthday, and Christmas? We have started the long good-bye.
Monday, April 15, 2013
How to Increase Gas Mileage
I wrote this in 2008. I am often ask how to increase gas mileage? These simple procedures can save you money on gasoline. The majority
of these suggestions the average person can do themselves with the
exception of the tune-up.
Buy the lowest octane level of gasoline that is required for your vehicle. Refer to your owner's manual for the octane rating which is required for your vehicle. If your vehicle knocks or pings when you fuel up with regular unleaded, then use the next level of octane gasoline. This could mean your vehicle needs a tune-up. By not using expensive premium gasoline, this will save you hundreds of dollars in a years time.
If you have a garage park your vehicle in your garage. This will help your vehicle stay warmer in winter and cool in summer. Thus you will save gas by not having to use the defroster in the winter. In the summer if the car is stored in the garage, the vehicle will be cooler thus you will save on air-conditioning.
Tire pressure needs to be checked once a week, use the recommended pressure in your owner's manual. One can also find this information inside the drivers door jam on the vehicle. To get an accurate reading of tire pressure, be sure to check tire pressure when your tires are cold. Improper tire inflation will damage your tires, and lower your vehicle's gas mileage. When the tires are under inflated the tire has more resistance to the roadway, thus your engine works harder to maintain a set speed. The vehicle's gas mileage may go down as much as 15 percent. Under inflated tires may reduce the life of your tires by 15 percent plus. I have seen this happen.
Gas mileage can be boosted up 4 to 5 percent by keeping the vehicle in tune. Regular tune-ups are a must for the best fuel mileage. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a vehicle's fuel efficiency from 25 to 35 percent. A bad coil can greatly reduce fuel mileage.
Replace the vehicle air filter to improve gas mileage. You can tell when the engine air filter needs to be replaced it will be clogged with dust and dirt. This causes your engine to work harder thus your vehicle becomes less fuel-efficient. The engine air filter should be checked every three months, or at 3000 miles when the oil is changed.
You will save money or increase your mileage, by use lowest octane gasoline, park in a garage, check tire pressure, keep vehicle tuned-up, and changing the air filters. I hope these suggestion help increase your fuel mileage.
Buy the lowest octane level of gasoline that is required for your vehicle. Refer to your owner's manual for the octane rating which is required for your vehicle. If your vehicle knocks or pings when you fuel up with regular unleaded, then use the next level of octane gasoline. This could mean your vehicle needs a tune-up. By not using expensive premium gasoline, this will save you hundreds of dollars in a years time.
If you have a garage park your vehicle in your garage. This will help your vehicle stay warmer in winter and cool in summer. Thus you will save gas by not having to use the defroster in the winter. In the summer if the car is stored in the garage, the vehicle will be cooler thus you will save on air-conditioning.
Tire pressure needs to be checked once a week, use the recommended pressure in your owner's manual. One can also find this information inside the drivers door jam on the vehicle. To get an accurate reading of tire pressure, be sure to check tire pressure when your tires are cold. Improper tire inflation will damage your tires, and lower your vehicle's gas mileage. When the tires are under inflated the tire has more resistance to the roadway, thus your engine works harder to maintain a set speed. The vehicle's gas mileage may go down as much as 15 percent. Under inflated tires may reduce the life of your tires by 15 percent plus. I have seen this happen.
Gas mileage can be boosted up 4 to 5 percent by keeping the vehicle in tune. Regular tune-ups are a must for the best fuel mileage. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a vehicle's fuel efficiency from 25 to 35 percent. A bad coil can greatly reduce fuel mileage.
Replace the vehicle air filter to improve gas mileage. You can tell when the engine air filter needs to be replaced it will be clogged with dust and dirt. This causes your engine to work harder thus your vehicle becomes less fuel-efficient. The engine air filter should be checked every three months, or at 3000 miles when the oil is changed.
You will save money or increase your mileage, by use lowest octane gasoline, park in a garage, check tire pressure, keep vehicle tuned-up, and changing the air filters. I hope these suggestion help increase your fuel mileage.
How To Save Money With Summer Driving
I wrote this article in 2008. I hope it helps you to get your auto in shape for the summer driving. The following suggestions should help your autos run
more efficient and prevent costly breakdowns.
I am often ask how to protect your auto? Most want to know what they can do to get the most out of their autos. First, I recommend you change your engine oil regularly. I would increase the viscosity of my oil at least for summer driving. I personally use the higher viscosity oil in my autos year round.
I know what many are thinking? What is oil viscosity? Viscosity is simply the oil’s resistance to flow at a given temperature, usually we refers to viscosity as the thickness of the oil. The lower the viscosity rating or weight, the oil is thinner. The higher the viscosity rating, the oil is thicker. Some oils are also multi-viscous, which means the oil's thickness can change depending on its temperature. Multi-grade oils offer better engine protection than straight weight oils by preventing the oil from becoming too thick when cold, while maintaining a heavier oil weight when hot. The oil still thins out with heat, and thickens up as it cools, but at any given temperature it should measure within the specs for a weight oil at that temperature.
We need to discuss synthetic oils. As a usual rule, conventional oils lack the performance of synthetic oils in the areas of low-temperature performance and high-temperature oxidation stability. The synthetic oils do offer more protection. I personally like the synthetic oils. The synthetics seem to offer more protection for our engines. I recommend you follow your owner’s manual.
How do you know which type of oil to use in your auto? Your vehicle's owner's manual will list the manufacturer's oil recommendations. Many late model autos recommend oil grades of 0W-40, 5W-20, 5W-30. The owners manual should tell you what grade of oil to use in different climates, and temperatures.
Our transmissions are often overlooked. It is important to service your transmission. I recommend changing the fluid and filter the old fashion way. Service according to your owner manual, hard winter driving can be hard on a transmission. Many transmission problems come from overheating. We often overheat our transmissions when we tow heavy objects and continuous stop and go traffic. Winter driving in snow can overheat the tranmission especially rocking the vehicle from the snow when one gets stuck. The transmission fluid burns, at higher temperatures causing it to losing its lubricating quality. The fluid becomes oxidized leaving deposits all over inside the transmission. Not changing the fluid, too little fluid, using wrong type of fluid, sooner or later, this will results in transmission failure.
The Coolant or antifreeze mixture is essential to keeping your engine protected. The mixture of coolant and water inside your radiator needs to be a 50:50 mixture of antifreeze and water. This is important to protect your engine. During freezing winter weather too little antifreeze can put your engine and the components of the coolant system in danger of freezing and cracking. The hot summer heat can cause an auto with low coolant to overheat. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. When you combine the water with an equal amount of antifreeze, the new mixture boils at a higher temperature. The coolant also adds some protection to hoses and prevents some rust and corrosion. The coolant system needs to be flushed every 3 years or less depending on the PH of your coolant.
The belts and hoses are also essential to the operation of the engine. The belts and hoses during the winter months are subject to hot and cold temperature fluctuation. The summer heat is also hard on belts and hoses check the belts and hoses. I recommended having them checked before leaving on a summer vacation if you are driving. If they break, you can be strand on the side of the road in the hot summer heat.
The battery is next on our list. The winter is tough on your battery. I recommend a high cold cranking amps battery. Battery's are rated by CCA, cold cranking amps. This term is used to define a battery's ability to start an engine in cold temperatures. The rating is the number of amps a new, fully charged battery can deliver at 0° Farenheit for 30 seconds, while maintaining a voltage of at least 7.2 volts, for a 12 volt battery. The reason I suggest a high CCA rating, is because higher the CCA rating greater is the starting power of the battery.
Many are shocked to discover the hot summer heat is also hard on a battery. Hopefully, the following suggestions can help prevent you from being stranded on the side of the road. All batteries more than three years old should be tested since there is a higher rate of failing with older batteries. This is a good time to clean the posts and connections. They need to be corrosion free. I recommend that you always carry jumper cables. The red is always put on the positive post (+) and the black cable is put on the negative (-).
This is also a good time to check all fluids. Let's not forget rear-end and other parts that need to be check for gear oil. See your owner manual for types and level of fluids in each system. I feel like I need to interject here. It is extremely important to fill to proper levels of fluids and use proper filters.
The next item we are going to address is tire pressure. It is vital to have properly inflated tires. Read your owner's manual if available, check driver’s door, or glove box to find the correct tire pressures. The tire pressure specifications are for when the tires are cold. Therefore be sure to check the pressure when the tires are cold. This means before the auto has been driven. Improper air pressure may lead to an accident. There are other reasons the correct tire pressure is important. It provides the optimal contact between the road and your tires. This helps your tires wear properly which extends the life of the tires greatly. Proper inflation also improves your fuel mileage. Your summer tire pressure may need to be adjusted to compensate for hotter operating conditions. Do remember to check your spare tire’s pressure bi-monthly especially before trips.
We need to be able to see thus wipers and wiper fluid are the next are to check out. The wiper blades need to be changed once a year. The reason is because the blades can dry out; when this happens they need to be replaced. The wipers can start separating the rubber can separate from the wiper. This can scratch your windshield. Now that we have change the wiper blades, lets check and fill the wiper fluid. This is especially needed for the summer with the increase in bugs, pollen, and dust. Not that our wipers are new and we have fluid lets clean the windshield. I recommend clean windshield, grille, hood, headlights, and bumper at least weekly. Bugs flying into our auto can damage the paint. The headlights on our autos need to be cleaned and polished for summer driving. At this time, check to see if all you lights are functioning properly.
We are ready for summer driving. I do recommend an emergency kit for the trunk. The following items are suggested. I keep them in my trunk. A First-Aid kit, A Flashlight, Extra Batteries, Triangle Reflector Kit, Working Gloves, a Change of Clothes, including Walking Shoes, Dried Fruit, Nuts, or other Non Perishable Food, Bottle Water, Sport Drink, Hand Sanitizer, Paper Towels, Clean Towel, Jumper Cables, A Gallon of Antifreeze, Duct Tape, Wire, Electrical Tape, Green Slime Sealant for Tires, and A few Hand Tools. These items can come in hand if you are stranded on the side of the road.
In conclusion, the above maintenance if done properly should extend the life of your auto. Changing oil, transmission fluid, checking belts and hoses, and checking coolant are the first step to ensure your auto will last many years to come. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of spring and the upcoming summer.
I am often ask how to protect your auto? Most want to know what they can do to get the most out of their autos. First, I recommend you change your engine oil regularly. I would increase the viscosity of my oil at least for summer driving. I personally use the higher viscosity oil in my autos year round.
I know what many are thinking? What is oil viscosity? Viscosity is simply the oil’s resistance to flow at a given temperature, usually we refers to viscosity as the thickness of the oil. The lower the viscosity rating or weight, the oil is thinner. The higher the viscosity rating, the oil is thicker. Some oils are also multi-viscous, which means the oil's thickness can change depending on its temperature. Multi-grade oils offer better engine protection than straight weight oils by preventing the oil from becoming too thick when cold, while maintaining a heavier oil weight when hot. The oil still thins out with heat, and thickens up as it cools, but at any given temperature it should measure within the specs for a weight oil at that temperature.
We need to discuss synthetic oils. As a usual rule, conventional oils lack the performance of synthetic oils in the areas of low-temperature performance and high-temperature oxidation stability. The synthetic oils do offer more protection. I personally like the synthetic oils. The synthetics seem to offer more protection for our engines. I recommend you follow your owner’s manual.
How do you know which type of oil to use in your auto? Your vehicle's owner's manual will list the manufacturer's oil recommendations. Many late model autos recommend oil grades of 0W-40, 5W-20, 5W-30. The owners manual should tell you what grade of oil to use in different climates, and temperatures.
Our transmissions are often overlooked. It is important to service your transmission. I recommend changing the fluid and filter the old fashion way. Service according to your owner manual, hard winter driving can be hard on a transmission. Many transmission problems come from overheating. We often overheat our transmissions when we tow heavy objects and continuous stop and go traffic. Winter driving in snow can overheat the tranmission especially rocking the vehicle from the snow when one gets stuck. The transmission fluid burns, at higher temperatures causing it to losing its lubricating quality. The fluid becomes oxidized leaving deposits all over inside the transmission. Not changing the fluid, too little fluid, using wrong type of fluid, sooner or later, this will results in transmission failure.
The Coolant or antifreeze mixture is essential to keeping your engine protected. The mixture of coolant and water inside your radiator needs to be a 50:50 mixture of antifreeze and water. This is important to protect your engine. During freezing winter weather too little antifreeze can put your engine and the components of the coolant system in danger of freezing and cracking. The hot summer heat can cause an auto with low coolant to overheat. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. When you combine the water with an equal amount of antifreeze, the new mixture boils at a higher temperature. The coolant also adds some protection to hoses and prevents some rust and corrosion. The coolant system needs to be flushed every 3 years or less depending on the PH of your coolant.
The belts and hoses are also essential to the operation of the engine. The belts and hoses during the winter months are subject to hot and cold temperature fluctuation. The summer heat is also hard on belts and hoses check the belts and hoses. I recommended having them checked before leaving on a summer vacation if you are driving. If they break, you can be strand on the side of the road in the hot summer heat.
The battery is next on our list. The winter is tough on your battery. I recommend a high cold cranking amps battery. Battery's are rated by CCA, cold cranking amps. This term is used to define a battery's ability to start an engine in cold temperatures. The rating is the number of amps a new, fully charged battery can deliver at 0° Farenheit for 30 seconds, while maintaining a voltage of at least 7.2 volts, for a 12 volt battery. The reason I suggest a high CCA rating, is because higher the CCA rating greater is the starting power of the battery.
Many are shocked to discover the hot summer heat is also hard on a battery. Hopefully, the following suggestions can help prevent you from being stranded on the side of the road. All batteries more than three years old should be tested since there is a higher rate of failing with older batteries. This is a good time to clean the posts and connections. They need to be corrosion free. I recommend that you always carry jumper cables. The red is always put on the positive post (+) and the black cable is put on the negative (-).
This is also a good time to check all fluids. Let's not forget rear-end and other parts that need to be check for gear oil. See your owner manual for types and level of fluids in each system. I feel like I need to interject here. It is extremely important to fill to proper levels of fluids and use proper filters.
The next item we are going to address is tire pressure. It is vital to have properly inflated tires. Read your owner's manual if available, check driver’s door, or glove box to find the correct tire pressures. The tire pressure specifications are for when the tires are cold. Therefore be sure to check the pressure when the tires are cold. This means before the auto has been driven. Improper air pressure may lead to an accident. There are other reasons the correct tire pressure is important. It provides the optimal contact between the road and your tires. This helps your tires wear properly which extends the life of the tires greatly. Proper inflation also improves your fuel mileage. Your summer tire pressure may need to be adjusted to compensate for hotter operating conditions. Do remember to check your spare tire’s pressure bi-monthly especially before trips.
We need to be able to see thus wipers and wiper fluid are the next are to check out. The wiper blades need to be changed once a year. The reason is because the blades can dry out; when this happens they need to be replaced. The wipers can start separating the rubber can separate from the wiper. This can scratch your windshield. Now that we have change the wiper blades, lets check and fill the wiper fluid. This is especially needed for the summer with the increase in bugs, pollen, and dust. Not that our wipers are new and we have fluid lets clean the windshield. I recommend clean windshield, grille, hood, headlights, and bumper at least weekly. Bugs flying into our auto can damage the paint. The headlights on our autos need to be cleaned and polished for summer driving. At this time, check to see if all you lights are functioning properly.
We are ready for summer driving. I do recommend an emergency kit for the trunk. The following items are suggested. I keep them in my trunk. A First-Aid kit, A Flashlight, Extra Batteries, Triangle Reflector Kit, Working Gloves, a Change of Clothes, including Walking Shoes, Dried Fruit, Nuts, or other Non Perishable Food, Bottle Water, Sport Drink, Hand Sanitizer, Paper Towels, Clean Towel, Jumper Cables, A Gallon of Antifreeze, Duct Tape, Wire, Electrical Tape, Green Slime Sealant for Tires, and A few Hand Tools. These items can come in hand if you are stranded on the side of the road.
In conclusion, the above maintenance if done properly should extend the life of your auto. Changing oil, transmission fluid, checking belts and hoses, and checking coolant are the first step to ensure your auto will last many years to come. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of spring and the upcoming summer.
How to Replace a Toyota Corolla 98-02 Inside Door Handle
 |
Tools Needed:
- Flat Head Screwdriver
- Philip Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Door Panel Remover Tool (if available)
- Old Big Towel's
- Replacement Car Door Handles
- Screw either New or from Old Door Handle
- You may need door panel clips
How to replace the inside door handle on a Geo/Chevrolet Prizm and a Toyota Corolla 98-02?
The amount of time needed for this repair will vary accord to your skill level from 30 minutes to one hour. I suggest you have a small box or magnetic tray to put your parts and screws into when they are removed.
- First remove the screw from the inside door handle, save this screw. The old door handle can be removed at this point. Sometimes the door handle is still connected to the door opening mechanism and will not come free. If this is the case do not worry, you can remove it after the door panel has been removed.
- Remove the arm rest in the middle of the door panel. This piece snaps off. You should use a flat-head screwdriver underneath the panel apply pressure to loosen the clips. Pull upward with constant even pressure, the arm rest will snap off.
- After removing the arm rest you will find two more screws, remove and save these screws.
- Next step is to remove the door panel with caution the clips break easily.
- Use your door panel remover tool (if available) start at the bottom of the door panel. If you are using a flat head screwdriver pull up, at this point use put your fingers under the plastic, and pull out towards you with firm, even pressure. Be careful these clips often break, they can be replaced.
- Go around the edges of the door unsnapping the door panel.
- When the panel is free, lift it up and over the locking mechanism. Be carefully do not let the door panel fall to the ground, it can get scratched. This is where the big old towel's come in handy. Let the panel rest on the towels.
- Power windows and locks will have wires coming from the door into the panel. The wires limit how far you can move the panel from the door. These wires can be unsnapped and the panel can be laid down. I suggest placing it on towel's to prevent scratching.
- The wires do not have to be unsnapped to replace the handle.
- The metal rod with an L-shape at the end extends out towards the door handle. The tip of the metal rod is to be inserted into the receiving hole on the replacement door handle. There is a piece of plastic that acts as a buffer that may still be connected to the piece of metal. You may need to remove the old piece. Your new door handles will already have this piece of plastic in the hole. Use whichever one works the best.
- Attach the metal rod to the door handle with the door handle inserted into its proper place in the door panel. You may need to snap the metal rod into place inside the door handle.
- Place the door handle in the door panel and to the door itself. There are three arms extending from the back of the door handle. The two L-shaped ones are on the top and bottom. The other arm is a pole, or cylinder. You will need to line up the holes as you reattach the door panel.
- Lift the door panel up over the locking mechanism when reattaching the door panel then lower it into position.
- The door handle should slide into place into the door, and you'll then have to slide it to one side in order to align the screw hole with the screw hole in the door.
- Once everything is lined up, apply firm pressure up against the panel to snap into place.
- When everything is snapped back into place, close the door and test the handle.
- Screw back in the two screws you removed behind the arm rest and one screw in the replacement handle.
- Reattach the arm rest to its original location, it will snaps back into place. Congratulations you are finished.
How to Save Money With Your Auto?
This is an article I wrote in 2009. I went back and shorten it. If you are like me, your automobile is a major investment. It is wise to do
preventive maintenance to extend the life of your auto. A tune-up is advised every twenty-four months or 30,000 miles. The
following is what needs to be done during your tune-up.
1. Change the spark plugs and plug wires. A set of high-quality wires is recommenced. If the plugs are platinum, they do not have to be changed for 30,000 miles.
2. The fuel filter needs to be changed. There can be small amount of water and debris trapped in the filter.
3. The PCV valve, (positive crankcase ventilation), valve needs to be replaced. The PCV valve can make your car run poorly if it gets clogged.
4. If your auto has a distributor, replace the distributor cap, and rotor button.
5. The air filter needs to be checked and replaced if dirty. It needs to be replaced especially if you live in a high smog or a dusty area.
6. The belts need to be checked for cracks, tears, and other signs of wear. The belts need to be replace if worn.
7. One needs to check all fluids under the hood. The brake fluid, power steering, coolant, transmission, oil, and windshield washer fluid, replenish as necessary. Change the oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles. One needs to time the tune-up with time to change the oil.
8. The battery needs to be checked clean terminals and cable ends.
9. The tires need to be checked and gauged, be sure to check the air pressure in the spare tire in the trunk.
The above procedures will help your auto perform at it's optimum level. These processes above can also increase your gas mileage.
1. Change the spark plugs and plug wires. A set of high-quality wires is recommenced. If the plugs are platinum, they do not have to be changed for 30,000 miles.
2. The fuel filter needs to be changed. There can be small amount of water and debris trapped in the filter.
3. The PCV valve, (positive crankcase ventilation), valve needs to be replaced. The PCV valve can make your car run poorly if it gets clogged.
4. If your auto has a distributor, replace the distributor cap, and rotor button.
5. The air filter needs to be checked and replaced if dirty. It needs to be replaced especially if you live in a high smog or a dusty area.
6. The belts need to be checked for cracks, tears, and other signs of wear. The belts need to be replace if worn.
7. One needs to check all fluids under the hood. The brake fluid, power steering, coolant, transmission, oil, and windshield washer fluid, replenish as necessary. Change the oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles. One needs to time the tune-up with time to change the oil.
8. The battery needs to be checked clean terminals and cable ends.
9. The tires need to be checked and gauged, be sure to check the air pressure in the spare tire in the trunk.
The above procedures will help your auto perform at it's optimum level. These processes above can also increase your gas mileage.
From Peace to Worry In A Manner Of A Few Hours
We had a good visit with my Mama at the hospital. My Dad, brother Joe, and my sister all went together. It was the first time Joe had got to go to the hospital. Mama had improved one hundred percent. We left with a good feeling. I had a good feeling about her recovery, that I did not have before this visit.
A few hours later, I got a breathless call from Mama at 11:37 PM she was upset because her heart had acted up and had to have another EKG. She is on a heart monitor. She had a restless night and had to be given a new heart medication and three shots for pain through the the night.
This got me to thinking about the the ebb and flow of life. We all experience good and bad situations in ours lives daily. Some of us can handle the ebb and flow of life easier than others. I have observed in life some get completely submerged in destructive thinking. It seems they tend to have more lows in their lives. I wonder do these individuals ever experience any good times? I wonder do they miss the good times in life wallowing in their pity? These individuals seem to think life is suppose to be all mountains and no valleys.
When we are in a valley, it is an opportunity to have greater faith in God. This can be an opportunity to grow spiritually. I realize more than ever there is an ebb and flow of life. It would help if we learned to embrace the valleys rather than resist them. We can use these times in the valleys to cultivate our relationship with God. I trust in his plan for my life. I believe God only wants good events in my life.
Needless to say today is a little stressful worrying about my Mama with the rest of life. A work friend made the statement, "you don't look stressed." Well, I am! I wonder why some seem to handle stress better than others?
It seems people want permanency with continuity and duration in life. I know I do. We need to realize the only permanency in life is the fact nothing last forever. Life is ever changing. The idea that we’re supposed to be on a mountain all the time is misleading and it causes many to have false expectations about life.
A few hours later, I got a breathless call from Mama at 11:37 PM she was upset because her heart had acted up and had to have another EKG. She is on a heart monitor. She had a restless night and had to be given a new heart medication and three shots for pain through the the night.
This got me to thinking about the the ebb and flow of life. We all experience good and bad situations in ours lives daily. Some of us can handle the ebb and flow of life easier than others. I have observed in life some get completely submerged in destructive thinking. It seems they tend to have more lows in their lives. I wonder do these individuals ever experience any good times? I wonder do they miss the good times in life wallowing in their pity? These individuals seem to think life is suppose to be all mountains and no valleys.
When we are in a valley, it is an opportunity to have greater faith in God. This can be an opportunity to grow spiritually. I realize more than ever there is an ebb and flow of life. It would help if we learned to embrace the valleys rather than resist them. We can use these times in the valleys to cultivate our relationship with God. I trust in his plan for my life. I believe God only wants good events in my life.
Needless to say today is a little stressful worrying about my Mama with the rest of life. A work friend made the statement, "you don't look stressed." Well, I am! I wonder why some seem to handle stress better than others?
It seems people want permanency with continuity and duration in life. I know I do. We need to realize the only permanency in life is the fact nothing last forever. Life is ever changing. The idea that we’re supposed to be on a mountain all the time is misleading and it causes many to have false expectations about life.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Twist and Turns of Life
Life seems to be filled with hills and valleys ups and downs. Our days are filled with twist and turns many with pleasant outcomes. Some of theses twist and turns are planned others are unplanned alone the stream of life. The days come and go before long a person will be in the autumn of their life. It is interesting the wide range of emotions that the subject of time triggers in us.
We long for the days to fly by in our childhood and youth. This seems especially true with teenagers wishing time to pass looking forward to this and that. They have not learned as children and teenagers that the months and years of their life seem to tumble over the waterfall of life. These days, months and years of life can never be regained.
I often hear people say, "I wish I knew then what I know now." Enjoy and appreciate life today there are not any "do-overs."
Adulthood approaches with all the responsibilities of an adult. It would be helpful if we learn to smell the roses along the stream of life. It seems we approach the waterfall of life without thought. When we go over the waterfall into the autumn of our life, it appears life downstream will never be so carefree as our childhood and teenager years.
This is my prelude into the subject of death and dying. It seems this conversation is reserved for when someone we know or love is dying. I think it would be less fear inducing to start exploring your thoughts, feelings, and fears about this subject before life demands it.
My Mother has been in the hospital for the past ten days much of this time in ICU. She has serious health issues. This latest turn of events has shone light on the autumn years of her life. I wonder how she feels about her life? Does she think it has been well spent?
How do you view and feel about death? Death is a part of our lives no matter our age or health conditions. When we think about death, it helps us face our fears of death. Life is not perpetual as a matter of fact it is always ending and always changing.
We long for the days to fly by in our childhood and youth. This seems especially true with teenagers wishing time to pass looking forward to this and that. They have not learned as children and teenagers that the months and years of their life seem to tumble over the waterfall of life. These days, months and years of life can never be regained.
I often hear people say, "I wish I knew then what I know now." Enjoy and appreciate life today there are not any "do-overs."
Adulthood approaches with all the responsibilities of an adult. It would be helpful if we learn to smell the roses along the stream of life. It seems we approach the waterfall of life without thought. When we go over the waterfall into the autumn of our life, it appears life downstream will never be so carefree as our childhood and teenager years.
This is my prelude into the subject of death and dying. It seems this conversation is reserved for when someone we know or love is dying. I think it would be less fear inducing to start exploring your thoughts, feelings, and fears about this subject before life demands it.
My Mother has been in the hospital for the past ten days much of this time in ICU. She has serious health issues. This latest turn of events has shone light on the autumn years of her life. I wonder how she feels about her life? Does she think it has been well spent?
How do you view and feel about death? Death is a part of our lives no matter our age or health conditions. When we think about death, it helps us face our fears of death. Life is not perpetual as a matter of fact it is always ending and always changing.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
How To Stop Sugar Cravings
Cravings can be hard to stop. It seems like sugar cravings are the worst. I have to eliminate sugar out of my body four to six days before I stop craving it. There have been times I was sugar free for four days and accidentally consumed sugar and it would start me carving sugar all over again. Once, my husband accidentally put sugar in my hot tea on the fifth day of me being sugar free.
It’s a vicious cycle being addicted to sugar. Our insulin levels rise when we eat sugar. We burn off some of the sugar and our insulin level starts to fall so we crave sugar to spike our insulin levels. This rise and drop leads us to feeling tired, and fatigued.
I can limit my sugar and be successful when I increase my protein. Protein is my friend when I am trying to kick the sugar habit. I also avoid artificial sweeteners, like Saccharin or Aspartame. They make me have sugar cravings.
My cravings are the worst when I have missed a meal. The best way for me to avoid this drop in sugar level is by eating every five hours with a healthy snack of protein in between the meals to avoid that drop in blood sugar. Eating three good meals a day with a snack in between meals.
Good luck kicking the sugar habit, it will improve your overall health!
It’s a vicious cycle being addicted to sugar. Our insulin levels rise when we eat sugar. We burn off some of the sugar and our insulin level starts to fall so we crave sugar to spike our insulin levels. This rise and drop leads us to feeling tired, and fatigued.
I can limit my sugar and be successful when I increase my protein. Protein is my friend when I am trying to kick the sugar habit. I also avoid artificial sweeteners, like Saccharin or Aspartame. They make me have sugar cravings.
My cravings are the worst when I have missed a meal. The best way for me to avoid this drop in sugar level is by eating every five hours with a healthy snack of protein in between the meals to avoid that drop in blood sugar. Eating three good meals a day with a snack in between meals.
Good luck kicking the sugar habit, it will improve your overall health!
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