There is a lot going on in the world, way too much fighting and turmoil for my liking.  I choose peace.  That doesn’t mean I ignore what is going on around the world but it does mean that I don’t allow the events to bring unnecessary stress, anxiety, and depression to my life.  As we watch television and interact with social media it is difficult to keep emotions in check.  We get drawn in and before we even realize our emotions drift and worry surfaces.  It is difficult to find a balance between having awareness and concern for…

What is it that makes us scared to put all of our faith in Jesus? Some of us are well versed in the Bible, devoted to prayer, faithful in attending worship services, and/or generally live our lives by the “golden rule.”  If we are doing some or all of those things, what makes us hesitant to surrender to Jesus?  Could it be that we think we have surrendered to Jesus, but in reality are still in control of our daily lives? I have found that I frequently have to surrender and give up control.  I surrender and shortly after…

It is time to restore our self-esteem, faith, and hope.  A recurring theme as I walk through life is stress and anxiety.  In years past it is not something that has been part of my everyday conversations.  Currently, there is seldom a day that goes by without having a serious conversation with someone regarding a form of stress or anxiety. I believe all the stress and anxiety people are facing puts a strain on our self-esteem.   We start to question if we are enough.  We begin to talk poorly about ourselves rather than treating ourselves with respect.  It…

When I am feeling discouraged I find myself consistently using the same tools to navigate myself out of that dark place.  I have learned not to let myself dwell on things that lead me to negative feelings about myself or others.  We all face different levels of discouragement.  Some are so deep it is difficult to function other times it is an inconvenience that interrupts an otherwise uneventful day.  It may be created by my own actions other times from the stress of being in an uncomfortable environment.  The moment I feel discouraged I look for an opportunity to clear…