For two years before the healing of my chronic back pain, I went through intense revisiting of the past. I now continue to work on things that come up from time to time that create stress. It’s great to begin to get a handle on your stress. I was excited about the progress.

But just then, several things happened that put me in an intense period of stressful situations. Jobs, ministry, education, and other factors removed several key leaders from our church in Adoor. This put me in a tight situation where more things depended on me than ever before.

It was at this point that we finally got the permission to build the hall we were wanting to build for so long. Just at the most inappropriate time, just when I felt helpless, this new task began. Inundated with construction details, fundraising, and a host of other things along with my role as a pastor and instructor at the seminary, it is surely prime time for stress.  

Through all of this, I believe God’s hand is in all of this. Above all of that, I believe His hand is on me as well. Now, here’s what I’m learning:

1. Accept That Annoying People Will Continue to Annoy

You wish those people with annoying attitudes will stop already. But never. That’s what they’re supposed to do. Maybe they’re put there by God for that very purpose. Or maybe that’s their purpose in life.

Whichever way you look at the situation, you’ve got to accept that people will not change. They will remain the same regardless of your attempts. Accept them for who they are. Accept that they will always continue to behave in the same annoying way they’ve always behaved.

2. Understand That You Can Handle a Lot More Than You Think

There is a limit in your mind regarding how much you can handle. When you get to that threshold, you wonder what will happen next. Will I make it? Will I explode? Is this the end?

But then you wake up the next day and realize you are still alive. That’s when you begin to wonder if you truly can handle more than you thought you could. You only know this when you’ve been pushed to the limits. Yes, you can handle much more.

3. Increase Your Response Time Gap 

One sure way stressful people can save the day is to simply wait. Just wait to give a response. Just wait to give a reply. Tell them you’ll call back later with a reply. Put that email aside and reply tomorrow. Say you’ll let them know tomorrow and walk away.

That increase in your response time gap will do wonders. You’ll get to think things over and talk to others. Get a handle on your emotions, fear, anxiety, and anything else that haunts you. Just simply take more time for a response.

4. Focus Your Time and Attention on Deserving Matters 

Sure you can do more, but should you? Just because you can do more doesn’t mean that you need to fill your calendar full of activities. Focus your time and attention on those things that matter to you and those you care about. Devote your precious time to those things that are meaningful and productive. Think long term.

This is your opportunity to perfect your “fine art” of saying NO. Many things will pull for your attention, but you must evaluate and determine what you will give your time to. There are times when you need to spend countless hours for a particular task. These are times of focus that are required for important tasks, but these are to be short lived. You cannot go on like that for ever. You cannot be pushing your limits all the time.

5. Return to God Every Time Stress Gets You

When you are pushed to the limits, you feel the pressure building up in your mind, emotions, head, or chest. You begin to feel regret, remorse, anger, sadness, or a combination of these. You wonder how you can keep control of your self. You realize you can’t.

This is the time to step back and turn to God. Every time you’re stressed, you’ve got to go to Him and cry out for His presence. Ask God to come fill you with the Holy Spirit once again. These will be simply words at that moment of intense pressure, but they will be words of faith when you really mean it. This is a vital point in your relationship with God.

It is at this point where you acknowledge your creator for who He is. He is your sustainer, provider, and sanity-giver. Go to God every time. Get a grip on life and a grip on stress. Stressful times will always be there, and God will always be there for you.

Would you like to add to this list? Please share it in the comments.

There is plenty of confusion regarding wealth and prosperity. Some people put blame on those who teach on the blessings of God. They are accused of preaching a “Prosperity Gospel,” one that they claim is not Biblical.

 
In Matthew 26, when someone used expensive perfume on Jesus, the disciples complained that the money could have been used to help the poor. Several years ago, when our church met in a hotel here in our town, several people complained that the expense of renting that hall was a waste.
With all these arguments swirling around, many people feel a sense of guilt regarding what they own and enjoy in life. In this brief post, we won’t be able to take an exhaustive look at this issue, but I want to draw out some principles from Hosea 10:1,2: “Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars. Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars and destroy their pillars.”
It would be impossible to define what amount of salary is too much, which car is too expensive, how big of a house one should live in, how costly can your wardrobe be, or other factors that we use to determine wealth. From the above verses I believe there are three things we need to keep a check on: Your altars, pillars, and heart.
1. Check your altars
When the Israelites increased in wealth, they built more altars. Their love for God became a matter of influence. They used “religion” as an opportunity to build relationships with foreign nations. They hoped that the increase in such relations would bring in more wealth. God was never interested in religion. He wanted a relationship with his people.
When your wealth increases, what happens with your relationship with God? Does it go deeper and more personal? Or, do you try to improve your religiosity and influence through religious connections? Your connections and relations may increase and bring you more wealth, but gradually you will loose your relationship with God.
Don’t fear, hate, or oppose wealth. Just keep a check on your most prominent relationship: God.
2. Check your pillars
For Israel, pillars could be part of the worship, where they had used Asherah poles from neighboring religions. But pillars could also indicate the large pillars used for the prominent buildings of their dignitaries. Their wealth and power was displayed by building larger and more pillars.
These structures indicated wealth, affluence, and power. This was an opportunity to flaunt their wealth so others can see. They gained satisfaction from this grandiose display of great structures so others can see their greatness.
Wealth was to be used for one’s own purposes and to help others. Flaunting and displaying was never the purpose. These were clear indicators that they were using their wealth in an improper manner.
Don’t fear, hate, or oppose wealth. Just keep a check on your pillars: what do you display?
3. Check your heart
They were guilty of having a heart that is false. Initially, God had given them a “land flowing with milk and honey” so that they can be a blessing to others. They were to be a lifeline to the needy – the widows, orphans, and the destitute.
Their present condition proved that their purpose had moved away from the original plan of God for their prosperity. An internal shift had taken place, showing that their heart moved away from God’s plan. They had a heart that shifted from God’s ways. Thus the Bible says that their heart is false.
Along with enjoying the prosperity that God gives, use what you have to bless others. The danger is that many of us will look at our finances and claim that we are not prosperous. But we need to bless others whatever our financial condition. Make sure your heart stays focused on God’s plan for your life to be a blessing to others.
Don’t fear, hate, or oppose wealth. Just keep a check on your heart.

“You people die healthy, I'm gonna die happy.” This was the response of a young man enjoying a fat greasy burger, fries, and a large drink. He was sitting in the employee lounge with a group of people who were mostly eating healthy food. When they told him about the benefits of eating healthy, those words were his response.

I just read a quote on Zig Ziglar’s Facebook page that says “You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice.” Perfect timing since I was about to write on Hosea 8:7a “For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”

From ancient days, this truth has been a standard. This concept was probably developed from the agricultural past of our ancestors. Even now, this remains true, and we still struggle to live by it. It seems we are trapped by our choices. Here are four reasons why we seem to fall into this trap.

1. We think choices imply permission

This may be a logical fallacy on our part. In essence, “what else is a choice for but to take it?” We assume that if the option is open and available, then it is there for our purpose. We jump to a conclusion and make the choice without thinking through the consequences.

2. We have not been taught how to make choices

This is a common struggle of people who had parents who were too controlling. Many domineering parents are like that for the good of their children. They want to protect them from harmful decisions. But this approach makes them unable to make intelligent choices as adults in the future.

3. The losses we face cause us to think we deserve some things

Those who experience numerous losses in their childhood may grow up with a scarcity perspective. So, when choices are available for them, they jump to decisions without sufficient thought. It is as if these are opportunities to make up for the losses they have faced.

4. Consequences are not clear to us 

We may be blinded to negative consequences due to various reasons such as inexperience, lack of good advice, or simply ignorance. Such a lack of clarity about the consequences of our choices will definitely make us vulnerable to making the wrong choices. We may opt for whatever appeals to our senses at that moment in time.

As God’s creation, the choices we have in life are a gift to us. The world was created with plenty of variety and choices. Make sure to avoid the dangers and stay away from the traps. But feel free to explore your choices and take your liberty.