blog is a many splendored thing

Proverbs 15:1 – (KJV) – 15 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but A Stressed Tongue Must be Tamed! grievous words stir up anger. Stress can be a killer.  It will eventually kill you and/or your relationships.  Stress contributes to health problems, mental and emotional problems, and relationship problems. I need to be especially aware of some of the symptoms and side effects of stress.  Stress can manifest itself in many ways.  Sometimes I experience pain; stress grabs me in my neck and shoulders and sometimes in my jaw (because I clench my teeth).  Sometimes, stress affects my stomach and bowels and rears its ugly head causing digestive issues.  Stress can do wicked things to our minds, our bodies, and our soul.  Not to mention our ears, and our mouths.  Yes, I said our ears and our mouths! One of the first places I notice stress is in my ears; when I’m stressed out I hear everything with a critical ear.  I hear criticism, ...

Proverbs 1:19 (KJV) - So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. As you have guessed, I have invested a lot of time, money, and effort in accumulating stuff.  There are some guilty secrets associated with having so much stuff, I spent more than I had, I neglected my obligations, bills weren’t paid, and people got hurt. Selfishness, greed, envy, and covetousness have created tremendous stress in our home, indebted us to unscrupulous creditors, damaged our testimony, and dishonored God.  I wasted precious resources, meant to serve God and others, on stuff I didn’t need and don’t even use anymore.  That time, money, and effort should have been used to His honor and glory! It sounds strange, but I have had an emotional bond to my stuff.  I got the stuff to fill gaps in my life, and my heart, because the pain of emptiness was too great to bear.  It didn’t work!  I was still miserable, and ...