Pray, Don't Wish

Christian author and speaker Ed Cole says: "Wishing will never be a substitute for prayer." And he's right.

The apostle Paul wrote: "In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil 4). By giving our requests to God, we're also supposed to give all our anxieties, worries, wishes, and hopes to God that come along with our requests.

Peter wrote: "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (I Peter 5).

Don't wish for things to get better. Pray for them. Give all your hopes, dreams, wishes, anxieties, and requests to God. When you do, you can rest assured that they're in truly Good Hands.

How to Defeat Worry and Anxiety

In his letter to the church in Philippi, the apostle Paul wrote: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:6-7).

How can we put Paul's admonition into practice? How can we win the war against worry and anxiety?

Here are a few tips to help...

1. Pray
You need a weapon to fight a battle. You need something to occupy your mind, to channel the energy which you would otherwise use ("waste" would be a better word) by worrying. The best tool is the one Paul speaks of in Philippians 4, and that's PRAYER.

Don't worry about things. PRAY about them!

2. Count Your Blessings

Worry takes place when our minds focus on things that are bothering us - both real and imagined. These things may be happening now or may be future possibilities. Rather than focus on the negatives, why not focus on the positives? Count your blessings. They are JUST AS REAL as the stuff over which you may be tempted to worry. So, focus on them.

3. Study Anxiety, Fear, and Worry

Brush up on how worry works. Study how the mind processes feelings and emotions. Be proactive in learning how your brain works - and what you can do about it. Here are a couple articles on the subjects of worry, stress, etc. that can get you started...

***"Five Simple Ways to Reduce Anxiety"

***"How to Effectively Cope With Stress"

Be Thankful for Each Day

Did you wake up this morning? If so, did you take a moment to thank God for life another day? Did you thank Him for the opportunity to spend more time with your loved ones, to make a bigger difference around you, and to serve Him more?

We tend to take for granted the things that we have, and always look to the things we don't have. We orient ourselves around what we want, whether it be more money, better health, or whatever. Rarely do we take the time to just say "Thank You" (and mean it!) for all that we already DO have.

Chances are, if you're reading this, that you have a roof over your head, clothes on your back, food in your stomach, and the freedom to enjoy these things and more.

Let's be thankful for all that we have, including life itself.

Be Thankful!

Happy Independence Day

Today (July 4) marks the 233rd birthday of the United States of America! Happy Birthday, America! May we as Americans have many more Independence Days to celebrate!

Sarah Palin Resigning? Say What?

Shocking news...Sarah Palin is resigning as governor of Alaska, a post to which she was elected in 2006. Her early departure means she won't even have served ONE full term.

Palin's explanation is that she had decided not to seek reelection, and therefore didn't want to finish out her term as a "lame duck."

I'm sorry, but that's not a good enough reason. Governors (like other public officials) are elected to specific terms of office - one term at a time. Sarah Palin is of course under no obligation to seek a second term, but she most certainly is under an obligation to complete the term to which she was elected, unless there's a very good reason to leave prematurely.

The "inside story" is that Palin is leaving the governorship to prepare for her likely attempt at the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. If so, this is a bad call on her part. By prematurely resigning from one position to seek a higher position, she undercuts her credibility and image. Far better for her to finish her term and then focus on her next goal.

But even IF she was to end her service prematurely, she's got plenty of time. Why not serve another year - and then resign in the summer of 2010??

The Democrats frankly have a point in calling this "erratic behavior," unless.....

Could there be more to this story? We'll have to stay tuned to find out. I sure hope this is just bad judgment on Palin's part. The GOP can't afford another scandal.

Those that know me know that I'm fond of Sarah Palin. I think she's been an energetic breath of fresh air to the Republican Party, even though she's come off as a bit too amateurish in certain interviews and is reportedly difficult to work with (at least for some people). But I can forgive those things, as long as the person in question shows good judgment and character. This decision calls at least the former into question, and possibly the latter.

And that's a shame. I want nothing more than to speak favorably about Palin, but I just can't bring myself to do so in this situation. Sorry.

Happy Second of July!

On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress approved a resolution, drafted by Richard Henry Lee, officially separating the thirteen American colonies from the British Empire. The next day, John Adams wrote his wife, Abigail, that the "Second of July" would forever be remembered as America's Independence Day.

Happy Second of July!