Holiday stress? Give it to the Lord

Bountiful Blessings

November 25^th, 2012

Did you have a nice Thanksgiving? The common theme that I am hearing is that everyone ate too much. Did you do any Black Friday shopping? Complete and utter madhouse. Jim was having way too much fun people watching. Mom was riding in a wheelchair at Target when some nice gentleman chose to climb over her and push her out of the way. Well, for every bad incident, there is a good one. A nice (and I mean that sincerely) lady saw what happened and began yelling and pointing at the man like he was a shoplifter. Telling everyone around what he did. Bet he regretted that! J What is it about the holidays that make people all crazy? It is supposed to be a blessed celebration. Well, Jim and I did spend a relaxing celebration. We went to the beach. Yep, you heard me. For Thanksgiving dinner, we had eggs at the Waffle House (only thing open). No stress. No worries. Everyone deserves a break today. (A shoutout for MickeyDsJ)

Holidays do bring stress. Big, fat, whopping bucketfuls of stress. Too little money. Too little time. Inlaws. Parties. Lights. Decorations. Crazy drivers. Packed shopping malls. Ok, I am hyperventilating just thinking about it. Clearly, this is not right.  We know better. But sometimes knowing is not enough.

So today, I want to keep this short and sweet. I want to ask you to do something. Not for me. For you. I want you to take some time for you. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? An hour. A day. A weekend. Doesn’t matter. You just need “me time”. Turn the cell phone on vibrate. Cmon, I know that you can do it. One button. Ok. Good job. The worst has been done. From here on out, its simple. What do you want to do with your “me time”? Read? Relax and watch tv? Go shopping alone with no particular purpose? Get a mani/pedi? A massage? Take a hike? Go fishing (even though it is a little cold for that)? Jim and I took a couple of days to go to the beach. We ate at our favorite restaurant. We listened to the waves. We didn’t worry about a dirty house, bills or work. It was WONDERFUL. I finished my Christmas. Most is wrapped. Now I just have to get down the tree and decorations. Those few days gave me a new attitude and demeanor. Driving down 280 this morning to work, people pulling out in front of me – no biggie. Thinking about what all I need to do – no biggie. Money – well, not gonna lie, that is always an issue, isn’t it?

God wants us to be fully restored – physically, mentally and spiritually. What good are we to him if we are exhausted or stressed? He tells us in the Bible to come to him and he will give us rest. Today, please heed this promise. Take your worries, take your stress, give it to the Lord. Then enjoy your “me time”.

Bible verse for the week:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Prayer for the week:

Dear Lord,

I have allowed the weight of the world to burden my shoulders. I am tired and I am weary. I cannot carry this burden. I bow before you seeking your forgiveness and your mercy.  Please help me to be strong but also to know when to let go. With your help, Lord, may I find rest. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Bible fun for the week:

Since we are talking about a carousel, the answer to this question starts with at least one letter from the end of the name of the figure seated in question number 10. The answer to the next question starts with at least one letter from the end of the name of the figure seated in this question, and so on. For example, Elijah might follow Ezekiel on the carousel (Ezeki*EL-EL*ijah). To whom did the Lord say the following verse? "Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me" (Exodus 8:1 King James Version) Answer: (5 letters)

2. In a dramatic biblical moment, who said these words to his twin brother? "Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint" (Genesis 25:30 King James Version) Answer: (4 letters)

3. The following verse is how we get to know the first king of Israel, and one of the Bible's most tragic figures, for the first time. Who was he? "... and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people." (1 Samuel 9:2 King James Version) Answer: (4 letters)

4. Who was the firstborn mentioned below, whom Laban gave to Jacob? "And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn." (Genesis 29:26 King James Version) Answer: (4 letters)

5. Who was the king of Israel referred to in the following verse? "And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." (1 Kings 21:7 King James Version) Answer: (4 letters)

6. Very little is known about this member of the minor prophets. In the following verse, which opens the book bearing his name, we see a very rare outcry on what he perceives as divine injustice. Who was this prophet? "O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!" (chapter 1:2 King James Version) Answer: (8 letters - watch your spelling, 3 K's here)