Live Healthy – Is Stress and Anxiety Taking You for a Ride on the Emotional Roller Coaster?

Find Out How Stress Affects More Than Your Moods!

Live healthy and stress less.

I know; much easier said than done in today’s busy world.

Are you stressed out these days?

Well you need to understand that worry and anxiety affects more than just our moods.

Truth is, even if we faithfully practice healthy habits like exercising and eating properly, the benefits we’ve gained from that will be thrown out the window if we let stress get the best of us!

The Stress Flare

How are your stress levels after you’ve had a long day at work and traffic on the freeway slows to a crawl? Or how about running late in the morning when getting the kids off to school because one unexpected thing after another continues to happen?

Listen, we’ve all been there as situations that are out of our control cause our tempers to flare and sometimes reach a boiling point. But what we need to be aware of is how this stress affects our body.

What happens in these stressful situations is that the body revs up production of a hormone called cortisol. Blood vessels constrict and divert the flow of blood from processes like digestion to the quick-acting muscles in the arms and legs, where an energy burst could be needed. The heart races to keep up with the frenzied motion, and the resulting hyper-alertness causes all sorts of anxiety.

We have to realize that even if we are health-conscious and go to great lengths to take care of our bodies, but we give stress, frustration, anger, worry, and anxiety the upper hand, we wipe out most of all the health benefits we have gained.

When we worry extensively, harbor bitterness, or give in to anger, these emotions pile stress on our immune system and weaken its ability to work properly. Stress is a key source for many ills such as: hypertension, elevated heart rate, headaches, and hormonal imbalances in the body.

Emotional Roller Coaster

Researchers are finding it more apparent that emotions are powerful forces within the human mind that clearly affect the body and soul. The proper adjustments in attitude can help prevent us from becoming unhealthy individuals.

Don Colbert, M.D., in his book Deadly Emotions, says that an emotional roller coaster saps a person physically and psychologically, which can leave both mind and body depleted of energy and strength. He also points out that medical studies indicate:

•  The mind and body are linked, which means how you feel emotionally can impact how you feel physically.
• Individuals who are fighting depression have an increased risk of developing cancer and heart disease.
• Emotions such as anxiety and fear have been linked to heart palpitations, irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches, and more.

Don’t Worry. Be Happy!

Negative emotions alter body chemistry and can be a force that affects us in many ways. For example, it can affect our ability to sleep and digest food.

When life’s pressures build, we tend to revert back to unhealthy habits and turn to junk food for comfort. And we have no problem justifying it because of the intense pressure at work or at home, in our relationships, or dealing with financial setbacks, etc.

Be aware though, that turning to a diet of comfort food, junky snacks, or gooey desserts is going backwards, not forward, on the road to healthy living. Instead of these rich foods taking your mind off your troubles, they can actually compound your difficulties and add even more emotional stress. Know this and strive to make the better choices even in the midst of your struggles.

“Have no anxiety about anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 
– Philippians 4:6-7

So, go ahead; don’t worry – be happy! In reality, worry and stress are symptoms of a lack of trust in our heavenly Father. We need to work on doing what Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:34-35 to cure anxiety; which is to ‘seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself.’

May you seek first the kingdom of God and let His peace keep your heart and mind as you enjoy a life of growing prosperity!

God bless you always -

Cheers,
Brenda

Amazing Grace – Rhema Marvanne Christian Music Video

“Amazing Grace” sung by Rhema Marvanne

This version of “Amazing Grace” is sung by Rhema Marvanne, a talented 7 year old Gospel singer. It is in memory of her mother Wendi Mercy Marvanne who died of cancer in November 2008.

Enjoy this beautiful song!

God bless you,
Brenda

P.S. Download “Amazing Grace” by Rhema Marvanne on amazon.

Christian Meditations – What Does Prayer Have to Do With Christian Meditation?

How do Prayer and Meditation Relate to Each Other?

Christian meditation is time devoted to being in the presence of God and consuming God’s Word.

There are many forms of meditation and prayer is one of them.

In general, meditation on God’s Word primarily involves hearing from God and prayer is primarily about speaking to God.

Prayer is often defined as spiritual communion with God.

“Prayer is the most important tool for your mission in the world. People may refuse our love and message, but they are defenseless against our prayers.” 
– Dr. Rick Warren

God’s desire is to have close fellowship with us, His children. And like all relationships that involves a commitment of time and two-way communication.

In His Presence Through Christian Prayer and Meditation

From the earliest of days, prayer has been an essential part of meditation for Christians. Those who practice a deep, contemplative form of prayer often speak of it as a sense of “being one with the Lord” or being consumed in God’s love. But they don’t necessarily think of it in terms of meditation.

We see in the scripture that the psalmist used meditation as an approach to God and prayed that the meditation of his heart be sweet (104:34) and acceptable to God (19:14). His meditation also led him to a deeper and greater understanding of God’s Word (Psalm 49:3).

Christians sometimes think of meditation as quiet prayer, a prayer without petition, since the Lord already knows our needs. (Matthew 6:8) This might involve prayer that includes biblical confession of God’s Word. Praying God’s Word is praying His will.

Spiritual Discipline of Christian Prayer and Meditation Taps Into the Supernatural of God

The practice of praying God’s Word is at the same time meditating His Word. The spiritual and physical discipline needed for regular prayer and meditation will soon become almost effortless with daily practice.

Eventually we notice a life of living deliberately in the presence of God always; throughout the waking day.

“What blessed excitements those have who are much alone with Christ!… Such a man never has a cold heart or a slack hand who is much in meditation with his Lord Jesus.” 
– Charles H. Spurgeon

As we tap into the realm of the supernatural God provides, through prayer and meditation, we live a victorious life because we are connected to the life force and power of God.

Do yourself a favor: Be the success God created you to be. How? By daily staying consumed and tapped into His presence, power, and love through prayer and meditation in the Word of God!

God bless you always,
Brenda

Self-Esteem – 10 Empowering Ways to Look Your Best and Live with Confidence!

Empower Yourself With Confidence and Look Your Best

Empower yourself with confidence on the inside and you’ll begin to look your best on the outside.

We often spend lots of time and money on dressing up our outward appearance with the latest hair styles, lotions, sprays, make-up, designer clothes, etc.

Yet, there are many things we can do on the inside…

that will help us shine on the outside.

10 Empowering Ways to Look Your Best:

1. Help Others. You’ll Be Glad You Did.

How can helping others make you look good? We are here to serve others and in doing so we build our confidence. The satisfaction of helping others allows us to walk tall with our head up knowing we take time to put others first.

2. Talk and Walk with Happiness. God Created You.

Why walk around feeling sad and talking about yourself like a worthless nobody? The Almighty God of the universe created you with a unique divine purpose for your life on this earth. Be happy knowing your heavenly Father favors you and let your talk and walk show it.

3. Choose Joy No Matter What Happens Today.

How can you choose joy when there is trouble in your life? True joy comes from peace with God and putting your trust in Him. You can live with joy and confidence knowing God is with you even in your days of trouble.

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.” – Psalm 28:7

4. Be Content With Yourself and Do Not Envy Others.

Why let the stress of jealousy and envy of others make you look your worst? Learn to be content and thankful with who you are and what you have. God made you the unique you for a reason. Ask God to help you change what needs to change in your life and be happy for others when they are blessed.

5. Be Generous to God and the People Around You.

There is nothing like being refreshed to look your best! And God says that those who refresh others will they themselves be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25) When you are generous with your time and money towards God and others, you will enjoy a refreshing from the inside out that lets you shine and look your best.

6. Speak What is True and With Lots of Kindness.

How do you look at honest, kind people compared to liars and mean people? Those who speak the truth with kindness put their best side forward; and it shows on the outside. Honest people look their best, because they live their best.

7. Keep Your Heart Free of Wrong Desires.

Keep your heart full of healthy, positive, godly desires. The desires of our heart are the things we are going to think on and speak on. And these are the things that are going to come to pass in our life. So look your best by letting godly desires manifest in your life.

8. Take Care of Your Appearance.

Okay. So we weren’t all born looking like Barbie and Ken. But we still need to do the best with what we have and learn to ‘accentuate the positive.’ Taking care of your outward appearance increases your confidence, and greater confidence helps you look even better on the outside; a nice little cycle to get started.

9. Be Real. No Need to Fake It.

Can’t you usually spot a fake a mile away? No need to be one. No need to try and be someone else, because you are not. You are you. So just be real and be you. Again, learn to do the best with what you have and be confident in you who you are. The real you looks much better than the fake you!

10. Wear a Smile. Smile God Loves You!

Who can deny a smile to look your best? And who can deny the power of love to put a smile on your face? Even if you don’t have a special sweetheart in your life, you always have a God who loves you. And when you have the love of God in your life, you can’t help but smile and look your best.

Start Today. Begin to put these ten empowering ways into practice, and walk confident and look your best.

May you be empowered on the inside so you can look your best on the outside and enjoy a life of growing prosperity!

God bless you -

Cheers,
Brenda

“God of Wonders” – Third Day Christian Music Video

“God of Wonders” by Third Day

“God of Wonders beyond our galaxy,
You are holy, yes You are holy,
The universe declares Your majesty,
You are holy, holy,
Lord of heaven and earth.

Early in the morning,
I will celebrate the light,
When I stumble in the darkness,
I will call Your name by night.

God of Wonders beyond our galaxy,
You are holy, yes You are holy,
The universe declares Your majesty,
You are holy, holy,
Lord of heaven and earth… Hallelujah!”

“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
– Exodus 20:11

“Hearken to this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wonderous works of God. Do you kow when God disposed them and caused the light of His cloud to shine? Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wonderous works of Him which is perfect in knowledge?”
– Job 37:14-16

Enjoy this song by Third Day!

God bless you always -
Cheers,
Brenda

Confess Success – God Declares You Prosperous and Successful! Do You?

Why Not Agree with God and Confess His Good Success on Your Life?

Prosperous success requires - 

having a mindset that strives for success.

God wants you to be successful in all that you do.

God declares you prosperous and successful…

so begin to agree with God’s Word.

Be a person of the Word; speak the Word.

Think and Imagine Success

If we want to stay in a place of growing prosperity and constant success we must diligently seek God and His presence at all times. (Ecclesiastes 8:12) The thoughts and images that we allow God’s Word to create inside of us are powerful forces that cause us to succeed in every part of life – spiritually, physically, and financially.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” — Joshua 1:8

Meditating and thinking on God’s positive, life-filled words have the power to change your life.

Speak Success

Having prosperous success means regularly speaking and confessing God’s Word. His word will manifest results, but we have to speak it. We can’t expect a life of growing prosperity while we constantly speak the opposite of God’s Word and confess things such as; ‘Nothing I ever do works out.’

“Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” — Job 22:28

Keep in mind: As you regularly speak God’s words of truth, your negative thoughts of doubt will gradually fade.

Confess and Declare Success

Take time daily to confess and declare over your life the same things that God declares over you. The following is a sample confession to get you started:

‘I declare the good success of God on my life. I confess that I have a spirit of faithfulness, wisdom, diligence and giving. I give bountifully and I reap bountifully. I am blessed coming in and blessed going out. God has given me power to be successful. The light and favor of God are shining on me and I am victory minded in everything I do. I am a winner, an overcomer, and I triumph and live successful to the glory of God. Everything I put my hand to prospers. Success is overtaking me in Jesus’ name.’

Believe me. Once you start to keep God first place in your life, you can expect His blessings. God declares you successful, so begin to agree with the Word of God, observe to do it and make your way prosperous.

May you declare the success of God on your life and live in growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing -

God bless you always -
Cheers,
Brenda

Growing Prosperity – People Want to Know Your Secret When You Prosper in Tough Times!

How Do Some Continue to Prosper In Tough Economic Times?

Prospering in bad economic times…

makes people take notice.

They will want to know your secret.

And sharing your secret for -

abundant success…

is a great way to be a blessing to others.

Growing Prosperity in Bad Economic Times

Here we are. Economic conditions are bad. Even so, you continue to drive new vehicles, live in better homes, and wear quality clothes. Everybody at work is saying, “What are we gonna do? Gas prices are going up, food prices are increasing, blah, blah, blah.” They moan and complain and bellyache.

You refuse to be a part of that conversation. These conditions do not faze you one bit. People start to take serious notice of that. They begin to approach you and ask, “What is your secret?”

The Secret for Abundant Success in Tough Times

So what is your secret? You tell them your secret is the fact that you got turned on to the truth of the God’s Word; that you got a hold of some powerful principles in His Word and put them to work by faith. The result is manifested blessings in your life.

If we are going to survive in this world and prosper, we need the blessing of the Lord. Unless of course, we plan to try and make it the world’s way; which generally means having to lie, cheat, steal, etcetera. When we use God’s system of prosperity we do not have to do those things.

What Do You Seek First?

Those who walk closely with God are not bothered much by the things going on in the world around them. Others may become more unstable and fearful as things get worse and worse, but those who live according to God’s ways maintain peace and stability.

“Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” 
– Matthew 6:33

God wants us to seek Him first and not be like so many in the world who seek after money and riches. We should seek the way to please God, and seek to be right with Him. When we seek the kingdom of God first, all the other things will be added unto us.

You know what happens when all the other things begin to be added unto us? People begin to take notice. Others will begin to see the blessing of God upon us; and not just the financial abundance of God, but the priceless peace of God.

Get the secret or share the secret. Now get out there and discover God’s system of prosperity. Put it into practice and begin walking in the full blessing of the Lord. If you are already living by His system, and others are standing up and taking notice, then be ready to share your secret for abundant success.

May you seek first the kingdom of God and be blessed with a life of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing -

Cheers,
Brenda

The Greatness of Our God – Hillsong Live Christian Music Video

“The Greatness of Our God” Live by Hillsong

“Give me eyes to see more of who You are,
Make what I behold still my anxious heart,
Take what I have known and break it all apart,
For You my God, are Greater Still!

…I spent my life to know, and I’m far from close -
to knowing all You are, the Greatness of Our God!

Give me grace to see beyond this moment here,
to believe that there is nothing left to fear,
and that You alone are high above it all,
for You my God are Greater still!

…there is nothing that could ever separate us…
no words can say, no song convey -
the Greatness of Our God!”

“I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name for ever and ever.
Every day will I bless You; and I will praise Your name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall declare
Your mighty acts.
I will speak of the glorious honor of Your majesty, and of Your wonderous works… And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall abundantly utter the memory of Your great goodness,
and shall sing of Your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy…
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.
The Lord is near unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth…
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever.”
– Psalm 145: 1-8,17-18,21

Enjoy this beautiful song!

God bless you,
Brenda

P.S. “The Greatness of Our God” is from the Hillsong Live album “The Beautiful Exchange” which can be found on amazon.