Here are a half a dozen suggestions that work for me:
1. I Pray –
My faith in the Lord, knowing the Holy Spirit always is with me, is my first line of defense. I simply ask for His Peace to overcome the distress that is causing my stress. Usually that works if I just sit quietly long enough… and smile as I wait for His peace and confidence to flow through me. I know He is in charge – and He has my best interests at heart.
2. Take a walk or a ride
Go into nature and while I’m out and about, notice the beauty. Let the peacefulness of nature wash over me.
3. Reach out to friends.
Share my concerns with others and solicit their help. In the process, look for ways I can help them. Nothing makes me feel happier than being able to help another. My own stresses dissolve in the process.
4. Count my blessings.
Take my mind off the area that’s causing stress and remember all the areas of goodness & success in my life. Rejuvenate the “I can do this” spirit in me.
5. Put on some crazy music 🎶
… and let the theory of Music Therapy (the ISO Principle) wash over me as I gradually change crazy to rhythmic to slower, peaceful music. Watch … wait, and feel my mood change with the mood of the 🎵 music 🎼
6. Color!
Let the act of changing black and white to joyful color succeed in changing my stressful mindset to one of colorful positivity instead.
Which of those half a dozen ideas might work best for you?
Sermon Notes from the message
inspired by Colossians 3:12-17 “How Can I Keep from Singing?”
Delivered by Rev. Steve Hundley
today in McAllister, Montana
at our Little White Church in the Meadow
Why did God create this world?
We’ve given Him nothing but trouble.
It was enough that He created Adam,
Then the trouble seemed to double!
But Adam alone could not sing
In God’s perfect harmony.
He needed Eve and crickets, too.
Needed birds and waterfalls, and me!
Nature is awash with lovely sound –
Whipporwill and tree frogs sing.
I hear coyotes howling in the dark.
God made lovely sounds in everything.
God must have needed all those notes
From all Creation as they raise
Their voices in glory to Him.
He created us all to give Him praise.
If we don’t sing, we’re as good as dead!
Throughout history songs are recorded.
“Hallelujah” sang the angels on high.
We can read the songs the Psalms reported.
However, when we destroy the habitat
Of animals who sing and swing in trees,
Or the homes of God’s loving people,
We silence songs such as these.
How can we keep from singing?
How can we assure the continued song?
We must keep God’s creation alive
And praise our Lord as we sing along.
Join the birds, crickets, Joey and Rory
In beautiful songs of praise and love.
Join hands and hearts and keep alive
The melodies from God above.
Amen!
Our service in that little white church
was filled today with music and merriment.
Sing along with us as we have a great time
with “Daddy Sang Bass” (… Mama Sang Tenor).
Betcha can’t keep from singing!
Here I am! In the land of the morning star,
Will you send me an angel?
Wise men said, “Just raise your hand
And reach out… hear the voice from deep inside…
Close your eyes and you will find
Your way out of the dark.”
Here I am – in the land of the morning star.
A blogging friend posted this YouTube video yesterday morning.
Yesterday afternoon I needed a guardian angel to catch me before I fell.
It was a weird accident. I guess most accidents are.
I was just turning to head out of my kitchen and my sandal turned
before I did… and my body lunged sideways, banging my head on the log post.
I thought my guardian angel musta been working overtime elsewhere.
I gashed my head open – about a 2 inch gash – requiring four stitches.
Bob & I spent the afternoon in the emergency room at our local medical center.
So, that’s why I didn’t get this blog posted yesterday.
But, I am okay… and I guess my guardian angel was with me after all.
The CT scan showed no internal brain bleed. Could have been worse!
Keep me in your prayers, will ya? Weird falls are the #1 reason folks my age
end up in the emergency room… and it’s not my favorite place to be!
And beware those sharp turns in your kitchen! Oy Vey!!
I posted the link to this song,”Little Things Mean a Lot” by Kitty Kallen, popular back in the era of Doris Day … because a blogging friend wrote this week about how little things mean a lot. My friend is much too young to have ever heard of Kitty Kallen. Have you? Do you know this song?
The words and sentiment are timeless. Treat yourself by listening. And then tell me, what “little things” would you add to the lyrics?
Has the world changed that much since Kitty Kallen’s day?
Kitty Kallen, who sang with top bandleaders including Harry James and Artie Shaw, in an undated photograph (probably mid-’50’s).CreditCreditvia Photofest
