How Stressed Are You Today?
Some of the traits of stress prone people include:
- Planning their day unrealistically.
- Feeling the need to be the first to arrive and the last to leave an event.
- Always in a hurry.
- Making no plans for relaxation.
- Feeling guilty about doing anything other than work.
- Looking at unforseen problems as a setback or disaster.
- Always thinking about other things when working.
- Always feeling the need to be recognized.
If the above describes how you approach life at times you may want to consider some practical ways of dealing with the challenges of life. Many have found these suggestions to be helpful. First, recognize the aggravating aspects of your job and ACCEPT them rather than fight them. The wisdom to discern what you can and cannot change is essential in accepting the tasks before you today. Secondly, learn to identify your emotional needs and find healthy ways to meet these needs. Thirdly, practice listening, it’s often more relaxing and refreshing than talking. Finally, be sensitive to change, sense it coming and make adjustments.
You may find the daily disciplines of seeking joy, patience, trust, prayer, reflection and meditation useful. Practice healthy living and apply it to your life. There are some very encouraging words of stress reduction and life renewal in Phillipians 4:4-8.
If we can be of spiritual and emotional assistance to you contact the office of Midnight Hour Ministries. Our hope for you today is that you will experience a balanced and healthy day of just the right ingredients to challenge AND refresh you physically, spiritually and emotionally.
Is Your Spouse Cheating?
Some people suspect a spouse may be cheating when they are confronted with some of the following factors.
- My husband gives his coworker a rides home from work.
- My husband stays out until the wee hours of the morning.
- My husband started turning off his cell phone when I’m around.
- My husband hardly says “I love you” anymore.
- My husband is very close to his coworker; they are always together.
- Lately, my husband is too tired for sex.
- My husband stares at other women.
- My husband still has an online profile.
- About once a week, my husband has lunch with his ex wife.
- My husband never answers the phone when I call.
- My husband gets very defensive when I mention people who cheat.
- My wife is holding back information that she once confided to me.
- My wife is acting cold and indifferent toward me.
- Recently, my wife has started flirting with others.
- I have this gut feeling my wife is cheating and all we do is fight.
- My wife doesn’t want to have sex with me anymore.
It is impossible to tell if a spouse is cheating simply because of a noticeable change in his or her behavior. Most people tend to hide an affair. And many cheating spouses will deny having an affair even when they are confronted with suspicions or evidence of their infidelity. Cheating spouses go to such great lengths to hide an affair, because the costs of getting caught are so great. There are physical, financial and social risks attached to being caught in an affair. When affairs are revealed, lives and relationships may be destroyed. There is hope if you suspect that your husband or wife has been cheating! For counseling and/or spiritual assistance contact the office of Midnight Hour Ministries at (717) 626-0492 or e-mail rhobbs@dejazzd.com to discuss your concerns and issues.
What Controls You?
What has ahold of you? Some of the mind numbing and gut wrenching maladies that tear some people apart are anxiety, fear, failure, obsessive goals of achievement, past/present/future skeletons that manipulate your mind and seize control of your life, habits that you have been trying to kick for years, family demons of the past, you name it!
The mind is the seat of the soul and it is a place where flesh and spirit often come into bitter conflict. Some of what fuels negative conflict within body, mind and spirit include unchecked appetites, feelings of discontentment, pride and self preservation, oppression (sadness, guilt, depression) and laziness.
Some of the spiritual strategies which have proven effective in dealing with the above mentioned include; a relationship with God that goes beyond superficial religiosity, (Psalm 42:1) seeking wisdom and “right living” and focussing on the fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
If you are struggling with emotional and spiritual control issues today you may benefit from an MHM (Midnight Hour Ministries) program of counseling. Contact us today!