For every problem...every anxiety...

This morning I woke up to things just not going right. There has been an overarching theme as of late that seems to tempt my natural propensity to lose heart and freak out in times like this. I like to fix problems and get to the bottom of things and sometimes, that causes me to rely on my own strength and not on the strength of our Heavenly Father. He is the one who is in control. When we as believers consistently talk about God's Sovereignty but find it hard to believe what we know in our heads, say with our mouths, this is an exercise in faith. The truth is, the news that I've been receiving lately has been very demoralizing and when you continue to get news about things that should be in place that aren't...repeatedly, it hurts, it's confusing, it's discouraging. That is why I wanted to share this prayer for today. I opened the devotional for today and this simple prayer reminded me of whom I could go to for strength, whom I could go for encouragement, whom I could extend my arms to and know that I can be carried out of this season, intact and unscathed. So today I am choosing to place my complete trust in Jesus. I am relinquishing my frustrations and worries over to the Creater of All things, the Sustainer. If you're reading this and find yourself in a similar place, I hope I can encourage you with this simple reminder. We are now our own, we don't have dominion over our lives. We belong to Jesus. To me, that is such a relief. I find comfort and rest in that. Hope you can too. I am reminded by the rich promises in Romans 5:1-5
"1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Lord, I give thanks for this day, I give thanks for another opportunity to live out my faith and live out what it means to trust in you. Thank you for reminding me of your Greatness and your provisions through this loving reminder through scripture and through prayer.

Today's Prayer

For every problem, every anxiety, every temptation, every sin in my life, there is a deliverer--Jesus Christ! Thank you, God, for your sacrifice, your love, your way to reach down and pull me up. Please forgive me and help me to stand sure-footed and steady on the Rock of my salvation and not to slip and fall into the mire of the world. Please, be in control of my life...and I know everything will be all right. In Jesus' name, amen.

Have a blessed day everyone,
MEL

How to make your Anger productive...excerpt from Dr. Gary Chapman

How do we approach the very powerful emotion of anger in such a way that helps us respond in a biblical and productive way? It is easy for us to accept the consequences of our anger when we justify it from a place of entitlement. How can we contribute to the success in the outcome of a situation that has provoked anger within us and most of all...How do we respond in such a way that honors God? I think Dr. Chapman's approach is spot on. Next time you find yourself angry, stop and ask how you can turn the situation around for the good of everyone involved.

MEL

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"I'm Feeling Angry"

When you are angry, the first positive step is to admit to yourself that you are angry. Say aloud, "I'm feeling angry." The second step is to ask God to help you handle your anger in a positive way. "Lord, help me to do what is right and good with my anger." The third step is to ask, "Did someone sin against me?" If so, the biblical answer is to lovingly confront the person and seek reconciliation.

On the other hand, if you are angry simply because something happened that irritates you, ask "What can I learn from this experience?" If the other person habitually arrives late for your appointment, perhaps you can talk with them and negotiate change. Thus the anger has served a positive purpose. God wants to teach you how to handle your anger in a godly way.

When you are angry, be sure to get the facts before you take action. You hear your spouse tell someone on the phone, "I'll be there tomorrow night." You know that tomorrow night is your date night, so you get angry. Before you storm in and say something harsh, take time to ask, "Did I hear you promise someone to do something tomorrow night?" Your spouse says, "Yes, I told mom I'd bring her blanket by. I thought we could do it either before or after we go out to eat."

Your anger subsides because you took time to get the facts. Often we jump to conclusions about what someone said or did, and we accuse them in anger. We ruin a perfectly good evening because we failed to ask questions.



Adapted from Anger: Handling a Powerful Emotion in a Healthy Way by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Dr. Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.

Devotional thoughts on Responding Biblically to Adversity

Today's Prayer

God, When I remember the story of Joseph's life, I realize how you want so much more for me than I could ever dream of. I also see how you can turn what man means for evil into what you mean for good. Please bring this to my mind whenever I'm feeling doubt and confusion; whenever I'm feeling oppressed and alone; whenever I'm feeling unjustly treated; whenever I think that I don't have something I need. I know that you are in control. I pray that I will always allow you to do your work and that I will not interfere in your plans for me. Please give me strength and fill me with your desires for me. Thank you, loving Father. In Jesus' name, amen.


Responses to Adversity
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
06-08-2009

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior" (Hab. 3:17-18).

When we experience adversity, we generally respond in one of three ways: (1) we become angry; (2) we try to gut it out; or (3) we accept it with joy.
Anger
When adversity comes our way, we say, "Why me, Lord?" We become bitter and resentful and blame God and others for our problems. We view ourselves as victims and demand that God answer our accusing questions: "Why don't You love me, Lord? We feel entitled to life, health, wealth, and happiness.
Gutting It Out
Another way we respond to adversity is by adopting a stoic attitude, repressing our emotions. We lie to ourselves and say, "I'm gutting it out. I'm demonstrating endurance." In reality, we are merely isolating ourselves with a shell of false bravado. We don't meditate on God's love, we don't pray, we don't believe God really has anything good planned for us. We simply tell ourselves, "This will soon be over. I'm a survivor." We never receive what God has planned for us if we stay here.
Acceptance with Joy
This is the response God seeks from us. When adversity comes, we rest in His love and trust that He knows best. We realize that nothing can happen to us without His permission. If there is pain in our lives, we know it's because God deems it necessary for our growth or wishes to use our pain to minister to others.
God revealed to the prophet Habakkuk that Israel was soon to be invaded by the Babylonians. Habakkuk knew that Israel was about to suffer intense adversity as part of God's loving discipline of His people. Habakkuk faced the looming national tragedy with an attitude of acceptance with joy.
If Habakkuk could be joyful in the face of a national calamity, then we can rejoice in the Lord no matter what comes our way.

Healthy Summer Eats!

Summer time really lends itself to promoting healthy eating. Inherently our bodies crave fruits, vegetables especially now and since we look for reasons to be outdoors, grilling instantaneously becomes our prefered method of cooking. It is for me anyway! Grilling just makes food taste better and let's face it, there is nothing tastier or friendlier for your waistline than a salad with tons of freshly chopped veggies, fruits and lean protein! Here are a couple of great meals under 200calories: Bon Appetit!

Marinated Flank Steak
Serves: 8
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Nutrition Score per serving:
Nutrition score per serving: 179 calories, 11 g fat (55% of calories), 3 g saturated fat, 1 g carbs, 19 g protein, 0 g fiber, 287 mg sodium

Ingredients1 1 1/2- to 2-pound beef flank steak
1/4 cup chopped fresh rosemary or 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 tablespoon chopped fresh marjoram or 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 1/2 teaspoons)
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions
1. Trim fat from meat. Score both sides of steak in a diamond pattern by making shallow cuts at 1-inch intervals; set aside. In a small bowl, stir together rosemary, marjoram, oregano, garlic, paprika, kosher salt, crushed red pepper, and black pepper. Stir in the oil until combined.

2. Spoon herb mixture evenly over both sides of steak; rub in with your fingers. Place steak in a shallow dish. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour, or overnight.

3. If you're using a charcoal grill, place meat on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill for 17 to 21 minutes or until medium doneness (160°F), turning once halfway through grilling. (If you're using a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place meat on grill rack over heat. Cover and cook as above.)

4. Transfer grilled meat to a cutting board. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. To serve, slice very thinly across the grain.

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Wild Mushroom and Tomato Ragout with Polenta
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Nutrition Score per serving:
(2/3 cup polenta, 2/3 cup ragout): 164 calories, 5 g fat (26% of calories), 1 g saturated fat, 26 g carbs, 4 g protein, 2 g fiber, 55 mg calcium, 2 mg iron, 177 mg sodium

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 shallot, peeled and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon tomato paste
2 cups sliced assorted mushrooms (such as cremini, shiitake, and oyster)
3 ½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary (or ½ teaspoon dried)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage (or ¼ teaspoon dried)
2/3 cup quick-cooking polenta
2 tablespoons shaved Parmesan

Directions
•Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and vinegar and cook for 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and mushrooms; cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
•Pour in ½ cup broth, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes. Add grape tomatoes and cook 5 more minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
•Bring 3 cups of broth, rosemary, and sage to a boil in a medium saucepan. Slowly pour in polenta. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 4 to 5 minutes until mixture thickens.
•Spoon polenta into four bowls and top each with a portion of ragout and a sprinkling of Parmesan.

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Smoked Salmon Salad With Grapefruit and Avocado
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: n/a
Nutrition Score per serving:
Nutrition score per serving (14 of salad): 169 calories, 28% fat (5.5 g; 1g saturated), 55% carbs (24 g), 17% protein (7.5 g), 4 g fiber, 61 mg calcium, 1mg iron, 582 mg sodium.

Ingredients
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons olive oil
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
6 cups mixed baby greens
23 cup thinly sliced red onion
4 ounces sliced smoked salmon (lox)
16 peeled ruby grapefruit segments (available prepared in produce department, or use 1 1/2 grapefruits)
14 avocado, peeled, pitted and cut into thin wedges

Directions
Whisk vinegar, orange peel and honey in a large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in oil, then add salt and pepper. Add baby greens and onion and toss to coat with dressing.

Arrange salmon on one half of a platter and mound greens on other half. Arrange grapefruit segments and avocado wedges around edges of platter.


~RECIPES FOUND ON SELF MAGAZINE.COM~