“Come unto to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”- Matthew 11:28

I truly believe that depression is the result of internalized fear. Fear can take many forms such as anxiety, worry, guilt, regret, jealousy, and even anger. Usually we fear a loss or unwanted situation. For example, fear of losing a loved one, wages, health, or even face can cause great anxiety. These situations, if not properly dealt with, steal our peace of mind and well-being.

As Christians, it’s important not to mask or deny our fears. Often we will try to cover our fears and insecurities with faith words. We often put on that Christian happy face and tell others we are blessed or everything is fine, even though there is deep pain in our heart. In solitude, we may earnestly pray and ask God to take our pain away or sing songs of worship and praise, only for that heavy feeling to return again and again.

Though heartfelt, prayer and praise alone may not help in eliminating our negative emotions. Instead of releasing them, they are buried further down into our subconscious mind, where they gnaw at us and weigh us down creating at perpetual dark cloud over our heads.

If we look at this from a logical standpoint, changing our emotional compass is like implementing solutions to a problem that has not been properly identified. In almost all cases, our negative emotions are not the problem but only a symptom of it. The presence of negative emotions is the indicator that something is wrong. Feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, fear, or sadness is our body’s way of saying we are out of alignment with God’s perfect plan for us or His spiritual well-being. If we stop only at the negative emotion or try to eliminate the emotion without going deeper, it’s like putting a band aid on cancer.

Often times people will say, “I feel depressed” and then seek out ways to overcome the depression. Instead of going inward, they look for outward solutions usually in the form of eating, activity, mind altering substances, relationships or whatever they think will make them feel better. It’s no different than a medical doctor prescribing pain medication to mask the symptoms of illness instead of finding the root of the pain and addressing it head on.

God wants us to possess his peace and joy at all times, even in unfavorable conditions. In order to do that, He gave us our emotions as a guidance or alert system to tell us that something has invaded our peace and joy. 2 Timothy 1:17 tells us that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. Anytime our well-being is jeopardized, we must immediately find the issue and eliminate it. Any time we are living in fear, we are not operating in faith, and faith is fuel that sustains the kingdom of God. Anytime we are living in fear, we sabotage and block the blessings of God in our life. We are to walk by faith and not by sight.

Another problem with allowing fear in our heart is that those fearful thoughts and emotions begin to multiply and before you know it you are completely debilitated by them. As the fear grows, you will begin to attract that which you fear most, perpetuating your unwanted circumstances. Luke 6:45 tells us that a good man out of the good treasure in his heart attracts that which is good. The same is true of our fearful thoughts. Job stated in Job 3:25, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” (King James Version) When we fear it’s like we create a magnetic hole that attracts the very thing we don’t want. When we are in faith, that hole is filled with the presence of God and leaves no room for anything else to penetrate.

In order to eliminate a problem, you just first identify what the problem is, otherwise you are just shooting in the dark. Below is an exercise to help you to move past the emotion to the root cause and then take it to the Lord for healing. Please do this exercise somewhere quiet where you will not be disturbed for a few moments. You will also need a paper and pen to write down each of your responses.

1. Identify the emotion you are feeling and write it down. Although you may be feeling stress, worry, anger, or anxiety, please note that most negative emotions result from fear. Example: I am feeling fearful.

2. Ask yourself, “Where or what is this “fear” (emotion) coming from and then write it down. All negative emotions have a root cause which is often unconscious to us. Usually it comes from a specific circumstance or situation that resulted in a negative thought. Example: They are laying off a lot of people at work and I might be next.

3. If Jesus were present with you, what would he tell you about this fear? Write down what comes to your heart. Be patient, this may take some time. Don’t over analysize. Trust the Holy Spirit in you to provide the answer. Example: He would say, “Fear not” I will never leave you or forsake you. I know what you need and I am able to meet all of your needs. Just trust me. I will see you through.”

4. Close your eyes and meditate on these words of God and let them penetrate your spirit. Take in several deep breathes and with each exhalation silent repeat, “I release this (emotion) fear. I re-establish my trust in God. All is well. Thank you Jesus.”

5. Throughout the rest of the day, if you feel the fear or anxiety arising, reread God’s comforting words to you and continue to declare, “I let this “fear” go. I chose to trust God. All is well. Thank you Jesus.”

6. Repeat as needed until you have fully released the emotion to God and your peace and joy is fully restored.

As you can see, it is when we get our eyes off of the Kingdom of God and onto ourselves and our circumstances that we open the door to fear and negative emotions.

If time permits following this exercise, spend time with God in silence and stillness. This is often referred to as Christian meditation. The techniques used in Christian meditation or centering prayer can help you to gain control over negative thoughts and emotions. Those who meditate regularly quickly distinguish when their peace is being evaded and can easily restore their feelings of well-being and joy. Christian meditation is like preventative maintenance of our spiritual health.

Rhonda Jones is the author of “Detox Your Life Now and Awaken Your Inner Spirit.” A 10 Week Self-Paced Program that integrates Christian meditation with spiritual and practical lessons to get your life in balance and put God back in the driver’s seat. Visit http://www.detoxyourlifenow.com. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com

“Well, I’m just waiting for a miracle.” How often have you heard someone say that? How often have you said it? “If God wanted me to have a new car he would give it to me?. If it’s in his will for me to have a good job he will make it happen” If you’re staring out the window waiting for that shiny new sports car to come tearing up the drive, then you should probably get comfortable, since my best guess is you’re going to be sitting there looking down the road for a long time. By the same token if you are waiting everyday for someone to knock on the door and say “You’re Hired!” you’re probably going to get mighty hungry before it happens.

You can insert here whatever problem or situation you may be waiting on God to take care of. You might say, well of course you can’t just pray up a new car or a new job, but I’m very sick, or I’m believing in God to pay off my bills, or fix my children.. Any one of a thousand scenarios would fit, and there are just as many excuses as to why we are still sitting by the window waiting for God to take care of it.

John tells of a man in Jerusalem that was very sick and had been so for thirty eight years. There was a pool there known as Bethesda. It was known that in certain seasons an angel of the Lord would come and stir up the waters. The first person to step in would be completely cured of whatever ailment he was afflicted with. The Lord set up the situation in which the problem of those around could be “fixed” but there was a stipulation that must be met in order to get the miracle the man had spent thirty eight years waiting for. He had to be the first in the pool.

Now Jesus came by the pool one day and saw the man, knowing he had been there for a long time, just waiting on the side of the pool, (looking out the window and waiting) He asked the man, “Do you even wish to be well?” I kinda wonder if Jesus might have been shaking his head thinking, well, I’ve stirred up the waters over and over for you and I’ve sent my angels to show the way to your healing, but you’re still sitting here, just waiting. What are you waiting for?

Are we complaining that if someone else would just do something or the other, the problems in our lives would be fixed? Are we saying, well God of course I want to be financially secure, and I’m waiting on that great opportunity, but you see when it happens, I just never have anyone that will help me take advantage of it first. Then someone else steps over me and I just keep on waiting.

Now the man waiting at the pool surely believed there was miraculous healing powers in the water when the angel stirred it up. After all he had been waiting and watching for thirty eight years and had no doubt seen the many other sick stepping over him and being healed. He believed God could fix his problem but he was never quite ready to step into the water when God prepared it for him. Now maybe he couldn’t walk, maybe he was so very sick and weak that he was just always beaten to the water by those not quite as sick as he. I just believe in all that time, I would have squirmed my way to the edge of that pool, and been hanging on the edge with one finger for the moment God presented the solution so I could jump on it before anyone else could even blink! Thirty eight years is a lot of time to ready yourself for action, when God presents the way.

When the man told Jesus he just couldn’t get to the water. Jesus told him to get up, pick up his mat and walk. Take action!! Get up. He told him to get away from the window and Get UP!

“Pick up your mat.” Clean up your mess. Now my Mother might argue that this is a biblical commandment to make up your bed and maybe it is. Maybe Jesus was telling us to clean things up around us and be ready when I tell you what to do. Pick up your mat and get ready! Get your affairs in order so that you are ready to walk when Jesus says to walk. You’ll notice so far he didn’t say lay there and wait until the water comes to you!

Stop now waiting on someone else to change so that your circumstances get better, begin changing yourself. Don’t wait and pray that God instructs someone else to put you in the pool, begin praying that God will give you the strength and wisdom required to ‘get in the pool’ yourself, so to speak.

Don’t sit in front of the TV day in and day out waiting on the right numbers to come up in the lottery so that your bills are paid off. Get a job, even if you are flipping burgers, your on your way to paying your debt. Who knows, God could have already stirred the waters at McDonalds and the man waiting to give you your dream job eats BigMacs daily! You just need to jump in the pool to meet him!

The bottom line is, stop looking out the window daydreaming about the day that your miracle appears. Get up, pick up your mess and start walking!

Visit us at http://www.littleseedsoffaith.com  Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

Bible-based Christian Inspiration for Christian entrepreneurs, brought to you by the Christian Home Business Association, Inc. 

Always keep in mind that feeling the presence, of God,

is not the goal of spiritual growth.

Trying to feel the presence of God,

will put you in a self-effort mode,

and it increases your fears,

that you will not be able to “achieve.”

These fears will shut you down inside,

that it will become more difficult for you,

to be opened up to God,

so you can receive His presence.

If you don’t feel God’s presence don’t

worry about it.

Get your heart to believe,

that by reassuring yourself,

that feeling His presence isn’t the goal.

The goal is to stay close to God

and to enjoy the refreshing from His presence,

by faith.

An uplifting poem brought to you by Cynthia Kiteley Lee, CEO, Christian Home Business Association, Inc., a registered nonprofit organization that provides Christian entrepreneurs with business, financial and spiritual help.  christianprosperity@gmail.com

Count Your Blessings

     Sometimes it is tempting to look back at the “good old days,” when life seemed simpler and safer.  Here is an anonymous woman’s account of how she “warshed” clothes in the good old days in the Ozark hill country. I think you will find that it will help you to count your blessings.

 1.  Bilt fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water.

 2.  Set tubs so smoke won’t blow in eyes if wind is pert.

 3.  Shave one hole cake of lie soap in bilin water.

 4.  Sort things, make 3 piles; 1 pile white; 1 pile colored; 1 pile work britches and rags.

 5.  To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with bilin water.

 6.  Take white things, rub dirty spots, scrub hard, and then bile.  Rub colored don’t bile just rinch and starch.

 7.  Take things out of kettle with broomstick handle, then rinch, and starch.

 8.  Hang old rags on fence.

 9.  Spread tea towels on grass.

10.  Pore rinch water in flower bed.

11.  Scrub porch with hot soapy water.

12.  Turn tubs upside down.

13.  Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs.  Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

     If  we are going to see the transformation of  workplaces, cities and nations it will only happen if we equip, affirm,  and release believers into their callings in the marketplace.    The  marketplace is the place where there is real authority - authority that …can change society.

Brought to you by the Life More Abundant Club.

The need for revival today is clearly apparent. Thousands of congregations around the world are declining. Hundreds of discouraged churches disband every year. Countless Christians display apathy and spiritual powerlessness. The global rise of secularism, atheism and world religions is aggressively challenging the claims of Christianity. Clearly God’s people need a fresh moving of God’s Spirit but the crucial question is: how might God bring the next world-wide revival?

Two thousand years ago, God’s people desperately needed to be renewed. The pagan culture of Jesus’ day had corrupted people’s morals. Materialism and hedonism consumed many of God’s people. Religion had deteriorated into stale, legalistic rituals. It is fascinating to consider how Jesus launched the Christian movement that swept across the Roman Empire and impacted every corner of the globe. He went to the marketplace.

Jerusalem was a magnificent city which boasted the most impressive temple in the ancient world. Learned scholars spent their lives studying the Scriptures. The Who’s Who of that day resided in that city. Yet Jesus headed to the backwater region of Galilee. He approached four fishermen, Peter, James, John and Andrew as they were mending their nets (Mark 1:16-20). Jesus also noted Matthew collecting taxes and invited him to leave that profession and to follow Him (Mark 2:13-17). The region of Galilee was inhabited by common people: farmers, shepherds and fishermen. It was a place to live if you wanted to avoid the big city and escape the scrutiny of the government authorities. It was here that Jesus called ordinary businesspeople to be His disciples. With that small cohort, He would turn the world upside down.

Why did Jesus choose business people as His disciples? For one thing, they were ordinary. They spoke the language of average people and they understood the common issues of their day. Business people are interconnected. Broken relationships are bad for business! These people were not intimidated by the culture in which they lived. They understood their society and thrived in it. Significantly, Jesus did not call them out of the world but sent them into the world that they knew well (John 17:5).

I have the privilege of working with Christian business people. What I see God doing in their lives suggests that if God is to bring another world-wide revival He may well choose to do it through the marketplace. Here are some observations to that end:

1. Christian business people have international networks. Often, men and women in the ministry find their lives largely confined to their own congregation or denomination. Business people, on the other hand, maintain extensive networks across denominational, racial and social lines. A world-wide revival will sweep from church to church, city to city and nation to nation. While many church leaders are unprepared for this to happen, the business community is already connected globally.

2. Christian business people are entrepreneurial and pragmatic leaders. Unfortunately, many pastors are not the best leaders. They have a shepherd’s heart; they love God’s word as well as preaching and teaching, but they are not strong leaders. Congregations are often held back by people in ministerial positions who struggle to lead. Conversely, God has gifted many Christian business people with enormous creativity and problem solving ability. When these people are encouraged and mobilized to pursue God’s kingdom, they exert exponential spiritual impact on their world.

3. Business people often have access to political leaders, celebrities and business leaders whereas most church leaders do not. While not every country is open to receiving missionaries, most countries are open to business. Christian business leaders are using this God-given leverage to provide a Christian witness and to exert spiritual influence in places where missionaries would be banned or arrested.

4. Christian business people are comfortable with technology. To succeed in business today, they must know how to communicate globally. Never in human history has the world been as interconnected as it is today. Modern technology allows a decision in New York City to immediately impact people in Tokyo. Likewise, just as God used the Roman Peace and its network of roads as well as the universal Greek language to spread Christianity throughout the First Century world, so modern communication tools and global connections hold the potential to impact the world today. Should revival begin in the marketplace, the channels of communication used daily to conduct business could rapidly fan the flames of revival to every nation on earth.

For too long, church leaders have asked businesspeople to join them in their efforts to make church programs successful. This is convoluted thinking. In reality, Scripture exhorts church leaders to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). A vast amount of the wealth, energy, creativity, leadership skills and problem solving ability possessed by Christians today is being used each week in the marketplace. Should these skills and resources be focused on the renewal and expansion of God’s kingdom, a world-wide revival would ensue. Be alert to what God is doing in the marketplace. It could well be the source of the next great movement of God.

Source:  http://www.blackaby.org/resources/articles/RevMarketplace.asp

Brought to you by Cynthia K. Lee, founder and administrator of the Christian Home Business Association, Inc.  

      You can look at your choices, actions and beliefs as a form of planting seeds that will later produce certain kinds of flowers, fruit, trees, and bushes.  What are you planting?

        Whether you do it in a conscious, deliberate way or not, your seeds will produce anything from roses to weeds.

You may be familiar with the saying: “not making a decision is a decision itself.”  The more deliberate, realistic, consistent and positive you are in your choices, actions and beliefs, the better the quality of crops you will grow and the better the harvest you will reap.

Be sure to water your seeds, add fertilizer to your plants and pull out any weeds that spring up.  Remember, you can’t force a plant to grow by yanking it out of the ground and seeing how much its roots have grown.  Be patient and trust in God’s provision for you.

Cynthia K. Lee is the founder and administrator of the Christian Home Business Association.  christianprosperity@gmail.com    http://www.christiansprospering.com/drob.html

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (words of Jesus).

                          John 10:10– King James Bible

     Before I tell you what it is, let me start by telling you what it definitely isn’t. Several years ago, my husband Michael and I both had comfortable jobs with good companies. As a young couple married only a short time, you could say we were financially blessed.

     The blessing, however, did not come without a price. We worked long hours. We experienced a great deal of stress at work. We seemed never to have enough time together. When we were together, our time was usually tainted by the fact that one of us (usually me) was tired and cranky from the stresses and strains and never-ending demands of his or her job.

     We were comfortable but not complete. Was this what life was supposed to be about? Was this treadmill existence all we had to look forward to for the next 35 years? Did we have to wait until we retired from our jobs to begin really living and enjoying our lives together?

     To make a long story short, we had a chance to do something that most people would consider radical. We left the comfort of our jobs to start a home-based business. It was a scary move and times were lean in the beginning, but now, seven years later, we won’t trade the life we have together for anything.

     What we lost in income, we gained in inner peace and a feeling of control over our lives. What we lost in material pleasures, we more than gained in quality time together and richness in our spiritual and family relationships. Sure, we could have a bigger home, newer cars, and more money in the bank if we’d stayed in our jobs, but those things (and that’s all they are to us) would come at a price we’re not willing to pay at this stage in our lives.

So what is abundant living? In John 10:10, Jesus said He came that his followers might have life, and have it abundantly. I believe this abundant life Jesus referred to encompasses many things:

Responsible spending and financial peace of mind
Good stewardship of our money, time, talent, and environment
Shunning materialism and embracing richness in relationships
A simplified, Christ-like lifestyle with an emphasis on spiritual growth and service
Full appreciation and enjoyment of each of the many blessings we have been given

    Throughout the 90s, simple living has been a hot trend. I hope, though, that a simplified, focusing-in-on-what’s-most-important style of living was not just a phase that many tried for a while but then outgrew. The tenets of the simple living philosophy are basic biblical principles that I believe are for everyone. And the beauty of following these principles is that doing so also leads to the abundant life Jesus said He came to bring.

    Maybe you and your spouse enjoy having dual careers and an upwardly mobile lifestyle. I am not criticizing anyone who has carefully (and prayerfully) counted the costs of his or her life choices. My point is simply this: many people have counted the cost and found, like we did, that the price is too high. They are looking for a way out but wonder how it can be done. My word to these people is that there are other options. Michael and I are living proof that there is life beyond the corporate treadmill. Not only is there life, but we believe it’s the best life we could possibly choose.

Source:  http://www.keepitsimplesister.com/

Brought to you by the Life More Abundant Club 

     What do you have that is unique to you? What are your talents and giftings? What are your passions?

     No matter what home based business you have, as long as you are using your gifts and talents to bless others while you are working, that’s a Christian home based business.

     God created all of us unique and for specific purposes. When you bring that uniqueness into your business others will be blessed.If you feel like God is calling your home based business, then search your heart for direction. Even in our businesses, we can be His hands and feet.

     Church is not usually where we use our giftings. It’s outside of the church walls. I believe God is building up an army of Christian business owners to take God into the marketplace. We are the church, even in the marketplace. God has used business as a tool for years to bring souls into the Kingdom. If you have a desire to start a home based business, don’t ignore it, you never know what God is going to do with it.

     Discovering what God has put in you is a journey and an adventure! The adventure will lead you down a road of self discovery and growth. Our passions and skills will change the more we learn about ourselves, learn what God has put in us. The more we learn about ourselves and the more we grow, the more we will be a blessing to others. God not only has a plan for you, but for the people He puts in your life, in your circle of influence. We are co-laborers with Christ.

     When someone enquired about visiting Mother Teresa to help with her work among the poor of India, she encouraged the person to find their own Calcutta. In other words, each of us must discover who it is that God has put our heart to love and reach out to. This makes it personal and meaningful. As we listen to God’s voice, we’ll begin to
sense that we have a particular group, or several groups of people that are on our hearts.

      Think about these things when determining which Christian home based business to start. God wants to change the world through us. Instead of looking or having a business that is separated from who you are, create a business that can be an extension of who God made you.

Olivia Montgomery enjoys helping people start a Christian home based business. She is the publisher of The Weekly Home Exec, a free newsletter that is full of inspiration, business ideas and tips, marketing tips, success stories, and much more. For your free subscription, drop by www.TheHappyHomeExecutive.com.                                            Source:  http://tinyurl.com/25ln5ea

This article was brought to you by the Christian Home Business Association, Inc,  

     People are not valued as unique and irreplaceable beings, but as objects whose value depends on how much they market, produce and consume.  I believe that Christians are called  to resist conforming to such a false value system, wherever it tries to work itself into our lives.

-           Jeanne Hinton,  Seasons of Prayer