Encouragement

 

From the Midnight Mom Devotional

Tonight we pray for the momma struggling with anxiety. She isn't talking about it because she feels like she's said it before so many times. Lord, we ask that You fill her heart with Your peace and bring her calm like a warm blanket. You are so good and so kind to us. Help this momma to find the resources that she needs for healing. Help her to rest tonight. We ask in Jesus's name, Amen.

On Traumas and Struggles

 

On Hope And Starting Over And New Beginnings

 

Overcoming Anxiety And Rescuing One Another

The United Methodist Communications says: "Take a one-minute break for self-care and learn five ways to overcome anxiety when feeling fearful or stressed. United Methodist Communications offers a guided space to pause and find the road back to peace."

We say: This is a great place to start, but not everyone has the opportunities or means to do what this video suggests. Get together with others in your community or some trusted friends and put your heads together to think about the sources of your anxiety, take those on, and use relaxation techniques to strengthen you as you push back against the causes of your stress and anxiety. 

  

"I know a great many people are feeling anxious these days..."

"I know a great many people are feeling anxious these days. A sense of dread that is hard to describe has descended over them. The hours of the day weigh heavy upon them. They feel we are losing a way of life and are not sure how to regain it. I am not afraid to name this fear for it is against fear that I come bearing the common sense hope of my faith. We are not going to lose anything that we are not willing to give up. We stand to proclaim the strength of justice. We are united and we are committed. Fear is a shadow. The cause of the Spirit is the morning sun."---The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston--Native American/Indigenous Ministries of the Episcopal Church

Anxiety and what it looks and feels like

 

Holy Week Message from Rev Terri Hord Owens

 

When you're incapable of praying or practicing your special virtues...

 

Maybe you're needing to slow down on judging....

 

On Valentine's Day (and every day), love one another as Christ loves you...

From Hasmik Simonian on Facebook:

Time is slow for those who wait...
Fast to the fearful...
Long for those in pain...
Too short for those who celebrate...
But eternal for those who love...
On Valentine's Day, love one another as Christ loves you.

Memorial Wheat: Part of responding to death and comforting those who mourn

In my tradition it's common to offer memorial wheat to mourners when someone dies. It's a good tradition because while you're making this you can think of the person who passed on and those who are mourning them and it gives you something to offer people and comfort them instead of hurrying away from a funeral or memorial service. It's good to make it the day before you share it. Some folks give it two days.

Get about one-and-one-half pounds of brown wheat berries or something similar. I've seen people use kasha or wheat cereals. Wash it thoroughly and have it boil for a few hours until it is done. Pour cold water over it and let it sit over night.

Spread it out in a pan and---this part REALLY matters---sop up any extra moisture with paper towels. Put it in a large bowl and mix in one-pound of fine walnuts, one-quarter pound of chopped pecans, one teaspoon (or a bit more) of honey, a good bit of powdered sugar, one-half teaspoon of salt, and maybe one-half of a carton of plain bread crumbs or so. Some people add pomegranate seeds. Mix it by hand.

Some people mound it on a platter and shape it with wax paper. I always left it in a bowl, but it's good to smooth it out. Use wax paper for all of the smoothing and molding.

Add some more bread crumbs when it's all smooth so that the wheat is covered over by the bread crumbs. Top it with powdered sugar, raisins, and cinnamon. If the person who has passed is a Christian, you can make a cross on top out of raisins, pistachios or Jordan almonds. It's nice to put a beeswax candle in and light it.

It's also nice when one person serves it to others in little paper cups. Give the leftovers to the family in your bowl and then call in a week or so to get your bowl back and check in to see how they're doing.

 

"As I drop in tonight I pray my shift will go all right..."

I just saw where a mine worker named Charles Inboden graciously posted this prayer on a mine workers' Facebook page. If you don't know what a mantrip is, I have put in a video and a song. The song is from an old-timer and from a time and place when the mantrips were called "lizards."  Please pray for Charles and for everyone doing the hard and dangerous work.

Charles Inboden wrote:

As I drop in tonight I pray my shift will go all right I go down there to make a living just to pay my bills and fill my kitchen I come home and my kids are smiling I thank the Lord another not I survived as I ride that man trip down in that hole I pray to the Lord then I come out whole.

Just a simple prayer for all the miners past present and future.

Stress relief and encouragement: Listen, breathe, and rest.

 

This is from Salem First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022.

If you can't listen to the entire service, please jump to 11:22 and to 20:41 to hear Pastor John's prescient remarks and to 42:30 to hear and feel Pastor Kalina's extraordinary love. "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" starts at 36:35 and "Ave Verum Corpus" starts at around 1:07. These are stress relievers and encouragement. Listen, breathe, and rest.   

Seeking God in The New Year---One of the Pressley Girls gives some good advice

Catch more from them here.
 

Louise Mosrie performing "Lay it Down" at WDVX---Good Advice!