REFLECTIONS ON SUFFERING

 I have never been fond of the book of Job.  I am not fond of suffering.  I am sure that I studied the book of Job as part of my biblical studies at Multnomah University and then promptly tucked it away in the recesses of my mind.
As a young person, I did go through mild periods of suffering depending on ones definition of suffering, however, now as my years continue, I have seen many friends in the throws of suffering.
It is going on two years since I have been attending the Alzheimer's support group at my church.  I originally went with the sole purpose of getting out of the house.   I had just lost my job and I after all had been taking care of a lady with Alzheimer's for five years.
Attending, I have found encouragement on all fronts and consider it a blessing to be in the company of those who are suffering and struggling in their care for a loved one.  The greatest impact on my life has been the devotionals, most that are related to the struggles in the care we give.
      We have recently been going through some studies from the book of Job.

 Ryan Dougherty has been presenting some very deep thoughts from that book.



 We were excited and encouraged by Ryan to view Job's suffering in a different light.
The question was posed as to why Job's friends got so much attention and how can this book be more meaningful to us in our situation.
We looked at chapter 28 wisdom as being the focal point of the whole book, being that no amount of effort, even as demanding as mining for precious treasures, will let us understand the depths of God's wisdom.  There is a limit to what we can understand when entering in to the realm of the deeper, hidden, mysteries of what God is doing behind the scenes.  In the challenges of caring for our loved ones, we can get trapped into the "what ifs" and we try to apply the practical type of wisdom found in the Proverbs which is understandable to all. The divine wisdom necessary to explain suffering is sometimes inaccessible to man.  (Last month)

This month, Ryan continued our study in Job.  We explored the source of Jobs suffering because God was contesting Satan, however, Job nor his friends knew it at the time and were attempting to explain it from their earthly perspectives.
God's perspective was that he knew what was going on and had everything under control of Job's situation.
From Job' s perspective he is wondering if his suffering is because he had done something wrong.  Then in Job 9:33, a turning point, Job is beginning to understand that he needs a mediator, an advocate.  Job 16:18.
Job 19:23,25, We learned that there is a redemptive purpose to what is happening in our suffering.  Suffering helps us understand that we have a Redeemer, a hope in the after life.  SUFFERING HAS A REDEMPTIVE PURPOSE.

So my involvement led to my present job as well as contributing to the newsletter we put out each month.  So does that make me an editor?
I would encourage those of you who are living within the distance of Grace Church to join us in encouraging each other through your presence.
You don't need to have a loved one to attend.  You can adopt one.

Benefits of Blogging (Journaling)

The Benefits of Journaling for Stress Management

By Elizabeth Scott, M.S.

Updated July 01, 2013

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Journaling--whether you use a pen and paper, a laptop, or even crayons--can be a great way to relieve stress.

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What Is Journaling?:

Journaling is a term coined for the practice of keeping a diary or journal that explores thoughts and feelings surrounding the events of one’s life. Journaling, as a stress management and self-exploration tool, is not the same as simply recording the happenings in one’s life, like keeping a log. To be most helpful, one must write in detail about feelings and cognitions related to stressful events, as one would discuss topics in therapy.

What Are The Benefits of Journaling?:

Journaling allows people to clarify their thoughts and feelings, thereby gaining valuable self-knowledge. It’s also a good problem-solving tool; oftentimes, one can hash out a problem and come up with solutions more easily on paper. Journaling about traumatic events helps one process them by fully exploring and releasing the emotions involved, and by engaging both hemispheres of the brain in the process, allowing the experience to become fully integrated in one’s mind.

As for the health benefits of journaling, they've been scientifically proven. Research shows the following:

• Journaling decreases the symptoms of asthma, arthritis, and other health conditions.
• It improves cognitive functioning.
• It strengthens the immune system, preventing a host of illnesses.
• It counteracts many of the negative effects of stress.

What Are The Drawbacks to Journaling?:

Those with learning disabilities may find it difficult to deal with the act of writing itself. Perfectionists may be so concerned with the readability of their work, their penmanship, or other periphery factors that they can’t focus on the thoughts and emotions they’re trying to access. Others may get tired hands, or be reluctant to relive negative experiences. And, journaling only about your negative feelings without incorporating thoughts or plans may actually cause more stress.

How Does Journaling Compare to Other Stress Management Practices?:

Unlike more physical stress management techniques such as yoga or exercise, journaling is a viable option for the disabled. And, although some prefer to use a computer, journaling requires only a pen and paper, so it’s less expensive than techniques that require the aid of a class, book, teacher or therapist, like techniques such as biofeedback or yoga. Journaling doesn’t release tension from your body like progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery and other physical and meditative techniques, however. But it’s a great practice for overall stress reduction as well as self-knowledge and emotional healing. Email This Page To A Friend
_{Sources: Anderson CM. Writing and Healing: Toward an Informed Practice. 1999.
Ullrich, Philip M., M.A.; Lutgendorf, Susan K., Ph.D. Journaling About Stressful Events: Effects of Cognitive Processing and Emotional Expression. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Vol. 24, No. 3, 2002.}

Learn How To Start Journaling

• How To Use Journaling for Stress Management
• Getting Started with Journaling: Selecting a Journal
• More Introspective Stress Relievers to Address The Cause of Stress

Other Techniques to Try

• Different Types of Meditation
• Yoga
• Karate Breathing Meditation

More on Journaling and Other Resources

• Journaling and 24 More Stress Relievers
• 5 Ways to Calm Down Quickly
• Take the Stress Reliever Personality Test

Related Articles

• Journaling for Health and Stress Management
• Journaling For Emotional Stress Relief
• Stress Relief For Tired People
• Which Stress Relief Methods Work Best for Your Personality? Video
• How To Create An Effective Stress Management Plan

Elizabeth Scott, M.S.
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Reflections: On Stress

This month being Stress Awareness month has had me reflecting on the stressors in life as well as its consequences.
Although the Scriptures don't specifically use the word stress, it does help me deal with those stressors in my life

.
The dictionary defines stress as "physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension."  Stress takes a toll on us to varying degrees as I became very familiar with about six weeks ago.  "God has created us and knows that, because of our fallen natures, we can sometimes allow stress to rule our lives."
I find my self questioning what could be contributing to the stressors in my life.
  Could it be that I am not trusting God to provide? 
Could it be that I have become anxious and worrisome?
 Am I being consumed by maintaining a life style that was not meant for me at this season in my life?
Am I being disobedient and sinful that it has cut me off from peace and joy?
Am I lifting all things to God in prayer?
Am I filling my mind with His Word?
Is the stress I am feeling indicating an area of my life where my flesh is still on the throne?
I have found that one of the ways to counteract those stressors is to thank God for His countless blessings in my life.   "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."
The world's way of relieving stress is through alcohol or drugs, or mindless entertainment and other ways which in itself are not necessarily detrimental to our lives.
Matthew 6:25,27
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life,what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"  Classic example of why we get stressed out.
John 14:1
"Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me."    A life with out God makes coping with stress impossible.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding…"
Philippians 4:6-7  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication…"   Turn everything over to Him.
Psalm 55:22
"Cast all your cares on Him because He will sustain us…"  He will sustain us through burdens and circumstances.
 

Tired of Waiting (Part 1)

Tired of Waiting (Part 1)   



Wow!  Much to think about waiting.  Part 2 of this article is also worth the read and reread.

"Be still and know that I am God."  

Waiting is not my favorite activity, however, unfortunately, it IS a daily occurance in my life. 

Behind THAT door

DOORS

Tonight, I have been thinking of doors.  Yes, you heard it right, doors.  Perhaps it is because we really need a new back door and doors are important.
Well, then one thought led another as I recalled an incident from my childhood and then from a story out of The Little House On The Prairie book.

When I was about eight or so, our family was building a new adobe house up on the mountain side in the outbacks of Mexico.  The house was not quite finished when we moved in and our steel bunk bed and a crib were set up on the dirt floor in what would later become the living room.  There was no door and my father had propped up some planks to act as a temporary door, however, it allowed enough space for a wild dog to enter scaring us to death one early morning.  It sent me scrambling up to the top bunk to join my brother, leaving my baby sister screaming in the crib.  Then I remember us all screaming until my father came to chase it out.

"Laura Ingalls Wilder tells a similar story in “Little House on the Prairie” as she described their home-in-progress on the plains of Kansas. The cabin was complete, except for the door. Her mother hung a quilt over the opening, and in the meantime all that stood between the vast prairie and the Ingalls family was their watchdog and Pa Ingalls’ gun. Laura writes of a night where the howl of a wolf woke her from her sleep, and she quickly realized that as her father and their dog stood guard in the open doorway, a pack of wolves had entirely surrounded the little cabin. They dared not come near so long as Pa stood guard, but it was glaringly obvious they had come for a meal. Needless to say, the very next day, Pa finished “two stout doors;”one for the house and one for the stable."
So then I got to thinking how important doors are as I close,open, lock them before I leave, before I sleep to ensure the safety of everything and everyone.

So then I got to thinking how do I  ensure the safety of my body,soul, and mind.
What kind of doors am I  leaving open

I find doors very interesting.  There are many kinds and one never knows what one will find for certain.

"As you place your hand on the doorknob to enter a room do you ever stop to think about what you might encounter on the other side of that door? What will you find or experience as you step over the threshold? Anytime we are about to walk into a room what waits for us on the other side of the door may be an expected scene or perhaps something so surprising and unanticipated that it may change our life or the life of someone else! As caregivers, regardless of whether we are caring for someone in our home, a nursing home, hospital or hospice, we probably experience these moments of not knowing what to expect each and every time we walk through the door to extend care for our patient or loved one. Learning ways to cope with what often times is unexpected is an important aspect of care giving."
The above excerpt from some random place rings out much truth because in life so much is unpredictable and every time I go through a door to work may yield pleasant surprises or challenges.