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Meaningful Meditations

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Photo: Lynne Lancaster

“Then they were glad because they were quiet, so He guided them to their desired haven” (Psalm 107:20).

In today’s “information age” when our senses are continuously bombarded with stimuli, silence can be an obscure commodity. We often find ourselves longing for quietness and mental peace amidst the onslaught of turmoil and catastrophe.

If one’s wealth in this world is measured by his thinking, as author and naturalist Sam Campbell believed, then managing our everyday thoughts is of extreme value. A definition of meditation which I like is: Stilling the endless chatter of your mind and listening for the still small voice of God within.

Meditation and prayer are huge subjects and mean many different things to different people. For myself, I have found four things that give consistency and meaning to my personal quest for quiet times of meditation and prayer.

First I must be truly committed to my allotted time. I choose early mornings to minimize interruptions. When I need encouragement to continue this discipline I review mentally what happens when I skip days.

Next I need a special, private place. This can be a specific chair or desk, or if the weather allows, a place outside. Some people like to have two chairs so they can imagine Christ sitting beside them. Since I am a visual person I have a picture that I like of Jesus—rugged, windblown, smiling slightly, kind yet piercing eyes. I know it’s just an artist’s conception, but it helps me stay focused.

Helpful Tips

It also helps to have needed materials together and in a handy place. Many people read from the Bible or other inspirational books. Some listen to uplifting music and write in prayer journals. My weekly prayer journal entries help me concentrate not only on what/whom I am praying about, but also serve as a wonderful source of peace and encouragement as I review page after page of requests followed by the answers God has sent. (I’ve been doing this for 10 years.) My journal also keeps my prayers organized—each day I pray for a certain category—so I never feel like I’m forgetting something really important! I don’t say the same words every day, although I have written and memorized short prayers that express my heart’s desire towards God which I repeat often.

Finally, I find that joining with other like-minded people in discussion or actual prayer time is beneficial. Prayer partners and prayer chains not only give more things to pray about but also more opportunities for sharing thankfulness and praise. Like all other spiritual disciplines, meditation and prayer become more meaningful with practice and experience. And as we grow spiritually we will lavish less of our time in the noisy crush and rush of “life in the fast lane” and devote more energy toward developing a spiritual standard for ourselves and following generations.

Isn’t it fascinating that the most real things in the world are invisible? And becoming aware of the presence of the Unseen is one of the most real and fascinating things of all.

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By Brenda Dickerson. Copyright © 2006 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines. Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®.

Read more at the source: Meaningful Meditations

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Bible Says.

Show Them Your Love

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Photo: Lisa Zanchi

Ever feel like your love life, family life, and community life are in the doldrums? Here are some easy tips that will lift your spirits and show others you care:

 

1. Greet your husband at the door with a big smile, a big hug and a fifteen-second kiss, and tell him how happy you are that he is home.

2. Find ways to laugh with your husband – not at him.

3. If you have “let yourself go” since tying the knot, work on your appearance. Does your husband like your hair long? Does he like a particular perfume? Make a point to freshen your face, wear clean clothes, and brush your hair before he arrives home.

4. Surprise your husband with a spontaneous foot rub.

5. Once every week or so place little love notes in various places he will find them: in his briefcase, in his lunch, in his coat pocket, or in his Bible. Vary the day and place so it is always a surprise. Write a love note in red lipstick on the bathroom mirror and make a date for that evening.

6. Do not nag your husband.

7. Compliment your husband to others – especially when he is present.

8. Pray for your husband and children. Sometimes it is nice for them to hear your prayers.

9. Send lunch love notes to your kids on important days, such as test days, field trip days, etc. Or just send them for fun.

10. Have a special snack ready for your children when they walk in the door from school. Or have supper ready at an early hour so no one goes hungry.

11. Have story time everyday with your children. Snuggle under a comfy blanket and have some laughs.

12. Teach your children how to love others by working with them to reach out to the hurting in your community.

13. Invite a new family over for supper and board games.

14. Take your children door to door and collect cans to donate to your church food basket program or to a local food bank.

Sometimes life gets so busy we just forget to show our love, but the blessings are tremendous! Remember the words of Jesus, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

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By Melissa Ringstaff. Copyright © 2006 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines. Scripture taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION © 1982.

Read more at the source: Show Them Your Love

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Family First.

Anyone for Mushrooms?

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Photo: Dirk Ziegener

Mushrooms have been very popular for many centuries. They have been used both as food and for medicinal purposes. Of the 14,000 mushrooms, only about 3,000 are edible, while 700 have known medicinal properties. In addition, less than one percent are poisonous.

Mushrooms are enjoyed for their flavor and texture. Their flavor normally intensifies during cooking, and their texture holds up well to usual cooking methods, including stir-frying and sautéing. It is popular to add mushrooms to soups and salads, or to use them as an appetizer. They also add an appealing touch to vegetable-based casseroles and stews.

Mushrooms contain about 80 to 90 percent water, and are very low in calories (only 100 cal/ounce). They have very little sodium and fat, and a high content of dietary fiber. Hence, they are an ideal food for persons following a weight management program or a diet for hypertensives.

Mushrooms are an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that helps lower elevated blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke. Mushrooms are a rich source of selenium. Selenium is an antioxidant that works with vitamin E to protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. In the Baltimore study on Aging, men with the lowest blood selenium levels were 4 to 5 times more likely to have prostate cancer compared to those with the highest selenium levels.

Protective Effects

The most commonly consumed mushroom in the United States is Agaricus bisporus or the white button mushroom. An extract of white button mushrooms can decrease cell proliferation and decreased tumor size in a dose-dependent manner. Recent findings show that white button mushrooms possess substances that reduce the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer. The protective effect of mushrooms can be seen with a daily intake of about 100 grams (3.5 ozs).

Shiitake mushrooms have been used for centuries by the Chinese and Japanese to treat colds and flu. Lentinan, a beta-glucan isolated from the fruiting body of shiitake mushrooms, appears to stimulate the immune system, help fight infection, and demonstrates anti-tumor activity.

Many people enjoy going to the woods to pick their own mushrooms. However, identifying mushrooms can be a real challenge. The color, shape and size of the fruiting body can vary tremendously. It is important to properly identify mushrooms, so that one can avoid collecting a poisonous species.

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By Winston J. Craig, R.D. Copyright © 2006 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines.

Read more at the source: Anyone for Mushrooms?

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Staying young.

Its Gotta Be Brisk

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Photo: Carl Dwyer

You can get fit by walking. But it needs to be “determined,” or brisk walking. What’s brisk? If you’re just starting out, walk at a 3.5 mph pace (one mile in just over 17 minutes). Work up to a 4 mph pace (a mile in 15 minutes).

Archives of Internal Medicine

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Reprinted with permission from Vibrant Life, November/December 2004. Copyright © 2005 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines.

Read more at the source: Its Gotta Be Brisk

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Staying young.

Down but Not Out

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Photo: Adam Casalino

Approximately four out of every five newly disabled older people regain the ability to live independently within six months of their disability episode––a higher recovery rate than previously reported. “Our study offers good news to older people,” say researchers Susan E. Hardy, M.D., and Thomas M. Gill, M.D., Yale University School of Medicine. “It offers compelling evidence that becoming disabled in old age is not necessarily a life sentence.”

The majority of people in this study who recovered from disability maintained their independence for at least six months. But, for many, recovery was short-lived, especially for those with a disability lasting two months or more. While the short-term prognosis for recovery is good, the findings of recurring disability suggest the need to prevent disability in the first place and also to prevent recurrence.

The study measured disability in terms of “activities of daily living,” such as bathing, dressing, walking, or getting out of a chair. 

National Institutes of Health

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Reprinted with permission from Vibrant Life, November/December 2004. Copyright © 2006 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines.

Read more at the source: Down but Not Out

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Staying young.

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