Tag: depression

Cheery Tidbits

**Humor does a body good, so keep smiling & laughing!
** “You may trust the Lord too little, but you can never trust Him too much.” ~Anonymous
** Spice up your diet with Cayenne pepper (fresh, dried and/or powdered). It has impressive health benefits.

*** Tidbit  1   Humor Time

Laughing is good exercise; It’s like jogging on the inside.
~Kurt Vonnegut

Helpful Prayer

Billy had been misbehaving and was sent to his room. After a while he emerged and informed his mother that he had thought it over and then said a prayer. “Fine”, said the pleased mother. “If you ask God to help you not misbehave, He will help you.” “Oh, I didn’t ask Him to help me not misbehave,” said Johnny. “I asked Him to help you put up with me.”

Politically correct ways to say someone is stupid (not so intelligent):

  • A few fries short of a Happy Meal.
  • A few clowns short of a circus.
  • His antenna doesn’t pick up all the channels.
  • His belt doesn’t go through all the loops.
  • One Fruit Loop shy of a full bowl.
  • One taco short of a combination plate.

Things My Mother Taught Me (Part 1)

  1. My mother taught me to APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
    “If you’re going kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”
  2. Mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
    “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”
  3. My mother taught me RELIGION.
    “You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”
  4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
    “Because I said so, that’s why.”
  5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
    “If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”
  6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
    “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”
  7. My mother taught me IRONY.
    “Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”
  8. My mother taught me about science of OSMOSIS.
    “Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”

*** Tidbit  2   Trusting the Lord

 “You may trust the Lord too little, but you can never trust Him too much.”
                                                                                               ~Anonymous

As born-again believers we are called to trust God. Sometimes it’s easier said than done. It’s especially hard when things don’t seem to work out the way we think they should. Are you feeling anxious, worried, and/or depressed? Are you going through a negative situation and you doubt that God will come through? Maybe you believe He can come through but, will He come through for you? Maybe you’re thinking that He needs your help, and you can come up with a solution that is better than His. The bottom line is that you don’t trust Him. I think we’ve all been there. It started with Adam and Eve. Read the 3rd chapter of Genesis in the Bible. They doubted God and took matters into their own hands, and look at the results.

Trusting God is an act and a process. The following are tips for trusting Him in every area of life.

  1. Get to know Him. The more we get to know Him (by praying and talking to Him throughout the day) & the more we learn more about Him (by reading the Bible) the easier it will be to trust Him.
  2. Believe. Believing increases our trust in God. Believe that He is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. He cannot fail.
  3. Remember the past. We all have testimonies of how we trusted God on some issue and how He came through for us. This causes our confidence to grow. If He did it before, He can do it again.
  4. Meditate on how He feels about you. He loves you (John 3:16, Zephaniah 3:17) and wants the very best for you (Jeremiah 29:11).

So, the next time something goes wrong, you find yourself filled with fear and anxiety or if you are uncertain about what the future holds, try these 4 tips. Take some deep breaths; know that Daddy God has this, and all you need to do is simply trust Him.

Trusting Jesus

Author – Edgar Page Sites, 1836-1921          Composer – Ira D. Sankey, 1840-1908

1. Simply trusting every day, Trusting through a stormy way; even when my faith is small, Trusting Jesus that is all

Refrain:
Trusting as the moments fly, Trusting as the days go by; Trusting Him whate’er befall, Trusting Jesus, that is all.

2. Brightly doth His Spirit shine into this poor heart of mine; While He leads I cannot fall; Trusting Jesus, that is all.

3. Singing if my way is clear, praying if the path be drear; if in danger for Him call; Trusting Jesus that is all.

4. Trusting Him while life shall last, Trusting Him till earth be past; Till within the jasper wall, Trusting Jesus, that is all.

*** Tidbit  3   Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper (fresh, dried and powdered) has impressive health benefits. The pepper’s active ingredient, capsaicin, is valued for its therapeutic effects. Here are 10 reasons to include cayenne pepper in your diet.
  1. May improve digestion.
  2. May lower blood pressure.
  3. May help relieve pain.
  4. May protect your heart against inflammation.
  5. May improve Psoriasis.
  6. May reduce cancer risk.
  7. May provide detox support.
  8. May boost your metabolism.
  9. May prevent allergies and clear congestion.
  10. Is easy to include in your diet because of the many ways it can be consumed.

There are simple ways to take advantage of the awesome benefits of cayenne pepper:

  • Add it to meals.
  • Take it in capsule form.
  • Mix the powder with water and lemon as a detox drink.
  • Apply it topically. There are creams available to treat skin infections, sore muscles and tension.

Cayenne pepper powder lasts between 3-4 years. You can tell it has gone bad when it loses its flavor. Red-colored spices should always be stored in the fridge. Remember that it adds heat and can be too much for people who are spice-sensitive.

The information that I have shared with you is intended for informational purposes only.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?  If not, what are you waiting on? In crazy times like these, we need a Savior. If you have already accepted Him, He wants you to get to know Him even better.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you were blessed.

Don’t forget to click the “follow button.”

Find me on YouTube: Annette Harris – YouTube        
www.youtube.com/channel/UCcrxz9YI7Eg7ycPTbPyllSw

Resources
Kurt Vonnegut
https://www.beliefnet.com/ilovejesus/features/hilarious-christian-jokes.aspx
https://tensionnot.com/jokes/one_liner_jokes/how_say_if_someone_stupid
https://tensionnot.com/jokes/one_liner_jokes/things_my_mother_taught_me
https://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/10-bible-verses-trusting-god/
https://hymnary.org/text/simply_trusting_every_day

Half empty or Half full?

A little birthday humor 

  • Q: How can you tell that you’re getting old? A: You go to an antique auction and three people bid on you!

  • After much convincing from my husband, I finally agreed to call an old family friend to sing her happy birthday.  It was only after I finished singing, that the voice at the other end of the line informed me, that it was the wrong number. “Oh I’m so sorry” I said, embarrassed.  “It’s okay” the voice said, “you can use all of the practice you can get!”

  • You know you’re getting old when you walk up the stairs and call it exercise. Happy Birthday!

  • Have a great time on your birthday, and don’t worry about getting old.  That happened years ago.

Three Old Sisters

There were 3 sisters living together 92, 94 and 95 yrs. old. The oldest went upstairs one evening to take a bath. As she was getting in the tub with one foot in and one foot out, she called down to her sisters, “Am I getting in the tub or am I getting out of the tub?”

The 94 yr. old decided to go upstairs to see if she could help figure out the situation. She got to the 3rd step and stopped – then called out, “Was I going up the stairs or was I coming down the stairs?”

The 92 yr. old, sitting at the kitchen table, thought she better knock on wood and as she knocked on the kitchen table she said, “I hope I never get as bad as my sisters. Now was that the front door or the back door?”

Birthday humor time is dedicated to my oldest sister, Pastor Charlotte “Happy” Bryant, who celebrated her 70th birthday yesterday.

water 2

Do you view your birthday as half full or half empty?

If you have read my previous posts, you know that I have not always been the most positive person.  My history includes low self-esteem, depression and suicidal thoughts.  God has helped me over the years and my positive days now outweigh my negative days.  I try to be more grateful and thankful each day.  I also laugh more.  My prayer was: “Lord, for the rest of my life, help me to see the glass half full each day and not half empty.”

I have never known anyone like Pastor Bryant.  I marvel at the wisdom God gives her.  One day while talking on the phone with her, I shared my desire to always see the glass half full.  I have been kind of down because I still have not found a full time job.  I’m still working 6 – 12 hours a week in retail, making minimum wage. That’s enough to make anyone depressed (if you’re viewing the glass as half empty).

It seems like this season in my life has been going on a long, long, long, time and is never going to end.  Ecclesiastes tells us that seasons must come to an end, but God left out the “how long” part.

Ecclesiastes 3   To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

When I look at the glass as half full: No utilities have been turned off; I’m still driving my 2014 car with insurance; I haven’t lost any weight due to lack of food; I’m not getting phone calls from bill collectors; I haven’t filed for bankruptcy.  Those are all miracles. God has been faithful.

In response to my statement about wanting to see the glass as half full, Pastor Bryant said, “Well I choose to see the glass as full.”  Now why did she have to say that?  She had just burst my balloon and raised the bar.  I thought I was doing a great job seeing the glass as half full instead of half empty but she had to throw in the “full” picture glass vision.  That is one of the many, many examples of how God gives her wisdom to share with others and to help us grow.  I must admit that my faith is not yet at the level of seeing a half full glass of water as a full glass of water, water 3 but I’m working on it.  Thanks to God and my big Sis, I believe I’ll accomplish that faith goal.

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.        Hebrews 11:6

Food for thought: According to Romans 4:17  “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”  

 If God called things into existence, why can’t I call a half full glass of water  – full?

The words to the hymn “It is will with my soul” were written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1828.  He had a successful legal practice in Chicago.  He invested heavily in real estate and his holdings were wiped out, as a result of the Chicago Fire of 1871.  Just before this, he had experienced the death of his son.  He wanted to get away for a rest, so he planned a trip for his family.

Spafford had an unexpected last minute business development right before they were to leave, so he stayed in Chicago but sent his wife and four daughters on ahead on the ship.  He was going to follow a few days later.  The ship that his wife and daughters were on, sank.  His four daughters drowned, but his wife survived.  In his grief, he wrote the words to this hymn and was still able to say, “It is well with my soul.”  He had many reasons to see the glass as half empty but I believe he chose to see it as half full.

To view this video, click on the link beside my picture.  I hope it blesses you.

Sing like God is the only one listening.  It’s okay if you get off key, don’t do any “runs” or forget the words.  You’ll get no negative comments from Him.  Just sing from your heart. -Annette M. Harris

What do you do when life hands you a bag of lemons?  You make  lemon waterlemon water.

Lemons contain many nutrients, including vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and fiber.

Lemon water may:

  • Give your immune system a boost.

  • Aid digestion.

  • Cleanse your system.

  • Alkalize your body.

  • Help fight viral infections.

  • Reduce inflammation.

  • Keep your skin blemish free.

  • Give you an energy boost.

  • Help you lose weight.

  • Freshen your breath.

One doctor recommends starting the day with the juice of ¼ to ½ of a lemon, and filling the rest of the glass with warm water.  You can dilute the lemon juice more, depending on your personal taste.  During the rest of the day, you can sip lemon water at a cooler temperature, if you prefer it. This will keep you hydrated, and it may also help quench your thirst for unhealthy drinks that contain too much sugar and too many calories.

Remember: we are not making lemonade, we’re making lemon water.

I like to drink a warm glass of lemon water with 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and 1/2 tsp of ginger.  It gives me a morning boost.  I like to think of it as a detoxification drink.

I believe that we have the power to contribute to the healing of our bodies by adapting what we consume every day.  Drinking lemon water is one of the little things that we can do on a regular basis that can have long term benefits.

We’re so used to instant gratification in almost everything we do, so when it comes to healthy diets and exercise, we can easily get discouraged if we don’t see results in a few days.  As with any new addition to your diet, give it a minimum of two weeks to see what positive benefits you can get.

I highly recommend that you do your own research on drinking lemon water. Then choose at least one benefit that will motivate you to start incorporating it into your daily life.

Commit to 14 days of drinking lemon water. Write down how you feel on day 1, then on day 14.  Share your experience in the comment section of this post or with someone else.

Bye for now.  Thanks for visiting!  laughing face

 

 

 

Sources

 

http://www.funny-jokes-quotes-sayings.com/funny-birthday-wishes.html

http://jokes.christiansunite.com/Old_Folks/Three_Old_Sisters.shtml

Ecclesiastes 3King James Version (KJV)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3&version=KJV

Holman Christian Standard Bible                 http://biblehub.com/hebrews/11-6.htm

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Romans-4-17/        King James Version (KJV)

Osbeck, K. W. (1982). 101 Hymn Stories. Grand Rapids, MT: Kregel Publications

http://news.health.com/2015/02/24/why-you-should-start-your-day-with-lemon-water/

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/12/the-2-week-lemon-water-challenge/

http://www.jokes4us.com/holidayjokes/birthdayjokes.

htmlhttp://www.greatcleanjokes.com/jokes/life-jokes/birthday-jokes/

http://www.wishesquotes.com/birthday/100-funny-birthday-wishes-for-friends#ixzz40lWHCQP9

 

 

 

It happened to me.

Andrae Crouch sang these words:  Somebody told me of the joy they had.  Somebody told me that in sorrow they could be glad.  Then they told me, once they were bound but now set free.  But I didn’t think it could be until it happened to me. 
My oldest sister, Pastor Charlotte Bryant has shown me the joy that she has over the years.  She has shown me that in sorrow she can be glad.  I know stories of when she was bound and then set free.  But I STILL didn’t think it could be – until it happened to me. 
To be honest, I didn’t want to believe it could happen to me.  I didn’t want to change.  I wanted to continue being depressed.  I wanted to keep singing songs like What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas?,  Nobody Knows the trouble I’ve seen, and Trouble in my way, I have to cry sometimes – I lay awake at night but that’s alright- Jesus will fix it after while.  I didn’t want to sing songs like: I’m an Overcomer, Victory is Mine, and Joy bells Keep Ringing in My Soul.
Slowly but surely, it has happened to me.  I’m not singing those negative songs anymore.  When I hear them being sung, I will make up words to replace them.  Everyone in life will experience trouble.  1Peter 4:12, 13 clearly says, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.”  Trouble will come.  It’s up to me how I react to it. 
I won’t say that I am the most joyful person in the world.  I won’t say that I never get sad and depressed.  I will say that those bouts don’t happen often.  When they do happen and I examine myself, I find that I have not been praying, praising god and reading the Word like I should. 
I challenge you.  Don’t meditate on the negative, don’t sing the negative. Don’t declare the negative: Oh, I’m having a bad day, I have the worst luck, Nothing good ever happens to me, I don’t feel like thinking happy thoughts.  Don’t claim the negative:  my arthritis, my bad back, my lazy husband, my ugly self, my broke self. Look at the glass as half full and not half empty.  Praise God.  Meditate on the Word of God.  Invest in some laughter DVDs or books.  Do your part and God will do the rest.  Then you can share with others how, IT HAPPENED TO YOU.
To view my video, those who receive email notifications of new blog posts can click on the link beside my picture.

 

Word to meditate on:        
Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness. Isaiah 41:10 
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you.  Isaiah 26:3
A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17

HUMOR TIME

God is Like a TV Commercial
Then there’s the Sunday School teacher who had her 5th grade class watch commercials to see if they could use them to come up with ways to communicate truths about God. Here’s what they said:
God is like.
Allstate: You’re in good hands.
Alka-Seltzer: Try him, you’ll like Him
Tide: He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
Sears: He has everything.
A Ford: He’s got a better idea.
Hallmark Cards: He cared enough to send the very best.
Bayer Asprin: He works miracles.
Delta: He’s ready when you are.
Alberto Vo-5: He holds through all kinds of weather.
Coke: He’s the real thing.
The US Post Office: Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail will keep Him from His appointed rounds.
Scotch Tape: You can’t see Him, but you know He’s there.
Dial Soap: Aren’t you glad you’ve got Him? Don’t you wish everybody did?
General Electric: He brings good things to life.
Charity Begins at Church
After the church service, seven year old Brian said to the preacher: ‘When I grow up, I’m going to give you some money.’
‘Well, thank you, ‘the preacher replied, ‘but why?’
‘Because my daddy says that you’re one of the poorest preachers we’ve ever had.’
 Going Down!!
As the storm raged, the captain realized his ship was sinking fast. He called out, “Anyone here know how to pray?” One man stepped forward. “Aye, Captain, I know how to pray.” “Good,” said the captain, “you pray while the rest of us put on our life jackets – we’re one short.”
Get moving.bicycle
Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health.  People who are physically active tend to live longer and have lower risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers.  Physical activity can help control weight, strengthen bones and muscles, and if you’re an older adult, improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls.  In December 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services launched Healthy People 2020, which has four overarching goals:
  • Attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death;
  • Achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups;
  • Create social and physical environments that promote good health for all; and
  • Promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages.
Healthy People 2020 tracks approximately 1,200 objectives organized into 42 topic areas, each of which represents an important public health area.  Increasing physical activity is one of the objectives.  Specific goals for physical activity are:
Here are 8 more reasons to get moving:       
  1. To reduce tension and enable you to handle stress more effectively
  2. To help prevent constipation
  3. To improve your sleep
  4. To relieve arthritis
  5. To improve your posture and general appearance
  6. To improve your circulation
  7. To have more energy to praise the Lord in dancing
I get moving because I want to have flexibility and to strengthen my bones and muscles.
 What motivates you to get moving?      apple weights                      
Thanks for stopping by.

Resources

Physical Activity. (April 2015). Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/data-search/Search-the-            Data?f%5B%5D=field_topic_area%3A3504&ci=0&se=0&pop=

http://biblehub.com/akjv/1_peter/4.htm

https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Isaiah%2041:10

http://biblehub.com/akjv/isaiah/26.htm

http://www.jokesclean.com/ChristianJokes/HolyOneLiners.php

http://www.guy-sports.com/jokes/clean_religious_jokes.htm

http://www.beliefnet.com/iLoveJesus/Features/Hilarious-Christian-Jokes.aspx?p=6#8SyJPYTfowTjR3eU.99