The enemy cannot stand the sound of joy!

Satan is always trying to bring stress into people's lives. He knows that stressed out people isolate themselves. When we think about how God has brought us through so many trials, joy is activated in our spirit! The key is to bring joy into the lives of others-even if you are having difficulties in your own life. We attract God's favor when we try to bless others and bring joy into their lives. Laughter will clean out bad air. A smile will attract other people! People want to be around joy! Don't take your gift of joy likely. Share your joy and make it your business to bring joy into the world.

It’s So Precious and Cherished!

If we don't spend time with God, the oil in our lamp will go out. Many of our problems would go away if we would just spend30min. with God each day. One of the best gifts we can give ourselves is time alone with God. You don't have to feel God to know He is with you. You just have to know! Spending time with God will keep oil in your lamp. Then we will be able to see what God wants us to see. Our God knows how to open doors that we didn't even know were there. But He also knows how to close doors that might have been a deception waiting to confine and block us from His Grace. God teaches and instructs us by His Word. But when we fellowship with Him, He communicates to us in so many ways. He has given us a "Life Style" designed by Him. It’s so precious and cherished!

"Seamos como el lápiz"

Todos los días nos levantamos buscando ser mejores, tratando de corregir nuestras imperfecciones, de reparar el daño que hicimos y procurando no volver a cometer los errores del día anterior y sin duda alguna es una tarea difícil. Hay una historia que a través de algo tan común y sencillo como un lápiz nos enseña cinco cualidades que debemos tener. Cuentan que un niñito miraba a su abuelo escribir una carta. En un momento dado le preguntó: - ¿Abuelo, estás escribiendo una historia que nos pasó a los dos? ¿Es, por casualidad, una historia sobre mí? El abuelo dejó de escribir, sonrió y respondió: - Estoy escribiendo sobre ti, es cierto. Sin embargo, más importante que las palabras, es el lápiz que estoy usando. Me gustaría que tú fueses como él cuando crezcas. - ¿Qué tiene de especial? Preguntó el nieto mientras observaba el lápiz intrigado, sin encontrar nada en particular. El abuelo le respondió: - Todo depende del modo en que mires las cosas. Hay en él cinco cualidades que, si consigues mantenerlas, harán siempre de ti una persona en paz con el mundo. Primera cualidad: Puedes hacer grandes cosas, pero no olvides nunca que existe una mano que guía tus pasos. Esta mano la llamamos Dios, y Él siempre te conducirá en dirección a su voluntad. Segunda cualidad: De vez en cuando necesitas dejar lo que estás escribiendo y usar el sacapuntas. Eso hace que el lápiz sufra un poco, pero al final, estará más afilado. Por lo tanto, debes ser capaz de soportar algunos dolores, porque te harán mejor persona. Tercera cualidad: El lápiz siempre permite que usemos una goma para borrar aquello que está mal. Entiende que corregir algo que hemos hecho no es necesariamente algo malo, sino algo importante para mantenernos en el camino de la justicia. Cuarta cualidad: Lo que realmente importa en el lápiz no es la madera ni su forma exterior, sino el grafito que hay dentro. Por lo tanto, cuida siempre de lo que sucede en tu interior. Quinta cualidad: Siempre deja una marca. De la misma manera, has de saber que todo lo que hagas en la vida, dejará trazos. Por eso intenta ser consciente de cada acción. Recuerda siempre que Dios es quien dirige tu vida. A veces pasamos por momentos difíciles porque necesitamos tener una punta más afilada para dejar mejores trazos. Intenta corregir lo que hiciste mal y no mires las apariencias, a Dios le interesa tu corazón y eso es lo que realmente importa. Finalmente siempre dejaremos una marca, por eso debemos pensar bien y actuar correctamente. Seamos ejemplo donde quiera que vayamos y que la gente pueda ver a Cristo reflejado en nuestras vidas. ”Y sé tú mismo un ejemplo para ellos al hacer todo tipo de buenas acciones. Que todo lo que hagas refleje la integridad y la seriedad de tu enseñanza. Enseña la verdad, para que no puedan criticar tu enseñanza. Entonces los que se nos oponen quedarán avergonzados y no tendrán nada malo que decir de nosotros”.

9 tips on how to stay fit through your quit

1. Make Sticking to Your Quit Your Number One Priority Don’t let fears of weight gain or other hurdles block your road to success. 2. Exercise Strap on those walking shoes, grab those boxing gloves, or roll out that yoga mat. Exercise helps reduce tension and stress and can make you feel more relaxed and alert. Consult your doctor to create a workout plan that works best with your fitness level. 3. Keep Track of How You Feel It is important to note how you feel as you travel through your quit journey—physically and emotionally. If you're not feeling like your best self, make a plan to turn things around via diet or exercise, and consult a healthcare professional. 4. Note What You’re Eating Just as you’re learning to keep track of why and when you smoke, it’s also important to do the same with food. What triggers your food cravings? Are you using food as a replacement for smoking? It’s good to keep these urges in check as you go through your quit. 5. Eat Mindfully Controlling your weight does not necessarily mean dieting—all that is required is mindful eating. Keep a healthy weight by making smart food choices. 6. Pack In the Nutrients Part of eating well and making good food choices is packing in nutrients. Nutrient rich foods include vegetables, fruits and whole grains, like collard greens, blueberries and lentils. 7. Watch Those Sweets and Alcohol Sugar has a sneaky way of sticking on those pounds. Be careful of your sugar intake and keep in mind that though alcohol comes in a very different package than sweets, it is often packed with extra calories and sugar as well. 8. Snack Smart Keep healthy snacks on hand for when the hunger pangs hit. Carrot sticks, nuts, dried fruit or fresh fruit are great options. Toss ‘em in your bag for a convenient snack on the go. 9. Drink Lots of Water Hydration is super important to keeping off weight. Drinking water helps keep you feeling full, so make sure to have a water bottle nearby throughout your quit journey.

Stay The Course!

Many saints faith are being tested today in many ways. Remember, Satan wants you to turn back to your old ways just when your faith is being tested. Think you don't have enough faith? That's what the Satan want you to believe. You got more than enough. You got Jesus! End of story! The Devil can't do anything to you when you are planted in the Word of God. For the Scriptures says “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4(KJV) Stay the course and trust God.

Standfast in your faith in Christ Jesus.

Satan will bring storms of trials in your life and try to "set you back." But God will "set you up" in front of your enemies&there is nothing they can do about it! For the Scriptures says – “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:.” (Psalm23:5(KJV) & “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.” (Mark12:36(KJV) Also know this-God will either calm the storm, or he'll let the storm rage while he calms you. - “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans8:31(KJV) Standfast in your faith in Christ Jesus. The best is yet to come!

5 Reasons Our Generation Just Isn't Cut Out For Marriage

1. Sex becomes almost non-existent. I don't know about you, but I am an extremely sexual person. Not only do I believe it's an important aspect of a relationship, I believe it's the most important. Beyond being pleasurable, sex connects two individuals. There's a reason why it's referred to as "making love." I'm baffled by couples who neglect having sex, especially younger ones. We all desire physical connection, so how does cutting that off lead you to believe your marriage will be successful? Instead, we have sex once every couple weeks, or when it's time to get pregnant. It becomes this chore. You no longer look at your partner wanting to rip their clothes off, but rather instead, dread the thought. That's not crazy to you? 2. Finances cripple us. Years ago, it didn't cost upward of $200,000 for an education. It also didn't cost $300,000-plus for a home. Today, you need to find a job to pay for student loans, a mortgage, utilities, living expenses and a baby. Problem is, it's extremely difficult to find a job that can provide an income that will help you live comfortably while paying all of these bills -- especially not in your mid-20s. This strain causes separation between us. It halts us from being able to live life. We're too busy paying bills to enjoy our youth. Forget going to dinner, you have to pay the mortgage. You'll have to skip out on an anniversary gift this year because those student loans are due at the end of the month. Vacations? Not happening. We're trying to live the way our grandparents and parents did in a world that has put more debt on our plate than ever before. It's possible, but it puts us in an awful position. Part of life is being able to live. Not having the finances to do so takes away yet another important aspect of our relationships. It keeps us inside, forced to see the life everyone else is living. 3. We're more connected than ever before, but completely disconnected at the same time. Let's face it, the last time you "spoke" to the person you love, you didn't even hear their voice. You could be at work, the gym, maybe with the kids at soccer. You may even be in the same room. You told your wife you made dinner reservations... through a text message. Your husband had flowers delivered to your job... through an app on his phone. You both searched for furnishings for your new home... on Pinterest. There's no physical connection attached to anything anymore. We've removed human emotion from our relationships, and we've replaced it with colorful bubbles. Somehow, we've learned to get offended by text on a screen, accusing others of being "angry" or "sad" when, in fact, we have no idea what they are feeling. We argue about this -- at length. You want to know why your grandmother and grandfather just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary? Because they weren't scrolling through Instagram worrying about what John ate for dinner. They weren't on Facebook criticizing others. They weren't on vacation sending Snapchats to their friends. No. They were too preoccupied loving and respecting one another. They were talking to each other at dinner, walking with each other holding hands instead of their phones. They weren't distracted by everything around them. They had dreams and chased them together. 4. Our desire for attention outweighs our desire to be loved. Social media has given everyone an opportunity to be famous. Attention you couldn't dream of getting unless you were celebrity is now a selfie away. Post a picture, and thousands of strangers will like it. Wear less clothing, and guess what? More likes. It's more than that though. What about the life you live? I see pictures of people decked out in designer clothes, posted up in some club with fancy drinks -- people I know that are dead broke. But they portray themselves as successful because, well, they can. And they get this gratification from people who like and comment on their statuses or pictures. If you want to love someone, stop seeking attention from everyone because you'll never be satisfied with the attention from one person. Same holds true for love. Love is supposed to be sacred. You can't love someone when you're preoccupied with worrying about what others think of you. Whether it be posting pictures on social media, buying homes to compete with others or going on lavish vacations -- none of it matters. 5. Social media just invited a few thousand people into bed with you. We've thrown privacy out the window these days. Nothing is sacred anymore, in fact, it's splattered all over the Web for the world to see. Everywhere we go, everything we do -- made public. Instead of enjoying the moment, we get lost in cyberspace, trying to figure out the best status update, or the perfect filter. There's absolutely nothing wrong with sharing moments of your life. I do it myself. But where do we draw the line? When does it become too much? We've invited strangers into our homes and brought them on dates with us. We've shown them our wardrobe, drove with them in our cars, and we even showed them our bathing suits. Might as well pack them a suitcase, too.

The closer we get to God

Remember when we were children, and the Christmas season began to approach us-we would begin to get excited! The closer we got to Christmas-the more we would dream and see visions of possibilities to come. It had a distinct effect on our behavior. This is the way it is when we draw near to God! The closer we get to God-there is a distinct affect that takes place within our spirit. We begin to find hope and joy-where we once thought there were no hope. When we come to God in prayer-switch over into praise! Thank God in advance-and thank Him often! When our spirit finds joy in the Lord, the enemy cannot affect our faith. Don't worry about the difficulties in your life. Our God thrives in difficult times. For the scripture says "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews11:6)

12 Foods To Eat When You're Totally Stressed Out

When work deadlines begin piling up and your social calendar is booked, the last thing you want to hear is to steer clear of the vending machine. Who has time for healthy eating? But when it comes to combating stress levels, what you eat may actually help relieve your tension. Indeed, some foods may help stabilize blood sugar or, better yet, your emotional response. Here, 12 foods to reach for when you've just about had enough. Green leafy vegetables. leafy vegetables It's tempting to reach for a cheeseburger when stressed, but go green at lunch instead. "Green leafy vegetables like spinach contain folate, which produces dopamine, a pleasure-inducing brain chemical, helping you keep calm," says Heather Mangieri, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A 2012 study in the Journal of Affective Disorders of 2,800 middle-aged and elderly people and found those who consumed the most folate had a lower risk of depression symptoms than those who took in the least. And, a 2013 study from the University of Otago found that college students tended to feel calmer, happier and more energetic on days they ate more fruits and veggies. It can be hard to tell which came first -- upbeat thoughts or healthy eating -- but the researchers found that healthy eating seemed to predict a positive mood the next day. Turkey breast. You've probably heard that the tryptophan in turkey is to blame for that food coma on Thanksgiving. The amino acid, found in protein-containing foods, helps produce serotonin, "the chemical that regulates hunger and feelings of happiness and well-being," Mangieri says. On its own, tryptophan may have a calming effect. In a 2006 study published in the Journal of Psychiatry Neuroscience, men and women who were argumentative (based on personality tests) took either tryptophan supplements or a placebo for 15 days. Those who took tryptophan were perceived as more agreeable by their study partners at the end of the two weeks compared with when they didn't take it. (The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.) Other foods high in tryptophan include nuts, seeds, tofu, fish, lentils, oats, beans and eggs. Oatmeal. If you're already a carb lover, it's likely that nothing can come between you and a doughnut when stress hits. First rule of thumb: Don't completely deny the craving. According to MIT research, carbohydrates can help the brain make serotonin, the same substance regulated by antidepressants. But instead of reaching for that sugary bear claw, go for complex carbs. "Stress can cause your blood sugar to rise, Mangieri says, "so a complex carb like oatmeal won't contribute to your already potential spike in blood glucose." Yogurt. yogurt As bizarre as it may sound, the bacteria in your gut might be contributing to stress. Research has shown that the brain signals to the gut, which is why stress can inflame gastrointestinal symptoms; communication may flow the other way too, from gut to brain. A 2013 UCLA study among 36 healthy women revealed that consuming probiotics in yogurt reduced brain activity in areas that handle emotion, including stress compared to people who consumed yogurt without probiotics or no yogurt at all. This study was small so more research is needed to confirm the results—but considering yogurt is full of calcium and protein in addition to probiotics, you really can't go wrong by adding more of it to your diet. Salmon. When you're stressed, it can ratchet up anxiety hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. "The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon have anti-inflammatory properties that may help counteract the negative effects of stress hormones," says Lisa Cimperman, RD, of the University Hospitals Case Medical Center and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, Oregon State University medical students who took omega-3 supplements had a 20% reduction in anxiety compared to the group given placebo pills. One 3-ounce serving of cooked wild salmon can have more than 2,000 milligrams of omega-3s, double the daily intake recommended by the American Heart Association for people with heart disease. Blueberries. "When you're stressed, there's a battle being fought inside you," Mangieri says. "The antioxidants and phytonutrients found in berries fight in your defense, helping improve your body's response to stress and fight stress-related free radicals." Research has also shown that blueberry eaters experience a boost in natural killer cells, "a type of white blood cell that plays a vital role in immunity, critical for countering stress," says Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, Health's contributing nutrition editor. Pistachios. pistachios When you have an ongoing loop of negative thoughts playing in your mind, doing something repetitive with your hands may help silence your inner monologue. Think knitting or kneading bread—or even shelling nuts like pistachios or peanuts. The rhythmic moves will help you relax. Plus, the added step of cracking open a shell slows down your eating, making pistachios a diet-friendly snack. What's more, pistachios have heart-health benefits. "Eating pistachios may reduce acute stress by lowering blood pressure and heart rate," Mangieri says. "The nuts contain key phytonutrients that may provide antioxidant support for cardiovascular health." Dark chocolate. Calling all chocoholics: a regular healthy indulgence (just a bite, not a whole bar!) of dark chocolate might have the power to regulate your stress levels. "Research has shown that it can reduce your stress hormones, including cortisol," Sass says. "Also, the antioxidants in cocoa trigger the walls of your blood vessels to relax, lowering blood pressure and improving circulation. And finally, dark chocolate contains unique natural substances that create a sense of euphoria similar to the feeling of being in love!" Go for varieties that contain at least 70% cocoa. Milk. Fortified milk is an excellent source of vitamin D, a nutrient that might boost happiness. A 50-year-long study by London's UCL Institute of Child Health found an association between reduced levels of vitamin D and an increased risk of panic and depression among 5,966 men and women. People who had sufficient vitamin D levels had a reduced risk of panic disorders compared to subjects with the lowest levels of vitamin D. Other foods high in vitamin D include salmon, egg yolks and fortified cereal. Seeds. pumpkin seeds Flaxseed, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are all great sources of magnesium (as are leafy greens, yogurt, nuts and fish). Loading up on the mineral may help regulate emotions. "Magnesium has been shown to help alleviate depression, fatigue and irritability," Sass says. "Bonus: When you're feeling especially irritable during that time of the month, the mineral also helps to fight PMS symptoms, including cramps and water retention." Avocado. You can't just reach for slice after slice of avocado toast during crunch time if you don't want to gain weight, but this superfruit might help shut down stress-eating by filling your belly and making you feel more satisfied. In a 2014 study by Loma Linda University (which, full disclosure, was sponsored by the Hass Avocado Board), researchers had participants add half an avocado to their lunches, which reduced their desire to eat more by 40% for the three hours following the midday meal. That full feeling will make you less inclined to reach for unhealthy snacks when stress kicks in. Cashews. One ounce of the buttery nut packs 11% of the daily recommended value of zinc, an essential mineral that may help reduce anxiety. When researchers gave zinc supplements to people who were diagnosed with both anxiety symptoms (irritability, lack of ability to concentrate) and deficient zinc levels over a course of eight weeks, the patients saw a 31% decrease in anxiety, according to Nutrition and Metabolic Insights. This is likely because zinc affects the levels of a nerve chemical that influences mood. If you're already getting enough zinc, then it may not help your mood to chow down on cashews (or other zinc-rich foods like oysters, beef, chicken and yogurt). But, cashews are also rich in omega-3s and protein, so they're a smart snack no matter what. 12 Superfoods For Stress Relief originally appeared on Health.com.

Stay in Agreement with God!

There are people in near and distant places who will be a blessing to you-and they are completely unaware of it. Through God's divine connection, blessings are on the way to you. Even if your situation doesn't change-in Christ Jesus-we know that we will change. He is indeed preparing us for His journey. God has equipped each of us to do great things! Stay in agreement with God to guide your life even when you don't know which way it is going. Without faith, nothing is possible! With faith in Christ-Nothing is Impossible!

We Finally Got It Right!

If we can't be trusted in tough times-how can God trust us in good times? Notice I didn’t say-If “WE” can’t be trusted. The enemy try to make some saints think and believe they missed their chance preparing for God’s purpose for them-in their past. God don't care about our past. He loves us in spite of our past. Only God can change people! No amount of money, education, social standing, or scientific achievement can prepare us for God’s intentions and objectives in our lives. The enemy will always try to entice you to doubt yourself in God’s plans. If you allow yourself to be led by the Spirit of God, you will end up just where you are supposed to be. Thank God for Christ Jesus! When we accepted Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior-we finally got it right!

9 Things You Can't Remember Anymore Thanks To Technology

1. Phone Numbers The most obvious one. You used to be able to cite all your closest friends' and family's phone number by heart. Now you have to look up your own significant other's number in your phone when asked to write down an emergency contact. Hey, what's the number for the pizza place we order from every Friday? Oh, that's right, we order on Seamless. trying to remember She's even more confused because she's still using a flip phone. 2. Birthdays Facebook has taken all the guesswork out of remembering when people are born. Does a generic "Happy birthday" message on someone's wall really mean anything when a push notification made you do it? Or how about when Facebook tells you it's like five people's birthdays and you just wish them all a happy birthday at once. You even use copy/paste because you're too lazy to write "Happy Birthday" over and over again. Where's the genuine sentiment in that? 3. Long Division Remember when your middle school math teacher said you need to learn this stuff because you're not going to carry a calculator around with you at all times? Well, try remembering how to divide numbers on paper and you'll be thankful that literally every cell phone comes with a calculator app. Figuring out the tip? There's an app for that. Dividing bills between roommates? There's an app for that. Until the day comes when someone threatens to kill you unless you tell them the area of an isosceles right triangle, you're probably going to be okay. frustrated math "Don't break out the iPhone in front of the class. Don't break out the iPhone in front of the class..." 4. How To Write A Check Thanks to Paypal, Apple Pay and apps like Venmo, paper checks are becoming part of the analog past. Do you have to write "and zero cents" on the amount line? What's the memo space for again? And you're telling me I have to physically go to the bank? Luckily it's cool if you forget to sign the back of one when trying to cash it because now you can just take a picture of it on your phone and then rip it up. 5. How To Write In Cursive You might be able to sign your name all right, but try writing a lowercase, cursive "K" or "Z" and you'll think it looks all wrong. Kids today don't even have to learn cursive in some schools, which is a bit sad. We all had to suffer through it so why shouldn't they? But in all likelihood, texting classes will be the next big thing and we'll soon evolve to have long, muscular thumbs as our primary communication digit. 6. Literally Just Writing In General This one is a little embarrassing. Have you noticed what your handwriting looks like lately? If you've been spending most of your time using a computer or phone, it's horrible. That beautiful penmanship of your teens has been replaced with barely legible chicken scratch and your hand hurts from writing after one or two pages. Good grief. 7. Giving Directions If someone invites you to meet them at a bar or restaurant and the first question you have is, "How do I get there?" you probably won't like your friend's response. Okay, a simple "What train is it near?" is acceptable, but you know you're just going to have to Google it to get the exact directions. The same goes for giving directions to strangers who stop you on the street. Chances are, if they're asking, they either don't have their phone on them, it's dead, or they're using Apple's impossible maps application. confused lost "I told you we should have just paid AT&T for the international plan." 8. How To Wait For Someone In Public Instead of someone saying, "Meet me by the fountain at 3:00," and you not hearing from them until you meet them there, you now receive up-to-the-minute updates from the person you're going to meet and will know their exact location. You can barely remember what it's like to have to stand around silently, looking at nothing in particular and letting your thoughts wander because you're too busy listening to a podcast, playing Candy Crush and tracking your friend's whereabouts. Did that cute stranger just say hi to you? Who cares, you just got a new Tinder match. 9. How To Spell Tricky Words Without Looking Them Up Spellcheck, predictive text and its quirky sibling "speech to text" make it pretty much impossible to remember how to spell words like "Receipt," "Pneumonia," and, ironically, "Misspell" (that second "s" just always looks weird). "I before E" goes out the window when you have squiggly red lines to tell you what's wrong. Combine this with #5 and the future isn't looking too hot for the actually written word. Thanks, technology!

5 Things You Don’t Know About Rain Jackets

1. You can bring an old rain jacket back to life. I’ve heard people say that their rain jacket just isn’t waterproof any more and they are going to replace it. Hold on, jackets have a DWR (durable water repellent) coating that was applied to the fabric at the factory. Over time that will break down and water won’t bead up and roll off of the fabric in the same way it did when it was new. Relax. You can easily reapply a DWR coating to your waterproof jackets with a simple wash with Nikwax wash-in waterproofing. 2. Breathabilty could be more important that waterproofness – You want to stay dry on your hike you so pick a jacket with the highest waterproof rating. A few miles in, and your body starts overheating. You’re drenched from sweat. This happens all the time. Avoid this by also considering how breathable a rain jacket is. That is, how much moisture can work its way away from your body and out of the jacket. You should also consider jackets with features such as pit zips to help with overheating. 3. Roll your rain jacket into one of its own pockets to make a small pillow. Simply stuff the jacket into one of its own pockets then slide the zipper pocket closed (at least a little bit to make it hold). Even if you don’t use it for a pillow, this is a great way to stow a rain jacket in your pack. 4. Use your rain jacket to keep your sleeping bag dry from tent condensation. Nothing is worse than a sleeping bag soaked from rubbing up against a tent wall covered in condensation. Simply pull your rain jacket over the foot of your sleeping bag and you’ll alleviate this common problem. 5. Not all ‘waterproof’ jackets are the same. Did you know waterproof jackets are rated by their ability to keep water out? It’s true, two jackets that are labeled waterproof could provide very different experiences in wet weather.

Carly Rose Sonenclar - "Fighters" @ UDance 2015