Pastor's INn/Pastorhg

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-05-26T17:01:00.000-03:00

Stress Relief Through the Power of Laughter and Prioritizing and Balancing Your Life.

In eclass, seventeen, Laughter Therapy is explored as a means of increasing health, happiness and joy. Julie Spain interviews Julia McKenzie Palmer, a psychologist specializing in Laughter Therapy.
Laughter does not just have to happen. We can take charge of it and be purposeful and mindful of laughter. Here are some of the benefits that can so easily be gained from just having a real good laugh.

· Stress relief as it produces lots of good chemicals.

· Allows you to connect with others at home and work.

· Helps increase your immune system.

· Energizes.

· Laughter promotes healthy relationships. By playing together, there is a better chance that we stay together.

· Gives joy or an enjoyment of life.

· Provides a release when things are difficult – the old saying - “If I don’t laugh I’ll cry”.

· Gives a shift in perspective – the ability to see things in a more positive light.

· Actually increases our oxygen and exercises our internal organs.

Think of a couple of things you can do to cultivate laughter and joy. Practise them as often as possible and after a week or so note if you are feeling better.

In eclass, eighteen, we look at why prioritizing and life balance is so important for life success.

In today’s world, everyone is busy. Many of us are left frustrated and feeling a failure when we do not managed to live up to either our self imposed expectations of ourselves or the expectations that others have of us. Prioritizing is about what to do and what not to do with our time.

Here are a couple of tips;

1. If it is urgent and important do it now.

2. If it is important but not urgent, decide when to do it.

3. If it is urgent but not important then delegate it.

4. If it is not important and not urgent, then dump it.

Make a list of the 20% of your tasks that will give you 80% of the results to achieving what is most important to you

Recommended reading: First Things First by Stephen R. Covey.

For more visit http://www.secretstoemotionalhealth.com/ . or vist my website at http://www.pastorsinnministries.com/ and use the helpline or email hdluff@nb.sympatico.ca.

Until Next Time

Blessings!

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS.

2010-05-21T16:26:00.000-03:00

Strategies For Achieving Happiness.

Research says you can control your level of happiness. E class Sixteen gives seven strategies and how to apply them to achieve happiness. Before I share the seven strategies with you, let’s talk about happiness. Happiness can mean different things to different people. By definition happiness is, “ a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. It is feeling or showing pleasure, contentment, or joy.”
The distinguishing factor between happy and unhappy people is attitude. Happy people are generally healthier people.
American psychologist Martin Seligman developed this equation for happiness:

H=S+C+V.

H = Happiness. S= Set range- (genetics: about 50%). C= Circumstances (8-15%). V= Voluntary Control- (past, present, future 35-42%).

The Voluntary Control Factor can make a significant impact on how happy you are (up to 42% ). This includes the way you choose to think about and act on the past, present and future.

Focus on what is good about the past,be optimistic about how the future will be. Think and act positively about the present.

Now here are the seven strategies to happiness:

1. Happiness is a choice- a decision you make, not an emotion you feel.

2. Be in the present- don’t become distracted about the past or the future.

3. Plan for happiness with flexibility- It is the trees that can bend with the wind that do not snap and live to see another day.

4. Learn the secret of contentment- “…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Apostle Paul.

5. Cultivate a grateful heart- a grateful attitude helps us to be positive and to connect better with people.

6. Build and maintain good quality relationships – it is a social support you can turn to when you are not feeling so great.

7. Rejoice regardless of the circumstances- do not wallow in negative emotions. Feel them, acknowledge them and choose joy and peace.

You can find out more about the secrets to emotional health, healing, vitality and well-being at http://www.secretstoemotionalhealth.com/ or if you have a question about spiritual and emotional wellness, visit my web site at http://www.pastorsinnministries.com./

Until next time – God Bless.

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-05-12T15:25:00.000-03:00

THINK POSITIVE AND EMPOWER YOURSELF THROUGH OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY.

Here I am again, behind on my blog entry. Conferences, Funerals, Weddings, A trip to Newfoundland, Hockey games- all excuses! So where are we? This is Eclass Fourteen and Fifteen on the journey to achieveing overall health, vitality and wellbeing. This class is about the tool of positive thinking that will help you achieve your goals of health, happiness, vitality and success. The one following this one will cover the very important concepts of ownership and responsibility. When you apply these concepts to your life and your problems, you will surprisingly feel empowered and in control of yourself and your life.

In eclass fourteen-The ebook, "Investing in You: The Power of Positive Thinking" is recommended for reading. Excerpts from the book is required to complete the activities in this class.The Power of Positive Thinking, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale (Author). is also recommended for reading. The ancient writing encourages us to think positive, " whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.Phil 4:8 (KJV).

E class Fifteen begins with a reminder that it is impossible to solve anyone else’s problem! The best you can hope for is to take ownership of your own problems. When you own your own problem, then and only then can you work at finding a solution for it or so says Julie Spain.
If your personal disaster is one that has been “created” by someone else, for example, being betrayed or abandoned by your partner, then this point is particularly important for you to grasp: "Taking responsibility for your self is about taking back control. It’s about regaining a sense of power over yourself and your situation." Ownership allows us to ask the question : “What can I do about this situation?” rather than “What can I do to make someone else fix up this situation?’
Responsibility leads to Ownership which in turn leads to Controll.

In this class Spain shares about her personal crisis: "At forty five years of age, I suddenly and unexpectedly found myself single and the sole provider for my three teenage children after my first husband left me for another woman. I quickly made up my mind to take full responsibility for a number of things...
Each morning, as I went for a walk, I would start the day by repeating to myself : “I choose to take responsibility for myself and my children”. Instead of simply blaming my ex husband, I chose to empower myself and look at what I could do to turn a disastrous situation into something positive. This attitude allowed me to build a new, happy and fulfilling life. (To hear how I met my second husband, go to: http://www.guidetoonlinedatingtips.com/.)
Remember this: “If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me”
For more information on the Secrets To Emotional Health, Healing, Vitality and Wellbeing go to http://www.secretstoemotionalhealth.com/ or you can also visit my webpage at http://www.pastorsinnministries.com/ and contact me by email or the HELPLINE.
Until next time
BLESSINGS!

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-04-16T13:11:00.001-03:00

Overcoming Worry and Anxiety, Conquering Fear and Learning to Trust.

Overcoming Worry and Anxiety: Live a Life of Self Control & Feel the Fear and Still Move Forward: Conquering Fear and Learning to Trust. These are the titles of lessons 12 and 13 on my journey to emotional health and healing as a means of achieving overall health, vitality and wellbeing. I guess I was so taken up in the previous lesson on breathing and relaxation that I became too relaxed and fell behind in my lessons. Sorry about that, so today I am doubling up in my entry.

Taking control of anxiety and worry frees up energy to use for the things in life that really matter. Anxiety can lead to a number of disorders such as, anxiety disorders, attacks and phobias, however for this lesson the focus is on health and self control.
Excessive worry and anxiety affects your health, energy levels and happiness. This type of worrying is known as generalized anxiety. People with excessive worry often find that they feel uncomfortable with new situations or with situations they can’t completely control. They also doubt their ability to cope with difficult situations should they arise. Over time, chronic worriers can develop a restricted and unfulfilling lifestyle, and worry can begin to affect relationships, work and enjoyment of life. As a result, individuals with excessive worry may suffer from low self esteem.
Julie Spain lists a range of causes:
· Personality
· Learned behaviour
· Family
· Brain Chemistry.

Anxiety symptoms and negative thoughts associated with worry are discussed. Spain also elaborates on the following top ten tips to reduce worry:

1. Set aside a worry time.
2. Decide if the problem is solvable.
3. Who really owns the problem.
4. Follow a structured problem solving model.
5. Accept that perfection is rarely possible.
6. Ask yourself “What is the worst that could happen and can I handle that?”
7. Learn to accept what you cannot control.
8. Use relaxation techniques.
9. Practice mindfulness.
10. Put things in perspective.
Lesson Twelve with its practical activities is focused on changing your focus so that energy which has been previously wasted in worry and anxiety can now be transferred to activities that you enjoy and goals you are planning to achieve.

In E-Class Thirteen we look at exactly what fear is, how it affects the success factor of our life and what we can do to conquer fear. We will learn to trust ourselves and others as a means of moving forward and experiencing the best life has to offer.
The distinction between anxiety and fear is; anxiety has no object. In fact, anxiety can more accurately be described as a symptom of stress. Fear however, does have an object. We say that we are afraid of such and such.
Trust is the Opposite of Fear- The acronym for fear is False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear does not want you to know the truth about itself and yourself.
In this lesson Spain diagrams and explains the parts of the brain involved in the fear response. A Case study is used to describe fear.
The lesson concludes with Seven Keys To Moving Forward Despite The Fear:

1. Accept that fear will always exist if you live a life worth living.
2. The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out and do it.
3. As you take action, and do what you fear, your confidence will catch up.
4. Understand and accept that you are not alone – most people are exactly like you.
5. It is better to push through fear than live with a feeling of helplessnes.
6. Learn to trust yourself and your own instincts.
7. Understand the underlying emotions and free yourself of the fear.

Food for thought.

If you would like more information on this subject go to http://www.pastorsinnministries.com/ and use the help-line. For more on “The secrets to emotional health, healing, vitality and well-being go to www.secretstoemotionalhealth.com/
Until next time, Blessings!

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-03-24T12:28:00.003-03:00

The Power of Deep Breathing and Relaxation.
I have reached the half-way point on the first twenty lessons on my journey to emotional health, healing, vitality and well-being. Now it is time to take a deep breath and relax. Actually this is what E- class ten is about. In this e-class, you will learn the techniques of deep breathing and relaxation. You will not only learn how to use these tools but also why they are so important for your health, vitality and well-being. Deep breathing and relaxation recharge your batteries, helping to revitalize a tired mind and body.

In lesson ten two separate audios are used to teach how to correctly deep breath as well as perform a relaxation exercise.
Deep Breathing Will:
1. Clear our mind so that we can think sharper, quicker and not forget so much

2. Nourish every cell in our body. In some ways feed our cells

3. Help us to relax when faced with a difficult or fearful situation, for example, conflict with someone, a visit to the dentist or doctors.

4. Relax our muscles when tense from stress

5. Act as a cue to relax and let go of tension

6. Give us a buffer when angry so that we do not let loose all of a sudden

7. Open up (dilate) the large arteries at the back of the neck to allow blood and nutrients to reach the brain

8. Allow us to feel more in control of ourselves and our situations.

Benefits of Relaxation:

1. Your breathing slows down, therefore you need less oxygen.

2. When you need less oxygen, your body has less toxins to get rid of. In other words, your body does not have to work so hard.

3. Half hour of relaxation is equivalent to 7 hours of sleep with regards to your oxygen consumption

4. Your mind goes on holidays. The mind is usually very active. Relaxation allows it to slow down and take a rest

5. Tension is released from the muscles – the muscles get to have a rest from constantly working

6. Less tension means you feel less tired

7. You will experience a feeling of peace and calmness

8. Your will experience an alertness that continues after the relaxation is over

9. Although, when you first finish the relaxation you may feel tired and groggy, within a few minutes you will feel alert and energized

10. You will feel more in control of yourself and your environment

11. Your relationships will benefit if you are calmer and more in control.

That is it for this week. If you would like more information on this subject go to http://www.pastorsinnministries.com/ and use the help-line. For more on “The secrets to emotional health, healing, vitality and well-being go to http://www.secretstoemotionalhealth.com/

Have a “Blessed” week!

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-03-16T13:21:00.000-03:00

The Importance of Nutrition To Emotional Health

The journey into achieving overall health, vitality and well-being continues. After going deep into unconscious mind, and focusing on emotional and mental blockages and looking at a number of techniques to help let go of a painful past and move into a successful future, the journey takes a different direction.

Lesson 9 focuses more on the physical and looks at the importance of nutrition to emotional health.The main part of lesson nine is an interview between Julie Spain and Maria Forbes who is a Naturopath. The interview is about the importance of nutrition to emotional health, vitality and well-being. From it you will learn what to eat, what not to eat and exactly why this is all so important for optimum performance and enjoyment of life. It includes topics such as:

· What people should and should not be eating for optimum emotional, physical and mental health

· The effects of sugar and processed foods on the body and mind

· The most important things you need to know about weight loss

· Exactly what is happening to the body biochemically to enable us to understand the reasons why we need to do certain things.

We are a system with 5 parts – emotional, intellectual, physical, spiritual and social. Balance is extremely important in our lives. A law of physics states that a change in one part of the system will affect and cause a change in all parts of the system. In light of this systems theory as it applies to human behaviour, it makes sense that if we do not eat right then it will affect all 5 parts of our system.

Also in Lesson nine Julie Spain outlines how poor nutrition can affect us:

· Decline in clarity and sharpness of mind

· Feel more emotional and out of control

· May experience feeling down or depressed

· Grumpy or irritable

· Lack energy and vitality

· May put on weight

· Difficulty sleeping

· May not want to socialize.

From this lesson I learned that a positive attitude, proper nutrition including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, rest, relaxation and exercise make a major contribution not only to our physical well-being but also to our spiritual and emotional wellness.

You can find out more at http://www.secretstoemotionalhealth.com/ or contact me through my website: http://www.pastorsinnministries.com/ or use the comment section on this blog.

Until next time
Blessings!

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-03-11T17:09:00.000-04:00

Letting go of the past and allowing yourself to move forward.

This is E- class eight on my journey to emotional health, healing, vitality and well-being.

When we receive a physical injury, nature protects us by forming a scar around the injury. This scar tissue becomes a protective cover and helps protect us against further injury in the same place. When we receive an emotional injury we are inclined to do the same thing and put a protective shell around our heart so that no one can hurt us in the same way again. The big difference is when we cut off the painful emotions, we also cut off the joyful emotions.
Four negative outcomes are listed as a result of emotional scars and two very important steps to achieving the goal of letting go of the past so that you can successfully move forward and live your best life:

Spain deals in detail with these two steps in lesson eight.

1. Make a decision or a commitment.

Do you live in your painful past not able to enjoy the present or look forward to a fulfilling future?

Do you want to move forward into a bright and successful future?

Do you believe that all the pain of the past is making you unwell in the present?

If you answered yes to these three questions, then you need to make a decision that today is the day you will release the past and start living in the present while vigorously pursuing the future you desire. This lesson tells you what you need to do to let go of a painful past, enjoy a life of health and vitality and move towards a successful and happy future.

2. Practice forgiveness.

All of us have been hurt by someone at some stage of our lives. Someone may have hurt and offended you and you have held on to that pain.

A few typical emotions for those suffering hurt and anger are identified in this lesson as well as the three possible ways that these negative emotions can affect your life:

Forgiveness is first and foremost a tool for you to use to free yourself of painful and negative emotions that are keeping you trapped in a life you do not want.

Spain uses an analogy to explain how forgiveness works.

It is through practicing forgiveness that you will be able to achieve freedom and consequently, personal growth.

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you” - Lewis B Smedes.

For more on this subject visit http://www.secretstoemotionalhealth.com/ or go to my website @ http://www.pastorsinnministries.com/ and use the HELP LINE to ask a question or to comment.

Until next time,
Blessings!

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-03-02T16:59:00.001-04:00

Unlocking Your Emotional and Mental Blockages to Success.

Hello, and welcome to my blog. This is week seven on my journey and I’m glad you joined me. The seventh E-class was very practical and quite interesting. It was in the form of an audio presentation by Julie Spain and includes three activities. One deals with keeping a journal, the second with charting affirmations and responses and the third is an exercise to help you go back into your past and identify where a particular blockage originated and then actually get rid of it and replace it with a thought and feeling that will help you achieve your life goal. Sound interesting? It is.

The E-class explores the mysterious subconscious where the emotional and mental blockages occur usually unaware to you. You need to understand these obstacles and eliminate them. This is the purpose of the activities I mentioned earlier, three exercises to practice in order to eliminate these blockages. They are designed to produce creative thinking for identifying and unlocking your emotional and mental blockages and finding the illusive answer to achieving your goals. Patience is required because the brain can only work on one specific thing at a time, so you must be specific with what you are trying to achieve. The activities can be repeated. Each time you reprogram your brain with the desired result allowing it the opportunity to creatively figure it all out for you.

Remember , we are a totally connected system and what happens to one part of your system will impact all other parts of your system.

· Mental and emotional blockages can disrupt physical functioning.

· Physical and emotional blockages can disrupt mental functioning.

· Physical and mental blockages can disrupt emotional functioning.

All of the above will affect how you function spiritually.

This week’s E-class is helps you move forward by unlocking your emotional and mental blockages.

That’s it for this week. If you would like to find out more go to http://www.pastorsinnministries.com/ “HELP-LINE” or email hdluff@nb.sympatico.ca.
For more about Matters of the Heart, the Secrets To Emotional Health, Healing, Vitality and Wellbeing go to http://www.secretstoemotionalhealth.com/

Have a Blessed Week!

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-02-23T16:33:00.000-04:00

Exploring The Core of Who you Are.
It is week six on my journey to health, vitality and well-being. Today’s lesson is about discovering yourself by discovering your values and beliefs. It is from this core that all actions, behaviours and choices are made according to Julie Spain. Spain is a public speaker, educator, trainer, online author and psychotherapist. More information can be found at http://www.secretstoemotionalhealth.com./

The aim in this class is to help you identify your beliefs and values and to change negative beliefs that hold you back. Values and beliefs are found in our subconscious therefore we are not usually aware of them. However they play a major role in all our decisions. In this session you learn to become more aware of your values and beliefs and how they determine your actions and reactions.

Digging into this subconscious core we discover what values are and where they come from. Examining values can be helpful in making a positive change. Activity one addresses identifying an area in life you are not happy with and how to improve it.

Beliefs are also explored and differentiated from values. Activity two focuses on changing a false belief to a true belief.

This lesson is foundational for working on cognitive (thought) change. I found it very interesting and look forward to the next e-class.

If you have any thoughts you would like to share or questions about dealing with negative beliefs you can visit my website at http://www.pastorsinnministries.com/ and contact me through the “Help-Line” or leave a comment on my blog.

Until next time.

God Bless.

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-02-16T18:57:00.002-04:00

The 10 Vital Steps To Cultivating Positive Emotions.

Well, this week I experienced my first glitch in my course on The Secrets to Emotional Health, Well-being and Vitality. My e- class material failed to show up at its regular time putting me off my schedule. Not to worry though, with a quick e-mail the problem was taken care of. One up for efficiency.

Health = Good Food + Adequate Exercise + Positive Emotions.

Already covered in previous classes were good food and adequate exercise, but the final third of the equation is Positive emotions, which is the subject of E- class #5.
By the end of E- class five, you will understand the impact that negative emotions have on the body and exactly what you can do to cultivate the life giving positive emotions.
The main format of this class is an audio lecture by Julie Spain. First she gives her professional and personal background. Then she focuses on how to cultivate positive emotions. She elaborates on these ten steps:

1. Live in the moment.
2. Ask yourself, “What are my beliefs about life?
3. Fake a smile.
4. Work at it.
5. Fake it til you make it.
6. A grateful heart.
7. Stop navel gazing and give to others.
8. Practice forgiveness.
9. Look after your physical health.
10. Having purpose is one of the greatest predictors of longevity.

The main challenge for this week is to select one of the ten steps and practice it.
To find out more contact me @ www.pastorsinnministries.com/ - use the helpline or e mail me hdluff@nb.sympatico.ca. and of course leave a comment on the blog page.

Until next time.

Blessings!

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-02-09T16:24:00.000-04:00

A Journey to Achieving Overall Health, Vitality and Well-Being.

This is week four on my journey to overall health, vitality and well-being. I just finished reading, “ Change Your Habits, Change Your Life-Tips For Stress Relief,” by Julie Spain. It is a required reading in E-class 4. I find the theory part of these classes is great, but I must admit my struggle is with the practical. Putting it into practice is the challenge and it takes a lot of discipline. I’m trying but quite often I come short.

There are five tips outlined in this report.

1. Shrinking Your Worries.

2. Quick and Easy Stress Reducers.

3. Effective Time Management.

4. Improving Communication.

5. Managing Stress by Changing How You Think.

This lesson challenges you to identify a bad habit in each of the five areas and replace it with a good habit. Since it takes 28 days to change a habit, I will need to practice my new habits for 28 days. Therein lies the challenge I was talking about.

If I have sparked your interest in this subject, you can go to http://www.diaryofanonlinebusiness.com/ and receive a free copy of “Change Your Habits, Change Your Life”. Let me know what you think of it by commenting on my Blog or email me at hdluff@nb.sympatico.ca.

“If you keep doing the same thing, then you will keep getting the same”.

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-02-02T19:16:00.000-04:00

Stress Management
Welcome to my journey to overall health, vitality and well-being. I just completed e-class three on, “Expand your comfort zone: Expand your confidence.” This class deals with the core factors of who we are – self image, self esteem, self worth and self confidence as a means to a more positive behaviour.
Are you always feeling inadequate and afraid. never quite reaching your full potential or able to enjoy life to the max. If the answer is yes, then this class would benefit you.
Spain defines the following terms: Self image, Self esteem, Self worth, Self belief, Self respect and Comfort Zone.
She points out , “A very common mistake that people make is to use those around them as mirrors. When that person responds to them they hear if they are ok or not ok. This is a very dangerous position to put yourself and how you feel about yourself and consequently what we do with our life, is dependent on how someone else sees us.”
The remainder of the class is on the importance of self image and the importance of expanding the comfort zone. She uses illustrations and techniques to enforce her points. I might add, they are very interesting.
This class ends with three simple but practical activities.
What I like as I progress through the e-classes is their conciseness, they are to the point, focused and not time consuming. The activities relate to the subject and are not complicated.
If you would like to discuss with me in more detail the subject of the importance of self image and the importance of expanding the comfort zone; just go to my website: www.pastorsinnministries.com and use the “Help-line” to ask your question or email me; hdluff@nb.sympatico.ca. or you can just leave a comment at the end of this blog post.

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-01-26T12:19:00.000-04:00

Stress Management
Week two on my journey to achieving overall health, vitality and well-being. An e-class from Secrets to Emotional Heath.
This e-class is about increasing energy levels, improving vitality and most important of all, balancing biochemistry. The focus this week is on the physical part of our system. This class is in the form of an audio presentation by Julie Spain, a written summary and an activity.
In her lecture Spain gives a simple but effective prescription to help feel more calm and in control.

Six major points.

1. There is help in medication. (Seeing a Naturopath and/or Medical Doctor is recommended).

2. Eating for Stress management. (To raise the seratonin level). The operative word is substitute.

· Eat unprocessed foods.
· Drink at least two litres of water a day.
· Reduce or cut out caffiene , alcohol and sugar and nicotine.
· Five to six small meals a day. (keeps blood sugar levels up).

3. Cardiovascular Exercise. ( release of coritisol and adrenaline).

Add to this:
· Stretching.
· Muscle resistant.

4. Quality Sleep. (one of the first thing to go when stressed is quality sleep).

· Develop a bedtime routine, an hour of preparation for sleep. Eat a light snack-milk and cookie. Take a warm bath or shower. Avoid other stimulants other than sex.

5. The power of support systems. (draw down from other people’s help.)

· Find someone you can talk to.

6. Cognitive reconstruction. (Changing how we think or attitudes).

I choose to adjust my eating habits, do the exercising and the routine for sleep preparation. I’ll let you know how it works out for me. In the meantime if you have a question or would like some help with stress management, just leave a comment.

Have a Blessed Day!

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-01-19T11:35:00.002-04:00

Week one on the journey to "Matters of the heart-The secrets to emotional health, healing, vitality and well being." http://www.secretstoemotionalhealth.com/. I found this site very user friendly and enrolling was easy. I will probably find it much more difficult to stay focused on emotional health and healing as a means of achieving overall health, vitality and well-being, which is what this course is about.

The first lesson was about balance and understanding the importance of energy and goal setting to achieve the desired outcomes from the course.

People are seen as consisting of a five-part system: Emotional, Mental, Physical, Spiritual and Social. We can change any part of this system in a positive way, resulting in positively affecting the entire system. The importance of energy and balance are discussed. There are two activities in lesson one. They are based on a diagram of the five-part system. The first is an exercise to determine your balance and identify areas of your life that need improvement. The second activity centres on goal setting in each of the five parts of the system. I particularly liked the acronym SMART for goal setting:

S-pecific.M- easurable, A-ttainable, R-ealistic, T- imely. Now, you can be "SMART" in goal setting because you read my blog.

Join me again next week on the journey. If you would like to comment or offer feedback please do so.

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2010-01-13T15:54:00.000-04:00

How is the New Year going? Did you take my advice in the last posting and get back on the wagon of self-care by getting the right amount of sleep and exercise and following a healthy diet?
Well, I think I am going to take it a step further. I just took Julie Spain up on her offer of a one month free membership for her program on secrets to emotional heath. I am going to take the journey and keep you posted. It should be an interesting journey.
In the meantime I am open to suggestions on any topic that you would like me to comment on in my blog. Or if you have a question just post it in the comment section. You can also visit my website at http://www.pastorsinnministries.com/ and use the help line feature if you prefer privacy. Pastor's Inn Ministies is on the move and if it is a ministry that you may benefit from, just give us a call. Note it is not a business, it is a ministry, so don't let cost get in your way.
Until next time. Blessings!

Spiritual and Emotional Wellness

2010-01-02T15:44:00.000-04:00

Stress Management
Self-Care - Sleep

All we talked about concerning diet and exercise as well as our topic today-sleep, no doubt fell by the wayside during the holidays. Now is the time to pick ourselves up and get back on the wagon and yes, to get some sleep.
Proper food, exercise and sleep help to keep the body strong, the mind sharp and the spirit energized. In previous articles we talked about food and exercise, today our topic is sleep.

Do you ever feel drowsy in the afternoon, even after getting the 7-8 hours sleep, which is required by your body. It is common to feel drowsy 8 hours after waking. So, if possible take a power nap. Doing this in the afternoon is more beneficial than an extra hour or two of sleeping in. Research shows that you can make yourself more alert, reduce stress, and improve cognitive functioning with a power nap. Some experts advise to keep the nap between 15 and 30 minutes, however some research has shown that a 1-hour nap has many more restorative effects than a 30-minute nap, including a much greater improvement in cognitive functioning. Even a brief rest has the benefit of reducing stress and helping you relax a little, which can give you more energy to complete the tasks of your day. If you only have a few minutes to spare, just close your eyes for 5-10 minutes and meditate. There is wisdom in the words of the Psalmist, “Blessed is the man who meditates in the law of the Lord day and night…” Psalm 1: 1-2. Meditation produces slower brain waves similar to sleep. It also helps the body to rest, plus there are spiritual benefits.

Sleep is very important to your physical and emotional health, as well as your personal productivity.The following is advisable in preparation for a good night’s sleep.

Avoid drinking coffee and products with caffeine in the evening because it is a stimulant that stays in your system for hours and disrupts sleep. Stress management practices such as exercising and reading can often help you attain better sleep, either by helping you quiet your mind, or by relaxing your body and encouraging quality sleep.
Remember, proper diet, exercise, and sleep help to keep the body strong, the mind sharp and the spirit energized, making us more productive for the Kingdom of God.

Why not share any tips you may have concerning sleep, exercises you find helpful or whatever may be on your mind about this topic. I would like to hear your comments.

SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

2009-12-15T10:51:00.001-04:00

Stress Management.
Self-Care - Exercise

We are currently talking about the importance of self-care in stress management. In human beings, an interpretation of an event or circumstance, which is understood to be a threat can be referred to as stress. It is a normal emotion. Managing stress is important in order to avoid becoming over stressed. This is where self-care comes in. Last week I talked about diet and how it is related to stress. Today I will talk about the importance of exercise in your self-care program.

Exercise can improve your health and longevity by strengthening your immunity to colds, the flu and other minor illnesses, helping you to enjoy a healthier and longer life. Research suggests those who get more exercise may become less affected by the stress they face. So, in addition to all the other benefits, exercise may supply some immunity toward future stress as well as a way to cope with current stress. Exercise can decrease stress hormones and increase your body's ‘feel-good’ chemicals, thus improving your mood naturally.
The Apostle Paul acknowledged that there is some benefit in physical training, “For physical training is of some value…” 1 Timothy 4:8.
Here are some suggestions for physical exercise that can help you manage stress and improve your physical fitness. This can contribute to spiritual, emotional and physical wellness.
It is suggested that you take 5 to 10 minutes before and after each program to stretch your muscles.

· Walking is one of the best fitness activities. People who take brisk half-hour walks every day reach a good level of fitness.
· Swimming.
· Jogging.
· Cycling.
· Sports.
Cardiovascular exercise 4 – 5 times a week for between 30 – 45 minutes each session from the above activities, is very effective in getting rid of the stress chemicals such as, cortisol and adrenaline that are produced in times of adversity and stress.

Why not join a health club or a community centre that offers fitness activities.

Before beginning any fitness program you should consult with your Doctor.

Your comments, questions or observations on this topic are welcomed. Can you suggest any exercise that you have found to be helpful in managing stress?

Spiritual and Emotional Wellness

2009-12-08T16:46:00.000-04:00

Self-Care
One of the greatest threats to spiritual and emotional wellness as well as physical health , is stress. Self -Care is necessary to avoid becoming a casuality of stress. Today's topic on spiritual and emotional wellness is Self-Care. It is about what we eat and how it can be associated with stress.

I recently read an article in the Globe and Mail about a lady who experienced, loss of sleep, loss of appetite, anxiety attacks and a rash around her neck and on her hands from the stress of losing her job.
Stress affects us all, some to a greater degree than others and for different reasons. You maybe affected by stress more than you think. It can affect you spiritually, emotionally and physically. You need to identify stress and learn to manage it. There are some simple things that you can do in managing stress. I will share them with you over a short series of articles on the subject beginning with food and eating habits.
1. Food and Eating Habits.
We need energy to complete daily tasks. Energy comes from the food we eat; therefore a balanced diet based on the Canadian Food Guide is important. However when we are under stress we consume energy more quickly and our ability to function properly is impaired. A common response to stress by some people is to turn to fast food; the quick sugar fix offers them comfort at the expense of their emotional and physical well-being. So, before rushing off to the nearest fast food establishment or to the refrigerator for processed food, cake, chocolate and pop, ask yourself do I really need this or is it a psychological need for comfort?

Foods that are healthy for the body are also the foods that release chemicals in the brain, which help you to be calm, such as good diet of fruit, whole grains and protein that are also helpful in reducing tiredness.
Some experts say eating smaller portions of food more frequently is healthier than consuming two or three large meals a day. You should also include an intake of up too two litres of water in your daily diet.
If you are finding that your energy level isn’t sufficient for you to accomplish your necessary tasks during the day, you should check out your stress level and examine your diet.
By the way, the article I referred to at the beginning, I read it while at “Diary Queen”. Before I am judged a hypocrite, allow me to explain. It was my day off and treating yourself once in a while is also good for stress reduction and I also walked five kilometres in the rain after to burn off the unnecessary calories. Exercise is also helpful in stress management. We will deal with that in a future article. Remember, scripture tells us “ your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit”. It is important for you to take care of yourself.

Spiritual and Emotional Wellness

2009-12-01T16:14:00.000-04:00

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

Loving Well is the theme of the Christian life. To love well is to love God, ourselves, and others. In order to love well as Christians we must have an emotionally healthy spirituality. I have already stated, “transformation is produced by applying the Holy Spirit’s power to emotional healing. This power is released through Biblical meditation. The end result is Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

Emotionally healthy spirituality is not just an abstract concept. It is something that can be seen in a life that is anchored in the love of God, free from the illusions of performance, possessions and popularity and balanced between doing and being.

To be emotionally healthy we need to get a glimpse of the Love of God and to know we are deeply loved by God. God loves us as sons and wants us to experience the full rights and privileges that come with it .We need to experience this infinite love in our heart, not just in our head.

The Key to emotionally healthy spirituality is to be anchored in the love of God

“ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Eph 3:17-19.)

Jesus is the prime example of what emotionally healthy spirituality is.

· He was anchored in the love of God. Matt. 3:17

· He was free from illusions of performance, possessions and popularity. Lk. 4:1-12

· He was balanced between doing and being. Jo. 6:15.

A secondary example is Mary of Bethany. ( Luke 10: 38-42.)

· Sitting at the feet of Jesus.

· Listening to His words.

· “Mary hath chosen that good part….”

Martha on the other hand was:

· “distracted- performance driven- much serving.

· “worried”.

· “troubled about many things”

· tried to use Jesus to have things done her way- she wanted to change others.(jealousy, self-pity, complaining, manipulative.)

· Martha was the one desperately in need of change.

Many of us like Martha need to slow down, sit at the feet of Jesus (Biblical meditation) and take a deep look inward to know our true self in Christ that we might know the Lord better and His purpose for our life. Only then can we experience emotionally healthy spirituality.

Spiritual and Emotional Wellness

2009-11-24T16:20:00.000-04:00

A Biblical Meditation On Overcoming Negative Influences On Your Journey.

Negative influences from your family of origin, people in authority, and Satan contribute to your emotional brokenness and the development of a false self. David is an example of how knowing yourself and knowing God can give victory over the negative influences of family, authority figures and the enemy.

1. Overcoming negative messages from family.

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 1 Sam 17:28-29 (KJV).

“What have I done now?” – apparently David was accustomed to abuse from his family. He is the victim of an angry outburst, misunderstanding, put down, and slander. The message- “loser.” Maybe you can identify with David here. However, David is able to cut through this family dynamic. He knew himself and he knew God. Certainly his meditations while tending his flock must have been a contributing factor.

2. Overcoming negative influence from people in authority.

And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 1 Sam 17:33 (KJV).

David experiences another put down this time from a man of experience. But David knows God.

David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. 1 Sam 17:37 (KJV).

Since David is so confident based upon his knowledge of God, Saul responded:

“…go, and the LORD be with thee. 38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.” 1 Sam 17:37-39 (KJV).

Saul wanted to change David into someone he was not. David overcomes Saul’s influence and trusts in who he is and in his” gift”.

“And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” 1 Sam 17:40 (KJV).

David was skilled in the use of the slingshot. This skill was developed over time in his life as he cared for his father’s sheep. This was his gift. Armed with his gift and confidence in God, David confronts the enemy.

“And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: “ 1 Sam 17:42 (KJV).

Another put down. This time from a giant followed by a serious threat;

And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 1 Sam 17:43-44 (KJV).

Neither the put down or the threat left David paralysed with fear because he knew God and he knew himself.

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; 1 Sam 17:45-46 (KJV).

David’s “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” is seen in what motivated him to be the man God wanted him to be.

This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 1 Sam 17:46 (KJV).

David is blessed with commonsense. He’s not going out there being dependent on

doing the right thing, so people will love him. David’s not doing it out of guilt and sorrow for Israel. David’s not doing it to keep the peace and make everybody happy saying, “Okay, I’ll sacrifice myself. I’ll be the one who dies for everybody else.” David’s not saying I must succeed, so I will get my name written in the history books, so I’ll finally make an impact in life and my life will be worth something. David’s not saying I’ll do this so I don’t look stupid or so I can finally achieve something. No, his motive is absolutely pure; there is not a trace of pride here. He is totally transparent. It is clearly stated what his motive is, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 1 Sam 17:46 (KJV).

This is why David was able to fulfil God’s purpose. He functioned with integrity, out of a true self who knew God.

David is a prototype of Jesus.

-- David’s the savior. David’s the deliverer. David’s the warrior. David’s the anointed one. Jesus is our Savior. Jesus is our deliverer. Jesus is our warrior. Jesus is our anointed one.

The real Goliath is Satan. And Jesus came to earth to conquer Satan in death. Jesus fought the giant and brought him down. He rose from the dead and gives to us salvation. He gives to us forgiveness. He gives to us the Spirit that lives inside of us by grace. And so now like the Israelite army, we can get out of our trenches and go fight the enemies and the giants in our lives because Christ has gone before us. Because David defeated Goliath, the armies of Israel followed. Because Jesus has defeated the powers of darkness, God enables us to get up and actually defeat that which lies in front of us and become whom God called us to be. However we have to exercise faith and courage like David and get up. We can’t do this till we are right with God. It’s all by grace that we can get up and move out. We have to be honest about who we are and who God is.

I encourage you to continue to meditate on 1 Samuel 17 and as the power of the Holy Spirit is released from the Word of God, apply it to some area in your emotional brokenness that needs healing. Allow transformation to occur as you continue your journey to Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

Spiritual and Emotional Wellness

2009-11-17T11:37:00.000-04:00

The issue then is how to remove the fig leaves of the false self and allow the true self in Christ to emerge. Transformation can begin in your life as you apply these four principles:

1. Pay Attention To Your Interior in Silence and Solitude. (Biblical meditation.)

· Like Martha in Luke 10 we become distracted, which keep us from listening to our feelings, our desires, our dreams, our likes and dislikes.

· There are Martha(s) in our lives who would like to fix, save, advise and set us straight into becoming the people they would like.

· We need to be alone with God so we can listen.

· Silence and solitude are foundational to emotionally healthy spirituality.

· We observe this from Moses, to David to Jesus and to all great men and women of the faith who have gone before us.

2. Find Trusted Companions.

· You need trusted companions to help you shed the fig leaves of your false self in order to let the true self emerge.

· In the Church Community we are alone together, a community of solitudes.

· Trusted companions could include mentors, spiritual leaders, counsellors or mature friends.

· Pray and ask God to send someone alongside to walk with you in this season of your life.

3. Move Out Of Your Comfort Zone.

· Dying to your false self and allowing your true self to emerge can be scary.

· For example: For some of us giving or receiving a compliment feels wrong. Others have a violent reaction to being in the presence of angry people. For some to enter into conflict feels like death. To some asking for help feels like complete failure. Thinking about disagreeing with a friend can give some sleepless nights. (These are all physical signs of unhealthy emotions.) To address these and begin to do things differently, especially in the beginning, will feel very awkward. Changing the way we have lived for years is nothing short of a revolution.

4.Pray for Courage.

· Be willing to tolerate the discomfort necessary for growth. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s power to continue.

Being aware of your true self is directly related to your relationship with God In AD 500 Augustine recorded this prayer in his writings, “Grant, Lord , that I may know myself that I may know thee”.

The challenge to remove the fig leaves of the false self in order for the true self to emerge strikes at the very core of emotionally healthy spirituality. It requires nothing less than transformation, which can only occur as the power of the Holy Spirit from biblical meditation is released and applied to emotional brokenness.

Spiritual and Emotional Wellness

2009-11-11T21:53:00.000-04:00

EMOTIONAL BROKENNESS.

Based on the validity of the Word of God we can go back to the Garden of Eden and discover how brokenness entered our world and us as individuals.

When Adam and Eve were together in the Garden before sin, they were totally the same on the outside and on the inside. But then, they rebelled against God and sinned. In Genesis 3, we see that the integration and the unity of inside and outside have been broken. We see them putting on masks and blaming. Their true authentic self in God is now shattered. The image of God in them becomes marred and they begin to construct an imposter, a false self. They’re not living God’s original intention for their lives.

Because of this fall we were born into a broken world and do not know the true self that God created, but have come to accept who we are by learning from the world around us, which is often a distortion of the true self, creating confusion and the inability to hear the truth. Like our first parents ,we try to hide from God and cover ourselves with the fig leaves of a false self. (things like fear, guilt, blaming.) We also start out in life not living God’s original intention for our lives.

However, when a person comes to Jesus and s/he gives their life over to the process of transformation by the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, the distortions, lies, and false messages of sin can be removed so that the person can know their true self and function out of their true self in Christ and can fulfill the purpose for his/her life. Emotionally healthy spirituality is possible as a result of transformation that can take place at the intersection of emotional brokenness and biblical meditation. It is here that the power of the Holy Spirit is released, illuminating our minds to understand the meaning, significance and personal application of biblical truth (2 Tim. 2:7 -; Eph. 3:14-21).

We all experience emotional brokenness to one degree or another by virtue of the fact we are broken by sin and that we are born into a broken world. Our efforts to love well as God desires- Lk.10. is hampered or impaired by wrong thinking, which generate wrong feelings and produce wrong behavior. At the intersection of emotional brokenness and biblical meditation this can be corrected, as we repent or change direction, through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

The following list, although not exhaustive, identifies some areas of emotional brokenness that need to be biblically addressed so that emotional healing can take place. They are the fig leaves of a false self.

1. Am I the kind of person that says “yes” when I really

mean “no?”

2. Do I get depressed when people are upset with me?

3. Do I have a need to be approved by others to feel good

about myself? Each of those is a symptom of something larger

and deeper going on inside of you.

4. Do I act nice to someone on the outside, but on inside I

can’t stand them?

5. Do I often remain silent in order to keep the peace?

6. Do I believe that if I make mistakes myself, I am a

failure?

7. Do I criticize others in order to feel better about

myself?

8. Do I try to avoid looking weak or foolish for not having

the answer?

9. Do I have to be doing something exceptional to feel

alive?

10. Do I have to be needed to feel alive?

11. Am I fearful and unable to take risks?

12. Do I do what others want, so they don’t get mad at me?

13. Do I use knowledge and confidence to cover my feelings

of inadequacies?

14. Do I want my children to behave well, so others will

think I’m a good parent

15. Do I compare myself to other people?

These are just symptoms that indicate that you are probably living a lot more out of a false self than out of your authentic self in God.

When biblical meditation and emotional brokenness intersect, the power of the Holy Spirit is released to bring about transformation in a person’s life. Let me emphasize that biblical truth must be applied to our emotional brokenness for emotional healing to take place.

Transformation, is a difficult process, change is not easy. When you change what you do, you will change what you get. Until the pain of remaining the same becomes greater than the pain to change it is not likely that you will want to change. But when you do, knowing yourself that you may know God is really the first step.

The issue then is how to remove the fig leaves of the false self and allow the true self in Christ to emerge. This will be the topic of my next post.

Spiritual and Emotional Wellness

2009-11-03T21:01:00.000-04:00

The Dynamic of Biblical Meditation in Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

One of the keys to transformation is biblical meditation. Meditation is becoming increasingly popular in the Western world and is often referred to as “spiritual” meditation , which is not to be confused with biblical meditation. Rather than spending time on discussing what biblical meditation is not, I chose rather to describe what it is.

Before I do I would like to point out that mindful awareness of which meditation is one method, has been scientifically proven to enhance our physical, mental, and social well being.

Meditate- means, “to engage in deep mental exercise directed toward a heightened level of spiritual awareness.” (Webster’s New Explorer Dictionary.)

Biblical is a reference to “God’s Word.”

Therefore biblical meditation is using the bible to engage in deep mental exercise directed toward a heightened level of spiritual awareness. This practice is not only spiritually beneficial, but according to scientific evidence it should also benefit our physical, mental and social well- being.

Before engaging in biblical meditation it is important to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Why biblical meditation you may ask? My response to this question is because the bible is the word of God and is sufficient to fill the heart with all that is needed for living. Psalm 119 is devoted to praising the virtues, merits, and sufficiency of the Word of God and demonstrates the author’s total commitment to it. One verse that is representative of all 176 verses in this Psalm, is verse 11: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

To hide the Word of God in our hearts is to be totally captivated by it, committed to it, and controlled through it. Further, to hide God’s Word in the heart is to recognize that it is sufficient to fill that heart with all that is needed for living. It is also important for us to know why we believe the bible and what is the biblical view of truth before we engage in the practice of meditation.

Why do we believe the Bible?

(2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)

The Christian claim that the Bible is inerrant and infallible is not a claim that all of our opinions and interpretations are infallible. Rather the text itself is.

The Biblical view of truth

(John 8:31, 32; 17:17).

Why does it matter?

Example: The Bible says, “God is love.” This is a statement about God, not about how my idea of God makes me feel.

This matters because truth sets us free and lies enslave!

There are also experiential ,historical , philosophical and scientific evidence to support the Bible’s claim.

Psalms 1:1-3 David “delighted in” the word of God and “meditated on it day and night.”

Peter Scazzero gives an excellent example of biblical meditation as technique.

I encourage you to practice this exercise until it becomes a habit in your life. It is a helpful skill for the art of biblical meditation.

“And I’d like to invite you to listen deeply to the voice of God as we meditate. We will use the Scripture, “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his namesake.” And when we come to these words of the Bible, we’re not speed-reading. It’s not like reading the paper in the morning. We’ll let the words of God wash over our soul. I’m going to read it three or four or five times. And you may want to keep your eyes open. You may want to close them. You can look at the text or just close your eyes and listen. And you want to let God bring to you, to make alive to you, a phrase or a word. It may be the word “guide.” It may be that you see God pulling you, guiding you. Or “He guides me in paths of righteousness.” You may be contemplating the words “paths of righteousness.” Wow, God’s got a path for me. It’s a path of righteousness. It’s not a superhighway. Maybe you’ll see it as a narrow path in the woods. But it’s a path he’s got for me. He guides me! And maybe the word “me.” You’re that important. You need to know that you’re so important that He guides you! And you really feel the love of God. You may think, I don’t know where I’m going, but he’s got something for me! He’s going to guide me in a path. Me. “Me” is what you’re going to be and what you’re going to get. God’s going to just stop you on that one. Or maybe “for his namesake.” God’s so concerned about his name and his glory that He’s going to get this through my thick skull! And maybe this is to be for his namesake. So let God, the Holy Spirit just lead you into pondering one phrase. But question - What does God have for you today from of this message in this text behind me? So I invite you to close your eyes, if you like. Keep them open if you want to look at the text or go back and forth to Psalm 23 in your Bible, and let these words wash over you. “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his namesake.” “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his namesake.” Listen to the text again and notice where you receive - what you hear; where it touches you as you open yourself up to receive God in the depth of your being. “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his namesake.” As I read it again, let whatever God’s doing inside of you with this passage continue - interact with God, talk to God about your concerns or your conflicts or your worries, your ideas. “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his namesake.” As I read it this last time, just rest in God’s embrace and love for you that this is true for you, even you, through the grace and mercy of Jesus. “He guides me in paths ofrighteousness for His namesake.”

This technique can be used with any verse in the bible that you would like to meditate upon.

In my next post we will explore , “emotional brokenness.”

The Role Of Christians in the Transformation Process.

2009-10-29T14:15:00.002-03:00

Spiritual and Emotional Wellness

Transformation @The Intersection of
Emotional Brokenness and Biblical Meditation.

Transformation occurs when you apply to emotional brokenness the power of the Holy Spirit, which is released through biblical meditation. The outcome is "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality."

In other words, transformation is produced by applying the Holy Spirit’s power to emotional brokenness. This power is released through biblical meditation. The end result is Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

On this journey we will travel the road to emotionally healthy spirituality, experiencing the dynamics of transformation.

Before we can reach our destination, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, we need to stop at the intersection of emotional brokenness and biblical meditation to get directions on how to experience transformation, which must take place in an individual before s/he can experience emotionally healthy spirituality.

Webster defines transformation from the theological perspective as, “A change in disposition, heart, character, or the like; conversion. [1913 Webster] .

In the biblical sense it involves primarily changing the way we think, as Paul states in Romans 12:1 (….”transformed by the renewing of the mind.”-).Transformation is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit and The Word of God. All Christians can experience transformation and can help others to experience transformation . You do not need to be a professional counsellor to help facilitate this work in the life of an individual. However there are exceptions , in some cases mental heath issues require professional help.

Every follower of Christ is called to the ministry of counselling to some degree. Unfortunately the Church today is guilty of referring almost all counselling needs to professionals. The major obstacle to being involved in this ministry seems to be a feeling of inadequacy. Although it is true that we may be inadequate, yet God has provided the resources for us to be able to help people to become transformed. Christians need to be educated in how to use these resources. The Church should be training them to become effective in this desperately needed ministry.

In the New Testament words for counselling are addressed to all Christians.

Parakaleo (107 times in New Testament): encourage, comfort, exhort

See 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and Hebrews 10:25 for this as an important ministry all Christians.

Didasko: (97 times in New Testament) teach, instruct (formally or informally)

See Colossians 3:16 for this as an important ministry all Christians.

Noutheteo (11 times in New Testament): admonish; counsel

See Romans 15:14 and Colossians 3:16 for this as an important ministry all Christians.

Elencho (17 times in New Testament): reprove, expose, convict, refute

See 2 Timothy 4:2 for this as an important ministry all Christian workers.

Epitimao: (33 times in New Testament) rebuke, warn, tell sternly

See 2 Timothy 4:2 for this as an important ministry all Christian workers.

In summary, Who does this? All Christians

The goal? Transformation

The content? The Word

The context? The Christian Community

The resources? Prayer, Bible, Holy Spirit, Professionals.

The Outcome? Emotionally healthy spirituality.

In the next post we will explore Biblical Meditation which is one of the keys to Transformation.

REMEMBER: It is better to meditate than to medicate, but if you must ,be sure not to take pills without skills.
Medicine will address the symptoms but Skills will address the problem. They work together for a better outcome.

Spiritual & Emotional Wellness @ Pastor's Inn

2009-10-16T15:35:00.000-03:00

Spiritual & Emotional Wellness @ Pastor's Inn
Transformation through Biblical meditation &emotional healing.
Transformation producing emotionally healthy spirituality is facilitated by the release of the Holy Spirit’s power at the intersection of Biblical meditation and emotional brokenness.Emotionally healthy spirituality is manifested in a life that is:
· Anchored in the love of God. Matt. 3:17.
· Free from illusions of performance, possessions and popularity. Lk. 4:1-12.
· Balanced between doing and being. Jo. 6:15.
· Jesus-Prime Example

As an Ordained Minister and a Registered Professional Counsellor my main concern is spiritual and emotional wellness. In addition to being the Pastor at Bethel Assembly in Woodstock New Brunswick, my wife and I operate Pastor’s Inn as a part of Pastor’s Inn Ministries. This ministry is approved by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, Maritime District, however, it is available to all denominations. Below you will find our Vision statement and Mission statement.
Pastor’s Inn Ministries.

Mission Statement
To provide ministry for wholistic transformation in a safe, confidential and relaxing environment through retreats, competent professional counselling , coaching, and educational presentations in person and online..

Vision Statement
To facilitate wholistic transformation of lives through a process of Biblical meditation and emotional healing.
More details concerning Pastor’s Inn can be found at http://www.pastorsinnministries.com./

hdluff@nb.sympatico.ca

The Church and Mental Illness

2009-10-12T20:56:00.002-03:00

Spiritual & Emotional Wellness

“LIGHT IN THE NIGHT.”
“The Lord turns my darkness into light.”2 Samuel 22:29

According to Frank Stirk in an article published at
http://www.canadianchristianity.com/ A recent study by Baylor University in Texas found that out of 293 church members who asked their pastors for help with their own or a family member's diagnosed mental illness, 32.4 percent were told they "did not really have a mental illness, and that the cause of their problem was solely spiritual in nature (eg., personal sin, demonic involvement)." They were also advised to stop taking their medications.
Now, I advocate, “ it is better to meditate than to medicate”, but to advise people to stop taking their medicine in my view is extreme. What do you think?
The study clearly points out just how wide spread the notion is that mental illness is solely connected to a spiritual problem.
The article quotes Warwick Cooper, pastor of counselling and family ministries at The People's Church in Toronto.
“Perhaps the biggest obstacle the mentally ill in the pews face is the persistent and widespread belief that their problem is essentially spiritual. "Most churches just [assume] that if you read your Bible and pray and go to church, that surely is all you need to do," he said "But it's not helping."
I agree with Cooper. I would be interested in hearing your view.
If you would like to respond to this post or any post with a question concerning Spiritual and Emotional Health, I will do my best to give you an answer.

Secrets to Emotional Health

2009-10-09T17:31:00.001-03:00

Obviously this would be a subject of interest to me as a Minister and a Counsellor. Nevertheless I believe it is an important subject for everyone. In the workplace for example the three major areas of concern as far as emotional health is concerned are,depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Julie Spain has created a web page http://www.secretstoemotionalhealth.com./ This site offers some great advice. She also offers a mentoring program. If you should happen to suscribe to her program please pass on that you learned about it from me.
Another great site is http://www.drgrantmullen.com./ Stay healthy.
It's better to meditate than to medicate

Retreat

2009-08-07T13:39:00.000-03:00

Hi,
Before getting into your Fall schedule it might be to your advantage to take some time just to rest and relax. Check out www.pastorsinnministries.com it may be just what you need.

2009-08-07T13:24:00.000-03:00