Tag: depression

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Trying to be Macho, or Independent, can Lead to Trouble

I wanted to remind you about the exciting new book promotion that is going on.  Brandilyn Collin’s book, Eyes of Elisha, is now the book that will be given away in a free drawing. Brandilyn is one of the top Christian mystery, and suspense writers in the business. Brandilyn even graciously autographed the book.

To have a chance to win this book got to the right side bar, and click on the icon that talks about subscribing to my free newsletter. When you subscribe you are also in all future drawing for free books.

You will also see that when you subscribe you will be able to download a free eBook called,  The Top 25 Ways to Survive in a Troubled World.

So you get a free newsletter with excerpts from my book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. You can download a free eBook, and you have many chances to win top selling books, with autographs in them.

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Trying to Make it Without God

 

It is very interesting to me how we think they can go through their daily routines, and survive without the help of God. People have gotten to a place where they do not want to depend on anyone else during their crises, or troubled times.

Why is it that someone can look you in the eye and tell you, “I can make it on my own?” You do not need to worry about me. Is it some kind of macho thing with men, and a worry of losing control for women and men?

I have learned that it is impossible to do my work unless I use the power of Jesus. I fear the unknown. I often have to face physical challenges. I see doors closing. I am not sure what I am suppose to do next in my life. Who should I turn to?

It is now easy for me to answer that question. I turn ALL of my concerns over the Jesus. He is walking with me down my path of life. He looks ahead and clears things for me. He helps me make decisions on hard issues. He is there when I have a physical need. He gives me directions when I am at a crossroad.

It is so easy to get complacent, and think we are tough, and reseleant. The truth is we will walk into the muck and mire if we do not have Jesus there to tell us which ways to go and what things to do.

If you are floundering, and in a spot where you have no where to turn to. talk to Jesus. If you haven’t accepted Him as your persoanl Savior, do it right now.

All you have to do is say this short prayer: “Lord, forgive me for any sins that may keep me from your love. I know I have not been as good a person as you would like for me to be. Thank you for dying for me on the cross, and I accept you as my personal Savior. In your Holy name, Amen.”

It is that easy. BUT it is not that easy from this moment on if you accepted Jesus into your heart. Statan is one very upset dude right now. He had you under his skin and he wants you back. You will face many tough trials and temptations. Find a friend that can be your earthly guardian angel. Call them when you are tempted. Call them several times  a day if you have to.

Things that may cause you to falter are:

anxiety, fear, self doubt, depression, addicatons, hoplessness, low self esteem, and many more that I know you can think of that I have not mentioned. Turn every one of them over to Jesus. He will carry you the rest of the way.

If you have any commets, please feel free to let me know.

 

Doug

 

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Don’t Get Rid of Your Spouse. They are not the Enemy!

 Wait a minute!

Before today’s post I want to announce that the drawing for the book,  Moments This Good: The Softer Side of Alzheimer’s, by Bonnie Nester, has been completed. The winner will be notified.

Now I have exciting news:

I was sent an autographed book written by THE Brandilyn Collins, called, Eyes of  Elisha. It is one of her previous books she has written, but it is brand new.

I am very pumped about being able to give one of you this book by the arguably # 1  Christian fiction mystery writing author on the planet.

All you have to do to have a chance to win in the drawing is go to the right side bar and find the icon that talks about signing up for my free newsletter. While you are there you will notice you will alos get a free eBook for signing up as well.

So…… a free newsletter-free eBook, and a chance to win a free book written by one of the top selling authors in Christian fiction.

Can’t go wrong. You have nothing to lose and a great deal to gain.

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Not so Fast! Your Support is Right in Your House!

 

The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,

and likewise, the wife to her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:3

 

In our daily lives we go about trying to just make it through the day. And we spend much of our time worrying about tomorrow. We do not know where to turn for comfort.

I learned through my own troubled times that I have one place I can always turn besides prayer and meditating on God. It is someplace (someone) right in my home. My wife. I’ve learned that a spouse should be your special place of refuge.

And I’ve learned that my wife Charlotte is not the enemy. There were times when I wondered about this, and struck back. Through counseling, I realized that she is my strength—and my friend. In the past I always tried to blame her for many of my problems. If I was depressed, it was her fault. If I failed at something, it was her fault.

Our personal counselor made us think and really look at each other. Each of us had to decide if the other really was on our side. Or was my spouse the enemy? This, of course, was an easy choice. Charlotte was not the enemy. She wants the best for me, and I want the best for her. So why do we spend so much time blaming our spouses for our problems?

They are the ones we should be going to for help with our problems. If there is an unresolved issue that has come between the two of you, sitting in silence only fuels the problem.

We need to consider the feelings of our spouses, and stop putting ourselves ahead of them. We need to clean up our inner feelings before we can attempt to help others. If we do this and really try to stick with that formula, the regret we feel should be because we haven’t done what we feel we should have done to uplift our spouses.

Think of your spouse as your sounding board, your place of refuge. You need to consider your spouse a place for you to share hurt, and a place where you can feel free to “unload,” without judgment or punishment.

Talk to your spouse and let him or her know that you do not think of them as your enemy, and also let them know that you are on their side and want to help them in any way as they go through their daily lives.

Your heavenly Father is, of course, not your enemy. Neither is your spouse, who is your earthly companion that you should always feel free to share your hurts with—just like you would with God.

 

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives,

and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you

of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

1 Peter 3:7

 

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself,

and the wife must respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:33

 

Further adventures

Sit down and list the good things you know about your spouse. Now write the things that you consider bad things. Look at each of them, and then throw the bad things in the garbage. Keep the good things and concentrate on them. There is a saying, “Write your hurts in the sand and your happiness in cement.” This way your hurts will wash away, and you can always see your happiness. This is the step toward a happier marriage. Don’t keep score of the bad feelings. Only count the good.

 

Something to ponder

Wouldn’t it be funny if Adam said to Eve, “Watch it; I have plenty of ribs where you came from”?

(Excerpt from: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. Chapter 11)

 

Doug

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Hope for Those Who Suffer in this Economy

                Don’t Close the Door on Life. Stay Strong and Survive

 

It seems like things will be getting worse before they get better. The economy showed signs of recovering in the market today, but the jobless rate hasn’t  budged. People are still struggling.

I got an email from an 84 year old man this evening and he said that the last three months have been the toughest in his whole life time. He is 84 years  old and struggling financially.

This type of situation has led many people to battle self doubt, anxiety, fear, depression, hopelessness, and all the other usual suspects.

What re we to do? What will happen to all of us if this keeps up? These are questions that many people are asking right now.

Let me give you some thoughts to try to help you through these troubling times:

  • Don’t ever give up. Remain strong. You will persevere by just decided that nothing can force you to collapse.
  • Try to enjoy the little things while the economy is faltering. Go to the park. Rent DVDs instead of going to the movies. Buy the store brands instead of the expensive brands.
  • Make some great home cooked meals that you found in the old recipe book you found on the shelf. If it was good for our elders it still must be good. By cooking your own meals you will save money from not eating out. Have  a “family,” meal. That means everyone sitting down at the table at the same time. Actually do some talking. Won’t that be different?
  • Go one a vacation with in driving distance. You can just as much fun somewhere closer as you can hundreds of miles away.

I realize that these aren’t exciting solutions. What we probably really need to talk about is how to cope in this troubled world.

My book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, talks directly to you as readers about how to do that very thing. It shares ways to fight anxiety, fear, depression, self doubt, hopelessness, etc.

You can read some excerpts from, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, when you sign up for my free newsletter. You can do that by going over to the right side bar and clciking on the icon that talks about subscribing.

Notice that you will also receive a free eBook that I have written called, The Top 25 Ways to Survive in a Troubled World. There are 25 ideas on how to stay tough during these hard times. It is yours for free just by subscribing.

When you subscribe you also have a chance to win free books. Many will have the authors autograph in them.

The book being featured right now is called, Moments this Good: The Softer Side of Alzheimer’s. It is written by Bonnie Nester. It is the story of Bonnie’s mother Ruth. It is kind of like a dairy with many heart breaking stories, but also some that make you chuckle. Bonnie has autographed the book for you.

So if you sign-up right now, you get:

  1. A free newsletter full of excerpts from: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. Three other pages with interesting articles on them. A brand new page that will come out in the next issue is for writers. It will be called: Becoming Famous Before you are Famous. This alone is worth signing up for if you are a writer or even have thoughts of being a writer. It teaches you how to get known before you go to the publisher.
  2. A free Ebook called, The Top 25 Ways to Survive in a Troubled World. It shares many ways to cope.
  3. Free books with autographs in them through a drawing that is held every two weeks.

It hard to understand why someone would pass this up, but I am tooting my own horn. I happen to think that you would love any part of the three free bees above.

I hope you take advantage of this and sign-up.

OUT!