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[princessdi]

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week's Study: 1 Kings 17:2–4, 15, 16; 19:1, 2; Mark 6:31–34; Gal. 6:2 ; John 15:13.

Memory Text:

  “ ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ ” (Matthew 11:28, NIV).

      Stress touches everyone. Demands at work, family crises, guilt, uncertainty about the future, dissatisfaction with the past—these all are hard enough. All this, along with the general events of life, can put enough pressure on people that it affects their physical and mental health. Researchers Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe developed the social readjustment rating scale, which lists life events with corresponding stress values for each: the death of spouse—100; personal injury or illness—53; change in residence—20; etc. A person accumulating 200 or more points at any given time runs a 50 percent chance of becoming ill; someone accruing 300 or more will reach a point of crisis. Moderate amounts of stress are necessary to increase performance, but beyond a point stress becomes a health hazard.
Jesus shows by precept and example that seeking God at a quiet time and place is the best remedy for life’s stresses (Mark 6:31). If we will allow Him to, the Lord will help us deal with the pressures that are such an inevitable part of life here.  

[princessdi]

Exciting Life Events

How did God provide for Elijah’s survival during the long drought in Israel? 1 Kings 17:2–6, 15, 16.  [/b] In the midst of a long famine, Elijah must have felt very close to the Lord, who took such personal care of him. First, he had the opportunity to witness ravens (normally nasty birds) come twice a day to feed him. Talk about a miracle! Then he saw endless rations of bread coming from a little oil and meal—enough food to feed three persons for two years. How much more evidence of God’s providential care would anyone need?

Ellen G. White applied the lessons of this story to God’s faithful people in the last days: “I saw that our bread and water will be sure at that time, and that we shall not lack or suffer hunger; for God is able to spread a table for us in the wilderness. If necessary He would send ravens to feed us, as He did to feed Elijah.”—Early Writings, p. 56.

What were some of the other things that happened to Elijah, and what lessons can we draw from them for ourselves? 1 Kings 17:17–22; 18:23–39, 45. 

God used Elijah to resurrect the widow’s son. What a test of faith, and what a vindication of God’s power over life and death! Next, the test at Mount Carmel was an irrefutable and spectacular demonstration of God’s power. Finally, heavy rain after a three-year drought was another manifestation of God’s involvement in human affairs. Elijah’s life was full of direct and divine intervention. It’s hard to imagine how anyone, after all that, could not fully trust in the Lord; yet, not long after all that, Elijah was swept up in the symptoms of stress and discouragement (see tomorrow’s lesson).

Thus, there’s an important lesson here. Regardless of the miracles in our lives, we always will face obstacles. No one, not even a prophet like Elijah, is immune to the troubles that life brings.

Are success and achievement bringing you stress? A long series of exhilarating events (even positive ones) may add much weight to your load. At the same time, why must we be careful not to be too self-satisfied during good times? 

[princessdi]

Ok, so I will be first.  i find it very interesting and down right exciting, that in another thread, Christian and I have been discussing emotions and their place in the worhsip service.  I am looking forward to this quarter's lesson study on emotions and their effact and importance in the life of the christian.,

[Johann]

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience with a raised glass of water. Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'... She fooled them all ... "How heavy is this glass of water?" she inquired with a smile. Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. To 20 oz.
 
She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."
 
"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... Pick them up tomorrow.
 
1 Accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue!
 
2 Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
 
3 Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
 
4 Drive carefully... It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker..
 
5 If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague
 
6 If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
 
7 It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
 
8 Never buy a car you can't push.
 
9 Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
 
10 Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
 
11 Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
 
12 The second mouse gets the cheese.
 
13 When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
 
14 Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
 
16 Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.
 
17 We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
 
18 A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
 
19 Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today.
Save the earth.....It's the only planet with chocolate!