Do you struggle with doubt that your prayers will be answered? God's word reveals that believing in His Word and thanksgiving will result in God's best for you.

Paul and Silas were escorted to the lowered dungeon, uncomfortable, in chains, mistreated, hurting and still probably bleeding from the beatings. One would expect them to be belligerent, angry, complaining but instead we find them singing and rejoicing. At midnight when it would seem they would have been trying to rest and soothe themselves, they prayed and sang praises to God.

Shamans tend to be men {Women have more of these abilities in their natural state and require less altered consciousness.}, though women also can become shamans; some women shamans are extraordinarily powerful. In some cultures, shamans are involuntarily chosen by the spirits; they realize their calling in a transformational experience, often a serious illness that brings them close to death {For example Damion Brinkley of today.} and is self-cured. In other cultures, persons with natural shamanic gifts are selected at a young age, trained and initiated.

At times when we think honestly, if we stop deceiving ourselves, we are forced to admit that life per se can become an unmitigated horror. Not only are we threatened by wars, financial shifts and joblessness, the calamities of nature and narcissistic manipulators, the very earth itself treats us with supreme indifference. The beautiful and productive world we inhabit slowly but surely converts every plant that sprouts a stalk and each creature that draws a breath into fertilizer to feed yet another doomed generation.

A humorous look at the author's experience at the Crosswalk.com forum.

From the moment we are born, we are talk to be selfless, to think about others first and deny ourselves at our own expense. How can one give if we have nothing to give, if we are not allowed to collect abundance, whether it is love or money? It is our nature to be selfish and to...

God knows we cannot make it to His kingdom until we learn how to sacrifice our needs, our wants, and our desires, for the good of someone else. In other words, until we learn how to love one another, even the unlovable. And, we can never love until we get rid of the anger.

There are times when we want to feel special inside. And most of the time this world won’t give us that hug or encouraging word at that right moment when we need it. But no matter where we go or what time it is we can find that lighthouse shining on us through the love of Jesus Christ.

The desire for enlightenment arises out of a yearning from deep within the soul. It is not a physical, emotional or intellectual quest. Consequently, it’s difficult to explain.

Ephesians 5:17 it says Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many times, we are blinded to our own sins. This poem is about a man who will not believe what he sees in the mirror in front of him. It represents our sinful state, and the many times we are unwilling to face our flaws and pursue change.

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

How to achieve your goals by sending your desires out into the universe. This simple four-step process can turn you into a magnet that attracts whatever it is you desire.

Man has suddenly re-awakened to the fact that he is part of a vast cosmos, and that we are not just a speck of dust on a chunk of matter, revolving around the sun. With this new dawn and with cosmic realization our questioning mind will find answers to some of mans most demanding questions.

Whren it comes to the relaxing properties of a massage, many of us cannot afford the regular high cost of visiting a salon or the services of a personal massage therapist. If this is the situation you face there may be a solution: the HoMedics Massager line.

All day it's been non-stop - the tv was on, then the radio, then people were talking to you all day long. Even when you're alone the thoughts crowd in and ceaselessly chatter in your mind. The simplest thing can help the busy mind to chill out... just a minute.

Tips to avoid extracurricular activity burnout. Learn to balance work, family and extracurricular activities.

This article discusses stress and the link between stress and frequent headaches.

What is critical incident stress management? It is an intervention procedure primarily and specifically intended for people affected with a traumatic event in their life. It's a highly structured, formal, and professionally acknowledged process of helping individuals involved in critical incidents to vent emotions, share experiences, and learn about stress symptoms and reactions, as well as being given referrals if further help is needed.

Control issues are a big factor in stress. Once you learn to let go, your stress levels will diminish.

My world began to spin out of control. I found myself unable to concentrate, my heart was racing and I was out of breath. I was restless, edgy and keyed up. I couldn’t sleep and my muscles constantly ached. My short-term memory was very short term.

Stress affects people for several reasons and hence, it is important for each individual to identify the particular source affecting them. This makes it important to analyze and interpret the feelings of the affected individuals in resolving the causative factors. In this respect, it is also important for people to direct the functioning of their minds towards a calmer and healthier state.

Here are five stress relief techniques to help you.