3 Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System This Winter

We all have times when we could use a little extra boost to our immune system. Cold and flu season is certainly part of that time. Or, the long winter weeks when we are stuck inside and more likely to catch something. It is also important anytime you board a plane or when your kids start school.

Check out the CDC’s info on the flu season.

Here are simple things you can do daily:

This brings up a good point: For best results, implement daily.

 
Let’s start.

Eat Plenty of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

 
All systems of your body work best when they are properly fed. This includes your immune system. Stick to a mainly whole-foods based diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. If you feel like you might be a little under the weather or suspect that you may have come into contact with someone sick, increasing your intake of Vitamin C may help as...

God could have prevented my miscarriage, but He did not. Why did He allow this?

It is one thing to trust that God loves you deeply and passionately. It is a belief that can strengthen and inspire you amid discouragement and minor setbacks.

Yet, it is another thing to believe that God is all-powerful. It is a truth which many Christians wrestle with daily. Sure, it is comforting at first. God is in control—we want to put that on bumper stickers and cross-stitch it on decorative pillows.

Why Did God Allow This?

But what about when there is another mass school shooting? Only it is not at some other high school. It is at your child's.

What about when there is a factory explosion? Only it is not overseas. It is where your spouse works. What about when there is a horrible car accident? Only it is not someone else's family that does not come home. It is yours.

Abruptly, that beautiful belief that God is powerful now hurts. Because He did not intervene, He did not stop...

Saying “No” to others is easier as I take better command of my life. I no longer am lost in the confusion of struggling to carry out every task for everybody. I free myself from attempting to please people as I learn to say “No”.

The power of “No” frees me!

When my schedule is full, and someone asks me to do something I cannot do, I say “No”. I prevent the stress of trying to do too much by utilizing a planner and scheduling tasks.

When someone requests my help with something I do not yet understand how to accomplish, I make clear that a person with the right skill set for this task could help them better than I. This prevents me from aiming to do the impossible and being unsuccessful in my promise.

When I am called upon to miss my time with my family to help out someone else, I can respectfully refuse, knowing that my family is my main concern. Saying “No” to others offers me the time I need...

In a world where relationships often feel shallow and transient, Christian friendships stand out as a source of deep connection, spiritual growth, and mutual support. These bonds, rooted in shared faith and values, offer something unique and precious - companionship that uplifts and draws us closer to God.

The Foundation of Christian Friendships

Christian friendships are based on Christ’s love. Unlike other relationships based on common interests or experiences, they are grounded in a shared belief in Jesus Christ. This common ground fosters a sense of unity and purpose as friends encourage one another in their faith journeys.

The Bible provides numerous examples of such friendships. Jonathan and David’s relationship is one of the most well-known, marked by loyalty, sacrifice, and a deep spiritual connection (1 Samuel 18-20). Their bond was a product of personal affinity and a mutual commitment to God’s plan and purposes.

The Characteristics of a Christian...

The coaching process involves a systematic approach to problem-solving, where a professional life coach works in partnership with the client to identify the areas that need improvement. The coach helps create a plan of action tailored to the client's specific challenges or desires.

Christian Life Coaching is a coaching approach that aims to help women improve their personal and professional lives by setting and achieving goals, enhancing their self-awareness, and developing the necessary skills and strategies to overcome any obstacles that may stand in their way.

Christian Life Coaches are highly skilled professionals who specialize in helping women navigate various life challenges. They provide guidance and support to equip women with a Truth Mindset to overcome obstacles and move forward with renewed confidence and purpose.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV - "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Whether dealing with a...

Our whole childhoods we were told to never speak to strangers. Then as we grow up, we discover that we need to do just that, again and again. A few strangers are easier to talk to than others, like a shop clerk or server in a restaurant.

Others are often more complicated, like strangers you meet in social situations or business meetings. These are strangers who have the potential to be future friends, coworkers, bosses, and clients. These are strangers who matter to you. To some women, meeting these types of strangers can be very daunting.

How do women get past the initial trepidation and talk to strangers?

• Dive in the Deep-End

When you always have someone to fall back on, you will never truly take the plunge. Go to new places alone, so you are not tempted to stick with who you already know.

• Make the First Move

If you are going to wait around expecting to get noticed, you may possibly have a very long wait. Be courageous! Start a discussion! Get up and join the fun...

Let's face facts, ladies: life is full of both nasty and good surprises. You cannot live your life worried about bad news. Otherwise, you will numb yourself with fear. Instead, you must become extra resilient and learn to expect the unexpected.

You really can learn how to cope with unexpected news and become a stronger, more confident person in times of pressure.

Let's go through a variety of ways to make coping with the unexpected more straightforward.

Expect the Unexpected

Did you ever receive that phone call from someone to cancel a get-together you were looking forward to having? This is a highly trivial example of unexpected news, but it represents what we all deal with daily.

You may feel disappointed or annoyed, especially if you devoted time planning for the event. But, you have a couple of choices: move on and make the best of the day or let it spoil your mood and hold you back.

Ask yourself: what do you usually do when you face...

Unlike bacterial infections that can quickly be cleared up with a round of antibiotics, with sicknesses caused by viruses like the flu or the common cold, you often have to ride it out. While there are medications that can help ease your symptoms, your immune system must fight the viral infection off.

Why not take it easy on your body and do what you can to avoid catching it in the first place?

Your first line of defense to avoid getting sick this year is simple – Wash Your Hands.
 
That’s right.
 
The simple act of washing your hands frequently with soap and hot water limits the spread of cold and flu viruses and your chance of coming down with them.

Get in the habit of washing your hands whenever you have been out in public, and whenever you can throughout the workday.

Wash them before you eat or drink food and when hot water and soap are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Why is hand hygiene so important?

 
Because you...

It is good to understand that Jesus is with us during our darkness. But when it feels like someone pulled the rug from underneath us, how do we right our world?

How can an aching mama’s heart beat again after she buries her child? How do you retake a breath after hearing that cancer diagnosis? How do you carry on when the pains keep crashing, one overwhelming wave after another?

There are no simple answers. There is no checklist that someone can give you to make your life normal again. Everything is going to feel horrible for weeks or even months to follow. That is OK. It is part of grief, part of letting go of your previous life.

What you must do is keep open communication flowing between God and you. The worst thing to do is shut down in the course of crises and stop speaking to Him. But that does not mean you have to put on a stoic face and walk into the throne room like everything is fine.

Scripture tells of people who were utterly truthful with God about what they...

When someone hurts me, I promptly forget it and move on. I am worthy of a life free from hatred and resentment. My life abounds in grace and mercy.

When I make a mistake, I love forgiveness. The sensation of receiving a second chance is sweeter than honey. I treat people in ways that I would want to be treated; so, I provide those who hurt me with a second chance.

Persistent offenses cloud my vision like a winter haze. If I let go of the past, the light of forgiveness disperses the fog and clears my point of view. As an alternative to putting people under a critical microscope, I can relish the friendship.

I prefer to see the best in the people around me and believe it is good within them. Regardless of what a person previously did to me, I free my mind to them with no objections.

If I have anxiety moving past an offense and handling the individual with grace, I shift my point of view. I strive to see them the way their loved ones see them and the way...