[Video] How to Wake up Feeling Great

Sleep is important.  Here is a short video that will help you wake up feeling refreshed.



Have you heard of this method before? Do you have any other helpful hints regarding sleep? Be sure to leave a comment in the comment section.

Being a Sheep

Psalm 100 ¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. ² Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. ³ Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. ⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Only by being His sheep can we truly find rest.

Even though I included the entire psalm, one verse stood out above the rest, and that is verse three. I recently did a little studying about sheep, as well as the concept of us being His sheep. The author lived in an area where sheep were an important part of the livelihood and economy, and therefore knew about sheep (esp. if the author was David, who was, in fact, a shepherd). The more I know about sheep, the less flattering the illustration becomes.

You see, sheep are definitely not the smartest animal out there. In fact, they are probably near the bottom of the intelligence scale. It's a little humbling as an intelligent human to be compared with such an animal, but the illustration fits when I compare myself to God. There are so many times when I haven't acted intelligently esp. where my spiritual life is concerned. I need to realize that I need God to take care of me as a shepherd would take care of his sheep. When I am in His pasture I have little to be concerned with because I know that I am under His care.

To be in His pasture, I must constantly surrender to His leading; something I am not inclined to do. I understood the concept of a general surrender to God, but more recently I have discovered that surrendering to God meant surrendering the little things of life. The process of surrendering is not the easiest thing to do, but it's the only way I can truly find the rest that comes from being the sheep of his pasture.

Resting in the Shadow

Psalm 91:1-2 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.

God is not out to get us. He wants to protect us. It is when we go outside of His will do we have the most problems. It is when we do not trust in His direction for us do we encounter the most trouble.

Living in a relatively hot and sunny area I have grown a greater appreciation for shadows. Even on days where it is not extremely hot, I still enjoy the occasional shade a tree or building provides. In this passage, the author states that those who dwell in God rest in His shadow. He too, saw the benefits of shade and shadow. The entirety of Psalm 91 talks about God's protection for those who take refuge in Him. Anytime we are tempted to doubt God's desire for our protection, we should read this psalm. This psalm runs totally counter the concept that God in the Old Testament is a vengeful God. He wants to protect us. So next time we find ourselves in a troubling situation, we should pause and remember to rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Pressing Your "Reset" Button

In today's busy, often too busy, world, sometimes one just needs to press their "Reset" button, but that can be difficult if they have forgotten where it is.


I just got back from "resetting" by indulging in a rather simple activity.  Reading in a library.  However, this was not a planned activity.  Earlier tonight, I read one of the 90+ unread email from a health newsletter I subscribed to.  I soon came to the realization that I was in dire need to revamp my exercise program, closed my computer, and went for a walk.  I walked in a different direction than I usually go, and ended up at the university library.  I meandered over to the magazine rack, picked up a National Geographic magazine and sat down.  I was then transported on a whirlwind tour of places I had never been, reading about people I had never met, who were doing things I had never thought of doing.  

I was interrupted only once by my wife, Simone, who called on my cell phone wondering where I was.  She asked what I was doing at the library.  "Reading," I replied.  Then, we had one of those exchanges that seemed rather mundane at the time, but got me thinking afterward.  "You're reading at the library," she said, "Why are you reading there?"  "To do something different," was my answer.  (I'll forgo my commentary on that statement in order to let you think about that for a moment.)  As I was walking back home, I got to thinking of how the world, even the mundane confines of Loma Linda, seemed like a different place because I closed my computer and opened that magazine.  My world view was broadened, and I was refreshed.


We all need to find someway to unplug from our usual activities, to reset our minds so that they will be refreshed and ready to face the challenges of life.  I won't give any recommendations except to try it.  You'll be glad you did.