Hope is usually defined as a desire for something, accompanied by the anticipation of receiving it. If our expectation isn’t fulfilled, it’s easy to become discouraged. We have an enemy who wants to steal our hope. As the father of lies, Satan tries to keep us focused on our circumstances so we will doubt God’s love and care for us.
So at times we may feel desperate and abandoned, but emotions are not reliable. As children of the heavenly Father, we’re never in hopeless circumstances because He promises to work everything for our good (Romans 8:28). But His concept of “good” doesn’t always match ours. Too often we set our hopes on the things of this world, whereas God prioritizes our spiritual well-being.
Disappointment and discouragement are the result of setting our hopes on the wrong aspiration. This doesn’t mean we can’t have dreams and expectations. But we should hold them loosely, with an attitude of submission to God and trust that He’s still working for our good when they don’t come to fruition. Our expectations for this life are temporary, but we have a living hope in Christ that’s unfailing and eternal.
Life doesn’t always meet our expectations. Even when our plans are according to God’s will, we may nevertheless face difficulties. I remember a season of life when I felt all alone and abandoned by the Lord. My mind said God was with me, but my feelings said He wasn’t. To counter those emotions, I had to pray and focus my mind on Scripture.
In today’s passage, the weather threatened Paul’s voyage to Rome. Even though the Lord was clearly directing His path, a violent storm arose on the sea. The sailors worked hard to save the ship, but gradually they gave up hope of being saved. The only one who persevered in hope was Paul, and he encouraged the crew with his confidence in God.
Frustration over obstacles can lead to discouragement. Many times we can’t change what has happened—whether it’s a job loss, a loved one’s death, or a devastating diagnosis. Circumstances over which we have no control are often the ones that trip us up.
In times of discouragement, you have a choice. Will you focus on your circumstances, or will you fix your gaze on God and His Word?
As a police or law enforcement officer, you know that staying
in shape is a key part of your job - and for keeping you safe. You also
know that it's often almost impossible to find the time to work out
consistently.
Let's face it, fitting in an hour or two of exercise every day is
just not very realistic in your hectic, demanding schedule. That's why
you need to focus your work outs on the type of exercise to give you the
best results in the shortest amount of time.
And the type I recommend is high intensity exercise - especially hill
and stair sprints. These techniques allow you to get the most out of
your precious workout time. Helping you build strength, power, speed
and stamina while burning maximum amounts of fat - all in much less time
than a traditional workout.
There are numerous reasons that high intensity is the way for you to go. Here are the Top 3:
Hill Sprints Build the Stamina Necessary For Your Job Demands.
Endurance is something that every law enforcement officer needs - but
it is a special kind of endurance. If you want to perform at your
peak, then long, slow distance types of cardio just won't work. Your
endurance training needs to mimic the demands of your job. Those needs
being - short bouts of intense exertion alternated with periods of long
periods of lower intensity.
Think about it. How often does your job require you to jog at a low
intensity for long periods of time? Or even run at a steady, moderate
pace for 20 or 30 minutes in a row? Yet, these are exactly the types of
demands that long, slow cardio workouts prepare you for.
On the other hand, high intensity work, like hill sprinting, provides
you with interval training that meets your needs. It will take your
heart and lungs to intensities far greater than those found in jogging
or traditional types of endurance training. Your body will become used
to reaching these higher levels, and recovering quickly in between the
"sprints." Not only that, with hill sprints, you will be able to spend
much more time training at that high intensity than if you try to "go
hard" at a steady state.
This type of training can lead to more protection for your heart and
lungs than traditional "cardio". Long, low intensity cardio can
actually shrink the size of your heart and lungs because your body is
excellent at adapting to the stresses placed on it. Training long and
slow encourages your body to become as efficient as possible to make the
exercise easier. The result: it shrinks muscle mass along with your
heart and lungs. This has the effect of decreasing your reserve
capacity - the ability of your cardio-vascular system to respond to high
stress situations (exactly the kind your run into in your job).
Without a high reserve capacity, your heart and lungs may be at risk
during stressful events. High intensity training can help raise your
reserve capacity instead.
Not only that, but more and more scientific studies are showing that
VO2 Max (the traditional measure of aerobic endurance) is improved as
much - or more- by using high intensity exercise like hill sprinting.
This endurance is due to the sprints upgrading your oxygen intake system
with new capillaries, developing stronger heart and lung tissue, adding
more energy producing mitochondria and increasing your tolerance to
lactic acid buildup.
Want the ability to respond to high intensity situations (and recover quickly afterwards)? Then train the same way.
Hill Sprints Give You Results In As Little As 15 Minutes.
Sure, this training sounds great - but how much time does it take?
Truth is, you can get these benefits in short workouts of 15 minutes or less - only 2 or 3 days per week.
High intensity work, especially hill and stair sprinting, is an
incredibly efficient way to exercise. This is because you are forced to
do more work in a shorter period of time. In other words, hills and
stairs are like the perfect combination of strength training and
sprinting - you literally "lift" or "push" yourself up the incline. The
steeper the incline, the more demand is placed on your leg muscles.
This intensity allows you to get in a superior workout in a very short
period of time.
Hill Sprinting: The Incredible Stress Buster
The bad news: Your position as a law enforcement officer brings a
great deal of stress along with the job. This stress can lead to
health-related problems like heart disease and metabolic syndrome.
The good news: One of the best ways to "bust" that stress is with exercise - more specifically high intensity exercise.
Exercise in general relieves stress in a number of ways. First of
all, exercise stimulates your brain to release substances (endorphins)
that improve your mood. Besides that, exercise can decrease cortisol
levels, provide a distraction from the source of stress and boost your
self confidence.
Any exercise can have these effects, but high intensity can amplify
your results. Recently, researchers at the University of
Missouri-Columbia showed that high intensity exercise is superior in
reducing anxiety and stress. The 2003 study even showed that the
effects can be felt 30, 60, even 90 minutes after an exercise session.
These are just 3 of the reasons that every law enforcement officer
should hill sprint. Take your endurance to a new level and reduce your
stress in only a few minutes of exercise per week with this "old school"
training. You, your fellow officers and those you serve and protect
will be glad you did.
Tim Kauppinen, or Coach K, has over 20 years
experience as an athlete,coach and personal trainer. He has helped
people of all ages and abilities get and stay in peak shape. Coach K is
the author of the Uphill Fitness Training, and publishes a FREE daily
training email newsletter. Tim can be contacted through his website at http://www.makesyoufast.com
Although there were a lot of fitness equipment that had been released in the market, we found out that none of them really met our needs. Some were either too heavy, or not portable enough, or just not aesthetically pleasing. So we decided to make it ourselves.
We at Flybird wish to make people's lives more comfortable and healthier with our reliable equipment and excellent service. For our company, developing new products is always a priority so that we can meet our customers' needs.
Are you facing what seems like an insurmountable obstacle? It might be a problem too complex to solve, a task beyond your ability, a sin too tempting to overcome, or a situation over which you have no control. Facing such things can make us feel weak, helpless, and vulnerable. But always remember that we have an almighty God, and nothing is too difficult for Him.
Zerubbabel was a Jewish leader who, together with 50,000 of his countrymen, returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity. They set about rebuilding the temple, but the obstacles were daunting. The people became disheartened, so God gave His prophet Zechariah a vision to encourage them. The message reminded Zerubbabel that progress is made “not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zech. 4:6).
This same truth applies to us today. Your obstacles may seem like mountains too big to move, and in your own strength, they certainly are. But as a believer, you have the power of the Holy Spirit within you. Although your circumstances may not change, He’ll give you His comfort, joy, peace, patience, and strength to go through it. The Spirit is God’s promise of continual help to His weary people.
Christianity rests on a foundation of God’s promises. There are two kinds—unconditional and conditional. Fulfillment of an unconditional promise rests solely with the Lord. One example is God’s covenant to never again destroy the entire earth by flood (Genesis 9:11).
On the other hand, if a promise is conditional, fulfillment depends on certain requirements being met. The transaction can be expressed as an “if-then” statement. James 1:5-7, for example, tells us that if we request wisdom from God by asking in faith without doubting Him, then He will give it generously. And in Matthew 6:32-33, Jesus promises that if we seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, then everything we need will be provided.
The Lord will do exactly what He has promised, but when there’s a condition, you must satisfy the requirements He has set. If you’re still waiting for God to keep a particular promise, check the context for a stipulation. Then make certain you’re carrying out your part. And remember that while the fulfillment is certain, the timing is always in the Lord’s hands.
How do we handle relationships, couples, friends, family, or work
colleagues, that are oppositional or adversarial? Are there strategies
that work better than others? Could people who do not think like me
somehow be more beneficial to me than people who agree with me? These
questions have stumped most of us and we all struggle with adversaries
at times. However, struggle also connotes a possible growth opportunity
that we may be missing.
“Prosperity tries the fortunate, adversity the great.” – Rose Kennedy
Adversarial Defined
The definition of adversarial is anything related to a person, place,
or thing where there is disagreement, opposition or where problems are
created that go against a desired result. We would be a total outlier
in life if we did not experience someone in our day-to-day existence
that fits into this description.
The usual responses to our adversaries include anger, avoidance,
rudeness, loss of respect, frustration, resentment, and even disgust.
These reactions do not usually portend a satisfactory solution. Things
tend to go from bad to worse, leading to total avoidance or the end of
the relationship.
“Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful.” – Zig Ziglar
Alternative Reactions
One alternative to becoming adversarial is to go parallel. “Parallel
thinking” explores the subject, rather than the person, through an
alternating approach of giving options and then listening to the others
options. The subject rather than the person becomes the object of this
exploration. We have already removed the personalisation component of
the disagreement. Emotionally, we are already in a better place.
Another tact with the adversarial person is to try very hard to find
something about their view that you can agree on. Finding any point of
congruency can diffuse the situation to some degree. Even minimal
agreement will entice the adversarial person you are dealing with to
find something they can agree to about your view. This acceptance of
each other’s viewpoint can lead the way to some mutual rather than
exclusive styles of thinking. We can both have something of value to
offer on this subject.
Eventually, you may even arrive at “white hat thinking”, which allows
for even more progress with adversarial thinkers. The white hat
represents information gathering. Think about the knowledge and insights
that you've collected already – but also the information you're
missing, and where you can go to get it. Now you are working in
collaboration with one another rather than as competitors.
The opportunities for growth and development of your relationship
with the adversarial have now improved to a level whereby you are both
benefiting from your differences. Each of your viewpoints have been
improved through exercising your diversity in a more productive way than
it would have been through conflict.
“Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.” – Malcolm Forbes
Diversity Negates Adversity
Sometimes, mistakenly, we confuse independence with being
adversarial. This idea most likely starts when the child becomes an
adolescent or young adult. We individuate by being adversarial as a
teenager to be our own person. Our identity is mistakenly linked to our
perceived independence. Independence does not have to be adversarial.
In fact, it may even hinder our independence due to the plethora of
opportunities that we have missed to learn from others.
Our diversity as humans elevates our potential to contribute to each
other in unique ways. What you offer me, I may not possess and vice
versa. Our mutual contributions to one another, which are negotiated
through our diversity, are much more valuable and irreplaceable than our
perceived differences. Paradoxically, implementing our individual
diversity through collaboration may ultimately enhance our unrealized
potential to nullify many of our adversarial relationships.
Bio
Dr. Bruce Wilson is a psychologist with 25 years of experience. He
enjoys sharing his ramblings with friends and colleagues. He is
currently in private practice at Mind Health Care in Geelong, Australia.
This article is solely his work.
Natural Caffeine Vs Synthetic Caffeine. Which Is Best?
Posted by Maria Altieri
Caffeine is considered to be one of the most frequently used supplement ingredients all across the world in many different products, and for a good reason – it works. One of the most common uses of caffeine is in the form of coffee. There are many people who rely on the caffeine content found in coffee to get them through their day and even workout. Some can get away with low doses, while others need incredibly high doses. However, many people do not know that there are different sources of caffeine, which is why we are going to discuss the two types of caffeine – natural caffeine and synthetic caffeine.
Caffeine is a common ingredient found in drinks such as coffee, tea, energy drinks, and soft drinks like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc. There are many sources of caffeine that can be utilized, and they all don’t have the same effects on people. Some sources are natural, plant-based, and some are even synthetically produced.
Let’s take a look at what natural caffeine is as well as what synthetic caffeine is to get a better understanding of how they differ.
Natural Caffeine
If we go back to its roots, caffeine was first found in naturally occurring plants such as guarana, cacao, yerba mate, and berries. In present times, it can be found in over 60 various types of plants.
While natural caffeine can be found and sold as a standalone supplement, it’s generally not the most commonly found product on the shelves and online. Instead, natural caffeine can be found in many different supplement profiles from fat-burners, to pre-workouts, to straight-up energy products.
You may also find caffeine in vitamins and methylxanthines, which balance the up and down of energy from caffeine in your system and help deliver it to your body in a stable manner. Essentially, natural caffeine provides a more sustainable and cleaner boost of energy in comparison to synthetic caffeine, and it also allows for heightened focus and cognition. If you’ve ever used different forms of caffeine, you may have noticed and experienced a quick jolt of energy but then an abrupt crash that soon follows.
Unlike synthetic caffeine, natural caffeine generally does not have any side effects such as insomnia, nervousness, and anxiety, to name a few. It is because of the gradual release of natural caffeine into your system that many of the side effects associated with synthetic caffeine are nonexistent. There is no sudden release that can cause jitters or uneasiness.
You can take a glance at the nutritional panel of a product to see if it has natural caffeine or synthetic caffeine, as many of them will break down what source of caffeine is used.
Synthetic caffeine is widely used in soft drinks and energy drinks. Synthetic caffeine is quickly absorbed in your system and gives you a sudden boost of energy, which is much faster than natural caffeine. Interestingly enough, and a little history lesson for you, synthetic caffeine was first discovered by the Nazis during World War II. With increasing demand, synthetic caffeine started becoming the norm.
Additionally, synthetic caffeine (such as caffeine anhydrous) is a very inexpensive ingredient to produce. Natural caffeine is something that would need to be sourced, and because of this, synthetic caffeine has become the most widely used form of caffeine. Big companies such as Coca-Cola are highly dependent on synthetic caffeine for their products. Unfortunately, synthetic caffeine has some drawbacks and side effects that could become quite harmful to your body.
There have been some instances and cases where individuals got their supplements mixed up and took two teaspoons or more of synthetic caffeine and, unfortunately, died because of ingesting a lethal dose.
Because synthetic caffeine is absorbed into your body much faster than natural caffeine, it provides a quick spike of energy that many people enjoy but then an equivalent crash as if you hit a wall going 100mph. Although synthetic caffeine and natural caffeine are almost non-distinguishable on a molecular level, the method of how synthetic caffeine is made can trigger significant health concerns, which you need to take into consideration before you decide if you want to supplement with it or not.
Natural Caffeine vs. Synthetic Caffeine
Here are some key points and takeaways from both sources of caffeine.
Natural caffeine and synthetic caffeine are chemically identical. The big difference is that synthetic caffeine is made from chloroacetic acid and urea, whereas natural caffeine is produced from various plants.
The most surprising part is that both sources of caffeine affect the body in similar ways.
Naturally sourced caffeine tends to be harder to source and relatively expensive, which is why labs have started making synthetic caffeine.
Due to the lower cost associated with synthetic caffeine, many supplement companies prefer to use it over natural caffeine due to the cost-savings advantage.
Synthetic caffeine undergoes numerous steps to be converted from its initial form, which is ammonia. It is usually exposed to harsh chemicals during the conversion, such as ethyl acetate, carbon dioxide, and methylene chloride. In addition, synthetic caffeine has somewhat of a “glowing” factor. This is removed by cleaning the caffeine with acetic acid, sodium nitrate, chloroform, and sodium bicarbonate.
It should be noted that not all synthetic caffeine is harmful when consumed in a small amount. But the thing to keep in mind is, you have probably had it this week or even today, unknowingly, as several products have them as one of their ingredients. Because of this, it is recommended that you take a look at the ingredient list of the product you are looking to purchase.
Which Source of Caffeine Is Right for You?
The most significant takeaway when differentiating natural caffeine and synthetic caffeine is that synthetic caffeine can work faster and provide you with a sudden boost of energy. Still, when you are coming down from that rollercoaster ride, and you have a sudden crash in energy, it will be much worse than what you’ll experience through natural caffeine.
It’s beneficial to understand what you are reading on many supplement labels out there. If you see the word “caffeine” on the ingredient list of a product, it is very like that it is synthetic caffeine (caffeine anhydrous). If it is a natural source, you will see the actual name of the plant products used, such as green tea extract, green coffee beans, or guarana, to name a few.
Now that you know the basics of the varying sources of caffeine, you can make a more informed decision on whether you prefer to use a natural caffeine source or a synthetic caffeine source to help provide you with the results you want and need to achieve your goals.
Have you ever felt as if there’s a promise God failed to keep? If so, then today’s passage is for you. Let’s look at three things we can learn from it.
There is no one greater than the Lord. He has infinite power, knowledge, and wisdom. Nothing can thwart His purposes, so everything He commits to do, He will do. Today’s passage reassures us that the Lord never fails His children, even if we have to wait for His answer.
God is unchangeable. That means His Word and His plans for the ultimate good of His children do not change. You can count on Him to do whatever He says He will do. Though everything around us changes, our heavenly Father never wavers.
It’s impossible for God to lie. He is true and the source of all truth. Because He’s holy, there is no sin in Him. All His commitments are based on His truthfulness.
A promise is valuable only if the one making it is trustworthy. Since God alone perfectly meets this qualification, we can base our entire life on the certainty of His promises. What’s more, His absolute faithfulness means we can also be sure of His devotion and unconditional love.
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