By

I look forward to your comments, requests and feedback.

Love, Lady K.

Lady Karen
BA, MA, CAGS, Psychology; 
Graduate of Institute of Integrative Nutrition 
Ordained Minister, PEC

Session 4 – Hey Grace Family!

Our assembly will be stronger: individually and as a group after COVID19. Job 23:10 (AMP) states “But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it], when He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold, [pure and luminous]”.

We all feel stressed from time to time. What is Stress? How does it affect your general health? What can we do to manage stress?

Stress is how the brain and body respond to demands of change, fear, surprise (good or bad). Some of us can learn to recover from stress more effectively or more quickly than others. Read on and become one of those people who learns to manage their stress!

What does it feel like? Different for everyone and depends on the severity of the change. Physically? Anywhere from stress caused by pressure from test taking to trauma of war or assault. Responses naturally go from quickened heartbeat to depression or other illness, to lack of sleep. Stress is caused by something happening on the outside, usually, but your physical response is always related to the type and severity of the situation. The body is signaled to “fight or flight”: face the threat or move out of the way! Pulse may quicken, breathing gets heavier, energy production is increased all of a sudden. A good thing if you need to move a car or pass a test; all aimed at survival. Yes, when you are born, this is a safety mechanism put into your wiring. How to deal with “situations we do not see coming”.

Long-term stress can be hard on your general wellness. Over time, the continued demand on your emergency system depletes your reserves and may cause: heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety.

Take practical steps to manage stress:

1:  Know what your body does when stressed. How do you feel? Sleep a lot, not sleeping, eating, not eating, shopping to name a few. Your first coping strategy is to call it out. Own your situation.

2:  Talk with someone. A good friend, therapist, PC, Health/Life Coach. In COVID19 time most providers are using Zoom, face-time and other technology to help clients remotely. If you need additional information, call the church. We have several professionals in the Mental Health field who can listen and help; just, please reach out to someone.

3:  Some deal with stress by doing physical exercise, meditation, breathing exercises, even more of us use Prayer as a de-stressor, because we know “it changes things”. Not just situations, but us in the situation. Stay connected with friends, family and God through this time.

4:  Handle your business, to put it bluntly. Start putting things in order. Start looking for another job or figure out your strategy for recovery or adjustment. You can do it! Keep notes on your accomplishments daily and do not forget to Thank God for them!! You can do it!!

I cannot begin to say how important it is for you to deal with stress in “real time”. Prevent your body from developing real health issues as a result. In the midst of it, think of your basic needs. Food, sleep, faith, and the knowledge that tomorrow is another day. You will come forth as pure gold!

We will talk about emotional eating later this week.

Lady Karen BA, MA, CAGS, Psychology;
Graduate of Institute of Integrative Nutrition; Ordained Minister, PEC

Session 3 – Hello Grace Family!

Just some things to think about as we journey down this COVID 19 road together.
Saints, you can make your own masks if you choose. By the way, covering your hair is a plus, but beware, you may not look the same! (See Sis. Leatha’s video – click on News above). Men or women could call Sis. Peggy if you need to order one, whatever you do, do not leave home without it. Please!
When you go out and return, put all clothes and masks in wash or hand wash. Sis. Leatha’s mask is free if you have a tee shirt. Remember to wash all exposed body parts when you get home.

If there is anyone in need of food or supplies, please call the church, or contact us at administration@gcoan.org. We need your phone contact and address. There are many resources available in our community.

If you are absolutely in need of someone to pick up meds please email or call as well with phone contact. Just about everyone has delivery services or find someone who does.
Need prayer? Call the church. Leave a message if no immediate answer. If you need to speak with someone, confidentially about a mental health issue: excess worry, fear, extreme loneliness, any extreme unusual feelings, homelessness, excessive worry about bills, health, food, safety, grief or loss, overwhelming feelings or confusion, lack of sleep.

PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH NUMBER: 617-238-7057

Some church professionals have gotten together to help with these services. I encourage you to call others to see if a neighbor is going to the store to ask to pick something up for you and reciprocate when you go out. Try not to go out more than once a week, and please wear a mask. Practice social distancing, (six feet away), wear gloves, wash hands or use hand sanitizer often. Protect yourself or your family whenever you go out, wash all clothing. Leave your shoes at the door. Spray them with disinfectant. Spray your coat if you cannot wash it.

Most of all, stay inside!!! Find an electronic game to play with family or friends or make one. Pictionary you can make, find one online. Take turns! Listen to music together. Yes, YouTube, Pandora. Find shows and specials on TV. Give each family member a turn at choosing a movie of the day. Choose and prepare meals together. Get fresh air daily. Even if you get in the car and drive for 20 mins. With the windows down. Exercise or dance for 1/2 hour daily, alone or with family, or on Facebook live. Some of us have a town curfew. Please observe it. Most of all, keep reaching out electronically. If you do not have a positive prayerful person to call, dial the church number. Use wisdom and seek God in all circumstances. Please be well. Pray, pray, pray, praise God!

Lady Karen

BA, MA, CAGS, Psychology;
Graduate of Institute of Integrative Nutrition
Ordained Minister, PEC

Session 2 – “BE WELL”

Hello Everyone,

“Be Well” discusses the integrative aspect of wellness. Although we are physical beings, we are controlled by our minds and spiritual beliefs.
In this season, we particularly want to be healthy and stay that way. Hospitals and health centers are not the places of ‘healing’ they used to represent. “Lord, make and keep us “well” as we journey through this season of COVID 19 in our communities”. Being well includes our minds,(psyche), body (health), and spirit (soul). All three parts work together to make each one “well”. Considering that we were created in God’s image; He is also a tri-part-tite being: The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost.
The “Father” is the Head; The Head, is the mind or the psyche.
The Son came wrapped in flesh; The Body: blood, water, flesh. The Holy Ghost: the Spirit, our inner power, our guide (by choice).

This is what the three wrapped in one minister to me:

1. The Father: The Mind. All of our decisions, controls, knowledge, emotions, actions and reactions originate here. The Father is the head! He takes care of the (family) body. The eyes see, the ears hear, and the mouth speaks. All in the head, at the top of the body.
2. The Son signifies the body. Communion consists of the body and the blood. This is our body that we merge with Jesus’s body when we “commune” with Him. We are His church. His bride. Our bodies are meant to be taken care of. As Jesus’s body was abused on Golgotha, He ascribed each lash to a stripe. These stripes were Jesus’ legacy of our healing. Our bodies and our health are important to God. He made provisions for our health! Our peace and happiness depend on it.
3. The Holy Ghost: The Spirit. Our forever connection to God. Parting Gift of Jesus. Our inner light, God with us, our guide and friend. Character formed by who you need Him to be. Can’t see him but He is always there. The power source of the trio. “I believe, I am healed!”

BE WELL

Realizing that we are tri-part-tite beings, we can celebrate that being healthy does not only recognize the food on our plates, but the water we drink, the air we breathe, the loves in our lives, the exercise we do, our level of spirituality, indulgence of our passion and how we basically afford to enjoy our lives. If any of the three parts is out of balance it compromises the functioning of the other two.
While we are socially distancing, this might be a good time to do some integrative thinking: “what does my body need from my mind that my spirit needs to generate?” Everything? That’s integrative thinking. What do we really need, to be, and stay healthy? Consider our food, our relationships, our careers, our spirituality. For example, how blessed can you be, if for 8 hrs. every day you are miserable, angry, feel unappreciated and not want to be on your job, but you worry about being fired(stress). You may power through, picking up some ‘survival’ habits like caffeine, which affects your body by creating an addiction, which interferes with your ability to put God first. Even in the morning! Each one of us is different, but we are also basically (physically) the same. We each have unique strengths and weaknesses, even spiritually. It is good to know that through God, who loves us the same, our similarities outweigh our differences; our strengths can overcome our weaknesses. This week focus on being an ‘overcomer’. Physically, mentally and spiritually. If we are doing anything to injure any of these three parts, seek Gods help; be open to change; love the you God loves; choose to believe in that you! Know that these may be dark days, but you know you are walking in the light. The Holy Spirit will teach you things about yourself if you ask Him. Jeremiah 29:11 says it best, ”For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to give you hope and a future”.

Session 3: Using Philippians 4:19, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me”. We will explore the difference between stress and anxiety and the physical empowerment it brings. (For starters)

I thank you for sharing this moment with me. May God continue to keep you in His grace, mercy and peace through this time. Make it a time of prosperity for your family.

Lady Karen 

BA, MA, CAGS, Psychology;
Graduate of Institute of Integrative Nutrition
Ordained Minister, PEC

Welcome to Grace Health 2020.

Coordinated by Lady Karen:

Session 1

While “Sheltering in Place” separately, but at the same time, each of us is having a unique experience. My personal response is to encounter this time of death and despair with prayer for the families in pain, those I know and those I hear about. Covering all those who will die fighting for us in this new kind of war. Serving and protecting as they pledged to do. The medical workers, the government officials and first responders. I thank God for the opportunity to be at home at this time, free to commit more time to prayer and ministry even within the confines of home. Everyone is touched by this pandemic in profound but different ways, but we are called to respond with faith, prayer, and following the steps to safety laid out by our civic leaders. Lord protect us, we will be humble, seek you, pray, turn from wicked ways; please God, forgive us and heal our broken land! This is my prayer.

We must stay connected to each other, like the vine that Jesus taught about, keeping us fresh, growing and strong. One way to achieve this is by partnering up to pray daily, utilizing all the modes of communication at our disposal.

What do you need to accomplish in this complex time of pain and isolation? Complete Isolation can quickly turn to panic and despair. The alternative to isolation and despair is to fill your time with purpose; focus on things that matter to you and God. Know that it’s okay not to be okay sometimes, but know that our faith acknowledges in Jeremiah 18:3 that The Lord will mold us into something better than we were before. Trust Him with your emotions, your mind, your thoughts. Whatever else you do now, be selfish. Take time to hear from God. Yes, even with the domestic and social changes we are dealing with.

THE LIST

As this is our time “off” to “stay safe” from being exposed to the virus, we must do that by

maintaining ‘social distancing’. We must employ wisdom as we navigate complications of: our jobs, food shopping, doing laundry, using transportation; transacting (or postponing) the business of regular business: bills, appointments, medication, meeting needs of dependents. Do not forget to seek God in all decision making, as He is our light in the darkness. As we venture out, if we must, as we use discernment, we also remember that we will “Fear no evil” since we are never alone.

Make a list of your goals for the family with the family, but more importantly make goals for yourself. The airline industry puts it best when they implore us to apply our life-saving mask before our charge’s. We must make plans to strengthen and keep ourselves healthy through this trial.

The most common human response to fear and despair is anxiety. This is a little word that is as critical as the many people it affects (all of us!): to varying degrees in different ways. It also is interpreted in each one of us differently. Some of us do not fear, but we care. We are concerned for our loved ones, our jobs, our debt, our mental health status. To be (confined indefinitely) with a person or persons you find out you do not know or like, “Lol”. What is your trial to be?

Soon, we will explore Anxiety. We all have it, some of us more often than others, and to varying degrees. Today, we will plan to list an overview of what we may need right now to be basically “Well”: emotionally, physically, and spiritually for this season. I’m sure you have many excellent ideas, but we can start here. Some of us may have most of these under our belts already, so you can now add to this list or cross some items off.

1. 1. Conduct a needs assessment: What do you need to be well right now?
   2. Stay away from others as much as you can: Use delivery methods whenever possible, ask around for how others get things done. This is new to all of us.
   3. Feel comfortable securing your needs with what you have: financial and other resources available: Again, share information. Don’t forget to consult “Jehovah Jireh”, Our Lord who provides our every need.
   4. Try to shop smart, hydrate by drinking plenty of water, eat fruits and vegetables, frozen if not fresh, then canned: Take time to plan portioned sizes and healthy snacks. A great time to work with your family to plan, discuss, prepare, and consume meals. Pray, eat, talk, teach and play together. (Fellowship!)
   5. Make time to get exercise and fresh air daily!: get sunlight, breathe fresh air, move. Be creative , and 😊safe! Schedule a daily time of Praise set aside for clearing your mind of clutter by occupying it with God. Giving thanks. Start a “Thankful” journal right now. Your memories of the benefits in a time of trial will be crystal clear and an inspiration to many.
   6. For singles, parents, seniors (in and out of senior living circumstances), Care givers and couples included; STAY IN TOUCH, reach out daily to someone you trust, to: encourage, and be encouraged, care, laugh, pray, talk with. This is a must! Share your feelings with someone!
   7. Sleep well! God’s promise of sweet sleep is for our wellness, mental and physical: Try chamomile, lavender, or other herbs in teas; Sample bedtime routines that end with a good night’s sleep; starting with a hot lavender or Epsom salt bath, moisturizing with earthy organic oils in or after bath.
   8. If you watch TV, time the amount of News watched, enjoy light, mixed genres of shows. Limit screen time, for you and family as much as you can control it.
   9. Try a hobby or hobbies that give enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment within boundaries: ☺
   10. Although it is exciting to schedule our days loosely, remember our daily to do list: With more ‘free’ time, we can schedule more personal bible study and prayer; personal growth!

We need it, with so much more to pray for. Learn more about being that intercessor you already know you are. Use your internet wisely, connect with the Holy Bible app. Stretch.

I am humbled to communicate with you during these trying times. I understand that we are experiencing varying degrees of discomfort, but my prayer is that, with love, compassion, understanding, humility and patience we can encourage each other, and become a stronger body, (assembly) for having done these things.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Karen Foxworth
BA, MA, CAGS, Psychology;
Graduate of Institute of Integrative Nutrition
Ordained Minister, PEC