Ottsjöblogger i Ottsjö

----------------------------FOR THE PIE--------------------

1 1/2 c All-Purpose Flour

1/2 ts Salt

1/2 c Shortening

5 tb ICE Water

8 c Apples [peeled & sliced]

1/4 c Granulated Sugar

2 tb All-Purpose Flour

1/2 ts Nutmeg, Ground

2 tb Lemon Juice

1 ts Cinnamon, Ground

------------------------------FOR THE TOPPING------------------------------

1/2 c Granulated Sugar

1/2 c All-Purpose Flour

1/3 c Butter

1 lg Paper Bag

Vanilla Ice Cream

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

To make the pie: 1) Combine the first measure of flour, salt and shortening

using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, then stir

in the water a little at a time, using a fork, and form the dough into a

ball.

2) Roll out the pastry dough on a lightly floured board. Roll to an 11" or

12" diameter and fit into a 9" pie pan fluting the edges.

3) Combine the sugar, the second measure of flour, the cinnamon, the nutmeg

and the lemon juice in a large bowl then toss the apple slices in the

mixture and arrange them in the pie crust.

To make the topping: 4) Combine the sugar and flour in a bowl and cut in

the butter using a pastry cutter then sprinkle the topping over the apple

filling.

5) Place the pie in the LARGE paper bag and place the paper bag on a baking

sheet and loosely fold the open end of the bag under. Bake until the apples

are tender (50-60 minutes).

6) Carefully remove the pie from the bag ~ CAUTION: WATCH OUT FOR THE STEAM

COMING OUT OF THE BAG!

7) Serve warm with generous portions of vanilla ice cream.

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior. -- Source Unknown

Romans 10:11-15

I. The Call to Salvation - verses 10-13

A. The call is for everyone

Whoever - verses 11, 13 - all, everyone who calls on the

name of the Lord will be saved. None are rejected.

“Whosoever, surely meanth me.”

Verse 12 - There is no difference, no distinction between the

Jew/Gentile, male/female, young/old, rich/poor.

Acts 10:34 “God is no respecter of person.”

Verse 12 - “He is rich to all” - God is wealthy with grace,

mercy and forgiveness to all. God does not have one plan

for the Jews and another for the Gentiles.

In Romans 3:23, Paul has told us “all have sinned and come

short of the glory of God.” Now he tells us that “all can be

saved.”

B. The call is for those who believe

Verse 11 is a quote from Isaiah 28:6 which once again

shows God’s plan of salvation has never changed. It was

the same in the OT as the New. It has always been a call “to

believe.” If anyone (even an angel according to Galatians

1:8) preaches a gospel or salvation that was not possible in

the Old Testament, let them be accused.

Whoever believes” - relies upon, rest in, trust fully, depends

upon.

C. The call is to Him as Lord

Verses 12, 13 - Lord is master, ruler, owner, supreme in

authority.

“Lord over all.” If he is not “all” then he’s really not Lord at

all. If something is greater or over you, then you can’t really

claim to be “master of all.”

But Jesus is Lord “over all.” No disease, no difficulty, no

diversion, no death, no devil is greater than Jesus.

Call on His name - Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in

any other for there is none other name under heaven given

among men, whereby we must be saved.”

D. The call is for salvation

Verse 13 - “will be saved.” Verse 1 - “and prayer to God for

Israel is that they may be saved.”

To be delivered, to be rescued.

“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore. Very

deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.

But the Master of the Sea heard my despairing cry.

From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me. Love lifted me.

When nothing else could help,

Love lifted me.”

Call on Him - anyone call call. You may not can read, pay

any more, sing, run or even make a sound - but you can “call

from your heart”.

Verse 11 - “will not be ashamed.” Will not be disappointed,

not disgraced, not dishonored. This has a reference to

judgement - being delivered at the time of Judgement.

When you stand before God, you will not be disappointed

that you believed in Christ. You will not be ashamed.

II. The Call to Share - verses 14-15

Four parallel rhetorical questions here laying out the

sequence of how a person comes to call on the name of the

Lord.

1. Someone must be obedient to go and tell.

To be sent.

The apostles were “sent” out.

But we are all sent out. “Go, in the highways and hedges

and compel them to come in.” Matthew 22:9

“Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations....”

Matthew 28: 19

Go to your family, go to your neighbor, go to your co-worker,

go to the ends of the earth.

2. Someone must proclaim His name.

The word is “preach” meaning to herald, a town crier,

proclamation.

3. Someone must hear.

To hear is to give ears to understand.

You can’t understand without the Teacher - the Holy Spirit.

You can’t make the message to be understandable - only the

Spirit can do that.

Over and over again, Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear,

let him hear!” Luke 8: 8, 21; Revelation 2 -3 to the seven

churches of Revelation

4. Someone must believe.

This is salvation - to believe.

We want to do works. John 6:28-29 “What shall we do, that

we may work the works of God? Jesus said, “This is the

work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

—(Holy Gospel, Ser. VI.)

" O Lord, thou Son of David" —Matt, xv 22.

Introduction.—Looking at the checkered life of David : at its

glory, and its shame : its prosperity and its sorrow ; its intensely

human and representative nature ; it is worthy to note

why the Lord of Life and Glory coming into this world of

sorrow, suffering, and death, should elect to descend from

David, and to be called thereby the ' Son of David.' Jesus

Christ desired to be so called, as being—

I. The Beloved of the Father.—David was the man after

God's own heart, (i Sam. xiii. 14) ; and Jesus Christ the ‘ Beloved

Son.' (Matt. iii. 17.) An earnest of our own affiliation

or sonship through Him. So from David flows our own hope

of sonship with God.

II. The Friend of sinners.—David was a great sinner, full

of weakness and infirmity ; but the Lord ' took not on Him

the nature of Angels ;' but the seed of this falling, repentant

king ; that He might claim a kindred with the sinful, weak,

and lowly ones for all time. (Matt. ix. 13.) Hence we sinners

take hope and heart.

III. A Faithful Promiser.—God the Father had promised

to David (Ps. cxxxii. 11) ; and He became His Son in order

to fulfil this promise, that the faithful might be confirmed in

their belief in His truth. Hence we learn to trust and to believe

in Him.

IV. Truly noble.—David humble in origin. (Ps. xxii. 6.)

The least in his Father's house. The Virgin Mother sings of

the ' low estate of His handmaiden.' (Luke i. 40.) True

nobility springs from the mind not from the body. From—

1) Kingly feelings of universal love.

2) Royal and Godlike actions.

3) Noble thoughts that elevate the soul.

4) A humility that exalts indeed.

Epilogue.—May Jesus Christ be to us, in all these points,

‘the Son of David.'

INTRODUCTIOIN: Scripture makes it clear without question that God in Christ is the Savior of the world.

TEXT: "We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe" (1 Timothy 4:10).

Greek scholar A.T. Robertson, commenting on this text, makes it clear that God is indeed the Savior of everyone. "Not that all men 'are saved' in the full sense, but God gives life (Cf. 1 Tim. 6:13) to all (Acts 17:28); while God is potentially Savior of all, He is actually Savior of believers. In this sense Jesus is the Savior of the World" (John 4:42), (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Concise Edition, Nashville: Holman Publishers, 2000) 531.

1. JESUS IS THE POTENTIAL SAVIOR OF ALL

Dr. Robertson stated: "God is potentially Savior of all."

That is to say, God offers Himself as Savior of all in Christ.

He is full of mercy and compassion for all.

He takes the divine initiative in reaching out to all of us as sinners, that we may be saved. "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people" (Romans 10:21).

He reaches out to those who adamantly refuse to respond. He is potentially their Savior. Yet, they refuse His mercy and grace.

2. JESUS IS THE ACTUAL SAVIOR OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE

Dr. Robertson further stated: "He is actually Savior of believers."

The offer of mercy only becomes a real experience in the life of a sinner, when he receives through faith.

The promise of God is offered to all. "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). "Whoever" throws the door of mercy open to all. Those who believe call upon His name. "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?" (Romans 10:14).

Thus, He actually becomes the Savior of believers.

3. UNBELIEF KEEPS PEOPLE FROM KNOWING JESUS AS THEIR ACTUAL SAVIOR

The only thing that shuts anyone out of knowing God as Savior in Christ is his own willful unbelief.

For that reason the Holy Spirit convicts all of the sin of unbelief. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin . . . of sin because they do not believe in Me" (John 16:8-9).

Herschel Hobbs said, "Unbelief or 'no faith' in Jesus as Savior is regarded as the worst of sins" (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Convention Press, 1964) 97.

It is "the worst of sins" because it rejects God in Christ as Savior.

4. GOD DESIRES FOR ALL TO BE SAVED

There is no lack of desire on God's part to save all. "God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4).

"Paul stated plainly that God desires all to be saved.

This eternal desire springs from the heart of God. It is why God has provided a plan or arrangement of salvation.

It is not an expression of the absolute decree of God, otherwise all would be already saved. Rather it is an expression of God's constant willing through appropriate means that all might come to the knowledge of the truth" (Thomas C. Oden, Interpretation, A Bible Commentary, Louisville: John Knox Press, 1989) 48. Therefore, the apostle Paul, knowing the heart of God, could declare God as the Savior of all.

INTRODUCTION: Okay, everyone, help me out here—

KNOCK, KNOCK?

(audience says “Who’s there?”

Now let me ask you folks, “Do you ask that same question, when you feel you are being directed to do something? To make a major decision in your life? WHO’S THERE? is something you should know, before you just open the door and invite them in....right?

Have you ever faced a situation where you did not know if what you were facing was God or the devil?

Have you had the experience of thinking you were being led by God to do something, and later you realized it wasn’t God?

TEXT: Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

TRANSITION: We are constantly surrounded by influences but not all of them are of God. We surely want to know we are being led by His Spirit and not someone or something else.

THE FULL PICTURE

1. Natural Influences—some things are just caused by natural causes. There are natural laws at work in our world that God has put into effect.

2. Carnal Influences – some things happen because of the influence of our fallen nature. This is a struggle within us.

3. Worldly Influences—there is the influence of the system of the world that we live in. This influence moves us away from God if we are not careful. We are to be in the world but not of the world. We are not to love the world nor the things of the world.

4. Demonic Influences—yes, there are demonic powers at work against us. Ephesians 6 tells us that the enemy has a hierarchy structure and he has methods he uses against us. We see this power at work against God’s people all through the Scripture and it is still true today.

5. Godly Influences—thankfully, God is at work in our lives both to will and do according to His good pleasure. There are the saints of God and the angels of God as well that He uses to help us.

PONDER THIS: In every situation in a believer’s life, God is present to help, and the enemy desires to hinder.

Therefore, we need to know who is at work, right?

PRINCIPLES OF DISCERNMENT

1. The Scripture Test – Does this square with what God has said in His Word?

2. The Fruit Test—Does this bear or is it consistent with the fruit of the Holy Spirit?

3. The Spirit Test (General & Gifting)

-The general leadership of the Spirit in every believer’s life. We are to be led by the Spirit, then that means He will lead us if we follow.

-Gift of discernement. There is a gift of discerning of spirits in which someone is supernaturally endowed to discern when there is a spirit contrary to the Holy Spirit at work in a situation.

4. The Timing Test – Is this the right time for what I am sensing? Jesus was constantly pushed to run ahead of Father’s plan and fulfill it a different way. Remember the devil used the Bible to try to push Jesus outside the will of God and shortcut God’s purpose for His life.

5. The Testimony Test—Is it consistent with the testimonies of godly people through the generations?

6. The Peace Test – Do you have peace about it?

7. The Motive Test—If it is God, are you going to respond for the right reason?

SITUATION ONE: Am I to release a rebuke or receive a rebuke?

Peter – Matthew 16: 21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Early Church – Acts 15 (Jerusalem Conference and how they discerned if it was God or not.)

1. Peter – His Call, Testimony, Grace

2. Barnabas and Paul – Testimony

3. James – Connected it to Scripture

SITUATION TWO: Am I to act or wait?

Gamaliel - Acts 5:38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

Biblical Instruction - 1 Thessalonians 5:

v19 Do not quench the Spirit.

v20 Do not despise prophecies.

v21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

v22 Abstain from every form of evil.

TRUTHS TO AID DISCERNMENT: You will need to know these truths so that you do not find yourself rebuking the devil for what God is doing and vice versa.

If I am connected to Christ I must understand pruning season.

John 15: 1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Father God loves me; therefore, I should expect correction from Him.

Hebrews 12: 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”….. 11Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

The devil’s plans against me can be used by God to shape me.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

FOUR TRUTHS TO REMEMBER

(Draw on these truths when facing situations where the battle of discernent is waging.)

1. God’s Presence – God has promised to be with me, so I can ask Him if this is from Him. I can ask Him for wisdom. I can trust that He has not abandoned me and I am left alone to figure this out.

2. God’s Promises— I need to remember what He has already promised me through His word and cling to those promises trusting Him to perform His word.

3. God’s Power – God is always at work in my life and His power is always greater that the enemy. Greater who is in me that he who is in the world.

4. God’s Purpose—I can trust that God will work everything toward His purpose for my life and I submit myself to God’s will and plan for my life.

Stress is something that affects almost all of us at one point or another throughout our lives. Stress can bring on a variety of symptoms and health problems including fatigue, loss of sleep, substance abuse and stomach upsets. One proven method to combat the signs of stress is stress management training. These five simple steps can help to eases the effects of stress on your life immediately.

1.Introduce an exercise regime as part of your daily routine.

In order to cope with excess stress, the body naturally releases excess adrenaline. Regular exercise will help to use up this excess hormone and to relieve the 'flight or fight' responses.

Cardiovascular exercise has been proven to improve mood and sustain a positive attitude. Increasing your heart rate for a significant amount of time will release endorphins - natural chemicals that make us feel good - and greatly assist relaxation.

2.Stress most commonly occurs in the workplace. It is therefore important in stress management training to focus on relieving any pressure that may be felt at work. These may be brought on by demanding job roles with too much responsibility, poor management or a lack of communication between peers and managers.

Increasing pressures from the economy have caused the workplace to be a highly stressful environment, but there are now many tools available to organizations. Stress management training in the workplace can sustain healthy and happy employees which will in turn increase productivity and quality of the work produced.

Stress in the workplace is influenced by factors at work and at home. Stress management training at work focuses on improving organizational skills so employees can focus on the most important tasks first and completing them in less time.

Stress management training is interactive and is aimed at those who show physical and mental signs of stress such as depression, extreme fatigue, aggression, and alcohol or drug dependence amongst other health issues. It is crucial that individuals and organizations consider the effects that stress can have. The benefits from tackling these issues include better working relationships, lower labour turnovers and more loyal staff, higher productivity and willingness for employees to accept more responsibility.

3.Breathing techniques are often found to be very relaxing. Most often, people take shallow breaths from the chest. By making a conscious effort to breathe deeply and from the diaphragm will mean more oxygen will be delivered around the body. Particularly meaning your brain will benefit from added oxygen levels. This may mean you feel more alert and active.

Many people find that the simple act of focusing on their breathing and taking deep slow breaths naturally calms and relaxes.

4.Music is strongly linked to our moods. Listening to calming sounds or music has been proven to relax the mind and body and ease away tensions.

5. Lastly, a lot of people who suffer from stress have found that meditation is an excellent way to calm moods. Meditation is the art of focusing 100% of the mind and can be difficult to achieve for beginners. There are various different techniques that can be utilised but most amateurs find brainwave entertainment meditation the most effective form of meditation.

Brainwave entertainment meditation is where rapidly repeating sounds of specific frequencies are played. These frequencies act powerfully on the brain influencing it to slow down and ease stress.

Whereas traditional meditation may take years to perfect, this form of mediation makes it much easier to relax as it take far less focus - which can frustrating to begin with.

In following these simple steps for stress management training, you can greatly act to reduce stress within your personal and working lives immediately. Recognising that there is stress within your live is the most important factor in treating the problem. Once you have done this, stress management training can greatly improve your life.

Meditation can be hugely beneficial to help with relaxation and stress reduction. Meditation involves focusing all of your attention to one area. This therefore increases concentration, eases anxiety and can boost overall happiness.

In a world where stress disorders are ever increasing, meditation is becoming more and more popular. However, although many attempt meditation, few can actually stick to it, as beginners do not instigate the meditation with the right mind frame to sustain the art.

Learning techniques for relaxation can greatly improve your health. Learning how to meditate for beginners can relieve stress and show positive results for both the body and the mind.

The meditation process is often broken down into manageable processes in order for it to be integrated as part of your everyday life. It is crucial for its success for it to become routine in the long term.

Make meditation a formal practice. In order to progress to the next stage, you must set aside a particular time each day to devote to being still. Meditation is not by any means an active exercise, but it does require all of your attention in order to focus everything onto one point. It is hard work to begin with and needs a level of commitment.

The setting of your meditation is another important factor. Try to select an environment that you don't work, sleep or exercise in and choose a specific room that you will always meditate in. The addition of candles, aromatherapy oils or incense can also provide a calming atmosphere for relaxation and stress reduction. You may find that listening to music can also be soothing.

The first step of learning how to meditate for beginners is with breathing. Deep breaths will lower the heart rate which will in turn relax your muscles and focus your mind. In addition to this, you might want to being with some stretches. This will allow you to sit or lie far more comfortably as it will loosen the muscles and tendons. Both of these exercises will focus your mind onto your body and help you to move your attention inwards.

A sense of frustration is not uncommon for beginners. It is difficult to let go of their surroundings to begin with and focus on quieting their minds. If you experience this, try to concentrate on your breathing and releasing the feelings of frustration with each exhale.

Each person will find a different way to meditate and relax and it may take some time to find how you as a beginner can meditate best. Try different techniques such as lying or sitting or having your eyes open instead of shut. A certain level of experimentation is required.

It is crucial that you pick an environment where you will not be disturbed. If you are conscious of being disturbed it is highly unlikely you will be able to achieve a state of deep relaxation. Once you are settled and have found a comfortable position and your mind has quietened, it is time to progress to the next stage.

Try to extend your attention to your feet and slowly feel your way back up your body. Feeling your entire body including your organs and limbs. If you are able to do so, then you are on the right path.

Most people find the mornings the most pleasant and easiest time to meditate particularly for beginners. This is due to the fact that it is more peaceful and your mind is clearer than it would be at the end of the day. You may even prefer to wake up a little bit earlier than usual.

Learning how to mediate for beginners can be extremely hard work, but as a lifelong practice it has proven to be hugely beneficial in relaxation and relieving stress. It does take a considerable level of commitment but the benefits with the constant tensions of everyday life cannot be ignored.

The inclusion of vitamins as part of a balanced diet is vital to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Recently, vitamins have gained profile as they have been added to soft drinks, herbal drinks and even some breads and cereals. Vitamin B Supplements are commonly used to beat stress naturally and safely.

Vitamin B is used for a general feeling of wellness, but can be particularly useful to beat stress. Vitamin B complex works within the body to support healthy nervous system function. They help to make the body more resilient, making it easier to cope with stress and anxiety.

Made up of eight soluble different vitamins, the Vitamin B complex includes: thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), cobalomin (B12), pantothenic acid and biotin. As well as promoting healthy muscle and skin cell growth, which will make us feel healthier, The Vitamin B complex boosts metabolism and heightens the immune and nervous system. It is these bodily system that work to control our natural responses to stress. Healthy and responsive nervous and immune systems will determine how we are affected by everyday stress.

Vitamin B can be found in a variety of foods including; eggs, fish and some vegetable. However you may not be able to consume enough to sustain a healthy level. It is therefore advisable to supplement your diet with added vitamin B. Vitamin B supplements dissolve in water and so are flushed out of the body through the urine. It is because of this that for vitamin B to be effective, it must be consumed on a daily basis.

B-complex vitamins often need each other to work effectively. Most of the B- complex vitamins work to perform specific tasks within the body and can often be found together in foods. It is because they need each other to be successful that it is not often recommended that vitamin B is taken on its own.

It is far more common to suffer from a B-complex vitamin deficiency than any other, especially for people suffering from stress. The vitamin B family has been proven however to target many health issues such as lack of energy, stress, depression and promote a healthy brain and heart.

It is widely thought that vitamin C also aids the performance of B-complex vitamins and so it may suggested that you look out for products that also contain it.

Almost all of the vitamins with the B-complex are well known for combating stress. Most importantly B1,B3,B6,B9 and B12.

The B9 vitamin is more commonly known as folic acid and helps to produce neurotransmitters. Predominantly, folic acid helps produce serotonin and dopamine that control mood, sleep and appetite.

Unbalanced diets that contain little vegetables will contribute to a deficiency of folic acid - one of the most common deficiencies in the world. Prolonged used of prescription medicines can also cause this. A lack of folic acid can cause mood levels to drop significantly possibly leading to depression. This is due to the high risk of a reduction in neurotransmitter levels.

Vitamin B9 will help to regulate sleeping patterns and appetite and so will have a direct affect on stress levels. It plays a vital role in mental and emotional health as well as successful brain functioning, so it is important to maintain a healthy level of B9.

B12 Vitamin focuses on healthy brain function. The brain greatly depends on having a stable level of B12. A deficiency of this vitamin in known to lead to memory loss - one of the leading contributing factors to stress.

In order to determine if you have any vitamin deficiencies, and which products you should be taking, it is advisable to contact a health professional. However, B-complex supplements have been proven as a safe and natural stress relief. Whereas Vitamin B may not work well alone, the vitamin B- complex includes the eight most popular vitamins that work in conjunction with one another to fight the main causes of stress. Taking this supplement everyday can significantly ease stress and anxiety.

Migraines in children are far more common than people tend to assume. Migraines usually are associated with adults, but migraines in children are often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. One of the main reasons for this is that young children find it difficult to describe the symptoms that they are feeling and parents and doctors may not recognise the symptoms as that of a migraine.

Migraines are hereditary and 75% of children that experience migraines are related to at least one other migraine sufferer. Therefore if you or a relative suffer migraines, it is worth considering the likelihood of migraine in your child.

Like migraines in adults, migraine in children can present itself as a sudden and severe headache, particularly around the eyes and temples.

Children may also experience the nausea and visual disturbances that adults do resulting in blind spots or flashing lights which can be particularly frightening for small children. Parents may notice pallor to their child’s skin and a loss of appetite.

Classic to both migraine in children and adults, many children find bright lights, strong odors and loud noises worsen the symptoms and tend to avoid them.

Despite this, it is very common that a headache will not accompany a childhood migraine, and they will not display any advance warning signs that an attack will occur. Not only this, but a migraine in a child can last anything from one hour to 72 hours.

Children can often encounter acute stomach pains that can be debilitating in their severity. This is caused by the muscles in the stomach contracting with a great deal of force to try to ease the pain. It is because of these stomach aches that migraines in children are often known as abdominal or stomach migraines.

It is as a result of this that migraines in children are misdiagnosed as tummy aches or a parent thinking it is an excuse to not go to school. As the stomach migraines can cause vomiting and nausea, it is also commonly assumed to be a stomach upset.

Although it is not fully understood what the causes of stomach migraines are, it is believed to be triggered by changes to the two chemicals, histamine and serotonin within the body. These chemical alterations could cause migraine in the form of headaches and abdominal pain.

Similar to adult migraine, there can be factors which cause an attack - known as triggers. These can include stress and anxiety which contribute to the chemical changes to histamine and serotonin. Psychological factors can therefore influence a migraine attack within your child. Regrettably, if the symptoms cause too much pain and distress, the body will increase the adrenaline levels which can make the pain worsen.

Again as with migraines in adults, childhood migraines can be triggered by certain foods. Common food triggers include, cheese, chocolate, dairy products, citrus fruits and in particular Chinese food which contains a high amount of monosodium glutamate. Particularly in children, Aspartame has been linked to migraines. Aspartame is the artificial sweetener used in diet food and drinks often given to children as it is better for their teeth. Keeping a food diary may indicate if your child has an intolerance to some foods.

Other triggers of migraines in children include missing meals and lack of sleep. In order to stay healthy, it is therefore crucial that your child has a healthy diet with regular meals using as few artificial ingredients as possible. Furthermore, a regular sleeping pattern and exercise routine will all aid good health.

Migraines in children can be treated much the same as in adults. Smaller doses of pain medication can be bought over-the-counter such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol. As pain tends to become far more intense very quickly in children it is recommended to offer pain relief as soon as the child mentions the symptoms.

Ice packs and frozen towels may help to relieve the pain of a classic headache migraine and may be preferred to giving medication. However for some children pain killers and ice packs are not enough and your doctor can prescribe medication to attempt to prevent migraines in the longer term. These treatments are known as prophylactics.

Keeping a record of any attacks is advisable as preventing the migraine is better than treating the symptoms. Although there are no specific tests that can prove the problem is migraines, your doctor may wish to carry out a CT scan or an ultra-sound for abdominal migraines to rule out any other causes of the pain.

Stress at work largely goes unreported or unnoticed. However stress within the workplace is well recognized as a massive problem not only to the job and the work produced but also to home and personal lives. Stress at work can cause absenteeism and lost wages which can cause money troubles and issues at home and between relationships.

Extreme stress at work has been reported by the health and safety executive as the biggest risk facing businesses in the 21st century, and it has been reported than one in five employees have suffered from stress in the workplace.

Finding a perfect balance between the demands of a job and your own capabilities can be difficult. But the result of a poor match is what causes stress at work and can lead to several conditions that are detrimental to health. The symptoms that present themselves from stress can include anxiety, fatigue, loss of sleep, stomach pains, depression, aggression and even substance abuse if not tackled straight away. Stresses from the workplace may also lead to long term health problems such as cardiovascular disease.

There are many factors that influence stress at work. The most common conditions are poor communications at work, poor management and unrealistic workloads or responsibilities. Unpleasant or dangerous physical conditions can also be hugely influential stressors.

In order to deal with stress in the workplace, you must first identify what is triggering the stress for you. This will be different from person to person. What one person may be able to cope with, another may not; stress is a highly personal situation and will vary depending on a person’s level of control and the amount of support they receive.

It is important to take control of your personal life if you are to combat the stress you feel at work. Simple steps such as an improved diet and regular exercise will greatly improve your health mentally and physically.

Communication is key to tackling stressors at work. Learning to communicate better with your colleagues and managers may eliminate or lessen the trigger of the stress. For instance you may be able to delegate work to others if your managers are aware that the work load is becoming too much. Poor working relationships can make work extremely stressful, therefore breaking down the communication barriers may ease any tension.

There are various techniques you can try if this fails or is not enough. Physical relaxation techniques such as yoga or mediation may not be suitable for the workplace, but may help to ease any stress you feel once you have left work.

Furthermore calming music may soothe your mood if you start to feel stressed at work. Or simply moving around to stretch the muscles. If you feel tensions starting to arise try stretching or going for a short walk. Some people find that keeping stress relief toys in a desk drawer to be helpful to squeeze to relax.

Aromatherapy oils may be useful also. Certain scents have been shown to have calming properties such as lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and sandalwood. These can be applied to the skin if diluted or to a cloth to relieve stress at work.

Often people find that simply talking about the problem can be greatly beneficial. Finding a sympathetic ear inside or outside the workplace can be greatly therapeutic rather than keeping the problem bottled up. They may even be able to offer a helpful solution.

Many people don't appreciate how stressful their work life is becoming or feel that they simply have to ‘put up with’ the treatment that they are receiving at work. This is certainly not true and can be very detrimental to health and long term working and personal relationships.

If you begin to feel stressed at work then make use of social networks and relaxation tools available to you in order to tackle the problem before any serious health issues arise such as fatigue, stomach pains or even substance abuse. Sometime simply acknowledging there is a problem at work can be beneficial and help you to deal with stress in the workplace.