The document discusses tools and strategies for managing stress and navigating life's pressures. It defines stressful events and explores how stress affects people by causing them to lose control, experience negative feelings, see drops in self-esteem, and deteriorating relationships. Biblical principles are presented for managing stress, such as keeping God at the center, praying, and applying grace. Specific strategies are outlined, including thinking positively, doing what is right, and being honest with one's feelings. Building relationships through commitment, communication and conflict resolution is also discussed.

1. GRACE UNDER PRESSURE:
Navigating life’s stresses
1
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2. Our lives can often feel like
we’re living in a pressure
cooker.
2
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3. Pressure pushes in from
every side.
3
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4. And these everyday pressures
produce stress.
4
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5. What kind of tools can help
you deal with stressful events,
and their accompanying fall
out?, ie. negative feelings,
thoughts and actions.
5
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6. Definition of a stressful event:
6
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7. A Stressful Event
Can be Anything
That is Beyond
Our Control
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8. Common Events
Little
Frustrations
Other Peoples’
Behavior
work
Health Issues
The Computer
money
misunderstandings
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9. OUR PURPOSE IS...
...learning to process life events
using Biblical truths and examples
to help us navigate life’s stresses
well.
9
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10. Remember that stress, or any
painful experience, has a
purpose.
10
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11. OUR HOPE IS... to use daily
stresses as opportunities for
growth and change.
11
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12. OUR GOAL IS...is to become
wise women.
12
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13. WISDOM:
Japanese character for wisdom
translates to “chi” or knowledge
and “megumi” or grace.
13
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14. What happens when we are
under stress?
14
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15. Event
Values Expectations Perceptions/Thoughts
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16. Event
Values Expectations Perceptions/Thoughts
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17. Event
1
Values Expectations Perceptions/Thoughts
1
Lose Control
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18. Event
1
2
Values Expectations Perceptions/Thoughts
1
Lose Control
Negative
Feelings
Sunday, July 6, 14

19. Event
1
2
3
Values Expectations Perceptions/Thoughts
1
Lose Control
Negative
Feelings
Self Esteem
Drops
Sunday, July 6, 14

20. Event
1
2
34
Values Expectations Perceptions/Thoughts
1
Lose Control
Negative
Feelings
Self Esteem
Drops
Relationships
Deteriorate
Sunday, July 6, 14

21. Event
1
2
34
5
Values Expectations Perceptions/Thoughts
1
Lose Control
Negative
Feelings
Self Esteem
Drops
Relationships
Deteriorate
Try
Harder
Sunday, July 6, 14

22. Biblical Tools for
Stress Management
Keeping God at
the Center of Life
Sunday, July 6, 14

23. Event
1
2
34
5
Values Expectations Perceptions/Thoughts
1
Lose Control
Negative
Feelings
Self Esteem
Drops
Relationships
Deteriorate
Try
Harder
Sunday, July 6, 14

24. Pray:
Acknowledge and Submit to
God’s Sovereign Control
Over All Events
Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:6, Luke 22:42
Sunday, July 6, 14

25. Event
1
2
34
5
Values Expectations Perceptions/Thoughts
1
Lose Control
Negative
Feelings
Self Esteem
Drops
Relationships
Deteriorate
Try
Harder
Sunday, July 6, 14

26. Three Strategies for
Managing Feelings
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27. 1.Think: Tell yourself the
truth
Three Strategies for
Managing Feelings
Text
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28. 28
The greatest weapon against stress is our
ability to choose one thought over another.
~William James
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29. Are there thoughts that
need to be challenged?
Philippians 4:8
1. Tell yourself the truth
Three Strategies for
Managing Feelings
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30. ACTIVITY: Check the Facts
Does your emotions fit the
situation?
30
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31. 2. Do What is Right
Three Strategies for
Managing Feelings
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32. Are there behaviors that
need to change?
Genesis 4:6-7
2. Do What is Right
Three Strategies for
Managing Feelings
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33. Activity #3: Taking action
33
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34. 3. Be honest with feelings
Three Strategies for
Managing Feelings
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35. Are there feelings that need to
be shared?
Psalm 62:8, 142:1-4, 55:22
3. Be honest with feelings
Three Strategies for
Managing Feelings
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36. Three Strategies for
Managing Feelings
2. Action: Do what is right
3. Feeling: Be honest with
feelings
1.Think: Tell yourself the
truth
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37. ACTIVITY #4: Journaling
“If you want to change the
world, pick up a pen.”
~Martin Luther
37
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38. Three Strategies for
Managing Feelings
1. THINKING - HEAD
3. FEELING - HEART
2. DOING - HANDS
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39. Thinking - Doing - Feeling
39
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40. Event
1
2
34
5
Values Expectations Perceptions/Thoughts
1
Lose Control
Negative
Feelings
Self Esteem
Drops
Relationships
Deteriorate
Try
Harder
Sunday, July 6, 14

41. Strategies for Managing
Self-Concept
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42. Sunday, July 6, 14

43. Physical Appearance
Possessions
Performance
Professions
Position
Power
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44. Grace
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45. Law
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46. Law
Sin
“Therefore no one will be
declared righteous in his sight
by observing the law; rather,
through the law we become
conscious of sin.”
Romans 3:20
Sunday, July 6, 14

47. Law
Grace
Sin
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48. Grace
Grace Applied to Ladder
Thinking:
1. The Ladder and Common
Grace
2. The Ladder and Saving
Grace
3. The Ladder and Sanctifying
Grace
4. The Ladder and Serving
Grace
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49. Discussion: How do I know
when I’m “ladder” thinking?
49
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50. Godly Self-Concept:
The Bottom-Line Defense
• Practices of positive self-concept:
– Focus on action
– Living consciously
– Self-acceptance
– Self-responsibility
– Self-assertiveness
– Living purposefully
50
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51. Self-Concept manifested in the
Church:
• Connectedness (smalls groups)
• Giftedness (unique qualities)
• Empowerment (accessing the HS’s help)
• Role models or mentors (godly women)
• Calculated risk taking (“I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me.”)
51
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52. Event
1
2
34
5
Values Expectations Perceptions/Thoughts
1
Lose Control
Negative
Feelings
Self Esteem
Drops
Relationships
Deteriorate
Try
Harder
Sunday, July 6, 14

53. Building Godly
Relationships Through:
1. COMMITMENT
2. COMMUNICATION
3. CONFLICT RESOLUTION
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54. WORKING TOGETHER
1. COMMITMENT to
Building Godly
Relationships Through:
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55. COOPERATION
• RETALIATION
• DOMINATION
• ISOLATION
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56. 2. COMMUNICATION
Building Godly
Relationships Through:
at HEAD and HEART levels
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57. COMMUNICATION
• BONDING at HEART Level
Connecting Emotionally
Share Care
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58. COMMUNICATION
• CONNECTING at HEAD Level
Sharing Ideas &
Sharpening Thoughts
Proverbs 27:17
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59. Thinking Level
Reality Testing
Person 1
Sharing Hearing
Responding
&Person 2
Feeling Level
Sharing & Caring
Person 1 Person 2
Ideas
of
Sharing
Feelings
of
Caring
Feelings
for
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60. Feeling
Person 1
Person 2
Thinking
Heart Level
Head Level
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61. ESTABLISHING
BOUNDARIES
Isolation
Dependency
Co-dependency
Control
Manipulation
Distance
Silence
Coldness
Uncooperative
Enmeshment
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62. ESTABLISHING
BOUNDARIES
Isolation Enmeshment( )Interdependency
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63. 3. CONFLICT
Building Godly
Relationships Through:
RESOLUTION
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64. Strategies for
Conflict Resolution
Distinguish between
THINKING and FEELING
levels of communication
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65. Thinking Level Strategies
1. Clarify. Don’t assume you know what the
other person is thinking. Listen to what
they are saying. Keep communication
open. Ask questions. Draw out his
or her thoughts.
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66. Thinking Level Strategies
2. Don’t attribute motives to the
other person.
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67. Thinking Level Strategies
3. Negotiate. Compromise. Collaborate.
Accommodate.
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68. Thinking Level Strategies
4. Agree to disagree.
Reaffirm your commitment to the person and
your relationship with them.
Say, “I respect you, and I want to retain
a good relationship with you, I don’t want
this to come between us. I respect your
opinion. Let’s agree to disagree.”
Sunday, July 6, 14

69. Feeling Level Strategies
For Unresolved Conflict
Held Hurts Become Barriers
WE HIDE & WE HURL
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70. Feeling Level Strategies
For Unresolved Conflict
1. Identify the hurts in both persons.
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71. Feeling Level Strategies
For Unresolved Conflict
2. Express concern for the other person’s
hurt. “I’m sorry you’ve been hurt, I want
you to know that I care about your
feelings.”
Sunday, July 6, 14

72. Feeling Level Strategies
For Unresolved Conflict
3. Take responsibility for your part in
causing the other person’s hurt by asking
forgiveness. “Will you forgive me for…”
Sunday, July 6, 14

73. Feeling Level Strategies
For Unresolved Conflict
4. Forgive the other person for what you
have been holding. “I forgive you for…
I don’t want this to be a barrier in our
relationship any longer.”
Sunday, July 6, 14

74. Feeling Level Strategies
For Unresolved Conflict
5. Manage your leftover feelings to the
glory of God.
a. Tell yourself the truth.
b. Do what is right. Act out love.
c. Share feelings with God.
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75. CONCLUDING REMARKS:
How is your tool belt?
75
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76. Stress Management:
“ I happen to believe that good
stress management is as much a
matter of spirituality as it is of
self-disciple...faith can play a
major role in determining how
chaotic our lives become.”
76
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77. FINAL ASSIGNMENT:
TAKEN FROM:
“Spiritual Antidotes for Stress”
ANXIETY CURE
by Dr. Archibald Hart
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78. Jesus: Model of Unhurriedness
“Having a spirit of unhurriedness
is the essential foundation for the
tranquillity we need to protect us
from the ravishes of anxiety.”
78
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79. Learning the practice of
unhurriedness:
Jesus modeled balanced priorities,
modeling calmness and
composure.
Matt. 11:28
79
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80. Healthy faith fosters
protection from stress.
Jesus’ life can teach us a lot about
spiritual antidotes for stress,
Mark 4:38
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81. CLOSING ASSIGNMENT:
Luke 10:38-42
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82. Strategies for
Stress Management
1. Monitor Your Stress Reactions
2. Identify Stressful Events
3. Apply Biblical Principles
4. Control What You Can
5. Keep a Realistic Schedule
6. Have an Exercise Program
7. Strong Devotional Life
8. Functioning Support Network
9. Healthy Conflict Management
10. Balance and Boundaries
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83. The Rest Road
83
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84. The “how-to” of making good
choices?
The Biblical concept of rest is
often presented as two choices.
84
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85. The stress way...
“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by
the roads, and look, and ask for
the eternal paths,
where the good, old way is,
and you will find rest for your
souls.
But they said, “We will not walk in
it.”
~Jeremiah 6:16 (AMP)
85
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86. How to “test” the path?
Step 1: Pray for wisdom/
discernment.
Step 2: Is this the best
stewardship of my time, money,
energy, etc..
Step 3: Fear of man/fear of God
test (Prov. 29:25).
Step 4: Is this an area I need to
draw a boundary?
86
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87. If you are still uncertain...
Brainstorm Activity: Use your table
mates and find out what they’ve
found to be helpful in this area.
87
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88. Acknowledgements:
Power Point: “Stress”, Adapted from (and used
with permission) by Lee Hotchkis
Books:
“Stress Mess” by Lee Hotchkiss
“Anxiety Cure” by Dr. Archibald Hart
“Boundaries” By Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John
Townsend 88
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