Walk In Peace

Gò0dNews on Peace

Walk In Peace

by Linda Ray Center

“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace” (Psalm 29:11).

Do we ever stop longing for peace in our world, our choices, or in our relationships? The Lord’s peace is a supernatural peace that settles the war in our minds. It’s a road sign for our hearts. Additionally, peace allows us to travel down life’s highway and not worry about a deadly crash or getting lost. God is in control, making sure we journey onward.

Embracing the love of Christ helps us to walk forward in our relationships with Him and others. I know firsthand how Jesus exchanged my heartache over losing my husband for peace that only He could deliver. Peace of mind is something we have to pursue daily. A relationship with the Prince of Peace, Jesus, allows us to walk in peace.

When a financial opportunity arises, I base my decision on having a peaceful answer. It’s called supernatural peace. Back in my 20s, I made financial decisions without praying. Therefore, I felt unsure. Something seemed wrong, but I pursued it anyway. For example, I was determined to buy a condo before I sold my house. I didn’t have peace signing the contract but thought I could sell my existing home before the deadline. After 30 days, I argued, pretended to cry, and danced a jig to get my earnest money back, but unfortunately, I lost the retainer fee.

I’ve grown a wee bit wiser over the years. The key to having daily peace is to seek Jesus like the wise men. No matter what comes our way, if we seek Him, we can walk in peace.

Praise God for the birth of Christ who gives us supernatural peace that is not dependent on our strength or the situations around us.

About The Author Linda Ray Center is a blogger, motivational speaker, and a relationship builder. Linda and her husband reside in the Deep South. www.lindaraycenter.com.

Doctor On Call: Questions About Breastfeeding

by Laura Asbury

How does your dual role as a pediatrician and lactation consultant help moms with breastfeeding?

One of the biggest stresses for new moms is breastfeeding. Even though it’s completely natural, it’s not always easy. I’ve seen many tearful moms in my office who were experiencing a painful latch, concerned about their milk supply, or worried about other breastfeeding problems. As a pediatrician who is certified in lactation counseling, I can provide some much-needed support for these moms, and it’s a great way to help my little patients get off to a healthy start.

What are some advantages for babies who breastfeed?

The advantages of breastfeeding for babies go far beyond filling up a hungry belly. Breast milk is the best food for babies during the first year of life (with the addition of baby foods after six months). In addition to the perfect balance of nutrients to help a baby grow, breast milk helps reduce illnesses like ear infections, pneumonia, and diarrhea, as well as lowering the impact of respiratory illnesses.

Breastfeeding helps decrease the incidence of asthma and eczema. The rates of obesity and type 1 diabetes are much lower in breastfed infants as compared to formula-fed infants, and breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and childhood leukemia.

How can mothers benefit from breastfeeding?

There are several maternal benefits of breastfeeding, and lactation plays an important role in a woman’s longterm health. Breastfeeding can help lower the lifetime risks of metabolic disease often associated with insulin resistance and high cholesterol brought on during pregnancy.

It can also reduce maternal obesity and lower the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease (including heart attacks). Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes after developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce a mother’s risk for endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancers. Long-term studies have shown that the longer a woman breastfeeds, the more she can reduce her breast cancer risk, particularly in the most aggressive forms of the disease.

What kind of support do you give breastfeeding moms?

I encourage my patients often because they need to hear the effort they’re making for their own health and the longterm health of their baby is the first step in helping them be successful in this endeavor.

I tell my patients that breastfeeding is a labor of love because it’s not always an easy, painless journey. Infants often need to be fed every 1-3 hours for the first few weeks of life. This can create mental and physical exhaustion for the mom on top of the fluctuating hormones that occur after delivery.

I can offer successful strategies for breastfeeding, address factors that have a negative impact on the motherbaby bond, and support them through difficult seasons which make lifelong impacts for both mom and baby.

About The Author

Laura Asbury, MD, CLC, is a pediatrician with Beacon’s Children’s Diagnostic Center who has more than 15 years’ experience caring for children and has recently become a certified lactation counselor to give new moms and babies added support in their breastfeeding journey. She earned her medical degree from the University of Tennessee School of Medicine and completed her residency at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga.