3 Steps to a Better Relationship with God and Others

Do you sometimes feel disconnected from others? Far from God?  Your Higher Power? If so, you're not the only one. We all struggle with these times of seeming isolation and loneliness, even the married folk among us. It is in these times that it is even more important to turn inward and listen to that still small voice. 

Sometimes God allows these dry periods so we can come into a more intimate relationship with Him. We may not know exactly how to go about it so today I'm sharing three steps to developing a closer relationship with God.

Personal Story 
I was at a good friend's wedding having dinner, when a gentleman at our table shared that he had read my book, "The Power of Faith". He said he wished he had the same type of faith to help him get through the trials in his life and asked me if I thought if it was possible for anyone to develop a strong faith.

"Absolutely", I replied without a moment's hesitation.

In fact, God promises us this: "You will seek and find me when you search for me with all your heart," (Jer. 29:13). Just as healthy earthly parents want a good relationship with their kids, so our heavenly Father wants a close relationship with us. In the same way, if we want an intimate close relationship with another person or with God, we must be intentional about it.

"Well, how do you do that?" my typically shy and reserved friend inquired.

Now I know many of us are stuck in this sensory, material world we live in. If we can't see, feel, hear, touch, or smell it, we don't believe it exists. God does exist only in another reality - the spiritual realm and, as spiritual beings, we have to get comfortable operating in this realm as well. The good news is the same steps we take when we are serious about getting to know someone are the same steps we can use in developing a relationship with God.

1. Have an open heart.
Just as when we begin to fall in love with another person and believe they want a relationship with us, the same applies to God. We have to believe in our heart that it is possible to have a deeper relationship with God, that He loves you deeply, and wants to have an intimate relationship with you. God wants to connect you, just as much as the spiritual part of you wants to connect with Him. Once we let this truth permeate our minds, we open the doors for an amazing adventure.

2. Spend more time together.
Getting to know God is much the same as getting to know another person. When we make it a priority to spend time with someone, we get to know them at a deeper level. We come to know who they are, their likes and dislikes, their values, how they think. We each have our own way of spending time with God. Some of us like to take a walk by ourselves, go for a hike or a bike ride in nature. Others prefer to listen to relaxing music or work in the garden. Still others find God in a communal approach such as a church setting or a meditation group. Whatever puts you in a calm and receptive state of mind is conducive to meeting with God.

3. Learn how God feels and thinks about things.

In the same way we get to know another person by learning how he or she thinks and feels, we can get to know who God is. He is not some illusive being out there yonder. He is up close and personal. He wants to make himself known to us, to speak to us, and guide each of us - personally. 

These days, when we want to find out information about someone, we do a Google search and look them up on the Internet. We can do the same thing with God, believe it or not. We go to a reliable source and seek information. In fact, God has put much information about himself, his thoughts, his desires, and his ways of operating in one collection of books known as the Bible. 

Now I know many people have a problem with the Bible, saying it's old and antiquated but the truth is not much has changed in the way of relationships and human nature since it was written. And for sure, God has not changed. At all. 

Side note. Did you know that the way experts determine the validity of a manuscript is by how many copies there are of it? Did you know that the Bible is one of, if not the most copied manuscript in history?

When we make time to read Scripture, we learn who God is, what He thinks, and what is important to him. We also open up the channel of communication with Him to speak to us. You will be amazed when you start reading the Word, how some passage will jump right out at you and you will know that it is meant for you. Try it and see!

"One more thing," I said to my friend. "Ask God to reveal Himself to you, and He will." My friend smiled and nodded.

For Reflection

Do you - like Jacob in the Bible - struggle to find God? Do you desire to have a better communion with your Higher Power? Are you willing to put time into your relationship with others? the Divine? 

So there you have it, friends: three steps to developing a deeper relationship with God. Do post a comment, and feel free to share this with a friend or send me a question. If you'd like to join our blog community and receive my weekly newsletter, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll also receive my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". And be sure to pop on over to my Pinterest boards and check out all the cool stuff I have collected for you. And do check out my collection of books on faith and spiritual growth here. 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you ignite the power within so you can discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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How to Know When God is Speaking to You

If you're a parent, you know how frustrating it is when your kids don't listen, right? You keep repeating yourself and it seems no one is paying any attention. I think that is how God feels about me sometimes when I run from one thing to another and don't bother to tune in to that still small voice, or worse yet, ignore it. 

God is still speaking to us today. 

So we know that God spoke to people back in the days of the Bible. But God still speaks to his children today. He wants to be in relationship with you and me and what does a good relationship require? Communication. Regular. A relationship can only grow based on the amount of regular and healthy communication. 

God speaks to Each of us Uniquely. 

As I recently explained to my youngest son, God speaks to each of us uniquely. He speaks in ways only we will understand. It doesn't matter whether someone else understands, what matters is that you know when God is speaking to you PERSONALLY .

Personal Story 
This happened a few years ago but first, a little background. Over the years, being a pretty decent dancer myself, I have dated several men who were also good dancers but none of them turned out to be marriage material.

So there was this one guy I had been dancing with on Friday nights who is a really good dancer. I felt like I was in heaven when we danced together. One Friday night, we danced to a particular song and those few minutes were exceptionally memorable.

That weekend, the same song played on the radio, and I started dancing around my condo like Liza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady". All of the sudden, the building smoke alarm system goes off chirp chirp chirping and snapped me right out of my reverie. It was quite the rude awakening, you might say.

I knew what it meant immediately. "Stop thinking about that guy. You know where it will lead if you go down that path again. Danger, danger." The message was LOUD and CLEAR. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed, but I knew that the message was to protect me from making the same mistake again. Where our thoughts go, eventually, we go. 

Now you might laugh it off and say it was just a coincidence, but I know when God speaks to me. And there are no coincidences with Him. If you could have been there and heard that alarm go off while dreamy thoughts danced in your head, it would have scared you smack into obedience too.

Slow Down and Make Time  

A relationship with God is quite similar to any human relationship. A good one requires slowing down and making time to talk to one another and to listen to the other person. Think of Jesus as your invisible friend. 

The problem is many of us are in way too much of a hurry to slow down and listen for God's voice. We are so preoccupied with our plans and our agendas, we care little for what God's plans and agendas for us may be. I have learned that God's plans are MUCH BETTER than my plans. 

God is still speaking to you, too. The best way I can describe it is a strong sense or prompting in your inner spirit. It is easy to dismiss and disregard, but God is trying to guide you and protect you. Start paying attention to that "still small voice". It's almost like a faint whisper sometimes. It's a sensing of someone speaking inaudibly. Practice slowing down and really listening and you will soon recognize how God is speaking to you. 

For Reflection 
Ever have something like this happen to you? What was the message? Did you listen or ignore it and what happened then? God is still speaking to us today and He will use any method to get our attention, even smoke alarms. The question is will we listen and obey, or will we not.

If you'd like to read more about how to hear from God, get a copy of my first book, "The Power of Faith" and read about all the ways God speaks. 

If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment and do share it with your friends. And pop on over to Pinterest to check out all the goodies I have collected there for you. https://www.pinterest.com/arielpaz/

Stay tuned for more on how to hear from God and 

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

3 Ways to Empower Your Life

Transformation. We've been talking about walking in faith for a few weeks now. What do you want to transform your life? Your relationships? Your future? Your body? This week I'm sharing a powerful technique you can implement today to help you walk in faith and see your life transformed. I'm talking about the power of your WORDS. 

Words are powerful. We know that. They can lift us up or tear us down. They can motivate and push us forward in life. We must be selective - say "Selective" - in the words and thoughts we use to ourselves and to others. I trust that my words encourage and inspire you. So today we'll be taking a look at 3 ways our words can empower us and give us focus so that we can walk in instead of fear . 

                          

1. Combat negativity and doubt
There is so much negativity that comes at us in this world. Negative relatives. Negative news. Negative thoughts. It's a battle - for sure - to stay positive. It is especially important to think on positive thoughts when we are going thru a tough time. When we lose a job. When we get sick. When a loved one leaves. This is when our spiritual practice - our Faith - pays off because life isn't always a bed of roses. 

Thoughts will always come. Who knows where they come from but it is our WORDS that are make the difference. This is why it is so important to speak out words of faith and hope and encouragement. This is what faith is all about - speaking out what we do not see. "I will be healed", "I will be successful". "I will get through this." "I will rejoice and be glad." "Today is a gift." These thoughts will guide our thoughts and our steps forward. 

2. Have a Vision
We must have a vision for our lives. Someone once said "If you don't know where you're going, any path will take you there." We must be intentional in our choices. We don't have to have it all planned out but we do need a vision. 

I want a family. I want to be healed. I want to earn a good income. I want to serve others. The Words says that "He will give you the desires of your heart." What is the desire of your heart, dear one? Are you focused on your past or on your future? I believe each day is a gift from God to fulfill the plan he has for us for good and not for evil. Ask yourself "Who can I be a blessing to today?" God will bless us when we take the focus off of ourselves and bless others. 

3. Be Intentional

We must be intentional with our words. Yes, it takes effort, but if we want to move forward and see our family move forward we have to be intentional in building each other up. I used to tell my son "You can be anything you want to be. You can be the President of the United States if you want to." I was trying to give him a vision for his life, to inspire and encourage him since his dad was never around to do so. 

As we age, it is even more important to have goals and a vision. Some call it purpose. I call it destiny. I don't want to look back on my life and ask did my life really matter? Sure, I was successful. I raised two sons as a single parent. I got a masters degree while going thru a separation and divorce. I endured a stressful career for 33 yrs. I overcame numerous health issues by the grace of God, but writing these blogs posts to encourage others and share what I have learned about the power of Faith is what is really important to me today. My spiritual gift is the gift of Faith which is the foundation of my life. This blog is part of my legacy.

Someone once told me "If you encourage one person, you will have done your job." My goal is to inspire you to develop the power of Faith in YOUR OWN life because life is tough and we need supernatural power to overcome life's challenges.  

For Reflection

What words are you speaking to and about yourself? Others? Are they positive and faith-filled? This week try and catch what you are saying about yourself and maybe, put a positive spin on it. You are rewiring your brain at the same time which is good news. 

If you enjoyed this post, consider joining our community by entering your email in the box above. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". Check out my offerings on Pinterest and my newest book on spiritual growth, "Ignite the Power Within: 10 Steps to Supercharge Your Spiritual Growth",  available at your favorite online bookstore and thru my website. Simply email me at arielpaz08@gmail.com and I'll get it right out to you!

Stay tuned for part two on this topic next week to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep smiling and keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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How to Receive Guidance from God

Decisions, decisions. We make a lot of decisions both big and small on a daily basis. Do you have trouble making decisions? Does making them stress you out? Would you like to have more faith in your decisions? If so, this post is for you. 

As a single mom and single lady, I've had a lot of big decisions to make; from dealing with rebellious teenagers to selling the family home, to buying a new condo, to whether to leave my job, to where to relocate my elderly mom who lived out of state. There are also decisions of less importance like where to go on vacation and who to date. What decision is facing you today? 

Why We Have it Backwards
People seek guidance in different ways, and all of them have their place - to a point, but the first place we should go to is the Word of God. Sadly, the reverse is often true. We go to other people or our feelings first, and then when things don't work out we go to God. Maybe. 

Folks, human beings still struggle with the choices of life and the principles of God are there to guide and direct us because - as we know- making the right choice can be difficult. There is a better way. 

                                              

1. Get really quiet.
I mean for an extended period of time. No, you don't have to go to an ashram or become a monk. You can find stillness in your own home, in nature, in prayer and meditation. We have to quiet our minds and clear the mental muddle if we want to tune in to that still small voice. I like to do this in the early morning or while I am journaling. Journaling helps get my thoughts and feelings off my mind and onto paper. It is one of the 10 skills to help us grow spiritually. 

2. Say a little prayer.

This simple step can have a major impact on your decisions and the outcome. Ask God to direct your steps. After all, He promises to give wisdom to those who ask and who are not double-minded (James 1:5).

3. Open the word of God.
Now if you are not a regular bible-reader, sometimes you can just flip it open and start reading. The Lord will often give you the answer. However, it is better if you are somewhat familiar with the Bible so you can know where to look. I ask myself the question "Who in the Bible had a similar situation to deal with?" Another option is to go to the book of Proverbs where there is a ton of practical wisdom that applies to daily life. 

4. Seek wise counsel

This means discuss the decision with people who have good heads on their shoulders, people you respect, preferably Christians. Your immediate family members might be helpful. Or a close-friend. We are exhorted to seek wise counsel (Prov 15:22) from multiple sources.

5. Wait for peace
Do not - under any circumstances - make a decision you are still conflicted about. This is the worst thing you can do because you are not at peace about it. Sadly, I went ahead and walked down the aisle when I did not have a peace about the decision. I guilted myself into it but you can read about it in my book, "The Power of Faith". 

6. Do not ask for a sign.
Sorry folks, and yes, I know there are instances in the Bibles where people asked for signs, but we have to listen to what Jesus said. Matthew 12:39 calls the people who begged for signs "an evil and adulterous generation". For more on asking for signs, see this article "Is it right to ask God for a sign?"

7. Ask if it is God's will 
Now this is the tough part. It is hard to put aside our own feelings and desires, but if we want God's best it is crucial to do so. Our flesh wants to lead us into what will satisfy it, temporarily. We have to have the big picture and think long-term. Will I be happy with this choice 5 - 10 years down the road?

Personal Story
Years ago, in my early dating life, I thought I was in love with this guy. He was Jewish and that was the first obstacle. But God ordained to have him meet with a messianic rabbi, and a former accountant, same as my friend, to explain to him about Christ. Well, we were close to getting engaged, but then when I met his father, who also had the same critical, sarcastic traits I asked myself "You are looking at your future. Is this the kind of person you want to live with for the rest of your life?" The answer was no. 

8. Wait for God's Best 
God has three answers to our requests: yes, no, and not now. We want things on our own terms and our own time-table. We want it NOW. The problem is this -God's time frame is usually not the same as ours. If we rush ahead with our plans before the time is right, things won't work out. I could tell you a story about that too, but not today. 

The yes answer usually comes on very strong. You can sense it in your spirit. Things just fall into place. You have a sense of peace. You ask, seek, and knock and the door opens. 

The no answer feels like a knot in your stomach. Something just doesn't feel right. You don't have peace about it. This is especially important when it comes to relationships. 

Another personal story. 
I dated this one guy who checked all the boxes. Christian - check. Attends church - check. Good job - check. Sense of humor - check. But something didn't feel right. There was a lot of arguing over stupid stuff. I couldn't put my finger on it, even when he wanted to put at $36k ring on it. Then one Christmas, it all became crystal clear. He wasn't the person he was pretending to be. I broke it off before the New Year because once I am clear, I take prompt action. 

The wait answer is harder to accept, because we want things NOW. Things don't fall into place. There are setbacks and delays, but you still sense in your spirit that the answer is not no. So keep being obedient. Keep doing the right thing until the path opens. It can take years but it is important to keep being obedient even when we don't see our prayers answered.

For Reflection
What decision do you need to make right now? What are you feeling in your spirit? Are you feeling a check or a green light so to speak ? These steps will guide you into making the right decision. 

For more on how to develop this skill and 9 other skills for spiritual growth, order your copy of my newest book, Ignite the Power Within: 10 steps to supercharge your spiritual growth".

Stay tuned and until next time, 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

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How to Incorporate Prayer in Your Daily Life

When life throws you an unexpected curve ball who is the first person you turn to? Your spouse? Your best friend? Your mother? What about those times when you don't know who to turn to? Who will understand? Who will comfort you? This is when I suggest the first person you talk to is God. As in any human relationship, the first step to getting to know someone is to talk to them, and it is the same with getting to know God. Prayer is one way to communicate with God. 

Many people minimize the power of prayer, sadly. They talk to everybody else, and talk to God last, if at all. This is backwards. Man's wisdom will never equal the wisdom of God. When you need guidance, direction, healing - turn to God first, then turn to your friends. 

Super in Your Natural
There is supernatural power in prayer, especially if you combine it with scripture. Woah! That is a double whammy of power. James 5:16 says this about prayer: "The fervent prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." In other words, we need to put energy into our prayers. Prayer moves the hand of God. 

                                     

Personal Story
I have seen many miracles in my life thanks to the power of prayer and God's great grace. I have been redeemed from anxieties, afflictions, addictions, health issues, financial bondage and much more. I encourage you to read my inspiring true story, "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony."  In it, I share a different perspective on how to view the inevitable trials and tribulations of life that are sure to come our way some time our another.

I also share the faith lessons I learned that will help you strengthen your spiritual muscle as well. Happy to say that it is now available in audio format here. Please leave a review wherever you found the book. 

Benefits of Prayer 
Prayer helps us to relax and find peace. It strengthens us knowing there is a divine power that cares about us and we are not left to our own devices. Some situations we cannot handle on our own. This is when we need to ask for God's help. Prayer also helps us to connect and feel closer to God. 

Often we think God is some distant being way out yonder, but really he is right beside us, all the time and his name is Jesus. Prayer activates the hand of God. Just like a loving father when his children cry out, God hears the cries of his children and he commands his angels to get to work. One of my favorite verses is this promise: "God hears the cries of his people and he answers them. He rescues them from ALL their troubles." (Ps. 34:17). Notice the inclusion of the word "all". That doesn't leave anything out. God is here for you and me whatever we are going through. 

Prayer Shifts Our Focus
In times of trouble, we tend to dwell on the situation. We ruminate. We overthink. We let the problem or situation consume us and steal our peace. Prayer helps us with all of that by shifting our focus from the problem to the All-Mighty God who sees and controls everything.

This is why is it so important to know who God is. One of God's attributes is omnipotent. You know what that means? He has ALL power. Nothing can stop him from working on our behalf. Nothing. 

Prayer shifts the burden from our shoulders to God's shoulders which are much more capable of holding them. You know that song "He's got the whole world in his hands." 

For Reflection 
What situation would you like to give to God today? Is it a health concern? A relationship situation? A finances thing? Whatever it is, I encourage you to take it to Jesus today. Right now even. I'll help you get started:

"Lord, Jesus. I lift up to you (insert your situation or person_______.) Please heal, help, comfort, guide me/them in this time of need. Lord, you hear my prayer and I trust you to answer in your perfect timing. Jesus, I ask for your peace and presence as I go thru this storm. I thank you in advance for everything you are going to do and I pray this all in the mighty name of Jesus." 

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with a friend. This world needs a spiritual practice more each passing day. 

If you enjoyed this post, do consider joining our community of growth-oriented folks. Simply enter your email address in the box provided on the right and you'll receive my weekly newsletter. You'll also receive my free ebook "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" to help you along your spiritual growth journey. 

In the meantime, check out my other offerings on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple, Google Play.  Pop on over to Pinterest and enjoy the collection I have curated for you. 

Until next time, thanks for reading, and

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 
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How to Recognize When God is Speaking to You

What do you do when you are faced with a challenging situation that is out of your control? Do you pick up the phone and call your friends? Run to your spouse if you have one? Do you fret, worry and talk about it every day? These are typical reactions to stressful situations, but there is a better way to manage them. Today I'm going to share a personal story about the power of prayer.

True Story 
The weather channel was predicting thunderstorms, heavy rain, and high winds for the next day when I had an important appointment to go to that was over an hour away. I don't like to drive in inclement weather and I would be driving smack in the middle of rush hour traffic. I debated about cancelling and rescheduling but was advised to keep the appointment which was somewhat of a legal nature. After much back and forth, I decided to keep the appointment and trust God to get me there and back safely. I have learned there is power in prayer so I sent one up that went something like this:

Lord, you know I don't like to drive when the weather is bad. Please don't let it rain on my drive to this appointment. Please keep me safe and help me get home safely. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

A short while later, I was on Twitter, (now X) which as you may know is a social media network. People post all kinds of photos, quotes, and links to articles. The feed is so fast and so populated, you only see a portion of what is actually posted. Lo and behold, a tweet comes across that said.

"He will give his angels charge over you and protect you wherever you go" (Ps 91:11).

I sat there stunned. I sensed God was talking directly to me through Twitter, of all things. A wave of peace and assurance immediately came over me. I knew God was giving me confirmation of His protection. Wow, God is on social media!

The next morning, my alarm went off way too early at 6:30 am. It was dark and I listened for the sound of thunderstorms but heard nothing outside my window. As I exited the covered garage, I was prepared for the windshield wipers to go on. Nothing. It was cloudy, but no rain. Another whispered "Thank, you, Lord" and drove onto the highway.

Then the rain started.
"Uh oh," I thought. Again, I asked God to not let it rain. Persistence is one of my character traits.

Although it took me almost 2 hours to get to my destination, the rain kept to a light sprinkle the entire time. No heavy winds. No thunderstorms. On the way home, again, light sprinkles only. I arrived in my neighborhood in good time and decided to treat myself to lunch at a Mexican restaurant I had been wanting to try. When I came out of the restaurant, it was pouring down rain. I had no umbrella with me yet I was ecstatic.

"Thank you, Lord, for holding off the rain for me this morning," as I ran to my car.

That evening, the weather guy on the evening news commented on how the weather pattern expected in the early morning hours had been delayed until the later afternoon.

All I can say is how thankful I was that it didn't thunderstorm. I believe God heard my prayers and answered them. There probably were a lot of other people who were thankful the weather held off too. Now you can say whatever you want, but I believe in the power of prayer. There are so many other stories I could share with you. If you would like to read them, check out my book "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony."

For Reflection
Do you make use of the power of prayer? When have you seen it work in your life? Drop me a note and share with us. People need to know that God hears our prayers.

If you'd like a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path, enter your email address in the box provided.

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Tragedy and loss are a part of life. More and more frequently these days which is so very sad. Hearing about the assassination of Charlie Kirk - a 31-year old father of two and a God-honoring conservative speaker - yesterday, shook me to the core so I am sharing some thoughts today to help us all process these horrific events.

In the wake of yet another senseless killing, it is important we each do our part to help each other grapple with death, injustice, and tragedy.

These events happen again and again. Another shooting. Another mass murder.  Attacks on theatres, schools, churches, college campuses and entertainment venues. Innocent people lose their lives. Families devastated. Futures that will never be realized. It is heart-breaking. 

Where was God in all this? 
For many, these are times to question God.

Well, the answer is we have taken God out of society, out of schools, out of the US currency. Many people have lost any sense of justice and regard for human life and they have succumbed to their animal instincts. 

Why did this happen again? Doesn't anyone care? Some answers we won't know this side of Heaven, but we do know this. God does care and He does see. Psalm 56:8 says this: "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." This verse is somewhat comforting to me in times of sorrow.

Yet, what to do in the aftermath? How to move on? Having been through many losses myself, I can share some insight that perhaps will help soothe the pain and lend some sort of healing balm to the hurting heart.

1. Take time to grieve and process. 
Grief is a deep and difficult emotion. I think it may be one of the most difficult to process. Get support. A counselor or a support group will understand and help you through this time. Be gentle with yourself. Don't medicate, ignore, or repress your feelings. Don't act out. We need to move through the pain so it will move through and out of us in due time. Give yourself permission to cry. Crying is healing.

2. Cherish the memories. 

We can't bring the person back, but we can keep them alive in our minds. When something tragic happens, we gain a new perspective of life. We don't take things or people for granted any more. We cherish the times together with our loved ones. We become more empathic, more patient with loved ones. No one really knows how long we have on this earth. Each day is a precious gift, but all too often we take for granted the time we have been graciously given. Slow down. Smell the roses. Reprioritize.

3. Don't waste the pain.
There is always a message or a lesson in the tragic and painful circumstances of life. Yes, events may appear random, but if we take the time to investigate, we may see a pattern. Patterns lead to the awareness of a problem. Awareness leads to solutions. As Obama once stated, these shootings have become routine. Routine! Ask the victims families about routine! But he is right. No one is taking action. No one is asking the tough questions like: Where has the respect for the sanctity of life gone? Why is there no limit to the number of guns in any one household? Why do we keep electing officials who allow these senseless killings to continue? Is the police force really keeping people safe? Do we really have freedom of speech? 

4. Remember there is evil in the world. 

How anyone can deny the duality of good and evil in light of terror and tragedy is beyond me. People do evil things. It can't always be blamed or excused by mental illness. People are responsible for their actions and their choices. Where was the dad or the mom who allowed the purchase of these weapons into the household? What emotional wound has gone unaddressed and unhealed? What were the warning signs that were ignored? Evil is a part of life on this earth.

5. Keep your faith in God. 

We don't always understand why bad things happen, but as Job once said "Shall we only receive good things from the hand of God?" (Job 2:10) Trust that He will get you through this pain. You will heal in time and you will see your loved one again in Heaven someday. There will be no more pain and no more tears then. Know that God does care and He cries with you. His heart breaks when ours does. He, too, lost a child so he knows how we feel. I sometimes think He must be shaking his head, asking "When will they do something?"

The question is when will WE do something? Will we examine our own prejudices and animosities? We will vote for stricter laws and punishments that fit the crimes? Will we put God back into our culture? Will we feel the pain these families feel instead of turning our backs? Next time you go out to vote, will you make gun laws and mental health issues a major factor in your decision? Will you demand justice for all? 

For Reflection 
If anything, I hope this post has made you pause and think. Your family may not have been affected, but it could have been. Will you step up to the plate and be a voice for those who have already lost loved ones? Will you speak up when you see someone acting strange or suspicious? We are the eyes and ears of safety in this world. 

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Stay tuned for more practical and positive wisdom to help us all find healing, wholeness, and harmony so you can ignite the power within and discover your destiny!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 
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