The True Gifts of Advent: What is True Love?

Think back for a moment on the greatest gift you have ever received. How did it feel when you saw it? Did it make you want to jump for joy? Did you feel like someone loved you a whole lot?

Yes, that's how a great gift makes you feel - like you want to share it with the world. That's how the shepherds and the wise men must have felt when they saw the angels light up the sky announcing the birth of the baby Jesus that silent night so long ago. 

Just imagine

the manger scene and the announcement of the birth of the Messiah.

See the awe of the shepherds as they watched the angels singing in the skies proclaiming the good news. Feel the anticipation of the wise men who traveled such a great distance to bring their gifts to honor a newborn child they weren’t sure they would even find. Sense the joy and wonder Mary and Joseph felt as they watched in amazement as the angelic and kingly visitors encamped around them.

Something truly miraculous was happening.  The people of Israel had not heard from God for over 400 years and then the news of Jesus burst upon the scene and the destiny of mankind was forever changed. Hope was born anew. Love made it's grandest appearance ever.

As we celebrate the fourth week of Advent, we focus on the gift of Love because God showed us how much he truly loves us by sending his one and only Son to earth so many years ago. There is no greater gift than that but often we confuse what love really means and what it looks like. 

What True Love Looks Like

If we want to know what true love looks like, all we have to do is look at Jesus. True love shows itself by actions, not merely words and certainly not on just feelings. It is in giving of ourselves to one another that we show love. Jesus showed love to the poor, the ill, the lonely, the outcast. He made them feel loved by his actions and his words. We can do the same. A smile, a phone call, a thoughtful gift, a word of encouragement, a hot meal. There are a million ways to show love right in our own backyard.

The greatest expression of love we could ever be given is God's gift to us - His one and only Son, Jesus, the Christ. True love requires stepping out of our comfort zone and our self-centered focus and sacrificing for someone else's good and growth. It means overlooking mistakes and forgiving. It means seeing past each other's flaws, and accepting ourselves and each other as children of God. 

This is what Jesus did when he came down from Heaven to become a mortal here on this earth. He left the comfort and grandeur of Heaven to be born in a manger with no roof over his head. Then, he sacrificed his life on a cross so that we might gain access to God and have eternal life. As the shepherds and the wise men stopped what they were doing to behold the miracle before them, so too, let us pause and reflect on the miracle of Christ's birth and what it means to us today.

The True Gifts of Christmas 
The gifts Jesus brought us don't get old and tossed away like used toys.  They are life-giving and eternal. We all know words are powerful, but there is power like none other in Jesus's words. When we are feeling lonely, Jesus promises he will never leave us nor forsake us. If we are hurting, he heals our wounds and our hearts. When we are afraid of what the future holds, we can rest in the knowledge that He has a future so much brighter than anything we could imagine, if only we believe. 

For Reflection:

Who can you show love to today? Who is hurting, lonely, or perhaps joyless this season? Who needs to be forgiven? Loved? Cared for? Will you be Jesus to someone this Christmas? When we do unto the least of these we do unto God (Matt 25:40). Will you believe in Jesus this magical time of year?

This Christmas season may the wonder of the love of God fill you to overflow.  May you understand how high, how wide, how long and how deep is the love of God for you (Eph 3:18) and may you share that love with those around you who need it most.

Until next time, 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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." 

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Until next time, thanks for reading, and

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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