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 Have More Peace in a Troubled World

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

Yes, that is how a great gift makes you feel - like your heart is bursting with joy. Like you want to share it with the whole wide world. That is how I feel and why I write this blog about faith. We all have gifts and talents to share with one another and mine is the gift of Faith: to help others see the light of the world and to believe.

Come with me a moment to that silent night so very long ago when Christ came into the world.

Picture the manger scene. Draw near to the virgin mother, Mary, holding her precious new-born baby. Sense the joy that she must have felt. Enjoy the awe and wonder Joseph must have felt as he watched the shepherds, angels, and wise men come to pay homage to their son. Hear the angels singing and announcing the birth of the Messiah and proclaiming "Joy to the World". Imagine the amazement of the shepherds as they watched the scene before them. Feel the anticipation of the wise men who traveled such a great distance to honor and bring gifts to the Christ-child.

Jesus -the greatest gift of all 

He wasn't just a prophet and a teacher, nor was he just a man. He was and is God incarnate - God put on flesh to come down to earth so we could know, see and touch Him. Let's look back at history a minute to see why God sent Jesus to this earth.

First, we have to understand two things:
1) how holy God is and
2) how much he yearns to have a relationship with us.

How sin gets in the way

So God gave us the Ten Commandments to help us to live holy lives but that didn't work.  How many of us have told a lie?  Stolen something? Been jealous or envious? Lost our temper? Every sin is equal in the eyes of God and the wages of sin is death. This is why in the Old Testament they used to sacrifice animals - to cleanse the people from their sins. But that didn't work either.

Finally God decided He had to make a trip to earth in human form and so Jesus was born, a baby in a manger in the tiny town of Bethlehem. God  knew what that would mean - sacrifice, suffering, and ultimately death on a cross. How many of us would send our children on such a mission? This is why Jesus is the greatest gift of all time. 

Who is this God?
Many in this world are confused about "God". God is just one name for the all powerful, creative, loving, energy that created and controls the Universe. That's my best explanation in those terms, but if you truly want to know who God is, look at Jesus. Listen to what he says and watch what He does. Jesus came to earth to show us who God is and to teach and empower us to live holier lives. Jesus was and is the one and only Son of God who came to earth to set us free both spiritually and emotionally. He came to heal the broken-hearted and set the captives free.

Are you a captive?

Who among us is not in bondage to something? To the pursuit of wealth and material pleasures? To self-gratification? To new stuff? To relationships? How about the bondage of our thoughts, our addictions, or our desires? Jesus came to set us free from all of these. "He came to set the captives free." (Luke 4:18). What do you need to be set free from, friend?

Jesus is Peace

This Christmas, let us receive Christ once again and be vessels of peace. Let go of whatever happened this past year - good or bad. Live in the present moment. Make time to be quiet, to reflect, to just be. Put a smile on the face of a child. Bring comfort to those who grieve, healing to  the wounded, and friendship to the lonely. Forgive those who have hurt us. Be filled with hope and joy and wonder. Let us be Jesus to someone this season.

Now I don't claim to have all the answers but this I do know. We can all learn from Jesus. These are desperate times we live in and the only hope we have is God.  If the world would act like Jesus, love like Jesus, and forgive like Jesus, wouldn't it be a more loving and peaceful place, I ask you?

For Reflection
At this most special time of year, may I ask you to consider this question? Who is Jesus and what does he mean to you? Is he just some historical figure or sage prophet? Or is He indeed the Light of the world, the Messiah, and the only hope of true peace?

Here is his promise to each of us. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

Until next time, may the joy and peace of the season dwell richly in you and may you be a light to the world.

Blessings and joy,

Ariel Paz 

7 Tips to Keep You Jolly This Season

How is your Advent going this year? Are you feeling less than joyful? Too many demands and not enough of you to go round? I think most of us feel this way at year end with so many tasks to attend to, deadlines, ya da ya da. In this week's post I'm sharing some tips on how to keep our joy despite the frenzy of activity going on. 

At this time of year, it is easy to get overly committed, overly tired, and overly stressed but we don't have to allow these things to get to us. So today, I am offering some tips on how to maintain our joy during this hectic December season.  

Choose Your Focus 

So many things to distract us - from healthcare decisions, to financial decisions, to gift-giving decisions. Like Santa's, our list seems endless. The key is FOCUS.

To reset my focus, I use the Advent wreath. As we get closer to Christmas, I light the pink candle. Besides being one of my favorite colors, pink signifies joy and unconditional love. I have a rose quartz pendant I often wear to remind me I am loved unconditionally, even when I sometimes don't feel it so this week I am sharing my tips on how to maintain joy when it seems circumstances are conspiring to steal it from us. 

Despite our circumstances, it is possible to maintain our joy, because joy is both a gift and a choice.

Be Conscious
Whatever comes up in a day, we have to ask ourselves "Is this worth losing my joy over?" The answer is always NO. Joy is what makes us feel alive, energetic, and productive. Without joy, we are like robots, going about our daily business on auto-pilot. We are not motivated to pursue our destinies or our dreams. Think of Ebenezer Scrooge. Now there was a man with no joy. Until he found Christmas.  You can tell if someone has joy just by looking at their face and who wants to live like that?

So here are some tips and reminders to help us all keep our joy this season.

1. Take care of your health. 
Nothing stinks like getting sick, especially around the holidays, so take extra precautions this time of year. Get enough sleep. Drink enough water. Wash your hands. Put on a humidifier to moisten the dry air and keep headaches and coughs at bay. Watch the sugar intake as sugar weakens our immune system making us more susceptible to winter colds and other viruses. 

2. Cut back on activities. 
There are enough extra things to do this time of year: decorating, cooking, baking, shopping, home maintenance and cleaning that are enough to overload anyone. I say NO to anything not Christmas-related. It can all wait till the new year. I say NO to extra commitments as I know what I need to do and I also know stuff always takes more time - and ENERGY - than I anticipate - waiting in lines, going back to the grocery store, finding that special gift, mailing gifts, writing Christmas cards. The list is endless so trim, trim, trim and I don't mean the tree. 

3. Take the pressure off. 
This is a new one for me. I have a habit of pushing myself to get it all done. Well, guess what goes out the window when we pressure ourselves? That's right - JOY! So these days, whenever I start feeling pressured, I stop and ask myself "What can I eliminate right now?" Just taking one thing off our to-do list can make an immediate difference and release the pressure valve. 

4. Lighten up.
Put on something funny to make you and others laugh. I was in the parking lot at Kohl's the other day and this Hindu woman was smiling at me. I wondered why she was beaming at me and then I remembered the Christmas gift box earrings I was wearing. A simple thing like playful earrings can make someone smile. I have also been known to wear antlers and a Rudolph nose in public this time of the year, much to the chagrin of my two sons. Do something light-hearted to feel more child-like and bring joy to others.  

5. Ask yourself what is really important.
It's easy to get stressed about over-cooked cookies, or putting on a few pounds, or the Christmas lights not working. When we snap at little things, there is usually something else going on below the surface. Make time to figure out what is really bothering you. In the big scheme of things though, how important are they? Are they worth losing your peace and joy over? We have to make a deliberate conscious choice to stay joyful and not sweat the little things. If we're not careful, we'll be snapping at loved ones and then feeling guilty later. Keep a pulse on your stress level at all times.  

6. Remember God is still with you. 
As I gaze upon the soft glow of the pink candle, I am reminded that no matter what is going on around me or in me physically, God is still with me. Emmanuel means "God with us".  No matter what has happened, God still loves you and me. He promises never to leave us or forsake us. No matter what is in upheaval or crisis, Jesus brings us peace. I'm learning to hand more things over to Him and give myself the gift of more peace. 

One of my favorite Scriptures verses says this: "Be still and know that I am God". (Ps. 46:10). He will take care of everything that concerns me in His perfect timing and I can trust that things will all work out for my good. Now that is something to be joyful about!

7. Be a blessing. 
Instead of focusing on our problems, what is missing in our lives, and all the ills of society, my suggestion is to do something good. Yup! Be a blessing. I make bags of cookies or biscotti and give them to neighbors and friends. I buy Christmas presents for children whose parents can't. A christmas card is another easy thing to do to bring a smile to someone's face. One year I did an email card with a photo I took of the Cathedral of Chartres I took when I visited France reminding me of the grace and mercy of God. 

When we put our attention on being a blessing, we don't have time for self-pity.  Many people have it so much worse than we do. Remember it is better to give than to receive. Give more and watch your joy meter rise! 

For Reflection
If you are struggling with the busyness and stress of this season, and feel less than joyful, take a few moments to light a candle of your own. Breathe, relax, and let the tension drain from your mind and body. Perhaps read your favorite sacred text or a passage or two of scripture to refocus your thoughts and connect with the Holy Spirit. The book of Psalms or the Christmas story in the Book of John are two good places to start.

Notice how different you feel. How much lighter. Go ahead and relax. Smile, and let your joy be contagious! They say a smile is the greatest gift we can give to someone and it's free!

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community and receive my weekly posts, enter your email in the box provided. I'll also send you out a copy of my fee e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" to read or give to a friend. 

And I am excited to share my newest bbook "Take Back Your Life: 5 Keys to Reclaiming Your Personal Power" is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books. Order your copy today get one for a friend and start the New Year off EMPOWERED!

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you find healing, wholeness, and harmony and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, choose joy and keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

This material is copyrighted. No portion of this material may be copied, reproduced or reprinted without acknowledgment of the author. 

Finding True Peace

On a scale of 1 - 10, how peaceful do you feel today? What is stealing your peace? Worries about the future? Your family? Your finances? Staying at peace can be a challenge in today's chaotic world. People are seeking peace in a multitude of places and through a variety of means. But did you know we have been given the gift of Peace by God himself and that true peace is constant? In this fourth week of Advent, we celebrate what I believe is the most precious gift of all - the gift of Peace. 

Some try to find peace by amassing a fortune or attaining a certain status thinking wealth or notoriety will bring them peace. Wealth can disappear quite quickly if we are not careful. Who and what is popular today can be unpopular tomorrow. The world is fickle. Others try to find peace by drinking away their problems. Food, drink, and material possessions will never give us lasting peace. They provide only temporary satisfaction. Hopefully, you have learned this. 

Others go a more spiritual route. They try meditation, relaxation techniques, mindfulness, yoga and the like. Now I am all for relaxing the body and clearing the mind. But these, too, are only temporary, as practitioners well know. How many times have I gone for a massage or to a yoga class and then, a few hours later, my peaceful feeling is disrupted by an aggravating phone call. It takes constant effort to remain at peace through external means. 

What is True Peace? 

First, let's describe what true peace feels like. True peace is surrendering and letting go of control. It is trusting and believing. It is an inner calmness that resides deep in our souls. True peace never leaves. It does not change with our circumstances or our feelings. 

When the challenges of life muddy the waters, we may doubt and become anxious but when we learn that these challenges are meant to grow us up and teach us to trust more in God and his faithfulness. Jesus said: "These things I have spoken to you so that IN ME you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulations, but I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Did you get that part? IN ME. 

True peace does not come from anything in or of this world. It comes from the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, it is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. And how do we receive the Holy Spirit? By receiving the gift of Jesus Christ, that's how. Maintaining true peace can only be accomplished with supernatural power which comes from a relationship with Christ. And Christmas is the perfect time to receive Jesus's invitation to "Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28-29)

When Your Ship is Sinking 

When the disciples were in a tizzy on the sea of Galilee and the winds and the rain pounded their tiny boat, what did Jesus tell them? He said "Oh ye of little faith,". In other words, Jesus was right there in the ship with them and they were STILL afraid. Don't we know that Jesus is right there in the boat with us? No matter whether we are going thru: Covid, chemo, crisis, or chaos, Jesus is always with us. Now that is comforting. 

Jesus said "I came to bring you peace not as the world gives,". Did you get that? "Not as the world gives." Jesus also promised "I will never leave you nor forsake you." We, who are believers, can count on God's promises. God never lies and He never goes back on His word. Who else do you know that can promise that? Whatever storm we are going through, Jesus promises to navigate us through it and bring us out of it. I know, because, I have been through many storms in my life and I'm still here today thankfully. Glory to God. 

Personal Story
After much turmoil and chaos in my life, (read my true story "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony") I tried many methods, I've realized there is only one way to hold on to peace. When everything around me is in chaos and turmoil and the ground is shaking beneath me, I hold on to the one person that can handle it all and his name is Jesus. 

Now if you don't know Jesus, you may not understand how this works, and that's okay. You can call him God for now but those of us who have been through the fires of hell know him more intimately. We know his name is Jesus and he is our true peace. 

For Reflection:

So what storm are you going through today? A breakup? A financial loss? An illness? Whatever it is, ask Jesus into your situation. Ask him to give you his peace. Keep your eyes focused on him and not on your circumstances and he will keep you in perfect peace. 

If this post has encouraged you, do join our community and receive my weekly posts. You'll also receive my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". All you have to do is enter your email address in the box provided. While you're at it, pass it on. Someone you know may need a little hope this season. 

Need a gift? Consider giving a copy of my inspirational true story, "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony" available on Amazon and your favorite booksellers. Or my newest ebook, "Take Back Your Life: 5 Keys to Reclaiming Your Personal Power" available on Amazon, Apple, and Barnes and Noble. 

For all kinds of interesting tips and info from exercise and diet, to mindfulness and meditation to the benefits of tea, pop on over to my Pinterest page at https://www.pinterest.com/arielpaz/boards/ 

I wish you and yours true peace this Christmas season. May the Lord be with you, comfort you and give you his peace. Merry Christmas!

 
Until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Twas the Month of December

Twas the month of December and all through the house, the women were hurrying and bustling about. There is shopping, and cooking and decorating the tree. Oh, my goodness, will I ever have time for me?

Tis the season to be jolly it is said, but with these extra activities, I just plop into bed. So much to be done, so little time left. Visions of gifts and deadlines swirl in my head.

But what to my wondering eyes should appear, but an angel of peace beckoning me near. "Come now, my child, sit at my feet. Dwelling in His presence is so very sweet. Do not be afraid, all will get done for God has sent you his own precious Son."

The true gifts of Christmas are hope, peace and joy, the angels proclaimed to the shepherd boy. Let me be like Mary, so calm and so mild. Her focus instead on the new born Christ child.

O Lord, forgive me I am such a sheep. I pray for my family in your protection to keep. It's not the glitter or the red velvet bows, but the peace and love within my spirit where his glory shows.

Enjoy this season. Take time to relax and have fun. God loves us so much He gave us His Son.

May the true gifts of Christmas be with you today and all through the New Year.

If you enjoyed my Christmas poem and would like to receive my weekly posts please enter your email address in the box provided. I'll also send you out a copy of my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" to read or share with a friend. 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom so you can ignite YOUR destiny!

Until next time, cherish the true gifts of Christmas and keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

5 Tips on Maintaining Joy

Christmas  is a few days away and the extra activities, demands, and social interactions are beginning to wear on people. Fuses are short and patience is at a premium. The needle on the joy meter is quivering. All the more reason to make time to consciously focus on the fourth gift of Advent: the gift of Love.

Love and joy go hand in hand. I find I am most joyful when I am loving and vice versa. If my joy tank is low, chances are my love tank is as well. Stress tends to deplete our joy if we allow it. An unexpected bad news phone call, someone running late, a harsh word spoken can all steal the joy from a wonderful day.

So how can we be more loving during times of peak stress? Here are a few tips on loving myself and others I've learned over the years that help me keep my joy level up and my stress level down.

1. Learn to say that two-letter word "NO". I only accept offers and invitations my heart is into. Say NO to everything else.

2.  Ditch the guilt.  When I say NO, I am being loving by being true to my values. I don't need to feel guilty for declining an invitation, not sending Christmas cards or not baking a gazillion cookies. If I feel stressed doing something, it's just not worth it.

3.  Look at the big picture. I ask myself this question "What's really important here?" When the stress level rises, it is easy to get bent out of shape over trivial things. Our logical brains go haywire and we can't think straight. By keeping my focus on the big picture, I can find joy in any situation and act in a loving manner.

4. Overlook people's mistakes. We are all human. We won't always be on time, say the right thing, or give the right gift. Let things go quickly and don't dwell on what someone said or did that really won't matter tomorrow anyway. Focus on the positives of your friends and relatives.

5.  Learn to lighten up. Make people laugh. Tell a funny story and a joke that doesn't offend anyone. Laughter raises the joy level. When tensions rise, saying those three little words "I love you"  can go a long way towards restoring peace and harmony in a relationship.

We need to be alert and on guard  so we don't allow stress to get the better of us especially during stressful times. I've shared some tips I use to maintain joy and feel more loving. What techniques do you have to maintain your joy during stressful times?

Until next time, keep the focus this week on the true gifts of Christmas and share the joy and the love!

The Most Special Gift of All

Finished your gift shopping yet? Or perhaps you haven't even started. What special gift you would like to receive this Christmas? How about the gift of Love?

Today is Christmas Eve and we celebrate the fourth week of Advent and the focus is on Love. Love is the most precious gift of all.

Yes, love is about giving. Someone asked me last year why I give presents at Christmas. I was stunned. Giving is love in action. Giving shows I care and am thinking about you. Giving is getting out of my selfishness and into your desires, wants, and needs. Giving is about pleasing someone else.

Love is what God showed us when he gave us the gift of his precious only son - Jesus, the Christ, so that we could see what Love truly looks like in human terms.

Love comes in different forms. Love can be shown by giving forgiveness, kindness, generosity, mercy, and understanding. Love listens, shares, trusts, and touches not just the flesh but the heart as well. Love is spending time with. Love knows no limits. Love is sacrificial, not self-centered. Love endures and hopes. Love believes all things and is pure. Love is loving the unlovely. Love, as it says in 1st Cor 13, never fails.

Who can you show love to this Christmas Eve? Is there an unwed mother, like Mary, who needs shelter or a place to stay? A weary traveler who needs a hot meal? A baby who might need clothes? Or perhaps a stranger or orphan who has no family of his or her own?

Yes, love is a gift and it truly is the most special gift of all. Today, I wish you the gift of love and if you don't know the Savior, Jesus, the Messiah, then I invite you to invite him into your heart this day. Let the love of God warm the cockles of your heart, melt away the cold, the bitterness, the fear and the hurt that has been there for way too long. You, too, can enjoy the warm and comforting presence of a dear and close friend every minute of the New Year because you will have the best friend of all, Jesus.

Wishing you and yours a year full of the gifts of Christmas: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love because truly Christ is with us! Merry Christmas to all of you.

Ariel Paz