Showing posts with label Lent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lent. Show all posts

Monday, November 3, 2025

How to Spiritually Connect with Your Higher Power

We are all on a spiritual journey, whether we realize it or not. We were made to know our Higher Power, the Divine, God, or whatever name you want to use. A relationship with God is the most important relationship we could ever have. 

The Problem 
The problem is many people have been turned off by organized religion, wounded by churches, priests, fathers, and past experiences. I wonder how many people read the Bible these days. Because of this, many of us don't have a clear path on how to connect to the Divine and we lack the courage and faith we need to move forward in this challenging world we live in. So this week I am sharing some ways I have found to connect with my Higher Power and strengthen my spiritual muscle.  

The Solution
First, let me say this. I believe the clearest and most direct way to know and connect with the Divine is through reading the Bible. Even though the Bible is 2700 years old, human nature has not changed. The need for guidance has not changed and neither has the need for comfort, assurance, and consolation changed. All of these can be found in the Bible. There are many translations out there and you can easily check which you prefer by visiting this website

Whenever I had a big decision to make, I go straight to the Bible. The book of Proverbs is a good place to find wisdom about all sorts of important topics. Sure you can go talk to a bunch of friends, but you have no assurance that their "wisdom" will be what you need. Other times, I think of situations in the Bible and apply what God said about it to my circumstance. It gives me peace and guides me to making wise decisions. For more on making wise decisions, enter "decisions" in the search box on my blog.

2. Prayer and Meditation 
As I've stated in my previous posts, prayer is talking to God and meditation is listening. Both of these activities are helpful in connecting with the Divine. 

Prayer is powerful and it is even more powerful when we infuse it with scripture. There is supernatural power in prayer. The Lord is required to fulfill his word so when we quote scripture back to him it does many things. Read about the importance of praying scripture here. 

Meditation is listening to God. With our hectic schedules, how often do we make time to just be still and get quiet? This is when we can hear that still small voice inside. There are many benefits to a regular meditation practice. To learn more about meditation, its benefits, and how to do it, read my posts on it here

I have been journaling most of my life. It helps me process the events of the day, connect with my emotions, reduces stress, and much more. Did you know it has been scientifically proven that journaling can also help boost the immune system and decrease the symptoms of chronic ailments such as arthritis, asthma and other health conditions? Read this article for more. 

The key to journaling is to get your feelings out on paper. Many people, including myself, have a hard time expressing their feelings. Journaling is a good start. The next step is to communicate them to others. Journaling also helps us to identify habits and unhealthy behaviors and their triggers. I have used it to help me manage migraine and break bad habits. 

For Reflection:
Getting to know God is not as scary or as difficult as it may seem. These three activities are a great start. Which one will you pick today? Write and let us know and why you chose that. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. If so pass it on to a friend who could benefit. To join our community and receive my weekly posts simply enter your email on the pop up page or in the space provided on this site. You'll also receive a copy my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

Until next time, I wish you peace and stillness and remember...

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 
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Monday, April 14, 2025

How to Resist the Lure of Temptation

Temptation. It comes in many forms but do we recognize it in the moment? Is it a sin to be tempted? Is it a sin to give in to it? Who really tempts us and why? Since we are in the season of Lent, I have been pondering these questions and perhaps you are too. 


What is temptation? 
The dictionary says it is "the desire to do something, particularly something wrong or unwise". I think of synonyms such as testing and trying. In my mind, this could apply to a lot of things. Who or what tries my patience? Who or what tests me? What do I do that is wrong or unwise? 

The Lord's prayer says "Lead me not into temptation." Jesus knew the lure of temptation. Remember what he went through with the devil in the desert during those 40 days of fasting. Whew. I have trouble fasting for more than a few hours. 
Have you heard the acronym "HALT"? Don't let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired because that is when we fall into temptation.

I feel like I am tempted everyday - by my bad habits, by family members, by my desires, by loneliness. Jesus knew all about these, that is why he told us to pray not to be led astray by temptation. We are tempted when we are with others and when we are by ourselves. It is a constant battle within. 

Temptation comes in many forms. 
Food, alcohol, chocolate, chips, pizza. They appeal to our appetite but what is our appetite for exactly? Is it really for food or for something else such as a comfort for loneliness, anger, frustration, etc? When tempted with turning stones into bread to satiate his hunger, Jesus answered "Man does not live by bread alone, but by the very word of God." (Matt 4:4) In other words, we often turn to externals such as food, alcohol, sugar, and shopping to satisfy, satiate, and comfort us when really we should turn inward and apply God's word to comfort and console ourselves. 

The temptation to glorify ourselves. 
The devil tried to entice Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle off the temple and call on the angels to rescue him. We are not to tempt God. Many people have claimed "God will protect me" as their reason for not getting the Covid vaccine or going to the doctor or getting that test done. To me this seems like putting God to the test rather than taking personal responsibility. 

There are other ways we try to glorify ourselves. Having to have the last word. Not admitting fault. Trying to outshine others by our travels, our intelligence, or our knowledge. We want all the credit, the acclaim, the recognition, to be a big whig and to look good in front of others. None of us want to look bad. Ever. We don't like to take responsibility for our faults and weaknesses. We don't like to admit we made a mistake or said something hurtful. We like to blame, shame, and judge others to make ourselves feel better. But, does it really? Or do we feel worse? 

We think we achieve great things and material wealth all on our own accord, but it is God who gives us the talents, the abilities, and the opportunities to achieve these things and so the glory belongs to him alone. Remember the story of Daedelus who flew too close to the sun. 

The lure of wealth, power, fame, beauty, youth and status. 
People want to be popular, admired, accepted, well-known, "in the cool crowd". Remember the high school cliques? They made you feel excluded and less than.  Many people thrive on adulation as evidenced by all the buzz on social media, but as we see in Jesus' case, the crowd's opinion is fickle and can change on a dime. 

Don't we know how well known we are in the eyes of God? I think we sometimes lose track of that fact. How much he loves us - no - adores us, despite our flaws, our faults and our failures. God knew us even before we were born. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." (Jer 1:5).  We are uniquely and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). In fact, God calls us a "masterpiece" (Ephesians 2:10). Nothing here on earth can even come close to that kind of love and recognition. 

We often look to others for approval and acceptance, when it doesn't matter what other people think of us - at all. God sent Jesus to this earth to die to cleanse us from all unrighteousness so that we can have full access to the throne of grace, because only blood can cleanse us of sin. When we accept Christ as Lord, we are found righteous, approved and accepted. Our sins are forgiven. Case closed. 

It's all about the Ego 
The bottom line is temptation comes from our flesh aka our ego aka the devil. We look to the wrong things to comfort us, to give us a sense of worthiness, and to make us feel good about ourselves when really Christ is the answer to all our identity problems.

When we come to truly know who we are in Christ, we don't succumb to the temptations of the flesh as much or as often. We are more willing to accept the will and sovereignty of God and to acknowledge our humanity and the humanity of others. 

For Reflection
This Lenten season, let us each ponder the ways in which we are tempted and why. We all have our weaknesses and our sensitivities. Let us humble ourselves before the cross instead of judging because "There but for the grace of God go I". Let us pray for God's grace and mercy and extend that grace and mercy to others. 

I hope this post has given you food for thought as we prepare our hearts during this holy week. If you'd like more positive and practical advice, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my newest ebook entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice". It's a short read to help you grow by practicing spiritual habits such as journaling, prayer, meditation. I welcome your feedback on it. 

Stay tuned for more on healing, wholeness, health and harmony so YOU can ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

In the meantime, 

Keep looking up!


Ariel Paz 



Monday, March 31, 2025

How to Know God & Yourself Better

It's Spring and you can't help but notice the new growth and new life all around us: the daffodils peeking through the grass, the blossom buds starting to appear on the trees, the empty birds' nests. Nature spends the winter in darkness, hibernation, and rest and now as the season changes and the sun comes out more, it is time for rebirth, renewal, and transformation. This is what Lent is all about - renewal, rebirth, and transformation. 

Yet to have these, we must put in the time. This Lent, has it been business or busyness as usual or have you made some time for self-reflection, study, and journaling? I hope so! 

Personal Journey
For me, Lent is a season to get to know myself and God better. The two of us are a team. I cut back on social activities and fleshly pursuits so that I can use that time (I prefer the morning)  to reflect and connect more with my emotional and spiritual self, with God, and with my purpose. The social activities will always be there, but Lent is a time to devote to my spiritual growth and that doesn't just mean going to church once a week. No, spiritual and emotional growth is an inside job and no one can do it for us. 

Time spent in spiritual pursuits is time well-spent. Journaling, prayer, reflection and solitude brings emotions and issues to the forefront where we can process them. Otherwise, they stay hidden in our sub-conscious mind and will continue to rob us of our peace and joy throughout the year. 

So let's talk a minute about God. 

Who is this God? 
If we want to know God, who He is and what he desires for and of us, there is no
 better way to do this than reflect on the personhood of Jesus Christ. After all, he is the embodiment of God (Spirit made flesh) and by studying his life, his words, and his actions, we can learn how to treat others, how to live a life of integrity, how to love ourselves in a balanced way and how to find our purpose.

People seek God in all sorts of ways, but sadly so many ignore the very person of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. At some point in time, we each must ask ourselves the question "Who is this Jesus?" and "Why did he die for me?"

Jesus is Our Example 
Jesus is the perfect example of a life well-lived; a life of service, sacrifice, and purpose. Jesus knew his destiny and dedicated each day to fulfilling it. He made it a priority to heal, to help, and to encourage those who were hurting despite the constant derision of those in power. He was a friend to the poor, the outcast, and the lonely. 

Most importantly, Jesus followed the will of God, not his own will, straight to death on the cross. Guiltless, he paid the penalty for all of our sins in one sacrificial act of atonement on the cross. Your sins and mine have all been washed white as snow. Who else can do that for us? 

When Jesus died on the cross for you and for me, the veil in the Jewish temple was torn which means there is no longer a separation between man and God for those who believe in Christ. We can now come directly to God, without fear, trepidation, or the need of an intercessor such as a priest or guru. No matter what we have done in the past, our sins are forgiven. We are redeemed and set free from our past, our mistakes, our guilt and our shame. And that, my friends, is worth celebrating!
 

For Reflection 
If you have not considered Jesus lately, friend, I encourage you to take some time to get quiet this Lenten season and do so. Jesus was not simply another teacher or prophet, as some religions teach. He is the one and only Son of God, a friend when we feel abandoned and rejected. He is the incarnation of God on earth who died so that we can have true peace, joy, abundance, and an inspired life of service and joy. Will you get to know him this season?

If you enjoyed this post, do join our community. Simply enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my free eguide, "How to Develop a Spiritual Practiceas well as my weekly newsletter. We're all about personal development and spiritual growth and my goal is to help you heal, grow, and flourish. 

Stay tuned for more on igniting the power within so you can discover YOUR DESTINY!

Until next time,

Keep looking up!


Ariel Paz 

Monday, March 10, 2025

How to Draw Nearer to God this Lenten Season

Most of us are really busy. I'm retired and I'm still really busy. We have our daily schedules, our agendas, our plans and our projects. We like our routines, our meals and our lifestyles. These give us a kind of comfort and stability in this topsy turvy world we live in. How often have you heard yourself say this:
"I don't have enough time to ......" You fill in the blank.

The Busyness of Life 
The stuff of life can keep us so busy and so stressed out, we rarely have time to do what Stephen Covey, author of numerous best selling books including "7 Habits of Highly Effective People", calls "Quadrant 2 Activities".

Quadrant 2 activities are those activities which are important but not urgent or pressing. Some of them include planning, prevention and improvement. It includes spiritual practices such as prayer, journaling, fasting, and meditation.  These habits are all crucial to our well-being, but none of them are critical or urgent. Therein lies the crux of the problem. We are addicted to the urgent and we neglect the important, as Stephen Covey says. 


Wake up calls 
Sadly, it is not until life gets uncomfortable and some crisis happens such as a sudden illness or a job loss, a breakup, or an epidemic, that stops us dead in our tracks. It is then - maybe -  that we say "Whoa, wait a minute. Maybe I need to slow down and rethink my priorities". 

When things get uncomfortable, scary, stressful, or painful, it is time to surrender, not resist. God uses everything in our lives to make us more like him and lead us into our destinies, which is - by the way - to be more like his Son, Jesus.

These times are wake-up calls of sorts. God is trying to get our attention. He may be leading us away from certain activities, jobs, situations, places, or people. He may be trying to get us to change our attitudes and behaviors. He may even want to send us help. 

God is always trying to get our attention onto what really matters. We may resist and rationalize. When God is calling us to let something or someone go, it is important to stay with the discomfort, even when it interrupts our busy lives and messes with our agendas. God has the plan. What we need to do is let go and surrender to it.

Go With the Flow
You've heard the phrase, I'm sure. But that is easier said than done when something difficult happens. We tend to fight it, escape it or look for ways to avoid dealing with it. Yet, none of these is helpful. When difficult situations present themselves, the best thing we can do is to surrender and accept instead of denying or fighting against it. Try to deal with whatever it is in a calm and focused manner. Stressing out and getting upset never helps anybody. This is when we need the help of the Holy Spirit to come to our aid. 

Personal Story 
So my elderly mom, who lived out of state, had a few falls last year. I tried to tell her she needed daily care, but she would have none of it. Then, it happened. In February, she fell and fractured her back. She called me as the EMS team was taking her to the ER. Now, I could have freaked out, but praise God. I didn't. I said a quick prayer, stayed calm and collected and talked to her all the way to the hospital, thru the x-ray process, and back to her room, trying my best to keep myself and her calm. At least I was connected to her, even if I wasn't there physically. It is in times like these that a spiritual practice comes to our aid. 

When We Don't Understand
Life is full of mysteries. Why is my mom/son/husband/boyfriend acting like this? Why did I lose my job? Why did this happen to me? We don't always understand why things happen but we can trust that whatever it is is ultimately for our good and God's glory. When the questions whirl thru my mind like the swirling winds of March, my natural tendency is to try to figure it all out but the truth is....

We don't have to figure it out. That's our ego egging us on, stressing us out. We need not fret or worry. All we have to do is trust. Trust that God sees us. Trust that God has the answer even when we are at wits end and have tried everything. 

When we don't know what to do next, it is time to wait on GodLet go and let God as they say in recovery groups. When we don't know what to do next, like Samuel said when he heard the voice of God, we need to let God know he has our attention, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening", then listen and wait. The answer is always the same.

Come a little closer. Let that go. Trust me. 

Scripture says this: "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." (James 4:8). I often think that God allows these situations to draw us closer to him. I know I have a tendency to drift. How about you?

For Reflection 
What is it that God is working on and in you today? What is he calling you to let go of or to embrace? Are you willing to listen? To surrender? To obey? Jesus is calling you to come a little closer this season. Perhaps, like me, you sometimes get too caught up in the busyness of doing that you fail to hear the still soft voice of Jesus that beckons us to sit at his feet, just like Mary of Bethany.  

Close your eyes and listen to this song by Dierks Bentley. Jesus is saying the same thing to us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVGw7FbohY4&feature=kp

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our blog community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts to encourage, inspire and motivate you.  I'll also send you a copy of my free e-book entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice" for yourself and to share with a friend.

Do pop on over to Pinterest and check out the collection I've curated on a variety of interesting topics. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter @ArielPaz08. 

Stay tuned for more on the purpose of Lent and until next time, come a little closer!


Ariel Paz



Monday, March 3, 2025

Lent: A Time to Look In the Mirror

When was the last time you looked in a mirror? This morning? In your car? Many of us spend lots of time in front of the mirror: primping, styling our hair, and making sure we look just right before we head out the door. Now I am all for looking your best, but how often do we look inside and consider the fact that our inner person is even more important?

I think Michael Jackson realized this when he sang this powerful song. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ocJNahTwok


On stage since a small child, Michael was always in the limelight. He had the glitz, the glamor and the fancy clothes. But as we all realize sooner or later, the glitz, the glamor and the lights fade all too soon and then where are we? When all is said and done, how much time have we devoted to shining up our souls? 



Lent is an ideal time to take a look within. 
It's a time to get alone and get quiet with ourselves and God. Too many of us are focused on outward success: money, possessions, fancy cars, jewelry, prestige. Now I have nothing against outward success but true success has nothing to do with money. How many of the rich and famous are inwardly destitute? Lonely, unhappy, and unfulfilled? Commit suicide? Look at Michael. 

True Success
True success  is about  growth, change, transformation, and becoming a kinder, more peaceful person. It's how we feel about ourselves, the steps we take to heal our hurts, pains, and insecurities, and then what we can do to make a difference in this hurting world of ours. This is what Lent is really all about; it is an opportunity to work on our spiritual and emotional selves and ask ourselves how we can become more like Jesus. We need to turn our eyes away from what the rest of the world is doing, and focus instead of what God would have us become. We need to realize the world lives in exact opposition to how God would have us live. 

Each of Us in On Our Own Journey 
We are each on our own spiritual journey, like I say in my books.  The obstacles we encounter in life are stepping stones to healing, wholeness, and harmony.  The rest will come when we get our priorities in order. "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you," (Matt. 6:33). The kingdom of God, as it says in the Bible, is righteousness, peace, and joy. These are all inner, spiritual qualities. 

So, when was the last time you took a good look inside? What did you find there? Be honest with yourself but remember to see yourself and others through the eyes of love with compassion and mercy, just as Jesus does. We each have our own wounds that need healing but no one ever healed by shame, guilt, or condemnation. We heal by being loved and Jesus showed us how much he loves us when he died on that cross.

For Reflection:
Are you aware of what hurts or pains you need to heal? Where is there  brokenness? Is there someone you need to forgive this season? Spend some time this week with Jesus and ask him to heal your broken places and make you whole so you can move forward into YOUR DESTINY!

Love to hear your comments on this post. If you'd like to find healing, wholeness, and harmony and ignite the power within so you can discover YOUR destiny, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus you'll receive a copy of my free e-guide entitled "How to Start a Spiritual Practice" to learn some tools to help you grow spiritually and do pass on to a friend who may need healing as well. 

Until next time, remember you have the power to make that change!

Keep looking up!


Ariel Paz

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

How to Draw Closer to God During the Lonely Times

Life can get so busy, can't it? It seems there is an endless stream of distractions and challenges that show up such as taxes, car problems, weather crises, computer problems, relationship issues, sickness, to name just a few.  It is always something. If you are waiting for life to slow down to develop your relationship with God aka your spiritual practice, forget it. It will always be something. We have to prioritize spending time with the Divine, just as we would a significant other. Could it be that the organized church, imperfect as it is, has provided us with a natural season to re-calibrate, reconnect, and discover?

                                        


Lent begins during the last of the dark, cold, days of winter which is a perfect time to slow down, refocus, and reprioritize what really matters in life. As we said, life is full of distractions. How many of us are following through on our New Year's resolutions? What happened? Distractions.

Sometimes God has a way of taking us out of our normal routine just so that he can draw us closer to Him.  Let's take a look at a few biblical examples to understand how God uses times of loneliness to prepare us for our destinies. 

The Life of Moses
Let's look first at the life of Moses. Now Moses, you will recall, was raised as royalty - the son of Pharoah - in the Egyptian palace. After learning his true identity as an Israelite, he decided to leave the luxuries of the palace and go live a nomadic life in the desert where he spent 40 long years. Ever feel like you're in a dry, barren time in life? I have and I bet he did too. It's not much fun but God  has a purpose for times such as these. God uses these desert seasons to prepare us just as he did with Moses. 

What was he doing out there those 40 long years? Or rather what was God doing in him during this time? God never wastes anything in our lives. I think Moses was learning to trust, listen, & depend on God. I bet he did an awful lot of thinking and praying during those forty years. Maybe he even thought his life was over. His executive position at the palace, surrounded by servants and riches, was a distant memory and now he was a nomad surrounded by mostly sheep.

But wait, God had big plans for him, didn't he? Remember the burning bush? God sure has a way of getting our attention suddenly. God's plan was to use Moses in a BIG way, which leads us to the next example, which shows us what not to do in the desert.

A Season of Suffering 
The suffering, beaten, down-trodden people of Israel. These were the chosen ones and look how much they suffered all those years in Egyptian captivity. Have you ever suffered many long years? I have. Numerous times. 

Enter Moses, stage right, to lead the people out of bondage. How many miracles did they see? Hint: watch the movie "The Ten Commandments" or better yet, read the book of Exodus. The promise of a better life was before them, but what did they do? Complain, complain, complain; they complained about the food, the water, even the leadership. Sound familiar? FYI, God doesn't like complaining.

So they spent the next 40 years wandering the desert while God patiently waited for them to learn to trust him and accept their circumstances happily. But they didn't, and God said "Trip cancelled". The entire generation died off. But we do have a much better example of how to respond to times in the desert. Let's take a look at the life of Jesus.

The Life of Jesus
He, too, spent time alone in the desert. Forty days to be exact. Notice the pattern of 40 in the Bible. Is it a coincidence Lent is also 40 days long? What did Jesus do during his desert time? Fast and pray, that's what. Commune with God. Get quiet and alone. He wasn't out partying that's for sure.

The disciplines of solitude, fasting, and prayer, draw our attention away from food, drink, and the material distractions of this world. They open the channels to hear from God. The devil tried to tempt Jesus in his weakest moments with the promises of worldly pleasure, power, and significance. His tactics have not changed one bit since then. Have you heard of the acronym "HALT"? Never let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. These are the times when we, too, succumb to temptation. Many seek fame and fortune, power and luxury, but none of these give us the peace and fulfillment we so desperately crave.

Just as God had a plan for Moses and for Jesus, God has a plan and a purpose for your life, too. As we look at these examples, we see that by removing ourselves from the distractions and luxuries of this world, we can tune into the plan God has for our lives. During times of fasting, prayer, and quiet reflection we can hear that still small voice more clearly. We, too, can conquer the temptations that beset us and learn to trust God more fully. That, dear friends, is what Lent is all about.

For Reflection
Do you want to find your purpose and destiny? Or perhaps just the next step in life, whatever that may be. Guidance starts by learning to tune in to that still small voice and that happens by spending time in quietness, meditation, & reflection. Will you make time for spiritual disciplines this season or will it just be busyness as usual?

If you enjoyed the thoughts in this post, consider joining our community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly Tuesday posts plus my free e-book entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".  Lent is the perfect time to go further in your spiritual path.


Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Lent: A Time to Return to God

Lent starts tomorrow. Can you believe it? 

Ash Wednesday is a day that begins a period of 40 days that the church has set aside as a time to fast, pray, and abstain from activities and pleasures in order to draw closer to God. 

What does Lent mean to you? Is it business as usual? Some try to give up chocolate, television, or some other material thing that brings them pleasure. I think Lent is about more than that. Lent is a time to cut back on activities and fleshly pursuits, as well as food, so that we can use that time to reflect and connect more with ourselves, with God, and with others. 


What better way to do this than reflect on the person of Jesus Christ? After all, he is the embodiment of God and by studying his life, his words, and his actions, we can learn how to treat others, how to live an honest and holy life, and how to love ourselves in a balanced way. People are seeking God in all sorts of ways, but why do so many ignore the very person of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God?

Jesus is Our Example 
Jesus is the perfect example of a life well-lived; a life of service and sacrifice. Jesus knew his purpose in life and dedicated each day to fulfilling it. He made it a priority to heal, to help, to encourage those who were hurting. He was a friend to the poor, the outcast, and the lonely. Most importantly, Jesus followed the will of God, and not his own will, straight to the cross. Guiltless, he paid the penalty for all of our sins in one sacrificial act of atonement.

Isn't that the truest example of love? To sacrifice yourself for someone else? Denying oneself not just of pizza or chocolate, but to lay down one's very life for another. To follow the will of God? Jesus gave his life so we could be set free and forgiven from ALL our sins, mistakes, guilt, shame, insecurities, doubts and fears. Think about that for a bit.

For Reflection 
If you have not considered Jesus lately, dear one, I encourage you to make time to get quiet this Lenten season and do so. Jesus is not just some teacher or prophet. He is so much more than that. He is a friend who stays closer than a brother. He is our peace and our hope. He is the incarnation of God on earth and he died to remove the veil from our eyes so that we can have true peace, joy, abundance, and a life that exceeds our wildest dreams!

If you'd like to join our community, simply enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my free ebook, "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" as well as my weekly posts. We're all about personal and spiritual growth and discovering our destinies.

Stay tuned for more on igniting the power within and until next time,

Keep looking up!


Ariel Paz