How Faith Can Make Dreams a Reality

What dream do you want to see become reality in your life? Find the love of your life? Buy that hot sports car? Travel to that foreign country or become an ex-pat?

Folks, dreams have a place in our lives, no matter what our age. They motivate us. They keep us going, when the going gets tough. I believe it is important to always have a dream in front of us but just how do they become a reality?

The Secret Ingredient

We can put all kinds of effort into trying to make things happen on our own, but there is one key ingredient we must have if we want to see our dreams come true.

Some say it is will power. Ha. I know my will power only goes so far - just show me a a container of caramel popcorn. We can try to use will power but sooner or later our will power will run out. We cannot succeed through brute strength, intelligence, knowledge, or great wealth. All of these things are helpful but without this one key ingredient we will not be successful.

The one key ingredient to seeing your dreams come true is the power of Faith. We must BELIEVE it is possible to lose that 20 pounds, run that marathon, write that book, or take that trip of a lifetime. We must believe God is at work in our lives even though we may not see changes right now.

Personal Story 
Ever since I toured the Argentine Tall Ship that docked in the Baltimore Harbor one summer, I promised myself "Someday, I am going to go to Argentina." It had been 10 years. Now traveling to South America as a single woman is not exactly an easy thing to do. There are safety issues, language issues, and travel issues. Yet, I had faith. I was going to go to Argentina.

I decided it was time. After a few months of planning, lots of research, and applying for a Brazilian visa, I was off to South America on American Airlines. I wound up visiting not only Argentina, but Brazil as well. It was a dream come true and all because the seed of Faith was planted 10 years earlier.

What is Faith?
To put it simply, Faith is the positive belief of things not yet seen. It is the belief that our dreams can come true. It is the fuel that fires up our engines.

Without faith, we idle through life, never really achieving anything great and watching our dreams pass by. A life without faith is not the abundant life we were intended to live.

Faith begins with a belief in God because God is the ultimate source of all good things and he gives us the power and the resources to achieve them. If we exclude God from the equation, we set ourselves up for a lot of hard work and eventual failure and disappointment. What does the Bible say? It says "Build your house on solid ground, not sinking sand", (Matt 7:24-27) meaning it is God who gives us the grace and the power to withstand adversity when it eventually comes. 

Faith is a Muscle
I like to think of Faith as a muscle we all possess. In the same way we need to develop our physical muscles to lift stronger weights, if we want to achieve greater things in life, it is necessary to strengthen our spiritual muscle. Each goal we achieve builds our faith and our confidence. We can stand on our victories and our failures like stepping stones that help us step up to the next level.

Failure is Part of the Process
We all fall at times. The key is to pick ourselves up and get back in the race. Proverbs 24:16 says "Though the righteous may fall 7 times, but the Lord will always raise him back up." There is no shame in failing or falling. In fact, failure is one of the best ways to strengthen our spiritual muscle.

Look how many times Thomas Edison and Abraham Lincoln failed. Failure builds character and strengthens our spiritual muscle. If you have failed or fallen recently, I encourage you to get back in the game. If you're still on this earth, God still has a plan and a purpose for your life, but it is up to us to do our part to make our dreams come true and make a difference in this world.

Whatever trial you're going through, use it as an opportunity to strengthen your spiritual muscle and to grow your faith. When you look back at your life and see what God has brought you through and how many of your dreams really have come true, you will be amazed and filled with gratitude.

For Reflection

What dream do you want to see come true? Ask yourself this question "Do I truly believe this can happen in my life?" Stretch yourself. Start saying things like "I believe I can break this habit." "I believe I can lose this weight." "I believe God will heal me" Even when we don't see a way, God can make a way. He promises to make our crooked paths straight when we turn our lives over to him. Remember, we walk by Faith and not by sight. 

If this post was uplifting, join our community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" for you or to pass along to a friend who might need some encouragement. 

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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6 Easy Ways to Get Your Joy Back - Part 2

"How am I feeling this morning?" This is a good question to ask ourselves before we start our day. "Am I feeling joyful?" If we don't mindfully check in with ourselves we'll go around feeling blah and we'll turn to distractions, alcohol, shopping or some other addictive behavior to make us feel better. If we aren't feeling the joy of the Lord, something is wrong so what to do about it? This week I'm sharing 3 more steps to getting our joy back. 

How high is your joy meter today? High, low, or medium? Things can happen in a minute that can steal our joy, which is where mindfulness and faith come in. It's a question of being aware of when something irritates us and then making a mindful decision whether we are going to let it get to us. 

Joy flows in and through us on a daily basis but we must make a conscious decision to keep our joy and not get aggravated at every little thing: the elderly mom, the rebellious kids, the traffic, the boss, the list is endless. 

Today I am sharing the next 3 tips as promised. If you missed the first 3 tips for getting your joy back, here is the post again. 

                                               

Tip #4: Pay attention to your thoughts. 

Here's a quick mindfulness practice I do every morning to get in the right frame of mind. As soon as my eyes open, I declare this verse - out loud:  "This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it." (Ps. 118:24). Notice the emphasis on the words "I will". This indicates I am making a conscious DECISION to be joyful. We must be deliberate about our frame of mind, if we want to stay joyful on a daily basis and into our later years. 

Do you find yourself dwelling on the same issue or person for days or nights on end? Picture a car stuck in a ditch with the wheels whirling and whirling. This is what our minds are doing when we ruminate or over-think and it is a joy-stealer. When we spin our mental wheels trying to figure something out or solve a problem that has no solution, this burns us out mentally and energetically. It can also cause headaches and migraines. I know this from first-hand experience. 

How to Avoid Overthinking
There are two ways to get out of the overthinking cycle. 

1) decide on an action to take in the moment. Taking some type of action takes the pressure off and makes us feel less out of control of the situation. 

2) realize we are overthinking something and decide to put the issue on the back burner till we get clarity. This takes the pressure off and I'm all about taking the pressure off. 

I know this is tough, but we are not in control of the when the answers will come.  We need to learn to trust in God to reveal them in HIS timing, not ours. It's another opportunity to practice letting go.

Exercise Your Faith

Another example I had to deal with last year was what to do about my 94 yr old mother who fractured her back. Without going into all the details, there were a lot of factors to consider, as anyone who has elderly parents knows. I assured my sister and my mother, who were both freaking out, that we would figure it out slowly. I kept saying "Let's stay in today" to calm them down.

Actually, I am pretty proud of myself that I did stay so composed and in the moment and did not freak out. I trusted that God would show us the way and he did. She went to rehab which she hated and then I found her an assisted living facility that served her chocolate cake the first day she got there. Her comment was "I should have done this years ago." It is in these types of critical, stressful situations that Faith and a spiritual practice pays off, friends. A spiritual practice helps us to not freak out when uncertainty hits and answers are complicated because we have a God who cares. 

Practice Mindfulness Daily
The natural state of our mind is to be peaceful but there are so many things to worry/stress/think about in every day life. Scripture exhorts us to "take every thought captive" (2 Cor 10:5). This means to pay attention to what we're thinking about. Our thoughts can take us down the proverbial rabbit hole if we don't learn how to be mindful and take control of them.   

The good news is practicing mindfulness helps us to be more aware of our thoughts and our emotions. We need to catch ourselves ruminating or dwelling on negative topics and bring ourselves back to the present moment, the here and now, because that is where JOY is found. Joy is not found in yesterday or tomorrow, folks. By practicing spiritual techniques (Check out my new ebook, "Ignite the Power Within: 10 Steps to Supercharge Your Spiritual Growth), slowly, the grooves in our brains will be rewired and we will have better thinking patterns over time.

No matter what thoughts pop into my head, I remind myself of the truths I believe in. "Lord, I know you see this situation. It might not look good to me right now, but your word says you work all things out for my good. I will take responsibility for my thoughts, decisions, and actions. I will stay in peace and trust you to guide me. I will rejoice and be glad today. I will take care of myself and set firm boundaries. Thank you, Lord." This helps strengthen my spiritual muscle and keeps my peace and joy. 

Tip #5: Have some fun. 
As a single parent of two growing boys for many years combined with a full-time career plus grad school, it was hard to find time to have fun. Even now as an older single lady with few friends, it is hard to find time to have fun. Now I will admit having fun has changed over the years. I used to love to go ballroom dancing, or any kind of dancing for that matter. Now fun is enjoying the pool, working on my blog or my lettering, making a good dinner. Fun is something you choose to do that is pleasurable that keeps you in the present moment. What do you like to do for fun these days?

Keep Play in the Picture 
No matter how busy we might be, however, play is vital to our well-being. (See #5 in my recent book "Take Back Your Life". )  Some of us, including me, are so responsible, we have to schedule downtime and play into our to-do lists. As I write this I am thinking when was the last time I played...does watching a soccer game fall into the play category? I think so. 

Others play too much and neglect their responsibilities as well as their health. We need to find balance in our daily lives if we want to keep our joy. Having fun makes room for joy to pop back up because it lets the pressure out of the pot. 

What do you like to do? What takes your mind off your problems and brings you into the present moment? Choose a healthy activity that will restore and energize you, instead of depleting you or taking you out of the present moment like watching the boob tube or playing video games. Something out of doors is always good this time of year.  Walking is a great way to let go of stress and get a bit of exercise and fresh air. Team up with a friend or loved one if you can. Or maybe go for a bike ride, or do some gardening. Even a half hour will do you a world of good and help you clear your mind and reconnect with your joy.  

Tip #6: Let go of control. 
We all like to be in control. My issue stems from being raised in a chaotic home, where everything was out of control, but most of us want to be "in control" to some degree. The truth is there are only a handful of things that are truly under our control. Much of life - aka other people - are not and the sooner we come to understand this, the more peace and less stress we will have.  

Do what you can to attend to any given situation (if you need to) and then give it to God. Notice we have a part in fixing our problems. We can't just throw up our hands and say "Well, God will take care of it." When we do what we can, God will do what we can't. This is where faith, patience and obedience come in. 

If you want more peace in your daily life, learn how and when to let go. I talk about all the ins and outs of letting go of control in my new book, "Ignite the Power Within." Letting go is a spiritual practice and if you don't know what it is, how it applies to your life, or how to do it, I encourage you to order my new book and learn more today.

So there you have my 6 tips to getting your joy back.  
We all go through difficult situations and I'm certainly not minimizing what you or I are going through right now, but I have learned that stuff will ALWAYS keep coming at us. As author, Sonia Choquette says in her book "Soul Lessons and Soul Purpose", "We are souls on a journey to heal, grow and evolve and these trials are our tests to pass".  It is up to us to decide how each situation will affect us and how we will respond to it. The quicker we can let go of unhappy, negative thoughts, the more we can enjoy each day.

Reflection:
How about you? Is there something or someone stealing your joy right now? Are you feeling overwhelmed with all your responsibilities? What changes do you need to make to have more peace and joy? Don't let the challenges of life steal either one. Make a decision to let go of control and enjoy each day for the gift it is. That's why they call it "the present".

If this article was helpful and you'd like to join our community and receive my weekly posts, enter your email address in the box provided. As a thank you, I'll send you my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

For more tips and info on a wide-variety of topics, pop on over to Pinterest to check out my collection on health and wellness, fashion, recipes, exercise and diet, and so much more. https://www.pinterest.com/arielpaz/pins/

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

Until next time, keep smiling and keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

 

3 Ways to Empower Your Life

Transformation. We've been talking about it 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 start this transformation. I'm talking about the power of your WORDS. 

Words are powerful. Words 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 fulfill our destiny whatever season we are in. 

                          

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 See More Miracles in Your Life

What is it that you want to see transformed in your life? Have you given up on that dream? Perhaps you've uttered the phrase "It's going to take a miracle." Well, some things do, so today we are going to talk about miracles and how to see more of them show up in our lives.

Miracles are not just a thing of the movies and imaginary cartoon characters. Miracles are REAL. In fact, they happen everyday. We just don't hear about them as much because the media is fascinated with negativity, the horrific, and the hideous. For some odd reason, people are drawn to negativity. Or we attribute them to "coincidence". No, recognize that God is doing something supernatural in your life. 

Personal Testimony
So who am I to write on miracles? I feel qualified to write on this topic because I've had several of them occur in my life. Pick up a copy of my book "The Power of Faith" and check them out. In fact, I've had several more occur since writing that book including another miraculous healing, a restoration of a close family relationship that was severed, and financial provision. God is still in the miracle working business. So what it is that we can do to help things along?

First, let me remind us all that it is God's will that we prosper and be in good health. See 3 John 1:2.  There are many verses in the Bible that talk about having abundance, joy, peace, love, and healing. All of these are available to us at any time in our lives and here are some steps YOU can take to see them start happening NOW!

1. BELIEVE you deserve good things.
It all starts with having FAITH. No matter how many mistakes or poor choices we have made in the past, we can start today with a clean slate. When we turn to God, ask forgiveness and ask Jesus to help us, the windows of heaven begin to swing open wide. All good things come from God, not "the Universe" or by the law of attraction as some would have you believe. I am not going to debate these other philosophies; this is a Christian blog and I write from a Christian world-view where God and I are a team. 

2. Get crystal clear. 
I think one reason many of us don't move forward in life is because we are not clear on what we really want. Once we get clear and have a vision, God can go to work. But if we are unclear, doubtful, or wishy-washy, God waits on us to get clear. 

Like when I was house-hunting. I wasn't sure at first exactly what I wanted in a new home. Even though God presented the ideal home to me right from the get-go, I still had to think and rethink it. I spent weeks with realtors visiting other options until I realized the first option was exactly what I wanted and needed after all. Silly me. 

3. Claim the promise. 
Once we get clear, then we can start claiming the promise and by that I mean speaking out what it is that we want to show up in our lives. For example, if we want to be healed, we can claim Jeremiah 30:17 which says "But I will restore health to you and heal your wounds, says the Lord" or Mark 5:34 "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." There is power in our words and in the words of Scripture. Instead of saying things like "I'm going to end up in the poorhouse" or "I'll never be able to..." start speaking out words of faith regarding whatever miracle you want to see happen. This is an expression of faith and faith pleases God.

4. Take action. 
We cannot sit idly by and wait for things to happen. We must take personal responsibility and do our part. Whatever it is, take the first step. Read that book. Take that class. Go to the gym. Get that degree. Whatever is in your power to do - like Nike says - "Just do it!" Slowly but surely we will make progress towards our miracle.

5. Trust God to do the impossible. 
Often, situations look impossible and hopeless. We cannot see clearly how to resolve them or what to do next. These are the situations God specializes in. Does the medical report sound hopeless? Does your relationship seem doomed? Has your job ended? What seem like endings are really new beginnings when we have faith to envision a brighter tomorrow. Whatever God brings us to, God will bring us through. This is what is called Grace and it is amazing.

So there we have 5 steps to seeing more miracles in our lives. Give them a try and let me know how things turn out. You will not be disappointed. Sometimes God answers prayers in different ways from what we expect, so be open to his answer in whatever form it shows up in.

For Reflection

What is it that you want to see transformed or restored in your life? Do you believe it can happen? What steps can you take now to make it a reality?

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice".

Until next time, stay tuned for more positive and practical insights to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Special Edition: 7 Ways to Combat Fear and Anxiety

There's a lot going on in the world these days that can raise fear and anxiety levels. Are you feeling fearful or anxious these days? What topics control your thoughts and conversations? Have you lost your peace and joy due to world events? Fear is the big brother and anxiety is it's relative. The two are closely related, so if you struggle with either of these, this post is for you. 

In case you haven't realized, human beings have a negativity bias. This is a psychology term that means the human brain is hard-wired to thrive on the negative. This is why the media puts out so much negative news, because it knows negativity and fear attracts viewers. It's easy to get sucked in if we don't realize this. 

This focus on fear and negativity steals our joy and our sense of peace. It also saps our energy by dragging us down to a lower energetic level. Have you realized this? 

Fear is contagious. 

The media is full of bad news: lootings and fires, stock market drops, the latest mass shooting or Hollywood scandal, the virus and the pandemic, the war in the Ukraine and now the dreaded tariffs. The list goes on and on. 

People are buying guns to protect themselves. Others are refusing to go out of the house. Before you know it, that's what you're talking about to your friends, family, and anyone who will listen. You'll think about it at night and ever so slowly fear will permeate your psyche. You will start making fear-based choices. I've heard several friends recently tell me they don't want to do things or go places because they are afraid. 

Fear begets fear. What we dwell on is what will manifest itself in our lives. So this post is dedicated to helping all of us conquer the enemy of fear because peace begins within each of us. 

First of all, let's realize one fact. No one knows when our last day on this earth will be. When it's our time to go, it's our time to go so why live in fear? Why let fear steal the joy from each precious day? When I used to teach yoga, I would tell my class, "Every day is a gift. That is why it's called the present". 

It is a perspective I choose to value each day and not take life for granted. We have a choice to live a fear-based life or a faith-based life. Fear sucks our energy and keeps us back from pursuing our goals, our dreams, and our destinies. We tell ourselves things like "I'm too old", "I'm too uneducated", "I'm too undisciplined", "I'm to -----" you fill in the blank. These are all excuses that masquerade themselves as reality, when they are really fear dressed in disguise.

So how to counteract this pervasive thought pattern?

1. Realize we may have been programmed to think negatively.
Some of us, myself included, were raised in a negative environment. Our parents may have been worriers, fearful, anxious, unmotivated. Yet that doesn't have to be us. We are free to think and choose differently from our parents. It is never too late to change our thinking no matter how old we are. Or how young :)

2. Cultivate a positive mindset.
Begin to reprogram your mind. Start by reading positive literature. Like this blog for instance :)  Write down affirming statements. I use those little yellow post-it notes to remind myself of whatever way of thinking or habit I'm working on changing. It takes time to cultivate a positive mindset but with diligence - over time - we will soon be thinking more positive hopeful thoughts and less negative, fear-driven ones. There is always another way to see things, no matter how bad they seem at the time. 

Our thinking patterns wire our brains. The longer we think negative thoughts, the more negative we will become as we age. We must make a conscious effort to think positive thoughts if we want to live a happier less fearful life. 

3. Stop feeding your mind negativity.
Pay attention to what you are putting into your mind. Sure, we need to keep up with world events, but we don't have to listen to the news as much as we think we do - to keep up. The news is on repeat. If you missed it tonight, tomorrow it will be on again, and again....

Pay attention to what movies you watch. Are they about murder, killing, psychotic behavior? You don't need to watch that. When the consumer stops paying for this junk, maybe the producers will start making better programming. 

All of this is input into our thinking. As we used to say in the IT field, GIGO: garbage in, garbage out. If we want good output, we have to program our minds with good input. 

Recent Decision

My physical therapist told me that she doesn't watch the news because "it's so depressing." I realized she is right - it is depressing. So instead of parking myself in front of the boob tube every night at 6:30, I decided to watch the news every other night. The stories will still be pretty much the same. And I can use that hour for more enjoyable purposes. Ta da! A choice to have less drama and more joy. 

4. Develop self-confidence.
Know who you are. You are a child of God. You have power. You are fully equipped for your journey. Read positive books. Hang around people who are uplifting, growing, and encouraging. Listen to inspirational and motivational speakers. The more we listen to positive influences, the better self-image we will have of ourselves. You are wonderfully made. You are unique and a masterpiece. There is no one else like you. Don't try to be someone else. Be YOU!

5. Refuse to give up.
Life has its setbacks, that is FOR SURE. But I like to look at these as opportunities to alter my course. Setbacks usually mean I need to change my thinking about something. The Bible calls this "repentance". When I change my thinking, I can then change my actions which will produce different results. Failure is not an excuse to give up. Failure motivates us to try a different approach. Look how many times Thomas Edison failed when he was trying to invent the light bulb. 

6. Let Go of Control

This is a biggie. We have to realize - in the moment - what we can control and what we can't. We can't control the weather, the stock market, the government, other people. However, we can control our reactions and responses. We can control how much we invest in the market. We can control our attitudes when things don't go our way like in the recent election. So many people were and still are so - excuse me - p---ed off and they took it out on others. All we can do is vote. We can't control outcomes. We can't control aging, but we can do our best to stay in shape and eat right. Get the point?

7. Trust God.
God is for us. He has our back. Yes, bad things happen but God works stuff out for our good whether we realize it or not. Even the worst scenarios have a silver lining if we look for it. Read my book "The Power of Faith" and see how God orchestrated my life and turned it all for good. We may not see the silver lining at the time, but there always is one. 

God loves us and wants the best for you and me which means you should want that for yourself. Every day we have choices of whether to act out of fear or in faith. I choose faith. I have made a decision to never make a decision based on fear. If you are indecisive, ask yourself this question "What fear is holding me back from making this decision?" Then ask God to give you the faith to trust him. 

Step out of your comfort zone. Try something new. Connect with someone you want to get to know. See less of someone who is causing you grief. Don't let fear keep you from moving forward in your life and your relationships no matter what is going on in the world.

God rewards Faith. When He sees us stepping out of the boat, He will move heaven and earth on our behalf. We will see miracles happen. Obstacles will move out of our way and doors will open. Sometimes we will even get a sign of confirmation that we are moving in the right direction. Contrary to popular thought, signs come AFTER we have taken a step of faith, not before. When we see life through the eyes of faith, rather than fear, we will have more joy, more energy, and more motivation. 

For Reflection

Do you find yourself dwelling on negative thoughts? What are you afraid of these days? What event from the past might be coloring your perspective? What could you do in this life if you weren't afraid? Will you make a decision to choose faith over fear from now on?

I hope this post has given you some ideas on how to conquer fear in your life. If you want more energy, see more progress in your life, and feel more alive, I encourage you to put some of these steps into practice. Love to hear your feedback here or on Facebook or Instagram.  

If you'd like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. I'll also send you out a copy of my free e-guide entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice." so you can learn 10 ways to strengthen your SPIRITUAL MUSCLE.

Until next time, here's to living a more faith-filled life and remember - 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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 Practice" as 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 

3 Steps to a Better Relationship with God and Others

Do you sometimes feel disconnected from others? Far from God?  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 upwards to God.

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 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. "Just 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 "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice". 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

How to Keep Your Joy While Waiting on God

We are all waiting for something - most of the time. Waiting for the kids to get bigger, waiting for that raise. Waiting for a spouse. Waiting to retire. Waiting is a part of life and it is important to we learn HOW to wait if we want to keep our joy.

What Not to Do

Waiting on God is not usually easy, is it? It requires patience, trust, and lots of hope. Some think waiting on God means sitting back and doing nothing, dejected and doubtful their prayers will ever be answered. Dwelling on the thing they are waiting on - making it an idol in their lives - but not taking any action. 

What to Do

First of all, we cannot be double-minded, like it says in the book of James, "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1:6-8)

It means to keep on doing what God has told me to do, with hopeful expectation while I'm waiting for Him to answer my prayers. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Gal 6:9-10).

Exercising our Faith 
A friend gave me a card a while ago, that said "God is always working, even if we don't see it." So true, yes? We cannot always see how God is working on someone or some situation in our lives. That is where faith comes in. We must BELIEVE that God is working all things for our good even if it doesn't seem that way at the time. This is what Faith is all above, believing when we do not see. 

So, while you are waiting for your prayers to be answered, get up and do your part. Trust in God's perfect timing and His great faithfulness. If there is some action you can take, do it. Put out that resume. Go out of your comfort zone. Asl that girl out. Stop waiting for God to do what God is waiting for you to do!

For Reflection

What are you waiting on today, friend? Is there some step you need to take? If you've already done everything you can, the Bible exhorts us to STAND FIRM and let God fight our battle for us. Stay in peace and keep your joy. Don't let the enemy steal them. 

If you enjoyed this post, consider joining our community. All you have to do is enter your email address in the box on the right and you will receive my weekly newsletter plus your FREE copy of my newest ebook, "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice." 

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Until next time, keep looking up and do leave a comment or forward this to a friend!

Stay tuned for more encouraging and inspiring tips to help you IGNITE THE POWER WITHIN! 

Ariel Paz 

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 or 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 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 Make More Joy this Season

Welcome to the third week of Advent. This week the focus is on the gift of Joy. It seems to be a buzzword these days. Everybody is looking for more joy but most don't know where to find it. News flash - Joy comes from God! Joy is an inner delight that springs up like a fountain of fresh water despite our circumstances. Let's take a minute and go back to that heavenly night long ago.....

Let's Go Back a Moment 

The shepherds are going about their business of tending their sheep in the dark of the night. When lo and behold, a star appears in the sky and soon angels appear and begin heralding the news of the birth of the Messiah. Imagine the great JOY they must have felt! Intrigued, they follow the star to the place where Mary had just given birth. How do you feel when you see a newborn baby? Imagine if you knew it was the Son of God. 

Back to the Present

The holidays are upon us. Are you feeling it yet? I know the year has been a rough one for several reasons, so this week I am hoping to help you cook up some joy this season. 

We're supposed to be filled with joy but -- sometimes -- joy is hard to come by. Lots of things can try and steal our joy, if we let them: a strained relationship, an illness, a job loss. The list is endless. So today, in this third week of Advent, I am here to cheer you up and help you cook up some joy in your life.

Food and festivities are plentiful this time of year and everyone has a favorite dish or recipe they look forward to. I love hearing what different cultures do for the holidays.  An Italian neighbor of mine makes 500 homemade ravioli every year for her extended family. My oldest loves stromboli and Caesar salad. Greeks make powdered sugar cookies with a clove in the middle. Americans love their eggnog and pecan pie.

Today I'd like to share with you a favorite recipe of mine. I found it in a very old "cook" book known as the Bible. All the ingredients for a happy, healthy, and successful life can be found within its pages.

So if you'd like to cook up some joy this season, follow this simple recipe:

1. Remember you are a unique and one of a kind individual. There is no one else on earth like you and God adores you! (Ps. 139:14)
2. Add a touch of kindness towards others.  This helps us get out of our self-absorbed world and into someone else's shoes. (See Eph. 4:32)
3. Add a hefty dose of prayer to cover everything that is on your mind.(Phil. 4:6)
4. Remove any seeds of worry, fear, negativity, anger, or unforgiveness.(Eph. 4:31) 
5. Stir in positive thoughts about what is true, lovely, noble, pure and helpful.

(See Phil. 4:8)
6. Mix well until you feel peace simmering within.(See John 14:27)
7. Wait for joy to bubble up. True joy is a gift from God and when we are at living at peace with ourselves and God, joy bubbles up like a fountain. (See Romans 15:13)
8. Sprinkle generously with thanksgiving. Be thankful for your many blessings and then turn around and serve a blessing to others. (Phillipians 4:)

No one has a perfect life. It make look like they do from their Facebook or TikTok posts but everyone is fighting some kind of battle. However, we can choose joy despite our circumstances. If you are reading this, chances are you have a roof over your head, a decent income, and plenty of food on your table. That is a lot to be joyful about.

For Reflection 

Joy is the third gift of Christmas. Are you feeling joyful these days? If not, what is stealing your joy? Can you look at things from a different perspective? There is always another way to see things. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my NEW eguide "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice." 

Give this recipe a try and watch joy bubble up in you! 

Stay tuned for more on healing, wholeness, and harmony to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny.

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Keep Hope Alive During the Holidays

Do you look forward to the holidays? Or do you wish you could pull the covers over your head and wake up when they are all over? Not to fret! I have learned the trick to enjoying the holidays, no matter what is going on in my life and I am sharing it with you this month in our holiday series. 

 

The First Week of Advent

This is the first week of Advent and I want to help us focus on something that will keep us going all through the year whatever it may bring and that is the first gift of Christmas, which is the gift of HOPE.

In case you might not know, Advent means "coming" or "arrival". It is a time of expectation, anticipation, and preparation leading up to the celebration of the birth of Christ. The Advent wreath is made up of evergreens to remind us that even though we may be in a season of winter where things seem dead and we don't see any growth happening, new life will come again.  It is a time to focus on the true gifts of Christmas which do not come in a nicely decorated box. Instead they came in a manger with straw, hay, and farm animals. Can you picture the scene?

How do we keep hope alive during the tough times? 

When people mistreat us or leave us? When the world feels unjust and unfair? When life hasn't panned out the way we would have liked? When events of the world have taken a turn? When inflation threatens our very existence and our families?

Biblical Story 
Let's look at the example of the young girl named Mary, who was probably no more than 13 or 14 years old. The angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and told her she was going to be with child without having known a man. Now, these days unwed mothers are a regular occurrence, but not in those days. In those days, being pregnant outside of marriage was a sin and a crime punishable by stoning to death, not a very happy prospect to be sure. But what was Mary's response? 

"Let it be done unto me according to your word."

Mary's response was one of willingness, trust, and surrender. She submitted her life and her will for God's purposes no matter what the cost. She was willing to endure the shame of being an unwed mother and possible death by stoning to be obedient to God. Mary had no idea of the pain and suffering she would endure to bring the Christ child into this world. Mary had received the first gift of Christmas - HOPE. 

The Source of Hope 
Mary's hope was in God and in His great love for her. For this same reason, we, too, can have hope this holiday season. When we are secure in the knowledge of God's immeasurable and unfailing love or us, no matter what comes our way, good or bad, we can rest in God's promise to always be with us and to never forsake us, no matter who else does.  And what better partner to have in life than the Lord God Almighty?

God is Always With You and Me
Jesus is also called Emmanuel, which means "God with us". God promises to be with us, particularly during the tough times. One of my favorite verses is Ps. 34:18 which says: "God is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." We all get down at times, but it is in these tough times, that the Lord is closest to us. He is always drawing us to him, if only we listen to that still small voice. 

The Future is Brighter after the Darkness 

Like Mary, sometimes we don't know what the future holds, but we can hold fast to the One who does because God is faithful. One of my favorite verses from the Bible is John 1:5 "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will never put it out." Keep your eyes on the light. 

When we look at our lives through our spiritual glasses and through the lens of faith, it is possible to maintain hope even when things look dark and desperate. When plan A has failed, God always has Plan B. Sometimes God doesn't give us what we think we want. He gives us something BETTER! 

As we enter this Advent season, let's choose to focus on the gifts of the season, rather than what may be missing or not so perfect in our lives. Above all, let's trust God. His timing is perfect and he is working ALL things out for our good, even if we don't see it at the moment. God's ways are higher than our ways, and God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts. 

For Reflection 

What are your hopes this holiday season? What is the longing of your heart? Whatever it is, give it to the Lord, and trust that He will surround you with His amazing love this season. His gifts are for every child of His and that means each and every one of us. When all else fades, Jesus is still there to light our way. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12). Choose to walk in the light this holiday season. 

If this post has encouraged you, join our community to receive my weekly posts. You'll also receive my free newest ebook entitled "How to Develop a 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 online booksellers. Or my latest book on spiritual growth entitled "Ignite the Power Within: 10 Steps to Supercharge Your Spiritual Growth" also available at your favorite online bookseller. 

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Stay tuned for more encouraging and uplifting posts this month to help you enjoy this season.

Until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz