When Life Gets Out of Balance

As a single woman in this country, I am very grateful for the many freedoms I enjoy. But with great freedom comes great responsibility, true? The pressures to do a good job at work, maintain a home and a car, eat well, exercise, care for relatives and be there for friends can be exhausting at times. And when one area of life gets out of balance, it throws a kink in the whole works. I don't know how your year has started off, but mine has been quite, shall I say, challenging. Can anyone relate?

In my quiet time recently, as I was reflecting on this whole singleness thing yet once again, the thought occurred to me: Jesus was single! Yes, he was. Didn't he have a ton of things to do as well? My list pales in comparison to his: healing the sick, feeding the poor, fighting the religious rulers of the day, and teaching the disciples, not to mention preaching to thousands. Jesus didn't have a car or even a home, as far as I know, but was he ever stressed or pressured? I doubt it. In fact, Jesus encourages us to learn from him. My life verse for this year is Matthew 11:28-30 and the words come back to me again.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Now I understand the first part about coming to him to rest. But I think the key could be in the very next verse. "For I am gentle and humble in heart." Wow. Isn't it when we try to press our own desires and ways that tension comes? Gentle and humble in heart. I believe that correlates to surrendering. You know the prayer, "Not my will, but thine be done." What I am learning is that when I surrender, even if I know I am right, there is peace. I can trust that God will show the other party what the right thing is sooner or later. In the meantime, I can relax and let go. Then my burden is no longer heavy. Interesting how this all fits together, isn't it?

So, as I meditate on this passage and how I can apply it to my life, I wanted to share with my friends. Perhaps you have already learned this lesson and if so, good for you. I know I need more practice. What kinds of situations throw you off balance and what tips can you share with us? I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas. In the meantime, I think it's time for another post-it on my kitchen cabinet! Have a great rest of the week and as always, keep looking up!

How to Get to Know God

There's a lot of controversy over God these days, don't you agree? Some doubt the very existence of a Creator, a Divine authority, or a Sovereign ruler of the universe. Many put their trust in a human figure such as the Pope or a Hollywood celebrity or sports star. Millions were shocked when the Pope resigned recently, and others were stunned when the truth was revealed about Lance Armstrong. These people were appointed for a purpose. But they are not God, only mere human beings.

God is alive and well and oh, by the way, He is very interested in YOU! Who me? Yes, you! Luke 12:7 says that He knows the number of the very hairs on our heads and that he has captured every tear in a bottle (Ps. 56:8). Did you know that? In fact, He is crazy about you! He wants to bless your socks off that's how much He loves you.

But, as any good parent knows, children must be obedient and do the right thing. Did you ever give your son or daughter the keys to the family car after they refused to make curfew? Did you allow your child to fall on his face a time or two to toughen him up or learn a lesson?

Well, that's how our heavenly Father works with us. He is not this strict, authoritarian figure waiting to punish us the minute we fall short, as some think. Au contraire, He is a God of mercy, grace, and favor as well as justice and discipline. Unlike we humans, he knows the perfect balance between justice and mercy, discipline and grace.

So, I hope this post has given you something to think about. God is waiting to get to know you - no wait - God already knows us. He made us. God is waiting for us to get to know Him!

For Reflection 
What do you believe about God? What do your really know about his character? Yes, you can walk in nature, listen to music, and practice your breathing till the cows come home, but the surest way to get to know God is thru reading his word. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to know the truth. As Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."

But don't take my word for it. Give it a try for yourself. Open the book and start reading. God will reveal the truth to you and open your eyes to who He really is.

If you enjoyed this post, join our blog community of like-minded growth folks. Enter your email in the box to the right and receive not only my weekly newsletter but your FREE ebook as well - "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice."

Until next time, stay tuned for more to help you discover your destiny and IGNITE THE POWER WITHIN!

Ariel Paz 

Whose Will Is It?

Ever have your mind made up to do something or go someplace, make all the plans, and then have it all fall through at the last minute? How do you explain these frustrating disappointments? Fate? Timing? Or could it be God's will?

Now, I know a lot of people poo-poo the very idea of God even caring about what we mortals do down here on earth. But I know differently. Here's a situation that happened recently and you tell me what you think.

It had been a rough day, starting off with my computer not working. Isn't that a fun way to start the day? "Oh my, here we go again," I thought. "Wonder what happened to the connection this time." So the first half of the day was spent troubleshooting what the problem was with the network connection. By lunchtime, I was thinking "I need to do something fun tonight". Now I usually go out to dinner with my son, but that night I felt like going country dancing. After several attempts at communicating and getting agreement with a friend, the plan was in place and I was looking forward to a fun evening.

Took a shower, got all dressed, did the makeup and hair routine, and was ready to head out the door when that small inner voice said "Take the recycling out on the way". I have learned, after many years, to heed that still small voice immediately, so I grabbed the bag of plastic containers and locked the door behind me. Coming back to my car after dropping the recycling in the dumpster, I noticed my left rear tire was extremely low.

"Guess I have to go to the gas station and get air in the tire now," I sighed. It was a bitter cold night. At the gas station, the tire would not inflate. "That's odd. I wonder what's wrong." Thankfully, I cannot remember the last time I had a flat tire. Undaunted, I decided to see if Sears Auto was still open. It was not. The sad realization that I was not going dancing that night finally sunk in.

"Lord, you know I wanted to go dancing tonight. I've had such a tough day." But it was not meant to be. I have to say I was not a happy camper. Can anyone relate at this point?

So what do we usually do next? You can answer that for yourself. But before my thoughts went down that negative track, I caught myself. "You know, this could have been a lot worse. You could have been on the highway and had a blow-out in this freezing cold weather. Then what would you have done?" Dismay and disappointment gave way to gratitude and praise. "Thank you, Lord, for your protection tonight. Thank you for keeping me safe. Thank you for telling me to take the recycling out." In Psalm 121:7-8, we are promised that "The Lord will keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Thankfully, also, the friend I was meeting was still at home, finishing dinner. As I related the situation, my friend jokingly says "So I guess this was not God's will?" I cracked up. This was such an unexpected comment and it definitely lightened the situation.

"That's my take on it," I replied.

So what is your take on it? I am sure something like this has happened to you. How do you explain it? Until next time, let me encourage you to see things from a different perspective. What may look like a disappointment may well be the Lord's protection on your life. Send me your thoughts and in the meantime, keep looking up!

Fun With Favor

Everybody likes to have fun, yes? Working for the weekend, you know. What's your idea of a good time? Getting together with friends? Attending a football game or concert? Or perhaps participating in your favorite sport or hobby? There are so many ways to have fun, but have you ever thought about what makes the difference between a good time and a great time? The answer is this: the favor of God.

Now, you may or may not be familiar with this phrase so keep reading. According to my beloved pastor George, if we have our priorities straight, and I so agree with him, God will grant us fun with FAVOR. Let me share a recent example so you get the idea.

Last week was Valentine's Day, right? And, being a single lady in this couples world, I refuse to let the holiday go by without celebrating. So I made plans with a girlfriend to go out to dinner in Little Italy, a quaint section of Baltimore, famous for its atmosphere and good restaurants. I enjoy getting dressed up and going to a nice restaurant every so often and she was up for the adventure.

What an adventure it was too. Now I'm not keen on driving in the city, especially on a Saturday night and a holiday weekend, but her car headlight was out so I agreed to drive. As I was about to make the left turn onto Eastern Avenue, I began praying for a parking space. Yes, the Lord does care about these mundane things.

"Lord, please give us a spot close to the restaurant so we don't have to walk far in this cold," I said aloud. As I turned onto Eastern Avenue, what do I see but a space on the right side of the road!

"I think I can fit in here," I said to my friend, Janis as I maneuvered into the spot.

"Wow, you know how to parallel park," Janis commented.

We got out of the car & checked the parking sign. "I think we're good to go here. Thank you, Lord". Surveying our location, I realized the restaurant was on the street immediately to our left, only a few blocks down.

Sure enough, Ciao Bella was only a short walk away. We arrived on time. The host steered us to a cozy table for two right in front of the main window. "This is the best seat in the house," I said to Janis as I settled into my chair.

"You're right," Janis agreed. That was two gifts of favor and the evening had barely begun.

"So have you been here before?" Janis asked.
"Yes, once - years ago. And I had the best chicken with crabmeat and sun-dried tomatoes dish," I recalled.

As I perused the menu, I didn't see the chicken dish anywhere. Well, they must have changed the menu.

The waiter soon approached and began telling us the specials of the day. "And we have chicken Annabelle: a chicken breast, topped with lump crabmeat in a sundried tomato sauce." Janis and I looked at each other. That was favor #3.

The meal was delicious, the wine exceptional, and I had a Groupon to cover much of the cost. After dinner, we decided to stop by Vaccaro's for a hot coffee. As we sipped on our hot Mochaccinos, the warmth of the sweet liquid felt so good against the brisk night air. "What a great time!" Janis bubbled on the way home.

"Yes, indeed it was," I agreed.

And that, my friends, is fun with favor.

So, are you experiencing fun with favor in your life? If not, there may be something you can do about it and it all starts with having faith in God. It really is a simple process and there is nothing to be afraid of. God truly loves each of us as his own special Valentine. Until next time, put your trust in Jesus and remember to keep looking up!

The Most Special Gift of All

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ariel Paz 

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Tragic news of the mass killing in Connecticut rocked the world last week. People's emotions ranged from shock, sadness and grief to anger and outrage. Even the most peaceful of us found it hard to grasp how such a thing could happen at this joyful time of year.

But, many around the world are not joyful and deal with shootings and killings every day. Parents do not know whether their children will come home safely. Some have lost loved ones or have a dear one on death's door. My own father is precariously hanging on to life.

Yet, today marks the third week of Advent and the color of the candle on my wreath is pink - symbolizing both unconditional love and joy. Despite the great evil in the world, we can still have joy and unconditional love. How can this be you ask?

Because joy is a calm inner knowing that God is always with us. His name, Emmanuel means exactly that. God came to this earth in the form of a baby to bring us peace and joy because he knew that we would not find these things in the world.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27)

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11).

Yes, we can have Joy this season despite our circumstances. Jesus is here to comfort us in our time of need. Will you be the hand and feet of Jesus and reach out to bring someone comfort and joy this season?

Let the joy of the Lord be your strength and your shield today (Ps. 28:7). He will bring you out of darkness and into His great Light!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

The holiday season is upon us and Christmas is three weeks from today. Are you wondering who's coming to dinner at your house this year?

In years past, I must confess, I have fretted over many things like who was and wasn't coming to dinner at Christmas, who was or wasn't coming to church, did I buy enough gifts for everybody, will they like the food ya da ya da ya da. Woe is me.

This year I have decided to give all that to the Lord. I am not going to fret about any of those issues. Because you know what? They are all out of my control. All I can do is extend the invitation and trust that those who are meant to be together will be.

And you know what else? The most important guest in my house is someone I cannot even touch or see, but I can certainly feel. His name is Jesus. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and he brings his gifts of hope, peace, joy and love. If He is there, then I will be content. When I focus on Him, everything else melts away like the snow when the sun shines on it. My spirit is at peace and my heart is brimming with His great love for me.

What about you? Are you fretting over something this holiday season? Is it out of your control? Then I encourage you to give it to the Lord and let him take care of things. He knows what is best and while we may not understand his ways, we know that he is always working things out for our good.

Whoever comes to dinner this year, I know it will be joyous for we will be celebrating the greatest gift ever given: the Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us.

Until next time, keep the faith and keep looking up!