5 Tips to Fly Like an Eagle in the New Year

2025 is now a page in the history book. How do you feel about the year gone by? Did you accomplish the goals and dreams you planned? Are you better off today than you were a year ago? Are you filled with excitement about the New Year? Or not so much?

No matter where you are or how you are feeling as the New Year starts, get ready! The good news is when we start feeling bored, joyless, or down and depressed, it is a sign we are on the brink of a transformation. 

The New Year is the perfect time to take a leap of faith into something NEW, EXCITING and maybe a little bit scary! This week I am sharing 5 actions we can take to get started on the right foot. Let's find out what they are. 

1. Leave the Old Behind.

You know what it is deep down. It could be a dead-end job or career decision,  a dead-beat boyfriend or relationship. Or maybe you just want to leave your old life behind and travel the world. After all, the world is your oyster!

If we want to make room for something NEW in our lives, we have to first let go of whatever is no longer bearing fruit it our lives. It's kind of like decluttering our closets. We only have so much time, energy, and money and it is important to be mindful of just how and where we spend these resources.

2. Forgive Yourself and Others 

This one is not always easy to do, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, it is possible. We all make mistakes. We say or do things in the heat of the moment that we later regret. Mistakes are learning experiences, but don't just blame someone else. There are always two sides to every story, and two people in any disagreement or conflict. Accept responsibility for your part and make the necessary changes. Hopefully the other person will do the same. Then you can forgive yourself and them and move forward. 

3. Welcome in the Joy
Joy is fuel that moves us forward into the NEW. Consider the joy factor when making any big decision. If there is no joy in it, it probably is not the right decision, person, job, etc. Moving forward in life involves trading the old for something new AND something better. We leave behind people and activities that have become stale, unhealthy, or unfruitful to open the door for new opportunities, healthier people, and activities that will bring us joy and purpose. 

Sometimes letting go means making tough choices. This is where the rubber hits the road and we have to really dig deep to find out what matters most to us. Life's choices become more difficult the closer we get to what we truly want from life. If you want to take back your life this year, I hope you'll order a copy of my ebook "Take Back Your Life: 5 Keys to Reclaiming Your Personal Power". It is also available on Amazon and Apple Books and other online booksellers. 

4. Step Out in Faith 

If we want to transform our lives, we have to be willing to step out of the boat, in other words, our comfort level. 

Years ago, I took a leap of faith and left a dead-end job that was stressful and unfulfilling. I trusted God to provide and he did. I now live in freedom and abundance. I left an unhealthy marriage with two young sons and stepped out into peace. I left dysfunctional family members and stepped into harmony and connection. Folks, we have to let some things and people go if we want to move forward into the life Jesus died for us to have. 

Moving forward involves faith, courage and the willingness to step out into the unknown. If you'd like to learn more about strengthening your faith, check out my collection of books on spiritual growth here. 

5. Discover Your Destiny

I don't know about you, but I believe we each were put on this earth for a purpose. Not to just live a humdrum ordinary get-by life. You were meant for more than status quo! I love the way author Marianne Williamson puts it when she says, "You began as a thought in the mind of God". I recently heard it put like this, "You will only go as far as you can envision yourself going." or something like that. If we want to make a difference in this world, we have to have a vision for our lives. If we want to soar like the eagle, we must ignite the power within so we can discover our destiny. 

For Reflection
What is it that is no longer bringing you joy? Certain relationships? A nowhere job? A church or community? Unhealthy behaviors and thought patterns? Do a run through and see.

Are you pursuing your dreams and aspirations? Rising to new levels? Or are you content with the status quo? The same old same old? When boredom sets in and we lose our joy and zest for life, that is a sign it's time for something new. We were meant to fly like eagles and SOAR!

If you'd like to grow your faith, check out my true story "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony" available on Amazon and your favorite online bookseller. Or you can order the ebook through Zelle using my email address arielpaz08@gmail.com for only $3.99. The new audiobook is available on Google Play. So excited to finally have an audioformat. 

If you feel motivated and encouraged by this post, enter your email in the box provided and you'll receive my weekly posts. You'll also receive a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". Sometimes in life we have to change lanes and the new year is the perfect time to do so.  

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom.

Until next time, keep looking up and get ready to SOAR!

Ariel Paz 


All rights reserved. If you'd like to use this material, contact me at arielpaz08@gmail.com

Reflections to Help You Take Charge of the New Year

Time to say goodbye to 2025 and prepare for 2026. Can you believe it? This year flew by for me - again. And I'm sure for you too. Before we usher in the New Year, I am a firm believer in taking time to reflect on the year that is ending to bring closure and to revisit our priorities to see where we might need to make adjustments for the year ahead.

Every year does not go as planned and we have to be willing to deal with whatever comes our way. This is where a spiritual practice is vital. Life can throw us a curve ball and a strong spiritual practice can help us navigate life's unexpected challenges with more grace and faith. 

                

Here are some questions to ponder before we jump feet first into 2026.  I'll share my honest answers with you as well. 

1. What are some good things you accomplished this year? Here are a few of mine. 

My son moved back home in February after 12 years in Texas. Things haven't been as smooth as I would have liked but distance does affect connection and communication. 

Was able to visit sunny Florida again in the Spring. Love Siesta Key Beach. It was more crowded than usual due to the change in school vacation schedules this time. 

In September, went on a girls' retreat to Hilton Head, SC with a good friend. We had a great time, being relieved of all of our daily duties and responsibilities and had someone else cook for us. 

What fun positive events happened in your life in 2025?

2. Did you learn something new? Try something new? Buy something new? 

Replaced my entire HVAC system in June! A big deal but not as big as I had imagined. Mostly researching the various options, companies, and brands. It was 22 years old so it did well for many years. Lesson: when you start worrying about whether something is going to break down, it's time to buy new. That includes appliances, cars, etc. 

Learned a new calligraphy lettering style called Square Capitals and used it making Christmas cards this year. It is a fun and mindful activity as well as creative. 

Spent time practicing my Spanish for my upcoming trip to Spain in 2026. There is a lot to learn about the idiosyncrasies of a new language, that is for sure.  

Started a new exercise routine that I experienced at Hilton Head Health. TRX. Have you tried it? I am seeing results already and am excited about working out again. 

How about you? What new thing did you try, buy or do this year?

3. What lessons did you learn this year?

Relationships can be very draining, particularly family. If someone you love is draining you, it's time for firmer boundaries and a time out. Make self-care a top priority. 

My peace and my joy don't depend on other people's behavior. It depends on my behavior. It is a choice to make peace and joy a top priority. And remember, you can't have joy unless you first have peace. 

Some things only God can fix, try as I might. My own efforts are often futile. When you get frustrated, let go and let God. Works every time. 

What lessons did you learn this year?

4.  Who did you connect with this year? 

Online bloggers and social media personalities which has been fun. The world is connected via the Internet. 

My nephews and cousins who live out of state. Been having some good conversations so that is a blessing. 

5. How did you use your time this year?

We make our plans and our goals, but sometimes our time is not our own. When we are working we have a schedule and deadlines or quotas to meet. When we retire, other responsibilities like elderly relatives, health issues, and finances take our time. The key is to accept the will of God, do whatever is right in front of you, and trust God's timing. With a smile. 

Finally created an audiobook for my first book, "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony." Ebook available on Google Books and audiobook on Google Play So excited to have accomplished that. Am currently working on reformatting this ebook to get it onto other platforms. It is on Amazon Kindle already. 

Updated my Mediterranean cookbook, over 160 pages of deliciousness including several ethnicities. Order your digital copy today for only $24.99 using Zelle and my email address arielpaz08@gmail.com and I'll get it right out to you to start cooking fun!

For Reflection

As the New Year begins, what adjustments do you need to make? What can you let go of? Control? A relationship? What is it that you truly would like to accomplish or embrace in the New Year? 

I hope you were encouraged by this post. If so, do pass this on to a friend who could use a bit of encouragement. I am looking to increase readership and I need your help. All they have to do is enter their email address in the box provided. They'll also receive a copy of my free e-guide, "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path. We're all on a spiritual journey and sometimes we have to take a different route. 

Stay tuned for more practical and positive wisdom on igniting the power within and discovering YOUR destiny!

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year and remember - 

Keep looking up!

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

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

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

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

For Reflection:

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

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

Until next time, 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to 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 may 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 FREE eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path ." 

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 Have More Peace in a Troubled World

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

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

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

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

Jesus -the greatest gift of all 

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

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

How sin gets in the way

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

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

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

Are you a captive?

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

Jesus is Peace

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

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

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

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

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

Blessings and joy,

Ariel Paz 

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, who is with me or not with me, whether I have money or am on a tight leash, and I am sharing it with you this month in our new 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, unfair and scary? 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 huge sin and a crime punishable by being stoned to death. But what was Mary's response? 

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

Mary's response was not one of fear or anxiety. It 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 ebook entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". All you have to do is enter your email address in the box provided. While you're at it, pass it on. Someone you know may need a little hope this season. 

Need a gift? Consider giving a copy of my inspirational true story, "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony" available on Amazon and your favorite online booksellers. Audio version is now available on Google play. 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. 

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

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

Until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How Faith is Good for your Joy and Your Brain

It's Thanksgiving week and we have much to be thankful for. I am thankful for you who are reading this now. I am thankful for technology, for faith, and for a good mind to be able to write this blog. I hope you find it beneficial. 

Difficulties are part and parcel of life and I want to remind us that it is in these difficult times that what we believe - our worldview - is crucial to how we get through the tough times and how we will emerge. 

Stressed out? Cynical? Dwelling on the negative? Or do you instead look for the silver lining in every difficult situation? Every challenge provides a lesson to learn. I have learned that "It's all gift", good or bad. 

Brain Science and Psychology 

I find an interesting correlation between psychology, brain science, and what the Bible teaches. Brain science is evolving and we are learning that we do, in fact, have some control over how we perceive the world. It has to do with what types of thoughts we think on a daily basis. And this is exactly what the Bible teaches, "think on things that are lovely,  pure, noble, excellent of good report". (Phil 4:8 - 9). 

"Hardwiring Happiness" is a book by neuropsychologist and best selling author, Rick Hanson, PhD, and the gist of it is to focus on the good, to take it in, and absorb it more. This is because the human brain is hard-wired since caveman times to focus on the negatives since it was a matter of survival way back then. With each thought we train our brains to be more either more positive or more negative. With every negative thought, we are programming our brains to continue to see and focus on the negative. But there is another way that has been written about for over 2,000 years. 

The Faith Component 

The key to positive outcomes in our lives is not simply based on our thoughts or our intentions, but also by utilizing the power of FAITH - believing in and trusting in a supernatural, all-powerful being who is able to move the mountains we cannot move. We've all encountered situations that are beyond our abilities to conquer and this is where the power of FAITH comes in. 

Faith and the belief in a loving and caring God gives us strength to persevere and carry on no matter how bad things seem at the time. Faith is both a gift and a choice and it is in the tough times that our faith is tested. It is in times of trials that we need something greater than ourselves to put our hopes in. I am a living testimony of how Faith can bring us out of even the worst of storms. 

Personal Story 

Read my inspiring true story of being raised in a dysfunctional family, leaving an emotionally damaging marriage, an ugly divorce, financial ruin and then raising two wounded kids and watching them struggle with addictions and overcoming all of it by the power of Faith.  "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness and harmony"  will encourage and inspire you. Learn how I was transformed from a shy, timid, anxious girl to a woman of faith, confidence, and strength all by the power and grace of God. 

What do you put your hope in, friend? Your job? Your family? Your health? Your 401k? Your smarts? All of these can disappear in an instant  - just look at the story of Job - but faith in God is constant and eternal because God is constant and eternal. 

In fact, Scripture says God rewards those who seek him. Did you get that? REWARDS! I'm up for that. How about you? 

See the Good. 

Instead of dwelling on what is wrong with our life or our world, try focusing on what's right with it. I don't mean being a polyanna because we do need to know what is going on in the world, but we don't have to absorb it or talk about it 24 - 7. Often we take for granted the many gifts we have been blessed with: gifts of freedom, of sight, our abilities to walk, run, cook, dance, be with loved ones and friends, travel and enjoy our children and grand-children. These are all gifts from God. One thing I hope the pandemic taught us was to appreciate all of these more and not take life for granted. 

Let's also remember the Pilgrims who left bondage in England and courageously ventured across the ocean to come to a strange new land and start life afresh and anew. 

Let us do that this season. Let us leave behind us any bondage that keeps us from moving forward and enjoying a life of abundance, peace, and joy. Let us dream a new dream and leave behind any negativity and instead embrace faith, hope, and love. 

Thankful for YOU!

I am thankful for each of you reading and commenting on my blog posts. I am thankful for the gift of faith and the opportunity to write this blog as a way of encouraging and inspiring others. We are all on a journey and I am grateful that you have chosen to travel this journey with me.

Look around you this morning. What do you see? I see the glorious colors of the fall leaves, the sunshine streaming thru my windows, I feel the quiet presence of the Lord after another busy week. The whistle of my new dryer telling me my clothes are dry. The sound of the heat coming from my furnace to keep me warm. Many people struggle simply trying to obtain the basics. I bet if you look around you will notice the same types of things. Truly God is gracious to us!

Let's also make time to reach out, encourage, and bless some who is less fortunate. Donate to a food bank. Take food to an ailing neighbor. Invite a single person over for dinner. We are blessed to be a blessing.

For Reflection
What can you be thankful for this season? What can you do to be a blessing to someone else? Won't you take time today to offer up praise to God, the giver of all good gifts? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 exhorts us to give thanks. "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

I wish you and yours a healthy, happy, and harmonious Thanksgiving so until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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