Image via Pexels

Facing major life changes can be daunting; it can feel like everything is shifting, and the unknown can be overwhelming. But with the right mindset, tools, and techniques, these changes can be an opportunity for growth. This article from Daniel Parsons Ministry will provide helpful tips and insights on how to embrace major life changes and not just survive but also thrive through them.

Healthy Coping Mechanisms

When the going gets tough, it’s important to have coping mechanisms in place that help you navigate whatever challenge you are facing. Everyone has different coping mechanisms that work for them, so it’s important to find what works best for you. Some people might find that exercise is an effective way to manage stress and anxiety, while others might find that meditation, journaling, or talking with friends and family is more helpful.

Relocating and Buying a New House

When experiencing a major life change, such as a divorce or job loss, relocating and buying a new house can be a fresh start and a way to regain control of your life. Moving to a new place can also be an exciting opportunity to explore a new city, meet new people, and start anew. Once you’ve moved, decorating your new home can be therapeutic and cathartic. There are websites specializing in interior design, so take advantage of the resources available to you. Research different styles, colors, and pieces that appeal to you, and make your new home a reflection of your new journey.

Practice Mindfulness and Gratitude

Mindfulness meditation is an effective technique for managing stress and anxiety as it encourages you to be fully present in the moment without judgment. By focusing on the things within your control, you can avoid wasting time and energy on things that are beyond your control. Cultivating a daily gratitude practice further enhances positivity and helps shift your focus towards the good aspects of life, enabling you to stay optimistic and open to growth opportunities.

Going Back to School

If you’ve been feeling stuck in your career or unsure of your professional future, sometimes major life changes can actually present an opportunity to reassess and take stock of your goals. Rather than settling for a job that doesn’t fulfill you, consider going back to school to gain new skills or pursue a new career path. Enrolling in an online MBA program is a great option for many people, as it allows you to build valuable business skills and connect with other students and professionals in your industry. This page deserves a look if you’re ready to take action and invest in your future, creating a new path to success and fulfillment.

Focus on Controllable Factors

When facing a major life change, it’s easy to get caught up in all the things you can’t control. Instead, focus on the things you can control, such as your mindset, behavior, and reactions. Recognizing how you react to a situation can make all the difference in how you cope. Instead of falling into negative patterns of thinking or behavior, choose to cultivate a growth mindset and positive outlook. This can help you find new opportunities and approaches to your challenges.

Recognize the Growth Potential of Change

Finally, it’s important to recognize that change is an opportunity for growth. While change can be difficult and uncomfortable, it’s also a chance to learn new things, try new experiences, and become a better version of yourself. By embracing change and looking for opportunities to learn and grow, you can transform a challenging situation into a chance for personal and professional development.

In conclusion, facing major life changes can be scary but also an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. By finding reliable coping mechanisms, considering relocation and a new home, embarking on a new career, and more, you’ll be able to not only survive but thrive through major life changes. Remember that change is a natural part of life, and embracing it can create a brighter future for yourself.

How To Trade Bad Habits for Good Ones as the calendar is soon to turn to 1 January 2023. It’s hard to break old habits and replace them with new, positive ones. But if you are intentional about changing your life, it’s more than possible — it’s entirely practical.

How To Trade Bad Habits for Good Ones

Many paths lead to a healthier lifestyle, including evaluating your decision-making, reducing stress, and changing careers. Below, Medical Missionary shows you some simple strategies for trading bad habits for good ones.

Making Healthier Food Choices 

Eating healthy is one of the most critical habits anyone can adopt. Nutritious foods like lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and nuts give your body the necessary energy while keeping you feeling full throughout the day. Start small by trading one of your daily drive-through trips for a healthy salad or other dish consisting of whole foods.

Bad habits lead to bad health. Since World War II, when our government-funded research prepared ready-made meals for the soldiers, fast food loaded with salt has been a major problem. Fast food leads to fast life because it causes weight problems and leads to toxic medications. 

Fast food provides little to no nutrition, and when you combine it with a sedentary lifestyle, you have a recipe for countless illnesses and diseases. You might be surprised how quickly you’ll notice a change in how you feel (and look) by limiting your intake of fast food. And you’ll benefit your long-term health in the process!

Working Out

Along with a nutritious diet, working out regularly will help keep your body in shape while relieving stress. Shoot for exercising at least three times per week, and gradually work up to five times. You have plenty of activities to choose from; the key is to discover one that you enjoy so that you can stick to it for the long haul. Here are a few ideas:

• Swimming
• Running
• Brisk walking
• Cycling
• Weightlifting
• Recreational sports
• Pilates

Relieving Stress

Stress can come from many different sources in your life. Work and school are common sources, as well as negative relationships. Take time to identify where most of your stress is coming from so that you can take steps to reduce it.

For example, which relationships in your life are causing more harm than good? If someone is only bringing negativity into your life or adding more stress than necessary, it might be best to distance yourself from that person or situation altogether. In some cases, this may mean leaving a job or breaking up with a significant other if they no longer provide positive support for you.

Getting a New Job or Hobby

If you recognize that your job is adding significant stress to your life, or if you’re simply unfulfilled, changing careers or starting a hobby can be an excellent step. A change of scenery can help break old patterns of behavior and replace them with positive ones that lead you down the path to success. Maybe it’s taking the right classes at the local college or exploring different hobbies until something clicks; having something new to focus on can make it easier to drop your old harmful habits.

For those looking for higher education without attending traditional college courses, getting an online degree might be the best option. Online degrees allow students to learn at their own pace while still earning credits toward their degree — all without stepping foot inside a classroom. You’ll have more flexibility for studying, working a full-time job, handling family responsibilities, and managing other commitments. Plus, there are a wide array of fields and specialties to consider, so make time for looking at the options!

How To Trade Bad Habits for Good Ones Conclusion

Making changes in your life doesn’t have to be overwhelming or daunting. View it as an opportunity for personal growth and development. Eliminating bad habits in lieu of positive ones begins by taking small steps each day toward achieving long-term goals like eating healthier, exercising regularly, reducing stress levels, or changing careers. Embrace patience and stay dedicated, and you’ll realize that anything is possible!

If you enjoyed this article, you can find more helpful content on DanielParsonsMinistry.com!

Image via Pexels

Improving Physical and Financial Health Simultaneously is written by guest author Elena and she shares tips on being your best.
Image via Pexels

Improving Physical and Financial Health Simultaneously

In recent years, you may have noticed yourself growing increasingly concerned about your financial health. This anxiety is common, as studies show working-class Americans have less than $30,000 in savings on average. Luckily there are a variety of ways to improve your financial wellness while also benefiting your physical health.

Visit Daniel Parsons Ministry for unique, delicious, and healthy recipes!

Saving Money by Living Healthier

There are a multitude of ways in which healthy life choices can result in more money for you in the long run. Healthy lifestyles, especially those involving regular exercise, regular doctor’s visits, and living tobacco and alcohol-free, typically result in lower rates of health and life insurance. Some employers even have wellness rewards programs in which activities as simple as walking on hiking trails or visiting the doctor regularly can net you cash bonuses or additional vacation days. If your job does any sort of charity run, such as a 5k or marathon, this could be your opportunity to push yourself.

Improving Your Diet

You can also save quite a bit by meal planning and cooking at home, rather than ordering deliveries and eating out at restaurants. Fruits that are in season and can be sourced locally are usually more affordable than produce that needs to be shipped in. If you have the space, energy, and time, you may even consider growing your own garden. Fresh vegetables that you’ve grown yourself are not only incredibly inexpensive, but you can be certain they’re free of additives and pesticides.

Exercising your self-control by practicing intermittent fasting will help you lose weight and feel energized. The savings from those skipped meals can be set aside or used for other expenses. You’ll be more in control of the nutrition you’re receiving and paying a fraction of the cost in exchange for a little additional effort.

Getting Outdoors More Often

On nicer days, spend your free time taking in nature and getting light exercise. Having your lights and climate control turned off while you’re out will decrease your utility bills and increase your savings. You may even consider canceling a few streaming services if you’re expecting to be away from home more often. Walking or riding a bike over short distances not only provides you with necessary exercise, but you’ll save on fuel costs as well. If feasible, getting rid of your car entirely will eliminate gas expenses, insurance premiums, DMV fees, and lease or loan payments.

Monetizing Your Healthy Lifestyle

Trying to lead a healthy life, you’ll be unable to avoid learning quite a bit about what works and what doesn’t. Consider taking that newfound expertise and turning it into a profitable business or side hustle. Personal trainers, nutrition coaches, cooking bloggers, and many more professions have proven how successful you can be simply by sharing your experience with the world.

If you do intend to form a business to monetize your health and savings journey, it may be best that you form a limited liability company. LLCs protect you personally from financial and legal trouble that the company itself may get into. You and your business are considered separate entities in many circumstances under an LLC. If you’re going to start an LLC, a formation service can help you complete the process.

It can be tricky to know where to start when working on one’s financial and physical health. Tackling both simultaneously can complete both tasks in ways that complement one another. By finding affordable ways to live healthier, you can improve your financial and physical health. You may even come up with a profitable business idea!

Hope you have enjoyed reading Improving Physical and Financial Health Simultaneously. For more Self Growth Articles, please visit our Archives Link below:

Self Growth

Welcome to the Goals Instead of Resolutions post. Today is 1 January 2022. Many people resolve to improve an area of their life over the New Year’s holiday. Weight loss is one of the biggest resolutions people make.

Goals Instead of Resolutions

Here is a short list of common resolutions people make:

1. Education

2. Exercise

3. Get Organized

4. Lose Weight

5. Quit Smoking

6. Self Improvement

7. Spend More Time with Family

8. Volunteer for a Charity or Organization

9. Read the Bible In a Year

10. Help Family Members

All of these resolutions are great. My question is how are you doing on your resolutions? Millions of people make a resolution to lose weight each New Year’s Day. Unfortunately by March, many of these resolutions never make any lasting impact on people. The diet industry knows this is human nature and that is why most diet plans fail. I have written other blog posts about how to permanently lose weight without dieting so ask me for those articles.

Now that I have suggested that resolutions are not very effective, may I suggest a different approach?

SET GOALS ! Goals require thought and most people will write down specific actions when setting goals similar to these statements:

I had a goal to complete my education by 2005. My action plan was to meet with an advisor from Washington State University and map out a path to finish my degree.

I have a goal to exercise more. My action plan lists what days I will do a set of exercises. Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays are days that I do intensive pilates. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I do weight bearing exercises. I walk at least 30 minutes a day even if it means doing 3 ten minute walks sometime during the day.

I have a goal of reading more books to improve my reading skills and learn about disciplines that I am interested in. I will set aside a minimum of 30 minutes a night to read about Ancient History or Becoming a Better Artist or Making Better Music.

So you can see the difference right away between a resolution and a goal with an action plan because resolutions have no direction. Goals are concrete and can have timelines for when you want to achieve the end result. If you get off your schedule due to life events happening, which they will, you can easily get back on track.

So good luck achieving your goals! I really like reading about people that have come from humble beginnings and have gone on to make a lasting impact on society!

By the way, I have gone back to college and completed my degree, exercise on a daily basis, lost the weight, quit smoking and work on self improvement every day. Am I perfect? Far from it, however I am being refined like the Bible says the goldsmiths and silversmiths were when making metals.

Hope you have enjoyed reading Goals Instead of Resolutions post. Please comment below how your goals are helping you become the person you want to be.

For more inspirational articles, please visit my Spiritual Category link below. I also have hundreds of healthy recipes on the Healthy Living link in the menu at the top of my site.

Spiritual Messages

Our Make Changes With God’s Power, Not Human post helps people achieve goals or resolutions. Read on to learn the four simple principles. Pastor Mark Finley shares scriptures from the Book of Philippians to show how the Apostle Paul points out how to claim God’s Power in our lives.

Make Changes With God’s Power

1. Walk Worthy of Your Call. God Called You. Please God In All You Do
2. Open Your Heart to God, Cooperate With God
3. Move Forward & Believe the Impossible, Don’t Look Back
4. Rejoice God Is Giving You Victory, Attitude Is Your Altitude

Here are the scriptures in the 4 chapters of Philippians.

1. Philippians 1:27
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

2. Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

3. Philippians 3:13-14
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

4. Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord, Always, Again I Say Rejoice.

We make the choice, God gives us the strength. If you want to lose weight, do it for God’s Glory, not yours. Make Changes With God’s Power works!

John Wesley was an evangelist in England. He stated four principles he wanted to live by.

• Resolve to live with all my might
• Never lose a moment of time, improve every hour
• Never do anything I despise or would cause resentment from other people
• Never do anything I would be afraid to do if it was last hour of my life

Pastor Finley set a goal to read the Conflict of the Ages Series by Ellen White. That series has about 3500 pages so he is reading 5 pages in the morning and 5 pages in the evening.

When we really want something bad enough, we make time for it. For years now, I get up early enough to be able to get my spiritual and physical exercises done before I start working on business. Let me know if I can help you!

Hope you have enjoyed reading Make Changes With God’s Power. For more Spiritual Messages, please visit our Spiritual Archives that have hundreds of messages from around the world.

Spiritual Messages

Strengthen Immune System Through a Faith Community is a post about how to help your health. If you ever had any interest in baseball, you have heard of Ty Cobb. Here is a summary of Ty Cobb’s life according to Wikipedia:

Ty Cobb nicknamed “The Georgia Peach,” was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in The Narrows, Georgia, a small rural community of farmers that was not an official city or village at the time. Cobb spent 22 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, the last six as the team’s player-manager, and finished his career with the Philadelphia Athletics. In 1936 Cobb received the most votes of any player on the inaugural Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, receiving 222 out of a possible 226 votes.

Cobb is widely credited with setting 90 Major League Baseball records during his career. He still holds several records as of 2013, including the highest career batting average (.366 or .367, depending on source) and most career batting titles with 11 (or 12, depending on source).

Ty Cobb was very successful as far as being a great baseball player and used his fame and money to become very wealthy. At the end of his life, he was all alone. He checked into Emery Hospital in the summer of 1961 bringing with him a paper bag with $1 million in bonds and a pistol. He had been diagnosed with prostrate cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure in 1959. He told his family that did come to the hospital that he had no regrets. He had lived hard and played hard.

Ty Cobb was living in the bottom of the ninth inning ( last inning of play in a baseball game ) of his life. Ty Cobb was witnessed to by a Christian during his final hospital stay. This is a Salvation Prayer that is based on the Bible.

Salvation Prayer

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.

Strengthen Immune System Through a Faith Community

Ty Cobb made a statement on his hospital bed that he wished he had not waited until the end of his life to accept spiritual help. He said if he could change one thing in his life, it would be to accept Jesus Christ as His Savior in the first inning of his life so that he would have known the peace and grace that Jesus offers.

My website or blog is all about Wellness. I realized today that I had never posted about the Spiritual part of life. Our lives consist of four major areas:

Spiritual

Physical

Emotional

Mental

I was 34 years old when I cried out to God for help. The help came very quickly as I have had everything I have needed on a daily basis since that day.

I had wasted over 16 or so years abusing my body with alcohol, cigarettes and some drug abuse when I called out for help. I used anything I could find that would ease the pain that my life had become. Of course I did not start life off that way as a child but it is my experience. By following a daily prayer life and asking God to guide my life since 1994, I have been able to experience a life beyond my wildest dreams.

I found peace and serenity to deal with the stress of life. I no longer run from any problems I have. I also learned how to take care of my body in 1998 when I quit smoking and began to lose weight. I enjoy doing some exercise on a daily basis and frequently go for bike rides. I also enjoy a minimum of 30 minute walks everyday. I no longer use food to kill any current pain and do my best to eat a very healthy vegetarian diet.

Because many people have inquiring minds, I did some research on this issue after hearing a program on Three Angels Broadcasting  this morning. Researchers at Duke University in North Carolina randomly sampled 4,000 adults and tracked church attendance for three different years. You can read the full study on Duke’s website below:

How Church Attendance Contributes to a Stronger Immune System

I made a video about why I am an active church member in a Christian community. My faith has grown deeper as I have learned more from studying God’s Word in the Bible.

Many people think the Bible is a bunch of fables and fairy tales. The fact of the matter is the Holy Bible is the most published book in history. I have seen the power of prayer work in many people’s lives. I have seen the power of prayer work in my own life. I like spelling prayer like this:

P = Praise God for His Goodness to Us

R = Remember How God Has Provided

A = Ask for God to Provide for Your Needs According to His Will

Y = Yield to the Holy Spirit Working In Your Life

The reason I attend church all day on the Sabbath Day ( Saturday ) and on Wednesday evening Bible Study is the fellowship with other believers strengthens me. I no longer desire to have things my way, live in self-will and be self-centered. I am not perfect now but I have matured and am much stronger in my faith now than I was when I first was baptized by immersion as a member of Christ body of believers!

In Hebrews 10:24-25 Paul wrote:

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

In Acts 2, you will see that as the Christians gathered, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Later in the chapter three thousand souls were added to God’s church in just one day.

In Acts 4:31 the Word of God says:

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

If I think I can be a strong Christian without going to church, I am in trouble. Satan knows my weak points and just waits to trip me up. Say the Name Jesus Christ and Satan gets mad. Open up the Word of God and read and study your Bible and you will make Satan extremely mad.

Hope you have been helped by reading:

Strengthen Immune System Through a Faith Community

Have a blessed worship this coming Sabbath Day! Here is another couple of websites that help me:

Amazing Facts

Hope Channel

If you are interested in reading more of our Spiritual Posts like Strengthen Immune System Through a Faith Community, we have hundreds from all over the world in our Spiritual Category below:

Spiritual Messages

How to Live to 100 years or more is a passion of mine.

The last century’s technological improvements tended to reform the focus of medicine from a service-oriented, caring model to a cure-oriented, technological model.

The latest research on Americans’ daily lives claimed that highly spiritual people are more concerned about their families, more likely to volunteer and more participating in their communities and thus, usually happier with each and everything going in their lives.

For instance, almost half of the highly religious people who advise praying every day and attend religious events every week – get together to meet their relatives at least once a month.

Life expectancy can be enhanced with little changes and simple steps. Follow this guide to living 100 years or more.

1. Eat Organic foods

Life expectancy is linked to three elements; eat more vegetables, consume more antioxidants, and maintain a healthy weight. Before we dig into how you can increase your lifespan being vegetarian, we have to explain what does a vegetarian means?

A person who eats lots of vegetables cooked in healthy fats while restricting animal products, like cheese, fast food, and ice creams. The primary cause of death and shorter life expectancy is poor cardiovascular health. With the increase in your age, there can be an accumulation of gunk in your arteries and vessels to become stiff.

This can increase your blood pressure and makes it hard for your heart to work efficiently. Vegetarians have low chances of building a gunk because eating vegetables can help you avoid unhealthy foods and bad fats. People who are vegetarian take in a fair proportion of antioxidants. Antioxidants aid in repairing the damage caused by aging. The more vegetables you consume, the more raw material your body can repair.

Lastly, vegetables satisfy your hunger, and a healthy vegetarian diet can help you lose weight. A healthy diet and a healthy weight can make you live 100 years or more.

2. Do regular workout

Increase your life expectancy with a promise to a daily workout. The research claimed that people who do daily exercise for around three to four hours a week had younger DNA cells than the nonexercisers.

The simplest way to build an exercise habit is by repeating it daily. When you commit yourself for daily workout, you may take off for one day but then get back on the program the next day.

If you exercise three times a week and skip one day, then you would have to maintain the habit by joining it from the very next day. Daily exercise will also aid in amending your sleep and energy. It is crucial to speed up your entire day each day.

Keep in mind that daily exercise doesn’t have to include the gym every day. You can do free weights, stretching, yoga, or other home exercises.

3. Don’t take too much stress.

Life longevity can be screwed up by stress in two basic ways. The primary method is through the unhealthy and direct effects of stress on you in the long run.

The other way stress may reduce your life longevity is by the wrong behaviors that being stress activators. These behaviors involve smoking and comfort eating. Learn to stay calm by meditation or de-stressing methods to keep your life longevity up where it should be.

Stress is associated with several health issues like cancer or heart disease. Stress has been associated with not feeling well or feeling irritated. By concentrating on stress, you can enhance your quality of life from now while amending your health in the long-run and also your life expectancy. That’s an incredible deal.

You can de-stress by following a massive range of stress reduction methods. Meditation and breathing technique helps you in calming and training your mind. These are just perfect for improving your focus, mental fitness, relaxation and to fulfill your desire about how to live to 100 years or more.

4. Have faith in God

A rising body of studies has started explaining the complicated link between spiritual and religious beliefs and feelings and a person’s psychological and physical health. Nobody says it’s as simple as attending some event in church or being religious later in life. It may be that people who are more involved in spiritual activities feel better emotionally, and that helps them live a healthier and longer life.

Among the latest findings in this field: individuals who attend religious events at least once in a week are less likely to die early.

Some other reports have also confirmed that spirituality may be advantageous because people feel calm; they experience less stress and depression and show signs of good health, such as fewer strokes and low blood pressure.

For instance, this could mean linking up to small prayer groups, writing your story, practicing personal meditation, and staying optimistic can help expand your lifespan to 100 years or more.

Welcome to The Problem of the Pandemic Predicament message post that was given by Dr Edward Allen on 9 May 2020 in an online zoom room for the Church of the Advent Hope based in Manhattan, New York City. Dr Allen is the Chair of the Department of Religion at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Dr Allen has this statement in the PowerPoint slides he used for the meeting.

Our Mission:
To cultivate a community that learns and teaches how to follow Jesus.

Our Predicament:
We Are Afraid
We Are Anxious
We Are In Pain
We Are In Mourning

It feels like a bomb has exploded in our midst and blown us all apart.
Our Predicament?
How do we face trauma and death?
With fear?
Anxiety?
Foreboding?
Is it also possible to face trauma and death with Power, Grace, and Gratitude?

Psalms 1
The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Problem of the Pandemic Predicament

How do we face trauma and death?
With Fear? Anxiety? Foreboding?
Is it also possible to face trauma and death with Power? Grace? Gratitude?
God is the hidden source of power that enables us to flourish in difficult times, the pandemic places of our lives.

The heart of Biblical Religion is an experience with God.
The Psalms are the Hymnbook of the Hebrews.
The Psalmists are not just venting.
They express themselves within a trusting relationship with God.

Dr Allen chose Psalm 1 for his message because the psalm reveals:
1. Sin
2. The Hidden Source of Power
3. Flourishing

The above image is an older man that has lived a blessed life. His life has flourished. It is possible to live a blessed life. He has experienced:
1. Abundance
2. Affirmation
3. Empowerment

Some people fail at life and some people flourish.
Illustration of this principle is that Edward went to the farmer’s market with his wife. She bought some herbs. She planted the herbs and watered them. Some of the herbs dried up and died. Other herbs flourished.

There Are Two Paths In Life

Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers.

I never thought I would upload a photo of Hitler on my blog but Adolph Hitler is an example of a man that walked in step with the wicked of the world. These people are not people whose sin is momentary or just a bad choice. Hitler stands in the way of sinners. It was necessary to add his photo to my site for The Problem of the Pandemic Predicament post.

To begin with, it might have seemed like their lives were flourishing. The problem with a life preoccupied by living in sin is that people that take the wrong path are dealing with sin in the flesh.

Flesh is human nature apart from God. Living in the flesh is relying on self and our own resources.

Sin Brings:
1. Death
2. Decay
3. Wickedness

Natural human life lived apart from God.

Not necessarily evil, wicked, or pathological.
Rather, it is whatever we do that brings decay, destruction, and death.

The wicked see sin as a means of reaching “The good Life.”
The religious person struggling with sin sees it as the great enemy to be conquered. They are both dealing with sin “in the flesh.”

Romans 8:7-8
7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

People most eager to get rid of sin can perpetuate the greatest evil.

Saul was a devout Jew. In Saul’s mind, he was doing God service by stoning the Apostle Stephen. Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and sharing the Gospel message of Salvation by Faith Alone in Jesus Christ.

Remember the photo of the older man above? He had a goal of riding his bicycle a million miles. He reached his goal. His life has flourished. He has abundance, affirmation and empowerment.

What is the source of flourishing?

How can we thrive in the face of the pandemic of evil?

Psalms 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

The Law is the entire revealed will of God.
Psalms 119
Never is the law separate from the Lord Himself.
Delighting in the law of the Lord means coming to understand the big picture of what God is doing in our world and why He is doing it.
The Psalmist is delighted with God because His way of doing things is so much better than the ways of the wicked, the sinner, and the mocker.

The world is about getting ahead, getting wealthy and destroying your opponents. God cares for the oppressed, disabled, and the hungry.
Wicked ways lead to destruction and death.

Psalm 1:4
The wicked “are like the chaff that the wind blows away.”

Psalm 1:2
The blessed person meditates on God’s will and His ways day and night.

The more you take in and practice God’s ways, the more abundance, affirmation, and empowerment you will experience. A blessed person is focused on God’s will.

Psalm 1:3
The blessed person is like a tree planted beside streams of water.

David showed Saul grace and mercy. He could have taken the wicked path.

David was motivated by God’s Grace. He was connected to God’s power.

He accomplished God’s goals and flourished.

Remember that the Apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh. Paul prayed 3 times for God to take the thorn away from his flesh. Paul said: “When I am weak, I am strong”.

The Bible teaches functional perfection. Any one can have it at any time.

Psalm 1:3
It “yields its fruit in season and [its] leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.”

When you plant a seed, a green shoot of the plant comes up. Nature is designed perfectly by God. The plant ends up a healthy and flourishing plant. It started from a seed that was watered.

Meditate on God’s word day and night.

If I desire God’s ways and if I treasure other humans around me, I don’t have to think about not hating them or not calling them idiots.

Not sinning is a very poor plan for truly flourishing. Example of not going to Philadelphia is a poor plan for getting to New Haven.

Martin Seligman is the author of the book “Flourish”. He spent his life trying to remove disabling conditions and habits from his patients.

Martin shifted his focus to enable people to focus on what you can do to flourish. In his book he writes about Creating the Enabling conditions for people to flourish.

The Bible has the power to help you flourish. Take your focus off sin and connect to the hidden source of power.

Hope you have enjoyed reading the The Problem of the Pandemic Predicament post. There are hundreds of other spiritual messages in my Spiritual Category below.

Spiritual Messages

Believe in Jesus Christ and Be Saved is a post about finding a path to having eternal life which is a free gift. To believe or not believe is the biggest decision any human will ever face. If you have trouble believing that Jesus Christ:

1. Was the Son of God

2. Rose from the Dead

3. Is the Bridge for Fallen Man to Be Restored to God

4. Christianity Is the Love Religion

Consider these facts:

Human nature is such that a person would never lay down their life as a martyr for something that was not true. In Acts 4 and 5, Peter & the Apostles were preaching to the Jews in the Temple about the Risen Savior that they had seen with their own eyes. The rest of their lives was spent preaching about Jesus. All of the Apostles suffered tremendously and were persecuted by the same Jewish rulers that put Jesus to death.

Just a few weeks earlier they had run from Jesus when He was taken by the authorities to be crucified. Also remember that no body was ever found & it was impossible for anyone to steal Jesus’ body due to the circumstances of soldiers guarding the tomb.

The Bible has so much to offer us in this world of chaos. Follow Jesus and get a glimpse of Him by reading the small book of 1 John ( it is in the back of your Bible ) daily for 2 weeks and I guarantee it will have a large impact on your life. I ask for the Holy Spirit to guide my understanding & reading of His Word.

Archaeological Science validates the Bible so you can believe in the authenticity of the scriptures. The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1946 in a desert area of the West Bank just a couple of kilometers from the Dead Sea. These scrolls were preserved in the arid climate. The scrolls contain the Old Testament with the exception of the Book of Esther.

Scientists use the Bible to go and seek out new places to uncover ancient artifacts.

One other powerful note about the Bible is that it is a book that tells of real people that existed and the serious problems these people experienced. King Solomon was the wisest man who has ever lived & he recognized his sinfulness as did his son King David. David committed adultery & had a man murdered & the Bible exposes it all.

John 1:1 from the New King James Version:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

It is smart to believe in the Bible & the power found in God’s Word. I hope that you have benefited reading my post Believe in Jesus Christ and Be Saved.

For more messages, please visit my page below:

Spiritual Messages

Conflict Management

Welcome to my post that discusses Conflict Management. Here are some steps to apply for Conflict Management to be successful in relationships.

1. Come Up with a Sign: When 1 person says: “We Are In Conflict”.
2. If you are shifted and need a break, ask for a time out. Ask what time do we come back and resolve the conflict.
3. When you meet, it is best for the male to listen first for 3 to 5 minutes. Then repeat back to the female what you heard.
4. If forgiveness is needed, process through until resolved.
5. Remember there are four choices in resolving conflicts:

a. One Person’s Way

b. Other Person’s Way

c. Break Up

d. Win – Win ( Both Talk and Act As Though Decision Was Your Choice )

6. Get a Third Party If Necessary

7. Reaffirm Relationship ( This Is Why I Chose You to Be My Friend or Partner ) Use Words of Affirmation to Strengthen Your Relationship

Four Roadblocks to the Conflict Management Process

1. Self ( Read Philippians 2:3-5 )
2. Shifting ( Be Christ Like )
3. Listening
4. Back Story

Remember that Jesus taught in Matthew 5:9

“Blessed Are the Peacemakers”.

God set up the church for us to grow in Jesus Christ.

In today’s world, we should seek Unity with Diversity. Ellen White recognized this principle during her life and she wrote about growing the church.

How well do you wear your religion?

You will not change people’s personality. Behaviors Can Change.

Communication In Relationship

1. Seek First to Understand Than to Be Understood
2. Affirm, Thank, Put Yourself On Their Team
3. Clarify, Correct and Explain
4. Admit Mistakes When You Make Them and Ask for Forgiveness

Having healthy relationships is all about communication. When people are not communicating, conflict begins. I am working on applying all of these principles in my own personal relationships as I want my relationships to be healthy.

I do hope that you have benefited from my Conflict Management post. With just a little effort, people can have healthier relationships.

Daniel Parsons

• Blame our partner (or children) for what we are feeling.
• Make our pain about our partner, rather than recognizing that the intensity of our reaction may have historical fuel.
• Feel like a victim, see our partner as the aggressor and ourselves as the disempowered victim.
• Collapse into helplessness and/or become aggressive and intimidate our partner.
• Clearly this is a recipe for disaster when it comes to resolving conflict and getting to the other side of it. When we’re stuck in Fight A, we stay stuck and believe our only options are to keep fighting, disconnect, or self-medicate. The following is an example of how a couple might climb out of this stuck place.

• Blame our partner (or children) for what we are feeling.
• Make our pain about our partner rather than recognizing that the intensity of our reaction may have historical fuel.
• Feel like a victim, see our partner as the aggressor and ourselves as the disempowered victim.
• Collapse into helplessness and/or become aggressive and intimidate our partner.

• Back up, breathe, self reflect, take a moment to calm down, take a break.
• Feel, articulate, and explore feelings that have been triggered.
• Identify sources of transference that may be at the base of projected pain.
• Identify possible historical sources of overreaction and overly intense emotions.
• Separate the past from the present.
• Talk about the issues that have been triggered from the past and move into talking about what is happening in the partnership that needs to be addressed.
• Ask ourselves as a couple how our feelings, attitudes, and behaviors may be affecting our family relationships and your children.
• Make a simple plan for trying out new attitudes and behaviors.
• Kiss and make up.

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
Why the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas – no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ‘ Holiday ‘.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe’s the word Christmas – was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears
You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is The ‘Reason’ for the Christ-mas Season!

Hope Can Be Found Within the Human Soul

Have you ever noticed that every man, woman and child has the capability of love?

Love is the ultimate human emotion. This emotion is placed inside the human soul by our Creator.

Why are some people motivated and other people seem to struggle with life? Is it a lack of motivation? Do some people just have more drive or desire in life than other people?

I am not an expert about human emotions. I am not a trained health care provider. I AM a small business person that has noticed human behavior extensively since I began working for myself on the internet in 2005. My watching human behavior comes from having interacted with people from all over the world.

People that succeed are motivated. People that struggle give up for various reasons. How can a human being learn to motivate themselves? Watch this short video that I made about this issue.

So spending time developing our minds and training ourselves with healthy behaviors has a large impact on motivation. I know in the past I was depressed because I listened to network television news programs. Do you have any idea what the goal of these news programs are? Having as many viewers as possible. How do they get the most viewers? By broadcasting bad news and other breaking news about human problems, wars, suffering and disasters that are taking place every single day now.

In 2005, I began my self-development program. Here are some of the key adjustments I made to help myself overcome depression from putting negative media into my mind.

1. Continued Daily Exercise Program That I Started in 1999

2. Cut Out Listening to Negative Programs

3. Participation in Faith Based Church Twice a Week

4. Read Success Books and Motivational Books

5. Started Asking for Guidance on a Daily Basis

6. Started Daily Bible Study

My mood is much better. I do my best to be a positive witness in the world today. I am not perfect. I do not have a lottery ticket for anyone that is looking to build an internet business. What I do takes work. If  you want to come and work on our team and are not scared of doing a little consistent work every day, give me a call.

The Knots Prayer

Dear God:

Please untie the knots

That are in my mind,

My heart and my life.

Remove the have nots,

The can nots and the do nots

That I have in my mind.

Erase the will nots,

May nots,

Might nots that may find

A home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots,

Would nots and

Should nots that obstruct my life.

And most of all,

Dear God,

I ask that you remove from my mind,

My heart and my life all of the ‘am nots’

That I have allowed to hold me back,

Especially the thought

That I am not good enough.

Amen

Author Known to God

When attempting to achieve fitness and wellness, never let negative thoughts stop you or get you down. There is an awesome power available to all of us. By tapping into that power, we can do all things. If you are struggling with self-esteem issues, use this prayer and remember that you are good enough just the way you are today.