Why Wear A Seat Belt?

Hi Balanced Life Family,

When I was a kid, I didn’t have to wear a seat belt. I can remember riding in the back of a car on my knees looking out of the back window. I remember riding in a crowded car on somebody’s lap. We didn’t know anything about seat belts.

Today when I get in a car, buckling up my seat belt is second nature to me, however there are still some people who don’t think it’s necessary.

Not only is it important to wear a seat belt, it’s important to wear it correctly. The shoulder belt should go over your shoulder, not under your arm, and it should be snug to your body. If the shoulder belt is worn incorrectly and you are in an accident, it could crush your ribs or injure your internal organs. The lap belt should be worn nice and low over your hips, not across your stomach.

Seatbelts save lives. This is a fact that has been proven through countless studies and research. Seatbelts keep you from being thrown through the windshield or out of the car during the impact of a crash.

My children we raised wearing seatbelts. My car wasn’t going anywhere until everybody was buckled in. When my oldest son became an adult, he no longer felt a need to buckle up. While riding with his friends, he was in a horrible car accident. Nope, he wasn’t wearing seatbelts. He was thrown completely out of the car and onto the expressway. He could have lost his life. He was hospitalized and suffered severe injuries and almost unbearable pain. Recovery took a lot of time and therapy. Only because of God’s grace and mercy, was he able to survive and recover, but many people aren’t so fortunate.

I’ve witnessed cars passing by with little ones standing up in the back seat. What are these adults thinking? How dangerous is that? Please don't ever let anything like that happen on your watch.

When you get in a vehicle remember your seat belts and don’t forget to buckle up the little ones. Why? Because it’s the law and it could possibly save your life. So …” BUCKLE UP!”

Next Blog Coming Soon : Procrastination

Guard Your Mind

Dear Balanced Life Family,

What are you thinking? There are so many thoughts that come to your mind. It’s up to you to decide which thoughts you will allow to linger and which ones need to flee. Do you realize that your entire body is governed by your mind?

Your mind is full of thoughts that tell you what to do, how to act, what to wear, who to like or dislike, where to go, what to say, what to believe, what to ignore and so on. Some thoughts are godly and some are ungodly.

God is pleased when godly thoughts occupy your mind. He tells us in his word “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 

A godly mind leads to a peaceful lifestyle. The enemy (the devil) hates for you to have peace, and is pleased with an ungodly mind. He wants you to have a mind that tells you: Hate those that hate you. God doesn’t care what you do. Nobody’s perfect. You should get even. It’s your body, do what you want with it. Yep! That’s the language he uses. If the devil can get your mind he can control your life, and if he controls your life you’ll never have peace.

Ask God to direct your thoughts. Be mindful of what you allow your eyes to view and your ears to listen to. Get good teaching from the Word of God. Study your bible. Improve your prayer life. Commune with God as you go about your daily task. Be quick to forgive. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”   Philippians 2:5-11  Need I say more? This is how you GUARD YOUR MIND!

Next Blog Coming Soon: Why Wear a Seat Belt?

Why Are You Drinking That Soda Pop?

Hey Balanced Life Family,

I published a blog on this subject before, but sometimes it’s necessary to refresh our memory on important matters. So many of us love soda pop. We think of it as cool, refreshing, and it goes well with our meal. But we should think again.

Drinking soda pop, has far more health risks than many of us may realize. If you drink it regularly, it’s linked to so many  health problems, including kidney problems, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, asthma and COPD. This blog is too short to cover all of these problems, but I’ll discuss a few.

Have you ever been thirsty on a hot summer day and grabbed an icy cold pop? Not a good idea. Soda pop actually dehydrates you. It increases the volume of urine excreted. When the body’s cells are dehydrated they have difficulty absorbing nutrients, and it also makes it more difficult for the body to eliminate waste.

High levels of sugar in soda places a lot of stress on your pancreas, it could leave it unable to keep up with your body’s need for insulin. One 20 oz. bottle of Coke contains 17 teaspoons of sugar and 240 calories. And here’s the thing, they’re empty calories, without any nutritional value. Drinking one or two sugary drinks a day increases your risk for type 2 diabetes by 25%. WOW! Look at that!

I read that diet soda doesn’t help you to lose weight. A University of Texas Health Science Center study found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the greater their risk of becoming over weight. Drinking two or more cans of diet soda increased waistlines 500% more than those who didn’t drink diet soda. Uh oh!

Now after reading this blog, I’m not expecting that you’ll never touch another soda pop again. That’s extreme! I just want you to be conscious of how much and how often you drink it. And if you find yourself drinking it too often, ask yourself “Why Am I Drinking This Soda Pop?” and PUT IT DOWN!

Treat Strangers Well

Dear Balanced Life Family,

How do you treat people that you don’t know? The scripture tells us “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:2  That means be mindful to show kindness to strangers, because you might just be entertaining an angel and not know it. Now that doesn’t mean feel free to speak to any stranger that you see on the street, welcome any stranger that comes to your door to come into your home, or give a ride to any hitchhiker you spot on the road. You must use wisdom and be led by the spirit of God.

Now, if you knew that the stranger was an angel, of course you’d treat him or her well, but what if you didn’t know. Therein lies the problem. You don’t know. All angels aren’t dressed in garments of white with wings sprouting out of their backs.

There are strangers everywhere: on the buses, in the stores, on the streets, in your church, in your places of business and so on. Some of them may be dressed quite well, while others may be dressed in rags. Some of them may be smelly and dirty. Some of them may be feeble minded.

So how do you keep from mistreating an angel sent from God? Treat everybody well. It takes the love of God to do this. Should you befriend every stranger you meet? Absolutely not! But don’t mistreat people. Treat others the way you would like to be treated. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”  Matthew 7:12  So be mindful of HOW YOU TREAT THE STRANGER.

Let's Get Movin

Hey Balanced Life Family,

Let’s get movin!

We, need to be equally balanced, both physically and spiritually. Today I’m talking about taking good care of that body that God has given you. We only get one you know!

Our bodies were not made to be sedentary. We are meant to get up and move around. You’ve heard the saying, “If you don’t move it, you’ll lose it.” Well it’s true. Our bodies need exercise if we don’t want to lose our figures and our mobility.

Now, I’m not going to tell you to do anything that I don’t practice. I work out at LA Fitness 5 to 6 days a week. Monday thru Friday at 5am, and Saturday 8am.  I include cardio, stretches and weights daily. I try never to spend more than 1 hour & 15min. in the gym. I’ve been working out for many years.

If you are just starting, please don’t try to follow my schedule. Start out a little at a time, as I did. You may start out by taking walks a few times a week. (If you’re not comfortable walking outside, try walking inside a mall.) You may prefer taking a bike ride. I want you to understand that you don’t have to spend money on a membership at a gym if you don’t want to. Getting involved in sports is great for people who really don’t want to start off with basic exercises. Maybe you know how to swim. Start swimming 2 or 3 times a week. Bowling and tennis are good sports too.

For those of you that want to get a gym membership do that. Start going 2 or 3 times a week. You will feel so much better. Let me caution you. “DON’T OVER DO IT!”  If you start out doing too much you’ll probably burn yourself out and you won’t want to do anything. Just do a little at a time and gradually increase. So ladies, if you want to look better and feel better, let’s get movin!

All Purpose God

Hello Balanced Life Family,

Most of us are familiar with All- Purpose cleaners.  You may have used Lysol, Clorox Green, Mr. Clean or maybe some other cleaner. These are all- purpose cleaners. They’ve been known to clean things such as counter tops, floors, tubs, sinks, walls, appliances … etc.

God is an all-purpose God. You can use him in every situation. Some Christians only know God as the one that they visit when they come to church. When you leave out of the church, take God with you, because you’re going to need him for every situation. The scripture tells us “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6

You may think, well I’m certainly not going to be in the spirit all day, what will I need him for? Let’s see. If you’re going to work, ask him to help you achieve excellence on the job. If you’re going shopping, ask him to help you to find what you’re looking for at the price you can afford to pay. Ask for traveling grace and blood covering, as you go through the streets.

When making daily decisions, ask for God’s guidance. Ask for God’s guidance when disciplining your children. (Children can really test your patience and each one is different.) Ask God to help you submit to your husband and show love. (They require patience too.) Ask God to help you manage your money with wisdom. And the list goes on and on.

You need God’s help in your everyday life. “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36   That means everything comes from God, everything happens through God, and everything is directed to God.

My Sisters, you need God’s help daily. It’s good that he’s a present help. He’s an ALL PURPOSE GOD. He can be used in every situation.

How Clean Is That Fountain?

Hey Balanced Life Family,

Have you thought twice before using a public drinking water fountain? They are, after all, provided by your city so they have to be clean, right? Actually, they might not be. One of the dirtiest public water fountains may be your child’s school drinking fountain. Now, that is a frightening concept.

The truth is that some studies have found that public water fountains harbor more germs than the water in a toilet bowl. Now, I don’t know how accurate these studies are, but they certainly make me stop and think.

People spit in these fountains, throw trash in them or put their mouths directly on the spigot. I actually saw a guy who had been walking bare foot, put his feet in a fountain to wash them. Positively disgusting! Then shortly thereafter, I saw a little boy come by that same fountain and drink. Yick! The price you pay when you don't know.

Water fountain handles were found to be among the most contaminated surfaces.  This isn't entirely surprising, since any frequently touched public surface is likely to be a reservoir for bacteria, especially if its cleaning gets overlooked, which might be the case with drinking water handles.

If you're healthy and your immune system is strong, your risk of catching a disease from a water fountain is low. But what about ingesting the water itself? Well, a sip here and there isn't likely to cause you much harm however, it’s just good to be aware and be careful.

I personally avoid drinking from public water fountains unless an extreme emergency arises. I just don’t trust them to be clean enough.  So when it comes to drinking from a public fountain, just as yourself the question, HOW CLEAN IS THAT FOUNTAIN?

Spectacular Spice - Cinnamon

Balanced Life Family,

Yaaaaay! Found a spice that is so tasty and is good for you too. It’s one of the healthy spices on the planet. It’s cinnamon! While this spice can be used in and on many foods to enhance the flavor, it also has many benefits for health and wellness.

Check out this list of benefits:

1.    Controls blood sugar                          6. Helps lower bad cholesterol

2.    Reduces risk of heart disease           7. Helps promote healthy teeth

3.    Boost brain function                          8. Helps keep your breath fresh                     

4.    Supplies Fiber                                      9. Helps fight colds

5.    Helps Decrease Inflammation         10. Helps improve skin

There are two kinds of cinnamon, cassia and Ceylon. Cassia is cheaper and more popular. Ceylon is known as true cinnamon and is not usually found in your local grocery store. It smells and taste sweeter, and is recommended for better health benefits.

Who wouldn’t want to sprinkle some cinnamon into a drink or on some food. Personally, I love to add cinnamon to hot cinnamon apple tea. I love the taste of cinnamon on a baked sweet potato. Cinnamon can also be added to hot chocolate, oatmeal, toast, apples, peaches, chili and so on.

You can think up other foods that you can add cinnamon to. Use your imagination. Cinnamon taste great and has many health benefits. It’s that SPECTACULAR  SPICE – CINNAMON!

Be sure to talk to your health care provider before using excessive cinnamon for health benefits to see if it’s right for you.

Roller Coaster Ride

My Balanced Life Family,

Your faith walk shouldn’t be like a roller coaster ride; up, down, up down, believe, doubt, believe, doubt. Get off of the roller coaster ride! This is known as wavering faith. According to the scripture found in James 1:6 & 7 “For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

How can you expect to receive anything from God when you’re afraid to trust him? God wants you to trust him completely because he never fails. You’ve got to do more than just sing “ God Can Do Anything But Fail”. (Remember that song?) Singing is one thing. Trusting and believing is another.

Some of you have no problem believing at first, but if what you’re believing doesn’t manifest within a certain short period of time, you start to doubt. Where does that doubt come from? Satan! That’s his job to get you to doubt God.  As doubt eases its way into your mind, you find yourself with a double mind. You believe and then you doubt. Up, down, it’s just like a roller coaster ride. Stop it, because the next step is total disbelief.     ” A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”  James1:8 

God doesn’t want you to be unstable. He wants you to be steadfast and unmovable. You can trust him. He’s the all-powerful, almighty, no failure God. You’ve got to believe this as you journey on your faith walk. Don’t be defeated by the devil. Have faith in God. Wait patiently on him because he never fails and GET OFF OF THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE!

Value Your Vision

Hi Balanced Life Family,

Being able to see is a gift from God. So many people are born without vision. Others lose their vision some time during their life. Those of us that have sight should value it and protect it. I’m going to give you a few tips that will help you to protect your vision.

You may not realize it, but eating certain foods can help preserve your vision. Foods like spinach, kale, collards (any leafy greens), tuna, salmon, (oily fish), nuts, beans (non-meat proteins), and citrus fruits are all good for your eyes.

If you are a smoker you need to quit. Smoking makes you more likely to get cataracts. Smoking can also cause damage to your optic nerve. Not to mention all of the other health hazards smoking causes.

Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from ultra- violet rays. Choose a pair that block 99 to 100% protection from rays. Don’t forget, you need sun glasses even during the winter months.

Another thing to remember is to look away from your computer or cell phone screen. Staring at a computer or cell phone screen too long can cause eyestrain, blurred vision, headache, trouble focusing at a distance and dry eye.

And finally, be sure to get an eye exam every one or two years just to be sure that your eyes stay healthy. So remember God has given you the gift of sight. VALUE YOUR VISION!

Hidden Sugar

Hello Balanced Life Family,

I wrote a blog a while ago about sugar. In that blog I mentioned that sugar is hidden in foods where you wouldn’t expect it to be. Well, today we’re going to talk about some of those foods.

Did you know that women should consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar a day, but the average woman in the U.S. consumes about 22 teaspoons of added sugars every single day? Wow!  Much of this sugar comes from foods that you actually think are healthy.

Some of these foods that harbor hidden sugar are flavored yogurt with fruit, canned soups, salad dressing, mayonnaise, tomato sauce, bread (even some brands of whole wheat), granola bars, dried fruit, fruit juice, energy drinks, ketchup, pickles, relish, bar-b-que sauce, hot and cold cereals. . .  Shall I go on? There are many more. There are so many foods that you eat when you aren’t even thinking about sugar, that’s how you can unknowingly consume 22 teaspoons a day.

Now obviously you won’t cut out all of the foods with hidden sugar, but it helps to be aware. Read the labels. Manufacturers have all of these fancy names for sugar on the labels. Whenever you see corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, maltose, lactose, sucrose, glucose, evaporated cane juice or fruit juice, caramel, carob syrup, dextrin, and there are a few others, all of them mean SUGAR.   

Exactly why is sugar bad for you? A large body of research now shows that consuming large amounts of sugar negatively impacts just about every organ system in the body – increasing your risk for most of the chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even cancer.

So if you ever wondered why you’re not losing weight or continually gaining weight, even though you think you’re eating healthfully, the truth is, many foods that you think are healthy may not be as healthy as you think! Know what’s in the foods you are eating. Familiarize yourself with alternative names for sugar. Check the label for the ingredients and be aware of HIDDEN SUGAR!

Hold On

Greetings Balanced Life Family,

God never promised you a trouble free life. You’ll have trials, tribulations and test to go through, but you’ve got to HOLD ON! “Hold on to what” you may ask. Hold on to faith! Hold on to the promises of God! You will be victorious, if you stay in the race and continue to HOLD ON! For He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”;  Hebrews 13:5

Holding on through hard times is the test. There is certainly no testimony without a test. You must have a testimony. God wants us to know what he can do. To learn what God can do, you must be placed in the middle of a problem that is so big, that you, your resources, nor the help of your friends, will be able to get you out. That’s when you go to your source. GOD! “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” Genesis 18:14     I’ll answer that…NO!

When your way gets dark and you can't see your way out, you’ve got to trust God and HOLD ON.  “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105  Jesus is the light, and in him there is no darkness. He’ll lead the way, but you must HOLD ON.

I have noticed that some of my sisters tend to run from the church when trouble comes. They’ll say, “ I just haven’t felt like going to church.” “There’s just too much going on.” Well that’s just the time when you should be running to the church to get a word, to get strength, to be inspired to HOLD ON.

When it seems like everything is failing you, and time is running out, you simply must not let go of your faith. God is always on time. He won't fail you. Through sickness, pain, confusion, disappointment, heartbreak, betrayal, financial problems, temptations, dilemmas, all of it, God can and will deliver you, but you must HOLD ON!

Skin Care

My Sisters,

Good skin care can keep your skin healthy and glowing for years to come. It doesn’t take a lot of time to pamper your skin. Just use the basics. A healthy lifestyle along with good skin care can help you delay the natural aging process and help you prevent various skin problems. Ready? Here are 5 easy tips you can use to get started.

Firstly, one of the most important ways to care for your skin is to protect it from the sun. Some of my sisters enjoy lying on the beach soaking up the sun, but doing this year after year can cause wrinkles, age spots, and other skin problems. And then you also have the increased risk of skin cancer. So, protect your skin from the sun by using sunscreen, seeking shade, and wearing protective clothing.

Secondly, remember that smoking causes wrinkles and makes you look older. Just think of all of that squinting from smoke and pursing of lips while smoking. Wrinkles! Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels on the outer layers of your skin, which decreases blood flow. This means the skin doesn’t get the oxygen or nutrients that it needs to be healthy. Smoking also damages the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity.  If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

Thirdly, of course you want to keep your skin clean, but be sure you don’t shower or bathe too often or too long, especially in the winter months. It’ll remove needed oils from your skin and cause your skin to dry out. Avoid strong soaps which strip oil from your skin. After showering or bathing gently pat your skin dry, which will leave a little moisture on your skin, then moisturize. Use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. You should consider one that contains SPF.

Fourthly, eating a healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. You need to drink plenty of water, eat plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn't clear, but some research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger-looking skin.

 And finally, acne breakouts and skin problems can often be caused by uncontrolled stress, which makes your skin more sensitive. To promote healthy skin, work on controlling your stress factor. Set reasonable limits for yourself. Remember you can’t do everything in a day. My mom used to say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day!” Make time to do the things that you enjoy. Take some time to simply relax. The results may be more noticeable than you expect.

So remember, these 5 basic tips for good skin care that can help keep your skin healthy and glowing for years to come. Practice good SKIN CARE.

Time Well Spent

Balanced Life Family,

Time is precious. It seems that time passes by so quickly. Days, weeks months and years fly pass before you know it. And once they’re gone, you can never get them back.

You spend your days doing many things. Some things are profitable, others are simply a waste of time. Some things are planned others are unexpected. But it is true that you make time for things that you really want to do.

My sisters, do you want to have a closer relationship with God? Then you need to make time for him. Making time for God is the only way you can develop a personal relationship with him. He already knows you, but you have to get to know him. You’ll never develop a personal relationship with God by simply attending your local church on Sundays. Yes, that’s important, but what are you doing all week long?

You must spend time in prayer. How can you call God your father and you don’t spend time talking to him? The scripture tells us that men ought always to pray, and not faint; Luke 18:1  Not faint means not get tired. It’s time well spent.

You must spend time reading your bible and meditating on the things that you read. I know, some of you say “I’ve tried, but I keep falling asleep.” Sometimes that’s because you’ve put everything else that you wanted to do before your time with God, and then you are too tired and sleepy. And then there are times when the devil will send a spirit of sleepiness to hinder you. Don’t you know the devil doesn’t want you looking into your bible reading and meditating. But you can’t let the enemy defeat you. Keep trying! Don’t give up! Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  James 4:7  Time with God is never time wasted, it’s time well spent.

Finally, you must spend time in worship. Worship him because he is the creator of all. There is none like him, none above him, none beside him. He is God! To worship God you must get in the spirit. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth. John 4:24

So be mindful to make time for God. Pray, read your bible, meditate and worship God, because time is precious and time with God is TIME WELL SPENT!

Care For Your Feet

Dear Sisters,

It’s so easy to take your feet for granted. Your feet work hard for you every day, and usually don’t get the care and attention that they deserve. Some of you jam them into high heels. Some smother them in sweaty socks or pantyhose. And some walk barefooted on surfaces that are likely to be germ infested. Yes, feet take a lickin and keep on kickin!

Along with all of the punishment that I just mentioned, your feet also endure hundreds of tons of impact during the course of a normal day of walking. That pounding impact, explains why feet oftentimes are so likely to get injured.

Your feet need some attention. You don’t have to go to an expensive spa either. Make a point of washing your feet regularly and be sure to wash between your toes. Afterwards, dry them thoroughly. This will help prevent athlete’s foot, odor, bacteria and fungus.

A nice treat for your feet would be soaking them in warm water. You can add some bubble bath or liquid body wash to the water to soothe your tired feet.

Remember to moisturize your feet, especially during the winter months. Cold weather tends to dry out your skin. You don’t need anything fancy or high-priced, just a regular lotion or cream will do the job.

Be sure your shoes fit properly, not too tight. Tight shoes can cause bunions, distort toe shape and cause painful foot growths. Also, be sure to let your shoes air out. Keep your socks and stockings clean, to help avoid foot order and infection.

Don’t forget that flip flops, completely flat shoes, and barefoot walking provide no arch support. No arch support will cause flat feet, which can lead to other foot problems. So don’t let your feet spend too much of the day without support.

Aging, diabetes and pregnancy can all affect your feet. Some older women loose some of the cushioning fat on the balls of their feet. They should choose shoes that have more shock protection.

 If you’re diabetics you may develop serious conditions related to your feet and lower legs. You should check your feet daily and see a podiatric physician at least once a year.

Pregnant women should get your feet measured because oftentimes your shoe size will change with the added weight. I know you want to be cute and fashionable, but health reports say that you need shoes with broad heels, arch support and good shock absorbency. Stop frowning! It’s only for a few months.

Yes! You should get a pedicure and pamper your feet, but be careful where you go. The soaking tubs and instruments used MUST be clean. If you’re diabetic talk to your doctor before getting a pedicure.

Your feet work hard for you. They need your attention. CARE FOR YOUR FEET!

Spiritual Growth

Greetings Balanced Life Family,

The life of a Christian is a journey of spiritual growth. When you first start out, you are as a new born babe in the spirit, or like a tiny sprout getting ready to grow. You don’t know God’s word, ways, or his will, but you must have a desire to learn.   As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 2:2 As you grow there is so much to learn about faith, love, obedience, patience, suffering and so on.

I can remember when I first started my spiritual journey. I always watched the older seasoned saints. They were full of the spirit. They were kind and loving. They were full of faith. They were strong in the Lord. I wanted to be just like them. What I didn’t realize was that it took years to grow to the level of strength in God that they had achieved.

How do you grow in the spirit? You grow by reading and studying God’s word.  God's word to your spirit is like water to a young sprout. You grow by being taught the word of God and having experience with God. You don’t grow strong overnight. It takes time.  You need to have the word get inside of you and take root, so that it can change your nature. And as you grow, you need the Holy Ghost to keep you.

Read the parable of the seed sower and note… Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Matthew 13:5&6  The seed is the word of God. Those on stony ground are the ones who received the word with joy when they heard it. They sprang up quickly, but they had no root or no depth in Christ. They believed for a while, but when the test came they withered away.

We live in a fast paced society. We have microwave ovens, because people want to decrease cooking time. We have fax machines, because people want the documents now. We have emails, because the postal system is too slow for us. We have social media to get information out to the masses quickly. But there is no short cut to spiritual growth. It takes time. You must dedicate your life to it. It is a wonderful rewarding journey, and you can enjoy your life as you grow, but there is absolutely no short cut to SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational blogs sent to your email twice a month, please send your email address to me at getsomebalancenow@gmail.com I’d love to have you join our family of readers. Be sure to add this address to your email contacts to avoid it ending up in spam.

Oral Hygiene

Hello My Sisters,

Taking good care of your mouth, teeth and gums is extremely important. Good oral and dental hygiene can help prevent bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. And here’s something to think about, it can help you keep your teeth as you get older.

Colgate refers to a study that found that “an unhealthy mouth, especially if you have gum disease, may increase your risk of serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke, poorly controlled diabetes and preterm labor.” Now that ought to grab your attention.

Did you know that your doctor can take a swab of saliva and find out tons of things that are going on in your body? Sure can! It’s like looking into a window where he/she can see what’s going on inside of you.

Did you know that most of the bad breath that you smell comes from the tongue? A really good way to help eliminate bad breath is to get a tongue scraper and scrape your tongue daily. You can pick one up in a health food store. And then rinse your mouth with a good alcohol free mouthwash.

Eat a healthy diet to provide the nutrients necessary (vitamins A and C in particular) to prevent gum disease. And be sure to avoid cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, which are known to contribute to gum disease and oral cancer.

Visit your dentist regularly for cleaning and exams. Don’t be afraid! You’ll be glad you did. These are some of the most effective ways to detect the early signs of gum disease. Ok, now let’s hear 3 cheers for ORAL HYGIENE!

Prayer Life

 My Dear Sisters,

Do you have a prayer life? Yes, I know that you pray while you’re at church when they say,   “ Let us bow our heads in prayer as________ takes us to the throne of grace.” That alone is not a prayer life. Because you say a few words to God before you hop into bed at night, doesn’t mean that you have a prayer life. When trouble arises in your life and you pray for God’s help, as you should, that doesn’t mean that you have a prayer life.

The scripture says “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” Luke 18:1 

To have a prayer life you have to purposely set aside time to be with God in prayer daily. Think of all the things God does for you. Surely you can set some time aside to talk to him. Don’t just wait until you’re in trouble or until you want something. Take time out to thank him for what he’s done and worship him for who he is.

Not only do you set aside time for prayer, but you must be prayerful throughout the day. Prayer isn’t always long and drawn out. Sometimes it’s just a few sentences or maybe just a few words. We need to be in constant communication with God. “Pray without ceasing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:17

Once when I was teaching Sunday school, I told the class that if someone told me they’d give me a million dollars, if I didn’t speak to God for one full day, as badly as I’d want that money, I probably wouldn’t get it.  I’m so accustomed to talking to God throughout my day, I’d probably slip and accidentally say something to him. If I didn’t speak to God out loud, I’d speak to him internally. He’s my father. I love him.

A very wise man once said, “If you were married to someone who said he loved you, and some days he wouldn’t even speak to you, how would you feel?”   You can answer that yourself. The same applies to your relationship with God. If you’re a Christian, you’re married to God. You say you love him. You must communicate with him daily. Now ask yourself this question. DO I HAVE A PRAYER LIFE?

The Power of Peppermint

Sisters,

Who isn’t familiar with peppermint candy? Peppermint candy comes to our church so often that some people have started calling it the “church mint”. How often have you popped a peppermint candy into your mouth? Most of us know that peppermint is great for freshening  your breath, and peppermint tea is delightful to drink, but did you know that peppermint has other health benefits as well?

Peppermint oil can be taken orally as a dietary supplement or used topically as a skin cream or ointment. There is evidence that suggest that peppermint oil relieves indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome and heartburn. The aroma of peppermint is delightful and has been shown to enhance memory and increase alertness. It may help to clear your respiratory track too.

How about this? A nice warm bath, after a hard day, with a few drops of peppermint oil to relieve your stress. Or, dab a few drops directly on your body, then get into the tub for near-instant stress relief. Some people choose to massage the oil directly onto their temples and forehead to relieve headaches.

These are only a few of the benefits that peppermint can provide.  You can eat it, drink it, bathe in it, inhale it or just rub it on. WOW! How versatile is that? Let’s hear it for the POWER OF PEPPERMINT!       

 Be sure to talk to your health care provider before using peppermint oils or ointments to see if they’re right for you.

Watch Your Associates

Sisters!

Friends and associates are great to have, but you need to be very particular with your selection. The people that you call friends or associates will influence your values, your character and your mind set. I’m sure that most of you have heard the saying, “Birds of a feather flock together.” In other words, you to tend to behave like those you run with.

If you run with a gossip, you’ll gossip. You’ll find yourself saying unfavorable things about people, things that you don’t even know to be true. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”   1 Corinthians 15:33  “Girl have you heard the latest?” “Girl you’d better sit down before you fall down when I tell you this.” Somebody said that somebody said. It may be a lie, it may be true, but it’s still gossip. Sometimes when you gossip you’re telling the truth, but some truth should not be broadcasted.

Run with a liar and you’ll start lying. Sometimes it’s so much easier to lie than to tell the truth. At first lying may seem hard. Your voice may tremble a bit. You may feel nervous. You may not be able to make eye contact while lying. But after a while, you’ll find that you can lie with ease. My mom always said “practice makes perfect”. She wasn’t talking about lying, but it applies to lying too. You may even pride yourself on how believable your lies are to others, but God is not pleased. “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” Colossians 3:9

Run with someone with an ungodly character and you’ll see the evidence of that in your life too. You’ll find yourself doing things that are unbecoming to a Christian. They’ll tell you “There’s no harm in it.” We do it and we’re Christians”.  After a while you’ll be doing things you never thought you’d do, just to keep up with your friends, and associates. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,”  Psalm 1:1

Do you see the point I’m making? You tend to be like whoever you run with. Just as you can pick up negative traits from people, you can pick up positive traits from people. Hang with people that love God and are striving for perfection in their lives. Run with people of faith, who trust in God. Associate with people who love to read and study the Word of God. Find yourself in the company of those who have discovered how to enjoy life to the fullest, without pursuing sin. A wise man once told me that if you “run with the wise, you’ll be wise” and he was absolutely right.

You’re going to have friends and associates in this life. My advice to you is…be careful to choose wisely. WATCH YOUR ASSOCIATES!