Great News For Your Health

Hey Balanced Life Family,

I’m so excited to share with you something that can help make being healthy a lot easier. I’m always trying to give you information to encourage a healthy lifestyle, and now here’s something I found out about that I simply love. It’s an app called “Yuka”.

Yuka is a FREE mobile app that scans your food and cosmetic products and instantly tells you their impact on your health. No more time-consuming standing in the store isles reading food labels. Simply take your phone and scan the bar code. Yuka will take a picture of the product and tell you if it’s a bad, poor, good, or excellent choice.

It doesn’t matter if the product is a bad, poor, good, or excellent choice, it immediately tells you why. Not only that, but it will often recommend an alternative product. WOW! How cool is that? This will help you to make healthier food choices.

Yuka also helps with selecting safer deodorants, toothpaste, mouthwash, foot sprays, hair sprays, creams lotions, and makeup. The creators of Yuka say that they are 100% independent and are not influenced by any brands. They also say that their mission is to help consumers make better choices for their health and drive manufacturers to offer better products.

Now you’ll know what you’re buying in the blink of an eye. You can learn at a glance which products are good choices for you and those that aren’t. All you need is to have your cell phone handy. You may not dismiss every bad or poor product, but at least you’ll know not to use them so often. Knowledge is powerful. My goal is to empower you with tools to help give you a better life. So check it out!

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

Taking A Break

Dear Balanced Life Family,

I started writing blogs in 2017. I’ve written more than 100 blogs. Whew! (To God be the glory!) I hope that they’ve given you spiritual inspiration and enlightened you with health tips that’ll help to improve your lifestyle.

I’ll be taking a break for the summer. Part of staying healthy is knowing when to take a break. God doesn’t want us to be stressed out. I intend to resume posting 2 blogs monthly beginning in September. In the meantime, you can always visit my website at www.getsomebalance.com to read blogs that you may have missed or forgotten about. God has blessed my website and there’s a lot of information and inspiration there.

May God shower you with His blessings, surround you with His peace, and keep you by His power. Thank you for being a loyal reader. See you in September 2024!

Rockeal Jones

Trust God's Timing

Greetings Balanced Life Family,

Time is a strange thing. Sometimes it seems to move very slowly and sometimes very quickly. Sometimes it seems like we never have enough of it, then there are times when we seem to have too much of it. It all depends on what you need to do or have done with time.

There are goals we want to accomplish in life. There are things we want to possess. There are also changes we want to see come to pass. And these things we would like to have sooner rather than later.

We as Christians must remember that God has a good plan for our lives that will manifest in time. Ephesians 2:10 tells us “ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them..” We have to learn to trust God’s timing.

The key element in trusting God’s timing is faith. If we believe that God is going to bring it to pass, even if it doesn’t happen right away, it won’t affect our faith in God. We won’t say “why God why or when God when”. We’ll keep believing and patiently waiting until it comes to pass.

When we pray and make our petition to God, we’ve got to trust that he will answer, not within our time frame, but within his. There’s no failure in him. “Behold I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: Is there anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27  NO! There’s nothing he can’t do. When our prayer isn’t answered immediately that’s not a sign that God isn’t going to do it. Sometimes he’s just telling us to wait.

It’s a known fact that you can’t hurry God. Wait on God’s time! You can wait patiently or impatiently. Being impatient torments you and shows a lack of faith. Don’t torment yourself. Have faith, wait patiently, and trust God’s timing because he’ll never be late.

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

How Common is Mental Illness?

Balanced Life Family,

We all should want to be mentally healthy. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Unfortunately, mental illness is pretty common in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. 

There are 10 common mental illnesses in America. They are Anxiety Disorder, Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Panic Attack, Adjustment Disorder, Post Dramatic Stress Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Intellectual Disability.

Did you know that women are more likely to be diagnosed with this illness than men? (23% of women versus 16.9 percent of men) And here’s some news. The rate of mental illness is more than twice likely among young adults 18 to 25 than in people 50 and older.

We need to be aware that mental illness is real and is all around us. This is one reason why you hear so many reports of mass shootings, suicide, child abuse, murder, rape, and so on. If you or someone you know is suffering from any of the above disorders or illnesses, I encourage you to pray and get or help them get professional help.

God has blessed us with physicians that understand our bodies and what they go through. Don’t be afraid to go to them to seek help. Here’s the good news. Mental illness can be managed successfully and people do recover. I do advise you to pray first and ask God to lead you to a physician that will be kind, patient, and able to find the correct solution for you or your loved one. Yes, mental illness is real and it’s very common and should not be overlooked.

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

Can You Disappoint God?

Greetings Balanced Life Family,

Disappointment is something we have all experienced. If we weren’t disappointing someone, we were being disappointed by someone. But, is it possible to disappoint God? The definition of disappoint is “to fail to fulfill the hopes or expectations of someone”.

Truthfully, no one can disappoint God. God knows each one of us. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. There’s nothing we can do, think, or say to disappoint him. We don’t have that kind of power. Before we entered this world, he knew every thought and action we’d have. God doesn’t put his hope and confidence in us, we are to put our hope and confidence in him.

God wants us to obey and be victorious. He wants us to succeed. When we fail, he wants us to repent and make a change. “The Lord is … not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 God gave us the right to repent because he knew we’d mess up sometimes, but he’s not disappointed.

We can’t catch God off guard. We can’t surprise or shock him. Now keep in mind, that doesn’t give Christians the right to live any kind of life their flesh desires, because we can grieve God. Ephesians 4:30 says “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” No, you won’t disappoint God, but in the end, YOU will be greatly disappointed. So let’s do all that we can to please God with our lives. Put yourself in his will so that YOU are not disappointed in the end.

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

Understanding Hypertension (The Silent Killer)

Hello Balanced Life Family,

How many of you have high blood pressure? It’s also known as hypertension or the silent killer. Hypertension is a common condition in which the long-term force of blood against your artery walls is high enough to eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.

Did you know that hypertension usually doesn’t have symptoms? That’s right! You can have it and not be aware of it. That’s why it’s important to check your blood pressure from time to time to be sure that it’s normal. The CDC reports that nearly half of the adults in the United States (47%) have hypertension and only about 1 in 4 have their condition under control.  

Your blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries are the higher your blood pressure.

When checking the reading of your blood pressure, you have 2 numbers. The number on top measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats.

You may want to know what is a normal blood pressure reading. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) readings below 120 for the top number and below 80 for the bottom number are considered normal.

If you check your blood pressure and your reading is higher than normal, don’t panic! Talk to your personal physician to be sure that your reading is accurate and follow his/her instructions. The good news is that hypertension can be controlled and, it’s good to be aware so that you can continue to prosper and be in good health.

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

Never Give Up!

Hello Balanced Life Family,

So many of us have loved ones that we are praying for. We want to see a change in their lives. It may be a child whose lifestyle is ungodly, a spouse who is hard to get along with, a friend who has an addiction, or it may be something else. Whatever the problem, I want to encourage you to never give up on them. Keep loving them and praying for them without supporting the wrong that they do. The scripture tells us to   “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thess. 5:17

You may have been praying, hoping, and fasting for a long time, but never give up. I know sometimes it may seem like a hopeless situation, but God answers prayer. Here’s the thing that discourages so many people. God has his own time frame and you don’t know what it is. You may think this is a “right now” problem, but God knows the process that has to take place. Have faith! Trust God! Never give up!

You may feel like it’ll take a miracle to change him or her. Well, God specializes in miracles. Jesus said in Matthew 19:26 “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Read the story of Saul in the Bible, who persecuted the Church. Nobody thought he’d change, but God miraculously changed his life and used him to write almost half of the New Testament. (He wrote 13 books of the Bible.) His change came in Acts 9:1-6.

Your loved ones need your prayers. They may not be able to pray for themselves. They need you to never give up on them because God is faithful, and he answers prayer. It may have been a long time. You may be tired. It may seem impossible, but your miracle may be closer than you think. NEVER give up!

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

Safe Unthawing Methods

Hey Balanced Life Family,

Most of us aren’t vegetarian. We like to eat meat with our meals. Meat is a delicious and important part of the meal, but we want to be sure that it’s safe to eat.

If you’re planning dinner for tonight and you realize that the meat is still frozen, what should you do? Should you put it out on the counter to thaw, or run hot water on it to speed up the thawing process? Neither!

Both methods of thawing are unsafe and may lead to foodborne illness, according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. As meat thaws, it should never become warmer than 40 degrees F, because that may allow bacteria to multiply. Even if the center of the meat is still frozen, the outer portion may be in the danger zone.

When thawing out meat, one of the best methods is to let it thaw out in the refrigerator where it will remain at a safe constant temperature of 40 degrees or below. Planning ahead is the key in this method because it takes about 24 hours, and that depends on the temperature of your fridge. Refrigerator thawing isn’t the only safe method. There are 2 other methods.

Another safe method is cold water thawing. Using cold water is a quicker method, but it requires more attention. Meat must be in a leak-proof bag or package, completely submerged in water, and the water must be changed every 30 minutes.

The third method, which is equally safe, can be done in the microwave. To unthaw in your microwave be sure to correctly use the defrost setting, or you’ll end up partially cooking your meat.

When using the latter 2 methods the USDA suggests that you cook the meat immediately after it thaws. So go ahead. Eat that meat. Enjoy your meal. Just be sure that if it was frozen, you’ve unthawed it properly.

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

A Sinner Saved By Grace?

Greetings Balanced Life Family,

Have you ever heard a Christian say that he/she is a sinner saved by grace? I have. Honestly speaking, that is one label that I refuse to put on myself. I can’t identify with that. Yes, I was a sinner, but God saved me and changed my life. I am no longer a sinner and I refuse to identify myself as one, even when you tack on that ending “saved by grace”.

The nature of a sinner is to sin. Am I saying that I’ve never committed sin since I’ve been saved? That’s not what I’m saying! As long as we’re in a human body we are likely to commit sin, but we don’t have a sinful nature.

The difference between a saved person and a sinner, when it comes to committing sin, is that when a saved person commits a sin, he will repent and not willfully keep repeating that sin. A saved person’s nature is to please God.

Since we no longer willfully sin, we are no longer sinners. We are free to live a holy lifestyle. “If the Son therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”. John 8:36 You can’t be a sinner and be saved at the same time. It’s like trying to have darkness and light occupy the same space at the same time. Impossible! When light comes darkness must flee. When salvation comes that sinful nature must flee.

We’re saved by faith through grace. “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1&2. Christians don’t live in sin.

Don’t label yourself as a sinner when you know that Jesus has saved you and changed your life. A sinner saved by grace? Absolutely not!

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

Signs That Say "You're Eating Too Much Sugar"

Hi Balanced Life Family,

Did you know that sugar is in practically everything that we eat? So even if you don’t stop by the bakery or snack on chocolate bars, you’re probably eating more sugar than you realize. Your body gives signs that tell you when you’re eating too much sugar.

One sign is craving sugar. When you’re eating or drinking sweet treats excessively, you’re constantly activating the reward center of your brain, making you want more. This causes a vicious cycle that can hook you on sweets. The more you get the more you want.

Feeling tired regularly? If you’re one of those people that reach for a sugary snack when you need a burst of energy, your body may be screaming “too much sugar”. You’ll probably get that burst of energy when the sugar hits your bloodstream, but since that sugar isn’t packaged with nutrients like protein or fiber, the blood sugar level drops, and then comes the crash. Now you’re feeling less alert, less focused, and more fatigued. This could be another sign.

If you notice you’re gaining weight, especially around the middle, that could be another sign. Snacking on sweets and eating processed foods causes weight gain. Processed food has a lot of added sugar to make it taste good. Instead eat more whole foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and high fiber.

Some of you may be experiencing brain fog. which could be a sign that you’re consuming too much sugar. Too much makes you feel hazy, confused, and unfocused. Some people don’t even realize that they’ve been in a fog until they cut back on sugary treats and processed foods.

Do you have a problem with your complexion? Maybe your skin doesn’t glow and you have an acne problem. That could be a sign of too much sugar. Collagen keeps the skin supple and youthful. Excess sugar weakens the collagen and makes the skin look saggy and wrinkly.

Have trouble falling to sleep? Research shows that diets high in refined sugar are linked to poor-quality sleep. Eating a sugary treat before bedtime is not a good idea. When you have difficulty falling to sleep it keeps you from getting the physical restorative sleep that your body needs.

If you’re experiencing any of these signs, and you know that you consume an excessive amount of sugar or processed foods, please try cutting back. You may be surprised at the results you’ll get.

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

Your Tongue is a Weapon

Greetings Balanced Life Family,

Did you know that your tongue is a weapon? Yes, it is. It’s a weapon that can be used either for good or evil. Let’s explore this.

Some people use their tongue as a weapon for evil. They use it to retaliate when someone has offended them. That’s usually done in the heat of the moment. Things are said that are later regretted. Once the words come out of your mouth, they’re out there.

The tongue can speak lies, profanity, gossip, and it can degrade the character of others. All of these things are hurtful and the weapon used is the tongue. These things are spoken by a tongue that has not been tamed. The scripture tells us that “the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8 Only God can tame a tongue.

Now let’s see how your tongue can be used as a weapon for good. Your tongue can fight against evil. Use your tongue as a weapon to speak the Word of God. And when you speak it, you must believe it.

Speak a scripture of light into your dark situation. (John 8:12) Speak a scripture of confidence when you don’t know what to say. (Exodus 4:12) Speak a scripture of victory when you feel like you’re being defeated. (2 Cor. 4:8&9) Speak a scripture of praise when sadness comes your way. (Psalm 34:1) These are only a few ways to use your tongue as a weapon. Speak the Word of God, which will bring you victory.  

The scripture tells us that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue:” Proverbs 18:21 You have a powerful weapon in your possession. Use it for good! Speak victory!

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

Bad Habits That Damage Your Eyes

Hello Balanced Life Family,

Your eyes are precious and you should value your vision. Here are some habits that are harmful to your eyes.

One bad habit is staring at a phone screen, computer, or TV without giving your eyes a break. This can cause chronic dry eye and disrupt your sleep patterns. According to an article in the “AARP Webletter”, we’re supposed to blink once every 4 seconds. When we’re looking at a screen, we only blink about once every 8 to 10 seconds. Blinking keeps our eyes lubricated. You need a 20-second screen break about every 20 minutes. This helps prevent eye strain.

We usually think of wearing sunglasses in the summer, but not in the winter. That’s another bad habit. Ultraviolet rays can wreak havoc on your eyes, causing damage to the surface tissues of the eye. This can happen any time of the year. You can also develop a sunburn on your eyes, which can be extremely painful. And remember to check the tag on your sunglasses to make sure they provide 100% UV protection.

Some of you wear contact lenses. Never sleep in your lenses. I know, sometimes you just feel too tired to remove them. If you fail to remove them often, it becomes a bad habit. Bacteria and other debris get trapped between your contact lens and the cornea of your eye. This can cause an infection that may lead to loss of vision.  

Here's one for the ladies. Every once in a while, it’s ok to fall asleep with eye makeup on, but it’s a bad habit to do it regularly. You raise the risk of eye infection in the form of a stye, or a painful lump that grows either from the base of your eyelash or under the eyelid.

These are just a few tips to make you aware of bad habits that can do damage to your eyes. Please remember your eyes are precious. Value your vision. It’s a gift from God.

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

Use Your God-Given Talent (It's A Gift)

Greetings Balanced Life Family,

God is our father and he has given each of us unique gifts and talents. He created us and he knows us better than we know ourselves. He has a great plan for your life. And if you follow his plan, you can achieve great things.

Some of you have God-given talents that you haven’t tapped into yet. God knows your ability. He put you here for a purpose. You are to use the talent that God has given you to make an impact on the world.

God wants you to live a good life. He wants you to be holy, joyful, peaceful, prosperous, and full of good works. To do that, you’ll have to seek him for direction. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”     Matthew 6:33

Once you know what your talent is ask for God’s help and begin to put it into practice. He’ll help you.  He’ll give you wisdom, strength and guidance. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13  Believe me, you are capable, with God’s help, of doing things you never imagined.

God wants you to be successful. If you feel like you’re not experienced enough, not qualified or maybe it’s just out of your comfort zone, what should you do? Step out on faith and make a start. God will give you the power to succeed. He has the resources, contacts, and information you need, and he’ll make them available to you. But you’ve got to make a start.

So don’t be afraid. Your talent is a gift. Trust God and discover your God-given talent and use it to the Glory of God.

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

Deodorants Containing Aluminum

Hello Balanced Life Family,

Let’s talk about something that we all have in common. If you have arms, you have armpits. Armpits carry an odor if they aren’t properly cared for, so we wash them and deodorize them. There are so many choices we can make in selecting a deodorant. But notice, some are deodorants and some are antiperspirant deodorants. Let’s talk about the differences.

Deodorants get rid of unpleasant smells, which is great. But, if you’re a person that sweats a lot, it leaves you with a problem. The problem is you’ll have a wet ring of sweat under your armpits that’ll show up on your clothes. That can be embarrassing. So, you may choose to use an antiperspirant.

Antiperspirants get rid of unpleasant smells too, but the difference is they are designed to keep you dry. Yay! What do antiperspirants contain, that deodorants don’t have? What is it that keeps you dry?

Aluminum is the active ingredient in antiperspirants that helps keep you dry. Some say aluminum may increase the likelihood that genes mutate at a cellular level, increasing your risk for tumors. That sounds scary but, hold on a moment.

According to the American Cancer Society, “there’s no clear link between cancer and the aluminum in antiperspirants because breast cancer tissue doesn’t appear to have more aluminum than normal tissue. Only a tiny amount of aluminum is absorbed. These findings are based on research on antiperspirants containing aluminum chlorohydrate.”

Whew! That’s a relief. So, the next time you’re choosing a deodorant or an antiperspirant for your personal protection you shouldn’t have to worry, because now you know the facts.

New Readers: If you would like to have inspirational and health 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.

Why Forgive?

Hello Balanced Life Family,

Even though you are a Christian and have a spiritual life, you live in a fleshly body. While living in this body you will have all types of experiences. Some good and some bad. People won’t always treat you fairly. There are those who will cheat, lie, deceive, abandon, misuse or abuse you. There are so many evil deeds that you may experience in life. How should you react? The question arises, “Should I forgive?”

The answer is yes, you should forgive. Why forgive? First of all, you forgive because your heavenly Father tells you to forgive, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

Another reason to forgive is that it makes you free from the burden of hate, resentment, bitterness, and displeasure. You don’t want that mess in your life. When you forgive others, you’re not doing it for them, you do it for yourself. It makes you feel so much better.

As long as you refuse to forgive you are giving the person who wronged you power over a portion of your life. Is that what you want? It affects different people in different ways. Some people can’t sleep, some lose their appetite, others simply get stressed out, and some have no joy or peace. Then there are those who can’t have a decent relationship because they’re still harboring unforgiving feelings.

Did you know that refusing to forgive can even make you physically sick? Refusing to forgive makes you angry. Anger can put stress on your body and weaken your immune system. This will expose you to a greater risk of getting sick. Is it worth it? Jesus tells us plainly in the Word of God to forgive every time someone offends us. “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but until seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:22 That means you can’t say “I forgive you but this is the last time.” There is no limit to forgiving.

Finally, if you want God to forgive you when you pray, then you must forgive others. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:” Matthew 6:14

Don’t carry bitterness, anger, and hatred throughout your life. Free yourself up! Enjoy life in peace without that heavy burden and FORGIVE.

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.

What About the Egg?

Hey Balanced Life Family,

When we think of a breakfast, so many of us immediately think to include eggs. It’s hard to go to a restaurant and not see eggs on the breakfast menu.

So many people love eggs. In the past eggs have gotten a bad reputation. They said that they weren’t good for you, and they were bad for heart health. I’ve been reading some articles written by health experts, and I’ve found that’s not true. Eggs actually have very important health benefits for our bodies.

Eating eggs makes your bones and muscles stronger. Just one egg at breakfast gives 6 grams of protein to your diet. Protein is essential for the body’s tissues. Protein also improves the health of nails, skin and hair. Now that’s a plus!

Vitamins are essential for your body to function properly and eggs have lots of vitamins: vitamin A for your skin and eye health; vitamin D for strong bones and teeth; vitamin E which is an antioxidant; and         vitamin B12 which helps keep your blood cells and nerves healthy. An egg is full of nutrition and only has 70 calories. Any extra calories come from the way you prepare it, so if you load it with cheese or cook it in butter, the calorie count goes up.

Some eggs contain omega-3 fats. These fats are heart healthy and fight inflammation (pain) in your body. Omega 3 fats aren’t in all eggs, but the ones that contain them are clearly marked on the package.

Are you concerned because of what you heard about cholesterol in eggs? Researchers found that eggs can actually increase your good cholesterol, and this cholesterol helps to absorb the bad cholesterol in your blood.  Ain’t that good news!

These are a few facts I’ve found through research about the “incredible edible egg”. If you have any medical concerns check with you doctor to see if you should restrict your consumption of eggs. Otherwise, enjoy!

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.

Temptation

Balanced Life Family,

We have all been tempted in one way or another. Temptation is being enticed to do something wrong or unwise by the promise of pleasure or gain. Being tempted is not a sin, however yielding to temptation is. Temptation can arise any day or time. God doesn’t tempt us, that’s the devil’s job and he’s a master at it. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man” James 1:13.

Let me tell you a four-step process that the devil uses to lead you into temptation: First, he searches for a sinful desire inside of you, and if he finds it, he starts working in your mind. Next, he uses his tool called doubt, to get you to doubt what God has said about this sin. Then, he uses deception to misinform you, because he’s a deceiver. Anything he tells you will be a half-truth or a complete lie. He’s the father of lies. His final step causes you to put into action the thought that has been in your mind. You give in, you yield to temptation. Now you have sinned.

The good news is that God gives Christians the power to overcome temptation. You have help, but God isn’t going to tie you down and force you to do the right thing. You’ve got to submit yourself to God and allow him to help you, when you’re tempted. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

Don’t yield to the devil and his four-step process. He and his process are no match for the power of God. The power of which I speak is the power of the Holy Ghost. That’s the power to withstand evil temptations. If you possess this power you don’t have to yield. God’s will for your life is that you be victorious.

The devil wants to destroy you, don’t give him a chance. Use every temptation as an opportunity to do good. God wants to develop you through temptation, and every time you refuse to yield, you’re growing into the character of Christ. Don’t yield!

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.

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!

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.

Should We Return to Church? (Post Pandemic Closing)

Greetings Balanced Life Family,

We’ve been through a lot, as it relates to the pandemic caused by Covid-19. It has affected everyone’s life. It has affected our personal, professional, social and spiritual lives. Let’s focus on how it has affected our spiritual lives.

Many of us were accustomed to going to church on Sundays and during the week for Bible study. We looked forward to worshiping with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We looked forward to hearing the melodious voices of the choir, and hearing an inspiring message out of the Word of God from our Pastor. And then, it all changed. The doors of the church were closed.

Many of our church leaders were forced to become creative and present us with online services. We were able to view church services in our own homes. WOW! This meant that we didn’t have to get dressed for church. We could eat a sandwich during service. We could multi-tasks during service. We could sit in a recliner while viewing and be so relaxed, that we could fall asleep completely. Who would know? Or we could just skip the service. Who would know?

To those who sat at home and paid close attention to the service, may I ask you a question? Was it the same as being there in person? I can’t answer for you, but I’ll answer for myself. “ABSOLUTELY NOT!” Yes, it was better than no service at all. No, it was not the same. Too many distractions, too much freedom and no fellowship.

The scripture says in Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” This means that God wants us to go to church and fellowship with one another. We should encourage one another as the day of Jesus Christ is approaching. Forsaking fellowship gives place to discouragement among the body of Christ. The idea of staying away from church, now that the church has reopened, is a trick of the devil.

Use wisdom! Wear your mask, keep your distance, keep your hands clean, and please know that immunization is available to you. The church has reopened. “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1 GO BACK TO CHURCH! Selah!

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.

Read The Label

Hello Balanced Life Family,

If you want help finding foods that have nutritional value for you and your family, you need to start reading labels. Yes, it takes a little more of your shopping time, but believe me, it is well worth it.

Food labels can help you limit the amount of fat, sugar, and cholesterol in your diet, by making it easy for you to compare one food item with another, and then choose the one with lower amounts. Now that’s what we want.

Please know, that understanding what you read on labels can be a little tricky.  I’m going to help you. The nutritional information found on a food label is based on one serving of that particular food.  The label may say that the food has 100 calories and 3 gram of sugar per serving. But be sure to look at the number of servings contained in that package. It may contain 4 servings which means, if you eat the entire package you will have consumed 400 calories and 12 grams of sugar. WHAT? Yep! That’s quite a difference.

Food labels also tell exactly what’s inside the package. Just look at the list of ingredients. The first ingredient represents the ingredient with the most amount included in that food, the second ingredient is the second highest amount and so on. This stuff is important to know.

All packaged foods come with a nutrition label meant to provide you with the information necessary to know exactly what you’re eating. Beware of labels that have a lot of ingredients that are really hard to pronounce, that’s not a good sign. So if you want to be healthy and you want to be informed, READ THE LABEL!

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.