Beware of Backsliding

Hello Balanced Life Family,

We know that the Bible tells us that before our redemption we were born in sin and shaped in iniquity. We thank God for saving us and redeeming our souls from sin, but we must beware of backsliding. We have to work to continue this Christian life.

Because we’ve come out of a sinful nature, it’s easy to drift away from God and end up back in that sinful nature. Drifting away is subtle. At first, you hardly notice when you take a small step away from God. But, if you continue to take small steps, after a while you’ll become aware of how far you’ve drifted from God and yes, you’ll see that you’ve become a backslider.

Every day we have a choice to make regarding our walk with God. We can either move closer to him or we can move away from him. We have to follow the Bible’s instructions. It says “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deut. 6:5 If you do this then you’ll choose to move closer.

Those who desire to move closer to God spend time with him. They worship God, keep up their prayer life, read and study the Bible, practice loving others, and strive to please God daily with their lives.

Those who wake up and find themselves in a backslidden state have simply little by little given up doing the things I’ve just stated. I don’t believe that any Christian just wakes up one day and says “I’ve decided I’m going to be a backslider. Yep, that’s what I’m going to do.” No! It happens gradually. Little steps of sin that lead you away from God.

The devil causes people to backslide. He hates that you’re saved. He hates that you’re on your way to heaven. He’s been there and he knows how wonderful it is and he knows he’ll never be able to go back. He doesn’t want you to go there either.

Hold fast to your walk with God. Don’t take those little steps away. We have work to do to continue this Christian life.

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.

How to Reduce Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Balanced Life Family,

When you look in the mirror have you noticed fine lines and wrinkles appearing lately? Do you wish you could reduce them? Well, you’re not alone. I may have just the help you need. As we age wrinkles and fine lines begin to appear, it’s a part of the aging process. But there are things we can do to help reduce their appearance.

If you’re a smoker, you’ll need to quit smoking. I know it’s easier said than done, but smoking causes premature aging of your skin. Tobacco contains chemicals that damage the cells of your skin. It usually isn’t easy to stop, but you can get help from your doctor or healthcare provider.

Add more antioxidants to your diet. Foods like berries, cherries, plums, pecans, red kidney beans, black beans, and oily fish with high omega-3 fatty acid content. These are only a few. Antioxidants protect your skin from free radicals, which can cause wrinkles and skin damage.

Remember to stay hydrated! Especially after exercising or doing hard work. Water is God’s gift to your thirst. If you don’t enjoy the taste of water spruce it up a bit with lemon, cucumber, or lime slices. Water helps maintain your skin’s elasticity.

Don’t forget to avoid excessive sun exposure. If you’re going to be in the sun for a while be sure to use sunscreen or a SPF moisturizer. According to Mayo Clinic, sun exposure is a major cause of wrinkles. Sun can cause sagging skin and under-eye bags. We certainly don’t want that.

It’s also important to get the proper amount of sleep. Your body needs time to repair itself. (Check out my blog on getting enough sleep.)

Ladies, you should apply a moisturizer before going to sleep at night and in the morning after washing your face. This will also help to reduce lines and wrinkles.

And finally, avoid as much stress as possible. Stress causes changes to the proteins in your skin and reduces its elasticity. This loss can contribute to wrinkle formation. Also, that “stressed out” look on your face can create lines and wrinkles.

So, let’s take good care of our skin and ourselves. And let’s try to look our best as we gracefully navigate through the aging process.  

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.

Godly Character

Balanced Life Family,

When people are talking about you (and they will talk), how do they describe you? I mean the real you. What would they say about your character? What kind of reputation do you have? When people speak truthfully about you, what they say is a good indication of your character.

People are watching those of us who say we are Christians. And no, we don’t have to pay them to watch us, they’ll watch us for free. Christian character is important. We are representatives of God and God is love. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” 1 John 4:11 They should see a positive difference in the way we conduct ourselves.

I don’t mean just going to church on Sundays and maybe through the week. We have to be careful of how we treat people, the words that come out of our mouths, the activities in which we participate, and how we represent ourselves on social media.

The world is looking for an excuse to say that there’s nothing to Christianity. They’re looking for a reason not to come to Christ. Don’t give them one! They’ll say we’re just like them if we do the same things they do. We’ve got to let them see that there’s a difference. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Being a Christian isn’t only about being spiritual, you need to have moral excellence as well and that comes with a godly character. Singing, shouting, and praising God is all good, but if your reputation is bad and your character is ungodly all of that singing and shouting is in vain.

Let’s ask God to work on our character and make us more like Him. The world is watching. They need to see that there is a reality in serving God. The world is in darkness. Show them the light of Christ through your godly character.

Can Social Media Become Addictive?

Balanced Life Family,

Did you know that social media is addictive both physically and psychologically? When you are overly concerned about social media and have an uncontrollable urge to log on to or use social media, that’s a problem. If you spend so much time and effort on social media that it hinders other important aspects of your life, you have an addiction.

It's safe to say that checking and scrolling through social media has become a very popular activity. Some people may even feel withdrawal symptoms when they don’t check social media platforms. This addiction is common among adolescents and young people. Although the majority of people who use social media don’t have this problem, there is a small percentage of users who become addicted.

Social media is designed in such a way that it activates feel-good chemicals in the brain. This was intentionally done according to an article from the Harvard Business Review. These neurochemicals like dopamine are triggered and can be deeply addictive just like addiction to recreational drugs and gambling.

Many people use social media with no problem, but there are those who become addicted. The good news is that this condition is very treatable and many have recovered from the addiction. Reducing screen time is a great solution, however, if the addiction is too severe professional help may be required.

Social media can be a very helpful and productive tool, just be sure that you don’t let it take over your life.

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.

Being Faithful

Greetings Balanced Life Family,

The scripture says “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10 This tells us that God wants us to go with him all the way. We are to trust God continually and allow him to lead us throughout our life. We serve a God who is faithful to us. He never fails us and he wants us to be faithful to him.

Being faithful to God means that we are willing to obey his word to the best of our ability. We can’t pick and choose parts of the word that we want to obey and skip over the parts that go against our fleshly desires. God’s word wasn’t written to appease our flesh. It was written to enlighten us, nourish our spirit, and help us grow.

God won’t give us the reward of eternal life in heaven for beginning this faith walk and not completing it. It doesn’t matter if we’ve devoted 10, 15, 20 years, or more to our Christian journey, if we should be foolish enough to turn back, we miss the gift of eternal life.

There will be times when the devil will rear his ugly head and tempt us, but we are to remain faithful to God. If we resist the devil, he will flee from us. The scripture tells us “There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape…” 1 Cor. 10:13 So we have no excuse.

Being faithful to God is not something that is out of our reach. God would never have told us to do it if it were impossible to do. Remember he’s always there to help us and he created his people to be victorious. So, as we journey through life, let us be faithful to God and go with him all the way.

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.

Taking A Break

Dear Balanced Life Family,

Another 12 months have passed and summer has just about made its arrival.

I’ll be taking a break for the summer. As I said before 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.

I’m going to enjoy my summer and I hope that you’ll do the same. I’ll see you in September 2023.

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.

Your Life Has Purpose

Dear Balanced Life Family,

There is a reason for your existence. You aren’t just here by happenstance. God has created each one of us for a specific purpose. We, as members of the body of Christ, have a spiritual assignment. We’re on a mission. Our purpose is to accomplish that assignment. Many people don’t fulfill their purpose because they don’t know their assignment. 

God gives assignments according to the ability he has given you. He also places a passion in you for whatever your assignment is and gives you direction. “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” Proverbs 19:9

Your purpose is never going to be anything that’s too hard for you to accomplish. You may need some resources and help, but if you begin to work on your assignment, God will supply you with everything you need to complete the assignment and fulfill your purpose.

The parents you have or had, the family you grew up in, the neighborhoods, the schools, the church or churches you’ve belonged to, the experiences you’ve had, and the people you’ve met, all tie in with your purpose for being here. These experiences have helped prepare you for your assignment.

Now, some people are very clear regarding their purpose and their assignment and some aren’t. We certainly don’t have the same assignment, but each assignment is important. If you’re not sure of your assignment and you’re wondering exactly what is your purpose in life, the scripture says “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8 Ask the one that created you, the one that sent you on this mission, the assignment giver who is GOD because your life certainly does have a purpose.

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.

Is Breakfast Really Important?

Hello Balanced Life Family,

Are you one of those people who feel that breakfast really isn’t that important? Do you often skip breakfast? Well, if you do, you need to stop that. Yes, breakfast really is important and what you choose to eat for breakfast is even more important.

The name breakfast means the breaking of the fast. You’ve fasted all night long while you were sleeping and whatever you decide to eat in the morning is what breaks the fast and is called breakfast.

Since you’ve been fasting all night, you should be particular about what you decide to eat first. You have the day ahead of you with things to do. You want to feel good and function well, so be sure to choose something that’ll be nutritious and fuel your body for the morning. Our bodies use a lot of energy for growth and repair during the night. Eating a good breakfast helps to restore that energy.

Skipping breakfast won’t help you to lose weight. You’ll usually make up for it by making unhealthy food choices during the day. When you eat a good breakfast, it helps to maintain good health and reduce your junk food cravings throughout the day.  It also helps to set your morning mood. A hungry person can be a cranky person.

If you’re wondering what a nutritious breakfast consists of, according to Healthline reports, your breakfast should have at least one food that is high in protein, another that is high in fiber, and at least one fruit or veggie. If you choose foods that you like that fit into these categories for breakfast you can feel confident that you are getting the vitamins and nutrients you need to start your day as you break your fast. Don’t skip breakfast! It really is important.

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.

The Final Say

Dear Balanced Life Family,

Have you ever received a bad report from a doctor, sad news regarding a loved one, frightening news from a bill collector, or bad news regarding your job? Life is filled with unexpected events and many of them aren’t good. God never promised us that they’d all be good. But the good news is that God has the final say.

Just because you went to the doctor, he examined you, ran some tests, and found out you had a serious condition, and he gave you a bad report, you don’t have to panic.

Maybe you’ve received some bad news about a loved one who has experienced an unexpected misfortune. Maybe they got shot, kidnapped, carjacked, or something else. We hear about these things happening to people all the time, but when it happens to someone close to you, it’s alarming, but all is not lost.

It could be that you just don’t have the money to do the things you need to do. You may have tried to budget and borrow but you still can’t seem to make ends meet. Bill collectors are calling or your landlord has given you an eviction notice. Calm down!

What if your boss informs you that they’re about to let you go? Your job has been your livelihood. How are you going to make it? Well, before you have an anxiety attack remember who you are and whose you are. You are a child of the King. You belong to God.

Whenever trouble arises talk to God and be comforted in knowing that God is in control. Jesus said. “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) He also said, “Behold I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) Remember before you panic or have an anxiety attack, calm down, this isn’t the end because GOD has the final say.

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.

Watch Your Food Portions

Hey Balanced Life Family,

Don’t you just love to go out and eat a meal at your favorite restaurant? There are so many great restaurants to choose from these days. When you go out, there is something you must be mindful of, and that is food portions. They’re usually TOO BIG!

So many of us grew up being told to clean our plates, and we’re programmed to think that we simply must eat everything on our plates. Not so! Overeating is bad for your health. How many times have you left a restaurant and felt like a “stuffed turkey”? I can’t count the number of times I’ve done it. Believe me, it’s not a good feeling. 

It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to get the message that your stomach is full, which is why many people tend to overeat. If you eat fast, you’ve gotten all of that food inside of you in less than 20 minutes and before your brain can tell you “STOP! YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH!” you’ve cleaned your plate.

So, what can you do? First, stop eating so fast. Slow down, that’ll give your brain time to communicate that your stomach is full. Sometimes I actually use the stopwatch on my phone to time my meals.

 Secondly, you may want to drink a glass of water before your meal. That will give you a feeling of being full, which helps to discourage overeating.  That’s a simple little trick, but it can be very effective.

And finally, here’s another method that I often use myself. When I dine out and my food is served, I divide it down the middle before I start eating. I’ve already decided that I’m only going to eat half of it. No, I’m not going to throw it away and waste my money. I’m going to take the other half home to enjoy it the next day. That way I get two meals for the price of one. Smart!

No, it’s not necessary to clean our plates. And no, we don’t have to leave the restaurant feeling like a “stuffed turkey”.  So, enjoy dining out, but use wisdom. WATCH YOUR PORTIONS, and get two meals for the price of one.

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.

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, the Master of time, 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  And the answer is 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.

Table Salt vs. Sea Salt

Hey Balanced Life Family,

All of a sudden sea salt has gotten really popular in restaurants and grocery stores. Sea salt has a coarse crunchy texture and a stronger flavor than table salt. Manufacturers are using sea salt in potato chips and other snacks because it’s all-natural. If you’re a health-conscious person you may choose sea salt over table salt because it contains minerals like magnesium.

Actually, salt is salt! There is very little difference between table salt and sea salt. In a survey conducted by the American Heart Association, 61 percent of the people incorrectly agreed that sea salt is a lower-sodium alternative to table salt. Table salt and most sea salts all contain about 40 percent sodium by weight.

Most sea salts don’t offer any real health advantages. The minute amounts of trace minerals found in sea salt are easily obtained from other healthy foods. Sea salt also generally contains less iodine than table salt. Iodine is added to prevent goiter which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland visible as a swelling of the front of the neck.

So, which one should you choose? You can actually let your taste buds decide between the two. As reported by the American Heart Association they both contain about the same amount of sodium.

Remember whichever type of salt you decide to enjoy, do so in moderation. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams a day. That's roughly how much sodium is in 1 teaspoon of table salt. I just thought you’d like to know.

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.

The Name Jesus

Greetings Balanced Life Family,

We all have names. Check your friendship list of names to see how many names you know of people that you can always count on. Ones who will be with you always and never fail you. Names of people that can do things that seem impossible and always love you unconditionally. You won’t find any.

But, the name of Jesus is powerful. God has given him a name that is above every other name. God spoke to all creation about Jesus when he said in Matthew 3:17 “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” And as the Son of God, he has all power.

This is the name of the one you can call on when things get tough and the weight of your problem is too heavy for you to bear. Jesus is a burden bearer and he’ll carry your heavy load. Call him!

Jesus is the one you can trust to lead you when the way gets dark and you can’t see your way. He’s a light in darkness. John 8:12 says “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Don’t be afraid to call him!

You can call on Jesus when you’re sad and heartbroken. When you’re so low in spirit it seems like you’ve fallen into a pit and can’t get out. Psalm 34:18 tells us “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Call Jesus!

When you’re faced with the afflictions of life. When you feel like there’s no end to the suffering, trust the name of Jesus. Psalm 34:19 lets us know “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Call him!

Jesus can do these things and so much more. Calling on the name of Jesus and getting an answer is a blessing and privilege. Those who believe and trust in God and believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, have access to this blessing and privilege. Let me encourage you to remember that you have access, so when you need Him, don’t hesitate to call him. His name is Jesus.

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.

The Awesome Cucumber

Hey Balanced Life Family,

Some people adore cucumbers because they are a healthy food that is so versatile. They’re packed with nutrients and antioxidants, and they hydrate your body. They’re low in calories, but contain filling fiber and fluid. They’ve also been reported to promote weight loss.  

You can snack on cucumber slices. Toss them into a salad, peel them, and cut them up, then top them with your favorite salad dressing and place them on your plate alongside a meal. Delicious!

Do you have any idea how deliciously refreshing cucumber slices make your drinking water taste? (I’m actually drinking some as I’m writing this.) Drinking cucumber water may benefit your skin health and help eliminate toxins from your body, according to an article on healthline.com. Be sure to keep your cucumber water chilled because it will expire.

I’ll bet you didn’t know that if you’re feeling a little tired and your energy level is going down snacking on cucumber has been reported to give you a quick pick-me-up. That’s a lot healthier than eating snickers.

Now here’s a news flash! I heard from a doctor that cucumber can actually freshen your breath. So, after eating onions, garlic, or whatever why not give it a try and see if it works for you? It’s a lot cheaper than breath mints.

And finally, I read a health article that said cucumbers may also have health benefits outside of your body. Putting them on your skin may help ease sunburn pain, swelling, and damaged skin. That’s why people sometimes put a slice or two under their eyes hoping to shrink bags and ease puffiness.

Check out the cucumbers! They really are versatile and pretty awesome.

 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.

God Gave You A Present

Greetings Balanced Life Family,

Do you realize that God gave you a present and it’s precious? No one else could give it to you. He not only gave it to you but he’s also given it to everyone whether they love him or not. This present is called “today”. Yes! Every “today” that you have is a gift from God. That could be why we call today “the present”.

Let me encourage you to treasure each day and live it to the fullest. Use each day to accomplish something positive. Don’t waste your day being sad, angry, discouraged, and ungrateful. “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 God is good and we have so much to be grateful for.

Realize that every day is a good day. Wake up in the morning and declare your good day out loud. Speak it or yell it if you have to. Words have power. Put those powerful words into the atmosphere and live out what you’ve declared.

This declaration doesn’t guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen that day. You can’t control the events of the day, but you can control how you react to them. Don’t get upset and out of sorts. Remember who’s in control of all things. Remember the scripture “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God…” Romans 8:28 As long as you stay with God, even the bad things will work out for your good because God is in control, you belong to him and he loves you.

So, don’t waste your present. Treasure it because it’s precious, priceless, and given to you by 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.

Healthy Eating on a Friendly Budget

Hey Balanced Life Family,

You probably want to eat a healthy diet, but you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg doing it. I’m going to give you a few tips for healthy eating on a friendly budget.

When you go to the grocery store always plan ahead. Without a plan, a good percentage of the food you buy may end up in the garbage. Know what meals and snacks you’ll be eating that week and the ingredients you’ll need to make them. Be sure to include fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains at the top of your list.

Don’t hold back on coupons and reward programs. Grocery stores often have reward programs and memberships that provide discounts and savings for things you already shop for. Check your store’s weekly flyer for discounts. And if you prefer digital, there are plenty of apps that will help you earn cashback and savings at the grocery store.

It doesn’t hurt to go generic sometimes. Store brands often have the same ingredients and nutritional value as their brand-name counterparts and they cost less.

Have you noticed that frozen fruits and veggies cost less than those that are fresh? They are picked and frozen at their peak of ripeness which causes them to hang on to their nutritional value longer. What’s really great is that they won’t turn rotten because they’ve been forgotten. (That’s a cute little saying that’s easy to remember.) 😊

Even when you plan your meals carefully you may end up with some leftovers. Don’t throw them away. Get creative with them. Leftover veggies can be used as a side dish with another meal, in soups, or even in stir-fries. You can do the same with proteins. You don’t want to throw hard-earned money in the garbage.

These are just a few things to keep in mind the next time you go to the grocery store. I hope they’ll help you to create a friendly budget while making healthy food choices.  

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.

Don't Fight Back!

Hey Balanced Life Family,

When someone treats you badly, is your first impulse to retaliate by treating them badly? Do you feel like it’s only natural to get even? Well, that may be natural and the nature of those who have not been born again, but God has provided us with a new nature. It’s not governed by the natural, it’s governed by the Spirit.   

There was a time when people lived by the law that permitted, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. That meant that you had a right to get even with someone who had done something wrong or evil to you. But God changed all of that. The scripture tells us in Romans 12:17 “Recompense to no man evil for evil.”

Yes, in life you’ll be mistreated. Yes, it’ll seem unfair, but don’t fight back. Just because you don’t fight back doesn’t mean that you’re weak. It takes strength to trust God to handle it. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and turn our lives over to God, we’re God’s responsibility. We don’t have to get revenge. Check the scripture. It tells us in Romans 12:19 “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

If you decide to fight back, God won’t fight alongside you. He’ll step back and let you handle it and you’ll make a mess of it. If you trust God and allow Him to handle it, he’ll work things out for your good, and you won’t even have to break a sweat.

I’m not saying that you should never speak up for yourself. I’m not saying that you should let people walk all over you. I’m saying that it’s wrong to think up evil ways to get even with someone who has done you wrong.

It’s important that we remember that the world is watching. They’re expecting to see something different in our lives because we are Christians. So, show them something different, something better. Practice temperance! Let God handle it! Don’t fight back!

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 Breath is Powerful

Hey Balanced Life Family,

Take a deep breath in. Now slowly let it out. Repeat this a few times and you may notice a difference in how you feel already. Your breath is a powerful tool to ease stress and make you feel less anxious. Simple breathing exercises can make a big difference if you make them part of your regular routine.

Breathing in for a count of four and out for a count of eight for about 60 seconds can start to calm your nervous system. Remember to try this when you feel angry, anxious, irritated, or nervous.  

The experts say controlled breathing can cause physiological changes that include:

1.    lowering blood pressure and heart rate

2.    reduced levels of stress hormones in the blood

3.    balanced levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood

4.    improved immune system function

5.    increased physical energy

6.    increased feelings of calm and well-being

Look at that! A short breathing exercise can be effective in the moment, but making a daily practice a few times during the day could condition you for better health over the long run.

Listen! I take my blood pressure at home and it’s usually good. When I go to the doctor, they take it and it’s usually high. So, I started doing breathing exercises at home and right before my pressure was taken during my doctor’s visit, and it hasn’t been high since. WOW! I was so surprised that this really worked for me.

Now, I’m remembering to take a few breaks throughout the day to do breathing exercises. I even do one at night before I fall asleep. It has really been helpful to me.

If you have a smartphone you can probably find a free app that will help you time your breathing exercises.  

When you’re feeling anxious, or stressed, or you’re about to have your blood pressure taken, why not try a breathing exercise and see if it works for you? Your breath is powerful.

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.

The Power of Your Testimony

Greetings Balanced Life Readers,

True testimonies are powerful. There are things that have happened in our lives that only God could have brought us through. These things seemed impossible to get through, yet we made it.

Life is unpredictable and full of surprises. We are Christians and our faith must be tested. You’ve heard it before, “No test, no testimony”. We have trials and tests to go through. Going through isn’t fun, but there is so much joy when you come out with the victory.

Do you realize that victory isn’t for you alone? With victory comes experience and a testimony. Your testimony is to inspire, enlighten, and encourage others. That’s why you must share it.

Jesus said to a man after he had healed him “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee and hath had compassion on thee. Mark 5:19

There’s always someone who is going through or will in the future go through the same experience you had. Sharing your testimony will inspire them and give them so much hope. It reminds them how powerful God is and how mindful he is of his people.

Going through trials and tests can get pretty rough. Sometimes it gets so dark we can’t see our way out. Just hearing how God has brought someone else out is like shining a beacon of light into that dark place. It’s like throwing a lifeline to someone who’s sinking. It’s a powerful boost and gives them the courage to hold on.

Sharing your testimony also gives glory to God. He’s the one who causes us to triumph and we owe him thanks. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

I’ve been inspired, enlightened, and encouraged by powerful testimonies.  If God has done a humanly impossible something in your life, don’t be afraid to share it with others. There’s power in your testimony.

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 To Relieve Gas

Hi Balanced Life Family,

The holidays are approaching and that means family feasting for many of you. There are, however, a variety of foods that can cause gas. It can also be caused by swallowing air or the breakdown of foods in the large intestine. Having gas can be embarrassing. The good news is there are some things you can do to relieve it.

If you find yourself burping frequently you may be swallowing too much air. You need to eat and drink more slowly. Cutting down on gum chewing and carbonated drinks can help as well. Swallowing too much air can also be caused by something as minor as loose-fitting dentures.  If you wear dentures, ask your dentist to make sure they fit correctly.

Certain ingredients in foods can cause gas.  Read the label. Look for sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol found in sugar-free candies and gum. High-fructose corn syrup can lead to this issue. Many adults are lactose intolerant and dairy products cause them to have gas. If that’s the case there are pills or drops you can take or consider reducing dairy intake.

Various things cause gas in different people. Sometimes you simply have to write down the things that you’ve eaten to determine the cause. Looking over the list may help you to discover which foods are causing the problem and you can limit your intake of them.  

Oh, how some of us, including myself, love sweets! Did you know that carbohydrates can give you gas? Your stomach and small intestine don’t fully digest some carbs. This can create methane gas or hydrogen sulfide in the large intestine, which is that nasty odor you smell when gas is passed. Cutting down on sweets can help.

I’m hoping these few suggestions are helpful because nobody likes to be embarrassed. As always, I advise you to check with your healthcare professional before taking any pills or drops as mentioned in this blog.

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.