Counting Down to Debt Freedom Day!

"Owe no man anything, except to love him." - Romans 13:8, KJV

I'm sure you're familiar with that verse. There are many verses in Proverbs that also talk about the snares of being in debt and how it can suck the life out of a person.

How about you? Do you have debt, or does it have you?

Being a slave to debt holds many people back from doing what they really want in life. What would YOU be doing if you had no debt?

Think about it for a minute!

If you're looking to get out of debt in record time so you can get on with your real life, I may have the perfect solution for you. The program I'm about to share with you is sweeping the country and has already changed many lives.

How would you like a plan that helps you get there without changing your lifestyle (no scrimping, getting 2 more jobs, or living a deprived life!), and uses the same money you already have? This capitalizes on using the power of interest to work FOR you instead of against you. You have total control and just use your money in a different way, like the banks do.

Many well-respected people have endorsed and are using this program. And Ernst & Young gave it an Entrepreneur of the Year Award last year. I am using it myself, along with several of my family members and friends.

Check out the videos at: http://www.halfmymortgage.net/wordpress-join/ to see how you can pay off your mortgage and all your debts in half to a third of the time. Once you've viewed the overview videos, contact me through: www.u1stfinancial.net/debtsgone to find out more and obtain a free analysis to see how this will work for you.

You will be surprised how quickly you can reach your own Debt Freedom Day!

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." - Romans 13:8, NIV

Need Some Relief?

Everyone has levels of stress that build up during the day. There's only so much our bodies or minds can take before needing a break to keep working at a peak state. Part of living a balanced life involves being aware of how you're feeling and taking proper care of yourself. A little prevention goes a long way to keeping yourself healthy. And it will help keep your attitudes and outlook on life more positive.

Today I received a newsletter from my massage therapist with some great tips she's allowed me to share here with you.

Bust Work Stress: Tips to feel better and work better
Letting stress build up at work can lead to tension and irritability and can even cause you to dislike an otherwise interesting job. Here are some suggestions to better manage the effects of stress.

- Pace yourself. Keep your expectations of yourself and co-workers realistic and don’t make a habit of putting in extra hours. If you find yourself trying to meet unrealistic expectations, learn to distance yourself emotionally or take up a physically demanding sport.
- Set boundaries. Accept that you can only do so much and give yourself wholeheartedly to that. Be willing to say “no.”
- Take breaks to get away. Don’t ignore your coffee break. If you don’t drink coffee, take a brisk walk or take 5 long, relaxed breaths. Get a chair massage or schedule a table massage after work one or twice a month.
- Take time for yourself to review and evaluate the big picture. Listen to your inner voice about what’s important and what’s not.
- Laugh! Find the humor in your life. Watch funny movies and be willing to laugh at yourself.
- Get a massage. Massage can help reduce mental stress and anxiety and relieve muscle tension that can lead to pain and injury.

Thanks to Cecelia Edic, CMT of URelax Therapies, for allowing me to excerpt the above tips from her newsletter. For more information, visit her website at: http://www.urelaxtherapies.com/ and stay stress-free and healthy!

For more good advice to live a healthy life, read through the book of Proverbs and meditate on some of the verses that impact you the most. Taking some quiet time each day to reflect on your life with biblical principles to keep you healthy, wealthy and wise!

Four Things to Remember

Ever have times in your life where it seems everything has been piling up and there's too much to deal with?

One of my relatives has been dealing with a lot over the past 10 years, with the discovery of cancer in herself, then when that was dealt with, a rare type of cancer in her 18 year old daughter, along with her husband's continuing major health challenges. Add in a couple of moves, job changes, financial and other upheavals most people would be totally stressed by. It's just seemed like there was one thing after another through the years I've kept up with her.

As a life-threatening crisis with her husband's health arose recently, her brother had a conversation with her about how she was dealing with it all. I'd like to share part of an email she sent in response, copied to all of us and shared here with her permission.

After our conversation last night, I was thinking about why I think the way I do. People are always telling me they don’t know how I do it, and they couldn’t, etc.

Basically, it comes down to four things. First, it’s like we discussed: SURVIVAL. I literally have to fight for my health (stress kills) also I have to fight for sanity. All of these challenges can make a person crazy! In addition, like any mother (human or animal), I have to fight to protect my family (from their health to teaching them how to stand up for themselves in a world that tends to take advantage of young people). It’s all survival skills.

Second is FAITH. Let me try to explain the way I see it. About three years ago, a tall mountain with sheer cliffs was placed in front of me. I needed to figure out how to get over that mountain to the other side. I had two choices as I looked up. I could take control, use lots of equipment and try to scale it alone, clawing and fighting to reach the other side. Probably making very slow painful progress and never getting anywhere. OR… I could take the hand that was held out to me in faith, and be assisted up the side of the mountain and over the top.

I chose to take the hand, in complete faith, KNOWING that I will be OK no matter what. Once I did that, I have faced every day head on, knowing that God has my back and that everything is happening just as it is meant to, and at just the right time. I never get angry, or question why me? Why not me? Why someone else instead of me?

Third is SERVICE. I live every day in service to others. I wake up each morning ready to help, encourage, smile and share. I have a peace inside in spite of the adversity, knowing that I’m doing the best that I can, and that God is okay with that.

Fourth is GRATITUDE. I live in that state every day.

That’s me in a nutshell.
Love, xo

None of us are exempt from the problems that come upon us, deserved or not, in an imperfect world. How we handle them - and Who or what we turn to in those times of challenges - determines the quality of our life, and how much peace we will have. It can also determine the outcomes of our lives, as it sets us on the path that leads to our future.

I believe that God is there in the middle of our most challenging times (as always) and that He wants us to get to know and trust him more. The more we know about someone, the more we will trust them if their character is strong and true, as is our God's.

Remember whose hands you're in, no matter what you're going through. You can trust God in the good and bad times in life, knowing that he will keep you strong and give you strength when you're not. He is always there for you to lean on.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, NIV

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. - Jude 1:24-15, NIV

Captain Potato Progresses

You may recall from prior posts a story I wrote about “Captain Potato.”
(See posts for http://dailyfaithlessons.blogspot.com/2008/12/captain-potato.html and http://dailyfaithlessons.blogspot.com/2008/12/spudly-joins-captain.html.)

Here’s an update and some thoughts for you.

Take a look at the most recent photo of the Captain & compare it with the prior picture. Looks like he’s put a little age on, as well as a few little growths here and there! (Perhaps he’s gotten a cigar and some legs?!)

Normally, you’ll see potatoes growing eyes and sprouting long white roots, as they’re usually kept in the dark. But I’ve given Captain Potato a place of honor by my sink, so he has been living in the light for the past few months. Watching his transformation has been fun and educational.

Yes, time has a way of adding a few wrinkles to our lives. What’s actually happening to the Captain is that he’s using the nutrients inside him to sustain his life. He’s being transformed from the inside out! Therefore, he is turning greener on the outside and growing appendages that are actually reaching out trying to find additional nutrients (found in soil) so he can sprout new growth.

It’s interesting that this is the inherent nature of potatoes: after their useful life (food for us), if they’re not consumed, then they start turning that nutrition and energy from the inside into growing roots to start new plants. They are full to capacity with life and energy and must “overflow!” The energy can’t just sit there, but must do something. They will give up their own needs (i.e., staying the same and maintaining the normal potato form) so they can be fruitful and multiply into many more potato plants. They are being transformed into a multiplication of new life.

In essence, they are dying to give birth to greater abundance in their life! Their “death to self” is therefore not in vain, but is part of the process and stages of life.

Have you ever thought about how that applies to you? The more you are filled up to overflowing with the love and grace of God operating in your life, the more your needs are filled from the inside – and just can’t help overflowing on the outside. In that overflowing you will produce more fruit around you. You will inspire and encourage others. There will be new life and growth and energy all around you.

What stage of growth are you in now? Are you letting God’s spirit fill you up to overflowing? If not, you may need to soak a while in the presence of God, breathing in the nutrients of life from His atmosphere for your inspired growth. Once you’re full, you will happily want to share your new life with others. It’s really that simple!

Let me leave you with a prayer to meditate on, as penned by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:16-21, NIV

Ivy League

Every once in a while I'll take this little ivy plant out of its vase to check what's happening with its root system. The last time I took it out, it hadn't been tended to for a long while. The roots had all bunched up and wrapped around each other in a mess. I could hardly get it out of the container. So I trimmed the roots aggressively back, hoping it would allow more energy to go into growing the plant stronger and perhaps larger.

The photo above was the result I discovered recently. Apparently all the growth went into one long root! I couldn't believe it! It must have been over three feet long, but all that showed above the vase was about 6" with three or four small leaves! I guess all is not as it appears!

It reminded me of Psalm 1 (NIV translation). I have printed it here for your meditation:

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

We need to have the proper nourishment for our souls and spirits. That is achieved by planting our thirsty souls near God's refreshing spirit and staying close. We will never run dry of what we need when we go to God to satisfy all our thirsty longings.

Come close to him today. Drink from his well that will never run dry! He will grow your roots strong in his love through spending time with him. He knows when it's time for more nourishment, or time to trim your roots so you can grow stronger and expand your reach. He will make you strong enough to stand firm and not wither or be washed away or blown away. Let God give you everything you need to be strong and healthy and stand firm like the wise man today!

Are you living in line with God's principles? Are you listening to his wisdom? If so, you are in the same league as the little ivy plant - and the willow tree from Psalm 1. God promises that you will thrive and prosper no matter what life brings your way.

Taste of India

Recently we hosted a dinner party where I prepared 20 different dishes showcasing a variety of types of Indian food. It was an amazing evening, with so many varied flavors, textures, smells, colors, and temperatures! All the guests seemed to be thoroughly impressed and amazed with the variety and interesting flavors presented. Several of them had trepidations beforehand about the dinner, thinking it might be too spicy or too strange tasting to really enjoy. But their worry turned to delight as the dishes appeared. The freshness of the ingredients and spices with everything made from scratch that day made all the difference. And not enjoying too spicy foods that overpower one’s palette, I was careful not to let any seeds from the fresh Serrano chilies get into the dishes.

My son helped me with the food prep work all day and the night before. I truly couldn’t have done it without him! In fact, the next day he showed me the blister he got from so much chopping!

Prior to this dinner experience, I had never really cooked much Indian food at all, although I’d been to several Indian restaurants and usually enjoyed what I had tasted (if it wasn’t too hot). I really wanted to learn more about Indian cuisine, with all their interesting spices and styles of cooking. That’s why last summer at another dinner party I suggested an Indian-themed dinner party at our home. Since I didn’t know much or have many recipes, I bought a few cookbooks in my travels to assist me in my research.

My thoughts for preparing so many dishes were to not only have a variety of flavors from different areas but to really get immersed in the way of thinking about food prep from the Indian chef’s perspective.

For instance, I learned that many recipes start out with heating the spices – either dry (in the pan with spices alone or perhaps a bit of vegetable oil) or wet (with more oil or with water or vegetable liquid). They do this along with crushing the seeds or leaves to open up and bring out the true essence of the wonderful flavors. The preparation of the spices is the main part of their cooking. Then, of course, simmering all the flavors together with the meat or vegetable carriers or marinating them together for a few hours in the refrigerator all work to enhance the richness of the total food experience.

What also amazed me was the salad. I used cut up baby spinach leaves and then sprinkled a special warm dry spice mixture over them with a few splashes of lemon juice. It was so simple, yet an amazing way to start the meal! Very fresh, yet simple and interesting. It prepared the guests for what was to come.

Something else that left everyone amazed as well was the saffron ice cream. I had made it the night before with some creams and a few threads of fresh saffron. I couldn’t imagine it would turn out as it did. But the magic of being frozen overnight turned it from a bland liquid into a rich yellow frozen treat - a great refreshing way to end the taste trip.

Since it was my first time attempting all these recipes, I was as surprised and amazed as my guests all evening long! I thanked them for being willing guinea pigs that didn’t mind me testing these new recipes on them!

I couldn’t help but think through this whole experience about all the wonderful flavors of life God wants us to enjoy on our journey. Think about it for a minute. The taste experiences we have can be salty, sweet, bitter, bland, spicy, hot, with cold or hot temperatures, and textures of crunchy, soft, chewy, hard, mushy, tender, and various others. For the eye there are many colors to the foods we eat and various ways to prepare things to give us an unending variety of both the food combinations and the artistic presentations.

Doesn’t that compare with life – and all the feasts of the experiences God has for us to enjoy? Most of all, he wants us to feast on him – to take delight in being with him and enjoying the warm of his love and the fragrance of his spirit wafting in and around and through our lives.

A picture in my dining room says it all: “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8)

Remember today that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17, NIV)

So look for the delights God is bringing your day each and every day. Even in the contrasts of flavors such as bitter and sweet there is delight and joy. Just make sure you are living in a place where you can seek refreshing from the Lord if your diet in Life experiences seems a little too spicy, bitter, or bland at the moment!

Cure for Money Problems?

As I drove by this sign, I did a double take!

Think about it for a minute. Doesn’t this message epitomize what got us into the economic trouble in the first place?!

Taking out a loan to pay off one’s debt still leaves one in debt, doesn’t it? It just shifts it around and adds on another interest payment to boot. Isn’t that just what our country’s leaders are doing with the bailouts and other economic plans in motion?

It is during such times in our lives that we truly need to be reminded to examine ourselves and take responsibility for areas that need cleaning up. I know fear and panic can set in during times like these. But if you’re operating from a place of fiscal responsibility, you have been keeping an eye on others who may be managing your financial affairs, making them accountable to you. You are armed with basic knowledge about the type of investments you’re in.

You realize how fear and greed cause market cycles where investors buy high and sell low – totally the opposite of wise investments. But you’re seasoned enough to use a strategic entry and exit plan to circumvent the psychological games that get many into deep waters. You know that what goes up must come down and vice versa. You have diversified assets and income streams so that an unforeseen disaster in one area does not bring your whole house of cards falling down.

Should you find yourself under duress or feel things falling apart in this economy, it may be time to put your focus on God’s plans through these difficult times. Yes, you need to address your issues and attitudes and education about money. You may need to take responsibility for some unwise decisions. Don’t bury your head in the sand, but take this opportunity to gain wisdom and learn how to turn this into opportunity for the future.

Through it all you can trust God to bring you through it. The ride may be bumpy. Things could get worse. But what is really important in life? What if you did lose it all? What would you have left of value? Sometimes doing a worst case scenario makes you truly grateful for what you really have.

Sometimes God needs to shake us up so we draw closer to him. He longs to show us himself in all his power and glory. His love for us, his children, never fails. After all, when we leave the temporary life of this world, we will be with Him and will bring none of the material goods of this world with us. All we will have will be the eternal treasures we’ve sent on before us that we’re storing up in heaven.

Where is your treasure today?

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. – 2 Corinthians 4:7

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. – Matthew 6:21

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. – Proverbs 15:22

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. – Proverbs 21:5

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. - Isaiah 33:6

Think on these things from the Word of the Lord. Then take whatever action God is telling you today. Be sure to praise him for his love and mercy and grace through it all! He knows the end of the story…

Chai Tea or Tai Chi?!

When I recently enjoyed a cup of chai tea at home, my mind was playing with the words and I ended up with “chai tea or tai chi” running through my head. (Pronounced “chī tē or tī chē.”)

That led me on a journey to connect the two by their commonality and see what I could take from this mind game to enhance my life! As it happens, they both can contribute to better health. Taking time for a tea break and letting out the breath you’ve been holding in with your tensions all day is a great stress reliever. With tai chi as a form of stretching, balance, and even somewhat of a strengthening routine as well, it helps increase your concentration and confidence as a bi-product, along with relieving stress.

What are you doing in your day to give your body a break, which can nourish your soul and spirit as well? Do you have a special place you can go to breathe, relax, let it all hang out, and wind down? Even if you’re in the middle of a busy environment, you can have that place in your mind to retreat to. Think of a wonderful vacation retreat: Feel the warmth of the sun and breathe in the air there for a moment or two before you get back to work.

You could take a quick break from your desk or other circumstances if possible for even a few minutes to get up and stretch and move, walk and breathe, and ultimately get your mind focused on something different for a mind break as well. You might even want to set a timer or use a computer program to help you “put your hands up and step away from your desk!” every 60 minutes or so. Try it for one day and see what a difference it makes in your attitude, your alertness, and your productivity. You might just make it part of your normal routine!

Perhaps you work alone. Your break might need to be from yourself! Maybe it’s time to visit with someone socially for a few minutes over a cup of chai tea (or something else you prefer), even if it’s just over the phone. But nothing beats the human touch and a face-to-face if you have a neighbor or nearby friend you can chat with regularly.

In the meantime, you have the greatest Friend and Restorer of your soul who’s always with you. He has promised to give you rest from the weariness of your soul.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” - Matthew 11:27-29, NIV

He brings refreshing when you need it. Take a moment to read or recall the calming words of Psalm 23. Make sure you review all the verses where the Good Shepherd takes you down the path to quiet places and “restores my soul.” (Go to the passage online at: http://tinyurl.com/9g8jv if you like.)

I’ve also been told: “A belly laugh a day keeps the doctor (and psychologist!) away!” Have you had your belly laugh today? If you want a few laughs, go to my website at: www.Real-Life-Institute.com/articles and click on “Rough Day” in the top right box. You can also Google some joke sites or funny pictures on the internet. Share them with a friend. It’ll do you both good! And remember not to take yourself too seriously!

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22

All of these techniques are ways to keep your mind and body healthy and prevent getting burned out. It’s important to take care of yourself, as a good steward caring for the Temple of the Lord, which your body is. With the mind-body connection, taking that mind break and keeping your perspective and attitude right is all part of a well-balanced life.

And know that God is always there to help you with your burdens, to trade yours for his as part of walking along the journey yoked with him (the stronger carries the most weight, the other only what they are able to carry). So stay close to him and rest in his great love for you today!

"The joy of the Lord is my strength!" - Nehemiah 8:10b