Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts: December 2011

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

MARRIAGE: Forgiveness

I assure you that you will have conflict in your marriage. It is inevitable. The keys to resolving conflict are humility and forgiveness. Humility means thinking of yourself as lower than others. It is the opposite of being prideful. God says he gives grace to the humble but opposes the proud.

Forgiveness means forgiving another no matter what they did or how many times they’ve done it. God forgave us of our many sins and will continue to do so because of his unconditional love for us. We all need to forgive and ask others to forgive us when we hurt them.

If you want a successful marriage, commit to walking in humility and forgiveness. Be quick to forgive your spouse and ask for forgiveness when necessary. Don’t bring up past offenses as this will only cause further conflict. Walk close to God as he will help you and your spouse to reflect God’s love in your marriage.

MARRIAGE: A prayer for marriage

Lift your marriage and your spouse up every day in prayer. If you are not sure what to pray, begin by praying the prayer that follows and ask God to help you learn how to pray according to his will.

“God, we submit to you wholeheartedly. We come before you and thank you for blessing us with such an incredible love for each other. We delight in you as well as each other. We ask that you continue to bless our lives as we bless and serve you. Help us to honor and cherish each other. Help us to walk in love, humility, and forgiveness. May we shine bright with your love wherever we are and be a reflection of your awesome glory. Amen.”

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

LIFE: Humbling yourself.

God is also serious about me setting my heart on spiritual matters and not the fleeting shallow temporary pleasures of this world! God’s Spirit can sustain me; give me life, love, joy, peace, and so much more! Why why why do I continue to look elsewhere for these things???

Humanity struggles with this: self vs. spirit. But let’s encourage one another to remain spiritually minded and deny self. Let’s love and serve others, animals, and our planet instead of just caring about “us four and no more.” James says God gives grace to the humble. What is grace? Unmerited favor. We don’t deserve it, but God gives it when we are humble and our heart is concerned about pleasing God and living compassionate and loving lives here on this earth.

I know for myself I’m going to make more time to get quiet before God. Let God’s spirit refresh and renew me. Take a deep breath and contemplate what is really important in this life. Be grateful. Accept the peace and joy God has so freely given.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

WORK: Women

Have you ever known a very productive woman? I mean someone who is a very hard worker and takes pride in her work no matter what kind of job it is. I think of Mother Teresa often and what a diligent worker she was for God. She did not care about money or status, she simply wanted to please God and love people.

Proverbs 31 teaches us that a godly woman uses her skills and talents and works vigorously. It talks of her taking care of her husband and children, even rising before the sun to begin preparations for the day. It also states that she works with her hands and sells various items to help provide for her family. Furthermore, it declares that she is strong and secure in her God. She takes time to strengthen her relationship with God and this directly affects her role as a wife and mother. I encourage you to read Proverbs 31 and ask God to reveal to you how you can become more of a godly woman.

©2010-2011 Minister Claretta Taylor Pam, Global Ecumenical Ministries Inc. and Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts. All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

HEALTH: Discipline

Our physical health can affect other areas of our lives such as career and family. If we are not feeling well or are battling sickness and disease, it affects not only us, but those around us.

God has given us the best diet plan in the Bible. If you will read Leviticus and Deuteronomy, you will find a diet blueprint that will help you walk in optimal health. Walking in good health requires discipline and commitment. You might not feel like eating fruits and vegetables over cookies and hotdogs, but the rewards of feeling energized and fully alive are well worth the effort. Educate yourself on how you can live a healthier lifestyle and share your good news with others.