Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts: December 2015

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

LIFE: Determination

John and Washington Roebling are two of the most determined men I’ve ever heard of. John was inspired in 1883 to build a bridge that would connect New York with Long Island but his engineering peers thought he was crazy and that I couldn’t be done. John convinced his son, Washington, that it could be done and they began building the bridge. After a few months, there was a traffic accident on the bridge and John was killed. His son suffered partial brain damage and could not talk or move.

Washington did not let this tragedy keep him down. He was determined to see that bridge built. Eventually he could move one finger and he learned how to communicate with his wife using a code of communication using his finger. For 13 years he used his finger to tap instructions to some engineers and the result was the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge. Washington, despite many odds, never gave up and allowed his determination to overcome a monumental obstacle.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

HEALTH: Let our medicine be our food

Hippocrates said, “Let our medicine be our food.” What this means is that when we are not feeling well, the food that we decide to eat plays an important role in our recovery and general function of our bodies.
Ensure that the foods that you are eating are beneficial to the body. Take time to evaluate what you have been eating, Make a list and replace the foods that are not healthy, such as high sugar sweets, chips, and soda, with healthy alternatives such as water, fruits, and vegetables. It will take effort and determination, but the rewards will be well worth it. Your physical health will improve and your energy level will increase.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

LIFE: Dreams/goals

If you stopped and asked ten people on the street today what their dreams and goals are, most of them would not be able to give you a detailed answer. Most people think about their dreams every so often but tend to stay in the “dream mode” instead of actively making the effort to attain their dreams.
You may hear things like, “I want to lose thirty pounds,” or, “I want to be an architect,” or even, “I want to be financially sound,” but what you might not hear is the steps they are taking to fulfill these dreams.
Dreams create passion and passion causes action. Begin writing out your short term and long term dreams and begin taking action toward them. Ask God to help you and don’t be afraid to dream big.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

HEALTH: Physical Health

Eating to satiate our physical need happens frequently. We feel hungry so we grab something to eat. We need food in order to live. But what about our spiritual appetite? It hungers as well. Do we feel our spirits stomach growling in hunger? Are we aware that our spirits need fed?

Our physical health is important, but our spiritual health is more important. If we are sick spiritually, it affects every aspect of our being. God wants us to feed our spirits with him. Whether it is through reading his word, or directly communing with him in prayer, it is important to take time daily to satiate spiritual hunger. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with God’s spirit. Take time today to fill yourself up with God.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

LIFE: Motivation

Have you ever met someone that was always motivated? It seemed like they were always doing something to achieve their goals and with great passion. If I had to guess why they were so motivated, it was because one, they were passionate about their goals, and two, they found ways to keep themselves motivated.
If you’re finding yourself unmotivated, I encourage you to form some goals. You also may find it helpful to read inspiring and motivational literature. Look up some quotes on success, motivation, and passion and print them out and read every day. Use positive affirmations such as, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Think of motivation using this analogy. An airplane is powerful and has plenty of potential, but unless there is a pilot to start it up and actually fly it, it just sits there, not moving. The pilot is the motivation to get that plane off the ground and you have incredible potential as well and motivation is that internal drive that will activate it.