Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts

Thursday, October 9, 2014

LIFE: Respect

“Do onto others as you would have them do onto you”. This is a clear statement which applies to all people, regardless of their creed, race, gender. To prosper in this world, they have to do good to be successful in life.

The most desired behavior of conduct of all mankind is to treat another person the way they would want to be treated, in need, in sickness or health, in good times and bad. If you want people to treat you with respect, you have to treat them with respect. If everyone started thinking this way, there would be no crime, no fights, no wars and no loss of life or otherwise.

Monday, October 6, 2014

HEALTH: Think positive

Proverbs 23:7 states that as we think, we are. The thoughts that we think about ourselves are exactly who we are. Who we are today is a product of the thoughts we’ve thought of all the years before today.

How do you see yourself physically? Strong, healthy, vibrant? Sick, tired, and apathetic? Your thoughts and perspective can help you or hurt you. If you struggle with negative thinking patterns, it’s time to change that. It’s time to begin thinking positive thoughts about you and everything about you. I encourage you to envision yourself healthy, strong, happy, and vibrant. No matter what your situation is or how you are feeling, visualize you at optimum level. Also, use positive affirmations such as, “I am strong. I am healthy. I eat healthy. I am confident, successful, and happy. I can do anything through Christ, who strengthens me.”

Before long, you will notice that you will change the way you feel and see yourself. You are not your thoughts, but your thoughts greatly influence your perception of yourself.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

LIFE: Keeping an open mind

“Where there is no vision, the people perish, but he that keeps the law, happy [is] he.” This clearly states the importance of one keeping its mind open to new things and ideas. The person who shuts his mind to the world will remain ignorant and will not be able to live as fully as he would have otherwise.

The person should be able to think and decide for himself, and not be influenced blindly by the opinion and views of other people. The person who lives truthfully and according to the rules of the world, only s/he will be truly happy, the others who pretend to be someone they are not will always be under the complexes which complicate their lives further. Live truthfully, honestly with a clear open mind, in other words-an enriched life.

Monday, September 29, 2014

HEALTH: Your career

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.

Monday, September 22, 2014

HEALTH: Learn the art of meditation

Various cultures and religions have used meditation for healing for thousands of years. Studies have revealed that mediation can help those who suffer from stress, pain, depression, and high blood pressure, as well as an assortment of other ailments.

Meditation calms the mind and allows individuals to learn to take back control of their lives. There are various meditation techniques used throughout the world. The bible explains that if one meditates and follows God’s word continually, then he/she will have success. Take some time to learn about mediation and commit to spending time each day in prayerful meditation.

Monday, September 15, 2014

HEALTH: Lifestyle

God has a divine plan for optimal physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Through Scripture, prayer, good nutrition, and modern medicine, we can walk in health, strength, and joy.

The Bible says God made all of our delicate, inner parts of our body and knit us together in our mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13) God created our bodies with organs and systems that work in perfect order. Ask God to help you live a healthy lifestyle and understand the healing power of God.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

LIFE: Live each moment

“In the end, life lived to its fullest is its own Ultimate Gift.” – Jim Stovall. Everyone comes in this world alone and goes to the next world alone; whatever he chooses to make of his life depends on the person. People can either wallow in their sorrow, or they can take the low phase in their life as a challenge and try to overcome it. They can either be sad about it, or they can choose to see the glass half full.

When you try to live each moment of your life, be it in the happiness or grief, there would be no regrets, because the person would have the satisfaction of making the best out of what they had. As Jim Stovall says, a life well lived is a gift in itself. It’s a cherished feeling, which everyone should strive for.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

LIFE: Making mistakes

People commit mistakes, they stray from the right path, sometimes knowingly and other times unknowingly. However, if one spends some time thinking in what is the right or the wrong thing to do; one will be able to figure it out for oneself. As it says “For the Truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us and shall be with us forever.”

Everyone just needs to look within themselves and seriously ponder which path to take, and surely, the right path will be apparent to them. Right and wrong may be subject to people’s perception about the small and petty things in life, but the things that matter, it stays the same for everyone. The truth is within all of us, and the more clearly we are able to see it, the better it will be for us.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

LIFE: Respect

People in this world are judged by their actions. People who do good deeds are known to be good people and vice versa. Therefore, to be respected in the eyes of your peers, family, and friends you need to have honorable actions. As it is quoted in Proverbs 20:11 “Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.” As clearly stated, everybody is known his actions, even children who are naive, which leaves no room for adults.

Doing good deeds can only make a person be respected in this world and Hereafter. Society will have no reason to point fingers or to question the person’s characters if everything is done with a good intention. Therefore, to have a peace of mind, and not be at conflict with the norms of Society and their beliefs, one needs to have honorable actions.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

LIFE: Critics

The hardest critic of man is man himself. Having committed a wrong, we condemn ourselves to a life of depravity thereafter, not thinking ourselves worthy of redemption. Because we are unable to forgive ourselves, we immerse ourselves even further in vice so as to escape from the realization of our guilt.

However, just because we lived in folly in the past does not mean there is no hope for our future. None of us is entirely bad, and by acknowledging where we went wrong, and taking past experiences as guidelines for what not to do in the future, we can rekindle hope in ourselves from these words of the Bible “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” We are all given second chances: to learn from our mistakes; grow out of them as a person, and gather the strength to start anew.