Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

LIFE: Self vs. Spirit

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, April 8, 2015

WORK: Career path

If you are wondering if you are in the career that God has called you to fulfill, you will know by your passion. Do you look forward to going to work? Do you feel productive? If you are not passionate or dread going to work, perhaps you are not doing what God would like you to do.

Take some time to evaluate your options. Do you have to stay in your current job? Perhaps you may for a season, but not necessarily forever. Ask God to lead you to a career path that you would love and that you’ve got gifts and talents for. You have every right to change careers if you are not satisfied with your current one. Just do it.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

HEALTH: Don't wait to get healthy

Oftentimes people wait until it’s too late to begin eating healthy and taking care of their bodies. Perhaps they go to the doctor and are told they have a serious condition or high blood pressure, or are obese and it is affecting their health. It is always hard to hear such news, but it also can motivate people to begin making lifestyle changes at that time.

Little by little, step by step, we can make changes that can help prevent sickness and disease. Drinking more water, eating healthier foods, and exercising more are all things that will benefit your health.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

LIFE: Friends

Life without people close to you is like fish without water. One needs to have friends, family whom they can go to, spend time with and enjoy their life with. When such people are close to you, there are bound to be issues one has with other people, there are likely to be fights, and misunderstandings. Therefore, one should always be forgiving, and understanding, even if things don’t go according to the way one imagined. Unless one is considerate and kind, there are likely to be regrets and relationships ended over small petty issues.

As it says in Mathews 5:24 “Leave your gift in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” Forgiveness is extremely important in one’s life, the more you give chances to people, the more chances you have at happiness.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

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.”

Thursday, March 5, 2015

HEALTH: Faith

"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

God wants what is best for us. It is necessary to believe that our physical, spiritual, and mental health is important to God and he has provided means for us to have optimal health in all areas. God’s word is our guidebook toward a healthy and prosperous life.

When you get frustrated or disappointed, have faith that God knows your struggles and will be with you as you walk through them. He has a plan and he sees the big picture, whereas we only see the present situation. Believe that all things will work out for your good and God’s glory.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

MARRIAGE: Intimacy

Intimacy is a spiritual, emotional, and physical giving of oneself to another and it is a beautiful thing. God created us with a desire to be intimate and we long to share intimacy with another. God loves intimacy as well and longs for an intimate relationship with us. Sharing a deep closeness and love with another is so rewarding.

As we share intimate time with our spouse, we are allowing God’s love to flow through us into each other. It is an amazing experience and the depth of intimacy can grow to great heights as we commit to fostering intimacy. Devote time to develop a greater intimacy with God as well as your spouse and take time daily to nurture your relationships.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

LIFE: Achieving goals

Everyone wants to achieve a lot of goals in life; they may be finding a good job, a good spouse, a big house or the latest car. The wishes may vary with people, but the needs and wants for something is always there in people. Everyone tries their hardest to become better than they are. Everyone strives to attain the level of perfection in their capacity.

However, once you achieve what you get, you should be proud of your achievements, but not be too proud to become vain or conceited. As it says in Psalms 147:6, “The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground”, Lord dislikes the people who become arrogant once they have achieved their goals. Live life humbly as you can, and then others around you and Lord will appreciate you even more.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

MARRIAGE: Don’t be shallow

If you know anything about wells, the depth of the well is important. In order to get pure water, your well must reach a certain depth. A shallow well will not produce pure water.

Shallow thinking is not pure either and may be dangerous. With depth comes clarity. A shallow relationship will not produce the fruit that God would like to see. Challenge yourself and your spouse to explore the depths of each other. As you dig to the core of each other, you will find treasures and a purity that God has placed there. Begin digging today.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

LIFE: Rewards

As George Bernard Shaw says, “…the true joy of life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one.” People without any purpose are the ones who are the most confused, as they are lost and don’t know where to move forward to. A purpose in life not only adds meaning to life of a person, it also gives him the direction in life which is necessary for all individuals. It also gives him a reason to go on in life and motivates him to try harder in every aspect.

To live for yourself to the fullest is extremely fortunate for the ones who do, but one feeling even more wonderful is living life for a purpose which is bigger than yourself. To make efforts for a social cause, or helping someone else, is a great act, rewarded by God, and the satisfaction one feels after being involved in an honorable act exceeds all the rewards and recognition.