Monday, June 22, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Here's To Your Health
This is part 1 of a series on health. Having been a registered nurse since 1976, I have seen many changes in the field of health care. Most of the people I encountered professionally were seeking sick care rather than healthcare. It seems to me that people are not willing to take responsibility for where they are in life. Healthcare is no different. People would rather be at the effect of outside influences instead of being at cause for their own health. If I can assist one person in changing their perspective on this, my efforts will be rewarded.
It's interesting to note that nurses are among the top trusted professionals in the United States. I feel honored by this trust and seek to uphold it with all I say and do. For this reason, everything I share will be something I truly believe with all my knowledge, wisdom, and experience. What is the most important health concern to people today? Is it cancer or such chronic illnesses as arthritis? I invite comments to this blog to assist with this answer.
From my observations, I would say that failure to take responsibility for their own condition is the number one healthcare issue. Ignoring advice about diet, exercise, and weight control contributes to all kinds of problems including the 2 mentioned above.
You can rest assured that I am not immune to these issues either! As part of my own overall goal to improve my health, I plan to lose 12 pounds in the next 6 months. Wii Fit is assisting me with this. We all need a coach of some sort to challenge us and hold us accountable. To achieve this goal of course, I must think about what fuel I put into my body. As with any goal, every action I take is either taking me closer to the goal or moving me farther away from it. Can you guess which category a Dunkin donut falls into?
Ask yourself what benefits you can expect from improving your health. Having more energy and stamina as well as looking better are adequate motivators for me. I know I'm stating the obvious here, but if it were simple, wouldn't everyone be doing it? My goal with this blog is simply to help you take a look at your own health and focus on some realistic changes you can make to feel better and enjoy life more.
It's interesting to note that nurses are among the top trusted professionals in the United States. I feel honored by this trust and seek to uphold it with all I say and do. For this reason, everything I share will be something I truly believe with all my knowledge, wisdom, and experience. What is the most important health concern to people today? Is it cancer or such chronic illnesses as arthritis? I invite comments to this blog to assist with this answer.
From my observations, I would say that failure to take responsibility for their own condition is the number one healthcare issue. Ignoring advice about diet, exercise, and weight control contributes to all kinds of problems including the 2 mentioned above.
You can rest assured that I am not immune to these issues either! As part of my own overall goal to improve my health, I plan to lose 12 pounds in the next 6 months. Wii Fit is assisting me with this. We all need a coach of some sort to challenge us and hold us accountable. To achieve this goal of course, I must think about what fuel I put into my body. As with any goal, every action I take is either taking me closer to the goal or moving me farther away from it. Can you guess which category a Dunkin donut falls into?
Ask yourself what benefits you can expect from improving your health. Having more energy and stamina as well as looking better are adequate motivators for me. I know I'm stating the obvious here, but if it were simple, wouldn't everyone be doing it? My goal with this blog is simply to help you take a look at your own health and focus on some realistic changes you can make to feel better and enjoy life more.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
How To Honor God With Our Words
The moment we recognize where all our blessings come from, we feel grateful and humble, right? I cannot name one single thing in the universe that I personally created. Any thought or talent I may have comes from my creator, not from me. So what gives me the right to feel superior to anyone or anything? We are all created equal in the sight of God.
Our pastor, Jody Flowers, gave us the most amazing message in church this morning. And Jody was simply the messenger, since his message came straight from God. The Scripture verse he based his sermon on was Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Jody said that the Greek word for unwholesome translates as unfit for use or rotten.
To become more aware of our words, Jody challenged us to have a Fast of Negative Words for the next 14 days. As an avid student of personal development, I am well aware of the power of our words. Words and the way they are used carry a lot of weight whether spoken by ourselves or others. We know this because all of us can remember instances where someone's words hurt us deeply - may even have caused us major self-doubt.
Before I speak, I plan to ask myself the following questions: "Is what I am about to say helpful to others?" and "How can I say what I'm about to say to build this person up?" I don't have to be right nor do I have to always speak the truth - only if my words can be of service to the other person. It's never about what I need to say but rather about what they need to hear. Sometimes people need to hear that they need to improve in certain areas. I am obliged to tell them so in a manner that is helpful to them.
The final three things Jody told us to remember are to ask for the other person's input in the conversation so they know we care about them. Secondly, we are to compliment often - we all do better when we feel loved and esteemed by someone. And finally, we are to exhort sparingly. One thing I would like to add is that we should also use these principles when talking to ourselves. We can correct ourselves in a loving way too. I use affirmations everyday to feel empowered in my life.
In closing, I am reminded of a sentence I have often told my husband of 32 years, "When I need love the most is when I deserve it the least." Think about this and see if you think this same statement holds true for everyone. I am grateful and blessed by the words I heard and shared today. I pray that you are as well.
Have an abundant week.
Our pastor, Jody Flowers, gave us the most amazing message in church this morning. And Jody was simply the messenger, since his message came straight from God. The Scripture verse he based his sermon on was Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Jody said that the Greek word for unwholesome translates as unfit for use or rotten.
To become more aware of our words, Jody challenged us to have a Fast of Negative Words for the next 14 days. As an avid student of personal development, I am well aware of the power of our words. Words and the way they are used carry a lot of weight whether spoken by ourselves or others. We know this because all of us can remember instances where someone's words hurt us deeply - may even have caused us major self-doubt.
Before I speak, I plan to ask myself the following questions: "Is what I am about to say helpful to others?" and "How can I say what I'm about to say to build this person up?" I don't have to be right nor do I have to always speak the truth - only if my words can be of service to the other person. It's never about what I need to say but rather about what they need to hear. Sometimes people need to hear that they need to improve in certain areas. I am obliged to tell them so in a manner that is helpful to them.
The final three things Jody told us to remember are to ask for the other person's input in the conversation so they know we care about them. Secondly, we are to compliment often - we all do better when we feel loved and esteemed by someone. And finally, we are to exhort sparingly. One thing I would like to add is that we should also use these principles when talking to ourselves. We can correct ourselves in a loving way too. I use affirmations everyday to feel empowered in my life.
In closing, I am reminded of a sentence I have often told my husband of 32 years, "When I need love the most is when I deserve it the least." Think about this and see if you think this same statement holds true for everyone. I am grateful and blessed by the words I heard and shared today. I pray that you are as well.
Have an abundant week.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Abundance Abounds
So here we are in the last month of 2008. Worldwide people are wringing their hands over the state of the economy. I met with my financial advisor today and we were both laughing and enjoying life, knowing that the current state of the stock market is temporary. Such is the case whether the Dow is up or down. It's all about perspective and faith. This fact is taught in our personal development business and was solidly reinforced by in our pastor's sermon this past Sunday. How can we ever think there is lack when it so obvious that abundances abounds in our world.
Today I celebrate my physical , emotional, and spiritual health. In so doing, I focus on what is good and positive in my life and in the world. Hopefully, we all know that we manifest what we focus on and think about. My prayer is that everyone comes to realize this immediately. There are circumstances we cannot change or control, but we can choose our thoughts. The best way to guard our thoughts is by limiting what we allow ourselves to see, hear and read. TURN OFF THE NEWS. STOP READING THE NEWSPAPER. Read, watch, and listen to positive material only. Ask yourself if what you are reading, watching, listening to and thinking about are moving you closer to your goals or not. If the answer is "not," then leave it alone and focus on something that will improve your life.
So let's get back to my Jody's sermon (he's my pastor - I don't always enjoy his sermons but this one was one of his best ever). The basic premise is that God is all-powerful, the creator and sustainer of everything both animate and inanimate. Secondly, God is willing, even eager, to share that power with us. In Ephesians 3:20, we read, "His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. "(Contemporary English Version, E-Sword) That is so amazing if you just think about it. The same power that created the universe and living cells is available to me. I just have to acknowlege and believe this.
Jody went on to say that we are given the "power along the way." This means that we don't immediately realize we have the power until we step out on faith and take action. As soon as we obey and move in the direction our heart (the Holy Spirit) is directing us, we see the power manifest itself in the occurrence of miracles. This reminds me of Indiana Jones stepping into the abyss to reach the Holy Grail. As soon as he takes the step, the bridge appears. We just have to take the step, knowing a miracle is about to happen.
I am so grateful for this knowlege of abundance and power. Because of this certainty I have no fear of the future. You see, I'm living my life with full knowlege of the final story. When you know how a story ends, there's no need to fret about the challenges the hero encounters in the middle chapters. When you start living this way, there is no limit to the miracles you can manifest. God is eager for us to live our lives with His power.
To your abundance (and God's Power),
Sandra Hayes
Today I celebrate my physical , emotional, and spiritual health. In so doing, I focus on what is good and positive in my life and in the world. Hopefully, we all know that we manifest what we focus on and think about. My prayer is that everyone comes to realize this immediately. There are circumstances we cannot change or control, but we can choose our thoughts. The best way to guard our thoughts is by limiting what we allow ourselves to see, hear and read. TURN OFF THE NEWS. STOP READING THE NEWSPAPER. Read, watch, and listen to positive material only. Ask yourself if what you are reading, watching, listening to and thinking about are moving you closer to your goals or not. If the answer is "not," then leave it alone and focus on something that will improve your life.
So let's get back to my Jody's sermon (he's my pastor - I don't always enjoy his sermons but this one was one of his best ever). The basic premise is that God is all-powerful, the creator and sustainer of everything both animate and inanimate. Secondly, God is willing, even eager, to share that power with us. In Ephesians 3:20, we read, "His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. "(Contemporary English Version, E-Sword) That is so amazing if you just think about it. The same power that created the universe and living cells is available to me. I just have to acknowlege and believe this.
Jody went on to say that we are given the "power along the way." This means that we don't immediately realize we have the power until we step out on faith and take action. As soon as we obey and move in the direction our heart (the Holy Spirit) is directing us, we see the power manifest itself in the occurrence of miracles. This reminds me of Indiana Jones stepping into the abyss to reach the Holy Grail. As soon as he takes the step, the bridge appears. We just have to take the step, knowing a miracle is about to happen.
I am so grateful for this knowlege of abundance and power. Because of this certainty I have no fear of the future. You see, I'm living my life with full knowlege of the final story. When you know how a story ends, there's no need to fret about the challenges the hero encounters in the middle chapters. When you start living this way, there is no limit to the miracles you can manifest. God is eager for us to live our lives with His power.
To your abundance (and God's Power),
Sandra Hayes
Monday, August 18, 2008
Beans, Babies, and Abundance
Have you ever considered what a long shot you are? Considering the abundance of ova and sperm produced by your parents, especially the millions of sperm produced by your father, what a miracle that you turned out to be you. Don't you feel annointed already? I sure do and am grateful that I was picked for the team. It is exciting to have this chance to make my mark on the world. It's an awesome responsibility.
Part of the awesomeness of this reponsibility concerns how I choose to spend my time on this earth. Thanks to my decision to take control of my time instead of selling it to an employer, I was blessed to be able to spend 2 1/2 weeks at my daughter's this past July. One of the reasons I was there was to assist her in caring for her newborn daughter and 3 1/2 year-old son. These offspring of mine are very precious and hold a lot of promise for the future of the human race.
So now for the green beans! Our daughter is very conscious of the food she and her family consume. As a result, they have begun growing some of their own food using the Square Foot Garden technique. When I first visited her, I noticed there were no green beans in her garden. Green beans are very abundant in our country and quite nutritious. For some reason, I was unable to find green bean seeds in the local garden stores in Palm Bay. Fortunately, my late father was an avid gardener. He bought seeds by the pound and stored them in a freezer. Sure enough, I found his store of seeds still in the freezer in my mother's garage.
Since my father died in 2003, a person of little faith would say these seeds are too old to germinate. In other words, their potential to grow and produce would be a long shot. If there is one spiritual gift I possess in abundance, it is faith. So I took the seeds back to Florida and planted them in my daughter's garden. By the end of the week, 26 of the 27 seeds I planted germinated! This would never have happened had I doubted their potential and left them in the jar.
In summary, we are all miracles with a special part to play in life. We are only limited by our imaginations and the faith to act on our ideas. Playing it "safe" shows a lack of faith. God had the vision to plant me here at this time through a miraculous series of events. As a result, I am determined to live each day in awareness of my unique potential. Being blessed to live in an abundant world, I have the responsibility to grow and produce every day. If an old, frozen bean seed can come to life and bear fruit, surely we can do so much more.
To Your Abundance,
Sandra Hayes
prosperitytoday@bellsouth.net
Part of the awesomeness of this reponsibility concerns how I choose to spend my time on this earth. Thanks to my decision to take control of my time instead of selling it to an employer, I was blessed to be able to spend 2 1/2 weeks at my daughter's this past July. One of the reasons I was there was to assist her in caring for her newborn daughter and 3 1/2 year-old son. These offspring of mine are very precious and hold a lot of promise for the future of the human race.
So now for the green beans! Our daughter is very conscious of the food she and her family consume. As a result, they have begun growing some of their own food using the Square Foot Garden technique. When I first visited her, I noticed there were no green beans in her garden. Green beans are very abundant in our country and quite nutritious. For some reason, I was unable to find green bean seeds in the local garden stores in Palm Bay. Fortunately, my late father was an avid gardener. He bought seeds by the pound and stored them in a freezer. Sure enough, I found his store of seeds still in the freezer in my mother's garage.
Since my father died in 2003, a person of little faith would say these seeds are too old to germinate. In other words, their potential to grow and produce would be a long shot. If there is one spiritual gift I possess in abundance, it is faith. So I took the seeds back to Florida and planted them in my daughter's garden. By the end of the week, 26 of the 27 seeds I planted germinated! This would never have happened had I doubted their potential and left them in the jar.
In summary, we are all miracles with a special part to play in life. We are only limited by our imaginations and the faith to act on our ideas. Playing it "safe" shows a lack of faith. God had the vision to plant me here at this time through a miraculous series of events. As a result, I am determined to live each day in awareness of my unique potential. Being blessed to live in an abundant world, I have the responsibility to grow and produce every day. If an old, frozen bean seed can come to life and bear fruit, surely we can do so much more.
To Your Abundance,
Sandra Hayes
prosperitytoday@bellsouth.net
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Your Life Purpose
I keep hearing people like David Neagle and Alexandria Brown say that we are God. As a Christian, I know that I, per se, am not God. I did not create myself. I do understand this philosophy however. I am again reading Wallace Wattles' book, The Science of Getting Rich, where he describes everything being composed of "thinking substance." This is so true in that all that is, has been, or ever will be was first created in the mind of God, including us. In Genesis, we read that we were created in God's own image. This gives truth to the idea that we contain God's essence and are therefore God. So that brings me to the question my 3 year-old grandson asks multiple times a day, "Why?" What is the purpose for my life?
It's obvious God has a grand purpose for each of us or he would not have taken the time to make us unlike any other person he ever created. As humans, we often have limiting beliefs about ourselves. This kind of thinking diminishes our unique greatness. Would we dare to belittle other creatures? Of course not. So if God thought me important enough to invest his "thinking substance" in, I must have a unique and special purpose for being here at this time. And so do you.
These thoughts about my purpose surface every time I decide to set new goals. I recently read that rather than focus on "this" to get "that," why not simply focus on "that" in the first place. So I took this very step in setting goals. My ultimate goal, my number one "why", is to leave a legacy that glorifies my creator. At the end of my journey in this body, I want God to truly say that I did what He planned and made Him proud. So now I must back up and set intermediate goals that all lead toward that end. Quite simply, what must I do today that will glorify my creator? After all, the way I spend my days is the way I spend my life.
I invite you to think about this as well. Think about your talents - the things you enjoy and are good at. They are clues to your purpose. Now devise a plan for using those gifts every day to expand your mind, enlarge your sphere of influence, and make a positive difference to everyone you meet in some way. Your life purpose isn't something that will happen one day, it's unfolding before you this very minute. I applaud you for being worthy of reflecting the image of your creator.
To Your Abundance,
Sandra Hayes
prosperitytoday@bellsouth.net
803-364-3918
It's obvious God has a grand purpose for each of us or he would not have taken the time to make us unlike any other person he ever created. As humans, we often have limiting beliefs about ourselves. This kind of thinking diminishes our unique greatness. Would we dare to belittle other creatures? Of course not. So if God thought me important enough to invest his "thinking substance" in, I must have a unique and special purpose for being here at this time. And so do you.
These thoughts about my purpose surface every time I decide to set new goals. I recently read that rather than focus on "this" to get "that," why not simply focus on "that" in the first place. So I took this very step in setting goals. My ultimate goal, my number one "why", is to leave a legacy that glorifies my creator. At the end of my journey in this body, I want God to truly say that I did what He planned and made Him proud. So now I must back up and set intermediate goals that all lead toward that end. Quite simply, what must I do today that will glorify my creator? After all, the way I spend my days is the way I spend my life.
I invite you to think about this as well. Think about your talents - the things you enjoy and are good at. They are clues to your purpose. Now devise a plan for using those gifts every day to expand your mind, enlarge your sphere of influence, and make a positive difference to everyone you meet in some way. Your life purpose isn't something that will happen one day, it's unfolding before you this very minute. I applaud you for being worthy of reflecting the image of your creator.
To Your Abundance,
Sandra Hayes
prosperitytoday@bellsouth.net
803-364-3918
Monday, May 19, 2008
Abundance Can Only Come From A Place Of Positive Energy
In our Beyond Freedom Home Study Course, there is a section entitled Positive and Negative energy. Last night I was blessed to be a part of a weekly tele-conference devoted to sharing personal insights and wins of people who are working through this course. Some of us have done this course multiple times and for others it is their first time throught it. As I listened to one of the developers of the course, Shane Krider, describe his own thoughts and experiences with positive and negative energy, I had a sudden revelation which totally related this to the book of Genesis in the Old Testament.
The idea of positive and negative energy is very basic. We all have experienced positive and negative in ourselves and others at various times. When we describe the characteristics of each, it becomes evident that positive characteristics energize us, excite us, and make us smile, while negative characteristics cause us to sigh, withdraw, and maybe even cry.
Shane said that whether we are displaying positive or negative energy represents what is in our hearts. When we are positive, the energy that is coming from our hearts is really purt love. This very idea is at the essence of creation itself. The Garden of Eden, which represents the beginning of human life, was created out of love and was totally focused on love. Abundance was everywhere - the created were in positive relationship with each other and with their creator. Humans loved God, their creator, they loved each other, and they loved themselves. This is perfection at its finest. There is harmony, happiness, and endless possibility.
I would like to think that the story now ends with, "and they lived happily ever after." If that were the case, we wouldn't even need a personal development course to help us erase the garbage that has crept into our lives via negative energy. When did this start? Sadly, it began right after the creation of all that is good and holy as the polar oppostite of positive, which is negative. In the Genesis story, God simply warned Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for if they ate this fruit, they would die. They, like us, have free will, and we all know the rest of that story. It didn't end with Adam and Eve, however. Everyday, we have the choice as to which kind of fruit we will eat. Fruit from the tree of life or fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Our creator, God, is love, light and life. His polar opposite, best-known as Satan or the devil, represents hate, darkness and death. To choose one is to reject the other. Why would anyone choose the latter? Anytime we doubt the existence of our loving creator, we give power to his polar opposite, which represents negative energy. Since I do have a choice, known as free will, I choose to fill my senses, and my mind and heart with positive energy. By doing this I too become a source of positive energy that gives life, love and light in a world that otherwise knows only death, hate and darkness.
Today I am so grateful to know that I am a unique person who was created in the very image of God Almighty. This means I am a reflection of Him who is love, light, and life. I am also a reflection of His creative power that will live for all eternity. Sometimes this is too much for my conscious brain to comprehend. However, my subconscious mind is totally in harmony with this and enables me to imagine, create, and love what is created. I know without a doubt that in this world so full of possibility and abundance, every thought I have and every action I take matters.
The idea of positive and negative energy is very basic. We all have experienced positive and negative in ourselves and others at various times. When we describe the characteristics of each, it becomes evident that positive characteristics energize us, excite us, and make us smile, while negative characteristics cause us to sigh, withdraw, and maybe even cry.
Shane said that whether we are displaying positive or negative energy represents what is in our hearts. When we are positive, the energy that is coming from our hearts is really purt love. This very idea is at the essence of creation itself. The Garden of Eden, which represents the beginning of human life, was created out of love and was totally focused on love. Abundance was everywhere - the created were in positive relationship with each other and with their creator. Humans loved God, their creator, they loved each other, and they loved themselves. This is perfection at its finest. There is harmony, happiness, and endless possibility.
I would like to think that the story now ends with, "and they lived happily ever after." If that were the case, we wouldn't even need a personal development course to help us erase the garbage that has crept into our lives via negative energy. When did this start? Sadly, it began right after the creation of all that is good and holy as the polar oppostite of positive, which is negative. In the Genesis story, God simply warned Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for if they ate this fruit, they would die. They, like us, have free will, and we all know the rest of that story. It didn't end with Adam and Eve, however. Everyday, we have the choice as to which kind of fruit we will eat. Fruit from the tree of life or fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Our creator, God, is love, light and life. His polar opposite, best-known as Satan or the devil, represents hate, darkness and death. To choose one is to reject the other. Why would anyone choose the latter? Anytime we doubt the existence of our loving creator, we give power to his polar opposite, which represents negative energy. Since I do have a choice, known as free will, I choose to fill my senses, and my mind and heart with positive energy. By doing this I too become a source of positive energy that gives life, love and light in a world that otherwise knows only death, hate and darkness.
Today I am so grateful to know that I am a unique person who was created in the very image of God Almighty. This means I am a reflection of Him who is love, light, and life. I am also a reflection of His creative power that will live for all eternity. Sometimes this is too much for my conscious brain to comprehend. However, my subconscious mind is totally in harmony with this and enables me to imagine, create, and love what is created. I know without a doubt that in this world so full of possibility and abundance, every thought I have and every action I take matters.
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