The love letter

The love letter

Health
LOVE. Yes. We all crave it. The Bible is God's love letter to humanity. The red ribbon inside it symbolizes his love written in red, but my favorite is the book of Hebrews. I think Hebrews is the centerpiece of love. That's just me because it resonates well with me. Read further down below and Hebrews might become your favorite, too. So here is God's profession of his great love for you: Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."   This verse alone sums it all up. Do you need a provision? Done. Do you need protection? Done. Do you need a shoulder to cry…
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Gone With The Wind

Gone With The Wind

Christianity, Health, Spiritual
Have you seen the movie, Gone With The Wind? It's a beautiful classical story regarding love and loss but I won't go further with the description because I don't want to spoil the movie’s plot.  Do you know there is also a gone-with-the-wind principle in the Bible?  Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Here's what I mean by that… When you spend your whole lifetime acquiring material wealth, just one natural disaster like a hurricane, tsunami, or economic collapse can instantly wipe it away.   Your house, cars, properties, bank accounts, and investments will be all gone before you can make sense of it all. You see, anything that is visible is…
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Be set free from the shackles that imprison

Be set free from the shackles that imprison

Christianity, Health, Self-care, Spiritual
Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)   Reread the passage above but this time let it sink in your spirit. Now, what do you feel? Did you feel a dark cloud hovering over your spirit lifted, or you didn’t feel any change in your emotions? If you belong to the latter, let me expound and break the passage slightly more. Burdens are like pieces of baggage. Emotional baggage. Passing through an X-ray machine, you’ll find hate, resentment, bitterness, envy, indifference, anger, and other evil thoughts. Together with this baggage is a carry-on of don’t-bother-me kind of attitude and a long sourpuss face. No wonder you feel heavy and can’t live life with a lighter attitude.…
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Deal with your own dregs

Deal with your own dregs

Christianity, Health, Spiritual
  In ancient Israel, during the grape harvest season, the Jews would smash the grapes to get as much liquid as they could and strain the juice by passing the liquid from one jar to another to separate the liquid from the solids that have settled at the bottom of the container. They would then do the same thing and transfer the juice to another jar to further separate the finer solids that have come together with the juice. They will do this multiple times until only the liquids have passed through. And the solids or the sediments that have settled at the bottom are called dregs. What are dregs? Cambridge Dictionary defines them as the small solid pieces that sink to the bottom of some liquids, such as wine or coffee, that are not usually drunk. It is also used metaphorically in…
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Growth Mindset – The power of your thoughts

Growth Mindset – The power of your thoughts

Christianity, Health, Spiritual
Our mindset determines our reality. They are like the rudder that controls where we are going. As Wikipedia defines it, 'A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, aircraft, or other vehicle that moves though a fluid medium, generally air or water.' Just like the rudder, our thoughts control where we are going. They steer our direction. So it's important that we train our thoughts to think positive and uplifting thoughts, and not useless ones. ​ ​ Do not let your mind wander aimlessly. Give it something to focus on and whatever the mind has conceived, that is what the body will follow. Remember the plight of the Israelites when the Lord told them to conquer the Land of Canaan. After Moses gave…
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Tips for Maintaining Self-Care on a Budget

Tips for Maintaining Self-Care on a Budget

Health
  While you may think self-care is only for the wealthy, it’s a possibility for everyone. Put simply, self-care is anything you do to take better care of yourself. You don’t need to fly to Fiji and participate in an expensive retreat. Rooted On The Vine explains that there are many things you can do at home and in your neighborhood at low or no cost. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Establish Your Priorities Most of us need a ferret of basics, like money to pay the bills, adequate sleep, good nutrition, and exercise. But there are many more things that we need to be healthy emotionally and psychologically, like social connections, stress management techniques, and fulfilling hobbies or activities. Obviously, we can’t do everything all…
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A Heart Of Gratitude

A Heart Of Gratitude

Christianity, Health, Spiritual
This Thanksgiving season, we should not only give thanks for all the good things we are grateful for. As Christians, thanksgiving should be a way of life; it should be a daily habit and not a onetime event that should be celebrated only during the November season. I Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. This is counterintuitive in our culture, right? I mean, how could you be grateful if you missed your flight, your kitchen appliances break down, or your car won't start and need major repairs? But read the verse again and meditate on it. The Lord God said to give thanks in everything. So that means everything --- from the good, the bad, and the ugly. Why…
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Coping with a Mid-Life Crisis: Easy Strategies for a Fresh Start

Coping with a Mid-Life Crisis: Easy Strategies for a Fresh Start

Health, Self-care
  Going through a mid-life crisis? It can be a difficult time — emotions are high, boredom is incoming, and overall life satisfaction may be at an all-time low. At the same time, a mid-life crisis is one of those inevitable experiences that will only impact your life for the better once you're done with it. So if you're looking to make it through this critical transition easily, keep reading as Rooted On The Vine shares essential tips for success below. Pick up Healthy Habits Health is wealth — especially the older we get. This stage in your life will be make or break in starting and sticking to new healthy habits. Whether you're looking to stick to a new workout routine or incorporate healthy swaps into your diet, remember…
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Healthy Ways of Getting Through the Grieving Process

Healthy Ways of Getting Through the Grieving Process

Health, Self-care
  Grieving in the wake of a loss — whether it is for a loved one (including a pet), a relationship, a job or career, or even a material object — is a completely natural reaction. It's also necessary; those who suppress or deny their grief often find themselves with cognitive dysfunction such as "brain fog" and confusion as well as stress and anxiety. Unexpressed grief and anger can even result in physical illness. Although there is no scientific evidence for a direct link between negative emotion and specific diseases, emotions such as chronic depression or sadness can impair immune function or lead to hypertension or digestive problems, leaving a person more vulnerable to illness. This is why dealing with grief in a healthy manner is important for one's mental as…
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Top Wellness-Boosting Tips for Busy Families

Top Wellness-Boosting Tips for Busy Families

Health, Self-care
  When you want to improve your family’s wellness, supporting good mental health is a must. Luckily, a few simple techniques can work wonders in helping you, your spouse, and your children enhance their well-being and develop healthy habits. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are a few wellness-boosting tips for families to try from Rooted On The Vine. Embrace the Power of Play People of all ages need exercise to stay healthy. For adults, USA Today notes 150 minutes per week is usually essential. When it comes to younger children, they may need 60 minutes a day to stay healthy. Along with improving themselves physically, working out has a positive impact on mental health. It can relieve stress and create a sense of accomplishment, both of which…
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