Author: steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. Isaiah 43:2

It is said that “Desperate Times call for Desperate Measures.” And yes, I wholeheartedly agree. Turning our lives over to God eliminates all possibilities that we would choose money over guarding our health. For those who love money and attempt to use their skills of self-reliance are really the individuals who possess overwhelming fear. Without God, we place ourselves in the never-ending predicament of trying to figure out the solution to our challenging issues.

Do we not know that God is bigger than every problem that we are facing?

The Coronavirus pandemic is the perfect time to learn and practice living a faith-based life. Why are we limiting the power of God? Is there a situation or problem that God cannot take care of? Our responsibility is to approach the Throne of Grace with humility and believe that our Heavenly Father loves us and will keep His promise to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. Philippians 4:19

In faith, we pray and ask that His will be done in our lives. Stand on His promises! Pray and let go of all worries and anxieties. God is unlike any earthly Father; he even knows the number of hairs on our heads. It is not possible for God to break his promises. Depending on our Heavenly Father teaches us how to live a faith-based life, and provides us with the reassurance that God is always available to care for us.

During these last days of earth’s history, God is preparing us for the hardships of the End of Time–the time right before His Son, Jesus will come again.

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:12-13, 20

Stay in His Presence! Love God, Love Others, Love Yourself!

Bible Readings: Philippians 4, Revelation 22

God, we pray for your anointing and blessings upon our lives. It is our desire to faithfully trust and obey you in every circumstance. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the written permission of the author.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27

The cerebral cortex is the largest site of neural integration in the central nervous system. It plays a crucial role in attention, perception, awareness, thought, memory, language, and consciousness.

Normal Response-Thoughts or actions that lead to and usually produce a positive outcome.

Working in Behavioral Health taught me that the mindset and thoughts that a person possesses either produce positive outcomes or result in negative consequences. The most prevalent and common factor among those who suffer from mental and emotional instability is the lack of a normal response to any given situation.

Not everyone who has unstable thought processes and makes terrible decisions is diagnosed with mental illness. Many factors contribute to why a person makes inappropriate responses. But, the most significant factor is knowledge deficit and the inability to understand cause and effect.

“In essence, the cause is the thing that makes other things happen. The effect refers to what results. To put it concisely, the cause is why something happened, and the effect is what happened.”

Unfortunately, there are people who lack the ability to reason, which places others in harm’s way if they have to rely on that individual to make the best decision in a situation.

So, let’s put this concept to the test. If you ask someone, “How much is 1+1?” the expected response is “2.” If you receive other answers, then maybe you need to rethink whether it is in your best interest to depend on this person. Believe it or not, I have received different responses that include; “Is this a trick question?” “Are you serious?” “11,” “I don’t even know anymore.” A simple question or scenario can be utilized to ask, “What would you do?” to determine if an individual can reason and possesses sound judgment.

Our lives are shaped by the beneficial or the maladaptive experiences of our past and our present. God is fully aware of your life from the moment you were conceived, and He knew the path that you would be required to take. Even so, He does not take a cookie-cutter approach for guiding each of us to reach our fullest potential.

No two people are alike. Our personalities are as unique as our fingerprints. And speaking of fingerprints, there are 7.8 billion people in the world, and none of us have the same fingerprints. Only God! We can have a connection to the source and experience God’s incredible power for ourselves.

What if you have a history of making inappropriate responses that continually lead to mistakes and adverse outcomes? This is not about placing the blame on others. If you matured from a child to an adult in an unhealthy environment, and you are reading this blog post, then you also have the opportunity to change. We do not have to end up where we started!

Faith, Determination, and Perseverance are the building blocks to achieving a complete spiritual, mental, and emotional transformation.

Faith is simply believing in God. It is not complicated; there are no complexities to believing in an invisible God. When we take the giant step of praying and admitting that we do not know who God is, but we express the desire to know Him, we have taken the first step to invite Him in by opening the door to our hearts. It is at that point that God reveals himself in mighty and miraculous ways. Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

It takes an up-close and personal relationship with God to reap the benefits of having a healthy and productive life.

How we perceive ourselves, and the opportunities that exist, determine our ability to relearn and grasp new ideas, and practice behaviors which produce positive outcomes. Believing in oneself is the second most crucial factor in accomplishing even baby-step goals. If we feel that we cannot do what is required, then we cannot change or replace our misdirected thoughts and actions.

God has no limits! For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.… Jeremiah 29:11-12

We can experience growth without limits when we are willing to accept Divine Intervention. Yes, there will be an intense struggle. There is no easy way to avoid falling rocks when we travel the Road of Righteousness. Even so, it can be done, and many are traveling the upward path with their spiritual guides. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Are you ready to develop and reach your fullest potential? The journey that is before you is not one that you can travel alone. The Spiritual team of God the Father, Jesus His Son, the Holy Spirit, and a heavenly host of angels, are always ready to guide you in your earthly journey. Believers view life from a spiritual perspective. Every word, action, and pursuit should honor God. We confess and repent daily to maintain our purpose and our goal to obey God. Know this, that when we seek God, He gives us the strength to travel our spiritual journey, which is a life-long pursuit.

Without a spiritual transformation, our accomplishments are severely limited. Humanity has a common bond. Our cerebral cortex is unable to develop to the point that we do not make mistakes. Our Creator reiterates that He created us with boundaries: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

There is a more significant threat to our health than the virus causing the global pandemic. Without a strong connection that develops from a sincere and prayerful relationship with God, our Spiritual health fails, and a state of well-being is non-existent. There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains. Proverbs 14:12

The reality is that many of us live with so much chaos and confusion that we have adapted and accepted a New Normal long before the Coronavirus emerged. We have not resisted and stood firm against the declining modern norms and values of our societies. As a result, our faith has diminished, and we have embraced the self-reliance that permeates the thoughts and actions of unbelievers.

Has the pandemic shaken your faith in God? Are you focusing on your finances? What thoughts are prevalent and consuming the majority of your day? If you are attempting to figure out your current or future financial status, then you are at the highest risk of losing everything, including Eternal life!

Reflect! Under normal circumstances, you have prayed for guidance and have relied on God. In fact, you have always reflected on your blessings and have used your powers of reasoning–the cerebral cortex to determine the difference between truth and error. Despite your history, now you are caught up in the opposing struggle of having faith in God and self-reliance.

Cause and effect: We are not to be led by the status quo. When did we begin to accept the compromising values and declining morals of the majority? Self-evaluation is required to identify the reasons that caused us to take a detour from the Path of Righteousness. Yes, the process of eliminating the people, and the worldly pleasures that are influencing us to sin against God is challenging. However, now we have to deal with a discontented mind from our wavering faith and experience the consequences of disobedient decisions.

The remedy is to get back on track by praying and aligning our thoughts with God’s thoughts and plans as we prepare for Eternal life! Pray for forgiveness, grab your Bible, turn to Matthew chapter 6, and make the necessary changes to place your hands in the hands of the One who said, “Peace be Still.” Matthew 8:23-27. The same peace that Jesus Christ placed on the stormy sea is available to everyone who puts their faith and trust in God.

31 “Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things, the Gentiles (Unbelievers) seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its trouble. Matthew 6:31-34

Whether you are accepting God for the first time or returning to your first love, Jesus Christ is our only choice. By faith, we confess, repent, believe, obey and victory is ours. Remain spiritually aware of the changes that are occurring that indicate Jesus Christ is coming to give us Eternal life.

Dear children, do not let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:7-8

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Avoid the rebellious mindset of the status quo, as evidenced by their actions: “I don’t care about your God.” And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. Exodus 5:2.

We must intentionally place ourselves in the position to obey the Voice of God. God is our Jehovah Jireh!

Pray for God’s guidance. Pray for peace, pray for strength, pray for an increase in your faith, and pray for God’s blessings upon your life. Knowing God is the total acceptance of His plan. God’s love, grace, and mercies release us from all fears. The decision to follow God is one of freewill. Thankfully, our acceptance of the Plan of Salvation gives us a sound mind and a worry-free life. We never have to make terrible decisions again. Life with God places us in the position to reach our fullest potential and keeps us in alignment with God’s plans to give us our greatest reward: Eternal life!

Bible Reading: Matthew 6

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Many profess to love God, yet they are misdirected by their feelings and the opinions of others. We are promised a reward when we sincerely seek God. The quality and quantity of our prayers are an indication of our relationship with God. It is by faith that we commit all of our ways to God and patiently wait for His directives.

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:22-24

Every new day is a blessing and is an indication of God’s love, and the extension of His grace and mercies. We have an opportunity to serve God through utmost obedience when we commit all of our ways, decisions, and opportunities for his approval. Is God your everything, your all and all?

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Much conflict exists in the minds of those who fail to incorporate God into every aspect of their lives. They love God, but they are easily influenced by their circumstances, the amount of money they possess, or the lack of money. They are easily led astray by the thought processes of others who have devised ways to compromise the truth.

The human house, God’s building, requires close, watchful guardianship. The physical life is to be carefully educated, cultivated, and developed, that through men and women, the dividend nature may be revealed in its fullness. God expects men and women to use the intellect He has given them. He expects them to use every reasoning power for Him. We are to give the conscience the place of supremacy that has been assigned to it. The mental and physical powers, with the affections, are to be so cultivated that they can reach the highest efficiency. (Ellen G. White, 1900)

A physical hazard is an agent, factor, or circumstance that can cause harm without contact. …

In Matthew 10, Jesus called his disciples together to give them instructions regarding the physical hazards of the journey of discipleship. “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” v. 16. God has provided us with Biblical instructions and the innate ability to recognize the physical and spiritual hazards that will cause us to fall into dangerous situations.

One of the most tragic events occurred on November 18, 1978, in Jonestown, Guyana. “Jim Jones, a self-appointed American preacher and faith healer turned cult leader who conspired with his inner circle to direct a mass murder-suicide of his followers in his jungle commune at Jonestown, Guyana.” Over 900 individuals, including one-third of children, were injected with or drank poison and died.

In 1 Timothy 4, we are told that false teachers who include preachers, politicians, family members, etc., will attempt to influence us into making the wrong decisions. Stay true to what is right. 1 Timothy 4:16. Throughout the word of God, we are admonished to serve and honor God by our unwavering faith, trust, and obedience to him.

We are living in perilous times. There is a benefit to studying the Bible, praying, and being led by the Holy Spirit: We do not engage in behaviors that are detrimental to our physical and spiritual well-being. Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.'” Matthew 4:7. Our willingness to obey God is reflected in our actions; by the food and drink, we put into our bodies, the temperament of our emotions, the places we visit and the people that are in our social circles.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Our greatest obstacle lies within ourselves. Because of our sinful nature, it takes very little to make us fall into wrongdoing. The struggle to possess the meekness and humility to serve God is an ongoing battle. We must seek spiritual renewal every day. If we compromise our physical health by convincing ourselves that our bodies belong to ourselves, and we can make decisions that please us, then we have indeed lost our spiritual perspective of what God requires of us.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a desire for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Bible Reading: 1 John 2

Prayer: God, we are living in perilous times, and our minds are not steadfast because we are focusing on circumstances instead of your power. We pray for the forgiveness of excluding you from our lives. Please speak to us and guide us so that we are not influenced by others to place ourselves in harm’s way. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the written permission of the author.

Cast all your anxiety on God because He cares. 1 Peter 5:7

When you pray and give every concern, worry, and all anxieties to God, believe in His power. Take the time to meditate on the goodness of God. He is waiting for you to open the door to your heart.

Lord God, we thank you for your love and ask you to lift every burden that prevents us from having complete peace. As we worship you on this Sabbath, please bless us with comfort and healing. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

Many years ago, I worked with a nurse who had been raised in an orphanage owned by a church. Unfortunately, the children were physically and emotionally abused daily by those entrusted to care for them. As she relayed the events of her childhood through the age of 18 when she aged out of the institution, she felt that her life would never have real meaning. A failed marriage without children compounded the situation and left her without hope for the future.

When she completed sharing the events of her life, Nurse N. took out her cellphone and asked, “Can I show you something?” As I looked through the pictures of many acrylic and watercolor paintings, I realized that she was a brilliant and talented artist. Being a lover of art, I was amazed at her innate level of talent. N’s story continued of how she discovered her talent by watching a televised series of an artist. One day she picked up a pencil and began to draw on a scrap piece of paper. And that was the beginning of a journey to express her painful past of emotional turmoil.

But there was something that did not add up, her paintings reflected beauty, hope, and an optimistic future. I remained silent as I handed the cellphone to Nurse N. “I know that my paintings do not reflect the terrible things that I experienced in life, but my work expresses the peace and happiness that I wish for, and I know that there has to be something more in life because I can see that it exists in people like you.” At that point, Nurse N. asked me to tell her about God.

God’s Divine intervention was evident that night because the Psych Unit was unusually quiet, and the patient’s slept throughout the shift. We experienced downtimes, to reflect on God, chat about our hobbies, and our future desires. I can remember that our conversation about God lasted for about three hours. Nurse N. had many questions regarding God, thankfully, I had my Bible and was able to use scriptures to validate the answers she was seeking.

My response to anyone that asks me about my personal experience with God will receive the same answer: “God is my Heavenly Father.” When I reflect on my life from the brokenness and many obstacles throughout six decades of life experience, I can say with conviction, “Only God.” Today, I testify of my transformation and complete healing from the devastation of past events that could have prevented the ability to love God, to love others, and to love myself. If I had little to no dependence on God, then the brutal events of life would have destroyed my ability to move forward. After 25 years of being single, God blessed me with my provider, and my soul-mate, the love of my life, and we are working toward 12 years of marriage.

There are no analytical or rational thought processes that can explain Nurse N’s request to learn about God. Although we worked together for many months, she was introverted, and her habits during downtime were to read paperback books and to eat individually wrapped candy. Nor can I provide a detailed explanation of the healing that I received from all past emotional turmoil, I still say, “Only God.”

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The time when we are feeling our worst, and the impossibilities in life appear to be the path that we are destined to travel. Stop and pray, “God, I need your help.” This short prayer indicates that through faith, you acknowledge and accept that there is a loving, Heavenly Father that created you and will take care of all of your situations.

 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

How is this possible? “Only God!”

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the written permission of the author.

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Sharing this article! Boost your Immune System with vitamin supplements especially if you are high risk or have a poor dietary intake. Pray for God’s safekeeping of yourself and your family. Sonya RN

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We have finally made it through the toilet tissue craze and now another product, All-purpose flour is in short supply because of the overwhelming desire to bake. Strange things happen during a crisis. Now, flour ranks second in the shortage of supply and demand. The deficit of viable income still exceeds all else during this pandemic.

Why All-purpose flour? An unknown source, most likely a host from a cooking program, recommended baking as a productive activity to alleviate boredom. Many have grasped the idea of learning how to bake homemade foods because the United States has not experienced a flour shortage since World War 2. https://time.com/5836012/flour-shortage-history/

So, aren’t home-baked items healthier than commercially prepared, store-bought items? The answer to that question would be a resounding, “yes” for the majority of individuals who do not have a well-rounded knowledge of flour. There is nothing wrong with baking your bread or snacks. The issue is that All-purpose flour adds lots of calories.

And the recommended foods for baking during the pandemic are: “16 Delicious Ways to Use All-Purpose Flour. Southern-Style Biscuits. Peanut Butter Blossoms. Jelly Thumbprint Cookies. Banana-Nutella Crepes. Banana Bread. Homemade Donuts. Snickerdoodle Cookies. Rosemary Garlic Focaccia.”

Since my diet is very different from the recommended foods, I searched for testimonials of those who have learned the art of baking while staying at home. On social media, I found an honest and straight-forward time-line of events from a Newbie Baker. She relayed that within eight weeks, she could no longer fasten her pants or close button-down tops, and even her stretchy items fit snug. To clarify, she stated that she only baked twice a week because it was still hard work to make items from scratch.

Yes, there are many healthy flours, and I do recommend them if you must bake to get rid of boredom. My preference is still the organic version of the healthy flours–since it is minus the chemical pesticides. This blog has a comprehensive list of alternative flours. https://blog.shawacademy.com/choose-healthy-flour-for-weight-loss-best-tips/

Now, I will share my testimonial regarding flour. Except for “Dave’s Organic Whole grain bread (70 calories per slice) and a few Blue Corn Tortilla chips, I do not use flour or products made with flour, deemed healthy or not. It took me over 2/3rds of my life to overcome and abolish the gnawing desire for high-calorie, high-sugar content, and high-fat foods to transition to a plant-based healthy lifestyle.

I decided to do some research while I was writing this blog. The Blue Corn chips that I love and munch on in my spare time are not my friends. The information on the label almost made me throw my bag of chips away. Per the manufacture, a serving size is 28g. Okay, can you translate 28g into the number of chips in the 140 calorie count, and calories from fat–54, with saturated fat comprising 3%? And saturated fat is the fat that causes clogged arteries.

Oh my! But wait, I found the answer, 14 chips=28g. My solution is to take seven triangular shaped chips and break them into four pieces each, and that will give me 28 mini pieces for my snack.

Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food. Genesis 1:29

My body does not belong to me; therefore, I can no longer do as I desire, especially in my quest for food. Since following a plant-based diet, my mind and body have responded in a manner that I never thought possible. Yes, a weight loss of 50+ lbs stabilized my chronic illnesses. Even so, it is my mental acuity and energy level that has improved beyond what I ever thought was possible. My memory has shown significant improvement, and I have the desire to study the Bible because I do not feel sluggish. I also have several little talks with God in prayer throughout the day. Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

God allowed me to view a physician on youtube, Matthew Weiner, MD that advocated a plant-based diet for his patients. He is a bariatric surgeon specializing in gastric sleeves, etc. However, the exciting aspect of his practice is that Dr. Weiner does weight loss management without surgical intervention. In his book, How Weight Loss Surgery Really Works, he recommends eating 1 lb of leafy green vegetables a day.

Because I only eat two meals daily, in the recommended portion sizes, and 1-2 small snacks, only if I feel peckish, I am unable to eat 1 lb of cooked green vegetables every day. However, I do include one or two leafy or green veggies, fresh kale, spinach, broccoli, green beans, and collards in my daily intake. For some reason, there is never a shortage of these veggies in the supermarket.

To say that my mouth does not water at the sight and smell of fried chicken wings or the thin slices of a corned beef sandwich, it would not be the truth. But, when I look in the mirror and see a smaller waistline, and wake up every morning feeling great, I think about the blessing of finally achieving excellent health. There are still a couple of areas that I need to overcome to have an optimal level of health, and I strive daily to do my part in caring for my temple.

You can retrain your tastebuds!

I will reserve my blue corn chips for twice a month and return to my thin sliced cucumber chips or celery sticks for those peckish times. God has given us the ability to make positive changes to achieve our optimal level of health, which differs for each individual.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:19

Here’s to your health!

Bible Reading: Daniel 1

Heavenly Father, we thank you for creating us in your image and with the ability to make positive choices and changes in our lifestyles. Please give us the strength to cast aside all harmful foods and to appreciate the gift of our wonderfully made bodies. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.