Author: steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Yesterday, I had an appointment in our next largest city of downtown Ft. Worth. I felt a sense of dread regarding the metered parking since I had forgotten to bring any change. When I arrived at the building, I was pleasantly surprised by the availability of free garage parking for those with handicapped parking privileges. At the appointment, God performed a second miracle and brought resolution to an ongoing issue that plagued me for 12 years. Once I returned to my vehicle, I had a prayer and praise session thanking God for His love and mercy.

I contemplated as to what I would do next, and decided to go to the beauty supply to pick up a couple of needed items. I was in the vicinity of two stores within one-tenth of a mile from each other. I chose the one that was farthest away for no particular reason. When I arrived the rays from the 90-degree sun were extremely hot and all of the shady parking spaces were taken. I decided to wait for an available space, and yes it was worth the wait. Before I could seek refuge in the air-conditioned building, I heard someone calling, “Miss, Miss can you come over and take one of my cards?” I looked at the Dental services offered as we talked about the necessity of regular dental care, and as I turned to leave, the conversation changed and I was asked to look at “the young pregnant lady who needed gas money for her pickup truck.” I am far from naivety due to previous nursing positions working in the Criminal Justice system. I assessed my surroundings to make certain that I was safe and not being targeted. My immediate response was that I did not have any cash, and inquired as to where the truck was located. I relayed that I would see what I could do when I completed shopping. It is my habit to purchase what the individual in need is requesting the money for as opposed to giving cash. This method allows for the validation of truth and honesty when helping others.

As I left the store, the young woman approached me with four dollars and a small gas can that is used to fill up a lawnmower. She offered to give me the money in her hand and the gas can, and asked if I would go to the gas station across the street, and get the gas because she could not leave her truck in the store’s parking lot overnight or it would be towed. I began to ask clarification questions as to why she could not drive the truck across the street. Her response was that the gas gauge was showing past empty. I thought about handling the smelly gas can and asked her to take a chance and drive across the street. As she entered her truck and drove to the gas station, I placed my purse and purchases in the trunk of my car and prayed for guidance and protection against all harm.

When I arrived she was standing by the first pump, anxiously waving and thanking me for my help. I went inside of the station, pre-paid, and as I walked over to the truck, I saw four large bags of clothing in the flatbed of the truck. It did not come as a surprise when she told me that she was living in her truck. We began to discuss the Homeless Shelter in downtown Ft Worth and the long waiting list for a bed. Just when I thought that my agonizing heart would burst, she told me of her fear that Child Protective Services would take her baby due to her status of being homeless. As I listened to her history, I prayed to God to give me the words to say to bring hope and comfort. When I took a good look at this young woman, her hair was immaculate, she was neatly dressed and well-mannered. I inquired as to her drug-free status, to which her reply was, “No Ma’am, I never used drugs. I couldn’t find a job at home. My mistake was to leave West Texas for a job offer that was canceled when I arrived in Ft Worth, and I can’t return because I have no living family, my parents are deceased.” I offered to buy her food and we proceeded to a neighborhood chicken restaurant. She handed me the four dollars because she wanted to do give me something for my help. Of course, I did not take her money, and explained to her that I was doing nothing more than what God expected from me. I gave her the name of a local çhurch that provides assistance to those in need. I asked if I could give her a hug, and then she stated, “Yes, I have never met anyone in my life who would help a stranger like you did.” I prayed that God would keep she and the baby safe and provide housing asap.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ ” Matthew 25:40

Recap: Although, I have a burden on my heart for the homeless; I was more concerned about my own desires (shopping) and getting my hands smelly than for someone in dire need. God allowed the circumstances to be revealed in a way that exposed my ungodly nonchalant attitude. It is my duty to God to alleviate the suffering of others. My prayer is for God to keep me humble and that I will always do His will.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Please give me a sense of urgency to fulfill my duties to those in need. I pray for the young woman that you brought into my path that you will care for her and reveal your love as only you can. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s Temple and that God’s spirit dwells in your midst? 1 Corinthians 3:6

Defining Healthy Living is highly subjective. If ten individuals were asked what comprised a healthy lifestyle you would receive ten varied answers. However, “eating healthy” would be the common factor among the respondents regardless of their interpretation of health. In spite of the benefits of making informed decisions about healthy food choices, the United States has the highest rate of Childhood Obesity and Adult Onset Diabetes. We continue to eat for pleasure as opposed to fueling our bodies with foods high on the nutritional pyramid.

Imagine taking your car to the gas station every day when the tank is full and attempting to put more gas inside; the overflow of gas would end up on the ground. It is unfortunate that our bodies are endless receptacles. We choose foods which contain the minimal nutritional value and force our bodies to accept high amounts of fat, sugar and empty calories. The adage of you are what you eat remains true. Do not be deceived by appearance, poor nutrition may not be evident in persons with a normal body weight: However, we know it is the engine and the internal parts of a car that are the most important.

My testimonial:

The most exciting aspect of making the decision to choose a healthy diet is the overwhelming response from my body. When the temple receives lean protein, legumes, whole grains, complex carbs, fruits, vegetables, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, the immune system is strengthened, and the body begins to repair itself internally. As a result, I experienced a significant boost in energy along with increased mental clarity. The overall sense of wellness provided me with the motivation to increase my current level of activity, and with increased activity, a slimmer body is evolving. I realized that not only was weight loss an achievable goal but my desire for junk food has changed. Personally, the greatest benefit from my lifestyle change is the desire to spend time with God in prayer and study of His Word. My longstanding history of insomnia has resolved, and the feelings of lethargy and sluggishness have abated.

This is the story of my body’s response to caring for it as a temple.

Kudos to those who are on the continuing journey to achieve optimal wellness-spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Prayer for today: Dear God, I want to care for my bodily temple. Please give me the willpower to select foods based on their nutritional value that will strengthen, nourish, and promote optimal wellness. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

http://www.pinterest.com for healthy recipes

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT

It has become acceptable to broadcast through pictures or a verbal confession to disclose your innermost feelings on social media. This is not referring to political, religious, or social injustice views; but actual negative emotions which reveal the individual is on a roller coaster ride of instability. Is it a shout out to friends for help? I am unable to provide an answer for the need to reveal intimate feelings to everyone on a friends list. It is unfortunate because the viewers of the message are unable to provide a remedy or solution that requires Divine intervention.

As believers, many of us have become entangled in the ways of the world. We are unable to provide spiritual support to others because we are also riding the roller coaster. Our lives are everything but good and pleasing. We are out of sync by only being hearers of the Word of God. The choice to serve God involves aligning our mind and behaviors to God’s standards. It is the secret time that we spend with God in prayer and studying the Bible that frees us from the entrapment of emotional instability.

We can be transformed when we allow God to enter our hearts. God has not left us to fend for ourselves. There is a guiding power in our lives known as the Comforter (John 16:7-8) that will steer us away from sin, and keep us on the path to righteousness. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, ” But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

We are on a lifelong learning curve to Salvation known as Sanctification. The tools for education include a syllabus that never changes-the Bible and a personal instructor who is accessible through prayer anytime. The plan for changing our lives to be “good and pleasing and perfect” is fail-proof because it was written by God. So the next time your emotions are out of control, invite the greatest Teacher, Therapist, and Healer to resolve those feelings by praying until you feel peace.

God loves us unconditionally and when we allow Him to intervene in our lives, we can use social media to broadcast His goodness through our praise testimonies.

Prayer for today: Dear God, I have reached out to all the wrong people to help me. I am asking you into my life to transform my mind and to learn more about you. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

A Call to Repentance: That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Joel 2:12-13.

Have you ever thought about God’s personality? As a child, I was taught to literally be afraid of God. The emphasis of the church we attended was placed on the many punitive actions against the Israelites in the time of the Old Testament. To me, God was full of wrath and had a doom and gloom personality. However, as I matured, I began to study the Word of God for myself and discovered that I was fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, He allowed His only son Jesus to die for my sins, and if I so choose, I can be the recipient of eternal life.

Now that I understood who God was, I became fully aware of the reason for His actions toward the Israelites. The Chosen people were to reflect God’s loving and caring personality to other nations. God portrayed His intentions by setting them free and supplying all of their needs. In spite of the many blessings, they were swayed by pagan customs and chose to go against their Deliverer and Provider. Through God’s grace and mercy, the opportunity and time to cease disobedience were given, but as a people, they ignored the call for repentance.

In the book of Joel, we find that God had blessed Israel with an overabundance of food, vineyards, and cattle. The Israelites became arrogant as they celebrated their accomplishments as self-made. With the increase in prosperity, the Giver of their wealth was ignored. It appeared that disobedience to God brought a plentiful harvest and a comfortable life. However, God allowed various types of locusts to devour their entire food supply. It was only after this great loss, they were forced to acknowledge their sin against God and repent.

Every relationship has a beginning; time, understanding, compassion, and love are required to nurture and produce ongoing growth and strength. When we include a relationship with God in our lives, we have additional responsibilities: Commitment, Obedience, Praying, and, Studying the Word of God. When we remain humble, God takes on our burdens of life. We no longer have to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6) or how our necessities will be supplied. God’s loving and caring personality will be evident; we will view Him as our Heavenly Father and our great Jehovah Jireh-Provider.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for your love. Thank you for being my Heavenly Father and my Provider. Teach me your ways, that I may always acknowledge who you are. Amen

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel your Savior…Isaiah 43:2-3 NLT

Even in the worst times of our lives, God is always here, and He will never fail. In the midst of our struggles, earnest prayers connect us to our Heavenly Father.

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will never fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Just hold on, help is on the way.

Prayer for today: Dear God, I feel so alone. Please help me to feel your presence and love during the times of my greatest struggles. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Satan often finds a powerful agency for evil in the power which one human mind is capable of exerting on another human mind. This influence is so seductive that the person who is being molded by it is often unconscious of its power. God has bidden me speak warning against this evil, that His servants may not come under the deceptive power of Satan. The enemy is a master worker, and if God’s people are not constantly led by the Spirit of God, they will be snared and taken. For thousands of years Satan has been experimenting upon the properties of the human mind, and he has learned to know it well. Ellen G. White

Practical Messages for Impractical Times
I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! Revelation 3:15

Many years ago, I served as a juror on a very lengthy murder trial. Reviewing the evidence presented by the State Prosecutor and the Defending Attorney proved to be a daunting task. We were mentally and physically exhausted from dissecting the witnesses’ statements for hours. Deliberation continued for days due to indecision on the part of three jurors. The Foreman urged us to reach a unanimous decision. Finally, the Judge approached us to reiterate that we would not be a “Hung jury” in his court. A decision had to be made in a timely manner; the verdict could not be “maybe”, each juror had to make the decision of guilty or not guilty.

In Revelation 3, letters were written to three churches regarding their spiritual condition. The members of the Laodicean Church were wealthy and felt they had no further needs. Their hearts were not fully committed to God due to the love of money. The letter admonishes them to make a choice-there was no middle ground. God clearly stated the consequences of defining salvation according to their own thought processes.

Presently, there are three groups of individuals; those who serve God, those who do not serve God, and those who are in the valley of indecision-not committed one way or the other. As we progress in our lives, we cannot be a “Hung Believer.” The plan of Salvation does not contain variations or multiple options. We must make the decision to be obedient and serve God fully or please ourselves by developing a personal plan to not serve God.

The time is upon us-earth’s history is coming to a close. Religious liberty is slowly being withdrawn as evidenced by Bible burning and persecution for acknowledging God on a global level. The atmosphere of racial and religious tension has gained strength to divide the United States once again. Heinous crimes, substance abuse, and suicide have increased at a phenomenal rate. Families are torn apart and the list goes on and on.

The decision to serve God with all of our heart, body, and soul has a great reward-Eternal life.

Prayer for today: Dear God, I have been standing in the valley of indecision for too long. I want to commit myself to you. Please reveal your plan for my life. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Owe nothing to anyone–except for your obligation to love one another…Romans 13:8

Practical Messages for Impractical Times-Necessary Debt vs Unnecessary Debt

I belong to a Facebook group that focuses on saving money by paying close attention to our spending habits. Most of us have been in the terrible predicament of accumulating unnecessary debt. Before we realize the amount that we owe on the high-interest credit cards that were easily attained, our liabilities exceed our assets. We end up with limited financial resources to live on, and become vulnerable to the many “get out of debt schemes.”

Unfortunately, there is a domino effect that occurs when our finances are out of control. Having excessive debt leads to the “3Ds”: Destruction of your peace of mind, Discouragement, and Desperation. When we are suffering from the 3Ds, our outlook is bleak. We may seek to borrow additional monies to remedy our situation. For individuals who have made this unscrupulous decision in the past to alleviate overwhelming debt, our FB members try to emphasize the drawbacks of borrowing or paying for Debt Management services.

The standards of Capitalism encourage us to acquire credit cards and purchase excessive tangible items that are labeled as desirable assets. Even though we are facing an insurmountable situation; there is hope, we can make the required changes to get out of debt. Recognizing and acknowledgment of our mistakes with overspending is the first step to having a debt-free lifestyle.

1. Make a list of your liabilities.

2. Develop a weekly budget. Track by documenting all of your spendings.

3. Reduce or eliminate Debit/Credit card use.

4. Call creditors; close accounts; and, make payment arrangements.

5. Have a yard/garage sale. Get rid of items that you no longer use or need.

6. An additional job is a consideration until your finances are stable.

In the Word of God, we are told to owe nothing to any individual. Our connection to God is interrupted when our minds are consumed with mounting debt. In addition, we are unable to enjoy the blessings of peace that comes from serving God. Thankfully, the God that we serve has promised to never leave us or forsake us. There is no situation that God cannot fix. Prayer is foremost when we are attempting lifestyle changes. With Divine intervention, we can eliminate undesirable debt, and be healed from the 3Ds.

Prayer for today: Dear God, I have mismanaged the resources that you have given me and I am in debt. I ask you to help me to develop a plan to get rid of this unnecessary debt and to spend my money wisely. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to witness to one of my neighbors. The young man disclosed his broken past and the unhealthy behaviors of his present relationship. God allowed me to share part of my brokenness from the past and the steps I had to take in order for change to occur. There is an absolute when you are witnessing; never give worldly advice. Focus on your testimony and where you are today.

Most of our conversation dealt with the constant reminders of past mistakes. While he was speaking, I realized that he did not understand forgiveness. We hear many variations of the plea-bargaining version of accepting apologies. In fact, many believers do not grasp the biblical concept of forgiving others. There is no limit to forgiveness-it does not mean that you are to remain in unhealthy or abusive relationships. True forgiveness is based on God’s love and does not keep a record of past indiscretions. Imagine that you prayed for forgiveness and God kept reminding you of prior sins. We would be in a hopeless situation; however, many individuals keep a mental ledger available for recall when strife arises.

If you have ever wondered why God has allowed you to endure certain trials, embrace your deliverance. Do not focus on past circumstances. Your real-life testimony reveals the amazing power and love of God. We are to bring hope and love to others. A believer is human, and we are exposed to a life of suffering. The Word of God tells us the slave cannot be greater than the master. This analogy reflects on Christ’s life that was full of suffering. Even so, we know the end of the story; He arose and is preparing an eternal home where suffering will never exist.

We are Christ’s representatives to the world. Go ahead, share your testimony, and give God all the credit for His love, and mercy that paves the road to deliverance.

Prayer for Today: Dear God, Please reveal to me how I can share my testimony on how you have consistently delivered me. Amen

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Christ has a proven record of calming storms.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz