Blog Post by Paula Rose

5 ways mindfulness improves decision making to enhance your business and your life.

I previously wrote an article about 8 tips to compassionate leadership and will link it for you HERE. https://wp.me/p9UfPQ-10o

In this smart guide, I will take it a step further, addressing mindfulness and self-compassion – after all, how on earth can we as leaders be compassionate towards others if we are not firstly compassionate toward ourselves?

This article aims to strengthen your skills to boost your best possible decision-making abilities to enhance your business and your life.

Mindfulness Awakens Compassion

In the first instance, let’s look at mindfulness in the context of decision making.

In concise terms, mindfulness has been defined as paying attention to purpose in the present moment. If you are paying attention, you will automatically become more compassionate to yourself and the people in your environment.

Westernized mindfulness has yielded many positive findings, and practitioners, studies, and patients have been found to cope with pain, stress, emotional exhaustion, and other factors influencing stress and overall health as measured through various questionnaires and brain imaging scans. Further than having a broader awareness, mindful individuals are more creative and are more likely to find innovative solutions to complex problems. The studies have shown that mindfulness helps people handle multiple tasks more effectively, so we know that mindfulness is not just another new age scam but serious science!

By being in a mindful state regarding decision making, you can see the depth of the issues you face more clearly and shift your attention more quickly to what is most needed. The ability to shift your attention quickly and respond suitably is essential to good decision making.

1. It can be natural and automatic for us to pass judgment before we know the facts; however, this is not a process that leads to success. Mindfulness helps decision making by developing the ability to be non-judgmental of the inner experiences of oneself and others. Also, having the ability to disengage from initial thoughts and reactions allowing space and time for a full appraisal of the facts and different perceptions before a decision is reached.

2. A lot of us go about our daily business mind-less-ley. Mindfulness helps decision making by developing observation by attending to sensations, thoughts, and feelings, creating an acute awareness of the self, others. We become more keenly aware of the environment and the developing changes, which gives us the stimulus to make the right decisions.

3. I am a procrastinator and have found that mindfulness helps decision making by giving us how to spring into action with awareness. The awareness of the details of one’s actions is an excellent plus because you are not overtaken by distractions but can remain focused.

4. Mindfulness helps decision making by putting into thought-forms descriptions of what is really going on effectively. When you are mindful, you become aware of your thought process better and, therefore, develop the ability to correctly ascertain and convey core and peripheral observations.

5. Being highly sensitive, most of my life, I had got into trouble by reacting to a situation immediately, and usually, it was to my detriment and of others. However, I have found that mindfulness helps decision making by giving you the ability to perceive your inner emotions and others without having to react to them – Knee jerk reactions are gone forever (that’s the goal)!

I hope that these five reasons that mindfulness helps you to make good, solid decisions is a help to you. I am not implying that you will never make a wrong decision- of course, you will – you are only human after all! However, being mindful will significantly improve your chances of making stress-free choices that work to grow your business and your life!

A true leader brings their best selves to work every day. My new course will bring out the leader in you by learning to work through stressful situations. Find out how by sighing up for my NEW Course is Live on Udemy. Mindfulness Masterclass for Stress Relief – click here for all the details. www.moonrosemindfulness.com.

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Where did Jesus Christ come from? Christ before time and space.

based on Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

It was recently one of my sons 40th birthday, and my daughter-in-law booked a family boat ride on the Thames River in Oxfordshire as our surprise gift to him.

It was a pleasant day but overcast and a little bit of sun here and there and about 18°C, which was very comfortable. We were provided with a lovely picnic lunch, and we had the boat all to ourselves because nobody else had booked a ride on our particular boat, although the other boats were all full of people.

We saw three Kingfishers, Egrets, and many other birds on the water for our three-hour journey up the Thames River. The scenery was utterly different along each section of the bank, which made it fascinating. Also, what made it enjoyable was that the helmsman informed us of the river’s history in detail. We passed the town centre, saw houses built right on the riverbank and went through a lock which my son and granddaughter opened, so all in all, we enjoyed a pleasant family day. I enjoyed the stories the helmsman who shared with us about the history of the area because, and I like history because to a certain extent, history defines who we are.

You may not realise it, but the traditions you hold dear, the expressions you use, and the ideas you have originate from a time and place in history. When we realise this, we can change things and create our own traditions: expressions, ideas, etc. The given passage in Hebrews which I encourage you to read is about history. The writer is encouraging the Hebrew Christians about the value of their history in relationship to Christ. The history he is teaching occurred before time and space. So, in this article, I will take a couple of verses at a time and briefly explain them.

Introduction

The opening affirmation in verse 1 that God spoke through the prophets is essential. While Hebrews as a whole is written to establish Christ’s superiority to the old covenant, which is a foundational belief. Thus, the old-new contrast presented in Hebrews is not arguing what is the finest, but between what is most excellent and the incomparable. It was no easy thing for God’s revelation in Christ to surpass the old ways — but it is terrific that it does!

SO, LET’S JUMP INTO THIS

Verses 2-4 present a series of assertions about Christ that establish this exceptional quality. Each describes aspects of Christ’s status as God’s Son, distinguishing Christ from the prophets.

New Revised Standard Version readers may be surprised that Christ is referred to as “a” Son of God in verse 2, rather than “the” Son (most other translations add “his,” though there is no such word in Greek).

Christ’s Divinity

The first point that the verse makes is about the superiority of sonship to being a prophet as a method of disclosure; it is not making a direct trinitarian assertion even if we suggest that the verse ultimately does point to the idea of the Trinity.

The second point is that the prophets were spokespersons for God; we would not claim that any of the prophets were “heir of all things” or involved in the act of creation.

These two points together establish Christ’s presence at the beginning and at the end, or as revelation puts it, the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13).

Verse 3 adds the third point of Christ’s role in sustaining all things by his powerful word.”

So, all three points combine to make a powerful statement about the son’s role and activity in creation throughout time from genesis to revelation. In other words, Christ always existed.

Such a claim of extensive pre-eminences makes no sense apart from understanding the son’s relationship to God, and verse 3 supplies this understanding.

The meaning of Jesus being “the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being.” The emphasis on the unity of Christ and God is also seen in Colossians 1:16-20 and 2 Corinthians 4:6, “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

It is worth reflecting on the whole meaning of such phrases is to fully understand the concept. The latter part of verse 3 adds that Christ “made purification for sins” and “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

The previous claims focus on who Christ points out the chief elements for the Hebrew believers of the purpose of Christ.

Christ’s exalted status at God’s right-hand connects into the first claim in verse 2 that he is the “heir of all things.” It is an image from Psalm 110:1, mentioned here and there throughout Hebrews and the New Testament as a messianic prophecy.

It also provides the primary basis for the claim here in verse 4 that Christ is superior to the angels. In fact, the rest of chapter one is occupied with demonstrating Christ’s superiority to angels. This theme is continued in 2:5, which points out that God “did not give the coming world…to angels, but to Christ. This idea picks up again on Christ being the “heir of all things” and is seated at God’s right hand, and in the new world, which is the coming kingdom of God, and Christ will be overall.

Christ’s Humanity

So, how can Christ’s humanity be reconciled with this superior status? The basic answer provided by Hebrews is that for Christ to atone for the sins of humans, he had to share in their humanity. Therefore, Christ’s humanity does not detract from his superiority but makes him relatable to us.

Hebrews 2:6b-8a quotes Psalm 8, as I have read, and the first part of the quote is translated in the RSV as, “What is a man that the Father be mindful of him, or the Son of man, that YOU care for him? the Father made him for a little while lower than the angels. “

Jesus, the Son of Man, referred to in the psalm, was temporarily made lower than the angels when he became human to fulfil this psalm’s prophecy. But, as the rest of chapter 2 explains, he had to become human to save humankind.

Christians today often stumble over the idea of Jesus having to be made perfect, but the claim here is merely about Jesus’ being fitted to his task. Perfection here is not about sin or morals or anything else regarding his character — it is about Jesus perfectly fulfilling his role in salvation. This role requires him to enter the whole human experience. In that sense, Jesus’ experience of suffering and death indeed was a matter of achieving perfection. Verses 11-12 affirms Jesus’ solidarity with humankind – he calls us his brothers and sisters.

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

If it was, please follow this blog you’ll find a button on the lower bottom right and leave a comment with any questions or prayer requests. Also head over to my other blog www.moonrosemindfulnes.com for lifestyle tips and details of my Mindfulness Master Class Course.

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Paula Rose Parish

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8 Qualities of a Compassionate Leader

When I was called to be a leader, I pursued that call; however, I didn’t feel confident because I am not a natural leader. Some leaders are born, and others are made like me. I shrunk back from the task many times in fear with overwhelming feelings of inadequacy. Finally, the call on my life was so strong that it gave me the courage to push through my fears and learn to be a leader. The first thing I needed to sort was what kind the leader I wanted to be.

So, I asked myself how my personality and experience contribute to what kind of leader I am?

I only answered that question over time as I observed how I developed and emerged as a particular kind o leader. The shepherd leader style came to the fore repeatedly, so I became aware of what kind of leader I am. The problem with a shepherd leader, some people regard me as weak because I do not demand my own way. Conversely, I prefer to enable people to be the best they can be and do the ministry Ephesian chapter 4. I want to be a compassionate leader. It took many years for me to recognise what kind of leader I am; it may be quicker for you, it may not, so be patient and regularly engage in self-reflection.

Leadership traits, like other skills, can be acquired with time, education, and practice. Below are seven traits that I have found of an effective leader:

1. Effective communicators

Leaders are excellent communicators, able to explain problems and solutions clearly and concisely. Leaders know when to talk and when to listen. In addition, leaders can communicate on different levels: one-on-one, via phone, email, etc.

2. Accountable and responsible

Leaders hold themselves accountable and don’t blame others for their own mistakes.

Leaders take responsibility for any mistakes and support and encourage individuality while abiding by organisational structure, rules, and policies that need to be followed.

3. Leaders can submit themselves to others

Christian Leaders are humble people and are ready to put others before themselves for the greater good.

4. Long-term thinkers

Leaders are visionaries. This is demonstrated by the leadership trait of planning for the future through tangible and quantifiable goals. In addition, they understand the need for continuous change and are open to trying new approaches to solve problems or improve processes.

5. Self-motivated

Leaders are self-motivated and can keep going and attain goals despite setbacks. In addition, good leaders try their best to exceed, not just meet, expectations. Leaders also are self-learners. They don’t need anyone to tell them to improve their skills because they desire to do so and pursue them.

6. Confident

Virtually all good leaders share the leadership trait of confidence. They can make tough decisions and lead with authority. By being confident, leaders can reassure and inspire others, establish open communications, and encourage teamwork.

7. People-oriented

Leaders are typically people-oriented and team players. They’re able to foster a team culture, involve others in decision-making, and show concern for each team member. By being people-oriented, leaders can energise and motivate others. By making each individual feel vital to the team’s success, they secure the best efforts from each member of the team.

8. Emotionally stable

Leaders exercise reasonable control and regulation over their own behaviour and can tolerate frustration and stress. Leaders can cope with changes in an environment without having an intense emotional reaction.

In summary

To be genuinely effective, leaders need to build a toolkit of knowledge, skills, and behaviours that will establish their teams and their ministry up for success.

As mentioned above, there is a broad combination of fundamental skills that leaders need to acquire and develop. Setting objectives, motivating, delegating, coaching, and giving feedback, to name a few. Leaders are managers, and good management starts with the self. Therefore they must develop an awareness of their strengths and weaknesses. They must be aware of their preferred style and approach and their emotional triggers; and learn how to manage, alleviate and maximise these for the benefit of their teams.

The best leaders expand their thinking beyond what’s obvious and can benefit from the hidden opportunities of organisational success: inclusion, swiftness, flexibility, and employee or volunteer wellbeing and engagement.

Leaders are also role models, and the example they set has a significant impact on the organisational culture. So, it’s critical that they first appreciate and then show the appropriate behaviours that build trust and encourage a positive ministry environment – and do so genuinely and consistently.

Consistency in the leader’s behaviour is of utmost importance because there’s nothing worse for a co-worker dealing with the leader’s unpredictable behaviours.

A true leader brings their best selves to work every day.

NEW Course is Live on Udemy. Mindfulness Masterclass for Stress Relief – click here for more details. www.moonrosemindfulness.com

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Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

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Paula Rose Parish

How to Reduce Your Stress

One of the blights of humanity is frustration. We get frustrated when we don’t get what we want or what we think we deserve. It seems that we’re a living contradiction. We really are our own worst enemy, working at cross purposes against our own best interest. We want meaning, purpose, and peace of mind, but we aren’t ready to strive or sacrifice for it. Why? Because human beings are forever seeking that kind of thing through enjoyment, which is temporal by nature.

Pleasure is a good thing, and we need to have some fun; however, it’s not the be-all, end-all that we imagine it to be, and we become disappointed with our life and can’t put our finger on why. Maybe it’s about expectations, and when those expectations are not met, we become very disappointed. For example, when we are having fun, and the pleasure we feel comes to an end, we want to chase after it, trying to create familiar feelings of joy. Sometimes we try to recreate experiences at a considerable cost to ourselves; we try to convert pleasure into something permanent.

When life goes wrong, we try to fix it by increasing the feel-good factor and strive to make it stay with us, but we just can’t do it. When we are frustrated, we search for ways to make ourselves happy, and often unwisely so. No matter how hard we try, we cannot make what is temporary permanent, and we cannot make what is imagined real. We can’t get back our loved one who is gone, the job that fell through our fingers is in the past, or even the children who have become adults and now live their own lives many miles from us. Also, it’s worth noting here that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its devastating toll, and we will never get back what we lost.

Several hundred years ago, along with other religions, Christianity began engaging the West in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Although it was not named as such, that is precisely what it is, the aim and objective and results being the same. Within the act mindfulness practice, if one removes the idea of God, it still works. However, I prefer to still relate to God as far as mindfulness goes because it enhances not only my mind and body but also my spiritual person.

The scientific evidence to date of the success of mindfulness to enhance human life is overwhelming, and for those interested in their wellness, we cannot ignore it. Various professional disciplines and social movements, such as medicine and health care, psychology and brain science, and education at all levels, the law, business, leadership, and much more, enhance their practice by inserting mindfulness.

Today’s mainstream medicine is developing an ever-growing interest in mindfulness-based intervention, such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). Mindfulness is something we can practice for peace of mind and a way of relieving a wide range of chronic medical conditions. It is much like snowmelt flowing inevitably downhill from a high mountain source, flowing around obstacles, finding many pathways under the gentle tug of gravity, and ultimately merging into major rivers systems. The gravitational pull is the promise of liberation from suffering and the potential safe harbour. As human beings prepare for the awakening and embodying of wellbeing, greater wisdom and wise action in the conduct of our individual lives so we may peacefully carry ourselves in the world as a species. In other words, mindfulness can become a normal and natural way to live your life, and the feeling of wellbeing is inevitable. Living a mindful life as Jesus Christ did would not end our frustrations but the beginning of successfully managing them.

Jesus gave us the answer to our frustrations and said don’t chase after things that are here today and gone tomorrow, but rather, strive for eternal things. Eternal things are more satisfying, like top quality peace, joy, and love, that only God can supply. Mindfulness can help us to pursue eternal things naturally and consistently.

Trying to hold onto relationships or things that are gone will leave you frustrated and keep you grieving for as long as you hold onto them. All human relationships, albeit long term, are temporal and subject to the joys and pains of this life; our lives are so fragile and short. The only permanent relationship and forever is a relationship with God offers to us through Jesus Christ.

The nature of my work is that I aim to empower others with education and motivation to help them make for themselves a purposeful and happy life. In addition, I enjoy helping others to set wellness goals and then provide resources, helping you determine which changes would make the most significant impact on your health.

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

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How to Count the Cost before entering the Ministry and avoid tears.

Today is a special day for me. I’ve only seen my family twice in two years due to the COVID lockdowns in 2020 & 2021. So today I’m travelling to see them and staying overnight. Sadly, I can’t stay any more than one night because I have to get back to work on a Sunday, such is the life of the church minister.

People don’t often realise that the minister just can’t take a Sunday off on the spur of the moment because we must often plan a year ahead and can’t have random time off. My preaching engagements for 2022 are about 80% booked already, and this is how most preachers have to work. It is unfortunate because I cannot be part of Sunday family events when they happen spontaneously. Because I have answered God’s call upon my life, this is the lifestyle I have adjusted to. Unfortunately, sometimes family or friends don’t really understand that the minister must plan way ahead and think you can just have a day off whenever you wish, sadly not the case. We ministers pay the price in answering God’s call upon our lives, so we need to count the cost before we enter the ministry.

How to Count the Cost.

When we answer God’s call upon our life, we need to carefully count the cost to our family as well. So, if you are reading this and you believe you have God’s call upon your life, you are standing at the precipice of decision-making to answer that call or go into another direction, so I hope that this article will be helpful to you.

Below are just a couple of tips to help you to ascertain if you really do want to answer God’s call upon your life or not. This is just a brief overdue, and I’m not going to explain each point; however, I may do this in a future article. The Bible says if a person builds a bridge, they must count the cost first. So, Jesus, while addressing the rich young ruler, was really asking him to count the cost, and we know the story the ruler did decide not to follow Jesus after all.

1. Be sure that the call upon your life is confirmed by others in church authority.

2. Spend a significant time in prayer and fasting if necessary to ensure that you have the mind of Christ in your situation.

3. Research the area of ministry that you wish to enter thoroughly. Understand fully what the expectations upon your life might be.

4. Draw yourself a timeline. When do you think that this call upon your life might begin? Does this fit into the commitments that you have for the next 12 months?

5. What financial implications will there be if you answer this call upon your life? Grab a people piece of paper and write them down so you can see them, pray over them, and reflect upon them.

6. What financial sacrifices are you willing to make and that of your family if you answer the call.

7. Are you and your family willing to move if the call upon your life requires?

8. Are you willing to move away from your extended family and friends if York also requires?

9. Are you willing to put in abeyance old ideas and take on new ways of being and living so you may be effective in your call?

10. How many years are you willing to attend a Bible college or university to be equipped for your call? And what sacrifices are you and your family willing to make so you are quick and embark upon the required training?

These are just 10 short questions, but I’m sure you will come up with more, and I hope that these will help you get started upon your quest to evaluate the cost to you. I am sure you will be making a sacrifice of some kind, and sadly, many people do not last long term in ministry because they have not previously counted the cost.

When I was in ministry in the USA, I have met quite a well-known woman minister, and we had coffee together. In our conversation, she said, “I often wondered why people romanticise ministry because it is far from romantic it is full of sacrifices, heartbreak, disappointment, and just darn hard work”. But, she continued on, “of course, there are rewards when you can see the fruits of your labour; however, it’s not often that you actually see that fruit because the people you help often move away, so, I don’t get the opportunity to journey with them throughout their lives. Still, it is a comfort to me that I will know how my ministry has affected others in the halls of eternity”.

You may be sorely disappointed if you are entering ministry to be liked or to receive accolades of thanks and welcome. Jesus said to carry your own cross, and indeed if you are called to the ministry, you will be bearing your cross. As Jesus pointed out, you will even be a sheep among wolves – are your shoulders broad enough for that?

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

If it was, please follow this blog, you’ll find a button on the lower bottom right and leave a comment with any questions or prayer requests. Also, head over to my other blog www.moonrosemindfulnes.com for lifestyle tips and details of my Mindfulness Master Class Course.

I blog three times a week, so you won’t have to wait long- so keep an eye out for it. Please press that FOLLOW button on the lower right, or you’ll also find it in the BLOG section found on the menu. This will ensure you’ll get all my latest articles in your inbox.

Remember to Live Life on Purpose

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post xx

Paula Rose Parish💗

✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 & other losses.

📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times

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How the weak and the strong are equally loved by God.

Have you ever been in a situation that you believe is so unfair? I can tell you many stories that I feel I have been mistreated or a situation happened that just wasn’t fair! I am sure you can recall many situations that have been unfair to you.

Matthew 21:1- 16 is a parable that teaches around issues of unfairness and fairness. However, it is not a factual story and revolves around the equal rewards given to workers in the vineyard for unequal amounts of labour.

In the context of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus uses various events to communicate his vision of what the kingdom of heaven should be on earth, as it already is in heaven. And not surprisingly, it differs from many existing ideas of it. Jesus says the last will be; first, the first will be last.

Just before this parable, Jesus accepts the children, blesses them, and uses them as a model for how the kingdom is granted equally by grace and God’s mercy alone.

Then in the encounter with the rich young ruler, he indicates that it is almost impossible for anyone to be worthy of the kingdom based on their own actions, showing that only by God’s grace and mercy alone can we enter God’s kingdom.

Firstly,

This story is about a farmer who hires workers at regular intervals right through the day, from sunrise at three-hour intervals to the ninth hour, which is mid-afternoon.

Casual labourers are called together at the end of the day, beginning with the last hired. They receive a day’s wage, a denarius, considered enough to live on for just one day. Here, the farmer pays the last ones first and the first ones last, and all receive the same amount. So those who worked 10 hours got the same reward as the one who worked one hour! The workers who have worked all day are agitated, and so they should be – we say. They were so upset by this apparent unfairness that they were outraged.

Jesus has a way of using outrageous scenarios in his stories. It upsets the hearers; it unsettles us, challenging our comfortable traditional ideas. Jesus uses shock tactics to get people thinking, and his storytelling turns what we consider typical values upside down.

At first glance, the scene is one of exploitation based on a whim and injustice. It’s not fair! Yet, the story opens new mental pictures for us to what the kingdom is like in heaven and should be on earth.

Secondly,

However, if we look at it this way, unemployment benefits were created to ensure that everyone has enough to live on in the short term without working for it. Likewise, the National Health Service in the UK provides medical care for free to all people regardless of income. This is assessed not by no earning ability but on need. Here, the standard is needed and not on earning rights, which is how the kingdom is. Jesus promises in earlier parts of Matthew that he will supply all our needs according to his riches in glory and not according to our income. So here again, it’s not according to on earning rights, but on need. This is an upside-down kingdom for sure, one that should be reflected in the life of the Church. To accept this different way of thinking puts the question of justice into perspective for us today.

Interestingly, Jesus uses familiar imagery, familiar even to us some 2,000 years later. The images are of hiring people who wait about the town centre for work. We get the image of desperate people, local people battling unemployment, looking for just one day’s wage to feed themselves and their families. Things aren’t looking good for them. These are poor people, you may have been in this position at some time in your life like I have.

Hanging out about the town centre waiting for work is humiliating because they are at the beck and call of other people’s whim. There is a vast potential of being exploited as an expendable resource. The poor are dehumanised in their poverty, and this to Jesus’ thinking is unjust – they are in need and should be offered compassion, not exploitation.

Thirdly,

There is a familiar cry today for human rights. Some shout the loudest demanding their rights to be accommodated, while others do not shout the loudest or cannot shout, so they are marginalised, and their human rights are denied.

Through this story, Jesus is showing us that there are no favourites with God. The weak and the strong are equally loved and shown God’s mercy.

I believe that this is a story about what our earthly reality should look like, focusing on issues around equality rather than justice because, without equality, we can have no true justice. But, it is also about what our spiritual reality should look like. What do I mean?

Well, those who have accepted Christ’s saving grace early in their lives and have lived 70 or more years following him will have no particular advantage over those who have lived an unrighteous life but repents on their deathbed. But, nevertheless, they will have the same gift of salvation, although differing eternal rewards.

Far from exploiting anyone, God’s kingdom brings love and mercy, equality and justice based on the need for a saviour, the need to be saved from the power of sin and death, and not based on our own ability or status. Equality in God’s kingdom because should reflect what is happing in heaven.

And for us, it’s the upside-down kingdom. So God is actually saying that our human way is upside down, and God’s way is the right side up!

The Challenge

Jesus is challenging our long-held ideas of what society should be and is creating the idea of a new society called the kingdom of God. In so doing, God is showing us in picture form, through this parable of what God’s kingdom should look like here on earth, indeed in our day-to-day living.

This parable can unsettle us and raises a lot of questions because this is what Jesus wants, to unsettle us, and when we are unsettled, we are more likely to listen to the alternative.

Jesus uses this story to show us what the kingdom of God is like, and within that, what God’s mercy, equality, love and what true justice is.

In Jesus, we are learning that God is not working with purely human rights, but simply that Father God loves us all equally without prejudice; this is at the heart of God. It is in God’s very being because God IS love!

the last will be first, the first will be last

And that is a challenge for us all to do likewise.

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

I blog three times a week, so you won’t have to wait long- so keep an eye out for it. Please press that FOLLOW button on the lower right or you’ll also find it in the BLOG section found on the menu. This will ensure you’ll get all my latest articles in your in box.

Remember to Live Life on Purpose

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post

Paula Rose Parish💕

#107 How to change your mindset to enjoy good health and wellbeing.

Since having the COVID19 vaccination over six months ago, I’ve had things changed dramatically in my health. I have been out of sorts for at least three months, constantly feeling weak and tired with losing appetite, and I lost a lot of weight. I also had a rash on the upper part of my body that no number of creams could get rid of. The doctor told me I had a severe reaction because my immune system was so strong that it fought the effects of the vaccine, and my body violently reacted. I am pleased about my strong immune system as medical professionals have informed me of this in the past. However, when one is suffering, it is of little consolation!

Just Getting Old?

Now six months on, the rash is nearly gone; just a tiny patch remains. The problem is that it also left me with terrible shooting nerve pains in my legs, arms, hips and in my shoulders. This has stopped me from working at a pace which I am accustomed to. I also, during this time, stopped doing my daily workout because it was just too painful to do so. On sharing with friends and the medical profession, the feedback I received was all similar. They all agreed that now I am over 65, I should expect aches and pains and things to go wrong with my body.

Ordinary painkillers did not touch the pain, so I went for something far more potent. I’m not a medication person and have never been. Unfortunately, Strong pain killers taken long term can mess with ones’ kidneys and liver, etc., and I undoubtedly didn’t want to go that route.

Then when the fourth person chimed in with this mantra about getting old, I made a decisive decision that I didn’t want to live the rest of my life with this painful condition.

I have always been a fan of holistic health which is about good eating, a good mindset, and exercising regularly, and faith. My faith has kept me going because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, and as I appropriate that truth; I find that to be so.

I got quite irate when even my mind told me ‘you’re getting old’ and said, “no, I’m not going to be living like this anymore, I’ve had enough! I knew I needed to change my mind-set.

After all, by God’s grace, I could be living for another 20 to 30 years on this planet, so there’s NO WAY I will be living with this pain for that long! So, to begin to change my mind-set I said out loud- “this pain is no mine- it does not belong to me!” Importantly, I prayed, and I asked God to help me gather ideas of what to do.

My Mind Workout

I knew if I wanted to change my mind set, I had to first change what I was putting in there. I got the idea to consistently listen to many audiobooks on YouTube, which is absolutely free, to help me to change my mindset. The topics I choose reminded me about our minds, how thoughts affect us profoundly and how having a healthy mindset makes for a healthy body. I will list the books below this blog.

I soaked upon these audiobooks for several months and then decided that I would start running again. I haven’t run far for over six years because my knees began to give out, and I fell over in the street, which was very embarrassing! After all these years, I am still waiting on the NHS for a knee replacement. I could hear and felt the grinding bone upon bone, so I stopped running and stopped walking fast as well. However, I did continue to work out in my little mini gym at home.

My Body Workout

But I felt that the pains in my legs are so severe it’s going to take something severe to stop them. So, I prayed and asked God for healing, but like everything, sometimes we need to get to the cause of this problem to cure it. I knew that I had nerve pain that affected my muscles. Nerve pain is there because the nerves are damaged in some way. Or the connection between my brain and nerves aren’t syncing. Whatever, which one was the cause, I had to do something to increase my blood circulation to help my nerves to heal.

I never do anything by halves, so I set myself defiantly against the pain by creating a running program, and I am now steadily following that program.

It was hard to get started and still is. My legs felt like lead as I dragged them around, making the poor things run. But, by the end of the first week, the pain in my legs, arms and hips subsided; I no longer did need painkillers during the day.

My Diet Workout

I am now well into the second week and finding that I can sleep all night without being aggravated awake by intense pain. I also researched about the nerves and revised from my past experience, that our nerves are protected by the myelin sheath. The sheath is feed by vitamin B12. So, I wondered whether I was not getting enough vitamin B12; indeed, the other Bs’ to feed my nerves, so I reviewed my diet.

I discovered that my vitamin B12 reserves were low, and one of the symptoms of vitamin B 12 deficiency is weakness and tingling in arms and fingers and pains in legs and hips, which is precisely what I have had.

I would get leg muscle cramps also, so I looked up the effects of magnesium and potassium on the body. A lack of these essential minerals results in muscle cramps.

Do Something Positive

So I purchased vitamin B12 drops and magnesium and potassium liquid because the liquid is more readily absorbed into the intestines.

It’s still early days, but I’m feeling much better. I look forward to my runs three times a week and other workouts each day. I run in an area where nobody can see me because I’m so self-conscious about not running like I once did. Now I kind of hobble along, but as I re-gain my running confidence and get into the swing of things I will get better at it.

I Still hear my knees grinding, and they still hurt, but I get my heart beating really fast and pick my legs up and am finding that my legs don’t feel so heavy anymore, and the pain is a lot less.

Keep On, Keeping On!

It is still a struggle, but as I keep my mindset and affirmations positive, I will gain the strength of mind and body.

Set Your Health Goals

I want good health, so that means that I have to do something to achieve that goal. If I do nothing, I will achieve nothing. I have set my goals because I need to be healthy to continue to help and serve others in various ways.

Your Thoughts have Power.

And this is where mindfulness comes in as well. However, we only can have a mindfulness lifestyle if we change our mindset. Our thoughts are powerful things, and the Bible tells us that we will become what we believe. Indeed, neuroscientists have discovered this truth in more recent years. And this is why having a mindfulness lifestyle is essential for holistic well-being. The reality that God has given us the responsibility of managing the thoughts. Read Proverbs 23:7.https://www.learnreligions.com/you-are-what-you-think-proverbs-237-701777

I am advocating a lifestyle of mindfulness living which means that your attention is in the NOW. It means giving your full attention to the thing that is before you, and God within you. This helps to heal your brain, heal your emotions and body. Mindfulness enables you to control your thoughts, giving you happiness and appreciation of what you’re doing right then and right now. Time goes quickly- you will never have this day again, so enjoy it, be mindful within it.

Focus is the Key

The opposite of mindfulness is hurrying, constantly pushing to get to the next thing to be done. The opposite to mindfulness is failing to focus on and appreciating what is right in front of you.

Create a Gratitude Attitude

And so, when I run or do my work workout in my mini gym in my home, I am mindful of that moment. I concentrate on my body, how it feels and how I want it to feel, and visualise my body being strong and well again. Then, I give thanks for my surroundings and joy in it all.

Share What You Know

There is so much more that I want to share with you on mindfulness, that’s why I am working on a new book. My goals are to bring hope, joy, and love to you by encouraging you to live a better lifestyle for your own happiness and well-being.

If you are not happy with what you have, you can change it by changing your mindset.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog. Please come back here as I post regularly. Within the next few months, I will be starting a brand-new YouTube channel about personal growth and lifestyle design through mindful living.

Check out my menu bar above; there, you’ll find the online courses about mindfulness masterclass that will help you begin your mindfulness journey.

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

If it was, please follow this blog you’ll find a button on the lower bottom right and leave a comment with any questions or prayer requests. Also head over to my other blog www.moonrosemindfulnes.com for lifestyle tips and details of my Course.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Paula Rose Parish❤

Thank you for visiting me here, and we hope to see you soon.

#106 Not an optional extra-Joy is the evidence of the Holy Spirit

When you go for a burger you order the main thing. Then you may order ‘fries on the side’ then there’s other extras’ that that may take your fancy. Burger take out restaurants offer so many options it is often hard to make a choice.

Sometimes as believers we think that joy is an optional extra. You may buy into the salvation by grace but think that the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ and joy being one of them, are extra somehow and will come later at some point.

This view is a distorted view of what salvation does for you. The fruit of joy like all the 5 fruits (Galatians 5) are a by-product of your inner change and not an ‘extra option thing.

Not an Optional Extra

Joy is not an optional extra, but is the evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Joy is not a side order but an essential ingredient of the main course.

During our most painful losses and sufferings, we discover just how deep the supply of Christian joy is. Such joy is not thin and frivolous and empty, but thick and substantive and full.

The joy of the Lord is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1: 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.

The joy of the Lord may be totally weird to those who don’t have it. But, for the believer in Christ, the joy of the Lord comes as naturally as grapes on a vine. As we abide in Christ who the True Vine, are full of His strength and vitality, and the fruit we produce, including joy, is His doing John 15:5.

Keep Joy Alive in You

Philippians 4:4-7

Always be joyful in the Lord! I’ll say it again: Be joyful! Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.

You have inexpressible joy as a result of salvation- so allow it to grow, and nurture it to keep it alive.

Acts 8: 34-39

In this passage the Ethiopian Eunuch, heard, understood and believed the gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ, so wanted to be baptised and asked Philip to baptise him. When they came out of the water, the Holy Spirit caught Philip away and he disappeared, even so the Eunuch went on his way rejoicing. (39). This is the Joy of Salvation.

The Joy Of Salvation: What Is It?

Salvation though faith in Jesus Christ is an experience that brings deliverance, restoration and preservation, and as a result you are filled with joy.

It is a deliverance from the grip of Satan, a restoration and a U-turn from the pit of hell. Salvation and the joy of salvation are closely connected though separable. Joy is the natural fruit of salvation, which you open yourself up to so you experience it.

Joy is a foretaste of heaven (1 Pet. 1:8). Unfortunately, not many people have this joy, including those who attend Church services regularly.

This is because they don’t nurture it and allow it to dry up.

Spiritual dryness is one of the worst things that can happen to a believer. Joy is the water that will bring your life. Joy is the result of the infilling of the Holy Spirit who is the Living water Revelation 21.

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful. Come back here soon because In my next post I will share more about joy and how you can maintain it in your life.

Please follow this blog you’ll find a button on the lower bottom right and leave a comment with any questions or prayer requests. Also head over to my other blog www.moonrosemindfulnes.com for lifestyle tips and more details of my Course I am offering.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Paula Rose Parish

#105 Tricky Bible Verses: should we always expect an agreeable answer?

A few years back, I bought a book called Answers To Difficult Bible Texts by Joe Crewa.

I expected about 10 difficult passage for the author to deal with, however to my amazement, he listed 76!

Over the years, I have been asked many tough questions, and here are a few:

· How often should I mention Christianity to my adult children who have left the faith?

· Should I secretly baptize my grandchildren since my children refuse to have them baptized?

· What happens to babies who die without baptism?

· I’ve been a church goer all my whole life; this the first time I’ve seen an individual confession and absolution offered- is this appropriate?

· Do I have to go to church to be a Christian?

· Why don’t most free churches offer first Holy Communion classes?

· Can my visiting non believing relative take communion today?

As a minister of the Gospel, the most common question I have had to help folk with is, Why do some hear the Gospel and believe, and others don’t?

That’s a real tough one; however, my best answer is, “I don’t know”.

Look at Romans 11:33 as this will help to why some and not others fall under God’s hidden will-

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God

How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond discovery!

While we don’t know the ultimate answer to this question, here is what we do know from Scripture.

First, we know that all are dead-in-their-trespasses sinners and deserve hell; no one is righteous (Romans 3). We also know that God loved all and sent His Son to suffer hell on the cross and die for the sin of the world (John 3).

Second, we know that God desires all to hear and believe this Good News and have everlasting life (I Timothy 2 & 2 Peter 3).

Third, we know that God elects to heaven but doesn’t predestine anyone to hell (Romans 8:30).

So why do some hear and believe, and others don’t? Again, ultimately, God hasn’t revealed this to us, so we should take a guess at it.

Fourth, we know that all of us, by our human nature deaf to the Gospel and are in desperate need of the miracle of having our ears opened.

Finally, we know the miracle of faith in God’s work (Ephesians 2:8), and rejecting the Holy Spirit’s call by the Gospel is sinful our responsibility. God gets credit for salvation, and because of what we choose- God’s way or the other way- we get credit for the consequences of everlasting judgment (Acts 7:51; Matthew 13 & 22).

Our Bible states that we are justified by faith alone and not by works of the law (Romans 3 & 4). As Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (ESV).

Our Lord uses grace to create and sustain our faith through the Word and Sacraments ministry. The Holy Spirit creates faith through the vehicle of the Word as we hear and receive it in our hearts and live it in our lives.

So, why do some believe, and others don’t? Well, as we have seen, this really isn’t a question for us to ponder.

However, the question we can ponder is- when Jesus asks is, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Therefore, we would do ourselves a great favour to hear the Gospel and receive the Sacraments often in faith so that God who began a good work in us will carry it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

If it was, please follow this blog you’ll find a button on the lower bottom right and leave a comment with any questions or prayer requests.

Also head over to my other blog www.moonrosemindfulnes.com for Mindfulness lifestyle tips and details of my Course.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Paula Rose Parish

#104 How to Pray with Different types of Biblical Prayers.

Prayer should not be a scary thing to do. Prayer is simply a conversation with God and should be made all the time, as we see in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. As we grow in our love for Jesus Christ, we will naturally want to talk to Him. To chat with God and to listen to his voice as well. Prayer is a two-way conversation.

You may think that there is only one proper way to pray. But in fact, there are many ways to pray. I think God encourages us to pray in different ways because we are diverse in our humanity. If there was only one way to pray- it would divide us. We would accuse each other of not ‘doing it right.

So, diverse ways of praying do a different thing- achieve different results. This article will show you the various ways you can pray. Let’s start with scripture….

Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

I love this verse! as we can see, we are told to pray in the Spirit: Pray on all occasions for all the Lord’s people always with all kinds of prayers.’

The Prayer of Faith.

James 5:15 says, “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.” This is when prayer is offered in faith for someone who is sick, asking God to heal. When we pray, we are to believe in the power and love of God.

The Prayer of Agreement.

Agreement between people is a powerful thing. Mt 18:19 ‘If two of you shall agree. Two people together constitute a Christian fellowship. The sincere united prayers of this fellowship shall be heard. Christ will be present wherever two or three are gathered in his name. After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples “all joined together constantly in prayer” (Acts 1:14). Later, after Pentecost, the early church “devoted themselves” to prayer (Acts 2:42). Their example encourages us to pray with others.

The Prayer of Request or Asking.

James 4:2 that says “you have not because you ask not” is mainly based around two things. First, ask for wisdom because that is the principal thing, and ask with a pure heart. However, it is vitally important we ask and let all of our requests be known unto God. We are to take our requests to God. Philippians 4:6 teaches, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Part of winning the spiritual battle is to be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18).

The Prayer of Thanksgiving.

We see another type of prayer in Philippians 4:6: thanksgiving or thanks to God. “With thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Many examples of thanksgiving prayers throughout the Bible

The Prayer of Worship.

Worship means to bow and serve. Worship, therefore, focuses on who God is; thanksgiving focuses on what God has done. There are many examples of how to worship in the Bible. This one is from Psalm 75:1

‘ We praise you, God, we praise you, for your name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds.

The Prayer of Dedication.

Sometimes, prayer is a time of setting us apart to seek God’s will. Jesus made such a prayer the night before His crucifixion: “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will’” (Matthew 26:39).

The Prayer of Intercession/praying for others

Many times, our prayers include requests for others as we intercede for them. We are told to make intercession “for everyone” in 1 Timothy 2:1. Jesus serves as our example in this area. The whole of John 17 is a prayer of Jesus on behalf of His disciples and all believers.

Praying in the Spirit

The Bible also speaks of praying in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:14-15) and prayers when we cannot think of adequate words (Romans 8:26-27). In those times, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us. The scripture I really love is and relate to is….

Jude 1:20 ‘But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Paula Rose Parish

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