Faith and Life Blog

Staying inside for too long often brings on a feeling of claustrophobia or cabin fever. The antidote is simply a change of location, to get outside, if only for a few minutes. Being outside has numerous benefits for our physical and mental well-being! Some of these benefits include: 1. Vitamin D boost: Exposure to natural sunlight helps our bodies produce vitamin D, which is essential for bone health and immune function. 2. Improved mental health: Being outdoors can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms while promoting a sense of calm and connection to nature. 3. Physical activity: Engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, or sports can improve cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility. 4. Fresh air and oxygen: Breathing in fresh air can help purify our lungs and increase oxygen flow to our brains, improving focus and productivity. 5. Connection with nature: Spending time outside can foster a sense of wonder, awe, and appreciation for the natural world. 6. S

  How is your thought life? Have you ever taken time to think about what you think about? These are important questions that we need to ask ourselves. In the hustle and bustle of life, the things that matter are often overlooked, as we busily try to complete our to-do list and strive to make another buck, another dollar.  Dwelling on negative thoughts often leads to a downward spiral resulting in pain, distress and anxiety, while thinking positively leads to peace and joy.  While we cannot control what happens to and around us, we can control our reactions to them.  Thoughts determine actions, actions determine habit, and habit determines character. It behoves us then to carefully consider how and what we think. The Bible teaches that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7),  while Proverbs 4:23 cautions us to guard our hearts because everything we do flows from them.  These are words of wisdom that we should all strive to live by. As we take our thoughts captive and mak