This app has Elevated my Life and Faith! Hallow from Heaven

Ok, ok, so this is a healthy, nutrition website! Well, let me refer you back to my post on Spirituality and Health. Sooooo, along with my previous post about Power of Now: Life Can Be a Ray of Sunshine, here is a post about a lovely prayer app:

HALLOW is a prayer app with an annual fee (I paid $79). Many friends have recommended it, but due to my frugality/cheapness, I always resisted. I thought I could get all the information in other places for free. I've had it for several months now and every minute has been wonderful. It makes praying and learning about my faith so simple and accessible. It's the BEST 19 cents per day I have ever spent! Thank you, Tasha!

PLUS, this post has bumped up to publication NOW because the app is offering a 90-day-free trial! So you have nothing to lose! Just start with www.hallow.com and it'll ask you some questions to get you set up.

This link might work!

Back to it! I believe there actually are resources that aren't easily available elsewhere. I feel as if I have only just scratched the surface. One specific treasure I've enjoyed was learning from/about Saint Therese of Lisieux. In the app, you can listen to her beautifully, precious autobiography, entitled Story of a Soul. While listening, you can choose to read along with the words on your phone.

Saint Therese: This young person was dedicated to serving God with unreserved love and confidence in His mercy. Her spiritual path called the "Little Way" emphasizes performing small acts with great love! She helps readers find joy and holiness in the ordinary, share true charity to others, focus on the present moment, find joy in service, embrace our unique spiritual gifts, and trust in God even through hardships.

I'll only mention the title of two other amazing audiobooks I have listened to on HALLOW:

Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe (this is actually SO good...some parts I have listened to practically on repeat!!)

Something Other than God: How I Passionately Sought Happiness and Accidently Found It by Jennifer Fulwiler (this is a life story that truly starts with NO faith, even strong resistance to faith, and transforms to a beautiful journey to God)

Know that HALLLOW app is so much more than audiobooks. It is a community. It provides habit. It provides inspiration and education. It is SO much more than I imagined it to be.

Find God's Peace, Transform Your Prayer Life, Build a Daily Habit, and More

BONUS:

Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) is a weekend retreat with the primary goal of facilitating an encounter with Christ for those who are searching for deeper meaning, purpose, and hope in life, and who desire an authentic relationship with God within a community of believers.

You can apply to "Make a Retreat" here:

A Catholic Experience in Christian Living

I've gone on this retreat and worked it many times (NEVER as a teenager; the first time I was almost 40 and now I am closer to 50!), and each time I participate there are life-changing blessings abounding, new friends made, and refreshing feelings of love and peace, like no other!

Funny, this is also $80. Another amazing value for three amazing days of focusing on your faith!

COMMENTS:

If you have any feedback about anything from this or another post, please comment below. Comments help more people see the post and website! Thank you, and God Bless! I count YOU as one of my many blessings! Happy Advent :)

Life Can Be a Ray of Sunshine Even in Darkness with Lessons from Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle teaches about being present, non-judgement, acceptance, peace, joy, gratitude, and more. Today, I'm introducing The Power of Now: a Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, which fills me with peace and contentment. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose also warms my soul repeatedly. While I have read Power of Now and A New Earth multiple times each, Stillness Speaks is one that I optimistically started listening to very recently; I'm enjoying it so far! (all books shown below)

I spotted these darlings while staying very alert on a trail run this fall :)

Eckhart Tolle’s Power of Now: a Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment offers readers a practical path to inner peace, joy, and love by teaching the art of living fully in the present moment. Through Tolle’s guidance, you’ll learn to quiet your mind, let go of judgment, forgive, and experience a deep sense of connectedness, aliveness, alertness, and clarity. He teaches us to “resist nothing,” which captures the transformative approach to accepting life as it unfolds. Key benefits of reading this book include breaking free from negative thought patterns, accessing a timeless state of inner stillness, and awakening to the radiant joy of being. If you’re seeking lightness, grace, meaningfulness, and a powerful way to ease suffering, this inspiring path to a more peaceful life may be just right for you!

Here are a dozen Power of Now morsels that I especially enjoyed:

1. It's about saying YES to life! Accepting each situation (the Now) unconditionally, as though you had chosen it. Make the situation your friend, your ally. This has the power to miraculously change your whole life.

2. The more you are focused the traps of time, past and future, the more you miss the NOW. While memories and anticipation have value, they are only pale reflections of the light, power, and reality of the eternal present. Too much past causes guilt, regret, resentment, bitterness. Too much future causes unease, stress, worry, anxiety, fear.

3. Giving your full attention to the single step you are taking each moment (the NOW), enhances your mind, making you sharper and more focused, allowing space for creativity.

4. Conscious presence (the NOW) is the transformative agent that dissolves the past. Whatever you do becomes imbued with a sense of quality, care, and love, even the simplest action.

5. To complain is always non-acceptance of what IS.

6. Use anything "bad" that happens in your life for enlightening; don't give it any past or future.

7. If you are present, there is never any need to wait for anything. That time, like all moments, can/will be very enjoyable. You cannot be conscious and unhappy, or conscious and in negativity.

8. "Forgiveness of the present moment is even more important than forgiveness of the past; then there will be no accumulation of resentment that needs to be forgiven at a later time".

9. "Compassion is the awareness of a deep bond between yourself and all creatures".

10. "Let your peace flow into whatever you do, and you will be working on the levels of effect and cause simultaneously". Carry no resistance, hatred, negativity; "love your enemies" says Jesus, which of course means to have no enemies. Stay alert and very, very present; peace is your most precious gift to the world!

11. "Surrender is the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to, rather than opposing, the flow of life". It is your crucifixion, let it become your resurrection and ascension!

12. Tolle refers to the "peace of God that passes all understanding". Although he doesn't cite the Bible, this is passage is Philippians 4:7. Microsoft Copilot says "This peace is described as transcending human comprehension, providing comfort and security to believers in Christ, guarding their hearts and minds against anxiety and turmoil. It signifies a profound sense of tranquility that comes from faith and trust in God, regardless of external circumstances".

Peace be with you!

Here is a previous post that relates to the present moment :)

Zone Out -- Harmful to You Happiness

In case you missed it, here is my previous post about Spirituality and Wellness:

God is SO Good

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment: Tolle, Eckhart

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61): Eckhart Tolle

Stillness Speaks: Tolle, Eckhart

God is SO Good!

This is long overdue and unlike any other post you'll find on fresh-you.com. Wellness of mind and body is enhanced by spirituality. I can't imagine life without my faith. Amazingly, there is research showing that it is beneficial to your health! As you'll see at the bottom of this post, I've actually written many related posts, including topics such as forgiveness, love, and gratitude. This is post is a bit scattered, but hopefully something here will inspire growth in your heart!

Please enjoy this Peace Prayer, also known as the Prayer of St Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. AMEN

There are many wonderful resources and angles connecting spirituality, wellness, and overall efforts to be a good person. These things make us healthier and help us cope with life and manage stress. Trying to include as much possible has delayed this post from publication. Instead, it's just a happy mishmash for you to enjoy!

Of course there is something from nutritionfacts.org!

Helping, Generosity, Sharing, and Giving Boost Wellness

How Generosity May Help You Be Happier and Live Longer (video)

Live happily for a long time with the Blue Zones!

“People who pay attention to their spiritual side have lower rates of cardiovascular disease, depression, stress, and suicide, and their immune systems seem to work better … To a certain extent, adherence to a religion allows them to relinquish the stresses of everyday life to a higher power,” says Dan Buettner, Blue Zones founder and National Geographic Fellow.

The Halo Effect of Sacred Spaces - Blue Zones (article)

Dean Ornish is a physician and researcher who could basically be called the father of how our lifestyle changes our DNA, often focused heavily on diet. His talk here has a different twist focusing on the importance of interconnectedness:

Dr. Dean Ornish on the importance of interconnectedness | CNN

Kindland is a program with a mission to encourage empathy, kindness, respect, and compassion. It began in Cleveland, Ohio, and has become a nationwide effort! Challenge yourself or your kids right now by joining today! There is a special program going on until August 22, 2025.

Summer of Kindness | valuesinaction

10 Ways to be a Good Citizen in Kindland and Spread Kindness

Kindness Activities to Check Off for the Summer of Kindness Challenge

This summer, I stopped at a community fair booth that said "Pray with us!" because I love to pray. They offered free books and the one that caught my eye said "Habits from America's Longest Living People"! One of the five Blue Zones is from the Unites States: the Seventh Day Adventists. Blue Zones have many people living past 100 years (centenarians).

Habits that Heal: Habits from America’s Longest Living People: unknown author: 9780996338004: Amazon.com: Books

Fresh-You Posts about Related Topics

Nature

12 Benefits of Being in Nature and the Outdoors

Blue Zones

Blue Zones and More! Live Long and Live Well!

Gratitude

Goodness of Gratitude: 7 Awesome Benefits!

Meditation

Simple Meditation Video from Deepak Chopra

Kindness

All You Need is Love

Forgiveness

Fantastic Feelings From Forgiveness

Mindfulness

Mindfulness Made Easy

Love, Resilience

Fresh-You Nutrition, Fitness, and Wellness: Healthy High Anyone?

Breathing

Close Your Mouth and Save Your Life!

Yoga

Yoga Benefits for All AND Cosmic Kids Yoga!

Being Present

Don't Zone Out - Harmful to your Happiness

Life Can Be a Ray of Sunshine Even in Darkness

Lent Ideas

Ideas for Lent

24 Ideas for Lent and Beyond

Prayer App

Hallow from Heaven

Simple Meditation Video from Deepak Chopra

Want to feel amazingly peaceful and achieve all of your lifelong dreams!  When you have (or MAKE) time, watch this quick (15 min) video and give it a try! Deepak is an awesome teacher, so knowledgeable and peaceful! He has written a multitude of powerful books that apply to everyone's life, from parenting to health to success in your career!  Learn a bit about the law of attraction and healing meditation.

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