Watch What Happens

This time has been a time of awakening. Awakening to myself. Awakening to resting in God. Awakening to an awareness of His movement. Oh yeah, we say it, but it is an awesome thing when you can recognize that it is God moving and not anyone else, including you.

Friends have lost parents, yet others have found one another. Transition. And the transition should leave us closer to just a little more positive self. Even if the transition rids us of baggage that should have been gone, allow your self to breathe. allow yourself to move closer to your destiny.

Now we know that this walk should be one of transformation, and it is, if you allow God's will to become your will. That was Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, His will to be the Father's will. (Shall I add "at all cost"?) God's will, at all cost, by any means necessary. Try that on for a minute. See how it works. Take it one day at a time, and watch what happens. Peace.

Stretch

There is so much going on around us. So many people are wondering what will happen to them in this economic downturn. I can tell you - you will survive. And you will learn to live anew. Things may not be the way that you had hoped for or the way you once knew, but if you allow God to direct you - You will survive. Who knows? This may be your time of greatest growth. Don't miss what God is doing. When you hear the news that another company has gone under pray for the workers. When you hear that you no longer have take a moment (we are human). But do not stay in that moment, look around, be still, and listen for God's voice. This is an opportune time to look at your gifts. Even if your mode of income appears to be strong look at finding ways of having multiple streams of income (as my sister says). Use the gifts you have to stretch your means of income.

The times do not have to be a rough as we make them. It is an opportune time to reach out to other. We all have a role to play. I feel very strongly that God is giving all of us a chance to love one another, to reach out to one another across so many human boundaries during this time.

Keep in mind that your plans are not the real ones. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. YOu will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jer. 29:11-13 NIV).

Giving Up

Donny Hathaway sang quite a while ago "Giving up is hard to do when you really love someone." Let me flip that a little as we approach this Lenten season. I think giving up should be easier because of the One who loves us. The Divine loved us so much that He gave His life so we could live. I've been pondering this upcoming Lenten season and why we as Believers give up something, let go of something, why we should have a change of heart during this season. It is to sacrifice. I'm not going into what that means, but it appears that we all could give up a few things. And it is not to pick back up, but to close this season in celebration of a life transforming.

I believe that the turmoil we face as a nation, as people is a chance. Here me clearly. I believe that God is giving us a chance to reach out to one another, to love one another. And it starts with each one making a change toward loving one another.

Our attitude toward one another should reflect love. So giving up a selfish heart would go a long way toward loving one another. Giving up unforgiveness would benefit us mentally, physically, and spiritually. Giving up fear would release a multitude of negativity.

Can we prepare to do a new thing? To encounter the Divine by loving as He demonstrated?

Cleaning Up

Why is it that we cannot be real with others? Many times we miss an opportunity to get it right because we said or did something that we really didn't mean say or do, but we don't know how to remedy it - for so many reasons. And that missed opportunity just piles up as junk storage in a basement, or garage, or vacant room. Soon the junk has so covered everything and we keep saying we will clear it up or we will get rid of it, but we don't. And truth becomes lost because of the junk.

As Believers we should not have to worry about how others may or may attack us. We are covered from those darts, and by the same token, we should not attack them. That is so hard to do, isn't it? Yet it is doable.

Let this new year be a start in cleaning out, getting rid, refreshing. Clean out those areas of things said or done that you though you couldn't undo. Get rid of years of false modesty and martyr image and walk in your true self as in the image of Truth. Refresh your spirit by putting things in proper place. Allow the beauty of who you are to warm your heart. Through Truth find order and peace. Look at John 14:15-17. Shalom!

Have you ever lost time by trying to decide what to do in your life? And you become so bogged down and do nothing? How many times have you lost time just like that? Wow. I know that one. And then there is the age old question of purpose and if you are fulfilling your purpose. Do you know how often you can be just slightly to the side of your purpose - because you heard a portion and you filled in the rest? You didn't wait to get clarity. Oh we do it all the time. This is really a great time to stop, and listen.

My goal - be clear on what I hear, and then move forward without reservation.

Live in Peace

A new year! A new day, and new chance to do better than the day before. This is a moment to seize and then to squeeze every drop of life from it. This is a chance to live without remorse, regret, unforgiveness. It is a time to let go. Eckhart Tolle observed how ducks fight. "When they get into a fight, it is never long. Then they separate, floating off in opposite directions. Each duck flaps its wings vigorously a few times, which releases surplus energy built up during the fight. After they flap their wings, they float on peacefully, as if nothing had ever happened" (Tolle 2005, 137).

Now we know that there will be fights and spiritual battles to be won. Can you, this time, let that last fight go? Shake it off! Let the built up energy release so that you can move into your peace. Let it go!! You cannot hold on if you are going to progress. Live in peace!

Spiritual Warfare

A time of understanding. What is Spiritual Warfare? What does it mean? How does it involve you? What is your response? At the end of the class you should be able to understand better your position.

How are you doing thus far? Studying warfare will bring you under attack from the enemy. It is strongly suggested that you stay in prayer during this time. This class is not for you see demons under every rock. It is for you to become spiritually aware and to allow you more into understanding what for so long has been held in mystery.

How are you doing in your studies so far?