More Power to You


What do you think of when you think about power? Do you think of those who hold high places in government? Do you think of the rich and famous? Power is only powerful when used for the benefit of all. Here is what the Bible has to say about power: 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, Acts  1:8 ESV

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 NIV

 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

 

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, Colossians 1:11 NIV

And from my poem “All Things Are Possible”…When you call on the power that’s inherent in you…

So, what do you think of when you think about power? Do you think of you?

 

Three Monarchs


Nature is such a wonderful reminder of God’s handiwork in our world, and indeed of God, himself. The other day I noticed three monarch butterflies fluttering through the air reminding me of my three greatest friends, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Happy Sunday.

Image result for monarch butterfly

Own Your Power


There is power and then there is power. The most powerful people are those who use their power for the good of all, not for their own self aggrandizement.

Most of us don’t feel that we have any power over anything until something catches our attention to prove otherwise. In my case it was the Bible’s many scriptures introducing me to my power. Please read on.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; Acts 1:8 NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..Ephesians 3:20 NIV

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength. Proverbs 24:5 NIV

…being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance …Colossians 1:11

And then there is my poem:

“All Things Are Possible”.

All things are possible

To those who believe

To those who have faith

As a small mustard seed

All goals can be reached

All dreams can come true

When you call on the Power

Inherent in you

All life can be lived

To the fullest extent

All wishes fulfilled

As you know that He meant

All things are possible

To those who believe

To those who have faith

As a small mustard seed.

©1984

And so, the moral of today’s post is to own your power.

 

 

Who is the Wind Beneath Our Wings?


In this Season of Lent, it is comforting to realize that the Cross was not for nothing…true to His word, Jesus, after his death, sent the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16 New International Version (NIV).  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever…

I’ve always believed it to be the Holy Spirit who is the wind beneath my wings. I still do. Happy Sunday.

Seeing God in Each Other


It is a well known fact that no one has ever seen God…or is it? Sometimes I get caught up in the whys and hows of the Bible and have always been intrigued by Genesis 1:27 about God making man in His image. 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

The Bible then goes on to describe how God is in us. The following scriptures taken from the NIV (New International Version) attest to just that:

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 1 John 4:15

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you...2 Corinthians 13:5

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 1 Corinthians 6:19

On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. (Jesus) John 14:20

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 1 John 3:9

And finally:

New Living Translation
But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God! Genesis 33:10 (Jacob speaking to his brother, Esau)

Here’s looking at you, God!

Image result for photos of churches

Happy Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spirit in the Sky


While having breakfast this morning, this song came on the radio and before I knew it I was dancing around the kitchen with raisin toast in one hand and coffee in the other. It was a 1969 hit by Norman Greenbaum and he sings about where he’s going when he dies.  Have a listen and see if you don’t find yourself doing a happy step. Happy Weekend.

Exploring Spirituality (Part 2)


As promised yesterday, here is the second part of Inna Segal’s internet article on spirituality.

. Connection

People who say that as you become more spiritual, life becomes more serious; have a lack of understanding of real spirituality. The more connected you become to the spirit within you, the lighter things get, as you develop an ability to laugh at yourself more and to recognize that this world is a playground for exploration.

You also realize that joy, happiness, fun and laughter are integral parts of your life and are necessary for your overall wellbeing.

2. Fun

I would often say that healing has to be fun for it to work. The more fun something is, the less resistance we have to experiencing it. When there is no resistance, life, wellbeing, joy, wonderful opportunities and abundance can flow effortlessly into our lives.

3. Freedom

The more spiritual you become, the more freedom you feel to be yourself and to allow others to be themselves. Your need to criticize others, dramatically decreases and compassionate understanding takes its place. You will also become softer with yourself and the people around you. You may even find yourself drawn to people you would usually have little interest in. Thus, you unlock the gates to the most fascinating, expansive, delicious connections with others and love, care and sweetness you could only dream of. Synchronicities become a regular phenomenon and life becomes a real adventure.

How fantastic would it be to wake up every day and know that anything is possible? You may meet a person who will change your life, receive an amazing job offer, discover an important piece of information, receive a positive surprise or have a deep spiritual experience.

4. Mystery

There is a well-known saying that ‘spirit works in mysterious ways.’ Wouldn’t you want to be part of the mystery, knowing that everyday holds an opportunity to transcend the ordinary and enter the realm of the extraordinary? The most beautiful thing is that you don’t have to work out how things will happen, just be open to amazing opportunities entering your life.

5. Different perspective

As you come into a spiritual communion with your Divine essence, you begin to attract people into your life, who will have a deeper connection and an understanding of who you are and what is important to you. Thus, you may expand your circle of friends, from people who are close to your age and your experience of life, to people from all walks of life who will offer different perspectives than what you know.

Integrating spirituality into your life is a unique process, which requires time, connection with yourself and deep and profound exploration.

A way that you know that you are moving forward in your life is that you feel that you are growing and expanding.

“I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It’s just that the translations have gone wrong.” ~ John Lennon

As I said yesterday, I believe we can glean little nuggets of learning from other people, no matter what path they are on. It is one of my pleasures in life to explore spirituality.

 

Exploring Spirituality


There is an abundance of things to write about but they don’t always come to mind when a writer needs them. So we go searching for something to write about. Or, like me, sit in a chair and say, “Okay, Muse, let’s write something.” God, Spirit and Jesus also get this request from me on many occasions. Yesterday I went searching, and found the following.

It is about spirituality in our everyday lives, which came about by researching this topic. Following is an article I found. It is on the Internet and was written by Inna Segal in December, 2013. Some may think I am straying from my Christian principles here but I believe everyone has some nugget of worth to teach and as long as we remain open-minded and true to our beliefs, each nugget could enhance our spiritual lives in some way. The article is called “The Benefit of Integrating Spirituality into Your Daily Life”.

“In order to experience everyday spirituality, we need to remember that we are spiritual beings spending some time in a human body.” ~ Barbara de Angelis

Exploring your spiritual, deeper, more mysterious side can be one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life. Spirituality can give you clarity, vision, and guidance where you had confusion, disappointment and lack of purpose. It can awaken your senses and arouse your intuition.

Spiritual truths can answer many important questions and give you the ability to see things beyond the surface. Everything begins to take on a deeper significance and your choices no longer stem from ignorance of the universal spiritual laws.

Rather than blaming everyone and everything for what you do not have you begin to examine your thought patterns, emotions, behaviors and overall ways of relating to the world. You become aware that as you shift your perspective, your experience of the world can transform speedily and drastically.

I think this is a good start and tomorrow I will post the rest of her article. I think you’ll like it…or not.

My own spirituality does, and always has come from the “still small voice” of God, through prayer, scripture and worship…and I never know from whence that voice will come.

 

Another Helpful Prayer


Ralph Waldo Trine (1866-1958) was known, among other things, as a New Thought author. Having said that, part of his education included Knox College. Of his many books, In Tune With the Infinite is the only one I have read and refer to often. It includes the prayer I am going to share today. This prayer has brought me much peace, courage and strength over the years. Take from it what you will.

My Father in Heaven, Infinite Spirit of life and love and wisdom and power, in whom I live and move and have my being, whence cometh my help, manifest Thyself in me. Help me to open myself to the highest wisdom, and insight, and love and power, that I may serve Thee and my fellow men and all my fellow creatures faithfully, and that I may have the divine guidance and care, and that all my needs be supplied.

Oh Christ within, enfold and lead me and reign supreme, that the one life that is my life, I may realize and manifest ever more fully. I am strong in the Infinite Spirit of life and love and wisdom and power. I have and shall have the divine guidance and care; for it is the Father that worketh in me–my Father works and I work. Amen.

Blessings.

 

Set Me Free


Don Merritt’s post this morning, about starting the day with prayer, brought back a memory of a prayer I wrote in 1996 while wondering what God was up to in my life after a home accident I had suffered. I was in pain, miserable, bound in casts and slings and felt totally hopeless and helpless. Here, then is the prayer I prayed out of desperation. It changed my whole outlook and made what I thought of as unbearable to bearable.

SET ME FREE

Oh, Spirit, set me free

to be what I am meant to be;

let loose the bonds of misery.

Oh, Garden of Gethsemane,

the place of pain–yet hope, despair,

was mingled in that garden air

reminding me I am set free

to be what I am meant to be.

©1996

What is your prayer this morning?