Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
Proverbs 10:12
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Help us to choose love over hatred. Fill our hearts with compassion.
Amen
Reflection Question:
How can you show Christ-like love to someone who may not expect it or feel they deserve it?
#Love #TheBible #Valentine’sDay #Spirituality #Meditation
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Grant me more patience and help me show more kindness to others.
Amen
Reflective Question
In what areas of my life can I practice more patience and kindness?
#Love #Valentine’sDay #Spirituality #Meditation #14DaysofLove
Over the next fourteen days leading into Valentine’s Day, I invite you to explore what The Bible says about love. Whether you believe The Bible is the Word of God or not, wisdom can be found on each page.
A verse, prayer, and a reflective question will be posted to meditate on.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5
Prayer
Almighty God,
Help me to understand what love means and how I can love you and others with my entire being.
Amen
Reflective Question
What specific actions can I take today to show my love for God? And others?
#Love #TheBible #Valentine’sDay #Spirituality #Meditation #14DaysofLove
A little story about a girl named Penny.
Penny is hardly described as a political person, which is ironic since she holds a master’s degree in public administration. She took several government courses and found them interesting at the time. But that is another story.
Today, Penny wants to write about how she is dealing with the polarization of political views where she lives. It could be scary to some.
An Alien in a Foreign Land
Yet, for Penny…She is not of this world. She is an alien in a foreign land. At least, that is how she has felt since the day she was born.
Penny’s hope is in her faith.
Her faith drives her to calmness.
To hopefulness.
To gratitude.
How Awesome is the Universe?
She can’t imagine how any human can question how the universe was formed. It didn’t just happen. Did it?
Penny spent many waking hours wondering how the universe was formed. How the stars got to be in the sky, and why the sun doesn’t fall out of the sky.
For Penny, the universe is how it is. It is awesome, as is nature itself.
Penny had a few experiences that made her think twice about coincidences.
Like when she was in a car accident, and the car flipped over three times. She and her two friends walked away with minor scrapes and bruises.
Or when she had $3 and change and didn’t know how she would buy groceries. She had to decide: “Do I pay my bills or eat?” Then, a $200 check arrived in the mail, which was the exact amount to cover the difference between her inflows and outflows. For two years! The check came each month, and she could buy fresh food for dinner for her and her youngest child. Her older child chose to live with his father and not speak to her for over a decade.
So, you may ask, how could Penny have faith when her kid didn’t talk to her?
Or that her marriage failed her after repeatedly praying that it wouldn’t?
Good questions!
Life is Funny
Life is funny that way.
It doesn’t always go the way you expected. And there lies the rub.
Penny believes we must place our whole selves into the hands of our Creator and follow the inner voice in our hearts. It’s pretty simple. Although it took her a long time to figure it out.
Penny’s prayer went like this in 2015:
“Almighty God, I have tried to find a job to no avail. I fully surrender to your will. I will expand my job search to a national level and go where you lead.”
A few months later, she was on her way to a foreign land. (the midwest)
Now, let’s get back to the day at hand. The day after the Election of 2024.
Just like any other day. A day where Penny will put her trust in the Almighty God and go where she is led.
Today, her prayer is:
“Almighty Creator of the Universe, You define the trajectory of the world. I fully surrender to your will. I will go where you lead. I trust you will give me the strength and energy for what lies ahead.”
What is your prayer today?
#Polarization #Election 2024 #Faith #Prayer
Meditative Coloring Soothes the Soul.
When we feel depleted, it’s easier to turn to God. Let’s try to turn to God every day!
Remember that God’s mighty hand leads us through life’s twists and turns and provides us access to the calm, gentle dwelling Spirit within us.
Focusing on the colors and shading helps the brain to disengage from the world. It allows us to invite God to calm our thoughts and engage in quiet reflection. Amid natural disasters, remember to take a break and breathe. Breathe in God’s goodness and exhale the worry and fear.
Green Pastures
Breathe in God’s Goodness.
Hold. Exhale Worry and Fear.
Find the Peace Within.
#GreenPastures#Reflections#MeditativeColoring#Peace#Love
Divine Healer,
You are a mighty God,
Who streams a mighty arch of colors across the sky.
You are a mighty God,
Who stirs the mighty pot of gold.
You are a mighty God,
Who directs the radiant sun to rise and fall.
As you do, the countless stars to shine.
[pause]
You are a mighty God,
Who rises from the grave,
To bring us love and life.
You are a mighty God,
Who feeds the thousands with five loaves and two fish.
You are a mighty God,
Who goes after the one lost sheep.
[pause]
You are a mighty God,
Who knows what lives within the sanctum of our weary hearts.
You are a mighty God,
Who heals the broken-hearted, no matter how broken we are.
[pause]
You are a mighty God,
We ask you for divine healing.
Healing for our children.
Healing for our families.
Healing for ourselves.
Healing for others.
Healing for our country.
Healing for the world.
O Divine Healer,
Heal us, we pray.
Amen
#Healing #MightyGod #Prayer #PrayerforHealing
The Spirt of the Diamond
O mighty Spirit of the Diamond,
Cast your spell on us, humble mortals.
Majestic heavens embrace your power,
Where galaxies collide, and stars ignite.
Reveal to us your universal secrets,
Magnetic forces under your command,
Guiding planets in their cosmic dance,
Around the blazing orb of day.
Pull us toward the gravitational center,
Infuse us with your holy Spirit,
Impart your wisdom to us, we pray,
Renounce the demons, cleanse our souls.
Mesmerize us with incandescent brilliance,
Chip away our dark and hardened shells,
Revealing the authenticity within,
An unadulterated mind, free to soar.
Your flawlessness radiates purity,
Summoning Angels from realms on high,
To join us in celestial harmony,
Welcoming us with such delight.
Sanctify us with your transformative power,
Pour forth the nectar of the gods,
Nourish us on this spiritual journey
From now until the end of time.
#Diamond #Poetry #Sacredstone #April #Birthstone #Spirituality
Winter layers begin to shed as the days of spring arrive. Leaves are raked to make room for the newness to unfold. Seedlings start to push through the dirt, and sprigs of life appear. Leaves turn green, and so does grass. The sun shines brighter, and the days are longer.
Today, we will explore ways to simplify and prioritize our spirituality.
Simplify and Prioritize
Identify Distractions
Spiritual clutter can hinder our intimacy with God. Like messy desk, a messy soul impedes focus and hinders our relationship with God.
What is distracting you from your spiritual walk? Is it social media? The busyness of life? Worldy pursuits?
Release Burdens
We often carry emotional baggage that hinders our closeness to God. We harbor ill-will. Bitterness, unforgiveness, guilt, shame, the list goes on. We can release these burdens by forgiving ourselves first. Then, we can forgive others. Remember that forgiving doesn’t necessarily mean forgetting or being a doormat. It means to forgive, as God commands. So, go ahead and release grudges and hurts. Let go of resentment and replace it with gratitude and grace. Detach from anything and anyone that hinders your spiritual journey.
Fellowship
Engage with others who have similar faith and belief systems. Join groups where you can be authentic and share what is in your heart. Make a point to have meaningful conversations with friends, family, and others. Fellowship provides encouragement and accountability. It’s like having God in your midst. More so than if you were not practicing your faith.
Easter is a time of forgiveness and redemption. It is time to reflect on the Cross.
Take time to reflect on God’s…
Love
Grace
Redemption
Use this season to turn toward God.
Decluttering the soul is an ongoing process. Be intentional, seek God’s guidance, and allow grace to transform you. You’ll experience a deeper connection with God as you simplify and prioritize.
Remember, be patient with yourself. As you align your thoughts with God’s truth, you’ll experience greater peace, clarity, and spiritual growth. In this season of renewal, may our hearts, minds, and words reflect the beauty of spring—a fresh start, growth, and the hope of resurrection.
#SpringCleaning #Decluttering #DeclutteringYourSoul #Simplify #Prioritize #Easter
Fresh air.
Sunshine.
Spring flowers.
It’s time to renew our hearts, minds, and spirits. Our hearts contain our emotions, wants, and feelings. Our minds conceptualize thoughts and feelings, and our words express them.
Today, we will explore what and how we say words and the impact they have on the world.
Clean Your Words
Words. They can build you up or tear you down.
Recently, I attended a webinar on estrangement. The speaker highlighted how overwhelming experiences distort our narratives, often leading to blame. When hurt or overwhelmed, we instinctively seek someone to hold responsible. But here’s the twist: in that state of overwhelm, we miss crucial details and context, creating a distorted story. This distortion fuels exaggerated or minimized blame, resulting in multiplying misunderstandings.
The vicious cycle continues: clouded thinking, jumbled emotions, and a lack of clarity. We lose confidence and retreat inward. The antidote? Talking about our experiences with an empathetic listener. This opens space for our “distorted” story to become a “mature” story. One that is appreciated, acknowledged, and affirming of the truth.
Be Choosy With Your Words
Just as God spoke the universe into existence, our words shape our reality. If we choose life-giving words, we can encourage, affirm, and inspire others.
Encourage others.
Affirm their worth.
Inspire hope.
When we speak positive words, we create a more positive atmosphere around us. Instead of complaining or criticizing, find ways to uplift and inspire. Replace negatives with affirmations.
“I can do this!” Or “I’m learning!”
Be Mindful
Gossip, negativity, and complaining clutter our minds and our environment. They drain our energy and deplete us. Let’s try to be more mindful of what we say and how we say it.
Be Christ-like
Our words should reflect truth and love. How did Jesus speak? He spoke with kindness yet firmness, honestly yet with compassion. Let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no.
When we speak from a place of love, our words become the healing balm of Gilead. Love is our foundation. It is solid, like a rock.
Be Redemptive
Choosing affirming words is redemptive, not only to ourselves but to others. It is a powerful spiritual practice that involves intentionally selecting the words that come out of our mouths.
Appreciate
Acknowledge
Affirm
Speak what you desire into the universe. Say positive words aloud. Speak affirmations and declarations to yourself and to others. Watch how these words will change your life and the life around those you love.
“I am worthy.” “You are worthy.” “I am loved.” “You are loved.” “I am strong.” “You are strong.” “I can do anything.” “You can do anything.”
Let’s declutter our mouths by purging harmful words and replacing them with life-giving expressions. Go ahead and declare blessings over your life and the lives of others. Take a moment to reflect on your most recent conversations. Are you contributing positivity to those you talk to?
Remember our words have a ripple effect and they impact our own hearts and minds, as well as those around us. Choose words that align with your spiritual values, bringing light, love, and truth into our relationships and experiences.
With God, life’s “overwhelming” experiences can be less overwhelming when we meet God on our daily walk.
#SpringCleaning #SpiritualDecluttering #Decluttering #CleanYourWords #BeMindful
Spring is a great time of year for spring cleaning. We need to clean our minds as we open our windows and let the fresh air in. Do you agree? Our hearts represent our emotions, desires, and affections. On the other hand, our mind stores our thoughts, reasoning, and intellect. It processes information, analyzes, and forms beliefs.
In terms of regular clutter, most of us understand that too much clutter leads to disorganization. Like a desk, for example.
What does your desk look like? Is it messy, like mine used to be? Or is it neatly cleared from clutter? Are papers stored in files or loosely strewn all over? How about your stapler? Is it on the desk? Or in the drawer, out of sight?
If a messy desk can prevent you from focusing on the task at hand, think about what spiritual clutter will prevent you from doing.
So, go ahead, get the scrub brush out and…
Clean Your Mind
Hear the 4-Star General bellow a command?
“YOU. ARE. DISMISSED. RETURN TO YOUR BARRACKS.”
Then, a siren goes off. The loudspeaker echoes through the stillness of the night.
“TAKE COVER. ENEMY FIRE”
Wow! That would make me a bit worried! Then, how can you protect yourself?
Good question!
Acknowledge Your Mind is a Battleground
Your mind is a battleground where spiritual warfare takes place. Negative thoughts, doubts, and lies can clutter your thinking. These mental strongholds hinder spiritual growth.
Identify Your Struggles
Identify areas where you struggle. Fear, anxiety, insecurity. Recognize them as targets for decluttering. So you can bring every thought into alignment with God’s love.
Make Time For God
The mind is noisy. At least mine is, most of the time! It is constantly gathering and processing information. Yet, we must allow ourselves to be quiet. Stillness permits us to hear God. Spending time in God’s presence, meditating on His Word, and surrendering ourselves to God will transform our minds.
Say Goodbye To Toxic Thought Patterns
Ask God to reveal any toxic thought patterns. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and the courage to confront negative thinking.
Fear often originates in the mind, but it affects the heart. It paralyzes, steals peace, and hinders trust. Try to replace fear with trust. When fear-based thoughts arise, intentionally shift your focus. Remind yourself that God is faithful. Recall past instances where God showed up. Trust that God is with you even when you are uncertain. Declutter your mental space and align your thinking with God’s promises. Reading Psalms is a great place to start.
Change Your Viewing Habits
The mind consumes information. What we read, watch, and listen to. It also shapes our beliefs, whether we think that or not.
Be intentional about what you feed your mind.
Avoid toxic content such as news, harmful entertainment, and gossip. Instead, try uplifting, inspirational content. Fill your mind with God’s Word and positive influences.
Allow God to transform your mind. Romans 12:2 encourages us: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” We can do this by reading, studying, praying, and reflecting.
Decluttering is an ongoing process. As you align your thoughts with God’s love, you’ll experience more peace, clarity, and spiritual growth.
#SpringCleaning #Decluttering #DeclutteringYourMind #MakeTimeForGod
I and Thou Reflections 