A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:34
Prayer
Lord,
Help me to love others as You love us, selflessly and abundantly.
Amen
Reflective Question
How can we share this same selfless love in our relationships and daily interactions?
#Love #TheBible #Valentine’sDay #Spirituality #Meditation
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
Joy in the Present Moment
How often do we reminisce about the past or worry about the future? Too often, it seems. Life moves so fast that we barely make time for the present. Yet, isn’t that where joy truly resides?
Joy isn’t hiding—it’s simply overlooked. We rush through life, consumed by work, errands, and endless to-dos, forgetting to pause and ask, Where is joy?
Joy is:
In the scent of a flower.
In the warmth of a smile.
In the sound of laughter.
In the stillness of the morning.
Joy is found when we slow down. Let’s challenge ourselves to pause, even for a moment. Here’s an idea. The next time we head to our car, let’s try this:
Open the door, but stop before getting in.
Look around.
What do we see?
What do we smell?
What do we hear?
Let’s fully embrace the present. Take a deep breath, close our eyes, and express gratitude. These fleeting moments hold the power to uplift and renew us. They whisper, Rejoice!
The Apostle Paul offers a profound reminder in Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” This scripture calls us to find joy in all moments, regardless of circumstances. It encourages us to anchor our joy in God, the ultimate source of all joy. By finding comfort and strength in our faith, we can appreciate our blessings.
Here are a few simple practices to help us find joy in the present moment:
* Name 3 things we are thankful for.
* Fully engage in conversations around us.
* Take time to appreciate small things like nature, music, or a cup of coffee.
* Spend time with God. Pray and reflect. Be still.
This January, let’s take a moment to reconnect with the present. It’s easy. Each day, do a five sense check-in. Go outside or look out the window. What catches our eye? What do we hear? What can we touch? What scents are in the air? What do we taste? These ordinary moments may lead to the extraordinary.
Let the joy of new beginnings warm our hearts, fill us with hope, and inspire us to find joy in the present!
#January #Joy #5Senses #BeinthePresent #IandThouReflections #NewBeginnings
A new year marks a fresh start. A gift for those of us seeking to wipe the slate clean. Right?
It is a gift to take a breath and start all over again. This time, we can cultivate the wisdom we acquired from the past to forge new roads for the future. Perhaps even paving the way for personal growth and self-discovery.
As these roads take us in new directions, let’s not walk. Let’s dance! Let’s seize each day and open ourselves up to new opportunities. Each one being a potential source of joy and excitement.
When Opportunity Knocks
When the door knocks, let’s open it and welcome it with open arms. Whatever that or who that may be. Let’s embrace what life has to offer with joy and excitement.
Let’s find joy in each day. We can discover God’s compassion with each new day. We just need to look. Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” These verses underscore God’s mercy and faithfulness, offering us a fresh start each day. Just as the dawn brings new light, so does God’s grace bring hope and joy.
In Isaiah 43:19, we find the promise of divine guidance and transformation: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. This scripture reminds us that even when we feel lost or stuck, God can create new opportunities and provide clarity as we move forward.
As we journey through January, let us hold fast to these promises.
This January, let’s take a moment each day to recognize the opportunities for for joy that surround us. Grab a notebook or a journal and begin writing one joy each day.
Let the joy of new beginnings warm our hearts and fill us with hope and inspire us to dance!
#NewBeginnings #January #IandThouReflections #Joy
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
What is Your Vision for 2025?
Life is messy, and getting side-tracked can derail us from reaching the goals we set for ourselves.
How often do we say we will do something and then never follow through? Why does that happen?
Let me tell you a short story.
One of my Facebook friends posted a picture of the vision board she created last night with friends. How awesome is that?
It got me thinking about my own experience.
You might be skeptical—I was, too, when I made my first vision board a few years ago. Yet, when I look back at it now, I realize I’ve accomplished all but one goal, and that last one is in process.
I challenge you to take twenty minutes and list three goals you want to accomplish this year. Write them down.
Here’s where you can get creative. Use plain paper or splurge on a fancy frame. Write with a pen or cut-out pictures, colorful shapes, or magazine clippings. Think kindergarten—it doesn’t have to look professional. In fact, it needs to only be seen by you and anyone you want to share it with.
Then, here is the crucial step, put it somewhere where you can see it often. I had mine on a shelf and then moved it to a window sill where I could see it every day. (consciously or sub-consciously)
Remember, your vision board serves as a visual reminder of what you’re working toward.
So, what’s your vision for 2025? Let’s make it happen!
Where did I start? I started with “GLORIFY GOD.”
Vision Board
#HappyNewYear #VisionBoard #Reflections #Goals #IandThouReflections #ThePaisleyFrog #LifeJourney
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
The Spirit of Topaz
O Spirit of Topaz,
Speak to us.
Grace us with your luminescent presence.
Reds, yellows, blues, and browns,
Illuminate a beacon of seasonal warmth.
Soothe our souls, you mighty warrior,
From the Baltic Sea to the ancient Red Sea.
Purify, sanctify, and sustain us, we pray.
Release your powers and cleanse us,
From unhealthy attachments that swirl around.
Guide us to a place of emotional equilibrium and inner peace.
Robust in your resilience,
From translucent to transparent,
Infuse us with calmness, truth, and clarity,
To heal our broken hearts.
We ask, O Spirit, to help us discern,
Thy wisdom to which you impart.
Energize us with compassion,
As we attune ourselves to the world around us.
Set us free from fears that bind,
Let faith and forgiveness bloom within.
Lead us to the path that shimmers,
Guide us toward eternity.
Have you ever felt cursed?
Or that your family heaped baggage onto you?
Intergenerational curses have a profound impact on the family. These cycles, often perpetuated unintentionally, can manifest in various forms. This can include domestic violence – a cycle rooted in power and control. Or addiction. Or incarceration. Or alcoholism. Or mental illness. Or a host of other issues like depression, anger, or anxiety.
A Blessing or a Curse?
What type of family do you have?
Did you grow up feeling loved, wanted, and cared for?
Or did you grow up feeling like a burden? Like your parents were going through the motions but didn’t want you around?
Today, we want to break the chains. We want to embrace love, empathy, and resilience. By understanding and addressing the roots of these challenges, we pave a path to healing. And healing leads to transformation. Which ensures that our legacy is one of strength and compassion. Let’s free ourselves from the shadows of the past.
1 in 4 people are estranged from a family member.
Psychologytoday dot com
1 in 3 women and 1 in 10 men have experienced domestic violence.
40-50% of marriages end in divorce.
-National Center for Health Research
-American Psychological Association
There is no denying that the family unit has disintegrated over the past several decades. This piece is a call to:
Educate.
Create awareness.
Take action.
We must confront the intergenerational curses affecting our families head-on. No sidestepping this issue anymore. Because our parents’ choices continue to scar us and future generations. We’ve inherited patterns of abandonment. Lack of belonging. Pain, anxiety, and dysfunction. Including the cycle of sexual, emotional, physical, or financial abuse. These issues must be addressed with honesty and with an open heart.
We must acknowledge that our ancestors were flawed. Which contributed to our parents’ and our own imperfections.
The Inherited Legacy
Our families are like ancient trees with roots deep in tradition. We inherit not only physical traits but also emotional legacies. Perhaps your great-grandfather struggled with addiction. Or your grandmother’s unfulfilled dreams haunted her. These experiences shape how we perceive the world and interact with others. Thus, our childhood experiences have affected every single one of our relationships. Past, present, and future. Unless we break the cycle.
Breaking the Cycle
Recognizing generational curses is the first step to breaking free. It’s not about blame; it’s about understanding. By shedding light on these patterns, we empower ourselves to make different choices.
Actions: Choose forgiveness and open communication. Seek financial literacy and create a new path to end the plague of economic struggles. Read and educate yourself on the cycle of power and control. Learn how behaviors can affirm or minimalize.
Understanding the cycle of domestic violence can stop it in its tracks. Power and control perpetuate abuse across generations. Recognizing this cycle enables us to intervene, break the chain, and offer support. Ask, “Who abused your abuser?” Realizing that your abuser was also most likely abused fosters compassion and understanding.
Hope and Healing
Let’s rise above the issues that threaten the fabric of the family. One step at a time.
American Family Day is on the first Sunday in August. It invites us to rewrite our family narratives.
Actions: Start by replacing curses with blessings. Reach out to an estranged relative, or a relative that harmed you. Listen without judgment, and offer compassion. Seek therapy or counseling if needed.
Healing isn’t linear; it’s a journey of small victories and setbacks. But with each step forward, we honor ourselves and our ancestors. By creating a brighter future.
As we celebrate family today, let’s break the chains of generational curses. Let love, empathy, and resilience be our legacy. One that transcends time and transforms lives.
#AmericanFamilyDay #Family #Compassion #Forgiveness #Listen #Therapy #Relationships #Divorce #PowerandControl #Estrangement
I and Thou Reflections 