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
In Part 1, we discovered that Halloween is a fun, family activity full of delight and sweets. Today, we will continue our post with the transitions from the innocence of youth to the darkness of teenagers and beyond.
The Transition from Innocence into the Dark Abyss
Teenagers are another breed. They dress in dark, scary costumes and carry pillowcases clustered in bunches as they “trick-or-treat.” Sometimes downright frightful.
The once light-hearted fun transitions to a darker tone of fear. As often depicted in horror movies, haunted houses, and scary costumes.
This shift causes us to pause and ask:
What is Halloween?
The origins of Halloween are rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It marked a time when the boundary between the living and the dead was thin. Like a veil.
This festival involved lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off roaming spirits. Hence, it evolved into the more commercialized secular day we call Halloween. Its supernatural roots still linger with a sense of dark, demonic elements.
Darkness Can’t Exist without Light
Halloween can veer into the demonic easily. Yet, it also allows us to reflect on the light. For darkness cannot exist without light. It can be a time to reflect on deeper spiritual truths and the enduring light of faith. For those who feel uneasy about Halloween, you are not alone. Faith and spirituality offer a power counterbalance.
Agree?
The Light & Love of God
When we emphasize the light and love of God, our positive values can be transformative. We can love our community and be the hands and feet of Jesus by shining God’s light on others. Churches and faith-based organizations can host “Harvest Festivals” or “Trunk-or-Treat” events. We can offer safe and wholesome alternatives if we want to change the world. With a bit of motivation and planning, it can be done!
We have a choice.
We can gravitate toward the negative. Or we can gravitate toward the positive.
Our children need to be aware of the dark side of Halloween. They need to be cautious about climbing too far into it. As we try to instill good values in our children, we need to be able to distinguish good from evil. Highlighting goodness over evil is a great place to start.
God’s love and light are for all who seek faith.
Our trust in God overcomes darkness and death.
Thus, Halloween can serve as a metaphorical reminder of this eternal truth.
#Halloween #Love #Light #Faith #FamilyFun
Cobwebs, Witches, Pumpkins, Oh My!
Cobwebs, witches, pumpkins, and tombstones seem to pop up everywhere in October.
Do you see them?
From storefronts and public squares to front lawns all across the country. There is no doubt that Halloween generates considerable sales for retailers.
Children can hardly wait to pick out their costumes as summer fades and fall approaches. It’s become a rite of passage, starting with the Halloween Parade that begins in pre-school. Which, of course, continues in grammar school. And typically ends in middle school.
Pretty as a Pirate
For parents of pre-schoolers, it is a joyous time. Families choose together what their little ones will be for Halloween. More often than not, these young children choose happy and pretty types of costumes.
Would you agree?
Young children pick superheroes, cute animals, or princesses. Which adds a flair of innocence to the holiday.
Then come the parties.
School parties, town parties, and neighbor parties. All preceding the ‘trick-or-treat’ tradition. Where children go from door to door ringing doorbells in the neighborhood. Having fun as they fill their bags with sweets. Children clad in costumes. Parents prompt and prod along the way. They roam the streets with their pumpkin-shaped baskets as parents linger behind.
In Part 2 we will explore the origins of Halloween and the transition from innocent into the dark abyss.
#Halloween #Innocence #Love #Light #Faith #FamilyFun
Green Pastures
Breathe in God’s Goodness.
Hold. Exhale Worry and Fear.
Find the Peace Within.
#GreenPastures #Haiku#Poetry #Peace#Love
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
The Spirit of Peridot
Twinkling stars in the midnight sky,
Whisper secrets from heaven’s gate.
Moonlight glistens on blades of grass,
Captivating vibrant green lusciousness.
Sturdy as volcanic rock, deep in Earth’s mantle,
Billions of years quelling anger, fostering peace.
Cascading abundance to believers,
Spirit of verdant grace, sprinkle olivine dust.
Melting hearts of iron,
Peridot’s spirit lights the path.
Transforming souls one by one,
Guiding through love’s open door.
Freeing us from this mortal world,
The Spirit of the Peridot.
Streets made of silver and gold,
A place to cherish and adore.
#August #Birthstone #Spirit #Peridot #Gem #Love #Heaven #Poetry
If you enjoyed this poem, please like it.
Freedom is one of those words that is hard to describe. Its meaning is unique to each person.
The Cambridge Dictionary describes freedom as:
The condition or right of being able or allowed to do, say, think, etc., whatever you want to, without being controlled or limited.
Such as:
freedom of choice
freedom of speech
freedom of thought
freedom of information
freedom from (condition)
For me, freedom is having peace of mind. It is about feeling safe. And you can’t have freedom without respect.
Respect for property.
Respect for others.
Respect for yourself.
When I think about freedom, it’s not about politics or whether you believe in God. Freedom is the right to live in a society without fear. It also means going home to a place of safety.
So what exactly is freedom for you, and how does it apply to your life?
Imagine a world where kids can be kids. A world where parents love (storge) their children and family members love (philos) each other and feel safe. One where love (eros) does not enter the picture before the brain can mature.
Imagine a world where adults do not inflict their own pains and trauma on their children or younger siblings. Where children can speak openly and honestly without fear of condemnation from their parents, church, or themselves.
Imagine a world where college students can learn and focus on academics without feeling pressure to socialize. Or, if they choose to do so, not to worry about being forced into a situation they can’t get out of.
Feeling helpless is not freedom. Imagine a world where no means no.
Imagine living in a world where spouses speak to one another in kindness. One where respect for one another is essential. It does not stifle. Mutual love encourages freedom.
Freedom to explore.
Freedom to experience.
Freedom to be yourself.
Imagine a world where your partner builds you up instead of tearing you down.
That is what freedom looks like to me.
But let’s get real.
Life is life. Life is made up of imperfect people. People who have been caught in a vicious cycle. People who hurt each other and make mistakes.
How do we sympathize and try to understand their plight?
How do we stand up for ourselves and not harm others?
Do others need to pay for the harm they do to us?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. What does freedom mean to you?
Share your thoughts in the comments below or on social media.
Let’s start a conversation!
#Freedom, #NoMeansNo, #Respect, #Love, #PeaceofMind
I and Thou Reflections 