On Eagle's Wings

Our God is a God of life and being. I can only imagine how it must have been for those people long ago who rejoiced when Jesus came to their city and cried, "Hosanna!" How their hearts swelled with good will and how happily they threw their hats in the air. I can imagine, too, when I look within, how the good will fades, and the rancorous ill will grew into the cry, "Crucify him!"

How capable are we of swinging from praise to denial, from singing to despising? We are not always steady and sure in what we want in our lives and our loyalties.

Yes, we can rejoice when it is time for rejoicing, sing when it is time for singing, and praise when it is time for praising. We can also be grateful that when we forget our Heavenly Father and follow less worthy inclinations ... He does not forget us.

How many times have we been brought back by Him from our erring ways only to be grateful that He did? That His love is as persistent as it is? Let us seek more of a flavor of that kind of love in our lives so that we can be more open to others, more creative and responsive to the beauty and splendor that life can afford.

Since God refuses to give up on us, let us pray that we will refuse to give up on ourselves.

As we move toward the celebration of the great, glad news of Easter, let us lift up our hearts and our whole lives. I've included in this post something I find a meaningful meditation as we enter Holy Week. I hope you do as well.

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Creating a New Me

"The life of every person is like a diary in which we mean to write one story, and write another." (Sir James M. Barrrie / 1860 - 1937, British Playwright)

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We are growing and learning every moment of every day. Regardless of what we have been told, we can and do change with every new experience. Each experience enhances our capabilities by giving us something new to draw upon. Every new capability we discover and develop leads to a new opportunity. As long as we have the capability and an opportunity, there is a new possibility for us to grow and learn something new. Dare not to limit yourselves to only knowing or doing one thing. Take a chance by putting all you know to use. Accept all invitationss to do a new thing and when you do it, celebrate. Move toward you wildest dream, take the labels off your mind and step boldly into your greatness. Think about this if you will - ".....with every new step I create a new me."

Your attitude about who you are and what you have is a very little thing that

makes a very big difference.

- Theodore Roosevelt

Can you see, hear and speak? Can you walk, move around and do things for yourself? Did you eat today? Yesterday? Someday last week? Can you pick up a telephone? Turn on a light? Stick a key in a door and have a place to sleep? Are your feet adequately covered? Do you have something to wear? Are your lungs and kidneys functioning? Can you breathe without assistance? Can you move your hands, arms, legs and do the things you want to do? Is there someone who will help you if you need help? Is there someone from whom you receive love? Is there someone you know who will be there no matter what you've done? Can you laugh when you want to cry? Cry if you need to? Does your mind let you know the difference between the two? Is there a tree you can touch? A flower you can smell? Can you stand in the rays of the sun? Give thanks for every "yes" you can give and remind yourself that you are truly blessed.

Expressions

Would the Creator, with all the love, power and wisdom of the universe, make us all so different and them deem only one right way to get to His kingdom? I would think not. As an expression of the awesome power of the ultimate creative energy, we the people have been blessed to bring forth various expressions. We call it race, culture, tradition and heritage. In essence, who we are collectively is a unique expression of God. No one knows better than He the beauty we bring to life, and He cannot be wrong. As we lift our minds and hearts to know, to be aware and to understand that we are all expressions of the Most High, we will begin to recognize thebeauty of God at our disposal. Our world reflects God's strength as tradition, God's wisdom as culture, God's love as race and ethnicity. Who are we to decide which part of God is best? Let us be reminded God's strength, wisdom, power and love are being expressed as you and me.

Fear Not - Rejoice!

FEAR NOT - Luke 2:8-11
The angel said to Zechariah: "Fear not!" He said it to Mary: "Fear not!" And now He says it to the shepherds: "Fear not!" It's a natural thing for a sinner to fear. The more guilt we have, the more things we fear: fear of being found out for some little deceit, fear that some ache we have is God's judgment, fear of dying and meeting the holy God face to face.

But even though it's natural, God sends Jesus with the word: Fear not! Hebrews 2:14 says: Jesus became man "that through death He might destroy him who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death have been held in lifelong bondage." Doesn't this last phrase imply something tremendously liberating for our daily life? If the worst fear--fear of death-has been taken away through the death of Christ, then surely God does not want us to fear the lesser things in life: job insecurity, not having enough time to finish a sermon, having over for lunch someone who can't speak English, failing a test in school, being rejected by your friends, etc. The message of Christmas is fear not! God is ruling the world for the great good of His children. Believe His promises: "Fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will help you; I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness... Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall wear... Cast all your anxieties on God because He cares for you ... The Lord is my light and my Salvation: whom shall I fear. The Lord is the stronghold of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?"

REJOICE!
And in the place of fear Jesus puts joy. Joyless faith in Jesus is a contradiction in terms. Paul summed up the goal of his whole ministry like this: "for the advancement and joy of your faith." And he told the Philippians and Thessalonians "Rejoice always and again I will say rejoice." Always? Yes. Not without tears of grief and pain. But still joyful. When a friend on mine lost her mother, she cried for about half an hour before she could stop. But as she knelt there by her bed she was not only grieving. She was hoping. And while it is very hard to describe, there was a kind of joy in God and His sovereign goodness that later on at her funeral she tried to express.

So don't oversimplify: it is not wrong to cry (weep with those who weep), but there is a joy rooted in God's rule of love that is never overcome in God's children.

Let the Light Shine

Make a prayer acknowledging yourself as a vehicle of light, giving thanks for all that has come to you today.

- Dhyani Ywahoo

Just for today, allow yourself to embrace all that you are every moment. Know that you are a vessel of light. Allow yourself to release all doubts about your ability, the mistakes of the past, the fear of the future. Just for today, remember that you have grace. It is called breath. You have a connection to the Divine Mind, the power source of the world. Just for today, remind yourself, "I am one with God." "I am one with all the power there is." Just for today, be a little child. Know the world is safe. Know that you are loved. Know that just where you are, God is. Just for today, be free. Be peace-filled. Be loving to yourself and all others. Know that you shall not want for any good thing. Just for today, give praise and thanksgiving to let the universe know you are ready to receive more.

Let the light shine on me today, I give praise and thanks.

Silence

Every time we open our mouths we release a powerful energy. If we could learn to hold on to that energy, it could be used to nurture our dreams, heal our bodies and fuel our minds. But we always have so much to say. Talking can take us off track, knock us off center and kill off our dreams when we speak mindlessly. Talking is something we must learn to use, not something we must always do. There is a power in silence that energizes the mind, body and soul. Think of the sun, moon and stars. They all appear silent and never fail at their job. There is wisdom in silence. Think of the mountains and trees. They never have anything to say, yet it takes great efforts to bring them down. There is love in silence. Think of the womb. Perfect timing, order and completion accomplished in total silence. Silence is an art, a tool of the wise. When we perfect the art of silence, chances are we will get a lot more done. Today I will practice the art of silence.