Give and Receive

In this world it is not what we take up but what we give up that makes us right.

- Henry Beecher

There is a very simple principle that people cannot seem to get the hang of - as you give, so you receive. People find it difficfult to believe that it is necessary to give first and give righteously. If you only give to get, you will not receive. If you give out of fear, you will not receive. Many people do not believe they have enough to give. That is because they may be thinking in terms of money only. If you do not have money, give your time, talent and energy. Give a smile. Give a prayer. Give anonymously without expectation of reconition. The spirit in which you give determines the manner in which you receive. If you give freely, joyously and willingly, you will receive abundantly. As you give what you have, what you are not using, you make room to receive something else in its place. Give of yourself, your knowledge and the information you have received, then prepare yourself for an outpouring of blessings. And by the way, do not expect it to come back to you from the person you gave it to.

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Thinking for Yourself

Think wrongly if you please, but in all cases think for yourself.

- Louisa May Alcott



One of the many things that drive parents crazy about their children is that children like to think for themselves. Parents do not always like that. Most of the time, parents do not understand why children believe as they do; they may also feel threatened when the children do not see tings the right way - that is, the parent's way. Parents have experience; they may believe children do not. Parents know the dangers and traps in life; children seem not to care. Parents believe that if children are left to their own devices, they may destroy themselves. Parents need to realize the difference between discipline and thinking, disobedience and thinking, disrespect and thinking. Children are just people living through a smaller body. They must learn to express themselves, to understand who they are and grow into who they are through their own thoughts. Just because children do not think as we do doesn't mean they are wrong.

Ideas are children of the mind.

You Don't Always Have to Have Something to Say

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 the track, knock us off center and kill 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 their job. There is wisdom in silence. Think of the mountains and trees. They never have anything to say, yet it takes great effort to bring them down. There is love in silence. Think of the development of a new life. 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.

The Light That Shines

A very special thank you to a wonderful person and friend who shared the gift of this image with me on the occasion of a life changing event.

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Make a prayer acknowledging yourself as a vehicle of light, giving thanks for all that has come 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 to make 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 for everything and know that you are ready to receive more.

Let the light shine on you today and give praise and thanks.

Who Is God? ... Look At Me!

If I want to know who God is, I look at me

One good way to know if something is working is to actually see it work. No matter what your philosophy, regardless how much you believe it, if it does not produce, it is worthless. I believe God is the same way. We can talk about Him, sing about Him, pray to Him, for Him and about Him, but if His glory is not produced in our lives, what are we really saying? The only way for God to be seen is through our lives. Our lives must reflect all the things we say God is. We are His hands, feet, eyes and voice. Our lives reflect who and what God is. Are we living a happy life? Are we thinking practical thoughts? The only way for God to demonstrate who He is, is for us to do it for Him. We must demonstrate what we know about God in the way we think, talk, walk and live. God is peace. God is strength. God is mercy. God is forgiving. God is all knowing, all powerful, abundant, radiant life. God is love. To know God is to be like Him. All else is a figment of our imagination.

Standing In the Way of Your Own Good?

The moment you move out of the way, you make room for the miracle to take place.
- Dr. Barbara King


You will never accrue the wealth, experience the success, do the things you really want to do as long as you worry about it. Chances are you are thinking in terms of what you do not have and cannot do. Your good cannot get to you if your mind is filled with lack. You have no room for blessings if your words are laced with limitations. You will not notice or be open to new experiences if you are stuck in the old ones. What you want may be totally new to you. It may be way beyond your highest expectations. How can it get to you if you keep getting in the way?

It's time for you to move, realizing that the thing you are seeking is also seeking you. If not, you wouldn't want it. That is the law of compensation, what you give out will be returned to you. Get rid of your bad thoughts, inferior attitudes and limited behaviors and good will be attracted to you. It's not easy. It's not magic. But it works, miraculously.

Getting Better and Better

Your world is as big as you make it.

- Georgia Douglas Johnson

Guess what? We are not the worst persons in the world! Sure, we've made some bad judgement calls, taken some pretty foolish chances, created some awful situations, but we give ourselves too much credit. Others have done far worse. Then there are those people who haven't done anything to anybody - ever. They are quiet. Go unnoticed. They have flawless characters and records. But you know what? They haven't done anything for themselves either. They are probably just as, if not more, miserable and confused as we tend to be at times.

Think about it this way: The future will be what you make it today. Whether you are a doer or a nondoer, we must work on our future. If we've made a mess, we must clean it up. If we're afraid to take a chance, take one anyway. If we've done things that didn't work, do something else. If we have done nothing, do something. What we don't do can create the same regrets as the mistakes we may have made. In the long run, either we must happen to life, or it will never happen for us.

Step by step, we must believe we are and can get better and better.