A Good Measure

A Good Measure “I’ve got no time for those people. But they should have come here and shared their wealth with me, I’m the one who needs it.” Some of wonder why we never have more friends, money, or good breaks. Jesus reminds us, “The measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Luke 6:36-38 Jesus said to the disciples, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

Go Where Love Leads You

Go Where Love Leads You “I asked you to be a mother, not my best friend! Geeez you don’t get it!” “I can’t believe you didn’t show up. You didn’t have to talk. You just needed to be there!” Sometimes the “tough love” part of being a parent will sting. Sometimes being angry will make us miss out on important things. When you don’t know what to do in your circumstance, think back to a time when you needed God the most. Then with love, go where love leads you. Matthew 7:7-11 Jesus said to the crowds, "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Forgive And Be Well Again

Forgive And Be Well Again “I will never forgive you!” “You can just write me out of your life. I don’t know you anymore.” “Don’t ever ask me for help again. I’m done with you.” “I really don’t know her. I just never liked her. She looked at me funny once.” We’ve all made mistakes that are deceitful, harmful, intentional, thoughtless, and innocent. The look on our faces can be misread. Our anger can be misdirected. Our insecurity can be mistaken for overconfidence. Our ignorance can be bewildering. Forgiveness is not impossible. No one else need understand the circumstances. There are no sides to taken. “To forgive” simply means to let go of hurt and be well again. Leave your ego at the door. A bruised ego will never pardon. If you need someone to model yourself after, just look up to the Heavens. God forgives you even when you can’t forgive yourself.

GIVING FROMTHE ESSENCE OF YOUR HOLY SOUL

Giving From The Essence of Your Holy Soul “My mother is crazy. She feeds an old couple in the neighborhood. I keep telling her to let their own family do that.” “Who gives up their Sunday to visit criminals in a prison?” “The next time you grab the guy sitting on the curb and take him into the restaurant to buy him food, let me know, so I can sit in the car so you won’t embarrass me.” Don’t give up helping because another gives a compelling argument. Don’t lose faith in someone who has made a terrible mistake. Don’t lose confidence because others have qualms. Giving should not feel like an obligation, it should feel like a gift from the essence of your holy soul. When you give your heart will be gratified, your spirit enlightened and your eyes will naturally seek for more. If you still need a reason or a reward for your time allow these words to resonate in your soul, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Jesus Matthew 25:31-46 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Make Sound Decisions

Make Sound Decisions “I’m not being vindictive! She deserves what she gets!” “Don’t tell me what I can or cannot do to my own body!” “You do what you want. I want his head on a platter!” Be careful what you offer, ask for and grant to another. Be mindful of your ill wishes and responses to those who are trying to teach, guide and counsel. Being caught up in the moment, reacting to your impassioned emotions, or feeling pressured or swept away by the excitement of a crowd may cause you to act in foolish ways. It is wise to ponder, meditate and deliberate giving time an opportunity to simmer hot emotions, reassess dangerous spontaneity, and re-examine life altering decisions. Remove personal grudges, grievances, and grief from your spirit before making a life altering decision. What you do today, will complicate, resolve, ruin or promote what you will face tomorrow. Mark 6:14-29 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. "And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Know Your True Spirit

Know Your True Spirit “That game system is not your life. You’re going to live without it.” “I have to have a phone. It’s my only means of communication!” “Watching TV seems to be the only thing that is important to you.” We can mindlessly grasp on to forms of activities that take away from being connected with others. We may be losing important communication abilities and interaction competence by not connecting with each other face to face without distractions. Make it an important part of your day to regularly spend meaningful time conversing with a loved one, friend or stranger. Make efforts to maintain a healthy equilibrium in your relationships, entertainment and work. Turn off your phones, laptops and busy minds so that when you are with others your attention will be undivided. There are many people who need your prayers, a healing face to face visit, and a helping hand. Go to them with kindness, generosity and love in your heart. There is no greater joy than to know your true spirit, with no baggage weighing you down, no attachments to emotionless material things. Spend precious time with the gift of humanity that God gave you for the fulfillment of your life. Mark 6:7-13 Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them

Do Not Fear, Only Believe

Do Not Fear, Only Believe “What if I can’t finish the project in time?” “What if he doesn’t like me?” “What if I don’t answer everything to their liking?” We can make the phrase “what if” a precursor to everything we do, and every time it will invoke a level of fear. When your confidence is put in a position of challenge, forge on and do what you are capable of. Deadlines aside, you will always prove your strength when you give your best. Throughout your life you will encounter many personalities who act superior. Be thankful for their self-serving attitude for it will remind you that you are worthy of someone else’s love. Speak from your heart with good morals and righteous values and fear not those who disagree. Spend your precious energy on those who value virtuous behavior and set yourself among those who inspire you to shine. Jesus gave us a wonderful precursor to all that we do, “Do not fear, only believe.” Mark 5:21-43 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live." So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well." Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?" And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, 'Who touched me?'" He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?" But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!" And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Give Your Heart Permission To Trust

Give Your Heart PermissionTo Trust “Try as I might, I cannot fix this. It’s going to take a miracle.” We can spin our wheels feverishly and get nowhere. With exasperation we may incessantly examine a bad situation and still find ourselves in the same dead end. We can beat a dead horse and never will life re-emerge. With love in your heart, be humble, patient, kind, and always with forgiveness do what you can to mend relationships. When you’ve come to a major roadblock in your life with confidence turn around, go back a bit, until you find another avenue that will allow you to pass through. Spend your valuable time conversing about the good in people, sharing with joy your blessings, and let rest what has passed away. Through your trials, disappointments and dead ends God will lead you down a path you thought impossible. Give your heart permission to trust. Mark 5:1-20 They came to the other side of the lake, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, 'What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.' For he had said to him, 'Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!' Then Jesus asked him, 'What is your name?' He replied, 'My name is Legion; for we are many. He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, 'Send us into the swine; let us enter them.' So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned in the lake. The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. But Jesus* refused, and said to him, 'Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.' And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

Gathering Of The Fruit

Gathering Of The Fruit Life continues each day of its own volition. We cannot stop it, choke it into being silent, nor hurry the difficult days. We can grow in wisdom or with stubbornness remain blind. Many will sprout into adult divine maturity while others will be held back from clinging to human ideals. When life provides rewards we take them freely, but when life hurts we may easily reject all that is good and give up our spirit always at a cost. We may never understand the “Will of God” but we can with faith be spiritually awake to the many gifts of our days and nights. Delight in what is good, for the heart knows intuitively and intimately about love. When life strikes like a roaring lion, we should turn to the perceptive part of our souls for comfort and strength. An evil voice may be loud, threatening and persuasive but it is not stronger nor more powerful that the love of God. With faith and trust, let us instinctively gather the ripe fruit of our day and place it with hope into our harvest baskets leaving the spoiled so that they might pass away. Mark 4:26-34 Jesus said to the crowd, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.