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Walk on Water or Sink?
The story of Jesus from Matthew 14: 22-33:
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ”
This story can be applied to our daily lives, not as a myth, but a reality. The key here is Faith and Belief, not only in our Creator but also in ourselves.
When we begin something new, there is an idea that we can accomplish something. Usually there are details towards that end: Perhaps something we had not thought about when we began becomes quite important; sometimes there are people in our lives who discourage us from making changes or taking chances; but often it is a personal attitude that questions everything about it, expecting failure before we even start, and fears/doubts of almost anything our inner self can come up with, realistic or imaginary.
Relating the above paragraph to the walking on water idea: How often do you ask yourself: “Can I do this? Am I worthy? Who do I think I am? What if __________ (fill in the blank)? If only ________________ (fill in the blank) such and such would/could happen. You know the inner drill. This calls into action our self esteem, the role others play in our lives and the resulting decisions of action or inaction, what we expect of ourselves and others, and how we eventually react. Do we shut down and forget the whole thing? Do we pursue it by not expecting success but failure? Can you imagine a successful ending to the idea? Do we press on to the original goal, making adjustments as needed? Do we put forth enough of whatever it takes to arrive at a successful conclusion?
That is why the words Faith and Belief are counter to the Fears we dream up from our overworked imagination. Do you want to WALK ON WATER, going forth with your ideas, goals, and dreams? Or do you want to let your FEARS CAUSE YOU TO SINK? It is a personal decision, after all.
When one begins to make changes and take chances, the unknown takes on an outsized proportion to what it deserves. We really do make mountains out of molehills. So choose: Mountain or Molehill, stop where you are and stay the same or reach out and begin to become the person you were born to be!
God’s blessings upon your journey!
Good Happens
In this day and age, negativity surrounds us via so many channels of communication. It pervades the air. Only as we center our attention on something more positive can we elevate ourselves above the din and strife.
Philippians 4:8 states: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Socrates stated: “Man must rise above the Earth…to the top of the atmosphere and beyond — for only thus will he understand the world in which he lives…”
Those are amazing thoughts from long ago! They are more applicable today than they have ever been.
In everyday life, just when you think you can see the future before you (Life is good. Everything is going well.), some incident occurs in a short period of time (or maybe even longer) and that future you were looking at and hoping for becomes not even a remote possibility.
What do you do then?
If you fall apart, things get worse. If you grit your teeth and just keep moving, your heart may not be in it. But who can spring forward under those circumstances?
It all depends upon your belief system, believe it or not.
If you do not have faith in the good side of life, one is forced to wallow in the negativity. How very sad. The ability to smile is most rare.
However, if you believe in the idea that Good Happens as well, it is a lot easier to pick yourself up and move on, maybe not immediately but sooner than later.
So I ask you: “Where is your attention? Do you want to stay stuck in whatever circumstances are present that are stifling your soul?”
Dr. Wayne Dyer stated, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
This world, with all of its broken dreams, is still beautiful, wondrous, and exciting.
Where you put your focus is all that matters. If you are looking behind you at what is lost, you cannot live very well in each day or see the path forward, with all its possibilities. How much more do you want to lose?
It is not what happens to you (facts) but how you react to the situation that will determine so much of what lies ahead.
Are you willing to wallow and stay where you are, weeping for that which is gone forever? Or do you want to grieve over the past appropriately, center your attention on today (the present), and look forward with faith that it will get better?
It’s all up to you.
An old song says, “Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and don’t mess with Mr. In Between!”
God’s blessings upon your journey!
No Room at the Inn
The Christmas story, as told in Luke 2:7 states: “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn.”
The first part of that sentence — all the way up through “manger” captures our attention. But I would like to draw your attention to the last words in the sentence: “…no room for them in the Inn.”
During the Christmas season, busyness rules many people’s lives, dictating a hurry and scurry that tires the body and soul. There are lists to make, gifts to buy and wrap, cards to get ready to mail, parties to attend, and festivities/programs to partake of. All of these are great and useful.
But what if you stopped to think about your life and heart as a manger where the Christ child could rest?
Are you moving so fast to participate in all your activities that there is no quiet time to speak of the manger and what it could mean to you?
Is your life like the Inn where there is no room for the ideas of faith, peace, love, hope and joy – the quintessence of the Christmas Spirit?
Whoa! Slow down! Breathe deeply now.
Every day, your brain, heart, and body need to take the time for your own good in order to make room in your being for focusing on the qualities that make up the quintessence of the Christmas Spirit — the Faith which helps you along your way, the stillness of Peace, the Love of self and others, the Hope of a better day, and the Joy of life and more livingness daily.
It would only take a few minutes, but if you choose to spend that time, the gifts that will bring will last all day long. Are you willing?
God’s blessing be upon you and your journey! Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!
Manger of the Heart
Faith
Bring you tidings of great Joy!
Blessings Be Upon You!
Peaceful Sunset
Perceptions
We acquire our perceptions of reality from the moment of birth. Authority figures such as parents, friends, teachers, etc., all contribute to the plethora of our understanding. Some are positive, yet most are negative, along with the feelings engendered. When something occurs, our frame of reference for these perceptions come into their own. We reject whatever is outside of them, and accept without question that which “fits.” We react accordingly.
At what point do we question whether or not these “perceptions” are helpful or harmful? Unless something happens to challenge our perceptions, we go through life’s daily motions, living our life, whatever it is.
Here’s a thought: Our perceptions are actually crystallized thought patterns, which form a mold for future use, automatically. What if one finds that change is needed in whatever form?
In order to change something, one must first examine one’s reality to see WHAT IS. This will show us how we thought/felt in the past. Then we must chart a course to a new destination that we desire. We are at the helm of our individual ship, after all. To chart a course requires thought, with feeling becoming the wind in our sails.
If our thoughts/feelings cling to the past, there is no wind to affect our course. Only in the present can we make a difference.
One can use affirmations of what we can see is needed, together with prayer, to change the crystallized thoughts and perceptions. Only that will shatter the glass of crystallization, which will forever hold us in the same place, same habits, same situation.
Some people fear change because it is unknown. Only by Letting Go and Letting God with faith in the possibilities available can we begin to see the needed changes begin. Trust is a strong element here. Ego does not want it at all.
So if there is some change needed in your reality, no matter how big or how small, look at WHAT IS. Keep it before your eyes, thoughts, and feelings, without ambiguity or doubt. It is, after all, your journey, your ship. Are you willing?
God’s blessings for your journey.
Saying that Final Good Bye
Saying that Final Good Bye when a loved one passes away is one of the hardest journeys one can take.
The age and circumstances can affect you in ways you never imagined. Sometimes the ill-health of that person can make it a little easier because you do not want to see them suffer anymore, so it becomes a release for them and perhaps for you.
Sometimes it is an unexpected accident — one that you could never have considered as a possibility. Tragedy can break your heart because it is so sudden.
Then the details, expenses for burial, paperwork, rules and regulations come into your awareness. Who knew how complicated it would be? It would seem that an original of the Death Certificate is needed for just about any transaction. It can take weeks or months to take care of the business.
It is said that about 96 percent of people do not have a will or express their wishes in a written document like the Five Wishes as a Living Will. Do those people in the 96 percent understand the negative impact of such an act of omission? Could they not see what a morass of regulations that they are leaving for their families?
As for me, my dear mother passed away recently. Her last month was filled with suffering that even narcotics could not take away. She was surrounded by caretakers who truly cared for her, including family members.
When I looked down at her for that last time, saying a prayer for her on my lips and in my heart, I knew she was finally at peace and without pain. In our belief system, she has become “absent from the body but present with the Lord.” Her Spirit is in a better place. She was set free from a failing shell that just could not house it anymore.
Will I miss her? Of course, every minute of every day. But I believe in God Mail — my thoughts and words to her will be delivered instantly by the best transmission system in existence. Hence, I know that I can still “talk” to her freely. I want her to see through my eyes the beautiful flowers she loved so much on this plane of existence, so I’ll send her a “snapshot” of the Beauty I partake of, or of the loved ones she cared about, or any other thing which I consider important.
I do not know how others who do not have a faith/belief system survive this moment, and the moments to follow. I can only think of the emptiness that must be a part of that. Which faith/belief system that you have is not a factor here. But one must believe in something in order to get through this trying time.
How about you? Have you chosen to take a moment or two to express your wishes in a legal way? I highly encourage you to do so. Not one of us is going to get out of this world alive, so think about it. It would make a tremendous difference to your affairs and those who would have to deal with all the problems created thereby through a lack of a written document.
Life itself will go on for me. The Memorial Service details are almost finished. There will be that moment of one final Good Bye to my beloved mother. But I rest assured that Her Spirit is doing just fine where she is now.
Remember, life is made up of choices, minute by minute, and day by day. Have you told someone, “I Love You!” as they go out the door? It does not matter the age or circumstances. It may be the last words you can express to that person. 911 taught us that in a dramatic way. We have no guarantees.
God’s blessings upon your journey!
Forever in our Hearts
upliftingthoughts4u 