FAITH: POSSESSION OR RELATIONSHIP?

For those of you who have never joined us on Sunday mornings for Love & Inspiration on Zoom, we invite you to consider joining us. I know some of you go to places of worship, but for those of you who do not, call in. Why? Because during these calls, we have deep and profound conversations and we would love to share them with you. This month, we have been talking about faith. Yesterday’s conversation kept coming back to what faith is. Is it a possession, as in something we have and possess? Or is faith a relationship with our Higher Power, however, we define that. It is this conversation that inspired me to make it the Sharing Time question for the week and the focus of my blog.

So often we hear people talk about how much faith they have as if faith is a possession, something one owns. So if faith is a possession, what is it you really possess?

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It’s Sharing Time POSSESSION OR RELATIONSHIP?

What is faith to you? A possession, a relationship with the Divine, or something else?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When fear knocks at your door, does faith answer or something else?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When do you have faith? When it is convenient or all the time?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Is your reservoir filled with courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust? If not, maybe it is time to begin filling it.

THANK YOU! (CONTINUOUS)

So I am not sure why I ever doubt whether or not I will know what to write you about when I sit down to journal with you. Seriously, like I would ever run out of things to talk with you about. I guess that is why my faith in you is so strong. I know I can have a conversation with you about absolutely everything in my life. I probably censor what I need to say less with you then with anyone. Maybe that is because I know you hear all my thoughts anyway, so why try to come to you and pretend I am someone that I am not. You observe my thoughts, my words, my actions, and have already searched my heart. So there is no need for me to pretend with you.

While I would like to say I have always been this close to you, I know that is not the case. 

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is my faith that reminds methat I can move through all obstacles and fears.

THE WHOLE SALMON STORY

Have you ever seen a commercial that just sticks with you because it is making a message that transcends the product it is selling, or attempting to sell to consumers? I have a few, but one of them for me is a commercial for Wolf stoves, a top of the line appliance company. Years ago, I saw this commercial, where this “spirit,” was watching a woman prepare an ambitious meal in her apparently new Wolf stove. He was trying to place doubts in her mind that she could prepare what they wanted one to believe was a challenging dish to prepare. Eventually, her faith in herself and her confidence in her abilities caused him to leave and she continued on with the preparation of her meal.

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Song of the Week

Our faith in our Higher Power, raises us up to be more then we can be. This is the message behind this week's song of the week http://inspiritual.biz/inspiritual-song-of-the-week1/

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Do we get upset when things do not turn out our way or do we give thanks knowing that they turned out the way they were supposed to turn out?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Remember you are not God, you are not the Divine, you are who you are. So be you and let God be God

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Today, may we be intentional about weaving faith into everything we do.

TRUST IN __________

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin captures an important aspect of faith in these lines from a prayer.

Breathing in: Trust in . . .
Breathing out: the slow work of God.

How many of us remember to trust in the slow work of God?  Last year, one of my students said to me, “It sure would be nice if God could answer your prayers in the same amount of time it takes to get a Happy Meal.”  I had to stop and remind him that Happy Meals do not always make you happy, at least not in the long run, and that they are not always healthy. However his question got at an important point. How often do we expect God to hear and answer our prayers instantaneously? Do we only trust in God when they are answered quickly or do we trust in the slow work of God?

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YOUR FAITH STORY

Can you share with us one story about what your faith has helped you through?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May we be intentional about keeping our faith alive and growing by balancing it with reason.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

This quote from Blaise Pascal helps us to understand why some have eyes that can see and ears that can hear and others do not. It is not about the physical senses, but the spiritual ones.

THANK YOU!

So I was sitting here this morning about all I have been through in my life and I know that I have made it here because of my personal relationship with you. It is through you and my relationship with you that I have come to experience an intimacy that I have not been able to experience with a human person, not even Zoe, and I know you sent her into my life.

I think about all the times I came close to dying and you would whisper in my ears, all is well my daughter and then you brought me through. I think about all the times I wondered how I was going to make it through the summer financially and you always provided for me one way or the other. I think about all the times I doubted if I was doing what you wanted and needed me to do in my life and you would send someone to say thank you. I think about the times I had those moments of doubt as to whether I could do something or not and you would say, come Sarah Bella, let’s do this.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Are you intimate with the Ultimate? If not, learn the language of faith and experience this gift.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

HAVE YOU TAKEN YOUR VITAMINS FOR THE SOUL TODAY? IF NOT, TAKE A MOMENT TO NOURISH YOUR MIND, BODY AND SOUL. LET'S BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT KEEPING OURSELVES HEALTHY

JUST EATING?

Just eating? This morning I was looking for inspiration for my blog. I was having a hard time thinking about faith and cooking. Then I stumbled upon this simple question which was the framework for a whole program on practicing faith in our eating, and eating is one of those things that I sometimes forget to think about when writing this blog. Just eating? While this phrase could mean only eating, the word, just, also means “being honorable and fair in one’s dealings.” Eating is something we can do with minimal to no thought or reflection or it can become an opportunity to practice our faith and our beliefs about justice. Eating is also a space in which we can be mindful of what we are doing and who we are with.

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SONG OF THE WEEK

this week's song of the week reminds us that the strength of the Divine is greater then our own and will see us through http://inspiritual.biz/inspiritual-song-of-the-week1/

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Faith is believing that the outcome will be what it should be, no matter what it is. ~Colette Baron-Reid

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We cannot passively walk in faith. Each day we must be an active participant in our faith journey.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

BUY THE MILK

Recently I was asked if God still speaks to people. My response was yes and I shared a story about how God had spoken to me. The person said, but that is just you. Can you shareanother story with me? In my gathering of stories on faith for this person, I was led to this one, which really spoke to me about faith, so I thought I would share it with you this week.

A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study. The Pastor had spoken about "listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice."

The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?" After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways. It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray,"God, if you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey."

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I AM FAITHFUL TO

What are three things you are faithful to?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Is your faith preparing you for your journey or is your lack of faith creating unrequired obstacles in the way?

STARVING MYSELF TO HEALTH

Today I just want to thank you for helping me starve myself to health. For so long in my life, I have held onto fears which have contributed to health problems and eating issues. While I know you have been waiting for me to be ready to do the healing work, it was not until about a year ago that I was ready to tackle the hardest of the issues and fears.

That is when I had to be like a jaguar and stalk out the single biggest fear underlying my relationship with food. Once I pulled it out, root and all, I was able to starve those fears to depth. As I did so, it gave me new understanding of the Cherokee story about the two wolves. In most aspects of my life, the wolf of love and faith had prevailed. 

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Faith is not about knowing every twist and turn of your journey, but focusing on one moment at a time, knowing that the rest will reveal itself in time.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Which ladder are you climbing in your life? The ladder of facts is helpful to a point, but the ladder of faith will take you to a higher and deeper level of understanding.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Has your faith widened or narrowed the space in which you live?

Song of the week

Some times we do not need to understand the words being sung to be moved by the emotion and the faith from whence they come. This is the experience of this week's song of the week -- http://inspiritual.biz/inspiritual-song-of-the-week1/

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Have you yet seen the rewards of your faith? Do you need to?

COOKING WITH FAITH

I know it has been a while since I have written here, but this morning seemed like a good time because what I have been reminded of recently was that I need to have faith in my senses and gifts when I am cooking. Cooking is all about having faith in one’s self and one’s abilities.

It all started with a simple zucchini. I was sautéing some shredded zucchini to cook off the water in it. As it was cooking, I began seasoning it for inclusion in what I thought would become a recipe I was going to make. However, watching this broth develop from the juices being released from the zucchini inspired me to try making this into a zucchini soup. I had to have faith in my inspiration, my taste buds, my vision, and my abilities. It was so good that I wound up drinking the whole pot of “soup” and I know I will make it this morning.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Is your life more results driven or faith driven?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Just for today, are you willing to go beyond the superficial?

ONE QUADRILLION SYNAPSES

I recently came across an article by Mark Batterson, author of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, and Wild Goose Chase. I found this while doing some research on the five senses and faith. So I thought I would share this with you this week.

One Quadrillion Synapses

I came across an interesting factoid today as I was researching for my next book.

The human body has approximately 100,000,000 (one hundred million) sensory receptors that enable us to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. And that is a testament to our Divine Designer. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. By the way, when was the last time you thanked God for each of your senses? We have seven million cones that enable us to perceive about ten million different colors. Doesn’t it seem like we owe God seven million thank yous?

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It’s sharing time! Practicing Faith

How do you practice your faith?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

HOW CAN YOU PRACTICE YOUR FAITH? KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY. WHY DO WE WORRY ABOUT IF THINGS ARE GOING TO WORK OUT, WHEN EXPERIENCE HAS REASSURED US THAT OUR FAITH IS TRUSTWORTHY?

WHAT I BELIEVE!

This month, as I have been thinking about the practice of faith, I have come to realize the importance of reflecting on the beliefs on which my faith is built and which govern the way I live my life and practice my faith. What I believe has been influenced by what I learned while attending Hebrew School, growing up in a Jewish home, my study of scripture, and my readings.  Probably most influential in my life has been the writings of don Miguel Ruiz, Pema Chodron, Osho, Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Ghandi. 

I believe that we are born in the image of the Ultimate Consciousness, who is love and that we are called, as stated in Micah 6:8, to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.  I believe that we are all called to speak the truth in love and to do justice with a spirit of non-violence.  I believe the Ultimate Consciousness is greater than any single denomination or school of thought.  I believe the Ultimate Consciousness has spoken to people through a diversity of sacred texts and is present in a diversity of worship communities.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

How do you express your faith?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What are you working to spread throughout the world?  Just for today, let us choose to manifest peace, love, and light in the world through our belief in the transformative power of God..

Thought for the day

Faith is about moving forward in our journey knowing that each step will reveal the next and so forth and so on until we reach our destination.

Song of the Week

Sometimes we all need a little space to be with Spirit and a little faith so we can take the next step in our journey. That is the theme for this week's song of the week.http://inspiritual.biz/inspiritual-song-of-the-week1/

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Developing relationships based on trust comes over time. It does not just happen. We cannot expect to move forward in our faith journey without working on it. Starting today, let's each take one step forward in faith, knowing that we will arrive at our destination.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There is always something we can choose to worry about. However, when we remember that worrying is a choice, we then give ourselves the option of trusting and having faith in our Higher Power, however, one defines that. So just for today - have faith!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What is the magical quality in others that awakens your faith? What is the magical quality in you that awakens the faith of others?

A LESSON IN FAITH

I was so moved when I watched this video on faith. In the cover article for our monthly newsletter, I had written about how faith is a multisensory experience. I had talked about how the Universe provides us with answers to our prayers in a wide diversity of ways. In the story told in this video, this man’s prayers were answered via a license plate. Something had to draw his eyes to that license plate. Normally, when we are driving, at least from my memory of having driven, we are not paying attention to the license plates of cars on the other side of the highway or road. Even if he had pulled over to the side of the road, as in the video, the chances of him having seen that particular license plate without something directing his vision seem minimal.

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It’s Sharing Time!!

It’s Sharing Time!! Faith http://inspiritual.biz/spiritual-discussion/2015/8/3/faith

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What are you doing in your life to transform earth into paradise? Are you being intentional about seeing God in each moment of your life?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

MAY WE EACH TAKE THE TIME TO GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OURSELVES. IN THE PROCESS, MAY WE GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND FAITH IN OUR HIGHER POWER.

One Spirit, Many Voices

The August issue of One Spirit Many Voices is now available for download. Remember all are welcome to submit. The deadline is the 20th of each month. http://inspiritual.biz/newsletters/

thought for the day

What affirmations are you willing to give yourself to affirm your own faith? What are your personal belief statements?