A Prayer and a Blessing for the New Year

My Jewish friends invited me to celebrate Hanukkah with them this year. It was a Festival of Lights and a joyful time indeed. I joined in the singing of songs and prayers as they commemorated the historical victory of their ancestors over the Syrian Greek army, and the restoring of the menorah in the Holy Temple. My heart warmed as they recanted the story about the how the  one and only vial of oil was found with just enough oil for one day, and by God's good grace it lasted for eight full days. They explained to me that is the reason Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days. I left them with a renewed since of fellowship and respect.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and most Christians worldwide will celebrate the  birth of Christ. Though December 25th is not the actual day Jesus was born, it is the day set aside to celebrate His birth. We celebrate the Light coming into the world through the birth of the Christ Child.  We celebrate by acknowledging the gift of God's love in the birth of His Son. As it is written in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of this incredible act of love through the incarnation of God in the person of Jesus. In Christ we find Hope, Peace, Joy and Unconditional Love.

With eight days remaining in this year, it is my prayer that you find hope, peace, joy, and love which  is encompassed in the person of Christ Jesus.  I pray God's blessings upon you, that the Lord our God will remember us and at the closing of this year and the dawning of a new one, and grant us more of His unmerited favor. I pray that His mercy and unfailing love will sustain and keep you. I pray O God that from age to age we look to You as our Comforter. For in Your faithfulness You have given us the wonder of time and the fullness of life. Even when we do not acknowledge it, You grant us blessings both day and night. Bless Your children at the turning of a new year O God. And, may You fill the months ahead with the bright hope that is ours in the coming of Christ. It is in His name that I pray.

Amen

The Color of Life

The world around us is vibrantly alive with different hues and shades that provide us with an assortment of rich colors every day. Just about everyone in the whole world knows that red means stop, green means go, and yellow shouts caution. With the use of color we pronounce the gender of our children, pink for girls and blue for boys. People use colors as expressions of their faith and belief systems.  For most of the world black is often associated with evil. It symbolizes darkness and negativity. But surprisingly many cultures of the world use the color black as an antidote to ward off evil. Furthermore, black is a color worn to characterize strength and power. For this reason many organizations choose black for their employee’s uniform color.  Blue stands for power and life. Though water is transparent, blue and green are the colors plainly visible in bodies of water surrounding the earth to display its beauty and source of life giving power.

Green symbolizes life and growth. Just as green grass is watered and fertilized during the growing seasons of spring and summer, the souls of the faithful are nurtured and water with Holy Scriptures and Words of love and inspiration. During the spiritual growing seasons of our lives we grow in the awareness and knowledge of God’s presence with us. The color yellow has healing power. Turmeric, which is yellow in color, is widely used as a spice and even as an antiseptic ingredient and beauty enhancing product, and nothing compares to the healing rays of just the right amount of sunshine. We westerners believe that red is the color of passion and romance. The passion of Christ is central to the Christian faith. We believe the gift of salvation is freely given to all believers wrought by the blood Jesus shed on the cross, His death and resurrection. White represents serenity and purity. It is clean, untainted, and soothing to the eye as it spreads the message of peace and hope.

Personality experts assure us that colors can reflect or affect moods and define personality types. For instance, wearing bold colors may indicate that you are dramatic, assertive, intense, happy or very active. Passive colors convey sensitivity, gentleness, introspection and nurturing energy; while natural colors more often than not communicate a need for comfort and safety. To say life is colorful is another way of saying life is lived through an array of shades of emotions.  Whatever you are feeling today your choice of color will help you express it. Carefully use all the colors in the rainbow to lift and transition you from one temperament to another, from one goal to the next and on to all the achievements in life that are waiting for you to accomplish.   

Jacqueline

A Shifting is Taking Place

Labor Day has come and gone marking the end of summer and there is a shifting in the wind. The Dow Jones, a business financial information news system that delivers breaking news and exclusive insights as to what is going on in the financial market just reported yesterday that the industrial average plunged nearly 240 points. Because of this U.S. stocks took a nose dive. Springmeyer and other financial experts claim that the issues stem from uncertainty surrounding China and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s pending rate hike decision due out next week.  Additionally, UMCORE (United Methodist Committees on relief) details, “A recent news report that more than 16,000 migrants have streamed into Austria since the weekend and more than 17,500 people were received in Munich, Germany, alone. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency estimates, more than 366,000 refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Europe this year and at least 2,800 have died or disappeared during the journey.

All of this has caused some people to fear the worst, and people are crying doom and gloom for the world, especially America. The economic unrest has confirmed that there is a shifting taking place. However, the shifting is not because of doom or gloom, but because God is moving us from one position to another. According to Doug Addison, we as believers must “Get ready to be stretched as God is doing things that are outside of our comfort zone. We are being challenged right now to move into new levels of understanding. A new wave of revelation is being released that will help us progress into more effectiveness. … God is calling some people to relinquish things that are no longer being used so that others can benefit from them and freely give to others the things that you are no longer using. This might be in the form of money, equipment, investments, businesses, people or buildings. Therefore we are now in entering a time like never before that we need to pass along Kingdom resources.”

This is also a time to pray for those who find themselves displaced due to moving from the violence in their homelands.  Let us pray with Rev.  Jack Amick, head of International Disaster Response for UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, as he offers a prayer of action and solidarity for those fleeing conflict and migrating to Europe and other parts of the world.

“Prayer for a New Vision
God of Shalom,
Grant us hearts that cry like yours
At the sight of dead boys on beaches,
Packed train cars,
And long lines of families on the move.

We confess that we have seen these images for centuries.
Grant us, this time, the wisdom to act in a way that turns history upside down.
And brings your shalom on earth as it is in heaven.
Grant us arms that welcome the stranger;
Grant us hands that feed the hungry;
Grant us feet that walk with those whose feet search
For a new home, a new job, a new life.

Help us understand how bad things must have been,
And how much vision these survivors must have had
To make this terrible trek.

Grant us the vision to see what they see:
Your shalom where there is no more violence,
Where life is full and abundant for all,
Where no one is hungry,
And everyone is welcome at the feast.”

Amen.

 

Jacqueline

The Power of Having a Positive Outlook on Life

The month of August is a very busy time. For many school children it marks the end of the summer break and their going back to school.  The month of August can add to the already stressful lives of parents who have to contend with mortgage payments, healthcare, and countless other concerns. And oftentimes overwhelmed parents miss the fact that their children are stressed out about going back to school.  For most children the stress is caused by the fear of the unknown. Things like changing school districts and starting a new school, migrating from elementary to middle school or from middle to high school, learning the layout of a new school building, being in a school with upper classmen, acquiring new teachers and classmates, you name it; it certainly can be a stressful time for parents, children and teachers alike.

However, maintaining a positive attitude is helpful when it comes to assisting your children with managing their emotions and anxieties.  In fact, a positive attitude is beneficial to persons of all ages. Being negative all the time can make life seem drab, dull and uneventful. After a while you begin to feel you “have” to do this or that, but a positive perspective moves you from “dreading” to do things, to accepting that it’s a blessing you “get” to do things. Additionally, developing a positive attitude will help you cope more easily with the daily pressures that life can bring. It will also help you build up your optimism which makes it easier to not worry so much. Also, learn how to avoid negative thinking. The best part about a having a positive attitude is it helps you to see the brighter side of life, and it enhances your level of faith to believe in a God that has to the power to turn the impossible into the possible.

When you decide to think positively your mindset shifts to expecting success and not failure. You feel inspired and you find strength from within to not give up. When faced with obstacles you don’t run away from them, you command them to move out of your way, or you look beyond those obstacles and keep moving toward the reality of your hopes and dreams. Telling your children how important they are and how much they mean to you is very positive and comforting for them and yourself included.  The truth is, reassuring your children of your love for them and your faith in them will encourage them to believe in themselves and in their own abilities. Prayerfully they will mimic your positive attitude and be more successful in school. Overall, being positive is one way to boost self-confidence and improve your self-esteem. Instead of avoiding problems, you choose to find solutions to your problems. Not only that, but a positive perspective in life will help you to both see and recognize opportunities when they come your way and give you the gumption to seize them.  

The power of maintaining a positive outlook in life leads to happiness, success and your assured identity as a creative being in the likeness of God. And when dark days come, your ability to remain positive will help you find the Light of God that shines bright each and every day. You will be more apt to allow God’s Light to fill your very being. Its your choice! Choose to live on the positive side of life and discover how it affects you and the way you see the world. When your attitude is positive it becomes contagious. Your whole environment will change, as will your perspective of the people around you. So go ahead, make the decision to become a positive thinker and watch as the world around you becomes a happier space to live in.

 

Jacqueline

“The Times They Are A-Changing”

The Supreme Court’s historic decision on same sex marriage sent the month of June out with a bang. Life ushered us into July with many American’s calling this historic decision a victory for equality. Whether you are for same sex marriage, or against it, we all have to admit, “The times they are a-changing.” I am not sure what Bob Dylan was experiencing in 1964 when he wrote this song, but to be sure, many things have come about since then that we never dreamed would happen. Amazingly in recent years several things were signed into law that many people voted against, but those things passed non-the-less.

Many people are very passionate about what they believe and become very upset when decisions are made that go against their beliefs. So, what do you do when things in life don’t go in the direction you would like? Do you get upset and mad about it? And if you do get angry, do you stay angry? It’s your choice of course, but getting angry will not make a difference if all you are going to do is stay angry and complain about it. Besides, anger that is not dealt with doesn’t go away. In fact, it only gets worse. And if not dealt with, overtime one can begin to act out one’s unaddressed anger and it can lead to acts of intolerable behavior. Likewise, behavior that becomes insufferable to others can lead to the breakdown of relationships in all spheres of one’s life.

Healthguide.org offers a few helpful tips that may help you address and learn how to handle anger positively: 

• “Out-of-control anger hurts your physical health. Constantly operating at high levels of stress and tension is bad for your health. Chronic anger makes you more susceptible to heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, a weakened immune system, insomnia, and high blood pressure.
• Out-of-control anger hurts your mental health. Chronic anger consumes huge amounts of mental energy and clouds your thinking, making it harder to concentrate, see the bigger picture, and enjoy life. It can also lead to stress, depression, and other mental health problems.
• Out-of-control anger hurts your career. Constructive criticism, creative differences, and heated debate can be healthy. But lashing out only alienates your colleagues, supervisors, or clients and erodes their respect. What’s more, a bad reputation can follow you wherever you go, making it harder and harder to get ahead.

• Out-of-control anger hurts your relationships with others. It causes lasting scars in the people you love most and gets in the way of your friendships and work relationships. Chronic, intense anger makes it hard for others to trust you, speak honestly, or feel comfortable—they never know what is going to set you off or what you will do. Explosive anger is especially damaging to children.” (http://www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional-health/anger-management.htm). 

Yes, the world around us is ever changing and often times those changes leave us wrought with anxiety. But, God never changes. God is the same yesterday, today and evermore and is in control of all our lives.  Once again I recommend that you try praying the serenity prayer daily and pray it with sincerity of hart to ensure a positive change in your outlook on life.  "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference." (Reinhold Niebuhr 1892-1971).

 

 

Jacqueline

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

       

 

Hold on to Your Pearls

One of the birthstones for the month of June is the pearl. Amazingly, Pearls are found inside living creatures such as oysters, clams and mussels. However, pearls are primarily found inside oysters. They are produced inside these living creatures as a way for them to protect themselves from foreign substances. “Of the 8,000 or so species of oysters, only about 20 of those are able to constantly produce pearls.” Because of this, the formation of a large beautiful and perfect natural pearl is an unlikely event making the price of pearls extremely valuable.

In the book of Matthew chapter seven, Jesus is quoted as saying,” Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the swine, least they trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you in pieces” (Matt. 7:6 HBFV). The word pearl, as it is used here is a metaphor for godly wisdom. By its definition wisdom is “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. It is the attribute of being wise.” Thus, wisdom is relatively important to all humanity because it reflects what we value in life.

Now that the month of June is here it brings joy to the hearts of students from elementary grade school to college. No one can doubt that these students have waited with anticipation for their summer break away from the classroom to begin. Summertime calls ones attention to swimming pools, picnics, tire swings, summer vacations and a time to run wild and free. It is also a time many “throw their pearls to the swine,” and cast their wisdom to the side while electing to do foolish things and make unwise decisions.  

Life teaches us that some choices we make turn around and make us.  Meaning, some of our good choices have resulted in a happy marriage, a great job, and deep personal satisfaction. Some of our poor choices have resulted in destroying a marriage, losing a job, and suffering shame and reproach. During the summer months, instead of having fun some youth choose to steal a car, rob a house and do things that can cause them a lifetime of trouble. They end up in jail and instead of having a great summer, they end up with a record they wound rather not have. Some may even have to kiss their  scholarships goodbye. We all have a choice, pray that you will choose to hold on to your pearls this summer. Use your common sense and make wise decision. Pray also for godly wisdom as you have fun this summer. And remember, “Do not cast your pearls before the swine, least they trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you in pieces.”

 

Jacqueline

 

The Month of May

So many wonderful things happen in the month of May. For starters, the old cliché, ‘April showers bring May flowers,’ is true. Right now colorful flowers adorn entrances to businesses, subdivisions, parks, so forth and so on, drawing our attention to their beauty and causing us to appreciate the wonder our eyes behold. However, there are two events happening in the month of May that also vie for our attention. One, the National Day of Prayer, which is today, so I do hope you have plans to pray or attend an event for this occasion. The other event seek to call our attention to the issue of mental health. Yes, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and is brought to our attention courtesy of the Mental Health America Organization. People of all ages and walks of life either suffer with mental illness or know someone who is diagnosed with this disease.

This organizations hard work draws our attention to the struggles of millions of Americans dealing with the issue of mental illness. Throughout the rest of this month, Mental Health America will raise awareness through the media, video streaming, local events, screenings and a variety of other ways. Recent ads tell of the plight of our Nation’s military men and women dealing with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and beckon us to notice that they are now fighting a different battle just as serious. It is safe to assume that unless life throws the curveball of mental illness our way, most people will not give it a second thought. For this reason, Mental Health America and other organizations sound the clarion call during the month of May to everyone who will to listen, get connected, seek to engage in positive conversations about it and get involved. There are ways you can help. Why not try one of these suggested ideas:

·       Attend a mental health event happening in your area

·       Share your mental health story

·       Help bring awareness by posting something on your Twitter, Facebook page, etc.

·       Sign up to volunteer at mental health events    

·       Pray for those dealing with this issue

·       Donate funds to organizations like Mental Health America and the Mental Health Foundation

You can make a positive difference in someone’s life.

 

Jacqueline

Spring Has Sprung!

It is the month of April and spring has sprung, flowers are in bloom and the colors are amazing. The first day of Spring is often a cause for celebration, but not so much for allergy sufferers, because it is out with the cold and in with the ‘achoo.’ You see, while the trees are budding and flowers are in bloom, pollen is also falling. The bright yellowish-green dust falls like rain covering and blanketing everything in its path. Allergy sufferers can always tell its spring by their first sneeze.  

Just as spring can be a difficult time for allergy sufferers, life can be difficult when un-expected problems spring up. But did you know that every problem has a root cause? In reality, problems don't just spring up from nowhere. Most problems are symptoms from other underlying factors in one’s life. For example, if your problem is not being able to keep a job, and you really want to find out the reason why, then it’s time to do some self-evaluation. Truth and honesty must come into play coupled with some deep soul searching. Ask yourself, is the reason you can't keep a job really because people don't like you? Is it really because your boss had it in for you; or that the bus didn't come?  Where you let go because that customer lied about the service you gave them? These, reasons and countless others like them, can really be excuses used to hide the truth behind the real reason you keep losing your jobs. There is a real true reason and a root cause behind it all. Can the fact that you are an addict be the real culprit?  Could staying up all night caring for your parent whose dying of cancer be the reason you were always late? Why do you feel comfortable around people? Dose self-sabotage play a role anywhere? Finding and addressing the root cause of underlying factors in your life is the way to an honest answer and the solution to many of your problems. 

This spring, why not seek to discover the real answer and be determined to do something about it. During springtime, allergy sufferers have to work hard to enjoy the season. They have to take their allergy relief medication, clean the ducts in their homes and clear away the dust. Severe sufferers have to protect their skin and may even have to wear a mask when the pollen count is high. This can be a time for you to make some positive changes in your life as well. Be willing to work hard and be intentional about putting some new things in place. Don't be afraid to seek counseling or join a therapy group if it’s necessary. Work on your diet and exercise daily.  Make the decision to cleanse your heart, mind and soul. Drink plenty of water. Make sure you get a good nights sleep. Give gardening a try and experience the joy of using your hands to make things grow. Start each new day by communing with the Spirit of God. Make a spiritual place for yourself where you can have some alone time. In your spiritual space, listen to spa music or the natural sounds of nature like the sound of the wind or the ocean. Light a candle or burn your favorite essential oil. Sit quietly to reflect and to meditate. Use this time to pray to God and read holy scripture. Practice deep breathing by breathing in and out slowly in order to cleanse your spirit and rid your mind of its clutter. Vow to laugh daily and actually laugh! Be sure to smile and pass your smile along to others. Yes, spring has sprung bringing with it the newness of life. You can enjoy you know, go ahead and give it a try!



Jacqueline   

Wind of Change

March is known as the "Windy Month." As a child in grade school we used to recite a nursery rhyme of the months and seasons. I remember singing a tune to the rhyme, "March Winds, April showers bring May flowers."  I also remember making a kite out of a couple of sticks, newspaper and string and running so that the wind would catch my kite. My siblings and I would have hours of fun flying our kites on a windy day. 

Several scripture verses in the bible associate the wind with the Holy Spirit. For example, in his gospel, John recounts a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Council. In the conversation, Jesus tells Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”(John 3:5-8 NIV)  

To experience a "New Birth" in Christ is to have experienced the Holy Spirits work in one’s life. In John chapter 3 Jesus describes the Spirit's work as mysterious like the wind. In other words, there is a mystery about the new birth experience. There may not be a change in one’s appearance, he or she may look the same, but we can see the effects of a spiritual transformation in a person’s character and behavior that is the manifestation of an unseen power.  One who is born of the Spirit is like the wind, we cannot tell its direction or source, yet we can see its effects. Therefore, the life of a regenerated soul is a life that has encountered the "Wind of Change."  

We are halfway through the Lenten Season and Spring is on the horizon. Let us look forward with heartfelt anticipation to growing in the Spirit of God. As we move toward Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter (Resurrection) Sunday, I encourage you to open your heart and soul to the Wind of Change and allow yourself to be revived, renewed and rekindled in Christ our Redeemer.   

 

Jacqueline

Love Is In The Air

February 6th is American Heart Association's 'National Wear Red Day" and of course, February 14 is Valentine's Day. For those two reasons February is widely known as the love month.  However, there are millions of people in the world who find themselves very much alone. For them, love may be in the air, but for them, there is simply no one to love.  Feelings of loneliness can lead to bouts of depression, but if this is how you feel then what can one do?

When life throws the curve ball of loneliness your way, doesn’t catch the ball, or hold on to it. Doing so will may leave you feeling sorry for yourself and, as I've already stated, it can lead you into depression.  Instead of catching it and holding on to it, let it bounce off of you and keep on going. Here are a few suggestions that will help you do just that:

• Be honest with yourself and try to pin-point exactly why you feel so lonely. Ask yourself, "Am I really alone, or am I lonely for a particular person?"
• Flow with your emotions. If you feel like crying go ahead and have a good cry, but then dry your eyes and get over it.
• Never forget you still have yourself to love. Love yourself by taking better care of you. Join an exercise class. Try walking and if you have a pet, take him or her along. Find a hobby. Gardening is very therapeutic. Or, pick back up one you use to do and enjoyed doing it. 

One important thing to remember is this, you are never alone. The Eternal One is ever present with you. It does the heart well to focus on the extravagant love God has for us. Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love, talks about the many ways we ignore God by failing to respond to God's love. Chan reminds readers that not only does God love us; God wants to be in relationship with us. I recommend this book to every person who is feeling unloved.  I will close this month’s blog with a prayer from Chan's book. 

 "O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need  for more of your grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O' God  the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing for You; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I many know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, 'Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.' Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long." Amen. (Pg. 99)

A Plan to Successfully Migrate Through the New Year

Happy 2015,

 

We are blessed to begin a brand new year and like most, you have high hopes and great expectations for what this New Year will bring. Many have already made New Year's resolutions and millions have made promises to do this or that. By providing you with tips to help you migrate successfully through this year, I wish to encourage you to do all you can to stay the course and reach your goals. 

 

We all can safely assume that in 2015 we will encounter unexpected twists and turns, and life will through us some curve balls. So, how do we plan for them, what paths do we take to avoid them. I hate to disappoint you but the truth is there is no real way to avoid curve balls or the unexpected in life, but we can plan ways to weather them positively as we move forward through this year. On last month I provided you with suggested ways of packing your car and your heart for winter emergencies, now I will provide you with a suggested strategy to help you successfully go through this year regardless of any obstacles that may come your way. 

 

First things first, expect the unexpected. Allow yourself to embrace the true reality of knowing things are going to happen that will stress you out. Admit the fact that stuff happens and there is nothing you can do about it. And, when the unlikeliest of things occur, allow yourself to experience true human emotions like fear, shock, anger, pain, so forth and so on. But, do not get stuck there. Do not remain in fear or shock. Neither should you fester in your anger or pain, but instead, breathe. Breathing is very important.  Devout Yoginis will tell you, "Connecting with your breath is a method for being present. When you concentrate on each aspect of the breathing process, you are present; you let go of the past and future and are focused on the moment inside the breath. Moreover, breathing consciously has a positive biological effect on our mental, emotional, and physical state." Know that your ability to breath will lessen the effect of the initial impact that the sudden unexpected surprise has on you.

 

Secondly and more importantly pray. If you are not in the habit of praying, begin your prayer life now.  There is a verse of scripture written in James 5:16 that states, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." having an active prayer life can help prepare you for anything in life. Why, because if you are willing to pray then that means you have the faith to believe in a source of Power outside of yourself. God desires to be your source and your strength so much so, that God has promised, Pray to Me, seek Me and I will guide you. As it is written in Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you."  So, my friend, with God leading you and guiding you through each day of this year you are on your way to migrating through 2015 successfully. Always remember, we can and sometimes will fail, but God will never fail.

Peace to You,

Jacqueline

References:
http://www.doyouyoga.com/why-is-breath-so-important-in-yoga/