Discovering Your Destiny

In these tough economic times, it's hard to think about destiny. Is this a really fate or a predetermined course of events? What is the lesson here? I think we need to avoid getting into a fear mode. We need to keep on living life to the fullest and pursuing our passions. That's is the advice Joel Osteen gives, and I think it is worthwhile advice. We keep on keeping on, doing what we are called to do with enthusiasm and excitement. "God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well." (Romans 12:6) Proverbs 18:16 says that our gift will make room for us. We keep pressing forward no matter what Wall Street does. We will shake off negative mind-sets and live in blessing. One of the action points from Joel Osteen's new book BECOME A BETTER YOU is this: "I will be more aware that the decisions I make today will affect future generations as well as my own life. I will be more careful and deliberate about making wise decisions.......I will make choices based on my desire to leave my family better off than they were previously." Kahlil Gibran wrote: "When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music. To love life through labor is to be intimate with life's inmost secret. All work is empty save when there is love, for work is love made visible." I am a flute and my work is love made visible. Every day I teach children. My goal is to excel in that to honor my God. My work is made visible through my students. Their response to learning is my music. Another labor of love is writing on this blog or writing a facebook note. I don't get paid for it, but I love doing it and that is reward enough. In the ancient Hindu holy scripture, God tells his student, "While the unwise work for the fruits of their actions, the wise offer all results of their action to Me." I offer my actions and my work to You, Lord, and You will take care of all my needs. I have no reason to fear NYSE. My God is bigger than Wall Street!

The Generational Blessing

"Today is a new day....God has promised that your seed, your family line for up to a thousand generations, is going to have the blessings and the favor of God--all because of the life you've lived," promises Joel Osteen in BECOME A BETTER YOU. What a wonderful blessing! My new grandson Samson came into the world a week ago. He is strong and healthy, and so is his mother. After every thing Tori has gone through with her motorcycle accident, she gave birth to her son naturally! Praise God! She feels so empowered. I feel the favor of God so strongly. Celine Dion wrote a song for her son in 2002 that is perfect for my brand new grandson. Here are the lyrics:

"A new day has come
A new day has... come

I was waiting for so long
For a miracle to come
Everyone told me to be strong
Hold on and don't shed a tear

Through the darkness and good times
I knew I'd make it through
And the world thought I had it all
But I was waiting for you

Hush, love

I see a light in the sky
Oh, it's almost blinding me
I can't believe
I've been touched by an angel with love

Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun

A new day has... come

Where it was dark now there's light
Where there was pain now there's joy
Where there was weakness, I found my strength
All in the eyes of a boy

Hush, love

I see a light in the sky
Oh, it's almost blinding me
I can't believe
I've been touched by an angel with love

Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun

A new day has... come

Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun

A new day has... come

Ohhh, a light... OOh"

Breaking Free from the Strongholds of Your Past

I wrote a note a while back on facebook on this very subject. One the most powerful concepts that I have ever come across is the idea to live in the moment. Omar Khayyam, a scholar and astronomer who lived in Iran from 1048? to 1122 said, "The Moving Finger writes; and, having, writ, moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it." Wayne Dyer in the WISDOM OF AGES writes, "One of life's greatest illusions is the belief that the past is responsible for the current conditions of our lives." When we are fully conscious, we are "plugged in" and aware. We live in the present moment. When Tori had her motorcycle accident, her body started the healing process immediately. Of course, the doctors had to clean her wounds and pump new blood into her. We have to do the same things with our emotional wounds. We have to close them and pump new blood into them. Omar Khayyam says that none of our tears can erase our story so we can't live in the past and expect to be healed. We need to remove all blame and guilt from our minds because it is the attraction to these negative feelings that keeps us from feeling peaceful and loved. When we choose peace through love and forgiveness, all blame and guilt will disappear. Joel Osteen says that we have to get past the misconception that because we love God, we're supposed to be perfect. We can't change the past, but we can change the future by making the right choices today. The Articles of Confederation of the Iroquois people exhorts humanity to think seven generations ahead when we make decisions. If we all took that kind of responsibility, we would certainly have a better, healthier earth. If I take responsibility for my own actions toward the planet, I can make it a better place for my grandchildren. Right now that seems like a worthy goal.

The Power of Your Bloodline

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption." (Romans 8:14-15). I am a creation of God, pressing forward in my capacity to live the abundant life. So I stand tall because I am a beloved child of God. "God, you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalms 139:13,14,16). There is great comfort to me in these verses because I am expecting a grandson any day now. My daughter plans to name him Samson. He will be a strong little boy. I love knowing that this little baby boy is extremely valuable to God, as well as he is to our whole family. On this Labor Day I am grateful for my bloodline because we are children of the Most High. My grandmother, my mother, myself, my daughters, and my granddaughters are all fulfilling our destinies. Now a boy is about to join this matriarchal society. It's about time! Eleven years ago, when Frank and I combined our families, he brought a boy into this family of girls, and now Frank thinks it is high time for another one to join us. Me too. I love the name they chose for him too. The biblical Samson had supernatural strength and toppled a building. I believe our Samson will also be a victor and leave his mark on this world in a wonderful way.