ARCHIVES 2023
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 “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. Stiffen the sinews, set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide. Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit. Show us the mettle of your pasture. Let us swear that you are worth your breeding. I see you straining upon the start. The game's afoot.” - William Shakespeare, Henry V
“When Jesus traveled through towns and villages and beheld the marketplace, he saw the crowds and had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.’” - Matthew 9:35-37 Affirmative prayer: Today, on Black Friday, I have compassion for crowds and merchants as they exchange goods and services. May there be soulful connections in the marketplace, a sense of sacred bartering and blessing with each exchange. May grateful souls everywhere be about family and friends, relaxation, and safe travels. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  “A grateful heart beats in a world of miracles. If I could only speak one prayer for you, it would be that your heart would not only beat, but grow ever greater in gratitude, that your life continues to bring you miracles in abundance.”
- Kate Braestrup, Here If You Need Me Affirmative prayer: Today, my thankful heart beats in a world of miracles and shows itself in service to others. My gratitude is a fulfillment of the vows I’ve made to myself, my family and friends, and to the Most High. I abide in the brilliance and poise of this hallowed prayer. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Stunning new images of the heart of the Milky Way, captured by the James Webb Telescope, are helping scientists understand the origin story of much of the Universe. There are 500,000 stars glittering within a single image, ranging in size and age.
"I turn to that inner place where I am held safe, and I listen to the heartbeat of God. I move from time into eternity, from passing realities to lasting joy, from the dwellings of human beings into the house of love.” - Henri Nouwen Affirmative prayer: Today, I peer deeply into the heart of the Universe and see the origin of my life. From this heavenly center, I look upon everyone and everything as emanations of the Divine. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Rosalynn Carter gave much as First Lady of Georgia and First Lady of the United States. She was a champion for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls; an advocate for mental health and wellness for every person; and a supporter of the often unseen and uncompensated caregivers of our children, aging loved ones, and people with disabilities.
Rosalynn Carter, the embodiment of a life lived with purpose. Affirmative prayer: Thank you, God, for the beautiful gift of Rosalynn Carter to us all. Her light shines forever, and forever she is loved. Amen.  “I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding.” – John O’Donohue
Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, today, I lighten up. I release one attachment, one judgment, one expected outcome. I move with the current of an unlimited, gracious stream of life. All is well; all is Divine. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Astronauts aboard the International Space Station accidentally lost a tool bag during a recent spacewalk. The bag is now floating through the abyss, orbiting Earth ahead of the ISS. Officials say it will eventually disintegrate but, for the next few months, it can potentially be spotted from Earth by someone with a good pair of binoculars and a steady hand.
“The Universe is a field of energy and matter in a constant state of flux. Nothing is ever lost. We are all part of one big energy system expressing and experiencing itself.” - Russell Anthony Gibbs, The Principle of Oneness: A Practical Guide to Experiencing the Profound Unity of Everything Affirmative prayer: Oneness is my great reality, the eternal truth of this life. I give thanks to be at home in a cosmic energy system where nothing is lost. Always, I am nestled in the arms of the Divine. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs said he's worn the same pair of underwear every game day for his entire NFL career, and he said he only washes them when his team loses, which is not often.
“Everyone has superstitions. One of my superstitions is that, when I start to go anywhere or do anything, never turn back or stop until the thing intended was accomplished.” – Ulysses S. Grant Affirmative prayer: Today, I relax into the truth that my life is one with pure Spirit. There is no place where the Divine is not present in its entirety, and I’m thankful to be included in the grand assembly of spiritual beings. Everyone I meet is in this brother/sisterhood. Our good fortune is not by chance, fantasy, or magic. It is by right of consciousness. It’s greater good made visible. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  For the first time in its history, the Supreme Court announced a code of conduct in an attempt to address ethics concerns. This comes after news stories alleging that judges accepted lavish gifts and took part in other controversial off-bench activities. All nine judges signed the document, but it’s unclear who will enforce the self-imposed code.
“The night is far spent; the day draws near. Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably, as in daylight.” - Romans 13:12 Affirmative prayer: God is wholeness, goodness, and love. And I am wholeness, goodness, and love. I give thanks that my life is fashioned by Divine qualities, and I show up in every part of my living with integrity and respect for all. I abide in the truth and light of pure Spirit. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  A new study suggests listening to melancholy songs may actually make you less sad. Well, sometimes. In the study, people listened to music while in discomfort, and researchers found people who listened to bittersweet and moving songs felt less pain than when they listened to cheerful music. Just listen to the saddest song of all time, and see if you feel better.
“Melancholic thoughts are rooted in preference for days gone by, for memory and the sense that time is passing. These feelings, sad as they are, favor the soul's desire to be both in time and in eternity and so, in a strange way, they can be comforting.” – Thomas Moore, Care of the Soul Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I resist not the feelings of sorrow, anger, or sadness. I allow melancholy to instruct me in ways of living, to point me in the direction of renewed purpose and action. In my humanness, I give thanks for the full range of emotions and the incentives they provide. In my divinity, I center into the Source of life, and am comforted by my deep connection. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  “You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As is your deed, so is your destiny.” – The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
Affirmative prayer: “Infinite Presence, Divine Ideal. Today, I center down into the deep desire of my heart. I give thanks for the understanding, clarity, and inspiration to own my vision, and to take action. I know that what I want, wants me, and that my prayer is answered before it is spoken. Thank you, God, forever. Amen. |