WHAT IS YOUR WORD FOR 2017?

WHAT IS YOUR WORD FOR 2017?

Many of us have the delightful practice to be guided by
a particular word each year. My year actually begins
with Advent . . . when I sit in silent retreat time and listen
for a word to be given.

My word (s) for 2017 is SPIRIT and TRUTH.

My intention is to be guided by the Spirit each moment of my life
in the Truth of Christ . . . which is all love and joy and peace.

Each week perhaps I’ll share a bit from the in-sights I am given through this spiritual practice, and I’d love for you to also share what the Spirit is revealing to you as well . . . that we might encourage one another and build up the body of Christ.

What is your word for 2017?

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105

 

A Book Of HOPE

Dearly Friends,

One spiritual practice I have loved using for many years is
creating my own personal small books of reflections.
You may enjoy making your own during this time of Advent.
The days of November 29 to December 5 focus on HOPE.
During this time, jot down all that comes into your life that
reminds you of HOPE:
words, poems, prayers, stories, images, visions, sacred scriptures that excite and inspire you with a sense of hopefulness.

If you gather together all the things that bring you HOPE and create a little book, you will have this to go back to encourage you in times of difficulty, despair and hopelessness.

You can jot these down on your computer or in a little note pad that you carry with you.

I like to make Word Cards while I’m creating my little books.

I simply use paper or note cards (of any size or color you choose), held together by a metal ring or piece of string. This gives flexibility because it allows you to re-organize the thoughts and pictures, or remove any you decide are not necessary. Later, you can transfer these to a more permanent Book of HOPE. (Like little notebooks purchased from a Dollar Store).

May HOPE be in your heart and mind this day,

Anna Lin

 

All That We Celebrate ~ The Season Of Advent

Dear Beautiful Souls ~

As we approach the days leading towards Christmas,
we enter a quiet time for contemplation on
the holy birth of Jesus.

In my faith tradition, we call this season Advent – –
meaning “coming”, for we wait with expectation
the coming of God with us – – Emmanuel.

These days of waiting and expecting are precious moments
and opportunities to nourish our souls with words of
HOPE ~ PEACE ~ JOY ~ LOVE.

We use candles to mark each week’s focus on these
gifts for our lives – – – with daily readings for reflection
and prayer.

I invite you to join me in these moments of grace as
we ponder together the mystery of the Holy One
who came among us.

Beginning this Sunday, November 29, I will be
posting brief daily reflections here on my website.

I invite you to join us.

May the Blessings of our gracious God
shine upon us and grant us peace.

~ Anna Lin

Softening Your Spiritual Practice ~

Be soft in your practice.
Think of the method as a fine silvery stream,
not a raging waterfall.
Follow the stream, have faith in its course.
It will go its own way, meandering here, trickling there.
It will find the grooves, the cracks, the crevices.
Just follow it. Never let out of your sight.
It will take you. ~Sheng-yen

Photo at: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/

Beyond The 1,001 Things ~ Simplicity

Photo at:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/543668986241716212/

SIMPLICITY

To know that
you have
enough is
to be
rich.

TAO

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I like the image of the beggar’s bowl. Each day I go forth, aware of my spiritual poverty. I lift my hands, cupped like a beggars and ask that my heart might be filled with God’s spirit. God’s generosity is endless — and I am richly blessed with the goodness of creation and the mystery of life.  ~ Anna Lin

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

DIVINE READING

How can we welcome the Word of God when it’s so easily snatched away by the busyness of our lives; or the rocks of bitterness, greed and apathy; or the thorns of despair and worry?

There is an ancient and much loved way of tending the soul and integrating God’s word into our hearts called lectio divina, literally “divine reading”.  Lectio Divina uses a contemplative process of reflective reading of scripture and other sacred writings (lectio).

We read and reflect, read and reflect, holding the word in our hearts and asking to know the divine truth we need for our lives this day (meditatio).
We may talk to God as casually as we talk to a friend (oratio).

When suddenly a new truth is revealed, there is a moment of awareness, of re-awakening, and we rest in oneness with God to drink in the meaning of this insight for our lives (contemplio).

Talking With Paper Is Like Talking With The Divine

Talking with paper is like talking with the Divine. *
For me, writing is a form of prayer.
Since I was 10 years old I have kept a diary or a journal almost every year.
It started out as a way to record and remember what had happened during the day; but it has evolved into a spiritual practice in which I commune and communicate with God.

It’s much like the Morning Pages that Julia Cameron talks about in The Artist’s Way ~ the free flowing writing about what’s on your mind at the moment.

http://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/

Whatever You Are Most Passionate About In Life – – Do That

Whatever you are most passionate about in life – – do that!

Consider that whatever your passion is – – it is given to you by God, the Divine Source, to share with the world in some unique way.
You may not know exactly what that is right now, but as you set your intentions for 2015, you will begin to be guided on your way.

On a sheet of paper, write down all the things you love to do that come to mind right now. What is it that excites you the most in life – – that you could do every day and it would feel like play rather than work?

For some, it is music, dance, art, acting; for others, it is teaching, nursing, counseling, parenting, caring for the environment, working for peace and justice or some other cause. It could be computer work, creating a business, meditation, empowering others, writing for a website.

As you look at your list, which 3 things do you feel most drawn to?
Ask for the Spirit’s guidance in helping you to know your 3 specific God-given passions and begin to eliminate the others one by one by drawing a line through them. Draw a circle around your 3 passions for life.

What I Really Really Want Is What I Really Really Desire

As you continue to determine your intentions for this new year, it’s helpful to distinguish between your wants and your desires. Your wants are mostly all of your cravings for more material things: a bigger house, fancier car, new clothes, the latest iPhone and other gadgets.

They’re the kind of things people often put on their Vision Boards – –
hoping to manifest a more abundant life of stuff. Although there’s a whole industry telling us we’ll be happier having this “prosperous” life, studies show that these things only account for 10-15% of our happiness in life.  And once we get these material things, our sense of happiness quickly goes away and we want more.

True happiness and well-being come from creating a meaningful life in accordance with our life purpose. These are the desires of our heart and soul – – our deepest longings to live a life that matters. How sad it is that people spend most of their life energy chasing after what brings false happiness and have little time to reflect and act on what brings the greatest joy.

Your Path Way Through 2015

What 3 things will you focus on during this year of 2015?
When we set our intentions on a few significant goals,
our life energy can flow with grace and ease.
Otherwise we become fragmented and exhausted . . .
trying to do too much, and we live in stress all the time.

Over the years I have found a couple of practices that
are helpful to discover what I am called to do with my life
to make for a meaningful existence.

The first one is from a book called The Path by Laurie Beth Jones.
You can find an abbreviated version of this process at:

http://www.deanamurphyglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/CreatingYourMissionStatement.pdf