Take Up Your Mat

34 I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.35 By this shall all (men) know that you are My disciples, if you love one another (if you keep on showing love among yourselves).John 13:34-35 Amplified Bible 34 So I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you, and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. 35 Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others.John 13:34-35 The Voice

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV 9-13 But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I’ve had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he’s left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he’s coming or going. I’ve decided that there’s nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That’s it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It’s God’s gift.Ecclesiastes 3: 9-13 The Message 11 He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity (a sense of divine purpose) in the human heart (a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God)—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.Ecc 3:11 The Amplified Bible 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.Ecc 3:11 NLT LEA BENSON CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Lea Benson serves as COO of Holy Yoga Global. Benson has more than 30 years of hands-on experience working with public and private entities, with a strong background in leadership and business. Lea is a passionate visionary and respected leader who has delivered breakthrough solutions that have grown organizations, built strong alliances, and united diverse constituencies. With a keen understanding of competitive and economic issues, she is wholeheartedly committed to helping the Holy Yoga Global flourish and thrive. During Benson’s relaxation time, she serves on nonprofit Boards, mentors victims of child sex trafficking, hosts international students in her home, and enjoys time with her two sons. https://www.holyyoga.net https://holyyoga.net/retreat/ holyyoga.net/retreat/ “. . . hell is wanting to be somewhere different from where you are. Being one place and wanting to be somewhere else . . . . Wanting life to be different from what it is. That's also called leaving without leaving. Dying before you die. It's as if there is a part of you that so rails against being shattered by love that you shatter yourself first. (p. 44)Geneen Roth, Women, Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2018/february/glowing-flowers-ultraviolet-light/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOxebzBMAJs

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.Philippians 1:6 NLT 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.Philippians 1:6 NASB Melanie Romano is a (R-HYI 225) and (RYT 200) certified yoga instructor, also certified in Chair yoga, Yin yoga and Touch & Assist training. In the studio, she loves challenging herself with unique flows and new balance poses. When she's not in the studio, you can find her in the sun - relaxing on the beach or boating out on the water! https://betransformedyogastudio.com/

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.James 1:27 NIV True spirituality that is pure in the eyes of our Father God is to make a difference in the lives of the orphans, and widows in their troubles, and to refuse to be corrupted by the world’s values.James 1:27 The Passion Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.James 1:27 NLT Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.James 1:26-27 The Message Christians are usually sincere and well-intentioned people until you get to any real issues of ego, control power, money, pleasure, and security. Then they tend to be pretty much like everybody else. We often given a bogus version of the Gospel, some fast-food religion, without any deep transformation of the self; and the result has been the spiritual disaster of "Christian" countries that tend to be as consumer-oriented, proud, warlike, racist, class conscious, and addictive as everybody else-and often more so, I'm afraid.Richard Rohr

https://subsplash.com/thebibleproject/media/ms/+7862mm8 When day comes we ask ourselves,where can we find light in this never-ending shade?The loss we carry,a sea we must wadeWe've braved the belly of the beastWe've learned that quiet isn't always peaceAnd the norms and notionsof what just isIsn’t always just-iceAnd yet the dawn is oursbefore we knew itSomehow we do itSomehow we've weathered and witnesseda nation that isn’t brokenbut simply unfinishedWe the successors of a country and a timeWhere a skinny Black girldescended from slaves and raised by a single mothercan dream of becoming presidentonly to find herself reciting for oneAnd yes we are far from polishedfar from pristinebut that doesn’t mean we arestriving to form a union that is perfectWe are striving to forge a union with purposeTo compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters andconditions of manAnd so we lift our gazes not to what stands between usbut what stands before usWe close the divide because we know, to put our future first,we must first put our differences asideWe lay down our armsso we can reach out our armsto one anotherWe seek harm to none and harmony for allLet the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:That even as we grieved, we grewThat even as we hurt, we hopedThat even as we tired, we triedThat we’ll forever be tied together, victoriousNot because we will never again know defeatbut because we will never again sow divisionScripture tells us to envisionthat everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig treeAnd no one shall make them afraidIf we’re to live up to our own timeThen victory won’t lie in the bladeBut in all the bridges we’ve madeThat is the promised gladeThe hill we climbIf only we dareIt's because being American is more than a pride we inherit,it’s the past we step intoand how we repair itWe’ve seen a force that would shatter our nationrather than share itWould destroy our country if it meant delaying democracyAnd this effort very nearly succeededBut while democracy can be periodically delayedit can never be permanently defeatedIn this truthin this faith we trustFor while we have our eyes on the futurehistory has its eyes on usThis is the era of just redemptionWe feared at its inceptionWe did not feel prepared to be the heirsof such a terrifying hourbut within it we found the powerto author a new chapterTo offer hope and laughter to ourselvesSo while once we asked,how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?Now we assertHow could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?We will not march back to what wasbut move to what shall beA country that is bruised but whole,benevolent but bold,fierce and freeWe will not be turned aroundor interrupted by intimidationbecause we know our inaction and inertiawill be the inheritance of the next generationOur blunders become their burdensBut one thing is certain:If we merge mercy with might,and might with right,then love becomes our legacyand change our children’s birthrightSo let us leave behind a countrybetter than the one we were left withEvery breath from my bronze-pounded chest,we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous oneWe will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west,we will rise from the windswept northeastwhere our forefathers first realized revolutionWe will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states,we will rise from the sunbaked southWe will rebuild, reconcile and recoverand every known nook of our nation andevery corner called our country,our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,battered and beautifulWhen day comes we step out of the shade,aflame and unafraidThe new dawn blooms as we free itFor there is always light,if only we’re brave enough to see itIf only we’re brave enough to be it-Amanda Gorman, The Hill We Climb https://www.tarabrach.com https://www.riversideranch.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvagal_theory

11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.1 Kings 19: 11-12 ESV Amy Hoyte is the founder and facilitator for Beautifully Made Adventures. An avid explorer and outdoor adventurer, Amy enjoys the beauty of all seasons - there really is no bad weather for her!  She believes in living life so we can both receive and offer the energy and love that comes from time spent in the presence of God in His most beautiful creation. Amy is fueled by a passion for the journey of self-discovery, accepting rest and refreshment, and doing the things that make us come alive. ​ Amy is a NOLS certified Wilderness First Responder, a Master Yoga Instructor RYT-500, and has certifications in yin yoga, adaptive yoga, and adventure-based counseling. She is an experienced facilitator of individual and small group guided adventures as well as team building events for a large groups and business training programs ​ "This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” Romans 8:15 MSG https://www.beautifullymadeadventures.com/ https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/

for you have been my refuge,    a strong tower against the enemyPsalm 61:3 ESV For You have been a refuge for me,A tower of strength against the enemy.Psalm 61:3 NASB Lord, you are a paradise of protection to me.You lift me high above the fray.None of my foes can touch mewhen I’m held firmly in your wrap-around presence!Psalm 61:3 The Passion Translation From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint.Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.Psalm 61:3 Tree of Life Version For you are my refuge, a high tower where my enemies can never reach me.Psalm 61:3 The Living Bible https://www.biblegateway.com/

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Acts 1:8 NIV 17 On one of the days while Jesus was teaching, some proud religious law-keepers and teachers of the Law were sitting by Him. They had come from every town in the countries of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was there to heal them. 18 Some men took a man who was not able to move his body to Jesus. He was carried on a bed. They looked for a way to take the man into the house where Jesus was. 19 But they could not find a way to take him in because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof over where Jesus stood. Then they let the bed with the sick man on it down before Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”Luke 5:17-20 NLV ://studios.vidangel.com/the-chosen https://www.ame-church.com/our-church/our-history/ https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/user/agg/blindspot/indexrk.htm https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/generational-racism-using-the-genogram-to-see-and-slay-it/?v=4096ee8eef7d https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2017%2F03%2F29%2Farts%2Ftelevision%2Freview-time-kalief-browder-story.html&psig=AOvVaw2XB2Q2wILzyumUcDoom0Tm&ust=1610044828824000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCIjZjcT6h-4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI https://bethebridge.com/ https://christianyogaassociation.org/diversity-inclusion-and-anti-oppression-resources/

8-12 Bless our God, O peoples! Give him a thunderous welcome! Didn’t he set us on the road to life? Didn’t he keep us out of the ditch? He trained us first, passed us like silver through refining fires, Brought us into hardscrabble country, pushed us to our very limit, Road-tested us inside and out, took us to hell and back; Finally he brought us to this well-watered place.Psalm 66:10-12 https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/ https://www.amazon.com/Enemies-Heart-Breaking-Emotions-Control/dp/1601421451 https://www.amazon.com/Louder-Song-Listening-Midst-Lament/dp/1631469029

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.Genesis 1:26-27 NIV 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.Galations 3:28 NIV The transformation from indentured servitude (servants contracted to work for a set amount of time) to racial slavery didn't happen overnight. There are no laws regarding slavery early in Virginia's history. By 1640, the Virginia courts had sentenced at least one black servant to slavery . . . Three servants working for a farmer named Hugh Gwyn ran away to Maryland. Two were white; one was black. They were captured in Maryland and returned to Jamestown, where the court sentenced all three to thirty lashes -- a severe punishment even by the standards of 17th-century Virginia. The two white men were sentenced toan additional four years of servitude -- one more year for Gwyn followed by three more for the colony. But, in addition to the whipping, the black man, a man named John Punch, was ordered to "serve his said master or his assigns for the time of his natural Life here or elsewhere." John Punch no longer had hope for freedom. It wasn't until 1661 that a reference to slavery entered into Virginia law, and this law was directed at white servants -- at those who ran away with a black servant. The following year, the colony went one step further by stating that children born would be bonded or free according to the status of the mother. The transformation had begun, but it wouldn't be until the Slave Codes of 1705 that the status of African Americans would be sealed. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p262.html White Christianity is an idolatry. Idols separate us from GodJom Wallis Dorothy Roberts says the genetic variations that do exist among humans—within that narrow 0.1 percent of the genome where we differ—simply don’t line up with our notions of race. Just as gene science debunks the idea of a distinct “white” population, she says, it also explodes the notion of a “black” race. African people express most of the world’s genetic diversity all by themselves, so there are Africans who are genetically similar to any other given population in the world. People with ancestors from Zimbabwe are very genetically different from people with ancestors from Somalia, for example. And that difference is greater than the difference between someone from Somalia and someone from some part of Europe. John Biewen: Genomic science has found that Somalis are genetically closer to Europeans than to Zimbabweans. Seeing White Part 2 Transcript https://religionnews.com/2020/12/16/houston-pastor-cuts-ties-to-southern-baptists-over-critical-race-theory-critique/?fbclid=IwAR0jwlS0toxhT-ZeYYHKxcURqLZZv6gAmO2x7lyI9zudMT0QVJPHrIKwlGo https://religionnews.com/2020/12/16/houston-pastor-cuts-ties-to-southern-baptists-over-critical-race-theory-critique/?fbclid=IwAR0jwlS0toxhT-ZeYYHKxcURqLZZv6gAmO2x7lyI9zudMT0QVJPHrIKwlGo https://www.faithandprejudice.com/

6 1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.Galations 6:1-3 The Message https://www.amazon.com/Psalms-Praying-Invitation-Nan-Merrill/dp/0826419062 Queen began her yoga journey in 2015 as a form of self-care. She soon fell in love with the exhilarating feeling that came with stepping on her yoga mat. The two very important lessons she learned while exploring yoga was how to use breathing techniques to find peace of mind and to have grace and love for her body. While deepening her practice, Queen began to use her time on her mat as a sacred space to meet with God through prayer and meditation. She soon realized that through the stillness she began to open her heart and ears to God’s Word which in turn helped her in her battle with depression. Queen completed both her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training and her 100hr Holy Yoga Teacher Training in 2019. Upon completing her Yoga Teacher Training’s, Queen is determined to create safe spaces where individuals can find serenity, gratitude, and self-love while challenging their bodies, hearts, and minds, and souls. You can connect with Queen at http://sacredspacesyogahtx.com/ https://www.amazon.com/White-Fragility-People-About-Racism/dp/0807047414 https://tonyevans.org/talk-is-cheap/ https://www.reservoirchurch.org/a-daily-examen-for-living-as-an-anti-racist-person/

Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. 6 Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go. 7 Don’t think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore him with undivided devotion and avoid everything that’s wrong. 8 Then you will find the healing refreshment your body and spirit long for.Proverbs 3:5-8 The Passion Translation Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.Proverbs 3:5-8 NIV Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.Proverbs 3:5-8 The Message 4-5 If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. 6 In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. 7-8 Don’t be conceited, sure of your own wisdom. Instead, trust and reverence the Lord, and turn your back on evil; when you do that, then you will be given renewed health and vitality.Proverbs 3:5-8 The Living Bible Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions. 6 Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead. 7 And don’t think you can decide on your own what is right and what is wrong. Respect the Eternal; turn and run from evil. 8 If you depend on Him, your body and mind will be free from the strain of a sinful life, will experience healing and health, and will be strengthened at their core.Proverbs 3:5-8 The Voice Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV Tricia is a Jesus girl, wife to Bill, a certified health coach, natural health enthusiast & educator, Holy Yoga instructor, sister, friend and mom to a cute and naughty dog named Guinness. She is passionate about helping you live a natural holistic lifestyle, so you can achieve your wellness goals and truly enjoy living this journey of life we're on. ​Her education, previous work experience as well as solving her own health issues, has equipped her to partner with you to discover what wellness and vitality truly look like for YOU. She is here to help guide you in the process of transformation. It's not about convincing you to live her lifestyle. It's about working together to find what are the best and healthiest lifestyle guidelines for you. Tricia will help you to make simple changes that easily become second nature and can be maintained for a lifetime. triciaswellnesstribe.com https://www.ruthhaleybarton.com/books

for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.Psalm 61:3 ESV For you have been my refuge,  a strong tower against the foe.Psalm 61:3 NIV Lord, you are a paradise of protection to me. You lift me high above the fray. None of my foes can touch me when I’m held firmly in your wrap-around presence!Psalm 61:3 The Passion From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.Psalm 61:3 Tree of Life Translation for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.Psalm 61:3 NLT

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.Psalms 91:1 NIV He who is dwelling In the secret place of the Most High, In the shade of the Mighty lodgeth habitually,Psalms 91:1 Young's Literal Translation When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High.Psalms 91:1 The Passion He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.Psalms 91:1 ESV He who takes refuge in the shelter of the Most High will be safe in the shadow of the Almighty.Psalms 91:1 The Voice Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.Psalms 91:1 New Living Translation

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”1 Samuel 16:7 NIV 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”1 Samuel 16:7 NLT Eternal One (to Samuel): 7 Take no notice of his looks or his height. He is not the one, for the Eternal One does not pay attention to what humans value. Humans only care about the external appearance, but the Eternal considers the inner character.1 Samuel 16:7 The Voice Luke Crowley lives in Los Angeles California with his wife Mary Crowley and is the campus pastor of HillSong LA. He believes in making faith accessible and applicable to the everyday aspects of life and that cycling and golf are holy activities.  https://www.instagram.com/lukeecrowley/ https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.louiemuellerbarbecue.com%2F&psig=AOvVaw2Ezq5ZjTmgSJnbhtXf10IK&ust=1604596143242000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCNCHx9iw6ewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD Our hearts are broken as we grieve with you the passing of our fearlessly creative and passionate Joshua Ortiz. He left a legacy of kindness, empathy and service to all people, especially the hungry, the poor and the marginalized. He was a loyal and fiercely protective friend. He was an incredibly talented designer and never ceased to push the boundaries of his craft. He was a strong leader who helped grow Ambrose Furniture Works into the beautiful trade showroom and design center it is today. He was the heart and vision of our business. While we may not fully understand God's plan in this pain, Josh would remind us that, "God is good all the time." Please join us in praying for comfort and peace as we mourn this profound loss. Thank you all for your support. Thank you for your friendship. Josh loved you. We love you. collage by @brushandblossom https://wreg.com/news/pass-it-on/signs-of-encouragement-help-brighton-teachers-day/

Restore to me the joy of your salvation    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.Psalms 51:12 NIV Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance.Sustain me by giving me the desire to obeyPsalms 51:12 NET Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me. Hold me close to you with a willing spirit that obeys whatever you say.Psalms 51:12 The Passion Translation Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.Psalms 51:12 NKJV Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.Psalms 51:12 KJV Restore to me the joy of your salvation,    and uphold me with a willing spirit.Psalms 51:12 ESV Sarah Cargill is a Daughter of the King, mother of 3, Neonatal ICU RN, yoga teacher & facilitator of a ministry called Embrace Grace that serves single women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. She has been obedient to the Lord's calling her to serve women, infant and children. Her greatest adventure has been raising children alongside her high-school sweetheart. https://www.instagram.com/sarahcargillyoga/ https://embracegrace.com/

2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! 3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. 4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.James1:2-4 THe Passion 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.James 1:2-4 New King James 2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.James 1:2-4 The Message 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.James 1:2-4 NASB 2-4 Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.James 1:2-4 The Voice I believe that truth sets you free. I believe this with my whole heart. Even hard truth. I think the Bible says this because it is a natural law God put into motion. If I’m believing lies about myself, my body will respond accordingly. My relationships will suffer. I will act out of those lies and not the truth of who I am. Who God says I am.I think much pain in our bodies and minds comes from not accepting what is. Where you are right now. Because it is right there that God unconditionally loves you and wants to set you free. If you love yourself, in the mess, you’ll learn how to love others in their mess too.That what my workshops are all about. Loving God, loving yourself, and loving others. I love to weave knowledge of how the body works with how faith is worked out in that very body!livefreeworkshops.com Body Intelligence and Spirituality Body intelligence practices (e.g., yoga) utilize body sensations, breathing, and conscious movements to generate reliable and enlivening insight that cannot be arrived at merely by thinking. In this class, we’ll learn to shape and embody ideas, feelings, and impulses with the practice of “bodifying" to release inertia, debris, or blind spots. Familiarize yourself with the full spectrum of your body’s wisdom as you try on high-power and low-power yoga poses, shift between contraction and expansion, and integrate rather than dismiss, opposite poles of experience. Additionally, we’ll look to other philosophies for the spiritual wisdom gained through these practices and disciplines. Through this training you’ll become aware of the primary centers of emotional anatomy to develop your felt sense of wholeness with inclusive “presencing" practices—in any pose, any relationship, or any event. Learning to Listen to Your Body Starts on Wed Oct 14, 2020 $299 https://www.livefreeworkshops.com/bookings-checkout/body-intelligence-and-spirituality-1 Quarrelling means trying to show that the other man is wrong.For you notice it is only our bad temper that we put down to being tired or worried or hungry; we put our good temper down to ourselves.The laws of nature, as applied to stones or trees, may only mean ‘what nature, in fact does’. But if you turn to the Law of Human Nature,

18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.Ephesians 3:18-20 NLT 18–19 Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! 20 Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.Ephesians 3: 18-20 The Passion 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,Ephesians 3:18-20 NASB

13 You, beloved, are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes bland and loses its saltiness, can anything make it salty again? No. It is useless. It is tossed out, thrown away, or trampled. 14 And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. 15 Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, she puts it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. 16 You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.Matthew 5:13-16 The Voice https://videopress.com/v/pX4QsJUG?preloadContent=metadata https://www.younglife.org/ForEveryKid/Capernaum/Pages/default.aspx https://www.instagram.com/missy_lu_lu/

1-3 The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli’s direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested. 4-5 Then God called out, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Yes? I’m here.” Then he ran to Eli saying, “I heard you call. Here I am.” Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” And so he did. 6-7 God called again, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.” Again Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.)8-9 God called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.” That’s when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed. 10 Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.”1 Samuel 3: 1-10 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”1 Samuel 3:1-10 NRSV Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. 2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. 4 Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” 5 He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did. 6 Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” 7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. 8 So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. 10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”1Samuel 3:1-10 NLT blessinggodsway Doran’s love and passion is helping women see that all phases and cycles...

37 Yet even in the midst of all these things, we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors, and his demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything! 38 So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. 39 There is no power above us or beneath us—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God’s passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!Romans 8:37-39 The Passion 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:37-39 ESV 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:37-39 NLT 31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.Romans 8:31-39 The Message https://www.instagram.com/lizcallicottdevotions/ Declaration inspired from Romans 8 by Wendy Landin Our standing in Christ is secure and the Love of Christ is unchanging and not affected by anything, hence these verses listing them out! Our standing is who we are in Jesus Declaring; Your standing is you are a new creation, you are a people for his possession , a royal priesthood,  you are alive to God, all grace abounds towards you, all sufficiency is in you through him. You are anointed, you are the apple of God’s eye, you are baptized into one spirit, you’re baptized into Christ Jesus, you are the Beloved, you are blameless, you’re blessed, you have bold access to the throne of God. You are born again, you are part of the bride, part of the body, you’ve been buried with Christ in His death and risen to your new life in Him. You are chosen, you are a chosen generation, Christ indwells you with all his fullness, you are a coheir with Christ. you were created for good works, you are free in Christ Jesus, you’re declared holy, you are a disciple, you’re elect, you’re enriched,

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.Micah 6:8 NIV He has told you, O mortal, what is good;    and what does the Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness,    and to walk humbly with your God?Micah 6:8 NRSV But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,    what God is looking for in men and women.It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,    be compassionate and loyal in your love,And don’t take yourself too seriously—    take God seriously.Micah 6:8 The Message He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you Except to be just, and to love (and to diligently practice) kindness (compassion), And to walk humbly with your God (setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness)?Micah 6:8 Amplified He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?Micah 6:8 New King James Every time we choose love, grace and humility over our habituated brain reactions we expand our realm of freedom.Richard Rohr https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/137093/jewish/Shin-Sin.htm https://elemental.medium.com/your-surge-capacity-is-depleted-it-s-why-you-feel-awful-de285d542f4c

14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” 17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”Matthew 17:14-20 NIV 31 Jesus told them another parable. Jesus: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a sower took and planted in his field. 32 Mustard seeds are minute, tiny—but the seeds grow into trees. Flocks of birds can come and build their nests in the branches.Matthew 13:31-32 The Voice 31 Then Jesus taught them another parable: “Heaven’s kingdom realm can be compared to the tiny mustard seed that a man takes and plants in his field. 32 Although the smallest of all the seeds, it eventually grows into the greatest of garden plants, becoming a tree for birds to come and build their nests in its branches.”Matthew 13:31-32 The Passion 31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”Matthew 13:31-32 NLT 31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”Matthew 13:31-32 NIV originalstrength.net https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/what-is-an-oligo/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycelium#/media/File:Mushroom's_roots_(myc%C3%A9lium).jpg

7-9 The revelation of God is whole    and pulls our lives together.The signposts of God are clear    and point out the right road.The life-maps of God are right,    showing the way to joy.The directions of God are plain    and easy on the eyes.God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,    with a lifetime guarantee.The decisions of God are accurate    down to the nth degree.Psalm 19:7-9 The Message The law of the Lord is perfect,    refreshing the soul.The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,    making wise the simple.8 The precepts of the Lord are right,    giving joy to the heart.The commands of the Lord are radiant,    giving light to the eyes.9 The fear of the Lord is pure,    enduring forever.The decrees of the Lord are firm,    and all of them are righteous.Psalm 19:7-9 NIV 7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,    reviving the soul.The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,    making wise the simple.8 The commandments of the Lord are right,    bringing joy to the heart.The commands of the Lord are clear,    giving insight for living.9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,    lasting forever.The laws of the Lord are true;    each one is fair.Psalm 19:7-9 New Living Translation 7 God’s Word is perfect in every way; how it revives our souls! His laws lead us to truth, and his ways change the simple into wise. 8 His teachings make us joyful and radiate his light; his precepts are so pure! His commands, how they challenge us to keep close to his heart! The revelation-light of his word makes my spirit shine radiant. 9 Every one of the Lord’s commands is right; following them brings cheer. Nothing he says ever needs to be changed.Psalm 19:7-9 The Passion 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.Psalm 19:7-9 ESV 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.Psalm 19:7-9 NRSV https://studios.vidangel.com/the-chosen Rebecca Wachsler is a licensedprofessional counselor currentlycompleting her final state hours.She holds a MEd in ClinicalMental Health Counseling fromLamar University and is aNational Certified Counselor.Currently, Rebecca serves as theSocial/Emotional Coordinator forthe Brenham Independent SchoolDistrict and works with personalclients, as well. Her specialtiesinclude working with those facinganxiety, depression, relationshipdifficulties, or recovering fromtrauma. She supports a holisticapproach to therapy whichincludes her experience as amental health counselor, but also includes 10+ years as a personal trainer and nutritionconsultant.Rebecca resides in Brenham, Texas with her amazingly supportive husband of 21 years;her son, who is a senior at Brenham High School; and her daughter, who is asophomore at Texas A&M University.“I feel so blessed to be able to help others experience positive life choices.” https://elevationchurch.org/podcast/ https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/ http://www.oprah.com/app/supersoul-sunday-full-episodes.html http://knoxandjamie.com/ https://thediscerningleaderpodcast.com/ https://renovare.org/podcast https://www.ruthhaleybarton.com/podcast#:~:text=Welcome%20to%20Strengthening%20the%20Soul,thing%20you%20bring%20to%20leadership. https://thebiblebinge.com/ https://www.krisvallotton.com/podcast https://www.earios.net/the-alarmist https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elements-of-ayurveda/id1268442696 https://michellenezat.com/podcast-2/

Now to the One who can keep you upright and plant you firmly in His presence—clean, unmarked, and joyful in the light of His glory—Jude 1:24 The Voice And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes.Jude 1:24-25 The Message To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—Jude 1:24 NIV Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,Jude 1:24 NASB Now, to the one with enough power to prevent you from stumbling into sin and bring you faultless before his glorious presence to stand before him with ecstatic delight,Jude 1:24 The Passion Translation Queen began her yoga journey in 2015 as a form of self-care. She soon fell in love with the exhilarating feeling that came with stepping on her yoga mat. The two very important lessons she learned while exploring yoga was how to use breathing techniques to find peace of mind and to have grace and love for her body. While deepening her practice, Queen began to use her time on her mat as a sacred space to meet with God through prayer and meditation. She soon realized that through the stillness she began to open her heart and ears to God’s Word which in turn helped her in her battle with depression. Queen completed both her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training and her 100hr Holy Yoga Teacher Training in 2019. Upon completing her Yoga Teacher Training’s, Queen is determined to create safe spaces where individuals can find serenity, gratitude, and self-love while challenging their bodies, hearts, and minds, and souls. You can connect with Queen at http://sacredspacesyogahtx.com/ https://www.bluebell.com/our-products/ https://nadamoo.com/ “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action. Grace, you know, does not just have to do with forgiveness of sins alone.”Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus's Essential Teachings on Discipleship https://first5.org/

29 “The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.Deuteronomy 29:29 New Living Translation 29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV 29 “There are secrets the Lord your God has not revealed to us, but these words that he has revealed are for us and our children to obey forever.Deut. 29:29 Living Bible 29 Only the Eternal knows the secret things. But we and our descendants are always responsible for what has been revealed to us, and we need to obey every word of this law.Deut. 29:29 The Voice Casey was born and raised in sunny southern California. She has been teaching Power Vinyasa Yoga since 2014 and truly feels it is her calling. She has a passion for nurturing wholeness in others, specifically through the practice of yoga and the use of essential oils. She has spent extensive time training in the therapeutic benefits of essential oils, and she brings that knowledge into the yoga studio by incorporating oils into all of her classes. Casey’s classes are filled with fun, great music, and high energy. Her goal is that students leave their mats feeling revitalized, confident, and inspired.  When not on her mat, Casey can be found reading, singing karaoke, drinking insane amounts of coffee, and road tripping across the U.S. with her husband and three kids.  https://www.instagram.com/ancientpathyoga/ https://realhotyoga.net/knoxville https://www.yogaknoxvilletn.com/ https://ourbestbites.com/spicy-honey-chicken-salad/ https://eastwestsauces.com/products/sizzling-stir-fry-sauce/ https://smile.amazon.com/Salad-Chopper-Mezzaluna-Chopping-messless/dp/B07BC4NWLR https://smile.amazon.com/Salad-Chopper-Mezzaluna-Chopping-messless/dp/B07BC4NWLR https://smile.amazon.com/Salad-Chopper-Mezzaluna-Chopping-messless/dp/B07BC4NWLR https://www.kristingibowiczyoga.com/retreats-1

14 but if anyone drinks the living water I give them, they will never thirst again and will be forever satisfied! For when you drink the water I give you it becomes a gushing fountain of the Holy Spirit, springing up and flooding you with endless life!”John 4:14 The Passion Translation 13-14 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”John 4:13-14 The Message metamorphosis by Kerry Tomberlin https://www.johnodonohue.com/store https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Listening-Art-Spiritual-Direction/dp/1561010561 https://www.amazon.com/Listening-Life-Embracing-Attentiveness-Distraction/dp/0830844120/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GK4MFPXLEARB&dchild=1&keywords=the+listening+life+by+adam+mchugh&qid=1593039672&s=books&sprefix=the+listening+life%2Cstripbooks%2C223&sr=1-1 I had no idea that listening can heal the rift between those proverbial enemies, hearing and doing.The Listening Life, Adam S. McHugh https://www.amazon.com/Keywords-5-selected/s?k=9780310325505%7C9780310327127%7C9780310339731%7C9780310341826%7C9780310346913&rh=ssx%3Arelevance&aaxitk=aWXhwOKyAQ0KR-TYQ0XRqQ&hsa_cr_id=5180318130501&lp_asins=0310327121%2C0310339731%2C0310341825&lp_mat_key=the+circle+maker&lp_query=circle+maker&lp_slot=auto-sparkle-hsa-tetris&pf_rd_p=0695bfd4-f098-403d-ad0f-7db64c30b506&store_ref=SB_A02774951QVOJUADLR58D&ref=sbx_be_s_sparkle_td_brand https://holyyogafoundation.org http://blakekhealy.com/about/ Blessing at the Well (John 4:14)  Many come to this well finding they are limping, performing, hiding, judging  Themselves and others.   Travel weary a little tattered around the edges at best. Almost comatose and holding deep wounds at worst.  For some this well is our first line of defense, for others it our last resort.  And so we walk in slowly to the clearing, where this particular well stands.  There is something different about this well. Something that feels like home.  Slide up close to the edge of this well and listen carefully  You might be able to hear the stream that feeds this source of nourishment.  Listen closer and you might hear the Everlasting feeding it with the soft but fierce declarations...  I see you.  I cherish you.  I forgive you.  I delight in you.  Here drink this cup...  I see you.  I cherish you.  I forgive you.  I delight in you.  Drink again and again  You will find refreshment and rest here.  You will find as you leave this place for the day with your canteen full that what’s required of you is pleasant and easy to bear.  Kimberly Mervyn Living Water Beyond the confines of the mind lies a stream of living water It winds its way slowly ever onward moving forward leaving nothing behind taking nothing at the same time Free to be as it is free to run free to pause and slow down free to overflow free to hold This water is cleansing renewing refreshing this water is everything you need The flow of life the rhythm of love generously flowing growing, going beyond The Sound of the current beckons A whisper running, humming calling your name Step into the water allow it to pull you under and begin to find your breath Enter into the flow of the unknown and you will be set free. Kelsey Zahn Melton

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces [endurance.James 1:2-3 NASB 2-4 Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.James 1:2-3 The Voice 2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.James 1:2-4 The Message My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!  For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things.James 1:2-3 The Passion https://www.christianbook.com/bible-background-commentary-testament-second-edition/craig-keener/9780830824786/pd/824786?en=google&event=SHOP&kw=academic-20-40%7C824786&p=1179710&dv=c&gclid=CjwKCAjw_qb3BRAVEiwAvwq6VswYxItskDLBc4VFvsJUw5Sj47kZbaqR7Qq4mYOqUW60aphGJDH6uxoC_FAQAvD_BwE Quarrelling means trying to show that the other man is wrong For you notice it is only our bad temper that we put down to being tired or worried or hungry; we put our good temper down to ourselves. C.S. Lewis The laws of nature, as applied to stones or trees, may only mean ‘what nature, in fact does’. But if you turn to the Law of Human Nature, The Law of Decent Behavior, it is a different matter….the law of gravity tells you what stones do if you drop them; but the Law of Human Nature tells you what human beings ought to do and do not.In other words, when you are dealing with humans, something else comes in above and beyond the actual facts. You have the facts (how men do behave) and you also have something else (how they ought to behave). In the rest of the universe there need not be anything but the facts. Electrons and molecules behave a certain way, and certain results follow, and that may be the whole story. But men behave in a certain way and that is not the whole story, for all the time you know that they ought to behave differently. -C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrie_ten_Boom

You will keep in perfect peace    all who trust in you,    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!Isaiah 26:3 NLT You will keep him in perfect peace,Whose mind is stayed on You,Because he trusts in You.Isaiah 26:3 New King James Perfect, absolute peace surrounds those whose imaginations are consumed with you; they confidently trust in you.Isaiah 26:3 The Passion Translation You will keep the peace, a perfect peace, for all who trust in You,        for those who dedicate their hearts and minds to You.Isaiah 26:3 The Voice https://www.instagram.com/honeyandsoulyoga/ https://www.instagram.https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemat_yogaoutreach//beyondthemat_yogaoutreach/ https://brenebrown.com/braving-wilderness Anger is wthin each of you and I will share a secret for a few seconds. That if we are confined in the narrow shells of ego and the circles of selfishness then the anger will turn out to be hatred, violence, revenge, and destruction. But, if we are able to break the circles, then the same anger can turn into a great power. We can break the circles by using our inherent compassion and connect with the world through compassion to make the world better, so the same anger can be transformed into it. Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize Recipient/ Social Reformer https://holyyogafoundation.org/summer/ Cover image provided by Kelle Ramsey kelleramsey.com

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartBe acceptable in Your sight,O Lord, my [a]strength and my Redeemer.Psalm 19:14 New King James Version May the words of my mouth    and the meditation of my heartbe pleasing to you,    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.Psalm 19:14 New Living Translation There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.The Message Psalm 11-14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart    be pleasing in your sight,    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.Psalm 19:14 NIV So may the words of my mouth, my meditation-thoughts,and every movement of my heart be always pure and pleasing,acceptable before your eyes,my only Redeemer, my Protector-God.Psalm 19:14 The Passion Translation  Beverly is a Master Holy Yoga Instructor and health educator who has been a student of Hatha and Vinyasa yoga for over 20 years. In 2012, Beverly felt called to     merge her background in public health education and family ministry to promote holistic wellness and was the first to bring the practice of Holy Yoga to Connecticut. Over the next three years her Holy Yoga ministry grew to several churches in CT and NY. Her dream to someday open a Christian-inspired Community Wellness Yoga studio where people could come, free of judgement or denomination labels to connect with God while getting healthy and whole became a reality in October 2015 with the opening of Holy Yoga of Connecticut, LLC in her hometown of New Fairfield, CT. The opportunity to serve all ages in her community with holistic yoga and wellness is both and honor and a blessing.  A lover of many genres of music, Beverly uses contemporary Christian worship music, Alternative, Pop, Christian Rap and Reggae to facilitate a fun, Christ-                                                       honoring experience to help students connect to God. While Beverly has practiced many different styles of yoga over the years, never has her soul been touched,  healed and uplifted as when practicing Holy Yoga. Holy Yoga brings Mark 12:30 to life, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength". There really is nothing like meeting Jesus on your mat! "The practice of Holy Yoga has completely transformed my relationship with God and with others". Beverly served on Holy Yoga Foundation's Leadership Team as Northeast Regional Director and currently serves as Holy Yoga Global's Teacher Trainer for Therapy, Touch, 300 hr, 200 hr and 100 hr Instructor Training & Certification programs. Holy Yoga of Connecticut https://soundcloud.com/kelsey-zahn-710369693 https://soundcloud.com/kelsey-zahn-710369693 Reflection questions- What worlds am I creating with my words? What am I engaging with, contemplating or reflecting upon? What moves my heart? What do these things reveal about me/how the Lord sees me? Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, because they become actions. Watch your actions, because they become habits. Watch your habits, because they become your character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. What we think, we become.Margaret Thatcher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1ISxFL5R_Q https://holyyogafoundation.org/summer/

7 Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” 9 Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.” 10 Moreover, the angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” 11 The angel of the Lord said to her further, “Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has given heed to your affliction.Genesis 16: 7-11 NASB But the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, on the road to (Egypt by way of) Shur. And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where did you come from and where are you going?" And she said, "I am running away from my mistress Sarai." The Angel of the Lord said, "Go back to your mistress and submit humbly to her authority." Then the Angel of the Lord said,  “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” The Angel of the Lord continued, “Behold, you are with child,And you will bear a son;And you shall name him Ishmael (God hears),Because the Lord has heard and paid attention to your persecution (suffering).Genesis 16:7-11 Amp An angel of God found her beside a spring in the desert; it was the spring on the road to Shur. He said, “Hagar, maid of Sarai, what are you doing here?”She said, “I’m running away from Sarai my mistress.” The angel of God said, “Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse.” He continued, “I’m going to give you a big family, children past counting.From this pregnancy, you’ll get a son: Name him Ishmael;    for God heard you, God answered you.He’ll be a bucking bronco of a man,    a real fighter, fighting and being fought,Always stirring up trouble,    always at odds with his family.”Genesis 16:7-11 The Message https://www.instagram.com/brookewilson_bw/ https://beatricechestnut.com/ https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253676/how-cliftonstrengths-works.aspx https://www.502poweryoga.com/ http://create.blubrry.com/resources/podcast-media-hosting/?code=mat

6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. 7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].Philippians 4:6-7 The Amplified Bible 6 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.Philippians 4:6-7 The Passion Translation 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Phil 4:6-7 NIV 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.4:6-7 The New King James Kristin is a wife, a mom of three girls, and a lover of movement.  She found yoga after a back surgery and yoga was the modality that helped her return. Certified in 2003, she teaches many styles of yoga from power to yin.   She has taught yoga to women's retreats, sports teams, fundraising events, teens, corporations, churches, women's shelters, kids in schools and more.  As an E-RYT and YACEP, she has co-lead teacher trainings since 2008.  It is Kristin's deepest desire to provide a practice where people can unplug from what the world says, and reconnect to their Truth.  When distraction is the norm, her hope is to encourage healing through a strengthening and rejuvenating practice, focused breathing, meditation, and prayer.  She is passionate about training up and multiplying the light workers here on earth, and currently provides continuing education workshops for yoga teachers in Colorado and around the US. For more on Kristin, visit https://kristingibowicz.com ​ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-11-breathwork-god-and-new-beginnings/id1423750873?i=1000445615743 https://www.calhounministries.org/books https://holyyoga.net

9 For the Eternal will be a shelter for those who know misery, a refuge during troubling times.10 Those who know Your name will rely on You, for You, O Eternal One, have not abandoned those who search for You.Psalm 9:9-10 The Voice 9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.10 Those who know your name trust in you for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.Psalm 9:9-10 NIV 9 All who are oppressed may come to you as a shelter in the time of trouble, a perfect hiding place.10 May everyone who knows your mercy keep putting their trust in you, for they can count on you for help no matter what. O Lord, you will never, no never, neglect those who come to you.Psalm 9:9-10 The Passion Translation 9-10 God’s a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times.The moment you arrive, you relax; you’re never sorry you knocked.Psalm 9:9-10 The Message http://create.blubrry.com/resources/podcast-media-hosting/?code=mat

12 I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. 13 I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this;however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. 14 I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.Philippians 3:12-14 The Passion Translation 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.Philippians 3:12-14 NIV 12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.Philippians 3:12-14 The Message Living and Leading with Influence ​ Katie Pearson believes all women are created with a unique capacity to serve God and lead others wherever they are planted. With age and life experience, our influence only increases. For this reason, she is passionate about providing holistic opportunities for women to discover their unique leadership profile and equip them heart, mind, soul and strength to fulfill their calling in any given season.  Whether you are an experienced leader undergoing personal or professional transition, or a just beginning to explore your relationship with Christ, she hopes to encourage and empower you to fulfill your God-given potential and Christ's will for your life knowing it's more about who you are than anything you can do or produce. Her offerings include private and team coaching, retreat experiences, yoga classes, leadership development training, book studies and workshops. Most of her programs are offered online, as well as in person. She believes relationships are foundational to transformation, and therefore her approach is very personal whether meeting virtually or face to face! http://benewlifestyle.com http://www.nativepartnership.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nrf_index https://guenergy.com/ In the English Bible we say we must “love with all our hearts.” The Karre people of Africa say we “love with all our liver.” The Conote Indians of Guatemala love with their stomachs and the natives of the Marshall Islands with their throats. We say we must “press on to the mark.” The Navajo of the Southwest would say to run with “open mouth.” All speak to our ultimate love and our ultimate commitment in words that the listener understands. Truth is not in the words we use but in the meaning they carry.Jerry McKee Bullock, Life's Like That: An Old Texan Looks at Life Volume 1 https://www.lviglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/NitricOxideMouthBreathing.pdf https://thriveglobal.com/stories/three-ways-proper-breathing-will-increase-your-endurance/ “The soul is like a wild animal—tough, resilient, savvy, self-sufficient and yet exceedingly shy. If we want to see a wild animal, the last thing we should do is to go crashing through the woods, shouting for the creature to come out. But if we are willing to walk quietly into the woods and sit silently for an hour or two at the base of a tree, the creature we are waiting for may well emerge, and out of the corner of an eye we will catch a glimpse of the precious wildness we seek.”Parker J. Palmer,

16 “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.John 15:16 The Message 16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you.John 15:16 Amplified Bible 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.John 15:16 New King James Brenda lives in the Village of Mariemont with her husband, Brad, and is the mother of three daughters. She is the owner of Worthy Yoga Worthy is a faith-based yoga practice located in the Mariemont community, just a few miles East of downtown Cincinnati. Worthy focuses on the love of, faith in, and surrender to, the Holy Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Worthy Yoga welcomes and respects people of all faiths and denominations, though we are Christ-centered, we are still fully devoted to the practice of yoga. Brenda believes that asana, breath-work, and meditation free the mind and body to listen, heal, and experience communion with our Creator. It is her heart to bear witness to and encourage her students to find freedom and expression out of their innate desire for alignment and connection. . Brenda offers a selection of private sessions by appointment. https://worthyyoga.com https://www.foodfarmfestival.com/ https://www.foodfarmfestival.com/ https://themillcoffee.business.site/#summary https://www.balladofthebirddog.com/ https://orderiw.com/product/keto-coffee-packets/ https://www.kristingibowiczyoga.com/copy-of-mentorship https://www.amazon.in/You-are-My-Beloved-Discovering-ebook/dp/B081JB525W https://www.amazon.com/Anam-Cara-Book-Celtic-Wisdom/dp/006092943X http://create.blubrry.com/resources/podcast-media-hosting/?code=mat

5-8 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.Phillippians 2:5-8 The Message 1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.Phillippians 2:1-8 NASB 6 He existed in the form of God, yet he gave no thought to seizing equality with God as his supreme prize. 7 Instead he emptied himself of his outward glory by reducing himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human!Phillippians 2:6-7 The Passion Translation If you find any comfort from being in the Anointed, if His love brings you some encouragement, if you experience true companionship with the Spirit, if His tenderness and mercy fill your heart; then, brothers and sisters, 2 here is one thing that would complete my joy—come together as one in mind and spirit and purpose, sharing in the same love. 3 Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. 4 Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors’ interests first5 In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts. Remember:6 Though He was in the form of God, He chose not to cling to equality with God;7 But He poured Himself out to fill a vessel brand new; a servant in form and a man indeed.The very likeness of humanity,8 He humbled Himself, obedient to death— a merciless death on the cross!Philippians 2:1-8 The Voice http://brookeboon.com/webinar/ “Listen to me, Shame, do you see that joy in front of me? Compared to that, you are less than nothing. You are not worth comparing to that! I despise you. You think you have power. Compared to the joy before me, you have none. Joy. Joy. Joy. That is my power! Not you, Shame. You are worthless. You are powerless. You think you can distract me. I won’t even look at you. I have a joy set before me. Why would I look at you? You are ugly and despicable. And you are almost finished. You cover me now as with a shroud. Before you can say, ‘So there!’ I will throw you off like a filthy rag. I will put on my royal robe. You think you are great, because even last night you made my disciples run away. You are a fool, Shame. You are a despicable fool. That abandonment, that loneliness, this cross — these tools of yours — they are all my sacred suffering, and will save my disciples, not destroy them. You are a fool. Your filthy hands fulfill holy prophecy. Farewell, Shame. It is finished.”John Piper https://beatricechestnut.com/the-enneagram/ The ego tries to keep us in that space of believing we can be the god of our own life… and as I thought about it I r...

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.Romans 12:2 NIV 2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.Romans 12:2 The Passion Translation I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.Romans 12: 1-2 NRSV  2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.Romans 12:2 NLT  Strictly speaking, the written Word of God is never directly referred to in the Bible as bread.  Rather, the term bread of God refers specifically to the Person of Christ.  This fact is emphasized in the sixth chapter of John, containing the Lord’s discourse on the Bread of Life in which He alludes to Himself as the Bread fourteen times.  Two verses illustrate this usage clearly:  “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world” (v. 33).  “I am that bread of life” (v. 48).  Nevertheless, three times in Scripture we read of the Word of God being contrasted with natural bread in such a way that their similarities are also highlighted.  In Deuteronomy we read Moses’ message to the children of Israel:  “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live” (8:3).  And the Lord Jesus reiterates those words to Satan at the time of His temptation in the wilderness:  “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4; similarly in Lk. 4:4).https://www.gbcurbana.com/GraceNotes/tabid/122/ID/41/THE-WORD-OF-GOD-BREAD.aspx "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."Maya Angelou To care means first of all to empty our own cup and to allow the other to come close to us. It means to take away the many barriers which prevent us from entering into communion with the other. When we dare to care, then we discover that nothing human is foreign to us, but that all the hatred and love, cruelty and compassion, fear and joy can be found in our own hearts. When we dare to care, we have to confess that when others kill, I could have killed too. When others torture, I could have done the same. When others heal, I could have healed too. And when others give life, I could have done the same. Then we experience that we can be present to the soldier who kills, to the guard who pesters, to the young man who plays as if life has no end, and to the old man who stopped playing out of fear for death. By the honest recognition and confession of our human sameness, we can participate in the care of God who came, not to the powerful but powerless, not to be different but the same, not to take our pain away but to share it. Through this participation we can open our hearts to each other and form a new community.”Henry J. M. Nouwen, Out of Solitude  “Learn to sit amongst the weeds with God as Gardener, not the self.”Teresa of Avila

26-28 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.The Message 27 God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny. 28 So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.Romans 28:27-28 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.Romans 28 ESV “The Weaver” “My life is but a weavingBetween my God and me.I cannot choose the colorsHe weaveth steadily. Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;And I in foolish prideForget He sees the upperAnd I the underside. Not ’til the loom is silentAnd the shuttles cease to flyWill God unroll the canvasAnd reveal the reason why. The dark threads are as needfulIn the weaver’s skillful handAs the threads of gold and silverIn the pattern He has planned He knows, He loves, He cares;Nothing this truth can dim.He gives the very best to thoseWho leave the choice to Him.” ― Grant Colfax Tullar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDIJz6zzHNU Story behind the writing of It Is Well With My Soulhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul Contentment is not the absence of desire for more. It is the unwillingness to allow lack to define your identity or steal your joy.Bill Johnson We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.C.S. Lewis

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.New King James 4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. 5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. 6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.NIV Here’s the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else: I want the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer. 5–6 In his shelter in the day of trouble, that’s where you’ll find me, for he hides me there in his holiness. He has smuggled me into his secret place, where I’m kept safe and secure— out of reach from all my enemies. Triumphant now, I’ll bring him my offerings of praise, singing and shouting with ecstatic joy! Yes, listen and you can hear the fanfare of my shouts of praise to the Lord!The Passion Translation 4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. 6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.NASB I am pleading with the Eternal for this one thing, my soul’s desire: To live with Him all of my days— in the shadow of His temple, To behold His beauty and ponder His ways in the company of His people. 5 His house is my shelter and secret retreat.  It is there I find peace in the midst of storm and turmoil. Safety sits with me in the hiding place of God. He will set me on a rock, high above the fray. 6 God lifts me high above those with thoughts of death and deceit that call for my life. I will enter His presence, offering sacrifices and praise. In His house, I am overcome with joy As I sing, yes, and play music for the Eternal alone.The Voice https://www.lifeway.com/en/product-family/breaking-free-2009?s_kwcid=AL!4443!3!412890508226!e!!g!!beth%20moore%20breaking%20free&s_kwcid=AL!4443!3!412890508226!e!!g!!beth%20moore%20breaking%20free&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6_vzBRCIARIsAOs54z7v9QXEP2LjPCfu35K7L53VelEnBghjOIIn0u8_84bFRb9Cwj_8aQgaAgCzEALw_wcB&ef_id=Cj0KCQjw6_vzBRCIARIsAOs54z7v9QXEP2LjPCfu35K7L53VelEnBghjOIIn0u8_84bFRb9Cwj_8aQgaAgCzEALw_wcB:G:s https://www.sallykempton.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Soaking-His-Presence-Instrumental-Worship/dp/B07DGMJNV2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCAY_qeDo-w https://www.amazon.com/Frederick-Leo-Lionni/dp/0394810406

The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”Zephaniah 3:17 Berean Study Bible For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”NLT The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singingNRSV The Eternal your God is standing right here among you, and He is the champion who will rescue you. He will joyfully celebrate over you;  He will rest in His love for you; He will joyfully sing because of you like a new husband.The Voice “The Lord your God is in your midst, A Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.Amplified Amplified Bible - Translation method The Amplified Bible attempts to take both word meaning and context into account in order to accurately translate the original text from one language into another. The Amplified Bible does this through the use of explanatory alternate readings and amplifications to assist the reader in understanding what Scripture really says. Multiple English word equivalents to each key Hebrew and Greek word clarify and amplify meanings that may otherwise have been concealed by the traditional translation method. Amplified Bible - Pros and Cons The Amplified Bible can be a valuable study tool, as the different “alternate” renderings can give additional insight into the meaning of a text. The problem is the words the AMP gives alternate renderings for CAN mean those things, but do not mean ALL of those things. The fact that a word can have different meanings does not mean that every possible meaning is a valid rendering each time the word occurs. Also, it being based on the American Standard Version results in some of its wordings sounding archaic. https://www.gotquestions.org/Amplified-Bible-AMP.html Kimberly Mervyn Director of Soul Care Leading spiritual transformation, Kimberly seeks the Lord’s will for Holy Yoga instructors and Holy Yoga communities. She collaborates with Holy Yoga Global to ensure that the Holy Yoga community remains Christ-centered and that the Word is studied well. Kimberly also works with Holy Yoga curriculum in order to enable and encourage Holy Yoga instructors to build and deepen communities. She studied at Premanada Yoga School in 2013 and received her Holy Yoga certification in 2014. She is a certified Spiritual Director through Selah School of Spiritual Direction. She and her incredible husband, Howard, have 4 children and she loves to cook, hike, and have soul-stirring conversations. http://holyyogafoundation.org Kelsey's wild parrots

19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,Hebrews 6:19 ESV 19 We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself. Our anchor of hope is fastened to the mercy seat which sits in the heavenly realm beyond the sacred threshold,The Passion Translation 18-20 We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.The Message 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.NLT 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,New King James Meet Sue Bidstrup  Sue is passionate about helping women like you take ownership of your life! She will encourage you to live with intention and create the life you love! She do this by helping you embrace curiosity and possibility, take every thought captive, and say YES to a life of passion and purpose! Sue has created an online membership community for women business owners, entrepreneurs and visionaries to help them not lose their minds while they are growing their business! For more information visit greatbigyes.com https://www.myss.com/chakras/

7 One day the Eternal God scooped dirt out of the ground, sculpted it into the shape we call human, breathed the breath that gives life into the nostrils of the human, and the human became a living soul. When human body meets divine spirit, soul is born. Divine breath and sculpted earth come together to make up the living soul. For thousands of years, philosophers and theologians have posed the question: what is a human being? Here God gives the answer. 8 The Eternal God planted a garden in the east in Eden—a place of utter delight—and placed the man whom He had sculpted there.The Voice 7 Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. 8 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made.NLT http://youaremybeloved.ca Mia's very old, very loved chenille scarf

His pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of "I Am," meditating day and night in the true revelation of light. He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God's design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of his life.  He is never dry, never fainting, ever blissed, ever prosperous. Psalm 1:2-3 The Passion Translation but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.Psalm 1:2-3 NIV https://drleaf.com/collections/all/products/switch-on-your-brain-every-day https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/releasing-flood-controversy-colorado-river https://holyyogafoundation.org/event/leadership-development/ http://youaremybeloved.ca

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit [c]of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.John 15:1-5 NASB