Podcasts about perceiving

As I have looked at the passage before us, John 6:22–59, I have prayed that we wouldn't labor so hard for bread that perishes, and that we would all labor even harder for the only Bread the satisfies. That's my whole sermon in a sentence: Don't labor so hard for bread that perishes, and labor with all your heart and time and money and strength for the only bread that satisfies. So many people — and sadly, so many Christians — live their whole lives for the wrong kind of bread.Pastor Jonathan talked last week about how chapters 5–8 are establishing Jesus as the Son of God, with all of the authority and power of heaven. And the verses we looked at last week in chapter 6, verses 17–21, are the height of this long, glorious look at Jesus. It was dark and windy and dangerous in the boat, and the disciples were far out to sea, no one in sight. And then someone was in sight, someone they knew. And then he wasn't just in sight, he was in the boat.And then, immediately, the boat that was lost at sea was safe on shore. . . . He has authority over wind and waves, over gravity and currents, over time and space. When no one could get to the boat, he could get to the boat. He can get to your boat. No matter how dark it is, and how far at sea you feel, he can get to your boat — and he can get your boat home.And now we come to our passage this morning. Crowds were gathering. I mean, why wouldn't they gather? He's just fed five thousand men and their families (and we know, in this church, that there were some boys in those families that ate as much or more than the men). Of course the crowd goes looking for him. They even tried to make him king, we saw, in verse 15. What else would we expect them to do? If a man is doing the things Jesus was doing, shouldn't they want to be near him? Shouldn't they want to see what he's going to do next? Shouldn't they want someone like him to be in power? How else should these people respond?And yet Jesus doesn't like how they're responding.Verse 25: When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”Jesus answered them,“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life.”Oh this is so important for us, church, as we walk through the Gospel of John and meet Jesus. This crowd teaches us that it's possible to be utterly fascinated by Jesus, follow Jesus, even believe Jesus can do spectacular things for us, and yet totally miss Jesus. You can be looking for Jesus, and not really looking for Jesus. He acknowledges here, “You are seeking me,” but you're not really seeking me. You're here for the wrong kind of bread.And that's the question this text asks us: Why are you here? Why are you in this room this morning? What do you really want from Jesus? I see three bad answers to that question in these verses.Bad Reasons to Seek JesusThis crowd came looking for Jesus, but he isn't happy about how they're coming.“You are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”You're seeking me for the wrong reasons. And what are those wrong reasons? I see three bad reasons for seeking Jesus in these verses — you could think of them as three moldy loaves of bread — and those are my three main points this morning.1. They were seeking Jesus to solve earthly problems.First, the most obvious one: They were seeking Jesus to solve earthly problems.“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life.” The first bread that perishes is actual bread. They chased him down because he fed them, and they wanted him to do that again (and they worked pretty hard to get that bread — traveling over land and sea to find him again). They came to Jesus to solve an earthly problem.And their problem was a real problem. They really needed bread. Jesus himself said so back in verse 5. He asked Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” These people needed to eat, and Jesus knew that they needed food, and he performed a miracle to feed them. He really fed them. And yet when they come looking for another meal, he calls them out. “You didn't get the point of all that bread.”We might scoff at them for being so worried about bread, but I wonder if, deep down, some of us are really here for the same reason. We're looking for Jesus because we need him to do something for us. Maybe it's literally the next meal — you're not sure where the next few paychecks are coming from. And if you are sure, you're not confident they're going to cover the basics. You're here because you really need someone to turn a few loaves and a couple fish into something much bigger, and you heard Jesus can do that. This wasn't just about bread, though. You know how I know that? Because they tried to make him king. Verse 15:“Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king.”They wanted the next meal, yes, but this is about way more than flour and yeast and metabolism. They don't just want Jesus to solve their lunch problem; they want him to solve all their problems. Their sickness problems. Their money problems. Their living-under-Roman-government problems. This was their chance for God's people to be back in power again. If he could do all that with a little bread, what else could he do for us?They were seeking Jesus to solve their earthly problems — but Jesus came to solve much deeper ones. What does Jesus say to them? Verse 27:“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life.”We'll see in a minute that this exposes a second bad reason they were looking for Jesus, but for now, what is this bread that never perishes, the bread that endures to eternal life? Jesus says, verse 35:“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”Do you want to know the point of all those loaves and fish, the 5,000 men and their families, the twelve baskets left over? Do you want to know the point of the boat, and the storm, and all that darkness? Do you want to know what I was really trying to say?“I am the bread of life.”I was giving you lots and lots of bread so that you know you needed something more than you need bread. You think you need bread, you need money, you need healing, you need a king, but you really need me. And if you have me, in a real, meaningful way, you have everything you need — no matter what else you need right now. And you have everything you need not only for this short life of bread and bills and fears, but for endless years to come — forever.And to make sure we hear the point, he keeps repeating himself. Okay, you missed the point when I made all that bread for you. I'll use words now:Verse 33: “The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”Verse 35: “I am the bread of life.”Verse 48: “I am the bread of life.”Verse 58: “This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”He repeats it over and over and over. I gave you bread to feed you, yes, but also to tell you that bread will never satisfy and sustain you. But I can save you, satisfy you, and sustain you. You have a deeper, more fundamental hunger, and it's to know and enjoy me, through faith. You'll always be deeply, unshakably hungry until you learn to feast here. Are you hearing what the bread is saying? The crowd knew Jesus could feed them, heal them, even rule over them. They didn't know that Jesus himself was the greatest thing Jesus could ever give them. Do you?2. They were seeking Jesus for a list of things to do.There are two more bad reasons, though. First, as we just saw, they were seeking Jesus to solve earthly problems. Jesus said to them,“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life.”And how do they respond? When he tells them to stop chasing him for the next meal and to work for the food that endures to eternal life, they latch onto the “work.” They ask, verse 28,“What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”Okay, Jesus, if we're doing the wrong thing, then tell us what to do. They came to Jesus for a way to prove themselves to God. Just tell us what to do to please God, and we'll do it. They wanted a religion they could control, perform, and earn. Just tell me what to do, Jesus.Why would they respond like that? He's telling them, “I am the bread of life. I am the bread of life. I can satisfy you.” And they're like, “Yeah, but just tell me what to do so that I'm okay with God.” Why would they think like that? We should know, if we're honest enough with ourselves. They might have lived in the Middle East a couple thousand years ago, but this isn't foreign to us. They think like this because they want a religion, a salvation that only requires them to do enough — to do this and not that, to give this much, to show up this often, to practice certain habits and avoid certain sins. That's a religion, a Christianity they can stomach, because it's a religion they think they can control.Don't you want a religion you can control? God, just tell me what to do. Be here on Sundays. Join a community group. Give some money to the church. Read your Bible. Be kind to people. Be honest at your job. Avoid certain websites and channels. That's a controllable Christianity — but that kind of list, by itself, isn't Christianity. What must we do? Again, Jesus doesn't like that kind of seeking.They ask what they must do, and he answers, verse 29,“This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”You want something to do? Believe in me. That's all that's required. If you're really seeking me, believe that I am the Son of God sent to save my people from their sins and fill the deep, gnawing holes in their souls. I am the bread of life, and all you have to do is sit down and eat. You must believe in me. You must want me. You must lay down all your self-righteous doing, and be justified and satisfied through faith alone. They were seeking Jesus for a list of things to do for God, but Jesus didn't want their list of self-righteousness (they didn't have any righteousness to offer, anyway). No, he wanted their heart, their faith. We aren't justified by what we do, but by believing who he is and what he's done for us.He is the bread of life. Our work is to believe in him. Jesus says, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but [do work] for the food that endures to eternal life.” Labor for this food — not to earn it, but to taste it, enjoy it, be filled up with it. Are you laboring to see and enjoy the bread of life? Are you waking up early enough to see him? Are you surrounding yourself with people who help you see and enjoy him? Are you cutting things out of your life that get in the way of seeing him? Again, I want us to stop laboring so hard for all the bread that perishes — and to labor with all our heart, time, money, and strength for the only bread that satisfies. How hard are you working, in this particular season, to know, enjoy, and share the bread of life?3. They were seeking Jesus to erase all their doubts.Okay, two bad reasons down, still one to go. He rebukes them for their focus on their earthly needs. He rebukes them for trying to please God with a to-do list of works. What do they do next? How do they respond this time? They go after a third moldy bread. They said to him, verse 30,“Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?”This one might be the most wild. I mean, where have you been? He just fed five thousand men and their families with five Wonder breads and a couple walleye. What more do you need to see? You didn't just see, you ate — and you ate as much as you wanted. But it wasn't enough, was it? No, third, they were seeking Jesus to have him erase all of their doubts. Okay, well if you want us to believe, you better give us some more reasons to believe. We're going to need some more signs, Jesus, some more miracles.It's wild to think they needed to see more than they'd already seen — and yet it's not that wild, right? Because we all want to see a little more. We know we live by faith and not by sight, but we'd sure like a little more sight. It doesn't matter how much God has done for us, we're always going to crave a little more certainty. Could you just do the thing with the bread one more time? Yeah, but could you do it again? This is what battling unbelief is like, and it'll be a battle until faith becomes sight. We'll always have to face doubts of various kinds, because if Jesus erased all our doubts, we wouldn't have to believe. And Jesus says here that that's the one thing we must do: believe.So how does Jesus handle their asking for more signs? They were seeking Jesus to have him erase all their doubts with more miracles, but Jesus answered their doubts instead with promises. Let's start in verse 35:Jesus said to them,“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.”You're seeking me for things to do, and what you need to do is believe. But you don't believe. You think it's because you haven't seen enough yet. That's not the real reason, though. He goes on, next verse:“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”He doesn't turn the hungry away. There's enough to feed everyone, and he won't stop giving until you've had all you wanted. But you won't come unless the Father gives you to me — unless he draws you to me. That's exactly what he says a few verses later, in verse 44:“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” Why does anyone believe? Why do you believe, if you believe? It's either true or it isn't, and if it isn't, we can't just flip a switch. Anyone can decide to attend church, or read the Bible, or be kind to neighbors or co-workers. We can't decide to be spiritually hungry. We can't ultimately decide what we believe. Why does anyone believe in Jesus? Jesus says it's because God draws them — because he gives, by the Spirit, the appetite he requires. God demands the impossible — that we believe — and then he does the impossible: He makes us hungry for him.That means if you came hungry for Jesus this morning, you should thank God! He drew you. He didn't have to draw you, and he drew you to himself. He gave you the gift of your hunger for Jesus. This crowd didn't have what you have, not yet anyway. Some people in this room don't have what you have. We should fall on our faces every day with thankfulness. He drew me.He drew me, and he'll keep me. Here's the promise. Do you want a promise for lingering doubts that plague you? It won't be another miracle, another big answered prayer. No, next verse:I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.Only those who the Father draws will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never cast out. And once they've come to me, I'll never lose them, no not one. Why do you believe in Jesus? Because the Father drew you to see what you see and want what you want. Why will you believe in Jesus tomorrow? Because the same God that drew you and satisfied you, he knows how to keep you believing. You may feel fragile and vulnerable. He's not fragile, and no one and nothing will snatch you from his hand.Why Are You Here?So again, I'll ask, why are you here this morning? What do you really want from Jesus? Do you see yourself somewhere in this crowd? Are you here mainly hoping Jesus will solve some heartache in your life? Are you here hoping Jesus will just tell you some things to do so that you can be okay with God and get out of hell? Are you just hoping Jesus will do something to erase all your doubts about him? I hope you hear Jesus saying again this morning, verse 51: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” And this, this brings us to the table. These next verses, John 6:52–59, inspired the words we use to serve the bread and the cup during communion every single week:The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.Or, in our words, “His body is the true bread. His blood is the true drink.” He wasn't talking about literally eating his flesh and drinking his blood — they didn't do that then and we don't do that now — but it's a real metaphor for what happens when we believe in and savor Jesus through faith. God gave you food, bread, so that you would know you need Jesus. God gave you drink, so that you would know you need Jesus. And as we eat the bread and drink the cup together, we remind ourselves and each other: He's the only one who satisfies. He is the bread of life for anyone who believes.Why do we cut up the bread into 500 pieces? (Well, to avoid 500 people manhandling the loaf one by one.) But also to say there's enough of Jesus for everyone. Come and eat until you're full. The message might be clearer if we gave out whole loaves until you were full, with lots of baskets left over — like Jesus did — but we think this says it well enough. You don't have to go home hungry today. If you enjoy this meal, by faith in Jesus Christ, you don't ever have to be hungry again.

Introverted Thinking Lion ISTP (Introverted Sensing Thinking and Perceiving), Type 8 individuals are intellectually sharp but may lack emotional intelligence, making self-awareness essential. Their affinity for systems makes understanding temperament valuable. Female thinkers constitute only 25% of the population, underscoring the importance of teaching appropriate interactions with women. It's crucial to acknowledge and validate their uniqueness. Encourage Introverted thinking (Ti) individuals to explore logical subjects like engineering, philosophy, or theology, aligning with their strategic, independent nature. For ISTPs, action trumps reading, so practical books with real-life scenarios are ideal. As they mature, purpose-driven books become more appealing. Engage ISTP children by acting out stories and ensuring rules make logical sense to them. Embrace the Lion: Encourage freedom and fun, but address ADHD concerns tactfully, considering placebos and life lessons over medication. Observing the lion's transformative journey from childhood to adulthood reveals adaptability and growth in various aspects of life. Ti's self-discipline and intrinsic motivation require patience and negotiation, favoring silly activities and collaborative rule-making. Recognize and harness Ti-Lion's independence and problem-solving skills, incentivizing with sensory rewards and freedom. Understand Ti-Lion's aversion to losing and preference for logical problem-solving, adapting games and communication methods accordingly. Navigate Ti individuals' lower emotional awareness with rational discussions and group activities, fostering emotional intelligence gradually. For type 8 individuals, fairness and justice are paramount, necessitating fair chore distribution and constructive anger expression outlets. Understanding Ti-Lion's extroverted introversion, provide space for solitude and engage in exciting, challenging activities to connect. Bond with Ti-Lion through stimulating activities, avoiding rigid plans, and embracing spontaneity, fostering a dynamic, fulfilling relationship. Take my FREE child temperament test:  https://wendygossett.com/child-inner-drive-assessment-product/ Request a FREE Adult Temperament/Enneagram/Instincts Test: https://wendygossett.com/ Website: Wendy Gossett.com Get FREE resources on my website: https://wendygossett.com/ or email me at WendyGossett.com Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565445936367 Book: Your Child's Inner Drive:Parenting by Personality from Toddlers to Teens on Amazon or  https://wendygossett.com/product/your-childs-inner-drive-parenting-by-personality-for-toddlers-to-teens/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaaOCjoDyOk4_gS1KCncLvQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendy.gossett/?next=%2F Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/wendygossett  

John 6:1-15,After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. One morning last week it occurred to me, in a fresh way, that God's mercy to me has always been deliberate. Whatever good God has ever given to me, he meant it. He meant to give it to me. It was on purpose. And that's true for all of us.The only kind of kindness we ever receive from God is purposeful kindness. This means there's not a single blessing in our lives that is arbitrary or whimsical — and that goes for everything big and small — from a cup of coffee to a roof over our heads, from a good parking spot in a crowded lot to a dinner table crowded with children. Every good thing in our lives is from the hand of God on purpose. Purposeful kindness. And when we get this truth in our heads, we start to see it everywhere. It's all over the place in John Chapter 6 in this story of Jesus feeding the five thousand — which, by the way, this miracle is unique because it's the only miracle of Jesus that is recorded in all four Gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each tell this story because it was monumental for the early church. Through this miracle Jesus is shining brightly as the fulfillment of Old Testament hope, and in the Gospel of John especially, the main message that John wants us to get is that Jesus is greater than Moses. Jesus has already said in Chapter 5, verse 46 that Moses wrote about him, and now we're going to see how he surpasses Moses. That's the narrative strategy going on here, but I don't want us to be too fixed on the narrative strategy that we miss the wonder of Jesus's heart in this story — his purposeful kindness is on display. And that's our focus. I want to show you the purposeful kindness of Jesus in three ways. Here's the first:1. Jesus is a patient provider. Let's start in verse 1 and notice that it opens with a new setting (and it's all important information) … Jesus is back in Galilee (where he's from) and there's a “large crowd” of people following him. That phrase “large crowd” is used twice, and we learn later that it's large as in likely over ten thousand people. Now why was this large crowd following Jesus? Verse 2 says it's because they've seen his signs. We already know from Chapter 4 that the Galileans really loved the signs, and so here they are again coming to see more. Important InfoThen verse 3 says that Jesus went up on the mountain — John doesn't tell us what mountain because it doesn't really matter — we just need to know that Jesus was on a mountain. And this is important because it's an allusion to Moses. It's what we could call a ‘Moses-wink.' (John gives us several little clues in this story to remind us of Moses; you could call them Moses breadcrumbs, but we're gonna call them “Moses-winks.”)The most famous mountain in the Hebrew Bible is Mount Sinai where Moses received God's Law — we know a big part of Moses's ministry was on a mountain, and then the other big part of Moses's ministry was, of course, leading the Exodus — which by the way, verse 4 tells us it's Passover. Passover is the annual feast in Jewish life that remembers Moses leading the exodus (so verses 3 and 4 have back-to-back Moses-winks).Jesus is on a mountain, during Passover — and there's a large number of people following him — and look what Jesus does in verse 5. The text says he lifted up his eyes.This could just be the basic information of what he did, except that earlier in Chapter 4, verse 35 Jesus commanded his disciples, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” Jesus was telling them: Recognize the work of God in the world and join in! And that's exactly what Jesus is doing here! He's about to work the work of God! So there's a drumroll. We're on the the edge of our seats.But then he asks one of his disciples a question.Humorous IronyHe has twelve disciples, but this time he's talking to Philip, who was from that area, and he asks him, verse 5:“Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”And I think there's meant to be humor in this question. Because the question, at face-value, is crazy. There are thousands of people here, Jesus, what do you mean buy bread? In fact, everybody look at verse 6 for a minute. This is one I really need you to see, verse 6. Everybody, verse 6. This is John the narrator talking — Verse 6:“[Jesus] said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.”So this means the question in verse 5 seems so absurd that in verse 6 John as the narrator has to chime in and explain to us that Jesus is up to something. John is saying: Hang on and watch this. And at this point, I think the main thing that separates this story from a modern-day sitcom is a laugh track. Now we're gonna try something we've never tried before. Do y'all think we could make our own laugh track? …Now I'm gonna read this dialogue and when I point at y'all, laugh together. We're gonna make a live laugh track. Because there's humorous irony going on in this story and it'll make sense to you. You're gonna see it. Here we go:Jesus, looking at thousands of people, says: “Hey Philip, where are we gonna buy bread so that these people can eat?” [laugh track]Philip: “16,000 dollars worth of bread would not be enough for each person to get a bite!” [laugh track]Andrew: “I gotta kid here whose got five loaves and two fish.” [laugh track]See, this is a sitcom! It's a situation-comedy.And then Jesus says, “Have the people sit down” — which instantly takes this scene from comedy to He's gonna really do it. He's gonna feed these people. And we'll get there in a minute, but the first thing that stands out here is that Jesus is even taking the time to have this dialogue with his disciples.He Takes Care of ItVerse 6 tells us that he knew what he was going to do; so he could have just done it, but instead he chooses to involve his disciples. He chooses to slow the whole thing down to double his giving — because not only is he gonna give food to this crowd, but now he's gonna give a lesson to his disciples. And this takes amazing patience. And every parent in this room gets this. …I'm at home and I've got to fix a broken cabinet door, so I've got my wood-glue and some screws and a clamp and my drill — I'm ready to go — and then one of my dear children walks in and says, “Hey, Dad, can I help?” And in that moment I've got to decide: Do I wanna make this go twice as long and be twice as stressful?You bakers in the room know what I'm talking about. Sometimes you just wanna make a batch of cookies … and then sometimes you want your five-year-old to help. It all depends on your patience level.Look at how patient Jesus is here! I'm guessing Philip failed this test. A better response would have been to answer Jesus's question with another question. Philip should've said: “Jesus, you can do all things, would you feed them?”See Andrew gets a little closer (maybe he remembers Jesus turning the water to wine), but neither of these disciples get it exactly right. And notice that Jesus doesn't rebuke them. He doesn't shake his head in frustration. He just takes care of it.One day we're gonna find out how many times Jesus has done this for us — how many times we've not had it right but Jesus was our patient provider.There's a prayer of thanksgiving I pray often that goes:Jesus, thank you for the blessings in my life I was neither capable of achieving nor wise enough to ask for but which you sent anyway. Thank you for the particular mercies you've bestowed on me and for all the ways you've been patient with me — for the ways you've helped me change and break bad habits and patterns of thought, heart attitude, and practice; and for the ways you've protected me from the fuller consequences of my own blindness.He's so patient with us. He just takes care of it. One way the purposeful kindness of Jesus is on display is that he is the patient provider.2. Jesus is a generous host. In verse 10, Jesus tells the disciples to have all the people sit down, and there are five thousand men. Now if you add the women and children it would at least double the number (that's where the 10,000 number comes from; some scholars estimate 20,000 total) — either way, this is a lot more people than one paper-bag lunch can serve. That is the most obvious thing going on here. Again, it's comically obvious.But Jesus took that little lunch, he gave thanks to his Father, and in verse 11 “he distributed [the lunch] to those who were seated.” And he didn't ration out the food, but he gave everyone as much bread and fish as they wanted, verse 12, and they all got full.And then he told his disciples to gather up all the leftovers, which ended up being twelve baskets — so they ended with more food than they had when they started; and each of the twelve disciples had his own basket to carry. Which means each disciple would've had a tangible reminder of what Jesus does with basically nothing but a willing heart. (By the way, that's our only hope in ministry — our hope is that Jesus does it this way, and that he's the one who gives us a willing heart.)Putting on a FeastNow I want to draw special attention to two details Jesus does here. The first is that Jesus distributed the bread. Now I don't think this means he himself gave a slice of bread to each person individually — the disciples helped him spread it — but the point is that Jesus was hands-on in this experience and none of it was required.There was a crowd and they were hungry, and all he had to do was just say something. He could've just said “Hunger, be gone.” Jesus has the power to just speak and instantly make the empty stomachs not feel empty. He could have just said the word, but he didn't do it that way.Also, he could have just limited everyone to a slice of bread — just tear off a piece — but instead it's Take all you want! Which means Jesus is putting on a feast here — this whole thing is about more than solving hunger. That's not the point. The point is that Jesus is showing himself to be a generous host. (So he's kinda like Moses with the manna, except that he's greater!)He makes this wide open space his dining room. The ground these people are standing on, which John tells us was lush with grass, becomes banquette seating.Last week, our younger kids, at their school, did a production of Beauty and the Beast. And my favorite scene of the play, by far, is when Belle is in the castle and the staff invite her to dinner, and the kids altogether sang maybe the greatest Disney song of all time, Be Our Guest. It starts:Be our guest, be our guestPut our service to the testTie your napkin ‘round your neck, chérieAnd we provide the restLook, that's what is happening here, except the “we” is an “I.” Jesus is hosting all of these people as his guests. And it's to everyone's surprise.The disciples apparently didn't even think about Jesus doing this. Nobody in this crowd expected this — they were looking for signs, yes, but they couldn't have guessed this. And that's what makes it even more amazing! This is the part that puts Jesus over the top as a generous host. It's that none of these people deserved this. Jesus knows they're not really seeking him. He will say later in verse 26 that the only reason these people are sticking with him is for the free food. And look, he knows all of that now! He knows that on the frontside and yet still, look what he does!He not only gives to those who can't repay him; he gives to those who don't even want to repay him.I feel like if I were there, I'd say: Jesus, your strategy here is all wrong (and I know because I'm a church planter). See, what you win them with, you win them to. Jesus, you're making shallow followers here. You're just meeting their felt-needs and creating a positive experience — at least make the parking bad.Jesus knows all of the pitfalls here, and he does it anyway. Why? … Because he's generous. Because he loves people. Because he wants somebody in that crowd to know he's generous and loves people — because he wants us to know. What if the purposeful kindness of Jesus on display in John 6 is actually for us who are reading this story two thousand years later?Let us marvel at how Jesus is a generous host. And let's learn from him.3. Jesus is loyal to his Father's will. The conclusion to this miracle is the response of the crowd in verses 14–15, which was not humble worship, but ignorant zeal. They recognize, first, because of this miracle, that Jesus is the prophet promised in Deuteronomy 18:15. That's when Moses himself said,The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen.This is not a Moses-wink, this is a straight up Moses-spotlight. Jesus is that ‘prophet like Moses.' Moses wrote of him, and he's greater than Moses. The crowd is 100% correct in their assessment of Jesus in verse 14. But it goes sideways in verse 15 because they wanted to take Jesus by force and make him king. This means that these 5,000 men are a mob-in-the-making, but they're not against Jesus, they want to ‘promote' him. And that's exactly why Jesus gets out of there. But why?! They wanna make him king, Jesus is a king, why doesn't he go along with this?Jesus walks away from thousands of ‘loyalists' because he is loyal to his Father's will, and the path to the throne prepared by his Father requires a cross. That's the reason why. Jesus is the Prophet. Jesus is the King. And Jesus is also the Lamb, and soon enough the will of his Father is gonna lead him to Jerusalem, as one theologian puts it, “not to wield the spear and bring the judgment, but to receive the spear thrust and bear the judgment.” See, Jesus's ascendancy to glory won't come through popularity and prestige, but through suffering and sacrifice. Which he endured for us.Do you see, his loyalty to his Father's will is our salvation? That's what he's after. That's why the Father has sent him.He will be crucified in our place, slain for our sins, taking the punishment we deserved. Jesus will die and be raised to live forever so that we can too.Jesus says, verse 40:“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”Church, it is good news that Jesus is loyal to the will of his Father. It's good news that he does not buckle to the demands of our ignorant desires.Because if we were there, we would have wanted to make him king too. Like Peter, we would have deterred him from the cross. But he went there anyway even as we stood in his way, because he follows his Father's will, not ours, on purpose. This is grace unmeasured, love untold! This is the purposeful kindness of Jesus to us!Jesus is a patient provider. Jesus is a generous host.Jesus is loyal to his Father's will.And that's what brings us to the table. The TableWhat can we do but just thank him? This morning let's marvel at the glory of Jesus. That's my invitation to you now.

Perceiving the destruction of the royal pleasance at the hands of Hanuman, the ogresses keeping watch over Sita asked her who he was. On Sita's pleading her ignorance in the matter, some of them hurriedly seek the presence of Ravana and report the matter to him. Hanuman makes short work of a company of ogres known by the name of Kinkaras, despatched by Ravana. Thereupon Ravana sends Prahasta's son to punish the intruder.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:31Translation: 07:33 - 16:42

Let me recognize the problem so it can be solved.1. A problem cannot be solved if you do not know what it is. ²Even if it is really solved already you will still have the problem, because you will not recognize that it has been solved. ³This is the situation of the world. ⁴The problem of separation, which is really the only problem, has already been solved. ⁵Yet the solution is not recognized because the problem is not recognized.2. Everyone in this world seems to have his own special problems. ²Yet they are all the same, and must be recognized as one if the one solution that solves them all is to be accepted. ³Who can see that a problem has been solved if he thinks the problem is something else? ⁴Even if he is given the answer, he cannot see its relevance.3. That is the position in which you find yourself now. ²You have the answer, but you are still uncertain about what the problem is. ³A long series of different problems seems to confront you, and as one is settled the next one and the next arise. ⁴There seems to be no end to them. ⁵There is no time in which you feel completely free of problems and at peace.4. The temptation to regard problems as many is the temptation to keep the problem of separation unsolved. ²The world seems to present you with a vast number of problems, each requiring a different answer. ³This perception places you in a position in which your problem solving must be inadequate, and failure is inevitable.5. No one could solve all the problems the world appears to hold. ²They seem to be on so many levels, in such varying forms and with such varied content, that they confront you with an impossible situation. ³Dismay and depression are inevitable as you regard them. ⁴Some spring up unexpectedly, just as you think you have resolved the previous ones. ⁵Others remain unsolved under a cloud of denial, and rise to haunt you from time to time, only to be hidden again but still unsolved.6. All this complexity is but a desperate attempt not to recognize the problem, and therefore not to let it be resolved. ²If you could recognize that your only problem is separation, no matter what form it takes, you could accept the answer because you would see its relevance. ³Perceiving the underlying constancy in all the problems that seem to confront you, you would understand that you have the means to solve them all. ⁴And you would use the means, because you recognize the problem. (https://acim.org/acim/en/s/482#1:1-6:4 | W-79.1:1–6:4)Visit the website for information on these meetings, the online community and information on paid private mentoring with Keith:https://www.acimwithkeith.com/You can watch many older meetings on the YouTube Channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@acimwithkeithOur meetings are organised in the Facebook group, "A Course In Miracles With Keith" Please ensure you read and agree to the group rules on application to have membership approved. This is the link:⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/384802770144828⁠If you'd like to donate, you can do so with paypal here:⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/keithkav⁠Or you can donate with credit card here:⁠https://www.mypos.com/@keith⁠

To support these episodes please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devori Nussbaum | Chassidus classes | Patreon⁠⁠

John 6 is a crossroads in the early Christian movement. The masses assumed they understood Jesus and believed that He could be easily manipulated to get whatever they wanted from God. Perceiving that His signs had been woefully misinterpreted, Jesus sought to clarify His message to His thousands of followers. Alas, at the end of the day, the majority unfollowed Him. In this message, we discuss the motives of the crowds that followed Jesus in those early days. We learn why it was so urgent and necessary that Jesus correct the narrative surrounding His movement, even if it did end up costing Him greatly. He knew that the greater cost would be that which His followers would pay, if they remained so misguided. Listen as we learn about the true, pure, and most fulfilling incentives for following Jesus. His primary purpose isn't to enrich us with temporary stuff, but rather to fill us with Eternal Life. Many turn to Jesus to obtain and consume more, but the true prize comes from following, sacrificing, and surrendering our lives to His greater calling over us.

Matthew week 89   Deuteronomy 18:15 ESV   15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—       John 6:14 ESV   14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”       Mark 6:30a, 31 ESV   30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”       Luke 9:10a ESV   10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida.         Matthew 14:13 ESV   13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.       Matthew 14:14-21 ESV   14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.       John 6:14-15 ESV   14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”   15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.       John 6:8-9 ESV   8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”       1 Peter 2:4-10 ESV   4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:   “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,   a cornerstone chosen and precious,   and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”   7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,   “The stone that the builders rejected   has become the cornerstone,”   8 and   “A stone of stumbling,   and a rock of offense.”   They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.   9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.       1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ESV   12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.       1 Corinthians 12:21-22, 24b-26 ESV   21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,       …But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.              

I recently had the absolute pleasure of recording a conversation with Dr. Julia Blau and Dr. Jeffrey Wagman, authors of "An Introduction to Ecological Psychology: A Lawful Approach to Perceiving, Acting, and Cognising." Our conversation explored how humans actually perceive and interact with the world around them and question the traditional assumptions about psychology which suggests that we need to create mental representations of the world before we can act. Julia and Jeff shared insights on how the ecological approach transforms our understanding of human movement, and we contextualise this to enpack how we might better provide opportunities for young people to develop their abilities in sport and physical activity.  We discussed how creating rich, varied environments allows people to develop their own solutions to movement problems. This approach promotes agency, enjoyment, and ultimately better performance across many fields from sports coaching to education. Key Takeaways:Ecological psychology views perception and action as directly connected - we don't need to build internal models of the world to interact with it effectively.Variability in practice isn't something to eliminate; it's actually essential for developing adaptable skills that work in changing environments.When teaching movement skills, focus on helping people recognise when something feels right rather than precisely dictating the movements they should make.If you're interested in joining a community where we explore these concepts further, join our learning group 'The Guild of Ecological Explorers' by heading to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and clicking on the 'join a learning group' button.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

神を第一にする - Putting God First - Retreat Day 3 /4, Third Morning Session - Hayama -Japan. David Hoffmeister with Japanese Translation.The practice of A Course in Miracles teaches us to overlook error. Perceiving error stems from the ego, while the Holy Spirit remembers God's love and only sees the good. To adopt this perspective, we must release comparisons, as the ego seeks to judge and validate. Parents often try to instill self-esteem, but Jesus reminds us that God establishes our worth, not our actions or opinions. Thus, we practice letting go of our self-concept and image. We often chase talents or possessions, but Jesus guides us to abandon these pursuits to rediscover our true self, as created by God. The body may develop skills, yet those skills lack inherent value made by the ego. The critical question becomes: what purpose do I assign to these skills?Enjoy David's third morning talking to Japanese students. To participate in an online Movie Gathering, join our online community: https://programs.the-christ.net/courses/membership-weekly-online-movie-gatheringsFor more information about David Hoffmeister and Living Miracles events, visit https://circle.livingmiraclescenter.org/events.Recorded live on March 22, 2025, in Hayama, Japan.

John 6:1–15Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand[1] After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. [2] And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. [3] Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. [4] Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. [5] Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” [6] He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. [7] Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” [8] One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, [9] “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” [10] Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. [11] Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. [12] And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” [13] So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. [14] When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”[15] Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. (ESV)

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.(English Standard Version)

"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way."            - Marcus Aurelius Bring your awareness to the past week. Gently review the events that occurred, not with judgment, but with detached observation. Allow images and memories to surface, like scenes from a film. As you reflect, pay close attention to the moments that presented challenges, obstacles, or setbacks. Begin to shift your perspective to the Stoic quote: 'The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.' THIS WEEK'S THEME: The Stoic's Gaze Welcome to this week's meditation series: "The Stoic's Gaze: Perceiving Opportunity in All Challenges" In each episode this week, you're guided with the mental tools to transform challenges into pathways for personal growth and virtuous living, directly inspired by Stoic philosophy. Each session focuses on a core Stoic virtue and offers practical techniques to shift perspective and find hidden opportunities within adversity. The series begins by establishing the foundational Stoic understanding that external events are largely outside your control, but your responses and interpretations are entirely within your power. It emphasizes that challenges, rather than being mere obstacles, are opportunities to practice and strengthen Stoic virtues like kindness, patience, resilience, wisdom, courage, and self-control. Each meditation session will guide you through a process of reframing your perception of challenging situations. You're invited to observe your initial emotional reactions without judgment, and then intentionally shift your focus to the potential for growth and virtue. The guided meditations will incorporate visualizations, affirmations, and contemplative practices that embody Stoic principles. YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY DURING THIS WEEK'S SERIES This is episode 7 of a 7-day meditation series titled, "The Stoic's Gaze: Finding Opportunity Everyday" episodes 3283-3289. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: Opportunity Seeker Quest Identify a situation that typically tests your patience and find a creative way to practice patience within it. THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION TECHNIQUES:   Day 1:  Become aware of the energy you give to your thoughts. Day 2:  Affirmation, "There's an opportunity in every challenge." Day 3:  STOIC ANCHOR BREATH Inhale: visualize your greatest strength.  Exhale: visualize the qualities of your greatest strength circulating throughout your body. Day 4:  Kubera mudra for a positive attitude Day 5:  2nd chakra for opportunity Day 6:  Layer Meditation Techniques Day 7:  Reflection + Introspection   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS   Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me at https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!  SUBSCRIBE, LEAVE A REVIEW + TAKE OUR SURVEY SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support. I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! SURVEY: Help us get to know more about how best to serve you by taking our demographics survey: https://survey.libsyn.com/thedailymeditationpodcast FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques posted at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/ sip and om Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/ A DIFFERENT MEDITATION TECHNIQUE EVERY DAY FOCUSED ON A WEEKLY THEME: Get ready for an exciting journey with a new meditation technique daily, perfectly tailored to the week's theme! Infuse these powerful practices into the most stressful moments of your day to master difficult emotions. These dynamic techniques will help you tame the "monkey mind," keeping your thoughts from interrupting your meditation and bringing peace and focus to your life. FREE TOOLS: For free meditation tools to help you meditate please head over to my website at www.SipandOm.com, and there you'll find free resources to help you on your Meditation Journey. Enjoy access to more than 3,000 guided meditations without ads on the Sip and Om app. Try it for 7 days of free access to the full app! Listen on iTunes for 1-Week Free! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   1-week Free Access to the Android app! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sipandom.sipandom   ***All meditations are Mary Meckley's original copyrighted content unless otherwise stated, and may not be shared without her written permission.   RESOURCES Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU I'd love your feedback! Please let me know how you're enjoying the meditations by leaving me a review on iTunes.   **All of the information shared on this podcast is for your enjoyment only. Please don't consider the meditation techniques, herbal tea information, or other information shared by Mary Meckley or any of her guests as a replacement for any medical or psychological treatment. That being said, please enjoy any peace, energy, or clarity you may experience as you meditate.

On Edmund Husserl's Ideas, Vol. 2 (1928), Section 3, "The Constitution of the Spiritual World," Ch. 1, "Opposition Between the Naturalistic and Personalistic Worlds." Given Husserl's method of "reduction" whereby he sets aside the metaphysical status of objects in the natural world (are they mind-independent or merely ideas?), we wanted to see how he accounts for our ability to directly perceive other people's minds. We don't just perceive their bodies and our own bodies and deduce that others must be like us mentally, but we perceive both our minds and those of others as strata (aspects) of physical bodies. Read along with us, starting on p. 183 (PDF p. 101). Sign up to support Closereads at patreon.com/closereadsphilosophy to get future parts of this discussion plus lots more content. Get all public Closereads episodes at closereadsphilosophy.com or on YouTube.

"Let us prepare our minds as if we'd come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life's books every day… The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time." - Seneca   Today, you're invited to explore the Stoic virtue of courage. You'll discover how to transform fear and uncertainty as opportunities to cultivate bravery and resilience. THIS WEEK'S THEME: The Stoic's Gaze Welcome to this week's meditation series: "The Stoic's Gaze: Perceiving Opportunity in All Challenges" In each episode this week, you're guided with the mental tools to transform challenges into pathways for personal growth and virtuous living, directly inspired by Stoic philosophy. Each session focuses on a core Stoic virtue and offers practical techniques to shift perspective and find hidden opportunities within adversity. The series begins by establishing the foundational Stoic understanding that external events are largely outside your control, but your responses and interpretations are entirely within your power. It emphasizes that challenges, rather than being mere obstacles, are opportunities to practice and strengthen Stoic virtues like kindness, patience, resilience, wisdom, courage, and self-control. Each meditation session will guide you through a process of reframing your perception of challenging situations. You're invited to observe your initial emotional reactions without judgment, and then intentionally shift your focus to the potential for growth and virtue. The guided meditations will incorporate visualizations, affirmations, and contemplative practices that embody Stoic principles. YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY DURING THIS WEEK'S SERIES This is episode 6 of a 7-day meditation series titled, "The Stoic's Gaze: Finding Opportunity Everyday" episodes 3283-3289. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: Opportunity Seeker Quest Identify a situation that typically tests your patience and find a creative way to practice patience within it. THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION TECHNIQUES:   Day 1:  Become aware of the energy you give to your thoughts. Day 2:  Affirmation, "There's an opportunity in every challenge." Day 3:  STOIC ANCHOR BREATH Inhale: visualize your greatest strength.  Exhale: visualize the qualities of your greatest strength circulating throughout your body. Day 4:  Kubera mudra for a positive attitude Day 5:  2nd chakra for opportunity Day 6:  Layer Meditation Techniques Day 7:  Reflection + Introspection   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS   Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me at https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!  SUBSCRIBE, LEAVE A REVIEW + TAKE OUR SURVEY SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support. I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! SURVEY: Help us get to know more about how best to serve you by taking our demographics survey: https://survey.libsyn.com/thedailymeditationpodcast FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques posted at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/ sip and om Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/ A DIFFERENT MEDITATION TECHNIQUE EVERY DAY FOCUSED ON A WEEKLY THEME: Get ready for an exciting journey with a new meditation technique daily, perfectly tailored to the week's theme! Infuse these powerful practices into the most stressful moments of your day to master difficult emotions. These dynamic techniques will help you tame the "monkey mind," keeping your thoughts from interrupting your meditation and bringing peace and focus to your life. FREE TOOLS: For free meditation tools to help you meditate please head over to my website at www.SipandOm.com, and there you'll find free resources to help you on your Meditation Journey. Enjoy access to more than 3,000 guided meditations without ads on the Sip and Om app. Try it for 7 days of free access to the full app! Listen on iTunes for 1-Week Free! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   1-week Free Access to the Android app! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sipandom.sipandom   ***All meditations are Mary Meckley's original copyrighted content unless otherwise stated, and may not be shared without her written permission.   RESOURCES Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU I'd love your feedback! Please let me know how you're enjoying the meditations by leaving me a review on iTunes.   **All of the information shared on this podcast is for your enjoyment only. Please don't consider the meditation techniques, herbal tea information, or other information shared by Mary Meckley or any of her guests as a replacement for any medical or psychological treatment. That being said, please enjoy any peace, energy, or clarity you may experience as you meditate.

"You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." - Marcus Aurelius, Roman Stoic, author of "Meditations," and former Roman Emperor Welcome! Today, we focus on the Stoic virtue of self-control. You'll be guided to see temptations and distractions as opportunities to strengthen your inner discipline. THIS WEEK'S THEME: The Stoic's Gaze Welcome to this week's meditation series: "The Stoic's Gaze: Perceiving Opportunity in All Challenges" In each episode this week, you're guided with the mental tools to transform challenges into pathways for personal growth and virtuous living, directly inspired by Stoic philosophy. Each session focuses on a core Stoic virtue and offers practical techniques to shift perspective and find hidden opportunities within adversity. The series begins by establishing the foundational Stoic understanding that external events are largely outside your control, but your responses and interpretations are entirely within your power. It emphasizes that challenges, rather than being mere obstacles, are opportunities to practice and strengthen Stoic virtues like kindness, patience, resilience, wisdom, courage, and self-control. Each meditation session will guide you through a process of reframing your perception of challenging situations. You're invited to observe your initial emotional reactions without judgment, and then intentionally shift your focus to the potential for growth and virtue. The guided meditations will incorporate visualizations, affirmations, and contemplative practices that embody Stoic principles. YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY DURING THIS WEEK'S SERIES This is episode 5 of a 7-day meditation series titled, "The Stoic's Gaze: Finding Opportunity Everyday" episodes 3283-3289. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: Opportunity Seeker Quest Identify a situation that typically tests your patience and find a creative way to practice patience within it. THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION TECHNIQUES:   Day 1:  Become aware of the energy you give to your thoughts. Day 2:  Affirmation, "There's an opportunity in every challenge." Day 3:  STOIC ANCHOR BREATH Inhale: visualize your greatest strength.  Exhale: visualize the qualities of your greatest strength circulating throughout your body. Day 4:  Kubera mudra for a positive attitude Day 5:  2nd chakra for opportunity Day 6:  Layer Meditation Techniques Day 7:  Reflection + Introspection   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS   Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me at https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!  SUBSCRIBE, LEAVE A REVIEW + TAKE OUR SURVEY SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support. I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! SURVEY: Help us get to know more about how best to serve you by taking our demographics survey: https://survey.libsyn.com/thedailymeditationpodcast FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques posted at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/ sip and om Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/ A DIFFERENT MEDITATION TECHNIQUE EVERY DAY FOCUSED ON A WEEKLY THEME: Get ready for an exciting journey with a new meditation technique daily, perfectly tailored to the week's theme! Infuse these powerful practices into the most stressful moments of your day to master difficult emotions. These dynamic techniques will help you tame the "monkey mind," keeping your thoughts from interrupting your meditation and bringing peace and focus to your life. FREE TOOLS: For free meditation tools to help you meditate please head over to my website at www.SipandOm.com, and there you'll find free resources to help you on your Meditation Journey. Enjoy access to more than 3,000 guided meditations without ads on the Sip and Om app. Try it for 7 days of free access to the full app! Listen on iTunes for 1-Week Free! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   1-week Free Access to the Android app! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sipandom.sipandom   ***All meditations are Mary Meckley's original copyrighted content unless otherwise stated, and may not be shared without her written permission.   RESOURCES Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU I'd love your feedback! Please let me know how you're enjoying the meditations by leaving me a review on iTunes.   **All of the information shared on this podcast is for your enjoyment only. Please don't consider the meditation techniques, herbal tea information, or other information shared by Mary Meckley or any of her guests as a replacement for any medical or psychological treatment. That being said, please enjoy any peace, energy, or clarity you may experience as you meditate.

"The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control." - Epictetus, Stoic slave  Today, we explore the Stoic pursuit of wisdom. You'll discover the silver living in every situation as an opportunity to gain deeper understanding and cultivate wise judgment. THIS WEEK'S THEME: The Stoic's Gaze Welcome to this week's meditation series: "The Stoic's Gaze: Perceiving Opportunity in All." In each episode this week, you're guided with the mental tools to transform challenges into pathways for personal growth and virtuous living, directly inspired by Stoic philosophy. Each session focuses on a core Stoic virtue and offers practical techniques to shift perspective and find hidden opportunities within adversity. The series begins by establishing the foundational Stoic understanding that external events are largely outside your control, but your responses and interpretations are entirely within your power. It emphasizes that challenges, rather than being mere obstacles, are opportunities to practice and strengthen Stoic virtues like kindness, patience, resilience, wisdom, courage, and self-control. Each meditation session will guide you through a process of reframing your perception of challenging situations. You're invited to observe your initial emotional reactions without judgment, and then intentionally shift your focus to the potential for growth and virtue. The guided meditations will incorporate visualizations, affirmations, and contemplative practices that embody Stoic principles. YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY DURING THIS WEEK'S SERIES This is episode 4 of a 7-day meditation series titled, "The Stoic's Gaze: Finding Opportunity Everyday" episodes 3283-3289. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: Opportunity Seeker Quest Identify a situation that typically tests your patience and find a creative way to practice patience within it. THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION TECHNIQUES:   Day 1:  Become aware of the energy you give to your thoughts. Day 2:  Affirmation, "There's an opportunity in every challenge." Day 3:  STOIC ANCHOR BREATH Inhale: visualize your greatest strength.  Exhale: visualize the qualities of your greatest strength circulating throughout your body. Day 4:  Kubera mudra for a positive attitude Day 5:  2nd chakra for opportunity Day 6:  Layer Meditation Techniques Day 7:  Reflection + Introspection   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS   Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me at https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!  SUBSCRIBE, LEAVE A REVIEW + TAKE OUR SURVEY SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support. I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! SURVEY: Help us get to know more about how best to serve you by taking our demographics survey: https://survey.libsyn.com/thedailymeditationpodcast FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques posted at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/ sip and om Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/ A DIFFERENT MEDITATION TECHNIQUE EVERY DAY FOCUSED ON A WEEKLY THEME: Get ready for an exciting journey with a new meditation technique daily, perfectly tailored to the week's theme! Infuse these powerful practices into the most stressful moments of your day to master difficult emotions. These dynamic techniques will help you tame the "monkey mind," keeping your thoughts from interrupting your meditation and bringing peace and focus to your life. FREE TOOLS: For free meditation tools to help you meditate please head over to my website at www.SipandOm.com, and there you'll find free resources to help you on your Meditation Journey. Enjoy access to more than 3,000 guided meditations without ads on the Sip and Om app. Try it for 7 days of free access to the full app! Listen on iTunes for 1-Week Free! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   1-week Free Access to the Android app! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sipandom.sipandom   ***All meditations are Mary Meckley's original copyrighted content unless otherwise stated, and may not be shared without her written permission.   RESOURCES Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU I'd love your feedback! Please let me know how you're enjoying the meditations by leaving me a review on iTunes.   **All of the information shared on this podcast is for your enjoyment only. Please don't consider the meditation techniques, herbal tea information, or other information shared by Mary Meckley or any of her guests as a replacement for any medical or psychological treatment. That being said, please enjoy any peace, energy, or clarity you may experience as you meditate.

"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." - Marcus Aurelius Be guided in a meditation on resilience, the Stoic ability to bounce back from adversity. Discover how to view challenges as opportunities to strengthen your inner fortitude and develop unwavering resilience. THIS WEEK'S THEME: The Stoic's Gaze Welcome to this week's meditation series: "The Stoic's Gaze: Perceiving Opportunity in All." In each episode this week, you're guided with the mental tools to transform challenges into pathways for personal growth and virtuous living, directly inspired by Stoic philosophy. Each session focuses on a core Stoic virtue and offers practical techniques to shift perspective and find hidden opportunities within adversity. The series begins by establishing the foundational Stoic understanding that external events are largely outside your control, but your responses and interpretations are entirely within your power. It emphasizes that challenges, rather than being mere obstacles, are opportunities to practice and strengthen Stoic virtues like kindness, patience, resilience, wisdom, courage, and self-control. Each meditation session will guide you through a process of reframing your perception of challenging situations. You're invited to observe your initial emotional reactions without judgment, and then intentionally shift your focus to the potential for growth and virtue. The guided meditations will incorporate visualizations, affirmations, and contemplative practices that embody Stoic principles. YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY DURING THIS WEEK'S SERIES This is episode 3 of a 7-day meditation series titled, "The Stoic's Gaze: Finding Opportunity Everyday" episodes 3283-3289. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: Opportunity Seeker Quest Identify a situation that typically tests your patience and find a creative way to practice patience within it. THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION TECHNIQUES:   Day 1:  Become aware of the energy you give to your thoughts. Day 2:  Affirmation, "There's an opportunity in every challenge." Day 3:  STOIC ANCHOR BREATH Inhale: visualize your greatest strength.  Exhale: visualize the qualities of your greatest strength circulating throughout your body. Day 4:  Kubera mudra for a positive attitude Day 5:  2nd chakra for opportunity Day 6:  Layer Meditation Techniques Day 7:  Reflection + Introspection   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS   Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me at https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!  SUBSCRIBE, LEAVE A REVIEW + TAKE OUR SURVEY SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support. I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! SURVEY: Help us get to know more about how best to serve you by taking our demographics survey: https://survey.libsyn.com/thedailymeditationpodcast FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques posted at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/ sip and om Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/ A DIFFERENT MEDITATION TECHNIQUE EVERY DAY FOCUSED ON A WEEKLY THEME: Get ready for an exciting journey with a new meditation technique daily, perfectly tailored to the week's theme! Infuse these powerful practices into the most stressful moments of your day to master difficult emotions. These dynamic techniques will help you tame the "monkey mind," keeping your thoughts from interrupting your meditation and bringing peace and focus to your life. FREE TOOLS: For free meditation tools to help you meditate please head over to my website at www.SipandOm.com, and there you'll find free resources to help you on your Meditation Journey. Enjoy access to more than 3,000 guided meditations without ads on the Sip and Om app. Try it for 7 days of free access to the full app! Listen on iTunes for 1-Week Free! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   1-week Free Access to the Android app! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sipandom.sipandom   ***All meditations are Mary Meckley's original copyrighted content unless otherwise stated, and may not be shared without her written permission.   RESOURCES Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU I'd love your feedback! Please let me know how you're enjoying the meditations by leaving me a review on iTunes.   **All of the information shared on this podcast is for your enjoyment only. Please don't consider the meditation techniques, herbal tea information, or other information shared by Mary Meckley or any of her guests as a replacement for any medical or psychological treatment. That being said, please enjoy any peace, energy, or clarity you may experience as you meditate.

"How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself?" - Epictetus Explore the Stoic virtue of patience. In a world of instant gratification, patience is a powerful tool for inner peace. You'll be guided in a meditation to cultivate patience and to see delays and frustrations as opportunities to cultivate patience and resilience.  THIS WEEK'S THEME: The Stoic's Gaze Welcome to this week's meditation series: "The Stoic's Gaze: Perceiving Opportunity in All." In each episode this week, you're guided with the mental tools to transform challenges into pathways for personal growth and virtuous living, directly inspired by Stoic philosophy. Each session focuses on a core Stoic virtue and offers practical techniques to shift perspective and find hidden opportunities within adversity. The series begins by establishing the foundational Stoic understanding that external events are largely outside your control, but your responses and interpretations are entirely within your power. It emphasizes that challenges, rather than being mere obstacles, are opportunities to practice and strengthen Stoic virtues like kindness, patience, resilience, wisdom, courage, and self-control. Each meditation session will guide you through a process of reframing your perception of challenging situations. You're invited to observe your initial emotional reactions without judgment, and then intentionally shift your focus to the potential for growth and virtue. The guided meditations will incorporate visualizations, affirmations, and contemplative practices that embody Stoic principles. YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY DURING THIS WEEK'S SERIES This is episode 2 of a 7-day meditation series titled, "The Stoic's Gaze: Finding Opportunity Everyday" episodes 3283-3289. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: Opportunity Seeker Quest Identify a situation that typically tests your patience and find a creative way to practice patience within it. THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION TECHNIQUES:   Day 1:  Become aware of the energy you give to your thoughts. Day 2:  Affirmation, "There's an opportunity in every challenge." Day 3:  STOIC ANCHOR BREATH Inhale: visualize your greatest strength.  Exhale: visualize the qualities of your greatest strength circulating throughout your body. Day 4:  Kubera mudra for a positive attitude Day 5:  2nd chakra for opportunity Day 6:  Layer Meditation Techniques Day 7:  Reflection + Introspection   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS   Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me at https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!  SUBSCRIBE, LEAVE A REVIEW + TAKE OUR SURVEY SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support. I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! SURVEY: Help us get to know more about how best to serve you by taking our demographics survey: https://survey.libsyn.com/thedailymeditationpodcast FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques posted at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/ sip and om Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/ A DIFFERENT MEDITATION TECHNIQUE EVERY DAY FOCUSED ON A WEEKLY THEME: Get ready for an exciting journey with a new meditation technique daily, perfectly tailored to the week's theme! Infuse these powerful practices into the most stressful moments of your day to master difficult emotions. These dynamic techniques will help you tame the "monkey mind," keeping your thoughts from interrupting your meditation and bringing peace and focus to your life. FREE TOOLS: For free meditation tools to help you meditate please head over to my website at www.SipandOm.com, and there you'll find free resources to help you on your Meditation Journey. Enjoy access to more than 3,000 guided meditations without ads on the Sip and Om app. Try it for 7 days of free access to the full app! Listen on iTunes for 1-Week Free! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   1-week Free Access to the Android app! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sipandom.sipandom   ***All meditations are Mary Meckley's original copyrighted content unless otherwise stated, and may not be shared without her written permission.   RESOURCES Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.   I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU I'd love your feedback! Please let me know how you're enjoying the meditations by leaving me a review on iTunes.   **All of the information shared on this podcast is for your enjoyment only. Please don't consider the meditation techniques, herbal tea information, or other information shared by Mary Meckley or any of her guests as a replacement for any medical or psychological treatment. That being said, please enjoy any peace, energy, or clarity you may experience as you meditate.

On Edmund Husserl's Ideas, Vol. 2 (1928), Section 3, “The Constitution of the Spiritual World,” Ch. 1, “Opposition Between the Naturalistic and Personalistic Worlds." Given Husserl's method of “reduction” whereby he sets aside the metaphysical status of objects in the natural world (are they mind-independent or merely ideas?), we wanted to see how he accounts for our ability to directly perceive other people's minds. We don't just perceive their bodies and our own bodies and deduce that others must be like us, but we perceive both our minds and those of others as strata (aspects) of physical bodies. Read along with us, starting on p. 183 (PDF p. 101). You can choose to watch this unedited on video. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LESSON 79Let Me Recognize The Problem So It Can Be Solved.A problem cannot be solved if you do not know what it is. Even if it is really solved already you will still have the problem, because you will not recognize that it has been solved. This is the situation of the world. The problem of separation, which is really the only problem, has already been solved. Yet the solution is not recognized because the problem is not recognized.Everyone in this world seems to have his own special problems. Yet they are all the same, and must be recognized as one if the one solution that solves them all is to be accepted. Who can see that a problem has been solved if he thinks the problem is something else? Even if he is given the answer, he cannot see its relevance.That is the position in which you find yourself now. You have the answer, but you are still uncertain about what the problem is. A long series of different problems seems to confront you, and as one is settled the next one and the next arise. There seems to be no end to them. There is no time in which you feel completely free of problems and at peace.The temptation to regard problems as many is the temptation to keep the problem of separation unsolved. The world seems to present you with a vast number of problems, each requiring a different answer. This perception places you in a position in which your problem-solving must be inadequate, and failure is inevitable.No one could solve all the problems the world appears to hold. They seem to be on so many levels, in such varying forms and with such varied content, that they confront you with an impossible situation. Dismay and depression are inevitable as you regard them. Some spring up unexpectedly, just as you think you have resolved the previous ones. Others remain unsolved under a cloud of denial, and rise to haunt you from time to time, only to be hidden again but still unsolved.All this complexity is but a desperate attempt not to recognize the problem, and therefore not to let it be resolved. If you could recognize that your only problem is separation, no matter what form it takes, you could accept the answer because you would see its relevance. Perceiving the underlying constancy in all the problems that seem to confront you, you would understand that you have the means to solve them all. And you would use the means, because you recognize the problem.In our longer practice periods today we will ask what the problem is, and what is the answer to it. We will not assume that we already know. We will try to free our minds of all the many different kinds of problems we think we have. We will try to realize that we have only one problem, which we have failed to recognize. We will ask what it is, and wait for the answer. We will be told. Then we will ask for the solution to it. And we will be told.The exercises for today will be successful to the extent to which you do not insist on defining the problem. Perhaps you will not succeed in letting all your preconceived notions go, but that is not necessary. All that is necessary is to entertain some doubt about the reality of your version of what your problems are. You are trying to recognize that you have been given the answer by recognizing the problem, so that the problem and the answer can be brought together and you can be at peace.The shorter practice periods for today will not be set by time, but by need. You will see many problems today, each one calling for an answer. Our efforts will be directed toward recognizing that there is only one problem and one answer. In this recognition are all problems resolved. In this recognition there is peace.Be not deceived by the form of problems today. Whenever any difficulty seems to rise, tell yourself quickly:Let me recognize this problem so it can be solved.Then try to suspend all judgment about what the problem is. If possible, close your eyes for a moment and ask what it is. You will be heard and you will be answered.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

LESSON 79Let Me Recognize The Problem So It Can Be Solved.A problem cannot be solved if you do not know what it is. Even if it is really solved already you will still have the problem, because you will not recognize that it has been solved. This is the situation of the world. The problem of separation, which is really the only problem, has already been solved. Yet the solution is not recognized because the problem is not recognized.Everyone in this world seems to have his own special problems. Yet they are all the same, and must be recognized as one if the one solution that solves them all is to be accepted. Who can see that a problem has been solved if he thinks the problem is something else? Even if he is given the answer, he cannot see its relevance.That is the position in which you find yourself now. You have the answer, but you are still uncertain about what the problem is. A long series of different problems seems to confront you, and as one is settled the next one and the next arise. There seems to be no end to them. There is no time in which you feel completely free of problems and at peace.The temptation to regard problems as many is the temptation to keep the problem of separation unsolved. The world seems to present you with a vast number of problems, each requiring a different answer. This perception places you in a position in which your problem-solving must be inadequate, and failure is inevitable.No one could solve all the problems the world appears to hold. They seem to be on so many levels, in such varying forms and with such varied content, that they confront you with an impossible situation. Dismay and depression are inevitable as you regard them. Some spring up unexpectedly, just as you think you have resolved the previous ones. Others remain unsolved under a cloud of denial, and rise to haunt you from time to time, only to be hidden again but still unsolved.All this complexity is but a desperate attempt not to recognize the problem, and therefore not to let it be resolved. If you could recognize that your only problem is separation, no matter what form it takes, you could accept the answer because you would see its relevance. Perceiving the underlying constancy in all the problems that seem to confront you, you would understand that you have the means to solve them all. And you would use the means, because you recognize the problem.In our longer practice periods today we will ask what the problem is, and what is the answer to it. We will not assume that we already know. We will try to free our minds of all the many different kinds of problems we think we have. We will try to realize that we have only one problem, which we have failed to recognize. We will ask what it is, and wait for the answer. We will be told. Then we will ask for the solution to it. And we will be told.The exercises for today will be successful to the extent to which you do not insist on defining the problem. Perhaps you will not succeed in letting all your preconceived notions go, but that is not necessary. All that is necessary is to entertain some doubt about the reality of your version of what your problems are. You are trying to recognize that you have been given the answer by recognizing the problem, so that the problem and the answer can be brought together and you can be at peace.The shorter practice periods for today will not be set by time, but by need. You will see many problems today, each one calling for an answer. Our efforts will be directed toward recognizing that there is only one problem and one answer. In this recognition are all problems resolved. In this recognition there is peace.Be not deceived by the form of problems today. Whenever any difficulty seems to rise, tell yourself quickly:Let me recognize this problem so it can be solved.Then try to suspend all judgment about what the problem is. If possible, close your eyes for a moment and ask what it is. You will be heard and you will be answered.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

Lenten Reflections.

"Is the door of honor open in your life?"-Dr. Chris Cody

In this episode, Kristi has a list of questions tailored to figuring out just how much Dyslexia affects one's perception and experiences and we aren't going anywhere until Shawn and Jacob give us answers.Have a question? Leave a comment below and you just might be featured in our next episode_____Want more from us? Click the Link Below!_____https://linktr.ee/dyslexicsuntied#dyslexia #podcast #diversity

Rev. Kenneth Bomberger gives today's prayerful thought based on the day's Scripture readings. Begin your morning in word and prayer with Rev. Kenneth Bomberger, who shares scripture, hymns, prayers, and texts for the day, and also gives a short meditation on the day's scripture lessons. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

In this episode, the focus is on the power of mindset and how it shapes reality. The idea explored is that everything exists at once — from being a millionaire to living in hardship — and that the frequency of thoughts determines which reality is experienced. The importance of "I am" statements is emphasized and how consistently affirming them can transform mindset. Declaring, "I am wealthy" or "I am healthy," and seeing every experience as proof of these affirmations helps in tuning into a higher frequency. This shift gradually changes reality as consciousness aligns with the thoughts consistently entertained. Life's challenges often make it easy to question the path, but these obstacles are presented as opportunities for growth. Perceiving hardships as stepping stones rather than roadblocks taps into the true nature of being — an infinite existence seeking to elevate and evolve. Understanding that everything happens for growth, not to cause harm, is key to maintaining a positive mindset.Frequency attracts people who reflect the current mindset, which means that if everyone around is comfortable with certain thoughts, evolution may be stalled. To level up, it might be necessary to outgrow certain relationships and environments. This isn't about judgment but about recognizing when it's time to align with a higher frequency that matches the desired reality.Embracing discomfort and the unknown is highlighted as a crucial part of the manifestation process. Real change doesn't happen in the comfort zone. Adopting a mindset that sees challenges as evidence of being on the right path can transform fear into excitement for what's coming. - Henry----Social Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Say hi on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Say Hi on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠----Email Me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠henry@vibeabundant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠----⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

John 6:1-21English Standard Version6 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

"How we perceive is going to determine how we receive"~ Dr. Chris Cody

Perceiving her role as a record keeper, artist Jen Blazina captures the essence of lost memories and forgotten voices. Through her work, she holds onto fragments of personal history, transforming common objects into poignant relics of the past. Her visual narratives express universal concepts of memory, inviting audiences to connect with the stories she preserves.  Blazina states: “Memory is embodied in everything around us: in our culture, beliefs, objects, and ourselves. Discarded objects and those passed down to me become personal keepsakes and icons of the past, rather than overlooked or regarded as useless. My collections represent a sense of holding onto a place in time. By re-creating these keepsakes, I re-cast their history into my own voice.” A sculptor and printmaker who uses glass as her primary medium, Blazina currently resides in Philadelphia where she is a working artist and professor at Drexel University in the College of Media Arts and Design. Blazina's work can be found in multiple collections such as the Neuberger Museum of Art, The Imagine Museum, The Cranbrook Museum of Art, and the Corning Museum of Glass, to name a few.  The artist has been awarded numerous residencies including: the Corning Artist in Residency at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York; GAPP Residency at Toledo Museum of Art in Toledo, OH; Bezalel Art and Design Academy in Jerusalem, Israel; and the Creative Glass Center of America in Millville, NJ.  She has also been awarded prestigious grants such as the Bessie and Louis Stein Fellowship; Independence Foundation Grant; and a National Endowment for the Arts Grant. Nominated for the 2022 Pew Fellowship Award, Blazina received her M.F.A. in printmaking from Cranbrook Academy of Art, her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College in New York and her B.F.A., cum laude, from the State University of New York at Purchase College.  Blazina is represented by Habatat Detroit Fine Art in Royal Oak, MI; Blue Spiral 1 in Asheville, NC; Vetri Glass Gallery in Seattle, WA; Kittrell Riffkind Gallery in Dallas, TX; Bullseye Projects in Portland, OR; and Koelsch Gallery in Houston, TX.  In 2025, Blazina will have work on view at the Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass, Neenah, WI, in New Art on the Block: Selections from the Permanent Collections, October 31, 2024 – April 6, 2025; in Object Memory, Jen Blazina and Ash Smith at 20*20 Gallery, Lansdowne, PA, February 22 –  April 15; in Through a Window Darkly, The Works of Jen Blazina at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass, April 24 to October 5, 2025; in Collections at Blue Spiral 1 Gallery, Asheville, NC, May 2 – June 25; and in Glass 53: International Glass Invitational at Habatat Fine Art Gallery, Royal Oak, MI, May 1 – September 6. She will teach Alternative Approaches to Printmaking and Glass at Corning Museum of Glass Studios, Corning, NY, June 16 – June 21; and In Pursuit of Light: Kiln Casting at Glass Furnace, Istanbul, Turkey, August 25 – August 29. Says Blazina: “As an artist, I am intrigued with the idea that what is precious to one person will be discarded by another. My work is influenced by commonplace possessions, familial vignettes and photographs. These evoke an ephemeral sense of past memories. Whether found in a second-hand shop or passed down from my family, I am often attracted to and captivated by the lost beauty of subtle images and materials. By re-creating and casting momentos in glass and metal, I can capture and hold on to another time in the past. Photographs and chosen objects allude to narratives of fleeting moments.” ​UPCOMING EVENTS New Art On The Block: Selections From The Permanent Collections Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass Neenah, WI Dates: October 31 – April 6, 2025 Object Memory, Jen Blazina and Ash Smith 20*20 Gallery Lansdowne, PA Dates: February 22 – April 15 Through a Window Darkly, The Works of Jen Blazina Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass Neenah, WI Opening: April 24 Dates: April 24 to October 5 Collections Blue Spiral 1 Gallery Asheville, NC Opening Reception: May 2, 5 – 7 pm Dates: May 2 – June 25 Glass 53: International Glass Invitational Habatat Fine Art Gallery Royal Oak, MI Opening: May 3, 8 pm Dates: May 1- September 6 Alternative Approaches to Printmaking and Glass Corning Museum of Glass Studios Corning, NY Dates: June 16- June 21 In Pursuit of Light: Kiln Casting Glass Furnace Istanbul, Turkey Dates: August 25 – August 29    

This is a turbulent time for American democracy. Years, perhaps decades, of social change is manifesting in the form of distrust, violence, chaos, fear, loneliness, and despair. But Conversing, along with Comment magazine, is about hope, healing, and hospitality. For this special 200th episode of Conversing, Mark Labberton invites Anne Snyder (Editor-in-Chief, Comment magazine) for a close reading and discussion of the 2025 Comment Manifesto, a hopeful new document offering a vision of Christian Humanism for this era. Together they discuss: The meaning and intent behind a new Comment magazine Manifesto for Christian humanism The Incarnation of Christ for what it means to be human Hospitality in an era of exclusion Healthy institutions and the importance of communal agency Individualism vs communitarianism Learning to perceive the world in fresh, surprising ways About the Comment Manifesto To read the Manifesto in its entirety, visit comment.org/manifesto/, or scroll below. To watch a reading of selections from the Comment Manifesto, click here. About Anne Snyder Anne Snyder is the Editor-in-Chief of Comment magazine, which is a core publication of Cardus, a think tank devoted to renewing North American social architecture, rooted in two thousand years of Christian social thought. Visit https://comment.org/ for more information. For years, Anne has been engaged in concerns for the social architecture of the world. That is, the way that our practices of social engagement, life, conversation, discussion, debate, and difference can all be held in the right kind of ways for the sake of the thriving of people, individuals, communities, and our nation at large. Anne also oversees our Comment's partner project, Breaking Ground, and is the host of The Whole Person Revolution podcast and co-editor of Breaking Ground: Charting Our Future in a Pandemic Year (2022). Show Notes Giving thanks for 200 episodes of Conversing! 2000 years of Christian thought to the public square James K.A. Smith, the former editor of Comment Magazine Seeking a positive moral vision A turbulent moment for democracy MANIFESTO SECTION 1 “We are Christian humanists…” What it means to be human in our age—our infinite dignity, relationship to the earth, and woundedness The significance of Jesus Christ for what it means to be human What the Incarnation of Christ means for our world “So many people we know and love and respect feel ecclesially homeless, obviously politically homeless.” MANIFESTO SECTION 2 “We believe it's time to build…” Agency Called to a co-creative project Productive and constructive “Contributing the true and good and beautiful in a messy world.” MANIFESTO SECTION 3 “We believe in institutions…” Collective, common, and communal Institutions, as part of the social architecture of our world, can be extraordinarily positive. “I always get asked, ‘Why do you believe in institutions? Why? You don't need to! They're gone! They're dead!'” “Healthy institutions are channels within which you can actually realize your sense of agency in a way that might be more moving than you ever would have imagined just by yourself.” Yuval Levin's take on community (paraphrased): “All the tumult we're experiencing, we're just having a big fight about what kinds of what community means.” Polarization MAGA as a kind of community “I consider myself a bit of a communitarian.” Christian humanism throughout history always has four projects connected to it: Theology, character formation, political economy, and aesthetic. MANIFESTO SECTION 4 “We believe in the transformative power of encounter—encountering reality, encountering those unlike us.” Addressing the fractured social fabric and isolation of this age Encounter and trust Hospitality— ”taking one another's being and doing in the world seriously enough” Enter the room listening MANIFESTO SECTION 5 “We believe Christianity is perpetually on the move. There is no sacred capital.” “This is our most aggressive claim.” Distinguishing Comment from peer publications such as First Things “All cultures are fallen, and we're part of another kingdom.” Galatians 5 and the Fruit of the Spirit Civilizational Christianity The smallness of “faith, family, flag” “So much of my Christian identity has been rewritten by experiences of Christian faith that are completely outside the, the social reality that is my fundamental location.” ”When Christianity seems to be running the dangerous risk of being captured, captured by a certain kind of ideological political social frame that feels as though it's really making itself primary simply by its Napoleonic capacity for self-crowning, that is a very, very dangerous thing.” MANIFESTO SECTION 6 “We believe there are different ways of knowing—that the thinker and the practitioner have equally valuable wisdoms worth airing, that relationship and context matter for the ways in which we perceive reality, that the child with Down syndrome perceives truths that a Nobel Prize winner cannot, and that there is a need for those who inhabit these myriad ways to share space and learn how to pursue understanding—perhaps even revelation—together.” Perceiving the world differently Down syndrome and the expression of a different kind of knowing or wisdom Full circle with the first principle of the imago Dei Functioning out of either confidence, uncertainty, or anxiety Mark Labberton's friend Dustin (R.I.P), who had cerebral palsy Fatigue, trying to get our bearings Looking for moral and eschatological coherence Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary. The 6 Primary Sections of the 2025 Comment Manifesto To read the Manifesto in its entirety, visit comment.org/manifesto/. We are Christian humanists, those who believe that Jesus Christ—God become man—is the ultimate measure of what it means to be human. We believe that every human being is created in the image of God, whole persons who are at once fallen yet gloriously endowed, finite and dependent, yet deserving of infinite dignity. We seek to stay true both to the wonder and to the woundedness of life this side of the veil, even as our eschatology floods us with hope: Jesus has walked with us, died, risen, and ascended, and he will come again to make all things new. We believe it's a time to build, that the creative imagination and the Christian imagination are mysteriously linked. We want to begin with the Yes in Christ, not our own noes. While there is an important role for criticism baptized in a study of what is true, good, and beautiful, it is a means to an end—the basis for wise repair and imagination, not the justification for destruction or erasure. We are committed to keeping orthodoxy and orthopraxy married, taking seriously our job to translate between them. We believe in institutions: government, guilds, families, schools, universities, the church. We recognize that in our age of individualism, institutions are often painted as the enemy. We try to change that, seeking to shape the character of today's most formative institutions while exploring what kind of reimagined social architecture might compel the next generation's trust. We believe in the transformative power of encounter—encountering reality, encountering those unlike us. Loving enemies is bedrock for Comment, hospitality core. We are champions of the difficult room. We believe in the deeper truths that can be discovered when different life experiences and distinct sources of wisdom are gathered around one table. We intentionally publish arguments with which we disagree, including those who don't hail Christ as Lord, not for the sake of pluralism without conviction, but because Christians have always better understood the contours and depths of their faith when crystallized through exchanges with strangers turned friends. We believe Christianity is perpetually on the move. There is no sacred capital. While the audience we serve is navigating a North American context, we serve this audience from an understanding that Christianity is an intercultural, polyglot religion. At a time of rising religious ethno-nationalism, we insist that no culture can claim to represent the true form of Christianity, and we actively seek for our authors and partners to reflect the global reality of the church. We believe there are different ways of knowing—that the thinker and the practitioner have equally valuable wisdoms worth airing, that relationship and context matter for the ways in which we perceive reality, that the child with Down syndrome perceives truths that a Nobel Prize winner cannot, and that there is a need for those who inhabit these myriad ways to share space and learn how to pursue understanding—perhaps even revelation—together. ... Our theory of change takes its cues from the garden, less the machine. We are personalists, not ideologues. We follow the logic of Jesus's mustard seed, of yeast transforming a whole pile of dough, of the principle of contagiousness and change happening over generations. We believe in the value of slow thought. We are skeptical of the language of scale in growing spiritual goods. While we wish to be savvy in unmasking the either/or reactivity of our age and will always call out dehumanizing trendlines, we are fundamentally animated by the creative impulse, by a philosophy of natality expressed through hospitality. This feels especially important in this time between eras when no one knows what's next, and we need one another to recalibrate, to reflect, and to shape a hopeful future.

Exodus 33:12-33Colossians 1:9-18

During this episode a quote from Dr. Hawkins was contemplated. "There is no division between Creator & that which is created."

February 2, Epiphany 4: Jer 1:4-10; Ps 71:12-21; 1 Cor 14:12-25; Luke 4:21-32

This is week 4 out of 7 in our GOLDEN RULE series. This week, we will explore with Mrs. Tobi Bible Stories that teach us about respect. Today, we learn with Jesus how to respect authority.  Matthew 22:18-21 18 Perceiving their malicious intent, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” They brought him a denarius.[a] 20 “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them. 21 “Caesar's,” they said to him. Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

Today, we dive deep into a beautiful quote that challenges us to look beyond the surface of our everyday experiences. The quote is: “We need the limited to remind us of the Infinite. But even if God should come to you as the Divine Mother, or as a friend, or a beloved, always see the Infinite Consciousness behind those eyes.” 3 things you will learn from this episode:How your limited experiences can serve as powerful reminders of the Infinite.How the Divine can manifest in your relationships, inviting you to see love in its many forms.How you can train yourself to perceive the Infinite Consciousness behind the eyes of those you meet.You are encouraged to reflect on your own encounters with the Divine in daily life. Each interaction can be a reminder of the Infinite, urging you to deepen your understanding and appreciation of your shared existence.By integrating these practices into your life, you empower yourself to see beyond the limitations of your physical world.Blessings! ♥️Dr. Mensimah ShabazzFor One on One Consultations: Schedule a free 30-minute consultation: https://www.mensimah.com/harmony-consultor send Email to: info@mensimah.comSubscribe/support our channels:Join our Reflective/Inner Work Platform: https://mensimah.com/compose-a-new-narrativehttps://www.patreon.com/mensimahshabazzphdContact Links:Website: https://mensimah.comInstagram: @mensimahshabazzphdYouTube: @mensimahsroundtableShop: https://shop.mensimah.com

From the Ingles Studio this is your news minute on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast presented by Credit Union of Georgia. Today is Wednesday, December 4th and I'm Keith Ippolito. Cobb Police: Officer Shot Dog that Charged Him On Monday evening, a Cobb County police officer fatally shot a dog that charged at him, according to Sgt. Eric Smith of the Cobb Police Department. Around 8:40 p.m., two officers responded to a call near Macland Road, where a voice was heard shouting for help. The call, made from a 911-only cell phone, lacked further details, complicating follow-up efforts. The officers' investigation led them to a nearby residence. While speaking with the homeowners, their dogs exited the house. Despite attempts to restrain them, one dog ran toward the officers. Perceiving the dog's actions as a potential threat, the officer discharged his weapon, resulting in the dog's death. Sgt. Smith acknowledged the emotional impact of such incidents and confirmed that an internal review would be conducted to assess the situation. For more news about our community, visit mdjonline.com. For the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, I'm Keith Ippolito. Produced by The BG Podcast Network NewsPodcast CurrentEvents TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations #podcast #podcasts #podcaster #podcastlife #podcastshow #podcasting #podcasters #podcastersofinstagram #itunes #applepodcasts #spotifypodcast #soundcloud #youtube #radio #radioshow #comedy #music #hiphop #art #entrepreneur #covid #motivation #interview #repost #loveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Personality Hacker podcast, Joel and Antonia talk about the 4 Perceiving Functions in the 6th position of personality.   https://personalityhacker.com 

Send us a textFresh drop with Ricky Lee Barnes and it's a true Midwestern gem. Ricky talks to us about how he came to be in Dayton, OH and his journey to Chicago. Speaking in depth about his introduction to the hospitality industry, we examine his trajectory and finding himself amongst queer spaces. This episode speaks in depth about our individual ideologies while discovering commonality amongst our independent experiences. Ricky builds out a beautiful narrative that empowers a reality to actualize your very own self worth. As always, we thank Blind Barber Chicago for hosting this necessary conversation, Ritual Zero Proof for the product, Lavell Miller of Bayab Gin for the support alongside Chiyo Takemoto of Coquetel Collective, Ashley Lindsey for stepping in for garn:t and Quari Ice. Let this special episode truly sit with you as its brilliantly something special. Take care out there; see you soon. - The T o S Crew Need to catch up? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here and show us some love on the reviews - wherever you get your podcasts. It matters and so do you.

Read OnlineAsked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,' or, ‘There it is.' For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”  Luke 17:20–21Why did the Pharisees ask Jesus this question? Why did they want to know when the Kingdom of God would come? To answer this question, we must first look at the full context of the various communications between Jesus and the Pharisees. When we do this and see the many ways that the Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus in speech and the times in which our Lord firmly rebuked the Pharisees, it seems clear that the Pharisees did not ask Jesus this question in innocence and openness. Instead, they once again were trying to trap Him. They posed a question by which they gave the appearance of believing Jesus' teachings that the Kingdom of God was coming, but they asked not in faith but in mockery and in an attempt to trip Jesus up in His answer.Jesus' answer is mysterious. It leaves little room for the Pharisees to use Jesus' speech against Him. Perhaps the Pharisees were hoping that Jesus would say that the Kingdom was coming soon, or next month, or within the year. But Jesus' answer leaves them with confusion in the face of this mystery that “the Kingdom of God is among you.”Much of what Jesus says can only be fully understood through faith. He often speaks in veiled language intentionally, because the only way to lift the veil to perceive the meaning of His teachings is to rely upon the inspired gift of faith. Faith is like a key to unlock the secrets of the mysteries of God. Faith becomes a lens through which every parable, every figure of speech, and every mystery taught by our Lord is understood. But without this inspired gift of faith, Jesus' teachings remain mysterious and incomprehensible.When you ponder these words that “the Kingdom of God is among you,” what do you understand? Are you able to use the gift of faith to unlock the meaning of this sacred teaching? Interestingly, reading Jesus' words, spoken in a veiled way, offer us the opportunity to test our own faith. If we read these words and are left in confusion, then this is a clear sign that we need to pray for and be open to the gift of faith. But if we do read Jesus' mysterious teachings and the light of understanding is given to us, then this is a clear reason to rejoice, since this comprehension is only possible through the gift of faith.Reflect, today, upon this sacred teaching of our Lord: “The Kingdom of God is among you.” Meditate on those words and pray for insight and understanding. Jesus' words are true. His Kingdom truly is everywhere, all around us and within us. It is alive and well. Do you see it? Do you perceive it? Do you see your role in building it? Use these questions as a test of your own level of faith and know that God wants to reveal to you these mysteries that are only able to be comprehended by His grace. My mysterious Lord, Your Kingdom is everywhere, all around us and within us. I do believe. Give me the eyes of faith so that I may continually perceive Your hand at work. May I always be attentive to all that You wish to reveal to me and open to the deep meaning of the mysteries You do reveal. Increase my faith, dear Lord, so that I may know You and join in the upbuilding of Your glorious Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.  Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Christ among the Pharisees by Jacob Jordaens, via Wikimedia Commons

Hello soul tribe!  Thanks for tuning in.  Please let me know about a time you knew the veil between worlds was thin for you.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spirittalk13/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/2YXhyPkaX7dMUURF/ email:  spirittalk13@gmail.com Here are some signs the veil is thin: Hearing your name being called. Seeing colour more vibrantly. Animals taking notice of you. Babies staring at you. Hearing bell like tones or angelic music.  Receiving telepathic communication from plants and animals. Dream visitations. A longing feeling for the Home side (not to be confused with suicidal ideation).  Seeing sparkles or ripples in the air. Seeing light flashes or orbs. Perceiving guides and departed loved ones.  Alignment with your higher self. Knowing you are deeply connected to specific people.  (that's you feeling a soul group connection). Being in awe of nature. 

This episode is packed with practical insights and inspiring moments, as Judy and Dr. Alisa discuss strategies for confronting fear, reshaping self-talk, and overcoming limiting beliefs. Judy explains how recognizing generational patterns can empower individuals to shift perspectives and create new paths to success. They also touch on Judy's “3.0 version” approach, strategies for visionary leadership, and coaching techniques to build resilience and foster transformation within organizations. Whether you're seeking personal growth, leadership skills, or a deeper understanding of how ancestral patterns influence your journey, this episode offers a profound guide to unlocking potential.Connect and Contact Judy Wilkins-Smith:Website: https://judywilkins-smith.com/Instagram: @judywilkinssmithFacebook: Judy Wilkins-SmithLinkedIn: Judy Wilkins-SmithYouTube: Judy Wilkins-Smith ChannelJudy's Books:The Hidden Power in Your DNA: How to Use Genealogy to Explore Ancestral Patterns & Transform Your LifeDecoding Your Emotional Blueprint: A Powerful Guide to Transformation Through Disentangling Multigenerational Patterns (Sounds True)Connect and Contact Dr. Alisa Whyte on Mindset Mastery Moments and Mindset Mastery 360:Mindset Mastery Moments: WebsiteMindset Mastery 360: WebsiteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mindset-mastery-moments--4488172/support.

In this enlightening episode of Mindset Mastery Moments, Dr. Alisa Whyte welcomes world-renowned systemic coach and trainer Judy Wilkins-Smith. Together, they dive into the transformative concepts of "Success DNA" and "Relationship DNA," focusing on how epigenetic and ancestral patterns impact both our personal and professional lives. Judy, founder of System Dynamics for Individuals & Organizations, shares insights from her extensive experience with Fortune 500 clients, including NASA, Microsoft, JP Morgan, and others. Their discussion delves into Judy's groundbreaking approach to systemic work, using constellations to uncover and transcend inherited blocks that can hinder success.As they explore emotional DNA, Dr. Alisa and Judy discuss how our thoughts, feelings, and actions are shaped by ancestral patterns and often limit our potential. Judy explains the practice of constellation therapy as a way to make hidden beliefs visible and actionable, allowing individuals to rewire their "Success DNA" for meaningful growth. Dr. Alisa and Judy's conversation also covers the idea of embracing cultural heritage with confidence, breaking free from societal limitations, and the power of understanding one's own unique success blueprint.Connect and Contact Judy Wilkins-Smith:Website: https://judywilkins-smith.com/Instagram: @judywilkinssmithFacebook: Judy Wilkins-SmithLinkedIn: Judy Wilkins-SmithYouTube: Judy Wilkins-Smith ChannelJudy's Books:The Hidden Power in Your DNA: How to Use Genealogy to Explore Ancestral Patterns & Transform Your LifeDecoding Your Emotional Blueprint: A Powerful Guide to Transformation Through Disentangling Multigenerational Patterns (Sounds True)Connect and Contact Dr. Alisa Whyte on Mindset Mastery Moments and Mindset Mastery 360:Mindset Mastery Moments: WebsiteMindset Mastery 360: WebsiteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mindset-mastery-moments--4488172/support.

The neuroscience of music perception Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Petri Toiviainen, Ibi Burunat, and Daniel Levitin describe the neuroscience of how musicians and non-musicians perceive boundaries within pieces of music. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:04]  Music neuroscientist Petri Toiviainen, music neuroscientist Ibi Burunat, and cognitive neuroscientist Daniel Levitin introduce the concept of musical boundaries. •[02:29] Toiviainen and Burunat tell about the musical pieces used in the experiment, as well as the experimental setup. •[04:05] Levitin explains why musicians and non-musicians were included in the study. •[04:27] Burunat and Levitin talk about the findings generally. •[05:50] Toiviainen and Levitin explain how musicians and non-musicians' responses to the music differed.  •[07:13] Toiviainen and Burunat talk about the caveats and limitations of the study.  •[08:59] Levitin and Burunat explore the implications of the work for music neuroscience. •[09:46] Conclusion. About Our Guests: Petri Toiviainen Professor University of Jyväskylä Ibi Burunat Postdoctoral researcher University of Jyväskylä Daniel Levitin Professor emeritus McGill University View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2319459121 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast  Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the PNAS Highlights newsletter

Read OnlineTurning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” Luke 10:23–24Imagine seeing Jesus in person. What would that have been like? What would it have been like to see Him, listen to Him preach, witness His miracles and spend time sitting with Him quietly? The experience of being with Him as He walked the earth would have been determined by the depth of interior sight you had. There were many who saw Jesus but rejected Him, and even killed Him. Clearly, they did not have the interior eyes of faith to see Him for Who He was. Others left everything behind to follow Him. Clearly, they perceived Who He was in His divine soul through the gift of faith.As Jesus states above, the disciples were blessed to see Him. Many prophets and kings of old desired to see the Messiah. Century after century, the prophecies about the coming of the Messiah would have left many with much anticipation and hope that they would be among those blessed to see Him. Recall, for example, Simeon the prophet who waited his whole life to see the Christ Child. Then, when Mary and Joseph brought the Child Jesus into the Temple to present Him to the Lord, Simeon took the Child into his hands and proclaimed, “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel” (Luke 2:29–32). Indeed, Simeon, the disciples, and all who encountered Jesus as He walked the earth were truly blessed. They were blessed to see the Son of God with their own eyes.Jesus proclaimed the eyes of the disciples to be blessed for seeing Him. However, if He were to speak to us today, He would proclaim us doubly blessed. We do not see Him in physical form, walking the earth. But we are able to perceive Him in a way that even Simeon did not experience in His life. Simeon saw the Savior of the World with his eyes, present in human form. But today, we are able to see Him in an even more profound way. By the gift of grace and the indwelling of God, we are able to look within our own souls and discover the true presence of God living within us.One might argue that seeing Jesus with your eyes is preferable to seeing His divine presence within your soul. But is it? Certainly not. Again, recall that there were many who saw Jesus with their eyes but did not recognize Him as God. Today, we are privileged to perceive the presence of Christ in our world in the deepest way possible. He came to live within us. He came to possess us. He came to unite Himself with us in a union so deep that it transforms us completely, making us into His very body.If it took faith to see the divinity of Jesus when He walked the earth, it will also take faith to see His true presence within us. Our sins cloud His presence. Our lack of faith makes it hard to see Him there. But God is alive within every soul that is in a state of grace, and it must be our ongoing duty to discover His indwelling presence and to be with Him within. In her spiritual masterpiece, “Interior Castles,” Saint Teresa of Ávila explains that the infinite God does dwell within us. It is our duty to enter into the most secret core of our being, the most interior castle, navigating through our many sins, so that we will enter the deepest center where the fullness of the great King dwells.Reflect, today, upon Jesus' words spoken to the disciples: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” Know that this statement applies even more to you. Seek to have the eyes of faith so that you can perceive the true presence of the Savior of the World living within your own soul. Seek Him out, gaze at Him with love, bask in His divine presence and allow that presence to overshadow you, transforming you into the person God wants you to be.My indwelling Lord, I am blessed beyond belief by Your divine presence dwelling within me. Please open my eyes to see You and my ears to hear You so that I will be able to dwell with You Who have come to dwell in me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Stained glass showing Jesus blessing a man By CURAphotography, via Adobe

Read OnlineOn a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions… Luke 6:6–8Jesus had a gift. Of course, He had every good gift to perfection. But in today's Gospel, we see one of  Jesus' gifts made manifest. Namely, Jesus was able to realize the intentions of those He daily encountered.Normally, we can only know another's intentions if they were to tell us their intentions. We cannot read minds and hearts. But our Lord could. He had the divine ability to read every soul and know every heart. For that reason, when someone came to Him with great faith, He knew it. And when someone came to Him with evil intent, He knew it.When Jesus perceived the ill intentions of the scribes and Pharisees, He used that knowledge to manifest their intentions. They intended to find a reason to accuse Jesus, so He gave them one. Jesus cured a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, and the scribes and Pharisees “became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.” They thought miracles were violations of the law of Sabbath rest.  Jesus knew they would apply their twisted logic to this miraculous healing, and He knew they would become enraged at Him on account of their envy. So, in a sense, Jesus provoked them so that that which was in their hearts would come forth for them to see.All of our interior intentions and thoughts are known by God and must become manifest to us in the presence of God. By provoking the scribes and Pharisees in charity, Jesus forces them to face that which was within them. They had to choose to either continue down the path of envy or to realize the foolishness of their interior thoughts. Sadly, for the scribes and Pharisees, it appears that many of them became more hardened in their sin. But this was a choice only they could make.Reflect, today, upon your own interior intentions and thoughts. Why do you do the things you do? What hidden motivations are in your heart? Is there some person, or a certain situation you find yourself in that causes you to obsess in anger interiorly? Or is it true charity that resides within you and is the source of your actions? Is there a profound faith? A supernatural hope? Or is it primarily some sin with which you struggle? Know that Jesus knows your heart, and He wants you also to see clearly those things hidden in your heart. He wants you to see your intentions as clearly as He sees them. Allow Him to reveal the depths of your heart to you so that you can turn away from the sins you find and rejoice in the virtues by which you live. My glorious Lord, you know all thoughts and probe the depths of every heart. You know me, Lord, through and through. Please open my eyes to see that which is within me so that I can discern the ill intentions I have and rejoice in the virtues given to me by You. May I always be attentive to You, dear Lord, so that I become aware of all that You wish to reveal to me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: The Healing of The Man with the Withered Hand via Wikimedia Commons

Season Two of the Solcast kicks off with Gabriel, aka Disco Orpheus joining us for a second time. The two dive deep into many esoteric, astral and spiritual concepts hoping to elucidate these worlds for you to better navigate reality. They discuss: Astral Worlds and How to Use them Magic Totem Creation Using Belief as a Technology Health as your North Star Creating our New Destiny And much more… Follow Disco Orpheus on Twitter and Instagram Join the community at Sol Nation solnation.net Shop Everything Sol at Soldept.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/solbrah/support