Open Heart

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“All the love in this life is within reach only when I let go of the circle of ill and make room for the love You ever want to instill.” – Meister Eckhart

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Listen to my song “God Is” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Psalm 79:5

How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealous anger keep burning like fire?

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The psalms capture the full spectrum of human emotions.

That’s why we can all relate to them.

We’ve experienced them all.

Anger is one such emotion.

Over the years of human evolution and spiritual development, we have tried to grasp the idea of God.

Humans have often projected their own emotions onto God.

In the Christian tradition, since men were the rulers, God was seen as male.

Therefore, humans projected many of the attributes of a male ruler onto God.

People also believed that when bad things happened, God was punishing them.

When good things happened, they were being rewarded.

Jesus dispelled these beliefs.

When his followers asked who had sinned to cause a man to be born blind, Jesus answered: “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him” (John 9:3).

Scripture eventually told us the truth: “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

Then Jesus reflected that truth.

Jesus said that if we knew him, then we would also know God (John 14:7).

He demonstrated who God is through pouring himself out in service, especially to those looked upon as the least of these (Matthew 25:40).

Jesus also showed us who God is in the way he reached out to the suffering with compassion.

God always makes good from the seemingly bad.

That’s what Love does!

As St. Paul put it: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God” (Romans 8:28).

So, no matter what life is handing you, trust that God is loving you and embracing you.

Channel that message with your words and actions.

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Listen to the song of the day “God Is” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Remember: God loves you!

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Sacred Presence

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“If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

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Listen to my song “Make Me a Channel” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Luke 10:8-9

“Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

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Jesus sent his followers out to share the gospel with specific instructions not to take any money, food, or even sandals (Luke 10:4).

The point of this story is that his followers would have nothing to distract them from their mission.

No attachments.

They would rely totally on God’s care.

Do we do the same?

And then Jesus told his followers the message in today’s scripture verse.

The gospel message, the Good News, is a message of healing.

And when there is healing, then you are experiencing what Jesus called “the kingdom of God” in the here and now.

Note that he said that this experience would not be possible if the people you encounter are not receptive, if they do not welcome you.

Some people’s hearts are not ready to receive this message.

Each is on their own spiritual journey.

You cannot force them to receive a message that they would not understand.

The gospel message is that God loves all people and all creation unconditionally.

Many cannot accept that.

Usually you can only truly experience this gospel truth through the loving actions of another when you least deserve it.

How can you be an instrument of God’s healing to others?

By being present to the Divine inside of you.

When you are centered in the sacredness of God and are present to it, you will radiate this loving Presence to others.

This can help others enter into the same Divine Presence inside of them.

This is what 18th century priest Jean Pierre de Caussade called the sacrament of the present moment.

It’s a good idea to get in touch with the Divine Presence through some form of meditation or Centering Prayer.

You can turn to that Presence anytime by letting go of your addictive thoughts, and truly being here.

Breathe deeply.

Be.

The kingdom of God is at hand for you.

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Listen to the song of the day “Make Me a Channel” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Remember: God loves you!

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Attitude of Gratitude

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“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle

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Listen to my song “Give Praise and Thanks” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Psalm 138:1

I thank you, God, with all my heart.

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Gratitude can change your life.

It’s the difference between having a positive outlook or a negative one.

When we start from a cynical viewpoint, guess what?

We’ll find lots of things to be cynical about!

When we start from a grateful viewpoint, we will find all kinds of things to be grateful about.

Believe me, I’m no poster child for this.

I’ve spent a good deal of my life whining and complaining about things instead of seeing all the blessings which abound.

I’ve tried in recent years to always wake up with thanksgiving on my lips.

The first thing I say before I get out of bed is: “Thank you, God, for another day. Thank you for another day of life.”

This seems to enliven me.

At the same time, I like to remember that Jesus said that when you lose your life you find your life (Matthew 16:25).

It’s not about me but about God and the greater good of all.

Allow the Spirit to lead you.

Make yourself at the disposal of the Great Compassion.

With each breath you are being sustained by the pure gift of life.

Thanks be to God.

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Listen to the song of the day “Give Praise and Thanks” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Remember: God loves you!

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Redemption

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“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” – C.S. Lewis

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Listen to my song “Mercy Reigns” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Luke 9:52-56

On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

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Some things never change.

The Samaritans didn’t like the Jews and the Jews didn’t like the Samaritans due to religious differences.

So when the Samaritans rejected Jesus and his followers, James and John wanted to take revenge.

Not just a little revenge, but they wanted to “call down fire from heaven to consume them.”

They wanted them burned alive.

But there is no hint of revenge in Jesus.

He preached to love your enemies (Matthew 5:44).

He preached forgiveness always (Matthew 18:21-22).

Forgiveness is supposed to be an attribute of Christianity.

But his followers (at least the men) did not get it.

And we still don’t get it two-thousand years later.

We still sanction and even glorify retaliation and revenge.

This is not following Jesus.

What if we actually practiced what Jesus preached?

This is why I say we largely have “churchianity” where Christians practice going to church and turn a deaf ear to what Jesus actually said.

Non-violence, forgiveness, and compassion are very difficult teachings to follow, I know!

But how else will God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven?

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Listen to the song of the day “Mercy Reigns” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Remember: God loves you!

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Counter Culture

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“Faith in action is love, and love in action is service.” – Mother Teresa

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Listen to my song “Breathe On Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Luke 9:48

“For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”

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Today’s gospel reading opens with Jesus’ followers arguing over which one of them is the greatest.

You have to hand it to Jesus for his patience.

His followers really weren’t grasping his message at all!

At least, the men weren’t.

Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother were likely exceptions to this!

Jesus’ life was all about servant leadership.

Jesus was not calling attention to himself.

He wasn’t trying to gain fame and fortune.

He was emptying himself (Philippians 2:7).

Jesus was serving those on the fringes of society.

He was standing up to the powerful and demanding fair treatment for those who had no voice.

Jesus did all these things without harming anyone.

Jesus looked at all people and all creation as a whole.

It was all one in the web-of-God’s-Love.

Life is not about you and your private salvation project (Thomas Merton’s phrase).

Life is about everyone and everything and the greater good of all.

This takes a whole new operating system to grasp, and let’s face it, it’s completely counter to our culture’s philosophy.

If everyone let go of ego-centric desires and served the greater good of all, there would be no concern about who is greatest.

And the kingdom of God, the experience of unconditional love, peace, and wholeness, would materialize in this time and place.

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Listen to the song of the day “Breathe On Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Remember: God loves you!

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Transformation in Progress

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“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but actually you’ve been planted.” – Christine Caine

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Listen to my song “Love Will Always Lead You Home” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Psalm 43:2-3

You, O God, are my strength. Why then do you spurn me? Why must I go about mourning, with the enemy oppressing me? Send your light and your fidelity, that they may be my guide.

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Sometimes it feels like God is far away.

You know the feeling, like you are all alone and darkness is closing in from all sides.

I’ve been there.

But I know in my heart that God is not far away.

God is not out there somewhere in a distant heaven.

God is everywhere.

As a transformed St. Paul put it, in God “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

And I also know in my heart that God is love (1 John 4:8).

Perhaps in those moments of feeling that God is far away, it would do us good to simply be with that feeling.

Do not resist the feeling but simply acknowledge its existence.

Sometimes I close my eyes and am present to how things are.

Accept the moment as is without judgement or commentary.

Let go of the narrative that your mind wants to attach to it.

That’s just a story!

What in this moment is bad?

Truly, there is nothing.

The moment just is.

The situation may not be pleasant, but this, too, will pass.

You can always decide to take some action to make a change.

But for the moment, intentionally take a deep breath; hold it; and then exhale.

The breath-of-life is still supporting you.

At your deepest core, you are loved.

So is everyone and everything else in this connected-web-of-life.

Events and appearances in this earthly realm will not always go smoothly, but as long as we are present to the Divine Presence, we will have a sense of interior calm even amidst the storm.

Love will always lead you home.

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Listen to the song of the day “Love Will Always Lead You Home” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Wholeness

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“If you were conscious, that is to say totally present in the Now, all negativity would dissolve almost instantly. It could not survive in your presence.” – Eckhart Tolle

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Listen to my song “God’s Love Is All You Need” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Luke 9:2-3

Jesus sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.”

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Jesus wanted his followers to go out and “proclaim the kingdom of God.”

What is that?

In my opinion, it is the experience of being unconditionally loved right now and that this experience is an abiding gift in each moment.

This Love is totally free and eternal.

You do not lack anything in this moment because in it you have everything you need.

That’s why Jesus wanted his followers to take nothing with them.

He wanted them to be totally reliant on Grace.

Let go of all attachments.

Die to yourself, your false self, so that your true self can have life.

As Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (John 12:24).

But this doesn’t have to be an ordeal.

It’s really quite simple.

You can experience this total love and acceptance of God any time you let go and fall into the present moment.

As Jesus put it, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21).

Some form of meditation such as Centering Prayer is helpful, or a walk in nature where you simply observe without judgement.

This experience will lead you to experience the sacred unity of all that is.

What could be more healing than to experience your wholeness and the wholeness of everything in the Wholeness of God’s unconditional love and acceptance?

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Listen to the song of the day “God’s Love Is All You Need” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Be You

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“Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

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Listen to the song of the day “Pour Me Out” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Ephesians 4:1-4

I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call.

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What call have you received?

You have received a calling whether you know it or not or you would not be here.

Sadly, many have not been told this or have wrongly been told that callings are only to religious life.

That was pretty much what I was taught growing up.

This wreaked great havoc on my young adult life.

By my 30’s I had awakened to this deep yearning inside to actually be my true self, not the false self that our culture and other influences form us into.

It wasn’t until my 40’s that I finally realized that we are all uniquely called to be the unique me that only each of us can be.

I do know this: since God is love (1 John 4:8), we are all called to channel that love to all people and all creation.

St. Paul realized this.

He gave his life to sharing with others the joy of following Jesus and his ways.

This gave him great peace so that he was able to speak today’s scripture verses while being held prisoner.

And what he says is that we are all called to share the unconditional love of God with the world with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.

If you are not sure of your calling, you first need to know that you are God’s beloved.

If you don’t know that, I’m telling you now!

Believe it.

Then, simply be present to everyone and everything with openness and compassion.

You are exactly where you are supposed to be.

Breathe deeply.

Let Love be your guide.

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Listen to the song of the day “Pour Me Out” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Radiate Love

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Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle.” – Buddha

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Listen to my song “May I Be Light” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Luke 8:16-18

Jesus said, “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear.”

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Each of us has an inner light.

We are “children of the light” as St. Paul put it (1 Thessalonians 5:5).

We come from the Light of life itself, the very Word spoken by God.

And what came to be was all life, and “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Near Death Experiencers are speaking of this Light that seems to envelope them as their souls are filled with a Love beyond description.

This Light, the energy of Love itself (God is love 1 John 4:8), is intrinsically part of everything that is.

In searching for words to describe this, St. Paul used the word Christ stating that “in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).

We cannot escape this Living Light because it is everywhere.

As Paul put it, “for in (God) we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

We can live in the delusion of human-made constructs, ego-generated narratives, but nothing is hidden from this Light.

So, as Jesus says, “Take care how you hear.”

Take care how you experience life.

Do not let that which is temporary and fleeting obstruct the Light which you are meant to shine.

Allow the Light of Love to flow through your words and actions.

How else will God’s “will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10)?

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Listen to the song of the day “May I Be Light” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Open Hands

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“The secret is to renounce nothing, cling to nothing, enjoy everything and allow it to pass, to flow.” – Anthony de Mello

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Listen to my song “Slow Me Down” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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1 Timothy 6:7-9

For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction.

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Why are we here having this earthly experience?

This is a good question to ponder.

Jesus talked a lot about seeking the kingdom of God in the here and now.

This seemed to be the state of being when you are present to all things in love and truth.

After a scribe who questioned Jesus about the greatest commandment seemed to understand that it was both to love God with your whole heart, soul and mind as well as to love your neighbor as yourself, Jesus told him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).

Jesus’ whole life seemed to advocate for the detachment to material possessions as well as to power and prestige.

It’s not the possessions, power or prestige themselves that are bad, it’s the attachment to them.

This is why Jesus said it would be “easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25).

This kingdom is the realm or consciousness or experience of peace and spaciousness that is always available in the here and now when we are not attached to our thoughts, narratives, or possessions.

Take a deep breath and then exhale.

Do this several times right now.

Feel the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Know you are loved exactly how you are at this moment.

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Listen to the song of the day “Slow Me Down” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Remember: God loves you!

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