A new month underway, brings the climax of another busy week here along our shared path.
Where to begin? Last week in our review we started on Friday and went back, the week before we began at the beginning going Monday through Friday, so let’s try something different and start in the middle on this edition of “Becoming Today”
Wednesday we were involved in our ongoing Search and Rescue Mission for Wisdom.
Renewing Our Search in Proverbs 2 of The Passion Translation® , it was worth \noting the chapter begins with the encouragement that finding wisdom is possible, however you must first treasure it. If you do not value the gift then it will do you no good.
The first few verses again touch upon the importance of seeking wisdom, then sharing those understandings. Then we learn, that if we do so:
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then you will discover the fear of the Lord
and find the true knowledge of God.
And that,
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Wisdom is a gift from a generous God,
and every word he speaks is full of revelation
and becomes a fountain of understanding within you
Which once we accept continues building and smoothing our paths forward by taking us to a secret place,
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For the Lord has a hidden storehouse of wisdom
made accessible to his godly ones.
Not only is this treasure available to us, it is kept safe and so are we during our journeys as verse 8 continues,
He becomes your personal bodyguard as you follow his ways,
protecting and guarding you as you choose what is right.
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Then you will discover all that is just, proper, and fair,
and be empowered to make the right decisions
as you walk into your destiny.
Empowered to be treated fairly and justly as we walk towards our own “Becoming”. That’s wonderful to me and it touches back upon some of the treasured traits we are also discussing during our conversations on the 8 Points of Light.
Which brings us to Thursday’s discussion of “Illuminating 8.1: Compassion”.
While this process builds upon and expands some concepts we’ve previously talked about along our shared journey, it also will introduce you to some amazing concepts that are already improving my life and overall levels of joy.
Contentment, rest, peace and happiness are in far greater supply and more readily available since I accepted this knowledge and leapt forward in Faith with it.
I have visualized the idea as a multi-colored flower, with eight petals. One for each point of light we have available to use and can be radiating within our environments.
Our shared definition of becoming compassionate involves a developing of skills, levels and achievement. It also makes compassion an active action. Something we must not only understand and accept, but must also decide to give and receive freely.
I ask you to choose to accept this understanding that I have developed:
“Becoming compassionate is accepting the conscious process of showing kindness and sharing empathy with others, so that we may then decide to assist all those we can.”
In sharing compassion we do show kindness and empathy towards others (and hopefully ourselves) though empathy is used to describe a whole range of emotions. The primary difference is empathy is when you can accept the emotions of another in a given situation, while compassion also includes the desire to take action to aid the individual.
A widely stated adage expresses,
“A single act of compassion can change a person’s life forever.”Making it a very Becoming quality. Sharing compassion allows us to feel and assist. It motivates us to transform suffering, pain or injustice into healing, growth and change
Living within a covenant of being compassionate allows us to feel more, help others and embrace our vulnerability. That can transform our suffering, pain or injustice into healing, growth and change.
Next Thursday, here on “Becoming Today”, join us as we focus our attention on the next petal of light, with our discussion of …
Ahhh… Remember I told you, no foreshadowing. To allow you to fully focus on each of the 8 Points of Light, I am keeping you in the dark, ( pun intended) , until we greet the dawning of the next lesson together. (L O L)
On the Friday Free Form, edition of “Becoming Today”, the question remains: ‘Now, what will she say?’
As we just wrapped up Women’s History Month, I’d like to submit this for your consideration:
Did you know? The 15 states that never ratified the Equal Rights Amendment are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia.
Did you also know? Today those same states have been busy seeking to pass apparently preemptive laws even before the proposed Equality Act has been heard.
Plus the number of states considering legislation to prohibit legal protections for specific groups of individuals has grown also including Idaho, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.
As of mid-March just two and a half months into this year, more than 150 laws have been formally proposed to impose restrictions upon persons based upon their gender or sexual orientation.
I guess the following words are to be relegated to the annals of history, just something old, no longer relevant, no sense in even teaching them anymore because observing the intentions of these new laws, the implicit meaning of an oft quoted paragraph apparently is now counter to the beliefs of the nation?
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
It’s also interesting that those proposing the new restrictive measures that do not seek to promote the general welfare of all individuals, nor do they foster an atmosphere of domestic tranquility are also violating their oaths of office.
In the solemn vow they swear to those they seek to represent every state requires the elected representatives to affirm, the following with some minor grammatical variations:
“I, _____, do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the State of _______, and all local ordinances, and that I will faithfully and impartially perform and discharge the duties of the office of _____, according to the law and the best of my ability.”
Those 52 words beginning with “We the People”, quoted above are in fact the Preamble, the opening paragraph, the foundation of the United States Constitution.
If in fact today’s elected officials can not even honor the first paragraph, as they attest to,““I, _____, do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will support the Constitution of the United States…”; then how can we believe they will support the rest or even have knowledge of what it means?
Perhaps we also need to consider rewriting the following partially quoted line:
“one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
The us-them mentality of government is certainly divisive and the rush to restrict individual rights coupled with a support for unequal justice certainly disprove it.
So for all those who break their promise and violate the laws of the land in proposing such measures perhaps the pledge should be altered as such:
“One nation under God divided, segregated into micro-minorities, with liberty for a limited few and justice? Well it is just a word, something you say, not something that is meant to be.”
I have tears in my eyes as I type this, as I continue to pray we can awaken and see the losses, a lack of leadership is creating for us all.
If it’s okay to do this to “them”, what about when “they” decide, this other “them” is equally egregious? Then they’ll be yet another “them” after that and when you become one of the “them” who will be left to stand up for you?
As for those seeking religious exemptions to allow discrimination and those who believe restrictions should be imposed on others who do not share their beliefs, please remember these words:
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.””
If you don’t know who said them, then that may be the first issue you need to address for yourself.
This month we’ll celebrate another concept of importance. Beginning today and continuing throughout all of April we will be “Celebrating Resurrection Month”
As far as I know I am the only one declaring this, but I truly feel we need more than just Easter or even Easter week to focus on the truth. The story of love, sacrifice, redemption and our Salvation.
As we did with “Women’s History Month” and continue to do with our year long goal to “Resurrect Positivity”, each day you’ll find a reference to “Celebrating Resurrection Month”
Each of these will be a relevant scripture for your consideration, contemplation, meditation, reflection and sharing. Continuing with this one:
So in our roundabout review, next up is our discussion concerning, “Miraculous Mo’day”.
Everyday holds the potential for miracles, so why should today be any different?
In fact it can be considered a miracle we woke up today.
What makes this day so important? And yes I am renaming the days of the week again.
Last week I shared about how I differ some of the spellings and names of the day of the week to make them more relevant. Another visual aid to assist our focus and help our shared path be one of always “Becoming”.
Evolving. Uplifting. Momentum focused both forward and upward.
So instead of Monday, I call this start to our combined week as Mo’day.
That is a dialect in play for the word more. So give mo’. Mo’ of this and mo’ of that.
Why am I focusing on what Monday instead can be “Becoming”?
I’m glad you asked.
It’s because thanks to rodents from a town undergoing rapid growth due to sudden prosperity; a grumpy cat as well as an overall malaise that has hung around since the last century, Mondays have become misconstrued.
They are viewed as negative, not welcoming and a hindrance.
All are untrue, unless you want them to be.
That would be counter intuitive to our purpose here on “Becoming Today”, where we are all about love, peace, growth, change and stand against even the word hate.
So there is no “I Hate Mondays” around here. And there never will be.
I hope we can agree to accept that Mondays do not need to be a negative or downer kind of day. That we are able to open ourselves up to mo’.
More refreshing. More renewing and more “Becoming”.
“Step One: Decide”: to revitalize your approach, your attitude towards the start of this week. When? Why not now?
Are you ready to make them all a ‘Miraculous Mo’day’?
Receive the possibility.
Release the potential.
Rejoice and perhaps it will result in being a turning point day for you…
Which leads us to tomorrow.
We’ll continue our limited-run series on “Turning Point Toosday”, exploring how a mere moment can inspire you to Mo’…. see how the days work together?
“Turning Point Timing” was the second in a series I’ve called “Turning Point Toosdays”. Designed to help you look for inspiration and empower breakthroughs for yourself along this shared path we call “Becoming Today”
As I shared yesterday on “Miraculous Mo’day’, everyday holds the potential for miracles, so why should today be any different?
In fact it can be considered a miracle we woke up today.
After a period of darkness and dormancy you rose breathing, and were capable of thought.
Just that is proof of a blessing to be alive. You are able to dream, hope, ponder and even thrive if you choose to.
You can co-create the meaning and purpose in your life.
You are free to love.
You are capable of sharing blessings and miracles with others along our shared path
Keeping that in mind now let’s discuss how time plays a role in our turning point days.
“Becoming Today” it’s all about timing. The decisions, choices and options we have are related to when things will occur and trusting that the timing is right on schedule.
Time and time again, I have and can continue to share testimony of things working out at the very moment I needed it the most. More often than not, circumstances have improved, beyond what I had limited myself to expecting, or at times even hoping for.
After a while I could no longer be in denial of it. Despite a battle of impatience, if I continue in faith and trust, at the very least my needs, hopes and dreams are delivered – often exceeded beyond what I had prayed for.
It builds character, develops stamina and promises deliverance. For all and in all things. Everything is possible. The key is to trust. Trust God and trust his timing.
Does that mean everything happens when I want it to, or think it should?
Absolutely,… NOT.
Sure I experience delays.
Argue with myself over whether or not I’m being too patient, but time and time again I have come to know that when I do I’m just adding to the length of time it will take to “find” what I was searching for.
And I’m not the only one as we can read one who questioned the concept and cried out in Psalms 10:1 N I V:
“Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”
It is from here we go on to learn that delays are not denials of our requests, hopes or aspirations, because God never reschedules without a purpose; as in Proverbs 16:9 N I V, He never gives up on you:
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
We may not fully understand the plans,purpose or promise God has for us, nonetheless He has appointed a time for all. For all things, for all people. That includes you and I.
Throughout time as we understand it, God has been gifting us with Grace. If we choose to accept it. Therefore say yes and allow our “Becoming” to be. Let us trust our faithful God to deliver upon His promises to each of us.
How amazing it is that Grace can provide for us and with us if we only trusted God all the time and in all things.
Trusting Him does not mean you get what you want in the way you want it, when you want it, which is probably now ( or yesterday).
Trust, paired with faith and obedience does quicken your delivered promise to coming soon.
It is never a waste of time to be patient and abide by the Lord. Do all you can an pray, believe and trust for the rest
When the timing is right, in God’s judgment and with his wisdom soon is transformed into now.
Which will prove itself to be the absolute, unequivocable, without a doubt, right, perfect, just in time moment.
Do not let naysayers or well intentioned, but less “Becoming” individuals in your circles dissuade you. Do not deny the Truth, by listening to their fears or lack of understanding. Do not allow their emotional responses to rule your heart, mind and soul.
God’s providing for us, when we need it most has always been as you can read in Genesis 21:1. God did exactly as He said he would, just when He promised he would.
Be obedient.
Be Faithful.
Trust God’s Timing.
Believe.
Then God will fulfill the dreams, desires and promises He put within you.
Access those memories.
Remember them fully.
Release your understanding upon our actions.
Then you are “Becoming” the real, true, authentic you. All you were intended to be.
What then?
Keep doing it.
What?
Becoming you.
Live it and Gracefully Accept, there is still so much more for you to be “Becoming”…
Thanks again for spending some time with us this week and there is still so much Mo’ to come.
I pray April showers you with Abundance, Beauty, Inspiration, Knowledge and Wisdom. May it bring you Calm, Joy, Love, Peace and yes even flowers too.
Enjoy your weekend, then come Monday join us again for our next edition of “Becoming Today”.
Becoming Today with Rochelle Jeanette 