what of Him
Who bought thee with His blood?
Who plunged into devouring seas
And snatched thee from the flood,

To live life more abundantly, it requires us to reach out to others, those who are lost, in need of a helping hand, an understanding heart, a listening ear... 

All great teachers declare that within this body is the immortal soul, a spark of That which sustains all.

Ancient Hebrew tradition held that the heart could think. It is the heart-generated and heartfelt thoughts, those affectively saturated cognitions that influence thoughts, feelings, and actions, those beliefs of the heart—even those beliefs in one’s deepest heart of hearts—it is these thoughts, emotions, feelings that hold great power over us.

In every hour of the day and throughout the night, God communicates through the divine music of the Spirit. Can you hear it?

“All human beings experience disappointment. If this hard fact of development were not so, it would be very difficult to explain the joy of personal growth that often follows setbacks.”

Jacob de Jager, Disciple of Jesus Christ

They say “misery loves company.” We can think of it another way: we can lift one another better when we know each other’s stories. As we are privileged to hold the sacred space with another allowing their stories to unfold, the tempest experiences to be honored, we grow together in recognition of the challenges of life that grow us, when we allow. In it we create sacred and supporting bonds. 

He led the debates on the Bill of Rights. He was one of the great men of that day who sought to abolish slavery. To use his words, he pleaded for “the extinguishment of slavery in the United States.” He was the 4th President of our infant nation. 

Pride manifests itself in various forms, often deceiving us with its allure. One of its most dangerous expressions is the arrogance of self-exaltation. When we become consumed with our own importance and achievements, we tend to overlook the contributions of others and disregard our dependency on God's grace. As Joyce Meyer once said, "Pride is an independent, me-oriented spirit. It makes people arrogant, rude, and hard to get along with."

Peacemakers find just and gentle ways to resolve conflict. Peacemakers let go of the past and anxieties caused by acts of others. Peacemakers choose the unity of peace over the fragmentation of fear.