Animal Friends - Friday, October 04, 2013 | Daily Word

Animal Friends - Friday, October 04, 2013 | Daily Word

Animal Friends

I CELEBRATE AND APPRECIATE ALL ANIMALS.

Animals delight us, transport and serve us, nurture and ground us. The antics of young kittens or puppies touch our hearts. Observing fish or petting a faithful dog can even lower our blood pressure! Animal friends distract us from our worries and comfort us when we are hurting. They ask little of us, yet unconditionally give their love and affection.

Animals have the uncanny ability to relate to people. There is magic in the way a horse and rider communicate. Service animals lend their vision, their agility, their sixth sense to help those who need them lead full and independent lives. Today I bless all animals for the many ways they touch our hearts and enrich our lives.

God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind …” And it was so.—Genesis 1:24

Cheerful - Thursday, October 03, 2013 | Daily Word

Cheerful - Thursday, October 03, 2013 | Daily Word

Cheerful

THE CHRIST LIGHT IN ME SHINES WITH JOY.

Every now and then, most everyone finds themselves in a bad mood. Yet we need never feel victim to our mood. A shift in state is always possible.

If I am bothered, irritated, or grumpy, I take action to shake it off. Maybe I need a change of scenery—literally and figuratively. I can take a walk in the fresh autumn air and also shift the scenery in my mind to appreciate the good all around me.

I center myself in my heart space and allow joy to emerge from within. A cheerful heart is good medicine, chasing away the blues, clearing the mind, and establishing a brighter outlook. When my attitude shifts from grumpy to cheerful, I see and feel the Christ Light in me and in all life.

A cheerful heart is a good medicine.—Proverbs 17:22

Inner Peace - Wednesday, October 02, 2013 | Daily Word

Inner Peace - Wednesday, October 02, 2013 | Daily Word

THE STILL, SMALL VOICE CALLS ME TO MY CENTER OF PEACE.

Sometimes we allow the inner and ever-present silence to be drowned out by the noise of everyday life. Information streams into our awareness from all directions. Concerns or worries interrupt our internal calm. Yet peace is within our reach at all times and in all places.

To access the peace of the Silence, I stop and listen. I allow the deep inner calm within me to expand. I observe as the still, small voice of Spirit comes to the forefront. By listening to this tender voice, I infuse my thoughts with divine love and compassion. Spirit is my source of peace.

When I return my attention to the business of the day, I am equipped to respond more thoughtfully, with greater mindfulness and awareness. I am equipped for peace.

A soft answer turns away wrath.—Proverbs 15:1

Expect the Best - Tuesday, October 01, 2013 | Daily Word

Expect the Best - Tuesday, October 01, 2013 | Daily Word

I ANTICIPATE GOD’S GOOD.

Expecting the best is a great habit, one that I strengthen through prayer and practice. Expecting the best doesn’t mean being naive—it means believing in unlimited possibilities and holding the high watch, while at the same time, staying flexible.

I let go of worries about undesirable outcomes. Instead, I become aware of God in my experience. In word and thought, I acknowledge God’s presence and power active in me and in this situation.

If I am with others who are fretful, I relax, smile, and voice my positive expectations. As it is said, “Our energy flows where our attention goes,” so I focus my attention on the positive, knowing that good is continuously flowing.

Happy is everyone who trusts in you.—Psalm 84:12

Free - Monday, September 30, 2013 | Daily Word

Free - Monday, September 30, 2013 | Daily Word

THE KEY TO FREEDOM IS TO PUT GOD FIRST.

Daily life may appear confining at times. I might feel boxed in by deadlines, burdened by health concerns, or weary of relationship issues. Realizing I have a choice, I seek a path to freedom.

In The Golden Key, Emmet Fox noted that the key to restoring peace and harmony is to “stop thinking about the difficulty, whatever it is, and think about God instead.” With this in mind, I turn my thoughts away from my concerns and affirm the truth that God is all there is.

If worrisome thoughts resurface, I replace them with powerful affirmations of God’s loving presence. I regain my freedom by centering my thoughts on God. As I do, my mind quiets, my body relaxes, and I am free.

Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.—Psalm 118:5

Student of Life - Sunday, September 29, 2013 | Daily Word

Student of Life - Sunday, September 29, 2013 | Daily Word

I AM ALWAYS LEARNING.

As a student of life, I am always learning. Living is like an endless education, and I learn something new every day. Sometimes circumstances test my mettle. With faith in myself and with the spirit of God in me, I surmount any obstacle and grow from the experience.

I learn by doing. I try what I have not tried before, and I take risks, knowing I may not always succeed. But I will always learn. As I follow my inner guidance, I make progress, building my faith and confidence.


Every day, I continue to grow in awareness, seeking to learn more about God, myself, and life. I am guided by Spirit and blessed with the answers I seek.

Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.—Proverbs 9:9

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread -- Color Courage September 29, 2013 Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn READ: 1 Corinthians 4:10-17 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. —1 Corinthians 11:1 A radio ad for watches suggests that listeners buy a watch with a bright color band and then wear it with clothes of other colors. When people notice your watch because of its contrasting color, the ad says, “They’ll see that you have ‘color courage.’ And they’ll want to be like you.” Something in us enjoys having others follow our example. If you do a quick reading of 1 Corinthians 4, you might think the apostle Paul sounds a bit boastful when he says to follow his example of self-sacrifice (v.16). But a closer look at Paul’s words shows why he wrote so confidently. He could ask people to imitate him because he imitated Christ (11:1), the greatest Servant of all. The persecution he endured and the position he held in the church (4:10-17) all happened because Paul followed Jesus. When he mentioned that even if the Corinthians had 10,000 teachers he would still be their father in the faith (v.15), he was acknowledging that Jesus is the only reason people could trust his teaching. If we want people to imitate us, we must first imitate our Lord. If we have any reason for people to follow our example—if we have any courage to point others to the Savior—it is because of Him, not us. —Anne Cetas Joyfully following Jesus the Lord And trusting His lead every day Makes us examples that others can see To follow when trials come their way. —Sper Others should imitate us only as far as we imitate Christ. Bible in a year: Isaiah 7-8; Ephesians 2