“It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 This verse is a favorite of many of my spiritual teachers, and it’s become one of mine, too. Why not? Who doesn’t like the idea of a generous Creator who delights in blessing us? What’s more, I’m told that these good things […]
Category: Learning To Receive
This blog is intended to create a dialogue about learning to receive with grace and ease. So much has been written about the importance of giving that we forget that in order to give, someone has to be receiving.
It’s Not in Your Hands
Have you heard the expression “We make plans and Gods laughs”? Unlike “Satan, get behind me,” I really dislike this saying. I think planning is very wise and God-ordained. It’s certainly well based in Scripture. Noah planned the ark, Jacob had a plan to win his beloved, Moses and David had countless plans to keep […]
Satan, Get Behind Me
Christian readers may recognize that the title of this piece is a rarely quoted rebuke of Jesus. Strange as it sounds, this harsh quotation has become perhaps my favorite of his expressions. What’s even odder is that I don’t even believe in Satan in the traditional sense. To explain why I like this expression and […]
Two-way Blessings
I’ve often written about how intertwined giving and receiving are: we cannot do one without the other occurring for both ourselves and the other person. In other words, as we give, we receive, and vice versa. On a related note, I’ve concluded that the flow of blessings is never just one way. The Universe is […]
Bolstering Your Expectation
We’re well into the second month of 2013 already! How is your year going? Are you receiving all the good you intended for yourself? If so, outstanding! If not, are you at least receiving what you need? If the year has gotten off to a less than stellar start, spend this week bolstering your expectation. […]
Failed Attempts to Give
You may recall me saying that giving and receiving are a process, two sides of the same coin. It’s a misconception that in the process one person gives while the other receives. Both parties are giving and receiving: as the giver gives whatever is being offered, the giver receives many things such as feelings of […]
Transformation
I read a poem recently about how oysters transform irritating sand into beautiful pearls, and it got me thinking about Thich Nhat Hanh’s teaching that we can transform anger into peace through our breath and consciousness. Is it possible for we who are trying to receive to transform what we already have into what we […]
An Action Plan for Receiving
“We must come in quiet confidence, with an open and receptive mind, a believing heart, naturally, sanely, expectantly.” Science of Mind, page 447 I love this quotation from the Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes because it is easy to understand and filled with tips for receiving. It’s a great action plan for skillful receiving. […]
Make Up Something Good – Part Two
Imagination – the ability to visualize or to form images and ideas in the mind, especially of things never experienced directly (Encarta Dictionary) We all have one – an imagination. That’s a good thing. Most of us aren’t very skilled at using it, however. Ever had a special event to look forward to or had […]
Make Up Something Good – Part One
Among living creatures, human beings have been uniquely gifted with imagination. Children are masterful in their use of this gift, but sadly imagining is one of the few skills that seems to diminish as we age. Oh we adults imagine things, but have you noticed most of what you imagine isn’t very positive? In fact, […]