Faith

Affirmations - The Best Way to Start Your Day - Click here to watch this video

Click above to watch the video, or go here:
http://www.selfgrowth.com/videos/affirmations

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Prosperity Blocks (and Rocks)How You Divert, Stop and Stunt Your Own Abundance Stream!

You might already have some awareness of your own "prosperity blocks".

You know, the ones that are right in front of you. The fear, the lack of decision, and the mindsets that set you up for struggle or staying exactly where you are at.

I know. I have them too! Some little, some big, and some really gargantuan.

Those blocks, in a word – could be summed up as "YOU".

I know, OUCH, right?

I tread carefully here, since it's hard to take full responsibility for what you are creating, and sometimes you have to ease yourself in here. But, just sit with this for a moment.

You are the block that is getting in the way of creating the life you want. You might think it's about something else, and more specifically, something out side of you. "The economy", your horrible boss, your lack of a Phd... the list goes on.

But, what I would like you to remember is -- this is your Ego talking. Now, I'm big on nurturing your ego... taking good care of it so it can be smaller, and do the job it was meant to do vs. running your whole life and getting in the way of matters of the heart and of manifestation.

Here's truth. Manifestation of prosperity, wealth -- or anything else for that matter is about emotional alignment coupled with inspired action. It's not about the ego's fears.

Prosperity Exercise:

I want you to, sit down and write a list of everything that's holding you back from what you want. Really - do it. :)

Now, know this -- it's all you. It's head stuff. It's all how you are thinking about those things, and it's important that you OWN that.

It's all how you relate to it. It's all about the energy that you are holding around it, and what you believe about YOU as you stand focused on those beliefs, thoughts, and barriers.

Your mind wants to say, BUT that's not my stuff. Hmmmm....

I understand - it doesn't appear that way.... but the more you can own it as your stuff, your beliefs, and your blocks -- the more you can step into your own power and clear those blocks, release those fears and get to creating what you REALLY want.

So, look at your list. Say - "I choose to meet my self exactly where I am at, and it's perfect."

Now say... "This is my stuff, and I'm at choice to keep this stuff or not."

Here's the scoop, the better you get at clearing and releasing your blocks the more you expand your spirit, and the more you clear the channel to manifestation.

Think of your life as a stream. Each time you throw in a rock it creates a ripple. The more rocks you throw in, the more ripples, the more blocks, the harder time the river has being "in flow". Now, throw in a few boulders – and that stream is going to be slow and struggling!

If you would like success to flow freely into your life – you NEED to make sure the rocks – (and the blocks!) – are removed!

Alright... so get back to your list. Look at each item, and own it. Now, ask yourself these questions.

1. Am I willing to release this block?
2. Am I willing to see the illusion that this block truly is?
3. Am I willing to step into my own power as a creator?
4. What am I willing to do right now to soften that energy?
5. What thought or belief could I activate to replace what's been limiting me?
6. What action could I take to lean me in the direction of my truth, my desires, my dreams?

Have fun with this, start right where you are, and honor the journey!


 Lori Hamann is a mentor and life coach to conscious entrepreneurs and professionals, who she helps to create more prosperity and peace of mind in their lives and businesses. She is the creator of The Butterfly Experiment, and her Evolve Your Life Newsletter goes out to over 7,000 like minded subscribers. You can sign up for a f.r.e.e subscription at http://lorihamann.com 
         



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It's Friday, but Sunday's coming.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YByT6wfdhJs

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TWO MONKS & A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
Two monks were on a journey when they came to
a river where a beautifully dressed woman was
standing.

As she did not want to ruin her lovely clothes, she
asked them to carry her to the other side. The two
monks glanced at one another because they had
taken vows not to touch a woman.

Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the
woman, carried her across the river, placed her
gently on the other side, and carried on his
journey.

The younger monk couldn't believe what had just
happened. After rejoining his companion, he was
speechless, and an hour passed without a word
between them.

Two more hours passed, then three, finally the
younger monk could contain himself no longer,
and blurted out "How could you do that, when you
made a vow not to even touch a woman!"

The older monk looked at him and replied, "Oh, are
you still carrying her? I put her down hours ago."


Great story huh?  It's from Harley Storey's blog.

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Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future.
It's simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.
- Joni Erickson Tada

Faith is staying focused on the positive and being grateful for what you have. Faith is trusting that the right answer to a problem will come to you - it's waiting patiently until things get resolved - knowing that prayer can be answered in many ways.


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My friend, Mac Anderson, at Simple Truths shared a post with me this morning that I'd like to share with you. I think we all tend to forget just how blessed we are until we get a reminder. Here it is on this Monday morning:


Your Reminder...

The date was July 16, 2008. It was late in the afternoon and I was sitting in my hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky. I was scheduled to speak that evening for the Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA).


I was a little "down in the dumps." I hadn't gotten to exercise lately because of my traveling schedule and recently I'd experienced some mild bouts of vertigo (that inner ear condition that can cause the room to start spinning.) You got it...speaking and "spinning" are not good partners!


My keynote presentation was scheduled for 7:00 PM, but I had been invited to show up at 6:00 to see a performance they said I'd enjoy. Little did I know that I was about to see something I would never forget.


They introduced the young musician. Welcome...Mr. Patrick Henry Hughes. He was rolled onto the stage in his wheelchair, and began to play the piano. His fingers danced across the keys as he made beautiful music.


He then began to sing as he played, and it was even more beautiful. For some reason, however, I knew that I was seeing something special. There was this aura about him that I really can't explain and the smile...his smile was magic!


About ten minutes into Patrick's performance, someone came on the stage and said..."I'd like to share a 7-minute video titled, The Patrick Henry Hughes story." And the lights went dim.


Patrick Henry Hughes was born with no eyes, and a tightening of the joints which left him crippled for life. However, as a child, he was fitted with artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first birthday, he discovered the piano. His mom said, "I could hit any note on the piano, and within one or two tries, he'd get it." By his second birthday, he was playing requests (You Are My Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). His father was ecstatic. "We might not play baseball, but we can play music together."


Today, Patrick is a junior at the University of Louisville. His father attends classes with him and he's made nearly all A's, with the exception of 3 B's He's also a part of the 214 member marching band. You read it right...the marching band! He's a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player; and he and his father do it together. They attend all the band practices and the half-time performance in front of thousands. His father rolls and rotates his son around the field to the cheers of Patrick's fans. In order to attend Patrick's classes and every band practice, his father works the graveyard shift at UPS. Patrick said..."My dad's my hero."


But even more than his unbelievable musical talent, it was Patrick's "attitude of gratitude" that touched my soul. On stage, between songs, he would talk to the audience about his life and about how blessed he was. He said, "God made me blind and unable to walk. BIG DEAL! He gave me the ability...the musical gifts I have...the great opportunity to meet new people."


When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered for over five minutes. It gave me giant goose bumps!


My life was ready to meet Patrick Henry Hughes. I needed a hero, and I found one for the ages. If I live to be a hundred, I'll never forget that night, that smile, that music, but most importantly, that wonderful "attitude of gratitude."


I returned to Chicago and shared Patrick's story with my wife, my friends, and our team at Simple Truths. About two weeks later, I received a letter from a friend. He said, "Mac, here is a quote from Vivian Greene that I think you'll love!"


"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...

it's about learning how to dance in the rain!"


I thought...that's it! We all face adversity in our life. However, it's not the adversity, but how we react to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our life. During tough times, do we spend too much time feeling sorry for ourselves, or, can we, with gratitude...learn how to dance in the rain?


It almost sounds too simple to feel important, but one word...gratitude, can change your attitude, thus, your life, forever. Sarah Breathnach said it best...


"When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present....we experience heaven on earth."

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What I just shared is the introduction to my book, Learning to Dance in the Rain...The Power of Gratitude. My co-author is BJ Gallagher and she is one of the most talented and creative writers I've every known. It was an honor to work with her on this beautiful book that can truly change the way you think about life.


Keep Dancing,

Mac Anderson
Founder, Simple Truths

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"Let the children come to me..."


Heaven is for Real
by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent

This is a wonderful book about a little boy named Colton who nearly died from a ruptured appendix at the age of almost 4 years old.  "Do you remember the hospital, Colton?" Sonja said.  "Yes, Mommy, I remember," he said, "That's where the angels sang to me." 
This book tells the story of a family's horrific journey to the verge of their son's death, his visit with family and Jesus, and his unveiling to his family the details of that visit. 

Here is a brief glimpse into one of the family's conversations with Colton: 
  Finally, I plunged in:  "Colton, you said that angels sang to you while you were at the hospital?" 
  He nodded his head vigorously.
 "What did they sing to you?"
  Colton turned his eyes up and to the right, the attitude of remembering.  "Well, they sang 'Jesus Loves Me' and 'Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho,'" he said earnestly.  "I asked them to sing 'We Will, We Will Rock You,' but they wouldn't sing that."
  As Cassie giggled softly, I noticed that Colton's answer had been quick and matter-of-fact, without a hint of hesitation.
  Sonja and I exchanged glances again.  What's going on?  Did he have a dream in the hospital?
  And one more unspoken question:  What do we say now?
  A natural question popped into my head:  "Colton, what did the angels look like?"
  He chuckled at what seemed to be a memory.  "Well, one of them looked like Grandpa Dennis, but it wasn't him, 'cause Grandpa Dennis has glasses."
  Then he grew serious.  "Dad, Jesus had the angels sing to me because I was so scared.  They made me feel better."
  Jesus?
  I glanced at Sonja again and saw that her mouth had dropped open.  I turned back to Colton.  "You mean Jesus was there?"
  My little boy nodded as though reporting nothing more remarkable than seeing a ladybug in the front yard.  "Yeah, Jesus was there."
  "Well, where was Jesus?"
 Colton looked me right in the eye.  "I was sitting in Jesus' lap."

This is a remarkable story of a family's journey, a journey that is filled with a message of hope and love.  It is also filled with the pain and anguish of two parents who nearly lost their young son.  I think you will find this book compelling --and convincing!

Thanks to the Burpo family for sharing!

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If you haven't seen the story of Chris Medina I encourage you to check it out.  He was an American Idol candidate who was sent home a couple of weeks ago.  This video tells the love story of he and his fiance.


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The Energy and Power of Your Unwavering Commitment


UNWAVERING... can you think of a time that you created something, often times out of nothing -- and you'd describe yourself as unwavering in your determination to create that thing or experience?


It’s the word that I used to describe my level of commitment to my own business and dreams. I’m not just committed. I stand in the energy of unwavering commitment to myself and my intentions.
Do you sense the difference here? Perhaps a subtle tweak for you, but perhaps a massive shift.
Are you just committed? Or do you have unwavering commitment?

Allow yourself to feel it. What might it be like to "up" your commitment to your creations to unwavering commitment?

It might be a total game changer.

Think about this.

What might it be like to set aside all the illusionary fear that’s holding you back, step into a confidence so strong and so certain, you are willing to be unwavering in your commitment to creating whatever is on your list-o-desires?

I want you to consider stepping into that mindset --but even more importantly, consider stepping into the energetic space held here.

With those words – unwavering commitment – you literally access an unique vibration.

It's about certainty and faith in Universal Law, and it's about ultimate trust in thyself.

From here, your desires are a done deal.

Upping your level of commitment makes you an energetic match to the limitless being that you are.

Let's take this further. Upping your level of commitment moves energy.

Energy in motion tends to stay in motion, and I want you to remember that you’ve got your foot on the pedal. How quick would you like to go?

Can you feel the shift?

Unwavering Commitment. It’s a match to passion, potential, your greatness, and bliss. It's a match to you biggest intentions.

Soooo ~ my coach-y tip for you today is to try on unwavering commitment.

The magic question is THIS, however.

What are you willing to make an unwavering commitment to in your life?

A new financial flow? A new business venture? A flourishing relationship? A new shape for your bod? A sense of peace and life balance?

You name it, and then you choose to BE and become that unwavering commitment.

Now, it’s time to get out of your own way and let the good stuff in.

Love!

Lori

Lori Hamann is a mentor and life coach to spiritual entrepreneurs and professionals, who she helps to awaken and create the best within themselves and their businesses.   She is the creator of The Butterfly Experiment, and her Evolve Your Life Newsletter goes out to over 7,000 like minded subscribers.   You can sign up for a f.r.e.e subscription at http://lorihamann.com


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Being an Inspiration for Others
(Chapter 11, Inspiration:  Your Ultimate Calling)
by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
"We are all teachers, and what we teach is what we learn, and so we teach it over and over again until we learn..."
From A Course in Miracles

  • Kindness inspires others.
  • Gratitude inspires others.
  • Generosity inspires others.
  • Listening inspires others.
  • Being at Peace inspires others.
  • Living Passionately inspires others.
  • Truth inspires others    

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More in our study of Dr. Wayne Dyer's Inspiration:Your Ultimate Calling


 When you are inspired:
  1. All Your Thoughts Break Their Bonds:  The energy of thoughts determines whether or not we're living at an inspired level, so any doubt in our ability to manifest our desire or to receive spiritual guidance is vibrationally out of tune with that desire.
  2. Your Mind Transcends Limitations:  imagine what it must feel like to have absolute faith--an inner knowing that it's impossible to fail, a complete  absence of doubt concerning your ability to create anything you place your attention on.
  3. Your Consciousness Expands in Every Direction:  When we reemerge int the perfect oneness of Spirit, we view everyone we meet as an ally through our inspired way of life.
  4. You Find Yourself in a New, Great, and Wonderful World:  We now begin to think in terms of miracles being not only possible, but actively en route.  What is needed is on its way.
  5. Dormant Forces, Faculties, and Talents Become Alive
  6. You Discover Yourself to Be a Greater Person by Far Than You Ever Dreamed Yourself to Be




Some Suggestions for Putting These Principles to Work for You
Your Ultimate Calling

  • Make a written commitment to be free of the pressure of people who try to dictate the course of your life.
  • Small steps will activate matching vibrations to what you desire.
  • Instead of goals, make the commitment to live joyfully in the moment.  Be here now.
  • Respect the silent and burning desire that's within you-don't scoff at it, and refuse to be critical or judgmental.
  • Make an affirmation that whatever brings passion, enthusiasm, and inspiration to you is on its way.

More from Inspiration:  Your Ultimate Calling
by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Essential Principles for Finding Your Way to an Inspired Life
"Well, every man has a religion: has something in heaven or earth which he will give up everything else for--something which absorbs him--which may be regarded by others as being useless--yet it is his dream, it is his lodestar, it is his master.  That, whatever it is, seized upon me, made me its servant, slave--induced me to set aside the other ambitions--a trail of glory in the heavens, which I followed, followed with a full heart....When once I am convinced, I never let go..."  Walt Whitman
Principle #1:  Be Independent of the Good Opinion of Others-Regardless of how absurd our inner calling might seem, it's authentically ours and doesn't have to make sense to anyone else.

Principle #2:  Be Willing o Accept the Disapproval of Others-The purpose of the "slings and arrows" sent our way is to get us to change our minds and be "reasonable," which translates to "Do it my way!"  The people who receive the most approval in life are the ones who care the least about it.

Principle #3:  Stay Detached from Outcomes-A more rewarding truth is that there's only now--and when this moment passes, it will be replaced by another one, ad infinitum.  To use up our "present now" being consumed with a "future now" that will only turn into a "then" is the prescription for the absence of inspiration.

Principle #4:  Know That We Need Nothing/No Things to Be Inspired-We arrived here with nothing/no things, we'll make our exit with nothing/no things, and our purpose (God realization) requires nothing/no things.

Principle #5:  "Don't Die Wondering"-Attempting to do something, even if it doesn't succeed, is inspiring because we don't tend to regret what we do, we regret what we didn't do.

Principle #6:  Remember That Our Desires Won't Arrive by Our Schedule-"If you really want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans."  Our job is to take the focus off of the when and put it n being connected to our originating Spirit.

Napoleon Hill:  "If you can't do great things, do small things in a great way.  Don't wait for great opportunities.  Seize common, every day ones and make them great."





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Believe in Yourself
Believe in yourself!  Have faith in your abilities!  Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.  But with self-confidence you can succeed.  A sense of inadequacy interferes with the attainment of your hopes, but self-confidence leads to self-realization and achievement.   (from The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale)

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Faith is the pierless bridge supporting what we see unto the scene that we do not.

Emily Dickinson


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Three Keys to Keeping Life Simple
Joy:  Turn down requests that involve actions that don't correspond with our inner knowing about why we're here.

Love:  If we organize our life around love--for God, for ourselves, for family and friends, for all humankind, and for the environment--we'll remove a lot of the chaos and disorder that defines our life.

Peace:  Simplify, simplify, simplify! 

The 12-Step Program to Simplicity
1.  Unclutter your life.  Socrates said, "He is nearest to God who needs the fewest things."
2.  Clear your calendar of unwanted and unnecessary activities and obligations.    Practice saying no to excessive demands and don't feel guilty about injecting a dose of leisure time into your daily routine.
3.  Be sure to keep your free time free.  Begin declining invitations that don't activate feelings of inspiration.
4.  Take time for meditation and yoga.
5.  Return to the simplicity of nature. 
6.  Put distance between you and your critics.  Give those who find fault or who are confrontational a silent blessing and remove yourself from their energy as quickly as possible
7.  Take some time for your health. 
8.  Play, play, play!  You'll simplify your life and feel inspired if you learn to play rather than work your way through life. 
9.  Slow down.  Take more time to hear others.  Stop to enjoy the stars on a clear night and the cloud formations on a crisp day.  Sit down in a mall and just observe how everyone seems in a hurry to get nowhere.
10.  Do everything you can to eschew debt. 
11.  Forget about the cash value.  Make an attempt to free yourself from placing a price tag on everything you have and do.  Find the inherent value in everything.
12.  Remember your spirit.  When life tends to get too complex, too fast, too cluttered, too deadline oriented, or too type A for you, stop and remember your own spirit.

A man who personified success at the highest intellectual and social levels would hardly seem one to quote on simplifying our life, yet here's what Albert Einstein offers us on this subject:  "Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury--to me these have always been contemptible.  I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best both for the body and the mind."

Wow!  I'd say this is pretty good advice, wouldn't you?

(the above is an excerpt from Inspiration:  Your Ultimate Calling, by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer)

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EGO=Edging God Out

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The law of attraction:  like attracts like.  Thoughts spoken, or even unspoken, possess strong vibratory power.  They set forces in action which, inevitably, produce outcomes precisely as conceived, articulated, and affirmed.  It is a law of mind that negative thinking, negative attitudes, negative mental pictures are bound to result in negative outcomes.
          Power of the Plus Factor by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale


Two amazing words:  DO IT!
That power begins to flow at the moment one takes the first step or even when the first positive thought comes.  No matter how intense your dreaming, no matter now clearly defined your goals, nothing is going to happen until you MAKE it happen by taking an active step toward the fulfillment of those dreams, a decisive step toward the realization of those goals.
                    Power of the Plus Factor  by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

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Thank You, God!
My son and I visited Washington, D.C. several years ago.  We drove from Nebraska to Washington and back.  What a great trip!  As we started across Iowa, with my son's head already in the videos on the laptop, I decided I must have a screw loose to attempt this huge journey:  Chicago's Navy Pier, Niagara Falls, Boston, Plymouth, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Gettysburg,
Springfield, Illinois and home.  "I must be crazy!" I thought.  But it was a wonderful trip with no problems whatsoever.  Heading out with Simply Faith!











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My Talks With God
I spend time every morning in the same ritual:  eat my breakfast, make my bed, brush my teeth, read my Bible and at least one other faith building source, I write in my faith journal, and then I start my day. The day just doesn't feel right if I haven't taken time to visit with God first.  I'd like to use this space to share some of my resources with you.  Some of these are old favorites.  One of the things that I do is go to the library shelves in my home and pick up an old friend that speaks to me.  I'm not ever really sure why, but there's always something within that book that I need to hear again or to relearn.  This is one of those books:  The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson.  I have no idea why, but about a week ago this book popped into my head and I knew I had to get it off the shelf and spend time with it again.  Let me share today's reading with you:

     The Bottomless Basket
     "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh.
      Is there anything too hard for Me?"
      Jeremiah 32:27

      A restaurant put up a sign that said, All You Can Eat for $4.99.  A hungry man came in, paid his $4.99,   and polished off a huge helping.  Then he ordered more and finished that too.  But when he put in his order for a third meal, the waitress turned him down.  The man angrily called for the manager and pointed to the sign in the window.  "It says, All You Can Eat for $4.99, and I can still eat more!" he complained.
    The manager stood his ground.  "Yes, but I'm the guy who say that's all you can eat for $4.99!"
    Do you suspect that God might be like that manager?  As good as His word, but only up to a point?
    At each step of your journey into the Jabez adventure, you will have to face your own deeply rooted suspicions about God.  Everyone does.  Somehow we have to face and "unlearn" old ways of thinking:
  • that God only wants to bless me a little bit;
  • that while God may have a plan for me, it's probably not very important;
  • that God's power is only rarely available, at least for little old me!
     You see, we put God in a box.  Inside that box, He can be God but outside the box, we let our skepticism, fear, and meager expectations rule....
     It doesn't matter whether you are short of money, people, energy, or time.  What God invites you to do will always be greater than the resources you start with.  Living with the hand of God upon you means that at times you'll be asked to act in spite of the evidence...and then watch the evidence change.
     Ask God to show you today any old ways of thinking--wrong assumptions about how success happens or how God works.  Then let your God be who He really is.  He is a God of power--available, essential, and unlimited--and there is no box.

MY JABEZ JOURNAL:  "Lord, show me how I have limited Your power by my ignorance or unbelief.  I want You to be God in my life."

When you have nothing left but God, then for the first time you become aware that God is enough.
Maude Royden

Amen.


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