In Every Moment

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I must apologize for keeping everyone in the dark as to how I am doing. I have been out of the hospital for a couple of days now, and have had a couple of bad days (health wise, not spiritually or emotionally), to help drive the hospital stay home and give it an “exclamation point” instead of a comma or a period, LOL.

I apologize for the lack of posts from myself and from In Every Moment. These last few weeks have been a bit busy, and the hospital stays did not help it. However, that’s fine. Without challenges, life just wouldn’t be worth fighting for, would it? At least, that’s the way I look at it, and the more challenges, the more I like to fight it.

A little teaser, however. The next devotional will be titled, “Sin. You Broke It You Bought It!”, in which I will give my interpretation of the Bible in regards to the age old question, “If God really exists, why would He allow so much pain in the world?” This has been on my mind and heart in such a way that I am still up at 2 AM trying to put an outline together on just what direction God wants me to take it.

In dealing with trials and tribulations, I used to say “Why can’t I catch a break!”, or “I wish this would all just be over!” Today, I am different. I had never given much thought to why, but today I read something that I believe sums up how I look at conflict and trials.

It is from James Allen’s famous book, “As A Man Thinketh.” I pray you will all indulge me in the reading of this in lieu of my next devotional.

I hope you have a few minutes to read and focus on this, especially for all my young friends out there who are asking yourselves, “How can I be a better person?” If you are asking that question, then this is for you:

SERENITY (by James Allen, taken from “As A Man Thinketh”)

“Serenity Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in selfcontrol. Its presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operations of thought.

“A man becomes calm in the measure that he understands himself as a thought-evolved being, for such knowledge necessitates the understanding of others as the result of thought, and as he develops a right understanding, and sees more and more clearly the internal relations of things by the action of cause and effect, he ceases to fuss and fume and worry and grieve, and remains poised, steadfast, serene.

“The calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others; and they, in turn, reverence his spiritual strength, and feel that they can learn of him and rely upon him. The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Even the ordinary trader will find his business prosperity increase as he develops a greater self-control and equanimity, for people will always prefer to deal with a man whose demeanor is strongly equable.

“The strong, calm man is always loved and revered. He is like a shade-giving tree in a thirsty land, or a sheltering rock in a storm. Who does not love a tranquil heart, a sweet-tempered, balanced life? It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes come to those possessing these blessings, for they are always sweet, serene, and calm. That exquisite poise of character which we call serenity is the last lesson of culture; it is the flowering of life, the fruitage of the soul. It is precious as wisdom, more to be desired than gold - yea, than even fine gold. How insignificant mere money-seeking looks in comparison with a serene life - a life that dwells in the ocean of Truth, beneath the waves, beyond the reach of tempests, in the Eternal Calm!

“How many people we know who sour their lives, who ruin all that is sweet and beautiful by explosive tempers, who destroy their poise of character, and make bad blood! It is a question whether the great majority of people do not ruin their lives and mar their happiness by lack of self-control. How few people we meet in life who are well-balanced, who have that exquisite poise which is characteristic of the finished character!

“Yes, humanity surges with uncontrolled passion, is tumultuous with ungoverned grief, is blown about by anxiety and doubt. Only the wise man, only he whose thoughts are controlled and purified, makes the winds and the storms of the soul obey him.

“Tempest-tossed souls, wherever ye may be, under whatsoever conditions ye may live, know this - in the ocean of life the isles of Blessedness are smiling, and the sunny shore of your ideal awaits your coming. Keep your hand firmly upon the helm of thought. In the barque of your soul reclines the commanding Master; He does but sleep; wake Him. Self-control is strength; Right Thought is mastery; Calmness is power.

“Say unto your heart, "Peace, be still!"