| REFLECTION ON MIND "Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds..." Romans 12:2 Intent on peeling my breakfast fruit, after meditating on the above scripture, the thought came to me, "How like this orange is the mind!" Before eating, the protective peel must be removed, carefully, so that the fruit remains whole - the segments, cradled by a visible membrane are like the mind parts, intellect, memory, will, emotions, and the unconcious by an invisible one. In our earnestness to transform our minds, if we concentrate on only one part, the other areas may remain immature or simply dry up. What good is intellectual growth if a traumatic memory needs healing:, a will or intention needs unblocking; or if one's heart of hearts is still uncleansed? All segments of the mind are important and need to be intergrated in order to prove what is God's "good and acceptable, and perfect will" to love Him with our "whole minds." Should we find that we need assistance in certain regions of the mind in order to become whole, let us dare to ask for it from our educators, ministers, and Christian counselors, as well as the Holy Spoirit. When our minds are so filled with love, joy, peace, self-control, and wisdom then, like the sweet juice of the orange, our righteousness may be tasted by our God. O God, grant me insight and guidance into the wondrous world of the mind that I may perceive, like Paul, the possibility that I, too, have a portion of "the mind of Christ." I Cor. 2:16 |
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| Reflections from Bright O'Morn by Racheal Norris |
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| AUTUMN REFLECTION The summer shouts from children down the canyon have died into school's fall semester. Snow white buckwheat has turned rusty-red and brown. Like children and buckwheat I, too, feel an urge for change. As my concepts turn from an awesome God without to include an intimate loving God within, I feel a need to express this in tangible ways, ways that bring honor or esteem to God, others, and myself. Taking care of my family and my body's needs for good nutrition and exercise as well as developing my potentials for the soul's heatlth is a current mandate. Right now, I nourish the soul by study and using the portion of creative gifts alloted me, knowing that their present expression could be altered at any time to suit God's plans for my advancement or another's. There's a kind of splendor in each change, no matter how painfully won. St. Paul validated it as part of the human condition. In 2 Co 3:18, he states: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory... by the Spirit of the Lord." "You who would never...give a stone instead of bread..." (Luke 11:11) to Your children, please grant us an increase of your Holy Spirit to cheerfully accept whatever changes are needed for our growth now and throughout the coming winter. |
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| Profile Aunt Rae lives with Uncle Al in a cabin in the hills which they built themselves after retiring. Our father, who died of complications from HD, loved his big sister, and we have always been positively influenced by her all our lives. She loves to write and paint |
| CHRISTMAS REFLECTION Mystery stories from Nancy Drew to Mrs. Polifax have always intrigued me...strange experinces, too. One frosty night during Advent years ago, I stepped out into a world of stars so brilliant every oak tree and boulder around our small cottage became visible. Absolute silence. Than, faint celestial music seemed to issue from the stars. No words, simply incredible harmonies. Some call this, "Music of the Spheres." It remined me of the Christmas Eve the heavenly hosts sang, "Alleluia" to celbrate Jesus' birth. But of all the mysteries in the universe none are more so than God's enigmatic ways. yet it plainly states in 1 Corinthians 2:10b 12 that God reveals them through His Spirit. "the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God." And, "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been given us by God." Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit who discloeses Your awesome ways to mere mortals. Amen Merrry Christmas. |
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