Thanking Blessing The Sacred Art

With ever-increasing pressures building in our lives, we often slip into believing that the world is a burdensome place. As a result, our souls tighten, our hearts become dull, and our joy slowly drains away. Yet it doesn't have to be this way. Through penetrating reflections and practical tips for uncovering the blessed wonder in our lives-even in trying circumstances-Jay Marshall shows you how to recapture the goodness, holiness and abundance that saturate our world. The secret lies in opening yourself to divine blessings, which inspires thankfulness, and responding by sharing that spirit with others in acts of thanking and blessing. Practices that will change your perspective, and your life, include: Expectant Waiting-slowing down to perceive the presence of the Divine within you, Sacramental Living-experiencing the Sacred in every situation, Walking Cheerfully-cultivating a positive disposition, "Answering that of God" in Others-elevating everyday interactions to the realm of spiritual discovery. Whatever your spiritual tradition, this thoughtful book will help you rediscover your profound connection to God, to others and to the world. Book jacket.

A life filled with blessing is already within your reach. With ever-increasing pressures building in our lives, we often slip into believing that the world is a burdensome place. As a result, our souls tighten, our hearts become dull, and our joy slowly drains away. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way. Through penetrating reflections and practical tips for uncovering the blessed wonder in our lives—even in trying circumstances—Jay Marshall shows you how to recapture the goodness, holiness and abundance that saturate our world. The secret lies in opening yourself to divine blessings, which inspires thankfulness, and responding by sharing that spirit with others in acts of thanking and blessing. Practices that will change your perspective, and your life, include: Expectant Waiting—slowing down to perceive the presence of the Divine within you Sacramental Living—experiencing the Sacred in every situation Walking Cheerfully—cultivating a positive disposition Answering that of God” in Others—elevating everyday interactions to the realm of spiritual discovery Whatever your spiritual tradition, this thoughtful book will help you rediscover your profound connection to God, to others and to the world.

A Thankfulness Daily Devotional for Women Saying grace before a meal is one of our loveliest time-honored traditions. Let Us Give Thanks is your essential prayerbook for giving thanks, offering 365 beautiful blessings for every day of the year. Devotional prayers for every supper. From eighteenth-century Thanksgiving prayers to sincere expressions of thankfulness by Anne Lamott, Mark Nepo, Thich Nhat Hahn, Alice Walker, and more, blogger and bestselling author Becca Anderson’s gathering of graces shows us how to begin each meal with an open heart. Coming from a long line of religious teachers, Becca brings a deep understanding of practiced gratitude to this daily devotional for women, men, families, friends, or anyone wanting to give thanks a try. Inspirational meditations year-round. Whether you're accustomed to giving a blessing or new to this sacred art, this bounty of blessings brings spirituality to your meals and special gatherings, helping you to give thanks each day. The graces compiled here are universal, with special attention paid to how easily the words can be spoken by the whole family —kids included. Let Us Give Thanks offers: 365 thankful thoughts —a new grace for every family meal Spiritual meditations from the Bible, Native American texts, and Buddhism A daily devotional for women, men, or anyone dedicated to gratefulness, with inspiration from a variety of sources If you enjoyed Good Days Start With Gratitude; Worry Less, Pray More; or A Year of Positive Thinking, you’ll love Let Us Give Thanks.

Dare to Take Ownership of the Wildness and Wonder of Your Truest Self “Nature is there for you, waiting to reflect your deepest self back to you and to teach you the Creator’s wisdom. A step into nature’s embrace is always a step into a richer, fuller life. The door is wide open; come on out!” —from “Beginning” This book is your invitation to experience the life-energizing process of reclaiming your spiritual roots through nature—be it your backyard or the wilds of the forest. Nancy Barrett Chickerneo, a twenty-year veteran leading women’s retreats, guides you on a journey into nature to reconnect with your senses—what you see, hear, touch, taste and smell—in order to reactivate your ability for personal discovery. Combining creativity, playfulness and spiritual depth, she poses eight life-changing questions that help you explore ways to awaken, transform and nurture your spirit. Practical exercises for individual or group use encourage you to let go of self-judgment and seek balance in your everyday life, empowering you to find your own path to spiritual growth. Whether you have picked up this book out of curiosity, longing—even skepticism—you will be inspired to get out there into nature to reclaim the person you were created to be.

Challenge our common images of God by blowing the lid off conventional God-descriptors. “We do not have to let go of one sense of God to take up another. Neither do we need to go about challenging old metaphors. What is crucial is to find a metaphor—or two, or six—that creatively point toward what we believe.” —from Chapter 1 Let Carolyn Jane Bohler inspire you to consider a wide range of images of God in order to refine how you imagine God to have and use power, and how God wills and makes divine will happen—or not. By tapping into your God-given ability to re-imagine God, you will have a better understanding of your own beliefs and how you, God, and the world relate to each other. Wonderfully fresh and down to earth, Bohler uses playful images, moving stories, and solid scholarship to empower you to break free of old habits and assumptions, whatever your faith tradition. She encourages you to explore new names for God that are not only more consistent with what you believe, but will also deepen and expand your experience of God. Think about... God the Choreographer of Chaos God the Nursing Mother God the Jazz Band Leader God the Divine Blacksmith God the Divine Physical Therapist God the Team Transformer ... and more

For centuries, Christians of different traditions and seekers from various backgrounds have found strength for their spiritual journey in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP). First composed in 1549 by Thomas Cranmer, Henry VIII's Archbishop of Canterbury, the BCP, alongside Shakespeare's works and the King James Bible, helped shape the English language. Today over seventy-five million Anglican Christians throughout the world use the BCP in public worship, and countless people Anglican and otherwise use it in their private devotional life. In this unique presentation of selections organized by themes such as "Belonging in God's Family," "Blessing in Times of Joy and Pain" and "Learning from Our Past" with facing-page commentary, C. K. Robertson offers fascinating insights into the history and heritage of the BCP. He also makes available the riches of this spiritual treasure chest for all who are interested in deepening their life of prayer, building stronger relationsh

Maybe you're praying and you don't even know it. In this unique and encouraging guide to prayer, Kent Ira Groff, a longtime retreat leader and inspiring writer-poet, explores how to engage in spirituality that blesses your soul--and the world. Whether you're advanced or just starting on your spiritual path, this practical prayer path breaker will lure you in with its novel combination of touching, real-life stories, pithy thoughts and inspiring prayer practices. For those turned off by shopworn religious language, it offers innovative ways to pray in four metaphorical movements that parallel both Native American traditions and Ignatian spirituality: East--Morning / Prayer as Awareness Waking up to reality--opening South--Noon / Prayer as Empowerment Embracing your dreams and possibilities--expanding West--Afternoon / Prayer as Relinquishment Letting go of attachments--emptying North--Night / Prayer as Paradox Uniting the opposites of life--integrating Prayer practices for each of the four "movements" provide for personal and group enrichment at home and work, in formal programs and informal friendships. They interweave the author's own experience to say: "This is honest to God spirituality and I'm seeing myself."

This is a groundbreaking, accessible look at the implications of cognitive science for religion and theology, intended for laypeople. Avoiding neurological jargon and respectful to all faiths, it examines:

The best-selling author of The Essential Kabbalah now offers readers the best introduction to the Zohar. The splendor and enigmatic appeal of the Zohar, the major text of the Jewish mystical tradition, has never intrigued readers of all faiths more than it does today. But how can we truly understand it? Daniel C. Matt brings together in one place the most important teachings from the Zohar, the cornerstone of Kabbalah—described as a mixture of theology, mystical psychology, anthropology, myth, and poetry—alongside facing-page stories, notes, and historical background that illuminate and explain the text. Ideal for the first-time reader with no prior knowledge of Jewish mysticism. Guides readers step-by-step through the texts that make up the Zohar—midrash, mystical fantasy, commentary, and Hebrew scripture—and explains the inner meanings of this sacred text, recognized by kabbalists as the most important work of mystical teaching, in a way that is both spiritually enlightening and intellectually fascinating.

Have a haiku momentwhen your mind stops and your heart moves. Writing haiku offers the chance to honor, hold, and fully experience a fleeting moment that takes you out of yourself, a moment that hints at the deeper unity that lies beneath the surface of things. from Chapter One In this encouraging guide for both beginning and experienced haiku writers, Margaret D. McGee shows how writing haiku can be a consciously spiritual practice for seekers of any faith tradition or no tradition. Drawing from her experience as a spiritual retreat leader and published haiku writer, McGee takes the mystery and intimidation out of beginning to write haiku. For those already on their way, she provides helpful hints and exercises to broaden and deepen both your haiku artistry and your appreciation of haiku as part of your spiritual life. With humor and encouragement, she offers step-by-step exercises for both individuals and writing groups, and shows how haiku can help you: Pay attention to the world around you to connect with sacred moments Overcome fear and self-doubt to access your innate creativity Explore and use haiku together with spiritual practices in your own faith tradition Make haiku a spiritual part of your daily routine