Shelter in Place: A Test of Faith

This will pass
and when it does
humanity will be more united.

This is a test
of our resolve
to spread the Word of God
across the planet.

Stand firm
in the love of God
and humanity.

This will pass
and our faith will be stronger
for the test.

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Faith's Candle

Oh, Lord,
thank you for lighting
the candle of my faith,
so that I may proclaim
God's Most Great Name
to every seeker
after truth.

Oh, Lord,
let my candle burn
casting the light of love
and faith
across the universe.



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I Walk By Faith

Each day
I walk by faith
step-by-step across
a narrow
stone covered path
that leads
through the valley of shadows.

I walk by faith
placing every test and difficulty
in the hands of God,
knowing my Lord is sufficient.

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Januaey Poem

The door to 2020
stands open
giving a hopeful glimpse
of a brand new year
and a new decade.

Inhale the breath of faith--
as it wafts through
the door of January--
as it invites us to
strive for world peace.



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Pivotal Event

His appearance
came at a critical time
in human history.

The Bab declared his mission,
at a time
when the veils of dogma
concealed the lamps
of religion and faith.

He proclaimed a new day,
heralded one greater than He,
and emphasized unity.


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The Fourth Day of Ridvan

When does faith begin?
The first step is detachment.

Where is faith found?
Trust in the Glory of God.

How is faith practiced?
Prayer and action removes all barriers.
Giving assistance to humanity.

I also placed a copy of this in the journal, Writing in Snow,  under the folder Awardicon Items, in my writing.com portfolio. Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

Circle of Faith

The Great Spirit speaks
and humanity responds
to the voice of love.

The Great Spirit speaks
encircling the globe with love;
with His Covenant.

The Great Spirit speaks
through the Mirrors of His Manifestations
to each generation.


I, also, posted this poem in the journal Writing in Snow, under the folder Awardicon Items, in my writing.com port. Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

Proclaimation of Faith

Baha’u’llah,
The Glory of God,
The one promised
In all the sacred scriptures.

I, also, posted this in the journal Writing in Snow, under the folder Awardicon Items, in my writing.com blog. Since December is my birth month, I am Prosperous Snow Globe until after my birthday.

Nova

A new star blooms
in the seeker's soul,
transmuting doubt to faith
and lead to purest gold.

This poem is, also, posted in the journal Writing in Snow, under the folder Awardicon Items, in my writing.com port.

Meditation Monday: Taking the First Step

Kamal (Perfection), 1 Sulṭán (Sovereignty), 171 BE - Monday, January 19, 2015 about 2:24 pm Pacific Standard Time

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

I contemplate the quote. I ask myself if I have taken the step of faith in accomplishing my goals and getting myself out of debt. The answer I receive is an ambiguous "Yes and No". I solved one problem by taking the step of faith. I figured out why I could not transfer money from a survey account to my PayPal account. I called technical support and with their assistance solved that problem. Then I transferred the money to my PayPal account and then to my bank account. That only solves part of the issues because the next step is more difficult.

I take a deep breath and begin to get everything together that I need to go to the loan department on Tuesday. It is possible the answer will be "No". It is also possible the answer will be "Yes", I do not know unless I ask. I have to take the step of faith and do something I have never attempted before. I have ask permission of five people for reference, I have all the document I need. and I have figured out how I will pay the money back. It is just a matter of picking up everything I need and walking out the front door on Tuesday morning.

I intone a prayer.

I put everything in God's hands.

What more is th ere for me to do.

Year End Thoughts

Jalal (Glory), 16 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Saturday, December 27, 2014 about 3:50 pm Pacific Standard Time

Four more days in 2014 and it it time to consider the lessons learned. What lessons did you learn this year? Did your faith increase or decrease? Normally we look at the increase or decrease in profits at the end of the year, but today I want to look at the increase or decrease in faith.

Faith
the evidence of things unseen
and the ability to move forward
through a dense fog while staying
on our chosen path.

Faith is important because it sustains an individual in difficult times and gives hope that the situation will get better. Faith is all that has kept me moving through 2014 because a fog seemed to surround me. I did not know how I was going to survive, but I did. I found help when I needed it. I still need help, however, I know that if I look and ask the help will come.

Sometime I just want to give up

Fidál (Grace), 8 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Tuesday, May 5, 2009 about 7:26 AM Pacific Time

Sometimes I just want to give up; to throw in the towel and accept the inevitable (whatever that is). However, life and faith requires that I just keep on keeping on. Giving up isn't an option, it's a thought that occurs when I appear confronted with a dead end. The thing about dead ends is that there is always an exit; a portal going somewhere you just have to look for it or retrace your steps.

Everything difficulty in life is a test designed to strengthen the soul and guide it toward God's will. When things look dark or there is a dead end, then look for the light or a ladder. Ladders out of dead ends turn up when you least expect them, a person just has to have faith and pray for guidance.

So today, I appear confronted with a dead end, but something will turn up. I will find a ladder or an exit into faith. I idea is not to give up, you let the thought of giving up pass through your mind, but you don't hold it there. Instead, you just keep on keeping on and you will come through with stronger faith then before.

I have to change my self-talk

‘Idál (Justice), 6 Kamal (Perfection), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, August 6, 2008 about 8:24 AM PDT

Part of the transformation process is discovering bad habits that need changing. One bad habit I have is negative self-talk. My self-talk is the words and phrases I use my career and myself. Negative or positive self-talk becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I have found that negative self-talk reinforces the bad things that happen. It gives me a reason to want to give up, because it suggests that no matter what I do, I am not going to succeed. On the other hand, positive self-talk focuses on faith and hope rather then on doubt and uncertainty.

In everyone's life bad things happen and events occur which can be considered negative and proof of failure. Negative self-talk enhances these events and causes a person, at least it causes me, to focus on the failure in the event instead of the opportunity; it causes me to focus on doubt, while positive self-talk focuses on the opportunity in an event and on faith.

Negative self-talk attracts negative results because it encourages giving up and accepting defeat. Positive self-talk attracts positive results because it encourages striving and overcoming obstacles to success and spiritual growth.

Positive self-talk cause me to face the tests and difficulties in my life with faith because it allows me to accept the knowledge contained in an event. Faith is important because without it a person would quit striving for perfection, for growth and transformation. Sometime simple changing the self-talk phrases is all that is necessary to encourage the human soul. At other times, the new phrases have to be merged with an enhanced definition of faith.

One definition of faith is to "breath without air". However, negative self-talks prevents this because it say you have to have proof that what you are doing is going to be successful. At the beginning of any project, there is no proof it will be successful; you just have to accept the fact that success is is inevitable without proof, i.e. breathing without air.

My 60th Year is Coming to an End

13 Masa'il 164 B.E. - Sunday, December 23, 2007 about 7:52 PM PST

On December 24, somewhere between 11:45 PM and Midnight, I will turn 61. My 60th year hasn't been all that great. It's been stressful and test filled. I'm not sure how many of the tests I've past or failed. I'm going to have to look closely at what I've accomplished and didn't accomplish.

I didn't start out with specific goals. I worked my goals out during the year and I don't think that's the way to do them. I'm going to set some specific goals for my 61st year. I have a list of things to accomplish in my 6th decade. I also have a 101 Things to do in 1001 Days. Some of the items on my 6th decade list are on the 1001 Days lists.

One of the things on both list is to set a schedule and live by it for nineteen days. That's a short enough time to work with. The nice thing about a nineteen day schedule is you reevaluate it sooner then a thirty day schedule. I'm not sure how I'm going to do on it, but I'm going to try. If I don't achieve it the first time then I can start again the next Baha'i month.

I'm looking forward to my 61st year, I'm presuming it's going to be better then my 60th year. There is always hope, I do know that my faith is stronger now then twelve months ago. I still have issues, but I'm working them out.