( Publication #21 - July/August, 1998 )
© Dr. Carolyn .
I would like to share an experience that has taught me a valuable lesson and helped me also to acknowledge that the applications of the Principles of JOY will also include the Affirmation of Life.
"Affirmation of Life"
Have you ever had times when you felt as if you were stagnating, when you simply did not have motivation to do anything in particular? At such times life just seems to go on from day to day without our active participation in it.
Well, I have had such a time, and for a while it felt ok to do nothing in particular. I have even been in the frame of mind when I wondered why I've been kept here on this Earth plane when I was ready and willing to go home. The answer came to me that God still has work for me to do. There is something within that ever urges us to move up higher. That urge caused me to begin to wonder, "What am I supposed to do?" This question kept gnawing at the back of my mind until I finally decided to be still and listen for an answer. It was during one of my quiet times when I heard the Still Small Voice whispering, "Affirm life!"
So I just began to take one day at a time giving thanks for each new day of living and asking God, What am I to do today?" By affirming life I now live by the grace of God to serve. Each day brings an opportunity to help someone in some small way, and I too am blessed by this service. I am only here for God, and God is always here for me.
I have also learned that JOY is a quality of the Spirit within us. Once we make that inner connection, we can always return to the place within us where God abides, where Love abides, where Joy abides. This can never be taken from us by outer circumstances, and we never have to depend upon another person to make us happy, only to share in our happiness. I've learned that people are much more willing to share our Joy than our sorrow. This is as it should be, because each time someone touches and agrees with us, that state or condition multiplies. Of course, we want our Joy not our sorrows to multiply. So I ask that everyone agree with the Joy of living.
For the months to come, our focus at the Center of Joy will be the Affirmation of Life. We will use "I am" statements to affirm our identification with the highest expression of life that we can imagine. We will recognize and honor the "I AM" Presence within, and call forth its expression to our outer experience of being.
From this Holy Instant on, we have decided to live in the world as emissaries of God and to live a life worthy of our high calling. We will not worry about what to say or what to do. We will simply be guided from within knowing that all we need to do is...
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Center of Joy is the monthly publication of the Lifestream Center for Creative Living. It is devoted to disseminating "Good News" that gives testimony to the positive application of the principles of living in the flow of the Lifestream. A new article will be presented each month. We invite you to apply these simple principles in your life and share your joyful results in a brief message with the world via this forum.
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© 1998, Carolyn Odom Burleson, Ph.D.
Although the articles of this publication are copyrighted, they may be used by anyone to help spread JOY and Light. The following restrictions apply:
