Keep The Faith

Peace, Be Still — The Power That Calms the Storm A Reflection on Divine Energy and Faith In this Unity Series reflection, I explore the idea of God‑given power —the kind Jesus demonstrated, the apostles witnessed, and the Scriptures describe. This is not power that elevates us above Christ, but power that flows from Him and works through us. These thoughts are part testimony, part study, and part unfolding insight. The Power That Flows From Jesus In Mark 5:30 , Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him . This was not symbolic. It was real, measurable, and noticeable. Paul reinforces this in 1 Corinthians 4:20 : “For the kingdom of God is not with talk, but with power.” The Quakers teach that there is “something of God in everyone.” Jesus Himself said in John 14:12 that those who believe in Him would do the works He did—and even greater ones. This does not mean we become greater than Jesus. It means His power can work through us when we...

Human beings talk about “owning” land, but the more we look at how land works—mortgages, taxes, and the power of governments—the more the question rises: Does anyone truly own land at all? Many cultures, including Native American nations, understood land not as property but as a sacred trust from God. Jesus also spoke about stewardship in His parable of the tenant farmers. Do you have land? Do you own it? If you have a mortgage on the land, then who really owns it? The lender can take it away if you stop making payments—so is it truly yours? Let’s say you’ve paid off your mortgage. Now who owns the land? You would think you do. But what happens if you don’t pay your property taxes? The government can seize the land. So again—who owns it? Does anyone really own land on this planet Earth? Here is something I found on the HERB website. It is what Sitting Bull, Lakota warrior, said in 1932: “Our land is more valuable than your money. It will last forever. It w...

✦ The First Whisper of Love August 03, 2020 Have you ever tried to put a description or a meaning to this word ‘LOVE’ ? Every time I think about this word, love, I have a hard time putting a concrete definition to it in my mind. How would you describe to someone what love is? ✦ 1 Corinthians 13:1–3 · New International Version If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. The Greek word for love is ‘agape’ — affection or benevolence; a love that gives freely without condition. What is it about this word? There seems to be great power in it — but how… why? Do...

The Lord’s Prayer and the Call to Forgive Opening Reflection If you’ve spent time in a Protestant church, you’ve likely prayed the Lord’s Prayer—often aloud, often in unison, and often without the space to slow down and absorb its depth. Recently, I opened my Bible study tools and began examining the prayer in the original Greek. Looking at the Greek often reveals layers of meaning that English alone doesn’t fully capture. This time, one part of the prayer stopped me. Verse 12. And then verses 14–15, which sharpen its meaning. These verses felt personal—direct, even. The Prayer Itself “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” ( Matthew 6:9–13 ) Jesus immediately adds: “If you forgive others, your Father wil...

In this Unity Series reflection, we look at the beauty of a simple faith—one that listens for the voice of God without the noise of human hierarchy. The Quakers, in their quiet devotion and courage, offer a picture of what it means to walk in direct communion with Christ. What is a Quaker? What Do Quakers Believe? I’ve watched these videos many times. Whenever I think about Quakers and their beliefs, I can’t help but feel that they reflect something very close to the true church of Christ. Their lives are simple and beautiful, yet they are not afraid to stand against injustice—something deeply needed in America today. In many historical accounts I’ve read, there is almost always a Quaker quietly standing in the background, playing a significant role in moments of truth, justice, and compassion. The gospel message of Yeshua—Jesus the Christ, the Messiah—is simple, yet profound. Jesus, the Son of the Living God, came to take away the sins of the wor...

We are living through some very stressful times right now with this pandemic. As I was thinking about this, I thought about God. God is still the all-powerful God. He doesn't change. He is God who we can call Father and someone who loves us, so much so that He sent His Son, Jesus, into this world to take our punishment for the sins we've committed. Think about that. What amazing love. Think about what Jesus did when He was here on earth with us. He had compassion for all those He met. Matthew 9:35-38   New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE) The Compassion of Jesus.   35  [ a ] Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.  36  At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, [ b ]  like sheep without a shepherd.  37  [ c ] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest ...