Powers and Principles: Think on These Things
Updated: Jan 6, 2021
By Dr. Gloria Latimore-Peace
Presented by Omni-University
Matthew 7:14 Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be who find it.
From: "The Spirit of Christmas":
...[The] "heart of this holiday season can be expressed all year around if we learn to live by love's law. [Learning to live by love's law] is a process of bringing newfound awareness to our own divine nature, called the Christ, through our human experience. Spiritual practices support us in identifying ourselves as divine, inherently good, and claiming our innate potential known as the 12 powers: faith, strength, love, power, imagination, understanding, will, order, zeal, and life. These are aspects of the perfect Christmas pattern that is born in each of us"...
"The power of will may be one of the most misunderstood of the 12 powers. It is not about having power over something or someone, not about control or influence...Simply put, our spiritual will is our chooser [decider]. It moves us into the right action with great clarity and peace. Will directs us to our well-being and supports us as we take our next right actions in any given situation, even if the decision we have made and action we have taken seem outside the norm for us. The power of will is not about being diminished or controlled. Rather, it is our capacity to choose righteously -with "right use"- to follow the way of life. The power of spiritual will engages latitude of thought, tempered always with love."
As we continue to move forward into the "New year" let us remember that, first and foremost, it is incumbent upon us to "Be still and know that I am God..."1; to live according to our true, divine nature, as set forth in the precepts, examples and sacred teachings we have been given throughout the ages.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
From "Strength for the Day":
"How will you direct your thoughts today? Will you obey the words of Philippians 4:8 by dwelling on these things that are honorable, just, and commendable? Or, will you allow your thoughts to be hijacked by the negativity that seems to dominate our troubled world? Are you so preoccupied with the concerns of the day that you fail to thank God for the promise of eternity? God intends that you experience joy and abundance. So, today and every day hereafter, celebrate the life that God has given you by focusing your thoughts upon those things that are worthy of praise.. Today, count your blessings instead of your hardships. And thank the Giver of all things good for the gifts that are simply too numerous to count."
A final Word:
John 13:33 KJV: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, ye also love one another.
1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV: And now abideth faith, hope, love,these three, but the greatest of these is love.
The 7 Principles of Kwanzaa:
1. Unity-Umoja: To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
2. Self-Determination-Kujichagulia: To define ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
3. Collective work and responsibility-Ujima: To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and solve them together.
4. Cooperative economics-Ujamaa: To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
5. Purpose-Nia : To make our collective vocation the building of our community in order to restore our people to our traditional greatness.
6. Creativity-Kuumba: To always do as much as we can in the way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
7. Faith-Imani: To believe with all our heart in the our people, our parents, our leaders and in the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Blog Note:
[1] Psalm 46:10 KJV: Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
[2] "The 12 Powers of Man" by Charles Fillmore
H3O Art of Life Music Selection: