God is big on promises. When one is kept, integrity is built. Looking back in life, I can see a lot of promises broken. I don’t advocate looking back all that often, except to learn a lesson from experience. One standard of God is it is better never to promise than to do so and not keep it. On the one hand, a broken promise hurts and harms the one it is made to. On the other hand, your personal life suffers for breaking it.
Since we get back what we send out in life, a sea of broken promises is not what most people desire to suffer through. It’s painful. Often a commitment is held so lightly that a person will create one just in passing. Regardless of whether it is taken seriously by the speaker, God and the universe are always watching and listening. Believe me, none of us get past anything in life. Eventually, we all reap what we sow.
Remember today, keep that promise if you have sown a commitment and want your life to flow with more ease. In a world filled with indiscretion, integrity is everything.
The very word judgment gives me a weird feeling inside. It shouldn’t because we all need to have “good judgment” in our life decisions. The judgment I am thinking of is when one person or group judges another as being inferior for some reason. Or judgment can also come through pointing fingers, belittling others, or inferring something that could not be true.
Lately, I have bumped up against a lot of religious judgment, just as an observer. We might as well call it what it is; all-out prejudice. I suppose I should say right up front that I am a firm believer in a God or Creator who lives and dwells in us. Whether we want to recognize that truth or empower it is up to us alone. I should also say I have a very expansive view of God and the power we are given through the Universal presence of God. I am not exaggerating when I say my beliefs keep me alive here on earth.
What leaves me feeling cold inside is “religious judgment.” I refer to the mentality that “my beliefs are better than your beliefs” kind of thinking. At times I have witnessed the “religious communities” state that those who have expanded awareness of God are arrogant and prideful. When I read comments such as “their god is themselves,” I slightly raise my eyebrows. I wonder if that statement sounds as judgmental to them as it does to me? Yet, those outside their “crowd” are considered to be wayward from God or have some “out of mind defect.” I would rather be out of my mind than out of my heart.
In the midst of it all, I wonder what God thinks about all of that. In the same breath, I think I can answer that question. Since God is love and no part of real love separates or judges, I believe the mirror stands on the other foot. Moral of the story? Take a good long look in your own looking glass before pointing fingers or questioning others’ beliefs. You might find that YOU are the one who has been the judge and jury, thinking it is on behalf of God. The last time I looked, God stood in God’s power.
Loving you from here,
Dr. Rev. Jenine Marie Howry, Ph.D.
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If you have been a blog reader of mine, especially recently, you know my daughter passed away in August. It seems like a lifetime has passed because so many things have changed. One of the most significant changes I have witnessed in my family is job strain and even job loss.
Maybe we should chalk it up to the times and the reality, so many people are looking for employment that positions are becoming too easy to replace. No one is replaceable. We are all unique and bring special gifts to the table no matter where we go. It almost appears that employers don’t quite see things that way.
Let me fill you all in as to what happens when someone we love passes away suddenly. Our lives are turned upside down. Time has to be taken to work through some of the wounds created by the feelings of loss experienced by our loved one’s passing. It is a hurt that goes deeper than any loss anyone could encounter in this life. People are not replaceable. We are all unique and fashioned so that no one on this earth can take our place, not anywhere.
Grief never takes a holiday and continues way after the funeral of our loved ones. We might have a strong, enduring faith in God or belief in the afterlife, but nothing seems to console us from the feelings of loss and sadness when someone we deeply love leaves their bodies and our worldly lives. A huge hole is created where that one person used to live. This is how valuable we all truly are. Every life affects everyone around them, and when that life is taken, there is a gap where that person once was.
I have witnessed how the strain of loss has affected my loved ones, their jobs, and positions, the everyday way life unfolds, and the series of losses that go along with the extreme grief caused by the death of someone close. When someone dies, the jolt and reality of what has happened cause a ripple effect in life. Our lives stop for moments at a time as we notice over and over that things will never be the same again. I have found it very hard to concentrate on things that used to be easy for me. My nerves are on edge, my focus is different, and the very core of who I was has now changed. This reality presents itself time and time again.
Waves of grief fall all over me as I go through my day. My emotions and the way I deal with situations and people are different now. I have no time for emotional volleyball and no time for trivial junk thrown at me. My patience level is not as it used to be. Grief does this. It has a mind of its own.
The unfortunate part of going through this type of grief is watching those I love strain with their employers and employment status. No one should have to lose a job for the time taken to grieve or be with loved ones who are grieving. Where is the compassion of people these days? Do they have to suffer losses of their own to see what it is like? Do they have to suffer the loss of their jobs because of the time needed to process their sadness to understand their impact on others when they dole out the walking papers to those who have lost their jobs?
Let me give you a strong piece of advice if you are an employer or someone near an individual going through a significant loss in their life. Be compassionate and let them have all the time they need to process their heartache. Jesus taught us the great law of universal sowing and reaping. He warned us all that we will reap what we sow. This law goes for good things as well. Compassion will reap compassion, but just the same, coldness will reap coldness as well.
Be warned; God will not be mocked; we all truly reap what we sow in life. If you are an employer, remember to be compassionate and caring toward those who work for you if you want your business to flourish. Your livelihood or one of your loved ones might be the next loss YOU personally experience to learn the lesson well.
Don’t push someone in deep grief to their limit. Do you really want that responsibility sitting upon your head and life?
Everyone comes to a point in life when it seems like everything comes to a stop. A life event has occurred, and now the natural stream in life has been interrupted. Such events might be the sudden passing of loved ones, a health issue, financial changes, loss of business, or loss of a home.
With every passing day, none of us are guaranteed smooth sailing in life. It is meant to be that way, as hard as it is to accept sometimes. We are meant to be shaken, to be interrupted, and sometimes even hurt. The difficult things in life are inevitable, and they cause us to make a new game plan for the way we live our lives.
Although life can bring its hazards, difficult situations, or tragedies, some things are standard and always remain unchanging. These are the powerful supporters created for us to lean on and rely upon when times become challenging. Can you wrap your head around an angelic presence when lives have been swiftly taken from us? Can you accept a universal law that gives to us back for everything we have lost? How about a presence of God that is so powerful that lives inside of all of us, giving us the energy and tenacity to get through one more day?
Some scoff at such things, and yet others come to lean upon the mystical when things are tragic in this life. Sometimes a little mystery searching is worth the search. In times of great difficulty, I have found the comfort of loved ones in spirit to be a powerful part of healing and transition. I talk to my angels, my loved ones in spirit, and to God when things are hard in life. These all bring me comfort, and I see evidence of their presence and power every single time.
Meditation is an excellent way to bring forth some illumination into the existence of some of these supportive elements. They are there to help us, and they are living just as much as we are. God brings life, brings love, and brings revelation into a problematic issue in life. Angels are there to help us, as are crossed over loved ones who are in spirit. As a mother who has now had to let go of two of her children, I can not live without the knowledge of these helpers in my life. The healing that comes from my connection to these resources is life-changing and sometimes life-saving.
I can not believe we have life after death because I don’t believe there is a death. I only believe there is a continuing life of the soul after leaving our bodies. I believe in life after life. This belief gets me through my days, or I could not bear how hard my appeared losses have been. We never lose anyone. We can never lose love. Love is as enteral as the human soul. When life throws a curveball or wrench into the works, it is a comfort that I have the support I need to lean on when I need to. I have to believe the “powers that be” are with me through my entire earthly life, or I could not live it.
Our spiritual support system does not mean we escape trial or that things will be easy. It only means that we have an avenue of support when no one else understands how we feel or how to deal with our issues in life. With all of the losses that I have endured in life, I know I would not be here without the love that is extended to me in mystical ways along with human presence.
The word “strive”, by definition, makes me cringe. The basic meaning of the word strive is to make a great effort to obtain the things a person desires or wants in life. To strive creates an image of straining considerably. Fortunately for us, all this is not required to have all we want and desire.
So if we are not struggling, striving, nor straining for the things we want to achieve in life, how are we supposed to have the kind of life we truly desire? The answer is simple. We love it. If it sounds like it’s too simple to be true, it’s because it is simple! I know it sounds so very esoteric, and believe me, it is! Love has no choice but to be attracted to love. So, therefore whatever we love, and hold gratefully in our being will come to us.
We are so used to having to “work hard at it” to get the life we truly want and desire, or the things we decide will create happiness. The bottom line, if we are loving, we will be happy and are happy. Holding a vision in love in our hearts is the first beat toward getting the subject of our deepest desires. Our gratitude and thankfulness for those things bring power to love and helps lead and guide us toward our greatest dreams and accomplishments.
There is not one thing I have ever done or obtained in life that I have not significantly loved first. It’s because we live in a universe that returns to us what we put out into it. Our Universe our God, the powers that “be” are complete and will never fail.
Sometimes things don’t come to us in the form we think they will; they will come to us better than we thought! If great love has been placed upon it, then greater will the return be in the love that has been given. It sounds easy. It is easy. Jesus taught there is no need to strive for anything. If you take a look at nature, you begin to realize that the birds, animals, and plants of the earth are always given what they need and love to sustain life.
How would any of us be different? We are not! Close your eyes for a moment and picture the greatest treasure you desire in life. Allow that vision to travel to your heart space and feed it, love. Then send it out with great intention. Love it daily, and you will be surprised at what will come your way in the form of blessing, synchronicities, and even more…results!
Bottom line, if you can dream about it, love it and be thankful for it, you have it already! Just reach out your hands and be grateful. We live and love in a Universe that is standard, and works for us every single time! Isn’t that a blessing?
There was nothing about August 12th or the week before it that was usual. Life was turning upside down before my eyes, and there was nothing I could do about it. My daughter was in the ICU in critical condition, and I could not be there to comfort her or even see her. The hospital banned all visitors the day before I arrived. Keeping the faith is most challenging when tested the most, especially when the issue surrounds someone we dearly love.
My sweet Christina was leaving her body as I was on the phone talking to her nurse. Her heart was beating its last beats. Her lungs were taking their last breaths. She was saying “good-bye,” and there was nothing I could do to stop her departure.
My memories of her 38 years are beautiful and challenging, as many mothers have regarding their children. No matter what, nothing she could ever do would take away the way I always saw her. She was strong, willful, sassy, stubborn, loving, and very generous. I guess we call that a mixed bag. It’s something we all have; the good things and not too good.
She did some wrong things, but she also did some very right things as well. Her heart was always in the right place. It’s just her heart gave out way too much of herself. Maybe it was tired. Perhaps she was tired. Maybe it was just time to leave this earth. Who could ever know for sure? All I know is that no effort could be made to keep her from moving on.
All I can do now is hope the best for her in her new spiritual life, wherever that might be and whatever that looks like. I wish she were here in person to hug just one more time, but a spiritual hug will have to be enough. I feel the same way I did when my son Jayson parted this earth. The last time I saw her, if I had known it was my last; I would have hugged her for a lifetime. Since there is no separation between time and space for love, I know she is still here. She lives on with all of us who knew her, loved her, and appreciated her crazy sense of humor. We will laugh when we think of those moments and sometimes cry because we long for more.
We will remember her smile when the sun shines brightly. We will not forget she lit up the room when she walked in and smiled. I know I will feel her in the rain, in the warmth of summer breezes, and the cool winter frost in the morning. She is my baby, my daughter, my friend, and my gift. Nothing could ever keep her love from me or mine from her. Now she is a part of God, the God Spirit that lives within all of us. I determine to allow her to shine through me every time her memory comes to me and to let God shine through me every time I remind myself that we all belong to God first and not to other people.
What is it about them that presses my buttons so much and can bring me such joy all at once? They are soldiers, spiritual warriors waging their battles with life just like it was from the beginning as they opened their eyes for the very first time and struggled to take that first breath.
They were so tiny and in need of every little thing to be done for them. So fragile and yet so vital to overcoming such odds since the beginning of their conception. Their gaze is illuminating, and little smiles can make the most complex heart melt into puddles, just like on the heaviest rainstorm of your imagination.
I never knew fully how they came to be who they are. I never really before took a second look. I only knew they came into being; they grew, demanded, and got what was wanted purely with the idea that they could not do for themselves, and so, therefore, they needed me. They looked up to me. I was the warrior queen and the protector of all universal hazards. I could ease the pain of a broken heart with one touch of ice cream, and suddenly this warrior queen they called “Mom” had brought about world peace and calmed the stormy seas.
Each one has delivered to me a message beyond my comprehension. Each one has given unselfishly of themselves and asked nothing except provision and protection. They are Gods and Goddesses in their own right, and each has created exactly what was supposed to be.
My son Jayson David has the strength of a warrior king. He knew and knows the value of standing up for what we believe in. He did it so eagerly and with such grace. He never questioned the loss of mortality in this lifetime. He only used the weapon of his determination to get where he desired to be. He came against all odds and many persecutions to be the man he was, and in spirit, still is. His laugh was contagious, and a person could not help but be “light” in his presence. He knew the scorn of his peers, yet he treads on, even if it meant death, for the end of the mortal body was much better a pill to swallow than the death of the soul. He brought “soul” to this planet, and with a soul, he still lingers to witness the injustice that took his life. He would give the shirt off his back to a friend in need, and if they asked, he would willingly give his pants too. That was Jayson David; that was his way.
Christina Marie is a willful young lady with eyes as deep as muddy pools. Her soul carries the stripes of Christ from a very young age. She bears anger in her spirit yet tempers it with humor and tenacity to get where she desires to go. No one comes against her and wins. She is a warrior queen, and she sets her mark on those that endeavor to take the life from her. She stands as tall as the mighty oak but bends softly to experience the tenderness of a small puppy she fondly calls “Blue.” Her heart is strong but can be broken so easily. She shows the battle scars of what life has done to her, yet the victories of how she overcame all the advancements of society she wears as her crown. She is a messenger of Goddess and takes no less than the best that life can give. She scorns all who would steal from her and yet understands their weakness to take that which is not for them to take. She is Christina Marie; she knows the value of standing in her powerful being, and because she is WHO she is, no one will attempt any longer to overpower her.
Sherry Lynn is sweet and kind. Her gentle innocence graces the room the minute she walks into it. Her light is soft and kind. She gives with no limits to those who are hurting and in need of nurture. She loves deeply and fully accepts all who come her way. She is Goddess personified, and her beautiful flashing blue eyes are the rays of hope to all who are lucky enough to be included in her living space. She warms the weary soul and holds her hands out to all who need to be lifted. She is wise beyond her years and her tears have watered many a garden which has sprouted new growth and continues to do so everywhere she goes.
Keith Charles is quiet and deep. He is soulful and righteous, along with talented and charming. He holds the gifts of artistic flair as a breastplate against the world of academics. He is not mainstream; he is the main line. He knows the value of a great hug, yet the tender soul that gives his love through his art still seeks them for himself whenever he is able. He is focused on the world around him with a heart that touches the animal kingdom. He is there for them, nurtures their being, and brings humor to humanity. He is often afraid but never shows it. He is brave and a warrior of peace upon the planet. He wages no war, only manifesting peace with the air of innocent dignity. He grows as the willow, constantly bending and riding with the tides of the earth.
Sarah Jenine laps up life for all it is worth. She takes in everything that is good and holds it dear and close to herself. She quietly journeys the winds of time and steadily steers her craft through the torrential storms. She thirsts for knowledge and writes about her life and her experience. She dreams of who she is and where she desires to go. She is an angel of hope to those who pass her way and teaches the discipline of academic achievement, and finds in it, her bliss. She is blessed to be called the “giver of life,” as her name states that she is, for she gives life to all who cross her path by the silent prayers she deeply keeps to herself like a treasure waiting to be someday opened. She alone holds the key to this box. She alone has held tightly the dreams, prayers, and visions of better days to come. Her optimism is complete in the greenness of her eyes, for she fruitfully grows everything she plants.
They are my life and my salvation. They who have looked to me for life and protection are the treasures and the gifts of many lifetimes, bringing their grace to me from sunrise to sunset. I have stood tall and often weak before them. They have seen, and they have learned. Each one is a piece of my soul and a part of the story I tell. Their eyes were always watching. Their hearts were always learning, and now they are my heroes, my breath, and my existence. They hold the keys to my spirit and spill out the wisdom of life through their actions, dreams, and struggles.
Thank you, dear ones, for coming into my life and for choosing me among all women to be the one to bring you forth during this lifetime. Your teachings have been so valuable to me. Your love has been my lifesaver.
Loving you from here,
Dr. Rev. Jenine Marie Howry, Ph.D.
**Edited and re-written from March of 2005, copyright Jenine Marie Howry
I created this series as a beginner kick off to my upcoming spiritual life and law of attraction series of videos. You are welcome to come explore, ask questions, or you can book a session with me if you have life questions and need help with the solutions! I would love to become a part of your goals and your success!
Basic Foundations of Life-Earthly Foundations (We Create from Spirit)
Basic Foundations of Life Part 2- Marriage, Earthly Marriage
Basic Foundations of Life-Family (Earthly Life Creation)
Look forward to the power of the law of attraction, spiritual creation, manifestation, and more!
Close your eyes for a moment and meditate on what you really want in life. This might take some time for you, but it is worth the time! Consider what truly makes your heart sing. You will recognize the special thing you dream of because it will bring a smile to your face and an enlarged space in your heart area. Stay fixed in the expanded heart feeling. When you feel love extending outward, you are in the space of manifesting your dreams.
We manifest with thought, emotion, and creativity. This is not a strange philosophy, nor is it a part of religion. Manifesting and creating is a part of your natural abilities your Creator gave to you from the beginning. There might be situations where you have manifested in your life, but not even realized it. If you can manifest areas of your life naturally, you can also do the same thing intentionally. You were born for creating!
I gave this post the title, “She Wanted Grapes, so She Built an Arbor,” because it hints at the foundations needed to get what you want in life. Building a foundation is very easy once you know how. Books upon books have been written on subjects such as the law of attraction and manifesting. I have read many of them! Honestly, I have found some effortless ways that manifesting and creating can happen.
First, you need to create and plant the arbor. Creating the arbor means you will build a foundation where you will be sure to manifest your result.
Here are some simple foundational elements:
Discover what you truly want in life; what makes your heart sing. It might take some deep consideration but don’t worry if many things pop up! Find the one that stands out to you the most, and start there. There is no limit to manifesting and planting new seeds toward whatever you dream about for your life!
Learn to meditate and visualize the full result of your creation. Draw the love and energy you feel when you see your full manifestation! This might be joy, happiness, love, energy, vitality, or fulfillment. Let yourself go with it and feel away! Your emotion will draw your creation closer to you and put it at the forefront of your life.
Look for synchronicities that support your creative process. The concept of synchronicity was first related to us by psychologist Carl Jung. Synchronicity is happening when situations or clues reveal themselves to you that are connected to your dream or creation. For instance, if you are manifesting a blue car of a specific type, you might see that car everywhere all of a sudden. The vehicle has meaning to you because of your dream and meditative visualization. Although that blue car is not connected to you, personally, it is a signal that your manifestation is working.
Meaningful events might also occur to guide you. These might be words that come out of someone’s mouth which seem spontaneous or out of the blue. Yet, the individual’s words have meaning when met with the dream you visualize in your meditative time.
Then ACT! Take actions that are revealed to you concerning your creation! The action part is vital. We are partners with our Creator, the universe, and the powers that be! Being a full partner means inviting all power given by God to create in your life. Being a full partner also means doing your part and taking the steps needed to construct your new arbor. Construction has steps, takes patience and time. Keep looking at the grapes! I don’t literally mean grapes, of course. What I mean is the end of the process, your dream!
Loving you from here!
Dr. Rev. Jenine Marie Howry, Ph.D.
** You can get help with manifesting your dream by connecting with Dr. Jenine Marie by calling for an appointment at 832-484-8306
I would like to welcome you to my basic foundations of life series. This came about during a time of much confusion for me, as to where my life is going and what life might look like in the phase I am finding myself in.
Wisdom led me to go back to some foundations. I am teaching them a bit differently than I ever have before. Our basic foundations in life are:
God
Marriage/Partnership
Family
These are the areas I will be exploring with you over the next few videos and blog posts. For some reason we have the idea that political values, government, or a hierarchy of leadership is supposed to be what we look to for our guidance first. This is not so. I would like to bring you back to the foundations of life and how the branches are supposed to begin from the roots of our foundation and then spread out to other forms. The additional forms from what we create through God, Marriage, Family, might be community, organizations and other forms of leadership. Our personal leadership starts with ourselves and our relationship with our Creator. Step into the divine! Here is a video to start you off!
Life Lessons by Jenine Marie 
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