Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally,
brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is
right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if
anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Paul is encouraging us to walk with Jesus to rejoice in our relationship with God. We should have the mindset of celebrating the Lord and the gifts and blessings of life that surround us yet we often forget when we get bogged down in our daily lives.
And I thought what a simple yet profound statement. The idea that our desires can become reality seemed like a great idea to a kid that was raised on welfare and food stamps. I had a little hunger for something better at a young age. I would read Think And Grow Rich by Napolean Hill and later The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer that discussed the importance of a wealth mindset and an excellent attitude.
We experience realizing our desires in our everyday life whether it's from a drink of water or eating an egg. When we get the Iphone that we desire or the book or concert ticket. These relatively little things also apply to the bigger things like our health, Love, an education, a house, a career, and even wealth.
What you think about expands. And really are all based on timeless spiritual or biblical principles.
Asking and Receiving
With God all things are Possible
You Can Do All that I have done and more, if you but Believe
The challenge is that so many of us are not familiar with these principles or have not been exposed to the teachings of Jesus. An easy way to learn about Jesus is to read his talk to the people in The Sermon on the Mount.
We have to shift our attitudes from negative to POSITIVE. We need enthusiasm to accomplish our goals, dreams, and desires. We need to disconnect from the negative news and focus on the good in the universe and our world. Simple things like the gift of life, fresh air, and sunshine help us focus on the gift of everyday life. Start small and build and remove yourself from any Toxic environment.
When what you desire shows up in your life remember to say Thank You and express Gratitude for all that shows up in your life.
Growing up around Barren Hill and living in the area of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, we all knew about the George Washington and the Colonial army's time at Valley Forge and how the British invaded and took Philadelphia, but the story of Barren Hill at more importantly the leadership of a young French general Lafayette. Lafayette later returned to America in the early 1800's for a celebration acknowledging his contribution to the victory over the British. That's why so many towns, streets, and even colleges are named after Lafayette.
At Barren Hill, Pennsylvania, on the
northwest side of Philadelphia, now called Lafayette Hill.1 With the British in control of the de facto American capital, George Washington’sContinental Army
advanced slowly towards the city in an attempt to apply pressure on the
occupying force. Their maneuvers resulted in the Battle of Barren Hill.2
In actuality, the Battle of Barren Hill was more of a retreat than a
battle. This engagement prevented British forces from securing critical
communication and supply routes into Philadelphia.3
Lafayette's cartographer,
Michel Capitaine du Chesnoy, drew this manuscript map in 1778 depicting
the Battle of Barren Hill shortly after the engagement. Library of
Congress, Geography and Map Division, Washington, D.C.
The British took Philadelphia in September 1777. It was a low moment
in the American war effort. Washington faced the choice of protecting
the city or ensuring his army’s survival. He chose the latter as his
army’s destruction likely would have ended Americans’ quest for
independence.4
Philadelphia held militaristic and symbolic importance for the rebels.
It was the capital of the nascent United States. The city gave the
British a base from which they could strike against the American army
and control communications and supply routes in the mid-Atlantic region.
By May 1778, however, the British had a tenuous hold on the city.
Philadelphia’s inhabitants had not rallied to the king’s cause as the
British had hoped. American forces speculated that a British withdrawal
from the city was imminent.5 Indeed, the British did evacuate Philadelphia beginning in mid-June 1778.6
Two days prior to the attempted attack at Barren Hill, Washington
instructed Lafayette and his detachment to provide security for the Valley Forge
encampment, interrupt communication between the British and
Philadelphia, obstruct enemy movements, and gather intelligence between
the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers.7
Additionally, Washington advised Lafayette against taking a stationary
position, reiterating the strategic necessity of Lafayette’s detachment.8 Lafayette ignored Washington and stationed his command at Barren Hill.
In his plan to encircle Lafayette, British General William Howe
suspected that the rest of the American forces at Valley Forge would
come to the aid of the corps at Barren Hill, thus increasing the number
of troops involved and the significance of the battle. The British
forces hoped a large engagement would enable the British to gain the
higher ground and control three major roads to Philadelphia.9 Strategically, these locations were important to the Continental Army.10 However, Washington received intelligence about British intentions, enabling Lafayette and his troops to escape.11
Howe learned from intelligence sources that Lafayette left Valley
Forge with about three thousand soldiers and eight artillery pieces,
intending to cross the Schuylkill River.12
On May 19, British General James Grant received orders to come up in
the rear of Lafayette’s position. British forces under General Sir Henry Clinton, coming from Philadelphia, attempted to surprise Lafayette in this pincer movement.13
In the early morning of May 20, over six thousand British troops
arrived at Barren Hill, where they found no soldiers. Lafayette’s
detachment had escaped across the Schuylkill River at Matson Ford.14
The attempted encirclement evidently failed to ensnare Lafayette
completely. The British left a large gap unprotected, through which
Lafayette escaped.
Additionally, Grant’s forces moved slowly. Several Oneida
Indians help slow the British down further by ambushing them. This
added to the British confusion that enabled Lafayette’s escape. French
officer A. Louis de Tousard praised the Oneida warriors for their
assistance to the rebels in this engagement.
Lafayette’s maneuver caused the British to retire to Philadelphia empty handed.15 Exact causalities are unknown, but certainly minimal.16
Some soldiers supposedly drowned in the amphibious retreat. Washington
himself referred to the situation as “the brilliant retreat by which
[Lafayette] eluded a combined Manoeuvre of the whole British force.”17
Henry Laurens noted, “the Marquis’s retreat has done him more honor
than he would have gained by a drawn battle or light Victory.”18
The Battle of Barren Hill is remarkable for its relative inaction.
Washington recognized the importance of Lafayette’s detachment,
reminding him that his “detachment is a very valuable one, and that any
accident happening to it would be a severe blow to this army.”19
Without Lafayette’s escape, the British army could have secured
critical points in the region, including the three major roads to
Philadelphia.20
We hear so much today about mental illness, anxiety, and depression especially among the younger generation. Why would the youth of today be dismayed when we are surrounded by an abundant world especially in the United States. We have all these technological advances that make our lives easier and yet happiness seems to eludes some of us.
For those of us that have lived a few years and experienced life's ups and downs or the vicissitudes of daily living, we have a duty and obligation to share with our children and others that everything is OK and the future will be just fine. We have lived through depressions, World Wars, natural disasters, and pandemics and here we are still standing.
When we educate and teach our children we should not just highlight the challenges of today whether it's climate, social unrest, war, or some other tempest of the day. We need to help them understand that there will always be challenges but they will be overcome and we will move forward. Instead of teaching helplessness we need to instill hopefulness. Afterall, since the death of Jesus over 2000 years ago we have continued to survive and thrive despite the setbacks.
The challenge with many of us is that we are constantly connected or tethered to an endless stream of news, mostly negative, from our phones, social media, and news outlets. We spend 99% of our time indoors on a multitude of devices being bombarded by constant negativity.
There is a better way.
First, get outside disconnect and soak in NATURE! The sunshine and fresh air is nature's elixir that will cure all that bothers you. Practice deep breathing and let the fresh air fill your lungs and body will life giving oxygen. Bask in the soft sun and let the Vitamin D wash over you. Nature has a calming or palliative affect and can calm you instantly. When you're feeling anxious or upset take a minute to go outside and see how your troubles dissolve. Try to find a wooded place to walk and be among the trees. The woods provide a regenerative and restorative energy that can heal us.
When we make a concerted effort to get outside and soak in nature we can bring a calmness to our lives and begin to heal ourselves and restore our health and vitality.
With the multitude of distractions that we encounter on a daily basis and the constant chatter and interruptions it's easy for us to lose focus and sight of all the blessings that surround us. We often forget the the beauty of each day and each moment. The sunrise, fresh air, and the very breath of life we are given in each moment.
We can be easily distracted by the constant stream of news negativity and the disaster du jour. We need to take to to find our place for quiet, solitude, and silence. If if you can close your eyes for a moment take a deep breath and just say Thank You for this day that the Lord has made. You can instantly reconnect with the Divine energy that flows through you and provides unlimited power.
The legendary American band the Eagles have a wonderful song named Learn To Be Still. The refrain goes like this -
"Keep on running
You never will
Keep on searching
You never will
Learn to be still"
When we learn to be still we can harness the Holy Spirit that resides in each of us to accomplish all that we desire.
The tobacco companies are legalized drug pushers, from cigarettes to other forms of tobacco. Since smoking has become taboo, they have introduced a new smokeless nicotine product to feed the addicts. Nicotine is highly addictive comparable to heroine and cocaine. The companies push that since it's smokeless that it is harmless.
The truth is that nicotine raises blood pressure, narrows blood vessels, and leads to the hardening of arteries potentially causing heart attacks. Nicotine can destroy your oral health and cause ulcers and tooth decay. And your mouth is the gateway to health where our food enters our bodies.
We all have things that we are drawn to whether it's food, drink, substances, gambling, or other activities. The first step is self awareness. If you find yourself indulging excessively in any of these activities and you can't self correct, ask for help whether it's from a friend, a parent, or some other resource. Many people have encountered the same struggles and have overcome them. Help is out there.
When we are young we think we are invincible and that we will never get older, but remember you have a bright future and your health is paramount. The companies that sell and market these products are expert at hooking people without any regard to your personal well being. When a parent or friend notices your behavior take it as a caring gesture.
And remember with God all things are possible. A little prayer asking for the Lord's help can go along way to helping your overcome any obstacle.
