Who so keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
– Proverbs 21:23

“Be still and know that I am God …”
– Psalm46:10

Silence Is Golden

Ashley is a beautiful young teenage girl, who has just had her hair cut in a very “mod” style like some of the famous rock stars. She began working part-time for the lady next door. The day she had her hair cut was her first day on her new job. “Ashley,” said her employer, “you’re such a beautiful girl, but you need to do something with your hair!” Ashley said nothing and just started to work. In the middle of the day, the woman complimented her on her work, adding, “You need to do something about your hair.” Once again, Ashley said nothing and went about her business. At the end of the day just before Ashley was to go home, her employer said, “Ashley, you really are a lovely girl, and I’m actually getting to like your hair!”

Rama has gone to Russia many times on cultural exchange missions to promote peace between Russia and the U.S. On her last visit, she made a request of a Russian official who said to her, “I’m sorry, Madame, I can do absolutely nothing for you.” Rama sat quietly, simply feeling love for him. The official reiterated, “I’m very sorry, Madame, there is nothing I can do for you.” Rama did not respond to him verbally. She continued sitting there quietly, feeling love for him. Finally, after several moments had elapsed, he turned to her and said, “If there’s anything I can do for you, Madame, I’d be delighted. Just ask me!”

Today I understand the phrase, “Be still and know that I am God. Instead of being quick to respond verbally, I shall appraise each situation I encounter and know the spiritual truth about it. I shall know only the good, only the love, only the harmony and peace wherever I go.

Thank You, Father!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor

As Children Bring Their Broken Toys

As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my friend.

At last I snatched them back and cried,
“How can you be so slow?
“My child,” He said, “what could I do?”
You never did let go.”

— Author Unknown

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor

With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
– Matthew 19:26

“Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”

Don’t Confuse Me With the Facts

Have you ever had an argument with your inner voice?
Have you ever tried to reason with it when its guidance seemed impossible to believe?

The situation is staring you in the face, and you just know your inner voice is telling you to do something that cannot possibly happen. “How can I know the Spiritual Truth in this situation” you wonder, when the facts are totally telling you it can’t be done?

I was presenting a workshop in Long Island. My inner voice inspired me to have the group do an exercise that involved a great deal of walking from one person to another. I argued with my inner voice, “But God, I can’t have these people do this exercise.  One of them is in a wheel chair and she could not possibly do the walking.”  The voice within continued to urge me to do it.  I kept resisting.  “This experience will not only embarrass her, God, it will shame her in front of her friends!” But my inner voice was relentless. It finally got so “loud,” I had to give in. I presented the exercise, and you know what happened?  The person in the wheel chair got up and actually walked for the first time in years!  So now, I make it a point to listen to my inner voice (almost all of the time).

Today I listen to the still small voice within me without judgment and honor it. I find that the more I listen, the clearer it becomes. My life is transformed into an amazing adventure, as I explore hitherto unknown regions. Look out world, here I come!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor

Not For Long!

…as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee…
— Matthew 8:13

According to your faith be it done unto you.
— Matthew 9:29

It is not so much, what you say, but the mental attitude you have when you say it that counts. Scripture tells us “It is done unto you as you believe” (& what you are feeling when you say it).

Recently, during one of my workshops, Carol revealed to all of us that she has breast cancer, & she hastened to add “but not for long.” She was just finishing her sixth week of chemotherapy. She told us the first three weeks were total torture. She explained that she had heard so many horror stories about chemotherapy that she approached the entire experience with fear & anger.

After week number three, however, a light bulb went on, & Carol awakened to the Truth she had always known. She instantly shed all those other peoples’ projected fears, & said to herself, “I’ve been lying to myself. This medicine is a totally loving & healing medicine. It is God’s medicine. It attacks only those cells that need to be healed, & leaves everything else alone.” She continued, “And for the last three weeks, I’ve been repeating this over & over all day long, & even saying it before I go to sleep at night. Moreover, you know what? I have not felt sick at all, & the Presence of God is more real to me now than it ever has been before. The doctors are amazed at my progress. I can honestly say to you that the last three weeks have been heaven!”

Affirmation
Today I deeply realize that it is done unto me as I believe! I have only to speak my word, knowing who I really am, & my word is now manifesting even as I speak. I go forth this day with a new attitude. Amen

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor

Liability or Asset?

The Lord is my strength and song…
— Psalm 118:14

Sometimes, it only takes a slight alteration of perspective to change our lives entirely. We have all heard the old cliché, “You are what you think.” Many of us have things about our lives, about our personalities which we view as liabilities, but what if those liabilities were really assets? What if they were God’s gifts?

Over the years, I have heard numerous jazz musicians refer to Louis Armstrong as the musician’s musician, as their greatest inspiration. Recently, I heard the story about the name Satchmo and I was deeply inspired.

Louis Armstrong was gifted with a very generous mouth. It seems that when he was growing up, he was ridiculed for this and called “Satchel Mouth.” As the years went on, the name “Satchel Mouth” evolved into Satchmo, and as his success and fame grew, this was the fond nickname used by the millions who loved him! What better gift for a world-class trumpeter than a generous mouth!

For many years I have often said, “I wish I weren’t so sensitive!” Then at a Jean Houston seminar, she told me that from a larger perspective, my sensitivity is the very quality that gives birth to my compassion. I took a deep breath and said, “Oh!”

Are you critical of yourself at this very moment? Take a few minutes to be still, and open your heart to God’s Divine re-interpretation. Refocus. Take another look. Is there a gift in it? Notice how what you were deeming a liability, can all at once become a Divine Asset! Now, take a deep breath and say, “Oh!”

Today, I stop limiting my life. I look at my life with an open mind, and an open spirit, going forth with the joy of knowing that I am gifted to see the Divine Truth about myself, and it is good, very good!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Outreach Minister