16 July 2026 Gods Forge

Do you think we’re shaped more by our experiences or by who we are?

Hello to you on this hot Thursday. We gathered a little later than normal for prayer today. It was so we could participate in the 21 days of prayer. There weren’t any new petitions but more of us to go over the ones we had. Afterwards Jeannie and I went to the Sunrise for a late breakfast. We had a wonderful visit and delicious breakfast. I got a hug from the manager Emma – I just love her! With Jeannie’s schedule it was the last day we could do this for her summer break. I was going to get groceries afterwards but decided to go tomorrow morning when it’s cooler. I really don’t like doing it!

Today’s prompt made me reflect on my own life and all that I’ve been through. I believe I have been put through Gods forge that has shaped and molded me into who I am. If I haven’t gone through what I have I think I would be a much weaker person. I have quite a laundry list! I have been divorced twice both times my being bipolar was a main cause, anorexic, bulemic, alcoholic, abused, an abuser, suicide attempt, obese, unjustly arrested, an adulterer, had fibroid cysts which resulted in me choosing to have a hysterectomy without ever being a mother, survived storms, been in and out of mental health institutions, dealt with the grief of loss of many people and pets I’ve loved to include losing my mother when I was just 10 months old to suicide. These are just a few of the things I’ve been through! Just about every tragedy you can come up with I have gone through either directly or indirectly. The way I look at it is Gods forge has shaped me into who I am today. Sometimes I have felt a bit like Job from the Bible!

Spin of the Prayer Wheel for today:

I see no stranger, I see no enemy
Wherever I look, God is all I see

I don’t think of us and them
No one do I hate or condemn
I see God’s image – each one a friend.

Of any religion, caste or race
All I see is God’s shining face
His smiling face, His gracious face.

Accept as beautiful all His design
I learnt this truth in sangat divine

One Word resounds in me and you
Waheguru … Waheguru …
In him, in her, in me and you
Waheguru … Waheguru …

Beholding in every being His light
I bloom like a flower in joy and delight.

adi granth – guru arjun dev ji – ca. 1604 ce.

13 July 2026 Learner

Are you a lifelong learner?

Hello to you. There has been difficult news today. Another person was shot and killed by ICE agents in Biddeford Maine:

https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-maine-immigration-dhs-f26f8c2256aa6f0748582ea4adbb515c

I feel so bad for his little girl who is only 3 years old! Her dad was shot right in front of her. When is enough enough?!! My prayers go out to her and her mother.

Changing gears…..

Todays prompt is so true of me. All my life so far I’ve been in school – life school. I have experienced both the good and bad lessons life has to teach. I believe we don’t go through things for no reason – especially difficult things. When we approach difficult things as learning opportunities we grow as people. We become the sort of person that can then turn around and use what we’ve learned to help other people facing similar challenges. When we face difficulties we can choose to shut down and become bitter or we can bloom where we are planted.

Turning to God during trials makes the load lighter. There has been so many times when I turned my trials over to God that doors previously closed flew open! The way was made smoother than it would be on my own. These past couple of years I have really been using the power of prayer to help me and others get through difficult times.

Spin of the Prayer Wheel today:

God, help me to be 
a pure vehicle for your love,
and light, 
and wisdom.

steven sadleir

11 July 2026 Hard Years

What’s a chapter of your life you’d title “The Hard Years” — and what got you through it?

Hello to you. It’s morning here as I write to you. Today’s prompt is kind of difficult to answer because throughout my life I have had difficult things happen. I have lived a life where hard times have been sprinkled with the good and easy times both of my making and not. What has gotten me through the most is my faith in God – now specifically Jesus. Jesus used those close to me to help me get through what I was facing. When I first got to Idaho , my family helped me escape the grip of what had a hold on me in Texas. I literally felt like the enemy had a hold on me! It was a physical AND spiritual battle. Then living with my Aunt and Uncle for 6 months helped me so much. More earth angels that treated me with loving care.

Throughout my life I feel like God was waiting for me to make a decision – to choose Jesus specifically. Going through hard times without faith is just so hard! It can seem so senseless! Before turning my will and care over to Jesus I was so vulnerable – porous. I was under attack without a shield!

Lately I have been going through a bought of hard times with my health. I am leaning on Jesus about it and gradually he is helping both directly and indirectly. He asks me “Do you want to be healed” like the lame man at the pool in Bethel. My answer is “YES!” I wish healing was as simple as picking up my mat and going home. There is stuff I need to do for the healing to take place. Yet, I believe he will! I believe he is!! I have a wonderful support system with my family and church family. It’s not how I would have it but as he would have it. It’s not in my time but his. I am hoping the MOVE program I’m starting on the 14th of this month will be a great beginning.

Prayer wheel prayer for today:

May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.

bodhisattva prayer for humanity

10 July 2026 Coconut

What do you love now, that you hated when you were younger?

Hello there! How are you? I hope you are keeping cool with the heatwave that seems to be everywhere! If it’s not heat it’s floods and earthquakes! My prayers go out to anyone suffering through a catastrophe.

When I saw this prompt what immediately came to mind was coconut. When I was a kid I never liked coconut- didn’t like the taste or especially the texture of it. Now as an adult I love it. I even buy coconut milk and water to drink! It’s truly one of Gods perfect creations! So good for us.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/coconut-benefits – 7 Health Benefits of Coconut

Prayer from the wheel today:

Our children who live on earth,
Holy are each and every one of you.
May good dreams come,
Your way be found,
And heaven and earth rejoice with you.

May you be given
All you need for life
And may you accept our mistakes
As you allow yourself
To make mistakes and grow.

Lead us with imagination
And true integrity,
For yours are the minds, the hearts, and the souls
To heal the world
Now and forever.

our children – a prayer for the world

https://youtu.be/6L43P1MY2KA?is=jZw73iTr_9XfeZlS – Don Fiore 8 min Tai Chi

6 July 2026 Chaos

Is a little chaos actually good for us?

Hello to you. I hope this finds you well and if not, you are in my prayers!

Today’s prompt is thought provoking. When I think of chaos I think of things being completely out of control. Not a good thing. Things can be a bit shook up and we can learn and grow from the resulting outcome but not because of complete chaos. That’s just my opinion.

Here is the internets answer to my question if chaos is a good thing:

Chaos isn’t inherently good or bad; it is a vital catalyst. While unchecked chaos is destructive, controlled or balanced chaos—often called “self-organized criticality” in science—is highly beneficial. It drives creativity, evolution, and personal growth by breaking us out of stagnant patterns and forcing necessary adaptations:

Biology and Science: In living systems, like the human brain, seemingly chaotic electrical patterns indicate health, whereas over-organization can signal disease. Chaos theory also shows that hidden patterns and self-organization exist within random events. [12]

Life and Personal Growth: Embracing uncertainty allows you to break free from old mindsets, sparking profound personal transformation. You can learn to manage the unexpected using practical problem-solving mapping. [123]

Systems and Organizations: While pure anarchy leads to collapse, a complete lack of chaos leads to oppressive rigidity. Balancing the two generates novelty, prevents stagnation, and fosters new solutions.

Prayer from the prayer wheel today:

May those without voice be heard.
May those without food be fed.
May those who are harmed be healed.
May the earth’s health be restored.
May all have peace, equality, inclusion for all.

mi’kmaq – alycia longriver davis

A band I recently found – takes me back to the 80’s:

https://youtu.be/JNiXMcloNn4?is=KiSJeFv6ALS8aC31 – Nightcrawl – Lost Highway

1 July 2026 Best Way To Deal With Negative Thoughts

What’s the best way to deal with negative thoughts?

Hello there! How are you today? Today’s prompt is timely. Every day is a battle for me when it comes to thoughts. The best way to deal with the negative ones is to think of positive ones! Pull the lever on the train of thoughts and attach a redirected car – make the train go a different direction. This practice is something I’ve learned dealing with chronic anxiety. Another thing I do is pray or watch something uplifting. I reach out to loved ones and that helps too. Another thing I do to combat negative thoughts is write here. Writing gets my thoughts out of my head.

I really miss Pope Francis. I found this on the Prayer Wheel today:

On this day, I would like all of us
to hope anew and to revive our
trust in others, including those
who are different than ourselves,
or who come from distant lands,
bringing unfamiliar customs,
ways of life and ideas!

For all of us are children of God!

his final address – pope francis – easter sunday 2025

https://youtu.be/Av0BTpjK8z4?is=CG9plqPRBiblfK8N – Pope Francis Last Message

27 June 2026 Believe

What’s something you used to believe as a kid that seems ridiculous now?

Hello to you. How are you? My prayers go out to the people of Venezuela as they struggle to recover and discover bodies in the rubble.

Thinking of today’s prompt, I had and still have a vivid imagination. As a child I was a dreamer. From an early age I was a writer of stories and poems. I wanted to be famous – a singer, dancer, artist and writer. As I look back now, I never really had a chance to realize those lofty aspirations. My stepmom popped me into reality early on by telling me I didn’t have to be famous to be somebody! She was right! I could have never made it as a famous person with my conditions and probably wouldn’t still be here to write to you.

I found the following on the Prayer Wheel today:

Blessed be the Earth and those who tend her,
for she is the source and sustenance of our lives.

Blessed be the children who hunger for food,
learning, and homes that are safe,
for their future is shaped by our choices today.

Blessed be the refuges fleeing the violence of war and poverty
may they find shelter, peace, and work that sustains them.

Blessed be those who are calling for freedom,
resisting oppression and risking their lives in the struggle for justice,
for they are the shapers of a brighter world.

Blessed be the persecuted and wrongly judged,
for theirs is a sorrow lessened only by mercy and human kindness.

Blessed be the prophets who speak and write of a world beyond war,
for theirs are the words becoming flesh.

Blessed be the story-tellers, music-makers, and artists at life,
for they are the true light of the world.

Blessed be the tender-hearted who mourn and grieve
the wars we’ve fought, the lives we’ve lost,
may peace ride in on the river of their tears.

beatitudes – jan phillips

25 June 2026 Language

Which languages do you speak and how did that impact your life?

ich spreche nur ein bisschen – I only speak a little bit.

Hello there! Guten tag! wie geht es ihnen? – Good day! How are you?

The German language has been with me since grade school when I was given a class. I still have the workbook I used. I also took a class when I was stationed in Germany but if you don’t get to practice you lose it! Learning German was helpful when I was overseas but as much as I wanted to practice what I had learned, the Germans wanted to practice their English! It was just easier to speak English than watch me struggle with German!

I love Google Translate:

Lieber Jesus, ich danke Dir für diesen Tag und all die Segnungen, die er mit sich bringt. Ich bitte Dich, dass Du mir weiterhin Deine Gegenwart in meinem Leben zeigst und mich zu einem Segen für alle machst, denen ich begegne. Amen

Dear Jesus thank you for this day and all the blessings within it. I pray that you will continue to show your presence in my life and make me a blessing to all those i encounter. Amen.

From the world prayer wheel this beautiful prayer from Mary Elizabeth Frye 1932:

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

mary elizabeth frye – 1932

Prayers go out to the people of Venezuela who are experiencing loss after the earthquakes.

23 June 2026 Best Advice

What’s the best advice you’d give to someone younger than you?

Hello to you! It’s Tuesday evening as I write to you. How are you?

Today’s prompt makes me think of my younger self. The best advice I would give is to slow down! When I look back on my 58 years, much of those years I can’t even remember. Everything is a blur. I burned a candle at both ends through much of my life. I barely have any memories of my childhood. The memories I do have are just fragments of mostly traumatic events. Most of my memories are highlights. I used to write in journals everyday but stopped because I was running out of storage space! I have a big black cedar lined trunk full of journals, calendars and sketch books. I have wrestled with what to do with everything for years now. I don’t have any children of my own to pass my stuff on to so someday whomever takes over my estate will probably just send everything to the dump. Most young people these days don’t want stuff from their elders. I am the end of a tree.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202%3A9&version=NIV – Genesis 2:9

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203%3A18&version=NIV -Proverbs 3:18

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”

16 May 2026 Oldest

What’s the oldest things you’re wearing today?

Hello to you my friends. Today is Saturday and I hope you are going to do something fun! I am just back from a walk. Something I noticed is the flowers in the neighborhood are all in bloom. Normally the roses and Peonies bloom a little later in the year.

Today’s prompt makes me think of my jewelry. A ring I’ve had for several years now that says “Not all who wander are lost” is one I’ve had for several years now. This phrase really resonates with me and much of my life. The saying comes from the line of a poem in Lord of the Rings. I also have a blue topaz ring that is like an eye that I’ve had a really long time. Here’s what the internet had to say about the phrase:

The famous phrase “Not all those who wander are lost” originates from J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1954 fantasy masterpiece, The Fellowship of the Ring. [12]It appears as the second line in a poem known as “The Riddle of Strider” (or the “Song of Aragorn”), which is written about the character Aragorn: [12]All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost. [12]

Context and Original Meaning
In the story, Aragorn is a Ranger who lives a wandering life in the wilderness. He is not wandering aimlessly because he is lost; rather, he lives in exile to protect the realm and guard his true identity as a rightful king. Therefore, within the context of the book, the line highlights that individuals who appear to live unstructured or nomadic lives often have a deep inner strength, a strong sense of purpose, and deep historical roots. [12]Today, the quote is widely adopted by travelers, adventurers, and free spirits to celebrate the idea of embracing the unknown and finding personal meaning in the journey rather than just the destination.

A song from one of my favorite groups:

https://youtu.be/x-KbNstmJKc?si=_d5HQHsOrCSzJNbH – Voyageur – Enigma