coraandjohn.net

[D'Anne]

Subject: March 3 Cherokee Devotional


When life hurts , use your good imagination. See yourself free of pain, physical or emotional. See yourself having a stone lifted off so that you can go free. Then be grateful that you have weapons against whatever it is that hurts you. Your words are your weapons--not words that cut and hurt but words that lift you up and set you free. Say to yourself: no weapon formed against me shall prosper.

Call for new and better circumstances to come in and replace the hard ones you have been dealing with. Words are creative. Don't insist on seeing how they accomplish what they do. Just know they are creative--we cannot use them in wrong ways and expect to get good results. Be kind to yourself. Not indulgent, but simply kind. Coax yourself into peacefulness and pat yourself on the head for no other reason that to stir up your courage. You are worth it--and more, much more.

He pauses in an attitude of worship.

Ohiyesa Dakota

[D'Anne]

Subject: March 4 Cherokee Devotional


A time like this one has never before existed. There is swift progress in some areas and feet dragging in others. We wait to see if those things we know are not acceptable will suddenly be right. This never happens. If it is wrong, it is wrong and we know it. The years come and go and lines are drawn, but to what avail? The decision is ours and always has been.

Deep in our spirits we know when some situation leads us down the wrong path. We close our eyes and claim that God is a good God and will not let us go down the drain. But if we insist, he will let us do whatever we choose. If we are ever to overcome, this is the time to change. No greater peace or freedom exists than to get our ducks in a row and to know where we are going and why.

If I thought you were sent by the Creator I might be induced to think you had a right to dispose of me.

Chief Joseph
Nez Perce

[D'Anne]

Subject: March 5 Cherokee Devotional


Even though we may not have seen friends for a very long time or even if we live many miles apart, that time and distance mean nothing to friends. We find each other again and again to share all that is important--and a great many things that are not important. Friends know how easy it is to get off center, and they forgive us whether we deserve it or not. But friends also have high expectations for us, maybe even higher than we have for ourselves.

We are at our best when we can be steadfast with other people, when we can make allowances for lapses and do it for no other reason than the fact that we are friends. When we have someone who stands with us in silent communication, that connection becomes a peaceful and long-lasting relationship that never gets old, and never comes to an end. Such a friend is priceless, and being such a friend is a sweet responsibility.

Ancestors handed down our religion..it teaches us to love each other, to be united.

Chief Red Jacket
Seneca

[D'Anne]

Subject: March 8 Cherokee Devotional


March winds tell us how close the time to plant is getting. They lift up the carpet of leaves on the hillside and send them dancing straight up on end where they land in piles to become compost for the garden. But very often the wind finds them and moves the heap to a new location until the rains come. We pray for the rain because without moisture the leaves take a long time to compost, and the garden will not grow from lack of nutrients. So it is with us,we must be fed if we are to produce. We must have nourishment, mental,physical, and spiritual food or our bodies and souls languish. But the rain will come if we call on it--not all at once, but in the right spirit at the right time.


I never ask for anything that is not needed.

Sitting Bull
Sioux

[D'Anne]

Subject: March 9 Cherokee Devotional


Sometimes a person or a place--at one time our port in stormy times--in our life changes unexpectedly. We took refuge there, but now we must find another place of refuge. To find a new place of refuge, the right place must be in focus before we start. How can we get there if we don't know where we are going? Not knowing is a fact of life at times. But there is an angel to guide us if we watch and listen. The trouble is that most of us think we know everything, and we rely on our own acumen, hoping it will get us through. Many things are hidden from us, and our own understanding is tiny. We must rely on something--and a spiritual something is the only thing we can trust.In the silence of our own spirits, we can seek the answers. If the questions are right, the answers will come.

The Lakota could despise no creature..filled with the essence of the Great Mystery.

Chief Luther Standing Bear

[D'Anne]

Subject: March 10 Cherokee Devotional


A part of success is staying power. What seems to be a remarkable idea on paper may be a colossal failure in practice. This is why we have to be more than what wee seem, not worrying about what shows but mustering the power to keep on going when everyone says we cannot. Whether our task is building a house or a business, a bridge or a life, we have to have something to back us up to keep us going when nothing looks promising. Most losses result from investing ourselves in something that looks good but has no substance. We lose more than we realize by entering into situations thinking if we don't like it, we can back out later. Strength in any situation lies in seeing things clearly, faults and all. Then when things get to a hard place we know how to handle ourselves. Staying power is having faith in the little things and being willing to change ourselves.

I claim a right to live on my land, and accord you the privilege to live on yours.

Chief Joseph
Nez Perce

[D'Anne]

Subject: March 11 Cherokee Devotional


Thoreau said he once saw a delicate flower growing two feet high between the horse's feet and the wagon track. He said if the plant had grown one inch higher or one inch to the right or left it could not have survived. This flower had flourished without considering its limitations. Like that flower we can survive in very tight quarters or difficult situations if we have to. At the same time, we may ignore warnings that would be wise to pay attention to. We go on hoping trouble will miss us or go around us. But it's important for us to be prepared for trouble that may come our way. Wisdom teaches us not to wait until the roof leaks to mend it. Do it now.

Our God gives us the rain cloud and the sunshine.

Hopi

[D'Anne]

Subject: March 12 Cherokee Devotional


This morning dew hung in crystal drops along the fence and sparkled in fragile spider webs stretched from grass to small shrubs--a rare glimpse of nature's ornamental skills. Everything glistened in the early morning sunlight. Every plant and bush shows signs of spring, and buds are about to pop. Tiny flowers bloom in sheltered places and a green sheen covers the lawn and touches the trees, which are now ready to leaf out. We no longer have to endure cold weather, except for an occasional burst of wind or a pellet or two of sleet. This can be called prespring. If we hold on, we will soon enjoy mellow breezes and warm sunshine. Maybe the winter builds endurance in us. Our patience is sure to bring us joy and well being. Spring will surely come if we wait.

The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart away from nature becomes hard.

Chief Luther Standing Bear

[D'Anne]

Harriette lost her yellow lab Cheyenne
and is feeling very low...
Pray for her...it is difficult losing a fur baby!

[D'Anne]

Friends,

For those who have wondered why your devotionals were not in your Inbox last week, I will explain. I lost my precious yellow lab, Cheyenne, my heart and soul, in the wee hours Monday morning. She was ten years, old. She had not been sick, so to have her die so suddenly literally knocked me to my knees. Cheyenne was my soul mate and constant companion for all her life. We struggled down some very difficult roads together and found peace and comfort in the love we had. I have not been this grieved over anything or anyone in forty years since the death of my dad. I am struggling to make it thru every hour of every day. Yes, I have other animals, and yes I love them all, but no one can replace my girl. Please keep me in your thoughts.

Harriette


March 22 Cherokee Devotional

We cannot find peace of mind from some outer source. What we see and hear and feel may help at times, but these things are temporary. The lasting help comes from an inner source. This source is the Life of life. When we have problems, whatever we turn to, whether it be philosophy, or psychology or something else, sooner or later we must draw on our own inner resources to solve life's dilemmas. It is the self and self alone that must handle living. Some fear that if they allow themselves to go deeper, they will lose their freedom. But some of the most threatening and feared circumstances bring the truest answers. Prosperity, good health, companionship all lie before us, and we must develop our faith to step out and claim it.

Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice.

Black Elk
Oglala Sioux