I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Information Known For: Originally named Abram Husband of Sarai/Sarah Father of Ishmael and Isaac Forefather of a great nation Mentioned in: Genesis Scripture References Genesis Descendants of Terah Genesis The Call of Abram Genesis God’s Covenant with Abram Genesis The Birth of Ishmael Genesis The Sign of the Covenant Al-Baqarah Remember when Abraham was Tested by his Lord Al-Mumtahanah You Already Have an Excellent Example in Abraham Descendants of Terah Genesis 11:27-32 27 Now these are the descendants of Terah. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot. 28 Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 29 Abram and Nahor took wives; the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. 30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan; but when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 The days of Terah were two hundred five years; and Terah died in Haran. The Call of Abram Genesis 12:1-9 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and invoked the name of the LORD. 9 And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb. God’s Covenant with Abram Genesis 15:1-20 1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4 But the word of the LORD came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5 He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness. 7 Then he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. 13 Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years; 14 but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” 17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” The Birth of Ishmael Genesis 16:1-16 1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar, 2 and Sarai said to Abram, “You see that the LORD has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave-girl; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my slave-girl to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Your slave-girl is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she ran away from her. 7 The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the LORD said to her, “Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; you shall call him Ishmael,a for the LORD has given heed to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin.” 13 So she named the LORD who spoke to her, “You are El-roi”; for she said, “Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. 15 Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. The Sign of the Covenant Genesis 17:1 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty;a walk before me, and be blameless. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.” 9 God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old, including the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring. 13 Both the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money must be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” 15 God said to Abraham, “As for Sarah your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live in your sight!” 19 God said, “No, but your wife Sarah shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will bless him and make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year.” 22 And when he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised; 27 and all the men of his house, slaves born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him. Remember when Abraham was Tested by his Lord Surah Al-Baqarah 2:124-136 2:124 ˹Remember˺ when Abraham was tested by his Lord with ˹certain˺ commandments, which he fulfilled. Allah said, “I will certainly make you into a role model for the people.” Abraham asked, “What about my offspring?” Allah replied, “My covenant is not extended to the wrongdoers.” 125 And ˹remember˺ when We made the Sacred House a centre and a sanctuary for the people ˹saying˺, “˹You may˺ take the standing-place of Abraham as a site of prayer.” And We entrusted Abraham and Ishmael to purify My House for those who circle it, who meditate in it, and who bow and prostrate themselves ˹in prayer˺. 126 And ˹remember˺ when Abraham said, “My Lord, make this city ˹of Mecca˺ secure and provide fruits to its people—those among them who believe in Allah and the Last Day.” He answered, “As for those who disbelieve, I will let them enjoy themselves for a little while, then I will condemn them to the torment of the Fire. What an evil destination!” 127 And ˹remember˺ when Abraham raised the foundation of the House with Ishmael, ˹both praying,˺ “Our Lord! Accept ˹this˺ from us. You are indeed the All-Hearing, All-Knowing. 128 Our Lord! Make us both ˹fully˺ submit to You1 and from our descendants a nation that will submit to you. Show us our rituals, and turn to us in grace. You are truly the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful. 129 Our Lord! Raise from among them a messenger who will recite to them Your revelations, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them. Indeed, You ˹alone˺ are the Almighty, All-Wise.” 130 And who would reject the faith of Abraham except a fool! We certainly chose him in this life, and in the Hereafter he will surely be among the righteous. 131 When his Lord ordered him, “Submit ˹to My Will˺,” he responded, “I submit to the Lord of all worlds.” 132 This was the advice of Abraham—as well as Jacob—to his children, ˹saying˺, “Indeed, Allah has chosen for you this faith; so do not die except in ˹a state of full˺ submission.” 133 Or did you witness when death came to Jacob? He asked his children, “Who will you worship after my passing?” They replied, “We will ˹continue to˺ worship your God, the God of your forefathers—Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac—the One God. And to Him we ˹all˺ submit.” 134 That was a community that had already gone before. For them is what they earned and for you is what you have earned. And you will not be accountable for what they have done. 135 The Jews and Christians each say, “Follow our faith to be ˹rightly˺ guided.” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “No! We follow the faith of Abraham, the upright—who was not a polytheist.” 136 Say, ˹O believers,˺ “We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us; and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants; and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them. And to Allah we all submit.” You Already Have an Excellent Example in Abraham Surah Al-Mumtahanah 60:4 4 You already have an excellent example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, “We totally dissociate ourselves from you and ˹shun˺ whatever ˹idols˺ you worship besides Allah. We reject you. The enmity and hatred that has arisen between us and you will last until you believe in Allah alone.” The only exception is when Abraham said to his father, “I will seek forgiveness for you,˹” adding, “but˺ I cannot protect you from Allah at all.” ˹The believers prayed,˺ “Our Lord! In You we trust. And to You we ˹always˺ turn. And to You is the final return. New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Liveology Yoga Studios creates uplifting content for your whole life. Join us on the journey of seeking God, self-study, healing, and awakening as we draw from spiritual traditions across the world. Subscribe for access to our exclusive library of articles and videos and other special benefits. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Thank you for your continued and growing support. Peace & Pineapples!

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? The Call of Wisdom 1:20 Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice. 21 At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused, have stretched out my hand and no one heeded, 25 and because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you, 27 when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, 31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices. 32 For waywardness kills the simple, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 33 but those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.” New Revised Standard Version Liveology Yoga Studios creates uplifting content for your whole life. Join us on the journey of seeking God, self-study, healing, and awakening as we draw from spiritual traditions across the world. Subscribe for access to our exclusive library of articles and videos and other special benefits. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Thank you for your continued and growing support. Peace & Pineapples!

Color: Green Uses: Good Luck Friendship Joy Abundance Well-Being Heart Chakra Crystals & Gemstones At-A-Glance

Lay aside immaturity, and live. Wisdom’s Feast 9:1 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars. 2 She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her servant girls, she calls from the highest places in the town, 4 “You that are simple, turn in here!” To those without sense she says, 5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” New Revised Standard Version Liveology Yoga Studios creates uplifting content for your whole life. Join us on the journey of seeking God, self-study, healing, and awakening as we draw from spiritual traditions across the world. Subscribe for access to our exclusive library of articles and videos and other special benefits. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Thank you for your continued and growing support. Peace & Pineapples!

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. The Great Commandment Deuteronomy 6:1-8 1 Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that the LORD your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, 2 so that you and your children and your children’s children, may fear the LORD your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. New Revised Standard Version Liveology Yoga Studios creates uplifting content for your whole life. Join us on the journey of seeking God, self-study, healing, and awakening as we draw from spiritual traditions across the world. Subscribe for access to our exclusive library of articles and videos and other special benefits. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Thank you for your continued and growing support. Peace & Pineapples!

My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent. Warnings against Evil Companions 1:8 Hear, my child, your father’s instruction, and do not reject your mother’s teaching; 9 for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck. 10 My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us wantonly ambush the innocent; 12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit. 13 We shall find all kinds of costly things; we shall fill our houses with booty. 14 Throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— 15 my child, do not walk in their way, keep your foot from their paths; 16 for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood. 17 For in vain is the net baited while the bird is looking on; 18 yet they lie in wait—to kill themselves! and set an ambush—for their own lives! 19 Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. New Revised Standard Version Liveology Yoga Studios creates uplifting content for your whole life. Join us on the journey of seeking God, self-study, healing, and awakening as we draw from spiritual traditions across the world. Subscribe for access to our exclusive library of articles and videos and other special benefits. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Thank you for your continued and growing support. Peace & Pineapples!

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: Prologue 2 For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight, 3 for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young— 5 Let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill, 6 to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. New Revised Standard Version Liveology Yoga Studios creates uplifting content for your whole life. Join us on the journey of seeking God, self-study, healing, and awakening as we draw from spiritual traditions across the world. Subscribe for access to our exclusive library of articles and videos and other special benefits. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Thank you for your continued and growing support. Peace & Pineapples!

"You want to do the minimum amount of work to afford the maximum amount of time doing the thing that you love. That's the way I want to live."

What is stopping you?

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you. The New Commandment John 13:31-35 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” New Revised Standard Version Liveology Yoga Studios creates uplifting content for your whole life. Join us on the journey of seeking God, self-study, healing, and awakening as we draw from spiritual traditions across the world. Subscribe for access to our exclusive library of articles and videos and other special benefits. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Thank you for your continued and growing support. Peace & Pineapples!

My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. The Gifts of Wisdom 8:1 Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? 2 On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: 4 “To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. 5 O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it. 6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right; 7 for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 9 They are all straight to one who understands and right to those who find knowledge. 10 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; 11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. 12 I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I attain knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 14 I have good advice and sound wisdom; I have insight, I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 16 by me rulers rule, and nobles, all who govern rightly. 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity. 19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 21 endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries. Liveology Yoga Studios creates uplifting content for your whole life. Join us on the journey of seeking God, self-study, healing, and awakening as we draw from spiritual traditions across the world. Subscribe for access to our exclusive library of articles and videos and other special benefits. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Thank you for your continued and growing support. Peace & Pineapples!

Luke Skywalking on these haters. Celebrate every day like a birthday.

I'm in the right place. I know I'm in the right place.

Sitting up straight can help with feelings of confidence and reinforces positive memories over negative ones.

Oh, oh, oh Mmm mmm mmm Bambi, Bambi My dear, my dear, my dear My dear, I want you here Don't get too near for there's lions, beware Oh Bambi I won't lie If I weren't in this spiderweb of mine If grandfather never had seven wives Then darling you would be love of my life Oh Bambi it's my design To run the jungle I must be a lion Or be a cheetah but neither is fine Don't wanna hurt my dear love of my life Bambi, Bambi (Ba bam bam bi) My dear, my dear, my dear (Ba bam bam bi) My dear, I want you here (Bambi) Don't get too near for there's lions, beware (Mmm bam bam bi) Sometimes I hide When you FaceTime I text you back a lie 'Cause I'm afraid to look back in your eyes I'm terrified you were love of my life The women among the tribe They will be jealous of this lullaby I'll drink alone in my hotel and cry 'Cause now they know you are love of my life Bambi, Bambi (Ba bam bam bi) My dear, my dear, my dear (Ba bam bam bi) My dear, I want you here (Bambi) Don't get too near for there's lions, beware (Mmm bam bam bi) I wish that we were forever young I always knew that this day would come The fork in the road where I cannot run Between love and many I'm loving one I got the wedding invitation, Bambi I'm happy that he wants to make a family But I cannot promise I won't run up in the church There screaming your name, Bambi No one can take you from me, Bambi No one can take you from me, Bambi No one can take you from me, Bambi Bambi, Bambi (Ba bam bam bi) My dear, I want you here (Ba bam bam bi) Oh baby, don't get too near (Ba bam bam bi) Oh oh oh, there are lions, beware (Mmm bam bam bi) Mmm mmm mmm I don't wanna see the wedding I just wanna see my baby I just wanna see my baby

Working on the Ashtanga Primary Series? Some techniques for getting into Tortoise Pose.

Stories are an integral part of our lives. Stories influence our self-perception, mold our character, and in part, define who we are. It is often through our stories that we teach values and truths. Through the stories we tell, we imprint on the hearts and minds of others (and ourselves) who we are. Most of us remember our childhood stories. It is often through these stories that we learned who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. Stories like the one of The Three Little Pigs who left home to create a new life. The first pig, according to this story, built his house of straw. Along came a ""big bad wolf" who "huffed and pufffed" and blew that house down. The second little pig built his house of sticks and that same "big bad wolf" came along and blew that house down, as well. The third little pig had the good sense to built his house of bricks. Along came that same "big bad wolf" but he could not blow that brick house down. The moral of this story is to lay solid foundations so that when the winds of life come, we remain standing. Well, there is another version of this same story, told from the perspective of the "big bad wolf". It is entitled The True Story of the Three Little Pigs told by Alexander T. Wolfe. According to Mr. Wolfe, he was not a "big bad wolf" at all, he was merely a victim of unfortunate circumstance. According to Mr. Wolfe, he was making a birthday cake for his dear grandmother when he realized he had no sugar. Like most neighbors, he went next door to borrow sugar. It just so happened the next door neighbor was a pig who had built his house of straw. Mr. Wolfe said, "that straw was so irritating that I sneezed really hard and my sneeze accidently blew that pig's house down". "It seemed a waste to leave a perfectly good ham meal lying on the ground, so I ate the pig." "Finally," Mr. Wolfe said, "when the reports got out about me eating the two pigs, the reporters figured the story of me trying to borow sugar to make a birthday cake for my grandmother was not juicy enough, so they (the media) concocted the story of "the big bad wolf." Stories have different meanings, depending on who is telling the story and what message the storyteller wants to leave. It is for this reason that "We Must Tell Our Own Story, In Our Own Words! The stories we tell are powerful tools for shaping our identify and undergirding our sense of well-being in our world. It is important to our success and ability to thrive in our world that we look carefullty at the stories we tell about orselves and oour experiences. Perhaps you were "let go" from a position in which you had invested a lot of your time and talents. Why not tell a story about the successes you achieved while in that position.? Why not tell a story of the lessons you learned while in that position, lessons about that particular line of work, and about yourself? Perhaps you were in a relationship that you thought woulld be life-long and it ended. Why not tell a story of having experienced love and of being committed to "never giving up on love"? And yes, perhaps you have made more than a few "unfortunate choices". You may have failed more than a few times! Well, that makes you human! Why not tell a stroy of someone who (like Maya Angelou said) "did what you knew how to do and when you knew better, you did better." We are the stories we tell. And it is through our stories that we create our own reality. Perhaps, it is time to tell a new story, your own story; told from your own perspective and in your own words.

The first step in making these cupcakes is to make the cookie dough. After all they’re the highlight of the cupcake! For these cupcakes, I make bakeless cookie dough that does not include eggs and baking powder. This makes them safe to eat since they will not bake inside the cupcake. The Recipe: Mix together the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract as you normally would. Separately, mix the flour and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until it’s well combined. Now you have delicious dough! Before you add the chocolate chips, separate 1/4 of the cookie dough and place it into a separate container. (This will be the frosting). Now, add as many chocolate chips as you can handle and mix well. Once you have chocolate chip cookie dough made, get two large spoons and a piece of wax paper. Scoop a spoonful of cookie dough and use the second spoon to get it onto the paper in as even a ball as possible. (This keeps your hands clean!) Try to make 12. If they are uneven, you can always add more to the smaller ones. Now, put them into the freezer and let them freeze completely through. This will take at least three hours, but overnight is preferable to ensure they are frozen on the inside as well. Once you have made the cupcake batter, add a large spoonful of batter to each cup. Place one of the frozen cookie dough balls into each cup on top of the batter. This ensures that the bottom of the cupcake is actually cupcake and not cookie!! Now, top the cups with the rest of the batter ensuring that the cookie dough is fully covered. Bake your cupcakes at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. While your cupcakes are baking, take the cookie dough you set aside and add 2 Tablespoons of milk. This will make the batter slightly runnier but still thick. Put your new frosting into a zip bag guiding it toward one of the bottom corners. With your fingers on the outside of the bag, push the frosting down. Close the bag and twist the top, allowing your hand to cup the top of the bag and push the frosting to the tip. When your cupcakes are done baking allow them to cool completely before frosting. Take the frosting bag you made and cut a small-medium hole in the tip (about .5 cm). You want it to be thick enough to easily cover the cupcake but not too big that it will get everywhere. If it’s not big enough, you can always enlarge it so start small! Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes in circles and top with one chocolate chip. I’m not the best at piping, but it’s the effort that counts and it looks better than just globbing it on! Eat the cupcakes!!! The cookie dough should still be dough and make for rich, decadent cupcakes. You’ll want milk or coffee #food #cupcakes #recipes

Years ago, I heard an African proverb about a pride of lions. According to this proverb, when the "king" of the pride grew old and physically powerless, the one quality he maintained was his "ROAR". His role within the pride changed from being the leader of the pact, to a secret weapon of sorts. When the pride went hunting, the now toothless, clawless, powerless lion would hide in the path of an intended prey. As the prey approached, this old lion would ROAR. The prey became so frightened, he "ran away from the roar", into the arms of the young pride, and became their meal. If only the prey had "run to the roar", his fate may have been different. Like this prey, we often run away from that which we fear, rather than facing our fears head-on.We neglect to have a conversation with our partner because we fear he or she may be offended. We want to go back to school but we fear what others may think. We know it is time to leave a certain job but we fear losing the security we think we have. Let me suggest the following approaches to addressing our fears: F - Face your fear.. Fear is an "expectation" that something bad will happen, it is not based on what has actually occurred. Have that conversation with your partner.Express your feelings and allow the other participant in your relationship the opportunity to change. E - Examine what is really going on. If you have that conversation with your partner about what you need and want, and he or she becomes offended, is it really the end of the world? Isn't it often the case that our greatest growth comes from our most challenging moments? A - Ask yourself, What is the worst that could happen? and What is the best that could happen? Sometimes just siting down and listing the pros and cons gives us a more realistic perspective. And lastly... R - Respond in faith, knowing that courage is not the absence of fear, but moving in a responsible and reasonable direction in spite of fear. Written by The Rev. Clara T. Mills. To be used with permission only.