Brenda

Beloved,After self isolating for over a year it is a breath of fresh air to be able to live and move about without too many restrictions. I am grateful for life and that more abundantly. I am thankful for this present Administration and all the progress that is happening in America with little over a 100 days of the new Presidency. Although we are able to breathe more freely and live less restricted we must continue moving forward as one United Nation. It is impossible to move forward while continually looking back and holding on to what used to be. Most of us do this out of familiarity whether it was good for us or totally bad for us. Cicely Tyson puts it this way “To soar toward what’s possible, you must leave behind what’s comfortable”.Scripture reminds us this way; (Deuteronomy 30:19 CPDV)-I call heaven and earth as witnesses this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your offspring may live.” Finally there has been financial and emotional relief and progress made for the middle class and the poor unlike anytime ever before. We must continue to let our voices be heard, our peaceful protesting to continue and our votes counted without looking back or even lingering in the now. Let us continue to support and be a valuable part of “Building Back Better”.
And So It Is!Brenda D. Cooper

Beloved,
I loved reading Cicely Tyson’s book “Just As I Am”. Her powerful journey through life is encouraging as I continue my own journey. When you are different from what society considers the norm you may find yourself left out of family photo’s, gatherings, events and the like. All of these could lead a person to loneliness, anxiety and so much more. However to love and embrace yourself, who you were created to be is the beginning of knowing what true love is. After all none of us can say we love God whom we’ve not seen and not love man, who we see daily, beginning with the reflection in the mirror. To really know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made has a way taking you to heights unknown, allowing you the awesome privilege of breathing in deeply, exhaling slowly and attracting what you desire and that is Love!!! Today embrace the beautiful soul that you are and know that it is all good and all God, who simply loves you without any conditions. According to what is written King David knew this all to well.
(Psalm 139:14-16 NKJV)-“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.”
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Peace and Rich Blessings,
Brenda D. Cooper

Beloved,
One of my greatest joys in this pandemic has been to be transported throughout the world through reading autobiographies of wonderful authors while being personally encouraged and inspired. Some of those great souls and books just to name a few are Tina Turner’s “Happiness Becomes You”, Cicely Tyson’s “Just As I Am”, Michelle Obama’s “Becoming Michelle Obama and Dr. Edith Eva Eger’s “The Choice”. Encourages us to live a life of passion, love, activism and so much more in these challenging times. Each reading for me personally is inspiration enough to keep me moving forward with a purpose. Knowing that God loved each of us so much that we were uniquely made for such a time as this allows me to stand in awe and thanksgiving in the good as well as in the challenges, in the joys as well as in the sorrows. We have within us a unique way to reach beyond ourselves to serve humanity.

(Psalm 139:13-14NKJ)-“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”

The quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. mentioned in Cicely Tyson’s book continues to encourage me to reach, serve and live beyond myself into the world at large.
MLK Jr.: “Use me God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself”.

Amen! And So It Is!
Brenda D. Cooper

Beloved,
Yesterday was my dad’s 102nd birthday. I kept feeling off but didn’t realize why until I found a solitary place to meditate and gain balance. I am grateful for all that he showered me with, taught and led me to, especially a firm and strong foundation in Spirit. Although I physically miss his presence I know he will always be with me.
Balance is a very important aspect of life when it comes to attaining wholeness of Mind Body and Spirit. Sometimes it feels like a balancing act and other times it feels like smooth sailing. This month as I breathe in all that serves me, I know that balance must be a part of it.
Personally speaking, without dedicating my first waking hours to Divine Presence I am already out of balance. During this pandemic, I found myself out of balance at various times, especially in great losses of loved ones, as well as physical separation from loved ones that remain and especially those who have transitioned higher such as my parents.
Balance is a must especially if we desire to reflect the Love, Unity, and balance in a world that is so desperately in need it.
Meditative Thoughts are so inspiring. Here’s one just for today!
“I am centered, I am balanced, I am love, I am at peace!”

May we all reach a higher frequency that will promote Wholeness for the whole of humanity, however small or large our part may be!!!!

Namaste,
Brenda D. Cooper

Beloved,
May your day bring comfort and peace. May your light reflect in places that need it the most. May your heart remain pure, free and healthy as you continue to navigate in these challenging yet changing times. As I continue to do my inner work I too pray this for myself. I Give gratitude to Spirit for allowing me to breathe in yet another beautiful day. Today let us all take a deep breath in, exhale slowly and know that this in itself (breath) is a gift straight from Love to each of us personally. Like the Ocean there are no walls of division with air / breath – life. Not one being can say my breath / air is greater or lesser, it is the gift given in love to everyone just the same. Yet another mysterious power within the Universe that is unseen yet without it there is no life.
Today I embrace the following quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “There us an indefinable mysterious power that pervades everything…. an orderliness in the universe … an unalterable law governing everything and every being that exists and lives. It is no blind law, for no blind law can govern the conduct of living beings.”

Breathe and Give Thanks,
Brenda D. Cooper

Beloved,
As I prepare myself for the day it is important for me to begin with prayer and meditation. The world has been exposed to the ugliness of hatred, violence, fear and the like way too much and without remorse or any act of humanity. These acts of pure hatred have challenged everything within me, yet I know in order to live above that realm of mediocrity elevation has to continue taking place. I constantly draw on those who came before me knowing their actions were from a Higher Frequency. As Gandhi called for non-violence many lives were lost in the same manner yet even until his death he lived as an example for all of humanity. Today I once again embrace this powerful quote from Mahatma Gandhi and I let it be.
“Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.”
Namaste,
Brenda D. Cooper

Beloved,
May your day bring you peace of mind and a healthy heart in this evolutionary period. Although we are evolving there is a false appearance of nothing changing. This season has presented within each of us challenges, sorrows and difficulties that can either break us or make us. I have personally said when will this season ever end, and then I was reminded of words of Wisdom from Divine Presence and wise quotes from those sent by Spirit to keep my eyes focused, my heart free of debris and to continually minding my own mind.
Today I embrace the following quote from Indira Gandhi “Difficulties are not necessarily unfortunate. It depends on your attitude. You can either let difficulties crush you, or you can use them to build your strength.”

Rise Up,
Brenda D. Cooper

Beloved,
As I have prepared myself for this beautiful day I am reminded through prayer and meditation of the powerful gift of Grace, gratitude and unconditional love. All of which as Spiritual Beings should reflect from us, into the world. My love for reading has a way of keeping me in a space of joy, peace and gratitude even as my physical heart mourns and my soul is stretched to pray for the very thing I desire and continue to receive myself, forgiveness and unconditional love. Forgiveness is for self to remain free from bondage. Unconditional love which can only come from Divine Presence keeps me grateful and humble knowing my own human behavior. As I read “Happiness Becomes You” by Tina Turner I embrace the many quotes added in such as the following by Katherine Dunham “Go within every day and find the inner strength so that the world won’t blow your candle out.”

May Your Light Shine Always,
Brenda D. Cooper

Beloved,
In this human experience losses of any magnitude can cause various emotions, actions and reactions. Experiencing loss of normal life as we know it, loss of finances, jobs and especially the loss of loved ones renders the human self emotions and actions that can alter our lives temporarily and in some cases permanently. My prayer is that it is always temporary knowing that in each case as Rev. Michael Beckwith so eloquently stated “we’ve entered into a F.O.G. (Forgetting Omnipresent God), (Forgetting Omnipresent Gratefulness), (Forgetting Omnipresent Goodness/Greatness)”. We do so by rendering to this human experience instead of rising to the true self a (Spiritual Being). Although all of these emotions bring about sorrow and so much more, we must maintain a Higher Frequency Life knowing that Truth, Justice, Love, Forgiveness, and the like will always prevail and keep us in perfect peace. Exercising joy in the midst of sorrow and pain can only come from the Omnipresent God, Goodness and Greatness!

The God in me Honors the God in you,
Brenda D. Cooper

Beloved,
It’s been almost a month since my last post. Honestly trying to live normal in an unnatural situation takes its toll on everyone. Dealing with losses from the pandemic alone can cause all types of mental stress, yet when losing a young life to violence can impact this stress all the more. Today as my family continues to mourn the loss of my great nephew I ask for your continual prayers, especially for his mom, my niece Decerrie Riley and her immediate family. There are no words to describe such a loss for a parent. Please continue to cover her and all in prayer for comfort, peace, strength and healing? There is a scripture that brings peace even in the midst of great sorrow that I hold onto and speak over my niece and her family at this time.

(Lamentations 3:20-24 NLT)-“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!””
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Amen and So It Is!
Brenda D. Cooper