Author: pennyjoliver

The Journey of the Lotus Flower

Posted on by pennyjoliver

 

In the stillness of a pond, where murky waters conceal the depths below, a miracle unfolds. The lotus flower, a symbol of purity and rebirth, emerges from the mud, pushing its way through the murkiness to bloom with stunning beauty on the water’s surface. This remarkable journey of the lotus is not just a spectacle of nature but a profound metaphor for our own lives.

 

The Lotus Flower’s Journey

The lotus flower begins its life in the depths of muddy waters, far from the light. Its roots anchor it firmly in the sludge, drawing nourishment from what others might see as undesirable or unclean. Day by day, it stretches upwards, driven by an innate desire to reach the light above. It doesn’t rush the process, nor does it falter, despite the resistance it meets along the way.

When it finally breaks through the water’s surface, the lotus is untouched by the mud from which it emerged. Its petals open in the sunlight, revealing a beauty that seems almost otherworldly. The dirt that once surrounded it now serves only to highlight the purity and grace of its bloom.

Our Own Journey Through Life

Like the lotus, we often find ourselves in the midst of life’s mud—challenges, setbacks, and hardships that can make our path seem unclear or overwhelming. It’s easy to feel stuck or weighed down by these circumstances, wondering if we’ll ever break free.

Yet, just as the lotus is nourished by the mud, so too are we shaped and strengthened by our struggles. The difficulties we face are not meant to bury us but to prepare us for the beauty that lies ahead. It is through these very challenges that we grow, reaching upwards, inch by inch, towards the light.

In our spiritual journey, the dirt represents the trials and tribulations we endure—loss, pain, disappointment. But as we root ourselves in faith and draw strength from God’s promises, we rise.

We are reminded in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

Our struggles, though difficult, are temporary. They are the very soil from which our spiritual growth springs forth. As we persevere, we emerge stronger, our faith refined, our purpose clearer.

Embracing Our Bloom

The lotus flower doesn’t bloom despite the mud; it blooms because of it. In the same way, we are called to embrace our journey, recognizing that every challenge we face is an opportunity for growth. As we rise above the difficulties, we reflect the beauty of a life rooted in Christ, a life that shines with the inner light of His grace and love.

Just as the lotus opens its petals to the sun, we too must open ourselves to God’s light, allowing it to transform us from within. It’s a reminder that no matter how deep the mud, there is always hope, always a way forward. And when we finally bloom, our lives become a testimony to the power of faith, resilience, and the enduring love of God.

Let us take heart in the story of the lotus flower, knowing that no matter where we start, we are all capable of blooming into the fullness of who we are meant to be. Our journey through the dirt is not in vain—it is the very path that leads us to our most beautiful, most radiant selves.

Peace and Love

xx

Penny

Never Too Old To Shine Or Be New!

Posted on by pennyjoliver

Living Shiny and New as We Age

Aging is a journey we all embark on, and as we travel this path, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that youth equals vitality, and aging equals decline. But what if we flipped that narrative? What if we saw aging not as a fading away but as an opportunity to live even more brightly, to embrace life with a spirit that is renewed daily?

The Bible reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:16 that, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” This verse offers profound wisdom and encouragement. It tells us that while our physical bodies may age, our spirits can remain vibrant, continually refreshed by God’s grace.

 Embracing the Shine in Our Souls

Living “shiny and new” as we age means focusing on the renewal that happens within. It’s about nurturing our souls with the promises of God, allowing His word to refresh us daily. Just as we care for our bodies through exercise and healthy living, we must also care for our spirits through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and living out our faith in tangible ways.

As we age, we can shine even brighter by cultivating gratitude for the life we’ve lived and the lessons we’ve learned. Each wrinkle and gray hair becomes a testament to the experiences that have shaped us, to the grace that has carried us through every trial and triumph. By embracing these marks of aging, we acknowledge the beauty in our journey and the renewal that happens within us every day.

Yoga: A Tool for Physical and Spiritual Renewal

One powerful way to embody this renewal is through the practice of yoga. Yoga is not just about flexibility or strength; it’s about connecting with your body and spirit in a way that honors God’s creation. By practicing yoga, we can maintain our physical health, which in turn supports our spiritual well-being. Each pose becomes an act of worship, a moment to breathe in God’s love and exhale His grace.

As we age, our bodies may change, but yoga teaches us to adapt with grace. It reminds us to be patient with ourselves, to listen to our bodies, and to move in ways that support longevity and vitality. By integrating prayer and meditation into our practice, we can deepen our connection with God, allowing His peace to fill us and renew us from the inside out.

Never too old to be new and never too old to sparkle!

Living shiny and new as we age is about more than just maintaining our physical appearance or health. It’s about reflecting God’s glory in every season of life. When we allow His light to shine through us, we become a beacon of hope and encouragement to others. Our lives become a testament to the truth that, with God, we can be renewed, no matter our age.

So let us embrace aging with joy and purpose. Let us live each day with the confidence that God is continually renewing us, making us shine even brighter as we walk in His love and grace. And as we do, we’ll find that aging isn’t about losing our shine—it’s about discovering a deeper, more radiant light that only grows with time.

INVISIBLE?

Posted on by pennyjoliver

This picture says it all. It’s funny because it is just that: a picture. In real life, it hurts to feel invisible to other people. The worst part is, people probably don’t realize they are doing it to us. And if they do it, says more about them then it does us. Lately, it’s been happening to me a lot. For example, the other day I had a a ten minute in-depth discussion with my postman in the Post Office about golfing. You know the moment when you both discover you have a love for something. You walk away feeling like you have connected. Well, we talked up a storm that day; a week later I started the golf conversation, and it was like we never discussed a word about it before. Hopefully, the postman didn’t see my chin hang down the whole time he did my postage!

How about the “one-sided conversation!” You ask about their  lives, then they talk on and on about themselves?  How about the spell-bound look they give you when you ask them a question while they have been staring at their phone for the past 5 minutes?

Well, don’t lose hope. You are not invisible to God! Not today and not any day!

… for God sees and hears you…The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry. Psalm 34:15

… for God is listening intimately and intently to you… God is able to hear us even when we are silent. Romans 8:26

… for God is ready to help you… Don’t panic I’m with you there’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength and I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady and keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41:10

… for God is thinking about you all the time… My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalm 139:17

… for God thinks the world of you...even the hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31

… for God made you a “one of a kind person”…You are a blessing! The Lord made you in an amazing and wonderful way. Psalm 139:14

… for God thinks your gorgeous…The King is enthralled with your beauty. Psalm 45:11

… for you must hold your head high, God gave you dignity…You have dignity. Proverbs 31:25

… for you can ask and you will get real answers…Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

…for you simply cannot be invisible if God is always with you…I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20

…for how can you be invisible if you are constantly loved?…You are love forever. Romans 8:38-39

You may feel invisible to the world at times but to God, you are being loved moment by moment beyond measure!
Gosh, I feel better now.  I hope you do too!

BE~LOVED!

xxoo

<3

Present Moment Peter

Posted on by pennyjoliver

Clouds like puffs of cotton and seas as smooth as glass, could there be a more perfect morning? Of course every morning is great when you wake up and your on vacation. Today we are docked in gorgeous St. Thomas. To think fear kept me from this Divine scenic creation for so many years and now after 34 cruises I am forever thirsty and longing to taste the beauty that God has created around this beautiful earth. Of course we’ve also been through some difficult storms in a ship too where it was so rough I threw up in a decorative plant. But that’s how life is too, one day it’s calm another day a storm is raging all around you!

Enter Peter. The apostle who walked on water. Peter being a fisherman I’m sure experienced a lot of terrible storms out in the sea in his boat. Yet in this Bible story another storm was raging all about him and all of Jesus’s disciples. Peter and the disciples were terribly afraid and clinging to the safety and comfort of their boat. Suddenly, out there on the raging waves they encountered a figure. Peter rushed up and asked, is it you Lord and if it is let me come to you! What was he thinking walking on water like that. I’m wondering, could his eyes of been so fixed on Jesus he couldn’t see anything but Jesus? I don’t know how long this moment was but Jesus commanded Peter to come to Him and with out hesitation, Peter lunged forward and up and out of the boat. By the grace and power of God, Peter walked on water!

However, the other eleven disciples seemed to do the thing they always did in a storm, be afraid for their lives and cling to what they could see, their man made boat. Although all of Jesus’s disciples did amazing things beyond human capabilities hanging out with their Savior, sadly, all missed the opportunity to walk on water. But not Peter, there caught up in the moment Peter was not concerned with the safety and security of himself or he would of never left the boat. Instead, I think Peter was right there, ever present, dwelling only in the moment at hand. Being absorbed in the present moment gifted him with no time to think victimizing thoughts of past times in the boat nor any time to be anxious and overwhelmed of what might have been or could of happened. He was instead ever present, faithfully riding the waves with his feet, lunging forward until… But that is another story!

Jesus looking at them said, with men it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God! (Mark 10:27)

I’m guilty of clinging to my man made boat in the storms of life, how bout you? Maybe if we just focused on Jesus like Peter did we too might walk on water in our own lives.

Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze on Him. (Proverbs 4:25)

When Yoga Meets Biblical Health and Wellness

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Everybody knows by now that the practices of yoga are beneficial to our health and science continues to reveal it’s many healthy benefits. It’s wonderful that every year there is a significant rise in people hitting their mats. However, the world seems more stressed out than ever. I get it that all the world has been in a pandemic for a couple years now but isn’t time on our mats suppose to chill us out and lower our stress? Chronic stress was a growing health related problem before the pandemic and continues to get worse with each passing year. It sends more people to the doctor’s office every year and more people rely on prescriptions rather than yoga to deal with their stress related conditions. It’s also very scary that the six leading causes of death are all linked to stress.

My friends, do not fear! As healthy as yoga can prove to be for us there is a better solution. As a yoga teacher with a Biblical perspective on health and wellness I’ve come to realize that true and lasting health and wellness practices are deeply rooted in aligning ourselves with what Our Creator has to say about health and wellness. Trusting our Creator by putting into practice His ways written for us from His Holy Bible, rewards us with many healthy benefits. He cares for each of us individually and desires that we live healthy purposeful lives. And He has given us the ultimate prescription for a healthy life style! It begins by by reading and listening to His wisdom and then putting into practice His ways. It is the one true and only lasting path leading to a stress less, strong and balanced, peaceful and joyous lifestyle, complete with abundant energy, continual strength and deep unfailing love! now, who doesn’t want that?? Is it not the reason why any of hit our mats each day?

My prayer for you is that you would start your journey to true and lasting health and wellness this very moment! Begin by acknowledging that God sent His Son Jesus into this world to die for your every sin and invite Him to be your Savior and miraculously, all the above is freely given to you!

Training the body has some value but being Godly has value in every way! 1 timothy 4:8

Beloved I pray in all respects that you will prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers! 1 John 2-3

xxoo

Love Penny

SHINY NEW ME

Posted on by pennyjoliver

My parents may have named me Penny…

But, my Heavenly Father has given me a new name and that new name is “Shiny New Penny!” 

Fortunately for us, our Heavenly Father believes all of His children this very moment are are fresh, new and vibrant and He has promises ALL of His children, fresh new beginnings each and every new morning. (Lamentation 3:22-23) For we are His “new creations.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) and each of us are beautiful masterpieces no matter how we might feel at any given moment in His eyes! 

God tells us in His Word, the Bible that meditating upon and obeying His Word leads to blessing! That we can possess a peace beyond human knowledge, a balanced and purposed filled life, strength for daily living, perfect alignment and courage to trust the process! Best part? God promises us that everyday is a new beginning no matter how bad we screwed up the day before! He has also made each of us new people the moment we trusted Him with our lives and He is in the business of making us more like Him each day! So not only are we new and fresh, we are also empowered with His Spirit which happens to be the Creator of the Universe Power. In gaining wisdom from Him and His Word, after a while we may start feeling like Gordon Ramsay does when he describes good food… fresh, modern and vibrant!

Shiny New Penny is my reminder that I am somebody special and I am already enough…loved for just being me. I know that this name is important to Him because it’s my daily reminder that He is helping me to stop wearing myself out by trying to do life on my own, relying on my human capabilities. Instead, He’s got me remembering to live in His light, in His shine…where there is His mighty power, His abundant grace and His infinite love. And when I trust and let go of that never ending quest of trying to be more, that’s when I can brilliantly shine and not grow dim with weariness from the cares of this world. And it is my desire and my prayer to live each day reflecting the glory of Him who makes all things possible! (Matthew 19:26)

Of course every person who has given his or her life to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins has already  been equipped with His radiant light and it is already shining within us. But like me, sometimes in the chaos and business of daily living we simply forget to turn it on. Below, some shiny Words of Life!

You are the Light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

Therefore, in the same way let your light shine so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven! Matthew 5:17

May we always remember that we are never alone because we are loved beyond measure. Our Heavenly Father is watching over us 24/7 and He always knows exactly what you and I need even before we know we need it!

This gold jacket called out to me in Walmart and being only $7.00 dollars I scoffed it up to match my gold Sperry Top Siders. On the way out the door I realized these rosy mirrored shades needed some eyes to shade and jumped in my bag to come on vacation. Yay, I had an outfit! Soon after three rainy days at this Florida hotel it was time to get on our way to the cruise terminal. Because the Uber was late in picking us up, I passed the time striking a few poses around the hotel. What amazes me is, I never knew I didn’t know I needed a gold shiny outfit to match my New Shiny Penny name I didn’t know I would have until weeks later…but that’s the power of God. He already knows precisely what we need before we even need it!

Praise God! Your Father knows the things you need before you even ask Him! ( Mathew 6:8 )

A ROCK AND A YOGI

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I invite you to my faithful ROCK. You will usually find me practicing yoga upon it. It’s my quiet space of refuge where I trade in the loud voices of the world for the quietness of inner peace, restoring balance to my soul and giving me strength for daily living.

Spring, summer, winter and fall it stands as an ordinary rock just outside my window. However, it’s my source of inspiration and my moment to express gratitude to my Heavenly Father. It’s where I find focus and determination to stand in this world strong and aligned. I purposely balance upon it in all kinds of weather to feel how it challenges me to surrender to the changes that pop up and how I need to change my footing to keep balancing upon it. I practice yoga upon it when it’s snowy and icey, lush and overgrown with green. I sneak upon it when it’s been prickly with thorns and dead branches and when it’s so hot I can barely stand. It provides a solid place for me to stand, strengthening my legs so I can balance more firmly in this world. I find beautiful and hidden things coming to life by a simple asana practiced upon it.

One ordinary object and a few yoga asanas and I loose myself in movement that I may find myself in Him. Jesus Christ my Rock and my Redeemer, the true source of my joy and the purpose of my life!

Dear heavenly Father…

Thank you for being the Rock that we can always depend on to hold us up! We thank Thee and praise Thee for giving us a firm place to stand in this sinking world, Halleluyah!

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A THOUGHT-FULL FATHER

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Do you think God thinks about you?

Give this a try and you might be surprised at how much!

Next time your at the beach or the lake, a pond or a creek, a river or any body of water, take a big look around at all the sand or dirt you can see. Then try to imagine the mountains of sand under all the water that you see. Then think about each individual grain of sand and pick up a handful and start counting! Then think of all the shores of all the bodies of water across the globe! Include the thought of the shores that you and no one has yet seen. Think of all the seas and all the oceans and how deep they are and how they cover the earth more than dry land does. Then try and grasp God’s thoughts about you. But Oh, You can’t! That’s because they out number all the grains of sand in the entire world!

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. Psalm 139:17-18 

Dear Heavenly Father…

We bow down and thank you for loving us beyond what we can imagine and giving us Your Word so that we can enjoy health and whole body fitness the way that you intended! May you guide us and direct our paths that we may walk in our identity set by YOU and live each of our purposes joyfully, peacefully, thankfully and vibrantly healthy – that we may be all that YOU created us to be! HALLELUYAH!

A MINDSET FOR IMPROVING YOUR HEALTH

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Surely it is a “Halleluyah Moment” to know that Science is just catching up to what God said in His Word thousands of years ago, that positive thinking can and does have an effect one’s health. What’s more important is that it is everyone’s choice to decide what thoughts we wish or don’t wish to think about. Of course we don’t have to think the way God wants us to think, but then again why would we reject the ultimate best prescription for a life’s mindset that is promised by God to keep us happy, healthy and wise!

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You see, according to Psychology Today, every thought that we possess releases certain brain chemicals called hormones. Being focused on negative thoughts produces cortisol the stress hormone, hard wired to keep our body on high alert for stress encounters which is a good thing. Yet too much cortisol for too long saps our brainpower of its positive forcefulness. Too much negative thinking is shown to slow the brain down and can ultimately dim our brain’s ability to function and eventually it can lead to depression. On the flip side, thinking positive – happy, hopeful, optimistic, joyful thoughts – decreases cortisol and produces seratonin instead, the happy hormone.  The one that likes to make us happy and give us a wonderful  sense of well-being!

In fact feeling pleasure can be so stimulating for our brain that it is primed to respond to pleasure in a way that reinforces pleasure. This helps our brains function at peak capacity, as happy people are more creative, solve problems faster, and tend to be more mentally alert.

Scientific research is also proving that thinking positive thoughts is also heart healthy and can increase our life expectantly even up to fifty-five percent longer. Positivity can be essential to our health if we come from a family with a history of heart disease.

Positive thinking also helps in reducing anxiety and helps us to cope better in stressful situations and circumstances. It actually counters the effects of thinking negative thoughts. It is shown to help our digestive system and entire immune system run more effectively as well. It can even help with fertility too!

It’s no wonder why The Lord Our God proclaimed thousands of years ago these happy thoughts on happy living!

And now, dear brothers and sisters fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8-9

If you like, take a few moments. Hand over that unhealthy mindset and start new because you don’t need negativity anymore!

Sit comfortably wherever you might find yourself.
Let your hands rest upon your legs.
Now focus in on the words above.
When your ready please inhale deeply, slowly and intentionally and keep your focus on welcoming only these positive thoughts.
Then exhale the same way, deeply, slowly and intentionally all of your doubts, fears, cares, and worries because you don’t need them anymore!
Repeat as long as you like because YOU are never too old and it is NOT too late to start again.

God doesn’t think so and neither do I!!

“HALLELUYAH!”

A HIGHER FASHION

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God is love. 1 John 4:8

Less of me ~ more of Love. John 3:30.
He must become greater and I must become less, higher style of living. Approaching every word and deed we do, fashioned by God’s guidance and dressed in His Love!

However, getting naked and becoming vulnerable before God takes great courage! I know I find it rather easy to layer up and dress how I want the world to see me. And it’s easy to grow accustomed to our style, our way. Coming from a fashion background I know I fall into my style all the time. I know when I wake up and immediately put my feet down on the ground, rather than thanking God for giving me a new day that I’m on the road for doing things my way. And so easily do I fall right into it somedays.

On most days, I try not to forget God who wakes me up everyday. When I wake up rushed, I’m then reacting rather than responding to the moments before me. That usually results in gripping the steering wheel from God in whom I gave it too and moving into the drivers seat of my life. That can happen quite easily when a situation occurs during the day and my mind takes off and I let anxious thoughts fill me up which makes me run to the next fix to ease my tensions. However, that is our human flesh response.  A higher style perhaps would be to pause a moment, take a deep breathe and look to Jesus and for help! This would help us immediately and give us hope for the next time to respond in a calmer, less stressed mode. Better would be diving into in HIS Word before we respond and with that, we will be on our way to a higher style of living, everyday!

Do not be anxious about anything! Instead, pray! Philippians 4:6

pray more worry less

xxoo

Penny