Jordan Stones Blog

Try what I call a "Prayer Breath".  I wanted to expand on an earlier post on Inhaling God to fill your pocket with a fresh perspective on this really effective practice.  I use it all the time to plug into the core of me and find my center.  All the portions I describe: the physical [For a bit more information on the physical move from one nervous system (sympathetic) to the other (parasympathetic) go back to the Inhale God post], emotional, cognitive, spiritual, creative...all of them are included intentionally, for the purpose of firing all parts of you and harnessing focus.  The body part, physical part :  Breathe in for a long time. Hold your breath for a long time, exhale for the longest component of the breath (this is a really important rhythm and the length of the components matter--one part inhale, one part hold, two parts exhale).  Concentrate on three parts of your breath (this is called "Dirga" breathing) for a few breaths....

A client confessed to me this week that she has daily thought  along the line of "what if nothing ever changes, if my life never  looks different that today...will that be so bad?"  I winced...I knew that the life she was acquiescing to was that of a dim spirit, numb emotions, a sick body, a pale thought life, and void of loneliness.  The words of my heart cramp were "you are choosing to walk around like a corpse...how can I show you the blessing that is right at your finger tips?" Out of the blue, I dialed back in my memory to something I read early in my graduate training.  Dr Moon was one of my professors and remains on my running list of "top 5 most Christ-like" people I have met. This is an excerpt from his first book, "Falling for God" (2004).  It is a mind-blowing illustration of God's "Kingdom"  to me... drawn from a teaching tool used by the Philosopher in the early first century. "Imagine the faces of ...

Unfortunately familiar is the experience of spinning your wheels but not getting anywhere, not making any progress. Lag time between effort and outcome can suck the wind right out of you motivation sail .  Do you remember "The Purpose Driven Life"--that book that became popular by Rick Warren? I read something about a "purpose driven therapy" or "motivation therapy" while reading on vacation that I really liked the sound of. I have never heard of it before but it is apparently a very old Japanese psychology theory.  It speaks to traction found in wrapping words around a purpose and holding to it when gravity pulls you otherwise. Considering purpose, I love the simple idea of " creating a life worth being present in."   When I get so harried, my hair is on fire, and I am chasing my tail through my day I get thirsty for this idea of being present.  Ann Voscamp calls it " weighing down the moment with your full attention ." Most...

Let this sink in, dear one. I wonder what your day would be like if you listened today as one who is the "beloved of the Beloved"?     "Make everything in you an ear, each atom of your being, and you will hear at every moment what the Source is whispering to you, just to you and for you, without any need for my words or anyone else’s.   You are—we all are—the beloved of the Beloved, and in every moment, in every event of your life, the Beloved is whispering to you exactly what you need to hear and know. Who can ever explain this miracle? It simply is.   Listen and you will discover it every passing moment. Listen, and your whole life will become a conversation in thought and act between you and Him, directly, wordlessly, now and always."   - Rumi   If you stop and listen today...write what you hear. Write a "Dear Daughter" letter as one of my sweet clients taught me to do. Write what the Lord might say to  you, His precious dau...

"Inhale, and God approaches you. Hold the inhalation, and God remains with you. Exhale, and you approach God. Hold the exhalation, and surrender to God."   ~ Krishnamacharya   A quote passed on to me by a precious like-minded client....Namaste!   Prayer Breaths...your most effective secret weapon:     Have you heard me talk about our two nervous systems?   When we want to engage in the process of becoming, we first have to plug into the appropriate system.   The "Sympathetic" nervous system is our idling high, flight or fight, do it or say it and THEN think about it, revved up and heading for 10 mode of operation The "Parasympathetic" nervous system is the more authentic, congruent, plugged in, think about it and THEN do it or say it, at rest system.   Before we have access to make any changes in our moments, we need to be able to move from one system to the other.    I always feel like ...

The petition this morning...and thankfulness. Thankful that the hinging ingredient here, righteousness, is not on my shoulders or in my ability to conjure up. All is grace. Leaning into that. Resting in that... 17  The fruit of that righteousness will be peace ;     its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. 18  My people will live in peaceful dwelling places ,     in secure homes ,     in undisturbed places of rest . Isaiah 32:17-18

The invitation this morning.... 12  " Return to your Fortress , you prisoners of hope ; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you."   Zechariah 9   

"The message--I am someone God so loves--is a message we are likely to hear from God in contemplation...God is so anxious to tell us this that the only time God is pictured in a hurry in Scripture is when the father ran down the trail to the prodigal son, "threw his arms around him and kissed him." --Jan Johnson

Where is it?   What is it like there?  Where is the path?  I would love to hear about your tailor-made "haven"....and help you touch base there... He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.  They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them   to their desired haven .  Psalm 107:29 & 30

You crown the year with your bounty ,      and your carts overflow with abundance. Psalm 65:11 What defines bounty for you?  What "fills your cart"?  As I am taking a fresh breath in of 2013, I am asking questions. I want to focus my laser a good bit and am craving some contemplative time to turn in and find some revelation, wonder, and clarity.   I am praying your heart is called to find the poise it needs to make room and invite the greatest abundance.  I would adore to sit and have you share such with me. In an effort to implement a whole lot of goodness as 2013 whooshes in, I've been making a few changes.  You may have received an invitation email to log in and register with Jordan Stones online.  Maybe you haven't  yet...it is a work in progress. Either way-I wanted to personally mention it and let you know I would be so grateful for you to log in and update your information and our relationship. This is...