#contessachronicles

[shellyjshepherd]

[shellyjshepherd]

She is a reflection of the eternal Light, untarnished mirror of God's active power and image of all goodness. #ContessaChronicles #Wisdom #MyRoleModel #FeminineSideOfGod

[shellyjshepherd]

For Within Her is .......

A Spirit Invulnerable.

It is impossible to harm or damage her.  

One might say, "Well she doesn't live in my neighborhood or go to my school or attend my church. that's for sure."  We live in a world that is surrounded by words.  Positive words of affirmation that are passed on from friends, relatives, teachers, pastors and bosses.  We are praised for our efforts and contributions.  We are acknowledged with trophies, awards, and tangible items. 

When the intensity of negative words are unleashed towards us by people passing by in the car next to you or from a friend or relative that has decided to attack using their words, it often shifts our energy and causes us  to pause.  Sometimes more than pause depending on the source or the intention.  

What I have come to notice over the past ten years or so in teaching the #Path and the #Path4Teens is that the power of words are often more devastating to our future movement than just about any challenge we face in our personal lives.  I have heard stories from both teens and adults of how they generally remember the 'negative words' more than they remember the 'positive affirmations.'  There are some who can use that negative energy and turn it into fuel.  They use it to motivate themselves towards change and never look back.  Others find it difficult to let go, forget and move on.  While individual circumstances impact our choices and our movement forward we all recognize the power of words in our lives.

In the book of Wisdom we see a passage that continues to unfold as  reminder to us that the Spirit within us is stronger than the spirit outside of us.  This word 'invulnerable' literally means, 'impossible to harm or damage.'  I don't think this is just referring to the spiritual place where wisdom resides within us.  I believe it is a literal stance and posture we take on as women, as mothers, as daughters and friends.  We determine that deep within our shell resides a space where Wisdom lives, learns, laughs and grows.  It is not a place to hide or retreat but rather a place to nurture and develop.  For within us is a spirit invulnerable, intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, active, incisive, unsullied ....  for within us IS.

When we chance to only look at the outward and physical side of who we are we rarely see or nurture the spirit within us.  Share the word invulnerable with a close friend.  Share this message that the Spirit within us changes us, shapes us, and molds us.  That the words and worlds around us cannot damage or harm us.  

For there is a Spirit Within us ......

(Book of Wisdom, 7:22-30. The New Jerusalem Bible.)

[shellyjshepherd]

For within her is a .......

Spirit, Lucid.

She is not confused and she does not create confusion.  You won't find her in the center of drama.  She fills the void during table talk with depth not small talk.  She lives to be accurate, understood and clear.  For within her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, active, incisive, unsullied, lucid.  She knows where she came from.  She knows where she is going.  She can see the line from the beginning to the end and does not waver.  She understands.  She is clear.  

A lucid spirit is not far from our reach for she is within us.

[shellyjshepherd]

Imagining Faith Redefined

We are a group of people that are on a spiritual journey. We desire to look at faith, spirituality and God in ways that up til now, we may have not yet defined. Through a lens of relationships, storie

Join the upcoming reading with Laurie Beth Jones as she shares the Contessa Chronicles story that she is publishing this year.  We meet in San Diego, California.  Feel free to join the meet up or just hang out to meet others and stretch your faith.

[shellyjshepherd]

For Within Her is ....

A Spirit Holy ......

She is Holy.  Wisdom is Holy.  Morally and Spiritually excellent.  Sacred.

Can the deposits of the Holy Spirit in our lives make us holy?  Where does the dance with the Divine intersect the Holy and make room for my messy life, our messy lives?  

I am curious.  

Along with intelligent spirit we also see holy.  She has smarts AND holiness. Not holiness in a charismatic sort of way but instead a distinction that sets her apart on the subway, at the opera, driving on the freeway, being still at home.  

Wisdom is in me.  I am learning how to be holy and intelligent.  They are here.

[shellyjshepherd]

For Within Her is ....

A Spirit Intelligent.....

The Holy Spirit breathes intelligent life into humanity.  The brain, the central nervous system and the intricacies demonstrate that the source is beyond our comprehension.  Wisdom has been and always will be.  Before time began, Wisdom was.  She was with God in the beginning before the heavens were created.

Wisdom has smarts!  I want to visit with the Holy Spirit more this year and learn more about her intelligent spirit of God.

[shellyjshepherd]

Leading with the Contessa Chronicle birth announcement this year as my intentional way of connecting with God, Wisdom / The Holy Spirit.  I can hardly wait for the release of this book by Laurie Beth Jones.  While this passage is found in the New Jerusalem Bible, it is also a HUGE part of how I as a female see God, and how God has engaged the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and comfort, call to, beckon, and stir.  Committing this to memory and wearing it like a necklace of truth this year!

Contessa Shekkinah Adonai (Birth Announcement in The Contessa Chronicles) excerpt used with permission.

"Within her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, active, incisive, unsullied, lucid, invulnerable, benevolent, shrewd, irresistible, beneficent, friendly to all, steadfast, dependable, unperturbed, almighty, all-surveying, penetrating all intelligent, pure and most subtle spirits.  She is quicker to mvd than any motion.  She is so pure, she pervades and permeates all things.  

She is the breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the almighty, so nothing impure can find its way into her.

She is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God's active power, and image of all goodness. Although alone, she can do all.  Herself unchanging, she makes all thinks new.  She turns people into God's friends and prophets. She is indeed more splendid than the sun and outshines all the constellations. She deploys her strength from one end of the world to the other, and she governs the whole world for its good." NJB Book of Wisdom 7:22-30  YES!!