“The Elevated Eleven” tips regarding Philanthropy

"If service is the rent you pay for your existence on this earth, are you behind in your rent?" Robert G Allen

“Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism” by Nobel Laureate, Muhammad Yunus is our book of choice for our Philanthropy discussion this week. Business Week made these comments regarding the author: "[Yunus] means to reform capitalism to make it a tool for ending poverty. Think of him as Gandhi with a BlackBerry.  Now Yunus is back in the public eye with a concept he calls social business. This form of capitalism, he believes, can make progress against poverty in ways that governments and traditional charities have not done. He lays out his concept in his new book. It's an inspiring volume, full of practical information for people who are motivated to try out his ideas."

What if you could harness the power of the free market to solve the problem of poverty? Grameen Foundation board member and Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus outlines his vision for a new business model that combines the power of free markets with the quest for a more humane world and tells the inspiring stories of companies that are doing this work today.  In “Creating World Without Poverty,” Yunus goes beyond micro credit to pioneer the idea of social business—a completely new way to use the creative vibrancy of business to tackle social problems from poverty and pollution to inadequate health care and lack of education. Former President Jimmy Carter said of Yunus, “By giving poor people the power to help themselves, Dr. Yunus has offered them something far more valuable than a plate of food—security in its most fundamental form.”

Former President Bill Clinton's philanthropy philosophy has more to do with ideas than with money.  His idea is to gather together those with the ideas to help those in need and those with the money to facilitate the help and find creative solutions for the betterment of mankind.  Philanthropy is one of society’s mechanisms for addressing both the acute and chronic challenges that emerge in the world around us.  It is voluntary and independent, and to the degree it is rooted in our basic willingness to help others, it is timeless.  Indeed, the word philanthropy literally means “love of humankind.” Philanthropy is “the giving of time, money, and know-how to advance the common good.  Philanthropy is love, benevolence and generosity within the human condition. 

Philanthropy in its purest, and therefore most rare and elusive form, is the giving of oneself or one’s means for a purpose that is selfless and good.  It can be done in small ways and large ways.  We hope that you are inspired to really look into your heart and reach out to those who are hurting and in need…and help in any you can.  Each one of us makes a difference when we put forth “our” effort, whatever that may be.  So, please, do what you can do from your heart…it is “The Heart of the Matter.”

“The Elevated Eleven” tips on Philanthropy

1.     Give often from and with your heart

2.     Visit HelpOthers.com

3.     Find a local charity to give to…there is always a need…search local charities and you’ll find one that fits

4.     Give often...help is needed by so many…not just during the holidays…help is always on time

5.     Volunteer your time to a local food bank

6.     Volunteer to serve or feed the Homeless

7.     Give again…please…from and with your heart

8.     Visit the Bill Gates Foundation or the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation…you can help

9.     Give for the sake of giving…it’s good for your heart

10.  Find a way to help children…they did not ask to be here…they are the most vulnerable…please help

11.  Visit YourElevatedLife.com for more information on Philanthropy and Giving, Inspiration, Happiness and Peace of Mind

Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife and YourElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams! 

The "Elevated Eleven" for Gratitude

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melodie Beattie~

Researchers, Psychologists, and Mental Health experts have collaborated regarding gratitude research and they all agree that these benefits are part of an emerging study. As we go forward on our quest for Inspiration, Happiness and Peace of Mind, we always encourage the practice and awareness of the “Elevated Eleven” benefits regarding gratitude.

Everyone has the opportunity to be uplifted. Gratitude is really an individual choice to develop a consistent habit of expressing heartfelt gratitude. There is no greater power in the Universe than gratitude. Being sincerely thankful is the demonstration of universal love. There is nothing that you cannot be, do or have once you learn to be grateful for everything in your life.  Feeling and expressing Gratitude makes life better for us and for those with whom we share our lives. Until next time…wishing you a life filled with gratitude.

“The Elevated Eleven” benefits of Gratitude…

1. Practicing feeling more gratitude leads to higher levels of happiness.

2. When we feel gratitude our energy changes and expands into kindness.

3. When we reciprocate a favor it causes an upward spiral of helping and support.

4. Gratitude creates better social and personal relationships.

5. Gratitude Journals are perfect…Check this out and get yourself one…Even Happier…52 week Gratitude Journal@yourelevatedlife.com 

6. Being grateful makes a healthier person in general.

7. Practicing gratitude helps us to have a higher level of control in our environment and personal growth.

8. We develop positive ways of coping with difficulties with gratitude.

9. We sleep better, experience a higher vitality, and have more optimism when we’re grateful.

10. Expressing gratitude helps us become more spiritually aware.

11.  If you would like more tips on how to increase gratitude in your life…go to http://yourelevatedlife.com

Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife and YourElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!  

Forgiveness Is Choosing to Love

"Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past, and is therefore the means for correcting our misperceptions." - Gerald G. Jampolsky

A few months ago I read a great book by Eckhart Tolle called The Power of Now, a Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment.  In this book he discusses forgiveness or the lack thereof.  He says that un-forgiveness is an emotion which left unchecked can survive inside of you for days or weeks, or join with other emotions of a similar frequency that have merged and become the pain-body, a parasite that can live inside of you for years, feed on your energy, lead to physical illness, and make your life miserable.  If your mind is holding on to a grievance pattern such as blame, self-pity, or resentment, it means that you haven't forgiven. Non-forgiveness is often toward another person or yourself, but it may just as well be toward any situation or condition   that your mind refuses to accept.  Forgiveness means to relinquish your grievance and let go of grief. It happens naturally once you realize that your grievance serves no purpose except to strengthen a false sense of self. Forgiveness is to offer no resistance to life - to allow life to live through you. The alternatives are pain and suffering, a greatly restricted flow of life energy, and in many cases physical disease.

What I found to be true regarding forgiveness is that many of the authors and philosophers that I read all arrive at the same conclusion.  Love and personal forgiveness are the keys to fundamental transformation. Love is by far the most important thing of all. It is said to be the Golden Gate of Paradise. Pray for the understanding of love, and meditate upon it daily.  Love is absolutely invincible. Forgiveness is an integral part of the Pathway of Love, which is open to everyone in all circumstances, and upon which we may step at any moment – even at this moment if you like – it requires no formal introduction and has no conditions whatever.  It does require that we begin steadfastly to expel from our mentality every thought of personal condemnation, of resentment for old injuries, and of everything that is contrary to the law of Love. We must not allow ourselves to hate a person or anything whatever.   Forgive and let go of hate.  Love will heal you.  The moment we truly forgive, we have reclaimed our power and we are free. We have a new beginning. Researchers have become interested in studying the effects of being unforgiving and being forgiving. Evidence is mounting that holding on to grudges and bitterness results in long-term health problems; Forgiveness, on the other hand, offers numerous benefits.

Forgiveness has been found to be associated with lower heart rate and blood pressure as well as stress relief. Forgiveness has and can bring long-term health benefits for your heart and overall health.  Forgiveness produces a reduction in negative thoughts and behaviors and that leads to strengthened spirituality and an overall feeling of well-being in general. Forgiveness promotes positive thoughts, feelings and behaviors and the benefits of forgiveness spill over into our total life experience.  If you are just beginning to more intentionally add love and forgiveness to your life, read through some of the benefits agreed upon by health experts, philosophers and many authors on the subject.  Share the “Elevated Eleven” benefits with a friend or family member and support each other in becoming more loving and forgiving.  Forgiveness is a new healthy process that will lead to a more inspired, happier you who will be able to experience peace of mind on a regular basis.

Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife and YourElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!

The Elevated Eleven

“The Elevated Eleven”…is a special segment that we are going to include on every Radio show.  Anybody can give you the “top ten” but we deal with “Elevation” so we think that “The Elevated Eleven” is appropriate.  “The Elevated Eleven” will always consist of practical tips to help you live your most “Elevated Life.”  They are easy and everybody can do these…you will “Elevate”…if you make the effort…it’s that simple…just do them.

"The Elevated Eleven" tips to assist you in gaining Peace of Mind.
1.BEGIN your day with a positive spiritual focus, either an affirmation or a prayer…include it with your coffee...focus on this...first thing.
2.REDUCE the amount of time you spend engaging with the newspaper or TV.
3.DO NOT engage in negative conversation or with negative people…simply excuse yourself.
4.LEARN to REALLY forgive yourself as well as others.
5.PRACTICE being patient, kind, and tolerant.
6.DON’T take things too personally…we all are a part of a much larger picture.
7.PRACTICE being a neutral observer…diminish your judgment…just observe.
8.BE PRESENT…in the NOW…not reliving yesterday or imagining tomorrow…everything is perfect in the present moment…live it.
9.BE GRATEFUL and SERVE SOMEONE everyday…you can do something for someone everyday even if its just to say a prayer or extend words of kindness or a smile.
10.MAKE AN EFFORT to learn meditation, yoga and/or tai-chi or chi-gong. We are responsible for our personal condition…Focusing mind exercises and physical exercises keep us fit and healthy.
11.Spend time every day observing nature. Really listen to the birds or the ocean or really look at a flower…just truly be still and aware for a few minutes.

Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife and YourElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!

Victim or Willing Participant

False beliefs about ourselves are the delusions which darken the intuitive vision, and when we lift the veil of delusion and see ourselves as we are, thus putting away error of thought and perception, then pain and discomfort drop from us as naturally as leaves in autumn drop from trees. Malinda Cramer

We are“human beings” being what exactly? There is much drama in our society on a daily basis involving all people in all walks of life. We have daily episodes of drama throughout the world and we seem to like it. We all have heard that if there were nothing but “good news,” no one would be interested.Do you think that’s true? Are we addicted to the drama and the victimization of others and ourselves? If so, what does that mean to each of us personally? Are we the Victims of a negative society and do we have any personal responsibility regarding negativity?



We apparently have no issues with talking at great lengths about our misery or our illness or what we hate or what we dislike or what we can’t stand about someone or how awful Susie or Joe behaved or what hatefulness was being gossiped about around the water cooler or other negative sources that we freely choose to allow in our lives. There are many people who find it easy to look for only what's wrong. They have lived around negativity for so many years that they have become numb to their actions and its just part of what they do without any thought whatsoever. They are quick to say what’s wrong with other people, with their lives, their work, their day, their relationships, their conduct, or any of several other examples. Many people start their day by turning on the TV and start their day with the negative influx of comments and then experience their day repeating and adding to the negativity and finding someone to blame…seems like lots of people are looking for someone to blame.

The choice that is always present would be the opposite thinking process, that of a lifestyle that involves looking at things with a higher awareness and different perception. It requires that you see and understand the positive aspects of people and situations - instead of just focusing on the negative. If our goal is to produce and live a positive and happy life, then practicing negativity is not the path. Too often we get caught up with the negative opinions, attitudes, actions and thoughts of those around us finding ourselves “in it” and in the end, we have created a negative experience that leaves us unhappy, depressed, hopeless and angry. Not understanding how we got there, we blame someone else and move forward carrying the negative baggage with us. After blaming someone else, then what?

When people engage in negative thinking are they just not thinking “right thoughts” or are they so used to being the Victim that this environment seems like a comfort zone or is there another possibility? In our daily dramas, maybe we are addicted to the drama and we think being the Victim feels good. Everybody seems to be engaged in the drama and having the same thoughts, so why not join in, right? So are we just “fitting in” and “doing what everybody else does” and therefore we are just part of society repeating what’s all over the television and elsewhere. Maybe we are just not aware of what we are doing. Is that possible, to not be aware? Are we engaging in something that we are not aware of or do we somehow believe that negative thinking and talking is acceptable? If your role became something other than a Victim, would your conversation change? There have been many times when I have asked someone who said something negative if they really meant what they said and the most common reply was, “Well, I didn’t mean it that way.” Most of them were angry that I actually asked the question even though I just repeated exactly what they said! I wonder if there is no “thought” given to what is said sometimes.

Maybe negative thinking feels realistic and it helps us “fit in.” Maybe negative thinking and behavior is a lot more fun than positive thinking...maybe its easier…maybe that’s why we do it. Are we truly addicted to the negativity and the dramas? Have you ever thought about what your life would be like without drama and playing the Victim? What would happen if instead of spewing the negative phrases you just said nothing…how uncomfortable would you become? It takes courage to be the “one” that does NOT engage in the negativity. Just politely remove yourself and see what happens. I have done that before and the results were fascinating and my office became a positive environment rather than a gossip hall. And believe it or not, the people in the office were as grateful and as interested in the experiment as I was. Everyone’s life changed dramatically because the thoughts that were being held and behaviors that were being acted out were transformed. “No Negativity Allowed” became our motto.


Positive thinking requires responsibility and consistency. Our belief that the easy button of negative thinking is actually appropriate, and that it works for us is the mistaken perception that leads to a life of “existence and going along” rather than one of “living and being a positive creative force.” We are what we think. Know what thoughts you are holding. If your life is not happy and things don’t seem to be working out for you, spending your time in negativity is a contributing factor. That is what manifesting your negativity means. We can use exactly the same principle used to engage in the negativism to firmly place ourselves in a positive, productive lifestyle. We are the ones who create our feelings and experiences based on what we think. We can chose to hold and interact with only positive thoughts but as it is, we turn away and manifest negativity by blaming someone or something because we are not getting what we want. We are the decision makers of the thoughts we hold and entertain. We can dissolve the negativity instantly if we can just stop empowering our thoughts of separation and our feelings of inadequacy through playing the Victim. Positive thinking has been shown over and over again to improve performance and the quality of life.

Are you the Victim engaging in Negative thought energy dramatized to the max and joining in on negative conversation every chance you get and living the consequences of negative thoughts like worry or anger or jealousy or are you a practitioner of Positive thought energy that creates a life of abundance that is worry and stress free? Everyday brings new choices to you and remember that the thoughts you hold create your life experiences. Take an objective look and determine what your life experiences are made of. A change can happen in a heartbeat; all it takes is just one thought from you. You can be a Victim…or not.

About the Author
Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife. and Your ElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!

Happy Birthday, Rumi

Well, what can I say I am a lover of poetry and if you are familiar with Rumi and his poetry, then you understand completely. Thank you for your gift, Rumi, and here’s to loving you…Happy Birthday!!!

The name Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi stands for Love and ecstatic flight into the infinite. Rumi is one of the great spiritual masters and poetical geniuses of mankind and was the founder of the Mawlawi Sufi order, a leading mystical brotherhood of Islam. Rumi was born in Wakhsh (Tajikistan) under the administration of Balkh on 30 September 1207 to a family of learned theologians



Escaping the Mongol invasion and destruction, Rumi and his family traveled extensively in the Muslim lands, performed pilgrimage to Mecca and finally settled in Konya, Anatolia, then and part of Seljuk Empire. When his father Bahaduddin Valad passed away, Rumi succeeded his father in 1231 as professor in religious sciences. His love and his bereavement for the death of Shams found their expression in a surge of music, dance and lyric poems. Rumi is the author of six volumes didactic epic work.



If there is any general idea underlying Rumi's poetry, it is the absolute love of God.

Are you searching for your soul?
Then come out of your prison.
Leave the stream and join the river that flows into the ocean.
Absorbed in this world you've made it your burden.
Rise above this world.
There is another vision..." - Rumi

About the Author:
Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife. and Your ElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams! 

What Thoughts Create Your Reality ?

So, what are your beliefs and perceptions and what is true for you? The point of examining “our reality” is to suggest that it is necessary to have an understanding and to accept the responsibility for creating our “reality” or life experiences. In order to have a clear path and to see where we are going we must be able and take the time to examine exactly where we are in our thought practices. There was a time in my life when I thought I was doing everything that I could possibly do to create happiness and peace of mind but the “reality” was that nothing was working. I was unaware of how powerful my thoughts were and I was certainly unaware of the thoughts I was entertaining. I read a book that lead me to take inventory of what thoughts I was holding and I was astonished as I had always thought of myself as being a positive thinking person. Well, I can attest to this…after reading the book and taking my inventory…I changed my thoughts and behaviors, which lead to a dramatic change in my life experience, which ultimately lead me to share these words with you. I no longer play the negative games of futuristic “what-ifs” nor do I engage in the negative games of past choices like “I should have”. I only entertain in my mind what I want to create and yes, it takes practice, but trust me when I say, it’s worth it!!

If your life is full of happiness and fulfilling and is everything that your heart desires then this will simply be an affirmation for you. On the other hand, if your life is full of worry, agony, heartache, nervous anticipation, sorrow or regret, then becoming aware of what thoughts you are holding has the potential to help you re-create your life experience. If we practice a lifestyle that is positive thought and action laced with loving energy, compassion, empathetic understanding, and kindness in each and every action then our reality will reflect the same. We create where we are and who we are by what we think. We can laugh or we can cry. We can enjoy ourselves or we can be miserable. Only you make the choices of the thoughts that your mind entertains.

Now that we know that we create the world around us by our thoughts and beliefs, and our perceptions of events and we know that we have the ability and the power to improve on our experiences, understand that it is simply a matter of choice. When we create new thoughts or different perceptions we have the ability to peacefully and perfectly change our life experiences. If we wish a peaceful life experience we must perceive truth and speak it. We must be aware of our thoughts and if our thoughts are not ones that include our heart’s desire, simply refuse those thoughts. You are the one and only one in control of your thoughts so take responsibility and be aware that you can change what you are thinking. If you accept this concept then you cannot blame anyone else for the results produced by your thoughts. At any moment you can choose to create a different reality for you by simply being aware and making choices. We make choices all day every day and it appears that for some it’s easier to blame someone else for our perception of well being and happiness. Only you have the power to create your thoughts and if you are not happy and your life is not what you want, it’s because of the thoughts you hold. Change the thoughts that you are holding and your life experience will change. The “reality” is this…it’s not someone else, it’s you…it’s not where they are, it’s right here, right now with you…it’s not back then or in the future, it’s NOW.

If our ultimate objective is to discover our true Self then that discovery requires that we know what we are thinking. If we can accept that, then we are able to live our lives fully and that can be a liberating and an empowering experience. Our minds are the most powerful tool that we possess. Anything we desire is ours for the “thinking.” We must believe it is possible to exert power over our own thoughts and we must learn to control our thoughts in order to control our experiences or conditions. With clarity of our thoughts, visions and beliefs, we can turn our thoughts into our desired “reality.” When we have desires we can be specific, we can visualize our desires, we can believe that our desires can become our reality, and finally we can take action. Making positive, conscious choices regarding our reality and the thoughts we hold is truly the key to creating balance and harmony in our “reality”. Take the time to really find out what the 650,000 daily thoughts that you are thinking are all about? You may be surprised and I will guarantee you that once you take your thought inventory, you will make some “thinking changes”!!

About the Author:
Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife. and Your ElevatedLife Radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!

Love Is The Tool

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue in my love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you" JC

Love is what all of us really want and are looking for. Love is the answer regardless of the question. When we are involved with Love we cannot participate in hate or war or worry or greed or anger or hurtful gossip and negative verbiage or discontent of any kind. A Spirit focused in Love, is void of all discontent, it simply does not exist. For those of us who have children, there are times when perhaps we may disagree with their choices but their choices do not equate to a denial of our Love. We will always have Love for our children regardless of what they may do and that is the practice of Unconditional Love. It would be a wonderful thing if we, as a society, could really understand and believe in the benefits of unconditional loving to the extent that we become able to extend the practice beyond our children to encompass everyone we come in contact with. In an excerpt from her book, The Hidden Power of the Heart, Sara Paddison eloquently says of Love: “As you sincerely go for deeper levels of love, the results you'll have in well being and increased quality of life will motivate you, leading you to a wider dimensional awareness. The results are so rewarding you can easily develop a passion for self-management. As you continue to send out love, the energy returns to you in a regenerating spiral... As love accumulates, it keeps your system in balance and harmony. Love is the tool, and more love is the end product.”

Is it possible to give or receive too much Love? When have you ever had an experience of someone loving you or you loving someone else unconditionally and you said, “Oh, that’s too much…please stop loving me or that's too much love...I can't give anymore!!” The only true value in life is Love. Everything else pales in comparison. Being present in the Love exchange is the greatest choice we can make. All things are possible with Love. When we truly Love one another, spiritual things happen to us. Our awareness is profoundly awakened by the essence of Love and we are elevated emotionally and spiritually. When we practice unconditional loving and loving-kindness, whatever your issue is, if you approach it with Love, it will slowly dissipate and before you know it, it’s gone.

Love is the core and the true essence of who each of us really are. The deeper the Love, the more profound the Peace and the more Elevated we become, which is really “The Heart of the Matter.” If Love is the tool, and it is, and more Love is the end product, which it is, then sharing Love with all persons as a society will be the beginning of peace in our Nation and beyond. We can choose to extend loving kindness to someone every day and maybe, just maybe, that someone will pass it on and the world will change into a better place for everyone. Loving-kindness comes in many forms and it is easy to engage so just find the form that is you. The time is now and the place is where ever you are and it is with you that the practice must begin. Present someone with an offer to help with whatever or give someone your heartfelt encouragement or feed someone that is hungry as there are thousands who are in need or volunteer to help a child in need as the numbers are overwhelming.  The children could truly benefit greatly from your loving-kindness and please remember that the children did not orchestrate their circumstance so please consider reaching out to them. Start today and share your Love. We are rewarded beyond anything that we could possibly imagine when we practice Love. Nothing in this world is more important than Loving. For those who believe and practice Love and Loving-Kindness, your ability to give Love is your greatest gift. Not everyone has had a positive experience of being Loved, so to those of us who are capable of giving Love, may we provide Loving energy to all of those we meet…beginning today.


About the Author:
Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an Amateur Photographer. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife.com and the Your Elevatedlife radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!

The Silence

One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the kingdom of God begin? Jesus replied, “ The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs. You won’t be able to say, It has begun here in this place or there in that part of the country. For the Kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21 KJV

I started my day very early in the morning by going to the beach. I love the beach and I go there often. The beach is my paradise. My favorite thing to do at the beach is stand where the waves meet the sand and experience the shifting under my feet as the tide moves the sand slowly back into the ocean. I love to feel that energy. It’s like a sweet touch directly from God in that it is powerful yet gentle and loving.

On this particular day, I was sitting in my beach chair just enjoying the beautiful day and I began to meditate like I had done so many times before. I was listening to the rhythm of the waves when so subtly I became acutely aware of the Silence between the waves. My mind was still and quiet and in the Silence, I felt the ocean in a way that words could never describe. I had been to the beach hundreds of times and had meditated often, but on this day the Silence and my spirit became one in a way that captured my heart and loved my soul. In this Silence between the waves, rests complete calm and serenity. Some call it bliss. I felt the unmistakable essence of spirit or connectedness; an inner sense that I was not a random, isolated creature but part of something sacred and infinitely larger than myself. I discovered my heart’s desire in the form of power, substance, and strength and in that present moment, I gained a clear understanding that God’s blessings are abundant and with me everywhere all of the time. Contact with the center of peace, the Silence, within me became the catalyst for my clear and precise understanding of God’s love for all humankind. The Silence was my elevator of understanding. My perception changed instantly that day and my awareness has continued to grow. The experience of finding God in the Silence that day has become my daily experience of finding God everywhere and in everything. Once I felt the “Presence” in the Silence, and understand clearly…it is felt… my heart’s desire was and is to continue to seek the Silence and just “Be” what I was created to be. Deepak Chopra said that each of us is here to discover our true Self and that essentially we are spiritual beings who have taken manifestation in physical form. We are not human beings that have occasional spiritual experiences…we are spiritual beings that have occasional human experiences.

I encourage everyone to take the time to find the Silence. We are the same in that we all have the potential to connect with the Silence. In the Silence there is a love that cannot be denied and an energy that, once felt, is longed for. This love experience that can happen in an instant changes lives and is the driving force that leads to the recognition of God’s Omnipresence.

About the Author:
Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an Amateur Photographer. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of YourElevatedLife.com and the Your Elevatedlife radio Show. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!

Compassion’s Embrace

My brother, Jay, had a beautiful experience recently while involved with Volunteerism for Humanity through his company. Each team could choose how they wanted to volunteer so Jay and his team decided that they would assist the homeless population via an organization called Compassion Today. This organization feeds over a hundred people each and every day and in addition, they also offer a clothing room where anyone who comes to have a meal can also gather five items from the clothing room.

Jay and his team did serve food with a smile and a tenderness of heart as they reached out to the many people in need of food and assistance. Later in the process, Jay became aware that the items of clothing that were offered did not meet the needs of the people. There weren’t very many clothes to begin with and what was there was not sufficient to help in the hot summer weather. There were no t-shirts or shorts or any summer clothing at all. Jay lives in an area where the temperature during summer can reach 100 degrees or better daily.

At the end of the day, Jay was in his closet gathering anything and everything “summerish” he could get his hands on and his team members were doing likewise. By the time he was finished he had completely filled the back of his SUV. The next day he called Brother Joe at Compassion Today to tell him they were bringing clothes and supplies. Brother Joe was very appreciative and said they were just discussing how the "plates and cups" cost was really eating up their budget with the high numbers they were feeding. Jay just smiled and told Brother Joe, “We have already purchased 700 plates and 2000 cups for you.” Jay considered the pre-purchase to be a direct intervention from God and I say that this is what happens when living yourelevatedlife.

When he was there unloading the clothing and supplies, he met a woman who shared her story with him. Jay said she was very upbeat and full of excitement yet humble beyond description as she related to him that she and her husband had both lost their jobs and were truly between a rock and a hard place and how grateful they were to have a place like Compassion Today to come to for help. This woman had a certain sweetness about her and a “life of the party-everything is going to be okay” attitude that was full of kindness and gratitude. She told Jay that she and her husband both had interviews for jobs and the future was looking bright. She related other personal details of her journey that tugged at Jay’s heart. In that precious moment, the Spirit of Jay’s mother came forward and the hearts of those present were graced with the unconditional loving kindness of God.

Service is the highest form of consciousness on our planet. Service is highly regarded in spiritual life because it diminishes our selfishness, allowing us to identify with others as members of one human family. We make the earth a more heavenly place through serving others. When we serve others, everyone becomes elevated. Maybe your “Service” will be a smile or nod or a kind word or deed. Hopefully, the day will come when all of us will choose to focus our thoughts daily on doing our part to “lift" a tired or weary heart. Thank you, Jay, for your beautiful heart and for your service and for all of you everywhere for serving others and elevating everyone.

”I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink'...Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:35-40

About the Author:
Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter, Motivator and Life Coach. I live at the beach with the love of my life (my husband) and work from home doing what I love most..Helping others live their Dreams!