Spiritual Reflection | Chicago, IL - up and out inspired word

Spiritual  Reflections  in  Chicago,  IL

Inspired  by  Faith

Spirituality can add a breath of fresh air to your life. Devote your time to spiritual reflection in Chicago, IL, for personal growth and spiritual development with guidance from Up and Out Inspired Word. We help you look inward and examine your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is a way to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your connection to the divine. Reflecting on spirituality helps us make positive changes in our lives. With this process, you will realize a new day and a new way with clarity.

Inspiration

“The light shines in darkness, but darkness has not understood it” (NIV John 1:5)
When we wake to the dawn of a new day, we want to feel refreshed, and renewed, and ready for a brighter and better day. If we had a difficult yesterday, we hope that we can put it to rest, and restore something within us. We want to have something to hope for, and we do not want to feel depressed, nor bogged down with despair, and unwelcome news. Even if we know that our forecast of the day will be cloudy, we hope for strength, and courage to endure these times. We try to travel light, and feel good, and we like to feel good about ourselves.  This is because we desire and aspire to exist and live in a world of peace and comfort, filled with goodness, and light.

You might say that inspiration is that light – that inner flame within us that never extinguishes itself.  We are not born to be children of darkness. We thrive from goodness, even if we are aware of it or not. Could this be why we like to see a smile on a child’s face, and a sparkle in their eyes, especially, near Christmas, when they receive a special gift? Could this be why, we celebrate special occasions, like weddings, birthdays, christenings, and anniversaries? Etc...   
If there was a blackout, the first thing we would seek is light, and when there is a spiritual blackout in our lives, the first thing we do is seek hope. Hope comes from those special sources of energy that God has transplanted in us. Light is a source of energy- it is our light of day; it is our life that want give in, and want give up, and want say no; it helps gives us thoughts and dreams, and possibilities to faith; Inspiration is of God, and we therefore, have the gumption to dream, and to envision.  
Even in the darkness hours, and our weakness moments, our light gives us the ability, and the wonder, and the Godliness, to withstand Darkness, with Faith, Endurance, and Understanding.
Inspiration  -  the flame, you might say is God’s wonder to life. It gives life to life. We all have transportation, and we all have our own car, and when needed, we are transported to where we need to go, to meet and achieve ourselves, so we can become, and to be us, by the One Who Inflames us.
Rev. Darlene Crenshaw

Meditation 1

A Special Request

The events and circumstances surrounding the death of Jesus were brutal.  Some would think that Jesus is the main character of this story and we had nothing to do with what occurred. How could we?   We weren’t even conceived yet.  The need for Jesus was present during the fall of man and woman – the need for restoration and redemption could only be given by the Savior, the Redeemer.  The outcome became apparent at the cross in the midst of His pain of suffering, He felt so much for us and understood and pitted the despair of our nonsense and our violence as it was being inflicted. Some delighted in it as if it was a scene from a love story.  Humanity was at its lowest.  Collective consciousness was not at its best, was at an all-time low.  At His moment of suffering, we became quite lost.

His Prayer, His Request was not for Himself, but for us when we lose our way and succumb to our lower self.  It was the same then as it is today.  It has collected no cob webs, and has no one name attached to it, and is always active. It reminds me of times when my parents just looked at me intently and didn’t utter a word when I knew I was wrong.  The look was piercing but still had intended words.

 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  (Luke 23 2:34 – NIV) 

Could it be that in His love for us, He not only saw our brokenness, but He saw our greatness, and perhaps He saw our joy, our life, our laughter and He could see the beauty in us and the remorsefulness when we stray and he could hear our prayers and our praises and our laughter when we show delight.
When we look in the mirror, we don’t always look like a Mother, a Father, or siblings, but we resemble our Lord and our Savior first.So when we look at others, though at times we must look well beyond the self, to really see, we do not see unless we see the God within.   In seeing and knowing the God in others, we seek to be kind and loving and always ‘behold the Christ.’ 
Prayer:
Thank you Father for giving me eyes to see the spirit in others and allow me to realize the greatness and potential in others, as I do for myself. Allow me never to take others life for granted and value their time, kind deeds, thoughts and words.  How can I ask you to bless me, if I cannot do the same for them?  So to all of my relatives, born and unborn, seen and unseen, I thank You Father for all of what, and all of who you have blessed the universe with.   Allow us to remain humble, grow in wisdom and bask in the warmth of your spirit.        And So It Is.

Affirmation:
To realize the greatness in my self is to respect the Creator, creation and others.  It is in showing respect there is understanding of life for this is when life has a flow.  It is this spirit that I bless life and when I bless life, I do not violate it as understanding allows me to see the many blankets the vision that we all share.  

Meditation 3

How Can This Be?

Listening is not always easy.  Our minds are filled with clutter and often it is difficult to put things aside and quite them.  It’s even more difficult to receive an answer supernaturally because our conscious mind seeks reasoning and we question things that seem out of the ordinary. 
Listening is a priority because it transforms reasoning to a more transcendental state of mind.  Questions often supersede our being and our mission in life until we surrender and allow that which ‘is’ – ‘to be’.
Listening becomes difficult because when quiet our mind we are to a submissive to a higher voice.  We can be like Zacharias, who stood in the presence of the angel Gabriel, sent by God, as a messenger, (Luke 1:18 – 20).  He heard what was being said, but his continuous questions became an indication that he did not listen to what was being said,  There are limits even with questions – listening becomes introspective.  It’s like drawing water from the well of our own minds, our own thoughts, our own decisions and when the answer comes and the will of our direction of life is made plain, we don’t draw from faith, but we resort to our consciousness and our egos and question the voice, until sometimes it is silenced or drowned by the water of our own well.
Zacharias had a divine intercession whereby he could have rejoiced and expressed gratitude, but instead he was filled with questions.  As a result he could not spread the good news because he was left speechless until the birth of his son, John the Baptist.
How often are we unable to give birth to life when we do not listen, we do not heard the divine within us – and in so doing we lose the light, the water of our own life and are silence until we learn to listen and hear.
Prayer:Loving God, we ask that you grant us the humility and we need to learn to listen to You, and the Angels of the past and present, regardless of age or regardless who You have placed in our lives.  Though what You say may seem different and out of tune with my life, let me realize, that the Universe is large and is filled with changes and that as God, You are not confined to a box, but a supernatural wonder out of a box, and for this I am grateful.   And So It Is.
Affirmation:
I hear with my inner ear and listen to the Divine.  I release myself from myself and then am allowed to see with my third eye.  I listen, I hear, and I see.   And So It Is.
Written By:  Rev. Darlene

Meditation 5

The Voice of The Ego

The way we respond to the voice of God determines how we express our ego.  When one surrenders without question it reflects a great deal of trust and humility as we relinquish the ‘I’ of self and respond to our inner being – our inner self.  It can be quite an experience filled with question and with doubt and promise.  The ego can be invasive of the spiritual self, thus creating conflict whereby we shot bows and arrows with our thoughts.  The voice that speaks to us can be easily dismissed when we assume to drive a car without permission.
Doing is not always a matter of question, but it is an acknowledgment of purpose of a will.  Is God’s will separate from ours or is it the same?  Can we always see it and can we always understand it?  Can this be why faith and trust will provide vision and reliability?  As small children, we cannot always see the way but must learn to rely on our caretakers.  Sometimes things we must do, we don’t want to do, and they may not make sense.   When we reside in our ego, we can only see what ego only allows us to see and believe. We can become self -righteous and lack understanding.
Could this be what happened to Jonah, (Jonah 4:1-9), who was resistant to a mission?  He refused to use his gift and seemed to forget who was really in charge.  Can ego be a tool of deception?  His underlying thought could easily be conceived as, “‘Lord, you are not going to do anything to these wicked people.  You will only make me seem like a wimp.   I will be embarrassed.  I don’t even like them.  Why should I waste my time?  As far as I am concerned, they deserve what they get.”
How can we think clearly when we only hear our voice?  How can we clearly think when we lack objectivity?  Can it be possible that sometimes we elevate ourselves, our feeling, our will and treat God as a second class citizen?  Purpose becomes secondary.
God being God and in His mercy never leaves us as we do Him, but through His love confronts and restores us to ourselves and thus provides renewed purpose.
Prayer:
Almighty God, I am blessed to be called to serve.  Help me to realize I am never more important than the task you have called me to do. You are the Most Important and the root and the provider of purpose.  Before I stumble over myself, allow me to see You first and understand You are an equitable Master to all.  Humble my spirit to know that I am blessed to be called to serve.  Thank-youAnd So It Is
Affirmation:
When I think I am above circumstances and the voice of God, then I know that I have become small in myself and have diminished my vision and reside in ego, but when I realize the Greatest and Goodness of You – My eyes are open to life and I can see reality.And So It Is
Written By:  Rev. Darlene

Meditation 6

Be Still

	Days are never long enough, the sun never shines bright enough, nights are never short enough, and the morning never comes soon enough. We toss and turn in the fog of our spirits, though it be day or night, and try with no resolve to rid ourselves of the spoils of yesterday, for a refreshing day, yet the residue is still outstanding.

	We pray, and seek guidance from others, and put forth our best actions, as we do our best deeds to overcome our lower self. We try to follow the most directed path of life, only to find that that we are lost in a strange and unexplainable snare of life. We are lost. We are helpless, and we wonder what prescription will resolve this dilemma.

	There is always some type of crisis; there is always some type of situation; there is always a need, and there is foremost, a pain that cuts deep within, as we long for answers, and search for help, which seems far out of our realm.  Who can understand?  Who will understand?  Mercy and Grace are friends that we need.  It is at this time, we may try to be calm, although we are pressed for time, and lost in despair, but there is nothing left to do.  We do what we can for the sake of our own sanity.

	We shed our last tear, sing our last song, pray our last prayer, seek our last advice, and stress our last stressor.   We decided to drop the ball, and let it go.  We just let it go, m God”) and decide to close our eyes, and rely on a Friend, who tells us (“Be still and know that I am God”  Psalms 46:10)

	These words of the Lord are power packed.  It is the perfect antidote for the casualties of life which we confront, as we move through the battles of our lives.  God gently informs us who is really in control.  It’s His way of calling understanding and compassion, and love to our trails.  Do not worry, and don’t doubt, know who I am, and know I Am.  I will see you through sleepless nights, your worries, your grief, your pain, and your heartaches.

                 Yes, I have this in the palm of my Hands.			Be Still            Rest			Be Still            Know			Be Still	I Am God			Be Stil           I Am Exalted in blessing You.                        Be Still   Know     I AM    God.                       (God In you amplified - be still)

Rev. Darlene Crenshaw

My Guiding Light

Despite disappointments, and the dimming lights,and despite riveting challenges that break hearts,  depletes spirits, and rips to the depths of souls, there is hope, a voice of joy, faith that wins, a thought which fuels sight, Now, I know.Inspiration planted within, like bulbs in a garden, sprouts in me now, ready to grow.  I I seek God’s light , and  Guiding Hand
When all that is, and ever was, seems ready for a grave of unfulfilled promises – lost, forgotten,discarded and over-shadowed by darkness a light still shines, flickers, around, like a watchman standing guard in night, andabout, lodging my thoughts with inspiration, to get past lost, and walk past doors of anxiety,doubt, and depression, to see new Vision,and say, Yes to Light , and Yes to Life
Inspiration saddled therein, rides into my life, life a knight mounted upon a white horse, opening doors, revitalizing my being, inviting, new possibilities, andrevealing new thoughts, new visions in my life.I dare yet to dream, I move far beyond my own hope.Oh my God! – My Inspiration! – My Guiding Light!
Darlene Crenshaw

My Car

A young man had a car designed for himself.  It was the car of his dreams and he was anxious to drive it.   For months, he could see himself behind the wheels, and was elated about his special arrival.  He sat in the car and inspected it, as he looked at the hand- made wood grain interior, and the elaborate sound system.  He couldn’t wait to start the car thinking about how it would sound, but when he put his key in the ignition, it did not start.  He tried again, but it still did not start.  He sat and prayed, tried again, but it still did not start.  He was bewildered and helpless, and did not know what to do.  He felt alone, and helpless, and breathed deeply, as he wished for help.

 In the midst of his silent thoughts, when he looked up, he noticed someone. They walked towards his car.  In his moment of relief, he hoped they could help, but as circumstances had proven, he did not what they could do. He tried already, and gave it his best effort, and knew anything else, was nothing more than a hopeless wish. The person approached the car window, looked at him, and smiled, as she opened her hand to receive the key, and said, “Allow me.”  She sat down, and put the key in the ignition, and the car started, and she drove him to his destination, and back.  They tested the car again, and again, and it worked just fine.  

They became the best of friends, and she drove him again, and again.  He enjoyed her driving was content with being a passenger, and justified his role, as still enjoying his car. He asked no questions, and grew in the realization of what he knew, and understood, that she was a human angel here on earth.  When in his hours of despair, she never judged him, but understood his self-worth, and helped him to become strong and confident in himself.  He now realized his uncertainties with the spirit of God, and found self-reliance. 

One day, he sat behind the wheel, and she approached the car, and before she could say a word, he told her, “You sit on the other side, and this time, allow me to drive you.”
Rev. Darlene McDowell-Crenshaw

Meditation 2

How Can I Say Thanks?

How can one say thanks?  Sometimes this question is difficult to articulate.  It is not always translated into words but needs a fulfillment of actions.  It’s an expression that comes from the soul.  “Thank-you” – these words can be felt from the heart to a heart, but goes much further than that.  The need to even say thank-you arises from a need that generates gratitude that at times can fill our cup so that we came become speechless and overwhelmed.
The story of the ten lepers (Luke 12: 11-18, NIV) observed Jesus from a distance asked Him in a loud voice to heal them.  Jesus did and told them to go and show themselves to the priests.   They did as told, but one leaper realized something.  Perhaps, for him, it was a matter of common courtesy or just common sense.  When he saw he was healed, perhaps revelation befell him.  He had to go back and personally say Thanks.  Maybe this man had more to think about.  He was a Samaritan and wasn’t considered of equal status by society.  What difference did it make if he had leprosy? He, however, was healed and Jesus did not care who he was. His condition gave him equality and his healing gave him freedom.  He was grateful. His need was met.  Jesus did not have to do this.  He no longer had to hide out.  He could return to his world unmarked as a leaper.  Jesus made him whole.  A load was lifted.  Darkness was light.  His words had to be more than words.  They demanded the energy of life.
We can say thank-you on a daily by taking nothing or no one for granted.  Even as we live, we must reach a point of realization that we cannot live alone; people in our lives serve a purpose, even when we think they are our enemies.   They are placed in our lives to help lead us and guide us regardless of our agreements or disagreements.  
The Universe is always active and always giving.  When our days seem deem we will grow from them.  This is why we say thanks.  We are thankful because whatever there is because that which is can change.

Prayer:
Almighty Creator, we say thanks not because everything is perfect in our lives, but we do so because we are able to realize and dissect spiritually our ups and downs, our ins and outs and how things could be so much worse.  Sometimes, we did nothing to deserve what we received, but your blessings of people, places, things, and amazing grace made such a difference.  What can we say but Thanks?  We ask that we learn to reciprocate our horn of plenty to the Universe with, out stretched arms and a non-judgmental heart.  Teach us to be more loving, kinder and more understanding and more trusting of our universal siblings.     And So It IS

Affirmation:
We say thanks through our actions and allow the words to become secondary to our thoughts and deeds, knowing that God is always our Supreme and Transcendent Source of all who is and all that is and ever will be.      And So It Is
Written By:  Rev. Darlene

Meditation 4

What About The Truth?

It’s pleasant to be flattered, especially compliments about our character, our looks or anything that places us at the center of it. We can feel good, regardless if we are the giver or receiver.  Words may be used as lip service to keep waters at bay to disguise lies. In reality, truth is in the depth of these waters and lies are on the surface.  Deception can be an act of talking with the use of eloquent words that seem convincing, but yet mean so little.
A delayed truth is only avoidance of the obvious to address apparent reality, blocking confrontation of reality and eradicating it, creating thorns of denial.  It may take courage to be truthful and other times we must stand along in truth and be mindful of the presentation.
Truth is inevitable as the air we breathe and not a bed of nails awaiting someone’s demise.  Truth and freedom are dancing partners – in life they are always in concert – freedom cannot exist without truth.  No matter how difficult truth is, the core is still a sweet necessity.  Could this be why God told Ezekiel to eat the scroll (Ezekiel 3: 1-4) - the words of truth preparing him to prophesy to the fallen Israelites? God knew who this prophet had to confront.  They wanted their way and did not want to change.  Truth was an unwelcome change, compromise and conformity of their lifestyle.
Ezekiel had to eat the truth, learn the truth and know the truth and digest the truth before he could deliver it to his subjects.  Truth is not a punitive.  Our perception to direction and the execution of our own misguided will punishes us.  Without truth we invade the light of ourselves with darkness.  Truth is God’s way of lifting us up and delivering us from ignorance to a higher consciousness.  It’s God’s way of giving us insight and revelation that becomes crucial to decisions we must make and challenges we must confront.  It provides the faith and the courage we need to cross the rivers of life without drowning.  Without truth, where is the preparation of life and where is the scroll?
Prayer:
Almighty and Loving God, it is so easy to want to hear, what we want to hear, because ego is such a hunger mind, but in the midst of this we relinquish our thoughts and our will to be true, live truth and seek truth, so that you can shape and mold our lives to see clearly and  be profound as your surrendered servant.   And So It Is
Affirmation:
Truth grooms me for life, consequences and circumstances and results.  As I live and reside the truth of the universe would have it, there is no need to be apologetic – for truth – as is – stands along as it is.   And So It Is
Written By:  Rev. Darlene

Lead Me Lord

(Prayer)

	Lead me Lord from darkness to light, and stroll into my spirit as if to walk through the corridor of my life.  Lead me like an eagle that can fly as high as it can go, above every mountain touching the skies, with out -stretched majestic wings.

	Hold me lovingly, while close to your chest, as never before, and let me become reassured in life, and grounded in my faith.  Ease my mind, and allow me to smile , and appreciate the wonders of life – Your creations.

	Help me to soar with all the breath, and the strength that I have, and be renewed in my anointing, to new avenues, and new ventures, and new plights in this life.  Lead me Lord, and let me soar from the depths of my own despair, and be in unity with You, and be wedded in vows renewed.

	Lead Me Lord, and allow me but once to have, but a small portion of Your sight, and see as You; Open my eyes, and steer my thoughts, and refresh my heart to the prelude of extraordinary possibilities, and miracles too, without doubt.

	Let me stand firm in honor, and in truth of my spirit, even when the seas of tremors rage upon me,  in retaliation of evil, and  when evil smiles and backlashes against me, Lord Lead Me, and allow me to rise even higher as I soar..

	Lead me Lord, and glide me through the storms of myself, and should my ego seek compromise, and comfort, and yield in error to the forces, so magnanimous that can nimble the flesh, take my hand, and glide me though the storm.  Be with me - side by side.Lead me Lord, and help me to awake to Your greatness, Your goodness, then realize myself – how small I am, and how Great You Are. I ask that You, in my daily life, and affairs, that You mount me upon Your wings, and encapsulate my spirit, and allow me

To See, and to Be, Me. GraciouslybeMy Eagle    My Life.   My God, My GuideAmen.

Rev. Darlene Crenshaw

Spiritual Reflections in Chicago, IL

Inspired by Faith

The Power of Reflection

Inspired by Thought

The Power of Prayers

Inspired by Spirit

Inspiration

Meditation 1

A Special Request

Meditation 3

How Can This Be?

Meditation 5

The Voice of The Ego

Meditation 6

Be Still

My Guiding Light

My Car

Meditation 2

How Can I Say Thanks?

Meditation 4

What About The Truth?

Lead Me Lord

(Prayer)

Up and Out Inspired Word