art – Joy Abundantly Expressing

Back from China Trip

November 19, 2019 dinahsings

Well, here it is…the heart of autumn. I typically like to send a happy birthday greeting on the first of the month, but this time I was in China during the first part of November. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY November folks, and happy belated birthday if I missed yours this month.
I waited and saved up a whole year for this vacation. It has been about three years since I had a real vacation (in 2013). I finally did something outside of my comfort zone. More later on my travels. Fear can sometimes stop us from seeing the world, but I was determined to go and I’m so glad I did. Special thanks to our tour leader, Rev. Mary Anne Harris of Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’ve been with her on trip to Italy, Spain, and Portugal so far and they are always well organized by the company she engages to do all the booking and planning. Her website is Harris House Studios if you would like to see more photos. I’ll post more later. If you are not already on my mailing list, join to see the updates that are coming.

The Thanksgiving season is upon us! It’s a tradition that should last the whole year, in my opinion. Nevertheless, I am grateful for another season for expressing even more gratitude. I am particularly grateful for all the good that is going on in the world, even when it feels like it isn’t. I say let’s look for all the blessings in our lives and be extra, extra grateful. Even if you are grateful, see if you can top that. If you are into making gratitude lists, see if you can DOUBLE or TRIPLE it. Then watch and see what blessings get multiplied in your life. Staying in the zone of gratitude turns the tide, every time.

Wishing you all the soul-enriching warmth, fulfillment, and abundant blessings that the transformative power of God’s love can bring!

JOY and Love aways,
Rev. Dinah

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Reclaiming Your Joy

May 14, 2019 dinahsings

Sometimes we can get bogged down in life. We drift, we can get stagnant, and we can sometimes feel no sense of direction or purpose. I have come up with these reminders to help me reclaim my joy. I’ve used them over and over. This is not an exhaustive list, but it’s a great start! In the book, The Revealing Word, it says that joy is “the happiness of God expressed through its perfect idea in [humankind]…and that joy and gladness are strength-giving.” Wow, did you know that joy and gladness can give you strength? (Nehemiah 8:10)

Joy is more than a fleeting moment of happiness. For me, it is more like an underground reservoir that shoots up warm springs of living waters in my soul whenever I need them. True joy arises from within as we focus on all the good that is in our lives and the Source of our good.

When you claim and reclaim your joy, it does not mean you are not compassionate with others or that you don’t notice the challenges of life that are going on around us or in our world. We are not side-stepping anything. But with joy, you will have the strength and energy to be up for the tasks that lie before you.

So here are some of the tips I use for reclaiming my joy all the time and help me keep it stirred up!

Stir up love, and you’ll stir up joy. Joy stems from divine love, unconditional love, the God-kind of love (agape love). I call it loving “just because.” Boost up your love with kind thoughts, words, and deeds, and walk in the wisdom of divine love and you will find your joy meter rising. When you feel your joy is at a low point, consider how are you doing in the area of expressing and manifesting unconditional, inclusive, non-judgmental love…to everyone! Stir up love, and let joy rise! “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35 NRSV
Praise is the language of joy. Whatever we praise, bless, or magnify grows! Gratitude and thanksgiving multiplies, germinates, and fertilizes everything in our lives and affairs. We can express our appreciation and gratitude to those around us each day. In prayer, we can give thanks. With a heart full of thanks, joy automatically rises. “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” – Psalm 34:1
Prayer, Meditation, and Contemplation fills up our reservoir of joy. When we consciously commune with the Divine and tap into the Presence, we are continually filling ourselves up with joy. Allow yourself to get still and go into the Silence…and be filled with the spirit of joy. “You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore” – Psalm 16:11 NRSV
Set your mind on God’s good. Think on all the good that God is unveiling and expressing in your life and all around you and joy will rise in your heart. “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8 NRSV
Go and do good for others. Find a way to serve joyfully in community, in your spiritual community, at your school, in your neighborhood, or globally. Selfless service without thinking about reward and benefit can open up your heart to more love and joy. Your giving becomes the gift, and the joy of giving is its own reward. “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.” -Galatians 6:10 NRSV
Play, engage in creative fun. Go dancing, …yes, dance! wave your arms in the air, like you just don’t care! Play music. Go to an art festival, a museum, or do some art! Go sailing, go to a play or a concert, and find a way to get in a good belly laugh (not at others, of course, but with others). Proverbs tells us “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance.” (15:13); “but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” (15:15); and “A merry heart does good like a medicine.” (17:13).
Find your tribe. Find and share your joy in a community that is inclusive, accepting, loving, non-judgmental, uplifting of one another, and supportive of you finding your spiritual highest good. It may not be a traditional brick and mortar church. It can also be some collective group that enhances the individuals involved with it. “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-26 NRSV

Add a SPLASH of JOY to everything you do this week! Share more JOY tips with us online at: Facebook Page and Discussion Group and like our Page.

Blessings & love,

Rev. Dinah

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CD Kick-Off! “Rivers of Living Waters” Ready to Launch

July 24, 2011 dinahsings

dinahchapman_CD — "Evening Gown" © 2005 by Jenny Hahn

As I prepare to launch my new CD at the SOUND CONNECTIONS Music Conference, the excitement is building, and I’ve had some time to reflect on the past 10 months of recording this CD. This week, I will begin blogging about each song to tell you the “back story” on each one. It’s truly been an amazing journey. There’s one thing I’ve learned, and that’s when you tell God “yes,” strap in and be ready for the ride! You’d better mean it when you say yes and be ready to surrender to the good that is coming your way.

I’ve heard so many people say, “Dinah, you’re so busy.” They can’t understand how I work a full-time, demanding, high-stress job, prepare to go into ministry as a licensed teacher in my church, and record my CD. I cannot quite fathom it all just yet either! But if any of you have ever had a burning passion for something, you might be able to understand it. Singing is in my DNA. I was raised in a musical family. And the messages in my songs all reflect some aspect of my life and my spiritual journey. It is often overwhelming when I contemplate the infinite love that God is! Opening myself up to allow it to unfold and express as abundant GOOD in my life is an ongoing constant daily practice that I intend to continue. I am fed, nourished, sustained, and fulfilled by the grace of God. Grace fills me up and my cup runneth over!

The river of life eternally flows, and I am so grateful for the decision I made a long time ago to let it flow in me and flow out into a world so thirsty for this living water. YOU have something…we all have something to share with the world that is unique and rare…. and only you can bring it! There is NO ONE like you. So, let us all allow the RADIANT love of God shine through us so that we can lift and inspire the world to a greater purpose.

I want to thank Jenny Hahn (www.jenspaintings.com) for letting her light shine through to the world as beautiful art. Over a year ago, when I first saw her painting, “Evening Gown,” I was awestruck. I just had to have this painting. Then later I decided to use it as my CD cover (long before the CD was even half-way completed). Little did I know it would connect to a song that I hadn’t even written yet. That’s another story, another blog, for another day. So stay tuned for my series over the next couple of weeks as I share the stories behind each song!

Have a blessed and glorious week!

Love,

Dinah