January 1, 2009
Happy Now Year, Friends!
Yes, you read that right. I wrote Happy "Now" Year instead of Happy "New" Year. It’s not a typo. It's just my way of reminding you about the important part that the present moment plays in the manifestation process.
Remember that fulfilling your heart’s desires effortlessly depends upon your ability to recognize and follow divine guidance. But that guidance only comes to you in “the now.”
That doesn't mean that you should refrain from visualizing and affirming what you want to have, do, or be in the coming year. It just means that it is not productive for you to keep your attention continually focused there. And focusing continually on your desires is not even necessary. I have had many manifestations occur in my life after thinking about a desire for only one short moment, and then never giving it another thought.
The challenge is not making sure that this intelligent universe we live in “hears” you. The universe has great “ears,” and it hears you the first time. The challenge is making sure that you are completely open and receptive to the response that you will invariably receive. And since that response always occurs in the present, you must always keep your awareness centered in the now moment so you are able to see, hear, or sense that response.
To live life in the divine flow, you must let go of your reflections on the past and your projections into the future, so you can recognize and go through the doors that are being divinely opened for you right here, and right now.
And above all, always remember that you never have to fulfill a desire to be happy; you never have to accomplish a goal to be happy; and you never have to realize a dream to be happy. Remember that real happiness—true, long-lasting happiness—only comes from accepting and appreciating the now moment for whatever it is offering you . . . and from opening up your heart and being the love that you are in that moment. That, my friends, is the real key to having a happy new year.
So, here’s to the Here and Now!
Here’s to the Year and Now!
Happy Now Year, my friends!
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Saturday, December 27, 2008
A Heartfelt Thanks
December 28, 2008
Dear Friends,
As 2008 draws to a close, I would like to end this year with an expression of gratitude . . . and a small gift.
First, I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who have emailed me with your kind comments over the past 12 months. I am thrilled that my weekly messages continue to be a source of inspiration for you, and that you took the time to tell me so.
Also, I want to offer a special thank you to everyone who has supported this labor of love with your donations and tithes. I am honored that many of you consider my work to be a true ministry—a cherished source of spiritual nourishment. It is your generous gifts and offerings that make this ongoing endeavor possible.
And now for my gift to you: As many of you know, I have been teaching the principles for living life in the divine flow since 1995. In 1998—a good three years before I began to write my book—I wrote a lyrical poem about the divine flow that I titled, “River of Life.”
Even though ten years have passed since then, I have never publicly published or posted this poem anywhere. As a small token of my appreciation, I offer it to you today as a bookmark that you can download and print out.
Naturally, this bookmark will work much better if you are able to print it out on heavyweight stock. And it will look much better if you use a photo-quality print setting.
To view and download your bookmark now, simply click on this link: www.rowrowrow.com/Bookmark.pdf.
If your computer cannot open a PDF file, you will also find my poem below.
Again, friends, I greatly appreciate your loving and enthusiastic support of my work. I am touched. I am blessed. And I look forward to serving you equally well in 2009.
Gratefully,
Steven
RIVER OF LIFE
Traveling down,
Turning corners round,
You're rowing down the river of life.
Gliding along,
Hear the river’s song,
You're rowing down the river of life.
Let go and feel the flow.
Make your plans, then let them go.
What you want is round the bend.
Use your oars, but let God lend
A helping hand.
Moving ahead,
No fear, no dread,
You're rowing down the river of life.
Now fast, now still,
Feel the flow of God's will,
You're rowing down the river of life.
Let go and feel the flow.
Do what you can, then let it go.
What you want is round the bend.
Use your oars, but let God lend
A helping hand.
Rowing downstream,
Heading toward your dream,
You're rowing down the river of life.
You're rowing down the river of your life.
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
As 2008 draws to a close, I would like to end this year with an expression of gratitude . . . and a small gift.
First, I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who have emailed me with your kind comments over the past 12 months. I am thrilled that my weekly messages continue to be a source of inspiration for you, and that you took the time to tell me so.
Also, I want to offer a special thank you to everyone who has supported this labor of love with your donations and tithes. I am honored that many of you consider my work to be a true ministry—a cherished source of spiritual nourishment. It is your generous gifts and offerings that make this ongoing endeavor possible.
And now for my gift to you: As many of you know, I have been teaching the principles for living life in the divine flow since 1995. In 1998—a good three years before I began to write my book—I wrote a lyrical poem about the divine flow that I titled, “River of Life.”
Even though ten years have passed since then, I have never publicly published or posted this poem anywhere. As a small token of my appreciation, I offer it to you today as a bookmark that you can download and print out.
Naturally, this bookmark will work much better if you are able to print it out on heavyweight stock. And it will look much better if you use a photo-quality print setting.
To view and download your bookmark now, simply click on this link: www.rowrowrow.com/Bookmark.pdf.
If your computer cannot open a PDF file, you will also find my poem below.
Again, friends, I greatly appreciate your loving and enthusiastic support of my work. I am touched. I am blessed. And I look forward to serving you equally well in 2009.
Gratefully,
Steven
RIVER OF LIFE
Traveling down,
Turning corners round,
You're rowing down the river of life.
Gliding along,
Hear the river’s song,
You're rowing down the river of life.
Let go and feel the flow.
Make your plans, then let them go.
What you want is round the bend.
Use your oars, but let God lend
A helping hand.
Moving ahead,
No fear, no dread,
You're rowing down the river of life.
Now fast, now still,
Feel the flow of God's will,
You're rowing down the river of life.
Let go and feel the flow.
Do what you can, then let it go.
What you want is round the bend.
Use your oars, but let God lend
A helping hand.
Rowing downstream,
Heading toward your dream,
You're rowing down the river of life.
You're rowing down the river of your life.
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Making Christmas Merry
December 21, 2008
Dear Friends,
This Thursday is the day that many of us will celebrate the birth into this world of the being we call Jesus. There are many different opinions about the exact nature of this extraordinary man’s mission on this planet. But I do believe there is one aspect to his life that most of us can agree upon: Jesus was the perfect example of living a life of unconditional love. And he made it quite clear that we would all benefit greatly by living our lives in the same loving way.
Fortunately, loving others is one of the most natural things in the world for you to do. For I believe that love is not only in your nature, it is your nature. Love is the divine essence of who you truly are at the core of your being. And you know what? It feels good to express the truth of who you are! It feels good to love!
When you love, you feel happy. When you love, you feel joyful. When you love, you feel downright . . . well . . . merry!
So, do you want to have a truly merry Christmas this year—and every year? Then be true to yourself! Be the love that you are this season, and a merry Christmas will be yours, indeed.
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily,
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
This Thursday is the day that many of us will celebrate the birth into this world of the being we call Jesus. There are many different opinions about the exact nature of this extraordinary man’s mission on this planet. But I do believe there is one aspect to his life that most of us can agree upon: Jesus was the perfect example of living a life of unconditional love. And he made it quite clear that we would all benefit greatly by living our lives in the same loving way.
Fortunately, loving others is one of the most natural things in the world for you to do. For I believe that love is not only in your nature, it is your nature. Love is the divine essence of who you truly are at the core of your being. And you know what? It feels good to express the truth of who you are! It feels good to love!
When you love, you feel happy. When you love, you feel joyful. When you love, you feel downright . . . well . . . merry!
So, do you want to have a truly merry Christmas this year—and every year? Then be true to yourself! Be the love that you are this season, and a merry Christmas will be yours, indeed.
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily,
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, December 13, 2008
A Christmas Present
December 14, 2008
Dear Friends,
One of my favorite sayings is this one:
THE PAST IS HISTORY.
THE FUTURE, A MYSTERY.
BUT THE NOW MOMENT IS A GIFT.
THAT’S WHY IT’S CALLED THE “PRESENT.”
In this season of gift-giving, I invite you to remember that the true gifts of the holidays are always in the now moment. But to receive those “presents” you must first be present yourself. Instead of focusing all your time, attention, and energy on what’s coming next, make a conscious choice to be fully present in the here and now.
Be present for the gift of a child’s laughter,
and for the gift of bright, twinkling lights.
Be present for the gift of fresh-baked cookies,
and for the gift of sweet-smelling evergreens.
Be present for the gift of a soundless snowfall,
and for the touch of a single snowflake on your tongue.
Be present for the gift of friends you may have taken for granted,
and for family members you haven’t seen in ages.
Be present for the gift of unconditional love
that embraces each of us this season.
And be present for the unbounded joy
that this season elicits in us all.
Here’s wishing you one of greatest gifts you could ever hope to receive this season: the gift of a Christmas present.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
One of my favorite sayings is this one:
THE PAST IS HISTORY.
THE FUTURE, A MYSTERY.
BUT THE NOW MOMENT IS A GIFT.
THAT’S WHY IT’S CALLED THE “PRESENT.”
In this season of gift-giving, I invite you to remember that the true gifts of the holidays are always in the now moment. But to receive those “presents” you must first be present yourself. Instead of focusing all your time, attention, and energy on what’s coming next, make a conscious choice to be fully present in the here and now.
Be present for the gift of a child’s laughter,
and for the gift of bright, twinkling lights.
Be present for the gift of fresh-baked cookies,
and for the gift of sweet-smelling evergreens.
Be present for the gift of a soundless snowfall,
and for the touch of a single snowflake on your tongue.
Be present for the gift of friends you may have taken for granted,
and for family members you haven’t seen in ages.
Be present for the gift of unconditional love
that embraces each of us this season.
And be present for the unbounded joy
that this season elicits in us all.
Here’s wishing you one of greatest gifts you could ever hope to receive this season: the gift of a Christmas present.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The Flow At Christmas
December 7, 2007
Dear Friends,
Well, here it is again—the Christmas season. For many of you, this is the busiest time of the year. As usual, you still have to go to work, handle family responsibilities, clean the house, feed the pets, work in the yard, pay the bills, and take care of a multitude of other tasks and chores that are a routine part of daily life.
But on top of all that, you may also have to decorate the house, trim the tree, host parties, prepare special meals, entertain company, visit relatives, and send out cards . . . not to mention buy gifts, wrap gifts, pack gifts, and ship gifts.
The list goes on and on. And yes, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by it all, and to lose the very sense of joy this season is supposed to elicit.
But take heart, because the divine flow is ready to come to your rescue! There is no task too small for the divine flow to focus its attention on. And there is no schedule too complex for the divine flow to manage.
At every given moment the divine intelligence of the universe is simultaneously orchestrating the most effective and efficient accomplishment of every single thing you need to do this season.
I remember a time that I thought I would have to make three separate trips over a two week period to fulfill the most important items on my “To-Do List.” But instead, by simply paying attention to the subtle guidance of my intuition one day, all three tasks were taken care of in one single hour, with not one bit of preparation or planning on my part. Everything just fell into place, and I just kept showing up in exactly the right place at exactly the right time to achieve what I wanted to achieve.
The way everything worked out for me in such an incredibly coordinated fashion was simply astounding. And your experience this holiday season can be a similar one. If you take the time to listen to your intuition—to literally feel what your next right step is, and to continue listening and continue taking those divinely guided steps—you may be amazed at how all of your holiday commitments can be accomplished in a virtually effortless and seamless manner.
Here’s to an exceptionally joyful and fulfilling holiday season. May everything flow beautifully for you and yours!
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
Well, here it is again—the Christmas season. For many of you, this is the busiest time of the year. As usual, you still have to go to work, handle family responsibilities, clean the house, feed the pets, work in the yard, pay the bills, and take care of a multitude of other tasks and chores that are a routine part of daily life.
But on top of all that, you may also have to decorate the house, trim the tree, host parties, prepare special meals, entertain company, visit relatives, and send out cards . . . not to mention buy gifts, wrap gifts, pack gifts, and ship gifts.
The list goes on and on. And yes, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by it all, and to lose the very sense of joy this season is supposed to elicit.
But take heart, because the divine flow is ready to come to your rescue! There is no task too small for the divine flow to focus its attention on. And there is no schedule too complex for the divine flow to manage.
At every given moment the divine intelligence of the universe is simultaneously orchestrating the most effective and efficient accomplishment of every single thing you need to do this season.
I remember a time that I thought I would have to make three separate trips over a two week period to fulfill the most important items on my “To-Do List.” But instead, by simply paying attention to the subtle guidance of my intuition one day, all three tasks were taken care of in one single hour, with not one bit of preparation or planning on my part. Everything just fell into place, and I just kept showing up in exactly the right place at exactly the right time to achieve what I wanted to achieve.
The way everything worked out for me in such an incredibly coordinated fashion was simply astounding. And your experience this holiday season can be a similar one. If you take the time to listen to your intuition—to literally feel what your next right step is, and to continue listening and continue taking those divinely guided steps—you may be amazed at how all of your holiday commitments can be accomplished in a virtually effortless and seamless manner.
Here’s to an exceptionally joyful and fulfilling holiday season. May everything flow beautifully for you and yours!
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Our Shared Mission
November 30, 2008
Dear Friends,
Two weeks ago I wrote about your “calling,” and why you will experience the divine flow in a heightened way when you are actively engaged in that calling. A calling, as I pointed out, is something that adds meaning and purpose to your life. It is something that you are so passionate about, you would do it even if you were not paid for it.
That makes a calling different from a job, because—strictly speaking—a job is something you do solely for the income it provides. A calling is different from a career, too, because—again, strictly speaking—a career is also something you do for the income it provides, but it happens to be something that you are very interested in, and you are perfectly content doing that same thing for years on end.
Have you discovered your calling yet? Perhaps it is to bring harmony into the world as a peacemaker. Perhaps it is to bring wholeness into the world as a healer. Perhaps it is to bring understanding into the world as a spiritual guide. Or perhaps you have not yet found your calling. Perhaps you are still just holding down a job, or perhaps you are in the middle of a long career, and are still happy in that career. The point of this week’s message is this: In the big picture, it really doesn’t make any difference what you are engaged in—a job, a career, or a calling—as long as you are doing it with love.
You see, although we may have different callings in life, and may spend our days engaged in very different occupations, there is one thing that we all have in common. And that is our underlying mission. It is a “Mission from God,” so to speak. And what exactly is that shared mission? It is simply the mission to discover, express, and experience the Truth of who we really are at the core of our being—the divine essence of love itself.
As Marianne Williamson said in her classic book, A Return to Love: Knowing who you are and why you really came here is more important than knowing what you want to do. What you want to do is not the important question. The question to ask is, “When I do anything, how should I do it?” And the answer is, “With loving kindness.”
Whether you spend your day behind the counter of a retail store, under a car at an automotive repair shop, or you oversee the work of dozens of people at a large corporation, always remember to spread love, be love, and let love lead the way. That, my friends, is the real key to living life in the divine flow . . . and it is the key to living a joyful and fulfilling life.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
Two weeks ago I wrote about your “calling,” and why you will experience the divine flow in a heightened way when you are actively engaged in that calling. A calling, as I pointed out, is something that adds meaning and purpose to your life. It is something that you are so passionate about, you would do it even if you were not paid for it.
That makes a calling different from a job, because—strictly speaking—a job is something you do solely for the income it provides. A calling is different from a career, too, because—again, strictly speaking—a career is also something you do for the income it provides, but it happens to be something that you are very interested in, and you are perfectly content doing that same thing for years on end.
Have you discovered your calling yet? Perhaps it is to bring harmony into the world as a peacemaker. Perhaps it is to bring wholeness into the world as a healer. Perhaps it is to bring understanding into the world as a spiritual guide. Or perhaps you have not yet found your calling. Perhaps you are still just holding down a job, or perhaps you are in the middle of a long career, and are still happy in that career. The point of this week’s message is this: In the big picture, it really doesn’t make any difference what you are engaged in—a job, a career, or a calling—as long as you are doing it with love.
You see, although we may have different callings in life, and may spend our days engaged in very different occupations, there is one thing that we all have in common. And that is our underlying mission. It is a “Mission from God,” so to speak. And what exactly is that shared mission? It is simply the mission to discover, express, and experience the Truth of who we really are at the core of our being—the divine essence of love itself.
As Marianne Williamson said in her classic book, A Return to Love: Knowing who you are and why you really came here is more important than knowing what you want to do. What you want to do is not the important question. The question to ask is, “When I do anything, how should I do it?” And the answer is, “With loving kindness.”
Whether you spend your day behind the counter of a retail store, under a car at an automotive repair shop, or you oversee the work of dozens of people at a large corporation, always remember to spread love, be love, and let love lead the way. That, my friends, is the real key to living life in the divine flow . . . and it is the key to living a joyful and fulfilling life.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Thanks For Everything!
November 23, 2007
Dear Friends,
On Thursday, November 27th, citizens of the United States will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. It’s a day when we express gratitude for all the things in our lives that we really do appreciate, but often forget to be consciously thankful for . . . such as food, family, and friends.
Well, here’s a challenge for you: Can you also be thankful for the things in your life that you do not appreciate? Can you be thankful for the people in your life that you hold resentments against? Can you be thankful for the circumstances in your life that have brought you discomfort . . . or even pain?
Yes, you can . . . if you see those challenges as opportunities to discover what your blocks to loving are. Yes, you can . . . if you see those challenges as opportunities to heal wounds you may have forgotten you have. Yes, you can . . . if you see those challenges as opportunities to remember how precious life is, and to renew your appreciation for it.
When you look at the challenges in your life as opportunities to mature emotionally and spiritually, everything that occurs in your life can be viewed as a blessing. And blessings are something that you are thankful for, right?
So this coming Thanksgiving—and throughout the year—be thankful not only for the “good” in your life, but also for what you judge to be “not so good.”
Be thankful for the entire experience of life, including the opportunities it gives you to grow in wisdom and compassion.
Be thankful for the entire experience of life, including the opportunities it gives you to grow in your ability to love others—and to love yourself —unconditionally.
Be thankful for the entire experience of life, including the opportunities it gives you to remember that life itself is a sacred gift . . . a gift that is meant to be enjoyed to its fullest, and never taken for granted.
Giving thanks today and every day . . . for everything . . .
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
On Thursday, November 27th, citizens of the United States will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. It’s a day when we express gratitude for all the things in our lives that we really do appreciate, but often forget to be consciously thankful for . . . such as food, family, and friends.
Well, here’s a challenge for you: Can you also be thankful for the things in your life that you do not appreciate? Can you be thankful for the people in your life that you hold resentments against? Can you be thankful for the circumstances in your life that have brought you discomfort . . . or even pain?
Yes, you can . . . if you see those challenges as opportunities to discover what your blocks to loving are. Yes, you can . . . if you see those challenges as opportunities to heal wounds you may have forgotten you have. Yes, you can . . . if you see those challenges as opportunities to remember how precious life is, and to renew your appreciation for it.
When you look at the challenges in your life as opportunities to mature emotionally and spiritually, everything that occurs in your life can be viewed as a blessing. And blessings are something that you are thankful for, right?
So this coming Thanksgiving—and throughout the year—be thankful not only for the “good” in your life, but also for what you judge to be “not so good.”
Be thankful for the entire experience of life, including the opportunities it gives you to grow in wisdom and compassion.
Be thankful for the entire experience of life, including the opportunities it gives you to grow in your ability to love others—and to love yourself —unconditionally.
Be thankful for the entire experience of life, including the opportunities it gives you to remember that life itself is a sacred gift . . . a gift that is meant to be enjoyed to its fullest, and never taken for granted.
Giving thanks today and every day . . . for everything . . .
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
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