Cheryl Yale Bruedigam Author

   Does the butterfly fear? Does the butterfly over-complicate its life? Do you over-complicate so much in life? I do and I know why: I over-complicate everything out of fear; we all do because we stay in fight-or-flight mode all the time in our society which causes our underlying instinct for survival to stay kicked on. Because of this, we therefore perceive so much more as a threat than we otherwise would when we are still and can hear the voice of calm within. I know I love God, and God  is  love, therefore his love lives within me (if I am allowing it) and this is perfect love and that perfect love casts out fear. If I am still fearing, then I am not allowing God to dwell in me. If I fear, then I am out of spiritual alignment. So it is really not so complicated to  turn the fear to love. Simply open up, allow, and receive God’s perfect love within.  1 John 4:16-18  (KJV) 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he tha

It is late afternoon. Looking out the window I think what an amazing world in which we live. The stark beauty of the winter sky against the silhouetted dark, leafless trees as the last golden rays of the sun linger upon them; they seem to cling, as do I, to the fleeting light. I wonder how many people each day ever even look out their window to the world beyond. How many times a day do they walk by a window, unnoticed. Many may not have a view, and if so, look up; look up and gaze upon the power of the sky in all its many moods and breathe in the simple yet glorious view of creation. Of course I prefer to go out and step into the beauty itself but when I cannot, my window is my eye to all that is in our unique and amazing world.   About Cheryl Yale-Bruedigam Cheryl Yale-Bruedigam has been writing spiritually for thirty years. With undergraduate studies in English and women's studies, she devoted over a decade of research and writing to women’s stud

Today I made the annual pilgrimage over to Youtube to listen once again to Merle Haggard’s, “If We Make It Through December,” my favorite all-time Christmas song. It can be said to be depressing yes; some would say I should be listening to songs about glistening snowmen and bells jingling, or the birth of the Savior or happy shoppers, but for me this song lingers nearest to my heart because of a Christmas long ago. In 1971, the Christmas that I was eleven, my grandfather (who had raised me) was out of work. It had happened that he had developed health issues and was told by the doctor to leave his longtime job as a flight inspector for Bell Helicopter. He was also a rodeo producer, working hard on the side and weekends to continue with his dreams but it was not enough to fully support the family or lifestyle so it was a most trying time for my grandparents as they struggled to adjust to his unexpected early retirement. I think he was in his early fifties at the time. He had p

We have become a self-seeking indignant society; always angered, constantly offended, each person or group perceiving that they are being treated unfairly. Aside from division, this leads to unrighteous behavior because due to this perceived mistreatment, persons are no longer standing for what is just , they are standing for their own individual perceptions, which in turn leads to more anger, wrath and indignation.  Romans 2:6-10 says, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil. . . 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good . . . Look at the definitions of several words in those verses. Can you identify any areas where you may be exhibiting this

Lack of true faith creates lack in all areas of life . Once this is realized, we can allow for contentment and abundance.  Do you struggle with faith: Do you struggle with thoughts or feelings of lack? In my own search, like many people do from time to time, I have been struggling with the idea (or misconception) of my life not turning out the way I wanted; with things like dissatisfaction, envy. These are bad and I know it. I asked for help with it. I see that these are the result of choices I made in a lack of faith, even though I boasted for decades that I lived on faith, that I had faith. At times I did, but in many ways I didn’t, especially through my impatience and in not just letting things (guidance) unfold. So now that I have a better understanding of faith, and I am implementing that new understanding of faith as actual faith, I am seeing and looking though at where I sit and it has been eye-opening. In these thoughts, I also came up with (or was given) the q

Daily Devotionals for A Woman's Path to Wholeness: Renewal From A Clean Heart Let’s talk about renewal; after all, isn’t this what we all want and need? What we crave? What does the Bible say about renewal? In multi-parts, let’s explore the biblical teachings on renewal . Let’s look at Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” In seeking renewal, we must first open to, and allow, the Lord to work through us; to begin cleaning house so-to-speak. Our hearts must be cleansed of all darkness, pain and negativity. We begin this process by turning everything over in prayer to God and as long as we are open, He will take it from there. Purging the heart will renew the spirit within. You will feel healthy, cleansed and freed of all past blockages, allowing you not only to heal your spirit but to begin to develop a loving, trusting relationship with God, your heavenly creator, who wants nothing more than your wholeness. P

Sitting looking out the window. The day is cool and overcast. The campus bell chimes, school is in session, fall is near, and as I look upon the tall elms that surround me, I am reminded that even the leaves still dance on a cloudy day. Put a smile on your face, be inspired and go out and enjoy the magic of the day. Wherever you find yourself, be the light that uplifts others. Have a blessed day and may the grace of God be with you. Cheryl Yale-Bruedigam, CYI-250 Empowering Women Through Faith Books, videos, inspiration, divine guidance. About Cheryl Yale-Bruedigam Cheryl Yale-Bruedigam has been writing spiritually for thirty years. With undergraduate studies in English and women's studies, she devoted over a decade of research and writing to women’s studies and spirituality. Bruedigam is also certified yoga instructor. She lives in New Mexico with her husband. Order her books  or find at Amazon, Barnes & Nobl

Many times we may feel fearful, overwhelmed, and out of hope with nowhere to turn, no one to help. It is at times like these that simply sitting still and reading Psalm 142 will uplift, shine the light and restore our faith. Psalm 142 King James Version (KJV) 142 I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. 2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. 4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. 5 I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous s

Putting all of your faith in God will empower you to be all that you are meant to be because as you completely surrender, you will receive all that is promised through the Holy Spirit which brings you to a height which you have never previously even imagined. Once you place all of your faith in God and you surrender every single thing in your life to the higher power, the changes will be immense, noticeable, and glowing. We have the free will to choose how we will spend our life, how we will spend eternity. As we go through our day, we make these choices from minute to minute, usually not even consciously. Placing all faith in God and turning over all decisions to the will of God will enable you to begin to heartfully follow the path on which you are meant to be full of empowerment that you alone could never muster. Surrender frees us to be open to so many things like much needed change in our lives, healing, love, guidance; so much that we need and for which we are st

Mary's faith must have been the strongest of all as she accepted and supported the destiny that was to come. It is so easy to claim faith; to profess faith but keeping true faith can be very difficult at times. It is easy to profess faith when times are good and everything is going well, but when times are hard, it’s much more difficult. And even once we do have faith a good part of the time, still we may be asked to deepen that faith into complete and utter trust. Last night I realized the way to keeping faith (and to deepening it) is the complete love of God. That’s part of what the verse, And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity, (1 Cor 1:13) means and that’s why the greatest is charity or selfless love. If one is filled with complete love, then true faith is the only possibility, there would be no room for anything else. That is why Christ said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy sou

It’s a new week with a fresh chance to make it a great week. But that’s not possible , you say; things are going to come up, there will be stress at times, upsets may happen . . .   yes these are all true because that is life and these types of things are a part of every day and are unavoidable but it is our behavior and reactions that determine the outcome. Determining how your week is going to go is a simple matter of determining to turn it all over to God. Committing yourself to staying in touch with the Spirit is the key to how it all works out. Staying in touch means that you will: React Calmly When we stay in communion with the Spirit, we are able to react and/or stay calm in situations where we otherwise might loose control, say things we don’t mean, exhibit anger, etc. Staying in communion is like staying in a state of conscious meditation and prayer, asking and receiving with every situation, person or task, the calming flow of the Spirit; it is stayi