As a new year begins, I give thanks for all the blessings this past year has brought and the opportunity to create anew an even more wonderful year.

At this sacred time of year, we are reminded of who we are--sons and daughters of the most high, made in the image and likeness of our Creator. In every person, in every atom is the Divine Presence. We have come to earth to manifest in flesh the glory of God. For our very presence in the earthly realm brings a bit of heaven to this earth, so in need of God’s heavenly grace. As we focus on that Divine Presence within ourselves and our neighbor, we create peace on earth, starting within our own hearts and minds.

Just as the Judeo-Christian Bible tells us that Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons and daughters of God, being a bringer of peace not only changes our lives for the better, it transforms everyone around us. What if we lived from the Divine Presence within us, being a source of love and joy, and recognizing the Divine Presence in others? What a glorious world we would create! Everything would change in an instant. We would create peace in our hearts, peace in our homes, and peace in the world.

As the wise ones have taught, we each hold the key to our own life and to the piece of the divine plan that we have agreed to build into form. We came with such joy and excitement to bring the very highest of the heavenly and angelic realms to earth for the glory of all humankind. For when we saw the extreme pain and suffering upon this planet, we knew there was a better way. We have come to show this better way not only for ourselves, but for all around us as well. And it is the same with all others.

In the midst of our busy world, nothing is as important as feeling the peace and love of the Divine Presence within our hearts and minds and extending that out to everyone around us. As we draw the circle large enough to embrace all of humanity, not just the ones in our select circle that we have allowed to be included we all get to live in this loving, peaceful embrace.

What if we practiced the sacred words given to us from on high, peace on earth, goodwill to men? We would live in a paradise, a heaven on earth and all of our days would be spent in glorious sacred union with the Divine.

What if we treated each other as the sacred Beloved, seeing with the eyes of Mother/ Father God? What if we truly opened our hearts and minds in holy communion with each other and allowed ourselves to rise in love into the holy sanctuary of the Divine? What if we opened our hearts and minds to the ones we feel conflict with until there is only love and forgiveness in our hearts, where once there was hate and separation?

What if we daily engaged in the practice of blessing the earth and all the people residing thereon? What if we spent our days praising each other and living in constant thanksgiving and gratitude for all that we have been given?

What if we began each day by lifting our thoughts to the heavenly realms and re-connecting with our sacred Source, creating from the highest place only what will bring about heaven on earth? What if we use our every thought and word and action to create peace on earth? Then at the end of the day, as we rest our head upon the pillow, we will know that we have contributed this day to bringing heaven to earth.

What if we took the time each day to replace complaining with blessing everyone who has lost their way? What if we all built a bridge with our prayers and blessings that allowed the ones that are still asleep to awaken to the glory of who they are and the divine plan of creating peace on earth, that starts by seeing the God-given goodness in another and praising and nurturing that goodness until it blossoms and blooms?

We all know that it is a universal truth that wherever we place our focus expands. What if we placed our focus on the goodness and consciously and consistently nurtured that goodness into full bloom? What kind of world could we create by using our love to bring forth the very best in everyone, starting with those closest to us and then extending it out to include the ones we call our enemies. For as Abraham Lincoln said, "The way to handle your enemy is to make him your friend."  Let us extend forgiveness to everyone and fill our hearts with the love and compassion that brings about peace on earth.

Lets use the power of the Divine Presence within us to create the abundant, peaceful world that we all long for in our heart of hearts. For just as the moon appears each night against the darkened sky, so do we appear into this darkened world to lift it up into the light. Each one of us can shine our light and bring to earth a great light such as the world has never known, transforming this planet and lifting humanity into the heavenly realm that brings to earth the glory and majesty of Heaven on Earth. Right here, right now.

Sharon Rose is the founder of Center for Enlightened Leadership and Center for Self Mastery in Maui, Hawaii and can be reached at spirit@aloha.com