Happy Thanksgiving! Counting our blessings…

Cheers! Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Hope your day is filled with joyful times with family and friends! Don’t let expectations of the ‘perfect’ holiday ruin the incredible moments that you share. Often times, expectations can cause many of us to become stressed out about the holidays, making it hard to enjoy ourselves, crabby and naggy at our closest loved ones as we try to recreate the picture of what we think the ‘perfect’ holiday is.  Remember that really, there is only the present  moment and you get to decide how you are going to live in it.  Choose to be at peace, even if the turkey burns.  Choose to laugh when your children spill the gravy.  Choose to share love and a smile when your difficult in-laws show up.  You can choose to be happy, content and peaceful.  By choosing your emotions, others will see your peace and try to mirror it back.  It will allow everyone else to be at ease, laugh and have fun together.  Isn’t that really what the holidays are all about anyway?

This isn’t the day to bring up past fights, arguments or judgements we have about others in our lives.  It is about sharing the best parts of ourselves and opening our heart to allowing forgiveness and gratitude to shine out.  Take time today to think of something you appreciate about each person who is in your life.  It may take more time for some of the difficult people, especially if they are not choosing to be at peace today.  Remember that each person is in your life because you chose them to be there.  Receive the lesson, insight and gift that each person brings and let go of the judgement on them and yourself for the minor imperfections that make us all human. 

Gratitude Prayer –

Dear Mother Father God -

We are so thankful for this special day where we offer our thanks and gratitude for all of the blessings we have received in our lives.  Thank you for filling our lives with infinite prosperity and abundance in all things.  Thank you for this beautiful feast, prepared with loving hands and hearts filled with joy. 

Bless each hand that has played a role in the preparation of this feast, from the animals, to the farmers and everyone along the way.  Bless this food with your unconditional love and infinite peace so that it may nourish not only our bodies, but feed our minds, hearts and souls. 

Thank you for the infinite oneness we all share, may each person feel the loving connection to you and others today and not feel alone in this world.  Thank you for the joy that you bring to our lives so that each day can be filled with happiness and laughter.  Thank you for the wisdom that helps guide our lives so that it is filled with mercy, grace and compassion for ourselves and all others.  In gratitude, we thank you for every blessing in every area of our lives, today and always.  Amen!

Thank you for all of your love, laughter & friendship today and always!  We appeciate each and every one of you, for the special sparkling light that you are and the gift that you bring to our lives! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy 2nd Anniversary!

First Dance on the Beach

Happy 2nd Anniversay to my dear husband, may we walk through life with infinite love, abundance and joy always!

Two years ago, today, at 11am we were married on the beach in Key West, Florida with family and friends.  What a beautiful day it was on the beach.  Thank you for two amazing years, filled with adventure, joy and romance.  Thank you for sharing your precious love with me and walking this path with me.  Your unconditional love blesses me every day in so many ways and brings peace to my heart.  I love you, Donald, and am so happy we are walking this journey as one together.  Happy Anniversary!

True Companion by Marc Cohn

Walking Her Home by Mark Schultz

Lullaby by Dixie Chicks

Be Proud of Who You Are

Expanding Heart by Alicia Crystalus

 

Be proud of who you are!

No one sparkles or shines

like you do in the entire world!

Being proud of who you are is not about bragging or boasting. It is about knowing and accepting who you are with unconditional love.  Use your strengths to help yourself and others. 

Take time to meditate on the Expanding Heart above, let it gently remind you to expand your love outside of yourself.  Let your heart expand with unconditional love, mercy and compassion for yourself and all others.

Suicide Prevention

Over the course of my life, I have encountered many friends and individuals who are at the point of suicide.  Whether they are just about to or are just starting to think about it due to hopelessness or feeling trapped having no way out of a situation.  There are so many hurting people in this world.  It is so sad to think about even one that thinks suicide is the only way out of a desperate situation.   I have a strong passion for helping people to find hope, their light, their path because it helps lead them back from the brink of death to life, filled with joy, hope, love, laughter and light.  Within each of us, no matter how dark we feel our lives have become, there is place filled with light that will  never go out!

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.  Together each of us can make it through the hardest, darkest, most difficult nights.  In order to do that, we must reach out, move beyond our comfort zones and seek out people who are alone or appear sad, lonely, troubled.  To put it simply – actually care about other people who we encounter on a daily basis.  If you do nothing, who will help?  

I copied the below warning signs from www.save.org

Warning Signs of Suicide

• Ideation (thinking, talking or wishing about suicide)
• Substance use or abuse (increased use or change in substance)
• Purposelessness (no sense of purpose or belonging)
• Anger
• Trapped (feeling like there is no way out)
• Hopelessness (there is nothing to live for, no hope or optimism)
• Withdrawal (from family, friends, work, school, activities, hobbies)
• Anxiety (restlessness, irritability, agitation)
• Recklessness (high risk-taking behavior)
• Mood disturbance (dramatic changes in mood)

If you or someone you know have any of the above signs, please reach out.  Seek medical attention immediately, call 911 if you are tempted to harm yourself or know of anyone else who wants to hurt themselves.  If you see the signs, don’t wait for someone else to figure it out.  Those precious moments could be what changes into a mircale that is transformed by help, healing and recovery.

Suicide prevention sites:

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education: www.save.org

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  or call 1-800-273-TALK

Movie for teens about suicide prevention: To Save a Life Movie http://tosavealifemovie.com/
Dan Savage ”It Gets Better” Project: http://www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject

If you know of other sites or services that could help assist others in the prevention of suicide, please leave a comment.  Thanks!

Remember you are LOVED! You are LOVED for who you are now – in this moment- always and all ways! Never ever doubt it!

Song of the Day – Hold Fast – MercyMe

Hold Fast by MercyMe

I heard today’s song while driving to work this morning. It is Hold Fast by MercyMe. It’s one of those songs that reaches into your heart and helps lift out some of the pain, stress or weakness when you are in the middle of a tough season of life. Sometimes it feels as the song says like the season will never pass. Perhaps you are in the middle of a long, desperate time that feels like you will never reach summer where abundance and joy flows. Hold fast to the strength of your spirit, reach out to others who can help encourage you to live on through the challenging times. Reach out to God and ask for help, guidance and understanding for what is going on in your life right now. Help is always around you when you ask for it. Allow yourself to reach out and overcome your pride that keeps you from receiving help and encouragement.

Remember, you are not alone and that no one could possibly know or understand what is happening in your life. When you reach out, you will be amazed at how others will respond to your true vulnerability with overflowing love, concern and support. Ask God to bring people into your life to help you find your way, help booster your self esteem and help you to hold fast until a new day dawn’s with the promises of love, hope and abundance in all things.

You are loved beyond measure.
You are a masterpiece.
You are an important part of God’s plan.
You are not junk, a mistake or a loser.
You are God in Action!

Lip Service to God

Sometimes I wish I would record my thoughts on my drives home from work. So often I go into a meditative state, talking to God or wondering about spiritual matters and wish I was at the keyboard to type them up. But, alas, I am not, I am driving down the highway watching the sunset on the river. Today’s thoughts went to a small discussion I was having with myself over why I don’t often enjoy going to church. For me, all too often, church services seem boring, dull and lacking the connection to God that I feel should be there if I have gone to set aside time to worship God.

It seems a shame that everyone is gathered and yet God hasn’t put in the appearance yet! While that really isn’t the case, it sometimes feels that way. Perhaps my heart isn’t quite in the worship or my mind is too occupied with being judgmental and thinking that while we pay awesome lip service to worship and praise, the repeating of these words over and over again in song and hymns don’t really mean the same as the act of worship or praise. Worship, praise and love are action verbs – it is more than just saying the words – it is involving the heart, mind, body and soul in the process that bring about connection and transformation with God and your spirit.

When I feel God’s presence in the service, it fills me up with a sense of excitement, awe and love. When there is an especially strong outpouring of love, it can be to the point of ecstasy and bliss. Many times though I can feel this strong connection with God in moments alone, walking in nature or healing another person. It is allowing the true connection we all share with God in a state of oneness and allowing my consciousness to fully expand and welcome God in.

We are all in oneness with God. Never is our spirit separate from God, even if our minds and bodies give the illusion of otherwise. My heart sings when I allow the moments of oneness to expand and fill every aspect of my being. When I turn away from the corner that is filled with darkness, stress and fear and return to the center where there is love, hope and peace. The center where we are one with God, one with love, one with peace, one with the flow of life free from fear, free from the limits we place on our time and lives.

You are Enough

Embrace yourself, embrace your body, embrace your heart, embrace your mind.

Surround yourself in luxurious love.

Self-acceptance allows you to free your mind to do other things than think negative thoughts about yourself and your life.

Quit judging every single action you take – no one expects you to be perfect – don’t keep unreal expectations for yourself.

It is important to stop and realize that what you have to offer the world is enough. You are enough just as you are.

Songs in the Waking Hour ~03.01.10

The past few days I have been waking up with songs of praise singing in my head. Often once I am fully awake and out of bed I don’t remember the songs for long. It is really nice to wake up to such encouraging words and with the feelings of love, hope and joy in my heart. Today’s song was repeating in my soul: Love the Lord, Your God, with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength.

The song is Love the Lord by Lincoln Brewster. It is based off of several scriptures that reflect on putting your all into loving God, everything you have in praise, worship and connecting in a deep relationship with your creator. So often my mind can be elsewhere while thinking about God or singing praise, it is important to have everything you have united and be fully present in that moment with God. When all of you is united, miraculous events can happen, healing, transformation and amazing love come from being fully one with God in all that you are.

Mark 12:30
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

This same verse is repeated in Deuteronomy 6:5. “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

“Reclaiming Your Wisdom” ~02.23.10 Daily Inspiration

 Rather than seeking answers outside of yourself, remember that all answers lie within. Sit back, relax and be at peace. Focus your attention on your spirit and let go of all the stress, judgment and negativity you hold about yourself. By returning to a place of love and peace with yourself, you allow your spirit to communicate with you. Being in a place of peace and love, allows your inner wisdom to speak to you in the small voice that tries so hard to talk above the noise of everyday life. Allow yourself moments of stillness, where you commune with yourself rather than communing with the world or seeking out yet another answer from some outside source. Within you is the spirit of all, an infinite spirit, a divine spark of light that holds the key to all that you seek. Open the lock that is held within your heart with love, joy, peace and compassion.

The song below is by Shaina Noll (www.shainanoll.com) called You Can Relax Now from her Songs for the Inner Child CD.  That CD is an awesome resource for anyone who is on a healing journey, I have used it many times when healing others and have found that her voice whispers to the soul better than any other. 

Listen to it and allow it to speak to your heart, to your soul.  Sing the words as if you are singing them to your own inner child, your own forgotten self.  You are not separate from the love in your heart, you are not separate from the true beauty that was created the moment you were born.  The divine spark within you still glows strongly. Be at peace and know that you are loved beyond measure.  Be at peace and know that you are loved just as you are.  Regain the peace, hope and assurance that you are an amazing, beautiful creation.  You are loved!

Walk by Faith

Try to walk by faith, even when you cannot see.  There is a plan and a purpose to your life, even if you do not fully realize why you are taking the steps you are in the moment.  Have faith that it is all leading to something better and greater than you can imagine right now.  Perhaps pain and fears are keeping you from seeing the true picture and scope of your life.  Work to let go of the fears, doubts and anger you may feel in moments where you have lost control of your life.  Simple ways to let go of fears are to meditate, pray and do activities that help relieve your stress.  It is hard when faced with challenges to see that beyond today there is a brighter future ahead.  Try to visualize a positive future for yourself, breathing in the hope and truth that God has infinite ways to bless your life and that you can open to receiving them by staying at peace in each moment.  Accept that life has challenges but that each challenge prepares you for something greater. 

My husband and I set out on our walk of faith when we moved down to Florida.  In our minds and hearts we thought we were coming to Florida for  purpose and goal we already had in our mind.  Things have turned out quite differently than either of us has imagined, with struggles, challenges and delayed dreams.  At first, we were both very angry with God and wondering why on Earth were we drawn to Florida especially when problems started to occur and finances grew tight.  With the economy on a downward spiral at the moment we arrived in Florida, it was a bleak sight ahead without jobs or other means to support ourselves.  As we continued to walk with faith, we helped others to heal and feel empowered. 

While not necessarily achieving the goals we had in mind, we were able to still continue to help others while we struggled.  This helped to broaden our own awareness and keep the focus off of our own challenges.  Taking your mind off of yourself and your own life helps you to realize that there is more going on and that you aren’t as helpless as you pretend to be.  Your mind and fears want to trap you in feeling helpless so that your soul and light don’t shine. 

Over a year ago, we could not have understood the paths that God was laying out for us or why there would have been new roads placed that weren’t on the map.  These new roads are allowing for greater opportunities and chances for growth both professionally and personally.  While we may have mastered many of the tools we use for healing others, there is still a lot to learn and prepare for in order to help the maximum amount of people.  By expanding ourselves in the way God has planned, we find new blessings, new purpose and new dreams. 

It is not always about what you have planned, it is about the higher plan that can’t always been seen.  Allow your heart and spirit to expand outward to embrace the unseen plan.  Embrace the path that is unseen with faith, hope and assurance that you do not walk your path alone.  God is always with you, by your side, holding your hand with reassurance that you are fully supported, fully covered in love and there are miracles and blessings in store that you cannot imagine yet.