In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".

"All endings are also beginnings."
Mitch Albom

Dear Hearts,

Many times it's difficult to see beyond the endings that occur in our lives. It might be the ending of a relationship, the ending of a job, the ending of our year. It might be our children going to college, thus the ending of an era. Yet, when we attend a graduation from high school or college, while it is a seeming ending, it is never called "The End", instead it is called "Commencement", because it is seen as a beginning or start.

Behind every door that says "The end", there is another door marked "The beginning" just waiting to be opened. It's always our choice. We can place our focus on "The end", or we can move forward and open the new door marked "The beginning".

When Jesus, the Master Teacher said, "My Father's house has many mansions", he was telling us that there is never just one door..but many doors of opportunity. We have to choose, do we linger in remorse, regret or rage? Or do we move on to the next phase of our life?

As the doors are closing doors on 2008, let this be the time we release the shackles that bind us to any closed doors in our lives and look ahead to the doors that are even now beckoning to be opened.

With love and blessings,

Rev. Barbara

In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".

"God is good....all the time"
Dr. Ernest Holmes

Dear Hearts,

We are about to leave 2008. For many of us it has been a good year, for some of us it has been a year of of loss of grieving and of heavy hearts.

Perhaps we were wondering, "Where is God through all of this?" Well, it's key for us to remember that God is always right there, working through the tireless efforts of God's people. Working through you and me as we allow our hearts to break wide open and allow the love of God to pour through us to others. We get to let God shine through our generous acts, through our prayers, through our donations and by doing our part, small as it might seem to help, to assist and to aid others.

As we go into 2009, it's key for us to remember that God is good all the time. Why? Because in the worst situations there is always good or God to be found. So the question isn't, "Is God here?" The question is, "are we here?" Are we willing to show up in this New Year and be a place for God's love, peace and compassion to flow freely and generously? We get to choose how we will live our lives in '09? No one makes that choice for us.

Perhaps our mantra for this New Year will be,

"God is good all the time".

And

"If it's going to be, it's up to me!"

Wishing all of us a holy and joy filled New Year.

With love and blessings,

Rev. Barbara

In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".

"Hanukkah - A festival of lights"
Jewish Tradition

Dear Hearts,

Today starts the beautiful Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, originally known as the "Festival of Lights". Hanukkah commemorates a miracle that occurred in 165 BC after Judas Maccabeaus and his followers reclaimed Jerusalem from a Greek emperor who considered Israel a Greek province.

During this time, many Jews were forced to abandon their faith and ordered to worship Greek Gods. By decree, the Temple of Jerusalem was turned into a Greek shrine and Jews were forbidden to practice their faith and were incorporated into the Greek empire. Many Jews disobeyed the edict and died for their faith. After the temple was restored to Jewish worship, the Maccabees began an eight-day purification rite, only to discover there was just enough sacred oil to keep the temple menorah (a candelabrum with eight branches) lit for one day. Miraculously the temple lamp burned for eight days. Ever since that time the Jewish people have observed Hanukkah in remembrance of their struggle for religious freedom and the miracle of restoration, symbolized by the abundance of oil.

Hanukkah reminds us that miracles do occur. Two thousand years ago, there was only enough sacred oil for one night, yet those faithful, courageous and grateful people had all that they needed.

Today, we can claim the miracle of Hanukkah in our lives also, as miracles are for anyone who believes. When we think that we have finally run out ~ of time, patience, forgiveness, love, joy, creativity, etc., in truth, let's remember that there is the miraculous within each of us -- the sacred oil that never runs out and provides us all we could ever need.

Belief in miracles is the heart of Hanukkah and the soul of Christmas. Let's remember, it's done to us, as we believe -- do we believe?

With love and blessings,

Rev. Barbara

In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".

"He who has fed a stranger may have fed an angel."
The Talmud

Dear Hearts,

The activities of this holiday season will put us in touch with many people. How will we meet and greet them? In ordinary circumstances, it’s easy to be gracious and kind. However, during the holidays, with all its hustle and bustle, tempers can get short and kind remarks may be the furthest thing from our minds.

This holiday season, we may not be required to feed real food to the individuals who will cross our path. However, each of us will have the opportunity to offer soul food. Meaning a smile, a kind word, a compassionate look or a friendly gesture.

It’s never about the other person, though sometimes we think it is. It’s about us…it’s about our response (not our reaction) to others. How kind and giving, how compassionate can we be? If we really believe that God indwells us all, then let’s know that each person is so special and precious...no matter what their outside appearance may be.

There is a beautiful Sanscript word “Namaste” that means “The God in me honors and greets the God in you”. As we go about our many and varied activities this holiday season, we are invited to whisper silently to one and all that cross our path, “Namaste” and thus set a loving tone for each encounter.

We get to remember that for every seeming stranger that we feed with loving kindness we are truly serving and honoring the beautiful Spirit within each of us.

With love and blessings,

Rev. Barbara