Archives: November 2009
Mon Nov 30, 2009
In our book section, you can order Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth"...Oprah's Book of the Month.
The Course of Miracles
Dear Hearts,
Don't we often attach certain preconceived ideas about the duties of the ministry...whether in the person of minister, priest or rabbi? We might say that the duties of the ministry are to be a loving presence to others, to care for the dying, the sick and the poor; to comfort the afflicted; to be an inspiration to our youth and to speak uplifting and inspiring words to all.
However those duties are not exclusive to the Office of the Ministry. In truth, it's the job description issued to each and every one of us. We are all here to be ministers. Who do we minister to? On a daily basis the core of our ministry is every individual who shows up in our lives, our families, friends and neighbors, the cashiers at the store, our coworkers, etc. These are the folks we get to care for when their ill (even by a comforting call), visit when their in the hospital, speak uplifting words to when they're experiencing a difficult time. We get to be a comforting presence when they're grieving and, through our conduct, we get to minister to the children through example and love.
Jesus, the Master Teacher, said about his ministry, "I must be about my Father's business". Whatever we want to say about our ministry, the fact is that the call to ministry is issued to each one of us daily. Our ministry is right in front of us. However, it is up to us...today, we'll we accept the call to do our ministry?
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Sun Nov 29, 2009
In our book section, you can order Eckhart Tolle's, "A New Earth".
Isaiah 65:17
Dear Hearts,
As we observe God’s magnificent Universe, we see that it’s constantly being made anew. Nature is an onward progression, continuously changing, never going back but always forward…always moving.
The Prophet Isaiah‘s words are in complete alignment with God’s Universe. Isaiah is urging us to continually move on by no longer dwelling in what was, but turning our complete and full attention to what is and what can be. We are being urged to create a new heaven for ourselves right now through the power of our thoughts and the support of our spiritual practice. Jesus said to us, “With God all things are possible.” In other words, life holds infinite possibilities for us and Isaiah is inviting us to experience the myriad of these possibilities.
It’s easy to get caught in the past, wishing we could roll back the clock or calendar, but these “wishes” do nothing but waste our energy. Yesterday was… and today is. We let yesterday rest in peace, grateful for those that were part of yesterday and grateful for what we learned. Now it’s time to move forward and claim the gifts that await us today.
God has a magnificent plan for us. But it’s not in yesterday. Heaven lies in the gifts God graciously offers today. So, let’s know that we have the opportunity to anchor a new heaven right in the midst of the life we’re leading by being open and receptive to all the gifts God offers…love, joy, peace, abundance, prosperity, creativity, beauty, wisdom, energy, vitality, perfect health… the kingdom of heaven is being offered to us… today.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Thu Nov 26, 2009
Thanksgiving
Dear Hearts,
At the end of today, we get to go to our house (whatever that may look like) and prepare for our Thanksgiving. As we think about where we live, do we get a feeling of contentment and joy? Will we remember to give thanks for the shelter and warmth our house provides?
As we move into this holiday, one traditionally associated with house and hearth, let's ask ourselves, is our house a place where loves lives? Is our house a place where joy is felt? Is our house a place where peace is experienced? Is our house a place where creativity flourishes? Let's look at our house through new eyes, to behold its beauty and to accept the charge to be a loving and gracious presence within our house.
Let's remember that a house is only a house until love, peace and joy are present, then a house truly becomes a home. This Thanksgiving, when we remember all we have to be grateful for, let's remember to bless and give thanks for the place we live....and may the place we live truly be a home.
Happy Thanksgiving.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Tue Nov 24, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Actress Doris Roberts from the former Everybody Loves Raymond Show
There are times in our lives when we are all dealt grievous blows…i.e. the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, the loss of a dream, etc., and we can simply feel like giving up. Twenty years ago, the beloved husband of actress Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) died quite suddenly and she was devastated. She recalls day after day sitting with a cup of coffee staring into space not caring if she lived or died.
Then one day, Doris realized that life was going on with or without her. She knew that she was at a crossroads. She could choose to continue with her cup of coffee, rehashing what was, dreaming of what might have been, or she could choose to rejoin life. She said in that moment of realization, she made up her mind to get up, to get moving and that she would say, “yes” to any opportunity life offered her. She was 56 years old at the time.
Twenty years have passed since she made the decision to reenter life. She has won three Emmy’s for her performance in “Everybody Loves Raymond” and has brought joy, laughter and insight to countless people. When the cast of Raymond talks of Doris, they say she is the most active and youthful of the group.
Perhaps the lesson to each of us is that this human life is not always fair. It can deal us some horrific blows. But there has been a promise made to you and to me that there is a Power and Presence for good in this Universe that is bigger than the loss, bigger than the grief, bigger than the problem and this great and mighty God will lead, direct, guide and uplift us when called upon.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Mon Nov 23, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Oprah Winfrey
Dear Ones,
What an interesting concept to keep a “proud” journal! Perhaps keeping such a journal would give us pause to consciously think about doing things during our day that would deserve to be placed in such a journal.
It’s so easy to sleep walk through our day…attempting to simply survive each day. Let’s not loose site of the fact that our primary purpose on this earth is to make a difference for good.
If we were to decide to keep a “proud” journal, it might do two things, 1) make us want to have something to put in our journal each day, and (2) bring to our mind a conscious awareness of what would make us proud of ourselves (not what would make our parents or spouse or friends proud) but would behaviors make us feel proud?
It’s a conscious thought process. Are we proud of ourselves for cutting someone off in traffic? Or would we be proud of ourselves, that in the snarl of traffic, we allowed someone to go in front of us? Are we be proud of ourselves when we snap at someone, or proud of ourselves when we’re kind and patient with others?
Sometimes we can get confused with the word “proud” thinking of proud as ego driven. That’s not the proud Oprah is speaking of. It’s the “proud” of just feeling good about what we’ve done and knowing that at the end of the day when we are writing in our “proud” journals that we have left the world just a little better place.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Fri Nov 20, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
-Ann Landers
Dear Hearts,
When we have an idea that another person might help us or help our loved ones or friends, it’s easy for us to “roll out the red carpet” to that individual. But what about the people we meet on a daily basis that aren’t there to provide us with anything other than their presence? How do we treat those individuals?
In the Bible, it is quite clear, Jesus said, “… inasmuch as you have done it to the least of my brethern, you have done it to me" (Matt. 25:40). So as we go about our day today, what if we looked at everyone as though they had a precious gift to give us and treat him or her accordingly?
Whether it was Buddha, Jesus, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, they had a way of treating everyone equally. It made no difference to these avatars what status another person held or what another might do for them. Everyone was treated equally...with the utmost respect and dignity.
How do we want to be treated? However we answer that question, let’s go forth into this day and treat others exactly that same.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Thu Nov 19, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Hegel
Dear Hearts,
In examining Hegel's statement, we are being invited to look behind the facade of our daily "familiar" lives. We take so much for granted, precisely because we deem it "familiar". So often our relationships or our jobs, because of their familiarity, seem downright boring! We loose the wild and mysterious that lies right behind what we deem "familiar".
We have the opportunity each and every day to look beyond what is "familiar" to us. In our entire lifetime, we can never get to know all the facets of another human being. If we are willing to take the time and look beyond what is "familiar" to us about another, we will find there is always something new and exciting to discover or rediscover. The same is true for our employment. If it has become so "familiar" as to seem ho-hum, then let's take it upon ourselves to look beyond the "familiar" ~ daily going forth to discover some new aspect of our jobs and discover how creative we can really be.
Helen Keller once said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing". When we look beyond the seeming boredom of the familiar, we very well may find a marvelous adventure lying in wait for us.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Tue Nov 17, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Mother Teresa
Dear Hearts,
Mother Teresa's message sounds so simple...love, don't judge. In fact in theory it is simple but in practice it's not easy. Staying in a loving place and out of judgment is spiritual practice at its best.
Today our challenge is to realize we will never know what is best for another ~ that each of us are on our own unique spiritual journey.
Today our challenge is to realize that we will never know what goes on in another's mind..nor is it our job to know.
Today our challenge is to allow each and every person we come in contact with the dignity to live their own life ~ unencumbered by our suggestions on how we think they should live their life.
Today our challenge is to be about our own spiritual growth, development and unfoldment and allow others the dignity to be about theirs.
Today, our challenge is to remember that our purpose for living it to be loving ~ moment by precious moment.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Mon Nov 16, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
George Elliot
Dear Hearts,
Haven’t there been times in our lives when we’ve thought that with just a little more effort we could have done better or been kinder, gentler, more loving or forgiving? We are each born to be givers to life…that is our true nature. Sometimes we try to convince ourselves otherwise, but as Elliot said it’s never too late to be what we might have been.
Let’s remember our primary purpose. Our primary purpose in this life is to spread the love, the peace, the joy, the compassion of God through our daily activities and encounters. When we withhold good, we are withholding the best part of ourselves, our God-self.
This weekend, let’s go for it! The minute the slightest inclination rises up within us to do or to say something good, kind or compassionate or we have an opportunity to give to another or to forgive another, let’s not hesitate for a moment, let’s not just think “we could do it,” let’s do as Nike encouraged us so brilliantly…let’s “just do it”!
We have great and mighty work to do, for we have God’s work to do. And there’s no time like the present to be who we are born and destined from all eternity to be.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Thu Nov 12, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Michael Gott
Dear Hearts,
A friend of mine was recently at a college reunion. He is a loving husband, devoted father and a success in his chosen field.
Yet, my friend found in speaking to different friends and hearing their accomplishments over the years, that his happiness for them was overshadowed by his mental comparison of other’s achievements. He had thoughts such as “why didn’t I think of that?” or “why didn’t I do that?” or “I could have/should have done more with my life”. As the evening progressed, he felt deflated, he felt “not enough” and he basically felt like life had passed him by. Intellectually he knew that he was not a failure yet he couldn’t turn off the “comparison” voice in his head.
My friend recounts that as he thought about the evening he was very aware of what had transpired. He got caught in the “comparison” game…one which none of us ever win. We all can find someone prettier, handsomer, slimmer, more successful, etc. etc. Our challenge is to be OK with who we are and where we are in our life.
It has often been said that “comparison is spiritual death” because it agitates us and often leaves us with the feeling that we’re simply not enough. One of our jobs in this lifetime is to find joy ~ as joy is a quality of God. One thing we can be certain…the fastest way to a joyful life is living a life without comparing ourselves to others.
Today, I celebrate my uniqueness by keeping my eyes focused on myself. I refuse to compare myself to anyone. I find joy living MY LIFE and doing my best knowing all is well. Thank you God, and so it is!
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Wed Nov 11, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth
Joseph Murphy
Dear Hearts,
There's an old saying, "The rich get rich and the poor get poorer". I heard that often as a child and wondered "why?". Are we aware that whatever we give our attention to grows? Do we daily keep our focus on the richness of this Universe and all the gifts we have been given ~ or do we focus on we what we perceive we lack?
If today, we can find nothing else to be grateful for, we can begin by giving thanks for our very breath. If we are not partaking in the abundance of this Universe, it is not the Universe's or God's fault ~ it is simply where we have chosen to place our attention.
If our attention is focused on what we have, more will come to us. If our attention is focused on what we lack, we will get more of the same. Remember the saying, "Change your thinking, change your life". It works. Let this be the day we do just that. We have been given so much in this life -- celebrate it! Let's stay in gratitude for our cup being filled ~ and watch how the good in our life multiplies.
Today, think of yourself as wealthy, how would you act and what would you say and where would you focus your attention? Try it! There is a verse in the Bible that says, "It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom". And so it is!
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Sun Nov 08, 2009
In our book section, you can now order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Dr. Robert H. Schuler
Dear Hearts,
As we continue into this beautiful November, what if we were asked on a scale of 1-10 how much we loved ourselves, what would our answer be? Would we mark down a 10? Or would that embarrass us, some voice in the background saying, "you have no right to love yourself that much." Unfortunately many of us go through our lives that way. We treat ourselves like second class citizens (at best).
Scripture tells us "We are wonderfully made" and "that God so loved us that God created us." So why don't we love ourselves more? How often throughout our day do we criticize ourselves, put ourselves down, even call ourselves names? Many times we're even unable to take a complement.
Today, let's do something different. Let's get a mental picture of ourselves when we were 4 or 5 and see the precious child that we were -- we're still that person. So how would you treat that child today? How much loving kindness and gentleness would you bestow upon that beautiful child?How much love?
Let's have patience with ourselves, let's forgive ourselves when we make a mistake (for how else can we learn?) and if someone gives us a complement, take a moment, breathe it in and then a simple "thank you" is appropriate.
Psychologists say we can only love others as much as we love ourselves. That statement alone is motivation to expand our love and kindness to ourselves.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Sat Nov 07, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
T. S. Eliot
Dear Hearts,
Caring for others may take many forms. It may take the form of a phone call, a visit, a gift, an act of loving- kindness, etc. Our challenge is to perform the caring act…without carng that it be reciprocated.
Let’s remember that we live in a Universe governed by the Law of Cause and Effect. Knowing that fact allows us to give freely because we understand that every caring act we perform will always come back to us. The catch is that we have to let go of “how” we think those caring acts will be returned.
There is great freedom for us to give when we release all expectations from another. Our job is to trust that there is absolute order, harmony and balance in God’s perfectly orchestrated Universe. Our caring acts will always come back to us multiplied and blessed. We are to trust that as we give… we will always receive. The rewards simply come in different ways and from different sources than we might ever anticipate.
There is no good deed left unpaid in this Universe. The face and the name may be totally different than what we might think yet our loving and caring deeds will come back to us.
Today, let’s go forth…giving to others and expecting nothing from them and everything from God’s glorious plan of reciprocity.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Fri Nov 06, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
~ Margaret Gatty
Dear Hearts,
Hour by hour day to day living may at times seem endless. Yet, in retrospect time seems to metaphorically “fly by”.
The truth is life is so short. Many times we let petty disagreements cloud our relationships. We get our feelings hurt or we have a need to be right and so the relationship ends or is put on hold.
Today, can we recommit ourselves to being a loving presence within our world? Can we be bigger than the argument or disagreement?
Being more loving in our hearts is our greatest spiritual practice. When we love others, we love God. When we quarrel or have a need to be right then it’s simply our ego at play and the acronym for EGO is “Edge God Out”.
Who do we need to forgive? Who do we need to call to begin mending our bridges? How open will our hearts be and how inclusive will we be? What will we do today to begin the healing process?
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Wed Nov 04, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Excerpt from the book “No Excuses”
by Kyle Maynard
Dear Hearts,
How often in our lives do we hide behind our excuses? They may sound like “I don’t feel like it” or “I don’t have the energy or the money or the time, or the talent or the creativity, or the looks”, etc., etc.
When we read the above quote, it sounds like the author is a man who must have everything going for him…that things must come easily for him. In truth the man, Kyle Maynard, does have everything going for him…despite enormous odds to the contrary.
Kyle was born with a condition that cost him practically all his limbs. Yet, it never has stopped him for one moment. He played football and basketball until the other guys grew too big. He then attempted wrestling. He lost countless matches...but he wouldn’t give up. He made up his mind that he was going to excel at wrestling and he did. He became so good at wrestling that he won a wrestling scholarship to the University of Georgia.
Kyle has recently been interviewed on both Oprah and Larry King Live. His outlook is amazing. He says that he knows in his heart of heart that when people really make up their mind to do something, nothing but themselves can stop them from achieving it.
Excuses keep us from our greatness. They keep us from living our lives fully and completely. They keep us from ever really achieving lasting happiness. Yet we get so used to making excuses that we don’t even realize that we’re doing it!
This book is a magnificent tribute to what we can accomplish when we refuse to make excuses for ourselves. Kyle’s new book “Make No Excuses” is available through this Website. Just click on the Expectgood books, etc. link and you’ll find Kyle’s book featured and ready to order. It’s a wonderful and inspiring read and has a message for all of us!
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Tue Nov 03, 2009
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Maria Shriver
Dear Hearts,
Often when we’re being of service to others or even thinking about being of service to others, we feel that the service we perform or might perform is something we’re doing for the other person. The truth of the matter is service is never about the other person, service is about us and our own growth and unfoldment.
Service is about our willingness to give and to share. Our reward for service is that for a few precious moments we get to forget ourselves and all the things we think we need and want.
We’re all here on this earth to fulfill a purpose greater than ourselves. A sure way to fulfill that purpose is being of service to others, to our community, to the world at large. As we look at the lives of the great saints and avatars, we see that their lives were continually about service. By being of service, they were able to find a purpose for their lives larger their own ego.
Let’s look around today and see to whom we might be of service. Perhaps it’s as simple as bringing someone a cup of coffee. Perhaps it’s phoning a friend who has been under the weather. Perhaps we can spend time in prayer for another today ~ so many need our prayers. Many have lost their home due to fires or lost their lives due to schools collapsing. So many other tragedies will take place throughout the world. One thing we can be certain ~ someone needs our service today.
As we live our lives from the purview of service, we get to join hands with all those that have dedicated their lives to serving others and, in so doing, we are handed the keys to the Kingdom.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Mon Nov 02, 2009
In our book section, you can now order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dear Hearts,
In 1955, Rosa Parks, a seamstress who lived in Montgomery, Alabama, forever changed American history. While riding a crowded bus home from work, Parks was seated at the front of the black section when the driver demanded that she move farther back to make room for a white man. The 42-year-old woman refused to move and was arrested by police and jailed. Her brave stand was the spark that ignited the civil rights movement. Mrs. Parks said she was tired of being silent.
Is there an injustice within our own lives or the lives of our families that we know isn’t right yet remain silent about? Is there an injustice within our communities that we remain silent about?
Why do we remain silent? Is it because we’re afraid to upset the “status quo”? Often times we’re afraid that if we speak out things will change and we’ll have to change. Sometimes we’re afraid for our physical safety.
As we look at individuals that have made a difference in our world, it was not because they remained silent…it was because they spoke out. Whether it was Buddha, Krishna, Jesus the Christ, St. Paul, Ghandi, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., etc., they refused to be silenced.
We’re not here to bury our heads in the sand to injustice or oppression. We’re here to give voice to the changes that need to be made.
Where in our lives are we remaining silent and what do we need to speak out about? The Kabbalah asks us “If not me, who? If not now, when?”
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
*Kabbalah
Sun Nov 01, 2009
In our book section, you can order Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth"...Oprah Winfrey's highly recommended book.
Sara Ban Breathnach
Dear Hearts,
It’s so easy to think about living a wonderful life when we’ve achieved a certain goal or when something changes for the better in our lives or when we have more of something or less of something. Then we feel, we would have a wonderful life.
The truth is a wonderful life is offered to each of us today! But it’s up to us whether we accept the invitation. We have so many gifts offered to us…we are surrounded by the beauty of nature; we have a benevolent Universe that will, when asked, work together for our good; we have free will, we have intelligence, we are creative (as we continually create our lives!); we have the ability to love and we have the opportunity to be grateful for all that life continually offers us…at no charge!
Life happens in the moment. Everything else is either a memory or a dream. The sad thing is when we live our lives in memory of the wonderful years that passed or we live our lives in anticipation of the wonderful years to come …we miss the enormous gift of the wonder of today. And no matter what we may be experiencing in our lives…today is the best day of our lives, because it’s the only “real” day we have…everything else is only a figment of our memory or imagination.
Are our lives perfect? No…as we’re not here to be perfect or have perfect lives. We’re here to learn, to love, to enjoy, to be grateful and to give our best. And we have the opportunity to live this wonderful day to the fullest by being present for it.
Today, let’s remember that it is indeed a wonderful life we’re living…now!
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara