Archives: May 2010
Mon May 31, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
~ Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith ~ Agape International Center of Truth
Dear Hearts,
Real love is never for the weak hearted…infatuation might be, but never real love. Real love takes strength and courage. It takes commitment and it takes a willingness to look beyond the behavior of others.
Infatuation on the other hand often relies on the word “perfect”. Perfect person, perfect behavior, perfect words, perfect looks. When things are no longer “perfect”, infatuation simply walks out the door and often never returns. Infatuation is only surface deep.
However real love makes a commitment to love when we don’t feel like it, to be kind when we’d rather be grumpy, to laugh at our own foibles. Real love is making a commitment to go on the honeymoon and never forget those wonderful feelings and promises. Real love has the courage to walk together through the darkness until the light appears. Real love emits strength when the other is feeling weak.
Real love encourages when the other seems down. Real love is speaking our truth with loving-kindness and without blame. Real love strengthens when a diagnosis is given. Real love takes time to pray for each other. Real love respects the other. Real love enjoys the other. Real love continually looks for the best in the other. Real love is grateful for the other person. Real love rejoices in the other’s success and is saddened when the other experiences disappointment.
Real love brings us closer to God because real love emulates God’s unconditional love and acceptance of us. Real love is the real deal!
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Sun May 30, 2010
In our book section, you can order Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Howard Thurman
When is the last time we simply took a deep breath and became centered? During our incredibly busy days, we’re pulled in so many different directions. We give so much of ourselves that we get “off center” feeling exhausted, irritable and depleted. Edna St. Vincent Millay reminds us that if "...our candle burns at both ends; it will not last the night.”
Today, at various intervals, let’s simply stop and take several deep and focused breaths knowing that with each breath we take we’re revitalizing and restoring ourselves. Then, centered once again, we can return to the traffic of our world. This is truly a holy pause renewing us so that we may once again go forth to give our gifts within our daily realm.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Thu May 27, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
-Rev. Michael Beckwith
Dear Hearts,
As we go about this day, what will our intention be? Will our intention be to get as much as we can get or to give as much as we can give? On today’s market, the mindset of many individuals is to get as much as they possibly can while giving as little as possible. However, when we live this way, we are out of harmony with the Universe. What we teach in Science of Mind is that this is a giving Universe, a giving God. Scripture tells us “God so loved that God gave.”
The Law of Cause and Effect governs this magnificent Universe in which we live. That same Law of Cause and Effect governs our lives. So if our Cause today is simply to see how much we can get, then the Effect we experience will be situations and individuals who also want to get and take from us. If, however, our Cause is to give as much as we can, then that same Law of Cause and Effect will bring into our lives people and situations that will want to give to us. So we have an opportunity to choose which path we will travel today.
Will we choose this day to be on the side of the givers? If that is our decision, then let’s go forth giving our gifts freely knowing that we glorify God by all that we give today.
Today, I am surrounded by the love of God. I make a conscious choice to stay on the giving side of life. I will give my gifts freely and joyfully remembering that my gifts are God’s gifts that I am here to distribute. Today is God’s day and I rejoice in it.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Wed May 26, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Dr. Michael Beckwith
Dear Hearts,
Perhaps today is a day to turn our attention torward self-forgiveness. Before we start thinking about forgiveness of others, this might be the time to first think about forgiving ourselves. It’s been said that if we don't forgive ourselves we'll never be able to fully forgive another.
One of the places to start is by taking a look at all the things that we hold against ourselves. Things we did and things we didn’t do. Things we said and things we left unsaid. Then as Dr. Beckwith said, “have the gumption to forgive ourselves.”
Often we look to others to forgive us. Well, if they do that’s wonderful, but the most important thing is, not that others forgive us, but that we forgive ourselves…and yes, it does take gumption and great courage to forgive ourselves and set ourselves free.
Can we imagine someone who would hold a whip over a child and continually beat that child because of something they did? Often times that’s exactly what we do to ourselves because of something we did or said. That kind of brutality robs us of our energy, vitality, creativeness and, most of all, our ability to forgive others. Because without self-forgiveness we will never be able to truly forgive another.
So, today, perhaps we can remember that God is a God of love and compassion and that God loves us no matter what. Isn’t it time that we do the same for ourselves? If we could have done better we would have.
Today is the day I let it all go, I forgive myself for things done and things I left done and things I have left undone. I realize that no matter what, I am beloved child of this magnificent Universe. I claim it and I know it. Thank you God and so it is!
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Tue May 25, 2010
In our book section, you can order Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth"...Oprah's Book of the Month.
Philippians 4:13
Dear Hearts,
Often our life journeys take us down some pretty rugged paths. We have all had times where we wonder how we can possibly make it through our current situation.
However, there is something within each of us that is far greater than any problem that will ever confront us. Within each of us the Power of God resides. This is the Power that created the Universe and that keeps this Universe in perfect order. This Power can do all things! Nothing is impossible to this Power. When we call forth this Power through our prayers, affirmations and meditation, we will be given the strength to move through our challenge…no matter how severe or traumatic it might seem to us.
Often we get very entrenched in our human dilemma and have moved into a deep downhill spiral before we ever think of asking God for help. However, when we ask for help we’ve invited a whole different energy into our lives.
We have a God that is so much greater than whatever challenge faces us. So today, let’s know together that as St. Paul said, we can indeed do all things when we have made a conscious connection to God. From that point forward, all things are possible for us.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
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Mon May 24, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth"
It shall not return to Me void…”
Isaiah 55:11
Dear Hearts,
Never underestimate the power of the words we use in thought and action. illing pages in their journal.
Our words are so powerful! Whenever we use a negative as in “I don’t want______” the Universe only hears what it is we don’t want and responds accordingly.
However, when we affirm what we do want, the Universe hears those words and they, too, will come back to us…fulfilling what we really desire (and deserve) in our lives.
What if today, we started a list of all the things we want? Then start affirming that these wonderful positive things are ours now! When we begin this practice and stick to it (which at first may not be easy) we’ll see our lives begin to change and all the things we truly want to live an abundant, healthy loving and fulfilling life will be ours.
“Today, I affirm a day filled with love, joy, health, peace and prosperity for me and mine. Thank you God, and so it is!”
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Sun May 23, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favoriet book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth"...Oprah's Book of the Month.
Pope John Paul II
Dear Hearts,
One of the great challenges in our life is getting in touch with the truth within us. We might ask the question, how do I find my REAL truth? It begins by admitting to the reality that there is truth within us separate and apart from what others have told us or that the press tries to sell us. The kind of truth John Paul is speaking about is the truth that is literally the fabric of our very being…it is who and what we really are. In the Gospel of John we read, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.
From the time he was a young priest, we see the candid photos of Pope John praying or walking quietly alone. What we are catching is a glimpse of man taking enough time to feed himself spiritually ~ thus allowing himself to get in touch with what is true for him seperate and apart from what anyone has ever said to or about him.
The call to each of us is to make the time away from all the busyness and get in touch with our truth. When we get in touch with that truth, then it is our duty to go forward and express that truth in our daily living.
When we live our lives this way, we become truly authentic people. As we look at the life of Pope John Paul, what we find is a man who had the courage to live from the inside out rather than the outside in. That option is available to each of us. It’s our choice.
With love and blessings,
Rev Barbara
Sat May 22, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Psalm 37:14
Dear Hearts,
The Psalmist is giving us a powerful tool in our daily living. When we are tempted to react to a situation or an individual or we find ourselves in a quandary of what to do, we are told to wait for God’s guidance before we say or do anything.
When we react to something or someone, it is usually because someone has pressed one of our “hot” buttons, or we might more aptly say our “hurt” buttons…buttons often from childhood. Our natural inclination is to strike back… as a child might. What happens to us when we do react in this manner is that we are often filled with remorse and guilt; sometimes our reactions actually cause great hurt to another.
Likewise, when we are in a quandary of what to do, there is something within us that knows exactly what we’re to do. So the Psalmist is telling us take time ~ wait…don’t rush into anything. Ask for God’s guidance and we'll be given courage and strength and from that purvue the right answer will come to us.
It is never our spiritual self that gets us in trouble, only our human self. When we wait on the Lord before speaking or acting, we will be filled with God’s guidance and peace, clarity and wisdom. We will find that the words we speak become a blessing and the decisions we make will be both loving and life affirming.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Fri May 21, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Diana Cornelius
Dear Hearts,
Haven't we all felt at one time or another that we would like to be anyplace but where we are? We want to be in a different job, different circumstances, different life! Yet, this is a perfectly ordered Universe, so wherever we are today is right where we need to be. The place we are now, is holy ground and it is the place where we're spiritually most needed.
We have work to do -- right where we are. In our present arena, we are to be about the business of love and kindness and bringing peace into our environment. Where we are now, we are to keep the high watch for everyone else -- in other words holding the highest thought about each person we come in contact with. Our touch, our words, our consciousness is needed right where we are.
Let's remember that we are about God's business. So instead of wishing that we were somewhere else or doing something else or with someone else, today let's know we are right on target. And when our work is completed where we are, the Universe will do one of two things, it will either change our circumstances or give us the Universal boot -- and put us in a completely different arena.
Until then, let's go about the business of our day, doing the best we can do, practicing love and kindness and letting our light so shine that others may truly see the face of God through us. All is well, today. Thank you, God.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Sun May 16, 2010
In our book section, you can order Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Howard Thurman
When is the last time we simply took a deep breath and became centered? During our incredibly busy days, we’re pulled in so many different directions. We give so much of ourselves that we get “off center” feeling exhausted, irritable and depleted. Edna St. Vincent Millay reminds us that if our “…candle burns at both ends; it will not last the night.”
Today, at various intervals, let’s simply stop and take several deep focused breaths knowing that with each breath we take we’re revitalizing and restoring ourselves. Then, centered once again, we can return to the traffic of our world. This is truly a holy pause renewing us so that we may once again go forth to give our gifts within our daily realm.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Sat May 15, 2010
In our book section, you can order Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Marianne Williamson, from her book, “The Gift of Change”.
Dear Hearts,
Perhaps all of our lives at some point in time have been touched with feelings of shame. Some of us have had uncomfortable twinges of occasional shame. For others of us, shame has had a huge impact on our lives, at times literally debilitating us.
Let’s never underestimate the insidiousness of shame. Shame cripples us, lies to us, keeps us feeling less than and keeps us from fulfilling our potential. Shame is the egos way of destroying our self-esteem, of keeping us small and of keeping our light from shining forth the glory of God. Sad to say that after a while, we get so used to living in shame that it seems like the normal way to live.
Shame wears many faces. Shame loves the words “not enough”. Shame might whisper to us that we are not good enough, not talented enough, not worthy enough. At its worst, shame may tell us that we don’t just make mistakes we are the mistake. Shame can be so horrendous that it makes us feel as though we need to apologize for being alive.
Today, if any thought of shame comes up, let’s recognize it for what it is…it's nothing trying to be something! Let’s immediately combat any shameful thought by putting a statement of truth in its place, such as, “We are enough!!! We are God’s children, God’s beloved and with God all things are possible to us.” Let’s never again confuse a mistake that we’ve made with the convoluted idea that that we are the mistake.
We are created in the image and likeness of God and are loved more than words could ever express. Let’s go forward now into our day, standing in the awareness of how much we are loved, because that awareness is true!
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Fri May 14, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book...Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth.
Paulo Coelho
Dear Hearts,
How often do we get so involved with our thoughts and problems that we literally become ostriches? We walk with our heads down… completely oblivious to our surroundings. When we do this, it’s as though our world shrinks to fit our thoughts and problems.
No matter what our problems or how deep our thoughts, if we can remember to look up …to see the trees and sky, to watch the birds, to gaze at the stars, our entire perspective on life begins to grow. The problems may not have changed, but we have changed, because we have caught sight of a larger world.
We have been placed on this beautiful earth to enjoy it, to care for it, to grow from it. But we often get so lost in our “problems” and thought process that our lives becomes very black and white while there is a Technicolor Universe surrounding us.
No matter what is happening in our lives today…remember that this world is so much bigger. When we take the time to look around at the vastness that Life is, we begin to expand. We get to put our problems into perspective and often times the very solution we are looking for we find, because we are able to move out of our myopic world and see a bigger picture.
It’s so easy to get “lost” in our own world. But when we do, it’s truly as Milton said, “Paradise Lost.” Today, let’s walk with our heads held high. No matter what is happening in our inner world, let’s look at the beauty of our outer world so that our souls may have the opportunity to grow and expand.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Thu May 13, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Sarah Ban Breathnach from her book, “Simple Abundance”
Dear Hearts,
How many regrets do we all carry? Regrets about something said or done or perhaps, worst of all, about something we failed to say or do.
Let’s remember, today is a new day. Regret does not have to be a part of this day or any future days to come.
First of all, let’s forgive ourselves for the past. If we would have known better, we would have done better. The past is just that…passed. The future now beckons us forward.
Is there something in your life you have always wanted to do…yet somehow haven’t found the time/money, energy, etc. to do it? Why not find the time, a creative way to do it so it is not expensive and take care of ourselves so we have the energy to do that which our heart desires.
If, today, we feel depressed and lethargic perhaps it’s because we are not fully expressing ourselves. Today let’s spend a few minutes of quiet and ask ourselves, is there something creative that I want to do? And if the answer is “yes” yet we don’t know what it is…let’s ask. Our Higher Self knows all of our answers. We will receive an answer. The Bible says, ‘Just call and I will answer”.
Then move forward, find a way, the time, whatever is needed for us to move forward and just do it.
We don’t want to have regrets. So let’s get going…now! Take that class, learn that language, draw that picture, start on that book, sing that song…that beautiful song that only we can sing.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Wed May 12, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book...Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth.
Etty Hillesum
Dear Hearts,
Haven’t we all had times where we felt as though we’re we in a long dry spell that seems endless? A friend of mine recently confided that he had been in such a space over the past few months. At first he rallied against it…angry that he was (or so he felt) loosing precious moments of his creativity. Then he became depressed about it…sadly wondering if his creativity and zest for life would ever return. Finally, one day he was looking out his office window and noticed the trees had lost the last of their leaves and that they looked so bare. The thought hit him…the trees had to loose all their leaves before they could produce new leaves. There must also be a dormant time as that is the cycle of nature.
He wondered…are we any different? Don’t we all have cycles where we’re in bloom going about our business full speed ahead, filled with new ideas and enthusiasm? Then there must also be a time for us to hibernate…to simply “be” without any seeming new thoughts or new creativity. Notice the word “seeming”. Just like the trees that seem to be dormant…life is abounding within them as it is within us… preparing to spring forth once again.
All of us need down time…time to regroup. We need the space that dormancy allows for new ideas to start to develop and take hold until we, too, are ready to burst forth with new growth.
So let’s be patient with ourselves. If God is everywhere present, then God is in the “dormant” periods of our life as well as the blossoming times. It’s all God and it’s all good and as Ecclesiastes tells us, there is a time for everything.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Tue May 11, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
-Marsha Sinetar
Dear Hearts,
How often do we become so self-involved that we don't even think about doing something for another person? We seem to get lost in a little world of our own needs and wants. Yet, the greatest teachers who ever walked the face of the earth have shown us, through their example, a different and much more fulfilling way to live.
We look at Jesus, the Master Teacher, who washed the feet of his friends and cooked for them. He healed perfect strangers and always seemed to have time for children. We look at Mother Teresa, who spent her life caring for the lepers and the outcasts of society. We look at Ghandi, who was so committed to India's freedom that he made enormous self-sacrifices, including much time spent in jail (and not white-collar crime jails!).
Something wonderful happens to us when we put others first….we begin to change and grow. For those few moments when we put another first, we have the opportunity to forget about ourselves. When we put others first, we shine, we glow and we begin the journey of becoming fully human, thus fully alive as our hearts begin to break wide open. We become in sync with a giving Universe and we metaphorically join hands with all those that have gone before us who knew the secret of life is always to be of service and to give.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Sun May 09, 2010
You can now order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book, Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" in our book section.
-Rev. Michael Beckwith
Dear Hearts,
As we go about this day, what will our intention be? Will our intention be to get as much as we can get or to give as much as we can give? On today’s market, the mindset of many individuals is to get as much as they possibly can while giving as little as possible. However, when we live this way, we are out of harmony with the Universe. What we teach in Science of Mind is that this is a giving Universe, a giving God. Scripture tells us “God so loved that God gave.”
The Law of Cause and Effect governs this magnificent Universe in which we live. That same Law of Cause and Effect governs our lives. So if our Cause today is simply to see how much we can get, then the Effect we experience will be situations and individuals who also want to get and take from us.
If, however, our Cause is to give as much as we can, then that same Law of Cause and Effect will bring into our lives people and situations that will want to give to us. So we have an opportunity to choose which path we will travel today. Will we choose this day to be on the side of the givers? If that is our decision, then let’s go forth giving our gifts freely knowing that we glorify God by all that we give today.
Today, I am surrounded by the love of God. I make a conscious choice to stay on the giving side of life. I will give my gifts freely and joyfully remembering that my gifts are God’s gifts that I am here to distribute. Today is God’s day and I rejoice in it.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Sat May 08, 2010
bIn our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book, Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Paula Horan
Dear Hearts,
What we think about is so vital to our life’s success because our thoughts are like magnets. We attract into our lives whatever our predominant thought patterns are. So if our day is focused on thoughts of lack…we will continually attract lack into our lives.
When we look around at the bounty and plenty of nature, we can see that this Universe’s natural state is one of abundance. So if we’re in lack today, in any area of our lives, let’s begin by examining our thoughts and remember when we change our thinking we change our lives.
If we can only find one thing for which to be grateful today, then let’s focus on that. Then, through the Law of Attraction, gratitude will becoce our magnet for attracting more good into our lives.
Today let’s focus on and be grateful for all that we have and then we can rely on the fact that what we do have will grow and multiply.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Fri May 07, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Rev. Michael Beckwith & Ricky Byers Beckwith
Dear Hearts,
The above "Use Me Prayer" is both powerful and life transformative. So often we get out of bed and proceed through the day self-obsessed, struggling, finding little joy in life. When we ask God to use us, something shifts within us. We begin to get in touch with the fact that we are really spiritual beings having a human experience and that we are here to be the eyes, the ears, the mouth, the heart of God to each person and every situation that we encounter.
When we say the "Use Me Prayer", we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that all the people that show up in our life on a given day are there, not for only a human purpose, but a spiritual purpose. Our meetings with others become Divine Appointments.
Today, as we utter the "Use Me Prayer" we know that we are truly about Our Father's work and all that we do is lifted from the mundane into the holy.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book, Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Shaquille O'Neal
Dear Hearts,
Author Maureen Orth wrote an article for Vanity Fair recalling an interview she had with Shaquille O’Neal. On Shaq’s giant belt buckle were the initials, TWISM. When she asked about the meaning of the letters, he replied "This World Is Mine."
Perhaps we might think "Of course the world is his, he's a famous, wealthy basketball player." However, the flip side of the coin is, Shaq has consciously chosen this very positive, very assertive attitude. He could have chosen to focus on the enormous pressure he's constantly under to perform in every game, or he could focus on the fact that fame is fleeting and in a few years his basketball days will be over, or he could focus on the injuries and surgeries he’s endured and the pain he lives with. He has chosen to focus on the positive.
Today, we have the choice to also affirm, “this world is mine." Not from an egoic sense but in the sense that we get to choose how we view everything that happens to us in this life. We can name it all good, all creative, all a learning experience, all an opportunity to be more loving, all an opportunity to live life to the fullest, all an opportunity to know God better through our vast and myriad experiences. Let's try it -- today let's affirm "This world is mine" Then let's ask ourselves..."Now how am I going to create it?"
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Thu May 06, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book, Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
~ St. Augustine
Dear Hearts,
Would any of us go through a day without food and water? Most of us would never dream of doing such a thing. Going without food or water would starve our bodies…we would have little or no energy, our minds would become foggy and if we persisted without food and water our body temple would eventually die.
While food and water nourish and support our body… it's prayer that supports and nourishes our soul. Yet, there are days when we get so busy we forget to pray and without prayer our soul withers and endures its own kind of death.
Let’s remember that we are first and foremost spiritual beings and it's our soul that enriches us each day. It’s our soul that allows us to love when we would rather judge, its our soul that brings us peace in the midst of a day’s upset, it's our soul that feeds us compassion when we don’t want to forgive, it’s our soul that brings us the light of joy in the midst of sorrow or hurt. It’s our soul that creates and it’s our soul that recognizes the beauty of God.
On this exquisite May day, perhaps we might think of our souls as our gardens. We can begin right now watering the garden of our soul with prayer, pruning the garden of our soul with meditation and feeding the garden of our soul with spiritual reading. The gifts that we will receive from our well-tended soul garden will be a life enriched with the love, the peace, the beauty and the joy that is God.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Wed May 05, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Mother Theresa
Dear Hearts,
Don’t we sometimes feel that what needs to be done in this world, even within our families, workplace or communities is so vast, that we don’t know where to begin…so we make a decision (sometimes by default) to do nothing? Mother Theresa is telling us something very profound. She is in essence telling us to take baby steps; not to go out to change the world, or our families, etc. instead, simply do one act of kindness at a time...just one.
We might ask what good one act of loving-kindness could possibly do? Well it’s a ripple effect, we are kind to a person, then they are at choice to pass it on and before long there is a whole new dynamic of kindness, love and peace set into motion.
In John Denver’s loving tribute to Buckminster Fuller, he said, “what one man can do is take the world and make it young again. This is what one man can do”. The opportunities exist. They exist within our families, our circle of friends, our communities, and our workplace. One act of loving kindness, one act of compassion, one kind word, make a tremendous difference. At the end of the above quote Mother Theresa said, “I picked up one person. Maybe if I hadn’t picked up one person, I wouldn’t have picked up 42,000”.
So today, we get to practice loving kindness, practice goodness, practice looking beyond another’s behavior to the God-self within them, practice compassionate listening – one person at a time. And before long, our path will be ablaze with goodness and kindness and we will have accomplished this...one person and one act of loving-kindness at a time.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Tue May 04, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
John Wayne
Dear Hearts,
How often do we beat ourselves up over mistakes we have made? It's as though we take a whip and continually flagellate ourselves because of something we did or didn't do. Yet, the great value and purpose for mistakes is that we have the opportunity to learn and grow from them -- mistakes are a part of our learning process.
How many times must a baby fall before it finally gets up and walks across the room? And...have we ever known a baby that says "that's it, I'm tired of making the mistake of falling, therefore, I'm never going to try to walk again"? No, they keep going, learning from each fall until they finally get it right and begin to walk.
We have the power to name things anything we choose. We can name mistakes "failures" and become depressed and despondent about them. Or we can name a mistake exactly what it is ~ an opportunity to learn and grow. And how can we learn and grow but by trial and error?
So today, let's be kinder to ourselves and realize that each "mis-take" we make is simply part of our growing process. John Wayne's wonderful words puts it all into perspective ~ "today simply hopes we have learned something from yesterday."
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Mon May 03, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Marianne Williamson from her book, “The Gift of Change”
Dear Hearts,
Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, meaning that the Kingdom of Heaven is a state of consciousness that we can access through the power of our thinking. If the Kingdom of Heaven is a state of consciousness accessible through our thinking, then there must also be of state of consciousness known as “hell”, also accessible through our thinking.
If we choose to live in the state of consciousness called “hell”, we allow our thoughts to go to the negative side of life. We become overly critical of ourselves. We refuse to believe that God is bigger than our problems. We choose negative thoughts about ourselves rather than positive thoughts. We ignore the fact that we are children of God. We continually doubt our abilities and ourselves. Hellish thoughts cripple us, hellish thoughts keeps us from reaching our potential.
On the other hand, within each of us also lies the Kingdom of Heaven. It is that place within us that says, “You might not know how to do this, but with God all things are possible”. It is that place within us that whispers, “You are the beloved of God”. It’s that place within us that knows that our life has meaning, purpose and value. It’s that place within us that acknowledges we are here to do great and mighty work because we are here to do God’s work.
Each day both kingdoms beckon us. Will we choose to dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven by carefully choosing those thoughts that keep us within the positive stream of life? Or do we allow our thoughts to wander over to the negative side of life…thus spending this day in the “hell” of negative thinking? It’s up to us. Today....where will we choose to live?
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Sun May 02, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
Anonymous
If we were asked what our purpose in life is…how would we answer that question? Often we have a “ business card consciousness”, confusing our occupation with our purpose. Our occupation is what we do for a living; our purpose is what we do with our life.
Often through the experiences of our life, we forget or don’t have a true grasp on what our real purpose is. We end up going through the motions of life always feeling that we’re drifting and that there must be something more to our lives than the way we’re living them.
Each day when we awaken let’s remember that our primary purpose is to be here for God. How do we do that…where do we begin? We begin by opening our hearts and allowing the qualities of God, love, peace, joy, harmony and compassion to come forth and fill every area of our daily lives. Everything we do springboards from these qualities.
Today, let’s walk tall and remember that our purpose is to be here for God, everything else is secondary. Let’s live our lives in such a way that all who see us see God...meaning they see love, goodness, kindness, compassion and joy.
As we do this, we catch a deeper sense of who we really are and what we’re really about. Then our lives become purpose driven ~ not occupation driven ~ but purpose driven… and the very ground we stand on becomes holy.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Sat May 01, 2010
In our book section, you can order Oprah Winfrey's favorite book ~ Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
William James
Dear Hearts,
We're not at choice about whether we will have unfortunate events occur in our lives. We're living a human life…and human misfortune is part and parcel of that life. What we do have choice about is how we handle life’s misfortune.
There are a multitude of ways misfortune can strike, a hurricane, the loss of a loved one, a job loss, breakup of a relationship or diagnosis/prognoses, etc. What’s important is that we process misfortune is such a way that we finally get to a place of acceptance.
Getting to a place of acceptance isn’t always easy. Psychologist Elsabeth Kubler Ross described the five stages of grief.
(2) Anger (fury that this has happened)
(3) Bargaining (promising to do something if situation can only change)
(4) Depression (how can I go on?) and finally
(5) Acceptance (and so life goes on).
In order to really process a misfortune, we must go through all five stages of grief. These stages may take us an hour or may take us months. There are those who get stuck in misfortune…who waste the precious moments of their lives continually asking “why?” “Why” is never a valid question, as we’ll never know the answer to that question.
We can get through any misfortune if we choose to. We have a great and mighty God that has said, “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you".*
Let's pray for the help we need, process our grief (with other's help, if necessary) and move on with our journey of acceptance in this beautiful thing called life.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Barbara
Isaiah 41:19*