Attitude

“What we say about a situation determines how we think about it and finally what we do about it. Attitude largely determines activity; so watch your attitude and make it one of faith. By practicing positive attitudes, you will experience a renewed trust in God and find creative solutions to your problems.” - Our Prayer.org

I’ve been paying greater and greater attention to the impact of the separated, limited, little Me on my joy, my life. Its thinking can easily push me into fear, not feeling capable enough, contracted.

And yesterday I started paying greater attention to the unlimited Me. It’s the Me that is formless - my spirit, my true essence. So when I caught my attitude starting to drift towards negativity, I paused, said hello to God, and consciously moved back into the energy field of Spirit. With a shift in attitude, my actions shifted as well, and I proceeded on with the day in a more positive manner.

We all know what the shift of attitude towards God, trust, and faith feels like: power, joy, love, mercy, grace, and peace. The little Me cannot bring me to that place. Only the whole Me, the Oneness, God.

The Little Me

I’ve spent a good chunk of my life - like most other human beings born on this planet - living from the place of the separated, limited, little Me. Thinking that Me and the world of form would save me, placed me in prison. Suffering resides there.

All prisons come from thought forms. But I can choose freedom, I can choose to focus on The Presence. When I do, I renounce my separated, limited, little Me, I renounce suffering. With Spirit, I live through Its power and love.

When I’m awake, the world of form flows from grace, not from me trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Yet, by then, ironically, the world of form no longer holds great importance to me anyway.

What is always most important is focusing on God, The Source. There are no prisons in God’s kingdom, only in my egoic mind.

Today I renounce the separated, limited, little Me. Today I choose freedom as I wake up more fully to the grace, the love, the power of The Presence.

Allowing Grace

“We would like you to release the word "achieve" or "earn" from your vocabulary and from your understanding, altogether, and we would like you to replace those words with the word "allow". You're wanting to allow your Well-being, not achieve it. It's not something that you need to earn. All you have to do is decide what it is you would like to experience, and then allow it in order to achieve it. It isn't something you have to struggle for or try for. You are all worthy beings. You are deserving of this Well-being.” – Abraham, Excerpted from the Detroit, MI 07.08.2000 #468 workshop

God’s grace is mine, not needing to be earned or achieved. I allow Well-being to flow to me and through me.

Thank You, God.

Taken Care of By Source

“The one factor that has been unknown by most humans, that is understood by the beasts, is that Well-being truly does abound, and that you are blessed beings who live in an atmosphere of grace, and that unless you are doing something to pinch off the Well-being, it will be yours.”
- Abraham, Excerpted from the Saturday, 08.18.01 #465 San Francisco, CA workshop

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field... will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
"Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?' or "What shall we drink?' or "What shall we wear?'... For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
- Excerpted from Matthew 6:25-33

Dear God-
Grant me a truly knowing heart that You are The Source of my being and help me to seek first Your kingdom. May I rejoice in Your Well-Being, like the animals roaming this earth and like the lilies of the field blowing carefree in the breeze.

Perfection

Today’s Daily Word is ‘healing” and the affirmation is “I bless my mind and body with thoughts of perfect health.”

As I embarked on my quiet time of meditation, I silently repeated the affirmation like a chant...

I bless my mind and body with thoughts of perfect health.
At some point I realized I was chanting I bless my mind and body with thoughts of perfect peace.

Ah - I like that.

So what about...

I bless my mind and body with thoughts of perfect love.
I bless my mind and body with thoughts of perfect joy.
I bless my mind and body with thoughts of perfect grace.
I bless my mind and body with thoughts of perfect faith.

The list could go on and on and on.

Perfect health, perfect peace, perfect love, perfect joy, perfect grace, perfect faith: blessing my mind and body with such uplifting, affirming thoughts certainly promotes healing.

What a fun gift this affirmation exercise was, and I’m sure I will carry its wonderful energy with me throughout the day. As I affirm these states of perfection, I affirm my oneness with God.

God is perfect and so is my true state.

Endurance or Trust?

“When a man has quietly made up his mind that there is nothing he cannot endure, his fears leave him.” - Grove Patterson

My fears leave me when I remember God - God within, God in all and around all.

My fears leave me when I step into faith. All is as it should be and God is here, now, ever-present to guide me and accompany me on this journey called Life, loving and gracing me along the way.

My attitude makes all the difference. I can look from the standpoint of enduring or I can look from the perspective of everything is a blessing and has a purpose. There is no need for fear or feeling like I’m enduring - that's my ego taunting me. God has a plan and my role is to trust and have faith.

The Director

“When you talk about what you want and why you want it, there's usually less resistance within you than when you talk about what you want and how you're going to get it. When you pose questions you don't have answers for, like how, where, when, who, it sets up a contradictory vibration that slows everything down.” - Abraham, Excerpted from the Saturday, 01.29.05, San Antonio, TX #448 workshop

In this vast universe of myriad possibilities, I cannot possibly figure out the ‘how’ of anything. In God’s kingdom, all things are possible.

So, I leave the ‘how’ up to Spirit, who has a Divine Plan and is running the show. I open myself up to God’s Will and Grace to receive what God wants, and let God handle the ‘how’ too.

“Help us to understand that You, Who knows the end from the beginning, are always in charge.” - Isabel Wolseley

God Provides

Today’s Daily Word begins with “I trust in the presence and power of God to provide whatever I need today.” Further along it continues with ”I anticipate the fulfillment of my needs with eagerness and joy.”

For the 20+ years I’ve been on a conscious spiritual path I have often read and been told by others that Spirit will always provide for my needs. And also, I will receive what I need even though it may not always be what I want.

So I had an epiphany with the aforementioned reading this morning: of course God will provide for my needs, but not necessarily my wants. I surmise this is because wants are of the ego, and Spirit is not looking to strengthen the ego. Spirit and ego don’t mesh - ever hear that ego is an acronym for Easing God Out?

This epiphany strengthens my faith that I am in God’s care. And I may not always like what I get, but I rest assured that I will get what I need - lovingly and with grace and mercy.

Certainty

As was pointed out to me in a morning reading, when I was practicing my addiction (food binging), my life was full of uncertainty. But I seemed to have trusted that my addiction would see me through any trouble, anything in life I might encounter. And to add to my particular case as a devout atheist, I surely only had me to rely on. Still, uncertainty didn’t seem to be that much of an issue even though being in the fog of addiction, ego, and unconsciousness I was not able to make healthy, loving choices.

But coming to believe and slowly waking up, I started looking for guarantees, for certainty. God provides that certainty but only if I trust and have faith. These days I think I’m really starting to internalize that God is taking care of me. It may not always be evident to me, it may not always be the way I’d like it. But when all is said and done, God’s plan is always far better than mine could ever be.

These days I think I’m ‘getting it’ sooner - not after the fact, but before the plan is revealed - that God is taking care of me and to trust The Plan.

The certainty that God provides is that whatever I might go through, Spirit will be with me. Some of the other certainties I believe in are:

- God loves me no matter what - Its love and grace do not have to be ‘earned.’ That love means that only the highest good is meant for me.
- All that occurs is a blessing and for my upliftment (there’s no losing here).
- The more I put into my relationship with God, the better my life will be, the more joy and love I will feel.

As I heal and wake up, I am better able to be an instrument for God, to help others see what is important and certain in their life.

Gratitude and Abundance

I’ve heard it said that gratitude releases energy, which leaves a vacuum. Like any vacuum, it must be filled, and it is abundance that fills it. Abundance gives rise to more gratitude, which in turn releases energy, creates a vacuum, and is filled by abundance. And on and on it goes.

I’ve also heard that when you are in a sincere state of gratitude your energy (vibrational resonance) is one of acceptance and harmony. You resonate, and as a result, project a much higher vibrational frequency which is exactly what attracts to you the events, conditions, and circumstances that you desire. Gratitude puts you in a harmonious vibrational resonance which attracts additional energies.

What I know is that when I have an attitude of gratitude, I feel closer to Spirit. I am touched by God’s grace, and my heart opens more. And, no matter what is going on, all is well.

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” - Henry Ward Beecher

Thank You, Spirit, for this day and for Your many blessings that open my heart to feeling gratitude and receiving Your abundance.

The End

It’s the end of the day, the end of a weekend. It’s hard to believe we married a couple just two days ago - it feels like weeks! This weekend has been so rich.

Not only did Rog and I officiate at a wedding, but his daughter Emily visited us for the weekend. We’ve not seen her since Christmastime. And, I finished editing a novella for a client/friend. I sang in the Mystic Choir, listened to other music, and got to hear a friend’s story of his spiritual awakening when he spoke at Unity of Sedona. I met with a new client who is on a conscious spiritual path, which is my preferred type of client. And, I engaged in many conversations, some mini-, some a bit more, but all with the result of connection and getting to know one another better and being of service. Did I mention the hugs? Lots of hugs this weekend too.

All of the aforementioned enriches my life, my spirit. My soul gets nourished via connection, especially with folks that are on a journey of waking up.

I am so grateful for the plan God has for me. I may not know what He has in mind but there is no doubt that it is rich with people.

So as I get ready to have my head hit my pillow tonight, to end this day, I thank Spirit for all the blessings It has showered upon me. I’m doing the work of being willing and open to waking up. The Universe is responding to this energy with grace and prosperity. The awakening is its own joy and gift - and the prosperity is most welcomed too.

Thank You O Great Mystery. And, good night!

God Is...

God is...

Love
Joy
Peace
Strength
Power
Breath
Source
Life
Grace
Gratitude
Guide
Friend
Companion
Comfort
Healer
Consciousness
Presence
Serenity
Security

No matter where my journey takes me, I am not alone - God is.

Service

There are many reasons and motives for doing service. But are mine ‘pure?’ What I mean is, am I doing them from my Higher Self or from my ego self?

When I serve to feel needed, I’m coming from my little me. When I look at the person I’m helping as a victim or someone I’m trying to ‘save,’ I’m coming from the separated self. I am not in an awaken state.

Being of service directly working with people is one of the grandest ways that I feel God’s presence and a strong connection. I am in my heart, opening to God’s love and grace - for me and the other.

So, I serve as a way to grow closer to God. And through helping others with this motive in mind, I open myself up to be an instrument of God’s grace and to waking up a bit more to the real world of Love.

How can I serve today, Sweet Spirit
How can I serve today, Oh Lord
Speak to me in ways I will understand
Where You lead, I will follow.
- Rickie Byars Beckwith

Dear Sweet Spirit,
Speak to me in words I understand as to where You would have me serve today. Open my heart as I have the opportunity to be Your instrument and shine Your light on all whom I minister to today.

I Need Do Nothing

Yesterday a stranger started a conversation with Rog when he thought that Rog was carrying a bible. I get tickled pink when people are open to connecting - you never know where that holy instant can lead to.

In this case, it led to a number of lessons for Rog and me. This man’s apparent friendliness, apparent openness was his segue into evangelizing about his religion. His apparent interest in Rog’s beliefs was feigned, as he questioned Rog but then glanced at the newspaper. Grilling Rog, quoting scripture left and right with an attitude of righteousness, this man had an agenda to ‘save’ us.

It is a contradiction to me that someone who espouses Jesus as their savior in the same breath does not respect my belief, but points the finger, tells me I’m wrong, and holds an attitude as ‘less than’ towards me. It’s clear that they really don’t get what the real deal is. This is how wars get started. This is operating from ego, not God.

I do not have to agree with you, but I need to respect you. We are all God’s children, all equal. If I am truly an emissary of God, I extend love, acceptance, and peace. The reminder and lesson (again) was that I also respect myself by not participating in other’s agendas. I think it is worthwhile to know where I stand on issues and to clarify my beliefs. But I’m not obligated to share those when asked, especially by a hostile, close-minded party. I have to keep my boundaries.

Today’s Daily Word is Grace. It is a good reminder that I do not need to be saved, I am already perfect and loved the way I am and there is nothing I need to do to earn God’s love.

“As a child I may have learned that I must earn all good things in life. In school, awards are handed out for special achievement; at work, promotions are given to high achievers. I may also have believed that God, too, rewards only those who make an extra effort.

“Grace teaches me that I am loved right where I am, regardless of what I have or have not done. I do not have to earn God's love. I do not have to achieve a certain status or reach a certain milestone to be loved. Right where I am, God loves me.”

Bless those who cross my path to remind me of my true God nature - even when unintended by them.

Seeing

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” - John Lubbock

I have a client with whom I work with 20 hours per week, so I’m familiar with the look of her office. One day she asked for my interior decorating advice regarding an oval area rug she planned to buy for a main walk-through section of the office. Armed with samples, we discussed which color scheme would best work with the current carpet, and I also brought up my concern about how the thickness of the rug might be a tripping hazard. Then she proceeded to order her choice online, and that’s the last I thought of it.

The following week I was in my client’s office and it wasn’t until I’d walked through the main area three times that I realized the area rug had been delivered and placed on the carpet! I simply hadn’t seen it and I certainly hadn’t tripped over it.

It’s pretty phenomenal to me that something can be right in my face and I don’t see it. Have you ever looked all over the house for your keys (substitute anything else), only to find them on the kitchen counter next to the coffee mug you’d just been drinking out of?

It sure makes me wonder what else I’m not seeing, minor things and the not-so-minor. And then there’s the idea that this world is an illusion and I’m making it up anyway... so why can’t I ‘make up’ the keys, the cash, the love, the faith, etc.?

If I can’t see what is theoretically on the physical plane and I believe should be easy to see, then how can I ‘see’ what is in the other realms? And, if I’m making it all up anyway, why aren’t I making up and communicating with the unseen spiritual beings whom I’ve been yearning to communicate with?

Intention. Yes, again, I go about setting intentions and being awake. With faithful expectancy and joy, I see what I am looking for, I live the life and experience the abundance that is mine by Divine Right. I stay alert to my good and to God’s Grace.

Intention

I still find myself these days not hearing guidance as directly, as often, or as clearly as I would like. It was suggested to me that setting an intention could very well prove useful in this situation. And, of course, setting and holding intentions is beneficial and powerful in all areas of one’s life.

So I’m setting intentions for this day:

I intend that God, my angels, my guides, and all other beings interested in my upliftment speak to me clearly in ways I understand -

I intend to follow the clear guidance given me -

I intend to walk through this day in peace, love, and joy -

I intend to be aware of all that I am grateful for -

I intend to remain open to receiving God’s grace -

I intend to be a patient, good listener and to shine my light in service to others -

I intend that this day is a productive one, enjoying and effectively doing the work Spirit sets before me -

I intend that when my head hits the pillow tonight I will have felt the power of setting intentions and fall asleep with a smile on my face enveloped in the knowing presence of Spirit, my angels, and my guides.

The Truth

When I keep open my mind and heart to the wisdom of God, I no longer allow minor disturbances to confuse me. I see below surface appearances to what is true.

Take, for instance, my getting a bit perturbed the other day when I found out an acquaintance had not bothered consulting me about a project she was working on. Didn’t she know I had some connections?... Didn’t she know that I might have been able to help? I felt neglected and ‘less than’.

And, gratefully, Spirit woke me up to see ego at work. After all, I’m only an acquaintance to this woman... and I’m not the only person on the planet that might have some helpful knowledge or a good network of contacts. And, besides, I’m not particularly drawn to having this person in my life. So what’s this feeling of being slighted (as I saw it) about anyway? It’s nothing more than my ego wanting to be bolstered, massaged, given attention to. Ah-ha!

In practically an instant, I recognized what was going on and woke up! In my awakened heart, I wished this person well, blessed her success - and thanked her silently for being yet another conduit for me to learn about my inner world by looking at the outer.

God’s messages and messengers are all around me, inviting me to wake up to the Truth. And the Truth is that I am a holy child of God, powerful, loved, loving, and graced.

Thank You, God!

In This Very Moment

In the present moment...
... I breathe the breath of life
... I am at peace
... I feel calm
... I feel joy
... lays the field of prosperity
... all is well
... is where Grace flows
... miracles happen
... I feel God’s Presence
... I am one with Source
... I am always grateful
... is eternity.

Spiritual Acts

Yesterday’s blog touched upon spirituality as action. Last night I was on the receiving end of it.

I’m enrolled in this course called “Spiritual Evolution in Consciousness.” One segment each time involves working in triads with one person as the Sharer, another the Listener, and the third the Observer and holder of the sacred space.

After sharing a recent incident that I was seeking to better understand my old familiar reaction to and thus heal it, I was able to connect some dots from it and my childhood. That felt like progress towards my healing and I was grateful for my colleagues for helping me get to that point. That was spirituality as action on their part.

When we came to the final larger circle of sharing of the evening a man shared the profound insight he received during his triad work. It revolved around his father never telling him as a child that he loved him. However, J---- , over time, was able to teach his dad how to do so and today they enjoy a closer, healthier relationship.

I guess I was open enough by this time in the evening to really take that in. And in so doing, the pain from my own father never uttering the words “I love you” - or even writing them in a card - surfaced straight to the top of my consciousness - and my heart. It cracked right open after I shared out loud that I was happy for J---- whilst still acknowledging my own pain.

We are healed in many ways, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. And often, for me, it involves other people bearing witness and then extending themselves through spirituality in action. A smile, a kind word, a hug, allowing me to cry in their arms - all are spiritual acts, all promote healing of the individual and the planet.

I was blessed to be the recipient of many such acts last night. From each of those people, God’s kindness and grace shone through. Embraced with such love and the knowledge that I am never alone, I move along in my healing journey to wake up, myself better able to express spirituality in action to others.

I am so grateful. Thank You, God - all of you!

Plans

From time to time throughout my lifetime - especially when my ego was comparing me to other people - I would regret that I had not consciously planned out my life. You know, like the boy in 3rd grade who just knew he wanted to be a doctor and was preparing for med school at age 8. Or, the young lady in junior high who was already singing in musical theatre.

I received little guidance from my parents about this game called life, and simultaneously there did not seem to be any great specific desires inside me to stir me up.

Sure, I knew that I wanted to go to college despite my parents never asking me what I was going to do with my life after high school. And, I had this great yearning for what I would now call my twin flame. I seemed to have mini-plans but nothing that tied them all together.

When I entered the 12 Step program twenty years ago I heard many slogans to assist me from ‘picking up’ and to live life on life’s terms. One of these was “Failing to plan is planning to fail;” I have to say I was never quite comfortable with that one. Perhaps I felt it a bit contra to other ideas like God has a plan for me and more will be revealed, etc. And, then there’s the joke “How do you make God laugh? Tell Him you plans!”

On my journey I’ve embraced the notion that I’m a powerful being and co-create my life, and I’ve embraced I’m powerless and God is in charge. Well, which is it?

These days I once again am back to the idea that God has a plan for me and there’s really not much I can do about it. I do not find that aversive because the God of my understanding is total Love, Goodness, Grace, Joy, etc., so Its plan for me can only have such qualities as well. And, this is actually a relief. I can surrender and rest in Spirit’s most loving and competent hands and know that all is well. And, of course, it’s my choice to have an attitude of gratitude even when I can’t see the blessings in the darkness.

Yes, I am powerful, but only because that power comes through from Source. And, Source indeed has a divine plan for me.

Having learned about living in the Now, as I reflect back on my childhood so many years ago, perhaps I was a bit more ‘together’ than I give myself credit for. Just maybe I didn’t make a conscious plan for my life because I was simply living in the present moment, letting my life unfold according to the plan of an Unseen Power. And, my life was exactly how God planned it.