Purpose

These days I am quite content with my life.

My relationship with Rog (my life partner and husband) continues to blossom (and be meaningful and fun). Working my computer-related business is enjoyable and my client base is growing. I’m a member of a choir that is so much more than a group of people singing.

Spiritual classes, meetings, and events nourish my soul and expand my knowledge of people and the world. Many new friendships with like-minded spiritual beings are flourishing. I’m doing volunteer work with pooches as well as people.

Life is rich. Life is good. And, the best is yet to be.

“We are not here without purpose. We are being called to fulfill a destiny. We have work ahead of us, work that we don’t want to turn our back on. We know this work is God’s will for us and is meant to bring peace, joy, and gratitude.

“Today I will remember that I am necessary to others, that my life is not an accident, and that God has a purpose for me.” - Excerpted from In God’s Care, May 19

I don’t feel I’m being complacent - simply content, satisfied. It feels peaceful. And, I feel patient. It’s a great place to be as I await notice from God about what my true work and life purpose are to be and when it’s time to move into gear. I’m being prepped for what is to come. I’m waking up so that I will be of greater use and power when the big changes arrive.

In the meanwhile, I will just keep on keeping on, staying attuned to Spirit’s messages.

Thank You, Spirit, for this life rich with waking up and Your plan for my life purpose and how to best serve.

Who I Am

I’m aware that more and more I am exercising my right to choose, to change my mind, to be and act more consciously from a higher ground. I’m stepping more and more into who I truly am.

Recently, some requirements of the volunteer work I was thinking of doing came to light and I found myself having a charge around them. After a bit of soul searching, I realized that, while the organization was doing meaningful, wonderful work for its clients, I could not be a part of it because of some philosophical differences.

Now I’d have to tell the volunteer coordinator. Oh. I’d have to stick to my truth, be diplomatic, and not feel like I’d killed someone because I’d changed my mind - even though I’d not even filled out an application yet!

When this person returned my phone call, I took a deep breath, said a very quick prayer, and took the call. I was diplomatic, focused, and complimentary. I blamed no one and offered encouragement. I stood in my truth, confident with God.

There are other places where I can serve and not have to sacrifice my integrity. I’m sticking with those. I’m standing my ground, open to God’s will for me.

It feels good to say “no” in whatever form it may take, instead of trying to people please and hurting everyone in the process anyway. With Spirit an integral part of me, I can be and act - and serve- as the holy child of God I truly am.

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.

Prosperity

Today’s Daily Word is Prosperity: “I prosper as I live a life of purpose.” It reminds me that when my purpose is to serve God, I am supported in all I do.

And, when I focus on serving, connection to Spirit and my fellow travelers abounds. It is so clear that God is my Source for everything and I prosper physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and financially.

I am grateful to be able to rest in this Truth this day. Thank You, God!

Listening

I strive to be a good listener when someone is talking to me. That entails being attentive and focused, not thinking of how I will respond or making judgments or being somewhere else. To be a good listener for someone is a loving, respectful act.

It’s also an honorable act. When I am attentive, I’m honoring that person - and God. For God sends messages and information in many ways, and through the words of humans is a prolific format.

What fun it is to be alert to God’s words when face-to-face with another human being! What an opportunity to bless one another! Who knows what I will hear from God as I serve another by fully listening with my ears, my mind, and my heart?...

Dear Spirit -
Make me a channel of clear two-way communication in the presence of others, and in the Presence of You and Your unseen helpers.

Giving

In a recent Daily Guideposts, Roberta Messner talked about how giving to others in a variety of ways lessened her chronic physical pain from an incurable disorder. Her doctor told her that her discovery was supported by both the Bible and medical science. “Giving releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, Roberta. Studies have actually shown that volunteers, some of the most devoted givers of all, lead happier, healthier and longer lives.”

In another recent Daily Guideposts (01.23.10) I read the following prayer: “Dear Lord, help me do one thing today that brings someone farther away from a problem and closer to a solution.”

When I was very actively doing service in OA, there is no doubt that I felt happier and more fulfilled as I helped my peers live in the solution for their eating disorder problem. It was an honor and a privilege to serve. In my giving of myself, my self was receiving - a lovely, loving loop of giving and receiving in action. My own recovery was enhanced, my connection to Spirit strengthened, my channel clearer, my heart open.

Service is always a great way to quiet the ego, let God in, and shine my light to help others. As I set my intentions for moving my life and purpose forward, I enthusiastically (“with God”) give of myself. I am blessed as I bless others.

Ways to Understand

“Fear of the unknown is natural, but it lessens as we mature in our spiritual life. “- In God’s Care, January 27, 2010

Since I ‘came to believe’ almost 20 years ago, I no longer feel that awful ache inside that I am alone - God is always with me. Where there is faith, fear cannot dwell. As I mature in my faith and spirituality, fear lessens.

I’ve learned too that there are many other entities with me as well. There is so very much going on in the unseen world, there are so many beings only too glad to help with me with living life and my spiritual growth.

I know quite a few people who are able to hear the messages from God and their other unseen friends and who are able to easily communicate back and forth, piercing the veil. I envy them - I just seem so blocked in being able to hear their guidance despite my yearning to be in conscious contact with them.

So I have developed the practice of greeting them in the morning, and saying goodnight to them when my head hits the pillow at the end of the day (and “acting as if” as much as possible). I have been praying to them - and Spirit - to release any blockages I might have and to provide a clear channel for me to hear them. The issue lays with me, not them.

Last night at the Unity of Sedona Mystic Choir’s rehearsal, we practiced a number of songs by Rickie Byars Beckwith. This morning during meditation I realized that Spirit had provided me with better languaging in my search to more readily ‘hear the voices’ of It and my angels, guides, etc.

“How can I serve today, sweet Spirit?
How can I serve, oh Lord?
Speak in ways that I will understand
Where You lead me, I will follow
Where You lead me, I will go.”
- Lyrics by Rickie Byars Beckwith

Thank You, Spirit! Thanks to all of my other unseen friends!

Forgiving Me

I don’t think my plate has ever been as full as it is now as we continue transitioning from life in Gilbert to life in Sedona. And because of that, certain tasks have gone by the wayside or not been addressed in a timely manner or not been done as perfectly as I (and perhaps others) think they should have been.

It’s time for forgiving – me, moi, Joyce. I’m doing the best I can in each 24-hour period given to me and it must be enough. In fact, it’s better than enough.

I don’t think Spirit has me here to act like a machine. I am here to learn, to grow, to help others, to serve, to be happy. I want to find the joy in this day, and I want to be in the Now to feel the Presence.

The other day at a blessing gathering I got the hit that forgiveness is about surrender. I surrender to God the ideas I hold about myself and others, how things should be, and let go. I let God handle my actions and my thoughts. I surrender my heart to God as I forgive myself and others.

Today I am filled with peace as I choose to forgive myself and surrender my life to Spirit. Thank You, Spirit!

I am Willing

Dear God,

I am willing to be at peace.
I am willing to look at all things through eyes of love.
I am willing to be everything I can be.
I am willing to be healed.
I am willing to serve.
I am willing to release the past.
I am willing to live full-out.
I am willing to surrender my ego.
I am willing to be illumined.
I am willing to represent Your love.
I am willing to forgive myself and all others.
I am willing to share my abundance
I am willing to love.
I am willing to be all that I am.
Use me, Holy Spirit.
I am willing.
Thank You.
Amen.

- Ric Beattie