Thank You, God!

My prayer today is: Thank You, God! Thank You, God! Thank You, God! I guess it’s an affirmation as well.

I’m grateful that I feel I made some progress in my daily practice of sitting in the Silence, of quieting the mind. I actually was able to focus mainly on my breath for a great portion of the ½ hour. And by focusing on the breath, one can only be in the present moment, in the Now. That is where Consciousness resides, that is where The Presence can be felt. When I did find myself back in the chatter of the little Me, I was inspired to chant Thank You, God! Thank You, God! Thank You, God! and get back to the breath, to the Now.

I’m grateful that I finally got back to my morning stretches. Ever since we moved to Sedona 7+ months ago, those had gone by the wayside. My morning schedule wasn’t so open any more, the floors are Saltillo tile (beautiful - and hard), and I don’t have my own private space where I can stretch to soothing music; challenges no doubt, but not roadblocks if I am willing and open to change. I finally became willing enough.

So this morning I am b-r-e-a-t-h-i-n-g deeply and I am feeling more conscious and more healthy in body, mind, and spirit. It feels great!

Thank You, God! Thank You, God! Thank You, God!

Returning to Source

It is a relief for me to learn that meditation is not a practice - it is an intention. As a practice, I get frustrated because my mind seems difficult to quiet. But meditation as an intention is a declaration to return to God, and that is really what I strive to make my life about.

Meditation is the intention to get back to Source, the one thing that never changes and never left us. It is formless and permanent; all that is form is temporary. All true spiritual teachings call us to return our attention to Source. “Return unto to Me, and I will return unto thee.”

My egoic mind can go about chattering away as I sit in the silence, and Spirit doesn’t care one iota. Eventually, the chatter dissipates and I am the formless with The Creator. I am in an abiding state of awakening, my primary purpose for being on the planet.

Resting in God's Peace

Dear Spirit-

Another morning in which my mind continued to chatter away as I sought Your Peace, as I sought to just be still and in the silence. I so yearn to experience the gap between thoughts so that I may rest and feel Your Oneness.

As I go through this day, may I feel Your Peace and be refreshed even whilst I am in the middle of busyness. I know You are always with me as is Your Peace - may I experience it now.

Thank You, thank You, thank You. And so it is. Amen.

Come Sit With Me...

Dear God, my angels, guides, and other beings interested in my upliftment-

Come sit with me in peace, in the silence, as I am renewed and refreshed.

With You by my side, I take the time to breathe, to pause, to stop the busyness.

I am still and allow Your loving energy to flow through me.

May I take Your Peace, Your Love, Your Freshness, and carry them throughout the day. And, may I pass them on as I shine my light, Your Light, onto to all whom I meet.

Thank You all for Your loving, holy, blessed Presence.

And, so it is.

Inner Peace

“I am at peace when my heart and mind are on God.” - Today’s Daily Word, March 22, 2010

Yes, indeed. Ya know the only place I want to be is with God. Of course, I am always with God, and God with me - it cannot be any other way. But I’m not always focused on God. And when my heart and mind are not on God, life is often tough and I do not feel at peace.

It’s like there is this veil, sometimes thick, sometimes thin. I’m on one side, sometimes fairly awake, many times asleep, and God is always on the other side, fully present. I endeavor to get that veil as thin as possible through prayer, affirmation, meditation, sitting in the silence, etc.

I endeavor to keep my heart and mind staid on Thee. There I am in bliss, joy, and peace.

In God's Care

In the Silence, sitting upright with my feet flat on the floor in my office, I imagine roots flowing from my soles extending deep into Mother Earth... Deep, deep, deep. Ahhh... Connected.

I get to thinking how I suppose it is evident that as far back as I can remember I’d hoped that someone, somebody would take care of me. And, you know what? Not one man ever did!

I suppose this expectation, perhaps yearning, stems from my very early childhood days. With three sibs (two sets of twins all together), a dad busy working trying to feed six mouths, a mom whose own mom died when she was 18 months old due to complications arising from birthing her, etc., it was difficult to feel cared for.

Sitting in the Silence, feeling the roots flowing from my soles extending deep into Mother Earth, I realize that I AM cared for. God takes care of me with every breath I breathe, every millisecond of this life, all lives past and any more to come, whatever the dimension, whatever the world.

I am a child of God, of no one else. And, I am in God’s care always.

Tranquility

Dear God –

Help me!

Help me to take care of my soul, to make nourishing it and my relationship with You a priority. Only then can I be an instrument of peace and love and joy for You. Only then can I dwell in the peace that is mine by Divine Right.

After spending some desperately needed time in the Silence this morning, I read today’s Daily Word – its message was synchronistic. Thank You, God!

Daily Word, Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tranquility

I relax into the renewing peace and calm of God.

Just as I feel refreshed after a good night's sleep, I am rejuvenated during quiet times of reflection and communion with God. My time apart may be a quiet hour in a serene place or single moments focused on God in the midst of seeming chaos.

I turn inward to the place of peace that reveals God to me. I relax. With each moment of silence and with each calming breath, I am aware of the wholeness that I am. Cares slip away, and I am at peace.

In this season when winter nights grow longer and nature comes into its time of rest, I respond in kind. I relax into the renewing peace and calm of God. Tranquility is the blessing of my time apart, and I carry it with me through every moment of this day.

He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while."--Mark 6:31

Prayer for the Day

Dear God -

May I start first with feeling Your Presence. From there may I exude Your Love, Joy, Peace, and Grace to others I meet on the path today.

Please increase and enliven my trust and faith in You and Your works, and leave the fears and littleness of the ego by the wayside so that I may enjoy this day and You can make Your demonstrations.

As I leave the Silence and go out into the world today, may I feel Your Presence and hear Your Voice at all times, and may following Your guidance flow with ease, grace, and joy in a perfect way.

Thank You, thank You, thank You; and, so it is.

Thanksgiving II

Yesterday I was driving on State Route 89A from Sedona towards Cottonwood, making my way to the ultimate destination of Gilbert to have one last packing up session with our house there. This trip I was driving sans Rog so I had the opportunity to be alone with God in any way I chose.

When I drive alone I’m usually singing spiritual music, which feels like prayer to me; I love connecting to Source in this manner. But on this early sunny morning I actually sat in the Silence for a while. Viewing all the beauty around me got me to thinking about the road I alone, and with Rog, have traveled in recent times with God. I started listing my blessings.

I am grateful that we now live in a small town filled with many spiritually awakened souls and host to many spiritually awakening and cultural events. I am grateful that I feel a part of community. I am grateful that every day I am surrounded and can view the natural beauty of this place.

I am grateful for all the miracles God came through with to get Rog and me moved from Gilbert to this perfect home for us in Sedona. Some came at the 11 ½ hour, but they came. The owners couldn’t be more wonderful folks and we feel grateful and privileged that they ‘entrusted’ this home to our care. This place is rich with character and coziness and indeed feels like a ‘vacation home’ to us.

I am grateful for the new life that is unfolding for me that includes singing in a choir, being of service especially during the upcoming holiday season, meeting new people, and engaging in meaningful conversation. I am grateful for the loving and welcoming disposition of everyone (it seems), from Unity attendees to the grocery check-out person. I am grateful for old friends and relatives who are loving and supportive.

I am grateful for my good health and capable physical body, and for the fresh air and exercise that is a more natural part of my lifestyle now.

I am grateful that I have a steady business contract with a local business person; this contract lays a financial foundation for us to start with. And, the client and I work well together. In addition, it’s a natural way to get immersed into the local community. I am grateful for new business contracts on their way to manifestation.

I am grateful for a great, reliable automobile, my 2003 Camry named Espiritu / Spirit II, with its license plate that is a continual reminder to me of God’s presence and the attitude I need to hold each and every minute - GUIDEME.

And most of all I am grateful I am sharing all of this adventure called Life with my twin flame and husband Roger.

I am surely blessed!

Thank You, Spirit, for all that you have given me in this life. There is indeed so much to be grateful for - in fact, everything since it all comes from You, Source of All Good.

All I Wanna Do...

... is be with God.

There I am at peace and safe.

Sitting in the Silence, I feel so peaceful, protected, and cared for. And, how could I not be? For God is with me always – I could not be breathing, living now if it were not for Spirit.

My life is in the care of God, and I trust in divine order.

I will keep my thoughts stayed on Thee and be at peace.

Peace

There is no doubt in my mind that peace within me is the most important condition I require, especially when my life is the way it currently is with huge changes and opportunities being presented each and every day.

When I’m at peace I know I’m in ”fit spiritual condition”, feeling close and connected to Spirit.

There are many ways that I can get back to that state of peace when I feel adrift. Deep breathing is a simple and powerful tool and I can do it anywhere, anytime – I just need to remember to do so.

Sitting still in the Silence even briefly is another way. This is not always as convenient a way to restore my peace. However, on more than one occasion, I have retreated to a women’s restroom, and found the privacy I needed to just be still.

Of course, my inner state of peace not only serves me well, but impacts those around me too. So when I’m at a gathering where ‘The Peace Song’ is sung, I wholeheartedly sing out the lyrics to Let There Be Peace on Earth, original lyrics by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson (circa 1955).

Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me.
Let There Be Peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be!
With God as our Father, brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me. Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry breath I take, let this be my solemn vow;
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally!
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

It is crucial for me personally to be at peace. And, since we are all One, it is crucial for this planet as well. I strive to be in such a condition so that I am part of the solution in creating a loving earth on which we can all thrive and be at peace.

A Part of Me

As I was sitting in the Silence this morning, my mind wasn’t so silent. My ego was off making judgments about other people. But then, the Seventh Step Prayer from Alcoholics Anonymous came to mind and stopped my wrong mindedness in its tracks.

“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 76)

One of the many wonderful blessings of being in Program many years and having attended I don’t know how many hundreds of meetings during that time, is that many pearls of wisdom are ingrained in my psyche (soul) and can resurface at just the right time to help me with a situation, to get me back on course.

Judgment is a character defect of mine that still rears its ugly head from time to time. It’s a symptom signaling I am into myself and making comparisons, instead of being right-sized and in my right mind. The Seventh Step is about shifting my attitude so that I move out of myself toward others and God.

Having the words of the prayer come to mind did just that, and I gratefully went back to being in the Silence with God.

Offerings

“Hold my hand as we walk together in the silence of God's loving embrace, admiring the scenery, smelling the roses, and enjoying all that life has to offer, knowing that together we are in Heaven." – The Voice for Love, 08.29.09

Ahhh. The aforementioned quote makes me feel peaceful and fulfilled. I envision that it is Rog and me holding hands, walking together in the silence of God’s loving embrace.

But I think it goes beyond that. I am walking with angels and Holy Spirit and spirit guides, and all those other unseen entities helping me to be me in this crazy world.

I am being offered divine help and guidance to enjoy all of life’s blessings, but I must choose to take that offer, that hand, and walk the path. I am not alone.

I accept.

Thank You, God, for all Your helpers sent my way. Please enable me to feel their presence, hear their message, and rejoice in all of Life’s offerings.

What God Wants

Karen Casey (In God’s Care, August 20) suggests that maybe what God wants is for us to just be free of the things that come between us and God. Hmmm.

Sure, there are things than come between me and God. And, I wonder how many of them are of my own doing? Furthermore, what is in my power to make a change?

Perhaps the biggest, most important ‘thing’ that comes between me and God, and the one that I have a choice about and power over, is taking care of myself. Not taking the time –and sufficient time– to be in the Silence impedes my spiritual condition and hence detracts from my relationship with God. That then trickles down into my relationship with others.

I can be free of this thing that comes between me and God if I make a greater commitment to us both to spend more time alone with Spirit every day, no matter where I am or what my schedule is.

Consider it done!

Breathe

I am reminding myself to –

Breathe... as I sit in the silence with Spirit
Breathe... while I do my yoga stretches
Breathe... as I deal with computer issues
Breathe... while on the Arizona freeways filled with drivers crying out for love
Breathe... as I express gratitude for all the blessings in my life
Breathe... as I go through this day, surrounded by and immersed in Spirit, the giver of Life, the giver of breath.

Ahhhh.

Question Session

Rog and I are really feeling stuck. We simply do not know what God’s plan is for us. We go about our day with plenty of work of various sorts keeping us busy and fulfilled to varying degrees. But we know much of it is not our true work. Still, we don’t know for sure what Spirit would like us to be doing. And, we continue to be eager to move to a smaller, more rural community and start what we think to be our new life.

So last night together we sat in the Silence seeking answers from Spirit enveloped by soft candlelight, holding hands. Each time I awoke in the middle of the night, I had on my mind “Sprit, please tell me what You want, what Your plans are for me, for us...”

And, this morning, my alone time had me asking Spirit question-after-question about what Its Will for me and for us is. This is something I’ve not seemed to have done in a very long time. Usually I am easing the chatter for messages to come through or I’m sending messages out in a variety of modalities (prayer, affirmation). This time I was seeking a dialogue, you know, a là Neal Donald Walsch (of “Conversations with God” fame).

I got some replies back to my questions. I’m not sure if they came from Spirit or from Ego. I tend to think that they came from Spirit because I think Ego would have come up with some more appealing and dramatic ones.

At this time, I believe Spirit wants me to be patient, to continue growing closer to God, to increase my capacity to ask and then do Thy Will, not mine. It’s about surrender, it’s about trust. It’s about just Being and being in the Now.

I’ll keep on asking and talking with God, knowing that more will be revealed of the Divine Plan when the time is correct. For today, this rests well with me and I am at peace.

It's All About...

... patience. Yep, of late, my readings and my discussions with Rog have usually come right back down to being patient.

Learning to be still in the silence takes practice. And, it won’t happen overnight. It takes patience and then my mind will gradually quiet down as I wait and pray for silence and to feel God’s presence there.

Relocating to our new homestead is happening right on schedule - in God’s time. It takes patience. We are doing all that we can and being all that we are in order to hear God’s guidance for the next steps. In the meanwhile, we must be patient for the plan to unfold, and be ready to take action.

I realize that patience on my part also requires faith and trust. I’ve been growing them especially during these last several months as huge changes swirl around in my own world and the Universe at large. There is a plan, God wants only what is good for me, God is with me and in me every step of the way. I am not alone.

These are exciting times and more will be revealed as I exercise patience with myself, others, and God.

Exhaling and Inhaling

Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God. - Edwin Keith

I came across this quote this evening and I think it is a perfect visual for my morning practice of meditation.

I’ve been asking for help in the discipline of using the breath to go deep into the silence and let go of the chatter. Perhaps remembering this quote is part of the help I was seeking...

The Cave

I am grateful for my own home office. Having been single for many years and having enjoyed my alone space for the most part, times in my office are cherished. It makes no-never-mind that the other person I now live with is my beloved twin flame and husband, Rog. I like – and need – the time and the space alone in my room.

Like the Beach Boys' lyrics from their 1970’s(?) song “In My Room”, it is a whole other world when the door is closed.

Usually every morning at the crack of dawn I go there to pray and meditate, read inspirational literature, journal - to be alone in the silence. There I receive renewal and refreshment. There I find it a bit easier to connect to Spirit.

I know that Spirit is with me always, whether in a stadium, crowded café, or... in my room. Still, since I’m into 'cozy', I’ll take my cave.

Peace Versus Suffering

"To hear God’s Voice, all you need do is ask,
“Do I want Peace or do I want suffering?”
If your answer is Peace, you have already heard God’s Voice within you."
- The Voice for Love, 05.06.09

With the busyness and priorities of the day piling up, yesterday I lost my peace. I noticed it slowly creeping in when it was 3 o’clock in the afternoon and I’d only just completed the first necessity of the day. Then, spending 1½ hours on a tech writing task that should have taken only 5 minutes, my meltdown was getting evident. Only I chose to ignore it, further eroding my peace.

By the time I ate my evening meal, stressed about what was left that I “had to” do and upset that I’d not had time to myself, I was definitely in ‘not a happy camper’ mode. Finally, after looking forward to packing up my office (“one man’s ceiling is another man’s floor”) and not having the patience for that, I called the day over.

Sure, I did pray somewhat throughout the storm. But what I really needed to do was to take care of myself and that would’ve been taking time out and sitting quietly in The Silence, where God dwells, away from my ego. For it was my ego that wanted me to stay in suffering, and its voice had managed to overshadow God’s for a time.

I must be ever vigilant and willing to take action when I start feeling ‘off the beam’. The sooner I ask myself “Do I want Peace or do I want suffering?” the better. I can catch the ego in its mischievousness, choose peace, and reunite with God.