Urge To Serve Sunday Service

Each day I commit to serving others. No matter how big or small my effort, I serve to create a better world.

Gifts of the Season

Although I am writing this blog on Christmas Eve Eve, surrounded by brightly wrapped gifts and bags, am imagining that the Christmas experience is over, all my presents have been sent. Although I know what is in the ones, I am sending, I do not know what is in the gifts I will be receiving. I could guess, but part of the beauty of gift exchange at Christmas is the mystery of what is under the wrapping. Of course, the Truth is that the only thing that is in the bags and boxes is Love!

Now no matter what your CHristmas was like, it is a thing of the past. As the year is drawing to a close, there  are  a few practices that we can do to bring conscious completion to the year.

First, acknowledge the amazing year! What good gifts did you receive ... the ones you were truly thankful for? Did you have good health this year? Did you enjoy friendship and love? Did you have  a job? Did you like your job? Did you create anything new? Did you travel anywhere? Did anyone treat you to a meal or a cup of coffee? Did you bless someone by something you said or did? Did you pay your bills?

For every welcome gift, give thanks.

Sometimes, the gifts we received din't look like anything we ordered. It wasn't on our Christmas list or any other list. It could have looked like a broken agreement, a loss of job or pay, a diagnosis of disease, a loss of a friendship, or any other of a myriad of experiences that often make up the human condition. 

Why would I call these unwanted experiences  gifts? Each one calls us to be more observant, to look for the good, to trust the process and to continue to pray. Each one calls us to a higher consciousness of love, compassion and forgiveness. 

For every unexpected gift, give thanks. 

Now is time to start getting ready for the new year. It is an opportunity to accept and release the past -- both the wanted and the unwanted. Remember that no matter how it was packaged, every gift came loaded with Divine Love.

Every Gift is Filled With Love

Seeing With God's Eyes Sunday Service

On this Winter SOULstice I choose to let go of any darkness within, knowing that tomorrow will bring event more light into my life, brightening every aspect of it.

And So It Is!

Lessons from Santa

You may think that the lessons from Santa include the advice of the song: 

You better be good, You better not cry, You better not pout, I'm telling you why...Santa Claus is coming to town." 

However, the lessons that I want to talk about are the lessons in clarity  Santa showed us last Sunday. We had Christmas brunch at Adele's. The children were excited. the adults were having a good time visiting with friends.  Santa was very clear about who he was (the star of the show,) and what he expected. He explained how it would be. Santa was very clear. There was no talking among the adults. The children were very quiet. Santa read them "The Night Before Christmas" and when the children started to join in, he let them know that it was his story to tell. He was friendly when the children were getting their presents, but he made them promise that they wouldn't open any presents until he gave the word. They all opened their gifts at the same time, and then they cleaned up the wrapping paper! It was amazing to watch him. He was a jolly Santa and there was no doubt in  anyone's mind, who was in charge.

1. 

   Santa at Adele's 12/14/14

   
   

   But what about you? What about me? Do we know that we are in charge of our lives? Do you remember to watch your thoughts? Do you remember to watch your words? Do you remember that you are always co-creating out of your inner beliefs?
2. This is a great time of year for all of us to remember that it is up to us.
3. If you feel that life happens to you, you will be victimized.
4. If you feel that life happens, by means of you, you will feel exhausted trying to keep it all together.
5. But if you feel that life happens through and as you, you will feel empowered and enlivened. Let's choose our to use that One Power in intelligent ways.
6. 
   

Prepare Yourself Sunday Service

I use this busy time of the year to practice the presence and connect to others on a deeper level, thus TRULY spreading holiday cheer. And So It Is!

Summer of Winter Sunday Service

Today I remember those who answered Spirit's call to serve and dedicate myself to always answering God's call to me, knowing I make the world a better place when I do. And So It Is!

Summer of Winter

" During Winter it is Summer underneath the surface of the earth. And it is this Summer under the surface of the earth in the Winter time that makes the roots of the plants to thrive."   Alicia Hamberg

In our journal we are asked to consider what happens in winter. Are you taking time to deepen your roots, your connection to Source? These are the roots that help you grow.

How will you create fallow time in which your roots grow stronger?

Both my nephews in Saskatchewan are farmers. They are very aware of what is needed to ensure a healthy harvest.Occasionally they will plant winter wheat, a variety of wheat planted in the fall, allowed to germinate and grow young plants. the plants stay in that vegetative state until spring, when they continue growing to maturity. 

I think it must have taken a great deal of faith to believe that those tender plants would survive the long, cold Saskatchewan winter.

Do we have faith enough in our beingness that we know that even in the hardest, coldest  and barren of times that something within us is strengthening us?

What would it take to build that consciousness?

I believe it takes persistence and practice. It takes the willingness to get up, dust yourself off and start all over again.It requires a personal connection with the Divine by which any name you call It/Him/Her.

You are ready to grow spiritually and you will remember God is all you need in every situation.

My sister Kathy and her son, Jeff Hoiness