Affirmations and Gratitude

I’m in a woman’s business networking group. It’s always interesting to see what comes out over there and allows me to use my creative thinking abilities. The other day a lady asked about what we’d like in a planner. Several ideas were tossed around and the idea of a daily affirmation and a daily blessing were ones I really like.

I’ve tried to journal several times over the years…to get closer to God, to write down specifics in what I want in my life, to get out my frustrations. Sometimes it’s helpful and sometimes I don’t touch that paper for months. Obviously, consistency here isn’t my best point.

I do like the idea of the daily affirmation and daily blessing though. It would work for a journal, a planner, or maybe even a dry-erase board displayed nearby. By feeding the mind daily of something good in your life, and blessings do come in all sizes, you keep your vibe elevated a little higher than just going through the routine of the day and feeling like you’ve accomplished nothing or you didn’t fully embrace the blessing you were in. These little bits remind us of the awesome parts of our days. I believe every day is an awesome day in some way.

What about God?

If I had one post to share with you my feelings and relationship with God, it could be this one. Could one post give you that perspective shift you’re seeking? Could one set of words help you see God in a way that calms your soul? Could today be the day you’re in for a change that forever alters your life for the best? Maybe.

I’ve gone to several different denominations of religion. Each had things I’ve learned from. I believe there is something to be learned from just about everything, even if it’s something NOT to do in your own life. That said, I never felt completely at home in any of the churches I’ve visited.

The last church of worship I went to was a Unity Church about an hour from my house. There they teach the Bible in a metaphysical way, with definitions of the words, such as sin (to miss the mark) to give a different view on the Bible. They actually sell tarot cards in their little gift shop, along with other wonderful things. It was the closest I’d come to feeling at home at a church, but that still wasn’t quite right for me. I liked some of what the pastor lady said and some of it, like pressuring us to give to the church in a guilt trip way, spoiled the whole sermon.

I sometimes pictured myself up there on the podium. I wanted to share, even then, a God of love, understanding, and helpfulness. I looked into it actually and it’s like a two year learning process of their views and of the Bible.

It’s not that I dislike the Bible, please don’t think that. There are verses in there I have taken to and will read up on other verses as the need arises. However, there are many versions of the Bible, some religions have taken text out, some have created whole new “messages from God” and it’s all a bit much for me.

I think, while the Bible is a great thing, it isn’t for me personally. I think it can be summed up to something even simpler. Something like…do your best, help one another, know that everyone else is doing their best too. God loves you.

Prayers, what do you pray for?

Sometimes I pray for a nice day. I’m not asking for anything, being needy, or think my world would be so much better “if only”. Sometimes it’s good to be thankful, to ask God for a day of “okay” and appreciate it.

We, a lot of times, overthink our “neediness”. I’m one to do that sometimes. However, by doing so, we frustrate ourselves in the blessings of today. I know I’m like, “God, please…I need this or that and there has to be a solution immediately.” I frustrate myself when I pray like that. It causes me to not enjoy the moment I’m in or maybe appreciate a blessing that’s happening right as I’m working myself into a frenzy of impatience.

Maybe you’ll tell me, but April, “There’s lots in my life that needs fixing.” I will tell you, “There’s lots in my life that needs fixing too. No one’s life will ever be completely 100% right. It isn’t about that. It’s about enjoying what you’re blessed with and living in the moment you’re in.” I assure you, some things that aren’t right will be made right in time, in God’s time. Trust that. Live as though all of your needs are being met, because they are.

Becoming Ordained

I’ve thought many times over the years to become a a preacher of some sort. Not to preach the Bible, but to preach a loving God. I feel completely lost as to how to go about doing that though. I really am not going to carry around a Bible and preach out of that, no. I am at a loss as to how to explain the simpleness of what I’m trying to teach and give to people.

Well, this week I did the official “become ordained” to be legal in the United States. I figure I can at least start there, being mindful of staying within the law. So now, I’m a legally ordained minister. Yay! Where to go from here.

Well, a friend says to me, “What about becoming a High Priestess?” I’m like, “No, that’s too narrow of a title.” I joked that I’d call myself an “Old Crone”. I figured that wouldn’t get me far either. So, this morning I look up pastor, minister, preacher. I find pastor fitting my goals more than anything else. By the dictionary definition it says “a person having spiritual care of a number of persons”. I figure talking to people about God is all about their spiritual raising. That’s care, right?

Where do I go from here, I don’t know. I do know I’ve talked with people about God and seen the look of comfort and relief on their faces when I share all about God loving them, not shaming them. To see their soul settle into that grace they’ve longed for…it’s amazing.

This is what I’d like to spread more of, the love. I do know not everyone will understand the path, not everyone will even seek out such a path, and I’m okay with that. Somehow, somewhere, there are people needing the messages God puts within me to spread. The messages of love and grace and kindness. I’ll sprinkle that.

Life, are you having fun yet?

There are lots and lots of good things going on about one’s life. Lots of blessings happening, things to be thankful for, people to enjoy the life you’re living with. There are also things that frustrate you, break your heart, and make you cry.

Some days you wonder what you’re living for. Some days you’re super thankful you’re alive and living in that exact moment.

I sometimes think if I pray enough or feel strongly enough about something I’ve asked God for, it will have to happen in the way I want it to. Does it? Not really. I always feel God does know best though and there’s a reason one answer to prayer is one way and another is the other way. Even if I consulted with him, he’d say, “Trust me.”

So, I’ve learned not to make rash decisions out of anger or hurt. I’ve learned to totally enjoy the moment I’m in. I’ve learned to love deeper. I’ve known my faith is always…always there…and even if I decide I’m done with my faith and God in a moment of frustration for how things are going…God is patient and loving…waiting for me to work pass that into fully trusting again.

We’re all human. We all think we know best. We DO our best. That’s all we can do. Life’s still, no matter the ups and downs we live, an awesome journey worth living. It is a great day to be alive. Cheers!

Odd Type Signs

Yesterday I had what I call an “odd” or “creepy” type sign. I inquired of my friends and some say they’ve gotten it too. Some also say they’re thankful to NOT get that sign. Funny.

What does that mean? Is it a bad thing? I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all. I think it’s a sign that we really, really must notice for our path. Signs come in all shapes and sizes, from conversations to colors. Sometimes they come in threes, sometimes they repeat many times to bring comfort, and sometimes they come as odd and creepy.

One of my friends asked me, “So what is a creepy sign?” Well, in this particular instance, it was an online message from a friend we choose to have parted ways from many years ago. They were going in certain directions and we were going in others…the paths diverged many years ago. There was no real harm in it, just making different choices.

The fact that the friend messaged me wasn’t really completely odd. Sometimes you may want to inquire of someone you’re thinking about, maybe you want to send condolences, maybe you heard something you feel the need to read out for. There are many reasons for that.

What was the odd thing were the words she’d chosen in that message. You know you talk a certain way with certain friends. Maybe more formal with some friends, more relaxed speaking with others. It’s part of why you like some friends more than others and also the etiquette of being social.

In this particular situation, she’d chosen words we’d never have said to each other at all. Our friendship wasn’t on that kind of “speaking words” level. It was on a level much different. So, the first time I read the message, I thought it was odd. Later in the day, I went back to the message and read it with a more open way of thinking.

On that second reading, I understood it to be a message for me of great significance. It then rang clear as a sign coming in such a way I would notice it. I would also think on it several times too. I didn’t realize it was a message from God the first time. I just thought it was creepy. Funny. Now I know better that God wanted me to clearly notice the message without having to repeat it or send it in a way I may not have noticed. In this situation, I noticed.

Learn by Observing

Yesterday I was playing one of my little computer games. I had played it before, years ago. The game was probably in it’s infant stages of being created back then, because I’d gotten to the an ending point where I could go no farther forward.

About a month ago, I bought a tablet and sought out some games to put on it. I discover this game again, download it, and find it’s expanded a great deal from that beginning. I’m enjoying the game much more this time around.

There is a base “Camp” with activities to grow the board. I used to think there wasn’t much to that part of the game, mostly being interested in the little challenge games. What I’ve come to find is a complex part of the game.

We were lining things up next to each other as we accomplished them, bigger trees, a pond surrounded by blooming flowers, pretty bushes in their spot. It made the board neater.

Last night I discovered that the bigger things, the trees, bushes, pond, all needed space around them to “give” whatever it is they are programmed to give. The pond gives grass, the trees give little flowers, the bushes give mushrooms. It’s quite fun.

It was an interesting observation for me though. These things must have breathing room to grow. Isn’t that part of how we are? Don’t we need breathing room, exploring room, space to feel freedom in? Wouldn’t putting people and things right next to us make us feel restricted, claustrophobic, not able to move in any direction…much less a forward direction? It was a powerful observation for me. Maybe it will be so for you?

What if you’re already on the path of where you want to go?

Life is sometimes like baking a cake. I love making cakes from scratch and it’s one of the things I’m known for. Whenever we get together as a family or someone needs a food item, I usually get asked to make a Hummingbird Cake. You can look up the recipe on Pinterest if you like. It’s a really great cake.

It’s a well known cake over here, but not everyone makes it because it takes a bunch of little steps and comes out rather large. Over time, I look up various smaller versions of this cake as well as other cakes that have some of the same ingredients, like bananas.

What I made for Easter was a better kind of cake. It’s the cake I’ll make for my birthday in a few days. It’s got the bananas, pineapple, and cinnamon essential to a Hummingbird Cake. It’s also got an ingredient I have come to discover takes cakes up a notch. Magnificent!

So, what does all this talk about my perfect cake have to do with life? Well, sometimes we ask God for certain things, would like the manifestation of something important to us, and we get frustrated about not seeing it happen asap. We ask for signs, pray harder, cry for thinking we’re not being heard.

What if we’ve asked, God has heard, and it’s now “baking in the oven”? A Hummingbird Cake in particular takes almost a whole hour to bake. There are other cakes that take even longer. Most boxed mixes say a layer only needs 35 minutes to bake. In our impatience, we don’t take the time to realize there are various time frames “behind the scenes” for whatever it is we’re asking.

It may take the co-ordination of other people having ideas and shifts in their own life, an example would be to sell a house for you to consider buying. It may take a phone call from someone else to get a particular project going and the timing isn’t quite right, like that person finding you to request your services. There are lots of factors in some situations and that takes time to co-ordinate on multiple spiritual levels “behind the scenes” that you don’t see.

You know you can’t take a cake out of the oven until it’s done. You know taking it out sooner doesn’t give you a cake you can enjoy. Some cakes take longer to bake than others. Even after you DO bake the perfect cake, maybe you want icing on it, maybe even sprinkles. Now you have seen a step done (the cake) and have to wait longer to let it cool to put that icing on it (more waiting). Sigh. Yes. However, when all the various components come together (ingredients, baking, cooling, icing, even sprinkles), you’ve got a really awesome creation worthy to enjoy. Your full blessing has now arrived.

Prayer and Peace

Do you pray for answers to certain situations, then don’t have the patience to wait? Do you want a solution right in that instant? Do you think having clues, even ones you may get from a psychic reading or a dear friend, will give you peace of mind?

Even if you have the answers in front of you, knowing which way you’re going, what career you’ll have, where you’ll live next month, etc. You still have to get from here to there. What are you doing with yourself in the meantime? Are you cleaning out what no longer serves you? Are you enjoying the moments you’re living today? Can you be at peace in your life for just a few moments at a time…more so than not?

Seeking answers is all well and good. We ask our friends their opinions, find new knowledge to help us make decisions, and even find quiet moments to pray and listen to God. Whatever it is that will help us, as individuals, find clarity upon our path as we journey through this life.

We must still live that life. Knowing we’ve got a supper date on Friday doesn’t stop the fact that one must cook supper on Tuesday. Having a relaxing Saturday with nothing to do is something awesome to look forward to and a fantastic part of your future reality. Today though, today the grass needs mowing.

This is the ebb and flow of life. What you know, what you decide, what you don’t know, what has to be done in this moment, is all tiny bits of one life. This is why I call life a tapestry lots of times. We are constantly weaving in love, care, comfort, even hurt, tears, loss…all into the life we create for ourselves.

I hope life gives you more peace and you feel your blessings as you’re living them.

Making Friends, sharing what you have in common

I’ve made some new friends online today. One was through a crochet/thread post and one was a post at a spiritual gifted group I’m in. I spoke to each of them in private messages and enjoyed their company. Each friend was for a different area of my life.

I don’t necessarily think any friend has to be interested in all of the sides of you. It’s like, if a friend is a rose, well, you work on tending to that rose. If a friend is a morning glory, you approach tending to that climber in a different way. It is as such with people. Friendships need tending to, preferably both ways, you tend to them, they tend to you, etc. Yet, keep in mind a friendship isn’t like a relationship with a partner, you only need to share what parts of you that will allow you both to enjoy the company of each other.

Like crochet. My new crochet friend and I can talk crochet all day long. There is no need to say, “What are your religious beliefs? Can I share mine?” That’s not the topic we connected on. Maybe once we’d been friends for a time or maybe not. Friendships are for growing…each other…in one or more areas of one’s life…but not necessarily in all areas of one’s life.

Maybe this is a thought to bring value to your life in some way? Maybe this can help you with your own friendships…current and future? Maybe you can see how best to bring your own growing goodness to the friendship?