Dear Friends,

“Fr. Richard Carton, associate, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Church, Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, was speaking to a group of second graders about the resurrection when one student asked, ‘What did Jesus say right after He came out of the grave?’ It was a question of great theological importance, but Fr. Carton had to explain, in words suitable to his young audience, that the Gospels do not tell us just what He said. The hand of one little girl shot up.“I know what he said Father,’ she insisted. ‘And what was that?’ asked Fr. Carton. “TAH-DAH!” the girl exclaimed. ”                                               (Holy Humor- Any Fisher, Denville, New Jersey)

EASTER is about rising and transcendence. We rise up when we transcend our fears, prejudices, and histories to be instruments for Divine creative expression. We “rise in faith, believing,” means we inhabit and create from a field of pure potentiality that exceeds and celebrates our precious, unique and beloved humanness.

On the third day after the crucifixion, the three Marys came to anoint Jesus’ body with oil and found him gone.(Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary, wife of Clopas, & Mary Magdalene)When the tomb was rolled back, I can imagine how excited they were. Jesus prophesy came true. He rose on the third day!                                                   Matthew 28:5-6 “The angel said to the women, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here… But go, tell His disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”  

Jesus met with all the disciples except Thomas. When the disciples told Thomas Jesus had appeared to them, Thomas was filled with doubt. The following week when ALL 12 were in the Upper Room, Jesus appeared again.  Thomas put his hands on the wounds of Jesus and was no longer a “Doubting Thomas.” FINALLY humanity’s greatest fear about DEATH, was answered. There is no death, LIFE is Eternal!

When challenges show up, and you start to doubt the power of God within, remember to name and claim God as your Omnipresent Source, Substance, and Truth. In Truth, you are an unlimited channel for ALL possibilities. Your recognition, surrender and trust opens you up to Life’s vitality, energy and creative solutions.

Shift your understanding of what a tomb represents: not a dank, dark, airless space, but a place of deep rest, revitalization, and even renewal. SUBSTITUTE WOMB FOR TOMB…, and your entire perception will change. All creative ideas and possibilities must gestate before they are birthed and produced in form.

Rising Up is a gift we give ourselves, and the universe. Just as Jesus, the “Great Example” was no longer tomb-bound, neither are we. We live beyond our stones and barriers by choosing to reveal and release our hidden splendor (God Self). There is a “higher place” in consciousness where we can envision and create lives of deep meaning, love, and a world that works for all. We set aside barriers of fear or doubt, and live life joyfully, and creatively!

In conclusion, the Easter story is our story. It is ABOUT OUR RISE in CONSCIOUSNESS and a great demonstration of Jesus’s teachings.

TAH DAH!   Abigail and Steve

“Intuition is a spiritual faculty and does not explain, but simply points the way.” -Florence Scovel Shinn

Dear Friends,

I have a challenge with a family member and decided to drive up to Santa Ana from Poway to talk with him, and perhaps re-store and re-establish a relationship. Needless to say I was anxious about the meeting especially since it would be a surprise for him.

The day I decided to travel was rainy, foggy and cold. In my morning prayers and meditation I asked for Divine guidance and safety. I envisioned a ring of protection around me, and everyone on the road. I know wherever I go God is and all is well. Even with my affirmative prayers, I still had this funny anxious feeling inside. There was even a brief passing thought of, “I might have a flat tire on the freeway.” Needless to say I brushed off the thought as fear talking and barreled through my morning getting ready. I thought the rain was making me feel uneasy.

Once ready, I left and got on one of the freeways up to Santa Ana. On a good day it would take at least a 1 1/2 hours and that day with the increment weather I thought it would take at least 2-3 hours. The freeway was packed with cars going north and south. The rain was pouring and I already noticed cars pulled to the side of the road. I also felt a jerk or tug from my car. I didn’t know what that was and continued on. I seemed to be surrounded by big trucks and I had to move safely away from them. Once I felt the road was more open, I had an opportunity to get off the freeway. For some reason I just could NOT go any farther. Something within me just said “Get off and go home.” I had a feeling of relief and my anxiety diminished once off the freeway. I thought, “Well, I am not driving up to Santa Ana today.”

As I got close to home, my dashboard light started to flash a warning sign telling me my tires were very low. I immediately went to a gas station where a kind man filled them up. YES, all were low. As I left the gas station, I realized my intuition had been kicking in ALL morning and I had dismissed it.

Perhaps I would have had a flat tire on the 78 or 5 freeway. I will never know and I am eternally grateful for the answer to my morning prayers. I am always safe and secure in the loving arms of God!

Lesson. Do not try to bull doze your way through a situation when all your intuitive feelings are flashing NO. My feelings of wanting so badly to reconcile with this person, over ruled my normal intuitive listening. I am so grateful the rest of the day was easy and effortless, when it could have taken a turn for the worst.

I will pay more attention to the still small voice of God the next time I decide to drive up to Santa Ana to see this person. Even though I really want our relationship restored, I must always let go and let God determine the How, When and Way.

“We do not need to be specific in the details as to the how and the way, but we must be definite and concrete in our mental acceptance of the results we expect to experience.”  Ernest Holmes “The Magic of the Mind.”

I continue to thank God all day for the Love, Protection and Divine Direction in my life. Thank you God!

Grateful for God’s Guidance

Abigail and Steve

Dear Friends,

Our Christian brothers and sisters are in the middle of LENT.

“Lent is the solemn Christian religious observance in the liturgical year commemorating the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry.” Wikipedia

Many Christians choose to “give up” something they eat or do during these 40 days. I read recently Pope Francis may have said. “Eat whatever you want for Lent,” begins the purported quote from Francis. “The sacrifice is not in the stomach, but in the heart. They refrain from eating meat, but don’t talk to their siblings or relatives, don’t visit their parents or bother to attend to them. Francis supposedly goes on to say it is less important to follow dietary restrictions than to seek a “deeper relationship with God through better treatment of others.”   USA Today Fact Check said this quote may not be what he said. Whether it is true or not, it is valid in my mind. Instead of Fasting from chocolate or wine, let us FASY from cruel and hurtful words to others.

When we go food shopping, Steve and I like to talk with grocery store employees. This one clerk always has a smile on his face and ready to make the customers happy. His outer appearance is unusual, however once you begin talking with him, you find out he is a delightful person with a family and children.

A store clerk description says, they are to “Receive customers and assist them with the selection of merchandise. Greet, interact and monitor customers to assist the store in loss prevention. Display and organize products in a store for the customers to locate easily.” This is exactly what this gentleman does.

1 Samuel 16:7 says, “But the Lord said unto Samuel, “Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth. For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

This clerk told us one time he tried to help a lady reach an item from a top shelf and she said, “I didn’t know they hired midgets at this store. No you can’t help me.” She seemed offended when he said, “I am not a midget, however I will get a taller person to help you.” The store clerk is my height and I am 5’4.

Another time he asked if he could help a lady reach something and she said, “Get out of my personal space.” I do not know what faith tradition these two ladies are, however, what came out of their mouths was unkind and hurtful. No one deserves that treatment when trying to help customers and be a good employee.

If you are honoring LENT, honor one another as well and see each person as a God Being. My mother used to say, “If you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything at all!”

“It’s not confined to one gender but is an essential aspect of the human experience. Divine femininity is about nurturing, understanding, empathy, and connection.
It represents a side of ourselves that fosters emotional intelligence, intuition, and compassion.”
https://www.centreofexcellence.com/what-is-the-divine-feminine/

I love being with my two granddaughters, one almost 3 1/2 years and the other 3 months. I whisper gently in their ears how beautiful,
smart, capable, intelligent, courageous, loving and compassionate they are. Every child needs to hear these words and more. During our Honoring the Women Month
we need to be sure every female; baby, child, youth, young adult, age 30 through 100+ years hear this truth about themselves. Women, in the mind and heart of
God have always been uplifted, loved and revered. Our brothers are beginning to realize how immensely important the Divine Feminine is. I believe we are the
WAY to change the world and create the peace we want.
Women do not start wars. Women start circles of companionship. compassion, cooperation, courage, and collective camaraderie.

We need to nurture LOVE and JOY in our girls.
We need to nurture independence, excellence, self-sufficiency and an ability to Be and Do all that is in their hearts.
We need to encourage them to do what they love and pursue their Divine calling here on earth.
We need to encourage our girls to swing high, push boundaries and create a path that no one has taken before.
We need to honor our elder women for their wisdom and intelligence

“I honor and celebrate the Divine Feminine as it expresses in the world. I celebrate the girls and women in my life and throughout the world.
I admire their grace and resilience and feel grateful for their courage, strength, and caring energy.”
(Daily Word, March)