Author Archives: Rev. Abigail

Happy Thanksgiving

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Dear Friends,
Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone.  I love thanksgiving.  I love the time we spend with family and friends. I love planning the meal with my children and then asking them if there is anyone else they would like to invite to the table.
Most of the time we celebrate and share our gratitude with only our family.  This year we have the joy of celebrating with one of my daughter’s friends and our neighbors. I always like to think, whoever is at our table is our family.
In truth we are all ONE family in Spirit as our parent and creator.
This year at your table remember people in your family may have different opinions than you, and may express them. How will you react? Be grateful they are alive and with you.  God never intended us to think alike, look alike or be alike.  If you disagree, be grateful there is a place where you can agree to disagree.  Listen to others opinions, share yours when necessary without trying to change the thinking of others in your family.
This year at your table remember all people everywhere as your one extended family. These will be people of a different race, faith, ethnicity, culture and gender preference. Be grateful for the diversity God has created for our spiritual growth and consciousness of unconditional love and inclusion.
Enjoy the holiday.  Take time to breathe, before and during the busyness of preparing for the day.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Abigail and Steve

Faith Footsteps and Finally Letting Go

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FAITH, FOOTSTEPS and FINALLY LETTING GO
Dear Friends,
Many of us faithfully pray; for others, for situations, for peace, for the world and for ourselves. In New Thought, we often say, “Treat (prayer treatment) and Move Your Feet.”  And so we do.  There are also times we tend to forget that Treating is also moving energetic, Divine Feet.  God, Spirit, Creator, Love, however you wish to call our Source,  hears ALL and acts upon our prayers immediately. For many of us, the answer to our prayers doesn’t seem to come fast enough. 🙂   When we pray and ask for Divine Timing, Divine Order and the Divine Outcome, we need to step back and really allow the Divine to fulfill the prayer request/affirmation.
This past week  I heard stories about three friends who are going through situations, and all seemed to have delayed answers and outcomes.
1. A minister  friend of ours was praying for a new head of their Pre-School. Prayers and the footsteps  were taken to send the request out and interview likely candidates.  At the final interview each potential candidate, called and said they found another job. Two weeks before the pre-school leader retired, a  new candidate called. She said she will be moving to San Diego. It took her that amount of time to realize a move was necessary and the church job was what she really wanted and was qualified for.  She is also a very spiritual person which fit perfectly into their tradition.
God is always working in the background making sure the right person is available at the right time.
2. Another minister friend is looking for a new Spiritual home.  The lease is up in January and they will no longer be able to stay in their present location.  Many of her congregants were doing the necessary footsteps and many possible places were seen. None met the Vision they had for their new church/center home.  This minister realized she needed to release and let go of all attachments to the outcome.  She felt like they were pushing hard to make it happen.
I told her I was absolutely sure the right and true spiritual home will present itself at the right time and way.  Time to let go and let God BE God and bring forth the new home for their congregation.
God is always working in the background making sure the right spiritual home is available at the right time.
3. One more wonderful story with the right and true outcome.  A friend of ours needed a specific surgery.  This person has suffered for at least 13 years and now this revolutionary surgery was ready and had been previously performed successfully by this one doctor.  Thirteen years may seem like a long time, however, I know God had already picked out the right and true surgeon.
This doctor possibly needed to finish his medical schooling, internship and brilliantly create the new procedure.
God is always working in the background making sure the right doctor is ready, able and equipped to do revolutionary surgery at the right time
for the right people.
Have FAITH,  do the necessary FOOTSTEPS, then RELEASE,
Let Go and Let God. The Divine Outcome will be better than you can imagine!
Faith in the Outcome,
Abigail and Steve

Beauty is a Brain Boost

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November 12, 2019

Dear Friends,

Steve and I were invited and honored to attend a NAIN (North American Interfaith Network) Connect Intensive Visioning Retreat in Boulder City, NV this past week.  We were immersed for three days in the most amazing creative visioning experience. Thirty-five of us gathered from Canada, USA and Mexico to look at our history of interfaith work, restructure, redo, rethink what needs to be done now, and Vision for 15 years into the future.
Gard Jameson opened his Nevada Foundation home to us with many spaces for large and small group dynamics as well as acres of beautiful gardens, a labyrinth, statues of blessed prophets, angels and sacred beings from all faith traditions.
The NAIN group was also invited to attend a Shabbat Service at Ner Tamid Synagogue on Friday evening, a choir performance and Taize service at the Center for Spiritual Living in Greater Las Vegas, and an Interfaith Council Forum at a Mosque on Sunday.

We all were using both our left and right brains. Our logical and creative sides were equally balanced, and Divine Wisdom and Intelligence flowed through each of us easily even when we had spent hours in small and large group work. Why?  I believe it was because we were in such a beautiful place. When our left brains began to drag, all we had to do was look outside, take a walk out onto the property and fill up with God’s creation of gardens and immense panoramic views. Many of our small group sessions met outside so we had the benefit of the beauty while working.

Many of our great inventors, scientists and mathematicians always said it was in nature where they received their greatest ideas.

Are you in the middle of a dilemma, or facing a problem, challenge or issue where answers have not been revealed yet?

If so, GO OUT for a walk in nature, sit by a tree, smell some flowers, walk on the beach, come walk our labyrinth. Listen to music.  Allow your mind to BLISS OUT and just BE.  Allow your brain sanctuary time.  The most wonderful Divine downloads can happen when you least expect it.  Dreams are a wonderful way to receive Divine Ideas.  Meditation is an awake Divine download.   We cannot live our lives in a 24/7 mode.  We must give ourselves time, space and freedom from paper, pencil, computers, phones and TV.

Attitude is Everything

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Dear Friends,
Attitude is EVERYTHING!
We were talking with a friend of ours the other day, and she was sharing how one week in her life, everything seemed to break or fall apart.  Her washer broke and flooded her floor. Her computer broke down, Ipad didn’t work and her cell phone went crazy. Being a business woman, this was critical. In spite of all this she decided to affirm:
Everything that happens is ENJOYABLE!
Wow!  She said she knew she was ABLE to find JOY in spite of all the happenings.  As soon as she affirmed, things started to get better.  Her husband fixed the washer and she got help with her devises.  All returned to normal.
Looking back on our lives this past week, we can say…
Everything that happens is ENJOYABLE!
Our power was shut off last Wednesday around 9am due to the high wind condition and chance of fire. Both Steve and I were working on our computers when it happened.  I called SDGE on my cell and they said we would not have our power back till Nov. 1st (2 days without power).  Steve and I looked at each other and we knew we had enough food, water, and blankets for these chilly nights. As the day wore on, I thought we needed to get my car out of the garage in case we had to leave quickly.  Good thing we checked, the string broke that releases the automatic latch to the garage.  Steve was able to find a thicker rope to tie onto the latch, and it worked.  I was able to drive my car out.  I then decided to put in two plastic bins with important papers in my car.  It was relatively easy pulling things together.  I even packed an overnight bag. We went through our emergency equipment box and found a battery am/fm radio.  We were able to get some news. The whole day provided us time to rethink what we needed to do and supplement our emergency box.
In the afternoon we sat out on our balcony in the sun even though it was quite breezy.  We began appreciating all the things we had.   I said, Jesus calmed the waters, we can calm the winds with prayer.   So we prayed.
That night we played cards by votive candle light and read by flashlights.
The next day we decided to go out for breakfast, then pick up what we needed to restock our supplies.  Luckily we conserved water the day before, so our hot water heater had enough hot water for two short showers.
By the time we got home, our neighbor met us and said,
“WE HAVE POWER!”
We were ABLE to ENJOY our day regardless of circumstances!
I believe with our attitude and with our prayers, the winds died down and no fires began in our area.
Thank you God for all the Good in our life!
Enjoying it all,
Abigail and Steve

Let Go Be Free

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Dear Friends,
 
We had a wonderful Labyrinth Walk last Saturday.  We talked about how it is important to release and let go of things, people, places, situations that no longer serve us, so we can open up to a NEW and even a greater experience.  Here are two quotes we pondered and reflected upon.
Wesley Baines
from ‘The Spirituality of the Autumn Equinox’ wrote:
“Fall, paradoxically, is a time of simultaneous bounty and withering;
crops are harvested, even as the natural world begins to fade.
As autumn sets in, consider the areas of your life that need to be let go of, consider what no longer serves you and needs to wither.
At the same time consider the dream-seed that you planted at the beginning of the year that have been steadily growing. Those dreams are to be reaped.”
 Judith Orloff, MD from the Sept./Oct ‘Unity Magazine’
“Autumn invites you to reflect on your priorities. It’s an opportunity for metamorphosis, a chance to liberate yourself from outdated beliefs, resentments, or relationships. ASK yourself,
‘What are my burdens? How can I release them?’

Autumn offers a deeper experience of your own transformation and spirituality.”

So what does “Letting Go” mean?
 
Letting go means:
Letting go of control.  No one wants to be out of control. But you can’t control everything, You can’t control outcomes. What you can control is your attitude and make a conscious decision to move through a situation with grace and ease. See God in the situation and everyone involved. There is a higher purpose and a higher picture.
Scripture says, “Not my will but Thy Will be done.”
Breathe in God’s Love, Exhale God’s Love as you let go of control.
Letting go means:
Trusting God and putting the outcome in God’s hands. God knows every situation and what is in everyone’s heart. The sooner you let go and let God handle a challenge or problem the sooner it will be resolved. Situations and problematic personal relationships are solved by surrendering the Divine outcome into Spirit’s hands. Declare what it is you want in a relationship or situation, then say “I release this into the heart and mind of God knowing the Divine Outcome is happening now.  I accept all this and/or something better!”
Breathe in God’s Love, Exhale God’s Love into the Divine Outcome.
 
Letting go means:
Releasing past hurts, past mistakes, anxious and fearful thoughts.
These only clutter your mind and spirit.  People come into our lives for a reason and a season. All are our teachers. Ask, “What did I learn from this person or experience?”
Breathe in God’s Love, Exhale God’s Love into all the people I know.
Letting go means:
Forgiving and feeling the FREEDOM in your heart and mind.
You can’t experience freedom if anxious, hurtful, obsessive, fearful thoughts clutter your mind.  Letting go and letting God’s loving Spirit fill your heart and mind will set you free. The first step is to FORGIVE, yourself and others.
Breathe in God’s Love, Exhale God’s Love as forgiveness for yourself 
and everyone.
A Prayer for Letting Go

Dear God,
In this moment, I let go of all thoughts and concerns.
When I let go, I am able to receive.
When my hands are formed into tight fists, I cannot open my hands to
receive anything.
When I hang onto tight control,
When I close off my heart and my spirit,
I cannot receive your blessings for me.
I let go to receive your blessings.
Letting go in this moment, I receive your loving presence around me
and within me.
Help me to let go when I am feeling overwhelmed, so that I may receive
your peace.
Help me to let go when I feel fear, so that in fear’s place I may receive love
and courage.
I let go of problems and challenges in order to receive your guidance and clarity.
I let go and trust you.
I will not fall.
You will catch me.
I let go and trust in the still, small voice inside of me.
Help me not to struggle but to surrender my struggle to you.
I gladly receive this gift of letting go and letting you lead me and guide me.
Amen
(By Jackie Trottman)
https://guidedchristianmeditation.com/1264/prayer/a-prayer-for-letting-go/
 
 
Letting Go, Being Free,

You Are My Sunshine

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Dear Friends,

Years ago I knew a minister who, at one time, had a job as a laboratory assistant and did testing on cancerous cells with various chemicals. She was a very happy lady and often sang in the laboratory. One of her favorite songs was “You Are My Sunshine.”
The other science team members noticed changes happening to the cells when she sang. They asked her to stop singing because she was influencing the outcome of the tests. Now as a New Thought minster, she laughed when she told the story. Of course the cells would change because they were listening to the happy energy and words of the song.

We, as a body of cells can do the same thing for our health, wholeness and happiness. We can sing, laugh, be joyful and send that wonderful energy to every part of our body. Every part of our body is connected. When we bump into something, we often feel a hurt in another area of our body. I believe it is so important to understand not only how connected every atom, cell and molecule in our body is, but to understand how every human on earth is connected to each other! We pick up subconsciously what others are feeling and thinking.
It is the race consciousness we have with one another in our body of humanity.

What if we started singing “You Are My Sunshine” to those we don’t get along with (family, friends, co-workers etc.)? You do not have to be with them to sing to them. We know there is only ONE Universal Mind, Power, Life that receives the direct impress of thoughts and acts upon it! Try It! Direct your energy of love and song to the mean and unfriendly. They need love and happiness too. We do not know what kind of “shoes’ they are walking in.
Our job as Spiritual, God Beings, is to love, sing and bring happiness to ourselves and others everyday.
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away

We Love our Pets

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Dear Friends,
We love our our furry, funny little animal companions who love us dearly and unconditionally. We lost our little grand-doggie, Zoe, yesterday. My daughter is grieving and we are too. We all loved that little girl and know she is back in her true home as her true nature, happy, healthy and bouncing around again. There is a void in our hearts, because we miss her. Knowing we will see her again, since life is eternal, is reassuring. Those of you who have lost beloved pets may appreciate these pet blessings/prayers.

Come With Me
-Anonymous
God saw he was getting tired
And a cure was not to be.
So he put his arms around him
And whispered, “Come with me.”
With tearful eyes we watched him suffer
And saw him fade away.
Although we loved him dearly,
We could not make him stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.

The Creation
-Author Unknown
When God had made the earth and sky
the flowers and the trees,
He then made all the animals
the fish, the birds and bees.
And when at last He’d finished
not one was quite the same.
He said, “I’ll walk this world of mine
and give each one a name.”
And so He traveled far and wide
and everywhere He went,
a little creature followed Him
until its strength was spent.
When all were named upon the earth
and in the sky and sea,
the little creature said, “Dear Lord,
there’s not one left for me.”
Kindly the Father said to him,
“I’ve left you to the end.
I’ve turned my own name back to front
and called you dog, My friend.”

Lovingly,
Abigail and Steve

Never Too Late

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Dear Friends,

It’s Never Too Late!

I am reminded of this wonderful idea every once in awhile. Maybe you, like me have thought we missed an opportunity, or have guilt-ed ourselves with the
I woulda’, coulda’ shoulda’ done that mind set. I am here to remind all of us,
no good idea is ever lost, no opportunity is missed and we do what we can with the consciousness we have at the time. That is what life is all about, learning, growing, making choices, making mistakes and expanding in consciousness.

Every day is a blessing and an opportunity to BE who you are and Serve the Divine within and all around you. In my early morning meditations I like to say, “Show me what is mine to do today, and give me the courage to follow through.”Sometimes intuitively we know what we are supposed to do. Our intuition tells us, but we ignore it for a variety of reasons. Listening to that
quiet inner voice is never too late. The beauty is we can always begin again, everyday. We have eternity to learn.

What is yours to do today?
Start that new project you have procrastinated. Take one step forward.
Visit or bring food to a sick friend or family member.
Call and reconcile with a person you have differences with.
Acknowledge the stranger and homeless person on the street.
Get involved with a cause you feel passionate about.
Forgive those who seem unforgivable. There is a Divine Spark in everyone.
Love yourself enough to allow time for rest, reflection and fun.

Most importantly, look deep into your heart space and ask It, what is my passion, my desire? What have I always wanted to do? Listen and take the first step. It is never too late to take the first step towards anyone, anything, or any new idea that is roaming around in your heart and mind. It may be simple or complex. With God it is all the same – no difficulty, no easy, just a de-sire
(of the Father) being completed in its own Divine time and way.

You and God are ONE. It is never too late for God, and it is never too late for you. You and God are the majority. Affirm it, believe it, do it.
Remember Yoda said, “There is no try, just do.”

It is never too late to blossom into the Divine Being you were meant to be.

Never Too Late to Be Me,
Abigail and Steve

Laboring in Love

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Dear Friends,
Labor Day is this weekend and FALL is just around the corner. We are wishing you all a wonderful Labor Day Weekend, whether you choose to go away, spend time with family and friends or just be by yourself.

The website tells us:
“Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”
We truly have come a long ways, and have a long ways to go.
We need to continue working for worker rights to have fair pay and raise the minimum wage so our fellow brothers and sisters can live a comfortable, prosperous life.
We need to continue working for equal pay for all races and ethnicities.
We need to continue working for equal pay for women in all fields.
We know THERE IS ENOUGH for Everyone when we each take time to give to those who are struggling and need a helping hand. The quote says to “Teach a person how to fish.” Let us do both. First feed, then teach. People cannot learn a trade when they hungry and in survival mode.

Let us be grateful for what we have, and for the labor we have done in our past, present and future.
Live well, Love well and Give well.
Answer God’s call.
Be Authentic and true to yourself in what you love to do.
Organize what you really need and let go of the rest. Live an orderly life.
Remember to surrender and give thanks to God everyday.
Laboring in Love,
Abigail and Steve

Change is the River of Life

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Dear Friends,

Change happens!
In the past few months we have heard from friends, colleagues, acquaintances and business associates that they are moving into new positions.
A minister friend retired, another is looking for a new position, one found a new church home and a cantor, as interim minister, had to leave her position and is looking for a new synagogue. Our banker retired, our investment adviser now lives in Oregon and is commuting back and forth. Some friends have moved to new homes. In the past few years our primary doctor changed and our dentist changed. We keep telling our wholistic doctor, he can never leave! ha ha. Ladies, you will appreciate this, my favorite makeup has changed and new bottles now hold my favorite hair products. And the list goes on. Whew!
This reminds me of a RIVER, the river of life. We all come from the same Source and yet our lives flow in different directions, making changes along the way, just like a river has to adjust its direction depending on the landscape, flowing over, under and around rocks, boulders, and trees etc.
When we can view our life as a river and know there will be rocks, boulders and trees in our way, as well as twists and turns depending on our choices, we can view it from the perspective of Spirit. All is well and so are we.
Our lives are meant to change. We can never be the same person today as we were yesterday, and that goes for everybody. Our thoughts, feelings and experiences shape our day, and our life. The Daily Word affirmation said,
“I am flexible yet strong in times of change.” Keyword- “flexible.”
How flexible are you in times of change? Can you flow like the river or are you trying to put up boulders and damns to stop whatever is happening in your life.
Have FAITH, and Bless the Change. It helps us learn and grow spiritually.
NEW is good. NEW is fresh. NEW brings us a different perspective.
Change Happens, all is well.

Flowing with ease,
Abigail and Steve