Dear Friends,

Before this Women’s History month is over, I want to acknowledge and honor all the women in the world, for their incredible service to humanity.

Here are some facts:                                                                                          “Women’s History Month first came to be as a national celebration in 1982 though the first celebration was Women’s History Week. A few years later, it expanded into a full month of honoring women’s roles in society, thanks to a petition from the National Women’s History Project, which led to the president proclaiming March of each year Women’s History Month.

Around the world, countries make an effort to support women on this special day. The United Nations even began sponsoring the day in 1975, with the General Assembly explaining that their goals included:

1. Recognizing the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and
2. Acknowledging the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.” (Internet)

Have we accomplished these goals? 
Progress toward gender equality is “vanishing before our eyes,”
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres told the Commission
on the Status of Women on Monday, March 7th.
“Women’s rights are being abused, threatened, and violated around the world and women and girls have been erased from public life.
In many places, women’s sexual and reproductive rights are being rolled back.” 

We, as women, are fortunate to live in the United States, however even our country has de-evolved concerning women’s rights with Roe vs Wade being revoked, and prison time for those doctors who continue to acknowledge a woman’s right to make decisions for her body. If a child is miscarried or aborted, one thing I believe as a New Thought minister, is no one ever dies.

The fetus’s soul returns to the other side fully formed and understanding that there will be another time for him or her to come into this earth dimension.

What can we do?  

Portrait of a little girl in a lab coat doing a science experiment in a lab

We can continue to raise our daughters and granddaughters to believe they can do anything they choose to do or be. The other night Steve and I were sitting with Tammy, Glenn and granddaughter Peyton. We were talking about how independent and strong Peyton is becoming, even at 2 1/2 . Tammy said, “I always felt like I could do anything. I was never told I couldn’t!” This statement made me very happy. We all need to raise our girls to feel that way.

The men making these laws, limiting and demeaning women, need to live in a woman’s body. Perhaps in order for their souls to grow spiritually they will reincarnate as a woman to understand the struggles many women have all over the world.

• Less pay for equal work
• Unequal promotion practices
• Forced marriages
• Sexual harassments
• No say in society or driving of cars.
• Mutilation
• Told NO, not a woman’s place
• Just plain bias

There are many wonderful and great men who uplift, support, honor and are consciously promoting women for their talents, skills and abilities. I honor those men!

My husband Steve is one of these men. He has always supported me in my goals and purposes, in fact he tends to push me to do and be better than I think I can. Years ago he bought me a Doctoral graduation cap before I even started my Doctoral paper which eventually became my book Empowered Women of Faith. I was dragging my heels, and I kept seeing that cap which spurred me onwards!  (PIC of EMPOWERED WOMEN of FAITH)

As we raise our daughters and granddaughters to BE and DO their best and whatever is in their heart, mind and soul to accomplish, we must also raise our sons and grandsons to BE and DO their best and whatever is in their heart, mind and soul to accomplish. In addition, we must teach our boys and young men to RECOGNIZE GREATNESS in WOMEN and KNOW THEY ARE EQUALS.

When we go hand in hand, partner with partner, leader equal to leader, male and female together, the world will not only survive, but THRIVE. Only when equality and equity are established can we spiritually transform as a human race.

“In God I am Free”
“The truth is the key to my freedom. Rather than struggle against circumstance, resisting what is, and lamenting my lack of freedom, I align myself with a greater truth.
I am free to choose my thoughts and feelings. I am free to choose my responses. I am free to forgive, release, and grow into the person I want to be.
My trust in God expressing within and all around me is the sweetest freedom of all.”
(March Daily Word)

Thriving and Free,

Abigail and Steve

Dear Friends,

A rose is a rose.
A lilac is a lilac.
A dog is a dog.
A horse is a horse.
A fish is a fish.
A bird is a bird.

None of the above can be anything other than what our Source, the Divine Universal Spirit, created it to be. Even the generic word ‘rose’ breaks
down to specifics; Multi flora rose, China rose, Woods rose etc. There are many types of flowers, many breeds of dogs and horses. There are many
species of fish and birds. Not one is alike. The point being, neither are we. God has created us to be authentically ourselves with individual talents,
skills and abilities.

I was a teacher before I became a minister. I know I had my unique way of teaching different than my team members. We appreciated each other for our strengths.
We often teamed up and taught each others classes using our special gifts and talents. We helped one another everyday. My ministerial style is unique as well.
It is not the same as my husband Steve’s. My writing style is mine alone. I read many newsletters and spiritual works. Each writer has his
or her own flavor and style. I admire their words and expressions.
I often use their ideas and words in this newsletter message.
I can admire what and how people do things immensely, however I cannot
be them, nor ever will be.

What is ours to do, is to express ourselves uniquely, honestly, joyfully and authentically. I love the quote above by Oscar Wilde,
“Be Yourself. Everyone else is already taken.”

Rev. Dr. Michael Gott said. “You are the life of God revealed in unique, irreplaceable, unrepeatable expression. There is only one of you.
BE YOU as fully and freely as you can this day. When you truly seek to live your highest and best choices, you serve the whole world”
(SoM Magazine March)

Yes, we serve the world and each other by just being ourselves. There was a song way back in the 1990’s that began, ‘I love myself the way I am, there’s nothing I need to change… This song “I Love Myself the Way I Am” was Louise Hay’s signature song. For a wonderful uplift in your life today watch the beautiful song video. We know LOVE is the great healer and we are love in action once we love ourselves, accept ourselves and just BE ourselves.

Being Ourselves,

Abigail and Steve

Humanity is Divinity Made Visible
-Dr. Ernest Holmes

March 7, 2023

Dear Friends,
I love the quote above by Ernest Holmes because it brought me back to the truth of my being, who I really am.
The Mighty I AM, The Divine, God, Spirit is showing up as me in this lifetime.

“Realize that the Divine Presence is ever with you, that there is no place where you leave off and God Begins.”
-Ernest Holmes (March Science of Mind Magazine)
My human body is completely fused with my Divine body. The Divine within knows everything about me, and loves me
completely and unconditionally.

People in the Eckankar faith tradition chant the word HU.
“HU is an ancient name for God. It has been used for thousands of years as a prayer, mantra, and sacred chant to attune oneself
to the presence of God.
In many spiritual traditions, sound plays an important part in uplifting the individual. HU is a key to open your heart to God’s
loving presence in your life.” (Google)

Interesting. in our English language we call ourselves HUMAN.
HU – Name for God from Eckankar
Man – Name for our species.
We are GOD Man (generic for man, woman, child.) This is another way of realizing who we truly are.

Dr. Michael Gott said in the SoM magazine, “While we are spiritually perfect, our human lifetime contains a spectrum of experiences –
joy, sorrow, freedom and bondage, success and failure, sickness and health. We are not meant to live a perfect life, we are meant
to view our life through spiritual eyes and live our life authentically. ”

When we do go through the tough times in life, we can remember who we really are, GODman/Human, and begin to access our Divinity
or the deeper meaning of our life experience.

Jesus the Christ said “Seek First the Kingdom of God.” That Kingdom is
within you and me and everyone. Seek first your God selves for answers, and to bring comfort, peace, love, joy and happiness in your life.
When you do, Your Divinity is made Visible.

HUmanly,
Abigail and Steve

PRAY FAST LOVE GIVE

February 28, 2023

Dear Friends,

We are in the midst of the Christian Lenten Season. Forty days and 6 Sundays before Easter our Christian brothers and sisters follow three pillars:
Pray,
Fast
Give Alms.
It is interesting to note our Muslim brothers and sisters Pray, Fast and Give alms to the poor during their Holy month of Ramadan.
Our Jewish brothers and sisters during their High Holy Days Pray, Fast, Forgive and Give alms.

People in each religion look at their lives, repent and repair any outstanding debts, wrong doings and move forward to becoming a better and more faithful
person in their faith tradition. There is deep prayer, reading of scripture and communing with God

It is wonderful to look at different religions and learn about their beliefs and Holy Days. We begin to have a greater understanding and realization of
how similar we are. We all have a deep faith in our Creator, Source, God, however you wish to call the ONE.

Many People in the New Thought tradition acknowledge the LENTEN Season. New Thoughters tend to focus on Consciousness by giving up judgement, negative words,
thoughts and habits. We focus on forgiving ourselves and loving others as a daily habit. We also focus on gratitude for all areas in our lives.
Gratitude Journals are often a part of our Lenten expression. We are grateful for both the good times and the hard times, because hard times move us forward to
greater good, a new path, and a new understanding of our life.

I was thinking about this concept in Steve and my life the other day. We were so grateful to find a new and extremely competent CPA to do our 2022 taxes!
A friend of ours recommended him. This new “good” in our lives came after our 2021 taxes were poorly done. It was a year we had to have an extension and we
didn’t know we would need to pay extra penalties. That particular tax preparer was never available to talk with us. We understood due to the death of her father,
she dropped the ball, and just had a hard time completing his work with his clients. Long story short, without that experience, we would never have moved forward
with a better and more competent CPA. We are grateful for entire experience.

We PRAY to know our ONENESS with and as God.. We know the Universe will line up all the scenarios to accomplish the Divine outcome of our prayers.
We FAST from doubts, anxieties, ill words and thoughts that will interfere in our knowing of our Oneness in and as God. All is meant to bless us.
We focus on LOVE, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Understanding, Compassion and Grace.
We GIVE to the person or place where we are spiritually nourished (church, center, person) and to those who are not as fortunate as we are.

Although a concentrated effort of PRAY, FAST, LOVE, GIVE happens more at this time of year, these pillars of faith are important to be followed throughout the year. It becomes who we are and what we do on a continual basis all through our life.

Happy Lent. Love your faith and actively participate in it.

Praying, Fasting, Loving, Giving,                                                                                      Abigail and Steve

Dear Friends,
I start with prayer in the morning and find my day flows easily. I just seem
‘to know” which street to take on my errands. I just seem “to know” to go left rather than right when needed. My “to do” list rearranges itself
and becomes God’s “to do” list. People call me at the right time when most needed. I speak my word in grocery stores and post offices for divine order
and timing when I am in a long line. I am then, either called to a new open cashier or a new post office worker steps in to help. When I am in the God Zone
it is easy and effortless. I think about why that is, and I realize it is because I BELIEVE my word has power to create my life.

I was reading an article in the Science of Mind Magazine called
“The Prayer That Gets Results,” by Ernest Holmes. The article talked about a man’s prayer for his wife’s health. Deep within him,
he believed his prayer would be answered. Even in the midst of her illness “a deep conviction came to him, a complete faith and confidence that his wife
would be restored to health. He got down to a deep fundamental cause underlying everything…
God is life and he was praying for more life;
God is love, and he was praying for a deep love;
God is peace and he was more completely entering in that peace.
He merely said: ‘God, make perfect the life you have given me, restore my wife to health because I know everything is possible to YOU.’
There was THAT within him that knew his prayer would be answered. Jesus the Christ asked, before He healed anyone, ‘Do you believe?'”

This morning in my own prayer time, I wrote down what I REALLY believed about God. I truly know that answered prayer happens because
the person who prays believes it will happen. My question for you is, What do you Believe about God? I love the analogy of the drop of water in the ocean.
The drop has all the essence, properties and qualities of the ocean because it is the ocean (see Rumi’s quote above.) It is part of the wholeness of the ocean
and is the ocean. The ocean cannot be, without all its parts. We are a drop of God in the GOD WORLD. We have the essence, properties, qualities of God because
we are God. God cannot be or exist without ALL ITS PARTS, you, me and everyone. God is Source and we are the expressions and emanations of God. God knows Itself
through Its creations – US. I BELIEVE when our conviction of this truth is so strong, prayers are Divinely answered.

Once our prayer is complete, we must release the prayer to the Divine Will.
As a God Drop we see only a small part or parcel of the God World. When we release the prayer saying “this or something better,” we are
allowing and BELIEVING in the immensity of God, the GOD WORLD, GOD MIND, GOD HEART, to answer the prayer in the HIGHEST Way.

Do you have a health challenge? What do you believe?
GOD is perfect health and wholeness. That is YOU, now and always. Can you believe that? If not say it over and over again until that Divine spark
of belief fills you up.
I BELIEVE I am whole, in perfect, health, feeling alive and happy.
I am God, God is Me.

Are you looking for a job? What do you believe?
GOD wants you to be successful and happy in your chosen field of work.
God has the right and true job for you that brings out all your talents, skills
and abilities. Can you believe it? If not say it over and over again until the Divine spark of knowingness and belief fills you up.
I BELIEVE I am in my right and true job which brings be joy, happiness, and success. I use all my talents, skills and abilities and even learn more. The people I work with are ethical, fair, uplifting and compassionate.
I am God, God is Me.

Have a deep conviction, a complete faith and confidence in the power of your word in prayer.
BREATHE, Release and let go and let God be God in you, as you and for you!

February 14, 2023

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

Dear Friends,
I looked up meaning of Agape Love, the highest form of love/Unconditional Love to share with you today.
Valentine’s Day usually is about romantic love which is wonderful, however real LOVE or Agape Love is more than that.
Agape Love is the love GOD has for all of us, pure, whole, unconditional and forever. That is the LOVE we as human beings strive for in our own personal lives for God and with our family, friends, colleagues and even strangers. Before we know what unconditional love is, we need to know what it is not.

Conditional love is about control. We are happy when a person does what we want or meets our expectations. This is similar to when our computer
runs well and we can do everything we need to do. However, when it shuts down or the mouse stops working etc. we get frustrated and possibly angry
because it isn’t doing what we want it to do. This type of relationship with people is damaging, hurtful and unhealthy.
It is a ‘I love you when you do what I want’ relationship.

What is unconditional love?
“The term unconditional love does not mean love without limits or bounds. It means, “I offer you my love freely without condition.”
This means that when we offer our love, we offer it without expectation of return or repayment. It is important to offer this type of unconditional
love in our relationships, otherwise, we are offering love with “strings attached.”
This creates power and control imbalances.
Unconditional love means loving someone through hardships, mistakes, and frustrations. In fact, it is what every meaningful, lasting relationship is made of.
When we enter relationships with other people, we are entering relationships with another human being—a person full of quirks and flaws and challenges.
And we also show our own quirks and flaws and challenges.
One of the most beautiful experiences in human life is learning to lean into the tension of those challenges by offering connection, love, and understanding
and by accepting influence, creating compromise, and moving forward in a way in which both people win.”
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/understanding-unconditional-love

I would also like to add, Unconditional Agape LOVE means loving those who “hate and despise you.” Jesus the Christ says in Matthew 5:43-45:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ‘ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that
you may be children of your Father in heaven.”
This is the most challenging LOVE of all. When we can FORGIVE others for what they may or may not have done to us, we are experiencing Agape Love.
Forgiveness is beneficial not only for the person we are forgiving, but is absolutely beneficial to us.
“Research tells us that the parts of the brain that light up during unconditional love are similar to those involved in romantic love and maternal love and are
linked to the brain’s reward system. This suggests that unconditional love may be rewarding without receiving anything in return.
Research has found that giving and receiving love plays a vital role in psychological well-being.”
https://www.verywellmind.com/does-unconditional-love-make-for-healthy-relationships-4165457

Loving You,                                                                                                                       Abigail and Steve

Dear Friends,
One of my favorite vegetables is the artichoke.
I discovered them many years ago and loved to dip the leaves in butter and mayonnaise. One day I decided to cook one myself. It was a process.
After washing and rinsing, I first took a knife and cut the top off, then cut the pointed and very sharp tips off each artichoke leaf with a scissor.
After steaming the artichoke, I still had to peel away each leaf layer to get to the heart of the artichoke. The inside of the leaf is good to eat too.
Just before the heart, there is a fuzzy layer to peel away. After everything is cut, snipped and peeled away, the delicious delicacy of the heart is left and ready
to eat. It was a process to cook, however well worth the effort to enjoy this delicious vegetable.

I have often thought how the artichoke is a metaphor of life. We are all spiritually discovering that inner delicious part of us,
our loving HEART, our God/Christ nature. In human life it takes work. We need to cut away the blocks that may be holding us back and then snip off the rough edges
and peel away the negatives, doubts, anxieties and worries that intrude upon our journey to our REAL Selves, our Inner Divinity. It is a process, and well worth it.

Where are you on this spiritual process? Have you clipped off the sharp edges of your personality? Have you peeled away worries and doubts?
How close are you to opening up, releasing the negatives that hold you back, and allowing your Spiritual Essence of Divine Love be activated and known in your life?

For a wonderful artichoke life analogy, enjoy this YouTube by Jean Houston.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxVWl3sYJZE

“An artichoke is a mirror of yourself. Like Life, the artichoke gains richness and savor by being combined by many flavors of sweetness, salt, pungent, bitter, and spice. After it is braised, the stuffed artichoke becomes a hologram, each part containing the whole. It symbolizes how each aspect of life has the potential for a full relation to the totality…”
-Jean Houston ” A Mythic Life.”

Peeling Away,  Abigail and Steve

I love this sweet picture of a beautiful lady seeing who she believes she is, regardless of age or wheelchair. What do you think about yourself? Are you more interested in what others think about you, or do you appreciate your own self for who you truly are?
Do you love yourself, strengths and weaknesses?

Do you know your spiritual magnificence?
What do you see when you look into the mirror?
This kitty may be small, however he believes in
his potential to be GREAT!

We all have the potential to be our GREASTEST SELVES. It only takes our believing in ourselves to become who we truly are.

Your dreams are yours alone. If your heart and passion is DANCE, then dance, if it is to SING, then sing etc. Do not try to please others by being
someone you are not.

Ernest Holmes, founder of Religious Science, shares this truth. We are what we think and feel about ourselves!
These thoughts and feelings reflect outward. Let us dig deep into our authentic selves and really listen to our sweet spirit who is communicating with us all the time. Our soul has come here for a purpose which is uniquely ours to do and be. No one has the authority to tell us what we should like or not like, what our job should be, or our purpose in life.

“To Know Thyself is the Beginning of Wisdom. “- Socrates
Affirm:
“I know who I am.
I take good care of myself.
I own my gifts.
I live in my values.
I love myself completely.”
www.sparkvisionnow.com

AND I believe in myself and my GREAT Potential!

Are you smiling? How can you not smile or laugh when looking at these cute little faces. These children are filled with JOY

Last weekend our daughter Tammy, Glenn and little Peyton were over for a chili dinner. It was cold and rainy and the chili was perfect.
Steve and I bought a cute little riding airplane for Peyton, and as soon as she saw it, she was riding it! She literally zoomed all over the house.
She zoomed into my office where she knows her cute little fairy wings and tutu are, and wanted to put them on. So with her tutu and wings she zoomed to
Steve’s office and found the little toy doggie he keeps there, just for her. She gave the doggie a ride and she gave a dolly ( we keep for her) a ride too.
We were laughing and having so much fun watching her. She navigated the one step down to the living room easily on the little plane and back up again.
We were all so enthralled by her playing, we forgot to take photos!

To be a child and find fun in everything is a gift. As adults we still have that gift, and don’t often use it. When things get tough we sometimes wallow
in it or vision a worse scenario. Peyton was on the couch playing “hide & seek under the blanket” with Steve.” In her exuberance she slipped off the couch
and landed on her bottom. Instead of making a big deal of it, Steve laughed and Peyton laughed. He knew she was not hurt since the rug was only 18″ from the couch,
and decided to not frighten her, but make it an easy experience.
She then did it again purposefully since she thought it was fun and part of
the game.

When we are in the midst of an trial or tribulation, the more we see the good in it, find the upside to it and even find the joy in it, will change the vibration
and energy about it. I am not saying to laugh if someone is critically hurt or experiencing a heart ache. I am saying as we come across various things that
irritate us during the day, we can chose to see it through a different lens.

Can you laugh at yourself when you make a mistake?
Best time to learn…
Can you find the good when your battery dies in your car?
Thank God you were being looked out for and not hurt on the road.
Can you laugh when you can’t find your keys?
Play hide and seek and ask God to show you where the key is.
Can you find some joy while delayed on the road due to
road repairs?
Be glad your taxes are being put to good use so the roads will be safe.
Can you smile while waiting an hour in the doctor’s office?
Be happy, knowing if you came in as an emergency the doctor would take his time with you too. Find something funny to read while waiting!

Be the one to laugh and find joy in everything.
Laughter is a great medicine for the mind, body and soul. Think about these laughing babies and they will bring a twinkle to your eye, a smile to your heart. Then just crunch up your face and make those laugh lines appear with a hearty
joyful laugh.

“Today, I will look for and see the bountiful gifts of humor being expressed.”
-Dr. Marilyn Louise Leo, ‘Science of Mind’ Magazine, January 2023

Joyously Laughing,
Abigail and Steve

We are honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King on Monday, January 16th and throughout the week. I love his quote and
it brought back memories of times when I had faith to say YES to a new idea, opportunity or place to visit which changed the course of
my life.

I said YES to attending The Association for Global New Thought’s (AGNT) first conference in Palm Springs 1999. I came in the conference center a minute late
and headed for the first seat I could see. There, I happened to sit next to Steve Albert and my life changed.
One step lead to a greater good.

I saw an ad in the paper about World Religion Day hosted by the Bahai’s.
They were looking for help. Steve and I both said, “Who are the Baha’is?”
So we went to meet them. I was asked to speak at the event. This 2006 gathering of interfaith speakers, became the founders of the Poway Interfaith Team. (POINT)
One step lead to a greater good.

You are all on a faith journey here on earth. Everyday is new opportunity to
BE your greatest self and DO your greatest good. Be aware that God, Spirit, Divine Mind (however you wish to call the Source and Creator) is always
communicating with you in thoughts, words, inner promptings, outside signs, telephone calls, newspaper ads, and people.

One of my blessed minister friends is Rev. Jean Sweet. She says, ” GOD Always say YES!” (to answering your prayers and/or something greater).
What if everyday you vowed to say YES to opportunities coming your way. These opportunities are gifts from God. It is a chance to STEP UP and
go forward without knowing the outcome.

Say YES, to your dreams and affirmations. Write it, Verbalized, Sing it!
YES tells the Universe you are ready for the next step.
I say YES to Prosperity!
I say YES to my ideal job!
I say YES to accomplishing my bucket list, however that looks.
I say YES to love and friendship.
Then say YES to the guidance wherever it leads.

Everyone has pivotal points in their lives where small opportunities may lead to greater opportunities. Steve was beginning college and needed a job.
He was offered a temporary job as an “errand boy” in a company for 2 weeks. He said YES, even though it wasn’t the kind of job he was looking for,
however it was available and he needed the money for college. At the end of 2 weeks his boss asked him what he wanted to do with his life.
Steve said he wanted to be an architect and was going to school for that degree. Right then and there his boss made a phone call to a friend
who gave Steve a job in an architectural office during his school years and even after he graduated.
One step lead to a greater good.

No job is too small or a waste of time. Opportunities are always leading us up the staircase to our next Divine purpose. For everything is supposed to change
for our greater good!

Have FAITH in saying YES to new opportunities when offered! It is God speaking though man/woman/child and all avenues giving you the next step up the ladder
for your Greatest Good!