‘Lean on Me’ lyrics by Bill Withers

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain                                                                        We all have sorrow                                                                                                          But if we are wise                                                                                                               We know that there’s always tomorrow                                                                              Lean on me, when you’re not strong                                                                                    And I’ll be your friend                                                                                                      I’ll help you carry on...

I was thinking about these lyrics in my early morning meditation and felt comforted. We know there will always be a time when we need a friend, need a companion, need a helper when times are rough. We also need a friend when we can’t figure out a solution to a problem or issue. We also need a friend when we don’t know exactly where our life is heading. Our human friends are always willing to give their opinions, right or wrong. Our DIVINE Friend, GOD, will always guide us to the RIGHT and True answer, as well as the thought that comes before. Lean on God.

God is both, original thought and follow through. Did you ever think your thoughts just came from your human mind or out of the blue? Well, I believe the origin of our thoughts come from GOD. The Alpha and The Omega. The Beginning and the End. If you REALLY wanted to do something, who do you think planted that seed in mind? GOD. If the seed is planted who do you think will help you carry the seed thought to fruition? GOD! We are both human and Divine. That is how we co-create with GOD.

The April 16 ‘Daily Word’ says, ” I do not need to choose between my own thinking and Divine Guidance. They complement each other. I use my Intelligence and skills to move myself forward. I listen for and then act upon my guidance, trusting GOD always.”

God within provides the IDEA and GOD within carries forth and demonstrates the IDEA.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11

“When a flash of inspiration enters your awareness, it is not random. It is guidance. And when you act on it, the path ahead opens in ways you would never predict.”
–Jeffon Seeley

If you have an IDEA, a calling, GO for it. Be bold. LEAN ON GOD. God gave you that idea and will guide you to complete the idea.

LISTEN and LEAN on the Friend you have within yourself. GOD.

Cross the Threshold

“Sometimes my mind feels crowded-planning, deciding, doing. I’m thinking about what to wear, what to say, what needs to get done. But even in the swirl of daily distraction, I know there’s a threshold I can cross. I picture a doorway between scattered thoughts and quiet clarity, and with a breath, I step through. On the other side, I remember I am, not separate. I am one with God. I am not just in the Present, I am ONE with it.”     (Daily Word)

Those who read my weekly messages and have remained with me faithfully all these years probably believe in this Truth, “I Am and You are ONE with, in and as God.” 

However there are those times in our life where disturbances, scares, fearful situations happen and for just a moment in time we forget who we are, and who our “Help in every need” is. When this happens take a moment. Stop all physical activity, close your eyes and IMAGINE a door right in front of you where once you open it, all worry, fear and anxiety will vanish. OPEN the door and step into a brilliant soothing, white light that feels soft, soothing, warm, kind, loving and so so welcoming. This brilliant light and love is GOD. Not GOD out there somewhere, but right here, to touch, feel, experience. This is the place where you are so loved, nourished, and intuitive wisdom abides. Stay there as long as you need. There is no rush to go anywhere but right there in loving warmth and companionship. GOD.

When you are ready imagine turning around and walking back to the other side of the door, leaving it wide open where this Brilliant Loving Living Light of GOD comes back with you. You are filled with wisdom, love, intuition and knowledge. You are also filled with the feeling “You are not alone.” How can you be? GOD is YOU filling you up with ITS very Esssence. God in you as you already knows the answer to your prayers, concerns, worries. There is always an answer and it is always for you HIGHEST and BEST.

Walk through that door, the door of your HEART where only Love abides and goodness reigns. YOU are OK, YOU are fine, YOU will come through this to the other side, where good and only good awaits you.

Cross the Threshold, Walk through that door. FEEL Your Inner God.

Dear Friends,

Remember the saying “Hitch Your Wagon to a Star”? Back in the day we probably thought if we “hitched our wagon to a star” it meant we could have anything and be anything if we hitched it to the right person or thing. Our world would be golden.

I was reminded of that idea while reading the Science of Mind magazine. Ernest Holmes, founder of the Religious Science said, “We have to hitch our earthly wagon to a Spiritual Star, because if we don’t we’re going to hitch it to a make-believe life, something that has no light at all. The only light there is, is the Light Eternal.” This Light Eternal is God.

Spiritual Star = Light Eternal = GOD.

Everyday it is up to us to hitch our lives, our prayers, to our Spiritual Star, the one and only Light Eternal, the One and only GOD, Creator of all there is, knowing who we are and every breath we take. GOD the One Source, the Divine Energy HEARS our thoughts, prayers and feelings and grants our hearts desires.

We can hitch our wagon/day to God or hitch our wagon/day to fear, worry or to the boss who we believe has all the answers. Fear or worry cannot move you into a better place, a better house, a better job, or a better relationship. It will only bring us more fear and worry, because what we think about we bring about. God gives us FREE RANGE. Let us choose the range we want to be on, one that is God ordained and given for our highest and best. People cannot tell us what is for our highest and best, only GOD, Eternal Light, Spiritual Star.

Hitching our wagon to the ONE who knows all and Is All will bring us out of fear, worry and into joy, peace and happiness. LOOK around you. What do you really NEED and want in your life? That is what you are to focus on.

For WHAT YOU FOCUS ON EXPANDS.

Hitch your thoughts, feelings and prayers to the Greatest GOOD for your life and everyone around you, people near and people afar.

Hitch your wagon to the Spiritual Star, Light Eternal, GOD!

Dear Friends,

We will be walking our beautiful LABYRINTH
this Saturday beginning at 10:30am
Our theme will be “What You Are Seeking, Is Also Seeking You.”

What is a Labyrinth?

Labyrinths are a walking meditation that are often seen as metaphors of our life. The walking meditation can be used for reflection, and problem solving with daily issues.

“Walking the Labyrinth has reemerged today as a metaphor for the spiritual journey and as a powerful tool for transformation. This walking meditation is an archetype, a mystical ritual found in all religious traditions.

It quiets the mind and opens the soul. The potential of the labyrinth is to inspire change, and renew. It serves as a guide to help us develop the higher level of human awareness we need to survive in the 21st century.” From Walking a Sacred Path by Lauren Artress.

A labyrinth is not a maze. A maze is designed to confuse you. A labyrinth has only one path that leads in a circuitous way to the center. It is designed to find your way. This is what makes it a path for meditation.

Science has shown when wearing electrodes, and walking the labyrinth, the walkers automatically experience an Alpha brain state (Meditative state of mind). Even sight impaired people using a raised finger labyrinth exhibit the same Alpha wave.

Benefits of Labyrinths

1. Beneficial in reducing stress.
2. Helps quiet the mind.
3. Opens the heart for prayer.
4. Promotes the interaction of the mind, body and spirit.
5. Fosters creativity.
6. Increases personal and community transformation.
7. Promotes Wellness. Helps heal present and past wounds.
8. Increases self-awareness.
9. Contributes to Spiritual Growth.
10. Increases right brain activity. Balances both spheres.

Dear Friends,

I have been feeling so grateful for everything and everyone in my life. It has been 2 months since I had excruciating pain in my back and leg. Going through that experience really helped me reflect on LIFE, and how important it is to have someone there for you, who loves and cares for you. I appreciate my husband Steve so much. Then just as I was feeling better and about ready to drive, Steve’s back went out. So I became the loving caretaker.  Today we both rejoice feeling so much better and ready to continue our purpose and mission in the world.

I reflected on how I felt so much compassion for those in wheelchairs, and people using walkers since I just had that experience. It opened my heart more, and my awareness to those who are in pain and/or have a disability to deal with daily. I choose to make a phone call, send an email to someone who is having a challenge, just out of a hospital, needing a person to talk to. I said “to” because the person just needs someone to listen. Hold back on advice.

Just recently when Steve was volunteering at the hospital, he saw a lady come through the door with both legs amputated from the knee down and only one arm. It reminded me, no matter what I am going through, others are suffering much more. Many people are dealing with life in an incomplete physical body. Others are dealing with life in pain emotionally and spiritually. We may not be able to SEE what they are going through, however EVERYONE goes through some pain, suffering and hardship in life.

We are here to be compassionate. We are here to be loving. We are here to be kind especially to someone who is rude to us, has said unkind words and hurt us in someway. We do not know what they are going through. Let us just see a blanket of God’s LOVE flowing over and through them and enfolding them in a bubble of Divine Light. Say a prayer for them.

Love and Compassion

Abigail and Steve

December 24, 2024

Dear Friends,

Twas the Night Before Christmas and All Through the House not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…

Metaphysically we know the night before Christmas is a sacred time, a holy moment as we celebrate the NEW being who came into LIFE centuries ago, the Christ Child named Jesus. This evening is also a sacred and quiet preparation for the birth of our own Christ Consciousness, our own way of being LOVE in this physical world of experiences and effects.

One of my favorite Christmas Carols is “Oh Holy Night.”                                                  Verse three says…                                                                                                          “Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is Peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease…”

It doesn’t get simpler than that. We have a choice. Every situation can be met with LOVE or not. Rev. Dr. Missy Higginbotham told a story in the book Works of Heart, about her experience with an angry costumer, who was berating a female cashier. She heard his outrage and told him “That’s not nice.” He immediately lashed out on Missy and called her names. In the book Missy said, “People who are in pain, angry, scared and feeling out of control of their lives will often deliberately strike out with words intended to hurt others. We can play their game of victim/victimizer, speak up or not.” Rev. Missy said she kept blessing him and said “Thank you so much.” He then left the store.

Loving the unlovable is truly a Christ Consciousness gift. Rev. Missy said, “What we damn, damns us back, what we bless, blesses us in return. Our energy fields will pass that information on to the energy fields of all those present.“ Isn’t that what we really want to surround us, the energy of PEACE, LOVE, KINDNESS, MERCY and UNDERSTANDING. Jesus the Christ was born with this Consciousness and taught it throughout his life and beyond.

During this time before Christmas let us give the gift of LOVE, PEACE and BLESSINGS to others in all situations and also to ourselves. This is the Night Before the sacred Christ-Mass Consciousness Circles the World.

Peace and Love, Abigail and Steve

Dear Friends,

On my morning meditation table, I have a picture of a rose and the words, “LOVE is the Answer.” I believe to every question, every request, every hurt and/or every fear, LOVE is the answer. Who do we pray to? LOVE – GOD.

Our answers come forth as LOVE especially when we embrace the feelings of Love when we pray. I read this beautiful poem in the July Daily Word.

“Love Is the Key” by Mary Berg

“God is a flame, igniting my heart,
fueling my breath from the very start.
The vastness of the world, all that I see,
the splendor of choices living in me.
Embers, coals, sparks lit from within-
electricity, light waves glowing on skin.
Love ever dancing, love is the key.
Love is the answer, love sets me free.”

Reading the last line, I realize I need to add “Love sets me free” to my meditation picture. LOVE Truly does set us free. When we embrace LOVE and allow the feeling of Love to move through us and out into our world, our people, our family, our friends, and those who have hurt us, we are FREE.

We are free of guilt, anger, hostility, sorrow. LOVE cannot exist with those emotions. It may take awhile to bump ourselves up on the emotional scale, however when we do, we are FREE. We feel good, we feel healthy, we feel blessed, we feel God as Love emanating through us and everyone. We begin to change our world.

The Law of Attraction says, we attract who we are. LOVE is the GREAT ATTRACTOR in life. When there is an uncomfortable situation or experience you are going through, take a moment, close your eyes and bless it with love and say:

Love is in charge of this situation, experience.
Love is the answer. Love sets me free.
LOVE is WHO I AM

When we know we are part of the immensity of LIFE, of LOVE, of GOD we realize every thought creates change not only in our life, but in every life. The African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Are we not all someone’s children? Are we not all part of the village of humanity? (Daily Word) When we read the daily paper and see man’s inhumanity to man, very often we make judgements about who is right and who is wrong. Remember there is Divine Justice. There is also Divine LOVE. As humans we love and forgive our children who make mistakes and possibly follow a broken path. GOD Always loves us no matter what we do and what path we take. People around the world are broken, hurting and/or suffering and we as part of the human family can send them LOVE. Wrap them in a blanket of light, love, beauty, compassion and kindness.

Chief Seattle says, “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” (Daily Word)                                                                                     “As you give, so shall you receive.” (Jesus the Master Teacher).

We are all connected in this world. The “worst of the worst” is still connected to us. We all have the DNA of GOD within us, which makes us ONE entity. As we begin to make LOVE our priority in EVERY situation and experience, the ripple affect will touch everyone and far exceed what we can imagine.

LOVE is the KEY
LOVE is the ANSWER
LOVE sets me FREE.

Much Love,
Abigail and Steve

Dear Friends,

We have all heard the famous Bible quote from Ecclesiastes 3:1-10
(King James Version).
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;… (verses 1-4),,,and a time to love,(8)

…a time to laugh
After reading the newspapers and hearing the news on the TV, I think it is time for all of us to be in the BELLY LAUGH Season!
Laughing is the best medicine and we can change our vibrational atmosphere with laughter. We can change someone else’s vibration and/or emotional sadness with our joy and laughter. Laughter is contagious.
It is the BEST Virus around. Let us keep passing it along to others.

‘Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.”
-Whitney Houston
“Laughter is a holy thing. It is as sacred as music and silence and solemnity, maybe more sacred. Laughter is like a prayer,
like a bridge over which creatures tiptoe to meet each other.”
Ted Loder (May Science of Mind Magazine)

…a time to dance
Let us find time to DANCE with the music!
If you can’t dance enjoy the beat, tap your foot, clap your hands, wheel your chair and SMILE!!!
I loved watching the dance TV shows. It made me happy and my feet were a tapping.
It was amazing the amount of hard work it took to produce a great dance every week.
As hard as it seemed everyone loved dancing and were joyful!

Some years ago I went to a Performing Arts Event in Poway, where the dancers from ‘Dancing With the Stars’TV show were performing.
After the performance I went backstage to see them and actually met two of the dancers, Chelsea Hightower and Dimitri Chaplin. I was the first in line and I asked Dmitry Chaplin if he would dance with me. He said “Yes. of course!”
For a few minutes I was in heaven! It brought me such great joy, I will never forget it!

…a time to love
Make someone SMILE today. We never know the crisis, grief or hardship a person may be going through. Be the one to up lift them and bring them joy and LOVE with words of kindness, support and encouragement.

OUR Season for laughing, dancing and loving is NOW. Relish it, enjoy it and make it happen!

Laugh, Dance, Love,
Abigail and Steve

February is always known as the month of LOVE. Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, you can always celebrate God’s love within everyone.
It is this LOVE that truly WEAVES us together. We do not have to “love” the personality, behavior, or attitude of a person, however we can always LOVE
the Divine Spirit that emanates the person. LOVE is our Unity and what holds us all together. It is our commonality and connection with humanity.
I love the song WEAVE. We sang this often when we held church services.

Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
weave us together, together in love.

We are many textures,
we are many colours,
Each one different from the other.
But we are entwined with one another
in one great tapestry.

Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
weave us together, together in love.

We are diff’rent instruments,
playing our own melodies,
Each one tuning to a diff’rent key.
But we are all playing in harmony,
in one great symphony.

Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
weave us together, together in love.

The song says it all. LOVE is not just romantic, It is LIFE. It is the glue that
that weaves in, through and as us. We are all different,(culture, faith, ethnicity, gender preference, politics) yet we are here in life to uphold each other,
encourage each other and above all to LOVE each other.

Project:
This may be a fun activity for your faith group. Better yet, invite a different faith group to join you in this project.
Materials:
dole rod
multi color ribbons
different color markers
Hang 2′-3′ ribbons (25) vertically on dole rod
Write words of LOVE (kindness, compassion, joy, patience, unity etc.) on another 25 ribbons then WEAVE them horizontally onto the vertical ribbons.
Be Creative with more or less ribbons.
Just the act of doing this project brings people together!

Dear Friends,

We had a few cancellations for the Labyrinth Walk so I will bring some of the ideas to you in a nutshell. Each one of you can perform your own ritual of releasing the old and bringing in the new. Enjoy the process!

FROM DARKNESS; LIGHT!
All wisdom traditions have light coming from darkness giving way to
a new beginning.
Just as:
Dark days of winter move into longer and lighter days.
Crisis and Tragedy brings forth blessings.
Loss brings forth new opportunities and spiritual growth.
We Honor and Release the past & what no longer serves us.
We are grateful and bless our past, present and future.
We know with every ending there is a new beginning.
We expand on the past and take our learnings with us.

HONORING 2021
What GIFT, blessing , goodness or learning did you receive,
and did not expect in 2021?

RELEASING 2021
What no longer serves you? Person, place, thing?
Is it an item of clothing, a garage full of “stuff?” Is it a job, a toxic friend or family member? Is it worry, anger , unforgiveness, guilt, feeling unworthy or not good enough? These attitudes are barriers built against love for others and especially for yourself. Ernest Holmes says,
“Through the power of LOVE we can let go of past history and begin again!”
We can choose to let go of any hurt and forgive ourselves and others.
Forgiveness opens up our heart for love.

BURNING BOWL
Write down all that no longer serves you, and what you do not want to carry with you into 2022. Burn the paper safely. It is a great way to physically and mentally release any burdens, love blocks, physical, mental, and/or emotional.
If burning is not an option, tear the paper into tiny pieces and drop it in a bin.
What used to seem LARGE, is now tiny and dissipating completely.

GRATITUDE ALWAYS
What are you grateful for? What do you appreciate? These can be from
the past, the present and into the future. Always be grateful for what is coming.
If you have a small glass candle holder, write your gratitude words on the glass and put a candle in it. Metallic pens work best. The LIGHT will shine through your words. Read your words daily to stay in an attitude of gratitude.

WHITE STONE 2022
What is the word from the Divine that will be your compass
in 2022?
In ancient days a White Stone signified a prisoner’s release from prison.
He was FREE. Your white stone today can also be your symbol of FREEDOM. You have released what no longer serves you, you are FREE to BE who you want to be and do what you want to do.
First, find a stone and ask God, Your Higher Consciousness, Higher Power what word will be your touchstone, compass, guiding light for 2022.
Write it on the stone with a black marker. Keep it near you daily.

GIFTS – RECEIVING AND GIVING
What is the Universe’s (God’s) GIFT to you in 2022?
What do you want? What brings you JOY, Happiness? Create the story you wish to star in. Use you imagination and write it down as the next chapter in your life! Picture it daily.

What GIFT can you give the Universe (God)?
The world needs what you have to offer. What unique talents, skills and abilities do you have? How do you want to be remembered. Write it down
as if it already happened!