GRATITUDE is a Way of Life

November 23, 2021
Last week the POINT Interfaith Team hosted a beautiful Interfaith Thanksgiving Service with the theme: “Gratitude for Those Who Came Before Us: Standing on Their Shoulders.” It was inspiring to hear the many faith speakers share how their ancestral leaders paved the way for them to be and live here today. This Thanksgiving let us remember who paved the way for us; our ancestors, parents, grandparents, other family members, and friends etc. Every person, and event in our lives prepared us and molded us into WHO we are today. There are no accidents, only Divine Purpose to elevate, expand and enlighten our consciousness as spiritual beings.
When we sit down with family, friends, or a welcomed stranger this Thanksgiving, let us give thanks for them and for so many others such as;
  • Farmers who planted and harvested the crops.
  • Deliverers who brought the food to the stores for us to buy.
  • Workers who organize the stores and help us at the check out.
  • Everyone who makes our lives easier; the construction workers, electricians, engineers, delivery people, waste pickup people, teachers, medical staff, Holistic practitioners, faith leaders and many more.
Perhaps in your quiet prayer time you could write down all those who came before you and those who are keeping your life comfortable today. Send them love, gratitude and see them as Light Workers whose shoulders you stand on.
We have so much to be grateful for and GRATITUDE needs to be an everyday attitude and activity. The November ‘Daily Word’ Magazine said, ” I don’t need to wait for a special day to give thanks. Gratitude is a way of life, a commitment I make to find the good in all situations…”
Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving and every day of the year!

BREATHE…Just BREATHE

 

Dear Friends,

Breathe…… Just Breathe

Breathing is our very life. It is what keeps us here on earth. It is the very breath of God flowing in us, as us, and through us. Breathing is an automatic way to keep us alive and well. Breathing is also a way to be mindful in all situations. There are times when we are with people who irritate us, push our buttons or are just unkind. In those moments, if we are mindful of our breath, we can slow it down. For as we slow our breath down, inhaling and exhaling deeply, we also notice our body responding. Our body becomes more relaxed, calm and in control.

I was reminded of my breath recently when I felt irritated towards someone and had to just breathe quietly and peacefully. I allowed my body to become undisturbed by the events knowing I would be guided to respond in the highest way possible. Another time, when someone almost made me feel small and unwelcome, I breathed. When the person realized how sharp tongued she was, she apologized. We all have these moments when we need to allow ourselves
to step back and breath deeply, quietly, serenely and purposefully.
We not only help ourselves, we help others retain a sense of dignity and a realization of their actions.

Breathing is our essence. When meditating we breath slowly, and consciously to help us reach that INNER SPACE where we tune in with God, Spirit, the essence of our ONEness.

One of my favorite songs by Marcy Baruch is “Inner Space.” I love listening to it in the car going to and from places. It settles me into my own inner space where there is only peace and love. Here are the words and link to the video. Marcy is singing at a Unity Center.

PREVIEW 4:59 Marcy Baruch – This Inner Space
This Inner Space
Words and Music by Marcy Baruch
“This inner space has the pow’r to set me free, it’s the cavern of creation and the truth of you and me.
This inner space, an eternity of time, It’s the moment of the holy now and the Allness that is mine.
This inner space contains all that I need, from deep within the invisible flows the living air I breathe.
This inner space is flowing in my bones, it stirs my heart, it stirs my mind, and ev’ry pray’r I’ve ever known.
And, I say breathe, just breathe, now breathe, this peace.
This inner space is the ocean of your soul, and when you feel most broken the truth is, you are whole.
This inner space, connects us one to all, and though it would never push you,
it will break down ev’ry wall.
And, I say breathe, just breathe, now breathe, this peace.
This inner space invites us to renew, in all my endless choosing I become the chosen too.
This inner space, it never knows a past, in a quiet place you can hear it and it might just make you laugh.
So, I say breathe, just breathe, now breathe, this peace of this inner space.”

Breathe….. Just Breathe

Who Is Your Teacher Today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

Who is your teacher today?
I was reading an article by Peter Bolan in the ‘Unity Magazine’ where a huge COYOTE appeared behind his house one morning. His dog set off the alarm with loud barks and growls. Peter saw a healthy coyote outside his back fence. There is high chaparral and a lake beyond. Peter lives in the San Diego area like Steve and I do, so I can relate. We hear coyotes howling late at night or early in the morning. We often see them running across our street since our house backs up to hills and valleys. As Peter watched the coyote he asked himself questions.
“What would it be like to be free from plans, desires?
What would it feel like not to have to make excuses?
What would it feel like to live in harmony with current conditions rather than wanting things to be different?…
Great teachers don’t tell you what to think. They help you ask
better questions.”

Everyday we have a chance to meet our animal and nature teachers. When we are open and receptive we have a teachable moment and mindset. When we start looking for teachers, we find them everywhere. On my walks, TREES are my teachers. They grow sturdy, yet flexible so as to bend and sway with the wind, instead of being blown down or breaking every time a storm brews. How flexible are you in these current times? Are you flexible with the flow, or are you digging your feet in the ground? Can you keep growing in your faith, yet be flexible and “Open at the top,” as Ernest Holmes writes?
In the morning I often hear BIRDS. Their sweet little souls create the most beautiful songs. I know it is a way for them to communicate with each other and I also believe they sing for pure delight and pleasure. Their singing reminds me to do the things I love to do. My question is, are you doing what you love to do, or are you doing what you think you should do?

I was reading the book, Medicine Cards, the Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals. Here are a few beautiful teachers.
TURTLE – ” Turtle buries its thoughts, like its eggs in the sand and allows the sun to hatch the little ones. This teacher is asking you to develop your ideas before bringing them out in the light.” Are you trying to develop something that has not been fully thought out?

BUTTERFLY – “It is the mind, and the ability to know the mind or to change it. It is the never-ending cycle of self-transformation.
Egg stage: Is this a thought, idea?
Larva stage: Is it time to make a decision?
Cocoon stage: Am I developing my idea to make
it a reality?
Birth/Butterfly stage: Am I sharing my completed idea?”

RABBIT – “The rabbit tends to be skittish and fearful. What are you fearful of? Stop talking about horrible things, and the ‘what ifs’. Write them down if you need to and breathe into them and then give them away.”
Ernest Holmes said, “Let go of fears into the nothingness from which they came.”

FROG – “Seeing a frog may remind you to describe your condition. Are you tired, overloaded, frustrated, guilty, nervous, at a loss? Time to take a break and bathe in a long relaxing bath, disconnect the phone, and take in deep cleansing breaths… Replenish your spirit, body and mind.”

HUMMINGBIRD – “Sings a vibration of pure joy. Plants and flowers live because of Hummingbird. Life is a wonderland of delight – darting from one beautiful flower to another, tasting the essences and radiating the colors.” If you see a Hummer, ask yourself, am I bringing joy and delight to others? Am I bringing out the BEST in others. Am I journeying to my highest ideal?

Teachers come in all forms, human, animal, nature and the Divine Voice within. Listen, be aware and mindful of the natural signs of wisdom.
We are here to learn. Life is our best teacher.

Who are your teachers today? Be open at the top, be receptive and discover joy and happiness, love and delight in all you do.

Open and Teachable,
Abigail and Steve

JOY

Dear Friends,
We celebrated our granddaughter’s first birthday Oct. 12th. I can hardly believe one year has passed as we watched her grow, learn to roll over, crawl, walk, talk, dance and play. Her joy at discovering new ways to play with her toys, and with us, brought happiness, joy and love to everyone!
This photo is her JOY at being who she is with all the family and friends she loves. She just ate some of her birthday cake and we all sang Happy Birthday
to her. Her expression of sheer JOY is pure and beautiful. It is a sweet reminder that we all are Divinely programed to be JOY. I truly believe God, Spirit, Divine Wisdom, Love, Source, by whatever name you wish to call our Creator only wants Good for us. God wants us to be an expression of JOY.
Life can send us hurdles, heartaches, obstacles and challenges, however it is up to us to FIND the blessings in everything and in-between our experiences
of JOY.
Our sweet Peyton is in the blessing and joy of life as she sits and laughs in her highchair. It did not stop her even after a small wooden toy fell on her toe or tripping as she “ran down the hall.” These hurts in-between did not stop her from expressing her true nature, God’s JOY. We can learn from our beautiful children and grandchildren to continually seek, find, and be JOY even in the midst and in-between situations. The more JOY we express, the less hurdles, and hurts we tend to go through. With the vibration of JOY and LOVE we attract more wonderful joy and love experiences to us.
A sweet prayer from the October Daily Word:
“Awakening from a restful sleep, I give thanks for the new day and all the people who will be part of it. Although I cannot know what will happen as this day unfolds, I remind myself that everything and everyone might lead me to a deeper awareness of God. This growing awareness is my greatest joy. Even if the day includes less than happy experiences. I will know the quiet joy and comforting strength of the peaceful presence of God that is with me always…”
LOOK for and BE the JOY in your life today!
Joyfully,
Abigail and Steve

FEELING is the Key to Prayer

Dear Friends,                                                                                                                 Did you know the heart has brain cells and can think? I read an article by Gregg Braden in the Nov. Dec. Unity Magazine. He says our heart is the key to life, decisions and purpose. In New Thought we have learned when the heart agrees with the mind,(feeling agrees with thought) the manifestation takes place. The feelings,the emotions surrounding the prayer treatment or affirmation is the KEY
to demonstration!
“The feeling is the prayer. The magic isn’t in the words, it is what those words mean to you and the changes they elicit in the body that is the real power of the prayer. Words are the code, feeling is the prayer.” Gregg Braden
Our heart KNOWS and is our intrinsic, intuitive guide in all we do.
“Researchers identified approximately 40,000 specialized cells in the human heart that they called sensory neurites, essentially brain like cells located in the heart. That means the heart can think, remember, make decisions, feel and sense independently of the brain.” Gregg Braden
I believe most us of have had the experience when our mind is saying this is a “great opportunity” and our heart-brain/intuition is telling us it is NOT. We need to stop and step back for some reason. We may not know what the reason is, we just know we should not take the “great opportunity.” When we disregard these “feelings” most of the time we regret it.                                                                                                                In the Original Peoples tradition, they honor the elders, the Wisdom Keepers.
These are the people who the tribe goes to for advise, direction, leadership and truth. I like to think of our hearts as the WISDOM Keepers of our body. We go to our heart feelings, our love energy when we need to make a decision, define a purpose, pursue a direction or learn the truth. Our hearts are truly our wisdom keepers in life.
In your daily prayers and the next time you have a challenge, focus on the wisdom of your heart. It will always guide you rightly.


Feeling with Heart,
Abigail and Steve

GLOW of GOD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

It was a quiet morning as I sat in my meditation chair to pray, meditate and read. When I turn on my crystal healing lamp, I am in gratitude and surrender the day unto God.
This particular morning in the semi-darkness, as I switched on the light , I was struck by the intuitive thought this is like the GLOW of GOD within me and within all. I meditated on the Glow of God within and how simple it was to just switch on my light. God is like that light bulb, It just needs us to switch on our own God Glow. The Light is always there ready, willing and able to warm the body with love, tenderness and compassion. It is there to help us see clearly without blame or judgment. It is there to help us move past fear to love. For Love is all there is in God’s Glow. The consciousness glow within us becomes the light that awakens the consciousness of people we are with.
The Glow of God within affects everyone.

We have all heard the saying, just turn on the light and the darkness in the room dissipates. WE can be that light. When we remember who we are, God in form, Light in action, Glow within , we affect not only ourselves, but everyone around us.

This brings to mind the Mills Brothers Song Glow Little Glow Worm”
Glow little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer
Lead us lest too far we wander
Love’s sweet voice is calling yonder
Glow little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer
Hey, there don’t get dimmer, dimmer
Light the path below, above
And lead us on to love!…

Even a simple glow worm can remind us God’s Light is in everyone and everything. Be that GLOW and Shine today!

Allowing the Glow of God to Shine,
Abigail and Steve

Looking Through a NEW LENS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

Last Wednesday, Rev. Dr. Deborah Johnson was the guest minister on the AGNT series, and one of her statements stayed with me. She said,
“You may not be able to change the circumstances, however you always have a choice to change the LENS in which you perceive
the circumstances.”
This is such a simple, yet true statement and one we often forget. Circumstances, situations, challenges are all part of our LIFE experience.
We may not be able to avoid them, however we always have a choice as to HOW we look at them.

Recently, in our day to day life, the roads around the Poway, and San Diego area have been torn up for repair and repaving. Our own street has flags at every house and the road crews have been moving up and down our street for weeks. Some intersections have been blocked completely. Once I needed to make a U turn to find another way home. The round-about-way took me 30 minutes when the original way, without road work, would have taken me 5-10 minutes. I could not change the circumstances of road repair, however I could find a different and new way home, or stay and complain in the traffic.
During these road repair weeks we have found multiple ways to get where we want to go and have become more familiar with other neighborhoods in Poway and San Diego. We just broadened our horizons.

I also began to look at the road construction workers and appreciated how they are serving the community. These men and women are working long hours in the sun or even at midnight to make the repairs necessary for US, and for our benefit. Instead of complaining we need to be sending a thank you and a prayer for their safety as they work so diligently all day. Each one of these workers have a family to go home to, and I am sure their loved ones want them to come home safe and secure after working in the streets.

On a world note, we can either see horrible things happening in the world,
(yes there are crisis’s,) and/or we can see the world going through birth pangs to bring in a better, more beautiful, more secure, more compassionate world. What our intentions and visions are, is what happens. The Universe brings forth our thoughts into form. SEE the Good and it will manifest.

Wherever you are and what ever you are doing, you have a choice to view every situation as a positive opportunity to learn, grow, try something new and/or
be more compassionate.

Be open at the top, see through a NEW LENS, and give thanks.

Seeing through a new lens,
Abigail and Steve

 

Who Are You?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

“WHAT is behind door number 3?”
There used to be a popular TV Show where contestants would open the door of their choice. Maybe it was a refrigerator, a desk, a TV or even a new car behind the door. It was always a surprise!

We always have a choice to ask the question not ‘WHAT is behind door number three?’, but “WHO is behind door number 3?” As we go through life we tend to put on many faces and literally become different people as we go through our personal doors during the day. The nurturing mother in the morning getting her kids off to school, may become the focused, no-nonsense leader of a company the rest of the day. A cook in a restaurant, focused on food and preparation, may be the winner of a triathlon on the weekend. We all have various responsibilities, focuses and purposes and sometimes we are like chameleons as we move from one role to another.

What if we didn’t have to pick which door to BE in the moment?
Last week we talked about our life being our story. Our values, attitudes and intentions do create our life story, and we have a choice to keep that which is sacred and mindful in all our our roles and responsibilities. A nurturing mother can be compassionate with a client, co-worker or someone who works for them when there are challenges or difficulties. A cook and a triathlon competitor can take the qualities of detail, perseverance and striving to do his or her best at both roles.

The WHO is different than the WHAT. WHO you are as a spiritual being enters into and flows into whatever job, role, or position you have. You are a Spiritual Being, Divinity in form, Love in Action, God on earth. How you choose to DO God, BE a Spiriutal Divine Being or show up as Love in action, is up to you.
Be who you truly are behind closed doors as well as opened doors.

So when someone asks WHO are you? or WHO is behind door number 3, you can honestly answer, I AM behind All Doors. For the Great I AM is God in me, as me always moving through me. I choose to authentically BE IT in all I do.

Choosing To Be God as Me,
Abigail and Steve

BE Your Story

Dear Friends,
I love reading stories to my 10 month old ‘walking’ granddaughter. Some books she likes to listen to especially if there are little flaps to open. There are other books she likes to read upside down while turning the pages backwards. Otherwise her favorite activity is to pull books off the shelf!
She is so much fun and brings us so much joy.
I am keeping a picture album of her first year and will continue to do so because it is the early story of her life! I look forward to the day when I can read non-fiction true life stories about brave women and men who made a difference in the world.
We all are in the STORY OF OUR LIVES. How is your story going? If someone was reading your life story to a little child, what main idea would you want them to know, what would you like them to learn, or to grow spiritually, to serve, to make a difference in the world?
Ghandi said, “My Life is My Message.”
What message are you sending out day by day? What life story are you sharing at work, with your family, with your friends, with your neighbors and especially those who are in service to you at grocery stores, department stores, restaurants etc. Is your life message one of compassion? empathy? justice? respect, ethics, joy?
Yesterday was Labor Day, a day where we are supposed to rest, relax and give us time to reflect on our lives and the work we do. Are you satisfied with the work you are doing? Are you happy being retired? How are the family dynamics going? We all have a story to tell. Can we tell our life story to our children and grandchildren and be proud of it?
Maybe it is time to write your memoirs and really look deeply into your life. Remember, no mater what age you are, you are still in your LIFE STORY.
The past is the past, and we cannot change it. However we can change going forward as we write a new chapter in our LIFE STORY. Our life is eternal, so there is no stopping, just lessons learned, reflecting and then moving on to
Do Better and Be Better.
Your next chapter may be entirely different and you can begin it now!
Write, reflect, and be the person you want to be, for your children and grandchildren to see. Maybe THIS is the LIFE chapter you will read
to your loved ones.
Living My Story,
Abigail and Steve

Who is the Christ?


Dear Friends,

In the morning I like reading an affirmation, short story, book, poem or verse that truly picks me up and reminds me of who I am. I am not just part and parcel of this great universe, or God, Spirit, Divine Energy, I AM IT.
So many of our Masters have told us such and yet we, on some level, do not believe it. I am reading a book right now, titled, “I AM the WORD” channeled by Paul Selig. He/They say we are the Christ. The Christ Consciousness will come again, not in the form of one man, but in our form, in all of us. It is up to us to bring the Christ Consciousness on earth. We can’t do that if we do not believe it. You are what you believe.

I know many people of different faith traditions find the word Christ hard to hear. Let us substitute God, or Divine Love or Buddha Consciousness. Jesus the Christ was a man who embodied the Christ essence, the Christ/God principle, the Highest Consciousness. One thing I am realizing, how often I say, I am becoming the Christ. Selig says, You are the Christ. Everyone is the Christ. However not everyone recognizes this Truth due to fear, anxiety, pain, ego and misinformation passed down over thousands of years. Two ways to look at this truth. We are like artichokes. We have all the spiny, sharp edges on the outside, and yet on the inside is the heart of the artichoke. The heart is in every artichoke, like the Christ Consciousness is in every human. There may be many spikey, hard, thick humans, yet the heart of God/Christ is in everyone. We just have to peel away each spiky leaf/fear thought one at a time.
Or think of a cocoon, just waiting to birth the beautiful butterfly. We have lived in our cocoon of doubt and fear all our lives, and yet we were always intended to be the beautiful Christ Consciousness. It lives in us ready to be birthed!

On an errand, I was affirming I am the Christ and I see the Christ in everyone. In the midst of my affirmations, a woman almost ran her car into my car while pulling out of a parking space which immediately stopped my affirming. I felt irritated at her as she waved to me. With that wave, I realized my consciousness had dropped. Could I see the Christ in her? Could I see that the Consciousness of the Christ, of God is in everyone and in every situation. There is no place the Christ Consciousness cannot present itself. It was a simple wake up call to always know the truth of who I am in all situations.

Yesterday I was picking up supplements at my Chinese Medicine Doctor’s
office. The young lady behind the desk was slow and couldn’t find what I had called and asked for. She finally said, after a long search they were out of that supplement. In my mind I thought, “Why didn’t’ she tell me on the phone she didn’t have it.” Then I remembered…. to think in my mind and heart (not out loud), I am the Christ and I see the Christ in her. Funny thing happened, my artichoke spikes receded and I found something to say to make everyone laugh. The tense energy was diffused. Spikes in, Heart out!

“When Mother Teresa helped a dying leper, she saw “Christ in all his distressing disguises.” She was not only helping a leper, she was also loving God. When you and I see the good in others, we are loving God and changing lives. Someone once said, “Your attitude toward another person may be the first step in releasing that person’s greatness.” (Aug. SoM magzine, Rev. Dr. Ron Fox) That greatness may be the Christ Consciousness.

I will continue to affirm I am the Christ (Consciousness)and I see the Christ in everyone. I want to help release the greatness in people. Let us all see the Christ, The God Essence, The Buddha presence in everyone we meet and especially those who push our buttons and irritate us.

GOD/Christ is within us, moving through the day as us. How will that look
for you?!

Try something tomorrow morning. As you wake up, see and feel yourself as God, LIGHT, Love, Christ, Buddha. Before you get out of bed see the Light Energy of God flowing through your crown chakra and moving in and through all your chakras. Feel your Divinity as a Light Christed BEING. When you get out of bed say, I am the Christ, I am God Light, I am Love. I am putting on my earth suit, my cocoon. When I acknowledge the Christ in me and in all, I am then released and soar as the butterfly.

Releasing the Christ in Me,
Abigail and Steve