*** As I went to post this, I heard the news about the mass shooting in Dayton this morning on the heels of the shooting in El Paso yesterday.  Pray for peace, dear friends.  Pray for those injured, the families affected, for those who have died. Pray for first responders and medical personnel. Pray for all who are tested by this act of violence.  May angels comfort us all. Visualize peace and love blanketing the planet.  ***

Hello, everyone!

We all know how busy life can get.  It has been a whirlwind few months for me, and while I manage to do “Prayer on the God” podcasts fairly frequently, this blog got lost in the shuffle.  Sorry ’bout that.

I put up the gratitude phrase from Melody Beattie today.  That rose in the garden was just aching to be celebrated and I was grateful for its vibrance and fragrance.  It is a simple thing, to see this beautiful splash of red against the green of the backyard, but it reminded me of the many other ways blessings surround me.  Little winks from Heaven.
All is well.  Even if it feels like all is in chaos in the world.

We are all feeling unsettled about something or other these days.  How can we not?  We turn on the news and see another mass shooting.  We talk to a friend to discover they have been going through a difficult time in their life.  A loved one falls ill.  Bills exceed our bank account.  Relationships crumble without warning.  The sand shifts beneath our feet and we get stressed and out of balance.  We wrestle with negative emotions. We get depressed and withdrawn, resentful and overwhelmed….

Sound familiar?

We have to look out for one another in these times.  As we retreat and process, we cut ourselves off from the love and assistance that is available to us.  I read recently where having nights out with besties can help us live longer.  I believe this!  Laughter, dancing, letting go and being silly — it’s the perfect antidote to fear and worry.  Being with loved ones, watching funny movies, playing in the garden, singing, walking in nature…. these are just some of the things we can do to bring back balance and get our minds shifted away from problems and back onto the happy things of life.

There is no question that we are living in challenging times.  Remembering every day to count the blessings we have and trying to remain in that place of gratitude actually makes us receptive to more.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

When we remember the blessings we have been given by Creator, when we look to Divine Love in our dark times, when we remember that we are loved and beloved by the One who knows how many hairs there are on our heads, then we trust that things will work our our highest and best.  When we focus there, then we will find things shifting.  Our attitude and understanding of things changes.  More blessings come as we give thanks and look to our loving God to bring us grace and love.

When we are in the midst of the pit, it isn’t easy to climb out into the light of day once more.  The sun is shining up there.  People are walking by with ice cream cones and having a great day.  We are stuck in the pit, feeling alone and helpless.  Every blessing we count can be a rung on the rescue ladder.  Reaching out to a friend can bring the rope we need to escape the darkness.

Taking time to read something spiritual, connecting with Love, with our angels, writing in our journals.. there are so many ways we can find joy once more.  It is okay for us to be happy.  It is important for us to be happy.  When we seek God’s love and give thanks for blessings received, then we are stronger.  We in turn reach out and share that love with others.  They in turn reach out and help — and so on.

With this world so caught up in fear, we all have a call as children of the Most High to remember our heritage.  We are sparks of the Divine.  We are powerful, created to enjoy life and experience the goodness of Creation.

It’s time to step up.  We have work to do.  We can’t buy into the negative mindset encouraged by those who wish to keep us unhappy and fearful.  Seek first the Spiritual, the realm of Divine Love.  Connect there and everything will come to you – understanding, joy, healing, prosperity, and gratitude.

We need peace in our hearts and the understanding that we truly are one on this planet.  I pray that today you will see the many blessings that surround you, despite the challenges and give thanks for the good that comes.  It will give us strength and hope in these challenging days.  Good comes to us now.

Blessings,
+Deb