Planting Seeds of Faith

Spring if often a time for planting in the garden. A time of renewal and anticipation filled with promise and hope. I love 

gardening; planting seeds of herbs, vegetables, and flowers. This brings me joy and connects me to mother earth, which is a very grounding experience. At a recent workshop I attended, we explored the idea of seeds being planted into the conscious mind by way of intentions where they germinate and later manifest into our desires. Today, I want to explore the various seeds we can plant in our own lives and see what sprouts.

Just like there are many varieties of seeds available to plant for food, shade,  or pleasure; there are endless seeds of thought we can plant for a multitude of outcomes. We can choose to plant the seeds of wholeness, wellness, joy, love, beauty, success, dreams, simplicity, harmony, balance, fun, creativity, relationships, communication, forgiveness, reconciliation, hope, faith, strength, courage, wisdom, completion, discipline, longevity, health, adventure, positivity and so much more… There are an infinite amount of seeds available to plant in the fertile soil of our consciousness. The trick is to continue nurturing them and not dig them up. When we plant a seed, we are expressing faith in Universal Laws or Truths that we can trust to manifest our desires. Tomato seeds produce tomatoes. They can’t produce cucumbers because that’s not the intention of their seeds. The same in true for planting seeds of joy, wisdom, love and anything else in life; they all correspond to the intention of that particular seed. Therefor, paying attention to the seeds we plant in our own minds, correspond with the outcomes we experience in our own lives.

We have a choice. Planting seeds of faith require gratitude which nurtures the composition of the seeds allowing them to flourish into manifestation. What would you like to plant today? I invite you to plant the seeds that would make your life more enjoyable and fulfilling. Write them down. Nourish them with positivity, faith and trust. Weed out doubt, fear, or negativity. Instead, focus your energy on the outcome of these seeds and before long you will begin to see them sprout (manifest) in your life.

* If you liked this article, please comment below and/ or reblog (post on your page/wall) to share with others. Let me know what seeds you’re planting and together we can nurture all the possibilities!

Easter Blessings!

Reblogged from Awaken to Yourself!:

Easter is a time of renewal and Resurrection! I hope everyone had a blessed Easter Sunday with family and friends, sharing in the celebration of this Holy holiday. To me, Easter is far more than candy and colored eggs. Its deeper meaning is of hope and forgiveness. While the celebration of Easter has passed, we can still bask in the warm glow of this transformative time and awaken to the realization of everlasting life.

Read more… 282 more words

The Blessings of Holy Thursday

         Today is Maundy Thursday, a Holy day where Jesus celebrated the Jewish custom of Passover  with his disciples before he was crucified the very next day. This meal commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper which began the sacrament of “Holy Communion” in the Christian Faith.

“Before the Passover meal, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. By performing this lowly act of service, the Bible says in John 13:1 that Jesus “showed them the full extent of his love.” By his example, Jesus demonstrated how Christians are to love one another through humble service. For this reason, many churches practice foot-washing ceremonies as a part of their Maundy Thursday services. “

“Maundy derived from the Latin word mandatum, meaning “commandment,”  and refers to the commands Jesus gave his disciples at the Last Supper: to love with humility by serving one another and to remember his sacrifice.” (John 13:34)

To read more follow this link. http://christianity.about.com/od/easter/qt/maundythursday.htm

For this post, I want to focus on the metaphysical aspects of these important rituals in showing our gratitude for Jesus and for each other. Share a meal all together with your family and enjoy the gifts of communion. Participate in a community event and experience humility in the face of serving others less fortunate. In order to make today even more personal, think about all the sacrifices your parents made in order to provide you with a better life. Give them a call and let them know you appreciate their sacrifices. If you have children, you can relate to the acts of Jesus as he taught his followers lessons of boundless love and humility. Teach your children about these lessons and show them your love through quality time. The blessings of these lessons are that they are timeless and as relevant today as 2,000 years ago. Create your own rituals that sanctify the sacredness of today.

Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, today can be a significant day of reflection, grace, and service. We can reflect on the sacrifices of generations before us and of our own sacrifices for the generations yet to come. We can perform humble acts of service for others in order to appreciate all the blessings we have in our own lives. In what ways do you show your love to others? How can you transcend the lessons of Jesus today? What hope can you offer?

There are no pure actions too small or too great that can be done in the name of God; in the name of Love. Experience the blessings of Holy Thursday in whatever way works for you and allow the deeper meaning of today remind you of what’s truly important.

 

The Blessings of Palm Sunday

  Today is Palm Sunday; the kick off to Holy Week for millions of Christians and Jews all over the world and a time for prayerful reflection and gratitude, as well as preparation for changes yet to come. For Christians, today marks the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a road covered with palms fit for a king.

In the Jewish faith, the rituals of Passover serve as important reminders of the sacrifices and triumphs made by the Israelites to regain their freedom in ancient Egypt.

For me, Palm Sunday has deep spiritual meaning because it marks the beginning of personal transformation. Each year, I release another layer of pain, regret, or shame in order to resurrect a new dimension of freedom. Today, I embark on Holy Week by identifying what aspects of my character or life need forgiveness or healing. Then I pray on these areas all week long in order to gain greater clarity of their deeper meaning; to identify the lessons they have for me, since I know that everything happens for a reason and this includes every action and reaction I may have.  I also double up on reading spiritual literature to help me to see different points of view and therefor open up my consciousness to greater capacities for love and understanding. I also meditate on these messages from scripture and other sacred texts in order to heed their personal message for me  allowing them to inspire and motivate me through this process of grieving and healing.

What does today (this week) mean for you?

I urge you to take serious thought about utilizing the blessings of Palm Sunday and this Holy Week to resurrect a new found freedom within yourself. In order to have a breakthrough, we must each be willing to break down our barriers (walls) of anger, hurt, shame, fear, and pain so that we can ascend to a higher plane of existence.

Change is possible. Change is inevitable. Give yourself the blessing of embracing changes in your life with courage and strength. Face them head on and witness the miracles for yourself. Create your own rituals or plug into the one’s offered by your spiritual community, and utilize this sacred time of year to cleanse your heart of any unwanted feelings that may be holding you back.

Throughout the week I will be posting messages of hope and faith as I embark on this sacred journey and remember the sacrifices Jesus made for me through his example.

Join me today. Comment what’s on your heart. Identify your areas for transformation. Great joy await for us all on the other side!

Love & Blessings

Rev. Lisa

 

Gratitude as the Gateway

 

Whatever the circumstance, gratitude can open the door from chaos to order; blocks to breakthroughs and endings to new beginnings filled with possibility. Gratitude is truly the gateway to happiness and more importantly, satisfaction with life. When we choose to look at what is right in our lives, we shift our focus and instantly our energy as well as outlook changes. The darkness of self-pitty and depression instantly become lighter, fear turns into renewed faith and despair turns into hope the minute we surrender and accept where we are in the moment. Being grateful for all the blessings we have in the moment open a space within us to accept the unacceptable with grace and ease. This practice paves the way for peace and clear thinking in which solutions can present themselves. When we are locked by resistance, we block God’s help. Gratitude breaks through the resistance by reminding us things could always be worse and helps us to put everything in perspective. Of course, we may not like the situation, but we must accept it nonetheless.

Acceptance does not mean forgiveness, or turning the other cheek. Acceptance, simply means acknowledging what is. It is what it is. This mindset helps take the emotion out of things and automatically takes the charge out of things. Try it and see for yourself. I’ve been using this technique for almost a year and the results are phenomenal. Of course this tool requires practice as our human tendency is to react out of emotion first and resist looking at things objectively. Unfortunately, this is the way most people handle problems, challenges and uncomfortable situations. However, it doesn’t have to be this way when you practice gratitude regardless of the outcome.

Starting today, write down everything that is working in your life. Using complete sentences, journal what you appreciate about your life and the people who make it better/worthwhile. Think about a challenge, problem or particularly difficult situation or person and find 10 things to be grateful for. Look for the positive in the person or situation and notice how you feel. Notice your energy level as it begins to shifts. Sleep on it. That’s why I love doing this practice right before bed, because the brain will contemplate it all night long in our sleep as it passes from our conscious mind to the subconscious mind where the real shifts occur. The next day, I usually feel entirely different about the whole situation and can see solutions that I couldn’t before. Tell me about your experience and comment below.

Until then, trust the process of gratitude and allow it to transform your heart, mind, and life.

 

Thank You Notes

Remember when everyone used to send thank you notes whenever a gift was given? When I was growing up, my mom made me write thank you notes to my grandparents, aunts and uncles for birthday and Christmas presents.  Why have those days seemingly disappeared? Nowadays, people send impersonal emails if at all. I have even experienced this lack of etiquette when it comes to weddings and showers. What has the world come to if we disregard simple manors.

There is a distinct pleasure from actually writing a personal Thank You note. It lets people know their efforts are appreciated. It shows gratitude and love. This time honored tradition is one of those fundamental values children today are growing up knowing nothing about. It makes me sad because they are missing out on a host of written communication and penmanship skills that are vital in life. Additionally, kids today are not learning the practice of giving thanks for all the blessings they have. This goes beyond presents or celebrations. Thank you notes convey a real appreciation for life and honor everyone who makes it better.

I am so grateful Late Night’s TV host Jimmy Fallen has brought this practice to light in his Friday, “Thank You Note” segment where he actually writes these notes in front of the audience every week. Of course he finds funny things to be thankful for and is sometimes sarcastic, but he is bringing back an old custom into the forefront once again. I just love it!

So today, write a heartfelt thank you note to someone you love, a friend or teacher letting them know how much you appreciate them in your life. This is a wonderful little boost we all need to lift our spirits sometimes and feels good for both the giver and the receiver. Try it today and notice what happens!

 Thank You faithful readers for subscribing to my blogs and for all of your wonderful comments.

I really appreciate your support!

 

Cheers to Good Health!

Winter is a time for reflection and rejuvenation; a time for enjoying the snow as well as the cool, crisp, air. However, it’s also a time for colds, flu, and other illnesses. Currently, I’m afflicted with a nasty cold and an eczema breakout. It’s times like these that remind me of how important my health really is and makes me appreciate the simplicity of breathing deeply without coughing or being able to sleep throughout the night and not wanting to scratch my skin off. Sometimes we have to lose our health in order to remember what is usually taken for granted. I am so grateful for over the counter medications, tissues with aloe and Goldbond Anti-itch Lotion. It’s the little things that make getting through illness bearable. I’m also grateful for my white blood cells that are working hard to make me better, along with orange juice, vitamins, and good old fashioned rest. There’s only so much TV a gal can watch, but thank God for the internet and all its variety. Then there’s those mindless games like “Angry Birds”, of which I’m totally hooked on. When all is said and done, nothing beats a four legged furry animal to snuggle with. I prefer my little Chihuahua, named Buttercup. Others prefer creatures of the feline persuasion. Regardless, pets are the greatest companions for the in-firmed.

So cheers to good health! Embrace winter’s cold embrace. Enjoy the snow. And most of all, thank God for today!

Be Grateful for Family

Family is something to cherish. Family means everything to me. I am so grateful for the loving family I have and for its ever expanding size as well as deeper connections. We celebrate together, morn together, uphold each other and support each one another in good times and in bad. This is what family is all about.

Of course we don’t always agree on each other’s choices, but this is to be expected from all individuals. Real love shared within healthy families cut through disapproval, misunderstandings, and disagreements. When was the last time you laughed with your family? How about shared in a meal?

Life is precious, handle with loving care. Let your family members know how much they mean to you. Be grateful for your parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins today. I sure am. These moments create strength and connection that infuse life with meaning.

Our very identities come from this family unit who name us, teach us, guide us, and of course love us; no matter what! Family is the foundation upon which we belong and extend to a much larger magnitude than biology. We are each part of a global family as human beings sharing this beautiful family. Many of us are part of a religious or spiritual family. Some of us are even part of an extended family from spouses and friends. This idea of family is made up of many factors and today, be grateful for whoever you choose to call your family. They are one-of-a-kind and are the primary source of love and support for each of us. Family is heritage. Family is culture. Family is faith. Family holds values and traditions that are unique to us all. Family reminds us that we are never alone on this journey called life and that we are inextricably connected to each other.

Be grateful for your family today. Treasure time spent together. Communicate your feelings of love and appreciation for your loved ones. Notice the warmth in each smile or hug. Breathe in these quiet moments, remembering them often. Give thanks for your family today.

In Loving Memory of My Grandma Marie

   This week and month, I remember my loving Grandma Marie who passed away one year ago. At her funeral we adorned her with pink roses and baby’s breath. This picture reminds me of this. She loved flowers, being outdoors, traveling, reading, and family. Marie was a devote Catholic who always attended church with my grandpa (when he was alive) as well as bible study. My grandma was active right up until the end with a keen mind and faithful heart. She was the heart of our family and kept everyone together by staying in touch with her two adult children, all the grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She had many friends and was active in service to many organizations. She overcame many obstacles including several bouts with cancer, the death of her father at age 16 and the inability to have biological children (which is why they adopted). My grandma had boundless courage and spunk, was a great cook, and truly lived life to the fullest. I am so grateful to have spent so much time with her and learned much from her.

I remember learning how to cook family recipes with her, baking cookies at Christmastime, and developing a love for reading from a book she gave me as a gift. She taught me how to shuffle a deck of cards when I was a kid, introduced me to hiking and imparted a love of the arts such as painting, sewing, decorating, and card making. Most of all, my grandma gave me a proud Irish heritage and family values that will live with me forever.

Marie supported me and all the family with such love and devotion. She was never afraid to tell you what was on her mind and although we often had differences of opinion, were very much alike. My grandma was a big part of who I am today and I will always miss her. Thankfully, we took many pictures of our numerous adventures together and I was able to spend lots of time sharing many different experiences.  I am so grateful she saw me graduate from college, get married, have a successful career, and adopt my loving Chihuahua buttercup. I’m also grateful I made amends to her for all the pain I caused her while growing up; as now I have a clear conscious knowing that we had a close relationship.

Today, let your loved ones know what they mean to you. Cherish your time together. Apologize for any wrongdoings and don’t let old resentments or differences of opinion create a wedge between you and your family. Resolve petty arguments and remember it is better to be happy, than right.

I love you grandma. I know you are in Heaven with Grandpa, your sister, brothers and parents as well as many dear friends. You will be forever in my heart.

The Blessings of Family

Family’s come in all shapes and sizes; with different styles and traditions. Some families communicate well while others have constant turmoil. Regardless of what your family looks or acts like, we all have blessings to be noticed. First of all, YOU because without your family, you wouldn’t exist. Secondly, everything you have become to date was a result of your family and the history you were born into as well as the life you experienced with them. These ties created the foundation for the person you are today and these primary relationships are the building blocks for all your relationships forward. Traditions, history, beliefs, values, attitudes, and habits were all created from our family as they were our first teachers. This realization can be a blessing because if we are not happy with the outcome of our life, we can trace it back to our beliefs rooted in our families and then change it. Sometimes this takes getting professional help and sometimes it just takes a new perspective.

The blessings of family are numerous regardless of its functionality. Everything happens for a reason and is part of a Divine plan. If you struggle with your family history, do whatever you can to resolve it through forgiveness and release its negative energy in your current life. I assure you; this dynamic is being re-created now even if the circumstances have changed. We can’t run away from our family roots, but we don’t have to be defined by them either. Today, choose to let go of the past and cherish all the blessings of family. Do it for your children, your marriage and for your own peace of mind.

Family can also be a choice instead of blood. Perhaps your friends or church are more like family than your blood relatives. Today, you get to choose who makes up the people you call family. Practice the traditions that are meaningful to you. Release the ones that aren’t. It’s that simple. Count the blessings of family today and appreciate all the intimate relationships you have for they each have special meaning for us all.