Dear Family of Love,
Did we make and take time for self-care today? If we haven't already I suggest that we do so by going off the grid early and quieting the house, your hearts, and all the inner noise. The inner noise is the most important so that when you take time to worship tomorrow it will make you more receptive. Not only will it make you more receptive, it will draw you nearer to God. Drawing nearer to God won't hurt you, if anything it will make you a stronger more complete person in your faith. The seeds we plant are our prayers and do not have egos attached and do not allow for the the gimme, gimme, gimme. Tonight just as we do on Keeping the Faith Friday Fearlessly without Fretting is this: We need to check our egos at the door and allow God to be in the driver's seat. It's our turn not to lead but to follow. It's our turn to listen and not to speak. It's our turn to open wide the gates of our hearts to let God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in.. It's our turn to be still and know that God is God and God is Good. It is our turn to make time for God solely without ego, and without our own petty agenda. So let us draw near to God and follow God into the center of our inner beings by doing our Walk With Me On Our Journey Mindfulness Exercises:
Inhale the Holy Spirit.
Exhale Love.
Inhale the Holy Spirit
Exhale Love
Inhale the Holy Spirit
Exhale Love
Now repeat the following 3 times;
Be Still and Know That I am God.
Be Still and Know
Be Still
Be
Here is our suggested musical selection for this evening: William Ackerman Album: Meditations
Now get out some kind of timer, mindfulness app, or music and set them for 5 minutes when you begin. Then close your eyes and be silent. If the music goes long don't worry that will lead you into our time of prayer and thanks
If you didn't take time for the Worry/ Sabbath Box you may do this now or before you leave for church in the morning:
Things to place in our Worry/Sabbath box ! Not to be opened until Monday Evening!
Worries
Expectations
Big conversations that will make everyone feel bad and overly stressed for You Matter Monday
Things that are plaguing your mind.
Write down your fears too.
Self-Care Saturday tips!
Walking in nature
Do creative things
Breathing in Sea or Forrest Air
Go to the beach, mountains, or find a good hiking trail.
Spa visits (mineral springs)
Labyrinth waking
Be a tourist in your own backyard.
Walking the Stations of the Cross if you live near a California Mission
Easy meal prep.
Go see a play, concert, or any other event that you choose.
Make and take the time to connect and reconnect with all of our family members who might be victims of falling through the cracks.
If you have a green thumb garden or arrange flowers!
Take time to meditate.
Whatever makes your body, mind, and spirit sing!
Sabbath -Care tips!
This day is dedicated to God! God only asks of us for one day a week!
Serve the least of these and make sure that when you are in your place of worship that you look for the lonely, lost, and those who are single and wallflower types. No one gets to fall through the cracks.
This is not the day to do household chores, homework, and the like!
Visit your place of worship.
Take time for prayer, meditation, and anything else that makes the Sabbath Day Holy.
See if you can be of help to your clergy or lay leaders at church.
Take time for family, friends, and neighbors
Read spiritual books,
Walk in God's Cathedral of life.
Have brunch with your family.
These lists are endless. Tonight let's take a night to reconnect with all that is holy. It is time to sanctify space and time and make these almost three days holy, life giving, and sustaining. Give your bodies, minds, and spirits over to God and rest.
Prayers from last year's blog:
Come Holy Spirit, calm our hearts, minds, and physical selves that we may feel your enlivening and empowering presence.
Gracious Spirit, we pray for peace in this troubled and broken world of ours and in ourselves.
Gracious Spirit, as we approach God's day of Sabbath may we prepare ourselves in heart and mind to meet Jesus in the breaking of the bread, the cup of salvation, and by drinking from the well of the Water of life that never runs dry.
Gracious Spirit, help us to give ourselves permission to take rest, do self-care, and honor God by entering into that weekly Sabbath Rest.
Gracious Spirit, give us courage to serve the least of these and become their loving and compassionate brothers and sisters.
Gracious Spirit, heal all those who are ill in body, mind, and spirit.
Gracious Spirit, we pray for the protection of those who travel .
Gracious Spirit, may we ever seek to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
Gracious Spirit, encircle all those who are dying and who have died. Enfold you loving arms around the departed and give loving comfort to those who mourn. May we lovingly enfold them as well.
Gracious Spirit, as the night has fallen and we shall soon be at rest we pray with special intention for ourselves and especially our family members who have asked us to pray for their concerns especially___________________
We add any other prayers, celebrations, remembrances, and thanksgivings here. We pray these prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.
++++++
Good Night Dear Family of Love. I love you! May you rest secure in the knowledge that you are loved, accepted, matter, and are precious to God and to me. I give thanks to God for you this day and always.
Love,peace, Joy, and blessing to the brim and overflowing!
Sara
Sara
No comments:
Post a Comment