Have you remembered to take care today?

Dear Family of Love and pilgrims on our Journey!

I can't believe it! I walked the old traditional route tonight in honor and in thanksgiving of all that God has given me. We often make our prayers a lot of gimme gimme. We need to be praying and offering thanksgiving too. We really can't have one without the other. When a prayer is answered we must give thanks. We also should be thanking God in advance while we are praying. Manners are very important in our lives and some times those magic words of Please and Thank You get lost in prayer and in the praise. My dad has gotten into saying "I'll have...." instead of "please may I have" So let's mind our manners when we are in conversation with God and with each other. Simple manners and acts of kindness can go a very long way. We also need to be mindful of those who are singles of any stripe during this time of year and always. They should be on a list somewhere so that they can be asked to join in. This is a hard time of the year for us, who for some reason or other  are not included or invited to parties. Extending yourself will not kill you! 

Have you remembered to take care today? I hope you have. I'm keenly aware that all of us who are involved in ministry of on kind or another are always stressed out during this time of year and in the Holy Week and Easter season. We all need  to be on our best health behavior.  Here is a short body, mind, and spirit checklist:

Have you gone outside to enjoy God's Cathedral of life?
Have you unplugged and let silence be golden?
Are you watching your eating and drinking habits?
Are you getting exercise?
Don't forget to do an occasional crossword puzzle or something to enrich your mind! 
When was the last time you have taken time for fun?
Is there some group offering a carol or Messiah Sing along? If there is, go! 
Have you started a holiday memory book? Remember some of our older people may not be around forever and it's a good time to get their memories down. O how I wished I had done this with my mother/ Have a few people in your family become keepers of the lore! 
Take time for you and you alone!
Make your own kind of spa day! 
Dear brothers and guy pals  of mine, take time to be with buddies, play sports, read, go to the barber and have a facial. Men have mani pedis too! I know a few of you like to go to clubs and listen to marvelous music. Go Fishing, take a walk or go for a run. Go golfing! It may be too late but become a Big Brother! 
Light fragrant candles. 
Go see a film, listen to music, take a drive!
If you are a single and unattached person like me, have your own date night! Just leave the blow up doll at home please.
I'm sure there are others, I know there are! You need to find the fun! You find the fun! and snap the fun's a game! (A little liberty on Just a Spoonful of Sugar!)

That should give you enough fodder for taking care of you! Remember when we fly on an airplane they tell us to put the oxygen mask on ourselves first and then help our children and others! If we don't start taking care of ourselves how will we be able to take care of others? Think about it!

Remember I love you, you matter, and I want you to take care of yourself! We all have to take care, as we continue our journey of Hope, Peace, Joy, to the Manger of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love  in a week's time. 

Love and peace of mind as I give thanks to God for you this day and always!

Sara

Today's Great O Antiphon:
O Sapientia - O Wisdom SSJE

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Hark the Glad Sound

Time for the Hakuna Matata (No Worries ) Post!

Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on our Journey!

I have been sensing a lot and I mean quite a lot of anxious worries and stress happening within our family and also in our larger cyber family too. It's time to stop and not get wound up and stressed out. God (Jesus) told us not to be! So don't get into this kind of trap, it only serves to hurt you and those around you. Sometimes anxiety can be worse for those who aren't able to fix, help, or understand what you or your loved one is going through. Susan Powter had a book and video called "Stop the Insanity!" I'm telling you (us) to do the same. "Stop the Insanity!" All this stuff gets one is a very tense body, a messed up and jumbled mind that may become seriously mono-focused, and a restless spirit. Not good if you are trying to find balance in your life and keep in check. With Christmas and those awful New Year's resolutions coming up one does not need to heap all the un-necessary garbage on top of one's life. I'm not and neither should you! Here are a few helpful suggestions that might be of help!

Do not be anxious! Jesus was very helpful  and I don't know how he did that in his time and in ours, but he did and still does! That tells me that God isn't into anxiety either. We have a lot to learn.

Make a list of all the worries on sticky notes and if you have a fire pit offer each one to the fire and ask God to help you let each one of the worries go away from your body, mind, and spirit. After you do that make a list of positives that you can add to your life to replace the worry. I would wait awhile. Get used to the feeling of not having to dwell on these worries and anxieties. 

Become physically active! I walk! It  has become my anti- worry solution! It has also provided for me this avenue to pray, walk, and blog and have a very special relationship with you my dear family. 

If all this anxiety and worry cannot be conquered by yourself ! GO GET HELP! Have a faith community? Try your local clergy. If you don't get along with them find a faith community that will match and where you will be able to feel that sense of belonging! If not, look for free counselling  services. They have services for the LGBTQ community, AA or any of the Anons,  hospitals often offer support groups, American Cancer Society, Alzheimer's Association and many more. Let your fingers do the walking. Hospice is a good place to start if you are looking for grief counselling. 
Remember to make sure you are going to be with someone you trust and that their credentials are up to par. 

Let us know if you are going through something! We do not want to be out of the loop and may be able to help and pray for you. I'm finding that social media can be a good place to ask for help but, here's my warning! DM- if you are using Twitter and PM/ Chat if you are using Facebook! Do not place anything that you want held in confidence in your posts. So be mindful. Remember there are so many cyber bullies, trolls, and haters out there seeking someone to devour..... !

Ok, that is enough of this topic! Hakuna Matata! Be not anxious! Fear Not for we are in the season of HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE. Let us practice these and be lights to those who may be anxious and fearful. Prayer and prayer walking is a good place to start! I loved being able to pray for you, your families, and all those whom you asked me to pray for tonight. I love you, You matter, and all of our family members matter to me as well.

A few prayers that might be of help to you and others! :)

If you are on Facebook I have more photos! Too many moon shots to show.

I hope all of you have an anxiety free evening! Just know that God holds each of you and all those who are anxious in the palm of God's hands! Just as the picture of the Moon tonight that looks like God is Holding the moon in God's hands! 

I love you and may continue to walk and pray with hope, peace,joy, and love in every step as we approach the Manger where Jesus is Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love and where God became, God Incarnate, Man Divine. 

Love and peace of mind,

Sara

P.S. I Give God thanks for you my dear family of love this day and always!

Music Sampler

He's Got the Whole World In His Hands

St. Teresa's Prayer

Ubi Caritas

Soothing Praise Music

Walking in God's Cathedral of Hope, Joy, Peace, and Life! An emotionally uplifting walk tonight!

Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on our Journey!

Tonight I'm going to spare you with more talk and give you tonight's pix and some music just to give you some down time! However tomorrow we will be back in full swing with all three. Just know that you all are loved and treasured and I'm glad that we are walking on our journey together. God is good and everything God made is good! Keep sending in your prayer requests! I love carrying you and those whom you ask to be prayed for in my heart as I walk on our journey!

Tonight's walking weather was crisp and a little misty but with a marvelous Moon up above. Shaw's Steakhouse smelled of Santa Maria Style BBQ! I wish I could have done the Miller route but it is still a tad bit too dark and I want to keep the peace that is indwelling in me stable. Ok! Here are the pix!

I love you, you matter and I give God thanks for you this day!

Love and peace of mind!

Sara

The Angel's Voice - Diane Arkenstone

Through the Veil- Diane Arkenstone

A Choir of Angels

Sanctuary- Diane Arkenstone

Walking with hope, peace and joy in our hearts! Prayer walking during the Third Week of Advent

Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on our Journey,

Happy Gaudete Sunday or Third Sunday of Advent! Let us rejoice and be glad for our journey to the Manger of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love is drawing near.  This week’s prayer walk will be focused on all of the 3 keywords Hope, Peace, and Joy. This prayer walk will be like no other we have done. Don’t get bogged down with these suggestions! Enjoy being with God and God’s creation while you walk and pray.  We will be taking time to refresh our bodies, minds, and spirits with energy along with prayers. Don’t forget your iPod or Mp3 player. Music is important too.  I take pictures and listen to music as I walk and pray!

 Remember last week we had the key words of hope and peace? This week we get to add to the framework the key word of joy. 

For those who haven't done our prayer walks we walk at whatever time is most suitable. I choose the evenings because of the peaceful qualities.

We  prepare  ourselves by hydrating with the image of Living Water coursing through our veins, tying our laces securely, wrapping our bodies with God's Warm prayer coat.

We invite God on our walk using these words or your own. God we invite you as you invite us to walk with you on our journey. Enliven our spirits, quicken our steps and open our hearts as we pray and walk.

When we first set out on our journey today we ask God to help us to be hope givers, peace makers, and bringers of joy to every family member we meet on our path! As Mr. Roark said on Fantasy Island “Smiles everyone, Smiles!”

Take a look at the sky and note the feel of the temperature. Take some gentle breaths and feel the indwelling of joy and God’s spirit with in you! Take time to know that this time is a conversation between you and God and the healing of your bodies, minds, and spirits.

Whenever you see a Stop sign take time to pay attention to your breathing and heart beating. That is God with in you. Are you beginning to feel peaceful and hopeful? Those holy endorphins will kick in soon.

Begin to pray for all of our family members and ask God to take care of them while you walk. As God to help you lay down you mental burdens as you take in all of God’s creation. Is there anything causing you to be anxious? Leave it on God’s broad shoulders.

Who is on your path today? God has set them there for a reason! Pray for those who are using varying modes of transportation and all those whom you meet. Smile and say Hello!  Keep this in mind when you see family members who cross your path:  Remember that you are walking in the light of God and "Light of Christ In Me recognizes the light of Christ In you.

Instead of the usual prayer list this week we will use categories: 

Pray for businesses and employees

Pray for all those who keep your city safe.

Pray for all those who are homeless, hungry, and outcast.

Pray for your faith community.

Pray for an end to abuse, exploitation, and violence.

Pray for anything or anyone who God sets up on your heart.

Ask God how you can be more loving, giving, compassionate, when we are barraged with all the holiday hype and negativity.

Lift up your hearts to God! God will never fail you. God is ever present.

Remember God requires each of us is “to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.  This isn't  just on occasion but, now and always.

Finally Give thanks to God for all that God has done in your life today. Ask God to help you be a peace maker and hope bearer, and joy bringer to a broken world. 

Dear Ones these are only suggestions. Remember to honor what your body is telling you to do. This framework can be prayed in place as well

We pray this final prayer: We thank you Lord for letting us carry our prayers and those who have asked us for prayers in our hearts, minds, and spirits. We thank you for making our Feet Swift and Beautiful for you and guiding our steps on this prayer walk to the manger of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy. Amen.

That's all for now! Stay tuned tonight's walk with pictures and music and prayers will be up too! I have the energy, spirit, and joy to do this!

Until tonight! I wish you hope, peace, and joy this day!

Love and peace of mind,

Sara