Taking time to be at One with God and de- stressing this season and beyond. Let us Let Go and Let God.

Dear Family of Love,

I hope everyone had a wonderful day of rest and Sabbath care.  Today it has been a quiet day at home after church. Getting much needed rest and renewal. This time of  the year we all need to find times in which to rest and become renewed. I know it isn't easy but this is the time when stress and worry become the order of the day. It doesn't have to be that way. So tonight  I'm going to give you and us a list of self-care tips that will help us navigate our way through this season and beyond. Remember God is in control and we all need to let go and let God too.

Seasonal Self-Care Tips and Techniques!

Take time for you each day. Do breathing exercises when you feel the stresses becoming intense. Breathe in through your nose and breathe out from your mouth. Do these slowly.

Do not rust to put your Christmas trees up. You have plenty of time. Observe Advent!

Plan your time wisely and drive safely.

Delegate responsibility to family members or friends. You don't have to do it all.

Do what is important and don't sweat the small stuff.

Give yourself permission not to do Christmas decorating if you don't want to. Keep It Simple Sweeties!

If you are newly grieving make a plan for the holidays and other family get togethers ! NO YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD.

Go outside and experience God's Cathedral of Life.  Hike, Walk, or ride a bike. 

Take time for daily encounters with the holy.

Take time for prayer and meditation and reading this blog daily. Starting today we will have one tip  a day. on how to manage these stressful days.

Take time to reconnect with loved ones.

Take time to do news fasts and give yourself permission not to be locked into the 24 hour news cycle on TV and Social Media.

Rediscover the Arts( Plays, music, art exhibits etc.)

Take a drive and go see Christmas lights.

Get your children involved in helping out and let them learn new things. Good self-esteem builders.

GET YOUR FLU SHOTS AND AN UPDATE OF ALL YOUR VACCINATIONS! 

Find support groups that may help you  get through the holidays. Grief groups, caregiver groups, drug and alcohol support groups.  If you have a sponsor keep in close contact with him or her.  If you have a mental health counselor do the same thing.

Make sure that you check in with your medical team if you need to.  Make sure that you are keeping  on all medications. Don't skimp.

Enjoy being joyful, Love fearlessly, give from your hearts. and practice being peaceful in your families.

Double check your surroundings so that you won't forget something. 

Find old photos and memorabilia  and have them out on a table for table talk. Remember memories.

Sing, dance, and lift your spirits each day. 

Take time to care for your bodies, minds, and spirits.

Call someone if you find it difficult being alone.

TAKE TIME TO REST, RELAX, RENEW, AND HIT THE DAILY REFRESH BUTTON.  

TAKE TIME TO REST AND PRAY.

TAKE TIME FOR GOD AND YOURSELVES.

TAKE TIME FOR ENJOYING LIVING, MOVING AND BEING.

TAKE TIME  TO LET GO AND LET GOD.

TAKE TIME!

Dear ones, these are only the beginning! Please stay tuned! Tonight let us take time just to listen to meditative music and then be at prayer.A Winter's Solstice II -Windham Hill 

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Let us pray and be at one with God and each other.

God as we await the yearly celebration of your Son' Jesus's birth may we be united again with him.

God as we await joyfully this most special day of days may we see Jesus in the eyes of each other and hold the Christ light for then.

God may we be sensitive to the needs of our family members nearby and far away.

God may we learn to have patience, slow down, and be.

God may we take time to be at one with You and each other.

God may we take away any label that divides us and that we may only be we and only have our names to identify each other.

God may peace prevail upon Earth beginning with ourselves, just like pebbles in a pond.

God may we step up and show love and compassion to those who mourn.

God may we learn to serve our fragile family members without fear and lovingly respond to their needs.

God  we pray for the healing of our bodies, minds, and spirits and all of our family members who are ill.
God fill our hearts with love to overflowing so that everyone will know that we are your children and truly the Family of Love and at one with each other.

God we pray for __________________________

God we offer our thanksgivings ____________________

God we celebrate this day _______________________

God help us to remember___________________________

God lift up these our prayers in the name of your son Jesus our redeemer, healer, reconciler, master, brother, and friend.  Amen.

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Good Night Dear Family of Love! Do you know why I call you Family of Love? I call you this because God is Love! So we are the Family of Love (God). May our heart, spirits, and souls join together in love, peace, and harmony. I love you! I give God thanks for you this day and always. Tomorrow is you matter Monday. 


Love, joy, peace, and hope be always yours this day and always,

Sara

Windham Hill - The Impressionists

Thanksgiving - A Windham Hill Collection

It's all about God,family, love, service, and not about the holiday hype! Ask not what God can do for you! Ask what you can do for God!

Dear Family of Love,

I hope everyone had a wonderful self-care Saturday. I can't believe that we are approaching Advent and that means to me that we must stop the glorification of busy and falling into all the holiday hype.
God expects us to stop the glorification of busy and sit at God's feet and listen, watch, and pray. I'm thinking that we shouldn't be in a rush to get things done . God needs our full and undivided attention this year like none other. God needs us to be practicing attitudes of gratitude and random acts of kindness. God wants us to lovingly respond to the least of these. God wants us to take time to be at one with all of our family members even our enemies and those who hate us. God wants us to take care of our bodies, minds, and spirits.  God wants us to love one another without fear. God wants us to stay awake and be always prepared to listen for God's still small voice and for God's call and the life path God has set our feet upon. God needs us! God has work for us to do. God! God needs us to slow down, listen, and watch and pray. This is a time to be bringers of hope, makers of peace, agents of joy, and  Family members who show love to all.  What is God asking you to do this Advent and Hanukkah season? Are your lamps lit? and are you ready to sit at God's feet and listen? Tonight let us as we await in the Christian tradition Advent and the beginning of a new church year take time to set our goals, hopes, and aspirations down and place them in the Advent Box tomorrow. Here is tonight's meditation music. Mix -Tomas Luis Victoria , O Magnum Mysterium 

God as we approach the beginning of a new church year. May we spend time this night in quiet reflection and take stock of  what has happened and is happening in our spiritual lives.

God take away all all of our bitterness and hatred for our enemies and those who hate us and enliven our hearts anew with love, joy, hope, and peace. May we show the love that you give us to others willingly and as a loving response to your abundance.

God we pray for much needed rainfall in all the drought parched areas of the world, and that the rain may cleanse and heal.

God give us courage to speak truth to power and be the voice for the voiceless.

God help us  with you to step up and lovingly comfort all who are mourning any loss.

God enliven  hearts and spirits to spread your Gospel message to your fragile and broken world.

God heal all those who are ill in body, mind, and spirit. We pray for good medical and mental health care. 

God we pray for all those who feel misunderstood and invisible that they may be able to make themselves heard.

God we pray for an end to violence, abuse, terror, bullying, sharp speech, hatred that draws us away from being truly your Family.

God we pray for all those who are discerning vocations and new life paths.

God we pray for all who are struggling in any way this time of year.

God we pray for the lonely, lost, homeless, hungry, and all the least of these tonight. We pray your holy love and protection over them.

God give us the presence of mind to slow down and stop the glorification of busy and that we may sit at your feet to listen with the ears of our hearts and watch and pray. Give us these times of Sabbath rest daily. 

God we lift up our prayers and thanksgiving not only for ourselves but on behalf of others remembering especially_______________. Jesus we pray in your most Holy Name and acknowledge you as our redeemer, healer, reconciler, master, brother, and friend. Amen.

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Good Night Dear Family of Love. I love you, you matter, you are God's beloved child, you are love, you are loved, you are family, and most of all you are precious treasures and gifts to me and bless me by your presence in my life. I give thanks to God for you this night  and always.

Peace, joy, love, and hope be always yours,

Sara

David Lanz - Return to the heart

Canon in D- Pachelbel

To comfort all those of us who mourn, especially during the holidays

Dear Family of Love,

I hope everyone had a wonderful day after Thanksgiving and had some fun and didn't over do Black Friday. I was going along well until this afternoon when I started to have the weeps and grief bites. This would have been Dad's and my Thanksgiving. I would cook our dinner today. I miss this! I didn't think I would but I do. I also miss my late partner and love of my life Steve who has been gone for two years. So these are the reasons for these periods of sadness.I never know when these will happen. 
 I know that joy will come in the morning but it will.

The grieving process can be very difficult during the holidays.  Here are a few things we want you to know:

All of us who are grieving are going through the process of grieving and no we cannot  skip steps. 
So we cry, we remember with tender hearts, and get angry. 
Please be patient with us as we go through this.
 Do not ignore or abandon us during this time of year. 
We all need to be treated as visible and need comfort.
Step it up and be the soft places in which we need to fall and feel safe.
Let us freely remember the good and bad times.
Invite us out for dinner, lunch, brunch, or coffee. 
Invite us to go to plays, concerts or  exhibits.
Don't assume that we like being by ourselves  and like being alone.
Give us hugs! We love being hugged and miss intimacy.
Send us cards and call us. 
Be loving and not cold.
Give us gift cards for no reason.
Remind us  that it is ok to grieve and express or emotions openly.
Take note our blood families may not be as kind or compassionate and many times  haven't learned the proper way of being a family.
Allow us to show your endless photos and share memories even if we are repetitive.
Allow us the above and more.

God wants us to comfort all who mourn. God doesn't let us off the hook because we are the least of these too. Remember that we are are all in this together every day of the year and most especially during the holiday season. We are all family and as a family we are to be united in love, joy, hope, and yes even in our sorrows. May we always keep our eyes and hearts open for those of u who are grieving and going through hard times. 

Here are a few passages from scripture having to do with grief:

Matthew 5:4  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Isaiah 41:10  “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 43:2  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Psalm 18:28  “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”

Psalm 46:1-2  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”

Revelation 21:4  “ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Psalm 119:50  “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”

Romans 8:18  “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

2 Corinthians 7:10  “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

Psalm 18:2  “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 27:4-5  “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.  For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.”

Psalm 30:5  “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Psalm 34:18  “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Matthew 11:28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Lamentations 3:31-33  “For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.  Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.  For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.”

Isaiah 61:2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 2To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.…

For any of you who may be feeling losses of any kind the above may help and may soothe your broken hearts and give you comfort.

Let us be at prayer.

God of all comfort be with us who mourn that we may feel your loving arms around us.

God of all comfort help us to serve and come to the aid of  the least of these.

God of all comfort heal all those who are ill and infirm.

God of all comfort help us us to reach out to the lonely and the lost

God of all comfort help us to be kind and loving to all children who are having a rough time this time of year.  May we  show them that we understand and care and are willing to listen to them without judgement. 

God of all comfort help us to listen with ears of the heart, mind, and spirit.

God of all comfort we pray for peace in your fragile and broken world.

God of all comfort we pray for everyone who has been a victim of violence and abuse of any kind.

God of all comfort help families who need to learn to be loving, compassionate , show loving kindness and warmth. 

God of all comfort help us to lovingly respond to all  of our family members.

God of all comfort we add our prayers for ourselves and those on behalf of others especially____________

We pray these prayers and offer them in the Name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

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Good Night Dear Family of Love. I love you, you matter, and I give thanks to God for you this day and always. Don't forget to write down all your worries, anxieties, fears, and now your sorrows and place them in the Worry/Sabbath box. Don't forget to also place your grateful list and thanksgivings into the joy box.

Love, prayers, blessing, and may you feel God's loving comfort around you this day and always!

Sara

Encouraging and comforting music playlist.

On Eagle's Wings

Celebrating and giving thanks for 25,053 page views! Yes it's true! Walk With Me on Our Journey has had another milestone!

Dear Family of Love,
I hope everyone has had a wonderful Thanksgiving day and that you found time to make time to pray and give thanks. Today is also  Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday.Tonight we are celebrating 25, 053 page views of Walk With Me On Our Journey! Yes it is true we have reached another milestone on Thanksgiving!  I give thanks to God for calling me to write this blog and bring it to you almost every day. We have much to celebrate and give thanks for. It was a little bittersweet today without our dear departed loved ones at our Thanksgiving table. Tonight let us make and take more time to be at prayer and meditate upon God's abundance in our lives and in the lives of   others. Here is tonight's meditation music. Vaughan Williams Hymns Mix 


We give thanks for God's abundance in out lives and in the lives of others.

We give thanks for  God's Cathedral of Life and we pray for rain in all drought parched places on this planet.

We give thanks for God's mercy and loving kindness that sustains us each day.

We give thanks for God making us family and calling us to Walk With God on our Journey each day that we live, move, and just be.

We pray for all of your fragile and tenderhearted children who are without homes, food, and clothing.
May they find warm and protective shelter tonight.

We pray for all who mourn may we lovingly care for them with compassion, warmth, and love.

We pray for all who are traveling this holiday season may they have your holy angels surrounding them where ever they go.

We  pray for peace in Ferguson, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and the whole world.

We pray for ourselves and on behalf of others. remembering especially____________________

We give thanks to God  for hearts to love and serve you all the days of  our lives.

We lift up these our prayers in Jesus most holy name! Amen. 

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Good Night Dear Family of Love. I love you and give thanks to God for you this day and always. May we continue to walk with God and each other on the journey until the next milestone and each day of we live, move, and just be.

Love, blessings, joy, and in thanksgiving and deep gratitude.

Sara

Now Thank We All our God