Stopping the Fall Fury before it starts.

Dear Family of Love!

Happy You Matter Monday! You Matter to God, You Matter to Me ! You matter to us! You Matter to yourselves.

Whoa! I mean whoa! Tomorrow is September 1st, 2015! Can you believe it? I can't ! It  means that  we are beginning to feel the essence of Fall and see another change of season. This is always an interesting time of year for our bodies, minds, and spirits. We find ourselves because of the change of daylight a little bit on the blue side emotionally. Physically we find ourselves wanting to hunker down and eat, watch football, and become couch potatoes. Spiritually we may begin to get our seasonal panic disorder because we get to have a mix of holidays and hype being sprung on us from out of nowhere. Yes we also will find ourselves looking in the stores for a normal aisle that at least doesn't have Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas ! So what does that mean for us tonight? It means that we must do our due diligence and focus on life one day at a time and take time to breathe. I'm not going to get myself all hyped up just because Madison Avenue wants me too. So we must take time to be at home with ourselves and God. God and the Good News is where it is at.  Love and the Good News is where we must center ourselves. Being the bearer of love and the Good News and the truly wonderful message that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are giving us daily is what we are called to do. We must daily take time to breathe, meet with God, meet with each other, and meet ourselves with love and acceptance. So dear ones let us find ourselves meeting God at the center and stop the fall fury before it starts. 

Remember this? Let's take time to do this tonight!

Practice our Mindfulness exercises and breathing:
It is simply this: We start with our breathing exercises using this format:

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 tonight's musical selection: Wilhelm Friedemann Bach Trio Sonatas

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 thanksgiving. 

More Holy Spirit Cycle of  Prayers from Last year!

Holy Spirit, guide us this night to continue to be empowered to make peace in this broken world with our family members with whom we find ourselves divided.

Holy Spirit, may we lovingly support our family members who labor for the common good.

Holy Spirit, channel our lives in the direction you would have us go.

Holy Spirit, enfold all of our family members who are dying and have died this day in your comforting arms.

Holy Spirit, bring comfort to all who mourn and are pre-grieving losses. 

Holy Spirit, may we sew seeds of  joy, hope, peace, and love to all of our family members and the least of these.

Guide us to the well of the Water of Life and may we never thirst and feel the Waters coursing through our veins.

Holy Spirit, heal our world, our wounds, our hearts, and all the illnesses and injustices in the world.

Holy Spirit, we lift up our prayers, celebrations, remembrances, and thanksgivings especially____________ and  every unspoken prayer that hasn't been able to be said.

We pray these our prayers in Jesus our loving and merciful redeemer's name. Amen.

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Good Night Dear Ones! I love you! You matter! I wish I could take care of each and everyone of you. You are precious treasures to me! I give God thanks for you this day and always!

With Love and blessings,

Sara

A return to healthy self and spiritual care basics ! Always a good reminder when the month is almost new.

Dear Family of Love,

Happy Sabbath and Self Care Sunday! I hope everyone hat a restful day! I must say although yesterday was a beautiful day and a lot of fun attending my my nephew's wedding, I'm spent. I was going to walk tonight but my feet started to feel like they were getting that old wonky feeling again. So here I am after a busy day at the faith factory resting and recouping my legs and feet hoping that I don't fall asleep writing this. Rest, hydration, and regular eating habits are essential for good health and even more so when one feels exhausted. Some of us who are diabetics, cancer patients, cancer survivors, and anyone with a chronic illness find ourselves back into bad habits and traps. I don't want that for anyone. So we must be focused on good eating, good resting, good body, mind, and spirit care as part of being in right relationship with ourselves and with God. So beginning this week let us follow this simple check list that you can post on your mirror, sticky note on your computer, or post a reminder list on your portable digital device.

    A Simple Self and Spiritual  Care Check List to Add to the Self-Care Guide


Have I said hello to God this morning?

Have I eaten breakfast?

When was the last time I hydrated? 8- 8 oz. are encouraged.

Have I gotten up and moved around the cabin- Just stood up and walked around and didn't fall into the sedentary trap. 

Did I exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day?

Did I talk to God but more importantly did I listen?

Did I eat lunch?

Did I I have more fluids?

Did I have my meditation and prayer time?

Did I eat dinner?

Did I unplug and go of the grid early enough to get sufficient rest?

Did I remember to take my medications if any properly?

These are just a few, you may add your own.

For those of you who need a reminder of You Matter Monday's self-care guide here it is:

Monday- You Matter Monday
Take time to start the week out right by being kind to yourselves.
Practice loving yourself.
Do a mediation of your choice.
Go for a walk if your body is telling you to do so.
Exercise your mind.

Practice our Mindfulness exercises and breathing:
It is simply this we start with our breathing exercises using this format:

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

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 thanksgiving. 

Tonight's musical selection: Bach Mix 

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Let's see what prayers we had from last year and add some additional ones of our own to the mix. 

Prayers for today


Holy Spirit, May we be awakened and be fit to serve you where ever you call us to be. 

Holy Spirit ,we Pray for all who prepared for and Participated in Sabbath observances that they may find rest. 


Holy Spirit, empower us to speak and practice peace in every step that we take on our journey with You, Jesus, and God our Creator and loving Parent.

Holy Spirit, Give us tender hearts to care for all of our family members. We remember that our family members are our enemies too and that we are our enemies keepers ,who are our brothers and sisters as well.

Holy Spirit, channel our energies to help make our local, state, national, and international neighborhoods places of safety,  justice, peace, kindness,mercy, and love.

Holy Spirit, surround all those who are grieving any loss but most especially loved ones, and friends. your Holy Comfort. 

Holy Spirit, enliven us so that we may let go and let loose and have times in which to dance, sing, and be joyful with hearts and hands that are uplifted in praise and in community.

May we offer our prayers, thanksgivings, remembrances, and  celebrations to you Jesus with our voices or in the quietness of our hearts. 

May we rest gentle in your arms and awaken with joyful and loving hearts.


St. Augustine's Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.


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Good Night Dear and Precious ones! I love you. Have a blessed and peaceful rest this night. I give God thanks for you this night and always. 


With gentle love, hugs, and blessings,

Sara

Families, Friends, and Neighbors!

Dear Family of Love,

I'm sorry this is a bit late but I attended my nephew Travis' and niece-in-law Lindsey's wedding this afternoon. It was a glorious and beautiful occasion. The wedding was at a ranch atop a hill and the reception/dinner/dance was in an old barn. What a beautiful setting and it really suited all the families involved.I had prayers with the officiant who happened to be my niece's housemate before the ceremony. That made my day and hers. All it takes is to be loving and accessible. God was definitely present although it was a civil not religious ceremony. This really surprised me but then again nothing God does anymore surprises me. All the families that were present seamlessly became one just like here at Walk With Me On Our Journey. God want's us to be families, friends, and neighbors all rolled into one not later but sooner not sooner but now. Take time to listen in your heart homes with Love Energy beginning now and you'll find that familyhood , friendship, and neighborliness are all very much the same they share an interconnected nature and for some reason unbeknownst to us at the start and at this very present time very holy. Dear family are you ready to rise to the challenge and love everyone and I mean everyone without restrictions, without conditions, without reservations, and without fear? I hope your answer is yes because that is exactly what we are called to do. Tonight we are going to do our mindfulness exercises and then do  the prayers from a year ago. 

Practice our Mindfulness exercises and breathing:
It is simply this we start with our breathing exercises using this format:

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

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 thanksgiving.

For those who never went through my cancer treatment time I divided  my cycles of chemo into the Holy Trinity: God , Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. This was the beginning of the Holy Spirit cycle;

Holy Spirit, enliven us with your spirit so that we may bring love, peace, hope, and joy to this broken world.

Holy Spirit, heal our weary bodies, minds, and spirits that we may be wholly whole and spread the Good News of God in Christ to those who are in need of love, compassion, and acceptance.

Holy Spirit, bring your comforting spirit to all those who mourn and have been affected by tragedies.

Holy Spirit, quicken our minds that we may think aright and that our thoughts, words, and deeds may heal, comfort, and speak truth to power and that justice and peace may prevail upon Earth,

Holy Spirit, may we be soothed by the Waters of Life coursing through our veins and may we never  thirst but thirst after righteousness.

Holy Spirit,empower us to practice random acts of kindness and to what is pleasing in God's Sight.

Holy Spirit, may we respond with a resounding yest to God's Call for our lives.

Holy Spirit, empower us to speak for and serve the powerless.

Holy Spirit, may we feel your energizing presence that we may be guided to do all the things that God is having us do and to be.

God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit may our prayers be acceptable as we lift them to you and lay them gently in your holy and gracious arms. Amen.

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Good Night Dear and Beloved Ones! I'm blessed to call you my family, my friends, and my neighbors. I love you and give thanks to God for you this night and always. Tomorrow we continue our Self and Sabbath Care weekend.  Below is our Walk With Me On Our Journey Daily Self Care Guide for the remainder of the weekend.

Saturday: Self-Care Saturday
Take time for self-care and being kind to your bodies, minds, and spirits.
This is your spa day- Just for you. Tell your family you are going to go off the grid and spend time with yourself. 
This is a retreat day: Walk a Labyrinth, Stations of the Cross, prayer walk or meditate in silence.

Sunday: Sabbath Care Day;
Worship God.
Rest with God.
Don't do any measurable work.
Enact your own set of Blue Laws. 
Go on over to the other side of the lake to rest and pray.
Visit a quiet and restful setting that will refresh you.
Don't forget to spend time with your family members.

Daily: Pray, Meditate, Walk, Enter into measurable silence, read some spiritual tome, Make each day include lots of Love Energy, Expansion of  our Heart homes, serving the least of these, and becoming more and more united with our family members we may not like in love and charity. Each day let Love, Hope, Peace, Joy, Justice, Mercy, Kindness and Inclusion be our watchwords. 

With abundant love and joy!

Sara

P.S. Look what I caught today!

Let's change things up a bit!

Good Evening Dear Family of  Love!

Sorry that this is a bit late. I went out for Friday Fun! We have had such a warm day here where I live I needed time to cool down and to enjoy an evening out. Varying one's routine is very important for everyone. Tonight we are going to meditate our way out of the ruts we find ourselves in. We need to be free to change our routine. BTW Happy Keeping the Faith Friday Fearlessly Without Fretting. 
Don't be afraid to mix things up. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you and God will too. God needs to know that you are able to talk and listen at any time not just when I write and publish the blog. Tonight let us take time to stop, look, and listen to God without our usual self-care guide. For a change it is up to you to decide how you'd like to do the following. 

Here are tonight's meditation steps:


Stop: Put down whatever you are doing and just be.


Look  Go inwardly and discover what kind of day that you have had. 


Listen:Take time to intently and go deeper to listen for God's still small voice.


Pray: Enter into a gentle but holy conversation with God. 

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Optional prayers: We used these a year ago;

Lord Jesus as we prepare to dedicate our time of meditation of prayers, meditation ,and empowerment to the Holy Spirit, may we always remember that you are continuing to heal and are our Blessed Savior who came to forgive us all our sins and to remind us that we are all family members.


Jesus, we pray for all those who travel this weekend and pray for traveling mercies for everyone.

Jesus, we pray for all those who sit vigil at bedside and we pray for peace and comfort of all concerned. We pray that those we witness may find comfort and peace.

Jesus, we pray for all those who are planning to raise funds for any disease or condition. We pray that people may give generously from their hearts and not by guilt.

Jesus, we pray for peace in this broken world and that all may be able to end their violent divisions.

Jesus, may we become peace makers, light shiners, hope bearers, and love bringers and show ourselves as lights of the world and the salt of the Earth.

Jesus,  bring us rain that will heal this parched earth of ours.

Jesus, we pray for all those who are preparing to undergo medical tests and are awaiting test results.


Jesus, we continue to pray for justice, peace, mercy in our land and in all places around the world.

Jesus, we pray for the leaders of the nations that they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

Jesus, we pray for the least of these our family members that they may be welcomed in all places of sanctuary and that their needs may be met. May we show them love, compassion, and recognize you Lord Jesus in each face.

Jesus, accept these our prayers and those prayed on behalf of others in you most Holy Name. Amen.

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Good Night Dear and Precious Ones! I love you! Take time to prepare for Self and Sabbath care this weekend. Don't be afraid to change things up and to give God thanks for any and all changes that come into your lives.

With Love and Thanksgiving,

Sara

Here is your Self and Sabbath Care Guide for the weekend. 


Friday: Keeping the Faith Friday Fearlessly Without Fretting.
Let go of the week's garbage.
Practice using a Worry/ Sabbath Jar that we should be using daily and not just Fridays. Place your worries, anxieties, fears, mads, your anger fits, on pieces of paper and place them in the jar until Monday evening. Do not look at them.
Enter and go deeper with God as we do every evening but this time be in real conversation and listening time. 
Begin going of the grid for a space.
This is Self and Sabbath Care Weekend Eve.

Saturday: Self-Care Saturday
Take time for self-care and being kind to your bodies, minds, and spirits.
This is your spa day- Just for you. Tell your family you are going to go off the grid and spend time with yourself. 
This is a retreat day: Walk a Labyrinth, Stations of the Cross, prayer walk or meditate in silence.

Sunday: Sabbath Care Day;
Worship God.
Rest with God.
Don't do any measurable work.
Enact your own set of Blue Laws. 
Go on over to the other side of the lake to rest and pray.
Visit a quiet and restful setting that will refresh you.
Don't forget to spend time with your family members.

Daily: Pray, Meditate, Walk, Enter into measurable silence, read some spiritual tome, Make each day include lots of Love Energy, Expansion of  our Heart homes, serving the least of these, and becoming more and more united with our family members we may not like in love and charity. Each day let Love, Hope, Peace, Joy, Justice, Mercy, Kindness and Inclusion be our watchwords. 


Practice our Mindfulness exercises and breathing:
It is simply this we start with our breathing exercises using this format:

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

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 thanksgiving. 

Musical Selection:

 John Rutter - Gloria