A CHALLENGE TO FEEL WORTHY

This is a concept I continually work with in my life. Perhaps you too struggle with this idea of deserving all good, all health, wholeness, vitality, well-being, and abundance in every area of your life. I did not grow up being told I was loved unconditionally by a God who created me in Her-His own perfect image. My parents knew only those concepts with which they were raised. God as Love was not one of them. Still, they did the very best they could with the knowledge and understanding they had. 

They grew up in much different circumstances than my own. Both were children of the Great Depression. And with what little real understanding I have of that deeply disturbing and challenging period in the history of our country, I realize enough to feel empathy for them and deep gratitude that they were able to not only live through that era, but manage to pull together a life, find one another, marry and begin the family of which I am the youngest and the only living member.

I inherited a strong sense of conscience, a conviction that I had to work hard to please an exacting God who watched me, waiting for me to make a wrong move, so God could strike me with vengeance and punishment. This belief system colored my whole world just as it had colored the world of my parents. Understandably this was problematic in their relationship with one another, their relationship with me and with the fearful way in which they functioned in the world.

God as “exacting punisher” is not an uncommon view. And the effects of that belief system are evident everywhere we look: angry people who are angry with God, angry with one another, acting out in anger instead of with love and understanding, a penal system which takes “criminals” and turns them into even more hardened individuals. How could it be any other way? How can we behave any differently if our awareness remains at the survival level, at the level of managing to “squeak by” with a belief in a creator that is watching our every move and waiting to hurt us? This belief system keeps us mired in guilt, anger, fear and depression.

What if, instead, we saw God as God REALLY is: All Loving, All Giving, All Forgiving, All Understanding … a Creator that designed us for greatness, for joy, love and wholeness? Well, this is the God I know now inside me, outside of me, around me and within all of creation. This is the God that lives and moves and has its being in me and within every being on the planet. And belief in this kind of God is indeed a game changer.

When we live in full recognition of the glorious creations that we really are, we have no need for vengeance, fear, war, punishment and aggression. Life is no longer a competition for who wins the most, has the most, exerts the most power and influence, who can hurt one another the most. Because seeking to hurt another is a kind of hunger for power and dominion which are not ours, morally, to possess. Instead, let us strive to possess the infinitely more powerful gift given to us by God: LOVE.

                        

TRANSITION

The spirit of God within guides us through each change

And reminds us that we are never truly alone

God’s wisdom keeps us focused in our centered power

When we remember that The Holy is always within

The strength to overcome even the gravest doubts

The wisdom to carry on no matter what shows up

The grace to realize we are wise beyond our fears

That we are strong and loved, both human and divine

In faith we do not falter along the trickiest winding path

In faith our fear cannot keep us from moving ever forward

For the past holds no value once the moment is gone

The present is precious and where every good thing unfolds

We can only go forward as tempting as it is

To want to go backwards to the perceived

Safety of our past, where there is only repetition

And no outward growth into peace and understanding

There is no glory and no reward in living a life that is safe

One that is easy and without challenge and one without doubt

For in doubt we strengthen our muscles of faith

When we overcome that which we once believed impossible

We are brave of heart and full of faith

We grasp each and every opportunity to grow

Even and especially when it’s frightening

Because that is when we truly discover our divinity

We are made of the same stuff as the stars

No less than the grand and glorious universe

We were not created to remain small

For small is merely a shadow of the greatness,

that in full faith, lies ahead

TENDERNESS GROWS

Tenderness is like a delicate green plant

In the spring of each new year

Reaching heavenward in its

Desire to grow into its fullest expression

Tenderness is a gift, the seeds of which are within

That ability to give love and understanding

The patience to wait for prayers to be answered

The willingness to extend beyond the familiar

Tenderness grows when in it is planted in a willing heart

Into a world which may not yet know its value, but is starved for it nonetheless

Tenderness cannot force open the door of a heart that refuses to be opened,

But, instead, stands at the door waiting to be invited in

      SWEETNESS

Sweetness is a simple little word, but carries with it great power. When we think of sweetness, we can be drawn back into memories of childhood: perhaps an ice cream cone on a warm summer's day, or our favorite dessert prepared for memorable family holidays. An experience of sweetness can trigger a host of wonderful memories that bless us anew each time we experience it in little things and in big events. It is the meaning we find in the small moments, in the dear and tender relationships, in the “victories” and beauties that continually present themselves to us if we simply take a moment to savor the precious in the day to day. It is a gift, simple but precious nonetheless. 

I remember a dear friend of many years ago, someone I have not seen in many years. When I think of him, I immediately think of sweetness, for in his presence all those years ago I passed some of the dearest and most meaningful moments in my life. When I look back on that time now I realize that, together, we were almost like innocents playing in a beautiful garden, and the precious moments we spent together held peace, beauty and serenity … the likes of which I have seldom experienced since. That, in itself, makes that memory even more treasured and dear. During moments of challenge I look back on that time and feel a certain comfort that carries me away for a moment on a wave of pure bliss … sweetness.

Sweetness can also be defined by the way we decide to show up in life. We can choose to show a tender side, a kind side and turn a blind eye to the shortcomings that inevitably show up in our relationships. Disappointment is a lack of that sweetness. But to linger in disappointment is a true waste because it keeps us tied to those very people and events we need to release into the love of the sweet and beautiful power that created us. Is it odd to think of God as sweet? I don’t think so. I like to think that there is a playful and simple energy associated with the creator of all that is. And, surely a kind and sweet approach to life is inspired by that loving and sometimes playful creator.

So when I awake each morning to begin my day, how do I do that? Do I do it mired in the frustrations of moments that are not where I am now … in memories of pain and sorrow, frustration and even anger? If that is the case, then surely I am robbing my life of its sweetness, of its joy, of its promise of fulfillment. When I change my perspective from “sour” to “sweet” all kinds of possibilities present themselves to me: healing, wonder, delight, adventure, wisdom, understanding, forgiveness.

So, do not underestimate the power of sweetness. It has a huge impact on the ordinary and mundane. Like love, it opens the door to a new perspective, a fresh approach, maybe even a kinder and more loving way of showing up in the world. Choose to sprinkle a little sweetness in your relationships, in your perspective, in your thoughts, in everyday activities … and watch the magic it can cause to unfold in your life.

           

            TRANSFORMATION

When I look inside and wonder:

Why am I here and what am I to do

I hear Spirit within prompting me:

Show up and give love

Let go the fears of the past

Release worries for the future

For this moment is all there is

Feel it, live it, breathe it, take joy in it

Know that you are divine, that you are

Already all that you can imagine you can be

Know that you are created for joy and plenty

That you make all the difference in this world

You are transformation itself

You are the butterfly leaving behind the cocoon

On a new journey of adventure and excitement

Always unfolding, always growing, always discovering

The sky's the limit to your changing and becoming

Nothing holds you back as you evolve into the creation

That you were always meant to be

I, your Creator, love you and support you in a universe of all good

Know your power

Know your worth

Know your divinity

Know your creative genius blossoming day to day

Always trust in me as the Source

And always believe in yourself

Let yourself BE the flow of all good and all love and all abundance

For this, my child, is the nature of WHO YOU REALLY ARE

                                           LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

We are unique creations of God, each with our own specific gifts, our own thoughts, desires, hopes and dreams. It is these very attributes which make us the wondrous human beings we are. No two of us are alike. We are diverse … as unique as snowflakes and fingerprints, and our spirits are as vast as the stars that fill the heavens. No one can do that one thing or those many things that are ours alone to do. Without each of us and our gifts, the world would be a little less grand, less beautiful and less magical.

So do not hesitate to shine your light into the world, even if the world may not appear receptive to what you have to say or to offer. Do it anyway, if for no other reason than the joy it brings to you. Do not hesitate in fear of the judgment of anyone because you know you speak the truth of what is inside of you. You express the very gifts planted there by the creator … unique gifts that are precious. The world needs you because you are you. So, be brave, be brilliant, be bold, be joyful.

Be sure of yourself, despite those niggling doubts that surface from time to time, causing you to wonder if you really do have something special to say, to create, to contribute. Some people who come into our lives seem to challenge us, but perhaps it is those very people who cause us to stand up for what we believe, who force us to look inside and see the beauty, tenacity and fierce strength we possess to carry on in any and all circumstances, and to create beauty and meaning in our lives.

You are valuable. You are unique. You are beautiful and powerful and wise with the wisdom of Spirit, and loving with the divine love of Spirit. In Joshua 1:9 we find these empowering words: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” We were not created with a spirit of fear. We were, instead, created with a spirit of power to overcome fear and conquer adversity. We do this overcoming in the silence of our souls, where profound transformation takes place.

So do not be dismayed by challenges. Welcome them openly as the inspiration they are to keep growing, thriving and testing your limits. Magnificent is the way we were all created … to stand in our truth and not be taken aback if others do not see that or value that. It does not matter. We are not here on the planet to blindly agree with one another. Beauty equals diversity. We grow in diversity. We soar like eagles, we mount up on wings of love and power to express the deepest and richest parts of ourselves.

And let nothing keep you rooted in a place where you do not want to be, but follow your heart to a place that feels natural to you, healthy, whole and fulfilling. It can be daunting to make changes, leave people and places behind … but, sometimes, in our soul’s calling, we make these changes in order to grow into who we were born to be. Life is growth and change and gain and loss. It is the natural ebb and flow of living. When we hold too tightly onto someone or something that no longer works, we feel the pain of not being authentic, of not listening to our hearts.

And, above all, let go and let God be God in you.

                                    THE VOICE OF OUR HEART

The voice of our heart

Speaks in whispered tones of love

Soft and sweet, yet pure as gold tempered by fire

Its voice the strongest tie that binds us as one humanity

Its prompting arises from Spirit within

Which overcomes the outside noise

Of a world obsessed with its own importance

Or ego’s personal search for gain

The voice of our heart is still and small

We must listen closely to hear its wisdom

But, as still as it appears to be,

It’s echo in our lives is more powerful than the loudest storm

The heart knows that which the mind cannot

It searches places deeper than the ocean

And higher than the tallest mountain

And on the wings of Spirit does it soar

It finds its source in heaven within

It draws its strength from the Christ presence

And sustains itself through faith and practice

Through every trial the world presents

Love’s voice binds and loves voice heals

Love’s voice is strong

And its voice speaks volumes

In whispered tones

Like a sparkling jewel set within a crown

Love’s voice shines forth into the world

Long and last ing, strong and true

As it echoes through the ages of man

Love’s voice in our lives is eloquent

Words spoken from our heart

The greatest blessing we can know

The presence of God though Love

Since friends have asked for some of my favorite recipes, I’ll be adding them to my blogs from time to time. The one below is a delicious dessert for any occasion that I adapted from the original. I hope you give it a try and enjoy the results. The original recipe is found in the ELSAH LANDING RESTAURANT COOKBOOK first printed in the USA by Sayers Communications Group, Inc. in 1981, and found on  page 124.      

LINZER COOKIES

1 cup butter, softened (two sticks)

½ cup sugar

2 cups flour

¼ teaspoon of salt

1. You can leave the butter on the kitchen counter top to soften, but if you are in a hurry just put both sticks in a large microwave safe bowl, cover and microwave for about 30 to 60 seconds. If it melts completely, that’s okay too. The dough will be very soft and pliable.

2. Measure the flour and salt into a smaller bowl, using a sifter to ensure the flour is smooth and the salt fully incorporated. Set aside.

3. Add the ½ cup of sugar to the melted butter and beat until creamy.

4. Gradually add the flour to the butter/sugar mixture and beat until the dough is smooth.

5. Using a measuring teaspoon to scoop out the dough, form it into a ball and then flatten the ball onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

6. Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 9 minutes until the cookies are lightly browned around the edges.

Remove to a cooling rack. I place two large sheets of aluminum foil on my kitchen counter and remove the cooled cookies from the rack and place them on the foil. Then I add a quarter teaspoon of raspberry, apricot or orange marmalade to the top of each cookie and place another cookie on top. VOILA! You have a Linzer sandwich cookie. And using the foil makes cleanup extremely easy.

Then, holding a strainer filled with powdered sugar over the cookies, apply a light sprinkling on top. It makes for a pretty presentation and adds a bit more sweetness. The cookies are not overly sweet, so the added powdered sugar on top does not overwhelm the buttery taste of the cookie itself.

If you prefer, instead of sprinkling with powdered sugar, you can use a quick and easy icing glaze on top of each cookie and serve them singly.

Place one cup of powdered sugar in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add three tablespoons of lemon juice. Whisk well. If you wish, add a few drops of liquid food coloring to achieve just a hint of color to your icing.

Holding each cookie between your fingers, lightly dip the top side in the glaze and place it on the sheet of aluminum foil to dry.

Once dry, store the cookies in an airtight container for up to one week. But I doubt the cookies will last that long because they are so delicious!

                                                      TOMATO SPINACH FRITTATA

(Source: Pinterest:bake-eat-repeat.com-“Simple Family Friendly Recipes”-3/1/21)

 8 large eggs

⅓ cup milk

¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese

¼ cup feta, crumbled

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. Pepper

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. onion powder

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

3 cups baby spinach, packed

¼ cup black olives, sliced

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Grease a 9 inch pie plate with butter and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until smooth.

4. Stir in the parmesan, feta, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.

5. In a large non-stick skillet, saute the tomatoes and spinach over medium heat until the spinach is wilted and the tomatoes are softened, about 2-3 minutes.

6. Stir the tomatoes, spinach and black olives into the egg mixture.

7. Pour mixture into the prepared plate.

8. Bake the frittata for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

9. Slice and serve immediately.