"...the gaze of God receives us exactly as we are, without judgment or distortion....Being totally received as we truly are is what we wait and long for all our lives. All we can do is receive and return the loving gaze of God every day, and afterwards we will be internally free and deeply happy at the same time. The One who knows all has no trouble including, accepting, and forgiving all. Soon we who are gazed upon so perfectly can pass on the same accepting gaze to all others who need it. There is no longer any question 'Does he or she deserve it?' What we received was totally undeserved itself."-Richard Rohr

Such a feeling of love came over me after doing this reading.  It is so easy to get caught up with the blame game but the truth is that God loves me no matter what as He does to ALL people even ones who hurt me or mine.  There is no need to feel negativity, jealousy, or competition.  God loves us all and wants us all to be happy-no matter what. Peace.

"Isn't life glorious! Isn't it grand! Here-take it-hold it tightly in your hand; Squeeze every drop of it into your soul. Drink of the joy of it, sun-sweet and whole! Laugh with the love of it, burst into song! Scatter its richness as you stride along! Isn't life splendid-and isn't it great. We can always start living-it's never too late!"-Helen Louise Marshall

Sorrow happens.  And when it does it seems impossible to imagine joy.  But at those times more than at  any other times-we must not lose sight of joy-of hope.  Even after a dark night of pitch-black skies comes the beautiful light of day.  Light=hope=joy!  Joy is yours to have - you choose it.  No one can take it from you because it is inside you hidden deep where no one can steal it.  Even if all seems lost-look around and you will SEE something however small to feel joyful about.  Even our hardest lessons hold the promise of learning and moving forward.  Be joyful and at peace.

"I need to slow down and I'm asking the Lord to help me do it. I want to move slowly enough to be aware of all the joys He has hidden for me. I want to slow down enough to grow as He wants me to grow. I want to be quiet enough to hear His voice. I need His wisdom to know how to spend my time and how to order my days."-Kathryn Hillen

Sometimes we are so busy trying to get to our destination that we forget to look around at all the beauty and joy that is available to us every day.  I feel so blessed to be retired and can finally have the courage to slow down my life.  What was I trying to prove?  I have a "To Do List" but it is okay to not do it all today!!  It is okay not to have instant gratification!  It is okay to wait and ponder and grow and learn.  Thank you for all the joys today and every day-from small to big.  Peace.

"I do believe there is a good chance that with the loss of someone terribly important, you grieve till you die. And yet you are perfectly capable of embracing life and what you bring to it and vice versa. I think that is the positive side of understanding that how we accept death is very much about how we accept life...."-Yvette Nachmias-Baeu as told to Faye Trafford-in Grace magazine

I think it is true about all situations that happen to us.  We have a choice.  Even through our darkest moments, we must trust.  We must have faith or how would we endure?  I believe as this writer does-it is about how you live your life.  Why would you choose to be miserable?  Choose to endure-power through.  Peace.

"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work at it, however."-Richard Bach- "Illusions"

We are given dreams for a reason.  I believe they are nudges from God to do the work we are meant to do as only we can.  We can't give up even if it seems to be taking a long time.  I think it is just a way for us to grow into our dreams.  When the time is right-it will be.  We have to believe and trust.  It will happen but you have to work at it or you wouldn't appreciate the joy that will come as your dreams are realized. Peace.

"Joy is a choice-a deliberate, conscious choice. That choice is available to us each day. Our joy isn't controlled by others or by outward circumstances. Joy comes from a deeper place, a place of security within ourselves. It's an attitude, not a transitory emotion. Remember to be kind. Remember to be loving.... But most of all, remember to be happy."-Journey to the Heart-Melody Beattie

I believe that gratitude and joy are a couple that need to go hand in hand.  You can't feel one without the other.  I read once that joy feels good and if you don't feel it you feel bad.  Feeling negative takes more energy so being joyful is easier.  Sounds good but I think we have learned such bad habits that it is natural to switch from joy to a negative emotion whether it be resentment, anger, distrust, or jealousy to name a few.  It is work to remind myself to REALLY feel grateful and thus the joy that goes with it.  I have to practice it daily.  It sure does feel good!  I wish you joy and peace.

"A coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous."-Unknown author

I believe that coincidences- or miracles- are like little nudges or love taps from God on our journey through life.  I believe it is His way of saying that we are on the right path or need to adjust to the right path.  I believe and have seen many times where everything works out just the way it should.  Those are not coincidences-they are miracles.  Those are times where we say-WOW!  It is amazing how it all worked out.  Miracles before us indeed.  Stop and realize how many miracles happen each day and be thankful for them all.  You are loved. Peace.

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."-Albert Einstein or "You have the choice each day to wake up and say 'Good morning, God' or 'Good God, morning!'. It's always a choice."-Dr. Wayne Dyer

Living life and just accepting whatever happens does not bring joy.  But look again-see with the eyes of gratitude.  Think thank you over and over as you look as things happen as the day goes along.  Gratitude brings such joy because you appreciate so much and that brings even more to appreciate.  Even on a bad day-the choice is ours to appreciate.  It feels good- I promise- try it! Peace.

"God helps us to do what we can, and endure what we must, even in the darkest hours. But more, He wants to teach us that there are no rainbows without storm clouds and there are no diamonds without heavy pressure and enormous heat."-Unknown

There are no guarantees in life.  We will have good days and bad days.  It is all about how we choose to handle them that matters.  Look at the glass half full or half empty.  It is hard to stay positive when life around you seems to be falling apart.  Rest if you must but go on and believe that it will get better.  Sometimes we must see the ugly to appreciate the beauty coming our way. Peace.

"Your ego's job isn't to serve you. It's only job is to keep itself in power. And right now, your ego's scared to death cuz it's about to get downsized. You keep up this spiritual path, baby, and that bad boy's days are numbered. Pretty soon your ego will be out of work, and your heart'll be making all the decisions. So your ego's fighting for it's life, playing with your mind, trying to assert its authority, trying to keep you cornered off in a holding pen away from the rest of the universe. Don't listen to it."-Eat, Pray, Love-Elizabeth Gilbert

Sometimes I feel like the ego is trying to be reasonable but if it doesn't feel good it is ego.  To feel, see, hear, and live through your heart is not easy and is a daily struggle.  But it is the only way to feel joy, contentment, gratitude, and peace.  It is a battle worth the fight.  Peace.

"Feel all your feelings. Although you may need to feel angry for a while, clear all resentments from your heart as soon as possible. Say good-bye with blessings and love toward the other, thanking that person for all he or she has helped you learn. Remember that any curses you place on another will ultimately come back to harm you, too. Grieve your losses. Say your good-byes. Then let each travel down the road that he or she needs to go. Holding on won't help. Let both be free to plan their own journeys, map their own trips, and embrace and enjoy their own destinies. "-Journey to the Heart-Melody Beattie

Sometimes we have to let go whether it is a loved one or friend or job or lifestyle.  It hurts.  But let go you must.  Wanting revenge or even saying karma will get them is still holding on.  You want peace.  Forgive and move on having learned valuable lessons so you can go further on your journey.  I have had to say good-bye for many reasons.  Not easy to do.  But sometimes stumbling blocks are placed before us and we need to go over or around to get to the joy awaiting us on the other side.  Trust and move on.  Peace.

"If you think God leads you only beside still waters, think again. God will also lead you beside turbulent waters. If you have the courage to enter, you'll think you're drowning. But actually you're being churned into something new.... Dive in."-Sue Monk Kidd

Life can be difficult at times.  But when I look at my bad times, I feel stronger and better having gone through rough seas.  It isn't easy to see your children struggle but they need to learn too.  They need to learn that through a tough experience they are stronger and more confident in who they are.  We can't rob them of their learning experiences no matter how much we love them.  I believe that is like God.  Peace.

"A child makes many mistakes while learning how to ride a bike or write, and we don't give it a second thought because we know that through their mistakes they will learn and eventually master what they're trying to do. So why is it that adults are so hard on themselves when they make a mistake? The same rule that applies to children also applies to you. We all make mistakes, and if we didn't make them we'd never learn anything, and we wouldn't grow any smarter or wiser."-The Magic- Rhonda Byrne

I know I am harder on myself than anyone else is on me.  I don't like to make mistakes.  But we can't give up.  If a mistake is made-correct it.  Don't sit there wallowing that you are unworthy-that is ego's control.  Ego does not want us closer to God.  Ego wants us to give up. Ego acts as a "anti-spiritual virus in our mind"-Allen Watson. But if we learn to forgive our mistakes and give them no power then we are a step closer to our Spirit self.  If a mistake happens-forgive, correct it, and go on stronger.  But I think the worst mistake is to let fear of making a mistake hold you hostage-then you are stuck.  Take a risk. Peace.

Jesus said, "I don't want to be first among a list of values; I want to be at the center of everything. When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you. Rather than a pyramid, I want to be the center of a mobile, where everything in your life-your friends, family, occupation, thoughts, activities-is connected to me but moves with the wind, in and out and back and forth, in an incredible dance of being."-The Shack-WM. Paul Young

I LOVE the visualization that I receive with this quote!  I think we often put God at the top but it makes so much more sense if He is in the center-totally different feelings emerge.  At the top sounds like a list where I have my priorities in order.  But if He is in the center-all flows effortlessly and beautiful.  God should be more than a priority.  He should be all, and everything will then be set into motion.  I want him in my center.  Peace.

"We needn't be in a hurry to reap the results of our efforts faster than the world can bestow them. Being alive means doing the best we can and then letting nature take its course. We plant a seed, nurture it, water it, and let it be. Knowing there's a bigger picture than what we see in front of us, even if it isn't perfectly clear, allows us to be more peaceful, to learn as things develop."-Sharon Salzberg

Patience is not my strong point.  I ask, work, and wait.  But my time is not God's time.  And God has more to think of then me.  He has to put the whole world into just the right order.  So patience is important.  But it all boils down to trust AGAIN!! Trust that God hears, trust that the best is coming, trust that I am loved.  Peace my friends.

"All I ask you to do today is to open "the eyes of your eyes" and give your life another glance....Then pause for a moment and give thanks. Let your heart awaken to the transforming power of gratefulness....Every time we remember to say "thank you" we experience nothing less than Heaven on earth."-Sarah Ban Breathnach

Every day I easily can find 5 things that I am grateful for.  I write them in a journal.  It is how I begin each day and lately I have also been thinking about the best thing that happened that day before I go to bed.  So gratitude is first in the morning and last at night.  It has filled me with peace and joy.  I hope that for you too.  I hope that these sayings on my posts are helping people-that is my goal-as St. Francis Assisi said-"Where there is darkness, let me sow light."  Open your heart and listen to the written words with your heart and not just your mind.  Peace.

"Praise every single thing you see. Be a ray of sunshine to everyone.... Say "Thank you" at every turn. Walk, talk, think, and breathe appreciation and gratitude. When you do this, your outer life will change to reflect your inner state of being."-Rhonda Byrne

I have always believed in the power of gratitude.  Every day I write in a journal beginning with 5 things/people that I am grateful for.  However over the last 20 days of lent I have been concentrating on REALLY feeling gratitude and constantly saying "Thank you". And have I noticed a big difference.  I feel so much more at peace.  With that peace comes trust and joy.  It is so worth it.  Try it. REALLY try it. Peace.

"You are who you are for a reason. You're part of an intricate plan. You're a precious and perfect unique design, called God's special woman or man. You look like you look for a reason. Our God made no mistake. He knit you together within the womb, You're just what he wanted to make."-Russell Kelfer

You were meant to be.  You are not an accident.  We are where we are meant to be.  Each of us plays a role in others' lives too.  We all are meant to touch others' lives.  We have jobs to fulfill that no one else can because we were made especially to do those jobs.  You are special-God does not make mistakes. Now go forward knowing you are much loved. Peace.