Tag Archives: Gratitude

Wild Edible and Golden Light

12 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by in A - Key, Book - Light and Sound, Light of God

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One of the most popular and fun outdoor skills courses we used to offer was the “Wild Edible Plant Weekend.” Folks really loved the transformation from looking out at a sea of green to actually seeing individual plants and learning how to identify and use them. It is amazing how many things are right before our eyes that we do not see until someone shows us how to truly look.

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About eighteen years ago I attended a “Wild Edible Plant Weekend” at the Nature Awareness School. It was my second class on the mountain. During the weekend class Del took us on a walk to identify some of the specific plants we were learning about in class. The group of us came to a patch of Plantain. Del was describing how much he loved this plant and how many uses it had medicinally. You could just feel the love he had for this little plant in his voice as he spoke about its benefits. He then picked a few leaves to show us some of the details. The leaves were a shinny dark green with parallel veins found on the under side. As he was holding them in his hands I began to see a golden glow of light start at his hands and ascend up to his arms! I watched in awe! I wondered if I was seeing things — I blinked and rubbed my eyes. Nothing had changed except the golden light began to glow brighter and brighter! I looked around and noticed that no one else was seeing what I was singularly honored to see.

I filed this experience away but did not forget how it had touched my heart. I continued to process, on my own, what the experience really meant. I knew what I saw was real and that it had really happened. This was at a time in my life that I was hungry to learn more about the Divine and the Love of God. I had read in scripture that God has love for all of us and for all living things.

The next class I attended I spoke to Del of my experience with the golden light. He very simply said maybe it was God’s Love coming through him. Since I was the only one that saw the golden light I felt very grateful to have such a personal gift. I believe the gift was personal because I have always had a special love of plants, flowers, and trees. It was years later that I also learned more about Del’s spiritual connection with the Divine as a Prophet of God and the real reason I was so blessed that day. This was my first understanding many years ago of the Love of God being expressed in golden light.

Written by Nancy Nelson

 

Grateful for God’s Love

25 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Book 3, Divine Love, Gratitude

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What better thing to be grateful for than God’s Love? It comes in all shapes and sizes and it is personal. When we gratefully recognize it, our hearts open more and we are again blessed. It is an upward cycle but the ball is in our court. When we appreciate the many blessings of God in our life abundance will flourish.

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Yesterday Maria at work actually gave me half her water. I was trying to choke down the chlorinated fountain water and she fills my bottle with a purified cucumber and lemon concoction from home. I was at the spa with every sip.

We have not had hot water for a week and a half and I really appreciated the hot shower I got in the locker room at my job. It really struck me how fortunate I am to work somewhere that has a shower for its staff.

Then, on the way home, I was able to stop at my father’s house. I dropped off some eggs from my chickens. Something I used to only dream about when we lived twelve hours apart. Dad and I talked through the screen in the fading twilight about our lives, God and growth. I got in my car to go home and I heard the song lyrics “Oh baby do you know what that’s worth?…Heaven is a place on Earth.”

Wow. I thought of a conversation I had at work with the family member of a patient. He was talking about racial conflict and getting along with coworkers. I said, “People see what they want to. Everybody has something good to bring to the table.” This is also true with life. God’s love is EVERYWHERE. The package might look different, but the message is the same. We exist because God loves us. 
It was in the water from Maria, the hot shower, the visit with my father, and even the song playing on the radio held a gift of love.

Take a look around you today and see the love that has always been there for you and always will be.

Written by Carmen Snodgrass

Live Life Without Amnesia

19 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Gratitude

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I recently heard someone say during an interview that he wanted to “live life without amnesia”. He did not want to forget God did something miraculous in his life. He was sharing the story of how a total stranger reached out to his mother and ultimately reset the entire course of her (and his) life through their act of kindness. The seemingly insignificant act of noticing her as she walked down the street with the weight of the world on her shoulders and caring enough to take the time to walk over and tell her she was not alone… that God loved her and had not forgotten about her. I’ll spare the details but the direction of her life was headed into a dark place and this one encounter changed everything. It really just goes to show the difference we can make in the world.

What an inspiring attitude – never wanting to forget a blessing. How many have been blessed in some form or fashion only to have forgotten? Daily life and all it’s distractions have a way of keeping us busy thinking about them and sadly it’s too easy to let the “urgent” overshadow the “important”. Perhaps you do not have a life changing blessing that you are aware of but I guarantee there is an act of kindness or some sort of gift from the Divine you can hold onto with gratitude. Everyone should have a few – especially for the tough days… the days when it serves us best to count our blessings. Find something to be grateful for whether it’s a hot cup of coffee, surviving an auto crash, being reunited with a loved one, an early morning walk, receiving guidance in a dream on a major decision you were struggling with, getting the job you hoped for, being “woken up”, a fresh picked tomato, sunset on the lake, personally experiencing some aspect of the Divine, finding your dream house, having love in your life, a warm fireplace on a rainy fall day… something – gratitude equals gratitude.

It is when our hearts are open that we can “hear” the Divine. Gratitude does just that. Life is short – make the best of it. What the “best” is, is up to you – no one else. But whatever your definition, gratitude will help you achieve it…. if you choose to remember.

Del 4

Daily Bread

28 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by in Daily Bread

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One needs spiritual nourishment as well as physical nourishment. How else will you be able to run the good race?

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You do not “have” a soul – you ARE Soul….. you “have” a body. A subtle but monumentally different perspective and understanding. You are a spiritual being cloaked in a temporal “earth suit” which has an expiration date – so to say. But the real you, Soul, will carry on. You are Eternal.

God has given you the power and free will to create a life of your choosing. A life sculpted daily by your choices and attitudes. How and what you think truly makes a difference. I cannot stress this enough – your present thoughts will manifest into future conditions. Everything in your consciousness is bound to come forth in your outer life. Those folks who have a positive outlook on life and try to always see the “silver lining” will indeed see it, if not help manifest it. A positive attitude will help to create a positive result and vice versa. The choice of how you wish to view the world is no one else’s but yours. You will reap what you sow – your actions, thoughts and attitudes have power – sow gently, kindly and wisely.

The freedom to think, dream and create a life of your hearts desire does not mean you are alone. You most certainly are not. The Prophet is available to offer help at every step of the way – but ultimately you must walk your own path. If not you, who shall? If there is something in your life that is not working you have the ability to change it. There is a great responsibility and great freedom in this. Unfortunately, many seek to lay this blessing of freedom at the feet of others. Too many wish for others to tell them how to live versus following their own heart. Countless numbers who sacrifice personal freedom, their birthright as Soul, for comfort and a false security.

You are responsible for your own path and this includes asking for help. It might sound like double talk to some but asking for help and taking personal responsibility for your path are not opposites. The spiritually strong ask for help. They know the true strength is in “the team” …them and the Divine. There is nothing you cannot do if God is with you and you do your part. Granted – God does the “heavy lifting” but you are certainly are not helpless.

One of the most important things you can do is to stay nourished by making time for your daily bread – your lifeline.

You must find time to connect with the Divine every day. You need consistent spiritual nourishment. Just as your physical body needs good healthy food to stay fit – so do you as a spiritual being, Soul. Your daily bread is your lifeline. Whether it be prayer, the reading of Scripture, focusing on something you are grateful for, connecting with your spiritual guide in contemplation, or the singing of one of God’s holy names, you need spiritual food. Watch what happens if you don’t water a plant, or if you stop eating physical food. It’s no different spiritually – you will wither. Yes, you may still be breathing but are you truly alive? Do you have abundant life?

Life will always try to find a way to take your attention elsewhere so it is up to you, if it is in your heart, to stay connected. You can chisel out time in your day if it is important to you. Is it too much to ask for the Kingdom of Heaven here and now – a few moments a day to tune in?

Food for thought….

Written by Del IV

Make time to attend the March 15th HU Sing led by my father, Del III, and receive the nourishment of which I speak.

“Celebration of Dreams”

21 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by in Book - Dreams, Dream Section - Uncatagorized, Dreams, Gratitude

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The journey of life on earth is an interesting venture for sure. As Soul, we come into a physical body and are blessed to experience the joys and pains of living and everything in between. There have been times in my life when I stood on top of the “mountain” so to say and a few times I’ve wanted to crawl into a hole. Even with it’s ups and downs there has fortunately been a consistency for me – I knew it was teaching me something and I have been able to see the silver lining (maybe not always right away). Life is about growth and how is this possible if you never experience anything? Looking back I see mostly things I feel good about and a few I don’t – but to judge myself today for yesterday is not productive. Learn the lesson, move on, and hopefully do better next time. What else can you do? Although – life has a way of giving you another shot sometimes. It might look a little different on the surface but the lesson is the same. What a great feeling this has been on a few occasions when I was conscious of getting another chance.

Something that I have come to know is that Gratitude is the secret to love. Hold the phone! The answer to the riddle of the ages… didn’t see that one coming. But it’s true. There is so much to be grateful for and this view has brought so much love into my life. You can always find something to be grateful for.

A major blessing in my life and something that I feel helped set the course of it was being introduced to the power of dreams very early on. I was stubborn at times and did not always heed the advice they provided me but I knew it was there. A steady consistent source of guidance as I traveled through life. I will testify to you now that dreams are real – they are not residual mind junk from your day. The are a glimpse of the full life you lead, as Soul, beyond the physical. You do not “have” a Soul – you are Soul, you have a body. Some don’t remember their dreams or always start a story with “I had this crazy dream” but I can say with certainty that if you nurture this connection they can become very clear… as clear as in your waking life. Don’t let fifty years of “modern” psychology which says dreams are merely manifestations of your repressed feelings obscure millennia on the truth about dreams. They are one way in which the Divine can communicate with you and this is available to all. They are not some new-age thing.

If you would like to learn how to invite, recall and understand your dreams, ultimately cultivating a richer dream life for yourself, please consider coming to a Dream Study Retreat or Workshop.

Why not take a chance on something new? Something that could bring more joy and balance into your life.

The 12-12-12 Celebration

23 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by in Gratitude

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The following relates to a topic that I usually do not share publicly – but felt I would burst if I did not openly express my gratitude… so here goes. Someday if my grandkids ask what I was doing on  12-12-12  I’ll be able to tell them I was giving thanks for one more year of life. Even more accurate – another day. On the 12th of December last year I survived yet another brain surgery for the removal of a recurring tumor. To tell someone you’ve had four brain surgeries makes it sound commonplace. I assure you – it is not. Most are lucky to make it through one, and here I am 25 years and 4 surgeries later. I have been fortunate to have been led to some of the world’s greatest surgeons, literally, but I know the true credit goes to God. No one but God could have seen to it that I would not only survive, but thrive all these years. I have a genuine Trust and Faith that this experience was exactly what I needed in this life – it has made the days sweeter. (It took me a few years to come to this perspective)  Thanks be to God… I love you. Thank you also to those who prayed for me – I know it made a difference.

Why am I still here….what do I do with this gift of life? Give thanks, love and service to God of course… but how do I do that? Well – I get up everyday with gratitude in my heart. I embrace the gift of life doing things I love and cherishing every moment. I truly believe when one is doing what they love and their heart is open that it makes a difference to all those around them. Each and every one of us can be a point of light in our respective spheres. When our hearts are open we can hear the guiding voice of the Divine. It is not the grand list of accomplishments I seek… it is the sustained, day in day out, cherishing of life. It is the never-ending list of “small things” done with an open heart that sculpt a life of gratitude. A life of meaning. If you want to make this life count – start today… enjoy a cup of coffee with a loved one, open a door with a smile for a stranger, cook a meal for your family with joy in your heart, comfort a friend in need, hug your children, do something you love…take a walk in the woods, rake leaves and breath deep, work in the garden, listen to your favorite song… and on and on. Appreciate your blessings no matter how small they seem. It is not the activity itself that is the qualifier, it is the motivation behind it. Do what you do with gratitude… the secret of Love. There is always something to be grateful for if you take a moment to reflect. This life is a gift from God – how sad if we don’t find a way to appreciate it while we have it. What a great way to testify to the mighty Love of God by being a vehicle for his Love in all we do throughout the day. Open your heart – abundance follows!

I do not let the challenges I have been through define me. I am not the health problem – I am Soul, a child of God. I instead choose to see it as a gift and focus on the many blessings it has brought me. You too, are a child of God and you exist because God loves you. It is really that simple and yet that profound… the answer to the riddle of the ages.

Whatever you end up doing today, do it with Love… it makes all the difference. And what is it I’ll be doing today? I’m currently working on this incredible cup of coffee which I’m truly grateful for… then I’m going to split some firewood to keep our home warm and make some cookies with the kids. I hear there is a spiral ham in the works for dinner. Maybe even get some painting done this evening. These are all profound gifts of life!

Thanks for listening… enjoy your day !