Lately it seems that my signs are coming by way of songs. Often I get so busy with the tasks of each day and the responsibilities of my many jobs, that I feel pressed to find my inspiration. So often lately, the minute this comes to my mind, a sign appears.
Today again, it’s come in a song.
Of course I had to share it with you!
With love,
Bobbe
Continue reading “It’s Gonna Get Better.”
It is said and it is true that it’s the little things in life that carry us through. God doesn’t always speak from the mountain top…
If you have been following along with these blogs lately, you may already realize that when you keep yourself open to signs, symbols and messages from above, they appear in sometimes vast numbers.
Having felt like crap for a couple of days and knowing that I needed to lean into my faith more than usual, Palm Sunday night I was up off and on silently singing the “Our Father” (It’s my go-to thing to do when my brain will not turn off.) In between my pitch perfect renditions (ha ha), I was talking to Jesus; telling Him my troubles, asking His help, and also thanking him for my Blessings. I told Him that I knew tomorrow would be a brighter day and I promised to continue to try to do my little bit of good wherever possible.
The next morning I got in the car and headed off to work. One of the cool parts of my church job is that I get to be the first (and sometimes only) person to receive special donations sent in for special reasons. Monday the first envelope I opened was from someone I hadn’t heard of before. Inside was a sizable check with a hand-written note attached. “Please make sure this is used to help someone in need at this time.” Of course I cried. What a beautiful thing to do. The second envelope I opened was yet another designated donation. This one had instructions that it is to go to help pay for the meals my husband and I are creating for people who are isolated at home. More happy tears.
To be honest when I finished opening the daily mail, I was so giddy with joy I felt like dancing. The spirit of love and charity is alive and very well in the world right at this moment and thank you, Jesus, I get to experience it first hand nearly every day.
That afternoon I got in the car and when I flipped on the radio, the song that was playing was saying these exact words, “It’s gonna be a brighter day.” I couldn’t tell you the artist, the station, or the tune, but I heard those words and my heart smiled. Indeed.
I had been dreading having to stop at the store, but I forced myself to do it anyway. The was no line and very few people. As I pushed my cart along the isle, a house flag stopped me in my tracks. “Enjoy the little things”, it said, and beneath the words were beautiful, happy flowers in vases. I grabbed it and threw it in my cart. I don’t own a flag pole. This is going on my front door.
Later on the way home I passed a sign out in front of a closed restaurant. It said, “This too Shall Pass.” I know the owner put this up because of the pandemic, but I also know God intended me to see it when I did. I don’t have a lot of memories of my Mom teaching me profound things in life but this phrase is one she did teach me early on and it’s one I have used as a mantra forever.
It is true that “This too shall pass”. While we are waiting, let us all be open to the serendipitous signs that are out there serving as tiny cheers from beyond. We will get through this. We are not alone.
You are going through a time of rapid spiritual growth. Enjoy the process!
During this time, you might feel a mixture of many feelings: confusion, excitement, fear, and wonder. You love your renewed connection with the Divine, and you wish you could read, study, learn, or meditate on a full time basis. Simultaneously, though, you may worry about the implications that your spiritual studies will have on the rest of your life. What impact will your new spiritual pursuits have on your job, marriage, or friendships? These worries create a fear that may erode the enjoyment your spiritual studies bring you.
Surrender these fears to God, dearest one! Trust hat you are supported, loved, and guided each moment. Don’t worry about how your future will blend with your spiritual growth! Trust that the same Power that brought you to your spiritual spiritual path will also take care of everything else for you. After all, this Power supports all of the planets in the sky. It will surely support you perfectly, too.
You are in communication with your angels, and the messages that you are receiving are very real indeed. Trust them.
This message is validation from your angels that you really are hearing them. You have been receiving repetitive messages through your feelings, dreams, visions, inner voice, or knowingness. Are you listening and trusting these messages? Are you following them?
If you get an. Inclination to call someone, o somewhere, or read something,, it’s important to follow this guidance. Your angels ask you to give all your Danube’s or worries. About Divine. Guidance to them. Know that you truly are communication with heaven, and enjoy the conversations!
You have all of the Power of your Creator within you! All the power of Divine love, wisdom, and intelligence is available to you. You have the spiritual power to see angels and the future. You have intellectual power to tap in to the universal wisdom of the One Mind. You have emotional power to empathize with others, and physical power that is truly unlimited.
The angels ask you to give them any fears you may have connected with being a powerful person. Your angels see a quiet and beautiful aspect of your true power, stemming from the only power in the universe: Divine Love. Allow yourself to shine with this radiant love so that your true power can radiate out into the world in miraculous ways.
Dearest Lord,
Thank you that in the midst of all of this fear and uncertainty, the signs of your love still shine through. Although it’s easy to turn a blind eye and to dwell in feelings of boredom and fear, you help us to look up and to recognize love can and still does shine bright in the world.
Help us all to shine where we are planted -to do our little bits of good wherever we can. Help us to take care of one another, which is what you have always taught us.
Thank you for your love,
Amen.
When I close my eyes and think of you
And reminisce on all the things you do
I can't imagine my life without you
It's like paradise now I know that it's real (um)
It's a mystery for someone
to give their life just for me
What you did on calvary
Makes me wanna love you more
[Chorus]
I never knew I could be so happy
And I never knew I'd be so secure because of your love
Life has brand new meaning
It's gonna be a brighter day, brighter day
Never thought that I would smile again
I never thought the dark clouds would end
Never thought the dark clouds would end
Never thought that I could have a friend
That would keep me never leave me alone (um)
Jesus you're my everything
The only one that makes my heart sing (heart sing)
Now I know what real love means
It's everlasting, lasting.
[Chorus]
Nothing can compare to the joy ya bring an ever lasting love affair
Jesus my life will never will be same I found someone who truly cares
Click here to be taken to yesterday's message
A long time ago I used to counsel people on how to find purpose in life. Now it’s my turn.
Does anyone else out there struggle with decision making? I am the absolute WORST lately. One minute I’m convinced I am turning this blog into a “food only” blog and then the angel on my shoulder whispers, “You are good at that, but it’s not your calling”. (Insert expletive here.) Then I sit for hours contemplating how to merge my inspirational/spiritual musings with my recipes. What would that even look like? Arch Angel Food cake, Angel-haired pasta, Heavenly potato chip casserole, Celestial peanut butter cookies, Saintly Sour cream cake, etc?
Um. No.
I seriously do not want to write two separate blogs, so what’s a girl to do? Insert this book right here:
I ran into this great book, “Crushing It!”, by Gary Vaynerchuck, via someone’s Instagram story and was inspired to see what it was about. (I’m happy I did. I have had such good luck finding great books via recommendations on IG.) The book relates all sorts of stories about people who finally learn to turn their passion into a life. He says to stop worrying about numbers, followers, algorithms and to just be who you authentically are. The rest will follow. (Oh and the other part that I just adore is that he says Altruism is of the utmost importance. I could not agree more.)
This is the stuff I’ve actually been preaching about for years:
Authenticity: Leading and living from the heart.
Altruism: Doing Unto Others. Random acts of Kindness. Giving of oneself.
The thing is, I look around the Internet, especially on Instagram and YouTube, and see that it appears practically every person and her brother are aspiring Internet Gurus. I absolutely cannot stand Instagram stories where it’s nothing but 15 second segment after 15 second segment of someone opening a gazillion boxes of free stuff in exchange for free advertising. I admit, it overwhelms me and sometimes if I take a very large step back, it can make me a little bit sad. Is this what we’ve become?
I don’t want to be one of those people. (She says to herself while at the same time contemplating updating her YouTube Channel.) What happened to giving and sharing from the heart simply for the sake of putting goodness out into the world?
When I’m on Instagram looking at stories, or on here reading blogs, the people I consistently enjoy and who I always read, are those who are actually sharing real snippets of daily life or love or both! Two of my favorite Instagram-ers (is that a word?) are twenty-something Yogi’s who are best friends in real life. I haven’t the least bit of interest in Yoga, other than to marvel at the discipline/talent these girls and their other followers display, yet I watch every story they post from beginning to end. They are each unique, yet the same. One likes to film her fur babies and the other likes to film herself drinking tea and playing with her boyfriend. Both share their yoga practices, but also family life and a bit of their social life too. I watch it all and feel nostalgic for my twenties. Why? They are being authentic on their feeds.
One of my favorite bloggers here is a 30 year old woman who’s blog is entitled, “Damn Girl, Get Your Shit Together”. It’s the same with her; she’s successful because she’s being who she actually is. (Seriously, go read her latest blog, “A Very Stabby Birthday”. It’s great stuff.)
A gazillion years ago when I used to blog daily on MySpace (yes, I’m that old), I think people related to me because I was always writing from my heart about my real life. I wasn’t trying to fit into a box or aspiring to gain a certain number of followers. I was just writing about what was going on at the time. Some days I was feeling hopeful; some days I was feeling silly; other days I might have been feeling low or worried about life. What mattered was that I was putting myself out there because in real life, it’s who I am. I always felt that whatever I might have been going through at the time; someone else out there was also going through. Who doesn’t feel better knowing she isn’t going it totally alone out here?
Somewhere along the line I found myself in a strange state of writing paralysis because I couldn’t decide what box to cram myself into. If I write only about spirituality, I might lose my foodies; if I write only about food, I might lose my other followers; if I write about family, they might get mad; if I write about work, I might upset non-churchy people. I have even gone so far as to believe that my time has passed. I’m fifty four now, maybe the window on my meaningful blogging has closed. You see the dilemma.
I have always felt that when I really need it and I pray hard enough, God will send me pretty unmistakable signs in order to help me find my way. Lately there have been lots of them, including, but not limited to, the “Crush It” book up there.
“Hello reality, thank you for the slap in the face.”
Here is the fact: I don’t fit into a box, nor do you.
Or you.
Or you.
So, I’ve decided to stop being so hard on myself and just be me, which of course means this blog will be reflective of that. I really am not an aspiring cookbook writer. I just love creating pretty food. Hubs and I cater on the side, so sharing recipes is something I genuinely like to do to be helpful. I will continue to do it here, but I’ll be mixing in more of myself as well.
This of course means the occasional angel story, dream interpretation, prayer, complaint, inspirational story or even a silly home video and I can’t guarantee it won’t all happen on the same page sometimes!
PS- Speaking of Altruism: I am holding a #Giveaway on my Instagram page and there is still time to sign up. See that pretty red, enameled, cast-iron skillet (by Lodge). Someone is going to win a brand new one (comes with lid). I will announce the winner on Wednesday, May 16th, via Instagram. I am NOT being paid for this. This is coming from my own pocket because this skillet seriously IS one of my favorite things in the world and I want someone else to have one too. I got this for my Birthday back in March and I use it every day. They are NOT cheap and I know not everyone can afford a cool kitchen thingie like this! So this is me, trying to do something nice for someone else.
If you are interested, just click through the link to my Instagram and find this picture. Click on it and you will find the instructions on how to enter. It’s that simple.
PSS: (Insert Angel Stuff here. hee hee)
I used to love to sit with my deck of angel cards and pull one as inspiration for each day. So here is today’s card which is perfect for where I am in life right now. I share this here because somewhere out there, someone else needs this message as well. ((hugs))
Power: The power of your Creator is within you. It doesn’t matter if you’re facing a situation that seems larger than life or something that is a small hurdle, the angels and God want to help you overcome it all!
The key to finding resolve in so many of life’s circumstances is to stay in the right frame of mind. You have the power of your Creator within you, all of the His greatness brings into focus who He is; faithful, righteous, good, honest and it diminishes the negative problems you are facing.
You have all the power of Divine love it is unlimited allow yourself shine. He is the one who with just his voice spoke the world and universe and cosmos into being, yet he is interested in the smallest and most intimate details of your life.
Love to all!
If you’ve been around my blog for any length of time you already know that I’m a foodie in every sense of the word. My parents think I am crazy. My father often remarks that Charlie and I are obsessed with food. (It’s true. We ARE! We are not ashamed!) It’s the first thing we talk about in the morning and the last thing we talk about at night. Our most frequent outings involve seeking out new markets and grocery stores and the most watched channel in our home is of course, The Food Network.
One of the Blessings in our life is being able to creat the Fellowship meal for Crescent Hill Baptist Church once per week. (Having grown up Catholic, I seriously think our religion missed out by not adopting this practice.) I love the fact that once per week, the people of this church meet together to share a meal and fellowship. They probably don’t stop a lot to realize this, but it’s a beautiful practice and I love witnessing it. This Wednesday we’ll return to the kitchen after having had the month of July off and we are ready! In fact, only a select few of them will know it, but we are DOUBLE ready!
Bear in mind that a church, is a church, is a church. Think about the times you have cleaned your home and have found items that you feel still have life and that someone could use? Where do you think about taking them? The church? Yup. Speaking for “THE CHURCH”; it’s always appreciated, but it can get overwhelming. (Example: Once upon a time we had a bunch of last generation Big box big screen TV’s taking up HUGE space in the basement. They still worked! WHO could fit one into a tiny apartment or afford to have it moved?)
And the church kitchen? It’s just about impossible to keep the refrigerators and freezers free of random packaged items that people drop off, afraid to throw away, certain that someone out there can use it. Our cabinets have been stuffed to overflowing with donated plastic containers, cutlery, napkins, etc. for as long as I have been there. We share the space with a school and since the first day I started cooking there, almost seven years ago, I’ve always wanted to go through and organize and clean every single cabinet. I had to wait, however, until it didn’t seem too presumptuous. (LOL!) This past Friday, six+ years into our catering, I finally decided to do it.
Friday Charlie and I cleared our schedules in order to tackle defrosting the Industrial freezer, cleaning out the refrigerator and clearing out about ten years worth of “stuff” from four very large, sprawling cabinets. Both of us worked the entire day, yet we couldn’t finish it all. Monday I went right back in there and tackled the rest and I still didn’t get 100% finished.
Oh, but what we have accomplished makes my heart sing with glee. The entire feeling of the kitchen has changed. I was so grateful when a co-worker walked in and said, “You can literally FEEL the difference in here.” It’s absolutely true!
I am a huge advocate for clearing the energy of a space simply by eliminating clutter and giving it a good old fashioned cleaning. Do you ever feel restless, irritated, or uncomfortable in your home, office, car, or in any other space? Chances are good that you’re existing within trapped energy. You may in fact be tapping into stagnant or even blocked energy, which can have an adverse affect on your spirit. (The church kitchen definitely felt stagnant to me before we cleaned and organized.)
I recently heard the greatest quote from a friend who said, “Turns out, we’re all a little like Pig Pen from Charlie Brown.” We were discussing energy and how even though we don’t see it with the naked eye; we’re constantly walking around in a cloud of particles and we’re unconsciously leaving bits and pieces wherever we may go! Think about the last time you walked into a room just after something negative had happened? You felt it, right? The same goes for starting out in a bad mood and running into someone or something that instantly lightens your spirit. We feel things long before and after we ever say a word.
Now imagine a place like the kitchen I just cleaned. Every nook and cranny had some form of something that was placed there by who knows who? Each little baggie or piece of plastic ware or roll of paper towels arrived already laden with energy. Then it was shoved into a cabinet where it co-mingled with a plethora of other things. Every time a new person used the kitchen or passed through, even more stagnant energy piled up on top. Sounds pretty gross, doesn’t it? (Go on admit it, you’re in the mood to get up and clean house now, aren’t you? ha ha.)
The entire point of my writing this out is to illustrate that if you are experiencing any type of blockage of spirit; an easy and free remedy is right in front of you: Clear your corners! (Translation: clean and organize your space!) When I am at home, I like to burn white sage throughout the house and as an exclamation point, I pull out the Holy water to Bless every room.
Go on. Give it a try. You can thank me later.
Love,
Bobbe
Dearest Lord,
Thank you for the Blessing of reflection. So often lately I am presented with opportunities for growth and learning. I find myself looking back in time fully able to see where I have come from and how I have grown and changed. I strive every day to work for you whether it be ministering to others or simply to get on my knees and clean a cabinet.
Thank you for all of the beautiful people I share this Universe with, especially my family, friends, and the multitude of strangers I encounter, who stir something in my heart. I know the stirring of my heart is your hand upon on my soul. I love you. Thank you.
Amen.
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40
To bless means to wish, unconditionally, total, unrestricted good for others and events from the deepest wellspring in the innermost chamber of your heart: it means to hallow, to hold in reverence, to behold with utter awe that which is always a gift from the Creator. He who is hallowed by your blessing is set aside, consecrated, holy, whole.
Blessing:
God’s favor and protection
– may God continue to give us his blessing
A prayer asking for such favor and protection
– a priest gave a blessing as the ship was launched
Grace said before or after a meal
A beneficial thing for which one is grateful; something that brings well-being
– great intelligence can be a curse as well as a blessing
– it’s a blessing we’re alive
A person’s sanction or support
If anyone were to overhear what goes on in my brain on a daily basis, she might think I either sound like a broken record or someone who has lost her senses. The mere thought of this makes me giggle because; Oh, the things I hear and do and say in my brain!
I suspect that as a child, someone I revered must have told me to be conscious of other people at all times. I can remember being in church watching all of the people file through the aisles on the way to communion. It was a game for me to try to Bless each and every person that walked by without missing a single soul. The times I was able to keep up and master this, I left with a huge sense of joy at my accomplishment and an even bigger sense of wonder about what goodness might be waiting for that person in the future.
These days Charlie laughs at me when sometimes in the middle of watching a television show or attending a lecture where someone has shared a poignant real-life story, I’ll raise my hands towards them in silence. My heart is always saying, “God Bless you on your journey, thank you for sharing”. Having now lived with me as long as he has, he doesn’t ask me what I’m doing. He knows. I’ve even taught him to Bless our vegetable and herb plants to thank them before we cut them for use in a meal.
I wonder what the world might be like if we spent most of our days conscious of the fact that we’re all on a journey, trying our best to get through the challenges life presents to us? I wonder what might happen if we were actually spending our time Blessing one another, over spending our time being oblivious to one another? I see people every single day driving in the car–one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the smartphone, scrolling or talking. What if we put those phones down and instead spent our time in the car, communing with God, just praying for the strangers we pass on the road?
Years ago someone anonymously sent the following article to my email box and I saved it because it speaks volumes. It speaks to what goes on in my head and heart every moment of every day. We ask one another for prayers, but how many Blessings are we bestowing?
The Gentle Art of Blessing
By: Pierre Pradervand
As you walk, bless the city in which you live, its government and teachers, its nurses and street sweepers, its children and bankers, its priests and prostitutes. The minute anyone expresses the least aggression or unkindness to you, respond with a blessing: bless them totally, sincerely, joyfully, for such blessings are a shield which protects them from the ignorance of their misdeed, and deflects the arrow that was aimed at you.
To bless means to wish, unconditionally, total, unrestricted good for others and events from the deepest wellspring in the innermost chamber of your heart: it means to hallow, to hold in reverence, to behold with utter awe that which is always a gift from the Creator. He who is hallowed by your blessing is set aside, consecrated, holy, whole. To bless is yet to invoke divine care upon, to think or speak gratefully for, to confer happiness upon – although we ourselves are never the bestow-er, but simply the joyful witnesses of Life’s abundance.
To bless all without discrimination of any sort is the ultimate form of giving, because those you bless will never know from whence came the sudden ray of sun that burst through the clouds of their skies, and you will rarely be a witness to the sunlight in their lives.
When something goes completely askew in your day, some unexpected event knocks down your plans and you too also, burst into blessing: for life is teaching you a lesson, and the very event you believe to be unwanted, you yourself called forth, so as to learn the lesson you might balk against were you not to bless it. Trials are blessings in disguise, and hosts of angels follow in their path.
To bless is to acknowledge the omnipresent, universal beauty hidden to material eyes; it is to activate that law of attraction which, from the furthest reaches of the universe, will bring into your life exactly what you need to experience and enjoy.
When you pass a prison, mentally bless its inmates in their innocence and freedom, their gentleness, pure essence and unconditional forgiveness; for one can only be prisoner of one’s self-image, and a free man can walk unshackled in the courtyard of a jail, just as citizens of countries where freedom reigns can be prisoners when fear lurks in their thoughts.
When you pass a hospital, bless its patients in their present wholeness, for even in their suffering, this wholeness awaits in them to be discovered. When your eyes behold a man in tears, or seemingly broken by life, bless him in his vitality and joy: for the material senses present but the inverted image of the ultimate splendor and perfection which only the inner eye beholds.
It is impossible to bless and to judge at the same time. So hold constantly as a deep, hallowed, intoned thought that desire to bless, for truly then shall you become a peacemaker, and one day you shall, everywhere, behold the very face of God.
From The Angels:
Divine Guidance: Trust and follow your intuition. It is God and the angels speaking to you.
You are being Divinely guided right now. The gut feelings you have, the knowingness, the visions, or the inner voice are all trying to tell you something, and it is very important that you trust and follow this guidance.
If you drew more than one card, pay close attention to the cards that are on either side of the “Divine Guidance” card-they contain important instructions for you. These nearby cards feature facets of the message that the angels seek to impress upon you.
Answered Prayer: Fear not, beloved one! Your prayers have been heard and answered.
All of your prayers are always answered. Sometimes you may not feel this way, because the answer comes in unexpected ways. Perhaps you receive an intuitive feeling or a new opportunity appears-or a book falls off the shelf. The angels answer our prayers very often by giving us ideas or information in these everyday ways.
By drawing this card, the angels request that you be extra observant. Notice everything that you hear, say, think, and feel. Be especially alert to help that comes to you, and be sure to accept that help. You do deserve this assistance, and many times God enlists people to act as Earth angels who bring you answers to your prayers.
Archangel Michael:“I am with you, giving you the courage to make life changes that will help you work on your Divine life purpose.”
Additional Message: “I have come to you because you asked God for safety and protection, and because you asked about your life purpose. Since you are a light-worker, I am overseeing the fruition of your Divine life purpose. You have been a light-worker for a long time, and you have felt different from others, isolated at times. Be assured that you have never been alone, and that you never will be alone.”
“When you feel pushed to make a change at work or at home, that may be my influence, encouraging you to make your life’s purpose a high priority. I can rearrange your schedule and support you in other ways to make your path smooth and harmonious. Simply ask me, and it is done. I will also help you feel safe and comfortable during your life’s changes.”
Today’s Prayers:
May the Warm Winds of Heaven
Blow softly upon your house.
May the Great Spirit
Bless all who enter there.
May your Moccasins
Make happy tracks
in many snows,
and may the Rainbow
Always touch your shoulder.
~Cherokee Blessing
Hold on to what is good even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life even when it is easier letting go.
Hold on to my hand even when I have gone away from you.
~Pueblo Blessing
The great blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach; but we shut our eyes, and, like people in the dark, we fall foul upon the very thing we search for, without finding it. ~Seneca Blessing
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
— 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV)
You have the strength to stand strong in the midst of difficult situations, and the wisdom it takes to make good decisions. If something in your life isn’t working, be willing to release it to God and the angels.
Dear Child:
Rest in me. I will not let you fail. Close your ears to the chatter of those around you and open your heart to me alone. When you despair, listen for MY voice.
Do not allow those with selfish, egotistical motives to harm your heart. Fill yourself with my love and know that I will protect you and continue to guide you.
Continue your meditations and persist in asking for my will. Be open to the miracles that follow. All is well.
Dry your tears, dear one.
You are loved.
God.
© 2011, Bobbe Ann Crouch
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
— Philippians 4:4-5 (NIV)
From The Angels:
Truth & Integrity: You have the strength to stand strong in the midst of difficult situations, and the wisdom it takes to make good decisions. If something in your life isn’t working, be willing to release it to God and the angels.
Understand you are important, and know that you are called to add value to the world around you. No matter where you are in life today, you have potential to increase, grow, to be strengthened, and to move forward. God created you for His good purpose and you are His masterpiece!
Archangel Michael: Rapid change is often unsettling and can be stressful, but only because it seems to be too rapid and therefore threatening. Remember that you have agreed on the higher level to be part of the change, and that the changes are to bring in Light, Love, Joy and Abundance.
Operate from your Heart rather than your head. If there is fear, then it is coming from your head. Stay grounded and open, and be practical. If you are in the flow of Divine Creative energy, then you cannot fail.
Archangel Michael is making his presence know to you. Remember that you are Safe and Protected at all times, and that all is in Divine Order at all times! If you trust Divine Order, and not your old habits, you will be fine! God and the angels will help you stay true to yourself during trying times.
Study: Don’t let the pressures of life push those dreams down. Stir up those dreams. Shake off every disappointment and press forward. This is a new day. Get a new vision. Make up your mind that no matter what comes your way, you are going to keep pressing forward. This is an important time for you to learn new ideas or skills.
You are going to keep growing. You are going to keep learning. You are going to stay active. If you will stay passionate about life, knowing what your purpose is and being your best every day, God will pour out His blessings to you. Perhaps you feel guided to enroll in a class and this card confirms that feeling.
Make the choice to keep your dreams in front of you. Remember, you have a purpose. You have a destiny. You were created to make a difference to impact our society to make this world a better place. You are being guided to enroll in class, continue your education.
Father of Mercy,
forgive my failings,
keep me in Your Grace,
and lead me in the way of salvation.
Give me strength in serving You
as a follower of Christ.
May the Eucharist bring me Your Forgiveness
and give me freedom to serve You all my life.
May it help me to remain faithful
and give me the grace I need in Your service.
May it teach me the way to eternal life.
Amen
My Own Dear Child:
Let your actions today be evidence to me that the prayers you offer are sincere. I am still waiting to hear more from you. I continue to hear you saying you are going to pray, yet, I am only treated to fleeting thoughts, words and deeds.
My Own Dear Child:
Let your actions today be evidence to me that the prayers you offer are sincere. I am still waiting to hear more from you. I continue to hear you saying you are going to pray, yet, I am only treated to fleeting thoughts, words and deeds. You should know by now where your true comfort comes from. Have I ever failed you?
I know it’s difficult, sweet child, but it IS important.
Cultivate your faith in me. Decide for goodness and by ALL means, leave the happenings of your world in my capable hands. Pray for everyone in earnest BUT, Let my LOVE fill your heart. You have nothing to fear.
I love you. I will protect you.
God.
©2011, Bobbe Ann Crouch
Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.
— Psalm 86:6-7 (NIV)
From the Angels:
Healing: The highest purpose of your healer guides is to restore your self-awareness and self-esteem as children of God and help you accept the love and unlimited blessings that God grants you.
Opening your heart and mind to your worthiness is the best healing of all.
Spiritual Growth: Integrate spirituality to a higher degree in your daily live! Enjoy the process!
You are seeking a higher connection a renewed connection with the Divine and you wish you could immerse yourself read, study, learn, or meditate take it all in at once. The exhilaration of moving up to a higher level of consciousness is challenging slow down and enjoy the process.
Trust that the same Power that brought you to your spiritual path will also take care of everything for you.
Children: Children are a tremendous blessing to us, but they are also a tremendous responsibility that God has entrusted to us. As parents, we have been entrusted to nurture, train, teach and prepare our children for life.
Are you taking time to invest in your children? And if you don’t have any children, how about your nieces and nephews? We all have things that we’ve learned: skills, talents, life experiences, wisdom. You have a responsibility to transfer what we know to the next generation. When you invest in somebody else, you will continue to live on. Your life can have influence for generations to come if you will take time to invest in people. The only way this is going to happen is if you are taking time to invest in them. If you are not careful, you will substitute activity for attention. Understand, your children need you more than they need another activity.
The best legacy is not what you leave for people. It’s what you leave in people. You have a wealth of knowledge that God has entrusted you with. You are not supposed to keep that to yourself. You should be passing that on to somebody else. You have a responsibility to transfer what we know to the next generation. If you need guidance all you need to do is ask, we are always here for you.
(Bonus) Power: The power of your Creator is within you. It doesn’t matter if you’re facing a situation that seems larger than life or something that is a small hurdle the angels and God want to help you overcome it all!
The key to finding resolve in so many of life’s circumstances is to stay in the right frame of mind. You have the power of your Creator within you, all of the His greatness brings into focus who He is; faithful, righteous, good, honest and it diminishes the negative problems you are facing.
You have all the power of Divine love it is unlimited allow yourself shine. He is the one who with just his voice spoke the world and universe and cosmos into being, yet he is interested in the smallest and most intimate details of your life.
Through your blessing, grace, and guidance,
through the power of the light that streams from you:
May all my negative karma, destructive emotions,
obscurations and blockages be purified and removed,
May I know myself forgiven
for all the harm I may have thought and done,
May I accomplish this profound practice of phowa,
and die a good and peaceful death,
And through the triumph of my death,
may I be able to benefit all other beings, living or dead.
-tibetan buddhist phowa practice-
What’s feeding the spirit? Food for the spirit is anything that makes one feel better from the inside-out. You are the author of what this means to you. Tomorrow is Friday. What are you going to do?
Once upon a time my mother told me that when things were too hectic or seemingly not working the way I wanted them to, I should work on myself in order to feel better. I think that advice transcends time, circumstance and situation.
For the past many months I’ve been running around working four or more jobs at once. Though I love what I do; it can get tiring to the point that I don’t eat right, sleep right or have energy to do much else. I know I’ve spoken about “balance” quite a bit but it’s so true. We get so caught up in completing the tasks of each day that we forget to stop and feed the spirit. When our spirits get low on energy, everything else suffers. If we allow it to go on for too very long, the certain result is a long stint on the couch or in bed under the covers. Remaining unbalanced can lead to depression, anxiety, weight gain, weight loss and it can even lower your immunity and cause disease.
What are some of the things that feed your spirit? For me, it’s taking some time each day to be productive with things that are meaningful only to me. Two days ago I plopped myself on the floor with a bottle of water, some good music and an over-filled cabinet full of junk, left untouched for about five years. Today I’m happy to say, it’s a well-organized machine of storage! Along the way I found all kinds of old treasures (including two framed photos I’ve been searching for high and low), and I threw out tons of old junk. This weekend I’ll tackle another potential treasure trove: our closet! When my corners are free of clutter, so is my heart and soul.
I say it here all the time, but I’ll repeat it until every single person digests it and puts it
into practice; feeding the spirit is the most important task a person can complete on a daily basis, (next to prayer, which is also feeding the spirit!)
What’s feeding the spirit? Food for the spirit is anything that makes one feel better from the inside-out. You are the author of what this means to you. Tomorrow is Friday. What are you going to do?
Here is but one suggestion from the Angel Wisdom book:
ELIMINATE THE NEGATIVE
An Angel Reminder: How many negative thinkers have you been inspired by lately?
It is important to understand why eliminating negative thoughts is vital to our health and well-being. Negative thoughts depress our immune systems, make us tired, and influence those around us in a negative way. Thinking negatively about a situation will send you searching for negative outcomes. You will then waste your time preparing to cope with a possible negative situation instead of pursuing positive goals and living a creative life. Negative thoughts bore the angels, and you wouldn’t want to chance that. Once you realize the tedious nature of negative thinking, you can create a built-in warning system that will identify negative thoughts, allowing you the chance to choose a better way.
It is important to recognize when we have negative thoughts. use the following questions as a negative-thought checklist: Is the thought life-defeating? Does it encourage excess worry? Is the thought hard to get rid of? Does thinking it make you feel uncomfortable? Would the angels view the thought as a waste of energy? If you answered yes to the above questions, then chances are the thought is negative. Two more questions to think about: What does the thought inspire in others? Is this thought the way you really want things to turn out?
An Angelic Reflection: I will make it my goal to eliminate the negative and affirm the positive, loving aspects of the angels.
From the Angels:
Emerging: Your true self-radiant, powerful, successful, and intelligent-is now shining through the surface. Allow your true self to be visible to others, for you lift them up and inspire them.
You are awesome in so many ways, and you are beginning to trust and reveal your true nature more easily. At one time, you may have believed that you had to hide your feelings from others (or even from yourself!). Now, however, you realize how vital and attractive expressing your authentic self is.
Your angels are guiding you to honor your true feelings by expressing them to yourself and others. The angels will help you lovingly talk about your feelings so that no misunderstandings occur with friends and loved ones. Your angels will never guide you to do or say anything that could hurt you or anyone else! They will also ensure that your life will emerge to a new level of inner peace as you let your true self come out and play.
Listening: You are in communication with your angels, and the messages that you are receiving are very real indeed. Trust them.
This card is a validation from your angels that you really are hearing them.You have been receiving repetitive messages through your feelings, dreams, visions, inner voice, or knowingness. Are you listening and trusting these messages? Are you following them?
If you get an inclination to call someone, go somewhere, or read something, it’s important to follow this guidance. By drawing this card, your angels ask you to give all your doubts or worries about Divine guidance to them. Know that you truly are communicating with heaven, and enjoy the conversations!
Power: You now allow yourself to express your power. Being powerful is safe for you, knowing that you express your power with love.
You have all of the power of your Creator within you! All the power of Divine love, wisdom, and intelligence is available to you. You have the spiritual power to see angels and the future. You have intellectual power to tap in to the universal wisdom of the One Mind. You have emotional power to empathize with others, and physical power that is truly unlimited.
The angels ask you to give them any fears you may have connected with being a powerful person. Your angels see a quiet and beautiful aspect of your true power, stemming from the only power in the universe: Divine love. Allow yourself to shine with this radiant love so that your true power can radiate out into the world in miraculous ways.
BONUS CARD: (If it speaks to you, it’s meant for you!)
Shanti: “I am the Angel of Peace. I bring you new tranquility, and a smoother road ahead.”
“You have been through turmoil, and your soul is tired. Your mind craves peace and quiet, and I am here to help you with that desire. I will give you new opportunities to spend time alone, where you can relax your mind and heart. I will bring tranquility to your soul so that you can mirror the peace of mind that is your true Divine nature.”
“Like the angels, you are able to hover within the eye of any hurricanes that may swirl around you right now. Through breath and intention, you can stay centered no matter what’s happening in your life. This inner foundation of peace has a powerful healing effect. Your outer life soon reflects your inner peacefulness. Smooth roads are ahead for you, and the worst is behind you now. A peaceful outcome to this situation is assured.”
God, help me to be
a pure vehicle for your love,
and light,
and wisdom.
Steven Sadleir
Let the rain come and wash away
the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds
held and nurtured over generations.
Let the rain wash away the memory
of the hurt, the neglect.
Then let the sun come out and
fill the sky with rainbows.
Let the warmth of the sun heal us
wherever we are broken.
Let it burn away the fog so that
we can see each other clearly.
So that we can see beyond labels,
beyond accents, gender or skin color.
Let the warmth and brightness
of the sun melt our selfishness.
So that we can share the joys and
feel the sorrows of our neighbors.
And let the light of the sun
be so strong that we will see all
people as our neighbors.
Let the earth, nourished by rain,
bring forth flowers
to surround us with beauty.
And let the mountains teach our hearts
to reach upward to heaven.
Amen.
A prayer for the world
– Rabbi Harold Kushner – 2003
The other day my dear friend said to me, “You receive more signs than anyone I know.” and she’s right. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I receive more signs than anyone, but I would say that I’ve never had trouble recognizing my signs and messages. Lately, they’re coming to me in so many forms it’s hard to keep up. I’m not complaining. I’m awestruck.
The other day my dear friend said to me, “You receive more signs than anyone I know.” and she’s right. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I receive more signs than anyone, but I would say that I’ve never had trouble recognizing my signs and messages. Lately, they’re coming to me in so many forms it’s hard to keep up. I’m not complaining. I’m awestruck.
I’ve previously mentioned the film, “Gabriel” and how meaningful it was for me. Last night we rented, “Legion” and I have to say that one of these two films borrowed from the other one as the theme and characters were almost identical. Believe it or not, I enjoyed “Gabriel”, which was a “B” movie much better than “Legion” which has Dennis Quaid as one of the stars. ~Can’t point to exactly why, just that it had more depth of meaning for me. Regardless of which I liked better, I look at both of them as personal signs for me. It’s hard to explain with mere words, but when I sit and watch films like this, I can feel the room become dense and I know I’m not watching alone. There are legions of angels and spirits right there with me, making certain I’m receiving what I’m supposed to.
I see so many films and shows lately that have the theme of darkness overtaking the earth and that there are so few truly good people left who are willing to give all to keep evil from running rampant. Zombie films and shows seem to be at an all-time high. I have to wonder if this is because art reflects life? If it is, I hope I’m one of the good ones, able to stand up and fight to keep the light alive.
And how do I do that? I do it by honoring the signs that come to me and thanking God and the angels when they arrive.
The other night I had a very telling dream. I was rushing up the stairs to my daughter’s bedroom. She was about five years old and I knew she had been crying and crying out for me, scared to death that I didn’t love her any more, terrified that I’d not come back for her. My heart was breaking into bits as I ran my hardest to get to her. When I arrived and pulled back the covers to scoop her up and tell her I absolutely will never leave her or stop loving her, the person in the bed was ME as a five-year old.
I’ve been completely preoccupied with my family for while now and when I woke up it took me a while to remember that it was actually ME in that bed crying, wondering if I’d been forgotten and remained unloved. The thought occurs to me and I know I’m correct, that the little girl is actually symbolic of my inner child, which is symbolic of my own soul.
The rest of the dream was all about babies; mostly my talking with infants and making them giggle. At one point I was on the floor in a restaurant sitting beneath a high chair, talking with a strangers baby and the baby was laughing and completely engaged with me. I kept hearing her mother say, “It’s okay, let her keep talking. It’s okay…let them talk.”
It is said that to dream of death usually means, “happy birth” and to dream of babies, means “new beginning”. Elementary really.
So for me, all of this means that I’m beginning anew and I’m to honor who I am at my core. The trouble is that lately, I’m having to uncover that all over again, which of course is the reason I keep dreaming about babies.
See how easy it is to interpret dreams? Oh there is always more, but the reason I share this with you all is because you usually mirror what’s going on in my life, so this is me telling you to pay close attention to your dreams and to the signs that appear in your life.
SELF AWARENESS
Men look at themselves in mirrors. Women look for themselves. ~Elissa Melamed
“Mirror, Mirror, on the wall”…where did I go? It seems only yesterday that when I looked in the mirror I saw someone I recognized. Those little pieces of myself that I gave away one by one seemed so insignificant at the time. What has become of me?
So many of us who do too much have the experience of disappearing before our very eyes. We did not plan it that way. It just seemed to happen over the years.
Yet, if there is still someone to look in the mirror, we have not left completely.
I need to look closely. The mirror could be my friend. It could help lead me back to me.
From The Angels:
Support: God, the angels, and all who love, protect, and guide you are watching over you right now. When you take time to communicate with God and the angels, they are able to pour out power and strength into our lives.
This card reassures in the multitude of anxious thoughts within you. Divine love comforts you. They will comfort you with the energy of Divine love.
If you ever feel doubtful about your ability to help others, ask the angels to help you release these fears.
Study: Don’t let the pressures of life push those dreams down. Stir up those dreams. Shake off every disappointment and press forward. This is a new day. Get a new vision. Make up your mind that no matter what comes your way, you are going to keep pressing forward. This is an important time for you to learn new ideas or skills.
You are going to keep growing. You are going to keep learning. You are going to stay active. If you will stay passionate about life, knowing what your purpose is and being your best every day, God will pour out His blessings to you. Perhaps you feel guided to enroll in a class and this card confirms that feeling.
Make the choice to keep your dreams in front of you. Remember, you have a purpose. You have a destiny. You were created to make a difference to impact our society to make this world a better place. You are being guided to enroll in class, continue your education.
Children: Children are a tremendous blessing to us, but they are also a tremendous responsibility that God has entrusted to us. As parents, we have been entrusted to nurture, train, teach and prepare our children for life.
Are you taking time to invest in your children? And if you don’t have any children, how about your nieces and nephews? We all have things that we’ve learned: skills, talents, life experiences, wisdom. You have a responsibility to transfer what we know to the next generation. When you invest in somebody else, you will continue to live on. Your life can have influence for generations to come if you will take time to invest in people. The only way this is going to happen is if you are taking time to invest in them. If you are not careful, you will substitute activity for attention. Understand, your children need you more than they need another activity.
The best legacy is not what you leave for people. It’s what you leave in people. You have a wealth of knowledge that God has entrusted you with. You are not supposed to keep that to yourself. You should be passing that on to somebody else. You have a responsibility to transfer what we know to the next generation. If you need guidance all you need to do is ask, we are always here for you.
I had a few days ago, an insight which consoled me very much.
It was during my thanksgiving, when I make
a few reflections upon the goodness of God, and
how should one not think of this at such a time, of that
infinite goodness, uncreated goodness, the source of all goodness. …I saw written as in letters of gold this word “Goodness”
which I repeated for a long time with indescribable sweetness.
I beheld it, I say, written upon all creatures, animate and inanimate,
rational or not, all bore this name goodness. …I understood then that all these creatures have of goodness and
all the services and assistance that we receive from each of them
is a benefit which we owe to the goodness of God
who has communicated to them something of his infinite goodness
so that we may meet it in everything and everywhere.~St. thérèse couderc – 1865
Our lives are filled with challenges, changes, fulfillment, surprises, ups and downs. More importantly, they are ours to do with what we wish, each and every day. When we are confused, confined or when we take a wrong turn, we may need some help working through the muddle and getting back on track
Our lives are filled with challenges, changes, fulfillment, surprises, ups and downs. More importantly, they are ours to do with what we wish, each and every day. When we are confused, confined or when we take a wrong turn, we may need some help working through the muddle and getting back on track. It is during these times, especially, that we must believe in ourselves and trust that we can indeed do what we set out to do. Our angels are always with us and they believe in us. They encourage us to do our best, explore the unknown, fulfill our dreams, and then dream anew. Our angels inspire us to be all that we can be.
In the pursuit of happiness many people are too busy to find that which they seek. Frequently the happiness we so passionately desire is found in little events that are but whispered. If we don’t pay attention, we miss them. There can be happiness in the way light falls through the trees or in the way autumn leaves flutter to the ground. There can be happiness in the way our children call for us by name or in the familiar sight of our home as we round the corner two blocks away. Happiness weaves is way through precious memories and valueless keepsakes that are priceless to us. Many take enormous delight in the presence of a beloved pet, just the way they look at us or the unconditional love they pour out upon us. For some, there is genuine delight in the taste of a specially loved food. We are surrounded by that which can be meaningful and full of delight. The question is, will we be still and quiet long enough to enjoy?
Most people’s unhappiness can be traced directly to the tone of the voice in which they talk to themselves–nagging, demanding, criticizing. Simply stopping to notice inspires compassion and integration. Compassion towards oneself is the prototype of the compassion one has for others. Playing self-condemning and self-improvement games keeps people in the path of always seeking but never finding happiness. Recognize and acknowledge that you are a truly beautiful person you are just the way you are right now!
I’ve discovered I always have choices and sometimes it’s only a choice of attitude!”
How often have you heard the phrase, ‘Nobody’s perfect,’ or even said it yourself? This phrase brings to mind some unspoken judgment that you should be perfect, that you should be able to do and have it all. Well, did you know that unrealistic sense of perfection actually gets in the way of achieving your dreams?
That inner critic, who is inside many of us, is nothing but a troublemaker! I am talking about that nagging little voice inside of you that says, ‘I don’t know if I can do that,’ or ‘I’m not good enough,’ or even, ‘why bother trying when I know it won’t work.’ That inner critic accepts nothing short of perfection! And let’s face it, life is far from perfect!
But back to our inner critic. What it is? It comes from a lack of self-confidence, plain and simple. The funny thing about lacking confidence is that it doesn’t mean you aren’t capable. It has more to do with having unreasonably high expectations. When you accept only perfection, then who on earth can possibly measure up?
What you really need to keep you moving forward are realistic, doable expectations, and the ability to keep a positive outlook, even if you do make a mistake or fail in some plan. As former First Lady Rosalyn Carter has said, ‘Once you accept the fact that you’re not perfect, then you develop some confidence.’
When you are self-confident—and I’m not talking about being a ‘know-it-all’—you know and trust your abilities and set realistic expectations. You can keep a positive outlook and accept the fact that you can make mistakes or even fail, without being wrong or incapable.
So the next time you find yourself expecting perfection, just remind yourself that ‘nobody’s perfect.’
From The Angels: ( As always, if this speaks to you, it’s meant for you!)
Signs: You have asked for a sign from your angels. Pay close attention to everything going on around you scents, color, objects. Be aware of the messages they are trying to alert you … notice sounds, objects.
You’ve asked for heaven to help you. This card signifies that your angels are trying to get your attention with signs.
They are trying to make contact with you.
Answered Prayer: Each day connect with your soul allow the divine light in. Your prayers have been answered.
In your life find a way to experience spiritual devotion through prayer or meditation in a way that brings out devotional qualities. These qualities or energies are healing. They drive away anger. All of your prayers are always answered.
The angels request that you be observant of everything you see, hear, touch, taste, smell, or sense in any way it is an aspect of Divinity.
Power: The power of your Creator is within you. It doesn’t matter if you’re facing a situation that seems larger than life or something that is a small hurdle the angels and God want to help you overcome it all!
The key to finding resolve in so many of life’s circumstances is to stay in the right frame of mind. You have the power of your Creator within you, all of the His greatness brings into focus who He is; faithful, righteous, good, honest and it diminishes the negative problems you are facing.
You have all the power of Divine love it is unlimited allow yourself shine. He is the one who with just his voice spoke the world and universe and cosmos into being, yet he is interested in the smallest and most intimate details of your life.
Father in Heaven,
ever-living source of all that is good,
keep me faithful in serving You.
Help me to drink of Christ’s Truth,
and fill my heart with His Love
so that I may serve You in faith
and love and reach eternal life.
In the Sacrament of the Eucharist
You give me the joy of sharing Your Life.
Keep me in Your presence.
Let me never be separated from You
and help me to do Your Will.
Amen
My World (and recipes too) 