New Year Prayer

God grant me peace to accept each new moment as the only time I have to live in.
        grant me perseverance to continually strive to improve myself this year and work towards my goals.
        grant me a positive outlook to see all circumstances from your perspective
God I give you praise for all the blessings you have given me; making my basic needs met.
        I give you thanksgiving for opportunities that you have opened my eyes to see
        I give you love because my heart is filled with the love you have given to me
God help me to understand the needs of my heart which I do not know how to express
        help me determine my character defects so I can minimize their harm and maximize improvements
        help me to bring your message of peace, love, and happiness to others---even if it is just by living my life.

Happy New Year God,
Amen

Finding The Life Preserver during the Holidays

I often feel like I'm pulled in a hundred different directions during the Holidays.  Between the needs of family, friends, and work; there is the added stress of shopping, driving, and trying to make other people happy.  There is great JOY to be found in making someone else smile: whether it is through receiving a gift, playing games with family, or simply sharing special moments.  But there is also the people-pleaser that needs to go to this party, or that party...as if to make an appearance equates to love and care.  There is no avoiding the fact that other people judge us for attending, not attending, and our level of happiness over the Holidays.  Where am I going with this?---stay with me...
Being financially burdened this Holiday season has made me realize  those judgements were just in my head.  I have an imagination that thinks other people judge my gifts, my attendance at a party, my attitude...and anything else...and this imagination always has a negative judgement.  But this year felt different.  I had few gifts to give, and they were simple.  But everyone understood my situation, made me feel welcome and loved, and gave back a gift to me through the realization:  People are not superficial.  The season really IS about LOVE.  Everyone seems to want a genuine connection.  Seeing the good in people and situations has really made a difference in my attitude towards life.  My life preserver for the Holidays: A positive outlook!

The wind blows and the spirit moves

Have you ever prayed for opportunities?  Sometimes it helps to have a symbolic image to think about as we contemplate our prayer life and the answers we are seeking.  Imagine how the wind blows: we can't stop it with our hands when we stand outside...we can ignore it, but that doesn't make it go away.  When we pray for an opportunity: the spirit of life continues to blow around us.  Are we ignoring the spirit, or are we looking-watching-and paying attention.  The draft of the spirit is always swirling around us like a wind of opportunity.

Peace and Love to you all!