by Christine Green | Dec 24, 2009 | Uncategorized
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
Blessings to you and your family for a loving and joyful Christmas holiday!
by Christine Green | Dec 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
We had the joy of visiting Laurence’s son and his beautiful family in Kansas City in November. Spending time with a three year old and five year old really helps put the world into proper perspective. A child’s unlimited energy, joy and enthusiasm for life are infectious. Some insights I learned from them:
1. Be Here Now. There is no tomorrow or later. There is only NOW. Try it for yourself. Spend the next 30 minutes being in the moment. It’s not as easy as it looks.
2. The Universe is abundant. There is no lack in a child’s world. They see the unlimited view. They will ask for what they want. If they get a ‘no’ answer, they’ll ask again. And again. And again.
3. Imagination is everything. We adults live inside the box. We see what we expect to see. Using the imagination expands our reality into unlimited possibilities.
4. Rules are meant to be changed. If you don’t like the outcome of your game, then change the rules. Change your mind. Change your thinking. Just change.
5. Love heals everything. A hug, a kiss or a smile can transform tears into laughter, discord into peace, separation into harmony.
We discover the real joy of Christmas when we take time to slow down, be in the moment, give thanks for our blessings, share a hug or a smile. Perhaps if we take a moment to see Christmas from the eyes of a child, we can be in awe of the miracle of the season.
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?”
“It came without ribbons. It came without tags.”
“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”
And he puzzled three hours, til his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!”
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
by Dr. Seuss
by Christine Green | Nov 30, 2009 | Uncategorized
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw]
Truly a joy-filled expression from people passionate about what they do.
by Christine Green | Nov 25, 2009 | Uncategorized
If you google the word gratitude you’ll find that it is a hot topic. Deborah Norville, Rhonda Byrne, Robert Emmons, are just a few authors with recently published books about the importance of gratitude.
All the attention about gratitude raises it to a higher state of awareness. If people are writing about it, then people are reading about it and probably people are talking about it.
But are we grateful for the right reasons? Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be the first to recognize that practicing gratitude on a regular basis changes us mentally, physically, spiritually. It helps us get in touch with the good things in life rather than the things we don’t want. It helps lower blood pressure, improves the immune system, reduce headaches, why, even your cat will pay more attention to you.
But here is what I think is the most important reason for practicing gratitude. It connects us spiritually. When we are grateful, we connect with the heart which opens us to love. It is difficult and nearly impossible to feel resentment and gratitude at the same time. Feeling grateful puts us into an awakened state of love. Charles Fillmore defines love as “the power that joins and binds in divine harmony the universe and everything in it; it is the great harmonizing principle known to man.”
When we connect with Divine Love we live a kinder, gentler life. We recognize Peace in the midst of turmoil and Goodness in the midst of strife. We have more compassion and less judgment for ourselves and others. We live in a state of Grace.
Practicing gratitude magnifies the good in life. Whatever book you read or gratitude technique you practice, you are opening your heart to love. And isn’t that something to be grateful for?
by Christine Green | Nov 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
We are visiting family in Kansas City. It is very healing to spend time with a three year old. Life is full of joy, love and being in the moment. I’ve been reminded about what is important…to laugh, to love, to play.
by Christine Green | Oct 22, 2009 | Uncategorized
At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. 
He was out there sort of like the president. I recognized his picture when I saw it, but I didn’t really know him.
But later on when I recognized my higher power, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that God was in the back helping me pedal.
I don’t know just when it was that he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since . . . life with my higher power, that is. God makes life exciting!
When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points.
But when he took the lead, he knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at breakneck speeds; it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, he said “Pedal.”
I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer and I started to learn to trust.
I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I’d say, “I’m scared,” he’d lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, God’s and mine.
And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received and still our burden was light.
I did not trust him at first, in control of my life. I thought he’d wreck it. But he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages.
And I am learning to be quiet and pedal in the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, my higher power.
And when I’m sure I just can’t do any more, he just smiles and says “Pedal.”
I love this essay sent to me by a friend. Author Unknown.
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” 
