reflections:

Imagine experiencing being so in the presence of unconditional love that you knew yourself as love; love moved through you and was you, a passionate lover of unspeakable and everlasting beauty of mind, body, and spirit! Any feelings of separation disappear; love is all there is. Ultimately, that is the victory in the game we are playing... cafe gratitude

I think our realities are created in a huge way by who wPublish Poste see ourselves to be. We've all created sub par realities by believing sub par truths about ourselves. I think some fundamental realities for me are realities of knowing the Universe's, I call God's, protection over us. to know that you're 100% loved, that your life and your destiny is 100% provided for…that you're already a success, that God loves you and made you out of great love, destined for great love, able to choose love…

we are given, through this opportunity called life, the chance to love. we can all choose this reality. the more love you give the richer you'll feel. love grows when you give it away. love forgives. love communicates. love understands. love respects and sees and accepts. love is patient, love is kind. It doesn't envy, it doesn't boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

we can start with the person in front of us. we can start with the people we work with, live with, our families. we can start with ourselves. 

we must receive the love to give love. we must first love ourselves. forgive ourselves…you are lovable. you are beautiful. you are seen. and there is always enough. 

with love -Lauren

come fly with me

i feel like im driving on the coast in a mini convertible with the people i love…that's the state of my heart these days. the freedom, the beauty, the laughter, and the love know no limit in this lush heart of mine. What is a kiss from God? The sunshine, the breeze, the smile of my roommates, the happy customers that sat at my bar, the irrestible grin on a child's face when they realize they're an artist, the beautiful girl when i make her hair more lovely…we are invited to be one with God dear one. Every passing second sacred in the backdrop of this eternal sunshine. Every quiet moment love is at the heart beat. Every hard day when you thought you didn't have enough money, when you thought you weren't enough, when you thought you were alone…Love was there. The Beloved was there, knowing one day you'd see the light of the glorious Sun, shining in your heart, shining in your mind, shining like you dear one, my friend. 

spoiled.

whoever reads this i pray would become rich this year...in every way. may you be spoiled by God. 

its 2011. it feels already like my best year yet. i feel so surrounded by God's presence, blessing, love, friendship, family…i feel like opportunity is all around, like doors are just waiting to open to me. like this is a year of great favor for me. i feel like i am going to meet more family everywhere i go. i feel like i am going to start understanding things i never understood before. i think this is the year i will take up a meditation practice. and just focus on things differently in meditation than before...

God what should i meditate on? 

Love. 

love, as hafiz says, what else should we even talk about for the rest of our lives. what else even is there. we must know love, be love, give love. every time we get out of step with love, we must realign ourselves. for this is the only way. 

do you ever wonder…why the eyes of everybody on the bus are empty. few light up with joy…or wonder.

i think something happens when we neglect to love. when we harbor bitterness or unforgiveness.

one, we stop having fun. 

we are killing ourselves from within. 

when we live to take instead of give we make ourselves poor. 

true riches can be created out of what we give.

if we give our lives, our money, our hearts, our kindness, our personalities, our food, our humor, our support, our encouragement, our love... if we but give, we make ourselves rich.

to truly be able to give we must trust in the provision of the Father for every single thing, or we may start to fear not having, and not give at all, for fear of lack. if you ask God to teach you to trust in his provision he will show you. God will show you pretty much anything you start asking about, i think. 

so true riches are forever because they exist in the part of ourselves, spirit, that is unseen and eternal, and it is the most real. it is the place in which each of us exists. we are not the body, we are the unseen, the animating spirit inside our body…that thinks and feels and dreams…that is us. so im saying…its possible to take that part of us, which nobody can take away from us…and fill it to the brim with riches. we can become so rich in spirit that we constantly pour forth joy and love and kindness and life everywhere we go, to every being we encounter. 

i am so incredibly spoiled by God.