“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”
— Audre Lorde
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/celebrate-quotes
Celebrate our Differences
In celebration of the first night of Kwanzaa
God with us
Emmanuel
God with us
God within us
Living in, through, and as us
Calling us to shine our light
—Rogene A. Robbins
Love, Serve and Remember
Do you remember why you came to this earth? Now, more than ever, it is important that we remember. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus we know that he remembered. The Buddha and other Avatars remembered. So why are you here? Take a little time on this quiet Christmas Eve to just sit and remember.
To learn more about John Astin visit: https://www.johnastin.com/
Listen to the inner light
“Listen to the inner light; it will guide you.
Listen to the inner peace; it will feed you.
Listen to the inner love; it will transform you.”
— Sri Chinmoy
Happiness is always there
Copyright 2016 by R.A. Robbins
“Happiness is always there. You just have to choose to see it.
There’s no point dwelling in the dark and ignoring the light of the stars.”
–Carrie Hope Fletcher
Updating Site
Sorry for the dust. I am updating our Blog/Website.
You are welcome to browse the history of blog posts found on this page. The rest of the site will be available soon.
–Bob.
Celebrating the Winter Solstice
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“The winter solstice has always been special to me as a barren darkness that gives birth to a verdant future beyond imagination, a time of pain and withdrawal that produces something joyfully inconceivable, like a monarch butterfly masterfully extracting itself from the confines of its cocoon, bursting forth into unexpected glory.”
– Gary Zukav
Read more at: https://quotesia.com/gary-zukav-quotes
Looking for something different for holiday dessert?
Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins – Check out more of Rogene’s recipes in her cookbooks which can be found on Espiratonal.com’s bookshelf in the gallery or on Amazon.com.
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This wonderful, slightly decadent cake is perfect for special occasions. It has become one of our favorites. Of course, this cake is gluten-free, but your guests will never know unless you tell them.
Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
Ingredients:
½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 apples, sliced thin — core removed, but I don’t peel mine
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cups agave nectar (or 1/3 cup sugar)
1 Tablespoon flaxseed meal dissolved in 3 Tablespoons hot water (or 1 egg)
1/3 cup molasses
1 ½ cup buckwheat flour
¾ teaspoon nutmeg
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup warm water
Directions:
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Put butter or margarine in round 9 inch cake pan and place in oven while preheating.
When butter or margarine is melted, remove from oven. Sprinkle walnuts and brown sugar over bottom of pan and arrange apple slices overlapping over top.
Mix together applesauce, agave nectar, flaxseed mixture and molasses.
Add flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking powder and soda to wet ingredients, mixing well. Add water and continue beating to incorporate into mixture.
Spread batter over apples. You may need to use a spatula to smooth the batter.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool for 10 to 15 minutes before removing from pan. To remove from pan place serving plate over cake pan and invert.
Serve warm.
Of course you may “guild the lily” with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.
Serves 8
For more of my gluten-free recipes check out The Gluten-Free Good Life and Have Yourself a Healthy Little Holiday, both available from The Espirational Bookshelf, or on Amazon.com
Rethinking Church
Feelings of isolation are causing problems for many during the global pandemic we are living through. For many, what has made this especially painful is the suspension of large, in-person gatherings in churches.
Yes, it is true that scripture tells us to gather together.
“19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” –—Matthew, 18:19-20 The Bible, King James Version
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“24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” —Hebrews 10:24-25 The Bible. King James Version
Humans need companionship, but we don’t necessarily need to come together in large groups in big buildings with a very polished paid speaker and professional music. Have you ever been to a church where when the service is over everyone just leaves? There might be a nod, smile or polite handshake but no real connection between people?
I believe that COVID-19 is a time to reconnect to ourselves, to the Spirit, and to begin making real connections with a few people. Instead of fighting to get back to what we see as “normal,” lets stop and get real. Is there more to life, God and church than we have been experiencing?
If you have been feeling lonely, isolated and depressed because your church is “closed,” have you tried to reach out to anyone? Have you called your small group leader, prayer ministry or even the person who usually sits next to you? Have you called the church office to see what kind of helping ministries may be going on and how you can get involved? Have you considered calling an older member to see how they are doing? Church buildings may be closed, but the true church never closes.
We have been given this time apart to dive deep into the Spirit which lives within us. Connecting with that spirit is an experience that cannot be put into words, but we must be alone and not distracted to connect in this way.
Does the busyness of the holiday season get you down? Does the busyness of church holiday programs, services and activities add to that? Does all that activity wear you down and make you just wish it would all be over? This is your chance to rethink the celebration of Christmas and the way we do church in general as well as at the holidays.
Christmas is not a one time a year event. It should not be something we dread or just want to be over. When we celebrate the Presence of the Christ within. We are celebrating Christmas in our daily lives.
The church is not the building, the number of people in attendance, the music or even a skilled speaker. The true church is the Spirit within each of us joining together in support and service. I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together.
espirational.com 