Barbara Stevens Ministries

The Stuff of Stars - October 2, 2022 - URC Reflection - In the beginning, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And the light shone amid the darkness, and it was good, the dark and the light, the cold and the warm, the wet and the dry, the sharp and the dull. All good.
Without light, we would not be here. The stars made us. They also made everything else. Perhaps, then, it’s true that we—all existence—are one thing. Perhaps the sacred does live within us all.

https://mailchi.mp/874eb47935d0/stuff-of-stars-october-2-2022-5887502?fbclid=IwAR3vH2ibrF3BFjOjdPi7npii3iRFrrLuzs63qjCMsPrOvZRB_gLnSounDso

No one can win every time.
How we face that reality says a lot about who we are and what we value. If we value gold and power over everything else, then one day, we will sacrifice our own souls for the prize.
If, on the other hand, we value love, then we live for relationship, for community, for faith, for compassion. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to get that job we apply for or win the race, but we know that if we lose, there will be other opportunities. Failing does not make us a failure, nor does it unmake us. That’s because, with love, we know we are not alone. With love, we can survive setbacks. Perhaps that is really what it means to win.
https://mailchi.mp/50e45f8af299/winning-losing-september-4-2022-5886706?fbclid=IwAR3b90GKFfQ8ZpUUSTfENYWwkUYD0ewbbJgM6f_Rhx9awgnjb8oNskm4clk

Creating Ourselves - June 26, 2022 - URC Reflection - It can be hard to find a balance between arrogance and subservience. Shame breeds both tendencies. Only when we heal that embarrassing wound do we find a patient humility that allows us to make true choices in life. We don't have to pretend to be perfect, nor need we accept the blows of life with resignation. We can both command respect and offer it. By reaching out for connection, beauty, and wholeness, we can get our souls back.https://mailchi.mp/a98eaf738950/creating-ourselves-june-26-2022-5851634?fbclid=IwAR3meMdkxZnO9Snv8zUHGma4fHqyMDNZK-cn9I7COmgSGkk3yoG51s9mi7M