Sunday, 2-20-11 Dr. Neeko S Spaulding, Phd

(sent 12:30AM Sunday Halifax, San Juan and Santo Domingo times - 8:30PM Saturday PST)


Good Morning and Welcome to the YorkieBrigade Chapel on this, our fourth Sunday, February 20, 2011. This is a place where all are equally welcome; a place we can share our prayers and provide support and encouragement for each other.

Today, we have a very special guest speaker who will share his inspirational thoughts with you for today. He's a veteran of many personal trials and he's always landed on all four feet. Please welcome Dr. Neeko S. Spaulding, PhD*.

(applause applause applause) <-----relaxed, laid back chapel today

(Neeko steps to the microphone and Parishioners are re-seated)

Hello all :o)

First off (now that I made it to the pulpit without tripping), I would like to give gracious thanks to our Pawsome Chaplain, Gorgeous Mary-Margaret, for making our beautiful gathering possible.
Also humble thanks to everyone for giving Meee the honor of speaking in front of our wonderful family here today, at our packed Chapel :o)

I would like to start with the very profound poem,
Saint Theresa’s Prayer ~

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us. ~

I chose the topic "Everything Happens for a Reason in our Lives" because I'm a strong believer in the importance of trusting that our good God is always working behind the scenes on our behalf.
Indeed, at times that becomes very hard to follow. Even though we do not understand why things are happening the way they do at a particular moment, we have to remind ourselves that there is a Reason and we have to stay in faith.

Every Reason has a season in our Lives; some seasons are short, some are long and they feel like a gray winter but they all pass us by and when that Happens, we look back and realize the importance of each and every one. We realize the lessons we have learned and walk forward stronger and wiser.
Often we become irritated with the long, gray seasons and we feel that we are "stuck" and will never get out of the "rut".
God's time table is not in sync with our time table. That just means that God is preparing us for something grand. The magic of the long seasons is that the harder they are the bigger the reward.

There are times when we ask God for something to Happen in our lives and do not understand why our prayers are “not being heard”. God always hears our prayers but He is the one that knows our future and knows what’s best for us.
How many times have we asked God for something and later, down the road we looked back and said: “Thank God for not fulfilling that request; this is so much better than what I asked for”? Other times we look back and say: “Now I understand the Reason.”
With any adversity that we face, God gives us the opportunity to experience a greater peace, love and understanding.

Because of my very own experience with the Reason, I learned to just go with the flow.
When I was born, my future looked pretty gray. Today I look back and say: Thank You Lord for that gray winter season. Because of that Reason, I am here today, surrounded by so much Love, Pawsome Family and Friends!

Peace be with you and “May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.” Amen!

(applause applause ...some cheering.....more applause)

Thank you so much, Neeko. We can see why you are such a successful motivational speaker. You've definitely inspired us with your presentation today, and I hope you will accept our invitation to return whenever you like, even if it's just for coffee and donuts.

Which reminds me....refreshments are in the Great Hall today in order to accomodate all of our members and guests. Again, these are compliments of Sister Chiquita and her troop of Dancing Chihuahuas. However, they would be grateful for any contributions you might make of children's clothing and chew toys to their charity, The Dogwill Industries, to benefit Puppies without Parents. If you don't have any of the requested items with you, please feel free to drop them off at your local shelter anytime during the week.


Thank you again, to Dr. Neeko S Spaulding and his excellent staff, for the uplifting words this morning.

Bless us, Oh Lord, and help us to strive to live as St. Francis lived, and to remember to be as we wish others to be.

Amen. Go in peace.

Please remember to pick up your belongings from the cloakroom on your way out.


(PhD = *Pretty Happy Dog!)

Blessings.....

Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous