Dear Readers,
For those who haven't seen it, here is the story of BY THE HAT:
One amazing farmer at our local Farmer's Market had me spellbound.
He had a blanket on the ground, filled with wonderful vegetables, some in baskets, some just in piles.
I held up a giant zucchini, and I asked him how much.
The man smiled and said, "It's by the hat. It's the hat method."
I didn't know what he was talking about.
He pointed to a big old farmer's type hat, filled with dollar bills, that sat on the blanket. "You just put in what feels right to you," he said.
"Give me an idea," I said.
"Oh, no," he said, "then it wouldn't be by the hat."
He truly offered his vegetables for what people had in their hearts to pay. He was not attached. He really wasn't. He didn't even stay around. And he was so generous with the sweep of his hand that I had such a different feeling. I felt that I had been given a great gift, and, with all my heart, I wanted to pay him enough. It felt like joy to receive, and joy to give. He helped me to feel that these vegetables were the fruits of God and he was simply the deliverer.
It was not that he did not have the intention of being paid. He was there to be rewarded for his labors. The vegetables weren't for free. Only he wasn't dictating the price. He truly let go.
Heaven Ministry wants to emulate that beautiful farmer.
Help yourselves to Heavenletters. And the hat is around here somewhere.
Many blessings,
Gloria
Heaven Ministry
I was so happy to find Doug Philips at the Farmer's Market the other morning. Lauren took pictures of him, his vegetables, and his hat, and a couple shots with me and Doug. I'm so glad it's fine with him if we put his picture on Heaven's web site. I hope we got some good ones.
I learned more about this incredible man.
He loves to grow things. He reads a lot and writes poetry.
I asked him where he got the idea of By the Hat.
"From a dream," he said.
Wow, my heart went.
There was a tree stump on the grounds right near the Farmer's Market, and it was he who had planted flowers around it, making it so beautiful. That idea came to him in a dream as well.
Can you tell how wonderful it feels to be in this man's presence?
God bless us all.
Gloria
Beloved Readers, Beloved Children God,
It is a pleasure to do Godwriting™ and send out Heavenletters™ to everyone who wants them. For those of you who also Godwrite™ you really know what it is to receive God's fresh love and insights for yourself and how joyful it is to share what God says with others. Multiply that joy by the number of subscribers, and you know I am really in Heaven! I am so grateful to God for somehow amazingly incredibly giving me this opportunity to type down His words and send them out.
The goal of Heavenletters is to reach as many souls as possible as quickly as possible in order to heighten the consciousness of the individual and therefore the world.
I am deeply respectful and appreciative of all who contribute. Many have contributed far more than what the structured fee for Heavenletters ever was — and far more frequently. Some readers have contributed with noteworthy service to Heavenletters, and I know some of you have contributed beyond your means. I do not know how to thank you enough.
You may have recently noticed the out and out request for donations at the bottom of Heavenletters. I would like to tell you what prompted this.
I recently received a few comments from various sources that took me aback. The gist was that work for God should be free, and, furthermore, that Heaven's daring to ask for any monetary support, even the $25 for a personal question, was contrary to God's Will. "What is the world coming to that even God has to be paid for? And isn't the energy that readers and Godwriters generate a good enough return?"
At first, this freaked me out!
After a little thought, I am happy to say that I feel grateful to the people who made these comments. I needed to sit up and take a look, and they woke me up and made me do it. I think it would be accurate and honest for me to say that these objectors were messengers from God, and that their comments were necessary to Heaven's well-being. Isn't this a good example of what seems to be negative really being positive?
I think I had not been clear and was giving the wrong impression.
To clarify: By the hat means by the heart, not free.
Half of Heaven readers have left the financial support of Heavenletters to others.
Not until we become a different society (such as the one Caryl B. mentions) will any store, internet server, domain host, telephone company, utility company, service station, auto mechanic, attorney, post office etc. say to Heaven Ministry: "Oh, you're working for God. Never mind, it's free for you."
Heaven Ministry has bills to pay. No one here is independently wealthy. And Heaven Ministry has plenty of unmet needs. Heavenletters depends upon your commitment, respect, and generosity.
Send a laptop, trade a service, mail checks to Heaven Ministry, P. O. Box 16, Fairfield, IA, or use PayPal. The account to use is is lauren@accoutrements.net Enough said. And thanks.
And, as always, we love it when you share your thoughts and we can put the gems from you in Heaven News.
Many blessings,
Gloria
On behalf of the Godwriting™ International Society of Heaven Ministries