Diane to Gloria:

Would you be willing to ask God about not referring to other sources? I think it is an important question.

Gloria to God:

Dear God, Diane sent in a quotation from a wonderful book that she felt answered her question July 16 about giving and the giving not always being valued. She sent in the quotation before she had received Your answer, actually before Your answer had been written.

I personally wrote Diane that I thought it was better to keep other spiritual references out of Heavenletters. Emails to Heavenletters have mentioned many saints, living and past, many spiritual paths, and I just feel it's better not to refer to them here, that Heaven just isn't the place for it. I feel if this is let in, then there are other things that will have to be let in that I really might not feel good to. Am I being a gatekeeper?

This is not to put down anything. The particular book Diane referred to was a big part of my life for several years, and I honor it and am grateful to it. It was my closest contact to You before I knew You. But I also have to confess that as beautiful as the quotation was, and as full of truth as it was, it didn't feel to me that it was answering Diane's question. I was stunned, actually, that the quotation did not have the effect on me that it once would have.

On the other hand, God, I don't filter other stuff in Heaven. I bring up small things that this person or that person in my life said or did. And then I seem to think I have to screen spiritual references. Am I trying to control? Please help.

God:

Although nothing is really off the track for Heavenletters, and anything can be a departure point, Heaven is not a forum. It is not a discussion of spiritual practices or spiritual paths or spiritual philosophy. It is My input on human struggles and human and divine fulfillment.

I think all you can do, Gloria, is follow your instincts. You can't include something that doesn't feel right to you, even if you feel differently at another time or felt differently previously. You don't have to give equal time to everything or anything.

I understand you don't want Heaven to be in the position of sponsoring this book or that book. Let Us say that they are all wonderful, have great value, and leave it at that. A particular book or school of thought that is important to the furthering of someone's growth will appear to them one way or another. It doesn't have to appear here.

Diane would be the first person to tell you that some decisions you just have to make, and you do it the best you can.

Gloria:

When I read that quotation Diane sent in, and it didn't feel to me that it was an answer to her question, it hit home for me how You go directly to the heart of a person's question. Your answer is right now, not years ago, and your answer, although speaking to all of us, zeroes in on the person who asked the question. Sometimes you hit them (or me) right between the eyes, God, or that's how it seems to me.

God:

I pierce their heart.

Gloria:

You don't pull punches.

God:

I shed My light and love on the person who asks the question and on all who read it and all who don't.

Gloria:

You don't necessarily say what the person wants to hear.

God:

I do if they want to hear truth.

Gloria:

Dear God, another question for You on the operation of Heaven! This one I feel much less confident about and have from the beginning. And that question is about submissions to Heavenpetals. I've restricted it to Godwriters who took an Ask God workshop. I never felt right about that. I didn't take an Ask God workshop. There are other Godwriters who learned on their own, or dared to do it on their own. Tina, for example, is an avid Godwriter. I don't feel good to keep her Godwriting out of Heavenpetals, not at all, and yet… I think of things like down the road, when there are thousands and thousands of Heavenreaders, someone could send in something that they copied from somewhere or…

God:

You are on a tangent, Gloria. When there are thousands and thousands of Heavenreaders and Godwriters are commonplace, you may have to limit submissions because of sheer volume. In any case, each submission is included on its own merit. If Tina would like to submit, encourage her to submit. Are you happy to?

Gloria:

Yes!

God:

What else is on your mind?

Gloria:

I am feeling a sudden anxiety, and I don't know what it's from.

God:

Put your hand over your heart, and breathe Me in. Let that anxiety float away. Do you see it bobble away like a toy boat? It goes further until you can't see it any more. What do you see on the ocean now?

Gloria:

You, dear God.

God:

And I am all there is.

* * *

Joyce M. to Heavenletters:

That was a wonderful answer God gave to Marianne July 17. I really liked it a lot. Later on, when I thought about how God was telling her how her suffering came from thinking her son should be different or "more," it made me recognize how I also turn attention from God in my striving to get things done and my imagining that that will give me "more". So thank you for sharing Heavenletters!

God to Joyce M.:

Hello, My dear Joyce. It is possible that you seek, not to have more, but rather not to have less. Is it possible you imagine that you would be less if you didn't strive? I love you either way, dear one. You cannot lose My heart.

Tina to Heavenletters:

I loved being able to read the long letter from Marianne. Thank you, Gloria, for putting it in that way. I rode her words like a magic carpet and they took me straight to oneness of heart. You seem to do that with Lauren's letters too, and it makes a difference for me. I seem to be more primed for the whole communication when my heart is opened wide by the questioner's perspective and feelings.

I don't know if I am being the least bit clear. I do not mean to imply that God's answers are not the main course in HEAVEN. I just want you to know how much I enjoy being served an appetizer as a course in its own right. I know how you worry about editing and trying to keep the issues shorter. When it comes to HEAVEN, I'm glad to take the time for a full banquet every day.

Gloria to Tina:

I know what you mean, and yet, forgive me for the editing I do! Don't let anything stop you from writing to us!

Nancy L. to God:

Dear God, thank you for your answer July 16 about my heel. You thought I was divided in what I feel, and denying it. This is what I have concluded it's about:

We have spent a lot of money setting up a pottery studio for myself. Now I feel guilty when I am not using it. Recently I have been drawn to work in my garden. Being outside seems to be so soothing to me. Then I feel guilty because I wanted a clay studio for so long, and I think I should be inside working on pottery. Now I have decided to just enjoy! There will be times when I want to be outside, and I will not resist that urge. I am sure I will enjoy my studio more but I will not beat myself up if I do other things. I will decide sometime in September if I will have enough inventory to have a studio sale in November. I feel a relief just making that decision.

Now we have another question. My husband has had excema for years, but this year it is extremely bad. Could you tell us why, and is there something he can do about it?

Thank You, God, for all the inspiring messages and for all your Love.

God to Nancy L.:

Yes, your heel will be better.

It will be well for each person to ask his own questions. Your husband does not have to ask the question, but if he really wants an answer, he will. If you have your own question about how you feel about the excema and how it bothers you, that is different. Ask Me anything you want, dear Nancy, but it is better to allow adults to ask on their own behalf. And if you want to ask Me questions about My answer here, you are always welcome. Always welcome.