Rev Martina Schmidt's Blog

The Fire Starter Sessions Have you heard of this book?  Have you been blessed enough to have even seen Danielle LaPorte on video? Well, I was introduced to her just yesterday by one of my dearest friends and already she has lit a fire in my heart, which I shared with my husband this morning.  We are both on FIRE inside again- for life, for change, for expansion into what could be. "Strengthen your Strengths not your weaknesses" she says.  "Your strengths are the things that strengthen you and your weaknesses are the things that weaken you"...... Those things that make you feel alive, joy, etc.- those are what you want to put your focus and attention on expanding- not on the things that drain you, bore you or feel like a burden. Hmmm, what an awesome concept!  I was taught, like most people I know, to be well-rounded.  To work on your weaknesses and put time, effort and energy into making them stronger skills.  Which, like most people, I never enjo...

I recently recorded and watched one of those yearly PBS specials with Wayne Dyer.  (A"must record" so you can fast forward through the every 10 min. sales pitches)  There was a moment for me, as there is every time I watch him, where I was struck by the message I needed to hear. This program, Wishes Fulfilled, featured Wayne talking again about the fundamentals of creating what you want in life (nothing new for me there so........... fast forward) and he spoke about a woman named Anita who had a powerful near death experience and had come to share the wisdom she had gained from it. Hold on a minute- PUT DOWN THE REMOTE!  Bells ringing, alert mind and spine tingling, I began to concentrate on the words she spoke.  Here is what she said that literally sent me into tears. Anita, had multi-system organ failure and was dying in a coma (why I don't know, as my ears weren't paying full attention just yet, oops).  While she was in this coma, she was able to hea...

January was a beautiful month for me.  I had decided to take a "social hiatus" from outside activities and social events for the whole month.  This meant no outings with friends, attending of classes, or hosting of events on my part- simply just doing my work and being with myself and my family in my down time.  What can I say?  It was absolutely wonderful..... and I want more of it, more of me. Because it was Feb. 2, and my month break was over, I invited a soul sister over to do collaging. We sat together cutting and pasting our soul collage cards, enjoying the connection and powerful images we were both drawn to.  It was so satisfying for me and....... peaceful. We talked, as women do, of all those we knew of and the classes and courses out there in the world of spirituality.  We talked about new books and new travels she was venturing into.  All of it perfect for her and fun to listen to for me.  But inside a feeling, a knowing was bre...

I have been waiting for the year 2012 for more years than I can remember.  This long awaited time of prophecy and world changes has been a motivator for me in many ways. I cannot profess to know (and I think no one truly knows) what this time will bring for our planet and our spiritual consciousness.  But I do know what I long for and what my prayers are filled with- PEACE and the REMEMBERING OF OUR DIVINE NATURE. The fact is, even with all the mayan prophecy hype, the end times stories that fill the internet and many churches across our nation- we cannot know what is to come.  But, we can take advantage of the momentum of change that permeates the consciousness of so many, and use it to our advantage.  We can live BIG and live HAPPY.  We can Give our Full SELF to the world. I have decided to live with the greatest integrity I can this year- to live like I was dying- as the famous country song proclaims.   I will make each day matter. ...

I recently purchased a new exercise video series due to so many recommendations by some  skinny bitches  friends of mine.  It's called Zumba, and yeah I know, it's been out in the world market a long time now. My body, however,  was just recently shaken silly  introduced to it. Holy smokes and hell fire- it's hard!  "It's so fun! You'll love it!" they all said.  Define fun please. I should have asked. If watching yourself and your sagging breasts bounce around like your ass has been disjointed and you're trying to seduce the tv- then yes, it's fun.  My arrogance, oh my old smart ass self, said no problemo when I bought it.  I used to be a dancer, this is gonna be easy peasy. Popped it in and find myself heaving and panting with sweat stinging my eyes and that was only after watching the "how to" beginners tape.  Shit. After flushing my stuck up self down the toilet, I looked in the mirror and said, "Girl where did your youth...

I took this self portrait a few days ago.  The necklace, which reads "Courage to be ME" was something I made for myself years ago.  On the other side of it is a picture of Calamity Jane, cowgirl boots and her gun included.  Some days, I just need to wear it.  Life has been messy and challenging lately, things are changing all around me and inside of me.  Don't get me wrong my love, I'm up for the challenge, as long as I've got my cowgirl boots and gun at my side (grinning). Really though, joking aside, it's my courage that I find to be my greatest asset in life.  The courage to keep getting up, keep telling the truth, and even when I'm tired to keep asking for more.  It's how I'm made and I trust the one who put it inside of me to teach me how to use it in the best way possible.  So, courage has to be challenged to grow and fear has to be stared down in the face with a bring it on attitude in my world. So let the changes come- let the wor...