by: Raymond S. Usbal
I was eavesdropping on the other passengers’ conversation as we waited for more passengers to fill that small jitney at Market-Market Mall at around 10 o’clock PM giving me a glimpse of their lives. It’s no big deal, however, for these are no private but only casual conversations of salesperson’s experiences of the day; besides, there are no other things to catch my attention.
We love stories like Peter Pan, Cinderella, Snow White, and more. We love watching good movies and in every good movie is a good story.
Have you read the latest adventure of Harry Potter or the best-selling novel The DaVinci Code?
These stories entertain and even give us their own brand of reality.
(Could it be that a person’s search for meaning leads him to search even on novels? What if novels tell the truth, you know? Could it be that our search for truth leads us to search anywhere just to find it?)
I know of another story – the story of Jesus. It is the never ending story for after reading about the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, you are now faced with the decision of either receiving a brand-new life or continuing in your unredeemed old life leading to death.
(You may not like that statement but your attitude towards the truth doesn’t change the truth at all.)
Please allow me to quote Deuteronomy 30:19 saying “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live…” (ESV)
Buddha or Confucius never said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV) Only Jesus can say that!
Now face it, either Jesus was lying or Jesus was telling the truth. Either he is the only way (as he claimed he was) or he was only confused when he said those words.
In closing, consider these words: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12 ESV)
Man, these are heavy words today.
About The Author
Raymond S. Usbal is a Filipino Christian writer who wants to inspire others by sharing tidbits of wisdom and humor for practical living. He is, at the same time, a PHP/MySQL programmer. Be inspired more by visiting http://inspirational-pages.com!
You are free to use this article as long as you include the Author's information and website link.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Holy! Holy! Holy! (…holy?)
by: Raymond S. Usbal
Holy Cow! Can we just go back to basics now?
What does holy mean?
To be holy means to be perfect or nearly perfect, right? It means piety, righteousness, uprightness. It means not sinning.
Actually, that is not accurate.
To be holy means to be separate!
Separate from what?
Let's consider a soldier and a boxer for a moment. They are trained to be good at their field by adhering to a rigorous set of discipline. A soldier doesn't behave like an ordinary citizen. His hair is kept short that when battle comes, he will not bother combing his hair before taking up his gun. In the same light, a boxer is physically trained for fights and doesn't smoke cigarettes or take intoxicating drinks.
Why? In his pursuit of excellence, he needs to separate from the pack.
Achievers are disciplined people. It makes more sense now why there are a lot more losers than winners, eh?
Let's take another example. Consider your drinking glass, will you use it to hold thinner for cleaning your paint brush? Of course not! You want it to be absolutely clean. Why? You don't want contamination.
To be holy means to be separate from the common group of people that you may be used effectively of God.
Think again, would you like to live your life like everybody else barely making any difference at all?
In objection a friend of mine said, "If you'll be so holy all of the time, then, you will be a loner -- no one will be hanging out with you. You can't go out with the guys at the local Saturday Night hangout. You'll be real lonely, man?"
Please allow me to be serious on this for a moment.
The bible says that God will give you the desires of your heart. Don't pick the common interpretation here. What this means is that God will cleanse your heart of its sinful desires, put new desires, and will make you to desire to do His will.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 - ESV)
What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 6:7 - NLT)
Man, I really want you to take a fresh look on these things and don't let your preconceived philosophy go in the way again.
About The Author
Raymond S. Usbal is a Filipino Christian writer who wants to inspire others by sharing tidbits of wisdom and humor for practical living. He is, at the same time, a PHP/MySQL programmer. Be inspired more by visiting http://inspirational-pages.com!
You are free to use this article as long as you include the Author's information and website link.
Holy Cow! Can we just go back to basics now?
What does holy mean?
To be holy means to be perfect or nearly perfect, right? It means piety, righteousness, uprightness. It means not sinning.
Actually, that is not accurate.
To be holy means to be separate!
Separate from what?
Let's consider a soldier and a boxer for a moment. They are trained to be good at their field by adhering to a rigorous set of discipline. A soldier doesn't behave like an ordinary citizen. His hair is kept short that when battle comes, he will not bother combing his hair before taking up his gun. In the same light, a boxer is physically trained for fights and doesn't smoke cigarettes or take intoxicating drinks.
Why? In his pursuit of excellence, he needs to separate from the pack.
Achievers are disciplined people. It makes more sense now why there are a lot more losers than winners, eh?
Let's take another example. Consider your drinking glass, will you use it to hold thinner for cleaning your paint brush? Of course not! You want it to be absolutely clean. Why? You don't want contamination.
To be holy means to be separate from the common group of people that you may be used effectively of God.
Think again, would you like to live your life like everybody else barely making any difference at all?
In objection a friend of mine said, "If you'll be so holy all of the time, then, you will be a loner -- no one will be hanging out with you. You can't go out with the guys at the local Saturday Night hangout. You'll be real lonely, man?"
Please allow me to be serious on this for a moment.
The bible says that God will give you the desires of your heart. Don't pick the common interpretation here. What this means is that God will cleanse your heart of its sinful desires, put new desires, and will make you to desire to do His will.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 - ESV)
What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 6:7 - NLT)
Man, I really want you to take a fresh look on these things and don't let your preconceived philosophy go in the way again.
About The Author
Raymond S. Usbal is a Filipino Christian writer who wants to inspire others by sharing tidbits of wisdom and humor for practical living. He is, at the same time, a PHP/MySQL programmer. Be inspired more by visiting http://inspirational-pages.com!
You are free to use this article as long as you include the Author's information and website link.
Prayer Remembers the Truth
by: Amy Biddle
Prayer is what you do when you’re done struggling.
When you hear the word "prayer," you may have memories of being bored to sleep as you squirmed next to your parents in church. Or maybe you have images of pleading with a deity to grant your wishes while you wring your hands. Do you call it prayer when you stay up all night obsessing over your finances or the safety of a loved one?
None of these activities are prayer: These are all symptoms of wrestling with problems. Prayer is what you do when you’re done struggling with a problem, and you’re ready to call forth its solution. As Eric Butterworth says again and again in his book, The Universe is Calling, prayer is not about trying to get God to do something to you or give something to you. It’s about allowing God to do something through you.
When something troubles us, we often approach prayer with a sense of urgency and tension. It’s as if we’re an ocean wave facing a continent alone. The first thing we must do, then, is relax into God. We quit acting like a wave that thinks it can pound the shore all by itself. We give up the illusion of separateness and relax into knowing that we are part of the infinite ocean that God is. We envision ourselves drifting out to sea, knowing that the ocean has far more power to shape the shoreline than we have alone. If there’s anything for us to do, anywhere for us to go, the current will carry us there and give us the power to do it.
If you don’t like watery metaphors, Butterworth offers another useful image. See yourself as an archer, and the solution to your problem as a target. To send your arrow home, you don’t start hurling arrows willy-nilly at the bull’s eye. And you certainly don’t start throwing arrows where you don’t want them to go. Similarly, in effective prayer, you don’t spew out a lot of words that focus on the problem – at least, not if you expect to make your mark.
In archery, what you do is center yourself, take one arrow, draw your bow, and LET GO. You remain still and let the arrow do its work. When prayer is your bow, the arrow is your word. It may be a statement of truth, such as "I am grateful for divine wisdom that reveals to me my good," or "I am energized in mind and body through the healing activity of God in me." It may be a familiar scripture that focuses your attention on the target, your solution, such as "Be still and know that I AM God." Then, you let go and send your arrow home. Once you are centered, your word cannot fail to reach its mark.
And what is the mark, or the goal of prayer? Speaking these affirmations doesn’t make them true. They already are true. Whenever you are in distress, it is only because you have forgotten your essential oneness with all that is good and true in the universe. The only thing that ever needs correction is your perception, and your perception is exactly what gets healed in prayer. You’ll know it has happened when a sense of gratitude flutters through your spirit and across your face. And so it is. Amen!
About The Author
Amy Biddle has been a lifetime student and teacher of spiritual principles. Spiritual Healing Secrets is a fast-growing resource for anyone who wants to improve her or himself, or simply to learn practical spiritual principles. Let Amy help you improve your life! Discover the secrets at http://www.spiritual-healing-secrets.com
Prayer is what you do when you’re done struggling.
When you hear the word "prayer," you may have memories of being bored to sleep as you squirmed next to your parents in church. Or maybe you have images of pleading with a deity to grant your wishes while you wring your hands. Do you call it prayer when you stay up all night obsessing over your finances or the safety of a loved one?
None of these activities are prayer: These are all symptoms of wrestling with problems. Prayer is what you do when you’re done struggling with a problem, and you’re ready to call forth its solution. As Eric Butterworth says again and again in his book, The Universe is Calling, prayer is not about trying to get God to do something to you or give something to you. It’s about allowing God to do something through you.
When something troubles us, we often approach prayer with a sense of urgency and tension. It’s as if we’re an ocean wave facing a continent alone. The first thing we must do, then, is relax into God. We quit acting like a wave that thinks it can pound the shore all by itself. We give up the illusion of separateness and relax into knowing that we are part of the infinite ocean that God is. We envision ourselves drifting out to sea, knowing that the ocean has far more power to shape the shoreline than we have alone. If there’s anything for us to do, anywhere for us to go, the current will carry us there and give us the power to do it.
If you don’t like watery metaphors, Butterworth offers another useful image. See yourself as an archer, and the solution to your problem as a target. To send your arrow home, you don’t start hurling arrows willy-nilly at the bull’s eye. And you certainly don’t start throwing arrows where you don’t want them to go. Similarly, in effective prayer, you don’t spew out a lot of words that focus on the problem – at least, not if you expect to make your mark.
In archery, what you do is center yourself, take one arrow, draw your bow, and LET GO. You remain still and let the arrow do its work. When prayer is your bow, the arrow is your word. It may be a statement of truth, such as "I am grateful for divine wisdom that reveals to me my good," or "I am energized in mind and body through the healing activity of God in me." It may be a familiar scripture that focuses your attention on the target, your solution, such as "Be still and know that I AM God." Then, you let go and send your arrow home. Once you are centered, your word cannot fail to reach its mark.
And what is the mark, or the goal of prayer? Speaking these affirmations doesn’t make them true. They already are true. Whenever you are in distress, it is only because you have forgotten your essential oneness with all that is good and true in the universe. The only thing that ever needs correction is your perception, and your perception is exactly what gets healed in prayer. You’ll know it has happened when a sense of gratitude flutters through your spirit and across your face. And so it is. Amen!
About The Author
Amy Biddle has been a lifetime student and teacher of spiritual principles. Spiritual Healing Secrets is a fast-growing resource for anyone who wants to improve her or himself, or simply to learn practical spiritual principles. Let Amy help you improve your life! Discover the secrets at http://www.spiritual-healing-secrets.com
Release Him And He Can Release To You!
by: Robert Crawford III
A good father wants to provide for his children. He wants to insure that they are prosperous and their needs are met. This is what God wants to do for you and me. He wants to provide an over abundance the same way as your father here on earth should be providing for you, but at a higher level. God wants us to be happy, blessed and filled with his spirit and love. This is a spirit of peace and love for one another, but sometimes we have shackles or restraints on him that hinders and prevent him from blessing us. An example of this could be if you had fallen off on the edge of a cliff, but you were still hanging on waiting for help.
Let’s say the person that wants to help you had a rope and other tools needed to help you from your fall that would result in you getting seriously hurt or dying. But, the person has shackles on their feet, which slows or prevent their movement. They also have handcuffs on their hands which limits them from hoisting a rope to you. Now take a moment and visualize yourself on this cliff hanging on for your life. Now then, imagine that person with those shackles and handcuffs on them. Do you think this person could help you in your predicament? Surely not, nor can God. You have just put the same restraints on God when you do not believe him or lean on his word when you are in trouble, and please note we should be studying and leaning on his word before trouble comes. This way we know we are covered by his word. Learn to remove those shackles and handcuffs so that God can help you from your potential falls in life.
God loves us and wants the best for us and he is such a great father that he does not make us do anything, but allows us to choose. He allows us to choose our paths and he still helps us if we go astray from him. When we learn to use the keys of life that he has given us and take off the handcuffs and remove those shackles we then can see the many blessings coming upon us if we obey his word. We should understand when we release him he can release what is in his hands for us. This prosperity could be a blessing for better health, a prosperous marriage or more finances from our jobs and more importantly a better relationship with him.
So release him and he can release to you what you need and desire.
About The Author
Robert Crawford III
The author has several publications concerning education and how it affects today's students. He is currently a PhD student and enjoys writing information to incoming freshman up tp seniors and graduate students. He is currently an academic advisor and has experience in academia arena in assisting students with GPAs, time management, communication skills with professors, majors and minor selection. His career has made a tremendous impact on his teaching and counseling theories. He can be reached by e-mail at rcrawford@rr.nc.com.
B.S., UNC-Fayetteville State University
M.A., Liberty University
PhD Student Capella University
A good father wants to provide for his children. He wants to insure that they are prosperous and their needs are met. This is what God wants to do for you and me. He wants to provide an over abundance the same way as your father here on earth should be providing for you, but at a higher level. God wants us to be happy, blessed and filled with his spirit and love. This is a spirit of peace and love for one another, but sometimes we have shackles or restraints on him that hinders and prevent him from blessing us. An example of this could be if you had fallen off on the edge of a cliff, but you were still hanging on waiting for help.
Let’s say the person that wants to help you had a rope and other tools needed to help you from your fall that would result in you getting seriously hurt or dying. But, the person has shackles on their feet, which slows or prevent their movement. They also have handcuffs on their hands which limits them from hoisting a rope to you. Now take a moment and visualize yourself on this cliff hanging on for your life. Now then, imagine that person with those shackles and handcuffs on them. Do you think this person could help you in your predicament? Surely not, nor can God. You have just put the same restraints on God when you do not believe him or lean on his word when you are in trouble, and please note we should be studying and leaning on his word before trouble comes. This way we know we are covered by his word. Learn to remove those shackles and handcuffs so that God can help you from your potential falls in life.
God loves us and wants the best for us and he is such a great father that he does not make us do anything, but allows us to choose. He allows us to choose our paths and he still helps us if we go astray from him. When we learn to use the keys of life that he has given us and take off the handcuffs and remove those shackles we then can see the many blessings coming upon us if we obey his word. We should understand when we release him he can release what is in his hands for us. This prosperity could be a blessing for better health, a prosperous marriage or more finances from our jobs and more importantly a better relationship with him.
So release him and he can release to you what you need and desire.
About The Author
Robert Crawford III
The author has several publications concerning education and how it affects today's students. He is currently a PhD student and enjoys writing information to incoming freshman up tp seniors and graduate students. He is currently an academic advisor and has experience in academia arena in assisting students with GPAs, time management, communication skills with professors, majors and minor selection. His career has made a tremendous impact on his teaching and counseling theories. He can be reached by e-mail at rcrawford@rr.nc.com.
B.S., UNC-Fayetteville State University
M.A., Liberty University
PhD Student Capella University
Amazing Faith
by: Lori Radun, CEC
Several months ago, I sat at my computer and watched the MSN video clip that recapped Ashley Smith's encounter with Brian Nichols. As I watched in awe, I was amazed by her amazing faith in God. I asked myself, "If I were in that situation, would I have the courage to speak out about my faith?" Would I have enough love in my heart for this man who just killed 4 people?
I could really relate to this story because my church was just finishing up a "40 Days of Purpose" series, based on Rick Warren's book, The Purpose-Driven Life. One of the purposes of our life is to speak out about our faith in God to anyone who may need to hear it. Since I believe spirituality is such an important part of living a peaceful, balanced and fulfilling life, I am going to take on that challenge and speak to you.
When I think about why we need God in our life, several important reasons come to mind.
We need to understand our Creator. God made each one of us, and there are no two people alike in this world. If we think about it, that is pretty amazing. Many of us can sometimes be very hard on ourselves. We complain about the way we look. We feel we don't have enough intelligence, creativity, or athletic ability. But we need to remember that God didn't make a mistake when He made us. He made us exactly the way we are for a reason and He loves us completely. So why shouldn't we start loving ourselves?
We need God's grace. About a month ago, my three year old was going through a phase of fighting his naps. It was the third day in a row that he wouldn't take a nap. I was tired and needed a break, and he refused to stay in his bed. My anger was increasing every time I put him on his pillow, and he crawled back down. By the fourth time of him testing me, I broke. I angrily spanked his bottom as he fought to hit me back. I looked at him and meanly said, "You are staying in your bed." Exasperated, I shut his door and I was hit with overwhelming feelings of guilt. I knew I didn't handle the situation with love and I immediately cried out to God for forgiveness. I know that my God had grace and was forgiving. It took me much longer to forgive myself, but it was His grace that enabled me to hold my son in my arms and apologize to him. We all make mistakes at times. Isn't it awesome that through our relationship with Christ, we can learn to extend grace to ourselves and others?
God is the best friend you will ever find. When was the last time you were upset and picked up the phone to call your earthly best friend, only to find she or he was unavailable? When was the last time you called on God and He was unavailable? Never. God provides more than any human being could ever offer. He gives unconditional love, complete presence, total acceptance, perfect advice, and 24 hour availability. Wow! I don't know about you, but I wish I could be that kind of friend.
We need God's example to teach our youth. This world is filled with every kind of challenge imaginable. Maybe I don't remember growing up as well as I think I do, but it sure seems harder to raise children in this day and age. Violence in movies and video games, sexual molestation and promiscuity, guns in schools, increase in drug use, and broken homes are just some of the struggles we face. Christ is a model for us to live by and teach our children. It is through Him that we learn how to love one another and live a life of integrity. With God's help, we can be the example our youth need to grow and feel loved. By following His example, our children learn to love, to forgive, to experience joy, to trust, to be faithful, and to feel hope in times of need.
We need God's wisdom. I don't know about you, but sometimes I don't have all the answers to life's problems. I find myself faced with an overwhelming challenge. It is comforting to know that I can cry out to Christ for solutions. God's wisdom comes in so many forms: His Word (Bible), songs, listening to Him speak, "coincidental" conversations and answers that just fall into your lap. Life doesn't come with an instruction booklet - that's why we have Christ.
Life is joyful, but also difficult. We can't go through it alone. So I encourage you to reach out to family, friends, your community, and especially to God. Share your joy, your anger, and your tears. I guarantee you He will always be by your side.
About The Author
Lori Radun, CEC – certified life coach for moms. To receive her FREE newsletter and the special report “155 Things Moms Can Do to Raise Great Children, go to http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com
Several months ago, I sat at my computer and watched the MSN video clip that recapped Ashley Smith's encounter with Brian Nichols. As I watched in awe, I was amazed by her amazing faith in God. I asked myself, "If I were in that situation, would I have the courage to speak out about my faith?" Would I have enough love in my heart for this man who just killed 4 people?
I could really relate to this story because my church was just finishing up a "40 Days of Purpose" series, based on Rick Warren's book, The Purpose-Driven Life. One of the purposes of our life is to speak out about our faith in God to anyone who may need to hear it. Since I believe spirituality is such an important part of living a peaceful, balanced and fulfilling life, I am going to take on that challenge and speak to you.
When I think about why we need God in our life, several important reasons come to mind.
We need to understand our Creator. God made each one of us, and there are no two people alike in this world. If we think about it, that is pretty amazing. Many of us can sometimes be very hard on ourselves. We complain about the way we look. We feel we don't have enough intelligence, creativity, or athletic ability. But we need to remember that God didn't make a mistake when He made us. He made us exactly the way we are for a reason and He loves us completely. So why shouldn't we start loving ourselves?
We need God's grace. About a month ago, my three year old was going through a phase of fighting his naps. It was the third day in a row that he wouldn't take a nap. I was tired and needed a break, and he refused to stay in his bed. My anger was increasing every time I put him on his pillow, and he crawled back down. By the fourth time of him testing me, I broke. I angrily spanked his bottom as he fought to hit me back. I looked at him and meanly said, "You are staying in your bed." Exasperated, I shut his door and I was hit with overwhelming feelings of guilt. I knew I didn't handle the situation with love and I immediately cried out to God for forgiveness. I know that my God had grace and was forgiving. It took me much longer to forgive myself, but it was His grace that enabled me to hold my son in my arms and apologize to him. We all make mistakes at times. Isn't it awesome that through our relationship with Christ, we can learn to extend grace to ourselves and others?
God is the best friend you will ever find. When was the last time you were upset and picked up the phone to call your earthly best friend, only to find she or he was unavailable? When was the last time you called on God and He was unavailable? Never. God provides more than any human being could ever offer. He gives unconditional love, complete presence, total acceptance, perfect advice, and 24 hour availability. Wow! I don't know about you, but I wish I could be that kind of friend.
We need God's example to teach our youth. This world is filled with every kind of challenge imaginable. Maybe I don't remember growing up as well as I think I do, but it sure seems harder to raise children in this day and age. Violence in movies and video games, sexual molestation and promiscuity, guns in schools, increase in drug use, and broken homes are just some of the struggles we face. Christ is a model for us to live by and teach our children. It is through Him that we learn how to love one another and live a life of integrity. With God's help, we can be the example our youth need to grow and feel loved. By following His example, our children learn to love, to forgive, to experience joy, to trust, to be faithful, and to feel hope in times of need.
We need God's wisdom. I don't know about you, but sometimes I don't have all the answers to life's problems. I find myself faced with an overwhelming challenge. It is comforting to know that I can cry out to Christ for solutions. God's wisdom comes in so many forms: His Word (Bible), songs, listening to Him speak, "coincidental" conversations and answers that just fall into your lap. Life doesn't come with an instruction booklet - that's why we have Christ.
Life is joyful, but also difficult. We can't go through it alone. So I encourage you to reach out to family, friends, your community, and especially to God. Share your joy, your anger, and your tears. I guarantee you He will always be by your side.
About The Author
Lori Radun, CEC – certified life coach for moms. To receive her FREE newsletter and the special report “155 Things Moms Can Do to Raise Great Children, go to http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com
Why Would You Want To Be Enlightened?
by: Edwin Harkness Spina
Yesterday, a marketing guru asked me a question that left me speechless.
I had retained Bob to review the copy on my Mystic Warrior website from a sales perspective. He asked about reader reactions. As we talked, I told him how some readers felt compelled, while in the midst of my book, to put it down and meditate. In several cases, they described tingling sensations on the crown of their head and of receiving "downloads of energy and information." I told Bob they were "attuning with God" and how this is a step towards enlightenment.
That's when he asked me the question that left me speechless.
He asked, "Why would you want to be enlightened?"
Bob wasn't trying to be funny and he wasn't questioning whether this would benefit people. He asked me this to force me to think about the question in a more fundamental way. (You might say he was acting as a "devil's advocate.")
When I first heard his question, I couldn't respond. Going through my mind were the thoughts, "Isn't this what everybody wants?" and "Isn't this the reason for living?" But before I could even speak, I realized this wasn't true.
A belief as an idea that you accept as true-regardless of whether or not it really is. Many times a belief operates subconsciously and is never examined. This is what happened to me. My belief seemed self-evident and yet, it wasn't true for most people. Not everyone wants to become enlightened-at least not consciously.
So I pondered, "Why would you want to be enlightened?"
This is not a simple question to answer. "Why would you want to be rich?" is easy to answer.
"So I can buy a new BMW M5."
"So I can travel throughout Europe staying at the finest hotels."
"So I can help others less fortunate than me."
The reason it's easy to answer is that being rich only satisfies a physical, emotional or intellectual desire.
Striving for enlightenment is not a physical, emotional or intellectual quest. It arises out of a yearning from deep within the soul. It's beyond emotion or intellect. It's a craving to return to God, a desire to be completely and totally one with God.
Throughout the ages mystics have described this experience. Regardless of what formal religion the individual might practice, the experience almost always includes: a sense of being beyond time or space and connected to everything, joy, knowingness, paradoxicality, ineffability, and transiency with permanent changes.
Anyone who has ever approached such an experience never forgets it. Thereafter, nothing else compares. Consequently, you are no longer content merely with great food, awesome sex, mind-blowing entertainment, or extravagant material goods. You want enlightenment.
But the fact is, not everyone has this craving or is even aware it exists. So short of sitting in the presence of an enlightened master, how do you awaken it in people? Does it trivialize it to say it will improve your life, that you'll lead a happier, less stressful life? Does it cheapen it to point out that as you move towards enlightenment and eliminate the veils (beliefs) that hide the true nature of God, that you'll begin to develop your inner senses, often referred to as psychic abilities?
Do you mention all these benefits when someone asks, "Why would you want to be enlightened?"
Or do you simply say, "Because nothing else matters."
About The Author
Edwin Harkness Spina is the author of the award-winning spiritual thriller Mystic Warrior. Receive a free copy of Mystic Secrets Revealed, when you sign up for the Mystic Warrior Newsletter at http://www.MysticWarrior.us/newsletter.html
Yesterday, a marketing guru asked me a question that left me speechless.
I had retained Bob to review the copy on my Mystic Warrior website from a sales perspective. He asked about reader reactions. As we talked, I told him how some readers felt compelled, while in the midst of my book, to put it down and meditate. In several cases, they described tingling sensations on the crown of their head and of receiving "downloads of energy and information." I told Bob they were "attuning with God" and how this is a step towards enlightenment.
That's when he asked me the question that left me speechless.
He asked, "Why would you want to be enlightened?"
Bob wasn't trying to be funny and he wasn't questioning whether this would benefit people. He asked me this to force me to think about the question in a more fundamental way. (You might say he was acting as a "devil's advocate.")
When I first heard his question, I couldn't respond. Going through my mind were the thoughts, "Isn't this what everybody wants?" and "Isn't this the reason for living?" But before I could even speak, I realized this wasn't true.
A belief as an idea that you accept as true-regardless of whether or not it really is. Many times a belief operates subconsciously and is never examined. This is what happened to me. My belief seemed self-evident and yet, it wasn't true for most people. Not everyone wants to become enlightened-at least not consciously.
So I pondered, "Why would you want to be enlightened?"
This is not a simple question to answer. "Why would you want to be rich?" is easy to answer.
"So I can buy a new BMW M5."
"So I can travel throughout Europe staying at the finest hotels."
"So I can help others less fortunate than me."
The reason it's easy to answer is that being rich only satisfies a physical, emotional or intellectual desire.
Striving for enlightenment is not a physical, emotional or intellectual quest. It arises out of a yearning from deep within the soul. It's beyond emotion or intellect. It's a craving to return to God, a desire to be completely and totally one with God.
Throughout the ages mystics have described this experience. Regardless of what formal religion the individual might practice, the experience almost always includes: a sense of being beyond time or space and connected to everything, joy, knowingness, paradoxicality, ineffability, and transiency with permanent changes.
Anyone who has ever approached such an experience never forgets it. Thereafter, nothing else compares. Consequently, you are no longer content merely with great food, awesome sex, mind-blowing entertainment, or extravagant material goods. You want enlightenment.
But the fact is, not everyone has this craving or is even aware it exists. So short of sitting in the presence of an enlightened master, how do you awaken it in people? Does it trivialize it to say it will improve your life, that you'll lead a happier, less stressful life? Does it cheapen it to point out that as you move towards enlightenment and eliminate the veils (beliefs) that hide the true nature of God, that you'll begin to develop your inner senses, often referred to as psychic abilities?
Do you mention all these benefits when someone asks, "Why would you want to be enlightened?"
Or do you simply say, "Because nothing else matters."
About The Author
Edwin Harkness Spina is the author of the award-winning spiritual thriller Mystic Warrior. Receive a free copy of Mystic Secrets Revealed, when you sign up for the Mystic Warrior Newsletter at http://www.MysticWarrior.us/newsletter.html
The Blessing of the Lord Makes One Rich
by: Daniel N. Brown
Have you ever found yourself being super frustrated trying to do something and not getting anywhere? It seems no matter how hard you try it doesn't seem to work.
Wherever there is an anointing on something for you to do, there should be an "ease" about it. I don't mean it should be easy, but there should be a sense of "simpleness."
Here's a good example; a person may be in a job situation that they may not particularly care for. In fact, they may absolutely hate what they are doing and maybe even feel sick before they go into work. Maybe he or she is "settling for."
It is noble to do what you need to do, but you don't have to dread it. Many people are in a job or in a relationship where they have no joy, peace, or sense of ease. It could be that God did not instruct them to take that particular job or to be in that particular relationship.
So many people are sad and discontent and continue to live their lives in disappointment and frustration because they are not doing what God designed them to do. These people are like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Maybe they are pursuing a task or a career that was recommended by someone who was successful at it.
What is simple for one person may not be simple for another. How many times have you seen someone do with ease what someone else could not do at all? We are not all cut from the same mold.
Everyone has a purpose in life. Some of these purposes are the same, but many are not. As mature and responsible people, we must know what our strengths and weaknesses are. Most people will say they don't know what their strengths and weaknesses are, but I disagree.
Everyone knows what they are good at and what they are not good at. The reason many people are confused is, is that they equate their purpose with earning income. Success in life is not only about income, but enjoying and loving life.
If you find yourself being upset in your spirit with no joy or peace in some certain areas of your life, it could be that you are settling for less than what God wants for you. When God anoints something for you He adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). Instead, He gives you a sense of peaceful contentment.
He doesn't want you to "settle for." He wants you to be happy and enjoy your life. John 10:10 says, "Christ died that we might have life and have life more abundantly" and Jesus said, "Ask, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).
There's no reason to keep putting up with a dead end job or relationship. Seek God's ultimate will for your life. The devil would love to keep you thinking that what you have is all you're gonna get. Don't believe it! Seek God's anointing and do with ease what you couldn't do on your own. When His anointing is on something for you there is a flow that just seems to make everything work.
About The Author
Daniel N. Brown is an entrepreneur, teacher of biblical success principles, and the author of the popular ebook, "5 Biblical Keys to Your Abundance and Prosperity." Get his FREE report entitled, "How to Receive from God" when you sign up for his FREE weekly newsletter. http://www.SecretPlaceOnline.com
Have you ever found yourself being super frustrated trying to do something and not getting anywhere? It seems no matter how hard you try it doesn't seem to work.
Wherever there is an anointing on something for you to do, there should be an "ease" about it. I don't mean it should be easy, but there should be a sense of "simpleness."
Here's a good example; a person may be in a job situation that they may not particularly care for. In fact, they may absolutely hate what they are doing and maybe even feel sick before they go into work. Maybe he or she is "settling for."
It is noble to do what you need to do, but you don't have to dread it. Many people are in a job or in a relationship where they have no joy, peace, or sense of ease. It could be that God did not instruct them to take that particular job or to be in that particular relationship.
So many people are sad and discontent and continue to live their lives in disappointment and frustration because they are not doing what God designed them to do. These people are like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Maybe they are pursuing a task or a career that was recommended by someone who was successful at it.
What is simple for one person may not be simple for another. How many times have you seen someone do with ease what someone else could not do at all? We are not all cut from the same mold.
Everyone has a purpose in life. Some of these purposes are the same, but many are not. As mature and responsible people, we must know what our strengths and weaknesses are. Most people will say they don't know what their strengths and weaknesses are, but I disagree.
Everyone knows what they are good at and what they are not good at. The reason many people are confused is, is that they equate their purpose with earning income. Success in life is not only about income, but enjoying and loving life.
If you find yourself being upset in your spirit with no joy or peace in some certain areas of your life, it could be that you are settling for less than what God wants for you. When God anoints something for you He adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). Instead, He gives you a sense of peaceful contentment.
He doesn't want you to "settle for." He wants you to be happy and enjoy your life. John 10:10 says, "Christ died that we might have life and have life more abundantly" and Jesus said, "Ask, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).
There's no reason to keep putting up with a dead end job or relationship. Seek God's ultimate will for your life. The devil would love to keep you thinking that what you have is all you're gonna get. Don't believe it! Seek God's anointing and do with ease what you couldn't do on your own. When His anointing is on something for you there is a flow that just seems to make everything work.
About The Author
Daniel N. Brown is an entrepreneur, teacher of biblical success principles, and the author of the popular ebook, "5 Biblical Keys to Your Abundance and Prosperity." Get his FREE report entitled, "How to Receive from God" when you sign up for his FREE weekly newsletter. http://www.SecretPlaceOnline.com
Liberia's Woman President
by: Cory L. Kemp
Commander in Chief, the new ABC television drama chronicling the fictional presidency of the first woman President of the United States, has not presented us with a pretty picture of politics as usual in Washington, D.C. Suspecting that we are still seeing a less brutal version of what people will do to make their own political will known, I am at once startled by what we have been able to accomplish as a country under such internal adversity, and saddened by the amount of energy and resources wasted on undermining other people's success.
Not so in Liberia.
Ellen Johnson-Sirlenf is Liberia's new president, and the first woman president in African history. Although her opponent, former soccer star George Weah, claimed election fraud and demanded a rerun of the poll, the United Nations mission in Liberia saw the elections as free and fair, as did other international observers. With 97 percent of the vote in as of this past Sunday, Johnson-Sirlenf, a Harvard-educated economist, who served as finance minister and with the World Bank, Citibank and the United Nations, had earned 59.4 percent, Weah, 40.6 percent. The basis for her victory can be traced back to a campaign earlier in the year to get women to register to vote. Johnson-Sirlenf also encouraged women, on her travels through the country, to go to the polls to make history by having a hand in electing a woman leader. Apparently this made sense to a lot of women.
My guess is that this emergent political force had little awareness of its own strength until the right leader wove a thread among its members, gathering them into a unity with a purpose. But they do understand the basic needs of their country, and how they affect day-to-day living. Electricity, water, education and health care cannot be disguised as luxuries when managing a business or a family household. The people who elected Johnson-Sirlenf know she means to help them take action to make these improvements a reality in their own lives.
Liberia's challenges remind me that within many congregations there are a number of threads that can be woven among groups of people, ready to be gathered together by a leader who understands their strength before they realize it themselves. Paul knew this about the church at Corinth. Well-known for its struggles to become the congregation Paul envisioned with the Corinthian membership as they initially came together as a church, Paul continued to hold up that vision to them. Paul visited the congregation whenever he could, and when he couldn't, he wrote the letters that give us a glimpse of who they were and how they came to be. Writings on spiritual gifts and vocational ministries allude to discussions held on who was to do what job in the church structures, and how each effort strengthened the body called Christ's. The verses so often quoted about what love looks like, and doesn't look like, were born of human frustration over imaging God in daily living in extraordinarily harsh times and circumstances. In Paul's words are the threads gathering these emergent manifestations of God's grace together in God's name. Paul's affection for these people was clear. "I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge." (I Corinthians 1:4-5)
The Liberian people have survived civil war and economic hardship, and are now ready to manifest the vision Ellen Johnson-Sirlenf shares with them, a vision of physical security, political inclusion, and the basic conveniences of life we take for granted. This first gathering thread is only the first, and a potent beginning for a new Liberia.
About The Author
Cory L. Kemp
As an ordained minister I have worked in educational ministries in several congregations, as well as pastoring a congregation. My writing has focused on nonfiction essays and I have recently submitted a theological memoir for publication. My ministerial background and love of writing have combined to develop Creating Women Ministries, a website dedicated to encouraging theological dialogue, particularly among women, through workshops, journaling and personal spiritual development. My website can be found at http://www.creatingwomenministries.com and I can be reached by email at creatingwomen@irun.com. My blog is located at http://creatingwomenministries.blogspot.com
Commander in Chief, the new ABC television drama chronicling the fictional presidency of the first woman President of the United States, has not presented us with a pretty picture of politics as usual in Washington, D.C. Suspecting that we are still seeing a less brutal version of what people will do to make their own political will known, I am at once startled by what we have been able to accomplish as a country under such internal adversity, and saddened by the amount of energy and resources wasted on undermining other people's success.
Not so in Liberia.
Ellen Johnson-Sirlenf is Liberia's new president, and the first woman president in African history. Although her opponent, former soccer star George Weah, claimed election fraud and demanded a rerun of the poll, the United Nations mission in Liberia saw the elections as free and fair, as did other international observers. With 97 percent of the vote in as of this past Sunday, Johnson-Sirlenf, a Harvard-educated economist, who served as finance minister and with the World Bank, Citibank and the United Nations, had earned 59.4 percent, Weah, 40.6 percent. The basis for her victory can be traced back to a campaign earlier in the year to get women to register to vote. Johnson-Sirlenf also encouraged women, on her travels through the country, to go to the polls to make history by having a hand in electing a woman leader. Apparently this made sense to a lot of women.
My guess is that this emergent political force had little awareness of its own strength until the right leader wove a thread among its members, gathering them into a unity with a purpose. But they do understand the basic needs of their country, and how they affect day-to-day living. Electricity, water, education and health care cannot be disguised as luxuries when managing a business or a family household. The people who elected Johnson-Sirlenf know she means to help them take action to make these improvements a reality in their own lives.
Liberia's challenges remind me that within many congregations there are a number of threads that can be woven among groups of people, ready to be gathered together by a leader who understands their strength before they realize it themselves. Paul knew this about the church at Corinth. Well-known for its struggles to become the congregation Paul envisioned with the Corinthian membership as they initially came together as a church, Paul continued to hold up that vision to them. Paul visited the congregation whenever he could, and when he couldn't, he wrote the letters that give us a glimpse of who they were and how they came to be. Writings on spiritual gifts and vocational ministries allude to discussions held on who was to do what job in the church structures, and how each effort strengthened the body called Christ's. The verses so often quoted about what love looks like, and doesn't look like, were born of human frustration over imaging God in daily living in extraordinarily harsh times and circumstances. In Paul's words are the threads gathering these emergent manifestations of God's grace together in God's name. Paul's affection for these people was clear. "I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge." (I Corinthians 1:4-5)
The Liberian people have survived civil war and economic hardship, and are now ready to manifest the vision Ellen Johnson-Sirlenf shares with them, a vision of physical security, political inclusion, and the basic conveniences of life we take for granted. This first gathering thread is only the first, and a potent beginning for a new Liberia.
About The Author
Cory L. Kemp
As an ordained minister I have worked in educational ministries in several congregations, as well as pastoring a congregation. My writing has focused on nonfiction essays and I have recently submitted a theological memoir for publication. My ministerial background and love of writing have combined to develop Creating Women Ministries, a website dedicated to encouraging theological dialogue, particularly among women, through workshops, journaling and personal spiritual development. My website can be found at http://www.creatingwomenministries.com and I can be reached by email at creatingwomen@irun.com. My blog is located at http://creatingwomenministries.blogspot.com
Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon's Temple Revealed
by: Philip Gardiner
If you seek the material Temple of Solomon then you are reading the wrong article. If you instead seek the Inner Self and wish to understand the secret teachings of the ancients, then you are in the right place and time. For this tale I am about to tell is one learned from ancient sources. This is a truth revealed, a truth held sacred for many generations and clouded in the literal ramblings of biased criticism.
In our search for the Holy Grail [1] we discovered an ancient universal serpent cult. Known variously as Ophites, Adders and even Gnositics, these ancient peoples, from before the time of Christ, worshipped the serpent on many levels. We traced the origins of this cult right back through time and into ancient Sumeria where the traditions of it emerged as a symbol of the much discussed enlightenment experience. From Osiris and Isis to Abraham and Sarah, from Christ and Mary to Arthur and Guinevere - we discovered deep-rooted links to the serpent worship of wisdom.
You see, in all of these tales, we have the secret right before our eyes - that of balance. The fact is that our ancestors told us of the duality of our minds - when the first man was split to create Adam and Eve (meaning Female Serpent). This is not a literal tale. They claim quite simply that we are split personalities - that we constantly argue within ourselves and that this dual nature affects us on many levels. It is to the re-uniting of these dual natures that the ancient sought - joining Christ with Mary, Arthur with Guinevere, and all in the symbolic representation of the entwined serpents we see on the infamous Caduceus or the Indian Kundalini.
But, what does this tell us about the Temple of Solomon? This cannot be done in just a few words,[2] however, try to follow the reasoning of the dualities and we shall be half way there.
Solomon was a strong and wise King, but he was also blunt and over zealous - taxing his people to the point of breaking. He was so arrogant that he believed the whole world must know of his wisdom. That was until the hoopoe bird told him about the Queen of Sheba.
We discovered Sheba to be the "land of serpents" and so the Queen was no different to the Queen of Serpents known in Arthurian tales as Guinevere. In this respect then, the hoopoe bird, is the internal dialogue, letting the "male" dominated side of our minds know that there is also a "female" side and bringing them together. Once these two sides joined together the true Temple of the united self could be built.
Rid of arrogance, strong and wise, we stand in glory. But when Sheba left Solomon, the whole thing crumbled, as it did when Guinevere cheated on Arthur. The land became infertile and the people descended into the abyss. This is a warning to us all - that once we have achieved balance, we must strive to maintain it.
And so it appears, the teachings of the ancients and even the medieval writers of the Arthurian tales, were really working through a psychological process of inner balance and giving us this teaching in the only way they knew - analogy built around their own world view. These concepts also had to be hidden, for there were, and still are, those who hold power - be they religious or political - who do not and have never wanted man to be fully free. It will be these people who argue against this very interpretation.
But, can we be sure that there was no Temple?
According to Professor James Pritchard in his book, Solomon and Sheba (1974, p.35):
“.. the so-called cities of Megiddo, Gezer and Hazor, and Jerusalem itself were in reality more like villages.. Within were relatively small public buildings and poorly constructed dwellings with clay floors. The objects reveal a material culture, which, even by the standards of the ancient Near East, could not be judged sophisticated or luxurious. The ‘magnificence’ of the age of Solomon is parochial and decidedly lackluster, but the first book of Kings implies exactly the opposite.”
Again we find the author David Rohl in his book A Test of Time: The Bible from Myth to History (1995, p.174) claiming the same thing:
“when it comes to the Iron Age (which is purportedly the time of Solomon and his ally, Hiram of Tyre) there are no stone buildings…. How then did Solomon acquire building expertise from Phoenicia if the Phoenicians did not have the skill or resources to build stone structures for themselves.”
So, there was no Temple of Solomon and there is very little evidence that there was even a Solomon. We are left with only one solution: that the whole story - and many others like it - are symbolic. With new eyes, I now challenge each of us to take a new look at the paradoxes of the ancient world and see if we can now solve the puzzle. I also challenge all of us to seek true balance and build our own Temple.
Notes
1 The Serpent Grail by Philip Gardiner with Gary Osborn, Watkins, 2005
2 For a more in-depth view see Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon's Temple Revealed by Philip Gardiner, Radikal Books, 2005, UK.
About The Author
Philip Gardiner is the best selling author of The Shining Ones, The Serpent Grail and Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon's Temple Revealed. He gives lectures and tours through www.powerplaces.com and is a major presence on the internet.
If you seek the material Temple of Solomon then you are reading the wrong article. If you instead seek the Inner Self and wish to understand the secret teachings of the ancients, then you are in the right place and time. For this tale I am about to tell is one learned from ancient sources. This is a truth revealed, a truth held sacred for many generations and clouded in the literal ramblings of biased criticism.
In our search for the Holy Grail [1] we discovered an ancient universal serpent cult. Known variously as Ophites, Adders and even Gnositics, these ancient peoples, from before the time of Christ, worshipped the serpent on many levels. We traced the origins of this cult right back through time and into ancient Sumeria where the traditions of it emerged as a symbol of the much discussed enlightenment experience. From Osiris and Isis to Abraham and Sarah, from Christ and Mary to Arthur and Guinevere - we discovered deep-rooted links to the serpent worship of wisdom.
You see, in all of these tales, we have the secret right before our eyes - that of balance. The fact is that our ancestors told us of the duality of our minds - when the first man was split to create Adam and Eve (meaning Female Serpent). This is not a literal tale. They claim quite simply that we are split personalities - that we constantly argue within ourselves and that this dual nature affects us on many levels. It is to the re-uniting of these dual natures that the ancient sought - joining Christ with Mary, Arthur with Guinevere, and all in the symbolic representation of the entwined serpents we see on the infamous Caduceus or the Indian Kundalini.
But, what does this tell us about the Temple of Solomon? This cannot be done in just a few words,[2] however, try to follow the reasoning of the dualities and we shall be half way there.
Solomon was a strong and wise King, but he was also blunt and over zealous - taxing his people to the point of breaking. He was so arrogant that he believed the whole world must know of his wisdom. That was until the hoopoe bird told him about the Queen of Sheba.
We discovered Sheba to be the "land of serpents" and so the Queen was no different to the Queen of Serpents known in Arthurian tales as Guinevere. In this respect then, the hoopoe bird, is the internal dialogue, letting the "male" dominated side of our minds know that there is also a "female" side and bringing them together. Once these two sides joined together the true Temple of the united self could be built.
Rid of arrogance, strong and wise, we stand in glory. But when Sheba left Solomon, the whole thing crumbled, as it did when Guinevere cheated on Arthur. The land became infertile and the people descended into the abyss. This is a warning to us all - that once we have achieved balance, we must strive to maintain it.
And so it appears, the teachings of the ancients and even the medieval writers of the Arthurian tales, were really working through a psychological process of inner balance and giving us this teaching in the only way they knew - analogy built around their own world view. These concepts also had to be hidden, for there were, and still are, those who hold power - be they religious or political - who do not and have never wanted man to be fully free. It will be these people who argue against this very interpretation.
But, can we be sure that there was no Temple?
According to Professor James Pritchard in his book, Solomon and Sheba (1974, p.35):
“.. the so-called cities of Megiddo, Gezer and Hazor, and Jerusalem itself were in reality more like villages.. Within were relatively small public buildings and poorly constructed dwellings with clay floors. The objects reveal a material culture, which, even by the standards of the ancient Near East, could not be judged sophisticated or luxurious. The ‘magnificence’ of the age of Solomon is parochial and decidedly lackluster, but the first book of Kings implies exactly the opposite.”
Again we find the author David Rohl in his book A Test of Time: The Bible from Myth to History (1995, p.174) claiming the same thing:
“when it comes to the Iron Age (which is purportedly the time of Solomon and his ally, Hiram of Tyre) there are no stone buildings…. How then did Solomon acquire building expertise from Phoenicia if the Phoenicians did not have the skill or resources to build stone structures for themselves.”
So, there was no Temple of Solomon and there is very little evidence that there was even a Solomon. We are left with only one solution: that the whole story - and many others like it - are symbolic. With new eyes, I now challenge each of us to take a new look at the paradoxes of the ancient world and see if we can now solve the puzzle. I also challenge all of us to seek true balance and build our own Temple.
Notes
1 The Serpent Grail by Philip Gardiner with Gary Osborn, Watkins, 2005
2 For a more in-depth view see Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon's Temple Revealed by Philip Gardiner, Radikal Books, 2005, UK.
About The Author
Philip Gardiner is the best selling author of The Shining Ones, The Serpent Grail and Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon's Temple Revealed. He gives lectures and tours through www.powerplaces.com and is a major presence on the internet.
The Bride of Christ
by: Murphy Toerner
Every person longs to be noticed, pursued, appreciated, chosen and special. Every person longs to know that they are valuable, attractive, and worth being "known" just for who they are and not for what they can "do".
God designed us with these longings and desires. It is no mistake that we desire to feel loved. It is not weird to want to feel wanted. It is God's devine design. It is a right and good thing. God designed several means to accomplish these things. In marriage, we ahve the relationship between a husband and wife. We ahve the relationships between a mother and father and their children. In the church, we have the relationships among the community of saints (the family of God). The Bible also describes that the church makes up the body of Christ. God will use other types of relationships in our lives ... those between: teachers and students; friend and friend; boss and worker.
We know that all of these relationsihips are strategic. One way we can discern this is by the degree of effort that goes into the success of each category of relationship. Another way to weigh the value of a relationship is the degree that the relationship is attacked by the enemy ... satan. Since we know statistically that over 50% of all marriages in the United States fail, we can conclude that marriage is a primary object of attack and therefore, it must be a very important relationship in our spiritual lives.
One reason why marriage is considered holy and sacrimental is because it is a physical expression of a spiritual reality. It is also considered to be a means by which we experience the grace of God. God speaks consistently in the Old Testament that "His people" represent His bride and He is their Bridegroom. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus is described as the Bridegroom and the church is His Bride.
Today, as the living Bride of Christ, are we ready for our Bridegroom to return? I believer our choices, our everyday moment by moment choices, reveal our level of readiness. Our choices and our heart attitudes show much about where we actually are in our spiritual journey with the Lord. Are you wearing your garment of fine linen (which is symbolic of purity)? Is your garment presentable? Is your farment soiled?
By asking these questions, I am not asserting that we should pretend to be "perfect". If you are walking around pretending to be a perfect Christian, I fear that you are being pulled into a common deception ... you are living more as a "Stepford Christian" than an authentic, born-again Christian. So, I am not talking about just external behaviors. I am talking about the condition of your heart. Are you eagerly waiting for the return of the Bridegroom? Are you sober and alert while you wait? Just think about the devotion of your "Bridegroom". Think about the following:
* His love is unending
* His commitment is unwavering and true
* His character is impeccable
* His wisdom is untainted and sound
* His ways are tender, right and responsive
* His motives are pure
* His heart is warm and full of love and affection
* His affection is unrivaled
I encourage you to live your life in a way that is worthy of your calling. You are the Bride of Christ. Make choices ... live your life in such a way that reflects this high calling.
For more articles by this author, check out: www.murphytoerner.com
About The Author
Murphy Toerner is a Christian Mental Health Counselor. She has been in practice for over 13 years. She is a retreat speaker and writer. She has been married for 25 years and has two grown sons.
For more information: www.murphytoerner.com
Every person longs to be noticed, pursued, appreciated, chosen and special. Every person longs to know that they are valuable, attractive, and worth being "known" just for who they are and not for what they can "do".
God designed us with these longings and desires. It is no mistake that we desire to feel loved. It is not weird to want to feel wanted. It is God's devine design. It is a right and good thing. God designed several means to accomplish these things. In marriage, we ahve the relationship between a husband and wife. We ahve the relationships between a mother and father and their children. In the church, we have the relationships among the community of saints (the family of God). The Bible also describes that the church makes up the body of Christ. God will use other types of relationships in our lives ... those between: teachers and students; friend and friend; boss and worker.
We know that all of these relationsihips are strategic. One way we can discern this is by the degree of effort that goes into the success of each category of relationship. Another way to weigh the value of a relationship is the degree that the relationship is attacked by the enemy ... satan. Since we know statistically that over 50% of all marriages in the United States fail, we can conclude that marriage is a primary object of attack and therefore, it must be a very important relationship in our spiritual lives.
One reason why marriage is considered holy and sacrimental is because it is a physical expression of a spiritual reality. It is also considered to be a means by which we experience the grace of God. God speaks consistently in the Old Testament that "His people" represent His bride and He is their Bridegroom. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus is described as the Bridegroom and the church is His Bride.
Today, as the living Bride of Christ, are we ready for our Bridegroom to return? I believer our choices, our everyday moment by moment choices, reveal our level of readiness. Our choices and our heart attitudes show much about where we actually are in our spiritual journey with the Lord. Are you wearing your garment of fine linen (which is symbolic of purity)? Is your garment presentable? Is your farment soiled?
By asking these questions, I am not asserting that we should pretend to be "perfect". If you are walking around pretending to be a perfect Christian, I fear that you are being pulled into a common deception ... you are living more as a "Stepford Christian" than an authentic, born-again Christian. So, I am not talking about just external behaviors. I am talking about the condition of your heart. Are you eagerly waiting for the return of the Bridegroom? Are you sober and alert while you wait? Just think about the devotion of your "Bridegroom". Think about the following:
* His love is unending
* His commitment is unwavering and true
* His character is impeccable
* His wisdom is untainted and sound
* His ways are tender, right and responsive
* His motives are pure
* His heart is warm and full of love and affection
* His affection is unrivaled
I encourage you to live your life in a way that is worthy of your calling. You are the Bride of Christ. Make choices ... live your life in such a way that reflects this high calling.
For more articles by this author, check out: www.murphytoerner.com
About The Author
Murphy Toerner is a Christian Mental Health Counselor. She has been in practice for over 13 years. She is a retreat speaker and writer. She has been married for 25 years and has two grown sons.
For more information: www.murphytoerner.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)