Religion and Spirituality

How Beautiful Can Less Be

Susan Eoff — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:11:37 +0000

http://waltzinghorses.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-beautiful-can-less-be.html

One of the many privileges of my time in India has been the freedom to stay connected to the process--interrupted only by the essentials of living. Sitting, observing, and listening to the daily process at the ashram. Gurudev isn't on a world tour giving lectures, creating talk shows, dealing with publicists. He is patiently dealing with all of our mundane questions, requests, and desires--giving, giving, and giving. There is no feeding the ego, enhancing an elaborate life style, or snubbing of the "less desirable." I asked him about this and he replied that it was a blessing/grace from the Divine Genealogy--pointing to the picture that hangs over his reclining spot.

As I learn about and unveil the underlying tapestry of Absolute Love, I start to see how the more giving, humble, and selfless one becomes the more light is allowed in. When one is living with attachments, fear, and desires, there is always a condition or motive for an action--spoken or unspoken. Yet another life lesson to observe, sense, and ponder while sitting at the feet of a True Guru. If one is living simply, there is no desire to have and accumulate. People bring him the latest gadgets and more, but he doesn't possess an attachment to them. A willingness to live in a cement room, sit in the freezing cold/blazing heat, and listen to all of our collective nonsense wouldn't be on many people's list of work-living condition goals.

Stumbling Blocks from Rachelle's book, "The Path to God", Stubbing our toes along the WAY!

Rachelle Van Ryssen's Moving Everyday Mountains — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:54:29 +0000

Stumbling Blocks

I have yet to meet a person who hasn’t stumbled at some point in their life, at times it is through no fault of their own, yet flat on their face is where they’ve landed.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many stumbling blocks that I have encountered in my years of searching for my place in God’s plan. I have stumbled so many times along the path that I sometimes wondered if I was ever going to land with the right end up! Just when it seems that I am starting to get it, bam! Everything changes, everything except and thankfully, God.

One of the first things that I have surmised is that God is always there to aid us when we call out to Him. God is not forceful; He always waits for an invitation there. We don’t have to find God, once you have received Him, He doesn’t leave you. He is always with in you.

He doesn’t always give us the answer that we are looking or hoping for. However if you just grasp on, He has a plan that will far exceed anything that we can hope for.

As a Christian: wife, mother, friend, speaker, author, and person with Multiple Sclerosis, I am faced with many stumbling blocks. I have often approached individuals for their reasons for not being a Christian and so this curiosity has become one of the premises for this book, the stumbling blocks to and through Christianity.

I have asked them, what is it about Christianity that has kept them from becoming a Christian? The answers are often very well conceived and thoughtful. As of late one of the points of view is; look what is occurring within the Church, and I must say my knee jerk reaction is to distance myself from that topic all together. However that would be the wrong response.

Our church history has had many negative events through the years. When we look at how Christian’s treat one another it isn’t hard to see a non-Christian’s point. Catholic’s and Protestants have had a long arduous and at times volatile relationship to say the least; the name Protestant is in itself a response to the direct opposition to the Catholic religion.

The reformation was just one example of a turbulent church history.

Nevertheless we must remember that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. The Church is so much more than religion and as a church body we are the sum of our collective parts. True Christianity is not about denominations, it is all about following Jesus! Even if we are against some of teachings in each other’s denominations we must continue to pray vigilantly for our Christian family and non-Christian family. If we separate the members of the church body we will not be able to stand.

In this book it is my Hope that we can go beyond religion into the truth of Jesus Christ. We must make following Him our priority above follow the traditions of man

On the lighter side; I heard a little story that made me think about the differences in the church. It goes like this.

So that is the difference!

A little boy was walking along side the river bank when he spotted a little Baptist girl. He ran over to her and asked her if she would like to play, so they ran along the river bank together skipping stones and spinning and having a great time when the little Baptist girl said, “Let’s go to the other side.” The little boy said. “Ok but mom will be angry if I get my clothes wet.” So the little Baptist girl suggested they take their clothes off and carry them across the river so as to keep them dry. So they folded their clothes and carried them across the river on their heads.

When they got to other side they danced around in the sunlight until they dried off, at which point the little boy looked at the little Baptist girl standing there in the buff and said; “Now I see what the difference is between Presbyterians and Baptists is!

Oh to be as innocent as to think the differences in the Christian church are only skin deep. The sad truth is that Christian’s judging other Christian’s is a major deterrent for people who aren’t Christian’s. Worse yet we judge people from other religions. We need to be an example of acceptance and love.

To paraphrase my Minister, Rev. Ian Shaw, when he is confronted with the dark history, or differences in the Christian Church, he invites them to name an organization that hasn’t had its rough patches and still does as much good in the world as the Christian church does.

Christians are required by God to feed the hungry, help the homeless, and rally around people in need no matter what their religious affiliation is. The Christian body follows the head in Christ Jesus who taught us to turn the other cheek and to love one another.

1 Corinthians 10:31 – 33

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Be blessed my friends and always be a blessing to others! Love your sister Rachelle

http://rachellevanryssen.ca

Be a light!

Rachelle Van Ryssen's Moving Everyday Mountains — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:45:03 +0000

I am not a morning person! I never have been, I often do my devotionals at night. However since I started writing a devotional I have taken up a morning devotional and then I write.

Unless I drink several cups of coffee in the morning, I have a lot of trouble getting going. I really have a hard time waking up on winter mornings when it is still dark and cold outside.

My husband, John, is a morning person, he is wide awake, witty, and energetic! YUCK! He can’t wait to get his day rolling. Fortunately for me, he understands my dislike for the morning, so he prepares my first cup of coffee to get me going.

The problem for me is that the rest of the world gets going in the morning! There are kids to get ready for school; breakfasts, and lunches to be made and a whole day that has planned its self and it would proceed without me If I didn’t get up and going. A lot of necessary things would not get done! Sometimes that is the case.

By the time my children are off to school, my husband is gone to work, the coffee has started to kick in, I start to wake up. With the caffeine coursing through my veins, the light of the morning starts to shine and I can see what my husband and so many others see in the morning.

It is a time of quiet reflection a time to talk with God and see the morning light.

Jesus wants us to be that light in the darkness, He wants us to shine His love to guide others. He knows we are not always going to feel like shining representations of Him. He will give you the strength you need to shine in the darkness. He is our light.

Luke 11:33-36

New International Version (NIV)

The Lamp of the Body

³³ “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,^[a] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,^[b] your body also is full of darkness. ³⁵ See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. ³⁶ Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Today’s prayer:

Heavenly Father I come to you from a sometimes dark place and I ask that you light my way. I ask Lord Jesus that you will take away the darkness of sin from my life so that I may better serve you and shine so brightly that others will want to know where my light comes from. I pray to you through your blessed son Jesus. Amen

Be blessed my friends and always be a blessing to others! Love your sister Rachelle

Thankful for His Love

Random-Mom — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:53:27 +0000

In case you haven’t heard, today is Valentine’s Day. When I daydream about the tangible meaning of this special day, I conjure up mental pictures of the commercial traditions – candlelight, candy, flowers, greeting cards, and romantic dinners. When I think about the holiday in the context of relationships, it’s all about love.

I love my husband. I love my children. I love my family. I am thankful for the love that I have for all of them and for the love that I receive in return. I am also thankful for God’s love. I love Him!

His Word repeatedly tells us just how much He loves us.

John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 (NIV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Galatians 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

Father,

I can’t fully wrap my mind around just how much You love me. Thank You for loving me despite who I am, what I’ve done, and where I’ve been. I pray that You will help me to show and give love in a way that it brings glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Random Mom

Your Daily Reading: “Living Wide Awake™” Developing Your Friendships 2-15-12

The Sage Lady — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:30:50 +0000

Today’s creative energy is working in your favor!

This is the end of a phase and beginning of a new one, which includes upheavals and personal transformations.

Those that write and publish benefit by focusing on the bigger picture with more financial gainers.

Rely on groups to further your goals.

Teachers are more money-minded than usual, considering furthering education for career advancements.

While there may be some uncertainty, and you may feel restless, you now have more motivation to move forward.

Opposing Energies: pride, resistance, arrogance

Write your good ideas down, and note also that there are either two opportunities, or you’re juggling two responsibilities that are involved in your creative changes for success.

Wide Awake Words™ for today: realistic, optimistic, encouraging

Whatever projects or goals you’ve been working on will now begin being productive.

Relationships: The love and energy vested in another hasn’t been wasted effort. The opportunities for developing your friendships or relationships are presenting themselves, free of the indecision that was so prevalent these last couple of weeks.

Peace.

Catherine

“Uniting Spiritual Growth with Conscious Living”™

www.TheNaturalSage.com

It Takes Time

JenniferTravis — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:39:05 +0000

It Takes Time

I fall on my face A LOT. And when I get back up and try again, it isn't long before I fall again. Again and again I fall and become wounded and again and again I get back up and wonder how much more falling I can take. Thoughts creep in causing me to doubt and I grow weary. I get frustrated because these things God commands of me seem to be the hardest things to do.

I was telling my husband just last night about how I grow frustrated with myself for not getting it right and for taking so long to learn the things of God. Somehow I have it built-in my head that He expects me to get it right --right then. Although the Christian walk requires a heart change and isn't something we can just do on our own, I recognize my need to be what He has called me to be and I tend to rush it. I grow impatient and my frustrations do nothing but land me in a puddle of discouragement.

This morning, I was reading the Parable of the Sower in the book of Luke, in which Jesus spoke of three types of hearers. First, there is the hearer that never really hears and instead Satan takes the seed (God's word) before it can be planted so that the person can never be saved. Then there is the hearer who hears and receives it with joy but since he or she is not rooted in it, they only believe for a while and fall away. Third is the hearer who hears and accepts it but the seed is later choked by riches and cares of the world. Lastly there is the hearer who not only accepts the word but endures wholeheartedly with steadfastness....they "bear fruit with patience."

"As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." Luke 8:15 ESV

It takes time. There it is..the answer to my frustrations straight from God himself and His timing couldn't have been more perfect. It takes time and patience to grow and bear fruit-- I'm not just a slow learner afterall. It's not expected that change come overnight and that idea is merely a lie from Satan- meant to discourage us from enduring. It doesn't come easily because if it did, we would all be doing it and no one would ever fall away.

Living in the flesh while being led by the Spirit requires constant focus, dedication and endurance and if you take your eyes off Him for a split second you run the risk of falling. If you don't guard your mind and capture every thought, you wind up with a mess in your head that eventually makes it way to the heart. I've heard many people say that you can go overboard with your faith but that tells me that those people were never serious to start with.

Even though He is working in us always - we still battle the flesh. The human side of us wants to come out and run the show. It's inevitable that we will come out with cuts and scrapes if we try to go against the flow. But over time, if we endure, the hope is that our flesh gets a dose of discipline from the head disciplinarian Himself.

"But the one who endures to the end will be saved." Matthew 24:13

Notice it doesn't say, "He who tries" or "He who endures for a while". He calls us to endure until the end..no matter how hard it gets or what it takes. He also promises to walk with us if we follow Him, meaning we constantly give up what we want for what He wants.

For me it's reassuring to know that He doesn't expect me to get it right immediately, and to be changed in such a short time. Changing doesn't depend upon us, and if it did the change would only be on the surface--superficial change. Since He works on His own time and He knows what He's doing, we can rest assured that true change will come in time---IF WE ENDURE. I'm quite sure that if He worked too fast on us, we would suffer from shock of seeing all our junk at once. And I'm not sure that my heart could take it all at once.

Therefore, I appeal to you to to endure and persist. Keep getting back up because it's in those falls that we grow character and learn humility. Never give up.

Photos

Random-Mom — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:53:29 +0000

I love looking back at family pictures to see how the kids have changed over the years. They’ve grown tremendously, broadened their horizons, developed their own personalities, and taken risks.

A picture of the boys playing together when they were just one- and three-years-old takes me back to a time when all that they needed to have fun was a log tunnel through which they’d crawl and scoot in and out of both ends – peeking to make sure that I noticed their latest adventure.

Images of a dual-themed Arthur and Hello Kitty birthday party bring back fond memories of my then 4-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter excited to bite into their cakes and open presents.

Our once tiny tots have all blossomed into smart, funny, beautiful, and handsome people. The still images of days gone by are vivid reminders of how far they’ve come since the days of toddling around the house, clumsily clinging to a favorite toy as they ventured from one room to another.

Our home server is full of photos that bring to life not only actions from years ago, but memories of our recent past…

Pulling off the highway to pose for that perfect photo op with rolling hills as the backdrop,

Skating and bicycling at our favorite spot near the river,

Pitching in to help with various home improvement projects,

Hiking through a community park and literally stopping to smell the flowers,

Performing at dance recitals and music concerts,

Accepting awards for academic excellence,

Advancing to the next Boy Scout rank,

Exploring new places,

Living life.

I am thankful for pictures and the memories that they help to recall.

Father,

Thank You for blessing me with great kids and for helping them to blossom into beautiful young people. I cherish every moment that I have with them, because I love them dearly, and because I know that they will soon fly out of the nest and into the world. As still photos help to keep clear good times from yesteryear, I pray Your Word will serve as a picture that reminds them of your promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Random Mom

The Commitee

Susan Eoff — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:20:47 +0000

http://waltzinghorses.blogspot.com/2012/02/committee.html

While sitting in my favorite temple for an early morning visit, I could feel the universality of it all. I was in another location, different sounds, people, rituals, etc. but the internal connection was the same. When I went to sit at the feet of Gurudev, there wasn't an adjustment. This was new to walk and be in that depth while moving about in outer life. I was sitting with the Committee of the Divine. In all of my past pursuits, letting go of hanging onto the experience or how I got there has been a requirement to relaxing into "losing" something and "finding" it again. The losing and finding are part of the markers on the path. I could also feel the difference between sitting in nature and with the Committee. Gurudev talked about the Himalayas again and the special combination of nature and years of Divine Vibration. I will have to put that on my list at some point...

Temple Bunny

Your Daily Reading: “Living Wide Awake™” Happy Valentine’s Day! 2-14-12

The Sage Lady — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:17:00 +0000

Expect the unexpected today, and that a fortunate or happy coincidence may be a part of your day!

Change is in the air- it almost feels like cabin fever, where it’s emotional; then it’s impatient and unstable.

The nature of today’s influence is erratic, and the restlessness can “Push the River” affecting changes dramatically.

Opposing Energies: discontentment, trapped, haven’t found one’s true path, obstacles, setbacks

Regardless of any discontent, take the time to enjoy your adventure and the new direction this energy takes you.

As today advances, good news can arrive, and life may proceed in a more positive way.

With all the movement in the energies of today, the ideas and resources to make improvements will produce further into the future.

In the event your work is in sales or marketing, today is quite the social networking and relationships day, with opportunities for business and personal goals.

Exercise caution in being impulsive with your interactions!

The movement and energy of your communications are definitely more of a happy and optimistic nature.

Wide Awake Words™ for today: perseverance, rewards, desires, happiness

Keep close to your dreams and your personal vision, your pathway to personal fulfillment is in being emotionally balanced and open to moving ahead.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love & Peace.

Catherine

“Uniting Spiritual Growth with Conscious Living”™

www.TheNaturalSage.com

The Catholic Church & It's Flock of Sheep

Erin Bella — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:56:38 +0000

When Christians compare themselves to a flock of sheep it’s becase they take seriously Jesus’ command to follow Him. As the Good Shepherd, He will lead them to the Kingdom of God. Some look at Christian faith through the lens of conservative and fundamentalist beliefs but those beliefs aren’t representative of the entire flock. There are many Christian flocks blind in their faith. Not all Church leaders encourage their flock to follow without seeing. If the only experience an outsider, or God forbid an insider, has of the Christian church is one of conservative legalism they would rightly conclude that Christians are blind and dumb to follow doctrine with no understanding of how milleniums old legalism came to be and still seeks to thwart its power in our everyday lives.

The real issue here is power. Without it, the Church as we know it would not exist as it does today and yet the Church needs to set its eyes on another power; the power of transforming lives through the Gospel of Christ instead of trying to seep its conservatism into American politics. Church leadership that reflects the love of God has a church body that reflects the love of God. And that is a powerful church. It does not need to meddle into political affairs because when the heart and the mind have been transformed by the love of God, it matters not what societal laws allow or prohibit and it matters not what religious laws allow or prohibit. What matters most is faith.

Blind faith is not the same as faith without discernment. A powerful church understands this and instructs its flock to follow Jesus, search for truth, and pray for understanding. And yes, that means questioning authority so that we may see what has been hidden from us. Sheep are not blind, they follow their shepherd because they trust in him. They are intelligent animals with the ability to recognize shapes and patterns and adapt their behaviors when necessary. When left unattended, they actually are able to find their way — together. Although, it is true that when isolated, individual sheep become distressed, which is why I suspect it is often preached that a good shephered will abandon the flock of 99 to find the one who strays.

The Catholic Church has always wanted a blind flock of parishioners. It wants its flock to depend on the Church for safety from the worldly and liberal anti-Christian Obama administration. It wants its flock to think Catholicism and family values are threatened with contraception available to all and it hides behind the First Amendment while it fails to realize it imposes its beliefs on those of another. Actually, it fails to realize that its doctrine isn’t even practiced by its own members. With 98% of Catholic womenadmitting to using/having used contraception, the Church is in trouble and needs to turn its attack away from the political arena and needs to send another message from the pulplit; and I hope it would be one of love and understanding. Because even if the Church is morally opposed to contraception, the battle is lost when literally almost all of the women have decided that that’s not really what God wants for them. And if women have decided that the Holy See isn’t the end all be all of Christianity, then the power it has lost isn’t just over female sexuality. The gift of theEnlightenment, to think logically about society, politics, religion, life, means that the next question on people’s minds and hearts isn’t just about abortion or birth control. Is the Catholic Church really the authority of the Christian church? The next question sure to come is, “Is Christianity really theonly way and the only truth and the only light?” Things did not turn out well for the Catholic Church during the Enlightenment. It led to the end of the First, Second, and Third Estates during the French Revolution and it put an end to the Church nobility across Europe. Unsettling for the Vatican, I’m sure. But it is better to have the kind of society where people are free to ask questions, think of themselves, and decide for themselves without passively waiting for their inheritance in the afterlife.

Contraception is not an attack on Catholicism or any religion that prohibits believers to engage in anything other than natural family planning. With a nation comprised of people in all shapes and sizes, races and faiths, the protection of the First Amendment’s freedom of religion covers us all. This is something I would expect conservative Christians to understand given the doctrine of grace which is believed by some to cover us all. Those who believe contraception is contrary to God’s law will remain in good standing with the Catholic Church. They are of one flock. But there’s a larger flock of sheep, a larger flock of people who don’t even adhere to Christianity, who work for Catholic hospitals, universities and charities with active and healthy sex lives and don’t want 10-12 children. That’s hard to hear if you’re of the position that children are precious gifts from God and contraception blocks blessings. But listen anyway, because it is also everyone’s right to accept and refuse what they may or may not deem to be a blessing.

The blessing most women graciously accept is in the form of birth control. Children are expensive, exhausting, demanding, and unyielding and as much as we love them, we want them when we’re in the emotional and financial position to take care of them. There are enough unloved, underfed, neglected and abused children in this country. We all know one. So my hat goes off to you if you’re Catholic and you decided that the age of reason wasn’t for naught. Women should not be controlled by their faith or their God or their husband or their society. The Church disagrees. But its outrage serves only to mask its fear that it can no longer convince its flock of a truth they’ve created and convinced generations of women to accept.

The present government no more anti-Christian than the majority of Americans who identify with being Christian or Catholic and agree that contraception is a women’s health preventative measure and that it should be covered by employer healthcare benefits. The government’s role isn’t to protect the Catholic Church. It’s responsibility is to the people, to protect our right to practice religion or to not practice religion from those who seek to control us. That includes the state, private businesses, employers, and the Church. They may be a flock of sheep, but they're not dumb.