I didn’t grow up in a religious household but I was a curious, philosophical child and briefly explored the religion of my parents. However, by the time I was 16 years old, I was a devout atheist. 19 years later I “came to believe” and thus was rekindled my conscious quest to know and be close to the God of my understanding.
In that quest, I have explored an array of ideas and have come to know the Judeo-Christian ideology to some degree. This has been gleaned mostly via the perspective of New Thought thinkers, and has pointed me towards the Bible.
And so it is now, on this particular Christmas Day, that I feel moved to express my belief that The Christ is for everyone. This belief stems not from my becoming an evangelical Christian and trying to proselytize; in fact, I still claim no religion. It just seems to me that the Christ is apart from Jesus from a religious perspective. Jesus was “The Christ” – and so am I and so are you. So what does this mean?
The word Christ is often misunderstood to be the surname of Jesus due to the numerous mentions of Jesus Christ in the Christian Bible; the word is in fact used as a title.
However, it refers to higher consciousness. The term Christ consciousness is similar to other spiritual traditions to denote the consciousness of a human being who has reached a higher level of evolutionary development and who has come to know Reality as it is. It’s called the super consciousness (Yoga), objective consciousness (Gurdjieff), Buddhic consciousness (Theosophy), cosmic consciousness, and God-consciousness (Sufism and Hinduism).
The Christ is a quality, a divine quality, that dwells within each and every one of us. It is not about religion. Christ Consciousness is about being perpetually in unison with Spirit, drawing sustenance from Spirit and operating in the physical world as if God and ‘His’ laws mattered.
As I strive to wake up more and more each day, I get closer to realizing The Christ that I am. The same applies to you.
The Christ is for everyone – it is who we are. So, Merry Christmas to everyone!
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Friday, December 25, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Worry and God
If I truly believe in God, why should I worry about anything?
In Kathryn Slattery’s experience as a worrier, she realized, “Worrying gave me a false sense that I was "doing something" about a problem, when in fact I was actually wasting valuable mental energy and accomplishing nothing!” How very true. When I worry, first of all, my mind is preoccupied with the future which isn’t yet here. I’m not accomplishing anything by worrying - in fact, I am adversely impacting my physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
Kathryn looked to the Bible, which has a lot to say on the topic. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus says, “Do not worry. Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? So do not worry.” As Kathryn points out, it’s worth noting that the apostle Paul does not encourage us to “Worry without ceasing.” Instead, he writes, “Pray without ceasing.” Prayer is both the opposite and the antidote to worry. I cannot worry and pray at the same time, just like I cannot be in fear and faith simultaneously.
Kathryn has a friend, who when she finds herself worrying, uses it as a reminder of how much she needs God. On her nightstand she keeps a plaque that says, “Stop worrying and go to sleep. I’ll be up all night anyway. Love, God.” Yes, God is always up, always awake and present. And, God has the power to accomplish anything, unlike moi.
If I believe in a Higher Power - God - that is all loving, all good, all powerful, etc., why indeed am I worrying?
Dear Spirit of the Most High -
May I pray without ceasing, faithful in knowing that You have a Divine Plan and all is exactly as it should be. And so it is.
In Kathryn Slattery’s experience as a worrier, she realized, “Worrying gave me a false sense that I was "doing something" about a problem, when in fact I was actually wasting valuable mental energy and accomplishing nothing!” How very true. When I worry, first of all, my mind is preoccupied with the future which isn’t yet here. I’m not accomplishing anything by worrying - in fact, I am adversely impacting my physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
Kathryn looked to the Bible, which has a lot to say on the topic. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus says, “Do not worry. Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? So do not worry.” As Kathryn points out, it’s worth noting that the apostle Paul does not encourage us to “Worry without ceasing.” Instead, he writes, “Pray without ceasing.” Prayer is both the opposite and the antidote to worry. I cannot worry and pray at the same time, just like I cannot be in fear and faith simultaneously.
Kathryn has a friend, who when she finds herself worrying, uses it as a reminder of how much she needs God. On her nightstand she keeps a plaque that says, “Stop worrying and go to sleep. I’ll be up all night anyway. Love, God.” Yes, God is always up, always awake and present. And, God has the power to accomplish anything, unlike moi.
If I believe in a Higher Power - God - that is all loving, all good, all powerful, etc., why indeed am I worrying?
Dear Spirit of the Most High -
May I pray without ceasing, faithful in knowing that You have a Divine Plan and all is exactly as it should be. And so it is.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Practicing What Is Preached
Today was indeed an historical day for the United States of America in many ways and an historical inauguration.
In the 8 years that have passed since the last main presidential inauguration, my spiritual experience and knowledge have progressed and been enlarged, so I was particularly curious as to how religion and prayer would play a role in this political event.
I enjoyed the prayers, feeling they were mostly inclusive of all peoples, and full of admirable qualities that we all can strive toward. Now, I hope the sentiments expressed are put into action, including by the man who gave the Inaugural Invocation, Pastor Rick Warren.
Below is the Inaugural Invocation in its entirety taken from a Christian political blog site:
Let us pray.
Almighty God, our Father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you. It all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory.
History is your story. The Scripture tells us, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord is One.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.
Now, today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time. We celebrate a hingepoint of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new President, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race, or religion, or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us. And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes, even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all. May all people of goodwill today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day all nations and all people will stand accountable before you. We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus, who taught us to pray:
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
In the 8 years that have passed since the last main presidential inauguration, my spiritual experience and knowledge have progressed and been enlarged, so I was particularly curious as to how religion and prayer would play a role in this political event.
I enjoyed the prayers, feeling they were mostly inclusive of all peoples, and full of admirable qualities that we all can strive toward. Now, I hope the sentiments expressed are put into action, including by the man who gave the Inaugural Invocation, Pastor Rick Warren.
Below is the Inaugural Invocation in its entirety taken from a Christian political blog site:
Let us pray.
Almighty God, our Father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you. It all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory.
History is your story. The Scripture tells us, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord is One.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.
Now, today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time. We celebrate a hingepoint of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new President, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race, or religion, or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us. And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes, even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all. May all people of goodwill today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day all nations and all people will stand accountable before you. We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus, who taught us to pray:
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
Monday, December 29, 2008
Joy of the Deepest Kind
I get a thrill when a message in my various daily morning readings shows up in more than one, for I feel that there is synchronicity there and Spirit is clearly trying to communicate something that’s pretty important. This morning I got my thrill.
The topic of today’s Daily Word was Listen. The text included: In prayer, meditation, or with my own intuition, I pause and know what I am to do. For the good of myself, those near to me, and those I have yet to meet, I listen for and act on spiritual guidance.
Excerpted from today’s Science of Mind reading:
When we have reached the place of “nowhere to turn,” let us remind ourselves, as Jesus taught, it is the Father within who doeth the work. Our only responsibility is to go within to our own Christ Consciousness and accept divine guidance.
We begin to experience harmony in our lives and affairs to the degree that we allow spiritual guidance to influence our lives.
Affirmation
I lift my heart and mind to dwell on spiritual truths. I am transformed by the renewing of my mind.
Which leads me to today’s reading in Norman Vincent Peale’s Positive Living Day by Day: The individual who finds something useful to do beyond himself, who gives of himself, knows joy of the deepest kind.
For most of the past 20 years, a great deal of my ‘going beyond myself’ has been aimed at the 12 Step community. I came to believe in a Power greater than myself, recover from my addiction, and had my life and being transformed drastically. I found community that I so easily felt a part of. And, there I found meaning and purpose to my life as in no other place. I volunteered in a myriad of positions and, more importantly, directly helped people through peer counseling and holding a sacred place. This getting out of myself, going beyond myself, and finding something greater to contribute to the healing of the world brought me great joy. And, that joy is the deepest joy, feeling one with Spirit.
Since becoming inactive in the OA these last couple of years as my spiritual path took me beyond the 12 Steps, and not giving of much of myself in that way, I have lost and missed that higher meaning and purpose to my life. And, despite joys and many blessings in my life today, that “joy of the deepest kind” is asleep and I find my life and affairs not as harmonious as they could be.
Through increased prayer, meditation, my own intuition, and affirmation of my own Christ Consciousness, I am moving towards reawakening that joy as I look to serve in something bigger than me. I’m getting messages as to where to be of service and I am acting on that guidance. I am grateful.
As I give of myself, to that which is greater than myself, I heal myself and others. That is Oneness, that is God. Therein lays “joy of the deepest kind.”
The topic of today’s Daily Word was Listen. The text included: In prayer, meditation, or with my own intuition, I pause and know what I am to do. For the good of myself, those near to me, and those I have yet to meet, I listen for and act on spiritual guidance.
Excerpted from today’s Science of Mind reading:
When we have reached the place of “nowhere to turn,” let us remind ourselves, as Jesus taught, it is the Father within who doeth the work. Our only responsibility is to go within to our own Christ Consciousness and accept divine guidance.
We begin to experience harmony in our lives and affairs to the degree that we allow spiritual guidance to influence our lives.
Affirmation
I lift my heart and mind to dwell on spiritual truths. I am transformed by the renewing of my mind.
Which leads me to today’s reading in Norman Vincent Peale’s Positive Living Day by Day: The individual who finds something useful to do beyond himself, who gives of himself, knows joy of the deepest kind.
For most of the past 20 years, a great deal of my ‘going beyond myself’ has been aimed at the 12 Step community. I came to believe in a Power greater than myself, recover from my addiction, and had my life and being transformed drastically. I found community that I so easily felt a part of. And, there I found meaning and purpose to my life as in no other place. I volunteered in a myriad of positions and, more importantly, directly helped people through peer counseling and holding a sacred place. This getting out of myself, going beyond myself, and finding something greater to contribute to the healing of the world brought me great joy. And, that joy is the deepest joy, feeling one with Spirit.
Since becoming inactive in the OA these last couple of years as my spiritual path took me beyond the 12 Steps, and not giving of much of myself in that way, I have lost and missed that higher meaning and purpose to my life. And, despite joys and many blessings in my life today, that “joy of the deepest kind” is asleep and I find my life and affairs not as harmonious as they could be.
Through increased prayer, meditation, my own intuition, and affirmation of my own Christ Consciousness, I am moving towards reawakening that joy as I look to serve in something bigger than me. I’m getting messages as to where to be of service and I am acting on that guidance. I am grateful.
As I give of myself, to that which is greater than myself, I heal myself and others. That is Oneness, that is God. Therein lays “joy of the deepest kind.”
Monday, December 22, 2008
Light
Yesterday was the Winter Solstice – yippee, now the days will be longer, full of more light. Hmmm – is that one reason why the holiday season is called the Season of Light?
The Winter Solstice astronomically marks the beginning of shortening nights and lengthening days. Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most cultures have held a recognition of rebirth.
Then there’s Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, which began at sundown last night. It is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. The Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting.
According to the chabad.org website, Chanukah celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, of spirituality over materiality.
And, of course, coming up later this week is Christmas, the holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born at a time when society was infested with spiritual ignorance and unrighteousness (superstition, greed, hatred, hypocrisy, etc.). He came as a spiritual guide (Guru) or Savior Form of God to guide people to Liberation from spiritual ignorance or ego (sin), the root cause of suffering. We each have the light and love of the Christ Presence within, which is our spiritual nature.
So there are numerous reasons for calling this time of year the Season of Light. I see it as a time that reminds us of The Light: the truth, the goodness, the God within - indeed great cause for joy and celebration.
The Winter Solstice astronomically marks the beginning of shortening nights and lengthening days. Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most cultures have held a recognition of rebirth.
Then there’s Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, which began at sundown last night. It is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. The Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting.
According to the chabad.org website, Chanukah celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, of spirituality over materiality.
And, of course, coming up later this week is Christmas, the holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born at a time when society was infested with spiritual ignorance and unrighteousness (superstition, greed, hatred, hypocrisy, etc.). He came as a spiritual guide (Guru) or Savior Form of God to guide people to Liberation from spiritual ignorance or ego (sin), the root cause of suffering. We each have the light and love of the Christ Presence within, which is our spiritual nature.
So there are numerous reasons for calling this time of year the Season of Light. I see it as a time that reminds us of The Light: the truth, the goodness, the God within - indeed great cause for joy and celebration.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Prayer From a Friend
The following was emailed to me by a friend who had received it as part of a holiday greeting:
There are 12 months/ 12 disciples/ 12 tribes of Israel / Jesus' birth celebrated in the 12th month. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, just a lot of reward. Make sure you pray, and pray believing God will answer. May today be all you need it to be. May the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears. May God manifest Himself today in ways you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged. I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.
There was nothing attached but it was suggested that it be sent to twelve others. Perhaps you’ll feel moved to do so...
There are 12 months/ 12 disciples/ 12 tribes of Israel / Jesus' birth celebrated in the 12th month. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, just a lot of reward. Make sure you pray, and pray believing God will answer. May today be all you need it to be. May the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears. May God manifest Himself today in ways you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged. I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.
There was nothing attached but it was suggested that it be sent to twelve others. Perhaps you’ll feel moved to do so...
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Dialogue
During this morning’s time in the silence:
Dear God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, and Higher Unlimited Self;
Thank You for my life and this day.
Help me to do Your Will throughout the day and have the ability to carry it out.
THEM: Do you really mean that?
JOYCE: Well..................probably not. I guess it would be better to say...
Please give me the desire to so want to do Your Will, with such a passion, a knowing, an understanding that You truly are First Cause, my Source and so I so strongly want to do Your Will. Then it will be natural for me to carry it out...it’ll feel easy, it’ll run all through me and not feel like a burden.
THEM: OK.
So my prayer this day, and really every day, is summed up as “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God,” one of the beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. I strive to be one of those “pure in heart.”
Emmet Fox, in his book, The Sermon on the Mount: The Key to Success in Life explains it this way:
“Blessed are they who recognize God as the only real Cause, and the only real Presence, and the only real Power; not merely in a theoretical of formal way, but practically, and specifically, and wholeheartedly, in all their thoughts, and words, and actions; and not merely in some parts of their lives, but in every nook and corner of their lives and mentalities, keeping nothing back from Him, but bringing their own wills in every last particular into perfect harmony with His Will – for they shall overcome all limitation of time, and space, and matter, and carnal mind; and realize and enjoy the Presence of God forever.”
“Beatitude” is defined as “the perfect happiness and inner peace supposed to be enjoyed by the soul in heaven.” It is a state of utmost bliss.
To know God in every fiber of my being, and more - that is what I pray for.
And, yes, I really mean that!
Dear God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, and Higher Unlimited Self;
Thank You for my life and this day.
Help me to do Your Will throughout the day and have the ability to carry it out.
THEM: Do you really mean that?
JOYCE: Well..................probably not. I guess it would be better to say...
Please give me the desire to so want to do Your Will, with such a passion, a knowing, an understanding that You truly are First Cause, my Source and so I so strongly want to do Your Will. Then it will be natural for me to carry it out...it’ll feel easy, it’ll run all through me and not feel like a burden.
THEM: OK.
So my prayer this day, and really every day, is summed up as “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God,” one of the beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. I strive to be one of those “pure in heart.”
Emmet Fox, in his book, The Sermon on the Mount: The Key to Success in Life explains it this way:
“Blessed are they who recognize God as the only real Cause, and the only real Presence, and the only real Power; not merely in a theoretical of formal way, but practically, and specifically, and wholeheartedly, in all their thoughts, and words, and actions; and not merely in some parts of their lives, but in every nook and corner of their lives and mentalities, keeping nothing back from Him, but bringing their own wills in every last particular into perfect harmony with His Will – for they shall overcome all limitation of time, and space, and matter, and carnal mind; and realize and enjoy the Presence of God forever.”
“Beatitude” is defined as “the perfect happiness and inner peace supposed to be enjoyed by the soul in heaven.” It is a state of utmost bliss.
To know God in every fiber of my being, and more - that is what I pray for.
And, yes, I really mean that!
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