Category: grace

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Allow the inflow of the new!

In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper of the heart giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, hope to despair.
~ Howard Thurman

quietIn the quiet of your thoughts, have you ever noticed that there’s a certain knowing the comes to you, that a certain idea is brought forward in your mind, when you allow all things to just refresh themselves and you just release those things which no longer serve you.

It’s the same thing as when I have a problem I can’t solve and I just walk away from it, forget about it, then come back to it from a different perspective, from a different idea, or from different way of thinking and all of a sudden the answer appears from outside the confusion which was there in the beginning which was nonproductive and now there is the answer. It was so easy. I did not see it in the beginning and it suddenly appeared to me because I had a change of mind, a change of thought. I created a void, a place which allowed for the new thought to come into my life. I changed my despair to hope, my fear that there wasn’t an answer into the answer.

And at the same time I know that it wasn’t me the answer came from. It came through me from God, I cleared the way in my mind for the answer to be revealed to me. It was always there because God is always with us and as soon as I cleared the way it was revealed to me.

Next time something in your life seems to be troubling you, let go of it, walk away from it, forget about, it release it from your thoughts, release the idea and just find something else to do, then come back to it with a new mind, with a clear mind, and with a clear thought that the answer is there already and you’ll be surprised. It will be there.

~revjim

#spirit-edu.com -Spirituality Online
#aworldthatworks
Spirit Education is a CSL Authorized Virtual Education Provider

We’re having a Zoominar September 28th
1st Century Mystics begins  October 4th
https://spirit-edu.com/learn/courses/zoominar/
https://spirit-edu.com/learn/1st-century-mystics

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Living in Grace isn’t just for old people!

Join us as we explore how to have a more gracious, loving and compassionate life.

You don’t have to be old to embrace these principles. It’s just that most people don’t slow down enough during most of their lives to realize there is another way. We are introduced to fear, and limitation at a young age and buy into a dog-eat-dog mentality. We see it all around us, in the news, in our TV shows, in our politics, and even in sports. Competition is good for our egos, but not really good for our sanity. And, it’s really only good for some people’s egos, while devastating to those on the receiving end.

By practicing mindfulness and compassion, we can find our joy and happiness in much more self-sustaining ways. Ways that will uplift us, and those around us.

If you can’t join us, please read the book. It may give you a perspective on your life you have never envisioned before. It could be your lifesaver.

~revjim

#spirit-edu.com -Spirituality Online
#aworldthatworks
Spirit Education is a CSL Authorized Virtual Education Provider

Grace in Aging class starts September 18th Online

https://spirit-edu.com/learn/courses/grace-in-aging/

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I am Held in the Hands of Grace

Grace-2What does this mean to me?

It means that whatever I do, wherever I am, God has my back.

It means that Spirit always watches over me. It means that if I get hurt, God will help to heal me, to reveal the truth of the moment to me. It means that, when I die, I may cease to exist on this plane, but I do not cease to exist. I will transcend death, just as Jesus transcended death. I know that I am always in the hands of grace, and it allows me to move through life with a light step, rather than the fear and worry that weighs so many down.

Grace is something we can practice all our lives. We don’t have to wait until the end is near. Life is so worth living without a heave heart, and without taking the burden of the world upon our shoulders.

That doesn’t mean we don’t care for others. It doesn’t mean we hold back our help. It means we can be compassionate without suffering, comforting without taking on another’s grief as our own. We can care for others without giving up our own joy for living.

From our joy for living, others are actually uplifted from their despair. And when we feel the pain of some suffering, the hands of grace surround us naturally, because that’s what karma does. What we give to others is returned to us.

Try it sometime. Show someone you care about them. Feel the love.

~revjim

#spirit-edu.com -Spirituality Online
#aworldthatworks
Spirit Education is a CSL Authorized Virtual Education Provider

Grace in Aging class starts September 18th Online

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Self Love

self-loveAs soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live. ~ Garth Henrichs

One of the main aspects of trust, whether for yourself other toward others is “Love.” I am not talking about the mushy, sloppy type of temporary high school or lusty love. I am speaking about the love that endures. Oft times we see that as friendship or the unconditional love that we feel. Self love is a prerequisite to the love of others.

We don’t often think of self love or when we do think of it, it’s in the negative ways, such as self-serving or self-aggrandizing. We see the boisterous and pompous and they are our most visible mis-examples of self-love. Usually this type of behavior is a disguise of those devoid of love.

Self love starts with taking care of yourself obviously, but it also means that you are happy as you are and willing to add greater prosperity and greater good to your life without harming or taking anything away from anyone else.

Then, the natural extension of that is empathy and caring for others. Until we begin to love our “self,” we cannot start to love others. Grand examples of those who care for others are the Dali Llama, Pema Chödron, fr. Richard Rhor, and Pope Francis, but there are billions of lesser known people who are absolutely comfortable with themselves and are loving, caring people. It probably includes you, so, as usual, I’m talking to “the choir” as it were.

If this strikes a chord in you, or you would like to hear more, let me know.

~rev jim

#spirit-edu.com -Spirituality Online
#aworldthatworks
Spirit Education is a CSL Authorized Virtual Education Provider

Grace in Aging class starts September 18th Online

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Embrace Life and Live It, No Matter What!

beyond-fearThis life is finite and goes from “dust to dust” as Kathleen Dowling Singh, the author of “The Grace in Aging” shares. She also calls it, “Diapers to diapers.” We can’t escape it. We can suffer through it or move beyond the fear, accept and embrace the period we have left to us, and live it to the fullest. Live beyond the fear of dying, of being in-valid. “To ripen into an elder, into a being that is more than simply elderly and more than only self, is a deliberate, thoughtful, sustained choice that arises from the intention to see things as they are.”

~revjim

#spirit-edu.com -Spirituality Online
#aworldthatworks
Spirit Education is a CSL Authorized Virtual Education Provider

Grace in Aging class starts September 18th