The Kingdom Within

The teachings of Jesus speak clearly that we each are to seek God's Kingdom in the quietness of personal, devotional time with Him. How many of us make time every day to seek God's Kingdom in devotional time? Where is God's Kingdom? The Kingdom of God is Within You. Luke 17:21

How many of us actually devote time to quietly seeking God? The definition of the word devotion tells it all. One definition tells us that devotion is love, loyalty or enthusiasm for a person, activity or cause. Another definition says that devotion is ardent and often selfless affection or profound dedication. Another says devotion is earnest attachment to a cause or person. Does our devotional time with God meet or exceed the definition of devotion?

In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 - 7 Jesus clearly teaches us to work on things that are inside each of us. It is the heart of the message. Why do we have all these things to work on and have the Kingdom of God within us? It is because we are flesh and we focus on our flesh instead of the Kingdom Within. Jesus said to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. We must have devotional time with God to overcome the flesh. We know we are flesh. Do we know that the Kingdom of God is within us and if we seek Him we will find Him? We must be in the world but not of the world. We must have the mind of Christ.

Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by renewing your mind that you may prove His good and perfect will for your life. Prove His will. His will is to give you the Kingdom, but you must make the first move because you have free will. You must devote yourself to making the first move every day of your life. God will not force Himself on you - ever. He gave you free will and He honors His word and His gift. You must choose Him by seeking His kingdom within yourself. You cannot conform to flesh in your mind and seek God's Kingdom in your mind at the same time. A Kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. (Luke 11:17) You must choose to renew your mind because you have free will. But you can test it out and prove His will. (Romans 12:2) You say you cannot choose what you think about? You certainly can. You have free will. It is not easy, but you can. You can test it out and prove it. You can experiment and see for yourself if it works. Jesus says that we can do what he did and even greater things. He said we can have the same mind as he does by renewing our mind. God says, try me. Seek the Kingdom of God within.

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy Quieting the Mind in Meditation
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Finding Fulfillment

Where do we look for fulfillment? Appearances and conditions in the world seem to say that our fulfillment comes from things outside of us. However, over and over experience shows us that nothing outside satisfies the longing in the pit of our gut for something more out of life. What is it?

We always seem to be working for something in the distance that is not within our reach. Most of the time we are wrapped up in doing something. We get so consumed with action that we have little or no awareness of our being.

What is that something we are looking for? I see it as a state of being in complete calmness. I think that it is difficult to wrap our mind around the possibility of complete calmness of mind where our feelings just stop. We are so used to the constant motion of the mind and feelings. Yet we hear about people who have it all the time. How do they do it?

The Bible says to, "Be still, and know that I am God." How do we be still and know God? In the book "The Second Coming of Christ"and also in the book "The Yoga of Jesus" Paramahansa Yogananda talks about how we can do just that. Yogananda is the author of the highly acclaimed book "Autobiography of a Yogi" which has been a best selling book for more than 60 years. In the book "The Second Coming of Christ" and in "The Yoga of Christ" Yogananda answers many questions like where was Jesus during the missing years? What were the hidden teachings that Jesus gave to his closest disciples which have been lost or suppressed throughout the centuries? Did Jesus actually teach that all non-Christians are excluded from God's kingdom?

Here is an excerpt from The Second Coming of Christ:

"In these pages I offer to the world an intuitionally perceived spiritual interpretation of the words spoken by Jesus, truths received through actual communion with Christ Consciousness. They will be found to be universally true if they are studied conscientiously and meditated upon with soul-awakened intuitive perception. They reveal the perfect unity that exists among the revelations of the Christian Bible, the Bhagavad Gita of India, and all other time-tested true scriptures."

"The saviors of the world do not come to foster inimical doctrinal division; their teachings should not be used toward that end. It is something of a misnomer even to refer to the New Testament as the 'Christian' Bible, for it does not belong exclusively to any one sect. Truth is meant for the blessing and upliftment of the entire human race. As the Christ Consciousness is universal, so does Jesus Christ belong to all."

If you would like to read "Autobiography of a Yogi" free, here is a link to Gutenberg.org where free versions of "Autobiography of a Yogi" can be downloaded for reading devices in e-book form, or it can be read online. I enjoyed reading Autobiography of a Yogi. Gutenberg Project eBook-Autobiography of a Yogi

You can read my June 2011 blog entry called The Yoga of Jesus.

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5). We are all connected through the Power that gives us life and breath. Outer forms of worship and study may differ, but they cannot change God. God is immutable. God doesn't change because our outer doctrine differs from the outer doctrine of our neighbor. We do not become any less connected to our neighbor Spiritually because we do not believe the same as our neighbor believes. God is what God is. God said, "I am who I am" to Moses in Exodus 3:14. There is but One Lord.

We cannot change our Vast Creator who is without beginning or end. What we can do is stay in the River and let the never ending flow that comes from our Creator guide us along and show us the way. God's Spirit is ever present. One Faith builds on God's Spirit, not on the formed world or matter. One Baptism is not a washing of body parts with water. It is about washing away the thoughts and motives we have in our minds that bring about sin, a purification of the mind. We miss the mark in our thoughts and in our mind first, then we miss the mark in the physical world. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove God's good and perfect will (Romans 12:2).

Our blessed Master Jesus demonstrated this great truth over and over. He healed the sick, raised the dead and told us that we can do the things that He did and even greater things in His name. This Higher Power to give life abundantly is available to us too. Jesus showed us the way.

What is this Higher Power? This Higher Power is God, the Infinite. How can we describe God in finite words? On what premise do we base our finite descriptions of who and what God is? Do finite words adequately describe the limitlessness and vastness of God, the Infinite Creator of everything? On what finite premise do we begin to apprehend the quality of infinite eternal good or the concept of without beginning or end? Theology and the ideals of men have fostered a rather restricted concept of God. These limited ideas have created helpless spiritual cripples who view themselves as spiritual invalids who can't imagine themselves doing the things that Jesus did and even greater things in His name.

Jesus Christ healed the sick, fed thousands with a few loaves and fishes, turned water into wine, and raised the dead. Jesus Christ said he came to give us life and give it abundantly. We can do the things that Jesus did and even greater things in His name, but not with finite, material minded thoughts. We must be still and know God in the quietness of the Kingdom within each of us, like Jesus did. We can know the One Lord, One Faith, the One Baptism. In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength (Isaiah 30:15).

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Changing Our Thought

Changing our thought is a good thing especially if we are changing it from an insecure thought to a secure thought. If we focus a thought on something that can harm us, we are not honoring God with our faith. The good news is that God gave us all free will and we have choice. We can choose not to think a thought. We can choose to think a secure thought rather than an insecure thought.

Our body and mind are extensions of the One Mind One Life - God, the Infinite. We would have no life if God did not breathe life into each of us every moment of every day. We can go for some time without food or water, but we can only go for a few minutes without the breath of life. We tend to think of our finite body as something other than what it is, finite. Our limited human ego sees, feels, hears, and knows only a small portion of the Infinite Vastness from which each one of us receives our life. Jesus Christ said, "The Kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21) and "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). Most of us walk by sight, when we are told to walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Once we realize who we are in God we must be Spirit directed, and move from our faith in God deep within ourselves. People, events and even our own limited thoughts and feelings are things that cause us to walk by sight rather than by faith. It is much easier to walk by sight than it is to walk by faith because God doesn't always tell us why when He asks us to act in faith. God speaks to everyone. He speaks to average people every day just like He gives us all life and breath. God is speaking to every person 24 hours a day and most of us are just pushing His voice aside.

How do we know that God is speaking to us? Here are some ways to tell. It has to be a blessing for others as well as for us. If whatever we are called to do will hurt someone else, it isn't from God. It has to be moral and give us a sense of peace. It has to feel right. We need to observe and pay attention to the signals. Thoughts from God have a calm and peaceful feel about them, and a sense of authority.

How can we tune into God more? The radio we use to tune into God is our Spiritual Self in the Kingdom of God within. Everyone has a Spiritual Self. Getting quiet and listening is not easy in this world. Just like a radio gets static, we get static in this world. Some examples of static are thoughts of fear, anger, resentment, worry, other people's opinions, and focusing on the past. Jesus had to deal with static too when He was tempted and we can deal with static the same way Jesus did. Jesus changed His thought from an insecure thought to a secure thought. He focused on God. He used Scripture to combat the static. Jesus said that we can do the things that He did and even greater things in His name (John 14:12-14).

Nothing is too big for God. Nothing is too old for God. Nothing is ever to late for God. Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing (changing) of your mind (thoughts) that you may prove God's good, acceptable and perfect will (for your life).

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

The Gift of Peace

We can't much control what goes on in the world around us even though we may try. How often does trying to control the world around us actually work? We can set effective goals for our self and follow through with readiness and dexterity. We can perform our daily duties skillfully. We can serve others with compassion. But if we try to control the results of what we do or hold on to the details of what happens with too much tenacity, we can end up feeling very stressed. We can't always control the outer world. But we can control ourselves. We can experience peace within ourselves no matter what is going on around us.

How is it possible? John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Peace not as the world gives seems to be the key here and is where most of us miss the mark. We keep trying to make the world give us peace even though we can't control the world. So what can we control?

We can control our attitude about situations and events. We can control our responses to other people. We can control our behavior. We can control what we think and what we say. God gave us will power. He gave us a free will to choose. I am not saying controlling our self is easy. I am saying it is possible to control our inner world and have peace.

It is possible because we can learn from the Master. Jesus knew how and he taught his disciples how. Matthew 11:20 says, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." We can experience God's wonderful healing grace. Richard Foster said, "The needed change within us is God's work, not ours. The demand is for an inside job, and only God can work from the inside. We cannot attain or earn this righteousness of the Kingdom of God: it is a grace that is given." The only real thing we need to do is accept that the Kingdom of God is already there within us and believe that fact with intention. God will do the rest. The problem is not with God, it is with our belief and acceptance of who we are in Him.

The good news is that we can use the gift God gave us of our free will and our will power to help ourselves grow our belief stronger so that at some point we are able to accept who we are in God as true. Then God's grace will be able to do the good work completely from within. But until then we can keep using our free will to work on our inner world, our belief. We can build up our faith muscles the same way we build up our body muscles, through practice.

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." We don't have to have blind faith in what a preacher or teacher says. We can read Scripture our self and then test and prove it as Romans 12:2 says in our own life. We can experiment with renewing our mind, we can practice belief in smaller things so that when big things happen we know how it works. We can see for ourselves the blessings Scripture says are already ours by experimentation with small things. We can use our free will to renew our mind, control our thinking and speech, and if we do not give up our experimentation, we prove Scripture's claim of the gift of peace.

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Peace I Leave With You

Good will and forgiveness are like a tonic that flows through our body and works a healing miracle in every cell. There is a healing chemicalization that takes place in the body when we forgive. It seems to remove the acidic stuff in there, stabilize everything, and allow the good stuff to flow. In fact, removing all the nasty thoughts that eat us up inside seems to have a wonderful cleansing affect on the entire body. It is the peace that passes all understanding that God has for us. I have found the best way for me to do this is by letting go of the outer world and practicing the presence of God in my inner world. Some times I am very good at it, but I'm human.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives (it). Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

We don't have to allow the outer world to affect our inner peace. We can use our free will and choose to be still and know God. We can choose to deny the outer world access to our private inner world with God. Peace comes when we choose to use our free will with intention. I write these things to remind myself and hope it helps others too.

God gave us the power of choice. We can choose not to give the outer world any power over our inner world. Unshakable stability and faith can be developed by using our free will to practice the presence of God moment by moment every day. We can build up our faith muscles by exercising them the same way we build up our body muscles, by using them on a regular basis. I can testify to that, even though I am human and mess up. We can choose on a moment by moment basis using our free will what we allow into our private inner world with God. We can forgive ourselves when we mess up.

The chemicalization of our body can go either way. It can work for us or against us. Let me give an example. Can you imagine being in line at the deli counter at the local grocery store? Having taken a ticket with the number 42, you have now leaned back against another counter and are waiting to be called. The next thing you know, a loud woman steps up to the counter saying she is number 43 and that she is next. You jolt back to reality just in time to push forward and claim your spot in line showing the clerk that your ticket says number 42. The loud woman sarcastically comments with, "wake up, there are other people waiting in line." How rude she is, you think. Your blood boils a bit at the thought of this woman butting in line. You give the clerk your order, but somehow you forget to tell the clerk your complete order. You forget several things you were supposed to get. You keep thinking about the rude lady who butted in front of you. When you finish at the deli counter, you call your best friend and tell the story of the pushy woman who butted in front of you at the deli. When you get home you tell your spouse, your kids and later you tell your brother on the phone. Each time you feel upset as you relive the experience. By the time you go to bed, your stomach hurts and your body aches. You have allowed the outer world into your inner world and it has affected your peace. Your body has chemicalized in a bad way and you have literally made yourself feel sick.

But what if the whole event happened because you were day dreaming? Lets go back. Lets see, at the deli counter you took a ticket number 42, leaned back against a counter and started thinking about the great time you had on Saturday night when you and your spouse were out with friends. Your mind wandered and you don't remember how long you were day dreaming. Saturday night was a fun and pleasant evening and your thoughts about the evening had been enjoyable. You had not been paying attention. Did you miss the clerk calling number 42? Was there a lag time before the woman with number 43 stepped forward?

Lets rewrite the story. When the woman stepped up with number 43, you jolted back to reality. The woman says, "wake up, there are other people waiting." Your blood begins to boil and you think what a rude woman. But then you realize that this woman is the outside world and you use your free will and decide that she is not going to disturb your inner peace. You use your will power and choose to stay calm. Your thoughts flow back to the peaceful thoughts you were having about your pleasant evening on Saturday night.

All of sudden you feel great again. You give your order to the clerk and the whole incident is over. You denied the outer world access to your inner world by using your free will. You decided to maintain your peace. Your body did not chemicalize in a bad way, but continued to chemicalize in a good way because you continued to think about the fun evening you had on Saturday night. You never mentioned the deli incident to anyone, except to laugh about how you were day dreaming at the deli counter. When you went to bed, you felt good.

We can exercise our free will during every day at every small moment we have. We can choose peace for our self. By giving us free will, God has given us the power of choice and we can use that power with intention.


If you enjoyed reading this post, you may also enjoy reading Power in Surrender and The Kingdom Within. Peace and blessings to you, Terrie.

© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Returning To Our Father

In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) Jesus tells how the lost son lifts himself up from the husks and swines and returns to his father's home. It was the son's ego that caused him to take his inheritance and go. It is our ego that has caused us to separate from our Heavenly Father. As the son's father received him with open arms, so our Heavenly Father receives us. God has not left us or forsaken us, we have left Him. He is forever waiting for us with open arms.

Returning to our Heavenly Father and dwelling in His presence is a very personal experience. Another person cannot impart this experience to us. Returning and dwelling in our Father's presence is our experience alone. We cannot truly share our personal experience in words. Someone might say as Jesus did that it is like this or like that in a simile or metaphor, but to be fully comprehended it must be experienced. The Grace God the Father imparts to us when we return from the husks and swine of carnal thinking is very personal and specific. It is a unique Grace designed for just one person. Reading about what it is like for someone else is a good read, but the experience of returning and dwelling with God the Father is something we must experience to know.

When we return we literally become co-creators with God the Father as we dwell with Him and are immersed in the Father's Mind, the One Mind, the Christ Mind. But we won't rise up from the husks and swine of mortal thinking and become co-creators with God by simply reading about someone else's experience. Our carnal mind and finite ego are hostile to God (Romans 8:7-8). We have free will and we must choose to rise up and present our self as a living sacrifice and be transformed by renewing our mind (Romans 12:1-2). We rise up and renew our mind by making our mind the same mind as the Mind of Christ, the One Mind. As co-creators every thought and word (logos) that proceeds then does so with God's power because it proceeds from the Father's very presence. We return to the Father and yoke with Him, as Jesus did. We then have the same mind as Christ and can do the things Jesus did and even greater things in His name.

Our small, finite ego has latched on to error. We have been living by sight rather than by faith. Our carnal senses lie to us. Returning home, as the prodigal did, we can yoke with the Father and have the mind of Christ. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. God has not gone any place. God has not changed. It is us who has walked by site rather than by faith. To understand the mystery of dwelling with the Father and of being, we must experience it. We must be absent from the body and present with the Lord. 


If you enjoyed reading this post, you may also enjoy reading my posts Power in Surrender and The Kingdom Within. Peace and blessings to you, Terrie

© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Ego - Separate From God or One With God

Perhaps reading the multitudinous amounts of information on the Internet is good. However, it is possible to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume available. How is it we can wade through the oceanic immensity of information available and yet at times still feel we have not found an answer to our question, whatever it may be. The verbal battles we often read regarding the Bible, God and religious doctrines make us at least aware that what we are reading is perhaps not enlightened. So how can we know if we are one with God or separate from God? If we are one with God, what are we to consider ourselves? Can we read opinions from other people to get our answers?

The Enlightened Scriptures indicate that we were created in the image and likeness of God and given free will. Those two statements alone are worth taking the time to seriously contemplate during our prayer and meditation time. Why create us in His image and then give us free will? If God wanted abject followers, He simply could have withheld free will. And why did God create us in His image and then not force us to follow Him? God is not some despotically minded king demanding our allegiance in body, mind and spirit. We are free to think, be and do whatever we choose. Of course we live in a world full of other people who are also free to choose, so responsible behavior does tend to be a useful thing.

What does being created in His image and likeness mean? Our physical bodies appear to be finite and God is Infinite. If we are created in His image and likeness, are we Infinite? What a good idea to contemplate during prayer and meditation time! How can finite man be Infinite? So now what should we do? Should we search the Internet and see how many conflicting opinions we can find? Of course we can do that. Unfortunately no matter how many opinions of others we read we still have the still small voice within our self to contend with, don't we. So why don't we make time to be still and get to know God? What do we have to lose? What do we have to gain?

The reason we don''t hear from God is not because God left us. We left Him. We have free will and we have chosen to focus on our finite ego instead of our larger affinity within the ocean of God. God does not force Himself on us. He is respectful of our free will. We have to choose Him. We can reclaim our affinity by realizing that we are a drop of water in the vast ocean of God's presence. How often in a crisis do we think of God? When we think we need Him, we think of Him. But have we made our self ready to communicate with Him? Jesus talks about readiness in Matthew 25 in the parable of the 10 virgins. How can we call for help if we don't know the telephone number or who to call? We learn God's contact information through practicing the presence of God. We begin by acknowledging the Divine Spark within, the Christ within, our oneness with God. The realization is a beginning point. We can then immerse our small, finite ego once again into the ocean of God and know God.

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Thank you. Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Prayer for Healing

Remembering the Truth about oneself is the change in consciousness we need for healing. Prayer is a treatment that can help us remember the Truth that God created us in His Image and Likeness. The reality is that we are all part of the All of God and are we are all whole and perfect because we are God's reflection.

The challenge is that our physical senses steel away our memory of who we are in the All of God. The world lies to us. Jesus clearly said that we should live by faith and not by sight because our senses only give us a small part of the whole picture.

When we pray for recollection of who we are in the All of God, we begin to have revelations. Remembrance of who we are or what we are in the All of God. This is the treatment for healing because God created us perfectly. It is the change in our feeling and knowing, rather than just taking thought or repeating the prayer that causes the healing. We are God's Substance and God's Substance is us.

One way to help get to the feeling of being in the All of God or treat is to read Scripture and let it sink into the depth of our being in quiet meditation. Another is to think about God and meditate on who God is. We get quiet and let the Holy Spirit take over our feeling and we know God.

Chapter 35 of Isaiah is a beautiful prayer or treatment that helps bring the feeling of oneness with God and helps us remember who we are in God. A desert place in our life is good because it gets us to spend quiet alone time in the quiet sanctuary of the Kingdom within. The simile used here is powerful. We don't usually equate a desert with a lush garden. God brings us through whatever trouble we are experiencing and like the rose blossoming in the desert, so does our life blossom as we remember who we are in the All of God. We are not doing the work, but the Father within He does the work. What problem could we possibly have that could be more difficult for God than a desert blossoming into a garden?

Because the backdrop of Isaiah 35 is the desert, we have to get into the mindset of what the story teller sees. The fact that God conquers the desert is treatment in itself. We see the glory of the All of God as the desert blossoms. The demonstration of the desert blossoming as the rose fires up the imagination and shows God's love and power in a dramatic way. We can have the mind of Christ. Let the mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)

I absolutely love the beautiful commentary Emmet Fox wrote so many years ago on Isaiah 35. Here is a link to it. It is called The Garden of Allah. I have read it so many times. When I am going through a desert place in my life, which we all do have from time to time, it is extremely comforting.

It takes courage to have faith when we are in a desert place in our life. Why should we be strong and courageous? God gave us free will and we can choose. We can choose to let fear take over and control us or we can choose to continue with faith in God when we are in a desert place. Joshua 1:5-7 says to be strong and courageous because God will never leave us or forsake us. God won't leave us or forsake us because He created us in His Image. We are His reflection. It is us who leave Him. We separate our self from Him. He never leaves us or forsakes us. We doubt Him.

We can watch the desert places of our life blossom as the rose because we can choose to have faith no matter what our physical senses tell us. We can choose to be strong and courageous. People ask why God lets things happen that hurt us. We have free will. We love our free will when things are going great, don't we.

The prayer or treatment to bring our self back to the All of God is our choice. Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove His perfect will for your life. (Romans 12:2) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, do not trust your senses. Trust God. Live by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) For what is seen is temporary, what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18) What is unseen is the All of God. God's Divine Substance is everywhere and everything.

The Bible says not to be afraid 65 times starting in Genesis 15:1 all the way to Revelation 1:17. Fear not, I am your shield; your reward shall be great. (Genesis 15:1) Fear not, I am the first and the last and I am the living one. (Revelation 1:17) God didn't give us a spirit of fear, the spirit of fear came from the pattern of the world through our physical senses. (2 Timothy 1:7, Romans 12:2)

We are whole and perfect at the core because we were created in God's perfect Image and Likeness. Psalm 91:9-10 "Because thou hast made the Lord, which is thy refuge, even the Most High, they habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh they dwelling." All we have to do is remember. Christ came to show us how to do the things he did and even greater things in his name. It is our choice. All we need to do is ask and it will be given to us, seek and we will find, knock and it will be opened unto us.


If you enjoy this post, you may also enjoy these posts - Power in Surrender and Your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is You. Or you may wish to share a link with interested family or friends!  Peace and blessings to you, Terrie

© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Error

We humans try valiantly to create a material world for ourselves separate from God. Separateness is error. Error while living in what we think is a material world is what causes us to feel separate from God, but we can correct the error.

God is all. Our body, mind and spirit are part of that All. God created us in His Image and Likeness. We are the reflection of God, and God is perfect. We create the error our self by seeing our self as separate from God and material. Truth about God and our self heals, prospers, loves and corrects all errors. It is up to us to work out our own salvation or to submit to the Grace of God through Christ. Either way, God is at the center.

Jesus taught that our senses lie to us and cause us to shut out the truth. "Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?" (Mark 8:18) We are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) It is impossible to be perfect relying on our senses and the material world, which are imperfect. The world and our physical senses steel away our memory of God's perfection. While we at home in our material senses we are absent from the Lord. If we want God's perfection to be reflected in our life, we need to live without error by faith and not by sight, present with God and His perfection. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) Our senses lie to us and the world lies to us because we are the reflection of God. It is hard to believe the truth because we are living in the world, but not impossible. With God all things are possible.

Christ humbly met all the mocking by all the people who did not see or could not hear. Christ overcame the material and the flesh and proved that God is All. We can too. Jesus said that we can do the things that he did and even greater things. (John 14:12-14) Jesus proved Truth by overcoming sin, sickness and death. Now is the accepted time. Behold now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2) We don't have to wait for some future world to live without error in the reflection of God's perfection. We can live fully in the now, trusting in the Goodness of God right now. Because of our physical senses we trust in the material world right now, but we can live by faith and not by sight.

Now is the time because the so-called material world is the lie and it is error. God is All and God is the truth. God's substance is ever present with us here and now. God's plan is to prosper us and not to harm us. (Jeremiah 29:11) Jesus proved it time and time again and many people since Jesus have done the things that Jesus did and even greater things in His name. We can too.

Overcoming this material world of lie and error takes active, working faith that must be used and developed like we develop muscles. We develop our faith muscles the same way, by using them every day. We will have days when we feel defeated or doubtful, the same as we have days we don't feel like developing our body muscles. We persevere with developing faith muscles the same way we persevere with an exercise program to build our body muscles. We can rest between work outs, but we need to keep building up our faith muscles every day to keep them strong.

When we remove error from our life, the seed of error will no longer produce error fruit in our life. If we plant a seed for an oak tree, we know we will get an oak tree. The pattern of the Truth about the oak tree is already there in the seed.

Jesus was the great physician. He healed people by showing them they could remove error from their life. Those who believed the Truth Jesus presented were healed. Those who doubted, we not healed. Jesus healed the son of the official in Galilee who believed. (John 4:43-54) Jesus healed the paralytic who was brought to him by people who believed and the paralytic himself believed. (Matthew 9:2-8) Jesus showed people how to remove the error and understand the Truth about who they were. The Truth is that we are all created in the Image and Likeness of God and we are All part of the All, perfect. When we can remove the error, we are healed.

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Thank you. Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Entering the Secret Place

How can we enter the Secret Place of the Most High? How can we go into the silence and dwell in the Shadow of the Almighty? Matthew 6:6 says that we should go into the closet and pray in secret and the Father will reward us openly. We can deliberately plan to spend time alone with God by scheduling our alone time with God every day the same as we schedule any other important appointment in our life. We choose to commit at least 15 minutes every day to be alone with God.

The time we decide to schedule for our appointment with God depends on our personal situation. If we have other family members around, we need to select a time when we can be alone and have quiet. Perhaps early in the morning before others wake up, before bed, or both. We also need a comfortable spot to rest with God, so picking a spot ahead of time is a good thing. If there is a place to make a sanctuary for quiet time with God, make one. If not, we can use a comfortable chair or sofa. We can also sit or kneel on a throw pillow on the floor. Whatever works best and feels comfortable and peaceful.

Praying is a good place to begin. Ask God to join us in the Secret Place of the Most High; Tell God our desire to spend time alone with Him in His presence; Tell God we will wait on Him. These are some good ways to begin.

Sitting quietly, focus on a favorite verse of Scripture, or on Jesus, or on God's love, or some other aspect of God that brings peace. Breathe in deeply with that thought and breathe out deeply with that thought, deeply from the depth of the gut, waiting patiently, focusing on the verse or the aspect of God and breathing in and out. Do this for 15 minutes, or 30 minutes, or more. We can do as much or a little as we choose. If we are not currently spending any alone time with our Father God, even 15 minutes may seem like a long time. If focusing on a verse of Scripture or an aspect of God doesn't work, try focusing on a simple word like "one" while breathing in and out. Something to hold the attention.

As we do this thoughts will probably pop in and out. Put them aside until after the quiet time. The more we do this, the easier it will get to put thoughts aside that try to invade our quiet time with God. As the mind gets clearer and calmer, we can be still and know God. We can rest in the peaceful communion, silently alone in His presence. We can sit in the stillness and calmness in the innermost part of our being, alone with our Father God in the Shadow of the Almighty.

As we get more proficient in this particular type of communion with God, we will learn how it feels to rest in the Shadow of the Almighty and we can take that feeling with us all throughout the day. Once we have this feeling it will help us practice the presence of God as we go about our daily tasks and duties, keeping our minds tuned into God's presence moment by moment.

Entering the Secret Place of the Most High is something we do alone. We go into the closet and shut the door. (Matthew 6:6) We don't need to talk about it or discuss it to make it a valuable experience. Going unto the Father is the value. Spending time with Him alone, dwelling in the Shadow of the Almighty is the value. 15 minutes a day may seem like a lot, but committing to a relationship in the Secret Place of the Most High is more precious than silver, gold or diamonds.

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

With the Measure You Use, It Will be Measured to You

In the way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:2)

Do we get upset when others judge us? How about when we judge others? Is there quick judgment in our mind when someone cuts us off in line or makes a remark about something? Perhaps there is more than a quick judgment in our mind. Perhaps we dwell on the incident in our mind, or even spend time talking about the incident to others. How about when we cut someone off or make a remark. In the way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. This is God's simple law of cause and effect.

In the face of conflict, how do we respond? In the face of trouble, how do we respond? Do we ever take a look at our own responses to life and ask the question why are we responding the way we do? Are we responding in active faith? What is the motive for our response if we are not responding in faith?

We all have gifts and talents. Perhaps we have developed them into wonderful blessings for our lives and the lives of others. But have we taken the time to develop active faith filled responses in times of trouble and conflict?

Active faith and the law of cause and effect are like an acorn. The acorn carries all the properties of the mighty oak tree. We can't see the oak tree in the acorn, but it is there. So we go ahead and plant the acorn knowing that with care the oak tree will grow from it. Active faith is like the blossom of a rose. The blossom carries all the properties of the fully opened bloom. Even though we can't see the fully opened rose in a bloom, we know the rose is there. Likewise, we can be full of fear, anger or bitterness - poisonous like the hemlock seed which has all the properties of the poisonous hemlock plant. The poisonous hemlock plant grows and blossoms the same as the acorn and the rose. Do we react with active faith?

Give and it will be given to you...for by your standard of measure it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38) Do we give active faith in all situations or do we react with anger, bitterness, judgment, or fear? When others react badly to us, how do we react? Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you...bless them which use you. (Luke 6:27-36) More than doing the right thing, this is the law of sowing and reaping - the law of cause and effect.

God's law of nature brings forth the tree from the seed. The fruit of the seed shows very clearly what seed has been planted in the soil. The fruit of life bears forth visible evidence of what seeds have been planted in thought, word and deed.

The good news is that we can live by grace and not by law through Jesus Christ. We can renew our mind, body and spirit by giving them up to God and allowing the body, mind and spirit of Christ to dwell in us. We need to decrease and he must increase. (John 3:30) We must do as John the Baptist did, allow Christ to increase. Christ must increase in us and our human ego must decrease.

When we realize our error, we may not be able to immediately control our thoughts, words and reactions or use active faith. Our human will may be weak. We all have bad human habits. But we can let go of our will and take the yoke of Christ upon us, his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Once we let go of our ego and let Christ take over our body, mind and spirit the Father within will begin taking over our thoughts, words and reactions. The Father within will do the work. (John 14:10) Jesus said that we will do the things that he did and even greater things in his name. (John 5:30) With the body, mind and spirit of Christ we are one with the Father. We can claim the same things Jesus did.

Do you put a lamp under a bowl? Whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you and more. (Mark 4:21-25) Deliberately practice active faith and love. Forgive quickly and release people and events and let them go to the good God has waiting for them. I will arise and go to my Father.

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Much love, Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Active Beautiful Heartfelt Prayer

Active, beautiful, heartfelt prayer is a spiritual treatment to change our soul and help us go unto the Father. Paul said not to conform to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by renewing your mind. (Romans 12:2) Jesus said, "your faith has healed you" many times. (Matthew 9:22, 15:28, Mark 5:34, Mark 10:52, Luke 7:50, Luke 8:48, Luke 18:42) If we take on the mind, body and spirit of Jesus Christ, not conforming to the pattern of this world, we will be transformed. It will not be us doing it, it will be the Father within us who does the work. (John 14:10)

It is not the Father who needs to change to be doing the work in us. We allow our ego to separate us from God. The active, beautiful, heartfelt prayer we need to do is on our self asking God to change us. By the grace of God through Jesus Christ we can be lifted up. Our mind, body and spirit can go unto the Father and we can be healed of whatever needs to be healed.

This is active, beautiful, heartfelt prayer and is spiritual treatment. We can pray or give ourselves a treatment for anything. Jesus says for all who are burdened and heavy laden to come to him and he will give rest. He says to take his yoke upon yourself because his burden is light. It is light because it is God's burden. When we hold onto burdens they become hard and stubborn. We may be doing it consciously or unconsciously, but it doesn't matter. The spiritual treatment in itself helps to soften the hard burden, but it mostly softens us so that we can change and not be conformed to this world. Treatments can help us to be transformed by renewing our minds so that we can test and prove God's good and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

A spiritual treatment is good because it helps us to remember the Truth about God for ourselves or to help someone else. The Truth is that God never leaves us or forsakes us. When we can come to the feeling of the Truth, not just repeat words, we can come to the Father in the Secret Place of the Most High and abide in the Shadow of the Almighty. Some times having someone else help us by treating with us or for us is good and beneficial if we are struggling. Jesus said that where two or more are gathered in his name, that he is there with you too. (Matthew 18:20) If you don't have anyone to treat for you or with you, you can email me. So not to get spam I am writing the email address out with words rather than symbols so the search robots miss it - change the words AT and DOT to symbols, no spaces: treatment4me AT gmail DOT com. Put "please treat for me" in the subject line. In about 250 words, please tell me what you would like me to treat for. I don't check it every day, so please be patient with me if you would.

Isaiah 35 says the desert will rejoice and blossom. It is God's desire to have us dwell in His Secret Place under the Shadow of the Almighty with Him. He wanted it so much that He gave us his son, Jesus Christ, to help us "strengthen our knees" and calm our fears so we could come directly to Him. (Isaiah 35:3) "Behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense. He will come and save you." (Isaiah 35:4) God does come when you behold Him. He comes. Your faith will make you well. No matter what your problem is, BEHOLD YOUR GOD WILL COME. This is my treatment for you and for me today, my active, beautiful, heartfelt prayer for you and for me.

Do we ask why a loving God allows us to suffer trouble or to make mistakes? Do we love our free will and our ability to make choices? Our free will demonstrates that our God loves us. Our free will gives us choice. If our Father God made all our choices for us we would not have free will. The wonderfully, awesome thing is that we can behold God and choose Him and He will come with force and reward us for our choice and our faith. Your faith makes you well because God never leaves us or forsakes us. He is already there. He hasn't gone any place.

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! With light and love, Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Leaning on God

Today is huge with blessings. I am leaning on the sustaining power of the Infinite. As the wise men beheld the star which took them to the Christ child, so the beams of Christ make plain the plan for salvation for each of us. We should no longer be content with doctrine. Truth is independent of doctrine and it knocks on the door of our souls with urgency. Can we let go of our ego, fears and ignorance and experiment with active faith in God? Do we ignor the knocking on the door of our soul?

Unfortunately active faith usually requires doing something that we have never done before. There is usually no one else but us to show us the way we are to take. The early American pioneers cut through trees, forged rivers and climbed mountains. Do we have that kind of active faith in God? Our active faith in God, the One Infinite, Limitless Power that we are all connected to and that everything is connected to, will lead the way. "The Lord shall reign forever." (Exodus 15:19, Psalm 146:10) Faith can be read about in books or taught from the pulpit in church, but until we actively apply faith daily in our own life we can never determine the usefulness of faith based ideas.

The Bible tells us stories of the many people Jesus Christ healed. It also tells us about the many people that Jesus didn't heal. If you look at who was healed and who wasn't, it shows that it didn't take any special intellectual powers to be healed. Jesus said, "as ye believe so shall it be done unto you." Those who didn't believe weren't healed. He also said the it was the Father within him who did the work and that we could do the things that he did and even greater things in his name. Can we heal the way Jesus did?

The healing Jesus did took people's bodies back to how God created them before the fall of man in the garden of Eden. God created us in his image and likeness, but when Eve ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, carnal man forgot who he was in God. We became forgetful of our true relationship to our Creator.

Our physical senses are wonderful, but they are carnal and limited. We cannot comprehend ourselves as the unlimited, infinite image and likeness of God by using our limited, carnal senses. We must comprehend God with the Spirit of God to be able to comprehend the wonderful creation God created as us. But it cannot be our carnal flesh comprehending, it must be the Father within us doing the work. How can we do this? By taking on the body, mind and spirit of Christ and then we can do the things that Jesus did and even greater things in his name.

The people Jesus healed were able to accept what Jesus told them, go unto the Father within themselves and comprehend their wholeness in God, through Christ. They were healed by the Spirit of God and not by sight. They walked by the Spirit of God and not by sight.

Healing can happen in an instant, or it may take some experimenting. Some times we need to strengthen our faith muscles through use much like we strengthen our body muscles through exercise. We need to exercise those faith muscles by using active faith on a daily basis. If we experiment with our faith muscles on a daily basis with small things, perhaps when big things come along our faith muscles will be toned and in shape. It's called leaning on God every day.

Also check out my blog entry called The Kingdom Within
If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
© Copyright 2012 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Mind Similes - Effect of Mind

I like similes and metaphors. Here are some mind similes.

The mind is like a fertile garden. Like a fertile garden, we can choose the seeds we plant and nurture. We are the master gardener of our mind. We can choose good seed to plant with a vision of the good result we would like to see, thoughts of love, faith, and forgiveness. We can choose to plant nothing and allow the weed seeds of the world to grow. We can also choose to plant bad seed, thoughts of hate, fear, anger, or resentment. We are the master gardener of our mind.

The mind is like a computer. Like a computer, good programs or viruses can be loaded. We can choose to load good computer programs with specific good results in mind. We can set up security programs on our computer to help prevent hackers from putting viruses on our computer, or we can avoid using security programs. We could even deliberately load viruses on our own computer, but why would we want to do that? We are the computer tech for our mind. We can load thoughts of love, faith, and forgiveness into our mind. We can let the world hack into our mind and load the weed seeds of the world. We can even deliberately load thoughts of hate, fear, anger, or resentment into our minds simply by continually thinking about them. We are the computer tech for our mind.

The mind is like an ocean. Like an ocean, beneath the choppy waves on the surface there is calm water in the depths. We can choose to dive down deep and swim in the calm waters in the depths. We can also choose to swim in the choppy waves on the surface. We can be a scuba diver in the ocean of our mind.

The mind is like a magnet and it can attract or repel. We are the handler of the magnet of our mind. We can make the magnet attract something by choosing the end of the magnet that attracts. We can choose what the magnet attracts by what we point it at. We can ignore which end we use and repel rather than attract, our choice. We are handling the magnet of our mind.

The mind is like an untamed horse which is difficult to ride and in order to ride it needs to be trained. We are the trainer of our untamed mind. We can choose to train the untamed horse daily so we can eventually easily ride. We can also attempt to ride the untamed horse while it gives a good try at throwing us off. We are the trainer of our untamed mind.

The mind is like a mirror reflecting what it sees. We are the holder of the mirror who determines what it reflects. We can choose to reflect beautiful images. We can also choose to reflect envy, anger or even murder or other negative images. We hold the mirror of our mind.

The mind is like a fire where the flames can be erratic or controlled. We are the builder of the fire of the mind. We can choose to start a small fire, take steps to adjust the flame by how and when we add the fuel, and build a controlled fire. We can also start a fire that burns out of control. We are the builder of the fire of the mind.

Also check out my blog entry called The Kingdom Within
If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! With light and love, Terrie
© Copyright 2012 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

One Omnipresent Power

Not everyone agrees about the nature of God, but scriptures from all over the world testify to the existence of One Omnipresent Power. Different names have been given to this One Omnipresent Power with different explanations and people often vehemently disagree about the concepts. Clearly though there tends to be a unity of spirit in some scriptures from all over the world about One Omnipresent Power.

The Bible says that we were created in the image and likeness of God. Jesus Christ told us that the Kingdom of God is within us. As the universe was created by this One Omnipresent Power, so were we.

But scripture is full of contradictions, just like life. Reading scripture can be confusing and create as many questions as it answers some times. Daniel refused to defile himself with wine and ate only vegetables. Paul says that we should eat whatever is set before us and to take a little wine to settle the stomach.

Scripture study is a good thing for spiritual growth. We should study with wisdom and discernment looking for answers from within. We are told to walk by the spirit rather than walk by sight. A wise and discerning spirit is available within each of us. Our mind, body and spirit are connected. Jesus Christ said that he was the gate and that no one comes to the Father except through him. What does that mean?

We can all have the body, mind and spirit of Jesus Christ in us. We can go unto the Father through Jesus Christ. It is possible to live life without the body, mind and spirit of Jesus Christ. We all have free will and we can choose to do as we please. We can live without the guidance of the One Omnipresent Power. God does not force himself on us and even Jesus could not heal those who did not believe.

As experiences in life begin to show us where we need to adjust, we grow. As we grow, we begin to understand our own ego and the contradictions our ego can bring into the experiences of our life. The appetites of the flesh make us less receptive to the guidance of the One Omnipresent Power within us. If our ego is the master of our body, mind and spirit, we miss the guidance of the still, small voice calling to us from the secret place of the most high.

If we live by the spirit and consciously cultivate a relationship with the guidance of the One Omnipresent Power within, we let go of ego. The Father within us does the work. When we go unto the Father and live by faith and not by sight we are no longer directed by the appetites of the flesh. Seek first the Kingdom of God... and all these things will be added. The One Omnipresent Power will light the way.

I only want the One Omnipresent Power to guide me. Jesus Christ showed me the way - how to go directly to the Father. The spiritual ether can hold an assortment of distorted and spooky ideas for people who don't put the body, mind and spirit under the control of the Christ mind and go directly to the Father. Each of us must learn how to let go of our flesh ego and we shouldn't want to give control to some lost spirit who clings to ego, as some folks seem to want to do, either in this world or from the spiritual ether beyond.

How do we let go of our flesh ego and live by the spirit? We can go to the scriptures and learn from them. I read and then meditate on what I read, sorting through the contradictions I find. I ask God to show me through His Spirit what the meaning of the scriptures are for me this day. I ask God to speak to me through the scriptures and through His Spirit knowing that He is the One Omnipresent Power. After I ask for His guidance, I become still and wait upon Him in meditative silence. I go unto the Father in prayer and devotion and I make an effort to practice the presence of God throughout my day as I live my life. God is guiding me as I learn to hear His voice in every thing I do and live by the spirit of the One Omnipresent Power.

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! With light and love, Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

Amazing Pencil Tip Sculptures

This sort of talent is amazing!! Take a look at the pictures below of these pencil sculptures by Dalton Ghetti...this takes a lot of patience. Click here to read a a NY Times Article about artist Dalton Ghetti.

Be sure to check out the parable at the bottom too!

"A pencil maker told the pencil 5 important lessons just before putting it in the box:
1) Everything you do will always leave a mark;
2) You can always correct the mistakes you make;
3) What is important is what is inside of you;
4) In life, you will undergo painful sharpenings, which will make you better;
5) To be the best pencil you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you.

We all need to be constantly sharpened. This parable may encourage you to know that you are a special person, with unique God-given talents and abilities. Only you can fulfill the purpose which you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot be changed and, like the pencil, always remember that the most important part of who you are, is what's inside of you and then allow yourself to be guided by the hand of God."
(author unknown)

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! With light and love, Terrie
 http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

The Practice of the Presence of God

Here is a link to Gutenberg.org where various free versions of "The Practice of the Presence of God" can be downloaded for Kindle, and other reading devices in e-book form or it can be read online: Gutenberg Project - The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

Here is a link to "The Practice of the Presence of God" in audiobook formats and they are all free from Librivox.org in M4B audiobook or an MP3 Zip file for your iPod, or listen to it streaming on your computer.
Librivox Audiobooks-The Practice of the Presence of God

Here is a short bio on Brother Lawrence.

"He was born was born Nicholas Herman around 1610 in France. He fought in the Thirty Years War as a young soldier and sustained a near fatal injury to his sciatic nerve. The injury left him crippled and in chronic pain for the rest of his life. He was educated both at home and by his parish priest whose first name was Lawrence. He was well read and was drawn to a spiritual life of faith and love for God at an early age.

In the years between the abrupt end of his duties as a soldier and his entry into monastic life, he spent a period of time living in the wilderness and also some time in private service. During mid-life he entered a newly established monastery in Paris where he became the cook for the community. After fifteen years his duties were shifted to shoe repair, but he often returned to the busy kitchen to help out.

Brother Lawrence discovered and followed a pure, uncomplicated way to walk continually in God's presence. For some forty years, he lived and walked with Our Father at his side. Yet through his own words, we learn that Brother Lawrence's first ten years were full of severe trials and challenges.

A gentle man with a joyful spirit, Brother Lawrence shunned attention and the limelight. It was not until after his death that a few of his letters were collected. Joseph de Beaufort, counsel to the Paris archbishop, first published the letters in a small pamphlet. The following year in a second publication titled, 'The Practice of the Presence of God', de Beaufort included the content of four conversations he had with Brother Lawrence. In this small book of letters and conversations, Brother Lawrence simply and beautifully explains how to personally commune with God from the heart.

Brother Lawrence left the gift of a way to continually commune with the Father that is available to anyone who seeks to know God's peace and presence. Anyone regardless of age or circumstance can practice to presence of God anywhere, anytime. Brother Lawrence also left the gift of a direct approach to living in God's presence that is as practical today as it was three hundred years ago. Brother Lawrence died in 1691, having practiced God's presence for over forty years. His quiet death was much like his monastic life where each day and each hour was a new beginning and a fresh commitment to love God with all his heart."

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
 http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

The Yoga of Jesus

Jesus Christ said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me...and ye shall find rest unto your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30) It can also be translated as, "Take my yoga upon you and learn of me...and ye shall find rest unto your souls, for my yoga is easy and my burden is light." The word yoga has the literal meaning of yoke. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root word yuj. Yuj means to join. When we take the yoke or yoga of Christ upon us, we are literally joining our body, mind and spirit with the body mind and spirit of Christ. Why would we want to take the yoke or yoga of Christ upon us? The Bible says that God created us in his image (Genesis 1:26, 27) and that the Kingdom of God is within us. (Luke 17:20-21) If we were created in the image of God, and if we have the Kingdom of God within us, why do we need to take the yoke or yoga of Jesus Christ upon us?

Many questions come to mind in response to why would we want to or need to take the yoke or yoga of Christ upon us. Do we really believe that we were created in the image of God? What does that mean? Do we believe that the Kingdom of God is actually within us and how do we find that Kingdom? It seems that if the Kingdom of God is within us then it should be pretty easy to find it, right? Is it easy to find? Are we currently dwelling in the secret place of the most high and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty? Where is the secret place of the most high? Do we know how to dwell in that secret place and are we able to connect with Father God and hear His still, small voice calling to us? Do we know how to be still and know God?

Do we want to connect with God in our innermost being? We are told if we dwell in the secret place of the most high we shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty, (Psalm 91:1) and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty sounds pretty good to me. We are told to be still and know God (Psalm 46:10). Wouldn’t we all like to know God? Do we want to connect with God and abide under his shadow, or are we content with the way things are? We all have free will. God doesn’t force us to dwell in His secret place, or to abide under His shadow, or to be still and know Him. So even though God hid the secret place within us, we don’t find it. We have free will. We choose.

When we take the yoke or yoga of Christ upon us, we literally join our body, mind and spirit with the body, mind and spirit of Christ and have the same body, mind and spirit as Christ. When we take the yoke or yoga of Christ upon us, we surrender our body, mind and spirit to the Father in the Kingdom within us through grace and devotion, and we let go. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) The Father who dwells in Christ does the work in us and through us because we have the same body, mind and spirit as Christ. (John 14:10) The acceptance and realization of body, mind and spirit of Christ in us by us is the beginning.

The world steals our mind and devotion from God through our ignorance and delusion. We trust what our five senses tell us. We listen to the media. We respond to pressure from well meaning friends and family. We listen to teachers who exalt their human egos and personality rather than pointing followers to the Father. The world steals the devotion that is meant for God, (John 10:7-10) but the sheep know their shepherd. (John 10:14)

We have to forget what the world and our five senses tell us and trust Christ in us enough to experiment with faith, experiment with devotion, experiment with quietness, and experiment with going to the Kingdom of God within us. "Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?" (2 Corinthians 10:7) In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15) Christ has shown us the way. “Take my yoke (yoga) upon you and learn of me...and ye shall find rest unto your souls, for my yoke (yoga) is easy and my burden is light". (Matthew 11:29) Go unto the Father within. Yoke with Christ in body, mind and spirit – the yoga of Jesus Christ.

I enjoyed reading this article called "The Yoga of Christ" which I found online. The author, Philip G. McLemore, opens with the question, "Is it possible that the teachings of Jesus are so comprehensive they encompass the core spiritual principals of both East and West? Here is the link:
The Yoga of Christ by Philip G. LeMore

Here is a link to Gutenberg.org where free versions of "Autobiography of a Yogi" (mentioned in the article "The Yoga of Christ" by Philip G. McLemore above) can be downloaded for Kindle, and other reading devices in e-book form or it can be read online. I enjoyed reading Autobiography of a Yogi.
Gutenberg Project eBook-Autobiography of a Yogi

Click this link if you'd like to purchase The Yoga of Jesus by Paramahansa Yogananda.

Here is a link to a video of me doing meditation in motion, a joint opening beginners yoga class that I did originally for my sister and Mama who live in another part of the USA. My sister liked it so much she wanted it on video, but we didn't get to video it.  I did the video on my webcam when I got home for her, so the quality is not the best. Here is a link to PDF I mention in the video - Mukunda Stiles Joint Freeing Series


If you enjoyed this post, please go on and read my post Quieting the Mind in Meditation, Looking into Infinity and Yin Yoga: Surrender and Receptivity of Body, Mind and Spirit. If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Thank you, Terrie Harmer

© Copyright 2016 - Terrie Harmer. http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/

As a Man Thinketh

We have probably heard about the power of thought on tv, in an article, or may be we have read a book about it. I first read about the power of thought when I was in my early twenties. Here is a link to one of my favorite books on the power of thought, other than the Bible:
As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

The Forward of "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen says it all.

"This little volume (the result of meditation and experience) is not intended as an exhaustive treatise on the much-written upon subject of the power of thought. It is suggestive rather than explanatory, its object being to stimulate men and women to the discovery and perception of the truth that - "They themselves are makers of themselves" by virtue of the thoughts which they choose and encourage; that mind is the master weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may have hitherto woven in ignorance and pain they may now weave in enlightenment and happiness."

Proverbs 23:7 says, "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." The day arrives when I know that I am the creator of my world because of my thoughts.

We can't escape who we are at the core. The truth is that we are all God's children and that he is our Father. We are each His beloved child, God's own creation. Unfortunately, most of us come into this world without the aid of someone to encourage our soul's awakening to life's possibilities. Rather than living by grace, we live by sight. We see life through the human senses. We learn from our parents, our friends, our teachers, our superiors at work. We form opinions based on the reflections we see of the outer world through our five senses. We miss the very personal plan God has for each of us based on the Kingdom of God within.

The author Napoleon Hill said that thoughts are things. I have been looking at my thoughts. Have you ever done that? What do we think about? We can choose what we think about because we have free will. No one really knows what we are thinking, but our world is molded by our thoughts, and especially by our deep feelings of love, joy, and peace or hurt, fear, and resentment. What we hold in our mind has an effect on our life and it has an effect on our physical body.

Russian scientists have studied hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure using chimpanzees. In one study they took a male chimpanzee who had been living happily with his family and put him in a cage nearby. He couldn't reach his family, but he could see them. Another male was put with his family in his place in his full view. His anger became wild and within several months he died from hardening of the arteries. Even though the chimpanzee was more than justified by his feelings of rage, the result of his feelings killed him.

We can change our ill thoughts. Ill has the same root meaning as bad and evil. Our ill thoughts affect our body and have ill effects on our body. Hippocrates, the Greek physician known as the father of medicine wrote that "men ought to know that from the mind and from the mind only arise our pleasures, laughter, and jests, as well as our sorrows, pains, griefs, and fears." Hippocrates wrote this around 400 BC, but nothing has changed. Secret societies have used the power of thought in the form of healing laws for thousands of years. We can too. As Plato told the physicians of his time, the word health applies to body, mind, and spirit. Our health relates to a healthy mind, body and spirit.

Thomas Edison discovered that every cell in our body thinks. There are brain cells in every cell of our body. Every cell has a brain. Every cell is mind. The body responds to both positive and negative thoughts. It can and does heal itself if we allow it to do what it already knows how to do. Consider the repair action the body does when a child falls and skins a knee. Of course we do our part and clean out the wound and put on an antibiotic. Consider how the body repairs a broken bone and knits it back together.

The life force in our body is powerful because it is the power of God in us and we can call God's power that is already there into action. Our body is the temple of God. It houses God's power in us. It is activated to its fullest capacity with our active faith. Dr. Phineas P. Quimby proved these ideas during the 1800's when he performed what can be termed miracles on people he knew. These cures became famous and still are.

Our thoughts are the strongest thing in our body. Our active faith talks to each and every cell in our body. The body is 80% water so it is very fluid. This is a good reason why our thoughts can do so much to mold the body. Even Jesus Christ could only heal people who had faith that they could be healed. Those who did not believe were not healed even by Jesus Christ.

We can change our thoughts in an instant by giving everything to God. As ye believe so shall it be done unto you. Most of us require more than instant to let go and change our thinking, but it can be done in an instant if we can believe it. God's grace is immediate if we can but thrust in our sickle and reap because the harvest is ripe.

Download "As A Man Thinketh" free for Kindle and electronic readers from Gutenberg.org:
Gutenberg Project eBook-As a Man Thinketh

Dowwload "As a Man Thinketh" free audiobook from Librivox.org
Librivox free AudioBook download - As a Man Thinketh

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! With light and love, Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com

Under Grace and Not Under Law

“…If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you will ask what you will and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)

“…every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:6-7)

“…stir up the gift of God that is in thee…” (2 Timothy 1:6)

God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) He gave us His spirit. We all have the same spirit of God within us. It is the gift of God – His grace. It is personal for each one of us. We just have to know God’s gift is there, accept that we have it, and know how to handle the power. Jesus Christ showed us how we can do this and how to have life abundantly. (John 10:7-10)

We each have this very personal gift from God within us in the secret place of the most high, in the kingdom of God within us. I don’t want your gift and you shouldn’t want mine. God’s gift of grace for you is just right for you as His gift of grace for me is just right for me. You will be able to use the gift of grace God gave you in very special ways. It is the highest, the deepest and the widest good you can imagine and it is perfect for you, as mine is perfect for me.

Jesus Christ came to show us our true identity, our oneness with the Father. Christ came to show us the way to the gift God has for each of us in the kingdom within. Jesus Christ also gives us the ability to receive complete instructions on how to handle the power that comes with this remarkable gift from God through the Holy Spirit. We work under grace and not under law in the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “In myself I can do nothing, it is the Father within me who does the work.” We can do the things Jesus did and even greater things in the name and power of Jesus Christ. It will be the Father doing His powerful work through us, not us.

It is absurd to limit God. “They limited the Holy One of Israel.” (Psalm 78:41) How can finite minds comprehend a limitless Father? No matter how much science stretches the mind, a finite mind can never completely stretch to understand God’s infinite nature. It is by God’s spirit in us that we understand. “Not by power, not by might, but by my spirit says the Lord.” (Zechariah 4:6)

God cannot be limited because of carnal man’s finite view of him. The tiny picture carnal man’s senses know of the Infinite Creator is not who God is. Carnal mind tries to limit God with a finite ego and stuffs God into a little mental box and says, “God is this, or God is that.” God is infinite and limitless. Man cannot force human boundaries on God, who has no boundaries; although from age to age carnal man continues to try to do just that. Carnal man’s limited physical senses can neither fully experience God's infinite nature, nor expand man’s view of God’s limitlessness. But there is a way to understand God’s infinite, limitlessness and power within us.

The gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ can get us to the spirit of power, love and self-discipline in the secret place of the most high. Under grace we can go directly to the Father in the kingdom of God within us. It is the Father within us who does the work in the name and by the power of Jesus Christ.

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Thank you. Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com

Resist Not Evil

Why did Jesus tell us to resist not evil in Matthew 5:38-39? He told us to resist not evil because he is telling us that there is only one power, God.

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?” (Lamentations 3:38)

“When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?” (Amos 3:6)

“I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

“You heard that it was said: an eye for eye, and tooth for tooth; but I say to you, do not resist the evil, but whoever shall slap thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other.” (Matthew 5:38-39)

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

Well then if there is only one power in the universe, God, why does James 4:7 tell us to resist the devil? May be he didn't. Perhaps the English translations do not do justice in their translations of James 4:7 from the original Greek. I am no expert, but I found that it could be translated differently.

The Greek word Antisthte can be translated as oppose; the Greek word diabolos can be translated as slander against God; the Greek word PhEUXETAI can be translated as it shall flee. So then James 4:7 can be stated as “submit yourselves therefore to God, oppose the slander against God and it shall flee.”

Carnal man has allowed himself to experience evil through his own soul sleep and through his own forgetfulness of God. Soul sleep is our belief in the things that our five senses can experience rather than relying on God. We have forgotten that God placed the Kingdom of God within us. Jesus Christ came to show us how to find it again.

Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Translations are imperfect. People who do translations are imperfect. However, we have so many tools available to us today on the Internet to do research, we can compare and contrast and form our own opinions. We don't need to rely on people. We can go unto the Father in quietness and confidence and we can also research and read.

Resistance against God is hell because it puts us in a state of torment. Submitting to God is heaven on earth which gives us joy and peace. Jesus came to give us life and give it to us abundantly. Evil is real to those of us who have not fully submitted to God through Jesus Christ. Our Father gave us free will, and we can choose not to submit if we want. We can choose evil that carnal man has created for us in this world through resisting God, or we can choose heaven on earth by accepting the body, mind and spirit of Jesus Christ into our body, mind and spirit. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

Our goal should be to practice nonresistance perfectly, renewing our mind to keep it line with Christ's mind by practicing the presence of God, and submitting to the Father completely moment by moment. (Romans 12:1-2) If we practice keeping our mind established in right thinking we will see results from our experiments. We can build up our right thinking muscles. Jesus said that we will do the things that he did and even greater things in his name and by his power. (John 14:12)

Why not experiment with sowing and reaping with thoughts in line with Christ's mind? We have everything to gain and nothing to lose by renewing our minds. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7) Don't be deceived into believing that we are not responsible for our thoughts. We mock God with our fearful, evil thoughts. Why not sow mind seeds of good will to all people? Why not sow seeds of faith rather than seeds of fear? Why not go into our mental and physical battles as King Jehoshaphat did? He sowed seeds of faith going into battle. He knew it was God's battle. Why don't we dig our ditches if we really expect it to rain? (2 Kings 3:16-20) Why don't we find all the jars we can and let them be filled with the oil of faith in preparation of God fighting our battle for us? (2 Kings 4:3-6 and 2 Chronicles 14:11) Resist not evil and practice nonresistance in active faith. We have free will and we can choose active faith.

Check out Bible passages on Bible Gateway. I have been using Bible Gateway for about seven years. Here is the link:http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/

Here is a link to James 4:7 in a Greek Lexicon online:http://www.qbible.com/greek-new-testament/james/4.html

If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Thank you. Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com