Archive for November, 2007


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Quotes on God

Published on November 28, 2007

I am as sure as I live that nothing is so near to me as God. God is nearer to me than I am to myself; my existence depends on the nearness and the presence of God.
… Meister Eckhart

We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to be our first line of defense. We pray when there’s nothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before we do anything at all.
Most of us would prefer, however, to spend our time doing something that will get immediate results. We don’t want to wait for God to resolve matters in His good time because His idea of “good time” is seldom in sync with ours.
… Oswald Chambers

Those who give themselves to prayer should concentrate solely on the conformity of their wills with the divine will. The more fully they practice this, the greater the gifts they will receive from God and the greater their progress in the interior life.
… Teresa of Avila

Prayer is so simple. It is like quietly opening a door and slipping into the very presence of God. There, in the stillness, to listen to His voice, perhaps in petition or only to listen. It matters not. Just to be there in His presence is prayer.
… author unknown

The condition of God’s blessing is absolute surrender of all into His hands. If our hearts are willing for that, there is no end to what God will do for us and no end to the blessings He will bestow. God does not ask you to give the perfect surrender in your own strength or by the power of your will. God is willing to work it in you and for you. The Everlasting God Himself will come in and turn out what is wrong, conquer what is evil, and work what is well pleasing in His blessed sight. God Himself will work it in you.
… Andrew Murray

When one reaches a point where he seeks no solace from any creature, then he begins to relish God perfectly. Then also he will be content no matter what may happen. He will neither rejoice over great things nor grieve over small ones, but will place himself entirely and confidently in the hands of God, Who is All in All.
… Thomas a Kempis

If we are to live unto God at any time or in any place, we are to live unto Him at all times and in all places. If we are to use anything as the gift of God, we are to use everything as His gift.
… William Law

Do not allow yourself to become preoccupied with the purity of your own heart. Instead, turn your gaze toward God. Marvel over God. Rejoice that He is the All Holy One. When you are thus focused on God, do not glance back at yourself. Do not ask yourself where you stand with God. Instead, lift your gaze higher.
Purity of heart is not developing oneself to the utmost, nor is it an achievement of one’s own doing. It is at first a void which one discovers and accepts in oneself. Only then does God come to fill the void according to how much one makes oneself receptive to God’s bounty.
… Francis of Assisi

In the secret of God’s tabernacle no enemy can find us, and no troubles can reach us. The pride of man and the strife of tongues find no entrance into the pavilion of God. The secret of His presence is a more secure refuge than a thousand Gibraltars.
I do not mean that no trials come. They may come in abundance, but they cannot penetrate into the sanctuary of the soul, and we may dwell in perfect peace even in the midst of life’s fiercest storms.
… Hannah Whitall Smith

Prayer of Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light,
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

The Practice of the Presence of God is a way of life where we engage in continual conversation with God; walk with Him in love, humility, simplicity, and faith; and think, say, and do nothing that may displease Him; because this is God’s will for us.

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Weekly Consciousness Tune…Up 11/18/07-11/24/07

Published on November 18, 2007

Imagine two pipes transporting water from point A to point B. The first pipe is clogged with all sorts of junk, causing the water to dribble out. The second pipe is clear and free, allowing the water to flow infinitely.

This simple metaphor explains what happens when we hold on too tightly to how we think people, situations, and ourselves “should” be. When we are control junkies, micromanaging every little detail, unable to open to another view of things, we block the flow of Light into our lives.

So here is where I tell you to open up and let the Light in. But don’t confuse this with “let go, let God”, because that’s not entirely how it works. God, the Light, the Creator, Jesus, Allah, or however you connect to the source of all good, is not going to hand you everything on a silver platter. You still need to work your butt off in this life. But the more you remind yourself, “I don’t see the bigger picture,” the more divine assistance you will receive.

I had a student a few years ago who was desperate to get pregnant. She was a real type-A personality; a successful medical practice, a wonderful husband, a great social life — she had it all. Her greatest dream was to have a child, someone to whom she could pass on all of her wisdom and greatness. She had the child’s life all planned out — the best nursery schools, private education, Harvard, a year at Oxford, and so forth. The only problem was, she couldn’t conceive. No matter what doctor, acupuncturist, herbalist or Indian chief she ran to, no one could help her.

In working with her, we explored the possible spiritual causes of her dilemma. After much difficult deep-digging, she came to the understanding that holding on so tightly to her expectations of what the child needed to be was quite possibly blocking her from conception. In addition to overcoming herself internally, she followed the various kabbalistic prescriptions for overcoming fertility. Today, four years later, she is the mother of two beautiful twins! The lesson here is fixating on what she wanted was preventing her from getting what she needed.

This week, I ask you to create a two-columned list. On one side, title it “Every area in which I am stuck.” Be specific. If it’s money, write, “I can’t seem to make more than 50K a year.” If it’s relationships, write, “my wife and I don’t talk anymore.” Then in the right column, title it, “How I can let go.” You may put in that column, “stop trying to change my wife,” “stop climbing the corporate ladder and find a new career.” You get the idea.

If you are not willing to write things down, then here are some practical actions you can take to let go:

1. Ask for advice or help
2. Discover who you have been hurting as a result of not letting go
3. Ask yourself what benefit you are receiving from holding on so tightly

In the final analysis, we are all control junkies. This week, let’s try a little rehab, shall we?

All the best,

Yehuda


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Question about Dreams

Published on November 12, 2007

A question about understanding and interpreting dreams…

Debbie,

Dreaming is a necessary part of our mental health, but understanding them isn’t as important as knowing what you are at the core when you are awake. The question is, “What is it that you are being now?” Are you angry when you can be patient, or insensitive when you can be kind, or needing to appear right when you can surrender righteousness to God?

Blessings,
Mys