Darkness & Light

 

The purpose of darkness is to cover up light. The purpose of light is to expose darkness. The two coexist cyclically in the physical (or visual) world, but beyond what we can see with our eyes, they are constantly at war.

Our consciences are the voices inside our heads that tell us right from wrong, and therefore, interpret what we cannot see.

Our minds are like light switches that are wired to our hearts – in order to turn light on within, we must freely choose to flip the switch.  We must learn to engage our hearts, so they can produce the energy required to power the light that brightens our minds.

However, because our consciences reside within our minds as part of our physical bodies, they are also part of the imperfect (or fallen) state of man. This means that over time, if light is not produced within our minds through observation & intentional self-study that is guided by the heart, then darkness will gain a foothold.  When darkness holds the majority within our hearts and minds, the amount of light inside becomes increasingly harder and harder to find…..

For more on Light, check this out!

Search for the beauty within, so that you may find the light that you so desperately desire!

The Faith of a Child

In Capernaum, near the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was speaking with his disciples about heaven. When the disciples inquired about who was the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven, Jesus welcomed a child into their presence and replied, “I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child.”  (Matthew 18: 3-4)

After reading this, I began to think.  How does one humble himself and become like a child?  What child-like characteristic(s) must one possess in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?  In writing my list of “necessary” traits for the faith of a child, three stood out:

1. Curiosity
2. Forgiveness
3. Untainted by Emotion

If we are not curious, we will never learn.

If we cannot forgive, light-stifling darkness will slowly begin to consume our hearts and minds, as our subconscious [unbeknownst to us] secretly dwells on the resentment that remains as a side effect of harboring negative feelings toward another entity.

And finally, if we allow these negative emotions to control us without conscious knowledge of the darkness that is gradually building inside our minds over time, we will begin to weaken and bend until we are no more useful than the keyboard I am typing this on.  We become like puppets, or ‘robots’ as I like to say, our minds being manipulated by the world around us.

All of us have “robot-isms” – it is our human nature.  However, unless you are able to recognize this fact and routinely acknowledge its presence, all while maintaining enough curiosity about its existence, in order to consistently seek out knowledge with the intent of continuously bettering yourself – you just might not enter the Kingdom of heaven (per Jesus).

Face your fears and find the beauty in them!

Birds & Rain

(Image via It’sGreg @ Flickr):  

Observations:

a. Why do birds go crazy in the rain?
b. Rain = Water
c. Water = Source of Life
d. Birds ‘delight’ in the source of life & also represent freedom

During a recent rain shower, I sat under the shelter of my porch in awe, as I watched the curious nature of several birds delightfully reveling in the raindrops coming down from above. I remembered seeing the same thing a couple months ago after a surprise snowfall, and decided to take note.

This small message of hope might go unnoticed by most, but I could not dismiss the synchronistic meaning that these events formed within my heart. As this congregation of varying species of birds, came together to prance and sing for my viewing pleasure, it appeared as if they were giving thanks for a much needed gift. I pondered this idea and realized that water is a gift – we are born of it and also require it for survival; it is the source of life.

No, this note is not just about birds.  It is an observation of the message they carry with them, in their songs of delight. Birds are the free spirits of air, and have often been used as bearers of messages.  For example, in times of war, homing pigeons were used as messengers to carry word of engaged parties who could not otherwise get word back to their home base. 

Today, we can also choose to see these curious animals of flight in the same way, as messengers. So the next time you find yourself staring out the window in a daydream and catch glimpse of birds at play, take note of their message and how it might apply to you.

There is so much more on this subject, and among the many articles I have found, the following is a wonderful reflection on the divine meaning of these messengers of the air.  Enjoy!

Birds as Divine Messengers: Animal Angels, Spirit Guides and Totems:  How God May Send Messages to You Through Birds

Pay attention to the otherwise unnoticed beauty surrounding you, in the places you might least expect.

Hesitation

Your first instinct is typically the best. Do not hesitate to be your true self at all times!

God’s Love Fills the Earth

“The LORD loves what is righteous and just; his constant love fills the earth.”

–Psalm 33:5 (GNT)

In reference to, “his constant love fills the earth,” what exactly is God’s love?  The love that is known by most of us as human beings is not the love of which this verse is referring. This love is an effect of the presence of the Holy Spirit, God’s witness and protector of man. Without it, what would be here to convict us of guilt or show us the good in the world?

We can know the Holy Spirit is present, when we clearly see and participate in the spreading of God’s light. Ways of doing this could include empathizing and forgiving others, remaining objective in social interactions, observing our behavior in order to catch the wrong we are doing and turn it right, so that others might model their behavior after our own, resulting in the incremental “betterness” of ourselves and those surrounding us. These selfless acts, and ultimate spreading of light, can only be attained through the indwelling of a deep agape love in the very core of our beings; in our hearts (or souls).

Therefore, God’s “constant love fills the earth,” by the continued presence of light, hope, and goodness in the world.  His Witness teaches us to love, by compelling us to do what God loves – that “what is righteous and just,” so that God’s love will continue to spread throughout the world, and “fill the earth.”

“The LORD loves what is righteous and just, his constant love fills the earth.”

 

Related:

Who Is The Restrainer? -gracethrufaith

The Key To Happiness -mytwisteddream

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Who Is The Restrainer?

I was left speechless after reading this article.  Jack Kelley never disappoints!!

Click Here:  Who Is The Restrainer? – Gracethrufaith.

Christian Nuggets – The Indwelling Christ

The Holy Trinity in a nutshell:

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the witness of Jesus Christ, resides within those who believe, so that we may understand God’s purpose for our lives in order to glorify Him, the Father of all creation.

Click Here:  Christian Nuggets – The Indwelling Christ.

Find beauty in ALL of God’s Creation.

A New ‘About Me’

When addressing God’s Church in Corinth with Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the Church there, Paul advises God’s holy people:

“₁₃ So then, we do not speak in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual truths to those who have the Spirit. (alternate translation: ‘…or with words given by the Spirit.’)

“₁₄ Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God’s Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them, and they seem to be nonsense, because their value can be judged only on a spiritual basis.

“₁₅ Whoever has the Spirit, however, is able to judge the value of everything, but no one is able to judge him.”

-1 Corinthians 2:13-15 (GNT)

Scripture taken from the Good News Translation – Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

I began this blog to promote my etsy shop, hoping that the more “linked in” I was, the more items I would sell. However, my etsy shop did not last long, and the direction my blog has taken since, is completely opposite of its intended purpose!

By continuing on, in this opposite direction, I hope to share the knowledge and peace I’ve acquired throughout my spiritual journey, over the past few years. I will try to recount the lessons I have learned in a way that appeals to everyone – meaning: you don’t have to be a Christian to follow my blog, although I will post Biblical topics from time to time.  My goal is for you as readers, to receive the information you find here, in an objective (“what-if”) manner.

I have learned, if you have the ability to proceed through life with an open mind – able to entertain certain ideas or beliefs, without necessarily accepting them in your heart to be true – you will slowly begin to see the world change right before your eyes.  By “verifying” your beliefs, you are sealing them tight as unbreakable truths within your being, and will grow stronger with each answered question, fitting them all together as pieces of the larger puzzle we call life.

I’m a huge verifier. I have always asked “why” about everything – school rules, government laws, religious beliefs, etc. This outlook on life allows me to entertain other people’s values and beliefs, and how they relate to mine, without accepting them as my own. As mentioned above, I’m slowly putting together the pieces of my puzzle (or my purpose in this world), and hope that by sharing this journey, you might also gain the ability to rethink the “facts” you currently accept as “truths.”