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Sunday, September 27, 2015

Negotiations and Power of Prayer

Diplomatic Negotiations at the UN for Syria




BBC News reports that over "200,000 Syrians have been killed since the country erupted into civil war in 2011, and Islamic State took control of swathes of the country in 2014."


Mr. Assad stands accused of "indiscriminate bombing in rebel-held areas" whereby his own people suffered tremendous loss of life and property. Due to this issue, Leaders of France, England, and the United States have not been willing to negotiate any kind of peace deal that included Assad remaining in power, a stand resisted by Russian President Putin. Now, because of the intensity of the refugee situation, "European leaders gathering at the UN are intensifying calls for a diplomatic push in Syria," with the possibility of Assad temporarily remaining in power during a transition as a compromise to enlist fuller cooperation.



In the book of Hebrews, Paul writes of faith and its power to procure justice. "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for" (Hebrews 11:1). 


32 And what more shall I say? Paul asks. "I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies" (11:32-34).


WHAT TO DO

While most of us cannot personally appear in the UN to argue our insights or ideas, yet we can exercise our presence for good through prayerful realization of the omnipresence of God, Love, Spirit, there in the midst. Our individual and collective power of faith in the attributes of justice and mercy in operation through the higher Law of God is present to affect and influence the negotiations and outcome in fairness and wisdom. 

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Pardons and Freedom

Pardons in Egypt: Journalists and Protesters




Today, Wednesday, September 23, brings incredible relief to 100 imprisoned young people, through the pardon of Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. Tomorrow Sisi addresses the UN General Assembly. 

Two journalists, named in particular, are the Canadian, Mohammed Fahey, and the Egyptian, Baher Mohamed. They were to serve 3 more years in prison after the retrial held a month ago. BBC News explains, "Prosecutors accused them of collaborating with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi by the military in 2013. The journalists denied the allegation and said they were simply reporting the news." All hope that the Australian correspondent, Peter Greste, has been included in the pardon. Let us keep all the innocents serving sentences in our hearts and prayers, affirming the presence of divine Love and justice that does literally fill all space. Let us affirm that its omnipresence and omniaction is in operation as Law that meets our needs and sets us free.

The Apostle, Paul, was often put into prison (as we read in Acts), and always the presence of the Christ was with him, seen in multifarious forms of blessings and help for himself and all who came into contact with him. 

WHAT TO DO: To help those not yet pardoned, please take 5 MINUTES to prayerfully meditate on the presence and active Law of divine Love encircling, encompassing, and embracing them during this hardship. Realize, even for one moment, that these innocent ones are being comforted by Christ and cannot be confined. Let your thoughts of Love's presence rest on their waiting families as well. 

MORE TO DO: Pardon = forgiveness. To enhance the power of this important work, choose one thing to forgive today, this moment, for yourself or another. Declare the pardon before heaven -- even if it is just of one small infraction. 

Visit my website: spiritualstudycenter.org to hear selections from the Bible on forgiveness.





Saturday, September 12, 2015

Metaphysical Fire Fighting

Metaphysical Fire Fighting




Supported and infused with metaphysical or spiritual power, fire fighting becomes more effective and more quickly reaches its goal of putting out the flames. The 16-hour-flight by Australian and New Zealand firefighters to Oregon to increase efforts to save endangered forests and more homes because "we must help each other," brings an added element of love to the situation, and love is of God, the I AM THAT I AM. The fires raging on the west coast of the United States are devastating and wildly destructive.

WHAT CAN WE DO? Being moved with compassion, with a pure motive as manifested in the firefighters from Australia and New Zealand who plan to spend at least two weeks in this right endeavor, we can each pledge two weeks of 'metaphysical fire fighting.'

WHAT IS THAT AND HOW DO YOU DO IT? Meta means above; this is a method of effective help that is above and beyond that which is being done physically, but which powerfully affects these right human actions for good. It is above the ordinary, connecting with the ever present spiritual energies of the universe that manifest power that meet the needs of our present experience. The method is prayerful meditation whereby the divine Law of Love is present and activated in situations or circumstances where one realizes it rests.

WHAT TO REALIZE IN THE EVENT OF THIS MASSIVE WEST COAST FIRE. There is a Bible narrative in I Kings about the prophet, Elijah. Threatened by Queen Jezebel, he flees to the desert and just 'gives up.' An angel rouses his thought and leads him to Mount Horeb where Elijah goes into a cave. He feels that everything and everyone is against him or has lost all faith in God. As he stands in the doorway of the cave, an earthquake occurs. In Scripture, an earthquake, when paralleled with one's thought, indicates an huge mental shake-up where changes in consciousness are inevitable. Since the only power in the universe truly is God, who is good, the only real effect of that earthquake is this essential mental shaking. This prepared Elijah for the incredible wind that followed. God is only in the wind that blows away chaff, that all-power that cleans consciousness and purifies. God is not in the earthquake or wind that seems so destructive. Finally, there is a FIRE. The Scripture explains that God was not in the fire -- God is not is destructive forces. God is only in the fire that purifies one's heart and soul. The Scriptures explain that God is not in the earthquake, wind, or fire of material appearing, therefore there is no real power in these elements of destruction. God is the only power. After these things, Elijah heard a "still small voice (I Kings 19:12)" This is where we are going in prayerful meditation to metaphysically fight the fires -- to hearing the "still small voice," or "sound of a gentle whisper," as one translation states. Remember, God speaks and it is done ("Let there be light and there was light," Genesis 1).

REALIZATION and peace are given by the Holy Spirit, through Christ, and the "still small voice" is omnipotent Love whose gentle whisper, "Peace, be still," is sufficient to stop destruction. As the winds and waves obeyed the Master, Christ Jesus, so this fire is now under the control of God's Law of Love bear witness in prayerful meditation. Quietly focus thought for at least 5 - 10 minutes on the "still, small voice," or "the gentle whisper," or "the sound of a soft breath," present to quench the flames and make them harmless.

...after the earth-shock a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, the sound of a soft breath (Bible in Basic English, I Kings 19:12).

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Borders

Sealed Out Refugees




According to The Wall Street Journal's article by Margit Feher, Hungary has now created a law "criminalizing illegal border crossings," with a boost from " a loophole in existing European Union travel regulations," to stop the influx of migrants on its southern border (Sept. 9, 2015). The penalty may be years in prison. 

A Bible narrative that parallels this situation may shed some spiritual light on how we can address this effectively. When Balak, king of Moab, saw that a multitude (the children of Israel) were about to overrun the border of his country, he was afraid. There were too many of them. He feared they would take over the whole land. He wanted to prevent their entry. Numbers 22:4 says that "Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel." The description in verse 5 says that "they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me."

Balak sent for Balaam who was known to be a prophet that could cause events to change according to his prayer. He commands that Balaam curse the people, allowing the king to "prevail ... and drive them out of the land" (22:6). God tells Balaam that the people are blessed and he cannot curse them. When forced to accompany the soldiers, the prophet appears before the king, and repeats that he cannot do anything more or less than God commands. Therefore, when taken to the top of a hill overlooking the mass of people heading for the border, Balaam blesses them. Balak, the king, is irate.
He blesses the people 3 times.

Where the Syrian refugees go, what borders they cross, what seas they dare, what guides they hire, what courage they muster to try all manner of escape to find home and safety for themselves and their children, these right endeavors are guided by the divine Intelligence and they are blessed in every right move under the motive of Love one for another. So long as the motive is pure, they are blessed. Nothing can prevent an individual from demonstrating home when his/her heart is pure and the motive is right. 

How hard would you try for your children (or loved ones) to keep them safe? What dangers would you face? If one way does not open, there will be another way, a better way. WHAT TO KNOW: The prayerful-meditation here is to get to realization of the presence and power of divine Love, its infallible guidance, tender protection, and the divine will that every one of His/Her sons and daughters be at peace and secure in a good manifestation of "home." 

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Syrian Refugee Crisis


Lessons, Parallels, and Living Water: Exodus of Old Testament / Syrian Exodus

HOW TO PRAY WITH POWER FOR THE SYRIAN REFUGEES




About four million Syrians, nearly half of whom are under 18, have fled, and continue to flee from their country after four years of a devastating civil war. This has created the largest refugee population of our time. A parallel from thousands of years ago is most useful in guiding us in effective prayer -- prayer that effectively causes the manifestation of good that meets human needs. The historical Biblical account concerns approximately the same number of innocent people; the Israelites who fled Egypt under Moses' command following 400 years of hard labor in slavery. 

The world is being moved to compassion. More individuals every day feel compelled to do something to help. Some needful steps that provide direct aid are listed in an article entitled: "Quick facts: What you need to know about the Syria crisis" (mercy corps.org). To these right efforts we need to add the power of the prayer that produces the most profound manifestation of good, that operates as a law to meet the many and varied needs of individual refugees. In this blog we will focus on the need for clean water, and how practical spiritual truth realized in prayer can be.

Mercy corps.org reports that "in some areas with the largest refugee populations, water shortages have reached emergency levels." Moses led his people through the desert, and their sojourn lasted over 40 years. Early on, they ran out of food and water. In Exodus 17:3, the people, terrified, demand of Moses, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” Moses prays for God's help, and the outcome can be read and studied in verses 5 and 6 (below). 


God's answer to Moses, to the one praying for a way that water be given to so many thousands in the desert: “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel" (Ex. 17:5-6).

Water came out of the rock, and everyone, including the livestock, had more than enough to drink. Metaphysically, applying the ideas of these verses to consciousness for guidance in prayer and action, we begin with, "Go out in front of the people." So what do YOU do? You are not going to literally go out in front of four million refugees -- but your conscious awareness of God's Presence being there -- send THAT out in the FRONT of this situation. God says, "I will stand there before you." God is Spirit and fills all space. God is Love that manifests in compassion. "I will stand there before you." We are to realize the Presence of the Omnipresent Love. 

Additionally, Moses is told to take in his hand (power of Spirit) the "staff" with which he worked an earlier miracle on the Nile. A staff is something to lean on. Think on other times when you have experienced God's help and the manifestation of things needed, and lean on that proof for certainty of your prayer and God's power to meet the refugees' needs. Further, Moses is told to take action, "Strike the rock." Don't just stand there. Do not neglect to go into some time of quiet meditative prayer to realize God's presence out in front, before all world thought and belief, above and before all doubt and fear. As God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, so that same law of Love is present to provide for us today.

ACTION STEP: As you go to sleep tonight, think on the story of Moses striking the rock and the water flowing forth for all the people. Realize the presence of God, Love, in front of all world beliefs of lack, and His spoken word to bring forth living waters, clean water, water for the refugee babies, water for the moms and dads, water for all. It comes from the rock, Christ. The law of God, Good, behind this manifestation changes not, and is present now to do this. 

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Spiritual Eye on El Salvador

Spiritual Eye on El Salvador



In El Salvador, violence has flared up to an unimaginably high level. Last month, BBC News reports, street gangs" left 907 people dead" -- a number "unheard of since the civil war of the 1980's." What is going on? Merciless clashes between gangs and confrontations with security forces endanger everyone. The old truce between major gangs is no longer in force. BBC informs us that there are about 70,000 gang members in El Salvador, and the government is "tackling them head-on." Let us tackle them metaphysically with the Light of Christ, the omnipotence of the presence of Love -- the exact opposites of the appearance -- the true antidote.

Army troops have joined with law enforcement officers in attempts to mitigate the onslaught, but still it continues. Gang members, for example, ordered bus drivers to go on strike; those who resisted were killed. President Ceren has sent troops to the worst areas, but still the savagery continues. The entire region desperately needs the power of Love and reformatory forgiveness to come with strong arm and control the situation. The need to curtail the brutality and bloodshed calls on each one of us to take some form of action. A spiritual response can reach farther into the situation, and do more good, than anything humanly contrived, and will act to support all right motives and good endeavors.

The problem of murderousness and savagery has plagued the world for millennia. In ancient times, King David wrote prayers and petitions about it in the Psalms: "Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. ... Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked: preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings" (Ps. 140:1, 2, 4). The Psalmist provides a model for prayer, petition, protection, and peace. The advancing thought, stemming from David (righteous Hebrew king and musician of praise), progressed directly to the appearing of Jesus, and continues to move forward to each of us as we come under the government of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah prophesied the power of the Christ as seen in Jesus and which is destined to be perpetuated in us, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this" (Isa. 9:7).  The zeal, or energy, of divine Love, the I AM, performs the needed action through omnipotence that shines as a light in individual consciousness, whose brilliance causes dark, violent thoughts to vanish -- displaced by the ever-present peaceful Presence. Violence is a deep black shadow, but no matter how dark or how longstanding, shadows and darkness, are immediately and effortlessly displaced at the coming of light.

The Scriptures proclaim that God is Light and there is nothing dark nor evil in Him (I John 1:5).

ACTION STEP. To save lives, to save both victim and villain from misery, grief, and pain, let us send in the real and eternal 'troops'  -- the angels of His Presence. How can we do this?  We prayerfully meditate upon that Light which fills all space, the Light of Christ. Let us affirm and realize that this Christly Light of Love is already present in the worst places on earth, lighting the most violent consciousness, and that this realization is now saving and sparing the innocents. There is no limit, process, or time required for the angels of His Presence to appear and operate with their saving power. Jesus instructed us to bless our enemies. We ask that this collective prayer of Light permeate the consciousness of every gang member, as well as every innocent one in the vicinities of turmoil. We ask that the power of peace (that cannot be withstood), illumine and awaken every individual to their true being in God's likeness (Gen. 1:26). We ask for the healing energy that comes from realization of omniscient Light that continually shines in the heart of man causing violent propensities to disappear, and brotherly love and care to become more evident.


BBC News. "El Salvador violence up to civil war-era level." 2 September