Posts Tagged ‘grace of god’
Forward by Faith
There are times in our life when things come along and cause us to stand still rather than moving forward. In today’s passage the Lord told Moses to stop praying and get moving. Prayer has a vital place in our lives. But there is also a place of action. Sometimes we know what to do, but we pray for more guidance as an excuse to post pone doing it. If we know what we should do, then it is time to get moving and move forward by Faith.
The Word of God is filled with people that came from different backgrounds, training, personalities and ways in which they served God. But they had one thing in common: They all believed God’s promises and did what He told them to do. They were men and women of faith, and God honored them because they believed His Word. God has not changed, and the principle of faith has not changed.
What seems to have changed is the attitude of some of God’s people: Some no longer believe God and act by faith in His promises. God’s promises never fail, but we can fail to live by the grace of God and not enter into all that he has promised for us. God has “brought us out that He might bring us in” but too often we fail to enter in because of unbelief. (Heb 3:19).
Living faith always leads to action. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” ~ James 2:26
It is impossible to live by faith and ignore the Word of God and prayer. ”Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper (2 Chron 2:20, NKJV). There has not failed one word of all His good promise.
The Australian coat of arms pictures two creatures; the emu, a flightless bird, and the kangaroo. The animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to the Australian citizens. Both the emu and kangaroo can move only forward, not back. The emu’s three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, and the kangaroo is prevented from moving in reverse by its large tail.
Today, you may be feeling like you are in a helpless situation, not able to move forward because of fear. There may be a desperate cry from your heart due to your present circumstances. God is not a temporary retreat. He is our eternal refuge and can provide strength for any circumstances. His power is complete; and victory is certain. He will not fail to rescue those who love him.
It has been well said that faith is not believing in spite of evidence but obeying in spite of consequence. Three essential for moving ahead by faith and claiming all that he has for us: The Word of Faith, The Walk of Faith, and The Witness of Faith. What lies ahead of us is far greater than what lies behind us. Go forward. God Loves You and So do I…….Pastor Tammy
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About the Author:
Pastor, Mentor, Spiritual Counselor, Conference Speaker and Bible Teacher. Founder of New Destiny Global Ministry and Sister to Sister Global Ministry. Our top priority is to help individuals establish and develop a personal relationship with Christ. It is our desire to connect with brothers and sisters in every city, state, and the nations. It is a privilege to connect with you, through prayer, worship and in sharing the awesome Word of God. We are here to encourage, inspire and challenge you to become all that God has destined for your life. This is a praying ministry. We have a heart of compassion for people from all walks of life and especially for those who are hurting. Our purpose is to maintain the same values as that of OUR FATHER, and be a living example of his love and grace to all mankind. We are not into religion, but we do believe in relationships. It’s not about us but it’s about Jesus.
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Projections of the Past
As yet another milestone nears the mind projects forward possible scenarios with a phantasmagoric range of outcomes. All of these projections are based upon the past. I find myself spending alarming amounts of time, clearing my reflections of a past filled with mistakes. Having stepped in so many of the spiritual cow patties which line the straight and narrow path towards spiritual growth, much like land mines in a modern day battlefield, I find myself projecting new dangers in anticipation. The actions of those around me serve as mirrors, and it’s easy to get confused as to what behaviors are in the past, and what are still present.
There is a lesson in A Course in Miracles which reads something like; “My mind is preoccupied with thoughts of the past.” In actuality there is a whole section with the concept that all of which we see is a projection. We could say that what we think of ourselves is a collection of our thoughts, memories, emotions, associations and projections. If we were to let go of all of these we would be in a state of oneness with all creation; or as Nisargadatta Maharaj might say; the “I am” state.
More and more I see my past reflected in someone else’s actions. The thought; “there, but for the grace of time, go I”, flashes across my consciousness. I know the original saying is “the grace of God”, but if it were not for my intention to change that which I can; God’s grace would not have had a window to step through.
Colored by memories of my and the collective’s past, thoughts arise out of the formless potential of pure consciousness, unbidden, and usually unrelated to any conscious process. I see a highway patrol car and memories of past associations flash by which the ego is eager to assign meaning to. In reality it’s only meaning is its existence; likewise for everything else which invades my awareness. It’s a constant barrage of meaningless memories which the ego is only happy to scan; looking for something to attach to, like a lamprey eel seeking its next host.
It’s not until I drop down below the chatter of thought that I find refuge from the incessant traffic. Then, the endless stream is like looking up at the surface of the water during a rainstorm from a vantage point ten or more feet down. You can see the pattern that the rain makes, but you are unaffected by the impact of those drops striking whatever surface they happen to fall on. The opportunity for the mind to assign meaning to the occurrence is there, but one has the choice to pay attention to it or not. The ego would love to get caught up in it of course, but you can simply be the observer, watching the pattern that arises and changes with the nature of the rain.
Somewhere in my collection of slides from my early years as a photographer, is an image of a group of construction workers in a NY City, second floor window lined up with tiered chairs, chasing down lunch with a viewing of the day’s parade along 5th Avenue. The hustle and bustle goes by and they can observe it unaffected by the buffeting of the crowd, the smells and sounds that assault the senses during lunch hour in midtown Manhattan. They are insulated from its pull, except when some unusual character or a particularly attractive beauty walks by. Then the ego gets its opportunity to grab a little energy fueled by projections of their thoughts, memories, associations and perceptions. The fantasies that fill their heads are not in any way shaped by reality; but a composite of their youthful experiences, the movies they have watched and whatever erotic stimuli they have encountered.
Being aware of this play gives me an opportunity to say “no” to the ego’s relentless quest for energy and the mind’s endless prattle of thoughts. When I open to The Field, whether it’s in a time of meditation, or more frequently contemplation, I can simply observe it all; like watching clouds float by. They have no meaning, except for what they are.
David Lowell has been working with energy and healing for 30 years. His clients and students include people from all walks of life on 5 continents. He is the author of “The Struggle to Surrender: Love, Consciousness & The Quantum Field” and publishes “Perspectives” an irregular free Ezine. To see more articles by David and find out about his work go to =>
http://davidlowell.com/
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/projections-of-the-past-1534389.html