Living In Spirit

Monday, April 20, 2015

Pickax or Feather?

Since childhood we have been told that hard work equals success. Certainly we should always do our best, yet I think we can all point to someone, perhaps you have seen them in your mirror, whom have worked long and very hard yet have little materially to show for it. I will leave the secular discussion for another day, spiritually hard work and struggling to succeed in prayer in meditation are in fact impediments to growth. Successful prayer and meditation, which leads to successful demonstration, is quiet and gentle. To quote Emmet Fox, “Pray with a feather- not a pickax.” Though we may be filled with fear and trepidation, we should always pray in the manner we would like to be treated in, gently with kindness, patience, tolerance and love.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Serenity, Enlightenment, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, Addicts Today, Chopra, Jesus, Healing Path Recovery, Einstein, Marianne Williamson, Sayeh Beheshti, AKUA

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Never Settle

“Cheap optimism is never spiritual.” Never be satisfied or resign yourself to live with anything less than the full expression of God’s love in your life. When we practice the Presence of God everywhere in our lives, remarkable things happen, regardless of the secular condition of the world. Never settle for any condition in your life that expresses lack or limitation. Divine Life wants all to be happy, joyous and free, so be honest about your circumstances, the change comes when we wholeheartedly, without reservation believe that God not only will, but wants to provide for our needs, His love immanent.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Where Do You Place Your Fears?

Do you pray expecting to receive or with trepidation? When we pray with doubt, believing secretly in our heart of hearts that God is too busy, we are insignificant or since our hands are not perfectly clean our prayers will not be answered, then we are praying with two minds, wanting our prayer answered but not believing it will be. Is it then any surprise we fail to demonstrate?

No one among us is perfect, yet none of us are insignificant to God, remember, time is a human construct that has no bearing on God, He is never too busy for His children. We live in a state of grace, His love unconditional, we place conditions on His love and availability out of fear. Please do not misunderstand; fear is a powerful, relentless, pitiless foe. Consider: We are bombarded in a never-ending cacophony of doom and gloom. Economic disaster looms, sickness and disease ever lurking, wars and rumors of war abound, global climactic failure imminent, the end is nigh unless we act or even if we do! Is it really any wonder that fear is so hard to displace?

Understand, this planet has been hit many times in its history with all manner of space debris, altering our home drastically, that 99% of the species that once lived have gone extinct; volcanoes have and will again erupt and explode. There will be earthquakes, economies have and will go up and down and we all die of something. Is worrying about these things going to change anything, improve our lives? No, our course is to take whatever precautions are warranted, act and live responsibly and leave the results to God. Remember the short form of the Serenity Prayer? God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Keep in mind we live in eternity NOW, this flesh, even the stars finite, our consciousness, our soul, eternal. Passing conditions are just that, passing. It is vital that we turn our consciousness, gently through prayer and meditation, away from the negative and to God’s love and guidance. In so doing, not only does our life improve, but the whole world as well, volcanoes, recessions/depressions, war, comet/asteroid strikes, extinctions, pandemics and global climatic changes placed in their proper perspective.

So we place all our fears, great and small in His hands and pray expecting God to act, for nothing so moves the universe as a heartfelt prayer.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Friday, April 17, 2015

When---

When there is nowhere left to turn, turn around, for God is always there.

When in the grip of fear, pray lightly, with a feathers touch.

When facing calamity, meet it with serenity, the serenity found only in His presence.

When in doubt, stop and ask for the right thought or action, in prayer of course.

When the solution feels out of reach, reach out in prayer and meditation.

When feeling put upon, put your hand out to those in need.

And

When all else fails, place the failure in His hands and watch a miracle unfold.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Does God Play Favorites?

Though a self described agnostic with an “attitude” into my 30's, the truth was I had always been a seeker, often looking in the wrong places however. One of the questions that always troubled me was the idea that God would suspend the laws He created to assist one but not another, that some form of pecking order or secret hierarchy existed.

What I now know to be true is“God is a God of love and rules by principle.” Because of His nature He cannot break divine law. “He cannot bring disease, or suffering, or lack.” Yet the world is seemingly buried in sickness, pain and shortage. How can this be? We are either all equally loved or none are since no one of us has a choice in birth or initial circumstances. God is and must be consistent. If not, then we would not live in a universe but a chaos. Would any loving Father throw one child to the wolves so another may prosper?

No one amongst us can live in another's skin; walk the steps on their path of enlightenment. Though we all travel together, are connected in Spirit, our path is as unique as our fingerprints. Our lessons of enlightenment take many forms, remember the only instrument sharp enough to cut away the excess of self, is pain.

God does not, cannot play favorites. God wants each of us to be happy, joyous and free, He demonstrates His love through us, for us but He will not intercede if it stunts or hampers our spiritual awakening. The flesh is finite, our Spirit eternal. Seeing the world with a new pair of glasses it becomes abundantly clear that God can do anything but only within divine law and principle and that is a good thing.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Saint Peter's Tears

We lay “claim” to things everyday, usually without a thought. Whenever we start a statement with “My”, we claim ownership. Having thought on this over the years, I think I am finally getting it. Although I may have a headache or a flair up of arthritis, do I really want to “own” them? No. I want them to go away. Nevertheless, when I refer to them as “My” I assert ownership. Today instead of commenting on or talking about the negative things in “My” life I take whatever secular action is indicated, aspirin, heating pad, ice pack etc followed by a short prayer thanking God for knowing Him better. Today I claim all the gifts and blessings that God has not only for me but for you as well, that all I desire in “My” life comes to you as well. Years ago I came upon this piece on blessings:

A man found himself standing at the gates leading to heaven. He was upset and relieved at the same time. Upset that he passed but relieved that he was standing at Heaven’s Gate. Saint Peter greeted him and motioned for him to come forward. As he walked through the gates, he was struck speechless by the beauty and peace that greeted him. Saint Peter ushered him around showing him the wonders of heaven. Finally, they came upon a rather plain building, its plainness a stark contrast against the beauty of all the others. Turning to Saint Peter he asked, “What is that building?” Saint Peter replied, “All of Heaven is open to you but I beseech you to leave that structure be.” The man nodded, for who would question a Saint? But try as he might he could not get that one building out of his mind and after a time asked, “You said all of Heaven is open to me so if I wished to visit any building I can?” With a look of resignation, Saint Peter nodded for he knew the building the man was thinking. As they walked, Saint Peter waited for the statement that always followed. Soon the man turned to him and said, “I would like to go back to the plain building.” With sadness and a pass of his hand Saint Peter deposited them on the doorstep. “I urge you again not to go in.” The man nodded but he would not be swayed. As the doors opened the man was greeted with the sight of row upon row of shelves on which rested exquisite boxes each inscribed with a name. He turned to Saint Peter and asked if there was a box with his name on it. Saint Peter replied yes but again suggested they leave the building. Undeterred the man ran down the aisles until he found the box with his name on it. As he took it down from the shelf, there were tears in Saint Peter’s eyes, undeterred he removed the lid. As he looked in the box his heart fell for the box contained all the blessings that God had gifted him that had been left unclaimed. He then knew and they wept together.

Claim all of God’s blessings for you today and if you don‘t know what they are, ask and He will show you.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

The Ink in the Pen

You are actively engaged in daily prayer, meditation and service, have given your will and life over to the care of a Power Greater Than Yourself, but some area or areas of your life are not improving and new troubles seem to keep appearing, why?

We know that God is all-powerful, all knowledge and intelligence, the one true source of all abundance, immanent, yet our pleadings are seemingly falling on deaf ears, why?

Through demonstration and adherence to spiritual principles our consciousness has risen, we have experienced the joy of standing in the light, seen the light begin to shine in the lives of others, yet we are struggling, why?

Time is a curious thing. Einstein demonstrated that it is flexible, affected by both gravity and speed, relative to the observer’s point of reference. God is unaffected by our relationship with time, its effect on us. The passing of the seasons, the marking of birthdays are human constructs, our time line of remembrance, not God’s.

When in emotional or physical pain or struggling with some difficulty, we desire relief, answers now. The universe does not answer to our time line. Faith requires the willingness to trust the miraculous is working, unseen, to address the issues of our lives. I am reminded again of the hen and her eggs. The miracle of creation is happening inside the eggs, the hen’s job to have faith and care for the eggs, trusting in the unseen to do the work, in its good time.

So we answer the question of why by trusting in faith, trusting in the unseen. Remembering that this day is a single day in a very long existence, the spark of the Divine within eternal, having never been born, will never die, not limited by flesh, having always been and will always be, we strive to live beyond the present by being present in the moment for Our Father and our fellows. The past is written, the future the ink in the pen, becoming reality as it moves across the pages of our lives. So be present for the story of your life, standing firm in faith and in His good "time", why evaporates.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Monday, April 13, 2015

Beyond The Clouds

Everyday somewhere a plane departs in the rain. The aircraft pulls away from the gate and takes its place in line for lift off. Soon the engines spool up, the brakes released the craft quickly gains speed, the passengers pushed back in their seats by the acceleration. The nose lifts and the cabin window is obscured in driving rain, then everything turns white as the plane enters the clouds. A few seconds pass and it happens, bright sunshine bursts into the cabin, momentarily blinding in its intensity. The rain, darkness and shadows replaced with brilliance. In truth the sunshine was always there, it was merely obscured for a time.

When we find ourselves in the midst of difficulty, though we may be standing in the shadow of difficulty, the sunshine of God’s love never ceases, the clouds merely an illusion created by fear. By raising our consciousness through prayer and meditation we demonstrate over fear, for in truth, regardless of conditions on the ground the sun is always shining behind the clouds.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

The Proper Perspective

“We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn’t do it. Avoid then the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence” (Alcoholics Anonymous pg 133).

The only power that can hold us back, regardless of the challenge, is giving in to self-centered fear. Living on the Spiritual Basis does not mean that life’s challenges no longer exist or are any less painful in the moment, but instead of allowing ourselves to drift into sorrow and morbid reflection, we turn to Him who has all knowledge and power for strength and direction, demonstrating over fear. Circumstances in our lives are not spiritual impediments, just different paths of enlightenment. This truth will set you free: We are not this flesh. We are eternal spirit, existing in this form for only a moment, children of the Most High. Living on the Spiritual Basis affirms our connection to the infinite, puts all things in their proper place and perspective, triumphant over fear.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Wishy Washy Spiritual Living?

We cannot have our indignation or “justified” anger and live on the spiritual basis. If we wish to comprehend serenity and know peace, we must choose our basis for living, carnal or spiritual. There are many things in life where we can be lukewarm, wishy washy, kinda in and kinda out, take it or leave it. This is not one of them; it requires a wholehearted commitment on our part.

Living on the Spiritual Basis requires:

1) Turning our will and life over to the care and direction of a Power Greater Than Ourselves, as we understand it.

2) Study and work to develop a clear understanding of what this Power is and isn‘t, but at its minimum this power, God, must be loving, intelligent and available. Begin to clear away the debris from living on the carnal basis; learning to value the welfare of others and the power of selfless service, of course, this is a lifetime endeavor.

3) Give all power to our new friend God, in every sense, for every area of our existence is under His purview, nothing hidden, all secrets revealed.

4) Turn to God in prayer, holding fast to the belief that prayer can accomplish anything.

5) Destroy with prayer any negative thoughts as they surface, refusing to allow them purchase in your consciousness. Remembering that no one does this perfectly, so we do not berate ourselves if a wolf in sheep’s clothing creeps in, we just address it in prayer upon becoming aware.

6) Understanding “reaping and sowing.” That not only do our actions have consequence, habitual negative thinking does as well, what we focus on, we bring into our lives.

7) Practice the Presence of God, to the best of your current ability, in everything and everyone, at all times, but especially with those you disagree with or dislike. To be clear: Seeing God in everyone and everything does not mean that we cannot or should not hold strong opinions or points of view, but instead of engaging in negative prattle and thinking, we seek the higher ground that Living on the Spiritual Basis provides. For in truth, “there is a little bit of bad in the best of us and a little bit of good in the worst”, such is being human.

8) We book end our days in meditation, starting each day asking to be shown the way of patience, tolerance, kindness and love, that our motives throughout the day be devoid of selfishness and self-seeking. Ending our day with constructive meditation on the day’s events, refusing to allow morbid reflection to infect this time in spirit.

In time, with practice, this way of life will become second nature, its benefits concrete, becoming readily evident, the antithesis of wishy washy.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Reaping As One Sows

Occasionally a lesson in spiritual principles comes along that is glaring. Donald Sterling was a successful man as the world judges these things. Money, property, all the stuff that being a billionaire entails. But what of his true self, the inner man, his “soul” if you prefer. His wealth provided him with the veneer of a caring, giving individual, contributing financially to causes and political campaigns that furthered the image he wished to project. He wanted to enjoy a certain reputation that in his heart he knew he didn’t deserve.

He joined a very select club, that of a professional sports franchise owner. Though the Clippers throughout their history have been a poor reflection of their cross-town rivals the Lakers, he still owned a franchise in a major market, a market that included the false glamor of Hollywood. For over 30 years he was given a pass, though many knew his true nature. Money has that kind of power. All this time though he was planting a crop that eventually would be harvested.

Having reached an advanced age, he had grown comfortable in his illusion. Surrounded by people who depended on his largesse to meet their financial needs, his insulation from reality was secured. Even though there had been incidents were the true man and his heart were glimpsed, a small fine and more money thrown at causes and candidates, who we now know he secretly despised, these incidents soon faded away and were forgotten. The false man triumphant even lauded and rewarded for his “caring.”

After leaving his wife for a woman less than half his age, she became the catalyst that began the harvest. Now, his “team” has become legitimate, on the verge of truly joining the elites of pro basketball and he is barred from being part of it, even to the point of attending games as a paying customer! Shunned and vilified by the very group that he spent nearly half of his life trying to impress and be a part of. The candidates and causes who would gladly take his calls and money now distance themselves.

Donald Sterling will die a materially wealthy man. But what of the man who said and believes the horrendous things that we now know he holds in his heart, the secret place of his soul that truly defines him? My hope and prayer for him is that he takes the rest of his days reflecting quietly, coming to terms with the spiritual cancer eating away at him, realizing that his checkbook will never cure the inner man.

The optimist in me hopes this will happen, the realist knows that it is much easier to write a check than do soul surgery. So he will and has apologized and writen more checks. Those who eagerly take his money will salute him and shake his hand, business as usual. But Donald Sterling will never be an “owner” again, never again part of the “club” that defined him most of his adult life, the carnal world he prized above all else, his spiritual self ignored, just another lost soul who gained the world but has never known that which truly matters.

So the lesson is simple, to be free in truth, guard the crops you plant in the secret garden of your consciousness, for the crop eventually will be harvested for all to see.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Prayer Is Always The Answer

I have not always prayed. Sure, there were those furtive pleas of “please let me pass this (math, English, history, etc) test”, “please stop the room from spinning” (if you have never said this prayer, I hope you never have too), “please, don’t let her be pregnant, I promise to use protection from now on”, you know, the get me out of this and I promise to be good/change prayers.

Prayer changed for me when I found myself facing a self-imposed crisis that I could no longer evade or postpone. With no place and no one left to turn to I was driven to my knees and said my first, of what has since become many, honest prayers: “God help me.”

Did a light shine down or angels pick me up and carry me away in that moment? Perfect enlightenment and the solution to all my difficulties presented on a silver platter? No, but the soul crushing weight I was under did lessen enough so I could breathe.

Many years have passed since that first honest prayer, and though far from perfect in prayer, I have watched prayer work miracles of healing in my life and countless others. Today I live in the absolute certainty of the Power of Prayer, when speaking to those unconvinced of prayers efficacy I offer: “If I could only show you the world through my eyes and experience, you too would be convinced, by demonstration, that Prayer Is Always The Answer.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

“Guilty with an Explanation Your Honor”

It is suggested that we “pray with a feather” for prayer should never be hard work; it is our time to speak with Our Father. When praying we should not concern ourselves with choosing the perfect word, phrasing or long explanations. The longer the explanation or “set up” the more obvious that we are trying to "sell" something. Now in truth, who are we trying to sell, God or ourselves? “Guilty with an explanation your Honor.” God already knows our heart and mind, for He is closer than breath. Remember, His love is unconditional, grace freely given regardless of our transgressions, impossible to earn. Though there may and probably will be secular consequences for our past deeds, we are forgiven in spirit as soon as we earnestly ask, our task then is to demonstrate forgiveness in action. So we pray simply, honestly, quietly from the heart, and we will receive openly and in great measure, for that is the promise.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Max Planck And A Hundred Forms Of Fear

Everything is connected. The belief that a problem or difficulty exists in one place and must be brought to God’s attention is false. God is either everything or else He is nothing. Nothing exists in the physical world or our consciousness that God is not aware of, for He exists everywhere, in everything at all times.

Consider: Nobel Prize winner Max Planck in a 1944 speech on the nature of matter stated in part, “All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter.” By the turn of this century quantum physics had verified that which Max Plank could only postulate. Since this is the bedrock of all creation, is this “matrix of all matter” the mind of God since it comprises everything we see, touch and feel? Beats me but it does make for a wonderful meditation. What I do know through practical application is once we employ the presence of Divine healing where our difficulties truly lie (our consciousness); improvement follows. God was never absent or unaware; our perception was skewed by fear. In truth we do not/cannot seek a Power Greater Than Ourselves without; we must seek within, for it has always been there, veiled by a hundred forms of fear.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Monday, April 6, 2015

How To Treat A Difficulty With Prayer

A treatment is a prayer directed at a definite subject, something that is a pressing problem. Unlike general prayers that are a visit with God, a treatment is a surgical operation on the soul. A difficulty has arisen in our life; the reasons for its arrival are a distraction, like spending time wondering who sold the nail we stepped on when a tetanus shot is the action required. Treatment prayers focus on solution, not causality while general prayers typically are “checking” in with God, affirmations of our love, trust and faith. The essential difference is fear. Treatment in indicated when perhaps you or someone you care about has become ill, possibly it is financial difficulties or some relationship either personal or professional has begun to or has turned sour.

A simple form of employing prayer as treatment:

1) Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Begin with a general prayer (something significant and powerful for you).

2) Now take a few cleansing breaths and picture the difficulty in your minds eye. Next visualize the problem passing from your hands to God’s. If the difficulty is hard to visualize, then visualize the individual (including yourself) free of the difficulty, surrounded by God’s creative love and healing.

3) End the treatment with a closing prayer affirming God’s love, guidance, limitless power and knowledge. Thank him for the healing you believe will come and then:

4) Leave it be. Do not try to visualize how God will work or how the outcome will come to pass. This is outlining and always leads to trouble. Do not repeat the treatment out of fear. If something happens or changes in regards to the difficulty and it feels appropriate, treat again, but do not begin from fear. If fearful, first address the fear with prayer. This can be as simply as repeating the prayer Be Still And Know That I Am God. Once the fear induced anxiety has subsided, you can then treat the issue again. Remember:

Fear is not the difficulty being treated. Fear is what makes the difficulty seem overwhelming. Fear is the self-centered belief that God will not act, that somehow, someway we have traveled beyond the pale, so far from God that our prayers are not heard or worse rejected or ignored. Nonsense. No one, no matter what has transpired in his or her lives is separated from God. We build the walls; create the false sense of separation, not God.

When we allow fear domination, we operate on our soul with a rusty scalpel and a shaking hand. God can and will solve all difficulties, if, though perhaps trembling, we stand firm in faith.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Praying For Ourselves

Some hold that it is selfish and a waste of time to pray for ones self, but how could it be? “Praying for ourselves is the reverse of selfishness-it is truly glorifying God” Emmet Fox.

There is tremendous danger when we attempt to sort our prayers. When we attempt to gauge with our limited vision what is appropriate to pray about we embark on a fool’s errand. God does not need or want us to play prayer gatekeeper. Our job is to come to Him in prayer with anything on our mind or is troubling us. Additionally we do not waste time trying to construct the wording of our prayers to avoid perceived selfishness. Simply we speak from the heart, for when the heart speaks the heart listens. God knows our heart and the issues that flow from it, for He is closer than hands and feet, closer than breath. And that is most close indeed. A simple heart filled prayer delivered trembling can move mountains. “You must pray for yourself constantly. How could it be otherwise?”

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Serenity, Enlightenment, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, Addicts Today, Chopra, Jesus, Healing Path Recovery, Einstein, Marianne Williamson, Sayeh Beheshti, AKUA

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Bumper Stickers and Hens

The hen lays her eggs and then keeps them warm and safe until they hatch. What would happen if half way through the process she decided to crack open the eggs to see how things were progressing? Chickens are not the sharpest tool in the shed, yet they understand their role in creation. The hen demonstrates faith in the process, knows if she does her job, the miracle of creation will follow, all by instinct alone (I may be wrong, but I do not think chickens spend a lot of time considering the mysteries of the universe). Living on the Spiritual Basis, the basis of trusting and relying on God, when faced with trouble or difficulty we lay our concerns in His hands, take whatever secular action is required and trust in His promise for just as the wonder of creation that takes place inside the shell unseen, He works in us.

Years ago I spied a bumper sticker that summed it up nicely “Thanks, but I got this, I really don’t need your help. God.” Place your problems in His hands and let Him work. We can learn much from the hen and occasionally from bumper stickers.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Friday, April 3, 2015

“We answer to a higher authority”

Now that we have been on the path of spiritual living for a time, what is our course when faced with a serious problem or difficulty? Should we redouble our efforts, work harder? Isn’t that usually one of the first thoughts to cross our mind in these times? That we will need to work hard on this, that it is going to require extra time and effort, spiritual toil to get to the other side? Actually, nothing could be further from the truth.

Living on the new basis, the basis of trusting and relying on God, we do not ignore secular answers or remedies, but we do immediately employ spiritual principles as soon as we become aware of the situation. As an old hot dog commercial intoned, “We answer to a higher authority” (everyone does actually, some just don‘t realize it, yet). Remembering change is the natural course of living, we quietly and resolutely turn to God when faced with trouble and place the trouble in His hands. Having taken whatever action the secular world requires, having prayed and meditated in due course we stop, become quiet for the footwork is done, the results left to God. When we feel the “do something” urge begin to creep back into our consciousness we turn to God in prayer and ask if there is anything further that needs to be done, that He would have us do, for we are willing. If there is, we will have an intuitive thought, the action made clear.

Our problems and difficulties require trust for resolution, not spiritual hard work. Living on the Spiritual Basis we trust infinite Creation rather than our finite self. “God can and will solve this problem”, remember there are no small or large difficulties, spiritually size is non-existent; when in pain and discomfort, the ultimate solution is always found through our reliance on a Power Greater Than Ourselves. Save the hard work for the garden, relax and enjoy a hot dog.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

When we know, who walks beside us, on this path we have chosen, our fears fall from us.