Living In Spirit

Friday, April 24, 2015

Smiler and Smiley

Did you smile at someone today? In the last few decades a number of studies have shown even a forced smile has positive affects not only the smiler but on the smiley as well. When we smile or receive a smile our stress level drops, endorphins are released and we feel better, our spirits lifted. So, go share a smile with someone who needs one (and who doesn’t) and you will both reap the benefits.

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

Thursday, April 23, 2015

The Presence And The Gift

When we find ourselves drifting out of the present moment dwelling either in the past or projecting into the future we must be wary for the most deadly spiritually deadly trap, morbid reflection, lurks here. When thinking about the past what usually surfaces; the overwhelming number of times when things went well, when we did the right thing or those times when we were less than our best or were treated badly? When considering the future do we ponder along the lines of things will be great, seeing ourselves walking hand and hand with the Spirit of the Universe or something darker? Living on the Spiritual Basis our focus has been altered, instead of seeing only the carnal and secular, the finite, our vision is lengthened and broadened as we have begun to comprehend the infinite.

Fear is a powerful adversary, forever trying to steer us from the light and morbid reflection one of its favorite tools. When used constructively our past is an asset, becoming a resource to teach those who seek answers from us, of what life was like before and after choosing to Live on the Spiritual Basis. Our future is a promise, chapters unwritten, our lives the paper, the ink our faith, the pen in our hand guided by a Power Greater Than Ourselves. God does not dictate the script, for of all creation we alone have free will in Spirit, but He will be our partner in the story of our lives if we remain open and willing.

The only time we can stand in the presence of God, the only time we can be present for God, the only time God can act in our lives is in the present moment. Living on the Spiritual Basis we now have a history of God’s love and direction in our lives, the past an asset, the future a promise, today the gift.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Living The Consecrated Life

When we turn our will and life over to the care of God, we chose the consecrated life. Our job now is to see the Presence of God everywhere, in everything and everyone and to express our understanding of spiritual principles to the best of our current ability, for we are forever growing and learning how to practice those principles in every aspect of our life. Simple but not easy, a price has to be paid and that price is the surrender of self. It is a simple equation; the more time we spend thinking about ourselves, the less comfortable we become, opening the door to restlessness, irritability and discontentment. Conversely, the more time we spend focusing on the Presence of God, practicing the principles we have come to know and believe the more comfortable, at peace we become. Living a consecrated life is the true path of serenity.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

The Wolves Of Morbid Reflection

Conditions in our life are the result of the crops (thoughts) we tend in our consciousness. If we nurture thoughts of pain, lack, unhappiness, negativity of any stripe, then we will grow more. Being a spiritual law happily the converse is true as well; if we plant peace, joy, love and belief in abundance then these will be our harvest.

If we desire happiness we cannot walk around with a long face complaining, thinking and speaking negatively. When we engage in morbid reflection our thoughts work to convince us that sickness, trouble and failure are unavoidable. To be clear: We do not control the thoughts that float up into our consciousness; thought control is not about banning a thought which is impossible, but taking right action when we become aware. Negative thinking is cunning, a wolf masquerading as a lamb, so just as the shepherd tending their flock; as soon as we become aware of the wolf, spiritually corrosive negative reflection and thinking, we take action.

Our course is clear, remembering that prayer is always the answer we place our trust in God and stay out of the results business. God does not punish with one hand and love with the other; He is always working in the positive for His children, His promises, our spiritual inheritance, are at hand as long as we stand vigilant over the crops we tend in our consciousness, keeping our wolves at bay.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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

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

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