A Sick Reminder of Who I Really Am

I have been a practicing Christian for over 30 years. I have also been a student of the Law of Attraction (which I believe works hand in hand with Christianity) for the past ten. Even with those long time frames, I still receive reminders that I am not applying the power of each in my life as much as I could. Here is a recent example…

Over the past weekend, I was battling a sickness, a mini flu bug. On Sunday, it was a major project just to get off the couch or out of bed. I didn’t eat much, so I was further weakened because of that. I missed a fun family gathering, but passed the day watching a Nascar race, and just enjoying a peaceful day.

Monday would be my first day back to work after a week vacation. We are discouraged from taking the first day off after a vacation, so since we were experiencing a windstorm in the Buffalo area of almost hurricane force all day and night (an unusual event in our city) I thought maybe the school I work at would close and I would get another day to recover. I actually found out Sunday night that the wish was granted, and an immediate peace came over me as I would indeed get another day to recover without having to call in.

The problem was that when I woke up early Monday morning, I felt just as bad if not worse than I felt the day before. It was then where I realized that a lot of this sickness had to do with my thinking. Sure, I know sometimes God allows us to become sick for reasons only known to Him. And I thought maybe this was one of those times. However, as I lay there, I still decided to get my mind thinking correctly and aligning it to who I really am. You see, who I really am (and who you really are) is a being that shares the spirit of God. The kingdom of heaven is in our midst, which after looking up a true definition of midst, I learned that it means our essence or very being. Another Bible verse says in HIm we live and move and have our being.

I was reminded that the Spirit that I am a part of is perfect and whole. It is never sick, and in fact does not even know sickness. At that moment, I said a prayer asking that I would be led to keep my mind focused completely on who I really am. As I lay in bed and did this, an almost immediate peace took over. I fell asleep for about two hours. When I woke up, I felt wonderful! Sure, I was still stuffy and coughing and had some lingering effects of the sickness. However, I easily got out of bed, made some breakfast, and did my morning routine as if it was a Saturday (even though it was a Monday). I took the day slow, but felt better and better throughout.

Did I heal myself? No, God did. However, I am willing to take some credit for the time frame in which it happened, and I thank God for answering my prayer. I prayed that I would keep my mind focused on who I really am instead of focusing on the sickness. Remember, a key idea of the Law of Attraction is that the thoughts and ideas you focus on are the outcomes that manifest in your life. As that prayer was answered, and I kept my mind focused correctly, I believe the healing happened faster than it would have otherwise.

I thank God for this excellent reminder, and I share it willingly with anyone patient enough to have read this far. Remember who you really are and who you really belong to. God is with you in every moment, and you are with Him every moment. And when you keep your mind focused on this truth and the truth of whatever it is you are looking to get through or accomplish, you are much more likely to see it come into being. Enjoy that blessing 🙂

Celebrating Our Oneness

As we come close to another New Years celebration, I continued a tradition last night. I have a video (VHS) copy of the ABC 2000 celebration when Peter Jennings spent 23 straight hours on the air showing the millennium celebrations from all over the world.

I have always been very interested in other people and countries from around the world, so on that last night of 1999 I was absolutely captivated by what I was watching. I am still very interested in other people and cultures which is why I continue to enjoy this wonderful video now 14 years later.

In recent months, this interest in other people has been taken one step further. Why is it so important to love and serve other people? This is a question that’s been running inside my head, and I believe God is trying to talk to me about. Besides the fact it’s what he wants, I am seeing the bigger picture.

Especially lately, God has shown me that His spirit dwells in each of us. We all carry a part of Him wherever we go. Since it’s the same spirit, you and I all have something in common. We are from the same source. In essence, we are connected. A more simple, to the point example comes from Ephesians 4:25 which according to the amplified version says, “we are all parts of one body and members of one another”. In another words, I take this as saying we are all parts of the same whole. This connects us all.

What exactly does this mean? I have learned that what we do as a part affects the whole. I once read from author Wayne Dyer that, if we keep our attitude positive and loving and maintain a positive emotional state, we can automatically impact hundreds if not thousands of people in a positive way. At first I didn’t understand, but once I learned this concept of oneness, it made total sense. Think about this again. Simply by being your best self, you not only make things good for you and your “part”, but you affect the whole, thus impacting many other people.

I believe this is why you get what you give in life. When you give, you are giving to a part of the whole that you are already part of. In essence, you are giving to yourself. Does this make sense? In essence, when you make other people better you also make yourself better. I don’t know about you, but once I realized this it made me so much more willing to give and serve. I know that I am not giving to get something I return. I know that when I give, I am enhancing the spirit of God that we are all a part of. Since I am a part of it too, I benefit as well. The same is true for you.

As mentioned, I have always loved and appreciated people from everywhere. One of the great things about this blog is that I am able to meet and interact with people from all over the world, and I treasure that opportunity. I challenge you to see things in the new light I mention here. Realize that you are connected to everyone through the Spirit of God that is part of all of us. This goes for your friends and family, to the homeless person living on the street, or that person that gave you a dirty look at the supermarket, your angry boss, or whoever. Remember this fact the next time you begin to judge. Instead, I challenge you to appreciate that oneness and do all you can to add to it. You are a part of it, so you will certainly benefit from your positive actions. Enjoy the blessings : )

How To Find What You Are Looking For

There are not many things that bother me in life. Fortunately, I have been blessed with an even keel, go with the flow attitude, and I’ve been gifted with a great deal of patience (some times too much patience).

One of the only things that gets my blood boiling (besides those driving under the speed limit in the passing lane) is when I can’t find something I need at the moment. If you want to see things fly, hear things you shouldn’t hear, and watch a grown man act like a two year old, come see me when I am looking for something I can’t find.

I am not proud of the above actions, but I know many others who desperately want to find what they are looking for (even though they do it in a much more mature manner than me). It does get frustrating when you can’t find what you want or need, whether it’s the TV remote, a life partner, a dream job, or whatever you are looking for.

I have been reminded a lot lately (that’s when I know God is speaking to me) that we already have everything we are looking for, and there is only one place to look for it. I will wait a few seconds as your head stops spinning. However, it is true, even though you are saying that you don’t yet see your desired significant other or dream job or full bank account.

Here’s the deal. Everything you can ever think of already exists in the spiritual realm. Every desire or need is already in existence. So answer number two…where do I find it? Here’s a key that’s really provided peace and power for me lately. You find the power to achieve what you want…WITHIN. As in within yourself.

When you seek your desire, look within yourself. There you will find the Spirit that created everything. The spirit within you is the same spirit that is within everyone and everything else. In essence, you are already connected to everyone and everything in the universe.

Here is why it is so important to look within instead of going to the external…the spirit of God is within you. When you seek answers within, you are literally seeking the God who has all the answers to everything. Submit to this spiritual guidance and you can only be led to where you want and need to go. When you seek the external, you are at the mercy of many circumstances you can’t control. That often leads to frustration, and being led further from the desired result instead of closer to it.

All of the answers to all of your questions are right there within you. To find those answers as quickly as possible, I recommend taking times throughout your day to just stop, be still, and seek the answers you are looking for. Sometimes it’s best to quietly wait and listen, while other times it’s best to pray, ask, and seek. I recommend you do whatever feels right at the moment.

You may say, I don’t have time throughout the day to stop and pray/meditate. My response is that you don’t have time not to. The more time you spend taking small breaks meditating on God and the spirit within, the more time and energy you will find to act and move towards your goal. It’s a win-win situation.

I remind you again that you CAN find what you are looking for. Look within right here, right now. It’s there waiting for you. Enjoy the blessings : )

Rejoice In The Success Of Others

…”there should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it” 1 Corinthians 12:25-27.

I begin with this quote because I have heard or seen this concept in several places recently. I guess that means I should be listening : ) Anyway, it is very true. The good news (or should I say great news) is that, even though we live in mortal bodies,  we are spiritual beings. We all originate from the one Spirit of our source and creator. We also reap the power of this wonderful Spirit. The bad news is that too many people live their lives seperate from that Spirit, and separate from other people.

This concept ties in to other things I’ve talked about on this site. Because we are all one in Spirit, what we think about others ultimately affects us. For example, when you think negatively about someone else, you are bringing these negative thoughts upon yourself. When you resent the success of someone else, you are basically resenting the fact that you would ever enojoy this success. We are all one body, remember? The opposite is also true. When you rejoice at the success of another person, you are adding positive and thankful thoughts to it. This ultimately helps manifest good to you too and adds to your own positive karma. We’re all one, remember?

This is not always an easy concept. I know there are times when I have deep desires, but the accomplishment of my goal seems nowhere in sight. Then I see another person enjoying the very success I am seeking. It is easy to become resentful or jealous. This is true even if it is someone close to us, even those that we love. However, the advice I am learning is that we cannot think negatively towards them. Instead, sincerely rejoice and thank God for their success. You are one in Spirit with these people, so these positive thoughts will affect those people, yourself, and everyone else around you. It’s some powerful stuff. Use it for your good, and the good of those around you. Enjoy the blessings : )

Be Aware Of Your Magnificent Power

Do you know how much power you have within you? If you are like most people in this world you probably don’t. I was listening to a speech from author/speaker John Bevere the other day. He discussed a study of Christians (a group of people that certainly should be aware of the power they have) where only 2% were aware of how much potential power they have.

Humans are very good at not using their full potential. After all, studies show we only use about 10% of our brains. This includes some very smart people, so can you imagine how smart they would be if they even used twice that amount? In the sermon mentioned earlier, John Bevere discussed the concept of God’s grace. He explained that, besides being a free gift from God that forgives our sins and rewards us with eternal heaven, it is the spiritual empowerment that God provides. It’s the stuff that miracles come from. This is what he found that 98% of Christians don’t know.

There is a magnificent power within every one of us. The Bible is full of verses. Luke 17:22 specifically says, “the kingdom of heaven is within us” Not just the spirit, but the entire kingdom! 2 Timothy 1:7 says God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. In John 14 God says he sends His spirit to empower us, and there are many examples of this, especially in the book of Acts.

The bottom line is that we are all blessed with incredible power. The problem is that most people ( I often include myself in this category) often rely on their own limited power instead of the unlimited power available to them. Why would I want to take on the challenges of life with my many limitations while I have a power with no limits? I don’t know, but I often do. However, that ends now, and I challenge anyone reading this to do the same. Instead, let us constantly be aware of and rely on the wonderful powerful within. That power knows so much more, can be so much more, and accomplish so more than we could ever think of in our own power. Let us prayerfully summon the assistance that God can provide, and use the power as we go through our lives. Let us use it to improve our own lives, and to serve and be an example to others.

We can take our worlds and those of others to a much higher level. That power waits in every one of us. However, don’t let it lay like a dormant volcano. Instead, let it explode and take you places you’ve never even dreamed. I promise that when you stop relying on your own power and ego and instead rely on the Godly spirit and power within you, you will see rapid positive changes in every area of your life. I’ve experienced it and seen it in too many other places to know any different. Remember…you have the power. Now use it fully! Enjoy the blessings : )

Focus On The Power

A humorous scene in A Charlie Brown Christmas is when Charlie goes to Lucy for help. She says he must be afraid of something, so she goes through a list of fears with him. She fails to pinpoint one, until she comes up with pentophobia, which is the fear of everything. Charlie Brown then exclaims…”that’s it!!”

We can laugh at that humorous situation, but unfortunately, the power of fear is real for many of us. Sometimes it is more powerful than we think. It took a conversation with a child for me to figure this out. Several years ago, when my nephew was about 7 years old, he and his family visted. They lived in the country, while I lived on Long Island. We talked throughout the day. He asked why I didn’t spend more time in the country. I said I would, but I was afraid I wouldn’t last too long in the outdoors. He asked why I didn’t have a girlfriend. I’d said I’d ask more girls out, but I was afraid they’d say no. I had a broken hose I was trying to mess with. He asked why don’t I just fix it? I said I was afraid I would make it worse. Finally he says, “Uncle Joe, are you afraid of everything?” 

That question was a wake up call for me. I realized that I couldn’t honestly say no to that question. I was letting fear rule all parts of my life, and many different situations. That conversation was quite a while ago, but I still remember it today, especially if begin to let fear creep into my life.

There is one Bible verse that stands out to help remedy this situation. 2 Timothy 1:7 says..God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and self-control. We need to remember that it is His spirit that lives within us. That spirit is all-powerful, and all-loving. When we are conscious of that fact, fear disappears quickly.

Fear can interfere with our progress in every area of our lives. However, we don’t have to allow it. Focus instead on the powerful Spirit within you and around you, and put your faith in that. Let it lead you. Before you know it, instead of fear and apprehension, you will feel a sense of power and accomplishment. I’ve seen the damage fear can do in my life, and I’ve also seen the rewards that faith and power can bring. Focus on this powerful verse, and you will see it in your own life. Enjoy the blessings : )

A Spirit Of Power

One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Timothy 1:7. It says God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.

Let us take this as a reminder. God’s powerful spirit is with us at every moment of every day. Instead of putting things off because of fear of failure, let us charge right in with confidence, knowing that the Godly spirit within us enables us to accomplish anything.

What is it you are looking to accomplish today? Where is it you are looking to go? Have faith that you can ask God for help, and He will be there with you all the way. He knows the way. Just do your part and He will do His. Know that your victory is already won because of the powerful spirit within you. You can’t lose!