...transformation from which they emerge in the realized oneness of god, ourselves and all things. Although I am not God, I am not other than God either. That there is a oneness that wholly pervades the divisions and fragmentations of our lives, and the realization of this oneness the divisions and fragmentations loses their tyranny over our heart for we live in the intimate experience of the oneness that wholly pervades the divisions and fragmentations. And they live with a sense of joy and sense of freedom from fear, that fear has no foundations, a sense of peace in the midst of life as it is. Its not the peace that’s dependent on the outcome of our efforts to have the situation turn out the way we want it to. Rather it is a peace that invincibly pervades the whole process and the outcome itself regardless of the outcome. Mystics bear witness to this realized oneness with a sense of respect even reverence for life, for all things, manifested most concretely as love. As the Buddhists say, compassion is the body of emptiness, Aquinas, charity is the form of faith, that love is the shape of our faith, that faith configures itself as love. The mystic is hidden in the world as God is hidden in the world, but some are called upon to be mystic teachers, called upon to offer guidance and encouragement to us who feel interiorly called to this path of realized oneness. To be amazed and humbled that this applies to you, to be interiorly awakened in this way to this oneness and to live...
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... Contents Book I Book II Book III Book IV Book V Troilus’s Love Love Returned The Consummation The Separation The Betrayal Book I 1. Troilus’s double sorrow for to tell, he that was son of Priam King of Troy, and how, in loving, his adventures fell from grief to good, and after out of joy, my purpose is, before I make envoy. Tisiphone, do you help me, so I might pen these sad lines, that weep now as I write. 2. I call on you, goddess who does torment, you cruel Fury, sorrowing ever in pain: help me, who am the sorrowful instrument who (as I can) help lovers to complain. Since it is fitting, and truth I maintain, for a dreary mate a woeful soul to grace, and for a sorrowful tale a sorry face. 3. For I, who the God of Love’s servants serve, not daring to Love, in my inadequateness, pray for success, though death I might deserve, so far am I from his help in darkness. But nevertheless, if this should bring gladness to any lover, and his cause avail, Love take my thanks, and mine be the travail. 4. But you, lovers that bathe in gladness, if any drop of pity is in you, remember all your past heaviness that you have felt, and how others knew the same adversity: and think how, too, you have felt Love dare to displease if you have won him with too great an ease. 5. And pray for those that may have been in Troilus’s trouble, as you’ll later hear, that love bring them solace in heaven: and also, for me, pray to God so dear that I might have...
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...Contents Introduction..................................................................13 Chapter 1 How I Discovered the Four Keys...................................... 17 Chapter 2 A Cultural Backdrop for Hearing God’s Voice...................35 Chapter 3 Spiritual Intimacy—The Desire of God’s Heart...............75 Chapter 4 Key #1: Recognize God’s Voice as Spontaneous Thoughts......................................................95 Chapter 5 How to Instantly Remove All Idols from Your Heart and Other Prayer Considerations..................................135 Chapter 6 Key #2: Become Still.....................................................149 4 keys to hearing God's voice.indd 11 11/4/10 1:59 PM Chapter 7 Key #3: Look for Vision as You Pray..............................167 Chapter 8 How to Restore Your Visionary Capacity.......................193 Chapter 9 Key #4: Two-way Journaling........................................213 Chapter 10 A Tuning Dial—The Tabernacle Experience...................253 Recommended Reading.................................................283 Appendix A The Origin of Thoughts, Biblically Speaking..................285 Appendix B Additional Journaling Questions..................................291 Appendix C Working Definitions Concerning Spiritual Realities.......295 Appendix D Personal Application Index.......................................... 305 4 keys to hearing God's voice.indd...
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...of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Let’s break this down for a minute first of all give means to 2 Cor. 9-7 dotes; a giver, bestower. Gives means: to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation; bestow The Bible mentions money over 800 times, I know people get squeamish when you mention money in the church because they see so many that are greedy and so many that have been taking advantage of but it is not ok for believer to shy away from a subject because of false teaching that is the reason to address it, to call it out that are not ignorant but we are going back to the word if there is a doubt a question a cause for concern it is time for us to take these things back to God. The world is supposed to come to the church not the other way around but so many in the church are beat down, broke and discouraged. 2 Corinthians 9 New International Version (NIV) 9 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared...
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...THE FRANKLIN'S PROLOGUE These ancient gentle Bretons, in their days, Of divers high adventures made great lays And rhymed them in their primal Breton tongue, The which lays to their instruments they sung, Or else recited them where joy might be; And one of them have I in memory, Which I shall gladly tell you, as I can. But, sirs, because I am an ignorant man, At my beginning must I first beseech You will excuse me for my vulgar speech; I never studied rhetoric, that's certain; That which I say, it must be bare and plain. I never slept on Mount Parnassus, no, Nor studied Marcus Tullius Cicero. Colours I know not, there's no doubt indeed, Save colours such as grow within the mead, Or such as men achieve with dye or paint. Colours of rhetoric I find but quaint; My spirit doesn't feel the beauty there. But if you wish, my story you shall hear." THE FRANKLIN'S TALE In old Armorica, now Brittany, There was a knight that loved and strove, did he To serve a lady in the highest wise; And many a labour, many a great emprise He wrought for her, or ever she was won. For she was of the fairest under sun, And therewithal come of so high kindred That scarcely could this noble knight, for dread, Tell her his woe, his pain, and his distress. But at the last she, for his worthiness, And specially for his meek obedience, Had so much pity that, in consequence, She secretly was come to his accord To take him for her husband and her...
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...forward when you don’t know where you’re headed or why. God’s plan gives us the answers to life’s most basic questions like, "Where did I come from?" "What’s my purpose here?" And, "What happens when I die?" Knowing the answers gives us hope and helps us find peace and joy, but we can't deny the fact that one thing that makes this life so hard sometimes is that we’re out of God’s physical presence. Not only that, but we can’t remember our pre-earth life which means we have to operate by faith rather than sight. God didn’t say it would be easy, but He promised His spirit would be there when we needed Him. Even though it feels like it sometimes, we’re not alone in our journey. We tend to pray always when we are faced with such unsurmountable problems at hand and sometimes we came up with superficial ideas on our own on how to somewhat talked to God, like for example, before I think that praying or prayer itself is only a device that I should come up or formulate by myself to be able to talk to God, thus my prayer life becomes like a planned routine every day that I will recite this kind of prayers in an orderly fashion with a given amount, also I attend worship/prayer meetings that I think will help in my religious life not knowing the fact that I am doing it wrong all the time because as what St Jean of Chantal said, “The best method of prayer is not to have any, because prayer is not obtained by methods or devices but through grace.” Because prayer is simply just talking to God and...
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...| The Sons of God | | A Sermon (No. 339) Delivered on Sabbath Morning, October 7th, 1860, by the REV. C. H. Spurgeon At Exeter Hall, Strand. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."—Romans 8:16, 17. Y brethren, what a contrast there is between the present and future estate of the child of God! The believer is here the brother to the worm; in heaven he shall be next of kin to the angels. Here he is covered with the sweat and dust which he acquired by Adam's fall; there his brow shall be bright with the immortality which is conferred upon him by the resurrection of Christ. Here the heir of heaven is unknown; he is in disguise, full often clad in the habiliments of poverty, but there his princely character shall be discerned and acknowledged, he shall be waited upon by angels, and shall share in the admiration which the universe shall pour upon the glorified Redeemer. Well said our poet just now, "It doth not yet appear, how great we must be made." I think I need not remind you of your condition here below; you are too conversant with it, being hourly fretted with troubles, vexed with your own infirmities, with the temptations of Satan, and with all the allurements of this world. You are quite conscious that this is not your rest. There are too many thorns in your nest, to...
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...Book Report On “The Purpose Driven Life” In life, we often ask ourselves trivial questions such as “What should I wear to that party?” but the most important question we must ask ourselves is ‘What is God’s purpose for my life?”. The “Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren aids us in finding the answer. This book is based on five principles that Warren expounds on which are used as stepping stones in finding our purpose. The first section of the book focuses on the question “What am I here for?”. People frequently fail to realize that God is not living for us but rather we are living for God. This indicates that we ought not to figure out our purpose for ourselves but ask God to show us his purpose for our lives. The bible states everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. We don’t genuinely start living until we figure out God’s purpose for us. Moreover, humans are very self-conscious creatures; we often think “my nose is too big:” or “my lips are too small”. We repeatedly forget that God has custom made us. We are original Designs! We are NOT accidents! God loves us so much that he made us in His image. Hope is the seed which grows into having a purpose. When a person has found their purpose life becomes ten times easier. Without a purpose people take on more tasks than they can handle. This results in a life filled with stress. In the book “A life without purpose is worse than death” is often mentioned. This emphasizes how important it is to live a purpose...
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...between you and me, what I’m gonna do is ask him for one more minute then I’ll hug you as tight as I could and tell Death, “Let’s go. I’m ready!” 0102. I miss you not because you miss me but because you taught me how to feel the emptiness when you’re not here. I love you not because you love me but because you taught me everything I never knew existed before. 0103. When you leave, remember the place where you left me cause I’ll still be there waiting for you. But if you go back and I’m no longer there, it means that I love you too much so I went to search for you. 0104. It’s a risk having you cause it’s like stealing an angel from heaven. If I’d be punished for that, I’d rather accept it than give you back cause I know that I’d never have another you in my life again. 0105. I dreamed of a wedding of elaborate elegance, a church filled with flowers and friends. I asked him what kind of wedding he wished for, he said, “One that will make you my wife.” 0106. I’m not asking you to stay for the rest of my life, stay as long as you want. No why’s, no how’s, no but’s, no promises. Just stay. It’s more than enough. 0107. I’m not sure what I am to you and what we are right now but what really matters is you’re so damn special to me and I mean my life only for you. All I’m after is for you to know, you don’t have to feel the same. 0108. I may not be with you always but I promise you one thing. I’m gonna be there on your wedding day and I’m gonna sit beside you while...
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...talk about boy/girl relationships in elementary school? Of course it is, you say! Well, you may not want to hear about it, or you may choose denial over reality, but the fact remains that children are playing out the cultural role that they are being taught as early as 2nd grade. Therefore, the relationship between boys and girls at every school (Christian and non- Christian) is a topic that needs to be discussed from a Biblical standpoint. Recently I have observed an increase in the level of interaction between some of the boys and girls at the elementary school level with the boyfriend/girlfriend relationship in mind. There have been some phone calls made and notes passed, and yet nothing really serious has happened. Even so, the fallout from this kind of interest and behavior has been clearly seen, as some of the kids are rejecting others, breaking off friendships, and making “who likes whom” a focus of attention. The pattern becomes more sophisticated as it continues in the middle school years and is in full bloom by the time the children hit high school. I would like to attempt to persuade you that the elementary level of “who likes whom,” and the middle school level of “who is going out with whom,” are not simply innocent and cute stages of life through which everyone must go. As informed Christians professing to glorify the Lord in all things, we need to see if any of this behavior brings glory to God and evaluate the effects of it on our kids. A brief look at the teen...
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...John 14:25-26 "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Today we are going to start our study of what people often call spiritual gifts, what they are, why we have them, how to use them. People get so excited about spiritual gifts. You get these churches that can’t get enough of them and are Paul says that right now they are ignorant concerning (spirit things) pneumatikwn: a lot of ignorant teaching about spiritual gifts. Paul says be careful. He says, in verse 1, ”Now concerning these types of spiritual things, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed, or ignorant.” 1) Not All That Glitters is Gold: Not every thing that looks “spiritual” is in actuality from the Holy Spirit. We’re going to look at three important words today that I think are very misunderstood. The important word here is “Pneumatikon.” Spiritual things. This is was not Paul’s favorite word to talk about God’s giftings, but he uses it here because it was a favorite word of the Corinthian church. Paul uses the word more in his letter to the Corinthians than in the rest of the New Testament combined. The Corinthians liked to call themselves spiritual and they gloried in dramatic expressions of spiritually. But remember, there so-called spirituality was a self-deception. The picture here is Pyryte: fools Gold. Don’t...
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...Christ I am anointed and a powerful person of God. I am a joint-heir with Jesus and more than a conqueror. I am a doer of the Word of God and a channel for His blessings. If God be for me, who can be against me? I am blessed coming in and I am blessed Going out. My enemies are fleeing before me. God has commanded His blessing on my storehouses. He has opened His Good treasures and I shall lend and not borrow. I am the head and not the tail. He has given me power to make wealth. I dwell in the secret place I have His protection and provision. God is my refuge, my fortress I am not afraid of the snare of the fowler. No Evil shall befall me and no plague shall come nigh My dwelling. God has given his angels Charge over me and they are bearing me up in their hands lest I dash my foot against a stone, as declared in Psalms 91. I Peter 2:9 establishes I am a chosen generation, A royal priesthood, a holy nation. I am a peculiar person called out of darkness Into His marvelous light. I Peter 2:24 states, I have been healed by the stripes of Jesus. Cancer, sugar diabetes, heart disease, sickness, Afflictions, infections, or any other disease cannot enter my body. I am without spot or blemish, An intercessor, the righteousness of God, saved, and washed in the Blood of Jesus. “No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue Which rises against me in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their Righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD...
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...Hafiz was born into an Islamic family. After memorizing the Koran when he was a teenager, he began to practice mysticism and to write poetry in his early 20s. It is estimated that he wrote somewhere around 5,000 poems, each of them divinely inspired, before he died in 1389. Of these five thousand poems, only 500-700 have survived, and there is some doubt as to whether or not all the poems ascribed to him are authentic. The majority of his work is thought to have been destroyed by the religious and political authorities of the time who were threatened by the ideologies of Hafiz. Regardless of this, his poetry remained hugely influential, with his Divan, or collected works, becoming a classic part of Sufi literature. People who find themselves in need of guidance will often use his poetry as an oracle, a practice that began shortly after his death and continues to be used today. They will use randomly selected couplets or poems to find wisdom and make important decisions. It is perhaps fitting that Hafiz’s greatest impact would be on Sufism, the very thing which greatly influenced his own life and work. Sufism is the “belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. It consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of humanity and of God and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom in...
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...different. Eliot’s view of metaphysical poetry is a very positive and respectful one. He admires the uniqueness of the metaphysical poets when he describes them as “reflective poets” as opposed to merely intellectual ones. Eliot says they have the ability to “feel their thought as immediately as the odor of a rose,” compared to the strictly thought-driven traditional poetry of lyrical poets. Housman’s view is significantly more harsh and critical. In reference to metaphysical poetry, he says that “poetry, as a label for this particular commodity, is not appropriate.” According to Housman, similes and metaphors, which are primary factors in metaphysical poetry, are “things inessential to poetry.” He describes the far-fetched paradoxes of metaphysical poets as “wit,” not poetry. Despite Housman’s negative claims regarding metaphysical poetry, there are several works of metaphysical poets, such as John Donne, that have proven to be very effective. In Donne’s “Holy Sonnet 14,” often referred to as “Batter My Heart,” there is a plethora of evidence of the work’s overall effectiveness as a poem in the poet’s use of poetic devices. The poem is written in first person and the speaker is someone who is struggling with sin and is desperately seeking the guidance of God, who is intended to be the recipient of the speaker’s message. “Batter My Heart” is a fixed form sonnet written in iambic pentameter. Enjambment is used in the title of the poem because it is the same as the poem’s...
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...For us as Christians to stay in accordance with God it is vital to stay educated on theology.as long as we continue to educated on theology ourselves. As long as we continue to educate ourselves and keep the scriptures hidden in our hearts, It will be less difficult to witness to non-believers and to loose focus. In addition to the benefit of not losing focus reading the bible can also let us be sure that Jesus in fact will return a second time. Although we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This doesn’t give us an excuse to live our lives as christians anyway we wish. Once we have a strong foundation in Christ we can use our churches in many ways to help carry out the great commission. How can we be confident that Jesus is returning? Prophecies are an important part of the bible scriptures. The Old testament prophecies fore seen the birth of Jesus. This came to pass 4 BC. In addition to the accuracy of this prophecy this should leave us no doubt that the Old Testament prophecy of the second coming of Jesus will be accurate and will come pass. As early as genesis in the old testament makes reference to the second coming of Christ. Genesis 3:15 says “and I will put enmity between thee and the women, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise his head, and thy shalt bruise thy heel. The first book of the bible predicts that the incarnate of God, which will be born from a women will defeat Satan. This is a reference to the great tribulation...
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