Life can be difficult or life can be sublime it is a matter of thought.

At times we allow our thoughts to take charge over our lives and those thoughts continue to plague us with negative "what if's."  We think of the worst case and then decide if we can live with it.  Why not think of the best case and decide that is what will happen?   Hold a positive thought instead of a negative one.

Our lives are bombarded with "if's" never really enjoying the "now's"  with every thought, we need to be aware, that we are in charge.  We can either make our lives a paradise, or we can make our lives a living hell.  And all it takes is, entertaining a thought.  Giving that thought life.

When you find yourself thinking upon the negative, make a conscience effort to dismiss the thought.  Do whatever you need to do, go for a walk, make a telephone call, visit with some friends, read a book or write an email to a friend.  Do not allow the negative to take root, instead be a good landscaper.  Keep your mind free of unwanted weeds that choke your happiness and your fun.  Worry will always choke out the positive and having a happy heart will bring you happy results.

Our bodies are here on loan.  We have so many years to do what we want.  Do we really want to use one moment thinking upon something that scares us?  Do we want to make our time here on planet Earth to be a time of tears and always preparing for dooms day? 

It would be a tribute to our

We have all heard it said "Love your neighbor as yourself"

Forgiveness is Huge

 Forgiveness is a huge word and it takes such courage to be a forgiving person, especially if you have been wronged.  When someone has totally betrayed your trust, or have lied ... etc. etc.

When you have been dealt with unfairly it is reasonable to believe that you have every right to hold a grudge or to speak unkindly to that person or about that person.    BUT, is it to your betterment to do so?

If you have ever been in one of those situations, you understand all too well the emotional turmoil that it causes.  You will go from shock, to tears, to anger and then back to shock and tears, bouncing from one emotion to another, believing that you will never be able to reach a point of forgiveness.

It may help to know that to forgive another person for their misconduct is not letting them off the hook.  They still have to deal with themselves.  To forgive is to help YOU get on with YOUR life.

When you come to the point where YOUR sanity and happiness is worth more than than your anger toward the other person, you will then be a self healer.  Let the other person carry their own burden, don't carry their negativity.  Create your world of happiness without them.  Create your world of peace and let them be in their own space of personal learning.

What you are learning, is how to LET GO and LET GOD.  Some things are just not in your domain to understand or to fix, it is something that has to run its course.

Direct your thoughts toward who you want to be and how you want to live your life.  Don't jump into the life of the person that has hurt you, that will make your life cramped.  There is only room for who you are and who you are can only be found within.  Stop looking at the pain and the sickness that was created and is felt and look toward your inner paradise where the Spirit of God resides.

Forgiveness (like was stated above) is a huge, huge word that only you can create.  No one can take the hurt away, no one can MAKE you happy, no one can change what happened or change the person that brought about your hurt feelings.  Only you are in charge of your emotional well being, only you can heal those wounds.

Be a healer, a healer of yourself and of the situation.  Do it for you.

As always, I encourage your comments at cindalmiller@gmail.com

What is spirituality?  Is it being able to quote scriptures?  Is it going to church on Sunday?  Praying and petitioning God?  Is it preaching to those that have no knowledge of the Bible?  Conducting Bible studies or keeping the Ten Commandments? 

It isn't what you know in your head, it's what you feel in your heart.  There are a lot of educated people, but that doesn't make them spiritual, that makes them book smart.  It would be like me being able to quote a tasty recipe, that doesn't make me a good cook.  Really good cooks, don't use a recipe they cook by sensing what is good and then doing it.  We might use the same format in thinking of our spirituality.  Sensing what is good and then doing it.

There is no end to the amount of reading material you can indulge in, but, those words are frozen.  You have to take what those words say and defrost them by placing them in your heart and then putting them into practical use.  If we do not apply what we've learn, it would be the same as studying the various aspects of water and suffering from dehydration.  Take the plunge, jump into the idea of being a more loving and a more caring person.

I know that most of us are busy making a living, so what kind of time does a person have to devote to becoming a more loving and caring person?  To be spiritual isn't a matter of setting time aside to think upon God, or to set time aside for prayer.  Spirituality is a way of life.  It is the way we conduct our lives on a daily basis.  It isn't a particular suit that you wear for special occasions, it is the way you carry yourself, it is the way that you express the love you have for your fellowman.

When you walk in love, you are the expression of your prayers, you are "showing" what you desire for yourself and for the world of mankind.  It is good to pray to God, but, it is just as meaningful, if not more,  to walk your prayer.  Give your words flesh, give your words life.

A spiritual person doesn't have to carry their Bible, they don't have to be a church goer.  A spiritual person lives their life in accordance with Love.  To represent God, we have to represent Love because God is Love, therefore Love is God.

Look for those that are in need of more love (which is everyone), take the time to tell them how much they are valued, how much you care about them, let them know how special they are to you and to our world. 

God is calling all of us to the banquet of Love, come and enjoy the feast.

Please leave your comment below or contact me at cindalmiller@gmail.com

Walking the Eternal Journey

If you think about walking an eternal journey, it may sound boring and tiring, however, I'm not referring to walking this journey in high heels to a particular destination, I'm referring to the eternal journey in our experiences.

In my estimation, there is no death.  When we release our last breath,  a new and different path comes into view, which is a new experience, that will give us new growth. 

We all fear the thought of death and the consequences.  Leaving our loved ones, leaving the life that we have grown accustomed to.

When we are young, the potentials are huge, we can see our lives going on forever.  As time ravages our bodies and the lines in the face mar the plumpness of our childhood, we know that time is passing and our days are numbered.

Even though we may see our present journey as coming to an end, the journey does not stop.  We are made of energy an essence that never dies, after all, it is the stuff that is God, God never dies and neither do we.

Since our journey is eternal, what kind of scenery do you want to experience?  Granted, there are always bumps in the road and many times we may fall and bruise our knees, but while we're down on our knees experiencing the scraps and bruises,  wouldn't it be a good time to pray?  Allow God to be with you as you travel.  Allow Him to help you get back on your feet.

I have experienced that that help can come in different forms, it might be having lunch with a good and close friend who can help pick you up and help you see your path again, after all, their eyes are not filled with tears, so they have a clearer view of where you are going.  God uses people to help His children. 

No one knows us better than our creator, no one understands the tearing of the heart like our Father/Mother. And no one knows who can provide the help that you need better than God. 

The bumps and the falls helps us to develop love and compassion.  If we never fell, if we never experienced life in it's fullness, we would never know how or when to extend our hand to help the person next to us.

Our eternal journey isn't just about the steps we take, it is a group journey.  We interconnect with those that we love, those that we don't love as much, and those that sometimes make us question our own sanity.  They all contribute to the person we are.

We walk together and learn together and with that connection we learn to love and we learn how to forgive.  We collect pearls of great wealth with each person we encounter, making our journey of great value.

It is interesting to note that the word life has the word "if" right in the middle (l if e).  We can make our life's journey pleasurable IF we take the time to see God in every aspect of our journey and hold the hand of someone who has lost sight of the path.
Together, as a people, with God leading the way, we can make our journey joyful and rewarding.


Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please feel free to express your thoughts in the comment box below. (If you can't see it, click on the word "comments"!)

Will You Wash My Feet?

It sounds like a strange request, yet that is what Jesus commanded his Apostles when they met in the upper room before they had the last supper.

We live in different times than that of Jesus.  Everyone wore sandals AND they lived in a desert, needless to say their feet got kinda dusty.

Jesus wanted to teach his Apostles a very important lesson, and nothing makes a person's eyes get big, than to say "take off your shoes and let me wash your feet."  I'm sure they were stunned at such a request.

I doubt that people of this generation has a basin of water for their guest.  Personally, it would be a welcome gesture especially if there was a foot massage added.

It seems that all the Apostles complied except for the Apostle Peter who wasn't so willing to shed his sandals, feeling that Jesus was too highly respected for him to wash his feet.  So, he declined vehemently against the invitation.

Jesus admonished Peter that if he didn't allow him to wash his feet, that Peter would not share with him in the Kingdom of God.  With that bit of information Peter quickly changed his mind and dunked his feet into the water to have them washed.

The lesson that Jesus was teaching was that of service.  To show kindness.

People of his time walked everywhere, they didn't jump on a camel to go to the market place.

With walking being their mode of transportation their feet got a work out.

So, even though we don't greet our guest with soap and water, there is still a lesson.  That lesson is one of SERVICE.  Doing what we can to make people feel loved and appreciated.

And before we can be of service to others, we have to have an attitude of humility.  To recognize that we are one in the spirit, one in our energy and what we do for another is adding to our Love nature.  

Jesus was their teacher, he was highly respected.  He could have told his Apostles to wash each others feet and they would have done so, he was in a position where he could have delegated what he wanted to have done but Jesus did not exclude himself, in fact this gesture was the last act of love that he gave to his Apostles before his death.  Showing acts of love was an important part of his ministry.

Do we sometimes feel that it is beneath us to do what needs to be done?  Or that we just don't have the time to take care of someone's needs, or to show a sense of caring for the other person's comfort?

On the other hand, are we more like Peter?  "Oh, please, don't bother, I can do this myself."  Having an attitude of being an "in charge" kind of person?  Not needing the help of a friend. 

In order to be a part of the Kingdom of God, we have to be willing to be both a giver AND a receiver.  If we are reluctant to take in the kindness of others we lose out on the joys that come from that kindness AND the person that wants to give is denied that honor.   It is an exchange that only two people can give to each other.

To share in an activity that up builds and encourages, an activity that makes the recipient feel good and in turn makes the giver feel good.  This is the lesson that Jesus was giving.  This simple act of kindness was remembered and recorded to teach us, even to our day. 

Why do we dismiss the kindnesses of others, not wanting them to put themselves out on our behalf?  Why do we have such a hard time in allowing ourselves to be loved?

If we put up barriers with our friends, how can we expect to feel God's loving kindness.

We all live on this tiny planet together, and instead of waring with one another we need to change our thoughts from war to peace, from killing one another to in a sense washing each others feet.

It isn't just a good idea, it is a commandment, it is the way for us to live within the Kingdom of God.

Let us play with our differences instead of fighting over our differences.

Not all flowers in a garden are roses, yet, all flowers are in need of water (love),  refresh on another with your smiles, with your caring and your sharing.  Be a light that shines in the darkness.

As always I encourage your comments at cindalmiller@gmail.com

Thank you for your kindness in reading this material.

Cinda

What Is Hell?

 



You have undoubtedly read descriptions of hell or the underworld in the Bible, seen it in movies or read about it in various books throughout your life.  The concept of the underworld is most likely colored by the religion of your choice.

Most religions are quick to explain what hell is and who is going there.  Usually those that are not a part of the fold of believers, the heathen and for those that have a hard time staying obedient within the confines of the Church. 

Hell is always depicted as a terrible place, where there is weeping and a gnashing of teeth.  A place where the devil lives and those that are unbelievers, or the bad people are  residents.  It is shown to be a place of fire and punishment for all eternity. 

Many people still believe that hell exists and for some that brings them a sense of security, knowing that all their enemies will be confined and will no longer be able to cause them problems.  And many believe that if there was no hell, they would live it up a bit more.  In other words, hell keeps them in line.

I like to examine all religious thought, especially those that cause fear.  And burning for all eternity would be a source of fear.

Let's examine the idea of hell fire.

The Bible teaches that God created everything.  If that is true then we must conclude that God created not only the devil, but God created hell.  IF  God created hell, when did He do it?  The Bible says that God rested on the seventh day.   During His week of creation, there is no mention of God creating an underworld of fire and brimstone for those that broke the rules.  The punishment for eating the forbidden fruit was death, no mention of torture.

If God created hell before the seventh day, it was never recorded.  If it wasn't God who created a literal hell, then who did and wouldn't that prove that there was another god, capable of creating?  If it wasn't God, and it wasn't another lesser god, then it has to be religion.   For what purpose?  For the purpose  of instilling fear and gaining profit from their congregation.  

Many feel that they can pay their way into heaven through their tithing, or giving all their money to the church at their passing.  I really don't think that God is interested in green paper money, silver, gold, stocks, bonds, houses, or anything else that proves to be an asset to us humans. 

What does hell depict?  If it isn't a literal place of torment for the lost souls.  Who goes there?  When do they get there?  How long do they have to stay?  And is there a way out?

It isn't a matter of whether you are going to hell, it is a matter of "are you in hell right now?"

Hell is a state of mind, it is when you feel separated from the force of Love.  Negativity is hell.  Depression and fear is what feeds the fires of hell.

Most of us do not know how to kick out the uninvited negative thoughts, that seem to be guests that live off of our precious time.

There are thousands of people that live on antidepressants, and if you have ever experienced depression, you then know what it feels like to be in the pits of hell, not knowing how to escape from the unrelenting thoughts that plague the mind.  We try to escape by watching "mindless" television, playing games, buying things that we don't need and usually never use.  We try everything we can to escape from ourselves, but, everywhere we go, there we are, carrying our bag of bad thoughts.

So, when we focus on a negative aspect of our lives, we are separating ourselves from the Love of God.  We are all subject to the burn, we can get there quickly .... it just takes a thought.  By the same token, we can escape the licks of fire by the same method that put us there.  By changing our thought patterns from the negative to the positive.

Is it possible to think of hell as a positive?  Most likely you will say "no."  What does fire do, besides burn?  It purifies.  It cleanses.  Intense heat can bend metal.  So, when you are plagued with negative thoughts, use that fire to purify the negative, bend that negativity into seeing a positive outcome.  

Once you know what put you in the pit, you know what not to think about.  Or, at least you know what subject needs to be rethought.  To look at what is causing your mental pain and then looking for a positive outcome. 

The more you think about a negative thought, the more power it gains.  Do not give those thoughts any attention.  They thrive on your energy and the more you think upon them, the hotter the heat becomes. 

There is no denying that our species is experiencing problems that have never faced our ancestors.  However, we have never experienced the problems that faced our ancestors. 

No running water, having to hunt for your own food, planting your own crops, never knowing when there might be an Indian attack, building your own home, no hospitals, no over the counter drugs for that occasional headache and considering a monthly bath as a treat.

They lived in perilous times and no doubt felt the pangs of their hellish thoughts caused by their various fears.

There has never been a "perfect" time to live but we can make it our desire to live a life free of negativity,  thriving to live a life of Love.

We are not alone in finding the doorway.  Take the unseen hand and allow yourself to be lead to your spiritual paradise where the lion and the lamb live in perfect harmony, for there is no fear where there is Love.

I encourage your thoughts.  Please contact me at cindalmiller@gmail.com

                  

Banding Together For Peace

We are living during times that call for us to band
together.   There are so many people that want a better world, that are looking for peace of mind as well as peaceful conditions for the earth.  We may think that only our friends and close relatives are interested in peace and love, but the whole universe is longing for the same.

There are those that have passed, either from sickness or tragedy.  I'm sure that they are wanting our world to experience a higher form of love.  Where people are more concerned for the welfare of others instead of how much they will make on the stock market, or how can I get that raise that I'm in need of.  If we could have transitional thoughts of caring instead of wheeling and dealing, we could experience paradise on earth.

You may feel that it is an impossible feat to think that the world could ever come together in peace.  But, instead of looking for world peace, think upon your own peace and tranquility.  Think upon how you can make your inner world peaceful.  If each person would take responsibility for their own thought patterns and adjust those thoughts so that they come into alinement with the peace that they desire, soon we would be able to experience global peace.  Let peace begin within yourself.  Be the carrier of Love.  Some people are carriers of certain viruses that infect others in a negative way, but we can be carriers of peace, love and acceptance and those that we come in contact with will become infected in a positive way.  Changing lives, one person at a time.

Have you ever noticed that, when we are preparing to pray, we fold your hands together, bringing the right and the left hands to intertwine, which is a good visual reminder that we need to bring ourselves into alinement with ourselves and with our world.  To hold on and support one another in our endeavors for a more peaceful world and a more peaceful life for ourselves and others. And it doesn't matter if we lean to the left or we lean to the right (politically speaking) we still need each other to bring about loving conditions.

Let us hold hands and hold hearts to make peace a reality.

Thank you for reading this post.  Please leave a comment below if you wish, or you may contact me at cindalmiller@gmail.com 

You Are A Hero

Everyone enjoys the stories pertaining to a hero.  Luke of Star Wars, Harry Potter, the great wizard, Star Trek with the Enterprise.  We cheer for the hero and feel a camaraderie with their trials and tribulations.    

Stories such as these have more significance, symbolically,  when related to our inner journey.

The life of a hero begins in youth because they are  in pursuit of their independence, their enemies are those that try to hold them back from being the person that they want to be.

Their enemies start off being their parents, or their peers, they are quick to try and overcome the attacks on their independence.  Showing signs of their "growth" by wearing certain clothing or getting something pierced or changing hair color, anything that will show that "I am different."  Of course this drives parents crazy because they are no longer in "control" of the mind of their young adult.  Breaking away from what is familiar is the beginning of their journey in finding out who they are.

I'm sure we can all relate to some degree to the desire we felt to become our own person.  As strange as it may seem, it is all a natural process of growth. 

After gaining our strength in dealing with the material world, (our parents and peers, our employers, and anyone else of authority that wants to mold us)  we then become strong enough to visit our inner world, because we realize that the enemies are not those that we blame for our problems, but it is the inner problems that live within us that are our true enemies.  The lions, the hungry animals that eat at us daily with our fears.  those fears keep us from finding our true essence.

No longer having to prove one self to friends and or relatives.  No longer having to fight the giants on the outside, we then journey where no one has traveled before - our inner space.   

The traits of a true hero is to have love, compassion, forgiveness and selflessness.  These traits must be applied to ourselves first.  We need to learn how to love ourselves, have compassion for the journey we have trod, forgive ourselves for the "mistakes" we have made along the way and then take those qualities and share them with those that helped us  ...  our "so called" enemies.  They are the ones that pushed us to higher thoughts.  To be able to forgive them for the role that they played in molding us into the person that we now love.  For if we truly love the person we are NOW, then we must forgive the person/persons that are responsible for the transformation.

This is the role of the hero.  Slaying the lions, destroying the weeds, pruning the tree, they are all symbols of clearing the negativity from our thoughts so that our higher thoughts will have the room to grow.

As you take care of your spiritual garden, those that come in contact with you will see the beauty that emanates from your spirit and will desire to have the same kind of peace and joy that you have.  

As a child, we think as a child, we reason as a child, our perception is unclear because we are basing our thoughts on our limited understanding.  We grow in stature, but we take with us our childhood fears that have now become real to us because they have become a part of our personality.  It takes the hero to free the child from those fears and then to grow in the wisdom of love and compassion.

It takes a hero to make the inner journey.  To clear away falsehoods and the fears that have stood in the way of your happiness.  It takes a hero to realize that the beasts do not live in the forest they live within.

Please feel free to comment at cindalmiller@gmail.com

What Is The Kingdom of God?

Entering the Kingdom of God is what everyone wants.  It conjures up imagines of sidewalks paved in gold, with pearly gates being guarded by Saint Peter.

Just what is the Kingdom of God?  How do we enter it and can it be obtained while still living on Earth?

The word kingdom means the domain of the King.  The Lord's Prayer, uttered by Jesus said "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  So, this kingdom can be experienced while still being in physical form.  It is not relegated to a place after passing from this existence, as a reward for the good we have done. 

The question is "How can we be a part of that domain while being in physical form?"  To answer the question it would be good to understand who or what God is.  According to the Bible "God is Love."  or to rephrase ... Love is God.

In order to be in the Kingdom of God, we need to continue to develop our Love nature.  To be in higher thought forms.  To recognize opportunities to show Love.  Not the kind of love that we see on a daily basis.  "I love you until you do something that annoys me."  Or, "I love you until I meet someone better."  That is conditional love, a love that has conditions tied to it.

Developing unconditional Love, is to Love the way God Loves, to allow others to live their lives and Love them through their journey, not judging, not saying "I told you so."  To be able to see the spark that resides within each person that you meet and have the wisdom to know that that spark is the Love nature that has been given to each of us as God's gift to us.

Eleanor Powell (an old time movie actress and dancer) once said "What we are is God's gift to us, what we become is our gift to God."  It is our work, it is our responsibility to become more and more aware of the Love that surrounds us and is IN us and then to SHARE that essence with others.  The more Love that we generate the more we meld into God's Kingdom, the domain, the territory over which God reigns.

Is this a work that is to be done alone?  On one hand, yes, on a grander scale, no.  We can't expect someone else to develop our ability to Love, however we do have God to help us on our pathway.  It is His/Her desire that the children grow into their capacity to Love generously and purely from the heart.

We have a tendency to be careful with how we spend our money, not wasting it foolishly, always looking for that great bargain and investing in the safest and yet the best interest rate we can find.  So many do the same thing with their love.  Being very careful to size up the person that we just met to see if they are worthy of our energy.  Looking for that special person that might be able to help us with our career, or help us in some other area of our life.  And of course, no one likes to be made a fool out of, so we withhold our caring, our friendship, our love, until they have proven themselves worthy.

WHY WAIT??  Our time here, relatively speaking, is a blip.  Each person we meet is already worthy, otherwise they would not be in your experience.

When people meet for the first time, it is usually with a handshake.  The handshake came into being to prove to the other person that, there were no weapons, that they came in peace.  Nice gesture, it's always good to know that the person you just met isn't carrying a bomb.  And the handshake is still the most popular way of introductions.  I prefer a heart to heart hug, that way they know there aren't any weapons anywhere and that they are accepted as a friend. 

We are not on this journey alone.  When others are carrying a heavy heart due to circumstances, that is when God asks us to give them your helping hand of encouragement and unconditional Love.  

People go to seminary school to learn how to interpret the Bible and yet, we are told to be as little children.  Little children, depending on age, rarely know how to read, much less go to an advanced school of higher learning.  Little children know how to interact and make best friends during recess.  It doesn't take a college education to understand the concept of Love and to implement it. 

Love is the answer to all questions.  When in doubt, do the loving thing and when you do that you are walking on sidewalks made of gold and the trees are dripping with chocolate (OK, maybe the trees AREN'T dripping with chocolate, but that will be put into the suggestion box).

If you have any comments, please contact me at cindalmiller@gmail.com

Let us all walk together in a bond of Love.

Love to you all,
Cinda


 

What Is A Gift?

What is a gift?

Sounds pretty basic.  A gift is something given.  It also means to have a talent, such as "He has a gift for playing the piano.

Eleanor Powell, a old time actress and dancer once said "What we are is God's gift to us, what we become is our gift to God."

Our life is a gift, and the gift we give to the world in the way of our talents is our gift to God.  When we do good to our fellow man/woman it brings joy to God's heart.

Many pray to God and then dismiss the needs of others, pretending that we are just too busy to take the time.  Our actions are our prays in action.

Remember the Lord's Prayer.  OUR father .... give US our daily bread .... forgive US .... deliver US from evil.  Jesus didn't teach us to pray for ourselves but to pray for the whole of mankind.  If God thinks of us as His children then to think less of our neighbor is to cause His house to be divided.

We are all in need of compassion, we are all in need of kindness.  A smile costs us nothing, a helping hand takes nothing from us. To be a gift for someone is a treasure.

Just like any gift, it takes time to find the right gift for the right person.  A person may be in need of compassion, be that gift, another person may be in need of recreation, time away from their everyday life, be a gift of fun, someone else may need a shoulder to cry on, have your shoulder available.  Your gifts are varied and your friends needs are varied as well.  Keep yourself available to be that special gift and then know that those gifts will be returned to you when you are in need of encouragement, recreational fun, or compassion. 
 
We are all walking gifts, wrapped up in various shades of skin.

Thanks for your time in reading this posting.  Please leave a comment below, or email me at cindalmiller@gmail.com