“The problem is not that we are afraid
It is that we honour fear above the Law.
If we choose to live in harmony with God’s Loving Laws,
all fear and painful emotion will naturally be released from us
Integrity to God’s Law is the key to complete emotional healing.
Heartfelt desire to live by God’s Laws and to honour them for the loving framework they provide is the only way to a continually growing relationship with God.”
Jesus, March 2013
Here’s the Truth: while I profess to know a lot about God’s Laws and to love them. Too often when confronted with fear, I choose to disregard the Law and avoid what frightens me.
For a long time fear has tricked me into believing that Safety + Comfort = Love.
And the problem with living by fear’s definitions of ‘safety’ and ‘comfort’ is that over time these states I’ve aimed for don’t feel so safe or comfortable.
So over the past few months, I’ve experimented with simply living by the Law.
Here’s some things I’ve experienced as truth as a result:
-The choice to honour law is an emotional one. Once the emotional choice is made it guides action. This works far more easily than trying to control all actions, it also leads to further emotional release and realisations.
For every negative consequence for breaking one of God’s Laws there is a corresponding gift for living in harmony with it.
This is like the best bonus in the Universe! I feel so incredibly supported when I ‘(wo)man up’ and live by the Law.
– Unless I have integrity to God’s Laws I’ll never release fear
(i.e. unless I’m firm for love and truth in every situation, when fear is triggered I’ll make an excuse and sacrifice something, so I don’t feel so petrified)
Here’s a practical exercise I completed a few months ago that really helped me evaluate what a pervasive issue the sacrificing of God’s Laws was in my life.
I wrote the following question and headings in my journal:
Q. What would my life look like if I honoured what I already knew or believed about each Law everyday?
Law of Free Will
Law of Desire
Law of Cause & Effect
Without sharing all my answers, basically there were many ways that I could see that I was not living in harmony with these Laws or Principles.
I recommend this kind of exercise to both deepen self-reflection but also to assist with understanding what these Laws and Principles actually entail. Often doing this kind of work helps a person to see how little they really understand about the operation of the Law or how to apply the Principle to their personal situation. This can then trigger further questioning and learning.
Note from Mary: I was cleaning up my blog and found this old post written in 2013 ! I don’t know why I didn’t ever post it but here it is for you today.
For more information about God’s Principles and Laws, Jesus and I have now presented an entire Assistance Group which provides an introduction to the topic.
Below you’ll find a video discussion that’s a part of our new series discussing the Padgett Messages.
I really enjoyed this chat between Jesus and I. We talk about the message received from Joseph Salyards on 3rd May, 1915.
If you would like to read along with the Padgett Message as you watch the video, click here. The message will open in the next tab of your web browser.
In this talk we touched on many of God’s Laws and I fess up about my rebellion at one of the most important Laws to understand while on earth.
As a self-confessed rebel, coming to love God’s Laws has been a drawn out process for me. Lately however no-one is more surprised than me that exploring, discussing and experimenting with individual Laws is developing into a sort of personal love-affair.
OK – its more truthful to say that I’m falling in love with most Laws… my inner rebel is still complaining about some of them. I can say however that I’m beginning to experience the power of honouring Law in my life (look out for a ‘Jesus Quotes” post coming up on this topic). It turns out that obeying God’s Law is actually liberating, not restricting. Who knew? 🙂
After this discussion I had the idea to offer you a self-reflection exercise. I completed it myself and thought you might be interested!
Personal Reflection Activity:
Here is a list of movies that demonstrate characters who encounter the Law of Compensation.
Everybody’s Fine (2009)
Director: Kirk Jones
Stars: Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale
Developing Self- Awareness Questions:
As you watch or re-watch these movies notice your reactions:
Did you ‘recognize yourself’ in any of the characters? For example have you had common feelings, attitudes, or experienced similar events to anyone in the movie?
Without analyzing too much with your intellect – Do you feel that the main characters in this movie did the ‘right thing’? If you do, what actions did they take that you agree with? Would you, or have you taken similar actions? If you don’t agree with the actions of the main character/s, why not?
If you have seen any of the movies before, have you previously considered that they each demonstrate a person encountering the Law of Compensation? Did you feel that the behaviour of the characters displayed repentance? Did you feel the actions of the main character were noble and just?
I found it most powerful to simply let myself feel my response to this first set of questions. My emotional reactions tell me most about where my soul is at in terms of fully understanding the principles of Divine Love and Truth involved.
Later on I came back to use my intellect to analyze where my injuries are still showing through. For example, as I watch the movie I might emotionally identify the sacrifice and hiding of truth of certain characters with them being loving and honourable. Its great to let myself feel that.
When I come back and analyze that reaction intellectually I can see that its a false belief in my soul that will effect my relationship with God, and ability to truly love others. I wouldn’t have learnt that if I’d only analyzed the movie intellectually and with a view to getting the answer ‘right’. These first questions were designed to help me self-reflect and learn about myself – so by definition the only ‘right’ answers were honest answers.
The second lot of questions (below) helped me to see what I really understand and believe the Laws of Compensation and Repentance/ Forgiveness to be.
How did the main characters in the movie begin to encounter the Law of Compensation? What happened? How did they feel? How was the Law beginning to work upon their soul?
How do the characters respond when they start to feel the effects of the Law of Compensation?
Which characters fight the Law when it begins to act on them?
Did any character move from experiencing the Law of Compensation, into a process of repentance?
Reflecting upon your knowledge of God’s Laws and Love, and the true nature of the human soul, do you feel the main character developed or degraded their soul condition through the events portrayed in the movie?
If you feel that the main character developed in love, did they do this via engaging the principles of the Natural Love or the Divine Love Path?
I hope you enjoy the self-reflection exercise if you choose to do it.
If I’m super organized I’ll do a follow-up post, summarizing my observations and reflections about each movie in relation to the Laws of Compensation, Repentance & Forgiveness.
Have a great day everyone! We’re in Kyabra for the week and it’s great to see how all the projects from last year’s Summerfest are going.
In this first series of messages I’ve chosen for discussion we often find people in darkness, despair, disillusionment and doubt.
It isn’t by accident that I chose as I did. It’s important for all of us to face these four ‘d’s i.e. darkness, despair, disillusionment and doubt. Many of us find ourselves the most stuck, faithless and desperate (another ‘d’) when we are shown our own darkness, when doubt and disillusionment rise up, or when faced with the deepest of sorrows.
Yet moving through these ‘d’s, instead of shying away or trying to go around them, is not only necessary to our progression but empowers us to face any difficult emotion.
After reading some of your responses to the last post and on re-reading this next one, I could see that many of you resonated with the themes of hopelessness and despair.
The great news is that Padgett and his friends also give us a great road-map for moving through (not around) the four ‘d’s.
Here’s what I see:
Padgett encourages his friends to open up to God simply from a place of possibility of His love. He encourages them to take steps in faith. However he never does this in ignorance or denial of all of their current doubts and fears. He never belittles their struggles, nor tells them to ‘just get over it’. Yet I find many of us tell ourselves and others these kinds of messages when we encounter the four ‘d’s.
Padgett doesn’t lecture them on why their feelings aren’t valid; he asks them to consider truth and logic, and to try it out for themselves.
Using our will in a positive direction is vital if we are to move through the four ‘d’s.
Here’s our latest discussion of a message in the Great Experiment Series.
Click here to view the message in the next browser tab.
Can you see any other clues this message provides for dealing with doubt, despair, disillusionment and darkness?
Some More Practical Tips to Not Get STUCK in the Four ‘D’s
1. Acknowledge and Own the Feelings
Don’t try to tell yourself that they don’t exist, that their presence means that you aren’t spiritually evolved or that you should be over them by now.
Instead recognise these feelings as a signal from your soul that something needs healing.
When you judge your darkness, instead of examining it, this is your attempt to shut it down.
When you try to push away doubt, instead of really allowing it, you miss the opportunity to discover the real emotions of fear the doubt is covering. Doubt is often a place we use to hide from fear, but it gets depressing and depleting to live in. When we dig deeper into our doubt, then we discover our fear and can unlock the stuck place we have been enduring.
Despair and disillusionment are tough feelings – acknowledging them helps to uncover why they are there.
Ultimately you will need to grieve the causes for all of these feelings (you know that bit right), but I see that many of us fall down, get spirit influenced, and waste time on our spiritual journey when we know we aren’t getting to the causes yet. I see people start to push themselves hard to get there, instead of recognising that there are blocks (which are also feelings) that need to be worked through in order to completely release these causes. This work of releasing blocks is so vital and important, and pushing ourselves is the opposite of sitting with our resistance and allowing it to be felt.
Sitting with our resistance to our errors feels uncomfortable. That’s usually when the pushing, self-punishment or the denial starts. We want it over with, fixed and healed very quickly, or we try to talk ourselves out of the truth of it.
That’s because acknowledging we have a problem or error in our soul and realising that we are totally resisting the experience of this error can trigger other sets of emotions. Lots of childhood terrors of not being loved if we aren’t perfect, or aren’t performing can start to surface. The only answer I’ve found to combat this (and it’s a point that probably deserves an entire post of its own) is to practice compassion with self.
Recognise that these feelings are scary and painful and give yourself time and space to explore your soul. I see many of us treating ourselves worse than we would another person in the same situation. Ask yourself, how would I lovingly treat a child who came to me with the problem I find myself in? Treat yourself the same way.
Let me say categorically that pushing ourselves never helps.
Instead we can take positive steps to acknowledge the pain; know and be kind to ourselves and to pray for sincere desire to change.
2. Remind Ourselves of Truth
Many of the Padgett messages demonstrate spirits and Padgett himself speaking with others to remind them that their fears, doubts and worries are not in harmony with the way God’s Love or Universe works.
We can do the same thing for ourselves.
When disillusionment and despair loom, dark spirits love to get in on the act and reinforce really negative messages to us. Engaging very sincerely in prayer i.e. seeking Truth from God (rather than listening to messages from spirits in lower conditions) is perhaps the most important thing we can do in this situation.
Along with this we can seeking out sources of truth on earth via the Padgett Messages, revisiting past lessons in love or big growth changes we have made in the past, talking to people who have a higher condition of love, or listening to a seminar on the issue we are struggling with.
The use of logic is very helpful in reminding ourselves of truth. The problem with fear – and it is fear that drives the existence of all four of the ‘d’s in our lives – is that it resists logic. Fear can’t continue to reign in an environment that upholds truth.
So we can decide to uphold lives and actions that honour truth. This will trigger us into releasing our fears and pain.
Our intellect can be a useful tool to remind ourselves of truth. Even if the truth has not entered our souls as yet, if we remind ourselves of the Truths we have faith in, or have simply heart, we can base our actions on these. This is a very important step in breaking the dominance of fear over our lives (and again there is much more I could say on the topic but today I’m just giving you the
Here is a very basic, practical and helpful exercise to help if you find yourself really stuck.
Divide your journal page into two columns. At the top of one column write ‘My Belief’, in the other ‘God’s Truth’.
Work your way down the page being very honest with yourself about your current beliefs around a certain issue. Instead of writing what you think your feelings or beliefs should be, write what you emotionally believe.
Examining your actions in the area you are exploring is helpful to discover what you really believe. For example, if I say that I believe that telling the truth is the most loving thing to do, and yet I continually avoid doing it – then I must consider that either I don’t feel its a loving act, or I don’t yet have a desire to love. What are the emotional beliefs that drive the actions?
Here are a few examples:
My Belief
God’s Truth
I’ll never be able to handle my shame, pain
God created me to be able to heal any injury
Acknowledging my fear and allowing it as physical experience in my body makes me a ‘weakling’. People will attack me more if I show I am afraid.
Allowing my fear liberates me from it. It is strength to acknowledge and experience fear bodily not weakness. Others can harm us less when we feel our fear. We are more able to respond in love and maintain our safety when we know and allow fear.
Telling the truth to others hurts them and is not loving them.
Telling the truth is an act of personal integrity – when we withhold truth and put on a façade we break God’s Laws of Love.Sharing truth enables the free will of others i.e. they are able to make more informed choices(Personal reflection after considering God’s Truth): When I don’t tell the truth its more about preventing my fear than about regard for their emotions.
Keep in mind that none of these strategies take the place of true emotional healing which is vital to our progress, however many of these things keep me away from negative influence and soften me to my fearful feelings.
I’m excited to tell you all about a new book by our friend Luli.
It outlines a programme designed to assist people to heal their physical pain. It includes the reasons why we manifest pain in the body in the first place and provides tools and exercises to assist anyone in physical pain.
You can read more about the book and find it as a free download here.
So inspired to see a sister following her passions.
Firstly, thank-you to all of you who responded to my last post, requesting some feedback on whether my idea of posting simple “Jesus Quotes” regularly appealed to you. I had no idea there were so many of you out there reading! (just kidding)
Needless to say, I now plan to make “Jesus Quotes” a regular feature. Thanks to all of you for joining in and letting me know how you feel.
************
I’ve chosen this ‘Great Experiment Series’ because it’s an area that I’m personally giving focus to at present. The simple process of open-hearted longing and relating to God is at the core of everything we teach. Yet it’s something I feel needs much, much more of my personal attention.
As crucial as I know it to be, at times, to simply sit and engage with myself, in order to even begin to open up to God, can be quite a challenge. As the series goes on I plan to share more about the blocks to opening our hearts in sincere prayer that many of us encounter.
I’ve also chosen a number of Padgett Messages to inspire me in my quest. You can find the full list here. These messages relate the experiences of real people engaging the experiment of longing for God’s Love, and clearly highlight the benefits of doing so. For any of us feeling completely blocked towards God, and disheartened in our prayer life, these stories tell us exactly how and where to start.
The first message in our series was received by James Padgett, from his father John Padgett, on the 31st of December, 1914.
Below you will find:
– Some of my brief and recent written reflections on this message
– A video of Jesus and I discussing the message in its entirety
– A full transcript of the actual message
I think it’s apt that for our first message we find Mackey and Taggart in a stuck and disheartened place – a lot of us start right where they are at. Their expression in this message highlights some of the big hurdles and blocks that have prevented their growth so far, such as disillusionment with God due to teachings they learnt on earth (how many of us are still carrying these kinds of injuries in our soul, even though our intellect is now telling us different?), and their fears of hoping and trying for something that they aren’t sure will ever happen.
And yet by the end of the message we see that they are assisted, through Padgett’s sincere concern and his appeal to their logic, to develop some humility. They undertake to understand and attempt the experiment.
I was impressed by Padgett’s example in this and following messages and was very struck by the references that all of the spirits made as to the power of his individual prayers for them.
Some Specific Reflections:
As I reread this message in preparation for this post, a few things really stood out to me.
I was reminded of the power of Truth. As we see demonstrated in this and many other messages to Padgett, simply hearing a truth, or having contact with a person who demonstrates love and truth can be a crucial turning point in a person’s journey. Speaking and acting in support of truth can reach people even in the depths of their despair and hopelessness. It can begin to generate hope, curiosity, and a desire for positive change. And these qualities are all helpful in building faith.
Indeed we see that Padgett’s demonstration of love for his friends, his personal faith and prayers for them, and his delivery of Truth (even in spite of the protestations and arguments of his friends) – that these gifts planted seeds of hope and the possibility for change in the men in spirit.
In this message Mackay’s condition was described:
“he is not very hopeful of ever becoming very happy, as he sees nothing around him but darkness and depravity, and evil spirits who delight in trying to make everyone around them feel that there is no hope for any spirit; but that their lives must be spent in a condition of suffering and unhappiness,”
So not only was a lack of truth harming Mackay’s progress, but spirits were able to manipulate his ignorance and his despair for their own unloving ends. This can happen so easily to us on earth as well.
When we choose to ignore Truth and the evidence of God’s Love for us, we never challenge our hopelessness, or identify it as just a feeling (rather than Truth). This opens us to large amounts of spirit influence from spirits who are invested in us remaining the same, so that they may feed their addictions through us.
When we are without hope, and do not grieve it, dark spirits can tell us that the situation will never change, and that we are deserving of our state.
But we have the choice to challenge negative messages with Truths that we have already been made aware of. We have so many tools available to us that can remind us, and keep us taking steps towards love of ourselves and honour of God’s Truth.
When we focus on Truth, and are humble to our hopelessness (rather than becoming rigid, angry with others or punishing of ourselves – techniques which actually just distracts us from our fear and sadness), we open the door to change, and guidance from higher spirits. Faith grows. Mackay’s example demonstrates this process.
The second element to inspire me in this message was Padgett’s reassurance to Taggart regarding the true nature of loving prayer and its power for our planet:
“He says that he never thought of it in that way, but, if as you say the prayer should be that this love which you say would make men love not only God but one another, and make every man strive to make happy every other man, then if that prayer should be answered, the war would soon stop, and the nations as nations and as individuals would undoubtedly be happy and peace would reign over all the land.”
This vision of peace for the world is a dream of my own. And it inspires me to know that as we pray in sincerity to God for His Love, and receive it, the natural love we have for brothers and sisters is also refined.
So to conclude my reflections, even this simple message gifted to us from John, Mackay and Taggart, serves as an excellent tool through which to challenge our hopelessness with truth, and inspire us towards change.
It demonstrates the power of love, of sincere prayer and of the service we can give to each other, by reminding our sisters and brothers of the great truths we know, and the great hope for humanity that can be gained through each of us developing a personal relationship with God.
What stood out to you in this message?
Our Video Discussion:
The Message Transcript:
December 31, 1914
A Message from John H. Padgett to his son James Padgett
Mr. Padgett’s father tells of soulmate records.
I am here, your father:
I am very happy and am glad that you seem to be also.
Yes, because of your experience the other night in loving Helen and her loving you. You certainly were filled with love and you must be perfectly happy, to have had such a demonstration of love and the realization of the actual sensitive presence of your wife. for I tell you that she was with you and was so filled with her love for you, that we all wondered at her love. She is a spirit that seems to have no limit to her love for you, not many spirits seem to have such abundance of love as she has for you. So you must consider yourself a very blessed man to have such a wife and a soulmate.
Yes, as I told you many years ago, there is of record in the heavens a book of lives, as I might call it, which contains the names of those who are decreed by God to be one through all eternity: and when I want to know who is the soulmate of one who desires to know his or her soulmate, I consult that book, and there I find who the soulmate is. I am not permitted to give the name of the soulmate if he or she is on the earth life, for it might create discord or unhappiness to the living, but if the soulmate is not married then there is no restriction upon me, but if the soulmate is married then I must not tell the name, such is the law of God in this particular.
The reason is that I have that duty assigned to me, and as Helen has told you I have taught her to perform this duty and she is now engaged in it, and is most successful in the performance of her mission. She seems to have a wonderful ability, or you might call it, intuition for locating the soulmates in the spirit world as she never fails when she undertakes to find one. She also finds great happiness in doing this work and in seeing the happiness that comes to them who ask her to perform this task. I do not engage in it with so much enthusiasm as she does, but I do the best that I can, and I am rewarded also by seeing the happiness of those soulmates when they are brought together.
No, not if they are not assigned to do this work. It is one of the provisions of the spiritual world that each person has some work of a certain kind, or several kinds to do, and in that way are helped by the higher powers, or, as we believe, the love of God to perform. A spirit who is assigned to do a particular work, such as helping the spirit when it first enters the spirit world, will not attempt to engage in other work of a wholly different kind.
Yes, as to attempting to awaken a spirit to a conception of the love of God that is waiting for it, all spirits may do this, and when a spirit succeeds in causing a darkened or blinded spirit to feel or realize that God’s love is waiting for it, then the spirit who has caused that awakening is most happy.
Of course, it is only the spirit who has had that awakening himself, who can cause or lead another spirit to that desire for spiritual enlightenment, that will finally cause it to get this love to his full and complete happiness. I am not yet in a condition to be fully able to do this with much success, but your grandmother and mother are very powerful in this particular, and they are the cause of many spirits becoming reconciled to God and His salvation.
So you see, the one great thing to obtain, either while on earth, or after you come here, is this great awakening and love of God in your own heart. It is of all things necessary, the greatest. I know to a considerable degree what it means and the happiness that comes from it; but I am not satisfied and am striving to obtain more of this love, and to rise higher in the Kingdom of God. So you must try also, for you need not wait until you come over.
She has it to a degree that almost enables her to go with your mother, and I think that in a very short time she will leave us and rise to the higher sphere, and we will miss her very much.
Yes, he (Mr. Riddle) is becoming more in condition to receive this love and believe in what your mother tells him. She is the one that is trying to show him the way, more than anyone else. He seems to have great confidence in her and in her love.
He is also progressing very fast, and I expect that he will soon be with me in this sphere. So you see we all are doing well in the way of progressing and your prayers help us very much.
I have seen him (Taggart) very recently and he is in the same condition as when I wrote you first about him. He does not seem to realize that he needs any assistance to help him to become happier or to progress to a better condition and it is difficult to convince him. I tried several times, but he said that I was mistaken in what I told him, and that he knew that he was just where it was intended that he should be, so I have not tried lately.
No, I do not, but I can find him (Mackey) if you desire that I shall, He might want to say something to you, but only through me, as you must not get into rapport with these strangers to our band, for it will do harm, and we must not run the risk.
We are here. Mr. Mackey and Mr. Taggart. They say that they are very glad that you have given them the opportunity to say a word.
He (Mackey) says that he is much happier than when he first came over. as he has commenced to see the things that are necessary to make him happier. He says, that he wants you to tell him of your experience with some of the other spirits, with whom you have come in contact; as he says, he has recently learned from earth sources that you have had considerable experience with spirits who have been in a condition of unrest and spiritual blindness, and have helped them some.
He says that he is in the earth plane, and that when he came over it was a very dark and dreadful road that he traveled, that he was all blind and left alone after he first entered the spirit world, and that only recently has he commenced to see a ray of light, that his condition now is not one in which he receives much happiness, and he is not very hopeful of ever becoming very happy, as he sees nothing around him but darkness and depravity, and evil spirits who delight in trying to make everyone around them feel that there is no hope for any spirit; but that their lives must be spent in a condition of suffering and unhappiness, in other words, that they are in hell and have no hope of getting away from it.
He says that he has gotten some little light from a spirit who has been telling him, that there is hope and a better place if he will only believe it to be so, and let his soul open up to the better influences; but that he cannot believe that there is any God or any Saviour or any better place for him. He says that if there is a better place or any reason to believe that there is a God or Saviour he wants to know it, and if you can help him any, to please do so.
He says that he has not seen Mr. Riddle and did not know that he is in the Spirit World. He says that he will try to find him, and may be he can get some help.
He says that I am much more beautiful than Mr. Taggart, and more happy looking. He further says, that I am not so very different, as he sees it, to cause him to ask that question, but as you request it, he will do so. He has asked me and I told him that my appearance and happiness was caused by my having gotten the love of God in my soul, and the realization that God is my Father, and loves me so very much that he wants me to be his child and become one in thought with Him.
He says that that may be true, but he does not understand it, and that if it is the cause, he would like to know the Way, for he certainly wants to be rid of the awful darkness and despair that is with him almost continuously. Because, as he says, that you are his friend and that he will try to do as you suggested; but he says that he cannot yet believe that there is a God who can help him to get out of his awful condition. He says that he will try to pray and try to believe and that if there is anything in what you say, and you really believe what you say, that you must pray for him also.
He says that for the sake of what you say, that if any of these spirits that you speak of, should come to him, he will listen to them, even though he may not believe – that he cannot promise to believe.
He says that he will come to you tonight and try to pray as you say, but he doubts that it will do any good, but he does not think that it can do any harm. He is willing to pray and will try to believe, you must not feel bad, if when he does so, he tells you that he don’t believe in prayer or God.
He says that he is not willing to run the risk of having his conscience lash him or of his suffering any more than he is now. He does not believe that he can do so and live.
He says, that what you say sounds as if there might be some truth in it, and he will think about it, that is, if his happiness or future state depends upon his will, he will very soon determine that question, for if what you say is true, then he will be a big fool to remain where he is, when by the mere exercise of his will he can get into places of happiness and light. So he says, he will think of what you say.
He says that what you say may be all true, but the difficulty is that he can’t understand, and, therefore, can’t believe.
He says that he can say what you have just said and mean it, and he is ready to do so now. “If there be a God, and if that God has a love for me, and is ready to fill my soul with that love and make me happy and full of light, and whether I receive that love or not depends upon my will, then if this is all true, I will that God give me this love with all my strength and desire.”
He says that he is feeling some strong sensation now, and that he will repeat this and pray to God and ask for faith; and will continue to repeat it, as you have taught him, and he hopes that he may receive this love and light. He says that you have shown him that there may be some such thing as this love of God, and that he is willing to pray, and if his receiving it depends upon his will, he is willing it with all his heart. He says that as you seem to have such faith in this love and in prayer, that you do not forget to pray for him.
Yes, Mr. Taggart has heard it all and he says, that you certainly did put it up to Mackey to try the experiment, but that he is very doubtful if you will see any good results flow from it. He says that he will wait and see what effect it has on Mackey, and then he may be willing to consider the matter. He does not believe that prayer is anything more than a mere wish that emanates in and goes no higher than mind; and that, consequently, there is no God to answer, for if there was the prayers of all the people of the warring nations, would bring about such conflicting answers that confusion would be worse confused.
He says that he never thought of it in that way, but, if as you say the prayer should be that this love which you say would make men love not only God but one another, and make every man strive to make happy every other man, then if that prayer should be answered, the war would soon stop, and the nations as nations and as individuals would undoubtedly be happy and peace would reign over all the land. And if this is the love that you are trying to tell us about, then I am not so certain that it is worth striving for.
You are a very ingenious reasoner, and I commence to see that there may be some logic in what you say, but how am I to attempt to do that in which I have no faith? I know that I ordinarily, when on earth required everything to be proved, and unless things were proved I was not willing to accept conclusions, and I have not changed in that particular since I have come to the spirit world and I find it hard to change; but, as you say, I should be reasonable enough to let my mind be open to a conviction, if such conviction can possibly be brought about by any means, whether they arise from the knowledge that I gained when on earth, or whether they arise from things connected with this spiritual world of which I have very little knowledge.
So after all I guess Mackey is not such a big fool to try the experiment; and having confidence in you as a friend that has at heart my welfare, I will do the same as Mackey has promised to do. So you can pray for me too, and I will pray also – but of course I will not be able to have any belief that my prayers will be answered. So you see I am not only hard headed, but hard hearted also.
Yes I am, if it depends on my will I am more than willing, not only that, but if there be a God and the love that you speak of, I will forever thank that God for taking me away from this condition of blindness and unhappiness.
Yes, I am willing to pray to God to help me to believe, and if that will bring relief, then there will be no difficulty, for I will make such a prayer with all my heart.
You are the most persistent man that I have ever met in these spiritual matters and if what you say happens, I will certainly thank you with all my heart and soul, for I can conceive of nothing more desirable than to have the great blessings and possessions that you tell me about. So I will keep faith with you as I said when nest you give me the opportunity to write, I will frankly tell you what the result of my experiment is.
Yes, and I appreciate what you have done and I say to you that this violation of your law, which the band you speak of has prescribed, has caused me to think more deeply of your interest in me and what you said, than I can express.
So good bye for the present, the next time I come I will try to observe your law, and write through your father, if he will permit me to.
Yes, you certainly did give the gentleman a struggle to get away from what you said to them, and I believe that you have impressed them to such a degree that they will be lead to learn the truth. You are tired and must stop.
In Chapter 13 of ‘Through the Mists’ Cushna and Fred discuss the barriers to easy communication between those in spirit who wish to assist us and those on earth.
“But we cannot expect too much from them so long as they imagine our only employments are singing ‘Glory, glory, glory’, or writhing in unutterable torments.” p.152
Fred wonders at how those who wish to be of guidance do not become discouraged.
Cushna responds:
“Our knowledge of the government of God shows us that all the erroneous ideas of men can only delay, they cannot prevent, the success of truth ultimately. They attach an undue importance to the earth-life, and transfer the great advantages, which are the peculiar features of this estate, to the earth condition when they do so. With them everything is determined by the three score years and ten; the temporal governs the eternal; the finite controls the infinite; the things when are not, are placed in jurisdiction over the things which are. We know better and therefore, can wait, if needs be; at the same time, we are not unconscious of the advantage of a right commencement.” p.152
Our homework for Book Group this week is to consider and notice the ways in which we place emphasis on the temporal rather than the eternal in our day to day living. e.g. The times that we honour that which is only of this life over our spiritual health and growth.
In my experience it has been often my avoidance of fear that has caused me to break good ethics towards others in favour of feeling safe or comfortable. It is the terror of how others might treat me that at times causes me to modify expression of my true heart and passion, which limits my growth into the person God designed. When I justify fear, I also find myself justifying poor choices for my health and my relationships.
Fear makes us believe that all that we have is right here and now, and that here and now is a small and dangerous place.
The story of ‘Through the Mists’ demonstrates to us a different reality, one of hope and love not only for the future but also right here and now. The wealth of information available on the Divine Truth Channel and in The Padgett Messages gives us the keys to a perspective far beyond the ‘three score years and ten’.
At this time, with the knowledge that so many of us have already been given of God and His Laws, I believe that we have the opportunity of a ‘right commencement’ i.e. we can use our knowledge of things spiritual to begin to make choices based in Love, Truth and Humility. We can let decisions based in faith, morality and ethics guide our lives rather than listen to the gripes of fear and doubt.
But are we making this choice?
I am letting this question work on my heart this week and asking for guidance to show me the ways in which I am still clinging to the material things to measure my worth, and the ways in which fear may guide me away from Truth and Love. I don’t want to waste more time, nor overlook the gifts already presented to me – I’m aiming for a right commencement.
If you care to, you are welcome to join our group in this reflection.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8
In our next book group we’ll meet up for partthree of the discussion of Chapter 12 – ‘Across The Mists’.
Turns out the shortest chapter in the book has many lessons for us all to learn.
So, if you are a part of book group here is some extra homework to prepare for Wednesday (chuckle, I know, I know. Shortest chapter = Most amount of homework ever):
1. In last week’s discussion we talked about how sympathetic attraction between people on earth and in spirit, often leads to codependent relationships (and how – lets face it- co dependence is never really a good thing). So how does this knowledge relate to Cushna’s statement:
Yes! Love conquers death, and that one great law which governs and controls everything with us, is also the means by which we may reach and save mankind. Sympathy, whether pure or impure, base or noble, holy or unholy, has a natural attraction for that which is like itself, and its power is not destroyed by the grave, as you have seen in the cause of our present mission.
If all laws are governed by the one great law (of Love) as Cushna states – how are sympathetic attractions be loving?
2. As Fred and Cushna discuss the darkness of the earth plane, Cushna states:
The amount and quality of light radiating from a man, declares his real condition. We do not need to be told, it is impossible to deceive us, because it is impossible to tamper with the witness.
Fred asks:
What does the cold, keen air indicate?
And Cushna responds:
The degree of charity registered by the spiritual thermometer.
(or in other words the degree of the lack of charity – my words added here)
Consider the questions: In what ways do I reflect charity in my day to day life? In what ways is charity extended to me in my day to day life?
3. Listen to the channelling of a local woman who attends book group, and a group of Christian women who also attend.
There will also be a special guest joining us for the meeting.
Following the group there will be a presentation by Jesus. Topic of the discussion is ‘How to Create Loving Eco Systems’ and much of these lessons will guide our activities at this year’s Summerfest. Anyone interested is welcome to attend and there will be time for questions during the presentation. Full details in the Divine Truth Events tab.
Book groupers, perhaps you would be kind enough to pass on this information to other members who may not have regular internet access?
In Chapter 11 of ‘Through The Mists’ our narrator Fredrick learns more about life in the spirit world and the great laws governing all of God’s Creation.
Following is part of his discussion with his guide, Siamedes:
“Then perhaps you can answer me a question which puzzled me many times in the old life?”
“I will, if possible,” he replied kindly.
“Which of all the denominations, or religions if you will, contribute the highest percentage of the redeemed?”
“We recognize but one religion here, that is – Love; and all its disciples have but one denomination – lovers of mankind. No one of all the man-made religions holds a monopoly of this attribute. But earnest and conscientious followers of it may be found in all. Its worship is service to humanity; its litany, noble deeds, its prayers, tears of sympathy; its sermons, simple lives, known and read of all men; its songs are lullabies to soothe the brokenhearted; its faith the immolation of self; and its hope – Heaven. This is the only religion which can write the passports of heaven for the pilgrims of earth. Systems of theology have no more charm for us here than they had on earth; but in every heart there is a latent ideal towards which all mankind is blindly reaching out, a vague and undefined hope to which all the nations are ignorantly aspiring, a settlement of political problems that is only just beyond the reach of statesmen, a method of international arbitration by which peace shall reign on earth; these are all generating in the womb of futurity.”
Part of our homework for this Chapter was to consider the following questions:
In Chapter 11 Cushna makes a statement about Love being the only ‘true religion’.
In this chapter and throughout the book, ‘Through The Mists,’ we learn that the qualities of love and sincere service expressed in our lives are the only true measures of our development.
1. Do I think Cushna’s statement about love is in harmony with what you have learnt about Divine Truth from Jesus? Have I understood this truth by listening to the lectures?
2. How does this statement relate to the way I live my daily life?
3. Given that our development in love alone is what dictates the location we enter into in the spirit world, consider – how would I fare if you entered the spirit world today?
4. How many excuses am I making to avoid living ‘the true religion’?
I thought you might like to join in the reflection. I found this to be a great journal activity.
If you are interested, the recording of the book group meeting in which we discussed these questions was held on 26th of September. It will appear in the playlist on youtube sometime in the next few weeks.
One day I might be brave enough to post my letter to myself here, but can I recommend the exercise to you? I cried many tears in the writing of mine and I found an opportunity to love and forgive parts myself that were still hurting and alone.
For those of you in book group, after our discussion of Chapter 10 last week and of collecting curios on the beach, one of the letters caught my eye.
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Some years ago I spent time living in Bouj el Barajneh, a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon. This was such a rich experience. I learnt a lot about myself. I was supposed to be there in service to a community of 20,000 completely dispossessed people, generations of them living piled together in one square kilometre.
After two years, my major impression was that I received far more that I had given. I was so deeply honoured to have been accepted into the hearts and homes of so many Palestinian people. One of my most treasured experiences about living in the camp was sitting in homes in the evenings and listening to stories of Palestine, life in the camps, and the trauma and hardship so many had suffered during the Lebanese civil war. As I said, I felt honoured to be trusted with these stories that sculpt a life.
One of my friends, Kholoud has been working with researchers on an oral history project with elderly Palestinians, having them recount stories of their lives and culture before the nakba. If you are a sucker for people’s stories, or for a slice of history not often heard, you can read some of their stories here.
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We’ve been involved with more media and interviews in the past week.
Being around journalists always reminds me that so much of what is reported on in the media is all about perspective, perception and pre-determined viewpoints. I am learning to give up the desire to control what happens and how I am perceived.
I came upon this bible verse that gave me solace:
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposed the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5: 5-6
And I was also reminded of my favourite children’s story.
I couldn’t find my copy of it, so I found it one online.
I have certainly gone places in the past five years that I never imagined I would go!
It’s a beautiful rainy morning here in Bathurst. AJ is speaking today about “The Eternal Benefits of a Relationship with God” (also totally beautiful I think).
Once we decided on this topic, AJ was still busy working on setting up a computer system, so I sat down alone to brainstorm about the outline. This turned out to be an exercise I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact it was quite emotional, and even motivational. My heart swelled anew at how much I really want this relationship with God.
So I had an idea – to give you guys the opportunity to have your own brainstorm. You could share your reflections in the comments or keep them to yourself. In a few days I’ll post my initial brainstorm list, and once the full PDF outline (far enriched by AJ’s wisdom) is posted to our site I’ll copy you the link.
My rationale for presenting this idea to you is about giving more people the opportunity to engage with the teaching as it is happening no matter where we (or you) are, and in a practical way.
I learn best when:
I have already pondered, wondered or asked questions about what is being presented to me i.e. if I have opened up to the topic (which, if you think about how well you received Secrets of the Universe, I’m betting its because you had already spent a long time asking the questions AJ answered in that talk)
I am engaged with what is being presented. Either by the material sparking my curiosity, and questions, or that I can see the practical applications of the information I am hearing and learning (remember I’m a pragmatist).
Put simply, I must be involved with my own growth in order for it to occur. (And obviously, I don’t think I’m alone here).
So I’m thinking about adding new content here at the blog – namely sharing practical examples of my (attempts) to live the teachings, as well sharing ways I try to engage my own growth, learning and emotions. If you think this would interest you, send me an email or leave a comment.
I’d also love to hear from you if you feel that publishing written snippets of the talks here, before they reach youtube, enhances or detracts from your experience watching them.
So if you are game, your task today, should you choose to accept it is, to write a list of benefits – ‘The Eternal Benefits of a Relationship with God’. And in the coming days I’ll post my list which I promise I won’t edit from my initial 20 minute brainstorm.
Notes Along The Way 