http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/focus/first/June18_0910_CFDS_english_low-res.pdf

This Treasury will expire 3 days from post.

Take a look at whatIsee's Etsy Shoppe and see more of her own joyful work! 

Mrs Reedová, Carl Lewis and runners from all 49 European countries then ran over the Charles Bridge and arrived just after 1 PM to the stage at the Old Town Square. Deputy Mayor Markéta Reedová spoke to the international runners and then together with the sport legend Carl Lewis and the Executive Director of the run Salil Wilson lighted the beacon of harmony. The World Harmony torch that travelled through all the 49 European countries was then passed between ambassadors, mayors and other guests. The ceremony culmination was a song, composed by World Harmony Run founder Sri Chinmoy, performed by the renowned violin player Pavel Šporcl, Patron of the Run in Czech Republic, the children’s philharmonic orchestra from Liberec and children’s chorus Slavíčci (Nightingales) from Prague. After a release of 7 doves the World Harmony Run torch was headed to a representative from Ireland where the run will start again in 2010.

PHOTOS WILL BE INCLUDED WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE

Sometimes we allow fear to rule us.  When we do that, we often will not move forward with the things we love to do. Fear is something each of us has.  We can make a worthy opponent of fear, or we can look it in the face and tell FEAR that it is not going to control us.  Usually when we fear something, if we go to the seed moment of where that fear began, we can overcome it.   Take the baby steps to overcome fears you may have.  Fear is real, but it doesn't have to be your master.  Empower yourself! Shift your thinking and shift your life!  Reframe your angel blessings!

I’m very grateful that in high school decades ago, I was on the track and field team.  I loved to high jump and do the hurdles.  I also loved the relay races and passing the baton. Those are the visuals I have whenever I have anything to fear.  I know with my efforts, I can get over the fear.   Whenever I have a fear of any kind, I know there are 3 ways to deal with it:

1. face it and jump over the fear.
2. find a way around the fear that I can live with.
3. face it and go through it asking myself “what is the worst that can happen?”

Reflection Questions

1.  What is the worst possible scenario for this fear? 

2.  What is the seed moment of this fear?  As an adult would I be scared of what my childhood’s interpretation was?

3.  What do I love that can motivate me to go around this fear?

4.  How can I cross the bridge from fear to love that is on the other side?

Face your fear by raising your consciousness.  Empower yourself with love energy! It neutralizes fears you might have.   Think love and peace in your world by affirming you deserve love in your life.

Affirmation:  I intend that my life is filled with thoughts of love and peace today.

[caption id="attachment_101" align="aligncenter" width="384" caption="Love overcomes fear"][/caption]

I love my journey into myself.  Do you love your journey?  If not, then do the work to empower yourself!  If you found this helpful, then visit my website www.moonwomenspirituality.com.  If your want information on how the daily Moon and Sun energy affects you, your love and your relationships, visit www.astromoon.wordpress.com

Video of The Beatles Performing All You Need is Love Live on YouTube

Lyrics:

There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.
It’s easy.

Nothing you can make that can’t be made.
No one you can save that can’t be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.
It’s easy.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

Nothing you can know that isn’t known.
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.
It’s easy.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

All you need is love (all together, now!)
All you need is love. (everybody!)
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need (love is all you need).

-

Freedom Notes: Has anyone ever noticed that Mick Jagger is in the crowd during the taping of this video? What this means to us here at Pheakkley is that even though the Beatles and the Stones were one another's biggest competition, they managed to become friends and transcend petty differences and unite as Artists and Creators to support one another in Love. 

We aim to do the same here, hoping to inspire other Artists to feel more free and confident in each of thier individual crafts and talents, and to help nurture the development and growth of expression in those who have yet to find their own voice. If we can get you to tap a foot, plant a tree, hum a tune, doodle on a scrap note, paint the kitchen, take a quiet bath... or simply read a good book and eat a delicious meal in a new and creative way, then we feel that we have accomplished our goal here at by. Pheakkley.

We want to help you fall back in Love with you Life. Every Precious Moment. Every thought. Every Breathe. Peace + Love, Rachael and Jake

Sneak Peak at ScrapBook Feature - Images of our Life and Love - Coming Soon!

MUSLIMS

FOR PEACE

FOR UNDERSTANDING

FOR LOVE

FOR KIDNESS

FOR RESPECT

[caption id="attachment_310" align="aligncenter" width="333" caption="sword-f"][/caption]

original photo here

A script written by the BBC and the government to be broadcast in the event of a nuclear attack has been published.

Harry Shearer, the voice of The Simpsons' newsreader Kent Brockman, read the warning for Radio Five Live in the style of 1970s newscaster Walter Cronkite.

"By leaving your homes you could be exposing yourselves to greater danger. If you leave, you may find yourself without food, without water, without accommodation and without protection," it added. "Radioactive fall-out, which follows a nuclear explosion, is many times more dangerous if you are directly exposed to it in the open." Source

The following is a youtube video response:

   This is the story of the real John McCain, the one who has been
hiding in plain sight. It is the story of a man who has consistently
put his own advancement above all else, a man willing to say and do
anything to achieve his ultimate ambition: to become commander in
chief, ascending to the one position that would finally enable him to
outrank his four-star father and grandfather.
t r u t h o u t | Make-Believe Maverick

There were two things that the Philippians needed to watch out for:

1. The enemies of the cross (3:18) - those who serve themselves.
2. Division (4:2-3).

With these dangers in mind, Paul exhorts the Philippians to 'stand fast in the Lord' (4:1). Rather than division and self-centeredness, the local church should be noted for:

1. Joyfulness (4:4)
2. Gentleness (4:5)
3. Thankfulness (4:6)
4. Peacefulness (4:7,9)
5. Purity (4:8)

Here are some questions: What does it mean to be gentle? How does the exhortation to be thankful rather than anxious work itself out in light of the growing culture of fear in North America?

I'll be adding comments addressing these five things as I study them through the week.

"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit."1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (KJV)

When we were last in the study we looked at the guilt and price of adultery and fornication; and especially should a Christian be involved in such behavior.  Let no Christian defraud his brother or sister.  It is against God and against His Word and against His Spirit.

As the apostle Paul writes above, "God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."  For some reason people who will pray a pray, one called "The Sinner's Prayer", believe they can say those words, be saved and made right with God, then get up off their knees, and go and live however they choose.  That is not the thoughts or the heart of a genuinely born again individual.  It is the heart and mind of a lost, deceived, and perishing individual who has no fellowship or relationship with God.

Some of you will say that I am judging.  The Word of God is their judge.  Jesus Himself says, "You will know them by their fruits".  He also says, "Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord; and do not the things which I say".  Jesus says in another place, "Where your treasure is there will your heart be also".  So, no I am not condemning only warning that they which live such godless lives despite the fact of their saying some words, are still in their sins, and are still condemned for eternity without Jesus Christ.

When a man, woman, boy or girl genuninely calls on the name of Jesus for salvation they get up off their knees of humility with a brand new heart and a new mind converted to Jesus Christ, and becoming more like Him.  In effect, they have the mind of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).  The Christian can stumble, and maybe even fall, because we are not perfect, because we still carry around the body of sin, yet that is no excuse.  We grieve because of our sin.  When we sin we seek the forgiveness from the Father; "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)

"Cleanse us from all unrighteousness" is what Paul is writing about.  We are cleansed and made holy.  Why would a person who has been made clean in God's eyes through the shed blood of Jesus Christ ever want to go back into sin.  That is not freedom that is still bondage to sin.  We have not been freed to sin, we have been freed from sin and its death.

Those who would continue on in sin after saying some words are in fact despising God and His Word.  They are not showing despite unto men, but unto God; and they will face a greater condemnation, because they have heard the truth of the gospel, and rejected its power to change their lives.  There are some who might say, "Well, I just can't help myself"  concerning some sin they are caught up in.  You don't need to help yourself; you need to trust the Spirit of God; if indeed you have the Spirit of God.  God will not allow His children to sin comfortably; but when we sin He convicts us, and we are made miserable in sin, until we come to the place we confess, repent - coming out of our sinful behavior.

Anyone having the Spirit of God cannot stay in sin long.  Neither will the child of God enjoy sinful living.  If you can stay in sin without being convicted of the sin, and you can enjoy your sin, then I think I can say without reservation that you are not a child of God.  You are still in your sins, and Jesus Christ the One who gave His life on the cross and rose again is waiting for your call.

Walk With God Today.

-Tim A. Blankenship

I say his name everyday because there's nothing else for me to say when all the hopes have drained out, when Pandora's box has been opened and the misery just keeps pushing onto my emotions and poking at my body, piercing through my skin like a needle, injecting me with every drop of anguish, grief, solitude- in short - the blues.

I find it awe-inspiring, how people put so much faith in their religion and also in others. Except the atheists, who I see as those people who deny anything that is far superior than them, people who believe that there is no greater existence than mankind in this world, people who hold onto no hope at all. In my perspective, no hope comes no religion. No religion comes no hope. No hope comes no faith. No faith comes mental suicide. See, I look at religion, any religion, Islam, Christian, Catholics, Buddhists, Jew, any kind of religion, as something that gives the people who embrace these religions something to hope for, something to believe in. I come across news about (the most popular, disturbing ones) Muslims who blow themselves up, also harming others in the process, all because of their religion, so they say. To clear the suicidal bombing part, let me just say that Islam does not encourage you to be violent, Islam is a beautiful religion that just like all the other religions, offers peace, not violence, never violence.

I am not that much of a saint, I do not see myself as someone who obeys all that my religion tells me to do. I do not exactly hold strongly in the teachings of my religion, particularly the part where Muslim women are told to cover up. I pray five times a day. Provided that nothing comes in the way. But one thing I hold strongly onto is the existence of my God. The strongest part of my faith in my religion is not just in God, but also in the Angels. People would be expecting me to say Prophet but no, it is not. I hold strongly to his and his predecessors' teachings, but the strongest love of mine, the very love that I find myself attached to most of all in my religion is my love for God and his Angels. I have been through numerous disturbing experiences, mentally and physically. And at a time when all my companions have abandon me, at a time when I feel that the world is a nasty mouth devoring me wholly, I seek refuge in God's arms, I seek refuge in my prayers and I weep. I weep so many times, eversince I was just a child that I don't think I'll be able to weep anymore by the time I'm 30. Not enough with God, my tears and my callings for Death/Gabriel/Izrael to take me away as fast as possible, I seek refuge in letting my hands wide open in my room as I open the windows, letting in the wind. I find that strangely comforting, I have this belief that whenever I open the windows, at night or day, I'm letting in the angels, and I could feel them passing by me, their hands touching mine. Some would say that that feeling is just the wind but to me it's not. See, I have these beliefs, these beliefs that are beyond my very own religion. Those beliefs keep me sane, they keep me away from the temptations of self-condemnation.

The human nature is quite strange indeed. We each believe in so many different things, there are those who believe strictly according to the teachings of their Holy Books, then there are those whose beliefs come from various religions and they compile them together in their own private life with these teachings, then we have the sort who are like me, those who believe in the simplest things of all things, twisting the whole idea into something mystical, something that keeps them at a stable mind and emotion.

I have many beliefs. Everyday, I'd say God's name and hope for him to answer me back at least in a voice. And sometimes, he does. He answers back in the howl of the wind, banging on the windows in my bedroom. That is when I smile. And I know he really exists.

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But who does really care how you are? Who is really interested in how you feel, what you've been thinking about, how is life for you? Maybe your partner, parents and a few real friends.

So the reply 'I am well if you are well' moves us somewhere further - maybe you don't care how I really am, but I am interested in how you are and you need to realise and feel how you are - and please, let me know so that I can share your feeling.

And there is another dimension to it - Africans tend to be more social as a community than ourselves. We are very individualistic, 'If I am well, everything is ok'. But they tend to depend on each other more - I won't be happy unless you are happy as well.

From this point of view, let's look at success. There is no sense in being successful if people around you are not successful as well. However, what I feel is happening in our days is, that I am somehow happy when others fail so that my success can stand out more. So somehow I am trying to make others unhappy or unsuccessful so that I can succeed easier.

But let's think of our friends and all people around us as a community and that, eventually, if any of them is sick or unhappy, we all have somehow failed.

So from now on, I want to succeed only if people around me succeed and if they are happy. As success these days is understood more in those 'hard data' - money, career, performance...

When you get sick, you obtain a completely different outlook on life and suddenly you feel ashamed for the values you've had before. You don't care about money any more, and your position at work has no meaning to you, either. You feel like you have been mad and senselessly running around to meet stupid deadlines.

When you are sick, everything pauses and you have time to look at life with different eyes, with different values - suddenly you see that there's much more to it - even when you are just lying in bed all the time - and you realise the importance of relationships, purity, God...

Then, success is nothing and you don't care any more. All you want, is peace and love.

So let's all be well, let's look at life from a different angle - we don't have to get sick, but let's live with values as if we were. What is success that we are chasing every day, forgetting about our health, family, God?

Let's be well all together, not just myself and my family, but I am well if you are well.

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." - Jer 29:4-7 NIV

Now many people will point to these verses, and later verses, as proof that God intended America to be HIS nation populated by HIS people.  Additionally, they use this verse as proof that God wants Americans to prosper.  Perhaps those people should pay closer attention to the next couple verses:

8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD.

Now, these verses are from the NIV, which can be a "light and fluffy" translation in some cases. So, let's take a step back.

In verse 7, the NIV translation says that the exiles are to pray for their city because "if it prospers, you too will prosper."  While that sounds pretty, that's not exactly what God said.  Going back to the KJV, the word "prosper" is replaced with the word "peace", coming from the Hebrew word shalowm (שלום).  Now this is a big deal.  Instead of prosper, which implies material wealth, God is directing them to pray for peace, something that's evaded the Israelites since the days of 1 Samuel 8, when they cried to God "give us a King so we may be like other nations."

The reason this is important is because this word reappears 2 verses later, in Jeremiah 29:11, a verse commonly quoted by Christians today.  In the NIV, the verse says:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

That's great, but again, not exactly what God said.  If again you go back to the KJV and the Hebrew text, the word shalowm (שלום) reappears yet again.  Here is the same verse, from the KJV:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Slightly different, eh?  But, if one ernestly studies scripture, not out of character with what God has told Israel all along.  He wants peace for his people, a people focused on Him and not Kings or rulers.  The interesting thing is that it doesn't matter WHERE his people are, God still loves them and wishes peace for them.

So, what have we learned so far?  God scatters his people to the four winds, including exile in Babylon, because of their wicked ways.  Even though they have turned away from God, he still tells them he wishes peace upon his people.  He also says not to listen to the "false prophets" claiming they know when God is going to deliver his people.  Here is the truly interesting part, though.

He also tells them to make the best of their situation, and not idly wait to be delivered.  He also says that, after a period of time, he will return to Babylon to determine one thing, if they are seeking him with all of their hearts.

Then, and only then, will he deliver them from exile.

Interesting, I think.

So here it God giving his people yet another chance.  He's saying "Chill, make the best of this and learn to seek me with all your hearts.  Then, when I decide (there's that God time again) it's been long enough, I'll come check up on you.  If you've done what I asked, I'll end the exile."

God was very clear in the Hebrew Scriptures how he did not want his people to be like everyone else (i.e. Egypt).  Hence the society codified, legally, economically, and socially, in the Pentateuch.  He also made it very clear what having a King would do to his people (1 Samuel 8).  He's asking his people to get back to basics and put "the world" aside and focus on him.

How can those who claim America is God's nation honestly say that this nation is seeking him with all of their hearts?  Did we seek him during the slave trade?  Or when we drove out the Native Americans?  Or during "Manifest Destiny"?  Or when we killed each other over "property" during the Civil War?  Or when we denied women the right to vote?  Or when we treated blacks as less than human?  Or as we now treat hispanics as less than human? Or while we're killing for "Democracy" thousands of miles away while we ignore the least of those among us in our own neighborhoods.

The exile hasn't ended because we still turn away from God, beguiled by the false prophets and diviners of this world telling us what we need and how cheap it can be.

Think about that the next time you pass someone in need on your way for that $4 latte.  Seeking God isn't just about prayer and supplication.  It's about seeking him in those you find "less than you".

I had filled out my check and stood there with my hand hovering, thumb on top and fingers underneath, ready to break the perforations. This was clear to me: I was about to support the business of  a man who was racist. I didn't respond to his comment. The table and chairs sat there. I ripped the check out, handed it to him and received my furniture from the back of his truck at our house. I was somewhat satisfied with the fact that we lived in a mostly black neighborhood and I hoped he would think back on his comment and feel shame as he drove away. But the truth is, I felt like a sell-out. My check felt like blood money, the table like a cheap prize awarded for my silence.

Earlier this summer our extended family dined at our favorite Mexican restaurant in town on a slow Sunday afternoon. There were only a handful of customers. Having children, we were seated at one of the tables in the center of the restaurant.  Next to us at a booth were two couples in their 50s or 60s. Someone at our table recognized one of the men at the other table as a local talk radio host. After they had finished their meal, it became clear that the radio personality was there with friends to celebrate his birthday. A small dessert with a candle was brought out, at which point the diners asked for a song. This seemed somewhat reasonable, if a bit brash (doesn't the restaurant staff usually offer to sing--not the other way around?)

The server turned pink and stammered something about the fact that no others were available to help her with a song. She looked around nervously for another employee to help out. This would have been a good time for the patrons to say, "Don't worry about it. Thank you for the dessert!" Oblivious, the table persisted saying, "Oh, sing something. In Spanish!" And waited.

She started singing self-consciously in a pretty soprano. My kids clapped along and I joined them, trying to lighten the mood. I don't remember them thanking her. My husband and I were horrified and uncomfortable.

It was the "in Spanish" part that really got to me. It seemed that they wanted some kind of "ethnic" experience by asking an "authentic" Mexican woman to sing to them. It came across as patronizing and smug.

Just the other night we sold a phone system to someone via craigslist. After the exchange, my husband chatted with the buyer in our front hallway for a few minutes. The buyer mentioned that he did yard work on the side for some people in our area and then said in a chummy tone, "I tell them [chortling pause] that I'm better than two Mexicans and do the job better," and laughed, giving us what I'm sure he thought was a knowing look. We didn't laugh or respond (my husband changed the subject). As soon as he left, we talked about what a jerk he was to say such a thing. But, again, we didn't confront the man or allow enough pointed silence to let him know how inappropriate we considered his comment.

These experiences, when they arise, bring with them the painful fact of my own racism. And my own tendency to cater to racism with my silence.

White America suffers from lack of exposure to people of different colors. I grew up in a predominantly white suburb. I went to a predominantly white college. I have now settled in a predominantly white community. Our friends are almost all white.

But I also grew up with a single, liberally-minded mother, and have lived and worked with people of color. I have seen the part of black America that suffers from the epidemic of poverty while living in inner city neighborhoods. In college, I volunteered for seven weeks, teaching summer school to a group of minority kids. Later I helped in a mainly black fourth grade classroom of the local elementary school at the end of the street where we owned our first house.

I have a privileged and monochromatic history. But I've seen poverty and race divisions close-up and have tried to take the opportunity to practice the respect and understanding I was always taught.

Of course I don't think of myself as a racist. But my direct experiences leave me feeling like I'm ruled more by fear of what the offending party will think than by my desire for justice. Racism and cowering to it feel equally ugly.

This morning, I read Nicholas Kristof's article Racism Without Racists. Kristof cites results from a recent survey (Stanford University/Associated Press/Yahoo) which found that Obama's support would be 6 percentage points higher if he were white. Polling suggests that this doesn't appear to be the result of the voting habits of what you might think of as hard-core racists. Rather "most of the votes that Mr. Obama actually loses belong to well-meaning whites who believe in racial equality and have no objection to electing a black person as president — yet who discriminate unconsciously."

Of course, that's the real threat of racism, isn't it? Those of us who do not think of ourselves as racist but have tendencies to discriminate based on race, "aversive racism", are the worst kind of threat. We are poised to wreak havoc when we do what we think is good but with prejudiced values that are hidden even from ourselves.

I am enthusiastically voting for Mr. Obama. His message about finding common ground and his ability to listen and resolve issues between people with vastly different opinions is an enormous relief and sign of hope for me. I am not naive enough to think that he can fix everyone's entrenched racism, but I'm hopeful, along with Mr. Kristof, that the very fact of an Obama presidency would help get the ball rolling on breaking down race barriers.

So where to start? We might start by listening to Kathy Kelly:
[caption id="attachment_3272" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="via Yes Magazine."][/caption]

“At its core, war is impoverishment. War's genesis and ultimate end is in the poverty of our hearts. If we can realize that the world's liberation begins within those troubled hearts, then we may yet find peace… What good has ever come from the slaughter of the innocents?”

Kathy Kelly

To anticipate somewhat, so we always go to war, or deploy military forces, as a matter of last resort when everything else has failed? It is the most deliberate and democratic question with which we are ever face. Sure it is, just remember what happened in respect to Afghanistan and Iraq. In truth it takes very little to swell the tide of blood lust and vengeance combined enthusiasm for the always quick, painless, noble victory for us. The story is depressing the same everywhere. What worked in 1914 Germany still works here.

David Smith Ferri, via Common Dreams, considers the effect on Iraqis of this ongoing war, without an end in sight. As a token of victory the Americans will desire to keep their bases.

impossible with all the restrictions
this body's limitations
felt each and every day.
keeping me down
bound
to this tangible reality
He
keeps me stuck in this body
trapped, my soul
realizing, i have never had ANY control.

a soldier?
makes me wonder...
what for?
people suffering
and all they think about is there own greed
never letting go of selfishness, making sure
their needs
get dealt with first.

change is going to come.
one day, selfishness will be over and done
with and people will love
and care about each other unconditionally.
brothers and sisters, no religion needed
we are them and they are we
all ONE
we inhale together
win together
hurt together
smile together
cry together...

without one, the song can never
be complete

Some people live to take advantage of others, thinking only of themselves, causing Fear, Pain, and manipulate others for their own gain.

Can we expect those in the first group to be rewarded and those in the second group to be punished?

Should we expect this?

This world is a war between Good and Evil.  The people who fight to make the world a better place shouldn't expect to be rewarded.  The world is a horrible sanctuary.  Its dark and lonely.  It is selfish and arrogant.  Why would anyone expect something Good to come out of it?  The people who fight for Good are rewarding themselves with the thought of a potential Good.  The outcome of the world depends on how successful they are during the war.

But this all depends on your point of view.  Who's right and who's wrong?  What are the morals of the Ultimate soul and everyone that makes right, right?

Love.

Why is Love right?  It makes you sacrifice your most cherished possessions.  You compromise your morals for it.  Love makes way for greed and selfishness.  Love hurts.

Pain.

Why is Pain bad?  It helps you grow.  You become tough and learn to play through it.  Your weaknesses turn into strengths.

These are where points of view become twisted and distorted.  What makes you right?  If you're wrong, do you know it?

So you ask if the people that fight for all that is Good in this world should be rewarded.  No if you're really fighting for Love, Peace, Integrity and Generosity, then a thanks shouldn't matter.  This world needs Unconditional Love.  The difference between just regular, everyday love.  Unconditional.  Without anything in return, in a moral sense.

But the world doesn't work this way.  The Good is broken and the Evil is raised up and worshiped.  The Evil is rewarded while the Good is punished.  What has this world come to?  Is everyone so blind that the Good is Evil and Evil is Good?  Who's winning the War of the Ages?  Who's losing?

This world is Evil.  It's almost impossible to produce Good from it.  Paint is the same way.  If you take White paint and ruin it by pouring in even the smallest bit of Black, it will turn Grey.  It is White no more.  You will never have White again from that mixture.  So why do people "fight for White"?  There has got to be some higher sense of power involved.  Something so Divine, that anything is possible.  No reward is needed, for that is not the reason for which we fight.

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Stress is in all of our lives. There is pressure from all sides. Relationships, finances, health, how do we get any relief? Where can we go to get help? Paul knew. He wrote, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.” Paul was emphatic, God is compassionate. Not only compassionate but puts His compassion into action by comforting us. It is hard to pray sometimes. Will God heal? Will we find the answer we seek? We don’t know all the variables, we can’t always explain the way things turn out, but we can count on one thing. He will comfort! He will, in His great compassion, visit us and bring a comfort to our heart that is supernatural. More than that, God will orchestrate many of His followers to comfort us as well. That is His plan. When we are comforted by His grace and mercy, God wants us to go and comfort others that He brings our way. We are to comfort others in the same way we were helped. But somehow we have forgotten this. Somehow the church has traded our role from hospital, shelter and sanctuary for a country club? We have all sorts of programs for ourselves, but we don’t bring comfort to the world. God has commanded us to take His love to the streets. That is what He did. Today, bring your own burdens to the Lord. Let Him comfort you. And when He does, go with the same compassion He had and go comfort someone else. 

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I pray that You, in all of Your compassion, would comfort me in my struggles. And as You do, I ask that You would bring people into my life that I could comfort in return. Thank You for Your love. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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The perspective I am offering in this post may be radically different from other perspectives of grief and pain you may have heard or read.  This new perspective might trigger you or put your defenses up (my defenses certainly got all riled up when I first heard this) - especially if you are in the midst of intense grief or the grief is new.  Therefore, I invite you - with this post and any other I write - to disregard what I present here if it does not fit for you.

That being said...

I believe that grief and pain cannot be separated from joy and peace.  I believe that, in essence, they are all the same.  I believe that grief and pain can be our greatest gift and teacher.

Think I'm crazy yet?

Without grief or pain, we can have no joy or peace.  Without joy or peace, there is no grief or pain.  These emotions are simply two parts to the same inseparable whole.  To rid ourselves of grief and pain is also to rid ourselves of joy and peace.  One would simply not exist without the other.

Our society teaches us that grief and pain are bad.  Grief and pain are to be avoided and if it cannot be avoided, then by all means get over it as quickly as possible and don't talk about it.  Ironically, our society also tends to send the message that we shouldn't be too happy either.  I believe that all - grief, pain, joy, and peace - are gifts and should be cherished in their own ways.

In general, most of us are pretty accepting of joy or peace as beautiful gifts and feel grateful for their presence in our lives.  Grief and pain, not so much.  Over the years, however, as I healed my own grief, I learned what a gift grief and pain can be.  I didn't always think of grief as a gift and there are still times when this is incredibly hard to see.

I spent many years avoiding my grief and pain.  I hated it.  I simply wanted it to go away.      I was terrified of it.  I thought the intensity of my pain would overwhelm me completely.  I did everything I could to avoid experiencing it.  This only made it worse and I become increasingly miserable, depressed, and suicidal.  Eventually I had to turn and face my pain to move through it.  As I’ve talked about in this blog, I had to experience my grief and pain completely and fully without allowing the fearful thoughts I had to keep me in limbo between grief and joy.  By denying myself my grief, I denied myself my joy.

It was through truly experiencing my pain that grief became my greatest teacher and my greatest gift.  It was only through experiencing my grief that I found the deepest joy and peace that I have ever known.  I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience, but my life has been transformed for having gone through grief and pain.
Through my experience of grief and pain, I found an inner strength I never knew was there.  I found deep joy and peace that radiate from deep inside me - from the very place inside me where my grief had hidden all those years.  As I journeyed through my deepest pain and fear and sorrow, I found a deeper compassion and love and empathy for others and for myself.  Grief and pain have opened my life and brought me to a deeper understanding of myself and the person I want to be in this world.

It has taken me many years to experience and heal my grief.  There are still moments and times when unexpected grief rears up and knocks me to the ground.  I am still challenged by the fear of facing my pain and moving through it.  Those fearful, critical thoughts often come in and tell me “you can’t handle this” or “just get over this, would you?” or “you must be crazy.”  It’s easier to listen to those thoughts, to run and avoid my pain.

A couple years ago I made the decision to stop running from my pain.  I’ve had to make that decision again and again every day because I really am very good at avoiding!  Some days I lose my footing and slid back into avoidance and the next day I have to decide again to turn and face my pain.  It’s gotten easier with practice.  It has been in these last couple years that I discovered the gift of grief and pain.

My grief has given me the gift of a deeper, richer life than I ever dreamed possible.  I continue to discover more and more aspects of this gift every day.  The intensity of my grief and pain has given me greater joy, peace, and compassion than I would ever have known without it.  Healing my grief taught me how to live.

What gifts has grief and pain given you?

(More suggestions for moving into the experience of grief in my next post!)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new." 

2 Corinthians 5:17