Spiritual Maturity - Part 1

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2 Peter 3:17-18 says: "Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen"

Peter urges us to grow and we are told the only way that meets with Christ's standards is to grow in Grace. In 2 Peter 3, verse 18 builds onto the previous one and we are able to grow in grace when we grasp with our heart, the full weight of verse 17. - As we move forward in grace we remain steadfast in our walk with Him, which mean we are living committed and surrendered life where we take our cues from the Holy Spirit, we remain in Scriptures and grounded in the faith because we found something so precious in Him that we cannot afford to leave His sight and nothing else on earth catches our interests. We hinder our Spiritual growth in several ways and all comes down to the fact that most of us do not understand what we believe in simply because the idea of Salvation coming from the pulpit does not even begin to describe what God means by Salvation. - True Salvation is nothing short of finding the heart of God the father and when you do, you cannot help living in constant amazement of your found treasure. Sadly, our lack of commitment to the faith and our need to keep our options open instead of letting Christ take over our lives, says it all.

Commitment to the faith here does not imply what we do outwardly like regular Church attendance, pray, read our Bible, sing songs and try to act like Christians. While all these outward activities are good things, but there needs to be a commitment to the faith that stemmed from a repentant heart filled with gratitude for having been apprehended by Christ while we were yet sinners and totally ignorant of Him. What is the point of doing church things while we indulge in our sins like unbelievers? If you have not reached the point where the smallest sin is repulsive to you because of who you are inside, then you are wise to question what you have received so far and what are you building your Christians life on. - Repulsion of sin does not put you in a category above other Christians; it simply says that you have indeed been born again. Think about it, if sinning is natural to you, then what sets you apart from the unbelievers?

Another hindrance is that we do not have true faith. Remember faith is a gift from God and long before we decide to take Christ into our heart there was a work being done in the spiritual realm on our behalf. - Today's diluted Gospel has changed all that, we go on thinking that we can coerce Christ into accepting empty and meaningless rituals as if He is not able to see our hearts and what is truly taking place. So we go about getting people to say the sinner's prayer for various reasons, sometimes it falls under a well disguised intimidation, sometimes people respond to us and let us lead them to saying the sinner's prayer because they want to play it safe, so their motives are wrong to begin with; sometimes they get carried away by their own emotions and sometimes Christ moved them to say the sinner's prayer because He has been preparing their hearts for a long time. While it is not up to us to judge what is in people's heart, but any one with an ounce of spiritual discernment can see today's Christianity is in big trouble as the Church is walking away from the truth and we are left with empty words, rituals and religion. - If we cannot see that's true, then we are in much bigger trouble because the unbelievers can see beside our rituals we are no different from them so they are turned off.

We are forewarned to be careful of things like today's Gospel which underlines spiritual maturity as an option so people would not feel burden by Christianity. However, spiritual maturity is not an option; it is indeed the aftereffect of true Salvation through grace and the Gospel being worked in us through His grace which flows from us because of Christ and the Holy Spirit living within us. If we claim to have been saved, we claimed we have received Christ within, then why is it we have majority of so called Christians in the Pews with not an ounce of desire to go further spiritually? - No desire whatsoever to get to know Him? - If you have been in the Church for a while now, and you still feel you are not going forward spiritually speaking, do not despair and do not go to someone else either; I urge you to go directly to Him and BELIEVE that if truly you are seeking for Him, you will indeed find Him - This is His promise to us! - Let go of all doubts that encumber you and do not let yourself believe like an abstract idea floating in your head; take the time to be silent before Him and inform your mind what you want your heart to go with, and ask Him to bring Holy repentance into your heart and to help you leave behind that need to take on messages that tickle your ears, and to make you willing to be willing to do His will and walk with Him upwardly according to the whole truth of the Gospel in the righteousness of Christ.

M.J. Andre is an aspiring writer who has learned true Christianity at the feet of God through brokenness and seven years of unending and excruciating wilderness process that left the soul undone!

Copyright 2012
http://www.apprehended.ca/

I LIVE TO KNOW YOU LORD!

Review of the Top 5 books of Osho

More than 600 books are attributed to the controversial spiritual leader Osho. This article will review 5 of the most popular books of Osho.

1. The book of Secrets: 112 meditations to discover the mystery within

The book of Secrets was published after his death in 1990 is a collection of its conferences and periods of issues and follow-up responses. The reader will appreciate the style casual and conversational the book and it does for easy reading.

It is one of the longest Osho books with more than 1,100 pages. Osho we offers a complete guide and practice to learn to meditate. He believed that without meditation, we can never discover the deep secrets of life but merely its surface.

Meditation techniques are based on ancient texts that have been translated to contemporary understanding. Each of the 112 meditations are described in detail and explains the best way to use in our modern life.

If you have a particular faith that you follow or not you will draw many meditation benefits. And you go to the temple to practice will make it - any quiet place. Your mind and your body is the temple enough with the will and the courage to try something new.

2 Tantra: The Supreme understanding

More than 600 books of Osho, Tantra is his all time best seller. For more than 1,000 years, the writings of Tilopa, the Indian master of the eleventh century of Tantra lived on. Tilopa transmitted his mystical point of view his pupil, Naropa, in the form of his song of Mahamudra.

Osho, humorous, beautiful yet powerful way, teaches through Tantra Tilopa song "Tantric meditation techniques how piece by piece, display and mystical ideas apply to our lives today."

3. Emotions: anger, jealousy & fear freedom

Life is nothing if not emotional, and do not understand our emotions and how effectively treat lies at the heart of many of our problems. And these issues do not affect only our physical, mental and sexual health , but also our energy levels, sleep and relationships with friends and family.

Emotions, Osho gives us a practical and comprehensive guide to control our emotions by watching and learning from them, when they do occur. And once we learn that our emotions have more power to provoke us.

4 Love, freedom, loneliness: the Koan of relationships

If you are really looking for something different than the same old worn advice on relationships, this is just the book for you. Love, freedom and power was also published after his death by his teachings.

We find that only by learning to live in us and with us first, can cultivate us real freedom in our lives; and this freedom allows us to find love and happiness with someone else. The book is a free dialogue and flowing on how to strike a balance between life, love and meditation and not a 12-step formula.

5 Be in love: the love of the conscience and without fear

In this book, Osho challenges us to question what we think we know about love and we open the door to the idea that, instead of love, jealousy and possessiveness, consisting of, is natural and fulfilled.

It dares us resists, the patterns we learned culture and those around us who are unhealthy and rediscover the be love and love without expectation. For a time at the beginning, we have filled with nonsense on what love is that at the time we are ready to explore the world of love is not much hope that we can tell the difference between what is real and what is false.

Osho invites us to explore new ways of love will change in always our relations in responding to issues which face many fans including how:

• Become a partner of life with which a person

• Be fully present in your relationships

• Love without "cling".

• Free you from the fear of being alone

• Release expectations, rules and requirements

• Keep your love fresh and alive

• Surrender your ego, so you can surrender to love

These five books of Osho go well beyond the understanding of conventional psychology and provide unique insight into the functioning of the mind, heart and essence of be.

S Lynn Devereaux is a writer who specializes in writing about the mode of healthy living and lifestyles that include diet, exercise, spirituality and meditation. She found meditation Osho one preferred meditation form.

You can check on its Web site the most recent meditation Osho, where it provides impartial criticism for a wide range of Osho meditation and books including the Ashram of Osho, Osho on love and much more still.

Spiritual Healing

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Spiritual healing increases

Increasing numbers of people are embracing "alternative" healing to mainstream Western medicine. One reason for this is that Western medicine excels at treating symptoms, but does not address the cause of the ailment.

It has also, very unfortunately become big business.

One healing modality that is seeing a huge resurgence is spiritual healing, which is focused on addressing the cause of the ailment, and less on alleviating symptoms by physical means such as medicines and surgery.

What is spiritual healing?

Spiritual healers believe that all disease, sickness and even injuries have spiritual causes. Unless the cause is remedied, treatment of the symptoms will be ineffective.

Spiritual healing is still outside the mainstream, but even staunch supporters of the western approach have admitted that phenomena such as spontaneous healing, spontaneous remission and other "miracles" exist.

Modern medical practitioners and scientists are still baffled as to how this is possible... but with the continued study of quantum physics, the answers are beginning to come.

Mind... Body... Spirit Connection

The mind/body/spirit connection operates on the principle that everything is energy, and various types or qualities of energy have the ability to positively or negatively affect the surrounding energy.

A patient's state of mind can be the difference between healing and a long, drawn-out illness. The state of the body likewise influences the patient's emotional state; so gaining mastery of the mind and using the power of positive thinking is essential to healing.

But spiritual healing goes deeper.

The success of healing via spiritual means relies on the patient's belief that we are part of the Divine, not at all separate, but part of the vast ocean of energy that created everything, and IS everything.

The patient is taught to look within for the source of his or her illness, disease or injury rather than attributing it to external causes.

The first step in healing is teaching the patient to change his or her false belief of separateness from the Universal Divine Consciousness. It teaches that each of us has the same Divine ability as the Universal Consciousness to create anything, including perfect health.

This One-ness with all that is results in a spiritual awakening, which is often accompanied by spontaneous healing.

Perfect Health
The aim is to create perfect health through One-ness and acceptance of our Divine nature.

Spiritual healing does not rely on a "higher power" to heal. It is One-ness with that energy of Divine Universal Consciousness that gives us the same powers - except we are, for the most part, blind to that ability or refuse to believe it.

Exercise...

Imagine yourself as a single drop in an endless ocean that has no beginning, no end, no surface, no bottom...

Where do "you" begin and where do "you" end?Where does the "rest of the ocean" begin?How do you separate one drop from the rest of the water?

Contemplating this helps you understand your One-ness, and the fact that you have the same power as the ocean itself.

YOU have the power to heal.

Julie Lewin is a world renowned authentic Medical Intuitive and Meditation Teacher and has created a unique healing system by using creative and spontaneous visualization. As well as teaching meditations, she also teaches how to live your authentic purpose, and how to live a profound life on her website - http://www.spirituallysensitivesouls.com/. To find out more about her medical intuitive work go to http://www.julielewin.com/.

Book Review of "Financial Armageddon" by John Hagee

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Financial Armageddon: We are in a Battle for our very survival. [Hardcover]

by John Hagee

144 pages, $10.99

ISBN-13: 978-1599796031

Nonfiction

Review by Steven King, MBA, MEd

No matter where you turn, the economy springs forth as an ominous topic. Recession, inflation, and depression are words that consistently boom across the airwaves. In Financial Armageddon, John Hagee speaks skillfully to the problem. He weaves an accurate portrait of current instability by alluding to appropriate biblical passages conflated with notable quotations from leading Christian economists. Financial pundits have realized America was barreling ahead to certain economic disaster for almost a decade. Hagee wants Christians to have a game plan for survival.

His analysis of what brought America to the edge of economic collapse parallels discussions by other leading economists. Subprime lending lead to too many unqualified mortgages that caught the banking industry with their pants down. The desire to rid our nation of these toxic assets has increased our national debt since foreign investments have effectively floated our way of life. Too many foreign creditors are realistically beginning to doubt the continued value of the dollar and their eventual withdrawal from our economy will be the death knell of America. Biblically, the backdrop of the Apocalypse indicates an economic world, out-of-control, into which the Antichrist will emerge.

Pre-tribulationists are waiting for the Rapture that will whisk the obedient Church out of the ultimate quagmire. Until then, Hagee is quick to point out that the Bible demonstrates God as able and willing to take care of his own. For instance, when the nation of Israel was being formed as slaves in Egypt, God's provision is apparent regardless of the darkest of plagues. An appropriate Christian theology appreciates God's provision in spite of the economic problems which surround the United States.

Sadly, Hagee chooses not to develop his thesis theologically, but instead turns his analysis into a quasi-investment strategy. The contention is held forth that prosperity is a choice and Christians can profit even in the darkest days. Noah is likened to a man with "insider information" who skillfully manipulated his task into an opportunity to build wealth. Never mind that God gave Noah specific marching orders when constructing the ark.

Read this book if you would like a good development of our economic crisis and discussion of possible future events. Take the last section with a grain of salt, however, since worthless money will be worthless for everyone - including Christians.

The Lord's Doing!

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Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud nor such as turn aside to lies. Many O Lord are Your wonderful works which You have done; And Your thoughts towards us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them. They are more than can be numbered. PSALM 40: 4 - 5

DAILY THOUGHTS...

"For I know the thoughts I think towards you says the Lord; thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

NOW MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS....

To who would you commit your cause? Job said: " To God who only does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number... Hear it & know for yourself!" God says: "I know the thoughts that I (GOD) think towards you - they are higher than whatever you can think for, about or to do for yourself! Can you let them (His thoughts) materialize for you? They are Thoughts... of peace and not of evil,... to give you a hope and a future... to bring you to the expected end! "Your peace, your hope, your future...... are not yours, you don't have it either!

God does and He only, gives it! He also has your end, your destination! God is not in any end that is not peace(full)... Because God is a God of Peace; His Spirit is the Spirit of Peace; His word is Peace and Jesus is the Prince of Peace! Otherwise, His thoughts & works would not be of peace. God's word to us is that it is not the beginning... i.e. how you begin or began with God, that matters but the end... i.e. how you end in it or ended it. Every end is a work of materialization of thoughts. What has been the end of your affairs? What and whose worked ends are evident around you... God's or yours or those of another man? But we know that every end of God is and will always be good... Every end with Him is not war but peace putting pieces together into one piece called ' the Lord's doing'... It is Blessed, Wonderful, Mighty and Marvelous in our eyes; and will endure(last & remain) forever, not for a moment! In peace there are no pieces... That's why God's works can be counted until they become unaccountable in order! Who can number the stars in the sky... the sands on the shore... the hairs on the head? No one... For 'Marvellous things' can't be numbered! What is that thing; that work?

Just Let God work His thoughts into a marvelous thing for you! He does work things out if you make Him your trust in truth; having no respect for the proud. The proud defy God to gain 'victory' by works for themselves unto themselves which do not endure. There is no 'wonder', 'beauty', or anything to 'marvel' in works you have done (worked out) by your strength! So the scripture says - " Mark the end of a man perfect with God (in ALL his ways),... it is peace! God never takes peacemakers away from peace but He takes peace away from the wicked; this is His wonderful doing to His sons, the peacemakers!

PERSONAL CONFESSION: Lord, in your peace I shall find peace for Great Peace have they who love your law. By Your doing, Lord put every pieces in my life together into 'doings' of your peace;and I will reign with the Prince of Peace!

FURTHER READING: Job 5:8-9; Genesis1:31; Isaiah.55:11

BLESS God with Psalm 72:18 - The mountains will bring peace to you and yours by righteousness & break your oppressor in pieces!

Self-Examination Urged by McKinley's Am I Really a Christian?

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If you don't want to be a Christian this book is not for you. Put it down. If you believe you are a Christian and are satisfied with your grasp of the doctrine of salvation, the role of faith in salvation, personal assurance of salvation and the manner in which your life lines up with your belief system, this book has nothing to offer you. Walk away. There is danger, however, in thinking you are past the point of need for self-examination or for peer-accountability regarding the direction of your life. Since your eternal destination hangs in the balance, the subject matter should be worth your consideration. With these statements Mike McKinley, the pastor of a Baptist congregation, pinpoints the intended audience of Am I Really A Christian: The Most Important Question You're Not Asking (Crossway, 2011).

Christian jargon can bring more confusion than clarity. McKinley's perspective of born again is one of regeneration. The regenerating love and mercy of God is the cause of salvation while the fruit of the believer's life is the result or effect of salvation. Being a Christian goes beyond respect for Jesus to belief and faith in him.

Am I Really A Christian? is scripture rich. McKinley relies heavily on passages of scripture and points readers to them by providing direct quotations within the text. Like John Piper's Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God (Crossway, 2010), McKinley compels readers to look past feelings and common Christian expressions to contemplate questions like the following: What do I believe? Do I agree? Does scripture bear out his arguments? How should I respond in light of these truths?

McKinley's message is to the church. He speaks as a fellow sojourner wanting to guide, encourage and strengthen the faith of believers. He takes care to reassure Christians with sensitive consciences. His pastoral gifting of nurturing and shepherding the faith of others rings true. The author continually brings to the forefront the need for believers to be surrounded by brothers and sisters that can be trusted to come alongside to encourage and guide them as they walk out their faith. As the body of Christ, the goal should be self-evaluation in consultation with trusted mentors in order to seek and find evidence that the cause of our salvation (God's regenerating love and mercy) has taken root and our lives are beginning to reveal the fruit (effect) of that salvation. To aid in this process, McKinley recommends the formation of year-long one-on-one mentoring relationships.

The format for each chapter is text followed by a How to Respond section containing four points: reflect, repent, remember, and report. The book contains three appendices: Notes, containing sources for in-text references divided by chapter; Subject Index and Scripture Index.

Am I Really A Christian? can be useful to individuals apart from a group environment. It's best and most complete use will come in the form of small groups of believers within the body of a local congregation. If you are willing to put quality time into self-evaluation in consultation with trusted friends at your local congregation, Am I Really a Christian? is worth your time and attention.

Kimberly Bower is an ordained minister. Her primary purpose is to glorify God and make Him known to all men. She enjoys sharing great books that entertain, encourage, enlighten, enrich and empower people to fulfill their destinies.

She writes as the West Palm Beach Spirituality Examiner on http://www.examiner.com/ and can be reached there or via Facebook under the screen name gladeslibrarian.

Teen Passion Validated by Hannah Farver's Uncompromising: A Heart Claimed By a Radical Love

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In Uncompromising: A Heart Claimed By a Radical Love, Hannah Farver offers a fresh voice on what it means to be a young woman of modesty, purity, and femininity. Her style is conversational and unassuming. The reader will get no sense of finger-pointing admonishments to live a pure and holy life from a perfect person. Rather, Farver opens herself to her readers with all her faults, fears, concerns, doubts and questions as a fellow traveler on the road to a life well-lived. Her focus is not on `thou shalt nots' but rather on guiding her readers to find the Cause who is able to fulfill their inner desire to be wholly and unconditionally loved.

Farver opens with an acknowledgement that passion is good and hard-wired into our DNA. We are designed to be passionate about a cause. The world dangles all sorts of causes in front of our eyes to lure us away from the one Cause that can deeply satisfy the desires of our hearts. These worldly causes include the desire to be considered beautiful, popular, famous, and loved. The problem, Farver contends, is that all of these causes are fleeting and leave the seeker wholly unsatisfied. Rather, she challenges, we can live for the one Cause that claims our hearts with a radical love and provides a fully satisfying life. This doesn't mean she wants to remain single all of her life but that she is willing to seek a relationship with the one Cause (God) and allow Him to prepare her heart for relationship with the man He has chosen for her.

The book closes with a modesty checklist and an unofficial checklist to help young women determine if they are ready for marriage. The author begs, however, that readers don't take either of these resources as the final word on either topic. A study guide is also included.

I enjoyed this book. It was thought-provoking and encouraged self-reflection. Even as Farver advises young teens to seek out older, more mature 'Titus 2 women' I sensed a subtle shift, seemingly unknown to the author, of her becoming just such a woman for the younger teens in her audience.

I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up. A church youth group leader could use this title for either a preteen or teen small group discussion for girls. I give this book five out of five stars.

Kimberly Bower is an ordained minister. Her primary purpose is to glorify God and make Him known to all men. She enjoys sharing great books that entertain, encourage, enlighten, enrich and empower people to fulfill their destinies.

She writes as the West Palm Beach Spirituality Examiner on http://www.examiner.com/ and can be reached there or via Facebook under the screen name gladeslibrarian.