It starts with the heart 02/14/2012
For those of you who don't know, I am a minister and spiritual leader of a community in Lansing, Michigan. This past Sunday we studied the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) in the Bible. I split up each of the "blessings" and added an interpretation from our theology. Each person got a personal message with the invitation to see how it could apply to their life and spiritual growth process. I decided to take a turn and pick a message. I got the message, "Blessed are those who are pure in heart (Matthew 5:8)." I laughed out loud. I couldn't help it. It fit so perfect into my journey and I could almost see the angels around me smiling and chuckling. Hello---my business is "Get to the HEART of it!" after all, it is heart health awareness month and I am also healing old wounds found in my heart. The messages I shared were written by Rev. Michael Gladdish. He says, "We know the heart corresponds to the will or love, but what is purity of heart? Where does love get its quality? The answer is that love gets its quality from truth. To purify something is to wash or cleanse it, or in some cases to refine it so that it does not contain extraneous or contaminating elements. To have a pure heart, therefore, is to be sincere, to love without pretense or hypocrisy, and especially to love what is true, or to put it another way, to let the truth guide us in love." That is the goal. I also thought the message was timely for me since it arrived a couple days before Valentine's Day. I typically don't go over board on the holiday--even when being married. However, I am redefining everything in my life and that requires a "spiritual overhaul" and holidays are not exempt from this process. As I open myself up to this process, the Universe is providing amazing connections and healing opportunities. A great connection was made today when helping my roommate celebrate her husband's birthday. This in itself was a redefining moment for February 14th. Another moment was when her husband shared his interest in the quotes found on his daily calendar. He researches the people he doesn't know and on his birthday his calendar had a from Emanuel Swedenborg, "Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return. It is the joy of our life to do them. When we do good things from this inner desire, there is kindness in everything we think, say, want and do." This inner desire comes from the heart...and today my heart smiled. May you find new and creative ways to share your heart, love and purpose in this world. Heaven is depending on it!! Commentsbrenda bates 02/14/2012 8:36pm
I love it.
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Bill Clifford 02/15/2012 12:20am
Dear Jennifer:
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Brenda Bates 02/16/2012 1:45pm
We are all responsible for the energy we bring into the room. We are either creating a problem or being the solution. To some that may mean different things.
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Bill Clifford 02/17/2012 2:20am
Dear Brenda and Jenn: Brenda Bates 02/16/2012 12:06pm
As one awakens, there is a growth of learning the various definitions to words. This makes a world of difference - a difference between your world and another’s world. Instead of just being right, learning what someone else really means to say will create a greater rapport of communication, respect, understanding and love without offense being taken by either person. Sometimes the reason people say what they do is because they know of a different meaning and that doesn't always mean they are right or that you are. It means we are learning to live together and that we are growing. We are mixing our cultures instead of conquering and dividing. There are many roads that lead to the same place. Telling someone that you think they are wrong only makes you stand more alone as an aggressor and not as a peaceful person. Make a choice and begin to understand someone else’s perspective and do not jump to conclusions. This will create a maturity in competence. BBMW
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barbara 02/16/2012 6:38pm
Thank you all for sharing your opinions
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02/20/2012 10:18pm
I find this conversation so fascinating and glad it is taking place. Thank you Brenda for the gentle way you are helping Bill understand.
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