HELL, AS A PLACE FOR SOME TO SPEND ETERNITY, IS NOT BIBLICAL

HELL, AS A PLACE FOR SOME TO SPEND ETERNITY, IS NOT BIBLICAL

Nancy Detweiler, M.Ed., M.Div.

The human psyche is deeply scarred with the church’s teaching of a physical place called hell, created by a God who intends to punish some individuals for eternity. As long as the church ignores the fact of reincarnation, a fictional hell remains the only means for God’s justice to work itself out. After all, Galatians 6:7 reminds us: “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.”

Hell, as a place for some to spend eternity, is not biblical. Rocco Errico offers the following word study. The English term hell comes from the Anglo-Saxon hel, meaning a hidden place. Hel comes from the verb form helan meaning “to hide.” Thus the English root word for hell, helan, has nothing to do with hell-fire. Biblical translators used the word hell to translate two different Semitic words: gehenna or gehenna dnoora in Aramaic (the language spoken by Jesus) and sheol in Hebrew.

Sheol comes from the Hebrew root word shalal meaning to be still, quiet. The ancient Hebrews believed sheol to be a place beneath the earth’s surface where those who die, both good and bad, are inactive and quiet. They await judgment or resurrection day. It is a temporary resting place in the underworld.

The Aramaic gehenna dnoora refers to the “Valley of Hinnom.” During the 1^st century C.E., Gehenna Dnoora was the garbage dump for Jerusalem. Located outside the city walls, people brought their garbage to Gehenna Dnoora and burned it. The Judean king, Ahaz (735-715 B.C.E.), used this valley to send his son to the flames as a human sacrifice to the gods. As a result of these human sacrifices, the valley Gei Hinnom became a Semitic term for hell. The Old Testament sheol and the New Testament gehenna dnoora in no way refer to a place established by God for eternal punishment.

(The above word study was taken from an article by Rocco Errico entitled “Why Hell Is A Rubbish Heap” published in the February 1996 issue of Science of Mind Magazine.)

Revelations 21:8 is another verse that seems, on the surface, to verify the traditional Christian concept of hell: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Throughout Revelation, sulfur appears in relationship to the eternal fires.” On the mundane level, sulfur is a natural element found in protein. Protein is essential to the well-being of our physical bodies. Hidden wisdom uses sulfur as an alchemical symbol. Alchemy, as defined by Webster, is the “power or process of transforming something common into something special.” Thus sulfur in combination with the eternal fire is the means by which souls are transformed “from something common into something special.” The second death is, therefore, death to the lower self (or something common) so that the something special (the Higher Self) can be resurrected into conscious awareness. Revelation is speaking of the astral plane (the plane to which most souls go after departing the physical body) where all negativity is eventually transmuted and resurrected into something special. Henceforth, the individual Soul is constantly attuned to the Higher Self as it continues its spiritual journey through multitudes of higher realms of awareness and manifestation as the child god that it is.

Hell, as a place of eternal punishment, is not biblical.

Physical plane fire offers many benefits: it purifies, it renders malleable, it warms. The biblical eternal fire … lake of fire is fire operating at a higher vibratory rate. The eternal fire is the Purple Transmuting Flame. This Transmuting Flame can be used to purify the energy field around our physical, emotional, and lower mental bodies. It is the purple flame seen hovering around the physical body in the Divine Self chart. As our lower bodies are purified by the Flame, we are transformed from “something common into something special.”

The lake of fire is God’s gift ensuring that all of humanity ascends into the higher consciousness of the heavenly abodes—even the “fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars.”

Elizabeth Clare Prophet’s Divine Self Chart

Summit University Press

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HELL AS AN INVENTION OF THE CHURCH

HOW REINCARNATION PLAYS OUT IN LIFE

How Reincarnation Plays Out In Life

Nancy B. Detweiler, M.Ed., M.Div.

Several years ago, I had a regular 2-3 minute segment on a radio talk show called SOUL TALK, based on questions submitted by our listeners. SOUL TALK is based on a recognition of reincarnation as a means of advancing on the spiritual path. Questions relating to personal experiences are an excellent avenue for revealing how reincarnation plays out in our earth plane lives. With this understanding, we can make more enlightened decisions about how we want to live our lives and how to go about assisting others.

I am supplying some of the actual questions with SOUL TALK’s answers.

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SOUL TALK #22:

Q: Please explain the concept of “karma.”

A: Karma is the basis for reincarnation on the physical plane. It represents the positive and negative energy we create by the way in which we live our lives. In biblical terms, “we reap what we sow.”

In very simplistic terms, humanity has forgotten that, in actuality, we live and move and have our being within the energy of God. Instead, we believe ourselves to be separate from God. We have also forgotten all the powers that are ours as god beings.

Reincarnation offers us repeated opportunities to recall all that we have forgotten. However, until we fully recall our true identities, we make mistakes. We create negative energy fields within our being that must be transmuted and transformed into the positive. We create this negative energy in a vast number of ways, such as through hating, abusing, or harming another member of the human family. The higher we climb on the spiritual evolutionary spiral, the more subtle the ways become of creating negativity within our energy fields. For example: the commandment “do not kill” can operate on multiple levels. One level can be the physical act of killing an individual; another level can create the same amount or more negative karma through the psychological killing of another person by repeatedly thinking, not even verbalizing, negative thoughts about the other. The more spiritually awakened we are, the more responsibility we have for our negative thoughts and actions. Why? Because we know better.

During our cycle of physical incarnations, we also create positive karma in myriad ways, such as: through the use of our talents and skills in service to others and the planet, our efforts to grow spiritually, the unconditional love we give to others, listening to and empathizing with others, and through living out the Truth that we are all members of the family of God.

The goal of reincarnation is to transmute the negative karma to such a degree that we can ascend in our knowledge of union with God and step off the wheel of rebirth. We, thereby, become Christed beings.

SOUL TALK # 12

Q: How does SOUL TALK respond to the level of violence we are seeing among our youth?

A: The basis for violence among youth lies in humanity’s misunderstanding of self and our spiritual blindness to who we truly are: spirit beings temporarily inhabiting a physical body for the purpose of education and spiritual evolution. As a result of this spiritual blindness, our view of life is distorted by our misconceptions.

Physical incarnation, as viewed from the soul level, is to be characterized by the recognition that each of us is a unique human being, possessing talents and abilities that our souls have chosen to develop. We did not take on a physical body so we could be cast into a standard mold and be like everyone else. Parents and teachers need to realize this fact and strive to assist every child to develop his/her own special identity. It is when the child feels inhibited from expressing this uniqueness and ignored for who he is that we find him responding with violence. The child is expressing frustration, feelings of powerlessness, and an inability to get anyone to relate to him as a unique human being. He is screaming to be seen as who he—alone—is.

In addition to providing the basic necessities of life, parenting needs to focus upon getting to know the child as different from all other human beings. This individual uniqueness needs to be appreciated and developed. Parenting and teaching must be based upon the belief that every individual has a unique role to play in the unfolding of the Divine Plan for humanity. There are no superfluous human beings. All have a role to play. All are individual threads to be used in weaving the tapestry of God’s plan for our planet Earth. The child growing up in this type of environment will have an understanding of individual differences and recognize the value of them. He will have a positive self-esteem with no need for violent behavior in order to be noticed, admired, and empowered to make his contribution to our world.

We set the stage for violence by placing the emphasis upon uniformity rather than uniqueness. We can overcome violence by respecting every child’s unique combination of talents and needs and, by striving to assist him in achieving his soul’s purpose for incarnating on the physical plane. In this New Aquarian Age, education will become just that: assisting each child to develop along the lines of his soul’s design for this sojourn on Earth. Then, we will see children blossom, like fragrant roses, into all they incarnated to be!

SOUL TALK # 19

Q: We are seeing so much devastation on our planet. What soul purpose is served by the destruction of property and the loss of lives?

A: First, recall our true identities: spirit beings temporarily inhabiting physical bodies. Our souls have chosen to incarnate on earth plane in order to evolve through experiencing the life situations to be found here. The goal of all spiritual evolution is to remember who we are, where we came from, and what mighty powers we possess.

Second, there are no accidents. Prior to physical incarnation, our souls chose the family-of-origin, geographical locale, and the ethnic and religious groups into which we were born. Our choices are influenced by the lessons we desire to learn while living on earth plane. For example: a soul desiring to learn that God is sufficient for all our needs may choose to incarnate into a geographical locale where devastation via earthquakes is known to occur. We choose to incarnate into a group of people who also plan to use the earthquakes as a learning tool. Within the group, some souls will use the earthquake to learn how to care for others, some to experience being rescued from a life-threatening situation by an individual toward whom they are intolerant, and others to be torn away from all material concerns in order to realize that family and friends are their most precious possessions. Still others have chosen to use the earthquakes as their means of leaving the physical body and returning to spirit. Those whose souls plan to exit earth plane will find themselves located where the opportunity to leave will be presented. Those whose souls plan to survive will do so, even if it means being thrown into the safety of a tree: an example that actually happened to a toddler during a tornado in the Midwest. The toddler was unharmed.

For those who remain on earth plane, the so-called death of loved ones is painful, yet offers even more learning opportunities; such as, developing the ability to function independently. Each person experiences the earthquake according to the soul’s intentions.

No event is without soul meaning; no circumstance is without purpose. And through it all, a God of love allows us to learn at our own pace and in our own way.

SOUL TALK # 33

Q: What can we do to assist in bringing order out of the chaotic conditions on our planet?

A: Chaos has a constructive purpose; it can be a force for healing and transformation. As we seek to re-create order out of this chaos, we have the opportunity to establish a better world.

The most valuable contribution any of us can make is to remember who we are and where we came from. We are spirit beings temporarily inhabiting a physical body. Eons ago, we came from the heart of God as individualized parts of the Whole. In the truest sense, we are beings of Light and Love. As more and more of us remember who we are and live our lives as Light and Love, we contribute to what is called the “critical mass.” When a “critical mass” of Light and Love is achieved, the consciousness of our entire planet will be lifted. We will overcome fear with love. We will replace violence with the realization that we are one human family.

It is essential that we learn to supervise our feelings and thoughts because they are the energy of creation. We are what we think and feel. Now that the intensity of Earth’s magnetic field is decreasing, our feelings and thoughts are manifested more rapidly; thus, the increased number of synchronicities we are experiencing in our lives. As we develop the self-discipline to monitor our feelings and thoughts and to consciously convert them from fear to love, we are literally creating order out of chaos.

Jesus taught, “You are the light of the world.” As the light of the world, we are also the means through which peace and harmony can be established on our planet. As we focus our minds and hearts on peace and love, our energy field radiates that peace and love out to the world. All of us possess the capacity to help in healing our planet; we all have our role to play. Some of us will be the leaders and the workers. Others will support those who lead and work by concentrating our thoughts and feelings on love, light, and peace. Together all of us, young or elderly, rich or poor, healthy or sick, can transform our chaotic world into one of peace with justice for all. Together, we can create a new and much better world!

SOUL TALK # 21

Q: If a recognition of reincarnation is so valuable for the soul’s growth, why do we witness such abject poverty in countries that have embraced this concept for centuries?

A: The large scale planetary problems, such as poverty and starvation, are indicative of the degree of spiritual blindness still present within the whole of humanity. We, as a whole, have not perceived the Truth that we are One Family—God’s Family. We refuse to recognize that planet Earth is capable of supporting all of its inhabitants, IF we share its resources. We, in the West, have been taught to believe in the “survival of the fittest,” and can, therefore, very easily look into the eyes of one in poverty and convince ourselves it is natural and okay.

Reincarnation’s companion concept is that “we reap what we sow.” It is all too easy to look upon the poor and say, “They are reaping what they sowed.” This may be true; however, it does not relieve us of the responsibility to help overcome the fact of poverty on our planet. When we look the other way, we are sowing the seeds of unconcern that we will reap from others in the future. One of the chief ways by which we incur karmic debt is the refusal to assist those less fortunate than we are. Conversely, service to others is a major means by which we pay off karmic debt.

There can be many reasons why souls choose to incarnate into poverty. Some reasons may surprise us. For example: All souls play a vital role in the unfolding of divine order on a planetary basis. In order for the human family to learn ways to share the planet’s resources with all its members, large numbers of souls must volunteer to incarnate into poverty, thereby presenting to others the motivation to create a means of sharing. As these volunteers live in poverty, they not only assist their planetary family, but also pay off karmic debt through their service.

An individual soul may incarnate into poverty in order to develop empathy and the skills to manifest a better life for self and, in turn, for others. All life situations have within them an upward spiral of possibilities and positive spiritual evolution. It is up to the individual soul to use every condition of life as a means of constructive growth, both for self and for others.

SOUL TALK # 17

Q: Fear is rampant on the planet. How can we ease this fear?

A: The root cause of fear is that we humans have forgotten who we are—spirit beings temporarily inhabiting a physical body. As long as we believe that we are solely the physical body, we are vulnerable to fears of deprivation, ill health, violence, old age, and death. We fear because we believe ourselves to be powerless and separated from God. Many of us have been taught that God is to be feared, that God is vengeful and might punish us with an eternity in hell. When we cannot be absolutely sure what God will do—send us to heaven or hell—the foundation on which we build our lives is based on fear. If we do not trust our Creator to love us unconditionally, who can we trust?

It is time to wake up to our true identities. For thousands of years, the mystics in all major world religions have recognized that God dwells within all human beings. God is the center of our being. It is impossible to be separated from God. Consider how different our planet would be if all persons perceived this spark of divinity within themselves and others.

Instead of pursuing external ways to express power over others, we could be secure as we allow the God within to manifest through us in powerful ways and, to do so in accordance with our soul’s goals for this incarnation. Instead of submitting to what we have been taught is the inevitability of ill health and aging, we could rest assured that God expresses through us as perfection. God does not get sick; God does not grow old. Instead of seeking ways to prolong our physical plane lives, we could find peace in the knowledge that our souls will simply leave the physical body at one of two times: when its allotted amount of physical energy has been expended – or – when the soul’s mission has been completed and it chooses to return to spirit.

In actuality, the only thing to fear is allowing fear to creep into our lives. The negative energy of fear attracts fearful situations. On the other hand, the positive energy of trust and surrender to the God within attracts positive circumstances.

To learn more about our true identities, go to my web site: www.pathwaytoascension.com and click on the “Your Divine Self” in the left hand column of the home page. I highly recommend ordering a wallet size copy of Elizabeth Claire Prophet’s Divine Self chart and the booklet entitled Accessing the Power of Your Higher Self. These two meditation tools hold the potential to change your life forever.

SOUL TALK # 82

Q: I like to think of myself as a “good person”; however, there have been times in my life when I behaved, especially within relationships, in ways that now make me feel guilty. How can I learn to forgive myself?

A: Forgiving self is one of our most difficult challenges. Jesus taught us to pray: “Our Father, who art in heaven …. forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” This prayer appears, on the surface, to teach us to seek forgiveness from God for our own trespasses and to forgive those who trespass against us. But what about forgiving self?

In order to forgive self, we must remember our true identity. We are beloved Sons & Daughters of our Father/Mother God. Eons ago, we made the freewill choice to experience life on the plane of duality. Thus, our spiritual evolutionary path entails a knowledge of life in which we are aware of both good and evil. Good is living life in attunement to God; evil is living with our backs to God. We evolve spiritually when we make the conscious choice to attune with Good. We make mistakes and suffer the consequences when we choose to experience—even a portion of our lives—with our backs turned to God. Thus life, for us, is an experiment in learning to choose consistently the Good. Along the way, we do make mistakes, just as we make mistakes on a class examination. It isn’t that we intend to make the mistake; we do so out of ignorance or error thinking. We do the best we can with our limited amount of conscious knowledge.

The secret in the Lord’s Prayer is that “Our Father, who art in heaven” is the Divine Part of ourselves, the I AM Presence. Like Jesus, our elder brother, we are both human and divine. The divine part of ourselves is our guiding Light, as we seek to evolve through our human experiences on the plane of duality. When we pray—for forgiveness of our trespasses—to our Father (or I AM Presence), it is the human part of us admitting a mistake to the divine part of us.

Think of “our Father” as being our professor in the physical plane classroom. The mistakes we make in our learning process may result in temporary painful consequences, but have no lasting impact as long as we strive to correct them. So forgiveness of self involves a conscious effort to score higher on our next human examination. Forgiveness of self means we use our mistakes to compel us forward on our spiritual journey. Forgiveness of self is learning from our mistakes. We take forgiveness of self a step farther when we intentionally contribute Good in honor of the person with whom we made the mistake. This act of service to others may transmute any negative karma (or energy) resulting from our mistakes. We help no one when we simply choose to wallow in regret. Positive action for Good allows our divinity to manifest within our human classroom. We forgive ourselves as we surrender to “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” in our human experience, as it is in the heaven of our I AM Presence.

SOUL TALK # 25

Q: How can we distinguish between selfishness and self-love?

A: Selfishness indicates a lack of self-love. It is egocentric and stems from a gnawing inner sensation that whispers, “I am not okay.” The selfish person looks outside of self to satisfy feelings of lack: lack of power, lack of self-love, lack of self-esteem. The motivational basis for selfishness is a belief in separation that says, “If I don’t look out for myself, no one else will.”

Self-love is a recognition of one’s true identity as a worthwhile and beloved member of God’s family. The motivational basis for self-love is a knowledge of self as a valuable being, who resides on the planet in order to fulfill a specific role within the divine plan. Self-love stems from an awareness that you are a temple for the Divine Spirit dwelling within and seeking expression through you. Though, at times, you may feel alone, there is an inner knowing that you are not separated from the Source of all life.

Self-love means having a sense of personal identity and purpose that underlies all decisions. For example: When confronted with a decision as to whether or not to go along with your peer group, the person who loves self will have the courage to say “no” to self-destructive behavior. Self-love does not make choices based on the desire to convince someone else to like you. Instead, love of self grants an intuitive knowing as to which person and what environment is good for you. Self-love feels no need to rescue or to be a martyr; in fact, both patterns of behavior can stem from an unconscious and selfish focus on the psychological needs of self.

The person who loves self possesses the capacity to love others unconditionally. Self-love is not selfish; instead, it is the prerequisite for all other expressions of love.

THE BARRIERS WILL FALL AWAY & YOU WILL TAKE EACH OTHER TO YOUR HEARTS.

SaLuSa  17-January-2011

SIRIUS – HOBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

The New Year is underway and there will be plenty to keep you occupied, as the climax to the present changes is coming to a head. Within all of the happenings it will become apparent, that you are experiencing the last of the dark Ones attempts to hang onto their power. They will not change your future or your destiny to ascend which is assured. What will happen is that the events orchestrated by them will show their disregard for human life and their rights. It will result in bringing more people together into the Light, and greater demands for action against them. Thus the continual increase in your levels of consciousness will ensure that there is a response, and you will understand what is taking place. You are advised to keep concentrating on a positive outcome and you will be doing your bit along with ours, to bring an end to all attempts to confuse you and stop your progress.

It is now the time for the Light to become more active around you, and many, many groups of people are banding together to take action. It will commence with small beginnings and gradually escalate into a major force for good. It will have a tendency to draw people together according to whether they have experienced an awakening. Until duality has been overcome, there will always be a degree of difference between groups holding opposing views and opinions, but that is a healthy situation. Without the challenges you would not necessarily evolve, albeit very slowly. With the end times it is therefore possible to go forward in leaps and bounds. Karma can also be cleared more quickly, and unresolved matters will have to be confronted before you ascend.

Time is ever speeding up, and it will seem no time at all before this year also passes by. You can be sure it will hold many surprises, and will have proceeded to lay down the path to Ascension. It will ensure that your journey is completed with ease and in an atmosphere of joyful acceptance. At present there is much apprehension around you, but it will not be long before our allies prove their ability to overcome the plans of the dark Ones. You will be the last piece that completes the picture, and then the whole Universe will be ready to ascend to a higher level. That will be the commencement of the Golden Age, which will bring to fruition all you have been promised that accompanies Ascension. A taste of what is to come will start to be manifested before the year is out, but you must make allowance for the amount of work involved to reach people on a worldwide scale.

Your needs will be totally catered for and we can provide for your whole population. We do not have your difficulties in producing mass quantities, and our source is unlimited. After all Dear Ones, we have had more than ample time to prepare for this stage in your Ascension. You will find that once they start, the changes will come very quickly. We want to deal with poverty and needs that will restore some dignity in your lives, and make you self-sufficient. We have many specialist groups experienced in various skills and expertise that can handle the most complicated requirements. General pollution will for example be cleared in weeks rather than months, and it is an area that we see as a priority. Health and prosperity will gradually return, and the lack now experienced will be eradicated never to return again.

Whatever progress we make regrettably there will always be some who have become fearsome, because of the gloom and doom predictions. For them it has become a part of their firm belief in a catastrophic ending to time, and events on Earth will seem to support it. However, they will not get worse as the months go by, and by no means reach apocalyptic proportions. Mother Earth must have her say in what takes place and also raise her vibrations, but her purpose is not to cause wanton destruction. The negative energies that have been grounded in the Earth over many centuries must be cleared, and completed before Ascension. Our presence means that we can help to alleviate the extent of any damage, and can offer protection to those who may be affected.

Your weather patterns continue to change and regardless of whether they are natural or man made, they will eventually settle down and become more balanced. The extremes you now experience will become less frequent, and temperatures will be comfortable in all respects. The Earth will be resettled where animals and other life forms are concerned, and beauty will return to areas destroyed by Man. Again these tasks are easily dealt with by us, and the Galactic Federation will place all of its technologies and know how before you. By then the dark Ones will no longer be able to interfere, and will have been taken to places where they have no authority or position of power. They are the architects of their own fate, and cannot escape the consequences.

We admire those of you who have diligently searched for the purpose of life and found your answers. As long as you recognize the hand of God in all that is around you, the truth will soon emerge you are All One. You may not yet fully understand the truth, but in time you will learn much from us and the Masters who will speak with you. You will find that it is you who have created the divisions that exist amongst you. Soon all obstacles that stand between you will be overcome, and you will recognize all souls as your brothers and sisters. The barriers will fall away and you will take each other to your hearts. It is of course necessary to create a climate of full cooperation, and race and color will not be an issue anymore.

I am SaLuSa from Sirius, and looking down at Earth from high above you see the Earth becoming a Planet of Light. The dazzling points of Light coalesce and the radiance is a beautiful sight. Sure there are many dark spots, but they are slowly being transmuted having little power to resist the Light. So it shall continue until the lower vibrations hardly exist, and then you will be near to the end time and Ascension. Every soul will move on according to their level of consciousness, yet all shall find themselves exactly at the level that will take them onto the next stage of their journey. You will have made your choices as to what your next undertaking shall be, and your spiritual advancement will continue. Know that all will be well and God will as ever accompany you wherever you are, and always be your mentor and companion. You are loved beyond your knowing at all times, and will be forever more.

Thank you SaLuSa.

Mike Quinsey.

BESIDE STILL WATERS – PSALM 23

BESIDE STILL WATERS

PSALM 23

Nancy B. Detweiler, M.Ed., M.Div.

NILE RIVER – LUXOR, EGYPT

We are living in a very intense period in our human evolution, during which vast changes are taking place within ourselves and on our planet.  We may feel agitated or disoriented and not know why.  We may experience the constant pressure of linear time steadily increasing.  Surely, a week is now only three days in length! On the other hand, while we may be confused, we are also noticing the steadily increasing frequency of synchronistic events taking place in our lives.  We wish for something and it appears on our doorstep.  Traumatic upheavals occur only to dissipate with little or no effort on our part.  We are left feeling as if something threw us into the air and then, caught us with no harm done.  Life seems inexplicable.  Even though it is not yet obvious to the average individual, the whole of humanity is moving into a greater awareness of Truth.  Meanwhile, how can we best cope with the intensity of daily living and the feeling that we are riding a roller coaster through life? For thousands of years, people have sought comfort in Psalm 23.  Within the six verses of this familiar Psalm, universal Truth is revealed.  Meditating upon this Psalm can propel us forward in our efforts to leave behind error thoughts and claim Truth as the foundation of our lives.  Truth is Universal Law.  They are one and the same.  Let’s look at the universal laws revealed in Psalm 23. “The Lord is my shepherd.” The Hebrew word translated “Lord” also means “Law”—the universal Laws by which all of creation operates.  Universal law requires the Sun to make an appearance each morning.  Clouds may block our view of the Sun, but its ever-present warmth still protects our planet.  Likewise, throughout the events in our lives, universal law requires that all things work together for our good.  Like a shepherd gathering his lost sheep, universal law directs us home to the realization of our oneness with Mother/Father God.  We are never left alone to find our way home the best way we can. Sheep are utterly dependent upon the shepherd:  if one gets lost, it is unable to find its way back home.  However, the shepherd knows when even one sheep is lost and will search until he finds it.  A shepherd must constantly seek food for the sheep and often, a cave for shelter at night.  Sheep recognize the sound of the shepherd’s voice and willingly follow him.  We, humans, are just as dependent upon universal law unfolding in our lives.  The problem is:  we have gotten lost.  That’s what the planetary changes now taking place are all about—humanity is once more becoming aware of its Shepherd or Universal Law. So what are the characteristics of life when the Law is our Shepherd?  First, “I shall not want.”  According to universal law, there is no lack.  The only reason we experience lack is that we have based our lives on non-truth.  We have not recognized the voice of our Shepherd calling to us.  Instead, we buy into the world’s proclamations of a declining economy and depressed stock market.   We, however, always have the option of making the conscious choice to listen to and follow universal law.  As we do so, the Law “makes me lie down in green pastures.”  The law does not require that we till the ground, plant the grass seed, and water it until the pasture is green.  We have the privilege of lying down in green pastures because they already exist.  Toiling for our food and clothes has never been in compliance with universal law.  We do so because we are blinded to the fact that all we need is already present in our lives.  A green pasture in Palestine is a beautiful oasis in the midst of barren, rocky soil. “He leads me beside still waters.”  Universal law would have us walk leisurely along the shores of a tranquil lake, allowing the stillness to “restore our soul.”  Our elder brother, Jesus, taught us:  “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear….  Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  (Matthew 6:25, 33)  Does this mean that universal law states we can live a life of leisure? Yes and no.  Yes, universal law states that we are one with all that is … meaning we are one with all the food, drink, and clothing we need … it is already ours.  No, living in the knowledge of our true identity—child gods, we each have a role to play within the divine plan.  However, that role is not labor; it is, instead, a joyous expression of the unique manner in which God wishes to manifest through each of us.  We walk beside still waters and restore our soul as we live in attunement with our soul and its desires, worrying not over what we will eat, drink, or wear. “He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.”  Integrating universal law into our lifestyles will lead us along the path that is right for us.  Names carry the vibrations of individual identity, the type vocation planned, and the recognition of our presence within the universal whole.  As we allow knowledge of universal law to lead us, we come to know that the right path is the path that allows God to express uniquely through us.  We are lead by universal law along the right path for his name’s sake:  in other words, in recognition of the unique identity, vocation, and quality of presence God is seeking to express through us.  As we learn to live our lives in ways that are authentic to who we are, as opposed to what the world expects of us, we are increasingly led along right paths for His name’s sake. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil: for you are with me.”  Universal law states that God is everywhere present, even during our darkest moments.   As long as we keep our attention on God’s presence within and around us, we need not fear evil (or error thoughts).  It is when we are fearful that error thoughts assault us, screaming:  “you are sick” … “you will never find another job” … or “you will be alone for the rest of your life.”  Knowing that God’s loving presence permeates every fiber of our being, we can walk through our dark valleys and behold them for what they truly are– avenues leading us more completely into the light.  Universal law states:  perfect health is yours … the perfect job is yours … the perfect mate is yours.  We must, however, remember that perfect means perfect in the eyes of the soul.  What is perfect for us is whatever it takes to move our soul forward on our spiritual journey back home. “Your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”  The rod and staff are ancient symbols of authority or kingship.  Metaphysically, they signify the power of focusing on the God within us while knowing that with God all things are possible.  Universal law would comfort us with the knowledge that we possess the inner power and authority to follow in the footsteps of the great teacher, Jesus.  We can do all the things that he demonstrated and more.  We, as child gods, possess the inner power and authority to transform valleys that appear dark and frightening into passageways that lead us beside the still waters.  When the waves threatened to sink the boat in which Jesus and his disciples were riding, Jesus knew he had the inner power and authority to calm the water and wind.  We can do the same by concentrating on our indwelling God and allowing that same power and authority to manifest in our lives.  We speak of our own divinity when we affirm:  “your rod and staff—they comfort me.” “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”  While we live our lives in a world of turmoil and change, universal law prepares a feast for us … a feast of love, abundance, and joy.  Who are our enemies?  Those error thoughts that convince us we are not worthy to be given a feast … that persuade us we can never win the victory over the world and its illusions.  Error thoughts encourage us to keep plugging along, doing the best we can.  On the other hand, universal law would have us know that we can be victorious … we can sit down and enjoy a feast while all of the world’s error thoughts lie impotent at our feet. How does God respond when we consent to partake of the abundant feast available to each of us?  By anointing our head with oil!  In the ancient Near East, to anoint the head with oil meant to invest that person with power.  It was a sign of divine sanctification and approval.  Anointing the head signified consecration for a holy mission.  As we feast on the abundance universal law has already set before us, God will anoint our heads with oil.  With our needs abundantly met and our enemies lying impotent at our feet, God invests us with the power to carry out our holy mission—that of allowing God to manifest through us as the unique human beings we are.  As we do so, our cups overflow with joy, peace, and love.  We walk beside the still waters, knowing we are fulfilling our role within God’s divine plan for humanity.  That our cup overflows is a sure sign that we walk in right paths for His name’s sake. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”  The words of Genesis 1:31 reveal universal law:  “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.”  Only Good exists permanently; all else is illusion.  As we consciously attune to and allow universal law to guide us, Good unfolds in our lives.  We begin to behold life through the eyes of God.  Mercy follows us as we concentrate on the Good; thereby, attracting it into our lives.  Making the conscious intention to walk away from our error thoughts, our lives are mercifully filled with Good.  We, by our own choice, allow goodness and mercy to follow us all the days of our lives. “And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”  It is only as we allow goodness and mercy to follow us that we live in the house of the Lord.  As we abide by universal law, we achieve a level of conscious awareness that reveals to us our true home—within the loving arms of our Mother/Father God. Even as we walk through the darkest valley on our earth plane journey, we can do so in full awareness of dwelling—at the same time—in the house of the Lord—Universal Law.  With our focus on God, we can use our Earth plane challenges and lessons to overcome all fear.  We can achieve a level of conscious attunement to universal law that allows us to walk beside the still waters, even though the world around us appears to be filled with turmoil.  For, we know better.  We are feasting at God’s bountiful table; we are anointed with the power and inner authority to accomplish our soul’s mission. The Lord is our Shepherd and we shall not want.  AMEN … and so it is!

 

IF JESUS IS A WAYSHOWER, WHAT DID HE SHOW US? PART 3 – JESUS WALKED IN THE PRESENCE

“If Jesus Is A Wayshower, What Did He Show Us?” Nancy Detweiler, M.Ed., M.Div. www.pathwaytoascension.com  BE SURE TO READ THE INTRODUCTION TO THIS SERIES FIRST. Part 3 of Series “Jesus Walked in the Presence” Jesus taught his disciples: “I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) What can we learn from Jesus’ lifestyle that will allow us to experience an abundant life? Jesus often spent all night in meditation, communing with God. Meditating on a regular basis is an essential step in living a more abundant life. There are a variety of types of meditation. Those of you in healing touch, and similar modalities of meditative healing, are ministering to people while in attunement with Spirit. Some types of meditation strive to calm the mental, emotional, and physical bodies by chanting a mantra that clears the mind and promotes relaxation. Still others are focused on working for the planet in cooperation with our guides in spirit. The kind of meditation that sustained Jesus was one in which he attuned to our heavenly Father with the goal of being refueled, strengthened, and guided. The Psalmist refers to this type meditation: “I will lift up mine eyes to the mountain from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2) This form of meditation includes learning to view life through the eyes of God: by listening to our intuitive guidance, reading and meditating upon a sacred text or devotional, and journaling. Its focus is upon our own individual spiritual growth and communication with our indwelling God. It involves the integration of our meditative insights into our lifestyle. Jesus—speaking the words of “the Father”—taught his disciples, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35) Jesus set the example for us: meditate on a regular basis in order to eat the bread and drink the cup of our indwelling God. While in meditation, we are to find nourishment for ourselves—through the Father within. As a result of meditating and beholding life through the eyes of God, Jesus lived his earth plane life in harmony with all of creation. He spent long hours teaching the crowds that followed him wherever he went. When his disciples grew concerned that no one had eaten for days and many were far from home, Jesus felt no concern. He knew universal law: there is no lack. We live and move and have our being surrounded with an abundant supply of all we need. It is as we meditate and learn to view life through the eyes of God that we come to know this fact. Jesus often grew impatient with his disciples because they seemed never to comprehend. Jesus knew that a few fish and loaves of bread could be blessed and given out in unlimited abundance. It is only as we think in terms of not having enough that we experience lack. Heretofore, we have lived in a world that screamed, “You do have not enough.” Our economic system has been based on gross materialism. If we were not continually purchasing one product after another, we were informed the economy was headed toward a recession. We reacted just like the disciples: we began to worry, to save for a rainy day, and to hold back on our sharing with others. When the disciples suggested that Jesus send the people from the countryside into the villages, so they could purchase food, he answered them: “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” His disciples answered much as we would—in terms of lack: “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” Jesus responded: “Bring them here to me. Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” (Matthew 14:16-21) Jesus beheld the five loaves of bread and two fish through the eyes of God. He knew they simply represented the abundance available to all of us, instead of the insufficient amounts in which the world would have us believe. Living consciously in the presence of God allows us to view life as Jesus did. Jesus could walk on water as well as on land. This ability can be ours too. One of the disciples, Peter, walked on water for a few steps, until he became frightened and lost faith. Jesus caught Peter by the hand and led him back to the boat, while rebuking him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:28-31) On numerous occasions, Jesus rebuked his disciples for their lack of faith. “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember ….? Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:17-21) He expected his disciples to follow his example; he desires the same of us. He gave us a clue as to why we fail to do so: we lack attunement to and faith in our indwelling God. When we meditate within the loving presence of God, we know all things are possible. It is when we focus our attention outside of ourselves and upon the world’s explanations of life that we fail to walk on water, or to perform the seemingly impossible. Jesus was attuned to the angelic beings. He knew God’s mission for the angels in relationship to Earth humans, as explained by the Psalmist: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:11-12) He also knew how to communicate with those angelic gods in charge of all facets of nature. On at least one occasion, Jesus and the disciples set sail for the opposite shore of the Sea of Galilee. A violent storm arose. Afraid of capsizing, the disciples called to Jesus, who was asleep. Aware of the angelic beings in charge of the wind and water, Jesus simply spoke to them, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:39-41) Once more Jesus grows impatient with the disciples because they were unable to maintain a level of faith that would enable them to communicate with the nature gods. Why would Jesus be impatient with his disciples’ lack of faith? Jesus was conscious of his mission—to show us the way back home to knowledge of ourselves as Sons & Daughters of God. He taught: “the one who believes in me [the Father] will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) (Remember: Jesus speaks the words of the Father while serving as a physical plane example to us.) So far, his disciples were having a hard time developing faith in themselves as Sons & Daughters of the Father and therefore, in their capacity to demonstrate all the works Jesus performed. We are no different. We lack faith in ourselves, in our true identity as a Son or Daughter of God, and in our capacity to achieve all the works Jesus executed. How could Jesus perform these works? He spent hours in meditation and communion with his indwelling God. He knew God was within him and that he was within God. There is no separation. Thus, the works that one part of the family of God can do, all can perform. He yearned for us to understand this teaching. According to Edgar Cayce, Charles Fillmore, and the Ascended Masters’ teachings, the soul of Jesus spent eons of time attempting to awaken Earth humans to their former level of attunement to God. When we grow impatient with divine timing and order, think of the eons of time Jesus and other Ascended Masters have sought to rouse our consciousness to the realization of who we truly are. Divine timing and order is not slow; we are! Jesus walked in the presence of God. He knew that even when danger appeared on his path, he was safe from harm. Only when he chose to allow himself to be arrested, beaten, and crucified could harm come to him. He was in full control of his life. In the gospel of Luke, we find Jesus in his hometown of Nazareth, reading the book of Isaiah to those gathered in the synagogue. When he interpreted the reading, the people were enraged. “When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.” (Luke 4:16-30) We have the same protection available to us. It is a matter of focus. Do we give attention to the danger and our fear? Or, do we call to the God within and hold our concentration on our own god-power to escape all harm? Like attracts like. Jesus had faith that God’s omnipresence within and around him served as a protective shield. No harm could come to him. Had he reacted with fear or anger, he would have attracted his enemies to him and likely been hurled over the cliff. Instead, even though the people surrounded him, he simply walked away; for he walked in the presence of God. Jesus constantly listened to his intuitive guidance. In so doing, he could stay one step ahead of those who tried repeatedly to trick him into expounding what the religious leaders could consider false teachings. On one such occasion, Jesus healed a paralytic with the words, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” A group of religious leaders sat nearby, watching. In silence, they pondered the healing. But Jesus knew their thoughts. “When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?” (Luke 5:17-26) Then, instead of attempting to trick Jesus, they sat in awe of him. We possess the same intuitive powers. We can use our intuitive insights to help us in comprehending the true motives of those with whom we must deal. We can avoid being caught up in the confusion around us. We can discern what is right and good for self and loved ones. We are not defenseless in a world that has been filled with terror. By following our intuitive insights, we can walk in the midst of enemies and not be harmed. We can literally become invisible to the enemy as did Jesus when he avoided being thrown over the cliff. What did Jesus show us about walking in the presence? He revealed how to walk through life with ease, knowing that God’s presence enfolds and provides for us far beyond our needs. There is no danger; there is no lack; there is no vulnerability for those who love the Lord—i.e. universal Law—with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. We have inherited the right and privilege of living a charmed life! UNITY’S PRAYER OF PROTECTION The Light of God surrounds me, The Love of God enfolds me, The Power of God protects me, The Presence of God watches over me. Wherever I am, God is. And, all is well. BENEDICTION Go forth, knowing that you walk within the omnipresence of a loving Mother/Father God. Meditate upon your Divine Self—your true identity. As you go about your daily life, know that an impenetrable shield of White Christ Light enfolds you. Your Divine Self http://tsl.org/2009/10/chart-of-your-divine-self/

IF JESUS IS A WAYSHOWER, WHAT DID HE SHOW US? – PART 2 – THE JOURNEY OF THE SOUL

“If Jesus Is A Wayshower, What Did He Show Us?” Part 2 of Series “The Journey of the Soul” Nancy Detweiler, M.Ed., M.Div. www.pathwaytoascension.com BE SURE TO READ THE INTRODUCTION TO THIS SERIES FIRST. If Jesus is a Wayshower, what did He show us? He revealed the journey of the soul through numerous incarnations. How do we know Jesus incarnated multiple times? Throughout the Bible, reference is made to a Book of Life (Malachi 3:16 and Revelations 13:8 are examples). Metaphysicians call this book the Akashic Records, an energetic recording of life that could be considered the universal archives. We all tap into the Akashic Records on an unconscious level. Doing so is how we remember what we’ve learned in prior lifetimes. Some individuals, like Edgar Cayce (the most scientifically documented intuitive in the world), possess the conscious capacity to attune to the Akashic Records and share with us the information found there. Glenn Sanderfur, author of Lives of the Master: The Rest of the Jesus Story, took the information given through the Cayce Readings and researched it further. He studied ancient legends, historical records, and many of the earliest writings discovered during the past century. The information Sanderfur unveils, concerning the lives of Jesus, is correlated with stories that were widely accepted as true in the ancient world. The personalities assumed by the soul of Jesus are listed in accordance with the Edgar Cayce Readings and Sanderfur’s own research. Since the biblical personalities who possessed the soul of Jesus can easily be researched in the Bible, we will focus on them. As stated in the 1st lesson of this series, Jesus was one of the Sons & Daughters that agreed to come to Earth millions of years ago as a spirit being. Our involution into the atmosphere of Earth is considered the 1st creation story in Genesis 1. Eons later, souls took on the physical bodies described in the 2nd creation story found in Genesis 2. Physical bodies allowed them to reside in the lower vibrations characterizing the 3rd dimension or physical plane. The narrative of Adam and Eve eating fruit from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil is the allegorical story of the Sons and Daughters of God choosing to sojourn on the plane of duality, where they would be conscious of making freewill choices and experiencing the consequences. With time, some of the Sons & Daughters of God forgot who they were and lost consciousness of their unity with all of creation. They believed themselves to be simply their physical bodies, separate from God, and powerless when confronting the challenges afforded by the plane of duality. Jesus, as one of the Sons of God, volunteered to return to Earth in an effort to awaken humanity to our true identity. One of the earliest biblical personalities of Jesus was Enoch. Although the Bible says little about Enoch, three ancient books, Enoch I, II, and III are attributed to him. Jesus also incarnated as Melchizedek, the King of Salem who blessed Abram with the bread and wine upon his return from a victorious battle. Both Enoch and Melchizedek simply disappeared from Earth. Genesis 5:24 describes Enoch: “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him.” In other words, Enoch ascended without experiencing death. In Hebrews 7:3, Melchizedek is described: “Without father, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.” Enoch and Melchizedek remind us of the capacity that is ours—that of becoming so purified and filled with light that we can descend and ascend from Earth plane at will. They reveal the unity of the physical and spiritual dimensions. There is no need to experience death. We all possess the aptitude to ascend, by raising the vibrations of our physical bodies so high that they become invisible and move into the higher dimensions of consciousness. According to Edgar Cayce, Jesus found that taking on a physical body at will—as Enoch and Melchizedek—did not give him the degree of rapport needed in order to guide humanity back home to full consciousness of ourselves as Sons & Daughters of God. He realized that he needed to experience life as we do. So he began to incarnate into physical bodies that vibrated at a much slower rate of speed. As he did so, he began to stumble and make mistakes too. Thus, we can trace his soul’s progress through a series of lifetimes as seen in the Bible. As Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, he retained an ability to prophesy through his dreams and his interpretations of others’ dreams. However, Joseph angered his older brothers by sharing his dreams of being in a position of power over them. His brothers took revenge by selling him to a caravan of men traveling to Egypt. Joseph maintained a positive attitude through all the challenges he confronted, including years of unjust imprisonment. Finally, using his intuitive attunement to God’s instruction, Joseph interpreted correctly the Pharaoh’s prophetic dreams. As a result, he was released from prison and promoted to a position second only to the pharaoh of Egypt. Joseph’s wisdom enabled him to save the Israelites and Egyptians from starvation during the seven years of famine, prophesized by Pharaoh’s dreams. When Joseph’s brothers journeyed to Egypt to purchase grain, they were filled with fear when they realized he now had the power of life and death over them. Joseph’s comforting words to his brothers may also comfort us when we encounter challenges that turn our lives upside down. “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land for two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 45:4-8) The life of Joseph teaches us that divine order underlies all of life—that divine order (or God) works out all things for the highest good. Joseph’s story reveals that God knows our needs before we do and makes arrangement for their fulfillment far in advance. All of creation moves naturally toward harmony and well-being, regardless of outer appearances in the present. Years later, Jesus incarnated as Joshua, assistant to Moses. He traveled with the Israelites as they fled captivity in Egypt and remained with them throughout the forty years in the wilderness. Because Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, Joshua led the Israelites in the battles that allowed them to move into Palestine. The biblical narrative depicts God fighting on the side of Joshua and the Israelites. Even the sun and moon stood still in order to assist Joshua. Historical records of this period reveal few battles, other than with warring tribal lords—a common occurrence in the ancient Middle East. The total devastation described in the Bible is not found in the ancient secular records of this time. Most of the battles Joshua fought were the same battles we wage—with our lower selves. A vital part of our spiritual journey is the requirement to purify and conquer all lower desires and negativity within our energy field. These are the enemies that must be destroyed without mercy. When the Bible depicts God as fighting, it is revealing through the symbol of “battle” the way in which God’s loving presence enfolds us every step of our way back home. Often the people grew discouraged and turned to other gods, representing the various idols we have in our lives, such as money, power, and status. We often turn from God, as we place more importance on the acquiring of money, relationships, and whatever else distracts us from our spiritual path. Joshua taught: “… revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness …. If you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve …. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm.” (Joshua 24:14-15, 19-20) What does this mean? We can walk on only one path: the narrow path our soul would choose OR the broad path our lower personality nature will choose. Spirit is very patient and allows us to meander along the broad path for as long as we choose. However, once we embark consciously on the narrow path back home to our true identity as Sons and Daughters of God, we suffer whenever we make a wrong turn. God is not punishing us. Instead, our soul is guiding us along a very narrow path, bordered on either side with the sharp rocks of the world and its glamour. To make a wrong turn entails pain, because we stumble over the rocks. Our soul’s guidance can take many forms and even appear extremely unjust. Take the example of the biblical Job and all the seemingly unjust suffering he endured. The end result was Job’s enlightenment. Humanity continues to make the choice to awaken spiritually through suffering as long as we fail to walk intentionally and consciously the narrow path to enlightenment. Joshua reminded the people that God can be trusted. “You know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one thing has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you; all have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed.” (Joshua 23:14) We, too, can trust in the unfolding of divine order. As we live in accordance with divine law, we come to know perfect health and prosperity in all areas of our lives. Then we, too, enter the Promised Land that is the Kingdom of God within ourselves. The soul of Jesus broadened his physical plane experiences by incarnating as Asaph, a musician appointed by King David to oversee music in worship. He sang at the dedication for Solomon’s Temple, the first to be erected in Jerusalem. Several of the Psalms are attributed to Asaph: Psalm 50, and Psalms 73 – 83. We can catch a glimpse into the mind of Asaph by reading these Psalms. According to the Cayce Readings, Asaph was also a scribe and wrote additional portions of the Old Testament. Wisdom literature was very popular during the time of Asaph. The last Old Testament personality of the soul of Jesus was an incarnation as Jeshua, a high priest of the Temple who had been exiled to Babylon. When Cyrus of Persia captured Babylon, he allowed Jeshua to return to Jerusalem—accompanied by those Jewish exiles who chose to return home—and make plans for the reconstruction of the Temple destroyed by the Babylonian army. This lifetime, the soul of Jesus was a peaceful warrior leading his people back to Jerusalem. We can see that the soul of Jesus sought variety in his earth plane experiences. We do the same. Diversity assists us in achieving wholeness. We incarnate as male and female, rich and poor, in leadership roles and in more creative, reclusive roles. Every lifetime offers us the opportunity to develop new skills, to recall and enhance prior lifetime talents, to experience the more intuitive, nourishing nature of a female and the more assertive, intellectual nature of a male. The ultimate goal is balance and a sense of wholeness within self—androgyny. With each lifetime, we create future experiences. For example: Jesus, as Jeshua, refused to accept the offer of the Samaritans to assist in rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. This refusal resulted in lack of sufficient workers to do the job and the rebuilding project had to be postponed for another twenty years. Later, during his incarnation as Jesus, one of his parables tells the story of a kind Samaritan assisting a wounded man lying on the roadside, after two Jewish religious leaders ignored him. (Remember Jesus, as Jeshua, was a high priest.) Jesus also chose to travel through Samaria and to teach the Samaritan people. At that point in time, Jews did not speak to Samaritans and traveled around the territory of Samaria. When Jesus requested a drink of water from a Samaritan woman at the well, he broke the rules. Jesus had to transform the prejudices toward the Samaritans that he exhibited when incarnated as Jeshua. Our lives are also filled with opportunities to atone for past life mistakes. Finally, during his lifetime as Jesus, he once more achieved the consciousness that allowed him to become a Wayshower back home to our true inheritance as Sons and Daughters of God. The soul of Jesus, incarnating in multiple physical bodies, gradually regained all that humanity lost when we chose to experience the plane of duality. Now, it is up to us to follow his example the rest of the way home. UNITY’S PRAYER OF PROTECTION The Light of God surrounds me, The Love of God enfolds me, The Power of God protects me, The Presence of God watches over me. Wherever I am, God is. And, all is well. BENEDICTION Go forth, knowing that “from the beginning to the end, thou knowest me, O Lord, for thou hast formed and laid thy hand upon me.” (Psalm 139:5) You are never alone!

IF JESUS IS A WAYSHOWER, WHAT DID HE SHOW US? PART I – DIVINE PLAN

 If Jesus Is A Wayshower, What Did He Show Us?”
Nancy Detweiler, M.Ed., M.Div.

BE SURE TO READ THE INTRODUCTION TO THIS SERIES FIRST.

Part 1 of Series
“We Are Interconnected Within the Divine Plan”

Christ-centered metaphysicians teach that Jesus incarnated to be a Wayshower, to reveal to us our true natures, and to show us the way back home to full knowledge of ourselves as Jesus’ brothers and sisters, Sons & Daughters of God. Jesus taught: “The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) He taught us to call God “Abba,” an Aramaic word that translates “our Father” and signifies the level of intimacy we indicate when we use the term “dad.” Jesus also offered encouragement to us as we live on the physical plane: “I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33) Jesus incarnated to show us how to conquer the world with all its error thinking and adherence to non-truth.

In order to comprehend the role of Jesus in our lives, we must first understand who he is. We must know that life on this planet extends backward for millions of years. We—like Jesus—first set foot on planet Earth as very advanced Sons and Daughters of our Mother/Father God. As the 1st chapter of Genesis states, we were created in the image and likeness of God; thus, we were spirit beings (without a physical body) who volunteered to come to Planet Earth to experiment with freewill and its various manifestations. Freewill is the capacity to select options for self, then to experience the consequences of our decisions. Some of us made choices that resulted in forgetting our true identities as Sons and Daughters of God.

Genesis 2 relates the second creation story in which humanity took on a physical body. In doing so, we lowered our energetic vibration to the 3rd dimensional level (or physical plane). We became enmeshed in forgetfulness and spiritual blindness. We began to feel separated, even alienated, from God. The narrative of humanity being cast out of the Garden of Eden reveals our choice to experience the plane of duality, synonymous with the 3rd dimensional plane. Adam and Eve (representative of those Sons & Daughters choosing to experience the 3rd dimension) symbolically ate of the forbidden Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil. In other words, they chose to live with an awareness of duality: good and evil, light and darkness, male and female. (Evil is live spelled backwards. Thus, evil is the type of energy that is created when we turn our backs to God.) The Bible is the story of humanity’s struggles on the plane of duality and the awakening process by which we are resurrected into full knowledge of our true identities.

According to the hidden wisdom now being unveiled to the general public, Jesus is one of the Sons of God that managed to retain an open channel of communication with the realms of Spirit throughout many physical incarnations. Glenn Sanderfur, in his book entitled Lives of the Master: The Rest of the Jesus Story—based on the Edgar Cayce Readings—depicts the soul of Jesus present within several biblical characters, such as Enoch, Melchizedek, Joseph, Joshua, Asaph, and Jesus. The soul of Jesus incarnated as personalities who assumed a leadership role in guiding Earth humans through periods of transition and change.

During his incarnation as Jesus, he achieved a level of attunement to Spirit that allowed “the Father” to use his body as a vehicle through which to work and speak. Jesus repeatedly attempted to turn the attention away from himself and onto the Father. “Jesus said to them, ‘… the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.’” (John 5:19) Again, Jesus said, “I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak.” (John 12:49) It is essential that we remember these words of Jesus as we get to know him as a Wayshower. The majority of the words attributed to Jesus were actually the Father speaking through him. Not making this distinction is the basis on which many of the misinterpretations of Jesus and the Bible are founded. Thus, for the majority of Christians, Jesus became one to be worshipped; one to whom we could not hope to relate on equal terms. As some have awakened to the presence of our indwelling God, Jesus has been placed on a shelf as no longer relevant. To do so is to deprive self of an inspiring Wayshower. In this series of lessons, we will look at the ways by which Jesus approached life on physical plane in an effort to better integrate Truth into our lifestyles. Jesus explained to the Roman officials ruling Palestine, “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” (John 18:37) What is this Truth?

The birth narratives, found in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, reveal much Truth about the universe in which we live. Matthew’s gospel begins with the genealogy of Jesus. This genealogy is far more than a recitation of family history. It is packed with mathematical formulas that relate universal truths. One easily discernible message is that Jesus incarnated to be an example for all people, not to any one particular race or religion. Jesus’ relationship to our universal human family reveals the interconnectedness of all of us. On an energetic level, our individual mission is one that impacts the whole universe. Like Jesus, each of us incarnated to fulfill a unique role—a vital role within the overall universal plan. No human being stands isolated on an island. No human being incarnates with nothing to contribute to the divine scheme of ongoing creation.

Each incarnation is organized and planned in cooperation with the group of souls accompanying us. In Luke’s gospel, the birth narratives inform us that Elizabeth and Zechariah agreed to become the parents of John the Baptist. Elizabeth conceived after she and Zechariah were advanced in age. In the ancient Middle East, to be barren of children was considered a disgrace for women. Divine timing required that Elizabeth endure this disgrace, just as we often feel that we are enduring more than we bargained for. Divine timing is the means by which the universal plan unfolds. It cannot be rushed.

John the Baptist contracted to prepare the people for Jesus and his ministry. His was the soul of the prophet Elijah. Along with his mission of preparing the people, John also planned to pay the debt of negative karma he incurred as Elijah—that of killing the prophets of Baal. This debt was paid when King Herod ordered John beheaded. You and I incarnate to perform a mission and to balance any karmic debts lingering in our energy field. The contrast between Jesus and his relatives—John the Baptist, Elizabeth, and Zechariah—is that Jesus was more consciously aware of his mission at an early age. Some of us let it be known, from the time we are old enough to talk, what we want to do with our lives. Others of us have more trouble attuning to our purpose. But, the bottom line is: all incarnate with a soul plan. Our lives are not random; they are not an accident, regardless of how consciously or unconsciously our parents planned the pregnancy. Our parents are not happenstance. The close personal relationships we experience throughout any one incarnation were planned on the soul level. We have all agreed to meet and sojourn together on this planet for a span of time.

Another truth revealed in the birth narratives is the mutual cooperation between beings in spirit and those of us living on Earth. The angels played a major role in guiding Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary and Joseph in their preparations to bring forth John and Jesus. Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and to Mary, announcing the forthcoming birth of sons. Gabriel instructed them to name their sons “John” and “Jesus.” Names denote the universal mathematical vibration on which the individual will carry out the soul’s mission. Even though our parents consciously knew nothing about numerology and the extreme importance of naming a child, their souls carried memories of the plans made before they incarnated physically. They also communicated with our souls while they slept—prior to our entrance into a physical body. The vast majority of us find that our names are indicative of who we are and what we are about. Once in awhile, an individual will discard the given name because it feels so incongruent with who she/he is. Not often. The universe knows intimately each of us and our parents are guided in the fulfillment of that knowledge.

The energy vibrations, on which we are functioning during this incarnation, are imprinted in the mathematics of the universe and within the energetic influences of the stars at the time of our birth. Our life plan is imprinted in the palms of our hands; it is revealed in our handwriting. The Wise Men of the East could read the story of Jesus’ birth in the configuration of the stars. Our births onto this planet were orchestrated in cooperation with the assistance of the universe. In ways we cannot fathom, we are immersed in the interconnectedness of all of creation.

Mary and Joseph were attuned to the world of Spirit. Archangel Gabriel communicated with them in person and through dreams. Both were committed to following the guidance of the angels. Mary agreed to her pregnancy, knowing that those around her would question her fidelity to Joseph. Joseph obeyed the angel’s instructions to marry Mary even though he knew his family and friends might not understand. Allowing truth to unfold in our lives, regardless of the external consequences, can be a challenge. Truth is: Allowing divine order to unfold in our lives is the way by which we cooperate with the universal plan.

The birth narratives disclose another universal truth. The failure to carry out the agreed upon soul contract by any one of the individuals involved could have interrupted the process. Zechariah could have divorced Elizabeth because she was barren. Mary could have said, “No” to becoming pregnant by immaculate conception. In her day, women were stoned to death for adultery. How were people to know the truth about her? Joseph could have refused to marry her; thereby, creating an unbearable scenario for Mary. John the Baptist could have chosen another life career and failed to prepare the way for Jesus. At any number of stages, Jesus could have reneged on his commitment. All had freewill. Consider the domino effect that could have occurred had any one person revoked his/her soul’s commitment.

Truth is: This same domino effect happens when we renounce our soul’s contract. Those lifelong dreams that nag at you, the inner soul urges that pull you in one direction while your sense of duty and practicality push you in another, those “if only” yearnings that arise in our consciousness when we are free to allow our mind to wander in the ethers—listen to them. Heed their importance in the unfolding of your life’s role in the divine plan; follow Spirit’s guidance no matter how senseless and frightening it may feel to do so. The innermost part of our being knows our soul’s plan—our individual truth. To deny the knowingness that we possess intuitively is to start a domino effect in our lives and in the lives of others. The universe is impacted, to greater or lesser extent, by whether or not we carry through on our soul commitments.

What Truth do we learn from the birth narratives? We are an integral part of the whole. Our lives are extremely meaningful and valuable within the universal scheme of things. Using our freewill to choose to renege on our soul’s contract with our companion souls might disrupt the life plan of numerous others.

Jesus and the stories of his birth proclaim our true worth—every individual is interconnected with all other Earth humans and with our universal family as a valuable part of the overall divine plan.

UNITY’S PRAYER OF PROTECTION
The Light of God surrounds me,
The Love of God enfolds me,
The Power of God protects me,
The Presence of God watches over me.
Wherever I am, God is.
And, all is well.

BENEDICTION
Go forth into the world, knowing that you are a most valuable part of God’s unfolding creation. In the prayerful words of the Psalmist: “Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.” (Psalm 139:16)

Instructions for getting and interpreting your soul’s map (your astrological natal chart) may be found on my website:  http://www.pathwaytoascension.com/astrology/index.htm