When God Shows Up As An Atheist

I have struggled in recent weeks. Several people in my immediate family are having major health issues. I see a need to stay home more and take care of my family, yet I really do need the income that my job brings in. On top of that, my oldest son is getting married in a few short weeks. Although I (fortunately) am not doing the planning, with everything else going on even finding a dress to wear is a struggle. Stress has overwhelmed me to the point of tears on many occasions during the last few weeks. I have spent a great deal of time in prayer and meditation as I attempt to cope with the circumstances of my life. I have seen little glimpses of God here and there, but yesterday evening I ate dinner with him. He showed up in the form of a dear, old friend, who also happens to be atheist!

I've known this particular friend for perhaps fifteen or sixteen years, since the time her now high school senior son was in my two-year-old class at the daycare I worked at. She is not an outspoken atheist. In fact, I didn't even know she was one until last night. I knew she didn't have an interest in religion. She is a very hardworking HR-type professional who also happens to have a great sense of humor and is a lot of fun to hang out with. I had managed to reconnect with her through social media, but it wasn't until I ran into her at my retail job that I realized how much I had missed her. We talked about getting together over dinner and eventually made the plans that culminated in dinner last evening.

Yesterday was an especially difficult day. I spent a lot of time just trying to take care of me as I sort through all the messy details of my life and try to figure out a game plan. I have to admit, I almost called my friend and told her I had a headache (which I did) and asked to reschedule. I wasn't feeling particularly social and I did not want to come across as Debbie Downer. Somehow, I ended up going anyway, and I am glad I did.

During the course of the conversation I ended up telling her everything that was going on in my life. (So much for not being Debbie Downer!) The great part was, my friend asked a lot of questions and not just about the problems. She asked what I was doing for me and pointed out the simple truth that if I didn't work at filling myself back up I would have nothing left to give back out.

I talked about my goals of writing and doing workshops designed to help others cope with life and heal themselves. My friend pointed out that one of my gifts was the gift of presence. I have a tendency to show up and interact with others in powerful ways. People that know me personally like me and trust me. She suggested that in order to touch people in the ways I desire to I should look at connecting with them as a physical presence. I have to admit, that was one aspect of my life I had not looked at. It was a powerful insight. I spend a lot of time hiding in the shadows.

I have prayed so often for insight and direction as I struggle to take control of my life in new and positive ways. It's really quite brilliant to see an answer to prayer show up in the form of an atheist. I know my friend probably wouldn't see it this light, but last night she showed up as God in human form, helping me see myself from a new perspective.  

We are all Divine energy--unique expressions of God interacting with each other in profound ways. Although we don't always acknowledge this truth, it is times like these I am reminded of this simple fact.

~CSE

What Is Prayer?

People throughout the world have certain ideas about what prayer is. For some, it requires chanting or beads. Others believe the form or content is what is important. Regardless of your personal beliefs, I would like to challenge you to think of prayer in terms of energy/frequency. In this way of thinking, prayer would be defined as consciously connecting your energy to the energy of the Divine.

There are two important elements to prayer defined as energy: giving and receiving. Connecting to the Divine requires energy exchange. It is not merely one side doing all the talking and one side all the listening. It is a dance of sorts--a give and take that empowers and enriches all involved. You may ask, but you also understand more action may be required when the answer comes.

In my own personal prayer time, I come with openness and expectation. This is important as most of the time I function in a state of separation. Prayer is intentionally different. It is a time I acknowledge I am not alone and I am open to answers and power I do not have access to when I believe I am separate. It is this openness that creates a fundamental shift in thinking. I become aware of things I was not aware of before. I can even direct Divine energy to problems that need fixing. For example, when I am connected in prayer I can focus that openness and energy on my friend who is sick and consciously direct healing energy into his/her body.

Most days, we make prayer much more complicated than it needs to be. Use your awareness to open yourself to the energy that is Oneness, and allow it to guide you in ways that lead to new understandings and more positive interactions with the world at large.

~CSE

    

Asking For Divine Intervention

There are times when we feel we are following the guidance and wisdom in our hearts but appear to be running into a brick wall. Results seem negligible at best, and we begin to question whether or not we are really on task with our life's purpose. It is at these times we need to be more conscious and aware of possible negative energies interfering with our goals. It is important to be intentional about asking for divine help and protection.

1. Envision protection around your physical and spiritual bodies. Picture a barrier around your body that is impervious to anything negative while still allowing the positive through. Imagine your personal angels surrounding you, in battle armor if that makes you feel more safe. 
2. While being centered in your heart, ask for and picture yourself drawing in more positive strength and energy. Feel and see your protective shield gaining more strength and power. Allow yourself to draw on all the strength and power the One can supply!
3. Call upon assistance from your personal guardian angels. This is one of their primary tasks but it can still be important to make the request. Depending on the occasion, there are times when they are not allowed to intervene unless you specifically ask them to. They are also very eager to provide useful information that can keep you away from harm. Get to know their energies and you can learn to communicate with them!
4. Ask for assistance from the archangels. These are the beings tasked with spiritual protection and healing of the whole. Ask for their intervention specifically and they will call in as much help and the exact sort of help you need to deal with your problem. As they are not limited to a particular time or space, archangels are can help anyone and everyone who asks for their assistance without neglecting a soul.

We all feel worn down and vulnerable from time to time. Understand you are not alone and have the right and ability to ask for extra protection at those times when you cannot do it on your own. Divine intervention is there at a moment's notice anytime you need it. Take advantage of these powerful tools to assist you on your journey.

~CSE

The Power Of Ho'oponopono

I came upon the principle of Ho'oponopono a number of years ago. In a nutshell, it is an ancient Hawaiian prayer of healing and reconciliation that is comprised of four distinct parts: I'm sorry, forgive me, thank you, and I love you. From personal experience, I know this to be an extremely powerful healing modality that not only changes you but can change everything around you as well!

First and foremost, Ho'oponopono takes personal responsibility for yourself and your world. The thought is not that you have forced those around you into certain actions. Rather, the frequency you carry has impact on the world around you. You are accepting responsibility for your BEing.

In the first step, I'm sorry, you acknowledge the role you have played in creating the circumstances around you. You acknowledge you have not been carrying a frequency that has been helpful. You become willing to let it go and unblock the stuck energy you have created and allowed. You feel that frequency, understand it, and clear it.

The second step, please forgive me, clears the energy from those it effects. In energetic terms, it addresses the other being who has been harmed by the energy you carry and asks the other person's energy to resolve the tension/block through forgiveness.

The third step, thank you, acknowledge's the other person's part in the healing. The other's energy has allowed the blocked energy to give way, and this is your way of appreciating that person for helping you resolve it.

The fourth and final step, I love you, is designed to reinforce and strengthen this newly healed relationship. It allows your heart to fully open up to the person you had been separated from and claim whole and healthy relationship once again.

Energetic blocks come to us from many directions throughout our lifetimes. Often we are unaware of the cause because we are busy trying to live life based on what we think we know--what we have been taught.

When you find yourself at odds with a fellow human being, understand that something has caused an energetic block/separation. By following the simplicity of the Ho'oponopono prayer, you have one more tool to create flow in your life once again!

~CSE

The Battle Is Spiritual

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

I believe nuggets of wisdom can be found in the Bible. This particular quote is one of them. It hints about other realms and dimensions in which you can find problems--problems that may not be picked up on in this physical third-dimensional reality but effect it all the same. (For more discussion on recognizing these problems, see Becoming Aware Of Entities.) I was reminded about these battles after watching the Christian movie "War Room". There are times when the battles are almost strictly spiritual. We only know that something more is going on because our lives feel "off".

So what are we to do when the battle is unseen? Here are some of the tools I use to ward off such negative energies.

1. Belief. It is important to understand the Universe is there to assist you in any way you need. When you have that inner knowledge that even seemingly bad things will work out in your favor, you can be thankful for the storm and circumstances will begin to change for the better!
2. Prayer. Asking for help from your higher power is always beneficial. Just as there are negative entities there are also positive ones. We all have beings that are assigned to assist us in this earthy life (sometimes referred to as angels/guardian angels). They are there to assist us anytime we need it, although in most circumstances they must be called on.
3. Intention. When you feel things in your life not going as you'd like, it is time to focus on the positive things you want to see happen. Believe the Universe and your higher power are there to assist you and see them doing so. Envision an invisible bubble of protection or a white light surrounding you. The apostle Paul in the Bible talks about putting on your spiritual armor. You can also set the intention that your actions will have extra power that will cut through the mess and make things better.
4. Meditation. When I am off my game, the first thing I often do will be to get grounded so I can think clearly. While your heart speaks to you through your emotions, emotions can overwhelm you if you let them. When you take the time to sit back and listen, the Universe will help you figure out what is going on and present you with ways to change your circumstances. (This is why I truly believe daily practice is a requirement. It helps you remember how to get back to a state of Oneness when you are in a state of stress.)

The battle is spiritual! Know you have the tools necessary to stay standing and thrive!!!

~CSE

Calling On Help Unseen

When I was fourteen, I talked to Jesus daily. I told him what I was feeling. I thanked him for what I had. I asked him for help with things I was trying to accomplish. My inner monologue was usually scattered throughout the day as thoughts came up. I couldn't see him or hear him, but I felt his presence with me.

I walked home from school every day as my parents both worked and were not available to pick me up. I didn't mind. It usually gave me some quiet time to think.

I remember walking home from school one fall afternoon. It wasn't particularly cold yet. The sky overhead was blanketed in clouds, although they were not so heavy as to be dark. Pretty typical for Ohio, where I lived.

As I came up a road about two blocks from my house, I noticed a car drive past me. I wasn't paying particular attention to the car until I heard it stop slightly past me. Slowly, it pulled back to where I was. Odd.

Then I looked at the car. There were two skanky looking men that appeared to be in their mid twenties. The one driving had dark unkempt hair with a scraggly beard. The one in the passenger seat closest to me was blonde but had the same unkempt hair and beard. What really scared me though were the expressions in their eyes. I had never seen evil that intense and close up (nor have I seen it since). I knew they were planning to grab me, rape me and probably kill me. It was written in those soulless expressions.

I didn't have time to think, but I did what came naturally. I just said a quick prayer, "Jesus, save me!!!"

In that moment, the looks of evil in the eyes of those men changed. Instead of looking dangerous and powerful, their expressions became filled with terror. The man driving the car stepped on the gas so hard the tires squealed as they sped off.

My first thought was, "There must be a cop car coming down the road," but no cop car was there. Nor was any other car there. No car was coming down the street, parked on the street or even sitting in a driveway. And there were no people either--not even people looking out the windows of any of the houses lining the street. I stood there for several minutes looking for the presence of any other person. I was the only one there.

As that realization sunk in, I knew something powerful had happened. There was no way those guys had been scared off by me. My only guess was that they had somehow been allowed to see the angels who were protecting me and it frightened them so badly they peeled out as fast as they could. The important thing was, I had taken the time to ask for help. I believe I received it.

We all face problems. Sometimes these problems seem so big and dangerous we have no idea how we are going to overcome them. Understand we do have the power to handle these situations. We have the power of the One. To access this power, all we need to do is ask.

There is always unseen help to be given. Call upon it, and the powers of the heavens will make themselves available to you.

~CSE