Bad emotional experiences can be the fruit and harvest of bad seed we may have sown, or bad and negative seed which other people may have sown in our lives.
What type of soil are you? How do you react to people criticising you and judging you and commenting upon your work in a negative manner? Words can affect and influence us more than we are sometime prepared to admit!
When Jesus Christ spoke and taught about sowing seed and reaping a harvest, He made it very clear that there were different types of soil.
Some seed fell on good soil and when it bore fruit the crop could be thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.
Consider that for a moment in terms of gossip, criticism and backbiting, because what we sow has a habit of producing fruit, and that can be sore, hurtful and painful.
The writer of Psalm 32 went through a seriously bad emotional spell before he confessed to God. Now, we need to learn this vital lesson. Once we call upon Almighty God we can experience something similar to the Psalmist. Do read Psalm 32. He felt wasted and he groaned and he thought there was a heavy hand upon him and that his very strength was being sapped away.
I have met many people who have been in such a situation over the years and some have been in that state for years and that need not have been so.
When the Psalmist prayed he discovered that God was his hiding place and that God was covering him from the onslaughts of his many enemies.
Sow a seed of prayer. Cry out to God. Call upon God.
Never be too shy or call out to God and never be too proud to cry out to Jesus Christ for help and forgiveness and strength.
Pride can do so much damage. Holding on to our superficial reputation is seldom worth it if we are in dire straights and in need of the help of our Creator God.
It is possible to increase our harvest by sowing more seed, and by feeding the soil, and tending the plants.
When teaching on the vine, Jesus spoke about the gardener using a hoe and secateurs.
Bad weeds have to be removed. Weak growth, debilitating the plant, and hindering the production of good fruit, must be cut out.
Read John Chapter 15 in the New Testament to fill your heart with spiritual encouragement.
In fact, make sure you are in the Bible every day. Some may need Bible reading notes to discipline their reading and study but the spiritual harvest will certainly be worth all the effort. If I can assist you in this area do contact me and allow me to minister to you in the Name of the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
When it comes to sowing and planting we do so by faith, and not by feelings.
Do you think the farmer feels good about getting up in the morning and going out to work? He does what he may not feel like doing.
Sometimes people may come to Services with heavy hearts, near to breaking, or with tears streaming down their faces, but once praise and sincere joyful worship begins, spirits lift, and burdens lighten.
The Psalmist knew what it was to sow in tears and reap in joy.
For God, who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed, and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
Now is the best time to sow and plant. God teaches us that those who wait for perfect weather will never plant seeds, and those who look at every cloud will never reap a harvest.
Waiting for perfection can paralyse potential.
Minggu, 24 September 2017
Minggu, 10 September 2017
Is Religion Only a Past and Present Period Aberration - Will Humankind Grow Out of It?
Will humankind ever grow up from the crutch of religion? Will humans ever realize that they don't need a religion for a sense of morals? I often wonder, but I'd say if humans are still around in 500-1000 years in whatever form that religion and much of the human superstition will be nothing more than cultural history. Not long ago, I was discussing all this with someone from India, someone who didn't hold large organized religions in high regard. Okay so, let's talk because I told my new acquaintance that I did hold their views on religion.
In fact, I further added that humans should be permitted freedom of the mind, even if they choose to allow those crutches of religion to box in their thinking. I think any human living within this present period ought to have a decent understanding of all religions; Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Religions of Nature, Spiritual religions of the mind, religions of science, and so on. By having such basic knowledge does indeed allow alternative foundations of a diverse set of thinking, this is of value, much the same as perhaps reading or enjoying movies bathed in fictional literature with stories of morality whether historical, fantasy, Sci Fi, or other.
Humans seem to like to have a set of guiding principles to operate within larger societies, such guiding principles do not need to come from religion. They too can come from experience, wisdom, and reflection of such. Morality does not come from religion, it comes from the mind. The individual is the most important part of society because if all individuals are strong, then every link in the chain is strong and the society and civilization or even the whole of humanity is all the more stronger for it.
I wonder if the topic of religion is even a viable topic of higher order thinking, it may be that of lower level thinking, thus, until one can get past such topics or understand religion on a philosophical level, they may not be ready to lead or worth following. See that point. Again, not to offend anyone's beliefs, it's just for me, it's not needed, and I am doing fine, so one would have to ask what's the problem or weakness with the rest of humanity?
Yes, I wish them the best in their life experience, but I must realize they are work in progress and need releasing from their self-inflicted mental box. Ouch, that did sound a bit harsh didn't it? Now then, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
In fact, I further added that humans should be permitted freedom of the mind, even if they choose to allow those crutches of religion to box in their thinking. I think any human living within this present period ought to have a decent understanding of all religions; Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Religions of Nature, Spiritual religions of the mind, religions of science, and so on. By having such basic knowledge does indeed allow alternative foundations of a diverse set of thinking, this is of value, much the same as perhaps reading or enjoying movies bathed in fictional literature with stories of morality whether historical, fantasy, Sci Fi, or other.
Humans seem to like to have a set of guiding principles to operate within larger societies, such guiding principles do not need to come from religion. They too can come from experience, wisdom, and reflection of such. Morality does not come from religion, it comes from the mind. The individual is the most important part of society because if all individuals are strong, then every link in the chain is strong and the society and civilization or even the whole of humanity is all the more stronger for it.
I wonder if the topic of religion is even a viable topic of higher order thinking, it may be that of lower level thinking, thus, until one can get past such topics or understand religion on a philosophical level, they may not be ready to lead or worth following. See that point. Again, not to offend anyone's beliefs, it's just for me, it's not needed, and I am doing fine, so one would have to ask what's the problem or weakness with the rest of humanity?
Yes, I wish them the best in their life experience, but I must realize they are work in progress and need releasing from their self-inflicted mental box. Ouch, that did sound a bit harsh didn't it? Now then, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Senin, 04 September 2017
The Connection Between Spirituality and Mental Health - A Mental Health Consultant's View
Spirituality has been defined as the belief and practices that develop based on personal values and ideology of the meaning and purpose of life as part of a larger scheme. It refers to the belief that there is a power outside of one's own that transcends understanding.
For many individuals, identifying with a religion and having religious beliefs influence their spirituality. However spirituality is not confined to those who belonged to organized religion or have religious beliefs. People can develop spirituality without practicing a particular religion or believing in the powers of a supreme being. However, whatever is the nature of their spirituality, many individuals achieve a sense of inner peace and harmony as well as emotional fulfillment by believing that life has a purpose. Consequently a breakdown in spirituality can have a negative impact on one's mental well-being.
In my view spirituality and religiosity are interrelated with religiosity focusing on the external expressions of spirituality or faith. In other words religious practices can foster spirituality while spiritual practices could involve aspects of religious participation.
The a key issue here is that whether changing their lives to improve the health or dealing with the recovery from a health problem, people with strong spiritual/religious belief benefit from the foundation of confidence and purpose that their beliefs provide.
Now let's look at the three dimensions of spirituality. They are:
a. making personal meaning out of situations
b. coming to an understanding of self
c. appreciating the importance of connection with others.
Spirituality/religion then may be considered a mechanism of social support, positive coping, and decision-making, avoidance of substance abuse, and help in times of stress.
In one study conducted with 211 African-American college students, researchers found that students with religious, intrinsic, or extrinsic religious orientations were more likely to engage in health promoting behaviors, including eating well, reporting symptoms to a physician, and using stress management techniques. Higher worship attendance frequently was associated with a lower risk for the development of mood, anxiety, and substance disorder.
It has also been found that people who make religion a significant part of their life are 81% less likely to battle anxiety and depression and is more likely to have confidence that they can recover from an illness.
It is important therefore for practitioners working in the area of mental health to provide the patient which opportunity to engage in dialogue about the role of spirituality/religion in their lives. Such questions as: Is religion or faith important part of your life? How has religion influenced your past and present? Are you a part of a spiritual or faith community? and, Are there spiritual needs you would like to explore or discuss? After exploring these questions, the practitioner can then move on with an appropriate intervention.
For many individuals, identifying with a religion and having religious beliefs influence their spirituality. However spirituality is not confined to those who belonged to organized religion or have religious beliefs. People can develop spirituality without practicing a particular religion or believing in the powers of a supreme being. However, whatever is the nature of their spirituality, many individuals achieve a sense of inner peace and harmony as well as emotional fulfillment by believing that life has a purpose. Consequently a breakdown in spirituality can have a negative impact on one's mental well-being.
In my view spirituality and religiosity are interrelated with religiosity focusing on the external expressions of spirituality or faith. In other words religious practices can foster spirituality while spiritual practices could involve aspects of religious participation.
The a key issue here is that whether changing their lives to improve the health or dealing with the recovery from a health problem, people with strong spiritual/religious belief benefit from the foundation of confidence and purpose that their beliefs provide.
Now let's look at the three dimensions of spirituality. They are:
a. making personal meaning out of situations
b. coming to an understanding of self
c. appreciating the importance of connection with others.
Spirituality/religion then may be considered a mechanism of social support, positive coping, and decision-making, avoidance of substance abuse, and help in times of stress.
In one study conducted with 211 African-American college students, researchers found that students with religious, intrinsic, or extrinsic religious orientations were more likely to engage in health promoting behaviors, including eating well, reporting symptoms to a physician, and using stress management techniques. Higher worship attendance frequently was associated with a lower risk for the development of mood, anxiety, and substance disorder.
It has also been found that people who make religion a significant part of their life are 81% less likely to battle anxiety and depression and is more likely to have confidence that they can recover from an illness.
It is important therefore for practitioners working in the area of mental health to provide the patient which opportunity to engage in dialogue about the role of spirituality/religion in their lives. Such questions as: Is religion or faith important part of your life? How has religion influenced your past and present? Are you a part of a spiritual or faith community? and, Are there spiritual needs you would like to explore or discuss? After exploring these questions, the practitioner can then move on with an appropriate intervention.
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