Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts: November 2013

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

MARRIAGE: What do you focus on?

In any relationship, focusing on the positive instead of the negative is helpful when it comes to having a joyous and satisfying relationship. Oftentimes, when couples are struggling it is because they are putting too much emphasis on the character defects of their spouse and not enough emphasis on the positive qualities.
We must consciously make an effort to focus on our partners good qualities and appreciate him/her because of them. God gave your partner to you as a gift and it is important to be able to treasure your spouse despite their character defects.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

WORK: Personal and Spiritual Development

I’ve heard it said that today’s action becomes tomorrow’s habit. What actions are you taking daily toward your personal and spiritual development? How about toward your career?

Success in your career will have a direct correlation with your success in personal and spiritual development. Growth is a process and we ought to challenge ourselves to continue growing all the days of our lives. Developing growth plans in various areas of your life will benefit you incredibly. Take some time and create a spiritual, personal, and career growth plan. Don’t settle for mediocrity.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The Veil is Torn

One of my favorite scenes in the Passion of the Christ is where upon releasing His spirit, we see that there is an earthquake and the temple veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was rent (torn) in two. The bible says that the veil was torn from top to bottom. On the surface, this does not appear to be a big deal. Anyone can rip a veil right? Wrong. The temple veil measured about sixty feet high and four inches in width. No human could have torn the veil—it was supernaturally torn by the power of God to show that God had opened a new way for everyone to approach Him. We no longer had to rely on Priests to go into God’s presence on our behalf and atone for the sins of the people. Instead, the Most Holy Place was now readily accessible because of the work Christ completed on the cross.
It symbolized that because of the shedding of Christ’s blood, atonement for sin had been made for all people.

God has always desired an intimate relationship with man. Until sin showed up, God walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. He conversed with them and enjoyed a close connection with them. It was never God’s plan for man to be cut off from His presence. But Joyce Meyer says it best: He knew that His holiness was so powerful that it would destroy anything unholy that came near it. Simply phrased, God’s glory and sin do not mix. He is a holy God and sin is like a foul, rotting stench in His nostrils. Hence, there had to be provision—a way to ensure that man could have access to Him. Christ is that provision. His death on the cross, the shedding of his blood to atone for sin, ensures that anyone who believes in Him and claims Him as Savior would have free access to the Father. No priests. No veils. It’s just you and God. Samudaya attests that there is a cause for suffering. In this instance, Christ suffering paved the way for our reconciliation to the Father, once and for all.

19Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus,20By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies), that is, through His flesh – Hebrews 10:19-20

We have full freedom and confidence to enter the Holy of Holies. We can approach God’s throne without reservation. However, if we are living a worldly lifestyle or not abiding by the holy standards as set by God, coming before His presence might be a problem. Sin separates us from God. It impedes our ability to hear God and receive the fullness of what He has for us in this day and time.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

I Dare You to Ask For It!

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.15And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him. – 1 John 5:14-15

I dare you to you to ask God for it! It does not matter if your request is big or small or if your desires are critical or superfluous. We all have the right to approach God’s throne of grace with boldness and expectation. God does not require that our prayers be lengthy. They do not need to be replicated in Shakespearean tongue. Prayer is simply a conversation between you and God. If you typically greet someone with “hey, honey what’s going on” or “I missed you,” then begin your prayers the same the way. God would love it if you spoke to Him with adoration and affection.

The key is not to allow fear or feelings of inadequacy to rob you of your right to approach God. The enemy would love to deceive you into thinking you need experience or have to meet certain criteria in order to pray. This is a lie! The word of God says that when we pray, we can ask anything of our Father, according to His will, and He listens to and hears us. No where does it explain that you need courses in seminary, need a college education or even need to know how to read. Prayer is simply opening your mouth and speaking from what’s in your heart. Remember, God knows your heart. He knows what you need even before you open your mouth.

So, when you approach Him, be bold. Ask for the desires of your heart. If it is not something you should have, then God will not open the door which still works in your favor. If that is the worst that can happen, then go for it! Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He proclaimed, “Father I thank you that you hear me and that you always hear me.” God hears our prayers. He always has and He always will.
The passage goes on to expound on prayer: 15And (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him. The bible says that God’s answers to our prayers—when they align with His will—are yes and amen. Because we know with all surety that God’s answer is yes, we should not be afraid to ask Him anything. Jains believe in satya which is speaking the truth. When you pray speak truthfully and be bold.