WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Enjoy Christian words of encouragement from the Bible, inspirational Bible stories, Bible verses to live by, Bible teaching, homeschool tips and  resources, and healthy easy recipes.

A Prayer...

Dear Lord,

I praise you Lord, for you alone are my sustenance and the bulwark of my soul.

Forgive me O Lord for desiring what you have not given me.

Forgive me for choosing the delights of the world to soothe my spirit and bolster my joy.

Forgive, Lord for I have delighted myself in other besides you.

O Lord cleanse me from the pollution of the world and its ways.

Restore in me a desire and a love for you above all else.

Let me be content with whatever you will for me.

Let me rejoice in each trial, that you may be glorified and I might be molded to your image.

O Lord forgive me and restore me to delightful fellowship with you.

Let me worship at your feet, reveling in your mercy and grace and love.

Let me never forget the price that was paid for my sin. 

Thank you for your kindness and gentleness to me.

Let me be used as you see fit.

Ever in your service...

The Dangers of Mysticism in the Church

Mysticism has unobtrusively entered the Church through the endorsement and promotion of spiritual formation through contemplative spirituality by many well known Christians.  Practicing what they call "the presence of God" and craving a deeper knowledge of God, they are actively seeking to experience God through the implementation of "contemplative prayer".  Contemplative prayer (also called centering prayer) is very much like Transcendental Meditation. The practice of contemplative prayer is actually placing yourself into an altered state of consciousness or alpha state in order to experience God. 

My experience with Eastern religion meditation techniques happened back in the early 70's.  Even though I had accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord when I was thirteen years old, my knowledge and understanding of the Bible was minimal.  In my later teens I had spent many hours reading the teachings and prophecies of mystics Edgar Cayce, Jeanne Dixon, and others.  Early on I had been drawn to the supernatural and wondered if there was any validity to it.  However having been told from childhood there is no such thing, I was interested in determining the truth for myself.  After a few months of reading and exploring, I was satisfied and bored.  Ignorant of the Bible's teachings forbidding dabbling with the occult, I was fortunate that I was not pulled away from my faith.  Later I confessed my dabbling as sin and sought God's forgiveness.  I am truly thankful the Lord preserved me through these wanderings. 

Unfortunately, as a young woman I became involved with a Yoga class presented by the local education board in their continuing education program for adults.  I signed up for the class hoping to exercise and meet new people.  Since it was being taught through the school system, I did not think that the religious aspect of Yoga would be taught.  It was promoted as a means of exercise.  In a few weeks, I learned that I had been naive to think it would be harmless. 

At first all went well.  I was challenged by the physical exertion of stretching and bending.  It was good to tone the muscles of my body.  I was satisfied with the class and the new friends I was making. 

Several weeks later, all that changed.  Our instructor began the process of indoctrinating us into the mysticism of Hinduism and Buddhism from which Yoga originates.  First we learned to relax our bodies and slow down our breathing.  After the strenuous Yoga movements it felt good to relax so completely and to slow my breathing and heart rate.  Following this wonderful time of relaxation, we were dismissed. 

The next week we learned how to focus our thoughts by imagining a candle and a brightly burning flame.  As we relaxed we struggled to quiet our thoughts to focus solely on the candle and its flame.  It was a lot harder than I thought.  As I drove home, I thought about where this exercise might be going and worried.  Worrying is second nature to me until I can work out my feelings and seek my Lord for direction and understanding.  I was concerned that I was moving into dangerous territory.  I wasn't interested in learning a new religion; I was a Christian.  I felt prompted not to continue the class, and I didn't.

A few years later when more information was publicized, I viewed a video at my church warning about the dangers of Transcendental Meditation (TM).  This was slightly different from what I experienced in the Yoga class because it only involves relaxing the brain.  After viewing the video, I realized that my unease in the Yoga class was justified.  If I had continued the Yoga class, I'm sure I would have learned to repeat a mantra (word or formula) over and over again to help me attain the much desired alpha state.  In the Hindu religion individuals are assigned a personal mantra taken from the sacred texts or Vedas.  Mantras are actually the names of deities and are used when appealing to deities.  (Transcendental Meditation Program)  The religions of the Far East are typically pantheistic--nature and God are one.

Obtaining an altered state of consciousness is possible according to scientific studies of the brain.  Research has shown that when the body is relaxed, brainwaves slow to below the normal awake state into an alpha state.  According to an article about alpha brainwaves at 200 Hundred Words A Day, the brain is very conducive to learning and open to suggestions during the alpha state.  During the alpha state, the brain is focused, conscious, and aware.  Several techniques recommended to help the brain relax into the alpha state are Transcendental Meditation, Yoga, and Rhythmic Breathing.

The practice and knowledge of Transcendental Meditation was brought to the U.S. by the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.  In an article about Transcendental Meditation I recently learned that he believed that the mind needs to be passive in order to utilize its potential for "unlimited awareness", "Transcendental awareness", and "unity consciousness".   With a passive mind, thoughts are stilled by repetition of a mantra that helps to keep the brain busy rather than thinking.  The idea is to create a path to God. 

Consider this excerpt from an article at ABC of Meditation: 

"Maharishi has his very own definition for meditation. He clearly distinguishes it from concentration or the act or process of focusing attention. He believes that the reverse of it is required for his technique. The mind should be passive during meditation. In fact, there shouldn't even be any conscious effort on the part of the person. According to Maharishi, the mind should simply be left alone and naturally dive into "the great ocean of Creative Intelligence." The individual mind should be constantly and unconsciously infused with the power of "Being.” This only means that a successful living demands a continuous intake of that meditative power." (ABC of Meditation)
 

Christians today are being introduced to Transcendental Meditation through the practices of contemplative prayer.  Richard Foster in his book, Celebration of Discipline, first published in 1978, describes contemplative prayer or "listening prayer" as meditation.  It is described as a means of finding peace in a frenzied world on the cover of the DVD, "Be Still and Know That I Am God".  That sounds so good, but contemplative prayer is all about silencing your thoughts.  What is meant by this silencing is not just quieting your thoughts, but an emptying of your mind by repeating a mantra over and over again.  If you lose your focus and thoughts crowd in, you focus on repeating your mantra.  Then once you enter an altered state of consciousness you will supposedly hear God speaking in your mind. 

What does God's Word say?

There is no place in the Bible that supports the practices of contemplative prayer; that is an emptying of the mind and chanting a mantra in order to experience the presence of God.  On the contrary we are taught that we are to meditate on the Word of God, not as a mystical means to summon God's presence, but as a means to learning more about God and His ways.  Consider these verses from the Psalms:

"O how love I thy law!  It is my meditation all the day."  Psalm 119:97

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer."  Psalm 19:14

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.  The ungodly are not so:  but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous:  but the way of the ungodly shall perish."  Psalm 1: 1-6

God warns us not to be enticed.  The Holy Spirit indwells each believer.  We are never without our Lord.  He is always with us.  We cannot be separated from His love.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:35-39

Believers, do not be pulled into deception!  Our Lord loves us and is available to us.  We do not have to empty our minds to seek Him.  He is there! He is ready to receive the repentant sinner.  Do not be fooled into believing that God cannot hear your cryings out to Him.  He hears, He sees, and He answers.  Do not be as the heathen!

Hear are the words of Jesus about prayer when He spoke on the mountain:

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:  for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.  Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do:  for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Be not ye therefore like unto them:  for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

After this manner therefore pray ye:  Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. They will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:  for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."  Matthew 6:5-13

You do not need to repeat a mantra over and over again to block your thoughts so you can hear God.  God makes Himself heard through His Word and through the preaching of His Word.  Consider this exhortation from Paul to the Romans:

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

How then shall thy call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher? 

And how shall they preach except they be sent?  As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 

But they have not all obeyed the gospel.  For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  Romans 10:13-17

In closing, I must ask you the question:  Is God so feeble that He cannot hear us?  Is God so pitiful and weak that He can not make Himself heard?  Can our puny attempts to foster communication move God?  How silly we are to think that we can control God by following a formula and insist that He speak to us.  Be not deceived and be not so arrogant to think that God cannot get our attention when He chooses. 

While you are blanking out your mind, struggling to show God how open you are to Him by "being", God's work goes undone.  He called us to serve Him with these words of the Great Commission:

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen."  Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus prayed alone in a solitary place the Bible tells us.  Did He stay there?  No!  Practicing times of solitude and quietness are in keeping with the Word.  Do not let twisted meanings deceive you. 

Another pet phrase from the contemplative crowd is the word "being".  It is usually used to identify the centered life.  From the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society comes this explanation:  "We believe that by developing the contemplative mind as well as the rational mind - that is, developing one's ability to simply "be," with awareness, openness and clarity - one may become more centered, peaceful, and confident." 

A church we attended years ago made a study out of Richard Foster's book, Celebration of Discipline.  This was my first brush with contemplative spirituality, only I didn't know it at the time.  I had red flags all over the place.  After the study of this book and others, the church began to change direction.  It was here that I learned from experience what the term "being" means.  In this case, it meant putting aside all effort of service and concentrating on knowing God.  In short, it means sidelined.  Imagine if you will ball players who decide to just "be" and do nothing.  What happens to the game?  The game stops.  Do not let your game be sidelined.  Do not let yourself be saddled down with false doctrines that keep you from obeying God and serving Him.  Remember these words:

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."  Hebrews 12:1-4

Folks, the enemy is creeping in.  He uses our Christian terminology with new meanings.  He is subtle and crafty, masquerading as an angel of light.  Study your Bible and know what it says.  Learn it so you will not be deceived.  Pray that you will have the discernment to know the truth from the lie.  Pray that God will protect you from believing a lie.

Bibliography:

The Transcendental Meditation Program, http://www.tm.org/maharishi

ABC of Meditation:  http://www.abc-of-meditation.com/info/transcendental-meditation.asp

200 Hundred Words A Day - Alpha Brainwaves:  http://www.200words-a-day.com/alpha.html

The Center for Contemplative Mind n Society - http://www.contemplativemind.org/about/faq.html

Lighthouse Trails - http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/richardfosterbestilldvd.htm

A Time of Departing Ministries - http://www.atimeofdeparting.com/

**Read more about Susan Coolidge whose real name was Sarah Chauncey Woolsey at:  http://www.readseries.com/auth-bc/coolbio.html

Peeking in on a typical homeschool day as a beginner...

Whew!  Dad's off to work, and now it's time to clean up the breakfast dishes while the boys are getting teeth brushed and beds made.  Starting out with a good breakfast is important to keep up energy levels and avoid sleepiness.  My boys were always full of energy from the moment their feet hit the floor until bedtime.  I am more of an afternoon/evening person so getting up early is difficult.  Plus I like to start my day with hair and makeup in place (most days) and my quiet devotion time finished.  I soon learned that having three active early elementary school age boys was going to require some changes!  You see our boys are adopted.  When we started homeschooling we were still getting to know our three guys, ages 3, 5, and 8.  Every day was an adventure and a source of exhaustion for me.  I wasn't used to constant noise and activity. 

We started our class time with the Pledge of Allegiance, Pledge to the Christian Flag, and Pledge to the Bible.  Then we sang songs.  Next on our list was a devotional time.  We read from the Bible, which was quite interesting, particularly in the Old Testament where I found myself trying to gloss over glaringly obvious adult topics which my middle child never ceased to pick up on.  Then we prayed together.  It was a worthy time that helped us to focus on getting along with each other and obeying our Lord.  I wanted to instill a solid Biblical foundation. 

Dealing with multiple kids requires good organizational skills.  I soon learned that having a schedule I could refer to from hour to hour kept us on track.  I was terrified we wouldn't complete our assignments for the day and would fall behind in our school year.  Who wants to spend the summer playing catch-up?  I allowed for roughly an hour for each subject which worked great in the middle school and high school years but was way too long for elementary school.  I would slave for hours putting together assignments and projects, only to have them completed in under three hours.  It isn't easy coming up with the state required homeschooling hours at that rate.  Supplemental work was the answer.  Add in the time spent outside so I could clean the house and do my quiet time.  Next I decided we needed to include time spent singing hymns and learning children's songs.  Art projects also helped take up time in our school day.  As I learned to relax and we all got used to each other, things did get a little easier. 

The phone was my best friend and worst enemy.  I relished the break to talk, but talking usually meant I had to juggle my school day.  Having been an executive secretary in times past, I was good at juggling, but little boys don't like being juggled.  They want what they want when they want it.  While I talked, they were out of control.  Being on the phone usually ruined my schedule.

The boys were thrilled to be at home and playing school.  Yes, to them school was fun, until it got more difficult and kept them from video games.  Even though we limited the time each spent on gaming, I was the one responsible to keep track of each kid's time and had to deal with the tears and tantrums when they had to quit and lose their level.  Not fun!

It was wonderful when concepts were instantly grasped and frustrating for all of us when they weren't.  That meant more time was expended on a subject than I had allowed, so time had to be stolen from another subject.  At the end of the day, I was behind in my schedule, and spent the evening completing my tasks.  Our oldest struggled just to stay focused and usually had nothing to show for his independent study.  Consequently I spent more time with him.  The two youngest did exceptionally well, but school was very new to them, with one in preschool and the other a kindergartener.  I learned that it would be necessary to sit with all of them together, working through each lesson individually.  While one did seat work, I worked with another child, and so on.  In between subjects, I graded workbooks and recorded grades.  Amazingly, I did learn to be a bit more flexible, if just for the sake of my sanity.

Lunch was a welcome respite because by then I was exhausted and they were antsy, ready to play.  I made sure to keep the most difficult subjects for the morning hours so the afternoon could be spent on projects and PE.  Nap time couldn't come too soon.  Even I dosed in the chair.

Unfortunately trying to juggle everything kept me constantly on the run and them waiting on me until I could get to the next step in my schedule.  Since the two youngest were always working faster than I counted on, they spent a lot of time waiting for me to get the load of laundry folded and put away or the work graded etc.  Once they could read, I would assign a book or let them pick out a book to read while they waited.  Reading was a joy to most of us!  I loved reading aloud and they loved listening, which was a good way to sneak in information on more meaningful topics.

Dad was a wonderful support!  He helped with difficult concepts that in my frustration I had given up on trying to explain.  When I was at an impasse, his patience pulled us through.  When he was home, everything seemed to go so much smoother.  Maybe it's because the boys tended to listen better! 

With practice comes perfection, or at least a semblance of order and accomplishment.  My system wasn't perfect, but it served it's purpose.  Of course with time comes experience.  I learned to adjust and circumstances forced me to change.  The Lord taught me new coping and teaching skills. 

I praise the Lord for enabling us to complete the journey of homeschooling. I thank our Lord for the success of our education experience.  His intervention and help in time of need allowed us to complete the task!  Today, our middle son and his wife are expecting their first baby, and they plan to homeschool! 

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