My stack of history and business-related books to read grows daily.  I think I’m keeping Amazon in business.

All of this is very FUN, but the stress is still overwhelming at times.  Trying to stay on top of family issues (immediate weddings, divorces, birthdays, graduations, emergencies, etc), daily cooking, house cleaning (with my kitchen “studio” always in mind), taxes, history research, and personal care – well, in short I’m not balancing everything perfectly.

To handle the stress I am enrolling in Lawrence Crane’s “Release Technique” course.   I plan to come back and post how I’m doing with that program.

On the Morningstar Ministries blog I noticed a post about how our feelings mislead us.  The writer, Leo, mentioned how he just doesn’t trust his feelings at all. 

I know what he means!  I’ve been there. 

This, however, is my most recent area of change of mind.  I have been learning how to better harness my feelings of joy for spiritual power; and of depression for warning that I’m believing a lie brought by the fall (from which I have been redeemed). 

I see my feelings as a spiritual gift of great value.

I recently came to understand that my feelings (of depression) were brought on by my believing, for many years, the lie (illusion/ fall manifestation) that I am poor.  Stay with me here as I try to explain….

1) Just as God sees me as righteous, even though I still miss the mark at times, I, too, should see my true nature is His righteousness as a gift of grace (2 Cor 5:21).  I am righteous (by faith).

2) Just as I can have a bum day (because of some unpleasant manifestation of the fall), and yet make a decision to just be happy anyway, I can choose the spirit that I remain in.  Also, joy, or happiness, believes The Truth of redemption, even in the face evil.  Because of that, I am eternal joy (designed for eternal joy, and I receive it by faith).

3) Just as this life sometimes appears to make me a powerless victim, The Truth has told me I can do the same deliverance works that Jesus did, and even greater (Jo 14:12).  Just because I feel (believe) I am powerless, doesn’t mean it’s true.  The Truth of redemption is that I overcome evil in Him.  I am powerful like Jesus (by faith).

4) Just because I fail at something, it doesn’t make me a failure.  I am not defined by my circumstances!  I am a success in Him (designed a success in Him, and I receive it by faith).

… these examples led me to the next conclusion:

Poverty is a lie (illusion/ fall manifestation), and I believed it.  I believed I was poor, and I felt lowly and discouraged for years.  But now I see that my circumstances do not define me.  I am (we all are) very, very rich in Him, spirit, soul and body.  And now my “feelings” have followed The Truth, and I feel joy even though my circumstances still appear contrary.  I now believe my circumstances must change to mirror The Truth in my heart:  that I am powerful, and all by the gift of faith in my redemption, and His design for me. 

I have been learning this from “A Happy Pocket Full of Money,” by David Cameron.  This is my #1 favorite recommend on my squidoo lens at www.squidoo.com/spirittalk/ . 

Blessings to you!

Carrie

This lens is as a very, very transparent look at my heart, and the reasoning behind my acceptance of The Secret, and some related New Age teachings.  I hope the gentle spirit in which I write will promote peace and understanding to a whole new degree.

May Your Day Be Beautiful.

Carrie