proudparent, Author at Proudparent

Help Fight Veteran Suicide

~23 Veterans take their own lives each day in the U.S.

The statistic that ~23 Veterans take their own lives each year in the U.S. is tragic. The fact that anyone comes to this point is tragic. I became aware of this issue when our family was touched by such an experience when we heard of my son’s best friend choosing this path. He was like a son to us and at such a young age it was even more tragic. Its hard to think of or to even ponder the events leading up to that day… I cannot imagine the pain those left behind as family members feel. Adding to the tragedy of veteran suicide is the fact that many choose this path within the first year of transitioning from military life to civilian life. There seems to be a disconnect that occurs between the two lifestyles. Is it wrapped in expectations, opportunity, acceptance/judgment, or lack of direction? Truth is it could be many things. I was privileged to be part of a start up venture called Enfuego.work. It was/is a startup focused on matching military type skills to civilian marketplace job openings. It is a worthy cause and could really use everyones support if you have a mind to. Enfuego.tech is worthy of a looksee.

So how can an individual help fight these high and rising veteran suicide rates?

1. Recognize the signs of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance abuse in veterans. These signs include isolation, anger, trouble sleeping, and loss of interest in activities.

2. Offer your support to veterans by listening to them, offering assistance, and reminding them that they are not alone.

3. Share information about resources available for veterans, such as the VA crisis line, local support groups, and therapy options.

4. Volunteer at a local veterans’ organization or donate to organizations that support mental health and suicide prevention for veterans.

5. Advocate for changes in policies and healthcare systems that can better aid veterans in need.

6. Honor the memory of those who have died by suicide by raising awareness, supporting their families and loved ones, and participating in memorial events.

7. Stay connected with veterans in your life and check-in on their well-being regularly.

Veterans are people who raised their hand and volunteered to step in harms way to protect our way of live and values in The United States. That’s impressive. Regardless of the motivation, the action matters. Without this protection of our values and way of life… we certainly would not have them for very long.

Take a moment to absorb the seven items above and how you can keep them top of mind in your lives. Together, we can bring this tragic statistic down rather than seeing it raise each year as it has been doing.

Get Help: DIAL 988, then press 1

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Wash Your Mouth Out With Soap

Character Building / proudparent

I'm Going To Wash Your Mouth Out With Soap

Aaa… Memories of childhood.

Note to parents. Never threaten what you are not willing to follow through upon.

First, let me say that I am the third child of three and there is 3.5 years difference between me and my next siblings age. So, needless to say, I was influenced by my older siblings who where more advanced in language, attitude and well… filters.

I say this because at some point I got myself in trouble with MOM by saying “bad words.” Even though I do not remember what it was I said nor do I remember the circumstances of why I was saying them nor who put me up to it or influenced me… I do remember the result, vividly.

When bad language was used, my mother would say “stop that or I will wash your mouth out with soap.” Something my older sister loved was to see me in trouble. She would mimic my mothers threat… “OOOooooh, you’re gonna get your mouth washed out with soooooap.

Note: My sister is six years older than me.

Back to mom. Was she reeeealy going to wash my mouth out with soap? I’m not sure I was old enough to assess the threat. I would most likely have taken it at face value. However, I do remembering thinking about exactly how that would work. Was that something that would kill me? But… even so, it seems I ignored the warning because I soon found myself standing in the kitchen with a bar of soap in my mouth. Yup. Little me standing in the kitchen with a bar of soap in my mouth and my big sister having a great old time relishing my punishment.

Have you ever had a bar of soap in your mouth? Try not to swallow or taste it. Hmmm. Years later when reminiscing the event with my mother she shared with me that she was horrified (one of her favorite words) that she went through with it.

Hey, but the lesson stuck.

So, was it that I suffered having a bar of soap in my mouth or that I now knew that my mother meant what she said? Frankly, the bar of soap punishment was scarier in thought then practice. In other words… not too bad. But I did learn mom would follow through and that was something to remember.

And that is the point of this blog. Parents, don’t threaten what you are not willing to follow through with. What good does it do if you teach your kids you do not mean what you say? Idle threats. No good. So rather than being dramatic and saying something you don’t (or even cannot) follow through with I suggest you stick with simple things that demonstrate you mean what you say.

Oh, and by the way… counting down doesn’t work either. “stop that in three, two, one…” No. Simply state the issue – Stop doing X.” Then give a warning depending upon the age of the child. Then follow through without malice. I say without malice because a parent should not discipline out of anger. It sends a whole different set of messages, which maybe I’ll save for another blog.

My mother always kept her cool outwardly. She didn’t really loose her cool too much, again outwardly. We learned that if we did something wrong… she gave us the correction… we knew we better straighten up.

Keep in mind that I am describing a process and not trying to describe that we were any kind of angels. The opposite was probably true given the sibling fighting and/or the age differences. Always something going on.

Parents. Keep it simple. Dont loose your cool. State the consequences for behavior, then follow through without emotion. And remember, it is a long-term process. The first few times may not have an effect, but the training will kick in when they understand you mean what you say and you do what you say.

A lesson they will learn AND incorporate within their own character – if you are lucky. 🙂 Keep your eye on the big picture.

Oh, and even though it worked, I don’t recommend the soap thing!

or do I?… 🙂

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Your Life And No-one Else’s

Your Life, Your Choices

You: Living for others for you – A life of services

I don’t know of a better place to look for a description of Heaven than the Bible.

One exception: Near Death Experience (NDE) Author Eban Alexander’s book – Proof of Heaven

I don’t know of a better place to look for a description of Heaven than the Bible.

________________

Bible Verse: John 14:2-3

Heaven has mansions where we will dwell with Jesus.

Bible Verse: John 14:2-3

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”

Bible Verse: Revelation 7:15-17

“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes”

“When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.”

________________

Bible Verse: Revelation 21:19-20

“The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst”

Bible Verse: Revelation 21:21

“The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass”

________________

It goes on to speak of Heaven not needing a sun or moon. In my mind this is because it is not if this realm, and does not operate by our physics.

________________

Bible Verse: Revelation 21:23-25

“The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there)”

________________

Heaven is not all one big nothingness without structure. And to me, it is not fiction either. This is where faith must work in your life. You have enough knowledge now, and there is enough information literally at your fingertips to help you discover enough to help you build a strong foundation of faith within you. Seek and you shall find. There is actually a wonderful structure with great purpose. Think of it as having layers. These layers are called dimensions. (see section on dimensions).

________________

Bible Verse: Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye. shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh. findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

________________

The bible speaks of dimensions using the words like breadth, length, height, and depth.

________________

Bible Verse: Ephesians 3:18-19

“May have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

________________

A few examples of the use of the word Depth:

Matthew 13:5; Mark 4:5 – seed had no depth

Luke 5:14 – launch the boat into the deep (water)

Romans 8:39 – nor height nor depth … can separate us from the love of God

Romans 11:33 – O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God

1 Corinthians 2:10 – the Spirit searches the deep things of God

2 Corinthians 8:2 – their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality

Revelation 2:24 – the depths of Satan

Each dimension has a different vibration and a different purpose in ultimately helping your Higher-Self continue to ascend. The more your light Being (Spirit or Higher Self) ascends (gains knowledge and advances spiritually) the higher advancement is made through the dimensions and ultimately toward God.

As you live your life on earth and learn and ascend, your Higher-Self (hopefully 🙂 advances in the dimensions. You might wonder about timing. Think of one of your lives on earth as being a blink of an eye to your Higher-Self. The average person blinks more than 23,000 times in one day. Can you imagine if each of those was a lifetime?

Heaven is not on the same time as we are on Earth. Earth time is known as linear time. We think of everything as having a start and end time. Events are either in the past, present of future time. Heaven is more circular. Events happen all at the same time. Think of it as a wheel with spokes. You can travel to any point in time you wish. You are not going “back” in time, but simply going “to” that time on the wheel. This is one of the tougher concepts for our earth minds to understand.

Think of Heaven in connection with eternity. It is limitless. Things go on forever. Your energy never stops existing. You simply learn and grow (or ascend). There is far too much for us to even comprehend. There are billions of galaxies, planets, and dimensions. So much to learn and so many places to go. Free your mind. Relax and believe in the knowing that you are eternal.

Hear the Bible verse is speaking of the infinity of Heaven. Interestingly it also references heaven and higher heaven. Realms or dimensions perhaps?

________________

Bible Verse: Kings 8:27

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!”

________________

How about the word unsearchable here? To me, when referencing the size of something and calling it unsearchable means it is too vast to search.

________________

Bible Verse: Psalm 145:3

“Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable.”

________________

Is heaven Up? Not physically. It is higher in vibration. From my learning and in my view, the next dimension is actually vibrating at what you might considered to be about (3) feet off the ground. Some people think the difference between one dimension and the other is even less than that. They think it is just a fraction away from your nose. It is like changing the channel on a dial ever so slightly. But if you are not in the same vibration, it might as well me a galaxy away.

Ever hear of Heaven on earth. Catching a glimpse of this can be exciting. The natural feeling of euphoria you might that is so rare, it happens only once in a lifetime… unless you actually work on your vibration, your outlook, and your inner-self.

Keep in mind that science usually is far behind spirituality. It is VERY hard to prove a lot of this. That is why people can feel the answer in their intuitive gut long before science can prove it. Slowly, however, scientist are embracing these concepts.

Much of this is first proposed as a theory and later proof is found. There are many concepts science supports today that they did not in the near past. Learn to trust your intuition and your own internal process of discovery. Keep your mind open and allowing.

Interesting Reading:

The Language of God, Francis Collins, among many accolades, Director of the National Institutes of Health and director of the Human Genome Project (one of histories biggest research projects), winner of the $1.3 million Templeton Prize.

Collins declares that he sees no incompatibility between science and religion. “The God of the Bible is also the God of the genome”, he wrote.

“He can be worshiped in the cathedral or in the laboratory.“ added Collins.

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The Character You Build Is Up To You

Character Building, Self-Improvement / proudparent

Character

Character: The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual

Bible Verse: 1 John 2:5

But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him.

Bible Verse: Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.

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Stinkin Thinking

Alive, Awake, Aware, Self-Improvement / proudparent

Stinkin' Thinkin'

Thinking: The process of using one’s mind to consider or reason about something.

Stinkin’ Thinkin’: Though that is negative or has a negative effect upon you or those around you.

Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be open unto you.
Matthew 7:7

It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.
Matthew 15:11

And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.
Matthew 21:22

The kingdom of Heaven is within.
Luke 17:21

________________

With the basis of the Bible verses above (there are even more in the Bible) you can see how the message is that what you think about matters! What you think about can guide or effect how you feel. How you feel can effect your energy. Your energy can effect what you draw into your experience.

If you get one point from this blog it should be that negative thinking does NOT serve you in any way.

It is true that we are discerning creatures. Meaning, we are constantly looking at a situation and choosing HOW we perceive it. Positive. Negative. Good. Bad. Helpful. Not helpful. It is in this observation of what is happening around you that the ASKING is born. If you see negative, you ASK for positive. This can and does happen at the inner or sole level. That is the feeling you get when you see negative. Your emotions. That is an ASK.

A hazard of our perceiving and constant judgement of a situation is that we can get stuck in a pattern of not only seeing what we see as negative, but drawing more of it to us.

This speaks to our CHOICE. We ultimately have Free Will and CHOOSE how we perceive what we see. We CHOOSE how we react to what we experience. We CHOOSE what we incorporate into who we are and what part of that we take forward into our lives.

Thinking positively does not mean you deny that negative exists. It is more about what you choose to incorporate into your existence.

This is how two people can look at the same situation and see two different things.

Getting and Staying Positive

Once while speaking with someone near and dear to me, I was trying to lift their spirits and help them see the situation in a more positive light. I will never forget the response. I was told: “I don’t want your Pollyanna view.” After recovering from the initial shock, I realized that we as people can get so caught up in or so drowned in negative feeling that we reject positive. It is just too far a leap to make.

Another example is when a positive person tries to point out the positive in a situation that is being talked about by someone who is framing it in the negative. Same as above, they don’t agree with your assessment or see the point in your view of the same situation.

So, getting in the positive frame of mind may take some practice for some. It does not have to happen all at once. In fact, it won’t. Start small. Start with one situation and look at it from many perspectives. See how the good or positive can be drawn from that one situation. Then expand it and put half a days worth of effort into it. Then a day and so on. String the feelings out from one situation into another. See how you mood changes. See how you more positive mood starts to effect your life and then those around you.

Think of it as a muscle that needs exercising.

What we think about and how we choose to perceive it is a choice.

This choice can and will have a profound effect upon us and those around us.

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Outside Is Good for the Inside

Alive, Awake, Aware, Character Building, DirtRoads, Self-Improvement / proudparent

Heaven

Heaven: A state of being eternally in the presence of God

I don’t know of a better place to look for a description of Heaven than the Bible.

One exception: Near Death Experience (NDE) Author Eban Alexander’s book – Proof of Heaven

I don’t know of a better place to look for a description of Heaven than the Bible.

________________

Bible Verse: John 14:2-3

Heaven has mansions where we will dwell with Jesus.

Bible Verse: John 14:2-3

Bible Verse: Revelation 7:15-17

“When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.”

________________

Bible Verse: Revelation 21:19-20

Bible Verse: Revelation 21:21

“The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass”

________________

It goes on to speak of Heaven not needing a sun or moon. In my mind this is because it is not if this realm, and does not operate by our physics.

________________

Bible Verse: Revelation 21:23-25

________________

Bible Verse: Matthew 7:7-8

________________

The bible speaks of dimensions using the words like breadth, length, height, and depth.

________________

Bible Verse: Ephesians 3:18-19

________________

A few examples of the use of the word Depth:

Matthew 13:5; Mark 4:5 – seed had no depth

Luke 5:14 – launch the boat into the deep (water)

Romans 8:39 – nor height nor depth … can separate us from the love of God

Romans 11:33 – O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God

1 Corinthians 2:10 – the Spirit searches the deep things of God

2 Corinthians 8:2 – their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality

Revelation 2:24 – the depths of Satan

Hear the Bible verse is speaking of the infinity of Heaven. Interestingly it also references heaven and higher heaven. Realms or dimensions perhaps?

________________

Bible Verse: Kings 8:27

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!”

________________

How about the word unsearchable here? To me, when referencing the size of something and calling it unsearchable means it is too vast to search.

________________

Bible Verse: Psalm 145:3

“Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable.”

________________

Interesting Reading:

Collins declares that he sees no incompatibility between science and religion. “The God of the Bible is also the God of the genome”, he wrote.

“He can be worshiped in the cathedral or in the laboratory.“ added Collins.

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The What If Game

Grief, Self-Improvement, StinkinThinkin / proudparent

Heaven

Heaven: A state of being eternally in the presence of God

I don’t know of a better place to look for a description of Heaven than the Bible.

________________

Bible Verse: John 14:2-3

Heaven has mansions where we will dwell with Jesus.

Bible Verse: John 14:2-3

Bible Verse: Revelation 7:15-17

“When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.”

________________

Bible Verse: Revelation 21:19-20

Bible Verse: Revelation 21:21

“The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass”

________________

It goes on to speak of Heaven not needing a sun or moon. In my mind this is because it is not if this realm, and does not operate by our physics.

________________

Bible Verse: Revelation 21:23-25

________________

Bible Verse: Matthew 7:7-8

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye. shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh. findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

________________

The bible speaks of dimensions using the words like breadth, length, height, and depth.

________________

Bible Verse: Ephesians 3:18-19

May have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

________________

A few examples of the use of the word Depth:

Matthew 13:5; Mark 4:5 – seed had no depth

Luke 5:14 – launch the boat into the deep (water)

Romans 8:39 – nor height nor depth … can separate us from the love of God

Romans 11:33 – O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God

1 Corinthians 2:10 – the Spirit searches the deep things of God

2 Corinthians 8:2 – their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality

Revelation 2:24 – the depths of Satan

Hear the Bible verse is speaking of the infinity of Heaven. Interestingly it also references heaven and higher heaven. Realms or dimensions perhaps?

________________

Bible Verse: Kings 8:27

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!

________________

How about the word unsearchable here? To me, when referencing the size of something and calling it unsearchable means it is too vast to search.

________________

Bible Verse: Psalm 145:3

Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable.

________________

Interesting Reading:

Collins declares that he sees no incompatibility between science and religion. “The God of the Bible is also the God of the genome”, he wrote.

“He can be worshiped in the cathedral or in the laboratory.“ added Collins.

The What If Game Read More »

Military Vet Suicide

A Supportive ProudParent, Grief / proudparent

Veteran Suicide

Veteran Suicide and Helping Bereaved Families and Friends Left Behind

DID YOU KNOW?

Four Times As Many Troops and Vets Have Taken Their Own Lives Than Lost In Combat?* According to the report, this outpaces those of the general public in the same time period.

Researchers Estimate:

30,177 Global War on Terror veterans have taken their own lives vs. 7,057 lost while deployed.

A Horrific Daily Cost:

The Veterans Administration (VA) reports that 17 veterans take their lives EACH DAY in the U.S. Interestingly, they lowered the number from a previously reported 20 veterans a day by eliminating active duty, and former National Guard and Reserve members from this number. Regardless, this number is higher than the average population (in my opinion) and according to the VA’s “Solid Start” program the majority of these deaths occur in the first year of transition to civilian life.

Beyond Numbers and Into Support:

There are non-profit organizations that offer support for families that have suffered this type of tragic loss and for anyone effected by the loss.

Two such organizations are:

TAPS Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

Alliance of Hope

These groups offer pear support at no cost with additional services available such as helping to find a good match with a certified counselor well versed in suicide counseling and that falls within your insurance carrier coverage.

Personally Speaking:

I know from my own experience in losing a loved one very dear to me… that sometimes the full reaction does not occur for months and even years. Or sometime the manifestation of the reaction occurs in strange ways… for me I developed claustrophobia. I did not make the connection for some time. But later realized it was from seeing my loved on in a casket and thinking how are they going to breath when they close the lid. Seems silly, but the mind works the way the mind works… and that is why we cannot shut down or wall off our feelings when tragedy occurs. Whether it is pear to pear of professional counseling, I am now a proponent of getting help. The kind of help that can guide you through a process to help draw out and deal with emotions. A process to help deal with our challenges rather than letting them manifest in ways we don’t expect or are not ready to deal with.

Most insurances cover a small number of professional visits… But even so, TAPS recommends both a pear to pear group and professional help. And, I do too.

*Study by: Costs of War Project

National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report

TAPS Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

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Choosing Your Friends

Character Building, Character for Young Adults 12-18yrs, Character for Youth k-12, Self-Improvement / proudparent

Choosing Your Friends

Friends: A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.

Friends

How do you pick your friends?

As we grow up, our lives tend to be dominated by schooling. It is such a big part of our social life in America. Most often, we develop “best friends” around the idea that they are the best connection we make within our current group of classmates. Pretty limiting if you ask me, but it tends to come from necessity and the desire to connect. No one wants to sit in a corner alone. You want to have friends to share your experiences with and have fun, right?

It is also a way we organize our lives… Athletics, school clubs, favorite subjects…

Your choices of who you associate with tend to grow as you get older. You have a choice whether you want to “hang out” with a particular person. How do you make this choice? Is it because they have similar interests as you do? Or, do they look at the world in a similar way as you do? Two very different questions, by the way.

Here is another way that you might want to consider. By simply connecting with another person on the basis of whether they are like you… energetically. Are they as outgoing or reserved as you? Do they like or dislike the same things in life as you do?

Parents initially try to teach their kids that you can tell a lot about a person by watching their actions and not what they say. I believe this strongly. Look at how they treat others. Look at how they act in different situations like when they are upset or the center of attention.

Getting Serious?

As you get older and become interested in a girlfriend and later a wife (or boyfriend/husband for those reading this book other than my sons) it is important to keep this idea of the energy people carry in your mind. So often people match themselves up with other people they find attractive physically only to find out that is all they have in common. Hormones tend to blind us and make us feel we have more in common. As partial proof, at the time of this writing, America holds more than a 50% divorce rate. Wow. Can’t we do better than that as a society?

Get to know the other person. Get to know their perspective on things. Do you share similar perspectives or similar interests? Now look at what type of energy a person holds. I’m not asking how you feel around them. That can be too superficial or can be effected by circumstances. What I am trying to convey to you in this chapter is that you have the ability within you now to detect other people’s energy and know intuitively what type of energy they send out. This will tell you a lot about the person, what they will attract to themselves over the years (see chapter on Law of Attraction), and ultimately how they will either boost your energy or draw your energy down. (see chapter on Vibrations-energy vampires).

Look for a friend/mate that lifts your energy up. One that raises your vibration. You will know it when you have it. Then you do the same for them. Joy is the result.

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How to Pray

Self-Improvement / proudparent

How to Pray

Praying: Address a solemn request or expression of thanks to a higher ascended Being

Prayers

If you fall into the category of “I don’t know how to pray” or praying doesn’t do any good… read on.

Prayers do not have to be formal or like you see in church with all the formality.

Prayers are yours and can/should be said in your words and in your way.

Here are just a few thoughts to help get you started.

Prayers should always come from a place of gratitude within you and never from a place of anger. Negativity, anger, and anything less than positive are only serving as blocks to raising your prayers to their highest level. Thereby making them the most effective.

Ground yourself to Mother Earth first. This just means to feel your connection to the ground and nature. This can help you focus and get rid of the day-to-day clutter in your thinking.

Feel the feeling of being humble. Being giving. Being positive. Being loving.

Feel this feeling flushing over you as the negative world falls away. Become calmer. Take a moment doing this if you need to. Remember, be loving, be loving, be loving.

To help this along, start thinking about those things you ARE grateful for no matter how small they may be. They can be on any topic.

Offer these thoughts of gratitude toward whatever you believe is outside yourself. What you see as a higher source. Some pray to the Lord, some to God, some to whatever name they give.

For example, I thank the Lord for the awareness of Him. For His sacrifice for me on the Cross. For ensuring me and forgiving me my sins. For His unconditional love of me. This always puts me in a good mood and a mood of gratitude.

Ask in your prayer, do not demand. A prayer is a request for assistance. Be humble. This is why people bow their heads or get down on their knees. It is a sign of respect for a power far greater than your own. It is a sign of humility.

Prayer have no minimum or maximum length. Prayer have no specific language (or code) that needs to be spoken. Prayers are between you and what you see as your higher source outside yourself. (I put it this way because I take from my Boy Scout leadership days that all they required was that you believe in something outside yourself… they did not make you define what that was).

If you feel you received an answer or support in any way, be sure to give thanks for the answer.

Know that you can pray at any time. You do not need to be in a church or some religious place. God is with you always. To receive any help you must ask. That is a prayer.

_________

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For everyone that sketch receiveth; and he that seeketh finders; and to him that knocketh it shall be open.

_________

This is all about being “open.” Being receptive and knowing you have help. If you are angry, negative, or in lower energy you are blocking this support… or/and not truly seeing the answers to your prayers. Understand that answers to prayers can come in many different forms. Being open to them is our job. A new acquaintance in our lives. A passing comment from someone (anyone) that sparks a thought within us. An opportunity – which we must recognize as an answer to prayer or not.

Pray often. There is no limit. Get connected with the Lord (or what you see as your higher power). Feel the connection. Develop a relationship with the Lord over time. Your relationship will be just that, your relationship. No one can tell you what it is or should be. Only you will know through your heart.

Allow your heart to be your guide. You will know what feels good and true. Everything good comes from a position of love, caring, and benevolence.

Remember to give thanks and often.

How to Pray Read More »

Does the Lord Hear My Prayers

Self-Improvement / proudparent

Does the Lord Hear My Prayers?

Prayers: An earnest request or expression to a higher Being

Prayers

If you have ever wondered this, there are some things you should keep in mind. Be aware of the level of vibration you are praying from. Your prayers can actually be intercepted, if they are not of the right vibration and properly sent to the highest dimension.

Ever hear of a Flibby? Flibbys are what some people call those spirits (people) that die and pass to the next dimension. We live in the 3rd dimension. When you die, you go to the 4th dimension. Those Beings that pass to the next dimension that were not very nice people tend to hang around the lower part of the 4th dimension. Keep in mind, you automatically pass to the 4th dimension when you die, whether you were a positive or negative type of spirit. You have no choice. However, if the spirit was negative they would tend to stay around the bottom portion of the 4th dimension, because they would not have ascended their soul much. This means they are closer to your vibration here in the 3rd dimension. Some spirits don’t even realize they passed over.

Spirits that pass to the 4th dimension that did a great job of ascending their soul while on earth would tend to be at a higher vibration and therefore be higher in the next dimension… Further from your vibration here in the 3rd dimension.

So, when you pray with a negative or lower vibration of your own and your request rides your lower vibration to the higher dimension (remember your thoughts are things and they automatically become energy riding a vibration), who do you think gets them first? The energies that are hanging around the lower part of the 4th dimension. Remember, they tend to be the less desirable types of spirits.

What do you do? How do you avoid this and get your prayers higher up to your Guides, Angels, or God? You need to hold the highest vibration you can and pray with specific intensions and direction of where you are sending the prayer (see Vibrations in earlier chapter). The sun is the open door (energy) to the universe and God. Set your intensions to send your prayer to the sun. This will bypass the lower dimensions and not-so-nice spirits and take your prayer right to God. This way your Angels, Guides, and passed family members will receive it directly without any interference.

Your prayer should be from a point of view of being humble, loving, and not aimed at hurting anyone including yourself.

Think of it as an honor to ask for help and especially to receive it.

Answers to your prayers only come if it is best for your highest and best good. If you get no answer, you either missed the answer, because they can be subtle, or the lower dimensional beings in the 4th dimension got your prayer, or it was not for your highest and best good. You may need to re-evaluate your request.

Help may come in a number of different ways. It could be a coincidental meeting with someone that could help you with what ever problem you are working on. It could be to help you avoid meeting someone that would harm you. Chances are, it won’t be like the burning bush that Moses received when God spoke to him (bible story) or the clouds parting and heavenly Angels coming down to speak to you. It will be more subtle. You need to pay attention to your heart.

You may also be going through a struggle that you selected in your Soul Contract (see Soul Contract in earlier chapter). Therefore, you may not receive the type of help you are looking for. Instead of the kind of help that has you avoid a situation, you may receive help that allows you to get through it more easily. Or to shorten the duration of what you are going through. There are many possibilities. What I want you to do here is remain open and understand there is a process here. That you are being heard. Don’t get bitter toward God. Stay loving.

Does the Lord Hear My Prayers Read More »

Principles to Live By

Self-Improvement / proudparent

Principles to Live By

Principles: A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior

Principles

There are many principles that you can develop in your own life to live by for your best and highest good. The bible gives us the 10 commandments. They are all designed to help you live your life to the fullest while at the same time providing ample room to experience life and learn what you came to learn.

Keep in mind that you do not want to hurt others or hurt lots of people at once. Live your life free of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is claiming to have moral standards of beliefs that you expect others to live by, but don’t live by them yourself.

Your principles should be basic (as the 10 commandments are) and you should use them in your daily life as you make decisions and look for Joy (referenced from previous chapters). You have Free Will. You find yourself faced with a choice. You are looking for Joy… You can apply your principles to help you make your choice.

For your reference: The 10 Commandments:

“I am the LORD your God.” Remember that I exist and influence all the world.

“Do not make an image or any likeness of what is in the heavens above…” Don’t worship things (idols) or people.

“Do not swear falsely by the name of the LORD…” Don’t make false oaths in His name.

“Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” (we think of this as Sunday). A day to study and remember God and His gifts in your life. To NOT be working on business.

“Honor your father and your mother…” Honor God by fulfilling your obligation to honor your parents.

“Do not murder” A capital sin. We must all live together.

“Do not commit adultery.” Adultery: having sex with another even though you or they are married. Honor the institution of marriage.

“Do not steal.” Taking what is not yours only ultimately hurts you. Honor yourself by being true to yourself and the ultimate Joy you seek in your life.

“Do not bear false witness against your neighbor” Don’t lie. Don’t lie against another person. Don’t bring another person harm by lying.

“Do not covet your neighbor’s wife” Covet is to want or desire that which God has given to another.

Principles to Live By Read More »

proudparent

~23 Veterans take their own lives each day in the U.S.

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