Feel The Power of Love!

These days, everyone is talking about the art of living. Hark! The real art of living begins in the art of loving. If you are capable of loving, you are capable of living. Love is the soul of living, the heartbeat of life. Love is a great meditation. And love does not end in one relationship. Love is an endless phenomenon of relating.

Osho says: Love appears as relationship but begins in deep solitude. Love expresses as relating but its source is not in relating, its source is in meditating. When you are absolutely happy in your aloneness, when the other is not a need, it is then that you are capable of love. If the other is your need, you can only exploit, manipulate, dominate but cannot love.

Because you depend on the other, possessiveness arises - out of fear. "Who knows? The other is with me today; tomorrow he may not be with me. Who knows about the next moment?" Your woman may have left you, your children may grow up and be gone, your husband might desert you. Who knows what the next moment may bring? Out of that fear of the future, you become very possessive. You create bondage around the person you think you love.

But love cannot create a prison. If love creates a prison, then what is left for hatred to do? Love brings freedom - love gives freedom. It is non-possessiveness. But that is possible only if you have known a totally different quality of love, one not of need but of sharing.

Love is sharing of overflowing joy. You are too full of joy, you cannot contain it, you have to share it. Then there is poetry and then there is something tremendously beautiful which is not of this world, something that comes from the beyond.

Often I say, learn the art of love. What I really mean is: learn the art of removing all that hinders love. It is a negative process. It is like digging a well - you go on removing layers of earth, stones, rocks and then suddenly there is water. The water that was always there as an undercurrent. When you remove all barriers, the water is available. So with love. Love is the undercurrent of your being. It is flowing, but there are many rocks, much earth to be removed. That's what I mean when I say: learn the art of love. It is really not learning love but un-learning the ways of un-love.

Swami Chaitanya Keerti

Compiled from The Dhammapada

The Way of the Buddha,

Vol. 3, Chapter 4

Celestial Song that was sung by Lord Krishna.

Bhagavad Gita is the song of the God, celestial song that was sung by Lord Krishna. It is the divine teaching of the God. By contemplating on the Gita, one's all doubts are removed and by following it, one can attain Him.

Whom are you worried about?
Whom do you fear? No one can kill you.
Soul is never born, nor can it be killed.
So what is there to worry about?

Whatever happened, it happened for good.
Whatever is happening, is happening for good.
Whatever that will happen, will happen for good.
You should neither lament for the past nor worry for future.
You cannot control either. You can just do your duty.


What have you lost for which you cry?
What did you bring with you, which you have lost?
What did you create, which has has got destroyed?

Did you bring anything with you when you were born?
Whatever you have got, you have got through this world from Him.
You will leave everything you got here itself for Him to give it to someone else.


You came empty handed and you will go the same way.
Whatever you feel is yours today.
was somebody else's possesion yesterday
and  will be someone else's tomorrow.

Worry not, and be on the path of your duty firmly.

Jesus Loves Me

By: Brother Bill

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“When you get this concept into your mind and heart it will totally revolutionize your life.” That's just the way the Lord said it to me. And just what is this revolutionary concept? His all-consuming, unconditional love for me. (And each of you can say the same.)

"Jesus loves me! This I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak but He is strong.

"Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so."

(Words by Anna B. Warner 1860; Music by William B. Bradbury 1861)

Is this simple song familiar to you? Did you ever sing it as a child?

Kenneth Osbeck writes in 101 Hymn Stories, “Without doubt the hymn that has influenced children for Christ more than any other is this simply stated one, written in 1860 by Anna Bartlett Warner. Miss Warner wrote this text in collaboration with her sister Susan as a part of one of the best-selling novels of that day, a novel written by Susan entitled Say and Seal. Today few remember the plot of that novel…but the simple poem spoken by one of the characters, Mr. Linden, as he comforts Johnny Fox, a dying child, still remains the favorite hymn of children around the world to this day.” Osbeck writes that William Bradbury “composed the music for ‘Jesus Loves Me’ in 1861 especially for Anna Warner’s text and personally added the chorus to the four stanzas.”

Ah, the simple faith of childhood. Jesus loves me. How do I know?
Because the Bible tells me so. End of discussion.

But now that you’re all grown up, can you still say that? More importantly, do you still feel it? Now, don’t pass these questions off with quick answers. Don’t answer with head knowledge—what you’ve learned from years of playing “Christian.” Instead, take a moment and examine your heart. Ask yourself, “Do I feel God’s love for ME? Unconditionally. Consistently. Do I walk in it? I’ve heard that Jesus would have died for me alone, but do I conduct my life—both inside and outside of church—as if His love for me were real?”

Or, do I sometimes feel that He would love me more if only I would:

Be a “better” father, mother, husband, wife…
Read the Bible more, go to church more…
Or one of a thousand other things.

Do you ever feel that, while He may love you (in a general sort of way because, after all. He IS God and maybe He HAS to love us), there’s always a certain amount of disapproval you sense from Him. Sure, John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world..." and I’m a part of the world, so maybe His love is sort of a group thing—like saying “I love people, but there are some persons I’m not too sure about. Am I one of them to Him? Is God’s love like the love I show: sometimes yes and sometimes no? Do I feel God saying to me, “Okay, I love you but I really don’t like you.”

Maybe there’s something specific in my life that I feel keeps God from accepting me fully, or maybe there isn’t. Sometimes it’s just a general feeling that maybe He would love me completely, if only I’d start… or if only I’d stop…

Remember, I’m not talking about all the things we know and say to each other: “works” won’t get us there; we are saved by grace and grace alone, and so on and so on. We sing “Nothing you could do could make Him love you more. And nothing that you’ve done could make Him close the door.” We know that Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

But do you know it experientially? Be honest, with yourself, and with God.

You may be one who walks in God’s love most of the time, or you may have a real problem in feeling for even a moment that God could possibly love you at all.

If you’re in the latter category, please take some time to ask God to show you the Truth. Approach Him with a sincere heart and persistent determination and be willing to be led by the Holy Spirit into an ever-growing love relationship with the Father.

But the same suggestion could apply to all of us.

What I’m talking about is the surety expressed in “Jesus Loves Me.” This I know because the Bible tells me so. It’s what Paul prayed for the Christians in Ephesus, and for us, when he wrote:

"My response is to get down on my knees before the Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us." (Ephesians 3:14-19 The Message)

“Jesus loves me! This I know for the Bible tells me so.”

Can you say to God right now,

“Heavenly Father, I know in my heart that You love me unconditionally and totally. I know that through my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord of my life You love me as much as You love him.

“I ask, Holy Spirit of God within me, that you work through me. Lord, cause me to experience the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Let me know its breadth and height. Strengthen me by Your Spirit, living in me for a glorious inner strength.”

No, God doesn’t love everything I do and, no matter how I try, I can never earn His love with my thoughts, intents and my actions. My hope does not lie in “self-improvement”, but in His increase and my decrease. Growth in the Christian life does not occur as we get better but as He takes over. And I can best trust in Him to take over my life when I am able to rest in the breadth and height of His love.

And if you’re tempted to say, “Yeah, but…”, remember: “Jesus loves me! This I know for the Bible tells me so.”

How do I delve into the “extravagant dimensions” of that love? Well, if “the Bible tells me so” I have to become familiar with what it says. I could give you many verses that speak of God’s love, but those words mean so much more when you seek out and find them for yourself.

And when you find them, personalize them. Speak them back to God. Claim them for yourself. Meditate on them in your prayer time. During the day practice the presence of God in your life, knowing He is always with you.

If you want to read about who you are in Christ, study and pray over Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. And read these letters of Paul as if they were written to you alone. God did not send Jesus to die for “mankind” but for each individual who would accept that sacrifice as full payment for his sin.

Full realization of God’s love for me is not still another thing that I try to work up or do through my own effort. As I read, pray, and spend quality time with our Heavenly Father His Spirit works in me according to my request.

Seek out through prayer and study what God has to say about how He feels about you. Pray the prayers of Paul for yourself and expect God to open your mind and heart.

And why the emphasis on God’s love for me? Because true surrender to God and true service for Him come not from the “knowledge” that He loves me but from the experiential surety of that love. And just as I cannot “work up” my own salvation or my Christian walk with Jesus, I must depend upon the action of the Holy Spirit to saturate me in God’s love.

Just as in prayer, my part is to “show up” and ask. I must spend time in God’s presence and wait in expectancy.

That’s what the Lord said to me. “I love you, my child. More than you can imagine! When you get this concept into your mind and heart it will totally revolutionize your life.”

“Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so!”

Love,
Brother Bill

Muhammad loves the poor very much

The Prophet enjoined upon Muslims to treat the poor kindly and to help them with alms, charity and any other ways.
He said:
"He is not a perfect Muslim who eats his fill and lets his neighbor go hungry."

In one of his teaching, Prophet Muhammad said to his followers:
"Do you love your Creator? Then love your fellow beings first."

Muhammad forbids Monopoly
Monopoly is a situation in which a single company or group owns all of the market for a given type of product. Monopoly often results in high prices and inferior products.
Monopoly is unlawful in Islam
The Prophet Muhammad forbids Monopoly and said in his Hadith:
"It is difficult for a man laden with riches to climb the steep path that leads to bliss."

Muhammad encourages the lawful acquisition of wealth
The Prophet Muhammad did not prohibit or discourage the acquisition of wealth but insisted that it should be lawfully acquired by honest means and that a portion of it would go to the poor.

Muhammad and the wages of the laborer
The Prophet Muhammad was very dedicated to give the laborers their rights. He advised his followers by saying in Hadith:
"Give the laborer his wages before his sweat dried up."

Muhammad did not encourage beggary
The Prophet Muhammad did not encourage beggary and stated that:
"Allah is gracious to him, who earns his living by his own labor, and that if a man begs to increase his property, Allah will diminish it and whoever has food for the day, it is prohibited for him to beg."


Herein, two instances out of many of Muhammad's concern for the poor are given

1. A debtor, Jabir Bin Abdullah, was being harassed by his creditor as he could not clear his debt owing to the failure of his date crop.
The Prophet went with Jabir to the house of the creditor and pleaded with him to give Jabir some more time but the creditor was not prepared to oblige. The Prophet then went to the oasis and having seen for himself that the crop was really poor.
The Prophet, again, approached the creditor with no better result.
He then rested for some time and approached the creditor for a third time but the latter was adamant. The Prophet went again to the orchard and asked Jabir to pluck the dates.
As Allah would have it, the collection not only sufficed to clear the dues but left something to spare.

2. A poor man was once starving. He entered a Land in which there were many trees and fruits. He picked up some fruits.
The owner of the land caught him, defeated him and stripped off his clothes.
The poor man appealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Muhammad said to the owner:
"This man was ignorant; so you should have dispelled his ignorance; He was hungry, so you should have fed him."
The owner of the land felt sorry, he gave the poor man new clothes and, in addition, he gave him some fruits and grain.

It is important to realize that the Prophet Muhammad was more than millionaire; He earned a lot of money. However, He was a money distributor to the poor and the needy and he was not by any means a money collector.

Once, the Prophet Muhammad gave an advice to his wife Aisha; He said:
"O Aisha, love the poor and let them come to you and Allah will draw you near to Himself."

The Prophet Muhammad's love for the poor was so deep that he used to say in his pray:
"O Allah, keep me poor in my life and at my death and raise me at resurrection among those who are poor."
As a matter of fact, the millionaire Muhammad lived poor and died poor!

N.B., Hadith = Muhammad' sayings.

By: Safaa Abdel-Aziz

Curse on Humanity

Racial discrimination is the worst curse on humanity and its promoters are enemies of peaceful co-existence of human beings.

Friends List

Just adding your friends list unscrupulously makes no sense at all. Connect with your friends, create a sense of belonging. Without a true connection these friends lists are meaningless and a waste of time.

Family

My friend Angel sent this to me from Trinidad  and Tobago

F A M I L Y
I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
'Oh excuse me please' was my reply.
He said, 'Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you.'
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old..
Later that day , cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
'Move out of the way,' I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed, God's still small voice came to me and said,
'While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.'
By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
'Wake up, little one, wake up,' I said.
'Are these the flowers you picked for me?'
He smiled, 'I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue.'
I said, 'Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way.'
He said, 'Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway.'
I said, 'Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.'

FAMILY
Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company
that we are working for could easily replace us in
a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss
for the rest of their lives.
And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more
into work than into our own family,
an unwise investment indeed,
don't you think?
So what is behind the story?
Do you know what the word FAMILY means?FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

Can you feel the PAIN of being UNWANTED?

Donate for a Good Cause

We spend so much money unscrupulously on ourselves almost every day. But how many times do we think in our whole life that a single cent spent wisely for a good cause is more worthwhile than a million dollars. What about spending just a bit of money on bringing smiles on those faces that are dying to live?

Distributing Smiles

U7FXHVFBACY9

On certain occasions some people like to distribute sweets among poor people, some money and get satisfaction. But how can I make a troubled person happy, I have no money. But just a minute! What about distributing SMILES? Let me start with this.