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Courage

Have the courage to take the first step.

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Sometimes the world seems lonely and we feel a void.  To some the world lacks sunshine, not just on occasion but often enough that they forget the days of warmth and sunshine, when life was full and happy.  There are days when just getting up out of bed is an effort. We’ve all felt that emptiness that begs to be filled. Some find relief in a relationship, others dive headlong into work and stay buried there.  The void may be filled for awhile, but friends come and go, jobs change, that craving/desire for the special “something” returns, often with an even stronger feeling of “need”

In PL (Perfect Liberty) we live a prayerful life,  The goal is to live with God all day, everyday, morning prayer and evening prayer at home, meal prayers, before and after. To be thankful, appreciative,and accepting of God/Universe in us and in our daily lives.  PL Guides us to work towards our goals.  We all of concerns that cannot be resolved easily.  PL has a unique way of responding to problems in our daily lives.  Through consultations given by PL ministers you receive personal guidance tailored to your individual character and situation

You have to have the courage to take the first step.  If you are timid, you will never be able to break free and start something new. BELIEVE in yourSELF and take that first step.

God is the power,source and law of the Universe. Everything that happens in this world is God’s Act. in PL we call God, Mioyaookami.

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Feeling good

Feeling good

An evening out, no an evening in listening to a DJ(Zzephyr Windgate) play “oldies” bringing back memories of another time. After weeks of feeling blah, the Universe broke through the gloom with sunshine and promise.
Have you read “Live with Passion” it is a Church of PL book, and can be had from the church. It was written by Rev. Yumiko Tsuyama with the forward by Rev. Margaret Stapleton (PL in CA.) Starting in 1994 until 2007 Rev. Yumiko Tsuyama made over 50 one or two page teachings in English. By using her own testimonies she did her best to share PL in a very simple and practical way. The book was published to share these teachings with English speaking PL members around the world.
I chanced on the book while standing in the lobby of the church. (everything happens for a reason) It was a spur of the moment purchase, it was written by a woman, it was in English, it was on a topic I love, I had the $10. I bought it.
When I got home, it was put on my desk and more or less forgotten with other “things” taking up my time and attention.
This is one example, but I don’t have to stretch far to find others of “impulse actions”.. you do something, and find out down the road, that there was a reason, you were “nudged” to do something.
God speaks to us in many ways.
God is everywhere, and all seeing.
The Universe/TAO is beyond definition
The Divine transcends all understanding

I found the book earlier today, it is wonderful, Testimonies are a wonderful way to absorb the teachings of PL

Believe in PL, PL Precepts are the truth. Never forget this. No matter what happens, trust and believe. Have faith. God is ONE and we are ONE with God.

my thanks to Gunnar Wetherby a gifted SL photographer who took the candid pictures of me

1 Lady Jan (janmargret)_002a copyjewelry is from Chop Zuey   >  shape and hair – Amacci        >skin/makeup  Style by Kira

gown is Purple Moon – taken at Frank’s Elite Jazz club

It is my pleasure to introduce to you another member of PL

Perfect Liberty is an International church, therefore members who will share with us, at times will do so in both their languages.  I do not change their words, or thoughts, but share them with you as they are offered.  I love PL so much because as a community we share and grow with the encouragement and support of not only the ministers but fellow members.  The Japanese terms are commonly used in PL,  You should be able to find the words and their meanings on our website, (link on right)  However I will work them in if I can do so without changing the expressions of the writer

Meet Harry  (USA), Harry attended Kyososai (the celebrations I wrote about in August)  this past July/August.   =^_^+ in fact, you will see Harry carrying the Canadian Flag for Canada (he became an honorary Canadian to help me out!  True gentleman!!)(see prev. blog)

This was a fun picture taken when we met the actors who perform in the PL children;s theater

Harry and cat

Each Kyososai is unique and every year is distinct with the mix of different people
attending. Often for me I try to absorb as much as I can all that goes on at Holyland
during my stay there. The whole time spent there is the rensei training, not just the
official part of the program …. Listening to lectures, taking every opportunity to pray at
the himorogi, conversing, sharing testimonies with the Brazilian members, breathing the
air and working up a sweat just being outside.
But reality hits when I get back from the Holyland. I always seem to receive my
blessings thru Mishirases and intuitions that that help me realize my short comings, last
year it was a nasty bladder infection that haunted me from getting good rest and sleep.
It’s like god is giving me another chance – blessing and salvation after my prayers at the
Himorogi. This year it was a flu symptom that bothered me physically, but also the way
my wife told me what a pest I was to her. I never thought I was a pest probing and
inquiring about what she did and did not do. I always thought I gave her a lot of latitude,
but apparently not. My mishirase brought me to church and the consultation for
oyashikiri helped me realize that I needed to back off and give her more space and not to
probe unnecessarily. It was the words my minister spoke that triggered my intuition. I
have always prayed to try to understand my wife and I never could, I was being a pest
and suffocating her. All this time I could not realize that my actions were killing her
spirits. Thank you, Oshieoyasama.

Mishirase: Divine warning from God, in the form of an illness, a misfortune, an accident pain or suffering

Oyashikiri Prayer– The special prayer to receive the blessings of Oshieoya-sana’s Shikiri

Shikiri PL’s unique way of prayer, asking God’s blessing with a sincere promise to accomplish what we have to do

Oshieoya-sama – Honorific title of the spiritual leader of PL, Rev. Takahito Miki

Thank you Harry for sharing your testimony with us.

Blessings to each and everyone of you, now and always…

photo taken in Japan July 2013 by Q

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Have the courage to take the first step

Have the courage to take the first step

How often have you thought of something you’d like to do that is different from anything you’ve done before? Or, it could be as simple as break from the regular routine of taking the same way home every night, shopping in the same stores, hanging out with the same circle of friends and doing the same things each time you do.

One group of friends got together every second week to have dinner, after dinner they would pop across to the shopping area and browse awhile before having a night cap and then going home. This one week, a friend had her cousin visiting and asked if she could bring her along, What they discovered was that having that one extra person join them, changed the dynamics of their conversations during the meal, and which stores they visit after the meal. Why, because the “guest” brought a different view point to their discussions, and when they shopped preferred to browse in stores they seldom entered.
By the time they got to sit and have their night cap, they found they were each and everyone of them feeling “re-energized”. Their night out had been one of discovery and fun, they’d explored different topics, and seen other dimensions in their friends, as well as having made a new one.

If you are timid in life, you will never be able to break free and start something new. Believe in yourself, take chances now and then, Life opens up, if you Let Go, and venture out of the “comfort zone”

 

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shaking off negatives

http://youtu.be/DnKmA6rIhpU

This is my fantasy – that like a dog, I could just shake off all the negatives, worries and distractions with one good body shake.
Oh, it would feel soooo good.
Let everything fly out and away from me…
Then start fresh… not everything will cut loose, but everything
will displace and what settles back down can be viewed with
a new perspective.

Hey, we all have our dreams, ideas and creative hiccups.  When I watch our dogs come out of the water and give themselves a good shake, it always looks like it such a feel good thing to do.  I thought of doing a head stand, seeing if that would dislodge and toss some of my gray matter around, but I wasn’t successful at getting into that position, never mind staying in it long enough to enjoy the moment.

I am an artist who loves to day dream and consider possibilities.  I can get very excited finding the strangest things along the roadway or down a long forgotten trail or path.  I grew up at a time where it was encouraged that we give our imaginations full range.  Given a pencil and paper with a box full of jumbled thread, discarded what nots and old catalogues, WOW I’d be lost in my own world for hours.

Today you go into a store and there is sticker, cut out or stamp for almost everything. How hand made or scrap cards today?  Ok not the time to go into my tirade on now vs. the good “old” days.  The dog shaking off the water that has bogged him/her down makes me smile. The fur/hair needs to be wrung out, simple, shake and shake again.  It’s done.  AND its off we go to play again.

Nature is wonderful isn’t it.  Simplicity is soooo Positive.

Where’s my dog I want a cuddle..  Hugs everyone….

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Even if you don’t have what you need, you will find a way.

Even if you don't have what you need, you will find a way.

If you are fixated on what you don’t have.(ie. language, or understanding of what the characters say) you will not be blessed with wisdom, or an opportunity to solve your problem(s). In PL we say, Think creatively to get past any obstacles in your way.

Every moment that you are with your problem(s) you are not with Tao. The best you can do is remember that your stress is not absolute reality. (Tao,Deng Ming-Dao)

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Sometimes,it takes awhile

2013-01-19 July 8 misc 005Sometimes,it takes awhile

I once was wild about working with gourds. I built or created a bird house with one. It hung from a tree in the back garden. with time and weather it fell and the neck broke off. For some reason I was loath to just throw it away. The main body was rehung, but I kept the neck saving it till I could get back to it. I know that each and every other artist out there has done this in some way, the part of a song that you just can’t finish or get that special riff for. I moved this broken piece of gourd from one place in my work space to another.
Finally this past spring, it was just what I needed to try a new product with.
Once I had made up my mind, things just began to happen.
I can turn it in different directions, and each side gives me a different “story” “view”.. I had no idea what it was, or what to do with it. but.. the finished product made me smile and made me happy.  It was a visual tactile expression I needed to express at that time!  No more no less.

There is a teaching in PL. Once you make up your mind, things will happen. Once you decide you are going to do something, your enthusiasm and focus (mindfulness) will bring forth results. God/Universe will give you aid when you need it most.

Living life as Art, means, go with the flow, create and express yourself, the challenges in life are there to allow us to grow and stretch our talents.  God/TAO is everywhere, and in all things.  Always.  Strive to live in Perfect Liberty  (PL)

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The Flash of Inspiration Is a Gift From God

The Flash of Inspiration Is a Gift From God

When something suddenly clicks or when a great idea suddenly pops into your head, it is actually not something you have control over. Understand that this is wisdom given to you by God. (PL Teaching)

In meditation, we gain direct awareness that is beyond the image. (Tao)

You can’t ever get everything you want. It is impossible. Luckily, there is another option: You can learn to control your mind, to step outside of this
endless cycle of desire and aversion. You can learn not to want what you want, to recognize desires but not be controlled by them.
~Bhanta Henepola Gunaratana~

The PL Thanksgiving ceremony was wonderful today, the BBQ that followed was delicious. The steaks tender,tender, and the salads a perfect “balance” for the diet conscious. I was told the recipes originated in Brazil (Portuguese), the more I get to experience their cuisine, the more enchanted I become.
Shared community and good food. what a nice way to end the week-end. (yes, I did my best to not over indulge =^_^=)
Blessings everyone…  May your dreams (night journey) inspire you to great expressions tomorrow.  Life is Art!  (PL)

When you are living in-Spirit, you can feel inspired by doing virtually anything – (Dr.Wayne W. Dyer)

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Plan B

Plan B

What started out this lovely coastal blue with white contrast , turned a dull unbecoming drab blue when I photographed it.  Will have another go with the camera later, here it is after some” photo shop”.  Purple is a spiritual colour, so I’m happy with the digital changes till next time I get to play =^_^=

PL teaching – Challenge yourself, when you encounter a new situation, something unexpected, be creative.

Medium – acryrlic paint and a product called Kroma crackle
on 4″ diameter card stock

Dealing with the unexpected is what keeps life interesting!
I’m still having a great day, are you? sure hope so.  =^_^=

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Have the Courage to Take the First Step

Have the Courage to Take the First Step

PL teaching day 19
If you are timid, you will never be able to break free and start something new. Believe in yourself and take the first step.

Have the Courage to Take the First Step.n (PL)

The more we do, the more self reliant we are. (Tao)

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