Grief and the Law of Attraction

I came to reaize that the last time I posted a blog here was in December 2009. That should tell you something.

Unbeknownst to me was the fact that 2010 would be the year my mother passed away and all of 2010 was a buildup to that although I didn't realize it at the time. Her ultimate death was sudden and unexpected but the entire year was focused on her since she had constant knee and back problems -otherwise she was quite healthy.

I could write a tome on taking care of an aging parent when you're also following your dream of being an entrepreneur, but that will be another post.

For now I just want to say the the grief I experienced after her death was heart-wrenching. For all the "arguments" we had and the normal mother-daughter stuff, when I realized she was "gone forever" it was overwhelming.

Despite a wonderful support network or family and friends, I dropped out of site, just wanting to crawl into the cave of grief and despair. I decided to do a "year of mourning."

I'll have much more on the process of grief but I will say for now that despite my sorrow, I never lost site of the the law of attraction and the realization that drowning in my sorrows would only make it worse.

I am just now emerging out of a walking depression, but I am much stronger. While I still feel an immense pain when I think about my mother or talk about her with family and friends, I know that my best course is yes, to think about something positive and to look up and next back. I've said to myself and others I don't want to become a pillar of salt (like Lot's wife) by focusing on the past. After my father's funeral many years ago, when we were waking away from the church, my mother told me not to look back. I didn't really know what she meant at the time, but now I do.

I am determined to stay in a "high vibration" no matter what. I have great work ahead of me and I am determined to help others.

Are you still suffering from grief? Feel free to share your story here. And for others, I would love to hear how you overcame your grief.

"The Lost Message" - Oh, Really?

It recently came to my attention that a new personal development movie is in the works entitled "The Lost Message." If you go the website, the trailer indicates many of the participants of "The Secret" are involved.

Well, obviously I haven't seen this movie, neither do I know more about it than basically what the trailers say. From the few posts I have read, however, it appears that the movie is some kind of continuation of "The Secret," - that something was left out of "The Secret." Oh, really?

What I DO know for sure is that I feel like saying here we go again. "The Lost Message" mania is about to begin in three months when the movie is released.

I saw "The Secret" DVD early on and didn't have any problem with it since I was well familiar with the Law of Attraction. I had been exposed to the concept in the
1960s. It wasn't until I read the book version of the movie that I became concerned about what masses were being taught. For an in-depth discussion on this, you can visit my website at The Law of Attraction for Christians.

Regarding "The Lost Message" my question is what message could possibly have been lost?

In a world where Jesus Christ is increasingly viewed as just another enlightened master and where Christianity and religion are anathema to many, "The Lost Message" would appear to be another glowing example where people are being led AWAY from the true source of knowledge and how to live your life -- "The Bible."

It's not so much that I view what is taught in "The Secret" as wrong, it's just that without the proper backup, people struggle to "get" the Law of Attraction. As a coach I work with people all the time who say they've been working with the Law of Attraction but not getting the results they want - what are they doing wrong?

The whole strength of the Bible is that it is GOD speaking. And I can assure you that virtually every self-help book that has been written is rooted in Biblical principles whether the author acknowledges it or not.

There are so many mysteries and answers to mysteries written in the Bible it is amazing. Yet a very popular teacher of the Law of Attraction essentially makes fun of "the Good Book" and claims never to have read it.

Which brings me back to "The Lost Message." As I look at the participants listed, I know that at least two of them have publicly acknowledged that they accept Jesus "the Christ" as a teacher but not as their personal savior.

I truly hope that I am proved wrong on this but I can only anticipate that "The Lost Message" will somehow or the other take people even further away from the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

I am almost willing to bet that the so-called "lost message" will come from some obscure source and that people will get even further caught up in the loop of trying to find the truth and the meaning of life. This will mean tons of "The Lost Message" DVDs, books, audios, home studies and other marketing paraphernalia for seekers to feed on and still never get to the true source of wisdom and power.

Oh that they simply would dust off their trusty Bible or buy a new one! There's truly a Bible for everyone these days, no need to waddle through the King James Version.

As one who has gone down the new age path long before it mainstreamed itself into our society, I can assure you without a doubt, that all the self-help knowledge can be found in the Bible, no matter when, how, or how many times the Bible may have been written, re-written and all the questions and "controversies" surrounding it.

There is a parable in the Bible about the lost sheep. It is my sincere prayer that they hear the call of the true shepherd's voice and don't get even more lost in "The Lost Message."



If you like this blog, you may feel free to use it in your newsletter or
e-zine with proper credit as indicated below.

Copyright 2009, Paula Quick, Law of Scripture Coach (www.lawofscripturecoach.com)

There's A Mean-Spiritedness Out There

I recently read a blog about a trend that the author, Staci Shelton, referred to as "Spiritual Bulimia."

You see it all the time on Twitter, Facebook, et al, the endless "spiritual quotes" where Staci questions whether or not the person posting the quotes is really walking the talk.

I want to take this a step further -- a trend I see out in the world versus the sheltered confines of social networking, if you will.

Watch TV, read the newspaper (yes, people still do that!) and it's obvious that there are some mean people out there - you know, the ones that probably have never heard of Neville, Wallace Wattles and "New Thought."

God has recently planted me in an assignment with people who definitely are not amongst my Twitter and other social media site followers.

As an entrepreneur where you're darting in and out of various venues on assignments I have seen a mean-spiritedness in the work force that is absolutely revolting. People showing no respect for management, internal conflicts, an "it's all about me" mentality seems to typify the attitude of a lot of the employees who are are there these days. And forget gratitude for even having a job. It seems that some people are used to having so little it must be hard to truly be grateful to have a job during this economic climate.

Oftentimes, these same people talk about going to church and are the ones who are resolute in saying they can only work during certain hours on Sundays. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Think of the mean-spiritedness you see outside of the workplace. Remember Britney Spears' meltdown last year and that picture of her venomously bashing a car with an umbrella?

So where is this mean-spiritedness coming from in a society that embraces Oprah and her "Secret, New Earth" empire and where some of the biggest troublemakers are the ones who "go to" church?

I think it has to do with a breakdown in our society and spread of false spirituality, i.e spirituality that is not in full alignment with the teachings of Jesus Christ, and a society wherein the door to demonic forces is left wide open through violent movies and video games, the whole Goddess movement, Wicca and other practices which neutralize the Bible and all its teachings.

Jesus clearly says "I am the way and the truth and the life" in John 14:6. "No one comes to the Father except through me," he continues. The problem today is that people aren't even wanting to come to the Father (check the whole Goddess thing) and they're certainly not wanting to come to Him through Jesus (Michael Beckwith of "The Secret" nonchalantly calls him Jesus THE Christ).

A lot of people don't realize it but there is a whole occultist movement at hand, which is becoming so mainstreamed into our society, as to be seamless. Unfortunately, with that movement, God, as in Biblical God, not metaphysical or Universe God is getting edged off the throne for something more homogenized and
user-friendly, so to speak. Jesus' birth, death and resurrection somehow get "lost in translation" in this new spirituality. Gee whiz, a person cannot even claim to be religious these days with being branded with scarlet letter "R."

So given what's happening with the rise of pseudo-spirituality and the decline of claiming to be "religious," is there any wonder there is a mean-spiritedness running rampant in our society?

You're also probably wondering what then is the solution?

Stay tuned for Part 2, but in the meantime, feel free to post your comments.

Worried? Upset? Here's a Memo From God

Someone sent this to me and I wanted to share it during a time which is filled with worry and uncertainty for many:

MEMO FROM GOD:

Effective immediately, please be aware that there are changes you need
to make in your life. These changes need to be completed in order that I
may fulfill my promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in
this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. I know, I already gave you the 10 Commandments. Keep them. But follow these guidelines, also.

1. QUIT WORRYING
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you
forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for
you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes
your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST
Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR
list. Put it on MY to-do-list! . Let ME be the one to take care of the
problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to me. And although my
to-do-list is long, I am after all, God. I can take care of anything you
put into my hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take
care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. TRUST ME
Once you've given your burdens to me, quit trying to take them back.
Trust in me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs,
your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on my
list. Problem with finances? Put it on my list. Problems with your
emotional roller coaster? For my sake, put it on my list. I want to help
you. All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE
Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well,! I'm feeling much stronger now,
I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling
stronger now? It's simple. You gave me your burdens and I'm taking care
of them. I also renew your strength and cove! r you in my peace. Don't you
know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where
you started? Leave them with me and forget about them. Just let me do
my job.

5. TALK TO ME
I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy.
Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But
there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please don't forget to talk to
me - OFTEN! I love you. I want to hear your voice. I want you to include
me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about
your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with
me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. HAVE FAITH
I see a lot of things from up here that you can'! t see from where you
are. Have faith in me that I know what I'm doing. Trust me, you wouldn't
want the view from my eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over
you, and meet you! r needs. You only have to trust me. Although I have a
much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just
doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

What's the Economy Got to Do with It?

By now, I'm hoping most of you have made the association between the title of this blog and the song, "What's Love Got to Do with It?"

With all the media on the troubled economy, it struck me in one article I was reading (although I try not to dwell too much on it), how the last "recession" was in 1973-1974.

It was amazing because I thought back how much my life has changed since then.

In fact the period of 1973-1974 was the beginning of a heydey for me. I had just recently graduated from New York University with a degree in Journalism. I had a choice of two jobs, one was working for the Associated Press (in Des Moines, Iowa, no less). The other was working for advertising giant Ogilvy & Mather off Madison Avenue in New York City.

I was living in Brooklyn with my parents -- in the projects I am proud to say (the Linden Houses to be specific).

In other words, if there was a recession, I did not know it. It never occured to me that I could not get a job, it did not occur to me that my life could not be great. The only thing I remember around that time is about the gas lines -but since I didn't drive (it was New York mind you, the hub of public transportation), even that didn't matter.

All of this was BEFORE the Law of Attraction became the rage and so on. Of course, I always have been a positive thinker. I simply did not dwell on any negativity. In fact, I did not even acknowledge it.

I received a recent loving message from a friend along these lines which reaffirmed what I had been thinking about the past several days.

In challenging times, whether they be economic or not, the essence of who we are DOES NOT change. If we have a history of being successful and overcoming any supposed obstacles, then we can continue down that road because success is in our blood! And even if we don't have an stellar history of success, scientists now say that we can re-wire our brains for something different. It's called neuroplasticity. So see, no excuses!

In conclusion, if you are going to dwell on anything, dwell on your past successes and how God hasn't let you fail before and he won't let you fail now!

By the way, I wound up taking the job at the Associate Press in Des Moines, Iowa. It was one the best years of my life. I met the most amazing people and yes, I learned to drive there!

Voting and Messy Spirituality

No, I am not talking about spirituality within the context of politics, which truly can get quite messy.

I went to vote at 6 a.m. this morning at my local precinct which is in a small church.As I was standing in line I was looking at the artwork on the wall and some oversized postcards that had mini-devotionals on them. I was drawn to a statement about "Messy Spirituality.

Basically, it made reference to the idea that we are all broken and in need of repair. In fact, we are messy. But through it all God is with us. The statement ended with words to the effect that how spiritual it is that even with our mistakes and messes God still allows our light to shine through.

I found this to be very powerful and hope that this sharing encourages someone today.

"Online Marketing Tools for Today's Small Business" Is A Must Read

Hello, Everyone:

With today's new Internet and the rise of social networking, this book is a must read for anyone doing business on the Internet now!

Come join me on this interview with author Rita Cartwright as she shares insights on herself AND her new book.

Also, want a free copy of the book? Rita is giving away a free copy of her e-book to a randomly selected participant at each of her Vitual Blog Tour stops. To qualify, post a comment or question.

PQ: Why did you write this book?

RC: My goal was to create a handbook, which entrepreneurs and small business owners can refer to when they are searching for online marketing tools and/or new marketing ideas. I wrote it for new entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as for those who have been in business a while.

PQ: Tell me about yourself
RC: I’m originally from Arizona and now reside in California. I earned my bachelor’s degree (with Magna Cum Laude honors) from Arizona State University when I was 44 years old. After graduation, I couldn’t find a job; therefore, I decided to start my own business offering online word processing services, which was 6 years ago. At that time, I was not aware of the virtual assistant industry, which I am now a member of. So, I guess you can say I was ahead of the curve.

PQ: What qualifies you to write this book?
RC: Approximately 2 years ago, I started maintaining a blog and writing articles in order to implement the article marketing strategy. (I talk about using this strategy as a marketing tool in my e-book.) Also, while attending college, I learned how to write. I had to write. I remember my English professor saying I should be a writer, because he thought I had the skills. I didn’t take him serious. I was just trying to get through college.

In regards to the subject matter, my background and education in marketing and my experience from operating an online business provide me with the necessary qualifications to write this e-book on the topic of online marketing tools.

PQ: How long have you been an entrepreneur?
RC: I have been an entrepreneur since October 2002. Although I started out as a small business owner, I have become an entrepreneur. There are differences between entrepreneurs and small business owners. In fact, I wrote an article on the differences. It is titled, “Are There Any Differences Between an Entrepreneur and a Small Business Owner?” Ezine Articles is one of the article banks where you can find it.

PQ: What is the e-book about?
RC: This e-book contains information on various online marketing tools, along with some examples and in-depth descriptions of the tools. There is also a resource section that lists websites where you can find the online marketing tools, including “live” links to the websites. The resource section will save your readers a lot of time in Internet research when they are searching for information on online marketing tools.

PQ: What do you want the readers to get out of this e-book?
RC: I wanted to provide those readers, who have a shoestring marketing budget, with information they can use in their online marketing plan or, at least, generate new marketing ideas. Most entrepreneurs and small business owners do not have a large marketing budget. The marketing tools I discuss costs little to no money.

PQ: Can we look for more books from you in the future?
RC: Yes. One of my clients, who is a coach of Christian leaders, and I are currently working together on an e-book. It will be geared towards Christian leaders and Christian virtual assistants. So be on the lookout for that in the near future.

PQ: How can the readers contact you if they have any questions?
RC: Your readers can reach me at 760-631-1335 or toll free at 866-651-3073 or send me an e-mail at rjcartw@rjswordprocessing.com.

PQ: Rita, thank you for stopping by my blog on your tour.
RC: You are very welcome. Thank you, Paula, for having me.