god is knocking at your door

8/12/2019 God is Knocking at Your Door

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God Is Knocking At Your DoorA leaf floats on the surface of the water, drifting

downstream without any effort on its own part.Viewed through the lens of a video camera, focusedonly on the leaf, it appears to be motionless. Zoomingthe lens out to cover the full width of the stream andholding the camera still, the leaf passes through thepicture almost as a blur, this time with the impressionthat only the leaf itself is moving.

And so it is with life. There are times when wefeel as though our journey has come to a halt, thatnothing is happening, and other times when we feel

out of control, unable to put the brakes on or steer anew course. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.Like the leaf, our lives are always in motion, on ajourney to somewhere. The difference is that we areeither on an Upward Bound journey, or were bumpingalong the rocky path of cause and effect.

One person I read about put it this way, Were allin motion: our bodies, our thoughts, our emotions, ourspirits. Nothing sits still for even a second. And wereall either on our bliss track, as Joseph Campbell put it,

or were off track and four-wheeling through somecrazy wilderness. Always trying to find ourselves. 1.

The Daily Word gives us this insight: Life is anongoing series of journeys. Some are momentous,such as the journey that began when we took in thatfirst breath of life. Many are less dramatic, but still partof the sequence of events that have brought us towhere we are today. 2.

Wouldnt it be wonderful if we could choose thejourneys that lead us to our highest and best good; the

journeys that provide satisfaction, fulfillment andDivine Order? I believe we can and we are given everyopportunity to make that choice. The Bible is filledwith all the messages youll ever need to understandthis idea: Seek and you shall find, knock and the doorwill be opened for you (Luke 11: 9); Whatsoeveryou ask in prayer, believing, you shallreceive (Matthew 21:22); Your Father knows what

Issue # 24

Art Holt photo

1. Via Positiva, Rev. Howard Hanger2. Dsaily Word, August 2006

UPWARD BOUND J *O *U *R *N *A * L

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FOR YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH


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things you have need of, before you askHim (Matthew 6:8); For I know the plans I havemade for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper youand not harm you, plans to give you hope and afuture (Jeremiah 29:11).

When we lived in Naples I used to see a veryelderly man dressed smartly in a dark suit and tie,wearing a lightweight black raincoat and a dapper strawhat, carrying a black briefcase. Despite thetemperature and humidity, even in the August heat, Iwould spot him walking in the business and residentialneighborhoods as though he were on an importantmission. Watching him, I began to wonder, what ifthis old man was God and He came to my front doorloaded with the great books of knowledge, offering me

the wisdom of life just for the asking.

What if He came to your front door and told youthat he had an incredible, wonder-filled plan for yourlife, a Divine Plan, greater than anything you couldpossibly imagine for yourself, and that it was entirelyfree. Nothing down! No monthly payments! Nointerest, ever! Yours for the asking!

Would you say, Wow! Thank You, God! This isexactly what Ive been praying for.

Or, would you say something like, Oh, thats all

right God. I really appreciate You thinking about me,and all that, but, you see, I kinda like doing my ownthing. You know, making my own mistakes, gettingknocked down every once in a while; struggling tomake my way back up, just sort of dealing with thenormal peaks and valleys of life. Ive gotten used tomaking hard work out of everything too; in fact, itsreally the only way I know how to do it. Beside, Iguess I really dont deserve anything better, anyway. Imean, thats life, isnt it?

Do we need to endure making life a struggle?

Well, what if God came dressed as the PublishersClearing House Prize Patrol, carrying an armload ofcolorful balloons and a huge check, TV camerasrolling, would He have a better chance of getting yourattention and giving you your good? Perhaps! Afterall, that is the illusion of a great many people.

Perhaps if we had a better understanding of Godsgrand and wonderful Divine Plan for our lives, thenmaybe wed all be a little more receptive. How wouldyou like a Divine Plan, greater than anything you can

imagine, created just for you, just to make your lifehappy, healthy, abundant, successful, whole andcomplete? What if God could give you a life withpurpose, with the fulfillment of your potential, and joyand wonders thrown in just for the heaven of it!

I believe that there really is just such a plan. Ibelieve God had a Divine Plan for my life, one for yourlife, and one for every life on the planet. Every life thatever has been, is now, or ever will be! Individual,Divinely Ordained Plans, all part of one great hugecollective Divine Plan! All connectedEach one partof the whole; each Divine Plan as individual as asnowflake, yet as unified as the drops of water thatwork together to make up the ocean.

Perhaps the problem is that we dont know how to

become alert to our Divine Plan, or how to recognize itwhen it comes our way. If we have trouble seeing it, orfeeling it, or becoming aware of it, maybe its becausewe have forgotten that we are Spiritual Beings, thebeloved children of God, made in Gods image andlikeness.

Most people think that that we are human beingshaving an occasional spiritual experience. Were asleepto our reality. God has been knocking at our door andweve been asleep on the couch.

Theres a story about an elderly woman who madeher transition, went through the pearly gates of heaven,and was met by an angel who invited her on a tour ofall the wonders and delights of heaven. They went fromone beautiful place to another, and at one point theycame to a vast arena filled with every kind of opulenceone could possibly imagine. It was a truly awesomeplace, but the sign over the entrance read: BrokenDreams and Unclaimed Treasures.

The woman was flabbergasted, but her jaw reallydropped when the angel told her that there were severaltreasures lying there with her name on them.

What could they possibly be? the lady asked.Well, the angel replied, do you see that

beautiful Walnut desk with the computer and the largestack of papers on it?

Sure, she said, but whats that got to do withme?

Remember all those nights you used to lie in bedimagining you were writing a great book?

Oh yes. I remember.Well, those werent dreams; that was God

knocking at your door. See those papers on the desk?

U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * L


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They are the manuscripts you could have written, andthose are some of your books in that library over there.God had a plan for your life, but you didnt get it.You

didnt hear it. You didnt believe you could do it.Another example is that of Fred James; his life

was a series of struggles. No matter what he tried, italways seemed to be one step forward and two stepsback. He was frustrated and loosing ground with hismarriage and his finances. Life was not only a

downward spiral, but he realized it was virtually emptyof meaning. Finally he woke up to the fact that heneeded to make some changes in his life, to turn it in anew direction. The qualities of joy, purpose, love,harmony, fulfillment, and abundance were almostcompletely absent and he felt a longing in his soul, inparticular a longing to return to something Godly...even though he couldnt quite discern what thatsomething was.

Perhaps that was the single thing that was trulymissing. Something Godly. His life had become soabsent of any spiritual connection, it was impossiblefor him to feel any sense of the spiritual contentment.He awoke to a desire to find a connection with God.His inner call was the basic human need to experiencesome sort of Spiritual Oneness, to somehow knowGod. That basic human need for oneness is how werespond to God knocking at our door. A journey toOneness is one in which we find and fulfillGods Divine Plan for our lives.

Still, the way we go about finding that onenessdoesnt necessarily bring it about. Sometimes we seek,but do not find, as was true for Fred, because he was

looking out there. He was looking for something toHave, not understanding it was something he neededto Be.

Freds Journey to Oneness became one thatmoved from looking to get happiness orcontentment from the world around him, toseeking ways of expressing that Oneness to theworld instead.Its like boredom. Boredom comesnot from the lack of something to do, but the lack ofsomething to besomething worthwhile andmeaningful.

Bishop Fulton Sheen said we need a purpose andwe need to fulfill that purpose in our life, and when wedont we get restless and bored. He says, People needto have something to do and to live for, because when

life has no meaning, no purpose, it becomes full oftedium and mediocrity. It becomes very boring. Theconsequence is a personal loss of peace of mind. Wereno longer Upward Bound, were Bound Up.

Its like the person who thinks life has becometerrible because no one loves them, but what has madeit terrible is that they are not letting their own loveflow from within. They think that love is somethingthey have toget instead ofgive.

Gods Plan for Your Life is a journey of giving and

receiving, not just getting. Our oneness with God isnot just being open and receptive to receivingGods presence in our life, but it is giving our timeand energy for that presence; giving ourappreciation to that presence; giving our soul as apartner with that presence. When we getconnected with that state of consciousness we willbegin to become aware, and then fulfill the PlanGod has created for our life.

Angie Brooks

God has had a plan for everyones life, andperhaps this story will demonstrate that idea.

Angie Brooks was the daughter of a minister inLiberia, one of nine children, and though her fathermade enough to support the family when they servedout in the countryside, things got tough financiallywhen they were moved into the capital city ofMonrovia. Angie was asked to live in the foster homeof a Mrs. Anderson.

The woman became like an aunt to Angie duringtheir years together and, later, when Mrs. Anderson

was dying, she made a request of the young teen-agerShe said, Angie, promise that you will go the UnitedStates to study and then work with your people.Angie promised she would.

But the promise seemed impossible. She wantedto study law but had no money. The Liberiangovernment helped to pay college costs, but only formedical students. Angie went to church and prayed.Her minister came over and talked with her, and heardabout her impossible dream.

I might be able to help, he said. I know some



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people at Shaw University in North Carolina and theymight offer you a scholarship. He would send a letterof recommendation.

A few weeks later she received a reply, a

scholarship was hers if she could get to the UnitedStates. In those days it was possible to see the presidentof the country about such matters and so she made anappointment. The president told her, The governmentallows grants to medical students. Are you studyingmedicine?No, Mr. President. I want to study law, she said.

The president was silent for a moment and thensaid that perhaps they could make an exception in hercase. She was given a $500 grant.

Excited, she left his office, went out and paid offher debts, and had $200 left for her ticket. She packed

and went to the dock, but when she got there foundout that the ticket price had gone up $100 to $300. Shestood on the pier and cried.

A native man who had come to the pier to sell rawrubber saw her and asked if he could help. Perhaps Icould sell your gold chain for you. Trusting thisstranger she agreed and shortly he came back with$37.50. It was a big help, but not nearly enough.

By then a small crowd gathered around and a mangave her ten dollars that he had planned to send to hisdaughter. I will find another ten dollars to send to her

shortly, he said. This you need now. Then a very tallman came up and said, let me have the money toshow others just how close you are. Maybe they willpitch in too.

Almost afraid not to trust, she gave the man hermoney and he held it high in the air, loudly drummingup additional contributions. Just as the ships crewbegan to raise up the gangplank, the man returned andhanded her the money, $303 dollars in all. Quickly shegot her ticket and hurried aboard, while the strangerswho had gathered to help her gave her a big cheer.

All these strangers, her parents, Mrs. Anderson,the president and the minister included, became anintegral part of the fulfillment of her Divine Plan. Yousee, Angie not only completed her law studies in NorthCarolina, but she went on to become the President ofthe United Nations General Assembly. . . serving herpeople from Liberia just as she had promised.

God has a plan for your life that is greater thananything you can imagine. There are no limits unlessyou limit yourself. God is not going to show up at your

door looking like an Encyclopedia Salesman, but Godwill show up in your life and show you the way if yousimply turn your thoughts in His direction.

As we said in the beginning, throughout the Bibleyou will find many messages to guide you inunderstanding this idea. Seek and you shall find,knock and the door will be opened for you (Luke 11:9); Whatsoever you ask in prayer, believing, you shallreceive (Matthew 21:22); Do not be conformed tothis world, but be transformed by the renewal of yourmind (Romans 12:2); Your Father knows what thingsyou have need of, before you ask Him (Matthew 6:8);For I know the plans I have made for you, declares theLord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans togive you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

The future is yours. Speak your prayers and listenfor the answers; God will knock at your door too.

And so it isGod Bless you,Amen.



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I invite you to take a moment now to feel the

joy of relaxation, and the peacefulness of allowing

your concerns to simply dissolve into the invisible

realm of contentment. Slowly begin to take in

and release one or two deep refreshing breaths.Peace, bestill.

My Life is Filled with Gods Goodness

and Grace

And now, as you relax even further, just

allow this prayer to be your prayer, these words

to be your words, universal joy to be your joy.

Lord, the music of the silence opens the

window to my soul. Here in the softness of

quiet sounds I feel the peace and calmness I

have longed for. I am now open and receptive

to Your living Spirit of Truth. I am open to Your

loving guidance. I am open to Your Presence

and to the awakening of that part of me where I

become consciously aware of the abundance of

goodness that is such an important part of my

life.

Where ever I turn, Your good is already

there, awaiting me. Whichever direction my life

seems to take, You have gone before me to

prepare the way. Thepath I walk is not on

rough stones newly paved, or overgrown and

forgotten by lack of use, but a path worn

smooth by the many times you have walked it

for me in anticipation of my awakening to

Your Spirit guidance.

At every milestone that marks the

progress along my individual life path, there is a

reminder, not only of Your Omnipresence, but

of the love You pour out for methrough the

gifts of both substance of life and the essence

of joy and peace. Sometimes the gifts take on

human form, through friendships and

acquaintances that enrich and support my life;

or that give me extra strength to face and

overcome a challenge; or to fill me with

laughter and joyfulness in moments of real

celebration.

Sometimes the gifts are simply the

awareness of the scent of a rose that

sweetens a day made sad by the passing ofa

friend. Or the sound of a stream of water

rippling over and around granite boulders,

etching them smooth, and reminding me how

infinite time is in Your Presence.

Sometimes the gifts are material in

nature, teaming with living substance and

prospering manifestations. And sometimes the

gifts are simply the silence itself, where I can

feel lifted by a sense of gratitude and

thanksgiving. And sometimes the gifts come

when I think I am least worthy to receive them.But, there are always gifts. My life is filled

with Your gifts and my cup truly overflows with

Your goodness and Your grace. Lord, my heart

swells with joyful gratitude as I realize that I am

one of Your beloved children. I feel wonderfully

blessed and privileged to have the life you have

given me.

I begin now to let my thoughts return to an

awareness of this physical place and this

passing moment of time. As I focus on taking inanother life sustaining deep and refreshing

breath, I begin to feel the life energy circulating

throughout my body. I am once again aware of

the friends and loved ones nearby and even

those beyond the distance of my reach. I feel

the Divine connection with all of life and

particularly with the enriching energy of your

living presence. It is all here and now and I

realize just how blessed my life has become

this day.

Thank You, God, for everything!

Thank You, God.

Amen

M E D I T A T I O N


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WORDS TO LIVE BY

We are guided by our knowledge that our thoughts andwords create our reality. Let us acknowledge another word that

will impact our lives in wonderful ways if we give it its proper due.

The word... CrossRoads

God has a Divine Plan of good for each of ourlives, but has endowed us with the gift of free will aswell. We can choose to be guided by Gods plan or goour own way, facing our challenges and struggles alone.Gods Divine Plan takes free will into consideration,providing a Divine option whenever were ready to

make that choice. The moment we choose Thy Wayover my way we come to a CrossRoads.

Trying to slay our dragons alone, we go fromchallenge, to struggle, to resolution. Often theresolution means we get knocked down and thechallenge may even get worse. Because we aredisconnected from our Divine Plan we repeat theprocess again and again. Meanwhile, we are unawarethat there is another choice available that will realignour present circumstances with the Divine Plan ofgood.

But, when we turn to God for guidance throughpositive and affirmative prayers, strengthened by ourfaith, and giving our attention to a time of silentmeditation, we come to a Divine CrossRoads.Suddenly an unforeseen option appears out of nowhere;we get an idea and can see a way out; the world comesforward to provide assistance; we let go of the struggleand trust our guidance. Whether were aware of it ornot, weve chosen to follow Gods Divine Plan, wereUpward Bound, and the resolution that results is truly

for our highest and best good.

Finding your CrossRoadsmay be the best blessingof your life.

A Seed Thought from Art Holt

Upward

Bound

Journal

A Unity Publishing Ministry

Rev. Arthur Holt,

Unity Minister

Dottie Holt,

Licensed Unity Teacher

Upward Bound of Unity, Inc.10870 SW 71st Circle

Ocala, FL 34476

Phone (352) 861 -5518

Email: [email protected]

Upward Bound Journalis a Unity publishing ministrybased on Biblicalteachings and dedicated to writing and presentingspiritual, inspirational, and metaphysical principleswhichempower people to enrich and transformtheir lives.

For more information about Upward Bound check ourwebsite:

www.upwardboundjournal.com.

Issue # 24

Upward Bound Journalis of Upward Bound of Unity,Inc.

Member: Association of Unity Churches International, SunCoastUnity Ministers Association, and affiliated with: Unity School ofChristianity and Silent Unity, publishers of Daily Word.

U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * L LLL

WORDS WE CAN LIVE BY


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U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * U P W A R D B O U N D J * O * U * R * N * A * L LLL

May you be blessed with laughter, love, joy, health and prosperity as you experience the presence ofGod active in your life.

Rev. Art & Dottie Holt

Online Bonus Page

God Has A Plan For Me

By Art Holt

High on a forested mountain, lost on a path in the trees,Alone with my thoughts, held back by my fears,I finally got down on my knees.Oh God, I called out; Which way should I go?My Lord, help me please?And I wondered

Does God have a plan for me?

And then in the silence, a Still Small Voice simply said:Leave your ego behind; follow Me and youll find, a whole new world of success.Your life I have planned, with wonders so grand, through you and to others Ill bless.So turn your fears into faith, trust in Me as you pray, And I will guide you each step of the way.Just release your concerns and your life soon youll see; Will have wonders that will never cease.Then I thought

God does have a plan for me.

I opened my eyes and there at my feet, was a tiny mountain stream,The forest had parted, permitting a view of a sunlit valley scene.The beauty from there to the horizon, was a symbol of Gods covenant with me.

God showed me a plan that was greater, than anything I ever dreamed,And I knewGod had a plan just for me.

I was not alone on that mountain, any more than you could be.For God has a plan for your life, even better than the one for me.So release your worries and follow Him, and transformed your life will be;For God has a plan to enrich your days, with wonders that will never cease.And then you will see

God has a plan just for you.

god is knocking at your door

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