A SPIRITIST PERSPECTIVE
Inspirationally
received by
Yvonne Crespo
Limoges
Especially
during times of personal crisis and worldly turmoil, Spiritists should try to examine
these circumstances by reflection from a basic
spiritual perspective.
As has
been said many times by many people, we are ALL spirits living a human
experience.
We must
remember we (as spirits incarnated on earth with a physical body, or as spirits
in the spirit world) are ALL equal before the Creator, and not one of us is
more important than another. In addition, we are ALL subject to the same
perfect and natural Divine Laws.
We each
have freewill to choose whatever pathway we want in our material lives, and we all
either enjoy or suffer the consequences of our choices (individually and
collectively).
All of
us live together to learn from each other, many times in very painful ways.
However, if we learn something, that is the most important thing for our own
personal progress and for the progress of humanity as a whole.
Let us
not forget, we have lived countless material existences!
In each one,
all we can hope for is that we have not remained stationary in our moral and
intellectual progress, but that we will have
made
some effort to be a little more advanced upon leaving each material life, then
when we first entered it.
Life is one
continuous chain with our spirits living alternating lives in a material world,
and also living in a spiritual world.
Spiritists
should to take a long-term perspective view regarding the personal events in
our lives as well as the worldly events that occur on our particular planet.
All life
is CHANGE, and due to all of our imperfections, there are growing pains in this
evolutionary process.
The
pendulum of the different conflicting types of ideas and actions of human
beings swing back and forth, until eventually there will be an intellectual,
moral and spiritual equilibrium which provides for a higher and more advanced level
of existence. It is a very, very slow process. However, one that will eventually
provide for a more peaceful, fraternal and loving humanity. Let’s be hopeful!
OUR LEADERS
Written
by Yvonne Crespo Limoges
We are all
morally responsible for the all the wrong we do, and all the good we could have
done, but do not do throughout our lives.
As a
human being, we are responsible for ourselves and how we affect others. Some
people may have only a relatively small number of people they influence in
their whole life.
However,
those in important leadership roles…whose decisions affect people in the
hundreds, thousands, or millions…and especially world leaders, even more so;
the responsibility they morally assume is enormous.
Decisions
made by these leaders can even have a tremendous impact for many generations to
come.
Pray for
your leaders no matter who they are.
Pray
they listen to the inspiration of their morally superior spirit protectors
(everyone has them) that want them to carry out their duties responsibly and
make important decisions with rational thinking, compassion, fairness, and justice
for the common good.
Those
who abuse their positions of authority will pay dearly, by suffering greatly in
either this lifetime or in future lives, for any wrong they commit. Unfortunately,
the power that comes with important leadership positions tempt many to misuse
it. However, in order for our world to progress, we do need people to become leaders…to
promote ideas and inspire others, hopefully towards goodness!
May God
bless all the leaders (in whatever capacity) in our world to help the people on
our planet to the best of their ability for peace, charity and fraternal love!
WHAT DO YOU FIND AT A
SPIRITIST CENTER?
Written by Sabrina
When you enter a Spiritist center, you do not
become a medium unless your organism provides you already are one; you do not
begin to see or hear spirits.
When you enter a Spiritist center, there is no message from the Superior Spirits that is directed exclusively to you. Neither will your disembodied family members send you messages telling you what you should or should not do with your life.
When you enter a Spiritist center, people will not tell you who you were or did in your past lives. If this information was needed you would remember it on your own. Just know that you reap today what you planted in other existences so that you can sow more wisdom and love today.
When you enter a Spiritist center, you do not receive the magical solution to solve your problems. Your pain will continue to exist; your losses, your hurt, your relationship difficulties or whatever you face in life.
When you enter a Spiritist center, you are definitely not saved. A place in heaven can never be bought…the idea of heaven for Spiritism has nothing to do with angels playing a harp in the clouds, but only with a clear conscience of duties fulfilled.
The truth, which few understand or want to understand, is that when you begin to attend a Spiritist center absolutely nothing changes in your life. Believe it. Nothing at all.
When you enter a Spiritist center, there is no message from the Superior Spirits that is directed exclusively to you. Neither will your disembodied family members send you messages telling you what you should or should not do with your life.
When you enter a Spiritist center, people will not tell you who you were or did in your past lives. If this information was needed you would remember it on your own. Just know that you reap today what you planted in other existences so that you can sow more wisdom and love today.
When you enter a Spiritist center, you do not receive the magical solution to solve your problems. Your pain will continue to exist; your losses, your hurt, your relationship difficulties or whatever you face in life.
When you enter a Spiritist center, you are definitely not saved. A place in heaven can never be bought…the idea of heaven for Spiritism has nothing to do with angels playing a harp in the clouds, but only with a clear conscience of duties fulfilled.
The truth, which few understand or want to understand, is that when you begin to attend a Spiritist center absolutely nothing changes in your life. Believe it. Nothing at all.
Unless you make the decision to change,
unless you realize that you need to make improvements in yourself; that you
accept the invitation of inner and moral reform, everything will continue the
same way it already was. No one can live our lives, or give us the steps
that fit us. It is up to each of us to build our own happiness. This notion of individual
responsibility, so little considered nowadays, is certainly one of the
first lessons, among many others, that you will learn when you actually enter a
Spiritist center.
(At http://letraespirita.blogspot.com.br/ translated from
Portuguese into English by Yvonne C. Limoges)
DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Inspirationally received by Alysia Pape
Being taught to turn the other cheek, and leading that way of life, especially
during the holidays, please forget all hate. Forget all grudges, anger,
prejudices, anything that blocks you from being a good person as much as one
can. Even if this way of life is completely unfamiliar, or been forgotten, or is
simply found to be unable to be done all year. During the holidays, when
everyone generally gets together, try to forgive and forget.
See how much lighter the soul feels, how much weight is lifted? The
spirit was being used to maintain a state of negative emotions. The soul is
energy and if used in the correct way, more energy can be used for good
thoughts, words, and deeds. All of which are passed on, through a ripple effect
such as in a pool of water.
A kind act never goes to waste; once started it continues to be passed
on to many others, be it direct and/or indirect actions. However, if there are
not enough souls starting the ripple - happiness, love, joy and hope lose to
the feelings of negative emotions.
Only worry about the responsibilities that are a necessity. Do not
think about trivial distractions that lead away from good thoughts, words and
deeds. The soul will then have more energy, positive spirits around them, pass
on positive energies, and may even help improve one's aches and pains, as well
as emotions and attitudes.
TECHNOLOGY: SOME PROBLEMS
Written by Alysia Pape
With all the fabulous new technology, the world has come up with, like:
cars that park themselves, stop from crashing, some even drive for you. There seems
to be no balance or stopping point set for computer use doing as many things as
possible, so we do not have to do very much of anything. A cellular phone is
now a small computer that you can link your bank accounts to, pay all your
bills automatically, then connect to your car so you can talk on the phone
while driving. If you're really lucky you have 4 to 5 devices that can do all
of these things and more.
Are we headed to the slow death of the thinking brain? People no longer look or even talk to each
other at restaurants. The entire place except for the cashier, maybe, will be
eating with their face staring into their cell phone or tablet, or something
computer-like.
There is a large group of people solely growing up intimately
interconnected with computers. Some do not want to drive or learn how. They may
not really know how to speak in direct conversational to others or they may feel
a self-created anxiety due to insufficient human contact. Some will never know
life other than through Google and Wikipedia.
The goal of using all these devices is supposed to save time to do
better things. Then you see them and their
“better things.” They watch football on their smart TV, play online 5 player
shooting games, or squeeze in another computerized exercise session. Some will
do good things like take on-line college classes and tutoring, learn another
language, discover new knowledge, or learn new skills to improve their life.
These are the things that people should be doing with all these devices. Please
try not to be glued all day to any kind of personal computer device that seems
to do everything for you. It prevents you from actually experiencing your
own life.
And, when was the last time you visited your mother, father, your grandmother/father,
who may not know the first thing about the new remote control they had to get,
let alone their cell or smart phone? Did you talk and enjoy their company? Did
you notice how they may have changed or need your help? Did you help them?
When was the last time you unplugged yourself from the device glued to
your hand all night, while brushing your teeth, getting dressed, driving to
work, on the desk at work, in your hands as you eat lunch, then while driving
home, and in your face while you're eating dinner with your family, so you
don't miss the notification “You have email” for the flash sale in one of your
favorite stores?
When was the last time you remember being outside, or enjoyed looking
at a natural beautiful anything…made by God (this includes people), however,
not through high definition digital pixels?
MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
Written by Alysia Pape
Getting
the most, biggest, best, newest – of material things, this happiness is not permanent.
It seems now the holidays has become a grand day of who gets what for whom, and
especially with Christmas, not about the actual teachings of Jesus.
If you cannot
make the change all at once to focus more on the moral teachings, at least
spend more time thinking about the gifts you give.
Sure, it
might be nice to give your mother an emerald bracelet. However, maybe she really
needs something more useful; something fixed or something she hasn’t had a
chance to buy?
Also, making
holiday decorations with your little ones instead of buying them, allows you to
spend meaningful time making memories together. Maybe in time, those made as a
family will be the ones fought over for their sentimental value when you have
passed on. The ones made by and with family have been built on love and that
will be reminisced upon. Create other family traditions that can always be cherished.
Even if
you have a favorite person to whom you would buy anything for, maybe they would
just simply enjoy, most of all, a visit and your company.
Think first,
and then give. It will be much more satisfying to know the person will truly cherish
and be thankful of what they receive.
Above all,
think about of the teachings of Jesus, for that is what the holiday was made
for!
*******
We thank
God for the many great souls from many nations, down through the ages, who have
brought us enlightened teachings of forgiveness, compassion, love, charity, and
peace! - Y.L.
PRAYER FOR ASSISTANCE
“Beloved
Guardian Spirits, who God in His infinite mercy has permitted to assist
mankind, be our protectors during all life's tests!”
“Give us
the necessary strength, courage and resignation; inspire us towards all that is
good, and restrain us from the downward incline to evil;
may your
sweet influences fill our souls; make us feel that a devoted friend is by our
side, who can see our suffering and who participates in all our joys.”
“And
you, our Spirit Protector, never abandon us because we need all of your
protection to be able to support with faith and love the tests that God has
sent us.” AMEN
(From the Prayer section of Kardec’s The Gospel according to
Spiritism translated into English by Janet Duncan)
****
This is our last newsletter for year 2016.
We pray that the Spirits of Progress and Divine Love
assigned to our planet spread their blessings and healing vibrations for compassion,
reconciliation, inspiration towards goodness, charity, spiritual progress and
efforts towards fraternity among all. May
their sacred blessings spread peace and love to all of humankind in the upcoming
New Year!
May God
bless all!
Spiritist Society of Florida
*********************************
Edited by
Yvonne Crespo Limoges, Director
E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com
Spiritist
Society of Florida
5042 22 Avenue North,
St. Petersburg, Florida 33710 Website: www.spiritistsocietyfl.com