Spiritual Life Coaching - Living in the Heart

By Jason Lincoln Jeffers

Get out of your head and into your heart. When you honor the present moment you become a channel for the will of the Source. The ego is taken out of the equation. It is only during this time when the heart is allowed to lead the mind. This is what I refer to as living with "heart-based intention".

Living in the heart is quite a departure from living in the mind. It means learning how to accept whatever the universe brings to you, unconditionally. Living in the heart is not a life of doing. It is a life of being. More specifically, it is a life of being one with the Now. And when you are one with the Now, you are also one with the Source, which means that you are one with Life.

Presence is the key to living in the heart. It's as if you're saying to the universe, "I trust whatever it is you present to me in this very moment." Remember, whatever the universe presents to you is a gift. This is why it is known as the "present".

When you find yourself becoming irritated, impatient, anxious, or frustrated with challenges that may arise from time to time during your daily life, it is wise to look at these moments as little "alarms" that ring to remind us that we are not what is happening. We are the consciousness behind what is happening. The current human tends to identify so completely with what is happening to them that they forget to create any space in between what is happening and who they are.

The Next Human, on the other hand, will see the present moment for what it is, and therefore find it much easier to honor and accept. There will be no identification with what is happening in the moment, and as a result, there is always space created in between the drama, conflicts, and challenges -- and the true Self. This empowers the Self to live a life of non-reaction, non-resistance, and non-violence.

So, if your desire is to live your life from the heart and not from the mind, then begin by allowing presence to come into your life gradually and steadily. When the phone rings, before breaking all speed records in a rushed attempt to answer it, pause for a few seconds. Become completely present. Once you are centered and your mind is calm, then proceed to answer it. You'll find that the universe will reciprocate the reverence you are giving to it, and will reflect the same respect back unto you. This is the way of the Next Human.

About the Author:

Jason Lincoln Jeffers is a Spiritual Life Coach and the founder of The Art of Transformation, a company devoted to teaching Spiritual Enlightenment to mankind. His Spiritual Life Coaching program uniquely synthesizes spiritual wisdom with self transcendence, holistic health, life path astro-analysis, shadow & pain-body work, heart-based intention, the power of presence, and the law of attraction.

Youth Outreach Ministry Sets Children On The Right Path

By Melody Bensen

Although parents are the most influential people in the life of a child, youth outreach ministry provides a helping hand with this tough job. Children dealing with conflict and disruption at home are often more vulnerable to the negative influence of kids who want to lure them in the wrong direction. Outreach programs have the power to put them onto a straighter path.

During the summer, churches often run week-long camps which kids attend every morning for an hour or two. Between sports drills or crafts they hear the gospel. Even if the participants are very young, there is always a need for teens to be leaders. This requires a high level of accountability and provides a reason for teens to think twice about what examples they are setting to little children.

Large churches usually have a big pastoral staff, with one individual assigned the task of ministering to children. His job is to run weekly groups for young people as well as a few special events. The first part of a regular youth night is dedicated to playing games. After eating a snack, the kids usually listen to a message from the bible and might even break into small discussion groups.

Some teens are familiar with the Old and New Testaments. Others have never been to church. Many have heard of Jesus but do not know who He is.

One reason moms and dads love these programs is that they are free. They usually run from one and a half to two hours and carry-on regardless of the weather. The kids have fun while also seeing positive examples set by volunteers from among the parents, church members, or even older teens who help out with younger groups.

Youth outreach ministry is not just a full-time job. Pastors who take this kind of role are often available to kids twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Many young people are struggling with difficult life circumstances and trust their pastor and other volunteers to help them make good choices when facing conflict at home or school. Though the work is often exhausting, it is also rewarding to see Jesus change lives.

About the Author:

To meet your youth ministry resources needs, including Christian youth group activities, and other good ideas for youth pastors, pay a visit to CalledToYouthMinistry.com! They offer a truly excellent repository of online videos, youth group discussion ideas, chances to makes connections in the field and online forums for topics pertinent to youth groups. You can find online training in leadership and discipleship there too.