Make the Divine Connection for a Spiritualized Consciousness: Expand Your Awareness and Experience the Power of God’S Love

By Betty Jane Rapin

Betty Jane Rapin became a spiritual student of life at the age of four when she began having extra ordinary experiences, which at that time, she had no idea that the happenings were not common occurrences that others also have. Throughout the seventy-six years of her quest to fi nd answers, she learned many spiritual tips, tools, and techniques, which have enabled her to make the divine connection, and grasp the essence of her true selfSoul.

This Soul awareness made it possible for her to successfully make the divine connection and acquire a spiritualized consciousness, a state of awareness that enables her to perceive life from an enlightened state. Thus, she has found contentmentunderstanding life from Soul perspective. This of course is not with her always, however she has learn how to align with Soul and the guidance of Holy Spirit, when needed. This expanded awareness enables her to experience the power of Gods love.

She shares with you a study plan she calls the Spiritual ABCs of daily life. It helps maintain her spiritual connection with Holy Spirit. Among other things, she shows you how to stay focused, believe in yourself, keep motivated, build spiritual strength, open your heart to God, acquire a spiritualized consciousness, and expand your awareness to view life from Souls perspective. This 360 observation of expanded awareness gives you the alertness to easily recognize and fully understand the oftensubtle power of Gods love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469195223

Betty Jane Rapin

Betty Jane Rapin is a freelance writer who has published more than 250 articles, essays, stories, and poetry in magazines, newspapers, newsletters, Web sites, and three anthologies. She is the author of Dreams Designed by God for You, a study guide and workbook. Besides being a published writer, she is a minister, spiritual teacher, and adult education teacher, and workshop facilitator, inspirational and motivational speaker. Betty has appeared in many radio and television talk shows where she has been interviewed about her personal experiences with dreams, out-of-boy travel, near-death experiences, reincarnation, and many other related spiritual topics.

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Copyright © 2012 by Betty Jane Rapin.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2012906047

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

About the Author

Other Works by Author

Bibliography

I dedicate this book to my beloved children Edward, Elaine, and Michael, whose love, understanding, support, and encouragement have been a vital factor for me on my spiritual journey this lifetime

Preface

When I was fourteen, every Saturday afternoon, my best friend, Jean, and I would go to the afternoon matinee at the local movie theater. When the movie was over, if we had time before the bus was to leave, we would go to Murphy’s 5 and 10 Cent Store to stroll around looking at jewelry or whatever caught our eye.

One particular afternoon, my casual stroll through the store became an earth-shattering event that took me into a new direction in life. As we entered the store, our first stop was the cosmetic counter. The color display of lipstick with nail polish to match fascinated me.

I picked up a tube of bright pink lipstick that I wanted even though I wasn’t permitted to wear any makeup, nor did I have any money for the purchase. The urge to take it overpowered me. Yes, I was tempted to steal.

I felt my heart quicken its beat. I became nervous, so nervous that I started to cough. I reached into my sweater pocket for my handkerchief. When I went to pull out my hankie, I realized the tube of lipstick was in my hand, so I dropped it into my pocket.

I tugged at my girlfriend Jean’s arm, pulling her toward the door, Come on, we better go now, for the bus will be here soon. I was walking at a faster pace than I usually did, when Jean looked at her watch and said, Hey, Betty Jane, what’s the big hurry? She added, We still have ten minutes.

When we got onto the bus, Jean headed for a front seat. I gave her a slight push as I told her to sit in the back. I was glad no one else was sitting in the backseats. I needed the seclusion. My being away from the other passengers made me feel safe.

When we sat down, I took out my lipstick and showed it to Jean. Her mouth opened wide, and her eyes got bigger as she said, No way! I was proud of the way Jean looked at me, as if I had just accomplished a major feat—I felt important.

Thus, this adventure became my new Saturday afternoon hobby: stealing. The next week, I stole the matching nail polish. The third week, Jean decided to try her hand at stealing. She was successful—we now shared a common bond of thievery. It was exciting to have a secret pact.

With each new item I swiped, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I was delighted with my newfound skill. Of course, none of the merchandise ever stayed in the house. I had to conceal it outside in a safe place until I could take it to school and stash it in my locker. All of the ill-gotten loot was for my eyes only—just to look at and never use.

My conscience bothered me a little. Nevertheless, the strong desire to have things I could not afford and knowing I could acquire them by stealing was in the forefront of my mind. My consciousness, clouded by false information, caused me to believe that what I was doing was acceptable—at least to me. I rationalized my desire to pursue stealing merchandise.

Jean and I made a great team, and never being caught in two months gave us the confidence to try using our newfound skills on a grander scale. The story about this adventure, Point of Change, is in chapter 1.

This experience was the turning point for me. It was my wake-up call to change direction in life and alter my destructive state of consciousness. I needed to pay more attention to my conscience and find ways to look at life with a spiritual perspective. Unknowingly, I was starting a spiritual quest to make the divine connection, to spiritualize my consciousness, thus opening my heart to God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Acknowledgments

I am not an expert on making the divine connection and spiritualization of consciousness; however, from my over-seventy years of pursuit to become my spiritual best, I consider myself knowledgeable on these subjects. This book is my point of view, my personal experiences, sharing what I’ve come to learn. I explain: you can make the divine connection, grasp the inner essence, align with the Holy Spirit, and attain a spiritualized consciousness to expanded awareness. So you too can experience the power of God’s love as I have.

Getting to this point in my life was not an easy journey, but it was all well worth it. Even after a major turning point in my life (story in chapter 1) and my desire to change, the spiritual transformation didn’t start coming into being until I was in my midtwenties. It was a slow pace as I weeded my spiritual consciousness garden and planted essential seeds of spiritual wisdom to proliferate within my consciousness.

Having a spiritualized consciousness is not something that stays with me continuously. I work at keeping the divine connection open every day. The motivation for being steadfast in my daily commitment are the benefits I see in my life. Walking with the Holy Spirit is an enjoyable daily adventure filled with love and learning for me, and it can be for you too.

Introduction

Make the Divine Connection is a systematic handbook to spiritual rejuvenation. It gives you guidelines about how you can open your heart to God and receive countless benefits of a new spiritual perspective. This book contains the basic ABC’s I learned and use in my daily life. I’ve discovered a way to tap into the expanded awareness of a spiritualized consciousness. This perception guides me to make choices that have changed my life for the better. You can too!

Read the book at you own discretion. Accept or reject what I have to say; do what you want with the insight I share with you—the choice is yours to make. No matter what religion you embrace, there is always one more step to take in the pursuit to get closer to God.

A spiritualized consciousness is a reachable state of awareness for easy access when you need spiritual guidance. This guidebook explains in detail how to expand your consciousness and maintain the accessibility to this expanded awareness on a daily basis. Throughout the book, you’ll notice repetition of some information. This is to instill the importance of it to take root in your consciousness

You can adapt to the flexibility of a changing consciousness and accept with love all that life brings once you realize each experience is an opportunity to acquire a spiritual insight. As soon as you’re aware, you have access to tap into a spiritualized consciousness, and you can more readily accept unpleasant experiences. You are eager to continue your study.

When I was a teenager, wrong choices put me in a difficult situation. Because of this experience, I began to talk more to God; and more importantly, I began to listen. I started to pay attention to that still-small voice that came as a thought, an image, a feeling, an intuitive nudge or knowingness indicating God is talking to me.

Each spiritual insight I receive came from a golden spiritual seed I planted into my consciousness garden. I didn’t realize it then, but now I know I am actually having a spiritual transformation—a spiritual makeover—becoming spiritually rejuvenated.

Study Course Plan

The book has twenty-six chapters. Choose you own personal study plan. Read one chapter a month, putting into practice your choice of suggested assignment at the end of each chapter over the course of twenty-six months.

Alternatively, consider it a thirteen-month course of study by reading two chapters a month; then put into practice the specific items you have chosen from the suggested assignment list at the end of each chapter. This study course intends to help open new spiritual horizons for the serious student. It may take you three or more years to incorporate all the suggested spiritual assignments.

Or else you may wish to flip through the chapters to choose which of the alphabetized topics you want to read about and work with. However, it’s important you read the first two chapters before flipping through the book to choose which alphabetized topic you want to study. This is your life; work at you preferred pace.

It’s in your best interest if you take each chapter and implement what you have learned in whatever study-plan length you choose, making sure all the chapters have been read. Take your time. It took numerous years of this present life to have the consciousness you now have. To expand it slowly will assure balance emotionally, mentally, and spiritually in your life.

Each chapter contains the following:

¾ A specific letter of the alphabet as the focus for the topics

¾ A picture depicting some of that chapter’s contents

¾ An opening and closing quote by individuals contributing their words of wisdom for the betterment of humanity

¾ Three or more spiritual topics that may also include a personal spiritual experience

¾ A spiritual visualization technique

¾ A checklist of suggested assignments and spiritual tools to implement in your life

The pictures are not in color; therefore, you’ll need to work with the creative power within you to imagine color in the image. Imagination is a divine faculty God has placed within each Soul.

All of this discipline may seem daunting at first and cause you to put off your course of study. Keep focused on the goal of making the divine connection and attaining a spiritualized consciousness that will open your heart to God. Believe in yourself and know with confidence you’re walking a spiritual path taking you closer to God and a more contented life. No matter what comes your way, you’ll be equipped to deal with it emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

For your convenience, there is a complete compilation of every suggested-assignment checklist for all twenty-six chapters following the last chapter. You may copy this for easy access to see the chosen spiritual tools you are currently working with. Are you ready to begin? Go to chapter 1 with the mind-set, I am spiritual a student, on a spiritual journey, to become my spiritual best.

May your spiritual journey bring you many spiritual blessings—turn the page and take your first step on this remarkable journey to spiritual rejuvenation.

Star of God

image001.jpg

Being able to surrender any situation over to God allows the Holy Spirit’s guidance to come forth to show us what to do to help ourselves.

Chapter 1

Mistakes are a great educator when one is honest enough to admit them and willing to learn from them.

—Author unknown

Point of Change

I was born in 1931, the beginning years of the Great Depression, which began with the stock market crash in 1929. This was a widespread economical crisis affecting virtually every country. The devastating effects lasted until the early 1940s with the start of World War II when the economy began to recover.

Because of this lengthy period of financial hardship, being frugal became a way of life for my parents who were preparing for the future by saving as much money as they could to avoid being caught off guard. I resented their thrifty ways, which to me seemed more than necessary, especially when it came to buying me new clothes for the beginning of each school year.

I was starting my first year in high school, and it was very important for me to fit in with the current trends in fashion. Most of my friends were getting new clothes, and I only got one new outfit for the first day. The rest of the year I was destined to wear my same old clothes, some several years old.

I got the idea to buy different colored dyes to change the color of some of my clothes in hopes they would appear to be new. My mother was okay with my attempt to change my wardrobe and even helped me with the process, making sure I knew what I was doing. After all, she was an expert in this department. Our ten-year-old living room drapes always looked new because every three years, my mother dyed them a different color. She did the same with bedspreads.

After just two weeks in school, seeing my friends strutting around in new clothes, I became miserable with my recycled, dyed attire. I longed for some up-to-date clothing. Asking for new clothes was out of the question because I already knew the answer would be no. My parents had no idea about peer pressure and the importance of a teen who’s up-to-date with the current trends in fashion. I was so tired of not fitting in and envious of those who seemingly did belong to the up-to-date, fashionable crowd because of their spanking-new fashionable outfits.

I took a drastic step into the realm of negative behavior that could have led to a life of serious trouble. I did the unthinkable! I stole twenty dollars from my parents’ savings they had carefully tucked in a box hidden under the linens in a cedar chest.

Then my best friend, Jean, and I played hooky from school and went shopping. We got the streetcar and went to another town where we wouldn’t be recognized. When the money was gone, my desire for more shopping was persistent—not because I wanted more clothes, but because the excitement of stealing enthralled me. I loved the thrill of the steal. Shocking but true, this new feeling was quite exhilarating.

Stealing money from my parents and the thought of shoplifting never disturbed me one bit. I justified my actions by blaming my parents for causing my need to resort to this action. Loosening the purse strings for new clothing could avoid my being embarrassed. Yes, they were the wrongdoers, not me.

The year was 1944, a time when merchandise had no security code bars attached, as is the protocol today. In fact, there were no shopping malls and no security guards or security cameras, just individual stores located on a main street of a particular city or town.

The first theft was a blouse that I dropped inconspicuously into my shopping bag. I was cautious to steal only one or two items from a store, then go on to the next. I was filling my shopping bag like an experienced shoplifter. It was, to me, a new exciting game. I felt jubilant.

I cringe now as I write about this experience and my distorted way of thinking. I wasn’t only breaking a physical law but several spiritual laws as well. My immoral behavior didn’t enter my mind as I went about the day taking items without any thought of the consequences. I was happy thinking about which of the outfits I would choose to wear to school the next day.

I had a plan. I made up a story about a rich imaginary friend from school, Annie, whom my mother never met, giving me her unwanted clothes. I took the same route home as if I were coming from school, stopping at Jean’s house to put my plan of deceit into action. She lived with her grandmother who was busy when we arrived and took no notice of us going into Jean’s bedroom.

I removed all the price tags, then wrinkled and smudged dirt on a few items to make them appear previously worn. I even had the audacity to take off my shoes and put on the new fashionable penny loafers that held a penny in a slot at the top of the shoe. Jean got me two used paper grocery bags for my ill-gotten merchandise.

I gathered up the shopping bags, price tags, and all the evidence and put it in the trash can sitting out on Jean’s back porch. I was now ready to go home, confident my parents would believe the lie I had prepared for them. It was a well-thought-out plan—so I thought!

Before I could reach the doorknob, my mom jerked the door open. There she stood, eyes glaring at me, a finger waving in my face, as she loudly asked, Why didn’t you go to school? Why did you take the money? Where were you?

My dad chimed in, You’re in big trouble!

Mom jerked the bag of merchandise from my hand. Terror rushed through my entire body. I stood motionless and stunned at this unexpected reception. My plan of deception no longer filled me with happiness but with the utmost apprehension. I began to cry out of fear of what would happen next.

Mom emptied the shopping bag, dumping the clothes on to the kitchen table. She was furious. You’re taking all these clothes back.

Annie gave them to me, I blurted out in between sobs. They didn’t believe that story, so I continued with more lies. I can’t take them back. I threw away the sales slips and removed the tags.

Silently and panicky, I pleaded to God, Please, God, help! Don’t have them make me take the clothes back. I was terrified, paralyzed with fear at the thought of what could happen if they made me tell from which stores I had stolen the merchandise. I couldn’t move when I was told to sit down and explain myself. Mom grabbed my arm, angrily pushing me on to the kitchen chair, facing the mound of stolen clothes on the table.

I wanted to die right on the spot. Reality came into full focus. Would my parents pry the truth out of me? I couldn’t bear the thought of admitting I was a thief. I would go to jail and be branded a criminal. Silently, with earnest hope, I pleaded with God, Please, God, help me. I promise to be good. I promise to change. I’ll never shoplift again!

My parents sent me to my room while they decided on what to do. I gladly ran upstairs into the sanctuary of my bedroom. Kneeling down beside my bed, with my head bowed in my hands, I began talking aloud, pleading for God’s help to me get out of the super mess into which I stupidly put myself.

A bit later, when Mom called me downstairs for a discussion, I was ready and willing to accept anything just to make it all go away. This misadventure I so wrongly view as an exciting escapade to enhance my wardrobe had turned out to be a nightmare!

My punishment: grounded for three months, do extra chores, pay back the twenty dollars I stole (even if it took me years), and I couldn’t keep any of the merchandise. Mom confiscated every item and gave them to my cousins

That night of my shopping spree, I lay in bed thinking about what I had done. I was so relieved and grateful that the truth was not exposed. I was ashamed, unhappy, and desperately seeking God’s guidance. I was young, foolish, and extremely naïve to think I could get away with fooling my parents.

When I realized how fortunate I was that the incident didn’t turn out as badly as it could have, I gave God my full undivided attention. I was concerned that the pleasure I derived from stealing might tempt me to do it again. Moreover, I realized the next time I may not be so lucky and be exposed, that the truth would prevail—I was a criminal.

I thought, Was I destined for a life of crime? Could I change? I really did not like me! I wondered if God was as disappointed in me as I was in myself. I was humiliated! I was extremely sorry at the thought that I had offended God in so many ways. I felt lost, alone, and scared.

I got out of bed and went to the window. Kneeling down, I propped both elbows on the windowsill, clasping my hands in prayer as I looked into the night sky toward heaven. I talked to God with heartfelt love.

Dear God, it’s Betty Jane, I began. I am sorry for what I did. Please, God, help me! My voice was trembling with sobs. A flow of tears ran down my cheeks into my clasped hands as I asked in earnest, God, show me how to change. I want to change. I want to be a good girl. I vow to never to steal again.

I knelt for about twenty minutes looking up at the twinkling stars. I don’t know if it was my continuous staring, but the stars seemed to grow larger and brighter. One star in particular appeared enormous as compared to the others, and its brilliant shine was mesmerizing. The star began to flicker bright bursts of light as it seemingly moved closer to earth as if to call my attention to the sparkling starlight. Is that you, God? I asked.

I blinked my tear-filled eyes to make sure of what I was seeing. To me the bright star was a sign from God, a signal that help was on its way. I jumped back into bed with high hopes. I lay there in wonderment of what had just happened. Had I communicated with God?

Suddenly a tingling sensation traveled from my head to my toes creating a warm happy feeling—I was no longer tense but relaxed and peaceful. When I was older, I came to recognize that tingling feeling was the welcoming warmth of God’s love embracing my entire being as a comforting electric blanket on a cold winter’s night. I had made the Divine Connection. It’s a marvelous feeling to recognize one’s ability to communicate with God, resulting in a loving response confirming this Divine Presence.

This experience was a major point of change in my life. I was grateful. It motivated me to seek a greater understanding of why I was born, what I could learn from my existence, and how I could more often recognize God’s presence in my life to become a more spiritual being.

Decades of searching, studying, opening my heart to God, relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and applying what I learned has changed my life for the better. I am content with unconditional love and gratitude for what life brings me. I realize that each experience, including the shoplifting incident, is a spiritual gift from God which has brought me to this point in my life, a place where I can confidently say, I am who I am, because of my experiences as a spiritual student in the University of Life. I am content!

Dear reader, this book is a gift of love written from my heart in appreciation for the abundant love God has granted unto me.

Letter from the Heart

At the time I talked to God, I also wanted to write a letter pouring out my thoughts, heartfelt feelings, and hopes. However, I knew I had no place safe in my room to hide my innermost secrets. I did have a small diary, but here again I had to be careful as not to write anything the prying eyes of my mom would come across and read.

I am not speaking ill of my parents; I know that whatever they did was out of love for me, their only child. It wasn’t because they were nosey, just overprotective. If reading my thoughts could shed some light on something they didn’t know about that they needed to address to help me, in their mind it was not invasion of my privacy but their sacred duty as parents.

When I was married, I purchased a notebook to become my daily journal. In the back I sectioned off pages for my monthly letter I would write to God. On these pages later in years, I discovered the letters were a self-review of what was presently happening in my life that had me upset, concerned, or perplexed. The letters gave some insight to the situation I was writing about. The evidence of this was in the notation I made at the end of each letter. This was comforting to me.

Therefore, I suggest that once a month you write a letter from the heart to whomever you feel comfortable writing to. It could be God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, a patron saint, or any spiritual being that is associated with your current religion. Be sure to put the month, date, and year of the letter you write.

Next time you’re shopping, pick up a notebook or journal to write your monthly letters from the heart so that you can review them whenever you feel the need to do so. In fact, why not put the book down and go get something to write a letter on now, or perhaps you prefer to talk into a tape and then type out your letter later.

After you write your letter, come back to this page and do the Star of God visualization exercise to lift your consciousness to a more receptive state. This may help you gain some insight on the contents of your heart from the letter you just wrote.

Star of God Visualization

Having a heartfelt talk with God often releases the emotional burden we carry. Being able to surrender any situation over to God allows the Holy Spirit’s guidance to come forth to show us what to do to help ourselves.

Get in a comfortable sitting position. Go back to this chapter’s opening illustration. Look at the picture for a minute of two. Then close your eyes and visualize, looking up at the night sky filled with twinkling stars. Notice one star is much larger and brighter than the other stars. Focus on that star, the God connection. Talk to God mentally or aloud about what’s in your heart and on your mind. Then sit in silence, be still, listen, and wait.

After the Star of God visualization exercise, write down at the bottom of your letter any insight you may have received from doing the visualization exercise. Label the entry Insight, using a different colored pen or an accent highlighter.

Choose a date each month and circle it on the calendar as your Letter from the Heart day, such as the first day or last day of each month, the date of your birthday, or any date that is special, so then when you see that date, you’ll automatically recognize it as the date of your monthly assignment—your designated writing-to-God day.

Why not do it right now? Get a pen, go to where your yearly calendar is located, and circle the date of choice on each of the remaining months of this year. Also, as soon as you get a new calendar for next year, circle those twelve days as well. The value of doing this monthly exercise will be apparent in your life, and it will become something you want to do rather than should do.

Getting Started

Taking your first step to change anything in your lifestyle may create some doubt in your ability to stick with it. Perhaps you tried to change several things in your life, had a plan to do this, but fell short before reaching your goal. You gave up because it seemed too hard, too impossible, and way out of your range of achievement. You didn’t feel adequate. Your point of view was one of a pessimist’s, a defeatist’s, resigned to negative thoughts that trapped you into this false belief.

Therefore, getting started on a new venture you wonder, Why bother? Life is against me, things happen to me beyond my control. In addition, you sit back, take it on the chin, hope for the best, and do nothing. Maybe you do talk to God, pray in earnest, and attempt to do something hoping God hears you. Your big question is, Why me?

My question to you is, Why not you? Life comes to each of us with a multitude of experiences we don’t want, don’t like and, most of all, we didn’t ask for. Does the last part of the previous sentence, we didn’t ask for, sound correct to you? It is not a truth. It is a fallacy. Life experiences come to us because we need the experience and, most of all, because we asked for it as Soul to learn a spiritual lesson.

Each Soul reincarnates into the present lifetime, using the human body, carrying our name, on a mission to become our spiritual best—life is a spiritual journey. Based on karma (cause and effect), we are now reaping what we sowed, not only in this present life but also in other incarnations. Look at it as owing a huge debt that you make payments on by learning spiritual lessons from each of life’s experiences. While living this present life, one can also earn credits—good karma—for future experiences in this life and other lifetimes. You may not believe or accept reincarnation, which should not deter you from seeking to spiritualize your consciousness.

How can one recognize spiritual lessons? With a spiritualize consciousness is the answer. In addition, with this expanded awareness, even when you can’t see the lesson, you realize you learned something because you begin to alter your viewpoint, which brings about changes in yourself and your surroundings, including people with whom you interact. What especially becomes evident is when you make a mistake; you now have the moral fiber to admit to it and accept the consequences for your actions and try to rectify it.

As the opening quote reminds us, "Mistakes are a great educator when one is honest enough to admit them and