Each religion approaches the divine in a unique way. Here are ten universal paths practiced by devotees to find God and connect with the higher self.

Every path to God is a personal experience, a private journey. No one path is inherently superior, as all paths to God are valid and useful.
Jesus said, “I and the Father are One.” (John 10:30) Humans and God are one. As devotees draw nearer and nearer to God, the ultimate goal is to merge with the Divine in an intimately spiritual union. Sri Ramana Maharishi, the famous Indian guru who achieved enlightenment at the age of 16, asserts, “God, Guru, and the Self are the same.” (p. 10, Erase the Ego)
Meditation as a Means to Draw Near to God
When a devotee quiets the mind, the inner voice can be more easily heard and heeded. Meditation allows for the cultivation of the state of mind needed to achieve enlightenment.
Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and other religions use meditation as a means to quiet the inner chatter and hear the voice of God, or the wisdom of the Higher Self.
Prayer as a Communication and Primary Path to God
Prayer can take many forms, including recitation of a mantra or repetitions with a rosary. Prayer can be a silent plea to the universe or a specific, intimate dialog with a personal, living God.
Prayer can involve specific requests of God or the Universe; expressions of appreciation for blessings; and communications of thanks, or cries for help.
Temporary Vow of Silence to Find the Higher Self and God
Silence does not just involve resting the vocal cords. Many religions advocate silent retreats, such as Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists.
Ritual silence can be used as a religious tool to quiet the mind to a deeper level than a meditative session. Silence is a disciplined, unique way to connect with the Higher Self and with God.
Yoga as a Discipline to Reconnect the Mind, Body, and Spirit With God
This ancient discipline is a subtle yet powerful path to God. The root word “yuj” means “to join, to yoke, to concentrate one’s attention.”
According to the Sanskrit Glossary of Yogic Terms, yoga is “a method of practice leading to conscious union of the human being (atman) with the universal existence of Brahman.” Brahman is the Hindu Trinity Godhead, similar to Christianity’s concept of the Holy Trinity. (Yoga Publications Trust, 2007)
Tithing and Offerings to God
Flowers, money, and personal sacrifice (as Catholics practice during Lent) are all examples of devotees’ external expressions of offering a part of themselves. Devotion is expressed through offerings, gift giving, giving of oneself. Tithing and offerings are expressions of love.
Acts of Kindness and Compassion as an Expression of the Divine
Jesus preached the importance of loving others, including it as one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses. The Dalai Lama teaches that compassion can be learned, and calls all who wish to achieve enlightenment to practice compassion.
Forgiveness is a supreme act of compassion, and also shows emotional and spiritual maturity. To forgive is divine, and is one way to draw closer to God.
Study of the Holy Texts Illuminate the Path to God
The Jewish religion emphasizes study as a means to understand and draw nearer to God. Christians study the Bible, revering the sacred text as a manifestation of God Himself: “And the Word became flesh…” (John 1:14)
Healthy Love of Self and Emotional Maturity as a Path to God
If God and the Self are the same, then a healthy love of self is absolutely necessary in spiritual growth, devotion to and love of God. Healthy love of oneself is a step in reconnecting to the Higher Self and emotional maturity allows for synthesis of mind, body and spirit.
Ethical Decisions Draw the Righteousness Near to God
Ethics does not involve right vs. wrong or good vs. evil, but rather entails a consistency of moral code. While some religions may differ on ideas and philosophies of morality, ethics and righteousness prove a powerful path to God, as a disciplined approach to what one believes is right.
Rituals as an Outward Expression of Devotion and Commitment to God
Pagans, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others all practice religious rituals. Culturally, humans crave ritual to give order and increase meaning to outward acts of devotion. Rituals can provide structure and discipline to devotion. Some use rituals as a tangible lifeline that leads directly to God.
Devotees can use one, several, or all of these paths to God and to the Higher Self. For example, japa mala combines ritual with prayer and meditation.
Just as seekers approach the study of the Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, from different angles, so the seeker can approach and ultimately unite with the Divine, the One God, the Higher Self, or the Universe using any of these valid and powerful paths.

The Christmas Tree and the Holy Family
As with many other traditions and customs, there are a number of stories associated with the Christmas tree, several of which date back as far as the time of Christ. Legend tells how the Holy family were travelling to Egypt when they hid in a clump of cedar trees in an attempt to avoid King Herod’s men.

In an effort to hide the family from view the trees miraculously sprouted needles and their berries turned from white to blue to allow Mary’s robe to blend in. From that day forward, evergreens, as we know this type of tree, have kept their foliage and colour all year round, and it is said that if you cut a pine cone length ways you will see the tiny imprint of the Christ child’s hand in its flesh.

Martin Luther and the Christmas Tree
Two slight variations of another story tell how Martin Luther was returning home after a sixteenth century Christmas Eve service. One version tells how he was so overcome with the beauty of starlight glistening in the icicles like diamonds hanging from an evergreen tree that he cut down a small tree and took it home.
It’s believed that Luther decorated the tiny tree with candles because it reminded him that Jesus was the light of the world. The second version differs slightly, in as much as Martin Luther was overcome at the sight of thousands of stars twinkling through the foliage of the evergreens.

Modern Christmas Trees
Christmas trees have been a tradition in Germany as far back as the 16th century. Families would place an evergreen tree in their homes and decorate it with food, small toys and paper decorations.
By the middle of the century Christmas markets were a regular occurrence. Here it was possible to purchase anything that was needed for the Christmas festival, from the goose for the feast to decorations, including tinsel.

Tinsel was invented in Germany around 1610 and until the mid-20th century real silver was used having been pulled into wafer thin strips. Today in Britain, the Norway spruce, which was the traditional choice for a Christmas tree, has competition from a number of evergreens grown for their colour, fragrance and ability to retain their needles.

Examples of these include Balsam Fir and Colorado Blue Spruce. But whatever the choice of tree, whether it be a traditional ‘live’ tree or an artificial variety it is traditionally the focus point of many households over the Christmas period.

Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld. It coveys the idea of something that underlies visible conditions and guarantees a future possession. Faith is, therefore, the basis for hope and the evidence for conviction concerning unseen realities. The entire body of truths delivered by Jesus Christ and his inspired disciples constitutes the true Christian “faith.”

As we go through our journey of faith to get true understanding, let us examine the farmer’s faith. The farmer prepares his soil and sows his seed, excepting, as in previous years, that the seed will sprout and that the plants will grow as they receive the needed moisture and sunshine. Likewise, the scientist has faith in the principles of his branch of science. He bases new experiments on past discoveries and looks for new discoveries on the basis of those things already established as true. Therefore, faith in the stability of the natural laws governing the universe actually constitutes a foundation for man’s plans and activities.

In many ways, “faith follows the thing heard.” Rom 10:17 says, ( So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.) John 4:39,41, says ( And many of the Samaritans had come to Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” 41, And many more believed because of His word.)

Let us examine Abraham’s faith. When told to offer up Isaac, Abraham had strong faith that God would resurrect his son. He based such faith on God’s promise that it was by means of Isaac that “what will be called ‘your seed’ will be.” Gen. 21:12; says (But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.)

Jesus, on occasions, said to those who were healed, “Your faith has made you well.” Had those persons not exercised faith in Jesus, they would not have received healing for themselves. Likewise, the great faith of the army officer who entreated Jesus in behalf of his manservant rested on evidence, on the basis of which he concluded that Jesus’ merely ‘saying the word’ would result in the healing of his manservant.

Therefore, evidence for genuine conviction was also involved in the case of those who came to or who were brought to Jesus to be healed. Even if not eyewitnesses personally, they at least had heard about Jesus’ powerful works. Then, on the basis of what they saw or heard, they concluded that Jesus could heal them also. Moreover, they were acquainted with God’s Word and thus were familiar with the miracles performed by the prophets in times past.

However, we note that Jesus healed all who came to him, not requiring faith greater or less according to their disease, nor failing to heal any of these with the excuse that he could not do it because their faith was not strong enough, as so-called “faith healers” have done. Jesus performed these healings as a witness to establish faith. In his home territory, where much unfaithfulness was expressed, he chose not to perform many powerful works, not because of inability, but because the people refused to listen and were unworthy. Matt. 13:58 says, (Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.)

Christian Faith: As we continue in our journey of faith we discover that faith is not the possession of all people, as it is a fruitage of God’s spirit. 2 Thess 3:2 says,( and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.) Gal 5:22 says ( But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.) Those lacking faith are rejected by God. Heb 11:6 says, (But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.)

For faith to be acceptable to God, it is necessary to accept Jesus Christ, and this makes possible a righteous standing with God. Gal 2:16 says, ( Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.)

A Christian’s faith is not static, but grows strong. 2 Thess 1:3 says, ( We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.) Hence, the request of Jesus’ disciples, in Luke 17:5 ‘Give us more faith.” was very appropriate, and he did provide them the foundation for increased faith. He supplied them with greater evidence and understanding on which to base their faith.

The entire life course of a Christian is actually governed by faith, enabling them to overcome mountain like obstacles in their journey of faith that would hinder their services to God. 2 Cor 5:7 says, (For “we walk by faith, not by sight. Matt 21:21-22 says, So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea, ‘It will be done. “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” )

We now, have the true understanding of faith through God’s Words, and how it works, and how it will work in our lives. In ever thing we do, let us exercise our faith as to grow and become strong. James 2:26 says, ( For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.) As we walk through our journey of faith, let us apply the works needed to mature, and let us conquer all life’s obstacles through prayer so that we may acquire God’s guidance.

Lets start this message head on with a few scriptures regarding this message’s topic.

Psalm 41:6
They visit me as if they are my friends, but all the while they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.

Proverbs 25:10
or others may accuse you of gossip. Then you will never regain your good reputation.

Proverbs 26:20
Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

Proverbs 25:18
Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

2 Thes. 3:11

[11] Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people’s business.

What have we learned about gossip and the gossiper? First off, you must realize that gossip can and does hurt. Just ask the person you just gossiped about. Did you even realize that you were gossiping, if not, then you must be a veteran of the craft of gossiping, for those who have ingrained their lives with daily tongue wrangling are seldom the first to realize they are gossiping. For many it is a daily routine to make sure that they get the latest news out regarding what is going on in the neighborhood. Morning coffee with friends is a setting that often allows idle gossiping between friends.
Idle Gossip is the thoughtless kind that seldom carries any grain of truth and which is so automatic for many, they never realize that they are gossiping. This kind is more a kin to housewives exchanging the latest news over the backyard fence with their neighbor. Men are also afflicted with this type of gossip in the office over a cup of coffee. In most cases nothing is factual since it is most likely second hand or third hand gossip already filtered and lacking any reality to the original gossip. Remember the class room game when you teacher tells one student a brief message, and he or she is asked to pass it along student by student, up and down the isles and until the last student repeats the message aloud, only to find out the message having changed so many hands, was nothing like the original message. It is this distortion that often becomes very harmful, when the original tale was seemingly innocent in the first place. But to spread even a truth through the gossip mill can only end in its distortion becoming a sharp arrow right to the heart. Remember, like the lies we tell, the truth can hurt regardless of the well meaning intentions by those who spend their lives making it their business to gossip.

Exodus 23:1
“Do not pass along false reports. Do not cooperate with evil people by telling lies on the witness stand.

Matthew 12:32-36
Anyone who blasphemes against me, the Son of Man, can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.
[33] “A tree is identified by its fruit. Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. Make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad. [34] You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. [35] A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. [36] And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.

Leviticus 19:16

[16] “Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. “Do not try to get ahead at the cost of your neighbor’s life, for I am the Lord.

Intentional Gossiper is one who deliberately spreads gossip, knowing and planning on hurting someone with the gossip. Unfortunately, this kind of Gossip is clouded with half-truths and made up facts twisted to hurt others intentionally. This kind of gossip is vindictive and harder to refute because there are so many layers of half truths and lies. Often the gossiper is in denial when others point out that they are hurting others. Unable to realize that what they are saying is wrong, hurtful, and sinful. Often using gossip to create some agenda in arranging events to suit them personally or gain advantage over another. This gossiper knows very well they are gossiping for it is intentional to hurt and harm someone, regardless of the truth or half lies that are designed to deprive another of their freedom, peace in life, or faith. Even in today’s society, gossip can and does lead to destruction of reputations, imprisonment, suicide, and lose of Faith. Yet you must remember, that to be the cause of such harm, you will be judged by God and the harm you caused will return to your own shoulders. The Old testament makes it very clear regarding and eye for a eye.

Deut. 19:16-21
If a malicious witness comes forward and accuses someone of a crime, [17] then both the accuser and accused must appear before the priests and judges who are on duty before the Lord. [18] They must be closely questioned, and if the accuser is found to be lying, [19] the accuser will receive the punishment intended for the accused. In this way, you will cleanse such evil from among you. [20] Those who hear about it will be afraid to do such an evil thing again. [21] You must never show pity! Your rule should be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

The law of the land then was strictly modeled after what God put forth as his Law. So a gossiper then and even today will reap what they sow. Today’s law regarding slander and fraudulent witness still serve the spirit and heart of God’s Law. In the Christian family and community, gossipers are dealt just as harshly when it comes to offenders, for the church will follow Scripture when it comes to it’s separation from those who gossip and cause division in the church. Scripture is very clear about how the church is to deal with gossipers.

1 Peter 4:4
Of course, your former friends are very surprised when you no longer join them in the wicked things they do, and they say evil things about you.

1 Peter 2:12
Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world.

Titus 2:3
Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord. They must not go around speaking evil of others and must not be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good.

Proverbs 16:28
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

Proverbs 11:13
A gossip goes around revealing secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

Proverbs 20:19
A gossip tells secrets, so don’t hang around with someone who talks too much.

Confidential Gossip This type of Gossip is the kind that is based on misplaced trust in others, who believe they can trust a friend or colleague with some personal information about themselves. The Confidential Gossiper often repeats or blabs the information under a moment of insecurity, rage or anger. Like Intentional Gossip, it is hurting someone with the information, unlike Intentional, regretting the moment of weakness that led them to break a confidence. This kind of gossip will usually destroy friendships, and create a greater problem in personal relationships between people, groups and God. Friendships are based on trust and the ability to become confident’s. Just like our relationship with God, He is our confident friend, one we can share anything with and know He will not blab it around the cosmos. In the real world, it is truly remarkable to have a circle of such friends to whom we can confide in our deepest thoughts and secrets. The law of average would tell us that their will be one out every 5 who struggles with gossip and the inability to keep the confidence of another.

As much as we would like to have the total trust and confidence of everyone of our friends, it is the purpose of the enemy of Christ to use the weakest among us to become his tool for destruction of our faith and trust in others. Therefore, to rely on the flesh to become our confident is to take the chance that we will be indirectly affected by the enemy through others. After all gossip is the devils playground and when we play by his rules, we play a very dangerous game indeed. I would like to say, that God does put on this earth those who we can trust, and they are those who walk in Christ with the maturity of Saints and therefore are like God, those who we can trust with our confidence. God also, provides those who are trained in the profession of being social workers, therapist, and doctors of the science and health of the mind, body and spirit. Individuals who are under oaths to be confident’s of your inner secrets. We are taught from a early age to respect this authority and the oaths that bind them.

We must not idly misplace our trust, or foolishly believe that we are speaking in confidence with another. For if we are talking about someone else who has held us in confidence of some information, we are gossiping and place ourselves in a position of relying on the belief that the person we are talking to is capable and able to keep that confidence to themselves. You must realize that the very fact that you are sharing this confidence is telling the person you are talking to that the confidence is open season for some very ripe gossiping time with others. All to often this misplaced trust in others, is the nucellus for breaking up some well meaningful friendships because you have step over the line in breaking a trust and confidence.

Remember, a coin has to sides to it. One day you are the confident, the next your are the trust breaker and like a coin, it is flipped all to often to see what you are today, the tail or the head. When in fact you are both the tail and the head of the jackass. Now in all fairness, we must realize that our secrets are best kept when we never confide them in the first place. That is to say that if we hold a secret about ourselves that can be harmful down the road, that which can come back and haunt us later, is best never revealed to anyone except God. If that secret is some knowledge that can harm another, idle, intentional, or confidential gossiping, truth or half lies, then you have two choices. And as you have read in scripture, you must remove yourselves from the circle of such fellowships that put you in such positions to challenge your trust by others, or be damned for gossiping. Harsh words isn’t it. The person who has refused to listen to gossip, has nothing to spread, therefore holds his or her confidence, and builds relationships with God and people by demonstrating the ability to never listen, or spread gossip about others.

Scripture has made it very clear the punishment gossipers will face on earth, and in heaven. Let’s paint a picture here for all to see. What if God was a gossiper, what tales He could tell about us. Would we want God telling everyone about our sin’s, breaking our confidence and the trust we have in Him. The very promise He made us that He would forgive us of our sins, and forget them, not counting them against us would be worth very little if He was a gossiper. Then should we not also be God like in how we treat our own tongue about ourselves, and others.

Do not give the enemy the tool to use it against you. Confession of sins, past and present are the department of God, for there will you have the sealed and delivered oath through Christ, that God will keep those sin’s confident. Beware of becoming both sides of the coin when it comes to a free and loose tongue, for the given and the giver, will both be harmed by the gossip. The given, the one held in trust and confidence will lose the value of what the giver’s faith has granted the given. The giver will also lose the value that God has placed in them for being trusted and confided in. And when the giver is a confessed child of God, they will lose much when it comes to their time to be judged by God. Until that judgement comes, they will suffer much in the way of being an outcast from the fellowship of Christ. When the giver is a tool of the devil, knowingly and intentional bent on the destruction of others, they will be damned for eternity for their gossip, and the laws of the land will make it very clear what happens to slanderer’s, false witness, and fraudulent people who seek to serve their own interest for personal gain at the cost of someone else’s pain.

There is no situation or event that make’s a gossip less or greater then another type or kind of gossip. It is a sin and one that is more rampart among us today then ever. What with our email’s, web pages, and blogging, we have reached some new heights in the sin of gossiping, and by the virtue of this technology, reach a wider field of victims. Political gossip and mud slinging creates so many sides of the coin, it becomes hard to place our trust in those we should be trusted to serve our needs as leaders in our government. The slinger (gossiper) and the slinged (gossip), become the same side of the coin to us, making it difficult to decide who is right or wrong. Credibility is defined by what level of mud is tossed and how truthful it is, and when it is found to be half lies, we have difficulty in believing and trusting the mud slinger who would convince us he or she is doing this for the good of the nation and people to reveal corruptions or immorality in others. When their very attempt to spread half lies, places them in the same boat with the sinner.

You should now understand the many layers where gossip is prevalent in our life’s. It is present in our personal life’s and relationships between friends, colleagues, and fellowship with others. It is present in the greater scheme of things in our government, leadership, those we should be trusting to protect our personal freedoms, laws, and security. It is present in our technology and the tools that were designed to make our life’s easier. And it is present unfortunately in our churches and fellowship with those who confess that belief in Christ and His heavenly Father. We all to often misplace our trust in those we believed worthy of that trust and confidence. If we spent more time in giving our confidence and trust in God, we would find no time to be Idle gossipers, Intentional gossiper, and Confidential gossipers, for we would be to busy doing what is right and just in God’s eyes, and serving Christ to the fullest of our honest ability. And that is to be God like and Christ like, and filled with the Holy Spirit, the only confidant for our sin’s, and secrets. If you find yourself having to much idle time on your hands, and realize that you are a gossip, even well intentional gossip, you need to take that idle time and replace it with more time in service to God and take a sharper attention to Scripture that will guide the idle use of your tongue and mind. Do not wake up one day and find that you stand before God’s judgement and He has a very long list of the time, place, and content of your gossip. As well as, the list of your victims. You will not like the instant reply of your life as a gossip and how you wasted God’s trust in you. If you must speak across the backyard fence, or over a cup of coffee, speak of God’s love and wisdom, and how it has made you a wiser person. Speak no ill of any man, women or child, and put your judgements in God’s worthy hands. Instead of victimizing others, make them your goal today to bless them and bring them closer to God. Instead of idle time butting in on others business, work harder to serve God, and make that your only business. Above all things, let God be your confidant, not the gossip queen or king, and if a good friend wants to share a juicy secret, tell them to share it with God, for in Him can they trust the secret will never be blabbed. And when it is a secret or private sin they want to share and confess, lead them into prayer, telling them to tell only God the sin, so that you will not fall prey to the devils favorite sharing game of “Guess what I know”. And when someone wants to share a gossip with you, make it very clear that it is a sin to gossip and you want your life to be a sin free relationship with God. If they persist in gossiping with you, make it very clear what God says what we must do to separate ourselves from gossip. By this will you by example, help the gossiper realize their sin. They will either take the high road and stop gossiping, or take the low road out of your life when they realize you are a child of God and a child of God doesn’t gossip. Amen to that.