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“Magnify Your Joy By Sharing It!” 12-19-21
Core Statement:
“Joy Becomes Magnified When Shared, Shining Light & Lifting Hearts” sv
Scripture:
Psalm 130:5 (NASB) 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And I wait for His word.
Hebrews 6:15 (NASB) 15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.
Psalm 16:8-9 8 I know that the Lord is always with me. He is at my right hand. I will always be secure. 9 So my heart is glad. Joy is on my tongue.
1 Chronicles 16:31-33a (NIV) 31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad… 32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! 33a Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the LORD…
Philippians 2:17-18 (NASB) 17b…I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
Special Reading:
How do we cultivate joy in the heart, more joy in our lives?... If we want more joy, we must use joy. We must lay hold on joy, and let it well up from within us through thought, word, and action… We must realize that God is the source of our joy, the only Source… We must depend on the Source which cannot change and from which all good flows. Use the spiritual ways of cultivating joy… When we can bring joy to others, we always find joy ourselves. Thomas N. Hopper
Quotes:
Let’s approach Christmas with an expectant hush, rather than a last-minute rush. Anonymous
Joy is one of those treasures that, paradoxically, multiply whenever they are divided. When we share our joy, we don’t lose it but actually witness it grow stronger and bigger. That happens because, just like love, joy means connection and shared happiness… One of the greatest things about joy is that it is contagious. Joyful people spread joy all around them… www.spiritbutton.com
The joy one gets while promoting another's joy is incomparable. Sri Sathya Sai Baba
As you express joy, you draw it out of those you meet, creating joyful people and joyful events. The greater the joy you express, the more joy you experience. Arnold Patent
Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God. George F. McDougall
“Peacefulness In Challenging Times” 12-12-21
Thought For The Week: Pic ()
“Centered In God’s Peacefulness We Experience A Calming Strength” sv
Scripture:
Isaiah 54:10 (NIV) 10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed…
Isaiah 26:3-4 (NKJV) 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. 4Trust in the Lord forever, For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV) 16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
Philippians 4:7 (NRSV) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds…
Psalm 119:165 (NKJV) 165 Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.
Special Reading:
I think often people look for circumstances to help achieve a sense of inner peace. In fact, this calm, compassionate, deep awareness is actually within each person. It's as if we have a deep reservoir of peacefulness and serenity inside us. What we have to learn to do is tap into it. The problem is most of us live sort of on the surface of the waves, where there's a lot of turbulence and wildness, but this deep, calm, awareness is actually within each person. Ashley Davis Bush
Quotes:
Peace within us translates to our exterior world. Our outer and inner state of peace is directly related to each other. It's simply impossible to have lasting peace around us unless we have peace within us. Dr. Janice Anderson & Kiersten Anderson
Peace is not a result inside us from everything around us… Peace is an overwhelming force which comes from within us… a firm coalition of spirit and soul standing against all the unrest that abounds. C. JoyBell C
According to the Bible, the peace of God, “which transcends all understanding,” is the harmony and calmness of body, mind, and spirit trusting in the power and grace of God. www.Christianity.com Editorial Staff
We can only help make our lives and our world more peaceful, when we ourselves feel peace. Peace already exists within each of us, if we only allow ourselves to feel its comfort. Robert Alan Silverstein
Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God. Alexander MacLaren
“Let Your Love Light Shine” 12-05-21
Core Statement:
“Letting Our Love Light Shine Opens Hearts & Illuminates Darkness” sv
Scripture:
Psalm 39:7 (AMP) 7 “And now, Lord, for what do I expectantly wait? My hope [my confident expectation] is in You.
2 Peter 3:13 (NIV) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth…
John15:9 (NKJV) 9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
1 John 4:7 (NRSV) 7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1 John 2:9-10 9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
Colossians 3:14 (ESV) 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Unity Reading:
When love harmonizes the consciousness we find that our outer affairs are put in order and that where once there seemed to be opposition and fear, co-operation and trust prevail…When we let the Truth of being into our hearts and pull down the walls of separation we shall feel the flow of infinite love that Jesus felt. Keep A True Lent Charles Fillmore
Quotes:
Nothing glows brighter than the heart awakened to the unseen light of love that lives within it. Guy Finley
When our consciousness is open to the Love and Light of the SOUL, our lives gain a new perspective. The LIGHT illuminates all that may be still obscure and doubtful in our minds. The presence of LOVE dissolves fear and protects us, and at the same time it radiates to everyone around us! Angie Karan
May Love and Light prevail. May Divine Wisdom reign supreme. May it transform the darkness; and heal the realms where shadows dwell. Anthon St. Maarten
This Christmas; Be the Light for those who stand in the Dark. Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann
3 For Remembrance ceremony
Remembrance Tree…
Keep love in your heart…
The consciousness of loving and being loved
brings a warmth and richness to life
that nothing else can bring.
Oscar Wilde
Quote: Pic () 3 Love - Final
Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most. Ruth Carter Stapleton
I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included. ~Bernard Manning
“Thanks-Living…Part 3: A Journey Of Abundance 11.21.21
Core Statement:
“Thankfulness Magnifies God’s Overflowing Abundance In Our Lives” sv
Scripture:
Colossians 2:6-7 (NKJV) 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Psalm 95:2 (NKJV) Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
Deuteronomy 8:7-9 (NASB) 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; 9 a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything…
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NRSV) 8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
Unity Reading:
It has been found by experience that a person increases his blessings by being grateful for what he has. Gratitude…is a great magnet, and when gratitude is expressed from the spiritual standpoint it is powerfully augmented. Charles Fillmore Mysteries Of John
Quotes:
Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend... when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present -- the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth. Sarah Ban Breathnach
The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us. James E. Faust
The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for. Norman Vincent Peale
Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance. Eckhart Tolle
Communion Explained:
"Communion" (from Latin communio, "sharing in common" or Communis “One With”)
To Charles Fillmore, the bread and wine represent the substance and energy, respectively, of the Divine.
Bread= Substance / Wine = Life Energy
By sharing the elements in an energy of spiritual community, we are individually and collectively committing ourselves to maintaining our spiritual purpose as our highest priority. Rev. Ed Townsley
Scripture:
BREAD: St. Matthew 26:26 Lamsa Bible (from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts)
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Luke 22:19 (NASB) 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; (which is being given on your behalf: – not included in ancient manuscripts-was added later) do this in remembrance of Me.”
WINE: St. Matthew 26:27 Lamsa Bible (from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts)
27 Then he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Take, drink of it, all of you.
Mark 14:23-24 (NRSV) 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant (life force-the consciousness of Divine Love), which is poured out for many”.
“Thanks-Living…Part 2: Gratitude Is An Everyday Practice” 11-14-21
Core Statement:
“Practicing Thoughts Of Gratitude Rewires Our Neural Pathways To Positive Consciousness” sv
Scripture:
Colossians 3:12 (NRSV) 12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
1 John 4:16 (ESV) 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Psalm 95:2 (NRSV) 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Psalm 9:1 (NASB) 1I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart…
Psalm 96:1-2 (NKJV) 1Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news….
Hebrews 12:28 (NASB) 28Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude…
Special Reading:
A brain-scanning study published in NeuroImage has brought us closer to understanding why gratitude practices trigger positive effects. Even months after a simple gratitude writing task, the researchers found the participant’s brains were still wired to feel extra thankful. “The implication is that gratitude tasks work…because they have a self-perpetuating nature: The more you practice gratitude, the more attuned you are to it and the more you can enjoy its psychological benefits.” Dr. Christian Jarrett in “How Expressing Gratitude Might Change Your Brain.”
Quotes:
Remember, we are not our country, our race, or religion. We are eternal spirits. Seeing ourselves as spiritual beings without label is a way to transform the world and reach a sacred place for all of humanity. Wayne Dyer
You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: The more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given to you. Sarah Ban Breathnach
Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life. Rumi
Of the daily thinking we do, a staggering 80% is contributed to negative thoughts. Even more astonishing is that 95% of thoughts are repeating themselves day after day. It is a continuous cycle, and your brain is believing these thoughts… The good news is that you can change your thoughts from negative to positive! Your brain consists of many neural paths that convey messages, remember information, and help you with making decisions. Generating new neural paths and reconfiguring old ones can happen all the time. This is referred to as neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity allows you to change your brain which means you can change negative paths into positive ones. Blog.myneurogym.com
The more you use gratitude every day, the greater the good you will bring into your life. It is all you have to do to completely transform your life in every single area, and on every single subject. There are no limits to the good you can bring forth to you, and by practicing gratitude daily, you will increase and maximize your magnetic power to attract a life beyond your wildest dreams. Rhonda Byrne
Consistently expressing sincere and heartfelt gratitude for what you already have is the underlying and often overlooked force which opens doors to immeasurable abundance and happiness. Abundance-And-Happiness.com
Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way. Native American Saying
“Thanks-Living…Part 1: Deepening Our God Connection” 11.07.21
Core Statement:
“Embracing Our Whole Being In Gratitude Connects Us Deeply With God” sv
Scripture:
Jeremiah 30:19 (ESV) 19Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.
Psalm 69:30 (NKJV) I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 139:13-14 (NASB) 13 For You created my innermost parts… 14 I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
1 Corinthians 6:17,19 (ESV) 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 19 …do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?
Psalm 28:7 (NIV) 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
Psalm 118:24 (NRSV) 24This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Special Reading:
God expects me to be human. I feel like, God likes me just the way I am… I feel like, God doesn't look at me and wish that I were something else, because He likes me just this way. I feel like, God doesn't want me to close my eyes and pray for Him to make me holy or for Him to make me pure; because He made me human. I feel like, God already knows I'm human...it is I who needs to learn that. C. JoyBell C.
Quotes:
A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being. James E. Faust
Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. John Milton
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. Teilhard de Chardin
Between God and the soul there is no between. Julia of Norwich
The first secret that no one tells you of gratitude is that literally when we feel gratitude, we are unifying ourselves with source energy. It is of a higher vibrational state of consciousness… Because gratitude is unifying us with who we naturally are. Aaron Doughty
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. Johannes A. Gaertner
It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful. David Steindl-Rast
"Looking Within and Trusting Your Inner Knowing" Rania El-Kareh 10-24-21
"How do you show up for yourself with your time, energy, and money?"
John Maxwell
"Right now you are one choice away from a new beginning - one that leads you toward becoming the fullest human being you can be."
Oprah Winfrey
"Stop walking through the world looking for confirmation that you don't belong. You will always find it because you've made that your mission. Stop scouring people's faces for evidence that you're not enough. You will always find it because you've made that your goal. True belonging and self-worth are not goods; we don't negotiate their value with the world. The truth about who we are lives in our hearts. Our call to courage is to protect our wild heart against constant evaluation, especially our own. No one belongs here more than you."
Brene Brown, Braving the Wilderness
"I am as ancient as the earth I'm planted in and as new as my tiniest bloom. I am my own Touch Tree: strong, singular, alive. Still growing. I have everything I need, beneath me, above me, inside me. I am never gonna lose me."
Glennon Doyle, Untamed
"Just do right. Right may not be expedient, it may not be profitable, but it will satisfy your soul. It brings you the kind of protection that bodyguards can't give you."
Maya Angelou
And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."
Doreen Valiente from "The Charge of the Goddess"
"The right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Bask in possibility."
Oprah Winfrey, What I Know For Sure
"We Are Unity! Part 3: Sharing Our Journey" 10-17-21
Core Statement:
“Walking Together, Sharing Our Light, We Shift World Consciousness ”
Scripture:
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV) 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
1 Peter 3:8 (NIV) Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
Romans 12:10-12 (NIV) 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another… 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Philippians 1:27 (NRSV) 1b…You are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind.
Philippians 4:9 (ESV) 9 What you have learned & received & heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Titus 2:7 (ESV) 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity…
Special Reading:
In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others. Brennan Manning
Quote:
It is in our hands -- yours and mine, each person here today -- to make a decision to work, to work together, and to work with others around the whole world, to build friendship, and love, and understanding among all people. (adapted) Alice Bartow Hobensack
Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light. Norman B. Rice
We're losing social skills, the human interaction skills, how to read a person's mood, to read their body language, how to be patient until the moment is right to make or press a point. Too much exclusive use of electronic information dehumanizes what is a very, very important part of community life and living together. Vincent Nichols
I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. William Penn
I actually think that the most efficacious way of making a difference is to lead by example, and doing random acts of kindness is setting a very good example of how to behave in the world. Misha Collins
The reality is that the only way change comes is when you lead by example. Anne Wojcicki
Life isn’t meant to be lived perfectly…but merely to be lived. Boldly, wildly, beautifully, uncertainly, imperfectly, magically lived. Mandy Hale
In giving you are throwing a bridge across the chasm of your solitude. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry,
"We Are Unity! Part 2: Connecting Together" 10-10-21
Core Statement:
“Connecting Together In Spiritual Community Enhances & Enriches Our Lives” sv
Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV) 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…
Romans 1:11-12 (NRSV) 11 For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (NRSV) 26b …When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
Proverbs 27:17 (NASB) 17 As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another.
Romans 12:5 (NRSV) 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
1 Peter 4:8-10 (ESV) 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly… 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace…
Colossians 2:5 (ESV) 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith…
Special Reading:
Thriving 21st century spiritual communities are composed of many individual people who come together to create a deep and meaningful experience where everyone grows spiritually together and each person is valued for the unique experiences they contribute to the whole. Tracy Brown
Quotes:
Spirituality is allowing compassion and love to flourish. When belongness begins, corruption ends. Sri Ravi Shankar
The spiritual path is not a solo endeavor… We are in it together and the company of spiritual friends helps us realize our interconnectedness. Tara Brach
Simply being with other people who are also seekers and who are involved in the same quest you are is very meaningful. Dan Wakefield
We are called to be strong companions and clear mirrors to one another, to seek those who reflect with compassion and a keen eye how we are doing, whether we seem centered or off course ... we need the nourishing company of others to create the circle needed for growth, freedom and healing. Wayne Muller
We seldom stop to think how many people's lives are entwined with our own. It is a form of selfishness to imagine that every individual can operate on his own or can pull out of the general stream and not be missed. Ivy Baker Priest
"We Are Unity! Part 1: The Larger Picture" 10-03-21
Core Statement:
“UNITY…A Global Spiritual Movement Teaching Positive Life Principles For Greater Good”sv
Scripture:
Romans 12:2 (NASB) 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discover what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
1 John 1:7a (NKJV) 7a But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…
Psalm 133:1 (NIV) 1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works…
Special Reading:
Charles and Myrtle Fillmore worked at developing a Christian perspective that synthesized RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY & SCIENCE. They adopted new religious perspectives at that time called “New Thought” and “Christian Science” and expressed those ideas in terms of a Christian Theology, which included for them: MYSTICISM, YOGIC PRACTICES, ESOTERIC SPIRITUALITY, IDEALIST METAPHISICS, THEOSOPHY, TRANSCENDENTALISM, POST-EINSTEINIAN PHYSICS, and of course the TEACHINGS OF JESUS. The teaching of Jesus as presented in the New Testament, was the central building block of the Fillmores work. It constitutes a great deal of how “Unity” differs from other “New Thought” and Eastern Spiritual teachings. www.Unity.org
Quotes:
We live at the threshold of a universal recognition that the human being is not mere matter, but a potent, energetic field of consciousness. Modalities of the past millennium are quickly giving way to breakthrough technologies wherein we heal ourselves at the level of all true healing, which is Spirit. Michael Beckwith
We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race. Marcus Tullius Cicero
There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals. Idowu Koyenikan
When he took time to help the man up the mountain, lo, he scaled it himself. Tibetan Proverb
As we become increasingly aware of our global interdependence as a species, we can also deepen awareness of our spiritual interconnectedness… The cross-cultural communion of awakened souls may be a key to co-creating a sustainable future and living in harmony with the earth. Frances Vaughan
"Being Human…Trusting Our Resilience" 09-26-21
Core Statement:
“Embracing Our ‘Humanness’ With Loving Acceptance Gives Us Strength & Resiliency” sv
Scripture:
Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV) 11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Psalm 139:13-14 (NASB) 13 For You created my innermost parts… 14 I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.
Colossians 3:12 (NRSV) 12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Psalm 30:5b (NRSV) 5…Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Micah 7:8 (NRSV) 8b…when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.
Philippians 4:13 (NRSV) 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Special Readings:
Resilience doesn’t take brilliance. What it takes is diligence and a willingness to get up when you’re down, knowing that the power of God in you will not let you down in any sea of trouble, but will make a way through while blessing you and making you a blessing to others. Rev. Sharon Connors (Unity Minister)
Quotes:
Entangled in the trance of unworthiness, we grow accustomed to caging ourselves in with self-judgment and anxiety, with restlessness and dissatisfaction. Tara Brach
It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop. Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are. Malcolm S. Forbes
Self-approval and self-acceptance in the now are the main keys to positive changes in every area of our lives. Louise Hay
No matter how bleak or menacing a situation may appear, it does not entirely own us. It can’t take away our freedom to respond, our power to take action. Ryder Carroll
The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived. Robert Jordan
If you’re going through hell, keep going. Winston Churchill
When we learn how to become resilient, we learn how to embrace the beautifully broad spectrum of the human experience. Jaeda Dewalt
"The Difference A Prayer Makes…Pt 2: Changing Our World" 09-19-21
Core Statement:
“Focused Prayer Creates A Positive Energetic Shift Within & Around Us” sv
Scripture:
Jeremiah 29:12 (ESV) 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying…
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and… with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds…
Acts 1:14 (NIV) 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
1 Corinthians 12:26-27 (NIV) 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
2 Corinthians 1:11 (ESV) 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
Unity Readings:
True prayer brings about an exalted radiation of energy, and when it is accompanied by faith and love, the word of Truth bursts forth in a stream of light that, when held in mind, illuminates and uplifts. Charles Fillmore Atom Smashing Power Of Mind
Dynamic, creative, transforming power is roused to spiritual action when man affirms his unity with Almightyness and his undaunted faith in it’s power. When man turns wholeheartedly to God, the prayer of faith brings forth abundantly. Healing currents of life are freed and flow into and through soul and body… Since the prayer of faith is the activity of divine love (relationship & oneness with God), let us pray without ceasing, knowing God hears… Charles & Cora Fillmore Teach us To Pray
Quotes:
If you begin to live life looking for the God that is all around you, every moment becomes a prayer. Frank Bianco
If you’re praying, you’re not worrying, and if you’re worrying, you’re not praying! Ruffin McNeill
By choosing your thoughts, and by selecting which emotional currents you will release and which you will reinforce, you determine the quality of your Light. You determine the effects that you will have upon others, and the nature of the experiences of your life. Gary Zukav
To pray is no small thing. It is nothing less than a sacred pilgrimage into the heart of the whole world. Wayne Muller
Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other's hearts in prayer. Charles Finney
Accustom yourself gradually to carry Prayer into all your daily occupation -- speak, act, work in peace, as if you were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be. François Fénelon
I do believe we're all connected. I do believe in positive energy. I do believe in the power of prayer. I do believe in putting good out into the world. And I believe in taking care of each other. Harvey Fierstein
"The Difference A Prayer Makes…Part 1: Changing Our Lives" 09-12-21
Weekly Statement:
“Prayer Shifts Our Attention From Outer Circumstances To Oneness With God” sv
Scripture:
Psalm 42:1-2a (ESV) 1As the deer longs for the water brooks, So my soul longs for You, O God. 2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God…
Colossians 4:2 (NASB) 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving…
Isaiah 65:24 (NIV) 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
Psalm 46:10 (NKJV) 10 Be still and know that I AM God
Psalm 27:1-3 (NIV) 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 25:1-2 (NASB) 1To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2A O my God, in You I trust…
Unity Readings:
Prayer is man’s steady effort to know God. There is an intimate connecting spirit that logically unites man and his source… God-Mind, composed of radiant ideas, vibrant life, glorious new inspiration, is ours to use. Charles & Cora Fillmore Teach Us to Pray
Sometimes we pray to a God outside of ourselves. It is the God in the midst of us that frees and heals… Prayer, then, is to change our minds and hearts so that God’s omnipresent good may fill our minds and hearts and manifest in our lives. Myrtle Fillmore – Healing Letters
We must begin by knowing that “God is Spirit.” Spirit is not located in a big man called God but is everywhere the breath of life… “over all, and through all, and in all.” The highest form of prayer is to open our minds and quietly realize that the one omnipresent intelligence knows our thoughts and instantly answers, even before we have audibly expressed our desires. Charles Fillmore Jesus Christ Heals
Quotes:
Whatever form and shape prayer takes, our first concern is not to press God for the things we think we need or the matters we are concerned about, but rather a quest for God's presence and relationship. Charles Ringma
Before we can pray, "Lord, Thy Kingdom come," we must be willing to pray, "My Kingdom go.” Alan Redpath
Do that which brings you most mindfully into God’s presence. Do that which raises your mind and heart to God’s love. Amy Ekeh
It is of course possible to dance a prayer. Glade Byron Addams
The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.Soren Kierkegaard
Prayer is the most effective method of renewal and transformation, because in prayer [we] associate with God and not with the problem. Myrtle Fillmore
What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude. Walter A. Mueller
"The Dandelion Metaphor…Part 2: Open To New Perspectives” 08-29-21
Weekly Statement: Pic ()
“Open To New Perspectives We Experience Opportunities Previously Unseen” sv
Scripture:
Genesis 19:26 (NIV) 26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Isaiah 30:15 (ESV) 15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling…
Ezekiel 3:27 (NRSV) 27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord God”; let those who will hear, hear; and let those who refuse to hear, refuse…
Proverbs 2:2,9-10 (NASB) 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding… 9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul…
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your Mind; that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Special Reading:
How you start and end your day—and everything you do in between—can predict a lot of things: your attitude, your productivity, your success. Are you paying attention to your routine and the habits you fill it with? Don’t just float through life; be intentional with your time. Success.com Writing Staff
Quotes:
I am not a lover of lawns. Rather would I see daisies in their thousands, ground ivy, hawkweed, & even the hated plantain with tall stems, & dandelions with splendid flowers & fairy down, than the too-well-tended lawn. William Henry Hudson
Dandelions, like all things in nature, are beautiful when you take time to pay attention to them. June Stoyer
The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society… We are governed, our minds molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. Edward Bernays
Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character. Stephen Covey
The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking. Albert Einstein
Ultimately your state of mind determines your circumstances. To realize the outcomes you want, it is critical to recognize and experience the transition from our present thoughts, habits, and actions to new thoughts, habits, and actions. Darren L. Johnson
Let today be the day you give up who you’ve been for who you can become. Hal Elrod
The secret of change is to focus all your energy NOT on fighting the old but on BUILDING the new. Socrates
"The Dandelion Metaphor…Part 1: Weed Or Flower?" 08-22-21
Weekly Statement:
“Shedding Finite Human Perspectives Opens Our Eyes To God’s Infinite Expression.”
Scripture:
Ephesians 4:18 (NIV) 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Matthew 13:14b-15 14b…“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.
Colossians 3:1-2 (NASB) 1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is… 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Weed Definition: Weed or Flower?
A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place". Examples commonly are plants unwanted in human-controlled settings, such as farm fields, gardens, lawns, and parks. Wikipedia
a valueless plant growing wild, especially one that grows on cultivated ground to the exclusion or injury of the desired crop…any undesirable or troublesome plant, especially one that grows profusely where it is not wanted. Dictionary.com
Special Reading:
If dandelions were rare and fragile, people would knock themselves out to pay $14.95 a plant, raise them by hand in greenhouses, and form dandelion societies and all that. But, they are everywhere and don’t need us and kind of do what they please. So we call them weeds and murder them at every opportunity. Robert Fulghum
Quotes:
Next time you see a yardful of sprouting dandelions, note that they look remarkably like things we call “flowers.” And later, when the flowers turn into fluff balls, look closely at one of those fluff balls and ask yourself whether it’s really so unattractive. Robert Wright
What we see depends mainly on what we look for. John Lubbock
And those who were seen dancing, were thought to be crazy, by those who could not hear the music. Friedrich Nietzsche
The task is...not so much to see what no one has yet seen; but to think what nobody has yet thought, about that which everybody sees. Erwin Schrödinger
When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. Viktor Frankl
If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is — infinite. William Blake
“Time For Laughter…Time For Fun” 08-15-21
Core Statement:
“Through Laughter, Fun & Relaxation We Are Spiritually & Emotionally Renewed & Healed” sv
Scripture:
Psalm 68:3-4 (CEV) 3But let your people be happy and celebrate because of you. 4Our God, you are the one who rides on the clouds, and we praise you…
Romans 12:15 (NKJV) 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice…
Exodus 23:12 (NRSV) 12 Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest…
Mark 6:31 (NIV) 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Proverbs 17:22 22 A merry heart does good, like medicine..
Isaiah 35:10 (NIV) 10 …They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Psalm 47:1 (NASB) 47 O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy.
Psalm 96:11-12 (CEV) 11Tell the heavens & the earth to be glad & celebrate! Command the ocean to roar with all of its creatures 12and the fields to rejoice with all of their crops. Then every tree in the forest will sing joyful songs…
Special Reading:
Play can be defined simply as engaging in activity for pure enjoyment and recreation. Play is for everyone, regardless of age (or profession). The best thing about play, besides the fact that it’s something you enjoy, is that while you’re doing it, it’s benefiting your overall wellbeing and impacting your health. It can fuel your creativity, emotional wellbeing and ability to problem solve. Play is uniquely “rewarding, it generates optimism, seeks out novelty, makes perseverance fun, leads to mastery, gives the immune system a bounce and fosters empathy.” Play is also powerful in creating a sense of community. Mark Sakraida
Quotes:
Not only are Americans working longer hours than at any time since statistics have been kept, but now they are also working longer than anyone else in the industrialized world. And while workers in other countries have been seeing their hours cut back by legislation focused on preventing work from infringing on private life, Americans have been going in the other direction. abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=93604&page=1
Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. Chinese Proverb
Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. Ovid
With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm
I have always felt that laughter in the face of reality is probably the finest sound there is… In this world, a good time to laugh is any time you can. Linda Ellerbee
Sometimes you have to drop the rake and play in the leaves. Vince Gowman
Laughter is an instant vacation. Milton Berle
Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.Mary Anne Radmacher
"Forward With Purpose...What's Ours To Do (Or Not)?" 08.08.21
Core Statement:
“Allowing God Mind To Guide Our Path Opens New Horizons”
Scripture:
Mark 4:23-24 (Jesus speaking to Disciples) 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
Proverbs 2:2-5 (NASB) 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear (awe) of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.
1 Kings 3:12 (NASB) 12 behold, I have done according to your words… I have given you a wise and discerning heart…
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Habakkuk 3:19 (NRSV) 19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and makes me tread upon the heights.
Unity Reading:
This wisdom of Spirit is man’s through the all-knowing and all-discerning power of Spirit within him, and he need never fear going wrong if he listens to his divine intuition. Charles & Cora Fillmore The Twelve Powers Of Man
Observation shows that the purer the mind the greater it’s capacity to receive and interpret the ideas imparted to it by Spirit (pg20)…Those who cultivate communion with the Father within become conscious of a guiding light… Charles Fillmore Atom Smashing Power Of Mind
Quotes:
The Holy Spirit…wants to flow through us and realize all these wonderful possibilities in the world – if we only open ourselves and allow it to happen. Br. David Steindl-Rast
God does not exist to answer our prayers, but by our prayers we come to discern the mind of God. Oswald Chambers
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. Albert Einstein
Deep within, there is something profoundly known, not consciously, but subconsciously. A quiet truth, that is not a version of something, but an original knowing…it is there, guiding us along the path of greater becoming… T.F. Hodge
The Holy Spirit will prompt us in the right direction as we learn to hear His voice & respond… Crystal McDowell
A process/practice for discernment: God is my ultimate source of truth and wisdom, and dwells forever at the center of my being. Therefore, any thought, emotion, or action that takes me further from my center can be neither truthful, nor wise. Bill Crawford
God provides the wind, but man must raise the sails. St. Augustine
You can’t cross a sea by merely staring into the water. Rabindranath Tagore
Today is your day to dance lightly with life. Sing wild songs of adventure. Invite rainbows & butterflies out to play. Soar your spirit and unfurl your joy. Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, Begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it, Begin it now. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Positive Choices…Taking Next Steps” 08-01-21
Core Statement:
“Focused On Positive Choices We Create Our Good Moving Forward”
Scripture:
Proverbs 1:5 (NIV) 5 Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…
Isaiah 43:19 (ESV) 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Matthew 12:35a (NKJV) 35aA good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things…
2 Peter 3:13 (NIV) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth…
James 2:22-23 (NIV) 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Special Reading:
Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain... To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices - today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it. Kevyn Aucoin
Quotes:
Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change. Jim Rohn
Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. Andre Gide
Powerful dreams inspire powerful action. When you can taste, smell, and touch your dream, you can enroll the world. Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Expectancy is the atmosphere for miracles. Edwin Louis Cole
It is not good enough for things to be planned - they still have to be done; for the intention to become a reality, energy has to be launched into operation. Walt Kelly
Dream big dreams, then put on your overalls and go out and make the dreams come true. Fred Van Amburgh
Powerful dreams inspire projects that can alter our world. YOU make a difference to the world. Act on your dreams today. Jonathan Lockwood Huie
“Music Makes Our Soul Sing” 07-18-21
Weekly Statement:
“Music Connects Us To Spirit, Filling Our Hearts With Gladness” sv
Scripture:
Psalm 100:1-2 (ESV) 1Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Isaiah 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands
Ephesians 5:19 (NRSV) 19 …sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts…
Psalm 98:4-7 (NASB) 4 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, With the lyre and the voice of song. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully…
Special Reading:
Music has the power to culturally, morally, and emotionally influence our society. Thus, the more intentional we become with the sounds, messages, and moods we create and release through our music, the more powerful we will become in making deep positive impacts… Belinda Huang
Quotes:
The origin of music is unknown as it occurred prior to recorded history. Some suggest that the origin of music likely stems from naturally occurring sounds and rhythms. Human music may echo these phenomena using patterns, repetition and tonality… It is probable that the first musical instrument was the human voice itself, which can make a vast array of sounds… en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_music
Music is like chocolate, almost everyone likes it… Ever since different cultures started to form, there has always been a place for rhythmic sounds that can communicate our feelings. In every age and civilization this particular form of expression has existed, and in so many varied styles. exploringyourmind.com/influence-music-lives/
Music is one of our most powerful gateways to connect to our spiritual nature -- our divine source -- the unseen, as well as to the universe around us and those other divine beings that inhabit it with us. Frank Fitzpatrick
Music should be healing; music should uplift the soul; music should inspire. There is no better way of getting closer to God, of rising higher towards the spirit, of attaining spiritual perfection than music… Hazrat Inayat Khan
The most consistent and dependable way I've found to connect to my inner voice, lift my spirits and bring myself back into balance has been music. Music has turned the most mundane and the most challenging moments of my life into deeply resonating human, and often indescribably divine, experiences… The spiritual nature of music cannot be defined by religion, culture or genre. Music precedes and transcends all of those frameworks… Music is, at its essence, the sound of spirit. When created from the heart and with truth and pure intention, music is a spiritual expression of the most universal nature and the highest order. Frank Fitzpatrick
There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is. William P. Merrill
I always try to play as though I am freely dancing and singing at the same time…The body holds the rhythm and the heart generates the feeling in response to the beauty of the melodic line… Martin Hayes
Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything. Plato
Weekly Statement:
“Determining New Self Values & Priorities Creates Clarity For A Focused Path Forward”
Scripture:
Deuteronomy 11:10-11 10 For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; 11 but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven…
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 5, 6 1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away…
Ephesians 4:22-24 22 You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self… 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Philippians 2:1,2,4 1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind… 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Proverbs 4:25-26 (NRSV) 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
Special Reading:
When we create something, we always create it first in a thought form. If we are basically positive in attitude, expecting and envisioning pleasure, satisfaction and happiness, we will attract and create people, situations, and events which conform to our positive expectations. Shakti Gawain
Quotes:
Weep not that the world changes—did it keep a stable, changeless state, it were cause indeed to weep. William Bryant
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. Anatole France
To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. Henri Bergson
It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. Alan Cohen
The blueprint for success is inside you. It will stay there unless you take it out and create it. Larina Kase
Hold positive expectancy in the front of your mind, and it will appear in the palm of your hand… Live in your imagination, not in your past. Linda Chandler
Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way. Eileen Caddy
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt
“Fighting For Freedom Today” 07-04-21
Weekly Statement:
“Recognizing & Releasing Systemic ‘ism’ Beliefs Heals Us Into True Freedom”
Scripture:
John 8:31-32 (ESV) 31 So Jesus said… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Psalm 146:7-8 (NRSV) 7b …The Lord sets the prisoners free; 8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
Isaiah 61:1 (NRSV) 1 …The Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners;
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NIV) 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed…
Unity Reading:
An understanding of Truth comes only to those who abide faithfully in the teachings of Jesus. They alone are free who persist in holding to the true view of life, regardless of pre-accepted theories, and who obey only the voice of the higher self… The quest of freedom is endless and is unfulfilled save in the Christ consciousness. Charles Fillmore Mysteries of John
Quotes:
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thomas Jefferson
In taking the time to define what “freedom” means to us, we’re confronted with our own shortcomings, and the distance we have to traverse in order to get to our ideal. Linne Halpern
A lie doesn't become truth, wrong doesn't become right, and evil doesn't become good, just because it's accepted by a majority… We all should rise above the clouds of ignorance, narrowness, and selfishness. Booker T. Washington
As we develop a critical consciousness and work to help address and dismantle racism, sexism and other forms of oppression, it is important that we apply a systems approach to our work and begin to analyze, uncover and change the ways that oppression is operating at the personal, interpersonal, institutional and cultural levels. Dionardo Pizaña
It is never too late to give up your prejudices. Henry David Thoreau
For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela
"Thank You Donalyn Martin!" Donalyn’s Retirement Service 06-27-21
Scripture:
Mark 10:13-16 (NRSV) 14 (Jesus said to them) “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Romans 8:28 (ESV) 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) 24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Quotes:
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer
To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it. Osho
Creativity is… seeing something that doesn’t exist already. You need to find out how you can bring it into being and that way be a playmate with God. Michele Shea
The highest reward for man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it. John Ruskin
There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread. Mother Teresa
"Celebrating Father Figures In Our Lives" 06-20-21
Weekly Statement:
“We Gratefully Celebrate Father Figures Who Exemplify & Teach Positive Attributes ” SV
Scripture:
John 5:19b-20 (NASB) (Jesus Talking…) 19b…"For whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing…
Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Genesis 1:27 (NRSV) 27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Proverbs 19:20 (NRSV) 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future.
Proverbs 20:7 (NRSV) 7 The righteous walk in integrity—happy are the children who follow them!
Special Reading:
The modern day father comes in various forms… He can be single or married; externally employed or stay-at home; gay or straight; an adoptive or step-parent; and a more than capable caregiver to children facing physical or psychological challenges. Psychological research across families from all ethnic backgrounds suggests that fathers' affection and increased family involvement help promote children's social and emotional development. www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/changing-father (American Psychological Assoc)
Quotes:
Fathers, grandfathers, and other strong male role models have the powerful influence to shape us into who we are become as adults. Filling the roles of protectors, supporters and teachers, fathers have an indelible role in our lives. Jeremy Goldman Founder & CEO of Firebrand Group
A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society. Billy Graham
Masculinity and femininity are not the same things as gender… they are two completely different things. It is time that society realizes that masculinity and femininity are not traits we associate with depending on gender, but instead depending on the character. To be balanced and better people, I believe we need to have both masculine traits and feminine traits. www.voicesofyouth.org/blog/masculinity-and-femininity
Spiritual maturity is about nurturing, honoring, and balancing both sides of your nature. And ALL men, women, and non-binaries/trans, possess both the masculine and feminine aspect inside. www.lonerwolf.com/divine-masculine/
My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. Clarence Budington Kelland
My dad has given me the best gift anyone has ever given me. He gave me wings to fly. Adria Arjona
“Re-Embracing Community…Part 2: Kindness Rocks!” 06-13-21
Youth Participation Service - Kindness Project Completion
Scripture:
Matthew 25:35 (ESV) 35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…
Galatians 6:10 (ESV) So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone…
Proverbs 3:3 (NASB) 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Colossians 3:12 (NIV) 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Quotes:
It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly. Martin Luther King Jr.
Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change. Bob Kerrey
Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. Scott Adams
Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes. Joseph B. Wirthlin
“Re-Embracing Community…Connecting With Others”
Part 1: Experiencing A New World 06-06-21
Weekly Statement:
“After Covid Distancing, Re-engaging In Community Is Essential For Our Well-being” sv
Scripture:
Psalm 133:1 (NRSV) 1 How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
Romans 12:5 (NRSV) 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
1 Peter 3:8 (ESV) Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
Nehemiah 2:18b (NRSV) 18bThen they said, “Let us start building!” So they committed themselves to the common good.
Romans 1:11-12 (NRSV) 11 For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Special Reading:
Now that we are reconnecting with the world (and people) around us, many are trying to return to so-called "normal life" again. However, jumping back into an old routine could cause anxiety, since people's patterns have been altered by staying home and social distancing for so long.
As daily life undergoes a reset worldwide, patience has to be at the forefront of everyone's mind as we learn new ways to function… The need to rebuild social connectivity is real. While we may crave social interaction, the thought of going out into the world anew might seem scary for some—and that's OK… it might be hard to re-engage typical systems at the same intensity as before. If that's the case, then consider a gradual reentry. www.PsychologyToday.com John O’Neill,
Quotes:
Some people think they are in community, but they are only in proximity. True community requires commitment and openness. It is a willingness to extend yourself to encounter and know the other. David Spangler
Community is first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from the spiritual knowledge that we are alive not for ourselves but for one another. Henri Nouwen
I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, & valued; when they can give & receive without judgment; & when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship. Brené Brown
The spiritual path is not a solo endeavor…We are in it together and the company of spiritual friends helps us realize our interconnectedness. Tara Brach
We are called to be strong companions and clear mirrors to one another, to seek those who reflect with compassion and a keen eye how we are doing, whether we seem centered or off course … we need the nourishing company of others to create the circle needed for growth, freedom and healing. Wayne Muller
Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it with another. Thomas Merton
“Honoring With Gratitude…” 05.30.21 Memorial Day
Weekly Statement:
“Remember With Heartfelt Gratitude Those Who’ve Given Their Lives For Freedom” SV
Scripture:
Proverbs 10:7a (ESV) 7a The memory of the righteous is a blessing…
John 15:13 (NIV) 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Galatians 5:13 (CEV) 13 My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love.
Presidential Proclamation:
In honor and recognition of all of our fallen heroes, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended, has requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. (The President has so proclaimed Memorial Day, May 31, 2020, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and designated the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time when people might unite in prayer.)
For a soldier a lot can happen in one minute. Because when you choose service over self, one minute can mean the difference between living or dying. Between going home to your family and never seeing them again. Sacrifice means placing every minute of your life on the line for your country. And sometimes you don’t come home. Unknown
In December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” Public Law 106-579, creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. All Americans are encouraged to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. (In his proclamation the President has further asked all Americans to observe the “National Moment of Remembrance” beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.)
Quotes:
This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom. Tamra Bolton
Sometimes we focus so much on what we don't have that we fail to see, appreciate, and use what we do have! Jeff Dixon
Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin D. Roosevelt
May we never forget our fallen comrades. Freedom isn't free. Sgt. Major Bill Paxton
No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. St. Ambrose
Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices. President Harry S. Truman
Kindness Project Revisited…Youth Participation Service
Scripture:
Ephesians 4:31-32 (NRSV) 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another...
Colossians 3:12-13 (NIV) 12… clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another…
John 13:34-36 (NKJV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love.
Quotes:
When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free. Catherine Ponder
Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting. William A. Ward
Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver. Barbara De Angelis
Today, see if you can stretch your heart and expand your love so that it touches not only those to whom you can give it easily, but also those who need it so much. Daphine Rose Kingma
“Gathering Together…Celebrating Community!” 05-16-21
Weekly Statement:
“Gathered Together In Spiritual Community We Raise Our Hearts In Celebration!” sv
Scripture:
Matthew 18:20 (NIV) 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (NRSV) 26 …When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
Philippians 1:27 27 …You are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind.
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace…
Romans 1:11-12 (NRSV) 11 For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…
Special Reading:
Thriving 21st century spiritual communities are composed of many individual people who come together to create a deep and meaningful experience where everyone grows spiritually together and each person is valued for the unique experiences they contribute to the whole. Tracy Brown
Quotes:
If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life? It is other life; it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony. We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth. Mitsugi Saotome
The spiritual path is not a solo endeavor. In fact, the very notion of a self who is trying to free her/himself is a delusion. We are in it together and the company of spiritual friends helps us realize our interconnectedness. Tara Brach
As we become increasingly aware of our global interdependence as a species, we can also deepen awareness of our spiritual interconnectedness. We cannot live in total isolation. The cross-cultural communion of awakened souls may be a key to co-creating a sustainable future and living in harmony with the earth. Frances Vaughan
We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race. Marcus Tullius Cicero
Some people think they are in community, but they are only in proximity. True community requires commitment and openness. It is a willingness to extend yourself to encounter and know the other. David Spangler
We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community. Haile Selassie
We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community. Dorothy Day
“Motherly Love…Untold Blessings” 05-09-21 Mother’s Day
Weekly Statement:
“The Divine Feminine Nurtures, Comforts, Embraces & Blesses Us With Love” sv
Scripture:
Romans 5:5 (NIV) 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit…(Divine Feminine)
1 Peter 3:4 (NRSV) 4 Rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.
Proverbs 31:28,31 (NASB) 28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her… 31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:26 (NRSV) 26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Galatians 5:22 (NASB) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NRSV) 13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Unity Reading:
Love is the great harmonizer and healer, & whoever calls upon God as Holy Spirit for healing is calling upon the divine love. The Holy Spirit is sympathetic, comforting, loving, forgiving and instantly healing. Charles Fillmore Jesus Christ Heals
Special Readings:
Divine masculine and feminine energy exists in all things…and in a world dominated by masculine energy, more and more people today are looking to tap into the divine feminine. Divine feminine and divine masculine can't exist without the other. This means that despite our cultural associations of masculine and feminine with men and women, respectively, we all have both energies within us. (not gender related) www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/divine-feminine
It is the feminine that understands all the interconnections in life. And what we are suffering from at the moment is a very fragmented culture, very isolated, very insular… and there is this whole oneness that is emerging into the consciousness of humanity, which needs to be midwifed into our collective consciousness, to understand that… in the deep spiritual sense we are all one expression of the divine oneness that is inherent within everything. The feminine understands those connections that hold that together… Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
Quotes:
Mother energy is universal. It is the large expression of the sacred feminine that comes from spirit. It is embodied in all our biological mothers, but its not limited or confined to them. Elaine Seiler
This is the age of the ascendant Feminine Principle. In such times as these, women are able to look at themselves with new concepts of value and brilliance. However you inhabit and express being Woman, embrace yourself in that way today! Elizabeth Eiler
I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom. Unknown
Thanks for never asking for reasons or explanations when all I wanted was a long hug and a few laughs. Wayne F. Winters
Through honoring the sacred feminine, we find natural access to spiritual qualities like receptivity, patience, the ability to listen, and the care for all of life. Some qualities of the divine feminine: Intuitive, Heart-centered, Compassionate, Wise, Accepting, Forgiving, Collaborative, Reflective, Creative, Kind, Gentle… Shannon Kaiser
When your mother asks, "Do you want a piece of advice?" it's a mere formality. It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. You're going to get it anyway. Erma Bombeck
By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before. Edwin Elliot
“April Showers Bring may Flowers…Receiving Spiritual Nourishment” 05-02-21
Weekly Statement:
“Relaxing Into God’s Nurturing Presence We’re Nourished By Light & Love” sv
Scripture:
Matthew 6:26-27 (ESV) 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Song of Solomon 2:12-13 (ESV) 12 The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.
Peter 5:7 (NIV) 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Psalm 107:9 (NKJV) 9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Deuteronomy 32:2 (NIV) 2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
Special Reading:
Spring awakens and enlivens us in a way no other season can. We remember what new life looks like, we remember what possibilities are just around the corner, and we remember that beauty comes in small packages. It’s a great time for mindfulness as we grow ourselves… Here are five reflections on how our minds, hearts, and spirits are healed during the flowery months.
- New life and new beginnings are all around us. Each waking flower is a symbol for something new taking shape within us.
- Everything blooms in its own time. In our lives, just as in nature, patience forms the most beautiful things we experience.
- Color and light are vital to life. Spring feels good because it reminds us how deeply we need variety and vividness in our surroundings.
- Great things are waiting beneath the surface. Only when the flowers bloom do we realize the potential that existed beneath our feet all this time.
- The important things are the simple things. Grass, rainfall, sunlight, a single flower – the smallest things matter still, because no one else can experience them for us.
Quotes:
Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love. Sitting Bull
If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. Buddha
Our spirits...require nourishment. Just as there is food for the body, there is food for the spirit. The consequences of spiritual malnutrition are just as hurtful to our spiritual lives as physical malnutrition is to our physical bodies. Dallin H. Oaks
Spring won’t let me stay in this house any longer! I must get out and breathe the air deeply again. Gustav Mahler
Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. We need hours of aimless wandering or spates of time sitting on park benches, observing the mysterious world of ants and the canopy of treetops. Maya Angelou
Without nourishing our own souls, we can't nourish the world, for we cannot give what we do not have. As we attend to our souls, we emanate invisibly and involuntarily the light we have received. Marianne Williamson
If you wish to know the divine, feel the wind on your face and the warm sun on your hand. Eido Tai Shimano
Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul. Luther Burbank
“Restoring Planet Earth…Our Sacred Responsibility” 04-25-21
Weekly Statement:
“Taking Committed Steps To Restore Planet Earth Is Our Sacred Responsibility” sv
Scripture:
Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV) 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all…
Genesis 1:26 (ESV) 26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NRSV) 1Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. 2Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
Hebrews 12:28 (NASB) 28Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe…
Special Reading:
…The Hebrew word for dominion does not mean “to dominate” or “to exploit.” Rather, it means “to take responsibility for,” … In the first creation story, human beings were created last, not as the so-called “crown of creation,” but in order to exercise responsibility for the well-being of the garden Earth… Being stewards of creation is foundational to what it means to be human. Caring for creation is not an add-on, not a sideline, not related just to part of our calling. It represents our proper human relationship to Earth…in a caretaker position in regard to environmental stewardship. https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/the-stewardship-of-creation-a-theological-reflection/
Quotes:
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed. Mahatma Gandhi
Man can no longer live his life for himself alone. We realize that all life is valuable and that we are united to all this life. From this knowledge comes our spiritual relationship with the universe. Albert Schweitzer
To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes you have to pick up other people’s trash. Bill Nye
You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. Jane Goodall
“The Emerging Butterfly" 04-11-21
Weekly Statement:
“Transformational Emergence takes Patience & Mindfulness In Opening To New Discovery” sv
Scripture:
Philippians 3:13b (NASB) 13b…but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead…
Romans 12:2 (NRSV) 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds…
James 5: 7 (NIV) 7Be patient, then, brothers and sisters… See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
Psalm 27:14 (NRSV) 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NRSV) 18 Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. 19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
Isaiah 65:17 (ESV) 17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
Special Reading:
To become a butterfly, a caterpillar undergoes massive transformation, also known as – metamorphosis…
It teaches us that, change, even though it takes time and can be a little difficult in the beginning, can lead to beautiful results. It teaches us the value of letting go of the old, in order to discover the new. It helps us realize the value of growth, patience, perseverance, adaptation and faith. Mukesh Mani www.outofstress.com/inspirational-butterfly-quotes/
Quotes:
We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come. Joseph Campbell
How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar. Trina Paulus
Adding wings to caterpillars does not create butterflies, it creates awkward and dysfunctional caterpillars. Butterflies are created through transformation. Stephanie Marshall
It’s only when caterpillarness is done that one becomes a butterfly… You cannot rip away caterpillarness. The whole trip occurs in an unfolding process… Ram Dass
When she transformed into a butterfly, the caterpillars spoke not of her beauty, but of her weirdness. They wanted her to change back into what she always had been. But she had wings. Dean Jackson
Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won't have a title until much later. Bob Goff
“Shifting Our Consciousness...Celebrating Easter" 04-04-21
Weekly Statement:
“Releasing Old Limiting Beliefs, We Raise Our Consciousness Into Greater Light” sv
Scripture:
Matthew 28:1-2,5-6 1Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 5But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen…
Luke 22:42-43 (NIV) 42”Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me, yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
Luke 23:46a (ESV) 46Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!"
Isaiah 60:1 (NJKV) 1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Unity Reading:
Eastertide…the resurrection of the mind from the darkness of its doubts and false beliefs into the light of understanding… (paraphrased). The word crucifixion means the crossing out in consciousness of certain errors that have become fixed states of mind… The resurrection is the raising up of the whole man – spirit, soul, and body – into the Christ consciousness of life and wholeness. Keep A True Lent Charles Fillmore
Quotes:
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. Maya Angelou
The symbolic language of the crucifixion is the death of the old paradigm; resurrection is a leap into a whole new way of thinking. Deepak Chopra
The Holy Week message is one of preparation to rise to a new level of being. We prepare by releasing our limitations, doing our inner work to transform our consciousness to create a receptivity to the new. Then, we move through the “crucifixion” – whatever the personal challenge and discomfort are – and allow the inner change to gestate, finally rising as the new consciousness. In this way, we are transformed. The risen Christ Consciousness within is awakened and expresses as a new version of self… Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That
The Easter eggs symbolizes our ability to break out of the hardened, protective shell we've surrounded ourselves with that limits our thoughts and beliefs. As we break open our hearts and minds we discover a transformation to new, life enhancing thoughts and beliefs. Siobhan Shaw
Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness. Desmond Tutu
Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life. S.D. Gordon
"Pathway Of Palms...Spiritual Humbleness” 03-28-21
“Humbleness Shifts Us From Egoic Superiority, To Conscious Inclusivity & Oneness” sv
Scripture:
Matt 21:6-9 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Micah 6:8 (ESV) 8 …What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Proverbs 11:2 (NIV) 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Matthew 23:12 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Colossians 3:12 (NIV) 12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Humility/Humble Definition: Showing that you do not think of yourself as better than other people; not arrogant or falsely prideful
Revealing Word: Jerusalem--"Habitation of peace." In man it is the abiding consciousness of spiritual peace. When we go deep into the silent recesses of our beings, we realize a stillness and sweetness beyond expression. A great peace is there--the "peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Phil. 4:7)
Unity Reading:
Spiritual consciousness puts all men and all things on a common level. In the sight of God there is no great, no small… Jesus taught & exemplified the willingness of divine love to serve in humble ways…this Christ cleansing through love is not only a teaching; it is also a life to be lived. Mysteries Of John Charles Fillmore
Quotes:
The life of Christ was a life of humble simplicity, yet how infinitely exalted was his mission. Christ is our example in all things. Ellen G. White
While your arrogance may give you a sense of power, it may serve you better to put it aside. Those are the times you will be the light of the world. J 'son M. Lee
The only wisdom we can hope to acquire is the wisdom of humility. T.S. Eliot
Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real. -Thomas Merton
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. Ernest Hemingway
Humility is never about being small, unseen and unnoticed. Humility is really about expressing all the wonder you are in a way that all people see is the awesomeness and greatness of GOD. TemitOpe Ibrahim
“Irish Music To Lift Your Soul” 3-21-21
Weekly Thought:
”Music Is A Universal Language That Helps Uplift Our Soul” sv
Scripture:
Psalm 150:1a,3-5 (NRSV) 1 Praise the Lord! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with clanging cymbals…
Psalm 104:33 (NIV) 33 I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Quotes:
Music is so much more than enjoyment for our ears. It affects our minds and souls to create a multi-sensory experience that goes far beyond listening. The power that different sounds can have on us is tremendous… Andre Feriante
Music is a universal language capable of awakening emotions and unique sensations… The influence of music on our soul is so far ranging… Ever since different cultures started to form, there has always been a place for rhythmic sounds that can communicate our feelings. In every age and civilization this particular form of expression has existed, and in so many varied styles… https://exploringyourmind.com/influence-music-lives/
While every country has it’s own language(s), there’s only one language we can all understand: the language of music. We don’t even need words to understand what music is saying. Every year I see a lot of different people from a lot of different countries attending festivals. When the music is being played, it seems everyone understands what’s coming out of the speakers and they just start dancing to it. Mitch De Klein
Emigration resulted in large populations of Irish decent in areas of North America such as Boston, New York, Chicago. The majority of those who emigrated from Ireland to America in the 18th Century settled in the Appalachian mountains. They brought with them a rich tradition of song and dance tunes which merged with the music of other settlers including European, British and African to become Appalachian "old time" music. American country music originated in Appalachian music and there were other links to bluegrass and rock n roll. Leavingcertmusic.weebly.com/american-folk.html
I always try to play as though I am freely dancing and singing at the same time…The body holds the rhythm and the heart generates the feeling in response to the beauty of the melodic line… Experimentation and evolution are essential to music. Martin Hayes
Music has the power to culturally, morally, and emotionally influence our society. Thus, the more intentional we become with the sounds, messages, and moods we create and release through our music, the more powerful we will become in making deep positive impacts. Belinda Huang
"The Kindness Project: Part 2…Living Into Kindness" 03-14-21 Youth & Minister Series
Weekly Statement:
“Kindness Helps Heal Differences & Mistrust Through Compassionate Caring” sv
Scripture:
Deuteronomy 4:29 (ESV)
29But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Micah 6:8b (NASB) 8b…And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Proverbs 3:3 (NASB) 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Colossians 3:12 (NIV) 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Quotes:
In whatever direction you turn, you will see God coming to meet you; nothing is void of him, he himself fills all his work. Seneca The Younger
In separateness lies the world’s great misery, in compassion lies the world’s true strength. Buddha
You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force. Pubilius Syrus
Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have. Margaret Mead
"What Is Unity? The Foundation Of New Thought" 03-07-21
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 14:26 (NRSV) 26 What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
Matthew 21:13 (NRSV) 13 And He (Jesus) said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’…
Exodus 25:8 (NIV) 8 "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
1 Peter 2:5a (NASB) 5you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house.
Special Readings:
The New Thought movement is a spiritual movement which coalesced in the United States in the early 19th century. New Thought was preceded by "ancient thought," accumulated wisdom & philosophy from a variety of origins, such as Ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Chinese, Taoist, Vedic, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist cultures and their related belief systems…
Although there have been many leaders and various offshoots of the New Thought philosophy, the origins of New Thought have often been traced back to Phineas Quimby (1802–1866), an American mesmerist and healer. During the late 19th century, the metaphysical healing practices of Quimby mingled with the "Mental Science" of Warren Felt Evans, a Swedenborgian minister. Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, has sometimes been cited as having used Quimby as inspiration for theology.
In the late 19th century, New Thought was propelled by a number of spiritual thinkers and philosophers and emerged through a variety of Spiritual Groups and churches, particularly Unity and Church of Divine Science (established in 1889 and 1888, respectively), followed by Religious Science (established in 1927). Many of its early teachers and students were women; notable among the founders of the movement were Emma Curtis Hopkins, known as the "teacher of teachers", Myrtle Fillmore, Malinda Cramer, and Nona L. Brooks…
The contemporary New Thought movement is a loosely allied group of religious denominations, authors, philosophers, and individuals who share a set of beliefs concerning metaphysics, positive thinking, the law of attraction, healing, life force, creative visualization, and personal power. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Thought
Unity is for people who might call themselves spiritual but not religious. It is for those who sense the depths of their own being and celebrate the awareness of a power greater than themselves.
The teachings in Unity bring together ancient wisdom with new interpretations of what it means to be alive and human. Unity inspires different ways to think about the force of love and intelligence that many people call God.
What Are Unity Teachings?
Unity has no dogma. The Fillmores were reluctant even to issue a statement of beliefs. They wanted to remain in constant exploration.
Throughout the years, they pulled together teachings of Truth that flow through all the world’s great religions. Later, leaders of Unity boiled them down to five basic principles.
The Five Principles
1. God is all there is and present everywhere. This is the force of love and wisdom that underlies all of existence.
2. Human beings are divine at their core and therefore inherently good.
3. Thoughts have creative power to determine events and attract experiences.
4. Prayer and meditation keep us aligned with the one great power in the universe.
5. It is not enough to understand spiritual teachings. We must live the Truth we know.
www.unity.org/about-us/what-unity
Quotes:
We honor the diversity of cultures and faiths while aiming to articulate, practice, & embody more fully universal spiritual principles. We honor & respect all faiths, cultures, creeds, & races & learn from those who believe spiritual equity & human rights belong to everyone. We encourage personal transformation & collective awakening. We practice the gift of active compassion & kindness through our service to all life. We foster a world that works for the highest good of all.
Compiled by Association for Global New Thought based on collaborative input from leaders and ministers from New Thought organizations.
Unity is for people who might call themselves spiritual but not religious. It is for those who sense the depths of their own being and celebrate the awareness of a power greater than themselves. The teachings in Unity bring together ancient wisdom with new interpretations of what it means to be alive and human. Unity inspires different ways to think about the force of love and intelligence that many people call God. www.Unity.org
We can contact Creative Intelligence by taking the time to go within our hearts. We find our true self here, not the ego. This can be done by anyone, through maintaining a feeling of calmness and concentrating on higher thoughts, whether through prayer, song, meditation or a walk in the woods. When we focus our lives on higher thoughts and actions, we connect with the Divine. Irene Malek
Remember, we are all affecting the world every moment, whether we mean to or not. Our actions and states of mind matter, because we’re so deeply interconnected with one another. Working on our own consciousness is the most important thing that we are doing at any moment, and being love is the supreme creative act. Ram Dass
"Reaching Forward Together…Grateful For Community" 02-28-21
Weekly Statement:
“Reaching Forward Together With Common Purpose Strengthens & Uplifts Us” sv
Scripture:
1 John 1:7 (NKJV) 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…
Matthew 18:20 (ESV) 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
Romans 1:11-12 (NRSV) 11 For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you - 12 or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NRSV) 11 Therefore encourage one another & build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
Philippians 1:27 (NASB) 27b…you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together…
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…
Galatians 6:10 (NRSV) 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all…
Quotes:
This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful: in a word, more alive. Alice Waters
One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn't as individuals. When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility, we can welcome many people, even those in deep distress, and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing. Jean Vanier, Community & Growth
The spiritual path is not a solo endeavor… We are in it together and the company of spiritual friends helps us realize our interconnectedness. Tara Brach
There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals. Idowu Koyenikan, Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability
Simply being with other people who are also seekers and who are involved in the same quest you are is very meaningful. Dan Wakefield
Community is first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from the spiritual knowledge that we are alive not for ourselves but for one another. Henri Nouwen
Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light. Norman B. Rice
"Black History Month…Building Bridges Of Connection" 02-21-21
Weekly Statement:
“Heartfelt Communication & Awareness Helps Build Bridges Of Appreciation & Connection” sv
Scripture:
2 Chronicles 15:7 (NIV) 7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.
2 Samuel 10:12 (NRSV) 12 Be strong, and let us be courageous for the sake of our people, and for the cities of our God…
Hebrews 10:24 (ESV) 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…
Galatians 6:10 (NRSV) 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all…
Special Reading:
The Black History month honors African American people’s rich range of experiences, struggles and achievements throughout history and into the modern day.
It’s a tribute to African American men and women who have made significant contributions to America and the rest of the world in the fields of science, politics, law, sports, the arts, entertainment, and many other fields. While Black History Month is synonymous with prominent figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., there are countless other African Americans who've made a profound impact in history: self-made millionaire Madam C.J. Walker, astronaut Mae C. Jemison, open-heart surgeon Daniel Hale Williams, inventor Garret Morgan, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and "Father of Black History" Carter G. Woodson, who lobbied extensively to establish Black History Month as a nationwide celebration, among many others. www.biography.com/tag/black-history
Quotes:
For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela
I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality…. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word…The time is always right to do what is right. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. Barack Obama
Just don’t give up what you’re trying to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong. Ella Fitzgerald
Amanda Gorman Poem “The Hill We Climb”
"Celebrating Love…A Many Splendored Thing" 02-14-21
Core Statement:
“Love’s Infinite Power Heals, Comforts, Forgives, Nurtures & Embraces” sv
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NRSV) 13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
John 13:34 (NKJV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you…
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV) 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you… 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love…
2 John 1:6b (NIV) 6b…As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Special Reading:
Love is within us. It cannot be destroyed. It can be ignored. To the extent that we abandon love we will feel it has abandoned us. Denying love is our only problem, and embracing it is the only answer. Through the power of love, we can let go of past history and begin again. Love heals, forgives, and makes whole. Ernest Holmes
Quotes:
Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a minor Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, through later folk traditions, has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions of the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day
Let the good in me connect with the good in others, until all the world is transformed through the compelling power of love. Nachman of Breslov
Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. Martin Luther King Jr.
Our survival depends on the healing power of love, intimacy and relationships. As individuals. As communities. As a country. As a culture… Dean Ornish
Love is our essential nutrient. Without it, life has little meaning. It’s the best thing we have to give and the most valuable thing we receive… You will learn a lot about yourself if you stretch in the direction of goodness, of bigness, of kindness, of forgiveness, of emotional bravery. Be a warrior for love. Cheryl Strayed
Your greatest power is to show love, to receive love and to be love. Oprah Winfrey
"Law Of Mind Action…Creating Meaningful Lives" Part 2: Practicing Positive Intention 01-31-21
Weekly Statement:
“Choicefully Creating Meaningful Lives Is A Scientific & Spiritual Actuality ”sv
Scripture:
Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV) 7"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” The highest exercise of the mind is prayer, and prayer is accumulative…This is the teaching of Jesus, and we find that it is good metaphysical law. Charles Fillmore
Matthew 6:33 (ESV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Isaiah 60:1,5 (NASB) 1"Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 5"Then you will see and be radiant, And your heart will thrill and rejoice; Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you.
Unity Reading:
Prayer is dynamic and accentuates the spiritual ethers that interpenetrate all substance. Prayer is related directly to the creative laws of God, and when man adjusts his mind and body in harmony with those laws, his prayers will always be effective and far-reaching… Charles Fillmore Jesus Christ Heals
Special Reading:
Your thoughts form your character, how you operate in the world, and how far you travel mentally, physically, and spiritually. You are what you think you are, and all of your actions proceed from thought. Your inner thoughts will always be reflected in your outer circumstances because self-generated changes in your life are always preceded by changes in the way you think about something… The good news is that you can use your mind to train your brain to tamp down the negative thoughts that lead to pessimism while ramping up the types of positive thoughts that lead to optimism. You can be the master of the neuronal changes that will lead to greater happiness… Susan Reynolds www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prime-your-gray-cells/201108/happy-brain-happy-life
Quotes:
The law of attraction is the attractive, magnetic power of the Universe that draws similar energies together. It manifests through the power of creation, everywhere and in many ways. Remez Sasson
The Law of Attraction states that whatever you focus on, think about, read about, and talk about intensely, you’re going to attract more of into your life. Jack Canfield
It has been proven now scientifically that an affirmative thought is hundreds of times more powerful than a negative thought. Michael Beckwith
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. Helen Keller
The holy Spirit…wants to flow through us and realize all these wonderful possibilities in the world – if we only open ourselves and allow it to happen. Br. David Steindl-Rast
How To Practice:
You can begin to consciously and intentionally create a better life. You can choose to respond differently to the situations that arise during your day:
Choose to think differently.
Choose to focus and think about the things you want more of in your life.
Choose to experience more of the things that make you feel good.
Choose to deliberately participate in the creation of your future by managing your thoughts and feelings.
Using the Law of Attraction is a three-step process: ask, believe and receive.
- Ask the universe for what you want, not for what you don’t want. You must become more deliberate about what you think and feel.
- Believing that you’ll get what you want means maintaining a positive expectancy, going about your day with certainty— knowing that you’ve put your future in the hands of powers that are greater than yours. (God) The second part of the equation is to take action.
- Receive what you want by becoming a vibrational match for it… focusing on positive emotions of love, joy, appreciation, and gratitude throughout your day. (Condensed)
www.jackcanfield.com/blog/using-the-law-of-attraction/
"Law Of Mind Action…Creating Meaningful Lives" Part One: Daring To Dream 01-24-21
Weekly Statement:
“Through Heart Intention & Focus We Create Our Visualizations & Dreams” sv
Scripture:
Amos 4:13 (ESV) 13 For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV) 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Mark 11:24 (NIV) 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Psalm 37:3-4 (NASB) 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Unity Reading:
We find there is in man a knowing capacity transcending intellectual knowledge… When we discover in ourselves a flow of thought that seems to have been evolved independently of the reasoning process (intellectual brain), we are often puzzled about its origin. In its beginnings this seemingly strange source of knowledge is often turned aside as a daydream… One should give attention to this usually faint whispering of Spirit in man. It is not of the intellect and does not originate in the skull (brain). It is the development in man of a greater capacity to know himself and understand creation. The Bible gives many examples of the awakening of this brain of the heart in seers and prophets. Charles Fillmore Twelve Powers Of Man
Quotes:
God illumines the mind and shines within it. One cannot know God by means of the mind. One can but turn the mind inwards and merge it in God. Ramana Maharshi
The law of attraction is the attractive, magnetic power of the Universe that draws similar energies together. It manifests through the power of creation, everywhere and in many ways. Remez Sasson
The Law of Attraction is the most powerful law in the universe. Just like gravity, it is always in effect, always in motion. It is working in your life at this very moment. You are always in a state of creation. The Law of Attraction allows for infinite possibilities, infinite abundance, and infinite joy. It knows no order of difficulty, and it can change your life in every way. Jack Canfield
We all possess more power and greater possibilities than we realize, and visualizing is one of the greatest of these powers. Genevieve Behrend
Visualization is daydreaming, with a purpose. Bo Bennett
It's not your work to make anything happen. It's your work to dream it and let it happen… Within the seed of your desire is everything necessary for it to blossom to fulfillment. And Law of Attraction is the engine that does the work. Your work is just to give it a fertile growing place in order to expand Abraham-Hicks
"Letter to God/Higher-Self" 01-17-21
Core Statement:
“Heart-Felt Dreams & Visions Speak Loudly…When We Are Listening” sv
Scripture:
Ephesians 4:22-24a (NIV) 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self… 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self…
Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Proverbs 4:25-26 (NRSV) 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
Psalm 78:1 (NASB) 1 Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Psalm 43:3a (NASB) 3 O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me…
Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NIV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Unity Quote:
…Observation shows that the purer the mind the greater it’s capacity to receive and interpret the ideas imparted to it by Spirit…Those who cultivate communion with the Father within become conscious of a guiding light… Charles Fillmore Atom Smashing Power Of Mind
Quotes:
Letting go doesn't have to mean losing; it can be about coming into a new, open, clean space from which you can create. Rebekah Elizabeth Gamble
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." - Albert Einstein
Dare to dream! If you did not have the capability to make your wildest wishes come true, your mind would not have the capacity to conjure such ideas in the first place. There is no limitation on what you can potentially achieve, except for the limitation you choose to impose on your own imagination. Anthon St. Maarten
To have God speak to the heart is a majestic experience, an experience that people may miss if they monopolize the conversation and never pause to hear God's responses. Charles Stanley
Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements. Charles Haanel
Today is your day to dance lightly with life. Sing wild songs of adventure. Invite rainbows & butterflies out to play. Soar your spirit and unfurl your joy. Jonathan Lockwood Huie
“A New ‘Name’... A New Vision” The White Stone Experience 01-10-21
Weekly Statement:
“There Is Universal Energetic Power In Declaring A Word Or Name” sv
Scripture:
Romans 7:6 (ESV) But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit...
John 1:1-3 (CEV) 1 In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. 2 From the very beginning the Word was with God. 3 And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word.
Revelations 2:17 17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says... To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
Mark 4:23-24 (NKJV) 23 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.”
Unity Readings:
This is exactly what the Word is – the working power of God…Persistent meditation upon the Truth contained in the Word of God opens the mind to Spirit. The Word of God is the revelation to man of the powers and possibilities of his own being… Keep A True Lent Charles Fillmore
We find there is in man a knowing capacity transcending intellectual knowledge… One should give attention to this…whispering of Spirit in man. It is not of the intellect and does not originate in the skull. It is the development, in man, of a greater capacity to know himself…(condensed) The Twelve Powers Charles & Cora Fillmore
Quotes:
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. Lao Tzu
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. Maya Angelou
Names are a part of every culture and are of enormous importance… Generally, in cultures with a sense of ancestry, children get their names from the totems and family trees of their parents. In some cultures, names are taken from events which happen during the pregnancy of the mother or shortly after the birth of the child, and in others, names are divined through incantation. In some cases, the name given at birth is only the first of several names a person will bear in life. When this happens, the new names are given to mark important milestones that occur… Regardless of when, why, or how often it happens, the giving and receiving of a name is an event of major importance… (Compiled/paraphrased) www.behindthename.com/
To pray is to listen to the One who calls you "my beloved daughter," "my beloved son," my beloved child." To pray is to let that voice speak to the center of your being, and let that voice resound in your whole being. Henri Nouwen
Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil. James Allen
Explanation: The White Stone Ceremony is an ancient ritual of new beginnings. In Jesus' day, when a person was released from prison, they were given a white stone to represent their new start. Each of you can visualize a white stone to signify your freedom. Through meditation you will receive a word or phrase symbolizing a new start - a vision/intention Spiritually recognized to guide you forward into the new year. Write that upon your White Stone…You are now free to take our next spiritual step!
“Burning/Releasing Bowl Service…Clearing Old Debris, Preparing For 2021” 01-03-21
Weekly Statement:
“Clearing Debris From Our Past Creates Space For A Positive New Future” SV
Scripture:
Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV) 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 18:18 (ESV) 18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Ephesians 4:31-32 (NRSV) 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…
Romans 12:2a (ESV) 2aDo not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…
Job 17:9 (TLB) 9 The righteous shall move onward and forward; those with pure hearts shall become stronger and stronger.
Unity Reading:
Living old thoughts over & over keeps the inlet of new thoughts closed… There must be a renunciation or letting go of the old thoughts before the new can find place in the consciousness… if the thoughts are lifted up, the whole organism is raised to higher rates of vibration. Charles & Cora Fillmore The Twelve Powers of Man
Quotes:
You wanna fly, you got to give up the s**t that weighs you down. Toni Morrison
To let go is to release the images and emotions, the grudges and fears, the clingings and disappointments of the past that bind our spirit… To let go does not mean to get rid of. To let go means to let be. Jack Kornfield
Regrets and resentments cause great suffering but fix nothing. Stop holding on to the past. Release your regrets about whatever you may have done or failed to do that turned out poorly. Forgive others for whatever they may have done or failed to do that cause you harm. Declare today to be a new beginning. Jonathan Lockwood Huie
We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea. Holding onto something that is good for you now, may be the very reason why you don’t have something better. C. JoyBell C.
Holding on is believing that there’s only a past; letting go is knowing that there’s a future. Daphne Rose Kingma
You are perfect. You are complete. Your inner voice always knows what to do, but it is a quiet voice. You can only hear the whisperings of your inner voice - your inner compass - when you turn down the volume of your fears, your regrets, your resentments… Let go of the past and move on with creating a joyful new future for yourself. Jonathan Lockwood Huie