Quotations Used in the Sunday Message
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“Positive Spiritual Practices For Lent (part 2)” 03-30-25
Core Statement:
“Lent Focuses On Practicing Spiritual Truth Principles To Create Positive Life Experiences” sv
Scripture:
Matthew 4:1-2 (NKJV) Jesus Wilderness
1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
Acts 26:20 (NIV)
20 …I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. (shift in consciousness)
Mark 1:15 (NIV)
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Repentance=Denial/Affirmation: Repentance means denial; it is a relinquishment… Therefore, I deny out of consciousness old error thoughts, as if I were gently sweeping away cobwebs, and I affirm positively and fearlessly that I am a child of God… As I follow this rule I find that I am letting go of old mortal beliefs and the Divine within is flaming higher and higher. Its pure white light is infusing all my surroundings with a delightful spirit of wisdom, dignity, and peace. Charles Fillmore Keep A True Lent
Job 17:9 (TLB)
9The righteous shall move onward and forward; those with pure hearts shall become stronger and stronger.
Unity Reading:
(Paraphrased)When we consider Lent as a season of retreat from the things (thoughts) of the world for the cleansing of the mind and the recollection of the things of Spirit, it becomes a true season of preparation…for the resurrection (rising up) of the mind from the darkness of it’s doubts and false beliefs into the light of understanding. A great number of things that you look upon as realities are simply transient shadows that can be dissipated into nothingness by your telling them the truth as to their unreality… Many persons are impregnated with a belief of limitation and they need the dissolving power of denial to set them free… Denials may be made in many ways. It is not always necessary to say specifically, “I deny so & so.” The conscious acknowledgement that you have been incorrect in your conclusion is denial. Refusing to entertain longer any thoughts of a negative nature is denial…
Metaphysicians have discovered that man can greatly accelerate the formation of the Christ mind in himself by using affirmations that identify him with the Christ… Jesus taught his followers to assert the affirmative in thought and word… if we study our minds we find that they are radiating energy constantly and that whatever we send out comes back.
--Charles Fillmore . Keep A True Lent
From a Metaphysical, Spiritual perspective, Lent stands for a voluntary retreat from the world to prepare for our resurrection from false beliefs, error thinking, and the denial of our innate divinity… It’s the meaning, not the ritual that is important… when the ritual becomes more important than the meaning behind it, we have lost our focus. From a spiritual perspective, there is only one kind of fasting: abstaining from error thoughts which dampen our awareness
of our oneness with Spirit.
--Revs., Drs. Bil & Cher Holton
You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.
--Swami Vivekananda
Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.
--Roy T. Bennett
The world we see that seems so insane is the result of a belief system that is not working. To perceive the world differently, we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds.
--Gerald G. Jampolsky, Love Is Letting Go of Fear
You empower what you fight. You withdraw power from what you release.
--Alan Cohen
Let your thoughts, intentions, imaginations, and dreams fly under a clear blue sky with a spring breeze floating like a butterfly from flower to flower. See the beauty of mankind. Enjoy the nectar of life. It will shift your awareness to a higher consciousness.
--Debasish Mridha
People suffer because they are caught in their views. As soon as we release those views, we are free…
--Thich Nhat Hanh
“A Different Perspective On Lent (part 1)” 03-23-25
Core Statement:
“Fasting From Negative Thoughts & Beliefs Shifts Us Into Higher Christ Consciousness” SV
Scripture:
Isaiah 29:13 (NIV)
13 …“These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.
Luke 4:1-2 (ESV)
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil (error thoughts & beliefs). And he ate nothing during those days. (fasting from error thinking)
Isaiah 58:6 (NKJV)
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness (false, erroneous beliefs), to undo the heavy burdens…
Joel 2:12-14 (NASB)
12a “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting… (fasting from error thinking)
Special Reading:
The earliest mention of Lent in the history of the Church comes from the council of Nicaea in 325 AD… The council issued twenty canons of a practical nature, dealing with various aspects of church life, and the fifth of these canons speaks of Lent. The word used for Lent in this fifth canon is tessarakonta (in the original Greek), which means ‘forty’. For the first time in recorded history, we have mention of this period of preparation for Easter as lasting forty days… The length of time was adopted in imitation of the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert at the beginning of his public ministry.
-- www.ThinkingFaith.org/articles
The English word ‘Lent’ has another, very beautiful derivation. It comes from the Anglo-Saxon word meaning to ‘lengthen’. Lent comes at a time when the hours or daytime are ‘lengthening’ as spring approaches, and so it is a time
when we too can ‘lengthen’ spiritually…
--Father Norman Tanner S.J.
Unity Reading:
It is commonly believed that the Lenten period has to do with the events of the 40 days preceding the Resurrection. This is an erroneous idea. Lent is a church institution, and there is no authorization for it anywhere in the New Testament. The idea, however, has a sound spiritual basis; Moses, Elijah and Jesus himself set a precedent for it. Each observed a 40-day period of prayer and fasting as a preparation for Spiritual work… The ancient Hebrew writers made a practice of using numbers to symbolize ideas… the number 40 is frequently used in the scriptures to indicate a completed preparation for something to follow. When we consider lent as a “completed” season of retreat from the things of the world for the cleansing of the mind and the recollection of the things of spirit, it becomes a true season of preparation…
--Georgiana Tree West (Forward in Keep A True Lent)
Lent is a season of spiritual growth, a time for progressive unfoldment. When we can blend and merge our mind with God-Mind, the way is open… to lift us into a higher, purer, more spiritual state. In “fasting”, we as metaphysicians abstain from error thinking and meditate on spiritual Truth until we incorporate it into the consciousness of oneness with the Father.
--Charles Fillmore Keep A True Lent
I knew all of the childhood prayers I uttered on my knees at the side of my bed. Many years of Sunday-school attendance had etched certain Psalms and rote prayers into the fibers of my brain. However, somewhere deep inside of me, I had the secret belief that I did not know how to pray…
--Iyanla Vanzant
I think there’s too much emphasis placed on learning things by rote that you don’t really care about…
--Jack Canfield
What is the significance of “40 days and 40 nights” in the Bible? And is 40 an exact number, or does it just mean “a lot”?
The use of 40 could well have been used to mean “awhile.” It was a good, solid number, a number people might use to express a strong passage of time (think today of how people talk about the concept of “a million” — it often means merely “a lot”).
--Jessica Brodie
From a Metaphysical, Spiritual perspective, Lent stands for a voluntary retreat from the world to prepare for our resurrection from false beliefs, error thinking, and the denial of our innate divinity… It’s the meaning, not the ritual that is important… when the ritual becomes more important than the meaning behind it, we have lost our focus. From a spiritual perspective, there is only one kind of fasting: abstaining from error thoughts which dampen our awareness of our oneness with Spirit.
--Revs., Drs. Bil & Cher Holton
Release what no longer serves you to create a space for that which does…
--Randy Gage
“Irish Music…The Heart & Soul Of Ireland” 03-16-25
Weekly Thought:
”Storytelling & Music Are Intrinsic To Humanity, Helping Create Greater Connection & Community” sv
Scripture:
Ephesians 5:18b-19 (NASB)
18 …be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts…
Matthew 13:34 (ESV)
34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable (story).
Joel 1:3 (NIV)
3 Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next Generation…
2 Chronicles 5:13 (NIV)
13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks… Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals & other instruments, the singers raised their voices…and sang…
Special Reading:
Stories are central to human cognition and communication. We engage with others through stories, and storytelling is a lot more than just a recitation of facts and events. As human beings, we are automatically drawn to stories because we see ourselves reflected in them. When you tell a story, you spark a connection. That is how humans have communicated since the beginning of time —by telling stories.
-- www.tckpublishing.com/stories-matter/
Stories are deeply important to humans because they are a fundamental way we share information, build connections, understand the world, and make sense of our experiences, fostering empathy and shaping our understanding of ourselves and others.
--AI Generated Google
Quotes:
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…
-- www.exploringyourmind.com/influence-music-lives/
Music has the unique ability to communicate with you and connect you to the Universe in ways you can’t find elsewhere… Whether you listen to classical, grunge, pop, singer/songwriter, alternative, rock, bluegrass, country, or folk, the music you’re listening to affects your mind, body, and spirit in substantial ways…
-- www.chopra.com/articles/5-healing-benefits-of-listening-to-music
Folk music is often a form of oral history, retelling the stories of families, communities, and generations. For diasporic
communities, these songs serve as a reminder of their ancestors’ hardship and a way of expressing their heritage. In Ireland I think they are a reminder of those who left and a way of explaining an important part of Irish history. While these songs are about the Irish experience, the sense of loss, hope, and resilience they express are universal…
--Alexandra S. McKeever
When we look at music from any culture, one of the main things we can examine is themes within the songs. Just like most cultures, a lot of traditional Irish songs tend to have similar topics, which act as a sign pointing toward what Irish life has been like for centuries. A few examples of these topics are the sea, the supernatural, prison, martyrs, historical figures, rebellion, immigration, humor, love, and drinking… These songs communicate what it’s like to live in Ireland, and share historical events and themes. Irish folk music evolved over the centuries and became an important thread running through Irish history… Irish music is distinct from any other culture or genre, for a variety of reasons. It features specific instruments such as the fiddle, harp, flute, whistle, pipes, accordion, banjo, mandolin, bodhrán, and more.
-- www.IrishAmericanMom.com
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.
--Irish Blessing
“Strategies For Positive Outcomes” 03-09-25
Core Statement:
“Breathe First, Respond Mindfully vs Reacting, Then…Using Prayerful Guidance, TAKE ACTION!” sv
Scripture:
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed… I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you…
Proverbs 12:18 (NASB)
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Proverbs 1:5 (NIV)
5Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…
1 Peter 1:13 (ESV)
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded (focused), set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you…
Unity Quotes:
We find there is in man a knowing capacity transcending intellectual knowledge… One should give attention to this…whispering of Spirit in man…. Jesus said we should quicken our discernment…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 Fillmore The 12 Powers Of Man
Unity Truth Principles: 3rd Principle - We create our life experiences through our way of thinking or “Thoughts held in mind produce after their kind.”
Special Readings:
A reaction is typically quick and emotional, driven by our immediate feelings and less by thoughtful consideration. It's often automatic, immediate, and emotional, and can be influenced by our past experiences and subconscious. Reactions can also lead to unintended — and sometimes negative — consequences. By contrast, a response is more thoughtful, deliberate, and rooted in higher levels of emotional intelligence. It involves analyzing the situation and then considering what we’re feeling and why we’re feeling it. Responding involves considering the possible outcomes, and choosing a course of action that’s aligned with our goals.
-- www.calm.com/blog/respond-vs-react
Reactions tend to go like this: Something happens. You panic. Then you proceed. Responses tend to go like this: Something happens. You pause. You process. You plan. Then you proceed. Reacting is quick. Responding is slower. Responding creates more space between an event and what you do (or don’t do) with it. In that space, you give immediate emotions some room to breathe, better understand what is happening, make a plan using the most evolved part of your brain (higher self), and then move forward accordingly… Responding is harder than reacting. It takes more time and effort. It often requires letting the yearning to immediately do something, anything, about whatever just happened—be there without doing it. But, like most things that require effort, responding also tends to be advantageous. You rarely regret deliberately responding to a challenging situation. You often regret automatically reacting to one. Call on the 4 P’s to get you out of reacting & into responding: Pause: Take a deep breath or two. Gather yourself… Process: Label the emotions you are feeling. Tell yourself, This is what is happening right now, I’m doing the best that I can… Plan: Now that you’ve collected yourself, make a plan for what you want to do going forward. Figure out what resources & skills you can bring to the situation at hand… Proceed: Only then take action and proceed.
--Brad Stulberg
Quotes:
Are you living in the midst of the unexpected? If not, be prepared because the unforeseen is inevitable. While we may try to plan for every possible scenario, life is unpredictable. However, fear not; we can learn to navigate and embrace the unanticipated challenges.
--Maree Dee
Conscious breathing is the best antidote to stress, anxiety & depression.
--Amit Ray
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
--Steven Covey
As you meditate and become more spiritually attuned, you can better discern and recognize the sound of your higher
Self or the voice of God speaking to you through words, images, and sensations.
--Jack Canfield
Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.
--Denis Waitley
The most wonderful aspect of the universal scheme of things is the action of free beings under divine guidance.
--Joseph de Maistre
In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it.
--Norman Vincent Peale
“Handling Life’s Unexpected Events” 03-02-25
Core Statement:
“Handling Life’s Unexpected Events Involves Centering Within & Trusting God-Guidance” sv
Scripture:
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
9 …Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 46:1-2 (ESV)
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear…
Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV)
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are secure.
Psalm 51:6 (NRSVUE)
6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Deuteronomy 31:6(NKJV)
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid… for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Special Readings:
It’s easier said than done, but staying calm when an unexpected situation arises is the first thing you should try to do. If you become overwhelmed and panic, you may not be able to deal with the situation appropriately. You might make decisions which in the end make the situation worse… One of the best ways to help yourself stay calm is by breathing. That might seem very simple but by actually taking a moment to stop and take deep breaths, you will send signals to your body to stop releasing stress hormones which cause emotions like panic, fear and anxiety… You will then be able to return to the situation with a clearer mindset and be able to focus on how to take the next step in your response, and not be overwhelmed...?
--The Talent Foundry https://www.mandg-skillsforlife.com/
Avoid jumping to the worst-case scenarios in your head! When you’re faced with an unexpected situation and start to feel fearful, it’s very easy to think of the worst possible outcome… Focusing on the positives which could come from the situation will help. Sometimes, an unexpected situation can pose an opportunity, even if it’s something you didn’t plan.?
--The Talent Foundry https://www.mandg-skillsforlife.com/
Quotes:
Life inevitably throws us curve balls, unexpected circumstances that remind us to expect the unexpected.
--Carre Otis
A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn.
--Helen Keller
When life throws a challenge, catch it with a grin and say, 'Game on!'
--Author Unknown
If you so choose, even the unexpected setbacks can bring new and positive possibilities. If you so choose, you can find value and fulfillment in every circumstance.
--Ralph Marston
You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.
--Timber Hawkeye
The mind of the spirit will guide you in perfect ways, even in the minute details of your life, if you will let it do so.
--Charles Fillmore
Faith talks in the language of God. Doubt talks in the language of man.
--E.W. Kenyon
Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.
--Brené Brown
Ground yourself in the knowledge that your soul is wise and will lead you toward your greatest light… It's where your power resides.
--Jodi Livon
Keep walking through the storm. Your rainbow is waiting on the other side.
--Heather Stillufsen
"Gathering Together…Inspired & Uplifted…Grateful For Spiritual Community" 02-23-25
Annual Mtg Sun
Core Statement:
“Connecting Together In Spiritual Community Strengthens, Uplifts & Helps Navigate Life” sv
Scripture:
John 16:33b (NIV)
33 “… In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!...”
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.
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.
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…
Special Reading:
Whether a biological family or an extended family of people attracted to each other based on heart resonance and mutual support, the word "family" (Community) implies warmth, a place where the core feelings of the heart are nurtured. While we have differences, we remain "family" (Community) by virtue of our heart connection. Family provides necessary security and support, and acts as a buffer against external problems. A family (Community) made up of secure people generates a magnetic power that can get things done. They are the hope for real security in a stressful world.
--Doc Childre and Howard Martin, The HeartMath Solution
Quotes:
No one is immune to the trials and tribulations of life.
--Martin Lawrence
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
Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life forever.
--Amy Poehler
When we seek for connection, we restore the world to wholeness. Our seemingly separate lives become meaningful as
we discover how truly necessary we are to each other.
--Margaret J. Wheatley
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
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
--Helen Keller
"Honoring Achievement…Celebrating Black History Month" 02-16-25
Core Statement: Pic
“Appreciation & Awareness Of African American Life Achievements Builds Bridges Of Connection & Unity” sv
Scripture:
Ephesians 4:28b (ESV)
28b …Let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
23a Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart…
Ephesians 4:32a (NIV)
32a Be kind and compassionate to one another…
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…
Ephesians 4:25 (NRSVUE)
25 So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another.
Romans 12:10 (NIV)
10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Special Reading:
The 2025 Black History Month theme, "African Americans and Labor," is a powerful reflection on the pivotal role that the hard work of African Americans has played in shaping our country’s history. This theme underscores the diverse and significant ways in which labor—whether voluntary or involuntary, skilled or unskilled—has been at the core of the Black American experience. From the agricultural labor of enslaved Africans, which was foundational to the economic systems of this country, to the prosperous establishment of “Black Wall Street” which was a demonstration of the brilliance and resilient abilities of black corporate collaboration, this theme highlights how work has been central to both survival and empowerment. This year's theme also touches on how self-help strategies and entrepreneurship in Black communities have provided avenues for economic autonomy and resilience…
By focusing on "African Americans and Labor," Black History Month in 2025 aims to celebrate and honor these profound contributions, shedding light on how work, both historically and present-day, continues to shape the identity, culture, and economic status of our communities.
--https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/3683/Black-History-Month#
Quotes:
The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.
--Ida B. Wells - 19th/20th century journalist
As a citizen workforce, African Americans continue to chart new paths toward economic stability, personal growth, and racial uplift. From enslaved workers in the 19th century to agricultural, industrial, and professional workers in the 20th and 21st centuries, Black men and women have always been vital to transforming and tooling America.
* “With my needle I kept bread in the mouths of seventeen persons for two years and five months."
Elizabeth Keckly - Dressmaker and Business Owner, 1868 born in 1818 in Virginia, was an enslaved
seamstress who became the personal dressmaker and confidante of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln.
* "I longed to do something for my race, especially for the girls and women; to help bring order out of the chaos we see around us.” Mary McLeod Bethune With Emancipation, African American women found success
as contract laborers in agricultural, service, and professional careers in the areas of law, education,
and business. Women like Mary McLeod Bethune aided in the building of this new labor force by
opening schools that encouraged self-sufficiency, industry expertise, and altruism among Black
girls and women. Bethune founded the Dayton Literary and Industrial Training School for Negro
Girls in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1904. Seven years later, she opened the Mary McLeod Hospital and
Training School for Nurses to train Black women in healthcare professions.
* "Let us put our moneys together … and reap the benefit ourselves. Let us have a bank that will take the nickels and turn them into dollars." Maggie Lena Walker Independent Order of St. Luke Annual Meeting, 1901
Between 1910 and 1970 approximately six million African Americans moved from the South to northern,
midwestern and western states to take advantage of better educational and work opportunities. Known as
the Great Migration, this redistribution of labor opened the door for African American women to not only gain
more secure and lucrative work, but also to become business owners, in their own right. The period of
migration also marked an increase in Black women creating and maintaining their own financial institutions
and economic networks – including building and loan associations and mutual aid societies, like Mary Prout’s
Independent Order of St. Luke, that provided financial literacy to Black women and positively impacted the
labor and livelihoods of the larger African American community.
* "Rest is a form of resistance for Black communities recovering from centuries of stolen labor and overwork. You are worthy of rest." Tricia Hersey Founder of The Nap Ministry, 2022
Black women’s toil has helped define American commerce and labor markets since enslavement. Often
conscripted to long hours, harsh conditions, and strenuous labor, Black women often found little time and
experienced guilt in resting. By the turn of the century, African American women began to “reclaim their
time” using beauty salons as sanctuaries for pampering and rejuvenation.
--https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/moments/black-history-month (National Museum of African American History and Culture)
We must never forget that Black History is American History. The achievements of African Americans have contributed to our nation's greatness.
--Yvette Clarke, U.S. congresswoman
My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.
--Desmond Tutu
“Valentines Day…Focusing On Love” 02-09-25
Core Statement:
“Experiencing & Expressing Romance To Yourself Is About Tender Loving Care & Attention” sv
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NRSV)
13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Song of Solomon 4:7a (ESV)
7 You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.
Mark 12:31 (NRSV) 31 The second [commandment] is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
1 John 4:16b-17
16b …God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17By this is love perfected with us….
2 John 1:6b (NIV)
6b…As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Romance/Romantic Definition:
Brittanica.com
* Of, relating to, or involving love
* thinking about love and doing and saying things to show that you love someone
Dictionary.cambridge.org
* relating to love or a close loving relationship
Special Reading:
[Love] is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them – we can only love others as much as we love ourselves… We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.
--Brene Brown
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… Love heals, forgives, and makes
whole.
--Ernest Holmes
Quotes:
Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14.
In honor of 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 love in many regions of the world.
---www.Wikipedia.com
You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.
--Buddha
No other love no matter how genuine it is, can fulfill one's heart better than unconditional self-love. True unconditional love starts from you to you. Stop waiting on others to give it to you.
--Edmond Mbiaka
When we make the choice to fill our heart space with unconditional love, our worlds blossom into a beauty far greater than we have known.
--Rio Godfrey
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
By doing the work to love ourselves more, I believe we will love each other better.
--Laverne Cox
Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.
--Lucille Ball
You can't pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.
-- Norm Kelly
“It’s Not About Willpower…” 02-02-2025
Core Statement:
“Indwelling God, Heart-Wisdom, Is Our Higher-Self Will Guiding Us For Good” sv
Scripture:
Proverbs 11:2 (NRSV)
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.
Luke 22:42b (KJV)
42b …nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Psalm 51:6 (NRSVUE)
6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Romans 7:22 (ESV)
22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being…
Ephesians 3:16 (NRSVUE)
16 I pray… that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit…
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Psalm 16:7-8 (NIV)
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
Unity Quote:
Let the God within you express itself through you in the world without… The mind of the spirit will guide you in perfect ways, even in the minute details of your life, if you will let it do so.
--Charles Fillmore
Special Reading:
Most of us live… between two polarities – the Ego Mind and the True Self… Sometimes our Ego Mind will dominate and sometimes our True Self will be in charge, and that’s OK and normal. This is where awareness is very valuable… Our ego mind is our false self – the conditioned self – who is not in touch with who we really are. It feeds on the vibration of fear and lives through a paradigm of Win/Lose… the True Self is who we really are and is connected to the All That Is [God]… It operates through the paradigm of Win/Win… When we are living as our True Self, we feel a sense of expansion… this feeling is quietly powerful, humble and connected.
--www.nicolebayliss.com.au/the-ego-mind-vs-the-true-self/
Quotes:
Relying on willpower, especially to do something you don’t want to do, is a losing strategy in the long-run. I’m proposing a better strategy: use intrinsic motivation as your guide. Intrinsic motivation comes naturally from an inner desire [Higher/God Self] rather than from an external goal, restriction, or limitation that’s often supported by punishment or reward.
--meghan@cloudsanddirt.co
As you meditate and become more spiritually attuned, you can better discern and recognize the sound of your higher Self or the voice of God speaking to you through words, images, and sensations.
--Jack Canfield
“Ego thinking" refers to thoughts and motivations primarily driven by self-centered desires, fears, and a need for external validation, often focused on personal gain and image, while "inner spiritual knowing" represents a deeper, intuitive sense of understanding that transcends the ego, feeling more like a quiet, clear knowing without the need for rational explanation, often associated with a connection to a higher power or universal truth.
--AI Generated (Google)
Virtually every spiritual tradition teaches that your higher Self is the presence of God within you.
--Wayne Dyer
Never allow your ego to diminish your ability to listen.
--Gary Hopkins
The Higher Self is whispering to you softly in the silence between your thoughts.
--Deepak Chopra
Ground yourself in the knowledge that your soul is wise and will lead you toward your greatest light… It's where your
power resides.
--Jodi Livon
"Letter To God/Self…Envisioning Forward" 01-26-25
Core Statement:
“Opening To Divine Imagination Helps Us Envision Infinite Possibilities Forward” sv
Scripture:
2 Timothy 4:7 (NASB)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith…
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
1 Kings 4:29 (ESV)
29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore,
James 1:5 (ESV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God…
Luke 18:27 (NIV)
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
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. (beyond outer appearances to unknown possibilities-sv)
John 15:5 (NRSVUE)
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit…
Unity Reading:
…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
God-Mind is…constantly seeking to release its perfection in you…when you ask for its guidance and place yourself, by prayer and affirmation, in mental touch with it, there is a great increase in its manifestation in your life.
-- Charles Fillmore Christian Healing
Special Reading:
The human brain has a natural tendency to give weight to negative experiences or interactions more than positive ones… Psychologists refer to this as negativity bias. “Our brains are wired to scout for the bad stuff” and fixate on the threat… Consciously focusing on and experiencing positive situations more thoroughly actually helps build new neural structures in your brain… By doing this periodically, you’ll rewire your brain, making it more likely to notice positive things in the future.
-- www.skillpath.com/blog/how-to-be-more-positive
Quotes:
We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.
--Cynthia Ozick
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.
--Epictetus
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
Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the Universe is endlessly bountiful…
--Shakti Gawain
Our imagination is God’s ingenious gift that hands us the privilege of romping and playing in realities that we can’t see only because we’ve yet to create them.
--Craig D. Lounsbrough
Set your intention, and trust the universe to take care of the details.
--Mike Fotheringham
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 Vision…A New ‘White Stone’ Name” 01-19-25
Core Statement:
“There Is Universal, Energetic, Creative Power In The Spoken Word Or Name” sv
Scripture:
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? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Romans 7:6 (ESV)
6But 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… 3 And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word.
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…
-- Charles Fillmore Keep A True Lent
Romans 12:2 (NRSV)
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Revelations 2:17 (NKJV)
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.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NRSV)
3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Psalm 119:105 (NASB)
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Unity Quote:
A change of mind effects a corresponding change in the body. If the thoughts are lifted up, the whole organism is raised to higher rates of vibration…But first there must be a renunciation or letting go of old thoughts before the new can find place in the consciousness.
--Charles Fillmore Twelve Powers of Man
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.
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 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
A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more.
--Rosabeth Moss Kanter
The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world.
--Malcolm Gladwell
White Stone Experience:
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 has been given 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.