Good Morning Beloved!

During a visit to the mental asylum, the director was asked how he determines whether or not a patient should be institutionaltized.

“Well,” said the director, “ we fill up a bathtub with water, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub.”

“Oh, I understand,” said the visitor. “A normal person would use the bucket becaue it’s bigger than a spoon or the teacup.”

“No.” said the director, “A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?”

Prosperity and POWER

Did you know that you are powerful beyond measure? That’s what Marianne Williamson has said. At least she is given credit for this quote, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.”

― Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles”

When Charles Fillmore developed the 12 Powers of Humankind, I wonder if he was thinking along those lines. Here we are, human beings filled with these 12 powers! Wonderous!

We’re talking about the Power of Power this week and we are relating it to Prosperity.

So, prosperity and power….what can we do with that?

What IS prosperity? We’ve asked that question several times, as we travel through the year and discuss it with our monthly theme or one of the12 Powers for the month.

Have you come up with YOUR own idea of what prosperity is? TRUTH students, of which we are all a part, have an understanding that prosperity is VERY many things, most of which have nothing to do with money.

Take a moment and list in your mind the ideas that you consider a part of prosperity.

Now let’s share some….I consider my ‘girls,’ my dogs as a big part of my prosperity. Good discussions with people is a part of my prosperity. My friends!

Right! Many and varied. Some on our lists are the same, some are different. It has to do with what is important in our lives.

Now, how do you define Power? It’s not just strength, as many think of right away.

Standing in my integrity. Control over my thoughts…

SHARE what power means…

Charles Fillmore defines power as our innate control over our thoughts and feelings. The mind, body, and especially the spoken word have power to transform energy from one plane of consciousness to another. This is the power and dominion implanted in humanity from the beginning.

I’ve mentioned this before, in Genesis 1: 26 “And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

Metaphysically, all the animals, fish, birds, etc. represent our thoughts, so, God said we are to have dominion over our thoughts.

All the power in the universe is God-power and humanity is the power of God in action.

SO think about how you are putting the power of God into action.

Myrtle Fillmore said in How to Let God Help You, “As we realize we are God’s children, that we have power and authority to think and speak the good and true and to have it manifest in harmonious relations and pleasant surroundings, we no longer invite or submit to in-harmony, misunderstandings or limitations.”

That’s having dominion over our thoughts.

I recently read this in the book I am reading for my winding down time, before sleep. It’s amazing sometimes the metaphysics that are written into the books we read for pleasure. “To say words are not powerful is foolish indeed. Words may send nations to war, or soothe broken hearts; words are the most valuable currency in the world…”

What do you think of that?

Charles Fillmore tells us that our “power center” is based in our throat. (Your throat chakra has the attribute of communication.) This means the words we speak are charged with power. Words are the open door between the formless and the formed worlds. Jesus said the words he spoke were Spirit (formless) and Life (formed) and they went forth to do what they were sent to do.

Jesus knew the power of our words!

God spoke the universe into existence. First was the thought, then the words resulting in manifestation.   In the first chapter of Genesis, every act of creation begins with “God said.” Let there be light, let there be firmament, let there be water; let there be earth.”

Amazing, right there in the first book of the Bible, we are told about how important our thoughts and words are and how we are responsible for what we think and say.

That is one of the things I so love about Unity’s philosophy– we are responsible for our thoughts, words and actions. Self-responsibility.

Even if we do not consciously recognize it, we are creating just as the CREATOR, every day of our lives. We are ever co-creating our own world with our thoughts and words.

According to Head Master of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardy, Professor Albus Dumbledore, “Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.” Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Science would agree- it has now been proven that every word we utter makes an imprint in the astral ethers, and when there is consciousness of God-life in the mind of the speaker, (in other words, when there is belief, feeling behind it), all her words become living identities and are perpetuated.

Therefore, when facing the appearance of any type of lack, speak words of prosperity whether for finances, health, joy or love in our lives. Take on the feelings and emotions that you would have if it were already done, because it is just a word away from being so.

This is where Power aids in prosperity.

The relation between the world without and our thoughts held within parallel. Whatever you see in the external, you may be assured has its parallel in mind – whether yours or someone else’s!

Catherine Ponder, in The Healing Secrets of the Ages said, “Power is released by merely stating words of life, health, vitality. The body can be renewed, even transformed through the spoken word. Owing to the vibratory power of words, whatever man decrees, that he releases within himself and within his world.”

Remember, our own Myrtle and Charles Fillmore were proof that thoughts and words are powerful enough to heal. Myrtle healed Tuberculous and Charles grew his shortened leg.

And there have been many other reports of healing through prayer…the spoken word.

So, what do you do when faced with a ‘challenge?’ Do you label it a challenge? Or do you take your POWER and look at it as an opportunity?

(Story about O’Neal asking for a challenging work opportunity?)

Do you affirm your power or do you actually ASK for a challenge? Watch your words (bumper sticker).

The Dalai Lama says, “When you think everything is someone else’s fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.”

What does that say about our power? Look at your thoughts about your ‘suffering,’ where do they come from?

It’s time to realize that suffering is a choice.

Have you ever felt powerless? Was it a time when you felt less than prosperous?

Think of a time when this has happened to you, observe where it shows up in your body. When we allow the feelings to be there as pure feelings without thoughts, and without resisting them, we often remove the energy from them. Catherine Ponder reminds us that when we feel powerless it is just a feeling and to remind yourself that strong, firmly held thoughts in your mind actually change your body’s chemistry.

Power comes into action in stages: Silence; Thought; Word; Manifestation

Imagine being in total and absolute silence. What prosperity thoughts come forth? What words would give prosperity power to these thoughts? How will this manifest? Can you hear, smell, taste, touch and see the prosperity manifesting clearly?

What is going on in your life right now? Are there areas of your life where you feel powerless? In these moments speak out loud positive and strong affirmations of power. The word “utter” and “outer” have the same root meaning. So remember: What you “utter” becomes your “outer” in your body and affairs.

There is an excellent affirmation that Charles Fillmore said several times daily on the insert for you. I have it on my phone and comes up to remind me twice a day. Try it!

Continuing with Catherine Ponders thoughts; ‘There is a mighty power stored up in the atoms and cells of the body awaiting liberation. Concentrating upon the word “power’ helps to liberate this mighty force, so that it may do its perfect work in the mind and body. Speaking it out loud to yourself can help you feel how powerful you are. Try using, “Prosperity is now mine.” Can you feel the power? Say it with meaning, feeling. Soon your life will be more prosperous by using powerful affirmations.’

If you’re really ready to see how powerful you are, you need to stop thinking about all the things out side of your control and focus on all the things that are in your control. And “Go With The Flow!”

Trust Divine Order.

In Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”