Good Morning Beloved!

 

A lady goes to the bar on a cruise ship and orders a Scotch with two drops

of water. As the bartender gives her the drink she says, “I’m on this cruise

to celebrate my 80th birthday and it’s today.”

The bartender says, “Well, since it’s your birthday, I’ll buy you a drink. In

fact, this one is on me.”

As the woman finishes her drink, the woman to her right says, “I would

like to buy you a drink, too.”

The old woman says, “Thank you. Bartender, I want a Scotch with two

drops of water.”

“Coming up,” says the bartender.

As she finishes that drink, the man to her left says, “I would like to buy

you one, too.”

The old woman says, “Thank you. Bartender, I want another Scotch with

two drops of water.”

“Coming right up,” the bartender says.

As he gives her the drink, he says, “Ma’am, I’m dying of curiosity. Why the

Scotch with only two drops of water?”

The old woman replies, “Sonny, when you’re my age, you’ve learned how to hold your liquor. Holding your water, however, is a whole other issue.”

 

Key #7 Live in the Flow

 

Well, we did it. We worked the Keys to the Kingdom. Today is the last for us, the class completes the course Wednesday. This is certainly not the least, Key, #7 – ‘Live in the Flow’.

The 6 previous Keys, if followed, create the 7^th key – a level of spiritual awareness – BEING. Just BE.

Commitment,        Vision,      Truth,   Circulation,    Forgiveness and Gratitude lift us to a higher level of Being – we are ‘In the Flow’ of unlimited abundance and possibility.

Six steps, the number six symbolizing the period of work needed to create something new. And the number seven symbolizes the completion of the creation cycle, just as in the Creation Story in Genesis.

Have you really taken David Owen Ritz’s lessons to heart? If you truly do the six steps, you will realize the seventh.

The goal has been a greater awareness of the Kingdom. I have said and I firmly believe that the path to a greater awareness of this goal we all have is by knowing yourself. It is in knowing who we truly are that we discover the inner Christ consciousness.

David believes any one of the 7 Keys can have a profound effect on us, but taken together – they have the potential to transform each of us and change the way we live our very lives.

SO, six weeks ago, when we mentioned the word commitment, what came to mind? Did you really feel what it means to commit? We’re way past trying now. This is Master Yoda reminding us, “It’s either do or not do…there is no trying.”

Commitment is total and absolute. “The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.” Martina Navratilova

 

You have made an inner choice to realize the Presence of the Divine in your life. Have you tried to go back?

You can’t. Once we made this start on our journey, you can’t forget what you have discovered.

 

Remember what we learned from EMMA CURTIS HOPKINS last week? When you’re going through life and there in your path is a big blob of “negativity” … don’t steer away – don’t look the other way – don’t pretend it’s not there – don’t complain about it. LOOK it in the eye and you say: “This too is Good. This too is God. This too is for me. I demand to see the blessing in it!”

“This too is Good” – means it may not look like Good, but I know there’s Good in there somewhere.”

“This too is God” – this came from the same Creative Power as everything else … it’s up to me to make good from it. And THAT is the key.

“This too is for me” – means I know it’s there to serve me ultimately so I’m not going to turn it away …

“I demand to see the blessing in it” – means I’m going to call forth that Good!

Remember your vision. The Kingdom holds a field of infinite possibilities. You choose what and how much of those possibilities to allow in your life.

You will not rise higher than your vision.

 

Charles Fillmore has said, “Some persons are like fish in the sea, saying, ‘Where is the water?’ in the presence of spiritual abundance … Plenty is here, all around, and when you have opened the eyes of Spirit in yourself, you will see it and rejoice.”

 

Marcus J. Borg said, “Reality is permeated, indeed flooded, with divine creativity, nourishment, and care.”

 

And that is TRUTH. Truth is one of the most powerful things on Earth…it dispels nonreality – the myth of lack and limitation. Truth transforms.

We know the Truth of who and what we are – deep inside us. It’s an inner awareness of your true self and your potentiality.

John 8:32 “Know the Truth and it will set you free.”

 

And as we learn the Truth of who and what we are, we discover that giving is what keeps us in the divine flow, the Omnipresent Source. Those who are givers have learned to allow God to work through them.

The Spiritual Law of Circulation works – what you give out comes back to you in kind. You do not know how or when or by whom, but it comes back. Spirit responds to the vacuum you create through your unconditional giving.

The word, the feeling, unconditional, comes into play with forgiveness too. We have discovered that we cannot come into the full realization of the presence of God in our daily lives if the unhealed pain and resentment of the past color our perception. And so we must release the energy of the past,  we just let it go. And thus we open our awareness of the rich abundance available to us through Divine Spirit.

Old energy out…new energy and awareness in. (Super Storm Sandy)

And for this, and so much more, we are Grateful!

 

Marcus Aurelius said, “Take full account of the excellencies which you possess, and in gratitude remember how you would hanker after them, if you had them not.”

I think he means do not take anything for granted!

 

And so with all these keys we enter the higher state of being that we have all been searching for. That connection within is behind the longing that caused us to search for places like Unity of Rehoboth Beach.

When you are in the flow you become part of the natural order of creation. David says it this way, “You are made in the image and likeness of God. Its Spirit is your Spirit. Its life is your life. The abundant nature of God is also your abundant nature.”

This is true prosperity consciousness!

Can you say I AM ABUNDANT!

 

Let me remind you of what you place behind those very words…I AM.

According to the Bible, when God spoke to Moses, the words, “I AM” were used to identify that Spirit. So, when we use those words, we are claiming that quality that we place behind them.

Those two little words mean so much. Say so much. What you place behind the words I Am is a quality you are claiming for yourself and for that God of your understanding.

So, as my metaphysics instructor would remind us…” Watch your words!”

Be conscious of the quality you are placing behind the words I AM. Because you are claiming that quality as a part of you.

SO who do you want to claim to be?

Let’s listen to this song as we prepare for meditation.

Good Morning Beloved!

His name was Bubba; he was from Texas. And he needed a loan, so he walked into a bank in New York City and asked for the loan Officer. He told the loan officer that he was going to Paris for an International Redneck Festival for two weeks and and needed to borrow $5,000, and that he was not a depositor of the bank.

The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for the loan, so the Redneck handed over the keys to a new Ferrari. The car was parked on the street in front of the bank.

The Redneck produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer agreed to hold the car as collateral for the loan and apologized for having to charge 12% interest.

Later, the bank’s president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the Redneck from the Texas for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral for a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank’s private underground garage and parked it.

Two weeks later, the Redneck returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest of $23.07. The loan officer said, “Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled.

While you were away, we checked you out on Dunn & Bradstreet and found that you are a distinguished alumnus from Texas A & M, a highly sophisticated investor and multi-millionaire with real estate and financial interests all over the world. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?”

The good ‘ole boy replied, “Where else in New York can I park my car for two weeks for only $23.07 and expect it to be there when I return?”

 

5^Th Key

 

We’ve had quite a journey so far, as we have used David Owen Ritz’s “Keys to the Kingdom” to guide us, and sometimes, cajole us, forward on our journey.

The Keys have taken us on this journey of discovery right from the beginning. Just as in any journey we choose to take, we must make the choice to start – that would be Key #1 – Make the Commitment. I know, I know…commitment is hard. We WANT to change, but that can be difficult.

We are ALL very capable of making the changes we want. It just takes some work. And commitment means responsibility. Yes, responsibility. One of the great things about Unity Principles is we need to do it…because no one else can do it for us.

So, we have put our big person pants on and committed to move forward!

And once we have made that choice to start, we envision what the journey would be like – Key #2 – Hold the Vision. We have committed to a new adventure. We are ready for a new ‘me’ or in your case, you.

How’s that vision coming along? Know what it is you desire? Know what you need to do to get it? Cool.

Key #3 – Build a New Awareness guides us to new frontiers. With that vision, we saw new ideas, a new way to look at things in our lives. We see what we can become when we open up to those new ideas.

But to be a part of the new, we had to review where we are now and see what we are holding onto because of fear, lack of self-esteem, and such. SO Key #4 –Make Room for the New means to clean out those closets and drawers. Go through the garage and basement too, and release anything no longer serving you.

Make room for the new…in every way.

And wouldn’t you know it, but we have to clean out the mental and emotional closets too. Yes, Key #5 Let go of the Past was last weeks’ Key to work on. THAT may have been the hardest. Forgiving not only others but yourself too.

Remember: Our past will be our future unless we release it!

We must be WILLING at the very least, to start the forgiveness process.

AND, maybe even “agreeing with your adversary” from the start, thus avoiding any situations that would result in having to forgive. Remember, ‘agreeing with your adversary’ means seeing the situation with new eyes, with love and acceptance. The ‘adversary’ is our own adverse thoughts about the person or situation.

So, now we are at Key #6 – Count Your Blessings.

The Law of Attraction states: Thoughts held in mind produce after their kind. So, if you wish to have good in your life, think good thoughts. That’s what gratitude is all about. Thinking good begets good. But you don’t think good to get good just for getting good…you think good to get good to share good too.

Got that?

Good.

Gratitude is more than just an emotion. Gratitude is a lot more than just a feeling that we may – or may not – have in “reaction” to the Good we see in our life. Gratitude is part of HOW we “create” the Good we see in our life – not just a “reaction” TO it!

GRATITUDE – Is one of the most powerful – strongest – most positive energies you can bring to your life. It’s creative energy. And when you bring THAT kind of powerful, celebratory energy of Gratitude to your life – you’re really focusing your “creative” energy!

Gratitude is an action word!

Eileen Caddy says, “Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of those around you.”

In a series of studies with hundreds of participants, those who had been randomly assigned to the gratitude section reported more happiness and joy, experienced fewer symptoms of physical illness, spent more time exercising, were more optimistic and satisfied with their lives, reported increased positive affect and decreased negative affect, were more likely to offer emotional support to others, felt an increased sense of connection with others, and even slept more hours and with a better quality of sleep each night.

WOW!

According to Jane Powell, one of the simplest ways to change your mood or mental outlook is to remind yourself of all the good things in your life.

Reflecting on how far you have come, what you have already accomplished, and what you have learned, can be very encouraging. Appreciating your dearest friends, your closest family members, your favorite possessions and of course yourself can bring a smile to your face.

If you need a lift or an attitude adjustment, try to appreciate and reflect on the good things. Count your blessings. It can be done anytime and anyplace.

 

Writer, Melody Beattie, has a great quote summing it all up: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

 

It is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy

 

David Owen Ritz breaks it down to a very simple principle: “That which you focus and

dwell upon – with a feeling of love and gratitude – you will tend to multiply and attract.”

The things you focus your attention on … when you do that with the powerful feelings of Love and Gratitude … you will multiply and attract THAT kind of good into your life. That’s how we consciously use this power of Gratitude to “shape” our experience of life!

One of Charles Fillmore’s famous quotes is, “God’s greatest gift to man is the power of thoughts, through which he can incorporate into his consciousness the mind of God.”

The Divine wants only good for us, but we have to do our part…think good thoughts!

“What we often don’t recognize is that the failure to celebrate the abundance of life by giving thanks for it actually limits the abundance available to us. You don’t attract more good into your life by ignoring or complaining about what you already have. You attract more by focusing your creative energy on the good through the feeling and expression of gratitude.”

It’s simple – Everything responds to attention. We don’t attract GOOD into our life by

complaining! We attract it by focusing our creative energy through Gratitude! And not a

passive feeling of Gratitude, but a “dynamic” state of being in which we LIVE … a

“dynamic” energy that we bring to everything.

Think about the greatest manifester I know of, Jesus! He gave thanks BEFORE he did any of his works…the healing, the multiplying of loaves and fishes, the fishing nets over-flowing with fish! Praise and thanksgiving came BEFORE the act.

 

So how can we have a more gratitude filled life? David has 4 suggestions to what he calls Proactive Gratitude, or not being grateful but DOING grateful:

 

1. BECOME CONSCIOUS OF THE GOOD IN YOUR LIFE … Instead of looking at the 90-95% of our lives that are just great, we focus on the 5-10% that maybe isn’t the best. If that small percentage is where we focus our attention, then THAT is where all the action is too!

What about all the good stuff that is going on? We want to become more conscious of the 90% that’s working for us.

That which you focus on with feeling of love and gratitude, will tend to multiply and attract.

So, when you go home, get 5 pieces of paper and go through the 5 areas of your life: Health – Finances – Relationships – Career & Creative Expression – and Personal & Spiritual Growth. List ALL the GOOD that you overlook. Write it down – look at it – notice it.

2. PRAISE THE GOOD IN YOUR LIFE … Praise that 90% in front of you. We often don’t ‘see’ what it right before us. Celebrate that Good. Praise is “active” appreciation and recognition. When you praise something – you lift it up – shine the light on it. Look at every little thing and say, “Wow! Life is Good!”Praise your good with your thoughts, words and deeds. Say, “Thank you God!” when good comes your way, no matter what!Your favorite shoes are on sale…thank you Divine Universe!In my case, the dogs let me sleep through the night…thank you God!And remember, Love is a verb, so show that special person in your life how much you appreciate them on this Valentine’s Day. Gratitude in action.

1. The kids called, surprise! thank you!
2. Got a good parking place…Thank you Spirit!
3. Favorite shoes on sale…thank You Divine Universe!

Don’t be afraid to tell people how Good your life is! When someone asks “How are you?’ how do you respond? Maybe here is where you can say how you REALLY are! Believe IT – celebrate your good life.

Change the way you think and talk about your life – to others and to yourself.

Here’s a little trick to use in your Finances – when you write a bill do an affirmation to celebrate the fact that you have the money to pay that bill: “I give thanks for the abundance that is mine to share!” is a good affirmation to write in the memo part of the check. Or you can simply write down TYG! – Thank You God! It makes you consciously celebrate that Good! Find ways to Praise and Celebrate your Good!

3) SHARE YOUR GOOD WITH OTHERS … When you find yourself with this incredible abundance – what’s your natural reaction? To share it with everyone – to give it away. Express your gratitude by helping others. Don’t pass up an opportunity to give – don’t pass up an opportunity to serve – don’t pass up an opportunity to prosper other people! And when you give – serve – prosper other people, that’s a statement about YOUR prosperity!

David Own Ritz says: “If you help people get what they want out of life, you’ll get what you want. That’s the way spiritual law works.” Give it away, share it … for in giving it away, you get more!

4) LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN EVERY THING … Remember that 10% that we talked about earlier? In every growth opportunity in your life there are undiscovered gifts hidden within, a hidden potential for you. And the bigger the growth opportunity – the bigger the gift is! Don’t look at something that seems negative as something to hold you down or back, but rather as something that has within it the wisdom and the growth necessary to become even more abundant – more prosperous – moving you into your greatest Possibility!

When you name the negative GOOD, even though it may not look that way, you’re calling forth that greater Possibility – you’re opening your mind & heart to accept the Good that’s there!

I like to say, and I have no idea if I read or saw this somewhere – but we have a choice to ask WHAT in place of WHY when something happens. What can I do to make this better in place of why did this happen?

 

EMMA CURTIS HOPKINS, one of the early New Thought teachers of the late 1800’s – had a wonderful affirmation. She said when you’re going through life and there in your path there’s a big blob of “negativity” … don’t steer away – don’t look the other way – don’t pretend it’s not there – don’t complain about it. LOOK it in the eye and you say this: “This too is Good. This too is God. This too is for me. I demand to see the blessing in it!”

“This too is Good” – means it may not look like Good, but I know there’s Good in there

somewhere …” I know there’s a pony in here someplace”

“This too is God” – this came from the same Creative Power as everything else … it’s up to me to make good from it.

“This too is for me” – means I know it’s there to serve me ultimately so I’m not going

to turn it away …

“I demand to see the blessing in it” – means I’m going to call forth that Good!

This is a perfect example of PROACTIVE GRATITUDE! – It is not just being grateful – it’s DOING Gratitude.

You might want to start practicing Proactive Gratitude by making a “Gratitude List.” Or, my practice is ending my day by listing what I am grateful for from the day.

We have added a Gratitude Jar to our information table. There are slips of paper available for you to write down things, persons, happenings that you are grateful for and place them in the jar.

Sometime in the future…. we will look at them and share the gratitude again. So, spend time examining your life closely and write down the things you notice and appreciate. Place them in the gratitude jar with love and feelings of gratefulness.

We will ALL benefit from your blessings.

 

Good Morning Beloved!

A guy goes to confession after not going for many, many years. He walks

into the confessional and he sees on a small table a bottle of fine

single-malt Scotch whiskey. Next to that is a wooden box of fine Cuban cigars with cutters, matches, etc.

On the table are several magazines including Motor Trend and Popular

Mechanics. It is air conditioned, carpeted, and a nice easy chair to boot.

A few seconds later the priest walks in and the man says, “Father, I know

it has been a really LONG time since I’ve been to confession, but I have

to hand it to you, and with all this stuff, I think these improvements are great!”

To which the priest replied, “Sorry, son, but you’re on my side. Get out!”

 

Keys to the Kingdom – an advanced course in prosperity consciousness building

 

Are you ready for Key #5? The first 4 have been relatively easy. Well, maybe not the Commitment one…but visioning and clearing out for the new? Piece of cake right?

Visioning may seem easy, until we ask that all important question—What do I REALLY want?

And clearing out may seem a piece of cake, until we hold one or two items or people in our minds and hearts, and ask; Are we REALLY ready to let that go?

I KNOW you ALL are doing well with your Keys…all in good time, RIGHT?

 

Keep in mind: The reality is that, noticed or not, every conscious act that gives witness to new possibilities and greater awareness contributes to the transformation of the whole.

There is no insignificant thought, word, or action. Each act of courage and strength shifts the energy and increases the potential for others to become aware, too.

No matter what we do, we are always affecting the energy around us, in either a negative or positive way.

Why should we not then become aware of our power and choose consciously rather than unconsciously how we will shape our world?

With that in mind—- We get into the biggie….FORGIVENESS. Yep. The 5^th Key, Let GO of the Past might just be the hardest for many of us.

And why is that? You tell me…why do you hold onto hurts, regrets, guilt, and resentments from, most often, years ago?

Dr. Phil would say we are getting something back. Wonder what it could be that would have us hold on to hurt, resentment, regrets, or guilt for years?

When you release something, let it go, give away … you create increased FLOW in your life by doing that! Release the negative energy that’s blocking the flow.

When you forgive you release the energy of the past – you move the old negative energy out of the way and make room for a greater possibility. It’s like cleaning out your closets. You have an “emotional” closet filled with stuff that no longer serves your good.

David Owen Ritz says: “For many people, the past is not completely in the past. Perhaps the actual experiences of earlier months or years have long been left behind. However, the energy of the past is still quite active in our lives as regret, judgment, guilt, and resentment. Just as false beliefs formed in the past create present circumstances and conditions, so does this energy from the past help to shape present experiences.”

Our past will be our future unless we release it!

A Course in Miracles says we need to “Realize that what you thought happened, never really happened.”

Byron Katie, in her “The Works” asks, “Is it true?” Is whatever happened still true today? No…whatever happened, happened in the past. Why bring it up again and again?

We are the only animal that does that, by the way; reliving the past again and again, holding onto hurts. We can learn a lot from nature!

We must realize, and accept that we are not all-knowing. Sorry to break it to you all. But often what we thought happened didn’t really happen. So release it.

Research tells us we are wired for revenge and forgiveness, and we have the capacity to choose either response.

It’s like the Native American story about the two wolves inside us, which one we feed determines which one wins. It’s always about choice….free will.

Researchers are specific about how they define forgiveness when studying its effects on our well-being and happiness. Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky calls forgiveness “a shift in thinking” toward someone who has harmed you. It has nothing to do with reconciliation, forgetting, excusing or justice. When you are ready, forgiveness is a powerful choice you can make that can lead to greater well-being and relationships. This choice carries with it an intention to heal yourself.

1. Emilie Cady, Unity author, defines forgiveness in Lessons in Truth this way: “To forgive does not simply mean to arrive at a place of indifference to those who do personal injury to us; it means far more than this. To forgive is to give for—to give some actual, definite good in return for (perceived wrong doing).”

 

Our inner Buddha/Christ/Goddess/Higher Being wants to be whole.   So, eventually, we come to the choice point where something has to give. Either we work on forgiveness or we get the Spiritual 2x 4.

As long as we hold on to “victim thinking,” we are giving away our power to the kinds of people and things that bind us to our painful yesterdays.

 

Having trouble getting to forgiveness?

Our minds instantly form opinions and characterizations about other people. But our hearts have a different way of knowing. Can we forgive from our hearts even if our minds don’t want us to?

Maria Nemeth believes so. Her book, ‘The Energy of Money’, includes a powerful forgiveness exercise. We move toward forgiveness by being willing. Being willing to be led by our hearts and not the chatter from our minds is a powerful way to release our negative assessments of others. Being willing to give good to others, no matter what, is a powerful practice and a skill that will transform anger into something more productive. Who doesn’t have opinions about the way they were raised? Or how their children act? Or why lovers leave them? Let’s be here now, in this moment, creating a better story for a future filled with hope and promise. Being willing is a start that we all can do.

 

Lewis Smedes says, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to realize that prisoner is you.” He also says, “Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of the past into a hope for the future.”

 

WHAT EXACTLY IS FORGIVENESS? – It’s “Letting Go.” Letting go of that which no longer serves you – that which is no longer useful to where you are today in your life. You choose to put it behind you – release it – let it go so you can move on.

1) Forgiveness is NOT forgetting … Forgetting is the END result of forgiveness and is possible only after we have first let go!

2) Forgiveness is NOT denying what happened – or your feelings about it … Have the feelings – but don’t get stuck there! Remember – no camping in the valley!

3) Forgiveness is NOT excusing the other person or his or her actions … Inappropriate and hurtful behavior – is always inappropriate and hurtful behavior. . .Forgiveness is saying, “I choose to leave this behind and move on!”

4) Forgiveness is NOT reconciliation … It might be the result of forgiveness, but it is not necessary for forgiveness!

 

FORGIVENESS IS –

1) Unconditional … It needs to be freely given as a “gift” – not an “exchange.”

2) Something You Do for Yourself … You forgive because YOU don’t want to carry that energy around with you anymore; you don’t want to re-live the pain; or have that energy affect your life today and shape your tomorrow.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO FORGIVE? – Look everywhere, but here are the five places we most commonly hold energy around according to David. . .Examine the energy you hold around:

1) Your parents and your childhood … Do you hold resentment – wishing things could have been different? Are you holding pain that hasn’t been healed? Do you really want that creating today’s experience – and tomorrow’s?

2) Your family and/or children … Do you judge or have trouble accepting things about them? Have you forgiven mistakes made in the past? Ask: “Would my relationship be different with them today if I let that energy go?”

3) Your mate or your ex-spouse … Do you have unresolved hurt or resentment or judgments that you’re holding on to? Do you really want that energy in your life today?

4) Your own past behavior and choices … Do you have guilt over mistakes you made? We did the best we could at the time. Stop judging yourself!

5) Your job and your life circumstances … Do you wish your life had been different?

Let that go and maybe you’d be more empowered to create the kind of life you DO want!

David Owen Ritz says: “The person who most needs your forgiveness is YOU! You must love yourself and forgive yourself in order to step into that place of “Living in the Flow.”

It is difficult to forgive others when we are filled with self-condemnation and guilt.

To forgive our past is to view our lives from a different perspective, from the perspective of love. When we look at ourselves through the eyes of love, we see that every experience, every person has been a part of our souls’ unfoldment.

 

The way we reacted to life yesterday is perhaps not the way we would choose to act today. However, each new day, each new moment is an opportunity to choose again.

If we had a friend who had made some mistakes in the past but was today living a good life, would we constantly be reminding that friend of his or her past behavior? Of course we wouldn’t, so why do we do this to ourselves? Guilt binds, confines, and keeps us from a creative future.

 

Forgiveness is a process – It takes time – David has it in four distinct stages:

1) DISCOVERY … Before you can forgive anything you must become AWARE of what happened – and the pain it caused you.

2) DECISION … Forgiveness begins when you choose, “I no longer want this in my life!

It’s time to let it go; to put it behind me; to forgive; and move on with my life.” When you make that choice, the work of forgiveness starts.

3) CHANGING YOUR MIND … The work of forgiveness is in “changing” how you “think” about the matter and the people involved. . .This is about seeing it differently, from a higher perspective. Then we can see the hidden truth of the matter.

4) MOVING ON … In every hurt there’s a hidden gift of growth – of greater Possibility. Every painful and seeming limiting circumstance in life is really an opportunity for greater awareness, a growth opportunity. And when we see it – we can MOVE ON!

 

Invite your inner self to show you the energy of the past that’s still with you. When you’re AWARE of it – write it down, you are WILLING to forgive. Let the act of writing it down be that 2nd step – the CHOICE to let it go, the willingness – to let LOVE FLOW. Then begin to reframe it – CHANGE YOUR MIND about it: “I AM ready to Let Go of the past. . .I AM ready to Forgive. . .I AM ready to Free myself. . .I AM READY TO LOVE and to MOVE ON!” Thank you Divine Spirit!

 

It is only through forgiveness that we can find freedom and wholeness.

 

When Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven” (Mt. 18:21-22 RSV).

Forgive yourself as often as you would others.

 

And here is another thought – How much better to bless things and people as the situations occur, rather than wait to act as a last resort. This is why Jesus advised us to quickly agree with our adversary. This is often misunderstood as a sign of weakness. But you see, to agree as Jesus used the term does not mean to give in even if it goes against your best interest or highest ideals. In Jesus’ usage the word adversary refers not to a person but to your adverse thought about a person. Thus, to “agree with” means to “settle with,” to deal creatively with the situation—to bless it and let it go…

He says that if you come to the altar to pray and you remember that you have something against your sister or brother, you should first go and make up with your them and then come with your gift. In other words, if you are blocking the flow by your resentment or bitterness, not even God can break through with the good you desire.

In “The Lord’s Prayer” Jesus says, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Mt. 6:12). This does not imply bargaining with God. God makes no deals. It means that we must give way to receive. We must let go of indignation and offense if we want to loosen the restrictions in our lives. Something’s got to give. There is a great probability that in the case of physical or mental or financial problems in our life, there is some kind of rancor or bitterness or memory of wrong in our consciousness. Something’s got to give.

There’s that spiritual 2×4 again!

Imelda Shanklin, one of Unity’s great teachers, gives an important prayer test. She says, in effect, “Father forgive me for expecting in the human that which is found only in the divine.”

Our Divine self is perfect…our human self is working on it. Perhaps forgiveness is something we can put forth to work on for the Lenten Season? Ash Wednesday is this week.

Good Morning Beloved!

 

Three ministers were out in a boat fishing, finally getting away for a bit of relaxation. After a bit of time, one of the ministers said, “Well, since we are away from everyone, why don’t we share our biggest sin? No one is around and we all have something that we do that’s not in favor with God.”

They all agreed and the first said, “I confess I have a gambling addiction. I sneak away at night and go to the casino.”

The second one said, “I cheat on my taxes, …every year!”

They both looked at the third minister who sat quietly in the boat, just looking at the other two ministers. Finally, he said, “My sin is gossiping and I can’t wait to get back to the shore!”

 

Keys to the Kingdom – an advanced course in prosperity consciousness building

Key #4 – Make Room for the New

Well, here we are…at the halfway point in our prosperity series. How have you been doing with your Keys?

We’ve Made the Commitment, maybe struggling with that big “C” at times; we have Held the Vision through meditation, vision boards, talking, thinking, dreaming about it; If you read last weeks’ message, you read about Building a New Awareness and how to go about that.

This week we look at the 4^th Key – Make Room for the New.

This one is easy to discuss. We all know about the Law of Circulation. What goes around, comes around. You must give to receive. Keep the circle going.

The Law of Circulation works for the benefit of those who understand its operation. When you create a vacuum in your life, the universe always moves in to fill it.

Solomon said, “With all thy getting get understanding” (Prov. 4:7 KJV).

But understanding Spiritual Law is not the same as experiencing Spiritual Law.

For example – Too often, abundance is seen as a measure of quantity. Whoever dies with the most toys wins. Really? What does that prove? You still die.

Spiritually, abundance is actually quality. Inner awareness of the oneness and wholeness of creation – God the ultimate source.

Spiritual principles & forces that govern all of creation are called laws of life.

Ignorance of spiritual law or the laws of life, does not preclude its effects upon us-they are full time and universal.

We must understand these laws for an abundant life, become its master. For example, Modern air travel became a reality by understanding the laws of aerodynamics.

David says, “The understanding and conscious use of the laws of life promise you even greater power & potential.”

When we are out of alignment with the laws of life, we often create conditions & experiences that we least desire: limitation, lack, unhappiness, fear, suffering. So when we have these feelings, it is an indicator that we are out of alignment and we need to look at what has been happening in our lives.

Worldly problems are caused by the same disharmony with spiritual laws.

Choose to live life in resonance

Spiritual laws are immutable principles of creation innate to life itself. The Law of Circulation governs the flow of abundance thru life.

 

It doesn’t matter if you agree, understand, or even know of the laws of life…they are the means that the whole relates to its members or parts. We all have equal access to these laws – God knows us as beautiful, whole and connected parts of Itself. Its actions are impartial – no one gets more because of arbitrary choices – the law responds equally to all.

The Universe is infinite in nature, what we give out – on every level, we get back – feelings, thoughts, intentions, attitudes, & materials –come back in kind, incoming keeps pace with out going.

 

The Universe always moves to fill a vacuum.

Try it – Remove something you no longer need – have a clear intention of releasing unconditionally, observe the law of circulation as it moves to replace it.

To make the law work, your intention must be pure and remain unattached to specific outcomes.

Never try to force or direct spiritual law.

Act with a sense of expectancy & faith – trust.

“Give God the opportunity to reveal Its ways to you in terms you can understand and you will not be disappointed.”

Here are some ways to ‘Make Room for the New:

•  Open up your finances – these same principles we just discussed apply to your finances. Money is energy too. And so if we understand it and use it properly, it too will flow abundantly. The reasons we restrict the flow of money are very similar to what we mentioned earlier. Fear being a biggie!
• David says, “You can create a powerful spiritual vacuum and begin to prove the Law of Circulation by releasing those things that are beyond your care and attention.
• So, maybe you all would want to go through closets, drawers – room to room, don’t forget basements and garages AND car! And after you have released items no longer of use to you, organize what remains.
• The reason we cling to things may be habit, or concern about needing the item in a future that more often than not, never comes. So we hold on to things and clutter not only our homes and garages, but our lives. Doing this opens you up to the spiritual flow available to us all. Share your results.
• But if we block that energy, then we have stagnation. We have lost that power. We sometimes interrupt the natural flow of abundance by clinging to things that no longer have use in our lives. When certain things are no longer needed to our experience of life and we hold onto them, we are blocking the flow of that Spiritual Energy.
• Unclutter your life – physical objects are energy in that specific form….and ALL energy is Spiritual energy so all physical objects are Spiritual Energy. This Spiritual Energy flows through our lives. Just like the power of a river flowing through nature, this energy has power to propel us to do a lot of work.
• We are often intimidated by the intricacies of savings and investments. We have been domesticated to believe that lack was our destiny. Healthy finances depend upon you, lovingly and with great positive attention, paying attention to the flow of money through your life.
• Create room in your finances and your attitude for an increased flow. Consider yourself Blessed as you pay your bills. I write a blessing right on the check!
• Look at unexpected income that comes into your life and use this for special purposes. Save found change, it adds up. Gifts are unexpected income, even someone treating you to lunch or coffee.
• Learn everything you can about saving and investments.
• Organize your finances and create budget.
• Do something nice for someone anonymously…it doesn’t have to cost a lot or anything at all. Enjoy the feeling of being a channel for someone else’s unexpected good.
• There is a great book you may wish to check into, “The Energy of Money” by Maria Nemeth
• Chart your future course – in other words, set some goals. The whole idea is to increase the flow of Spiritual Energy in our material world. The suggestions so far have been to loosen and break down the blocks we have placed in front of ourselves for various reasons.
• Setting goals and writing them down contains great power. Letting Spirit know what you want and listing steps to get there help our vision.
• The goals also create that vacuum we have been talking about so the Universe has an opening to fill.

So, look at every area of your life – health, finances, relationships, career & creative self-expression, spiritual & personal growth. What important goals in each area -short-term, long-term or lifetime goals do you have? Let your heart be your guide. Pray, vision and read your goals often…you are calling spiritual law into action.

Examining what we say “yes” to or what we agree to in our lives can tell us a lot about our priorities. Priorities can, in turn, tell us a great deal about ourselves. Where we spend our time and money is a powerful indicator of what we truly value. If you open your calendar, your checkbook and your credit card statement, you will see an important picture of what you are saying “yes” to in your life. We vote with how we spend our dollars and how we spend our time. What do you agree to in your life? Through both your words and actions, what do you say “yes” to?

 

Remember – what God does for you God must do through you.

The true result you are seeking is an altered consciousness…everything else will follow.

David says, “The results of this and any method to get your blood going depends on your willingness to change your consciousness about the meaning, place, use, and source of abundance.”

 

“The only part of our religion that is real is the part we express in our daily lives. Divine love is the only real power. If we can realize this fact even dimly it will begin to heal & harmonize every condition in your life in a few hours. An early New Though writer said: “knead love into the bread you bake; wrap strength & courage into the parcel you tie for the woman with the weary face; hand trust & candor with the coin you pay to the man with the suspicious eyes.” This is beautifully said, and it sums up the Practice of the Presence of God.” Emmit Fox

 

And Jesus said, “But seek ye first the [His] kingdom…and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mt. 6:33 KJV). He is not talking about a place in space but a depth in consciousness. The kingdom of God is the universal flow within you. It is the one great reality behind every appearance…

Or simply put – Change your thinking, change your life.

And keep in mind, if we act out of fear, we face the consequences of that fear. And that fear is often what holds us back from attaining our full potential.

So here is an example of releasing fear, raising consciousness and having faith: This is the covenant that the Fillmore’s had with the God of their understanding….

Dedication and Covenant:

We, Charles Fillmore and Myrtle Fillmore, husband and wife, hereby dedicate ourselves, our time, our money, all we have and all we expect to have, to the Spirit of Truth, and through it, to the Society of Silent Unity.

It being understood and agreed that the said Spirit of Truth shall render unto us an equivalent for this dedication, in peace of mind, health of body, wisdom, understanding, love, life and an abundant supply of all things necessary to meet every want without our making any of these things the object of our existence.

In the presence of the Conscious Mind of Christ Jesus, this 7th day of December A.D. 1892.

Charles Fillmore   Myrtle Fillmore

And here’s another example of a change in consciousness.

Preach the gospel constantly, and where necessary, use words.

 

Meditation

Good Day Beloved!

 

A five-year-old was working with a speech therapist on the CH sound, which he said as a K. The therapist asked him to say CHICKEN, and he responded KITCHEN.

The therapist again and again, but the response was always KITCHEN.

Undeterred, the therapist pushed for one more try.

The five-year-old sighed and said, “Why don’t we just call it a duck!”

 

Welcome to week three of the David Owen Ritz series, “The Keys to the Kingdom – an advanced course in prosperity consciousness building” We have discussed Key #1 – Make the Commitment. How have you been doing with the big “C”? Some of us do have an issue with commitment. I hope that it has been resolved, at least to some degree, by now.

The second Key is Hold the Vision. One of the best quotes from David’s text is “…none of us will rise higher than the vision we hold for ourselves.”

What might be standing in the way of that vision you imagined last week?

The next Key is “Build a New Awareness.” How do we do that?

Have you questioned your core beliefs lately? I am sure you have done so during your lifetime or I doubt you would be following Unity Principles.

Your core beliefs color your perceptions of life and can actually create our experiences.

As I was doing my research for this lesson, I came across a post by someone, Victoria was her name, and she likened this coloring of our perceptions by our core beliefs to wearing colored glasses.

Think about it…suppose you always wore glasses tinted a specific color. Say I’m wearing yellow tinted glasses and you are wearing green tinted glasses and another is wearing rose tinted glasses. And finally, we have a person who wears clear glass in their glasses.

Now if we all looked at the sky on a clear sunny day, we would all say that the sky was a different color – yellow, green, etc.

This is an example of how our core beliefs ‘color’ our perceptions. These ‘unconscious’ beliefs feel real to us. Our fears, frustrations, self-esteem, etc. could all be stemming from these colored perceptions.

Feelings, especially strong feeling, are an indication that it’s time to check where does that thought come from? Where does that feeling come from?

The Don Miguel Ruiz book, “The Fifth Agreement” goes into this process deeply. He says to question everything but to be open, as to new ideas.

And Byron Katie asks, “Is what I’m believing true?”

So how do we get to the core beliefs? The suggested ways are –

1. Journaling, of course. Nothing like writing your thoughts, especially if you just let them flow from you, even through you.
2. Be a witness to the belief as it shows up in your speech, feelings, behaviors. One of the class members on Tuesdays asks herself, “Is this who I want to be in this situation?”
3. My metaphysics instructor would always say, “Watch your language.” Examples: “Some people have all the luck.” “I can’t afford that.” “I’m not worthy of success.” These are all affirming limited thinking. Can you think of more? Are you saying or thinking them? Check yourself.
4. Rituals like the Burning Bowl. You can make your own ritual if there is something you wish to release that no longer serves your highest good. No need to wait until the New Year to do it.
5. Affirm your relationship with the God of your understanding, by whichever name or word you use to identify that essence that we all are.

Ritz says, “The personal vision that you are building is for more than just a new belief or about abundance. It is actually an inner awareness of your true spiritual self and highest human and spiritual potential, it is a set of wonderful new possibilities that the Universe wants to express through and as you.”

Our higher self knows what to do. Work with your vision. We will be doing this for Unity of Rehoboth Beach in March. I hope and pray you all will take part as you are able. It will be a great process for us and enable us to provide a vision for our future.

As for your vision – work on it. Envision it. Write it out. Meditate on it. Affirm it daily. DREAM!

Dream it, hold the vision ceaselessly, in great detail. Forget about the how! That is God’s business. You choose the what and focus your energy on the feelings you would feel if you were living that dream.

Do not limit the Universe. How BIG is your GOD?

Isiah 43:19 “I will make a way.”

Stephen Kosmyna, “I hold my very own key to the kingdom of good, to my very own field of dreams. I look only to God as my source and the ceaseless activity of Divine Mind as my supply. I am blessed beyond measure and profoundly grateful for this rain of good and plenty I am now experiencing.”

THAT is a pretty good affirmation!

David lists 7 Truths that build that awareness and acceptance of the good we are all claiming in our vision. They are:

1. God is the one and only source of our good. We do have channels for that good like jobs, investments, etc., but the SOURCE is all God.
2. Abundance is a here-and-now reality. Don’t confuse a temporary event with TRUTH.
3. Abundance is inexhaustible. The Universe is constantly expanding. God’s creative process is an endless dance between form and formless.
4. God is meeting your every need at every moment according to your own acceptance. “Our level of acceptance depends upon what you give to life and how you give it. What – time, talent, treasure, energy, attention, love. How – attitude, intention, awareness that accompanies what you give. Give to life with joy, integrity and love,
5. Everyone deserves abundance. We need to see ourselves and others as God does. Love unconditionally and forgive self and others.
6. Your vision is your inner awareness of your naturally abundant self.
7. Your inner guidance will lead you toward the fulfillment of your vision.

Everything necessary is contained within the vision and when we nurture ourselves via spiritual practices, we affirm the Truth of our vision and we build a new awareness. We need to listen and follow inner guidance.

Here’s your closing thought for today:

“Stay as you are and you will stay as you are.” (from Science of Mind”, January 2016)

Good Morning Beloved!

 

A married couple was sleeping one night when the phone rang. The husband answered and after a couple moments he snaps, “How should I know – it’s a thousand miles away!” and slams the phone down which wakes up his wife.

The wife asks, “Who was that?”

The husband says, “Ah, just some idiot asking about the weather.”

The wife asks, “Huh?” and the husband says, “Yeah, he wanted

to know if the coast was clear.”

 

 

Keys to the Kingdom – Key #2 – Hold the Vision

 

Last Sunday I introduced a prosperity series “The Keys to the Kingdom – an advanced course in prosperity consciousness building.” And I talked about the first Key, “Make the Commitment.”

We noticed that making a commitment is sometimes not an easy thing to do, but as we grow on our journey to wholeness and authenticity, we find that committing to do what is important to us is easier. It fits into our integrity, which is an important aspect of my life, and I hope yours.

And we all see that commitment here every Sunday as our various volunteers set up and prepare for Service, work through the Service and clean up after the fun is done.

I love our volunteers. It makes Sundays so much easier and inspiring for everyone, most especially me. So thank you again and again and again.

 

So did you question your commitment? That was your ‘assignment’ from last week.

This week we get to look at the second Key, “Hold the Vision.”

What exactly is vision? Merriam-Webster defines it, in part as ‘a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination, a manifestation to the senses of something immaterial’.

We all talk about manifesting our dreams. This is about that process.

This week is about creating and holding a Vision for our higher possibility. David reminds us of this simple Truth: None of us will ever rise higher than the vision we hold for our lives … None of us will ever lead a greater life than we can conceive of!

Think about that for a minute.

What does that statement bring to mind for you?

There is a Divine “urge” behind all of creation “urging” everything into greater and greater expression. My early mentor would say, “God is in the yearning.” And we have mentioned that every cell has what is called a “God Code,” even science agrees!

This Divine “urge” is SPIRIT urging everything to evolve into greater complexity and greater levels of expression. Within every one of us there is a deep-seeded urge to move forward, be more, expand, and to grow.

When you follow that Divine Urge into greater expression and do something you’ve never done before, there is a sense of “aliveness” that comes with it. Sometimes we translate it as an urge to “have more,” but what we really want is the “experience” those things will give us. It’s actually an “urge” to BE more; to BE something greater than you’ve ever been before.

We are reminded through this process that we have free will. We mentioned that last week. We have all these wonderful thoughts and ideas during Sunday Service and maybe after Service for a bit, but are we choosing to put them into practice during our daily lives? THAT is free will. THAT is choice. And THAT is the effect to our cause.

Our response to the Urging that comes from our Divine Self is where we CHOOSE to COMMITT.

Or not.

Rumi, the Sufi poet said, “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.”

 

So, if we have made the commitment to continue on this journey, what does your vision look like?   Where do we even start?

An interesting thing happened to me as I was sttempting to sell my house back in Camp Hill. The real estate market was not very good at the time, but I felt I needed to committ more to what I was doing for Unity in Frederick.

My thought was to move closer to Fredreick, MD. where I was doing my Leadership work to become licensed. That was an hour and a half drive one way for me. You see why a move was necessary.

And most of you know that story. If you don’t, ask me. My point in bringing it up is, I made a vision board…not as most people do, cutting out pictures and words to paste on a poster.

I made mine on my computer, and it’s still there. I forgot about it and life went on , I finally moved here. One day I was reminded of it so I went to find it and there was the house I had envisioned very similar to the one I am living in, I had dreamed of a place with the beach out one door and trees out the other. Well, I have water out the front door and trees all around the back.

Of course, I forgot about LEAVES in the fall….

 

David Owen Ritz says: “God has provided the means and the motivation for our growth and evolution, but the details are up to us.” In other words, the Divine Universe is the “big picture” entity… the details are up to us!

And THAT is your vision. Your Vision is the “roadmap” that you’re giving Spirit saying: “This is what I want my life to look like!”

 

“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Matthew 7:7) Jesus uses the spiritual meaning of the word (or, more accurately, its Aramaic equivalent) as a part of a creative process by which we are to bring the Good that is God into manifestation in our lives. In this sense, “asking” is more about choosing what you desire. It’s an expression of the power of imagination. We cannot fulfill our role in the creative process unless we are willing to imagine the Good that might express. Then we seek. We brush away distractions, dissolve apparent obstacles so that we can truly feel and know our Oneness with God. Then we knock. We consciously become a free and open channel through which the infinite potential of God can express according to what we have imagined. We don’t ask and wait for an answer. We choose, we imagine, and then we become the answer.

SO, with that in mind, our vision of what we want is the start of the creative process. It is the first step.

How do we vision? Have you ever daydreamed? Of course you have! Sometimes we do it too much maybe at the wrong time…and nothing in our physical world gets accomplished!

Sometimes we get real serious about creating something in our lives and we create a vision board, or Treasure Map, as I mentioned earlier.

Sometimes we make lists, what we wish for, what we do not wish for…

And sometimes we have a visioning. We get together with our chosen group, those people who have an interest, an investment in what we wish to manifest and we talk, we meditate, we pray. And through all this we come up with those things that are important to us as a community.

We are going to do this as a community. And we are going to do it over a weekend, that is how important it is. Here’s the plan, our good friend Rev. Stephanie Seigh will be joining us again the first weekend in March. This time, the meetings are open to everyone. In fact, everyone is encouraged to participate.

She will help us to clear our minds of any fears and limitations and then open them to our imaginations. And through all that, we will discover what our vision for Unity of Rehoboth Beach is, and that, my friends, is what will guide us into the next years.

Yes, I did mention fears. We do that. We limit the Divine by our own limitations. How are you limiting yourself by your fears? What’s that Marianne Williamson 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. You’re playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

It takes courage to live your vision. Don’t let fear stand in your way.

Who are we, Unity of Rehoboth Beach, but a powerful, compassionate, peace-loving group of people praying for love to find its way into the hearts of ALL people. We are here to do that. We are here to reach out to the folks in this area and show them by our love and light, just what Jesus really WAS teaching….Love is the way.

In the end, most people don’t regret the things they do. They regret what they failed to do. …

We strengthen and develop our courage by using it. Don’t let it go to waste. Trust in who you are and be all you were created to be by living a courageous life. Choose to live courageously.

So, my Beloved, let’s start visioning. Let’s start using that Power of Imagination and let’s get ready to vision with Rev. Stephanie.

Namaste.

Good Morning Beloved!

 

A married couple was sleeping one night when the phone rang. The husband answered and after a couple moments he snaps, “How should I know – it’s a thousand miles away!” and slams the phone down which wakes up his wife.

The wife asks, “Who was that?”

The husband says, “Ah, just some idiot asking about the weather.”

The wife asks, “Huh?” and the husband says, “Yeah, he wanted

to know if the coast was clear.”

 

 

Keys to the Kingdom – Key #2 – Hold the Vision

 

Last Sunday I introduced a prosperity series “The Keys to the Kingdom – an advanced course in prosperity consciousness building.” And I talked about the first Key, “Make the Commitment.”

We noticed that making a commitment is sometimes not an easy thing to do, but as we grow on our journey to wholeness and authenticity, we find that committing to do what is important to us is easier. It fits into our integrity, which is an important aspect of my life, and I hope yours.

And we all see that commitment here every Sunday as our various volunteers set up and prepare for Service, work through the Service and clean up after the fun is done.

I love our volunteers. It makes Sundays so much easier and inspiring for everyone, most especially me. So thank you again and again and again.

 

So did you question your commitment? That was your ‘assignment’ from last week.

This week we get to look at the second Key, “Hold the Vision.”

What exactly is vision? Merriam-Webster defines it, in part as ‘a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination, a manifestation to the senses of something immaterial’.

We all talk about manifesting our dreams. This is about that process.

This week is about creating and holding a Vision for our higher possibility. David reminds us of this simple Truth: None of us will ever rise higher than the vision we hold for our lives … None of us will ever lead a greater life than we can conceive of!

Think about that for a minute.

What does that statement bring to mind for you?

There is a Divine “urge” behind all of creation “urging” everything into greater and greater expression. My early mentor would say, “God is in the yearning.” And we have mentioned that every cell has what is called a “God Code,” even science agrees!

This Divine “urge” is SPIRIT urging everything to evolve into greater complexity and greater levels of expression. Within every one of us there is a deep-seeded urge to move forward, be more, expand, and to grow.

When you follow that Divine Urge into greater expression and do something you’ve never done before, there is a sense of “aliveness” that comes with it. Sometimes we translate it as an urge to “have more,” but what we really want is the “experience” those things will give us. It’s actually an “urge” to BE more; to BE something greater than you’ve ever been before.

We are reminded through this process that we have free will. We mentioned that last week. We have all these wonderful thoughts and ideas during Sunday Service and maybe after Service for a bit, but are we choosing to put them into practice during our daily lives? THAT is free will. THAT is choice. And THAT is the effect to our cause.

Our response to the Urging that comes from our Divine Self is where we CHOOSE to COMMITT.

Or not.

Rumi, the Sufi poet said, “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.”

 

So, if we have made the commitment to continue on this journey, what does your vision look like?   Where do we even start?

An interesting thing happened to me as I was sttempting to sell my house back in Camp Hill. The real estate market was not very good at the time, but I felt I needed to committ more to what I was doing for Unity in Frederick.

My thought was to move closer to Fredreick, MD. where I was doing my Leadership work to become licensed. That was an hour and a half drive one way for me. You see why a move was necessary.

And most of you know that story. If you don’t, ask me. My point in bringing it up is, I made a vision board…not as most people do, cutting out pictures and words to paste on a poster.

I made mine on my computer, and it’s still there. I forgot about it and life went on , I finally moved here. One day I was reminded of it so I went to find it and there was the house I had envisioned very similar to the one I am living in, I had dreamed of a place with the beach out one door and trees out the other. Well, I have water out the front door and trees all around the back.

Of course, I forgot about LEAVES in the fall….

 

David Owen Ritz says: “God has provided the means and the motivation for our growth and evolution, but the details are up to us.” In other words, the Divine Universe is the “big picture” entity… the details are up to us!

And THAT is your vision. Your Vision is the “roadmap” that you’re giving Spirit saying: “This is what I want my life to look like!”

 

“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Matthew 7:7) Jesus uses the spiritual meaning of the word (or, more accurately, its Aramaic equivalent) as a part of a creative process by which we are to bring the Good that is God into manifestation in our lives. In this sense, “asking” is more about choosing what you desire. It’s an expression of the power of imagination. We cannot fulfill our role in the creative process unless we are willing to imagine the Good that might express. Then we seek. We brush away distractions, dissolve apparent obstacles so that we can truly feel and know our Oneness with God. Then we knock. We consciously become a free and open channel through which the infinite potential of God can express according to what we have imagined. We don’t ask and wait for an answer. We choose, we imagine, and then we become the answer.

SO, with that in mind, our vision of what we want is the start of the creative process. It is the first step.

How do we vision? Have you ever daydreamed? Of course you have! Sometimes we do it too much maybe at the wrong time…and nothing in our physical world gets accomplished!

Sometimes we get real serious about creating something in our lives and we create a vision board, or Treasure Map, as I mentioned earlier.

Sometimes we make lists, what we wish for, what we do not wish for…

And sometimes we have a visioning. We get together with our chosen group, those people who have an interest, an investment in what we wish to manifest and we talk, we meditate, we pray. And through all this we come up with those things that are important to us as a community.

We are going to do this as a community. And we are going to do it over a weekend, that is how important it is. Here’s the plan, our good friend Rev. Stephanie Seigh will be joining us again the first weekend in March. This time, the meetings are open to everyone. In fact, everyone is encouraged to participate.

She will help us to clear our minds of any fears and limitations and then open them to our imaginations. And through all that, we will discover what our vision for Unity of Rehoboth Beach is, and that, my friends, is what will guide us into the next years.

Yes, I did mention fears. We do that. We limit the Divine by our own limitations. How are you limiting yourself by your fears? What’s that Marianne Williamson 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. You’re playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

It takes courage to live your vision. Don’t let fear stand in your way.

Who are we, Unity of Rehoboth Beach, but a powerful, compassionate, peace-loving group of people praying for love to find its way into the hearts of ALL people. We are here to do that. We are here to reach out to the folks in this area and show them by our love and light, just what Jesus really WAS teaching….Love is the way.

In the end, most people don’t regret the things they do. They regret what they failed to do. …

We strengthen and develop our courage by using it. Don’t let it go to waste. Trust in who you are and be all you were created to be by living a courageous life. Choose to live courageously.

So, my Beloved, let’s start visioning. Let’s start using that Power of Imagination and let’s get ready to vision with Rev. Stephanie.

Namaste.

Good Morning Beloved!

 

A couple were in a busy shopping center just before Christmas.

The husband wandered off as she was standing in line, saying something about being back in a little bit. After getting through the line, the husband wasn’t back yet and since they still had more shopping to do, the wife called him on the cellphone.

The wife said, “Where are you?”

He said, “You remember the jewelers we went into about 10 years ago, and you fell in love with that diamond necklace? I couldn’t afford it at the time, and I said that one day I would get it for you.”

Tears started to flow down her cheeks and she got all choked up. “Yes, I do remember that shop”, she replied.

“I’m in the bar next to that.”

 

 

Keys to the Kingdom – pt 1.

 

This week we start our first ‘official’ Prosperity program. Last year we did take a Sunday each month and talk about the prosperity thought for the month and we linked it to one of the 12 Powers.

And if you look on the website, Darla, has the Power for the month and all the information that goes with it. And I will use the information from time to time in our lessons this year.

Many Unity Centers and Churches provide a Prosperity class in the beginning of the year as a way to get us motivated…get our blood boiling, as it were, into the new year.

We just went through the Burning Bowl and released those things, thoughts, maybe people, that no longer serve us.

Last week we opened our hearts and minds to Love and Light and received a new name or word that will be our guide through the coming months.

So now we are ready to start working on those things we wish to see in the next year. Things we brought to the forefront last week. Was it a new job? Maybe greater understanding of your purpose in this lifetime? Maybe it is greater health? Becoming clean and sober? Or finally getting the job that YOU want? Maybe it’s finding that perfect partner…

I found this definition – true prosperity is the power to satisfy our needs and make our dreams come true.

A prosperity mentality is part of what helps us manifest those things and relationships that we long for.

The goal is oneness with God, nothing more, nothing less. The idea is not to aim for healing or prosperity or better relationships or any of the other “things” – deserved as they may be, since their seeming absence is merely a symptom of a deeper problem; a straying from the path. Rather, the goal is the experience of the presence of God in us and I our daily lives.

Here’s an example of perspective regarding prosperity…

Through the eyes of a child

“One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, ‘How was the trip?’

’It was great, Dad.’

‘Did you see how poor people live,’ the father asked.

‘Oh yeah,’ said the son.

‘So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip,’ asked the father.

The son answered: ‘I saw that we have one dog and they had four.’

‘We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.’

’We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.’

‘Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.’

‘We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.’

‘We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.’

‘We buy our food, but they grow theirs.’

‘We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.’

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added, ‘Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.’”

 

I hear a hint of gratitude in that simple statement.

And we have noted many times that prosperity – abundance, is not money. Oh it includes money. But it is so much more. Energy comes in many forms, and that is really what it is about. And energy cannot be destroyed…changed yes, destroyed – no.

“The Keys to the Kingdom – an advanced course in prosperity consciousness building” is a course developed by David Owen Ritz. We will follow along each week, but the main focus of the program will be presented in the class. That starts this Wednesday at 6:30 and will be a 7-week class. This is the last chance to sign up.

Each week has a Key. They are 1. Make the Commitment, 2. Hold the Vision, 3. Build a New Awareness, 4. Make Room for the New, 5. Let Go of the Past, 6. Count the Blessings, 7. Live in the Flow.

This week we will take our own look at the 1^st Key…Make the Commitment.

So, why do you think David called his course Keys to the Kingdom?

My thought is “It is Gods good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” And what do we need to do to receive God’s gift? “Seek first the Kingdom.”

I found this on-line- A life that reflects the quality of true abundance is a life spent pursuing a greater awareness of the God of our understanding and our true spiritual nature.

So what would you wish your life to be like?

Let’s take a few moments… and now send those energies out to the ethers.

————————–

And we Bless those prayers, this or something better – and so it is.

 

SO what is the next step to manifesting those dreams.

MAKE THE COMMITMENT! Now is the time!

There it is – the big C…..commitment. Lots of people have an issue with the word and what it means to them. So, ask yourself, what does it mean to you?

Let’s hear some responses….

Well, to me it means getting bulletins ready and inserts and figuring out what to put in them! And working with Marian and Greg for music. And making sure that all the organizing is done so everything runs as smoothly as possible for our Celebration Service. And then there’s all the behind the scenes stuff. And of course, the Lesson.

And I am committed to my girls…the little fluffy ones who are needing extra care as the get older, one even more so with her being blind and deaf. And even tho I am allergic, I am committed to feeding and trying to keep the feral cats and kittens around my home safe.

Of course I am committed to my family back in PA. I try to see them as I can get away and I call Mom every day.

I am committed to my classes and my friends here and in PA.

And committed, to me means when I say I am going to do something, I am there, unless something happens to keep me away, and then I call and give my apologies.

Even after the accident spring a year ago, going home to visit family, believe it or not, I called from the ambulance to let my sister know I was going to miss lunch with Mom! I think the paramedics were thinking, what’s with this person…she’s bleeding, has broken bones and who knows what else, and all she worries about is canceling a lunch date and making sure her dogs were going to be taken care of a bit longer than planned!

Commitment. You say you are going to do something and you do it. It’s an integrity thing to me.

Eric Butterworth, the Unity minister and author has written, “If you want routine living to become abundant living, you must give more.”

Going the extra mile sometimes is what is needed. You know, as the Jews were required to carry the Roman burdens for a mile; Jesus suggests going the extra mile to break away from the ‘slavery mentality.’ Going beyond what is required sets your own standards.

Think about it….

So, Monday we had 11 people signed up to do the coloring meditation. Coloring is a very relaxing thing and we had a beautiful evening. Only thing was, 4 people came. If we would have known that we only needed space for 4 people we would have held the meditation in a space that didn’t cost $25 an hour.

My little aside here is this, see how important it is to commit when you say you are going to do something, when people are counting on you?

Commitment means you are taking ownership of something. It might be a cause, like committing to being there when MERR calls about a stranded seal. Or meeting someone who needs a helping hand. Or fostering a dog or cat when asked.

Or volunteering at Unity, YOUR Spiritual Community. We have mentioned this before…taking ownership of YOUR Unity. And we say it at the beginning of each Service…doing what is mine to do.

 

David Owen Ritz says we look at how we think about the things we want and need wrong. Worry and negative thought affirm lack mentality and limitation rather than abundance. So if we are fearful of committing to doing something or if we think it’s ok to not show up when we say we will be there, we are out of alignment.

We need to move in alignment with the natural flow of creation.

How do we do that? By seeking the Kingdom, that divine connection we talk about every Sunday when we ring the chime and light the Heart candle, the Christ candle.

In 1^st Corinthians Paul talks about this, saying if we are still ‘worldly’, that is with envy, strife and divisions, we are not discerning the way of the Christ.

But what do you do about that connection after the Sunday Lesson? What is your day or week like after Service?

This is where the commitment comes in. This is where choice enters our lives. We are given choice, free will. That freedom to choose what we wish to do, say, think….BE.

What are you doing with your free will?

Are you BEING the person you wish to be?

Where are your thoughts today? How do they change when you leave here?

Being committed to your Spiritual Growth is probably the most important commitment you can make. It means that you are ‘seeking the Kingdom first’ as we are asked to do in the teaching of our Wayshower, Jesus.

How do we seek the kingdom? I truly believe a huge part of that journey is self- discovery. What makes you, you? Eric Butterworth says in “Discover the Power Within” – ‘Your knowledge of the Truth must first of all lead to self-knowledge.’

Who are you really, behind all the walls we put up and the domestications we have learned through our years? Do you know?

People come to Unity and say “It feels as if I came home.” And maybe we have. A real home to a place where we can feel safe enough to say who we are, and what we want truly in our lives.

About 15 years ago, I make a commitment to myself and to the God of MY understanding, that I would seek the Kingdom, inside me, using learning about Unity principles and about metaphysics and that leads to learning about Sandy. I started going through the layers of domestication and hurts and boundaries that we all put up, and I am still at it.

But you know, it feels good. I’m liking the person I am becoming…

 

Are you liking you?

Meditation…

Good Morning Beloved

The Packers and the Vikings had an ice fishing tournament. The first day the Packers caught 100 fish and the Vikings didn’t catch any. The second day the Packers caught 200 fish and the Vikings didn’t catch any.

The third day the Vikings were getting worried so they dressed their quarterback up like a Packer and sent him over to see why they were catching so many fish.

That day the Cheeseheads caught 300 fish and the Vikes caught none. When the quarterback returned to the Vikings, they asked “What’s the deal, are they cheating or what’s going on?”

The quarterback said “You bet they are, they’re drilling holes in the ice!”

 

White Stone Ceremony

 

I just saw this quote from T.S. Eliot – “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language; and next year’s words await another voice.”

 

I thought it was a good introduction to our Ceremony today.

The White Stone Ceremony is inspired by a quote from the Book of Revelation: chapter 2:17… “Let anyone who has an ear listen: To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

This passage refers to a couple of actions and promises:

The first activity is listening: Jesus talked a lot in his ministry, about the value of listening. In Mark 8 and Matthew 13 he said, “You have ears, but you do not hear.” We all have the capacity to hear, but many of us just simply don’t listen.

Stephem Covey reminds us that “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand, most people listen with the intent to reply.”

 

 

Listening is a very important life skill and spiritual practice. When we don’t listen, we miss out on a lot. We miss out on connecting with people who may be hurting or in need. We miss out on intimacy and understanding of the people in our lives. Failing to listen can also create misunderstanding, disconnect and separation. We miss out on all sorts of insight and wisdom by not listening … because the more we listen, the better we understand, and the better choices we make. The more we listen, the more clarity we have. The more we listen, the more we open ourselves to insight, inspiration and understanding.

How well do you listen? On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you listen to your partner or spouse? To your parents, children and family members? To your co-workers? How well do you listen to your friends? And how well do you listen to yourself? How well do you listen to your heart and body, and your inner wisdom and intuition? How well do you listen to God?

Don’t let the noise of the world keep you from hearing the Voice of God.

We must learn to practice ‘conscious listening.’

The great theologian Paul Tillich said that listening is the first law of love. So, if that is true, look what happens when we apply the word “listen” to the great commandments … the greatest thing we can do is to listen to God with all our hearts, minds, soul and strength, and to listen to others as we listen to ourselves.

An ear to hear is not an outer ear, but the ear of the soul; the ear that hears the “still, small voice”. We develop this inner listening quality by getting out of our intellect and into our hearts, through meditation and contemplation. It is a tool to help us quiet our busy mind and listen to the Divine Voice of Wisdom. We open our minds and hearts to a deep intuitive “knowing.”

Another activity or tool is surrender:

The passage says: “To everyone who conquers…” The conquering is not an outer war, but an inner one. To everyone who takes the time to listen to the still, small voice; to everyone who practices release and affirms inner spiritual qualities…. We realize it requires surrendering personal will to Divine Will, and the paradox is that in that surrender of the egoic self is Victory. It is a birthing of the Essential Self, just as Jesus taught and demonstrated.

In this passage there are also 3 Promises:

It said, “To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

The first promise is “Hidden Manna:”

In the days of wandering in the wilderness with Moses, the manna was sent by God. The people only had to go and collect it each day; they did not have to do anything to earn it. If they tried to save it, it spoiled. When we are in “the wilderness” of our spiritual searching, we receive “hidden manna,” not visible to the world. We are given spiritual energy and nourishment that sustains us.   It nourishes the soul and the body. It benefits the whole being.

The 2nd promise is a White Stone

Back in the time when Jesus was teaching and someone served time in prison or in bondage of any kind, they were given a white stone when they were released. It served as a symbol that they had done their time and they had been given passage to live with all the rights of a free person. Each of us comes from the bondage of past nonsense – false limitations, old beliefs, our domestication, error thinking that have been a prison. With a release from bondage, comes a sense of worthiness: we are beloved of God, one with the Divine, free and unlimited!

The 3rd promise is a New Name

In Biblical times, a name was a very sacred thing. Every name represented a quality. Every name in the Bible actually means a quality that was in the person who carries the name. You didn’t choose a name for your child because you liked the name. You chose it for whatever essence you saw in the child. For example, Saul – which means personal will – was struck to his knees. He was blind for three days and had to look within. He was given a new name at the time of his awakening. Saul (personal will) was transformed to Paul, which means enlightened will. He is a symbol of human will that surrenders to Divine will, and in that surrender, he claimed Divine Power.

The story of a name change is common in Biblical mythology. The prophet Isaiah wrote Chapter 62, Verse 2; “The lower consciousness shall see your freedom, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.”

Abram, as he grew in spiritual awareness became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah. Jacob was renamed Israel. Simon was renamed Peter (Faith).

So when we awaken to inner Spirit, we take on a new identity, a new name so to speak. This refers to the new, higher realization of the I AM, a new awareness of our God Self. And this is where the Ceremony called White Stone” comes in. In the passage, we are told “I will give a white stone and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

Please select your stone as I continue to guide you through this meditation….

Say to yourself: “I don’t know anything.” Imagine you are an erased blackboard, ready to be written on. For by and large, what blocks spiritual learning is the assumption that we already know, or that we don’t need to know. We have to pray for the immense guidance that is offered us in the beginner’s mind.

I invite you to meditate on what you’re being called to in the new year, and claim that as your new name. Hold your White Stone in your hands

As you hold it, open your mind to “hearing” your new name.   At any time in the next few minutes as I am speaking, if the new name comes to your awareness, hold it in your mind as we continue this process. Write it on the Stone when you are sure it is THE name or word for you.

Allow yourself to ask a question: Who am I or what am I called to be in this coming year? What do I need to learn? Where do I need to grow? Where do I need to give?

As I let go of my old habits that I released during the burning bowl ceremony, what is it that I am called to be known as?

This new character Identity that you intend to cultivate in the coming year might be connected to that which you released at the Burning Bowl ceremony. Let your awareness drop from your head down into your heart and gut: from your intellect and into your deep inner knowing. an awareness of Divine Love and Wisdom. Listen for a moment to your still small voice.

While we play some meditative music.

Right now, in this place and time, at the beginning of a new year, I invite you to consciously surrender to the activity of the Divine Mother/Father. – for the next few minutes. Open your imagination, allow Wisdom to speak; give your ego a few minutes off and let that divine holy Voice in you come through. Perhaps there is a new career, a new title, or a new quality that Spirit is manifesting through you.

Give yourself permission to know that as you release that which no longer serves your highest good, you can claim a new quality, a new name.

This is a moment in which you know you are free, free from all that has bound you. Breathe in, live in this new beginning.

And so, as you are guided by Spirit, I invite you to trust in this now moment, ….as Spirit gives to you in this sacred place…in this moment of Truth…an insight into your divine purpose… an insight into your holy essence, and so in that secret place, I invite you to allow yourself to hear the new name that is speaking within you.

It may be a title, it may be something like published author…or clean and sober…or grateful…whatever.

Sometimes people who write the word peace, love, or presence, take on a new essence of who you are becoming.

And, as that name becomes clear, write it on your Stone…

If a name has come to you, remain quiet and allow yourself to ask for a deeper understanding, to ask if there are any steps to take. In this moment allow yourself to simply open to Spirit, to say, “God in me reveals my true essence. God in me reveals my next step. God as me lives a joyous, peaceful, fulfilling life.”

Anytime you look at your white stone realize that you have the gift of choice; the gift to live differently, to live a more fulfilling life, to begin again, to connect with God and create with God.

The white stone carries a new name, the spiritual identity and a deeper awareness of your soul’s journey at this time in your life. No one, in the entire universe except your inner wisdom, knows what this new name is.

But it has come to your awareness to be lived out, to be expressed, to be embodied as you. It is what your True Self, the Divine is calling you to be or do. It is a whisper from your soul that you are so much more than you have ever let come into expression.

A thankfulness flows over us as we receive our new name. Along with it comes the power and guidance to achieve all that we desire. This is our new name. We see it. We decree it. We are on the path to gaining greater insights and awareness and a new beginning.

 

“Behold, I make all things new…for you are my beloved in whom I am well pleased.”

“And so this is our sign of a clean slate. Whatever has gone on in the past, we let it go. This is a sign of our ability in this moment to live in this new beginning. This is moment in which we know we are free, free from all that has bound us.”

 

“Become the leader of your life. Lead yourself to where you want to be. Breathe life back into your ambitions, your desires, your goals, your relationships.” Steve Maraboli

 

Jesus said, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you this kingdom.“ Accept this consciousness of ever increasing good in your life. I invite you to carry this white stone as a reminder of that promise.