GREAT MORNING BELOVED!!

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 commit 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.

1. How have you noticed the past repeating itself in your own life?
   1. How would you define forgiveness?
   1. What aspect of your past or area of your life seems most difficult to release?
   1. How do you feel about the statement, “Money goes where it is loved?”
   1. Do you find forgiving yourself difficult? If so, how can you begin to forgive yourself?
   1. What conscious choices make you feel good about yourself?
   1. Which of the four stages of forgiveness is most difficult for you? Why?

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!

Emelie 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 every day in some way. Gratitude in action.

1. The kids called, surprise! thank you!
2. Got a good parking place…Thank you Spirit!
3. Coupon for favorite pizza!…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 check for 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.

This week we are concluding this series, so we’ll also discuss Key #7, “Live in the FLOW”.

David Owen Ritz has given us 6 keys that if we follow the first 6, the 7^th kay will be realized.

Our goal has been a greater awareness of the Kingdom of Heaven. I have said, and firmly believe that the path to a greater awareness of this goal is by knowing ourselves. 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.

When we started this series, we mentioned the word commitment, do you recall what came to mind then? 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…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 say: “This too is Good’ This too is God.”

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 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…don’t shortchange yourself.

Charles Fillmore: “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.”

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

And as we learn the Truth of who and what we are, we discover that giving is what keeps us in the 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.

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 kike Unity Spiritual Center of Coastal Delaware,

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!

Be conscious of the words you are placing behind the words, I AM; because you are claiming that quality as a part of God, as a part of you.

SO, who do you want to claim to be?

 This weeks’ questions:

1. How have you noticed your sense of freedom, abundance, and personal empowerment changing over the last few weeks?
   1. Have you been feeling a deeper sense of gratitude before now?
   1. In which area of your life do you most often overlook the good? Why do you think you do this?
   1. How can you actively praise the good things in your life in a way that is meaningful for you?
   1. How do you feel about sharing your good? Do you sometimes have a fear of not having enough?
   1. What is the biggest problem or challenge facing you right now? How can you call forth the good hidden in this challenge?
   1. Can you see how your past problems and challenges may have affected your life in a positive way?

Meditation   

GREAT MORNING BELOVED!!

“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?

Remember, The Law of Circulation responds when you clear out the old energy and make room for the new.

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?

But before we more on, let’s review last weeks’ questions…

1. How does this understanding of impersonal spiritual law feel to you?
2. What evidence have you seen of spiritual law operating in your life before now?
3. How would you define the Law of Circulation in your own words?
4. Do you find yourself holding on to things you no longer need? If so, what feelings or beliefs do you think lie behind this behavior?
5. Are you comfortable and confident in your handling and management of your money? If not, what feelings or beliefs do you think lie behind this behavior?
6. Have you ever written down a foal before? If so, how did it work for you?

OK. Let’s move on to the next Key… 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… 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. Well, you have an “emotional” closet too, 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 “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. And we have free will…why choose revenge?

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.

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.

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 tomorrows?

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 tells us: “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 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 as we move away from the pandemic ‘pause’.

Here are this weeks’ questions:

1. How have you noticed the past repeating itself in your own life?
   1. How would you define forgiveness?
   1. What aspect of your past or area of your life seems most difficult to release?
   1. How do you feel about the statement, “Money goes where it is loved?”
   1. Do you find forgiving yourself difficult? If so, how can you begin to forgive yourself?
   1. What conscious choices make you feel good about yourself?
   1. Which of the four stages of forgiveness is most difficult for you? Why?

GREAT MORNING BELOVED!!

Welcome back! And thank you to Rev. Karen for her Message last week. I enjoyed it and I hope you did also.

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

But before we get to that, let’s look at the questions from two weeks ago:

1. What evidence of your own limiting beliefs do you find in your thoughts and feelings?
2. What evidence of your own limiting beliefs do you hear in your speech?
3. What evidence of your own limiting beliefs do you observe in your behavior?
4. Can you pinpoint some of your limiting beliefs? If so, can you see why they are not really true?
5. Which of the Seven Spiritual Truths of Abundance seems most important for you to grasps? Why?
   1. God is the one and only source of our good
   1. Abundance is a here-and-now reality.
   1. Abundance is inexhaustible.
   1. God is meeting your every need at every moment according to your own acceptance.
   1. Everyone deserves abundance.
   1. Your vision is your inner awareness of your naturally abundant self.
   1. Your inner guidance will lead you toward the fulfillment of your vision.

Anyone have anything they wish to share? And insights to their inner thinking and beliefs?

Now let us take a 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, Divine Mind, Spirit, 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 Allen Ritz 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.

To avoid this disharmony, we must 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 without 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.” Ask yourself, “Whose business is it…Yours, some other persons or Gods?
• So, maybe you would want to go through your 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 in our homes and garages, but our lives. Doing this releasing opens you up to the spiritual flow available to us all.
• 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, pay 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. She has many examples and exercises to help you along to change your energy around money.
• 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. Emmit Fox 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.”

And Jesus said, “But seek ye first the 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.

So, what do you think? What thoughts do you have right now?

This weeks’ questions:

1. How does this understanding of impersonal spiritual law feel to you?
2. What evidence have you seen of spiritual law operating in your life before now?
3. How would you define the Law of Circulation in your own words?
4. Do you find yourself holding on to things you no longer need? If so, what feelings or beliefs do you think lie behind this behavior?
5. Are you comfortable and confident in your handling and management of your money? If not, what feelings or beliefs do you think lie behind this behavior?
6. Have you ever written down a goal before? If so, how did it work for you?