GREAT Morning Beloved!!

Discover the Power Within You – The Great Decision

Last week we talked about the great discovery, made by Jesus, that we are both human and divine. Or as the quotes by an unknown author wrote: “Know this, O Man, sole root of sin in thee is not to know thine own divinity!”
Why would our Creator do that…hide our divinity? I’ve wondered about that…have you? Can you think of any reasons that we would have to experience life, ……that we would have to go through the ‘growth opportunities’ that meet us along our path?

What is the reason?

Can you recall that we have ‘free choice’? Yes…we choose what is going to happen in our lives. We are the masters of our fate.

That’s heavy.

And those ‘growth opportunities’ are there to help us grow, sometimes MAKE us grow!

And we need to do that. We are here to experience life, which can be heaven, or it can be hell…. we choose.
But as we grow, awaken, reach into our divinity, we experience more heaven than hell…. right?

And we have help to experience more heaven…we forget that sometimes. We don’t even consider it a true possibility that there is help for us sometimes. And yet, there is. And as we become more open to that, more accepting, we more forward on that path, that journey.

So, with the Discovery that we are divine, this morning we want to discuss the Great Decision.
And what is the Great Decision? Let’s see….

I have mentioned before, one of my mentors use to say the we all have an ‘urge’ to discover our connection to God, no matter where we are on the spiral, moving ever forward towards complete enlightenment.

And scientists have hypothesized that human spirituality is influenced by heredity and that a specific gene, called vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), predisposes us towards spiritual or mystic experience.

That gene, that ‘urge’ is what leads us to at least ponder our Great Decision.

Paul wrote: “Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

How often do we fall back on the belief, “I’m only human” and then move forward with a questionable act? Businesses that do things because ‘that’s the way things are if you want to be competitive’ or we hear of athletes bending the rules to get faster, stronger?

And you & I, what have we done that maybe we wish we could take back?

These are examples of conforming to the world.

But we know now that they were not ‘sins’ as we have been told, but mistakes, we missed the mark and now know more about our Truth. Now we know we are Divine.

And that Great Discovery brings us to the choice we need make if we wish to follow the Master…our Way-shower.

So, our Great Decision is to do that. To make that choice.

Jesus said, “Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free.” (John 8:32)

And the freedom is the “inward motivation to tame the raw spiritual power that is within us, to harness our divine potential, and to move in the direction of our highest good.”

The way to do this renewing of our mind is the realization and the unfoldment of our own innate divinity. That means; for most, a radical and permanent change for the better in our own consciousness. Only by a change in consciousness can the outer conditions be altered.

Butterworth says this: “But you must still make that great decision to affirm your unity with the Infinite. You must still believe that I AM, and then work tirelessly to act the part. You must claim your freedom, realizing that it does not mean doing what you like, but becoming what you should.”

How do we become what we should? How do we demonstrate our divinity in the world?

Whether you call it “living within the license of a higher order of beings” or “changing the formula to get a different result”, the message is the same. We are called to recognize that we are more than we think, and therefore, we are capable of more than we think we are.

Butterworth explains this well when stating: “When we know the Truth of this great spiritual potential within us which Jesus called the Kingdom of God within, we are free to become our unlimited self, free to do unlimited things. We see things in a different light, we react to a different set of principles, we draw upon a higher potential, a potential that has always been within us, which has always really been us.”

What Jesus was showing us was a way to live a spiritual life every moment of every day. We can make the same decision as Jesus did, to live our lives as spiritual beings. This is Eric Butterworth’s “great decision” and it can radically change our world.

So back to the question of how do we do that? We’re doing it here this morning. Our times together help us to remember who we are, and what we’re capable of.

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame with in us.” – Albert Schweitzer

We try to do that each week as we gather for Service and Fellowship.

And, who we are and what we’re capable of can’t stay here, in this building, if we truly want to make a difference.
“We will never change the world by just going to church. We will only change it by being the church.” – Clergy Coaching Network

What does it mean to “be the church”?

What does our opening statement say…?

We affirm that each person is a beloved child of God. Each person is here for a special reason and purpose. When we do that which is ours to do, we make a positive difference in the world.

When we do that which is ours to do…that is the Great Decision…doing what is ours to do. If we are true Christians, we are following WHAT JESUS TAUGHT.

Have you figured what is yours to do yet? Do you know how to make a difference here, at Unity?

Think about the times I remind us all what we do when we walk out that door. How do we interact with the humanity we encounter? With patience and at the very least caring? Or do we lose it as soon as we encounter an impatient driver? Or an upset spouse or partner?

And how do we interact with the creatures that share this wonderful blue marble whirling around in the cosmos? Are we gentle with them? Do we have compassion where we are able? Do we thank them that provide our sustenance?

We may think we can’t change…but we can. We can do what we truly want.

“You’re not stuck. You’re just committed to certain patterns of behavior because they helped you in the past. Now those behaviors have become more harmful than helpful. The reason why you can’t move forward is because you keep applying an old formula to a new level in your life. Change the formula to get a different result.” – Emily Maroutian

Are you stuck in a pattern? Are you ready to change that pattern? Make the Great Decision.

Great Morning Beloved!!

“Discover the Power Within You – A Guide to the Unexplored Depths Within”
Maya Angelou was a student, and admirer, of Eric Butterworth. If you wish to learn more about the influence Unity had on her, search online for Maya Angelou & Unity. You can read about her discovery of Unity and listen and watch the interview by Oprah regarding it.
Maya wrote the Foreword for the 40th Anniversary edition of this book. In part, she said this: “Butterworth was a 20th century Emerson. His mission was to help others realize their spiritual potential and to empower the world through spiritual growth. His teachings focused on what a human being is and what a human being can do to live abundantly.”

Rev. Butterworth is considered one of Unity’s great authors and leaders. This book, “Discover the Power Within You – A Guide to the Unexplored Depths Within” is considered a classic.

Butterworth starts his book with this statement: “The hope of mankind today lies in the great undiscovered depths within.”
What are your thoughts on that statement?

Within…. Some of us, actually, most of us are just discovering that WITHIN.
You recall the Hindu legend about our hidden divinity being placed in the one place we wouldn’t look…within us. This insinuation is we will go to great lengths searching for that one thing that drives us…but to look within, well…there’s work to do there.

Even two thousand years ago, the philosopher Epictetus (epic tee tus) knew: “You are a distinct portion of the essence of God; and contain part of Him in yourself. Why then, are you ignorant of your noble birth? Why do you not consider whence you came? Why do you not remember, when you are eating, who you are who eat; and whom you feed? Do you not know that it is the Divine you feed; the Divine you exercise? You carry God about with you… and know nothing of it.”

We are beginning a seven-week series on discovering our divinity…or maybe we should say remembering or re-discovering …because it’s been there, within us all this time, just waiting for our Great Discovery.
We’ll be looking at how Jesus demonstrated this understanding of his own divinity and encouraged us to understand and demonstrate ours. We’ll ask the question: “What did Jesus really teach?”

The power of God, that essential spirit, is within each of us. We have a choice…we can ignore it, or we can draw upon it and choose to grow…grow into our awareness of who and what we truly are.

This book, Discover the Power Within You, and others like it, invites us to know our divinity. That’s the first step in discovering our power, our greatness. That’s the Great Discovery.

Butterworth posits that Jesus is our greatest example of the great discovery. And we have said that many times over through the years….thus we call Him our Way-shower.

Imagine Jesus as a young boy, pondering the wonders of the world, when his consciousness brings an idea to him so great, He probably didn’t catch its full implications at first. It was the concept leading to the full realization of His unity with God.
Up to this point, we humans existed in the consciousness of separation from God. We could pray to God, talk to God and receive help and guidance from God. God was always up there, and we were down here.
Fichte (fish ta) said, “an insight into the absolute unity of man with the divine is the profoundest knowledge that man can attain.”

Embracing our divinity, our Christ within, is not a one-shot deal. We have probably figured that out by now!
We need to be reminded over and over again that, as Dr. Roger Walsh, professor of Psychiatry, Philosophy and Anthropology observes, we are more than we think…
1. There are two realms of reality – the everyday realm which we are all familiar with, and another realm, another world that cannot be known through the physical senses. Call it Spirit, Mind, the Tao or Consciousness, this realm is unbounded by space, or time or physical laws.
2. Human beings partake of both realms. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. We have bodies, but at the core of our being, we have a center of transcendent awareness. This is the Divine spark. We are not divorced from the sacred but eternally and intimately linked to it.
3. Human beings can recognize this divine spark and the sacred ground that is its source. In other words, we don’t have to believe this philosophy on faith. We can experience this other realm for ourselves, by careful introspection, or what the Hindus call self-inquiry. This knowledge of the divine does not come from book learning, but rather through direct experience. (Or what Father Rohr called “learning to think like Jesus.”)
4. And finally, the perennial philosophy’s fourth claim is that realizing our spiritual nature is the highest goal and greatest good of human existence. Besides this, all other goals pale.

This then is the goal of “Discover the Power Within You” – This is not power about exerting our will over others, it is about being in complete truth with yourself.
It’s to help us to realize this truth about ourselves – that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. So, this work isn’t to deny our humanity, but to embrace it within the context of our innate spirituality.
Butterworth’s premise of the Great Discovery is that Jesus was not the exception to humanity, but the example for all humanity. Jesus was a teacher who made this wonderful discovery and then attempted not only to tell us all that we had this same potential; He gave us simple steps to take to realize it and be transformed by that power—-the power of our own divinity.
When Jesus said, “follow me” He is referring to our acceptance of the high level of consciousness that He achieved. He is not the moon, so to speak, but is asking us to look as He is pointing to the moon. Maybe saying… “this is the way”.
When He becomes the object of worship, He ceases to be the way-shower. This is a major difference between Unity and other Christian based religions or practices. We do not worship Him, we follow him.

This splendid spiritual discovery can be unfolded through self-realization and self-discipline. There is no short cut to the Kingdom. Growth is an unfoldment.
Meister Eckhart reminds us that there was never an ‘only begotten’ but there is the eternal begetting…
The only begotten is spiritual human, the Christ principle. We all, always have within us the infinite Christ potential.

What does all this mean? Quoting Dr. Walsh, “The words differ from one tradition to another, but their central message is the same -you are more than you!” We have underestimated ourselves, and each other. All the traditions agree that this discovery of our selves is the supreme joy and greatest goal of human life.
Jesus stressed a spiritual philosophy that is ‘you-centered’. We can’t just believe things about Jesus, we must come to believe about ourselves what He believed about himself.

You all have an opportunity to participate in this series.
I’m encouraging you to embrace a couple of practices.
First have a practice of regular meditation, be willing to create one. Even if it’s just sitting in the silence for 15 minutes a day.
Second, this series might bring up some old “stuff” around Jesus and religion and sin and who knows what! So, keeping a journal might be helpful. I’m available if you need to talk.
Use the weekly study guides, available on the Information Table, to deepen your exploration of this work.
I am here on Wednesdays and Fridays if you wish to chat about anything and appointments can be arranged. If anyone wishes to start a discussion group around this series, let me know.

GREAT Morning Beloved!
What’s Love Got to do with it?

A college professor had his sociology class go into the Baltimore slums to get case histories of 200 young boys. They were asked to write an evaluation of each boy’s future. In every case the students wrote, “He hasn’t got a chance.”

Twenty-five years later another sociology professor came across the earlier study. He had his students follow up on the project to see what had happened to those boys.

With the exception of 20 boys who had moved away or died, the students learned that 176 of the remaining 180 had achieved more than ordinary success as lawyers, doctors, and businessmen.

The professor was astounded and decided to pursue the matter further.

Fortunately, all the men were in the area, and he was able to ask each one, “How do you account for your success?”
In each case the reply came with feeling, “There was a teacher.”

The teacher was still alive, so he sought her out and asked the elderly but still alert lady what magic formula she had used to pull these boys out of the slums into successful achievement.

The teacher’s eyes sparkled and her lips broke into a gentle smile. “It’s really very simple,” she said. “I loved those boys.” (Chicken Soup for the Soul)

We often poo-poo the power of love, yet many more stories like this prove the power it has. And we are aware that love & connection are one of the basic needs of humans.

We in Unity talk about the power of Love. We affirm that we are love because we come from love…God is only LOVE and we are of God.

Everyone has their own idea of what Love is. In the 21st century, many seem to have their own definition of the word “love”—from popular talk show hosts to your garden variety psychologists and self-styled pop icons, everyone wants to weigh in. Even you and me!

Our English language is lacking in having only one word, LOVE, that really expands over many ideas and definitions. The Greeks have 6 words for the different types of love and in Spanish there are 11words just nouns for love, that doesn’t include verbs and all the side meaning of affection.

Think for a moment what LOVE means to you….

In an age when words speak much louder than actions, it’s high time we return to the only one who can truly define “love”—the One who created it:

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–8)

Now place that definition before the meaning you had a moment ago….how do you compare?
I’m guessing closer that we think.

In our human form, love often takes on our needs…and rightly so, to a point. On a human level we do have certain needs to be successful humans.

But I believe part of that ‘need’ is also to give….to give love.

Most of you know that my belief about love is in the verb…loving. I believe many of societies issues can be lessened by giving love.

1 John 3:18: “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue. but in deed and in truth.”

And that giving can be simple…for example; many of you here give in many ways, from participating in the Service as Greeters, Platform Assistants, to Fellowship helpers bringing food to share and cleaning up after, providing flowers, leading groups, sharing food and clothing and pet food and backpack items and items for our Service people, and playing games during Game Night…oh yes! That is sharing love too.
All that is happening here.

But you do much more…think now….where do you share your love?

Unity believes that Jesus had the right idea about LOVE. He asked us to love God and love each other.

Jesus did not send us into the world to make believers but to make disciples. We can worship Jesus without doing the things he says. We can believe in him and still not follow him.

In fact, there’s a passage in Corinthians that says, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

SO how did we get to “what’s love got to do with it?” That kind of minimalizes love, doesn’t it?
Haven’t we minimalized the ‘real love’ that is our Principle? Are we really following what our Way-shower has asked us to do?

The important becomes trivial, and then the trivial becomes important.

We got where we are when loving people and loving God and really knowing what that means becomes minimized. Then possessions and power and prestige and what people think and what you wear and what schools your kids go to and how you’re doing, produces these demands where we start living lives that are a shadow of who we really are.
What we want to do is flip that…to minimalize ‘things’ and maximize love. –

When we talk about purposely, specifically loving other people in authentic ways – some of the trivial things all of a sudden lose their luster. Who cares about this or that, when love is really happening?

How do we then maximize love, so love becomes what’s important and some of those trivial, less important things, diminish in their priority and demand on your life.

I believe the key is learning to love…to Be loving

The way love works is, love celebrates our differences. Love looks at different people and realizes that every one of them is important and they’re different colors and they’re different shapes, but love celebrates differences and love refuses to compare

Jesus demonstrated love’s power to bless and heal ourselves and all those around us. He said one of the greatest commandments is to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). Jesus further commanded his disciples to “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

Ancient and modern-day prophets alike have spoken about this concept of unconditional love for others. St. Francis of Assisi prayed: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love.” In his book, Strength to Love, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spelled out a formula for loving your enemies: “Hatred cannot drive away hatred; only love can do that.”

We can all do our part in sharing love. There are as many ways as there are people in this room. And if you think you can’t get past something and change it to love, consider this:

Anthony Ray Hinton in his book, The Sun Does Shine. After spending 28 years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit, Hinton was exonerated in 2015. When he was initially sentenced, he asked to speak to the court and proceeded to forgive each one of those who held his life and his fate in their hands. He told them he didn’t hate them, and, in fact, he said he loved them. During nearly three decades behind bars, he taught his fellow death row inmates the power of unconditional love through Bible and book studies.

A white supremacist who was about to be executed was asked whether he had any final words. He was one of the men Hinton had befriended, and he observed that the very people he had been taught to hate were the ones who, in prison, taught him how to love.

As Unity cofounder Charles Fillmore wrote: “Love is the great harmonizer and healer … love will bring your own to you, adjust all misunderstandings, and make your life and your affairs healthy, happy, harmonious, and free”.

If we choose to be happy, we must help others find happiness. If we desire to be loved, we must spread that love around.
The story is told of a farmer whose corn each year earned the winning prize at the state fair. One year, a reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew his corn. The farmer told the reporter that he shared his prize-winning seed corn with his neighbors.

When asked why, the farmer explained: “The wind picks up the pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If the neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

The same is true for the way we live our lives. If we wish to live in peace and harmony, we must help our neighbors, families and friends do the same.

See it as opportunity in every situation.

GREAT Morning Beloved!

The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity – A Simple Guide to Unlimited Abundance

Here we are, the final Law of Prosperity – Finding Your Divine Purpose.

This has been an interesting venture through Rev. Gaines’ book. Lots of wisdom so far, and I do not believe it has ended.

This final Law is about Passion and reminds us of the need for Commitment.

At one time or another you’ve probably asked yourself, What is the purpose of my life? What is its meaning? Why am I here on Earth, and what am I supposed to be doing?”

Chances are, you work hard, whether you take care of a household or have a job outside of the home. Your days are filled with seemingly endless chores and tasks like getting the oil changed in your car and going to the grocery store. Perhaps sometimes, when you get tired or stressed out, life can seem like just one long and meaningless “to do” list with a bland retirement and a gold-plated watch at the end of it.

You may have a sense that given the right circumstances, you could do much more than you are doing now. Perhaps you long to make a real difference in the world, to assign meaning to your life, and to listen to the yearnings of your very soul.

All of the great and wise people who ever made a difference on planet Earth heard their souls’ yearnings and chose a purpose for their lives. People such as Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Nelson Mandela seem to have been driven by a self-defined purpose that they chose for themselves. Now, we often think of such people with a sense of awe and respect as if they were somehow different from us — better, smarter, saintly, or more courageous. Sometimes they hardly seem human. But the truth is that the only real difference between you and those people is that they all seemed to have a clearly defined life purpose that they selected for themselves and then embraced with steadiest dedication and unshakeable determination.

You have that very same opportunity as well. Every single one of us has some special gift, some special interest, some special talent, some special way of impacting this world, so that it becomes a better place for everyone. You have the potential to live at the level of Gandhi or Mother Teresa. The question you must ask yourself is, “Am I willing to define, embrace, and hold fast to my divine purpose, prayerfully, persistently, and patiently?” If the answer is yes, then the seemingly impossible truly can become possible in your life.

Now, finding and following your divine purpose is different from setting your goals. A goal is a tangible desire with an end result, but your divine purpose is really a way of living.

For example, a goal might be to learn to paint with watercolors, but your divine purpose might be to bring joy to peoples’ lives through your art. Another goal might be to get a PhD, but the divine purpose would be to live in the world of the intellect, the world of ideas. Your goals have finite deadlines, but your divine purpose is something that you will be working with and growing with for the rest of your life.

Rev. Gaines relates, “Years ago, a teacher explained to me that if I wanted to fully realize my potential in this lifetime, the first thing I had to do was look out upon my world (understanding that we all look out through our own consciousness to see different worlds) and notice all the things that need healing, or fixing, or transforming.”

“Very frankly, I see that a multitude of areas where we as a human family need to direct our attention, change our priorities, get rid of the systems and concepts that are not working, and begin anew.”

“The task, then, my teacher instructed, is that after looking carefully at the world, we must pick out one thing that we feel needs transforming, something that would be fun for us to get involved in repairing, shifting, restructuring, fixing, and perfecting. Please note the use of the word fun. This is not about martyrdom or great personal sacrifice. It is about focus, joy, and a sense of purposeful possible achievement.”

Next, we must take a bold step and make a 100 percent commitment to “fixing” the problem we have identified, followed by devoting our energies, time, talents, skills, and money to transforming that one piece of the earthly puzzle. Even as you’re working toward solving the problem, keep in mind that what is really important is not whether the problem ever gets solved; it’s that you are working toward the solution with dedication and persistence.

An example would be to help clean the world for future generations…by recycling as much as possible and watching what you purchase and how it is packaged!
Keep in mind, it is YOUR solution. It may seem small, but it is a step in the right direction. We at Unity suggest helping with Fellowship or being a Greeter as a step toward getting involved as a Volunteer. Then step into what calls to you on a deeper level.

When you choose your divine purpose, you are framing your life with meaning. You are also taking an important step in your spiritual development: to demonstrate to yourself that you are a divine being and to prove to yourself that you have the power to affect change — that you are bigger, stronger, more powerful, and more creative than you thought.

It was Emerson who said, “Oh Man! There is no planet, sun or star could hold you, if you but knew what you are.” There is nothing in the universe that could hold us, if only we knew our true power and stepped into it.

Passion is involved with this commitment…it must be. If you are not passionate about the activity, you will not commit. Charles called it Zeal, one of our 12 Powers.

So, it’s whatever we feel strongly about, a direction we feel compelled to take, or an activity we find fascinating and absorbing, step forward toward it. That focus + enthusiasm is the strongest possible force for creating what we desire in our lives – including money.

Ever heard the expression “do what you love, and the money will follow”? Well, there is a lot of truth in that. Your passion creates a channel in your energy fields, and the more you focus, the stronger and deeper the channel. This makes it easier to do what you are passionate about.

Most of us have a pretty clear idea of what we are passionate about, because it’s what we naturally enjoy and/or feel happy doing. We each have an affinity or talent for certain interests or activities: music, dancing, writing, physics, toy trains. When you engage in your passions, your inner being is saying “yes!”, guiding you in the direction of your divine blueprint.

So, what are you passionate about? What fills you with focus, joy and excitement? That is a great indicator of what you are here to do on this planet. We each have a specific assignment; there is something only you can do within the overall assignment of the human race to recreate heaven on earth.

Obviously, you are going to have the best and most excellent life if you follow your divine blueprint. The way to figure that out is by following your passions. You don’t have to explain them, justify them: your passions are sufficient in themselves.

What you are passionate about indicates your desires, and your desire nature is a direct connection between your human self and your divine self.

The only way you can get direct guidance is through your emotions – through what you want and don’t want, through what you are passionate about. Passion not only shows you where to go, it keeps you on track towards getting there.
Passion has seven components: love, knowledge, desire, excellence, focus, vision and integration. So, if your passions are not sufficiently clear to you, if you are not aware of what you are here to do, then ask yourself:

1. What do I LOVE more than anything else?

2. What do I KNOW better than anyone else?

3. What do I DESIRE, want, crave, feel attracted to?

4. What do I EXCEL AT? What do I learn or do with natural ease?

5. What do I FOCUS ON whether I consciously intend to or not?

6. What do I SEE that others don’t? What is my vision for my perfect world? What problems am I aware of for which I may be part of the solution?

7. What do I need to INTEGRATE? Integration means getting your system lined up with what you want, on all levels.
All great questions that can guide us to our passion.

So, what does this have to do with money and prosperity? Well, if our passions indicate what we are here to do, then it’s not possible we are sent to do something without the resources to do it. Money, prosperity and abundance enable us fulfill our assignments and bring our passions into manifestation.

So, it makes sense that focusing on your passions will open the conduit through which money and abundance can flow into your life to support those assignments.

God doesn’t limit our abundance – we do. God doesn’t say to a tree “if you lose any of those leaves, I’m not giving you more!”

We are here to learn how to co-create, and we cannot do that unless and until we put some conscious effort into our creations. Spiritual progress is just like anything else: you have to start small and build up your willingness, ability, talent and experience so that you can take larger and larger steps into manifestation.

Commitment plays a crucial role in each aspect of our journey – to tithe every time money comes into your life; to set goals & then move outside your comfort zone to achieve them; to forgive those who have hurt you in the past & to work to forgive yourself

So, add living according to your divine purpose. Step with integrity, the universe will open a way.
You are moving from a commitment to survive to a commitment to prosper

A commitment verbalized automatically creates its own support team. Said with faith & conviction, it draws people, ideas, coincidences & synchronicity to you

God is ready when you are & verbalizing is the signal.

“Courage is the commitment to begin, without any guarantee of success.” Goethe

‘Listen’ to the signals spirit is giving you to be a beneficial presence on earth. There are “go’ signals, ‘stop’ signals and ‘wait’ signals. Listen carefully to your guidance.

“Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something. It’s our goal in life to find it and to keep it lit.” Mary Lou Retton

So, there you have the four spiritual laws of prosperity. Try these spiritual laws for just three months and see how quickly your income goes up – and your spiritual fulfillment, too!

GREAT MORNING BELOVED!
The Spiritual Laws of Prosperity

It’s time we look at the Law that many people have an issue with.
We’ve discussed Spiritual Laws of Prosperity #1 & 2, tithing & giving and setting clear-cut goals. Now it’s time for the 3rd Law, Forgiveness and Worthiness.

Could having to do forgiveness work of feelings of unworthiness be what is blocking you around money and abundance – many of us still have some questions of worthiness? Maybe have some forgiveness work to do too.

Worthiness means having value or merit. We often question our worthiness and lack of self-esteem. And that lack can often come when our lives seem to be less than fulfilled. Maybe things just aren’t going our way. Maybe we have money issues or relationship issues, or both!

Often this will tie into the fact that we have blocked our flow of good because we have not forgiven others …or ourselves for perceived or real slights.

Time to do that forgiveness work.

What is forgiveness? By definition, to forgive is to overlook, pardon or excuse a slight, offense, hurt, mistake, crime, or transgression. In the Christian tradition, we are told to forgive others, even unto seventy times seven. Notice that there is no requirement for the supposedly offending party to repent or express remorse. It’s OUR job to forgive, no matter what the other person does or doesn’t do.

Forgiving is actually a highly-evolved position.

When we look at the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament and many similar religious traditions, vengeance is more highly valued than reconciliation. Jesus came to complete the old Law and introduced a new commandment: to love one another. Forgiveness is an integral part of this. After all, almost the last thing Jesus is reported to have said was, “Forgive them; they know not what they do.”

Studies have shown that negative thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors affect our mental and physical health, our success and our self-worth.

Richard Smoley, author and philosopher, suggests: “Think of forgiveness like housecleaning. When clutter builds up in your house, you throw or give away things you no longer need. Forgiveness is essentially the same process. When you carry grievances and grudges, you have a lot of things going on inside that are not doing you any good. In fact, they are poisoning you. Make a point to release grievances and grudges. Getting rid of the mind’s clutter and filth will lead you to greater happiness.”

Now, what does this have to do with prosperity? Well, unforgiveness means you are dwelling on your hurts and offences, instead of being thankful for your blessings and all the parts of your life that make you feel good.
Whatever you focus on expands in your life, (thoughts held in mind produce after their kind) so if you are focused on feeling hurt or worried, the universe assumes you want more of that.

Eric Butterworth reminds us, “It is not the incident but the memory of it that causes the effects of it today. The moment it is dropped from your consciousness, it is gone from the only place it ever existed.”

Divine Spirit is forgiving, so if you stick with unforgiveness, then you are not in alignment with your divine nature. You cannot be at your brightest and best if you are operating at the low frequency of unforgiveness.
Now, forgiveness doesn’t mean that you condone what someone has done. It doesn’t let the other person off the hook of their own conscience. It DOES mean that you no longer intend to carry that grudge or unforgiveness around with you, poisoning your life.

It means you care enough about yourself to smooth out your energy fields and focus on what you want to experience in your life NOW, rather than the hurts and offences of the past.

In fact, forgiveness is more about you than the person you are hurt by or annoyed at. Holding onto unforgiveness is like poking yourself in the eye and wondering why it doesn’t hurt the person you’re not forgiving. There you are, fuming, and the other person doesn’t even notice! How annoying is that?!

And speaking of eyes, remember this? “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

We look at others doing what we are judging instead of minding our own business. Who’s business is it? Byron Katie asks that question…it’s either yours, theirs or God’s. And there are way more things that are not your than are….

Refusing your forgiveness doesn’t actually solve the problem or situation that needs it. It just keeps you stuck in resentment and pain. Meanwhile, that stuckness blocks the flow of prosperity and blessing in your life.
Forgiving someone doesn’t mean that you give them permission to hurt or abuse you; it just means that you aren’t spending any more of your precious time and energy focused on feeling hurt, indignant or wronged. You’re lightening your load by dumping that luggage overboard!

Start by forgiving everyone you have ever put outside your heart, no matter what the reason or how justified the grudge. Imagine that each piece of unforgiveness is like a potato that you are carrying around in a plastic bag. After a week or so, those potatoes are pretty slimy and vile, right? So throw them out! Chuck them through the nearest window right now – with sound effects! (You need actions to engage your right brain and sounds to engage your left brain; actions and sounds together integrate both sides of your brain.)

Make a start by forgiving everyone in your past, in your family, and at work. Forgive God (or your concept of God) for hurting, ignoring, or abandoning you when you didn’t understand any better; forgive yourself for any hurts you have caused to another, or any self-sabotage in your own life. Throw out those rotten potatoes every day and see how much lighter you feel!

And start from where you are. Rev. Gaines suggests, If there is someone you really can’t seem to forgive, try saying, “I forgive you, you sorry SOB!” If you do this every day for a week, the next week it may be easier to simply say, “I forgive you”, the following week you might start to believe it.

Try saying this before bedtime….
For whatever harm I have caused others, may they forgive me.
For whatever harm others have caused me, may I forgive them.
For whatever harm I have caused myself, I forgive myself.

When people hurt you, there are only two reasons: either there is a misunderstanding, or the person is a sociopath. As the latter is relatively rare, chances are good that there is some kind of misunderstanding… and once you stop thinking people set out to hurt you deliberately, those misunderstandings are easier to forgive.

We must realize that no one can hurt us unless we allow them to hurt us.
We must realize that no one can hurt us unless we allow them to hurt us.
Feel betrayed? How are you betraying yourself?

She says:
No one can steal from you unless you are a thief
No one can cheat you unless you are a cheat
No one can gossip about you unless you are a gossip
Think about it…..she uses the time we steal from others complaining or gossiping as example.

The people who do us wrong are our teachers…we can learn valuable spiritual lessons about compassion and understanding from them.

To Clean your inner psyches ask:
1. Whom am I blaming?

2. What am I blaming this person for?

3. Why am I blaming this person?

4. Who hurt me?

5. Why did I allow this person to hurt me?

6. What do I need to forgive, in myself, in my parents, in the government, and in my world?

7. Whom have I hurt?

8. Why did I hurt this person?

9. In what ways do I punish myself and others?

If you have any kind of debt, look for the unforgiveness that is keeping it in place. In her book, Rev. Gaines tells the story of finding out she was liable for her ex-husband’s debts to the tune of $60, 000. After getting over her rage and disbelief, she decided to forgive her way out of debt – and she did. Forgiveness is key to clearing debts.

Try it yourself! Instead of holding onto your grudges, see how quickly you can clear them! Give yourself the challenge of finding out how fast you can free yourself from debt by releasing the chains of unforgiveness. At the very least, you will feel better, lighter, and more able to move forward into your divine abundance.

This is freedom from the bondage of the past. What you have been is not important. All that counts in your life is what you are reaching for, what you are becoming. With forgiveness, we can let go of the past and turn to other, more important issues

Keep in mind, forgiveness is something you do for yourself

Here are her 5 forgiveness techniques:
1. Writing, speaking & listening to forgiveness affirmations help to begin the forgiveness process
2. Every night ask, Have I put anyone outside my heart today? Forgive yourself for the judgment, release the need to control others’ behavior-none of your business
3. At least once a year, do a complete forgiveness inventory of your entire life; go through your entire life checking feelings and memories to see if someone was overlooked to be forgiven.
4. Forgive yourself…share with at least one other person, someone trustworthy and chosen with care, and share with them for your peace of mind. They are only an impartial listener. Just the telling can release it
5. Ask God for help

Forgiveness is about shifting out of our human tendency to wallow in a victim state so that our minds are clear enough to come to realize that we can have what we want…the Universe is asking us what do you want every day.
In the Bible, Solomon asked for an understanding heart…what does that mean? An understanding heart is that you cannot blame anyone for anything….especially yourself! Live in a constant state of forgiveness.

I’ve included an insert with your Bulletin today with affirmations and a Forgiveness Journal. The Journal helps clear what we need to forgive … in ourselves and with others.

Forgiveness Journal:
I am through feeling guilty about:
I am over feeling sorry for myself:
I am no longer going to blame _____________ for:
I am finished with all sadness about:
I forgive my parents for:
I release all suffering about:
Above all, I forgive myself once and for all for:___________________________
It is done!

GREAT MORNING BELOVED!

The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity – A Simple Guide to Unlimited Abundance

Law 2: Setting Clear-cut Goals

Welcome back to our discussion on Rev. Edwene Gaines’ Spiritual Laws of Prosperity.

Last week we reviewed her thoughts on tithing and giving. We were reminded that prosperity is a spiritual law and that everyone is subject to these same spiritual laws.
And according to Rev. Gaines those Spiritual Laws are:
1. Tithing and giving
2. Setting clear goals
3. Forgiveness & worthiness
4. Finding your divine purpose

So, this week, we look at the 2nd Law, Setting Clear Goals.

Rev. Gaines has much to say about setting goals. Once the flow of good is flowing through tithing and giving, setting goals creates a vessel with which to catch that goodness!

Setting goals will require some work on our part. Time set a sided to get to know YOU & what you really want. This can be fun — you get to daydream & let you mind wander, childlike. You get to be creative, to dream big & experience your own divine nature.

As an expression of our Creator, anything is possible, yet we too often stop ourselves short of our dreams with thoughts of: to old, no money, too many mistakes in our past, married, not married, no education….the list goes on & on.

But anything is possible.

Goethe – “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.”
So, do not limit yourself in your imagination of what you are dreaming of in your life.

Ask yourself:
“If money were no object, if time or responsibility or age or education were no concern, what would my life look like? What would the life of my dreams be?”

Be specific. No concerns regarding should or shouldn’t. I like her statement: “When you’re hungry for chocolate cake, you don’t have to give a reason. You just want chocolate cake!”

So here are her guidelines for goal setting:
1. Write down all your desires. Have a notebook & keep it with you. Writing down your ideas will send a powerful message to your subconscious mind that the world is an abundant place & all things are truly possible.

2. Choose your most important desires & list them in order of importance to you, being very specific & clear. (maybe 10 or 12 to start) Then ask “what action could I take that would show I mean business? Then take
it!…sending a clear message to your subconscious & the Universe that you mean business.

3. Consider what changes you might need to make in order to achieve your goals. Ask prayerfully what must change. Be honest & answer with authenticity

4. Choose a date to achieve the goal-one that you genuinely believe can work- this sends a strong statement to you & God. If you set a date that makes sense to you & the goal does not show by the date, you must do another self-apprasal, asking God for guidance as to what needs to be done & then listen carefully.

5. Read your list of goals at least 3 times every AM & PM, giving them the power of affirmations. This keeps them in the forefront of your mind & draws power to it (Thoughts held in mind produce after their kind)

6. Imagine yourself achieving each goal. Visioning works, just look at our athletes…and Kathleen just held a visioning board workshop…perfect timing.

7. Act as if you have already achieved your goals. Believe that you receive. Act as if.

8. Don’t tell others. This is between you & your God. Goal-setting requires a leap of faith that might be criticized by others who would not understand this process.

9. Cross off the goals as they are achieved and add news ones. This is not a one-time activity, but an ongoing process. The Universe is constantly moving – in circulation and congestion…keep the movement going in a positive direction.

10. Remember God’s highest Law is LOVE. God wants what is best for us.

This is not about being materialistic…it’s about being open to the blessings that are ours to claim. So even though you might want to ask for inner peace, that’s something you already have…just be it. Do what needs to be done to be aware of the peace you have. Peace of mind or being more loving is a choice….just do it.

We already have all the wisdom, intelligence, faith, peace and love there is. Just be it.

Rev. Gaines advises going on a 21-day fast from anger, gossip, cheating, and hostility. This will prepare us by cleansing our mind of thoughts that could hinder our success. Only when we have cleared our thoughts can we have only good intentions in our heart and on our mind, can we specify what it is we truly want—and figure out how we can go about accomplishing and achieving those things.

The success of setting clear-cut goals is evident in the experiences shared in her book. Here’s one:
Pg. 85-91

Rev. Gaines shares several other stories about her experiences of goal setting and that of others. It simply is following Jesus’ teaching: “Ask and you shall receive.”

She reminds us of Jesus who could have healed everyone but only healed those who asked…..and they asked with a heart filled with love.

So, remember, you always get what you pray for, maybe not how you expected.
And do your part by tithing on all money,
do your inner work, being self-responsible…
be specific in what you want,
be childlike in your dreaming,
and never lose sight that Love is God’s ultimate Law.
Now, lets dream for a bit…

Great Morning Beloved!

“The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity – A Simple Guide to Unlimited Abundance”

Welcome Back!

I missed my Sunday fill of love and hugs and seeing you all. THAT is a form of prosperity! So, we all are in a ‘hug deficit’! Make sure you get double before you leave today!

We start this morning with some questions…

Do you have as much money as you’d like coming in? Are you surrounded by abundance? Does your whole financial life sing and soar? Are you experiencing a joyful life? Are your relationships a blessing to you?
No?

Most of us would like to have better finances and more joy in our lives. And we know that prosperity is not just how much money we have in our bank account. Abundance covers so much of our lives…it’s not a one item thing.
We are going to embark on a Spiritual Journey of Abundance, because prosperity – abundance—is a spiritual thing.

Next on our journey is a discussion of the spiritual principles behind abundance according to Rev. Edwene Gaines, a Unity minister and considered one of Unity’s prosperity authorities.

Whether you agree or not, you are subject to the same spiritual laws as everyone else. When you align with those laws, your financial life will prosper. If you don’t follow those laws, whether your being out of alignment is conscious or accidental, then your financial blessings are blocked.

God by any name we use, is right here in this moment, within us, surrounding us, embracing us, connecting us, and the more awake and aware we are to God’s presence within and around us, the more joy and abundance we will be able to experience in our own lives. It’s “practicing the presence of God.”

Our challenge and our goal is to accept that that good is here and to give ourselves permission to receive it. According to Rev. Gaines, that “requires us to make some very profound and deep-seated changes within ourselves.”
And change, transformation, is what we are doing here….

In Unity, we believe that the presence and power of God is within each and every one of us. To align with it, to embrace it, Rev. Gaines states we must adhere to these four spiritual laws that she has discovered for herself.
Prosperity is our birthright as a child of God, our divine inheritance. Prosperity is the consciousness of God present everywhere. God wants you to be prosperous.
No matter what we may have done or chosen to believe in the past, it is possible for us all to wake up to our inherent divinity.

What are these spiritual laws? There are four according to Edwene Gaines, author of The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity – A Simple Guide to Unlimited Abundance:
1. Tithing and giving
2. Setting clear goals
3. Forgiveness & worthiness
4. Finding your divine purpose

We’ll discuss the first one today.
Most of us have an idea about what tithing is…
Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the Law in which the Israelites were to give 10 percent of the crops they grew and the livestock they raised to the tabernacle.

In fact, the Old Testament Law required multiple tithes—one for the Levites, the priestly tribe, one for the use of the temple and the feasts, and one for the poor of the land—which would have pushed the total to around 23.3 percent. Some understand the Old Testament tithe as a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites in the sacrificial system.

After the death of Jesus, the New Testament nowhere commands, or even recommends, that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system. The New Testament nowhere designates a percentage of income a person should set aside, but only says gifts should be “in keeping with income”.

With the rise of the Church, tithing became enforced by law to keep the church and its hierarchy going. We have heard of many stories about the forced tithing in history. Actually, I’m not sure that should even be called a tithe!
Now that Church and State are separated, individual churches encourage but cannot legally force their congregations to tithe.

Today, most people look at tithe as giving 10% of any money you receive back to God.

As more people opt for spiritual growth outside organized religion, we tithe to the individuals or organizations who provide us with spiritual nourishment – those who support our spiritual growth or remind us of who we are.
This is what Unity encourages.

I tithe to Big Unity, to Unity of Rehoboth Beach and to other organizations like SmallPaws Bichon Rescue. They each enrich me in different ways.

You can tithe to whatever person or organization IS assisting your spiritual growth. This can be your teacher, doctor, neighbor, child, or even the friendly waitress who reminds you of who you are, as Edwene describes in her book. It can be a different person or organization every time, so long as it’s someone who is assisting your spiritual growth. Of course, we hope you will consider Unity of Rehoboth Beach as part of your tithe.

So, why should we tithe? Simply put, it’s spiritual law. And because it tells the universe that you trust abundance is coming to you.

Tithing engages the universal laws of flow, receiving and giving. It forms a connection between your individual life and the universal flow of abundance.

It opens the valve controlling the flow into your life. It’s a way of giving thanks to God, and we all know that gratitude is a great way to encourage more and larger gifts. Steady tithing automatically brings an equally steady increase in the money flowing into our life. If you don’t have financial flow, tithing is the first thing to do.
Secondly, tithing it tells the universe that you trust prosperity is coming to you. It says, “I have so much coming in that I can easily and cheerfully give 10% back into circulation.” It keeps your focus on prosperity rather than poverty, abundance rather than lack. And of course, whatever you focus on expands in your life. In this respect, tithing opens the valve controlling the flow into your life.

According to the prophet Malachi, it opens the windows of heaven, so that blessings can pour into your life. (Malachi 3:10) Consistent tithing automatically brings an equally steady increase in the money flowing in.

Gaines lays down firm and fast rules for tithing, such as:
charitable giving doesn’t count,
giving 9 percent is not enough,
and if you’re too broke to tithe, you will probably always be broke.

She backs that up with her own story:
With barely a dollar to her name and a young daughter to feed, Edwene Gaines began to do what most people with a steady income would fear: she tithed. She gave ten percent of every single cent that came to her, and what she experienced as a result wasn’t miraculous—at least in her eyes—for she knew that the fact of her income doubling in a matter of six months and then tripling within a year was the work of God.

She says to be consistent with your tithing if you want God to bless you consistently.

Keep in mind that tithing is different from charitable giving. Tithing is giving that first 10% back to God, in appreciation of spiritual teaching.

Charitable giving is a good thing, too, but it comes after tithing, not instead of tithing. When you tithe, you do not get to tell the recipient what to do with that money; it’s up to them.

Finally, tithing doesn’t take the place of paying for goods or services. If you tithe to a teacher who also works on you, you still get to pay their regular fee. Imagine that your car mechanic says something that really touches you spiritually; you still have to pay him for changing the oil in your car!

God created us to live in a relationship of love and trust. By tithing, by giving freely, we express our trust in our Creator. With that, our life is enriched with both inner and outer blessings. When we trust in the Divine, we become channels of these blessings to others

So, we see that tithing is giving in gratitude for a special gift from another person or organization. That gift is a part of your Spiritual Journey. In a way, your soul is getting an opportunity to say thank you for the guidance or Lesson that you received.

We here at Unity thank you all for all that you do to help us maintain and grow. And it is in part to your tithes as well as giving of your time and talents.

So I thank you a thousand times over.

A frog telephoned the Psychic Hotline.
His Personal Psychic Advisor told him, “You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you.”
The frog is thrilled! “This is great! Will I meet her at a party?”
“No,” said his advisor, “in her biology class.”

Great Morning Beloved!

The 4 Spiritual Laws of Prosperity – A Simple Guide to Unlimited Abundance

We start this morning with a question…
Do you have as much money as you’d like coming in? Are you surrounded by abundance? Does your whole financial life sing and soar? Are you experiencing a joyful life?

No?

Most of us would like to have better finances and more joy in our lives. But we know that prosperity is not just how much money you have in your bank account. Abundance covers so much of our lives…it’s not a one item thing.

For the next four weeks, we are going to embark on a Spiritual Journey of Abundance,
because prosperity – abundance—is a spiritual thing.

We are going to discuss the spiritual principles behind abundance according to Rev. Edwene Gaines, a Unity minister and considered one of Unity’s prosperity authorities.

Whether you agree or not, you are subject to the same spiritual laws as everyone else. When you align with those laws, your financial life will prosper. If you don’t follow those laws, whether your being out of alignment is conscious or accidental, then your financial blessings are blocked.

There is a line from the play Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee where a character is described as having always “looked for God too high up and too far away.”

Why do we do that?

God by any name we use, is right here in this moment, within us, surrounding us, embracing us, connecting us, and that the more awake and aware we are to God’s presence within and around us, the more joy, abundance we will be able to experience in our own lives. It’s “practicing the presence of God.”

Our challenge and our goal is to accept that the good that is here and to give ourselves permission to receive it. According to Rev. Gaines, that “requires us to make some very profound and deep-seated changes within ourselves.”
In Unity, we believe that the presence and power of God is within each and every one of us. To align with it, to embrace it, we must adhere to the four spiritual laws.

Prosperity is our birthright as a child of God, our divine inheritance. Prosperity is the consciousness of God present everywhere. God wants you to be prosperous.

No matter what we may have done or chosen to believe in the past, it is possible for us all to wake up to our inherent divinity.

What are these spiritual laws? There are four according to Edwene Gaines, author of The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity:
1. Tithing and giving
2. Setting clear goals
3. Forgiveness & worthiness
4. Finding your divine purpose

We’ll talk briefly this morning about each and then for the next four weeks, go into some detail about each one and what we can do to follow the rules.

So, the first one: Tithing and giving

What is tithing? It’s giving 10% of any money you receive back to God. It was originally given in ancient times to support the priests at the temple. The priests were praying for the whole nation and everyone in it. With the rise of the Church, tithing became enforced by law to keep the church and its hierarchy going.
In Unity we are encouraged to tithe to the individuals or organizations who provide us with spiritual nourishment: those who help us learn about spirit or remind us of who we are.

Why tithe? Firstly, because it’s spiritual law. Secondly, because it tells the universe that you trust abundance is coming to you. Tithing opens the valve controlling the flow into your life. It’s a way of giving thanks to God, and we all know that gratitude is a great way to encourage more and larger gifts. Steady tithing automatically brings an equally steady increase in the money flowing into our life. If you don’t have financial flow, tithing is the first thing to do.

Law Two: Setting clear Goals. Setting concrete and practical goals creates a vessel with which you can catch the new wealth and good fortune that tithing brings you.

Planning is identifying what you desire and committing to the steps required to get you there. If you had endless time and money, what would you be doing with your life? If you were to project yourself into the future, what would you want to be doing in two years? Or five years? Or ten years? Or by the end of your life?

Anyone want to share that dream?

Most people don’t get their assignments, their ‘to-do list’ completed because they don’t plan or follow through on their plans. The universe does everything with precision and order; the more we can do that also, the more easily and completely we create what we desire in our lives.

Planning involves focusing on what you want, thinking about it, talking about it, feeling your way into it, imagining the presence of that goal in your life, and leaning into the results of that goal.
A perfect example is right here…Unity in Delaware!

Law Three: Forgiveness & worthiness. What is forgiveness? Well, you probably know that forgiveness is more about you than the person you are hurt by or annoyed at.

Unforgiveness is like poking yourself in the eye and wondering why it doesn’t hurt the person you’re not forgiving. The problem is that while you are stuck in unforgiveness, you are blocking the flow of prosperity and blessing in your life.

Forgiving someone doesn’t mean that you give them permission to hurt or abuse you; it just means that you aren’t spending any more of your precious time and energy focused on feeling hurt, indignant or wronged.

If we cling to self-defeating feelings such as guilt, shame, blame, hurt, and resentment, we cannot feel truly worthy of having the best God can give us; we cannot–and will not–accept God’s gifts.

Gaines believes that you must forgive yourself for everything you’ve ever done and forgive others for all that they may have done to you. Freeing yourself from judging others is a step-in learning what you truly want out of life.

Law 4: Finding Your Divine Purpose

Most people can’t imagine whether they would begin to do such a thing, but Gaines leads a step-by-step path to finding your own unique strengths and direction in life.

We all have some special gift, some special interest, some special talent, some special way of impacting this world so that it becomes a better place for everyone. Hold fast to your divine purpose prayerfully, persistently, and patiently.

What are you passionate about? What fills you with focus, joy and excitement? That is a great indicator of what you are here to do on this planet.

We each have a specific assignment; there is something only you can do within the overall assignment of the human race to recreate heaven on earth. Obviously, you are going to have the best and most excellent life if you follow your divine blueprint. The way to figure that out is by following your passions. You don’t have to explain them, justify them, or explain them to anyone else: your passions are sufficient in themselves.

Rev Gaines’s Favorite Quote is:
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
~1 Corinthians 2:9

As a child of the Divine Spirit, Energy that encompasses all that is, we must do our part to receive what is available to us.

Our work is to know ourselves as spiritual beings. We are human, of course, yet our essence is spirit — we are heirs of a rich legacy that surpasses any human reckoning.

For most of us, however, it is as if we have inherited a fortune which has been deposited in our name at a bank without our knowledge. Until we discover our birth-right we are disempowered in so many ways!

Ignorance of what and who we truly are makes it seem that we are as orphans without the means to help ourselves in the face of life’s challenges. Once we really comprehend the vastness of our resources, life becomes a whole new experience!

We are no longer ignorant…and our 5th Principle tells us to put feet into our prayers, our desires, our birth-right.

Is your life ready for a transfusion?

It is my hope that these next few weeks will open your hearts to what is yours to do, to receive what is yours…what is waiting for you to open to that reality.

Here’s an affirmation that Charles Fillmore said 4 times a day, one that I have chiming on my phone 4 times a day: “The Spiritual ethers are filled with plenty; prosperity fills the air and I have abundance for every need.”

It’s a good start to our 4week adventure!

Great Morning Beloved!

White Stone Ceremony

Happy New Year again, to you all. I look forward to another year of sharing Unity’s messages to you all and sharing in that spiritual journey that we all are on, whether we realize it or not!

A new year is a time of new beginnings, if we allow it. As you begin this new year, I invite you to remember the Burning Bowl ceremony, in which many of us participated, when we wrote down that which we wish to release, and we literally burned those concepts, those ideas and situations: we let them go up in smoke and set an intention to rid ourselves of them.
That ceremony was and is a profoundly impactful experience. It helps us release that which no longer serves our soul’s journey, which is very freeing. And when we release, we create an empty space, which needs to be filled with something! This morning, I invite you to consider what will fill that empty space.
Both these Ceremonies, the Burning Bowl and the White Stone, can be transformative…as long as we are patient. We are like the seed that needs time to grow and mature. So be patient with yourself as you progress along your Spiritual Journeyand be so with others too.

You were given a white stone when you came in. We will use the stone in the ceremony to identify your “new name” or your guiding word for this new year.

Today is the day when we set our intentions for the rest of the year. I’m not talking about resolutions, because in the White Stone ceremony, we don’t make a list. Usually, we come up with one or two words which represent the changes we wish to make or what we want to see expressing in our experience.
But first, let’s put this in context. The ceremony is inspired by a quote from the Book of Revelation: chapter 2:17. Consider these thoughts: “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: or Meditation
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. 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…. Grace. It nourishes the soul and the body. It benefits the whole being. And we don’t have to earn it! Grace is there for us.

The 2nd promise is a White Stone:
Back 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 the past…some would call nonsense – false limitations, old beliefs, error thinking that have been a prison of sorts. 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 the Bible, we read of many name changes. 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 was transformed to Paul, which means enlightened will. Personal will to 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 in 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, his wife, became Sarah. Jacob was renamed Israel. Simon was renamed Peter.

So, as we awaken to our 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.”
So, I invite you to sit quietly on what you’re being called to in the new year and claim that as your new name.
I invite you NOW to hold your stone in your hands. As you hold it, open your mind to “hearing” your new name.
Allow yourself to ask a question: Who am I or what am I called to be in this coming year? As I let go of my old habits, those 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.
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 pressing out through you.
“Hear” a word or phrase that has significance for you as you begin the New Year. This word can be an overall intention…a way of being in the world…something to grow into…something that allows a deeper Truth to express more fully 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.
It may be a title, it may be something like published author…or clean and sober…or grateful….
Sometimes people will write the word peace, love, or presence, …..take on a new essence of who you are becoming.

Silence…

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.”
When you have received your message, proceed to the back of the room and write your name or word on your Stone. There are several choices of pens and ink for your use.
If nothing comes to you during this ceremony, keep your stone with you and continue to ask. An answer always comes to those who ask.

Please remain quiet as we give space for the messages to come to you.
PAUSE

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.

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.

The new year is a blank page…in your heart and in your life. You choose, with the guidance you receive from within, how that page will be filled.

2019 has unlimited possibilities. In creating a space in our consciousness, we open ourselves up to that unlimited possibility, unlimited potential in this new year. You choose what is written….
Let’s take a moment of grateful silence as we conclude this Ceremony.

Namaste.

Great Morning Beloved!

The Burning Bowl Ceremony & Letter to God

Today is a special day…not only do we get to spend this time together, but we get to release what no longer serves our souls journey and then we get to write a letter to God, expressing what we’d like to see in this new year coming up in a very short time.
The Burning Bowl Ceremony and the Letter to God are special rituals that Unity’s around the world have participated in for many years.
You will be releasing those situations, thoughts, habits, maybe even people that no longer serve your spiritual growth.
I ask that you stay with the ceremony and not try to work ahead, you may miss part of what you are to experience through these ceremonies.
Thank you.

Traditionally, the end of the year is a time of reflection and evaluation. The questions you might want to ask yourself are – what worked for you in 2018? And what would you have liked to handle differently?

We know we can’t change events in the past, even what happened yesterday, but we can reprogram in our mind’s eye how we showed up in any given situation. We can reprogram in our mind’s eye how we thoughtfully and positively responded to a particular a situation. By reprogramming, we can oftentimes, release any emotional energy charges we have regarding particular people or circumstances.

It’s extremely healthy to release and let go before we move forward into the good in store for 2019.

Unity’s 3rd Basic principle is the Law of Mind Action. Thoughts held in mind produce after their kind. Or we create our world by whatever we think, feel, and believe. So, whatever we focus our thoughts upon will show up in our world: think positive, create positive and vice versa. It’s a universal law, like gravity!

Unity’s 4th principle is Prayer and Meditation focus our thoughts on the positive through the use of affirmations and denials.

Many are first drawn to Unity for its terrific teachings surrounding positive thinking and affirmations; however, we can affirm ‘til the cows come home, but if we have underlying beliefs that are in opposition to what we are affirming, we must eliminate the erroneous thoughts before we can truly create the world of our choosing. Releasing, eliminating, emptying, all are basically for releasing the power any negative thoughts can have in our lives.

Emptying ourselves is more than just eliminating negative thinking, it’s denying the power such thoughts have over us and forgiving. We must forgive ourselves and others in order to move forward to our awaiting good.

Energy is the name given to the invisible by basic material stuff of the universe. It collects in subatomic particles, holds particles together to form atoms, holds atoms together to form molecules, and so on up the chain of matter until the collected energy forms minerals, plants and the bodies of animals and humans.
Energy vibrates; it is constantly in motion even when collected in apparently solid, unmoving forms. Everything is made of energy, and everything emits some energy. Our bodies, which are made of energy, emit energy. Even our thoughts and feelings are patterns of energy.

According to the dictionary, an emotion is any departure from the usual calm state of the organism. Since an emotion prepares the human body to release energy through overt action, if the energy is not released, it is trapped with the memory of the event which aroused the emotion.
Our unconscious mind holds these unreleased emotions. It doesn’t matter if the buried events are real or fictitious, the emotional energy that is trapped can be disruptive and can interfere with our lives.

Fortunately, our subconscious minds will respond to our conscious minds, but we need to be firm in our purpose. If our current consciousness wavers, our subconscious mind will rely on old information!

I now invite you to get quiet in mind and body. Let us begin by denying together, “I release all that no longer benefits me.”

Now, let us affirm together, “I empty myself, so that I can accept the good that awaits me.” Let’s say that three times together to impress it upon our sub-consciousness.

Now affirm with me. “God is expressing as me and memories are powerless to disturb or harm me.”

Now declare aloud with me: “I now release all of the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes from 2018, that could hold me back from my good.”

Now let’s move into the silence. Our Ushers will distribute your papers and pens for this Ceremony.

Silently ask what is ready to be lifted from you now. Allow people, places, things, feelings, addictions or patterns of behavior to arise in your conscious mind and as you recognize them, begin to write down a word or phrase to indicate you wish to release the thought associated with the memory.
As you agree to release them, trust that they are being treated perfectly by God as you release them from your human concern, anxiety, fear or resentment. Your Highest Good is intimately connected to the Highest Good of all who are in your life – as you release them from your worry they are released into God’s care at once. With each name, thought, feeling or internal pattern you release, peacefulness grows within you. Allow this process to continue for the next couple of minutes, writing down what you are given to release.

Silence.

And when you are ready move your attention back to this time. Know that letting go begins the moment you put pen to paper. It is your conscious awareness that activates the release of problems, thoughts, and things from your life.

After completing your written list, walk to the back of the room and place your paper, your thoughts and experiences into the cleansing fire.
As you watch the paper burn, visualize your unwanted thoughts rising up in the smoke, being released from you.
Allow yourself to experience whatever you are feeling: fear, anxiety, sadness, loss, gratitude. Let the feelings lift as the fire consumes your paper.
Visualize the Smoke Taking Your Thoughts away to the God of your understanding.

The core of this ritual is about a shift in consciousness, being still, becoming aware, naming what you are releasing, and letting it go—then standing in faith for what is next. There is surrender, an acknowledgment that this problem is bigger than me. So, I let go and let God.

After returning to your seat, sit quietly for a few moments and let the process of releasing complete itself.

Let’s say this affirmation together:
Today I release what I don’t want. I let go and let God do the work in this sacred experience. In this, I am healed and renewed. I open my heart to love, and I am blessed with peace, joy, and harmony.

Then when you are ready, go into the Silence again and prepare to write your Letter, expressing what you would like to see happen in the new year. What issues need resolved? What steps forward are you contemplating?
Your letter to God would talk about these things that your Soul is urging you forward to accomplish. Ask God to assist you in these steps of your journey.

Visualize what you want to experience in life and how you want it to take shape.
Write your intentions on your paper.

When you have completed that, fold it and place it in your envelope, address it to yourself. We will mail it early summer as a reminder what your intentions were and maybe give you a little boost.
Please remain quiet while everyone completes their Letters.

We have experienced together these Ceremonies of releasing and of anticipation…releasing the old and looking forward to the new.
Happy New Year everyone…may it be Blessed with peace and Love.