“Human transformation is an internal shift that brings us in alignment with our highest potential. – Both systematic and miraculous, there’s no timeline on inner transformation. It can happen in an instant, through a lifetime of development – or, more commonly, through both.” 
~ Allaya Cooks-Campbell ~

~ ~ ~ ~

There is a Mystery that moves throughout all life. Scientists research the patterns of this Universal Phenomenon; philosophers ponder the hidden meaning that It imparts; and mystics know, without knowing how they know, the language of the soul. 

 There is a Presence of Intuitive Energy that causes humans to evolve through their own self-will. The same Mystical Intelligence ignites the instinctive nature of our animal friends. This One is alive in every plant and in every stone. The Great Something, called by many names, is the Power that governs the stars, moons, planets, and all of the sky-filled Light. Its Movement courses through every drop of water and every grain of sand. There’s not a spot where God is not. 

In quiet moments, we may each feel and realize the awesomeness of Spirit as our very own life; and, our soul may spontaneously begin to sing, “How Great Thou Art.”   Otherwise, it is easy for the implication of this profound cosmic reality to slip into the background of our consciousness as we deal with the comings and goings of the experiences we encounter most of our hours and days. This is not criticism, but rather an observation. 

It takes courage, determination, and unwavering faith to undertake a way of life that utilizes our inherent creative nature to make choices that are in alignment with the highest good we can imagine for ourselves and for our neighbors as well.

This does not suggest that manifesting a beautiful home, loving relationships, the ideal job, or the adventure of traveling is not wise. Of course, it is. However, it is a consciousness of Beauty, represented by a place of Peace; or a consciousness of Love represented by harmonious and fulfilling relationships that bring true happiness. In other words, the implication here is to practice aligning one’s self with the nature of the Origin, i.e., The First Cause that is sure to yield the true desire of the heart. A consciousness of the essence of all things makes a difference.

The difference that it makes is, there’s no anxiety about how things will work out; or if you have other people’s approval; or will there be enough to do what is mine to do; or, will there be a relapse; or if I am loved; or is success mine; or am I safe? Free of those doubts and worries, there is a blessed assurance, a sense of security that, like the lilies of the field, we neither spin nor toil. 

The good news is, we may begin anew at any moment in time, creating the desires of the heart. Ancient wisdom teaches, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” ~ Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Remember that prayer is a recognition of the Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent Life Force Living within you, i.e., “the highest God and the innermost God is one God.”

---

This Weeks Affirmation

“Every day I make choices that are in alignment with the highest good I can imagine for all.”

By Mary Jane LaBonte

Originally posted September 2022

“We are one. Everything in the universe is within you. Everything that you want, you already are.”
~ Rumi ~

“The spirit of God dwells in the inner man with power and might. The outer man reflects this Spirit insofar as the intellect allows it to come forth into expression.”
~ Ernest Holmes ~

“I determine to live the outer life in the inner sanctuary.”
~ Howard Thurman ~

“Let the natural creative process flow as you roll up your sleeves and allow your inner genius to show itself.”
~ Reverend Scott Awbrey ~

There is a cosmic dance that is always taking place between the human and the divine. These two aspects of one’s life are forever giving and receiving creative energy. Learning the rhythm and trusting the flow of this way of being in the world is most effective when it is an intentional quest.

The human aspect of oneself imagines a myriad of “things” that represent happiness in the physical world. So, it stands to reason “what” we really want is happiness in the form of an object. This way we can see it, hear it, taste it, touch it, and smell it. The practice and art of visualization cause the thing you desire to become a mold through which the essence of happiness may flow.

The divine aspect of oneself, i.e., the presence of The Indwelling God (our highest idea of good) is really the happiness we are seeking to express. Is it not the Love, Peace, Harmony, Wisdom, Beauty, Wholeness, and the Joy of God, showing up as the job, car, lover, vacation, home, or whatever, that we envision as ours? Otherwise, the person, place, or thing, without these qualities, is devoid of happiness. Practicing the art of Life Visioning provides an awareness of the essence of God flowing through all.

Once we acknowledge “what” it is we want to experience in the world, Divine Intelligence knows “how” to let it be so. In this state of unity, there is no need to beg, petition, plead, or bargain since we realize that it is our own inherent nature responding to itself.  The seeming two are One Energy, dancing between the visible and the invisible. 

The philosophy of The Science of Mind tells us to be specific when praying. It suggests we state exactly what it is that our heart longs for. At the same time, we are cautioned not to outline or say how the blessing is to come about. Otherwise, we unintentionally place a limitation on that which has infinite possibilities.

This whole premise is based on complete faith and trust in our relationship with One. In other words, when “what” you desire is coupled with an awareness that the good you are seeking is already yours, you then move forward with confidence, affirming the Truth of your Being and letting the creative power of God that knows “how” … to flow in the direction of your dreams. Simply put: you (conscious mind) know what and God (Invisible Power) knows how.

And so, it is!

---

This Weeks Affirmation

“I envision my desires for good, and Spirit brings them forth.”

Angela “Chris” Beam

Originally posted 5/09/2023

It was like a dream. There I was, sitting on the edge of a cliff with legs dangling over, gazing at the ocean that stretched before me. It was mesmerizing. And “just think,” I told myself, “this awesome scene is less than a five-minute walk from my front door.”

My thoughts continued to drift to the surface of my consciousness, saying, “This is a long way from Ensign Avenue.” Ensign Avenue is the street where I resided for the first 12 years of my life. A child does a lot of imagining in their first 12 years, or at least I did. 

I unconsciously gave Creative Mind a very
clear picture of what I imagined for my life.

I was in the first or second grade when I read, “If I Were Going.” I traveled to different countries and learned about other cultures through the pages of this primer. My young mind carved lasting impressions about a more expanded world; one far beyond the short block that made up Ensign Avenue.

My best friend and I spent our summer days playing “house;” playing “school;” and playing “office.”  The only unspoken rule for these games was to use our imagination and “act out” those unlimited possibilities. Now, as I reflect back to those days, I clearly see how certain values and beliefs were established regarding family, education, and career during this play time.

Unconscious opinions, beliefs, and expectations,
both positive and negative, were born.

Death, dying, war, peace, sickness, accidents, and the Cleveland Indians winning the world series were all part of my formative years. All this took place while under the influence of parents who were part of the great migration of the early 1900’s; a time when many African Americans fled the deep south and moved north, seeking “the warmth of other suns.¹”

It was my last year on Ensign Avenue when everything changed. Most of all I remember my best friend’s birthday party. I was not invited. She and I acknowledged we would go to different schools in the fall, even though we lived on the same street. We never spoke about why this was happening, although we knew. The thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and the imaginations of people, long before either of us were born, had a direct impact on our lives. We inherited those tendencies. We suppressed them. As I reflect on that moment of awakening at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, I ponder the words of Kalil Gibran:  “If this is my day of harvest, in what fields have I sowed the seed and in what unremembered seasons.²”

That which I identify as “this present moment” has shown up in different guises. Sometimes the present moment is clothed in nature’s beauty and love. Sometimes “the present moment” looks like storms of fear and doubt. Sometimes “the present moment” appears as a geographic change. Whatever my experience, it is the movement in consciousness, made manifest as the eternal now, expressing as I believed it would. 

“I put away childish things. ³”

Ensign Avenue is my metaphor for a state of consciousness that is unaware of its own power of thoughts, feelings, and imaginings. In its innocence it embraces whatever comes to mind. It plays the same game tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow until it eventually shows up as the “present moment” of my experience. 

I now know The Creative Law of Mind does not make distinctions between race, age, or gender, any more than it does the past, present, or future. It simply responds to that which is believed and deeply felt.

From a physical perspective, I have moved a long way from Ensign Avenue. I now consciously direct the energy of my intentions by letting my words, silent and audible, match my soul’s sincere desire. 

1.  The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
2.  The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran 
3.  The Bible: 1 Corinthians 13:11

---

This Week’s Affirmation

I am one with Spirit. I direct the Law of Creative Mind to manifest my desired experience for good, ignited by my faith and emotion.

By Angela “Chris” Beam

Originally posted 02/2021

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
~ Proverbs 4:7 ~

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
~ John 8:32 ~

“Repeating an affirmation is leading the mind to that state of consciousness where it accepts that which it wishes to believe.”
~ The Science of Mind, page 575.6 ~

“… Latch on to the affirmative”
~ “Accentuate the Positive” by Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer, Lyricists~

The Apostle Paul tells us to pray without ceasing. When properly understood, affirmations are a form of prayer. They are powerful tools of enlightenment that are followed by accepting the ever-prevailing Truth in all things. In other words, to attain successful living, our speech needs to be on the affirmative side of life, all the time.

Nonetheless, affirmations are simply words. Their value depends on the conscious realization of the far-reaching implication they imply. The disengaged user, repeating the words by rote, exercises blind faith, as if some magic power is ignited by doing so. Now, of course blind faith is better than no faith at all. Eventually, one may hear the words being said and realize we each have the creative gift of prophecy. 

However, the one who understands there is a Spiritual Law operating in the universe that out-pictures in our world of effects, pierces the veil that suggest otherwise. Effective prayer is always based on faith and acceptance of the inevitability of Spiritual Truth.

This does not imply that the facts are not real experiences, putting our heads in the sand, ignoring our environment. It does imply that we are saved from the belief in hopelessness, fear, anxiety, and stress that out-picture as trauma. 

We no longer have a need to beg, plead, and bargain a God outside ourselves. Instead, we claim and accept the inherent good that is our very nature. We can say with confidence, Peace of mind is mine, right here and right now. Having made such a statement, we may now step into that reality by allowing the feeling of peace to prevail in everything we think, say, and do.

Affirmative prayer provides an avenue through which possibility thinking is ignited. Affirmative prayer can be likened to fertilizer. It conditions the mind to receive divine ideas and guidance that leads us into right action. It reveals to us that which is ours to do that assists in the unfoldment of the good we seek. Our faith-filled affirmations can be likened to the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. 

Yes, the power is within each one of us to direct the Law of Mind in the direction of our desired good. 

Affirmative prayer is an announcement of Truth. Truth is always in the present moment . . . regardless of present circumstances. No wonder the Master Teacher, Jesus, taught, “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” Therefore, our statements of Truth are always in the present tense. Let us pray, aware that Love, Peace, Harmony, Wisdom, Joy, Beauty and Omnipresent Good is an eternal Reality here and now. And so it is!

---

This Weeks Affirmation

“I am a channel of God’s loving-kindness.”
The Upper Room Books Website

Originally posted 10/24/23

“Freely you have received; freely give.” 
~ Matthew 10:8 ~

~ ~ ~ ~

“Find me one person who is for something and against nothing, who is redeemed enough not to condemn others out of the burden of his soul, and I will find another savior, another Jesus, and an exalted human being.”
~ Ernest Holmes, Sermon by the Sea ~

~ ~ ~ ~

The possibility of such a one that Holmes describes in the above quote is synonymous with the possibility of a world that works for everyone. At least, that is my point of view. It seems easy enough to affirm what I am “for.” For example, like St. Francis of Assisi, I am for peace. I am for love where there is hatred; I am for pardon where there is injury; I am for faith where there is doubt; I am for hope where there is despair; I am for light where there is darkness; and I am for joy where there is sadness. 

Even though my high ideal is to be a conscious place and a space through which The Divine is constantly flowing through me, I seem to forget to pardon when the injury is the ignorance of hatred, despair, fear, and whatever seems to contradict what I am for. 

Howard Thurman writes about the emotional reaction that rises up in opposition or against my values, as follows: “Often there are good and sufficient reasons for exercising what seems a clean, direct resentment. Again and again, I find it hard to hold in check the sharp retort, the biting comeback when it seems that someone has done violence to my self-respect and decent regard. How natural it seems to give as good as I get, to take nothing lying down, to announce to all and sundry in a thousand ways that no one can run over me and get away with it.”

Such a response is indicative that I have momentarily forgotten that what I am for and who I am … are one and the same. Who I am can never be hurt, harmed, or disappointed. My inherent nature of peace, love, light, and joy are the changeless and immutable qualities of the divine within me. In this awakened state, I begin the forgiveness process as I release and let go of all sense of separation that clouds the Truth about me and about my fellow earth-travelers.

The healing modality of forgiveness has nothing to do with excusing negative behavior or fixing relationships. It is about acknowledging the Truth of Being; that God freely gives to everyone. God’s grace is for giving love, beauty, peace, joy, harmony, and wisdom to the world. Such a realization is like a reset button that aligns us, once more, with the Truth; and letting God be God through all. 

The following chant, whose author is unknown to me, keeps singing in my mind.

“We are One!
We are One!
In the Spirit, we are One!
Let your Love flow,
So, the world will know,
We are One in Love!”

In silent meditation, I listen for the still small voice that tells me what is mine to do that contributes to a world that works for everyone. 

---

This Weeks Affirmation

I now allow Love to flow through me and direct my thoughts and actions in every way.

Angela “Chris” Beam

Originally posted on 8/08/23