(Repost)

“To be well, happy, and to express freedom, is in accord with Divine Law and Wisdom.”
~The Science of Mind, pg. 46.3~

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“The greatest battle we face as human beings is the battle to protect our true selves from the self the world wants us to become.”
~ E. E.  Cummings ~

Yes, it seems that time and time again, we as human beings are prone to a mindset that says, ‘there is some place other than where I am; some time other than now; and some individual other than me who determines my happiness.’ This mindset tends to blame whatever is trending in the world at the time; be it the weather, the economy, religion, science, politics, social traditions, or another’s choice that is incongruent with our own.

Until we deliberately change our thinking through revelation or treatment, we are subject to the mental dis-ease of world-thought that believes in separation; thus, causing doubt and fear.  Mary Baker Eddy teaches us to “Stand porter at the door of thought.”  Otherwise, we are subject to the random thoughts and beliefs of the collective consciousness with which we (mostly unconsciously) resonate.  

Although the intellect of the enlightened ones understands this; no one is exempt from the consequences of downward gazing. It is in times when the mind is entangled with illusion and delusion that the wisdom of the ages seems to elude reasoning. The icky feeling that accompanies the influence of erroneous thinking is a dreaded experience. In such moments of confusion, one’s self-talk engages in the kind of self-criticism that says things like: ‘I should, I’m not, I can’t,’ etc.  In such moments one even questions the validity of concepts they previously accepted as true, saying, “this stuff doesn’t work.”

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The good news is, the enlightened ones, even through the fog, remember the infallibility of Spiritual Principle. 

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“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this… you haven’t.”
~ Thomas Alva Edison ~

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The battle that Cummings references is the conscious effort to protect us from slipping into downward gazing. The process has sometimes been described as “the exact struggle of the soul,” (Howard Thurman) or one could say it’s like wrestling with an angel of Light and determining: “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:26).

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“If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.”
~ Rev. Robert Schuller ~

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As we continue to push (Pray Until Something Happens) through the darkness, we align ourselves with the miracle-working attributes of Peace, Harmony, Love, Wisdom. We hear the inner voice say, “The place where you are standing is holy ground.” We anchor our consciousness in this creative medium. Here, we feel and sense the Presence and Power of the One Source. We are lifted into a vibration of happiness.

With renewed faith, time and time again we surrender to the Holy Spirit, letting God be God in, through, and as our health, prosperity, and good will towards all. We are so blessed!

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This Weeks Affirmation

“I know Peace, Harmony, Love, Wisdom, and Joy are the Divine Presence within me.”

Mary Jane LaBonte

(REPOST)

“Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals.
You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hopes, as old as your despair.“
~ Ernest Holmes, Living The Science of Mind, p177 ~

The above quote reminds me of the many changes one moves through over the years; i.e., the various phases of the “living process.” There are certainly mental, emotional, and physical changes that one experiences, as well as one’s viewpoint about spirituality.  For example, one may come to realize that there is an ever-present Presence that guides us through it all. This Indwelling Spirit is the same yesterday, today, and is the promise for tomorrow. It is the still small voice of Spirit that whispers to the inclined ear, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NIV)

From this perspective, I see the journey of life forever unfolding into its greater-yet-to-be. For example, the infant, while completely dependent upon its guardians, gains a confidence that its newly developed muscles are strong enough to crawl. Soon, the inquisitive toddler is reaching for objects that were formerly beyond its reach. The adolescent tests its independence; i.e., the ability to choose and make decisions about the course of its personal life. The adult is a teacher, a caregiver, who lives and shares the knowledge that each phase has imparted.  “No person is a finished thing, regardless of how paralyzed their image might be. Each one of us is in a state of perennial formation. Inside each journey, a secret harvesting is at work.” (John O’Donohue) 

Moving through these processes is not free of challenges. What is called “growing pains” are present at every turn. Also, another important point is, what we learn at each phase in life is applicable to all phases of life, having nothing to do with the number of years lived on the planet. In fact, these life processes repeat themselves over and over. We are forever moving through infancy to adulthood at every new juncture on the path. Our work is to apply our knowledge to whatever experience we are encountering at any particular time.

So often we describe ourselves and others as young, old, middle-aged, aging, elderly, etc. While that may be a way in which to assess the body with its biological nature which is always in flux, it overlooks the unchanging inherent nature that is always with us. Our faith in the Indwelling Spirit is never limited by age. It is never too late, nor too soon to express the soul’s sincere desire. It is confidence that empowers us to become that which we desire to see in the world. ~ As we unleash the vision that is forever reaching for objects that denote peace, harmony, love, and joy in our lives, the Ageless Spirit is ignited, through which, all things are possible. ~ It is through the practice and power of prayer and meditation that we come to realize our ability to choose the qualities of Spirit that enhance our lives. ~ It is while embracing the Truth of Being as our very own Self, that we become a beneficial presence on earth, one who lives and shares the Light of Wisdom with all. And, so it is!

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This Weeks Affirmation

I am FOREVER ageless and evergreen.

Keith Childers

(Repost)

“A quest is a mission, a task, an adventure, a desire—it sets us down a road which grows our meaning for purpose in life … Whatever your reason is, a quest is something we cannot ignore.

It hits our core and makes us feel like we must do this no matter what obstacles we will endure to get through it.”  ~ Brianna Dawes, Design Artist ~

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I love talking about and teaching about the Law of Life; that aspect of God that materializes into the exact measure of what each individual believes and accepts to be so. I love exploring, discovering, and applying Universal Principles to specific areas of life and bearing witness to the inevitable outcome.

It amazes me that The Word of God is embedded within my very own nature; a creative force within me that is unlimited in its ability to manifest the people, places, and things I have imagined. I am inspired when I realize my Oneness with Infinite Potential.

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Through trial and error, you may find, just as I have, that it is one thing to talk about the awesome nature of the One Spirit permeating eternity; it is quite another to be about it… all the time. Therefore, being mindful is essential. Remember, the things we desire for ourselves, when aligned with the nature of God, include the highest good for all concerned. Otherwise, the fruit born of limited, selfish thinking, may yield a brief period of satisfaction before it becomes clear that the indwelling Word of God, being infinite, applies to all people.

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Learning to take responsibility for missing the mark and for the consequences that follow, actually builds faith in the Law. Also, when we learn to quickly forgive ourselves for not knowing what we didn’t know; the sooner we become a clear, conscious conduit, open and receptive to express the highest good imaginable for ourselves and for all of humanity.

Otherwise, if we linger too long in a mindset of “I shoulda-woulda-coulda”, letting guilt and self-loathing fester, the longer the sincere desires of the heart are hidden from view.

I have noticed that when the idea of “me” in the midst of the “all” begins to expand, I envision myself moving from ego-consciousness that believes it is a separate entity in the world and moving towards the embryonic Christ-consciousness that embraces Oneness as Its reality.

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Even in this awakened state of mind, I am nonetheless challenged when I tune into the news of the day. One channel depicts my brothers and sisters participating in a turmoil of adversity. Other channels show people caring for the hospitalized; putting out fires; providing for the poor; teaching the children; defending the weak; and, scientists researching greater possibilities for life. I am aware of environmentalists; animal advocates; entertainers; and on and on. No matter what frequency I am attuned, I see the logical outcome of the One Law that has received the direct impress of the individual word. 

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In the high holy moments of meditation, while immersed in God consciousness, I feel the transforming power of Perpetual Grace pouring over me, saturating my entire being with Its Self.   In the stillness and serenity of the moment, my Higher Self whispers to me that which is mine to do, and the quest begins.

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This Week’s Affirmation

I am one with unlimited creativity,
always knowing that there is so much more creativity within me just ready to be uncovered.

Keith Childers

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  
There are different kinds of working,
but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)

The holy communion that takes place in the secret place of the Most High is First Cause. It is the origin of everything that is experienced in the world. Yes, the experiences and conditions we encounter are the effect or the logical outcome of who we believe we are. For example, when we self-identify with what we do for a living; our ethnicity; our gender; our education; and our various titles; i.e., parent, spouse, singer, politician, accountant, artist, etc., we are actually describing how we experience ourselves in the world with its limitations. On the other hand, when we identify with the essence of who we are, such as peace, harmony, love, wisdom, joy, and abundance, etc., we are at once aligned with the limitless and unchanging nature within us all. Both aspects express Love and Law. One is the absolute, one is the relative.

The holy communion that takes place in the secret place of the Most High is meditation. It is a dedicated time when one’s self is alone with one’s Self. The objective of this spiritual practice is to become self-emptied and God-filled. It is here that the absolute and the relative merge as one. It is at this still point, immersed in the silence of pure essence, that the all-powerful, creative force of I AM-awareness conceives and affirms the beginning of something new and wonderful.

When the collective experience of humanity seems overpowering, we must pause, remember, and practice these universal principles as taught in the Science of Mind. First, we must embody the attributes of Spirit that are always with us. Second, we must activate these attributes which are our true identity. Third, we must, individually, begin to do what is ours to do. In so doing, we contribute to the creation of a world that works for everyone. Otherwise, as Ernest Holmes tells us, “To desert the truth in the hour of need is to prove that we do not know the truth.” 

Martin Luther King Jr. and Howard Thurman are examples of how, by means of their individual gifts, together accomplished a common goal. “As the human gave way to the divine” these men identified with the peace at the core of their being. Therefore, the essence of peace was infused in all they set forth to do. While civil/human rights for all people were their common mission, their individual approach was according to the unique gift they each expressed.

Yes, each one of us is endowed with the gifts of the Spirit. They are the healing presence of Love, Light, Peace, Joy, Harmony, Beauty, Wisdom, and Abundance. We bless the world when we offer the essence of our True Self.

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This Weeks Affirmation

“…feelings of harmony, peace, and love flow through me like a river, elevating my consciousness to a new and higher level of acceptance and unity.”

~ Ernest Holmes, 365 Science of Mind, p. 44.4 ~

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
~ 1 Corinthians 3:16 ~

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“When we let the love that is within us go out to the God who is in all people and the Divine Presence that is in all things, then we are loving God with all our heart and with all our soul and mind, because we are recognizing that the Spirit within us is the same Spirit that we meet in others. This is loving our neighbors as ourselves.”
~ 365 Science of Mind, p. 34.1 ~

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It’s interesting to observe how two people can witness the same event and perceive them completely different. Yes, we are always projecting onto the screen of life that which our mind says is true, whether real or imagined. Therefore, it seems reasonable to say that our experiences of life are a reflection of the sum total of all we believe and accept as true, coupled with subjective memories and personal experiences that have influenced our perceptions of what’s so. Our earthly encounters can be traced back to a mindset we have embodied. In other words, it is our “consciousness” that manifests as the conditions we experience.

Ancient Wisdom explains the phenomenon this way: “It is done unto you as you believe.” New Thought agrees, saying: “What you are looking at, you are looking with.” Yes, there is an Invisible Force within us that always responds by corresponding to our thoughts and related feelings. The metaphysician, studying the Nature of Being, begins to realize that the universal Law, or Principle, operating in our lives is constantly revealing the unity of mind and matter, of spirit and body.

Just as “…the scientist knows that he did not create the laws that he uses or the principles that he employs,” the seeker of Truth, anchored in faith, makes conscious and specific use of the Invisible/Unlimited Principle of Good. And, just as “…every human aberration is a spiritual aspiration trying to break through,” the hopeful moves forward, asserting that lack seeks Abundance; fear seeks Love; discord seeks Harmony; otherness seeks Oneness; discord seeks Peace; sorrow seeks Joy; and, ignorance seeks Wisdom.

As the lesser viewpoint begins to fade away, the greater viewpoint is the possibility we now see. As our mind becomes flooded with God-Consciousness, we begin to claim and accept the qualities of God- as our very own nature and the nature of everyone we encounter. Soon we begin to hear the wisdom of the ages declare, “That which is within you is greater than that which is in the world.”

It is at this point of Self-realization that our conscious journey of awakening begins again. It is in this moment that we make a new commitment to the spiritual practices that support us in staying awake, grounded, and resilient. In so doing, we begin to actualize that which is ours to do.

“Imagine all the people, sharing all the world.”

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This Weeks Affirmation

“I see everyone in their highest light and every event from its highest point of view.”

https://bmindful.com/affirmations/4146