(Revisited)

“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~

The concept of Oneness is often camouflaged with concepts of separation and division. I am reminded of the story of The Blind Men and the Elephant. Since none of the men had actually seen an elephant, their description of the animal was based on what each one perceived when touching one part of the enormous body. Depending on each man’s experience, the elephant was described as a wall, spear, snake, tree, rope, or fan. They argued and disagreed with each other’s findings.

Could it be, just like blind men, humanity has never seen the All-ness of Unity and Oneness? Perhaps our point of view, while it may be true, is only one aspect of unity, which is the Love of God expressing. What if the collective wisdom of humanity, motivated by Love, were the governing power of our lives here on earth? 

Yet, Kahlil Gibran tells us that Love cries as well as It laughs. Otherwise, when feelings are suppressed or denied while using spiritual platitudes to cope, we may inadvertently become by-standers of life, not participants. In other words, a statement of truth, without its corresponding action, is what the Apostle Paul referenced, saying, “Faith without works is dead.”

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Feelings of deep sadness, grief, and heavy hearts cannot be ignored. These emotions fill the air and affect us all to some degree. While it takes courage and strength to sit with uncomfortable feelings; however, in so doing they will, in time, reveal their secrets, letting us know what is ours to do. (“Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted”).

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It was Robert Browning who perceived, “All’s love, yet all’s law.” Ernest Holmes goes on to say, “Love points the way, and law makes the way possible.” The Apostle Paul describes to us the nature of love, saying, ^“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

I invite you to think on these things.

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This Week’s Affirmation

“The inner work that I do directly benefits the people around me, too.”

https://healingbrave.com/blogs/all/affirmations-feeling-your-feelings

“It is not for you to change the externals. You are to know what is true. This is your whole business in life.
~Knowledge of Truth is its own demonstration.~
All things are coming to the world by its knowledge of Truth.”
~ Emma Curtis Hopkins ~

“Having recognized the Divine Presence as my guiding star of hope, assurance, and certainty, I also recognize the Universal Law of Mind as my servant.”
~ 365 Science of Mind, p. 317.1 ~

“Concerning the works of my hands, command thou me.”
~ Isaiah 45:11 ~

For some, prayer means telling God our problems and asking God to change certain conditions or make something new happen on our behalf. For the most part, it seems the way we pray is a habit; and, ‘old habits die hard.’ In order to establish a new way of praying, and attain the desires of the heart, it is essential to commit to a daily practice that cultivates a consciousness that affirms the answer to prayer is the prayer itself.

In his popular book, 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, Stephen Covey tells us to always “Begin with the End in Mind.” For me this is another way of saying, you have the power to speak your word into manifestation by shifting your point of view from hoping to realizing the good you seek. It clarifies the scripture that says, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God.” It is also written, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mystics throughout the ages have taught this same wisdom. Plato is attributed to saying, “What thou seest, that thou beest;” and Jesus taught that true seeing leads to true being. In other words, God is a consciousness of Omnipresent Good. When this Presence is recognized as the Source of all we seek . . . the heart’s desire is fulfilled.

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When the silent meditations of my heart elevate my consciousness to the point of view that I see there is only one life, it matters not whether the prayer is for myself or another. My prayer becomes an affirmation of what I believe/know is the natural state of wholeness infused in all beings. From this point of view and perspective, I do not beg or plead to God to change or make something happen. Instead, I pray about the true nature which is the eternal birthright infused in all beings.

The moment I reach a realization about the unchanging nature of every living being, I am aligned with God, the word of Truth, the First Cause of all creation. Once I am in alignment with the Word of God which is always Love, Peace, Harmony, Joy, Wisdom, Abundance, Health, and Beauty; I see as God sees. In other words, what I am looking at, I’m looking with. My affirmation of Truth is my ask, or my command. It is my prayer. So, I begin by knowing the truth about myself. . . unifying with the Presence in whom I live, move, and have my being. What I know to be the Truth, reveals Itself in a practical, tangible way.

This form of prayer is called Scientific Prayer, Affirmative Prayer, or Spiritual Mind Treatment. It heals the mind of erroneous beliefs about one’s self. It causes the mind to imagine wholeness as the inevitable manifestation of the body temple, of relationships, of finances, of careers, or whatsoever things you may desire. There is a realization that a point of view of Love is the substance that forms it all.

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This Week’s Affirmation

“Today, I endeavor to see Divine Love reflected in everyone and everything.”

~ Science of Mind 365, p.332.2 ~

(Revisited)
Have you ever noticed that your thoughts sometimes get caught up in a cycle where you are thinking the same thing over and over, until you finally catch yourself, and purposely move into the present moment? Or does that just happen to me? 

Wikipedia states, “A habit is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously; a more or less fixed way of thinking, willing, or feeling acquired through previous repetition of a mental experience.” 

What I have noticed is, much of my thinking is habit. In other words, I think without thinking about what I am thinking about. Some of my habit-thinking is a result of embodying certain spiritual principles; and, without effort, those thoughts provide an avenue through which God’s grace flows unimpeded. The more grace I experience, the more I affirm: “I live by Grace.” Through repetition, I unknowingly solidify that habit of thinking.

On the other hand, I also experience habit-thinking that is out of alignment with what I know to be true. There are times I ask myself, ‘Is that what you really want to be thinking? – Is that really what you believe?’ It is always surprising when I discover that what I believe, think, say, and do are not always in agreement. 

When I am awake, and ask myself: ‘Where did that thought come from?’, I know it is time to deliberately take on the task of defining what I really believe about what I am saying to myself; and to begin cultivating the habit of thinking the thoughts I truly believe. This task requires the commitment and resolve to push through opposing thoughts until there is a breakthrough in consciousness.

Howard Thurman refers to this task as, “the exact struggle of the soul.” In fact, mystics of all time have acknowledged this point on the journey of enlightenment that truth seekers encounter. Stories like Jacob wresting with the angel come to mind.  It says that he wrestled all night and said to the angel – “I will not loose you until you bless me.”

Old habits die hard, and unchecked patterns of thinking may very well sabotage our experience with loved ones; with our health; with our careers; with our finances, and so on. After all, our subjective thoughts eventually become the experiences of our lives. Paul of the bible expressed his frustration that resulted from the cross-currents of habitual thinking, saying, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” 

P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens) Prayer is the avenue through which our beliefs are birthed into the world. it is important to stay in the consciousness of the ever-present Presence of Truth that delivers that moment of fulfillment. Remember to breathe-in the Divine One, thus staying in the flow of the here and now, while consciously and deliberately affirming the Truth you know to be so. Do not fall asleep, and by so doing, let the habitual thoughts of the subconscious take over.  Just breathe, and push through any limited self-talk, until you can say with Michelangelo, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” 

The breakthrough to Divine consciousness is a demonstration of a mind stayed on Truth. Yes, the key is to pray until something happens. PUSH!

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This Week’s Affirmation

“I consciously develop the habit of practicing the Presence daily and allow Spirit to flow through me in everything I think, say, and do.”

By Angela  “Chris” Beam

(REVISITED)

In 1984, I resigned my job of 29 years; said good-bye to friends and family; and, with great aspirations and expectations, moved from Cleveland, OH, my home since birth, to Los Angeles, CA.  My sole purpose for this major move was, to surround myself with those who would support my further growth in spiritual understanding, to the end that I would eventually support others on their path.  However noble these undertakings were; nonetheless, my faith and conviction were challenged as I moved forward in this endeavor. 

The mind chatter that taunted me went something like, “if it doesn’t work out, you can always…;” while another aspect of myself, affirmed, “The Presence of Perfection, Love, and Wisdom guides the direction of my life.” This inner conflict between old thought patterns and my conscious awareness continued until there was no longer any power given to thoughts of limitation. 

I have discovered and proved, to myself, that whenever I am awake and aware of my true nature, my self-talk shifts from “prepare for the worse and hope for the best” to describing “the best-case scenario.”  I notice that whenever I am determined to stay awake and anchored in truth principles, the vision that pulls me is always greater than the shadows that taunt me. 

I am called time and time again to wrestle the angel of light until I see through the fog of erroneous beliefs and once again gain the clarity of a clear day. The philosophy of the Science of Mind has taught me that while I may not be responsible for what is happening in the world, I am, however, responsible for my response to world events.  Not only am I called to embrace the high prerogative of spiritual insight, but I am called to act upon that which I know is mine to do.

Rising above the shadows of homelessness; the shadows of hunger and starvation; the shadows of poverty; the shadows of sickness, disease, and death; and the shadows of hatred and bigotry requires the strength and courage to acknowledge that, yes, I walk among the shadows of the world; and, at the same time, I do not perpetuate and give substance to them by considering the worst-case scenario. Instead, I affirm God’s Wholeness and Sufficiency impart peace on earth and goodwill toward all beings. 

In other words, I envision a world that works for everyone. Then I contemplate that which is mine to do.

In the song, “We Have a Dream,” Tina Meeks sings, “just like Martin, I have a dream; and just like Gandhi I want peace; and just like Mother Theresa I want love.” She then goes on to “pray for our courage to rise above.”  For me, rising above means piercing the veil of materiality, and through the portal of meditation, hang out in the realm of the enlightened ones until I, too, may bring back to earth-consciousness a gift that supports all of humanity. 

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This Weeks Affirmation

“There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.” 

By Amanda Gorman

“Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
~ Luke 12:32 ~

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

Spiritual surrendering is when I release and I let go, letting the Source of all life do Its perfect work. It is a demonstration of faith. A popular gospel song suggests that once you have done all you can do, then it’s time to just “stand.” It’s another way of saying: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word, I hope,” as found in Psalm 130:5 (ESV) of the Holy Bible. I like to remind myself that the Lord of my soul is the Unfailing Law of Love, that always responds by corresponding with the energy frequency that I emit through my intentions, beliefs, and actions.

When there is a misunderstanding or a false belief regarding humanity’s relationship with The Over-Soul governing the universe, called God; there is often an underlying fear that the All-Powerful-One punishes and rewards us according to our behavior. When misunderstood, phrases like, “Let Go and let God;” and, “It is God’s will,” may further solidify false beliefs and validate the ego’s belief that it is an isolated being that must beg for God’s favor.

Gaining spiritual awareness takes time and consistent practice. It requires regular departure from the busy-ness of the day and taking an inward journey, becoming acquainted with the all-encompassing Presence in whom we live, move, and have our being. Immediately or eventually, the veil of illusion that seems to separate the physical realm from the spiritual realm is lifted. The concept of Oneness begins to dawn on the human mind. Soon the idea of God is expanded. It is so much greater than was previously imagined.

When an individual begins to let go of its lesser viewpoint of self with all its limitations and begins to embody a greater viewpoint of the Self that indwells all; it has been described as being born again. In the new awareness, there it the unwavering faith and confidence that with God, the great I AM, all things are possible.

In ever-increasing enlightenment, one begins to trust the outcomes of the specific good desired, refraining from outlining when, where, and how the good will come about. This cultivated consciousness simply knows “what;” while the indwelling Self knows “how.” The Buddha taught that attachment is the root of all suffering, and that non-attachment can help alleviate suffering and increase peace of mind.

In verse 50:16 of the Quran, it reads, “. . . . . and We know whatever thoughts his inner self develops, and We are closer to him than (his) jugular vein”. Jesus called this Presence, Father (First Cause), and announced “The Father and I Are One.”

The timeless nature of God, this One who always hears and always answers is always at the point of our own vision and acceptance. It is the manifestation we seek that reveals Love, Harmony, Beauty, Wisdom, Peace, Abundance, Joy, and all the good we can imagine. This Eternal and Self-Existent Cause of all life is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

IT IS what IT IS, forevermore.

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This Weeks Affirmation

“God sees through my eyes, hears through my ears, touches through my hands, and speaks through my voice. I am one with God.”

https://bmindful.com/affirmations/oneness#google_vignette