“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” 
~ Matthew 24:35 ~

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^“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
~ James 1:22-25 ~

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“There is one mind common to all individual men. Every man is an inlet to the same and to all of the same. What Plato has thought, he may think; what a saint has felt, he may feel. Who hath access to this universal mind is a party to all that is or can be done, for this is the only and sovereign agent.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

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“The One Creative Power is expressing in you in a unique way and that it is always pressing against you, seeking a fuller outlet of its infinite possibilities.”
~ Ernest Holmes ~

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Have you ever thrown a rock in a body of water and watched the ripples flow out causing a movement that touches everything within its radius?

Just suppose, for a moment, that six ripples touch six individuals who in turn throw a rock in the water. Immediately thirty-six (36) individuals are touched. If the momentum continues, using the same proposition, i.e., 36x 6/ 216 x 6/ 1296 & 6, etc., there is the potential to reach7 billion individuals in a relatively short order. 

The key word is potential. After all, everyone is not out fishing, or playing on the beach, or swimming in the pool. And even if one is near the rippling water, she may not be inclined to throw a rock back into the great universal medium. 

~ ~ ~ ~

Yes, like ripples of water, our thoughts, infused with our beliefs and motives, are constantly touching the lives of those within the vibratory circle of our influence. The theory of six degrees of separation may support this idea.

It is always amazing to me when I hear my exact words coming back to me from someone I never met. Now, of course, those very words, like ripples of consciousness, had been received by me at some former time. 

~ ~ ~ ~

Can you imagine, with me, the power of our own creative word to heal anything and everything that is unlike the nature of peace, harmony, love, wisdom, joy – not only for ourselves but for everyone? Can you imagine with me the ripple effects of an idea that is so pure that it articulates clearly its motive and intent that it inevitably sheds light where there is darkness; love where there is fear; unity where there is separation; peace where there is anger; and joy where there is sorrow?

~ ~ ~ ~

The creative word that always fulfills itself is more than language. It is a state of mind… an embodied consciousness. It is like a ripple in the One Mind that keeps expanding, touching everyone within its vibratory range.

Just think, a world that works for everyone is within our grasp. It begins with our beliefs, feelings, and thoughts, followed by our deeds and actions.

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This Weeks Affirmation

“I am present in my life always emitting Love, Joy, and Happiness wherever I AM.

By Keith Childers

Originally posted July 26, 2022

The spiritual path may become a wearisome one for the faint of heart. It takes great courage to set out on a journey of uncharted territory, while depending upon the discipline of prayer as the one essential and dependable companion.

Regardless of our religious persuasion, the fundamental beliefs we entertain about God, the universe, or our individual relationship to it all; we each turn to prayer when faced with circumstances and desires that seem beyond our personal control.

Sometimes the prayers we pray are not called prayers at all. Nonetheless, their purpose is always the same – to move us from where we are to where we want to be.

Prayer is the power that realigns us with our true nature. Once in touch with the nature of who we are, there is a realization of our innate ability to rise above any adversity which is nothing more than an erroneous thought-force. Erroneous thoughts have no sustaining energy; they fade away when replaced with thoughts that reflect the Truth.

There are many forms of prayer, and they are all ‘applied faith.’ After all, to engage in prayer at all there is an expectancy of change. However, the acceptance of the change is always the next step. Acceptance means to follow the guidance received from prayer. It is written: “Faith without works is dead.” When describing effective prayer, Ernest Holmes puts it simply, saying it is the combination of “faith and acceptance.”

Like me, you may have discarded the prayer you memorized by heart as a child, as well as the image of God that you prayed to; neither being acceptable any longer. A more mature form of prayer I often practice is Contemplative Meditation. Here I set aside alone time pondering what “I” believe to be so about existence, i.e., life, living, and the cause behind it all, asking, what is my idea of God, really? This process of prayer always leaves me with a perception of Omnipotence, Omnipresence, and Omniscience. 

I continue in this prayerful mode, contemplating my personal existence, who am I, really. This process of prayer always leaves me with a perception of being born of this One Creative Spirit, fully endowed with all of its nature. I perceive Perfect God, Perfect Man, Perfect Being.

Another form of prayer is one of The Prayer of Affirmation. Here I tell myself the spiritual truth about myself and the desired good I embrace, regardless of what is appearing as my present experience. This supports me with a clear vision for my life.

All this I reason out through the consciousness of the following prayer, first printed in the 1898 issue of Wee Wisdom, the Unity monthly magazine for children, and memorized by many. 

“God is my help in every need; God does my every hunger feed; God walks beside me, guides my way, Through every moment of this day. ~ I now am wise, I now am true, Patient and kind, and loving, too; All things I am, can do, and be, Through Christ the Truth, which is in me. ~ God is my health, I can’t be sick; God is my strength, unfailing, quick; God is my all, I know no fear Since God and Love and Truth are here.” (Hannah More Kohaus)

With these words deeply embedded in consciousness, we may slip into the Prayer of Silence. Here we simply surrender to what is, knowing all is well. 

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This Week’s Affirmation

As I contemplate my prayer, I perceive Perfect God, Perfect Man, Perfect Being.
By Mary Jane LaBonte

Originally posted September 21, 2021

I imagine, when evolution reached a point of self-consciousness within man, he felt a Presence and in response he uttered a sound in recognition of the All-Pervasive Feeling. 

The Universal Presence reveals Itself to man through his feeling nature.

I imagine each time man responded to this inner splendor he gained greater insight of himself and his surroundings, causing him to spontaneously evolve, becoming a greater experience/expression of himself.

Humanity is guided by an inner response to its recognition of this feeling of Oneness.

I imagine this exchange of humanity’s recognition of the Indwelling Presence, and the Still Small Voice of Spirit guiding humanity to their greater-yet-to-be is the practice of prayer and meditation. 

Lest I slip into an image of an anthropomorphic¹  being, with unpredictable mood swings, punishing me for the slightest slip-up, I imagine God is the Creative Word and Healing Love; a Divine Energy flowing in, through and as absolutely everything, without exception.  I imagine this Eternal One is that which unites humanity as One.

When I read the words, “You shall have no other Gods but me;²”   I imagine this statement is telling me that God is the essence of my very own being. I need not look outside myself. 

The Presence and I are inseparably One.

The word “God” ignites an emotional response within me, causing me to contemplate my highest idea of good by considering corresponding² words such as: Creator, Peace, Love, Harmony, Joy, Wisdom, Wholeness, Abundance, Power, Beauty, and Intelligence. By naming these unchanging verities of life I begin to realize the word “God” is the ultimate idea of Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence. 

God is truly a Divine Idea!

Too often my ever-evolving ego ignores the still small voice³  and runs full speed, filling every hour with activities that have their own sounds, their own opinions and their own motives, drowning out the word of God within me.  

Left alone to my own devices, I tend to manifest people, places and things in my life based on false beliefs and judgments carried forward from the past. When left unchecked, the emotional reaction to these apparent conditions may be physically debilitating, mentally draining causing anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, and guilt. 

However, as a result of a consistent practice of affirmative prayer and meditation throughout the years, I notice that my time spent in this far-country is less and less. I rise up in a consciousness of Truth remembering that within me is a Guiding Light, the Word of God, that frees me from all sense of “otherness.” 

I sit in the silence of my own being until I am once more self-emptied of limited beliefs and I become God- filled with the unlimited potential of Peace and Love. I feel the Presence. I utter a sound, a word of recognition.

I am divinely guided by this inner voice. I meditate and I pray.

When I pray, desiring a greater experience of good in my world as well as a world that works for everyone, I imagine the activity of Divine Wisdom and the Unifying Power of Love. I imagine Divine Inspiration is a Guiding Force, causing humanity to spontaneously evolve into a collective consciousness that yields the highest good for everyone, not only in our beloved country, but for world citizens everywhere.

I imagine, my word. in alignment with the nature of God, spoken with unwavering faith, becomes my world.

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This Weeks Affirmation

God is the Divine Idea of a World That Works for Everyone.
By Mary Jane LaBonte, RScP

1. Having human characteristics
2. Holy Bible: Exodus 20:3
3. Intuition: See SOM p.603 p.2

Originally posted 10/06/2020.

This is a Universe of Wholeness, All-ness, Oneness. Spirit is a transcendent, perfect Whole that, in its Infinite inclusivity, harmoniously embraces all seeming opposites.
~ Core Concept Five, The Science of Mind ~

“Let’s go upstairs!” is the way the late Rev. Dr. Homer Johnson often began each prayer. He was inviting us to move into a higher state of consciousness in order to see through the appearance of duality. 

Michelle Obama offers the same wisdom, saying, “When they go low, we go high.” Her words may remind us that we are always at choice regarding the direction of our attention. The “they” are not only the unenlightened “others” of our times, but they are the unenlightened thoughts within ourselves that, unintentionally, create the undesired circumstances of our lives.

Rising above the pairs of opposites such as good/evil; right/wrong; disease/health; peace/war; happy/sad; and ego/Christ to name just a few is not an easy task. It means being awake, alert, and aware, i.e., conscious beings in our comings and goings through this thing called life.

The “opposites” of the human experience are nothing more than points of view about what we see through our senses, the out-picturing of mental images. They can be likened to two sides of a coin, unified in Oneness. To fight against them is much like shadowboxing, because in reality there’s nothing there of substance, a temporary thing, easily replaced with a higher idea about the person, place or thing being observed.

Be careful that this is not interpreted as a spiritual bypass, i.e., engaging in complacency or putting one’s head in the sand by denying the issues we are facing on the world stage –   individually, as a nation, and globally. The answer lies in discovering for one’s self, “what is mine to do?” 

Adhering to Holmes’ idea to be “for something” and “against nothing” is a beginning point that the enlightened and mystics of all time have agreed. This means taking an honest assessment of the true values, beliefs, and principles that govern your individual life; the ones that are the guideposts for your daily living.

Otherwise, a consciousness of having to contend with an opposing force keeps the undesired energy intact, resulting in the same scenarios repeating itself generation after generation. Albert Einstein reminds us that, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” 

The clearer one becomes in knowing what he or she is “for” and begins to think, speak, and act from that perspective, the sooner the veil of separation is lifted. Soon a community of conscious people (common unity) of all walks of life who have a vision for a world that works for everyone begins to evolve. The great discovery of “what is mine to do” may very well reveal the unique talent, skill, and ability that are a reservoir of untapped potential within you that is ready to unleash peace on earth and good will towards all people.

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This Week’s Affirmation

“The Divine Spirit always knows what to do and how to do it, so I am never without guidance in the successful achievement of my good desires.”

~ 365 Science of Mind, p. 304.3 ~

(Originally posted September 28, 2021)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) speaks to the phenomenal advancement humanity has made through the science of technology.  For example, I have easy access to information on any subject by simply entering a key word into my computer’s web browser. I may connect with people I have not seen in many years. I may play games, read books, go shopping, attend classes, earn a living, attend church and, you name it, in the comfort of home.

Just think, I tell myself, all of this evolved out of the Infinite Mind of God, the Inexhaustible Source of all human existence. The Great Causation is Divine Energy, for which I am inseparable. I am one with Omniscience. 

Yes, my life is centered in Unlimited Wisdom. It is here, within my own being that I feel, sense and know I am in the presence of God. In the sacred silence of my soul, I travel to dimensions in consciousness where I see my highest dreams as absolute reality.  When I return to my daily living, with an awakened consciousness, I am like that seed upon the wind that Thurman describes as the man with God.

While “surfing the net,” I know I am divinely guided by Pure Spirit. I respond to the intuitive impressions I receive, for I now know my Higher Self speaks through my feelings and emotions. I am endowed with clear insight, agreeing only to that which is for my highest good.

~ ~ ~ ~

This has not always been my experience. A portion of my life was spent living outside-in.  I was unaware that what I saw with my eyes; heard with my ears; touched with my hands; spoke from my mouth; and, smelled through my nose was actually the manifestation of my beliefs.

 One might say, I was like that seed upon the wind that Howard Thurman talks about when referring to a man without God. In this unenlightened state, all of life seemed like one of chance; one of hit and miss; unaware of my freedom to choose my good.

“Stand porter at the door of thought.”¹

“The wise person sees the need to watch his thoughts and accept only those that are good and constructive.” (John H. Williams) In other words, living from inside-out instead of outside-in yield a greater expression of my core values and beliefs, my dreams and aspirations.

My dreams are my personal values. My personal values are those ideals that matter to the degree that they are never compromised, no matter what.  It was Alexander Hamilton who said, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” I begin to notice that the more attention I give to my core values and personal beliefs, the more beauty and joy I experience in life. 

With my attention focused on the inner vision of my heart’s desire, I harness the energy of unconditional love, which in turn, becomes the more abundant life, in full view. My physical senses now express my conscious beliefs.

When I look out upon the world stage and see the cross-currents of collective beliefs and hear the opinions of opposing viewpoints that out-picture as the good, the bad, and the ugly; I turn inside and ask my Higher Self, what is mine to do?

Soon I see the wheat separating from the chaff. I choose the direction of my energy. My core values and beliefs begin to flood my mind. I slip into meditation and align myself with the nature of Peace, Harmony, Love, Wisdom, Beauty, Joy, and Wholeness. I recognize my Self living in the celestial dimensions of God-consciousness. 

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This Weeks Affirmation

I see the perfection of God in all there is and speak my word in unyielding faith and conviction, that God within me expresses through me for good.

by Angela “Chris” Beam

1. Mary Baker Eddy

Originally posted February 9, 2021