The QUEST

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

(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 ~

~ ~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~ ~

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. 

~ ~ ~ ~

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.


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

THE TRUE SELF


Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

“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.


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 ~

UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

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

~ ~ ~ ~

“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 ~

~ ~ ~ ~

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.”


This Weeks Affirmation

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

https://bmindful.com/affirmations/4146

GOOD STUFF

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

“… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ~ Philippians 4:8 ~

~ ~ ~ ~  

“—all’s love, yet all’s law.”
~  Robert Browning ~

~ ~ ~ ~  

“Realizing that the Lord is not far-off, that God is an inward intimate Presence closer to me than my very breath, I affirm that there is nothing in me than can doubt this Presence or limit the Power of Good. There is nothing in me that can separate me from the Love of God and I accept the joy of living in the very midst of It.”
~ 365 Science of Mind p.25.2, Ernest Holmes ~


The primordial stuff that permeates our very being is the Pure Energy; i.e. the ultimate formless substance of the things we hope for. When the words of our heart denote harmony, beauty, joy, wisdom, love, peace, health, and prosperity, we are in alignment with the essence of life that sets the Law of Creation in motion. Yes, our words, clothed with feelings and beliefs, ignite the Law that is the Lord of our lives, out-picturing as our experiences. The Law, or Infallible Principle of Good, is not far off. Deepak Chopra puts it this way, “You are inseparably part of the cosmic quantum soup.”

The above quote by Ernest Holmes may support you in entering into contemplative meditation, an affirmation, or spiritual mind treatment about these things. Spiritual practices bring you into alignment with the vibration of your intrinsic nature of being. Otherwise, through your power of free will, you may make choices that bring about other results. After all, the Law, like all universal laws and principles, is impersonal. It simply responds by corresponding with the feeling tone that is emitted. Therefore, we may experience both positive and/or negative experiences according to our habitual pattern of thinking. The good news is that the Law is not far off, and we may at any time change our thinking and change our lives.

“Our habitual pattern of thinking” is key here. Like all habits, after a while, we no longer think about what we are thinking about. Instead, our thinking becomes an automatic reaction to what we see, hear, touch, smell, or taste. Our positive, or negative reaction is constantly being triggered by what seems so real. Actually, the subsequent experiences we encounter are the out-picturing of individual and collective beliefs, which are subject to change. We can begin right now making conscious and deliberate choices based on our core values and beliefs, knowing they are made manifest by the Perfect Law that receives the direct impression of our thought and acts upon it.

Through a consistent spiritual practice of meditation, affirmative prayer, life visioning, journaling, inspirational reading, and being in community with forward-thinking people, to name a few; you will soon become exceedingly aware of the good stuff in which you are immersed. Soon, instead of reacting to that which is transient, you may begin responding to the infinite potential of good that you imagine for yourself and for the world.

None of this suggests we are to become complacent, ignoring the current events of the world. Quite the contrary. Now having learned to listen to your inner voice, you are divinely guided regarding what is yours to do that supports a world that works for everyone.


Affirmation

“When I look for the good, good things happen.”

https://mrbuzzfactor.medium.com

LET’S GO

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

(Revisited)

“I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward.”
~ Philippians 3:13-14 ~

~ ~ ~ ~

Time and time again, I must remind myself that the God of my life is not in some far-off place, and I must earn Its favor in order to receive the longings of my soul. It may very well be that the longings I feel are the God of my life offering me Its favor, Its grace.  After all, it has been said that it is God’s good pleasure to give us that which yields happiness.

~ ~ ~ ~

It is the inherent nature of every one of us to create through the power of the Indwelling Spirit a life of peace, love, harmony, beauty, joy, wisdom, and every good thing imaginable.  This power, being God, is never depleted or diminished. It is equally distributed and everywhere present all the time. 

Even during those times when the power seems dormant; you may be assured it is easily ignited and awakened through regular and consistent spiritual practices such as meditation, affirmative prayer, life visioning, inspirational reading, and hanging out with forward-thinking people, to name a few. 

Yes, we each have the capability to activate the Presence of Good in our lives by simply recognizing that it is already here, in this present moment. Yes, it is right here, right now! While this profound realization may be motivated by your being sick and tired of being sick and tired of your present circumstances; nonetheless you’ve got what it takes to begin again. You may begin by letting go of those things which are now behind.   You have, in this moment, all the courage, strength, wisdom, and energy needed to move forward in the direction of your dreams. You have what it takes. It’s your birthright. It’s your spiritual DNA.

So, let’s go! Remember, consistent practice is the key.  Let’s embrace and accept those things which are our heart’s sincere desire and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling.  Begin by gaining clarity, telling yourself the true intent for this good and the feeling it stirs when you imagine its fulfillment. Assured that it brings only good to you and others, begin to tell yourself that this thing is a divine idea in the mind of God and therefore it is yours right now. 

Don’t forget to give great thanks for this expected good that expands the quality of your life.

~ ~ ~ ~

How good it is to step into the awareness that we live, move, and have our existence in a universe of love, light, and unlimited good; enough for every living being on the planet. There is a field of unlimited possibilities stretched before us right now; not just for some but for everyone. We each have the power to let it be on earth exactly as it is in the celestial realms of consciousness. Let’s go!


This Weeks Affirmation

“I know that my daily spiritual practice continues to keep me assured that there is good for me and also for all others.”

By Mary Jane LaBonte, RScP