EXPERIENCES

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”  Psalms 30.5 ~

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Every living being is unified with all of nature, all of the time; i.e., experiencing all of her ways as intricate aspects of one’s very own being … and most assuredly according to one’s subjective belief.  

With a limited perception of ourselves, we have come to fear the darkness of our own nature, believing it is separate from who we are and who is our enemy.

However, there have always been those among us who have pierced the veil of seeming separation and realized that darkness and light are simply experiences we encounter.  They are phases of our nature. It is written that light and darkness are the same to the Infinite One.

Therefore, with an expanded viewpoint of who we are, we come to realize that all of creation is born in darkness, be it a plant in earth’s soil or a baby in its mother’s womb. They both, upon entering the world, are one with the presence of Light. Likewise, all experiences are with us just for a season.  Chantal Garneau offers us the following blessing:

 ~ “May you find peace in the promise of the solstice night,
that each day forward is blessed with more light. ~

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Anne Frank tells us: “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.”  

When, as students of Truth, we begin to let go of the false beliefs and erroneous concepts that have kept us in the darkness of ignorance, the solstice of the soul reveals a glimmer of light that shows us what is to come.

No matter what the experiences of the year 2024 have been, the New Year is the dawning of unfolding Light with its new experiences.  Our deepest desires, that have germinated in the creative medium of divine mind, are now ready to manifest according to our high resolve.

While a breakthrough in consciousness may be imminent, a consistent spiritual practice supports us in giving birth to our vision of Light, expressing as peace, harmony, love, joy, wisdom, prosperity, beauty, and unlimited good. 

Let’s let every resolution for the year 2025 become an affirmation that declares the inevitable Light that leads us into a place of peace and poise as we experience our next season of growth and deeper understanding.

In so doing, may we adhere to the wise words of Howard Thurman, as follows:

“Keep fresh before me the moments of my High Resolve,
that in fair weather or in foul, in good times or in tempests,
in the days when the darkness and the foe are nameless or familiar,
I may not forget that to which my life is committed.”


This Weeks Affirmation

“My now is not my forever. I remain open to life’s lessons.
https://harvestinghealthandhappiness.com/5-powerful-affirmations-for-hope/

EXPANDED CONSCIOUSNESS

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them.”
~ Matthew 18:20 ~

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“Christ is Universal Idea, and each one “puts on the Christ: to the degree that he (she) surrenders a limited sense of Life to the Divine Realization of wholeness and unity with Good, Spirit, God.
~The Science of Mind, p. 579.1

The core concept taught at Centers for Spiritual Living is “Oneness.” The philosophy espouses that every living being is unified with the One Source of all life, God.  Therefore, all beings are unified with each other.

Throughout the ages, this life principle has been taught in various ways. Jesus taught it when he said, in effect, that whenever people of like-thinking agree upon ideas such as love, peace, beauty, and joy, the IAM Presence of God is activated, and all these things are possible as our experience.  In other words, “I AM” is the word of God within us. It is a power-filled declaration from which all things are formed and made manifest. From this perspective we can see the benefit of community, a place where our common unity is shared.

The awareness that proclaims that one’s very own self is an individualized center of consciousness within the One Infinite Spirit, has been spontaneously known by mystics of all time.   Many of us are consciously engaged in a process of awakening to the changeless Truth.   While the spiritual practices that we love and adore may take time to take root in our consciousness; nonetheless, with consistency we are sure to have an epiphany of the life divine in whom we live, move, and have our being.

The moment we begin imagining a greater version of ourselves, we begin to hear the mystical messages of our thoughts from our higher understanding.  We begin to respond to that inner urge and divine guidance. We begin to nurture the Christ Consciousness within us that is being born into its greater yet to be.

In this enlightened state of consciousness, we begin to see humanity as One Universal Family. We begin to see the Christ Presence at the center of every living being. In this heightened state of awareness, we begin to see Christ, not just in one or two; but in the masses. We begin to identify every man, woman, child, animal, and plant as an individualization of the One Presence and the One Power that permeates eternity.

We may begin to see the Christ showing up in mass and living as ascending and descending generations. We begin to see this Christ-mass calling themselves The Greatest, The Silent, Baby Boomers, Xs, Millennials, Zs, and Alphas, all living together peacefully on earth and with goodwill towards all.

We begin to prepare room in our hearts and minds for the generation of Betas who are to come. We begin to eagerly await the expanded consciousness of love and light that they surely bring.  

We begin to see the mystical meaning of every symbol of Light, Star, Angel, Tree, Animal, Baby and more.  We begin to hear the meaning of every song being sung, and the love that imbues every gift that is given and received.

Yes, how fulfilling it is to give Joy to the World. Merry Christmas!


This Weeks Affirmation

“I am present and mindful during Christmas celebrations.”

https://www.affirmations.online/short-christmas-affirmations-for-a-magical-christmas-2024/

PERFECT ALIGNMENT

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

(REVISITED)

“Healing is not a process but a revelation; for the revealing of the perfect man always heals. The process, if there is one, is the time and thought that it takes to arrive at the correct understanding of man’s perfect state in Spirit.”
~ The Science of Mind (Ernest Holmes) ~

“Quantum Physics is more than physics: it is a new form of mysticism, which suggests the interconnectedness of all things and beings and the connection of our minds with a cosmic mind.”
Carl Gustav Jung, Quantum Physics, and the Spiritual Mind (Diogo Valadas Pointe, and Lothar Schafer) ~

“How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.”
~ Amazing Grace (John Newton) ~

Ancient Wisdom and New Thought have provided guideposts that are encouraging to those traveling the road of enlightenment. Guideposts that say, “Seek and you shall find;” “Ask and it shall be given;” “Your faith has made you whole;” “As above, so below;” “What you conceive and believe, you can achieve;” “Where attention goes, energy flows.” The proverbs, clichés, and platitudes go on and on. The point is, the universe reveals Its nature whenever the Invisible Presence is touched with a sincere curiosity about one’s relationship to the Whole. In such occasions, the essence of all things is revealed to the seeker of Truth.

Whether you ponder the meaning of life from a philosophical, scientific, or a religious perspective, you will always bump into the mysticism of spirituality at the core. Here, the word spirituality is being used in the context of, “an atmosphere of goodness, truth, and beauty,” as described by Ernest Holmes.

It does not matter if you use a process of deductive reasoning, the application of an infallible principle, or engage in sacred prayer; your soul’s sincere desire positions you to discover there is One Infinite Presence and Power operating in and through absolutely everything. The moment you become aware of this Unified Field of Life; your journey of awakening to your true nature has begun.

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For many, it is the intellect that first grasps the concept of oneness and begins to consciously align with the nature of First Cause (natural goodness, truth, and beauty in all things). This is accomplished through regular spiritual practices.  Soon, an optimistic attitude is developed toward life. However, this positive outlook does not suggest we put our heads in the sand, saying all is well when it is not. In his book, Living the Science of Mind, Ernest Holmes writes: “We do not say that people are not poor, sick, or unhappy. We ask why these things should be if the Original Cause of all things is Harmonious, Perfect, Radiant, and Happy.”

The student of Truth continues to affirm the great vision of Love, Harmony, Peace, Health, and Prosperity that is in the midst of all things, regardless of appearances, until the perception of Wholeness is embodied in one’s mind. The moment this possibility is fully realized, then through faith and acceptance, tangible results follow. 

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The integrity of the universe is Love and Law. Love, the deeply felt connection with the desired result points the way, while the immutable law of Cause and Effect makes the way possible. This creative power is within every one of us, without exception. 

There are unlimited possibilities for good stretched before us all. What is commonly called a “miracle,” is that one moment in time when the Energy we call prayer is in perfect alignment with that which we accept as the answer.  


This Weeks Affirmation

“My faith in the One Power and Presence operating in, through, and as me is immutable.

 Perfect God, perfect man, perfect being!”

Angela “Chris” Beam

INVESTING IN LIFE

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

(REVISITED)

“Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” 
~Luke 6:38, The Holy Bible. ~

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You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”
~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet. ~

Consciously or unconsciously, we are always investing in life and receiving a return on our investment. The investment we make consists of our core beliefs expressed through our words and deeds.  In other words, just like seeds planted in the earth’s soil, the return is the exact image and likeness of what we believe to be true about the people, places, and things we encounter or expect to encounter.

In other words, the creative medium of our minds actualizes that which we accept as reality by becoming our experience.   In other words, “You reap what you sow.”  This is simply the way life gets to be what it is. It is the Law of Being. 

For some, when hearing the word “Law” used in the context of spirituality, there is an association with the word “punishment,” often resulting in a false belief that says we can displease, disappoint, or make God angry. To avoid slipping into this erroneous mindset, a paradigm shift in consciousness is necessary.

Remind yourself that “Law” in the spiritual realm is simply a term that describes nature’s way. For example, in the physical realm it is nature’s way that objects fall to the ground when dropped. This law, of course, is what we call gravity. It would never occur to us that God is punishing us when this occurs. While the consequence may sadden us, we would nonetheless accept the outcome as the natural reaction to the action.  When awake in consciousness, we may learn from our experiences and choose to be more careful in the future, be it a spiritual, mental, or physical law.  

We may begin today investing in ideas that inevitably return to us our heart’s true desires; i.e., ideas like health, loving-kindness, harmonious relationships, sufficiency, beauty, wisdom, creative expressions, and prosperity in all of our endeavors.  We may begin right now investing in the practice of forgiveness and bear witness to the return of peace of mind. We may begin to consciously invest in our personal values; such as unity, integrity, justice, equanimity, and all that yield a world that works for everyone.

We may enter this season of giving and receiving filled with a consciousness of Love and Light as we bear witness to the Law of our Being responding to our investment of Peace on Earth and Joy to the World.


This Weeks Affirmation

” I am more powerful than I know and I can achieve anything and everything to which I set my heart.
For all of this, I am grateful.”

www.happierhuman.com/gratitude-affirmations/

A NEW THOUGHT; A New Belief; A New Experience

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

(Revisited)

“We believe that the Universal Spirit, which is God, operates through a Universal Mind, which is the Law of God; and that we are surrounded by this Creative Mind which receives the direct impress of our thought and acts upon it.”
~ Ernest Holmes~

“The world will persist in exhibiting before you what you persist in affirming the world is.”
~ Emma Curtis Hopkins ~

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
~ I Corinthians 13:11 ~

When I was a child my favorite Bible verse was: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” I reasoned if I were honest, and wished no one harm, I would come face to face with the Super Man-Being who resides in the sky and rules the universe. As a result of memorizing the verse, and telling myself what the words mean, it became a spiritual practice. 

In my sweet innocence, I unknowingly began to establish certain beliefs; albeit some true and some false.  However, the universal laws governing the mental realm, just like the universal laws governing the physical realm, do not differentiate between who has activated the Law, but fulfill its own nature by the process of becoming, in the physical world, an exact facsimile of the feelings and beliefs it receives. 

The belief that God is separate from Its creation is the biggest error that humanity makes. It sets up all sorts of ideas of duality; i.e., good and evil; reward and punishment; a blessing and a curse; love and fear; all kinds of cross-currents.    However, when there is a realization that the Highest God and the Innermost God is one God, the new paradigm begins to establish new beliefs for the Law of Mind in Action to act upon.  

Having reached a level of spiritual maturity and insight, I have a greater understanding of the words I affirmed as a child.  I now realize that the “pure in heart” is a consciousness for which there are no opposing mixtures of thoughts.  Also, Charles Fillmore tells us that the blessedness of God is the joy that comes to those whose thoughts are stayed on the presence of Good (God).  In this exalted view, God is seen exhibiting Itself before us in the world; not as a physical man, but as a spiritual presence centered in all. 

Saying affirmations is a wonderful spiritual practice, even when the words are spoken by rote.  They are not said to make something happen, but rather for the purpose of coming into a realization of what is already so. Spiritual Practice is always for the purpose of having a revelation of Truth. It is a process where one consciously participates in her own evolution– always moving in higher dimensions of awareness through understanding.  


This Weeks Affirmation

“My spirit is connected to the divine, radiating pure light.”

https://blog.gratefulness.me/spiritual-affirmations/