I AM that I AM

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

(Repost) “In the last analysis, man is just what he thinks himself to be; he is big in capacity if he thinks big thoughts; he is small if he thinks small thoughts. He will attract to himself what he thinks most about. He can learn to govern his own destiny when he learns to control his thought… The seed that falls into the ground shall bear fruit of its own kind; and nothing shall hinder it. He that hath ears to hear let him hear.”  
~ Ernest Holmes, Creative Mind and Success ~

~ ~ ~ ~

Recently, while facilitating a class via Zoom; suddenly, out of the blue, the images of the students were frozen on my computer screen. I watched these motionless figures until they were once again animated.  The first thing they said to me, upon returning, was, “You’re finally back.” You see, to them, I appeared frozen on their computer screens.

We all laughed at this phenomenon: the observer and the observed mirroring each other.

The fact is, no one was frozen. Each one of us was intact, comfortable in our own home, looking at “what seemed to be.” The false appearance caused by some cyberspace interference resolved itself as we waited, trusted the process, and did what was ours to do to restore the harmony.  

~ ~ ~ ~

All this caused me to think about how a similar scenario plays out every day of our lives. For example, we are quick to identify with negative experiences, accusing others or ourselves for the things we see. We say I am, or you are, sick, poor, scared, stuck, etc.  Actually, the distorted view that suggests these things is a result of some mental interference, some error-thought.  The good news is, these error-thoughts can be corrected.

When we become still enough, long enough, we begin to realize that the Truth of who we are is intact.  Our Higher Self, The Presence, The Great I AM imbedded in the recesses of our being has never changed, The Real Self remains whole, complete, and perfect regardless of any appearance of limitation.  Ralph Waldo Emerson expresses this concept perfectly when he says, “For it is only the finite that has wrought and suffered; the infinite lies stretched in smiling repose.”

~ ~ ~ ~

Once the veil of illusion is pierced by our belief in the life-affirming words we consciously tell ourselves; the whole picture of our experience begins to change.

Max Planck, Nobel Prize winner in Physics explains: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Ernest Holmes taught, “Change your thinking – change your life.” Through these scientific and metaphysical practices, not only are we individually relieved of the burden of error, we see others in the same Light we see ourselves. Yes, the observed and the observer are always one, never two. All this must be what the mystic, Jesus, meant when he said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Seeing and knowing the Truth beyond apparent appearances is a form of affirmative prayer.

The next time you feel as though you are stuck… frozen in a web of some human circumstance, remember that your nature, which is the image and likeness of God, is intact. Relax and let this God-consciousness permeate your entire being. Embrace the thoughts of Love, Light, Peace, Order, and Joy that begin to emerge. Notice how the thing you are looking at begins to conform with what you believe to be true. 

With this blessed assurance, you may now move forward, in full confidence, doing what needs to be done by and through you to restore harmony.



This Weeks Affirmation

“My mind is at peace for I know that I am divinely connected to all that is Good.”

by Judy Hilley


MARK YOUR CALENDAR

“If you want to live a life of joy and fulfillment, you have to find the courage to break those agreements that are fear-based and claim your personal power.”
~ Don Miguel Ruiz ~

ATLANTA SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY, INC.
www.atlantaspiritualcommunity.org

PRESENTS

The Four Agreements Project
The Practical Application of Toltec Wisdom

Facilitated by:

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner
Robbin G. Ruffner, RScP Emeritus

Co-Founders: StillPoint Spiritual Center: A CSL Teaching Chapter
www.stillpointcsl.org

This 5-week interactive course is designed to support you in becoming the master of the dream of your life.

Join fellow travelers and explore the Toltec path of Truth
Thursdays: July 14 ~ July 21 ~ July 28 ~ August 4 – August 11

7:00 to 9:00 PM/EST

Textbook: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz 

DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THIS EVENT

 Registration Fee: $50-~ Register at https://www.atlantaspiritualcommunity.org/donate/

Or, you may pay via Zelle. Send to atlantaspiritualcommunity@gmail.com

Zoom Meeting address provided upon receipt of registration

Contact: Bernita Scott at 770-289-9968

Fees are tax-deductible and support ASC, INC. Sacred Service Projects 


PRESENT MOMENT POWER

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

“A seeker of silences am I, and what treasure have I found in silences that I may dispense with confidence? If this is my day of harvest, in what fields have I sowed the seed, and in what unremembered seasons?” ~ Kahlil Gibran ~

Let us in the stillness of our own soul go back to that ineffable Presence which is Peace and proclaim It even in the midst of confusion, that Peace which is the Power at the heart of God.
~ Ernest Holmes ~

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.~ The Apostle Paul ~

~ ~ ~ ~

(Revised REPOST ) I know that spiritual discernment is key in the development of my evolving consciousness.  I anchor my go-to affirmations and prayers in the universal principles of Oneness, Love, and Peace, to name a few.  These eternal verities are my measurements of Reality, the Truth that is the same today, yesterday, and forever. From this perspective, the balancing act of being in this world but not of it is harmonized. My assessment of spiritual supremacy operating in human affairs inspires me to know that all is well. 

The wonderful thing about The Truth is it is never threatened, nor does it depend on what I believe. Instead, it is my perceptions and my beliefs that are the cause of my suffering as well as the inspiration of my unwavering faith.  

This intentional focus causes the energy of insight and right judgment to rise up within me. In this state of consciousness, I am a clear, conscious, conduit, through which Divine Wisdom and Intelligence flow unobstructed, guiding all my decisions into right action. 

I affirm the inevitable presence and power of the One Spirit, God, now and in the future.

I like living on the affirmative side of life, and at the same time, I am careful not to put my head in the sand about the apparent conditions all around.   For example, as our nation experiences the labor pains of giving birth to its next expression of “the land of the free and the home of the brave,” I offer my cultivated consciousness as a midwife for the expected answer that reveals peace on earth and good will towards all.

In my awakened state of consciousness, I realize the evolution of Life is forever stretching into the eternal. Therefore, I capture the present moment and participate fully.   I listen for the Indwelling Presence to show me that which is mine to do.


This Weeks Affirmation

“I take care of the future by taking care of the present moment.” https://zannakeithley.com/mindfulness-affirmations/  


TWO (2) ANNOUNCEMENTS:
MARK YOUR CALENDAR

~ ~ ~ ~ 

ANNOUNCEMENT 1

THE STILLPOINT GATHERING

~ a doorway to the infinite ~  

www.stillpointcsl.org

July 9, 2022 via ZOOM

(Join the ZOOM Meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/949595702?pwd=NEFGMkRDOExZWXBmSTkvWWsrNElQdz09)

10:00 am until 12 Noon

The Gathering is a time when like-minded people come together for open dialogue about spiritual principles from a metaphysical perspective. A safe place is continuously nurtured so everyone may openly talk about their challenges, their wins, and their dreams in an environment of openness and non-judgment. A typical Saturday morning includes meditation, followed by a brief time of journaling. There is a spiritual principle presented as a springboard for the discussion that follows.

~ ~ ~ ~ 

ANNOUNCEMENT 2

“If you want to live a life of joy and fulfillment, you have to find the courage to break those agreements that are fear-based and claim your personal power.”
~ Don Miguel Ruiz ~

ATLANTA SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY, INC.

www.atlantaspiritualcommunity.org

PRESENTS

The Four Agreements Project
The Practical Application of Toltec Wisdom

Facilitated by:

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner
Robbin G. Ruffner, RScP Emeritus

Co-Founders: StillPoint Spiritual Center: A CSL Teaching Chapter

www.stillpointcsl.org

This 5-week interactive course is designed to support you in becoming the master of the dream of your life.

Join fellow travelers and explore the Toltec path of Truth
Thursdays: July 14 ~ July 21 ~ July 28 ~ August 4 – August 11

7:00 to 9:00 PM/EST

Textbook: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz 

DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THIS EVENT

 Registration Fee: $50-~ Register at https://www.atlantaspiritualcommunity.org/donate/

Or, you may pay via Zelle. Send to atlantaspiritualcommunity@gmail.com

Zoom Meeting address provided upon receipt of registration

Contact: Bernita Scott at 770-289-9968

Fees are tax-deductible and support ASC, INC. Sacred Service Projects 



FAITH

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

(Revised REPOST ) Be it a child’s game, a health challenge, the state of the country, or, everything in between; the faith factor is always being activated, even in the darkest moments, when there seems to be no answer. 

The childhood game, Hide-and-Seek, was a favorite of mine.  I was super confident that I would always find my playmates in their favorite hiding places; or that they would tag the goal while I was still searching. This faith based on my previous experiences of playing the game was my assurance of success. When the game ended, I was summoned to come inside for the day and prepare for tomorrow.

Fast forward with me to the early part of 2002. I was feeling very low; lower than I had felt in a long time. Arriving home that day, I parked the car and hurried into my apartment.  I had a lot on my mind, so I was glad my new friends, the shy little girl and her mom who lived in the adjacent building, were not there to greet me as usual.  I was not in the mood for pleasantries. 

Once inside, I began to process the diagnosis the doctor had given me. Fear of the unknown flooded my mind.   I was alone with my thoughts, feelings, confusion, and grief when suddenly there was a loud knock at my front door. Very unusual. 

It was my young neighbor standing there, her eyes filled with fear, crying, “my daughter, my daughter, I can’t find her. Help me.” In that very moment, I forgot what I was thinking about. Quickly I put my shoes on again and frantically I followed the young woman out of the door, asking “What’s your daughter’s name?” As we ran in opposite directions in search of the child, she shouted back to me, “Her name is Faith.” 

For the next 15 minutes, I ran throughout the complex, shouting: “Faith, Faith, where are you?  The young mom and I met again at our starting point.  There she was. We both saw her at the same time, this whimsical, mystical being called Faith. She showed her face from the walkway of her building. It was if her shy smile was saying, “I love this game of hide-and-seek.”  

I returned to my apartment and laughed out loud as I reflected on my search for Faith.   Now, reunited with my core beliefs, the energy completely shifted. All anxiety was gone.  The mesmeric spell of downward gazing was broken. I am summoned to that secret place within myself and I began preparing for tomorrow.  

This search for the child-like faith of my youth reminds me “that as I deal with my own individuality, I am dealing with the Universal, which has projected out of Itself that which is like itself on a miniature scale.” 1 

Anchored in a consciousness of Light, I know the nature of God is changeless, the Word of God is Law, deeply embedded in the substance of Wholeness, Oneness, Peace, Harmony, Love, and Wisdom; all that is indestructible, absolute, and self-existent2

While I do not ignore the cross-currents of division that appear in the world, I listen deeply to that still small voice that guides me into the unifying force that is irresistible and must yield a world that works for everyone. My unwavering faith is in the Indwelling Presence as I am motivated to seek and find the way.

This Weeks Affirmation

“I am fearless simply because I know I can choose faith.” 

By Mary Jane LaBonte, RScP


TWO (2) ANNOUNCEMENTS:
MARK YOUR CALENDAR

~ ~ ~ ~ 

ANNOUNCEMENT 1

THE STILLPOINT GATHERING

~ a doorway to the infinite ~  

www.stillpointcsl.org

July 9, 2022 via ZOOM

(Join the ZOOM Meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/949595702?pwd=NEFGMkRDOExZWXBmSTkvWWsrNElQdz09)

10:00 am until 12 Noon

The Gathering is a time when like-minded people come together for open dialogue about spiritual principles from a metaphysical perspective. A safe place is continuously nurtured so everyone may openly talk about their challenges, their wins, and their dreams in an environment of openness and non-judgment. A typical Saturday morning includes meditation, followed by a brief time of journaling. There is a spiritual principle presented as a springboard for the discussion that follows.

~ ~ ~ ~ 

ANNOUNCEMENT 2

“If you want to live a life of joy and fulfillment, you have to find the courage to break those agreements that are fear-based and claim your personal power.”
~ Don Miguel Ruiz ~

ATLANTA SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY, INC.

www.atlantaspiritualcommunity.org

PRESENTS

The Four Agreements Project
The Practical Application of Toltec Wisdom

Facilitated by:

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner
Robbin G. Ruffner, RScP Emeritus

Co-Founders: StillPoint Spiritual Center: A CSL Teaching Chapter

www.stillpointcsl.org

This 5-week interactive course is designed to support you in becoming the master of the dream of your life.

Join fellow travelers and explore the Toltec path of Truth

Thursdays: July 14 ~ July 21 ~ July 28 ~ August 4 – August 11

7:00 to 9:00 PM/EST

Textbook: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz 

DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THIS EVENT

 Registration Fee: $50-~ Register at https://www.atlantaspiritualcommunity.org/donate/

Or, you may pay via Zelle. Send to atlantaspiritualcommunity@gmail.com

Zoom Meeting address provided upon receipt of registration

Contact: Bernita Scott at 770-289-9968

Fees are tax-deductible and support ASC, INC. Sacred Service Projects 


A DEFINING MOMENT

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

(REPOST) During this moment in time when the collective consciousness of humanity is pulled between concepts of right and wrong; good and bad; them and us, and various pairs of opposites; I realize I am not an isolated being. I, too, am part of it all. I, too, contribute to the human consensus.

I begin to question if what I am thinking, saying, and doing are in alignment with what I say I value. After all, Ancient Wisdom teaches, “Where your treasure is, there is also your heart.” 1

I notice that I have strong opinions, thoughts, and emotions. I am aware that these passions are the driving forces in the invisible realm that create my world of effects. I challenge myself to be “for something and against nothing.”2

I begin to reflect on what it is that I truly treasure; i.e., what are my true values?

For sure I value practical spirituality. It is my principal treasure, inasmuch as it is all-encompassing when it comes to living life fully. The keyword is “practical.” For example, practical spirituality shows up as health, wealth, and love. They are by-products, or the out-picturing of the Wholeness and Perfection of The Eternal One.

In order to experience this natural goodness, I realize that I must provide an opening/or willingness through which the nature of God may express through me and as me.

So, I ask myself:

  • Do my eating and exercise habits; my TV and social media choices; the books I read and the company I keep reflect my idea of health for the body and the mind?
  • Do I invest in what I desire to see increase? Do I spend my energy, talents, and skills in life-giving projects?  Do I circulate the good that is mine so others may prosper in their worthwhile endeavors? Do I demonstrate my idea of wealth?
  • Do I embrace my concept of love by practicing The Golden Rule 3 at every turn, without exception, and without the temptation to give as good as I get?

In other words, are my actions congruent with my ideas about the Wholeness and Perfection of the Divine?

My conclusion is: I must be the change I desire to see in the world and then notice the following results:

  1. It stops me from judging others;
  2. It replaces complaining about others with reflection on self;
  3. It stirs me into taking action within the only thing in the world over which I have any control: myself. 4

Mahatma Gandhi, a mystic of the 20th century said: “We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.”

The decision to change is indeed a defining moment


This Weeks Affirmation

“I am strong, steady, and grounded always rooted in the present moment.”

By Keith Childers


TWO (2) ANNOUNCEMENTS:
MARK YOUR CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENT 1

THE STILLPOINT GATHERING

~ a doorway to the infinite ~  

www.stillpointcsl.org

July 9, 2022 via ZOOM


(Join the ZOOM Meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/949595702?pwd=NEFGMkRDOExZWXBmSTkvWWsrNElQdz09)

10:00 am until 12 Noon

The Gathering is a time when like-minded people come together for open dialogue about spiritual principles from a metaphysical perspective. A safe place is continuously nurtured so everyone may openly talk about their challenges, their wins and their dreams in an environment of openness and non-judgment. A typical Saturday morning includes meditation, followed by a brief time of journaling. There is a spiritual principle presented as a springboard for the discussion that follows.

~ ~ ~ ~ 

ANNOUNCEMENT 2

“If you want to live a life of joy and fulfillment, you have to find the courage to break those agreements that are fear-based and claim your personal power.”
~ Don Miguel Ruiz ~

ATLANTA SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY, INC.

www.atlantaspiritualcommunity.org

PRESENTS

The Four Agreements Project
The Practical Application of Toltec Wisdom

Facilitated by:

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner
Robbin G. Ruffner, RScP Emeritus

Co-Founders: StillPoint Spiritual Center: A CSL Teaching Chapter

www.stillpointcsl.org

This 5-week interactive course is designed to support you in becoming the master of the dream of your life.

Join fellow-travelers and explore the Toltec path of Truth

Thursdays: July 14 ~ July 21 ~ July 28 ~ August 4 – August 11

7:00 to 9:00 PM/EST

Textbook: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz 

DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THIS EVENT

 Registration Fee: $50-~ Register at https://www.atlantaspiritualcommunity.org/donate/

Or, you may pay via Zelle. Send to atlantaspiritualcommunity@gmail.com

Zoom Meeting address provided upon receipt of registration

Contact: Bernita Scott at 770-289-9968

Fees are tax-deductible and support ASC, INC. Sacred Service Projects 


STAY THE COURSE

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

(REPOST) “Liberty and justice for all” is a divine idea – pure essence. It is universal potential and unformed creation. It lives within the “one mind common to all individual men.”1 When one affirms this idea, movement within the cosmic field of infinite possibilities begins to formulate it into existence.  Depending on the embodiment2 of the affirmation, and coupled with ensuing action, the idea becomes a universal experience.   

I notice whenever I see the slightest evidence of my faith being realized, I have a tendency to retreat to my comfort zone, affirming all is well. To the degree that I withdraw, the motion of creation subsides.   I must stay the course.

For example, several years ago a labyrinth was created for my backyard.  As I traveled the circling path in meditation, I would sometimes imagine all the people on earth walking with me. Together we would chant:

We Are One! We Are One! ~ In the Spirit, we are One!
Let the love flow, So, the world will know, ~ We are one in Love.3

In time, the structure began to reflect the wear and tear of the seasons of wind, rain, and storm.  Not liking how it looked, I uprooted it and covered all the twists and turns of my daily walk with topsoil.

 Recently, Chris and I were talking about my yard (called, “the sanctuary”) and she said to me, “you know, even though you cannot see the labyrinth, it is still there.”   Those words catapulted me into a contemplative meditation. 

 I asked myself, where did you leave off in the process-in-healing; or, have you forgotten? When the atmosphere of your soul got scary, what unresolved feelings and emotions were covered up, so everything would look pretty and in place? 

With many feelings and emotions still well-covered I practice the art and science of Spiritual Mind Treatment 4 for the purpose of peace on earth and good will towards all people. I affirm ‘there is only One Infinite Life; that Life is Love and that Life of Love is my life right now and is the life of everyone.’ In moments of realization, I KNOW there is no separation; all apparent inequities are the out-picturing of ignorance and limitation.   The limerick of my childhood affirms this awakened awareness:

Red, brown, yellow, Black, and white;
They are all precious In His sight.5

Then I am reminded of Ernest Holmes’ words, “(Treatment) is not a process of saying ‘Peace’ when there is no peace.” 6   I THINK I GOT IT!!! In other words, until my word of truth is seen by all, my work is incomplete.

So, I return to the sanctuary of my being. I walk the labyrinth of life and my path intertwines with all of the so-called “others.” I hear their stories and I tell them mine. Though painful, my unexamined feelings and emotions are now exposed to the Light. We say to one another, I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.” 7

I stay the course.

I affirm the truth; I meditate on the truth; I do spiritual mind treatment about truth.

And, I ask myself, what is mine to do?


This Weeks Affirmation

I focus on revealing Spirit as Love in all things, beginning with me.”

By Angela “Chris” Beam