LIVING INSIDE-OUT

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

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. 


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

Practicing Holy Communion

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

Every one of us is endowed with an innate power that is nearer than the breath we breathe. This Power is the Presence that always hears and always answers. The nature of this Holy One, residing at the center of our being, is described in the Bible as saying, “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.”

 The great “I AM within us responds to the slightest impression of our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, whether the impulse is to raise our head when we need to look up; to open our hands to receive gifts being offered, or to gently close our eyes as we enter into prayer and meditation. This Cosmic One is the Instinctive Presence within the tiniest insect that causes it to flee when its good is in danger. There is never a delay in the One Spirit that leads, guides, and directs us moment by moment regarding what to do, and how to do what needs to be done. Yes, there is always silent communication taking place between the self and the Self. Yes, “… the highest God and the innermost God is one God.

It is the moment that the two aspects of our Being agree that we experience a spontaneous realization of the soul’s sincere desires. The key is to rise above the illusion of separation by letting go of the false beliefs of duality, sickness, and poverty, causing fear and anxiety. This takes practice, practice, practice! Open up to receive the gifts of Peace. Harmony, Love, Joy, Abundance, Wisdom, and Wholeness, etc. This takes practice, practice, practice! With this keen desire to be conscious of your oneness with The One, enter the silence of your Self, and simply listen to the stillness.

Yes, the key to effective prayer is creative communication. Listening to the Divine, then speaking the Truth you hear in everything you think, say, and do. This practice becomes the activity of “… praying without ceasing.

Begin today claiming perfect health, unlimited supply, fulfilling relationships, and creative self-expression, infused with the nature of the Divine, as your natural state of being. You may soon hear your heart sing: “How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.


This Week’s Affirmation

“Daily I am renewed by the Divine Life, led by the Divine Intelligence, and guarded by Divine Love.”

~ 365 Science of Mind, p 283.4 ~

MIND and SPIRIT

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

“Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all these things will be added.”
~ The New Testament ~

~ ~ ~ ~

“Be ye therefore transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
 ~ Romans 12:2

 ~~ ~ ~ ~

When I was a child, I spent long summer days playing ‘house, kick the can, jump rope, hide-go-seek,’ and other fun-filled games. At the end of the day, exhausted, I and my friends sat on the porch steps and played “That’s My Car.” We watched cars drive by, and whenever we saw one we liked, we pointed and yelled out: “That’s My Car.” We played until we were bored and then went on to our next pastime of storytelling.

Creativity is the natural birthright of every living being. We all engage in it whether we call it play, work, or artistic expression, it’s within every one of us. Our habitual patterns of thought, words, and actions ignite our creative juices.

~ ~ ~ ~

When it first dawns upon us that creativity is our inherent nature, it may also dawn upon us that we have the power to consciously manifest the things we long for, and finally let go of the cycle of disappointment, regret, and feeling like the victim of circumstances. 

There are powerful tools we may implement like visualization, vision and/or dream boards, and affirmations that teach our mind (the mirror of consciousness) the images of what our happiness looks like … and with focused attention and discipline, the things we see in our minds begin to show up as our experience.

However, and interestingly enough, mastering the art of manifestation is not necessarily a change in consciousness. Like the game, That’s My Car, there may be a tendency to claim ownership of the outer appearance without claiming the qualities and feelings that the mental picture evoked. It’s not enough to have the lovely home if there is no peace there; or the beautiful prince/or princess charming, if love is not there; or the prestigious job, if there is no fulfillment there. This lack of substance may result in feelings of disappointment, regret, and victimhood, all over again. 

~ ~ ~ ~

The spiritual practice of Life Visioning is a great support in becoming an effective and conscious manifester. Asking yourself questions about, not only what the good you are seeking looks like, but what it feels like, and what qualities of God it exudes, such as love, peace, harmony, abundance, joy, wisdom, etc. It’s about acknowledging what you are currently thinking, saying, and doing that is not congruent with your vision. Finally, the telltale question: are you willing to become the change you desire to experience? 

Engaging in this provocative self-inquiry aligns us with both Mind and Spirit and creates the perfect mental equivalent for the good you ought to have. Think about these things.


This Week’s Affirmation

Daily I am renewed by the Divine Life, led by Divine Intelligence, and guarded by Divine Love. I focus my vision on the indwelling harmony, knowing that as I contemplate this inward perfection, I shall manifest it in my life.”

~ 365 Science of Mind, p.283.4 ~  


(Originally posted February 22, 2022)

Express Your SELF

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

“The highest God and the innermost God is One God.”
~ Ernest Holmes ~

The Principle of Being, as affirmed in the above quote, has been said in many ways. Mystics of every era have understood it; sacred books of the world have written about it; and devotees of all time have “caught it. “

Grasping the far-reaching concept that ‘I am the image and likeness of God,’ requires that I first grasp the concept of the three-fold nature of God, i.e., Spirit: The Absolute Essence of all that is. Soul: The Creative Medium. Body: All objective manifestations of the invisible Principle of Life.

~ ~ ~

In the early days of my exploration of the Science of Mind I gave myself Mental Treatments for the purpose of manifesting the things I longed for. Very often, the evidence of those things “hoped for” had a short lifespan, since, like a reflection in a mirror, they had no real-life substance. They became the proverbial “things that moth and rust destroy.” 

I soon realized I had it backwards. It was not clear to me at the time that I could only demonstrate (show forth) that which I already have. I began to see that it was the feeling of divine goodness within me that I was seeking to express. Emma Curtis Hopkins teaches that all of creation is aroused by that feeling that affirms, “There’s good for me and I ought to have it.”

I now know, the money I desired represented my inherent nature of Freedom. Health represented my birthright of Wholeness. Fulfilling relationships represented the Love that I am. The home and car I desired represented Beauty and Joy inside me. Like every artist, there was a deep longing to unleash the inner splendor that was felt. Early on, I did not know that I was the creative artist that I am.

~ ~ ~

We believe that heaven is within us, and that we experience It to the degree that we become conscious of It.”

~ Ernest Holmes ~

~ ~ ~

Now that I have gained some measure of spiritual maturity, my self-awareness ignites the Creative Medium within me. I give myself a Spiritual Mind Treatment so I may consciously demonstrate the presence of God in me ~ the very essence of who I am. The Freedom, Abundance, Peaceand Harmony I feel within me, are realities right now. I affirm this is so and I allow these divine qualities to express as a world that works for everyone. I affirm a world where each and every person has enough food, a home, and a sense of belonging. I declare they now manifest as enfranchisement and justice.

I now realize, whenever I seek first the kingdom of God within me, and affirm Its Presence as the specific thing I desire to experience, the Creative Process begins. The Spirit of God, in me, as me, actually becomes the objective manifestations in the world according to my word of Truth.

In other words, I am the image and likeness of God, fully imbued with divine attributes. I express these qualities as the people, places, and things I experience. I AM the realization of Perfect God, Perfect Humanity, Perfect Manifestations. 

I go forth in confidence, doing that which is mine to do.


This Weeks Affirmation

“Today I convert all doubt into certaintyall sorrow into joy, all fear into faith.”

~ 365 Science of Mind, p. 173.4 ~


(Originally posted 3/9/2021)

Multi-Dimensional SELF TALK

Rev. Mary Louise Ruffner

I notice that whenever I am faced with the hardened facts of materiality, old thought patterns may cause me to perceive circumstances from a 3-dimensional point of view only; failing to include the fourth dimensional me, which is Pure Consciousness, One with God. It is in this state of limitation that the false beliefs of the mental realm SEEM all-powerful.

I must constantly remind myself that when I say the word “God,” I am not referring to  a Human-Like- Being outside of myself, lest I slip into a victim mindset, believing there is a power doing something TO ME1A sure sign of this descent in consciousness is when I hear myself say something like: “Why does this always happen to me?” 

Using the word “God” interchangeably with words like ‘Spirit, Love-Intelligence, First Cause, Divine Presence, and Source,’ to name a few, supports me in staying awake. 

An equally important reason that I remind myself that I am not referring to God as a ‘Being  somewhere out there’ is the possible misconception that when I use the Law of Mind for the specific good I desire that I am doing something TO IT 2, like changing God’s mind; although it sure feels like it at times. 

It is through affirmative self-talk that I catch glimpses of Reality and begin to say, “It is not I, but God who does the work.” I begin to feel and sense the Presence doing something THROUGH ME3.

When I consider what is mine to do, my spiritual practice of affirmative prayer supports me in the clarity I seek. My every prayer affirms that God, the Divine Presence, is the only power there is. This conviction deepens my faith in Omnipresence, Omnipotence, and Omniscience. To the degree that I remind myself of my oneness with Spirit; it is to that degree that I realize God AS ME 4. My self-talk affirms, “I AM.”

The attributes of the fourth-dimensional aspect of my being are greater than that which is in the world. However, I do not ignore the hardened facts of ignorance that are prevalent. Jesus did not; Buddha did not; Confucius did not; Martin Luther King Jr. did not; Malala Yousafzai did not; Nelson Mandala did not. 

The enlightened mystics of the ages acknowledge they are in the world, though not of it. They unleash their awakened state of Pure Consciousness. What they give is who they are. Their Self-giving-ness lifts the collective consciousness to a higher vibration of Self-Realization.

Likewise, I give who/what I am. I unleash the energy of Divine Love each time I let my words ignite the Immutable Law of Cause and Effect by affirming Light where there seems to be darkness; affirming Peace where there seems to be pain; affirming Joy where there seems to be sorrow. I practice lowly listening to the still small voice within me and become exceedingly aware of the Action that is mine to do.

 I believe when error thoughts are healed among the masses, just like herd-immunity, the seeming lesser issues will spontaneously fade away. The unenlightened ego that believes it is the dominant factor will lose its power, and the new and enlightened consciousness of the Divine Self surfaces, knowing Itself as one with all.


This Weeks Affirmation

“Today I guard my thought and speech. I keep my consciousness steadfast with the realization that there is a spiritual power and strength upon which all may call.”

~ 365 Science of Mind, p. 266.3 ~


1.  Four Stages of Consciousness by Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith
2.  Ibid
3.  Ibid
4.  Ibid

Originally posted 3/23/21