Quotations Used in the Sunday Message

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“Joy Multiplies When Shared…The Wonder Of Christmas” 12-18-22 Advent:Joy

Core Statement:

“True Joy Arises From An Inner Connection With God & Multiplies When Shared” sv

Scripture:

Psalm 130:5 (NASB) ⁵I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And I wait for His word.

Hebrews 6:15 (NASB) ¹⁵And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.

Psalm 16:8-9 (NIRV) ⁸ I know that the Lord is always with me. He is at my right hand. I will always be secure. ⁹ So my heart is glad. Joy is on my tongue.

Psalm 5:11 (NKJV) ¹¹But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You protect them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.

Philippians 2:17-18 (NASB) ^17b…I rejoice and share my joy with you all. ¹⁸ You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Philippians 4:4-5 (NASB) ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵Let your gentle spirit be known to all men…

Special Reading:

No man yet knows all of life’s joys…until he has come into the full understanding of spiritual communion with God… True and lasting Joy arises from within. Joy, spiritual joy, is ours by divine right… It is impossible to found a lasting stronghold within on anything less than the understanding that God is a God of joy. Teach Us To Pray Charles & Cora Fillmore

Quotes:

Joy is not in things; it is in us. Richard Wagner

When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. Rumi

Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God. Teilhard De Chardin

Joy multiplies when it is shared among friends… R.A. Salvatore

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts

and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas. W. C. Jones

A smile on your face and beauty in your heart spread joy to the world. Jennifer L. Betts

“Love…The Greatest Gift” 12.11.22 Advent: Love – Remembrance Tree

Core Statement:

“The Greatest Gift At Christmas Is The Transformational Power Of Love” sv

Scripture:

Colossians 3:14 (ESV) ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

1 Corinthians 16:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done with love.

Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV) ¹²…Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another… ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love…

1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV) ¹³So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 John 2:9-10 (NIV) ⁹Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. ¹⁰Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love...

Unity Reading:

Love, in Divine Mind, is the idea of universal unity. In expression it is the power that joins and binds together the universe and everything in it. Love is a harmonizing, constructive power…that divine quality of God that is expressing through all mankind. Keep A True Lent Charles Fillmore

Quotes:

The best gift you can open this Christmas season is your own heart. Toni Sorenson

My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? Bob Hope

Learn to love yourself, be gentle with yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude towards ourselves can we have the right attitude toward others. Wilfred Peterson

There is no stronger healing power than love. Love is pure magic… The mere presence of love transforms people. There is nothing more holy than love since love makes people whole. Swami Dhyan Giten

Love has the power to ... cure, to heal, to calm, to change and to unite. Use this power often. Anthony D. Williams

This Christmas; Be the Light for those who stand in the Dark. Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann

Eventually you will come to understand that love heals everything, and love is all there is. Gary Zukav

Remembrance Tree…

Keep love in your heart…

The consciousness of loving and being loved

brings a warmth and richness to life

that nothing else can bring.

Oscar Wilde

“Inner Peace Brings Outer Calm” 12.04.22 Advent: Peace

Core Statement:

“An Inner Peaceful Consciousness Creates The Foundation For Experiencing Outer Calm” sv

Scripture:

Hebrews 6:15 (NASB) ¹⁵And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.

Psalm 119:165 (NRSV) ¹⁶⁵Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

Philippians 4:7,9 (NIV) ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus… ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

John 14:27 (NIV) ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Isaiah 32:17-18 (ESV)¹⁷ And the effect of righteousness (from middle English right+wise) will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. ¹⁸My people will abide in a peaceful habitation…

Special Reading:

Unless and until we have peace deep within us, we can never hope to have peace in the outer world. You and I create the world by the vibrations that we offer to it… It is a power that easily transcends all our worldly knowledge. Yet it is not separate from our earthly existence. If we open the right avenues within, this peace can be felt here and now. Sri Chinmoy

Quotes:

The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before. So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. Jan Richardson.

People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within. Ramona L. Anderson

No person, no place, and no thing has any power over us, for 'we' are the only thinkers in our mind. When we create peace and harmony and balance within, we will find it in our lives. Louise L. Hay

The more peace there is in us, the more peace there will also be in our troubled world. Etty Hillesum

Peace can become a lens through which you see the world. Be it. Live it. Radiate it out. Peace is an inside job. Wayne Dyer

Serenity is not freedom from the storm but peace amid the storm. Alcoholics Anonymous

Inner peace is oxygen to the spirit. Alison Stormwolf

“Receiving With Gratitude…Celebrating Thanksgiving Communion” 11-20-22

Core Statement:

“Gratitude Awareness Opens Us To The In-Flow & Out-Flow Of Magnified Blessings” sv

Scripture:

Psalm 9:1 ¹I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart…

Psalm 95:2 (NRSV) ²Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Matthew 25:29 (NKJV) ²⁹‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance…

Deuteronomy 8:7-9 (NASB) ⁷ For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains & springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; ⁸ a land of wheat & barley, of vines and fig trees & pomegranates, a land of olive oil & honey; ⁹ a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything…

Unity Reading:

Words of praise, gratitude or thanksgiving expand, set free, and in every way radiate energy…When thoughts are lifted up to the contemplation of our all-pervading and all-powerful Spirit Father (prayer/intention/focus) and our voices ring out in words of praise and thanksgiving, the walls of negation are shattered, and we step forth into a new consciousness of life. Charles & Cora Fillmore Teach Us To Pray

Quotes:

Gratitude is an attitude that hooks us up to our source of supply. And the more grateful you are, the closer you become…to the architect of the universe, to the spiritual core of your being… Bob Proctor

Whatever we are waiting for - peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance - it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart. Sarah Ban Breathnach

When you are not willing to fully receive, you are training the universe not to give to you! It's simple: if you aren't willing to receive your share, it will go to someone else who is. T. Harv Eker

Out of abundance they took abundance, and still abundance remained. Upanishads

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. William Arthur Ward

Let gratitude come into your body and enjoy the feeling it gives you. Gratitude is a power that instantly washes away stress and tension. Allow yourself to be healed by it. Josie Robinson

Spiritual Communion:
"Communion" (from Latin communio, "sharing in common" or Communis “One With”)

By sharing the elements in an energy of spiritual community, we are individually and collectively committing ourselves to maintaining our spiritual purpose as our highest priority. Rev. Ed Townsley

To Charles Fillmore, the bread and wine represent the substance and energy, respectively, of the Divine. Bread= Substance / Wine = Life Energy

BREAD: St. Matthew 26:26 Lamsa Bible (from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts)

²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Luke 22:19 (NASB) ¹⁹ And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

WINE: St. Matthew 26:27 Lamsa Bible (from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts)

²⁷ Then he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Take, drink of it, all of you.

Mark 14:23-24 (NRSV) ²³Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. ²⁴ He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many”.

Grateful…Thankful…Blessed” 11-13-22

Core Statement:

“As Gratitude Shifts Our Energetic Fields, We Become Prosperity Magnets” sv

Colossians 2:8 (NIV) ⁸See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Jeremiah 30:19 (ESV) ¹⁹Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSV) ¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances…

Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV) ¹⁹Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God…

The more practice you give your brain at feeling and expressing gratitude, the more it adapts to this mindset -- you could even think of your brain as having a sort of gratitude 'muscle' that can be exercised and strengthened... the more of an effort you make to feel gratitude one day, the more the feeling will come to you spontaneously in the future." In short, practicing gratitude seems to kick off a healthful, self-perpetuating cycle in your brain… www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/the-amazing-way-gratitude-rewires-your-brain-for-happiness.html

You and everything around you is pure energy! Yes, even thoughts are energy and that is especially important when you consider the law of affinity which states that “like attracts like.”… That’s why it’s especially important to remain mindful of how we use the power of our own thinking: keep it positive because thoughts create energy which attracts more of the same. 1. Watch your words! 2. Visualize what you want. 3. Keep a gratitude journal. Sheila Callaham

Despite its power, energy in and of itself is a neutral force. It is consciousness that directs its movement. If we think of this in terms of the energy and consciousness of the human experience we may see that the more conscious we are, the more we direct our energy towards creation, connection, and evolution. Aimee Falchuk

The mind is a vast field of energy…available to us all the time. Through awareness, we can mold the mind's energy into positively oriented thought-forms… we can modify and change the field of energy that comprises the mind. Mental alchemy, in which we turn raw mental energy into beneficial thoughts and actions, is within reach of everyone. Dr. Niranjan Seshadri

Gratitude can transform any situation. It alters your vibration, moving you from negative energy to positive. It’s the quickest, easiest most powerful way to effect change in your life… Oprah Winfrey

Experiencing and expressing gratitude is an important part of any spiritual practice. It opens the heart and activates positive emotion centers in the brain. Regular practice of gratitude can change the way our brain neurons fire into more positive automatic patterns. Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D.

There are no limits to the good you can bring forth to you, and by practicing gratitude daily, you will increase and maximize your magnetic power to attract a life beyond your wildest dreams. Ronda Byrne

Consistently expressing sincere and heartfelt gratitude for what you already have is the underlying and often overlooked force which opens doors to immeasurable abundance and happiness. Abundance-And-Happiness.com

"The Willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude." Jeff Miller

“Celebrating The Season Of Autumn” 11-06-22

Core Statement:

“Seasons Embody Spiritual Metaphors That Teach & Guide Our Way” sv

Psalm 104:19 (ESV) ¹⁹He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,6 (NIV) ¹There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: ²a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot… ⁶a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away…

2 Chronicles 19:3 (NKJV) ³Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God.

James 5:7-8 (NRSVUE) ⁷…The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. ⁸You also must be patient.

Leviticus 23:39-40 (NASB) ³⁹…when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord…

Psalm 67:6 (NIV) ⁶The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.

Special Reading:

…There is a gift from God in every season, or time, that we live in… All the aspects of the season of autumn are connected to the most stark result at its end: the death or seeming-death of the natural world surrounding us… What is so powerful about this aspect of autumn is that, if seen as part of the whole of all four seasons of the year, autumn also becomes a time of preparing for new life. Clearing the gardens and even planting the bulbs which will stay buried deep in the ground all through winter, but will burst through and blossom in the spring. Sr. Marie Paul Curley

Quotes:

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. George Washington Carver

There is no other door to knowledge than the door nature opens; there is no truth except the truths we discover in nature. Luther Burbank

For many people, autumn symbolizes change. Like the falling leaves from the trees, life must take a new course by shedding off the old to usher in the new. This part of the season’s cycle stretches out to winter which spiritual gurus say provides time for people to absorb and accept the ongoing change in one’s inner self. Bernadine Racoma

In the visible world of nature, a great truth is concealed in plain sight: diminishment and beauty, darkness and light, death and life are not opposites. They are held together in the paradox of “hidden wholeness.” …Autumn constantly reminds me that my daily dyings are necessary precursors to new life. Parker Palmer

It’s a season to reap the harvest, celebrate its bounty and stock up for the long winter ahead. It’s also a season to celebrate, get in tune with nature, reconnect to old traditions and bring in the start of a more introspective season. The autumn equinox is a time of rest after the labors of the harvest. It’s also a time to complete projects and let go of what’s unwanted so that winter can be spent in peace. dee@vanillapapers.net

Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God. George Washington Carver

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. Albert Einstein

“All Hallows Eve” 10-30-22

Core Statement:

“Celebrating Ancient Traditions & Practices Helps Connect Us To Current Spirituality” sv

Scripture:

Philippians 1:3 (NRSVUE) ³I thank my God for every remembrance of you…

Psalm 42:1-2a (ESV) ¹As the deer longs for the water brooks, So my soul longs for You, O God. ²My soul thirsts for God, for the living God…

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NRSVUE) ¹For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven…

Special Reading:

All Hallows' Eve falls on 31st October each year, and is the day before All Hallows' Day, also known as All Saints' Day in the Christian calendar… The name derives from the Old English 'hallowed' meaning holy or sanctified and is now usually contracted to the more familiar word Hallowe'en…

It is widely believed that many Hallowe'en traditions have evolved from an ancient Celtic festival called (Sah-Win) Samhain which is a Gaelic word meaning 'end of the summer'. This festival is believed to have been a celebration of the end of the harvest, and a time of preparation for the coming winter… In A.D. 1000, the church made November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead… All Souls’ Day was celebrated similarly to (Sah-Win)Samhain, with big bonfires, parades and dressing up in costumes… What we can be sure of is that the modern celebration of Hallowe'en is a complicated mix of evolved (and evolving) traditions and influences.

www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/halloween

www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween

Quotes:
Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve. Ray Bradbury

The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper. W.B. Yeats

There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand. Mary Shelley

Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, man cannot live without a spiritual life. Buddha

I believe in traditions; I believe in the idea of things being passed between generations and the slow transmission of cultural values through tradition. Graham Moore

Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire. Gustav Mahler

Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us... Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning and purpose to our lives. Brené Brown

Growing in Our Personal Boundaries (Rania El-Kareh) 10-23-22

“When the deepest part of you becomes engaged in what you are doing, when your activities and actions become gratifying and purposeful, when what you do serves both yourself and others, when you do not tire within but seek the sweet satisfaction of your life and your work, you are doing what you were meant to be doing.”

-Gary Zukov

“There's a place in you that you must keep inviolate. You must keep it pristine, clean, so that nobody has the right to curse you or treat you badly. Nobody. No mother, father, no wife, no husband, nobody. That may be the place where you go to when you meet God. You have to have a place where you say, 'Stop it. Back up...' Because that place has to remain clean and clear."

-Dr. Maya Angelou

“3^rd Anniversary…Growing Strong In Our New Location” 10-09-22

Core Statement:

“Celebrating This Milestone, We Dynamically Move Forward With Enthusiasm & Gratitude!” sv

Scripture:

Matthew 18:20 (ESV) ²⁰For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

1 Corinthians 14:26 (NKJV) ²⁶…Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

Philippians 1:27b (NRSV) ^27b…You are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind.

1 John 1:7a (NKJV) ^7a But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another...

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV) ¹¹Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…

Affirmation Statement:

“Celebrating Our 3^rd Anniversary, We’re Grateful For The Uplifting Power Of Spiritual Community! We say YES, to God’s Ongoing Guidance & Wisdom, We Gratefully Receive God’s Divine Abundance & Prosperity, And We Open Our Hearts to The Infinite Flow Of God’s Unconditional Love, Stepping Forward With Enthusiasm To Share Light & Love With Others!”sv

Quotes:
It feels good to be in a community. Community, above all, is bigger than individuals–we are something much more than individuals when we are part of a community. Tony Blackshaw

The only answer in this life, to the loneliness we are all bound to feel, is community… working together, sharing together, loving God and loving our brother /[sister]… Dorothy Day

If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life? It is other life; it is love, which gives your life meaning. We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth. Mitsugi Saotome

Each of us must rededicate ourselves to serving the common good. We are a community. Our individual fates are linked; our futures intertwined; and if we act in that knowledge and in that spirit together, as the Bible says: “We can move mountains.” Jimmy Carter

Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light. Norman B. Rice

It is in our hands -- yours and mine, each person here today -- to make a decision to work, to work together, and to work with others around the whole world, to build friendship, and love, and understanding among all people. (adapted) Alice Bartow Hobensack

“Celebrating A Blessing Of The Animals” 10-02-22 Blessing of Animals

Core Statement:

“We Gratefully Bless All Animals Who Touch Our Hearts With Love” sv

Scripture:

Genesis 1:26 (NRSVUE) ²⁶Then God said, “Let us make humans^[^a^] in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

Job 12:7-9 (NIV) ⁷“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; ⁸or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. ⁹Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?

Proverbs 27:23 (NRSVUE) ²³Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds…

Proverbs 12:10 (NRSVUE) ¹⁰The righteous know the needs of their animals…

Special Reading:

St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226), was a patron saint of animals and founder of the Franciscan order of monks. Francis spoke to animals as ‘brother wolf’ and ‘sister bird’, saw all of creation as inherently good… Important Catholic saints are assigned feast days, on which rituals are conducted in accordance with their ministry. Francis’ feast day is October 4, and around the world, people bring their animals to churches to be blessed on this day. Kevin E. Mackin, O.F.M.

Animal Blessings: The service emphasizes celebrating the bond of love and respect that animals have with their humans, and that humans have with all of creation. Blessing of animals is a religious activity, and occurs broadly across most religions in some form… Secular respect for animals is also strong, for example, World Animal Day, an international day of action for animal rights and welfare celebrated annually, is still held on 4 October, the feast day of Francis of Assisi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessing_of_animals

Quotes:

Over the years I've come to appreciate how animals enter our lives prepared to teach and far from being burdened by an inability to speak they have many different ways to communicate. It is up to us to listen… Nick Trout

An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language. Martin Buber

Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes! Theophile Gautier

Like it or not, we humans are bound up with our fellows, and with the other plants and animals all over the world. Our lives are intertwined. Carl Sagan

If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans. James Herriot

I had been told that the training procedure with cats was difficult. It's not. Mine had me trained in two days. Bill Dana

A cat’s purr and a puppy’s wet nose are just two of the things that make my day enjoyable. Anthony T. Hincks

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened. Anatole France

If you want to see God, simply look into the eyes of an animal. J. Bartell

“Connecting With Others In Spiritual Community…Part 2: What’s Mine To Do?” 09-25-22

Core Statement:

“Participating & Serving Together Creates A Sense Of Connection & Satisfaction” sv

Scripture:

Colossians 3:14 (NIV) ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Matthew 25:35 (ESV) ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…

Philippians 2:4-6 (NASB) ⁴ …do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

Luke 6:38 (ESV) ³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

1 Peter 4:9-10 (NAS) ⁹Be hospitable to one another without complaint. ¹⁰As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NCV) ⁷ You are rich in everything—in faith, in speaking, in knowledge, in truly wanting to help, and in the love you learned from us. In the same way, be strong also in the grace of giving.

Often, service is mistaken as only “giving”. However, it is as much receiving as it is giving. This exchange is what fuels and sustains the essence of life. In today’s world, understanding the importance of this is required more than ever… The need to serve stems from a place of awareness and compassion… It is difficult to even think of a world that functions without this sense of kinship with our community and humanity at large. www.Wealthfulmind.com

Quotes:

Simply being with other people who are also seekers and who are involved in the same quest you are is very meaningful. Dan Wakefield

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. Dr. Seuss

One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn't as individuals. When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility, we can welcome many people… and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing. Jean Vanier

There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals. Idowu Koyenikan

In our hectic, fast-paced, consumer-driven society, it's common to feel overwhelmed, isolated and alone. Many are re-discovering the healing and empowering role that community can bring to our lives. The sense of belonging we feel when we make the time to take an active role in our communities can give us a deeper sense of meaning and purpose. Robert Alan

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. Edward Everett Hale

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. Pablo Picasso

“Connecting With Others In Spiritual Community…Part 1: Gathering Together” 09-18-22

Core Statement:

“Connecting Together In Spiritual Community Uplifts & Supports Us, Mind, Body, & Spirit” sv

Scripture:

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) ²⁴And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…

Matthew 18:20 (NIV) ²⁰For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Psalm 133:1 (NRSV) ¹How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

Romans 1:11-12 (NRSV) ¹¹For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— ¹²or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Special Reading:

Thriving 21^st century spiritual communities are composed of many individual people who come together to create a deep and meaningful experience where everyone grows spiritually together and each person is valued for the unique experiences they contribute to the whole. Tracy Brown

Quotes:

“When he took time to help the man up the mountain, lo, he scaled it himself.” Tibetan Proverb

Spiritual community gives a sense of meaning and direction, and of life that's bigger than one's own. It's healing without therapy. Rabbi Omer-Man

We seldom stop to think how many people's lives are entwined with our own. It is a form of selfishness to imagine that every individual can operate on his own or can pull out of the general stream and not be missed. Ivy Baker Priest

The spiritual path is not a solo endeavor. In fact, the very notion of a self who is trying to free her/himself is a delusion. We are in it together and the company of spiritual friends helps us realize our interconnectedness. Tara Brach

We are called to be strong companions and clear mirrors to one another, to seek those who reflect with compassion and a keen eye how we are doing, whether we seem centered or off course … we need the nourishing company of others to create the circle needed for growth, freedom and healing. Wayne Muller

As we become increasingly aware of our global interdependence as a species, we can also deepen awareness of our spiritual interconnectedness. We cannot live in total isolation. The cross-cultural communion of awakened souls may be a key to cocreating a sustainable future and living in harmony with the earth. Frances Vaughan

Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious. Ruth Reichl

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“Celebrating Steps Forward…Youth ‘Fly-Up’” 09-11-22 (Youth “Fly-Up” Sun)

Weekly Statement:

“Celebrating Steps Forward Lifts Our Spirits & Enhances Our Outlook” sv

Scripture:

1 Timothy 6:18a-19 (ESV) ¹⁸^aThey are to do good, to be rich in good works… ¹⁹thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

1 Peter 1:13 (ESV) ¹³Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded [focused], set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you…

Ezra 10:4 (NIV) ⁴Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage & do it.”

Galatians 6:4 (NKJV) ⁴But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself…

Proverbs 13:19a (NKJV) ¹⁹^aA desire accomplished is sweet to the soul…

Quotes:

Goals are my north star. My compass. The map that guides me along the road I wish to travel. Goals are motivations with wind in their sails—they carry me forward despite the storms. Richelle E. Goodrich

Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Commitment leads to action. Action brings your dream closer. Marcia Wieder

Every great accomplishment rests on the foundation of what came before it… Stephen Guise

Talk to yourself about your successes; be sure you are recognizing your own accomplishments, no matter how small they may be. Rhett Power

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. Oprah Winfrey

“It Just Takes A Moment… Part 4: To Pray & Give Thanks” 08-28-22

Core Statement:

“Prayer Only Takes A Moment To Pause, Re-center, & Breathe Into Oneness With God” sv

Scripture:

Ephesians 6:18 New International Version (NIV) ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying…

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV) ¹⁰Be still, and know that I am God;

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) ¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸in everything give thanks…

Psalm 9:1 (NASB) ¹I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart…

1 Thessalonians 1:2 (NASB) ²We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers…

1 Timothy 2:1 (NIV) ¹I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers… and thanksgiving be made for all people

Unity Reading:

We increase our vitality by blessing and giving thanks in spirit…It has been found by experience that a person increases his blessings by being grateful for what he has. Gratitude…is a great magnet, and when gratitude is expressed from the spiritual standpoint it is powerfully augmented. Mysteries Of John Charles Fillmore

Quotes:

Remember, our prayers do not need to be long. Sometimes only a word or two will suffice. Celebrateyoga.com

If you begin to live life looking for the God that is all around you, every moment becomes a prayer. Frank Bianco

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. Thornton Wilder

Live each moment in a rampage of appreciation. Wayne Dyer

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. Meister Eckhart

I do believe we're all connected. I do believe in positive energy. I do believe in the power of prayer. I do believe in putting good out into the world. And I believe in taking care of each other. Harvey Fierstein

The greatest gifts we can give to each other, is to pray for one another. therandomvibez.com

Prayer becomes more meaningful as we… express heartfelt gratitude, and as we pray for others. David A. Bednar

“It Just Takes A Moment… Part 3: To Shift Focus” 08.21.22

Weekly Statement:

“Mindful Inquiry Can Shift Us From Negative Thinking To Positive Focus” sv

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) ²⁹Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up…

Leviticus 19:15 (NKJV) ¹⁵‘You shall do no injustice in judgment…

Philippians 4:8 (NIV) ⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.

Special Reading:

Byron Katie - Loving What Is www.thework.com/one-belief/

The Work is a Practice …Every time you do The Work you are becoming enlightened to who and what you are, the true nature of being. To question what you believe is an amazing gift to give yourself, and you can have it all the days of your life. The answers are always inside you, just waiting to be heard.

The Four Questions:

Q1. Is it true?

Q2. Can you absolutely know that it’s true?

Q3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?

Q4. Who would you be without that thought?

Quotes:

Concentrate on what you do want rather than what you don't. Andy C. E. Brown

A negative focus can result in our entirely missing the possibilities placed in our path. Anne Wilson Schaef

If only I woulda done that…I really shoulda done that…I coulda done that." I ask, "Do you really know what your life would be like now if you made those choices?" Believing in regret strips away our only chance to create a better future… what we decide to do today, right now, in the present. Charles F. Glassman

Taking responsibility for your beliefs and judgments gives you the power to change them. Byron Katie

Make today "Judgment Free" in words, and, most important, in thought. Let's work on altering the way we think... Orly Wahba,

“It Just Takes A Moment… Part 2: To Enjoy & Celebrate” 08-14-22

Weekly Statement:

“Playful Enjoyment Is An Important Part Of Celebrating Everyday Living” sv

Scripture:

Isaiah 55:12 (ESV) ¹²For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Proverbs 17:22a (NASB) ^22a A joyful heart causes good healing…

Exodus 23:12(NRSV) ¹² Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest…

Isaiah 65:18 (ESV) ¹⁸But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.

Genesis 21:6 (NRSV) ⁶Now Sarah said, “God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”

Luke 1:46-47 (NRSV) ⁴⁶ And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God…

Special Reading:

Play is for everyone, regardless of age (or profession). The best thing about play, besides the fact that it’s something you enjoy, is that while you’re doing it, it’s benefiting your overall wellbeing and impacting your health. It can fuel your creativity, emotional wellbeing and ability to problem solve… You can learn life skills and improve your health while playing. And just as children turn to play when they want to de-stress – or just enjoy their time – play can help you be the best versions of yourself when facing “adult problems,” like career stress, parenting, marriage and the many other responsibilities that come with age. Don’t think of play as a waste of time or as an activity that’s only for children. Instead, consider it an investment in your overall mental and physical wellbeing. Mark Sakraida

Unity Reading:

We should all practice delightful, joyous states of mind. It is such thoughts that open the way for the ever-present Father-Mind to pour out its splendid resources into our mind and through us into all our affairs. Charles Fillmore Jesus Christ Heals

Quotes:

Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous. That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor. Paul Hawken

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet, and the winds long to play with your hair. Kahlil Gibran

When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life. Jean Shinoda Bolen

Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them. Marcus Aurelius, Meditation

Where there is joy there is creation. Where there is no joy there is no creation: know the nature of joy. Veda Upanishads

Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good. Lucia Capacchione

“It Just Takes A Moment…Part 1: To Breathe & Re-Center” 8-7-22

Weekly Statement:

“A Simple Moment Of Conscious Breathing Impacts Us In Positive Ways” sv

Scripture:

Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) ⁷And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Ezekiel 37:5 (NKJV) ⁵Thus says the Lord God… “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.

John 20:22 (NIV) ²²And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Job 33:4 (KJV) ⁴For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Special Readings:

A recent article in the New York Times says “Controlled breathing… has been shown to reduce stress, increase alertness, and boost your immune system.” Medically speaking, “Studies have found… that breathing practices can help reduce symptoms associated with anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and attention-deficit disorder.” Chopra.com

Breathing is the bridge between mind and body, the connection between consciousness and unconsciousness, the movement of spirit in matter. Breath is the key to health and wellness… Even spending thirty to sixty seconds to breathe deeply is sufficient… it is about the effort to do so and the mindfulness of the practice. Dr. Andrew Weil

Quotes:

By changing patterns of breathing we can change our emotional states, how we think, and how we interact with the world. Dr. Patricia Gerbarg

The very thing that affirms your life, your breath, also helps calm your anxiety… I think the real reason that the breath is such a powerful tool for battling anxiety is because it’s driven by the very presence of God. Heather M. Dixon

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths. YourTango.com

Being aware of your breath forces you into the present moment… Whenever you are conscious of the breath, you are absolutely present. You may also notice you cannot think and be aware of your breathing. Conscious breathing stops your mind… One conscious breath in and out is meditation. Eckhart Tolle

Taking a few moments throughout the day to practice mindful breathing can change your health, your perspective, and even the choices you make. Let’s look at the most noteworthy benefits of mindful breathing. What can it do for you?

•Reduces cortisol and bodily tension;

•Enhances circulation and digestion;

•Improves balance and self-awareness;

•Improves mental clarity and focus;

•Activates the lymphatic system to purge toxins and reduce anxiety;

•Facilitates calm, mindful enjoyment of the present.

Barrie Davenport

Let go of the battle. Breath quietly and let it be. Let your body relax and your heart soften. Jack Kornfield

The wisest one-word sentence? Breathe. Terri Guillemets

“Using Mistakes As Stepping Stones…Part 2: Grow & Move Forward” 07-31-22

Core Statement:

“Using Mistakes To Learn & Grow Moves Us Forward Into Positive Action” sv

Scripture:

Psalm 37:23-24 (ESV) ²³The steps of a man are established by the Lord… ²⁴though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.

Proverbs 18:15 (ESV) ¹⁵An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) ^9”Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Special Reading:

No matter how hard we try, we will mess up, fail, blow it, and step out of line. To believe that somehow that’s not the case, that if we were just to try a teeny-weeny bit harder perfection would be possible, is the real self-deception. Admitting that we’re fallible human beings doing the best we can and being compassionate to ourselves in the face of our misdeeds, actually allows us to take more responsibility for our actions… Self-compassion allows us to turn toward and face the difficult feelings that arise when considering our own mistakes and misdeeds, meaning that we can see ourselves more clearly and do what’s needed to make things better. Dr. Kristin Neff www.self-compassion.org

Quotes:

No matter how far down the wrong road you've gone, turn back. Turkish proverb

If things go wrong, don’t go with them. Saying-Anonymous

Things are as they are. Looking out into it the universe at night, we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations. Alan Watts

There is no sense in punishing your future for the mistakes of your past. Forgive yourself, grow from it, and then let it go. Melanie Koulouris

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something. Neil Gaiman

Always look back & learn, look forward and walk, and keep learning. Sachin Ramdas Bharatiya

“Using Mistakes As Stepping Stones…Part 1: Acknowledge & Learn” 07.24.22

Core Statement:

“Learning From Our Mistakes Develops Positive Stepping Stones Forward.” Sv

Scripture:

James 3:2a (NRSVUE) ²For all of us make many mistakes.

Proverbs 24:16a (NIV) ¹⁶…though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again…

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NRSVUE) ⁵Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith.

Proverbs 28:13 (NASB) ¹³One who conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper, But one who confesses and abandons them will find compassion.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NRSV) ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer… let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds…

Special Reading:

Perfectionism is a self-destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame. All perfectionism is, is the 20-ton shield we carry around hoping it’ll keep us from being hurt while in truth, it keeps us from being seen. Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

Quotes:

We can choose to be perfect and admired or to be real and loved. Glennon Doyle Melton

A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying… that he is wiser today than he was yesterday. Alexander Pope

Own your mistakes. It’s ok; we all make them. Learn from them so they can empower you! Steve Maraboli

All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes. Winston Churchill

Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth. Richelle E. Goodrich

A mistake should be your teacher, not your attacker. A mistake is a lesson, not a loss. It is a temporary, necessary detour, not a dead end. Anonymous

“The Unity Movement…Current Day Spirituality” 07.10.22

Weekly Statement:

“Current Day Spirituality Focuses On Inner Self-Awareness & Positive Life Changes.” sv

Scripture:

John 13:34 (NKJV) ³⁴A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV) ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…

1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV) ¹⁴Let all that you do be done in love.

Acts 17:27-28 (ESV) ²⁷…They should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, ²⁸for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’…

Proverbs 3:3 (NASB) ³Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Matthew 23:26 (NIV) ²⁶Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Colossians 3:14 (ESV) ¹⁴And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Special Reading:

In general, modern-day adherents of New Thought believe that "God" or "Infinite Intelligence" is "supreme, universal, and everlasting", that divinity dwells within each person, that all people are spiritual beings, that "the highest spiritual principle is loving one another unconditionally, teaching and healing one another, and that our mental states are carried forward into manifestation and become our experience in daily living. New Thought also believes that each person is divinely endowed with the right to happiness and the power of choice, enjoying equal access to the creative potential of spiritual and metaphysical laws. www.newthoughtwisdom.com/about-new-thought.html

Quotes:

My impression of the Fillmore family, Charles, Myrtle, Lowell, Rickert and Royal…They were not exceptional people following an ordinary pattern, but ordinary people dedicated to a pattern exceptionally extraordinary. Marcus Bach The Unity Way

The teaching of Jesus as presented in the New Testament, was the central building block of the Fillmores work. It constitutes a great deal of how “Unity” differs from other “New Thought” and Eastern Spiritual teachings. www.Unity.org

“Truth is not the formulated doctrine of any church, nor the creed of any sect…Truth is written in the inner sanctuary of every soul, and all know it without external formulas. It is the intuitive perception of what is right...’” Charles [Fillmore] referred to this inner knowing as “The Spirit of truth”. Eric Butterworth

Your mind cannot possibly understand God. Your heart already knows. Emmanuel

Religion commonly refers to an institution that has a set of organized practices and a structured belief system shared by and among those who are members of the institution. Their beliefs, are based on either a formally documented creed or established cultural practices.

Spirituality is about one's soul and inner self. Being spiritual involves holding one's personal set of beliefs and practices and searching for the purpose of life. Each person's own definition of spirituality can vary throughout their lifetime… The goal of spirituality is to realize one's inherent power to combat life's challenges, and connect with something greater than oneself. www.HappierHuman.com/difference-religion-spirituality/

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross

The great awareness comes slowly, piece by piece. The path of spiritual growth is a path of lifelong learning. M. Scott Peck

“Freedom…Inner Independence Day” 07-03-22

Core Statement:

“Releasing Inner, Erroneous, Systemic Beliefs & Judgmentalism Creates True Personal Freedom” sv

Scripture:

John 8:31-32 (ESV) ³¹So Jesus said… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Luke 4:18 (NIV) ¹⁸“The Spirit of the Lord is on me… He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free…

Romans 12:2a (NKJV) ^2aAnd do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…

Psalm 119:45 (NIV) ⁴⁵I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.

Unity Reading:

All discovery is self-discovery and all knowledge is self-knowledge. Thus the greatest discovery in science is not the outward accomplishments, but the inward revelation and the Truth that sets us free to take the outer step. Eric Butterworth Discover The Power Within You

Through the quickening of the Spirit we are loosed from all limiting ideas and are set free in the Christ consciousness or realization of the Absolute. The consciousness of…the Christ is of limitless life, strength, power, wisdom, love and substance that are everywhere present… Charles Fillmore Atom Smashing Power of Mind

Quotes:

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thomas Jefferson

Belief systems are the stories we tell ourselves to define our personal sense of Reality. Every human being has a belief system that they utilize, and it is through this mechanism that we individually, “make sense” of the world around us… These sets of beliefs are reinforced by culture, theology, and experience and training as to how society works cultural values, stereotypes, political viewpoints, etc. A belief system need have no basis in reality… link.springer.com/

No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we know this, we become free. Buddha

Freedom starts within you and your relationship with your own thoughts and internal conversations. You will never be truly free unless you are free from your own inner-tyranny and self-persecution… You will feel a lot more positive energy and joy when you see that your personal freedom really does start within. You may still hear your inner-tyrant from time to time; you just don’t have to give that voice any power. www.theempowermentdynamic.com/freedom-comes-from-within

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds. Bob Marley

“Celebrating Fatherhood – Honoring Juneteenth" 06-19-22

Core Statement: Pic ()

“Celebrating Those Who Lead By Positive Example - Honoring The Freedom Of All Humanity”

Scripture:

John 5:19b-20 (NASB) (Jesus Talking…) ^19b…"For whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. ²⁰For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing…

James 3:13 (NRSV) ¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.

Proverbs 20:7 (NRSV⁷The righteous walk in integrity—happy are the children who follow them!

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) ⁵Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

James 1:25 (NRSV) ²⁵But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

Special Reading:

Divine Masculine Energy and Divine Feminine Energy are the energies that keep the universe functioning. They can be found everywhere, and they are represented by the opposites that allow the Universe to function – day and night, winter and summer, hot and cold, sun and moon, man-woman, and so on… As the Universe is very complex, it needs both these energies to function… While the Divine Feminine is more oriented towards feelings, introspection, and emotions, the Divine Masculine is more oriented towards action and achieving goals. subconsciousservant.com/divine-masculine/

Masculinity and femininity are not the same things as gender… they are two completely different things. It is time that society realizes that masculinity and femininity are not traits we associate with depending on gender, but instead depending on the character. To be balanced and better people, I believe we need to have both masculine traits and feminine traits. www.voicesofyouth.org/blog/masculinity-and-femininity

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom (1865) & emphasizes education & achievement. It is a day marked with celebrations & family gatherings. It is a time for reflection & rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement & for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long overdue. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities & religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped & continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society. www.juneteenth.com/

Let's make Juneteenth a commemorative, not of the horrific institution our country embraced, but rather as a showcase of the strength in the American spirit to recognize wrong & set about making it right. In this same spirit America moves ahead today in leveling playing fields & achieving ever greater equality. Let us celebrate all that Juneteenth teaches us about our use of the heart to hear & to learn & to work together for all that is good & just. John Albuquerque www.juneteenth.com/

Quotes:

The modern day father comes in various forms. Today’s father is no longer always the traditional married breadwinner and disciplinarian in the family. He can be single or married; externally employed or stay-at home; gay or straight; an adoptive or step-parent; and a more than capable caregiver to children facing physical or psychological challenges. American Psychological Association www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/changing-father.aspx

I feel that the greatest gift that I can give my children is the freedom to be who they are. Will Smith

My dad has given me the best gift anyone has ever given me. He gave me wings to fly. Adria Arjona

On this day, June 19, 1865, Black people’s complete personhood was acknowledged on a systemic level for the very first time. It dates the moment African-Americans, Caribbean-Americans, and Afro-immigrants alike could begin to, on some level, participate in and see themselves as part of a whole society. Brianna Taylor

Juneteenth means so much to me. It represents the freedom that my ancestors fought so tirelessly for. But rather than focusing on the brutalization of my people then & now, I choose to focus on hope. June 19th reminds me that I am the force of power to change this world and to follow in the footsteps of my ancestors to work towards liberation. Mariah Cooley

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, & if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Nelson Mandela

My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. Desmond Tutu

“What Is ‘Unity’…How Is It Different? Pt 1: A Global Spiritual Movement” 06-12-22

Weekly Statement:

“Unity Is A Global Spiritual Movement Based On Universal Wisdom Teachings”

Scripture:

Jeremiah 6:16 (NRSV) ¹⁶Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls…

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV) ¹⁶Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Ephesians 4:4-6 (NASB) ⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;⁵one Lord, one faith… ⁶one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Unity Reading:

Jesus had a unique concept of God. To Him, God was not an object of worship, but a Presence dwelling in us, a force surrounding us, and a Principle by which we live… Jesus discovered His own Divinity, His unique relationship with the Infinite. He discovered that through faith he could open doors into the inexhaustible Mind of God, finding renewed creativity, a flow of powerful ideas, a perception beyond the comprehension of the ‘Adam man’ [unawakened, human consciousness man] of His day or ours. He knew…that what was true of Him must be potentially true of ALL men… When suddenly you come alive to the within of you, the depths of you, then God is very real to you – not as a person separate from you, but as an added dimension of you, as a living presence ever with you. Eric Butterworth Discover The Power Within You

Quotes:

Unity History
• The Unity spiritual movement began in the late 1800s based on prayer and the power of mind over body. Charles and Myrtle Fillmore heard a lecture by a metaphysician named E.B. Weeks, and Myrtle came away with a startling new idea: “I am a child of God, and therefore I do not inherit sickness.”
• In two years of prayer and meditation, Myrtle healed her body of tuberculosis. Charles also began to investigate spiritual principles and healed a leg that had been damaged in a childhood ice skating accident. Charles had an eclectic interest in many philosophical and spiritual things. His understanding and awareness over the years came from a wide and varied interest and exploration into such teachings as Spiritualism, Buddhism, Brahmanism, Theosophy, Rosecrucianism and Christianity.
• The Fillmores were devotees of Ralph Waldo Emerson and studied with the leading teachers of the day, including Mary Baker Eddy and Emma Curtis Hopkins. To share the exciting spiritual teachings they had learned, the Fillmores didn’t start a church but began to publish a magazine.
• The first issue of Modern Thought came out in 1889 and is now called Unity Magazine®. The next year, in 1890, Charles and Myrtle formed a prayer group that is now Silent Unity, a 24/7 prayer ministry that responds to 2 million people a year through letters, telephone, and email.
• Book publishing began with Lessons in Truth, still a Unity classic, and Unity Books is still active. A second magazine was initiated in 1924, Daily Word, which now circulates around the globe.
• Classes taught by the Fillmores grew into a seminary, Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute, with about 600 churches and study groups worldwide.
• The farm they initially established to grow produce for their vegetarian restaurant in downtown Kansas City is now Unity Village, Missouri, a 1,200-acre incorporated town and the world headquarters for the enduring Unity movement. www.unity.org/about-us/what-unity

What Is Unity?

Unity is for people who might call themselves spiritual but not religious. It is for those who sense the depths of their own being and celebrate the awareness of a power greater than themselves. The teachings in Unity bring together ancient wisdom with new interpretations of what it means to be alive and human. Unity inspires different ways to think about the force of love and intelligence that many people call God… Unity has no dogma. The Fillmores were reluctant even to issue a statement of beliefs. They wanted to remain in constant exploration… Throughout the years, they pulled together teachings of Truth that flow through all the world’s great religions. Later, leaders of Unity boiled them down to five basic principles.

The Five Principles

1. God is all there is and present everywhere. This is the force of love and wisdom that underlies all of existence.

2. Human beings are divine at their core and therefore inherently good.

3. Thoughts have creative power to determine events and attract experiences.

4. Prayer and meditation keep us aligned with the one great power in the universe.

5. It is not enough to understand spiritual teachings. We must live the Truth we know. www.unity.org/about-us/what-unity

We have had followers in foreign lands almost from the beginning of Unity. When I came to work in Silent Unity more than 60 years ago, hundreds of people were already writing to us and praying with us from such faraway places as Nigeria, Australia, Jamaica, and India. James Dillet Freeman in his 1995 UnityMagazine® column

The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit and that its center is really everywhere, it is within each of us. Black Elk

“Honoring With Gratitude…” 05.29.22 Memorial Day

Weekly Statement:

“Remember With Heartfelt Gratitude Those Who’ve Given Their Lives For Freedom”

Scripture:

Proverbs 10:7a (ESV) ⁷^aThe memory of the righteous is a blessing…

John 15:13 (NIV) ¹³Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Galatians 5:13 (CEV) ¹³My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love.

Presidential Proclamation:

In honor and recognition of all of our fallen heroes, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended, has requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. (The President has so proclaimed Memorial Day, May 31, 2020, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and designated the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time when people might unite in prayer.)

For a soldier a lot can happen in one minute. Because when you choose service over self, one minute can mean the difference between living or dying. Between going home to your family and never seeing them again. Sacrifice means placing every minute of your life on the line for your country. And sometimes you don’t come home. Unknown

In December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” Public Law 106-579, creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. All Americans are encouraged to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. (In his proclamation the President has further asked all Americans to observe the “National Moment of Remembrance” beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.)

Quotes:

This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom. Tamra Bolton

Sometimes we focus so much on what we don't have that we fail to see, appreciate, and use what we do have! Jeff Dixon

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin D. Roosevelt

May we never forget our fallen comrades. Freedom isn't free. Sgt. Major Bill Paxton

No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. St. Ambrose

Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices. President Harry S. Truman

“Every Day Forgiveness Of Others…Letting Go” 05-22-22

Weekly Statement:

“Forgiveness Takes Releasing Past Grievances To Heal Ourselves In The Present” sv

Scripture:

Colossians 3:13 (NRSV) ¹³ Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other…

Philippians 3:13 (NLT) ¹³No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not yet achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…

1 John 2:9-10 (ESV) ⁹Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. ¹⁰Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

Matthew 18:21-22 (NASB) ²¹Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" ²²Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Unity Reading:

In all actual transformation of mind and body a dissolving, breaking-up process necessarily takes place…In each individual, errors [of thinking] have the power that man has given to them by his thoughts concerning them. These thought structures must be broken up and eliminated from consciousness… the most effective method is to withdraw from them the life & substance that have been going to feed them… Charles Fillmore Jesus Christ Heals

Quotes:

When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free. Catherine Ponder

I think the first step is to understand that forgiveness does not exonerate the perpetrator. Forgiveness liberates the victim. It’s a gift you give yourself. T.D. Jakes

Not to forgive is to be imprisoned by the past, by old grievances that do not permit life to proceed with new business. Not to forgive is to yield oneself to another's control... to be locked into a sequence of act & response, of outrage & revenge, tit for tat, escalating always. The present is endlessly overwhelmed & devoured by the past. Forgiveness frees the forgiver. Lance Morrow

Forgive all who have offended you, not for them, but for yourself. Harriet Nelson

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. Louis B. Smedes

“Every Day Forgiveness…Embracing Self” 05.15.22

Weekly Statement:

“Forgiveness Takes Every Day Practice Embracing Ourselves & Healing With Love” sv

Scripture:

Colossians 3:8-9 (ESV) ⁸But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander…

Matthew 6:12 (NKJV) ¹²And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Proverbs 12:25 (NIV) ²⁵Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

Luke 6:37 (ESV) ³⁷“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven…

Mark 11:25 (NKJV) ²⁵ “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…

Proverbs 10:12 (NRSV) ¹² Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

Special Reading:

Seek thoughts that align with love for you. If your thoughts lead to self-pity, and other lower vibrations, chances are you will continue to give yourself more material to hate. This is because this form of judgment is not rooted in self-love. Be kinder to yourself. Forgive your wrongs with a heart that wants to manifest more right. A judge’s job is to restore balance, to reset harmony. As your own judge, learn to do so with compassion and a mindset for evolution… When self-judgment arises, shift mental gears. Step out of the conversation you’re having with yourself. Don’t engage the negative thought, just passively acknowledge it. When you don’t get defensive, your truths come to the surface. Leo Carver

Quotes:

We achieve inner health only through forgiveness - the forgiveness not only of others but also of ourselves. Joshua Loth Liebman

I have learned, that the person I have to ask for forgiveness from the most is: myself. You must love yourself. You have to forgive yourself, every day, whenever you remember a shortcoming, a flaw, you have to tell yourself “That’s just fine”. You have to forgive yourself so much, until you don’t even see those things anymore. Because that’s what love is like. C. JoyBell C.

You can't undo, unsay, unsend, unlove, unkiss, unhurt, unfeel anything. All you can do is accept the past, enjoy the present, and learn for the future. Ayanda Magagula

Turn down the volume of your negative inner voice and create a nurturing inner voice to take it’s place. When you make a mistake, forgive yourself, learn from it, and move on instead of obsessing about it. Equally important, don’t allow anyone else to dwell on your mistakes or shortcomings or to expect perfection from you. Beverly Engel

Forgiveness means letting go of the past. Gerald Jampolsky

Without forgiveness and love, you will live with resentment, bitterness, malice and strife which result in more pain. You can never love without forgiving. Forgiveness deepens your ability to love and frees you from pain. Kemi Sogunle

“Honoring The Divine Feminine” 05.08.22

Weekly Statement:

“The ‘Divine Feminine’ Exemplifies ‘Mother God’ As Intuition, Patience, Comfort & Love.” sv

Scripture:

Proverbs 31:25-26 ²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing… ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Galatians 5:22 (NASB) ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…

Deuteronomy 32:18 (NRSV) God speaking… ¹⁸ You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.

Isaiah 66:13 (NRSV) ¹³As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”

Proverbs 1:8b-9 (ESV) ^8b…Forsake not your mother's teaching,⁹for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

Proverbs 31:28 (NASB) ²⁸Her children rise up and bless her…

Unity Reading:

We read in Job 33:4 “The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.” Bible authorities say that wherever the name El Shaddai occurs in the Hebrew Scriptures it should have been translated “Nourisher” or “Strength-Giver,” (Shaddai in Hebrew actually means breasts) which in Hebrew is the Feminine name for God. This verse may read: The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Mother giveth me life.” Charles Fillmore Atom Smashing Power Of Mind

Special Reading:

The Divine Feminine is an energy that has been with us since ancient times. Consciousness is basically divided up into the ‘masculine’ side and the ‘feminine’ side, and we need both to achieve our highest creative potential. The Divine Feminine represents the connection to the part of our consciousness responsible for nurture, intuition, and empathy… Suzanne Kingsbury

Divine masculine and feminine energy exists in all things…and in a world dominated by masculine energy, more and more people today are looking to tap into the divine feminine. Divine feminine and divine masculine can't exist without the other. This means that despite our cultural associations of masculine and feminine with men and women, respectively, we all have both energies within us. They just might not be evenly balanced. www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/divine-feminine

Quotes:

Mother energy is universal. It is the large expression of the sacred feminine that comes from spirit. Elaine Seiler

The divine feminine is the spiritual concept that there exists a feminine counterpart to the patriarchal and masculine worship structures that have long dominated organized religions. The divine feminine extends well beyond one belief system, and instead can be used as a spiritual lens to balance our perspective. www.thegoodtrade.com/features/divine-feminine

Masculine and feminine roles are not biologically fixed but socially constructed. Judith Butler

It’s a perfect moment to quietly meditate on the cosmic Great Mother who can inspire us all; the divine, feminine Spirit of nurturance known as The Goddess, so revered in ancient times and being rediscovered by women today. Sarah Ban Breathnach.

The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation. James E. Faust

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. Cynthia Ozick

Mother's love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. Marion C. Garretty

“Appreciating Spring…Celebrating May Day” 05-01-22

Core Statement:“Open To The Promises Of Spring, Our Souls Are Renewed & Uplifted” SV

Scripture:

Wisdom 7: 7,17-18 (NRSV) ⁷…I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me… ¹⁷ For it is he [God] who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists, to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements; ¹⁸ the beginning and end and middle of times, the alternations of the solstices and the changes of the seasons…

Deuteronomy 32:2 (NIV) ²Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.

Psalm 51:10 (NIV) ¹⁰Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Hosea 6:3 (NIV) ³Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.

Special Reading:

What is May Day and why is it celebrated?

May Day is the first day of May, traditionally a celebration (or festival) of spring and the resurrection of nature after the winter months. May Day probably has Roman origins, emerging from the festival Floralia, which was a celebration of fertility and nature that took place around early May and was dedicated to the goddess Flora. However, it is also believed that May Day has roots in the Celtic festival Beltane.

The celebration of May Day is deeply connected to the earth’s enduring cycle of birth, life and death, focusing on the power and energy of the natural world… People would traditionally collect flowers, blossom and branches to decorate their homes, and as they gathered their bouquets they would literally ‘sing in the May’. The most iconic expression of May Day celebrations is the May Pole, the centre of the celebrations and the dancing. The dance around it was an expression of the joy of new life. Helen Carr

The May Day basket is still a cherished tradition for some Americans, although it’s not well known today. People would leave a paper basket or cone containing spring flowers and sweets on each other’s doorsteps, usually anonymously… The custom was to knock on the door, yell “May basket!” and then run. https://www.almanac.com/content/what-may-day

When all the world appears to be in a tumult, and nature itself is feeling the assault of climate change, the seasons retain their essential rhythm. Yes, fall gives us a premonition of winter, but then, winter, will be forced to relent, once again, to the new beginnings of soft greens, longer light, and the sweet air of spring. Madeleine M. Kunin

It’s a spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want to — oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! Mark Twain

Renewal requires opening yourself up to new ways of thinking and feeling. Deborah Day

Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again. Sarah Ban Breathnach

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. Rachel Carson

Spring Is…

…The reminder that delicate shoots must push through dirt

…The realization of how much darkness we’ve survived

…The time of indecision, restless clouds and soft sunshine

…The knowledge that not everything blooms at the same time

…The astonishment of regrowth, of the forgotten reawakening

…The season of hope, of trying before you know you’ll succeed

@Positively Present

“Earth Day Focus 2022…Act Boldly, Innovate Broadly, Implement Equitably” 04-24-22

Core Statement:

“As Respectful Stewards Of Mother Earth We Take Bold, Accountable Action” sv

Scripture:

Genesis 2:15 (NKJV) ¹⁵Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

Philippians 2:4 (ESV) ⁴Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Isaiah 24:4-5 (NRSV) ⁴The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers; the heavens languish

together with the earth. ⁵The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.

Genesis 1:26 (ESV) ²⁶Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV) ²Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Special Readings:

This is the moment to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate. Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, our livelihoods… together, we must Invest In Our Planet…Because a green future is a prosperous future. We need to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably). It’s going to take all of us. All in. Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A partnership for the planet… while there is still time to solve the climate crisis, time to choose BOTH a prosperous and sustainable future, and time to restore nature and build a healthy planet for our children and their children. Time is short. www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/

…The Hebrew word for dominion does not mean “to dominate” or “to exploit.” Rather, it means “to take responsibility for,” … In the first creation story, human beings were created last, not as the so-called “crown of creation,” but in order to exercise responsibility for the well-being of the garden Earth… Being stewards of creation is foundational to what it means to be human. Caring for creation is not an add-on, not a sideline, not related just to part of our calling. It represents our proper human relationship to Earth…in a caretaker position in regard to environmental stewardship. https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/the-stewardship-of-creation-a-theological-reflection/

Quotes:

Water & air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans. Jacques Cousteau

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. Chief Seattle, 1855

When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can’t eat money. Alanis Obomsawin

What’s the use of a fine house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on. Henry David Thoreau

The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction. Rachel Carson

There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge, that we are caretakers of this planet. Brooke Medicine Eagle

Do something. Pay your rent for the privilege of living on this beautiful, blue-green, living Earth. Dave Foreman

Teach us to walk the soft Earth as relatives to all that live. Sioux Prayer

“Through Darkness Into Light…We Rise Above" 04-17-22 Easter

Weekly Statement:

“Breaking Through Dark, Limiting Beliefs We Rise Into A Consciousness Of Light” sv

Scripture:

Matthew 28:1-2,5-6 ¹Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ²And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ⁵But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶He is not here, for he has risen…

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Unity Reading:

Eastertide…the resurrection of the mind from the darkness of its doubts and false beliefs into the light of understanding… The word crucifixion means the crossing out in consciousness of certain errors that have become fixed states of mind… the giving up of the personality in order that the Christ Mind may be expressed in all its fullness. Keep A True Lent Charles Fillmore

Quotes:

Rebirth is the main theme behind not only Christianity but other religions that have celebrated the resurrection mythology. The symbolic nature of Easter is the process of dying to the old self and being reborn in a spiritual sense.

Beyond religious dogma lies a deeper meaning that can be utilized for anyone inclined to live a more fulfilling life. Easter can be a powerful metaphor, one that helps us to re-examine our current state of being and then decide how we need to evolve. Sonyo Zofia

The Holy Week message is one of preparation to rise to a new level of being. We prepare by releasing our limitations, doing our inner work to transform our consciousness to create a receptivity to the new. Then, we move through the “crucifixion” – whatever the personal challenge and discomfort are – and allow the inner change to gestate, finally rising as the new consciousness. In this way, we are transformed. The risen Christ Consciousness within is awakened and expresses as a new version of self… Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That

The symbolic language of the crucifixion is the death of the old paradigm; resurrection is a leap into a whole new way of thinking. Deepak Chopra

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. Robert Flatt

A rebirth out of spiritual adversity causes us to become new creatures. James E. Faust

Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time. Martin Luther

Information:

History shows that the cross was used by many civilizations as a spiritual & mystical symbol (with “pagan” origins)…In Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, Asia, India, centuries before Christ. The “cross symbol” is varied, and is much older than Jesus or Christianity. The "Christian" use of the cross did not begin until the time of Constantine, three centuries after the death Christ.

The cross is a powerful symbol representing the connection between heaven and earth, a meeting point of death and rebirth and new spiritual awareness… The horizontal dimension represents the life of matter set in space and time. The vertical dimension is the timeless spiritual plane. The cross is the expression of the meeting of the two...the best possible expression of human existence.

"Pathway of Palms...Journeying With Humbleness” 04-10-22 (Palm Sunday)

Weekly Statement:

“Humbleness Shifts Us From Ego Personality Into Higher Christ Consciousness” sv

Scripture/Websites

Matt 21:6-9 ⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

www.wikipedia.palmsunday The symbolism of the donkey may refer to the Eastern tradition that it is an animal of peace, versus the horse, which is the animal of war. A king came riding upon a horse when he was bent on war and rode upon a donkey when he wanted to point out he was coming in peace. Jesus' entry to Jerusalem would thus symbolize his entry as the Prince of Peace, not as a war-waging king.

www.gotquestions.org/Palm-Sunday.html The crowds looked for a Messiah who would rescue them politically and free them nationally, but Jesus had come to save them spiritually…Mankind’s primary need is spiritual, not political or cultural…

Luke 19:41-42 (NKJV) ⁴¹Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, ⁴²saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

Revealing Word: Jerusalem--"Habitation of peace." In man it is the abiding consciousness of spiritual peace. When we go deep into the silent recesses of our beings, we realize a stillness and sweetness beyond expression. A great peace is there…

James 4:6b (NASB) ⁶…“God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Psalm 37:11 (NASB) ¹¹ But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

James 3:13 (NIV) ¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Colossians 3:12 (NIV) ¹²Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Quotes:

Spiritual consciousness puts all men and all things on a common level. In the sight of God there is no great, no small… Jesus taught & exemplified the willingness of divine love to serve in humble ways… Charles Fillmore

The only wisdom we can hope to acquire is the wisdom of humility. T.S. Eliot

A humble person is more concerned about what is right than about being right, about acting on good ideas than having good ideas, about embracing new truth than defending outdated position, about building the team than exalting self, about recognizing contribution, than being recognized for making it. Stephen M.R. Covey

Every person that you meet knows something you don’t; learn from them. H. Jackson Brown Jr

Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others. Gordon B. Hinckley

Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real. Thomas Merton

Humility is never about being small, unseen and unnoticed. Humility is really about expressing all the wonder you are in a way that all people see is the awesomeness and greatness of GOD. TemitOpe Ibrahim

“Looking Differently At Lent…A Metaphysical Perspective” 04-03-22

Weekly Statement:

“Fasting From Negative Thoughts Opens Us To Higher Christ Consciousness” SV

Scripture:

Mark 1:12-13 (NKJV) ¹²Immediately the Spirit sent Him into the wilderness. ¹³And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

Joel 2:12 (NASB) ^12a“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting…

Isaiah 58:6 (NKJV)

⁶ “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens…

Unity Quotes:

(Paraphrased)When we consider Lent as a season of retreat from the things of the world for the cleansing of the mind and the recollection of the things of Spirit, it becomes a true season of preparation…for the resurrection of the mind from the darkness of it’s doubts and false beliefs into the light of understanding. In fasting, we as metaphysicians abstain from error thinking and meditate on spiritual Truth until we incorporate it into the consciousness of oneness with the Father. Charles Fillmore Keep A True Lent

From a Metaphysical, Spiritual perspective, Lent stands for a voluntary retreat from the world to prepare for our resurrection from false beliefs, error thinking, and the denial of our innate divinity… It’s the meaning, not the ritual that is important… when the ritual becomes more important than the meaning behind it, we have lost our focus. From a spiritual perspective, there is only one kind of fasting: abstaining from error thoughts which dampen our awareness of our oneness with Spirit. Revs., Drs. Bil & Cher Holton

Quotes:

The earliest mention of Lent in the history of the Church comes from the council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The council issued twenty canons of a practical nature, dealing with various aspects of church life, and the fifth of these canons speaks of Lent.
The word used for Lent in this fifth canon is tessar-akonta (original Greek), which means ‘forty’. The length of time was adopted in imitation of the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert at the beginning of his public ministry. (Mark 1:12-13)
In the early centuries fasting rules were strict…Catholics and other Christians often choose to give up specific worldly things…
The English word ‘Lent’ has another, very beautiful derivation. It comes from the Anglo-Saxon word meaning to ‘lengthen’. Lent comes at a time when the hours or daytime are ‘lengthening’, as spring approaches, and so it is a time when we too can ‘lengthen’ spiritually… Father Norman Tanner S.J.

Lent is like a long 'retreat' during which we can turn back into ourselves and listen to the voice of God… Pope Benedict XVI

Release what no longer serves you to create a space for that which does… Randy Gage

Once you become aware of what stands in your way and become willing to release it, you signal the universe that you are ready to manifest the life you were meant to live. Cherie Carter-Scott

Step outside for a while – calm your mind. It is better to hug a tree than to bang your head against a wall continually. Rasheed Ogunlaru

“What Have We Learned? Part 2: Building A New Tomorrow” 03-27-22

Weekly Statement:

“Proactively Making Positive New Choices Builds Our New Tomorrow” sv

Scripture:

Proverbs 18:15 (ESV) ¹⁵An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Psalm 51:6 (ESV) ⁶Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (ESV) ¹¹"For this commandment that I command you todayis not too hard for you, neither is it far off. ¹²It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' ¹³Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' ¹⁴But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

Psalm 32:8 (NRSV) ⁸I will instruct you & teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Isaiah 43:19 (ESV) ¹⁹Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Special Reading:

It’s funny how it takes the entire world coming to a stop for us to realize that maybe, just maybe, we’ve been doing things the wrong way… In a world where instant gratification is the norm and everything is at our fingertips, the virtue of patience seems long lost. We’re bombarded with content on social media and streaming platforms and are constantly stimulated by text messages. Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost our ability to sit still and appreciate what is, rather than what isn’t. So, what can we take away from these hard times? Despite all that has gone on, there have been some positives to the world coming to a stop. It’s forced us to take a step back, think, understand and appreciate what it means to live and not just survive. Krishna L., Student at King's College London

Quotes:

Life is a beautiful dance between joy and disappointment. The great news is that we get to choose how to respond to anything that happens… The Universe is training us to be comfortable with whatever shows up in our lives…Wherever you are on your journey, just know that you are not alone and there is a Divine purpose in whatever you’re going through... Sarah Prout

Once in awhile it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way that they have been told to. Alan Keightley

There is nothing more genuine than breaking away from the chorus to learn the sound of your own voice. Po Bronson

Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty. Brene Brown

With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world. Dalai Lama

Keep moving ahead because action creates momentum, which in turn creates unanticipated opportunities. Nick Vujicic

Every human has four endowments: self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom — The power to choose, to respond, to change. Steven Covey

“What Have We Learned? Part 1: Recognizing Changes” 03-20-22

Thought For The Week:

“Recognizing & Incorporating What We’ve Learned Sets Us On A New Course” sv

Scripture:

John 16:33 (NKJV)

³³These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

James 1:5-6 (ESV) ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶But let him ask in faith…

Isaiah 54: 2-3a (ESV)

²"Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. ³For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left…

Daniel 2:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰Daniel answered and said: “ Blessed be the name of God… For wisdom and might are His. ²¹ And He changes the times and the seasons… He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

Deuteronomy 11:10-11 (NKJV) ¹⁰ For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; ¹¹ but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven…

Special Reading:

Post traumatic growth is an alternative to post traumatic stress disorder. When we go through hard times, we are able to stretch and develop. When we grow from trauma—and the pandemic is an example—it results in three primary benefits:

We deepen connections, learning who is most supportive of us and to whom we are most committed.
We clarify our priorities, developing our understanding of what really matters to us—and what doesn’t.
We validate our own capabilities, understanding how much we can endure and how resilient we are in the face of difficulty. Tracy Brower Ph.D. sociologist and author

Quotes:

When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge. Tuli Kupferberg

The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings. Kakuzō Okakura

Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone. Billy Cox

Adaptability is about the powerful difference between adapting to cope and adapting to win. Max McKeown

In a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks. Warren Buffett

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. lan Cohen

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. John F. Kennedy

“Irish Music…A Gift For The Soul” 03-13-22

Weekly Thought:

”Music Is A Universal Language Of Laughter & Tears That Heals, Inspires & Connects Humanity” sv

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:18b-19 (NASB)¹⁸…be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord…

2 Chronicles 5:13 (NIV) ¹³The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals & other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord & sang…

Quotes:

Folk music is often a form of oral history, retelling the stories of families, communities, and generations. For diasporic communities, these songs serve as a reminder of their ancestors’ hardship and a way of expressing their heritage. In Ireland I think they are a reminder of those who left and a way of explaining an important part of Irish history. While these songs are about the Irish experience, the sense of loss, hope, and resilience they express are universal… Alexandra S. McKeever

Emigration resulted in large populations of Irish decent in areas of North America such as Boston, New York, Chicago. The majority of those who emigrated from Ireland to America in the 18th Century settled in the Appalachian mountains. They brought with them a rich tradition of song and dance tunes which merged with the music of other settlers including European, British and African to become Appalachian "old time" music. American country music originated in Appalachian music and there were other links to bluegrass and rock n roll. Leavingcertmusic.weebly.com/american-folk.html

Across the history of time, music has been used in all cultures for healing and medicine. Every culture has found the importance of creating and listening to music. Even Hippocrates believed music was deeply intertwined with the medical arts. Music therapy is an established form of therapy to help individuals address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. Shilagh Mirgain, PhD.

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. Berthold Auerbach

“We Make A Difference…Accentuate The Positive” 03-06-22

Core Statement:

“Focusing On Light & Love Accentuates The Positive To Uplift Our World” sv

Scripture:

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) ⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

1 Peter 3:8-9 (NRSV) ⁸Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. ⁹Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing.

2 Corinthians 1:11 (ESV) ¹¹You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks… for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV) ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Special Reading:

Whatever we feed to our minds and then nurture will grow! Either positive or negative. Until we arrive at this level of consciousness, we are powerless over our minds, being literally victimized by unmonitored thoughts that rush in from everywhere…Until we gain knowledge and control over our minds, we will not discover the real solution to our difficulties.

Jacquelyn Small

Quotes:

What you notice, give attention to, talk about, get all worked up over emotionally is what you are inviting into your life, whether you mean to or not. Catherine Ponder

The news can be overwhelming and convince us that there is little good left in the world. But if you take it upon yourself to show compassion, even in little ways, you can make a tremendous impact in lives of others. Peter Economy

The Law of Attraction states that whatever you focus on, think about, read about, and talk about intensely, you’re going to attract more of into your life. Jack Canfield

There is now proof that our minds are hardwired to our bodies; our thoughts produce chemicals in our body as a result of those thoughts. Positive thoughts give rise to health supporting chemicals, while negative thoughts give rise to “harmful” chemicals.Rev. Paul Hasselbeck

It has been proven now scientifically, that an affirmative thought is hundreds of times more powerful than a negative thought. Rev. Michael Beckwith

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. Helen Keller

Every thought we think, every feeling we have, every word we speak goes out into the atmosphere to either heal or harm. Let us be healers. Let us be harmless. John R. Price

“Letting Love Be Our Guide…Part 2: Embracing Self and Others” 02-27-22

Core Statement:

“Releasing Anger, Hurt & Guilt Removes Barriers Allowing Love To Heal” sv

Scripture:

Psalm 37:8 (NKJV) ⁸Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV) ³¹Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³²Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…

Mark 12:30-31 (NRSV) ³⁰You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ ³¹The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

1 Timothy 1:5 ⁵But the goal of our instruction is lovefrom a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 John 4:7 (NRSV) ⁷Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NKJV) ¹³ Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done with love.

Special Reading:

Love is within us. It cannot be destroyed. It can be ignored… Denying love is our only problem, and embracing it is the only answer. Through the power of love, we can let go of past history and begin again. Love heals, forgives, and makes whole. Ernest Holmes

Unity Reading:

Through forgiveness, the wrong is released from its emotional stranglehold on us so that we can learn from it. Through the power and intelligence of the heart, the release of forgiveness brings expanded intelligence to work with the situation more effectively. Rev. David McArthur & Bruce McArthur

Quotes:

Not to forgive is to be imprisoned by the past, by old grievances that do not permit life to proceed with new business. Not to forgive is to yield oneself to another's control... to be locked into a sequence of act and response, of outrage and revenge, escalating always. Forgiveness frees the forgiver. Lance Morrow

Forgive all who have offended you, not for them, but for yourself. Harriet Nelson

Love is the greatest healing power I know. Love can heal even the deepest and most painful memories because love brings the light of understanding to the darkest corners of our hearts and minds ... Louise Hay

I have an everyday religion that works for me. Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line. Lucille Ball

The healing power of love and relationships has been documented in an increasing number of well-designed scientific studies involving hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world. Dean Ornish

Eventually you will come to understand that love heals everything, and love is all there is. Gary Zukav

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. Nelson Mandela

“Letting Love Be Our Guide…Part 1: Forgiveness Heals” 02-20-22

Core Statement:

“Love Is The Gateway Through Which Forgiveness Heals Hurtful Feelings & Emotions” sv

Scripture:

Proverbs 10:12 (NRSV) ¹²Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

Philippians 3:13 (NLT) ¹³No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not yet achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…

Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV) ²¹ Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Mark 11:25 (NKJV) ²⁵ “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…

1 Peter 4:8 (NCV) ⁸ Most importantly, love each other deeply, because love will cause people to forgive each other….

Special Reading:

Forgiveness has been defined as a conscious decision to release negative feelings and emotions toward someone who has harmed you…This does not mean you must continue to tolerate the person who harmed you. It doesn’t even mean they deserve to be forgiven. Forgiveness simply means you are choosing to let go of the negativity you have been holding on to when you think of that person. Sometimes forgiveness can also mean letting go of negative feelings towards yourself. Learning to forgive has benefits that are far greater than we may think. Grudges are like toxins within our emotions. When you learn to eliminate these toxins, your body begins to heal… Forgiving and healing are gifts we give to ourselves in the forms of internal peace and stability… Forgiveness triggers healing automatically.www.chopratreatmentcenter.com/

Quotes:

Forgiveness is not something we do for other people. It’s something we do for ourselves to move on. Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong; it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak; it sets you free. www.GraciousQuotes.com

I think the first step is to understand that forgiveness does not exonerate the perpetrator. Forgiveness liberates the victim. It’s a gift you give yourself. T.D. Jakes

Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward. C.S. Lewis

To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and realize the prisoner was you. Lewis B. Smedes

Forgiveness is a reflection of loving yourself enough to move on. Dr. Steve Maraboli

There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love. Bryant H. McGill

As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison. Nelson Mandela

Without forgiveness, there’s no future. Desmond Tutu

“Living Into A New Year…Part 3: My Will or God’s?” 02-13-22

Core Statement:

“Indwelling God, Heart-Wisdom, Is Our Higher-Self Will, Guiding Us For Greatest Good” sv

Scripture:

Proverbs 11:2 (NRSV) ²When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.

James 4:8a (NRSV) ^8aDraw near to God, and he will draw near to you…

Luke 17:20b,21b (NKJV) ^20b…He (Jesus) answered them and said…^21b…. For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

John 14:11 (NIV) ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me…

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Romans 8:14 (NASB) ¹⁴For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God.

Psalm 16:7 (NIV) ⁷ I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

Unity Quotes: Charles Fillmore

“Let the God within you express itself through you in the world without.”

“The mind of the spirit will guide you in perfect ways, even in the minute details of your life, if you will let it do so.”

Quotes:

Never allow your ego to diminish your ability to listen. Gary Hopkins

Ground yourself in the knowledge that your soul is wise and will lead you toward your greatest light… It's where your power resides. Jodi Livon

Spirit is the essence of consciousness, the energy of the universe that creates all things. Each one of us is a part of that spirit - a divine entity. So the spirit is the higher Self, the eternal being that lives within us. Shakti Gawain

Virtually every spiritual tradition teaches that your higher Self is the presence of God within you. Wayne Dyer

As you meditate and become more spiritually attuned, you can better discern and recognize the sound of your higher Self or the voice of God speaking to you through words, images, and sensations. Jack Canfield

The Higher Self is whispering to you softly in the silence between your thoughts. Deepak Chopra

Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place. Zora Neale Hurston

“Living Into A New Year…Part 2: Shifting Old Habits” 02-06-22

Core Statement:

“Change Requires Choiceful Awareness And A Willingness To Shift Entrenched Beliefs” sv

Scripture:

1 Peter 5:8 (NRSV) ⁸Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil [negative embedded beliefs] prowls around, looking for someone to devour.

Matthew 6:13 (ESV)¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

2 Peter 3:13 (NIV) ¹³But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Proverbs 28:13 (NKJV) ¹³He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

Deuteronomy 28:12 (NIV) ¹² The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands…

Special Readings:

Did you know that around 40% of everything we do on a daily basis is habitual? This means that a big part of our lives is almost entirely on autopilot! Think this through for a second and evaluate those habits of yours. Do they empower you or disempower you? Do they limit you or free you? Do they help you or hinder you from reaching your goals? www.productiveandfree.com/

We must first have the desire or motivation to make a change. Then we must change our mindset and our attitude. This drives us to make the decision to do things differently… The mechanism to break bad habits or to change must come from within us and not from others. www.everydaypower.com

Quotes:

We are all blinded by our beliefs. Never stop questioning and realize only respectful discussions can free us from our delusions. Jim Steele

Depending on what they are, our habits will either make us or break us. We become what we repeatedly do. Sean Covey

One of the hardest elements of advancing racial justice is helping everyone understand the ways in which they are involved in a system or structure that perpetuates racism. Ralph Richard Banks.

Melissa De Witte says: Black History Month is a time marked for honoring and reflecting on the experience of Black Americans, and it is also an opportunity to reexamine our nation’s deeply embedded racial problems and the possible solutions that could help build a more equitable society. www.news.stanford.edu

To realize the outcomes you want, it is critical to recognize and experience the transition from our present thoughts, habits, and actions to new thoughts, habits, and actions. Darren L. Johnson

Real transformation requires real honesty. If you want to move forward – get real with yourself. Bryant McGill

Taking responsibility for your beliefs and judgments gives you the power to change them. Byron Katie

The secret of change is to focus all your energy NOT on fighting the old but on BUILDING the new. Socrates

Starting something new or making a big change requires effort, persistence and motivation…Doubt, fear and worry will only slow you down. Focus on doing your best now and celebrate every step of the way. Doe Zantamata

“Living Into A New Year…Part 1: Stepping Into Our Vision” 01-30-22

Core Statement:

“Living Into A Forward Vision Is A Step-By-Step Process” sv

Scripture:

Philippians 4:8 ⁸ …whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

James 1:25 (NKJV) ²⁵But 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.

Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) ³Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Mark 4:23-24 (Jesus speaking to Disciples) ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” ²⁴ Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.

Psalm 43:3a (NASB) ³ O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me…

Unity Quote:

An understanding of the Logos (word) reveals to us the law under which all things are brought forth, the law of mind action. Divine Mind creates by thought, through ideas. C.F. Revealing Word

God-Mind is…constantly seeking to release its perfection in you…when you ask for its guidance and place yourself, by prayer and affirmation, in mental touch with it, there is a great increase in its manifestation in your life. Christian Healing Charles Fillmore

Quotes:

If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else. Yogi Berra

Most times, the way isn’t clear, but you want to start anyway. It is in starting... that other steps become clearer. Israelmore Ayivor

No one can achieve their dreams, and become the kind of person they were meant to be all at once. It’s a series of little movements, and you can only take the step that’s right in front of you. Josh Hatcher

Faith talks in the language of God. Doubt talks in the language of man. E.W. Kenyon

Whatever you did today is enough. Whatever you felt today is valid. Whatever you thought today isn't to be judged. Repeat the above each day. Brittany Burgunder

Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray. Rumi

Today is your day to dance lightly with life. Sing wild songs of adventure. Invite rainbows & butterflies out to play.

Soar your spirit and unfurl your joy. Jonathan Lockwood Huie

"Letter to God…Envisioning Higher-Self" 01-23-22

Core Statement:

“Being Open To Divine Imagination Helps Envision Infinite Possibilities Forward”sv

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:22-24a (NIV) ²²You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self… ²³to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴and to put on the new self…

Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NIV) ¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) ⁷ For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Philippians 4:8 ⁸ …whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

Unity Quotes:

An understanding of the Logos (word) reveals to us the law under which all things are brought forth, the law of mind action. Divine Mind creates by thought, through ideas. Charles Fillmore Revealing Word

Quotes:

Most people are not really free. They are confined by the niche in the world that they carve out for themselves. They limit themselves to fewer possibilities by the narrowness of their vision. V.S. Naipaul

You and I are essentially infinite choice-makers. In every moment of our existence, we are in that field of all possibilities where we have access to an infinity of choices. Deepak Chopra

Within the seed of your desire is everything necessary for it to blossom to fulfillment. And Law of Attraction is the engine that does the work. Your work is just to give it a fertile growing place in order to expand… Your prayer causes you to focus, and the Law of Attraction causes everything in the Universe that's in vibrational harmony with your focus to come to you. Abraham (Hicks)

Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the Universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request and everything your heart desires must come to you. Shakti Gawain

Set your intention, and trust the universe to take care of the details. Mike Fotheringham

Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so. Jiminy Cricket (Cartoon character-Walt Disney)

“A New ‘Name’ & Personal Vision”…The White Stone Experience 01-16-22

Core Statement:

“God Whispering Our ‘New Name’ Calls Us To Greater Horizons” sv

Scripture:

Romans 12:2 (NRSV) ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NRSV) ¹⁸Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. ¹⁹I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Jeremiah 33:3 (NRSV) ³Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Psalm 119:105 (NASB) ¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

John 1:1-3 (CEV) ¹In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. ² From the very beginning the Word was with God. ³And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word.

Revelations 2:17 ¹⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says... To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Unity Quotes:

The Word is – the working power of God…Persistent meditation upon the Truth contained in the Word of God opens the mind to Spirit. The Word of God is the revelation to man of the powers and possibilities of his own being… Keep A True Lent Charles Fillmore

A change of mind effects a corresponding change in the body. If the thoughts are lifted up, the whole organism is raised to higher rates of vibration…But first there must be a renunciation or letting go of old thoughts before the new can find place in the consciousness. Twelve Powers of Man Charles Fillmore

Quotes:

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds. Bob Marley

We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come. Joseph Campbell

To have God speak to the heart is a majestic experience, an experience that people may miss if they monopolize the conversation and never pause to hear God's responses. Charles Stanley

The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world. Malcolm Gladwell

Create the highest grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe. Oprah Winfrey

A possibility is a hint from God. One must follow it. Soren Kierkegaard

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. Martin Luther King Jr.

White Stone Experience:

The White Stone Ceremony is an ancient ritual of new beginnings. In Jesus' day, when a person was released from prison, they were given a white stone to represent their new start. The white stone signifies your freedom. Through meditation you will receive a word or phrase symbolizing a new start - a vision/intention Spiritually recognized to guide you forward into the new year.

“Celebrating Fatherhood – Honoring Juneteenth" 06-19-22

Core Statement: Pic ()

“Celebrating Those Who Lead By Positive Example - Honoring The Freedom Of All Humanity”

Scripture:

James 3:13 (NRSV) ¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.

Proverbs 20:7 (NRSV⁷The righteous walk in integrity—happy are the children who follow them!

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) ⁵Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

James 1:25 (NRSV) ²⁵But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

Special Reading:

Quotes:

I feel that the greatest gift that I can give my children is the freedom to be who they are. Will Smith

My dad has given me the best gift anyone has ever given me. He gave me wings to fly. Adria Arjona

My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. Desmond Tutu

“What Is ‘Unity’…How Is It Different? Pt 1: A Global Spiritual Movement” 06-12-22

Weekly Statement:

“Unity Is A Global Spiritual Movement Based On Universal Wisdom Teachings”

Scripture:

Jeremiah 6:16 (NRSV) ¹⁶Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls…

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV) ¹⁶Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Unity Reading:

Quotes:

What Is Unity?

The Five Principles

1. God is all there is and present everywhere. This is the force of love and wisdom that underlies all of existence.

2. Human beings are divine at their core and therefore inherently good.

3. Thoughts have creative power to determine events and attract experiences.

4. Prayer and meditation keep us aligned with the one great power in the universe.

5. It is not enough to understand spiritual teachings. We must live the Truth we know. www.unity.org/about-us/what-unity

“Honoring With Gratitude…” 05.29.22 Memorial Day

Weekly Statement:

“Remember With Heartfelt Gratitude Those Who’ve Given Their Lives For Freedom”

Scripture:

Proverbs 10:7a (ESV) ⁷^aThe memory of the righteous is a blessing…

John 15:13 (NIV) ¹³Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Galatians 5:13 (CEV) ¹³My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love.

Presidential Proclamation:

Quotes:

This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom. Tamra Bolton

Sometimes we focus so much on what we don't have that we fail to see, appreciate, and use what we do have! Jeff Dixon

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin D. Roosevelt

May we never forget our fallen comrades. Freedom isn't free. Sgt. Major Bill Paxton

No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. St. Ambrose

“Every Day Forgiveness Of Others…Letting Go” 05-22-22

Weekly Statement:

“Forgiveness Takes Releasing Past Grievances To Heal Ourselves In The Present” sv

Scripture:

Colossians 3:13 (NRSV) ¹³ Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other…

Philippians 3:13 (NLT) ¹³No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not yet achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…

1 John 2:9-10 (ESV) ⁹Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. ¹⁰Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

Matthew 18:21-22 (NASB) ²¹Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" ²²Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Unity Reading:

Quotes:

I think the first step is to understand that forgiveness does not exonerate the perpetrator. Forgiveness liberates the victim. It’s a gift you give yourself. T.D. Jakes

Forgive all who have offended you, not for them, but for yourself. Harriet Nelson

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. Louis B. Smedes

“Every Day Forgiveness…Embracing Self” 05.15.22

Weekly Statement:

“Forgiveness Takes Every Day Practice Embracing Ourselves & Healing With Love” sv

Scripture:

Colossians 3:8-9 (ESV) ⁸But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander…

Matthew 6:12 (NKJV) ¹²And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Proverbs 12:25 (NIV) ²⁵Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

Luke 6:37 (ESV) ³⁷“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven…

Mark 11:25 (NKJV) ²⁵ “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…

Proverbs 10:12 (NRSV) ¹² Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

Special Reading:

Quotes:

We achieve inner health only through forgiveness - the forgiveness not only of others but also of ourselves. Joshua Loth Liebman

You can't undo, unsay, unsend, unlove, unkiss, unhurt, unfeel anything. All you can do is accept the past, enjoy the present, and learn for the future. Ayanda Magagula

Forgiveness means letting go of the past. Gerald Jampolsky

“Honoring The Divine Feminine” 05.08.22

Weekly Statement:

“The ‘Divine Feminine’ Exemplifies ‘Mother God’ As Intuition, Patience, Comfort & Love.” sv

Scripture:

Proverbs 31:25-26 ²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing… ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Galatians 5:22 (NASB) ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…