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
Psalm 130:5 (NASB) 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And I wait for His word.
Hebrews 6:15 (NASB) 15 And 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) 11 But 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) 13 So 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
“An Inner Peaceful Consciousness Creates The Foundation For Experiencing Outer Calm” sv
Hebrews 6:15 (NASB) 15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.
Psalm 119:165 (NRSV) 165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
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
“Gratitude Awareness Opens Us To The In-Flow & Out-Flow Of Magnified Blessings” sv
Psalm 9:1 1I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart…
Psalm 95:2 (NRSV) 2 Let 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
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) 23 Then 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
“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) 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give 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.
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) 19 He 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: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot… 6 a 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. 8 You 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) 6 The 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) 3 I 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
“3rd 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) 20 For 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) 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…
Affirmation Statement:
“Celebrating Our 3rd 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) 26 Then 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; 8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. 9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?
Proverbs 27:23 (NRSVUE) 23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds…
Proverbs 12:10 (NRSVUE) 10 The righteous know the needs of their animals…
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
“Participating & Serving Together Creates A Sense Of Connection & Satisfaction” sv
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
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) 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…
Matthew 18:20 (NIV) 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Psalm 133:1 (NRSV) 1 How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
Romans 1:11-12 (NRSV) 11 For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 or 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:
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
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) 18a They are to do good, to be rich in good works… 19 thus 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) 13 Therefore, 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) 4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage & do it.”
Galatians 6:4 (NKJV) 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself…
Proverbs 13:19a (NKJV) 19a A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul…
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
“Prayer Only Takes A Moment To Pause, Re-center, & Breathe Into Oneness With God” sv
Scripture:
Ephesians 6:18 New International Version (NIV) 18 And 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) 10 Be still, and know that I am God;
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks…
Psalm 9:1 (NASB) 1I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart…
1 Thessalonians 1:2 (NASB) 2 We 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:
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
“Mindful Inquiry Can Shift Us From Negative Thinking To Positive Focus” sv
Scripture:
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) 29 Let 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) 8 Finally, 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
“Playful Enjoyment Is An Important Part Of Celebrating Everyday Living” sv
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) 6 Now 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…
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
“A Simple Moment Of Conscious Breathing Impacts Us In Positive Ways” sv
Scripture:
Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) 7 And 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) 5 Thus says the Lord God… “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
John 20:22 (NIV) 22 And 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
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
“Using Mistakes To Learn & Grow Moves Us Forward Into Positive Action” sv
Scripture:
Psalm 37:23-24 (ESV) 23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord… 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
Proverbs 18:15 (ESV) 15 An 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) 2 For 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) 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith.
Proverbs 28:13 (NASB) 13 One who conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper, But one who confesses and abandons them will find compassion.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NRSV) 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer… let your requests be made known to God. 7 And 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) 34 A 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) 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…
1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV) 14 Let 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, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’…
Proverbs 3:3 (NASB) 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Matthew 23:26 (NIV) 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
Colossians 3:14 (ESV) 14 And 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) 31 So Jesus said… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and 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) 2a And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…
Psalm 119:45 (NIV) 45 I 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) 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.
Proverbs 20:7 (NRSV7 The righteous walk in integrity—happy are the children who follow them!
Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) 5 Stand 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) 25 But 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) 16 Thus 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) 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Ephesians 4:4-6 (NASB) 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;5 one Lord, one faith… 6 one 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) 7a The memory of the righteous is a blessing…
John 15:13 (NIV) 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Galatians 5:13 (CEV) 13 My 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) 13 No, 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) 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander…
Matthew 6:12 (NKJV) 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV) 25 Anxiety 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) 22 But 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,9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
Proverbs 31:28 (NASB) 28 Her 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) 2 Let 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) 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Hosea 6:3 (NIV) 3 Let 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