Fall is a beautiful time of the year. The leaves are changing into beautiful reds and yellows, and the cotton blooms are bursting and ready to be harvested.
Some folks may be saddened that the weather is turning colder and we are looking at at barer landscape. But in Exodus 23:16 it states that we should "Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field."
We should celebrate the opportunity to rest after our hard work.
In Exodus the fourth commandment reads "Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work..."
In Webster the word Sabbath means "a time of rest." A Sabbath, then, is a period of cessation from effort in order to rest and relax for the purpose of gathering strength and power for a new period of activity.
In the natural world, the period of rest allows all forces of nature to gather strength for a new burst of activity. In our physical bodies, which are so closely connected to the natural realm, a period of rest enables our cells to store up reserve energy. Mentally, a period of rest becomes a time of peace and quiet, enabling our minds to indulge in reflection on the things of the Spirit. This spiritual infilling is absolutely crucial in all cycles of normal growth of the individual.
In every demonstration, there must be resting periods, times of cessation from outer activity, while one dwells in complete trust on God and on the operation of His absolute laws.
In the New Testament we find many instances showing us how Jesus was consistent with the idea in this commandment in making his great demonstrations. He would go apart to pray, and after such a period of infilling, he would move through a period of intense activity of teaching and healing; then he would go apart to rest while. He would pray, work, rest, then repeat the cycle.
Celebrate this time of rest for we are renewing physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually for our rebirth. As Spring brings us a burst of activity in nature; we, too, will burst forth feeling renewed and rejuvenated so that we may do God's good works.
Namaste!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Prayer
God is forever calling us to awaken to oneness; our oneness with him/her. This calling is inherent in all of us. It is the call to come up higher, to take charge of our lives, to release our imprisoned splendor.
In the scripture Job 22: 26 - 28 it says "submit to God and be at peace with him; And prosperity will come to us. That we should pray to God and we will be heard. All our vows will be met." The key word to that scripture is "Pray." Eric Butterworth says that prayer "is the secret door to cosmic power."
The practice of prayer allows us to become aware of our true self - that we are God's heirs. We do not inherit things from God, but Divine Ideas such as life, substance, intelligence, love, power, unlimited abundance and well-being.
Many of us have been brought up thinking prayer is something that we do to God, or a ceremony we perform for God. Emilie Cady says in Lessons in Truth that "True prayer is grateful acknowledgement of the truth that God and man (or women) are one because they are of the same nature. True prayer is the continual recognition and thanksgiving that all is good, that all good is ours now as much as it ever can be. True prayer can never be begging God for something we do not have. Rather it is thanking Him for bringing into manifestation that which is already ours in the ideal."
So Pray. Pray Daily. Take the time to become established in the awareness of Oneness, our oneness with God. The benefits are great: the unfolding of creative ideas, the ability to rise above human challenges, and the improvement of your disposition and health.
Pray and connect with the treasure within us all - Our Divine Inheritance.
Peace be with you.
In the scripture Job 22: 26 - 28 it says "submit to God and be at peace with him; And prosperity will come to us. That we should pray to God and we will be heard. All our vows will be met." The key word to that scripture is "Pray." Eric Butterworth says that prayer "is the secret door to cosmic power."
The practice of prayer allows us to become aware of our true self - that we are God's heirs. We do not inherit things from God, but Divine Ideas such as life, substance, intelligence, love, power, unlimited abundance and well-being.
Many of us have been brought up thinking prayer is something that we do to God, or a ceremony we perform for God. Emilie Cady says in Lessons in Truth that "True prayer is grateful acknowledgement of the truth that God and man (or women) are one because they are of the same nature. True prayer is the continual recognition and thanksgiving that all is good, that all good is ours now as much as it ever can be. True prayer can never be begging God for something we do not have. Rather it is thanking Him for bringing into manifestation that which is already ours in the ideal."
So Pray. Pray Daily. Take the time to become established in the awareness of Oneness, our oneness with God. The benefits are great: the unfolding of creative ideas, the ability to rise above human challenges, and the improvement of your disposition and health.
Pray and connect with the treasure within us all - Our Divine Inheritance.
Peace be with you.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
It is Finished!
In a few days it will be Good Friday. In the scripture Jesus' final words were "It is finished", and then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Jesus raised himself up to God. He released his spirit from his human body; he crossed out of bondage of human limitations.
Good Friday is the 39th day of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday. During the Lenten Season we have practiced the presence of God through prayer and meditation. We have read books containing spiritual thoughts, such as the Bible or Daily Word.
We have done some self-evaluation and made a decision to release one or some things that we feel would make our lives better; that would help us on our spiritual paths.
We have used denials and affirmations to help synchronize our consciousness with God. To help us get in tune with the divine.
We may have gone through some trials and tribulations; concerns and doubts as Jesus did in Gethsemane.
We may have even felt a sense of loss or grief because the things that we are letting go (habits, emotions, unforgiveness or people) have been with us for a long time.
And then we come to Good Friday AND it is the day WE say "It is Finished!" Our hard work is done. We released and let go, and we are not looking back. We have crossed out of bondage.
As we let go this Friday, we resurrect to a new life.
Let us all rise as Jesus did into a new way of being.
Happy Easter!
Good Friday is the 39th day of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday. During the Lenten Season we have practiced the presence of God through prayer and meditation. We have read books containing spiritual thoughts, such as the Bible or Daily Word.
We have done some self-evaluation and made a decision to release one or some things that we feel would make our lives better; that would help us on our spiritual paths.
We have used denials and affirmations to help synchronize our consciousness with God. To help us get in tune with the divine.
We may have gone through some trials and tribulations; concerns and doubts as Jesus did in Gethsemane.
We may have even felt a sense of loss or grief because the things that we are letting go (habits, emotions, unforgiveness or people) have been with us for a long time.
And then we come to Good Friday AND it is the day WE say "It is Finished!" Our hard work is done. We released and let go, and we are not looking back. We have crossed out of bondage.
As we let go this Friday, we resurrect to a new life.
Let us all rise as Jesus did into a new way of being.
Happy Easter!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Ash Wednesday
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten season. In early church history, Lent was observed as a period of time when the whole community prayed and fasted with the catechumens - people converting to Christianity who received training in doctrine and discipline before baptism on Easter. Those who were already baptized prepared to renew their baptismal promises at Easter, thus joining the catechumens in seeking to deepen their own conversion.
With the disappearance of the catchumencate from the church's life, peoples' understanding of the season of Lent changed. By the Middle Ages, the emphasis was no longer baptismal. Instead the emphasis shifted to the passion and death of Jesus. Lent became a time to acknowledge our guilt for the sins that led to Jesus' passion and death. Repentance was seen as a way to avoid punishment for sin, instead of a way to renew our baptismal commitment.
Unity looks at Lent as a time for spiritual renewal, similar to the original observance of the early churches. A time to remove the ashes or residue of things that no longer serve us on our spiritual journey.
Instead of fasting from food or drink, which might be the letter of the law; we look at it as fasting from negative patterns of thoughts, feelings, words and actions. It is a time for reflection. It is time to blend and merge our mind with God-Mind.
Here are several things to make your Lenten season more meaningful:
1. Set aside some time each day to be alone with God. Every day set aside time for prayer and study.
2. Daily practice the presence of God. See God in everything - other people and nature. Talk to God about anything, anytime and anywhere. Make God your BFF.
3. Do some self-evaluation. Take an honest look at yourself; examine your thoughts, feelings, words and behavior. Don't put yourself down as you are evaluating. Look at yourself objectively. Look at these things as something that can be changed.
4. Decide what you should release and let go. Look for an area of need and work with it. Ask the question
"What would make my life better if I got rid of X?"
5. Use Denials and Affirmations. Once you determine your specific fast, you may want to use denials. As written in Emilie Cady's book Lessons in Truth, "to deny is to declare untrue; to repudiate as utterly false; to deny the claims of error consciousness, to declare these claims to be untrue." Denials clear away belief in negative appearances as reality and makes room for the establishing of Truth. After you deny, you then affirm. Again in Cady's Lessons in Truth, "to affirm is to assert positively that it is so, even in the face of all contrary evidence." Affirmations are declarations of spiritual truth. Denials have an erasive or dissolving tendency. Affirmations build up and give strength, courage and power.
6. Make a commitment to spiritual growth during Lent. It is up to you. No one can establish dominion for you but you. Every day adhere to your resolve to observe Lent by doing those things that will enhance your spiritual growth.
Lent provides you with a special opportunity to draw closer to God. A wonderful time to be renewed and to express more of your true spiritual nature.
As you fast and pray you will be on your way to a more meaningful Easter experience, to an awakening to and resurrection of the living Christ within your being and within your life.
Peace Be With You.
With the disappearance of the catchumencate from the church's life, peoples' understanding of the season of Lent changed. By the Middle Ages, the emphasis was no longer baptismal. Instead the emphasis shifted to the passion and death of Jesus. Lent became a time to acknowledge our guilt for the sins that led to Jesus' passion and death. Repentance was seen as a way to avoid punishment for sin, instead of a way to renew our baptismal commitment.
Unity looks at Lent as a time for spiritual renewal, similar to the original observance of the early churches. A time to remove the ashes or residue of things that no longer serve us on our spiritual journey.
Instead of fasting from food or drink, which might be the letter of the law; we look at it as fasting from negative patterns of thoughts, feelings, words and actions. It is a time for reflection. It is time to blend and merge our mind with God-Mind.
Here are several things to make your Lenten season more meaningful:
1. Set aside some time each day to be alone with God. Every day set aside time for prayer and study.
2. Daily practice the presence of God. See God in everything - other people and nature. Talk to God about anything, anytime and anywhere. Make God your BFF.
3. Do some self-evaluation. Take an honest look at yourself; examine your thoughts, feelings, words and behavior. Don't put yourself down as you are evaluating. Look at yourself objectively. Look at these things as something that can be changed.
4. Decide what you should release and let go. Look for an area of need and work with it. Ask the question
"What would make my life better if I got rid of X?"
5. Use Denials and Affirmations. Once you determine your specific fast, you may want to use denials. As written in Emilie Cady's book Lessons in Truth, "to deny is to declare untrue; to repudiate as utterly false; to deny the claims of error consciousness, to declare these claims to be untrue." Denials clear away belief in negative appearances as reality and makes room for the establishing of Truth. After you deny, you then affirm. Again in Cady's Lessons in Truth, "to affirm is to assert positively that it is so, even in the face of all contrary evidence." Affirmations are declarations of spiritual truth. Denials have an erasive or dissolving tendency. Affirmations build up and give strength, courage and power.
6. Make a commitment to spiritual growth during Lent. It is up to you. No one can establish dominion for you but you. Every day adhere to your resolve to observe Lent by doing those things that will enhance your spiritual growth.
Lent provides you with a special opportunity to draw closer to God. A wonderful time to be renewed and to express more of your true spiritual nature.
As you fast and pray you will be on your way to a more meaningful Easter experience, to an awakening to and resurrection of the living Christ within your being and within your life.
Peace Be With You.
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