December 13, 2015 – Mary in You

12/13/15  Rev. David McArthur
Mary in You

Our beautiful Christmas music and decorations take us back to amazing feelings which children experience as magic. My love of the spiritual Christmas has grown. I see a very powerful evolution of mankind. I see something crucial in the story that is the cause of the story‚–the awakening of consciousness, captured in the person of Mary– willingness of the soul to receive.

In the Book of Luke the angel tells Mary what is to come. She answers, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your words be fulfilled in me.” There is a place so pure and deep within us we can describe it as “virgin”. It is beyond the mind. A place where there is a receptivity of higher purpose, a powerful movement within us. Open; open to this simple idea: within you is a receptivity. You receive from higher being direction which brings higher consciousness into the Earth.

Gloria had known a guy in high school only a few years back. About nine months after he had been murdered, she felt she should visit his family. They were decorating for Christmas when she knocked on their door. The last year of Gregg’s life he had spent hanging with the wrong crowd, a lifestyle where murder was not uncommon. His mother didn’t know if Gloria was one of them. But Gloria talked of how she and Gregg had their “first date” back in high school. How kind and attentive he was; how comfortable she felt in his company. Gradually, his mother remembered what a good kid he had been before his downward spiral into crime. She had a lot of guilt for not being able to keep him on the straight and narrow. As she and Gloria celebrated the memory of Gregg, her guilt healed. Why did Gloria go there? She hadn’t known Gregg all that well and certainly didn’t know his family. It took place because that young woman had been willing. She said yes. Something inside her told her to go. And a greater consciousness came to them all.

Lao Tzu asked, “Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles to the bottom and the water is clear (that’s the “virgin”, the place of purity)? Can you remain still until the right action (the higher consciousness, the greater wholeness seeking expression) arises of itself?” When we are in that receptive place, we don’t know what will happen, but it feels right. Our role is to be willing. Yes I am willing. Yes I am willing. Yes I am willing.

We are opening to a greater consciousness. The beautiful images of other Christmases do help, but this year is different. There is now great pain and conflict coming into consciousness. Each time we say yes I am willing, no matter how small the request of us, we bring in a greater consciousness. This Christmas let us hold that greater receptivity. I know you will because I know it is important!

December 13, 2015 – Mary in You

12/13/15  Rev. David McArthur
Mary in You

Our beautiful Christmas music and decorations take us back to amazing feelings which children experience as magic. My love of the spiritual Christmas has grown. I see a very powerful evolution of mankind. I see something crucial in the story that is the cause of the story—the awakening of consciousness, captured in the person of Mary—the willingness of the soul to receive.

In the Book of Luke the angel tells Mary what is to come. She answers, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your words be fulfilled in me.” There is a place so pure and deep within us we can describe it as “virgin”. It is beyond the mind. A place where there is a receptivity of higher purpose, a powerful movement within us. Open; open to this simple idea: within you is a receptivity. You receive from higher being direction which brings higher consciousness into the Earth.

Gloria had known a guy in high school only a few years back. About nine months after he had been murdered, she felt she should visit his family. They were decorating for Christmas when she knocked on their door. The last year of Gregg’s life he had spent hanging with the wrong crowd, a lifestyle where murder was not uncommon. His mother didn’t know if Gloria was one of them. But Gloria talked of how she and Gregg had their “first date” back in high school. How kind and attentive he was; how comfortable she felt in his company. Gradually, his mother remembered what a good kid he had been before his downward spiral into crime. She had a lot of guilt for not being able to keep him on the straight and narrow. As she and Gloria celebrated the memory of Gregg, her guilt healed. Why did Gloria go there? She hadn’t known Gregg all that well and certainly didn’t know his family. It took place because that young woman had been willing. She said yes. Something inside her told her to go. And a greater consciousness came to them all.

Lao Tzu asked, “Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles to the bottom and the water is clear (that’s the “virgin”, the place of purity)? Can you remain still until the right action (the higher consciousness, the greater wholeness seeking expression) arises of itself?” When we are in that receptive place, we don’t know what will happen, but it feels right. Our role is to be willing. Yes I am willing. Yes I am willing. Yes I am willing.

We are opening to a greater consciousness. The beautiful images of other Christmases do help, but this year is different. There is now great pain and conflict coming into consciousness. Each time we say yes I am willing, no matter how small the request of us, we bring in a greater consciousness. This Christmas let us hold that greater receptivity. I know you will because I know it is important!

Play

December 6, 2015 – How Adored You Are

12/06/15  Stowe Dailey & Karen Taylor Good
How Adored You Are

 
From the original Aramaic, “Our father from whom the breath of life comes, who is not separate from us, may we feel you in our hearts. Thanks for your forgiveness. May we forgive ourselves and others, too. May we walk in love, not fear. The kingdom of heaven is here.”

Peace is all I know. What if prayer is not a tearful plea of desperation, but breathing in and out God? What if your life is a prayer that God is praying? What if your thoughts are words that God is saying? What if you knew without a doubt that God is within and without?

Stowe Dailey: A few years ago, near death with cancer, I was advised to move into hospice! With my body, my spirit also needed healing. I visited a friend, a spiritual healer. She asked, “Do you love yourself Stowe? Your mother died when you were 9. You were abused emotionally and sexually. You must have felt abandoned and unloved, maybe that you didn’t deserve to be loved? Picture your beautiful daughter; imagine that she experienced the abuse you experienced.” I was horrified. My friend continued, “Now picture the beautiful child you are. Love her like you love your daughter.”

With my healing, I got a second chance to live, a second chance to laugh, to love, to sing, to dance. A sweet and precious gift. I had allowed my fear to sabotage my dreams, but I learned fear doesn’t stop you from dying, it stops you from living.

Everything happens for a reason; there is perfection in everything! Karen Taylor Good: My mother always had the answer. She was a Leo and a member of Mensa. But the last 8 years of her life she faded away with dementia. The woman that never forgot a grandchild’s birthday couldn’t remember my name. I went to some very dark places, very angry places. “If there is perfection in this, God, then show me! Why would you play such a cold-hearted trick? I thought your job was to love! It’s not fair!” But I got an answer, “she’s going to fly. She’ll have to let go of the things she can’t use. Memories and faces, people and places are just too heavy to carry on angel’s wings. When her time here is through, she’s going to fly.” It’s not easy, but it’s perfect.

Know you are a gift, God’s precious child, perfect, whole, and enough. “I am a gift!” Take a breath. Hear the voice of God, “Child of mine, do you know how adored you are? You’ve never been alone. In my heart you’re always home. I’m you’re greatest fan. You are enough. Do you know how adored you are?! Because you are! You are loved; all is well. So be it.

December 6, 2015 – How Adored You Are

12/06/15  Stowe Dailey & Karen Taylor Good
How Adored You Are

From the original Aramaic, “Our father from whom the breath of life comes, who is not separate from us, may we feel you in our hearts. Thanks for your forgiveness. May we forgive ourselves and others, too. May we walk in love, not fear. The kingdom of heaven is here.”

Peace is all I know. What if prayer is not a tearful plea of desperation, but breathing in and out God? What if your life is a prayer that God is praying? What if your thoughts are words that God is saying? What if you knew without a doubt that God is within and without?

Stowe Dailey: A few years ago, near death with cancer, I was advised to move into hospice! With my body, my spirit also needed healing. I visited a friend, a spiritual healer. She asked, “Do you love yourself Stowe? Your mother died when you were 9. You were abused emotionally and sexually. You must have felt abandoned and unloved, maybe that you didn’t deserve to be loved? Picture your beautiful daughter; imagine that she experienced the abuse you experienced.” I was horrified. My friend continued, “Now picture the beautiful child you are. Love her like you love your daughter.”

With my healing, I got a second chance to live, a second chance to laugh, to love, to sing, to dance. A sweet and precious gift. I had allowed my fear to sabotage my dreams, but I learned fear doesn’t stop you from dying, it stops you from living.

Everything happens for a reason; there is perfection in everything! Karen Taylor Good: My mother always had the answer. She was a Leo and a member of Mensa. But the last 8 years of her life she faded away with dementia. The woman that never forgot a grandchild’s birthday couldn’t remember my name. I went to some very dark places, very angry places. “If there is perfection in this, God, then show me! Why would you play such a cold-hearted trick? I thought your job was to love! It’s not fair!” But I got an answer, “she’s going to fly. She’ll have to let go of the things she can’t use. Memories and faces, people and places are just too heavy to carry on angel’s wings. When her time here is through, she’s going to fly.” It’s not easy, but it’s perfect.

Know you are a gift, God’s precious child, perfect, whole, and enough. “I am a gift!” Take a breath. Hear the voice of God, “Child of mine, do you know how adored you are? You’ve never been alone. In my heart you’re always home. I’m you’re greatest fan. You are enough. Do you know how adored you are?! Because you are! You are loved; all is well. So be it.

Play