affirmations

May 25, 2014 – I Pray YES!

by


5/25/14 Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
I Pray YES! 

In Unity, we use affirmative prayer. In fact, Unity was co-founded by Myrtle Fillmore, who healed her tuberculosis with affirmative prayer. She had heard that “God is never sick.” That as children of God, we are made in the image and likeness of God, and inherit the characteristics of God. Therefore we can never be sick.

“Affirmative prayer is a form of prayer or metaphysical technique that is focused on a positive outcome rather than a negative situation.” (Wikipedia) It is understanding the nature of God and our relationship to God.

Affirmative prayer is a combination of affirmations and denials. Denials are a positive way to address the situation; a disavowal that the negative situation has any power to diminish or weaken us, that it has no power over us. The negative situation is true, but it is not the Truth of our being. Affirmations are statements of Truth of the life we want to live into.

Suppose I got fired. Denial doesn’t mean I can go back to work tomorrow. It means that being fired doesn’t diminish me or keep me down. Affirm your Truth and move from your head to your heart.

If you are so low that all you’ve got is begging and pleading with God, go for it until you get to a place of healing and you can go forward, until you can affirm the Truth and the possibilities. Then, disavow the possibility that it can bring you down, and affirm your Truth and power. But what about when you do it and it isn’t working? If it is not working, go back and see what’s within you that might be holding this up. Is it fear or doubt, or even old beliefs learned in childhood?

The steps are:

1.  Affirm your Truth! Write your affirmation. Make copies and post them on your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator, in your car, and at the office. Each day you will see these positive truths and they will sink in. Or you can say an affirmation 7 times a day for 21 continuous days. You are bringing the negative from the head to the heart, and “God hears the prayers of the heart.”  

2. Believe your affirmative prayer! Say, “I no longer believe (that); I believe (this)!”

3. And remember, gratitude is the most powerful prayer!

4. Release it to God. You don’t have to tell God over and over and over!

Now look around—see what we have created! Everything you see was at one time a divine idea that then appeared in the mind of man.

Affirmative prayer is to say, “Yes!” to the Truth of God and your being. Declare, I say YES! I say YES! I say YES! And I promise you, beloved, that “goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life!” God bless you!

May 18, 2014 – Heart to Heart Connection

by


5/18/14 Rev. David McArthur
Heart to Heart Connection 

“Life is really one fool thing after another. Love is two fool things after each other.” A local “philosopher” told me that. But our primary relationship with the spouse is where most of our deepest spiritual learning comes from. Song writers have written “I can’t live if living is without you.” Or “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?” The attention is on “me”, on what is done for “me”. There are two levels of attention: in the intellectual, the flow is through the brain. In the spiritual, the flow is in the heart. When the head is significantly present it is in charge. When the heart intelligence is the predominant presence you are secure enough to focus on the other person. That’s why the couple experience is so powerful. It is the heart to heart connection.

Is your locus of intention on “me”, or in the heart where the connection happens? When there is no “me”, the heart is open to the God perception. That’s why we fall in love. It is opening to our oneness. Then we write verse like “You make the sun want to shine.” “Her hand in mine calms my soul.”

We can move from reaction to love, from head to heart, in four breaths. Breath #1, go to “neutral” when love is not your first response because the head is protecting you. It’s not good or bad; they are not for or against you. Breath #2 is go to “NEUTRAL”. The first was the intention of getting to neutral. The second is to get you there. Now you are in a place where you can choose. The third breath is “I CARE for you.” Focus on your feeling of care for that person. 4th breath is “I care for YOU.” Something new happens. Instead of the locus of your attention on your feelings of defense or “fixing it”, they are on the other person. Say to them, “tell me more”.

Anchor this. Affirm Divine Love flows from my heart blessing you! Divine Love flows from my heart blessing you! Divine Love flows from my heart blessing you!
Then Divine Love flows from my heart loving you! Divine Love flows from my heart loving you! Divine Love flows from my heart loving you!

Heart to heart connection. Soul to soul understanding. It’s a beautiful experience. It’s why we spiritual beings came here. We know what beautiful spiritual beings we are, heart to heart!

May 18, 2014 – Heart to Heart Connection

by

5/18/14 Rev. David McArthur
Heart to Heart Connection 

“Life is really one fool thing after another. Love is two fool things after each other.” A local “philosopher” told me that. But our primary relationship with the spouse is where most of our deepest spiritual learning comes from. Song writers have written “I can’t live if living is without you.” Or “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?” The attention is on “me”, on what is done for “me”. There are two levels of attention: in the intellectual, the flow is through the brain. In the spiritual, the flow is in the heart. When the head is significantly present it is in charge. When the heart intelligence is the predominant presence you are secure enough to focus on the other person. That’s why the couple experience is so powerful. It is the heart to heart connection.

Is your locus of intention on “me”, or in the heart where the connection happens? When there is no “me”, the heart is open to the God perception. That’s why we fall in love. It is opening to our oneness. Then we write verse like “You make the sun want to shine.” “Her hand in mine calms my soul.”

We can move from reaction to love, from head to heart, in four breaths. Breath #1, go to “neutral” when love is not your first response because the head is protecting you. It’s not good or bad; they are not for or against you. Breath #2 is go to “NEUTRAL”. The first was the intention of getting to neutral. The second is to get you there. Now you are in a place where you can choose. The third breath is “I CARE for you.” Focus on your feeling of care for that person. 4th breath is “I care for YOU.” Something new happens. Instead of the locus of your attention on your feelings of defense or “fixing it”, they are on the other person. Say to them, “tell me more”.

Anchor this. Affirm Divine Love flows from my heart blessing you! Divine Love flows from my heart blessing you! Divine Love flows from my heart blessing you!
Then Divine Love flows from my heart loving you! Divine Love flows from my heart loving you! Divine Love flows from my heart loving you!

Heart to heart connection. Soul to soul understanding. It’s a beautiful experience. It’s why we spiritual beings came here. We know what beautiful spiritual beings we are, heart to heart!

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May 11, 2014 – Mother as Spiritual Teacher

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5/11/14 Rev. David McArthur
Mother As Spiritual Teacher 

From all the things we might feel about mothers—some gave up a child or a pregnancy, and some faced great pain in their lives because of addiction, and the child in their journey felt much of that pain—let’s go to a place in our hearts that is compassion and surround them with it. Know there is a love that holds them dear.

There is so little in the Bible about Mary as mother. The American psychic Edgar Cayse suggests that Mary was an Essene, who were committed to bringing into the world a being of greater consciousness, and so trained their girls in attunement for that birth. So Mary was carefully prepared to support this child physically and spiritually and to teach Him to listen to the highest guidance. I do not know if this is true, but I have lived long enough to say it could be. Now see your own mother as your first spiritual teacher, who showed you how to care, and how to interact with family and friends.

When Edith was 9 years old she lived at the end of the power grid in Arkansas. A great thunder storm was moving through. Father was far away for work; it was just little Edie and her mother. Needing comfort, she talked with her mother, asking about her mother’s need soon for a warm winter coat. Mom replied that she wasn’t worried, that God would provide. Before going to bed, she asked her mom to lock the front door, but her mom said that in their area they needed to leave the front door unlocked, in case someone might need shelter. Sure enough they heard someone come in and they peeked into the room and saw Mr. Hill sitting in the arm chair. He was drunk and Edie asked what others were going to think when they heard about this. Her mom said they wouldn’t tell anyone. He was their guest and they would protect him, that when Spirit brings someone into your care it is a blessing. Soon he left and a couple days after, Edie and her mom came home to find a big bag on the porch. Inside was a beautiful new winter coat for Mom. Edie learned from her mother about giving and receiving, about non-judgment and the beauty of opening to care for others and so much more.

The core to the awakening of ourselves is when we were embraced and held by mother’s arms after skinning a knee or another childhood mishap. We were taught about Divine Love. That is when we began to learn the truth. Remember feeling that? It might have been someone else, but mostly it was Mother who taught us, “I Am Loved with an Infinite Love.” “I Am Loved with an Infinite Love.” “I Am Loved with an Infinite Love.” How mother brought us the experience of that and awakened us to know infinite love! We are loved, and what a joy it is!

And to Mom for awakening us to that love, Thank You!

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May 11, 2014 – Mother as Spiritual Teacher

by


5/11/14 Rev. David McArthur
Mother As Spiritual Teacher 

From all the things we might feel about mothers—some gave up a child or a pregnancy, and some faced great pain in their lives because of addiction, and the child in their journey felt much of that pain—let’s go to a place in our hearts that is compassion and surround them with it. Know there is a love that holds them dear.

There is so little in the Bible about Mary as mother. The American psychic Edgar Cayse suggests that Mary was an Essene, who were committed to bringing into the world a being of greater consciousness, and so trained their girls in attunement for that birth. So Mary was carefully prepared to support this child physically and spiritually and to teach Him to listen to the highest guidance. I do not know if this is true, but I have lived long enough to say it could be. Now see your own mother as your first spiritual teacher, who showed you how to care, and how to interact with family and friends.

When Edith was 9 years old she lived at the end of the power grid in Arkansas. A great thunder storm was moving through. Father was far away for work; it was just little Edie and her mother. Needing comfort, she talked with her mother, asking about her mother’s need soon for a warm winter coat. Mom replied that she wasn’t worried, that God would provide. Before going to bed, she asked her mom to lock the front door, but her mom said that in their area they needed to leave the front door unlocked, in case someone might need shelter. Sure enough they heard someone come in and they peeked into the room and saw Mr. Hill sitting in the arm chair. He was drunk and Edie asked what others were going to think when they heard about this. Her mom said they wouldn’t tell anyone. He was their guest and they would protect him, that when Spirit brings someone into your care it is a blessing. Soon he left and a couple days after, Edie and her mom came home to find a big bag on the porch. Inside was a beautiful new winter coat for Mom. Edie learned from her mother about giving and receiving, about non-judgment and the beauty of opening to care for others and so much more.

The core to the awakening of ourselves is when we were embraced and held by mother’s arms after skinning a knee or another childhood mishap. We were taught about Divine Love. That is when we began to learn the truth. Remember feeling that? It might have been someone else, but mostly it was Mother who taught us, “I Am Loved with an Infinite Love.” “I Am Loved with an Infinite Love.” “I Am Loved with an Infinite Love.” How mother brought us the experience of that and awakened us to know infinite love! We are loved, and what a joy it is!

And to Mom for awakening us to that love, Thank You!

May 4, 2014 – Don’t Worry, Be Happy

by


5/4/14 Rev. David McArthur
Don’t Worry, Be Happy 

One of our greatest challenges is to shift our consciousness to a place of joy even when we have problems. Worry doesn’t resolve anything, but it is so natural. There is a reality to it. Did you worry well this week?

We also worry about imagined calamities! The University of Cincinnati found that 85% of what we worry about doesn’t ever take place. And the other 15% is resolved more easily and quickly than we imagine. And we worry when something nice happens—we “wait for the other shoe to drop” or think “it’s too good to be true”.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, “One who works in devotion… and who controls his mind and senses [aware of the Spiritual Presence] …Though always working… is never entangled.” Jesus said, “…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink… what you will wear… Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap… and yet your heavenly Father feeds them… Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? …But seek first his kingdom…”

There is a simple way out of worry. It starts with Heart Breathing, the most direct spiritual connection. Then remember a happy moment and experience it. Then choose—the worry or the happy feeling. Sometimes on our journey the worry is so strong that we choose it. But there is a way through—speak the truth: “Divine Love blesses me. I am happy. Divine Love blesses me. I am happy. Divine Love blesses me. I am happy.” Feel it! Take a hold of it!

As the song says, your frown will “bring everybody down”. It is the most common, the lowest denominator. It limits us. Is there someone like that in your life? Do you want to draw those of the lowest denominator to you when you are in pain, in a challenge?
At fifteen years of age, Ben was hit by an 18 wheeler. He lost all use of his body below the neck. One day he couldn’t control his rage any longer, and yelled and screamed for 6 hours, until he fell asleep exhausted. Upon awakening, he looked at what he had done. He saw that he could choose the character of his life from then on. He chose happiness. He was soon an inspiration to those around him, lifting them up to happiness, beauty, and power. People came just to be with him. Remember, it’s so easy: 1) heart breathing, 2) happy thought. When you touch it within, it opens others. Feel it; it’s real. When you feel up-liftment, it’s because you’ve opened to a new spiritual flow.

Divine Love blesses me. I am happy. Divine Love blesses me. I am happy. Divine Love blesses me. I am happy. Don’t worry! Be happy!

May 4, 2014 – Don’t Worry, Be Happy

by

5/4/14 Rev. David McArthur
Don’t Worry. Be Happy. 

One of our greatest challenges is to shift our consciousness to a place of joy even when we have problems. Worry doesn’t resolve anything, but it is so natural. There is a reality to it. Did you worry well this week?

We also worry about imagined calamities! The University of Cincinnati found that 85% of what we worry about doesn’t ever take place. And the other 15% is resolved more easily and quickly than we imagine. And we worry when something nice happens—we “wait for the other shoe to drop” or think “it’s too good to be true”.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, “One who works in devotion… and who controls his mind and senses [aware of the Spiritual Presence] …Though always working… is never entangled.” Jesus said, “…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink… what you will wear… Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap… and yet your heavenly Father feeds them… Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? …But seek first his kingdom…”

There is a simple way out of worry. It starts with Heart Breathing, the most direct spiritual connection. Then remember a happy moment and experience it. Then choose—the worry or the happy feeling. Sometimes on our journey the worry is so strong that we choose it. But there is a way through—speak the truth: “Divine Love blesses me. I am happy. Divine Love blesses me. I am happy. Divine Love blesses me. I am happy.” Feel it! Take a hold of it!

As the song says, your frown will “bring everybody down”. It is the most common, the lowest denominator. It limits us. Is there someone like that in your life? Do you want to draw those of the lowest denominator to you when you are in pain, in a challenge?
At fifteen years of age, Ben was hit by an 18 wheeler. He lost all use of his body below the neck. One day he couldn’t control his rage any longer, and yelled and screamed for 6 hours, until he fell asleep exhausted. Upon awakening, he looked at what he had done. He saw that he could choose the character of his life from then on. He chose happiness. He was soon an inspiration to those around him, lifting them up to happiness, beauty, and power. People came just to be with him. Remember, it’s so easy: 1) heart breathing, 2) happy thought. When you touch it within, it opens others. Feel it; it’s real. When you feel up-liftment, it’s because you’ve opened to a new spiritual flow.

Divine Love blesses me. I am happy. Divine Love blesses me. I am happy. Divine Love blesses me. I am happy. Don’t worry! Be happy!

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April 27, 2014 – Free At Last!

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4/27/14 Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
FREE AT LAST! Breaking the Chains Through the Heart’s Ascension

After his resurrection, Jesus took several steps leading to his ascension. They are the same steps of the CutThru technique from HeartMath! Jesus had done his work to be able to ascend to the highest state of consciousness, heaven. So He led the Disciples out of Bethany, their place (consciousness) of grief and sorrow. He blessed them and gave them what they needed most: love. And he was taken up.

The stages of ascension are three—1) physical. Our experiences are not to destroy us or harm us, but are opportunities for us to do our lab work and so be able to do all we came to do. 2) mental. When we begin to think, “There’s gotta be something better” we begin to anticipate something better. We send out that energy. 3) spiritual. We align with the mind, the truth, of God. It takes you above when you know the truth is you will not be torn apart, that there is more and you can create it in your life.

The Disciples went to Jerusalem, the place of peace. We go to the consciousness of peace. They continued to pray in the Temple, as do we when we go to that higher chamber within where truth is always present. We withdraw to the heart, our place of connection to God.

We have all felt sometime we have been nailed to a cross. Over time we build a stack of emotions on a core negative belief like “I’m not good enough” or “I’ll never do it right.” Life sends us experiences matching that energy. We build a big stack and have a “stack attack” when it all tumbles down on us. So we breathe love, and go to the heart. Then we shine a light on the emotions. The core belief loses it’s power. Next we remove all the judgment around it. All that’s left is that belief. The illusion disappears. It no longer has a hold on us when we know who we really are. Then we re-frame the story with love, “I am worthy. I am lovable.” Next ask the heart to give its guidance. “How can I use this?” “I’m not a victim anymore.” “What is mine to do?” The answer might not come immediately. It happens in God Within’s time. When you are ready, you will hear it. You will know it. Then find yourself something which will remind you everyday that you are an amazing being. Dance. Sing. “I’m all that and a bag of chips!” “I’m bad!” It is, according to Charles Fillmore, “the upwardly progression of Spirit.”

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty I’m free at last!

I align with the pathways of my heart and I ascend above my life conditions. I align with the pathways of my heart and I ascend above my life conditions. I align with the pathways of my heart and I ascend above my life conditions.

It is your choice, your infinite possibility. You have the tools and wisdom to be free at last!

April 27, 2014 – Free At Last!

by

Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
FREE AT LAST! Breaking the Chains Through the Heart’s Ascension

After his resurrection, Jesus took several steps leading to his ascension. They are the same steps of the CutThru technique from HeartMath! Jesus had done his work to be able to ascend to the highest state of consciousness, heaven. So He led the Disciples out of Bethany, their place (consciousness) of grief and sorrow. He blessed them and gave them what they needed most: love. And he was taken up.

The stages of ascension are three—1) physical. Our experiences are not to destroy us or harm us, but are opportunities for us to do our lab work and so be able to do all we came to do. 2) mental. When we begin to think, “There’s gotta be something better” we begin to anticipate something better. We send out that energy. 3) spiritual. We align with the mind, the truth, of God. It takes you above when you know the truth is you will not be torn apart, that there is more and you can create it in your life.
The Disciples went to Jerusalem, the place of peace. We go to the consciousness of peace. They continued to pray in the Temple, as do we when we go to that higher chamber within where truth is always present. We withdraw to the heart, our place of connection to God.

We have all felt sometime we have been nailed to a cross. Over time we build a stack of emotions on a core negative belief like “I’m not good enough” or “I’ll never do it right.” Life sends us experiences matching that energy. We build a big stack and have a “stack attack” when it all tumbles down on us. So we breathe love, and go to the heart. Then we shine a light on the emotions. The core belief loses it’s power. Next we remove all the judgment around it. All that’s left is that belief. The illusion disappears. It no longer has a hold on us when we know who we really are. Then we re-frame the story with love, “I am worthy. I am lovable.” Next ask the heart to give its guidance. “How can I use this?” “I’m not a victim anymore.” “What is mine to do?” The answer might not come immediately. It happens in God Within’s time. When you are ready, you will hear it. You will know it. Then find yourself something which will remind you everyday that you are an amazing being. Dance. Sing. “I’m all that and a bag of chips!” “I’m bad!” It is, according to Charles Fillmore, “the upwardly progression of Spirit.”
Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty I’m free at last!

I align with the pathways of my heart and I ascend above my life conditions. I align with the pathways of my heart and I ascend above my life conditions. I align with the pathways of my heart and I ascend above my life conditions.
It is your choice, your infinite possibility. You have the tools and wisdom to be free at last!

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March 30, 2014 – The Heart’s Path to Freedom: 4. Heart Neutral

by


3/30/14 Rev. David McArthur
The Heart’s Path to Freedom: 4. Heart Neutral

We can create a state of consciousness for which some people have searched a long, long time. We are aware that we are in the world but not of it. We touch experiences and enjoy their richness but they do not control us. It takes focus and special energy in the heart, and the way to bring it forth is seen in HeartMath Cut-Thru. HeartMath is a secular way, but it shows the spiritual potential and maturity within us. The steps are 1, embrace your feelings, 2, activate the power by breathing love, 3, call forth the amazing wisdom within through spiritual understanding, divine objectivity.

Today is 4, Heart Neutral. Feelings come up, and that is wonderful, but they can control us. Heart Neutral is different. We can hold the feelings in our hearts but we don’t have to be controlled by them. The power of Spirit is always there to act on them. Heart Neutral can release levels in us we have no idea are there.

Lao Tsu: “The Tao is like a bellows: it is empty yet infinitely capable. The more you use it, the more it produces…” So too the heart. There is room to hold whatever you are feeling in your heart because in there there is infinite ability. “We join spokes together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move… We work with being, but non-being is what we use.” Then we hold it in non-being, in neutral—the part we don’t see, we don’t understand, that flows through us.

How do you get to neutral when the feelings come up? There is head neutral and heart neutral. When the mind tries to choose it suppresses feelings. Our teens have a wonderful expression for this—“whatever!”—it’s head neutral, “I don’t care.” But Heart Neutral embraces the experience, it cares, yet it is unattached. Embrace the feelings. Affirm, “I hold the feelings in my heart in neutral.” They’re ok. I don’t need to give them power; I don’t need to withhold power. But they are part of my experience.
In India, Joanna was in neutral about a fly in her cup of tea, so did nothing. Then her awareness was lifted to another level when a monk carefully lifted it from her cup and told her the fly would be all right; she was opened to an entirely new appreciation for all life. What she had been missing!
A few days before Valentine’s day, Walt was driving Patricia over here. He ran a red light and got pulled over. When the officer walked up, he might write the ticket; he might not. After a short friendly talk, he let Walt off. In neutral there is a beautiful caring. Spirit works through it. With affirmation and encouragement, not suppressing or putting down, hold the feelings in that beautiful embrace of care, of neutral. “I hold the feelings in my heart in neutral.”
It’s like with a piece of chocolate—you enter a moment when your heart is full. When you taste it, there’s appreciation! Let it flow!