Generosity Expresses The Presence Of God  From Rev. David McArthur (edited by Mike McGuire, not reviewed by the speaker)

Kimeli, a young Maasai African, lived in a rural village that did not even have roads. He had no father, and was considered a lower human. But Kimeli admired the generosity of doctors, and wanted to be a generous doctor. And there is always the next step. So Kimeli ran away to a town that had a school, and the headmaster allowed him to attend. From there he applied to colleges in America. The University of Oregon offered a scholarship. Grants from a benefactor in Florida let him attend. Subsequently he got his masters from Stanford! If he can do it without resources...

What's impossible doesn't bother God. There is a flow of abundance that is completely inconsistent with what we “know”. But it tells us there is more to this consciousness. What this is, is when you say “yes”, that's your purpose. It constantly unfolds in our lives. And in this time of powerful human consciousness, you can always go deeper! We are on purpose! The universe opens up and provides. It is “fulfillment”. The whole universe is wired to fulfill your purpose!

On 9/11 Kimeli wanted to respond to the pain he saw in Americans. Now held in honor, he went to his tribe at “storytime”. (Without technology, they communicate through their stories.) Kimeli went and told how the generous people in America were hurting. The Maasai couldn't even conceive of a place like New York City. But he asked for permission from the elders to give his cow to the Americans. In Kenya, a person's cow is their most important possession. Having one is comfort, it is security, it is life. The Maasai were very touched by his story and decided to give 14 cows! They asked the American ambassador to receive their gift. At the ceremony a thousand Maasai in full warrior dress sang the Star Spangled Banner with their hands over their hearts!

Kimeli's response had been one of compassion and generosity. All along the way he had a consciousness of generosity. Jesus taught, as you give you will receive. Abundance comes not to us or for us, but through us. “...for God so loved the world that he gave his only son. For who so ever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” This quote is mostly used in other ways, but here are the words love and give. What is given is the Son—the divine pattern, the Christ, the Atman, the Buddha Mind, the I Am. Out of love. Jesus showed us the pattern and it is in everyone of us. God doesn't give because we ask, but because it is the very nature of the divine. God can't reject. Yes, we can reject, but it is not in God's nature. Life always flows abundantly.

And there is always the next step. This week look for the opportunity to be more generous, every day, with your time, understanding, compassion. Listen. “Divine generosity flows freely through me.” This is when it gets to be fun! It's ok to give away the cow!

Love In Action: Commitment to Love

From Rev. David McArthur (edited by Mike McGuire, not reviewed by the speaker)

The divine presence within.  In a monastery in a beautiful valley, the monks were growing older. The abbot was concerned about the monastery surviving. His friend the rabbi couldn't think of any way to help, but told the abbot, “I dreamt one of your monks was the messiah.” The abbot shared this with the monks. Silently, each wondered which brother it might be, or even if it might not be himself. So each one resolved to do better. As if a special wind had blown through the monastery, activity increased. The monks' efforts to serve others and the surrounding community increased. Once again men from the community became interested in joining the order.

What a difference it makes when we see the beautiful divine presence in each other and within ourselves!

The real source of abundance.  Another community saw how their old buildings no longer served them. After seeking guidance they decided to renew their place. There had just been enough money to meet existing needs, but different members pledged to do more. Then in their country a great recession hit, and fear gripped everyone. Some in the community lost their jobs, some lost their houses. They again prayed. “Should we go forward?” A curious answer came back that yes, they should go forward. They knew the real source of their abundance. In the face of the fear, they each committed to give from their resources. They built a beautiful center for themselves and all who hear of it. And the times got better for all. It had to start somewhere.

The change came from how they began to see each other—how they saw the divine in each other—and, what's even harder, seeing the divine within themselves. It is easy to see who that was, as today we are celebrating our second year in our new buildings. The commitment we made was to honor the divine love that we are. Say to each other, “I commit to honor the love you are.” “I commit to being Divine Love in action.”

Power. Wholeness. Wisdom. Abundance.  You cannot choose to be divine love—it is what you are! You cannot get away from it. But you can commit to putting divine love into action. That is what is the power! The wholeness! The wisdom! The abundance! You are!

Experience gratitude for omnipresent goodness

“If you pour your words of faith into the omni-present substance, you will be prospered though all the banks in the world be closed.” --Charles Fillmore.

Our journey to prosperity thus far has outlined 6 steps. Today they are united in the 7th step.

The 6 steps are 1) be clear of your purpose, which is defined by your passion-- those things that are important to you. The Universe is as committed to your success as you are, providing all that you need to manifest it. 2) by healing and forgiveness, clear away that which blocks your success from coming to you. 3) jump into the flow of God's giving nature by your giving, your tithing. 4) Attune to God's goodness through the power of prayer. 5) since that which we affirm with our focus is manifested, strive to live complaint free. Use your powers for good. 6) our caring actions bring into manifestation the love of God in this 3D world.

The 7th step is to express your gratitude for God's goodness even in the face of challenges. Do not thank God as a victim, however, and bring on more of that. Instead, knowing that there is no thought of lack in God's mind, when we perceive a limitation, as Spritual beings, we know there is something good, something wonderful and whole coming. Often we can't see it, but we know it's got to be there. “Thank You, God, for the goodness that is there that must come forth.” Facing challenges, if you are willing to let God's goodness flow in and through your life, say, “Thank You, God!”

from Mike McGuire, Prayer Team
Summary of Rev. David's sermon

Care is applied Love

When we love, the One we are really loving is God. When love is present, the limits we normally see do not bind us. The state of love can change us from moment to moment. Commit to love and care.

Care is applied love. How powerfully we care expresses our love. Our first assignment is to be the love we are and care for ourselves and others.

The gift of love opens us to see others as they truly are. However, they do not need to choose to bring forth the truth we see. We often combine our vision with our expectations, but love need not return through the ones we love.

The gift of love frees us. Through the feeling and practice of care, we are being the instrument of love. The gift can come any way. Sometime it gives us time to be alone. The assignment is the same, to love and care for someone, even if it is yourself.

from Mike McGuire, Prayer Team
Summary of Rev. David's sermon

Our words create our world

Do you want to affirm your limitations? Do you want more of what you are complaining about? Then keep complaining! When we speak our words, we put our power of creation out into the world. We put our thoughts into three dimensional being. We must become conscious of our creative power. By putting our thoughts into the three dimensional world we draw to us that which we speak.

The nature of God is wholeness which is always present. Let us affirm the wholeness of the goodness of God. Acknowledging even the darkness as part of the whole, let us speak the world we want to exist. Break through to the next level. Join others in creating a Complaint Free World. Join in the “ripple effect which will become a cascade of positivity around the world bringing about greater harmony, understanding, prosperity and peace.“ – from the vision statement, AcomplaintFreeWorld.org

from Mike McGuire, Prayer Team
Summary of Rev. David's sermon

Circulate abundance

Here are the steps we have covered so far for bringing abundance into your life this year.

Step 1. Go into the Silence. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” Affirm “God is my instant, constant, abundant supply."

Step 2. Attune to your purpose. Make your choices in your heart; follow your passion.

Step 3. Open to receive. Remove those blocks to your abundance by freeing yourself through forgiveness. Unburden yourself. “Divine Love lifts me, frees me, and prospers me.”

This week's lesson:

Step 4. Expand the flow of good in your life through giving. “As you give it is given to you.” Everything is God's after all. But it is not ours to give all. Our abundance is to be used with wisdom. Seek guidance to find what is yours to say “yes” to. The greatest tool for expanding your flow is tithing. It is the acknowledgment that God is your source. It is acknowledging the beautiful goodness that is flowing in you, through you, creating and expanding your physical world. It is knowing that God is your partner. Even loss is God coming through. Yet loss is minimized and gain maximized. Bring your highest perceptions through into the physical. Become an instrument for transformation in the world. And tithing is saying, “Thank You God!”

from Mike McGuire, Prayer Team
Summary of Rev. David's sermon

Transform barriers to your good

To prosper, we have to transform that which blocks out our good. We need to remove or transform the barriers of anger, resentment, hate, and fear we have built which block our propserity from flowing. We need to unburden ourselves, to free ourselves. Forgiveness is not about the other person, it is about letting go of our pain again and again until it is gone. To do this, we need to bring the awareness of the goodness of God into the feelings of hate, etc. You must really want to be free of the burden. Ask for the pain to be healed. Bring the love and compassion, that Divine Presence into the pain to be healed. Find it in that deep peace. That Divine Love has the power to free us, to lift us.

Affirm: “Divine Love lifts me, frees me, and prospers me.”

from Mike McGuire, Prayer Team
Summary of Rev. David's sermon

Live On Purpose

Sometimes we are sure of our purpose in this life, but the universe does not seem to be saying “yes”, we are not meeting with much success at all. So we go within and check our guidance, and the purpose we were sure of is affirmed! Why, then, is the universe not responding with abundant success? This is when we need to re-align ourselves with our purpose. We need to re-align our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. We need to ask ourselves, “What are we showing up with?” Even addiction and childhood trauma can be transformed if we walk through them aligned on purpose.

So to re-align yourself in every aspect, change your consciousness. Bring the power of your heart into it. Our individual purpose is in our hearts, not our heads. It is passion that points us in the direction of our purpose. You have the capability of creating abundance, it is the work you are about. You are to give form to the Universal Energy. Make a choice in your heart. Show up and transform. The universe will say, “yes!” and abundant succes will flow in and through your life.

Marianne Williamson said, "Your playing small serves no one." Well, living on purpose, manifesting your pupose, is playing "big". You are not just creating what you are about. Your abundance, your purpose flows into the world transforming it as well. You are creating a different world!

Make your choices from your heart, from your passion.

from Mike McGuire, Prayer Team
Summary of Rev. David's sermon

Experience your oneness with Creative Energy

We are one with Creative Energy. It is never depleted. It always responds to us. It must give; that is its nature. (from Charles Fillmore, Prosperity)

How many forests are in a single apple?

Thoughts of lack limit your wholeness. There is no thought of lack in Divine Mind. Abundance is in every level. It is your birthright to prosper. You are a spiritual being. Call prosperity into manifestation here and now. Prove it.

• Set a time for this every day.
• Go into the silence. “Seek first the kingdom of God.”
• Look to God as the Source. Everything is God.
• Pour your living faith into the substance of Spirit.
• Affirm “God is my instant, constant, abundant supply.”
• Affirm that in gratitude.
• Affirm it in your power.
• Affirm it in joy.

from Mike McGuire, Prayer Team
Summary of Rev. David's sermon

Another Way!

Are you feeling like the economy, your job, health, or something else out there is controlling your life? There is another way! At Unity we share the freeing truth that as a child of God, you are the one creating your life, not someone else! That means that you have the power to create your heart’s desire regardless of what the world is choosing to do at the moment.

Not only are we teaching that truth, we are demonstrating it together. That is part of Spirit’s assignment to us—to break through the consciousness of lack and fear in the world and demonstrate abundance and joy. We have done that by saying yes to renovating our spiritual home through our Love in Action program. While the world is afraid to give, we are giving generously. While the world is afraid to step out in positive change, we are creating a place of beauty to nurture the growth of many people. While the world is affirming a banking system that is refusing to support projects of value in the society, we are about to draw through that same system abundance to support our project and bless them with abundance in return.

This is the step we are working on now. Some of you know that the bank that had committed to support our Love in Action project withdrew from making construction loans for churches. That halted our project while we do some consciousness raising. We know that when we raise our consciousness to the realization of God’s great love and provision for us, our good flows into our lives. Spirit will bring the abundance we seek into manifestation as we transform the fears of lack and express our faith in God’s flow of abundance.

What a wonderful opportunity for us to participate in transforming this belief in lack of money and lack of power to create our own good that is hampering so many people. We are actively, passionately, with faith and joy, joining together to know that God is opening for us a channel of abundance that will manifest fully this sacred project we have been guided to create. We are demonstrating another way. Thank you for knowing this truth with all your Unity friends. We are abundantly, joyfully prospered and empowered.

No wonder Unity is positive, joyous spirituality. We seek to live these wonderful truths that free us to manifest for the good of everyone.

Appreciation

The second most powerful force in the earth… is “appreciation!” It is impossible to feel it or express it too much. The deeper you go into the consciousness of appreciation, the more you will behold the infinite life that right now is flowing into and through you.

Appreciate for a moment your body, with its amazing organs and systems, and your mind, with its miraculous capacity to perceive and understand life. Appreciate the constant provision for your material needs that are being met every moment.

You can appreciate the things in your life that bring deep fulfillment, your family and friends, the capacity to understand, heal hurt, comfort another and receive support. Yet there is more—even more amazing gifts: of your life itself, your eternal soul, your oneness with Divine life and intelligence, the amazing love that enfolds and lifts you every moment, every choice, every experience for eternity.

To appreciate is to reach into the infinite and find it is already in your own heart.
—Reverend David McArthur