Bre'r Rabbit—Curing The “Mopes”

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

Journey into the heart  Bre'r Rabbit had the mopes—he had lost the race to the tortoise and other things were going wrong. So Mrs. Rabbit sent him to the Witch Rabbit deep in the swamp, and it was getting dark. This represents the journey into the heart—a difficult journey. Not everyone gets there. We usually let our brains list all the ways we are not better, not good enough, or not strong enough. Doesn't fear come right in?

First, Witch Rabbit sends Bre'r Rabbit to catch a squirrel. That's your first step—grab your squirrelly thoughts and “tie them up in a bag”.

2nd, Bre'r Rabbit has to get a snake hiding in the grass. It looks menacing. It embodies fear. When we run into the experience of fear it stops us and our knowledge of the beautiful power within shuts down. Bre'r Rabbit sweet-talks the snake and when it relaxes, he snares it, holds it up, and goes. If our attention is solely on the fearful thing, that's all we see. Do we put our attention on the threat of the snake or on the wisdom in our hearts? When our attention is on the heart and what it's telling us, we open and the knowledge comes. It doesn't mean the challenges won't cause pain. But we go into overcare, which is when we focus so much on the hurt or danger, especially for the people we care for, that we don't go to the guidance in the heart. We let fear of what could occur stop the unfoldment of the greater good. It is not that you fear something that is not really possible, but turn from the fear to the heart. Grab the snake and go.

Lastly, take that fear to the heart and follow the guidance within, even if the path is not fully seen. Bre'r Rabbit's final task was to get a tusk from the elephant in the forest. He has no idea how he'll do it, but he goes to get it anyway. The elephant runs into a tree and the tusk just falls off. Sometimes we just have to take on the fear of power we see “out there” over us. But the power (and fear) is in us. Part of the gift of taking on the fear and finding the wisdom is that the fear falls away. It no longer has power over you. That's when it's fun!

Living The Charmed Life, The Power of Three, part II

From Sheila Gautreaux (edited by Mike McGuire, not reviewed by the speaker)

Bring forth your power. Align with each level of the trinity of your being—MIND, BODY and SPIRIT. Live the “charmed” life of a spiritual being in a physical body. We are created by the goodness of the universe, so all the power of the universe is in us.

Grasp the Divine MIND Truth and align with it, bring it into your MIND. Chant it, affirm it, speak it throughout the day every day until you KNOW it. Then bring it into your physical BODY. FEEL it in every cell in your BODY, displacing belief in tiredness and illness. “I feel I am whole!” No feeling; no healing. Once you feel it, Spirit takes it out into the BODY of your affairs.

The Holy SPIRIT is our liaison with the mind of God, and is always available. Sit in quiet. Write your question at the top of a sheet of paper. Start by praying 3 times, “Come, Holy SPIRIT”. The response is actually palpable. You will feel it. Then ask. You will be guided as to “What is mine to do?”

We are afraid of our power because we don't understand. God is not powerful, but power. God is not loving, but love. God is not peaceful, God is peace. Live life as if you ARE blessed, charmed, powerful.

Steps to “Living the Charmed Life”: Accept your power. It's yours. Affirm it. “I accept the divine power that flows through me, as me!” Learn. Discover what you're capable of. Apply the powers in the laboratory of your life. Apply; apply. Practice; practice; practice. Face and vanquish your demons of fear, judgment, hurt, anger, etc. They prevent you from standing in your power. Don't run from your doubts and fears. They are illusions and are not as powerful as you believe. Once you shine the light they disappear. Don't let them and their relatives move in. Bar the door. Lastly, protect the innocent—the innocent that you are. We have not lost our innocence. We are still the pure, innocent beings we were with God before the world was made.

Be the Christ in the world. When you walk out all suited up in your power you will begin to bring transformation into the world! Your light will shine so brilliantly! People will feel it.

Pray the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi as “Lord, make me an instrument of your POWER. Where there is hatred, let me so love...” and so on. You are the beloved of God. It is God's good pleasure to support you in living the charmed life!

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!

Is fear or faith guiding your life

Is fear or faith guiding your life? Fear is a sure sign your are trusting in your own power. However, you do not have to stay in energy that does not feel good. When you have accepted circumstances that make you feel uncomfortable, you have been called to see more clearly what you are not living so you can go to what is your calling. It is what you signed up for! Say yes to your Divine appointment. If you knew who walked beside you, fear would be impossible!

Everything is planned for your good. You arrived with your spiritual DNA already coded with all you need to have. All you need is within you. There is peace already within – prosperity already, love already within you.

Peter knew his truth. And just for a moment he trusted, and he walked on water! But then he saw the wind and the storm in the world around him, and he had doubts. When the wind in your life blows, go within to your truth. Know that there is a Presence and a Power inside of you. Know God is your Source. Walk by faith.

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

I am a spiritual being

The movie “Avatar” is a cinematic marvel that dazzles the eye and metaphysical sense of the viewer. It recounts how we dwell in two different worlds – our human experience of this three-D world, and another of a single life which is omnipresent. The latter is the kingdom of God that Jesus spoke of, where “kingdom” refers to the state of consciousness in which we are fully aware of the presence of God. Thus, learning that we have a spiritual nature is the first step toward spiritual maturity. Leaving behind that perception that we are separate beings that need to take from each other, we become aware of our connectedness to each other and our one-ness with God.

On the next level of spiritual growth, balancing our human and spiritual natures, then, becomes key. We come to know that only by mastering our fear(s) can we be free to fly, to progress to spiritual maturity. However, moving from the state in which the individual says “I have a spiritual nature” to that of “I am a spiritual being” sets up conflict between harmony and abundance, and our human fears. That is when our human foibles attack our spiritual core. Are you living as a spiritual being or are you serving the sleeping consciousness of a human?

Though we do not have the power to overcome our human-ness, we can master the instrument that transports us above the shadows of ignorance. That is why we say “it is not I, but the power within, a power greater than myself, God as I understand Him|Her.” The “still, small voice within”. The gentle spirit. The intuitive sense there is something greater here. After all, there is only one power.

So no matter how much we know about having a spiritual nature, it does not free us from living and dying locked within our 3-D consciousness. But the knowledge that “I am a spiritual being living in a spiritual world governed by spiritual law” frees us to soar above fear and ignorance in harmony and abundance in the light above the shadows.

Now when we greet one another, we can acknowledge what we know to be true of every one of us. We can greet each other by saying “I see You.”

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

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.

A Place of Peace Within You

We live in a world where there is a lot of turmoil, but within you there is a place of peace.

In your workplace you may find people who are critical and unappreciative, but within you there is a place of peace.

You may find times in your family when people you care about are frustrated and not understanding, but within you there is a place of peace.

Daily the news reports war and violence, but within you there is a place of peace.

There are those in government and positions of authority that will make decisions that you recognize do not serve the greatest good, but within you there is a place of peace.

When you drive on the highway there are people who follow too close or cut in front of you, but within you there is a place of peace.

There are times when it seems like you have more to be done than you have time for, but within you there is a place of peace.

There are times when you are relaxing and phone solicitors call and disturb your rest, but within you there is a place of peace.

There are times when financial needs seem greater than the resources, but within you there is a place of peace.

There are invitations in your life to respond with righteous indignation at the callous or insensitive actions of others, but within you there is a place of peace.

What we contribute to the world depends not on the things that are in our lives, but on our responses to them.

Thank you for contributing your peace.

-- Rev. David McArthur

Unifying Power of Prayer

At a time when fears divide our world, prayer unites us.

At a time when political beliefs polarize our nation, prayer unites us.

In a world where there are many names for God and many different ideas about God, prayer unites us.

In our families where life’s activities pull us apart, prayer unites us.

Within ourselves, where we feel conflicted as we try to respond to life’s many demands, prayer unites us.

Prayer unites us with that which is greater than every concern, larger than any difference and the answer to all we seek.

With you in prayer,
-- Rev. David McArthur

Moving from Fear to Love

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast out fear..."
1John 4:18

The change in our world from a world of fear to a world of love doesn’t just happen. It is a change that I participate in creating by my choices.

When I hear of frightening events, do I blame or seek to understand?

When people at work are mean or unreasonable, do I justify myself or communicate with care for them?

When people are uncommunicative, do I reject them or communicate because I care?

When I disappoint myself, am I judgmental, or forgiving?

When I am criticized, do I attack or understand my attacker?

When I see a need, do I help or avoid?

In ordinary events, do I choose to feel true care for those I’m involved with? Will it work?

With love,
-- Rev. David McArthur

Choosing Love

What Is Our Center About?

Several years ago, I was walking down a narrow street in a city far away. I was a stranger there on business and there was a palpable tension. It was a city where recently there had been violence and everyone there knew from the frequent presence of soldiers and police that this was not a peaceful place. Even though I wanted to enjoy my time there, I couldn’t help glancing nervously around, keeping defensive vigilance and feeling concern as I walked.

I was passing two women talking, one an older woman looked beyond her friend and looked directly at me. She smiled at me. It wasn’t that polite “I’m a nice non-threatening person” smile. It was a smile of someone who sends out love—powerful, delighted, and personal. It was for me and meant for me. From twenty-five feet away I felt impacted and changed. I felt that love from an old woman I did not know, a person I have never spoken a word to.

I became aware that I was no longer afraid. I was walking in a world where love existed. I felt my heart open, grateful, full. I was at peace. I no longer looked at the people around me as possible threats, but rather as people. We were all just people there, with our concerns, our schedules and our destinations. The difference was, I suddenly was not absorbed in my fear, my safety, protecting my world from them. I was no longer contributing fear and separation to the world that existed around me as I walked down that street. I was contributing peace. My mind was at peace with the world I was in. I was aware of the presence of Divine Love around me. I found I cared about those around me and enjoyed the vibrancy of their presence.

This is true, and it was just that simple. An old woman made a choice to send love, and changed me at depth. I became a presence of peace because I chose to accept the love she reminded me of. Love freed me from fear. It is simple. In our world where fear seems so strong, we can choose to love and become the presence of peace. The choice is ours.

I believe this is what our Center is about. At this time of tension and fear in our community, our nation and our world, where separation and mistrust is the norm, we are here to choose love, choice after choice, moment after moment. We know how to find the power of love that creates peace and our world hungers both for that knowledge and even more so for people who will live that choice.

~ Choosing love, creating peace, one heart at a time ~

—Reverend David McArthur