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!

Open other possibility- a whole other level of power

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

Whatever is within our awareness is part of our consciousness. This is not always comfortable now that we know we are one with the power that makes us. Remember the good old days when we could blame our problems on someone else? Now it's, “What is this that shows up in my world?”

Healing power.  Byron and Marsha Smith were shocked when Byron's MRI came back showing inoperable cancer. He was given a month or two to live. The following day was spent sharing their special memories of their love together. Then friends and relatives remembered them in prayer, including Marsha's father who told them when he prayed he clearly got the feeling everything would be all right. By going from fear to love Byron and Marsha opened another possibility, a whole other level of power and energy which healed Byron—he was subsequently found to be cancer-free! With darkness gone, full potential was embraced.

Eastern philosophy says this world is transient illusion. The Bhagavad Gita says that for those who love Krishna, he will dwell in their hearts and destroy darkness born of ignorance with the shining lamp of knowledge. But isn't there something missing, something more?

The ultimate experience of understanding and love.  Jesus went further, saying, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” He also said "...as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." When you see someone else with a problem, it is part of your consciousness. So ask, “What is mine to do?” If Krishna is in the heart, who have you loved when you love your neighbor? 

Whatever is going on now in your world where there is a limit—physical pain, poor relationships, financial difficulty—if you choose to love, the barriers will be removed. No matter who or what it is, just send your love. That is the greatest teaching. Then what is there is filled with light. You are divine light. That's what you are. Call it Krishna, Jesus, or God, it is love. Affirm, “I am divine love. I am transforming my world.” We have work ahead, and it's going to be fun!

Scripture according to Pooh, 08.19.12

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

Eeyore in us.  On their way to see Eeyore, Pooh and Piglet stop at a warm place in the wood. “We'll call this Pooh Corner.” And using sticks piled up nearby, they build Eeyore a house, as they think he has none. At about the same time Eeyore knocks on Christopher Robin's door. Even though he lived in the coldest, gloomiest part of the wood, he wanted to go home—but his house was gone! (Christopher Robin represents the Christ Spirit; the Hundred Acre Wood is His and He takes care of everything in it.)

They meet Pooh and Piglet who want to show them the house they built for Eeyore. However, it soon becomes apparent to them that they had used the pile of sticks Eeyore had up until then called home. But look! See how nice this new home is! And Eeyore agrees that it is as warm and nice as they say. Is Eeyore in any of us? Do we build in an uncomfortable place just because we're convinced it “had to be that way”? It might be the health thing, the relationship thing, or that chewing-on-yourself-inside thing.

From fear to power.The doctor told Mandy Hastings that even if her two year old son lives, he'll be severely handicapped. “No,” she said, “he will be fine.” A gravestone had fallen over onto her boy's head, and while she and her husband were waiting for lifeflight, she prayed. She says a peace swept over her and she heard, “Everything's going to be fine. Matthew is in My hands.” Yes, she most likely began praying from fear, but she moved her attention off of the data pouring in (that her brain was using to figure out how bad things were).

She moved from fear to that place of love and connection with divine presence and power. Look for that level that brings forth health and vitality. You don't need to ask anymore for anything. It is there within you. You are that power, that force. The boy was home in two weeks, and is a happy, healthy teen today.

You are divine energy. Take a glance at what you're building. If it's “not quite enough” or “just enough to get by” or “that's just the way I am”—it is the Eeyore within you. Activate the greater potential within you through the experience of the love, the pure light of energy of the divine which you are. Build your house, and live, at “Pooh Corner”!

 From Rev. Linda Lowery (edited by Mike McGuire, not reviewed by the speaker)

In a restaurant, a four year old is asked by the waitress, “What can I get for you?” He answers, “A puppy!” He thinks everybody is getting whatever they want. We really believe that whatever we want we can have. Some times we feel, though, that we have to earn it to have the entitlement, to have the authority. But Jesus said, “does not scripture say that we are gods?”

Marianne Williamson says in A Return to Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us... You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.”

Olympic athletes from around the world keep their hearts and minds on what they pursue. So too must we become fortified, grounded in truth, and reach a higher plateau for our lives. We must be rooted like a tree which withstands the storms when they come. And as each athlete is a part of a very dynamic team, so are we. Affirm, “We are all on the same team.” Like the five rings in the Olympics symbol are intertwined and represent the five geographical “hearts” of the world, our hearts, too, are intertwined—on the cellular level and intergalactically! It is decreed by God.

Transformation.  We can transform our lives. Prayer changes things. (God is so good!) When we are in our storm and wavering in fear it is not time to think of yourself, but to give of yourself. Be in prayer with others in their need and members on your team will also “hold the space” for you. They are champions; we are champions.

Authority.  When you know Who You are, not who you think you are, you know you are the author with a pen to re-write your destiny, and you have the authority. “I am a child or manifestation of God and every moment in this life love, wisdom, and power flow through me. I am One with God.”

You are the only one like you on Earth and in any universe. You can no longer afford to be diminished. Like a child, let your heart-light shine!

Spiritual Reality

You are a spiritual being, living in a spiritual world, governed by spiritual law. I know it often doesn’t look that way. The physical world looks so real and those physical realities seem at times to control our lives. That is the time when it is so important to lift your vision to the spiritual world, to affirm your spiritual self and to act in accord with spiritual law.

How do we do that? Through the ages, the way that has proved again and again to be powerful and effective at awakening our spiritual awareness is prayer. Through the power of prayer we attune to that infinite spiritual presence that is our higher self, that self that communes with the infinite, the Divine. In those moments, when the physical world seems so strong, turn to prayer. There in that quiet inner moment of communion with God, a new world comes into being.

From my heart,

-- 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

This Prayer's for You

Many people were moved by the video below that we played at the April 5th Sunday Service. So I am posting it here on my blog so that you may conveniently veiw it again whenever you need a moment of inspiration.
--Rev. David McArthur

Greater Goodness is Calling

A greater goodness is calling all of us. The caterpillar that is in the transformation process does not know that it will emerge from the cocoon as the beautiful butterfly. Yet within it is the divine pattern that guides it through the process because the result, the greater expression of its true self, is calling it into the process of change. The divine pattern within each of us is calling us to a new state of consciousness. Change is happening in our personal lives and in the world. This change is not caused by the failure of old systems; rather it is because the greater expression of our true selves is being called into being.

How do we attune to that greater presence and wisdom that is calling us to our next level of living? We attune by turning to that indwelling light, love and goodness that is who we really are. Prayer and love are the timeless tools of transformation. Let them open each of us to the greater expression of God’s goodness that is calling us forth.

--Rev. David McArthur