Lent Day 11 *Understanding*

Today's thought is Understanding. Yesterday I went to a workshop at the Unity Church of Knoxville provided by Guy Monroe of the Austin Vocal Labs. It was a very interesting experience. He said something that was really interesting to me. Someone from the audience said "You must have read a lot of Marianne WIlliamson?" And he said "I always tell people I don't know anything, I just..." and then he motioned to the sky as if he was picking an apple from the tree.

I have heard of this before. Charles Fillmore spent hours in meditation "feeling after God." Through this he had direct access to infinite divine ideas and knowledge. I believe this is what is known as understanding, an inner knowing that all that you need is available to you. You don't need or require anything but sitting, and listening to your divine guidance. Charles Fillmore writes in Keep a True Lent, "Understanding in me is that which knows how to accomplish things. I claim my Christ understanding at all times".

It can be difficult to remember that I have all the information at my fingertips, all I have to do is reach IN and grab it. I think I tend to look outside to books, or cds for some guidance, when truly it is within me that I will find the answers.

I think in all that we do we always have 2 choices, we can go with our divine understanding of what needs to be done, or we can turn away from our Truth. I can instantly tell which is which by the way that I feel. Some compare this to a heavy or light weight of the issue, I can tell by the feeling in my gut. Understanding is knowing the right thing to do, and Love is acting from that information. These powers are incredible when used together.

The bible passage today is about when Jesus was a boy (twelve years old) and he leaves his parents to sit and learn from his teachers and ask questions. I love this passage because it helps me to remember that Jesus was a child of God, just like me, and he was searching for the Truth, just like me.

I affirm "Divine understanding in me unites me with the Holy Spirit, and I always know what to do". -Charles Fillmore

Bible Passage: Luke 2:40-52

2nd Sunday of Lent *Imagination*

This thought, Imagination, has been taking the world by storm. If you haven't seen the movie "The Secret" yet, then you have probably heard about it, and if you haven't heard about it... well if you are reading this, then I guess you have :)

The Secret is about the Law of attraction and one of the easiest ways to "magnetize yourself" to attract the things you want in your life is to visualize, or imagine it. If you can see it in your mind you can accomplish it. The power of imagination is the power to see your self accomplishing your dreams and then through that imagining attracting that which will make those dreams come true.

Now imagination is not just a picture. It is the ability to truly feel the visualization. Not only seeing your dreams alive in your mind, but feeling the feelings of the experience as well. This is the key.

One of my favorite parts of the Secret is when James Ray says" Your present life is not a reflection of who you are, it is a reflection of who you were". It is so important to realize that the visions I hold in my mind are creating the "me" of tomorrow. Joel Olsteen said today "You need a new vision for your life".

I affirm: "In the quietness and confidence of Spirit, I see myself as God sees me, His perfect image and likeness" - Charles Fillmore

Bible Passage:
Acts 10:9-35

Lent Day 8 *Wisdom*

Today we focus on Divine Wisdom. A few weeks ago I was able to participate in a Spiritual Discernment process. This specific process used 12 steps to help invite divine guidance in my life. The main question that I asked myself is "What is mine to do during my time here on this planet".

I went into the silence and asked this question and simply listened. Thoughts that came to me in the silence were "What is your passion?", "What brings you bliss?", “How can you use your gifts to live for passion and feel your bliss?".

I believe that we were all giving a sliver of the Divine Dream, and that if we enter into the silence, listen, and more importantly, take action on these ideas we can truly live the life of our dreams. In Spiritual Economics by Eric Butterworth, I read "Many of us are over-read and under-done". Wow, does that speak to me. Practice is the key, bringing practical use of these skills into my life. My bookshelves are filled with books and programs, because I have manifested them, now I need to act on these Divine Ideas.

I affirm: "Christ within me is my glory. The brightness of His presence wipes out all darkness, and I am filled with life and light" -Charles Fillmore

Bible reading: Matthew 7:1-12
Go to www.biblegateway.com to read... its a good one

Lent Day 7 *Strength*

Today's thought for Lent is Strength. According to the Twelve Powers of Man by Charles Fillmore, Strength is the power to resist temptation, it is to have steadfastness and stability in Spirit. In this book, Papa Fillmore also references that Man exists in consciousness as a multitude of men. Meaning that we are many people in our mind. We have the ability to be nice or cruel, happy or sad, confident or self-conscious, well or sick.

The power of Strength is that power within us to choose a consciousness of Love in our lives. It is the ability to resist the temptation to say a snide remark, or defend one's ego, or entertain the thought of lack. We have the power in each day, hour, moment to use Strength to overcome any obstacle. For anything we see as an obstacle only seems that way because of our perspective.
Now for me, this is not easy. I am an emotional being. I tend to get caught up in the moment and feel the feelings of anger, disappointment, impatience. In watching the movie "The Secret" I discovered something. I found that my emotions were an internal guidance system. If I was feeling good, happy, excited, loving then I felt great and in alignment with my Highest Self, with my God and with the Universe. However, if I felt yucky, irritated, or controlling I knew that I was entertaining thoughts that were not in alignment with the Universe.

All I have to do is be conscious of my feeling and realize that as soon as I feel anything other than love, I am pulling away from my Good. So how do I do this, when my buttons are being pushed, and my feelings are being hurt? Well I have a list of things that make me happy and I use that list to shift my thoughts when I catch myself feeling bad. Things on my list include my children, my husband, being a minister, a beautiful day at the park. So whenever I feel tempted to think, speak, or do anything that doesn't feel good, I instantly pull one of these thoughts out and envelop myself in these good feelings. It is Strength that allows me to do this, and I am grateful!

I affirm "The joy of the Lord is a well-spring within me, and I am established in Divine Strength." -Charles Fillmore in Keep a True Lent

Bible Reading: Matthew 4:1-11

Lent Day 6 *Faith*

Lent Day 6 *Faith*

This is an important part of my growth. Reflecting on my choices earlier and earlier so that rather than reflecting on an experience I wish could have gone differently, I reflect on how I want the experience to go. hmmmm

Today's thought for Lent is Faith. As life would have it, I had my Faith tested today, well actually last night. As I was reading today's reading on Faith a little rainbow highlighted part of the page. It was so beautiful it actually brought tears to my eyes. Once I read the passage, the rainbow faded, and then reappeared. So I read it again. Here it is:

"I realize that my faith in the invisible is building a real abiding substance in my mind and in my body. Spiritual ideas grow quickly when planted in the rich soil of my mind, and my body temple changes accordingly." -Charles Fillmore

This is real to me because I was presented with what I thought was an obstacle to my dream and passion last night. But in contemplating this obstacle I realized that if I truly have faith that God is my source and God will make the way for this passion to become true, then this is not an obstacle at all, but something that will bring me closer to my desire. The trick is to have faith. So I decided I would write Thank You e-cards to everyone who was helping me move forward (including those who I formerly thought were obstacles) and in doing this I feel better and better.

"The How is the Domain of the Universe" and I must remember that I cannot control this process, nor do I want to. I want the Universe to bring my desire to fruition the fastest and most beneficial way possible, which may be in a way that I cannot dream of. Faith is the key to allowing this process to continue.

I affirm " I have faith in the glorious infusion of the more abundant life of Christ vitalizing me. I am lifted up and healed." -Charles Fillmore

Bible Passage Hebrews 11:1-12

*The Garden of Eden*

According to Charles Fillmore in Keep a True Lent, “Man’s body temple is the outer expression of the Garden of Eden, which God gave him to keep and to trim”. The Garden is a place within that, if kept up and trim will yield all the fruits of the Divine. There are twelve gates to this Garden, through which all things are possible.

The twelve faculties, or powers, give us access to the divine fruits of the garden. Through any one of these you can experience God, but where “two or three are gathered” that is where the true power lies. Those twelve gates to the Divine are power, will, order, faith, strength, zeal, imagination, love, wisdom, renunciation and understanding.

I often find in my life that I can get one of these down pretty good. Most people who know me know that I am a very enthusiastic person and that I strive to be happy and excited in all that I do, but on occasion I do not use the best judgment in the things I take on. So rather than dwelling on the interesting decisions of my past, I look forward. Every morning in mediation, I will see myself making the decisions of that day with reflection. I will acknowledge the 12 gates to the garden and I will make all decisions from my highest self, trusting that everyone will be prospered by my choices.

I affirm: “My body is the temple of God, cleansed, purified, undefiled, made perfect. Praise God!” –Charles Fillmore

Bible Reading: John 14:1-12

*The Altar*

Today's message was about the Altar, or the place within each of us that we use to go to speak with God. How do we each connect with the divine within? Some of us use meditation; some of us do something that we love, something that ignites passion within us. Whatever we do, in that moment we feel complete bliss, joy and happiness. There is no stress at the Altar; there is no judgment, no expectations. Just unconditional love and guidance. The more I think about it I don't know why I don't spend more time there :)

I think this is an interesting point. If I am living a life that brings me bliss and ignites my passion, I feel that puts me in line with my highest Self, with my Divine Inheritance. But I turn away from this Altar every time I indulge a feeling of fear, anger, or disappointment. I can tell when this happens because my feelings of bliss and joy instantly disappear as if I turned my back on it.

The bible reading is very interesting today. Matthew 5:21-26.

It reminds me of the difference between the Old Testament and the new. In the Old Testament there is a focus on physical sin, like murder, or adultery. But Jesus calls us to be mindful of the thought, not just the action. That it is just as much a disservice to your highest good to simply "think" anger towards someone, or "think" about committing an act that would betray and hurt the ones you love. Thoughts start the action. So to be able to enter the Altar, not only must your actions be pure, but more importantly, your thoughts must be pure as well.

Lent Day 2

Today, I use affirmations to increase my faith. As I begin to decree those things that I desire (desire meaning "of the Father") my faith in the manifestation of these things increases. I often notice my conscious mind not believing my affirmation, but with repetition the thought seeps into my subconscious and I am reborn. I shift my expectations and manifest my destiny by holding affirmative thoughts in my mind.

In Keep a True Lent it reads: I declare as a child of God I am now entering the Christ consciousness of perfection. This in itself is an affirmation, the highest I can make.

One challenge I have is in taking time to quiet my mind to allow these thoughts to seep through. It is not neccessary to go into the silence to state an affirmation, but its "magnetizing" power is enhanced when I do so. I find that those thoughts held in meditation with emotion manifest in my reality much quicker than those I do not.

For example, last I was a little frustrated in traffic and as much as I tried to say " I am a calm and peaceful child of God" I had a hard time getting there. So as part of my Lenten practice, I have been meditating and visualizing myself in all sorts of situations. Like in a car feeling the feeling of peace and calm, or on the phone with a business associate feeling the feeling of easy communication and an outcome that makes everyone happy. Now when these situations arise it is much easier for me to "remember" that serene feeling, and activate that feeling though my affirmations.

I affirm: Through Jesus Christ I realize my divine sonship, and I am transformed into his image and likeness. -Charles Fillmore



Bible reading:
Luke 1: 7-11
That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." 10Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Jesus Raises a Widow's Son 11Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."
14Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 17This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea[a] and the surrounding country.

Thank you BibleGateway.com for this passage.

The Truth About Lent

Today is the first day of Lent and I am really excited to be reading the lenten lessons by Charles Fillmore in his book Keep a True Lent. It has a lesson for each day and I am going to share those with you and I experience them myself.

First he references Matthew 5:1-16. The first day of Lent Papa Fillmore wants us to understand Denial. John the Baptist came saying "Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Repentance means denial and denial means to let go. So on this first day of Lent I must let go of my past wrongdoings, let go of those who have done me wrong, let go of all error thought as I go into the next 40 days. I must dedicate myself to right thinking and forgive the past, for my good is only available in the present.

I affirm: "Forgetting the things that are behind, I realize I am strong, positive, powerful, wise, loving, fearless, free spirit. I am God's perfect child." -Charles Fillmore

Matthew 5 1-16
1(A)When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on (B)the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
2(C)He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
3"(D)Blessed are the poor in spirit, for (E)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4"Blessed are (F)those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5"Blessed are (G)the [a]gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6"Blessed are (H)those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7"Blessed are (I)the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8"Blessed are (J)the pure in heart, for (K)they shall see God.
9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for (L)they shall be called sons of God.
10"Blessed are those who have been (M)persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for (N)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people (O)insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for (P)in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Disciples and the World 13"You are the salt of the earth; but (Q)if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
14"You are (R)the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15(S)nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may (T)see your good works, and (U)glorify your Father who is in heaven.