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Saturday, July 21, 2007

July 21, 2007 & Contemplation

Most everyone practices contemplation, although some people may not be aware that they are contemplating. To contemplate is to "still the mind" and to focus on a particular subject or issue ... and it is not always a positive subject or issue, sometimes it is negative. Contemplation simply means that we examine our thoughts ... and oftentimes our contemplation will make us aware of something new about the subject or issue that we hadn't thought about before. I opened one of my Science of Mind textbooks today and found this contemplation written by Dr. Ernest Holmes. It is titled, "I Was Told To Live" ...

By some inner mystic Presence,
I was told to live and to love, to laugh and to be glad.
I was told to be still and know of the One Almighty Power, in
................ and through all.
I was told to let that Power work through and in me.
I believed that voice and I received my Good.

Keep the faith!
Rev. Bates

Friday, July 20, 2007

July 20, 2007 & Peace

I believe that the greatest gift we can give ourselves and the world in which we live, is peace ... and I mean peace of mind. Even in the midst of the most challenging of conditions, we can experience peace in our minds. I believe this is why all the great mystics have instructed us to "go within" ... as we go within the still-ness of our mind, we can realize a sense of peace that will sustain our mind in peace throughout the day. Let us affirm this is so:

I know that within my mind, there is all the peace I will ever desire ... for Peace is of the Spirit and there is an infinite presence of Peace for all who are receptive to It. It is within ... and It is enough. In this very moment, I am receptive to peace ... I allow It to fill my mind ... I allow It to fill my heart ... instantaneously. There is only peace in my thoughts ... and my mind is at ease as I bask in the sweetness of It .... I let go of anything that resists my peace of mind .. and I embrace peace right here where I am ... right here in the conditions and circumstances where I am at ... nothing can obstruct this gentle flow of peace as It fills me up ... I am aware that I am at peace ... I am in control ... I am at ease ... I am enjoying peace of mind ... right now ... I let it be so ... and so it is.
Keep the faith!
Rev. Bates

Thursday, July 19, 2007

July 19, 2007 & Treatment for Health

In treatment, we are always treating the "consciousness" ... in other words, never the effects; the beliefs and thoughts behind the thing, not the thing itself. We realize that as we "recognize" the perfection of the Spirit within, establish this perfection in consciousness, realize that it is the ultimate Truth of the client or our self, then healing is revealed. Here is a treatment for general health:

God is All, There is but One Power, Intelligence and Consciousness in the Universe, but One Presence. This One Presence cannot change. There is nothing for It to change into but Itself. It is Changeless, and It is my life now, It is in me now. It is the Intelligence that beats my heart and maintains the function of the organs and muscles of my physical body. It is Mind and it is my mind. I realize and know that I can accept perfect, whole and complete health now; physically, mentally, emotionally. I know and accept that "right thought" and "right ideas" about health, create within my consciousness a greater awareness of the Power of the Principle of Health that is inherent within me. God is my health ... I cannot be sick. It is this simple and I establish this simplicity within my mind and forget and release all ideas that contradict this simple statement of the highest Truth. I am not influenced by any condition, appearance, diagnosis or prognosis ... except for the knowing that God's perfect Health permeates my mind, my consciousness and ... my body ... now. I definitely and intelligently declare within myself ... in quiet confidence, my highest understanding of Truth again, "God is my health, I cannot be sick." I am convinced ... I accept Health as normal and natural ... I accept that Infinite Intelligence knows what to do and does it to reflect the truth of Health as me and in me ... now. I know this is so ... I let it be so ... And so it is.

Keep the faith!
Rev. Bates

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

July 18, 2007 & Career Success

I received this prayer-treatment for career success from my good friend, Jim Rose, in Shanghai, China :

"The unlimited and all-powerful Creative Intelligence that is behind every circumstance, every event, and every activity of life is constantly offering ways for me to evolve and grow."

Everywhere throughout time Divine Intelligence has thought into being all there is. I rejoice in my Unity with the Creator. Divine Mind is a boundless source of Abundance and Good, and I can use it through the Law of Mind which responds to my thoughts and demonstrates in my life as I believe. I affirm that Spirit has Its Being in, as, and through me, and I am an individualized expression of It. I co-create with Spirit the success and expansion of my career and my prosperity. No past self-doubts, fears, or challenges prevent me from living positively and productively right here and right now. I manifest clarity of thought, and I confidently take the necessary actions to attract into my life the right opportunities, resources, and people I need for greater professional growth and financial gain. To Divine Mind I say, "Thank you God that success is mine for the taking in my career and in all areas of my life. My Life is good and getting better every day! " With gratitude I release this Affirmation to the Law knowing it is so. It is done. And so it is! Amen!

What a wonderful gift ... thank you Jim!

Keep the faith!

Rev. Bates



Tuesday, July 17, 2007

July 17, 2007 & What's the Rush?

I am often reminded not to allow myself to get caught up in being in a "rush" ... people who hurry and rush have little time to think about what they are doing and often times find themselves doing the same thing twice because they did not give whatever it was enough time and attention the first time. Feeling "rushed" is no different than thinking "urgency" or "emergency" ... both words reveal a lack of faith in Divine Law and Order; "all things happen in the right and perfect time" .. this is the Truth and will always be our truth, if we establish it in our consciousness:

In this moment I know and accept that all things happen in the right and perfect time. This declaration of the Truth, reveals my absolute faith and conviction in the Presence of God in my life at all times. I know that God cannot be "rushed" and so I need not rush; I know that there is no sense of urgency or emergency in God ... and I know there is no sense of urgency or emergency in me. I move forward confidently doing that which is mine to do. I feel a sense of ease and accomplishment as I complete all things successfully. All that I do is always within the framework of "right action" and God's perfect time, today and every day. And so it is.

Keep the faith!
Rev. Bates

Monday, July 16, 2007

July 16, 2007 & Work

Mondays for most people, means going to work and shifting their focus from recreation to the job at hand. And in doing so, it is important that we be clear about this in our mind and realize that work means we are "expressing" our skills and abilities in service to others. No matter what type of work we do, it not only benefits us, but benefits the world in which we live. In this active expression of our consciousness, we can lift our awareness and realize even a greater benefit from our work ... it is our creative expression ... and is derived from the Creative Mind and what we do is always more than it appears to be.

I recognize and know that I am part of this One Creative Mind that "imaged," through Its thinking, this world in which I live. I know that everything I need to know to enhance my work, I do know. I know that every new idea that comes to my awareness is coming from the One Creative Mind ... and that these ideas come to me in order to prosper myself and others. I accept my work as the manifestation of Creative Mind working through my mind as I go through this day. I always work with a sense of confidence and accomplishment for I know that I am doing that which is mine to do. And in this understanding I realize success knowing that my successful completion of even the smallest thing, builds my "success consciousness" ... and "success" established in my consciousness, gives me success in all things that concern me! And so it is.

Keep the faith!
Rev. Bates

Sunday, July 15, 2007

July 15, 2007 & Sunday Morning

Sunday is my favorite day of the week and I enjoy it immensely. I see Sundays as a new beginning ... the end of one week and the beginning of another. It is a great day to set the course in our mind of what we choose to accomplish in our lives and to reflect on the things that we are grateful for. Let us affirm our joy and gratitude:

Knowing that there is only One Mind and One Life, and that this Life, Is God ... I unify with this One Mind and accept all the joy that this day has in store for me. I seek within my mind my realization that I am living the Life of God expressed as me ... and in so doing, I know that my decision to experience joy ... to share this joy with others ... and to feel joy in all things ... demonstrates in my experience in expected and unexpected ways. In all that I do, I find joy in it. In all my experiences with people, places and things ... I find joy in the experience. I let this joy fill my heart and my soul with happiness and peace ... I am relaxed, confident and assured in my ability to realize a greater and greater sense of joy today and every day. And so it is.

Keep the faith!
Rev. Bates