Sunday Message for November 27, 2022

FREEING OURSELVES THROUGH THANKSGIVING

This month we are studying the Power of Release; so, what we want to learn and practice this week is to free ourselves from ingratitude including taking God, others and ourselves, and the good Earth for granted. We want to learn to free ourselves to live more thankfully and happily. We want to learn to appreciate and prosper.

ELIMINATING INGRATITUDE
Let's look at eliminating ingratitude. It is so apropos that we are studying the power of release this month of Thanksgiving. Charles Fillmore called this mind power we all have "renunciation"^a or "elimination." We are not to renounce or eliminate from our lives the joys, healthy pleasures, fun celebrations, abundance, peace, and plenty. Just the opposite - we want to renounce and eliminate those limiting attitudes, ways of talking and acting that sabotage our good from being expressed more fully.

Louise Hay has a book out, called "You Can Heal Your Life." In it is a chart of all the ills you may have, what their probable cause is, and the new thought pattern that you need to adapt to heal it. She should know, she healed herself of cancer this way - and then worked with aids patients.

For instance, it says in her book that if you have Tetanus or Lockjaw the probable cause is a need to release angry, festering thoughts. And the new thought pattern is "I allow the love from my own heart to wash through me and cleanse and heal every part of my body and my emotions."^b

But why wait until you get sick - why not do positive affirmations now and keep yourself healthy.

Give thanks for your:
Ear(s) for they represent the capacity to hear. Say "Thank you God for my ears - I hear with love"

Face for it represents what we show the world. Say, "Thank you God for my face - It is safe to be me. I express who I am."

Eye(s) for they represent the capacity to see clearly - past, present, & future. Say, "Thank you God for my eyes - I see with love and joy."

Nose for it represents self-recognition. Say "Thank you God for my nose - I recognize my own intuitive ability."

Mouth for it represents taking in of new ideas and nourishment. Say "Thank you God for my mouth - I nourish myself with love."

Neck for it represents flexibility. Say, "Thank you God for my neck - I am peaceful with life."

Shoulders for they represent our ability to carry out experiences in life joyously. Say, "Thank you God for my shoulders - I choose to allow all my experiences to be joyous and loving."

Arms for they represent the capacity and ability to hold the experiences of life. Say "Thank you God for my arms - I lovingly hold and embrace my experiences with ease and with joy."

Elbows for they represent changing directions and accepting new experiences. Say, "Thank you God for my elbows - I easily flow with new experiences, new directions, and new changes."

Wrists for they represent movement and ease. Say "Thank you God for my wrists - I handle all my experiences with wisdom, with love, and with ease."

Hands for they hold & handle. Clutch & grip. Grasping & letting go. Caressing. Pinching. All ways of dealing with experiences. Say, "Thank you God for my hands - I choose to handle all my experiences with love and with joy and with ease."

Fingers & toes for they represent the details of life. Say, "Thank you God for my fingers - I am peaceful with the details of life."

Back for it represents the support of life. Say, "Thank you God for my back - I know that Life always supports me."

Right Side of Body for it represents giving out, letting go, masculine energy, men, the father. Say "Thank you God for the right side of my body - I balance my masculine energy easily and effortlessly"

Left Side of the Body for it represents receptivity, taking in, feminine energy, women, the mother. Say, "Thank you God for the left side of my body - My feminine energy is beautifully balanced."

Hips for they carry the body in perfect balance. Major thrust in moving forward. Say "Thank you God for my hips - Hip Hip Hooray - there is joy in every day. I am balanced and free."

Legs for they carry us forward in life. Say, "Thank you God for my legs - Life is for me."

Knees for they represent pride and ego. Say, "Thank you God for my knees - I am flexible and flowing."

Shin(s) for they represent the standards of life. Breaking down ideals. Say, "Thank you God for my shins - I live up to my highest standards with love and with joy."

Ankles for they represent the ability to receive pleasure. Say, "Thank you God for my ankles - I deserve to rejoice in life. I accept all the pleasure life has to offer."

Feet for they represent our understanding - of ourselves, of life, of others. Say, "Thank you God for my feet - My understanding is clear, and I am willing to change with the times. I am safe."

APPRECIATE & YOU PROSPER; BELITTLE & YOU LOSE
For if you appreciate, you prosper; but if you belittle, you lose. Charles Fillmore wrote in his book Prosperity, "You should expect prosperity when you keep the prosperity law. Therefore, be thankful for every blessing that you gain and as deeply grateful for every demonstration as for an unexpected treasure dropped into your lap. This will keep your heart fresh; for true thanksgiving may be likened to rain falling upon ready soil, refreshing it and increasing its productiveness."^c

When Jesus had only a small supply, He gave thanks for the little He had. This increased that little into such an abundance that a multitude was satisfied with food and much was left over. Blessing has not lost its power since the time Jesus used it. Try it and you will prove its effectiveness. The same power of multiplication is in it today. Praise and thanksgiving impart the quickening spiritual power that produces growth and increase in all things.

It says in (Luke 9:12-17) The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place." But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish--unless we are to go and buy food for all these people." For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each." They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.^d

Notice that there were twelve baskets left over at the feeding of the multitude, indicating that there is enough and more than enough to meet every need. Remember, twelve is a number of wholeness or completeness.

DON'T FORGET THE SPRING
There is a saying, "When you drink from the stream, don't forget the spring." Thankfulness is remembering to appreciate and care for the spring, as well as enjoying the water we partake of. Our good flows to us through many wonderful channels.

It says in (Luke 17:11-19) On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."^e

The Bible tells of the ten lepers who Jesus encountered and blessed. All were "cleansed" or "healed." Only one returned to thank Jesus for his help. Jesus said, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?"

Ten had gotten over their terrible problem, but only one returned to give thanks. Jesus said to him, "Rise and go your way, your faith has made you well." Ten were healed, but only one was made well, or whole. Thankfulness made the difference between getting over a problem and really being a whole, well person. Let us always remember to return, recognize and support the channel through which we receive our good. Let us support our church and all the good being done for us and the many lives touched by this ministry.

APPLIED APPRECIATION
Let's apply appreciation in our lives. A writer once decided to write a letter to a former high school teacher who was an inspiration during school. He wanted to tell her what she had meant to him and how she had influenced his life. He received a letter back. She wrote:
I cannot tell you how much your note meant to me. I am in my eighties now. I live alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely, and like the last leaves of autumn, lingering behind. You will be interested to know that I taught school for fifty years and yours was the first note of appreciation I have ever received. It came on a cold, blue morning, and it cheered me as nothing has in many years.

Think of someone you especially want to thank this Thanksgiving season. Tell them. Write to them. You will bless their life and your own as well.

It's a divine sequence that Christmas follows Thanksgiving. It is our thanksgiving that helps us receive the Christ consciousness. Let us free ourselves to experience more of the abundant good that is ours to find and share.

Praise God that good is everywhere;
Praise to the love we all may share,
The life that thrills in you and me;
Praise to the Truth that sets us free.^f

Happy Thanksgiving!

I would like to close with a silly little Thanksgiving poem:
'Twas the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't sleep
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.
The leftovers beckoned - the dark meat and white
But I fought the temptation with all of my might
Tossing and turning with anticipation
The thought of a snack became infatuation.
So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door
And gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.
I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,
Pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,
'Til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.
I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky
With a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie.
But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees...
Happy eating to all - pass the cranberries, please.

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump,
May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,
May your thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs.

So, let's do a closing meditation. Just relax in your seat and concentrate on your breath. Breathe in..... breathe out and know that:
     The Divine Plan for me is Perfect. I am held in the Mind of God as a Complete and Perfect Expression of Life and Truth.
     No power can hinder nor mar this Inner Image of Reality, for It is God-given and God-kept.
     God gave and God will keep.
The Great Personality of God is my Personality; the Limitless Knowingness of The Spirit is my Knowingness, and the One Mind is my mind.
     All, All live in One Infinite Being, and each manifests the One Who is formed through and in all.
     Man is the Personality of God in manifestation and cannot be left without the Inner Witness of the Spirit.
     I now realize that the Infinite Personalness of the Spirit is my Personality, and I rejoice to know the Truth about myself.
     God is my Personality.
Today I realize that I am One with the All Good; my God and I are One.
I cannot be hid from His face.
I behold Thee, 0 Most High, enthroned in my temple of flesh.
Thy secret place is within me. I feel Thy presence,
I hear Thy voice; I rejoice in Thy Light.
Today my body responds to the Divine Behest: "Be perfect."
I know of my perfection and wholeness; I am complete and perfect now.
Let every thought of disease flee from me and let Thy Light shine.
0 Light Eternal, 0 Light of my Life, I come into Thy presence with joy and thanksgiving.
Within Thee is fullness of Life.
Within Thee is complete Joy and everlasting Peace.
Within Thee is all.
Thou art in me as I am in Thee, and we are all in all.
My Life is full and complete within me, and that Life I give to all men freely;
And from all I receive again that which I have given,
For it is One in All.
I am One with the fullness of All life.
I Am Complete in Thee
     Almighty God, Everlasting Good, Eternal Spirit, Maker of all things and Keeper of my Life, Thou art All.
     Infinite Presence within, in Whom all live; Joy Supreme, flooding all with gladness, I adore Thee.
     Eternal Peace, undisturbed and quiet, I feel Thy calm.
0 Thou Who dost inhabit Eternity and dost dwell within all Creation, Who Dost live through all things and in all people, hear Thou my prayer.
     I would enter Thy gates with joy and live at peace in Thy House.
     I would find a resting place in Thee, and in Thy presence live.
     Make me to do Thy will and from Thy wisdom teach me the ways of Truth.
     Compel me to follow Thee and let me not pursue the paths of my own counsel.
0 Eternal and Blessed Presence, illumine my mind and command my will that my Soul may be refreshed and that my life may be renewed.
As deep cries unto deep, so my thought cries unto Thee and Thou dost answer.
     I am renewed and refreshed; my whole being responds to Thy love, and I am complete in Thee.
     All my ways are guarded and guided,- and I shall live with Thee eternally.
     0 Lover of my Soul and Keeper of my Spirit, none can separate us, for we are One.
So shall Thy Wisdom guide me, Thy Presence dwell within me, Thy Love keep me and Thy Life envelop me now and forevermore.
I rest in Thee.
And so it is... Amen