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LOVING USE OF OUR POWER
What we want to learn and practice this week is to use our power as shared power rather than power over others.
WE ARE ALL HERE AS STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
We are all here as students and teachers. The old rock song by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young says, "Teach your children well." It also says, "Teach your parents well." Our children come not just to learn from us, but also to be our teachers. We learn much from having and being with our children and our parents. They often can see through us, be honest with us, and cause us to grow. Some of the hardest and most important lessons we learn are found in our families. And yet, I believe that before we come to this world, we pick the parents and the situation we want to come into so that we may develop and grow.
PARENTS & CHILDREN
Of parents & children, Myrtle Fillmore writes in the book How To Let God Help You: "It is truly wonderful to have children and to be truly awake in caring for them, that they may grow up in health and poise and assurance that they are God's and that all things needful come through them and to them. Parents are but representing the divine Father-Mother in receiving and caring for these new body temples which souls are building for experiences and further development of the God-given faculties and powers. Remembering this takes away the sense of anxiety and burden, and gives great peace and joy and consciousness of power and love and prosperity. "
THE DISCIPLE PHILIP REPRESENTS THE FACULTY OF POWER
The disciple Philip represents the faculty of Power. Suné Richards, who was a wonderful mother and Unity minister, writes: "Because he knew the Greek language so well, Philip was called 'the Greek,' but he was 'of Bethsaida (bĕth sā' æ dæ), the city of Andrew and Peter,' and he lived in Galilee as they did. Philip, a powerful and vital man, was among the first to join the little band of men as a chosen disciple of Jesus. He brought Nathanael, or Bartholomew, to Jesus.
Philip, using the power of the Word, as he and the other disciples were empowered to do in his name, healed the sick and cast out 'unclean spirits.' His difficulty in understanding the spiritual meaning of Jesus' message at times, did not seem to hinder his wonderful power to cure the lame and the paralyzed in this way. "
HOW CAN WE USE OUR POWER FACULTY RIGHTLY?
How can we use our power faculty rightly? To speak constructively, to heal the sick, to release others and ourselves from fears, misconceptions, power struggles?
God created us and gave us free will - the power of choice. So, we can waste or misuse our power capacity - or - we can use it rightly (righteously).
You are misusing your power if you are trying to oppress or control others. Oh yes, and a lot of you will say - "Oh, I'd never do that!" But think about it, haven't you tried to control people in your life? If we want to turn that around and use our power righteously then we should be using our power to heal, to unite, or to create good.
You are wasting your power if you are trying to get to be a big shot, top dog, or "important" person. You see, I am the Senior Minister of this church. But!!! In truth, I am NO kind of a minister if I don't recognize that I am only here to serve and to be a vessel for God to use. The right use of our power is in holding ideals of true service, inner confidence and self-respect
You see it is only from a feeling of inferiority that we try to act superior and put others down to build ourselves up. If I am constantly bragging and need to be the center of attention - then I need to look to see whether I believe that my "goodness" depends on your "badness."
If we are using our power in a life affirming way then we will feel different in some ways from others, but not better or worse than them. We will enjoy our diversity, being like the ingredients of a tossed salad - enjoying and affirming others and ourselves.
Don't go on 'power trips,' go on 'peace trips.' When you go on power trips and play power games, it is like little kids saying; "My daddy's bigger than your daddy" or "My company is bigger than your company." Don't engage in power struggles or confrontations. This just sets up win-lose situations. When you learn to use your power rightly you will have the self-confidence to behave with humility and mutual respect and you won't have to prove how big your daddy is or how powerful you are. You will encourage power sharing and negotiations. You will set up win-win situations.
Another misuse of power is trying to catch others in their mistakes or weak moments and lording it over them, "Hah, now I've got you." The metaphysical version of this is to catch someone with a cold or the flu and saying, "Well, and where is your consciousness. If you were thinking right, you wouldn't be sick." But if we are living in our truth, we will have a redemptive spirit rather than gloating over others' mistakes.
We waste or misuse our power capacity by being authoritarian, by thinking that might makes right. You are not living in God's Power if you feel the need to always be right or if you are unable to admit a mistake or own a problem. This is just living in denial. Because the truth is that right makes might. Our authority comes from our "spirit of power"; using power for growth, not denial; admitting faults and learning from the lessons in our lives.
We don't need to try to take all the credit and honor for ourselves. True power comes with sharing credit and especially in recognizing others.
When you are living in your God-given Power you develop a new language in relationships. Instead of yelling at your kids, "You kids made a mess of the kitchen, again. You're going to get it now!" - you instead can say, "The way you've left this kitchen doesn't work for me. Let's talk to see what we can all do to keep it in better shape."
And when you empower your kids to live in their God-given Power they will move from yelling, "I can't talk to you! You don't care and don't want to understand! I'll do whatever I want" to instead saying "It's hard to talk about what's going on, and I want to share my feelings and problems with you as my parents"
The language of true Power is a gentle loving language that honors all present. It's a language that our world needs to learn.
PERFECT MATCH
I'd like to read you a poem called A Perfect Match by Patrick Lynch:
You say my strength
gives you courage.
But it's your courage
from which I draw my strength.
You say my smile
brings you happiness.
But it's your happiness
that makes me smile.
You say my faith
fuels your devotion.
But it's your devotion
which feeds my faith.
You say my energy
lifts your spirit.
But it's your spirit
that gives me energy.
You say my love
touches your heart.
But it's because of your heart
that I am filled with love.
MEDITATION
Let's end with a meditation that ties together the seven chakras, the seven sacraments and the lessons they teach.
So just get comfortable in your seat, close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing.
The 7th sacrament is - Extreme Unction - - Imagine the seventh center, the crown chakra, located in and around the upper skull, as purple. The lesson of this chakra is "Live in the Present Moment" and has to do with our spirituality. So allow you mind to flow with these scripture readings.
(1 John 2:20-21) "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
(Isaiah 26:20) "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast."
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18) "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; {18} While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
The 6th sacrament is - Ordination - Imagine the sixth center, the third eye chakra, located above and between the brows, in the center of the forehead, as indigo or pure midnight blue. The lesson of this chakra is "Seek Only the Truth" and has to do with mind, intuition, insight & wisdom.. So allow you mind to flow with these scripture readings
(Jeremiah 1:4-9) "Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, {5} Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. {6} Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. {7} But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. {8} Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. {9} Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth."
(Psalms 25:5) "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."
(Psalms 33:4-5) "For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. {5} He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD."
(Psalms 43:3) "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles."
(Psalms 51:6) "Behold, thou desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom."
(Proverbs 23:23) "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding."
(Isaiah 38:19) "The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth."
(Jeremiah 33:6) "Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth."
(John 1:17) "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
(John 8:32) "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
(John 14:6-7) "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: "
The 5th sacrament is - Confession - - Imagine the fifth center, the throat chakra, located in the throat, as sky blue. The lesson of this chakra is "Surrender Personal Will to Divine Will" and has to do with will and self-expression. So allow you mind to flow with these scripture readings.
(Luke 12:8) "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:"
(Psalms 40:8) "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."
(Psalms 143:10) "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness."
(Hebrews 10:7-9) "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. {8} Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou would not, neither had pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; {9} Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second."
The 4th sacrament is - Marriage - - Imagine the fourth center or the middle center, the heart chakra, located in the center of the chest, as yellow-gold. The lesson of this chakra is "Love is Divine Power" and has to do with love, forgiveness and compassion. So allow you mind to flow with these scripture readings.
(Jeremiah 3:14-15) "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: {15} And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."
(Proverbs 18:21) "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
(2 Timothy 1:7) "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
The 3rd sacrament is - Confirmation - - Imagine the third center, the solar plexus chakra, located just above the navel, as kelly green. The lesson of this chakra is "Honor Oneself" and has to do with ego, personality, and self-esteem. So allow you mind to flow with these scripture readings.
(2 Samuel 7:24-25) "For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee forever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. {25} And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it forever, and do as thou hast said."
(Deuteronomy 26:19) "And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken."
(Psalms 21:4-6) "He asked life of thee, and thou gave it him, even length of days for ever and ever. {5} His glory is great in thy salvation: honor and majesty hast thou laid upon him. {6} For thou hast made him most blessed forever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance."
(Proverbs 29:23) "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit."
(John 12:26) "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor."
(Hebrews 2:7) "Thou made him a little lower than the angels; thou crowned him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:"
The 2nd sacrament is - Communion - - Imagine the second center, the spleen chakra, located halfway between the pubis and the navel, as pink. The lesson of this chakra is "Honor One Another" and has to do with sexuality, work, and physical desire. So allow you mind to flow with these scripture readings.
(1 Corinthians 10:16-17) "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? {17} For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."
(Matthew 19:19) "Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
(1 Corinthians 12:23-24) "And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. {24} For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:"
The 1st sacrament is - Baptism - - Imagine the first center, the root chakra, located at the base of the spine, as red-orange. The lesson of this chakra is "All is One" and has to do with the material world. So allow you mind to flow with these scripture readings.
(1 Corinthians 10:2-4) "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; {3} And did all eat the same spiritual meat; {4} And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."
(Ephesians 4:3-7) "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. {4} There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; {5} One Lord, one faith, one baptism, {6} One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. {7} But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."
(Mark 12:32-33) "And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: {33} And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
(John 10:30) "I and my Father are one."
(John 17:21-23) "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. {22} And the glory which thou gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: {23} I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
(Acts 17:27-28) "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: {28} For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."
(Romans 12:4-5) "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: {5} So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."
(Galatians 3:28) "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
(Ephesians 4:4-7) "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; {5} One Lord, one faith, one baptism, {6} One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. {7} But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."
aMyrtle Fillmore How To Let God Help You
bSuné: Richards
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