"Spiritually Speaking" by Rev. Carla Golden

How to stay positive--a lesson from Jessica

I often use positve affirmations to keep my mind centered on Truth. I wish that I had learned about affirmations in my childhood, like this little girl. Watch this little wonder, Jessica, do her stuff and let it remind you about the power of your words and the importance of staying positive. You, too, can do anything!

Tithing During Challenging Times

For those of you not familiar with the concept of tithing, it is a spiritual principle that many believers practice. It is giving at the level of 10% of your income (tithe comes from the word ten) to your church or other channel of spiritual food. In other words, where are you fed spiritually? Is it a church or spiritual center? Have you been inspired through a book or CD? Where does God/Spirit speak to you? That person or place would be where you give.

Giving and generosity are part of all faith traditions. It is as natural as breathing in and breathing out. In fact, that is a good analogy. In order to receive a fresh breath of air, you must be willing to breathe out the last breath you took. You cannot receive more without letting go of what you already have. You keep the flow going...in and out...receiving and giving, giving and receiving. When we clutch and constrict, we restrict the flow.

Giving is also an acknowledgement of your gratitude for what you have received. And when we give from an attitude of gratitude, our hearts are open and receptive to receiving even greater blessings. The Native Americans always presented seeds and other offerings to Spirit as a recognition that their good came from this Source. They gave the first fruits of their labor.

We are told in the Bible that if we give, that God will provide--that God will open up the windows of heaven. To me, God is not a person sitting on a cloud, waiting to hand over the goodies if we give to our church. God, to me, is the principle of goodness itself. Christ Conscciousness is our awareness of God operating in our lives as good health, wholeness, love, oneness with all, prosperity, and so much more. It is our openness to receive what this Creative Spirit has already provided. Jesus was our role model in living by this principle.

Now, what about these challenging times that we seem to be experiencing right now? you might ask. Are we expected to give as generously during these times? Well, let me just share my own experience and belief, because I can't tell you what to do with your money.

My husband was laid off from his job in public relations in October. It was a shock to us and it meant our income would be cut by more than one-half. We talked about it and knew that regardless of appearances, we needed to continue to tithe. So we tithed on my salary. I won't say that it wasn't a bit scary--and I heard the voice of my practical father in my head telling me that I must be crazy. But I knew the power of the practice of this principle and it's ability to transform consciousness.

Since October, we have been able to pay all our bills and meet our responsibilities. It doesn't make sense logically, but it does spiritually. Faith is the power that opens our hearts and minds and knows that we are provided for with the rich resources of Spirit. Those resources can come to us through many different channels, whether it's unemployment compensation, family, the lottery (be careful about that one), or a job. By keeping our minds open, we become aware of opportunities that we may not otherwise have noticed. And as the good flows in, we bless it and send some of it back out again.

Keep the flow going in your life and begin to stop clenching and holding tight to what you have and let some of it go. Bless it and hold in mind that you are in the flow of the Universe and that good is coming to you as surely as you breathe out and breathe in.

And so it is.

 

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

In case you haven't heard, Oprah has picked Eckhart Tolle's new book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, as her latest book club selection. She is also doing an online course with Tolle, starting March 3. This course is free and, so far, over 100,000 people have signed up.

What is the book about? Well, I have to admit that I've only just begun to read it--I'm on page 54. What the cover says is that this is an expansion of the ideas in his  book, The Power of Now, which I read and found to be very inspirational.

According to the back cover, A New Earth is about "transcending our ego-based state of consciousness" to help us find personal happiness but also to help end conflict and suffering throughout the world.

If you'd like to read more about Eckhart Tolle and the class, here is a link:

http://www.oprah.com/obc_classic/webcast/begin/eckharttolle_invitation.jsp

Spiritual Economics

There has been a lot of talk lately about a "recession". The news media interview one financial guru after another and each one says something different.

Eric Butterworth wrote a book called "Spiritual Economics" back in 1983, and it is just as pertinent and on target as it was back then. According to Butterworth, what we believe about the financial situation in the country largely determines what we experience. If the consensus is that "something awful is happening," says Butterworth, "then something is happening right there." He goes on to say that the economy is a barometer that registers the highs and lows of our society's consciousness. It is the spread of negativity that leads to a downturn in the economy.

If our thinking can send the economy into a downward spiral, then it also makes sense that our thoughts can also do the opposite. The Wall Street Journal once ran an article on its front page that said, "Positive thinking is the way out of our economic malaise."

Yet even a recession cannot impact our own abundance if we stand firm in the prosperity principles. What are these principles?

1. Know that God/Spirit/Divine Mind is your source. Not your job, the economy, the government, your spouse, or your parents.

2. Believe that it is your divine right to live a prosperous life, with all your needs met and your dreams fulfilled.

3. Take time every day to read your goals and visualize them manifested in your life. What does it look like? What does it feel like?

4. Forgive and release negativity. Let go of grudges, unforgiveness of others and yourself. Release old ways of thinking that have not worked for you in the past. This creates a clean consciousness which is receptive to good.

5. Give. Be generous at every turn. Give to your church, to charities. Donate your time and volunteer to organizations that you believe in or your church. Whatever talents that you have, use them in service to others and not just to make money. Commit to becoming a tither and give 10% of your income to where you are spiritually fed or see God expressing in your life. This is the law of circulation. What you put out there into the universe comes back to you multiplied.

6. Live in a perpetual state of gratitude. Always be aware of all that you have to give thanks for, even if you are without many things that you need or desire. Start with the weather, if need be. Give thanks for a sunny day. There is always something to be grateful for. It is the law of the universe that what we focus on expands. So if you want to experience more prosperity, be thankful for what you have right this minute.

As you listen to the news today, don't let any negative information pierce through the faith that you have that "with God all things are possible." Trust that all things are working together for good and that God as our source will always provide if we stand firm in our faith and reject any negativity that we may encounter.

Does this mean that we just sit in our home and wait for the prosperity to flow? No. We must take positive action. If you're without a job, go out there and talk to people, send out resumes, and search the Internet. As the Quakers say, "Pray, but move your feet."

Are You Willing to Be a "Messenger of Light"?

In November of 2002, Shelley Yates and her son drowned in their car after it was swept into a flooded marsh in Canada. But a miracle took place and both of them were brought back to life. This was a turning point for Shelley, and the beginning of the "Fire the Grid" project to help bring peace and healing to our world.

On July 17, 2007, thousands, if not millions, of people around the world will join in prayer and meditation to help reverse and heal the damage that has been done on this earth. I invite you to be part of this important project.

Please use the link below to read Shelley's story and find out more about the "Fire the Grid" project. After you have done so, if you feel as strongly about it as I do, then please tell others.

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977046506

Creating from Within

My husband and I recently rented the movie "Charlotte's Web" which I really enjoyed. In the movie, based on the book by the same name, Charlotte is a spider who creates elaborate webs with a message about a little runt pig, Wilbur, in order to save him from becoming pork chops. It is a lovely movie in and of itself, but it got me to thinking of how, like Charlotte the spider, we humans also create the web of our lives from within ourselves.

Many people think that creation is something that takes place in the outer--something we do. But creativity and creation comes from within us. We create from the consciousness that we have developed and it is then expressed out in the world.

Our webs of abundance are created through the development of our inner consciousness, made up of our thoughts and feelings. It involves our faith and our feelings of worthiness. If we doubt our worthiness of this prosperity, we short-circuit the process.

We are always creating through our consciousness. What we create is up to us. If we hold thoughts of lack and poverty, we create more of the same. Perhaps you recognize the same concept that is taught in the movie, "The Secret." Yes, the "Law of Attraction" and what we call the "Law of Mind Action" are very much the same. They are both about how our consistently held thoughts, beliefs and emotions create our experience in life.

What kind of web are you creating for yourself? Are you happy with it? If not, then it is helpful to take a look at your consistently held thoughts, beliefs and emotions.

The Secret

In my last post, I told you about the movie "Conversations With God", which opened yesterday across the country. I hope that you can find it at a theatre near you. If it's not showing at a local theatre, talk to the manager of the theatre nearest you and encourage him or her to get the movie. If enough people ask for it, perhaps they will order it.

There is another movie that you can watch online for free. "The Secret" is a hot new film that is not showing in the theatres. It is being shown in churches and at people's homes and it is changing people's lives. No matter what your goals are--good health, money, relationships, love, the principles for achieving them are the same.

"The Secret," which is spreading like wildfire across America, features the stories of many successful people who have used these principles to create a life of abundance.

You will find a link to the movie below. Remember, this is a full-length film (108 minutes) so make sure you have set aside the time to view it. Once you start watching you will not want to stop. After viewing the movie, consider purchasing the DVD to show to your friends and family. Many people are holding classes and groups to support each other in using the principles.

On November 2, Larry King will interview several of the people featured in this movie on his talk show. Check CNN for the time of his show in your area.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1197564949

Tithes and Offerings

Someone emailed and asked me what the difference was in a tithe and an offering. Their comment was that in their church the minister always blessed the "tithes and offerings" and they wondered what the difference was.

An offering is a gift of any amount while a tithe is 10% of that person's income. The word tithe actually means "ten". Tithing is mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament. In biblical times, a tithe was often gifts of chickens, crops, or spices.

There is a spiritual principle that states, "as we give, so shall we receive." Jesus did not talk about tithing so much as "generosity". He spoke often of giving in his teachings.

For those of us who have embraced the spiritual principle of tithing, it is a way of life. My husband and I traveled for seven years teaching the spiritual principles of prosperity. We committed to following these principles because they changed our lives. Every time money comes into our lives, we sit down and discuss where we want to tithe. We tithe to the people and organizations from which we have received spiritual food or inspiration. We have tithed to authors of books, ministers, seminar leaders, and spiritual teachers as well as churches and religious organizations.

In tithing we acknowledge the good that has come into our lives and, in gratitude, we give back. The attitude in which we give is important. If we give grudgingly, we are not in alignment with the true spirit of giving. If we give with love and gratitude, our hearts are open and we create a consciousness within ourselves that attracts more good.

Prosperity and Spirituality

When you grew up did you hear that money was the root of all evil? Did you hear that it is harder for a rich man to enter "the kingdom" than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? Well, if you believed those sayings then chances are you are not a very prosperous person today. And you have been misled.

The Bible says that the "love of money" is the root of all evil. In other words, it's not money itself but the worship of money that gets us into trouble. Worshiping money means to make choices in life solely based on money.

It is not being rich that keeps us from the kingdom, but our attitudes about it. You may remember the story about the rich young ruler that came to Jesus and wanted to follow him. Jesus tested him. He told him to sell all that he had and give the money to the poor. The man could not do that. His money and possessions were too important to him.

Jesus had many followers and supporters who were rich. He himself owned a seamless garment, which was very expensive. Although he did not have a lot of possessions, he ate well and stayed with wealthy supporters. He was always provided for. He did not chastise the rich for being wealthy, but he made it clear that we must not focus on or worry about money or the material things in life. God would provide, he believed, and God did and still does.

If you are having prosperity challenges, consider your beliefs about money. What were you taught growing up? How did your family treat money? Did you grow up resenting rich people? Were you told that money is scarce or hard to come by? These beliefs could be part of your consciousness now and need to be released.

Write down all the negative messages that you remember getting while you were growing up about money or being rich. Acknowledge that they have not worked for you and in your heart and mind, give them to God for healing. You might even tear up the piece of paper that you've written them on as a symbolic act of release. Then begin to visualize yourself as a prosperous person. See yourself living in the home of your dreams, purchasing the new car or clothing you desire, and being generous with your money to those less fortunate. See yourself tithing. Know in your heart that it is God that is your source, not your job, your parents or your spouse. And lastly, give thanks. Feel gratitude for all that you have now and for all that God has for you as you open your mind to receive it.

Worry

I grew up reading Mad magazine and remember the red-haired, freckle-faced Alfred E. Neumann's declaration, "What, me worry?"

I grew up in a family of worriers. It was an art that my family perfected. My father even used the expression, "If you're not worried, I'll give you something to worry about!" So I learned to worry from an early age and am now trying to release this bad habit.

The cure for worry is found in the Bible. It is found in Matthew 6:25-34. Here are some excerpts: "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on....Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them....And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you....Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow for tomorrow will care for itself."

Jesus knew that faith in God is the cure for worry. It's about knowing that regardless of appearances, there is a goodness that exists and works through every situation if we trust it and are open to it. Even when things have gone contrary to what I have desired, I have always found that it worked out better for me in the long run. And, let's face it, if you're like me, you tend to eat more when you worry...and that's not good. That tends to add "cubits" to parts of your body that you may not want. So,in the words of a popular song from awhile back..."Don't worry, be happy!"