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What about worship? Does that sound like something that belongs in some other church based in a much older tradition? It might sound somewhat strong or somehow weak to consider worship as an integral and necessary part of a New Thought service. Some folks think so. I disagree…and so does Ernest Holmes.
Worship is defined in Webster’s dictionary as:
"reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual; respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem"
How could we possibly have a relationship with God without worship, then? We embrace the idea that each person is an individuation of God, made in the “likeness and image of God”. That is true of all New Thought traditions as well as the Christian tradition. Remembering that we are not God is the point of worship!
Ernest Holmes reminds us of the Bible story when he write in Science of Mind Textbook on page 81:
"Jesus in talking with the woman of Samaria explained: "God is Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." That is the first reference Ernest made to worship and, of course, he is quoting from the Christian scripture. Earlier in that passage he makes the point that:
"Probably the definition of God as "Spirit" is more easily understood, more readily accepted, than any other term used in describing Deity."
When people come to my center, my church, they often hear me say that it does not matter what you call God–Heavenly Father, Divine Mother, Beloved Friend, Infinite Supply, Source, Universal Mind or Ralph. It is what you experience as God that matters, the Power larger than yourself that operates as a Power for good in this world. And, once you have that understanding, worship is important.
Each week in our Celebration we read responsively that words of Ernest Holmes written in 1927 called ‘What We Believe”. That is our creed and integral to our remembering and to our worship. It is on our website for you at www.YourSpiritualHome.com
I know, I had a little difficulty coming to use that word again. Coming from a Christian church myself a long time ago, worship seemed to make God so external to me once I understood the idea of an “indwelling God”. It might for you, too. I invite you to include worship in your daily thoughts.
On page 362 of Science of Mind text, Ernest writes:
"An evolved soul is always a worshipper of God. He worships God in everything; for god IS in everything. God not only is IN EVERYTHING, BUT HE IS MORE THAN EVERYTHING HE IS IN! 'Ye are the light of the world.' This is God in us. all that we are is God, yet God is more than all we are. The nearer consciousness comes to this Truth, the more Cosmic sweep it has, the more power it has."
Clearly, worship is important. Worship God in everything!
Many blessings,
Rhoberta
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Are you carrying unnecessary baggage? Most people do. Socrates said,
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
We carry old baggage because we do not take the time to stop and examine what we are living from, what values, what old scripts, what old patterns. We fail to examine what is in that big Santa bag we have had thrown over our shoulder weighing us down for many years. The relationships we are having now are being affected, negatively or positively, by all that has happened that we are bringing into the present moment.
Is this fair? Often, it is not. Of course, if all our experiences throughout life have been filled with love and joy, then, it is a very good idea to hold onto them. Positive experiences have a lightness about them. The others are just too heavy.
Right now, I am very excited about the book that Charles and I are writing about spirituality in all our relationships–with ourselves, with others, with our significant others and with our spiritual Source. It’s called Walking in Mystery, Dancing in Wonder. Doing this work is making a significant impact on our relationship, too, so we know it ’stuff’ worth examining.
I travel frequently to speak and teach. It is always a pleasure to return to San Diego. The palm trees were swaying a hello and it’s 63 degrees at midnight. That’s my kind of winter weather! And, often, I have to carry my own baggage!
So, back to the idea of baggage. It’s heavy. It is tiring to carry…and it is likely quite unnecessary. I invite you to join me in examining life–our own. Throw off or lay down what no longer serves you. The good news is that you get to make yourself up brand new and fresh every minute. Enjoy!
Optimize Life Now!
Many blessings, Rhoberta
Rev. Rhoberta Shaler, PhD is an international spiritual teacher and speaker. She is the founder of the Spiritual Living Network and Your Spiritual Home. www.SpiritualLivingNetwork.com www.YourSpiritualHome.com
You can hear her audio or look at her books by clicking on the "Buy Books & Audio" link at the top right of this page. Enjoy!
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I’m excited about presenting our seminar on our upcoming book at our Humana Center in Encinitas, California. The title of both the book and the seminar is Walking in Mystery, Dancing in Wonder: Spirituality in ALL Relationships“. So, that about takes in every single person’s needs as long as they are breathing, right? (You can learn more about the seminar at www.HumanaCenter.com )
In Science of Mind, Ernest Holmes wrote:
"Into this world we project an idea of ourselves as personalities.
Since this action is spontaneous, but at the same time subject to the reaction
of the mechanics of the Unvierse, we may or may not be reflecting freedom, happiness and apparent wholeness into the Law. Personality is bound, in its objecitve form only, to mechanical laws. This is necessary else there could be no self-expression. The way personality uses these mechanical laws, whether consciously or unconsciously, depends upon a realization of its right relationship to God, man and the Universe." p. 416 Right relationship, that’s the key. To know where and why we are in relationships and to know how we want to be in relationships, we have to know the answer to the most fundamental question we can ask ourselves.
"Who am I?"
Move closer to the answer by joining us for the Walking in Mystery, Dancing in Wonder Intensive soon. You’ll get a lot from it to help you with your relationship with yourself, and, therefore, your relationship with God.
I look forward to meeting you there.
Many blessings,
Rhoberta
Rev. Rhoberta Shaler, PhD is an international spiritual teacher and speaker. She is the founder of Spiritual Living Network & Your Spiritual Home. www.SpiritualLivingNetwork.com www.YourSpiritualHome.com
Enjoy her free ebook at www.NoLimitsLiving.com
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Do you think about your relationship with Spirit, Infinite Supply, Universal Mind? What does it look and feel like? In the wonderful book by Ernest Holmes, This Thing Called You, he wrote:
"To live by inspiration means to sense the divine touch in everything;
to enter into the spirit of things; to enter into the joy of living." p. 35
And, from Can We Talk to God?
"Consider the spirit as a warm, pulsating, reciprocal thing. It presses against us.
It flows through us. It is our intelligence. It is a great universal urge and surge.
It is a warm colorful thing. It is a beautiful thing.
It cannot be put into words. You can only feel it." p. 14
God, Spirit, Universal Mind, Infinite Source is as close as our breath or our hands. And, sometimes, when we are in very close relationship with someone or something, we tend to take him, her or It for granted. Every relationship worth having is worth paying attention to. How much attention do you pay to God?
I’ve worked with people who have encountered difficulties, even tragedies, and, all of a sudden, lightning strikes and they remember Spirit. Like magic! Not having given a thought to Spirit in years, they suddenly turn, hoping for solace, grace and repair. And, God is there just as He/She/It has always been.–not complaining that you haven’t been heard from in a while, but, more like the father in the story of the prodigal son, there with welcome in the moment and no thought of the past.
In Spiritual Psychology, or, Science of Mind, we use a positive approach to prayer. We call it ’spiritual mind treatment’. It is not supplicative: “Help me now and I’ll do anything for you later.” It is a process of remembering. We remember what Ernest says:
“Spirituality is natural goodness. God is not a person; God is a Presence personified in us. Spirituality is not a thing; It is athe atmosphere of God’s Preence, goodness, truth adn beauty. Religion is a life, a living….Start with this simple proposition: The nature of God, of man and of being is perfect, harmonious, whole–Perfect God, Perfect Man, and Perfect Being–and in treatment conform your thought to this idea. Then let the treatment be a moving thing, a series of thoughts or statements followed by realization….Gradually a conviction dawns that
God is all there is, and as this conviction grows the work is done more easily, and with a greater degree of acceptance...a growing spiritual atmosphere
comes with it. ...The way to learn how to treat, is to treat." Science of Mind, p. 308/9 Daily attending to your relationship with whatever name you are comfortable with for God makes all the difference in life. Your joy, your peace, your love: all are enhanced by sitting in the sacred silence and deepening your relationship with God.
Sit in the sacred silence every day and pay attention to God. Listen well and follow your guidance. You’ll be happy that you did.
Yours in Love,
Rhoberta Rev. Rhoberta Shaler, PhD is an international spiritual teacher. She is the Founder of Spiritual Living Network & Your Spiritual Home www.SpiritualLivingNetwork.com www.YourSpiritualHome.com She invites you to enjoy the free short video at www.AffirmativeUniverse.com
You'll learn much from reading your own copy of the Science of Mind Text. You can buy it easily by clicking on "Buy Books & Audio" at the top right of this page.
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 I like one definition of faith I found:
"Faith is not being sure where you are going and going anyway."
That’s what Frederick Buechner said. Many times, we are called to just step out and put both feet firmly in mid-air…and many folks balk. We rationalize and justify. We complain and deny. And, then, we wonder why life feels chaotic, anxious, small or dull.
I do not advocate running around like chickens without heads, blindly following every suggestion that comes our way. I’m talking about when our intuition is working–which it always is, we just don’t seem to always listen–and we’re sitting in the sacred silence calmly. Ideas come. Feelings come. Aha’s come. Do we explore these things…or, even entertain them? You have to not only have an open mind. You may have to be willing to think bigger! Ernest Holmes wrote: "Science of Mind is not a "get-rich-quick" scheme, neither does it promise something for nothing. It does, however, promise the one who will comply with its teachings that he shall be able to bring greater possibilities and happier conditions into his experience." Science of Mind, p. 266 Charles and I call this, in part, “The Way of Wonder”. Joel Goldsmith advocated this path although he called it “The Infinite Way”. No matter what you call it, you will benefit from sitting in the sacred silence, becoming still and listening. There is so much more for each one of us than we sometimes expect. Open yourself to it daily. Yours in Love, Rhoberta
Rev. Rhoberta Shaler, PhD is an international spiritual teacher. She is the Founder of Spiritual Living Network & Your Spiritual Home www.SpiritualLivingNetwork.com www.YourSpiritualHome.com She invites you to enjoy the free short video at www.AffirmativeUniverse.com
You'll learn much from reading your own copy of the Science of Mind Text. You can buy it easily by clicking on "Buy Books & Audio" at the top right of this page.
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