Weekly Message for Sunday, April 14, 2002
                                            

Through faith in the Invisible we may claim the good we desire for ourselves and others, and when our whole inner being is in harmony with that good, then it is that we shall kiss the lips of our desire. - Ernest Holmes

                   Norman Vincent Peale wrote a wonderful little book titled "The Power of Positive Thinking."  The book has been translated into fifteen languages with more than 7 million copies sold.  "The Power of Positive Thinking" is unparalleled in its extraordinary capacity for restoring the faltering faith of millions. In this insightful program, Dr. Peale offers the essence of his profound method for mastering the problems of everyday living. You will learn: 1) How to eliminate that most devastating handicap---self doubt.  2) How to free yourself from worry, stress and resentment.  3) How to climb above problems to visualize solutions and then attain them.  4) Simple prayerful exercises that you can do every day, through-out the day, to reinforce your new-found habit of happiness.

                Dr. Peale's theory is that we can eliminate all the negative thoughts that prevent us from achieving happiness and success.  "The Power of Positive Thinking" is an inspiring program that will help you create a positive change in your life.

               I believe that this is true and I have read Dr. Peale's book as well as the "Power of Enthusiasm," which is no longer in print.  Both books were extremely inspirational........ but, they can only take us so far.  It is very necessary to maintain a positive, enthusiastic outlook on life.  However, we cannot rely on our human ability to remain positive and enthusiastic in the face of diversity or crisis.  We must build within our consciousness, spiritual discernment, that knows the Truth from the Lie.  Rather than depend on our ability to remain positive and enthusiastic, we must cultivate an awareness of spiritual principles and begin to depend on Principle rather than personality.  Personality is far too emotional and temperamental to be dependable when the going gets tough!  Many people carry with them a great appearance of positive-ness and enthusiasm but have not cultivated the foundation that will allow them to genuinely say, "none of these things move me."  Positive thinking doesn't give us the necessary strength (confidence and self-assurance) to "move through whatever it is we must move through" in order to live a life without discord.

              As we cease to rely on our human abilities and our human thinking that has been convinced that "I of mine own self can do something," and turn to the Truth of "I of mine own self can do nothing," we can begin to foster true confidence and assurance that "It is the Father that worketh in me, the Father works and I work."  Learning to go within and listen to God rather than rely on "positive" phrases and statements will create the consciousness necessary to replace all the false beliefs that we have accepted and forgotten about that will rear their ugly heads someday as sickness, poverty, depression and all sorts of other manifestations that we will be surprised to find in our experience.

            As we begin to understand the qualities of God; Omnipotence, Omnipresence and Omniscience, we can dwell on these qualities and know that God Is All There Is.  As we dwell upon these qualities of God, we are dwelling on the Truth that "surpasses all understanding."  We may not be able to describe in words why we know "none of these things move me" but we will know that we know and that is all that matters.  When we have cultivated and nurtured the Truth that there is no power but God, that God is always present and that God Is Intelligence, All-Knowing, we begin to see this Truth demonstrate itself in our experiences.  But as long as we continue to believe that we can "just think positive" when our lives are in turmoil, without this greater awareness, we will most likely see this positive outlook diminish greatly as the demands of life are not met.

          Begin to dwell upon the idea that no matter how bleak or impossible a situation or condition may be, that as we turn to God, and recognize this amazing Inner Power, Presence and Intelligence within us, we can realize that the Good we seek is ours to claim.  Our job is to "listen" as this Invisible Presence reveals the Good - without thinking "how it will do it" or "when it will do it."  Look at whatever the situation is that you are confronted with and rather than struggle to remain positive - become intrigued with the idea that it is "Good unfolding."  As Dr. Holmes states, "through faith in the Invisible we may claim the good we desire for ourselves and others, and when our whole inner being is in harmony with that good, then it is that we shall kiss the lips of our desire."

 And So It Is! 
                                                            
Letting Love use me in Its own Good Way,
Henry Lee Bates