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“This
week I begin a 6-week prosperity series of lessons that will give each
of us an opportunity to "discover" the way in which we can
increase our measure of prosperity and financial ease. I will
present these lessons via the web site text messages, on the Sunday
morning radio program and on the 6-Wednesday evening radio programs.
The first step to realizing greater prosperity is "commitment to
prosperity" and so to "activate" our commitment to
prosperity, I am suggesting that after each lesson, everyone is to send
$1 to Rev. Bates at P. O. Box 1173, Palm Springs, CA 92263 ... I
will also accept non-U.S. currency
... write on the outside of the envelope "#1" ... and then
"#2", etc. for the 6-weeks of commitment to prosperity
as we gain a "conviction" that we can experience a more prosperous
life, now.” -
Rev
Bates
"Centuries ago the Psalmist caught a
Divine Inspiration and began to think about God as the Good Shepherd.
As he did so, a great wave of peace flowed through his whole being, a
feeling of trust and confidence, and his soul began to sing within him.
... Of all the inspired writings of the ages none is more beautiful than
the Twenty-third Psalm, none more filled with quiet contentment and
complete assurance, none more replete with the comfort and consolation
of the thought that we are not left alone to buffet our way through
life, here or hereafter. .... The Lord is My Shepherd; I shall not
want."
- Ernest Holmes, Living The
Science Of Mind
As Dr. Holmes points out,
the spiritual principles that lead us to a better and more prosperous
life, were revealed centuries ago.
"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want,"
activates the spiritual Law
of Attraction, that begins to fill the voids created by doubt and worry
and brings us into alignment with the Infinite, and the infinite Good
that is available to all of us. Too much has been written about
over-coming our problems and our thoughts of lack and limitation, when
all that is necessary is that we embrace in our mind a higher thought.
We were not created in lack or limitation, no matter what the conditions
around us may appear to be. Even in the worst of times and the
worst of circumstances, wealth and prosperity exists and is being
constantly increased. Even in these seeming hard economic times
when the television, radio, and newsprint Media keep announcing
financial lack and limitation ... millions of people are getting richer
and more prosperous every day.
So, we go back to the
Psalmist affirmation, ".... I shall
not want." But,
first we must know in our mind, what it is that we want. What is
it that we want so much, that we are willing to give it the energy and
the attention to attract it to us like a magnet? Are we willing to
"distance" ourselves from the past in our mind and from the
things that trouble us, and let our mind be filled with something
wonderful and new? These are the things that we must do in our
mind in order to activate this principle that is so very receptive to
our thoughts and the images we hold in our mind. Are we letting in
images that disturb our mind or thoughts that negate the good that we
seek to experience? G-d has brought us into the world and the
Spirit will never desert us ... It remains with us forever. Do we
believe this? ... or would we like to believe it? We must be
honest with ourselves because we can only have a greater faith by
knowing what we have faith in. And we must all begin right where
we are ... no matter what our measure of faith may be.
Dr. Holmes writes further in
"Living the Science of Mind":
"Thou preparest a table before me in the Presence of Mine Enemies
... The table of the Lord is forever spread and on it are the
gifts of Life, including health, happiness, joy, and success in living.
Good can be found anywhere, if we look for it. Abundance can
spring from want, peace from confusion, and joy from unhappiness, right
where we are. The table of God is eternally spread, but, if we are
too busy to come and eat, then we cannot expect to partake of the Divine
Bounty."
Are we too busy to sit in
the silence and accept our good from the Divine Abundance? Are we
too busy to learn how to pray effectively? ... to take the time to
affirm that our good is ours now? The world is filled with
extravagant abundance, yet so many of us accept so little of it ...
because we are too busy. Too many of us are too busy to let the
Spirit inspire us ... to lead us and guide us to a more abundant life
experience.
Emerson said:
"You are because God is. You live because God lives in
you."
Can we believe that
G-d shares our "experience" of something new, something more
incredible, something more wonderful and beautiful, more abundant and
more exciting ... through us, as us? Do we imagine that G-d
could hold something against us? ... or not support us in all the good
that we seek to do, to be, and to have, because of something we have
done in the past? ... or perhaps because of our "sins"?
Does gravity cease to work for us because we make a mistake or because
we "sinned"? Do we not believe that G-d loves us more
than gravity? Do we believe that G-d "favors" some and
not others? ... does it rain only on the "favored"? We
must question ourselves until we eliminate everything in our mind that
denies that the gifts of G-d are ours to receive now.
We must approach the Spirit intelligently
because whether we see G-d as Law or Love, G-d is always Intelligence.
It is Intelligence that we must identify with in our prayers, our
affirmations and our silent meditations. "The Lord, that is
the Intelligence that permeates the Universe, is my Shepherd ... It
leads me, guides me, and inspires me ... so, I shall not want for any
good thing!"
AND
SO IT IS!
Keep
the faith!
Rev.
Dr. Henry Lee Bates
Visit Rev. Bates BLOG: Living
the Science of Mind
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Rev
Bates on the Radio
