Number Ten of Ten

I did not win the MegaMillions lottery drawing Tuesday night. Someone else did. Maybe not the big jackpot, but at least the 5 of 6 numbers prize. When we hear someone has received a large sum of money, or is driving a new car, or found the perfect job, how do we feel about that? (And please notice the word feel, not just think or believe.) You may remember that the Tenth Commandment has to do with not coveting thy neighbor's house, spouse, cattle, manservant, maidservant, etc. It is pretty clear that coveting has to do with wanting what someone else has. So how come we haven't manifested whatever it is? How come those people (who we might look at and judge as not deserving, not as "good" as we are, etc.) got what they got and we didn't? It has nothing to do with how good someone is (because remember the Bible says that the rain falls on the just and the unjust, not that it is our place to judge--just saying). It has everything to do with consciousness. When we have a consciousness of prosperity, that becomes our experience. When we have a consciousness of lack and struggle, that becomes our experience. What do we do when we see that someone else won the lottery? Resentment and bitterness keep our good from coming to us. So we offer thanks that they did win, knowing that because they did, we can, too. And we recognize that the lottery is only one of innumerable ways that Spirit has of bringing our good to us. We stay open to it. And, by the way, we buy a ticket!

Walking On Fire & Moving Mountains, Slaying Giants

"Standing outside the fire;
Standing outside the fire;
Life is not tried, it is merely survived,
If you're standing outside the fire."

---"Standing Outside the Fire" recorded by Garth Brooks
Last week, at Edwene Gaines' retreat center in Valley Head, Alabama, I walked on fire.

Literally.

It is always an extraordinary experience, and so not what I expected I would ever do. But I did it. There are innumerable lessons to be learned, but at the top of the list is a reminder that my expectation will be my experience.

After several hours of mindful contemplation and training, we were invited to walk across this sacred eight foot track of coals, that are about 1200 degrees. Medical science and the world say that is impossible, that I would get burned. But I did not. In fact, I did not feel much heat; instead, the fire was soft and welcoming, like talcum powder.

We in Southern California, with our experience of brush fires and Santa Ana winds, may have a perception that fire is frightening and destructive. But it can also be nurturing and cleansing.

I'll bet you have walked on fire as well. It may not have been in Alabama, and there may not have been physical heat involved. But releasing an old regret or resentment, finally standing up and speaking your truth, or changing a belief that no longer serves you is every bit as important as crossing an actual fire.

Perhaps you are ready to do that again. But you haven't quite taken the first step.

All these experiences require change. Might be a physical change, might be a change in the way we see ourselves, others and the world. But the process will be what we expect it to be. And as we walk, we focus on the manifestation of the dream---the finish line.

Remember the story of David and the Princess in the Bible? You might have heard it as David and Goliath. But if you go back in I Samuel and read it again, you find that David was totally focused on the princess (the goal, the prize), and gave very little mind to the fire (Goliath).

When we decide to go for our dream; when we decide this and no further; what do we focus on? When we live from the dream, rather than from the fire (the process of change and growth), the steps we take are so much softer, because we can stay consciously aware that we are walking with Spirit.

There will never be a better day than today to take the first step. Because standing outside the fire just isn't what we deserve.













Moving Mountains, Slaying Giants



I'm sure you remember the story of David from the Old Testament. He and the armies of Israel had a situation with the armies of the Philistines, which included a rather large gentleman named Goliath.

Just as a quick review, David's older brothers were preparing for battle. Goliath, representing the Philistines, announced to Israel that they would serve Israel if Israel won; but if Israel lost, they would have to serve the Philistines. The battle would be won or lost by one person fighting the giant.

One day, David brought food for his older brothers. He happened on the scene as they were discussing the situation. Right about that time, word had gotten out that the King of Israel, Saul, had promised riches, land and most especially, his daughter (the princess), to anyone who could defeat Goliath.

The story in I Samuel has great value for us, because it describes David's reaction. He basically said (paraphrased) to a group of soldiers on his left, "now wait a minute-you mean to tell me that whoever defeats the giant gets the princess?" Then he turned to his right and asked another group-"let me get this straight. The princess?"

David didn't spend any time on the process, or the walking on fire that would be required. Instead, he focused on what he wanted to experience-his eyes on the prize.

There is something in your life that you want to do, be or have. Do you focus on the goal, or spend time trying to figure out how it could possibly happen, or the hard work that will be involved, or?

Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday...

We remember and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter each year, but for us, it can be a day by day experience.

To me, resurrection means coming back to life--remembering the truth of who we are. The stone of the appearance of separation is rolled away when we remember that Life (and life) is for us; that God is our source; that we can forgive ourselves and others.

We live in an orderly universe, and everything is connected. We will not experience financial abundance if there is forgiveness work to do. We will not express perfect health if our relationships are out of whack (using a purely spiritual term).

I believe another important lesson from Easter for us is to not judge by appearances. No matter what our situation might be, we know that God (Spirit, the Universe, our Higher Power) can and does work in the unseen, creating whatever it is we are choosing (consciously or unconsciously) to experience. We wouldn't plant seeds today, then go out tomorrow to dig them up and see if they are growing. We plant them, and trust the Law that grows them. So it is with our prayer work--even if we are not seeing the manifestation of whatever it is, we know that the Universe always responds, and it is in process, to be delivered whenever we are ready.

Happy Easter Wednesday....

Moving to a New State & This Sunday at Joyful Living Church

Moving to a New State:


If you were with me on Sunday, you may remember my talk on forgiveness. (If you were with me, I ask for your indulgence, as some of this may be review.)

As you know, Edwene Gaines, author of The Spiritual Laws of Prosperity, will be with us this Saturday, March 24, starting at 10 a.m., for her "Prosperity Plus" Workshop. One of the four spiritual laws she highlights in the book is forgiveness, suggesting that if we are experiencing a financial challenge, the quickest way out of it may be through forgiveness.

Now, you may be thinking "I'm fine, thank you---no one in my life needs to be forgiven." Really? Parents, children, oil companies, ex (or current) spouses, ex (or current) employers, the church you grew up in, yourself? Any of those strike a cord?

This is big stuff, because in the Science of Mind textbook, Ernest Holmes says "from self reasons alone, if from no loftier reason, we cannot afford to find fault, to hate, or even to hold in mind anything against any living soul! The God of Love cannot hear the prayer of the one who fails to love."

The point is that the Universe (God, Spirit, our Higher Power) works in love, joy, passion, order, and in the moment. We can miss out on the connection if we are in regret, resentment, anger---in other words, the need to forgive.

Forgiveness is absolutely not logical. Your ego will tell you all the reasons why the person (or even yourself) doesn't deserve forgiveness. And maybe they don't. But withholding forgiveness is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.














This Sunday at Joyful Living Church:


You probably remember the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem that is celebrated on Palm Sunday. Looking back on the events that are mentioned in the New Testament, this big celebration and parade was completely out of character for Jesus. My perception of him was that he was a quiet person, with a great sense of humor, full of compassion and understanding for others. He was just out doing what he was doing.

But he agreed to do this celebration thing, because that was what had been fortold about him. In fact, in Zechariah 9:9, (in the second to the last book in the Old Testament) we read "...he is righteous and a Saviour, lowly and riding upon an ass, upon a colt the foal of an ass." And in all four accounts of the event, in the New Testament, it is written that this would happen "so that what was said by the prophet might be fulfilled."

Many of us carry old beliefs based on what someone told us: about how life is, who we are in relationship to Spirit, etc. But what has really been written about us?

Another Look at Good Friday

Growing up in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, I always had alot of trouble with this day.

The translations of the Bible that I was familiar with, Revised Standard and King James, quoted Jesus on the cross saying "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)

But how could this be? If you were with me last Sunday, you remember we talked about the prosperity promises that Jesus made about his disciples, about you, and about me. In fact, in Matthew 7, Jesus said, "or who is the man among you, who when his son asks him for bread, will hand him a stone? Or if he should ask him for fish, will he hand him a snake? If therefore you who err, know how to give good gifts to your sons (and daughters), how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?"

How can I look upon God as a loving, giving, nurturing presence when He left my older brother Jesus alone to die on the cross?

When we take another look, we see the truth. In the Lamsa translation of the New Testament, taken from the original Aramaic text (the language Jesus spoke), Matthew 27:46 states, "Eli, Eli, lemana shabakthani! My God, my God, for this I was spared (or this was my destiny)!" This was a joyful pronouncement.

Why does it matter? It matters because our perception of God will be our experience of God. If we accept the teachings of our brother, Jesus, God the Father (Spirit, the Universe, our Higher Power) is a loving, nurturing presence that always responds as we believe.

If we stay stuck in that old inaccurate translation, God stays a judgmental, wrathful being out there somewhere that sends us tests and trials just for fun.
My dear friend and teacher, Edwene Gaines, reminds us that "our life means what we say it means." Just about all of us have gone through experiences that we labeled as a betrayal. Someone else betrayed us, or we might have betrayed ourselves. But is it possible that experience was absolutely necessary on our path?

Remember the part that Judas played in the crucifixion and resurrection? Even though he is probably the most hated person in Christianity, he was absolutely necessary for the story.

So often our judgment surrounding a betrayal, resulting in anger, regret and resentment, can block our good from us. Join me Easter Sunday at 10 a.m. for my message entitled "Rolling The Stone Away."

Re-Finding Our Smile

Greetings!

"If it's not fun, why do it? -- Ben and Jerry
In this teaching we call Religious Science or New Thought, we spend a lot of time on very serious business like goals, dreams, forgiveness, our relationship with Spirit, etc. And all that is important. But I believe that sometimes we postpone our experience of joy and happiness until....

As soon as I reach that goal, as soon as that whatever manifests for me, as soon as.... We stay focused on our goal (someone said our "eyes on the prize"), which is good. But when we do, there is the possibility that we are missing out on the happiness of the moment.

We are mature and responsible and orderly and serious. Breakfast food is for breakfast. You don't wear blue and green together.

But what if we stirred it up a little and broke some rules? What happens when we do that? More often than not, it makes us smile.

Just about everyone I know has a storage compartment someplace. Or two or three. And if not, their garage looks like an Oklahoma windstorm went through. We have all the stuff, so why aren't we happy?

Maybe because we don't allow ourselves to be.

The wonderful book Happiness Is A Choice by Barry Neil Kaufman, which a dear friend reminded me of, offers "shortcuts to happiness," including:

Make happiness a priority. In our interactions in the world, we can choose whether to react or respond. Or even just smile. A Course in Miracles reminds us that "I can be right, or I can be happy." Sometimes we get both, but when we don't, which is more important?
Personal authenticity and integrity. We all have things that we do differently from anyone else. It is part of what makes us, us. Honor and celebrate the unique and wonderful being you are!
Let go of judgments. See point number 1.
Be present. As I write this, the house is quiet and there is a Golden Retriever lying across my left foot. The wind is rustling in the trees outside, and I hear an airplane and traffic in the distance. Thoughts of past and future keep us from the lusciousness of the moment.
Be grateful. Everyone and everything brings us a blessing. Without exception.
The Universe works on ease and grace and joy and wonder and passion. Ever seen an aardvark? Not only a rather unattractive creature, but the name starts with two a's. How much fun is that?

Hmmm. How about a waffle for dinner, with a lemon drop martini to wash it down? Think of all that lovely vitamin C in the lemons...

Thanks everyone for enjoying my Blog!!

i add to it every day.
You can tell that i add to it according to the date of the blog.
All of my blogs are uplifting in some way, according to there subjects.
Lately you can tell by looking at my Archives that since late 2011 my blog has EXPLODED!!!
What you will mostly find in my blogs is personal development life coaching law of attraction material, and Ron Paul material as well. I hope you get something from my uplifting blog, and i enjoy adding them and get a lot from them myself too!!

good night


Tyler

"The Greatest Love of All"

"The greatest love of all is easy to achieve. Learning to love yourself -- It is the greatest love of all"
In honoring and celebrating the life and talent of Whitney Houston, I was reminded of this song that she recorded.

On this Valentine's Day, whether you have another beloved (besides yourself) or not, how will you honor yourself and this "greatest love"? What do you say about yourself?

My dear friend and mentor, Edwene Gaines, says that "my life means what I say it means."
If we say (whether verbally or in our thoughts) that we are powerful and power-ful beings, that we are a blessing to the world and that the world is a blessing to us, that is our truth.

What I know for you is that everything in your life is exactly as it should be.

Depending on how your life looks, that statement might surprise you. But when we step back from judgment, away from how it is "supposed to be" based on someone else's rules and regulations, we can honor ourselves for how far we have come, the opportunities and lessons we have learned, and face today (and every day) with excitement and anticipation of new and wonderful blessings. Every experience has been there to bring us a blessing, whether it seemed like it at the time or not.

A Course in Miracles reminds you that you are host to God. (Remember that Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is within you.) How different would your life look, today and every day, if you were consciously aware of that in every moment?

Today, you don't have to send yourself candy and flowers (unless you want to). But I challenge you to experience that "greatest love," in the remembrance that you are the beloved of God. Not anyway, but period. And then act accordingly.

When you do, the most amazing things will happen. When we decide that we deserve only the best, and settle for only the best, Life responds (because as we know, Life is a mirror of our beliefs) with only the best in our relationships, our health, our money, and in every other area. Godiva or Whitman's Sampler--always our choice.

An Opportunity for Inconvenience

My first full-time job was with San Diego Trust & Savings Bank in Escondido. In 1978, our branch was the first one in the system to install an automated teller. Called a "7/24" machine, you could get your balance, or withdraw money. It was HOT.

This, of course, was before the days of direct deposit, the internet, and scanning checks to be deposited on your smart phone. But suddenly you didn't have to stand in line in the bank (between the hours of 10 and 4, thank you) in order to make a withdrawal.

We've come along way. I sometimes find myself feeling a little inconvenienced if the internet moves too slowly, or if I do have to go to the bank and stand in line for 5 minutes. Spoiled? Perhaps.

As you may know, A Season for Non-violence is the annual 64 day campaign celebrating the lives and work of Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King. Non-violence sounds like something governments and countries should do. If they would just _______________
(and feel free to fill in the blank), the world would be a better place.

But I believe that violence is more than just physical. It is also in the ways we treat one other--anger, resentment, bitterness and the need for forgiveness are also forms of violence.

Our decision to be non-violent starts with a willingness to change. Change is most often inconvenient--we may have to do something we have never done before. Giving someone the benefit of the doubt; putting ourselves in their position; being willing to not take their actions personally.

I choose to consciously experience this year's SNV personally, by allowing myself to be inconvenienced, and by being aware of how I can be more loving. Won't you join me?

Judgmental Christians, had to deal with this growing up. Will not tolerate it.

This doesn't mean I don't believe in Christ.
But most Christians are so difficult to deal with.
It's rare to find some that are fun to be around and not feel judged by them.
And they will judge you for the smallest things too.
Just not picky. Blah blah blah.
It gets to be too much.
Why can't people just be normal?
There's either too many drunks to deal with, or too many judgmental Christians to deal with.
Why are people so extreme?

WALLACE WATTLES (1860-1911)

"Give every person more in use value than you take from them in cash value."
WALLACE WATTLES (1860-1911)
The Science of Getting Rich

Remember this, and never take money from anyone without giving more in use value than the money you are receiving. In people's lives, this is one of the main causes of lack of money, unsuccessful job experiences, and failed businesses. Give more value than the money you are receiving; in your job, in your business, and in every part of your life.

May the joy be with you!

‎"If you want to find God, hang out in the space between your thoughts." ~ Alan Cohen

Daily Teachings

Yes, but.....

Greetings!

You've probably made your list, either on paper or in your head, of what you want to accomplish in 2012. You might call them goals, or resolutions, but the intention is the same. Some of them might be carry-overs from 2011, and that's OK.

Often, after we do that, a well-meaning friend, or the news, or our ego (which some people believe stands for Edging God Out) will remind us of all the reasons why those wonderful things couldn't possibly happen. And often, after we get those messages or ideas, we accept them as our truth. The reasons why wind up being excuses.

Our reasons / excuses may have been with us for a long time. Perhaps your goal or resolution is to finally stand in your truth and change the dynamics of a relationship that no longer serves you. But you might have been taught that children should be seen and not heard. (We are someone's child, no matter how old we are.) Or that the meek shall inherit the earth, which could be used as a reason / excuse for playing small.

But what if we could look at those old beliefs / reasons / excuses and release them, so we can make 2012 our best year yet?

Visit my blog at http://revjerryt.wordpress.com to listen to my talk on this subject from last Sunday.

Most of our reasons / excuses are based in scarcity. I don't have enough time, money, talent, energy, etc. etc. That "not enoughness" can really keep us stuck.

Be sure to be with us on Sunday, starting at 10 a.m., to meet and hear Victoria Castle, author of The Trance of Scarcity. Victoria is our guest speaker during the service, and will conduct a workshop based on the book starting at 11:30 a.m.

See you there!
Love and Light,

Rev. Jerry Troyer

An Old Dog and New Tricks

Greetings!

Chances are good that by now, you have made your list of goals for 2012, or a list of New Year's resolutions, or at least given some thought to what you'd like to accomplish.

Often, when we do that, our ego (that part of us that really likes the status quo, what Wayne Dyer says stands for Edging God Out) tells us all the reasons why whatever it is couldn't possibly happen.

If it's a major change in the structure of our lives, we might be reminded of the old statement that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks."

That, by the way, is not the truth. It is not the truth for the four-pawed ones, and it isn't the truth for the rest of us Puppies either.

The world (remembering the words of Jesus that 'my kingdom--and so our kingdom--is not of this world,' being the world of effect) will give us reasons / excuses why things must remain the same. Often, they are rooted in scarcity. There is not enough money, time, energy, wisdom, etc. etc.

But we can choose otherwise.

On Sunday, I'll be using Dr. Wayne Dyer's wonderful book, Excuses Begone, to look at some of those common reactions that we have when we have the beginning of a wonderful new idea; and how we can replace those with the empowering truth that it is the Father (Spirit, the Universe, our Higher Power) within that doeth the work.

How It's Supposed to Be vs How It Is

Greetings!

Jerry C. and I are spending a few days in Breckenridge, Colorado, on our way home from spending Christmas with his family in Kentucky.

We were awakened about 4:30 this morning by very strong wind gusts, blowing snow, and complete darkness. Yes, the electricity had gone out.

Four hours later, no change. But I'm supposed to have hot coffee in the morning very soon after I wake up. I am supposed to have a hot breakfast. And I'm supposed to be able to watch the Kentucky vs Louisville college basketball game!

The good news is that "the juice" (which is what electricity is called in Kentucky) came back around 11 a.m. Mountain time, so we are watching the second half of the game. And there is coffee brewing.

As I was sitting and watching the snow (which was pretty cool, in more ways than one), I was thinking about how it is supposed to be. And those goals I listed for the last 100 days of the year. Those that I accomplished and those that I did not. There were some things I was supposed to do that I did not do. But who made the list? Who assigned the end date? I did.

If you have a list of resolutions for 2011, at least some of which will be carried over into 2012, how do you feel about that? Maybe you didn't lose the weight, or finish cleaning and organizing the room, or whatever. There are no doubt reasons and excuses, but because we are dealing only with ourselves, we can love ourselves enough to say that the reason it didn't happen is because it didn't happen. We can forgive and release all of it.

In just a few hours we will start a brand new wonderful (and wonder-ful) new year. Make your resolutions if you choose (or call them goals or something else), but do so in gratitude for everything in 2011, and in power and expectation of a great 2012.

The Gift of Beauty

Greetings!

"Everything is beautiful in its own way
Like a starry summer night
Or a snow covered winter's day
And everybody's beautiful in their own way
And here in God's heaven
The world's gonna find a way."

At the risk of dating myself, I was remembering the chorus of the song "Everything Is Beautiful," recorded by Ray Stevens in the 1970's.

Beauty can be subjective. For example, I may really love roses, but not daisies. Or vice-versa.

But what if I could recognize the beauty in everything--and in every one? And what if I could see that there is a blessing for me in everything, and in every one?

If you are out and about today, I invite you to take the opportunity to recognize the beauty in last minute shopping and the excited faces of children. And take an extra moment to enjoy the beauty of the season (and Saturday afternoon NFL football--woohoo!).

And by the way, since "everybody's beautiful," that means that you are, too!

The Gift of Power

"We must come to believe that the creative Spirit which is back of all things also flows through us. If we think of ourselves as rooted in God, and expect Divine Power to flow through us, our every thought and our every act will be animated by the same life and power and beauty that clothe the lily of the field." -- from Good For You by Ernest Holmes

We are amazingly powerful and power-filled beings.

Thinking about the gift of Power reminds me that, as Jesus said, "it is the Father within (Spirit, the Universe, our Higher Power) that doeth the work."

This most wonderful time of the year is, for many of us, also the busiest time of the year. Sometimes we might be tempted to slip into a belief in "not enough-ness." But the truth is that there is always enough--enough time, enough love, enough peace, enough power.

If you are spending time with friends or family over the weekend, there might be an invitation to give your power away. We do that when we slip into resentment or regret about a family member or situation.

If you are traveling over the weekend (with the 92 million other Americans, according to The Today Show), there might be an invitation to give your power away and slip into frustration and judgment. If those people would just drive the way I want them to...

But notice that word invitation. Because that's all it is, we can accept or decline. No, thank you, I choose to not react, and instead, keep my power, which results in Light, Life, Love and Peace.

Here's to consciously enjoying all those wonderful gifts of Spirit.

The Gift of Peace

This time of year, many of the holiday cards we receive (and maybe send) wish "peace on earth."

So how do we get there? And especially, how do we get to peace in our own lives and within ourselves?

Peace is not something that can be postponed. "I'll be at peace as soon as..." doesn't work, because even after the value of our retirement fund reaches seven figures, or we finish school, or get a relationship, or loose a relationship, there is always something else.

Instead, we can remember what A Course in Miracles says: "I can choose peace instead of this."

You might be planning your Christmas day activities with some amount of trepidation. There might be someone you have old issues with, or be planning to do something you really don't want to do.

The greatest gift you can give yourself, beyond diamonds, a new Lexus, or anything Nordstrom stocks, is forgiveness. Of ourselves, of others, even of God.

The gift of Peace is always there for us--we just need to access it. Not by giving up, but by giving in.

The Gift of Love

The ultimate expression of Spirit is Love. When we finally release all beliefs in a judgmental God out there somewhere that gives and takes away, based on our performance, we embody that which Jesus referred to as "Abba," which translates to mean "Daddy."

We are unconditionally loved and nurtured. Spirit (God, the Universe, our Higher Power) always says yes to us without exception. Because we are loved, we can love ourselves, and then one another.

Do we treat ourselves with the experience of Love that the Universe has for us? When we truly love ourselves, we reside in the moment, in the conscious expectation of our greater good. We look at our past in compassion, knowing that we always did the best we could in the moment.

In I Corinthians 13, Paul reminds us that "the greatest of these is Love."