empowerment

September 18, 2016 – The Art of Letting Go

by


Rev. Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
“The Art of Letting Go”

A mountain climber was playing Pokemon Go when he fell off a cliff. He grabbed at a branch sticking out from the mountainside. It stopped his fall. He looked down. He looked up. He cried out, “God, please save me. I’ll do anything!” The clouds parted and he heard a deep voice. “Do you trust me?” “Yes! I’ll do anything!” God repeated, “Do you really trust me?” “Yes! Yes!” “If you trust me, then let go.” The man looks down, and then looks up. “Is there anyone else up there?”

We do that. Sometimes our guidance can be a stretch. We don’t trust it. If the mountain climber had let go there was a ledge just a few inches below his feet, but he couldn’t see it.

There is so much going on in the world now we get confused. Charles Fillmore, in “Dynamics For Living”, said that it is essential we learn to let go to learn something new; that there is a balance between receiving and giving. It’s important we learn to let go.

The scripture I quoted on your handout is from Isaiah 43, “Remember not the former things…” which are the things that no longer serve that we’ve carried from childhood and young adulthood. They have shaped our lives, but a hand closed on the old isn’t open to the new. In Isaiah, God says, “I am doing a new thing…I will make a way in the wilderness (our uncultivated errant thoughts) and rivers (the flow of our vitality) in the desert (those dead things we carry that no longer serve but take up energy in our spirit and body of affairs).” Take for example, an old relationship or job that is no longer fulfilling, yet we stay and are miserable.

My favorite instructor in ministerial school was Dr. Robert Brumet, “Finding Yourself In Transition.” He wrote that each transition in life begins with an ending. But before the new beginning we must first let go. That brings the next stage, the void. We wander until we get to the new beginning. Many transitions are happening in our world and we are called to let go of old judgments, old habits, patterns and prejudices. Many of you are experiencing transitions in your lives right now. Right here, our Rev. David is leaving. We want to hang on, but God is doing a new thing. We must let Rev. David move forward on his new path. If we don’t let go we will be left in “the desert”.

Rev. Denise is coming but can only take us to the door. The ministerial search team is finding our new minister; our new minister will go through the door with us. So we have to let go. We have to prepare for this new thing God is placing in our path.

How do we release? How do we let go? I suggest several steps in the handout.

In step 1, if you have only a little willingness, give it to the Holy Spirit, who will take the necessary steps for you, (ACIM). In step 2 remember to do your work; you don’t want to get more of the same thing you had before. Step 3, there is really nothing to forgive because, as spiritual beings we learn on our spiritual path, and therefore nothing wrong really ever happened. Everyone can find good in those things we need to forgive. Step 4 is the void. It’s ok. Step 5, is ok. Get your cry on, your mad on; beat a pillow. In step 7. Celebrate!

We must Let go; let God. Let go; let God. Let go; let God.

I see for all of us an amazing future! I believe that you and I have the power to create infinite possibilities out of the challenges we are facing. I trust you and I trust God!

September 18, 2016 – The Art of Letting Go

by

Rev. Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
“The Art of Letting Go”

A mountain climber was playing Pokemon Go when he fell off a cliff. He grabbed at a branch sticking out from the mountainside. It stopped his fall. He looked down. He looked up. He cried out, “God, please save me. I’ll do anything!” The clouds parted and he heard a deep voice. “Do you trust me?” “Yes! I’ll do anything!” God repeated, “Do you really trust me?” “Yes! Yes!” “If you trust me, then let go.” The man looks down, and then looks up. “Is there anyone else up there?”

We do that. Sometimes our guidance can be a stretch. We don’t trust it. If the mountain climber had let go there was a ledge just a few inches below his feet, but he couldn’t see it.

There is so much going on in the world now we get confused. Charles Fillmore, in “Dynamics For Living”, said that it is essential we learn to let go to learn something new; that there is a balance between receiving and giving. It’s important we learn to let go.

The scripture I quoted on your handout is from Isaiah 43, “Remember not the former things…” which are the things that no longer serve that we’ve carried from childhood and young adulthood. They have shaped our lives, but a hand closed on the old isn’t open to the new. In Isaiah, God says, “I am doing a new thing…I will make a way in the wilderness (our uncultivated errant thoughts) and rivers (the flow of our vitality) in the desert (those dead things we carry that no longer serve but take up energy in our spirit and body of affairs).” Take for example, an old relationship or job that is no longer fulfilling, yet we stay and are miserable.

My favorite instructor in ministerial school was Dr. Robert Brumet, “Finding Yourself In Transition.” He wrote that each transition in life begins with an ending. But before the new beginning we must first let go. That brings the next stage, the void. We wander until we get to the new beginning. Many transitions are happening in our world and we are called to let go of old judgments, old habits, patterns and prejudices. Many of you are experiencing transitions in your lives right now. Right here, our Rev. David is leaving. We want to hang on, but God is doing a new thing. We must let Rev. David move forward on his new path. If we don’t let go we will be left in “the desert”.

Rev. Denise is coming but can only take us to the door. The ministerial search team is finding our new minister; our new minister will go through the door with us. So we have to let go. We have to prepare for this new thing God is placing in our path.

How do we release? How do we let go? I suggest several steps in the handout.

In step 1, if you have only a little willingness, give it to the Holy Spirit, who will take the necessary steps for you, (ACIM). In step 2 remember to do your work; you don’t want to get more of the same thing you had before. Step 3, there is really nothing to forgive because, as spiritual beings we learn on our spiritual path, and therefore nothing wrong really ever happened. Everyone can find good in those things we need to forgive. Step 4 is the void. It’s ok. Step 5, is ok. Get your cry on, your mad on; beat a pillow. In step 7. Celebrate!

We must Let go; let God. Let go; let God. Let go; let God.

I see for all of us an amazing future! I believe that you and I have the power to create infinite possibilities out of the challenges we are facing. I trust you and I trust God!

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July 31, 2016 – The Wisdom of the Heart

by

07/31/16 Rev. Denese Shellink
“The Wisdom of the Heart”

I’m not always clear on what I should do, but I do pay attention and I listen to my heart. I’m reading “The Power of The Heart” by Baptist de Pape. He recounts how he had prepared for a career in law and was offered a position with a prestigious firm. But when it came time to sign the contract he couldn’t do it. He had a “broken open” heart experience where his heart told him not to sign. The heart is the portal to the divine. When God says, “Hello! You’re not moving in the path best for you,” it can be very painful before the joy comes through.

Did you know the heart produces the hormone oxytocin? It magnifies the love/connection we long for. We are here to love and be a non-anxious presence. We are here at Unity to awaken to who we came here to be. I don’t just want to learn about God, I want to KNOW God.

Baptist de Pape came out of his devastating change when he, fortunately, saw Eckhart Tolle and Oprah Winfrey’s series on The New Earth. At one level our world is in turmoil. We are at a paradigm shift of consciousness, hospicing the old and birthing the new. We live in both. We live in the place of unity, seeing the Christ in one another, and then we go out in the world, and we say, “Who are these people?”

Paradigm one has an air of fear, distrust, “I’m right; you’re wrong,” separation, miscommunication, win/lose. There’s the anxiousness: “you’ve done something to me.” We can believe it or rise above and shift our consciousness.
Paradigm two is one of cooperaton, of “enough”, of generosity, love, trust, acceptance. No one is against me. The entire universe is here for me. It is one of infinite possibilities. Abundance is here and now. What someone else thinks of me is none of my business. Yes!

The two paradigms are colliding. There’s upset. Our job is to hold the space between them. “Out beyond right and wrong I will meet you there.” (Rumi) That’s where we want to dance, where we honor all and everyone gets to come to the table. Learn to be that non-anxious presence. Heal. Embrace the human and express the spiritual. Know your shadow! If we can embrace what it is we can create a world for all. Then your gift comes easy.

Colonel Sanders retired when he was 65. His first monthly Social Security check was only $105! That’s when I believe his heart opened. He asked himself what was his gift, what could he do to have more? He knew that he made great chicken. He began by selling it to his neighbors and you know he soon made millions.

There’s a story about a pair of twins in the womb. They laugh and play and feel it’s great to be alive. “How great is our mother’s love that she shares her life with us!” “Maybe there’s life after birth.” They saw that others had been there before them, but none returned to tell if there was life after birth. Neither had actually seen their mom. Had they made her up? But at birth they cried for joy because she exceeded their dreams!

Be the presence of peace and create the new Earth. Thank you God for this day of awakening and remembering why we came, for this day of convergency of the 2 paradigms. Thank you for our incarnation. Thank you that our divine is expressing. Thank you God! So it is.

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June 12, 2016 – The Power of SHE

by


Rev. Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
“The Power Of SHE”

Quantum physicists talk about the male and female energy of planetary and particle movement. God, which is the universe, is a perfect balance of male and female energy. The time is right to focus on merging the divine feminine with the divine masculine in our lives and in the world to see a shift in war and violence. The masculine energy is out of balance. When it is out there by itself, there is force and then push-back. The key to all this in our world is for the masculine energy to find balance with the divine feminine.

The Biblical story of Deborah tells of the only woman to be a judge, prophet, and general of Israel. Deborah means “bee”, spiritual discrimination, activity. She was the first woman head of state. On guidance from God, she told a general, Barack (means executive aspect of active will) how to defeat one of Israel’s enemies. He responded, “I will only go if you go with me.” This is the first place in the Bible where the divine masculine and the divine feminine come together to overcome. When the mind (the masculine) and the heart (the feminine) come together, we are power—not “we have power” but we ARE power! When we have power, it can be taken away, but when we ARE power it can’t be taken.

How will it affect our innocents, our water, our food, when the masculine cooperates in a scenario that takes all of them into consideration? Would not the balance of the masculine (mind) with the feminine (heart) defeat our enemies within and without because we bring harmony to our decisions?

How do we teach our young women about force? We have taught our daughters power is something to HAVE, not to BE. But within, they have masculine and feminine, and when they align that, they ARE power. And we are called to teach our little boys compassion, nurture, gentleness. We must stop telling them, “Boys don’t do that.” And we must stop telling our little girls, “Girls don’t do that.” It is our responsibility to share this with our children. We must redesign our school curriculums for this. And we must revamp our sports programs to reflect these values, personified by the late Muhammad Ali. We can, when about to make a decision, ask ourselves to seek balance with our masculine and feminine energies and seek a decision for the highest good of all.

Now we are asking men what they think, and women what they feel. What if we ask men what they feel and women what they think? Will it help? We’ve got to change our language, and how we speak to little boys and girls. Ask yourself, “Where am I out of balance? What can I do to bring myself into balance?”

When mind and heart are one, I AM POWER! When mind and heart are one, I AM POWER! When mind and heart are one, I AM POWER!

June 12, 2016 – The Power of SHE

by

Rev. Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
“The Power of SHE”

Quantum physicists talk about the male and female energy of planetary and particle movement. God, which is the universe, is a perfect balance of male and female energy. The time is right to focus on merging the divine feminine with the divine masculine in our lives and in the world to see a shift in war and violence. The masculine energy is out of balance. When it is out there by itself, there is force and then push-back. The key to all this in our world is for the masculine energy to find balance with the divine feminine.

The Biblical story of Deborah tells of the only woman to be a judge, prophet, and general of Israel. Deborah means “bee”, spiritual discrimination, activity. She was the first woman head of state. On guidance from God, she told a general, Barack (means executive aspect of active will) how to defeat one of Israel’s enemies. He responded, “I will only go if you go with me.” This is the first place in the Bible where the divine masculine and the divine feminine come together to overcome. When the mind (the masculine) and the heart (the feminine) come together, we are power—not “we have power” but we ARE power! When we have power, it can be taken away, but when we ARE power it can’t be taken.

How will it affect our innocents, our water, our food, when the masculine cooperates in a scenario that takes all of them into consideration? Would not the balance of the masculine (mind) with the feminine (heart) defeat our enemies within and without because we bring harmony to our decisions?
How do we teach our young women about force? We have taught our daughters power is something to HAVE, not to BE. But within, they have masculine and feminine, and when they align that, they ARE power. And we are called to teach our little boys compassion, nurture, gentleness. We must stop telling them, “Boys don’t do that.” And we must stop telling our little girls, “Girls don’t do that.” It is our responsibility to share this with our children. We must redesign our school curriculums for this. And we must revamp our sports programs to reflect these values, personified by the late Muhammad Ali. We can, when about to make a decision, ask ourselves to seek balance with our masculine and feminine energies and seek a decision for the highest good of all.

Now we are asking men what they think, and women what they feel. What if we ask men what they feel and women what they think? Will it help? We’ve got to change our language, and how we speak to little boys and girls. Ask yourself, “Where am I out of balance? What can I do to bring myself into balance?”

When mind and heart are one, I AM POWER! When mind and heart are one, I AM POWER! When mind and heart are one, I AM POWER!

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May 29, 2016 – Spiritual Power

by


Rev. David McArthur
“Spiritual Power”

I have known so many wonderful people in the Armed Forces! And I have learned that the power of the force is the expression of their love. In our growing what we are learning is to understand this power that flows in and through us.

Anastacia Jayet’s soon-to-be-published “A Beacon Shattering Into Being,” tells a clear and honest story of a woman’s journey from powerless to powerful. We are all on that journey. Anastacia’s story very much parallels mine, as I have shared with you. She too was a student at the University of New Mexico and in a beautiful marriage with a beautiful baby. She too lost her spouse through violence. Her world came to an end. Anastacia shares her experience step by step. How her deep pain and shock weren’t acknowledged at the hospital as her husband died. How she stepped into powerlessness, giving her power away easily without realizing it. She did not make decisions to favor herself. When we feel powerless we have fear. We give our power away. We push help away. Anastacia said she couldn’t make room for it. All beauty and love in her life were lost. Everything she had known and depended upon had disappeared. Her life became pain and loss.

Years later, with brutal honesty, she looked at her choices and began to see and become conscious. She worked hard to make decisions to carry her forward to her purpose, to connect with the powerful spiritual being she is, and to walk in her spiritual power.

Have we given away our power—through anger, and not living our truth? For women on our planet, taking their power is a major spiritual journey! Anastacia repeated to herself, “I can always get back. I can always get back to my spiritual power for myself and all human beings.”

The place where we accept our power is a beautiful place! You never have to seek from without, but seek from within, from the center of your being. (Center to circumference.) “I do not have to give away my power to receive.” It is always present within. The power of God is within me! The power of God is within me! The power of God is within me!

When we stop separation, we go from separation to power. What happens when we look at people of another religion and we don’t have to call them terrorists? —when we look at transgender and  gay and don’t see then as immoral? —when we look at women and do not see them as property? —when we look at brown bodies and do not see them as illegal.

What happens when we see all of them as children of God? —when we look at each other as people of wisdom and see children of God? That’s POWER! It is that power which will change our world. The power of God is within me!

And you know how to get there through those gorgeous hearts of yours. So go for it!

May 29, 2016 – Spiritual Power

by

Rev. David McArthur
“Spiritual Power”

I have known so many wonderful people in the Armed Forces! And I have learned that the power of the force is the expression of their love. In our growing what we are learning is to understand this power that flows in and through us.

Anastacia Jayet’s soon-to-be-published “A Beacon Shattering Into Being,” tells a clear and honest story of a woman’s journey from powerless to powerful. We are all on that journey. Anastacia’s story very much parallels mine, as I have shared with you. She too was a student at the University of New Mexico and in a beautiful marriage with a beautiful baby. She too lost her spouse through violence. Her world came to an end. Anastacia shares her experience step by step. How her deep pain and shock weren’t acknowledged at the hospital as her husband died. How she stepped into powerlessness, giving her power away easily without realizing it. She did not make decisions to favor herself. When we feel powerless we have fear. We give our power away. We push help away. Anastacia said she couldn’t make room for it. All beauty and love in her life were lost. Everything she had known and depended upon had disappeared. Her life became pain and loss.

Years later, with brutal honesty, she looked at her choices and began to see and become conscious. She worked hard to make decisions to carry her forward to her purpose, to connect with the powerful spiritual being she is, and to walk in her spiritual power.

Have we given away our power—through anger, and not living our truth? For women on our planet, taking their power is a major spiritual journey! Anastacia repeated to herself, “I can always get back. I can always get back to my spiritual power for myself and all human beings.”

The place where we accept our power is a beautiful place! You never have to seek from without, but seek from within, from the center of your being. (Center to circumference.) “I do not have to give away my power to receive.” It is always present within. The power of God is within me! The power of God is within me! The power of God is within me!

When we stop separation, we go from separation to power. What happens when we look at people of another religion and we don’t have to call them terrorists? —when we look at transgender and  gay and don’t see then as immoral? —when we look at women and do not see them as property? —when we look at brown bodies and do not see them as illegal.

What happens when we see all of them as children of God? —when we look at each other as people of wisdom and see children of God? That’s POWER! It is that power which will change our world. The power of God is within me!

And you know how to get there through those gorgeous hearts of yours. So go for it!

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April 10, 2016 – He Had To Go

by

Rev. Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
“He Had To Go”

Jesus had to go. It was all about the possibilities that exist within us. He even told the disciples (us) he had to go because he had taught many things which “you do not yet understand.” He had to go to send the one “who will help you understand,” the Holy Spirit. Once we take our eyes off the man, the divine wisdom (the Holy Spirit) will open us to understand. He delivered his message and he was done. We can’t look at the man anymore. We have to move forward with the message.

Jesus said, “the power I have is the same as you have,” and, regarding the things he did, we “will do more”. So you can tell that mountain in your life to move and it will return to nothingness.

He noted that people spend their lives preparing for their deaths. “I came so that you will have life.” Live with each other. Love each other. Heal each other.

In Dorothy Elder’s “From Metaphysical To Mystical” we see how the man comes with a message. The message excites and engages, so a movement forms to share the love of the man and the message. Then a Machine develops with dogma, rules, ideals and regulations to worship the man and maybe the message. Finally in the Monument phase cathedrals are built to worship the Man. What happened to the message—love, forgiveness, oneness?

The last seven events of Jesus’ life hold a phenomenal key to overcome any mountain in our lives. I discovered them in my life and they work! 1) Palm Sunday: surrender the ego to God. 2) The Last Supper: call together all the 12 spiritual powers. 3) The Garden of Gethsemane: draw away from the world and go within for the direction and guidance of God. 4) The trial before Pilate: stand firmly in your faith that all is well. 5) The Crucifixion: get rid of the last vestiges of fear, doubt, unworthiness, any error consciousness. 6) Resurrection: throw off what binds us to sense consciousness; see the truth of the situation. 7) Ascension: be lifted above the world; see the big picture and live in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Get back to the message. It is ours to live with passion. It gives us energy, excitement. Every cell is rejuvenated, energized, restored. Remember, you are the one you have been waiting for. Recognize it. Say yes to it. It is time for us to step forward. Be the messiah. Save the world. It is within us. “I’ll say yes, Lord. Where you lead me I’ll say yes!” Put that mountain in your life in front of you. The Holy Spirit is in your heart. Say yes. Yes! Yes! Yes! See that mountain dissipate! Say yes!

I am the one; I say yes! I am the one; I say yes! I am the one; I say yes!

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April 10, 2016 – He Had To Go

by

Rev. Sheila Gautreaux, L.U.T.
“He Had To Go”

Jesus had to go. It was all about the possibilities that exist within us. He even told the disciples (us) he had to go because he had taught many things which “you do not yet understand.” He had to go to send the one “who will help you understand,” the Holy Spirit. Once we take our eyes off the man, the divine wisdom (the Holy Spirit) will open us to understand. He delivered his message and he was done. We can’t look at the man anymore. We have to move forward with the message.

Jesus said, “the power I have is the same as you have,” and, regarding the things he did, we “will do more”. So you can tell that mountain in your life to move and it will return to nothingness.

He noted that people spend their lives preparing for their deaths. “I came so that you will have life.” Live with each other. Love each other. Heal each other.

In Dorothy Elder’s “From Metaphysical To Mystical” we see how the man comes with a message. The message excites and engages, so a movement forms to share the love of the man and the message. Then a Machine develops with dogma, rules, ideals and regulations to worship the man and maybe the message. Finally in the Monument phase cathedrals are built to worship the Man. What happened to the message—love, forgiveness, oneness?

The last seven events of Jesus’ life hold a phenomenal key to overcome any mountain in our lives. I discovered them in my life and they work! 1) Palm Sunday: surrender the ego to God. 2) The Last Supper: call together all the 12 spiritual powers. 3) The Garden of Gethsemane: draw away from the world and go within for the direction and guidance of God. 4) The trial before Pilate: stand firmly in your faith that all is well. 5) The Crucifixion: get rid of the last vestiges of fear, doubt, unworthiness, any error consciousness. 6) Resurrection: throw off what binds us to sense consciousness; see the truth of the situation. 7) Ascension: be lifted above the world; see the big picture and live in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Get back to the message. It is ours to live with passion. It gives us energy, excitement. Every cell is rejuvenated, energized, restored. Remember, you are the one you have been waiting for. Recognize it. Say yes to it. It is time for us to step forward. Be the messiah. Save the world. It is within us. “I’ll say yes, Lord. Where you lead me I’ll say yes!” Put that mountain in your life in front of you. The Holy Spirit is in your heart. Say yes. Yes! Yes! Yes! See that mountain dissipate! Say yes!

I am the one; I say yes! I am the one; I say yes! I am the one; I say yes!

October 18, 2015 – Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys

by

10/18/15  Cindy Farris, L.U.T.
Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys

This one friend always says, “It’s not your circus! They’re not your monkeys!” Do you know what that means? Have you ever taken on more than you had to? Have you ever felt like you were the only one who could fix it? —the only one who was doing it right? Are you a control freak? Are you “capable”? Do you get hooked into things you wouldn’t normally do?

I do. I am partners in a yarn shop. 11 women in a co-op. Now there’s a circus! A few weeks ago we moved the shop. It had been decided it would be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday for the move. Unbeknownst to me, a couple of the “sergeants” decided to start moving on Sunday. I usually work there on Mondays, so on Monday when I texted “When should I come in?” the reply was “Don’t come in. Stay home.” My ego was a little miffed, but I got a lot of work done at home. Over the next few days I did go in for a few hours. There were plenty of Ringmasters and I was not needed. It was a circus, but it wasn’t mine. I got to see what it looks like when I’m in controlling mode. The sergeants mirrored it back to me.

Do you see lots of things that aren’t being done well? “If they just did them my way I’m sure things would go better”. There are clues which can tell you if it’s your circus or not. Ask, “Does this situation really involve me?” Most of us have gotten involved when it was not our business. And at what cost? —our time and money, energy and health? Can I really bring something to a table I wasn’t asked to sit at? This is the butt-out part.

When we butt in, we could be taking someone off their path. We have to be mindful, “Do I have some responsibility here?” If the answer is no, butt out. Am I doing my actual work or taking over someone else’s job? Am I butting in because of my ego or lack of self worth? Am I doing something so I feel more fulfilled, to show I am capable? I could be in places where I am truly filled with joy on my path. It is ultimately God’s will to be done. At times I have to be the monkey with my hands over my mouth, or my eyes, or over my ears.

Tuesday through Thursday I teach science at a charter school. I am a master teacher, and I am Ringmaster in my classroom. That’s what I was hired for and I am good at it. I like it. It is my circus. Most of my students are boys and often the coach will come by and call all the guys to the baseball field. This school was founded and is paid for by a major league baseball player. When my students leave, I am no longer responsible for them. They are not my monkeys. I am free. I know when it’s my circus when I have empowered my monkeys to soar!