Dear Friends,

How To Respond To The ‘Goliaths’ In Life.

In considering the story of David and Goliath, from the metaphysical point of view, it is easy to realize that there are many “Goliaths” in the global context, in our places of work or study, even in our own homes perhaps.  We identify these for ourselves, and once identified, at the metaphysical aspect of understanding, we are able to move toward the mystical approach.  Before we proceed though, it needs to be pointed out that in some instances, our very own thoughts can be Goliaths in our lives.

Taking a brief look at this well-known story, we find three key players: Saul was king at the time; David, a shepherd, had captured the king’s attention through the beautiful music he  played on the harp; and then Goliath, the Philistine who was a giant of a man and sheathed in the finest armour and carrying the best weaponry, challenged the Israelites.

Saul, also a big man, was not prepared to take up the challenge and face Goliath. Saul, metaphysically, signifies personal will—that which lies close to sense consciousness and found in us all.  Metaphysically, David represents divine love. Goliath, metaphysically, represents the erroneous belief that parades and tries to dominate our minds, creating fear.

In brief, the story unfolds; Goliath challenged the Israelites and David volunteered to fight the Philistine. David chose to use his own familiar weapon of a sling and some smooth stones.  Goliath was  contemptuous of David’s lack of preparation for the battle, yet David said to Goliath: You come to me with a sword and a spear and a shield. But I come to thee in the name of the Lord.  1 Samuel 17:45.

 We all know how the story unfolds: David, taking aim, and with one stone, finished off Goliath.  These stories from both the Old and New Testaments, are our stories too. The question then is to ask ourselves: “Is there a “Goliath” in my life?” How does this story relate to each one of us?  Are there not Goliaths in so many aspects of life in the world?  And we observe them in our daily news, in the media, in political positions, in work and family situations—in the fight for power between countries.

We may at times feel that what we are “up against” in our personal lives, leaves us  powerless. Where do we go from here? Well, ironically, a feeling of powerlessness is what usually brings us to that point where all we can do is give up our human power and surrender to the true Power that resides within each and every individual.

These stories are not just about events and people of bygone days–they carry valuable lessons too. When we are facing something challenging our powerlessness arises due to our trying to fight or oppose whatever we are facing or trying to “fix”. Often it may seem that we have a “giant” of a problem.  David simply stated he had come with no weapon, but he came in the name of God. And really that is the crux of the matter—the central point of the story!! As we proceed through life we can prove for ourselves this overcoming of the material or world aspects (represented by Goliath) by following the spiritual way.

Remember: God is first cause!! Have we forgotten the guidelines? Have we forgotten that in Truth there is freedom?  Have we forgotten that in Spirit we are all one?  Each story has God as its central point. Have we forgotten??

In Closing…….
The Truth stands, we might say, as our adversary and our friend. It is the adversary of our mortal mind, and the friend of our spiritual understanding. The Spirit of Truth opposes, or makes null and void, all mortal activities—not by acting against these false and seeming activities, for they are nothingness, but simply by being all there is.
Because God is all there is, it follows that as we lose our darkness, we find His Light. There was nothing but Light all the time. As we walk away from the flesh or mortal mind, we find that we are moving into the Presence of Reality. There was never any other presence but Reality. So, as we lay aside our personal selves, we find the Divine Self—which was always the only Self. “Deny yourself, and follow me.” said Jesus. That is the way out of our delusions. That is the way to the Truth which sets us free.  H.B. Jeffery—The Principle of Healing

Bountiful blessings,

 Mallory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dear Friends,

Rising up, Renewed in Spirit.

Spring has arrived here in the  southern hemisphere, and the words: Behold, all things are made new, seem most fitting as we sense the subtle change in the weather and see new growth on the plants and trees in our gardens.  What is the reason or cause of this waking up in nature?  I believe that very importantly it comes about, not only with an increase in temperature, but, having been resting, or hibernating, nature and humans are now ready and recharged from within.

Rest—stopping and just being—plays a very important role in life.  As the season of Spring unfolds, we see plants and trees almost resurrected, as it were, transforming with green leaf buds and new blossoms. In the property next to my home, there are now 21 little lambs, so full of life, and it is a joy to watch them gambol about.

The story of that legendary bird, the phoenix, reminds us of renewal, when it is told that it enjoyed immortality that had to be renewed with fire every 500 years.  When we hear of the phoenix, it is associated with resurrection, triumph over challenges, and renewal—that which rises out of the ashes.  One can read about this legendary bird, and St. Clement, Bishop of Rome, in his epistle to the Corinthians, in Chapters 25 and 26, used this bird as an emblem of resurrection.

In order to emerge renewed, the phoenix had to stop and rest; and it was in the resting that purification occurred—it was in a sense reborn. Rest brings us to a place of purification because as we rest in Truth, our understanding is purified. Focused on truth, and through or from, this expansion of conscious understanding, we rise up again. We are renewed by knowing the truth, and literally “set free” from the bondage of limited thinking and believing.

We find ourselves set free from the burdens of life (often created by ourselves) as we allow the truth from within to rise up and live us on purpose. This truth lies dormant while we play around looking for something more exciting in life—until we have nowhere else to turn. Our way of living needs to sacrificed—ashed—and then we emerge transformed and renewed.  We have an opportunity to wake up and give over to God, to truth, by giving up our human angst and rest in WHAT IS.

While some may have personal challenges, let us see them for what they are. Maybe changes are facing  us, personally and in the workplace. All of these are opportunities to rise up anew. Yet our rising up occurs after we have taken time to BE STILL; after we have taken time, deep within, to commune with the Inner Presence; after we have taken time to stop and LISTEN.

At Spring time each year, we see nature seemingly coming back to life. The really vibrant colours of blossoms on the trees; the  green of leaves against the blue sky. All this arising in a seeming wondrous way, yet all coming from the One Source of all creation.  The sap is not only rising in the plants, and trees, it is rising in us too, as we practice awareness. And through this renewed awareness, we too, rise up like the phoenix from the ashes.  As we embrace the truth—the truth within each individual, within all creation, we rise up, renewed in Spirit.

In Closing…..
Why should we fear to wait upon God with a perfect willingness that the Holy Spirit manifest itself through us as it will, knowing that, whatever the manifestation, it will be good – all good to us and to those around us.

Oh, for more men who have the courage to abandon themselves utterly to infinite will – men who dare let go every human being for guidance, and, seeking the Christ within themselves, let the manifestation be what He (God) wills.

Such courage might possibly mean and probably would mean at first, a seeming failure, a going down from some apparent success that had been in the past.  But the going down would only mean the mighty coming up, a most glorious resurrection of God into visibility through you in His own chosen way, right here and now.  The failure, for the time, would only mean a grand, glorious success a little later on.

Turn to the divine presence within yourself.  Seek Him. Be still before Him.  Wait upon God quietly, earnestly, but constantly and trustingly, for days, weeks, if need be.  Let Him work in you, and sooner or later you will spring up into a resurrected life of newness and power that you never before dreamed of.
H. Emilie Cady – Lessons in Truth

Bountiful blessings,
 Mallory

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

“Are We Moving Forward In Faith?”

How easy is it to be honest with ourselves when so much all around us, at so many different levels of life seems to be changing; when more seems to be “unknown” than ever before? The other morning, sitting quietly, viewing the open countryside all around me, I was aware of deep peace.  I took some photos with my phone. Then it came to me that these pictures were not peace; it only appeared that way because at that very moment, I was experiencing inner peace.

We can at any time stop and check ourselves, especially when feeling overwhelmed with what we feel may need to be achieved in the day.  And remember for ourselves: I can only breathe in one breath at a time, and it is the breath of God breathing me.  And it is the EXPERIENCE OF FAITH that is the main topic under discussion.  We are continually having different experiences each day and the experiences are those felt at the heart, mind and soul levels. So, ultimately what we hold in mind at any point in the day, we experience throughout each and every cell in our bodies as well.

It was interesting to watch and listen to an interview with Matthew Fox the other day.  Recently, it has been mentioned by some who have indicated they are not religious, they are spiritual.  What does this really mean?  Well, Matthew Fox stated it thus: “Spirituality is really the experiential side of our religion!”  This makes sense when we take into consideration that: there is no God, until you experience It. (words spoken by Dr. Salazar during his very first visit to ACT in 1997)  It makes sense because to know about God, intellectually, leaves us feeling quite empty. Knowing that Inner Presence—experiencing It, being aware of It, makes all the difference.

As we move forward in life, we are challenged to move forward in a different way.  It seems that currently there are 22 wars going on in the world.  Have we really come to that, on this planet?  We are part of a new and purposeful time as a new world is emerging, through consciousness. Are we ready and is our faith intact?

Perhaps one of the most important aspects to get our heads around is to view the Bible differently and to see the New Testament as the NOW Testament.  What does this mean?  Perhaps time to investigate the teachings of Jesus at a very different level.   It means living the principles of Truth that never change; it means catching up in consciousness, to what already and really is.  Instead of participating in the destruction of our planet, let us wake up, take a stand, and shift toward the idea, the realization, of ONENESS!  One with God; our true Oneness with all creation.  There is a call for us all to turn within, and through a deeper knowing, move forward in faith

Faith in that, which is not of this world.  This is the faith that Jesus promoted in his Teachings—the faith, and peace, that eludes us when we focus our attention on a material world.  Our faith and trust moves us into a deep realization of the Oneness of all Life, and we are ready for the Now Testament—the ancient wisdom, the principles of Life, as together in uplifted consciousness we’re ready to emerge into a World made new for all!

In Closing…….
 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
And I saw a holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:
 “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men.  He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
 And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
Revelation Chapter 21

Bountiful blessings,
 Mallory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

“The Still Small Voice”
In our early education we are taught the alphabet; we are taught how to read and write, to add and subtract.   What we are not taught, is how to think. We are not taught from an early age how very important awareness is, regarding our thoughts.

We read in scripture: “As a man thinketh, so is he.” And this includes each and every individual.  Are our thoughts lifting us up in consciousness, or pulling us down into a depressed and unhappy state?  And as indicated by Marianne Williamson: “The suffering of the world is not the point of human existence; the point of human existence is that in God all suffering ends.”

You many wonder what this has to do with our thoughts.  Well, everything, actually: and to borrow from Gary Zukav’s book, Seat of the Soul, he indicates: “Competition for external power lies at the heart of all violence.”  We are aware that at this time, all around the globe we are hearing (and seeing) reports of violence in so many different countries, including our own.

Intention relates to daily living and each and every choice we make.  Every thought we think has a consequence; every choice we make has a consequence.  It is awareness that brings us to a point of asking ourselves:  “do I really want the consequence of what I am thinking now?  And are my current thoughts bringing me joy?

Thoughts carry an energy – a vibration – and what we think (and how we think) shines through.  Our thoughts can be seen and felt.  Thoughts have impacted mass consciousness to the degree that we are now seeing the consequences all around us.  We really do need to return to the realization that in God, all suffering ends.

It is in our responses to the day to day challenges that we either choose trust and love, or let fear diminish us.  And I believe that we are being challenged, perhaps more than before, to realize the divine Presence in all of creation.  We come back to the principle of Omnipresence.   God, in, through, and as all!

How do we bring ourselves “back” to the understanding that there is no place where God is not?  How do we move beyond the intellectual idea of this truth?  By becoming still—having no expectation, and just listening for the STILL SMALL VOICE.

Instead of seeking power in the outer things of the world let us heed and follow an inner path that so many wise souls have given us direction toward, over the many, many years, having proved the Inner Presence for themselves.  And of course the directive is to BE STILL.  An absolute last resort for so many as we continue our struggles in the world.

It is interesting to point out that ultimately we all share One God.  Our point of origin in Life is the same.  An interesting way of stating it comes from Joseph Campbell in these words from Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor, and I share his words:  “Apocalypse does not point to a fiery Armageddon but to the fact that our ignorance and our complacency are coming to an end… The exclusivism of there being only one way in which we can be saved, the idea that there is a single religious group that is in sole possession of the truth—that is the world as we know it that must pass away. What is the kingdom? It lies in our realization of the ubiquity of the divine presence in our neighbors, in our enemies, in all of us.”

In Closing…….

 ²² And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
 ²³ The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
²⁴ Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
²⁵ And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
 ²⁶ If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
 ²⁷ Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
 ²⁸ If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
 ²⁹ And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
³⁰ For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
 ³¹ But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
 ³² Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
 LUKE 12:22-32

Bountiful blessings,

 Mallory

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dear Friends,

“Recognizing Our Spiritual Identities”

On the ACT website the following words are to be found:  “ACT is a touchstone for all those seeking a deeper meaning to life.”  Here the word touchstone is of vital importance, as it indicates that individuals are not expected to swear “allegiance” to ACT, or be held accountable in any way, except to themselves and their own soul-growth.  There is a sense of “freedom,” if you like in not being bound in any way.  As a Centre for Spiritual Awareness, a sense of achievement arises, when it is perceived that those who have connected with us, or come through the classes, are using the Principles of Truth, that ultimately are available to all.

Divine Science has given us a wonderful platform from which to work and teach, understanding that it is A WAY to understanding Truth, acknowledging that Universal Consciousness, the One, operates via many avenues in Life. These Truth Principles, taught and shared through the consciousness of mystics throughout the ages, remain; yet we, specially in the world today, need constant reminders.

Life at the moment is full of challenges and real uncertainty – and that could be considered to be an understatement.  Are we paying heed to what is going on at the world level?  Not denying it, yet perhaps giving it all our attention, and thus forgetting these Principles that we have learned and ultimately do know?  When Life is changing as rapidly as it has and is, do we still remember?

You see, it depends on whether we are viewing life from a spiritual knowing, or from a merely human perspective.  This knowing takes practice – it takes work – an inner knowing and trust.  Our work is to access that which IS, and has been, from the beginning and always will be.

One of the points that has always been stressed, is that TRUTH CANNOT BE WATERED DOWN, to fit in with mass consciousness and understanding.  Our only true need in fact, is to become aware of Spirit.  And when we awaken to the One – One Source of all Being; all creation; from this consciousness of deep realization will come the solution to any problems or challenges; because what we are doing then is allowing that which is, the All in All, to manifest through us in every aspect of Life as it is destined to do and be.

Our purpose in Life is to KNOW God.  To Be Still, and Know. It is not a forced knowing – we do not have to TRY.  It is the most important thing we can do for ourselves; and when the knowing arises and is recognized, it is followed by a deep sense of gratitude.  More than ever it is time to embrace the truth of our being, accept our spiritual identities, embrace the teaching of many who have gone before us, and prove it for ourselves.

In Closing…….
 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 ² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, and he leadeth beside the still waters.
 ³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
PSALM 23

Bountiful blessings,
 Mallory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dear Friends,

“Who we are in Truth needs to be experienced”

Years ago, I treasured a little booklet entitled, “The Mental Equivalent,” by Emmet Fox, and I quote very briefly:  “We are all supremely interested in one subject.  There is one thing that means more to us than all the other things in the world put together, and that is our search for God and the understanding of His nature.  The aim of the metaphysical movement is to teach the practice of the presence of God.”

Emmet Fox was an Irish New Thought spiritual leader of the early 20th century, primarily through  years of the Great Depression, until his death in 1951.  His large Divine Science church services were held in New York City.  We might ask ourselves today: “have we come any closer in our understanding of this Presence that is with us always, and that the deeper meaning of Life is Spiritual?

In the world, we appear to be stuck in a groove.  And we seem to have recurring issues involving man’s inhumanity to man.  Has the groove  become deeper through our own constant attention to what is not serving us; not serving the whole of humanity in fact?  The door to peace opens inward, as does a deeper understanding of Life.—time taken to Be Still, is of the utmost value.  We cannot understand Truth at the level of the world;  and as Fox states in the booklet: “we are operating at this level when we constantly hold mental equivalents of what is not true!”  Who we are in Truth needs to be experienced by each individual; and then to live our lives from that experience.

In the booklet, Fox states: “We are all living in some kind of prison, some of us in one kind, some in another; some in a prison of lack, some in a prison of remorse and resentment, some in a prison of blind, unintelligent fear, some in a prison of sickness.  But always the prison is in our thought and not in the nature of things.”

We might ask ourselves what it is that we may  be allowing ourselves to be “imprisoned” by, and then ask the question of ourselves: “why?”  Spiritual law works—works through consciousness when we are aligned with the truth of our being, and realize that God is all.  Our real need is for conscious union and communion with God—this Inner Presence that is with us always.  Silent Communion is indeed the highest form of prayer.  We need to remember and take time to BE STILL, IN THE PRESENCE, without any expectation …Just to BE.  This in fact, is our only need in Life; and so often is the one directive on the spiritual map that we avoid or turn to, as a last resort.

How can we fulfill our part or reason for being, if we are not opening ourselves to be the channels for receptivity to God’s directives? And in the words of Emmet Fox:  The art of life is to live in the present moment, and to make that moment as perfect as we can by the realization that we are the instruments and expression of God Himself.

In Closing…….

 Divine Science sees God’s creation like its Creator, eternally perfect, and untouched by human thought.  The creation of God is eternal; the misconception about it is temporal. Spirit is always expressing in terms of perfection; there is nothing that needs healing in God-Life.  Where God is, there Substance is, whole and perfect, and God is in all places at all times.  There is no place where God is not.  What is it, then,  that is ill and sinful?  It is only our thought of the body; it is not the Body, the temple of the living God; and remember there is only One Body—the God-Body.  Divine Science knows one Substance—Spirit—and one Mind—Universal Intelligence.  You and I are included in this Mind.  All that we see with true vision is Spirit brought forth.   NONA L. BROOKS—MYSTERIES

Bountiful blessings,
 Mallory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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