5/1/11  Reverend Sheila Gautreaux-Lee

“The Passionate Pursuit of Perfection”
Today we celebrate Ascension Sunday as the completion of the journey of Jesus that began on Good Friday. The crucifixion on the cross represents metaphysically the crossing out of error states of consciousness that bind us in our humanity. We then cross over to the kingdom of the heavens, our divine life. The tomb represents our going to deeper places to allow that which no longer serves us to die. The resurrection is birth into new consciousness where we resurrect who we were before the world even was – absolute perfection! Ascension, then, is rising into the realm of divine truth where we see truly – the entire process, the complete journey and choices the soul makes.
We are not victims but volunteers! The Passion (suffering) of Jesus showed us we first need to experience who we are not, so we can become aware of who we are. In suffering we are strengthening our Christ-muscles. Rise above conditions of pain and suffering. Take your eyes off of the condition. Put your eyes on the divine. Rise above – ascend – that you can see your way clear.
Jesus had to ascend, to go. He didn’t belong here. You don’t either. Your destination is perfection – perfecting who you truly are. He didn’t stay because when you are so focused on the Man, you can’t fathom the magnitude of the message. Just as the disciples did, we would look to Him for everything, instead of looking within ourselves.
He also had to leave for the Holy Spirit to come after Him, a comforter to guide us. The Holy Spirit is the divine feminine, the nurturing energy. The day of Pentecost is for us the day we open to the Holy Spirit and let the Holy Spirit do the singing. “You don’t do the singing. I do. All you have to do is show up and look cute.”
How do we do it? We can call on the Holy Spirit anytime we are in a crucifixion experience. She is reaching Her hand out, saying, “I am here for you.”
We do this by being willing
to remove judgments from our hearts
to see the face of God in every face
to see the perfection in every situation in our lives
to let go of resistance and let ourselves flow in every situation, accepting it “as is”
to choose the power of peace – give up retaliating or condemning
to forgive
to live in the now without judging or comparing to the past or the future
to let go of attachments to people, things, anything which holds us back

Affirm, “I am the Christ.” See each person around you and affirm, “You are the Christ.”
Amen and “awomen”!

4/17/11 Reverend Larry Wynn

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7, 7-8). Say, “That’s for me. It’s mine. I’m going to own it.” Our present reality can change. Q: How? A: Consciousness.
Our 20202 Vision will manifest by all holding collectively the consciousness that it is already done. Often the only limitation we have is in our own mind. Celebrate what is within and draw it forth to energize a heightened awareness.
First ask, opening the universe to possibility.
Next seek. We went looking for a new vision. “What is Spirit calling us to be?”
Then knock (many stop at dreaming). See how others do it. How can it be done?
Now the door is open. Will we step through into our vision?
Eric Butterworth, in Spiritual Economics, says there is no such thing as God’s will, or God’s timing. God doesn’t dish out favor(s). All favor is present now. Depth of consciousness is what we need. We sometimes see a gap from where we are to where we want to be. Depth of consciousness is how we bridge that gap. Spirit Itself does the work. It’s working all the time. You only choose positive or negative results. Henry Ford said “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.” Have courage to act. One step. Another step. We are divine beings living in this physical life. It is wonderful to “know why I showed up now; and why I am showing up.”
We have been given a new lush garden, bigger. We have been given more. Are we stuck in our old limitations? Be willing to step into that space of our 2020 Vision.
What stories will be heard from Unity of Walnut Creek!!!

4/10/11 Reverend David McArthur

We often spend time in self talk using words like “dumb” or “stupid”, “lazy”,”weak”. But is there anything that is not a part of the spiritual process? When something happens again and again where we clearly see what we are not doing, it’s part of something unfolding. Jesus represents that pattern within us all where we get to see where we are not yet living. It’s a greater truth, a pattern that takes us to the awakened being, the Christ consciousness.
The experience when Jesus went through his awakening is when John baptized him. Jesus came up from the water and saw Spirit come to him as a dove, and he heard, “This is my Son in Whom I am well pleased.” That was when Jesus really knew he was a child of God. He knew then He was of love and grace. Then He went out into the desert for purification, and was “ tempted by the devil”– that part of Himself that was still caught in the 3D sleep. He confronts that part of himself when His attention is drawn to His hunger, in the third dimension. But then He turns His attention back to the divine, the Spirit in Him, by rebuking “the devil”. Then He did His ego thing, looking at the wealth of the “city” that He could have, but again He refused. From the mountain top he sees His power (ego), but once again He turns to the spiritual. Then angels came and ministered to Him.
It’s a pattern. We get to see where we are not yet living– a greater truth. We get to see deeper within– parts not yet enlightened. It’s a journey, and being judgmental on yourself doesn’t work. Be gentle with yourself on the journey. Open to the gentle loving care of the divine. See where you aren’t yet. The fear– the unenlightened part. Turn to ask the help of the divine. Let in the gentleness. Let the angels minister to you. The angels bring that which takes us to the completion, to the place where once we were not.
We get asked to grow in consciousness. It is not always gentle. When the vision comes we can be judgmental on ourselves. Be gentle. The gentleness lets in the growth in consciousness. The head can explain in detail why not. It’s the gentleness in your heart which will lift you up. Are you willing to be gentle with yourself? Say, “I am willing to be gentle with myself.” “I am willing to be gentle with myself.”
And that which happens in you is a part of the consciousness that is awakening throughout the world. Let the angels minister to you. Open to the gentle loving care of the divine. That which happens in us can lift us all to the Awakened Being, the Christ consciousness.