Dear Friends,

 I recently overheard some people commenting that the holidays are just around the corner, and although they enjoyed the season, it meant more on their plate – not to eat, rather to do – or maybe it is some of both.  Either way, the season can put weight on us if we forget the real meaning and focus of the season.   It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of the holidays with shopping, baking, decorating the house, planning parties, attending parties, sending cards, family gatherings, and the list goes on.  And to top it all off, the credit card debt goes higher and the stress level rises.  The outer activities consume our attention, and before we know it, we are in the whirlwind of doing and spending, having forgotten the purpose of the season. 

Here are some simple ideas to help you stay centered and enjoy no matter what is going on. It is as easy as eating an apple:

Awareness.  Be aware of your thoughts and attitude.  If you are thinking there is not enough time and money, you will create “not enough time and not enough money.”  If you think lack, the Law will as easily bring you an experience of lack as it will an experience of abundance.  Be open to letting go of what you think you need to do or to buy and allow the Intelligence of the Creator within to guide you.  Know you have enough time and money to do exactly what you need to do when you need to do it and trust.

Praise everything.  No matter what shows up in your life, praise it and raise it in the name of love.  Be grateful for everything. Dr. Holmes tells us to “…rise above the law of averages into a more highly specialized use of the Law which brings freedom rather than bondage, joy in the place of grief and wholeness instead of sickness. We cannot do this unless we are first willing to ‘judge not according to appearances.’ In this judging ‘not according to appearances’ we are impressing the law with a new idea of ourselves…a less limited idea; and we are learning to think independently of any existing circumstances.” Praise everything.

Peace, a peace that passes all understanding.  Before, if possible, or after reacting, take a deep breath and turn your attention to the realization that peace is always at the center of the storm. Let the reactive you give way to the Christ within.  Allow whatever is taking place to awakening the Christ Consciousness within that you may feel the peace moving through you. “Let a conviction arise in you that affirms God is all in all and that there is no material cause or effect to disrupt your consciousness.”  Once your mind is united with the Mind of God, the peace that passes all understanding will come forward and you will know exactly how to move through the storm with grace and ease in peace.

Love it all.  When you are bringing forth praise and peace, you are in a state of love for the energy that comes forward through you is a blessing to you and the world around you. You become a revealer of the Christ Consciousness which is peace, love, joy and prosperity. You open yourself and the world to receive all of life’s riches, and why not?  It is God’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. You can only receive all of life’s riches if you allow them to come through you.  What better gift can you give during the holiday season and all year around than Love.

Express the Christ.  Let this season take you to a deeper awareness of the Christ Consciousness.  “Life is always flowing into us and ever expressing Itself through us. This self-expression of God is also the self-expression of man for the two are one. All forms are rooted in one common creative Mind and the Spirit of God is the Spirit of man. Christ is God in the soul of man.” Be who you truly are.

What greater gift could you give than to be aware that you are a revealer of praise, peace, and love expressing as the Christ Consciousness. Let the apple of your “I” be revealed through you this holiday season. 

  Make It a Blessed Holiday Season for One and All.

Reverend  Marilyn