God's Not What You Think

40th Day     Saturday

(Note from Rev. Toni:   Remember that Charles Fillmore was writing this in the early 1900’s;  take a deep breath as you read this entry.  Open up to the metaphysical meaning of these ideas.  Also note that the 2017 edition uses the concept of completion.)

Resting in God

From Keep A True Lent by Charles Fillmore

Read Isaiah 11:1-10; 12:1-6.

After Jesus’ crucifixion He was laid to rest in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.  Jesus represents the expression of the I AM identity. Arimathea represents an aggregation of thoughts of lofty character, a high state of consciousness in man.  Joseph represents a state of consciousness in which we improve in character along all lines. We not only grow into a broader understanding but also we increase in vitality and substance. We are resting in God, and at the same time gathering strength for the power of greater demonstrations to follow.  A degree of cleansing, a wiping out of sense consciousness has been accomplished. By mentally reviewing our experiences, we recognize that nothing is really destroyed, but rather transmuted. Through faith we take stock of the progress we have made and find that we are getting a consciousness of radiant substance and of a higher life. Nothing is lost. When sense consciousness is raised to a higher plane all that belongs to it is saved with it.  In reality the invisible cannot be seen, touched, or comprehended by the outer senses, yet in this realm a great and mighty work is being accomplished.  Today I realize that the leaven that “leaveneth the whole lump” is the Truth. The word of Truth within me is not idle, but quietly spreading from point to point.  This process will continue until my whole consciousness is vitalized by the Holy Spirit.  I affirm: “I rest in the consciousness of eternal life and strength, and I am made perfect.”

From Be Ye Transformed    Lent 2017

Completion

By Rev. Elise Cowan

We are filled with Spirit as we complete the Lenten journey.

The 40-day Lenten journey represents the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness after his baptism, when he was tempted by the devil, or evil/ego. At the end of the 40 days, he was filled with Spirit and began his ministry. This marked the completion of the old way for Jesus and the beginning of a new way.  In his book Keep a True Lent, Charles Fillmore wrote:

In every generation since the dawn of history have been prophets who claimed that they received revelation of the end of the world. Some even suggest that Jesus taught about an end of the world. But a more accurate translation is an end of an age.

As we near the conclusion of the Lenten season, we recognize the world’s end merely represents the completion of old ways and the beginning of our new, Spirit-filled selves.

To download the booklet, Be Ye Transformed Lent 2017, published by Unity World Headquarters, click here.

To download the book, Keep A True Lent, by Charles Fillmore, click here.

39th Day     Friday

(Note from Rev. Toni:   Remember that Charles Fillmore was writing this in the early 1900’s;  take a deep breath as you read this entry.  Open up to the metaphysical meaning of these ideas.  Also note that the 2017 edition uses the concept of resurrection.)

Crucifixion

From Keep A True Lent by Charles Fillmore

Read John 19:1-42.

Jesus’ crucifixion on Calvary was a final step in a work that had been going on in Him for thirty-three years, and when He arose He was entirely free from the carnal mind with all its limitations. He had overcome all the carnal tendencies which He had taken on that He might free the race from its bondage.  The word crucifixion means the crossing out in consciousness of certain errors that have become fixed states of mind; it is the enactment by a master of the final extinction of carnal mind, the giving up of the whole personality in order that the Christ Mind may be expressed in all its fullness. This is represented by the crucifixion of Jesus.  Calvary means “the place of a skull.” The carnal mind has appropriated the brain and its skull and it is here that the final battle is fought. Every time we give up error there is a crucifixion.  The three days Jesus was in the tomb represent the three steps in overcoming error. First, nonresistance; second, the taking on of divine activity, or receiving the will of God; third, the assimilation and fulfillment of the divine will.  I deny the self that I may unite with the selfless. I give up the mortal that I may attain the immortal. I dissolve the thought of the physical body that I may realize the spiritual body. This is a mental process with a physical effect.  I affirm: “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.”

From Be Ye Transformed    Lent 2017

Resurrection

By Rev. Toni Stephens Coleman
My resurrection experiences lead me to manifest more of the Christ within.

Resurrection begins with a crucifixion experience when we feel like we have been “nailed to a cross.” While working through the experience, we discover we can rise. Charles Fillmore said, “Every time we rise to the realization of eternal, indwelling life … the resurrection of Jesus takes place within us.”  Here is how Jesus taught us to move from crucifixion to resurrection.

• Forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
• Affirm the highest truth: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
• Completion: “Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.”
• Acknowledge feelings: “My God, why have you forsaken me?”
• Become a vessel for the Divine: “I thirst”—be filled with “living water.”
• Release and surrender: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. It is finished.”

Jesus spent three days in the tomb, symbolizing three steps to overcoming error thinking and manifesting Truth: first, nonresistance; second, receiving the will of God; and third, assimilating and fulfilling divine will. In this way, we, too, become christed.

To download the booklet, Be Ye Transformed Lent 2017, published by Unity World Headquarters, click here.

To download the book, Keep A True Lent, by Charles Fillmore, click here.

38th Day     Thursday

(Note from Rev. Toni:   Remember that Charles Fillmore was writing this in the early 1900’s;  take a deep breath as you read this entry.  Open up to the metaphysical meaning of these ideas.  Also note that the 2017 edition uses the same concept.)

Gethsemane

From Keep A True Lent by Charles Fillmore

Read Mark 14:32-42.

Gethsemane is symbolic of the struggle that takes place within the consciousness when Truth is realized as the one reality. It is a condition that man works through when he recognizes that God is all and that he must be willing to sacrifice all for God.  There are always deeply rooted error thoughts stored away in the subconsciousness, and on their own account they come forward to crucify the new unknown power, the so-called imposter, the in-dwelling Christ. The Christ is presumably captured by these thoughts, which try to carry out their aims in the darkness of the subconscious mind. But error can kill out only error. The Christ itself may be held in obscurity for a while, but it cannot be done away with. That which died on the Cross when Jesus was crucified was the personality; the Christ resurrects itself from the very depths of the subconsciousness, and error is hanged on the gallows it prepared for the doing away of the newborn spiritual ego.  This breaking up and passing away of old error states of mind and making ready for the new is a process in soul evolution of all those who are faithfully following Jesus. In all systems of thought concentration and spiritual attainment, the will, the executive faculty, plays the leading part. Therefore I prepare my consciousness for the reception of these new ideas. I say with Jesus, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” I realize that new inspiration is flowing steadily into my consciousness as I affirm: “Old error thoughts are passed away. I am a new creature in Christ.”

From Be Ye Transformed    Lent 2017

Gethsemane

By Rev. Kelly Isola
In the quiet moments of everyday life, I find the place of grace where new life is born.

Gethsemane is a garden in Jerusalem where Jesus often went to pray and meet his disciples. It is the place where the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection begins. It’s a modest place—a garden of olive trees, like hundreds of others populating the landscape.  Gethsemane simply means “oil press.” About 2,000 years ago, olive oil was a staple used for food and oil lamps. It wasn’t extraordinary in any particular way, yet it provided sustenance and light.  What makes Gethsemane important today is simple: This everyday, mundane garden represents the start of a transformational journey from death to empowering new life. How often do we overlook ordinary things as potential doorways to our own rebirth? We can pause in simple moments to release what needs to “die” so new life can emerge. In the quiet moments of everyday life, we find the grace where new life is born.

To download the booklet, Be Ye Transformed Lent 2017, published by Unity World Headquarters, click here.

To download the book, Keep A True Lent, by Charles Fillmore, click here.

37th Day     Wednesday

(Note from Rev. Toni:   Remember that Charles Fillmore was writing this in the early 1900’s;  take a deep breath as you read this entry.  Open up to the metaphysical meaning of these ideas.  Also note that the 2017 edition uses the same concept.)

Holy Communion

From Keep A True Lent by Charles Fillmore

Read Luke 22:1-23.

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the covenant.”

The first step in drinking of the blood and eating of the body of Jesus is to resolve this whole Scripture back into the primal ideas. The only way to appropriate these ideas is through the very highest activity of mind as in prayer. The benefit of taking Holy Communion is the establishing of our acceptance of the Christ whose coming we celebrate within our mind and heart. The bread used in the churches symbolizes substance, which we consider the Lord’s body, a body of spiritual ideas; and the wine used symbolizes His blood, which we consider life, or the circulation of divine ideas in our consciousness that will purify our mind and heart and renew our strength, freeing us from all corruption, sin, and evil, and bringing forth in us the abundant, unlimited life of God. Through the appropriation and assimilation of the substance and life in our own consciousness, we blend our minds with the Father-Mind and there is a harmonizing of every fiber of our body with the Christ body, which is life and light. As our mind and heart are cleansed of untrue thoughts and beliefs, and as we feed on living ideas, our body takes on the life and light of our divinity, and eventually will become living light.  I affirm: “God’s pure life and substance are constantly renewing and rebuilding His holy temple, my body.”

From Be Ye Transformed    Lent 2017

Communion

By Betsy Giunti
As I remember who I am, I invite a full awareness of Christ into my body experience.

Communion is the act of knowing our oneness with the Divine.  This ritual is important because it reminds us of who we truly are.  Certainly God knows we are one, but communion helps us accept that we are the Christ.  The ideal of the Christ can seem elusive, even out of reach or impossible. Through prayer, we are able to bring the transformation of simple ingredients (like bread and juice) into a centuries-old tradition that generates a transformation in our minds, our present experience, and our lives.  As we allow ourselves to go fully into communion, we are one with the presence of God. Aware of the presence of God in our lives, we are able to truly remember our value, our potential, and all we are.

To download the booklet, Be Ye Transformed Lent 2017, published by Unity World Headquarters, click here.

To download the book, Keep A True Lent, by Charles Fillmore, click here

36th Day     Tuesday

(Note from Rev. Toni:   Remember that Charles Fillmore was writing this in the early 1900’s;  take a deep breath as you read this entry.  Open up to the metaphysical meaning of these ideas.  Also note that the 2017 edition uses the concept of Forgiveness.)

The Fire of God

From Keep A True Lent by Charles Fillmore

Read Acts 2:1-21.

Fire represents the positive, affirmative state of mind, as opposed to the negative or watery state.  The fire of God (Holy Spirit) is the Word of God in action. It burns out the dross of negation in consciousness, and reveals Christ. Tongues of fire represent the illumination of thought, in demonstration of Spirit’s presence and power. The flame of fire symbolizes the light of intuition that burns in our heart.  While the light of intuition (flame of fire) burns in our heart, there is no loss of substance. In thinking there is a vibratory process that uses up nerve tissue, but in the wisdom that comes from the heart this “bush” or tissue is not consumed.  This is “holy ground,” or substance in Divine Mind. When man approaches this he must take off from his understanding all limited thoughts of the Absolute (“put off thy shoes from off thy feet”).  Spiritual fire is a symbol of the destruction of evil and error. The fire of Spirit never ceases its life-giving, purifying glow. In it all error is burned up in consciousness and the purified man then manifests this “fire” as eternal life.  I have the assurance that I shall not be left partially cleansed, that the purifying work will be complete. “Our God is a consuming fire,” also He is life, love, substance, power, intelligence, Truth.  In the name of Jesus Christ, I affirm: “The Holy Spirit flares its cleansing, purifying flames throughout soul and body, and I am made whole and perfect.”

From Be Ye Transformed    Lent 2017

Forgiveness

By Betsy Giunti

I free myself by processing my feelings and forgiving myself and others—and I am transformed.

Am I living a repeating story of victimhood? Am I ready to transform my life by releasing something?  Forgiveness is the process of feeling the feelings, letting them go, and making the conscious decision to set myself free.  The mere nature of forgiveness challenges us. It means we go against the feelings leading us to unforgiveness. As we open ourselves to this important spiritual work, we process the feelings leading us here. This is why Jesus said forgiveness requires many attempts. We must unpack and face our feelings before we are able to live forgiveness. We allow ourselves to be guided to the best way, to be free through the work of forgiveness. As we are present to our feelings, we forgive ourselves and others. Through this act of love, we are transformed.

To download the booklet, Be Ye Transformed Lent 2017, published by Unity World Headquarters, click here.

To download the book, Keep A True Lent, by Charles Fillmore, click here.

35th Day     Monday

(Note from Rev. Toni:   Remember that Charles Fillmore was writing this in the early 1900’s;  take a deep breath as you read this entry.  Open up to the metaphysical meaning of these ideas.  Also note that the 2017 edition uses the concept of transcendence.)

The New Race

From Keep A True Lent by Charles Fillmore

Read Revelation 21:1-7; 22: 1-7.

“These things shall be! a loftier race
Than e’er the world hath known shall rise
With flame of freedom in their souls,
And light of knowledge in their eyes.
* * *
“Nation with nation, land with land,
Unarmed shall live as comrades free:
In every heart and brain shall throb
The pulse of one fraternity.”

The time is ripe for the advent of a new race, the advent of the spiritualized man.  This will be brought about, not by a miracle or the fiat of God, but by the gradual refinement of the man of the flesh into the man of Spirit.  The true overcomer is qualifying himself to become a member of this superrace.  It is well for such a one to cultivate the childlike spirit and let go of all tense striving, even for spiritual things. In the realization of protecting, providing love, all the strain of fear and anxiety will be removed and life in abundance will then find easy entrance into the consciousness, bringing strength and health and eternal youth and life.  Spiritual harmony in man depends largely on the right relation of the inner and the outer realms of his consciousness. Expression is the law of life. Whatever is expressed becomes manifest. I realize that as an overcomer, I am working also for the whole world, establishing a new race consciousness, “new heavens and a new earth.”  I affirm: “The redeeming law of God is awakening with me, and I am a new man in Christ Jesus.”

From Be Ye Transformed    Lent 2017

Transcendence

By Rev. Kelly Isola
When I am fully human, I express my divinity as love, compassion, kindness, and joy.

The root of the word transcend means “to climb beyond.” We often try to transcend our human experience, thinking if we can move beyond our humanity, we will be able to experience the Divine.  The irony is that it is only through our humanity that we can deeply express our divinity in the world. This is the message of Easter.  We experience various kinds of death every day, literally and figuratively.  We travel through our inner darkness, using prayer to “climb beyond” the clouds of our struggles, not necessarily to make the discomfort go away, but rather to practice our faith and learn to rise again. In these moments we trust once again that the Divine is everywhere present. Through those around us who are supporting us in climbing beyond, we are touched once again by ever-present love, compassion, kindness, joy … all made manifest through the human experience.

To download the booklet, Be Ye Transformed Lent 2017, published by Unity World Headquarters, click here.

To download the book, Keep A True Lent, by Charles Fillmore, click here.

(Note from Rev. Toni:   Remember that Charles Fillmore was writing this in the early 1900’s;  take a deep breath as you read this entry.  Open up to the metaphysical meaning of these ideas.  Also note that the 2017 edition uses the same concept.)

Atonement

From Keep A True Lent by Charles Fillmore

Read John 17:1-26.  Jesus played a most important part in opening the way for mankind into the Father’s kingdom. This was accomplished by His overcoming the belief in death.  Atonement means the reconciliation between God and men through Christ. Jesus became the way by which all who accept Him may “pass over” to the higher consciousness. We have atonement through Him.  “Christ . . . who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.”  The whole race was caught in the meshes of its own thought and, through drowsy ignorance, would have remained there had not a break been made in the structure, and the light of a higher way let in.  If you were held in the meshes of a great spider web, and someone made a hole through which you could pass, you would go where the hole was and would make your escape that way. Jesus made this aperture in the race thought and thus threw open wide the door into the spiritual realm.  His Christianity had a living God in it, a God that lived in Him and spoke through Him. It is a religion of life, as well as purity. Men are to be alive; not merely exist half dead for a few years and then go out with a sputter, like a tallow dip. Christ’s men are to be lights that glow with a perpetual current from the one omnipresent energy.  Declaring my unity with this power, I affirm: “The redeeming word of Jesus Christ, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life,’ makes me whole and perfect.”

From Be Ye Transformed    Lent 2017

By Rev. Pat Veenema

I center in the awareness of oneness and rise from the web of self into the oneness consciousness of true self.

Humankind once thought God was offended and wanted us to pay for our actions against Him. When we grasp the idea of God as the presence and power of love and oneness, we know anytime we feel separate from it, we can return to our natural state of oneness.  Charles Fillmore liked to call this “At-one-ment.” He used this metaphor: “If you were held in the meshes of a great spiderweb, and someone made a hole through which you could pass, you would go where the hole was and would make your escape that way. Jesus made this aperture in the [collective consciousness] and thus threw open wide the door into the spiritual realm.”

To download the booklet, Be Ye Transformed Lent 2017, published by Unity World Headquarters, click here.

To download the book, Keep A True Lent, by Charles Fillmore, click here.

(Note from Rev. Toni:   Remember that Charles Fillmore was writing this in the early 1900’s;  take a deep breath as you read this entry.  Open up to the metaphysical meaning of these ideas.  Also note that the 2017 edition uses the concept of Germination.)

Spiritual Substance

From Keep A True Lent by Charles Fillmore

Read Matthew 13: 3-9, 18-23.  There is a kingdom of abundance of all things, and it may be found by those who seek it and are willing to comply with its laws. Substance exists in a realm of ideas and is powerful when handled by one who is familiar with its  characteristics.  Spiritual substance is the source of all material wealth and cannot suffer loss or destruction by human thought. It is always with us, ready to be used and to make the consciousness potent and fertile. In this connection Jesus said, “I have meat to eat that ye know not.”  Just as the earth is the universal matrix in which all vegetation develops, so this invisible Spirit substance is the universal matrix in which ideas of prosperity germinate and grow and bring forth according to our faith and trust.  I know that any seed words that are planted in omnipresent Spirit substance will germinate and grow and bring forth fruit “after their kind.” Just as the farmer selects the best seed for planting, so I must choose the words that will bring forth the rich harvest of plenty.  To gain control of Spirit substance I grasp it with my mind; that is, lay hold of the idea back of it. Right thinking is necessary in using my mind constructively to bring about right results.  I affirm: “Divine substance flows in all its fullness into my consciousness and through me as prosperity into all my affairs.”

From Be Ye Transformed    Lent 2017

Germination

By Rev. Barbara Hadley

I spring forth in God’s goodness.

A seed, once planted, can be a silent presence in the ground, sometimes for a long time as it germinates. Some bamboo plants will germinate for several years and then suddenly spring from the earth, growing as much as three feet in a day. An acorn will rest in the earth throughout the winter, seemingly doing nothing, yet undergoing a necessary growth process.  When we are born, a seed is planted in each of us—the seed of knowing we have a benevolent presence supporting our spiritual awakening. At the right time, even in what can be harsh conditions, our growth is guaranteed as we spring forth.  In this time of Lent, when we let go of negativity, we might expect our good to be delivered immediately. But germination is a process. We wait patiently for the time when we will feel subtle urges pushing us forward to a greater understanding and expression of God.

To download the booklet, Be Ye Transformed Lent 2017, published by Unity World Headquarters, click here.

To download the book, Keep A True Lent, by Charles Fillmore, click here.