Living Worshipfully
“Teach me to worship Thee on the altar of silence within and on the altar of activity without.” Paramahansa Yogananda
As we continue our Lenten season, we are becoming more and more intentional about daily practices. We will want to read spiritual reflections or sacred texts daily. We will want to be generous with our worshiping community and with other charities. We will want to attend worship services. We will want to show kindness to others, and we will want to spend time every day in silent meditation and affirmative prayer. These disciplines will help us grow spiritually, and by the end of Lent, hopefully they will no longer be Lenten disciplines — they will be, instead, a way of life.
Prayer Treatment:
Divine Life is my life, and I live my life in ways that express divine grace always. And so it is.
Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
from "Spirit & Truth" a daily devotional magazine published by Sunshine Cathedral
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
God Given Desire
Spirit & Truth
God Given Desire“God will not put a desire in your heart that God can’t fulfill.” Rev. Eloise Oliver
Ernest Holmes said, “God creates a thing out of Itself and becomes the thing It created.” When we want to have nurturing friendships, or a fulfilling career, or a lifestyle that is healthy, fun, and enthusiastic, that is because the Creative Life Force is expressing as us! Divine Creativity naturally wants to show up in our lives as joy, peace, and abundance. This Creative Power is the I AM of our being, so not only does It gives us the desire to live abundantly, It also offers the possibility of having our desire fulfilled.
Prayer Treatment: The I AM that I am fills me with a zest for living and as I accept the Good that It is and that I am, Good is increasingly what I experience in life. I give thanks, and so it is.
Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
"Spirit & Truth" is a daily devotional magazine published by Sunshine Cathedral
God Given Desire“God will not put a desire in your heart that God can’t fulfill.” Rev. Eloise Oliver
Ernest Holmes said, “God creates a thing out of Itself and becomes the thing It created.” When we want to have nurturing friendships, or a fulfilling career, or a lifestyle that is healthy, fun, and enthusiastic, that is because the Creative Life Force is expressing as us! Divine Creativity naturally wants to show up in our lives as joy, peace, and abundance. This Creative Power is the I AM of our being, so not only does It gives us the desire to live abundantly, It also offers the possibility of having our desire fulfilled.
Prayer Treatment: The I AM that I am fills me with a zest for living and as I accept the Good that It is and that I am, Good is increasingly what I experience in life. I give thanks, and so it is.
Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
"Spirit & Truth" is a daily devotional magazine published by Sunshine Cathedral
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
First Principle of Progressive Christianity - We Are Followers of Jesus
Lenten Online Series
by Pastor Durrell Watkins
February 17, 2010
This Lent, Sunshine Cathedral is offering this free online study series, to invite us all into a deeper experience of the Progressive, Positive, and Practical spirituality that we teach.
The Sunshine Cathedral is affiliated with The Center for Progressive Christianity, whose mission is:
To reach out to those for whom organized religion has proved ineffectual, irrelevant, or repressive, as well as to those who have given up on or are unacquainted with it.
To uphold evangelism as an agent of justice and peace.
To give a strong voice both in the churches and the public arena to the advocates of progressive Christianity.
To support those who embrace the search, not certainty.
First Principle of Progressive Christianity
We Are Followers of Jesus.
We have found an approach to God through the life and teachings of Jesus.
The Church has so successfully made Jesus into a sacred symbol, it has often failed to adequately challenge its membership to follow Jesus' example. Instead of being legalistic in Jesus' name, we ought to recall how Jesus challenged religious legalism and affirmed those who legalism had excluded. Instead of taking the easy road of merely praising Jesus, we ought to follow his example of touching the untouchables, loving the unlovable, seeing the light of God in all people. We honor Jesus best not by what we say about him, but by following his example of working for justice, showing compassion, and being the love of God in action in our world. As progressive Christians we have found the life and teachings of Jesus to be the way of giving body to the presence of divine Love in our world.
Prayer Treatment: I am embracing and expressing the goodness of God as I follow Jesus' message and example. Amen.
In addition to enjoying this series, we invite you to attend worship weekly (and remember you can also have an evening worship experience at our Sunday at 6 service), to pray daily with Sunshine Cathedral's Spirit & Truth devotional publication, and to consider taking one or more of our four Religious Education classes during Lent (Remedial Christianity [$25], Monday nights, beginning Feb. 22; The Bible & Homosexuality [$25], Tuesday nights, beginning Feb. 23; Discover Who You Are [FREE], Wednesday nights, beginning Feb. 24; and Spanish for Cruisers [$25], Thursday nights, beginning Feb. 25).
Join us at 7:30 pm at Sunshine Cathedral for our Ash Wednesday service
by Pastor Durrell Watkins
February 17, 2010
This Lent, Sunshine Cathedral is offering this free online study series, to invite us all into a deeper experience of the Progressive, Positive, and Practical spirituality that we teach.
The Sunshine Cathedral is affiliated with The Center for Progressive Christianity, whose mission is:
To reach out to those for whom organized religion has proved ineffectual, irrelevant, or repressive, as well as to those who have given up on or are unacquainted with it.
To uphold evangelism as an agent of justice and peace.
To give a strong voice both in the churches and the public arena to the advocates of progressive Christianity.
To support those who embrace the search, not certainty.
First Principle of Progressive Christianity
We Are Followers of Jesus.
We have found an approach to God through the life and teachings of Jesus.
The Church has so successfully made Jesus into a sacred symbol, it has often failed to adequately challenge its membership to follow Jesus' example. Instead of being legalistic in Jesus' name, we ought to recall how Jesus challenged religious legalism and affirmed those who legalism had excluded. Instead of taking the easy road of merely praising Jesus, we ought to follow his example of touching the untouchables, loving the unlovable, seeing the light of God in all people. We honor Jesus best not by what we say about him, but by following his example of working for justice, showing compassion, and being the love of God in action in our world. As progressive Christians we have found the life and teachings of Jesus to be the way of giving body to the presence of divine Love in our world.
Prayer Treatment: I am embracing and expressing the goodness of God as I follow Jesus' message and example. Amen.
In addition to enjoying this series, we invite you to attend worship weekly (and remember you can also have an evening worship experience at our Sunday at 6 service), to pray daily with Sunshine Cathedral's Spirit & Truth devotional publication, and to consider taking one or more of our four Religious Education classes during Lent (Remedial Christianity [$25], Monday nights, beginning Feb. 22; The Bible & Homosexuality [$25], Tuesday nights, beginning Feb. 23; Discover Who You Are [FREE], Wednesday nights, beginning Feb. 24; and Spanish for Cruisers [$25], Thursday nights, beginning Feb. 25).
Join us at 7:30 pm at Sunshine Cathedral for our Ash Wednesday service
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Lent As a Time of Healing
Spirit & Truth
Lent as a Time of Healing
“Repentance… is a relinquishment and should be made without too much vehemence. Therefore, I deny out of consciousness old error thoughts, as if I were gently sweeping away cobwebs, and I affirm positively and fearlessly that I am a child of God, and that my inheritance is from [God].” Charles Fillmore, Keep A True Lent
Ash Wednesday begins the Season of Lent. Lent is traditionally a time of repentance and sacrifice. Of course, Lent is useful for helping us prepare for the Renewal symbolized by Easter, but the sacrifice we should be making is the giving of generosity, goodwill, and praise, not the giving up of life’s simple pleasures. And repentance isn’t looking for reasons to feel guilty; it’s having a change of attitude. Turning away from negative thinking and toward optimism is the repentance that will benefit us the most. Let’s allow Lent to be a time of healing where we learn to love ourselves completely and experience life abundantly!
I am turning away from fear and pessimism and toward the Truth that I am, have always been, and always will be a child of God. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
"Spirit & Truth" is a daily devotional magazine published by the Sunshine Cathedral
Lent as a Time of Healing
“Repentance… is a relinquishment and should be made without too much vehemence. Therefore, I deny out of consciousness old error thoughts, as if I were gently sweeping away cobwebs, and I affirm positively and fearlessly that I am a child of God, and that my inheritance is from [God].” Charles Fillmore, Keep A True Lent
Ash Wednesday begins the Season of Lent. Lent is traditionally a time of repentance and sacrifice. Of course, Lent is useful for helping us prepare for the Renewal symbolized by Easter, but the sacrifice we should be making is the giving of generosity, goodwill, and praise, not the giving up of life’s simple pleasures. And repentance isn’t looking for reasons to feel guilty; it’s having a change of attitude. Turning away from negative thinking and toward optimism is the repentance that will benefit us the most. Let’s allow Lent to be a time of healing where we learn to love ourselves completely and experience life abundantly!
I am turning away from fear and pessimism and toward the Truth that I am, have always been, and always will be a child of God. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
"Spirit & Truth" is a daily devotional magazine published by the Sunshine Cathedral
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Taking Responsibility
Spirit & Truth
Taking Responsibility
“You can begin right now to feel healthy… prosperous… feel the love that’s surrounding you… And what will happen is the universe will correspond to the nature of your song.” Rev. Dr. Michael B. Beckwith
It was a very empowering lesson to learn that I am responsible for how I feel, what I think, and how I respond to any given circumstance. I can choose to “feel” good no matter what is happening around or even to me. I can know the “truth” of the divine Presence which is right where I am, regardless of the “facts” that seem to want my attention. Hope, gratitude, goodwill, peace, and joy are the results of choices that I am free in every moment to make. And when I feel good, Good is what I tend to experience; and even until the Good manifests, wasn’t it good to feel good all along?!!
Prayer Treatment: Knowing that God, the All Good, is my Truth and my Reality, I choose to feel good now. Yippee!!! And so it is.
Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
Taking Responsibility
“You can begin right now to feel healthy… prosperous… feel the love that’s surrounding you… And what will happen is the universe will correspond to the nature of your song.” Rev. Dr. Michael B. Beckwith
It was a very empowering lesson to learn that I am responsible for how I feel, what I think, and how I respond to any given circumstance. I can choose to “feel” good no matter what is happening around or even to me. I can know the “truth” of the divine Presence which is right where I am, regardless of the “facts” that seem to want my attention. Hope, gratitude, goodwill, peace, and joy are the results of choices that I am free in every moment to make. And when I feel good, Good is what I tend to experience; and even until the Good manifests, wasn’t it good to feel good all along?!!
Prayer Treatment: Knowing that God, the All Good, is my Truth and my Reality, I choose to feel good now. Yippee!!! And so it is.
Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
Monday, February 08, 2010
Prayer for Haiti
For the people of Haiti, I pray for healing. I see Infinite Compassion expressing in their midst. I affirm blessings for the nation of Haiti and I know grace is enfolding the Haitian people, guiding them as they rebuild their society, their economy, and their lives. God bless Haiti. Amen.
Simple Spirituality
Healing Rays: A Progressive, Positive, Practical Weekly Reflectionby Durrell Watkins
February 8, 2010
Simple Spirituality
"I have an everyday religion that works for me. Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line." Lucille Ball
There was a time when I thought complicated religion was a sign of sophistication. Knowing creeds, memorizing prayers, knowing the rules, the rubrics, the stories, the traditions, the symbols made me feel smart and accomplished. But none of that really made me happy. At some point I realized that spirituality should be easy. In the 4th Gospel Jesus simply breathes on his disciples and says, "Receive the holy Spirit." Just relax. Let it happen. We can hear the spiritual message of hope in a song or poem. We can experience the spiritual power of love in a conversation. We can feel the comfort of spirit as we sit quietly and just breathe. As we love ourselves enough to simply be ourselves, we find that we are spiritually enriched in ways that complicated religion never offered. As we learn to live lovingly, generously, responsibly, compassionately, we'll find we experience divine Life in ways that are perfect for us. Religion then becomes not a way of knowing the Sacred, but of celebrating the Sacred that has always been expressing in, through, and as our lives.
February 8, 2010
Simple Spirituality
"I have an everyday religion that works for me. Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line." Lucille Ball
There was a time when I thought complicated religion was a sign of sophistication. Knowing creeds, memorizing prayers, knowing the rules, the rubrics, the stories, the traditions, the symbols made me feel smart and accomplished. But none of that really made me happy. At some point I realized that spirituality should be easy. In the 4th Gospel Jesus simply breathes on his disciples and says, "Receive the holy Spirit." Just relax. Let it happen. We can hear the spiritual message of hope in a song or poem. We can experience the spiritual power of love in a conversation. We can feel the comfort of spirit as we sit quietly and just breathe. As we love ourselves enough to simply be ourselves, we find that we are spiritually enriched in ways that complicated religion never offered. As we learn to live lovingly, generously, responsibly, compassionately, we'll find we experience divine Life in ways that are perfect for us. Religion then becomes not a way of knowing the Sacred, but of celebrating the Sacred that has always been expressing in, through, and as our lives.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Feeling Good
Spirit & Truth
Feeling Good
“When you celebrate the good feelings, you’ll draw to you more good feelings, and things that make you feel good.” Lisa Nichols
I no longer do anything to appease an angry deity. I no longer do anything to impress a far away deity. I no longer do anything to secure an after-life reward or to avoid an after-life punishment. My spirituality has become much more life-giving than that, and I only want to share spirituality that is life-giving, joy-producing, and hope-building. The spirituality that I practice and that I teach is one of optimism, fun, joy, and a zest for living now. As we allow our spirituality to be joyous, life tends to unfold in much more satisfying ways.
Prayer Treatment:
I love life! I love my life! I love the people with whom I share my life! I give thanks for my many blessings and I know that many more are already at hand. And so it is.
Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
"Spirit & Truth" is a daily devotional magazine published by Sunshine Cathedral
Feeling Good
“When you celebrate the good feelings, you’ll draw to you more good feelings, and things that make you feel good.” Lisa Nichols
I no longer do anything to appease an angry deity. I no longer do anything to impress a far away deity. I no longer do anything to secure an after-life reward or to avoid an after-life punishment. My spirituality has become much more life-giving than that, and I only want to share spirituality that is life-giving, joy-producing, and hope-building. The spirituality that I practice and that I teach is one of optimism, fun, joy, and a zest for living now. As we allow our spirituality to be joyous, life tends to unfold in much more satisfying ways.
Prayer Treatment:
I love life! I love my life! I love the people with whom I share my life! I give thanks for my many blessings and I know that many more are already at hand. And so it is.
Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
"Spirit & Truth" is a daily devotional magazine published by Sunshine Cathedral
Monday, February 01, 2010
One Power
One Power
“Know that you are the power that you are looking for.” Louise Hay
There is One Power. One Energy. One Presence. One Infinite, Eternal Reality. There is nothing to oppose the One. Anything unlike the One must be outside of the One, and anything outside of the One can’t be really real. So, if there is One Power and Presence, then we must be It! In our physical experience of time and space, we aren’t all of It, but the All is in all, expressing individually as us and as all Life. You are, and I am a unit of Pure and Perfect Being. We could say “Spirit-filled” or “Child of God,” but however we describe it, the Truth remains that the Sacred, expressing in, through, and as us is what we are.
Prayer Treatment for Today: There is One Power. It is perfect. It is All Love. It is infinite Life. It is omnipresent. It is expressing in, through, and as me now. And so it is.
Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
from Feb. 1, 2010, "Spirit & Truth"
“Know that you are the power that you are looking for.” Louise Hay
There is One Power. One Energy. One Presence. One Infinite, Eternal Reality. There is nothing to oppose the One. Anything unlike the One must be outside of the One, and anything outside of the One can’t be really real. So, if there is One Power and Presence, then we must be It! In our physical experience of time and space, we aren’t all of It, but the All is in all, expressing individually as us and as all Life. You are, and I am a unit of Pure and Perfect Being. We could say “Spirit-filled” or “Child of God,” but however we describe it, the Truth remains that the Sacred, expressing in, through, and as us is what we are.
Prayer Treatment for Today: There is One Power. It is perfect. It is All Love. It is infinite Life. It is omnipresent. It is expressing in, through, and as me now. And so it is.
Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
from Feb. 1, 2010, "Spirit & Truth"
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