On Sunday, Rev. Lola Wright continued our June series, “Look Up,” with her message, “Living Abundantly: Lay Down Your Escape Plan.”
Message Notes
“Living Abundantly: Lay Down Your Escape Plan”
Opening:
The world won’t get no better if we just let it be. – John Legend
Widow called a counselor – house full of kids hadn’t eaten since the day before. Desperate. The counselor knew what it was like to be in a predicament. The counselor explained the power of giving – get in action/motion. “I have nothing to give.” The counselor said “of course you have something to give, we always have something to give.”
Flowers For the Ill/Dining table/Grocery list
In that moment someone showed up and paid a debt owed to her
SLIDE: “Everything and everybody prospers me now.” “I always have something to give!”
People aren’t free. Circulating your good is the best way I know to practice trusting God and availing myself to It’s Good.
Objectives:
1) Self-care is not intended to be an escape plan
2) Rest in your good – YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED NOW!
3) Play in your generosity – GET GIVING!
SLIDE: Abundance = omnipresent supply and support; invisible substance, with infinite capacity of expansion when held in mind, affirmed and praised
Prosperity = the consciousness of God as the abundant, everywhere present resource, unfailing, ready for all who open themselves to it through faith
The source of your good – God or Stuff?
SLIDE: The difference between spiritual prosperity and material prosperity is that spiritual prosperity is founded on understanding of the inexhaustible, omnipresent substance of Spirit as the source of supply; the material belief is that the possession of things constitutes prosperity. – The Revealing Word: A Dictionary of Metaphysical Terms by Charles Fillmore
Keywords/Stories/Points:
How quickly do you throw in the towel and seek The Escape Plan?!
SLIDE: We do not expect to give a treatment today, for prosperity, and have a million dollars tomorrow. But little by little we can unfold our consciousness, through the acquisition of greater and still greater mental equivalents, until at last we shall be made free. The way to proceed is to begin right where we are. It is not scientific to attempt to begin somewhere else. One who understands the systematic use of Law will understand that he is where he is because of what he is, but he will not say, “I must remain where I am, because of what I am.” Instead he will begin to disclaim (deny) what he appears to be. As his statements release wrong subjective tendencies, providing in their place a correct concept of life and Reality, he will automatically be lifted out of his condition; impelling forces sweeping everything before them, will set him free, if he trusts in Spirit and the working of the Law. – Science of Mind p. 282
Are you a good steward of what belongs to the Universe? How do you exclude money in your relationship with God?
SLIDE: As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty (arrogantly superior), or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. – 1 Timothy 6:17-19
The way you express your love for God (Life) and your love for others is through GIVING
Giving rate in 1933/height of the depression 3.3%; today 1.6% giving/we have more discretionary income than ever in the history of civilization – we are stingier than EVER
What are you drawing unto yourself – Good or Grief?!
SLIDE: Each of us is a magnet! And as a magnet, you do not have to force success and prosperity to yourself. Instead, you can develop that exalted, expectant, prosperous state of mind that is a magnet for all good things of the universe to hasten you, rather than entertaining the tense, critical, anxious, depressed, unforgiving, possessive state of mind that is a magnet for all kinds of trouble and failure. – Dynamic Laws of Prosperity p. 37 by Catherine Ponder
What’s your state of mind?! You don’t want your community buying into your limited sense of self.
SLIDE: Poverty is a universal fear of mankind, and many people today are experiencing financial lack, despite the unprecedented prosperity of our times. – Dynamic Laws of Prosperity p. 231 by Catherine Ponder
Get fed up!
SLIDE: Dissatisfaction with present financial conditions is the first step toward attaining financial independence. If you can’t settle for things as they are – good! You have the power, through prosperous thought and action, to change them into something far better and more satisfying. This is your key to financial independence, if you dare to use it. – Dynamic Laws of Prosperity p. 233 by Catherine Ponder
Where do you place your attention? Americans have more wealth than 98.4% of the world!
SLIDE: We have looked at poverty, degradation and misery until they have assumed gigantic proportions. Now we must look at harmony, happiness, plenty, prosperity, peace and right action, until they appear. – Science of Mind p. 187
Summary:
I oftentimes hear that rich people are generous – they should be, they can be etc. RICH PEOPLE ARE NOT GENEROUS! Generous people are generous!
Homework: An OVERT public act of generosity EACH DAY for someone else for one week
Closing:
Prayer & Meditation
