Bigger Than You Think

Sunday October 5, 2014

Wage theft.

According to an article I read online, “wage theft is defined as an employer not paying workers money that they’ve clearly earned. Paying less than the legal minimum wage, not compensating employees for the full number of hours they worked and not paying overtime are all forms of wage theft.” The article goes on to say that in the State of Kentucky, total annual wage theft is more than all other theft in the State, combined.

According to research from a Dutch newspaper, Sochi’s cost will total more than every previous Winter Olympics combined.

FTC's fines on weight loss claims total more than all other categories combined, Center for Responsible Nutrition database shows.

Here’s one more: God is bigger than all the problems in the world combined (Yes, even yours!)

God is a big God, bigger than we can imagine.

Have you ever had one of those golden days when everything seems perfect? Everything works to your advantage – every traffic light is green, something you especially need is on sale, or the answer to some important question asked of you immediately comes to mind.

Every day can be a golden day when we are living it through the Divine Presence within. Just as Jesus discovered the innate Divine power within him and recognized His oneness with God, we, too, share that key to all good things.

Our inner Divinity is the key, for through the Divine spirit within, all things are possible. And like Jesus, we share the strength of faith to meet each day with great expectations of good.

You will find that you love living within your own body and mind keeping company with the Christ within.

We are told to choose our friends wisely because we will be known 'by the company we keep.' Or, consider this, 'With friends like that, who needs enemies.' Choosing good company is important; especially, with those who radiate optimism, harmony and enthusiasm-choosing good company is good for the body, mind, spirit, and a peaceful life.

With the foregoing in mind, what kind of company are You to You? Because, after all, You spend your entire life in your own company.

I just began reading a book titled, The Big God Theory: A Layman's Journey in the American Christian Church by Kevin Robinson.

One of the things Robinson writes about – and probably all of us here can relate – is his growing disenchantment with American Christianity after he discovered that his denomination believed in too small of a, and a generally punishing, God. Once he made that observation he says he began to look around and saw the same to be true in mainstream Christianity. He also observed, or I should say that it became his opinion, that American Christianity has very little to do with living the teachings of Jesus. His observation was that his fellow Christians were motivated more by fear than either Love or the desire to become more loving.

In the book he recounts an experiment taken on by a man named Jacob Glass: “As an experiment I decided to take on a challenge suggested by a New Thought teacher named Jacob Glass. In his lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression, his study of New Thought led him to incorporate the “creation” idea into a daily spiritual practice aimed at creating a better (less anxious and stressful) day for himself. Since his emotional struggles were the result of fearful thinking, he determined to begin each day by focusing his thoughts and attention on positive uplifting things. He did this by writing down several brief “lists” while he drank his morning coffee: five things he was thankful for, five things he “got right” (or at least did better) the day before, and five things he was “intending” to enjoy and celebrate during the course of the day ahead. Jacob’s theory was that if New Thought ideas were truly based on Jesus’ teachings, then by setting his morning “intentions” on gratitude and God’s grace first thing, it (the “cause”) should positively impact (the “effect”) his whole day. He said it worked wonders, but cynic that I have become in my old age (Kevin Robinson is 63), I had to try it myself. Wow! Who knew that God was bigger than all my negativity?”

Robinson is a right brained person (creating lists is so very left-brained) so he began writing short essays covering the topics of the lists. He concludes the section I just read saying, “The more consistently I have trained my mind to remain focused more on grace and less on everything that is not exactly like I might have thought it “should” be, the more satisfying and joyful my days have become. Not later, not pie-in-the-sky, but right now. God is Bigger.”

Are you are your own best friend or your own worst enemy? Look in the mirror and ask You if You like your own company-it's an Important question!

Are You good company with Yourself? What does that 'Silent Voice' in the back of your mind have to say about YOU?

As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I realize more every day the presence of God surrounding me and within me.

I achieved this, in part, by having some sort of daily routine. Last week I suggested to you to be connected with something that calls you higher and that it didn’t matter who it came from. Here’s another option, a practice from Jacob Glass through Kevin Robinson.

George Bernard Shaw said, “Youth is wasted on the young.” I don’t care that I didn’t understand the great freedom that comes with awareness of God's presence when I was young. I am blessed to have experienced it. If your inner voice is telling you that you’ve wasted too much time, that you’re too old to make a change now, baloney!

If you’re hanging around with that kind of inner company, ignore them! Do whatever you have to do to experience the satisfaction and joy of becoming aware of God’s presence. One day of that outweighs a lifetime of unawareness.

Here’s another option on how to open that awareness, say, "Thank You, God" for each blessing you have received. If you do that you’ll hardly have time for any “small thinking.” Giving thanks for just a few blessings is a great way to realize your constant connection with God. In the Christ presence, we can relax and enjoy the day. Your “God-good” awaits you. Go forth eagerly to greet it and accept it now! …Go get it!