transform misery into magnificence

Rev-Bates Weekly Message for Sunday, October 12, 2025

 

                    Ernest Holmes, founder of the Science of Mind philosophy, taught that we live in a universe governed by spiritual laws that respond directly to our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. Misery, he explained, is not imposed upon us by an external force but is the result of our misalignment with the Truth of our being — that we are divine expressions of an infinite, intelligent Presence. The first step from misery to magnificence, then, begins with recognition: realizing that our circumstances do not define us and that within us is the creative power of the Divine Mind. By changing our thinking, we change our experience, because thought is the mold through which Spirit flows into form.

                   As we begin to consciously use this creative power, we replace thoughts of fear, limitation, and separation with those of love, abundance, and unity. Holmes emphasized the importance of spiritual practices such as affirmative prayer (spiritual mind treatment), meditation, and gratitude to lift the mind out of habitual negativity. When we affirm that Spirit is all there is — and that this same Presence lives in us — we awaken to our spiritual authority. Misery dissolves as we stop identifying with the problem and start identifying with the infinite potential of Spirit working through us. The mental shift from despair to faith begins to attract new opportunities, ideas, and conditions that reflect our renewed consciousness.

                  Ultimately, magnificence is not something we must struggle to attain; it is our natural state revealed when we align with spiritual truth. As Holmes wrote, “Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it.” By thinking, feeling, and acting from the awareness of divine completeness, we transform misery into magnificence — not through denial of difficulty, but through the realization that the same Power that created the universe is always available to renew, restore, and uplift us. In this way, our outer world becomes a radiant reflection of the peace, joy, and abundance we have discovered within.

Keep the faith!

Rev-Bates

En Espanol:  Rev Bates en español, El Camino a Una Vida Maravillosa

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INFLUENCERS

 Rev-Bates Weekly Message for Sunday, October 5, 2025

 

              We live in a world where voices are everywhere—on television, in podcasts, and especially on social media. Each voice carries an influence, and without awareness, we can easily absorb thoughts, opinions, and emotions that shape our own. The ideas we allow into our consciousness can uplift or diminish us, empower or confuse us. Being careful who we listen to means protecting our mental and spiritual environment. Just as we are mindful of the food we eat, we must also be mindful of the information we consume, for it nourishes—or poisons—the mind.

             Social media, in particular, has become a powerful mirror of human thought and emotion. Many people present filtered realities, opinions rooted in fear, or ideas designed to provoke rather than enlighten. Following such influences can subtly lead us away from our inner truth and peace. It’s easy to mistake popularity for wisdom, yet wisdom often speaks softly, not loudly. We should follow only those whose messages inspire compassion, truth, and higher understanding—those who remind us of our own divine potential rather than feed our doubts or judgments.

              And just as we are influenced by others, our thoughts and judgments about them create an energetic echo that returns to us. When we think harshly or critically of someone, that vibration circulates through our consciousness and inevitably comes back—like a boomerang—shaping our own experience of the world. When we choose to see the good in others, to think kindly, and to discern wisely whom we give our attention to, we align with spiritual law. What we send out returns multiplied, and so by listening with love and following with awareness, we ensure that what comes back to us is harmony, clarity, and peace.

Keep the faith!

Rev-Bates

En Espanol:  Rev Bates en español, El Camino a Una Vida Maravillosa

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good things come to those who wait

 

 Rev-Bates Weekly Message for Sunday, September 28, 2025 

                   The statement “good things come to those who wait” carries a deep spiritual truth about trust and divine timing. Spiritually, waiting is not passive; it is an act of faith. It means letting go of the need to control outcomes and instead trusting that the universe, is aligning circumstances in your favor. This waiting allows space for clarity, wisdom, and unseen blessings to unfold at just the right moment.

                  Patience in the spiritual sense also teaches us to be present. When we stop forcing things to happen, we open ourselves to gratitude for what we already have. This state of calm expectancy shifts our energy from fear and frustration to faith and acceptance, creating a magnetic field for the good we desire. In this way, waiting becomes a sacred practice of spiritual maturity.

                 Finally, the good that comes through waiting is often greater than what we imagined. Spiritual wisdom suggests that delays are not denials; rather, they are opportunities for preparation, growth, and alignment with our highest good. When the blessing arrives, it carries with it a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment because we have learned, grown, and trusted in the process.

Keep the faith!

Rev-Bates

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Believe in Miracles – the possibilities are endless!

 Weekly Message for Sunday, September 21, 2025


              Believing in miracles opens the heart and mind to a universe that is far greater than our everyday perception. It allows us to move beyond the rigid boundaries of logic and limitation into a realm where possibility reigns supreme. When we see miracles not as rare interruptions of natural law but as natural expressions of divine order, life becomes infused with wonder and hope. This shift in perspective can transform ordinary moments into sacred experiences, reminding us that the universe is alive with intelligence, beauty, and love.

              Another positive benefit of believing in miracles is the strengthening of faith in life itself. Many people carry heavy burdens—grief, uncertainty, or fear—and the belief that miracles can unfold naturally helps ease that weight. It assures us that solutions can emerge in unexpected ways, that healing is possible when all seems lost, and that we are never fully cut off from divine support. This trust can cultivate inner peace, making us less anxious about outcomes and more receptive to the flow of good that life offers.

              Finally, the belief in miracles invites us to align with higher possibilities in our own thinking and living. It nudges us to speak words of encouragement, to expect good things, and to act with love and generosity, knowing we are co-creators with the divine. When we live with this expectancy, we often discover that so-called miracles appear more frequently—whether in the form of perfect timing, unexpected opportunities, or unexplainable moments of grace. In this way, miracles become not only natural but also a guiding force in a life of spiritual depth and meaning.

Keep the faith!

Rev-Bates

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Love Beyond Division

 

Love Beyond Division

Rev-Bates Weekly Message for Sunday, September 14, 2025

               This week we had the news of yet another act of violence—a public figure whose life was taken in a moment of anger and hate. For many of us, there is a complicated mix of emotions, because this person held beliefs and spoke words that often ran contrary to the spiritual principles of love, inclusion, and the oneness of all life.

              But here is the great challenge of our spiritual path: to see beyond the personality, beyond the opinions, beyond even the harm that words and ideologies may have caused, and to remember the Divine spark within every soul. We do not have to agree with someone’s views to affirm their humanity. We do not have to endorse their ideas to mourn the violence that took their life.

               Today, let us rise above judgment and affirm this truth: love is not selective. Spirit calls us to a higher place where we recognize that all people—even those we struggle to understand—are part of the one Life. Our task is not to argue about who was right or wrong, but to be instruments of healing in a world too often fractured by fear and misunderstanding. May we use this moment to deepen our commitment to compassion, justice, and peace, so that the energy we bring into the world lifts humanity rather than divides it.

            Please affirm with me: Infinite Spirit, Divine Love that knows no boundaries—
We bring before You the pain of this moment, the grief of a life lost, and the wounds that division and hatred have left behind. Teach us to see beyond fear and prejudice, beyond labels and ideologies, into the heart of Your creation where only love is real.
            Bless those who mourn, comfort those in pain, and soften the hearts of all who have been hardened by anger or fear. May our lives be guided by the wisdom of compassion and the courage to stand for peace. Let healing flow where hurt has been, and may we remember that every act of love plants a seed for a better world.
         And so we release this prayer, trusting in the eternal goodness that underlies all things.
And so it is.

 Keep the faith!

Rev-Bates

En Espanol:  Rev Bates en español, El Camino a Una Vida Maravillosa

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