Unity Church Of Clearwater

Leddy Hammock Lesson inspired by lyrics from “May You Know God” — “May you rejoice in the new life within you as you release the old and worn. Open your heart with praise and thanksgiving . . . . May you awake to a world of beauty, lifted up from times of tears. Aware of the grace that tenderly carries you . . . . There was a time in your life when you glimpsed something that before was unseen.  Now you can believe it's real. May you look back on a life sweet with memories, understanding all was right. May you see God. May you feel God. May you know God.

Karen Drucker (inspired by lyrics by Karen Drucker): “Let it be easy. Now that I see the light, I won’t work on, day and night. I vow to take good care of me. Let it be easy. I don’t need to run a race. I’m choosing ease and grace, enjoying the ride. Let it be easy. I heard a voice calling to me, ‘Let it be easy.’ I make the choice to trust my voice. Let it be easy.”

Leddy Hammock I am not here by accident. I am here in this place by divine appointment. Since God is everywhere equally present, whenever I turn my attention to the presence of the Good, I dwell in the House of the Lord. Wherever I am–either alone or gathered with others in prayer– my heart is in a holy place. In Genesis, we read that Jacob fell asleep, alone in the wilderness; when he awoke, he declared: “Surely the LORD is in this place and I knew it not” (Genesis 28:16, King James Version). Wherever I am, wherever I journey, I can always pause and pray. I feel instantly safe and divinely guided as I affirm: “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place!”

Leddy Hammock (inspired by lyrics by David Roth, Lisa Aschmann, and J.D. Martin) We are spiritual beings, currently going through a human experience on the way to an infinite unfoldment. We are made of hopes and dreams. We are the stuff of stars. Everything and every creature began as a divine idea in the mind of God. We are children of God. We are God’s ideas. We are the stuff of stars. We are the stuff of stars. The world is made of “God-Stuff” – radiant with God-Life. We are made of Spirit. We are the stuff of stars. No challenge can extinguish who we are. Never underestimate the power and speed of light. We’re the stuff that stars are made of. We are the stuff of stars.

Leddy Hammock Quotations are from the lyrics to “The Love You’ve Always Known” by Paula Hawley “Let the light pour in your soul; feel it heal you, make you whole as it flows from head to toe. It’s the love you’ve always known.” “You let love expand your heart with gratitude for every part. See forgiveness light the dark. Know this love is who you are.” “I let the light pour in my soul. It heals me. I am whole, as it flows from head to toe. It’s the love I’ve always known.” I feel God’s presence and the warmth of God’s love, right here, right now. This is the love I’ve always known.

Leddy Hammock Being the change we wish to see in the world means taking care of others and also taking care of ourselves. Even the smallest act of kindness blesses both the giver and the receiver. We care for others selflessly, serving the Christ within each and all. We are guided and strengthened to be the change we wish to see in the world by doing all we can with what we have, in the time we have in the place we are. This is why we are here!

Leddy Hammock Love is the nature of the Spirit of Life. Love is the power that calls forth great souls to stand up and show the way, even during hard times. Love is like the water that wears down the seeming obstacles and brings change, making a way when there seemed to be no way. “Love is the water that wears down the rock. Love is the power that won’t be stopped. Love is the water that wears down the rock.” – Brother Sun

Leddy Hammock Lyrics from “If I Were Brave” by Jana Stanfield: “What would I do if I knew that I could not fail? If I believed, would the wind always fill up my sail? How far would I go, what could I achieve, trusting the hero in me? If I were brave I’d walk the razor’s edge, where fools and dreamer’s dare to tread, and never lose faith, even when losing my way. What step would I take today, if I were brave? . . . What if we’re all meant to do what we secretly dream? What would you ask if you knew you could have anything? Like the mighty oak sleeps in the heart of a seed, are there miracles in you and me? If I refuse to listen to the voice of fear, would the voice of courage whisper in my ear?  What would I do today if I were brave?”  I am brave!

Leddy Hammock I can feel a change is coming. I have released the old year, and I am ready to begin again. I can feel myself outgrowing this life I’ve been living in. So, by the power of my word of faith, I begin again. I am now speaking into creation a good new year — a good new life. I know I’m going to be all right. Lovingly, I send forth my word of wisdom and faith and I begin again.

Sue Riley Let all the heartaches be forgot and never brought to mind. Let all the sorrows fade away. We’ll keep the good in mind. “And here’s a hand, my trusted friend, and lend a hand o’ thine. We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet for the days of auld lang syne.

Leddy Hammock leddy-beach2-200x200Inspired by lyrics to “It’s a Wonderful Life” by Robert Anderson and Kelly Corsino: Stop! Look! It’s a beautiful sight! We’re here at the manger, in Love’s holy light! That same star shines, shines so bright! A lifetime of memories, feels like Christmas, all right! Joy to the world, with love, peace, and light! Right here and now, it’s a wonderful life!

Leddy Hammock Stables, by Peter Mayer In Bethlehem a manger waits, long ago and so today, Where hatred-weary people pray Love will come and lay there. And so do countless stables stand in hearts as harsh as desert lands, Rough shelters in the wind and sand, so Love will come and stay there –. Love that opens fists of hate, heaps of gold on beggars’ plates, Love that shows a kindly face to enemies and strangers. And walls of stables tremble so when winds of fear and judgment blow. For a stable hopes in Love alone and knows that Love’s the answer. Oh, Love, the prophets’ only word, the only lesson left to learn, The only end of heaven’s work, and the only road that goes there — Love that sees with mercy’s eyes, holds its arms out open wide, Threads its loom with separate lives and weaves them all together. So, may the lamps of stables glow brightly lit that light may go for miles in the darkness, so Love will find its way there.

Leddy Hammock Deep in my heart, I long to find the Christ. When the willful self cannot find the Christ, inner guidance reveals His presence. To the Christ Child indwelling every heart belong the gifts of Truth, Love, and Life. As I behold the inner Christ, I am not ruled by selfishness. I walk with the wise.

Leddy Hammock Even when there seems to be no outer way, there is an inner way. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall conceive and receive divine ideas. I am reflecting upon the message that Love brought: I am the beloved of God, born of a pure thought. Shelter me, Holy Spirit, whisper to me from above. So, forever my heart will hear it: nothing’s impossible for Love.

Dell deChant Inspired by lyrics to “A Quiet Christmas” by Michael Gott “When there’s too much to do in too little time, my heart longs for peace. Far from the hurry and noise, I leave the cares behind and find a quiet place inside. I can slow my mind and just breathe. Here is the joy, here is the peace that makes way for a quiet Christmas, Where peace on earth meets peace of mind.” Please welcome former long-time associate minister Dell deChant when he returns as guest speaker this Sunday! Dell is the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of South Florida. He is a Master Instructor and has served at USF since 1986. The author of three books, over 30 articles in professional publications, and chapters in twelve books, Dell’s specialization is religion and contemporary cultures. His current research focuses on the relationship of religion and ecology in American popular culture, especially religious and ecological issues related to food production. Dell also Chairs the Environm

Leddy Hammock (inspired by lyrics by Tim Burnaman): I give thanks, even when I do not know what the future will be like:, even when I don’t understand why things can seem so difficult, even when I have to go in a new direction. The more I give thanks, even when it’s hard to be grateful, the more blessings I see: “Here and now, I am free. I go inside peacefully. Where I look, let there be blessings here for me. Blessings here I see. Breathe in and out, soft and slow. At this time I let go. Where I look, let there be blessings here for me. Blessings here I see. All on a journey on our way, different paths here today. Where I look, let there be blessings here for me. Blessings here I see. Here and now, I am free I go inside peacefully. Where I look let there be blessings here for me. Blessings here I see.”    

Leddy Hammock (lyrics by Jana Stanfield): “Increase my faith, in the things I cannot see — the things I cannot prove, yet I choose to believe.” “When I’m losing my way, it’s these words I pray: Oh, increase my faith, increase my faith.” “Open my mind, to the things I need to know, thoughts I need to hold, and the ones I can let go.” “When I’m losing my way, it’s these words I pray: Oh, increase my faith, increase my faith.”

Leddy Hammock (“Affirmations” in Lessons in Truth by H. Emilie Cady, 1895: “God is life, love, intelligence, substance, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence.” “I am a child or manifestation of God, and every moment His life, love, wisdom, power, flow into and through me.  I am one with God, and am governed by His laws.” “I am Spirit, perfect, holy, harmonious.  Nothing can hurt me or make me sick or afraid, for Spirit is God, and cannot be hurt or made sicko r afraid.  I manifest my real self through this body now.” “God works in me to will and to do whatsoever He wishes me to do, and He cannot fail.” As I believe, I will receive!

Leddy Hammock It would be scary if Truth were complicated and confusing. God, You remind me that Truth is simple and brings peace. It would be scary if we could control other people’s minds or they could control ours. God, You remind me that Truth never binds and always frees. It would be scary if we never faced challenges that teach us and make us stronger. God, You remind me that, truly, something higher and better always results. It would be scary if all there was to me was my outer self. God, You remind me that my God-Self is the Truth about me and I am always loved.

Leddy Hammock There is no life, substance, or intelligence in evil. So, in Truth, 1. “There is no evil.” 2. “There is no absence of life, substance, or intelligence anywhere.” 3. “Pain, sickness, poverty, old age, and death cannot master me, for they are not real.” 4. “There is nothing in all the universe for me to fear, for greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world.” God, I am Your child – a child of Light. I now delete all that is false – first from my thinking and then from my life. I bless the part of me that is You!