Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Til seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but until seventy times seven.
— Matthew 18:21-22

Janice, age 14, had a remarkable experience. She was miserable. She was unhappy with herself and criticized herself constantly. She disliked all the students in school, and guess what? They disliked her. She awoke each morning in tears, dreading to go to school that day.

Then one day, she heard someone mention the words Jesus spoke about forgiving until seventy times seven. She decided to take some paper and for seven days to write the following affirmation seventy times: “I love myself and I forgive myself. I love myself and I forgive myself.” When asked what she was forgiving herself, she answered, “I’m forgiving myself for all those negative thoughts I’ve been thinking about myself and others.”

After the seventh day, she awoke singing. In fact, she even felt like dancing out of bed. She began to like her classmates, and guess what? They began to like her.
I love myself and forgive myself. I love others and forgive others. I cease all condemnation. I am kind, compassionate, understanding, and loving to everyone, including myself. I am part of everyone and everyone is part of me. I feel great!

I Forgive Myself!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Outreach Minister

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
– Psalm 118:24

I live in an eternal now which is filled with good alone.
– The Science of Mind, page 264

A Bunch of “One-Minutes”

The Science of Mind teaches us to live in the present, for that’s where God’s Power is. This teaching was brought to my attention in a special way recently by our nine-year-old daughter, Rainbow-Shalom. She wasn’t feeling very well, so I took her to the local Minor Emergency Center. The doctor on duty there started telling us about his new spiritual life and how it was helping him to live in the present. Instead of always worrying about his family when he was at the clinic and worrying about the clinic when he was with his family, he was enjoying each moment more. Then we began talking about Barry Kaufman, who runs the Options Institute in Massachusetts with his wife Suzi. We talked about how Barry played with orphaned children in South America and enjoyed every moment of it instead of bemoaning their poverty. We decided that Barry Kaufman is definitely a person who gets the most out of each moment.

All at once, Rainbow-Shalom’s eyes lit up. “I just understood something,” she said. “Life is just a bunch of one-minutes. All we have is this one minute. And if it’s good, we can put it in our mind, but if it’s bad, we can throw it away and start over with the new one minute!”

Right this very minute I give my total attention to what is happening to me. I feel my breath going in and out. It is God’s breath. I totally enjoy looking around the room and savoring each object. They are God’s objects. I love and bless my thoughts and enjoy each one of them, for they are God’s thoughts. With each minute I am born anew. Thank You, God, for all the “one-minutes” of my life!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Outreach Minister

I had rather speak 5 words with my understanding,
that by my voice, I might teach others also,
than 10,000 words in an unknown tongue.
– I Corinthians 14:19

Believe in Yourself

“I wish I could be like…” Have you ever known people who constantly have their eyes focused on others, hoping to emulate those who are successful, famous, prosperous? If they only knew that they, themselves, hold the key to their own freedom. All they have to do is turn this key. However, what prevents them from doing so?

For instance, how many people live in mortal fear of what the neighbors will think or what impression they are creating? The greatest obstruction to being themselves is fear in one of its many forms, such as terror, anger, resentment or jealousy.

Fear is insidious and can be “caught” be merely sitting next to someone on the bus who is fraught with it. Humankind has been taking in fear with its mother’s milk for thousands of years.

What about you? Ask yourself honestly, “What is it I most fear?” Next … face it! This can be done in many ways. One woman actually stood out in the midst of a thunderstorm and was cured of her fear of lightning and thunder. Alternatively, you can confess your fear to someone close to you and then say, “I am fearless. I am right with the Universe and I am right with me.”

• Divine harmony flows through me.
• All of my obstructions have disintegrated.
• I am unique and beautiful.
• I am a lovely and wonderful flower in the Garden of God.
• Only I can offer my special gifts.

I’ve Gotta Be Me!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Outreach Minister

… And thou shalt be a blessing…
– Genesis 12:2

When we constructively praise & creatively bless,
life abounds with love, peace & joy.
– The Science of Mind, pages 434-5

In the 12 Step Program, we like to think that we can either be a blessing or a curse to others. The choice is up to us.

I have learned this lesson dramatically over the past few months through, of all things, my telephone. For months, the phone had been ringing at least a half dozen times a day with the following interaction. “Hello.” Silence. “Hello,” said a little louder. Still silence. “Hello,” said quite loudly. Still silence. “Blessings to you, whoever you may be.” It generally happens around dinner time. It had been puzzling me through the months, but I continued to say “Blessings whoever you may be,” before gently hanging up. A couple of months ago, I received an explanation to this conundrum. I checked my telephone messages and heard a male voice say, “You don’t know me, but I’m a telemarketer. I want you to know how much your outgoing phone message means to all of us here. When we get stressed out, we just call your number and listen to your uplifting telephone message. It puts us back on track, and I just wanted to call you and thank you. By the way, if you ever receive calls where no one speaks, it’s because we just called for your message and really didn’t want to talk to you personally. Thanks again.”

My outgoing message sounds something like this. “Hello you beautiful, magnificent, unique, loving creation of Spirit. Never forget how awesome you are, how amazing you are, how original, creative, and loving you are. Now go forth and spread the Love of God today. Thank you for calling.”

Today I realize that I am a blessing to the world. I see the beauty in everyone I think about, in everyone I meet, and in everyone with whom I talk on the telephone.

I am a blessing to the world!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Outreach Minister