Living a spiritual life



Are you tired of going to the traditional church yet you don't want to completely drop out of the christian scene?

Have you had to deal with people who claim to be christians and yet they turn out to be judgemental?

Have you done something or somethings in your life that you have "repented" for and yet they are still held over your head as if you haven't been punished enough?

Do you feel there is more negativity than positivity in your life and you know it is affecting you and your family?

You are not alone.

With my three children I attended a traditional southern baptist church for a total of 3 1/2 years until recently. I had joined the church, been baptized, and became a dedicated church member. This is a church with a typical attendance of about 200 + on Sundays.

The very last year I was there I was team teaching 2nd grade Sunday School and really enjoyed it. I had learned alot about myself and the children I was helping teach about the savior, Jesus Christ.

I made sure my oldest two children were actively involved in church activities especially while I could attend discipleship classes and Wednesday night prayer meeting.

As I mentioned this church has a typical attendance of about 200+ on Sundays. On Wednesday nights at the prayer meeting (bible study) I was the ONLY young adult that attended from the church. Now mind you, I am a 30 year old single mom with three children. I enjoyed Wednesday night fellowship but it got very disappointing that I was the only young adult attending. There was a huge age gap to say the least. Everyone else was in their 50's on up.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the church. There were several who supported me through difficulties and helped with my children occassionally.

The most discouraging issue had to be that many times when a church activity came along asking the church members to participate (community service projects for example) I had to have child care in order to participate. Now I would talk to someone right away hoping that they would help find arrangements. If it was not a traditional church activity though, it was nearly impossible to get any help for me.
It frustrated me because the church would plead with people stating they needed help. I would hear through the grapevine that this project or that project really needed help but people (the main helpers) were too busy?  Ummm hello here I am waving my arm saying I can help if you can find help for me!

I was told a couple of times that "my time will come." Okay, when?  We were taught that we had to do things NOW before Jesus returns to earth. So I'm supposed to wait till when?  This has never made sense to me.

Many of you may recall about a year ago in March or April of last year on Oprah about a church in Kansas City that began a campain called a complaint free world. They were giving away purple bracelets challenging people (eventually all over the world) to find a way to not complain for 21 days.

Well, I found that article on CNN.com and then showed it to my best friend Mike. We both ordered bracelets although we did not receive them until the end of the summer. Mike however, did research and found a local Unity church. He took a trip down to Chattanooga where the church is located and met the secretary who invited him to an upcoming class titled Keys to the Kingdom. It was at this class that Mike discovered this church was the place for him.

Within a few months Mike, his wife, myself and my three children all visited Unity of Chattanooga.

That was in September 2007. In January 2008 we joined the church as members. What an inspirational day that was!

My kids and I now attend a wonderful, positive, and uplifting spiritual church that has welcomed us with open arms.  I was recently relieved to finally hear my 10 year old daughter say she loves going to the church we are at now.

Penny, Rev. Doug's wife has been truly incredible. She has went above and beyond to help make sure I am able to continually be spiritually fed attending church and activities.  

Anytime we have potluck or other festivities there is always someone that will approach me and ask me if I need help. They are quickly approaching my children and helping them get their food and a place to sit down and eat.

Most of all they have looked at the good in all of my children and worked off of that. My son Caleb is the one they have mostly affected.  The first time I went to Unity with my children Caleb was acting up horribly.  I was obviously very tense because several members came up to me afterwards and hugged me and said relax. This was a dramatic change from the traditional church I had been attending.

My daughter Shiloh who is known by many to be very shy has come out of her own shell a lot. She now goes up to the front every Sunday with all of the children from Sunday School and often she will talk clearly in front of the congregation into the microphone!

A year ago this was a child who rarely talked to anyone out in public and even those she was acquainted with. I had numerous people including kids ask me if she could talk?

My son Hunter loves going to Unitots on the Sundays he is with me. He happily goes without any problems. The people who care for him have been wonderful.


As for myself I am doing much better.  I enjoy going to Unity for fellowship and learning more about my spiritual path.

I have enjoyed going deep within and learning to focus more on the positives and the good in my life and the others around me.

Some of the best books that have changed my thinking with life are by Esther & Jerry Hicks;  Ask and It is Given, The Power of Emotions, The Power of Deliberate Intent, and many more.  I have enjoyed reading books by Charles & Myrtle Fillmore, the founders of the Unity movement.

I have also been introduced to Edwene Gaines who is a Unity minister though she teaches people about prosperity. It's not about becoming filthy rich it's about creating a healthy prosperous life to be the light for others.  She also teaches you how to overcome your fears. She offers a firewalk just before concluding her weekend workshops. You are not forced to do the firewalk you have to believe that you will get through the fire. It's all about mind over matter.  From my own personal experience it has worked for me. I am a firewalker and I fear nothing.

Edwene is one of the most inspirational people I have ever met. I encourage others to learn more about her and her teachings. It's even better when you can meet her in person.

We may focus on ourselves which would cause traditional christians to cringe and scream out selfish! But how are we to be that beacon of hope, that shining light to others if we do not work on ourselves first?

I appreciate more than anything having it instilled in me and my children to always look at the good in everyone around us.  I like the fact that my children are being taught to stay away from being judgemental and give everyone a chance no matter what they have done.

To learn more about Unity visit this link

To learn more about Edwene Gaines visit this link