I'm glad you stopped by. Man, how I hunger for the Word of God today. That's what feeds me. That's what makes my heart beat. That's what makes me want to relieve the suffering of others and support them.
Behold, I make all things new." (Rev 21.5) Wow, today is a new day. It is God's day, so then see how everything is subject to the power of Good.
Be glad, rejoice, be grateful, see harmony - experience Life.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Peace in Congo, Afghanistan, Sudan
Peace. Is it a distant concept?
Well, maybe. I know our lives are busy, but for the last several years a civil war has been raging in the central African country of Congo. In this civil war, most of the victims are women and children. What should your response be? Should it be indifference or should you bless everyone involved in the conflict? Jesus Christ believed that you should bless our enemies. That's the way he lived and his life and theology changed the world. If you follow Jesus, then Congo, or Sudan or Afghanistan is a great opportunity to bless everyone involved in wars in these countries. What I didn't realize until recently is how much the soldiers perpetrating violence need blessing. We don't bless them in their violence of course. We bless them in their desire to do right, their humanitarianism, their care for the weak. We bless them in their soberness.
The first time I started praying for Congo, I listened to God for ideas. And God answered right away and said to pray about drunkenness, including being drunk with power and the love of violence.
Blessing everyone involved in a conflict is powerful. How can I say that? Because in life we are dealing with ideas. In war, the idea is there are tribal differences, there are many minds at war with each other, there are limited resources, there's bad blood, bad history, enraged thinking. That's where God and Christ come in. Jesus proved the power of loving your enemies by blessing and loving even on the cross. This Love overcame death. God is divine Love, which is infinite Love. Infinite means "fills all space."
You end war by not ignoring it. You end war, not by taking sides, but by living, praying and knowing that God, infinite Love is everywhere and all powerful. You end war by blessing everyone including the soldiers. When you do that, you are practicing the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3) that there are no other gods (powers or authority) besides Love.
I bless you all as children of the one God, divine Love. I bless all those trapped by war and all those waging war as children of God.
Mary Baker Eddy, an American woman who discovered the laws of God, which she named Christian Science, said this:
"One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, "Love thy neighbor as thyself;" annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed."
Well, maybe. I know our lives are busy, but for the last several years a civil war has been raging in the central African country of Congo. In this civil war, most of the victims are women and children. What should your response be? Should it be indifference or should you bless everyone involved in the conflict? Jesus Christ believed that you should bless our enemies. That's the way he lived and his life and theology changed the world. If you follow Jesus, then Congo, or Sudan or Afghanistan is a great opportunity to bless everyone involved in wars in these countries. What I didn't realize until recently is how much the soldiers perpetrating violence need blessing. We don't bless them in their violence of course. We bless them in their desire to do right, their humanitarianism, their care for the weak. We bless them in their soberness.
The first time I started praying for Congo, I listened to God for ideas. And God answered right away and said to pray about drunkenness, including being drunk with power and the love of violence.
Blessing everyone involved in a conflict is powerful. How can I say that? Because in life we are dealing with ideas. In war, the idea is there are tribal differences, there are many minds at war with each other, there are limited resources, there's bad blood, bad history, enraged thinking. That's where God and Christ come in. Jesus proved the power of loving your enemies by blessing and loving even on the cross. This Love overcame death. God is divine Love, which is infinite Love. Infinite means "fills all space."
You end war by not ignoring it. You end war, not by taking sides, but by living, praying and knowing that God, infinite Love is everywhere and all powerful. You end war by blessing everyone including the soldiers. When you do that, you are practicing the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3) that there are no other gods (powers or authority) besides Love.
I bless you all as children of the one God, divine Love. I bless all those trapped by war and all those waging war as children of God.
Mary Baker Eddy, an American woman who discovered the laws of God, which she named Christian Science, said this:
"One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, "Love thy neighbor as thyself;" annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed."
Thursday, September 3, 2009
In Love's embrace
Do you ever year for something you think you lack. I do sometimes. I have not found that very productive. Why? I think it's because when we want something, sometimes unintentionally it becomes a denial of God's presence. So, I try and be careful when thoughts of wanting something voice themselves. I find those are opportunities to affirm with all my heart that God IS meeting our need. We do this to accept what is already going on, not to change something.
If Love is meeting your need, then truthfully, Love has MET your need. There is nothing in you or on you or around you that is unlike love. Only the mortal mind, or the egoic mind, claims that it has experienced lack. But how can we realize this? Sometimes, we need to relax and be still. In that peace of not actively thinking, we can hear God talking, embracing us. I've asked a few people how much of their thoughts are really worries or ruminations and they've all said it was a pretty high percentage. So, I think there is value in being still and giving God room. Just let Him/Her talk, without guiding or reminding Him/Her what you need.
It's a fact. Love is infinite good. Love is protecting you, supporting you, embracing you, uplifting you, regenerating you. God's universe is in perfect order and harmony. I like to be alert to the thought that I can use prayer to change something. Prayer reveals what already is and always was. (By the way, evil never started. If it never started, it cannot grow.)
As human thought changes and yields to the call of Truth, your mind, body, spirit, your whole experience is healed. Theologian Mary Baker Eddy said that the leading causes of sickness are fear, ignorance or sin. Then, we want to pray to yield up those misconceptions. Jesus' surrender of the false sense of self was complete. He lived Love. The infinite Love he embraced is here for us to embrace. When we do that, we're repenting or changing our thought as he asked us to do. We become aware that there is not Love and a problem, just the reality of Love.
If Love is meeting your need, then truthfully, Love has MET your need. There is nothing in you or on you or around you that is unlike love. Only the mortal mind, or the egoic mind, claims that it has experienced lack. But how can we realize this? Sometimes, we need to relax and be still. In that peace of not actively thinking, we can hear God talking, embracing us. I've asked a few people how much of their thoughts are really worries or ruminations and they've all said it was a pretty high percentage. So, I think there is value in being still and giving God room. Just let Him/Her talk, without guiding or reminding Him/Her what you need.
It's a fact. Love is infinite good. Love is protecting you, supporting you, embracing you, uplifting you, regenerating you. God's universe is in perfect order and harmony. I like to be alert to the thought that I can use prayer to change something. Prayer reveals what already is and always was. (By the way, evil never started. If it never started, it cannot grow.)
As human thought changes and yields to the call of Truth, your mind, body, spirit, your whole experience is healed. Theologian Mary Baker Eddy said that the leading causes of sickness are fear, ignorance or sin. Then, we want to pray to yield up those misconceptions. Jesus' surrender of the false sense of self was complete. He lived Love. The infinite Love he embraced is here for us to embrace. When we do that, we're repenting or changing our thought as he asked us to do. We become aware that there is not Love and a problem, just the reality of Love.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
What is a Contract?
When two parties come together, do you ever wonder which side God is on? Praying about a real estate contract that is coming up for agreement soon, ideas about what a contract really is came to mind.
A contract is an agreement, right? So, it's not so much a thing as an idea. Everything around us is really an idea. God, who is the great intelligence of the universe, is the true source of all ideas.
When I have something to pray about, I have been asking myself, what is God's relationship with Herself? How is God seeing Himself? I believe this allows us to quickly see what is going on.
God is in perfect agreement with Herself. That's what is going on today. To us it seems like two distinct parties come to the table to dispute or agree a contract (agreement). But, in actuality supply and demand both have their source in the One God. And really, both parties are actually in the One God. (Not physically, of course.)
Really, both parties are in perfect agreement, before they start, because God is the source of their being and existence. Interestingly, the word agreement actually means in harmony. Therefore, all parties are included in all-harmonious Love. Is it any surprise that an agreement is a synonym for contract.
On page 200 of a book named Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by an American student of the Bible named Mary Baker Eddy reminds that God's spiritual creation is perfect. (God's creation is entirely spiritual and the mortal condition with all its angst is a counterfeit.) She says that the fact of God and man's perfection is incontrovertible. Let's go to the dictionary for that one.
incontrovertible: not open to question or dispute; indisputable:
I like to think that that means it's not even up for debate. We begin and end our prayers with an acknowledgment that the Truth is already established. This tells us that God and man's perfection is a fixed fact. It is firmly set up, anchored, inarguable, permanently enacted or agreed.
That's it! Everything that needs to be done is actually done by God, the real do-er. With confidence and gratitude we can see that God has actually done everything that is needed. Healing is that fact dawning on us.
Isn't it wonderful how God governs everything? Isn't it great that everything is in harmony because of God's relationship with Himself?
A contract is an agreement, right? So, it's not so much a thing as an idea. Everything around us is really an idea. God, who is the great intelligence of the universe, is the true source of all ideas.
When I have something to pray about, I have been asking myself, what is God's relationship with Herself? How is God seeing Himself? I believe this allows us to quickly see what is going on.
God is in perfect agreement with Herself. That's what is going on today. To us it seems like two distinct parties come to the table to dispute or agree a contract (agreement). But, in actuality supply and demand both have their source in the One God. And really, both parties are actually in the One God. (Not physically, of course.)
Really, both parties are in perfect agreement, before they start, because God is the source of their being and existence. Interestingly, the word agreement actually means in harmony. Therefore, all parties are included in all-harmonious Love. Is it any surprise that an agreement is a synonym for contract.
On page 200 of a book named Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by an American student of the Bible named Mary Baker Eddy reminds that God's spiritual creation is perfect. (God's creation is entirely spiritual and the mortal condition with all its angst is a counterfeit.) She says that the fact of God and man's perfection is incontrovertible. Let's go to the dictionary for that one.
incontrovertible: not open to question or dispute; indisputable:
I like to think that that means it's not even up for debate. We begin and end our prayers with an acknowledgment that the Truth is already established. This tells us that God and man's perfection is a fixed fact. It is firmly set up, anchored, inarguable, permanently enacted or agreed.
That's it! Everything that needs to be done is actually done by God, the real do-er. With confidence and gratitude we can see that God has actually done everything that is needed. Healing is that fact dawning on us.
Isn't it wonderful how God governs everything? Isn't it great that everything is in harmony because of God's relationship with Himself?
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
That's How the Ball Bounces
Last night I was waiting for a tennis court. As the wait time increased towards a half an hour, so did my boredom it seemed. Finally a court opened up, but a woman and a man in there early 20s were in line first. There were a lot of really good players there that night, but this young woman was not one of them. I felt sorry for her because her boyfriend was telling her, "Why are you just standing there. You've got to move your feet." She replied, "I dunno." He was mister competitive and she was sweet. But not ah ... athletic it seemed.
With this waiting, I felt kind of blah, spiritually flat. Then, a thought came. Why not pray about what was right in front of me? Why not witness what God was seeing about this young woman and man? The thought came that because her ability truly came from God, why couldn't she play well? Why couldn't she? I was just still with that. I wasn't trying to change what was going on, I was just really open to change. My thought was loose and hopeful.
Soon, a court opened up for my son opened up, so I focused on our play. Here and there, when the boyfriend would berate her, I would talk to God and express His love about the situation.
Interestingly, I noticed the boyfriend was running all OVER the court. The young woman still had the unorthodox stroke, like someone who was holding a tennis racket for the first time. But, she was winning games. And, this frustrated the boyfriend who started swearing. And, that gave me more to pray about. I prayed that what blesses one, blesses all. That's an idea from a book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I thought about how that young man wasn't left out of good. The thought came to me that it could bless me too. For the first time in a long, long while, I took every point in two games. My son played well last night, so we both had fun.
Was that the whole point of this, to use God to enhance human performance? Not at all. I was just open to seeing what God was seeing, open to loving my neighbor and expecting good to tangibly be theirs on the tennis court. And that made it for a really, really fun night.
Have fun out there!
With this waiting, I felt kind of blah, spiritually flat. Then, a thought came. Why not pray about what was right in front of me? Why not witness what God was seeing about this young woman and man? The thought came that because her ability truly came from God, why couldn't she play well? Why couldn't she? I was just still with that. I wasn't trying to change what was going on, I was just really open to change. My thought was loose and hopeful.
Soon, a court opened up for my son opened up, so I focused on our play. Here and there, when the boyfriend would berate her, I would talk to God and express His love about the situation.
Interestingly, I noticed the boyfriend was running all OVER the court. The young woman still had the unorthodox stroke, like someone who was holding a tennis racket for the first time. But, she was winning games. And, this frustrated the boyfriend who started swearing. And, that gave me more to pray about. I prayed that what blesses one, blesses all. That's an idea from a book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I thought about how that young man wasn't left out of good. The thought came to me that it could bless me too. For the first time in a long, long while, I took every point in two games. My son played well last night, so we both had fun.
Was that the whole point of this, to use God to enhance human performance? Not at all. I was just open to seeing what God was seeing, open to loving my neighbor and expecting good to tangibly be theirs on the tennis court. And that made it for a really, really fun night.
Have fun out there!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Timeliness of God's Word
Paul says in II Corinthians "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." When is the day of salvation? Yes, right now. Then, there's nothing to wait for!
Isn't it amazing how often the thought you need comes to you at just the right time. The Greek New Testament has a word for that. It's "kairos."
Then there's a human concept of time, which is time passing, like sand through an hourglass. (This sense of time evokes aging, fatigue, etc.) This concept of time often frustrates us and dupes us into thinking that God is absent. The Greek word for that type of time is "kronos." The author of a book named Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the textbook of Christian Science, explains that concept of time this way: “Mortal measurements; limits, in which are summed up all human acts, thoughts, beliefs, opinions, knowledge; matter; error” (595:17-19).
Explore the immediacy of God's Word. The word Word is capitalized to signify as the Bible did God's creation moving in perfection, unfolding infinite goodness. Infinite goodness? Is that possible? The Bible says, "All things are possible to God," so I don't see why not. Infinite God has infinite resources. Infinite God has infinite expression. You as the child of God are the infinite expression of God's unlimited love and righteousness, God's unlimited strength and health, God's unlimited intelligence.
It seems there is always something new to learn about infinite. One meaning of infinite is boundless, without limits. So, infinite Love, being infinite, has no limit to the love it shares with you. And, you being the Love's spiritual creation cannot experience any limit of love. That means you cannot experience cruelty, betrayal, or lack of forgiveness. Or lack. Love is unfolding to you and you experience, limitless forgiveness, peace, love, kindness and supply of good. You express and experience God continuously.
As you pray for healing, see the immediacy of God's Word - there are no limits. The One Infinite cannot be late. Infinite Truth infinitely supplies health and supplies health without limits. So, there has never been a lapse from health.
Science and Health 200:16
"The great truth in the Science of being, that the real man was, is, and ever shall be perfect, is incontrovertible; for if man is the image, reflection, of God, he is neither inverted nor subverted, but upright and Godlike."
Science and Health 470:32
"The relations of God and man, divine Principle and idea, are indestructible in Science; and Science knows no lapse from nor return to harmony, but holds the divine order or spiritual law, in which God and all that He creates are perfect and eternal, to have remained unchanged in its eternal history."
In the Bible, Yahweh means I AM, I always was, I always will be. So, God's always been on time and always will be. And, God has always been perfect. And, God's manifestation, including you has always been perfect. (I'm referring to God's spiritual creation, not the mortal counterfeit. Mortals have it all upside down, don't they.)
Ruth Elizabeth Jenks wrote something that I appreciate greatly which explains how understanding time correctly directly applies to healing.
"Time is never a factor in healing, because in reality, there is no past and no future. And that’s true regardless of how you look at the concept of time. You cannot retrieve one moment of the past and tomorrow is always out of reach. We can’t grasp it before it arrives. We only live in and can experience now. This understanding dissipates fear. As someone who’s endured three different healings that required “time,” the last one for two years, I can truly say—paraphrasing the Apostle Paul’s comments—that I, too, could joy in affliction. That’s because I grew in my conviction that Jesus’ comforting assurance that “With God all things are possible” is not an empty promise."
Deut 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
Isn't it amazing how often the thought you need comes to you at just the right time. The Greek New Testament has a word for that. It's "kairos."
Then there's a human concept of time, which is time passing, like sand through an hourglass. (This sense of time evokes aging, fatigue, etc.) This concept of time often frustrates us and dupes us into thinking that God is absent. The Greek word for that type of time is "kronos." The author of a book named Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the textbook of Christian Science, explains that concept of time this way: “Mortal measurements; limits, in which are summed up all human acts, thoughts, beliefs, opinions, knowledge; matter; error” (595:17-19).
Explore the immediacy of God's Word. The word Word is capitalized to signify as the Bible did God's creation moving in perfection, unfolding infinite goodness. Infinite goodness? Is that possible? The Bible says, "All things are possible to God," so I don't see why not. Infinite God has infinite resources. Infinite God has infinite expression. You as the child of God are the infinite expression of God's unlimited love and righteousness, God's unlimited strength and health, God's unlimited intelligence.
It seems there is always something new to learn about infinite. One meaning of infinite is boundless, without limits. So, infinite Love, being infinite, has no limit to the love it shares with you. And, you being the Love's spiritual creation cannot experience any limit of love. That means you cannot experience cruelty, betrayal, or lack of forgiveness. Or lack. Love is unfolding to you and you experience, limitless forgiveness, peace, love, kindness and supply of good. You express and experience God continuously.
As you pray for healing, see the immediacy of God's Word - there are no limits. The One Infinite cannot be late. Infinite Truth infinitely supplies health and supplies health without limits. So, there has never been a lapse from health.
Science and Health 200:16
"The great truth in the Science of being, that the real man was, is, and ever shall be perfect, is incontrovertible; for if man is the image, reflection, of God, he is neither inverted nor subverted, but upright and Godlike."
Science and Health 470:32
"The relations of God and man, divine Principle and idea, are indestructible in Science; and Science knows no lapse from nor return to harmony, but holds the divine order or spiritual law, in which God and all that He creates are perfect and eternal, to have remained unchanged in its eternal history."
In the Bible, Yahweh means I AM, I always was, I always will be. So, God's always been on time and always will be. And, God has always been perfect. And, God's manifestation, including you has always been perfect. (I'm referring to God's spiritual creation, not the mortal counterfeit. Mortals have it all upside down, don't they.)
Ruth Elizabeth Jenks wrote something that I appreciate greatly which explains how understanding time correctly directly applies to healing.
"Time is never a factor in healing, because in reality, there is no past and no future. And that’s true regardless of how you look at the concept of time. You cannot retrieve one moment of the past and tomorrow is always out of reach. We can’t grasp it before it arrives. We only live in and can experience now. This understanding dissipates fear. As someone who’s endured three different healings that required “time,” the last one for two years, I can truly say—paraphrasing the Apostle Paul’s comments—that I, too, could joy in affliction. That’s because I grew in my conviction that Jesus’ comforting assurance that “With God all things are possible” is not an empty promise."
Deut 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Thank you, God
God is infinite. God is infinite Love and infinite good. Is that just a trite phrase or is it law? I think that's an important question to answer. And, it's the one I am pondering today. Prayer, I believe, is not a human effort to try and get this human self to believe in a God that you can't see. It's an acknowledgment that God, good, is the source of the universe, that divine Love is the only lawmaker.
Today I am grateful that evil does not have a source. Without a source, it cannot have an outcome. It cannot disrupt. Is this a denial of evil? Yes. Am I ignorant that we encounter storms in life (disease, famine, loss, death)? Not at all. But, I look at the life of Jesus and see how he met those storms. "Peace, be still!" He commanded them to stop, be still. What would stop you from exercising the same authority? Hmm, perhaps you feel you can't because you are not Jesus. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is within you." He also said, "Ye are the light of the world." So, you do have that God-given authority. What would stop you from using it? Fear? Jesus said many times to not be afraid. He said, "Fear not!"
An American woman Mary Baker Eddy, wrote "We bury the sense of infinitude, when we admit that, although God is infinite, evil has a place in this infinity, for evil can have no place, where all space is filled with God."
That is what I am pondering today. If all space is filled with good, with God, then evil has no place, no source. Then, this fact is a law of healing to humanity.
Today I am grateful that evil does not have a source. Without a source, it cannot have an outcome. It cannot disrupt. Is this a denial of evil? Yes. Am I ignorant that we encounter storms in life (disease, famine, loss, death)? Not at all. But, I look at the life of Jesus and see how he met those storms. "Peace, be still!" He commanded them to stop, be still. What would stop you from exercising the same authority? Hmm, perhaps you feel you can't because you are not Jesus. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is within you." He also said, "Ye are the light of the world." So, you do have that God-given authority. What would stop you from using it? Fear? Jesus said many times to not be afraid. He said, "Fear not!"
An American woman Mary Baker Eddy, wrote "We bury the sense of infinitude, when we admit that, although God is infinite, evil has a place in this infinity, for evil can have no place, where all space is filled with God."
That is what I am pondering today. If all space is filled with good, with God, then evil has no place, no source. Then, this fact is a law of healing to humanity.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
You can do it!
I wonder if you have ever felt like you can't do something. I've had my share of those experiences. Often those situations are resolved when I get a better understanding of who I am, I improve my image of myself. Several times I have found healing for myself and others by letting go of false responsibility. Whose responsibility is it to restore your health, pay your mortgage, resolve your relationship with a friend or family member. Often false responsibility hangs heavily on us, impeding healing. I looked up the root of responsibility and it's core is the word able. Did you realize that the one that you thing is responsible is the one that you are claiming is able? In other words if God is responsible for healing a health problem, we are affirming that God is able to heal, to improve the problem. If we fear or feel that we are responsible, then we are claiming that we are the one that is able. If we do that, then we are thinking that we are the source of ability, of health. The Bible tells us that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. That's the model we need.
We recognize God as the Source of all ability, all capability and power. As the expression or reflection of that Source or Soul, we have limitless ability. Does this apply to financial problems? Yes. We realize that we are inseparable from the infinite Source, divine Love. As we acknowledge that the substance (that which is lasting and true and unlimited) in our lives is God, then we find that things come into our lives as we need them. If facing a dire situation, lift that situation moment by moment to Christ activity. Keep lifting it up into the divine economy where all needs are met and watch that human need be met. If you are despairing from lack or ill health, often that's a good indicator of false responsibility. God has the responsibility and your remedy is at hand.
Every time you think you can't do it, whatever it is, release yourself from false responsibility. Acknowledge that God is the source of all ability and power. Acknowledge that God-good has the responsibility for turning the situation around and watch how things start improving.
We recognize God as the Source of all ability, all capability and power. As the expression or reflection of that Source or Soul, we have limitless ability. Does this apply to financial problems? Yes. We realize that we are inseparable from the infinite Source, divine Love. As we acknowledge that the substance (that which is lasting and true and unlimited) in our lives is God, then we find that things come into our lives as we need them. If facing a dire situation, lift that situation moment by moment to Christ activity. Keep lifting it up into the divine economy where all needs are met and watch that human need be met. If you are despairing from lack or ill health, often that's a good indicator of false responsibility. God has the responsibility and your remedy is at hand.
Every time you think you can't do it, whatever it is, release yourself from false responsibility. Acknowledge that God is the source of all ability and power. Acknowledge that God-good has the responsibility for turning the situation around and watch how things start improving.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
You Have a Holy Purpose
Friend, God has called you to be Her presence, the Christ presence today. Wherever you go you are bringing Christ. Jesus Christ said that you are the light of the world. Whatever your vocation, being the light of Christ is your calling. And God would not give you an assignment without the means, the full capability to carry it out. Jesus said that you have the kingdom of heaven within you. Can you see that you already have the kingdom?!
Last summer counselors at a camp I was helping out at were having a struggle with a girl's sour attitude. I kept seeing her as God is seeing her, no matter what. At the end of my week there, this girl, looking radiantly happy, ran over and gave me a hug. Another time, I entered a meeting a few minutes late. After the meeting, someone took me aside and said that the man leading the meeting had been ranting and raving, including cussing, until I walked in the room. He immediately calmed down. Did I do anything? Not a thing. Was I special? Not at all. It was the Christ presence that is in us all. We're just recognizing the Christ (the action of divine Love) and giving it ample room in our lives.
The author of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, wrote, "For right reasoning there should be but one fact before the thought, namely, spiritual existence. In reality there is no other existence, since Life cannot be united to its unlikeness, mortality." So, you don't really have two lives. One human and one spiritual.
Your purpose is to love God with all your heart and soul and to serve only God.
Peace to the struggling heart!
Last summer counselors at a camp I was helping out at were having a struggle with a girl's sour attitude. I kept seeing her as God is seeing her, no matter what. At the end of my week there, this girl, looking radiantly happy, ran over and gave me a hug. Another time, I entered a meeting a few minutes late. After the meeting, someone took me aside and said that the man leading the meeting had been ranting and raving, including cussing, until I walked in the room. He immediately calmed down. Did I do anything? Not a thing. Was I special? Not at all. It was the Christ presence that is in us all. We're just recognizing the Christ (the action of divine Love) and giving it ample room in our lives.
The author of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, wrote, "For right reasoning there should be but one fact before the thought, namely, spiritual existence. In reality there is no other existence, since Life cannot be united to its unlikeness, mortality." So, you don't really have two lives. One human and one spiritual.
Your purpose is to love God with all your heart and soul and to serve only God.
Peace to the struggling heart!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
No Financial Flu
Today I was reading a magazine about the computer industry and came across something very, very insightful. It said that a few years ago the world was worried about a flu pandemic, and now it seems to be dealing with a financial influenza. That author hit the mark, didn't he? What is it that would have us believe that the world is coming with a financial flu? That this curse is spreading? We have a right to reject to reject evil and its news. We have a divine right to reject the manifestation of evil. Evil does not have substance. It does not have a source. God is the only source. If evil has no foundation, no substance, it cannot have a manifestation.
When we hear of plant closings, layoffs, declines in sales, and sorrow over these events, let's be wise that we are compassionate. That means that we keep a Christly expectancy of good. It means that with the love of Christ that we see only what God-good sees. It means that we rejoice that the angels of His presence are with us, protecting all from evil. Let's see that fear, sorrow, remorse, sadness are not our thought. When we do that we see that God has given us dominion and the right to experience goodness.
God, we want to see You and understand You. Open our eyes that you are real, that You are here, that You are speaking to us, that You are caring for us, that we are listening, and that the human economy pattern the divine economy. Thank You for showing us that we have nothing to fear and so much to rejoice in.
When we hear of plant closings, layoffs, declines in sales, and sorrow over these events, let's be wise that we are compassionate. That means that we keep a Christly expectancy of good. It means that with the love of Christ that we see only what God-good sees. It means that we rejoice that the angels of His presence are with us, protecting all from evil. Let's see that fear, sorrow, remorse, sadness are not our thought. When we do that we see that God has given us dominion and the right to experience goodness.
God, we want to see You and understand You. Open our eyes that you are real, that You are here, that You are speaking to us, that You are caring for us, that we are listening, and that the human economy pattern the divine economy. Thank You for showing us that we have nothing to fear and so much to rejoice in.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Always Employed
There is much discouraging economic news lately. (One of the few positive stories has been that here in St. Louis, a pasta factory is working double shifts, sometimes 7 days a week to keep up with demand.) There can be a lot of uncertainty keeping up with bills, economizing, saving for college and retirement, knowing what to spend and where to save for another day. There are many who are doing without, having lost house or job. The question begs, are we all alone in our quest to cope with the economic downturn?
It struck me with such force this morning that we are not at risk. Is such a claim irrational? Not if you put your hand in God's and realize that there is only a divine economy. Sometimes we pray for God to take troubles away, thinking that the troubles are reality and the healing is possible, but out of reach, likely, but mysterious, possible, but we don't know how to be worthy. Or even worse, we think we are in a deep hole and it's too late. Poppycock! (Nonsense!)
I have found we feel stuck down we think that evil expressed as economic downturn, marital problems, fear of lost job or house, is real. Actually, it is not real. It is an out of focus picture or perspective presented by what the Bible calls the carnal mind. This picture is not our thinking at all. We have dominion over it. We must reject it and see that when we do this the law of good, Christ, operating on man's behalf, destroys this false perspective and its accompanying troubles.
We are not at risk because there is only a divine economy, which is governed by divine good, governed by the Mind of Christ. In Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, it says that "Every function of the real man is governed by the divine Mind." It's no stretch to see that every detail of the real economy is literally governed by the law of the Mind of Christ. God-good, being all, there is only one economy. An economy governed solely by good can only be good.
And, that my friends is the economy we are at work in. In that economy, we are active for God's purpose. We are active for good. We are gainfully employed. Our efforts are blessing mankind. Those efforts are fruitful. Despite any material perspective we are safe and prosperous today and tomorrow. This week, we shall see that how God-good is employing us. We will actively embrace the work that Love has provided us. We will be blessed, incredibly blessed.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself." Christ Jesus
It struck me with such force this morning that we are not at risk. Is such a claim irrational? Not if you put your hand in God's and realize that there is only a divine economy. Sometimes we pray for God to take troubles away, thinking that the troubles are reality and the healing is possible, but out of reach, likely, but mysterious, possible, but we don't know how to be worthy. Or even worse, we think we are in a deep hole and it's too late. Poppycock! (Nonsense!)
I have found we feel stuck down we think that evil expressed as economic downturn, marital problems, fear of lost job or house, is real. Actually, it is not real. It is an out of focus picture or perspective presented by what the Bible calls the carnal mind. This picture is not our thinking at all. We have dominion over it. We must reject it and see that when we do this the law of good, Christ, operating on man's behalf, destroys this false perspective and its accompanying troubles.
We are not at risk because there is only a divine economy, which is governed by divine good, governed by the Mind of Christ. In Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, it says that "Every function of the real man is governed by the divine Mind." It's no stretch to see that every detail of the real economy is literally governed by the law of the Mind of Christ. God-good, being all, there is only one economy. An economy governed solely by good can only be good.
And, that my friends is the economy we are at work in. In that economy, we are active for God's purpose. We are active for good. We are gainfully employed. Our efforts are blessing mankind. Those efforts are fruitful. Despite any material perspective we are safe and prosperous today and tomorrow. This week, we shall see that how God-good is employing us. We will actively embrace the work that Love has provided us. We will be blessed, incredibly blessed.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself." Christ Jesus
Sunday, March 22, 2009
There Goes That Storm
Psalms 119:65 - "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." From this passage we can deduce that experiencing peace and being offended are polar opposites.
In today's world, is it possible to feel real peace? YES! One of my favorite ways to pray is "Peace, be still!" It is a quote from the Gospel of Mark when Jesus was out on a boat that was caught in a sudden storm. He commanded the storm to cease. And it did.
You know what? You have that same Christly authority. Mark's gospel records that "the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."
When I pray for myself or others, I command the world's mental storm, "Peace, be still!" Then, I pray for this for the patient, and then I tell myself, "Peace, be still." Praying in this manner has proven very effective.
The author of the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, says that, "The lightnings and thunderbolts of error [evil] may burst and flash till the cloud is cleared and the tumult dies away in the distance. Then the raindrops of divinity refresh the earth. As St. Paul says: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God" (of Spirit)." (S&H 288:14)
That's how Christian Science healings feel to me. I feel like we hear the storm dieing off in the distance, until it fades entirely. When this happens we think, I know that X seemed so serious, but now I wonder why I was fearful. I've seen this for healings of physical and mental problems.
It is God's law, Her law of Love, rather than any human effort that brings healing. God does the work! we watch Him work. We're just recognizing that the law of good is present and in operation.
Peace, be still! What an available companion that command is.
In today's world, is it possible to feel real peace? YES! One of my favorite ways to pray is "Peace, be still!" It is a quote from the Gospel of Mark when Jesus was out on a boat that was caught in a sudden storm. He commanded the storm to cease. And it did.
You know what? You have that same Christly authority. Mark's gospel records that "the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."
When I pray for myself or others, I command the world's mental storm, "Peace, be still!" Then, I pray for this for the patient, and then I tell myself, "Peace, be still." Praying in this manner has proven very effective.
The author of the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, says that, "The lightnings and thunderbolts of error [evil] may burst and flash till the cloud is cleared and the tumult dies away in the distance. Then the raindrops of divinity refresh the earth. As St. Paul says: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God" (of Spirit)." (S&H 288:14)
That's how Christian Science healings feel to me. I feel like we hear the storm dieing off in the distance, until it fades entirely. When this happens we think, I know that X seemed so serious, but now I wonder why I was fearful. I've seen this for healings of physical and mental problems.
It is God's law, Her law of Love, rather than any human effort that brings healing. God does the work! we watch Him work. We're just recognizing that the law of good is present and in operation.
Peace, be still! What an available companion that command is.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Our Individual Experience
You are unique, just like everyone else. :-) God instructs us and gently leads us.
Over the years I have had some nice experiences with prayer taking care teeth problems. I had a molar come into position solely through prayer. Issues have faded away. For example, on one visit to the dentist, the dentist remarked that there was a spot (a cavity forming?) on a tooth he would take care of on the next visit. But, on subsequent visits he never brought it up. I have not felt the need to go to a dentist for years because God has taken care of my needs. How did I come to that decision? Through a natural progression.
Several years ago, I went to a dentist for a cleaning. It had been several years since I had had any x-rays taken of my teeth. I could sense that my refusal to allow x-rays was bothering the dentist, so I prayed to God for direction. An angel thought came, "If they would feel more comfortable having taken an x-ray, let them!" I could see he wanted to provide good care and my refusal to allow x-rays was making him fearful. So they took xrays of my teeth. And, then I waited. I mentioned to the dentist that he should check the x-ray over good. He replied, "I've gone over the x-rays twice, and I can't find anything wrong!" He was intent on finding a problem and seemed a little disappointed that there wasn't anything to fix. After that, it seemed like it was time to stop going to the tooth doctor. That was four years ago. How are things? Just fine. Whether you or I go to the dentist is not the point. What matters is while we learn more about God, that we love God and love each other.
Teeth are symbols of our God-given substance. They are not subject to decay. They are sturdy, reliable, healthy and they are here to serve us. Remember, Christian Science supports you right where you are! It is the truth of God's allness and nowness. Can you feel it? You are in the presence of God's love and power.
Over the years I have had some nice experiences with prayer taking care teeth problems. I had a molar come into position solely through prayer. Issues have faded away. For example, on one visit to the dentist, the dentist remarked that there was a spot (a cavity forming?) on a tooth he would take care of on the next visit. But, on subsequent visits he never brought it up. I have not felt the need to go to a dentist for years because God has taken care of my needs. How did I come to that decision? Through a natural progression.
Several years ago, I went to a dentist for a cleaning. It had been several years since I had had any x-rays taken of my teeth. I could sense that my refusal to allow x-rays was bothering the dentist, so I prayed to God for direction. An angel thought came, "If they would feel more comfortable having taken an x-ray, let them!" I could see he wanted to provide good care and my refusal to allow x-rays was making him fearful. So they took xrays of my teeth. And, then I waited. I mentioned to the dentist that he should check the x-ray over good. He replied, "I've gone over the x-rays twice, and I can't find anything wrong!" He was intent on finding a problem and seemed a little disappointed that there wasn't anything to fix. After that, it seemed like it was time to stop going to the tooth doctor. That was four years ago. How are things? Just fine. Whether you or I go to the dentist is not the point. What matters is while we learn more about God, that we love God and love each other.
Teeth are symbols of our God-given substance. They are not subject to decay. They are sturdy, reliable, healthy and they are here to serve us. Remember, Christian Science supports you right where you are! It is the truth of God's allness and nowness. Can you feel it? You are in the presence of God's love and power.
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