(c) By: Sharon Slaton Howell
We who are Christ's own
Gladly bow the knee to Him,
Not anyone else.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
God can save from sickness, too
Just thinking about all the people who have been taught to pray for God's help in overcoming sin, but how few rely on Him to heal sickness. Christ Jesus, our Lord and Master, our forever great Teacher, turned constantly to God, and he healed pain, disease, deformity. And he restored life. And Jesus told us to go and do likewise, commanded his followers to "Heal the sick."
I will forever be grateful to the teachings of Christian Science that have enabled me, in a measure, to do this. It is right to seek God's help in sickness, in my view. And it is efficacious, as well.
The Bible certainly backs this up. The Old Testament states: "And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness." (Deut. 7:15
The woman who discovered and founded Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, writes: "To ignore God as of little use in sickness is a mistake. Instead of thrusting Him aside in times of bodily trouble, and waiting for the hour of strength in which to acknowledge Him, we should learn that He can do all things for us in sickness as in health." (page l66 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures)
Christian Science has shown me not only how to ask God to deliver me, but how to do so in confident expectation of healing. Its teachings, which are in accord with the inspired message of the Bible, reveal the Christianly scientific prayer that Jesus practiced so successfully. Jesus counseled, "Ask, and it shall be given you." (Matthew 7:7) To me, this is more than a human request for the Father's help. It implies a need for a spiritual conviction of our true nature as the loved offspring of God--the beneficiary of His all-powerful care.
Before Christ Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the grave, he spoke this prayer of spiritual affirmation: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always." (John 11:41, 42) The human picture portrayed hopelessness and grief. Yet the Way-shower thanked God for being all-powerful and ever-present! This may have seemed startling. Jesus didn't turn to God in mere optimism, just hoping He would hear; he knew He would. His understanding of man's unity with the creator, divine Mind, gave him absolute assurance that God answers every call.
Someone may be saying to himself right about now, "If only I could have God's help for my many health problems!" Believe me, you can. Learning to pray as Jesus prayed will save one from asking in vain. Mrs. Eddy points out, "The Christlike understanding of scientific being, and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea, -- perfect God and perfect man, -- as the basis of thought and demonstration." This is found on page 259 of the book mentioned above.
And speaking of Science and Health, I would say to any man or woman reading my blog for the first time, this is a book that will bring to light for you God's ever-present goodness, His awesome love for you, His ever-available power to heal you. It will show you how a change in your concept of God and man can bring healing and regeneration in your life. It will show you how the Bible's promises of health restored are fulfilled.
I will forever be grateful to the teachings of Christian Science that have enabled me, in a measure, to do this. It is right to seek God's help in sickness, in my view. And it is efficacious, as well.
The Bible certainly backs this up. The Old Testament states: "And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness." (Deut. 7:15
The woman who discovered and founded Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, writes: "To ignore God as of little use in sickness is a mistake. Instead of thrusting Him aside in times of bodily trouble, and waiting for the hour of strength in which to acknowledge Him, we should learn that He can do all things for us in sickness as in health." (page l66 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures)
Christian Science has shown me not only how to ask God to deliver me, but how to do so in confident expectation of healing. Its teachings, which are in accord with the inspired message of the Bible, reveal the Christianly scientific prayer that Jesus practiced so successfully. Jesus counseled, "Ask, and it shall be given you." (Matthew 7:7) To me, this is more than a human request for the Father's help. It implies a need for a spiritual conviction of our true nature as the loved offspring of God--the beneficiary of His all-powerful care.
Before Christ Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the grave, he spoke this prayer of spiritual affirmation: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always." (John 11:41, 42) The human picture portrayed hopelessness and grief. Yet the Way-shower thanked God for being all-powerful and ever-present! This may have seemed startling. Jesus didn't turn to God in mere optimism, just hoping He would hear; he knew He would. His understanding of man's unity with the creator, divine Mind, gave him absolute assurance that God answers every call.
Someone may be saying to himself right about now, "If only I could have God's help for my many health problems!" Believe me, you can. Learning to pray as Jesus prayed will save one from asking in vain. Mrs. Eddy points out, "The Christlike understanding of scientific being, and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea, -- perfect God and perfect man, -- as the basis of thought and demonstration." This is found on page 259 of the book mentioned above.
And speaking of Science and Health, I would say to any man or woman reading my blog for the first time, this is a book that will bring to light for you God's ever-present goodness, His awesome love for you, His ever-available power to heal you. It will show you how a change in your concept of God and man can bring healing and regeneration in your life. It will show you how the Bible's promises of health restored are fulfilled.
Monday, December 7, 2009
A healing of poison ivy
I've mentioned this friend before, one who is a new student of Christian Science, who has only been reading Science and Health by Eddy for a few months now. Some time back, I posted a healing she had had of a spider bite that appeared very serious as she turned to the divine truths contained in this volume.
Well, just heard from her again and the joy was dancing in her eyes. She dropped by to tell me about a healing after she had been working in their yard clearing brush and had gotten into a bunch of poison ivy. She told me it was all over her hands, part of her face, and was about to get into her eye. Her husband said, you need to go get a shot right away. (This is what she had done in the past before she knew of Christian Science.) The lady said nothing, but didn't go get a shot. Instead, she went into her room, took her Bible and Science and Health, began praying, working mentally with many of the statements about God and man/ His ever-with-us restorative power/the Christ-knowledge Jesus had which the teachings of divine Science give anyone, and so on. "And do you know what?", she said. "The poison ivy began disappearing very soon, and in three days not a trace of it was left." This to her, was remarkable, given what she had endured before.
So, again a proof that Christian Science heals!
Well, just heard from her again and the joy was dancing in her eyes. She dropped by to tell me about a healing after she had been working in their yard clearing brush and had gotten into a bunch of poison ivy. She told me it was all over her hands, part of her face, and was about to get into her eye. Her husband said, you need to go get a shot right away. (This is what she had done in the past before she knew of Christian Science.) The lady said nothing, but didn't go get a shot. Instead, she went into her room, took her Bible and Science and Health, began praying, working mentally with many of the statements about God and man/ His ever-with-us restorative power/the Christ-knowledge Jesus had which the teachings of divine Science give anyone, and so on. "And do you know what?", she said. "The poison ivy began disappearing very soon, and in three days not a trace of it was left." This to her, was remarkable, given what she had endured before.
So, again a proof that Christian Science heals!
Cleaning up our mental atmosphere
Of all the things in Mary Baker Eddy's masterwork, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, one of the statements I have been helped by the most is this: "Never breathe an immoral atmosphere unless in the attempt to purify it."
People have asked me how I can post what are often sublime thoughts on something like the Internet. I had to come to terms with this when I first began posting poetry on the Net, and later opened my first blog, then another, now a third. Even before blogging, since my name appears under several search engines and some pornographic sites have hitched their wagon to my name in an effort to push their filthy wares ( I deplore this, naturally), still I have resolved to do what I can to put clean material out there. Yesterday I posted a poem titled "In a sea of smut" which just about sums it up, and the feedback I am getting is heartwarming. There are many who, like me, are doing what they can to clean up our atmosphere and I applaud every one.
Several years ago I happened to be in Borders looking through the poetry section when what did I spy? A volume titled "Talking dirty to God"! Right then and there, I knew I must do something to counter such foul stuff, and not long after, my first book of poems was published, "For love of Christ".
As I said in a poem on another blog, if just one poor soul who is struggling in a sea of smut is thrown a lifeline by something I and we post, then it is well worth our effort.
And lastly, I recall my Sunday School teacher, a wonderful Christian Science practitioner saying she had had a call from a man who said to her, "just talk to me about clean things. The office where I work is filled with gross conversation." Of course, with the Internet and its downside, it has only gotten worse. But let us do all we can to purify it. Especially at this, what should be, a Christly time of year.
People have asked me how I can post what are often sublime thoughts on something like the Internet. I had to come to terms with this when I first began posting poetry on the Net, and later opened my first blog, then another, now a third. Even before blogging, since my name appears under several search engines and some pornographic sites have hitched their wagon to my name in an effort to push their filthy wares ( I deplore this, naturally), still I have resolved to do what I can to put clean material out there. Yesterday I posted a poem titled "In a sea of smut" which just about sums it up, and the feedback I am getting is heartwarming. There are many who, like me, are doing what they can to clean up our atmosphere and I applaud every one.
Several years ago I happened to be in Borders looking through the poetry section when what did I spy? A volume titled "Talking dirty to God"! Right then and there, I knew I must do something to counter such foul stuff, and not long after, my first book of poems was published, "For love of Christ".
As I said in a poem on another blog, if just one poor soul who is struggling in a sea of smut is thrown a lifeline by something I and we post, then it is well worth our effort.
And lastly, I recall my Sunday School teacher, a wonderful Christian Science practitioner saying she had had a call from a man who said to her, "just talk to me about clean things. The office where I work is filled with gross conversation." Of course, with the Internet and its downside, it has only gotten worse. But let us do all we can to purify it. Especially at this, what should be, a Christly time of year.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
For fear -- the one sure remedy
(c) By: Sharon Slaton Howell
"Fear not," "Be not afraid,"
our Lord and Master taught.
And Christian Science will help
us do what Jesus said we ought.
For there is no fear in God,
nor in His image, you and me.
Accepting this as gospel truth,
unafraidness we cannot help but see.
Christ-informed and enlightened,
we can have now demonstration
of the fearlesness that belongs to us
as God's own manifestation.
For we are God's and have His Mind.
God-created and encompassed
--held intact and dear --
there is nothing in God's allness
for any one of us to fear.
This truth will do what Jesus said it would:
....Expose fear's unreality,
............. Strike off mental chains,
......................Make us feel oh so free!
"Fear not," "Be not afraid,"
our Lord and Master taught.
And Christian Science will help
us do what Jesus said we ought.
For there is no fear in God,
nor in His image, you and me.
Accepting this as gospel truth,
unafraidness we cannot help but see.
Christ-informed and enlightened,
we can have now demonstration
of the fearlesness that belongs to us
as God's own manifestation.
For we are God's and have His Mind.
God-created and encompassed
--held intact and dear --
there is nothing in God's allness
for any one of us to fear.
This truth will do what Jesus said it would:
....Expose fear's unreality,
............. Strike off mental chains,
......................Make us feel oh so free!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Living on the Light
(c) By: Sharon Slaton Howell
It has been said that
Poets live on the light of nature.
Well, those who write poems
That speak of things sublime
Have to have that Light divine.
(At least I do)
Having a small part in
Enlightening a world so dark,
Is no lark,
For me, it takes ever greater
Staying close to God
To hear what to write,
Relying on His inspiration --
Not my own.
I thank God
I can't do it alone.
It has been said that
Poets live on the light of nature.
Well, those who write poems
That speak of things sublime
Have to have that Light divine.
(At least I do)
Having a small part in
Enlightening a world so dark,
Is no lark,
For me, it takes ever greater
Staying close to God
To hear what to write,
Relying on His inspiration --
Not my own.
I thank God
I can't do it alone.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Mighty One
(c) By: Sharon Slaton Howell
When I take stock of all that
God has brought me through,
I can't help feeling awestruck
At the saving things He can do.
Do with such love and grace,
Which helps me not to fret nor fear --
As Jesus commanded us not to do --
Trusting that every need will be met.
What are some of the things
That I've been delivered from?
Illness, fear, lack, certain injury,
Just to give an idea of some.
Whatever the problem we face,
It is often-proven, undeniable fact,
That our Fahther, the Mighty One
Can bring us through intact.
When I take stock of all that
God has brought me through,
I can't help feeling awestruck
At the saving things He can do.
Do with such love and grace,
Which helps me not to fret nor fear --
As Jesus commanded us not to do --
Trusting that every need will be met.
What are some of the things
That I've been delivered from?
Illness, fear, lack, certain injury,
Just to give an idea of some.
Whatever the problem we face,
It is often-proven, undeniable fact,
That our Fahther, the Mighty One
Can bring us through intact.
Foundation sure
(c) By: Sharon Slaton Howell
This warning will always stand:
If we do what Jesus says,
We build on rock.
If we don't,
We build on sand.
This warning will always stand:
If we do what Jesus says,
We build on rock.
If we don't,
We build on sand.
Pre-existently Free
Just sitting here this crisp, beautiful first day of December feeling so much gratitude to the woman who discovered and founded Christian Science. Especially coming to thought are the statements in her writings on the topic of man's pre-existence as God's perfect offspring. Mary Baker Eddy has some inspired thoughts on this, and I could tell people how many healings I've experienced as I prayed from the basis that we are, in divine reality, pre-existently free. The following lines I trust will be of help to someone out there in cyberspace.
To longing deep and universal --
"If I could just be free!" --
Is this fact divine and comforting
That all can come to see:
We are and ever have been in
God -- as His perfect child, eternally.
For we are not the slaves of
Influences prenatal or hereditary;
Not helpless before circumstances,
Never under carnal mind curse
For a year, a day, an hour.
These are truths Christ Jesus knew,
And they gave him wondrous power.
This knowledge Christian Science imparts --
Saving knowledge so glorious --
That we're not hemmed in by fleshly starts
But are right now the way He made us.
Fortunate world that there is revealed
Crucial things that all can claim and see,
(Things God has always known)
That now and through all eternity
We are His loved child, His very own --
Immensely blessed and whole and free.
To longing deep and universal --
"If I could just be free!" --
Is this fact divine and comforting
That all can come to see:
We are and ever have been in
God -- as His perfect child, eternally.
For we are not the slaves of
Influences prenatal or hereditary;
Not helpless before circumstances,
Never under carnal mind curse
For a year, a day, an hour.
These are truths Christ Jesus knew,
And they gave him wondrous power.
This knowledge Christian Science imparts --
Saving knowledge so glorious --
That we're not hemmed in by fleshly starts
But are right now the way He made us.
Fortunate world that there is revealed
Crucial things that all can claim and see,
(Things God has always known)
That now and through all eternity
We are His loved child, His very own --
Immensely blessed and whole and free.
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