Our Master's Words

 


        What Christ Jesus said, taught, and lived are so many things to me.  More than I have the time to say.  But what I would liken them to this morning here in Tennessee, USA is a cup of cold water when running along on an HHH day (hazy, hot and humid.)

        How refreshing, how revivifying these blessed words are. They never fail to pick me up, get me going, keep me in the race, so to speak.

        The woman who founded my religion recommends in her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: "Millions of unprejudiced minds -- simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert -- are waiting and watching for rest and drink.  Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name and never fear the consequences."  (page 570)

        And when we do this, God has infinite channels through which those in need of Jesus' words are reached. On this we can rely.

Letting Mind Lead

        How much smoother the day when I let Mind pave the way--Mind, God--who is always present to show me        

                                      what to think,
                                      where to go,
                                      what to do

                                      (or what not to think,
                                       where not to go,
                                       what not to do,
                                       as the case may require).

        The Bible states:  "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walks to direct his steps."  (Jeremiah 10:23)

        The teachings of Christian Science back this up.  I, like so many before me have found, and so many now are finding, that what it brings out about God and man is invaluable in the daily life.  The truths it makes available are priceless.  And this is one: that you and I are children of God, that we have His Mind, and none other.

O Book Most Holy

 

        And the book I'm referring to is the Bible.  Just recently I came across something my readers will find interesting: The British Library,what they term the most important book published in the English language, (just think of this!) paid a little over one million pounds for it. And the book? William Tyndale's translation of the Bible. Any lover of the Holy Scriptures who reads this book in the English language is not surprised at its worth. In a real sense, it is beyond price. Where would you and I be without it?

        That God's Word was made available to English-speaking and reading people everywhere was a stupendous achievement. And to the God-inspired and God-upheld man who actually did this, I offer up endless thanks.

       

Children of the CEO

        (You'll see in half a second why I have "the" in the title of this post.)

        I just got off the phone with a dear friend and happened to share with him something that occurred to me recently. What if we were the children of a powerful CEO whose company ran the world?  Would we want for anything, materially speaking?  Of course, the man in charge of such a vast enterprise would have to be loving.  Not all human CEOs are of course. Probably many don't care for their offspring that much. But the CEO I'm thinking about is our heavenly Father, who does love us and want us to have more than we can imagine.

        Jesus says, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."  The kingdom! What more could we want than this?

        Several years ago someone said to me, "Don't ever forget. You are the daughter of the King." And you and I are daughters,and sons, of not only a CEO, but a King--God Almighty, who gives us everything that makes life worth living.

If Only

        If only I  had been stronger in my Christian beliefs back then, my life would have had far fewer challenges.  Perhaps for many of us this is true.

        I recall one incident in my college days when Jesus' teachings were just beginning to speak to me.  A misunderstanding erupted with a relative and I wanted to apologize to her, say I was wrong, make peace with her.  But another aunt said, "Oh, don't do that! She'll think you're weak." So I let the moment pass and didn't discover until years later the peace, the joy, that comes to us when we practice the humility and love Christ enjoins upon us.

        Anyone who thinks Jesus' words are for weakings doesn't know what he's talking about, is all I can say. Obeying them calls for nothing short of the most manly manliness one can imagine who hasn't yet tried it.

        Am I suggesting that once we get down to serious business about following in Jesus' steps our life will suddenly be challenge free?  In no way. There will be sharp struggles. But our day-to-day becomes much more alive -- happier, healthier, freer.  Just the way our wonderful Father wants it to be. He didn't send us this unspeakable gift for nothing.

       Life becomes for us a real adventure. And in the situations that once would have defeated us we now find ourselves having the mastery.

       Does this not make doing things Jesus' way worth it?






     

Handling Malign Influences

                                                       John Robert Howell



        Error sometimes makes it felonious overtures and suggestions with blatant obviousness.  The sinister insinuation of evil into consciousness, however, can be devilishly difficult to detect, especially if such suggestions are administered discretely in carefully measured doses by a skilled and depraved mental malpractitioner--and they do exist.  There are now and have always been institutions and individuals who hate Christian Science and Christian Scientists and work to destroy both, quietly and unobstrusively over the humdrum landscape of years and decades if necessary.  To induce in the unaware and unwary even modest mental perturbation or a growing spiritual coolness will almost certainly accomplish more than a bold rush at the mental gates. This would, or should, produce a quick and one hopes, effective defense and repulsion.

        It is wise to remember that the serpent is subtle, subliminal. The hugger-mugger corruption of a human mind over years can be far more effectual. We should not ever doubt or dismiss foolishly the possible influence of invisible and silent mental animal magnetism or aggressive mental suggestion.

        When such a miasma settles over a Christian Scientist, often the good that should be done isn't, but the wrong that should not be done is--or the Scientist simply goes "a fishing".  He should rather take comfort in an assurance that he is never a helpless victim of animal magnetism error, or any mortal belief. While there is no simple step we can take to get on a "do not call" list for the devil's incessant callings, Christ Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy have taught us everything we need to know to uncover and tread each temptation, whether bold or subtle, down.  To be victorious over malign influences.

        God be thanked, there are many wide-awake, working students of Christian Science doing this every day.  They are proving that evil under whatever flag it is flown has no power because God, divine Mind, has it all. They are experiencing what Jesus assured all his followers, that they have been given all power over all power of the enemy.

Two Oceans

        Recently I was talking with a friend who happened to serve our country in WWII, in the Pacific theater of war.  This boy was still in the Christian Science Sunday School when he enlisted in the Marines.  He was with the Marines when they landed on Iwo Jima in 1945 and has told us a lot about his experiences.  Even then, he was devoted to the teachings of Christian Science and owes his religion much in saving his life.

        As they were going ashore, his DUKW which is what they called the vehicles they were being transported in, turned over in the high waves, almost crushing him. He very nearly drowned. And as he was in that water, something from Mary Baker Eddy's book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures came to thought:  It's from The Scientific Statement of Being, and this is what our friend recalled:  "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter.  All is infinite Mind, and its infinite manifestation."  Needless to say, he was divinely protected that day.

        And what brought oceans to my thought was something I remembered from reading about Mrs. Eddy's early years when she was writing her book.  She would take a break from work, and walk down to the rocky shore of the Atlantic Ocean in Lynn, Masssachusetts, and sit on Red Rock for awhile. Whatever she was thinking about, how could this woman have known that years later a young Marine there across the vast Pacific Ocean would recall some of her words and find help.