I am Christ's
And I have
The real life examples
To prove it --
(But that's another blog
For another time)
Monday, July 15, 2019
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Keeping Our Thoughts on God
If my life is any measure.
Problems arise when thinking
Is not enough on Him --
Man's greatest treasure.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on thee"
Isaiah 26:3 points out;
"Stayed" on Him --
Not on earthly cares and pleasure.
We keep our life going right
When we have our thoughts
Much more on and in Him.
Problems arise when thinking
Is not enough on Him --
Man's greatest treasure.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on thee"
Isaiah 26:3 points out;
"Stayed" on Him --
Not on earthly cares and pleasure.
We keep our life going right
When we have our thoughts
Much more on and in Him.
Saturday, July 6, 2019
Whose Glory?
When the tempter said he ought
To seek good things for himself,
Jesus put this evil out of thought.
For our Master was here,
(As are you and I)
To be about our Father's business;
To see that God on high
Gets all the glory.
To seek good things for himself,
Jesus put this evil out of thought.
For our Master was here,
(As are you and I)
To be about our Father's business;
To see that God on high
Gets all the glory.
Monday, July 1, 2019
Being Productive for Christ
Our Master, Christ Jesus, expects his followers to do this. As he said: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." (John 15:5) But this call for a productive, spiritually useful life is not limited to some ill-defined spiritual elite; it speaks to each of us.
But what if someone feels he hasn't any talents to use? While we may not always see it, everyone has ability; it just needs to be brought to light. The teachings of Christian Science can help with this. Mary Baker Eddy points out in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: "A knowledge of the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms." (p. 128)
Christian Science teaches man's unity with God, divine Mind. It shows that each one of us is actually a spiritual idea reflecting this Mind. All that man has, he has by reflection from God. Intelligence, originality, and ability--these do not come from some other place; ;and they aren't limited to a select few. Spiritual qualities are continuously being imparted by God to His beloved children. To all His children. Because we're God's very reflection, we're never apart from the divine source of all ideas. When we begin to understand this, we are more receptive to what He is imparting, and we can learn to make more timely and effective use of our abilities.
Our allotment of talents may seem meager to us. But we want to be sure to cultivate the ones we have. We can cherish the desire to bless others and find opportunities--whatever we do for a living--to give of ourselves in the service of Christ. As we prayerfully put our talent to use, God will see to it that our prayer bears fruit. As the Bible assures us, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. (II Cor. 9:8)
As Science and Health points out that unless an ability is used, we may not have it to use! "If faithful over a few things," we are told, "we shall be made rulers over many; but the one unused talent decays and is lost." (p. 323)
If we are thinking of working more actively for Christ, it can help to ponder what our Master said and did. When we examine closely Jesus' teachings and example, and then live his precepts as nearly as we can, our efforts to be more productive are increasingly fruitful. We read in John that Jesus said, "I am the vine; ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bright further much fruit: for with me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)
We can be sure that as we are "branches" abiding in Christ, God will provide ample oppofunity for us to employ are talents in bringing His kingdom to light (something the world certainly needs). And there is no reason why we shouldn't become more fruitful for Christ, His Son.
But what if someone feels he hasn't any talents to use? While we may not always see it, everyone has ability; it just needs to be brought to light. The teachings of Christian Science can help with this. Mary Baker Eddy points out in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: "A knowledge of the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms." (p. 128)
Christian Science teaches man's unity with God, divine Mind. It shows that each one of us is actually a spiritual idea reflecting this Mind. All that man has, he has by reflection from God. Intelligence, originality, and ability--these do not come from some other place; ;and they aren't limited to a select few. Spiritual qualities are continuously being imparted by God to His beloved children. To all His children. Because we're God's very reflection, we're never apart from the divine source of all ideas. When we begin to understand this, we are more receptive to what He is imparting, and we can learn to make more timely and effective use of our abilities.
Our allotment of talents may seem meager to us. But we want to be sure to cultivate the ones we have. We can cherish the desire to bless others and find opportunities--whatever we do for a living--to give of ourselves in the service of Christ. As we prayerfully put our talent to use, God will see to it that our prayer bears fruit. As the Bible assures us, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. (II Cor. 9:8)
As Science and Health points out that unless an ability is used, we may not have it to use! "If faithful over a few things," we are told, "we shall be made rulers over many; but the one unused talent decays and is lost." (p. 323)
If we are thinking of working more actively for Christ, it can help to ponder what our Master said and did. When we examine closely Jesus' teachings and example, and then live his precepts as nearly as we can, our efforts to be more productive are increasingly fruitful. We read in John that Jesus said, "I am the vine; ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bright further much fruit: for with me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)
We can be sure that as we are "branches" abiding in Christ, God will provide ample oppofunity for us to employ are talents in bringing His kingdom to light (something the world certainly needs). And there is no reason why we shouldn't become more fruitful for Christ, His Son.
Thursday, June 13, 2019
How Christian Science Heals
The following excerpt from a testimony of healing that appears in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy may be helpful to someone reading my blog who is unacquainted with Christ-healing.
The writer from Portland, Oregon is telling about a healing he experienced of a sprained ankle, and he relates:
"The accident occurred in the morning, and all that day and during the night I gave myself Christian Science treatment, as best I could. The next morning it seemed to be no better, being very sore, badly swollen, and much discolored. Feeling that I had done all I could, I decided to stop thinking about it. I took my copy of Science and Health and began reading. Very soon I became so absorbed in the book that I forgot all about my ankle; it went entirely out of my thought, for I had a glimpse of God's creation as spiritual, and for the time being lost sight of my material selfhood. After two hours I laid the book down and walked into another room. When next I thought of my ankle, I found it was not hurting me. The swelling had gone down, the black and blue appearance had nearly vanished, and it was perfectly well. It was healed while I was 'absent from the body' and 'present with the Lord.' This experience was worth a great deal to me, for it showed me how the healing is done."
Anyone today can find out, from reading and pondering the divine truths in "Science and Health", how they too can be absent from the body and present with the Lord in health restored.
The writer from Portland, Oregon is telling about a healing he experienced of a sprained ankle, and he relates:
"The accident occurred in the morning, and all that day and during the night I gave myself Christian Science treatment, as best I could. The next morning it seemed to be no better, being very sore, badly swollen, and much discolored. Feeling that I had done all I could, I decided to stop thinking about it. I took my copy of Science and Health and began reading. Very soon I became so absorbed in the book that I forgot all about my ankle; it went entirely out of my thought, for I had a glimpse of God's creation as spiritual, and for the time being lost sight of my material selfhood. After two hours I laid the book down and walked into another room. When next I thought of my ankle, I found it was not hurting me. The swelling had gone down, the black and blue appearance had nearly vanished, and it was perfectly well. It was healed while I was 'absent from the body' and 'present with the Lord.' This experience was worth a great deal to me, for it showed me how the healing is done."
Anyone today can find out, from reading and pondering the divine truths in "Science and Health", how they too can be absent from the body and present with the Lord in health restored.
Sunday, June 2, 2019
No Fall from God's Care
People use the word "fall" in many ways. But the way I'm thinking of is actually falling physically--and finding the divine help we need to overcome bodily injury.
A passage from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy has helped many students of Christian Science over the years. "When an accident happens, you think or exclaim, "I am hurt!" Your thought is more powerful than our words, more powerful than the accident itself to make the injury real." In the next paragraph she continues, "Now reverse the process. Declare that you are not hurt and understand the reason why, and you will find the ensuring good effects to be in exact proportion to your disbelief in physics, and your fidelity to divine metaphysics, confidence in God as All, which the Scriptures declare Him to be."
Because of the Bible's assurances that God, divine Love, is an ever-present, unfailing help in trouble, we can turn in complete confidence to Him. No matter what situation we may find ourselves in, God's help is always at hand, even--more accurately, especially --when the need is urgent.
Christ Jesus taught us the inseparability of man from God. We're able to see the effects of this truth as we live in harmony with the divine will. As Jesus said, "He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."
Knowing that man is God's child, wholly spiritual and safe in the care of his creator, regardless of appearances, the Master was able to heal. And Jesus' works bring to light the fact that man can't fall from his original spiritual state of perfection and freedom as the offspring of God. Through understanding that our real being is spiritual, and making a sincere effort to be obedient to God in our lives, each one of us can know the comforting assurance of divine Love's care, whatever the challenge may be.
Man's true selfhood, as the outcome of Spirit, God, is spiritual, not material. Thus that man--our real identity--is not at the mercy of accident, injury, or disease. The divine fact is that you and I are God's child, and we can never, for an instant, be deprived of our Father-Mother God's loving care. We're never really out of our God-provided place of spiritual security. We can't be apart from our divine source, God. As God's man, we are and always have been preserved by His unerring laws of order, safety, and exemption from harm. Such divine facts give us the authority and confidence we need to heal injury and pain.
We have Christ Jesus to thank for revealing and proving fully the Father's constant love for His children. And when we're empowered with the spiritual truths Jesus knew about God and man, we can prove for ourselves, in healing, that there can be no fall from God's omnipotent care.
A passage from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy has helped many students of Christian Science over the years. "When an accident happens, you think or exclaim, "I am hurt!" Your thought is more powerful than our words, more powerful than the accident itself to make the injury real." In the next paragraph she continues, "Now reverse the process. Declare that you are not hurt and understand the reason why, and you will find the ensuring good effects to be in exact proportion to your disbelief in physics, and your fidelity to divine metaphysics, confidence in God as All, which the Scriptures declare Him to be."
Because of the Bible's assurances that God, divine Love, is an ever-present, unfailing help in trouble, we can turn in complete confidence to Him. No matter what situation we may find ourselves in, God's help is always at hand, even--more accurately, especially --when the need is urgent.
Christ Jesus taught us the inseparability of man from God. We're able to see the effects of this truth as we live in harmony with the divine will. As Jesus said, "He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."
Knowing that man is God's child, wholly spiritual and safe in the care of his creator, regardless of appearances, the Master was able to heal. And Jesus' works bring to light the fact that man can't fall from his original spiritual state of perfection and freedom as the offspring of God. Through understanding that our real being is spiritual, and making a sincere effort to be obedient to God in our lives, each one of us can know the comforting assurance of divine Love's care, whatever the challenge may be.
Man's true selfhood, as the outcome of Spirit, God, is spiritual, not material. Thus that man--our real identity--is not at the mercy of accident, injury, or disease. The divine fact is that you and I are God's child, and we can never, for an instant, be deprived of our Father-Mother God's loving care. We're never really out of our God-provided place of spiritual security. We can't be apart from our divine source, God. As God's man, we are and always have been preserved by His unerring laws of order, safety, and exemption from harm. Such divine facts give us the authority and confidence we need to heal injury and pain.
We have Christ Jesus to thank for revealing and proving fully the Father's constant love for His children. And when we're empowered with the spiritual truths Jesus knew about God and man, we can prove for ourselves, in healing, that there can be no fall from God's omnipotent care.
Saturday, June 1, 2019
A new life for you
You've been by worldly aims
Led wrongfully astray, --
Going the wrong way,
Following that road
That leads to utter ruin.
And now you regret
The life you've led.
But take heart:
It's not too late for you.
You can begin again,
Wipe the slate clean.
Say to God right now
And earnestly mean,
From this time forth
I intend to live my life
To honor Your Holy Son.
And look what waits for you:
"If any man be in Christ,
He is a new creature.
(2nd Cor. 5:17)
"Any" man, the Bible says.
And that my friend --
Now right with God --
Covers you.
Led wrongfully astray, --
Going the wrong way,
Following that road
That leads to utter ruin.
And now you regret
The life you've led.
But take heart:
It's not too late for you.
You can begin again,
Wipe the slate clean.
Say to God right now
And earnestly mean,
From this time forth
I intend to live my life
To honor Your Holy Son.
And look what waits for you:
"If any man be in Christ,
He is a new creature.
(2nd Cor. 5:17)
"Any" man, the Bible says.
And that my friend --
Now right with God --
Covers you.
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