August 29, 2007

Rivers of Life

There's been LOTS of rain in our area and now extremely high rivers and flooding. I've never seen the river just a couple of blocks away from our house so incredibly high - hitting the bottoms of bridges and wash over a bit at the worst point. So wanted to pick some readings that might give some comfort and a spiritual perspective on rivers and their use.

Click on the links to see the references, or copy and paste the citation list into the Citation Document pane in Concord to view the references there.

Happy swimming!

The Bible:
Ps 46:1-5
Ps 124:1,4,8
Ps 69:13-16 as
Isa 33:2,5,6,20,21 (to ;),22,24
Isa 43:1,2 (to :),3 (to :)
Isa 66:10,12 (to :),13,18
Ezek 40:2-4
Ezek 47:1,3-6,8,9,12
Jer 29:11-14 (to :)
II Kings 5:1-5,9-14
Ps 23:1-3 (to :),6
Rev 21:2-4 I John,5 (to 1st .)
Rev 22:1,2,17

Science and Health:
540:5
122:1-7
189:18
260:19-28
150:31
394:25
570:26
108:30-10
205:22
276:19-28
593:14-17
203:27
254:24-32
506:18
454:21
103:32
284:31-32
85:30
201:17-18
572:12
573:3
234:4
13:2

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 71
Hymn 80
Hymn 182

August 22, 2007

Mind knows and you're the knowing

I've been thinking about everyone going back to school and these readings are some ideas to add to the spiritual backpack. The title is an maxim my grandmother used to say to my mom and uncle as she sent them off to school.

You can copy and paste the citations into the citation pane in Concord if you have that program. Otherwise, follow the links to see each. I've put all the Bible citations in King James version, but have some fun and check out other translations for some of the references.

The Bible:
Gen 1:1,3,4 (to :),26 (to :),27,28 (to ,)
Ps 111:10
Ps 147:5
I Kings 3:5-28
Prov 2:1-11
Prov 3:5-8,19,35 (to :)
Dan 2:1-30 in,46-49
II Tim 1:7
Rom 11:33-36

Science and Health:
310:10
331:11 The
591:16
469:12-21
488:23-24
502:27-5
515:21-8 Man
591:5
475:5-10,13
476:9-10,21-22
470:16 (to 2nd .),21-30
336:9 Immortal
258:13-16
257:12-29
478:14-17,20-27
372:1 (only),3
524:19-24
218:25
191:30-5
468:9-11 There
89:18-20
235:11-13
128:4
275:20
215:12

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 73
Hymn 215
Hymn 65

August 11, 2007

Fully protected

Just wanted to share something that happened today that was kinda cool.

I had to take my husband to the airport this morning for a bit of a trip he is taking. On the drive back home, I was in the midst of a “close call” incident on the interstate. The car in front of me started applying its brakes. I touched mine, thinking, “Oh, what now,” as the person had done this a few times in the little while s/he was in front of me. Then instinctively I realized that this was a real, full stop and that I had to hit my brakes – hard! I did and stopped just short of the bumper of the car in front of me. The only real thought I had at the time was to look in the rearview mirror to insure that the car behind me was stopping – which it did in time. In fact, cars in the lanes on each side were stopping. I couldn’t figure out what was going on until the car in front of me started up – angling to the left. There in front of it was a white, metal, high-backed deck chair laying in the lane. I glanced around – though traffic was at a stand still for the moment, all was at peace – no bumps or fender-benders.

I drove on when I could, which was quickly, and just thought “Wow! Thank you, Father!” How wonderfully protected everyone in that area of that interstate was at that moment. I really was deeply grateful.

As I drove along, I started thinking more deeply about this incident. And I remembered that, especially on the way to the airport, I’d been praying with a couple of ideas that I’ve been thinking about lately – and thinking about them in relation to all the drivers on the highway this morning, the flight my husband was about to take – his whole trip really, and some other things going on in my life right now. Both of these ideas are from Science and Health:

544:16-17
“All is under the control of the one Mind, even God.”

412:23 (to ,)
“Mentally insist that harmony is the fact, …:”

To me, these relate really well. We can all insist on harmony as a fact in all aspects of our life because God, divine Mind, infinite Love, is in control. Nothing is outside of His reference and She makes sure all is orderly, perfect, compatible. I can’t imagine the One who is all wise would or could create things to be in disarray (though at times things sure feel like they are!). I really feel that these prayers supported the harmonious outcome of this “near miss.”

But was perhaps more interesting to me was that I was totally calm after this incident. Just at peace, ready to continue the drive. Other times I’ve been in “close calls,” and the one time I had an accident in my car, I was totally shaking afterwards – barely able to drive. But not this time – not a quake or jitter. When I got home, I took some time to read and study the Christian Science Bible Lesson for this week, with a subject of “Spirit.” In this Bible study guide, two verses from Psalm 16 are quoted, including verse 8:

“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be
moved.”

I remember looking this verse up in a few different translations once. In a few of them, the word “shaken” is used instead of “moved.” Ah! There it was. I’d been setting the Lord before me in my thought that morning drive, and those wonderful thoughts of Her total control didn’t leave me any room to feel shaken or upset by what happened, might have happened, almost happened. Her protecting hand was so evident for all those drivers. What’s to be upset about – all was well!

I’ve just been really grateful for this bit of an example of God’s protecting care in my day today. What examples and experiences have you had of Her loving care in your life lately? Would love to hear!

Much joy!