Working it out...

A story of forgiveness

2009-01-28T12:54:00.001-08:00

A friend sent me a link to this article - truly a thouching story of forgiveness:

http://www.truthout.org/012509F

Much love.

Service movie

2009-01-24T13:03:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this video about Johnny the grocery store bagger? Very touching! Truly an example of how love transforms.

http://www.stservicemovie.com/

Wilderness Experiences

2009-01-14T22:16:00.000-08:00

Sect. I
The Bible:
Num 13:1,2 (to :),21,25,32
Num 14:1,2,6-11,27,28,30,31,33,39
Ps 78:1,4-7,12,17,22
Ps 119:1,10

Sect. I
Science and Health:
597:16 (to 2nd .)
133:9-10,13-15
135:17
262:29-31
551:24-27 Darkness
495:16

Sect. II
The Bible:
Prov 3:1,2,4-6
Deut 29:2 (to ,),5,9
Deut 31:15,16
Josh 1:1,2,9
Josh 3:1,6,10,11,14-17
Josh 24:1,2 (to 2nd ,),11 ye,13,14 (to :),24

Sect. II
Science and Health:
322:26-31
323:6,32-4
566:1-9
158:24-25
597:16 (to .); 597:16 Spontaneity

Sect III
Bible:
Luke 4:1 Jesus,2 (to ,),4,8 Get,14
Mark 1:32,34 (to ;),35,40-42
John 12:44,46,47,49,50
John 14:6 I

Sect. III
Science and Health:
268:1-11
355:32-11
328:4,20-28
458:25 The
151:26
271:21-22

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 169
Hymn 281
Hymn 304

Rending the veil

2009-01-07T21:20:00.000-08:00

The concept and use of the veil in the Bible has interested me for a while, so thought it was time to explore it at bit in some readings. Hope you enjoy!

The Bible:
Ex 24:1,2,15,17,18
Ex 25:1
Ex 26:30,31,33,34
Ex 34:29-33
Lev 16:2-4,17
Isa 25:1,7 he,9
Matt 4:17 Jesus,24,25
Matt 23:1-8,13,23,24,27,28
Luke 23:1,23,24,33,34 (to .),44-47
Heb 9:1-3 verily,6-9,11-14
Heb 10:12,15,16,19-24
Eph 2:13,18
Eph 3:12
II Cor 3:12-18
II Cor 4:6

Science and Health:
513:6-10
596:28
597:3-4,10
42:1
30:14-25
40:31
98:15
133:29
428:8-21
315:3-6,11-16,29-2
316:12-17
85:23-27
20:6,16-20,24-27
48:27
141:10-26
131:18
323:32
234:21
226:18
481:2

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 66
Hymn 227
Hymn 256

Isaac and Ishmael

2008-12-31T17:32:00.000-08:00

With greater violence errupting in the Middle East, it is time to consider the true roots of brotherhood. Peace.

The Bible:
Mal 2:10
Gen 16:1,2,4 (to :),15,16
Gen 17:1,3-5,7,8,15,16,18-22
Gen 21:1-3,8-20
Gen 25:5-9,11,17,18 and
Ps 133:1
Heb 6:13-16
Gal 3:7-9,28,29
Acts 17:24-28
I Cor 8:6 to (to ;)

Science and Health:
516:9-13
276:17
337:7
60:24-31
264:24
96:12-23
226:14
256:1
202:3
58:2-11
12:10
576:31-4
31:4-8
586:9
16:26-29
332:4 Father
516:21
361:16
469:30-5
467:9-13

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 266
Hymn 126
Hymn 157

Christmas Joy

2008-12-24T15:28:00.000-08:00

You hear so much about those who are sad, depressed or lonely at holiday time. These citations are an offering to counter those feelings and hopefully lift our thought to the joy of the Christ present with us now and always.

Happy Christmas!

The Bible:
Isa 60:1
Isa 7:14 Behold
Isa 29:18,19
Luke 1:26-35,37,38,46-50
Luke 2:1,4-17,20,25-32,40,52
Luke 8:1 he
Luke 15:1-7
John 10:10 I
Matt 28:20 lo (to .)
Matt 5:12 (to :)
I John 1:1,3,4
Phil 4:4,7

Science and Health:
vii:1-10
333:16-23 The
332:9-15 Jesus,23
333:9-13
18:3-9
270:31
316:21
15:25-26
285:32
261:2
481:3-4
337:7
265:23-28
266:6-17
60:29
57:18,23,32
140:8-12
565:13-18
21:9

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 222
Hymn 23
Hymn 417

Redeeming Babel

2008-12-17T15:25:00.000-08:00

I heard someone mention recently that she thought of the Day of Pentecost and the apostles speaking in toungues in Acts as a healing of the tower of Babel. I thought this was a really interesting thought, so exploring that somewhat with these citations.

The Bible:
Gen 11:1-9 the
I Cor 1:3-6,10
I Cor 14:33
Acts 4:33 with
Acts 2:1-8,12-18,22,32,33,36-42,46,47 (to .)
Phil 2:1-3,5
Rom 15:2,5,6

Science and Health:
510:28
205:22-14
114:10-13,17
399:23
186:31-5
191:4
82:31
581:17-22
389:22
213:9-19,30
117:6-19,24
72:30
284:31
209:31
349:13-30
354:20
89:18
467:9
249:1

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 49
Hymn 177
Hymn 236

Making the Light of Truth known

2008-12-03T15:23:00.000-08:00

The Bible:
Ps 105:1,2
Ps 145:10-12
Ps 67:1-3
Isa 60:1-3
Acts 3:1-19
Acts 4:1-6,16-21,23,32 (to :),33
Matt 5:14-16
Matt 10:26 for, 27
II Cor 4:1-6

Science and Health:
255:1-6
510:27-1
504:23
325:30
304:3-5
62:27-30
191:8-17
299:26
558:10-16
480:29-4
347:17
367:24
293:28
109:4
108:19
560:24
343:10
338:1
367:17

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 2
Hymn 172
Hymn 14

Ever waiting, never doubting

2008-11-26T22:36:00.000-08:00

The Bible:
Ps 37:3-8 (to :),9 those
Ps 40:1,3
Gen 12:1,2,4,5,7
Gen 15:3-6
Gen 17:1,3-5,8,15-17,19
Gen 21:1-3,33,34
Mark 1:14 Jesus,15
Mark 11:22-24
Rom 5:1-5
Rom 8:24 we,25
James 1:3-6 the
James 5:7,8
Heb 6:10-15
Heb 12:1,2 (to ;)
Heb 10:36

Science and Health:
253:32-8
254:10
3:12
579:10-14
22:11-27
39:22
495:14
455:3-6
242:15 In
454:17
323:9
426:5-9
4:3-5,22
13:20-24
9:32
1:1-4,6,11

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 263
Hymn 350
Hymn 209

Food: not our God

2008-11-19T22:41:00.000-08:00

As much as I act like it most of the time... :)

The Bible:
Deut 5:6-9 (to :)
Matt 4:1-11 Jesus,17,23
Matt 5:2
Matt 6:8 your, 9-11,22,24-26,31-33
I Cor 8:1-8 Knowledge
I Cor 10:22,23,25-27,31
I John 5:20,21

Science and Health:
340:15-16,20
169:29-31
170:3
174:4
62:13-16,20
220:22-30
221:1-4,10-22,29-10
222:14-17,26-28,31
170:7-17
232:19
197:21-22
175:16
176:11
388:12-30
389:13-27
253:32-2
254:6-8,16

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 12
Hymn 201
Hymn 161

Going forward

2008-11-05T22:07:00.000-08:00

Many changes are afoot after this election in the US! Let's go forward fearlessly and with divine Love.

Much good!

The Bible:
Ps 23:1-6
Ex 13:17 it,18,21
Ex 14:5-31
Ps 139:1-3,7-11
I John 4:16-19 we

Science and Health:
291:12-13
256:1-5
240:18
68:2
323:6,28-4
596:21-27
454:18-19
426:5-11
239:16
224:8
15:18-20
233:1
326:16
566:1
496:9
410:14

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 81
Hymn 351
Hymn 288

Putting on our spiritual armour

2008-10-15T22:22:00.000-07:00

The Bible:
Rom 13:12
John 1:1,2,4,5,9,11,12,14
John 7:14-18
John 8:12-16,20,25-28,31,32,36-40,42,43,45,47,59
John 18:1,3-8,10-13,28-30,33,36-38 (to ?)
John 19:10,11,16,41,42
John 20:1,14 she,16-20
John 21:25
Eph 6:10-13,17,18,24

Science and Health:
316:12-5
19:12
52:9-28
48:17-18,21-6
37:6-8
28:22-10
542:18-21
288:3
387:27
538:3-4,7
595:3 (to 2nd .)
130:15-19,26-11
225:5
458:20
145:16-20,25
216:9 On
324:7
571:15-19
21:1-4

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 5
Hymn 312
Hymn 264

Love fulfills the law

2008-10-08T21:19:00.000-07:00

The Bible:
Ps 119:89,97,104-106,112,165 (to :)
Ex 20:1-11
Deut 6:1,2,4-6
Luke 2:42-52
Ex 20:12-17
Rom 13:8-10
Mark 1:14 Jesus,15,39-44
Luke 10:25-37
I John 3:11 this,18,19
I John 4:7,8,12,13,16,21 this
James 2:8

Science and Health:
330:19
167:17
9:17-21 (to .)
4:17-22
140:7-13
473:18-3
26:21-32
19:6
138:27-31
55:16-22
572:12-17
490:12
275:6
496:15
454:17-22
340:4-29

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 178
Hymn 179
Hymn 32

A Rock - one that's better than the Prudential one :)

2008-10-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

Looking for some stable resources in these interesting financial times?? Turn to God as your Rock, your Resource, your Stability, your salvation.

Much good!

The Bible:
Deut 32:1,3,4
Num 20:1-11
Ps 62:1,2,8-12
Deut 8:6 thou,7,9 (to :),10-14,15-18 who brought
Isa 14:32
Isa 26:1-4
Isa 33:2,5,6
Matt 4:23 Jesus
Matt 5:1,2
Matt 6:19-21,26,28-31,33
Matt 7:24 whosoever,25
II Cor 1:3,4,21,22
I Pet 5:6-8 (to ;),10 the,11

Science and Health:
12:31
444:10
593:18 (only)
599:6-7
133:9-10,13-15
273:29-3
60:29
232:4
15:25
296:22-5
297:12
287:22
355:32-3
146:7
201:7
3:4
103:25
326:8-14
269:21
487:19-23
495:16
vii:13
vii:1-2

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 85
Hymn 293
Hymn 123

Too much on your plate? Turn to God!

2008-09-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

Feeling a bit overloaded, too much to do, not sure what to do next or how you will get it all done? Think how Moses must have felt leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, through the wilderness to the promised land - hundreds of thousands of people, always complaining, aksing for more! Rhese readings take a look at some of what he faced and how God helped him through. I hope these ideas help you feel less burdened by the tasks at hand.

Much joy!

The Bible:
Ps 61:1,2
Ps 142:1-3 (to .)
Ex 3:1-4,7,10-14 (to :)
Ex 4:10-14 (to .),15,20
Ex 13:17,18
Num 11:10-18 Moses heard, 21,23-25,30-32 (to 2nd :)
Isa 45:18 thus,22,23
Isa 40:25-29
Matt 11:28-30
Matt 6:22
Jer 32:17,19,27

Science and Health:
587:5
13:20-24
279:22
89:18
128:4
260:13-20
248:12-29
261:4,27
264:7
322:3
288:27
392:7
393:12-18
180:25
215:12
428:19
410:14
426:5-9
449:8 (to 2nd .)
203:13
12:31
454:18-21,22

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 134
Hymn 291
Hymn 253

God's government - the only one in control

2008-09-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

with all the tumult that is going on - in the weather with hurricanes and storms and in the economy with the collapse of financial giants - seemed like a good idea to affirm that God is really the only governing force and power, supreme over all.

"The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Num 6:24-26)

The Bible:
Ps 93:1,2,4,5
Ps 22:28 the kingdom
Ps 46:10 (to :)
I Chron 16:8,10,11,14,31
I Sam 30:1 it,2,6-8,10 David (to :),17-19
II Sam 2:1,2 (to ,),4 (to 1st .),5-7
II Sam 5:1-3,10,17,19,20 (to .),22-25
I Chron 29:10-13,26-28 (to :)
Ps 9:7 the,8,10
Ps 66:7 (to ;)
Isa 11:1 there,2
Isa 9:7
Mark 1:14 Jesus,15 (to :)
Mark 4:35-40 when
Rev 19:5 a,6

Science and Health:
295:5-8
427:23
171:12
206:28-30
544:16-17
588:11
465:17-1 Principle
203:3
128:4-6
130:9
228:25-27
184:16-18
378:8-10
225:11
371:30
91:5
9:17
327:17
423:24
73:10
106:9
151:20-21
393:16-18
122:1-7
536:8
590:1
476:28-32
208:20
16:30-3 (to .)

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 10:1-3
Hymn 82:1-3
Hymn 272:1-4

Peace from unity

2008-09-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

Here's a little exploration of the 7th Beatitude.

The Bible:
II Tim 1:7 God
Ps 46:10 (to :)
Ps 133:1
Rom 8:14-17 as
Isa 9:2,6
Matt 4:23-25
Matt 5:2,9
John 14:27
Luke 8:1,26-35 (to :)
Rom 7:18-25
Eph 2:4-6,10,14-18
Eph 4:1-4,6,7,17,18,20-25
I John 4:7,18
II Cor 13:11

Science and Health:
19:2-3
329:26-2 If
144:14-16,19
202:3
571:19
469:30-5
365:31
57:24
96:12-20 np
167:20 The flesh
12:10
18:3-9
264:24-31
265:10,23
214:32
324:7-12
506:10-12

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 157:1-3
Hymn 118:1-3
Hymn 32:1-5

Mercy for the merciful

2008-08-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

through unselfishness we find justice...

The Bible:
Ps 103:2-4,6,8,11 as,13
Ps 145:8,9
PS 18:25
II Sam 9:1 David,2 (to .),3 And Ziba,5-7,13
II Sam 11:2-4 (to ;)
II Sam 12:1 (to .),13 (to ;)
Ii Cor 1:3
John 3:16,17
Matt 4:17 Jesus
Matt 5:1 (to :),2,7
Matt 7:1,2,12
John 15:9-12
Luke 6:32,33,35,36
Matt 20:29-34 as they
James 2:8,13
Col 3:12-14
Jude 1:2

Science and Health:
18:3-9
51:19-24,28 (only)
138:27-2
496:5
572:12-17
205:22-29,32
57:23-24
365:7
9:5
201:9
465:14
405:5
248:29
391:17-18,26
542:10
64:1-2
22:23-4
538:3-4
344:11
497:24 And
578:16

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 283
Hymn 79
Hymn 278

Forgiveness

2008-07-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

Can lead to healing...

The Bible:
Ps 130:2-5
Gen 37:3,4,12,13 (to .),23,24,28
Gen 41:46,54 seven,57
Gen 42:1-3,8
Gen 44:1-4,6,11-14
Gen 45:1,4,5,9
Gen 46:5
Gen 47:28,29 (to :)
Gen 50:14-17,19-22
Prov 17:9
Matt 4:17 Jesus,23
Matt 5:1,2,22-24 I say,48
Matt 6:9 when, 10,12,14,15
Luke 17:3,4
Luke 6:28,29,31,35-37
Matt 22:35-40
James 5:15,16
Col 3:12-15

Science and Health:
467:1-16
560:13-19
289:9
454:9
43:32
374:5-6
571:18
242:15
419:2
407:6-20
327:8-13
405:5
445:19
68:6
8:28-30
9:11-24
264:24
57:23
17:6-7 (to ;)

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 179:1-3
Hymn 163:1-3
Hymn 31:1-5

In meekness and might

2008-06-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Bible:
Ps 37:3-8,11 the meek
Prov 16:32
John 2:13-17
John 8:3-12 the scribes,21-23,28,29,50
John 5:30
John 10:30
Matt 27:1,2,12-14,27-31,46,50,57-60
Matt 28:1,2,5,6 (to .),8,18-20
II Tim 2:24 the servant,25
Titus 1:7-9 a
Titus 3:1-9
James 3:13-18
Eph 4:1-7

Science and Health:
26:10
316:20
49:14-25 np
315:3
270:22-24
39:1,18
54:8
343:21
322:3-7
6:29-6
234:26-27
379:6
4:3-16
30:26-28,30
272:3-5

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 352
Hymn 423
Hymn 88

Christian Healing

2008-06-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

The Bible:
Mark 1:14 Jesus,15,21-33
Mark 5:22-43
John 5:17 Jesus,19-21
John 14:10-14
Luke 9:1,2,6,10 (to 1st .)
Luke 10:1,2,16 (to ;),17,21,22
Acts 5:12 (to ;)
Acts 3:1-8
Phil 2:5

Science and Health:
316:7-12
79:17
51:19-24
52:23
147:24
162:4-13
347:14-25
146:23-13
192:32-14 (to 2nd ")
193:17
194:2-9
109:4
135:20
112:32-3
145:31
423:8
390:4-6 np

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 175
Hymn 96
Hymn 392

A virtuous woman

2008-06-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

Just thinking of a friend who passed on this week....

The Bible:
Prov 31:10-31
II Kings 4:8-37 it fell
John 13:31 Jesus,34,35
John 14:15
II Pet 1:2-8,10,11

Science and Health:
516:9-13,19
265:1-15
525:7-16,20-24
517:10
68:4
57:15-18
102:31-2
327:23-24
260:7-18
25:13
x:25-27,30
37:22
192:23-24
4:3-16

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 51
Hymn 41
Hymn 304

Gratitude list

2008-06-10T08:38:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was feeling the need to review the healings and help I and my family have received from Christian Science treatment and wanted to share some of what I am remembering. It is good, as you probably know, to express gratitude to God for all His gifts. Certainly the correction of a physical problem is a gift. Only right to sing His praise for these blessings!

* When a toddler, a few warts apeared on my chin. These were gone by the next morning through the prayer-based treatment given by a Christian Science practitioner.
* Hayfever that I'd experienced annually since I was six years old has been eliminated.
* At 18, I had a fall onto a blacktop road from a horse. A practitioner was called for prayer-treatment. The only effect that was seen was a black eye and scab around it, which was all gone in a week.
* Colds and flu were such a regular occurance in my life that my husband said he could predict them. Many times, these were met through prayer-based treatment and ended very quickly. Now, it is extremely rare, if ever, that these health challenges occur in my life.
* My husband (who is not a student of Christian Science) hurt his knee badly a few years ago so that it was difficult to even walk. He decided to ask a practitioner for treatment. He was walking comfortably in a couple of weeks. The problem resurfaced a year later but was quickly stopped again in a day. He has not had problems with his knees since then.
* Since high school, the first day of my menstrual cycle would wipe me out physically - pain, fainting, extreme temperature changes. Through regular, deeper study of God's laws and applying them to this problem, as well as general spiritual growth, no more mentrual pain!
* Plantar warts on the sole of one foot removed through self-treatment.

Okay, that's what I am remembering right now. And that's just some of the physical help. Add to this the help for other challenges and just everday situations: relationship issues, grief, difficult driving conditions, financial needs, getting through school and tests, self-image, etc., etc.

And almost more so, is the preventitive nature of Christian Science. I think sometimes that this is not emphasized enough. But I really feel so grateful for the prevention of disease and other problems that leaning on God brings to my life. Those colds mentioned above are a good reminder to me. What used to be chronic is incredibly rare if at all any more.

I am very grateful to God for the example he gave the world in his Son, Christ Jesus, for His Word as expressed in the Bible, for the gift of Christian Science and for the opportunity to share His good news with others. Sometimes the road is challenging, but I remember that He is always there loving us in just the way we need. Christian Science has met this need for me over and over. And I know it does for many, many individuals around the world at whatever stage or religion or whatever they are presently.

Turning sorrow for sin into sinless joy

2008-05-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, doing more on the Second Beatitude today. Until I was doing some research on this Beatitude for last week's readings, I'd never thought very deeply on this one. Though I really believe all the spiritual ideas in the Bible are infinite, so many meanings, ideas, insights can be drawn from a verse, psalm, story, parable, etc., I never really went beyond a basic sense of "mourning for the loss of those who have died" when it came to this verse. So it was cool to learn of some other perspectives - especially the idea (that some of the commentators that I read preferred) that Jesus was really referring to mourning or sorrowing over sin. So that's what these readings reflect - the beneficial effects of sorrow over sin, that turns us to divine Love to cleanse our sense of self from sin to find that sinless joy that is naturally ours as God's image and likeness, as Her loved children.

Much joy!

The Bible:
Eccl 7:3-5
Prov 14:10,13
Ps 34:17-19,22
Ps 51:1-3,7-12,17
Mark 1:14 Jesus,15
Mark 2:15-17
Luke 6:12,13 (to :),17-20 (to 2nd ,),21 Blessed are ye that weep,25 Woe unto you that laugh
Luke 18:9-14
Luke 7:36-50
James 4:7-10
Rom 5:1-5,11
Rev 7:9,10,13-17
Heb 12:1,2,5-7 ye,9,12,14
Phil 3:13-15

Science and Health:
66:9
265:23-2
5:3-11
14:16-22,25-28
125:12-16
324:2-5
362:1-12
363:1-9 (to .),25-19
364:25
405:22
8:28-30
9:17-24
19:17-24
242:1
76:22-29
20:27-14

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 40

Hymn 19
Hymn 300

The Second Beatitude

2008-05-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

Continuing along in a look at the Beatitudes - time for #2! There is such mourning over loss lately - with the cyclones in Myanmar, earthquakes in China, and other more personal losses. I hope that the ideas in this selectiton from the Bible and Science and Health help to lift thought to find joy and peace that comes from the love of God and the understanding of Him as Life and of man as His reflection.

Much good.

The Bible:
Ps 116:1-5,8,9
Ps 30:10-12
Ps 119:76
II Kings 4:8 it fell,12,16-21,25-28,30,32,33,35-37
Isa 51:3,11,12 (to :)
Isa 66:13
Matt 4:23 Jesus
Matt 5:2,4
Luke 7:11-16
John 17:1-3
John 14:1,15-21,25-27
I Cor 15:19-21,51,52,54,55,57
I Thess 4:13 I,14,18
Rev 21:3,4
II Cor 1:2-4

Science and Health:
206:19-21,25
215:15-24
218:32-2
584:9-16
427:1-25,30-14 np
428:22
410:4-9,14-17
332:19 Jesus
44:9-10
69:13
324:32-19
266:29
164:17
585:9-14
304:9-14
386:16-2
55:27
271:20
57:23

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 174

Hymn 208
Hymn 101

The First Beatitude

2008-05-07T13:03:00.001-07:00

I have been hoping to do a study of the Beatitudes at some point while reading at the branch church of Christ, Scientist of which I am a member, and the time seems right. So here is a look at the first one, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

As always, follow the links to see each citation, or cop and paste the whole thing into Concord if you have that program and view it from there (citation by citation or print it out).

The Bible:
Ps 34:1-3,6,8
Deut 6:4,5
Prov 15:33
Prov 22:4
Prov 3:5,6
Isa 57:15
Matt 4:17 Jesus,23,25
Matt 5:1-3
Matt 6:1,3-6,9,10,19-22,31 take,33
Matt 18:2-4
Matt 23:9-12 call
Matt 26:1,2,36-47,50 Then
Matt 27:1,35 (to :)
Matt 28:1,2,5,6 (to .),16-20 (to .)
Mark 16:17-20 (to .)
Phil 2:1-3,5-9,12,13
Heb 11:6
James 4:10

Science and Health:
20:14
586:23
33:18
51:19
316:3
202:3
205:22-9
242:15
590:1
323:28-4
2:8
8:10-30
15:25-6
261:31
7:18
1:6
12:10
467:13

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 291
Hymn 318
Hymn 162

Joy of salvation

2008-04-30T22:04:00.000-07:00

Sharing a little joy with these readings! Blessing for much joy in your life!

The Bible:
Hab 3:18 I will rejoice
Isa 25:1,8,9
Ps 86:4,5,10-12,15 thou,16
Ps 13:5 I,6
Luke 4:14 Jesus,15
Luke 19:1-10
Ps 30:1-4
Ps 20:5,6
Mark 15:1,25
Matt 28:1,2,5-7 (to ;),8,16,18-20
Ps 95:12,,6,7 (to ;)
Ps 105:1-3
Ps 149:1-5
Acts 3:1-8
Ps 98:1-4
Rev 12:10 (to :),12 (to .)

Science and Health:
481:3-9
593:20
587:25
230:1
337:6
262:17
323:28-4
342:21-26
548:9
285:27
390:7
365:30
122:7
260:31
14:12-22
66:11
76:22
22:23-27
21:9
327:29

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 56
Hymn 168
Hymn 153

Mind and manifestation - part 2

2008-04-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

I'd like to say, "part 2 of X," but I just don't know what X is or will be, so it will remain variable right now. Just keep learning little and big things about this statement, so we'll see where this goes. Thanks for bearing with me as I explore! (This first installment on this idea is here. Check it out if you haven't so the rest of this one will make sense. :)

There are a few little words that really pop out at me in all these definitions and weavings: "readily," "clear" and "plain." Such simple and comforting words! God making Himself readily, clearly, plainly perceived, understood, seen, etc. No hiding! Out there in the open for everyone to know and see. No tricks. Just revealing Himself.

I guess this is saying to me that God wants His creation to know Him, and He's putting Himself - all the wonderful aspects of his being - out there in the open for us to know Him, to understand Him, and so to understand ourselves as His creation, His image and likeness (ref. Gen 1:26, 27).

So I'm being more expectant to see evidence of God all around me - clearly and plainly - in myself, in my encounters with others, in the neighborhood as it springs into bloom. God's making this evidence clear, and, as He is omnipotent - all-power - who can change what He's done? And who would want to when what He has done is all good - all Himself? :)

Mind and manifestation

2008-04-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Seems like for a couple of weeks now, any time I've quieted my thought to pray and listen for ideas from God, this clause from the Scientific Statement of Being found in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy comes strongly: "All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation," (page 468)

Well, I do try to take these ideas seriously, especially when they keep coming over and over as this one ahs and continues to do. I figure there is something I need to learn from the word, phrase, or whatever. And, boy, has there been some neat ideas I've been gahtering from studying and pondering this one more deeply! Here's some of where this study has taken me (probably more to come).

First, of course, being a student at heart, I had to grab my dictionary and be clear on one word especially: manifestation. The following is what I found in Random House Webster's: (Merriam-Webster's online version is pretty close if you want to do your own checking.)

1) an act of manifesting
2) the state of being manifested
3) outward or perceptible indication (pretty much the aspect of the definition I'd always thought about - was mostly aware of - especially in this context)
4) a public demontration, as for political effect (fun!)

Well, have to look up "manifest" next as it is laced through the above definitions ...

1) readily perceived by the eye or the understanding; evident
2) to make clear to the eye or the understanding

I also checked out "indication":

1) to be a sign of; betoken
2) to point to or point out
3) to demonstrate the conditions of
4) to show or suggest the suitability or necessity of

Wow - this all really broadened my thought on what this clause could mean. I think I've always just thought, okay, all is Mind, God, and its manifestation, man and the universe, creation. Not wrong - fits with the third definition of manifestation, but I think now it is a limited way of thinking of this statement given the rest of the definitions and how they can be interwoven.

So here are some ideas I wrote down as I thought about this statement with the various definitions of manifestation:

1) All is infinite Mind and Its infinite act of making Itself readily perceived by the eye or understanding, of making Itself evident (plain or clear to the sight or understanding).

2) All is infinite Mind and Its infinte state of being readily perceived by the eye (spiritual understanding), and Its infinite sate of being evident.

3) All is infinte Mind and Its inifinite outward or perceptible sign, Its infinite outward or perceptible sign of being necessary and suitable, Its infinte perceptible showng of the suitbaility and necessity of Itself, Its infinte perceptible sign pointing to Itself, Its infinte outward act of demonstratioing the conditions of Itself (intelligence, wisdom, common sense, etc., etc., infinitely).

4) All is infinite Mind and Its public demonstration of Itself (I really like this one - pretty cool).

Isn't that what creation is? God making Himself evident, perceptible, of God expressing His Word, making Himself known. Hmmm, typing this out, I'm remembering this passage from Science and Health (303:25-28):

God, without the image and likeness of Himself, would be a nonentity, or Mind unexpressed. He would be without a witness or proof of His own nature.

Hence, His need to manifest Himself - to demonstrate Himself, His real nature, the fulness of His being. And we, as His manifestation, are that demonstration, we are the perceivable evidence of God - infinite Mind - knowing, seeing, acting, loving. We point back to Him.

Oh, wow. This is just the tip of the iceburg on this one, I think, my friend! More later on where these ideas are going and what I continue to learn about this infinite Mind and its manifestation. It's such a great journey!

Friendship

2008-04-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

A good friend with whom I haven't talked in a while called yesterday - I'm pretty sure that was the spark to this topic and resulting readings. The focus is the story of David and Jonathan, Saul's son. They were fast friends. I've loved the deep love and affection they held for each other as depicted in the books of Samuel since I first read it. So tender, so giving of each other, despite all the war and weirdness with Saul going on. Jonathan maintained his vow of friendship, knowing the pureness of it and David's innocence. Really heartwarming! I hope you enjoy this story and the other ideas of friendship below.

Much good!

The Bible:
Prov 17:17
Prov 18:24
Prov 27:10 (to ;)
I Sam 14:49 (to :)
I Sam 18:1-5 the soul,12
I Sam 19:1-10
I Sam 20:1-4,11-17,24,27-32,35,40-42
I Sam 31:1-3
II Sam 1:2-4,11,12,17,25-27
II Sam 9:1-8,13
Prov 22:11
John 13:1,12 he said (to 4th ,), 34
John 15:9,10,13,14
Rom 12:9,10
III John 1:14 Peace
Heb 13:1

Science and Health:
60:6-8, 29-9
147:29
451:16
57:10-30
68:9-11
65:7-8
21:15
386:16-2
82:2-3
248:3-5
8:30
266:6-16,18
467:9-13
469:30-5
276:4
518:15-19
17:4-5

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 105
Hymn 30
Hymn 178

A Very Present Help in Trouble

2008-04-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

The Bible:
Ps 88:1-4,9,11,13,15
Ps 13:1-6
Ps 31:1-5
Ps 46:1-3 (to .),10,11 (to .)
Ex 3:1-4,6-8 (to ;),12-14
Ex 13:17,18,21
Ex 14:5,6,10-16,19-23,26-31
Ps 66:1,2,6-9
Ps 62:1,2,11
Mark 5:25-30,33,34
Rom 8:35,37-39
Rom 5:1-5

Science and Health:
12:31-3
473:7-10
587:5,19
471:18-19
256:13
72:21-23
469:25-30
186:11-27
202:24
218:19
180:25
130:26-32
103:6
66:9 Through
108:19-3
306:25
365:31
444:10
16:30-3

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 135
Hymn 53
Hymn 350

Rejoicing in the Lord

2008-04-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

It felt like these readings needed to be about joy, and this is what resulted - the joy that results from seeking and worshipping Him. Love the images of harmony the came out in this, as well as the need for a higher spiritual sense to reach that permanent sense of joy that is ours as God's children. Click on the links to see the Bible and Science and Health passages. Or, if you have the software program "Concord" copy and paste the citation list into the Citation Document pane and view from there.

Much joy!

The Bible:
Phil 4:4
Zech 2:10
Ps 33:1-5,12,20,21
Ps 100:1-5
Ps 43:3,4
I Chron 15:1,3,14-16,25-29 (to :)
I Chron 16:1,2,7-11,23-25,31,32,36
Ps 16:2-11
Ps 119:1,2,111
Ps 32:1,2,11
Mark 1:14 Jesus,15,28,34
Luke 19:1-10
I Thess 5:16-19,21,28

Science and Health:
481:3-4
140:7-12
262:17
285:32
505:16
536:24
298:19
304:9
57:18-19
58:7
60:2,24-11
265:23-5
232:4
337:6
76:22-29
405:5-11
327:22
21:9
324:2-4
249:8-10

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 407
Hymn 16
Hymn 263

One Father, one source for peaceful relationships

2008-03-26T22:02:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about the conflicts around the world, and how often the issues revolve around land and/or a perception that others have something you don't, more than your community does, etc. This got me to thinking about our father Abraham and how he dealt with conflict within his traveling family, when his accumulation of wealth and his nephew Lot's accumulation got so large the land couldn't sustain everyone and everything and fighting broke out. Abraham looked at the situation logically and said to Lot that they'd have to split up. And then, very graciously, gave Lot the first choice of where he wanted to take his family. What a lovely sense that God would totally sustain him and his family, no matter what direction they went! Abram could let Lot choose and new he wouldn't lose. He trusted God and His promise. And all was well. A good lesson for any age and family.

So these readings evolved from there - more about our brotherhood and how that understanding helps in all relationships, from familial to international.

Peace to you all!

The Bible:
Prov 28:25
Prov 17:14
Prov 20:3 (to :)
Gen 13:1-12 Abram,14,15,17,18
Isa 26:3,4 (to :)
Isa 32:17,18
I Cor 8:3,5,6
Matt 5:9,23 if,24,48
James 4:1-3
James 3:13-18
Titus 2:1 speak,11-15
Titus 3:1-9
II John 1:3

Science and Health:
516:9-12
586:9
31:4-6,10
231:12
576:31-4
329:26 If
140:7
475:7-9,14
63:5
276:4-16
60:29-11
467:1-16
444:13
469:30
340:23
518:15-21
361:16
16:26-29

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 58
Hymn 30
Hymn 72

Benefits of charity

2008-03-21T15:07:00.001-07:00

In case you wondered, here's an article I saw in our local paper today: "Science and Bible agree on benefits of charity"

It starts out:

People who made gifts to others or to charities reported they were happier than folks who didn't share, according to a report in Friday's issue of the journal Science.
While previous studies have shown that having more money can increase happiness, the researchers at the University of British Columbia and Harvard University wondered if the way people spent their money made any difference.
Turns out, it does.

Researchers found that how people spend their time and money and how they shared their skills has a major effect on happiness. The more they gave, the happier they are.

Certainly not news to many, not even to the researchers on this project. And certainly we've all had good advice on this subject. Here are some ideas on the blessings of giving...

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38)

"Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." (Prov 3:27)

"Giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker, neither does withholding enrich us. (Science and Health 79:31-32)

"We should measure our love for God by our love for man; and our sense of Science will be measured by our obedience to God, — fulfilling the law of Love, doing good to all; imparting, so far as we reflect them, Truth, Life, and Love to all within the radius of our atmosphere of thought." (Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896 by Mary Baker Eddy 12:28)

And this concept certainly must be behind Oprah's "Big Give"! I'm sure I'd agree, any day that I feel that I've really done something for another, really helped in some way, and especially in a God-directed way, is a much brighter and happier day for me.

One God - one law for our health

2008-03-19T22:43:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure what title to give these readings, but they hold a Bible story that is really significant to me - the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal in I Kings 18. It just seems so profound to me on so many levels and important to consider in so many aspects of life. Are we choosing the one, true God? Are we honoring Him as God? If we are, then certainly one of the benefits is the experience of His protection for all harm - even disease. That's what these readings are getting at - and how that will help preserve our lives, prevent ills, maintain health, better than any human theories really can in the long run.

The Bible:
Isa 45:20-22
Isa 12:2,3
Isa 25:9
I Kings 18:21-39 Elijah
Lam 3:24-26
Prov 4:20-25
Ps 91:1-6,9-11,14,16
Matt 4:17 Jesus,23
Matt 6:22,24-33
Matt 15:1-3,7-11
II Cor 6:15-18 what concord
I Tim 6:11 follow
III John 1:2,3
Ps 67:1-3

Science and Health:
183:21-5
184:12-18
124:32
182:18-22
412:16-18
168:4-10,15-21
232:19
369:25
276:19-26
220:26-28 np
222:4-21
62:20-4
174:4
297:7
167:6-7,11-14,22-30

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 12
Hymn 70
Hymn 77

The Truth

2008-03-13T15:50:00.001-07:00

Here's an interesting video from YouTube sent by a friend today, and a good quote from Science and Health to consider along with it:

"Delusion, sin, disease, and death arise from the false testimony of material sense, which, from a supposed standpoint outside the focal distance of infinite Spirit, presents an inverted image of Mind [God] and substance with everything turned upside down." (301:24)

Here are some other ideas from Science and Health that relate:

"Science reverses the false testimony of the physical senses, and by this reversal mortals arrive at the fundamental facts of being." (120:7)

"In viewing the sunrise, one finds that it contradicts the evidence before the senses to believe that the earth is in motion and the sun at rest. As astronomy reverses the human perception of the movement of the solar system, so Christian Science reverses the seeming relation of Soul and body and makes body tributary to Mind. (119:25)

"The evidence of the physical senses often reverses the real Science of being, and so creates a reign of discord,--assigning seeming power to sin, sickness, and death; but the great facts of Life, rightly understood, defeat this triad of errors, contradict their false witnesses, and reveal the kingdom of heaven,--the actual reign of harmony on earth." (122:1)

"The higher nature of man is not governed by the lower; if it were, the order of wisdom would be reversed. Our false views of life hide eternal harmony, and produce the ills of which we complain. Because mortals believe in material laws and reject the Science of Mind, this does not make materiality first and the superior law of Soul last." (62:27)

"If you wish to know the spiritual fact, you can discover it by reversing the material fable, be the fable pro or con,--be it in accord with your preconceptions or utterly contrary to them." (129:7)

"We cannot fathom the nature and quality of God's creation by diving into the shallows of mortal belief. We must reverse our feeble flutterings--our efforts to find life and truth in matter--and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God. These clearer, higher views inspire the God-like man to reach the absolute centre and circumference of his being." (262:9)

How important to begin with the real Truth - God and His creation - to come to the correct conclusions about ourselves, others and the world around us.

a great analogy

2008-03-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

A friend sent this story in an email today. It really resonated with me and I wanted to share it with you...

--------------------------------------------

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the w! hole ni ght and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

----------------------------------------------------

Isn't that a cool analogy? And a good reminder - God, our Father-Mother is always right at hand no matter what is going on, no matter where we are. It is only that blindfold that prevented the boy from seeing his father right next to him during the night, and probably the fear he is feeling from all those creepy noises and the uncertainty that otherwise makes him unable to detect his father's presence. How often it is like that in our own lives! Get so caught up in the situation, the fear, the drama that we don't realize help is right there.

But once that light comes, the blindfold is off and the truth is revealed, the father is right there - Love is right there caring for His child. Always.

The healer

2008-03-05T16:47:00.000-08:00

Last week's readings for the Wednesday meeting focused on healing. I thought it would be intereseting next too look at the healer - what are some of the qualities that help us all to be better healers. It's so interesting that Mary Baker Eddy started the chapter "Christian Science Practice" with the story of the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and annointed them with ointment - giving insight to key qualities needed by the practitioner or spiritual healer. So I started the Science and Health portion of the readings with her commentary on this Bible story and its accompanying parable, as well as of course including the story in the Bible portion.

What qualities do you find exemplified by this "strange woman"? How do you express these in your life right now? How can you express more of them or express them better? Could questions for everyone to ask themselves regularly, I am thinking!

Much good!

The Bible:
Ps 43:5
Ps 51:1,2,6,8 (to ;),10-13,15,17
Ps 10:17
Matt 4:23 Jesus
Matt 5:1-3,5-8,20 I say,48
Matt 18:2-5
Mark 16:15,17,18
Luke 7:36-50
Acts 9:1-20
Acts 20:7-12
James 5:13-16
Col 3:12-17

Science and Health:
362:1-364:31
365:19
592:25
366:3-23 np
241:19-20 np
270:22-24
326:23
403:21-23
410:14
419:28
3:12
4:3
248:29

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 151
Hymn 307
Hymn 109

some ideas on healing

2008-02-27T21:26:00.000-08:00

These readings came from my own need for healing this week. Lots of great examples of Jesus' healing work - and some insights from Science and Health on how to heal. The result during our meeting waas the sharing of a couple of great testimonies. One individual shared a recent healing of liver cancer. Another shared a healing of poison when a child, the reminder of which aided a quick healing over the weekend of a stomach ailment. God does heal!!

The Bible:
Ps 6:2-9
Ps 103:1-4
Luke 4:14 Jesus
Luke 5:12,13
Luke 7:2-10
Luke 8:40-55
Luke 9:38-43 (to .)
Luke 18:27
John 14:6 (to :),12-14
John 9:1-7
James 5:16 The

Science and Health:
1:1
419:20-25,28
325:32-8
326:12
391:26
182:30
180:25-6
368:20-9
369:14
229:15-18 np
230:20-24 (to 2nd .),27-11
231:17-29
147:6,24-4
148:25-4
377:1-11,16
178:14
392:11-32
393:8-18
x:11-25
412:13

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 175
Hymn 96
Hymn 253

No Disruptive Elements

2008-02-20T22:08:00.000-08:00

The weather this winter has been very bizarre in our area of the US - and I think much of it. One day recently a friend mentioned that she was praying with this idea - that there are no disruptive elements in God's kingdom, only eternal and infinite harmony. Sounded like the seed for some interesting readings, and here they are. Hope you find them helpful. Hmmm, maybe this idea could apply to all the potholes springing up around here?? :)

Much good!

The Bible:
Isa 25:1,4
I Kings 19:1-6 (to .), 8-12
Ps 148:1-13
Ps 135:5-7
Ps 147:4,5,7,8,11,15-19
Matt 14:22-36 Jesus
Ps 97:1,2,4-6,9,10 he (to ;),11,12
Ps 46:1-3,10,11 (to .)

Science and Health:
479:21
280:1
210:30
293:21
183:19-21
134:21
135:6-8
192:11-26
392:7
463:12-13
183:4
119:17
240:1-6,10-14
355:11
124:32-2
125:21-2
83:6
97:5-28
470:32
481:3-4

CS Hymnal:
Hymn 93:1-4
Hymn 74:1,2
Hymn 172:1-3

Further thoughts re: NIU

2008-02-16T17:22:00.000-08:00

I'm really struck by and pondering this quote from Mary Baker Eddy's book Science and Health today:

We cannot deny that Life is self-sustained, and we should never deny the everlasting harmony of Soul, simply because, to the mortal senses, there is seeming discord. It is our ignorance of God, the divine Principle, which produces apparent discord, and the right understanding of Him restores harmony. Truth will at length compel us all to exchange the pleasures and pains of sense for the joys of Soul. (390:4)

(If you are studying the Christian Science Bible Lesson this week - topic of Soul - you've encountered it in the first section, except for that last sentence.)

I think this is popping out at me in light of the shootings at nearby Northern Illinois University the other day and the deluge of reporting on the news that has ensued. And especially because of the questions constantly put forward - Why did this happen? How could this happen?

It's kind of a tough idea Eddy put forward in this paragraph, especially for someone who is in the midst of a traumatic episode of some sort, such as this shooting incident. How can one deny discord has a reality when it seems soooo real, like it is hitting you squarely in the face, head and heart? Not sure I would out and out share this idea with someone going through this situation, but I'd pray with it, am praying with it, in support of those who are on campus or otherwise impacted by this event.

I think the answer lies in the statement "the right understanding of Him restores harmony." That's the key, isn't it - the RIGHT understanding of God, of divine Love? I truly believe that God, inifinte Love, did not "let this happen," did not decree it for His children. He loves us all and His love is a protection. Despite all of this apparent discord and trauma, God's love is still present with all of those students, with the faculty and staff, with the parents of those injured, killed and of the shootist. And that Love sustains Life. Those dear ones who are lost to their families here are still with divine Love, still living in His tender care. The qualities they expressed - I've read about each student who was shot and they were certainly all special to many! - are still present in their families' and friends' lives and will be cherished for many years. As individuals ponder that good those individuals brought to their lives, they'll find that peace and harmony again. As they feel the eternal nature (whether consciously or not) of those God-given qualities these children refleted, harmony is restored.

I pray that all will feel the comfort of the love, joy, peace, comraderie, quietness, gentleness, dedication, thoughtfulness, etc., etc., the six individuals who passed on that day expressed to others here and which they continue to express now. I know that this will help restore harmony to their lives, support them in the days ahead, and strengthen them as they continue to live full lives expressing the "everlasting harmony of Soul." I've experienced this when loved ones have passed, so I know others can and will. God will speak it to them in just the right way and at the right moments. And so many are standing by to lend that word of comfort, helping hand or strong shoulder. I am so grateful for all the good and support that is happening in DeKalb these last days. That will, must, does overcome the evil sense of the tragedy. "Love must triumph over hate." (SH 43:32)

Peace.

NIU

2008-02-15T08:31:00.001-08:00

Another school shooting. Yesterday afternoon - Valentine's Day - at Northern Illinois University, a young man, a graduate student in sociology, walked into a classroom auditorium and opened fire then shot himself. A mirror image of the Viriginia Tech shooting last April, but this one so close to home. I know that campus. I did graduate work there. I know that building - though it is used primarily for undergraduate classes. I took the GMAT in that auditorium. It is stranger to think of this situation when you can really picture where it all occurred, unlike the Viriginia Tech incident, a campus I am totally unfamiliar with.

My heart goes out to those students who were there - who were shot, hurt, escaped. I feel for their parents, who heard the reports and must have felt so anxious for news of their child. I am grateful for the quick action of campus security - reports are that they were on the scene in 3 minutes from the first gun shots - and for the wisdom of the administration to alert the campus and lock things down until the situation was under control and needs assessed.

My prayers go out to all those touched by this event. I pray that they all may know the infinte love of our Father-Mother God. That each individual will feel Her tender arms comforting and embracing her/him in this strange moment. That everyone will feel loved, supported, strengthened by the infinite resources of divine Soul.

The images on the news show a campus uniting to help one another, to comfort and support however needed. That to me is a symbol of supreme Love's presence right there in the heart of what probably feels like a mess to those on campus. Some of the first messages of love and support came from students, faculty and administration at Virginia Tech. I am sure all campuses learned much from the VT incident, and I am grateful to see evidence of that in Thursday's shooting at NIU.

"Life and goodness are immortal." (Science and Health 246:28) The goodness that each of those students embodied goes on eternally, I believe. That is what is lasting and does last, no matter what the material picture may be. And this statement must be true for that shooter as well.

I heard a comment on the radio made by one student, something to the effect that it is too bad more people are wanting their final and lasting statement to be a mass shooting. It is sad that this thought may be creeping in. It can't be the final and lasting impression of that young man with the guns for his family and friends. I am sure he had friends - they were mentioned in one news report. And they were totally shocked by this action. All that can last of him is the good that he did.

It can seem difficult to pray for someone who committed such an act, but somehow that is where my prayers go first at these times - and for these individuals' families. It just seems like they need lots of extra love and protection in these situations. I know that God continues to love them and there son/grandson/brother/nephew/etc. That doesn't change. And it will support them through the next days, weeks, months as these events are sorted out.

Right now, this hymn - #278 in the Christian Science Hymnal:

Pilgrim on earth, home and heaven are within thee,
Heir of the ages and child of the day.
Cared for, watched over, beloved and protected,
Walk thou with courage each step of the way.

Truthful and steadfast though trials betide thee,
Ever one thing do thou ask of thy Lord,
Grace to go forward, wherever He guide thee,
Gladly obeying the call of His word.

Healed is thy hardness, His love hath dissolved it,
Full is the promise, the blessing how kind;
So shall His tenderness teach thee compassion,
So all the merciful, mercy shall find.

Development

2008-02-05T10:57:00.001-08:00

In the “Glossary” of Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy defined Holy Ghost as “Divine Science; the development of eternal Life, Truth and Love.” (p. 588:7) Those of you who study the Christian Science Bible Lesson probably realize that this definition is in this week’s Bible Lesson on Spirit, that’s why its been on my thought these last two days.

That word ‘development’ in the definition really popped out at me. Really kind of seemed odd, especially given how I think of the word (unfortunately more as in ‘housing development’ any more!). So I had to look it up because, well, most likely, there are some aspects of the definition I’m not that familiar with and that might lend some light to its use in this case.

The dictionaries I checked first – Random House and Merriam-Webster – didn’t lend anything that seemed to really make sense, especially in a spiritual context. So I checked a dictionary I have that is supposed to be from the mid-19th century. Bingo!

Here are the meanings given in this older dictionary, one perhaps used by Eddy:

a) an unfolding
b) the discovering of something secret or withheld from the knowledge of others
c) disclosure
d) full exhibition

Ah, now this word ‘development’ is much more meaningful in this context. The Holy Ghost can be understood as the unfolding “of eternal Life, Truth and Love.” Certainly Jesus was unfolding or revealing the Holy Ghost to his disciples all the while he was teaching, preaching and healing; he was opening, expanding and disclosing what he knew of eternal Life, of infinite Truth and of supreme Love to all those that followed and still follow him and showing them what this knowledge does for everyone – gives them health, wholeness, joy.

And for the disciples, especially after their meetings with Jesus after his resurrection and on that day of Pentecost as described in Acts 1 and 2 (the Bible stories featured in this last section of the week’s lesson), their reception of the Holy Ghost, as described in Science and Health, enabled them to be:

… roused to an enlarged understanding of divine Science, even to the spiritual interpretation and discernment of Jesus' teachings and demonstrations, which gave them a faint conception of the Life which is God. They no longer measured man by material sense. After gaining the true idea of their glorified Master, they became better healers, leaning no longer on matter, but on the divine Principle of their work. The influx of light was sudden. It was sometimes an overwhelming power as on the Day of Pentecost. (46:32)

Surely this experience was a great example of the full exhibition of eternal Life, Truth and Love – a fuller expression of infinite Spirit. They went on to heal and to teach better then ever before, because they understood more. It was their discovering the fullness of that thing which was “kept secret since the world began.” (Romans 16:25) And they shared it!

We all have the opportunity now to have and experience this full disclosure, to be part of the unfolding of eternal Life, Truth and Love as Jesus taught and demonstrated. Jesus promised it; the apostles lived it – all for us to be able to do the same as God’s loved children.

So now, I’m looking for more of these “unfoldings” or “illuminations of Science” (SH 296:15) that reveal the spiritual facts of God, of eternal Life, Truth and Love, in my life. I’m sure there’s much more in this definition that will be helpful, but this is a start and where I am on it today.

What do you think?

The Crow and the Kitten

2008-02-05T08:59:00.000-08:00

Had to post this video - a bit long at 7 minutes, but really interesting! A wonderful example of crossing perceived boundaries (in this case species), mothering, friendship, breaking down false concepts (here, "natural born enemies"). Hope you enjoy!

"Mark Twain & Mary Baker Eddy" a film by Val Kilmer

2008-01-30T11:51:00.001-08:00

This weekend, I heard about this new project by Val Kilmer. Interesting.

Cast your cares on the Lord

2008-01-30T11:20:00.001-08:00

for he careth for you...

The Bible:
Prov 12:25
Ps 37:1,3,4,7,11
Ps 55:22
Ps 94:19
Isa 58:4 ye shall,5 (to 2nd ?),6,8,9,11
Ps 46:10 (to :)
Matt 4:23
Matt 5:1,2
Matt 6:25-34
Matt 7:7,8
Matt 11:28-30
John 14:1
Matt 14:14-22
Matt 8:23-27
Matt 17:24-27
Luke 10:38-42
I Cor 7:32 I (to .)
Phil 4:4,6,7
I Pet 5:6,7

Science and Health:
96:12-30
170:22
234:3
444:10
62:13-16,20
487:27-6
510:2
495:16
548:9-15
238:19
567:3-6,7-8
66:6
2:23-2
12:27
248:3-5,8
322:26-12
323:24
236:17
506:10-12

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 154:1-3
Hymn 57:1-3
Hymn 253:1-7

Getting our motives right

2008-01-23T13:31:00.000-08:00

The Bible:
Ps 10:3-8,11-15,17
Ps 15:1-5
Ps 16:8-11
Heb 4:12
I Kings 3:5-22,24-28
Ps 17:3
Ps 26:1-12
Mark 1:14 Jesus,15,21-26 and straightway,28,40-42
John 7:12,16-18
John 5:30
John 6:38
Rom 12:1-3
I Pet 2:1-3
Col 1:9-12

Science and Health:
239:23
188:8
404:9-15
105:11 Can you
104:29
405:2-18
453:18-20
58:7-12
51:28-8
51:19
490:6 Christian
446:11-20
365:15-2
151:8
454:17-21
326:16
1:10-11
15:7
4:12-22

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 423
Hymn 161
Hymn 324

Church-State divide - interesting interview

2008-01-17T15:01:00.000-08:00

I was just reading today's post in Laura Matthew's blog about politics and religion and remembered a friend sent me a link to this NPR interview with Garry Wills, emeritus professor of history at Northwestern University and auther of a number of books including his latest Head and Heart: American Christianities. The focus of the interview was on the constitutional separation of church and state - the topic of this new book. I found the interview very interesting and learned a lot about the background of this basic principle of US government. There's an excerpt from the book along with a link for the 20 minute interview. Hope it stays up so you can check it out. Good food for thought during another election season.

Plants under God's care

2008-01-12T09:23:00.000-08:00

The weather has been unusually warm this week here in northern Illinois. As I’ve sat in my chair near the window and gazed outside, it seems strange to see spring-like green tinges in the lawn in early January. It starts my thought wandering to summer gardening – looking forward to planting new flowers and seeing them bloom and grow. Ah, but it will be a few months yet before anything really can be done in that way around here!

But as I’ve been reading and contemplating that first chapter of Genesis over the last couple weeks, I realized there is a perfect idea there in verses 11 and 12 to help with gardening. Here are those verses (from NIV):

11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

To the regular gardener, it would seem like there are a couple of crucial things missing for plants to spring forth and bear seed: water (in the form of rain or irrigation) and sunshine. But, before God creates the sun, before rain has watered the face of the ground, there are plants – plants that grow and reproduce. All of them – in their infinite variety – growing at God’s command. And all with seed so there will be new growth continuing.

I think I’m going to enjoy pondering these verses more when I’m able to get the trowel out this spring and get some things planted.

Right now, though, I’m also feeling so grateful for a special “find” yesterday. About a month ago our homeowners’ association (we live in a townhouse complex) had work done on the drainage system around our house – essentially digging out all of the old and putting in new. This meant lots of digging and a lot of mess, and some surprisingly into the garden areas around the house (not much communication on details before the work began, unfortunately).

After the workers were done and we’d had an opportunity to scope out what was really done, I was feeling particularly sad because there was a clump iris plants near the front corner of the house that had been just gorgeous last year. The best blooms of any the irises around the yard. But it was right where they needed to dig for part of the new system. And so the irises were gone.

But yesterday, as I left the house to go do some errands, I noticed it – a clump of plants – long greenish leaves rising up – tucked in behind the lilac bush near the corner of the house. It was those irises I thought had been lost to the shovels! I just felt this wash of gratitude – one of the workers had very thoughtfully and carefully dug out those irises and tucked them in a safe place. I don’t know why I hadn’t noticed them before. I’d been by a few times. But there they were! The sight made me feel so happy. And I’m going to trust the truth in those verses from Genesis that indicate God as the impulsion for growth in all plant life, and that the kindness of the worker who took the time to safeguard those plants will ensure new blooms and sturdy growth for those irises this year and in the future.

Much joy!

Putting it in God's hands

2008-01-09T12:45:00.000-08:00

I love the story about Hannah in I Samuel! She's one of those Bible characters I really feel for. Here she is, one of two wives to Elkanah. The other wife has given birth to many children. Hannah hasn't had one child. Bad enough in that culture where a woman's worth was primarily her ability to bear children, but on top of it, the other wife taunts her for her bareness! Hannah's solution? Pray to God - ask Him for a child. Not too unusual, especially in a Bible story. But what does she do in her prayer for a child? She promises that child to God in a lifetime of service. How incredibly selfless! Ask for your heart's desire, and then willingly give it back to God in gratitude to God for answered prayer. It's quite something to shoot for in our own prayers.

But even more than this, Hannah gives another wonderful insight into prayer. One day a few years ago when I reread this story, something lept out at me I hadn't noticed before. After Hannah prays and Eli the priest gives her a blessing, she leaves "and her countenance was no more sad." Wow! Her prayer hadn't even been answered, but she had such trust in God that He would answer the prayer she offered, that, instead of crying and not eating as had been the case until she got pregnant, she was happy immediately. This deep trust that brings a sense of peace and calm despite the trouble at hand is what these readings are covering.

And that's why the first hymn (Hymn 124), with words by Philip Doddridge, was selected. It ends with this verse:

His goodness stands approved,
Unchanged from day to day:
I drop my burden at His feet,
And bear a song away.

Unfortunately, I think the only way to view the whole hymn, as well as the others, is through Concord or if you have a Christian Science Hymnal accessible. The Bible and Science and Health citations can be individually viewed by clicking each link or by copying into the citation pane of the Concord program.

Peace!

The Bible:
Ps 4:1,3 the Lord will,4 (to .),5-7
Ps 5:1-3,7 I will,11 let all,12
Ps 42:11
I Sam 1:1-12,17-20,24-28
I Sam 2:1,2,11
Ps 31:1,2 (to ;),19,21,23 (to :),24
Ps 34:22
Ps 145:1-5,14,16-19
Ps 46:10 (to :)
Mark 11:22 Have,24 What
Mark 4:39 Peace (to .)
Rom 5:1-5 being
Rom 15:13

Science and Health:
1:10-23 np (to ?)
2:26-2 Shall
11:27
13:10-24
506:18
4:12
446:15-18,20
206:10-18
8:3-6
531:8
95:30-32
298:13-20
495:16
444:10
41:8-10
99:23
506:11-12

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 124
Hymn 410
Hymn 75

The creating is in the saying

2008-01-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am still thinking about the first chapter of Genesis. But there’s so much in these 31 verses! Probably a lifetime of learning that can be gathered from this chapter.

Here’s some of what I’ve been pondering the last few days.

1) “And God said.” Each step of spiritual creation detailed in this chapter begins with this phrase. As creation began and expanded, God declare more and more about Himself; revealed more of His infinite self in other forms of creation – light first, then heaven, earth, seas, vegetation, stars, sea creatures, birds, land animals and finally man – higher and higher. Of course, this statement might make you think of the first line of the Gospel of John, “In the beginning was the Word.” “In the beginning” was God expressing Himself, divine Love knowing Himself and expressing that knowledge. And for much of creation, this statement, “and God said …” takes care of the creating. God says, and it happens. Sometimes this is reinforced or the creation is detailed by the addition of “God made” or “God created.”

2) “And God saw ...” Regularly, there’s this statement. It’s like periodically God takes a step back and looks over what has been done, what He’s revealed of Himself. It struck me that this look had to have been filled with love, because God is Love (I John 4). Love was expressing Him/Herself in creation. He could only behold it with love because He is Love and because the reflection of Himself, creation, is made of Love, is expressing Love. God loves all of creation because it is an expression of Himself, an expression of Love that reflects back that infinite Love that created it.

3) “… that it was good.” Each time God sees His creation, He declares it good. Covered this some here, so I don’t think I’ll do more on this aspect today.

So God knew, and then He saw. The “Glossary” definition of God in Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy begins: “The great I AM; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal;” (587:5-6) A friend once shared that it meant a lot to her one time when she was praying for healing of a broken leg that the knowing came before the seeing. That comment struck me as interesting and has stuck with me. I think we see it here – “God said” and then “God saw.” His knowing is a revealing that He and all of His creation can see. It’s kind of comforting to think of God’s knowing something first, forming it in His thought – because that formation must be perfect because God is perfect. And as He knows, He sees – sees the perfection of this idea. And we can see it, too!

This all reminds me of MBE’s statement giving spiritual insight to Gen 1:5:

(SH 504:6)
All questions as to the divine creation being both spiritual and material are answered in this passage, for though solar beams are not yet included in the record of creation, still there is light. This light is not from the sun nor from volcanic flames, but it is the revelation of Truth and of spiritual ideas. This also shows that there is no place where God's light is not seen, since Truth, Life, and Love fill immensity and are ever-present. Was not this a revelation instead of a creation?

So, perhaps no great final answers, mostly just some thoughts I’m pondering. But a good reminder to be looking to see more clearly and hopefully more consistently, as God enables me to see, the revelation of Himself, what He knows about me and the entire universe. This creation is there all around us, and it is good!

What do you think about these ideas? Would love to hear what your prayers and ponderings of this chapter have revealed to you!

Tradition broken - Healing found

2008-01-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

The readings from this last Wednesday’s testimony meeting at the branch church of Christ, Scientist that I attend remind me of a healing I had a few years ago that give a small example of how traditions can creep in and become a constraint, and how healing can be found when releasing them.

This happened almost ten years ago, and about this time of year (January). I was on a commuter train heading for a volunteer activity and was reading the Christian Science Bible Lesson. The topic was Sacrament. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in my lower back. I jumped a bit and looked behind me. No, nothing sticking out of the seat cushion that poked me. But my back was no extremely uncomfortable. I shifted around in my seat for the rest of the train ride, trying to find comfortable positions, but didn’t find any. I kept pursuing my read of the Bible Lesson, just knowing that there would be something in it that would help relieve this discomfort.

But my back was still painful when I got downtown and remained so for the rest of the day and into the next couple of days. In addition, I developed some flu-like symptoms. I soldiered on with activities that needed to happen, praying as I went and asking God what I needed to learn that would bring relief.

A couple of evenings later, I was lying on our couch and picked up the Bible Lesson to read again. I really reached out to God to show me something that I needed to learn. The lesson that week contained a number of encounters between Jesus and the Pharisees and other religious leaders, all where he reprimanded them for their hardness of heart in holding for various traditions – mostly created over the years by the religious ruling bodies and not truly found in the writings of Moses – over the spirit of the Law and heart of worshipping God.

And that’s when it struck me – I’d been setting up my own little traditions in regards to my spiritual study. And, by these traditions, I’d actually been limiting my study and opportunity to grow and practice what I was or could be learning about God and my relationship with Him. One key example was the study of the Bible Lesson.

Now, I should mention that, because of my husband’s job (he is on-call 24/7), there’s not much opportunity for routine in our days. We never know when he’ll be leaving or returning home – day of the week or time of day. So things happen as they happen, and I’ve learned over the years to be very flexible. Had to or I’d go nuts! J But somehow, in all of this “flexible” lifestyle, I’d gotten into a mindset that if I was going to studying the Bible Lesson, it had to be in the morning. And if it didn’t happen in the morning, most likely it didn’t happen all day, and sometimes this would happen for many days of the week. (Feeling unwell was an exception to this self-imposed “rule” – that’s why I was studying the Bible Lesson in the evening this day.)

And so there’d been many days lately where I hadn’t gotten at this aspect of my spiritual study, and I find it a pretty important tool in my spiritual study and growth. Well, I fully realized what I’d been doing and that there is not really any rule about when and how to study the Bible Lesson. Why had I gotten this narrow-minded about this activity? I don’t know, but I knew I could change it right then and there. And I did. I fully immersed myself in the study of the Lesson that evening, grateful for the time – whether evening or morning – to spend thinking about God, to learn more about His Word, and to gain a deeper glimpse of my relationship with divine Love.

By the next morning, all back pain and flu symptoms were totally gone. And I enjoyed studying the Bible Lesson at whatever was the right time of day for that day ever since. No more restrictions to my study – or to my back! A small thing to get in the way, but a good lesson learned. I try to stay on the outlook for other non-rules that might try to creep in and bind me to routine and tradition and so hamper growth Spirit-ward.

As Mary Baker Eddy wrote in Science and Health:

"God expresses in man the infinite idea forever developing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from a boundless basis." (258:13-15)

Breaking the bonds of traditionalism

2008-01-02T11:00:00.001-08:00

I'm struggling a bit with what to call this set of readings. I don't like to give them a negative title - the readings are supposed to be uplifting and it's nice if the title reflects that! So starting with this title, maybe it will change.

I've long been impressed with Jesus' response and interaction with the Pharisees as depicted in the Gospels. He was always on them to let go of the traditions that so limited their thought and actions, especially when these doctrines inhibited their and the community's natural response to others and expression of the heart of the Ten Commandments. Kept them tied to material forms of worship instead of lifting their thought higher to the spiritual intent, which in turn limited the population's ability to grow spiritually. So the citations below are a lot of these incidents and some thoughts to help lift us higher in how we approach worship. Nothing inherently wrong with traditions - they can be sweet and special! - but when they become the focus and not God, divine Love, and we forgo new experiences and opportunities to help others because of them, then traditions are a problem, IMHO.

As usual, you can click on the links to see the passage, or copy and paste the references below into the Citation Document pane in Concord to view through that program.

Much good!

The Bible:
Jer 50:2 (to :),4-6
Eccl 7:29
Ps 119:12-18,33-37
Mark 1:14 Jesus,15
Mark 2:13,23-28
Mark 3:1-6
Mark 7:1-16
Mark 13:37 what
Mark 16:15
Mark 12:28-34
Luke 10:25-37
Luke 12:1
Mark 9:33-42
Col 2:8,9
II Cor 3:4-6 such
Gal 5:1,5-7,13 (to ;),14
I Thess 5:11,16-19,21,28

Science and Health:
4:30
354:14-25
18:10
19:29-13
592:27
117:29-31
28:1-14
135:26-8
112:32
258:13-15
226:18
144:30
235:28-11
366:30
98:12-21
451:8-11,16
37:16-9
vii:13

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 131
Hymn 333
Hymn 337

Very good

2008-01-02T08:16:00.000-08:00

Still thinking about Genesis chapter 1 this morning, toady appreciating that statement at the end of most of the days of creation, "and God saw that it was good." (Gen. 1:12, 18, 21, 25) After each progressive step of creation, God pauses, looks at what He did, and confirms its goodness, its rightness, fitness, correctness, wholeness, etc.

And it struck me - hadn't really stood out to me before now - at the end of the six day, when all elements are done, God looks at the whole and declares that "it was very good." (Gen. 1:31) The whole is not just good, as He declared each stage, but exceedingly so. The whole is good to a high degree.

To me, this is saying that each element is needed and combines with the others to lift the whole to the highest sense of perfection and good. To the fullness of God's expression. Each element of God's creation is essential to support the others, to enable the others to fully express God in the way He created it to express Him. And to achieve this full expression of good, of harmony and perfection and health, we need that first element of creation - light - to shine on us all to help us see what God saw - harmony, order, good. We have to have light to see by and to reflect!

I'm praying with these ideas especially for all that is going on in the Middle East right now. Praying to know that each individual in this wonderful world of ours is essential, is needed to support and enrich the lives and experiences of others, and that the impact of each others lives can only bless one another because, as God's creation, we are good and upright. Affirming that each individual is so loved by divine Love, our infinite Creator and only experiences and expresses to all around him/her/it that infinite Love. I'm praying to realize that the ultimate seal of approval - that every thing that God had made was "very good" - ensures the harmony in our relationships, the moral excellence that we each express in our relationships with others, that everyone's actions are well-behaved and bless all those around us and that eveyrone can see and experience this spiritual fact now.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. ... And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. " (Phil 4:4, 7)

Prounced good

2008-01-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite Bible verses is prominently in this week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson: “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31) It feels like most of the time when I am praying about something, I end up at this verse at some point in my prayers. To me, it is one of those (probably very many!) key ideas in the Bible. Here we are. We’ve just finished reading the story of the first six days of spiritual creation, and we find this amazing statement. God took a look at what all He made, and pronounced it all good.

Have you ever looked up the word “good” in the dictionary? Certainly it is a word we use about every day and I always felt I had a good grasp on the meaning of the word until I looked it up a few years ago. I was amazed at the number of entries for this simple little word (in its adjective form)! In the dictionary I used, I found over 30 entries.

Some of these definitions weren’t surprising. As I read them, I thought, “Yeah, I know the word that way.” But for some, my response was more, “Oh, yeah, it means that, too!” I wrote many of these entries down and have referred to them off and on since. Here are some of what I have:

1) morally excellent; virtuous, righteous
2) satisfactory in quality, quantity or degree
3) of high quality; excellent
4) right, proper, fit
5) well-behaved
6) kind or friendly
7) honorable or worthy
8) educated and refined
9) financially sound or safe
10) genuine; not counterfeit
11) sound or valid
12) healthful, beneficial
13) in excellent condition; healthy
14) cheerful; amiable
15) free of distress or pain; comfortable
16) agreeable; enjoyable
17) attractive
18) smooth; free from blemish
19) sufficient or ample
20) competent or skillful; clever
21) full
22) fertile; rich
23) loyal

In the Hebrew lexicon in Strong’s Bible Concordance, the Hebrew word translated as “good” in the King James Version of the Bible has for its definition “good in the widest sense.” So that sure seems like it encompasses all of the above meanings of the word, and more. How cool is that? “God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very [excellent, virtuous, fit, well-behaved, friendly, safe, genuine, valid, healthy, cheerful, comfortable, blemish free, sufficient, competent, fertile, rich, loyal, etc.].” And that is true about every element of His creation, including all of us!

Recently, when I was helping someone through prayerful treatment, the words “sealed” and “stamped” popped into my thought. When I looked up definitions for these words, I found that to seal something “confirms it, makes it secure or determines irrevocably or indisputably.” When something is stamped, it is “provided with a distinctive character.” And then it struck me, our stamp or seal is God, Divine Life’s declaration in this verse from Genesis: “very good,” or very [insert ‘appropriate/needed definition of the word good’ here]. These concepts make me think of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, or the USDA stamps on various meats, and such things. People trust those and look to them for guidance in making purchase – that the products are of good quality, safe, can be trusted. What a much better seal and stamp we have – we have God’s seal “VERY GOOD” right there on us, permanently, irrevocably. And that’s a pretty distinctive character that can be counted on as our real self.

I can see a few of these definitions that I need to understand better for and about myself. So I’ll be looking at this verse with alternative definitions for good this week – trying to see more clearly what all this good is in my life. So many answers are given in this simple little sentence with its simple little word. Fun!

Our Good Shepherd

2007-12-26T11:25:00.000-08:00

The Bible:
Ps 25:1-3 (to :),4-10
Ps 73:22-24
Luke 4:14 Jesus
Luke 15:1-7
John 10:1-7,9-11 by, 14-16
John 13:34,35
John 14:1,2,4-6
Mark 6:32-39,41-44
Mark 10:17-30,46-52
I Pet 2:25
I Thess 3:11-13

Science and Health:
46:25-26
288:29
30:5-25,30
25:13-18 np
286:9
138:17-3
350:6-23
494:30
37:16
594:12
353:7
494:5
180:27
178:32
326:3-22

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 330:1-4
Hymn 245:1-3
Hymn 343:1-4

Happy Christmas!

2007-12-24T13:04:00.000-08:00

I do love this poem by Mary Baker Eddy - it has been in my thought for the last week leading up to Christmas day. It really brings to mind the eternality of the Christ idea, which Jesus exemplified in every aspect of his life - from the special circumstances of his birth to the way he lived his life and taught others to the gift of his resurrection and ascension. The Christ is here - always and in all ways. How wonderful to have this time to pause to appreciate and celebrate this great gift from God!

Much peace and joy to all during the holiday and through the new year!

Christmas Morn

Blest Christmas morn, though murky clouds
Pursue thy way,
Thy light was born where storm enshrouds
Nor dawn nor day!

Dear Christ, forever here and near,
No cradle song,
No natal hour and mother's tear,
To thee belong.

Thou God-idea, Life-encrowned,
The Bethlehem babe —
Beloved, replete, by flesh embound —
Was but thy shade!

Thou gentle beam of living Love,
And deathless Life!
Truth infinite, — so far above
All mortal strife,

Or cruel creed, or earth-born taint:
Fill us today
With all thou art — be thou our saint,
Our stay, alway.

Christ the King

2007-12-19T22:39:00.000-08:00

The Bible:
Isa 11:1-5
Isa 9:6,7
Matt 1:18-25
Luke 2:21,22,25-38
Matt 2:1,2,7-12
Luke 2:40,52
Luke 4:15,32-37
Luke 5:18,20-25
Matt 20:29
Matt 21:1-9
Rev 12:10 (to :)
Luke 19:38 Blessed

Science and Health:
332:9-11 Jesus,19 Jesus,23-30 Jesus
312:31-22
316:12 (only),21
26:12
135:26
25:31
270:22-24,31
381:31
131:26
473:6-7,18-3
141:13
191:8
vii:2-13,17
95:28-5
230:6
150:4
565:13

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 362
Hymn 310
Hymn 417 (Joy to the World)

Something for Halloween

2007-10-31T22:23:00.000-07:00

What better time to consider the story of the witch of Endor in I Samuel than on Halloween! Follow the links for the full citation, or, if you have the program Concord, copy the links into the Citation Document window and view them there. Enjoy!

The Bible:
Deut 18:9-11,13
Isa 8:19-20,22
I Sam 28:3-20 (to :),25 Then
I Sam 31:1 (to :),2 (to ;),6
Lev 19:31
Lev 20:6 the,7
Acts 15:40
Acts 16:9-13,16-18
Acts 19:17-20 and fear
Gal 5:19-23,25
I John 4:1 (to :)

Science and Health:
86:13-20
352:12-32
587:1
594:22-24 (to .)
73:3-14,19-25
82:9-28
77:22-27
80:12
81:1
74:3,29
75:1-11,25-5
71:1-9,21
72:1-13
284:31-32
99:18-29

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 2
Hymn 39
Hymn 64

Servant Leadership

2007-10-24T22:46:00.000-07:00

I've loved this concept of servant leadership for a long time. I did some exploring online about it and its history. Check out these sites if you are interested in learning more, too:

Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership - Robert Greenleaf was the one who started the modern concept of servant leadership

10 Principles of Servant Leadership - from Hampton House at Butler University - I love what they have for #3!

Wikipedia's article on this subject - always helpful and lots more great links

And here are some ideas on this wonderful concept from the Bible and Science and Health. Follow the links to read the citations, or, as always, you can copy and paste the citations into the Concord software program and view them there (including all the hymns!).

Much love to you all!

The Bible:
Matt 4:17 Jesus
Matt 5:1-3,5,13
Matt 7:12
Mark 8:34-36
Mark 9:30 (to ;),33-41
Mark 10:31,35-38 (to :),40-52
John 13:1,4-7,12-17,34,35
John 15:13,14,16
II Cor 5:5,9
II Cor 6:1,3,4,6,8,10 as poor
Gal 6:2,3,5-7,9,10
I Pet 5:5 Yea,6

Science and Health:
51:28-8
54:8
48:10
64:8-10
270:22-24
142:18-20
4:3
34:18-23
272:3-8
30:26
25:22-9
451:2
454:14-2
453:14-15
444:16-19
570:14-18,23-24
367:17
323:32-4
518:15-19

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 131
Hymn 403
Hymn 162

A little twist on an old favorite

2007-10-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

Here's a new take on an old favorite verse from Psalm 23 that I found today. Verse six of this psalm is the Golden Text for the Christian Science Bible Lesson this week, so I took a little time to explore it more deeply with a variety of Bible translations, a couple of commentaries and the Hebrew lexicon in Strong's Concordance.

The verse reads: (Ps 23:6)

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I've looked up a few of the words in this verse before - mostly "goodness," "mercy," the ones that seemed more important, but I'd never paid much attention to the first word - "surely" until today. And have always taken it as an affirmation (which it is), that without a doubt, goodness and mercy will be with me. Or, as one commentator says, they are like two angels who pursue you, determined to run you down. Fun thought!

Anyway, I checked on "surely" and found that, in addition to that affirmative, the Hebrew word used in this verse can also mean "only." So, "only goodness and mercy shall follow me" - nothing else but that goodness and lovingkindness that God has for his loved creation. No curses or blights, no plagues or illnesses - nothing bad can pursue me, much less catch up to me - only goodness and mercy.

Or, as Patterson puts in in the Message Bible:

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

Just makes you feel wonderful to think about it!

Much joy!

No plague shall come nigh thee

2007-10-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

The Bible:
Ps 119:107
Jer 8:22
Jer 30:10 fear,11 (to :),12,13,17 (to ;),22
Ex 15:26 I am
Ps 25:1,2,4-6,7 according,17,18,20,21
Ps 91:1-5 (to ;),6,7,9-11,14-16
John 1:1-4,14,18
Matt 4:23 Jesus
Matt 5:1,2,5,8
Matt 8:2-4
John 8:12,32,47
Luke 17:12-19
James 5:13-15 (to ;)
Ps 103:1-4,11

Science and Health:
153:25-15
196:25-8
197:11-16
399:3-6,11-17,20-28
394:17-5
395:21
xi:9
142:26-12
143:26-31
288:31
176:21-7
418:29
390:20,29
393:8-18
474:31-2

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 99
Hymn 175
Hymn 280

Test Time

2007-10-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again I think – midterms! I was remembering when I began taking classes for a graduate program about a decade ago. I was at an unfamiliar university. In a program that was new to me. I had an overload of classes. And I held a teaching assignment in an unfamiliar subject. And now -- tests!

I was scared. So scared, in fact, that I could hardly study. Every time I tried -- with my textbooks, notebooks, cue cards, handouts -- I got nowhere. I couldn't focus on anything except how hard these tests were going to be. How did I get into this graduate program anyway? Why was I doing this to myself?

Taking a walk on the Sunday morning before all of these exams, I really reached out to God for an answer. A Bible passage I'd always liked came to mind: "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (II Timothy 1:7)

I thought about the statement, rolled it over and over in my mind. And then something about it struck me -- there's a distinction between fear and the three good things listed: power, love and a sound mind. God doesn't give us all four, but only the latter three. Fear doesn't come from God, and I didn't want anything that didn't come from God.

I sincerely believe that the only thing I can have comes from God's abundant love, the source of everyone's intelligence, including mine. It was giving me the strength, and the love, and the sound mind I needed to take the tests.

As I thought about these ideas that fall day, I started to feel joyful. My fear dropped off, because God's good was filling me up with a sense of goodness. I began to think more clearly. When I got home, I found I could focus on the work I needed to do to prepare for these tests. Any time the fear tried to sneak back in, I thought about that Bible passage and how fear and a sound mind cannot mingle. Soon the fear would go away again.

I took four tests that week. I did great on the three that were most important to my degree. The fourth, however, did not go so well -- but all was not lost. A couple of days later, my advisor called. He actually apologized for not realizing that I was so overloaded that semester! He didn’t understand that I was actually teaching a class on my own, not just assisting a professor with one. He strongly encouraged me to drop that problematic course, which I gladly did.

The next time tests came along (and you know they did!), I was off to a much better start. I didn't have to conquer fear again -- just the subject matter.

Here's a link to an idea from Science and Health, too, that describes what these spiritual views can do for us, whether a student or not, why the study of divine Science is so helpful in all ascpects of life.

Embraced by the light

2007-10-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

I’ve still been thinking about that idea of all-encompassing light that I blogged about the other day, and wondering about how that would feel – to be so embraced by light. Perhaps this is trying to put a spiritual concept into physical terms, but it seems to me that this light would be the sum total of all the wonderful qualities that God is: good, love, joy, vitality, trust, wisdom, etc. Certainly there would be some response that we’d feel to that. Peace, the feeling of being so loved, warmth, and bliss are some that spring to my thought. Just an overwhelming sense of being in harmony with everything and so loved – and so able to love.

Have you seen the TV show “Saving Grace”? I think it is on TNT and was new this summer. I wasn’t going to watch it, but somehow ended up catching an episode, and then another, and soon was hooked. Anyway, in this show, Grace (played by Holly Hunter) is an Oklahoma City police detective who leads a pretty wild lifestyle. Not a strong moral compass and that doesn’t bother her. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and at least some of her family. She is also agnostic at best, perhaps atheist. One evening, after a pretty rough day and some heavy drinking and partying, she is driving home, way over the speed limit, hits a man walking along the side of the road, and crashes her car into a speed limit sign.

After trying to resuscitate him unsuccessfully, she prays, “Oh, God, please help me.” And that’s when Earl enters her life. Earl looks like an Earl, a bit rough looking, perhaps a biker, flannel shirt and jeans, but the thing is Earl’s an angel. Certainly not what most of us would expect to see when an angel came in answer to our prayer! ;-) But what would Grace expect (if anything)? Certainly Earl appears like the type of person she already relates to, would be comfortable with, in everyday life.

Well, Grace being pretty much a “non-believer,” Earl had some proving to do, and this is where light started to come in. And of course this involves angel wings – and boy does he have wings! Large, bright white and glowing. And when he envelopes Grace in those wings, or more correctly, the light from those wings, it’s like she melts. You can just see this amazing sense of peace, intense joy, pure happiness and love wash over the woman, and she absolutely basks in this feeling. Maybe this is a glimpse of how that light of God in that city at the top of the hill feels. (BTW, the man Grace hit is immediately healed – and gone – and her car and the road sign are unscratched.)

So do we need Earl to come along and spread his wings to feel the impact of God’s light? I think we have our Earls and that we have these moments (hopefully we all do!) and we get these glimpses in our lives. We get them when that special someone gives us a hug, when a friend says or does just the right thing at the right moment, when we are engrossed in a piece of beautiful music or art, when a physical or emotional ill is healed. Think what it will be like when we get to the top of that hill and experience that light full-time. Who wouldn’t want that or to do what it takes to get there?

The allegory in Miscellaneous Writings gives some examples on what prevents people from even trying, perhaps even noticing that light and the path to it, and hints at the dangers that challenge us along the way as we struggle to that city “four-square.” And I think Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy is a great guidebook to help us along the way, to help us overcome those roadside dangers and pitfalls, and to enable us to reach that holy city filled with the light of God.

Unlimited Capabilities

2007-10-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

Seems like you hear from everyone, "Oh, I have too much to do! I don't have time for [insert meeting, lunch, event, opportunity, etc. here]." These are some ideas that I think help with this perspective that can be so mesmerizing, keeping one from doing what perhaps we really should be doing at times.

Just click on the links below to see the citations, or copy and paste the references into the Citation Document pane in the Concord software program to view them there.

Much joy!

The Bible:
Eccl 3:1,9-11 (to :),15,17,22 (to :)
Mark 1:14,15,39-45
Mark 3:7-10
Mark 5:21-42
Matt 11:25 Jesus (to ,),28,30
Rom 8:28 we
Gal 5:7,8
II Cor 3:4-6 such (to ;)
II Cor 9:1,6,8,11

Science and Health:
255:12-14
595:17
468:28-2
469:4-5 Life is not (to .)
428:19
322:3
312:24-26
387:3-26
248:12-4
260:13-20
288:27-28
128:4
385:7-11
89:21-22
326:16

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 97
Hymn 253
Hymn 82

Everywhere there’s light

2007-10-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

In Mary Baker Eddy’s book of collected writings, Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, there is an interesting six page article called “An Allegory.” I was reading it again this morning and didn’t make it past the end of the first sentence before I had to pause for a while. The sentence is: (323:2-6)

Picture to yourself "a city set upon a hill," a celestial city above all clouds, in serene azure and unfathomable glory: having no temple therein, for God is the temple thereof; nor need of the sun, neither of the moon, for God doth lighten it.

Obviously MBE is indicating here chapter 21 in Revelation where John describes the holy city, New Jerusalem. Though I’ve read this part of Revelation many times and have read this allegory a few times before, this morning I really had to sit back and ponder this depiction of light.

No sun, no moon, stars, street lamps, etc., just God giving light to the city. So the source of light is God, infinite Spirit, who I think of as omnipresent – everywhere present, always present. So the source is all around the city, not from some specific point and it is always “on”. And so it struck me, do you know what isn’t there? Shadows! The light is coming for all over; essentially is. You would need light to come from an object or point and then for it to shine on some thing that could block some of the rays in order to create a shadow. But this isn’t the case in the celestial city, the realm of God. God just shines and surrounds all spiritual creation in His light. Kind of cool, I think.

An image that this concept brought to my mind is from Star Trek: Deep Space 9. Don’t know if you ever watched this show, but periodically Captain Sisko would have encounters with a group of infinite beings called “the Prophets.” When he is with them, he is enveloped in light. Everything around him is white light. Hmm, don’t think he had any shadows, either. I think this might be a useful image to use to try to picture what this total surround of spiritual light might be like.

But what a great thought – to be shadow-less, to have no darkness on you or cast by you. This is what the true spiritual being is like. So to me this indicates that my role is to expect this light, see this light, and do what I can not to block it from shining purely, perfectly everywhere I go, in encounters with others – essentially to be expressing those good and wonderful spiritual qualities that reflects that light of Divine Being and helps to obliterate the shadows that cloud my own and others’ sense of life.

I think this is just the tip of the iceberg on this perspective of light and so I will be picturing for myself this "city that is set on a hill" awash in light for a while. What does that look like to you?

What is the question?

2007-10-04T09:39:00.001-07:00

The story of Jesus healing the blind man (John 9) that is in this week’s Christian Science Bible lesson has become a favorite in the last couple of years. What really did it for me was reading Peterson’s paraphrase in The Message Bible, especially the first five verses:

Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?" Jesus said, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world's Light." (John 9:1-5)

I love how in this edition, Jesus really turns around the disciples questions – makes them realize that they need to change the basis from which they are perceiving this man and making their query. And why even look for a cause, since the cause they were looking for was a popularly held theological belief: Something is wrong with this person so someone must have sinned. And it might not have even been this person who sinned. Maybe God was taking it out on the son of the sinner.

To me, it’s like Jesus is saying you are starting from the wrong premise – you need to start with God as I am showing Him to you – God as Life, Truth and Love. And so what you should look for are the effects that must result from God’s causation. And those effects must be good as God is good. Jesus is shedding a clear light on these old philosophies and revealing that they are not true. And this understanding, this higher perspective, removed the man’s blindness.

In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy wrote (476:32-5):

Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick. Thus Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is intact, universal, and that man is pure and holy.

I think this explains perfectly what Jesus did in this instance to heal this man of blindness and what he was telling his disciples (all of us!) so that we can “be energetically at work for the One who sent” him. Right now in my life, I feel like this passage from Science and Health and that story from John reveal the crux of practicing the love of Christian Science. This view might change, but for now I am earnestly trying to ask the better questions, checking to be sure that the basis of the question is from the right view of God and Her pure and perfect creation.

Prayer and Fasting

2007-10-02T22:16:00.000-07:00

Muslims around the world are in the midst of the holy month Ramadan, so seemed appropriate to think about some ideas on prayer and fasting, which are at the heart of these special days. I read the first three Bible citations from the New International Version, especially because of Isaiah 58, and this is what these verses are linked to below. Check it out in that version and maybe some others, but it is really clear and interesting in the NIV.

The Bible:
Ps 35:9,13 I,18,24 (to ;),28
Ps 109:22,24,26
Isa 58:1-11,14
Luke 4:1-15
Luke 6:6-10
Matt 4:25
Matt 5:1-3,6
Matt 6:5 when,6,9-13,16-22
Matt 17:14-21
Joel 2:12,13 (to 5th ,)

Science and Health:
1:6
260:24
261:31-7
296:6
7:17
15:23
201:9-14,17-5
241:5,19-27
220:22
53:3-5
242:9
107:1
109:11-24
254:16
21:9
490:8
41:6
20:27
60:29
99:23

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 64
Hymn 410
Hymn 237

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

2007-10-02T08:07:00.000-07:00

Oh, what a beautiful Mornin'
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I've got a beautiful feelin'
Everything's goin' my way.

Rogers & Hammerstein

I woke up this morning with this refrain from the well known song “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” from the musical Oklahoma singing in my head. There was no logical reason for it to be there. I enjoy musicals, but they aren’t a big part of my life. I truly hadn’t thought about this musical in ages. So I had to take it as a sweet message from my Father-Mother God. Really it was a lovely way to wake up with this gentle melody running through my thought.

So, being a fairly curious person, I had to ask why. Why this song, Father? What am I supposed to get from its words? Well, I realized that I have had an urge to appreciate mornings more. I’ve never thought of myself as a “morning person.” Not that I wake up grumpy – I’m usually in a good mood, even my husband says so (phew!). But I don’t exactly look forward to waking up, getting up, and getting going on the day. And for me being up before 6:30 is pretty amazing! So this was a great message to get, to brighten my outlook on starting the day. As I lay in bed and thought about the words and began to pray, I really was feeling more positive about this day’s beginning.

In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy defined morning as “Light; symbol of Truth; revelation and progress.” (p. 591) Certainly only good things there! And I do want to progress, to be awake for revelation. A great reminder and something to continue to pray with as each morning comes along – whether it is at 6 AM or later in the day.

But I am thinking the message of this melody is more than that for me today. I have been thinking and wondering quite a bit lately about what I am doing with my life of late and about the mix of activities that I am participating in currently. There is a lot and it all takes quite a bit of my time, in addition to trying to finish fixing up our house (two-and-a-half years and counting!) and generally care for it. So I’ve been asking, “Am I supposed to be doing all of these things? Am I giving to each activity the care and attention it deserves?” They mostly all go together well in their focus, but… should something be dropped?

So the last two lines of the refrain feel significant to me in this regard right now. I can have a “beautiful feelin’” – a happy, secure, peaceful sense – that “everything’s goin’ my way” – because, as it says in Science and Health, “All is under the control of the one Mind, even God.” (p. 544) and I am learning more and more to trust this fact, and that the result of divine Mind’s or Love’s control is and must be good for all of Her creation, because God is Love. And this gives me a sense of peace, that I can trust that God will provide for me the opportunity and ability to do well for these activities, that She will help me see more clearly – in the light of the morning – what I should or should not be doing. I’ll know when I need to and don’t’ need to fret.
So I think I’ll be singing this song, or at least the refrain for today and the next few days. We know what hymn Laura Matthews is singing today. How about you? What song is in your heart and inspiring your day?

Have a beautiful morning!

Infinite capabilities

2007-09-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

When a friend emailed me this morning with her giant to-do list, hoping for some spiritual uplift to help her face this growing mountain, I realized that this was why one of my favorite quotes from Science and Health was bouncing around in my thought this morning. Here's the story about how it became a favorite...

I’d been working for an employer for a couple of years, essentially in the same position, though the focus of the work had changed during that time. I loved the work, loved working for my boss, but was feeling like I needed to grow in other ways. After a discussion with my boss, we agreed I’d start moving into a new position which included activities I was already doing for the team plus some other projects to manage. The key to this transition was that we had to find a replacement for my current role. I really did dislike the idea of giving up that position as I loved the work, but I really felt like I needed something more at that point. A few months went by and we were not coming up with a suitable candidate to fill my current position. So I tried to work both of these jobs, the primary challenge being that these activities needed work environments that were essentially opposites. My then current position was an “on demand” response sort of activity while the new role needed quiet and thought. I became frustrated as I wanted to do well at both, especially at this new role, but felt like I was failing each, and my boss.

One day I was really struggling with frustration over all of this and reached out to God more earnestly than ever. I’d been praying but still felt stuck and stymied. What I got from this yearning was this quote: "We are all capable of more than we do." (89:21-22) Well, I had to laugh - and did! Can you believe it?! God has such a great sense of humor! There I was, wanting to divest myself of things to do, and He's reminding me that I really can do more! And I'm capable of doing more, not just able. Here are some of the definitions for capable:

2 obsolete : COMPREHENSIVE
3 : having attributes (as physical or mental power) required for performance or accomplishment 4 : having traits conducive to or features permitting
5 : having legal right to own, enjoy, or perform6 : having or showing general efficiency and ability

Well, that laughter totally broke the mesmerized sort of feeling I was under induced by the feeling of burden. That feeling of being overwhelmed had kept me focused on feeling like I was overwhelmed and stopped me from seeing what was true - that, as God's reflection, as the expression of infinite Mind, I have “all the attributes required for accomplishment” and the “legal right to enjoy or perform.” I thanked God and was finally able to really pray about this issue, really open my thought and listen to what the divine Mind had to share.

My prayer then was, "Father, whichever role you want me to be in, that's what I'll do. If it’s this new activity, great. If it is staying where I've been and letting someone else take on the other, then I will be happy with that decision. What job do You want me to have?"

The answer I got was totally surprising - totally from left field! I distinctly heard this, "Person X's position."

I thought, "Yeah, right. Person X would never leave that job; it's perfect for Person X. Now, really, what do you want me to do?"

And I got the same answer, "Person X's job."

"Okay," I thought, "It would be a very good fit for me, and would mean doing something I'd love and have wanted to do, have studied about how to do, so would use my talents. But no way will Person X ever leave that spot. So, You figure it out, Father, and let me know."

So things continued for another month or two as they had been, except I felt at peace and was finding ways to work in both activities (One was just deciding that I was leaving work by 7 or 7:30 each evening. That way I could do the reading that I needed to do for the new position from the more quiet space of home. No phones ringing. No, "Hey, Bets, where's....").

Then one day my boss asked me talk to her in the conference room. The hairs literally stood up on the back of my neck! The way she phrased it, I knew something was up. It was a phrase we'd joked about a few times, that one should be a bit worried when your boss said this to you. Yikes! She’s saying it to me! So we sat down in the conference room, and guess what? She told me I was being asked to take Person X's position as Person X was being assigned to something new. I about fell over! Literally, I was reeling in my seat! Wow! God is awesome in how He works!

So the next few weeks were full to say the least as the transition was accomplished. I had to pass along activities from the new role I had been trying to take up, and, lo and behold, we never really did hire someone specifically for the old position! Another woman working on the team easily picked up the essential elements of that position. Another sentence from Science and Health added on to the one above as my guiding thought and prayer during the transition: "All is under the control of the one Mind, even God [variously inserting the different synonyms and qualities of God – such as Love, Truth, omniscience – as were needed by the moment]." (544:16-17)

I worked in this new position for about nine months, loving it and learning so much, and then new transitions came along. But the lesson about my capabilities – never limited – has stuck with me, thank Goodness!

A Day of Atonement

2007-09-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

Yom Kippur - the Jewish Day of Atonement - was last weekend. Thought it would be interesting to explore a little of the history of this High Holy day and think about the spiritual import of atonement. Links are provided for the citations, or copy and paste them into the Concord program and view them there. G'mar khatima tovah! - or -"May you be sealed for a good year!"

The Bible:
Lev 16:2-10,12-18,20-22,29-34
Ps 51:1--3,10-13,15-17
Heb 3:1 holy,2
Heb 8:1-3 We have such,6,10-13
Heb 9:1-3,6,7,11-15,24
Heb 10:1-4,12,14,19-24
John 1:1,2,14,16,17
Matt 4:17 Jesus,23
Matt 26:3,4
Matt 27:1,2
Mark 15:25,37,38
Isa 53:1-5
I John 2:1,2
I John 4:10
Rom 5:11 we also

Science and Health:
18:1-11 np
19:17-24
20:14-8
26:21
39:6
23:1
5:3
405:24
12:10
6:18-24,26-27
497:13 We
316:21
332:32
240:18
407:17
253:18-19
304:14
24:11
202:3
481:2-3,5

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 423
Hymn 263
Hymn 299

Overcoming anger and strife

2007-09-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

Just click on the links to view each citation or copy and paste the list into the citation document pane of the Concord software program to view them there.

The Bible:
Prov 15:18
Prov 16:27-30,32
Prov 28:25,26
Prov 29:22,23
Prov 20:3
James 3:13-18
Matt 4:17 Jesus,24,25
Matt 5:1,2,5,9,21-24
Matt 22:35-40
James 1:20-22,26
II Tim 2:24-26 the servant
Acts 15:1-23 (to ;),30,31
Gal 5:19-26
Phil 2:1-5
II Cor 13:11 Be,12,14

Science and Health:
467:9
128:27
192:4
342:2
273:29-3
280:30
399:23
403:16-20
213:27
58:5
231:16
276:1-16
9:17
405:5-15,19 Immortal
12:10
447:5-9
456:17-20
4:3-9
202:3
469:30-5
519:17

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 371
Hymn 376
Hymn 31

Psalm 23

2007-09-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

I woke up with this Psalm in my thought this morning, so posting it as a prayer for all remembering and affected by the events that occurred six years ago today. This version is from Science and Health, which substitutes "for the corporeal sense, the incorporeal or spiritual sense of Deity." (p. 578)

Psalm XXIII

[DIVINE LOVE] is my shepherd; I shall not want.
[LOVE] maketh me to lie down in green pastures: [LOVE] leadeth me beside the still waters.
[LOVE] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]: [LOVE] leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for [LOVE] is with me; [LOVE'S] rod and [LOVE'S] staff they comfort me.
[LOVE] prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: [LOVE] anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [LOVE] for ever.

A friend mentioned recently that he was reminded helpfully that this psalm says we are _walking through_ the valley - not stopping, camping out, building homes or otherwise residing there. It's just a part of the path and we do get by it or through it. So keep on journeying! Your Shepherd is right there with you.

Peace to you all.

Owning and voicing our gifts

2007-09-10T15:57:00.000-07:00

I’d been reading this sweet little book by Julia Cameron, Blessings, each night before going to bed much of last year but stopped half-way through a while back. Not sure why, just stopped the habit. Last night I picked it up again from the table near my bedside where’s its been for these past months and opened it to the chapter (each “chapter” is like a journal note on a topic, just a page or two of spiritual insight and uplift) where I’d left off, and was amazed. Here’s what Ms. Cameron had to share on the topic “I voice the universe in an original way” (page 92):

I bring to life a unique and powerful voice. My insights and perceptions are important blessings. Voicing my insights and perceptions is important to the world. I am an irreplaceable individual whose gifts benefit all. Owning my gifts, inhabiting them, and expanding them are my gifts to the world and those with whom I share it. As I become larger, more colorful, and more truly myself, I create for others the realization that it is safe for them to become larger, more vibrant, more fully alive. Moving upward and outward in a spirit of creative community, I am non-competitive and truly collaborative, growing larger myself while helping others to achieve their true size as well. The cosmic web is alive with greater and greater consciousness, larger and brighter possibility. As I extend my hand in my immediate world, I alter and enlarge the benevolence of the world as a whole. My every action is sweet and significant. Knowing this, I consciously and creatively act for the highest good. My unique voice and consciousness bless all.

The ideas in this passage from Blessings reminded me immediately of something from Mary Baker Eddy’s booklet Pulpit and Press (p. 43) which I hadn’t thought of for a while:

"What if the little rain should say,
'So small a drop as I
Can ne'er refresh a drooping earth,
I'll tarry in the sky.'"

Is not a man metaphysically and mathematically number one, a unit, and therefore whole number, governed and protected by his divine Principle, God? You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this. Then you will find that one is as important a factor as duodecillions in being and doing right, and thus demonstrating deific Principle. A dewdrop reflects the sun. Each of Christ's little ones reflects the infinite One, and therefore is the seer's declaration true, that "one on God's side is a majority."

Wow! I needed this idea. Thought it might help others, so wanted to be sure to share it here. Such a good reminder to ask myself, “Am I using the ideas, gifts, talents, etc. God has given me, especially in the way He would like me to use them? Or am I holding back and thus perhaps not helping another feel the fullness of their expression too?” Oh, so likely that I do, certainly have many times over held back from sharing or following through on an idea for fear – fear for being wrong, sounding dumb, off-base, weird. But, if these ideas, inspirations, etc. that I've gotten are from God, there is not, cannot be anything dumb about them, nothing about each one of them and how I would express it that is not on-target. Okay, maybe they might seem weird, at least to others, but what's really wrong with that? Just being fully unique!

I especially appreciate Ms. Cameron’s reminder that, by expressing our true selves more fully, we help others express themselves more vibrantly, joyously, wholly. That’s generosity at work, too. Changes one’s motives about why we share and express our God-given talents and being, doesn’t it? Not for our own display, but to fully express and therefore give praise to God, and to help lift up our neighbor. Hmmm, doesn’t that sound like the two Great Commandments? (Mark 12: 28-34)

I am so grateful for this reminder and will endeavor to watch more that I don’t hold back, don’t do less than express myself and talents as God knows me, and hope and know that this fuller expression of me will help others along as well. Great tie-in to this week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson, too, if you are checking that out.

So own your voice and share it! Be that little rain drop that drops from the clouds and bless the world! I'll be trying to do so more. Hmmm, that sounds like more incentive to share in this blog-way. :)

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

2007-09-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

I read this book a year ago and debated about commenting on it, but decided not to after all. But when I took a weekend trip a couple of weeks ago, it just kept coming up in my face. Over and over it was there at bookstores (in town and at the airport), front and center. A number of people pointed it to me, “Have you read this book? It is sooo good!” Hmmm, not sure I totally agree, but it was an interesting read but an unsatisfying ending to me. But, as this book kept coming up in my face so much, here I am adding my thoughts to the blogosphere on it. And it really does have a valuable spiritual lesson – that of the power and importance of honesty. Or perhaps, more accurately, it depicts the devastation of dishonesty.

If you aren’t familiar with the book, here’s a bit of a synopsis. David and Norah Henry, into the start of their marriage after a whirl-wind courtship, are racing to the hospital in a snowstorm in Lexington, Kentucky in the 1960s. She is about to give birth to twins. He is a doctor and must handle the delivery himself, along with the help of Nurse Caroline Gill at his own clinic. Their son is born first – whole and healthy. Their daughter arrives next, with all the signs of Downs Syndrome. David has flashbacks to his childhood, to a sister with the same condition and the misery this created for his mother and difficulties for the family. He makes a decision – to have the girl sent to a home via the nurse and tell his wife their daughter died in childbirth (Norah being unconscious from drugs and pain). Caroline Gill does her duty, at first. She takes the girl to the home David directs her to, but she is disgusted by what she finds and decides to raise the girl on her own. From there, life falls apart for the Henrys and becomes an adventure for Caroline Gill.

Now David has the huge secret of his decision, based on his own assumptions about his wife and her abilities, their relationship, etc., that he must continue to hide from Norah. And their relationship begins to fall apart as he begins to withdraw (from guilt, as a protection). Norah has no idea why this man, who she really didn’t know all that well yet, who was tender and caring, has changed, has closed in on himself. It isn’t until the end of the story that she and their son learn the truth, that they discover this daughter/sister they didn’t know, not until after Norah and David are long divorced and David has died.

For me, the lesson of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is summed up in this statement from Mary Baker Eddy’s book Science and Health (p. 453):

“Honesty is spiritual power. Dishonesty is human weakness, which forfeits divine help.”

David depicts this weakness. He can’t live up to the obligations and issues that a child with Downs would create. And he assumes this weakness is true of his wife. He cloaks the action in the guise of relieving his wife of a difficult life, assuming she is like his mother, that she is not strong enough to face this type of challenge. And so falls into the trap of dishonesty and the strain of maintaining this lie (BTW, David knew Caroline ended up keeping his daughter, who she named Phoebe. Caroline regularly sent him information and pictures about Phoebe and her life – an action that likely drove David’s guilt deeper and caused him to retreat further within himself.).

I don’t know anyone with a child with Downs, but have certainly read and heard stories of those that do. These stories always depict people that truly rise to the occasion, that reach new levels of strength and love, that find special family bonds as the whole family unites to care for this precious one. David took this opportunity away from his family. From the characterization of Norah, she seems like one who would have cared for their special needs daughter with grace, love, and great strength. If David had been honest, if he had let Norah in on the decision, life would certainly have been totally different for the Henrys. But I don’t think it could have been worse than how it turned out, for sure! They could have found that spiritual strength to propel them along this path that was different than expected but that still would have been filled with joy and love, based on an honest, open decision from moment one of Phoebe’s appearance in their lives. Caroline Gill certainly had a wonderful life with Phoebe and did much good for many based on this dear girl’s presence in her life. It became more than it would have been otherwise.

Okay, yes, just a story, but a great lesson in the importance, the criticalness of honesty. And probably a good one about not making assumptions about others, too, cause you know what they say, when you “assume” you make an “ass” out of “u” and “me.” ;-0

So, not a whole-hearted recommendation of this book, but don’t let this stop you from reading it if you feel drawn to it.

Awaken to the Light

2007-09-05T22:54:00.000-07:00

These are some ideas in response to a very sad accident that recently happened to a little boy that attended the school where a friend works. Many were praying for him and his family, but, sadly, he passed on a few days after the accident. The prayers have been helpful, though, as they've supported the family and its friends through the next steps they've been challenged with. My friend reports that many obstacles and issues have come up, but all have been met in really neat ways - definitely ways that have been guided by God.

As with the other posts of these reading, you can view the citations by the links provided or by copying and pasting the references into the Citation Document pane in Concord and clicking on them there. Thanks!

The Bible:
Ps 57:8-11
Ps 139:1-3,11,12,17,18
Isa 52:1 (to :),2,7,9,10
John 1:1-5,9,12 as,16
John 11:1-15,17-27,32-34,38-45
Rom 13:11 now,12
II Tim 1:7,9,10
Eph 5:14 Awake

Science and Health:
95:28-32
190:21
510:27-1
491:17-23,28
292:27-31
493:28-11
128:22 If
218:32-2
230:6
251:8
474:31-2
592:21
584:1
72:12-13
323:24
75:12-24
250:22-32
427:26-3
429:31
288:31-2
305:22
557:18

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 35
Hymn 101
Hymn 161

Rivers of Life

2007-08-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

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

Mind knows and you're the knowing

2007-08-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

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

Fully protected

2007-08-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

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!

Importunity

2007-07-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

The Bible:
Prov 11:27 (to :)
Prov 7:15
Prov 13:4
Ps 88:1-3,11-13
Ps 86:1-7,10-13,15 thou,16
Luke 4:14 Jesus, 15
Luke 11:1-13
Luke 15:8 what,9
Matt 5:6
Matt 15:21-28
Mark 10:46-52
James 5:16 The
I Thess 5:16-18,21,23 (to ;),28

Science and Health:
1:1
15:14
11:21-15
12:27-19
4:3-5,12-2
2:8-30
273:29-3
412:18
411:27
421:11
418:5
462:9
322:26
400:9
10:14
vii:1-2

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 194
Hymn 355
Hymn 253

Let your light shine!

2007-07-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

The Bible:
Isa 60:1-5
John 1:1,2,4,5,9,12-14 as many,16
Matt 4:17 Jesus
Matt 5:2,3,8,9,14-16,41whosoever,42,44 I say, 45,48
Luke 11:33,34,36
Mark 16:15,17,18
Job 22:21,22,26,28,29
Prov 4:18 the
Acts 5:12 (to ;),14,42
Acts 6:8-10
Acts 8:5-8
Acts 9:31-42
Acts 11:19-24
II Cor 4:1,2-7 by,13,15,16
Rom 13:12,13 (to ;)
Rom 15:5-7,13,14,17,20,21
I Thess 5:5 (to :),6 let us watch,11,21,28

Science and Health:
510:27-4
510:9
325:30-5
139:8-9
150:4
293:28
33:18
54:1-10
45:6-10
38:10
138:18-22
323:6
37:22
345:7
546:23
227:21-26
342:21
570:14-18,23-24
192:23-24 (to .)
342:5
367:17-29
271:26

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 14:1-4
Hymn 82:1-3
Hymn 172:1-3

Church - affording proof of its utility

2007-06-26T22:19:00.000-07:00

these readings were primarily focused on part of the definition of "church" from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I actually read the last two Bible citations from J.B. Phillips' The New Testament in Modern English, but I'm not finding a searchable version online for the link, so you can check out the translation here. Used the New King James Version for links these two sets of verses for an alternative.

The Bible:
II Tim 4:2,5 watch
Luke 4:14,15
Luke 9:1-4,6,10 (to .)
Luke 10:1,2,4 (to :),5,7 (to .),9,16 (to ;),17
Luke 22:35
II Cor 8:24 shew
Acts 5:12,14,16,42
Acts 3:1-9,11-13 (to ;),16
Acts 4:24 and said,29-35 grant
Acts 2:42-47
Eph 1:3-6,11-19
I Thess 4:1,9-12

Science and Health:
138:17-22,25-2
136:1
583:12-19
35:19-25 Our church
26:28-32
242:30-32
233:1
454:17-22
57:23-24
494:10-11
270:23-24
79:31-32
570:14-18,23-24
518:15-21
458:32-8
323:19
344:19
473:18-31
97:29
5:14-18
15:25-26,28-30

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 386
Hymn 224
Hymn 105

More support in Virginia Tech tragedy

2007-04-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

There are so many good thoughts and prayers being shared in posts! Wanted to be sure to point out some more of these as a help. They've all added much fuel to my prayers. Hope they do for you, too!

Arresting violence where and how? an additional post by Chris Raymond, CS
Virginia Tech and the man show understood love by Sandi Justad, CS
Continuing prayer for Virginia Tech by Kim Korinek, CS (plus a lot of other great links to check out!)
Teach me how to listen by Laura Matthews, CS
Virginia Tech aftermath by Evan Mehlenbacher, CSB
"So when day grows dark and cold..." by Kate Robertson, CS
What can I do? by Travis Thomas, CS
Responding to the tragedy at Virginia Tech by Colin Treworgy, CS

Also, this peom by Mary Baker Eddy, has been in my thought a lot these last couple of days. I offer it as a prayer for all involved in this sad event.

Satisfied

It matters not what be thy lot,
So Love doth guide;
For storm or shine, pure peace is thine,
Whate'er betide.

And of these stones, or tyrants' thrones,
God able is
To raise up seed--in thought and deed--
To faithful His.

Aye, darkling sense, arise, go hence!
Our God is good.
False fears are foes--truth tatters those,
When understood.

Love looseth thee, and lifteth me,
Ayont hate's thrall:
There Life is light, and wisdom might,
And God is All.

The centuries break, the earth-bound wake,
God's glorified!
Who doth His will--His likeness still--
Is satisfied.

Check this out...

2007-04-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

BTW - be sure to check out friend Chris Raymond's wonderful blog post about "Sending prayers to Virginia Tech." Wonderfully thoughtful!

Adding my prayers for those at Virginia Tech

2007-04-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

What sadness has enveloped the campus of Virginia Tech after yesterday's tragic shootings. My heart and my prayers go out to all of those involved.

I pray that those who have lost a loved one can find the peace that Jesus gave to us all - that eternal sense of God's everpresence that holds us all so closely.

I pray that the family of the troubled young man who took this step can find some glimmer of light and hope over these next days and months as the pieces of his life are laid out for everyone, that they can know that their son/brother/grandson/nephew/cousin is not the person really that will be painted for the world to see. He truly is a child of God, though something clouded this from his perception.

I pray that the campus can return to a natural sense of safety and security - as provided by supreme Life, the One who really is governing the universe and maintaining all good.

I pray that the family members of those killed can find the strength to forgive this troubled young man so that they can find healing of this grief that perhaps feels so overwhelming right now.

And I know that the God who is divine Love will give all this good to all of those involved, as She is always doing every moment. Much love to you all!!

45:16
Glory be to God, and peace to the struggling hearts! Christ hath rolled away the stone from the door of human hope and faith, and through the revelation and demonstration of life in God, hath elevated them to possible at-one-ment with the spiritual idea of man and his divine Principle, Love.

A Convenient Truth

2007-04-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

I've watched An Inconvenient Truth a couple of times lately. Which started me wondering, what does God say about creation? The following are some ideas I found and that will be supporting my prayers for the earth and our universe. What ideas are you praying with?? Would love to hear them!

The Bible:
Gen 1:1-4,6-8 (to .),9-12,14-18,20-22,24-28,31 (to .)
Gen 2:1
Isa 45:5-8,11,12
Isa 40:25,26
Isa 41:17-20
Gen 6:9-14 Noah was,17-22
Gen 7:7-10,17-19,23
Gen 8:1-4,13 and Noah,15-22
Gen 9:1,9-13
Prov 12:10 (to :),11 (to :)
Rom 1:20 the (to ;)
Rom 8:19-21,24-28
Col 1:9-17
Ps 148:1-13
Ps 104:24,30,31
Rev 4:11

Science and Health:
502:27
256:5
286:16
513:17,26-27
207:27
119:1-18
516:9
124:14-2
209:16-30
240:1-21
39:25
581:8 (to .), 11-13
295:5-8
507:24
300:28-31
538:11-13
539:14
337:22
484:13-15
114:27
184:27
171:12-13
339:7-9
205:12-13

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 384
Hymn 282
Hymn 62

The references above can be copied and pasted in the Concord Study Package program for an alternative means of viewing.

7th Commandment and our relationship with God

2007-03-28T20:19:00.000-07:00

The Bible:
Ex 20:1,2,14
Isa 54:5-8 thy Maker
Prov 6:32 whoso
Hos 3:1-5
Hos 4:1,12,6,13 (to :)
Hos 11:8,9
Hos 14:1,2,9
Jer 3:14,15,20-23
Jer 4:1,2
II Pet 2:9-12,14,15,18-20
Mark 1:14,15,34
Mark 6:56
Mark 7:5-9,14-16,21-23
Mark 8:34 Whosoever, 36,38
Matt 6:21,24
Heb 10:23
Titus 1:15,16
II Tim 2:19,22
II Cor 11:2,3
Eph 5:25-28,33

Science and Health:
56:18-3
330:25 The
85:23
52:3-13
140:16
405:5
272:19
58:7-12
371:27
60:16-28
59:27
58:31
59:17
241:5
346:29
462:9
223:2
323:28

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 49
Hymn 380
Hymn 113

Spiritual growth and immortality

2007-03-21T22:30:00.000-07:00

The Bible:
Ps 92:4 thou,5,12-15
Ps 16:8 (to :),9-11
Gen 5:23,24
Heb 11:5,6
II Kings 2:1,6-15
Isa 11:1 there,2
Luke 2:52 Jesus
Luke 3:21,22
Luke 4:1,2 (to .),14,15
Luke 13:6-13
Luke 22:1,2 (to ;),54 (to .)
Luke 23:33
Luke 24:1-9,36,39-46 (to ,),48,50-53
Acts 4:33
Eph 4:1,7 unto,8,12-15,17,20-24
I Pet 2:1-3
II Pet 3:18

Science and Health:
264:32-22
214:5
265:26-28,31-2
318:16
368:22-24
406:20-25 We
91:5
521:12
190:14-31
4:3-5
291:5-18
350:6-10
585:9
588:7
461:31
485:14-19
496:9
258:13-15

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 64
Hymn 105
Hymn 207

Those of you who have the Concord Study package can just copy and paste these citations into the Citation Document pane in the program and view the readings that way if you'd prefer.

Thanks!

Spring has sprung!

2007-03-20T06:33:00.000-07:00

It's here! Spring has sprung! I love this time of year when suddenly you start to see those changes - the bits of new, green growth creeping up and in all around. Tree limbs that seemed so barren suddenly have little green buds all over them. The hyacinth bulbs I planted last fall are starting to pop out of the ground - hurray! Crocus that has been around the house probably for a long time are stretching their green leaves toward the sky. And, as I look out my window these last few days, patches of green in the lawn are widening and spreading. All so beautiful - fresh and new with hope and promise.

And it seems that people are following suit. After a few months of hibernation, we are venturing out - testing the weather and exploring the paths we all had been running and walking just a few months ago. A little slower for those of us who really went into deep hibernation! But what great fun to see people out and about again - in the local park, walking along the nearby bike paths and river. Everything "coming to life" again. Ah, spring!

And our regular friends the robins and mourning doves are back. Great joy to see them working their waay around the yard looking for food, perching in branches and on gutter edges sunning themselves, and hearing the doves mournful coo.

Somehow, this time of year, it seems like you can just feel God's love, Her touch on everything, as the surround comes almost suddenly back to life. In celebration, here are some thoughts from Mary Baker Eddy's writings that are appropo:

"Beauty is a thing of life, which dwells forever in the eternal Mind and reflects the charms of His goodness in expression, form, outline, and color. It is Love which paints the petal with myriad hues, glances in the warm sunbeam, arches the cloud with the bow of beauty, blazons the night with starry gems, and covers earth with loveliness. " (Science and Health, 247:21)

"God fashions all things, after His own likeness. Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence. Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and light. The grass beneath our feet silently exclaims, 'The meek shall inherit the earth.' The modest arbutus sends her sweet breath to heaven. The great rock gives shadow and shelter. The sunlight glints from the church-dome, glances into the prison-cell, glides into the sick-chamber, brightens the flower, beautifies the landscape, blesses the earth." (Science and Health, 516:9-19)

"Spring is my sweetheart, whose voices are sad or glad, even as the heart may be; restoring in memory the sweet rhythm of unforgotten harmonies, or touching tenderly its tearful tones.

"Spring passes over mountain and meadow, waking up the world; weaving the wavy grass, nursing the timid spray, stirring the soft breeze; rippling all nature in ceaseless flow, with 'breath all odor and cheek all bloom.' Whatever else droops, spring is gay: her little feet trip lightly on, turning up the daisies, paddling the watercresses, rocking the oriole's cradle; challenging the sedentary shadows to activity, and the streams to race for the sea. Her dainty fingers put the fur cap on pussy-willow, paint in pink the petals of arbutus, and sweep in soft strains her Orphean lyre. 'The voice of the turtle is heard in our land.' The snow-bird that tarried through the storm, now chirps to the breeze; the cuckoo sounds her invisible lute, calling the feathered tribe back to their summer homes. Old robin, though stricken to the heart with winter's snow, prophesies of fair earth and sunny skies. The brooklet sings melting murmurs to merry meadows; the leaves clap their hands, and the winds make melody through dark pine groves. ...

"When gentle violet lifts its blue eye to heaven, and crown imperial unveils its regal splendor to the sun; when the modest grass, inhabiting the whole earth, stoops meekly before the blast; when the patient corn waits on the elements to put forth its slender blade, construct the stalk, instruct the ear, and crown the full corn in the ear, — then, are mortals looking up, waiting on God, and committing their way unto Him who tosses earth's mass of wonders into their hands? When downtrodden like the grass, did it make them humble, loving, obedient, full of good odor, and cause them to wait patiently on God for man's rich heritage, — 'dominion over all the earth'? Thus abiding in Truth, the warmth and sunlight of prayer and praise and understanding will ripen the fruits of Spirit, and goodness will have its springtide of freedom and greatness." (Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, pp. 329-330)

Ah, spring! Thank you, Father-Mother God!

Lifting those burdens and finding release

2007-03-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

I was remembering a healing I had recently when I was praying this morning. It was one of those resolutions that sort of snuck in. Not sure why it was coming to thought today, except that I probably had not fully expressed gratitude and appreciation for it - which is important to do, I've found, for those good things that happen in life.

So here's what happened: A few week's ago, I was going to a meeting one evening. I had my purse - which in the winter seems to get bigger and heavier with stuff - and a canvas bag with folders for the meeting, a couple of books, etc., so kind of heavy. I remember shifting these both to my left hand as I walked along toward the buidling. As I looked at these bags in my hand, I thought, "Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't carry these two heavy things in one hand." Okay - yes - here's what started it, and I didn't think any further about this at the time, but went on into the building for the meeting.

As you may have guessed, not long into the meeting, my shoulder began to ache a bit, to start feeling stiff, somewhat inflexible. By the next morning, I could barely move the shoulder and arm except with quite alot of pain and discomfort. "Argh," I thought, "what did I do??" I remembered the two heavy bags and that niggling little thought I had when walking in for the meeting. And I knew I had to pray about this situation.

Which I did. I wasn't totatlly clear on what I needed to learn from this experience. Seemed like a few things to clarify in my thought! But I knew that whatever it was that I needed to learn about God, myself, and our relationship, it would heal this problem.

One thing stood out as obvious - that thought about how heavy the bags were and, at least unexpressed directly, that carrying them together like that could cause harm, it couldn't have been from God. He made me and all things to express Him. He is infinite Spirit, so I and all real creation express Him spiritually, and there is no weight to Spirit or spiritual things. So how could God tell me to be careful of how heavy something is and that it could harm me? He couldn't, and didn't, so I should have dismissed that suggestion right away. I didn't, but it wasn't too late! I could dismiss and reverse it right then. And I did.

But relief wasn't coming immediately. Okay, what else do I need to learn, Father?

Then I remembered a little situation I was facing. I was supposed to be helping organize an event for a group. It wasn't going in the direction I felt it should, or that seemed like the original intent. And I wasn't really being included in the process like I thought I should (Yeah, yeah. Boo hoo! Poor me, huh?? :). "Ah," I thought, "there's another type of burden I've been carrying around! Putting weight on me, making myself responsible for something." It got really clear as I considered this idea, that I wasn't responsible for this event, didn't really even have to have a hand in it - and I got really okay with this. I could let it go because it wasn't up to me - as always it was up to God. And I knew that the others who were working on this idea were good people, had good intententions, were striving to listen to God for the best way to bless all with this activity. So it all was in the best hands - God's.

I just felt so free and grateful for this insight! A real release of falsely-claimed responsibilities. And just more joyful.

I'm not sure if my shoulder followed in its release right away - might have been the next day. But it happened naturally and quickly, I know that. After about two days of stiffness and intense discomfort it was all gone. I barely remembered this all happened until a few days later, and then this morning. And I'm happy to feel that rush of gratitude for some deeper insights into God's presence and power that will surely continue to help along this path Spirit-ward.

I'm thinking this passage from Science and Health reflects some of what I was consdering in my prayers for this difficulty:

"The body seems to be self-acting, only because mortal mind is ignorant of itself, of its own actions, and of their results, — ignorant that the predisposing, remote, and exciting cause of all bad effects is a law of so-called mortal mind, not of matter. Mind is the master of the corporeal senses, and can conquer sickness, sin, and death. Exercise this God-given authority. Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action. Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.

"Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God's government. Have no fear that matter can ache, swell, and be inflamed as the result of a law of any kind, when it is self-evident that matter can have no pain nor inflammation. Your body would suffer no more from tension or wounds than the trunk of a tree which you gash or the electric wire which you stretch, were it not for mortal mind." (393:4-24)

Live and die by the sword, or live by the Word

2007-03-07T23:16:00.000-08:00

A look at the Sixth Commandment.

The Bible:
Ex 21:12,14,24,25
II Sam 2:1 David inquired,4 (to.),8,9,10 But,12,13 (to :),17-23 (to 2nd :),26 (to 2nd ?),32 (to .)
II Sam 3:1,6,12,13 (to :),20,21,23,24,26-29 (to ;),30,31,33,34,37
I Kings 1:1 (to ;),5 (to :),7,32-34
I Kings 2:28-34
Ex 20:13
Lev 19:18
Prov 10:12
Matt 4:23 Jesus,25
Matt 5:1,2,5,8,9,21,22,38,39,43-48
John 13:34,35
Matt 26:3,4,47 Judas,49-52
Matt 27:1,35 (to :),39-44,50,57-60
Matt 28:1,2,5,6,18-20
Rom 12:10,17 (to .),19-21
Rom 13:8-10

Science and Health:
327:8-12
22:31-1
405:2-11
595:3
563:1-7 (to ?)
374:5-6
243:25-26 Love
454:9-10 (to 2nd .)
30:14
39:1-2
48:17
51:6-11,28
52:9
43:11-23,27-32
54:1
542:18
444:13-22
17:6-7

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 126
Hymn 163
Hymn 30

As always, with these Bible and Science and Health references, you can copy and paste the citations into the citation document pane in the Concord Study Package program and view the references there is you wish.

The Canaanite Woman

2007-03-04T21:27:00.000-08:00

I’ve long been intrigued by the healing story in Matthew 15:21-28 – where the Canaanite woman pursues Jesus and his disciples, wanting healing for her daughter who is possessed with a devil. I just love her exchange with Jesus! How sharp and quick she was to respond in the way she did! And thereby she won the healing she wanted for her daughter.

Several things struck me about this story as I read it this week:

o She was bold – she asked for what she wanted. Here she was, a woman, and from a non-Hebrew culture (The Hebrews were actually supposed to wipe out the Canaanites when they were brought to the Promised Land – so not a lot of great feelings between these groups!), pretty low on the scale to get any sort of notice, much less to ask a favor of someone so important.
o She loved – she must have loved her daughter so dearly, enabling her to put herself in this position of begging for help

o She was perceptive – she recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. Note that she addressed him right up front as the “son of David” – one of the ways the Messiah is referred to. She’d probably seen his healing work, or at least heard about it and this meant Christ to her.

o She was so persistent – to the point of driving Jesus’ disciples crazy! They wanted him to get rid of her, likely by giving in and giving her what she wanted. And she kept asking, and was rewarded for this persistence.
o She was clever – she picked up on an opening Jesus gave her when he did respond to her pleas. He said “it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to the dogs.” Yes, she was the dog; she understood the inference. Probably wasn’t the first time she’d been referred to in this way. But she also got that he wasn’t referring to stray dogs, those that roam the streets looking for scraps. No, he was referring to the household dogs. Some Bible translations use “little dogs” or “household dogs.” So pets, animals that already had a place in the household, though lower than the family members (well, people family members as some of us look at our pets as our children!). It was the custom of the time to wipe one’s hands on bread while eating – no napkins – and to let these pieces of bread drop on the floor for such household pets to scavenge. So she perceived that this was the image Jesus was describing, and latched onto it and responded in a way that indicated her apprehension: “Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.”

o She had faith – she believed what Jesus could do for her daughter. This strengthened her persistence. This Jesus must have perceived easily – based on her persistence and her willingness to place herself in this type of situation where she was unwelcome, unwanted, another Pariah. And she was rewarded for this faith. Her daughter was healed.

She’s a good reminder on how to pursue a healing. So I think I am going to be checking myself more regularly – am I being persistent, importunate in my prayers? Here are a couple of thoughts from Science and Health about persistence and its importance in working out our salvation:

400:18

By lifting thought above error, or disease, and contending persistently for truth, you destroy error.

462:13

Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every statement, and advance from the rudiments laid down. There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life.

He finds those lost sheep

2007-03-03T14:39:00.000-08:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep from Luke 15 this week. (Those of you who study the Christian Science Weekly Bible Lesson will recognize it from the Responsive Reading – hence the impetus to thinking about this one this week! Anyone who is unfamiliar with the Weekly Bible Lesson can check it out a little bit on eBibleLesson.com. Unfortunately you have to subscribe to read, hear or view all of it, unless you look locally – it may be on TV or radio in your area – or it is certainly available at your nearby Christian Science Reading Room.)

More than anything, what strikes me about this parable is the amazing tenderness of the shepherd for the lost sheep. He cared so much for that one individual (and he would/did for each sheep individually), that he left all the rest to go find it. And then the joy in bringing that lost sheep home! He wanted everyone to celebrate with him, he was so happy for its return!

But what stood out to me as really emphasizing this tenderness was that the shepherd himself went to go find the lost sheep. He didn’t send one of his hired workers. He does the work of bringing back the lost one. But who else really would care as much as the shepherd? Jesus points this out in his conversation with the Jews at the Temple in John 10 – where he describes himself as the Good Shepherd. He says that the hireling flees in the face of problems and danger because he doesn’t care for the sheep, but the Shepherd cares. He cares so much that he lays down his life for the sheep. Wow! That’s love. And it certainly was demonstrated by Jesus.

Another aspect of the shepherd’s tender care for the lost sheep in this parable is the manner in which he brings the sheep back. No dragging, no pushing it along, no lecturing and admonishing – no! He laid it “on his shoulders, rejoicing.” What closeness this precious one is given with the Shepherd, even though he strayed. He doesn’t have to walk back to the fold. He is carried back by someone who loves him dearly. One Bible commentator shares that this intimacy gave the Shepherd time with the lost one to reform the sinner and to heal him. Yes, certainly closeness with our Shepherd brings reform and healing. Love does that.

You might like to check out Wycliffe’s translation of this parable, too. Note what he uses in place of “lost” – “perished.” He goes after them that are perished. Well, desert environment. Certainly if a sheep wandered off, it is quite likely that, without the shepherd’s immediate care and attention, he will perish. The Greek word translated as lost in the KJV is “apollumi” and means, according to Strong’s lexicon “to destroy fully or (reflexively) to perish or lose.” I just thought this was really interesting. It says to me how imperative it is for the Shepherd to find the lost sheep. If he doesn’t’ they perish. But, even if they do, He can and will bring them back.

And this relates to the word “lost” used in Luke 19:10 – “…the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (It’s this week’s lesson’s Golden Text.) So the Son of man seeks out those that perished, according to Wycliffe. Okay, the good news – he seeks the lost out – seeks them out! And it is never too late. He’s seeking that which is perished – past tense. To me, the comfort I am feeling from this is that he can and will always find me or anyone who has strayed, and it is never too late. No matter what, he can bring us back, even if perished – and He will do it.

There’s a hope we can all cherish and a promise we can all count on!

You might also like to check out Laura Matthew’s post on Luke’s Gospel. It touches on this parable and especially one that Jesus shared after it – the Prodigal son.

Honoring our parents and our divine Parent

2007-02-28T21:02:00.000-08:00

A look at the Fifth Commandment...

The Bible:
Ex 20:12
Ex 21:15 he,17
Eph 6:1-3
Deut 11:18,19
Matt 15:1-6,29-31
Matt 19:16-21
Isa 1:17,19
I Tim 5:1-3,17
Luke 7:11-16
Matt 23:1,9 call
I Cor 8:6 to
Matt 21:23 (to 2nd ,),24 (to ,),28-31 (to .),33-41
John 5:19-24
John 8:49-51 I honour
John 14:11-15
Mark 16:15
Matt 10:7 go,8
I John 2:24,25

Science and Health:
236:21
61:4
359:18
69:17
236:12
582:28
586:9
592:16
31:4
29:14-16
336:30
517:18-19
305:13
25:13-9
37:22-25,27
183:21
vii:18-20
529:6
143:27-31
16:26-29

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 356
Hymn 58
Hymn 48

Click out the links for the text, or, if you have the Concord Bible Study program, you can copy and paste the set of citations into the citation document window and view the references through that program.

The Time Traveler's Wife

2007-02-26T17:03:00.000-08:00

Fascinating book! Really different. It bends one's thought about time and relationships. And, as time is something most all of us think about a lot (too little, too much, too full, too fast, etc., etc.), thought I'd point out this interesting novel.

In this book by Audrey Niffenegger, the primary character, Henry, can travel through time. And he travels pretty regularly - but has no control over his going and coming. At any moment, he can be gone, leavning all personal posessions (yes, clothes and all!) behind. So he's had to adjust his life around this, um, characteristic, trait, inconvenience? He doesn't drive. Wouldn't want to abandon a car on the highway! Doesn't make too many plans - may not make them afterall. But he does get married, to Clare.

I really liked Clare. I think at least in part because I can relate to her on some level as my husband travels for work, and we never know when he'll be coming or going. So... no plans, no pre-buying tickets for concerts or whatever, no spontaneous weekends, just flexibility. And this is where Clare and Henry are living, too. They never knew when they would pop out and pop back in. At least we have an hour's notice of when my husband has to leave! I think I can be more grateful for that after reading this book.

For much of Henry's time travel, he ends up visiting his wife, starting when she is very young on up through her old age. It is interesting to watch the interplay of who knows who and what, when. For example, when Henry first meets Clare in her real, linear life line, she is in grade school. To Henry, at that meeting when he's in his forties, he's know her for years and they've been married for most of that. But when Henry and Clare meet in Henry's real, linear life time (when he's in his late 20s and she's just out of college), Clare knows Henry very well, but Henry doesn't know her from Adam - okay, Eve. To Clare, she's know him for most of her life. (Yes, probably pretty confusing to describe.) So Clare grows up knowing much about her future husband and their life together. Henry grows up knowing nothing about his future wife.

But Clare doesn't know everything. That's one of the lessons Henry learned, and part of the moral code he imposes on himself in relation to his time travel and interaction with family and friends. He learned early on that, when he goes back in time (and does often to at least one particular heart-wrenching episode in his life), he can't change what happened (Star Trek fans will well appreciate this perspective!). Not that he didn't try at first. He did. But he learned that he just couldn't change things. He also found he couldn't change the future. So it was better not to tell to much to others about what would happen. (Yeah, okay, he did tell Clare a lot, basically grooming her to be his wife as she grew up. He was just selective about what he shared and how.)

I admire the Henry character for his ability to stick with the moral principles he developed. There was only one instance he broke one of his rules. And it really was a sweet reason. I also felt for him - such an eratic lifestyle. He lived in much fear of others finding out, and some hope that somehow he could find a "cure" for this condition.

Oh, and it was no problem for him to be with himself in another time period. Essentially he trained himself to be able to handle this time travel. Not sure what that does for the space-time continuum.... :)

Anyway, with all this time travel and interplay among different times of these two individual's lives, it just makes you have to stop and think about time and its meaning. Essentially, for these two it becomes somewhat irrelevant and at the same time very precious. Each moment together is more important because you don't know how long it will last. So they end up pretty much living in the moment. Not a bad plan.

Even reading the book was an interesting experience in time perspective. One time I could read for a while, feel like I'd read for hours and got far along, and find it had only been a few pages and our minutes. Another time I'd read and read feeling like I was getting nowhere only to discover I'd read an amazing amount of material and only in an hour. What relevance is time, anyway?

So if you want some thought bending on time and relationships, you might like to check out this book. It's a bit of a wild ride, but I found it worthwhile. Or, if you have read this book, I'd love to hear what you thought about it!

Hmmm, thinking about time and bending our thought about it, makes me think of another long time favorite - Einstein's Dreams. Think I'll have to reread and blog on it.

Abolitionists still needed

2007-02-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

Caught this story last night while I was flipping channels - since that last couple of post have been slavery related, thought I'd post the story. It is amazing that this issue continues and is still so immense. Anyway, an inspiring story of a young man trying to make a difference for others and some helpful links you might be interested in.

"A Modern-day Teen Abolitionist"

The Sabbath - a deeper glimpse

2007-02-23T21:54:00.000-08:00

During this past Wednesday meeting at the church I attend, during the testimony period I had some time to really think about what this Sabbath day concept and what it meant for the children of Israel as they began their journey in the wilderness toward the promised land, especially in relation to their freedom. (Here is the set of citations read at that meeting, if you want to check them out.) You know, it really struck me that the whole concept of a day of rest must have been so incredibly amazing to those people!

[As a side note: I don't know if you've been to a Wednesday testimony meeting at a Church of Christ, Scientist somewhere or not, but if you haven't, here's what happens. Attendees sing; they hear a selection of readings from the Bible and Science and Health put together by the person who has been elected to be First Reader; they pray; and they share testimonies. These testimonies can be anything from some great insight they've gained in their spiritual study to reporting of healing that have occured from the action of God's word in their lives. About half the time is spent on the latter, typically. There's usually some quite moments between sharing to pray and ponder.]

Think about it for a moment. Here are thousands of people who, for many generations - at least for all of each individual's life - have know nothing but slavery. And that meant work - constant, consistent, daily work. No days off, no weekends, no holidays, no vacations - just work. Some may have had things better than others depending on their specific role and/or owner, but still - work, work, work. Probably from as early as they could contribute. And even if they weren't working for someone, probably they were working for their family - gathering food as best they could, preparing it, supplying family with other needs. Never a moment of freedom, time to pause and reflect, just quick back. Phew!

So here they are. They've been taken away from everything they know by a God they'd heard about for generations and likely wondered about more than knew for the most part - who is He really? where was He? when will He help us? And now it was happening. They're leaving Egypt and captivity.

But life was still hard, especially at first. It was travel in the desert, after all! No rest stops with McDonald's to be found anywhere. And no food. But God is good. He provided for their needs. Daily, food was literally at their doorstep (or tent flap, I suppose). Manna in the morning; quails at night - enough to feed them all in the right amount each day.

But, as is described in Exodus 16, one day each week was different - the Sabbath day. On that day, no food was provided, no food collection and preparation was required. That didn't mean they went hungry. No way! They got enough for two days on the day before. The extra portion of food collected on day six lasted through the next day so the people had good food to eat then (and, to emphasize the specialness of the food lasting for two day, you should know that on other days of the week, anything left over went bad overnight - very bad).

God wanted them to take the day off. He didn't want them to work. After all, they were free now. What would that concept have seemed like if work was all you'd ever known?

It seems to me that the concept could have been very difficult to even grasp. Not to work, not even to provide that day's food for the family? How could that even be? Beyond comprehension when that was all you'd ever known!

That story in Exodus describes how the Israelites went out on the first Sabbath day to collect food anyway. God didn't appreciate this at all. Why weren't they trusting Him? They didn't have to work - they weren't slaves any more. But, I wonder, maybe for some it was more habit than lack of trust. They were used to working each and every day. What would they do if they weren't working?

Celebrate their freedom, that's what they could do! And give thanks to the Divine One that gave this special gift to them. They were being given a day off, not so they could just kick back and relax, do whatever they wanted, but so they could have the time to really contemplate Divinity without other distractions. A day just made for giving thoughts, prayers and gratitude to God.

And this idea of Sabbath was so important, it was put in the Commandments - number 4 - right up there near the top of the list. [You may know that Bible scholars, etc. tend to look at the list of Commandments in two parts - the first part (being either one through four or five, depending on how you want to look at the fifth commandment) being God-focused commandments (The "love the Lord with all your heart" portion) and the second part describing our relationship with others ("love thy neighbor as thyself").] Don't forget this special opportunity - "Remember the Sabbath day...."

My appreciation for this idea of a day of rest grew immensely that evening. What an incredible gift from a gracious, wonderful God! The meaning of it appeared as so much more than I'd ever realized before. Our gift as His loved children is freedom to have the time, opportunity, space to get to know Him, to think about Him and His creation, to express Her joy and goodness in our lives in ways that glorify Her. I think this feeling is reflected in this statement from Science and Health: "Citizens of the world, accept the "glorious liberty of the children of God," and be free! This is your divine right." (page 227)

So what is my take-away from this? Certainly a greater respect for the idea of Sabbath. And hopefully this respect will be demonstrated in my life in fuller use of the concept - not just in taking a particular day of the week to pray and give thanks. I'm thinking it can be much fuller than this. I'll be looking for more Sabbath moments in each day to be grateful for the freedom to experience the dominion that God has given all of Her loved children and to have the time to pause, at least in my thinking, and celebrate!

The Sabbath - Celebrating Freedom

2007-02-21T22:25:00.000-08:00

This is a look at the Fourth Commandment.

The Bible:
Ex 16:2-5,13 and in,14,15 And Moses,21 (to :),22-24 (to :),25,26,30
Ps 116:12-14,16-19
Ex 20:1,2,8-11
Ezek 20:19,20
Deut 4:20 the
Ps 96:1-3,7-9 (to :)
Ps 95:1,2,6,7 (to .)
Ps 118:1,24
Luke 4:14-22 (to .)
Luke 13:10-17
Mark 2:27,28
Gal 3:29 if
Gal 5:1
Acts 16:9 a (to ;),10,16-26
I Cor 9:1 (to 3rd ?)
Rom 14:5,6 (to ;)
II Cor 3:17 where (to .)

Science and Health:
228:11-15
191:16-17
224:28-226:21
18:3-5,10
20:3-13
53:3-5
52:29-30
454:19-22
226:22-227:29
481:3

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 342:1-3
Hymn 136:1-3
Hymn 302:1-4

FYI: If you are using the Concord Bible/Science and Health research program, you can copy and paste the above citations into the citation document window to view the selections through that program.