Today I will be valiant

As I read the Bible Lesson on Truth, I was stopped by the word 'valiantly'. The citation is Psalm 108:13, "Through God we shall do valiantly."  It conjures up a picture of the Knights of the Round Table and Prince Valiant. Prince Valiant was known for his courage and bravery. I looked up 'valiant' in the dictionary. Possessing valor. Bravery in battle. Sometimes life can feel like a battlefield when one is struggling with a physical, financial or emotional challenge. This passage in Psalms says that with God's help, we shall do valiantly.

That lead to a search in the concordance to see if Mrs. Eddy used the idea of being valiant in her writings. It was not in Science and Health but appears in her other writings. In Miscellaneous Writings, on page 155, there's this: "While pressing meekly on, be faithful, be valiant in the Christian's warfare, and peace will crown your joy." Another passage in First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, on page 203 made me smile. "A spiritual hero is a mark for gamesters, but he is unutterably valiant, the summary of suffering here and of heaven hereafter. Our thoughts beget our actions; they make us what we are. A deep sincerity is sure of success, for God takes care of it." Let's not forget, as we are being valiant, that 'through God we do valiantly'.

When I checked in the Parallel Bible I found this in the New Living Translation: "With God's help, we will do mighty things." And The Message Bible says, "In God we'll do our very best." So we can start our day with the assurance that today we will be valiant, ready to stand up to any false belief or suggestion that we are less than the perfect idea of God's creating, that we are sick or sad or helpless or lost or alone. We can bravely deny those accusations or insinuations.

We can be valiant.

And if you need a little more inspiration, sing along with hymn 296.
Rouse ye: long the conquest waits for valor's act supreme;
Rouse ye, rest not, do the deeds that break the earthly dream.

You can do it through God's help.

Setting the table

I have walked along the beach on both coasts and along the Gulf of Mexico. Just meandering along the tide line, looking for gifts from the sea. Over the years I have put together little jars filled with sand and shells and driftwood. For one who loves to do this, it is still a surprise to find myself living in Elsah, Illinois, far from salt water and beaches. At this time of year, I often wish I could be back on those sandy shores.

This morning I was reading an entry in Simple Abundance where the author was talking about the ways one can 'set the table' to make it special any day. We love to put together a pretty table for special occasions or guests but how often do we bother to dress up the table most week nights? As it turns out, I love to decorate our house, changing things around each month, bringing out things I've collected. Right now the theme is 'by the sea'. Our dining room table is set with a sand colored table cloth. In the middle of the table is a glass bowl filled with pieces of sea glass and glass bubbles. I've scattered more along the cloth and added a few sea shells. It is simple but pretty and the family loves it. Our own personal tide line.

I like taking a few extra minutes to dress up the table, especially when we are just eating one of our standard meals. These simple settings bring a smile to those sitting down to eat and are conversation starters as we remember searching for those treasures on some family vacation. It is a fun way to express a little bit of beauty and art. I like to involve the 'grands' in some of those table decorations and it is fun to see what they do with the things I put out.

It is a reminder to me to take a moment before each meal to be grateful for all the good being expressed around me, for the beauty in everyday things. Katie Rose recently added a tall glass vase filled with those weeds that look like wheat. She had fun gathering her 'bouquet' and liked adding something to our table. So this activity is fun for all ages.

There is so much to be grateful for. We've had our financial challenges but we have never really gone hungry. I've had my spiritual challenges but I have only grown from those experiences. Today I will take a moment before each meal for silent time with God, time to tell Him how much I love Him and to thank Him for His tender constant care of me and mine.

Paul's work ethic

I noticed something in this week's Bible Lesson on Life. We go along on several of Paul's journeys as he is bringing the good news about the Messiah. Paul has made his share of enemies in his earlier zeal to seek out and destroy these new Christians, followers of Jesus. He made a whole new set of enemies as he not only joined the Christians but became one of their main spokespersons. And he was backing up his teaching and preaching with healings. No wonder God granted special miracles by the hand of Paul.

What a work ethic! It gives one pause when one reflects on one's one work ethic is sharing Christian Science. In the first example Paul is speaking with his disciples before he must continue on his journey. He talks long into the night and is only interrupted when a young man, sunk down with sleep, falls out of the balcony and is taken up dead. Paul reassures them that 'his life is in him' and that man is taken up alive and well. Does Paul rest on this 'miracle' and go take a nap? No. He continues lovingly sharing with them until day break.

On another day, once he has been arrested and is being taken by ship to Rome to stand trial, the ship is wrecked in a storm. Paul and everyone on the ship is saved. Once ashore he helps to gather fire wood and is bitten by a poisonous viper. He just shakes it off into the fire, unharmed. The natives, full aware of what has bitten him, are astounded. He is taken to the village chief's home and lovingly cared for. Does he plop down on the couch and let them wait on him? No. He heals the village chief's father of a great fever. Now does he sit back and relax? No. They bring others from all over the island who need healing...and he heals them.

What an example for us to follow! I will studying this week's Lesson with great interest and attempting to be like this great man in my own daily activities.

My godfather and my God-Father

I grew up on the East coast in a large Italian family with an even larger extended family. And we had a godfather. This man ruled over the whole clan and his word was law. He granted favors and helped those who sought his advice and resources. But it was understood that at some point he might ask a favor in return and you would grant it.

Years later I started studying Christian Science and had moved away from the East coast, visiting infrequently with my family. What I was reading in Science and Health showed me that what I really have is a God-Father, God as my Father and Mother. A loving God who has made me in His own image and likeness, as it is explained in Genesis One. This God-Father is all powerful and wise, He has infinite resources which are freely available to me. I can turn to Him for advice when I am faced with challenges be they financial, physical, or emotional. My God-Father is always accessible. It is His will to keep me happy and healthy and supplied with all I need.

What He asks in return is love for Him and all of His creation and I have been pondering all week a phrase in our Golden Text: bring an offering. The phrase if part of Psalm 96. "Give unto the Lord the glory due to his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts."  How comforting to think that my God-Father is the true Judge and law maker. I can present my case in His courts and get a fair hearing and a positive verdict.

When the challenge is physical, He will find me 'not guilty' and I can rise up innocent and free.
When the challenge is emotional, He will restore my soul, my awareness of His complete care.
When the challenge is financial, He will remind me that 'all that I have is thine'.

So this week I am looking for ways to honor Him with offerings of love, patience, being a peace maker, reaching out to others, seeing His goodness ever present, etc.. As I go through the day, I look for ways to offer up a spiritual response instead of mortal reaction. I offer Him thanks for all the beauty I see. I am grateful for the good being expressed.

My God-Father loves me and I love him right back.

Revive today

This is our second summer attempt at a small garden. Our yard is gently rolling, with few places that are flat. We also back up to a ravine so we get lots of 'visitors' who seemed to view last year's veggies and herbs as a salad bar. But gardening was a part of my 'Camp Grandma' with two 'grands' so we did our best. This year we made the garden as little larger and added more flowers.

It can get pretty warm here and we may go days without any rain. When that happens, some of the plants look pretty wilted. So we give them a nice shower with the hose and they soon perk up. I was reminded of that this morning as I studied the first section of our Bible Lesson on Sacrament. It was in Isaiah's writings where God is speaking about what He does. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isa 57:15) I highlighted 'revive'.

The dictionary has wonderful meanings for revive:
to give renewed well being
to impart new health, vigor or spirit
the restore to use, activity
to restore vitality.

I see so many ways to pray with that idea. This was getting exciting! To my surprise, Mrs. Eddy did not use the word revive in Science and Health, but it is in some of her other writings. In a newspaper clipping included in Pulpit and Press there is this reference: "The power of Christ has been dormant in mankind for ages, " added the speaker, "and it was Mrs. Eddy's mission to revive it." Another reference is in Mrs. Eddy's article entitle 'The Way', found in Miscellaneous Writings on page 355. "Less teaching and good healing is to-day the acme of "well done;" a healing that is not guesswork, - chronic recovery ebbing and flowing, - but instantaneous cure. This demonstration of Science must be revived."

This gives me lot to think about and pray with today. We all have moments when we seem to wilt under the attack of sin, sickness, lack of supply or love, loss of well being. How soothing to know that God, divine Love, is standing by to shower us with grace, to revive our drooping faith, to restore us to health and happiness, to meet every human need. We flourish in His 'garden'.

Revive.

What does the man at the pool of Bethesda have in common with the leper who came to Jesus for healing?

As I prayed this morning I was surprised to find that I was thinking about the man at the pool of Bethesda and Jesus healing a man with leprosy. I wondered what they had in common, for both got their healing, one of a problem of 38 years standing, the other of what was considered an incurable disease.

It occurred to me that the man at the pool still had hope. He had been struggling with his physical problem for a long time, Jesus was aware of that when he saw him waiting beside the pool. Despite the many years, the tenacity of that error, he went there day after day, with the hope that today might be the day he would get his healing. In the presence of the Christ, he got his healing.

The leper, shunned by all, forced by law to keep  his distance from others, approached Jesus. He knelt before him and said, 'if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean'. He had not given up hope that even this incurable disease could be healed by the Christ. And he was healed.

In both cases Jesus viewed the men with compassion. I love what Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health about what Jesus saw when he looked at the people who came to him for healing. "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, 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". (S&H 476)

The kingdom of heaven is within each of us because we are God's children. Truth and Love reign in us, filling all space with good. There is no place for disease or error to take hold. There is only the substance of Spirit so there is no matter to cope with. No matter in the form of disease, no matter in the form of a body to host it, no such thought in divine Mind to even think such a thing is possible or believe in it at all. There is nothing that needs to be removed or corrected. In Science there is just the perfect man, made in the image and likeness of God. God never changes so the reflection always stays the same.

 "I am the Lord, I change not;" (Malachi 3:6). You are My child, you change not.
"The Christian Science God is universal, eternal, divine Love, which changeth not and causeth no evil, disease, nor death." (S&H 140) This is how we see God in Science, this is how we should see ourselves and others.

Excuse me, but Peter's at the door

This week's Bible Lesson includes Peter's escape from prison. He had been arrested and condemned to die. King Herod was to have him brought out and executed the next morning. The disciples had gathered and 'prayer was made without ceasing' by the members of the church.

This story is recorded in Acts, so it is Luke telling it as he must have heard it from Peter himself.

Peter was asleep, bound in chains, with guards on either side of him. They had also fallen asleep. There was no need to stay alert as the prison keepers were also on duty. But God sent an angel to Peter. The angel 'smote him on the side', and raised him up. As Peter stood up his chains fell off. The angel has him get dressed and put on his shoes. Then they leave the prison, passing through several wards to the outer gate. Pete thinks he is dreaming. The gate opens of its own accord and Peter is outside the prison. The angel leads him through several more streets and then departs.

At this point Peter is able to make his way to the house of Mary, mother of John, where many were gathered praying for Peter. The details Luke includes are so wonderful. Although it is not in this Lesson it is worth reading the rest of it. Peter knocks at the door and a damsel named Rhoda answers it. There are few places in the Bible where women are mentioned by  name. How sweet that this young girl is mentioned.

She is so excited to hear Peter's voice that she leaves him standing outside and runs to tell the others. What do the others do? Are they as excited as she is? Do they jump up and go to get Peter? No! They tell her she is mad. She continues to affirm that it was really him. Doesn't that sound authentic, a child insisting something is true to an unbelieving adult? But these people had been praying for Peter's safety and HE WAS OUTSIDE, but they didn't believe their prayers had been answered.

Meanwhile Peter keeps knocking. They open the door and are astonished! He shushes them and explains how the Lord had worked this rescue. He asks them to go tell James and he himself goes somewhere else.

How often do we pray and pray about something and then are not receptive to the answered prayer? If someone says we are healed, we tell them they are mad or mistaken. Or shush them, saying not to bother us, we are praying?  God sends his angels, His messengers, His messages, and answers our prayers.

Are you listening? Be prepared to 'go answer the door'.