Today I am thinking about the story of Caleb. After leaving the slavery of Egypt behind, Moses and his followers reached the border of the Promised Land. Moses sends scouts ahead to spy out the land and its citizens. Among those sent were Joshua and Caleb. They found a place brimming with milk and honey and mighty citizens. Only Joshua and Caleb advised Moses that they should trust God and move forward. They were outvoted and spent the next forty years wandering around in the desert.
Remember after hundreds of years of slavery they are now suddenly free to worship God but they must put aside and outgrow the gods of Egypt and that life style. They are given the 10 Commandments and time to make them the basis for their new life. Joshua and Caleb made the most of that time and 40 years later were strong and healthy.
What I am pondering today is Caleb's reaction during that first mission. He was not afraid of 'giants'. His people were barely out of slavery and certainly not trained in the art of war. They had no army to protect or defend the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children. How could they expect to defeat the people of the Promised Land who were healthy, strong, and well trained in warfare? But he did not doubt God's direction. He was undeterred by what appeared to be a superior force awaiting him.'
'
I'd like to always have that kind of courage and conviction. I'd like to understand God to be the source of my strength, as I face challenges. Like the garden area of this house we recently moved into. It was neglected for years and the weeds are formidable. Giants, in fact. It seemed like more than I could handle. But as I prayed on how to move forward, I found that I could work on one section at a time and clear it. And the next day I suffered no ill effects for that effort. My strength came from God. And I rejoiced in the time spent outdoors, anticipating what I will be able to plant, and how beautiful this back garden is going to be.
"God expresses in man the infinite idea forever developing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from a boundless basis". (S&H 258) I can see this passage in a whole new light as I move forward with this garden project.
Thanks Caleb. I find I am not so afraid of 'giants' either.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Have you opened your gift today?
I love to give gifts. I love to receive gifts. It is such fun to not only find the right present for someone, but also to wrap it in pretty or funny paper and add a big bow. I love to savor opening a gift. The 'grands' are content to leave it in the bag the store provided and that's fine too.
Are you aware, and anticipating, your gift from God today? What a wonderful way to start your morning, knowing that God has thoughtfully provided you with a gift, and usually more than one! How do I know that?
It's in the Bible.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind".
(II Timothy 1:7) There's three gifts right there.
Are you thirsty, thirsting for more spiritual understanding?
"...every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is a gift of God".
(Ecclesiastes 3:13)
"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."
(John 4:10)
Do you need saving?
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God".
Ephesians 2:8)
How about supply?
"A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: withersoever it turneth, it prospereth".
(Proverbs 17:8)
From this week's Bible Lesson.
"The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace".
(Psalms 29:11)
And in our hymnal:
"Thou hast the gift of God - dominion over all" (Hymn 382)
There are many more. Look for them in the Bible and be sure and open your gifts today.
The thank you card
When one receives a gift it is customary to send a thank you note. How can we thank our dear Father Mother God for all these amazing gifts? All He asks is for us to be aware that those gifts are ready and waiting to be opened and enjoyed. But I always make sure to pause a moment and tell Him.
Wow! I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened Your gift!
Your gift put a big smile on my face.
I appreciate You more than words can say, my special friend.
Your gift exceeding my expectations!
"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift". (II Corinthians 9:15)
Are you aware, and anticipating, your gift from God today? What a wonderful way to start your morning, knowing that God has thoughtfully provided you with a gift, and usually more than one! How do I know that?
It's in the Bible.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind".
(II Timothy 1:7) There's three gifts right there.
Are you thirsty, thirsting for more spiritual understanding?
"...every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is a gift of God".
(Ecclesiastes 3:13)
"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."
(John 4:10)
Do you need saving?
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God".
Ephesians 2:8)
How about supply?
"A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: withersoever it turneth, it prospereth".
(Proverbs 17:8)
From this week's Bible Lesson.
"The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace".
(Psalms 29:11)
And in our hymnal:
"Thou hast the gift of God - dominion over all" (Hymn 382)
There are many more. Look for them in the Bible and be sure and open your gifts today.
The thank you card
When one receives a gift it is customary to send a thank you note. How can we thank our dear Father Mother God for all these amazing gifts? All He asks is for us to be aware that those gifts are ready and waiting to be opened and enjoyed. But I always make sure to pause a moment and tell Him.
Wow! I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened Your gift!
Your gift put a big smile on my face.
I appreciate You more than words can say, my special friend.
Your gift exceeding my expectations!
"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift". (II Corinthians 9:15)
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Jonah thinking
Jonah. Jonah. Seems he has a few things to learn.
First, he gets a personnel message from God with an assignment. Jonah doesn't want to go to Nineveh. Those people are bad and don't deserve redemption in his opinion. So Jonah books passage on a ship headed in the other direction and heads for Tarshish. So at this point Jonah seems to think he can get away, be out of God's presence, go somewhere where God is not. Mistake number one.
Things don't turn out very well. He ends up getting tossed overboard when his shipmates cast lots and Jonah admits he was running away from God. But not only is God present, He has sent a whale to the rescue. They were too far from land for Jonah to have swum to shore, there was nothing for him to cling on to for a long float to safety. Instead, he ends up in the belly of the whale. But he is safe and now has some time to rethink his decision.
Now he turns to God and prays for forgiveness. He realizes, and fully expects, that God will hear him, even in the fishes belly. God does. Jonah is vomited up onto dry land, given the same assignment, and this time he goes to Nineveh. That great city would have taken Jonah three days to cross so off he goes. A day into his walk, he proclaims to all the citizens that God is going to overthrow them in 40 days. Word gets to the king, who believes this prophecy. He immediately calls for a fast for all the people and animals, a time for them to cry unto God and change their ways. God hears them and they are saved.
Our Bible Lesson does not go any further but there is more to the story. Jonah is greatly annoyed at their redemption and goes out of town to pout. He tells God he'd rather die now. God speaks to him there. God provides a vine with a gourd to give Jonah shade. Then He puts in a worm and the gourd withers. Jonah is angrier than ever. God reasons with him. Jonah felt badly for the gourd and wished it spared, could he not feel that same pity for the sixcore thousand people in Nineveh that had been spared?
What I am thinking about is Jonah's original false belief that there was a place he could hide from God. When we know we should be doing something and chose not to do the right thing, do we sometimes wish we could do the same? But there is no spot where God is not present, where good is not constantly blessing us. God is so much bigger than that.
Have we ever judged someone we know or someone we see on the news and refuse to handle that wrong thought? Maybe we even condemn them and feel they don't deserve to be spared or pardoned, that there is no way they would change their behavior? Jonah-like thinking. Not good.
If that happens, it is wise to recognize our error and change our thinking. I'd rather think of myself as safely floating in an ark than inside the belly of a whale, but no matter how my thoughts might stray into error, God will not let me drown. I do love whales.
Error must always yield to Truth in our thinking or anyone else's. Our own spiritual growth and progress depends on understanding that and mending our ways. Jonah needed the lesson as much as those Ninevites.
First, he gets a personnel message from God with an assignment. Jonah doesn't want to go to Nineveh. Those people are bad and don't deserve redemption in his opinion. So Jonah books passage on a ship headed in the other direction and heads for Tarshish. So at this point Jonah seems to think he can get away, be out of God's presence, go somewhere where God is not. Mistake number one.
Things don't turn out very well. He ends up getting tossed overboard when his shipmates cast lots and Jonah admits he was running away from God. But not only is God present, He has sent a whale to the rescue. They were too far from land for Jonah to have swum to shore, there was nothing for him to cling on to for a long float to safety. Instead, he ends up in the belly of the whale. But he is safe and now has some time to rethink his decision.
Now he turns to God and prays for forgiveness. He realizes, and fully expects, that God will hear him, even in the fishes belly. God does. Jonah is vomited up onto dry land, given the same assignment, and this time he goes to Nineveh. That great city would have taken Jonah three days to cross so off he goes. A day into his walk, he proclaims to all the citizens that God is going to overthrow them in 40 days. Word gets to the king, who believes this prophecy. He immediately calls for a fast for all the people and animals, a time for them to cry unto God and change their ways. God hears them and they are saved.
Our Bible Lesson does not go any further but there is more to the story. Jonah is greatly annoyed at their redemption and goes out of town to pout. He tells God he'd rather die now. God speaks to him there. God provides a vine with a gourd to give Jonah shade. Then He puts in a worm and the gourd withers. Jonah is angrier than ever. God reasons with him. Jonah felt badly for the gourd and wished it spared, could he not feel that same pity for the sixcore thousand people in Nineveh that had been spared?
What I am thinking about is Jonah's original false belief that there was a place he could hide from God. When we know we should be doing something and chose not to do the right thing, do we sometimes wish we could do the same? But there is no spot where God is not present, where good is not constantly blessing us. God is so much bigger than that.
Have we ever judged someone we know or someone we see on the news and refuse to handle that wrong thought? Maybe we even condemn them and feel they don't deserve to be spared or pardoned, that there is no way they would change their behavior? Jonah-like thinking. Not good.
If that happens, it is wise to recognize our error and change our thinking. I'd rather think of myself as safely floating in an ark than inside the belly of a whale, but no matter how my thoughts might stray into error, God will not let me drown. I do love whales.
Error must always yield to Truth in our thinking or anyone else's. Our own spiritual growth and progress depends on understanding that and mending our ways. Jonah needed the lesson as much as those Ninevites.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
He did it for the Mother
Mother's Day is this weekend. On the radio this morning they were talking about the top 5 gifts to give and the top 5 gifts not to give. Jesus wins hand's down.
This week's Bible Lesson includes the story of Jesus encountering a funeral procession as he and a crowd of followers approached the city of Nain. Earlier Jesus had raised a little girl from death. Her father had travelled to find Jesus and beg him to come to them. That child had loving, concerned parents. As a large party of professional mourners were already busy moaning and wailing when they got there, one can assume that family was well off. Later, Jesus would raise Lazarus from his tomb. This was a young man he knew and loved, as he also loved the sisters. They were surrounded by family and friends.
But this funeral procession, though made up of a crowd, was different. The mother was widowed so there was no husband. This had been her only son, so she was going to be alone and unprotected, with no income. The other instances where Jesus raised someone from the dead did not leave the mother, already in deep mourning, in such dire straits.
One wonders if he was so moved with compassion because he knew what his own mother would soon face. She was not alone, he had brothers although Joseph had died, and a circle of friends, many of them disciples, there is no denying the agony she would endure when he was arrested, beaten, and crucified. The unspeakable experience of seeing him on the cross. She had other sons but this was not only her first born, but one born in extraordinary circumstances.
That may or may not have been on his mind, but he stopped the procession, restored the boy to life, and presented him to his mother. There must have been a great comfort in doing that.
So how timely that it is in our Lesson this week. A gift to Mother's everywhere.
This week's Bible Lesson includes the story of Jesus encountering a funeral procession as he and a crowd of followers approached the city of Nain. Earlier Jesus had raised a little girl from death. Her father had travelled to find Jesus and beg him to come to them. That child had loving, concerned parents. As a large party of professional mourners were already busy moaning and wailing when they got there, one can assume that family was well off. Later, Jesus would raise Lazarus from his tomb. This was a young man he knew and loved, as he also loved the sisters. They were surrounded by family and friends.
But this funeral procession, though made up of a crowd, was different. The mother was widowed so there was no husband. This had been her only son, so she was going to be alone and unprotected, with no income. The other instances where Jesus raised someone from the dead did not leave the mother, already in deep mourning, in such dire straits.
One wonders if he was so moved with compassion because he knew what his own mother would soon face. She was not alone, he had brothers although Joseph had died, and a circle of friends, many of them disciples, there is no denying the agony she would endure when he was arrested, beaten, and crucified. The unspeakable experience of seeing him on the cross. She had other sons but this was not only her first born, but one born in extraordinary circumstances.
That may or may not have been on his mind, but he stopped the procession, restored the boy to life, and presented him to his mother. There must have been a great comfort in doing that.
So how timely that it is in our Lesson this week. A gift to Mother's everywhere.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
It's about choices
Choices. Think how many times a day we make choices. This week's Bible Lesson on Everlasting Punishment has some fine examples from the Scriptures about choices and consequences.
Is God tempting us with choices? No. God, good, is the only cause and creator. What He creates is good. No exceptions. So there is nothing 'out there' that can be suggesting that we listen to another voice, follow the wrong path, make a false move. Mrs. Eddy asks: "Does divine Love commit a fraud on humanity by making man inclined to sin, and then punishing him for it?" The answer is no. So where does the wrong doing, the poor choice, come in? Mrs. Eddy says: "It is the opposite of good - that is, evil - which seems to make men capable of wrong-doing. Hence, evil is but an illusion, and it has no real basis. Evil is a false belief. God is not its author". The real man, God's very image and likeness cannot depart from holiness.
Do you choose to include in your daily prayer for yourself your holiness?
The parable of the Prodigal son seems to be a series of choices. The young man chooses to be discontent with the rules his father has set. He asks for his inheritance early, before his father has passed on, and his father chooses to give it to him. A few days later the boy chooses to leave home and go far away, where there appear to be no rules. He chooses to spend his inheritance unwisely and soon it is all gone. He could have chosen to go home at that point but he chooses to stay in that place and a citizen sends him into the field to feed the pigs. And no one offers to help him. At this low point he suddenly realizes that he can make a different choice. He can choose to leave that place and go home. He can choose to apologize for his behavior and ask to be hired on as a servant.
By listening to and understanding Jesus' teachings and demonstrations we can choose to live a more spiritual life. We can choose to escape from evil and evil's influences. We can choose to stop identifying ourselves with behavior that is the opposite of good. We can choose to recognize our relation to God, our divine sonship. We can choose to leave the old way for the new. We can choose to be glad that we are making that choice.
His father was watching and waiting for him, ready to welcome him home with kisses and open arms. He was glad to have him back. He did not refer to what had passed. He treated him as the son he had always been. What has been forsaken has been forgiven. There was no punishment, no condemnation. Well, the older brother was put out but that was another choice and another part of the parable.
In another section of the Lesson we read about blind Bartimaeus. He had been sitting by the wayside, a road leading into Jericho, begging. A great number of people were passing by and he must have asked what was going on. He was told that it was Jesus of Nazareth. He immediately begins to call out referring to Jesus as the son of David. Others told him to hold his peace but he chooses to cry out more persistently. Jesus stops and asks to have him called over. Now others encourage him to rise up and go to the Master. This is the cool part. As he does so, he casts away his garment, a ragged cloak that was meant to call attention to his blindness so others would feel badly for him and give him money. This identity he willingly drops. When Jesus asks what he wants, he asks for his sight and is healed. How often do we pray for healing but cling to our raggedy old view of ourselves, accept the claim as real? Are we as willing as Bartimaeus to cast off that shade of gloom and illness and go to the Master?
Choices. Where should we look?
"Mortals must look beyond fading, finite forms, if they would gain the true sense of things. Where shall the gaze rest but in the unsearchable realm of Mind?" (Science and Health 264)
Is God tempting us with choices? No. God, good, is the only cause and creator. What He creates is good. No exceptions. So there is nothing 'out there' that can be suggesting that we listen to another voice, follow the wrong path, make a false move. Mrs. Eddy asks: "Does divine Love commit a fraud on humanity by making man inclined to sin, and then punishing him for it?" The answer is no. So where does the wrong doing, the poor choice, come in? Mrs. Eddy says: "It is the opposite of good - that is, evil - which seems to make men capable of wrong-doing. Hence, evil is but an illusion, and it has no real basis. Evil is a false belief. God is not its author". The real man, God's very image and likeness cannot depart from holiness.
Do you choose to include in your daily prayer for yourself your holiness?
The parable of the Prodigal son seems to be a series of choices. The young man chooses to be discontent with the rules his father has set. He asks for his inheritance early, before his father has passed on, and his father chooses to give it to him. A few days later the boy chooses to leave home and go far away, where there appear to be no rules. He chooses to spend his inheritance unwisely and soon it is all gone. He could have chosen to go home at that point but he chooses to stay in that place and a citizen sends him into the field to feed the pigs. And no one offers to help him. At this low point he suddenly realizes that he can make a different choice. He can choose to leave that place and go home. He can choose to apologize for his behavior and ask to be hired on as a servant.
By listening to and understanding Jesus' teachings and demonstrations we can choose to live a more spiritual life. We can choose to escape from evil and evil's influences. We can choose to stop identifying ourselves with behavior that is the opposite of good. We can choose to recognize our relation to God, our divine sonship. We can choose to leave the old way for the new. We can choose to be glad that we are making that choice.
His father was watching and waiting for him, ready to welcome him home with kisses and open arms. He was glad to have him back. He did not refer to what had passed. He treated him as the son he had always been. What has been forsaken has been forgiven. There was no punishment, no condemnation. Well, the older brother was put out but that was another choice and another part of the parable.
In another section of the Lesson we read about blind Bartimaeus. He had been sitting by the wayside, a road leading into Jericho, begging. A great number of people were passing by and he must have asked what was going on. He was told that it was Jesus of Nazareth. He immediately begins to call out referring to Jesus as the son of David. Others told him to hold his peace but he chooses to cry out more persistently. Jesus stops and asks to have him called over. Now others encourage him to rise up and go to the Master. This is the cool part. As he does so, he casts away his garment, a ragged cloak that was meant to call attention to his blindness so others would feel badly for him and give him money. This identity he willingly drops. When Jesus asks what he wants, he asks for his sight and is healed. How often do we pray for healing but cling to our raggedy old view of ourselves, accept the claim as real? Are we as willing as Bartimaeus to cast off that shade of gloom and illness and go to the Master?
Choices. Where should we look?
"Mortals must look beyond fading, finite forms, if they would gain the true sense of things. Where shall the gaze rest but in the unsearchable realm of Mind?" (Science and Health 264)
Friday, April 17, 2015
How is your life-practice coming along?
Practice life. What a wonderful way to go through your day.
Our Bible Lesson this week includes this sentence from Science and Health.
"The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God's will must be universally done." (S&H 202)
That sentence just lit up for me this morning and I am going to go through today being aware of how I am practicing Life. Life is a synonym for God. God is my Life and I live as Life expressing itself in countless wonderful ways. Vitality. Freedom of movement. Joy.
How could one not be joy-filled when they are aware and grateful for their unity with God, good! That is a unity which cannot be severed. Our privilege is to express this in our life-practice. I look out my window this morning and the trees that were absolutely bare and devoid of life a few days ago are now leafed out in a lovely shade of green. Life being practiced. By trees. How much more can I practice my highest sense of Life in all I do today?
The sentence also declares that God's will must be universally done. And His will is to pour out blessings and grace upon all of His creation, each one of His ideas. That includes me. That includes you. That makes it possible, even necessary, that I have a strong life-practice.
So as I move through the day I will be practicing Life and seeing evidence of Life being practiced all around me.
I hope you are planning on doing the same.
Our Bible Lesson this week includes this sentence from Science and Health.
"The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God's will must be universally done." (S&H 202)
That sentence just lit up for me this morning and I am going to go through today being aware of how I am practicing Life. Life is a synonym for God. God is my Life and I live as Life expressing itself in countless wonderful ways. Vitality. Freedom of movement. Joy.
How could one not be joy-filled when they are aware and grateful for their unity with God, good! That is a unity which cannot be severed. Our privilege is to express this in our life-practice. I look out my window this morning and the trees that were absolutely bare and devoid of life a few days ago are now leafed out in a lovely shade of green. Life being practiced. By trees. How much more can I practice my highest sense of Life in all I do today?
The sentence also declares that God's will must be universally done. And His will is to pour out blessings and grace upon all of His creation, each one of His ideas. That includes me. That includes you. That makes it possible, even necessary, that I have a strong life-practice.
So as I move through the day I will be practicing Life and seeing evidence of Life being practiced all around me.
I hope you are planning on doing the same.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Is that a designer sack cloth?
Our Bible Lesson asks 'Are sin, disease and death real?" Not a question to be answered lightly. It includes several examples from the Scriptures of people dealing with those three claims and it shows how they were healed.
But this morning I am spending time on a different idea that popped out at me from the Responsive Reading. It was in Psalms 30:11. "Thou has turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;".
Sackcloth is a very heavy, coarse, dark colored cloth of goat's hair. It is worn as a sign of mourning, next to the skin. The putting off of sackcloth was a symbol of joy, of thanksgiving for deliverance from an intolerable position or condition; it celebrated a changing of affliction by one's enemies to the casting off of the yoke of bondage.
How do we use this information today? Well, should you be dealing with a rash or skin condition you might consider if there is something in your thought that is causing you to mourn or to be irritated. It may be the loss of a loved one but it might also be the loss of other things. Whatever it seems to be, it has affected you in a way that would take away your joy; your joy in yourself, your life, your spouse, your family, your friends, your church, your work. And dealing with it has caused you to show the world in your face and your attitude that you are mourning that loss.
You put on the sackcloth. You can take it off, with the help and support of divine Love.
Our Bible Lesson offers many ways to be alert and watchful of what is creeping into thought. Are those ideas and suggestions from God, the source of all good, who loves you unconditionally and is constantly pouring our grace and blessings? If they are negative thoughts, absolutely not.
Naturally, there is a time to express grief but one has to be careful not to don that hairy shirt with resentment or anxiety or stubborn will. There may be a need for forgiveness. Divine Love forgives, Jesus forgave, can we not also forgive? Who is hurt when we harbor those feelings? We get stuck with sackcloth and is of our own designing.
God is 'girding' you with joy. He is anointing you with the oil of gladness. Not at all like a sackcloth. More like being clothed with righteousness, right-thinking, Truth-knowing.
A much nicer outfit by far!
But this morning I am spending time on a different idea that popped out at me from the Responsive Reading. It was in Psalms 30:11. "Thou has turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;".
Sackcloth is a very heavy, coarse, dark colored cloth of goat's hair. It is worn as a sign of mourning, next to the skin. The putting off of sackcloth was a symbol of joy, of thanksgiving for deliverance from an intolerable position or condition; it celebrated a changing of affliction by one's enemies to the casting off of the yoke of bondage.
How do we use this information today? Well, should you be dealing with a rash or skin condition you might consider if there is something in your thought that is causing you to mourn or to be irritated. It may be the loss of a loved one but it might also be the loss of other things. Whatever it seems to be, it has affected you in a way that would take away your joy; your joy in yourself, your life, your spouse, your family, your friends, your church, your work. And dealing with it has caused you to show the world in your face and your attitude that you are mourning that loss.
You put on the sackcloth. You can take it off, with the help and support of divine Love.
Our Bible Lesson offers many ways to be alert and watchful of what is creeping into thought. Are those ideas and suggestions from God, the source of all good, who loves you unconditionally and is constantly pouring our grace and blessings? If they are negative thoughts, absolutely not.
Naturally, there is a time to express grief but one has to be careful not to don that hairy shirt with resentment or anxiety or stubborn will. There may be a need for forgiveness. Divine Love forgives, Jesus forgave, can we not also forgive? Who is hurt when we harbor those feelings? We get stuck with sackcloth and is of our own designing.
God is 'girding' you with joy. He is anointing you with the oil of gladness. Not at all like a sackcloth. More like being clothed with righteousness, right-thinking, Truth-knowing.
A much nicer outfit by far!
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