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Archive for June, 2008

LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on June 13, 2008| Leave a Comment »

There is a way to conduct our lives as instructed by Jesus and as described in the Bible. But we can not find that way by ourselves, depending on our human intelligence and will. Simply put, we are incapable of overcoming the world around us by ourselves. To be the people and spirits God created us to be, we must follow his will and depend on his unlimited power to make it work. The good news is that we can be absolutely sure that will work. It does not mean that we will be perfect or that life will have no challenges or heartaches. It does mean that we will be empowered to overcome the challenges and live in joy and hope each day.

Passing the salt,

Z Gardener

SALT AND LIGHT

            Read Matthew 5:13-16.

 
In the fifth chapter of Matthew are recorded some of the most powerful pronouncements of Jesus.
 
Ye are the salt of the earth…Ye are the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14).
 
It is possible, and, in fact, only too easy, to accept these vital principles as being true; to love the beauty in them; and yet not to put them consistently into practice in one’s own life; but this is a perilous attitude, for in that case the salt has lost its savor, and is good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden underfoot.
 
If you make every effort to practice the teachings of Jesus in every department of your own daily life; if you seek systematically to destroy in yourself selfishness, pride, vanity, sensuality, self-righteousness, jealousy, self-pity, resentment, condemnation, and so forth—not feeding or nourishing them by giving in to them; if you extend the right thought loyally to every person within your ken, then you are worthy to be called the salt of the earth.
 
If you truly live this life, then not only will you make your own demonstration, in the quickest possible time, but you will be, in a very positive sense, a healing and illumining influence on all around you. You will be a blessing to men and women in remote places and times, men and women of whom you have never heard, and who will never hear of you—a light of the world.

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SEEING CHRIST IN OTHERS

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on June 12, 2008| 1 Comment »

Looking through the faults and weaknesses of others to see the best (Christ) in them is not the same as “seeing them through rose colored glasses”. It is the exact opposite. It is seeing others through the equivalent of x-ray glasses. It penetrates through all the false and illusory physical appearance, human artifices, defenses and rationalizations to see the true person. That is, the spirit that God created and for which each of us was born to be the temple. What a great world it would be if we saw everyone in it as beautiful God-created spirits put here to bring joy and gladness. How great it would be to see ourselves that way also.

Seeing the real you,
Z Gardener

SEEING CHRIST IN OTHERS

            We often hear the expression “saluting the Christ in him,” or “seeing the Christ in him,” and we may well ask ourselves what that phrase really means. It is simply the practical application of the rule of Jesus Christ.

 
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24).
 
Each of us has a divine Self that is spiritual and perfect but that is never seen on this plane. That is the true man, God’s man, and is what we sometimes call “the Christ within.” Now whenever you dwell upon or realize the presence of the Christ within yourself or within anyone else, outer appearances begin at once to improve. If somebody displeases you, silently salute the Christ in him. If someone says something against John Smith’s character, salute the Christ in him, refuse to discuss the matter, and of course do not repeat it.
 
The more often you salute the Christ in others, the sooner you will find Him in yourself.

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TAKE STOCK OF YOUR RELIGION

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on June 11, 2008| 1 Comment »

What we put into our religion does not always happen at church or in prayer. It also happens in our thoughts, words and deeds and in every moment of our being. They way we treat a stranger or the one we love the most, the way we feel when someone hurts us and even how we think are all part of what we put into our religion. So, today let us be mindful of everything we do, think or say and ask ourselves, “is this bringing me closer to God?”  

Staying close,
Z Gardener

TAKE STOCK OF YOUR RELIGION

            What has your religion done for you? For years probably, you have been attending church, reading spiritual books, studying the Bible. Now I suggest that you have a spiritual stocktaking. Ask yourself what difference religion has made in your life, in your home, in your affairs. How much peace of mind has it given you? How much courage? How much understanding? How much opportunity for service? For, make no mistake, real religion does give all these things.

 
If your spiritual stocktaking does not turn out to be satisfactory, I believe that you will find the explanation to lie in the following law: What you put into your religion, that you get out of it.
 
If you put in 5 percent of yourself, you will receive a 5 percent dividend or demonstration. If you put in 20 percent of yourself, you will receive a 20 percent demonstration. Complete returns call for a 100 percent investment.
 
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might… (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

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CLAIM YOUR WINGS

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on June 10, 2008| Leave a Comment »

The thing to remember about the caterpillar is that it has no clue about what is happening. It is not unlike our experience when God sends us a dramatic change in our lives. Suddenly we find ourselves tightly bound in a cocoon with no where to go and no way to get out. Trapped, it would seem, in a prison of our own making. Then, in a time frame unknown to us, we emerge as a totally different and beautiful new creature with amazing new capabilities. The other thing to remember about the caterpillar is it has no capability to doubt its circumstances, so it just does it without hesitation and everything works out in a miraculous way. It would work the same way for us if we doubt less and act on faith more.
 

CLAIM YOUR WINGS

            To me the butterfly teaches the most important lesson that we human beings ever have to learn. You all know his story. He lived what seemed to him a very long time as a worm—what we call the humble caterpillar. Now the life of a caterpillar could be taken as the very type and symbol of restriction. He lives on a green leaf in the forest, and that is about all he knows.

 
Then one day the little caterpillar finds certain strange stirrings going on within himself. The old green leaf, for some reason, no longer seems sufficient. He becomes moody and discontented, but—and this is the vital point—it is a divine discontent. He feels the need for a bigger, finer, and more interesting life. His instinct tells him that where there is true desire there must be fulfillment.
 
And so the wonderful thing happens: the butterfly emerges beautiful, graceful, now endowed with wings, and instead of crawling about on a restricted leaf, he soars above the trees, above the forest itself—free, unrestricted, his own True Self.
 
…Eye hath not seen, nor heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Corinthians 2:9).

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Claim Your Nourishment

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on June 9, 2008| Leave a Comment »

Today, let us all claim the wonderful life that God planned for us. That means we stand up, make our choices, move to the front of the line, and pay the price. Bon apetit.

In line,
Z Gardener

Claim Your Nourishment

            I had an amusing experience when I first came to America. Passing an attractive-looking restaurant, I went inside, and selecting a table, sat down and waited. Nothing happened. I continued to wait. All around me, people were enjoying their food, and only I was left out. After a while the truth dawned on me—I was in a cafeteria.(This system had not yet made its appearance in England.) I then realized that while there was plenty of food to be obtained, one had to go forward and claim it for oneself, or go without.

 
The universe is run exactly on the lines of a cafeteria. Unless you claim—mentally—what you want, you may sit and wait forever.
 
Every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat… (Isaiah 55:1).

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Get Back on the Beam

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on June 6, 2008| Leave a Comment »

God’s voice and guidance calls out to us at all times. Like a radio beam, it is always there.

But we must have our radio on and tuned to his frequency to receive it.

We must reduce all the other static around us or we will not hear it.

And we must follow it or it fades into the background and we get lost.

Turn the radio on. Claiming God’s presence in our lives is an an affirmative act.

Tune in and listen. Receiving his guidance requires our focus and attention. 

Follow the beam. Following his will means submitting to his instructions.

Beaming in,

Stan

Get Back on the Beam

            Today most commercial flying is done on a radio beam. A directional beam is produced to guide the pilot to his destination, and as long as he keeps on this beam he knows that he is safe, even if he cannot see around him for fog, or get his bearings in any other way. As soon as he gets off the beam in any direction he is in danger, and he immediately tries to get back on the beam.

 
Those who believe in the Allness of God, have a spiritual beam upon which to navigate.
 
You are off the beam the moment you are angry or resentful or jealous or frightened or depressed; and when such a condition arises you should immediately get back on the beam by turning quietly to God in thought, claiming His Presence, claiming that His Love and Intelligence are with you, and that the promises in the Bible are true today. You are back on the beam and you will reach port in safety.
 
Keep on the beam and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
 
For this God is our God for ever and ever. He will be our guide even unto death. (Psalm 48:14).

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A Door Opens

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on June 5, 2008| Leave a Comment »

The only way for our lives to improve is through change. If we want to be better people, be closer to God or grow our love for each other, we must embrace change. The only way to overcome difficulties or trouble, and fix the things that are broke in our lives or to turn away from fear and sadness is through change. By turning our attention to God in times of change we can be assured that any change will be good for us and for those we love.

In flux,

Z Gardener

 

            Change is the law of the universe. Without change, the world would not merely remain in a static state, but it would soon become stale and stagnant. Without change there would be no progress, for change is the essence of betterment. It is obvious that to do anything in a new and better way there must be a change.

 
Many people look upon change with dread and foreboding. But for those on the spiritual path—for those who believe in God and the power of prayer—change is a fuller expression of life.
 
When a problem or condition arises in your life that indicates a change, rely upon God, and realize that it is not so much that a door has closed on a chapter of your life, but rather that a door has opened on new and more interesting things.
 
Behold, I make all things new (Revelation 2:15).

 

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Seeking and Finding

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on June 4, 2008| Leave a Comment »

It is tough to face the fact that most of our troubles are of our own making. Yet it is essential to accept that fact if we are to change our thinking and thereby our actions to avoid trouble. It is so difficult that we can not do it alone. It is only when we seek God’s help that we are able to change our thoughts to seeking joy and peace and away from seeking or accepting trouble in our lives. Seek God to find good.

Seeking Him,

Z Gardener 

Seeking and Finding

People are very apt to find what they seek. You have noticed that people who go about looking for trouble, practically always find it. The popular proverb, “Listeners seldom hear good of themselves,” is an example. We also know people who love to say that they never have any luck. When things seem to go against them, they exclaim triumphantly, “Wouldn’t you know it?—that is what always happens to me!”
 
Now, such a mistaken person needs only to alter this habit and he will automatically alter his life. It is often difficult to get such people to make this alteration, but if they do the result is never in doubt. Spiritual law says that it is never too late to mend, and that when we seek God’s help we find it.
 
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth;for I am God, and there is none else (Isaiah 45:22).

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The Bible Has the Answer

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on June 3, 2008| Leave a Comment »

If we let nothing turn us from the path of spiritual growth and communion with God, we will find his plan for us and will achieve the purposes he set out for us. This path leads to joy, peace and happiness. Following this path will demand strength, courage and single-mindedness. As we are told in Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage. Turn neither to the left nor to the right …and ye shall prosper whithersoever thou goest”.

Single-mindedly,

Z Gardener

The Bible Has the Answer

Don’t try to straddle the fence. If you wish to accomplish anything, you must be single- minded. It will be going the long way around if you first turn left and then right when you really want to go straight ahead.

 
Let nothing turn you from the path. The Bible says,
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8).

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Ivory, Apes and Peacocks

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on June 2, 2008| Leave a Comment »

When we practice patience, tolerance, humility, forgiveness and righteousness, we demonstrate our love for God and for his teachings. When we succumb to vanity, pride and ego, we reject God. When we are driven by bodily desires, selfishness and desire for power or approval of others, we cut ourselves off from God. To grow spiritually, we must practice what Jesus preached and live as he instructs. If we turn toward his light each day and away from the self, we will be blessed and strengthened in our spiritual growth.

Still growing,
 
Z Gardener

 

IVORY, APES, AND PEACOCKS
 
The Bible states that five things were to be found around the temple—For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks (1 Kings 10:22).
 
Then comes the ivory. This stands for undue attachment to a particular teacher, a particular textbook, or a particular church or other organization. It is a mistaken loyalty. It is an unselfish error, but a deadly one. Any religious teacher or writer, however eminent, any church or center, however much beloved, is still but a means to an end. The end itself is spiritual growth.
 
Recognize with gratitude all the help you receive from any source, but remember that your loyalty is due to God, through your own spiritual development. You must feel free at any time to go wherever you get the most help, irrespective of personal considerations.
 
The ape stands for bodily temptations such as sensuality, addiction to drink, drugs and so forth. These things are so obvious that the victim cannot deceive himself about them, so that at least he knows where he stands. They can, of course, be overcome by systematic prayer.
 
The peacock stands for vanity. Vanity may take the form of intellectual pride, or of a snobbish attitude, or the desire to stand in with what is fashionable and powerful. It also includes spiritual pride on the part of those who really are in Truth, and this is worse than any of the other forms.
 
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness (1 Timothy 6:11).

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