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Archive for February, 2012

Tackling That Bugabear

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on February 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »

    When what seems an especially difficult problem or a great emergency presents itself, many students of the Truth start by thinking, “This is very serious,” and then proceed to brace themselves mentally for a supreme effort; and plan to pray exceedingly “hard” in order to meet the difficulty.

 
All this is quite wrong. It simply builds up the problem into something far bigger that it was originally. The right attitude, the one that brings Victory, is to think “God can and will solve this problem.”
 
Instead of speaking the Word from the low altitude of fear and limitation, and trusting to effort to magnify the Lord, stop thinking of the problem altogether, and rise in consciousness. Having now attained a higher level – speak the Word gently from that level, and your problem will be solved.
 
For the word of God is quick, and powerful … (Hebrews 4:12).
 
The real question is “do we really believe God can and will solve this problem for our best good?” A flood of other questions may reveal our true feelings and/or can obscure the truth about God solving our problems and turning them to blessings. Questions like; “But how can this awful mess turn out well,” or “how can this be good when I don’t want it to happen,” or  “I messed this up so bad, how can it possibly turn out for my best good”. These type questions are rational, but they belie a lack of faith in God’s promise.
 
The better questions to ask are ones like, “how would I feel if I knew this was going to be for my best good,” or “Where is the blessing hidden in this pain,” or even, “What lesson am I supposed to learn from this to become better.”. Such questions as these assume God’s best good and anticipate the benefits flowing from our current problem or challenge. It is when we know that God has our best interest at heart that we can say quietly and confidently that “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
 
Looking for the blessing,
 
Z gardener

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Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on February 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 Who has not at some time or other planted a bulb and enjoyed the pleasure of waiting for the plant to appear and develop, and ultimately produce the glorious flower itself? Notice here that you naturally plant the bulb and expect the flower – the hyacinth or the crocus – to follow. No sane person would dream of planting the flower and expecting a bulb to come up; yet in our general life many of us do just that! We expect to begin with the flower. We think that we shall have desirable states of mind or body – happiness, freedom, health – if only we can change outer conditions in some way. Yet this is really trying to plant a flower, because we are trying to put effect before cause.

 
 
The law of the universe is thought first, and then expression; and never can this law be reversed.
 
 
Let all thing s be done decently and in order (Corinthians 14:40).
For all things there is a season. If we plant the right seeds in our thoughts, minds and feelings, they will inexorably bloom and multiply into our actions and into the creation around us. The more right thoughts we plant, the more luxurious, peaceful and productive will be our gardens.
 
Planting right,
 
Z gardener

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Be Specific!

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on February 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 
Man has dominion over all things when he knows the Law of Being and obeys it. Do not put off your study of the law any longer. Take stock of your life this very day. Write down the things you really wish for. Be specific, not vague. Then write down underneath the conditions that you wish to remove from your life. If you do this candidly, you now have an extremely valuable analysis of your own mentality. In course of time this will tell you a great many things about your self that you do not at present suspect, and as your knowledge of spiritual Truth increases, you will be able to handle the new knowledge about your self in a surprising way.
 
Having forgotten your main points in front of you, work on each one separately with all the spiritual knowledge you possess. Remember, it is not really very important how much of this knowledge you have so long as you make use of all that you do have. Repeat this treatment every day for a month, and by the end of that time it will be very unusual if a change for the better has not manifested itself in your conditions.
 
For those unfamiliar with spiritual treatment, an effective method of working is this: Claim gently but definitely that the great creative Life Force of the universe is bringing each of the needed changes into your life in its own way, in it own time, and in its own form. Do not try to dictate the exact form in which the new conditions shall come about. Do not be tense or vehement. Do not let anyone else know that you are doing this. Do not look impatiently every day for results.
 


Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do (Deuteronomy 29:9).

The process described above is in essence the same process that Lent presents to us. In this period, we are to identify those traits that separate us from God, so we can bury them. We are also to identify those traits that will bring us closer to God and incorporate those traits into the new being that arises with Christ as we remember and relive his resurrection.

 
By identifying and focusing on burying our ungodly traits and raising up our godly traits, we are then in a position to participate in the other activities prescribed in Lent. Those traits are self-sacrifice and charitable acts to others. As we fulfill this treatment, we will find ourselves changed into children of God who put God and others first. Then, as our new person arises with the risen Christ, we too are transformed into our real nature as true children of God.
 
Then we can live, think and act as garden dwellers in communion with God and the Eden he gave us.
 
Burying the old and raising the new self,
 Z gardener

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Making Your Dreams Come True

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on February 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 
Most people indulge in some form of daydreaming. There is no harm in this so long as such daydreams are positive and constructive in character. You are always thinking, when you are not asleep, and you know that it is in the selection of your thought that your destiny lies.
 
Do not let your daydreams take the form of an escape from actuality. A daydream is an evasion when it consists in fantasying something pleasant that nevertheless you believe could never happen. Such a daydream debilitates the whole mentality.
 
Some people daydream about all sorts of unpleasant things. They rehearse imaginary quarrels, imaginary injustices, accidents, and misfortunes, and because they do believe that such things could happen, and because thought is creative, they actually bring them upon themselves.
 
See to it that your daydreams are concerned with such happenings as you would really like to find in your life. Know that anything good is possible; remember the creative power of thought; and your daydreams will come true.
 
A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8).
 
Daydreams are thoughts, and thoughts are powerful things. Ever thing essential that a person becomes, they become because of their thoughts. That is why it is so important to control one’s thoughts so that they guide us to our best potential. How we think of ourselves and our future is among the most essential of our thoughts. When we think badly of ourselves, we tend to manifest the worst. God loves us unconditionally and does not condemn us for our shortcomings so long as we admit them, seek forgiveness and turn away from them. So we do not have the right to condemn ourselves for our failures. But continuing to repeat them, relive them and claim them will inevitably bring them back into our lives in a vicious cycle.
 
So, let us today affirm that we will face our weaknesses, admit them and turn away from then. Then God will forgive us and expects us to forgive ourselves. Then we break the cycle that has afflicted us and will be able to receive and give unconditional love. Then we can and will rise above the obstacles that prevent our living in joy and gladness as God wishes. Then we can dreams the dreams that will ensure our joy and the future that guarantees our best good. That is living in the Eden God created for us.
 
Dream on,
Z gardener
Author’s Note: Today, a new sister joins us in the Good Morning Garden. She is a devout believer who brings her faith to bear serving the people with grace and joy. She inspires those around her each day with her smile and kindness. Welcome to the Garden sister! We are blessed by your presence with us.

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No Buts

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on February 23, 2012| Leave a Comment »

  

When the devil has been unmasked a number of times, his final refuge seems to be the harmless-looking word but. Students of the teaching of Jesus Christ who would not be deceived by any of the familiar devices, constantly surrender their principles, and therefore their demonstration, to the little word but.
 
“Of course I know that God in the only power – but—.”
“Of course I know that God in omnipresent – but.”
“Of course I know that God is love – but.”
“Of course I know that there is no hurry because I am in eternity – but.”
“Of course I know that John or Mary must be the living expression of God, just as I am – but.”
If truth is true, there are no buts.
 
And they all with one consent began to make excuse (Luke 14:18).
 
Here is another tough one. While simple to understand, it is very hard to do. It is especially hard when we think we have been wronged or treated unjustly. Yet, there is no exception to the truth or it is not true. No one likes to plumb the depths of their weaknesses and accept responsibility for them. However, unless we do just that, and then turn away from them, they will invariably bring us down. That is the truth. And, the only thing that will save us from it is to face our own faults and, without excuse, ask God to help us rise above them.
 
During this Lenten season we are called to look inside ourselves to identify our shortcomings and then turn away from that which is separating us from God. We are also called to do charitable acts and to give up something important to us. If there is a habit or behavior that has become a barrier to communion with God and friends, now would be a good time to lay it down and try life without it for forty days. And while turning away from that which blocks God and friends from us, we may also want to find ways to give that which we can to those less fortunate.
 
It can’t hurt and it might be the first step on our journey to “get ourselves back to the garden”, as Joni Mitchell would sing.
 
Unrebutted,
Stan

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The Goodness of God – Psalm 18

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on February 22, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 
Read Psalm 18.
 
In verse 29 the Psalmist, thinking of some of the times in the past when he has been given power to overcome difficulties and to advance on the path, says, For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. Everyone has found himself at some time confronted with a difficulty that seemed like a high and insurmountable wall, but faith in God enables one to clear the obstacle notwithstanding.
 
Next the Psalmist reminds us that the way of God is perfect. God will put you upon your high place. In other words, he will raise you consciousness so that you will automatically demonstrate. Then the author praises God and thanks Him for His goodness. Thanksgiving, as you know, is one of he most powerful forms of prayer.
 
Finally he says that God gives great deliverance to his King; and that He sheweth mercy to His anointed, to David and to his seed forevermore. God intends us all to be kings through the exercise of spiritual power, and our power to go on increasing – like the seed of David – through all eternity.
 
There is no obstacle, weakness or challenge that we can not overcome if we turn control of our lives over to God. When we say, “Lord, take control of my life and I will follow your lead”, then the universe changes and all the power that exists weighs in on our behalf. Regardless of how long we have suffered, how hard it has been or how futile our efforts have seemed, all this will change when we truly turn away from our control and give control to God.
 
Those things, circumstances or people who have have been part of our problem will fade away or become part of the solution. This is true because God loves us unconditionally and wants us to be happy. Even if we don’t love ourselves, or think we don’t deserve God’s love, God disagrees and is always ready to forgive and shed his grace on us regardless of what we have done or not done.
 
If God believes in us and loves us unconditionally, then we should love ourselves and be empowered to give unconditional love. When we do this, all the beauty, joy and peace in the universe becomes available to us. Then we can forgive ourselves and love ourselves as God does. Then we can walk in the garden each day with all of God’s blessings, protection and intercessions. Then, nothing can hold us down or hurt us for long.
 
Gratefully,
Z gardener

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The Kindling of God

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on February 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 

 
Read Psalm 18.
 
In verse 28 the Psalmist moves to another phase of the teaching. Thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
 
Many similes have been offered by religious teachers to illustrate the relationship between God and man. One of the best known and most helpful is to think of man as a spark from a great fire, which is God. The spark is not the whole of the fire but is part of it, and therefore of the same nature, and possesses, potentially, all the characteristics of the parent fire. It can ignite many things upon which it falls, thus producing another fire essentially of the same nature as the original fire.
 
#AOLMsgPart_1_bff03070-5dfe-40c1-940e-37b6aecf11c9 td{color: black;} #AOLMsgPart_1_bff03070-5dfe-40c1-940e-37b6aecf11c9 .AOLWebSuite .AOLPicturesFullSizeLink { height: 1px; width: 1px; overflow: hidden; } #AOLMsgPart_1_bff03070-5dfe-40c1-940e-37b6aecf11c9 .AOLWebSuite a {color:blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer} #AOLMsgPart_1_bff03070-5dfe-40c1-940e-37b6aecf11c9 .AOLWebSuite a.hsSig {cursor: default} Whenever we find ourselves in a dark place, unable to see the way out, or to guide ourselves into the light, we would do well to seek guidance form the wisdom of the Psalms. Those verses represent the culmination of wisdom proven true through the centuries and passed on as loving help in times of sorrow and triumph. They lift the hurt, give comfort to the downtrodden and chasten those who abuse trust and success. In short, they give the light which dispels darkness.
 
When we are wronged, hurt or afraid, if we turn to the wisdom of the ages, we will find the solution to our problems and forgiveness for those who hurt us. When we act wrongly or in an abusive fashion, we can right our own wrongdoing by seeking the truth and turning away from that behavior which hurts us and those we love. Then, above all, we must turn our thoughts, words and deeds towards the light provided by God.
 
If we do these things, the darkness will give way to the light, love will find a path to enter our hearts and harmony will return.
 
Seeking light,
Stan
Z gardener
 
The verse referenced is included below.
18
Thanksgiving for Deliverance
2 Sam. 22.1-51
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,
1  I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

        
my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3  I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised:

        
so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

 
4  The sorrows of death compassed me,

        
and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5  The sorrows of hell compassed me about:

        
the snares of death prevented me.

 
6  In my distress I called upon the LORD,

        
and cried unto my God:
he heard my voice out of his temple,
and my cry came before him, eveninto his ears.

 
7  Then the earth shook and trembled;

        
the foundations also of the hills moved
and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils,

        
and fire out of his mouth devoured:
coals were kindled by it.
9  He bowed the heavens also, and came down:

        
and darkness was under his feet.
10  And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly:

        
yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11  He made darkness his secret place;

        
his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12  At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed,

        
hail stones and coals of fire.
13  The LORD also thundered in the heavens,

        
and the Highest gave his voice;
hail stones and coals of fire.
14  Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them;

        
and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15  Then the channels of waters were seen,

        
and the foundations of the world were discovered
at thy rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

 
16  He sent from above, he took me,

        
he drew me out of many waters.
17  He delivered me from my strong enemy,

        
and from them which hated me:
for they were too strong for me.
18  They prevented me in the day of my calamity:

        
but the LORD was my stay.
19  He brought me forth also into a large place;

        
he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

 
20  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;

        
according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21  For I have kept the ways of the LORD,

        
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22  For all his judgments were before me,

        
and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23  I was also upright before him,

        
and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24  Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness,

        
according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

 
25  With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful;

        
with an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright;
26  with the pure thou wilt show thyself pure;

        
and with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward.
27  For thou wilt save the afflicted people;

        
but wilt bring down high looks.
28  For thou wilt light my candle:

        
the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29  For by thee I have run through a troop;

        
and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30  As for God, his way is perfect:

        
the word of the LORD is tried:
he isa buckler to all those that trust in him.

 
31  For who is God save the LORD?

        
Or who is a rock save our God?
32  It is God that girdeth me with strength,

        
and maketh my way perfect.
33  He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, Hab. 3.19

        
and setteth me upon my high places.
34  He teacheth my hands to war,

        
so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35  Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation:

        
and thy right hand hath holden me up,
and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me,

        
that my feet did not slip.
37  I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them:

        
neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38  I have wounded them that they were not able to rise:

        
they are fallen under my feet.
39  For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle:

        
thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies;

        
that I might destroy them that hate me.
41  They cried, but there was none to save them:

        
even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42  Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind:

        
I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

 
43  Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people;

        
and thou hast made me the head of the heathen:
a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44  As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me:

        
the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45  The strangers shall fade away,

        
and be afraid out of their close places.

 
46  The LORD liveth; and blessed be my Rock;

        
and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47  It is God that avengeth me,

        
and subdueth the people under me.
48  He delivereth me from mine enemies:

        
yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me:
thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

 
49  Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen,

        
and sing praises unto thy name. Rom. 15.9
50  Great deliverance giveth he to his king;

        
and showeth mercy to his anointed,
to David, and to his seed for evermore.

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The Hidden Studio

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on February 17, 2012| 1 Comment »

 
We are all engaged in building our consciousness during every waking hour. This work is invisible, silent, and consequently overlooked by the bulk of mankind. Nevertheless, it is the most fundamental and the most far-reaching activity in life. Hour by hour, and moment by moment, we are building good or evil, failure or success, happiness or suffering into our life by the ideas that we harbor, the beliefs that we accept, the scenes and events that we rehearse in the hidden studio of the mind. This fateful edifice, upon the construction of which we are perpetually engaged, is nothing less that our self – our personality, our identity on this earth, our very life story as a human being.
 
That wondrous building, the spiritual consciousness, is called in the Bible the Temple of Solomon, and we are told two wonderful things about that building. It was built without any noise (and we know that thought is soundless), and it was built upon a rock.
 
And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither; so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building (1 Kings 6:7).
 
… be thou my strong rock, for a house of defense to save me (Psalm 31:2).
 
What type of temple are we building each day. Are our thoughts, words and deeds building a life of love, hope, faith, joy and peace? Or are we building a monument to worry, fear, anxiety, anger or disappointment? The choice is ours. Only we choose which kind of house to build.
 
Today, we can choose to build a strong house filled with gladness, gratefulness and love. We can walk in the glory of God’s garden by how we think, feel and act. So, What do you think?
 
Building love,
Z gardener

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Living to His Glory

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on February 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

  
 If you seem to yourself to be lacking in certain necessary qualities, seek that aspect of God which will meet your lack. If you seem to lack strength, ask God to give you what you need. Remember you can build any quality into your mentality by meditating upon that quality every day. You have created your limited self by thinking and you can destroy it at any moment by thinking a new pattern.
 
Why do we not change from day to day, and week to week, from glory to glory, until our friends can scarcely recognize us for the same man or woman? Why should we not march around the world looking like gods, and feeling it; healing instantaneously all who come to us; reforming the sinner; setting captives free?
 
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound (Isaiah 61:1).
 
 The simple answer to the question above is that we don’t allow ourselves to live into the full glory of God. We allow ourselves to be defined by our limited sensory perceptions of reality, instead of truly accepting God’s infinite reality created for us. As long as we allow ourselves to be defined and limited by what we can taste, touch, smell, hear and see, we will be imprisoned in the limited human reality.
 
The word of God states that we are God’s children, created in his image as the likeness of God. When we live in that reality, filled with God’s spirit and obeying God’s rules for reality, every human sensory based limitation is overcome and conquered. Then we are capable of doing all things that God has promised we have the capability to do (see above). The only thing that prevents us from being Gods, and living in the Eden God created for us…is us.
 
Let us live in the fullness of God’s glory so that we may heal, build up, liberate and elevate all those we touch. When we do this, we will find ourselves living in the garden lit by the glory of God almighty.
 
Gloriously,
Z gardener

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Successful Concentration

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on February 16, 2012| 1 Comment »

            I do not give exercises to develop concentration. Concentrate on what you are doing at any time, that is the best exercise I know.
I remember when I was a boy about twelve years old somebody gave me a perfect peach of a jackknife. It probably weighed a quarter of a pound and there was a little saw in it, a little screwdriver, a corkscrew, a thing for getting stones out of horses’ hoofs, and several blades. I carried it for about a year thinking how handy it would be for certain cases that never came up, but it never lost its interest. I could always find, when I was bored, new interest when I took out the jackknife. If you make your search for God your jackknife in that sense, you will get you concentration and you will get your success.
Thus will I bless thee while I live … and meditate on thee in the night watches
(Psalm 63: 4, 6).
‘Nuff said.
Peace,
Z gardener

 

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