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Archive for the ‘Good Morning’ Category

Exceeding Righteousness

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on January 10, 2013| 1 Comment »

Read Matthew 5:17-20.
If anyone were so insane as to suppose that the knowledge of the Truth of Being could put him“above” the moral law, in the sense of authorizing him to break it, he would speedily discover that he had made a tragic mistake. The more spiritual knowledge that one possesses, the more severe is the punishment which one brings upon oneself by any infraction of the moral law. The Christian has to be very much more careful than other people. Indeed, all real spiritual understanding must necessarily be accompanied by definite moral improvement. A theoretical acceptance of the letter of Truth might go with moral carelessness (greatly to the peril of the delinquent), but it is impossible to make any real spiritual progress unless you are trying your very best to live the life. It is impossible to divorce true spiritual knowledge from right conduct.
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven(Matthew 5:20).
Right conduct is the fruit of spiritual knowledge. If our conduct does not match our spirituality then we are only intellectually accepting the truth of being. We must believe in the truth of being as much as we believe in gravity. When we do, our conduct will unerringly produce true righteousness. Just as we would not think of walking off a skyscraper, we would never consider violating the truth of being.
Those who profess faith, yet act without love, charity, tolerance, forgiveness, etc are held to a higher standard than those ignorant of the truth. So beware, if one chooses spirituality, one best be prepared to live it.
The good news is that the truth of being is ever available to all without regard for status, position or power. It will free us from the prison of sensory and intellectual limitation we have imposed on ourselves. Break free today. Accept the truth and live it. Unlock the garden God gave us as a place to live in truth, peace and joy. The key is in our hands.
Doing right,
Z gardener

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Being Lifted Up

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on January 8, 2013| Leave a Comment »

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me (John 12:32).
Never try to force other people to accept spiritual truth. Instead, see to it that they are so favorably impressed by your own life and conduct, and by the peace and joy that radiate from you, that they will come running to you of their own accord, begging you to give them the wonderful thing that you have. To do this is to make your soul truly the city upon a hill that cannot be hidden because it is the City of God. This is to let your light shine to the glorifying of your Father which is in Heaven.
Each of us have been around someone whose life and conduct radiate peace and joy. In the author’s case, his Mother was such a light. Although she went to her reward yesterday, her light still shines like the city on the hill. Let us each day arise and shine so that peace and joy will light the lives of all those we touch.
“Arise, shine: for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you… Lift up your eyes and look around: they all gather together, they come to you;  your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their  nurses arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and  rejoice.” Isaiah 60: 1-6.
Rising to shine,
Z gardener

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THE SHINING LIGHT

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on January 4, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
The state of your soul is always expressed in your outer conditions and in the intangible influence that you radiate at large. There is a cosmic law that nothing can permanently deny its own nature. Emerson said: “what you are shouts so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” The soul that is built upon prayer cannot be hidden, it shines out brightly through the life that it lives. It speaks for itself, but in utter silence, and does much of its best work unconsciously. Its mere presence heals and blesses all around it.
We are told in the Bible to “keep our wicks trimmed and our lamps full of oil”. This means should keep our inner lamp bright and full of  fuel. We do this by following God’s will within, so that our light shines without. Nothing can hide this light when it shines, and nothing can replace it, when it does not.
So today, let us think, speak and act in ways so that our inner light is bright, strong and permanent. Then we will light, not only our own Eden, but also everyone’s garden whom we touch.
Shine one,
Z gardener
Author’s Note: A new family joins us in the Garden today. They live their faith each day and spread true light to all they touch. We are blessed to have them in the Garden.
Best,
Z

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SALT AND LIGHT

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on January 3, 2013| Leave a Comment »

            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.
Often, we don’t feel like being a light and don’t care if we have lost our salt. These are the times that challenge us to remember who we are. We are not created to be selfish, vain, resentful, etc. We are children of God created to bring illumination and experience peace. When we remember who we really are, then we will want to be a light and to be the salt that flavors our existence.
May we each raise our light and be the children of God.
Lighting up,
Z gardener

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SEEING CHRIST IN OTHERS

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on January 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »

   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.
When we look for the Christ in others, we manifest the Christ in us. When we treat others as Christ would  we demonstrate Christ in the world. When we create Edens for those we touch, we live in Eden with them.
Seeing and demonstrating Christ in the world,
Z gardener

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Take Stock of Your Religion

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on January 1, 2013| Leave a Comment »

            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).
The New Year is a perfect time for stock-taking. When it comes to our faith, allow me to paraphrase a great leader. “Ask not what your religion can do for you, ask what you can do for your religion”. If we are only willing to do part of our job for our faith, then we will limit that which our faith will do for us.
May each of us have a year filled with faith, hope, love and peace.
Happy New Year,
Z gardener

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CLAIM YOUR WINGS

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on December 31, 2012| Leave a Comment »

            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).
We, like the butterfly, were created to be more than that which we manifest by our physical birth. Like the butterfly, we are born as one thing and must undergo a metamorphosis in order to become that which we were created to become. Our rebirth however is spiritual rather than material. Yet, we too emerge from the change as different creatures.
Let each us us use the experiences of 2012 to transform ourselves in 2013. May we each spread our wings in the coming year and become the beautiful creature we were meant to become so that we may we each fly to our greatest heights.
Airborne,
Z gardener

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Claim Your Nourishment

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

 

           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).
That which we focus on, is that which we claim. If we have no focus, we claim nothing. If we focus on our selves, we gain nothing. When we focus on God’s will, we gain all.
Let us claim the waters that quench all thirsts, claim the nourishment that satisfies all needs and claim the garden God created for us.
Staking the claim,
Z gardener

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

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).
But, I want my resentment, jealousy. fear and/or depression. I have earned it…it is my right to be angry, etc. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All of this may be true, however, it is also true that all these things are poison and separate us from God’s beam.
But, I want to do what I want to do, what feels good right now. I have earned it, it is my right to follow my own instincts. Yeah, yeah. yeah. All of this may be true. However, it is also true that this path leads away from God’s beam and leads to our ultimate undoing.
Today, let us lay down our negative yokes we created from our resentments, hurts and pain. Let us lift the positive yoke of forgiveness, healing and peace. Listen to God, get on the beam and live in Eden with joy each day. The garden is waiting.
Beaming,
Z gardener

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No Superstition

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on December 26, 2012| Leave a Comment »

  Don’t harbor superstitions of any kind, big or little. People often make a fetish of a number or a date, or a keepsake; or they believe certain things bring “bad luck.” This is denying God. The Bible says,
Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3).
Because thou hast made the Lord…thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee…(Psalm 91:9-10).
Little things are big things. Let us give power only to God in all things big and small.
Heavenly peace,
Stan

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