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Archive for the ‘Good Morning’ Category

Let God!

Posted in Good Morning on September 16, 2013| Leave a Comment »

People often say, “I try to do so-and-so, but I fail.” The explanation for their failure is contained within the words themselves. You should never “try”; you should “let” – let God. When you “try” to do things, you are working from the outside. When you let God do them through you, you are working from the inside and success must come.
 
If you will reread the creation chapter in the Bible you will notice that God creates by “letting.” God said “let,” at every act of creation, and it was done. Now God creates by means of you if you will let him, but you must let.  Someone said, “Let go and Let God,” and this is a wonderful recipe for overcoming fear or getting out of a tight place. In any case, the rule for creation is always to let.
 
Is any thing too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18: 14).
 
Father, let us all be your creative force here below. Let us reflect your love in every way, so that we can live with you in the garden created for us by you. Ad, it will be very good.
 
Letting God,
Z gardener

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Without Rehearsal

Posted in Good Morning on September 10, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
Someone said that living life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning to play the instrument as we go along. This saying describes the experience very well, but no one should worry about that. We are in this world for exactly that purpose – to learn.
 
While we are learning we do not expect to produce a perfect work. On this plane we are all students, and what matters is that each year we shall find the quality of our workmanship definitely better. People are sometimes depressed because their lives do not present a simple, logical, harmonious unfoldment, because their histories seem to be full of inconsistencies, repetitions, dead-ends. This, however, is only to be expected during the learning period.
 
Your life has not been rehearsed. It is an adventure, and a discovery, and a training, and it is the final goal that matters.
 
And let us not be weary in welldoing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9).
 
    Being perfect here below is not the goal. Learning to live as a loving, joyous and peaceful child of God is the real goal. As any child, we must learn to crawl, walk, fall and run through trial and error. That is the way physical existence works.
 
Peace, joy and love are ours for the claiming even with all the hurts, fears and falls that life in the physical world entails. Therein lies the Eden that God created for us. May we learn to live in it.
 
Sill learning,
Z gardener
 
 
 

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Running Away From Life?

Posted in Good Morning on September 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
In the spiritual teaching we are told not to dwell upon our troubles, but instead, to realize the Presence of God where the trouble seems to be. Critics have suggested that this policy is “running away from life.” Is it?
 
Suppose you found yourself in a house that was on fire; what would you do? You would leave the burning building as rapidly as possible. Would this be running away from life? Would it not rather be seeking life?
 
Sickness, sin, fear, and limitation – these things are not life – they are partial death; and they are to be overcome by turning toward life, which is divine harmony.
 
To turn away from evil and realize God instead is to liberate yourself, to help the world, and to glorify God.
 
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth … (Isaiah 45:22).
 
That which we focus upon, becomes our reality. Are we focusing on the problems or the solutions? Negativity is the problem. God’s presence is the solution. Focus on God and solve the problem; focus on the problem and…
 
Looking to the presence of God from whom all our help comes,
Z gardener
 
 

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The Two Spirations

Posted in Good Morning on September 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Have you ever heard the old story of the two spirations? They are essentially for every worthwhile achievement. If either is missing the enterprise is doomed to failure, and if you have not been making your life as successful as you would like, you must go to work and find which of them has been overlooked. I am sure it is hardly necessary to tell you that the two spirations in question are inspiration and perspiration.

 
First you need inspiration. Sheer hard work, blind plodding, or brutal hammering will not bring success. You must also have regular inspiration.
 
Second, perspiration. There is no success without persevering hard work in the direction of your goal. Recently I heard one of the greatest living musicians address a class of musical students. He said, “I know of no road to success except hard work. If there is such a road I have not heard of it.”
 
Contact God daily for inspiration; and then work hard.
 
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain (Psalm 127:1).
 
Or, it could be said to “believe and act”. When our faith inspires us, our acts must reflect that faith. Weak faith and shallow acts will not get the job done. If we believe fully and act accordingly, our world will become the garden God created for us.
 
Acting on faith,
Z gardener

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The 13th Hour

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

 
Some wonderful demonstrations come at the eleventh hour. Others come at the twelfth hour. And some of the deepest and most far-reaching demonstrations come at the thirteenth hour – if you maintain the right attitude. What, after all, is the right attitude? It is simply knowing the Truth of Being instead of accepting the error.
 
Many people are aware of this, and they work in the right way – for a while. If, however, the demonstration has not arrived a little before the eleventh hour, they give up in despair, and naturally their prayer is not answered. But, this can only mean that they do not really believe.
 
If your statements of Truth are true, they are true whether the victory comes at eleven or twelve or one o’clock. State the Truth of Being concerning the problem. Hold to it even after twelve o’clock has struck, and you will be surprised at the wonderful good that can come to you at the thirteenth hour.
 
 
The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that is cannot save, neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear (Isaiah 59:1).
 
Many prayers have been answered after those praying had given up. Many of these may have gone unnoticed as a result of our turning away in resignation. To paraphrase Joshua, “turn neither to the left nor to the right, but be strong and of a good courage; and you shall prosper wherever you go”.
 
Let us not turn from our faith and our prayers at any hour, thirteenth or thirtieth; so that we may experience and be witnesses to God’s faithful answers.
 
    Turning not away,
Z gardener

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The Secret of Successful Salesmanship

Posted in Good Morning on August 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 

True salesmanship means finding out what your customer really needs, and supplying him with it; or if you cannot furnish it yourself, advising him to go elsewhere. Such a policy will not mean loss of business. On the contrary, working in this way you may lose one order but you will get half a dozen in its place – and you will have peace of mind. Any one particular sale does not matter; it is the annual turnover that counts.
 
The policy, the Golden Rule, was taught by Jesus, the wisest and most practical teacher who ever lived. Salesman, treat your customer exactly as you would like him to treat you if the positions were reversed. Tell him exactly what you would like to be told about the merchandise, if you were the purchaser; and if you will do this the whole universe will cooperate to make your business career an outstanding success.
 
Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God: thy spirit is good… (Psalm 143:10)
 
Treating people fairly in business and personal life is not always easy or profitable in the short term. In the long term, it always yields exponential benefits. Any financial advisor would counsel us to invest in that which assures our long term success. The Bible advises us to invest our personal lives the same way. When we give our heart to God, we ensure the long term success of  our spirit.
 
Fairly yours,
Z gardener

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The Kaffir Didn’t Know It

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on August 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
About the middle of the last century, a traveler was journeying along through what was then a remote part of South Africa. One day while smoking his pipe outside the hut in a native village, he noticed a group of little naked children playing what was evidently a native version of the time honored game of marbles. He watched the game idly for a while, and then something about the rough stones caught his attention. They were quite small pebbles, dull, but – here his pulse began to steeplechase. He spoke to the children’s father, with studied carelessness, and the Kaffir said, “Oh yes, the children like these little stones. They have some more in the hut, “and he brought forth a small basket containing several more.
 
Repressing his excitement, the traveler took out a large plug of tobacco, worth perhaps twenty or thirty cents in our money, and said, “I would like to take the stones home for my children. I will give you this tobacco for them. Are you willing?” The Kaffir laughed and said, “I am robbing you but if you insist, all right,” and the bargain was sealed – which not only enriched the stranger but led in time to the great discovery of the South African diamond fields.
 
The fate of the Kaffir is really the fate of most human beings. Man holds a fabulous treasure in his possession – the power of the Spoken Word – and yet, in most cases, he does not know it.
 
The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure … to bless all the work of thine hand… (Deuteronomy 28:12).
 
The power of the spoken word is among our greatest powers. It springs from our thoughts, is more powerful than bullets and can be just as deadly. Let our thoughts, words and deeds reflect the love of God so that all our power is used for good.
 
Reflecting love,
Stan

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Brains or Excelsior?

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on August 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »

You all know the Great Law. One way of stating it is to say: Like produces like. What we sow in thought we reap in experience.
 
People know that these things are true, and yet in spite of this transcendent knowledge they constantly use the Great Law for their own destruction. They would not dream of pouring water in the gas tank of their car, or sand into their watch, or broken glass into their food; but they do something just as foolish every time they think, speak, or act negatively. One cannot help wondering what such people have inside their heads – brains or excelsior.
 
In the future, when you catch yourself thinking negatively, say to your self severely, “Brains or excelsior?” and immediately switch to what you know to be the Truth of Being.
 
Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord… (Ephesians 6:8).
 
    We live the way we think. Want to live in peace, joy and hope? Then think joyfully, peacefully and hopefully. Want a positive environment? Then think positively.
 
This is the way to live in the garden God gave us.
 
Thinking joy,
Z gardener
 

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Theoretical Centipede

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on August 22, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 

 Do not dissect things too much. By the time you have dissected a living thing you have killed it, and you no longer have the thing that you began with. Take a rose out of the bowl, pull its petal apart, count them, weigh them, measure them, and then, while you will have certain interesting information, you no longer have a rose.

 

 

 

There is a place for analysis, but it is apt to be quite fatal in prayer and meditation. Do not dissect the love of God, but feel it. Do not dissect divine intelligence, but realize it. Do not wonder how God can possibly solve this problem, but just watch Him do it in His own way – and He will if you will give Him a chance.

 

 

 

You know that God is Love. So go ahead on that, and do not get theoretical about it.

 

 

 

Do you remember the old verse that says:

 

 

 

A centipede was happy quite,

 

Until a frog in fun

 

Said, “Pray, which leg comes after which?”

 

This raised her mind to such a pitch,

 

She lay distracted in the ditch,

 

Considering how to run.

 

 

 

The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him: and all the upright in heart shall glory (Psalm 64:10).

 

 

 

Instead of dissecting and wondering, let us realize, observe and feel the love of God in our lives. It is fine to ponder and seek to understand God, but if this becomes an obstacle to our faith or a distraction from it, then it is not fine.

 

 

 

It is also fine to have doubts and questions about our faith and how to live it. It is not okay to let that doubt or those questions block us from following the will of God or accepting his solutions to our problems.

 

 

 

The true answer to all questions is faith. Have it and find the path; lose it and miss the path.

 

 

 

In faith,

 

Z gardener

 

 

 

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A Smile Is An Investment

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on August 21, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
Important, or, if you prefer, that the most important things in life are found to be the simplest. This is a very profound discovery. What is more important to us than breathing, for instance?
 
Another simple thing that is of great moment is a smile. A smile affects your whole body from the skin right in to the skeleton, including all blood vessels, nerves, and muscles. It affects the functioning of every organ. It influences every gland. Even one smile often relaxes a number of muscles, and when the thing becomes a habit you can easily see how the effect will mount up. Last year’s smiles are paying you dividends today.
 
The effect of a smile on other people is no less remarkable. It disarms suspicion, melts away fear and anger, and brings forth the best in the other person – which best he immediately proceeds to give to you.
 
A smile is to personal contacts what oil is to machinery, and no intelligent engineer ever neglects lubrication.
 
Rejoice evermore (1 Thessalonians 5:16).
 
A smile costs nothing, yet yields great rewards such as health, joy and peace. It benefits the person smiling and those who receive that smile. This may the one place where you can get something valuable for zero cost. What better investment can you get?
 
Investing in joy,
Z gardener
 

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