Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Posted in Uncategorized on July 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Uncategorized on July 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Uncategorized on July 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Uncategorized on July 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Uncategorized on July 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Uncategorized on July 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Losing Interest in Outer Things
Posted in Uncategorized on June 18, 2012| Leave a Comment »
It happens to some students of prayer who are especially zealous, giving much time to study and meditation, and making more than average progress, that a time comes when their ordinary daily work begins to seem dull, tiresome, and really not worthwhile. Such a person may actually have a very important and interesting position, which most people would consider ideal; but now he is no longer content or happy. He would like to throw off business life altogether and devote all his time to his spiritual development.
The healing of this problem is first to know that a great many people have to meet it. It is not at all uncommon or peculiar to one person; and those who have it always come through it and find themselves happier than ever before because this particular difficulty only happens to wholehearted and zealous people. Such people usually spend too much time in prayer and meditation, and become waterlogged.
Having come through that stage they always find themselves more interested in their business than ever before; they do much better work, and at the same time they progress much faster in their spiritual lives, and have a great deal more power in prayer than they ever had before.
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. (Job 42:2).
Our daily work is as much a part of our ministry and response to God as any other part of our lives. While it may also be necessary to support oneself, it is clearly an opportunity to apply our faith, and practice God’s charge that we “do the good things for which we are created”.
By understanding our work is part of our spiritual life, we can elevate that work and our attitudes about it to higher levels of joy, satisfaction and ministry. Then we will find true joy in our work, and our work will produce joy in the world. Have a joyful day at work today.
Working in faith,
Z gardener
Answered Prayers
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Faith, Spiritual on June 5, 2012| 1 Comment »
Why has not your prayer been answered? Perhaps it has. Strangely enough, it often happens that we receive an answer to our prayer and do not recognize it. Some of us have had demonstrations in our possession for weeks or months and have not known it. This mistake is caused by outlining. We have unconsciously decided that the demonstration must take a particular form, and because that form does not appear, we think we have failed. Actually we probably have an even better demonstration than we expected, but for the moment we are blind to it.
If a boy prayed for a man’s hat (because he thought it would look well on him or make him grown up) he would not get it; since divine Wisdom knows that he could not wear it. He would get a good hat of the sort that would be useful to him. We often pray for things for which we are not really prepared; but if we pray scientifically this will not matter, since Creative Intelligence will send us the thing that we really need.
Seek God for his own sake, for the joy of being with Him and demonstrations will take care of themselves.
I will be glad in the Lord (Psalm 104:34)
How many answered prayers have we turned away because we did not accept God’s answer to those prayers? Know this, when we pray to God in faith, we should be prepared to follow the answer whether we like it or not. You see, God gives us what we need even when we ask for the wrong thing. The prayer will be answered; be prepared for it. It is like asking God for a train ride; when it arrives you must board it regardless if it is going to the destination you chose. We must have faith that God’s destination is the one we need.
It’s like the wise old man who told the doubting young whippersnapper; “Son, if I tell you a train is coming down this dirt road, you better get on it or jump in the ditch”. So it is with prayer. If we pray sincerely, we ought to expect the train. The only question is whether we will board it when it arrives at our station or jump in the ditch..
Waiting on the train,
Z gardener
Your Counselor
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Faith, Spiritual on October 29, 2010| Leave a Comment »
The Prophet Isaiah also calls this Child “Counselor.” A counselor is one who gives guidance. If you are worried because you do not know whether to take some important step, to accept a business offer, to sign an important document, to enter upon a partnership, to resign your position, to trust someone, to say something, the Child will be your Counselor.
In the third place the prophet reveals to us who the Child really is. It is no less than God Himself, “The Mighty God.” And truly the mystic Power that transforms, and transmutes, and transfigures, is God Himself, always present with you, and always available.
…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works (John 14:10).
Read John 14:10-17.
Think about that! We always have within us God’s power to transform, transmute and transfigure! When we know how hard it is for an adult to change even five percent of their behavior, this is truly amazing. With God’s power we can renew and rebuild not only our lives, but everything in our lives as well.
On top of that, we also have within us a counselor and advocate who is the Holy Spirit of God to guide and advise us in times of confusion or weakness, joy and gladness. That Holy Spirit is with God and constantly advocating our best good. That spirit, made real by our obedience and actions in the physical world is the force that can turn black to white, low to high and will transform any obstacle or challenge into a blessing or a miracle.
How much easier it is to feel hope, confidence and peace when we see things through this reality! How much sweeter the smell of the garden, the warm dappled light, the crisp cool air when we know this truth!
With counsel,
Z gardener
A New Birth
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Faith, Spiritual on October 28, 2010| Leave a Comment »
The prophet Isaiah speaks of the “Name” of the Child, and if we know something of Bible symbolism, we know that we are now going to learn something fundamental, for in the Bible, the name of anything means the character or nature of that thing. A name is not merely an arbitrary label, but actually a hieroglyph of the soul. We are given no less than five names or qualities of the Child.
First Isaiah says that the name of the Child is Wonderful. The word wonderful used here requires careful scrutinization. As employed in the Bible, it implies a miracle – just that, and nothing else. The Bible repeatedly says that miracles can happen, and it gives detailed and circumstantial accounts of many specific cases. Moreover, it says that miracles always will happen if you believe them to be possible, and are willing to recognize the power of God, and to call upon it.
As soon as the Child is born in you consciousness, the miracle will come into your life. This does not mean simply that you will become resigned to your present circumstances, or that you will then be enabled to meet the same difficulties with a higher courage or a clearer brain. It means the miracle.
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible (Mathew 19:26).
When we accept God, and the miracle of new birth occurs in our spirits, we begin a life-long journey with God and the Holy spirit. This miracle opens the door to our Edens. We then spend the rest of our lives learning to cultivate that garden and the spiritual miracle of God’s Holy spirit within us.
As we grow in God’s spirit, we do find new attributes emerging that help us cope and that give us hope, courage and clarity. These attributes are not created by the miracle of God in our lives, but are empowered by God for us to discover, learn and use.
Just a any child is born ignorant and full of potential, so our spiritual lives begin. In both spiritual and physical matters, we must learn the truth, accept it and then apply it to our lives if we are to reap the benefits. The big difference is that on our own, all things are not possible, but with God…
Living the miracle,
Z gardener
Good Morning Garden 