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Claim Your Nourishment

June 9, 2008 by zgardener

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

June 6, 2008 by zgardener

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

June 5, 2008 by zgardener

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

June 4, 2008 by zgardener

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

June 3, 2008 by zgardener

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

June 2, 2008 by zgardener

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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Silver

May 30, 2008 by zgardener

Isn’t it ironic that seeking riches, honor and other forms of ego gratification to achieve happiness becomes an insurmountable barrier to the source of true joy and instead becomes the source of our sorrows? If we accepted that up front the devil could not use it to block our spiritual path. That is why the Bible says, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God”.

Seeking the Kingdom,

Z Gardener

 

SILVER

Next comes the silver. This stands for greed of money or money’s worth, for material objects that can be bought, and even for riches themselves. Or it may be that the offender is not interested in riches themselves but in their ability to give him a position of honor in the eyes of the world. He wants to be considered important and to have adulation or applause. Often he wants to be a “leader,” not because he has a message to give but to be important. He is the victim of egotism. Now this is a base and ignoble sin; an insurmountable barrier across the spiritual path.
 
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10).

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The Temple of Solomon

May 29, 2008 by zgardener

As we seek to build our spiritual consciousness, let us be ever mindful that each of us must choose their own path to God. Every soul must seek its own way and build their own unique relationship with God. It is the prayer of this writer that these morning thoughts, might in some way assist us all to that end. So Godspeed to each of us on our journeys. May our paths be filled with blessings and may God’s grace and mercy protect us from the challenges along the way and use them for our best good.

Building a path,
Z Gardener

The Temple of Solomon

 

GOLD
 
We know that the spiritual consciousness which we are all engaged in building is spoken of in the Bible as the Temple of Solomon. The name Solomon means peaceful, and symbolizes wisdom. This is logical, for peace of mind is the foundation of all spiritual building, the hallmark of understanding.
 
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).
 
This is the Scriptural manner of telling us that there are five principal temptations that may come to the soul that is striving to build the spiritual temple. The particular form that each temptation takes will vary according to the temperament and circumstances of the subject, but in principle will be the same.
 
First comes the gold, and this stands for desire for personal power over other people, the desire to regulate their lives, to make them toe the line—our line, naturally—and even to make use of them. Many people on the spiritual path have given way to this temptation. They must dominate other people’souls. They tell themselves that it is done for the good of the victims, of course, but it is really a craving for personal power and glorification. It is not an ignoble sin like that connected with the silver, but for that very reason it is far more dangerous, far-reaching, and enduring.
 
The thing that gold symbolizes when rightly understood is the omnipresence of God; and of course religious tyranny is a denial of this. You should do all you can to help, to enlighten, and to inspire others, as far as your own understanding will permit, but you must never try to dictate their convictions; or to hold to your own opinions. Religious tyranny is poisonous to the victims; but it is absolutely mortal to the tyrant.

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Insufficiency of Knowledge

May 28, 2008 by zgardener

All the knowledge and wisdom that mankind possesses today will be dwarfed by what we will know in the future. This is good, but it brings into perspective why we can’t depend on our knowledge alone. God possesses all knowledge and wisdom and even when we come to know all we are able to discern, his knowledge will still be infinitely greater. So, upon whose knowledge are we going to depend..who will we trust? Let us all place our heart and mind on God each day and become an open vessel for his wisdom, love and knowledge and we will become pure in heart.

Trusting Him,
Z Gardener

Insufficiency of Knowledge

            Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).

 
Most people, and learned people especially, have all kinds of knowledge that does not in the least affect or improve their practical lives. Doctors know all about hygiene, but often live in an unhealthy way, notwithstanding; and philosophers, who are acquainted with the accumulated wisdom of the ages, and assent to most of it, continue to do foolish and stupid things in their own personal lives. Now, knowledge such as this is only opinion, or head knowledge, as some people call it. It has to become heart knowledge, or to be incorporated into the subconscious, before it can really change one. The modern psychologists in their efforts to “re-educate the subconscious” have the right idea, though they have not yet discovered the true method of doing so, which is by single-minded prayer, or the Practice of the Presence of God.
 
Jesus, of course, thoroughly understood all this, and that is why he stresses the fact that we have to be pure in heart.

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Great Possessions

May 27, 2008 by zgardener

Each day we must weigh our actions and priorities in light of their impact on our relationship with God and our communion with him. We should ask ourselves, “Is all we value worth the peace and joy that comes with obeying God’s will in our lives”? Which of our our possessions or habits separate us from God? Are they so important that we would sacrifice our greatest treasure for them? When viewed in this light, the answer seems obvious and and the path is clear. Joy is the reward that God offers in lieu of our human possessions.

Divesting the baggage,
Z Gardener

Great Possessions

 This is really the story of mankind in general. We reject the salvation that Jesus offers us—our chance of finding God—because we “have great possessions,”; not so much that we are very rich in terms of money, for indeed most people are not, but because we have great possessions in the way of preconceived ideas—confidence in our own judgment, and in the ideas with which we happen to be familiar. We have pride, born of academic distinction; sentimental or material attachment to institutions and organizations; habits of life that we have no desire to renounce; concern for human respect; or perhaps fear of public ridicule. And these possessions keep us chained to the rock of suffering that is our exile from God. One of the saddest passages in all literature is the story of the Rich Young Man who missed one of the great opportunities of history, and


…he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:22).

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