May 26, 2008 by zgardener
Once we accept the truth, how can we demonstrate it in our lives when our senses and the entire environment seems to contradict it? We must have enough faith in what we know to act it out in our daily lives. We must act as though it is true, take the leap of faith and practice it regardless of the apparent circumstances or perceived limitations. That does mean jump off a building expecting not to fall. It means to accept God’s leadership, follow Jesus’ teachings and apply them to your every thought, word and deed. Judge not, return love for hate, put others first and the list goes on. None of these things are easy things to do. In fact, they are only possible because the ultimate power of the universe makes them possible. Not good enough to do this? Neither is anyone else without turning to God and putting him first. Then the spirit of truth will demonstrate all things.
In the spirit,
Z Gardener
Truth Demonstrated
Truth never changes, but what we have to deal with on this plane is man’s apprehension of the Truth, and throughout historical time, this has been steadily and continuously becoming more plain to us.
Jesus Christ summed up this Truth, taught it completely and thoroughly, and, above all, demonstrated it in his own person. Most of us now can glimpse intellectually the idea of what it must mean in its fullness. To accept the Truth is the great first step, but not until we have proved it in doing is it ours. Jesus proved everything that he taught, even to the overcoming of death in what we call the resurrection. By surmounting every sort of limitation to which mankind is subject, he performed a work of unique and incalculable value to the race, and is therefore justly entitled the Savior of the world.
…when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…(John 16:13).
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May 23, 2008 by zgardener
The creator of the universe has given us, in the bible, the instruction manual for achieving everlasting life with him and Eden in this earthly life. He has also given us the responsibility to follow the manual. When we follow it faithfully to the best of our understanding, we become agents of the ultimate authority and thereby may exercise dominion over all things here below. That is awesome power and it comes with great responsibility.
Humbly,
Z Gardener
The Purpose of the Bible
Externally, the Bible is a collection of inspired documents written by men of all kinds, in all sorts of circumstances, and over hundreds of years of time. The documents are seldom originals, but redactions and compilations of older fragments; and the names of the actual writers are seldom known for certain. This, however, does not affect the spiritual purpose of the Bible. The book, as we have it, is inexhaustible reservoir of spiritual Truth, compiled under divine inspiration, and the actual route by which it reached its present form does not matter.
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May 22, 2008 by zgardener
Belief or faith is a key that unlocks the door to effective prayer. Effective prayer is the door through which we can enter a change of consciousness. The change of consciousness is the garden or “secret place” in which we abide with God. It is in this garden that God makes his infinite power available to us for the miracles we need. When we leave that garden, the world from which we entered it has changed. It is our decision to use our key, unlock our door and enter our garden. God is there waiting to change the world, to ensure our needs are met and to provide all the blessings and miracles we need. Let us all visit our garden each day and unlock all the power, joy and blessings therein.
Using the key,
Z Gardener
A Basic Miracle
Let us suppose, for the sake of example, that on a certain Monday, your affairs are in such a condition that, humanly speaking, certain consequences are sure to follow before the end of the week. These may be legal consequences, perhaps of a very unpleasant nature following upon some decision of the courts; or a physician may decide that a perilous operation will be necessary. Now, if someone can raise the consciousness of the harassed individual above the limitations of the physical plane then the conditions on that plane will change, and, in some unforeseen and normally impossible manner, the legal tragedy will melt away, and to the advantage, be it noted, of all parties to the case; or the patient will be healed instead of having to undergo the operation.
In other words, miracles, in the popular sense of the word, can and do happen as the result of a change of consciousness, and a change of consciousness is usually accomplished through prayer. Thus prayer does change things.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).
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May 21, 2008 by zgardener
Many times our rational intellect and senses create barriers to believing in miracles or even God himself. That would be OK if our senses experienced all things, our minds knew all things and we could perceive all things. We can’t. There is much more we don’t understand and can’t perceive in the universe than that which we can grasp. If we accept this simple fact of our own limitation, it may open the door to our ability to believe in things we can not see, taste , touch and smell. Then, we can truly understand and accept miracles are possible and God does exist.
In awe,
Z Gardener
Miracles
Jesus taught through miracles.
If the miracles did not happen, the rest of the Gospel story loses all real significance. If Jesus did not believe them to be possible, and undertake to perform them, then the Gospel message is chaotic, contradictory, and devoid of significance.
But the deeds related to Jesus in the Four Gospels did happen, and many others too, “the which, if they should be written, every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” Jesus himself justified what people thought to be a strange teaching by the works he was able to do; and he went further and said,
…the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works… (John 14:12).
Now what, after all, is a miracle? Those who deny the possibility of miracles on the ground that the universe is a perfect system of law and order, to the operation of which there can be no exceptions, are perfectly right. But the explanation is that the world of which we are normally aware, and with whose law alone most people are acquainted, is only a fragment of the whole universe as it really is; and that there is such a thing as appealing from a lower to a higher law—from a lesser to a greater expression. In the sense of a real breach of law, miracles are impossible. Yet, in the sense that all ordinary rules and limitations of the physical plane can be set aside or overridden by an understanding that has risen above them, miracles can and do happen.
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May 20, 2008 by zgardener
Jesus’ teaching on this subject endows us with tremendous freedom and undeniable responsibility. While lifting the tradition of outer behavior, he lays on us the requirement of right thinking and feeling. So we must not only do the right thing, we must do it with the right heart and for the right reason. It is when we turn to God that we can successfully search our hearts, minds and soul for the true spirit in all we do.
Still searching,
Z Gardener
Letter or Spirit?
Jesus made a special point of discouraging the laying of emphasis upon outer observances; and, indeed, upon hard-and-fast rules and regulations of every kind. What he insisted upon was a certain spirit in one’s conduct, knowing that when the spirit is right, details will take care of themselves. Yet, in spite of this, the history of orthodox Christianity is largely made up of attempts to enforce all sorts of external observances upon the people.
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life (2 Corinthians 3:6).
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May 19, 2008 by zgardener
If all those who find themselves unable to accept the existence of God would study Jesus’ teachings and apply his lessons and wisdom to their lives for even one week, I believe they would be unable to remain in their unbelief. Seeing is believing.
In Belief,
Z Gardener
Jesus’ Teaching
Jesus explains what the nature of God is, and what our own nature is; tells us the meaning of life and of death; shows us why we make mistakes; why we yield to temptation; why we become sick,and impoverished, and old; and most important of all, he tells us how all these evils may be overcome, and how we may bring fulfillment into our lives, and into the lives of others.
Jesus warns us, not once but often, that obstinacy in sin can bring very severe punishment, and that a man who parts with the integrity of his soul—even though he gain the whole world—is a tragic fool. But he teaches that we are only punished for—and actually punished by—our own mistakes; and he teaches that every man or woman, no matter how steeped in evil and uncleanness, has always direct access to an all-loving, all-powerful Father-God, who will forgive him, and supply His own strength to him to enable him to find himself again.
If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him (1 John 2:29).
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May 16, 2008 by zgardener
If we listen to follow the words of the greatest teacher, the lessons we learn will do more to change our lives for the better than anything else we could do.
Still listening,
Z Gardener
What Did Jesus Teach?
Jesus Christ is easily the most important figure that has ever appeared in the history of mankind. This is true whether you choose to call him God or man. His life and death and teachings have influenced the course of human history more than those of any other man who ever lived. There can hardly, therefore, be a more important undertaking than to inquire into the question of what Jesus really did stand for.
What did Jesus teach? What did he really wish us to believe and to do? How far does the Christianity of today present his message to the world? What did Jesus teach?
…for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21).
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you (John 15:12).
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (John 14:14).
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May 15, 2008 by zgardener
Each step we take in our spiritual journey is filled with unlimited potential. Each day that we spend in search of spiritual discernment and in harmony with God brims over with miracles and answered prayers. It is the metaphysical equivalent of hitting the lottery each day or buying the next big stock super performer every time. In the material world, each day without new spiritual growth and commitment is inherently limited and likely to be pretty much like the next. Daily prayer and seeking God’s will each day unlocks infinite power and possibilities that are unavailable otherwise. Or as a popular cartoon character once to said, “to infinity and beyond”.
Still digging,
Z Gardener
Dig Deeper
The study of the Bible is not unlike the search for diamonds in South Africa. At first people found a few diamonds in the yellow clay, and they were delighted with their good fortune, even while they supposed that this was to be the full extent of their find. Then, upon digging deeper, they came upon the blue clay, and to their amazement found as many precious stones in a day as they had previously found in a year.
In your exploration of Bible Truth, see to it that you do not rest satisfied in the yellow clay of a few spiritual discoveries, but press on to the rich blue clay underneath. The Bible, however, differs from the diamond field in the sublime fact that beneath the blue clay there are more and still more and richer strata, awaiting the touch of spiritual perception—on and on to Infinity.
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33).
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May 14, 2008 by zgardener
One of the most difficult aspects of living in harmony and with peace of mind is the refusal to worry and to be anxious. The world around us drives us to fret and fear and we use these reactions as negative reinforcement for avoiding trouble or as self-correction techniques. We do not have to worry or be anxious to be responsible people. In fact, most of the time such activities become self-fulfilling prophecies. In every instance, such behavior corrodes our energy, diverts us away from positive action to address our trouble or concern and freezes us up in our troubles. Such behavior is the equivalent of emotional and spiritual rust. When we trust God and follow His instruction to rejoice and be glad in all things, it is a spiritual lubricant like spraying our spirits with WD-40. It frees us to think, act and live smoothly and efficiently and will reduce all of the friction and corrosion in our lives, hearts and minds. If we refuse to succumb to worry and fear, our positive energy is multiplied and our drag and resistance is reduced.
Still lubricating,
Z Gardener
Cast Thy Burden
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22).
We sometimes hear the expression used, “ cast the burden,” and it is useful to consider what this phrase really means. Used intelligently, it is one of the great keys to spiritual victory. To cast the burden means really to insist upon harmony and peace of mind, and to cease from worry and anxiety there and then.
If, when you are faced with trouble, whether it be old or new, you can affirm positively the harmony of being and then refuse to reopen the case, no matter how much fear may urge you to do so, you have cast your burden upon the Lord, and you will win.
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May 13, 2008 by zgardener
How wonderful it would be if we could change things for the better, heal the hurts and right the wrongs. Well, if we truly accept the words of the Bible, we can do such things. It will require looking past the appearance of things and their immediate effect upon us. A bad job, hurt feelings or even great tragedies can be overcome when we turn to God and believe that we can do all things through him. As we bring God into the equation, our faith is imbued with infinite power and our thoughts become more powerful than that difficulty which we face. It is then that we can know with certainty that we can overcome any difficulty. Prayer is the key to opening this power and using that power to change things that appear beyond our control.
Overcoming,
Z Gardener
Prayer As Treatment
Treatment is a psycho-spiritual term that means knowing the spiritual truth about any person or situation. If, like most people, you believe that appearances are realities and that they cannot be changed, then you cannot give a treatment. But if you believe that the Bible is right when it says,
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…(Proverbs 23:7).
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement (John 7:24).
Then it is in your power to change anything for the better and to heal most things. Begin every treatment (no matter how many you may give) by saying:
I can overcome this difficulty.
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