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Posts Tagged ‘Faith’

On Worship

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , on December 3, 2013| Leave a Comment »

On Worship
 
He demands our worship, our obedience, our prostration. Do we suppose that they can do Him any good, or fear, like the chorus in Milton, that human irreverence can bring about “His glory’s diminution”? A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word “darkness” on the walls of his cell. 
 
But God wills our good, and our good is to love Him (with that responsive love proper to creatures) and to love Him we must know Him: and if we know Him, we shall in fact fall on our faces. If we do not, that only shows that what we are trying to love is not yet God—though it may be the nearest approximation to God which our thought and fantasy can attain.
 
Worship is our response to God’s call. How we respond will be based on how well we know God. To know God, we must seek him each day and search for him in every thing we experience. When we truly find and know God, we must submit to God’s will and guidance. 
 
So, it is knowledge put into action that constitutes true worship. And true worship will yield a humility that causes us to fall to our knees and on our faces out of awe, respect and overwhelming love for God. Until that point of humility and awe, we may be on the right path, but have yet to arrive at the full knowledge of the true God of love.
 
In humility,
Z gardener

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On the difference between wordless prayer and the practice of the presence of God.

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , on November 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
No, by wordless prayer I didn’t mean the practice of the Presence of God. I meant the same mental act as in verbal prayer only without the words. The Practice of the Presence is a much higher activity. I don’t think it matters much whether an absolutely uninterrupted recollection of God’s presence for a whole lifetime is possible or not. A much more frequent and prolonged recollection than we have yet reached certainly is possible. Isn’t that enough to work on? A child learning to walk doesn’t need to know whether it will ever be able to walk 40 miles in a day: the important thing is that it can walk to-morrow a little further and more steadily than it did to-day.
 
I don’t think we are likely to give too much love and care to those we love. We might put in active care in the form of assistance when it would be better for them to act on their own: i.e., we might be busybodies. Or we might have too much ‘care’ for them in the sense of anxiety. But we never love anyone too much: the trouble is always that we love God, or perhaps some other created being, too little.
 
As to the ‘state of the world’ if we have time to hope and fear about it, we certainly have time to pray. I agree it is very hard to keep one’s eyes on God amid all the daily claims and problems. I think it wise, if possible, to move one’s main prayers from the last-thing-at-night position to some earlier time: give them a better chance to infiltrate one’s other thoughts.
 
It seems clear we could hardly go wrong with any of these efforts to commune with God. That which also seems clear is that we can’t love too much or care too much. We must be watchful however that our efforts are not misdirected by personal motives that are not loving and caring or those that are more about us than the person to whom we are directing our love and concern.
 
So, bothers and sisters, pray freely, often and in every form. And be sure that all our concerns be for the right thing, done the right way and being done for the right reasons. One can not go wrong if they are going right. This writer’s prayer is that God guide each of us to that righteousness and to the garden in which it abides.
 
Abiding in prayer,
Z gardener

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On Life In The New Creation

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , on November 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 
The letter and spirit of scripture, and of all Christianity, forbid us to suppose that life in the New Creation will be a sexual life; and this reduces our imagination to the withering alternative either of bodies which are hardly recognizable as human bodies at all or else of a perpetual fast. 
 
As regards the fast, I think our present outlook might be like that of a small boy who, on being told that the sexual act was the highest bodily pleasure should immediately ask whether you ate chocolates at the same time. On receiving the answer ‘No,’ he might regard absence of chocolates as the chief characteristic of sexuality. 
 
In vain would you tell him that the reason why lovers in their carnal raptures don’t bother about chocolates is that they have something better to think of. The boy knows chocolate: he does not know the positive thing that excludes it. We are in the same position. 
 
We know the sexual life; we do not know, except in glimpses, the other thing which, in Heaven, will leave no room for it. Hence where fullness awaits us we anticipate fasting. In denying that sexual life, as we now under- stand it, makes any part of the final beatitude, it is not of course necessary to suppose that the distinction of sexes will disappear. What is no longer needed for biological purposes may be expected to survive for splendor. 
 
Sexuality is the instrument both of virginity and of conjugal virtue; neither men nor women will be asked to throw away weapons they have used victoriously. It is the beaten and the fugitives who throw away their swords. The conquerors sheathe theirs and retain them. ‘Trans-sexual’ would be a better word than ‘sexless’ for the heavenly life.
 
Well, this is the first discussion of sexuality in heaven that this scribe has read. It is a very interesting concept that goes to the key questions we all have about the afterlife. Those questions usually center around such questions as, “will I be me, will I know my family and friends or will I have a body/” 
 
My simple answer has been that we will be us, yet there will no longer be the illusion of separation from God or each other. We will be us, and we will know and experience total communion with others, God and the universe. In that scenario, we would be ourselves, we would know our family, etc., we would have bodies and our consciousness. 
 
It will be the end of those things that prevent us from total communion and that imprisons us in the world of limited sensory perception and carnal existence. That is something to which we can all look forward with anticipation and joy. So much so that our lives here below can be lived in the Garden that was created for us until we can transcend the merely physical to be one with God and all creation.
 
Gardening for eternity,
Z gardener

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Divine Abundance

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , on October 1, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 
When you go down to the seashore, you find what is practically an unlimited supply of sea water at your disposal. There are billions upon billions of gallons there, but the amount that you can carry away will depend upon the vessel with which you have provided yourself. If you take a ten-gallon can, you can get ten gallons, but if you take only a pint pot you can take away only a pint, and if you have nothing bigger than a thimble, you would not be able to take away more than a thimbleful.
 
So it is with divine abundance. The only limit is the limit of our capacity to receive.
 
Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:16). 
 
How big is your bucket? It is the same size as your faith and confidence in God. Increase the size of the bucket and increase the blessings that can be carried in it.
 
Growing my bucket,
Z gardener
 

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Never Look Back

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on September 30, 2013| 1 Comment »

Never look back. Always go right ahead. Even if you are quaking, go right ahead. Jesus said the man who puts his hand to the plow and then turns back, is not worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. He also said:Remember Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32).
 
No matter how unattractive or how dangerous the road ahead may be, it is better than the road back. The road ahead may be veiled from sight – but you must teach yourself to regard the unknown as friendly. Remember that God is always on the road ahead.
 
…cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee (Psalm 143:8). 
 
Turn neither to the left nor to the right, but be strong and of a good courage. And you will prosper wherever you go.
 
Forward,
Z gardener

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The Use of Intelligence

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , on September 20, 2013| 1 Comment »

 
It is your duty to God to run your life on intelligent lines. God gives us all as much intelligence as we can possibly need, but, unfortunately, in most cases we use very little of it.
 
Ask yourself today if you are really conducting your life intelligently. Are you eating and drinking intelligently? Do you select your reading intelligently? Do you spend your money intelligently? Do you consider intelligently the things that you hear, or do you just accept them uncritically? Do you exercise intelligence in carrying out your daily work? Do you seek to approach each new problem with intelligence instead or mere emotions?
 
Have you intelligent plans for the future? Do you know what you would really like to do or to be, and if not wouldn’t it be only intelligent to go to work and find out and then draw up an intelligent plan for gaining your desire?
 
The world needs more intelligence. There is plenty of will, but because people will not use enough intelligence, mankind everywhere is in difficulties. Your intelligence is the light of God in your soul.
 
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5) 
 
Our intelligence is God’s consciousness working through us.But we must exercise and direct our intelligence or we become an obstacle to God’s will. By the way, would God give us the intelligence to question our faith if he were not supremely confident that our faith would be affirmed? 
 
Think intelligently, question intelligently and live in peace with the conclusions. It is God’s way for us.to find our way.
 
Finding God’s way,
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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