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Posts Tagged ‘Faith’

Look Where You Go

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on May 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Look where you are going because you will inevitably go where you are looking. Where your attention is, there is your destiny. Attention is the key to life. Whatever you really give your attention to, you become. Whatever you really concentrate upon will come into your life. The Bible says, For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). It does not say simply as a man thinketh, but as he thinketh in his heart, and this means thinking with interest or feeling.
This law is often illustrated most amusingly in practical life. The “horsy” man with his equine looks is known to us all. Kipling speaks of a Newfoundland fisherman who appeared for all the world like a great codfish himself; and Dickens speaks of a pedantic old lawyer who looked just like an animated roll of parchment. Keep your eyes open for these amusing dramatizations, and be sure to take to heart the tremendous lesson that they teach.
In which direction are we looking? What is it that we feel intensely about or for which we have strong desire? These are the elements that shape our reality and bring things into our lives. If we are looking to the physical realm and our passions are directed to the material world, that is where our present exists and where our future will be.
If we are focused on our spiritual lives and our desires are directed toward our relationship with God, then we can live in the Eden God created for us here and our future with God will be assured forever.
Looking rightly,
Z gardener

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Increasing Your Dividends

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on May 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. (Matthew 25:29).
This great text has been a stumbling block to many. It looks like injustice. It sounds like cruelty. Yet Jesus said it, and we know that he was always right.
The explanation is logical when you have the key to life. Your experience is the expression (pressing out) of your state of mind or consciousness, at any time. When your consciousness is high, everything goes well. When your consciousness is low or limited, everything goes wrong.
When trouble comes the usual thing is to meet it with fear, anger, disappointment, self-pity, or brutal will power. This naturally lowers the consciousness a good deal more, and things get still worse. From him that hath not (much) harmony, shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Harmony and joy naturally raise your consciousness and your faith in God still higher, and so things improve further. Unto everyone that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance. This is a simple statement of natural law. Let us thank God that this wonderful law exists.
Just as with the servant who hid their master’s money under a tree and did not use it or increase it, we are expected to use and benefit from God’s gifts and grace. We are to expand it and give it substance in our reality. We are to share it and receive joy and harmony for it. If we do not, then we will most surely lose it.
Living God’s abundance,
Z gardener

 

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The Law of Limitation

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on May 11, 2012| Leave a Comment »

A Young doctor and his wife were entertaining an elderly aunt. After-dinner coffee was served, whereupon the visitor said excitedly, “John, you know I cannot drink coffee! The nicotine in it keeps me awake all night.”
The nephew said, “ I assure you, my dear aunt, there is no nicotine in this coffee.” The aunt replied, “There is always nicotine in coffee, and it keeps me awake the whole night.” The host then said, “My dear aunt, I assure you upon my word of honor as a doctor, that there is no nicotine in this coffee.”
The old lady, who had the highest regard both for her nephew’s professional qualifications and for his personal integrity, was satisfied; and thereupon drank three large cups of coffee, enjoyed them immensely and slept like a top all night.
Naturally, there can be no nicotine in coffee; the old lady meant caffeine. Of course, one does not approve of the deception employed – deception is never legitimate – but the story illustrates perfectly the power of good and bad suggestion. The old lady first made a law of limitation for herself, and then repealed it without any trouble. Why not start today and repeal some of the many such laws you are sure to have made for yourself.
If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23).
Let us begin living without false limitation today. If we look at our lives and identify those things which holding us back, we will find that they can all be overcome. We will also find many if not most are self imposed or arise from our perceptions and prejudices.
Today we can begin to free ourselves from self-limitation and turn to God in thought, word and deed. Then we will clearly see the unlimited richness of a world in which God’s word rules. Once the scales of “self” drop from our eyes, the Eden created for us will appear to replace the world of limitation we have created for ourselves. Then we will possess the key to unlock us from our self-imposed imprisonment.
Being freed,
Z gardener

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Divine Abundance

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on May 10, 2012| 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).
Just as we are the only things that can limit ourselves, we are the only ones who can limit what we receive from God. Will we present an open hand to God’s grace and bounty or a raised fist that is closed in anger, bitterness or another destructive attitude? The choice is ours. The way is clear. We must accept God’s will and believe God’s word. In our hearts, minds and actions, we must live and love as God instructs us. Then all God’s love and joy will find a way into our lives and we will be able to recognize and live in the Eden God created for us.
Heart and hand opened,
Z gardener

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Never Look Back

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on May 9, 2012| Leave a 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).
This should not be interpreted to mean that we should not review our decisions and the paths they lead us down. It does mean that we should never second guess or turn back on our journey to, communion with and obedience to God. Once we embark on our path with God, we should never look back on that decision or the path it takes us on.
When facing challenges, hurts and fears, we must redouble our commitment to walk with God in faith and confidence. Even when our knees are shaking and our strength fades, we will find calmness and strength in our faith. If we question our faith in such times, we are turning away from our hope and our true safety.
As Joshua said, “Turn neither to the left nor to the right, but be strong and of a good courage…and you will prosper whithersoever though goest.
Walking ahead,
Z gardener

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Divinity Within

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on May 4, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Perhaps the second best prayer ever written is the Scotsman’s Prayer – “Lord give us a good conceit of ourselves.” You cannot have too much respect for yourself. You cannot have too much confidence in yourself. You cannot claim too much for yourself. But remember that you must realize these things as being the expression of God in you and not independent qualities of your own. You must also accept them as being true for every other human being.
Nothing but failure can come of self-depreciation. Of course, it is true that stupid people can get the malady called “swelled head” – and this ends in a fall – but the realization of one’s divine selfhood never gives swelled head. It gives wisdom, balance, poise, and steady progress. Think, talk, live your divine, glorious selfhood, and it will demonstrate itself in your life.
I have said, Ye are Gods; and all of you are children of the most High (Psalm 82:6).
We are the only things that can limit us. They way we think, what we think about and what we fail to think about does more to limit humans than all external conditions combined.
If we truly believe we are Gods and children of the most high, then we must respect and love ourselves just as we respect and love our heavenly Father. When we do, we will discover the unlimited joy of being that can only come from communion with God.
Being divine within,
Z gardener

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No Office Hours

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on May 3, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 
 
God has no office hours. There is never a time when God is unavailable. Day or night, summer or winter, God is always present; always ready to heal, to comfort, to inspire. It is not possible that you could turn to God in prayer without receiving help.
 
The one thing required of you is that you shall turn to Him wholeheartedly, and that you shall expect Him to act. The greater the emergency, the easier will it be to demonstrate. The most powerful of all prayers is simply “Be still, and know that I am God.”
 
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose hearts is perfect toward him. (2 Chronicles 16:9).
 
Always available to help us is God’s love and grace. We are never cut off form God’s love except by ourselves. In any circumstance we can call on God and expect an answer. Sometimes that answer may be no, but we will get an answer that is for our best good.
 
God is always in,
Z gardener

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Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on May 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Beware the Dog!
 
He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears (Proverbs 26:17).
 
If, when those around you are talking negatively about something or someone, you chip in with your contribution, you are taking a strange dog by the ears – so look out! If you get emotionally entangled in what is not your affair, through indignation, self-righteousness, hatred, or otherwise, you have seized the dog again – and he will bite. And even to think negatively concerning such matters in the secret chamber of your own heart, will bring you proportionate and natural punishment.
 
It is always right to think rightly about any person or situation, and if you do this many opportunities will come to you to help people practically, without any breach of law, and without coming near the dangerous dog.
 
Even when our thoughts, words and deeds are positive, we can be drawn into negativity by others. Rather than confirming their negative issues, we should always try to offer an alternative positive way of dealing with their issues. Then we are staying away from their dangerous dog, yet advising them how they might successfully overcome their own danger or other negative outcomes. Then we can stay on our positive track and hopefully help those around us find a way to deal with their issues in love, grace and forgiveness.
 
Dog watching,
Z gardener

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A Dependable Recipe

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on May 1, 2012| Leave a Comment »

When you make a cake, you know that whatever you put into your mixing bowl will appear in the cake itself, and, on the other hand, that unless a particular substance does go into the mixing bowl, it cannot appear in the finished article.
 
The thoughts and beliefs that fill our minds ultimately appear in the cake of experience, and to realize this is to save oneself a lot of trouble. No one puts kerosene in the mixing bowl because no one wants it in the cake, for everyone knows that, if it does enter the bowl, in the cake it will be.
 
…They that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same (Job 4:8).
 
Here we find a simple universal truth. That which we put into our lives will be manifested in our lives. Just as our bodies will react to that which we put in it, so will our thoughts words and deeds. If we fill our lives with love, hope and peace, our lives will be peaceful, hopeful and filled with love. Let us today plan the recipe for our lives so that the ingredients we put in will create the product that will be for our best good. This is God’s will for us.
 
Cooking rightly,
Z gardener

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The Use of Intelligence

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on April 30, 2012| Leave a 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)
 
A friend of this author used to have a bumper sticker on his car that simply said, “THINK”. When asked why he displayed the sticker he replied that it’s because “most people don’t.” His point is addressed by today’s thought.
 
When we use our intelligence, we engage God’s greatest attribute given to humankind. Our intelligence is God’s intelligence manifesting itself through us. When we rationally work through the good and bad experiences we have, we give God the opportunity to reveal to us those thoughts and insights we need to make good decisions, regardless of emotional or personal reactions that might take us the wrong way.
 
Let us today use all of God’s gifts to guide our thoughts and the words and deeds they create. Then, ask God to guide and direct those thoughts so they reflect God’s love in every way. This will assure that our lives can become the garden God created them to be.
 
Thinking,
Z gardener

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