Good Morning Garden

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

To be poor in spirit does not in the least mean the thing we call “poor spirited.” To be poor in spirit means to have emptied yourself of all desire to exercise personal self-will, and, what is just as important, to have renounced all preconceived opinions in the whole-hearted search for God. It means to be willing to set aside your present habits of thought, your present views and prejudices, your present way of life if necessary; to jettison, in fact anything and everything that can stand in the way of your finding God.

How much of our lives are we willing to jettison when we discover that these aspects of our lives are blocking our search for God? Many times it is clear that something we hold dear is causing us to stray form God’s will for us. The harder part comes when we realize we must eliminate this aspect of our life that we don’t want to abandon. Some of these things are opinions, notions and preconceptions. Some of the obstacles are things we may enjoy, may feel justified in and yes, even feel are essential to our happiness. Yet, when it becomes clear that these habits, notions or convictions are against God’s will and way, we must be willing to let them go.

Choosing God’s spirit,
Z gardener

Read Full Post »

The sermon on the Mount opens with the eight Beatitudes. They are actually a prose poem in eight verses and constitute a general summary of the Christian teaching. A general summing up, such as this, is highly characteristic of the old Oriental mode of approach to a religious and philosophical teaching, and it naturally recalls the Eightfold Path of Buddhism, the Ten Commandments of Moses,and other such compact groupings of ideas.

Jesus concerned himself exclusively with the teaching of general principles, and these general principles always had to do with mental states, for he knew that if one’s mental states are right, everything else might be right too. Unlike the other great religious teachers, he gives us no detailed instructions about what we are to do or not to do.

… the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
…the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

God is a spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth
(John 4:21, 23-24).

As we look into our own spirits, let us contemplate Jesus’ teaching on the spirit with faith, hope and anticipation. Let us with an open heart and mind, reflect upon those spiritual attributes that will create the metal state God intends for us. This will require the willingness to face the truth and to change our spirits where they they have gone astray.

From the garden,
Z gardener

Read Full Post »

The setting forth of the Sermon on the Mount is an almost perfect codification of the religion of Jesus Christ. It covers the essentials. It is practical and personal. It is definite, specific, and yet widely illuminating. Once the true meaning of the instructions has been grasped, it is only necessary to begin putting them into practice to get immediate results. The magnitude and extent of these results will depend solely upon the sincerity and thoroughness with which they are applied. That is a matter which each individual has to settle for himself.

If you really do wish to become a different person altogether in the sight of God and man, then Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount, has clearly shown you how it is to be done.

If you are prepared to break with the old man, and start upon the creation of the new one, then the study of the great Sermon will indeed be to you the Mountain of Liberation.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves
(James 1:22).

The Easter miracle is celebrated for four weeks in our denomination. It is fitting during this time to reflect upon the true meaning of Jesus’ resurrection in our personal lives. This series of messages exploring the Sermon on the Mount is the perfect vehicle for our reflection.

Burying the old to raise the new,
Z gardener

Read Full Post »

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).

This is the appropriately the last message about overcoming negativity, and it sums up nicely, everything we have discussed on the subject. It is through changing our consciousness that we open the door for miracles to enter our lives. For it is when when we believe God’s word, follow God’s will and act in accordance with God’s will, that we can overcome any perceived or actual obstacles to hope, peace and joy.

Embracing love,
Z gardener

Read Full Post »

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.

For those with eyes to see and ears to hear, the explanation of miracles above should provide a credible framework for understanding and believing in miracles. Among the hardest things to accept for those seeking spiritual truth; miracles have challenged rational people throughout history.

Believing in and living because of miracles ,
Z gardener

Read Full Post »

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).

Now that we have explored every aspect of negativity and how to overcome it, we move into a series of affirming messages focused on Jesus’ teachings about embracing love and God’s will. It is this author’s prayer that these messages will help each of us find and enter that garden created by God for us.

Peace
Z

Read Full Post »

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).

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (John 14:14).

Among the last words Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples, on the last night of his earthly life before he was betrayed, denied and crucified, was a new commandment. “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you (John 15:12).” Our Savior then went on to say that this love for one another would be the sign by which people would know that we truly believed in him and what he taught us.

Have a blessed Easter living and giving love. It is all we need!
Z gardener

Read Full Post »

This day in Holy Week is known as Maundy Thursday. It is the day of the Last Supper which preceded Christ’s betrayal and passion. Even on this day, Jesus commanded us to love one another, reminded us all of God’s love and that demonstrated that all negativity, even a shameful death, can end in triumph with God’s help and grace.

This is an excerpt from The Immortal Story by Felix R. McKnight:

Thirty pieces of silver were to be His doom before the day’s end but Jesus of Nazareth tediously planned Maundy Thursday for last moments of fellowship and prayer with His Disciples.

Not many hours of life remained for Him. He was to be betrayed, given a mock trial and crucified before tomorrow’s sunset.

So it was His wish that He should gather for the last time His Disciples, but no worldly goods were His and He had no home for such fellowship. He directed two Disciples to go into Jerusalem and follow a man bearing a pitcher and in his home they would dine.

Many men bore pitchers of water from Shiloh on that day but the Disciples followed the first they saw and it was as He said. Arrangements were made.

In the evening Jesus came and sat with His Disciples for the Lord’s Supper and the Passover feast. It was the first day of unleavened bread. To prove His love for those He was soon to leave, Jesus stooped and washed the dusty feet of His Disciples. Protests arose but He said: “Verily, verily I say unto you, a servant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them.”

In His sadness He gave them a new commandment:

“Love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends…”

And He took the bread and broke it in prayer and gave it to them, saying:

“This is my body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of me.”

And He took a cup and gave thanks and handed it to an Apostle:

“Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many…”

Great lines furrowed His face and He shocked His Disciples when He said:

“Verily, I say unto you that one of you will betray me.”

The Disciples searched each other’s faces and were sorrowful. They quickly pleaded to know the identity of the betrayer. Judas Iscariot, the 30 pieces of silver even then tightly wrapped on his person, said: “Is it I, Lord?”

In answer, Jesus said: “He it is for whom I shall dip the sop and give it to him.”

And Jesus handed the sop to Judas Iscariot. Then He began His farewell conversation with the remaining Disciples who were of heavy hearts.

“Let not your heart be troubled. He who believes in God, believes also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you.”

The supper was ended and Jesus took with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane Peter and James and John. He implored them to stay with Him and watch as He prayed. And He fell to the ground and cried to God:

“Father, all things are possible unto Thee; remove this cup from Me!’

But only an angel appeared to give Him strength and in agony he prayed until blood and sweat coursed down His hot cheeks. He wearily arose and walked back to find the three Disciples lost in sleep. Not even His trusted friends could stand watch. He peered down at them and whispered: “Sleep on now and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Out of the shadows came Judas Iscariot in the light of lanterns. Swords rattled from scabbards of the motley rabble at his side. For 30 pieces of silver Judas Iscariot was to identify Jesus with a kiss. So he walked straightway to Him and kissed His cheek. And Jesus said: “Friend, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?”

The guards rushed forward and Simon Peter drew his sword and slashed an ear off the high priest’s servant. Quickly Jesus said: “Suffer ye thus far.” And he touched the ear and healed it.

The Disciples fled in confusion and fear and Jesus was led away to the house of Annas. His death sentence neared.

And Judas Iscariot fled into the night and hanged himself.

——————————————————————————–

Let not your heart be troubled. He who believes in God, believes also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you.

Father, let each of us turn to you in faith to honestly face and overcome negativity through your grace, love and power. Amen.

Z gardener

Read Full Post »

Get emotional and excited over every trifling occurrence, especially if it is no concern of yours.

Eat and drink indiscriminately. Your stomach is only a sink, anyway, and being made of cast iron, will stand anything.

Cut down your sleep. This is an excellent way to undermine the nervous system.

Never relax. That would give the body a chance to recuperate. Avoid all exercise. Exercise promotes circulation.

Read as much as you can about diseases and ailments. Your public library will carry many suitable books.

Discuss your own ailments at great length and, if you have had an operation, give dramatic little lectures about it at every opportunity.

Take good care of your dog, and your horse, and your automobile, but neglect your body. The Bible says that your body is the Temple of
the Holy Spirit, and to go against the Bible is always a good shortcut to trouble.

If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight; I wilt put none
of these diseases upon thee for I am the Lord that healeth thee (Exodus 15:26).

Unresolved stress, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, too little down time, lack of exercise, focusing on illness and abusing our bodies has killed more people and caused more bad health than all the diseases, accidents and wars in the world combined. Our body is not only God’s temple, it is a miracle of self-healing and regeneration; but we must treat it properly, give it what it needs and maintain it regularly or it will fail us. This is not optional and good health is not accidental. Neither is it merely or a matter of good genes. Even the best genes can be overcome by abuse and the worst genes can be fortified by good health practices and positive mental attitudes.

Burying the old,
Z gardener

Read Full Post »