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Posts Tagged ‘Faith’

God Is Life

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on January 4, 2011| 2 Comments »

The first main aspect of God is Life. God is not just living, nor does God give life, but God is Life. Where God is, there Life is.

When you are sick you are only partly alive. When you are tired or depressed or discouraged, you are only partly alive. Few people express God in an adequate way because they lack the sense of life.

Joy is one of the highest expressions of God as Life. Actually it is a mixture of Life and Love, and the Bible says “the sons of God shout for joy.” When we realize our divine sonship, we must experience joy. Joy always has an expansive effect, just as fear has a contracting effect. When a person says, “I can” you notice an expansive and forward movement, but when he says, “I can’t” there is a retraction. You could not imagine a person saying, “Yes, I can,’ with a shrinking gesture, or “No, I can’t,” in an optimistic or forthright way. The body always expresses the thoughts; the thought of Life heals and inspires, whereas thoughts of fear and death contract and destroy.

Realizing divine Life heals the sick. Animals usually respond quickly, and plants very quickly indeed, because they do not have that strong sense of personal egotism that most human beings do. They never make up their minds that they cannot get well or that “sickness is sent for a good purpose.” Neither do they give way to discouragement because they have not been healed faster.

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom and knowledge, and joy! (Ecclesiastes 2:26).

When we recall joyful events in our lives, we may think of our weddings, our children’s birth, Christmas, the championship game or other big events in our lives. Yet, that same joy is available to us each moment of every day. When is the last time we were joyful for our first waking breath of the day. Without it we would perish in mere minutes. How about even smaller things like the smell of fresh coffee, the smile on the face of our spouse or child, or any child?

Joy is one of God’s most precious gifts to us. It affirms and quickens the most precious gift from God, life itself. Yes, it is easy to slip into a state that takes joy and life itself for granted. The rush of days, the hurt, sadness and disappointment that is a part of every life conspire to drain joy from us and make life a burden. Sometimes it takes a a near-miss or a tragic event in our lives to reawaken joy and life in us. It does not have to be that way. That is not God’s will. In fact, God would have us rejoice and be glad each day.

So today, let us fill our lungs and our hearts with the life affirming breath of God’s love. Rejoice in the smell of the coffee (or popcorn), the smiles of loved ones or anyone. Feel the joy of cool morning air on the face, the beauty of light dancing on the frost and the millions of small blessings that are life. And, say today, “I can” and will be glad and joyful this day and every day. May God grant you this miracle in your garden and in every garden you visit. Bless you for bringing your joy to this garden today.

In gratitude and joy,
Z gardener

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Begin Today

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on January 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The first step that the earnest student must take to locate the Inner Light within himself is to settle on a definite method of working, selecting whichever one seems to suit him best, and then giving it a fair trial. Merely reading books, making good resolutions, or talking plausibly about the thing will get him nowhere.

Get a definite method of working, practice it conscientiously every day; and stick to one method long enough to give it a fair chance. You would not expect to play the violin after two or three attempts, or to drive a car without a little preliminary practice.

Get to work on some concrete problem, choosing preferably whatever it is that you are most afraid of. Work at it steadily; and if no improvement at all shows itself within, say, a couple of weeks, then try your method on another problem. If you still get no result, then scrap that method and adopt a new one. Remember, there is a way out. The problem really is, not the getting rid of your difficulties, but finding your own best method for doing it.

Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you (John 16:23).

Welcome back to the garden. It has been a miraculous Christmas and once again, we have the opportunity to begin a new year as a new person. The Bible affirms that during this season, we have the ability to lay down our old person and raise up a new person. So, let us begin today living as that new person with glorified faith and thankful hearts for all God’s blessings. And let us begin our journey this year together, as we search for that Inner Light within ourselves. And may God bless us fully so we can shine that light on ourselves and all those we touch each day.

May God bless you and yours with year ’round Christmas blessings every day of this year.

Peace

Z gardener

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The Time Draws Near

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on December 24, 2010| 1 Comment »

VOICES IN THE MIST
by Alfred Lord Tennyson

The time draws near the birth of Christ:
The moon is hid; the night is still;
The Christmas bells from hill to hill
Answer each other in the mist.

Four voices of four hamlets round,
From far and near, on mead and moor,
Swell out and fail, as if a door
Were shut between me and the sound.

Each voice four changes on the wind,
That now dilate, and now decrease,
Peace and goodwill, goodwill and peace,
Peace and goodwill, to all mankind.

Brothers and Sisters,

On this Christmas Eve, may each of you, and all those you love, know that the power and majesty of God is a real as the words you are reading now. And may that sure knowledge fill you and yours with the hope, peace and joy that surpasses all understanding.

Now, let the spirit of this season lift your hearts, and may the light of God’s saving grace, through his Son Jesus Christ brighten each day of the coming year.

Peace, love and joy,
Z gardener

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ONCE AGAIN WE PAUSE

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on December 6, 2010| Leave a Comment »

ONCE AGAIN WE PAUSE

Whatever else we lose throughout the years,
Let us keep Christmas, shining and apart,
And cast aside grim worries and dark fears
To fill a stir of joy within the heart.

If dreams have failed and disappointments throng
While problems seem to difficult to face,
The muted cadence of the angel’s song,
Renews again this blessed time of grace.

Unrest and folly, glimmerings of war
Enmesh us in a net of puzzling strife,
But far above the star still goes before
To point the way to happiness and life.

May hearts be listening when the joy bells ring
New courage, faith, and hope on Christmas morn,
As once again we pause, remembering
That unto us the Prince of Peace is born.

As we move through this holiday season, let us each express and demonstrate that love with which God fills us at this time of joy. And, let us remember that the birth of Jesus was God’s love for us made manifest in the flesh. Then, as we decorate our gardens to welcome the birth celebration, let us live in the spirit of the season by giving of ourselves to those around us. Let us especially reach out to those who have less, so we may all experience the peace, joy and gladness that God promised us during this season and forever.

Now, may God bless each of you and all lift your spirits as well as those to whom you show love, charity and grace this Christmas. And may this spirit and this giving fill your gardens with all God’s blessings in this new year.

Merry Christmas, Happy New year and Happy Holidays to you and yours,

In the Spirit,
Z gardener

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Safe In The Garden

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on November 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 Brothers and Sisters,
 
Today’s Good Morning Garden will be the last daily one for this year. While the author may send out an occasional message in the meantime, we will be starting anew on January first and look forward to the resumption of our work day visits.
 
For today, please keep in mind those whose sacrifices protect our gardens and allow us to worship freely, live in joy and gladness while safe in our homes.
 
Those soldiers who gave their lives and their blood, sweat and tears for our freedom still guard the gate to our gardens. Each life, each injury and each moment away from their family and friends forms the sure foundation of our freedom, peace and security.
 
And for all those who stand the wall this day, may God Almighty hold you in his arms, keep you safe and bring you home whole, healthy and soon. And for all those who stand and wait for them, may God lift you up, strengthen you and fill you with peace and joy until you loved ones come back home.
 
Safe in the garden,
 
Stan

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Your Dedication

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on November 5, 2010| Leave a Comment »

  
The way of Love, upon which you may step at any moment — at this moment if you like — requires no formal permit, has no entrance fee, and no conditions whatever. You need no expensive laboratory in which to train, because your own daily life, and your ordinary daily surroundings are your laboratory. You need no reference library, no professional training, no external acts of any kind. All you need is to begin steadfastly to reject from your mentality everything that is contrary to the law of love. 

Our dedication is all we need to embark on the path of love. And make no mistake, walking that path will demand our full dedication. Just because the path of love is available without the need for anything else does not mean it is easy. It just means its the most easily accessible. In, fact, without God directing our lives, it would be impossible.
  
So, we must turn our lives over to God, do what God instructs and then the path of love becomes passable. Then we can access all the power of God to help us travel it. Then, we can live, love and prosper in the garden God created just for each of us.
 
Loving God,
 
Z gardener
 
You must build up by faithful daily exercise the true Love Consciousness. Love will heal you. Love will comfort you. Love will guide you. Love will illumine you. Love will redeem you from sin, sickness, and death, and lead you into your promised land.
 
Say to yourself: “My mind is made up; I have counted the cost; and I am resolved to attain the Goal by the path of Love. Others may pursue knowledge, or organize great enterprises for the benefit of humanity, or scale the austere heights of asceticism; but I have chosen the path of Love. My own heart is to be my workshop, my laboratory, my great enterprise, and love is to be my contribution to humanity.”
 
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28).

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The Path of Love

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on November 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 
All the old traditions tell us that there is more than one path to the great Goal. Just as there is more than one road up every great mountain, and yet all reads meet at the top, so in the spiritual quest there are several roads, all of which lead in due season to the one great End.

 
There is the path of knowledge. True knowledge of divine things is one of the appointed paths to attainment; but that path is by no means for everyone. And there is the pathway of action—of organized activity—and the world needs this too; but this again usually calls for a special gift, and special circumstances in which to apply it. And there are others.
 
The shortest and the easiest pathway of all is the pathway of Love. It is the one pathway that is open to all, irrespective of what their personal conditions or circumstances may be. For every man, everywhere, the true attainment awaits through the yoga of Love, for yoga means union and it is our union with God that makes the attainment possible.
 
There is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment…(1 John 4:18).
 
…God is Love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16)
Lord, let us this day dwell in your love, and let your love cast out all our fear.
 
When we choose the path of love, we assure our communion with God regardless of the environment in which we exist. When fear tries to overcome us, answer it with love. When hurt, anger and bitterness threaten to rob us of all that is dear, defend against them with love. And when all our efforts fail to resolve that which torments us, endure those torments through love.
 
Yes, it is very hard to express love when hurt and disappointment, combined with every human instinct, shoves us toward fear. That is why we need God when confronted with that which separates us from love. For it is when we accept God’s dominion over us, that His love will flow into every hurt, every fear and every torment, filling them with the balm of God’s healing power. Then we will be made well, even when our hurts are unresolved and fear stalks us in our garden. When we and God are one, his love ensures our gardens will be safe, free form fear and blessed beyond all that concerns us.
 
All you need is love,
 
Z gardener

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Vital Faith

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on November 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 

 

  
Read Psalm 46.

  
Among all the beautiful and heart-searching prayers of the Bible there is none that surpasses the wonderful poem that we call the Forty Sixth Psalm.
 
It begins, as do nearly all the Bible prayers, with an expression of faith in God. This is extremely important in practice. You need to affirm constantly that you do believe in God, not merely as a vague abstract concept, but as a real, vivid, actual power in life, always available to be contacted in thought; never changing and never failing. The Psalm closes with a command and an affirmation.
 
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
  
This is really the whole Bible in a nutshell. Be still, and know that I am God. This is the very last thing that we want to do when we are worried or anxious. The current of human thought is always hurrying us along to its own ends, and it seems much easier to swim with it by accepting difficulties, than to draw resolutely away from these things, and contemplate God, which is the one way out of trouble. Even in your prayers there is a time to cease active work and, “having done all, to stand” – to be still, and know that I am God.
  
How often are we still enough to affirm our faith in God and our knowledge that he is God?  Every breath we take is a miracle sent by God without which our lives would end within moments. Do we recognize God’s blessings with every breath? We can be sure that if that breath were cut off, we would be in very close contact with God until our breath returned.
  
It may not be possible to live every moment in total awareness of God, but most of us could put a lot more time and awareness into our relationship with God than we do. One of the keys to increasing that awareness and communion is to be still. Not just physically still, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually still.
  
When we are still in thought, word and deed, we can then fortify our faith, know God and overcome our difficulties. Then we can exalt God in the earth by living in and working our gardens in peace, joy and hope: even with our problems.
  
Being still,
  
Z gardener

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Your Father

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on November 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

A great deal of confusion seems to exist in many minds concerning the precise avenue through which realization and harmony are to be attained.

The only solution is to contact the divine Power that dwells within your own soul; and to bring it to bear upon the various difficulties in your life, taking them in due order, that is, attacking the most urgent first. The real remedy for every one of your difficulties is, as we are told on every page of the Bible, to find and know the Indwelling Presence.

Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee (Job 22:21).

This, then, is the task, and the only one – to find, and consciously know, your own Indwelling Lord. You see now how the confusion disappears, and the perfect simplicity of the whole thing emerges once you realize this fact.

Where do we most often search for God? Many seek God in church, in the Bible, in Sunday School or in nature, music and art. Yet the truth is that although God manifests himself in all these places, he actually dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. We are God’s temple, home and dwelling place here in the physical world. God resides in our consciousness, and can best be found by looking inward instead of outward.

When we look inside our selves, then empty out our selves to welcome God’s presence in our hearts and minds, then we become new creations and God fills us with the divine. It is when we move our selves out of this dwelling to make room for God’s spirit, that a new resident takes charge of us and our lives. This new tenant in the indwelling God who is ever present to us and will never leave or forsake us.

This indwelling God will reveal our gardens to us and dwell there with us to protect and nurture us and to help ensure that our gardens are filled with beauty, joy and peace. So, look inside, find God’s presence and then put God in charge. Then all good shall come to thee.

Looking in,

Stan

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Your Father And The Prince

Posted in Good Morning, tagged , on November 1, 2010| 1 Comment »

Your Father
The fourth name the prophet Isaiah speaks of is that of Everlasting Father. As Jesus so clearly pointed out, God is or Father, not merely our Creator. But we have to establish our own consciousness of this fact.

In the fifth place, we receive what is perhaps the greatest name of all, “The Prince of Peace.” Think what perfect peace of soul, if you could attain it, would actually mean to you. If you had real peace of soul, do you suppose that your body could be ill? Given real peace of soul, how easy it would be to find your true place in the world, How quickly and efficiently you could perform your work, Once you have attained true peace of soul, you have made it possible for the Child to teach you new things, utterly beyond the compass of your present understanding.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice form henceforth even forever (Isaiah 9:7).

In view of the fact that the weaker souls, the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the depressed, should find it impossible to believe that such good tidings could be true, the prophet clinches the matter with the definite assertion:

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this (Isaiah 9:7).

To have as our Heavenly Father the creator of the universe, and to have as our Savior the Prince of Peace is miraculous on its own! It means we can access all of the creative power in the universe and harness it to achieve peace. With them we are able to accomplish the impossible; things of which we can only dream on our own.

When we turn our lives over to “the child” we can become new creatures, infinitely more capable and in harmony with all around us. We can not do these things by ourselves, and in fact, they are impossible for any human acting on their own. Yet, these things are opened to us when we accept and live in God’s truth.

Our zeal will be the instrument through which God works to allow our gardens to flourish in any circumstance, and allows us to live in joy and gladness, justice and peace. Now, that is a miracle in anyone’s book.

Learning from the child,

Z gardener

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