Good Morning Garden

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes
(Matthew 7:28-29).

It is always so. The message of Jesus Christ is utterly revolutionary, for it turns our gaze from the outside to the inside, and from man and his works to God.

He taught as one having authority. The greatest glory of the Spiritual Basis is that you begin to know. When you have obtained the smallest demonstration by means of prayer, you have experienced something that never leaves you. You have the witness of Truth within yourself, and this is the only authority worth having.

One of the most difficult challenges for living a spiritual life is that we must reverse our human perceptions of cause and effect. Human nature seeks to find external causes for that which shapes our lives. In fact, it is what happens internally that causes our lives to be what they are. Our inner thoughts, feelings and perceptions drive our words and deeds which are the things that shape the reality of our outer existence.

As within, so without
Z gardener

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Read Matthew 7:21-23.

We are all willing to do God’s will sometimes and in some things, but until there is a complete dedication of one’s whole self, there cannot be a complete demonstration. “There is no home for the soul in which there dwells the shadow of an untruth,” said George Meredith.

Never is it more true than in the life of the soul that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. We must not allow any consideration whatever, any institution, any organization, any book, or any man or woman, to come between us and our direct seeking for God. Centers, churches, schools, all fill a useful purpose in providing the physical framework for the distribution of right knowledge, but the actual work must be done by the individual.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 7:21).

Each of us face different challenges when it comes to doing God’s will. For some, it is hardest to “drop our nets” and follow God’s will to do the big things like embarking on a great, yet seemingly impossible mission for the greater good. For others, the routine and seemingly ordinary challenges of being there for our family and kids, giving them the support, guidance and love they need each day is harder. And for many of us, determining God’s will and discerning the difference between God’s will and our own desires is the hardest part of all. The best way to determine if we are doing God’s will is to look at our own lives and honestly figure our how we are doing.

Seeking to see and hear,
Z gardener

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Read Matthew 7:15-20.

If man really were left without a simple practical test of religious truth, he would assuredly be in a sad plight; but happily this is not the case. Jesus, the most profound, and at the same time the most simple and practical teacher the world has ever known, has provided for this need, and has given us a universally applicable test for truth. It is as simple and direct as the acid test for gold. It is the simple question—Does the truth work in our lives?

This test is so staggeringly simple that most clever people have passed it over. Truth heals the body, purifies the soul, reforms the sinner, solve difficulties, pacifies strife. There is no such thing as undemonstrated understanding. If you wish to know how you really stand spiritually, look about you at your environment, beginning with the body. There can be nothing in the soul that is not demonstrated sooner or later in the outer, and there can be nothing in the outer that does not find some correspondence in the inner. By their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7:20).

Many of us say we believe certain things, yet our actions do not demonstrate that belief. When we truly believe something, it will be reflected in our lives. Want to know the truth about what we really believe? Just look at our lives and our behavior, then the truth will be self evident. If we want to change our lives and our world we must first change our thoughts and beliefs. When we have done that, we can live in the Eden God created for us here, and we can live forever in heaven with God when this life ends.

Working within,
Z gardener

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A tragic mistake that is often made is to assume that the will of God is bound to be something very dull and uninviting, if not positively unpleasant. Consciously or not some persons look upon God as a hard taskmaster, or a severe parent. Too often their prayers amount to something like this: “Please God, give me such-and-such a boon, which I sorely need—but I don’t suppose you will, because you won’t think it is good for me.” Needless to say, a prayer of this sort is answered as all prayers are answered, according to the faith of the subject; that is to say, the boon is not granted. The truth is that the will of God for us always means greater freedom, greater self-expression, newer and brighter experience, wider opportunity of service to others—life more abundant.

God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16).

It is God’s will that we all live in peace, joy, gladness and harmony. But just as any parent must do, God must correct and direct us to keep us from going astray. The farther we veer from God’s path, the greater the correction and stronger the direction become. That is not because God wants us to suffer. Quite the contrary. It is because God wants us to be happy and we are wandering from the path God knows will get us there. If we are to experience the best in life, we must follow God’s will and accept the consequences when we stray. That is not God’s will but our willfulness.

Seeking the gracious will of God,
Z gardener

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Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14).

There is only one way under the sun by which man can attain salvation, in the true sense of the word, and that is by bringing about a radical and permanent change for the better in his own consciousness.

For countless generations humanity has been trying in every other conceivable way to compass its own good. This change in consciousness is the strait gate that Jesus speaks of here, and, and he says, the number of those who find it is comparatively small.

Now why should man be so reluctant, apparently, to try to change his consciousness? The answer is that the changing of one’s consciousness is really very hard work, calling for constant unceasing vigilance and a breaking of mental habits. Entering the strait gait is, however, worth much more than whatever trouble or effort it may call for.

If you make a qualitative, change in consciousness, which is what happens in prayer, then not only is the effect of that change felt in every department of your life, but it is with you through all eternity, for you never can lose it. Thieves cannot break in and steal.

As soon as you obtain this spiritual consciousness you will find that all things indeed work together for good to those who love God.

If most humans were convinced that a certain behavior and belief systems would win them the Power ball lottery, they would immediately go about adopting such behaviors and beliefs in a disciplined and diligent fashion. The same could probably be said for losing weight or looking young. We see people jumping on a new fad every day to get rich, lose weight or look younger. Yet, how much more important is our earthly peace and our eternal joy in heaven.

Betting on God,
Z gardener

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Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law of the prophets (Matthew 7:12).

Here in the sublime precept that we call the Golden Rule, Jesus reiterates that great Law in a concise summing up. This repetition follows upon his wonderful statement of the fatherhood of God. The underlying explanation for the existence of the great law is the fact that we are fundamentally all parts of the Great Mind. Because we are all ultimately one, to hurt another is really to hurt oneself, and to help another is really to help oneself. The fatherhood of God compels us to accept the brotherhood of man, and spiritually, brotherhood is unity.

This truth is among the easiest to understand and the hardest to implement in our daily lives. Yet, it is the most fundamental of the Bible’s instructions on human interaction. Ignoring the metaphysical truth of our brotherhood and sisterhood, even the practical and material applications of this rule are abundantly clear. Without some version of this rule our society would be impossible. It underlies our system of justice, it moderates all human interaction and it forms the practical foundation of successful government. It is the ultimate determiner of fairness, equity and peace.

Z gardener

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The most mischievous thing in life is man’s reluctance to perceive his own dominion. God has given us dominion over all things, but we shrink like frightened children from assuming it, although that assuming is the one and only escape for us.

Jesus, who knew the human heart, and understood our weakness in this respect, commands us,

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened (Matthew 7:7-8).

Is not this the Magna Carta of personal freedom for every man, woman, and child on earth? Is not this the decree of the emancipation of the slaves of every kind of bondage, physical, mental, or spiritual? We have no business accepting ill-health, or poverty, or sinfulness, or strife, or unhappiness, or remorse, with resignation. We have no right to accept anything less than freedom and harmony and joy, for only with these things do we glorify God, and express His holy will, which is our raison d’etre.

We are to reorganize our lives in accordance with his teaching, continuously and untiringly until our goal is attained. That this attainment, that our victory over every negative condition is not merely possible but is definitely promised to us, finds its proof in these glorious words.

This startling reality can be one of the hardest biblical truth for humans to grasp. It places full responsibility on us for our mental state and our physical environment. It also demands that we accept personal responsibility for any lack of dominion we endure. It strips us of our ability to rationalize that which afflicts us and forces us to exercise power that scares us. As former slaves found out, freedom is not easy. Folks, it ain’t easy being God’s children either.

Accepting the mantle,
Z gardener

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If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him? (Matthew 7:11).

We are the children of God; and if children, then sons, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, as Paul says. At the present time we find ourselves full of limitations and disabilities because we are spiritually but children—minors. Children are irresponsible, lacking in wisdom and experience, and have to be kept under control lest their mistakes should entail serious consequences to themselves.

…That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
But is under tutors and governors…(Galatians 4:1).

But when the fullness of time is come, he realizes that it is the voice of God Himself that is in his heart, making him cry: “Abba Father.” Then at last he knows that he is the son of a great king, and that all his Father has is his for the using, whether it be health, or supply, or opportunity, or beauty, or joy, or any other of the thoughts of God.

When we recognize and accept God as our father and allow ourselves to be guided, controlled and directed by our heavenly father, we claim our inheritance as children of God. Then if we follow the will of our heavenly father and are obedient and steadfast in our words, thoughts sand deeds, we mature spiritually and become full heirs of the love, power and grace of God. This is a process, not an event. Just as we are born helpless and ignorant, then grow into adults, so spiritually must we grow learn and mature to become fully developed spirits. Then we will have dominion over all of creation and can fill our garden with all that God has to offer.

Processing daily,
Z gardener

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Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
(Matthew 7:6).

Intelligence is just as essential a part of the Christian message as is love. God is love, but God is also infinite intelligence, and unless these two qualities are balanced in our lives, we do not get wisdom; for wisdom is the perfect blending of intelligence and love. Love without intelligence may do much unintended harm—and intelligence without love may result in clever cruelty. All true Christian activity will express wisdom.

Never rely upon your own judgment to say who is ready for the Truth and who is not, but rely for guidance upon the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. If you are praying regularly every day for wisdom, and fresh opportunities for service, the right people will be brought to you.

Remember that those with whom you associate closely will have your personal conduct under constant inspection. The quickest way to spread the Truth is by living the life yourself. Then people will notice the change in you and they will come round of their own accord, begging to share your secret.

As believers, we will set the standards by which others gauge our faith and our willingness to manifest that faith. Our behavior is the greatest witness to our faith and its power in the physical world. If we are to bring others into awareness and acceptance of God, then we must be the expression of God’s love here below. While we should not cast our pearls before the swine and dogs, cast them we must. And if a few get trampled, we are no less for it, we just learn not to cast them there again.

Expressing faith,
Z gardener

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