Good Morning Garden

Externally, the Bible is a collection of inspired documents written by men of all kinds, in all sorts of circumstances, and over hundreds of years of time. The documents are seldom originals, but redactions and compilations of older fragments; and the names of the actual writers are seldom known for certain. This, however, does not affect the spiritual purpose of the Bible. The book, as we have it, is inexhaustible reservoir of spiritual Truth, compiled under divine inspiration, and the actual route by which it reached its present form does not matter.

History, biography, lyrical and other poetic forms are various mediums through which the spiritual message is given in the Bible; and, above all, the parable is used to convey spiritual and metaphysical truth. In some cases what was never intended to be more than a parable was, at one time, taken for literal statement of fact; and this often made the Bible seem to teach things that are oppose d to common sense.

The spiritual key to the Bible rescues us from these difficulties, dilemmas, and seeming inconsistencies. And the Truth turns out to be nothing less than the amazing but undeniable fact that the whole outer world—whether it be the physical body, the common things of life, the winds and the rain, the clouds, the earth itself—is amenable to man’s thought, and that he has dominion over it when he knows it.

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet (Psalm 8:6).

In short, the Bible is God’s operating manual for humans so that we may live in the Eden created for us here below, and with God in heaven forever after this life. Regardless of the seeming mysteries, differing translations or interpretations, the important truths are clear and simple, easily understood and reflect the intelligence, will and laws given to us by the creator of the universe. Surely God is capable of communicating such things to us regardless of human errors, omissions and interpretations. Otherwise, it would not be God.

Following the manual,
Z gardener

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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 peopl e 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 expr ession. 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.

How quickly we humans conclude that anything we can’t prove to be true is false. This perspective is how mankind believed the earth was the flat center of the universe and later that the atom was the smallest particle. As our knowledge increased, these false notions were proven wrong. In the same way, we try to squeeze God’s power, and things such as miracles, into our limited knowledge and understanding of them. Wake up, friends! All of the knowledge we possess is dwarfed by what we do not know, both in the physical and spiritual realm. It is our arrogance that leads us to judge the infinite based our limited perception. However, when we trust in God as opposed to our limited perception, we can know that we are attuned to all knowledge and understanding. Like the blind man who touched the tail of the elephant and thought it was like a snake, we too are blindfolded when limited to our knowledge and understanding. When we, through faith, transcend these limitations, God then removes the blindfold so we can see the true nature of that which we experience. It is then that miracle happen. It is then that we can find, recognize and live in the Eden God created for us.

Living the miracle,
Z gardener

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Letter or Spirit?

Jesus made a special point of discouraging the laying of emphasis upon outer observances; and, indeed, upon hard-and-fast rules and regulations of every kind. What he insisted upon was a certain spirit in one’s conduct, knowing that when the spirit is right, details will take care of themselves. Yet, in spite of this, the history of orthodox Christianity is largely made up of attempts to enforce all sorts of external observances upon the people.

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life (2 Corinthians 3:6).

The real gauge of all our thoughts, words and deeds is the spirit which dwells in us and how that spirit prompts us to act. Even the taking of a human life can be the right thing to do if we are protecting our children from an intruder or if we are preventing undue suffering by=2 0a loved one who is on life support and will not recover. Yet, we can be following the letter of the biblical law and be doing great wrong because our spirit is filled with anger and judgement. The only true test is whether we are acting out of love, acceptance and compassion, or whether we are acting on some negative motivation.

Spirit driven,
Z gardener

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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).

We are the only thing that restricts the flow of God’s blessings into our lives. When we fully express God’s universal consciousness, divine will and Holy Spirit in this world, we create the channel through which God’s omnipotence flows into the physical universe. The more we express, the greater the flow. The good news is that God has given us everything we need to live in the Eden created for us. We have been given the knowledge, the means and the will to experience bliss here below and in heaven. The only question is whether we will do what it takes to live there. If we love fully, give freely and live spiritually, we will have all we need to experience all of God’s promised blessings here and forever.

Opening the channel,
Z gardener

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How to Keep From Growing

Never learn from experience. Keep on doing the same fool things time after time.

Never wait to hear the other side of the story. Knowing both sides will only unsettle your mind.

Use your wit destructively. Be smart at the expense of absent people.

Stand on your dignity. Never forget that you have a position to keep up.

Never be original. Find out what is usually done and copy that.

Sneer at those who are more successful than yourself.

Tell yourself that it is now too late, and that you really did not have the proper equipment; and it will be especially
helpful to keep saying that people are against you.

Try to get everything cheap. Study and practice to become the perfect “chiseler. ” This will build an invincible poverty
complex.

Realize that you have nothing more to learn. This will destroy all danger of success.

…the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness (Proverbs 12:23).

Was it Albert Einstein who said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results? In each of our lives we do things that should teach us lessons upon which we can grow. These things happen so we can change our behavior and develop into the beings God intends us to be. If we ignore these lessons, we are condemned to make the same mistakes time and again.

Growing to God,
Z gardener

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Treatment is a psycho-spiritual term that means knowing the spiritual truth about any person or situation. If, like most people, you believe that appearances are realities and that they cannot be changed, then you cannot give a treatment. But if you believe that the Bible is right when it says,

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…(Proverbs 23:7).
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement (John 7:24).

Then it is in your power to change anything for the better and to heal most things. Begin every treatment (no matter how many you may give) b y saying:

I can overcome this difficulty.

Any time we want to change what is going on in our lives, we must first change they way we think about it. Any difficulty we need to overcome, any challenge we face or any circumstance that we need to change must first be resolved within us. That change begins with the recognition and acceptance of the truth regarding that which we want to change. That does not mean the way it looks, feels, tastes or smells. It does not mean what we want or what we want the truth to be. It does means the real truth about it. So, we must first seek the truth and then decide to follow that truth. That is change from within first.

When that occurs, the universe will yield to it and God will ensure our success in changing it for our best good. And, remember this, that which is for our best good, is not always that which we want or which feels good at the moment. That is why we must have the faith to stay on the path of truth wherever it leads and however it feels at the time. If we do this, we can be absolutely sure that we will arrive at the place God intended us to be, and that we will find everything we need there to live in the Eden God created for us.

As within, so without,
Z gardener

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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 pr omotes 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,a nd 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, and wilt put none of these diseases upon thee
…for I am the Lord that healeth thee (Exodus 15:26).

While much time is devoted in these morning thoughts to our spiritual health, we can not ignore our physical health, which in most cases flow from our mental states. What we do to and for our bodies is how we treat the temple of God here below. Negative emotional states not only impair our spiritual health, they also trigger the release of harmful chemicals that damage our bodies. Anger, hate, frustration, anxiety, resignation, self -deprecation, self-recrimination and all forms of negative thoughts, feeds poison into our system and harms our health.

What we put into our bodies or deny our bodies also effects its health. When we put too many bad things and too few good things in our bodies, we pollute it and diminish the functions of our minds, bodies and spirits. If our minds are dulled, our bodies compromised and our spirits dimmed by what we consume or fail to consume, then our ability to manifest God’s will is diminished. If we are filled with negative thoughts and feelings, then our ability to understand and obey God’s will is blocked.

On the other hand, when we give our mind, body and spirits what they need while denying those things which harm us, we unblock to
the channels through which God’s spirit, will and wisdom flow. When those channels are opened and maintained by a healthy lifestyle, then God’s spirit flows into our lives lifting us, comforting us and strengthening us to achieve God’s will. Then, we may enter our Eden and then all our needs will be met. Then, we will know the peace that surpasses all understanding. Then we will sleep like babies. Then, will run and not be faint.

When we care properly for this temple God gave us, then it will take care of us and it will be occupied by God in us through the Holy Spirit. Then we will enter our Gardens.

Keeping well the temple,
Z gardener

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To recognize failure intelligently is the first step toward building success.

Recognize success with thanksgiving, and build more success on that..

You can have anything in life that you really want, but you must be prepared to take the responsibilities that go with it.

God is ready the moment you are.

You really do not know John Smith; you only know the idea that you form of John Smith.

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Ephesians 4:6)

All of the truths expressed above point to one great truth. It is how we think that determines everything else in our lives. How we think is what we are. The way we think of others is what they are to us. Recognizing success and failure, giving thanks, assuming responsibilities and all that we know, starts and ends as thoughts and feelings. When we fully understand this truth and incorporate it into our lives, God stands ready to shape the universe to accommodate us. What a wonderful world then unfolds as God manifests himself in power and glory through our thoughts, words and deeds. Then the gates of Eden are opened to us again as the wall between us and God disappears. Then each day we can live in that garden as we think God, thank God and praise God.

In z garden,

Z gardener

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There is nothing in the universe that you cannot do or be if you are mentally ready. People speak of golden opportunities but what we call opportunity is really our own mental readiness. Napoleon said, “Opportunities? I make opportunities”; and while this would be merely a vainglorious boast for one who is not on the spiritual basis, yet when you do understand the Truth of Being, it is simply a statement of fact. The Romans could have had the telephone; the Greeks could have had the cinema; the Babylonians could have had the automobile—had they been mentally ready. The laws of nature were the same in those ages as in ours, the same materials were in the ground—but the minds of the Ancients were not ready for those things, and so they had to go without them.

Supply the necessary mental condition, and the demand, the opportunity, or the occasion, will present itself automatically.

Whenever you are ready you will find that everything else is ready too.

Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is (Mark 13:33).

This is what the bible means when it says the old person will die and a new person will be born. When we make the mental and spiritual changes necessary to follow the will of God, we are creating a new mentality and a new way of living. As in most tasks, all the hardest work is in the preparation.

Let’s say we want to sell our house but it is too run down to present an opportunity for the sale. Just as a painter must repair, scrape, sand and prime an old house before applying the new outer coat, so we must remove the flaking and deteriorated outer shell in order to find the good wood underneath. Then when we strip sand off our old ways, remove and replace the useless and deteriorated habits and structures of our lives and seal the renewed structure with our faith, we can then apply the new outer coat that radiates beauty, protects our new selves20and prepares us to benefit from every opportunity that our new life presents to us.

Z gardener

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