Month: November 2018

“Listening to God”

From Sharon Anderson 

I’ve been working to keep my mind still so I can be aware of God speaking to me. Recently I received a message that I’m sure came from God that said “call the Christian Science Publishing Society.” My first thought was, “why should I do that?” Then I thought maybe I forgot to let them know I have a new address. After checking the address labels of my most recent periodicals, I saw I had already called them. After contemplating several hours why I should call the Publishing Society, I remembered that several months prior my credit card was compromised and I got a new card with a new number. My periodicals are paid by auto-pay with my credit card. I immediately called the Publishing Society and gave them my new credit card number. As it turned out, one of my precious periodicals was due to be renewed in just a couple of days and it would have been cancelled had I not called them.

It’s not only important to listen to God’s thoughts coming to us no matter what they are, but to be obedient to these thoughts. God’s thoughts come to us as a driving force, not coming to a mortal brain. Every day we receive messages from our Father/Mother regarding guidance and I’m so grateful!

Blessings

To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings.  The wakeful shepherd beholds the first faint morning beams, ere cometh the full radiance of a risen day. 

Science and Health, Preface vii

Ohio sunrise by Jennifer

**News update:  “Reaction to Wasp Stings Quickly Healed” is the title of a powerful testimony by our friend Linda Berckmann in the Nov. 26 edition of The Christian Science Sentinel.

Forever Young 🎧

From Christiane Smith: “I love the words of ‘Forever Young’ by Bob Dylan”. 

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

The Father in Heaven

Matthew 6: 9 

From a wonderful book called “The Lord’s Prayer.”

By William Barclay, a renowned Scottish minister.

“IF we believe that God is Father, it settles our relationship to one another. If God is Father, he is Father of all people.  The Lord’s Prayer does not teach us to pray My Father; it teaches us to pray Our Father. It is very significant that in the Lord’s Prayer the words I, me and mine never occur; it is true to say that Jesus came to take these words out of life and to put in their place we, us and ours. God is no one’s exclusive possession. The very phrase Our Father involves the elimination of self.  The fatherhood of God is the only possible basis of human relationships. 

“If we believe that God is Father, it settles our relationship to ourselves. There are times for each and every one of us when we despise and hate ourselves…., and no one knows our unworthiness better than we do ourselves.”

It was suggested to add a new beatitude, “‘Blessed are those who give us back our self-respect.’ That is precisely what God does. In these grim….moments, we can still remind ourselves that, even if we matter to no one else, we matter to God; that in the infinite mercy of God we are of royal lineage, children of the King of Kings. 

“If we believe that God is Father, it settles our relationship to God. It is not that it removes the might, majesty and power of God. It is not that it makes God any the less God; but it makes that might, and majesty, and power approachable for us.”

🎼“Getting To Know You” 🎼

By Pam

Reflecting Spirit, 

you have divine rights, 

heaven-bestowed harmony. 

You are infinite understanding.

Reflecting God, 

you express the beauty of holiness, 

the perfection of being, 

imperishable glory.

Reflecting Truth,  

you possess immortality.

Reflecting Love, 

you include and receive the highest degree of happiness.

Reflecting Life, 

you have life 

without beginning or end.

God, divine Mind, supreme and All, governs all.

God is the substance, the I AM THAT I AM.

I am Spirit. Man, spiritual, is My likeness.

See Science and Health, p. 253 for more musical details.

Truth Extinguishes Every Form of Error

By Dyan Wingard

Truth extinguishes every form of error.

The flames of Love can not be retarded. They reach the heights of heaven in purity and Love. No material flames can tarnish or desecrate God’s man. No fire (no matter its size, burn time, etc.) can overshadow the enormity of God’s good. We dwell under the shadow of the Almighty. The same fire that Moses was led to respond to and recognize as the burning bush, the fire that led Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt by night, and the fire that did not singe a single hair or leave a smell of smoke on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is the only fire that exists.

Love Another As Yourself?

By Pam

Have you ever thought why it is easy to pray for someone you love?

It’s simple. It’s because we love them so deeply that we see only good in them and we want only the very best for them. Any maybe because we know how very special and wonderful they are, so good and kind and unselfish, that we can easily see how much they deserve our love and prayer.

And so, with a full heart of love, we reach out in our prayer to see their oneness with God, divine Mind, and acknowledge their right to perfection and harmony as the very loved ideas of a loving, all good God.

Isn’t that true?

We will even demand, right in the face of a loved one’s challenge or struggle, that they are good and deserve all good.

So now, love another as yourself, or love yourself as you love another?

How often do we think harshly of ourself?  With criticism.  Not good enough. Not prompt enough. Not strong enough. Don’t know enough.

The list of self judgment can get very long.

And truly loving ourselves as we love another, or as God who is Love itself, loves each and every one of us, seems almost impossible.

If you can truly love another without judgment or jury, what would you say to being and doing this great kindness to your view of yourself? What would you think about finding God’s unconditional love for you, for example, in each Lesson each week.  Then you will see that as you love others, you, too, are very loved.

This brings freedom, health, and real happiness all round, every where, to each one, our loved ones, those we pray with, and ourselves as well.

Do I Expect Healing? 🌺

By Duffy

It seems simple, but I caught myself the other day doubting my healing work for an issue I was working on. I caught myself thinking, “That won’t work.” The important part, though, was I CAUGHT MYSELF!

I immediately corrected my thinking, kicking out the error in my thoughts – telling those negative thoughts to “Go away – stop it! You are no part of the one Mind and my thinking.”

My work is powerful and based in God, Love, Principle and law. IT WORKS AND HEALS. I don’t have to “do” or make something happen – that is God’s work.

But I simply must have confidence in the healing. I must keep my thinking uplifted. I must have confidence in God’s unlimited healing power. I must feel divine Love’s presence embracing me and be receptive to that presence. I must listen for the angel messages coming to my thought. I must know God! LOVE! Truth!

My dedication to this work cannot fail. The healing is complete. What matter and the 5 senses tell me is illegitimate – complete falsities. I am so grateful to know this and for this self-correction.

Thank you Father Mother God!!

The Christian Science Reading Room: A Safe Place To Ask, To Be, and To Know

By Karen Joyce Lloyd

11/15/2018

I never know who or what I’ll encounter when serving in the Reading Room. I’m always amazed by how God shows up at just the right time in the form of ideas and words, which come through when assisting Reading Room visitors in person and on the phone.

This week, while serving in our branch church Reading Room, I had been studying and reading aloud to myself the weekly Bible Lesson on “Mortals and Immortals.”

A man and woman who identified themselves as “houseless (not homeless)” came in, sat down, and immediately engaged me in conversation about a distressing situation.

The women expressed concern and anxiety about a male friend who she said had been repeatedly robbed by others. She did not understand why these thefts continued to happen to him, especially since her friend is a good and kind man, and always “turns the other cheek” without defending himself. She thought of her friend as stuck in his situation and not able to change it.

I shared my understanding that, whether or not I am conscious of my beliefs, what I believe creates my experiences because the choices I make are based on my beliefs. I suggested that even the thought of her friend being stuck is, in itself, a belief that is creating an experience. When beliefs change and are replaced with understanding, experiences change.

I asked her how she would answer her own question about why her friend continues to be robbed. She said, “I don’t know.” However, I saw this woman and her friend as intelligent, and told her so, because intelligence is always present and being expressed.

She repeated her question several more times, each time with the same perplexed tone of voice. I felt an escalation in the intensity of her concern.

I heard her need for protection and security.

I spontaneously replied, “Be still and know that I am God!”

She smiled, relaxed, and beamed, “that’s my favorite quote!”

Her companion then enthusiastically recounted the Bible story he loved of how Jesus slept soundly on the boat during the life-threatening tempest and, after being awakened, stilled the storm.

I asked the woman to look around the Reading Room at all of the books and magazines on the shelves. I said that the room was filled with answers to important questions like hers that many others had asked and written about. I invited her to come to the Reading Room any time it is open. She asked what hours it is open, and I pointed to the times posted on the front door and told her what they were.

I expressed that the Reading Room is a sanctuary and haven—a serene and safe place to be still and know God.

I thanked them both for coming in, and they thanked me for spending time listening and talking with them.

I am grateful for the ideas that come effortlessly when I take the time to engage in prayer, study and service in the Reading Room, one of my favorite places to be still and know God!