Category: From Students and Guests

From Sharon Anderson 🌺

On Saturday, I spent time looking up the word “fellowship” in the Bible and in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. I enjoyed doing this and also prayed about it. The next day after church, I was in a grocery store waiting to be checked out with my groceries when I heard the man in front of me say to the clerk that he forgot his bags. I asked him if would like one or two of mine as I had extras. He said yes and thanked me. As he left the check stand, he turned back to me and thanked me again and said to have a wonderful day.

Then, when I went to pay for my groceries, I found I didn’t have the right change. The lady in back of me said “Oh, I have lots of change” and offered it to me. As I was driving home, I thought those exchanges between strangers (which included me) were fellowship in action and it made me very happy. Mary Baker Eddy says in Miscellaneous Writings that unity among brethern and love to God and man demonstrates Christian Science. I’m very grateful to God for holding my hand on my spiritual journey, guiding me on making demonstrations with fellow man in my practice of Christian Science.

From Duffy 💖

God, you are my strength…my leader
Love, you are my thoughtfulness…my guidance
Life, you are my vitality…my youthfulness (energy)
Truth, you are my North Star…my compass
Principle, you are my rock…my foundation (my roadmap)
Mind, you are my wisdom…my drive (my way)
Soul, you are illumination (radiance)… my creativity.
Spirit, you are my provision…my lifeline

Being your likeness takes work
Dedication, Awareness, Fortitude

Being your expression takes understanding
Of your Variety, Infinity and Vastness

Being your reflection takes sight
Knowing you, seeing you in everyone, everywhere

Being your child is a gift
Which must be opened and received, tended to

Being your talent is a promise
To be cherished and kept sacred, honored

Being yours is a given
Every moment, everyday, for always

Of your love and care, I stand in awe
I am aware
Of your provision for my needs, I stand in awe
You plant your seed
Of your endless patience and wisdom, I stand in wonder
As you rule the kingdom
Of your integrity and couth, I stand in wonder
You are the Truth.

From Roya 🌸

I just moved into a beautiful new apartment. While I am grateful for the beauty of home expressed in my new pad, I am more grateful for my new understanding of God’s unfoldment. Here’s the story:

For two months, starting when I turned in my 60-days notice to my old apartment, I was searching for a new place every day. I was also praying to be led by God. The first month, I sent emails and made calls without getting responses. In the second month. I found a couple of promising options, but each fell through because of troubling red-flags I would find in the lease. Finally, I found a great option and I was back in the city to tour it. After the tour, I thought I would apply for it. It checked off most of the boxes and felt like something I could work with. Plus, the lease didn’t have any bad surprises.

I talked to my mom and a friend and they both brought up red flags. My initial response was indignation — I wanted to ignore the red flags and push through. This apartment was so much better than the hundreds I had combed through for months!

But a small and quiet voice stopped me. And I listened, even though it seemed counterintuitive to do so. The impatience and pressure were quieted in me. I called my mom and said I was going to go for a walk around the neighborhood and drop into some apartments instead of filling out the application.

And for the next few of hours I did. I called a few numbers on some signs, dropped into some complexes, talked to a few people, and toured a couple of apartments.

I had fun! And by the end of the day I felt like I had a better idea of the neighborhood and more confidence in God’s perfect guidance — right place and right time. I had nothing to fear.

I went home that night and scrolled through some apartment listings. Quickly, I found an apartment that looked capacious and light that was in a great neighborhood for a great price. I emailed the contact and got an email back that same night. I would tour the next day.

The rest is history. It just unfolded. The tour went well. The lease was generous. And the landlord was kind. All of my boxes were really checked off, but only God could have unfolded that for me when I had completely humbled myself to his power and ability.

This was a significant lesson for me in trusting God’s unfoldment of being. I understand now, better than ever, that there is no better way than waiting patiently on God.

“Jesus saw the perfect man where sinning mortal man appeared to mortals.” He saw Jairus” daughter as beautiful, whole, and lively where everyone around him saw her as dead. How I long to see that way consistently! Today, as I was contemplating the Jairus story, a gentle “morning moment” illuminated my thought. Jesus saw the idea, complete within itself as God’s reflection and not in the material form that appeared to be real.

The “illuminated thought” even gave me an example!

I bought an amaryllis bulb that was on sale from last year. I followed the instructions for growing it, but nothing happened. I kept a little water on it, and still nothing happened…. for months! In fact, it looked dead….shriveled, brown, lifeless. I was tempted to think it wasn’t going to grow because it was an old bulb. Perhaps it hadn’t been treated right…maybe it was just rotten. But something made me keep it and give it water. Another month went by with nothing.

Then, one day, a green nub appeared. After that, growth was quick and two huge stalks with glorious red flowers emerged. I noticed they always pointed to the light.

Then, the “illuminated thought” dawned on me. This bulb always had everything in it to bloom. It was designed to be a red amaryllis. Even if it appeared dead, it was living and ready to bloom.
Jesus saw the whole idea and not just what material sense presented. Mary Baker Eddy says, “We must look deep into realism, instead of accepting only the outward sense of things.” Jesus looked deep and saw Life, God.

I’m so grateful for our morning moments!

From Jennifer 🌸

A few days ago I felt a tickle in my throat which I tried to ignore. By the next day I had worrisome, full-blown “pre-cold” symptoms. I thought I had better try to “nip it in the bud” and sat down for some serious study, reflection and prayer.

I started by researching JSH Online for published testimonies of healings of colds. The first helpful thoughts: God only makes good and colds are not good, therefore they are not made by God and are not real. “I could not manifest anything so unlike God”. I printed it out to keep in the forefront of my consciousness while I continued.

Soon I stumbled across a promising Sentinel audio chat entitled “Colds and flu don’t have to touch you” by Barbara Vining, C.S.B. from December 1, 2009. This was a relief as my energy was flagging and the thought of relaxing and listening to healing thoughts was quite appealing.

It was perfect and wonderful. I paused the chat from time to time to just reflect on the wisdom and healing messages and let them wash over me. My perspective was lifted and aligned to the wisdom and teachings of the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy. At the end of the one-hour chat, I discovered that my throat was no longer sore and the symptoms were abating. I retired with the thought that colds aren’t good, aren’t from God, and are not real.

When I awoke after a peaceful night of sleep I felt remarkably well, but for good measure and to bathe myself in the healing ideas once more, I listened to the audio chat once again. This time I took notes. Here are some of the compelling ideas I heard and would like to paraphrase–mostly so I can better remember them and “make them my own”.

In the audio chat Barbara naturally mentioned “Standing porter at the door of thought.” She also explained that we have a sense of empowerment when we turn to God for healing, and do not need to feel like victims.

She noted that we need to take time to be still. When a caller asked how to reduce fear, she replied that it is “not your own fear. It’s an aggressive suggestion that there is a power other than God!” She pointed out that you cannot be afraid and love God with all your heart at the same time.

One of her most powerful statements was: “healing is an awakening from the belief you were sick” and pointed out that God and your receptivity to God is what heals you.

Finally, she pointed to a strong and wonderful passage from Science and Health on page 162: “Christian Science brings to the body the sunlight of Truth, which invigorates and purifies …The effect of this Science is to stir the human mind to a change of base, on which it may yield to the harmony of the divine Mind.”

I am happy to report that I have gone about my normal activities in the last few days with only occasional, mild symptoms.

I am so grateful for Christian Science!

From Roya:

Feeding the multitudes: We are fed too! 🍞🐟

As I was reading the lesson “God the only Cause and Creator,” I saw the story of the loaves and the fishes in a new light. Of course, I got the sense of the perfection of everyone being filled, and the eternity of there being seven baskets full of the remains. Then, I read from the following section in Science and Health, “It is not well to imagine that Jesus healed for a select number or for a limited period of time, since to all mankind and in every hour divine Love supplies all good.” When I read that, it clicked for me that the seven baskets full left over are for us as well! They are Jesus’s provision for us (and everyone) in that beautiful moment on the shore of the Galilean sea. In that moment, I felt so clearly and dearly God’s love for me, mine, and all.

From Kit:

I was worried about supply and money, which is very unlike me. I know that we live in the abundance of God’s infinite creation and can lack for nothing, but the Church lease coming due and my personal sense on the subject seemed real and limiting. The description of how Christ Jesus fed multitudes with seven loaves of bread and a few little fishes was in the lesson and Roya shared with me the beautiful angel message that came to her of the eternal Christ and how the Christ’s provision of seven extra basket full was for us, all of us, for eternity. Her inspiration turned me to have a fresh and deeper look at how Jesus’s sense of the infinite supply of his Father, God, changed the disciples. I wanted to learn and grow in understanding as the disciples had on that day in Galilee.

The message of infinite provision that Roya talked of turned me again to how Jesus fed the multitude. It reads in Matthew 15:32-37 that Jesus said or did these things:

“I have compassion on the multitude,”
“I will not send them away fasting”
He asked his disciples what they already had for food,” How many loaves have ye?”
He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground (expecting good)
He took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

And the Bible tells that “they did all eat, and were filled”.

Jesus the Christ KNEW that God always provides for needs but what about the disciples? When asked for food to feed the multitude they looked at the impossibility of the project, “Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? “ I have felt a little like the disciples at this juncture. “What, me feed the multitudes?”

But the disciples were the ones who had to distribute the blessed food to the multitude. This was the food they had kept for Jesus and themselves and they had to learn that they could give it away and give and give and give until they saw God. They saw the infinite supply that God gives. I want to be Jesus’s disciple and learn that lesson.

Then they were instructed to collect the fragments left. “And they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.” They were the ones handing around the baskets from person to person. They learned to receive abundance back. The blessed bread and fishes fed not only the multitude sitting on the ground on one sunny day sometime in the past but there was extra, a lot extra, seven basket full (completion and perfection expresses), to feed all who look to the Christ wherever and whenever they live.

In our church lease situation I understood that all the work we were doing was for the blessing of the community so that we could better serve all needs. I also understood that we were not giving receipts and estimates to the landlord as a hardball negotiation tool, but only to make her aware of the good being done in a sense of giving. And like the loves and fishes we will collect our seven basket full of what is given back, because that is God’s law, God’s law of abundance. The landlord, on her side, offered to reduce rent in light of our improvements to her property.

New Year Greeting
JOHN RANDALL DUNN
From the December 31, 1927 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel

Happy New Year, friend of mine!
May its days with love o’erflow,
Blessing, healing, thee and thine.
May’st thou wake each day to know
That the past is dead; in fine,
Thou art joyous, free! And so
May each morning, friend of mine,
New Year’s be, for thee and thine!

Advent
By Fenella Bennetts
From the December 20, 2010 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel

Welcome, blessed Christmas light,
pure God-light of understanding
shining in the heart of thought,
bringing new messages of hope,
renewing trust, awakening love,
redeeming friendship’s sweetness.

Your shining spiritual illumination
warms the inner places of the soul,
restoring mercy, healing hardness,
showing God’s unfailing goodness
to be the truth
throughout all time and all eternity.

Now is the moment of new birth,
of new beginnings and new promises,
evidence of Love’s compelling touch
dispelling hatred and despair,
all fear of parting, lack or loss,
and pain or suffering of any kind.

Now is the time
to fold each other in our arms,
to breathe forgiveness in each others’ ears,
and hear again in quietness the low, sweet song
that speaks the love of Christ, which heals the deepest wounds
and brings the tender blessing of salvation to a waiting world.

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!

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.