The unfolding petals of divine Love's holy purpose

 February 23, 2021 Found a post-it note his morning. I don't remember where this is from but here is what I wrote down. Be an agent for comfort, not distress. Be at peace yourself. God supplies full support to fulfill His purpose. The disciples were followers of Jesus. They left their jobs, their families, their home and went on the road with him. As he began his ministry, word began to spread about this man who was doing such remarkable healings. Multitudes flocked to him. But most of that crowd was not seeking spiritual growth, they just wanted to be healed rather than leave all and follow him. In the second section of the Lesson Jesus asks the disciples who people think he is. I'm pretty sure he already knew but he wanted them to think. And then he wanted them to be sure they knew who he was. Simon answered for all of them, acknowledging that Jesus was in fact the Son of the Living God. I ask myself, why am I following him? Because I also believe he is the Son of God. But I ...

February 22, 2021 This week's Bible Lesson is about Christ Jesus I will be studying to see how the Master handled certain situations and seeing how I can do better as I interact with others. In the first section I already found some helpful pointers. In Isaiah's description of our Master he says he will not cry out or cause his voice to be heard. He will speak calmly. He won't call attention to what he does with loud speeches. A bruised reed he shall not break. He will not brush aside the weak or hurting. He will not quench the tiniest spark before the flame goes out. When love seems to be barely there, he will not put it out, allow it to grow faint or discouraged. He will steadily and firmly set things right. He will bring justice to those who have been wronged.  Right solutions that will bless all. Hymn #269 is a good one to work with today. The second verse speaks to ' hearts that yearn for righteousness with longing unalloyed. Unalloyed means purity. A pure longing ...

 February 18, 2021 Section six of our Bible Lesson this week contains a description of the day of Pentecost. During the days after the resurrection Jesus gave his disciples what we think of as Normal Class, final instructions for them to carry on establishing his church. He had also promised them another Comforter and this event fulfilled that promise. They were all together in one place and the work they were to continue was to evangelize the world through preaching and healing. At Pentecost this new spirit began its work. What a contrast to an early section of the Lesson about what happened at the tower of Babel. Then the people had been moving away from God, now they would be drawing closer.  To Jews Pentecost celebrated the giving of the Law on Sinai. How appropriate that on this new day the gospel harvest would begin. among modern parallels the most suggestive is the case of St. Vincent Ferrer, who, when preaching in Spanish is said to have been understood by English, Fle...

 February 18, 2021 This morning I am feeling grateful for the periodicals Mrs. Eddy has given us.  When I first began studying Christian Science I was reading Science and Health but it was all new to me and her vast vocabulary and spiritual terms difficult to understand. What I found easier to comprehend were the daily religious articles in the Christian Science Monitor. I looked forward each day to reading them and thinking about how they could help me with my growing understanding of God as Love and how to pray. The Christian Science Sentinel, which came out weekly, was my next step. I loved the poems and children's articles. If those dear little ones could experience healing, surely it would be there for me as well and I began to have healings myself. Another blessing with the Sentinel is the Bible Lens, described as shining a light on the Bible Lesson with insights for some of the citations. I was so grateful to be getting this weekly Lesson and learning so much about the ...

 February 17, 2021 A beautiful morning here in Florida after stormy weather last night. Much lightning. Contacting our family and friends in other parts of the country affected by unusually heavy snows, power outages and cold temperatures. Sending our warmest best wishes. The fourth section of this week's Bible Lesson includes the account of a woman struggling with a health issue. It had been going on for 12 years. She had spent all her money and tried everything available to stop this issue of blood to no avail. Then she heard about Jesus and the healings happening. She believed he had the power to do what no one else had been able to do. But she was breaking Jewish law by mixing in the crowd while she was ceremoniously unclean. That would come with a severe penalty if anyone found out. So she got up close to him from behind, trusting that if she could just touch his clothing she would be healed. And she did and she was. Immediately! But before she could disappear into the multitu...

  February 16, 2021 I am looking more closely at the third section of the Bible Lesson where Paul makes a speech to the Athenians on Mar's Hill. He does not reference the Old Testament as they would not be familiar with that. These men were philosophers. They had erected a series of different temples and altars, not really being too superstitious but careful to not leave anyone out. He was careful to start his speech with a compliment rather than a reproach.  For most of my early years God was 'unknown' to me as the religion I was raised with presented Him as vengeful, punishing and hard to understand. Unapproachable except through the priest. I never could accept that and was so grateful to be led to Christian Science where I found a church that sees Him the way I did.  He is not unknowable at all. He is ever present and always active Love. Jesus certainly  knew Him well and could address Him as Father. Mrs. Eddy writes, "The calm and exalted thought or spiritual ap...

 February 15, 2021 Another week, a new Bible Lesson, continuing with the synonyms for God, God as Mind. I love the way that peace is part of the expression of Mind. We are familiar with the phrase 'peace of mind' and that is something everyone is yearning for to cope with the challenges we appear to be facing. The dictionary defines 'peace' as the absence of hostility, freedom from disagreements, harmonious relations. Inner contentment. One Bible story this week is from Genesis 11, the explanation of the diveristy of languages and the human race. Babylon is represented as the original center of human civilization after the flood. Their chooses to erect this temple is regarded as rebellion against God, an impious attempt to reach heaven. The was the original source of discord. This does not present a picture of freedom or harmonious relations. There could not have been peace of mind. We should not seek that turning to or following other gods  Beware of 'babblings...