Make Time to Gain Time

As a college graduate student, I find myself these days doubting why I decided to take on three heavy loaded courses. I started out with four, and thank goodness I was wise enough to drop one I know I did not absolutely need. But now I find myself questioning if I should have dropped another.


The other night as I was checking off my "to do" list for class work and all the other stuff I needed to get done I was panicking. How the ***BLEEP*** was I going to get everything done. Deadlines are creeping up fast, and I seem to be working just fast enough to stay afloat. That was when I knew I needed to turn my thoughts to God. Before, I have turned to him knowing that with God, all things are possible. There is one Mind, the mind of God, and I share that Mind. I knew I could do the work, but could I get it done in time? There is was again, Time. Tick tock. Days are running into each other.


That night, as I climbed into bed, I opened up Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy to the Glossary pages and read the definition of Time. This is what it say:


"TIME. Mortal measurements; limits, in which are summed up all human acts, thoughts, beliefs, opinions, knowledge; matter; error; that which begins before, and continues after, what is termed death, until the mortal disappears and spiritual perfection appears."


The very first line stood out to me. Mortal Measurements; limits, in which are summed up all human acts... Well I very much knew that in God's kingdom there are no limits. Would God, creator of all good, set up limits to define our human actions? I don't think so.


The next morning I woke up, read this statement again, and worked with it all day. I spent the whole day in the library doing assignments for this week, and while I didn't get everything done, I left knowing that I had made progress. At home I picked up an old Sentinel that I hadn't gotten to yet titled Faith: As a Grain of Mustard Seed. After reading a few articles, I felt that my faith in God to trust in him to get all my work done, had been fully restored. I went to work on some assignments in order to get ahead in a class, and wouldn’t you know it, time seemed to stand still for me? I got so much done in a half hour than I had in two hours. And this included sending important emails, and writing this.

Time might not stop for us, but we can know there are no limits when it comes to what we can do. Time does not need to be measured.

Another Prayer

I found a prayer written by Paul Stark Seeley, one that's a favorite with me.  "Pray daily that you may become increasingly conscious of your divine purpose - to evidence the limitless unfolding riches of life, health, wisdom, beauty, holiness and far-reaching service to God and your fellow man."

This reminds me that trusting in human ways and means isn't going to uplift and bless mankind: Only God can do that.

YOU ARE INVITED !

If you live in Richmond, Virginia, you are invited to join us any Wednesday evening from 7:30 to 8:30 for our weekly testimony meeting. Members of the congregation share healings, comments and experiences they have had that resulted from relying on prayer.
These meetings are always very inspirational.  We are located in the west end of Richmond at 8791 River Road.  We look forward to welcoming you!

If you do not live in Richmond, you can be part of these special meetings by logging onto the live broadcast from the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Mass.  Tune in by 2:00 pm EST (19 UTC) to hear the meeting. Simply go to http://christianscience.com/ .  In a list at the bottom of the page, you will find "online church services". Click on that and it will take you to the information you need to participate. Don't miss it!

Humor and Healing

I can't tell you how many times a good laugh over the silliness of Mortal Mind has lifted me out of a so-called problem.  Know that old chestnut? How many Christian Scientists can you fit in a Honda?  Answer: An infinite number if they're in one Accord. The image alone makes me smile

I remember once I was dealing with a problem that, humanly speaking, looked pretty serious.  I was praying and working with a Christian Science practitioner (someone who helps people through prayer), and I was getting worse, not better.  Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that I wasn't going to be impressed by this lie about me, no matter how loudly the pain was screaming at me that it was real, and I'd better believe in it, by golly!  No way.  At that point, the pain shifted from one side of my body to the other, and all I could do was laugh out loud at how preposterous the whole picture was. It was as if the pain was saying, "okay, you won't believe in me over here, so I'll move around somewhere else until you do believe in me."  That was the end of that problem.  Healing complete.

Having a good, solid chuckle at a lie never fails to defuse it of any supposed power it claims, but in reality, can't have.

MORNING PRAYER

 One of my favorite morning prayers comes from an article that was published in the early days of the Christian Science Journal (see note).

Part of it reads:  "This is God's spiritual household. Nothing can enter to annoy or destroy. Nothing can enter to manifest sin, sickness, or discouragement, for God, good, governs every member of this household in perfect peace and love. God does in every deed dwell on earth with men and governs every event. The unseen silent forces of God are standing sentinel over me and mine and all, silencing, destroying, and annihilating the unseen, silent arguments of the serpent, material sense."


NOTE: In 1884 the Christian Science Journal was established as a monthly magazine which has continued in publication without interruption. The articles are contributed for publication by Christian Scientists dedicated to living Christian Science, a religion whose members subscribe to the tenet of taking: "the inspired word of the Bible" as their sufficient guide to eternal life.  All of these Journal articles have been archived in bound volumes and are available to the public in Christian Science Reading Rooms located in 81 countries throughout the world.

Reminder

Members, remember that on Thursday, February 17, we will meet at 7:00 p.m. to elect readers.

Love and Romance

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!



This is an occasion to express our affection for our special ones. But love and romance are certainly two different qualities of thought. Romance often brings to thought an idealized human sense of love - a love affair.  The dictionary defines it as a strong, usually short-lived, attachment or enthusiasim. The actual love that we all desire is a lasting, growing, permanent attachment to others. The Bible gives us "Love" as another name for God, good, Spirit. The Lord's Prayer includes the plea, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."In Mary Baker Eddy's spiritual interpretation of this line, she renders it, "And Love is reflected in love;". That is, God, good, Love in operation in our thoughts and actions is met with love.  

Today is a good reminder for us to pray daily that we are loving, loved, and loveable! Know that you are loved by your Father/Mother God, Love, that your are precious to Her and your name is written in the palm of Her hand. (Isaish 49:16)

Much love to you!   

Think About It

In the last book of the Old Testament the prophet Malachai poses an interesting question.  He asks "Have we not all one father?  hath not one God created us?" (Mal. 2: 10 to 2nd?)  He doesn't treat this as a rhetorical question.  And yet he doesn't answer it either.  He leaves it for us to ponder.

The person who answers this question is Jesus Christ.

In the fourth chapter of Matthew, following his defeat of the tempter after 40 days in the wilderness and his calling to Peter and Andrew and the sons of Zebedee, James and John, he begins his mission.  It states, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease among the people."(Matt. 4: 23)  As a result the Bible tells us "his fame went throughout all Syria" and that "there followed him a great multitude."  It goes on to describe this multitude as "people from Gallilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea,and from beyond Jordan." (Matt. 4: 25)

When he saw this great multitude he went up into a mountain and the multitude followed him.  Beginning with the fifth chapter he delivers what we call the Sermon on the Mount.  In the midst of this sermon he teaches his followers how to pray, and in so doing he answers Malachai's question.  He begins what we call the Lord's Prayer with the phrase "Our Father." (Matt. 6: 9) 

With this phrase he united everyone on that hillside into one brotherhood.  He acknowledged that there is but one Father, regardless of human background, and he answered Malachai's question with absolute conviction.  Mary Baker Eddy recognized this.  In Science and Health she writes, "It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love.  Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established." (p. 467: 9-13)

As a Christian Scientist I strive to follow the directions and commands of the Master Christian.  Each time I pray the Lord's Prayer I am mindful that I am embracing all humanity.  Each and every person who offers this prayer is acknowledging that "Yes.  One God hath created us.  We all have one Father."

What a wonderfully inclusive idea at a time when there seem to be so many things that would divide us.

Computer issues overcome

Like most computer users, I expect the machine to work with no problems.  When issues crop up, I'm fairly adept at straightening them out, but this week I ran into a software problem I couldn't solve.  And it was important that it get solved.  I needed to print out reports for our accountant for our tax returns, and by accident, an older program had been loaded into the new computer.  The program ran, but printing the reports it generated seemed to be impossible. I researched online for a fix, and every single poster said the problem was insurmountable.  There was no way to print off the old program using our new operating system. Re-inputting all the information  into the newer program would take days, even weeks.

That's when I stopped using human logic and began to pray. I knew from my study of Christian Science that there's no such thing as a problem that can't be solved.  Since I know that God is Mind (a synonym for God), and as God's child I reflect the Divine Mind, and the Divine Mind never left a problem unsolved, I had access to everything I needed.  One Mind.  That's it.  Not many minds twirling in a panic. 

So I stopped twirling and prayed. I started to see the situation as God sees it.  Was there an answer, of course there was! I rejected the idea of insurmountability.  I replaced that dark, depressing image of no usable answer to my problem with the truth, that God was in control of everything and everyone.  And I was thrilled to know there's a solution for every problem because God's control is unwavering.

I ceased worrying and fooling with the computer and went about doing other work.  It didn't take long for an idea to pop into my head, literally totally developed.  I knew right away how to implement it.  Problem solved. Report printed, albeit in a different format, but still what the accountant needed.  Believe me when I say I gave fervent thanks to God.

Wednesday services on the Reading Room Computer

If you'd like to see the Internet broadcast from The Mother Church of their Wednesday services at 2 p.m., head on down to the Reading Room. Questions: call the Reading Room at 804-358-1232.

January 20,2011 Business Meeting

Members are reminded that our quarterly business meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, the 20th. 

Reading Room Specials

Children's books are reduced 10% for holiday giving. And if you want a copy of Christ and Christmas, it too is on sale. Come on down to the Reading Room at 3431 West Cary Street and see what's new for gift giving this year.  Or take some time to sit, read, study, and recharge your batteries in a prayerful, loving atmosphere.

Our hours are 11-3, Tues - Friday, 10-4 on Saturday.

Quarterly Business Meeting

The members are reminded that the Quarterly Business Meeting will be held, starting at 7 p.m., on Thursday, October 21, 2010.

Video presentation Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.

Everyone is invited for a live video broadcast from The Mary Baker Library this Thursday at 7 p.m.  The topic is: Strength of Spirit, Engaging with Mary Baker Eddy 100 Years Later.

Actor Val Kilmer and the trustees of the library will participate in this Centenary Webcast event. 

One More Time: Watermelon!

Our annual participation in the Carytown Watermelon Festival was another success.  We handed out over 400 Christian Science Monitors and Sentinels, chatted with quite a few festival-goers, and enjoyed the sun and fellowship of the day.  Thanks to Joan, Nancy, Phil, Gail, Elisabeth, Rebecca,Skyler, Jessie, Paul, Paula, and Taffy for manning the street booth, and to Linda and her husband Frank for helping set up the booth, to Janet for supply-ordering and keeping the Reading Room open, as well as Jim and Marilyn for keeping the cash register running and working in the inside of the Reading Room too. We also thank Ted from First Church for helping us "strike the set" and put everything away at the end of the day.

June 7 Annual Meeting Broadcast

Join  us at our Reading Room at 3431 W. Cary Street at 1 p.m. this coming Monday. We'll have a live webcast of the Annual Meeting from Boston playing on our big screen.  Bring your lunch and enjoy participating long distance in this interesting and informative event.

Quarterly Business Meeting

The QBM will be held tomorrow, April 22, starting at 7 p.m. All members are urged to attend.

New Reading Room hours

The Reading Room, at 3432 W. Cary Street, has new hours beginning today. We'll be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays through Friday. Saturday hours remain unchanged: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Stop on by!

Next Audio Chat

Tuesday, March 30, from 2-3 p.m, at the Reading Room at 3431 West Cary Street, you are invited to hear Mark Swinney, C.S.B, and Ginny Luedeman, C.S.B, discuss "A Way Out of Addiction to Pornography and Cybersex."

This will be a live audio chat. Questions will be taken via email.

Everyone is welcome!

Chats are held every other Tuesday at 2 p.m., EST. The first April chat will be held April 13. Topic will be posted later.

Spirituality.com Audio Chats

The Reading Room is happy to have anyone visit who would like to listen to any of the archived (and live) audio chats hosted on spirituality.com. Yesterday's topic, Healing Incurable Disease, with speaker Marian English, will be available soon in the archived section.

Stop in and see what else is available!