“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, . . . though the waters thereof roar and be troubled”
(The Bible – Psalm 46: 1-3)
Archive for the ‘Spiritual Comfort’ Category
God – Our Refuge Leave a comment
The Peace of Righteousness 1 comment
… the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
(The Bible – Isaiah 32: 17, 17)
God’s Promise Leave a comment
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… prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
(The Bible – Malachi 3: 10)
Freedom – a Divine Right Leave a comment
Wednesday Testimony Meeting Readings
This recording is of readings on the topic: Freedom – a Divine Right
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I love Thy way of freedom, Lord,
To serve Thee is my choice,
In Thy clear light of Truth I rise
And, listening for Thy voice,
I hear Thy promise old and new,
That bids all fear to cease:
My presence still shall go with thee
And I will give thee peace.
(Christian Science Hymnal 136 by Violet Hay)
God – The Good Shepherd 2 comments
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
(The Bible – Isaiah 40: 11)
Living in God’s ‘Now’ Leave a comment
An article from the Christian Science Monitor by Laura Clayton
Recently a relative said she had been feeling concerned about the future. She had been thinking about a possible move, wondering where and when she and her husband might settle next. We talked about the idea of living in God’s “now” – staying grounded in gratitude for today’s many blessings, joyfully being where we are right at the present moment. After our discussion, she said she immediately felt better, lighter, and more peaceful.
Christ Jesus assured his followers, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself” (Matthew 6:34). The type of living in the present now that brings lasting peace and inspired solutions is not just some clever mental game. It’s a spiritual awakening based on the timeless spiritual fact of our unity with God, good.
In this article Laura goes on to explain the spiritual reasoning she used to find a perfect solution to a family member’s accommodation problem. She concludes: Each of us can wake up to the spiritual reality of today that helps bring a more harmonious tomorrow.
Click here to read the full article.
Protected During Hailstorm 2 comments
The members of the Christian Science community in Canberra share their experiences and thoughts on Christian Science:
Two years ago on a Monday afternoon Canberra was struck by a hailstorm of such ferocity that thousands of cars were destroyed and buildings severely damaged. I was working on this day and had to deliver meeting documents to Government House in Canberra.
On my way out of the grounds of Government House the security guard at the gate let me know there was a big storm brewing and asked if I would be all right driving. I assured him I would be fine.
Before I got to the turn-off, the storm broke and hail came pelting down. My first thought was perhaps I should turn around but I decided to carry on. When I reached the road which leads onto the main road, I noticed both sides were packed with parked cars, even on the nature strip and there was no place for my car. I thought I might carry on slowly to the main road.
Suddenly there was a loud bang against the car door and I thought I might have run into another car. When I looked towards my mirror there was only an object which I did not recognise for a moment but then I realised it was the mirror holder without a mirror. A strong gust of wind must have blown it against the door which caused the bang.
I was becoming a little rattled, when a thought from the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy came to mind, page 469: “We bury the sense of infinitude, when we admit that, although God is infinite, evil has a place in this infinity, for evil can have no place where all space is filled with God”. I am God’s protected child, and I am surrounded by God within this perfect space where evil and inharmony cannot enter.
Another thought came to me from the Christian Science Hymnal, hymn 148, “In heavenly Love abiding, no change my heart shall fear; and safe is such confiding for nothing changes here. The storm may roar about me, my heart may low be laid; but God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?”
With these thoughts I headed onto the main road; there was no other traffic but lots of hail, tree branches and twigs. I drove slowly to my place of work thinking on these wonderful God thoughts which calmed me and brought a sense of peace. I reached work unharmed and with no further damage to my car. I thanked God for His protection and guidance.
I feel privileged to be a member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Canberra, and for duties I have been able to perform such as Second Reader, board membership, ushering and Reading Room attendant.
“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.”
(The Bible – Jude 1: 25)
My Father Has My Treasure 2 comments
Green pastures are before me,
Which yet I have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be o’ver me,
Where darkest clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure,
My path in life is free;
My father has my treasure,
And He will walk with me.
(The Christian Science Hymnal – 148 by Anna L Waring)
Credit Card Safe in a Busy Airport 1 comment
The members of the Christian Science community in Canberra share their experiences and thoughts on Christian Science:
Just before the COVID restrictions came into force my sister and I were travelling in the US. At one point we were catching a flight from one of the larger airports. The terminal was extremely busy and there were long queues everywhere. We needed to check in our luggage so we queued at one of the self-serve terminals. There was a cost for each bag and my sister said that it was her turn to pay this time. She inserted her credit card into the slot in the machine and we filled out all the on-screen questions and received our baggage tags. From there we queued again to drop our bags and then joined the long winding queue going through security.
Finally we were through with just enough time to find lunch before our flight left. At this point my sister realised that she no longer had her credit card. We had left it in the self-serve terminal! This was the card that held all her travel money. A good hour had passed since we checked our baggage and with the queues everywhere it seemed impossible that the card could be found. My sister suggested that I wait near the café with the hand luggage and she would go back through to the check-in machines. My job was to stay calm and to pray. I knew my sister would be praying too.
I sat quietly in a corner and turned to God. I have come to know God as the all-knowing divine Mind. The All-knowing I reasoned knew exactly where that card was. I have also come to know God as divine, Father-Mother Love. As a loving parent God protects and guides His offspring. I have had many proofs of God’s loving care in other circumstances and this gave me confidence that all was well. In my prayer I also acknowledged that God’s man is honest. As I thought on these things I felt a sense of peace that replaced any sense of anxiety I had felt.
Within a very short time my sister was back – and smiling! She waved the card at me. ‘ Look what I found’, she said. ‘It was exactly where we left it in the check-in machine.’ My sister explained that she had intended to go to the information counter in the hope that the card had been handed in but she had a very strong mental message not to do this but to go to the terminal we had used and check there. She obeyed this direction and found the card in the slot just where we had left it. We had no human explanation as to how this could have happened given the number of people using the machines. A later check on her card showed that no extra charges had been made beyond our last baggage charge.
For what I am learning in Christian Science and for the peace that these teachings bring I am always grateful.
Thy hand in all things I behold,
And all things in Thy hand.
Thou leadest me by unsought ways,
Thou turn’st my mourning into praise.
(Christian Science Hymnal 134)
Grateful for Spiritual Growth 1 comment
The members of the Christian Science community in Canberra share their experiences and thoughts on Christian Science:
I’m grateful to Mrs Eddy for the Christian Science Journal and Christian Science Sentinel. I subscribe to these periodicals and treasure them for the way people share their thoughts, prayers, healings and experiences about many issues.
An article in a recent Sentinel reminded me that we’re not praying to change or improve God’s already perfect and harmonious creation. We’re praying to acknowledge, understand and claim this fact now and forever. Another article showed me how the writer uses the Lord’s Prayer to do this when praying about the concept of home in what seems to be a time of chronic homelessness all over the world.
He finds that this healing prayer establishes God’s kingdom as ever present. It establishes us as one universal family in our perfect Father-Mother’s harmonious kingdom where God provides for us exactly what we need.
A testimony in another recent Sentinel helped me in thinking about feelings and memories I sometimes have about the actions and behaviour of people in the past.
The writer had become irritated and impatient by the actions of a friend. When praying it occurred to her that this friend might be struggling in some way and need tenderness and support. Frustration was replaced with humility as she repented for her lack of compassion and her heart was filled with sweet love for her friend.
The writer refers to a gentle message that she found especially encouraging – from the third verse of hymn 278 in the Christian Science Hymnal.
Healed is thy hardness, His love hath dissolved it,
Full is the promise, the blessing how kind;
So shall His tenderness teach thee compassion,
So all the merciful, mercy shall find.
I realised that this is how I should be thinking and praying, rather than mulling over what I think are past hurts and injustices.
