God's constant care

Feeling afraid? Feeling uncared for, untended to, burdened, lost? By praying we are lifted up above those feelings. We are lifted up above the turbulent fears. Prayer is a conscious turning to God for help and freedom. When we turn to God in prayer He reveals to us His constant care for us. Why? Because He loves us as His beloved sons and daughters, His perfect creation, His delight.

Having a hard time knowing how to pray? Precious prayers that we may all give to God may be found in our Holy Bible. One of them we can turn to is, “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart”¹

“…unto them that know Thee;…” When we are consistent in our turning to God we can see His loving protection throughout our days. As we learn to let go of our own personal will, ways, views and opinions and learn to turn to God we are lifted up above the fears that so easily pull us down.

Need fresh thoughts, happier views, better ways? Look up…see God’s lifting effect, His constant care and love for us.

We are told that we are taken care of like the eagles take care of their young. Such as in Deuteronomy where we read, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.”²

We can learn to trust our heavenly Father-Mother God to take care of us, protect us. God is loving us; He created us to be His perfect image and likeness. He is delighted with His creation. He sustains us and maintains us. God is always ever with us. God is revealing His care for us. All we need to do is learn to trust in Him!

The quote from Mary Baker Eddy, "The divine Mind which forms the bud and blossom, will care for the human body, even as it clothes the lily; but let no mortal interfere with God's government by thrusting in the laws of erring, human concepts."3  reminds me of a precious story I just heard last week...

Once a hail storm was coming and a woman was so concerned about the baby eagles high in their nest that she had been watching and enjoying for days. She thought maybe she should ‘do something’ but didn’t know how to reach them, how to care for them, how to get them back in their right place after the storm. She was trying not to be upset but thought she should ‘do something’. She started to pray for the right answer for how she could save the birds. Instead she received a life lesson for herself.

The winds started, the hail began, looking out the window she could see the mother’s wing span stretched completely out over the large nest. The bird was covering, sheltering her brood. She was laying flat on the nest with her head down and everyone protected by her wings. The mother weathered the storm and her babes were sheltered by her care and love.

We are those baby birds. God is sheltering us under Her mighty wings. She loves us, cares for us, and tends to our needs. We can see this if we stop trying to ‘do something’. By learning Her love for us and trusting Her constant care, we can become free from the frightening storms in life. We can enjoy Her protection for us, all the days of our lives. In good times or in hard times if we turn and trust in Love we can see it, feel it and be protected by it.

God blesses us with His constant care.

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.  Selah.  God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.”⁴

“Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”⁵

Let us learn to turn to God for our every need. Let us learn how to trust Him. The way to do this is to constantly turn to God for our every thought and care. This turning to Him for our every need teach us that He is with us every step of the way. God is protecting, loving, and tenderly caring for each of us. Let us look up to God and see His constant care.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”⁶

Gentle hugs

1 The King James Version of the Holy Bible Psalms 36:7-10
2 ibid Deuteronomy 32 vss. 11, 12
3 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy pg. 62 line 23
4 The King James Version of the Holy Bible Psalms 51 vss. 1-3
5 ibid Psalms 63 vs. 7
6 ibid Psalms 91 vss. 1-4

Springing into war or springing into joy

It is so beautiful here the desire to write about spring through poems and songs instead of the gloom and doom of threats of nuclear bombs is strong.  Quite a contrast in ones thought and day.  The question of ‘why’ anyone would want to start a war looms but is a pointless waste of one’s time. There is never any good reason and never any resounding positive results.  It is just politicians, governors, prime ministers, presidents, kings, and tyrants having tantrums in large scale maneuvers. 

God takes away the belief in other powers.  His omnipotence, constant Love and Goodness are the antipode that heals the false claims of screaming tyrants.  Where God fills all space, and He does, there is no other power to oppose His purpose and plan for Mankind.

In praying about this blog and the situations that face mankind first Matthew 24: 4-31from the King James Bible came to my thought.  This passage brings frightening words of caution from our Master, Christ Jesus concerning the rumor of wars and the final conflict. Despair, turmoil, fear, despondency started to take over my thought but as always prayer lifts our spirit to His Love and reveals to us His tender constant care no matter what happens today or any other day.  His Love will never change.  His protection is omnipotent and ever present.  His guidance and deliverance is a sure promise to those who watch and pray to Him.  Knowing that He is all Good.

Turning to God for comfort and guidance the Christian Science Hymnal was opened up and the words that ministered, directed, lifted my spirit were these:

“Lift up thy light, O man, arise and shine,

Steadfast while loud the storms of life assail;
Immortal ray of that great Light divine,
'Gainst whose all-power no tempest shall prevail.

Hold high thy lamp above earth's restless tides,

Beacon of hope to those who watch afar.
Falsehood and fear shall pass, but Truth abides;
Thine be the splendor of her deathless star.

Should the world's sin and sorrow round thee rave,

Pierce thou the dark with Truth's undaunted ray,
Send out its light of joy to help and save,
That more and more shines to the perfect day.”¹

No matter if there are rumor of wars, threat of wars, wars, or the ugly fears of any kind that tries to ruin our day.  We are to lift up our attitude and thought to His Light of Life and Love.  We are to let our “light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.” And to remember Christ Jesus’ precious words, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets, I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”²

Instead of running and hiding under the covers, fearing the gloom and doom of the threats that constantly try to hide our purpose, as His rays of Light; let us go out and share His Truth to the poor in spirit, giving courage to the fearful.  Let us go out into the world and let our light so shine so those who have forgotten they are the children of God can remember and rejoice.  Let us lift others up in these times of woe and despair.  Let us shine forth His Love and tender considerations to those who do not know their purpose here on earth.  Let us be constantly grateful that we do remember and can help others do the same.  Let us even fight the temptation to fear or mourn what hasn’t even occurred yet.

How???  Glorify the truth of God’s omnipotence in our own thoughts.  Hold at bay in our own consciousness the screams of the false tyrants that make us afraid.  Stand firm with the Truth of God’s constant omnipotent care.  Remember nothing can kill God, who is Life, or His image and likeness Man. Know that nothing can actually take our Life or joy away, for it is spiritual and eternal not mortal or temporal. Reflect Life, Love, Truth knowing that no power can destroy these synonyms for God, Principle. Rejoice that God IS and the false fears and foes ARE NOT.

“It matters not what be thy lot,

So Love doth guide;
For storm or shine, pure peace is thine,
Whate'er betide.

And of these stones, or tyrants' thrones,
God able is
To raise up seed — in thought and deed —
To faithful His.”³

In times of turmoil, fear, woe, doubt, let us be courageous in His Spirit, knowing who and what Love is, God.  He will lift us above.  He will protect and guide.  Let us be His shining ray that helps others to see and remember His constant omnipotent care.

Gentle hug

1 Christian Science Hymnal Hymn No. 172

2 The King James Version of the Bible Matthew 5 vs 16 and 17   
3 Poem by Mary Baker Eddy called Satisfied found in several places including the Christian Science Hymnal Nos. 160, 161, 162

 

Singing in the dark

There was a favorite childhood booklet filled with stories of how children turned to God for comfort for all sorts of challenges they were facing.

The one that keeps coming to thought was called, "Cheerio".  It was about a family with a dear pet bird.  They loved this bird and let it fly around their house.  But one night when it was bedtime they couldn't find Cheerio anywhere.  They called, listened, searched, but no Cheerio. 

The little girl in the story was quite upset.  When her Mom came into the room to tuck her into bed for the night the little girl was crying.  Mom told the little girl that no matter if they knew where Cheerio was or not, God did.  She told her daughter that they could pray and trust that God was lovingly embracing Cheerio as much as He was holding on to them.  Mom said that God was tenderly taking care of Cheerio and they could pray to know that God was showing everyone back together.

The next morning everyone ran over to the cage to see if Cheerio had made it back to her little home,  but no Cheerio.  Before discouragement could set in and even before their next search the brother said, "Wait, I hear something." 

Everyone got very quiet.  It was Cheerio's morning song.  But it was quite faint.  They all started going towards Cheerio's sweet tune.  They ended up in the Kitchen.  One of them opened up the towel drawer and out flew Cheerio with a thread from one of the towels.  She flew to her cage and began her morning song again.  Everyone was very relived.  They realized that Cheerio had gone in to pull a thread but without knowing it someone had closed the drawer on her.

The motto of the story? No matter how dark and scary things seemed to be for Cheerio, and the rest of us, everyone can trust in God. 

When we trust in God's constant care we can see evidence of this wonderful care.  Because no matter how things seem to be difficult, scary or hard, God's light, care, abilities to protect us is always with us.  No condition is too harsh, too dark, or too hopeless that God's Laws of Love cannot get us up and out of any problem.  All we have to do is turn to God and pray/sing to Him our prayer of praise and watch for His perfect answer.

"Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name."1

"When we are willing to help and to be help, divine aid is near...So, my dear ones, let us together sing the old-new song of salvation, and let our measure of time and joy be spiritual, not material."2

Let us keep praying throughout our day till the morning light reveals God's precious promises that He never leaves us in the darkness of gloom.
1 Psalms 100:2-4
2 Miscellaney 166:19