It’s not too Late to Learn

If you enter into the wonder of it, are willing to commit yourself to learning the nature of it, and cooperating with it, you will be changed inside and out.

Meditation Thought: “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?” (Mark 12:24)

If you understand the meaning of a word it is far different than the technicality of reading a word. The scriptures must be understood if they are to be alive and active as a force in your life. They can be understood only through:

  • becoming familiar with the words
  • learning the meaning of the words
  • incorporating these words into your vocabulary, enriching it by their frequent use
  • seeking all the uses for the words; they have various meanings for various placement in the context of other words, other situations.

To a child the word ‘truth’ may connotate only ‘not telling a lie’, but to an adult, ‘truth’ can be many things, and cover a wide area. Learn to understand scriptures as an adult, not a child. Study.

The power of God is not hidden from anyone but frequently it is never discerned. The only way to recognize it is to look for it, believe the evidence of it, and accept it as fact. Once you recognize it, it becomes easier to perceive other manifestations of it.

If you enter into the wonder of it, are willing to commit yourself to learning the nature of it, and cooperating with it, you will be changed inside and out.

Move Which Mountain?

You cannot pray for the Father’s will if you do not know it – and you cannot know it if you do not seek it. You cannot seek it if you limit yourself to seeking your will only.

Meditation Thought:” whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:24,22)

God is: what? whom? How can you know? Because Jesus was able to prove God by the effects He made by His life – and for which He gave God the credit. No man has ever had such an effect on the world. How could He be totally outstanding from all others? He claims: “It is the Father who does the works.” “Believe in God.” “Believe in Me.” (Believe that what I say is true.) “He who believes in Me shall do the works that I do and greater works than these shall he do.” (See John 14)

You must focus on your destination before you can find the path there.

Will you indulge yourself – or glorify the Father?

Will you do your own thing – or the Father’s works and glorify Him?

If you know your Father, you believe Him, trust Him, obey Him, seek His counsel – you cannot move mountains. But your faith in your Father’s ability to do so can move mountains. You do not doubt in your heart because your heart is already consecrated to the Father, and you are doing His works: moving mountains.

You receive what you ask in prayer because you are praying for the Father’s will. You cannot pray for the Father’s will if you do not know it – and you cannot know it if you do not seek it. You cannot seek it if you limit yourself to seeking your will only.

When you know which mountain the Father desires to be moved, then your faith is the lever that starts the movement.

Humanly Possible vs. Divinely Possible

If we assume we already know what we need to – if our pride and our own will keep us turned to our own self instead of God, we limit what is possible in our lives to what is humanly possible.

Meditation Thought: “…all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

The only source of all knowledge is God. Only through coming to God with a willing attitude to learn from Him can we have all that we need to know revealed to us. If we assume we already know what we need to – if our pride and our own will keep us turned to our own self instead of God, we limit what is possible in our lives to what is humanly possible.

But, if in our faith in our Father – rather than ourselves, we seek to learn from Him, we release what is divinely possible in our lives. This difference places our lives on a new plane, a new dimension, living according to “new rules”.

If we do not adapt to behaving in ways appropriate to the new knowledge, we do not realize nor release the power of that knowledge. If we continue to think in old habitual ways, act as if we are only human, and the only controlling force in our lives, then we are not heeding the Word, learning the lesson, giving God permission to reveal, to guide, to influence the course of our lives. We remain chained to the limitations of the world, rather than availing ourselves of the miracles of the Kingdom.

Finding Help

Fear comes at the thought of separation from that which is dear to you. Belief comes when you have assurance that the Father has both the love and the power to bind together ever more firmly you and all that is dear to you.

Meditation Thought: “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36)

“‘Do not fear.’ Do not listen to any voice save Mine if you do not desire to fear. Others speak with only partial knowledge, as children – saying what they perceive as the truth, but knowing only limitedly. I have the total knowledge, the mature insight – the wisdom of the Father interpreted to you in terms you are able to understand.

‘Your help comes from the Lord’ (Psalm 121:2). But you must be looking for that help, and not distracted from it by fears shattering your concentration. Discipline yourself to turn in the direction where your help will meet you.

  • The Word will turn you properly
  • Prayer will turn you properly
  • Meditation will turn you properly
  • Service will turn you properly
  • Love will turn you properly
  • Sacrifice will turn you properly
  • Forgiveness will turn you properly
  • Mercy will turn you properly

These are the qualities of My character. These are the qualities of your character within My character, within the Father’s character. It is a continuation of the ‘behavior modification’ theory. (See blog post entitled Faith Over Fear 1/18/23.) Every time you behave in harmony with the character of your Father, you reinforce His character in yourself. As His character becomes more and more your character (by your own desire for it), you move further and further from ‘fear’ and closer and closer to ‘belief’.

Fear comes at the thought of separation from that which is dear to you. Belief comes when you have assurance that the Father has both the love and the power to bind together ever more firmly you and all that is dear to you.

Do not fear. Have I not revealed the reality of the Father to you? Would you fear one who gives His own life for your salvation? Can there be any greater proof of the Father’s love than His willing sacrifice of Himself for His Son’s sake?

How can you fear that such a father will not respond to his child’s call? Out of the depth of such love is faith made sure.”

Faith Over Fear

Nourish the thoughts which reflect the thoughts of the Master Teacher.

Meditation Thought: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. (See Hebrews 11:1)

“Behavior modification” is possible in the realm of the spirit, as well as in the realm of the physical. Each time you are confronted with a decision, seek to act as if you have the faith of Jesus.

Jesus’ example of complete trust in his Father is the way, the truth, the life. Not for a moment did he waver in his belief that his Father would care for him; and for all, if all would believe.

Be careful which seeds you nourish in your garden. Many seed-thoughts will be cast into the field of your mind. Nourish the thoughts which reflect the thoughts of the Master Teacher, and reject those thoughts which are foreign to His teachings. In this manner, do you, modify your faith behavior, and in modifying your faith behavior, you modify your faith.

No longer does your faith waver, moving, according to the circumstances it encounters, but it is strong, sturdy, worthy of holding up whatever is cast upon it it. It’s strength lies, not in your conception of faith, but in Jesus‘ conception of faith.

Where is your faith? If it is embraced in the faith of Jesus, it is embraced by the love and power of the father. If it is anywhere else, it is non-existent, only word, not substance, not evidence.

Perspective for Unity

You can unite opposing forces, if you will see from the Father’s perspective.

Meditation Thought: “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24)

Learn to move yourself into a different perspective when you realize you are opposing anything.

Focus on the Word, the Spirit, and move in accordance with these who work all things together for good

You can unite opposing forces, if you will see from the Father’s perspective. The Father’s kingdom is united by love; deflect any weapon wielded against you by the power of love. Wield no weapon, but carry the soothing ointment of love.

Flooded with Sunlight

If you surround the darkness with your protective shell of rigid ideas, selfish motives, and fear of change or challenge, then the light cannot penetrate to dispel the darkness within.

Meditation Thought: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

“You are curled up in a tight ball of self – of inward introspection. Let Me enable you to relax, to stretch, to unfold yourself – exposing yourself to all of the wonder and the glory of the Kingdom on earth. Fear not – your protection lies not within yourself, but within the love with which you were created.

It is possible to seek life on a new level – that is the awakening of a ‘sinner’. Those who are smug and sure that the level where they live is the only ‘proper’ one and that everyone should come to their level are welcome to stay there. But it is not the level where I intend for anyone to remain. It is but a stepping-stone to a level of new consciousness: think of it as comparing the landscape as the sky is overcast, and the difference in the same landscape when it is flooded with sunlight. The sunlight gives a clarity, a purifying element, a beauty which was previously lacking.

It is through the light given off by the Son touching earth that the landscape of your life is enhanced. The light was created by the Father, but directed by the Son to wherever light could reach to dispel darkness. Darkness cannot be dispelled unless light is brought where it is.

If you surround the darkness with your protective shell of rigid ideas, selfish motives, and fear of change or challenge, then the light cannot penetrate to dispel the darkness within.”

Love in the Silence

Realize how much more effective a demonstration is if it is not detracted from by too many words describing it.

Meditation Thought: “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:44, italics added)

Do not dilute the effectiveness of the healing miracle within you by loose talk about it. Be aware: express the reality of it appropriately – in manners which bring the good news to others as an awakening of their perception to the Father’s call to them.

Give an ‘offering’ of yourself in thanksgiving, in prayer, in service to others, in sharing of your worldly goods.

Realize how much more effective a demonstration is if it is not detracted from by too many words describing it. You want to respect those watching by allowing them to discover knowledge concerning it. This will bring the point to them more effectively, and also more palliatively. They are far less likely to reject the demonstration as applicable to themselves if you do not try to force the issue.

And the process of allowing each to discover the meaning for themselves brings an order to the ministry of the Spirit which will be lacking if you press everyone by words to jump immediately into attempting to duplicate your demonstration.

Let your love speak for itself.
Let your joy speak for itself.
Let your faith speak for itself.
Let your peace speak for itself.

The Evolution of a Fish

That which you concentrate upon, you become similar to.

Meditation Thought: “And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17)

Perceived as a message from Jesus:

“Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men. I follow the Father only – and if you follow Me, you follow the Father. That which you concentrate upon, you become similar to: this is the method by which you shall become an image of Me, an image of the Father. And this is the method by which those who follow you (caught in the net of your love and concern for them) will come to know the Son and the Father and the Spirit and the Truth.

By My Words I shall inspire you and instruct you, by My Presence I shall empower you, and by My Spirit I shall lead you. We have the net of love, we go the where the fish are, and we shall gather them into the net – yes, they shall die to themselves as fish – but their re-birth into the Kingdom is of a higher form: the form of the image of the Father as developed by the aid of the Son.

If I am the Head, and you are part of My Body, and I sit at the right hand of the Father, are you not also with the Father? Do you understand now that you have followed Me directly to the Father? Is it not better to be caught in the net than to escape the net? The net appears to cause the fish to lose freedom to go where it will, and so it does, but what appears to the fish – at first frightened by what is happening to it, (a change of environment, a change of form) – to be a disaster, becomes the life-changing experience that elevates it as a form so removed from a fish-form as to be totally transformed, re-formed, according the the preformed Pattern of the Father which is duplicated by the Son and the Son’s followers through the power of the Spirit uniting the Son and the followers.”

God’s Direct Line – for You!

You have many choices which you need to make, I am available to aid you in making those choices.

Meditation Thought: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

“The line of communication between us is never busy, never out of service. Our communing with each other depends only upon your willingness to use the line which is always available.

You carry a portable ‘dial’ with you wherever you go: it is faith. You need only to use it by first your thought, then your will moving upon that faith to call upon Me to request whatever you need at any given moment. It is My pleasure to give My child whatever is needed to do My works which bring hope, peace, joy, comfort, necessities, and all expressions of love to the world.

Keep the line busy – using it much as a soldier in the field would use a walkie-talkie to apprise their commander of the situation where they are, and then letting the commander advise of wise actions.

You have many choices which you need to make, as a thinking person – but in back of those choices always there is My Word, My wisdom and My willingness available to aid you in making superior choices, effective choices: world-renewing choices.”