And now, here's today's offering:
A dear friend of mine used to always have her hair coloured a certain shade - let's call it Bashful Blonde. Well, one day her hairdresser told her it was no longer possible to get it in Singapore (where we both lived at the time). She was (almost) devastated but decided to pray about it. Now that might seem very shallow to some, but she knew that "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." (Science and Health p 494 by Mary Baker Eddy) and she felt she had a legitimate human need.
She also knew that if we put God first in our lives and seek to know His reality (the Kingdom of heaven) then our needs are met. As Jesus said:
why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They dont work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So dont worry about these things, saying, What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (NLT Matt 6:28-33)
Shortly after they had used up the very last bottle, her hairdresser went away on maternity leave and my friend decided to go to another salon which was closer to home. The new hairdresser exclaimed "Isn't that Bashful Blonde you have on your hair? You might be able to help an American client of mine. Knowing she couldn't get it here, she ordered some direct from America but they would only supply a minimum of 48 bottles, which will be out of date before she can use them all. Would you be willing to buy some off her?" So, my friend's need was met and so was the other lady's. God's law of supply and demand in operation:
"At the present moment, your surplus can fill their deficit so that in the future their surplus can fill your deficit. In this way there is equality. As it is written, The one who gathered more didnt have too much, and the one who gathered less didnt have too little." II Cor. 8: 14.15)
As Kay said, she wouldn't be sending that experience into the Christian Science periodicals for publication, but to her it was just as wonderful as some of her big physical healings! When God meets our need in the small ways, we can then trust HimHer in the big ones.
A friend of mine who is a catholic is sadly in a very bad place at the moment. She is trying to make a new start in her life. I have been helping her with my therapies/life coaching. She prayed for help - and is shortly due to move to Ireland where she will have a chance to make a completely new start. I would say God knows what we need. Hair colour may be a minor thing to one person - but I know to someone else it could be hugely significant.
A friend of mine who is a catholic is sadly in a very bad place at the moment. She is trying to make a new start in her life. I have been helping her with my therapies/life coaching. She prayed for help - and is shortly due to move to Ireland where she will have a chance to make a completely new start. I would say God knows what we need. Hair colour may be a minor thing to one person - but I know to someone else it could be hugely significant.
I'm sure you must have been a great comfort to her Sally.
If you're still in touch with her, please share this poem with her - I'm sure it'll help her feel as loved and cared for as she always is. The poem has been set to music and is a much-loved hymn.
[URL='http://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/1z1v0bv9ovg?s=e I']
In heavenly Love abiding... [/URL]
In heavenly Love abiding,
No change my heart shall fear;
And safe is such confiding,
For nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me,
My heart may low be laid;
But God is round about me,
And can I be dismayed?
Wherever He may guide me,
No want shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me,
And nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever waketh,
His sight is never dim;
He knows the way He taketh,
And I will walk with Him.
Green pastures are before me,
Which yet I have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be o'er 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.
Anna L. Waring, Christian Science Hymnal, No. 148
Just looking for the music and I've found this lovely rendition:
In Heavenly Love Abiding - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
And then I found the tune we sing in the CS Hymnal - this was recorded ad hoc by a group of friends in a tunnel in the dark:
And now, here's today's offering:
A dear friend of mine used to always have her hair coloured a certain shade - let's call it Bashful Blonde. Well, one day her hairdresser told her it was no longer possible to get it in Singapore (where we both lived at the time). She was (almost) devastated but decided to pray about it. Now that might seem very shallow to some, but she knew that "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." (Science and Health p 494 by Mary Baker Eddy) and she felt she had a legitimate human need.
She also knew that if we put God first in our lives and seek to know His reality (the Kingdom of heaven) then our needs are met. As Jesus said:
Shortly after they had used up the very last bottle, her hairdresser went away on maternity leave and my friend decided to go to another salon which was closer to home. The new hairdresser exclaimed "Isn't that Bashful Blonde you have on your hair? You might be able to help an American client of mine. Knowing she couldn't get it here, she ordered some direct from America but they would only supply a minimum of 48 bottles, which will be out of date before she can use them all. Would you be willing to buy some off her?" So, my friend's need was met and so was the other lady's. God's law of supply and demand in operation:
As Kay said, she wouldn't be sending that experience into the Christian Science periodicals for publication, but to her it was just as wonderful as some of her big physical healings! When God meets our need in the small ways, we can then trust HimHer in the big ones.
Lovely post. Thanks for sharing the hair colour incident. Mind makes big and small....in the eyes of whole it just is.
Most people can recall that their smaller wishes come true relatively easily and effortlessly than their big and more pressing ones. Precisely because there is more mental and emotional investment and as a result more fear and doubt about big ones
Whereas small and insignificant does not have a grip over mind, so mind is out of the way and blessings come flooding. When mind is busy clinging to and fussing over 'significant' huge, life changing desires to come about, it is sat in its own way, clogging all possibility of grace.
I am enjoying your posts very much, as always
Thanks for your kind words, Jnani.
I'm on a roll now! :p
Here's another memory of one divine Mind and the answers being there before we ask.
Back in the ‘70’s I went on safari with my sister and a brother and his wife. We were in Kenya. We had picked up a brand new hire car with only 6 miles on the clock (not a good idea when you are driving through remote game parks!) We were in the middle of one safari park on our way to a lodge for the night when the engine started coughing and spluttering and finally died. My brother is very technically-minded, but he couldn’t work out what was wrong and there was only a wheel jack, no other tools in the car. Evening was approaching and we knew that the game park was locked at night and we could hear the roars of the lions nearby.
My sister (who is also a student of Christian Science) went very quiet and I realised she was praying, so I decided I ought to too! After a few minutes, a safari group went past – all those zebra-painted mini buses and we flagged them down. The van at the rear held the mechanics. Well, they were very helpful, but they couldn’t find what the problem was either. They told us they would radio Avis and get them to send us a new car the following morning, but that we would have to spend the night in the car. “Good luck” they said, “Don’t get out of the car” and drove off.
My sister and I continued praying! The need to find out what the problem was, was an urgent one and so we just held to the fact that there is only ONE divine, universal Mind. Suddenly, my brother called out “I’ve just realised what it is. The petrol is not getting into the carburettor. If only we had a hose, I could rig up a drip feed.”
My sister and I continued praying. About 5 minutes later, the mechanics came back. “We’ve just realised that the petrol is not getting into the carburettor, so we turned round to help you. Here is a hose for you.” We all had a drink then drained the last drop of water out of the water holder (that was a moment of faith!) and then my brother filled it with petrol, attaching the hose to the carburettor from it. He tied it to the top of the engine and off we went, slowly, but got to the gates before they were locked and then reached the lodge before nightfall.