This picture makes me happy to see these beautiful children. I can feel the presence of God active and joyful.
Happiness, Joy, and Peace to all of God’s children.
If you Love something, let it go. if it comes back it was yours. if it doesn’t, it never was.” I’m sure most of you have heard that before. I used to think it referred to people, or relationships. Now I understand that the things I Love, tangible or intangible, are a part of my Life only if they are God appointed. Love doesn’t mean costly repairs on a dream car, an abusive relationship with someone we are praying to know the Truth about, or an activity that causes injury because we love doing it. Another oldie but goodie is ” Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” The bible breaks down what Love is in 1 Corinthians:
I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love leads me beside the still waters
Love restores me, and Love makes me whole
Love leads me in right paths to honor God’s name
I won’t be afraid for Love’s here beside me
Your goodness and love are mine forever
In the dwellings of Love, I am home
Knowing this is true about us, we can be
Love reflected. We can be the, do.
Thanks again Evan., and everyone.
On the Mother Church online testimony meeting this week a testifier said she’d been praying about a question she had, “What does it mean when we say to someone, I love you.” This caught my attention because just the day before I was pondering the same idea. Basically she said she came to understand that we shouldn’t use that phrase casually or loosely or with a human or material sense of love, but only as we see and cherish God’s qualities pouring forth from someone and are moved and touched by that profound recognition.
I like today’s quote that Evan shared, it says that love is not just a noun but moreso a verb, an action word. God is Love. They say His works are done, but also He is alive, active and bringing good in our lives. We can be active in keeping our attention and awareness on Him (as in yesterday’s SV). Prayer for myself and others is the best action to begin with and can lead to us taking other actions that bring good (love) the world.
I am just starting to make a list of some of the qualities which
are identified as Love. My list starts with gentleness,
forgiveness, compassion, unselfishness, generosity,
the Love that just loves and is not dependent on someone
loving us first – and doesn’t stop loving when it meets
antagonism; that doesn’t need a specific reason, but just
can’t help loving and giving to all, particularly to those who seem
to hate us, and that is always ready to help and heal etc. ……
Here is a link to a list of God Synonyms and their associated qualities. (This list was originally published by the Christian Science Publishing Society.)
WOW! That is a bit of a “cheat sheet” in answering Maggie’s prompt to add to her list! LOL What a “To Do” list of wonderful qualities to express.. Thank you, Marigold.
A bit difficult to Add to that list!
Putting all the qualities of Love into action, is letting God’s Love be expressed in us,
and it heals.
This hymn is lovely in that respect:
“Love one another,—word of revelation;
Love frees from error’s thrall,—Love is liberation.
Love’s way the Master trod;
He that loves shall walk with God.
Love is the royal way.
Love knows no evil, neither shade of sadness;
Love casts out every fear, lifts the heart to gladness.
Love heals our every ill,
All the law does love fulfill.
Love is our answered prayer.
Love now is dawning over every nation;
Showing true brotherhood, publishing salvation,
Love bids all discord cease.
Conquering hate, enthroning peace,
Love, Love alone is power.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 179:1–3)
“These are among the most important times in one’s life – when one is alone.
Certain springs are tapped only when we are alone. The artist knows he must be
alone to create; the writer to work on his thoughts; the musician to compose,
the saint to pray” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh …
“Happiness is spiritual; born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish: therefore it cannot
exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it”. – Mrs. Eddy S&H pg 57:21
The message today and responses are very profound and inspire great reflection.
Thank you All!
I know, I, “personally” sometimes may sound like the “clanging cymbal”, as I
sometimes blurt out thoughts that come, without “humanly” thinking what they
may sound like, but they are from the heart. We are All One with God and can
Only Really reflect this Oneness through Love for others, either alone or in the
presence, spiritually or “humanly” with others.
Our actions do justify our thoughts. Love… divine Love, comes naturally, spiritually –
and IS reflected in loving one another. Like the exuberant children, above, smiling
and sharing in God’s joy, naturally, we, too, can find this happiness in our lives, either
alone with God and/or in the presence of others. Feeling and sharing this Love is
really beautiful. I am feeling this Love right now and thank you all so very much.
Thank you Carol for your comment full of love. When I read your comment I also feel the Love for each other here!
When I read all these wonderful and inspiring comments I am very thankful for them. However I always must think about what Evan writes in the topic, namely that Love is also something we do. Now my first thought is that this “doing” is to express all the wonderful qualities God bestowed upon us and that to the glory of our so good God. I understand that’s a kind of loving God and our neighbor!
Awww…Thank You so very much Uta, for this – such a comforting message.
You have no idea how I needed it just now. (One Mind). It gets a little lonely
around here on the weekends, so very nice to see and feel your sweet, fresh
inspiration. I am indeed thankful for the treasures of Love shared here, also,
and good to be able to absorb their comforting thoughts by rereading them
again. They are so helpful. I am glad you liked what I had shared and I
appreciate(d) your thoughts.
Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18: 17.
Spiritual advancement comes from the humbling, purifying influx of divine Love in thought, and as we yield to this divine influence in prayer, consciousness becomes more like the “little child” spoken of by our master. Increasingly, thought is clarified to feel the innocency, purity and perfection of our God created identity. We are softened and strengthened. Past mistakes, fear, sin, and sickness are “blotted out of consciousness.” In childlike awe, we fearlessly trust the tender cradling of of the Father Mother Love, and we feel the buoyancy and spontaneity of Soul’s activating control in our day to day lives. Rebirthed, we behold the perfect man, and healing is inevitable.
When I work with the Daily Prayer I like to think of adjectives that clarify the “Truth, Life, and Love” I am praying to alllow to reign in my thinking. For example, incontestable Truth, irresistible Life and unconditional Love. There are many more, too, because there’s no end to infinity.
Thank you Evan and alll. Love is vital in our daily activities. To be able to love one must be selfless – seeing everyone and the Universe through God.
A reminder of dayn light savings time here in the US…meaning the long, ong nights
are even longer, but as Mrs. Eddy’s definition of Evening in the Glossary of S & H…
“Mistiness of mortal thought; weariness of mortal mind; obscured views; peace and
rest”. … (Like the “peace and rest” part – the others not so much.)
She also defines Night as “darkness; doubt; fear” and
Time as ” 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.”
On the brighter side, she defines Day as, “The irradiance of Light; light, the spiritual
idea of Truth and Love. ‘And the evening and the morning were the first day.’
(Genesis i. 5.) The objects of time and sense disappear in the illumination of
spiritual understanding, and Mind measures time according to the good that is
unfolded. This unfolding is God’s day, and ‘there shall be no night there’ “.
Will try to hold on to Day thoughts today in going about chores preparing for winter.
Thank you so much, Patrick, for your response. It is very helpful and a
good reminder to keep the candle lit, even if we don’t think anyone can
see it. Much appreciated…thank you.
Thank you Evan for this SpiritView! Today in church I thought I would practise Love in doing.
As clerk I had to give a good message to our librarian and to our chairman. But everybody talked at the same time, and when I wanted to calm us all, I reacted and cried out, as I thought I had to correct something. I`m not sure if that was Love in action, but sometimes it might be!
Our chairman went out and I talked very normally with our librerian as if there was no reaction by me. I was well aware that God was there, as He fills all space and governs us all! God is Love and we are His reflection!
Grace Ajayi is quite right when she says that one must be very selfless to be able to love!
After I went out of church to my car and a man said something about aging into his phone, while he passed me very near so that I was nerely startlet. I must admit that at home I thought about aging. But soon I rejected that thought, as it is an erring supposition about God`s child that I and we all are. This calmed me down and I opened hymn 10 by the German Martin Luther and found the 3rd verse very comforting which goes like this:
O then give thanks to God on high,
Who life to all is giving;
The host of death before Him fly,
In Him we all are living.
Then let us know no fear,
Our King is ever near;
Our stay and fortress strong,
Our strength, our hope, our song;
His kingdom is forever.
Isn`t this verse very helpful and loving, if we include all people and nations in this everpresence of God, the King of His people, who we are dwelling in His Kingdom forever! Love to all!
This hymn is very helpful and loving, dear SpiritView Lover. Thank you for sharing it. And
that was a good revelation about aging being an “erring supposition about God’s child”. I, too,
sometimes am tempted to wonder, with the “years” adding up and with most of my friends
and family, having passed on to other realms of existence that is still quite an enigma to we
folks still on this plane. (I know it has been discussed here on SV beforre). So many things
of late, stir my thoughts to wonder what is going on and I must admit, someimes it is quite unsettling, coming from a “human”/mortal point of view. It is times like these that I wonder if perhaps the last chapter of the Bible is indeed approaching starting to be revealed, as so many things seem to be pointing in that direction these days. In these times of confusion, wondering about the future seems like a natural occurance, and from a mortal viewpoint, it can be troubling. From a spiritual point of view, however, things make sense and that is what is comforting when others share things that they are going through, that is helpful in understanding where our own thought is at.
Thank you so much for sharing what you did.
To clarify, the friends I have mentioned that are in now other phases of loving God’s
Life, where I can not see them, were older and some of the spiritually motivated
thoughts they used to share are missed , but happily the thoughts shared here are
inspiring for which I am so very grateful.
This picture makes me happy to see these beautiful children. I can feel the presence of God active and joyful.
Happiness, Joy, and Peace to all of God’s children.
The smile of a child unfettered by a material seemingly unsettled, unreal view of the world. Pure love shining through.
If you Love something, let it go. if it comes back it was yours. if it doesn’t, it never was.” I’m sure most of you have heard that before. I used to think it referred to people, or relationships. Now I understand that the things I Love, tangible or intangible, are a part of my Life only if they are God appointed. Love doesn’t mean costly repairs on a dream car, an abusive relationship with someone we are praying to know the Truth about, or an activity that causes injury because we love doing it. Another oldie but goodie is ” Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” The bible breaks down what Love is in 1 Corinthians:
I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is of God
.i need to ask my heavenly Father to give me that understanding of that Love which He shows to His children.
I so agree with you.
Hymn 584
Love leads me beside the still waters
Love restores me, and Love makes me whole
Love leads me in right paths to honor God’s name
I won’t be afraid for Love’s here beside me
Your goodness and love are mine forever
In the dwellings of Love, I am home
Knowing this is true about us, we can be
Love reflected. We can be the, do.
Thanks again Evan., and everyone.
Beautiful hymn, dear M. Thank you for sharing it with us.
On the Mother Church online testimony meeting this week a testifier said she’d been praying about a question she had, “What does it mean when we say to someone, I love you.” This caught my attention because just the day before I was pondering the same idea. Basically she said she came to understand that we shouldn’t use that phrase casually or loosely or with a human or material sense of love, but only as we see and cherish God’s qualities pouring forth from someone and are moved and touched by that profound recognition.
I like today’s quote that Evan shared, it says that love is not just a noun but moreso a verb, an action word. God is Love. They say His works are done, but also He is alive, active and bringing good in our lives. We can be active in keeping our attention and awareness on Him (as in yesterday’s SV). Prayer for myself and others is the best action to begin with and can lead to us taking other actions that bring good (love) the world.
I am just starting to make a list of some of the qualities which
are identified as Love. My list starts with gentleness,
forgiveness, compassion, unselfishness, generosity,
the Love that just loves and is not dependent on someone
loving us first – and doesn’t stop loving when it meets
antagonism; that doesn’t need a specific reason, but just
can’t help loving and giving to all, particularly to those who seem
to hate us, and that is always ready to help and heal etc. ……
Please add to my list.
Here is a link to a list of God Synonyms and their associated qualities. (This list was originally published by the Christian Science Publishing Society.)
https://www.christianscience.com/content/download/8496/file/7_synonyms_for_God_poster_%281%29.pdf
WOW! That is a bit of a “cheat sheet” in answering Maggie’s prompt to add to her list! LOL What a “To Do” list of wonderful qualities to express.. Thank you, Marigold.
A bit difficult to Add to that list!
Thank you, Marigold. We have that liist on the wall in our Reading Room. It is very instructive and helpful.
Thanks, Marigold! I printed this out. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this reference list. I am copying it to show to show to my Sunday School students.
Putting all the qualities of Love into action, is letting God’s Love be expressed in us,
and it heals.
This hymn is lovely in that respect:
“Love one another,—word of revelation;
Love frees from error’s thrall,—Love is liberation.
Love’s way the Master trod;
He that loves shall walk with God.
Love is the royal way.
Love knows no evil, neither shade of sadness;
Love casts out every fear, lifts the heart to gladness.
Love heals our every ill,
All the law does love fulfill.
Love is our answered prayer.
Love now is dawning over every nation;
Showing true brotherhood, publishing salvation,
Love bids all discord cease.
Conquering hate, enthroning peace,
Love, Love alone is power.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 179:1–3)
Thank you Maggie, it`s a healing and comforting hymn, I love that, too!
And yes, Desert Girl, so very true – Love is the fulfilling of the law, the only law there is, the Divine Law!
“Love is the fulfilling of the law.” There are many references to this profound statement on Concord. ♡♡
“These are among the most important times in one’s life – when one is alone.
Certain springs are tapped only when we are alone. The artist knows he must be
alone to create; the writer to work on his thoughts; the musician to compose,
the saint to pray” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh …
“Happiness is spiritual; born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish: therefore it cannot
exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it”. – Mrs. Eddy S&H pg 57:21
The message today and responses are very profound and inspire great reflection.
Thank you All!
I know, I, “personally” sometimes may sound like the “clanging cymbal”, as I
sometimes blurt out thoughts that come, without “humanly” thinking what they
may sound like, but they are from the heart. We are All One with God and can
Only Really reflect this Oneness through Love for others, either alone or in the
presence, spiritually or “humanly” with others.
Our actions do justify our thoughts. Love… divine Love, comes naturally, spiritually –
and IS reflected in loving one another. Like the exuberant children, above, smiling
and sharing in God’s joy, naturally, we, too, can find this happiness in our lives, either
alone with God and/or in the presence of others. Feeling and sharing this Love is
really beautiful. I am feeling this Love right now and thank you all so very much.
Thank you Carol for your comment full of love. When I read your comment I also feel the Love for each other here!
When I read all these wonderful and inspiring comments I am very thankful for them. However I always must think about what Evan writes in the topic, namely that Love is also something we do. Now my first thought is that this “doing” is to express all the wonderful qualities God bestowed upon us and that to the glory of our so good God. I understand that’s a kind of loving God and our neighbor!
Awww…Thank You so very much Uta, for this – such a comforting message.
You have no idea how I needed it just now. (One Mind). It gets a little lonely
around here on the weekends, so very nice to see and feel your sweet, fresh
inspiration. I am indeed thankful for the treasures of Love shared here, also,
and good to be able to absorb their comforting thoughts by rereading them
again. They are so helpful. I am glad you liked what I had shared and I
appreciate(d) your thoughts.
“Love must have its expression” by Leslie C. Bell:
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/2jo4ayexoow
Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18: 17.
Spiritual advancement comes from the humbling, purifying influx of divine Love in thought, and as we yield to this divine influence in prayer, consciousness becomes more like the “little child” spoken of by our master. Increasingly, thought is clarified to feel the innocency, purity and perfection of our God created identity. We are softened and strengthened. Past mistakes, fear, sin, and sickness are “blotted out of consciousness.” In childlike awe, we fearlessly trust the tender cradling of of the Father Mother Love, and we feel the buoyancy and spontaneity of Soul’s activating control in our day to day lives. Rebirthed, we behold the perfect man, and healing is inevitable.
When I work with the Daily Prayer I like to think of adjectives that clarify the “Truth, Life, and Love” I am praying to alllow to reign in my thinking. For example, incontestable Truth, irresistible Life and unconditional Love. There are many more, too, because there’s no end to infinity.
Thank you Evan and alll. Love is vital in our daily activities. To be able to love one must be selfless – seeing everyone and the Universe through God.
A reminder of dayn light savings time here in the US…meaning the long, ong nights
are even longer, but as Mrs. Eddy’s definition of Evening in the Glossary of S & H…
“Mistiness of mortal thought; weariness of mortal mind; obscured views; peace and
rest”. … (Like the “peace and rest” part – the others not so much.)
She also defines Night as “darkness; doubt; fear” and
Time as ” 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.”
On the brighter side, she defines Day as, “The irradiance of Light; light, the spiritual
idea of Truth and Love. ‘And the evening and the morning were the first day.’
(Genesis i. 5.) The objects of time and sense disappear in the illumination of
spiritual understanding, and Mind measures time according to the good that is
unfolded. This unfolding is God’s day, and ‘there shall be no night there’ “.
Will try to hold on to Day thoughts today in going about chores preparing for winter.
Yes Carol at the end there no day no night but to be sure
That candle inside each heart , continue to shine and
Bring healing to others.
Thank you so much, Patrick, for your response. It is very helpful and a
good reminder to keep the candle lit, even if we don’t think anyone can
see it. Much appreciated…thank you.
Thank you Evan for this SpiritView! Today in church I thought I would practise Love in doing.
As clerk I had to give a good message to our librarian and to our chairman. But everybody talked at the same time, and when I wanted to calm us all, I reacted and cried out, as I thought I had to correct something. I`m not sure if that was Love in action, but sometimes it might be!
Our chairman went out and I talked very normally with our librerian as if there was no reaction by me. I was well aware that God was there, as He fills all space and governs us all! God is Love and we are His reflection!
Grace Ajayi is quite right when she says that one must be very selfless to be able to love!
After I went out of church to my car and a man said something about aging into his phone, while he passed me very near so that I was nerely startlet. I must admit that at home I thought about aging. But soon I rejected that thought, as it is an erring supposition about God`s child that I and we all are. This calmed me down and I opened hymn 10 by the German Martin Luther and found the 3rd verse very comforting which goes like this:
O then give thanks to God on high,
Who life to all is giving;
The host of death before Him fly,
In Him we all are living.
Then let us know no fear,
Our King is ever near;
Our stay and fortress strong,
Our strength, our hope, our song;
His kingdom is forever.
Isn`t this verse very helpful and loving, if we include all people and nations in this everpresence of God, the King of His people, who we are dwelling in His Kingdom forever! Love to all!
This hymn is very helpful and loving, dear SpiritView Lover. Thank you for sharing it. And
that was a good revelation about aging being an “erring supposition about God’s child”. I, too,
sometimes am tempted to wonder, with the “years” adding up and with most of my friends
and family, having passed on to other realms of existence that is still quite an enigma to we
folks still on this plane. (I know it has been discussed here on SV beforre). So many things
of late, stir my thoughts to wonder what is going on and I must admit, someimes it is quite unsettling, coming from a “human”/mortal point of view. It is times like these that I wonder if perhaps the last chapter of the Bible is indeed approaching starting to be revealed, as so many things seem to be pointing in that direction these days. In these times of confusion, wondering about the future seems like a natural occurance, and from a mortal viewpoint, it can be troubling. From a spiritual point of view, however, things make sense and that is what is comforting when others share things that they are going through, that is helpful in understanding where our own thought is at.
Thank you so much for sharing what you did.
To clarify, the friends I have mentioned that are in now other phases of loving God’s
Life, where I can not see them, were older and some of the spiritually motivated
thoughts they used to share are missed , but happily the thoughts shared here are
inspiring for which I am so very grateful.
Love is a verb.