Isaiah's Passage of Joy

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

Hi Kim,

This is one of my favourite OT passages and I often use it in my church services - thanks! It's so wonderful to me that these promises are timeless and universal and are being proved to be practical and demonstrable. The spiritual laws that prophets like those that wrote the book of Isaiah understood, were demonstrated right through the Hebrew Bible - by Moses, Elijah, Elisha, to name just three and then, proved most fully by Christ Jesus and his apostles and the early Christians up to the AD 300s (after which spiritual healing largely died out apart from with a few inspired individuals).

Today they are being proved again. I read an article recently (wish I'd kept it) of someone working out in the American wilderness. For some reason, there was a delay in what they were doing and they were running out of water and faced having to turn back without acomplishing what they were doing (a survey or something). The writer got up very early to pray. He declared that God's law of supply and demand was in operation and that his eyes could be opened to realise and prove this. He remembered Moses striking the rock in the wilderness and water gushing out when it was needed. Then an insect, or some small movement made him look at a nearby rock and he noticed a tiny patch of green. He scraped at it - and guess what - water gushed out!

Here is another example of:
Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

At Munda, on New Georgia, during more than two weeks of almost incessant fighting, I was cared for and saved from fear. We had been fighting for a number of days and were out of water. Many were being wounded, and many others were going off the front carrying the wounded. Few men were left to hold ground. Our nearest source of drinking water was nearly five miles behind us, from which we had been cut off. The jungles were steaming hot; we had been without water for hours and faced going without it all night.

This was a human need and all realised it. Each turned to God in his own way. Indeed, all men pray under circumstances like this. I stepped off the trail and sat down to pray. It was up to God and I just let it be up to Him. Soon afterwards, an artillery shell of our own, intended to blast the enemy ahead of us, fell short and hit the trail, hurting no one. Water gushed out of the hole! Our need was met. We were all grateful and praised God, one to another. We didn’t feel than any miracle had occurred; this was just natural.

As I left the front a day or so later, I found a small Bible on the trail. Having lost my own, I picked it up eagerly. The water incident had been continually in my thought since it occurred. I opened the Bible at random and my eyes fell on the 35th verse of Psalm 107, “He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.”

(Page 409, The Story of Christian Science Wartime Activities 1939-1946)

I also have many accounts of the physical cure (through understanding prayer alone) of paralysed hands and arms, immobile and painful knees, "incurable" and chronic heart conditions healed, actual physical blindness, deafness, muteness and lameness healed (as well as every other possible disease and predicament - I only mention those above as they are named in your passage). These promises are being fulfilled!

When we realise and understand that God made us in HisHer image and likeness - that we exist, here and now and always as a perfect, whole, complete, spiritual IDEA in the divine Mind, (not in matter), but one with God; and that there is, in reality, nothing that needs to be healed, (just mortal beliefs and patterns of thinking changed and redeemed), then the physical moves into harmony with the spiritual fact. Healing is revealing - revealing the perfection, immutable law and order that alwasy exists. We simply have to remove the fog of mortal fear and delusion with the sunlight of Truth.

Love and peace,

Judy

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

But, J, NONE of us REALLY know if we were made in God's image.

If you follow the Bible to the nth degree you will be told this, if you think for yourself - which is what 'God' intended (or none of us would have the power of thought) you can see God could be a zillion different particles of energy making Itself into whatever It chooses !

The question I have for you is why, in all the incomprehensible vastness of the Universe would God make US little creatures like Him???

Not very likely. Taking an historical book which is a series of documents written by men for men, some enlightened and others not so much, as literal truth somehow prevents that essential unique thought process from coming through - but I guess it always comes down to different strokes for different folks;)

Dino

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

Hello Dino,

A lot of completely off-the-mark preconceptions here! [&:]

But, J, NONE of us REALLY know if we were made in God's image.

Aha - but it all depends on what one's concept of God is.........

If you follow the Bible to the nth degree you will be told this, if you think for yourself...........

If you follow the Bible to the nth degree, you will be told you are a mortal sinner, separate from God, cursed to suffer because you were born in original sin. If you think for yourself, you test out a discovery. When it works, you make it your own. If you think for yourself, you take those passages from sacred scriptures that can be proved (through healing and other demonstrations) to have come through spiritual inspiration, rather than human opinions. The inspired Word, rather than the literal.

The question I have for you is why, in all the incomprehensible vastness of the Universe would God make US little creatures like Him???

Did I say mortals were made in the image and likeness of God? Are you not thinking of a man-like god here? If we are one with God, good, Principle, Spirit, Life, Truth Love, Soul and Mind, the very expression of Its/His/Her being, how could we (and the whole spiritual universe of ideas, for we are all one) NOT express all of the qualities that make up Life, that make up Spirit etc? One single tiny drop of water taken from the ocean has all the qualities of the whole ocean.

Taking an historical book which is a series of documents written by men for men, some enlightened and others not so much, as literal truth somehow prevents that essential unique thought process from coming through

I totally agree, which is why I only take the inspired Word, not the literal, not human opinions. The essential thought process to me is when we let go of our our human, mortal thinking and unite with the divine Mind.

You're new here, so you haven't read of all my experiences (particularly from when I used to fly as cabin crew) and you obviously haven't read all the healings I've posted on the thread "Healing through the Christ Consciousness" or you would understand that I'm writing from experience, not vague hypotheses.

For instance, once, I was working in the back galley one day, flying to Milan (which meant we had to fly over the Alps). The other two crew had left the galley with the duty free trolley and were right up in the front of quite a large aircraft, so I was alone. I had a call from the Cabin Service Director to say that other aircraft ahead had warned of severe turbulence and that I was to stow everything and strap myself in.

As is usual, I turned immediately to God, divine Love and put us all in Her care. I thought of those everlasting arms of Love that were all around us. Once I had finished stowing all the equipment, I grabbed my Bible from my cabin bag and strapped in, opening it to the 91st Psalm

Well, I became engrossed in reading it and really praying with those words, knowing that they were true, that they had been proved countless times. A feeling of indescribable peace came over me and I knew that only harmony was present. God, good is ALL - there is nothing else. I felt at one with God and the universe. I forgot all about the expected turbulence – there wasn’t any, it was like a mill pond. After a while, the seat belt signs went off and we returned to our duties.

Later on, in the hotel in Milan, we met for a drink before going out to eat. The Captain kept saying "I can’t understand what happened during our flight" (how many times I’ve heard those words!) He explained that other aircraft, just minutes in front of us, in exactly the same airspace were experiencing such severe turbulence that the pilots were unable to read their instruments, yet it was like a mill-pond to us. Not even a ripple. We were near an enormous thunderstorm that the Captain said had the power of about 200 atomic bombs, and he just could not understand why we had not been touched

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

Thank you Judy, I read you words and I enjoyed.......

The big word for the end times is DEFUSE, remove the trigger and there is no harmful bomb. I would say that applies to us as individuals as well as group consciousness. Sadly, as we know a lot of explosives are held in human consciousness due to ancient history and sometimes this is unconscious and people do not even realise they are holding on to the bombs until they are triggered. Irrational responses are usually a result of past life memories, although, yes, these can also be healed and transmuted with love.

While reading Dino's post I thought of that lovely passage that you shared with us in the past from Apostle John on how to discern what is the inspired word of God. Would you do us the honour of sharing it once more. 😉

I thought that Psalm 82 was great too!

'I said, "You are gods." You are all sons of the Most High.'

'Rise UP, O God, for all the nations are your inheritance'

Divine Love

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

J - tried to tell you on another forum (quietly and trying there totell you as such) I have much experience of Christian Science - I am not a fan:) sorry, and can discuss this with humour and tolerance if you wish to do so and yes, I have read MBE extensively, and NO she is not really my cuppa - but if she is yours, then great. I have not read your past posts - and I shall not read them because CS does not hold any truths for me or for my family - perhaps I should say here,, quietly, that it is my family in the States who has been most affected by CS and badly affected - so in truth, unless as I said before, you can keep your head and discuss this sect with me openly and with logic, I can't and wont go there.

Dino

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

J - so what is YOUR concept of God then - for the Bible tells us He is a man with a long white beard etc etc - or perhaps the Bible does not actually say this - perhaps this also is a pre-conception of humanity's longing to put a face on God.

No one has seen the face of God.

Dino

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

DL - I also love Psalm 82.

Sorry have not figured out how to edit, although I am sure I did edit a post before??????

hence the 3 posts, I must get my head around the technical forums better.

Dino

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

Hi Kim,

The passage you refer to - is it Mary Baker Eddy's commentary on John the Revelator's vision on Patmos, which includes:".... that the heavens and earth to one human consciousness, that consciousness which God bestows, are spiritual, while to another, the unillumined human mind, the vision is material. This shows unmistakably that what the human mind terms matter and spirit indicates states and stages of consciousness." ?

Love and peace,

Judy

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

Hi Dino,

Humour and tolerance are exactly what I always try to live! 🙂 Do you? 😉 And do you live up to your signature? 🙂

You know, reading your first post (and remembering that you said you knew a lot about Christian Science in the "What religion are you" thread) it was blindingly obvious that you might have read words, but you didn't understand or comprehend at all what it was all about. Now I learn that sadly, there has been a bad experience in your family, which I'm really sorry about - perhaps you could PM me so that I can understand where you're coming from? Perhaps you've come to HP because this anger needs to be healed?

Your original post above made me smile, as orthodox Christians attack MBE all the time for daring to interpret the Bible from a spiritual perspective, rather than reading it literally and here you were, accusing me (who you know nothing of) of reading the Bible literally and suggesting, as a result, that my essential thought processes are blocked! Well, all I can say is that those blockages have brought awesome results! 😀

Tell me something Dino - is everything I write going to be attacked just because I write from a CS perspective and you have baggage there? I'm one of HP's oldest members - though not as 'old' as Kim. [sm=hidesbehindsofa.gif] I love these forums for their varied views and the wonderful discussions we have - I feel that we all learn from each other. From time to time, people have come who have issues with what I stand for and try to make life so uncomfortable that I'll leave - I really don't want to go through that all over again. [sm=boring.gif]

The topic of 'what is God?' is so vast - could anyone ever give an answer to something it'll probably take all eternity to learn? Mary Baker Eddy had glimpses of reality that very few others have yet had and I take her understanding as a spring board to learn for myself, through demonstration and experience:

This is from the Glossary of Science and Health:
GOD. The great I AM; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence.

587:17 God is one God, infinite and perfect, and cannot become finite and imperfect.

This to me, sums it all up:

520:03 Unfathomable Mind is expressed. The depth, breadth, height, might, majesty, and glory of infinite Love fill all space. That is enough! Human language can repeat only an infinitesimal part of what exists. The absolute ideal, man, is no more seen nor comprehended by mortals, than is his infinite Principle, Love. Principle and its idea, man, are coexistent and eternal.

Love and peace,

Judy

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

No Judy, it is one where he says the inspired word brings peace, love,, inspiration etc.

Divine Love

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

Dear Dino

Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God

and this is certainly true! 😉

Divine Love

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

Well Kim, I’m scratching my head [sm=scratchchin.gif](or chin!) here - was it this passage from John?

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14: 26, 27

Or this profound saying from the book of Job?

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.Job 32:8

Or was it Paul’s words?

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

Or this from his letter to Timothy:

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.(II TIm 3: 14-17)

Or perhaps, one of these passages from MBE?

Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences, by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love. (Science and Health p 264)

Inspired thought relinquishes a material, sensual, and mortal theory of the universe, and adopts the spiritual and immortal.
It is this spiritual perception of Scripture, which lifts humanity out of disease and death and inspires faith.(S&H p 547)

I remember once, when Torre (do you remember her?) asked how one knows what is inspired and what is not, I said that if the passage lifts your thought, brings comfort, answers, light, spiritual perception, healing and the "peace that passeth all understanding", then that's how you know it's inspired. While reading the 91st Psalm on the aircraft during the experience I described to Dino above, I felt that indescribable sense of peace. Another time, when we were also headed for severe turbulence, it felt as if there was a ring of electric fires all around me - a comforting warm glow and again we were beautifully protected and again, the Captain used the word "miracle".

Love and peace,

Judy

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

No, Judy I am going away for the weekend so will see if I can find it while I'm away.

Have fun

Divine Love

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

You have fun too! I'm intrigued to hear which passage you mean.

Love and peace,

Judy

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

J

Well you appear to think I am attacking you- and I think you are attacking me [&:] I came here for discussion - thought we were all adults? Yes I live up to my name, and when my open mind has been challenged and I have made a decision about a subject, I then close it on that subject and file it away.

I have no knowledge of what has gone before, please don't include me in this - on websites such as these I imagined healthly debate no matter what your opnions or faith or lack of these is really what it is all about, and to my knowledge I have not been rude or offensive to you - in fact I made a polite plea on another part of these pages to ask if you would kindly NOT ask me to go into any detail with regard to my (our) distrust of Christian Science - I have honestly made every attempt to keep smiling:)and stay out of controversy.

Please don't Pm me - I am not intending to be rude, but I have no wish to be personally challenged by you or your beliefs. As said previously, my mind is already made up. I suggest that instead of me telling you the whole story - I will encourage my wife who is extremely tied up at this moment, to join these forums and tell her story about her experiences with Christian Science and let her own words speak for themselves. I hope I can persuade her to do so within the next week - it is obvious that you could perhaps benefit from seeing this from another perspective, if that is, you are willing to open you mind too;)

Dino

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

DL

Thank you, you are obviously very pure of heart yourself if I may say so without appearing patronising.

Jesus said 'Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not - for of such is the kingdom of God'

We are all little children - and all equal in the eyes of God I think;)

Dino

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

Hello again Dino,

I just went back to the “What religion are you” thread (where your score came out with Christian Science as no 2!) to see exactly what it was that we said and thought as it has been mentioned more than once, that I’d copy it for anyone here who is puzzled, like I am at all this.

ORIGINAL: Principled

Hi Dino!

A late welcome to HP from me!

I've enjoyed your posts and like the signature about keeping an open mind, so was curious about this remark:

nor 2nd which was Christian science which is in direct conflict with how I feel and think.

Direct conflict! Gosh - that's quite harsh. How much do you actually know about Christian Science from first-hand study and practice? Just curious as to what it is that makes you feel so strongly. There must be something that you agree with, or you wouldn't have come out with that score! It could be that it isn't what you imagine it to be.

Judy

ORIGINAL: Dino

Judy Hallo

I will take a hint from my wise wife who tells me often to take the 5th

I enjoy coming here now and again and have no intention of upsetting anyone - so I will only say, yes, I have had experience of Christian Science - and no, I don't think I should say any more.

Dino

I respected what you said and didn’t post again, so I was surprised when you came into my discussion with Divine Love to challenge me. I hadn’t mentioned Christian Science – and wasn’t going to. I was just enjoying the inspiring promises of Isaiah. All of a sudden, someone who doesn’t know me at all is informing me that I read the Bible literally and suggesting this has blocked my essential thought processes.

I have honestly made every attempt to keep smiling and stay out of controversy.

So why didn’t you just ignore my post to Kim instead of deliberately challenging me? No one put a gun to your head and forced you to join in you know. I really am puzzled by all this..........

I would very much welcome having a discussion with your wife. 🙂

Love and peace,

Judy

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

ORIGINAL: Principled:
Now I learn that sadly, there has been a bad experience in your family, which I'm really sorry about - perhaps you could PM me so that I can understand where you're coming from? Perhaps you've come to HP because this anger needs to be healed?

ORIGINAL: Dino
Please don't Pm me - I am not intending to be rude, but I have no wish to be personally challenged by you or your beliefs. As said previously, my mind is already made up.

I've just popped back because this misunderstanding above was knocking at my thought. Dino, believe me, I have no desire to challenge you about anything. All I was doing was inviting YOU to PM me. There's all this anger coming from you and I don't know why. My only desire is to help if I can. I certainly have no desire to intrude where I am not welcome.

Love and peace,

Judy

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

Anger J ????

Not from this end.

Clarey will be on here under her own name speaking for herself within the next couple of weeks.

Dino

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

I look forward to it Dino and in welcoming Clarey. I respect Judy, her beliefs, sincerity and zealous compassion. However, we have never had anyone on HP that has had a sincere direct involvement with CS apart from Judy, so for HP to hear another side of CS would be enlightening for some I am sure. I look forward to viewing the discussion. Your wife might also like to view a different thread specifically on CS on this forum that I began last year.

Yes, thank you and children are the supreme joy of life!

Judy, I didn't get time over the weekend, many long hours were worked, still in the throes of probate. If it is meant to be shown to us again, I am sure it will be.

OM Shanti

Divine Love

RE: Isaiah's Passage of Joy

Thanks DL - I am taking my workaholic wife away for some R&R :)- she has now said she will give an answer when we return. Appreciate the way you worded your last post, both of us.

Dino