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Application GEMs of everlasting Love to Meet Every Need!
Let God Expressed Meekly/Mightily in you sparkle brightly with new insights from Cobbey Crisler & others as inspired by The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on

 “Love”
for July 25 – July 31, 2022

 (Cobbey’s insights are shared with the blessing of Janet Crisler janetcrisler7@gmail.com)
by Warren Huff, CedarS Executive Director Emeritus, warren@cedarscamps.org


SEE LOVINGKINDNESS DRAWING ALL MANKIND to God for SOLUTIONS to WORLD PROBLEMS!
Cobbey Crisler on Jeremiah 31 (citation B4/Jer. 31:3 +
33, 34)

“In Chapter 31, which is Jeremiah’s greatest chapter, he predicts the new covenant will come. He defines it. In Verse 3 he shows that the new covenant is definitely based on the comprehension of God as love. It’s that very “lovingkindness” that will draw all mankind to God for the solution of the world problems.”— [to make “their soul (spiritual sense) as a watered garden.” (Jer. 31:12)

Jeremiah 31:33, 34 “… this shall be the covenant that I make… I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts… for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest…”
“Heal the Sick”: A Scriptural Record, by B. Cobbey Crisler**


BE CLAD BY “FEAR NOT…” ANGEL MESSAGES! (cit. B5, Isaiah 41:10, 13; Isa. 43:5; Daniel 10:19…) An example of one of Cobbey Crisler’s Sunday School student who proved God is “… the one who saves me from violence.” (II Samuel 22:3; plus Isa. 41:10, 13, (cit. B5); 1 John 4:18; Job 3:25)

[Cobbey Crisler on handling thoughts of fear:] “Fear… resting in the thought of everyone, especially today, with so many things that seem to be happening unexpectedly. Is that all accumulating in the form of suppressed fear? Look at what Job says happens.
“…the thing that I have greatly feared is come upon me…” (Job 3:25)
What is the relationship between the fear and the thing? … It’s magnetic.

If we understand that to be true about the quality of fear in thought, would anyone be afraid again? Would anyone in his right mind want to be afraid again? If we knew all that fear was doing— was attracting the thing that we were afraid of— right to us? Just think of the disservice so many Hollywood movies do, if this is correct. Also, ask yourself, if it is a coincidence, that right after we see certain movies, that we suddenly find the same disasters are occurring? The focus is human thought!

This is one of the most beautiful exposures of the nature of this to-and-fro evil to attack humanity. Our effort must be to break that magnetism so that the thing feared cannot come to man individually or collectively, because there’s nothing in thought to attract it.

The textbook gives us the solution to fear, the textbook of the Bible. Because 1st John (4:18) gives us the solution to fear. What is it? “Perfect Love castest out fear:” What kind of love? It’s got to be perfect, not a chink in it, in the armor. Is that stating to us that only in thought is a complete defense, or panoply (a complete suit of armor), with the threat of something that otherwise would be fearsome indeed?

[Powerful application example shared by Cobbey:]
One of my Sunday School students once had the rest of the class on the edges of their chairs as a result of an experience she had just that week. It illustrates this. She was walking home very late at night after an extension course at a local college in a very poor area of town, not lit very well. As she was walking through suddenly she heard a car behind her. It squealed its brakes, stopped at the curb, and out jumped four leather-jacketed “gentlemen.” They ran right towards her, grabbed her, and started dragging her into the nearby woods.

Here comes the big question, like it came from Noah, like it came for Daniel, like it came for Job. Here it is still a question mark in her thought. That girl had been used to studying the Bible. She was pretty good with it theoretically. Here came an opportunity to see if it had any practical value. Of course, you don’t think too intellectually at times like that. She said to the class that all that came to her was something she hadn’t even recognized was from the Bible. She never even remembered reading it. It was (from Isaiah 41:10, cit. B5 & Isa. 43:5) “Fear not for I am with you.” She kept shouting that at the top of her lungs, “Fear not for I am with you.”

Here was a mob scene. Something in the human nature of one of those boys was touched by that higher sense because it broke up the mob slightly. He said, “Hey, wait a minute, let’s let her alone. She’s not that kind of a girl.” That brief stopping of what looked like the inevitable was sufficient for a car, just coming around to catch the scene in its headlights. It was a police car. The boys dropped her fast, got into their car and took off. The policemen, sizing it up quickly, stopped, went over to this gal and picked her up and said, “Would you like a ride home? Are you alright?” She said, “Yes, thank you very much.” She rode in the car with the policemen back to her house and the driver said, “You know, little lady, how lucky you are. This isn’t our regular beat. Our beat’s one block up from here. But my buddy said, ‘Hey, tonight, why don’t we just go down and check that area?’ So, I agreed and we went.”

That gal, in really reaching out for the only possible help—there was no human help — had apparently touched the solution for her experience that could be the solution for all of us. What needed to be counteracted in thought was fear, because look what came to her, “Fear not!” Why? The textbook answer, “For I am with thee.” Just that mustard seed was able to counteract what would have been the magnetic attraction to the thing she greatly feared. It was also apparently enough to, not only reach the thought of one boy, but perhaps even to alert the policemen to an idea that they had not contemplated on the previous night.

And everything arrived at once. You can imagine what that meant to the kids when they heard that in Sunday School and to me as well. I’ve always kind of taken it as a beautiful example of what Job is saying here in revealing the nature of fear. (Job 3:25)

There’s a movie ad I read not too recently showing that we’re almost gluttons for punishment as far as human nature is concerned. That movie ad—maybe you’ve seen it—it promises audiences in big, bold headlines, “AT LAST—TOTAL TERROR!” (Laughter) Who wants total terror? But people are paying money for it! When they leave that theater, what’s dancing on their eyelids and their mental memory as far as these things are concerned? What does a knock on the door, or a scream in the night, or anything else now mean in terms of the helplessness of man and man shoved back into no-dominion-at-all, but fatalistically waiting for what comes?”
“The Case of Job,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**

[Warren: What a memorable proof and comfort it was to that girl and to the whole class to hear first-hand that “whoso putteth his (her) trust in the Lord shall be safe.” (Proverbs 29:25, cit. B7)]


LET US all PLEDGE TO WIN WITHOUT A FIGHT, LIKE DANIEL DID in citation B6/Daniel 6:1-26

 [Warren:] A few decades ago, I commissioned Larry Groce to write a song for CedarS about the Beatitudes to share in everyday language the principles of heavenly happiness.  We will sing it several times this week with various cohorts in evening outings to CedarS Bible Lands Park (BLP).  Since this week’s Lesson features Daniel’s demonstration of remaining calm and unharmed when he was thrown into a den of very hungry lions to spend the night with them, we wull show each BLP visitor this week portrayals of Daniel’s calm trust while in the lion’s den as illustrated in Briton Riviere prints that my mother, Ruth E. Huff, treasured.  The Larry Groce Beatitude song for this one is: “Blessed are the peacemakers in this world, they win without a fight.”
With respect, creativity, firmness in the right, and a calm, understanding confidence in Love, peacemakers always seek to win without a fight!

  • “Understanding the control that Love holds over all, Daniel felt safe in the lions’ den and Paul proved the viper to be harmless.” (citation S8/514:26-28)

I ask BLP visitors to repeat after me: “Like Daniel, when I’m surrounded by strife and seeming enemies … I pledge to win without a fight… by “understanding the control that Love holds over all” … and by ‘think(ing) without strife.’” (a motto from the CedarS song)

We are also pointing out that the preparation of pausing before each activity at CedarS for a Met, or focus on God-centered goals and qualities, is one that Daniel, Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy did in their prayer practice.  It’s a wonderful practice to take home for a lifetime of demonstrating the ever presence of infinite perfection.

When the strife, jealousy and hatred of his political enemies seemed most intense, the book of Daniel tells us that he responded by turning to God.

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (Dan.  6:10).

Mary Baker Eddy wrote about her kneeling three times a day in Misc. Writings on page 133:22.

“Three times a day I retire to seek the divine blessing on the sick and sorrowing, with my face toward the Jerusalem of Love and Truth, in silent prayer to the Father which ‘seeth in secret’, and with childlike confidence that He will reward ‘openly’.

Even though Daniel’s prayer didn’t remove the challenge from his path, it did help him to maintain his thought in “the secret place” of knowing God’s complete control over all, so that he felt nothing but God and His presence and power. The aggressive barbs of the presidents and princes, and the fear, hatred, and animality of the lions found no foothold in his consciousness because it was filled with divine Love.

And so, Daniel was preserved.  Plus, instead of harboring any resentment or anger against the king, Daniel said “O King, live for ever. . . before thee O King, have I done no hurt” (Dan 6:22).  As Jesus said during his crucifixion, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Daniel’s consciousness was also filled with love.  The consciousness of nothing but love and forgiveness got Jesus off the cross and out of the tomb, and Daniel out of the lions’ den unharmed.

“Understanding the control that Love held over all, Daniel felt safe in the lions’ den, and Paul proved the viper to be harmless.” Science & Health, Mary Baker Eddy, cit. S8/514:26-28

What a relief to know that it’s by God’s will and “amazing grace”— not by any of our own efforts, other than that of leaning on God — that we are given lives “big with blessings.” As Mary Baker Eddy has proven and promised: “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings” (cit. S10, vii:1) What could be bigger blessings for us than daily demonstrations that the newness of Life in God is ALL-inclusive: “Behold, I make all things new!” (Revelation 21:5).


RELEASE PAST MISTAKES & FEEL GOD’S EVER FRESH LOVE FOR YOU!

Luke 19 — the only gospel that mentions Zacchaeus—is not discussed by Cobbey Crisler, but YouTube has a short video that is lifelong in meaning for the childlike of all ages.  No matter your regrets for past mistakes, get ready to feel God’s dear love for you!
“The cast of the Little Clay Bible tell the story of Zacchaeus, a wee little man who was short on love, but in for a big surprise when he meets Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHXqI1-RA1c


FOLLOW THE MASTER’S METHOD, LIKE PETER DID,
TO CLEAR OUT FUNEREAL THOUGHT & RAISE THE DEAD!

Cobbey Crisler on Acts 9:36+/cit. B17 & Peter raising Tabitha when all believed her dead:

[As a prequel in Acts to the raising of Tabitha, Cobbey said:] “at nearby Lydda, Peter heals a man named Aeneas who for eight years has been paralyzed, unable to move. It didn’t take long for the news to get around that this kind of healing work was being accomplished by the early Christians [and for Tabitha’s friends to send for Peter].

“In a neighboring “town of Joppa we find a woman named Tabitha. … She had had an exemplary life, had done much good for many.” (See Acts 9:36) …

Acts 9:39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

“Do you recall back in the narratives of the gospel where a similar situation occurred, and Peter was there? (Mark 5:22, 36-42, Matt. 9:24, 25) It was the raising of Jairus’ daughter… Do you remember when Jesus came into that environment that you could almost cut it into square blocks of moisture, the grief was so thick? There were paid mourners at that point. As a matter of fact, we are told that even the poorest individual was entitled to at least three instruments at the funeral service. You can imagine Jairus, being a ruler of the Synagogue, the extent of noise, and activity, and mourning that must have occurred at the passing of Jairus’ daughter.” [W: Peter clearly had an indelible image of what Jesus did and followed the Master’s method as shown in another video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGJ0TKRTEFI&t=13s ) Peter began to follow Jesus’ method by clearing out the funereal thought of the mourners.]

Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

Acts 9:41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

Acts 9:42 And it was known throughout all Joppa;”
“After the Master, What? – The Book of Acts,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**


“FOR GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR;
BUT OF POWER, AND OF LOVE, AND OF A SOUND MIND.” (II Tim. 1:7, cit. B16)

It’s fun to see “sound mind” as a Biblical promise of mental health which is especially needed lately. “Sound mind” is also most often translated as “self-control”…

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(7) “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear.—Or better, perhaps, the spirit of cowardice—that cowardice which manifests itself by a timidity and shrinking in the daily difficulties which the Christian meets with in the warfare for the kingdom of God. (Comp. John 14:27, and Revelation 21:8.) “Hath not given us,” in this particular case, refers to the time when Timothy and St. Paul were admitted into the ministry. The Holy Spirit is no Spirit, be it remembered, which works cowardice in men. But the reference is also a far broader one than merely to the Holy Spirit conferred on ministers of the Lord at ordination. It is a grave reminder to Christians of every age and degree that all cowardice, all dread of danger, all shrinking from doing one’s duty for fear of man’s displeasure, proceeds not from the Spirit of God.

“But of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.—Instead of rendering the Greek word by “a sound mind,” it were better to substitute the translation, self-control. The Holy Spirit works, in those to whom it is given, power, or strength, to fight the fight of God, power, not only patiently to endure, but also to strike good blows for Christ—the power, for instance, of steadfastness in resisting temptation, the strong will which guides other weaker ones along the narrow way “of love.” It works, too, in those to whom God gives the blessed gift, that strange, sweet love for others which leads to noble deeds of self-surrender—that love which never shrinks from a sacrifice which may benefit the friend or even the neighbour. And lastly, the Spirit works in us “self-control”—selbst-beherrschung—that power which, in the man or woman living in and mixing with the world, and exposed to its varied temptations and pleasures, is able to regulate and to keep in a wise subjection, passions, desires, impulses.”


HERE’S AN EXAMPLE  OF THE BLESSINGS OF  BEING “KINDLY AFFECTIONED” EVEN TO YOUR ENEMIES? Rom. 12:10 (cit. B17)
YOU CAN HEAR in more detail of how I won without a fight in AN AUDIO DOWNLOAD in the ONLINE VERSION of these GEMS  

[Warren:)] “When I was being bullied at my first workplace other than CedarS, this Responsive Reading verse from Romans 12 and these that followed got my attention: “Never pay back evil for evil. …. Don’t quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible.  Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it. … Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be “heaping coals of fire on his head.” In other words, he will feel ashamed of himself for what he has done to you.” (Romans 12:18-20, NIV Responsive Reading)

“When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16.7

 

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