Divine Mind is the only Mind, so Mind is the only Mind we can have. Let this be our starting point [on Valentine Day] for all our efforts this week [to find the Ultimate Companion with no expiration date, my best, my ever Friend. Anchor and glory in Thy name. Hymn 224]. It is Mind that is praying, declaring, affirming, denying, and understanding. Yes, Mind is declaring itself to you. As we pray, let us have at all times that Mind of Christ [–who lived Love better than anyone else ever has.] Let us never come down from the wall into the valley of Ono (Oh no!) and have a discussion with error. When Christ, the Presence of God, comes into contact with evil it erases it, annuls it, destroys it, removes it, wipes it away, and dispels it. [Now thats what I call Love from Aboveand from the inside out!] Healing is when the false sense of evil, or life in matter, fades away. It fades away because we are conscious that Our Mind is the Mind of Christ.

It is that time of year where we are writing thank-you notes for gifts we recently received. God gives us health, joy, companionship. The gift of life is priceless. No matter what your situation is, gratitude for what you have truly gives you a lift. That may sound simplistic, but it is true. Gratitude for what you have, even if you dont have much, orients thought towards God. Healing is the outward expression of inward growth. Gratitude gives thought forward momentum. Through Christ Jesus, we have the proof that God gave us eternal life.

Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands. Thats simple. We can do that. However, if we sing a song the same way every time or pray the same way every time we get in a rut. [Steering clear of thoughtless tradition for traditions sake is easier when we remember that a rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out. Let spiritualized views tweak your old traditions and start some new ones!] Sing a new song to God. It is good to challenge yourself to do something differently, even if it feels odd at first. Stagnancy isnt Christian Science.

Are you in control? Are you healthy? Are you happy? Are you miserable? Have you been saved? What is soul? What is Soul? What is body? These are important questions and they are questions that this weeks Christian Science Bible Lesson explores. We generally work in the paradigms (patterns of thought) that have been around for hundreds of years. We need to be transformed. Our conceptions of government, education, and economy need to be transformed. Lets invite God to transform us, our churches [and our patterns of thought into colorful and unique patterns of Gods kaleidoscope as mentioned in todays Daily Lift by Marceil DeLacy]

We come together in Sunday School and in Church as well as at camp to experience God and to apply his laws in ways we cannot do alone. The Doctrine of Atonement lesson talks to us about our inseparability from what is real (good). We are never alone! [Rather, we are always all-one!]

This week we are looking for new views and new understanding. What if nothing in your thought ever changed? Then it would be stagnant and unproductive. God is singing a new song, always making things new. Spirit is dynamic, always unfolding the wonder of Creation in new ways. God, Your creation is wonderful (full of wonder), just like you. God, open our eyes and ears so we see and hear only what You want us to see and hear.

The Holy Spirit moves us in ways we dont expect. We feel the power and presence of Spirit and know God. Something doesnt have to be physically solid to be real. Take Love for example. You know the touch of Love and it isnt physically solid. The Holy Spirit moves and shows up in surprising ways humanly, but it is the substance of everything that is real.

We are special to God. He rejoices over us and expects that we will find Him special too and worship Him. What is a sacrament? In most Christian faiths, a sacrament is a rite, which is a formal or ceremonial act. Christian Science doesnt observe rites, but it observes the concepts behind some of the rites celebrated by other Christian denominations. In other churches, they perform baptisms at birth or when you join the church. They celebrate Eucharist or Holy Communion, consuming bread and wine which have been blessed in remembrance of Jesus death. Mary Baker Eddy says that Our Eucharist is a spiritual communion with God. (Science and Health, 35:25) Martin Luther defined a sacrament as an act or rite as instituted by God, in which God Himself has joined His Word of promise to the visible element, and by which He offers, gives and seals the forgiveness of sin earned by Christ. (From Luther’s Augsberg Confession) Im not saying Luthers understanding is our understanding, but I thought you might want to know the context.

This week we are going to learn about God as our Protector and our Deliverer. Last week we heard that God is the only cause and effect. If God is the only cause and effect, then nothing else can be, right? That means the following are neither a cause nor effect: falling off a bicycle, being stung by a bee, someone hating you. Rejoice, your Father in heaven is rejoicing over you. He is keeping you from harm.