ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... GOOD PUSSYCAT

    

I really laughed when I saw this picture of a TRUSTING cat letting her doggie friend "attack" her!!! Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all remain calm and trusting in the face of seeming danger.

Many of us may have pondered and benefited from the following counsel from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I certainly have!!

"When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought. "

"Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious — as Life eternally is — can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not. " S&H 495

It is almost like the cat somehow understands Mrs Eddy's guidance and the Bible correlative passage from Proverbs:

" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3

Good Cat!! Good Cat!!!!

ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY - A Comforting Mom in the Style of the Heavenly Father/Mother

In many instances our precious doggies more nearly reflect God's "mothering" than humans do!!! They seldom use baby sitters, don't run off to play bridge, play golf, go shopping or spend hours on the phone or watching television!!

This little lady is fully occupied as a dedicated mother. However, she may do a bit of knitting as we can see from the picture.

This picture reminds me of how God "mothers" us as this favorite hymn proclaims:

Like as a mother, God comforteth His children;

Comfort is calm, that bids all tumult cease;

Comfort is hope and courage for endeavor,

Comfort is love, whose home abides in peace.

Love is true solace and giveth joy for sorrow,

—O, in that light, all earthly loss is gain;

Joy must endure, Love’s giving is forever;

Life is of God, whose radiance cannot wane.

O holy presence, that stills all our demanding,

O love of God, that needs but to be known!

Heaven is at hand, when thy pure touch persuades us,

Comfort of God, that seeks and finds His own.

(Christian Science Hymnal p 174)

Thanks for being a precious little mother. I love your family!!

ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... MISS SPRINGTIME OF ADORABLE LOVE AND MEEKNESS

   

 "God fashions all things, after His own likeness. Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence. " **

"Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and light. The grass beneath our feet silently exclaims, “The meek shall inherit the earth.” **  ** (From Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy)

This little Miss, elegant in her Spring finery is the picture of innocence and meekness. You can feel God's dear Love reflected in her sparkling eyes.  

We are so fortunate just to... BE!   And to be able to see and enjoy lovely little creatures like Miss Springtime.

Thank you Father of All!!!   May each of us live each day with Love and Meekness too.

ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... Dropping Greed

Dear Doggie,

We need to have a talk about some of your habits.

In the Bible New Testament book of Luke, Jesus of Nazareth advised against greed, covetousness and the blind accumulation of material things.

He once said: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

In order to find happiness he advised that we drop the sense of happiness in acquiring material things. He said: “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.”

“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

So, lovely Doggie, you can relax and share the toys with your friends. Don’t be a Greedy Doggie!!! God will provide all that you need.

ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY - Running the Race- Let's SLOW DOWN!

The Bible has such great instruction for us, TODAY, in the 21st Century!! The counsel is timeless!!!   Like this, as quoted from the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures":

"St. Paul wrote, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us;” that is, let us put aside material self and sense, and seek the divine Principle and Science of all healing."

" If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striving to enter in. He constantly turns away from material sense, and looks towards the imperishable things of Spirit. If honest, he will be in earnest from the start, and gain a little each day in the right direction, till at last he finishes his course with joy."


Sooo, little chicken, no need for a skateboard to "run the race that is set before us" !!!

Slow Down!!!

We can each "run the race" with patience, putting aside the "Worry, Worry, Hurry Hurry, Skelter and Scurry of a whirlwind material existence!!!"

Let's patiently Trust God.. and wait on Love's Still, small voice"  to guide us.

ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY...- Blanket Coverage

Maybe David, as recorded in Psalm 4 in the Holy Bible, did not exactly have "godly" birds and doggies in mind when he wrote his beautiful Psalm, but it seems to apply.

These little birds seem happy to be protected by, and to lie down in peace and sleep beside, their "protector!!

The text shows that today, as in ages past, God watches over all who Trust in Him:

As David has it:

"But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him."

"Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still."

"Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord."

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."

                 ***************
I think Doggie is working for the Father in carrying out his protective duties, sort of a “blanket coverage”!!

Good Dog!!!!  

HAPPINESS FOR TODAY!!

This happy frog with that beautiful wide smile reminds me that we are here, today, God's ideas, the outcome of His Divine Mind.

The Bible reminds us that "NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD"!!! (I John). Obviously the Happy Frog understands that!

Mary Baker Eddy, in her Bible companion book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" reassures us what is most important in Life:

"Beauty, wealth, or fame is incompetent to meet the demands of the affections, and should never weigh against the better claims of intellect, goodness, and virtue.

Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love.

It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it."

We have a CHOICE today!! Are we to be pulled down by the seeming problems of the world and our own daily challenges? Or are we open to God's promise that TODAY we are His children, that we CAN be happy, and can look for God's blessings every moment of the day? 

Let's choose to be Happy and to share it!!! 

Thanks Mr. Frog!!!!

I WONDER...

I am just an ape and I have heard that some humans believe that man evolved from my species whose members are known as Great Apes or Hominids. 

Supposedly humans represent an advancement in Evolution over my ancestors.

I guess that means when we apes and chimpanzees advance to the point of having guns, bombs, weapons of mass destruction, when we murder and discriminate against each other and have endless conflicts, we will be more advanced.

I am not real eager for that advancement. I confess that what humans have become makes me frightened. Maybe someday they will find out the "God is Love" and that they should..." Love One Another" as one of their prophets advised long ago.

I would be happy just to have a banana.

ANIMAL PICTURE OF THE DAY

Gentleness, a quality of a loving God, is reflected in all Creation.

In a world that sometimes seems so harsh, cruel and unloving, a world where LOVE often takes a back seat to selfish interests, human opinion, will power and the daily challenges of this world, sometimes a simple photo showing Gentleness and what Life is really all about can awaken us to a higher view.

I love this little innocent angel gently cradling a baby with tenderness. It reminds me of a favorite hymn. The words of this ancient hymn from The Sarum Gradual, date back to 1527 AD, and are now contained in the Christian Science Hymnal as hymn #316.

The poem helped me so much as a Dad years ago when I sometimes got upset with one of my rascally children!! I guess gentleness was a good thing even way back then and the words still mean a lot to me.


"Speak gently, it is better far
To rule by love than fear;
Speak gently, let no harsh word mar
The good we may do here.

Speak gently to the erring ones,
They must have toiled in vain;
Perchance unkindness made them so;
O win them back again.

Speak gently, ’tis a little thing,
Dropped in the heart’s deep well;
The good, the joy that it may bring,
Eternity shall tell."

This is a suitable "prayer" for today. May we all "speak gently" and listen for Divine Love's tender message of "gentleness".

WHAT IS BEAUTY?

When I first saw this lovely doggie, I wanted to squeeze him. This boy could be considered beautiful by some, maybe not so pretty by others, I expect. It made me think about what real beauty is. AND, where do we look for it... within or without?

Mary Baker Eddy defines beauty this way in her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures", a companion to The Holy Bible:

"Beauty, as well as truth, is eternal; but the beauty of material things passes away, fading and fleeting as mortal belief." Immortality, exempt from age or decay, has a glory of its own, — the radiance of Soul. 

Immortal men and women are models of spiritual sense, drawn by perfect Mind and reflecting those higher conceptions of loveliness which transcend all material sense."

"Comeliness and grace are independent of matter. Beauty is a thing of life, which dwells forever in the eternal Mind and reflects the charms of His goodness in expression, form, outline, and color. It is Love which paints the petal with myriad hues, glances in the warm sunbeam, arches the cloud with the bow of beauty, blazons the night with starry gems, and covers earth with loveliness."

"The embellishments of the person are poor substitutes for the charms of being, shining resplendent and eternal over age and decay." (S&H page 248)

In an age when physical beauty, glamour, sculptured bodies, flawless skin, luxurious hair, petite body size and all of the other mortal measurements are "siren songs", alluring the unwary to worship the external, we sometimes glimpse where real beauty, lasting beauty, resides.

I love you "Wrinkled Doggie" and thank you for reminding us where to look for real beauty!!