{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1", "user_comment": "This feed allows you to read the posts from this site in any feed reader that supports the JSON Feed format. To add this feed to your reader, copy the following URL -- https://christiansciencedenton.com/category/news/feed/json -- and add it your reader.", "next_url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/category/news/feed/json?paged=2", "home_page_url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/category/news", "feed_url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/category/news/feed/json", "language": "en-US", "title": "News – First Church of Christ, Scientist, Denton, TX", "description": "You will find answers here!", "items": [ { "id": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/?p=1185", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/2025/06/07/nose-to-nose-with-beauty-protected-from-a-moose-encounter-in-fairbanks/", "title": "Nose To Nose with Beauty. Protected from a Moose encounter in Fairbanks", "content_html": "
\"View
Wild Moose Encounter
\n

NOSE TO NOSE WITH BEAUTY

\n

My reflection stared at me in the eyes of a young bull moose. He stretched out his neck and held his nose even with mine. Frosty nostrils, the size of my thumbs, flared and blew steam on my face, fogging my sunglasses. I kept as still as possible; however, something spooked the moose and he pivoted and galloped across the ski trail. Frozen with bewilderment, I missed my opportunity to escape. The bull trotted back toward me again, coming within inches. As he examined me with his left eyeball, I counted his eyelashes.

\n

I reflect upon this experience often. While it\u2019s fun to tell it to tourists and visiting family and friends, I never leave out the important lesson I learned that day. I am a lifelong Alaskan who grew up seeing moose and other wildlife on a daily basis. While I was thankful for my familiarity with moose in that particular instance, I was most grateful for my understanding as a beloved and protected child of God. I attended a Christian Science Sunday School throughout my childhood and continued going to church at the local branch while in college (where I was when I encountered this moose.)

\n

Now, fast forwarding ten years, I was retelling this story to my teacher recently while taking Primary Class Instruction in Christian Science. ( A 2 week intensive class on Christian Science available to anyone) I was learning more about handling animal magnetism and how tricky erroneous thought can be. Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, uses the term animal magnetism for error, or any thought that is unlike God\u2019s perspective. I was also learning that the absolute first thing to get rid of when giving a treatment (or healing through prayer) is fear. Denouncing fear right away lets the patient seeking healing to see more clearly the solution to their problem. The shock and fear from the moose\u2019s proximity only seemed overwhelming, clouding my judgment.

\n

So, just before seeing the moose, I was beginning a ski workout at a nordic ski park with a couple of my college teammates. I crested a hilltop, teammates in tow, when the young bull moose walked up a perpendicular trail and met us at a junction, standing twenty feet to our right. My teammates acted faster than me and skied around a corner out of the moose\u2019s way. The young bull started approaching me, so I backed into a willow. Its branches enveloped me and I found myself stuck, unable to move.

\n

At first, I reached out to my teammates, almost pleading, \u201cWhat do I do? What do I do?\u201d Shock overcame me and I momentarily forgot what to do in a situation like this.

\n

An angel message, a thought from God, came to me. Be still. Have peace.

\n

As the animal crept closer, (and not yet fully adhering to that first angel message) I recalled a discussion with fellow skiers about how to protect ourselves from a charging moose. \u201cTake off your skis if you have time. (I did not have time.) You\u2019ll be more agile,\u201d someone said. \u201cStick your poles out in front of you.\u201d Ski pole tips are sharp. \u201cYou can stab the moose to death!\u201d another joked. But these suggestions were all disguises of animal magnetism trying to convey itself as good ideas.\u00a0 Was I going to allow error to control this situation? No. I decided to test my faith\u2014even though at first it seemed like a \u201cmustard seed\u201d compared to that 1,000-pound mountain of an animal.

\n

This thought relates to the account in the book of Matthew when Jesus told his disciples if they even had \u201cfaith as a grain of mustard seed\u201d they could move mountains, and \u201cnothing shall be impossible unto you.\u201d (See chapter 17:20.)

\n

I found my peace. The angel messages came firing. I calmly instructed my teammates to also be quiet and be still. All the while, I never took my eyes off the moose.

\n

It felt as if God was speaking to me through the young bull. He was young first of all\u2014hadn\u2019t had much experience with a human. I recognized his forward, flickering ears; His massive head turned as he examined me closer with his burnt sepia, golf-ball-sized, right eye. These were all signs that this God-created creature was only curious and had no intention to harm.

\n

You are so beautiful, I told him silently. His hair appeared combed, well groomed.

\n

Heat radiated from his body. My fear melted away.

\n

Silently, we communicated we were both patrons sharing a trail. Both good, beautiful creatures of God\u2019s creating. Both brave to stand our ground. Both peaceful in one another\u2019s presence. Then, finally, we were both ready to continue our separate ways. This time, when the moose darted away, so did I in the opposite direction.

\n

So, what was the important lesson(s) I learned from this encounter? First, finding peace in what seemed like a potentially dangerous situation. And, second, changing my perspective from fear to beauty. This peace enabled me to think more clearly, recognizing the young bull\u2019s behavior and acting accordingly. I am also very grateful that it was my reflection in the moose\u2019s eyes, and not one of my foreign teammates who did not have as much experience with these animals.

\n

How blessed I was all those years ago on that ski trail. Divine Love was with me then, as He is with all of us (including moose!) right now\u2014protecting, guiding, and influencing us throughout our daily experiences.

\n

Dayva Flaharty

\n

Fairbanks, Alaska

\n", "content_text": "Wild Moose Encounter\nNOSE TO NOSE WITH BEAUTY\nMy reflection stared at me in the eyes of a young bull moose. He stretched out his neck and held his nose even with mine. Frosty nostrils, the size of my thumbs, flared and blew steam on my face, fogging my sunglasses. I kept as still as possible; however, something spooked the moose and he pivoted and galloped across the ski trail. Frozen with bewilderment, I missed my opportunity to escape. The bull trotted back toward me again, coming within inches. As he examined me with his left eyeball, I counted his eyelashes.\nI reflect upon this experience often. While it\u2019s fun to tell it to tourists and visiting family and friends, I never leave out the important lesson I learned that day. I am a lifelong Alaskan who grew up seeing moose and other wildlife on a daily basis. While I was thankful for my familiarity with moose in that particular instance, I was most grateful for my understanding as a beloved and protected child of God. I attended a Christian Science Sunday School throughout my childhood and continued going to church at the local branch while in college (where I was when I encountered this moose.)\nNow, fast forwarding ten years, I was retelling this story to my teacher recently while taking Primary Class Instruction in Christian Science. ( A 2 week intensive class on Christian Science available to anyone) I was learning more about handling animal magnetism and how tricky erroneous thought can be. Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, uses the term animal magnetism for error, or any thought that is unlike God\u2019s perspective. I was also learning that the absolute first thing to get rid of when giving a treatment (or healing through prayer) is fear. Denouncing fear right away lets the patient seeking healing to see more clearly the solution to their problem. The shock and fear from the moose\u2019s proximity only seemed overwhelming, clouding my judgment.\nSo, just before seeing the moose, I was beginning a ski workout at a nordic ski park with a couple of my college teammates. I crested a hilltop, teammates in tow, when the young bull moose walked up a perpendicular trail and met us at a junction, standing twenty feet to our right. My teammates acted faster than me and skied around a corner out of the moose\u2019s way. The young bull started approaching me, so I backed into a willow. Its branches enveloped me and I found myself stuck, unable to move.\nAt first, I reached out to my teammates, almost pleading, \u201cWhat do I do? What do I do?\u201d Shock overcame me and I momentarily forgot what to do in a situation like this.\nAn angel message, a thought from God, came to me. Be still. Have peace.\nAs the animal crept closer, (and not yet fully adhering to that first angel message) I recalled a discussion with fellow skiers about how to protect ourselves from a charging moose. \u201cTake off your skis if you have time. (I did not have time.) You\u2019ll be more agile,\u201d someone said. \u201cStick your poles out in front of you.\u201d Ski pole tips are sharp. \u201cYou can stab the moose to death!\u201d another joked. But these suggestions were all disguises of animal magnetism trying to convey itself as good ideas.\u00a0 Was I going to allow error to control this situation? No. I decided to test my faith\u2014even though at first it seemed like a \u201cmustard seed\u201d compared to that 1,000-pound mountain of an animal.\nThis thought relates to the account in the book of Matthew when Jesus told his disciples if they even had \u201cfaith as a grain of mustard seed\u201d they could move mountains, and \u201cnothing shall be impossible unto you.\u201d (See chapter 17:20.)\nI found my peace. The angel messages came firing. I calmly instructed my teammates to also be quiet and be still. All the while, I never took my eyes off the moose.\nIt felt as if God was speaking to me through the young bull. He was young first of all\u2014hadn\u2019t had much experience with a human. I recognized his forward, flickering ears; His massive head turned as he examined me closer with his burnt sepia, golf-ball-sized, right eye. These were all signs that this God-created creature was only curious and had no intention to harm.\nYou are so beautiful, I told him silently. His hair appeared combed, well groomed.\nHeat radiated from his body. My fear melted away.\nSilently, we communicated we were both patrons sharing a trail. Both good, beautiful creatures of God\u2019s creating. Both brave to stand our ground. Both peaceful in one another\u2019s presence. Then, finally, we were both ready to continue our separate ways. This time, when the moose darted away, so did I in the opposite direction.\nSo, what was the important lesson(s) I learned from this encounter? First, finding peace in what seemed like a potentially dangerous situation. And, second, changing my perspective from fear to beauty. This peace enabled me to think more clearly, recognizing the young bull\u2019s behavior and acting accordingly. I am also very grateful that it was my reflection in the moose\u2019s eyes, and not one of my foreign teammates who did not have as much experience with these animals.\nHow blessed I was all those years ago on that ski trail. Divine Love was with me then, as He is with all of us (including moose!) right now\u2014protecting, guiding, and influencing us throughout our daily experiences.\nDayva Flaharty\nFairbanks, Alaska", "date_published": "2025-06-07T12:56:52-07:00", "date_modified": "2025-06-09T12:23:11-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/christiansciencedenton.com/files/2025/06/C50D579C-4F09-4329-9BCB-9335756B3414-scaled.jpeg?fit=2048%2C2560&ssl=1", "tags": [ "News" ] }, { "id": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/?p=1162", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/2025/01/17/gaining-confidence-in-prayer-to-heal/", "title": "Gaining Confidence in Prayer to Heal", "content_html": "
\"
5 year old Christi healed
\n

 

\n

When I was five years old, my mother, brother and I fell ill for several weeks, and the doctor said that we kids needed to get our tonsils out. Mom regularly took us to the Christian Science Sunday School, but my dad was not a Christian Scientist, so the decision was made to do the surgery.
\nThe doctors promised us as much ice cream as we could eat after the operation. But when I woke up, I was experiencing more pain than I had ever felt before\u2014more than I had dreamed anyone could ever feel. They brought the ice cream, but I was frightened to even swallow, much less to put food in my mouth first. I refused to even drink water. Then I passed out from the pain.
\nThat was the experience from my point of view. My mom, of course, was watching and was appalled to see both her children suffering so.
\nWhen I got older, she told me that it had seemed easier to just use medicine every time we were sick, because that\u2019s what my dad used, and she didn\u2019t feel confident in knowing how to pray for her children. But at that moment, seeing what we were going through, she determined she would never put us through such a thing again\u2014from then on, she would rely on Christian Science.
\nA couple of days after we got home from the hospital, I came down with the mumps, which I had picked up in the children\u2019s ward. My mom started praying, but felt overwhelmed.
\nAs mom told me the story years later, she was working hard to keep my brother away from me, because the mumps were supposed to be a very contagious disease. But she had to leave my room to fetch something, and when she got back, he was standing beside me, drinking from my glass of water.
\nJust then the phone rang. In despair she went to answer it, and found it was my Sunday School teacher, who happened to be a Christian Science practitioner. This kind lady was calling because it had been a month and a half since we had come to class, and she wanted to make sure everything was OK.
\nMy mom broke into tears, telling her the whole, sad story of us all being sick and we kids having surgery, and now, just when we got home, I had come down with the mumps and my brother had just drunk out of my glass and he was going to get them, too.
\nThat dear, sweet lady listened to the whole thing with a Christly thought and said, \u201cChristi doesn\u2019t have the mumps and Carey\u2019s not going to get them.\u201d
\nAnd that was that. I was healed and my brother never got sick.
\nI am very grateful for this healing. It brought the practice of Christian Science into our home. Witnessing that instantaneous healing gave my mom the confidence she needed that she could trust her children to God.
\nBefore this, whenever I felt ill, Mom gave me a tablespoon of terrible-tasting medicine and put me to bed. I remember just lying there, feeling sick, and wishing I didn\u2019t feel sick.
\nBut after this healing, I always found immediate help. If I told mom I didn\u2019t feel well, she would become very calm and quiet, put me someplace comfortable, and start talking to me about God. She would say simple things that a child could understand, such as: God is good, and He couldn\u2019t make anything bad. And if He couldn\u2019t make anything bad, then I couldn\u2019t have anything bad. But she never spoke in a rote way. The words were different every time, but felt natural and suited to the situation. Years later, she told me that she would simply ask God what to say, and the ideas would just pour in. I remember those ideas feeling like cold water in a hot desert, and I always immediately felt better.
\nThe trust in relying on God that I gained from those healings carried over into my adult life, and have led to more healings than I can count. For this I am very grateful.

\n

Christi Lupher

\n

Austin, Tx

\n", "content_text": "5 year old Christi healed\n \nWhen I was five years old, my mother, brother and I fell ill for several weeks, and the doctor said that we kids needed to get our tonsils out. Mom regularly took us to the Christian Science Sunday School, but my dad was not a Christian Scientist, so the decision was made to do the surgery.\nThe doctors promised us as much ice cream as we could eat after the operation. But when I woke up, I was experiencing more pain than I had ever felt before\u2014more than I had dreamed anyone could ever feel. They brought the ice cream, but I was frightened to even swallow, much less to put food in my mouth first. I refused to even drink water. Then I passed out from the pain.\nThat was the experience from my point of view. My mom, of course, was watching and was appalled to see both her children suffering so.\nWhen I got older, she told me that it had seemed easier to just use medicine every time we were sick, because that\u2019s what my dad used, and she didn\u2019t feel confident in knowing how to pray for her children. But at that moment, seeing what we were going through, she determined she would never put us through such a thing again\u2014from then on, she would rely on Christian Science.\nA couple of days after we got home from the hospital, I came down with the mumps, which I had picked up in the children\u2019s ward. My mom started praying, but felt overwhelmed.\nAs mom told me the story years later, she was working hard to keep my brother away from me, because the mumps were supposed to be a very contagious disease. But she had to leave my room to fetch something, and when she got back, he was standing beside me, drinking from my glass of water.\nJust then the phone rang. In despair she went to answer it, and found it was my Sunday School teacher, who happened to be a Christian Science practitioner. This kind lady was calling because it had been a month and a half since we had come to class, and she wanted to make sure everything was OK.\nMy mom broke into tears, telling her the whole, sad story of us all being sick and we kids having surgery, and now, just when we got home, I had come down with the mumps and my brother had just drunk out of my glass and he was going to get them, too.\nThat dear, sweet lady listened to the whole thing with a Christly thought and said, \u201cChristi doesn\u2019t have the mumps and Carey\u2019s not going to get them.\u201d\nAnd that was that. I was healed and my brother never got sick.\nI am very grateful for this healing. It brought the practice of Christian Science into our home. Witnessing that instantaneous healing gave my mom the confidence she needed that she could trust her children to God.\nBefore this, whenever I felt ill, Mom gave me a tablespoon of terrible-tasting medicine and put me to bed. I remember just lying there, feeling sick, and wishing I didn\u2019t feel sick.\nBut after this healing, I always found immediate help. If I told mom I didn\u2019t feel well, she would become very calm and quiet, put me someplace comfortable, and start talking to me about God. She would say simple things that a child could understand, such as: God is good, and He couldn\u2019t make anything bad. And if He couldn\u2019t make anything bad, then I couldn\u2019t have anything bad. But she never spoke in a rote way. The words were different every time, but felt natural and suited to the situation. Years later, she told me that she would simply ask God what to say, and the ideas would just pour in. I remember those ideas feeling like cold water in a hot desert, and I always immediately felt better.\nThe trust in relying on God that I gained from those healings carried over into my adult life, and have led to more healings than I can count. For this I am very grateful.\nChristi Lupher\nAustin, Tx", "date_published": "2025-01-17T13:15:31-08:00", "date_modified": "2025-01-16T13:22:08-08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/christiansciencedenton.com/files/2025/01/20220829_105124-scaled.jpg?fit=1920%2C2560&ssl=1", "tags": [ "childhood healings", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/?p=1069", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/2023/03/28/healed-of-leg-pain-step-by-step/", "title": "Healed of Leg Pain Step by Step", "content_html": "

Healed Step-by-Step
\nWalking, we move forward step-by-step. In March of 2020, I started experiencing shooting pain in my
\nleg. As an avid backpacker, this was most depressing for me. The pain crippled my mobility and seemed
\nto coincide with the crippling effects that the COVID shutdown was having on our country. Our family
\ntravel club business lost 85% of our repeat customers and virtually all of our revenue. There was some
\nfear of losing our business and the investment we had put into it.
\nAlthough I was working with a Christian Science practitioner on both the leg and the business issue,
\nneither situation changed. It came to me to analyze the reasons why people would join a travel club.
\nThese were many of the same reasons why I enjoyed being part of the long-distance backpacking
\ncommunity: camaraderie with like-minded travelers, an economical way to travel and to have
\nadventures, to make memories, and a way to get out of your comfort zone, bless others, and see God\u2019s
\nbeautiful world with new friends.
\nThe common thread with the travel club members and with hiking friends is that we all loved (and
\nmissed) travel. Although the government prohibited travel during the COVID lockdowns, the idea came
\nto me to hold \u201cvirtual\u201d travel events each week with club members. Each Sunday evening for two years
\nclub members met online for an hour and took turns presenting slide shows of fun places that they had
\ntraveled. This was indeed a divinely inspired idea.
\nPutting together a weekly travel presentation, often with a 10-minute cooking segment of exotic
\nrecipes, was a lot of work but very rewarding. It was great to see travel friends from the USA and
\naround the world. We laughed a lot and shared adventures from many foreign countries and beautiful
\ndomestic places. We kept the club together. Although we didn\u2019t have revenue during this period, we
\nwere blessed by the camaraderie. We did step out of our comfort zone and gave presentations. And we
\nmade plans for the future when a more salubrious atmosphere would permit travel. Spiritually speaking
\nwe had lost nothing.
\nIn February 2022, I was invited to join a group of Christian Scientists for a week-long mountaineer trip
\nthat July, in which we would backpack then climb a 14-thousand-foot mountain. As the trip approached
\nI still could not walk without pain. The Practitioner helped me isolate in my thought what was keeping
\nme from having a healing. First, the pain, and second, I was afraid of going on the trip and messing it up
\nfor the other ten hikers. A revelation came to me in the form of a question: What are two things that
\nGod did not make? Pain. And fear.
\nThe Practitioner advised that I approach the trip step-by-step. I went on the trip and prayed with every
\nsingle step, knowing logically that, if God did not make pain, then it could not be in my experience. As
\nfor the fear, the group of hikers with whom I would be backpacking were so kind and thoughtful that I
\ncould do nothing to mess up their experience. We had a beautiful week out in nature: every vista was
\nlike a tour through God\u2019s art gallery, full of joy and sharing. Peaking the 14\u2019er was truly uplifting.
\nAfter our return to camp, we held a debrief at which we shared gratitude. I had not told the others,
\nuntil that point, about the problems that had been trying to overcome. They had comments like, \u201cDude,
\nyou crushed it.\u201d The healing was so complete that I returned to the mountains a month later to climb
\nanother 14\u2019er, still using the approach of praying step-by-step.

\n

Jack Kavanagh

\n
\"Laplata
Mountain Top Climb
\n", "content_text": "Healed Step-by-Step\nWalking, we move forward step-by-step. In March of 2020, I started experiencing shooting pain in my\nleg. As an avid backpacker, this was most depressing for me. The pain crippled my mobility and seemed\nto coincide with the crippling effects that the COVID shutdown was having on our country. Our family\ntravel club business lost 85% of our repeat customers and virtually all of our revenue. There was some\nfear of losing our business and the investment we had put into it.\nAlthough I was working with a Christian Science practitioner on both the leg and the business issue,\nneither situation changed. It came to me to analyze the reasons why people would join a travel club.\nThese were many of the same reasons why I enjoyed being part of the long-distance backpacking\ncommunity: camaraderie with like-minded travelers, an economical way to travel and to have\nadventures, to make memories, and a way to get out of your comfort zone, bless others, and see God\u2019s\nbeautiful world with new friends.\nThe common thread with the travel club members and with hiking friends is that we all loved (and\nmissed) travel. Although the government prohibited travel during the COVID lockdowns, the idea came\nto me to hold \u201cvirtual\u201d travel events each week with club members. Each Sunday evening for two years\nclub members met online for an hour and took turns presenting slide shows of fun places that they had\ntraveled. This was indeed a divinely inspired idea.\nPutting together a weekly travel presentation, often with a 10-minute cooking segment of exotic\nrecipes, was a lot of work but very rewarding. It was great to see travel friends from the USA and\naround the world. We laughed a lot and shared adventures from many foreign countries and beautiful\ndomestic places. We kept the club together. Although we didn\u2019t have revenue during this period, we\nwere blessed by the camaraderie. We did step out of our comfort zone and gave presentations. And we\nmade plans for the future when a more salubrious atmosphere would permit travel. Spiritually speaking\nwe had lost nothing.\nIn February 2022, I was invited to join a group of Christian Scientists for a week-long mountaineer trip\nthat July, in which we would backpack then climb a 14-thousand-foot mountain. As the trip approached\nI still could not walk without pain. The Practitioner helped me isolate in my thought what was keeping\nme from having a healing. First, the pain, and second, I was afraid of going on the trip and messing it up\nfor the other ten hikers. A revelation came to me in the form of a question: What are two things that\nGod did not make? Pain. And fear.\nThe Practitioner advised that I approach the trip step-by-step. I went on the trip and prayed with every\nsingle step, knowing logically that, if God did not make pain, then it could not be in my experience. As\nfor the fear, the group of hikers with whom I would be backpacking were so kind and thoughtful that I\ncould do nothing to mess up their experience. We had a beautiful week out in nature: every vista was\nlike a tour through God\u2019s art gallery, full of joy and sharing. Peaking the 14\u2019er was truly uplifting.\nAfter our return to camp, we held a debrief at which we shared gratitude. I had not told the others,\nuntil that point, about the problems that had been trying to overcome. They had comments like, \u201cDude,\nyou crushed it.\u201d The healing was so complete that I returned to the mountains a month later to climb\nanother 14\u2019er, still using the approach of praying step-by-step.\nJack Kavanagh\nMountain Top Climb", "date_published": "2023-03-28T10:00:12-07:00", "date_modified": "2023-03-14T15:27:58-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/christiansciencedenton.com/files/2023/03/LaPlata-Peak-lunch.jpg?fit=595%2C739&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Sports Injury", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/?p=1053", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/2023/03/13/little-child-healed-of-burns-nothing-can-get-in-between-you-and-god/", "title": "Little Child Healed of Burns \u2013 \u201cNothing Can Get in Between You and God\u201d", "content_html": "
\n

One morning I was specifically praying about “more soul, less body.” The lesson that week was about Soul and Body, perfect for what I needed to work on. The golden text and responsive reading set my thought straight by declaring man as God-made, never alone without God, and guided and guarded by God. God believes in us, is rooting for us and is on our side always. Instructions to give gratitude, rejoice and share joy were also gleaned from those opening citations.

\n
\n
I related God’s omnipresent Love to be so big that it fills every nook and cranny. Divine Love is in my pocket. He is with my spouse while he is at work as well as being home with me. He is under my child’s helmet as she rides her bicycle. He is closer to my infant than I am when I hold him. My safety is holding me close in great, big arms of love! Man can never fallout of God’s care.
\n
\n
My prayers continued with expressing the right we have to be free as beloved children of God. That expressing gratitude, spreading joy and loving our neighbors as ourselves are prayer in action.\u00a0Shutting the door to any\u00a0thought unlike good keeps our consciousness tuned to good therefore gaining more understanding and ready to receive more blessings.
\n

 

\n
I had just finished emailing this treatment when I heard a scream downstairs. My thought was pretty in-tune with God’s goodness so I silently declared that all was well. I didn’t feel like I was needed downstairs since Tyson, my husband,\u00a0 was with Eevy (the screamer).
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After a few minutes I heard a sniffling child coming up the stairs. Tyson was holding Eevy who had calmed down but was shirtless with red marks on her upper body. Tyson began telling me the story behind the scream. Eevy had pulled a much desired bag of marshmallows off the counter and with it came Tyson’s mug of fresh brewed coffee. I told Tyson I didn’t need to hear anymore of the story and sat down with Eevy. I told her all the truths I had just emailed to another patient.

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God is with you always. He’s got you wrapped up so tight in His big arms of love that nothing can get in between God and you. (Not even coffee!)

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Eevy was concerned that she smelled like coffee, so I suggested to her that she could take a bath. She likes baths. I anticipated the bath would distract her from her tender skin. I immediately deflected the suggestion that water hitting her skin could be painful. I also refuse to look at the seeming burns. As soon as Eevy was in the bath, she forgot all about the coffee incident. The joy of bathing and playing with her toys completely replaced the pain she felt and the smell of the coffee.\u00a0 When she declared herself clean, I took her out, toweled her off and when I was putting a fresh shirt on I noticed there were no redness or any evidence of a burn.

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“Glory to God!” I shouted. We are so thankful \"\ud83d\ude42\"

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So whatever blesses one, blesses all!

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Shared with Love.
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Davya Flaharty

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\"Healed
Little Child Healed of Burns
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\n
\n", "content_text": "One morning I was specifically praying about “more soul, less body.” The lesson that week was about Soul and Body, perfect for what I needed to work on. The golden text and responsive reading set my thought straight by declaring man as God-made, never alone without God, and guided and guarded by God. God believes in us, is rooting for us and is on our side always. Instructions to give gratitude, rejoice and share joy were also gleaned from those opening citations.\n\nI related God’s omnipresent Love to be so big that it fills every nook and cranny. Divine Love is in my pocket. He is with my spouse while he is at work as well as being home with me. He is under my child’s helmet as she rides her bicycle. He is closer to my infant than I am when I hold him. My safety is holding me close in great, big arms of love! Man can never fallout of God’s care.\n\nMy prayers continued with expressing the right we have to be free as beloved children of God. That expressing gratitude, spreading joy and loving our neighbors as ourselves are prayer in action.\u00a0Shutting the door to any\u00a0thought unlike good keeps our consciousness tuned to good therefore gaining more understanding and ready to receive more blessings.\n \nI had just finished emailing this treatment when I heard a scream downstairs. My thought was pretty in-tune with God’s goodness so I silently declared that all was well. I didn’t feel like I was needed downstairs since Tyson, my husband,\u00a0 was with Eevy (the screamer).\n\nAfter a few minutes I heard a sniffling child coming up the stairs. Tyson was holding Eevy who had calmed down but was shirtless with red marks on her upper body. Tyson began telling me the story behind the scream. Eevy had pulled a much desired bag of marshmallows off the counter and with it came Tyson’s mug of fresh brewed coffee. I told Tyson I didn’t need to hear anymore of the story and sat down with Eevy. I told her all the truths I had just emailed to another patient.\n\n\nGod is with you always. He’s got you wrapped up so tight in His big arms of love that nothing can get in between God and you. (Not even coffee!)\n\n\nEevy was concerned that she smelled like coffee, so I suggested to her that she could take a bath. She likes baths. I anticipated the bath would distract her from her tender skin. I immediately deflected the suggestion that water hitting her skin could be painful. I also refuse to look at the seeming burns. As soon as Eevy was in the bath, she forgot all about the coffee incident. The joy of bathing and playing with her toys completely replaced the pain she felt and the smell of the coffee.\u00a0 When she declared herself clean, I took her out, toweled her off and when I was putting a fresh shirt on I noticed there were no redness or any evidence of a burn.\n\n\n“Glory to God!” I shouted. We are so thankful \n\n\nSo whatever blesses one, blesses all!\n\nShared with Love.\n\n\n\nDavya Flaharty\nLittle Child Healed of Burns", "date_published": "2023-03-13T10:16:47-07:00", "date_modified": "2023-03-13T10:17:58-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/christiansciencedenton.com/files/2023/03/Healed-of-burns.jpg?fit=2448%2C2448&ssl=1", "tags": [ "childhood healings", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/?p=1044", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/2023/02/24/praying-on-my-own-at-tennis-camp/", "title": "Praying on my own at tennis camp", "content_html": "

Praying on my own at tennis camp I was healed.

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\n

I went to tennis camp one summer when I was a freshman in high school.\u00a0 It was one of the first times I had been away from home on my own. We played tennis every day from early morning to evening.\u00a0 I was really having fun and improving my game.\u00a0\u00a0 One day on the tennis court, I was moving from side to side running farther and farther from one side of the court to another; I \u201crolled\u201d or twisted my ankle very severely.\u00a0 At that moment, I had a deep desire to keep playing tennis and keep expressing God\u2019s qualities of agility and freedom. I was praying but I became a little nervous. The coaches and other players who had seen my ankle unnaturally twist let out a huge gasp of concern and worry.\u00a0 I stuck with the truth of my being that we are taught in Christian Science.\u00a0 There were no other Christian Scientist there to support me; my parents were not there.\u00a0\u00a0 I was all by myself. I realized, I had to be my own Christian Science practitioner, a person who helps us pray when we are ill or hurt.\u00a0\u00a0 My thought went immediately to God who was my ever-present help. I claimed my spiritual identity as his child.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In my thought, I knew I was safely held as God\u2019s idea.\u00a0 I could never be out of his care for even a moment.\u00a0 Those around me were very concerned and thought I would not be able to continue playing.\u00a0 But the healing happened instantaneously; I never felt any pain. \u00a0I went right back out onto the court and continued playing.

\n

Anna Christian McMullen

\n

 

\n
\"Photo
Healing at Tennis Camp
\n", "content_text": "Praying on my own at tennis camp I was healed.\n \nI went to tennis camp one summer when I was a freshman in high school.\u00a0 It was one of the first times I had been away from home on my own. We played tennis every day from early morning to evening.\u00a0 I was really having fun and improving my game.\u00a0\u00a0 One day on the tennis court, I was moving from side to side running farther and farther from one side of the court to another; I \u201crolled\u201d or twisted my ankle very severely.\u00a0 At that moment, I had a deep desire to keep playing tennis and keep expressing God\u2019s qualities of agility and freedom. I was praying but I became a little nervous. The coaches and other players who had seen my ankle unnaturally twist let out a huge gasp of concern and worry.\u00a0 I stuck with the truth of my being that we are taught in Christian Science.\u00a0 There were no other Christian Scientist there to support me; my parents were not there.\u00a0\u00a0 I was all by myself. I realized, I had to be my own Christian Science practitioner, a person who helps us pray when we are ill or hurt.\u00a0\u00a0 My thought went immediately to God who was my ever-present help. I claimed my spiritual identity as his child.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In my thought, I knew I was safely held as God\u2019s idea.\u00a0 I could never be out of his care for even a moment.\u00a0 Those around me were very concerned and thought I would not be able to continue playing.\u00a0 But the healing happened instantaneously; I never felt any pain. \u00a0I went right back out onto the court and continued playing.\nAnna Christian McMullen\n \nHealing at Tennis Camp", "date_published": "2023-02-24T13:56:01-08:00", "date_modified": "2023-03-13T10:18:32-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/christiansciencedenton.com/files/2022/08/Photo_2022-08-26_223505-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C2273&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Healings", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/?p=1031", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/2023/02/20/story-of-first-church-of-christ-scientist-denton-part-9-completion/", "title": "Story of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Denton Part 9 Completion", "content_html": "
\"20220904
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Denton 2020-22 Update completed
\n

We have completed the 2020-2022 Update of First Church of Christ Scientist, Denton

\n

The chairs are in, the sound system has been updated, the foyer furniture arrived, and all bills have been paid.\u00a0 We are done with this update and all are so very grateful!

\n

Please join us on a Wednesday night testimony meeting, Saturday morning reading room time or Sunday morning service.\u00a0 We would love to give you a tour.

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\n\n\"20220901\n\"20220904\n\"20220904\n\"20220904\n\"20220904\n\n\n\"20220710\n\"20220710\n\n
\"Handwritten
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Denton 2021 Update Proposal
\n

 

\n", "content_text": "First Church of Christ, Scientist, Denton 2020-22 Update completed\nWe have completed the 2020-2022 Update of First Church of Christ Scientist, Denton\nThe chairs are in, the sound system has been updated, the foyer furniture arrived, and all bills have been paid.\u00a0 We are done with this update and all are so very grateful!\nPlease join us on a Wednesday night testimony meeting, Saturday morning reading room time or Sunday morning service.\u00a0 We would love to give you a tour.\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFirst Church of Christ, Scientist, Denton 2021 Update Proposal\n ", "date_published": "2023-02-20T13:22:56-08:00", "date_modified": "2023-02-19T13:53:37-08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/christiansciencedenton.com/files/2023/02/20220904_120001-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1920&ssl=1", "tags": [ "News" ] }, { "id": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/?p=995", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/2022/08/17/discovery-bound-ballpark-adventure/", "title": "Discovery Bound Ballpark Adventure", "content_html": "
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Register Today!!

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DB Outreach National Event 2022 happening in Texas – Teens and Adults

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https://www.discoverybound.org/events/

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\u201cMan is the family name for all ideas, – the sons and daughters of God. All that God imparts moves in accord with Him, reflecting goodness and power.\u201d
\n
S&H 515:21\u00a0(Event Metaphysical Theme)
\n

Teens Register Here | Adults Register Here | Financial Aid | Download Flyer

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Ballpark Adventures!

\n

Put on your ball cap, grab your glove and join us for a special baseball adventure during the National Event 2022! We\u2019ll kick off the afternoon with a private ballpark tour of Globe Life Field, then enjoy an inspirational talk, and then watch the Texas Rangers vs. Detroit Tigers game from a private pavilion with an unlimited buffet dinner!

\n

If you are not able to attend this event in person, check out the DIY National Event planning guide on our website and join us for a virtual inspiring talk on August 14. Everyone can join in the fun \u2013 no matter where you are!

\n

Who: Teens grades 6\u201312, adults, and their friends of all faiths.

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When: Saturday, August 27, 2022 | 2pm \u2013 9pm CT

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Where:

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2pm\u20134pm Globe Life Field Tour
\n734 Stadium Dr, Arlington, TX 76011

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4:30 pm\u20135:00pm Inspirational Talk

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5:30pm-\u20139pm Texas Rangers vs. Detroit Tigers
\nBuffet Dinner provided

\n

*Additional day-of details and logistics will be shared in a planning guide sent to those who have registered.*

\n

Event Cost:
\nTeens grades 6\u201312: $20
\nAdults: $30

\n

Registration Deadline:

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For Tour & Game: August 18, 2022

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For Game Only*: August 24, 2022

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* Cost is $30 regardless of whether you attend just the tour or just the game.

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Financial Aid is available for both teens and adults! Submit an application below for up to 50% of the registration fee and up to $75 for lodging if you stay Friday or Saturday night to come to our event!

\n

Recommendation for hotel:
\nLa Quinta Inn & Suites – Arlington North
\n825 N Watson Rd, Arlington, TX 76011

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Recommendation for Church\u00a0(Sunday)
\nFirst Church of Christ, Scientist, Arlington, TX
\n3218 W Arkansas Ln, Arlington, TX 76016\u00a0 (10:00 a.m.)

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, North Richland Hills
\n7318 NE Loop 820, N. Richland Hills, TX 76180

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QUESTIONS: Contact Katie Stewart at 303-376-7572 or kstewart@discoverybound.org\u00a0

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\"\"

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This event is generously underwritten by the\u00a0Asher Student Foundation\u00a0and other partners.

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DATE\u00a0
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Saturday, August 27
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LOCATION
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Globe Life Field

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734 Stadium Dr

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Arlington,\u00a0TX\u00a0United States
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Get Directions
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TAGS
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Outreach
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CATEGORIES
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DB 20s/30s\u00a0DB Adult/Family\u00a0DB Adults\u00a0DB Outreach\u00a0DB Youth\u00a0DiscoveryBound\u00a0Local Chapter Events\u00a0
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ORGANIZER
\n
\n\n
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\n
\n", "content_text": "Register Today!!\nDB Outreach National Event 2022 happening in Texas – Teens and Adults\nhttps://www.discoverybound.org/events/\n\u201cMan is the family name for all ideas, – the sons and daughters of God. All that God imparts moves in accord with Him, reflecting goodness and power.\u201d\nS&H 515:21\u00a0(Event Metaphysical Theme)\nTeens Register Here | Adults Register Here | Financial Aid | Download Flyer\nBallpark Adventures!\nPut on your ball cap, grab your glove and join us for a special baseball adventure during the National Event 2022! We\u2019ll kick off the afternoon with a private ballpark tour of Globe Life Field, then enjoy an inspirational talk, and then watch the Texas Rangers vs. Detroit Tigers game from a private pavilion with an unlimited buffet dinner!\nIf you are not able to attend this event in person, check out the DIY National Event planning guide on our website and join us for a virtual inspiring talk on August 14. Everyone can join in the fun \u2013 no matter where you are!\nWho: Teens grades 6\u201312, adults, and their friends of all faiths.\nWhen: Saturday, August 27, 2022 | 2pm \u2013 9pm CT\nWhere:\n2pm\u20134pm Globe Life Field Tour\n734 Stadium Dr, Arlington, TX 76011\n4:30 pm\u20135:00pm Inspirational Talk\n5:30pm-\u20139pm Texas Rangers vs. Detroit Tigers\nBuffet Dinner provided\n*Additional day-of details and logistics will be shared in a planning guide sent to those who have registered.* \nEvent Cost:\nTeens grades 6\u201312: $20\nAdults: $30\nRegistration Deadline:\nFor Tour & Game: August 18, 2022\nFor Game Only*: August 24, 2022\n* Cost is $30 regardless of whether you attend just the tour or just the game.\nFinancial Aid is available for both teens and adults! Submit an application below for up to 50% of the registration fee and up to $75 for lodging if you stay Friday or Saturday night to come to our event!\nRecommendation for hotel:\nLa Quinta Inn & Suites – Arlington North\n825 N Watson Rd, Arlington, TX 76011\nRecommendation for Church\u00a0(Sunday)\nFirst Church of Christ, Scientist, Arlington, TX\n3218 W Arkansas Ln, Arlington, TX 76016\u00a0 (10:00 a.m.)\nFirst Church of Christ, Scientist, North Richland Hills\n7318 NE Loop 820, N. Richland Hills, TX 76180\nQUESTIONS: Contact Katie Stewart at 303-376-7572 or kstewart@discoverybound.org\u00a0\n\n \nThis event is generously underwritten by the\u00a0Asher Student Foundation\u00a0and other partners.\n\n\n\n\n\nDATE\u00a0\n\nSaturday, August 27\n\n\n\nLOCATION\n\n\nGlobe Life Field\n\n734 Stadium Dr\nArlington,\u00a0TX\u00a0United States\n\nGet Directions\n\n\n\n\nTAGS\nOutreach\n\n\nCATEGORIES\nDB 20s/30s\u00a0DB Adult/Family\u00a0DB Adults\u00a0DB Outreach\u00a0DB Youth\u00a0DiscoveryBound\u00a0Local Chapter Events\u00a0\n\n\nORGANIZER\n\n\nKatie Stewart, DB Outreach Manager\nkstewart@discoverybound.org\n303-376-7572", "date_published": "2022-08-17T10:20:40-07:00", "date_modified": "2022-08-17T10:20:40-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/christiansciencedenton.com/files/2022/08/Discovery-bound-2018.jpg?fit=540%2C300&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Discovery Bound", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/?p=937", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/2022/05/13/saved-at-sea/", "title": "Saved at Sea", "content_html": "
\"20220429
Saved at Sea a testimony of God’s care and ever-presence
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“I found myself on the verge of panic….. I immediately started praying…”

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My senior year in college my husband and I went to the Florida Keys for Labor Day weekend and decided to go scuba diving by ourselves \u2013 just renting tanks and heading out on our own. We had a general idea of where the reef was so we loaded a rental boat and headed that direction.

\n

It was a beautiful day with blue sky and puffy clouds, but there was a good bit of wind and about 6 foot seas. We motored out to where we thought the edge of the reef was, cut the engine, dropped the anchor in the sand and made sure it was set. Since the water was murky we decided to descend down the anchor line. I remember seeing the line above the water and reaching for it, but just as I went under the surface it disappeared and my hand closed on nothing. We were only in about 30 ft of water, so I knew we\u2019d see it when we got below the waves and the water cleared.

\n

When we reached the bottom I was disappointed to find that we\u2019d completely missed the reef. We had known we were dropping our anchor in sand, (we didn\u2019t want to hit the reef with the anchor), but it was ALL sand and seagrass \u2013 no reef in sight. This was my main focus for the first few moments. Meanwhile, my husband was looking for the anchor but couldn\u2019t find it. He signaled to go up, and when we reached the surface the boat was nowhere in sight.

\n

I immediately found myself struggling with a profound sense of fear. In the 6 ft seas, we could see nothing but water towering above us on both sides, except for the brief instants when we reached the crest of each wave. Then for just that moment we could see the boat \u2013 which was surprisingly far away considering how short a time it had been since I had reached for that anchor line. We were about 3 miles off shore, so that was also visible at the crest of each wave, but I had no idea if we could swim that far. And if we were caught in a current, which I didn\u2019t know how to determine, we would have to swim faster than the current to make it to shore, in which case we might just exhaust ourselves and get swept away.

\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My husband was much more calm than I was and decided that since we were responsible for the boat, we should swim for that and try to catch it. So we started. I quickly felt hopeless. We were digging through the water, unable to see anything except more water, so it felt like there was no forward progress. And whenever we did crest the top of a wave we had to pause in our swimming to look for the boat. It was farther away each time we stopped \u2013 the wind was pushing it faster than we could swim.

\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I found myself on the verge of panic \u2013 I\u2019d never really known what that was before, but surrounded by ocean I felt that if I didn\u2019t keep complete control of my thought, I was going to tip over a precipice where I would just be screaming and thrashing in the water. That terrified me more than anything else \u2013 that sense that I was about to lose control of myself.

\n

I immediately started praying, but it was a challenge because I didn\u2019t seem to be able to think clearly. Two ideas came to me though, and I held to them. The first was a half-remembered quote from Adam Dickey\u2019s article, \u201cGod\u2019s Law of Adjustment,\u201d which says: \u201cIf a man were drowning in mid-ocean with apparently no human help at hand, there is a law of God which, when rightly appealed to, would bring about his rescue.\u201d I couldn\u2019t remember the whole thing, just the sense of it. The second thought was a few words of what Paul said to the Greeks in Athens (Acts 17:25): \u201c\u2026he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things\u2026.\u201d It was just a snippet, but it was the snippet I needed. I clung to those two ideas, especially the second one since the loss of \u201clife, and breath, and all things\u201d seemed to be what was threatening.

\n

At one point we passed a stationary buoy and I suggested we swim to it and hold on till somebody came by in a boat \u2013 which might take days, for all we knew \u2013 but at least then we would know we weren\u2019t being swept away in a current. My husband had a very strong sense that the right thing to do was to swim for the boat because we were responsible for it. But I thought the buoy might be our last chance, and I was utterly terrified to keep swimming into the ocean after a boat that was moving faster than we were. So I faced the choice of sticking together and following my husband\u2019s highest sense of right, or breaking apart and following my own sense of terror. I chose my husband.

\n

And I kept praying, \u201cHe giveth to all, life and breath and all things.\u201d

\n

I swam the crawl stroke, because it was the most efficient, but the unremitting walls of grey waves were so dispiriting that I sometimes flipped over and did a backstroke so I could see the blue sky. I remember thinking how out of place it seemed \u2013 I was utterly filled with terror, and here was this glorious, calm expression of beauty from wave top to wave top above us. I clung to it as an expression of God\u2019s presence, and just kept reminding myself that \u201cHe giveth to all, life and breath and all things\u2026 \u201c

\n

Finally at the top of one wave, the boat had changed position. Every time we had looked before it was broadside to the wind, getting shoved further away. This time it had swung around with its bow toward us, so we knew the anchor had finally caught. We kept swimming and now every time we paused to look, the boat was a little bigger. There was no physical guarantee that it wouldn\u2019t come lose again and sail away before we reached it, so I kept turning to God for our guarantees: there\u2019s a law of God that can rescue even a man lost in the ocean; and He giveth to all life and breath and all things.

\n

The boat did stay put; we finally grabbed the anchor line and pulled ourselves onboard. I was unspeakably grateful. And in the years since, as the challenges of work and marriage and parenthood have arisen, I\u2019ve been especially grateful to have had this demonstration of God\u2019s \u201cvery present help in trouble\u201d to look back on and realize that no matter how humanly helpless a situation looks, it is never out of the reach of God\u2019s care.

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C.L.

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\"20220426

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\n", "content_text": "Saved at Sea a testimony of God’s care and ever-presence\n“I found myself on the verge of panic….. I immediately started praying…”\nMy senior year in college my husband and I went to the Florida Keys for Labor Day weekend and decided to go scuba diving by ourselves \u2013 just renting tanks and heading out on our own. We had a general idea of where the reef was so we loaded a rental boat and headed that direction.\nIt was a beautiful day with blue sky and puffy clouds, but there was a good bit of wind and about 6 foot seas. We motored out to where we thought the edge of the reef was, cut the engine, dropped the anchor in the sand and made sure it was set. Since the water was murky we decided to descend down the anchor line. I remember seeing the line above the water and reaching for it, but just as I went under the surface it disappeared and my hand closed on nothing. We were only in about 30 ft of water, so I knew we\u2019d see it when we got below the waves and the water cleared.\nWhen we reached the bottom I was disappointed to find that we\u2019d completely missed the reef. We had known we were dropping our anchor in sand, (we didn\u2019t want to hit the reef with the anchor), but it was ALL sand and seagrass \u2013 no reef in sight. This was my main focus for the first few moments. Meanwhile, my husband was looking for the anchor but couldn\u2019t find it. He signaled to go up, and when we reached the surface the boat was nowhere in sight.\nI immediately found myself struggling with a profound sense of fear. In the 6 ft seas, we could see nothing but water towering above us on both sides, except for the brief instants when we reached the crest of each wave. Then for just that moment we could see the boat \u2013 which was surprisingly far away considering how short a time it had been since I had reached for that anchor line. We were about 3 miles off shore, so that was also visible at the crest of each wave, but I had no idea if we could swim that far. And if we were caught in a current, which I didn\u2019t know how to determine, we would have to swim faster than the current to make it to shore, in which case we might just exhaust ourselves and get swept away.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My husband was much more calm than I was and decided that since we were responsible for the boat, we should swim for that and try to catch it. So we started. I quickly felt hopeless. We were digging through the water, unable to see anything except more water, so it felt like there was no forward progress. And whenever we did crest the top of a wave we had to pause in our swimming to look for the boat. It was farther away each time we stopped \u2013 the wind was pushing it faster than we could swim.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I found myself on the verge of panic \u2013 I\u2019d never really known what that was before, but surrounded by ocean I felt that if I didn\u2019t keep complete control of my thought, I was going to tip over a precipice where I would just be screaming and thrashing in the water. That terrified me more than anything else \u2013 that sense that I was about to lose control of myself.\nI immediately started praying, but it was a challenge because I didn\u2019t seem to be able to think clearly. Two ideas came to me though, and I held to them. The first was a half-remembered quote from Adam Dickey\u2019s article, \u201cGod\u2019s Law of Adjustment,\u201d which says: \u201cIf a man were drowning in mid-ocean with apparently no human help at hand, there is a law of God which, when rightly appealed to, would bring about his rescue.\u201d I couldn\u2019t remember the whole thing, just the sense of it. The second thought was a few words of what Paul said to the Greeks in Athens (Acts 17:25): \u201c\u2026he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things\u2026.\u201d It was just a snippet, but it was the snippet I needed. I clung to those two ideas, especially the second one since the loss of \u201clife, and breath, and all things\u201d seemed to be what was threatening.\nAt one point we passed a stationary buoy and I suggested we swim to it and hold on till somebody came by in a boat \u2013 which might take days, for all we knew \u2013 but at least then we would know we weren\u2019t being swept away in a current. My husband had a very strong sense that the right thing to do was to swim for the boat because we were responsible for it. But I thought the buoy might be our last chance, and I was utterly terrified to keep swimming into the ocean after a boat that was moving faster than we were. So I faced the choice of sticking together and following my husband\u2019s highest sense of right, or breaking apart and following my own sense of terror. I chose my husband.\nAnd I kept praying, \u201cHe giveth to all, life and breath and all things.\u201d\nI swam the crawl stroke, because it was the most efficient, but the unremitting walls of grey waves were so dispiriting that I sometimes flipped over and did a backstroke so I could see the blue sky. I remember thinking how out of place it seemed \u2013 I was utterly filled with terror, and here was this glorious, calm expression of beauty from wave top to wave top above us. I clung to it as an expression of God\u2019s presence, and just kept reminding myself that \u201cHe giveth to all, life and breath and all things\u2026 \u201c\nFinally at the top of one wave, the boat had changed position. Every time we had looked before it was broadside to the wind, getting shoved further away. This time it had swung around with its bow toward us, so we knew the anchor had finally caught. We kept swimming and now every time we paused to look, the boat was a little bigger. There was no physical guarantee that it wouldn\u2019t come lose again and sail away before we reached it, so I kept turning to God for our guarantees: there\u2019s a law of God that can rescue even a man lost in the ocean; and He giveth to all life and breath and all things.\nThe boat did stay put; we finally grabbed the anchor line and pulled ourselves onboard. I was unspeakably grateful. And in the years since, as the challenges of work and marriage and parenthood have arisen, I\u2019ve been especially grateful to have had this demonstration of God\u2019s \u201cvery present help in trouble\u201d to look back on and realize that no matter how humanly helpless a situation looks, it is never out of the reach of God\u2019s care.\nC.L.", "date_published": "2022-05-13T10:02:48-07:00", "date_modified": "2023-03-13T10:21:13-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/christiansciencedenton.com/files/2022/05/20220429_185935-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1920&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Healings", "safety", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/?p=946", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/2022/05/09/the-story-of-first-church-of-christ-scientist-denton-part-8-flooring/", "title": "The Story of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Denton Part 8: Flooring", "content_html": "

Making Progress: Flooring, Children’s room,\u00a0 Bathrooms, Piano, Organ, Sunday School….

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Carpet Tile in the sanctuary

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It is so exciting to see the progress. Eric Scortia Of Las Colina’s Music cleaned and tuned the organ and piano.

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The Foyer has all excess furniture removed, new paint, new transom window, new flooring

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28 mil commercial grade Luxury Vinyl Plank in the Foyer
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Sunday School is brighter with New lighting, window treatments, paint and LVT plank flooring.\u00a0 Clutter has been cleared away

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The Children’s room is relocated and organized with colorful accents

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Bathrooms are freshened up and all the 1965 looks are updated

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Just a few more steps and we will be done with this phase of the project.\u00a0 Our new chairs are coming in August and new painted quotes for the walls are also on the way.\u00a0 New sound system?\u00a0 We are working on it!\u00a0 Keep an eye out for an invitation to our open house this fall.

\n", "content_text": "Making Progress: Flooring, Children’s room,\u00a0 Bathrooms, Piano, Organ, Sunday School….\nCarpet Tile in the sanctuary\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIt is so exciting to see the progress. Eric Scortia Of Las Colina’s Music cleaned and tuned the organ and piano.\n \n\n\n\n\nThe Foyer has all excess furniture removed, new paint, new transom window, new flooring\n \n \n28 mil commercial grade Luxury Vinyl Plank in the Foyer\n\nSunday School is brighter with New lighting, window treatments, paint and LVT plank flooring.\u00a0 Clutter has been cleared away\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Children’s room is relocated and organized with colorful accents\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBathrooms are freshened up and all the 1965 looks are updated\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nJust a few more steps and we will be done with this phase of the project.\u00a0 Our new chairs are coming in August and new painted quotes for the walls are also on the way.\u00a0 New sound system?\u00a0 We are working on it!\u00a0 Keep an eye out for an invitation to our open house this fall.", "date_published": "2022-05-09T16:35:26-07:00", "date_modified": "2022-05-09T16:35:26-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/christiansciencedenton.com/files/2022/05/20220323_163650-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1920&ssl=1", "tags": [ "News" ] }, { "id": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/?p=925", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/2022/04/21/in-tune-with-gods-law-of-harmony-even-if-the-truck-rolls-over/", "title": "In Tune with God\u2019s Law of Harmony Even if the Truck Rolls Over", "content_html": "

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\"20210814

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In tune with God\u2019s law of harmony\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0

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By Davya Flaharty

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I woke up today feeling so in tune with God. It must be the high from back to back Wednesday testimony meetings last night, I thought to myself! I called into one and was First Reader for my local branch meeting. Wonderful testimonies were shared about God\u2019s love and protection and I felt it so presently. What wonderful preparation it was!

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Later that morning, I was singing and playing guitar, practicing hymns for an upcoming CedarS hymn sing I would be leading. I got a phone call from my husband, Tyson. He said he was just in a car accident and the car rolled but he and the dog were OK. I heard voices in the background saying, \u201cyou should go to the hospital.\u201d Sirens were blaring too. But I kept hearing Tyson\u2019s calm voice saying he was ok. He laughed because he could hardly believe it himself! I stuck to the truth. The true, clear voice of my husband, echoed by Divine Love, our protector, stating he was completely fine. God was on the scene\u2014long before the police, long before the ambulance and fire trucks, even before the offending vehicle\u2019s tires began to slide on the ice through the stop sign. God was already there because that\u2019s how great God is. His care was already in place before I knew anyone needed it. His omnipresence and omniscience are palpable when we lean on His guidance. His goodness is reflected everywhere.\u00a0

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Tyson had to talk to the police arriving on the scene, so I told him I would be there shortly to help handle our dog and help with whatever human stuff needed to be done. I reached out to some friends to continue to pray while I made some insurance and logistical phone calls. While driving, my mind flooded with the hymn I had just been singing, hymn 584, \u201cThe Lord is my Shepherd.\u201d I just recorded this hymn with my duet partner for our upcoming album. So it\u2019s one that\u2019s been at the forefront of my thought for several weeks. What a perfect hymn for my situation! The second verse reads \u201cthough I walk through darkest days, I won’t be afraid for Love’s here beside me to protect me and show me the way.\u201d I sang it all the way to the scene in complete awe of God\u2019s orchestration and the unfoldment of protection for all involved in the crash.\u00a0

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Along the way, firetrucks rushed to another vehicle accident. I knew God was already on the scene, providing his ever-present safety and protection. I saw the drivers standing by their rolled-over truck, safe. Mary Baker Eddy asks us, \u201cwhy should we stand aghast at nothingness\u201d(SH 563:7)? What is truly amazing is God\u2019s law of harmony! God\u2019s timing! God\u2019s orchestration! I felt like how David probably felt, who was unimpressed by Goliath and \u201cran\u201d to meet the 10 foot giant wearing 126 pounds of brass armor, holding a spear and a shield (1 Sam 17). I was not impressed by the news of this rollover accident or any other vehicle accident I came upon.

\n

 

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I arrived on the scene, gave Tyson a big, grateful hug and helped our dog into my car. I joined the conversation with the police officer and the father of the other driver (the driver walked back to school to get to his next class\u2014unfortunately his lunch period did not go according to plan). We exchanged necessary information, took pictures and expressed gratitude for everyone\u2019s safety and extreme efficiency of the entire process.

\n

 

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From a human standpoint, the situation was almost too simple. Everything serendipitously worked out. My human brain, or mortal mind, kept nagging at me saying, THIS IS TRAUMATIC, this is supposed to be HARD and MORE WORK than it was. But everything unfolded so harmoniously. Isn\u2019t that how it should always be? When we let go, and let God, His law of harmony can go to work. We need to get out of the way. Our only job is to reflect. God is doing the orchestrating part, in God\u2018s timing and according to God\u2019s law. God is so good that way! All we have to do is listen for direction. Only when we hear that divine, inspiring thought do we then lift a finger and act on that practical task.\u00a0

\n

 

\n

The tow truck on the scene pulled Tyson\u2019s car upright (it had rolled onto the driver side).\u00a0 The operator started the car. It roared to life! Tyson got in and drove it forward and back and with a smile and a shoulder hunch said, \u201cworks just fine!\u201d He drove it home with me following behind in my car. The other vehicle was towed to a repair shop. The entire event lasted only 45 minutes.

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\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Let His omniscience guide our day to day.

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What lessons did we learn today? I was certainly struck with the realization of God\u2019s immediacy. (Sometimes we need reminders!) The other driver got a very practical lesson in winter driving. Our current spring weather has a lot of daytime thawing and flooding which freezes hard overnight when the temperature drops. This makes the road treacherous. Cue Divine Mind! Let His omniscience guide our day to day.

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We, humans, don\u2019t have to overwhelm ourselves or carry the burden of fixing everything or making sure everything\u2018s done correctly. God is good! He has it all worked out. We have a divine right to go about our days with joy and witness all the good unfolding around us. Do not fall into the trap of mortal mind! No one is ever in the wrong place at the wrong time. To say mother nature or \u201can act of God\u201d caused these conditions that lead to accidents is not correct. God is not the cause of bad things. God is not in storms, wars, ice, \u201cnot in the wind\u2026earthquake\u2026fire,\u201d etc (I Kings 19:11-12). He is there, with arms open, ready to receive you and comfort you.

\n

 

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What a glorious way to wake up! With a heart overflowing with love and this knowledge of safety, protection and comfort. It is time to praise and sing some more. What song will I wake up with tomorrow?

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\"20210814

\n", "content_text": " \n\n\nIn tune with God\u2019s law of harmony\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \nBy Davya Flaharty\nI woke up today feeling so in tune with God. It must be the high from back to back Wednesday testimony meetings last night, I thought to myself! I called into one and was First Reader for my local branch meeting. Wonderful testimonies were shared about God\u2019s love and protection and I felt it so presently. What wonderful preparation it was!\n \nLater that morning, I was singing and playing guitar, practicing hymns for an upcoming CedarS hymn sing I would be leading. I got a phone call from my husband, Tyson. He said he was just in a car accident and the car rolled but he and the dog were OK. I heard voices in the background saying, \u201cyou should go to the hospital.\u201d Sirens were blaring too. But I kept hearing Tyson\u2019s calm voice saying he was ok. He laughed because he could hardly believe it himself! I stuck to the truth. The true, clear voice of my husband, echoed by Divine Love, our protector, stating he was completely fine. God was on the scene\u2014long before the police, long before the ambulance and fire trucks, even before the offending vehicle\u2019s tires began to slide on the ice through the stop sign. God was already there because that\u2019s how great God is. His care was already in place before I knew anyone needed it. His omnipresence and omniscience are palpable when we lean on His guidance. His goodness is reflected everywhere.\u00a0\n \nTyson had to talk to the police arriving on the scene, so I told him I would be there shortly to help handle our dog and help with whatever human stuff needed to be done. I reached out to some friends to continue to pray while I made some insurance and logistical phone calls. While driving, my mind flooded with the hymn I had just been singing, hymn 584, \u201cThe Lord is my Shepherd.\u201d I just recorded this hymn with my duet partner for our upcoming album. So it\u2019s one that\u2019s been at the forefront of my thought for several weeks. What a perfect hymn for my situation! The second verse reads \u201cthough I walk through darkest days, I won’t be afraid for Love’s here beside me to protect me and show me the way.\u201d I sang it all the way to the scene in complete awe of God\u2019s orchestration and the unfoldment of protection for all involved in the crash.\u00a0\n \nAlong the way, firetrucks rushed to another vehicle accident. I knew God was already on the scene, providing his ever-present safety and protection. I saw the drivers standing by their rolled-over truck, safe. Mary Baker Eddy asks us, \u201cwhy should we stand aghast at nothingness\u201d(SH 563:7)? What is truly amazing is God\u2019s law of harmony! God\u2019s timing! God\u2019s orchestration! I felt like how David probably felt, who was unimpressed by Goliath and \u201cran\u201d to meet the 10 foot giant wearing 126 pounds of brass armor, holding a spear and a shield (1 Sam 17). I was not impressed by the news of this rollover accident or any other vehicle accident I came upon.\n \nI arrived on the scene, gave Tyson a big, grateful hug and helped our dog into my car. I joined the conversation with the police officer and the father of the other driver (the driver walked back to school to get to his next class\u2014unfortunately his lunch period did not go according to plan). We exchanged necessary information, took pictures and expressed gratitude for everyone\u2019s safety and extreme efficiency of the entire process.\n \nFrom a human standpoint, the situation was almost too simple. Everything serendipitously worked out. My human brain, or mortal mind, kept nagging at me saying, THIS IS TRAUMATIC, this is supposed to be HARD and MORE WORK than it was. But everything unfolded so harmoniously. Isn\u2019t that how it should always be? When we let go, and let God, His law of harmony can go to work. We need to get out of the way. Our only job is to reflect. God is doing the orchestrating part, in God\u2018s timing and according to God\u2019s law. God is so good that way! All we have to do is listen for direction. Only when we hear that divine, inspiring thought do we then lift a finger and act on that practical task.\u00a0\n \nThe tow truck on the scene pulled Tyson\u2019s car upright (it had rolled onto the driver side).\u00a0 The operator started the car. It roared to life! Tyson got in and drove it forward and back and with a smile and a shoulder hunch said, \u201cworks just fine!\u201d He drove it home with me following behind in my car. The other vehicle was towed to a repair shop. The entire event lasted only 45 minutes.\n \n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Let His omniscience guide our day to day.\n \nWhat lessons did we learn today? I was certainly struck with the realization of God\u2019s immediacy. (Sometimes we need reminders!) The other driver got a very practical lesson in winter driving. Our current spring weather has a lot of daytime thawing and flooding which freezes hard overnight when the temperature drops. This makes the road treacherous. Cue Divine Mind! Let His omniscience guide our day to day.\n \nWe, humans, don\u2019t have to overwhelm ourselves or carry the burden of fixing everything or making sure everything\u2018s done correctly. God is good! He has it all worked out. We have a divine right to go about our days with joy and witness all the good unfolding around us. Do not fall into the trap of mortal mind! No one is ever in the wrong place at the wrong time. To say mother nature or \u201can act of God\u201d caused these conditions that lead to accidents is not correct. God is not the cause of bad things. God is not in storms, wars, ice, \u201cnot in the wind\u2026earthquake\u2026fire,\u201d etc (I Kings 19:11-12). He is there, with arms open, ready to receive you and comfort you.\n \nWhat a glorious way to wake up! With a heart overflowing with love and this knowledge of safety, protection and comfort. It is time to praise and sing some more. What song will I wake up with tomorrow?\n ", "date_published": "2022-04-21T10:45:32-07:00", "date_modified": "2022-04-24T09:43:34-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Christian Science Denton webmaster", "url": "https://christiansciencedenton.com/author/karenmcmullen/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e34377e03473dacda34930ad3877b0318f3cf310e4a9eab9165acc768e7a219?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/christiansciencedenton.com/files/2022/04/20210814_093622-scaled-e1650606893999.jpg?fit=445%2C636&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Healings", "safety", "News" ] } ] }