Changes

First I will remark regarding the phrase about presuming upon divine mercy, [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=100:1_Religious_Growth (100:1.8)] which caught your [[attention]] earlier, Celeste, and it is [[worthy]] of attention indeed.

First I will remark regarding the phrase about presuming upon divine mercy, [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=100:1_Religious_Growth (100:1.8)] which caught your [[attention]] earlier, Celeste, and it is [[worthy]] of attention indeed.

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

*Presuming Upon Divine Mercy

*Presuming Upon Divine Mercy

I will augment that phrase with the words of the Master who admonished the necessity of increasing in your spirit fruits as you ascend, and he gave the analogy of the stewards who were entrusted with certain gifts and admonished to invest them so that they would pay healthy dividends, and the subsequent investing adventures of the stewards and the one steward -- who did not, out of fear for the Lord or whatever ignoble reason, buried his talent and returned it to the Master without even having garnered interest -- was divested of even his one talent, and banished in disgrace.

I will augment that phrase with the words of [[the Master]] who admonished the [[necessity]] of increasing in your [[spirit fruits]] as you [[ascend]], and he gave the [[analogy]] of the stewards who were entrusted with certain gifts and admonished to [[invest]] them so that they would pay healthy dividends, and the subsequent investing adventures of the [[stewards]] and the one steward -- who did not, out of fear for the Lord or whatever ignoble reason, [[buried]] his talent and returned it to the Master without even having garnered interest -- was divested of even his one talent, and banished in disgrace.

Lest you be unfruitful like the fearsome fellow who would not attempt to make gains from the talent given to him, you are encouraged to bear in mind the necessity of fruitful service and herein is the phrase about presuming upon divine mercy important.

Lest you be unfruitful like the fearsome fellow who would not attempt to make gains from the talent given to him, you are [[encouraged]] to bear in mind the [[necessity]] of fruitful [[service]] and herein is the phrase about presuming upon divine mercy important.

One night in Butler we discussed contentment as compared to complacency and I suggested that contentment was the cat that curled up in front of the fireplace and purred contentedly, happily, about the warm, safe hearth and home -- an admirable state; but complacency was the cat who, in the same circumstance, looked up, noticed a mouse walk past, and went back to sleep. He had not invested well, you see. He was not on duty to follow through with what he had been entrusted with. He had become complacent.

One night in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butler,_Pennsylvania Butler] we discussed contentment as [[compared]] to [[complacency]] and I suggested that contentment was the cat that curled up in front of the fireplace and purred contentedly, happily, about the warm, safe [[hearth]] and [[home]] -- an admirable state; but complacency was the cat who, in the same circumstance, looked up, noticed a mouse walk past, and went back to [[sleep]]. He had not invested well, you see. He was not on [[duty]] to follow through with what he had been entrusted with. He had become complacent.

Now before you think that I am trying to be a driving force, think again, for there is no amount of driving or herding that will atone for the individual choice of seeking to serve. Are you a better righteousness recommender this year than last year? Are you a more effective prayer today than you were yesterday? Are you more intimate with your Indwelling Adjuster than you were last year? Are you more astute at recognizing the presence of God in your fellows than you were once before?

Now before you think that I am trying to be a driving [[force]], think again, for there is no amount of driving or herding that will [[atone]] for the individual [[choice]] of seeking to serve. Are you a better [[righteousness]] recommender this year than last year? Are you a more [[effective prayer]] today than you were yesterday? Are you more [[intimate]] with your [[Indwelling Adjuster]] than you were last year? Are you more astute at recognizing the [[presence]] of [[God]] in your fellows than you were once before?

It is necessary that you grow in the spirit. It is necessary in order that you not become complacent and presume upon divine mercy. Knowing that the Father is mercy, and is love, is good news indeed. But Michael has instructed his followers to be fruitful, and so ever remain alert to your motives. This is only something you can do in your moment-to-moment check of yourself in your life.

It is [[necessary]] that you [[grow]] in the [[spirit]]. It is necessary in order that you not become complacent and presume upon divine mercy. Knowing that [[the Father]] is [[mercy]], and is [[love]], is good news indeed. But [[Michael]] has instructed his followers to be fruitful, and so ever remain alert to your [[motives]]. This is only something you can do in your moment-to-moment check of yourself in your [[life]].

The concept of having to grow in the spirit or stagnate is closely related at first blush, to the Christian concept of hell fire and damnation, that if you do not do certain things, you will perish. The lesson I have just referenced has those connotations, if you are inclined to be fearful, but I present the words to you, the concept to you, for your review knowing that you are not fearful, knowing indeed that you are vigorous and adventurous, and that you are eager to expand your investments for the Master. You are eager to present to him what he has given you with interest.

The [[concept]] of having to grow in the [[spirit]] or stagnate is closely related at first blush, to the [[Christian]] concept of [[hell]] fire and [[damnation]], that if you do not do certain things, you will perish. The lesson I have just referenced has those connotations, if you are inclined to be [[fearful]], but I present the words to you, the concept to you, for your review knowing that you are not fearful, knowing indeed that you are [[vigorous]] and [[adventurous]], and that you are eager to expand your investments for [[the Master]]. You are [[eager]] to present to him what he has given you with interest.

You have brought to the table this evening your horns of plenty, your riches of experience, appreciation for spirit reality, for kingdom fellowship, for the fertility of mother earth. Many, many precious gifts you have brought this evening, gifts for the Father, for presenting to each other in your personal sharing. I see no danger here of complacency.

You have brought to the table this evening your horns of plenty, your riches of [[experience]], [[appreciation]] for spirit [[reality]], for kingdom fellowship, for the [[fertility]] of mother earth. Many, many precious gifts you have brought this evening, gifts for [[the Father]], for presenting to each other in your personal [[sharing]]. I see no [[danger]] here of complacency.

Indeed, as you begin to relish the vigor and the rigors of spiritual growth, you begin to seek out that which is more difficult and more challenging. Is it not said that one day you will even "fatten upon disappointment"? And so the opportunities for growth are astounding and many-faceted. Be good to yourself and grasp these many opportunities to grow and to serve. Do not become so comfortable that you let life, in its infinite vitality, pass you by.

Indeed, as you begin to relish the [[vigor]] and the [[rigors]] of [[spiritual growth]], you begin to seek out that which is more [[difficult]] and more challenging. Is it not said that one day you will even "fatten upon [[disappointment]]"? And so the opportunities for [[growth]] are astounding and many-faceted. Be [[good]] to yourself and grasp these many [[opportunities]] to grow and to serve. Do not become so [[comfortable]] that you let life, in its infinite [[vitality]], pass you by.

 

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Contrasting and Comparing Good and Evil

Contrasting and Comparing Good and Evil