Articles

The loving guidance and tender care of the shepherd for the flock are set forth in many Bible stories and verses. The great Master chose the same figure to illustrate some of his most important teachings: "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

In our prayers we may helpfully consider three important phases: affirmation, pleading, and praise. These are readily discernible in a careful study of the Lord's Prayer, together with its spiritual interpretation, as given by Mary Baker Eddy on pages 16 and 17 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

God's purpose for each child of His care is one of progressive unfoldment, increased spirituality, an ever-enlarging manifestation of strength and power, and an improved sense of vitality, grace, and dominion. Man reflects Life unending, ever present, infinite, here and now.

There is much said today about demands—demands upon our time, our purses, our affections. So frequent and imperative are these demands that often it is difficult to keep up with them, and, what is far more important, to evaluate them properly.

In contemplating the present world conflict and its concomitant events, all Christian people quite properly hold in prospect the time when war will cease. They yearn for that to prevail which is right and just for all mankind, a world-wide permanent peace to be enjoyed by the people of all nations.

Many times in moments of perplexity and fear, in the midst of confusion or pain, we have been comforted and sustained by an angel thought, a swift message from divine Love reaching us through a well-loved Bible verse or through some inspiring lines from Mary Baker Eddy's writings! Often these healing messages have strengthened and sustained us, lifting us out of our distress and bringing us the needed peace and calm. They sometimes come to us with an almost startling suddenness, arising from the fact that these particular thoughts may not have been entertained for months, or even for a far longer period of time, yet there they are when needed, vivid and vital, glowing with strength and inspiration.

The beloved disciple John tells us that "God is love. " Love is the infinite Giver.

" Abide in me, and I in you," was the Master's injunction to his followers. Here is a command, gentle in its entreaty, but so full of promise in its implications that few there are who have not felt its persuasive animus and longed to obey it.

It is recorded in the seventeenth chapter of Exodus that at one time, when the armies of Israel were engaged in battle with the armies of the Amalekites, Moses "went up to the top of the hill" to pray to the Almighty for the victory of the armies of Israel. "And it came to pass," the story relates, "when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Genuine gratitude may be likened to ''the aroma of Spirit," of which Mary Baker Eddy writes in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 191, 192) , "Mind, God, sends forth the aroma of Spirit, the atmosphere of intelligence.