Via Christa: Via Christa Life: Sermons: Edna Lister’s Sermons, 1959.

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Edna Lister’s Sermons, 1959

It Is Finished!
Edna Lister outline, March 27, 1959, Tacoma, WA; John 19:28-30, Luke 23:46

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”–John 19:28-30
“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”–Luke 23:46
The Roman soldiers gave Jesus a hyssop sponge filled with sour wine to deaden the pain of the Crucifixion. Jesus, knowing that he had complied with every prophecy for the Messiah, was ready when he said, “It is finished!” Immediately he cried in a loud voice, “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit” and “gave up the ghost,” which refers to the soul’s invisible hold on the physical body.
These passages describe the two last steps in surrender. Are you finished surrendering self, or do you still cling to the past, demanding love from someone who has already given you your quota of their love? Do you cling to doubts and fears? You can give up anything, once you have made up your mind. You do make a stand for the new whenever you grow weary enough of the old to commend your spirit to God.
Conversion is not a bubble bath, but means to turn around and start moving in the opposite direction. Repentance is not a vain regret, but an altered viewpoint. Christ’s teachings are not an amendment to pagan creeds. The Christ truth is a new way of life, the practice of loyalty and obedience to God’s laws.
“I commend my spirit” includes your whole life, your body, your feelings, desires, your thinking and imagination. When you commend your spirit, life itself becomes a challenge to do your best. Awaken your soul to stretch upward into the eternal miracle of life, the beauty and joy of life. Commend yourself to life eternal here and now, with no more dullness, or lack.
The power of silent places is yours when you have finished with the past. Declare, “I am alive! I am resurrected! I am law, fulfilled because I commend myself, my life, my all to Thee, oh Thou Almighty Truth.”

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Realization
Edna Lister outline, May 3, 1959, Cleveland, OH; John 21:1-14

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Realization
Edna Lister transcript, May 3, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Margaret Pratt Doan, Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; John 21:1-14

“After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.”–John 21:1-14
All nature obeys the laws of expansion and contraction. In fall, the sap descends from the tree’s branches to the darkness at it roots, instinctively obeying the laws of nature regarding its particular degree of life. In winter, the tree’s life lies sleeping while it gathers to itself the energy of the magnetic currents of earth, the strength you see portrayed in the buds, leaves and blossoms of spring. Here and there a tree dies, escaping life, which is not beyond an unconscious or instinctive consciousness to do.
Every person on earth follows the seasons whether aware or not. Spring opens a time of great expansion and expression. Homeowners are busy digging weeds, planting, pruning and preparing for growth. The sap of your consciousness ascends during the weeks of ascension, from Easter to Ascension Day. Each has an unconscious, instinctive phase of mind that responds to the seasons. You dictate your own temporary season—spring, summer, fall or winter—when you ascend and descend the pole in consciousness. During your fall and winter seasons, your desire, vitality and consciousness recede to subterranean depths. You bury yourself and may have a grand time wallowing in the trough of self-pity. Some people live through four seasons a day!
The Eternal created you, and your every life spark is divine. You are each responsible for your physical body and must gather and take every life spark with you when you go home. Fortunately, the time comes when you realize that continuing as you were pays no dividend. Right there, you start the process of real ascension. Under some inspiration, you eventually begin to search for buried treasures of darkness to ascend. You dig around your subconscious roots, as in a garden. Planting new seeds of consciousness, you begin to try not to take offense.
By digging and pruning, you lift self into the Light to live where it belongs. Self is your seat of subconscious premonitions and protective warnings. A premonition means that it’s time to get busy and pray. Maintain a sphere of Light around yourself to dissolve dark clouds of worry and confusion. You may think this wasted effort, but it is all part of being a good caretaker in your garden of soul.
From instinctive creature consciousness, you ascend to intellectual intelligence and to the divine intelligence of Christed consciousness. Ascension involves awareness, realization and inspiration. Realization chooses to be possessed by divine Intelligence. All powers of the universe stand ready to back you in ascension. Instinctive intelligence is fine in the creature but pays you no dividend. The first step to intellectual intelligence is the hardest. Falling back is the greatest obstacle to overcome. Many people offer alibis, such as, “It’s just human nature.” They give their subconscious mind power of attorney, declaring to the world that they prefer to let animal-like creature consciousness run their life.
Under intellectual intelligence, you begin to calculate the end of your effort, to recognize where your efforts will lead. Still, instinctive mind blunders when self is involved. As a rational soul, you ascend in consciousness to lift the subconscious, conscious and super-conscious phases of mind into divine intelligence. Subconscious mind is a treasure house of darkness collected over centuries of living. Resolutely, you leave behind the worn-out past.
No matter how often you dig in your subconscious garden, you find fresh weeds to pull. This is good. You can change weeds of hatred, coldness, rebellion, selfishness, jealousy, self-pity and resentment into beautiful flowers of tenderness and love. Your only possible emancipation from slavery to self is to balance self, soul and Oversoul. Demanding that yours is the only right way puts others in bondage. If you persist, eventually you find yourself in bondage to learn the lesson on this taint.
Instinctive intelligence likes to possess things or people until you are in bondage to them, a slave to family and loved ones. You must dig out the weeds to learn why you are enslaved. Keep digging for the gifts of self the Father desires of you. Emancipation comes only when you really do know what you think you have learned. As you lift subconscious darkness, the appetitive soul rebuilds your body according to a divine new pattern. Be a faithful excavator of hidden self. Remove the darkness and make room for the Power of the living God to enter. Every effort you make is like a vibration on one keynote that accumulates after its degree and kind. It returns to you as goals fulfilled, new security, new increases, new friends, new illumination, new beauty in your life.
“After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.”–John 21:1-3.
When Jesus joined the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, it was the third of eleven times he appeared to strengthen them following the Crucifixion. Otherwise, he would not have left his disciples on a high point of spiritual consciousness, and the world might never have learned of him. Jesus made sure Thomas saw his wounds, which lifted his doubt about the Resurrection. The Master wiped away Peter’s guilt complex for denying him when he asked, “Do you love me?” Three times he gave Peter the chance to avow his love and pay his debts of denial.
Jesus’ third appearance was the finale, a final polishing for his closest disciples: Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John, the sons of Zebedee and two others not identified. They caught nothing, though they had fished all night. “But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.”–John 21:4-6.
Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side to find food. Each is satisfied to fish on what he thinks is the right side of the boat. The way you see a thing is your opinion of the right way to do it. Many intellectuals toss off statements such as, “Jesus was a good man but not divine.” This horizontal view is not ascension, just so many nets cast that only confusion results, not good fishing. You can attend any church, use any ritual and receive some inspiration.
You can fish many ways, but only one is the right way. Fish on the right side, the up side in consciousness to augment the atomic power coming with Power from above. All valid truth schools teach the same truth in different terms: All Power comes from above, not from within. As you cast your net up, the symbolic spiritual door at your crown opens and in rush the etheric currents of Light. Magnetic currents rise through your feet, the creative fire rises up the spine, and Light floods every cell with energy. To balance the Power of inspiration, hold your hands above your solar plexus and lungs, at least level with your ears.
Jesus illustrated the continuity of life with his Resurrection—he showed the disciples that life continues after death of the body. Those who believed saw him in a body that many others could not see. The gods, the Elohim, still walk in the Garden of Eden, though usually unseen. That which is invisible is far greater than that which is visible. The invisible world cannot be less than the visible or chaos would result from the imbalance.
All the vastness of space with its innumerable galaxies is the Mind of God. How much of it can you grasp? How much can you visualize? When you think your mind is full, and close it to the vision of the Almighty, you become frozen. So, always water your garden of imagination with images of beauty. To declare that the love of God moves through as perfection is your ascension declaration.
Realization is the perfect balance of subconscious, conscious and super-conscious mind—of the appetitive soul, embodied rational soul and Oversoul. Ascension is perfect balance. The lessons you have learned are your treasures, your gifts to God. You lift all your treasures of darkness into Light as you learn all your lessons. Ascension is the struggle to balance body, mind and soul until they work together the right way. Jesus accomplished all this.
Jesus did not tell the disciples they were wrong; he knew they had been working, but ineffectively. He said, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” They cast their net, believing in the Word he spoke, and were unable to draw out the multitude of fish. Their faith in the Power of his spoken Word brought the miracle. By your faith in the spoken Word, you will have a miracle, too.
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.–John 21:7-9. The text suggests that the disciples did not recognize Jesus on the beach. Only John, “that disciple whom Jesus loved,” knew it was the Master and said, “It is the Lord!” Peter then impulsively swam to him.
Jesus had prepared a fire on the beach and was cooking fish and bread. No one has ever yet told us what Jesus said to them there. Someday, perhaps, the answer will come. The Dead Sea Scrolls prove that many of the same principles Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount had been taught thousands of years ago. Some scholars have suppressed or concealed texts from the masses because they were afraid that people would lose their faith in religion. You lose faith because you choose to do so.
Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.–John 21:10-14
The disciples caught 153 different kinds of fish in their net. This totals nine, the number symbolizing God’s universal Intelligence. The symbol of no fish on the wrong side of the boat illustrates how you must fish your treasures of self from the subconscious. Let no day pass without lifting and redeeming self. You cannot really waste time; time is. When you let time slip by unused, you waste yourself.
Seers and healers have often invoked heavenly fire on altars to cleanse and purify their offerings. Jesus called on the same creative fire, on the beach. The fish symbolize the Holy Ghost and Pisces, the abundance supplied by the Almighty. Bread symbolizes the substance of Virgo, representing the inspiration of the Almighty. What wonderful lessons of wisdom and truth Jesus must have taught them that day on the beach, because they were fully open to all the Light as Power. Unless you are fully open, God must dilute the Power that uses you, for pure and undiluted it would harm your body.
The same Power that blasted the barren fig tree also heals. God can release only as much Power through you as your cramped consciousness and body can take. Finally you realize that you have played and dawdled, creating a wrinkled, aging body, and you repent. As you ascend, Power can permeate you to heal in all ways. When you speak the Word for healing, you become an open instrument to be used by all Power.
God’s Power is greater than atomic energy. Your body becomes an extension of the Source Power that heals. You can recreate any imperfect creation in the image and likeness of God, which is deathless, ageless and abiding. Light is there, waiting, yours to contact, so go right to the Source and surrender to it. Do not release just a dribble, sit on the sidelines, or lie down for a nap. Go out and do. When full realization comes, you cannot rest until you accomplish. Divine inspiration expands you upward in ascension and outward in compassion. The symbolic fire, fish and bread will appear. God will fill your net of expectations in reward for your surrender to be used by Power.

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Idealization
Edna Lister outline; May 10, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Galatians 5:22-26, 6:1-9

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”–Galatians 6:1-9
Today is Mother’s Day, the one day a year on which nearly every voice speaks to “Mother” in tenderness. A true mother and “idealization” are synonymous. “Idealization” is a noun that names a state of being; “to idealize” is a transitive verb that describes a state of consciousness. It is a term that you can express idealization, or just understand it. Most folks, for instance, choose to view love as a matter for understanding. For example, a woman may ask, “Do you love me?” The man answers, “I married you.”
A mother is supposed to live on the Mother’s enfolding, cleansing blue ray of love. When she lives on the vibration of unselfish love, she idealizes her children, until even her “black sheep” can do no wrong. This is pure idealization, but such idealization can be good, weak, or possessive and at times can destroy. What can a balanced idealization be and do? What can it help you to achieve a balanced idealization?
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.–Galatians 5:22-23. You can see the fruit on the bush or tree, visible to the world. You must pick it when it is “just right,” and express the spiritual fruit at exactly the right time. Sometimes you pick or express the fruit green, with too much talk, for instance. You may let it dry up on the tree or shrivel on the bush for lack of water. Sometimes you let it remain unexpressed, so it falls to the ground and rots, unused and wasted. Picked green, a surface kindness and gentleness can cover and hide rampant ego and ruthless determination. Long-suffering becomes martyrdom, and temperance can turn into bigotry and the use of force.
At the other extreme of the pendulum swing, the idealization of a woman, mother or sister can become gullibility, or an unbalanced idealization. You must go to the Source for balance, “seven times seven” times in a day, or as often as you need balancing. Idealization is the one Godlike quality you can bring with you into earth life, fully awakened and developed, to see no evil, because all your creations are good. Idealization and imagination are really your firstborn creative twins. To gain balanced, workable idealization requires perfect Mother Love and the firmness of Father Wisdom. Mother love must nourish and sustain wisdom, which in turn must firmly support love. Either alone is only half the equation, because it takes both for perfect creations.
Wisdom’s thinking and planning needs love’s creative mold to fill. After wisdom and love have formed and filled the mold, action must occur or it remains static. Nothing happens to the planted seed of mother-love unless love nourishes and sustains it. Love must do the gestating, while wisdom holds the form together. A weak love, thin and watery, never remains still long enough for gestating, like a hen that leaves her eggs too long, until they die.
Without the warmth of mother love, wisdom finally crystallizes the seed of idealization. Wisdom without love is obvious and demanding. Love without Wisdom can be weakly possessive. A mother’s love idealizes her child, sees only perfection and ignores darkness. Sometime, in some age, every soul must produce this fruit.
Everything exists within the now. Now is an escalator, forever advancing into the future at its own pace. Now is the only time you can claim. The past is gone, and you cannot reclaim it. Every claim or demand on the past or future, is illegal, illegitimate. Most of us are not yet eating the fruit, but still existing on the husks of the past. The now holds the past close to you. Nothing is lost, but you can claim it only if you consider it as the now.
Only you can push a creation with your name and number into the past. You have lost much of your soul substance in such attempts to be rid of spiritual debt and responsibility. You must heed four points of idealization, your precious points of control: First is the language of love, which gives of itself. Second is the art of loving, which makes others happy. Third is the quality of loving, which can be true soul love or possessive self love. Finally, the capacity of love, which is to do, to dare, to live in perfect balance. You use the first three to achieve balance in idealization. You become what you idealize, and others become what you idealize for them. Your creations depend on your idealization, so balance your expressions of love constantly.
Make statements under the highest conception of idealization: “I accept my immortality now. I accept my life now. I accept Thy glory now. I accept Thy Power now.” The fruits of the Spirit are jewels in the crown of Mother Love and idealization, compounded with equal parts of joy and devotion. An ideal is a covenant your soul signs with God, based on honor.

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Idealization
Edna Lister transcript, May 10, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Margaret Pratt Doan, Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; Galatians 5:22-26, 6:1-9

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”–Galatians 5:22-26
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”–Galatians 6:1-9
Mother’s Day honors gentleness, kindness and all that motherhood represents in the world. Sending a card establishes a line of Light, and giving gifts builds rapport between individuals. You can trust God to hold and feed those lines of Light and responsibility, yet it remains your task to gather and lift any fallen or severed lines daily.
Pure and complete mother love epitomizes idealization. Sometimes a brother, sister or friend expresses idealizing love because their souls have balanced the qualities of wisdom and love. Marriage begins with mates idealizing each other, without questioning whether they are loved. When the vibration lowers, many women ask, “Do you love me?” Their inarticulate husbands, who may adore them, say, “I married you, didn’t I?”
How do you make idealization work for you? Idealization is a state of consciousness, a great soul faculty that practically everyone awakens from birth, and you can ascend or slip on it. You can even express idealization negatively. For instance, you may have read of a perfect crime. Its planning and execution were ideal. Even evil tyrants and dictators can use idealization as selfishness, which is a far cry from soul idealization.
The purity of a mother’s idealization of her child should come directly from the Source. Yet a mother who idealizes her child in the extreme can be so austere in her expression of love that the child feels neglected, not loved. A mother may possess her child as being ideal, but possession is not idealization. On a foundation of resentment, idealization operates as criticism, and cuts the lines of Light. Some mothers speak biting words—“Why come to me?”— when their child fails to meet their ideal for the child, which neutralizes their love. The child knows he has failed to meet the mother’s ideal standard, yet is unable to express it. A mother’s love glorifies her child only when it is pure, selfless and comes directly from the Source.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”–Galatians 5:22-24. Study this lesson. Each verse is an underlying expression of the fruit of the Spirit, the nine fruits of ascension. Four are feminine fruits of the Mother’s Love and four are masculine fruits of the Father’s Wisdom. Joy is the ninth fruit, and the highest expression of the Holy Ghost, the pure white Christ Light. All worldly difficulties stem from wisdom not being balanced by love. Wisdom is stable, but a weak, watery, selfish, unbalanced love cannot stay still long enough to form a mold. Love may waver, but wisdom never does.
The feminine fruits of love are long-suffering, love, kindness and meekness. Long-suffering is really patience, which is endurance in strength. Universal patience, in a higher sense, waits upon the Lord for fulfillment above earth, in the Source of Mind itself. No patience is the opposite of impatience. Kindness cannot endure in the face of its opposite, anger, which exudes a poison that works directly on the weakest spot of one’s body. Anger eats at cells, causing a congestion that can erupt immediately or five years later. Meekness is not the obsequious groveling of a Uriah Heep 1 type, but is epitomized by, “Let every man prove his own work.” Being meek is easy when you keep your nose out of other people’s business.

1 Uriah Heep, a fictional antagonist created by Charles Dickens in David Copperfield, was a scheming, grasping and obsequious character, devoted solely to his own betterment.

The masculine fruits of wisdom are peace, goodness, faith and temperance. This is not a passive but an aggressive peace that harmonizes self, soul and Oversoul. The Father’s peace is like a mustard seed that must push into the Light and grow. Goodness is the universal integrity, and Good is God’s name on earth. Faith is a principle that stands immovable on a rod of Power from above. Temperance is the truth of balanced love and wisdom, the opposite of which is intemperance, which breeds bigotry, wrecking the truth of temperance. For example, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, which forced abstinence from liquor, created intolerance. Bigotry carries shears to cut off everything it does not like, and always has a long nose in other people’s business.
You ascend on the wholesomeness of the fruits of the Spirit. Some people begin well, but if frustrated by delay, forget to water their tree with gratitude and end with dried out fruit. Others let the ripe fruit fall to the ground, rot and develop an odor of darkness. Some people pick their fruit green by chewing a new idea to death before making an adequate plan. The fruit of, “Oh, I can’t,” is “can’t.” The time for wise silence is while the fruit is green, as you continue to seek, walk softly and speak gently. Anger and impatience urge you to pick the fruit green, but it puckers your mouth. Say, “Father, please place a guard on my lips,” to avoid casting your pearls before swine. Pick the fruit of Spirit at the right time, when it is exactly ripe. Leave it till it ripens perfectly, and pick it when it is ready.
God’s abundance is ever-present, and it does manifest. Back your ideals with love and wisdom to form your prayer mold. Balance mother love with wisdom and hold it before you as idealization. You cannot separate love from wisdom and get anywhere. You need both as principle. Wisdom thinks and plans, yet your love must nourish and sustain it. Wisdom backed with just a fickle material sort of “hanging on” love is like a hen on a nest. Lacking wisdom, she gets off too soon, loses her eggs, and tries to push other hens off their eggs.
You can write your own philosophy by observing life. Love molds your ideals as a seed’s outer sheath holds life, yet only wisdom’s holding power can bring it to fruit. The sheath melts away, and your desire mold manifests. Now is the time for love and wisdom to cooperate. An attitude of “That’s it. I’ve prayed enough” wrecks your prayer mold. Stand in the high place of consciousness and wait upon the Lord.
Living in any time but now is illegal. You cannot reclaim the past. Some try to live on the dry dust of what they think they should have had, until their past ideals fade to nothing. Others try to bring the future into now, yet you cannot reach the future any faster than God has ordained. Correspondingly, you cannot press a claim on substance any faster than you release it. Live now, which is the only time you have.
Imagination and idealization are twins. Imagination moves from the concrete to the abstract. Ideals move from the abstract into the concrete. Ideals become concrete when you use imagination to fill your prayer molds. The substance of your past ideals is not lost, but added to your Oversoul star to expand your aura. You may use it to revitalize and quicken your dream-desire molds. Your desire determines the size of your miracle seed, so let nothing limit your idealization. You change, but God does not. You may be weak and float around, but God is changeless and always does business in the same old place.
The language, art, quality and capacity for loving are four precious aids to ascension. The language of love is a mother’s lavish giving of unselfish love. Love says, “Share and share alike. Cut the pie evenly,” which takes the responsibility of the burdens with the pies. Martyrdom does not escape responsibility, so quit taking the smallest piece. Love’s language is giving, but you must balance it with wisdom in discretion, knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.
Love’s art is balanced giving, yet you have no business giving in a way that spoils or ruins another’s joy. Love is the art of cleverness, overlooking a small flaw and waiting for the right time to address major issues. Love waits for the perfect time to pick the fruit for others, so wait for the right time to approach them. God will tell you when. The art of loving includes selling yourself on being as perfect as your Father in heaven. Declare, “Father, please, do not let me miss a detail today,” and keep looking for the leftover details. This is the best year of your life. “Father, I am ready to give You the best years of my life.” Get busy, do it and do not quit. Love’s quality is either selfish love or soul love. Idealization balances love and wisdom for you when you ascend, expand your consciousness and touch the Source of all Power.
Prayer nurtures the fruits of Spirit, which burst into ripeness at exactly the right time for every situation under love’s capacity to dare, to do, and to become. A weak, watery love never dares to act, but has a new fear every day, which sucks you dry and squeezes you into a sarcophagus of existing. All you own and possess is available now. Everything you desire exists now. You possess every second of now.

“You will never have greater access to immortality and eternity
than you do right now.”

Declare, “I accept. I am immortal now. I am eternal now.” Do you believe that you are immortal? Eternal? Where did the life sparks of your living soul originate? You will never have greater access to immortality and eternity than you do right now. Now is an escalator to God, walled by love on one side and wisdom on the other. Declare, “I accept that I am working, living and serving in almighty strength. I accept this divine Power to clarify, lift and cleanse. I live now ideally.”

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Visualization
Edna Lister outline, May 17, 1959, Cleveland, OH; John 9

“As Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”–John 9
Visualization means “to call up a distinct mental picture of things already imagined or formerly seen, to make a picture of an idea in mind.” This story about Jesus has several outstanding features, points making laws. First the disciples asked who had sinned, the blind man or his parents. Jesus answered by giving a third reason for the blindness, “that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” A soul can come to earth as a sacrifice, to prove that God is.
The second point of law is pure psychology. Jesus made clay with his saliva, anointed the man’s eyes, and sent him on a long, hot walk to the pool of Siloam. The third great point of law is that the man faced questioning seven times, during which others tempted him to fail in strength, he could have lost his faith and his sight again. The fourth point of law was when Jesus asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Jesus.
Then Jesus made several peculiar statements. “For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.”–John 9:39. Those who do not see, do not know. You must first see it to lift it. Those who do see will be made blind, because they accept no responsibility for what they see and therefore believe they are not to blame. “Some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”–John 9:40-41. Saying, “I see,” is not enough; you must also do. You must see spiritually, or visualize, to understand.
Imagination, idealization and visualization are triplets. Your whole life depends on imagination, the kingly faculty, whose throne room is the higher creative center in the brain. When you allow imagination to turn down, it magnifies doubts, fears, troubles and disasters. Turned upward as vision, imagination creates perfection, if you also turn idealization and visualization upward.
Moses “endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.” He kept his path, his corridor open to God. Idealization knows miracles are possible, and visualization sees God who is invisible. Imagination rests on idealization as the balance wheel, upholding it. Idealization is the immovable constant, the catalyst between imagination and visualization. Visualization is how to apply Christ consciousness to yourself and your affairs.
Can you visualize a new plan for living? One woman spent two years visualizing the gift of a used car, since she could not afford one. By the time someone gave her a used car, she understood that she could have visualized a new car. After two more years of seeing a better salary for her husband, they could finally afford a new car.

“Visualization is how to apply Christ consciousness
to yourself and your affairs.”

Can you design your inheritance? God has plenty of unformed substance to give you. He also gave you imagination, idealization and visualization as creative tools to make visible creations. Do you want a hut or a mansion? Do you think you cannot see spiritually? You can imagine a hotel lobby, or your home. People are full of “I can’t. I’m too old. I’m slowing down. I can’t do what I used to.”
Step in here with visualization. See yourself dancing on a cloud. Look for beauty everywhere, even in your gray hair. Years are beautiful. Life is so thrilling. Every day is a new adventure. Take time to hold the day’s beauty in your hands and exult in it. Some say that they cannot revel in a day that was filled with troubles. Life’s difficulties are growing points. Think about the glory of all the yet unborn miracles. Visualize them, keep them on a cloud, untouched. Let imagination, idealization and visualization keep your corridor to God open, and open the eyes of your soul. Consider the blind young man, unable to work, begging alms for years. He must often have visualized being healed. When Jesus told him to go to Siloam, he asked no questions, just got up, and felt his way in darkness to the pool. He had perfect faith and accepted his visualized inheritance.
The quality of your imagination, idealization and visualization determine your attitude toward life. Success or failure, wealthy, poverty stricken or just getting by, is your choice, so choose wisely!

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Visualization
Edna Lister transcript, May 17, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Margaret Pratt Doan, Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; John 9

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”–John 9
This story about the young man, blind from birth, opens with the doubts of the crowd, and the disciples asking Jesus whose sin had caused the blindness. They wanted to know whose spiritual debt this was. The metaphysical world is conscious that illness and disabilities are the result of sin, though most religions generally do not call this spiritual debt. The debts you owe usually result from personality traits. For instance, escapists prefer to live without accepting responsibility, trying to find an easy way. Others blame, judge, have revenge motives, and look for sinners, ready to pin the record of transgression on their backs.
When others blame you, recognize it as a gift, sent that you might reveal the works of God, a precious opportunity to lift without returning blame. At the altar, ask for Power to cover all such debts. “Let me pay a share of this debt, Father.” Blame comes to those who desire to sacrifice self and lift the world, not to give you an opportunity to justify self. Talking about law is one thing, but conquering to become and express as law is another. Sometimes you honestly know that you have not sinned as greatly as another has blamed you. Yet if you have any taint in your subconscious, pray to lift it.
Jesus told the crowd that no one had sinned or was to blame. This man had come to earth to manifest the works of God. He saw the blind man’s aura, his field of lights and colors, and knew he had been chosen to illustrate this special lesson. Jesus worked on the principle of Light as color. You do too, whether you realize it or not. The mind’s eyes and ears recognize, and when you are high in consciousness, the Power will tell you what to do. You will just know.
Everyone in the city knew the man was blind from birth. He had a lifetime’s worth of “blindness experience” stored in his subconscious, so Jesus went to great lengths to prepare him for the miracle. He mixed clay with his saliva, which was not sacred but was wet, and just what he needed to soften the clay. He anointed the man’s eyes, then had him participate in the miracle: Jesus sent him to the pool of Siloam to wash his eyes. All the way, he must have said to himself, “When I wash my eyes, I will see,” and so great was his desire that he made enough fervently positive statements to neutralize the negatives he’d stored in his subconscious from birth. The Master used what he had, but also gave the young man something to hold to, to practice, believe and become.
Doubters challenged the blind man seven times, but he met their doubts calmly with faith and love. Others, usually family, have later told those whom faith has instantaneously healed, “It couldn’t have happened!” Many miracles then fail because their belief in the miracle collapses. This young man’s faith did not fail. The Pharisees, who were searching for evidence to cast Jesus from the synagogue, cross-examined him about who had healed him. Though they tried to put words in his mouth, he stuck to the facts until they cast him from the synagogue. The young man passed seven great initiations, and received a crown of Light as his final reward.
Jesus then taught him a lesson: “For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see.” Those who are ready to receive the truth also assume responsibility to become the face of truth that is love. “That they which see might be made blind” refers to those who deliberately turn their backs on truth, disobey, pile up great debts, and waste their soul substance, which wipes out their memory of past visions. Those who apparently get away with disobedience accrue soul debts to pay later. Those who cannot see the need for personal responsibility are blind. Heavenly Councils give them only as much debt to pay as they can lift, not their full share: Therefore your sin remaineth. Councils assign the excess debt to the world pool, to be paid by those who can see and do lift.
Your subconscious mind waits for you to accept truth, to cleanse yourself, and to pay your soul debts. You apply this to your life using imagination, idealization and visualization, which are approaches that teachers recommend as different processes. Only love can fulfill the law, and keep you square until you know and can obey all the laws. You will see the way clearly, if you love enough.
Imagination, the kingly faculty and most miraculous power, is essential to create, yet it can change with every wind that blows. Imagination turned down to the world becomes subjective, and builds just as many disasters and fears as you can imagine. The world is full of imagination running wild. Some read the paper, watch the news and imagine evil or destructive situations, which is a waste of time, Mind, Power and Substance. Building pictures of what you do not want is easier than imagining good things and miracles. Never let imagination run away with you. Turn it up in aspiration to look at the Light, until it becomes soul vision, which directs and inspires the other faculties, and gives you glory.
Idealization is the catalyst and balance-point between imagination and visualization. Imagination cannot turn down to focus on the world if idealization holds visualization to a high focus. Where have you put your original ideals? Have the moths chewed them, or self-pitying tears rusted them? Polish your ideals constantly to keep them pristine and undefiled.
To visualize is to recall what you have seen, whether in a vision or in the outer world. Visualization is the ability to recall a distinct mental picture of something already imagined or previously seen, to make a clear picture of an idea in mind. Visualize what you ideally can do, are doing and want to do. Moses is an outstanding example of a visualizer. Someone had to visualize Israel’s future strength and glory, and Israel would never have left bondage in Egypt unless Moses had visualized their freedom. He visualized the Promised Land for forty years before he brought the tribes to that land of milk and honey. Had he not envisioned the Lord’s protective presence as a cloud of smoke by day, that immortal substance would have been just dust.
You can send a pillar of protective fire before your children and loved ones daily, and see them enfolded in a cloud of protective substance. See the best for yourself when you need something, and declare the best for everyone. Never limit God, or be stingy in asking. Why visualize a used car instead of a new one? You’re clinging to taints of unworthiness, stinginess and doubt if you can’t imagine affording a new car. How can God trust you if you do not trust yourself with the best? Can you imagine and plan a new life? Do you say, “I’ve got to rest,” or see yourself as strong? God says, “Do your best and I’ll do the rest!”
Can you imagine yourself as all strength and health as clearly as you can picture your bedroom at home? Can you visualize your inheritance as a son or daughter of God? Your heritage includes everything you can envision, all your ideas, all you can express, and more. You can imagine your divine inheritance. God has all substance, and is never shy of giving. How do you contact this universal Source of supply? God will not just pour it into your lap. Imagination builds the creative mold, idealization holds it in balance, and visualization fills it with substance. Imagination, idealization and visualization are creative tools that bring your dream-desires to pass.
The lesson of the young blind man’s story is fourfold. First, he saw himself as able to see. He acted as if he had already had the miracle, his sight was restored miraculously, he passed seven tests, and finally, he adored the Master. He obeyed Jesus because he expected a miracle. He received a miracle because he had used imagination, idealization and visualization while he remained silent. He never said a word.
Use common sense and let the Power of the Lord use you. Get up and go about your Father’s business. For greater vitality, visualize yourself dancing on a cloud, even if someone suggests you are as old as Methuselah. Life is beautiful. Every day is perfect, so enjoy the fragrance of each day’s bouquet. You can accept the day when you accept trouble as a point of growth. Declare, “This is the most perfect day I’ve ever had. Father, I’ve accepted everything, lifted more and come closer to You today than ever before.”

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Manifestation
Edna Lister outline, May 24, 1959, Cleveland, OH; John 2:1-11

“The Sermon on the Mount is your guide to agree with God, and the Beatitudes regulate how you adjust to your fellow man.”

Use the Sermon on the Mount as your guide to agree with God, and the Beatitudes to regulate how you adjust to your fellow man. Thus, you apply the two-firkin laws. The first order, “Fill the waterpots,” causes faith to pour forth to fill the mold for a miracle. The second order, “Draw out now,” prepares for a miracle. The third order, “Take it to the Master,” says to walk softly, speak gently and carry yourself as if you held a chalice of love.
How do you apply this to yourself metaphysically? “Fill me” causes you to step out in faith fearlessly, opens the windows of heaven and releases the substance waiting for you to use in your creations. As the heat of the first warming rays of sunlight reach a seed or bulb, they arouse an unconscious faith that sends roots seeking life. The first idea you draw from the Light of universal Mind reaches down and touches your faculty of conscious faith to release the substance waiting. You “draw out” by praising, as Paul and Silas did when they praised, sang, and prayed to God while in prison. Praise lifts the dark clouds. Without praise, the heavy clouds of doubt and negativity drag you down in consciousness. You either give up and quit, or give up the doubts in surrender to be the servant of all Power, and go up in ascension of consciousness.
You “bear unto” the master of the feast through joy and a singing heart that calls your own home to you. Bear whatever comes, lifting it to the Ruler of the Universe. God doesn’t take a poll to discover opinions about your virtues. God has named you. Why, when you do your best, do you accept the false names little people call you? Declare, “I have my own name and it is Good.” God named you “Good” in the beginning. The master of the feast explained how hosts usually served the good wine first and inferior vintage later. Yet at this wedding the best wine was served last.
Thus, Jesus manifested his glory. He showed himself plainly, clearly, and obviously. Everyone could see what he had done. Your manifestation shall be glorious also. You shall empty yourself, so faith can fill you. “Draw out” your soul radiance through praise, and “bear unto” high thrones through joy. As you transform the weak water of self into the wine of Spirit, you shall manifest the glory now.

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Manifestation
Edna Lister transcript, May 24, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Margaret Pratt Doan, Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; John 2:1-11

“And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants which drew the water knew), the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”–John 2:1-11
The first chapter of John is the basis of law. Everything unfolds to you when you stand on law, your foundation. Like fiery coals, high ideals will burn away opinions and prejudices in your heart, or you will descend to a cooler degree. How can anyone read just the surface meaning of Bible stories without searching for the deeper layers of truth? My amazement at the hidden mysteries grows with each reading. You must study and open new brain cells to comprehension and unveil the mysteries. John 1 contains the first principles of creation plus the history of John the Baptist. John 1 also holds the key vibration of John 2, which is true of many chapters. A chapter’s key is often found in the atmosphere created in the preceding chapter, which prepares you for penetrating the veil of the mysteries.
Pharisees, priests and Levites had come from Jerusalem to ask John if he were the Messiah. He told them he was not, but that the Messiah was among them. John baptized Jesus that day, though he did not publicly recognize him until the dove of the Spirit descended. The dove symbolized the Oversoul substance continually added to Jesus until he finished his mission. Then, his Oversoul departed while he was on the cross.
The next day, John publicly proclaimed him the Lamb of God, the Messiah, and described how he had recognized Jesus. This was the first day of Jesus’ earth ministry, the day after his baptism. On the second day after Jesus’ baptism, John again proclaimed Jesus the Son of God, which was the third public annunciation of Jesus’ identity before the world. Jesus began to gather his disciples when he found Philip and said, “Follow me.” This was also his first great challenge to evil, because he spoke the Word to claim Philip from the world’s darkness.
Philip then brought Nathanael, who had said, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Jesus astonished Nathanael by reading his thoughts and saying, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael saith unto him, “Whence knowest thou me?” Jesus answered and said unto him, “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.” Nathanael answered and saith unto him, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said unto him, “Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.” And he saith unto him, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” You must prove every declaration you make about yourself. Further, you must also pay the debt your challenge creates when you denounce darkness.
Jesus, his mother and disciples were invited to a wedding at Cana in Galilee on the third day. Mary told Jesus there was no wine, but he said, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His words have universal meaning. The “woman” here represents Love, the Oversoul saying that your time has come to ascend. Self is replying, “How does your concern relate to me? Go away.” Jesus was not disrespectful, he merely had reluctant feet. With reluctant feet, you would like to return to the days when you knew nothing about law or Ascension. Jesus knew that once he stepped forth with his first miracle, he could not turn back or rest.
Self-confidence creates limitation, but soul confidence begets fortitude. You fail when you stop, or put off your responsibility for speaking the Word because “I’m not yet perfect.” Mary paid no attention to his answer, but spoke the Word of Love and told the servants to be ready. Self might run away to escape responsibility, but when Love calls, you finally give in and ascend. Jesus gave three orders for the miracle: “Fill the waterpots. Draw out now,” and “Take it to the master of the feast.” These verses unveil the mysteries. A firkin is a ten-gallon measure, and ten marks a completion that contains a new beginning. Six symbolizes the double trinity of the Father of Wisdom and Mother of Love, which Jesus needed for this miracle.
Faith filled the molds to overflowing when Jesus told the servants to fill the pots. Two is the number that represents agreeing and adjusting, and three symbolizes the highest trinity of Mind, Power and Substance expressing. Mind forms the mold, Substance fills it, and Power manifests the miracle. All these principles must work together for a miracle. They filled half the pots with two firkins, symbolizing agreeing and adjusting, and filled two with three firkins representing Mind, Substance and Power. Study the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, which outlines the principles of agreeing with God and adjusting to man. The same Power creates, whether you agree or disagree. You must fill your waterpot of soul with the River of Life as Mind, Power and Substance in action, before it can change into the wine of Spirit.
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for,” of every fulfilled desire, and it opens the windows of heaven. Universal Mind flows forth when the first mystical rays of the faith of God touch you. Faith carries the mysteries with it, ready to unfold. Soul grasps the concept and impresses it on the mental faculties of logic, reason, discernment, discrimination and discretion. Many degrees of understanding lead to the full faith of God. You can have an idea that something may happen, you can think it will happen, you can believe it may come to pass, or you can know as God knows. The little self’s unconscious creature instinct is the first step. Animals instinctively “know” the seasons will change. When you begin to believe in your immortality, divine qualities and attributes, you ascend from instinct to conscious belief in the possibility of miracles.
In the beginning, God named us Good and Very Good. No one can rename you or take your God-given name. God is not taking a poll about whether you need a new name, but you accept an earthly name when you let curses or name-calling hurt you. Ascend from mere belief into conscious knowing. To strengthen your understanding of this, say, I am that good, I am! I am that joy, I am! I am good and shall stand under the Light! I am obedient to all law I see, hear or know. I now comprehend. To say, “I am good” gradually opens the way for a new portion of the living soul, your original Oversoul, to descend in Power, might and majesty. The pure faith of Oversoul I AM consciousness will possess you after you lift the subconscious mind, and mate selfish desires and will to illumination and intuition. Intuition and illumination form little “eyes of the Lord” for spiritual seeing, like wings of whirling white Light above your physical eyes.
“I AM” is the name God gave you to earn on earth, His gift for winning the long, tremendous struggle to lift and sacrifice self and live by soul. You either give up the ghost and sink, or ascend in surrender, to sacrifice the hurts of self. Surrender of self is most important, for your desire to surrender determines your ability to hold and stand fast. Your words are the fruit you bear, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”–Matthew 12:37.
“Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.”–John 2:7-8. You prepare to see your miracle made manifest in the outer world by drawing out now. Faith is like a Power switchboard, and your faculties are the switches. Your praise throws the main faith switch that activates the Power circuit. Praise God always that the substance of faith pours forth as great radiance from the Source, and bear it to the world. God cannot force you to do anything, for you must choose.
Look at God when others upset you with criticism, and say, “I am Your good child, now. Good I am, and good I shall stand.” Visualize what is coming as good. Show the world a shining face and manifest God’s glory. Jesus manifested faith by agreeing with God and adjusting to man. He manifested glory when they filled the waterpots to overflowing with the faith of God. You can use your God-given name of “I AM good” to “draw out” from this radiant glory, to bear every ideal into manifestation. This is the law: Manifestation is almighty glory shining as radiance of soul.
Jesus had created a debt with his challenge to darkness when he spoke to Nathanael. He began his ministry with the miracle at Cana, the first proof of his Messiahship, which paid the debt and “manifested his glory.” The miracle wine did not turn red, but had the flavor of wine. You must change your weak water into the wine of fortitude. Know that your name is Good, as Light transforms you into the image and likeness of God. Let the wine of Spirit bubble as your soul’s enthusiasm.

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The Seven Last Words
Edna Lister outline, June 7, 1959, Cleveland, OH. Luke 23:33-46, John 19:26-30, Mark 15:33-3.

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King of The Jews. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”–Luke 23:33-46
“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”–John 19:26-30
“And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.”–Mark 15:33-37
The seven words that Jesus spoke from the cross opened seven great vibrations. He spoke them into being and they are still going forth, growing greater in meaning for you as you learn your lessons of responsibility. These words form the overall challenge for each of the Seven Degrees to expand, to grow, to ascend in consciousness, to add something more to your laws of responsibility. Each word is a clue to what your next challenge will be. As a veil of illusion is torn away, you ascend from one degree to the next. It is good business to remain alert to change, since you cannot know when the next test will come.
Jesus said, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.”–John 15:22. Why did he make such a statement? Because if you do not know what sin is, you cannot be charged with a debt under law. A child cannot be held accountable as an adult. The reaction of the law of cause and effect is proportioned to your individual comprehension of responsibility. God cannot make a man responsible if he will not learn law. Jesus also set a vibration moving forth to cover every negative thing ever connected with his name. You become responsible for everything the use of your name touches.
He directed and set the control for what his Oversoul substance would do for earth until the planet and solar system are cleansed. His Supreme Oversoul formed the Oversouls of the planets of our solar system. His life sparks, endowed with Power, rain upon us for healing.
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”–Luke 23:34. Jesus set a keynote of forgiveness for the whole world. He sponsored the ignorance of all, from the high priest to Pontius Pilate and the rabble. He made what they were doing legal. He charged no debt of blame to them. So do you when you declare, “This is good.” You wipe out all debts with your spoken Word.
“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”–John 19:26-27. These words wiped out any slight taint in the soul record of that first challenge to darkness, when he said to Nathanael, “Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”–John 1:50-51.
Also, Jesus covered his words to his mother at the wedding at Cana, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.”–John 2:4. He also honored his mother and opened the Love ray to exalt womanhood. He changed the vibration from Wisdom to Love then and there. He also set John as her protector, and showed that womanhood is to be honored and protected.
“Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”–Luke 23:43. This Word opened wide the gate to repentance. Jesus came to save the sinner and called home all those who repent. When you do not blame, you forgive sins, not because you are so perfect, but that you give love for the offense.
“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”–Mark 15:34. Jesus knew instantly that the Father, who had indwelt him, had left. Had the Father’s o’ershadowing rcontinued, earth would have been destroyed with the release of Power at Jesus’ death on the cross. From the time of your birth, new living soul substance is being added to your Oversoul, and it fills your aura. To feel empty is your warning. Oversoul tells you that you have slipped. Once you get the feeling of being up in consciousness, you know instantly when you are falling.
“Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”–John 19:28. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Psalm 69:21: “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” The Roman soldiers wet a sponge with sour wine and gave it to him on a bitter hyssop wand. Jesus had to accept this bitterness to fulfill prophecy and to lift the vibration of bitterness. In doing so, he taught that you must thirst after God and perfection of soul until you are ready to accept all your soul debts. Thus, he started the vibration of personal responsibility.
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”–John 19:30. You must surrender. You must be finished with the past before it can be finished with you. You may pray, hold fast to truth as you know it, and nothing happens. Finally, you say, “I’m through! I quit!” Then you find that God was waiting for you to let go and let God. You have been busy clogging all your channels with “trying” to do it for God.
“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”–Luke 23:46. Commending his spirit to the Father marked Jesus’ final acceptance and surrender through devotion. He made the final transition from self to soul. Like a rocket, he blasted off with these words. The keynote of this word is fulfillment. With this declaration, Jesus fulfilled his mission. Then, as for us now, the overall Christed keynote is forgiveness. Ascension by forgiveness is just as practical today.
The creature consciousness of “human nature” says, “I can’t forgive them.” The appetitive soul must face Rebirth. The son of man consciousness is still out for self, but has been reborn and is ready for the Baptism by Water. He says, “I forgive them.” This is the great initiation of Resurrection. “Father, forgive them” is the second step of giving up self completely in surrender to be possessed by the Power.
The third step is Ascension, in which the real you, the soul, becomes one with the universal love of God ruling and possessing you. “Father, forgive me, lest I cause my brother to stumble.” Now you are assuming blame joyously. The secret of long life, happiness and peaceful sleep is to leave no debts uncovered with Light. You must give up the self to be possessed by the Power.

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The Seven Last Words
Edna Lister transcript, June 7, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Margaret Pratt Doan, Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; Luke 23:33-46, John 19:26-30, Mark 15:33-37

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”–Luke 23:33-46.
“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”–John 19:26-30.
“And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.–Mark 15:33-37.
“Good” invokes the full Power vibration of the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”–John 1:1. The Word is the Logos, a vibration directly from the Source. The seven declarations that Jesus spoke from the cross hold the vibration of the Word, and so we term them “words.” They form great keynote vibrations for the seven Degrees of Initiation, each opening the vibration for a specific degree. Most churches usually read these passages during Holy Week, set them aside the rest of the year, and mistakenly ignore their importance in our religious life.
The seven last words were the finale of Jesus’ work, and completed everything he was unable to do during his ministry. He finished his mission on the seventh word, set the keynote for the coming 2,000 years, and released the Light-as-power to cover what he could not teach personally. The seven Degrees of Initiation are like the seven veils of illusion, which reveal vast invisible realms of illumination when parted. Each great degree contains many lesser degrees. These “last words” challenge you to come higher, grow, expand, add illumination and responsibility, and give order to life.
Jesus said, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.”–John 15:22. For example, children do not know they have spiritual debts, but do experience the law of action and reaction, called cause and effect. God apportions reaction or effect to each according to his intelligence and ability to understand law. Otherwise, you could not withstand the Power’s reaction returning to you as force.
Responsibility comes with knowing, so one who does not know or understand the law releases little Power when he speaks. Idle words react on a Neophyte to a much lesser degree than on a Master. Your words and thoughts return to you, and you spend your own soul substance when you hate or curse in anger. You release little Power until you accept responsibility for your spoken words, blessings or curses, love or hate.
You are blaming others when you speak in malice, irritation or hate, or try to demand they do it your way. The vehemence of your words determines the force that returns to you. You meet trials by fire to test the soul’s growth under these great challenges until you learn your earth-lessons and ascend. Your words release universal Light as Power when you accept your responsibility.
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”–Luke 23:34. To forgive means to give love for what the world hands you. Jesus’ invocation of mercy set the keynote of forgiveness for this age on earth. Everyone holds debts of blame, but Jesus lifted every debt of blame for his slayers, the priests, Pontius Pilate and the rabble. He legalized the other fellow’s words on the law of forgiveness, which creates completion and wholeness.
Forgiveness is the keynote of the Master’s ministry, and it operates in four stages: The creature, the son of man, the son of God and the creator. Creature consciousness, which is just a step above the animal kingdom, dedicates itself to negativity and revenge, saying, “I’ll remember this. I will never forgive you.”
The children of men experience forgiveness as a Rebirth in consciousness, and magnanimously say, “I’ll forgive you, but you’d better not do it again.” They begin to give love for hate, and rend the first veil of illusion. Nobody can resist the Power of Love, which resolves everything. As a child of God, you face countless Baptisms by Water and Fire, which crucify the self’s desires and will. You finally begin to ascend in consciousness when you say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Miracle after miracle is yours when you finally burn with desire to be resurrected from self.
As a creator, you take the initiations of Resurrection and Ascension, saying, “Father, forgive me, lest I cause my brother to stumble.” God’s great love holds you above earth’s vibration until you become immovable and untouchable. Love is brisk, marvelous, and stands on its own. Force just bumbles along and bars your progress. You pay a double debt by blaming or reviling those who do not know law, so use love in forgiveness to legalize others’ negative statements. You wipe out debts of blame according to the other fellow’s vows when you see perfection and declare, “This is good.”

“You wipe out debts of blame according to the other fellow’s vows when you see perfection and declare, ‘This is good.’”–Edna Lister

The universal love you add heals each according to his degree and kind, but he is still responsible for learning his lesson on the debt. When people revile you, legalize their blame by making it a gift to the Father, as Jesus did on the cross. “I love you where you are. You are wonderful” covers the debt with love. As a creator, you have miracles when you let the power of love use you to legalize others’ disobedience.
The Gospel of John reveals that Jesus came to earth to challenge darkness. He began his ministry by saying, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”–John 1:51, which declared his identity and readiness to complete his mission.
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”–John 19:25-27. “Woman, behold thy son!” challenged women to become leaders in Ascension, to love and nurture all men.
Jesus was proclaiming that all men are sons to mother love, and wiped out the taint of his words to his mother at Cana, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.–John 2:24. He set the ruling keynote of the Adamic civilization in this Age when he changed the vibration from the masculine Wisdom to the feminine Love. Jesus challenged men to protect women with “Behold thy mother!” He taught that death is no real bereavement, only the appearance of loss.
“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”–Luke 23:39-43. Jesus added the law of repentance to the law of forgiveness when he forgave the contrite thief’s sins by pouring the vibration of love on him. You wipe out the sin when you look into the face of evil and declare, “This is good.” Do this and see miracle after miracle.
“At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”–Mark 15:37. From the moment John baptized him, Jesus called immense portions of his Oversoul directly from the Source of All Light. He did so with each surrender and obedience, until he had invoked the fullness of his Supreme Oversoul, which was the Father Himself. The Light of this power would have destroyed earth had the Father not withdrawn.
From your moment of Rebirth, as you express love, you invoke living soul substance from the Source, stamped with your number and name, in exact proportion to what you give others. You can convert evil into good when you live by Christed I AM consciousness, and declare that everything that comes to you is good. No one can react negatively when you express love. If you reply, “I love you” to “I hate you,” what can the angry soul do about it?
You usually let go because you are tired of trying to do it yourself. If you say, “I am tired. I quit,” the Father says, “Child, now you discover you do nothing of yourself.” All you can do is to praise God and say, “Let Thy Light go forth.” You are His mouthpiece, an instrument for the Power of the Most High. The Father gives you the miracle when you surrender all self to Him.
You are supposed to stay up in consciousness, especially in a crisis. Jesus’ plea, “My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” is your warning signal to muster the good sense to know when you are on the skids. You begin to slip the minute you ignore the inner warning. Where have you gone when you complacently think you are good? You have stepped off the path when you feel God has deserted you. Do not wallow in fear or slide down the greased pole of consciousness. Recognize the warning and ascend instantly. Ascend.
“Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”–John 19:28-30. With “I thirst!” Jesus set this vibration and sent all power of transfiguration through us as his agents. You will ascend the Mount of Transfiguration when you hunger and thirst enough for God’s law. You begin to fail when you are thirsty for love, but seek it on earth.

“You will ascend the Mount of Transfiguration when you hunger and thirst enough for God’s law.”–Edna Lister

How do you get enough love? Praise your Father. Be thirsty enough to surrender to that love. Declare, “Father, I offer You my spiritual debts to be paid in love.” “It is finished!” is the keynote of responsibility. Saying it, Jesus knew he had set the fifth great vibration of mastery to last through eternity. He had lifted bitterness when he drank the sour wine on the bitter hyssop. God accepts everyone and everything in love. He lifts it as love when you accept all Power working through you as His agent. Look at God and declare, “I accept all this bitterness as love and make it a gift to You, Father. Let me pour love over my brother. Let this cup pass from him. Let me share his load and lift it for him.” You have completed an initiation and are ready for the next when you can say, “It is finished.”
“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”–Luke 23:46. This declaration was the finale of surrender, and immense Power exploded as Jesus set this final vibration. Matthew reports that the release of Power tore the temple veil in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, the rocks split, the graves opened, saints arose from their graves and entered the holy city to appear to many.
Jesus wept in Gethsemane because he prayed that he had done enough. He understood the magnitude of his responsibility, and the danger of destroying earth with the Power he would call to his Crucifixion. When the lightning came, he blasted off like a rocket on that Power. He drew in clouds of Power and the Light of his auric substance, and ascended it through the heavenly Gates to form the planets’ Oversouls. We have used his stored auric substance for healing and miracles for 2,000 years. The Christ Power he released still sets world ideas and predictions aside for those who ascend.
Love is a vibration above “peace on earth.” Love is now the ruling vibration from above, and one day love will rule the entire world. Love forms a magic circle of fire around you. No hate can touch the brisk, dynamic, positive love of God, which stands without self, as a pillar in the Temple of God Almighty. You will see what can be done when your love becomes this great love. All mankind shall know the love of God.

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Desire: Your Glory
Edna Lister outline, June 14, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Colossians 1:10-29

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Desire: Your Glory
Edna Lister transcript, June 14, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Irene White, scribes; Colossians 1:10-29

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”–Colossians 1:10-29.
Desire is above and beyond the “little self” wanting, clutching and grabbing. God, in the beginning, was alone, with no one through whom He could express, with no one on whom He could lavish His love. God desired us and we came into being. When God created the world He never planned the mess we have made of it. He created us as instruments through which to express, and gave us free will to choose good or evil. However, our will is free only when we exercise it “by Him and for Him, to express His Wisdom.” God holds absolute control over every life spark of substance, the “firstborn” of every living creature. Your firstborn is your body in which you dwell, your mind with which you draw ideas from above. Your mental body lotus petals reach like antennae for ideas and direction from divine Mind within the River of Life. They touch a corresponding vibration, and draw what you need to you.
You reach God though three portals, desire, intuition and illumination. A portal is an elaborate opening into the glory of God, unlike a plain “gate” or “door.” Desire is that Creative Impulse, made in the image and likeness of God. You are that Creative Impulse made by and for Him. You must feed desire with devotion, praise and love. Indifference, lukewarmness and I-do not-care-ness starve desire, so you have no substance for your prayer molds, no life in your body. You are a creator, but how do you use your creative tools? You always pay a price for everything you get. Look up with your inner eye, and make certain your portal is open, for self closes every door. Be devoted to God or at least to the object of your prayer. Declare, “I am alive, alert and aware, open to the River of Life flowing through me now.”
Fill your creative molds when desire becomes a burning flame. The perfection of your desire takes you before the high altar, but what you have not yet comprehended brings you back to earth. Humility is living up to your highest vision of God, and living for Him. Some confuse their idea of humility with acceptance. Humility looks at everything that comes as good, no matter how dark or unclean it appears. If you have a high idea of your humility, you have pride instead. You close the portal to the River of Life when you think of self instead of God. You cannot be ill or lack for anything when the River of Life fills you. When someone says, “I wish I had it as easy as you,” it is a sign that the River of Life is filling you. Why be angry?
Paul taught four steps to build up desire: “Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.”–Colossians 1:10-12. To walk worthy of the Lord means holding honor to and for God first, above all things. If people leave you because of this, let them go, and stand. Walking refers to the feet, which represent understanding, and the arches, which symbolize your foundation principles. Are yours fallen? To walk worthy implies honor and loyalty to principle that leaves you unshakable and immovable.
“Increasing in the knowledge of God” opens the door to wisdom and understanding. Study exercises the mind, opens brain cells, and leaves little room for idle thoughts, which is one method of working out your own salvation. You can arise weak and weepy, then something makes you joyous and strengthens your body. Why wait for an outside event? Create your own invincible joy, and be filled with the might of His glorious Power. Become a joy-maker instead of a suffering martyr. You never lack energy when you are joyful.
“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”–Colossians 1:21-23.
Grounded and steadfast means being stabilized in truth. Without understanding to add stability, you are grounded another way, with wings clipped and tail-feathers dragging. Steadfastness is being settled in one place, and the best place is in the Light. Some settle down on one truth until they become stuck in opinion and prejudice. People say, “I’ve settled up” when they pay a debt. Being grounded in truth is the same—you are settled up in the Light.
The next two portals move from desire and will to intuition and illumination. As a neophyte, you ascend from faith in God to the faith of God. Then, no matter the outer appearance, you declare perfection even in the face of death, as Jesus did with Lazarus. The lotus center over the pituitary gland opens under burning desire, intuition awakens the brain cells of the cortex and you have a listening station for the Voice of God. Your brain cells turn upward to hear God, not the world. Intuition interprets the vibration into words when you listen with the ears of Mind.
Self is the interpreter at the solar ple”us, the seat of subconscious mind. People still need psychiatry because everyone has a subconscious translator that may conflict with reality. The subconscious mind and the desire body combined form the seat of sensation. Thus, a person who has a hunch says, “I feel this” or “My gut tells me.” Hunches originate in the subconscious, which follows old patterns. A hunch means that self has taken over, not the soul vision that expands.
Super-conscious mind says, “Come higher,” the subconscious says, “Stay down here with me,” and soul stands in the middle, torn between the two. Descending in consciousness is like a dark nightmare. Ascending through the portal of intuition leads you by the “still waters” of the golden silence. You do not need to enter the golden silence, for you are already there. Declare it a thousand times an hour, if necessary, to reach illumination. The seat of illumination is the pineal body, where you walk in expansive “green pastures.” Green represents soul expansion and growth. Finally, you arrive at a beautiful place, having expanded to the faith of God. You know success in all ways, inner and outer when you are “settled up” and steadfast beside the still waters.
Then you experience three descents of the Holy Ghost. Jesus asked his disciples to watch and pray with him in Gethsemane, but found them asleep. You watch and pray, then find your faith, love and joy sleeping. You entertain beliefs that shake your faith, feelings instead of love, and have a hunch that suggests someone out there should be good and make “me” happy. Why settle for happiness when joy is available? Joy is a first principle of God and a name of the Begotten Son. To know joy, you must make yourself good and make others happy. Oversoul calls as the voice of intuition, “Watch with me.” At last, faith, love and joy are awake.
“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”–Colossians 1:25-27.
With the third descent of the Holy Ghost, you unfold mysteries hidden for ages, awaiting revelation through intuition and illumination. “Ages” refer to time and “generations” refer to the people to whom God would make known the mysteries, the “nations” or Gentiles. Christed consciousness is the hope of glory. Flaming desire ignites intuition into contacting its Source, until illumination fills you as the life of God. Then you are so settled and grounded that nothing of earth can disturb you.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God.”–Matthew 6:33 is a law for metaphysical babies. Adults become this law of glory when they are settled up in the kingdom. Hold to this law. Stand on it as your foundation. Know that law is truth, verbally expressed. Christ consciousness is not crammed into your body, but is you, created in the image and likeness of God. The glory of God is yours to use on earth, so use it in lavish measure.

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Imagination: Your Crown
Edna Lister outline, June 21, 1959, Cleveland, OH; 1 Peter 5:2-11

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”–1 Peter 5:2-11.
“In the beginning, God.” When you realize exactly what these words mean, you will turn from darkness, fear, doubt and rebellion to face the Light squarely. They are a foundation, a guiding rope through life’s blizzards, a storm shelter from all terrors of earth. “In the beginning, God,” describes our Source and is our goal for the future. For example, someone, speaking of Teddy Roosevelt, wrote,

“How we do need a prophet who will not measure every word and deed by what they might add or do to his personal fortunes. When Theodore Roosevelt served, the foundations of our great religious movements, like the foundations of our nation, were not laid by mere diplomats. They were rough hewn by angular characters who did not fit into any situation, they changed situations. When Teddy Roosevelt left the White House, America was a young and vigorous nation, fast coming into world leadership. He did not live to see her begin the sad course that has led to this muddled hour…we have reached the middle of this mental wilderness—God send us a Voice.”–Anonymous.

The Voice is still speaking to us, stronger and more powerfully than ever, after 2,000 years: “Follow me and be ye saved.” Yet, people are afraid of being saved because being saved is a long, drawn-out process. Someone could convince you mentally in a few moments, but emotionally, only inch by inch. Why? because you can remain unconvinced in imagination. Until you cleanse imagination’s photographic memory cells, you have no firm hold on principle, no moral conviction.
Conversion and repentance are related to being saved, yet even those who accept conversion and repentance misunderstand these terms. Conversion is a change of emotions and deals with the emotional life, repentance with the mind. Conversion is no emotional bubble bath, but must be a complete change of heart, an about-face, a change of direction from the lower self to the soul. Repentance is not a vague feeling or mentally thinking of regret, but an altered viewpoint, a change of mind. Repentance is about changed thinking and deals with a transformed mental life.
What is imagination? Imagination deals with the photographic memory cells. Both imagination and thinking are mental and you must change both before you can repent completely. Imagination can crown you with glory, which is the Way of the Christ, not some amendment to selfishness. Imagination is not a substitute for anything else. It is “In the beginning, God,” the ultimate, the crown of glory. God now! What is this crown of glory? A crown implies a royalty. So, you belong to the royal family of God. Declare, “I am a child of the King.” You don’t wear a crown on your feet, abdomen or chest, but on your head! How do you get this crown? You must “Be clothed with humility.” Humility “seeks not her own,” is not puffed up or asking for more personal credits. Humility is open-minded.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”–1 Peter 5:8. The little self, the subconscious mind is always seeking to devour all beauty within the soul. “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”–Revelation 3:11. Recognize darkness only to lift it to a cloud continent of Light. Ignore anything that might take your crown.
You are “called to eternal glory,” but how can imagination aid you? Imagination is your “seeing” faculty, the highest creative faculty of the soul. Imagination is your ability to visualize, create and build forms, to give ideas form by making blueprints of what you want on your photographic memory cells. In the outer world, you use a camera to take pictures. Your imagination, turned upward is vision. You can have no creations without using imagination. Without imagination, man could never have left the cave or climbed up from barbarism.
When you use imagination, you send it forth panoplied in power. When you let the world mind, others or the little self color or control your imagination, the pictures they impose on your photographic memory cells are theirs, not yours. You know how great your creations can be because of the size of your past darkness. Atrophied imagination means not much growth in any direction, and certainly no soul growth. This is imagination frozen in the position of a camera that can only take snapshots from the outer world, others and the little self.
You cannot use an atrophied imagination as your all-seeing eye. It will sprout no new brain cells, but prune others to a little death, calling it rationalization. Such people think they are thinking. The roaring lion seeking to devour is the form little self takes as the adversary. It always roars around, acting like a witch doctor, driving away the evil spirits of the things that hurt. With little self in charge, you wind up with nothing left of beauty or joy. The soul shrinks to almost nothing.
Imagination makes you a living ensample of eternal glory because you are called to glory. An example is passive and indifferent. An ensample is active with atomic life. An ensample is compounded of love and joy. Such ensamples include John Paul Jones and Teddy Roosevelt. John Paul Jones, with the Bon Homme Richard sinking, and only the Alliance left, rammed the larger British vessel, HMS Serapis, boarded it and won the Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779. In the midst of this battle, he shouted his famous quotation, “I have not yet begun to fight!” Teddy Roosevelt, who had very poor undiagnosed vision as a child, hiked when he was a small boy, although terrified. He made himself excel in sports and headed the Rough Riders. In the 1912 campaign, he was shot in Milwaukee by an assassin. His steel eyeglass case and the folded speech in his breast pocket, saved him and he delivered the speech before going to the hospital.
In Jerusalem and the Galilee, a handful of earnest men turned the ancient world upside down. What could more than 800 million Christians do if they used imagination to build the New Jerusalem, the City of Peace, on earth? We could declare the millennium now, forty years in advance! “In the beginning, God” is happening now! You are crowned with the high calling of God. Imagination, crowned with glory, sends I AM, the Christ consciousness, forth to create a full, majestic, splendid and glorious life!

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Imagination: Your Crown
Edna Lister transcript, June 21, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; 1 Peter 5:2-11

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”–1 Peter 5:2-11.
“In the beginning, God” are the opening words of the New Testament, the textbook for the coming Christed age, and the implication behind them covers everything. People will no longer fear darkness when the world grasps the meaning of “In the beginning, God.” Eventually, we must comprehend “In the beginning, God,” which is our foundation of life, the eye of the storm, our calm center in the midst of crisis. It implies that we cannot change God because He created us in His image and likeness.
We need a new voice in the wilderness. For example, someone, speaking of Teddy Roosevelt, wrote,

“How we do need a prophet who will not measure every word and deed by what they might add or do to his personal fortunes. When Theodore Roosevelt served, the foundations of our great religious movements, like the foundations of our nation, were not laid by mere diplomats. They were rough hewn by angular characters who did not fit into any situation, they changed situations. When Teddy Roosevelt left the White House, America was a young and vigorous nation, fast coming into world leadership. He did not live to see her begin the sad course that has led to this muddled hour…we have reached the middle of this mental wilderness—God send us a Voice.”–Anonymous.

Well, a voice has cried in the wilderness for the past 2,000 years, saying. “Follow me and be saved!” Religious interpretations, approaches and cults proliferate, but the intelligentsia and agnostics avoid conversion and repentance. They may talk much intellectual twaddle, but have not touched “In the beginning, God.” Conversion is not a bubble bath, though many convert with a ritual bath. Conversion deals with your faculty of desire turned in a new direction, an about face, a complete change in the emotional life. Conversion is usually a slow process of giving up self an inch at a time until you lift “little me,” like patching a coat until it’s new again. Burning the coat in a fire would be a complete conversion. Repentance is not vague regret, mumbling, “I’m sorry,” and off you go. True repentance is an instant conviction that this is the truth! It creates a complete change in the mental life, including your mind and thinking faculty.
You can have an emotional conversion and mental repentance, but a wayward imagination can neutralize it. Until you cleanse the brain’s photographic memory cells, which imagination uses, you have no clear picture of “in the beginning, God.” Imagination is a like camera. Sometimes you let its focus slip down, and it photographs only what your little self wants. You can ascend in devotion, close the door to your room of prayer and lift your emotions. Yet suddenly something outside can attract self. Recognition opens the shutter for a peek at negativity, then quickly lifts. If you allow self to focus on a subconscious memory, you slip.
“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”–1 Peter 5:2-4.
Imagination is the hope of glory, but is negative when you turn it downward. As you turn soul vision up, it becomes a pure crown of glory that creates a new charter for your life. Imagination cannot become a knowing faith in an ultimate God until you cleanse and purify your desires, thinking and imagination. You earn your “crown of glory that does not fade away” by walking the Via Christa in humility that “does not parade itself.” This is no amendment to a past creed that permitted taints of selfishness, but a new charter of glory. Follow Jesus the Christ in humility and acceptance.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”–1 Peter 5:8-9. The little self is your adversary, the devil that waits to tempt you, drag you down and devour you. Self uses imagination’s camera to take pictures of evil and negativity until no beauty or joy is left in your memory. Little self, the roaring lion of the world, uses rationalization to devour Light. Rationalization tears down its object of inquiry and is not constructive thinking. Prayer muzzles and cages that roaring lion of self-love.
Many professors and intellectuals are as guilty of destructive rationalization as are the agnostics, whose imaginations are frozen in a downward focus. You need to ascend and convert your physical senses and mental capacities into soul faculties. God gives you a crown of glory when you turn imagination up as soul vision. You have one instant between focusing on negativity and turning imagination up to absorb and lift evil as smoke that disappears into the sky. Use imagination to snap the camera’s shutter and the flash of Christ Light will flood the situation. Your lens of vision and flash of glory covers the person in Light, perhaps before he knows he has done anything negative.
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”–1 Peter 5:10. God is the beginning, the present, the future. He has given you a scepter of love to absorb any word spoken instantly, before it leaves the room. God bestows this grace and glory of imagination as a crown, which enables you to alleviate darkness, and bring Light wherever you walk, vacuuming the world, cleaning up lies, evil and darkness.
The God of grace, who calls you to eternal glory, also makes you a living ensample of His glory walking the earth. An example deals with the outer world, but an ensample’s strength comes from the inner. The Master would have been lost had he opened his camera’s eye to the world, but he kept his vision turned up and conquered. His robe illustrates this—it was glistering and pure white after the Resurrection, not soiled, rumpled or patched.
Some say that war is evil and turn away as though it were none of their affair. Since we all got us into it, we must all work to get us out of it. God gave Moses the Promised Land, but Israel was responsible for conquering and defending it. As you stand in Light and hold, you may be a rebuke to those around you, who will try to take God from you. Will you stand and defend your faith and works, or let them stop you? Stand, plant your banner firmly, and defend the good. You must have a window on the world, but you can close the shutters so others do not bother you. Look up in soul vision, covering everything in love and lift it to God.
A few men and women in Jerusalem were qualified to use imagination as vision, and turned the world upside down. That crown of glory would descend now if everyone looked up in imagination and prayed together. We would conquer war and evil if we always walked the Via Christa. Illumination descends as Christed I AM consciousness, the mind that was in Christ Jesus. Ascend to splendor and vision, knowing that “in the beginning, God, God now, in the future, God.” And you are part of it. With God as your foundation stone, you can stand on the point you have gained without looking down. From that high place, release His Light to your loved ones and to the world, for perfection and healing.

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Freedom: Your Philosophy
Edna Lister outline, June 28, 1959, Cleveland, OH; John 8:25-32

“Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”–John 8:25-32.
Philosophy means the “love of wisdom.” Your philosophy of freedom is balanced love and wisdom, applied to your own daily life. Your freedom depends on your balance of love and wisdom. Since love multiplies itself faster than any other quality of God, wisdom suggests that the way to freedom is to love enough to gain lasting freedom. Love changes anything it touches into itself. Love is unquenchable fire, timeless, tireless and limitless in its power. Love has been tried and time-tested, and it does work.
As many earthly ideas of freedom exist as individuals who live on earth. Everyone wants and searches for his own idea of freedom. A creature roaming the wood wild, with enough to eat, has freedom. A man, living in a hut on a mountainside, has the same type of freedom. To some, living alone, never sharing or being bothered is freedom. To others, money spells freedom. All are in deep bondage to self and their own ideas. No matter whether they talk about politics, religion or fear, they all want freedom.
When a soul follows the earth-idea pattern of freedom, self is heavy from being denied love. Man must carry the little self on his back while he aches from the burden. The soul pattern of love fills the atomic body, inflates the atoms and makes you light on your feet. Love inflates the spherical aura and you “mount as with the wings of eagles.” Nothing can resist the cleansing power of such a love-filled aura. Nothing can resist its flowing. No words are needed because the Power is doing the work.
“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”–John 8:32. Jesus told us that he who is of the truth shall know the truth. Still, what is truth? What truth will you know? You are your own truth, the sum total of every principle and law you have accepted to date. Your own interpretation of principle and law declares you freedom of expression.
“And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”–Acts 27:22-25. The soul is brought before the high justice of love and wisdom, and must prove that it is free of fear. We have two methods of getting rid of fears and being free.
“I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.”–John 8:24. You are free to speak. “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”–John 8:29. You are free of loneliness because you are not left alone, and you do what pleases God. You must love enough. Love is action, and love in action is the secret of glory. Your freedom depends on pleasing God, not self.
“When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”–John 8:28. The little self knows Him and knows the truth. The truth about God and your relationship to Him sets you free. Your challenge to freedom is to do the greater works. Change your narrow-view pattern of self to a larger, vast horizon. Grow up to that past horizon and you again begin to feel squeezed, cramped and bound.
When you reach a place where you feel you have done nothing in the past, it’s a sign that you have reached the edge of the horizon on that vision or idea. So, just stretch your horizon and add another vast goal. All effort you have put into the past is added to your ability now. Declare, “I so love.” Your most precious jewel, your pearl of great price is the freedom to expand. Declare, “I desire to die daily to self, for soul freedom.” Every day, little self dies. Every day it is easier to persevere, to agree, to please God, to avoid the appearance of evil, and to “follow me.” Every new desire for freedom is your guarantee of a new power generator installed to help you love more. Every breath you draw is your guarantee of God’s life, more abundant and immortal.
Your wealthy Father multiplies your talents and gifts. Idle words subtract from your heavenly bank account and royal gifts. Your new pattern is all addition and multiplication of the good. Love, unquenchable and unbeaten, forever multiplies itself as your life. Your wealthy Father has sent your fare home. It awaits you in the office of love, the crown of the Christ in the House of the Lord. Is it God’s fault if you are too lazy to pick it up? Yet, it remains there until you can decide to love enough.
Stand on the periphery of your own kingdom, with lines of Light running to every desire within your heart. Each desire is whirling and shining within your creative circle, where you gestate your life’s prayer molds. Listen to love’s beautiful harmonies. As love meets some reviling, criticism or hate, love’s unquenchable nature changes it into the rhythm of pure joy.
You may add as many creative desires as you wish, but must keep them nourished with the love of God. Stand and watch as your pages are washed white as snow. The power of love brings all irreconcilable factors into beauty. Set them free with your new freedom to love, to please God enough. Make your one desire be to enlarge your kingdom, to stretch your wings to far horizons. Your freedom to do this is as timeless, as tireless, and as limitless as love itself. You know you must be brought before the high courts of love and wisdom, as Paul was brought before Caesar. Yet know that you need not fear.

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Freedom: Your Philosophy
Edna Lister transcript, June 28, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; John 8:25-32

“Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.–John 8:25-32.
Philosophy means the “love of wisdom,” and indicates that any freedom that comes from life must be balanced as far as love and wisdom are concerned. Your philosophy of life depends on how you interpret the principles and laws you have learned on earth. Honor above all things and loyalty to God are fundamental laws and absolutely necessary principles. How you apply these laws and principles to your life is your philosophy of life. The world has as many philosophies of freedom as it has individual types, yet you must balance every freedom in love and wisdom. Philosophies generally fall into three categories, religious, practical and personal.
Savages believe they are free to roam, eat and sleep as they will. Some believe perfect freedom is plenty of money and material abundance. However, those who live by earth standards without the love of God, follow philosophies of self. They are in total bondage to the little self and their emotions. Self feels bound and burdened when it is not free to do as it pleases. You carry all your burdens on the back of your little self. Self produces your burdens. Its philosophy of life is, “I’ll do what I want, my way,” embroidered with plenty of opinions and criticism.
Power descends when you have that freedom of the love of God that unconsciously gives of and sacrifices itself. God’s unquenchable love has healed you, body, mind and soul. Power then inflates the body’s atoms and ailments vanish. It inflates your aura with pure Light to heal all who come near. You are buoyant as you walk down the street, and your lightness clings to others. Wings of soul spread to bear you up as on the wings of eagles. Your true freedom begins, freedom from the weight of self, freedom to expand.
“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”–John 8:31-32. What is this truth? Where is this truth? When shall we know this truth? Paul gives one method to cleanse self and eliminate fear. He said an angel of God appeared and told him, “Fear not, you must be brought before Caesar.” This verse is a miracle worker. To be brought before Caesar means high justice, mercy and comprehension of law. Caesar represents your highest goal and your greatest judgment of self. Do not try to escape it, but face it. If you think just one idea per day about living up to your supreme vision, God will hold you until you gain that vision as a worthy citizen of the kingdom. You ascend when you no longer desire to escape.
Two methods will eliminate fear. Justice is honorable and gives you the conviction to speak. You dare to speak when you attain that balance between love and wisdom. God puts words of truth on your lips because truth is your philosophy of life. You may cry, “Where has God gone?” Yet you never need to feel alone. Jesus said, “The Father hath not left me alone, for I always do those things that please him.”–John 8:29. Do you always do what pleases God? You will receive the answer if you ask this of your self before you ask of God.
“Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”–John 8:32. This is truth as you accept it, based on what you know and how you apply it where you are today. Tomorrow you may receive a greater truth, yet your inner conviction that it is truth makes you apply it.
“When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he.”–John 8:28. Jesus appeared in the physical, and was transfigured into the spiritual. The son of God represents the soul. The son of man is the little self. You balance wisdom and love when you lift up the son of man.
The greatest challenge is, “He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”–John 14:12. This challenge means increased vision, expanded horizons, more demands on your time, a higher place and greater responsibility to handle. You must know you are ready to ascend into a higher, larger place when you feel cramped and squeezed. Push out the walls around you. Spread your wings and let your horizon grow.
Never say that you have wasted your efforts. Use every mistake as a perfect experience, whatever happens, and increase your ability to expand into new vision. Lift mistakes and imperfections, and draw on God’s substance to fill your great vision. You are free to expand your vision, which is your pearl of great price. Little self must die daily to attain this glory. Lift the past and your little self. Watch for tiny hurts and mild opinions, and do not allow a breakdown.
What can you do? Arise and go to your Father, reach for the stars, stretch to a Source you can draw on for strength. Stand on the periphery of your kingdom and hold the lines of Light. Adopt radar control over your little self and family situations. Stand and do nothing but love God. You are “inconstant” when you allow an outer vibration to move you or knock you off track. Your Father places a radar beam around you, which you always follow, walk in and work through. You cannot lose contact with the Source if you love God.
Broadcast a recording of love. When the recording ends, begin it again, or set it to endlessly replay. Love heals your loved ones. Broadcast the recording for everyone on your prayer list until love changes them. They are healed when they no longer resist the good in speech or action. This makes it easy for you to walk the Way of Christ.
Declare this: “I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever. I stand in the high place of my consciousness where the wisdom of God illumines me. The love of God possesses me. Harmony has become the keynote of my life, expressing as thoughts, words and actions. Harmony now oils the squeaky hinges of my inharmonious self and I am now all harmony. I am poised and strong. My vision of harmony is steadfast. Harmony is the oil of Spirit poured on every troubled water of my life. I hold my consciousness above all earth’s dark clouds, for the house of the Lord is a house of Light. The universal law of harmony encircles my family and my friends and draws to me all ’added things’. Harmony has now become my only way of life.”
The oil of Spirit will change the squeak of any hate to love. Love will wipe clean the pages of your Book of Life. Only love can cleanse the records of those on your prayer list. Stand serene and confident that Power will use you as Light absorbs darkness. You base the Light you release in love, which is your personal freedom. God sends everyone the fare to return home. Climb the stairs of self or take the elevator of soul to claim the ticket of love at the counter where the Christ Spirit dwells in the tower of soul, in the Lord’s House.

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I Am the Way
Edna Lister outline; October 4, 1959, Cleveland, OH; John 10:9, 1 John 1:4-7, 3:1-3

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”–John 10:9.
“These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”–1 John 1:4-7.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”–1 John 3:1-3.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”–John 14:6. What way? you ask. People say, “Tell me the way,” “Show me the way.” The way is a directed, marked path with guideposts, warning signs, and bridges over waters and chasms. A way is also a method of procedure, a way of action, right or wrong, an orientation, of keeping balance. Each has a way of walking on earth, of facing each hour of living, of meeting life’s experiences. You live either by control of self or by soul as a conqueror of self. A way is also an overall picture of how a person will act.
Jesus said, “I am the way,” which sums the whole course of action of his teachings. The goal is to unify mankind into a new way of living that will unite people yet leave individuals and nations free. We are following the same ideals, and seeking and working toward the same goals. We have the secret way, the new technique, in our hands now.
The world has once more outgrown old ways and old concepts. The collapse of empires brings changes in the balance of power. New weapons have always spelled revolution. Revolution is rooted in the Latin word, revolvere, to roll back, to revolve. A revolution stirs up the old crystallized order of things and ways of living.
A new universal good has grown from each past revolution. We cannot see it while we are in it, but from the Roman Empire to modern China, mankind has been moving upward in consciousness steadily. We now face the greatest revolution earth has ever seen, because we are finishing the conquering of Light over darkness. Light has always won. Light will always win.
Slowly we move into a brotherhood of nations in which the strong protect the rights of the weak. The only way this can ever come to pass, the only possible way to bring unification among men and nations is by the way of love: “I am the way.” The way is not love of self, not even the love of neighbor for neighbor, but to love God first, with all your soul, all your mind, all your heart and as your whole purpose.
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”–John 10:9. A path can hold several people traveling abreast. A door can accommodate only one person at a time, and each must enter for himself. “If anyone enters by me, he will be saved”—from what? How? To be healed is to be successful, youthful and free. To “enter in” is to the Christed consciousness and the love of God. “In” is the way to praise God, to love Him. “Out” is the way to give God’s love to the world. The pasture you find is being nourished, sustained and strengthened by the love of God. You are not required to love what others do or their evil deeds. You are required to pour out the love of God as an appeal to their Godlike nature.
“These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”–1 John 1:4-7. All becomes Light through the love of God.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God.”–1 John 3:1. God overlooks all your foolishness, weakness, and selfishness. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be.”–1 John 3:2. It does not yet appear what we shall be because we have not yet let love possess us fully, to the exclusion of all self. We have not yet accepted the true meaning of love.
God’s love, as we release it into the world, is setting war aside. Our efforts and faithfulness to God’s laws are lifting evil. The world is already unifying. We can have this only through the love of God. The prayer of every soul purifies something. Never permit self to say, “I made a mistake” without covering it in Light, or you face regression. Christ says, “I AM the love way. I AM the door to which the key is love. Open it, child. Walk in and accept my mantle of Light now!”

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I Am the Way
Edna Lister transcript; October 4, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Irene White, scribes; John 10:9, 1 John 1:4-7, 3:1-3

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”–John 10:9.
“These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”–1 John 1:4-7.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”–1 John 3:1-3.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” “I am the door.” “I AM” is a universal name that represents God as personality. You express principle through your personality when you express the Father and Mother aspects of God as Wisdom and Love on earth. I AM tunes into the Source of all Light, power, and glory instantly and invokes God’s qualities, attributes and actions. How you use I AM either exalts or defames and degrades God’s Creation. “I am ill. I am angry. I am hurt. I am tired.”
God creates no weakness, negativity, tiredness or illness, which are your creations. You create your own life. The declarations of “I am. I can. I do” take you to the Source of All Light. Declaring, “I am a creator. I can create. I do create,” will dry your tears and lift you from the swamp of I-feel-sorry-for-me.”
Man has assembled all his past creations of darkness in one place and we call it war. We, the Elect, are only now beginning to pay our share in lifting negativity. “Way” means a broad highway, implies stop and go signals, warning signs, protective railings and bridges, and conveys a sense of safe, free passage, openness and comfort, a path on which we may safely plant our feet for understanding.
“Way” is also a symbol of orientation—“What way shall I go?” The way relates to balance. Orienting yourself to north is important. Face north, the cardinal compass point, in your prayer work and for treatments. Orient yourself first each morning to open God-consciousness and be balanced all day, which aligns your mind to focus attention to the north, up.
Say, “I rejoice and am glad!” nine times. Hold fast to God-consciousness to reduce the work-time. Some people just fumble through their lives. Cases of embolism, stroke, vertigo, and paralysis are examples of disorientation because people do not orient themselves to the cardinal points.
You must have a method, a way of doing things. It can be a good way, a right way or a wrong way, but it’s your way. To pursue the right way, you must remember that yesterday’s good is not good enough for today.
We are ascending, but still use many horse and buggy techniques as metaphysicians. Now is the time to improve our methods. We are creators, but science often progresses faster than we do. Declare, “It is now,” and it is. Look at history. They form nations on founding principles and follow the earth-laws of emergence, maturity, and decline. The faster it emerges, the sooner it matures to its goals, and the quicker it falls into decline. It takes time to build strong nations, to form lasting empires. Federations provide a perfect balance of power between nations, but require time to establish. Since we form nations of individuals, we must be balanced and oriented.
Revolutions protest against constraint of rights and injustice. We have revolutions in families, as well as nations. Loved ones seldom want to accompany you on your climb to vision, but rebel because they feel you are forcing them to ascend. Poise and Power beget peace of mind and patience, which are not main issues, but by-products. Power uses you if you live up to your vision, and Light melts and dissolves intolerance in their hearts. You ascend even through revolution, which is the keynote of your life. You revolve around a new truth or law, and two years later you may accept.
“I am the way” of love, not of self but love of God. You cannot hate or condemn another if the love of God permeates you. How can you not love your fellow man if you love God enough? His love absorbs everything, including the odor of an unwashed body because love dissolves darkness. The love of the Supreme Being is a way of being, a way of life, the supreme path you tread.
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”–John 10:9. You enter a door one at a time. If you collide with another in a door, you get stuck. This verse is a whole life chart. “By me” is Christed consciousness, the One Mind, an open mind. You are saved from self-negativity, spiritual blindness that keeps you from applying God’s laws in your own life.
Enter the door that opens upward to praise God, and come out to lift. Rejoice that God has created you by the Word, Spirit and Light. Worship God as personality, a balance of white-hot Wisdom and Love. God understands you through personality. Express Christed I AM consciousness on His pathway. Walk in the Light and do not listen to a negative word spoken.
You have “fellowship one with another” if you walk in Light. Fellowship is compassionate understanding of the other fellow. You never know when a gentle word falls like a seed on fertile ground. A demand binds you soul to soul until you place the person on the path you saw for him when you demanded it of him. You double what you must do for him with every demand you make, and this creates grave spiritual debts. You may not say, “I’m through,” but must continue to love. If you blow your top, your loved ones hurl your negative words back at you. Parents get their own words back from their children.
Where would you be, where would the world be, if the Father did not love us limitlessly despite our pettiness and the world’s evils? Does it matter how others revile you for your love of God? Each has an inviolate place within that no darkness can touch, but which can express only if he allows it. Regard all humanity as the sons and daughters of God. Speak the Father’s words of love, “You are beautiful,” and mean it. We have not yet accepted the ability of God’s love to perform miracles. Glorious miracles, physical, financial, emotional and mental, born of the love of God, will blossom.
“What manner of love” also describes etiquette. You cannot be discourteous or selfish when you have the manners of God’s love. Let your way of life be great, not small. Atomic power flows within you, so why drag around without expressing God’s strength and love? We need a real revolution today from divisiveness to a true brotherhood of nations expressing love and wisdom in balance on earth, which can begin through your love of God, personally. God has brought us from voodooism to a federation of nations.
Pray for the sons of Ishmael the world over, and all who seek to dominate others. Declare, “Let the sons of Ishmael speedily finish themselves. Let them be confined where God can take care of them.” Today we open a vibration that will certainly end war on earth.

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I Am the Truth
Edna Lister outline; October 11, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Romans 7:18-21, 8:28-39, John 18:37-38

“God’s need to express love is the whole purpose behind the Creation.”

God is love. Love is a vast principle, all substance, the Word, the Voice. Yet, without expression, it is not satisfying just to be. God’s purpose is what it always has been—the need to express love is the whole purpose behind creation. Manifestation is to learn how to express as all love relationships. Love alone is no problem. When you add other people, you have difficulties. You have free will, which is better named free choice. Each has the right to choose how to love, yet you have no rights in love except to love your own way. Each has this same right. You come here to learn to stand as your own right and to grant that right to others.
“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”–Romans 8:28-31.
The secret of all perfect creations is to declare them good and to love God. When you hear, you are predestined. When you hearken, you are called. When you heed, you are justified. When you obey, we are glorified.
To hear is to predestine. You step from the old path of fate to the Path of Destiny. When you hear, you learn of law. To hearken is to take time to listen. You are called to do all that you have always been asked to do. You are called to fulfill your destiny, which is to use faith to believe to see. To heed means that you pay strict attention to law and take it to heart. Faith is unconquerable and unstoppable, and always justifies itself. If blocked, faith will go around the obstacle until it completes its justification. To obey is to surrender selfishness, to begin to find the love of God, for only the love of God can glorify you. When you are glorified, you have all the answers.
“What then shall we say to these things?” “These things” are the frustrations, delays, and all your worst favorites. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Who or what can really matter? Who can separate you from God? Who can conquer you? Who can take your joy? The self seeks to get happiness as self-satisfaction. Joy is a rapture and soul ecstasy, to give. Happiness is dependent on worldly things. Joy’s name is Independence in which is no fear, doubt, conflict or frustration.

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I Am the Truth
Edna Lister transcript; October 11, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; Romans 7:18-21, 8:28-39, John 18:37-38

“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”–John 18:37-38.
What does bearing witness to the truth mean to you? Jesus bore witness to the truth by being truth always. He was the truth, which is how you bear witness, by being the truth. Pilate, not understanding Jesus, asked, “What is truth?” People have written and spoken billions of words through history and all contain truth. Jesus said the whole earth would know him and it does. Half the earth blesses him and the other half curses him. Atheists and agnostics speak Jesus’ name in conversation constantly, without knowing they use his name for conquering. They would have no conversation fillers if you took his name from them. Those who have cursed him in earth life, because they constantly used his name, kneel at his feet on the inner. Their denials break from them like a shell, fall away and Light absorbs them. Many become teachers in their next embodiment.
Some believe in principle only, and have no idea of God as personality. They speak about Jesus as a “good man,” but “good” actually declares that Jesus is the first Begotten Son of God. All knees bow to his name whether you use his name to bless or curse. Jesus was born to witness the truth, and said, “Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” All who are ready to accept the responsibility of maturity and hear the law are “of the truth.”
Every person who is resurrecting the past and ascending to accept responsibility for his life, hears the Master’s voice. You cannot hear his voice unless you accept responsibility. You express truth through your interpretation of law and hear that voice when you realize a new law. The voice may come to you from the Bible, other books or in conversation. Yet to hear is not enough—you must do more. You are of the truth when you also hearken, heed and obey. You hear the voice of truth when you are ready to accept the responsibility of maturity. What does it mean to be mature?
“I hear, I hearken, I heed and I obey truth” are four great illuminating steps. Yet what is truth? We have all objected and blamed God when He is giving us a new law. Each new law brings greater Light as the power to ascend to a higher level. An old law works until you have used the last of its Power. As Power comes with the new law, it consumes the lesser Power of the old laws by which you have lived, and you may feel you are left with nothing.
Have you ever wondered where God has gone? New laws may throw you into confusion; you may feel “lost.” Step into the new Light when a new law comes. Stand still until you grow to meet this new place of ascension. Return to “I hear, I heed, I hearken, and I obey,” the life-giving words of Power to the soul. Pilate heard nothing more than the words after he asked, “What is truth?”
We hear so much more than mere words because truth is a quality of soul, a state of being. “Being” is a name of God as principle. To be true is to have perfect balance and poise, which is maturity, too. Truth is a genuine standard of principles modified into laws for daily use. Facts and reality must back your standard of truth, which may not be haphazard.
Most of us practice truth in accord with Paul when he said, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”–Romans 7:18-21.
Psychology has developed intimate knowledge of the subconscious mind only since the turn of the century, yet Paul knew that the drag, the interference was in the flesh. The subconscious has evolved from the animal stage carrying impressions from every life, which you must overcome and conquer.
People always have some type of inner conflict. Opinions and prejudices are not “of the flesh,” but of the mind and emotions. “I hear, but I do not hearken.” How often have you heard, “I will do what I’ve heard,” then seen him do what he should not have done? How often have you done the same? Conflicts arise because subconscious mind flares at the least sign of you setting it aside. As you learn a new truth, a new law, it sets up an inner conflict. For example, tell a child not to do something and that becomes the next thing he does. Law challenges the “little me,” and self interprets according to its viewpoint when soul decides.
“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”–Romans 8:28-39.
What is the truth behind this conflict among the phases of soul and mind? God sends His individuality into every soul, mind and body, and divides this individuality into three phases for expression: Oversoul I AM consciousness, the mind that was in Christ Jesus, serves as conscience. The soul has charge of the mental faculties, so you may just let it operate. Subconscious mind is the seat of warning when it does not rule the consciousness as selfishness, pride, or self-pity. Oversoul must rule the embodied rational soul, and soul must rule the self of appetitive soul. Self kicks when you learn a new law and start to clear away its old rubbish. Say, “I shall do it. God sent me here to use my faculties to hear His voice and to ascend.” The appetitive soul pleads “it’s just human nature” to excuse its negative animal urges because it wants to remain free to do as it pleases.
To hear is to predestine. To hearken is to be called. To heed is to be justified. To obey is to be glorified. God’s purpose for us is to learn how to express His love. God is love. God created your vehicles and endowed them with everything you need to function perfectly. He gave you freedom of choice to learn in action and to express in love. You may not separate love from wisdom or you starve to death. Put your love and wisdom into action.
God is the vast principles of Light as Mind, Substance, Power, the Word, and the Voice. Yet God has no means of expression without personality. Just being is not satisfying. God’s desire to express is what brought us here.

“The whole purpose of creation, of manifestation, is to learn how to
express as a creator of love in all relationships.”

The whole purpose of creation, of manifestation, is to learn how to express as a creator of love in all relationships. You have the opportunity to be and to express as Light with your words. The secret of perfect creations is to call them good, which means to love God enough.
Right now we are at the stage of dong the greater works that Jesus predicted. Love alone is no problem. The difficulty is in free choice, a challenge to creativity. Each is entitled to choose how to love, yet you have no rights over others except to let each soul love in his own way. Each has the same rights, and you learn to stand as your right and extend that right to others. Love is the common meet-point, and your purpose here on earth is to bear witness to the love of God in heaven. You can choose to be as perfect as your Father in heaven, which is not easy, and requires a thousand burnt offerings of self. How do you do this? By always keeping your mind and attention fixed on God.
To hear is to predestine, to ascend from the fate line to the Path of Destiny. I hear and when I accept, I am predestined to step from my fate to my destiny. One who hears but does not hearken, heed or obey, regresses to his fate line because he refuses to ascend. You must plan then act to save yourself from regression at death. The instant you accept God as the Source of Love, you step onto your Path of Destiny. Everything else is preparation for your real work of ascension as a conqueror of soul.
To hear comes under the power of choice. When you hear a new law, it’s like emerging from the Arctic. It takes time to thaw enough even to hear a new law. God calls you to fulfill your destiny. Yet to hearken is to take the time to listen to His call. All God has ever asked you to do is to use faith, to believe to see. God calls you when you accept a new law, which means that you are justified. Then you must look, listen and hear before you see the new law. You will see it if you hearken. To heed is to pay strict attention, to take it to heart within your threefold mind, subconscious, conscious and super-conscious. God asks only that you heed, stand, and live as a creator by unconquerable faith. Faith is unconquerable and nothing can stop it, for faith will just bypass any obstacle until it’s completely justified. Faith is its own justification, and the Father glorifies those whom He justifies.
To obey means to surrender selfishness to find the love of God, for only God’s love can glorify you. To obey is a glory. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”–Romans 8:31. Frustrations and delays are our worst favorites among “these things.” Self makes you tongue-tied or trips you into idle words, but you have all answers at your mental fingertips when God glorifies you. Who or what then can really matter? Who then can separate you from God? Who then can conquer you?
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”–Matthew 5:48. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”–Matthew 6:33. “All these things” are the totality of God. You need not take everyone in to live with them, or assume obligations you cannot fulfill. Yet you can live as royalty walking earth. You get exactly what you pray for, so who can take anything from you? Who can steal a loving thought? Your own tongue is against you. Who can steal your joy, which is a principle that flows from God?
Happiness depends on the outer world, but invincible joy emanates from the Source to the soul within. Happiness is self-satisfaction, satiety in what self has gained, but joy is the rapturous ecstasy of giving. Happiness depends on the world for fulfillment, but joy’s name is independence. A joyous soul has no fear, doubt, conflict or frustration. You must hear and accept your identity and position as a descended creator god walking earth. As you hearken, you are called to the challenge of unconquerable faith and unquenchable love.
“Ye shall know them by their fruits.”–Matthew 7:16. We are ascending creator gods as far as we walk in the image and likeness of God, and not one step farther. God empowers us as conquerors and creators in all ways. Love God enough and He will glorify you as you stand on the Mount of Transfiguration, day and night.

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I Am the Life
Edna Lister outline; October 18, 1959, Cleveland, OH; John 14:6, 5:24-29, 8:12

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”–John 5:24-29.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”–John 14:6. How did Jesus dare to say this? He was of royal birth on earth, a prince of the House of David. One outstanding feature of his character was that he never presumed on his royal birth, he never asked favors because of it. Jesus worked as a carpenter and created beautiful inlaid work. He actually lived as we should live, humbly, in honor, but bound not to take undue advantage of our birthright. Whether your wealth is a brilliant mind or physical strength, never permit self to take pride in it.
Jesus’ mother, Mary, had trained him from birth in personal responsibility. She had discerning spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear with, so both the visible and the invisible worlds were open to her. The only factor of his royal birth that Jesus used was his responsibility as the only Begotten Son of God.
What is the living soul? What is the difference between soul and Spirit? God is everywhere evenly present and available in all His qualities, attributes and principles as unconscious Spirit. When God endows a son or daughter with a living soul, He condenses Spirit and adds consciousness to the form of the soul. Spirit must be condensed to become soul substance. The living soul of every creator god is comprised of twelve portions. However at every birth, only one of the twelve parts of the living soul enters the body. More would cause a dangerous expansion that could burst the atoms of the heart and lungs, wrecking them.
From birth to his appearance in the temple at age twelve, six parts entered, or half of Jesus’ power as Begotten Son. Jesus had advanced enough in physical and soul growth to have spiritual substance added safely. The difference between Jesus and you is one of degree and kind. Each soul must earn the rarified substance added to its body. As the only Begotten Son, and because of his conquering of earth and self, the spiritual substance added to his living soul was more highly condensed and in a greater amount.
Jesus’ six remaining soul parts were added at various milestones—the first part was added at the Jordan River when John baptized him. The second part was added when Jesus fasted forty days and nights in the wilderness. The third part was added at the completion of the first temptation in the wilderness. The fourth and fifth parts were added as he completed the second and third temptations. The sixth and final portion of the twelve parts endowed him as he stepped forth at the wedding in Cana to perform his first miracle. Changing the water into wine began his ministry.
Jesus was conscious of his birthright, of his identity, where he was going, his mission, his suffering to come, the ignominy of his death. He was also aware of his Resurrection and Ascension. Another twelve parts were bestowed but withdrawn before his death on the cross. That is why he cried out on the cross—“At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”–Mark 15:37. This extra soul endowment was why he could say that he had “authority to execute judgment.” Those who are dead to the Christ consciousness, are buried in the grave of self.
“The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.”–John 5:25-28. Your soul growth is divided into four different phases as you make ready for enough life to fill you.
The way is your inheritance. The truth is your mission. The life is Resurrection and Ascension. The “dead” are simply indifferent, not evil or heavily indebted spiritually. Those “buried in graves” have heavy spiritual debts and are the last to hear the Gospel message.
You find your inheritance when you “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” instantly when anything comes. At this one moment of looking up in consciousness, the Source opens. “Lightning from the east” descends as a bomb of Light, love and power to blast the evil or obstacle from your path. To forget seeking the kingdom first means that only a small trickle of Light as power descends. It takes time and effort to discipline yourself into going to God first. If you delay to blame or resent, enough Light never will descend to meet your need.
So, to seek first the kingdom is your wedding at Cana, your soul’s point of no return. Until you learn the trick of seeking first, without taking time to think it over, being hurt or offended, you remain at the world’s mercy. You could write the book on “How to Alienate People and Avoid Popularity.”
Remember this: It really is this easy to look up in consciousness, to lift “it” up onto a cloud continent of Light, to invoke the bomb of Light that defends and protects you and your loved ones. The Light fills your auric sheath with the rays of repulsion, which become your protection, absorbing evil and darkness, leaving you free to be and to act. Nothing blocks the rays radiating from you in every direction. “Seek ye first the kingdom” reconditions your whole life and outlook on life.
Jesus assumed full responsibility for the world. He could have failed if he had repudiated his responsibility. He is still responsible wherever his name is used. When you speak of him, you invoke his Light: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”–John 8:12. Do you want to experience the descent of all twelve parts of the living soul, which is yours for the earning?
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”–John 14:6. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”–John 14:12. All the works and greater works—is this worth the surrender of all self? Ten thousand times yes! then ten thousand times more. “I AM THAT Life!”

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I Am the Life
Edna Lister transcript; October 18, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; John 14:6, 5:24-29, 8:12

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”–John 5:24-29.
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”–John 8:12.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”–John 14:6. This one of the most offensive public statements Jesus ever made. It infuriated the scribes, priests, Pharisees, Sadducees and virtually assured his crucifixion. This declaration has always been a thorn in the flesh to those who dismiss him saying, “Jesus was a good man.” They never realize that they name him the greatest on earth by calling him good, which is God’s name on earth.
Jesus was born a prince of the House of David by direct descent from the thrones of heaven through Joseph and Mary, yet his most outstanding attitude was that he never presumed on his royal birth. He was a humble carpenter, though born a prince. God bestowed a great gift in sending His only Begotten Son to the royal family, who lived in a humble background. Mary was a mediator who opened the treasures of spiritual seeing and hearing to prepare Jesus for his calling.
All great souls through history have known from birth of their mission on earth. Jesus was born knowing that his road led to Calvary, the Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. He held to the goal because he knew his mission and followed his path. You can know your mission, if you will only ascend in consciousness and listen. Many escape their high calling and leave life with more debts than credits. Those who say, “I am never coming back,” will return quickest.
We have no such thing as free will, only freedom of choice. Only the will of God exists, and you choose how you use it, for self or as soul, for God. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”–Joshua 24:15. Today’s choice cannot last forever, so you must choose repeatedly. You choose hourly, from birth until your soul leaves earth.
What is a living soul? God fills vast space with unconscious Spirit before He speaks the Word, “Let there be Light.” The finite mind finds it difficult to imagine anything beyond our galaxy, which is just a microcosm within the universe. At the beginning of a Day of Manifestation, God breathes and condenses unconscious spiritual substance until it explodes to fill preconceived space. Then God emanates Mind, Substance and Power as Light, to take on form.
The Father-Mind thinks form into being and further condenses substance into a fire body, a fiery vehicle built to function in the physical universes. God breathes on spiritual substance to invest it with His consciousness before He enfolds it within the soul’s seat of consciousness, the golden bowl. Thus, the Father’s gift becomes the living soul, ready to act in the physical world.
God initially invested us with full soul consciousness. You breathe one-twelfth of this original consciousness with your first cry, as you occupy the body at birth. This appetitive soul first works from the inner, responding to suggestions from divine Mind until it awakens within the cortex as you open and develop more brain cells. Other soul parts gradually descend to fill you during life. Power would burst atoms within the body if God permitted all soul parts to descend at birth.
Six soul portions descend during the first twelve years of life. The last usually enters at a rebirth to spiritual awareness as a person ascends from self to soul consciousness, which is how Jesus confounded the temple priests at age twelve. Twelve soul portions had descended by the time he began his ministry. God has invested very few people with more than this, though He may bestow an additional twelve parts on an ascending soul who fervently desires to become Godlike.
John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, and a soul portion descended that equaled his first investitures. Jesus departed for forty days of temptation in the wilderness, and a portion descended, equal to all the rest. This happened each time he passed one of the three temptations there. Jesus knew he had reached the point of no return at the wedding in Cana, as God bestowed a sixth great soul portion. He became equal to the Father in Power, which is why he said, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Each soul portion added raises your rate of vibration and you ascend accordingly.
Jesus knew his mission on earth, and dared to declare it when he said, “The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” The spiritual dead of this world have no time left for God because their world revolves around the self only. Being lukewarm, indifferent, unwilling to heed the laws they know or to learn any new laws, the dead create little, leave behind no lasting impression, and bury themselves under a mound of spiritual debt.
How can you avoid this? Enthusiasm and applying sales techniques help. You must sell yourself, day by day. Learn a new approach. Ask, “What will this do for me? How will it help me to fulfill my soul vows?”
Martyrdom is the slow road to death. The best martyrs thrive on believing they are naturally lovable, and never recognize a good kick upstairs when it lands. They are the perfect teachers of how to alienate others and avoid being popular. Having misused their creative powers in criticism, condemnation, opinions, prejudice and gossip, they rest in the coffin of their own negativity, buried in the grave of self. Those with the greatest debts to lift protest loudest that they have never lived on earth before, and certainly will never come here again.
The law is that you must accept your mission and pick up your lines of responsibility. Your acceptance of the great steps in soul conquering and ascension must be threefold—“I am the way” means “I accept my inheritance of Godhood.” We descended here as creator gods and it is high time we accepted the responsibilities that accompany our heritage. “I am the truth” means “I accept my mission to lift everything about me. I make my mission for God the sun center of Light in my life.” Finally, “I am the life” means “I accept the doctrines of Resurrection and Ascension of soul into the life eternal.” The higher your ascension of soul, the greater your endowment of living soul portions.
To save earth, the Son of God vowed to assume the debt for creating the illusion that we are separate from God. The moment Jesus told the disciples, “Ask anything in my name,” he assumed full responsibility for the debts of the Adamic civilization and for casting earth from its orbit. So many Christian sects try to ride into heaven on Jesus’ coattails, saying, “I’m saved,” while they reject or avoid being responsible for their own lives, which is a regression. Some use up their soul substance and fall to the creature state, acting and living like animals. Complete regression sends the soul’s substance to an abyss from where angels draw life sparks to the Temple of Ara to be burned in the fire of suns until it cleanses them of name and number, to form a new soul in another great Age.
Jesus vowed that if his love could not save earth, if the Elect who had strayed from the path were not strong enough, he was responsible, and subject to annihilation, full loss of identity. Thus, we, the Elect, must ascend, no matter what we face. Your eyes must be like a camera’s shutter, seeing darkness and evil only long enough to lift it in a flash and ascend. Give the evil you see in the news to God, and declare that He is moving through it.
Never take on darkness for lifting by recreating, condemning, or talking about it. Just give it to God instantly, saying, “Here it is, Father,” and He sends a bomb of Light to shatter the negative condition. The explosion of Light you release this way is as great as your conception of all that God is, and how fervently you invoke and release Power to conquer darkness.
Light works through you to produce miracles in the measure of your love of God that moment. The experiences that hurt worst are your best and greatest gifts to God. Follow the Master’s ensample, cover others’ transgressions, take the blame, and lift it. Power equal to your surrender fills your body and aura with soul substance, creating rays of repulsion to darkness and hurt. These rays radiate from your aura as Light that catches and cleanses all that comes, and curl around others to hold them when they slip.
To become untouchable and immovable, first you must be filled with love, compassion and desire to lift others’ blame. The greater your lifting, the greater the explosion of Light to ascend earth homeward. The Master did this at age twelve, when he knew Light would give him the answers for the opinionated priests. We would have no more war if all professed Christians followed his ensample and assumed responsibility for everything their name touches. We will cleanse earth when we, as creators, assume all responsibility and lift!

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I Am That Bread of Life
Edna Lister outline; October 25, 1959, Cleveland, OH; John 6:32-51, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

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I Am That Bread of Life
Edna Lister transcript; October 25, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; John 6:32-51, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, that ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”–John 6:32-51.
“The Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”–2 Corinthians 3:17-18.
John 6 is beautiful, magnificent and it deals with the Son’s relationship to the Father. It would convince anyone reading it with a mind and heart open to the personality of God. The soul who sought to prove God as principle and personality, without opinion or prejudice, could validate it by pondering this chapter.
As I unfold the Bible, I keep searching for the greatest chapter. Several set keynotes to reveal the mysteries, but none more than this. Some scholars have said that teaching this chapter is almost presumptuous. It starts with the miracle of the loaves and fish and ends with Jesus’ tremendous statement, “I am the bread of life.”
Jesus paints a picture of the Father as a loving and understanding person, mentioning Him ten times, the most frequent occurrence in the Bible. Jesus credits God with life everlasting and being the universal source of all action, making it possible for us to do anything. “Not I, but the Father does the work.” He shows us a Father who is principle and personality, who could and did assume form.
This chapter illustrates the people’s complacency, opinions and prejudices. Jesus “knew in himself” why they and his disciples complained among themselves. He chose his disciples early in his ministry, knowing then “who they were who did not believe and who would betray him.” When they complained, he asked, “Does this offend you?” He knew everything from the beginning. As they would today, many disciples said, “This is a hard saying. Who can hear it?” You cannot hear a truth that you do not understand. The greatest element in this chapter is the statement, “I am the bread of life.”
Jesus said, “I am that bread of life.” I AM is universally the most often spoken name of God, and is one of the greatest statements you can use. You call on the magnificent name thousands of times in a year’s cycle by saying, “I am.” “I am” is the present tense first person singular of “be.” When you say “I am,” you are claiming to be that quality or state of being you then name.
Whatever you preface with I AM comes to life, because being holds the secrets of growth and expansion within itself. What I AM touches, responds instantly, moving from inertia into life. Wherever I AM points, that place will grow and expand, reaching for the sky if it’s good, or for the depths if it’s less good. I AM will call the spiritually dead back to life, and open graves right now. “I am offended” calls past offenses to life because I AM makes them grow and expand. You arouse and expand everything good in your life when you say, “I am good.”
The higher you ascend, the farther Light descends into your appetitive soul. Expansion will occur in whatever direction I AM points, up or down, light or dark. What you get from I AM depends on what you put into it. Nevertheless, it grows instantly and as constantly as the flame of your love of God burns.
The Temple Court of the Sanhedrin dominated Jewish life in Jesus’ time. The Levitical priesthood was mainly agnostic. The scribes, who were like the lawyers of today, and the sectarian Pharisees, who strictly adhered to the law of Moses, looking down on those who were less observant. Neither group had any compassion for lawbreakers or permitted excuses. They were also aligned politically as appeasers to Roman rule.
Jesus had fed the multitude of the poor and common people—the herdsmen, farmers, laborers, and fishermen—with bread and fish, so they followed him. So did the scribes and Pharisees, who constantly asked him about doing the works of God, and then argued with him. In Capernaum they wanted a sign before they would believe in his works, scoffing, “Our fathers ate manna in the desert.” Jesus answered, “Moses did not give you that bread from heaven but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”
Jesus made three declarations about the bread of life. First he said, “The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then he said, “I am the bread of life.” Later he said, “I am THAT bread of life.”
The manna that Moses called down from heaven appeared as snowflakes in the desert wilderness, and Israel gathered it fresh each morning because the leftovers spoiled and their hunger returned. It was bread from heaven, but not the everlasting bread of eternal life. Manna is universal substance lowered in vibration directly into visibility, like the divine substance you invoke to fill your creative prayer molds and make your souls’ desires visible. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for,” and “the Word was made flesh.”
“That,” as in I AM THAT I AM, is a supreme name of God the Manifold. Invisible illumination constantly feeds you energy as vitality from the River of Life, and partaking of its flow from the Source of Shekinah glory frees you of soul hunger and thirst. Jesus referred to that illumination when he said, “I am that bread of life.” To fill yourself with this vibration of Light daily you must first arise, surrender, accept, and ascend, as you walk through the River of Life.
How often are you conscious of the River of Life, which flows constantly as pure, undefiled eternal life, life everlasting? Declare, “I am now walking in the River of Life, which flows through me” until you know that it fills you. Nothing is omitted because it permeates everything, rocks, flowers, fruit and all growing things, unless you exclude it from your life.
This chapter establishes your eternal identity with the Father and the Master. It reveals who I am, then what “I am” must do to retain that identity. “This is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”–John 6:39-40. This declaration greatly offended the intellectual Pharisees.
Jesus said he knew his mission, purpose and the power that would ascend his physical body. The “last day” is right now, just as every day is judgment day. The last day of your mission comes when you, too, can raise your physical body from the deadness of self. How do you retain your high vision against the world’s challenges? It depends on where your interest lies, and knowing who you are and what you stand for is essential. What a challenge it is to say, “I shall not leave earth until I have done as the Master taught.”
Equality is based on two facts that make us equal to the challenge of perfection—everyone has twenty-four hours a day, and every soul may breathe the Breath of Life. Yet how you breathe and act, what you do and speak, reveal the inequalities. The escape artists united long ago and named themselves agnostic to avoid the last day of responsibility. Thus they have wound up unconscious of their share of everlasting life. Do you accept and use your share of life? What are you doing with your share? I AM may consider any amount as a share for its needs. Do you dream of getting away, escaping your share of life? Is it too much trouble to breathe your share of that Light that is the substance of the heavenly bread of life?
We have scattered ourselves with diverse desires and inner conflicts. We are visually eye-minded instead of inner-minded. You could buy a new outfit, new luggage, a new car and “leave it all behind.” Still, you’ll dress the same old body in new clothes, put the same old body behind the steering wheel, drive with the same old bunions and fallen arches, and have the same old ideas and inner conflicts when you arrive. What a waste of life, time and energy. Everything you need is already here right now. It’s your choice, life everlasting or the “fish fins and gills” stage of swimming in the ocean you create by weeping your way through life.
John 6 gives you spiritual identity, and reveals why God sent His Son. You buy books, study, and attend classes for one reason only, to regain consciousness of your identity. How high are you in consciousness? That bread of life feeds the Christ consciousness within, your identity. It has always guided you through intuition and illumination. Hunches come from the subconscious.
Everything in life is a choice. This chapter explains how to follow the law Jesus taught. Follow him because he is the Way. He opened the heavenly Gates to Light after this planet fell into darkness. Even now he opens the doors to Light when we fall into darkness.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”–2 Corinthians 3:17. Reach out with arms of Light and gather every idle word and sagging line. You place a lifeline under his arms when you take another’s hand. Liberty is being interested in God. Breathe Spirit to nourish your body and to create. End your stinginess, be joyously expectant. Fish in the River of Life daily.
“We all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”–2 Corinthians 3:18. God changes you into His image, from glory to glory when you are up in consciousness. His Light fills you as substance lowered into outer vibration for everyone to see. His loaves and fish feed your heart’s desires and fill all your needs.
You must water and feed your physical sheath and affairs from above or you waste what God has freely given you. Do you want ephemeral manna or that bread of eternal life with its sacrifices on the way? Declare, “I am that wealth. I am that glory. I am Thy child of Light. I am that Bread of Life that expands and feeds until glory raises my life to ’for God so loved.’ I believe and I so love God.”

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I Am With You Always
Edna Lister outline; November 1, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Matthew 16:17-19, 28:16-20, 5:16, 6:22-23

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”–Matthew 16:17-19.
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”–Matthew 28:16-20.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”–Matthew 5:16.
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”–Matthew 6:22-23. Jesus last instructions were, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world”…“teach all nations…to observe all the things I have commanded you.” What did Jesus teach us? What were we to observe? What did he command us to do? It would take all day to repeat them.
The Beatitudes instruct us in our relationships with others. Psalm 23 and Psalm 119 teach us of our relationship with God. He taught that love is the fulfilling of the law. Faith is substance, even so tiny as a grain of mustard seed. Faith, like the lilies of the field, will cause you to stop worrying. What is your reward for following these last instructions? “Verily, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.”–John 14:12. You shall do the greater works, among other things.
“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”–Matthew 16:19. The kingdom of God is the Source of all Power, all life, of all. Some doubt the existence of the kingdom or its worth or value to them. They want proof that it exists. Yet no one can prove this kingdom for anyone else. Each proves the kingdom for himself. Never try to prove it, or allow yourself to be backed into some corner where you must. Instead, say, “I am not interested in proving heaven to you. I am happy on my path. I will talk with you in ten years.” This is the right and wise response because God says to each soul, “Prove Me now.” God proves Himself through you by your works.
As the children of the king, you are of royal birth and inheritance. The secret to entering the kingdom is to be as a little child. Declare, “I AM able to live as royalty. I walk as royalty. I speak as royalty. I act as royalty.” It is your choice to accept your heritage and responsibility. Always walk, speak and act as the children of the king to attain your own Christed crown. However, you may permit no self-indulgences. Declare, “I belong to the Crown,” as you practice the rigid conquering of self, follow the orders of law, and obey law.
The key to the kingdom has three “bits” (teeth) to unlock the door to the kingdom: First, your devotion to God. Second, letting your Light so shine, and third, love’s expression, as you. Devotion to God is having a balanced interest in God. If you grant the existence of a known God, you accept His closeness, and decide to “live, move and have your being in Him.” Make the effort to get up and do this, with no more thinking about it. If you are interested in God, then be so interested that you rejoice until you feel alive, strong and beautiful. Choose a God grand enough to keep you interested enough to emulate and follow. You can choose a beautiful place of your own and a goal great enough.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”–Matthew 5:16. Evil or darkness can be harmful actions or disobedience to law. One of the bits on your key must shine so that you can find the door to the kingdom. The first bit at the tip of your key is devotion. The middle bit is Light and the third bit is love. People are so interested in love’s expression “as me.” Yet you love either self or God first. The wisest way is to love God first and always.
After putting the key into the lock, beware! God places the scepter of Power in your hand. Jesus said that you would do the greater works. Love is your scepter of Power in heaven and on earth. Love expands. The love you give expands you into the realm of “God so loved.” You can then “bind on earth” and it will be bound in heaven. What you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. You mistakenly bind when you miss your own “high mark” of performance and disobey law.
Hold your key steady and unwavering until your desire becomes one of “all these things” added. Otherwise, wavering enshrouds you and your creations in a dark cloud. Darkness feeds on wavering and thrives on lukewarmness and indifference. On your “O, what’s the use!” darkness is just waiting to lap up any scattered Power leaking from your aura. Your key is unconquerable faith. Full faith is the absolute possession of the “things hoped for.” You may not change your mind from strength to weakness, but must stay with God, first, last and always. God must get there first and be the last to leave. This is the only way to loose what you may have bound on earth.
“Teach what I have commanded you”: Your every glance, word, smile and gesture tells the story of your approach to God. Obstacles, bound on earth, present a grim appearance. Loosed on earth, obstacles’ dark strokes make your Light stand out. When you “bind on earth,” you fall flat on your face and the wheel of life rolls over you. You may choose to wallow in the same old mess of fish, fins and gills, swimming around in an ocean of your own tears, or you can ascend in consciousness. If the idea of your royal birth leaves you cold, you are binding on earth. You are not teaching the nations to observe the laws of love, and such self-love is torture.
When you loosen yourself from earth and earth from you, you stand on the hub of the wheel of life, unmoved, in the Light. You can travel the path of destiny toward your chosen goal. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” He is with us till the end of evil. The world is the area around the earth, which will soon be gone, as Light fills us. Devotion to Light and love is doing the greater works. It is ascension. These are Jesus’ last words, recorded before his Ascension. They are definite instructions for your ascension.
Even then, some doubted, but Jesus’ laws have gone on working, despite their disbelief. Do you believe in the kingdom of heaven? Do you believe in the scepter of all Power? Are you interested in God first? If your unconquerable faith is active, if your Light is shining, if you so love God, then all things shall be loosed in heaven. Every joy will be yours, and you shall know God as you are known.

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I Am With You Always
Edna Lister transcript; November 1, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; Matthew 16:17-19, 28:16-20, 5:16, 6:22-23

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”–Matthew 16:17-19.
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”–Matthew 28:16-20.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”–Matthew 5:16.
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”–Matthew 6:22-23.
Jesus revealed that he the authority to wield Love’s Scepter when he said, “All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” He gave us this scepter when he said, “He who believes in me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do.” Hold your scepter always, and do not lay it down. We are the children of God walking the earth, and we have access to that Power. Accept that you have no place to find, no place to go but the kingdom.
It would take days to review the laws the Master gave his people in little more than three years. The Beatitudes contain the most outstanding laws pertaining to our relationship to others. He taught that love fulfills the law, and covers your whole life. Then you must have faith, even as small as a grain of mustard seed, which grows great enough to move a mountain. You cannot erase divine faith from your consciousness. Jesus taught that enough love, expressing as faith, brings every needed miracle. He taught the lilies of the field parable to train the disciples to stop worrying, and have faith in the kingdom of heaven. All these examples are magnificent, yet they do not tell us what we should teach.
The whole Gospel of Matthew shows how Jesus worked. He said, “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”–Matthew 16:18-19.
These verses illustrate the problem of getting to the point where you stop worrying, and depend on the faith of God. Peter became the rock of faith who received the keys to the kingdom. Now, 2,000-plus years later, people still ask, “Where is this kingdom? Prove to me this kingdom exists.” Some people let others back them into a corner with such questions, yet God never proves truth by having one person give it to another, but proves it directly to an individual. “By their fruit you will know them.”–Matthew 7:16 is your only means of proof, but it does not prove that the kingdom exists.
The key to the kingdom has three necessary “bits” (like teeth): Light, devotion and love. If your key lacks a bit, it will not fit the lock. Devotion is religious ardor or zeal, and often selfless dedication. Fanatical devotion, composed of one’s personal interpretation of law, leads to darkness. Opinions and prejudices, which pass for devotion, satisfy fanatics, but true devotion is a deep, abiding interest in God. Your depth of interest in the kingdom carves the first bit in your key, then you must pursue a goal high enough, a God great enough to hold your interest. So, you must see, seek and choose the kingdom. The kingdom is first a place within the soul to hold shining and bright, where no one can enter to smirch it. Interest in the kingdom of heaven puts the key of devotion in the lock of lukewarmness.
Jesus reveals the key of Light in the Sermon on the Mount: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”–Matthew 5:16. This text says nothing about how wonderful you are, and your light shines just to the point where you take credit. Some seek praise and turn on the Light so others can see them. Just beyond where one takes the credit lies the difference between a tiny candle and an arc light. Look beyond the mask of personality that others wear, and see the Light.
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”–Matthew 6:22-23. Your eye must be single, fixed unwaveringly on the Light. With a single eye you cannot see the Light and the other fellow’s business, illness or frustrations.
We follow the Master, who becomes, whose ministry was how much he loved his Father, who “so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” We must learn what this love is. Where will you put your love? You may not scatter it, but must love greatly, firmly, compassionately, freely and for the kingdom of God. You must have a God of your own, but not in your image and likeness.
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”–Matthew 28:18. All Power is the scepter of love. You believe what Jesus said, or you do not. As a reward, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”–John 14:12. Christ puts that scepter of love in your hands when you have accepted fully that you are a creator god walking the earth. Use the scepter.
If you accept that you can have Light, you must believe you have access to its Power. Where you are is your kingdom of holy ground, and you must hold where you are. When you lay down the scepter, the wheel of life rolls over and punishes you. When you stand on its hub, you have earned it at a high price.
“He who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive any thing from the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”–James 1:6-8. You may never waver or wobble while holding your scepter of love, or ever lay it aside. God must always be first to come, last to leave. Stop being dual-minded. You cannot doubt and receive anything of the Lord, which means no more lukewarmness or “What’s the use?” If you believe in a God who will work miracles only for some people, you do not have much of a God. You have no place to go but up or into annihilation. Self love is soul torture, conflict that tears you apart, and you cannot stand it another minute.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”–Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus charged us to have faith, and to love each other. Your scepter of unconquerable faith is the key, so put it in the lock. You need the Light to see the keyhole. You must become an ensample of the living God, so that Light shines through you. When someone says, “How wonderful you look,” it’s a sign that you are well planted. When they ask, “What do you have? I would like to share it,” they are glorifying our Father in heaven.
“I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”–Matthew 28:20 means until the end of darkness and evil. Under the Plan of Salvation, when someone is spoiling everything, God moves him out so he will not contaminate earth. At the end of evil, we will ascend our vibration to contact the unseen Almighty until we see behind the scenes. The whole world will see the unseen one day. The “second coming” of the Christ is here in the minds and hearts of humanity, but it started before his Ascension. Some distrusted when they saw him, but centuries of doubt have not eroded the laws he gave.
What difference does it make what causes you to put your key into the lock? Whatever the motive, it is good, for it takes you to an understanding beyond limitation. The Psalms tell us to declare the glory of God. Declare His works, and let Him put the scepter in your hand. It takes a brisk understanding to stand unwavering before the Almighty until you receive the blessings you need through invincible joy and unconquerable faith. Job was a good man, but thought he was great enough to conquer darkness by himself. He finally realized that he could do nothing without God, and his faith in the law of the Almighty caused him to surrender. He got up when he understood he was not running under his own steam. God put the scepter in his hand. “So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning.”–Job 42:12.
You stand with this key of Light, but may not let go of unconquerable faith to do the “greater works,” or you are sunk. Stay up in the Light of perfection, and give the world what God has given you to express.

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Hear, Hearken, Heed, and Obey
Edna Lister outline; November 8, 1959, Buffalo, NY; Romans 8:28-39, 7:18-21, 1 John 3:1-2

“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”–Romans 8:28-39.
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”–Romans 7:18-21.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now are we children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”–1 John 3:1-2.
What is God’s purpose for us? “In the beginning, God” describes a vast principle of all substance, the Voice, the Word. This principle held no expression, no problems, no relationships. It was a static quality that contained all that is. “God created” to express, to have someone with whom to communicate. The whole purpose behind creation is to learn all about expressions between relationships. Could even God know what a mess the combinations of earth relationships would create?
God could not hold back free will when He endowed us with His glory. Everything went wrong when we decided that we could use free will for pleasuring the self. Free will is an aspect of the Wisdom principle that cannot be changed. You really have free choice as to how you will use His free will, in the sense of no limits.
The first chapter of the Book of Genesis teaches us the secret of success, to declare everything good. You then invoke law, which turns your creations into good. God’s purpose is good.
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”–Romans 7:18-21. Paul said, “I do what I will not to do.” People knew nothing of the subconscious mind then. Now we know this inner conflict arises between the higher soul and the lower self.
The soul hears God’s Voice in four steps: To hear is to predestine (to predestinate). To hearken is to be called. To heed is to be justified. To obey is to be glorified. To hear means to learn a new law. It means to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.”–Matthew 6:33, not once, but at all times. “All” is your idea of God, His Light, Mind, Substance and Power. To seek first is to look up in conscious contact the Source of Power. Like Jove’s thunderbolts, Power will descend “like lightning from the east” (Matthew 24:27), as a bomb of Light to blast anything evil or dark from your path. If you call on the Light as Power after going down in consciousness, only a trickle moves through you on your spoken Word. It takes time, and sometimes enough never does arrive. You must speak from a high state of consciousness, to have Light overcome the obstacle instantly.
When you hear and accept, you are predestined to be the son or daughter of God, to step from your fate line to your Path of Destiny. When you seek first the kingdom, you can perform miracles, and do the greater works. When you hearken, you are called. To hearken means “to take in, to take time to listen” to the Voice that expounds law. You are called to your “high calling in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14) to believe to see rather than to need to see before you can believe. When you attend your call, you shall see the descent of your own living soul.
What is the difference between the living soul and Spirit? God is everywhere evenly present and available as spiritual substance. This Light-substance contains all that God is, all principles, attributes, and qualities. God condenses Spirit substance and adds conscious mind to create the living soul. You are called to accept your greater living soul. We call this process soul “illumination.” When you heed, you justify yourself before God. To heed means “to pay attention to, to take it to heart.” Realize that faith is unconquerable. Only faith can justify itself, and it does. Faith justifies your stand because “all things work together for good to those who love God.”
As you seek first the kingdom, a bomb of Light moves through you and in passing fills your auric sheath with Light, which acts as “rays of repulsion” to protect you, absorbing and consuming anything of approaching darkness. To obey is to act on and use all the law you have learned, and to surrender self-centered will and selfishness. Only the love of God can glorify you, not self-centered love or love for a neighbor. The love that glorifies is your love for God. As “God so loved,” you must so love God. Be like that little girl who prayed a long prayer to God for all the things and miracles she and her family needed. When she finally finished reciting her list of wants and needs, she asked, “Now God, what can I do for You?”
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”–Romans 8:35-39.
Who can separate you from God when you hear, hearken, heed and obey? Who can conquer you when your destiny is predestined as glory? Who can take away your joy when your calling is so high, your justification so complete, and your glory so great?
“Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now are we children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”–1 John 3:1-2.
Now are you the sons and daughters of God, and all tomorrow is yours! Make it wonderful by accepting now. Make it glorious by enough “seeking first” today.

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Hear, Hearken, Heed, and Obey
Edna Lister transcript; November 8, 1959, Buffalo, NY; Edna Bender, scribe; Romans 8: 28-39, 7:18-21, 1 John 3:1-2

“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”–Romans 8:28-39.
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”–Romans 7:18-21.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now are we children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”–1 John 3:1-2.
God’s purpose for Creation has not been well understood. The infinity of space is filled with what we call principle, Being, or God. The emanations of Light are principles: Mind, Substance and Power. I reach out my hand and hold a handful of principle, for no place in the universe is devoid of principle. Is it any good to me as a handful of principle? Only personality can act on principle, so we have a picture of a vast Being with no one yet to love.
Our purpose in Creation is to express the qualities of this principle of being. Personality gives us a vehicle to express and learn the diverse lessons personalities can produce in relationships. God never dreamed of the peculiar things that personalities would produce when He started this business of manifestation. Some willful ones, who thought that free will meant doing exactly as they wanted, misused principle and created debt. Aeons of misuse of God’s Mind, Power and Substance are coming to the surface for cleansing. We are not doing too badly at cleaning up darkness that was billions of years in the making.
God declared all His creations good. “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”–Romans 8:28. To declare it good is the secret of perfect creation. “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”–Romans 7:19. The subconscious mind is full of contradictions created by the illusion of appearances versus reality.
Many people say they cannot call something good because it would be a lie. They live by the truth of appearances only, and if you believe the appearance, you will not declare it good. God declares everything good. You may confidently declare your creations good when you operate under the love of God. Just look in the face of darkness and say, “This is good.”
Psychology and metaphysics teach that you can change the conditions of your life by changing your thinking. Four simple steps will change your thinking: To hear, to hearken, to heed and to obey law. To “hear” means to release Power—the first metaphysical law that means anything to you is the one you first hear and obey. You can hear problems approach. For example, by telephone you learn that someone is nearing death’s door.
One law covers al—“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”–Matthew 6:33. Why invite the world to move in first? God should come first and be the last to leave. You can multiply the good if you ascend and stand in the Light, no matter what.
A bomb of Light drops faster than thought from the Source to fill you, if you seek that Light first. It has enough Light and Power to melt, dissolve and absorb any obstacle, and it does heal. As you speak the Word, an irate person can change in a second. We call it instant healing, a miracle, but it came because you looked up to God instead of rolling in the mud of self. The Light bomb has already burst to scatter its power by the time you return from releasing the Light.
God has predestined us to ascend as creator gods, not tumbleweeds blown by the vagrant wind. Everyone comes to earth with a fate line, which can end their life if they misuse their gifts. However, one who lives a good life may never notice crossing his fate line. One who misuses soul substance in “riotous living” will lose his body when he reaches his fate line, before he destroys himself or ends in worse shape than he started. You step onto your Path of Destiny when you choose to ascend and move forward and upward, conquering.
As you hearken, you hear the Voice of God. Day or night, your mind tunes in the problem’s answer from divine Mind under prayer. Yet hearing is not enough—you must listen when God calls you. Chances are you will delay the miracle’s arrival if you must see to believe. So to be called means believing to see the glory of salvation. You tune in the answer, the right word, the right way to believe to see your need manifest when you seek first the kingdom. You must believe that you will see it to have a miracle. Horizontal worldly thinking creates its own difficulty. Most people must see it before it comes, but that attitude closes the Gates of Light.
To heed means to pay attention. “Name, get into your body” is a good treatment for wandering attention, especially in adolescents. You set the great principle of unconquerable faith into action when you heed and decide to do it. Nothing can conquer faith, which is your only justification before God. Faith becomes action at once, a bursting bomb of Light that permeates him who invokes it, and fills his atomic sheath. I wish you could see how your auric sheath collapses and flattens. This atomic bomb of Light will expand the auric sheath. You stand on unconquerable faith when you say, “This is good.” Light fills your aura when you declare that Light possesses you. It becomes active and flows when you seek first always.
Do you know what all Power, goodness, and Light means? You must love God with all your cells, molecules and atoms rejoicing. Power moving through becomes rays of repulsion to negativity. Nothing can move or touch you, because you have become invulnerable and immune. Feel only compassion for those misusing Light, and desire for them to ascend to walk in Light. Declare a Light bomb, and Light works because “Not I, but the Father does the work.”
Faith unconquerable radiates as you keep it shining, and Light keeps darkness outside your aura. A Light bomb lifts whatever comes to you, and is a sure cure for floating entities, which cannot bear Light. Keep a bomb of Light on hand, and if they dare touch it, they go poof! Can God run out of limitless Light? Just get busy and do something about it. God’s Power then uses you and you fulfill law.
Love will glorify you if you love God with all your heart. Faith is your protection, but love glorifies you. God so loved us, and when we so love God, love will glorify us. Who can destroy your faith when you are justified and predestined to stand as a creator? Someone who lies or is critical is just acting as a creature would. Who can separate you from the love of God? How much is all hearing and hearkening?
“Beloved now are we children of God and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be.”–1 John 3:2. What do you plan? What gift are you withholding? The advice you can give? Can you lead others to the Light? Do you plan to lead them to the Light? What do you plan to be? The Master says, “greater works shall you do.” Heed and obey. Hearken and hear. Stand and listen. Perfect answers to all your questions are right there for you to tune them in and listen.

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Tomorrow Is Yours
Edna Lister Prayer Circle outline; November 16, 1959, Washington, D.C.; John 5:25-27, 2 Timothy 1:6-7

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”–John 5:25-27.
“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”–2 Timothy 1:6-7.
We face a mundane outer world that is almost in chaos. The great issue before us today is how to unify humanity into a new order of Christed harmony. The question is, how do we unify people, yet leave individuals and nation free? People must be free to follow the same ideals, to work for and toward the same goals.
From Rome to modern China, from feudalism through empires to federations, governments have collapsed through revolutions. Changes in the balance of power because of new weapons have always spelled revolution. Revolution is “to revolve,” and it means to stir up the old, which always falls into crystallization. To break down the old crystallization is essential.
Paul said, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”–2 Timothy 1:6-7. He had the same trouble with people. We must keep it stirred up or it becomes a pillar of salt. Civilization must move onward and upwards, and it does so only by the lower dissatisfied elements moving and pushing. The world has once more outgrown its crystallized ways, concepts and ideas.
Whether we like it or not, we stand on the verge of a new world. We are in the middle of a boiling melting pot called “revolution.” We face the finale of the greatest upward spiritual movement of all civilizations. The love of God, the faith of God, the wisdom of God declares that we are our brother’s keeper. We have accepted this challenge and Light shall conquer darkness now. We have the secret weapon in our hands, a weapon that shall change the balance of power for all time: To “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” and to love enough. Our mission is to resurrect all good from the past, and to help the world to ascend into its glorious future.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”–John 5:25-27. It’s hard work to make the dead in self hear the voice of the Son of God, and to begin living. It’s a grueling task to resurrect the dead in consciousness from their graves of self.
The dead are too mentally lazy, lukewarm, indifferent and self-satisfied to wake up. The dead include many good people, the do-nothings, who have little spiritual debt, but no great accomplishments either. They exist in a state of half-sleep, a little death. In graves, they are buried under their self-satisfaction, opinions and prejudices until no room is left for God. They know only one way, “my way,” which is self love and soul torture. The dead to Christ consciousness lie in graves of self-satisfaction from which only the voice of love can call them.
Slowly, we move into a new federation of nations in which the strong protect the rights of the weak. The League of Nations was the first physical expression of this. The United Nations is the mental expression. A future federation will be a spiritual brotherhood of humanity. Currently, we are still at the “How to Alienate People and Avoid Popularity” level. What can we do about this?
“I AM” is the most common yet most powerful of the names of God. When I say, “I AM believes to see this glory,” all powers in the universe move into action. Today, I AM builds tomorrow. Like a lily blooming, with the sole idea of “See me? Nothing can ever make me change from my lily idea. I’ll always be a lily.” You can stop worrying when you understand that I AM can never be anything but itself. All you must do is to live up in consciousness, striving toward the Light, using everything around you to grow on. Your tomorrow will be perfect.
You grow and expand. You are I AM forever. Declare, “I AM love, firm, brisk and strong to know, to lift, to comprehend.” To declare, “I AM loves you”, calls the dead to life and opens the world’s graves of self. “I AM loves you” resurrects all your pearls of great price from the past and burns the husks of self. “I AM loves you” ascends today to make tomorrow perfect. “I AM in love with you, world.” I AM is a challenge to climb higher. I AM loves you and believes to see you perfect tomorrow. I AM declares tomorrow glorious and divine, mighty, powerful, rapturous and magnificent. Your tomorrow is all beauty.

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Feed My Sheep
Edna Lister outline, November 22, 1959, Cleveland, OH; John 21:15-18

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Feed My Sheep
Edna Lister transcript, November 22, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Irene White, scribes; John 21:15-18

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.”–John 21:15-18.
In a mystical sense, every cell of your body is one of your sheep to be fed in the stillness of the soul. It is said that each individual manifestation of the limitless is a cell in the body, universal, and every cell of your body is a tiny universe working by itself. It has a form closely related to the original form, the original idea.
Man does not live by bread alone. Correspondingly, any type of illness is a sign for the world to read that you have not properly fed your sheep mentally, emotionally or physically. Jesus commanded Peter, “Feed my sheep.” Just as many hungry sheep fill the world today as in Jesus’ time, and the need to feed them is greater now than when Jesus told Peter this was his mission.
“Feed my sheep” poses two questions: Feed them what, and feed them how? Religion and science are mates, which complement each other. Religion must practically relate to life, increase our understanding of God the Supreme, and be there for us to draw on forever. Universal life, once materialized, is immortal. You draw on immortality with every breath when you accept that you are immortal now. Life continues after you leave the physical body. In John 21, they had already crucified Jesus, he was resurrected, the disciples had seen him twice, and he had told them to carry on his mission, to love enough. Jesus opened the Gates of Light for us and we must hold the heavenly Gates open for the world.
This text paints an illuminating picture. Simon said, “I am going fishing,” and six other disciples went with him. It was probably the first time they had fished since the Crucifixion. They were ordinary people, and they must have been insecure, uncertain, fearful, with no idea how to begin their mission. They were in a state of shock after the Crucifixion, where one can only hold on, not do anything.
They had fished all night but caught nothing. Jesus appeared to them in the morning, though they did not recognize him. He asked if they had food, and told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” Why the right side and not the left? He was teaching them the right way to fish as opposed to the wrong way. The left side is loveless inaction, an inanimate waiting with no Power acting as kinetic energy. The right side is the active, joyful “I-believe-to-see-it” side that symbolizes dynamically active effort. As Christian Larsen said, “Everything responds to the call of rejoicing and gathers where life is a song.”
You catch your miracle when you cast your net of expectations on the right side of your boat of life, and know your desire shall come to pass. Life puts burdens on shoulders strong enough to bear them, and no amount of doing is too much when you know that God does the work.
Their catch contained 153 fish—why was it numered? The number 153 conceals a mystery. One is the individual standing upright in the Garden of Eden, the higher creative center of the brain. Five symbolizes freedom of choice under law, and three symbolizes mental creativity. When you stand upright (one) in obedience to law (five), your creativity (three) manifests.
John recognized Jesus first, but Peter cast himself into the water and floundered ashore while the rest brought in the boat. How he loved the Master. Jesus was cooking fish and bread when they arrived, food he had materialized and ate. He told them to bring the fish they had caught. He could have fed them, but this lesson was to prove to them how law worked, not a feast. They would need to return to the world and earn their living while serving him as their mission. Jesus trained them simply, and used every opportunity to illustrate law.
Peter had disobeyed when he left the upper room (John 13:36-37). His curiosity and fear brought him out, but he felt guilty for having denied Jesus. He had to deny knowing the Master, or the authorities would have arrested him and the rest of the disciples. Peter loved Jesus, and his repentance was tremendously contrite, but repentance is not enough. He had separated Power from Mind and Substance, and only a release of love’s power wipes out such disobedience to wash the page whiter than snow. Repentance is not “I’m sorry” and doing it again, but “Let love absorb the clouds of darkness I have created.” You speak the Word, and love does the work.
Jesus asked, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He used his birth name because Peter had descended to an earthy, material vibration of curiosity and disobedience, in which doubts and fears assailed him. Peter the Rock was making peace with God, but Simon, the selfish subconscious, was still in the basement. Jesus asked him three times, “Do you love me?” Jesus was stressing that Peter’s mission was to love enough, which is the only way you can pay spiritual debts and ascend.
“Feed my lambs” represents Mind, and means to seek out the innocent at heart and those of wisdom. This command is unconditional authority to treat anyone who needs it, and to pray for those who do not know enough to ask for help. “Feed my sheep” represents power to minister to the masses. You cannot feed the world’s sheep by force or with just words of law, but only by enough love. Jesus dedicated Peter to faith in God and love for humanity. The only way to collaborate with God is to seek Him first.
The greatest lesson is Peter’s training in this outstanding law of loving acceptance. The third command to “feed my sheep” represents substance. Your body is the first sheep that you must care for, or you are no good to God or man. Jesus’ questions were hard for Peter, and you can feel his distress and impatience in his final answer. His doubts and fears surfaced, then Jesus invoked the emanation of Love, the cohesive power of the universe, to heal him.
Every spoken word is substance in the mental realm, and Peter had created a black cloud of force when he denied the Master. The first time, Jesus invoked Power and gathered Peter’s misused soul substance for lifting. The second time, love gathered all his misused life sparks. Finally, Peter became conscious of his misused soul substance, and took back the force of misused Power. Then, the three became one again, cleansed, lifted and ascended.
Peter’s impatience held him under the vibration of force he had created, and he had to recall it before his Guards could ascend his soul substance for purification. Later, he walked as the Rock of Faith. Darkness can cause difficulty or delay, but is not eternal. Nothing can overcome Light or the soul’s eternal desire to return to the Source. Light is the only miracle. Look with your soul eyes to see the Light, undiluted with idle words or denials that block or allow only small miracles. A miracle is simply pure Light. You have full miracles when the Light is full-blown. Fish on the right side, the Light side of the boat. “Let your Light so shine” is your example for perfection. Love leads you into the Light.
We will know the utopian Golden Christed Age when we love God enough so that Light absorbs the darkness man has created. Light is great enough to convert all darkness of evil into Light, and to overcome war. You know how much Light you need by how much darkness the world presents you for lifting.
I AM is your passport to God. Healing comes instantaneously when you enter a room filled with disharmony, and mentally shout, “I AM loves you.” I AM is all love, fills your life with strength, and is the heart’s eternal flame of life that you cannot kill or destroy. Declare, “I AM strong to endure. I AM frees you now. I AM loves you now.” I AM sends you forth to feed His sheep.

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Follow Thou Me
Edna Lister outline; November 29, 1959, Cleveland, OH; John 21:18-25

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”–John 21:18-25.
To understand the words of this Scripture, we must go back to the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She came to Anna and Joachim long after their child-bearing years. Anna had been childless, an unbearable sorrow for a Jewish woman. She prayed and prayed, asking for the same miracle that has been granted to Sarah, the wife of Abraham, who had born Isaac when she was ninety years old. So, Mary came to earth fully equipped, with all her mystical faculties awake. She knew who she was. She knew she would give birth to Jesus as an Immaculate Conception. She heard her “voices” from infancy. Roman Church history records this and calls her the Queen of Heaven. She trained Jesus in all mystical ways.
Now, go with me to the Holy Week and to the Crucifixion, to hear Jesus’ words, “Woman, behold thy son. Son, behold thy mother.” This speech is the key to these last verses. Legend has it that Mary and John retired to the solitude of the Isle of Patmos, to be quiet, to see and hear spiritually. Fifty years afterward, the Gospels were given to the world, but they were written during the fifteen years before Mary’s Ascension. Mary “heard” the message and John wrote it; however, both Mary and John could and did see and hear spiritually.
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he [Peter] should glorify God.”–John 21:18-19. Feeding the sheep took Peter everywhere, and finally led him to his death, but he glorified God to the end. Jesus’ words in this apply to us now. When you are young, you are selfish and willful, full of “wants.” Every rebellion is a want.
At some point in life, you find that your I-want-to has become your I-must-do. Then later, another will gird you. You find yourself at the mercy of the world, and pushed around. Why? Because in youth, while you were busy going your own way, you used up all your own available soul substance for I-want-to credits. The result is aging, under the world laws of emergence, maturity, and decline. To decline puts you in handcuffs of ineffectiveness. So, Jesus was warning Peter. Today you plan and earn, or float and play—later, you pay. “What is that to thee?” This is an order to pay no attention to what others are doing, but to keep your eye single. You need a plan to make each day a bridge over the River of Life.
You take four steps toward your goal, from apprehension through faith into knowing through growth, into comprehension. Apprehension is dual—it gains understanding while suffering from dread. It also means to grasp. So, one need is to grasp without seeking to possess. It means that you must surrender to be a servant of all Power while I AM consciousness is teaching you law.
Faith is the framework of your approach to God. You move through faith to the Source. Faith is your only approach. Aspiration makes you look up in consciousness, but only faith causes you to ascend in consciousness and reach for God. Faith can take two paths. The intellectual approach to wisdom is a scientific seeking through principle. The spiritual love way approaches God through devotion to Him as your Father, a personality. Those choosing the intellectual approach usually must be convinced and persuaded by a miracle. Someone must prove it to them, and they must see law work to believe it.
Those who love God as a Father always “believe to see.” Both ways use unconquerable faith. Each way is satisfying, but the rapture, the full ecstasy of knowing, comes from accepting both as one. Those who enter the place of bliss on a purely rapturous devotional approach, then veer suddenly to the analytical scientific approach, allow themselves to be so forced by circumstances. This is the hardest way of all, falling from once having the rapture of love to the emptiness of something lost.
At the third step, knowing, you begin to use the faith of God and the love of God as one, to reach the fourth step into comprehension. At the fourth step, “I AM become the law” is your motto. Comprehension is a faculty, the faculty of miracles. The joy of comprehension brings the rapture of full glory on you. Scientifically, we say that comprehension functions through the newly awakened gland-like parathalamic structures in the brain. From the time you first seek comprehension, Light, direct from the Source, is stepped down in vibration through the pineal body to awaken these structures.
You first apprehend the power of Resurrection, then comprehend the full power of Ascension. “Follow thou me” Jesus commands. Follow him where? Through Ascension to do the greater works. “Follow thou me” into the deserts, byways, mountains, by the rivers and the hearts of men. “Follow thou me” through darkness and say, “Let the Light of Shekinah glory shine here.” “Follow thou me” into homes, offices, factories, hospitals, and say, “Be ye healed into love.” “Follow thou me” wherever strife and evil hold sway, and say, “Move ye into the House of the Lord.”
Wherever men are, “Follow thou me,” saying, “Thou art divine. Thou art gods. Thou art immortal now. Follow thou me” into all life, Light, glory and love. Reach up to your high point of contemplative awareness and comprehension.

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Follow Thou Me
Edna Lister transcript; November 29, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; John 21:18-25

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”–John 21:18-25.
Their barrenness disgraced Anna and Joachim, Mary’s parents, and though Anna was in her seventies, she never stopped praying for a child. She based her prayers on the miracle granted to Sarah, who bore Isaac at age ninety, and her namesake Hannah, who bore Samuel after decades of barrenness. Anna and Hannah lived in purity and promised their children to God’s service.
Mary was born knowing who she was and where she was going. She was always enfolded in the Light, so she knew how to train her son in extended vision. She was sixteen when Jesus was born, forty-nine when they crucified him, and sixty-four when she ascended, as he had.
Jesus knew both sides of the veil, the truth of appearances of this world and the truth of reality, which is unseen. From the cross, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son,” referring to his disciple, John, whom he had seen would care for her. He ratified their pact.
John, Mary and several disciples retreated to the Isle of Patmos after the Ascension. Mary, the mediator, would spiritually see and hear, and John wrote what she spoke, the Gospel of John and the Book of the Revelation. His name appears as author, showing that he revealed it, yet later he wrote, “I bear witness to the Word of God.” No one attributes Mary’s name to either document, for she was an oracle, who sought no credit for speaking the truth.
“When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.”–John 21:18. When Peter was old, a young boy led him around. Jesus wanted Peter to know that his death by crucifixion in Rome would glorify God. He was teaching Peter that if you are rebellious in youth and shackle yourself to self will, you squander your soul substance doing things your way. As you age, youth’s I-want-to becomes I-must-do. Many adults have problems because they never developed the ability to cooperate and work with others.
Peter questioned the Master about the afterlife: Who will be doing what? What place will they occupy? Jesus’ answer, “What is that to thee? Follow thou me” warns us to have a plan for the future. You can make every day a bridge to tomorrow. “Do it today” means redeem your time, use this day without wasting your hours thinking about tomorrow.
Four steps take you from Resurrection to Ascension. You climb from faith into knowing, into aspiration and further, into comprehension. Apprehension is to know instantly because you have all the facts at hand. Light then unveils the truth because when you apprehend, nothing is hidden to you.
The usual definition of apprehension includes dread and grasping. Most people grasp at the world’s pleasures, or clutch others to possess them. Too many are afraid of new truths, or dread taking new positions. We all grasp at truth while we are learning to become law. You must hold the new firmly enough while you need it, yet let go of the lesser as your understanding grows. Stop trying to drag third grade studies into the fourth grade.
Faith is your only sure approach to God, yet your attitude can be intellectual or devotional. The intellectual conceives God philosophically as principle and law, must scientifically prove everything, and always begins by rationalizing what the self is doing. When only the wisdom side of their centers is awake, people rationalize their results into nothingness. Intellect is really the most difficult approach, filled with why this, why that.
The devotional approach is spiritual, reveals the greatest concept of God as love, and worships God as personality. Everyone loves, yet each sometimes gets stuck on the intellectual why?-step. Both methods are necessary because you can leave nothing behind when you return to the Source. Jesus combined both approaches when he said his Father of personality did the work of principle.
Faith knows that the Book of Life reveals the answers you need at the right time. The book opens at today’s answers, not tomorrow’s. Light as Mind must direct and control the power released when unconquerable faith speaks the Word of glory, and Light does the work. For instance, when you mentally focus Light for healing treatments, your Word of faith can then direct and control the release of Light as power and substance for healing, which is the perfect dual approach that anyone can use.
The soul who learns a law, ascends and kneels at the altar in ecstasy may contact God through his devotion. Later he may fall to rationalization and curse God when the law presents his soul debts for payment. Many people, who love God mightily, fall from the devotional approach and blame Him for allowing them to land in a mess.
Faith teaches that when you have prayed enough, released enough Light, turned on the heat and let love possess you, you have your miracle. Ascend through unconquerable faith into knowing law, and use the faith and love of God, which do the work. Your responsibility is to stand on principle, know the truth, and declare it good, which is your “Lazarus, come forth,” declaration of resurrection into all life.
Apprehension, as the faculty of pure miracles, says, “I am becoming law.” Apprehension includes the keys to comprehension. You comprehend not by intellectual thinking, opinions and prejudice, but through surrender of self to be used by Light as Power until you completely understand.
The Father steps down Light as illumination to suit the aspirant who has ascended to open the pineal body. Comprehension, born of the full Shekinah glory from the Source, is above illumination. The River of Life descends through the pineal body, pituitary gland and thalamus to inundate the lower centers in the Land of Egypt. Then, the creative fire rises to the Garden of Eden to explode in glory. Ascension thus leads to a heightened vitality which may frighten those who dread the responsibility of surrendering their past and paying their soul debts.
Resurrection gathers your pearls of wisdom, and burns the husks on a funeral pyre. Empty yourself of doubt, fear and dread to make room for the future. Jesus said, “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.”–John 21:22. Follow him into the kingdom of heaven, which is here. Many have already followed him into resurrection, but few have pursued him into ascension. Complete ascension includes vanishing from physical view, and history reports such disappearances. I believe many have truly ascended from view and many more will in the future.
Follow him into the desert, the mountains, by rivers, into offices, hospitals, factories, declaring, “Let the Light shine here. Let the Shekinah glory dwell here.” Follow him into places of government, business, leadership, temples and churches declaring, “This is good.” You are creator gods following him onward and upward into ascension.

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Your Full Birthright
Edna Lister outline; December 6, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Hebrews 12:1-15, Luke 15:11-32

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”–Hebrews 12:1-15.
“A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”–Luke 15:11-32.
A birthright is something that you are legally born to inherit. To inherit is to receive. An inheritance is received or handed down by law, legally. The prodigal son is an outstanding story of the phases of an inheritance. Tell the story of the prodigal son to the point where he decides to return. Only by realizing that you have a home and a Father can your desire flame to return to your home. You never can return by yourself.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”–Hebrews 12:1-3.
You must look unto Jesus, who endured the cross, despised the shame and ridicule, endured the contradictions of sinners against himself, to keep your mind from weariness, fainting, and weakness. “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”–Hebrews 12:4. To stand, you need endurance, which means to stand firm. Endurance’s motto is “I can always last one day longer than anyone else on earth.” Endurance has a twin, acceptance.
Declare, “I can smile broader, stand straighter, and accept more.” Without acceptance, endurance is just suffering. To accept everything as and in joy, then to stand, is winning. With just endurance, you are always working to stand. By adding joy, you overcome conflict.
How do you endure? By considering Jesus, by becoming like him, by keeping your mind on him, by making every day a Judgment Day of self. You endure by making certain that you are sitting on a cloud at night and not in the mud at the bottom of life’s greased pole. You cannot afford to be weary or faint.
You may not despise the chastening of the Lord—“For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.”–Hebrews 12:6. To be scourged is a reaction of law. You reap what you sow, and it comes to you to lift it onto a cloud of Light. An indifferent and lukewarm father never corrects his children. A father who loves his child corrects that child. “Fathers of flesh” chasten for their own pleasure of the self. The “Father of spirits” chastens you to your own profit.
Your profit is all God’s Mind, Substance, and Power available for your use. No chastening produces no profit and almost but not quite results. No chastening seems joyous when it is happening, but when the rewards come, receive them as sweetness in joy. Remember that you are not looking for outer rewards, but inner.
After you make straight your path, you must maintain that state of joy consciousness. You can lose your healing unless you remain at the top of the greased pole. You can heal your problems with attaining outer success by making statements of law under principle. Your problems of personality need God as personality to heal them. You find no comfort in cold law. Instead, you need the Master’s love and protection. You need a Father who understands you, and to know what love is.
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”–Hebrews 12: 14-15. Your second need is for diligence. You must be diligent in seeking, in lifting out hands and straightening your sagging knees, all of which are signs of old age.
Most importantly, you must practice diligence in discharging all your responsibilities. Responsibility is your third great need. You must not fail in the grace of God or allow any bitterness to spring up, or many may be defined as a result. One bitter person affects many, in a family or at the office.
Finally, your responsibility is to keep your path straight. This is your real reward for endurance in joy and diligence in love. You are responsible to remain on top of the pole in grace. The prodigal son said, “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, but I love you and will gladly become one of your servants.”
When you arise and go to your Father, He immediately puts you on His payroll. The rewards for returning are the robe of purity, the best robe, a ring on your hand, the ring of unity, and sandals for your feet, to protect your newborn spiritual understanding.

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Your Full Birthright
Edna Lister transcript; December 6, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; Hebrews 12:1-15, Luke 15:11-32

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”–Hebrews 12:1-15.
“A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”–Luke 15:11-32.
This chapter of Hebrews deals with our birthright and inheritance as sons and daughters of God. We receive an inheritance through a legal process, yet we need not be born to a legacy to inherit it. Our full birthright under divine law is different. We are sons and daughters of the King, heirs to the kingdom of heaven with fully royal heritage. We believe in God as personality and principle, and because God made us, we know that we are born of personality and principle.
The parable of the prodigal son teaches all this. The younger son was a rebellious, undisciplined spendthrift, the offspring of a soft, non-disciplinarian father. The elder son was hard-working, out for a profit, disciplined, but rigid. He knew how good he was and how badly his younger brother behaved. He criticized and told on him to their father until the boy left home.
The younger son spent his inheritance and ended eating husks with the swine before he realized his brother was a good manager. He had done as he willed, lost everything, and was completely humiliated. He sacrificed self when he decided to crawl back home and work as a herder. At least he would have food, and that was worth all his brother’s goading.
This parable includes every variety of earthly struggle and sin. Deciding to return to your Father’s house brings you to sacrifice of self and humility, because going home is a struggle. You can curse God and leave it all, or endure and “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,” which is missing the mark of holding to your high ideals. The race goes to the one who can endure to its end.
Endurance is a term that describes physical fitness, and the intake must equal physical expenditure. Endurance also applies to the mental and emotional life. The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous build endurance. Some have no endurance, yet no one goes very far without it. You develop more endurance when you return to complete an unfinished task.
Endurance’s twin is acceptance. Jesus did not whine when the world gave him the cross, but accepted it in joy. Some people run from a difficult family life, or conflict at the office that they eventually discover they must simply endure. The reason floats hidden in the aura of anyone who causes repulsion. You can endure in peace only by accepting in joy. Decide to make your life an adventure, and count your blessings.
You are already in your own place, working out your salvation and comprehension of law, which compensates you in proportion to your stingy giving. Consider the Master always, and make each day a day of judgment. Look around, make sure the words that disturbed you have not sent you down the pole in consciousness, for you can slide and still feel righteous. Clean up any mud you’ve splashed, and you will not feel so holy when you realize it’s caked on you. Use a flyswatter on the pests of self, but do not martyrize, carry a grudge or sulk. A pouter drives friends and family mad. Fill every minute with enough love. Endure with joy, for your reward is great.
“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?”–Hebrews 12:9. The Father must chasten you. What good is an undisciplined child or adult? You reap whatever you sow, and find yourself caught in others’ reaction if you act or speak amiss. Discipline is a pattern most easily learned at home when you are young. Rigid self-discipline is essential in chastening the self. Life pins back your ears when you step out of line, but life will not need to discipline you if you obey law.
“No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”–Hebrews 12:11. Unless you chasten your self diligently, law surely will. No chastening seems an occasion for joy when it comes, and people usually sacrifice self grudgingly. Be diligent in uprooting the taints, such as bitterness, frustration and resentment. Taints grow from tiny hurts and leave traces on your face, which reflects what you really are beneath the surface. You always receive a reward, but not always in the outer world.
One person can change the atmosphere in a family, business or social setting, if he makes the path straight. How do you do this? Lift up the hands which hang down and straighten your feeble knees. Aging starts in the knees, and you cannot endure in joy with sagging knees. Practice stepping toe first instead of heel first to keep the knees strong and to stay young. Love heals, so practice diligence in love, which builds the good and opens doors. Truth statements based on principles work in business, and you can declare that abundance or promotions are coming to you. Yet when it comes to healing the body, emotions and mind, you must definitely stick to your declarations and love God enough.
The parable of the prodigal son illustrates that the only way to enter your Father’s house is to accept in humility your full birthright of receiving and of giving. You must confess that you have misspent your inheritance. Confess, “Father, I have wasted Your Light as Mind, Substance and Power with idle words. Please accept me as Thy servant though my behavior may be unworthy.”
Your Father will bring forth the reward for endurance and diligence, and say, “Prepare the robe of purity, bring the ring of unity and sandals of understanding for my child.” To earn the robe of purity, you must practice diligence and discipline to keep your vows. You do not make vows beyond what you can fulfill, but do your best to keep any foolish promise you make. Discipline yourself to be popular and successful. Chasten yourself daily to live up to your high ideals.
Put on the robe of purity. Wear the sandals of understanding, which represent your responsibility to lift. Wear your ring of unity of body, heart, mind and soul to make sure they are working together as one, with no conflict. Do you realize how many others are praying while you are enduring? Conflicting always prayers surround us—one person prays for sun, another for rain. Heavenly Councils answer prayer in the order of the next thing next, doing what they can. Sometimes the delay for one is better for another, whose prayers are answered sooner.
Stand, wait upon the Lord, endure in joy without letting go, and keep thanking God for the answer’s inevitable arrival. Steadfastly know that God will keep His promises to fulfill every good desire of your heart at the right time. Declare the delay good, mean it, and know that when you are positive, you can last longer than anyone negative. Endure past the point where the world can touch you. Surrender, and stand on law with integrity, honor and love. Triumph and victory are yours when you say, “I ascend and enter my Father’s House, to remain there forever.”

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Tomorrow Is Yours
Edna Lister outline; December 13, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Matthew 4:1-11

“Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”–Matthew 4:1-11.
This text deals with the three temptations in the wilderness of self—first, to misuse the Substance of faith. Second, to misuse the Mind of God, and third, to misuse the Power of God. Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted symbolically for forty days of Light and forty nights of darkness. Forty days represent soul illumination to uncover and return to Light all you have buried during the forty nights, which symbolize spiritual darkness and soul blindness. Four is the number representing earthly service, and forty symbolizes spiritual service. Fasting is a synonym for seeking truth.
Before every great initiation, you always face the smaller tests and trials by fire. They are a warning on two points: You had better watch your step because you are going lax in your application of law. Or, you had better listen for the new law to add to those you already have. Your acceptance of a new law always precedes a new illumination. Acceptance is the key to open the Gates of Light. The forty days then represent an illumination that always precedes the next temptation. The forty nights represent the blindness of the self you must lift with soul illumination, which is always equal to the self’s darkness.
You go through these three temptations on the misuse of Mind, Substance and Power before every great initiation. First, you face tests and trials by fire for illumination on new law, then a quiet period for assimilation. Here you say, “Finally, I’ve won. I’ll never forget that lesson!” You may be tempted to rest on your laurels. Resting is a challenge to “Let the temptations come. I’m ready.” And they do. Yet, this claim also acknowledges a promotion. You have more strength, love, and wisdom for overcoming self. Thus, life gives you the opportunity to prove that you do know law.
During the period called forty days and nights, you fast from self. Selfishness and unforgiving blame walk hand in hand as the twins of so-called human nature. During this process of fasting, you ascend from instinctive intelligence, from being ruled by force in the lower metaphysical Land of Egypt. You step up in consciousness, into the realm of the intuitive consciousness of a creator. As you leave self’s lower Land of Egypt, you enter the land of intellectual reasoning, the wilderness of blame. This wilderness stretches between the Land of Egypt right to the gates of the city of New Jerusalem.
In the first half of the wilderness, you meet many lesser rulers of consciousness. To the right of the gates, Mr. and Mrs. Gloom entertain Mr. and Mrs. Intolerance, while the Greed family gloats about their invitation to Shadow Valley to visit Mr. Death. To the left, in the center of a bog, sit Mr. and Mrs. Disease, and their daughters, Illness and Weakness, bewailing their woes. Doubt and Fear are backpacking into the jungle of self beyond. Mr. Blame and Miss Martyr are wandering, lost in a fog of confusion. One and all, they are looking for causes outside themselves and cannot, will not forgive anyone or anything. They ignore the Guards who attempt to give them the laws of forgiveness. Many have been wandering the wilderness their whole lifetime.
Here and there, one listens to a Guard and goes where he directs—over a rise to view a dry lifeless desert. Here he will wander his forty day and forty nights, seeking to forgive his enemies, giving love and faith for their offenses. Finally, he crosses the desert, feeling ready to continue to the City of Forgiveness, which is set in the middle of the wilderness. He tops another rise and sees Lonesome Valley. It’s lonely, rocky and barren of life, no food or companionship. At both these junctures, the soul could have chosen to listen to the Guards’ full instructions, which would save time and wasted effort.
In Lonesome Valley, the tempter appears, saying, “Turn these stones to bread.” Stony hearts need conversion when they blame, but will not forgive. The Power is beginning to move through here, and miracles come. The soul is then tempted to command the substance to change, to demand and use force to remake another in his image and likeness. He is still waiting for bread or things to be added to him.
The valley of loneliness ends in a precipice. You must go the long way around while serving in forgiveness and waiting for the miracles to be added. When you weary of waiting, any weaknesses will show up for you to conquer. You are tempted to cast yourself down. People attempt all sorts of daredevil feats at this stage, tempting the law by being a show-off or misusing Mind in idle statements. “Tempt not the Lord thy God” means not to take advantage of or to dare the law.
At the Gates of the City of Forgiveness, people feel rich, which is the next temptation. They are tempted to boast of their abilities, to heal for instance, or of having miracles. Others wish to be honored for how much money they earn, and are always demanding credits to the self. Some are proud of their good deeds and devote themselves to self-exaltation. The world lives by hurting others and being hurt, by being human. Excusing self by saying, “Just once won’t matter,” is popular at this stage. Yet they are slowly learning forgiveness, even of themselves, and beginning to lift self and self-blame onto a cloud continent of Light. They are moving up into a more intuitive consciousness.
When a soul glimpses the glory of the Holy City, he resolves to leave the wilderness behind, along with misuse of Light as Power. He joins the crowd climbing to the City of New Jerusalem. Mr. and Mrs. Glory lead the way. The Joy family sings songs of praise as Mr. Tolerance and Miss Faith walk hand in hand. Mr. and Mrs. Love invite Dr. Compassion to accompany them, and they all help little Truth along. Judge Justice brings up the rear as all enter the Holy City.
From the lower self in the Land of Egypt, you move to the City of New Jerusalem, where you are ruled by your higher soul. The power of forgiveness in forgiveness leads the way through the silver fields of the soul into the golden Light. Only accepting your responsibility for everything in your life releases the Power to “give love for” as you forgive darkness. God became man so that He could become God again, as you.
You must carry your lines of Light over today’s frustrations and delays to make your tomorrow perfect. You may be problem-minded or God-minded. You can change today’s fear into tomorrow’s courage to dare to do. To give love for all things grows your own soul wings. Relish the beauty of your years. Plan a triumphant tomorrow. Tomorrow is yet unborn, but shall be your new creation. You can do as you like with tomorrow. Make it into an adventure in the science of living. Let tomorrow be born of bliss and soul rapture. Seek something to forgive. Release the Power Almighty. Tomorrow is yours, so make it joyous and victorious.

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Tomorrow Is Yours
Edna Lister transcript; December 13, 1959, Cleveland, OH; Ruth Johnson, Irene White, Virginia Whitehead, scribes; Matthew 4:1-11

“Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”–Matthew 4:1-11.
This Scripture is highly mystical, but understandable when we unfold its symbolic meaning. Jesus fasted for forty days and nights. Four represents worldly service, but forty symbolizes spiritual service, so forty days represent illumination gained by the sacrifice of self in joy. Forty nights are phases of selfishness we each must lift, ways to misapply law, or initiations in new laws. Someday we will have forty definitions of how we can misuse Oversoul’s Christed I AM consciousness.
The devil in this text represents outer darkness and selfish taints. Everyone faces forty days and nights, which represent the interval of heavy tests and trials by fire until the three great temptations come. When you find yourself kicking against the pricks, take it as a warning that you have gone lax in your application of law. When the same people keep telling you what to do, you will not accept some new law.
You have entered a new series of temptations whenever you find yourself in a period that seems like a previous one. Repeated annoying situations and others’ negative reactions means that you have more to learn under illumination. The days of illumination generally more than equal the nights of temptation, provided you do not complain and lament. Trials will beset you if you gripe. If pride has entered, you must prove yourself again. You must remember the laws, the pearls of great price in your crown of comprehension.
“And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.”–Matthew 4:3. The spoken Word is your most valuable creative tool, and you are Godlike only as you express the good. Your statements either build or destroy, so you give only blessings or curses. Satan tempted Jesus to misuse the Substance of God for the self.
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”–Matthew 4:4. Every word that comes from your mouth, every statement you make feeds you. How so many people feed themselves a starvation diet of idle words is a travesty.
“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”–Matthew 4:5-6. God tests you daily to see whether you use Power, or let it use you. A temptation is a heavy test, but also a sign of advancement, like a final exam that leads to a promotion in rank. Success under heavy testing always brings great advancement on the inner, and additional initiation.
“Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”–Matthew 4:7. Miracles follow as you let Power use you. Then others, seeing the miracles, ask or challenge you to demonstrate this Power. Hold fast to your gains whenever you pass a temptation, and let no man take your crown of service to God, whose Power does the work, not you.
“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”–Matthew 4:8-9. The temptation to misuse the Mind of God relates to opinions, prejudices, the self’s treasures of darkness you hold dear, and false gods, which can include land, houses, or any outer possessions. Yet the call is for loyalty to your Source. Temptations expand and enlarge your consciousness, which is the only way to grow. You demote yourself to the creature stage if you live by human nature—“I’m only human”—and the lower creative center urges of eating, sleeping and mating.
The devil of self asks you to fall down and worship self, with its taints and treasures of darkness. Do you tell others of your miracles to let them know something wonderful has happened, or is it pride? Do you desire that others worship you because you “know” so much? Why be proud of having miracles? The Father’s Power did the work, not you. Just thank God and store the credits for your next miracle.
“Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”–Matthew 4:10. You face repeated trials and tests until you ascend to Jerusalem. Self may tempt you to rest on your laurels when you think you have learned a lesson or tire of being challenged and tested, but you find you are not so hot when the next lesson promptly comes.
You reach the City of Forgiveness after you forgive yourself, and stop dragging old husks. Repent as you ascend, without wallowing in self-blame. Everyone repeats these tests and initiations until they cleanse their consciousness of self. You must progress from instinctive intelligence and intellectual reasoning to intuitive comprehension of divine law, and learn to live as an ascending creator. Selfishness and unforgiving blame are twins, marching hand in hand. You cannot forgive if you will not forget, and you are only thinking about forgiving if you remember an offense. True forgiveness erases the memory, and you forget because forgiveness washes the record white as snow.
You enter a wilderness of self as you reach higher and ascend in consciousness, because Light brings up everything to be eliminated from self. During this phase in conquering self, some see life as a swamp: To the right, Gloom gossips with Intolerance. Grief enters the Valley of the Shadow with Death. Disease commiserates with a group of I-Do not-Cares and Wish-I-Were-Deads. Doubt and Fear are headed for the jungle with backpacks full of self. Blame and Complaint whine that weeds overgrow the path.
You may see this in the world, or worse, you may become lukewarm, depressed and go ’round in circles horizontally. Guardian Angels point to the Path of Choice and Separation, across a desert of burning sand. If you see the Light beyond, and want to progress and ascend, the only way to cross is to forgive yourself and others. Lay aside the weight of criticism, blame, opinions or prejudices, and consciously open forty days of illumination and trial, knowing you must cross the desert of self. Your Guards always urge you onward.
You enter a valley filled with stones that look like crouching people. They represent crystallized taints of self, or soul substance misused as idle words. You may desire to turn these stones into bread, but must choose whether to sit, saying, “This is mine,” or work for healing. Do not treat self to a rest.
You may have everything you desire under the laws that govern prayer, so the first temptation is to live by the Word of God, which is “good.” What you give returns to feed you, so if you speak only good, an abundance of good will return. For instance, if you declare that your eyesight is healed, perfect vision will stamp and number the substance you draw from the River of Life. If you speak pessimistically about your deficiencies and inadequacies, only greater poverty can return to feed you a starvation diet.
The valley ends at a precipice, where self tempts you to throw yourself down to reach the City of Forgiveness quickly, to let self off the hook. You must go around the long way, by conquering self to attain its beauty, so you muster the courage. People around you in the world may be doing phenomenal things, or saying, “Well, doing it just once won’t matter,” but using Power to perform adept feats is tempting the Lord. Surrender to be used by Power, to release Light as a perfect servant and instrument instead. Joy, love, compassion and truth are ahead of you on the path, so follow this crowd until you burst onto a plain of glory. Your body becomes Light, and you arrive at the City of Forgiveness.
You meet the same temptations whenever you are promoted. What seems perfect here becomes a taint later, on the inner. Gratitude is the measuring rod of how much you remember. Suddenly you comprehend the truth of your vision, and thank God for the promotion. Gird your loins, look ahead to see the new laws, reach out, gather your yesterdays, cleanse them with love, and forgive them.
Tomorrow is yet unborn, and your duty is to see that it will be born in joy and bliss. What are your plans? Are you following some will ’o the wisp? You know where you are going. Cross this wilderness quickly, and travel on high, not low. Remember to lift those you left at the Gates, so they’ll ascend and see. Be proud that you can lend a hand to those behind, yet never be proud of doing or saying things that hurt others. Compassion is not sloppy sentimentality, but love, born of knowing that everyone must travel this wilderness of self.
How great will you make your trial? Stand out from the crowd and you’ll be tested, yet nothing limits what you can do if you give God time and never waver. Your old outer sheath will fall away and you will walk in your desire body. Bring forth your talents as a creator. Tomorrow is yours, so make your tomorrow a glory!

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Edna Miriam Lister
1884–1971
The original Pioneering Mystic,
Christian Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.

References

Barnett, Lincoln. The Universe and Dr. Einstein, Mentor, 1953.

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).

Larson, Christian D. Just Be Glad, Los Angeles: New Literature Publishing Co., 1912.

The Oxford English Dictionary: Compact Ed., 2 vols. E.S.C. Weiner, ed Oxford University Press, 1971.

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Edna Lister’s Sermons, 1959

1 Uriah Heep, a fictional antagonist created by Charles Dickens in David Copperfield, was a scheming, grasping and obsequious character, devoted solely to his own betterment.

“You will never have greater access to immortality and eternity than you do right now.”

“Visualization is how to apply Christ consciousness to yourself and your affairs.”

“The Sermon on the Mount is your guide to agree with God, and the Beatitudes regulate how you adjust to your fellow man.”

“God’s need to express love is the whole purpose behind the Creation.”

“The whole purpose of creation, of manifestation, is to learn how to express as a creator of love in all relationships.”

.

“You will never have greater access to immortality and eternity
than you do right now.”

“Visualization is how to apply Christ consciousness
to yourself and your affairs.”

“The whole purpose of creation, of manifestation, is to learn how to
express as a creator of love in all relationships.”