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Edna Lister’s Sermons, 1942
Edna Lister outline. March 1, 1942, Cleveland, Ohio; Matthew 18:2-7
“Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”–Matthew 18:2-7.
This text about Jesus and the little children contains two opposed ideas, which are the two halves of a perfect whole: The offender and the offended, the offense and the cure. The passage carries a warning, describes the action and reaction of law, and issues a command.
A millstone is a huge cylindrical stone used in a primitive mill for grinding grain. It has immense crushing power, and millers use it to grind wheat, the staff of life, into flour. It would crush the life from any living thing upon which it fell, and to hang it around a man’s neck would suffocate him.
The millstone perfectly describes the burden of self. Life itself can be a millstone: Boss, family, obligations, or the world. Your choice is to be burdened by self, or to be free.
How do you get rid of self? How do you forgive those who offend you?
First you must lay down your life of opinions and prejudices. Then you must step up from the fate line onto your path of destiny. Finally, you must pick up your cross and follow the Master.
You cannot escape life, or its conflicts. Yet you can let the millstone of Light grind you into a diamond of soul with one hundred-forty-four perfect and brilliantly shining facets.
Edna Lister outline, March 8, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Luke 9:57-62, Luke 10:1-3, Luke 10:17-20
“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”–Luke 9:57-62.
“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.”–Luke 10:1-3.
“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”–Luke 10:17-20.
Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He gave them orders and sent them to preach the kingdom of God, to heal the sick. “And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”–Luke 9:3-5.
So they left and preached the gospel, and healed everywhere. They were the first Crusaders of Light. A crusader is a torch bearer, one who goes on a campaign against ignorance. The idea must always be greater than the man, to fulfill the law of forgetfulness of self in service. Christed service is never conscious of serving. Evil flourishes in ignorance, but Light brings the knowledge of wisdom. Jesus was a torch bearer.
Non-believers forced many early Christians to hide in caves. The Christian crusaders were most active during the 11th, 12th, and 13th Centuries. Muslim enemies martyred many of them, as they did many others later. Today, scoffers still hold crusaders in contempt, and the intolerant hate them.
Crusading has three steps. The first is, “Lord, I will follow,” which means making up your mind to carry a torch. Second is sending the lambs forth among wolves, to be torn by doubt and made the object of laughter. The third step is the bestowal of “power over the enemy.” This has always led to mistaken ideas. Through the centuries, people have imagined that this power was over something outside the self. The only real enemy is inside your consciousness, the self.
When you have no real affinity for darkness, you may walk as a lamb among wolves, safely in the fold of divine protection. Until you conquer the little self, you walk as a turtle does, with your head almost drawn into the shell.
“No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”–Luke 9:62. Yet, you are a crusader, a torch bearer mantled in Light. If you hold only one idea continually, that idea will be born, but you will grow tired and weary of it.
God has given you power over the self, which makes you powerful before the world. The world can offer you many pearls of experience, but you may claim the pearl of great price only by following Jesus the Christ.
Edna Lister transcript, Ruth Bender, scribe; March 8, 1942, Buffalo New York; Luke 9:57-62, Luke 10:1-3, Luke 10:17-20
“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”–Luke 9:57-62.
“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.”–Luke 10:1-3.
“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”–Luke 10:17-20.
A sermon should be built like a graduated pearl necklace. You begin with the largest pearl first then add to it, pearl by pearl on either side, in balance. This way the sermon becomes a string of pearls.
A crusader is one who becomes conscious of ignorance and begins to educate others. Some crusaders limit their campaign to family and friends in the kitchen and the living room. But the real crusaders through the ages have always been torch bearers, those who see beyond the ability of the masses, those who work to lift others into the Light of God.
The wheels that Ezekiel described deal with the greater mysteries of antiquity, the greatest of which is the Unity of the Light. In the highest Light, all things are One. Jesus unveiled the mystery of living in the Light, and by his ensample, illustrated how to do so.
Crusading has three steps. The first is to choose to “Follow me,” as in Luke 9:57-62. The second is to be sent as a lamb among wolves, as in Luke 10:1-3. The third step is power over the enemy, as in Luke 10:17-20.
The first step in crusading: “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”–Luke 9:57-62.
The second step in crusading: “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.”–Luke 10:1-3.
The third step in crusading: “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”–Luke 10:17-20.
Edna Lister outline; March 15, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Revelation 3:7-12, 3:20-22
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”–Revelation 3:7-12.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”–Revelation 3:20-22.
Philadelphia means “brotherly love.” When you are reborn from above, Christ knocks in love. He lifts you up, and you sup with him on manna and the nectar of the gods, the bread of eternal life and the chalice of immortality.
Closed doors are the greatest discouragement in life. For example, a salesman’s social life is often his business. If he loses a customer, the account is gone. Declare open doors to a position and good salary for him. The Father always says yes to open doors on the outer.
You must open the upper door to the City of Peace, Jerusalem. God’s name is Love, the brooding Mother, the yearning Mother, who covers us under her wings. “Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
You build a garden of love with your every effort, in which every seed of life blooms. Some produce weeds, which are like closed doors that shut out the sunshine. Every thought, every desire and every picture of imagination is a seed.
One day your garden of soul shall descend, and its beauty will be almost too great to be borne. Love is your garden. Move in now!
Edna Lister outline; March 22, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Psalm 24:7-10, Revelation 21:10-21
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.”–Psalm 24:7-10.
“And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; and had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”–Revelation 21:10-21.
We use gates to guard treasure and to insure privacy. Solomon’s temple porch had three sets of gates, representing the outer court of personality, the inner court of individuality and soul, and the Holy of Holies, the Christ Mind of Oversoul.
The twelve gates of the Revelation are made of pearl, the symbol of suffering conquered, but the gates of Solomon’s temple are made of pure gold. The golden portals to the soul are Wisdom and Love, but the self locks them. Selflessness is the “open sesame,” the only key that can unlock them.
The first set of gates guards the portal of desires, outer emotions, the second set of gates guards the portal of the mental life of thinking, and the third set of gates guards the portal to imagination, your kingly faculty.
Your outer personal desires must serve the soul’s Christed I AM consciousness, which is the inner mental life. Only then may you enter the Holy of Holies, imagination, which is the image creator. Then you balance the gates, Love and Wisdom.
Healing waves flow from the Source of All Life as do waves in the ocean, from shore to shore, always the same water, reforming as countless waves. Life is the same.
You travel the path of ascension, and you must reach the twelve Gates of Pearl, which represent conquering self. You plod on across a wasteland toward white spired domes seen afar. Finally, you hear a Voice, saying, “Come, child. This is your real home.”
An endlessly long high wall confronts you, and you cannot go around. Then you see double gates, and as you draw closer, you see an inscription above the arch of the gate, “I forgive them.”
You take the first real step in surrender when you open the gate and step through onto a great sandy field, dotted with small bushes, some with thorns, and patches of grass. You look about and see a few sickly looking flowers. No seats, no water, you are all alone.
If you take time to weep in self-pity, your tears water the scrubby thorn bushes, which instantly grow up around your ankles to your knees. If you resent, rebel, and condemn God, a jungle springs up all around. You are still alone, torn and bleeding from your struggle.
It may be years before you accept and look up to God, but when you do, instantly a Light descends. The jungle begins to melt away. As you offer more praise and rejoicing, a green pathway stretches before you. You see flowers beginning to grow. Bushes are blossoming behind you. Some souls may turn back, but only to find more jungle.
Then you reach a second gate, bearing the inscription, “Father, forgive them,” and take another step up in ascension of soul. Living in Spirit now, you go through the gate. It’s still sandy in places, but dotted with benches and green grass plots between the paths. Some linger here and create weeds and jungle again. Others turn back, discouraged. Do not become weary in well doing.
As you march forward, you find another gate, bearing the inscription, “Father, forgive me.” Quickly open this gate and step through; you find it easier now to rejoice in your garden of the soul. Nothing can drag you back even a single step. The garden is beautiful, filled with glorious flowers, birds singing, symphonies and the voices of heavenly choirs.
At last you reach the great City of Forgiveness. Over the fourth archway is a great white cross, shining to beckon you onward. This is the cross of crucified self-will, personal will surrendered to be remade into pure Wisdom balanced by Love. This archway to the City of Forgiveness is open. Here you surrender to be possessed by Power, as the servant of all the Power. Gladly you enter to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Edna Lister Palm Sunday outline, March 29, 1942, Cleveland, Ohio; April 15, 1956, Tacoma, Washington; Matthew 21:1-17
“And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, he Lord hath need of them and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David, they were sore displeased, and said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.”–Matthew 21:1-17.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the humblest of all animals, not caparisoned in cloth of gold, but with the robes of his own disciples. Nothing could be more simple or humble, yet he gifted us with the riches of the kingdom, all its precious jewels.
What are these jewels locked fast in a casket of gold? The latch is the lock of self, and the case has only one key, which is selflessness. The casket of gold is immortality of soul, as Jesus taught.
It holds the jewels of honor, love, faith and joy. The jewel of freedom is the greatest of all, and you may gain it only by simplicity of Spirit, for the world’s complexities bring you only bondage. Simplicity is freedom, which never misses a trick.
When you live simply, by the honor of God and the faith of God, it brings you the Master’s joy. It also brings love, which is your new name for God, brooding, devouring Mother Love.
Edna Lister Easter Sunday outline. April 5, 1942, Buffalo, New York. Scripture: Matthew 28:1-7
“In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.”–Matthew 28:1-7.
An angel of the Lord told Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, wife of Cleophas, of the Resurrection. “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” Jesus was gone. Down through the ages, people have asked how could this, the Resurrection, be, and why.
If you are like most people, you need an earthquake to roll your stone away, a stone you have built with doubt, fear and hatred. Then, when Light comes though, you shake, quiver and quaver.
“Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”–Matthew 28:20. You must let life live itself out as you.
Edna Lister outline; April 12, 1942, Buffalo, New York; August 26, 1956, Tacoma, Washington; Job 22:22-30
“Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.”–Job 22:22-30.
What is the silence? Where do you find it? When may you enter it, and how? These are vital questions, to which you gain the answers in three steps:
The first step is prayer, in which you prepare to receive the law and to pay your vows. This is how you gain assurance, confidence and trust in your soul’s ability to commune with God.
The second step is to give prayer treatments and to make your decrees of the spoken Word for perfection.
Then you enter the golden silence, where “it shall be established [stand] for you, so light will shine on your ways.”
The story of Peter being freed from imprisonment holds all these elements:
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.”–Acts 12:1-15.
Edna Lister outline, April 19, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Ephesians 6:13-20
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”–Ephesians 6:13-20.
To stand enables you to withstand any assault. You put on the “whole armor of God” in six steps: Girding your loins with truth, putting on the breastplate of righteousness, putting the gospel of peace on your feet, holding the shield of faith, wearing the helmet of salvation, and carrying the sword of Spirit.
To stand means to withstand, and requires that you understand. Girding your loins with truth creates a circle of Light around you. The loins hold the liver and the spleen, metaphysically representing sincerity and patience. Without patience, you cannot know peace. Truth always stands the test of time. Anything that is not truth will fall of its own weight.
The breastplate of righteousness covers the lungs, which metaphysically represent the right use (righteousness) of inspiration. A gospel is infallibly true. The gospel of peace, with which you shod your feet, is understanding. The shield of faith provides protection for all the figurative “cities” in the Promised Land, the stomach, heart and lungs.
The helmet of salvation covers your head, and provides protection to the soul, which you must “save” from the lower, outer influences. Salvation includes being saved from your own low desires, faulty thinking and wild imagination.
The sword of Spirit, which is the Word of God, is double-edged with love and wisdom. Its hilt, or handle, is selflessness. You use the sword of Spirit to divide asunder truth from falsehood and to pierce the veil hiding a lie. Thus, the sword must be made of Wisdom and Love in balance. Yet you dare not use it indiscriminately, or you cut off your supply, the Source of Life, and your own lifeline.
Edna Lister outline; April 19, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Acts 27:21-44
“But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 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. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hind part was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.”–Acts 27:21-44.
As a Roman citizen, Paul could appeal to Caesar from any Roman province on earth and be granted the right of a hearing in Rome. As a son or daughter of God, you may appeal to the Father anytime, anywhere and know that He will hear your plea.
When the storm came, the sea was so rough the men could not eat. They were growing weaker and the storm had not abated. Paul told them that they must stand together now and eat meat to carry on. He shared his faith with them. They did as he advised them and all were saved.
Throughout history, whenever men have called on the Lord for aid, He has responded. Moses pleaded and God led the tribes through the wilderness with a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night.
The Lord caused the sun to stand still while Joshua fought and conquered the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon.
“Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.”–Joshua 10:12-14.
Gideon, the reluctant general and judge of Israel, was called to throw off the yoke of the oppressor. The Lord limited his army to only 300 men, who then saved Israel from the Midianites and Amalekites. (Judges 6, 7).
When the army of the Syrians surrounded Elisha in Dothan, his servant feared greatly. “And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.”–2 Kings 6:15-19.
In all ages, humanity has held the belief in God’s Light as the saving Power. We, in our time, have been given an armor of Light, which is always there when we surround ourselves within it. Every great miracle has arrived in the wake of some soul’s fervent call on God in prayer. Prayer is man’s highest thought and most earnest desire expressed.
Love’s Supremacy
As yon great Sun in his supreme condition
Absorbs small worlds and makes them all his own,
So does my love absorb each vain ambition
Each outside purpose which my life has known.
Stars cannot shine so near that vast orb’s splendor,
They are content to feed his flames of fire;
And so my heart is satisfied to render
Its strength, its all, to meet thy strong desire.
–Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Edna Lister outline, April 26, 1942, Buffalo, New York; John 1:1-5, John 1:9-14, Proverbs 23:7
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”–John 1:1-5.
“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.”–John 1:9-14.
“For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he.”–Proverbs 23:7.
> The Word is a strong vibration, and can be substance made flesh as healing. The first act of creation was when God spoke the Word to frame the worlds.
On the first Day of Creation, “…”God said, Let there be light; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.“…”–Genesis 1:3-5.
On the second Day of Creation, “God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven.”–Genesis 1:6-8.
At the third Day of Creation, “God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind.”–Genesis 1:9-12.
On the fourth Day of Creation, “God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness.”–Genesis 1:14-18.
On the fifth Day of Creation, “God said, Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens. So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them. saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas; and let birds multiply on the earth.”–Genesis 1:20-22.
On the sixth Day of Creation, “…”God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. And God said, See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be found. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life. I have given every green herb for food; and it was so.”–Genesis 1:24-30.
For six days, God worked, and on the seventh day, He rested. Having blessed and sanctified His Creation, He set aside the seventh day for man’s work, which includes the spoken Word. Throughout Creation, we may trace every seed, fruit, tree, animal and man back to the first created pair of its degree and kind.
The Word is mental, a thought before you speak it: “I’ll do this.” Desire says, “I want.” The physical says, “I will go” and find or do whatever thought has decreed. “For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he.”–Proverbs 23:7.
Edna Lister outline, May 3, 1942, Buffalo, New York; 1 John 1:4-7, 1 John 3:1-3
“And 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.
Awareness is defined as “a quality or state of being, the state of being informed and conscious, but without any action or active attention.” You may be aware of a thing, then either forget it or pay attention to it. You often become aware of something through intuition before you give it your personal attention. Thus, it forms a trinity of awareness, attention and action.
When you reach the action stage, you do something about it. You start something new, or do one step a day on an old project. You can always memorize just one line or paragraph of printed material you wish to master. Now are we the sons and daughters of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be.
Edna Lister Mothers Day outline; May 10, 1942, Buffalo, New York; John 2:1-5, 1 Kings 3:16-28
“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.”–John 2:1-5.
“Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.”–1 Kings 3:16-28.
Today’s texts are all about mothers and mother love. The way in which Mary, the mother of Jesus, handled the situation at the wedding in Cana shows that she was the type of mother who understood her son and intuitively knew what he needed.
Solomon had to deal with two women, both of whom claimed to be mothers, but they acted very differently. What is this love called mother love?
Love can be balanced or unbalanced. Love, balanced by wisdom, is wise. Love can say yes, or love can say no.
Unquenchable Love
Love is a flame and fire that burns ever. Love cannot be quenched. Love cannot be put out. Love is. True Love needs no assurances. True Love knows itself and its own. Love is the fire that enthuses. Love is a fire that ever burns higher, always upward.
True Love is the end as well as the beginning. True Love feeds upon itself and not upon the loved one. True Love magnifies the one whom it loves. Love asks no favors and gives all. Love’s strength lies in its self-sustaining ability. Love’s keynote is a deep, abiding devotion to the one who is loved.
True Love burns steadfastly under all conditions, joy or sorrow, separation or unity. True Love counts no effort too great or too small, and no task too hard or too long. True Love is lifting, opens all doors, and is all-compelling in its power to unite.
True Love is never conscious of giving, but like sunshine, shares itself with all. True Love withstands all separation and lives forever.
–Edna Miriam Lister, 1939
Jesus balanced his love with wisdom; therefore, his love had a yearning, mothering quality. Love your own creations with this type of love. You must simply love, love, love them into being. Love enough will bring success, triumph and glory.
A young woman may be a beauty at age sixteen, but at sixty, she is beautiful. Love confers beauty of soul that shines through the physical. Many American mothers were first pioneers, living in wagons, in camps, and on farms. They worked, bore pain and sought glory in the ease and comfort of others. They suffered divorce and war, but mothers are brave.
Once more, America’s mothers are standing. They are yearning, working, serving and toughening up again to face the threat of war.
Edna Lister outline, May 17, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”–Psalm 23.
Psalm 23 is the most beautiful of all David’s songs. In it, he is joyous for fourteen reasons: The first three all deal with why you may trust God completely.
God is your shepherd, a protector and a caretaker. Second, He gives you sweet rest and quenches your thirst. Third, He restores your soul so that you are renewed while you rest in confidence.
Then the tempo increases: God enables you to walk through the valley of the shadow safely. Though you are not exempt from trials, you need to fear no evil.
The Lord’s rod is the lightning rod of love unquenchable, and the staff is faith unconquerable. The table He sets before you represents abundance.
“I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” means that you will enter and not come out again. The greater your vision of the future, the longer it will take to build, and the more weary you may become while waiting.
Yet no matter whether you are building a hut or a palace, you must drive your foundation deep, to bedrock. While others cannot see the depth of your foundation on the outer, they can tell when your foundation goes deep, based on your actions, attitudes and how you react.
Edna Lister outline; May 24, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Psalm 23.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”–Psalm 23.
Intuition is more than a hunch, which is the subconscious interpreting for the higher conscious mind. Intuition has three phases or factors—prayer, treatments, and the golden silence.
First you start with prayer: Look up with your eyes, lift up your voice in praise and rejoice. Always finish with, “Thank You, Father, that You always say yes.”
The second step is treatment: Lift everything and everyone you can think of into the House of the Lord, the House of Light and joy.
Third, enter the golden silence. You hear with your ears, but listen with your brain cells. When you listen, you hear the vibration of the Logos, the Word, on your brain cells, and you know. This is intuition.
A hunch is different than intuition. Hunches lie in the realm of the subconscious mind.
The soul rides out and up to glory, while life rides down the line of your unselfish giving up. Remain in this high place, waiting upon the Lord, while you are working out your own salvation below.
>Now, what do you do during the times when you are not in the silence? You continue to wait in rapturous expectancy, never giving up. It’s never too late, just too soon to carry on. Never stop knocking on heaven’s door, or allow discouragement to hold you down.
Self interest is always focused inward, and is selfish. Self, selling itself, is always focused outward, and anoints your head with oil.
Edna Lister outline, May 31, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Colossians 1:9-12, 1:21-23.
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 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 longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.”–Colossians 1:9-12.
“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.”–Colossians 1:21-23.
An inheritance is something left to you, legally, your share or portion of a heritage. You must accept it as a gift, a possession or a blessing, freely bestowed or given.
Service, sacrifice and success comprise your heritage. As you fulfill these terms of the divine will, “grounded and steadfast, not moved away from hope,” you are “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious Power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.”
While you are still an enemy in your own mind, you climb the mountain all day only to run down the grade at night to rest. As you “increase in the knowledge of God,” your prayer then is, “Let God let me serve, make sacrifice of self, and achieve success.”
Edna Lister transcript, Ruth Bender, scribe, May 31, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Colossians 1:9-12, 1:21-23
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 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 longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.”–Colossians 1:9-12.
“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.”–Colossians 1:21-23.
An inheritance is your share of a heritage, a gift, a possession or a blessing, freely bestowed or given. Your heritage is Light.
God has sent you here for experience and activity. Courage must not be a matter of environment, though we do develop certain faculties for expression. It takes courage to accept your inheritance.
Through your growth and study, you have awakened more virgin brain cells. A set of such cells, developed, becomes a faculty when you open their connecting neurons. It takes concerted study to awaken the brain cells enough to open a faculty.
The faculties include courage, peace and understanding, for example. Faculties are virtues in some cases, and virtues are also called powers of the soul. Every virtue is supported by a set of brain cells as well.
You must sacrifice self to gain the full faculties and virtues, which are your birthright, your heritage, but not necessarily well developed as yet. Sacrifice means different things to different people, but we view it as service and sacrifice to gain success.
We are all familiar with the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), which ends with: “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”–Matthew 25:29.
Success comes to the soul who desires to succeed, is willing to serve God in any and all capacities, and to sacrifice self to do so. The soul who is too lazy to exert himself will atrophy (lose) his developed talents through lack of use. To the soul who has the desire to achieve, more shall be added. Wanting, wishing and hoping are not enough. You must ignite, feed and fan the flame of desire within your heart.
God has sent you here with equipment that excels the most highly developed and finely tuned mechanism ever produced. Your body is part of your inheritance of God, and only God can repair it.
Any lack in your physical equipment is a fault on your part. For example, you must feed it to renew more than twenty chemical elements daily [in descending order of amount, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, magnesium, iron, fluorine, zinc, copper, iodine, selenium, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, and cobalt].
You take in vital energy as well as oxygen in the air you breathe, and you need to breathe deeply to feed yourself properly. Also, you need plenty of water and exercise, and to get good refreshing sleep.
Unless you do all this, you can fall prey to many illnesses through slight instances of physical malnutrition. You can suffer other ailments through your emotions, and nearly all of these trace to the key emotional element of desire. A lack of desire always results in some form of physical atrophy. Your brain’s functioning becomes cloudy before you feel illness or pain.
The body is always operating under pressure, whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. The air pressure on your body is 14.7 pounds per square inch. Changes in air pressure can affect your appetite and the way you digest your food.
You would need a very special barometer to tell the weight of emotional and mental types of pressure. You feel emotional pressures because you “cannot bear” them. You notice mental pressure when you reject a new idea because you “simply cannot believe it.”
You cannot serve God 100 percent physically, mentally and spiritually when you are caving in to all these pressures. You must train yourself to be irresistibly, rapturously expectant about your inheritance. Declare, “Today, I shall win against every challenge I face.”
Let go of your past. Let God do everything about it. Then you can say, “Let me plan greatly.” Yet you must act, not simply plan for some indefinite future. Plan greatly, but do while you are planning.
Spend some time every day thanking God that you are receiving everything you need to fulfill your plan. Then do something toward attaining it.
You have all the time you need to develop your mental and soul faculties right now, if you so desire. God makes everything perfect when you declare it is.
Your body remakes itself every seven years. If you do not experience the good of this, ask yourself why yours is getting worse. When a weak part is being healed, it aches. Agree and adjust by standing in the Light and making the right statements for healing. Declare that the Light is moving through and healing you.
You can do anything if you have the flaming desire to succeed, backed by the courage of your highest convictions. Let no one push you off your high point in consciousness. God can take you anywhere your soul vision conjures.
Thank Him for all He does for you. Declare, “Father, please pour forth that vitalizing element of your Light. Let Your love flow through me to bring this to pass.”
Edna Lister outline; June 7, 1942, Buffalo, New York, December 18, 1955, Tacoma, Washington; John 10:30-39.
“I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the Word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand.”–John 10:30-39.
You must accept that you are a creator god, as the Master said. You see your destiny, accept it, then do all that your destiny requires. Your destiny is to be as God is and to do as God does.
Desire is the creator, the Creative Impulse. Imagination is the builder of blueprints and molds. Praise releases the divine substance that increases and fills the molds.
Joy is the spoken Word. Your words are your sheep, and your spoken Word calls your own to you, even when you interfere with law.
You cannot get away from God. You have no place else to go. Your unconquerable faith builds your pipeline to God, while determination builds the pipeline from the Source of Light to your creations.
You must overlook the obstacles and challenges to overcome the world. Otherwise, you remain like tumbleweeds, blown about by every wind, piled up against life’s barriers.
Edna Lister transcript Ruth Bender, scribe, June 7, 1942, Buffalo, New York; John 10:30-39
“I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the Word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand.”–John 10:30-39.
When you conquer self, you are given to eat of the Tree of Life, represented by the spinal cord. The tree waters your Garden of Eden, the higher creative centers in the brain, the pineal body, the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. The “water” is the white Light of the Christ.
If you want to dissolve body toxins, look up in consciousness and inhale deeply three times, in through the nose and out through your mouth.
To see is to awaken desire, the fundamental fire of life, the creative fire. When you awaken the fire of life, it is the creator in your life.
You have greater talents right now than many who are doing the greater works. Too many find it easier to sit back and criticize the one who is doing rather than to do it themselves. Those who can do, but will not, are behind the great mess we find in the world today.
You can do anything you desire to, accomplish any goal, but you must accept the fact that you will have to work for it. You cannot pick your talents from the Tree of Life like ornaments from a Christmas tree, no. Instead, you must grow them from within, just like a peach tree grows peaches.
To do this, you must awaken your faculty of desire. Imagination is the builder of forms for desire to fill. When you accept that you must work hard, imagination goes into action, backed by love and wisdom. Imagination is wisdom’s building tool, and love fuels your flaming desire.
Then you must do something about fulfilling your desires, and you must persist. Praise will release the Power you need to reach the goal or to fill any prayer mold.
Thank the Father that He is increasing your talents. That way you keep your desire always going higher, climbing higher, releasing more Power to complete your outer creations.
You cannot create without first praising God. If you want something out of your life, first you must praise it into your life. Turn on the heat under your praise until it boils over, filling your life with the white Christ Light.
Tell your Father, “I love You so.” Whatever you have wasted will then return to its original state as spiritual substance.
Praise increases itself, not the thing you praise. Praise increases the love you send forth when you speak praise in love. Declare that Light changes that which you do not want into that which will fulfill every miracle for you and your loved ones.
Joy is the password to enter the Holy of Holies in prayer. Sin is missing the “mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Joy will bring you to peace, which is to live at the highest point of poise in your life. Yet remember, you receive no credits for your service unless you serve in joy.
When your efforts at conquering self seem to be too much, too hard, stop and remember that nothing is boring or too heavy when you work and serve on a joy vibration. To conquer is to overcome. You can come up in consciousness and over any obstacle. It all becomes much easier to do when you overlook the obstacles, to look up to God and over whatever seems to stand in your way.
You can find your high point of joy at the white point of heat with the Light, while praising God. Praise is the keynote of love and of joy. Praise makes you able to reach your high point. Declare, “Father, I am irresistibly, rapturously expectant of this miracle. You have all the ideas I need and that can come through from You to fill this mold.”
Praise those whom you have criticized, and those who criticize you. Praise those who help you with your ideas and help you build the next step. You build in layers. Everyone builds a few layers in life that are no good. You just scrape them off and begin anew.
Do not be like a tumbleweed, blown hither and yon, scattering weed seeds of negativity. Turn on the heat. Keep your eyes wide open so you never miss a detail. Let courage be your expression. Joy is the highest vibration the Father can give you. The Master left his joy with you, and it is complete. Declare, “I am rapturously expectant for all good now, that all my creations are complete now.”
What many call peace is a state of rest, a state so low in vibration that it just precedes death. People tolerate this vegetation rather than to brave life’s waves, fearing to be dashed against a rocky shore. Yet you can walk on the waves, on the storm tossed sea. You can say, “Peace. Be still,” and quell the wrath of nature. You have that power. Some people live life after dreary life rather than to use their keys of creativity. Swamped at last, they are dragged into a receding life wave and the loss of former identity.
Today you face the Gates of Gold into God’s Realms of Glory. On the right is Wisdom and to the left is Love. Use your key of selflessness to open them. Live under the law, in balance, to open these gates. Say, “I hold the key to these gates in my hands. I shall make the sacrifices of self necessary to open them, O Father.” You will then find that every closed door on the outer has become an open Gate of Gold.
“I will…open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places.”–Isaiah 45:1-3. Lord, we give Thee our burdens to lift them into Light. Thank Thee. Amen.
Edna Lister outline, June 14, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Matthew 12:25-30
“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”–Matthew 12:25-30.
What are surrender and renunciation? Surrender is to yield or to give up. Renunciation is sacrifice or repudiation. As a follower of Jesus the Christ, you give up bondage to the self in favor of yielding to the will of God for you: To be perfect. Willingly, you sacrifice the self and repudiate the ways and acts of evil or darkness. Once you have gained the surety of your identity with God, you never let it go. You hold fast to the Light, no matter what.
John Paul Jones, an American naval hero, was an officer of the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War. As his ship, the Bon Homme Richard was sinking, he had only the Alliance left when the British demanded that he surrender. Instead, he rammed the larger British vessel, HMS Serapis, boarded it and won the Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779. In the midst of the battle, Jones shouted his famous declaration, “I have not yet begun to fight!”
Our own Teddy Roosevelt had very poor and undiagnosed vision as a child. He made himself excel in sports and later headed the Rough Riders, the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, during the Spanish-American War, 1898. He had a close call in Milwaukee during the 1912 presidential campaign, when a deranged former saloon-keeper shot him. Undeterred by the bullet, slowed by a steel eyeglasses case and a folded 50-page speech in his breast pocket, Roosevelt delivered the speech before heading to the hospital.
Another man once inherited a book shop, then in ignorance overstocked and expanded until his money was gone. His unpaid creditors put his store up for auction and claimed the proceeds. They left him with a load of old and damaged secondhand books. He took his unwanted book stock, built a shack beside a well-traveled road, and specialized in used books. In three seasons he made his money back and plenty to spare. From this we can learn at least one thing: Start easy, with what you have, right where you are.
You must snatch your profits from defeat. Make any and all defeats pay you dividends. A defeat cannot make you a failure, but quitting will. Spending hours trying to love what folks do is a waste of time. Instead, remember to love them for what they are—the children of God.
Set your life’s pace from your own soul’s standard, and never let others or the outside world dictate your pace. Always strive to hold to and maintain your soul’s pace, even if you die trying.
Edna Lister transcript, Ruth Bender, scribe, June 14, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Matthew 12:25-30
“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”–Matthew 12:25-30.
The Leap of the Serpent is a 25,000-year Hindu cycle. We are now in a crucial time. We cannot afford to lose all we have accomplished in the unseen life for the Lords of Life due to outside influences. Yet there are still princes of darkness, from the tribes of Cain and Ishmael who have incarnated and sworn to enter the abyss of annihilation if they do not win.
We have completed 6,000 years of the 7,000-year Adamic civilization. We are living in the New Jerusalem phase of the Book of Revelation. The Plan of Salvation has sent many lesser messiahs to every race and tribe on earth, but only one world savior, Jesus Christ.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and [things] in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”–Philippians 2:9-11.
Remember, even a racial savior or great teacher of Light can step into the same trap he met with in a past life and fall back into an old rut. During the next thousand years we will open and develop more brain neurons, leading to greater mental capacity and brilliance. Eventually, within the next 2,000 years, the Christ consciousness will amalgamate all the religions of earth to worship the One God, the Father of Wisdom, the Mother of Love, and the one Son of Light.
Anyone who has heard of Jesus Christ is considered to be of knowledge. Surrender to the Light, obedience to God’s law, and renunciation of self walk hand in hand. Anyone who still seeks this truth has not yet found Jesus Christ because he cannot be found on the outside.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”–Matthew 11:28-30 The soul who still feels driven to seek after hearing these words of Jesus the Christ, has not renounced all self or surrendered to the Light of God. Why does the petty little self insist on holding out on God? Self wants its own way and is always getting hurt feelings or being insulted. Even a single-celled creature withdraws in irritation when offended.
The contest is between appetitive soul and Oversoul, each of which uses the term, “I AM.” Big I AM is all Light, Power, glory, and strength. Little “I am” believes in defeat. He decides to struggle because he is just trying to follow Jesus the Christ. You can recognize him by his whining words: “Well, I am trying. I am praying. I am trying to love everybody.” When a child says this, he is just trying to get by, to escape being responsible without being disciplined.
Lukewarmness and indifference hypnotize the embodies souls on earth to sleep. The Word of God is available to everyone. We’ve had access to the New Testament for 2,000 years, and the Old Testament for longer than that. Is the Bible vital in your life?
Being satisfied with making general statements of truth means you have to work at it constantly, because you are just using the words as a mental crutch, lacking faith in the Word. To surrender to God and renounce self means that once you have set your mind on praising and consciously knowing you are pressing on to finish the race. “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 3:13-14.
Why try to love the things people do? Why waste time on this? Ignore them. Do not even see what they do. Do not notice them. Say, “The Christ in me salutes the Christ in you, and you are free from my idea of you.” To turn defeat into success is the simplest thing in the world. Surrender the negatives and silly notions of life to the Son of universal Light.
A man once inherited a book shop, and in ignorance overstocked and expanded until his money was gone. His creditors put his store up for auction and claimed the proceeds, leaving him with nothing but old and damaged secondhand books. He took his unwanted stock, built a shack beside a well-traveled road, specializing in used books. In three seasons he made his money back and plenty to spare. From this we can learn at least one thing: Start easy with what you have, where you are.
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 the heat of this battle, he shouted, “I have not yet begun to fight!”
Teddy Roosevelt, during the 1912 presidential campaign, was shot by a deranged former saloon-keeper in Milwaukee. Undeterred by the bullet, which was slowed by a steel eyeglasses case and a folded 50-page speech in his breast pocket, Roosevelt delivered a 90-minute speech before heading to the hospital.
These men all found the strength of their own souls during a fight to survive. Look within and find that giant that you really are. The Light of God’s universe will move in as power and possess you.
Always remember that you can renounce only your own self and ascend. How sad it is to look into another’s eyes and have him say, “Well, I just can’t see why I need to do this. I have find out for myself whether this is true.” Yet, most of us have let someone else take charge of our life or our thoughts at some point, so judge them as still growing, as you were.
Still, you must set your own pace, not follow the world’s pace. Chart your course by the highest laws you can find. The great soul that you already are can descend and possess you only when you command the little self of earthly appetites to give way.
The Father’s Light is always waiting to be your Light to light your way. You can always become a leader, if you do not care what the world says. Hold fast to that integrated point of being where your soul is drawn into your great Oversoul above.
Yet the law is that each must share and share alike. If a mother divides the dessert unevenly, shorts herself or goes without, she sets a poor example. Each must take the smallest piece in turn; otherwise, you will become a martyr to the self in others.
The path of renunciation of self has guardrails of surrender to Light on both sides. Must you renounce the good things like beauty, joy, pleasure, and fun? No. You renounce weakness, doubts, and fears instead.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”–Matthew 11:28. Declare, “I will arise and go to my Father’s house. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
The Father’s house is magical, so Light-filled that no darkness can exist within it. When you dwell in the house of the Lord in consciousness, you are always facing home. Make up your mind that soul possesses you, not self.
Do your Father’s work on earth. Be about His business. Be a miracle worker. When you are living by soul, you are an open channel for Light, and whatsoever you ask is established unto you.
The way of beauty, joy, Light and conquering is the path of surrender of self. Renounce all the worn-out creeds, dogmas and limited concepts.
Be an agent of peace in the world. You could stand in the middle of a boiler factory yet dwell in a house of calm. Stand on the bridge over the abyss between God and the world, and let the Father use you.
Never admit defeat. Let the law of life use you. You will be amazed at how Light protects you. Lay all your burdens on the Father’s altar.
The last few steps to the top are the hardest, but the reward is beyond your imagining. You will find it easy then to renounce and sacrifice the old ways because everyone who looks to God has that strength and dedication, the endurance they need to save the world.
Edna Lister outline, June 21, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Luke 8:41-56
“And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.”–Luke 8:41-56.
First, the synagogue ruler asked Jesus to come to his house because his beloved young daughter was dying. Second, the ailing woman touched him, and Jesus felt the Power leave him. The disciples asked him how he could tell who had done so in the midst of that pressing crowd.
Finally, a servant came and told Jairus that his daughter was dead, and not to bother the Master. Jesus went anyway. They laughed at him, and he put them out of the room.
In the silence, he prayed, and the little girl’s spirit returned to her body. He could raise the dead because he had the faith of God, not ordinary faith in God.
Edna Lister outline, July 5, 1942, Buffalo, New York; Matthew 12:31-37
“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”–Matthew 12:31-37.
“In the beginning, God.” Both science and religion agree that the universe began as Light. But what does religion really teach?
Everyone has the equal right to advance, to progress, to grow, to achieve. Yet without faith, everything suffers a slow death of vibration. So, abiding dynamic faith is your only incentive.
Science is fueled by the donations of people who give because they believe in the results predicted. Donations paid for our latest giant telescope, the Hale telescope at Mt. Palomar. Faith was the reason behind the donors’ giving.
Faith is the Light as the Holy Breath that you breathe. Every idle word misuses that Light in the Holy Breath. This you must overcome, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Every word you have spoken shall bear witness for or against you in the courts of heaven.
Edna Lister outline, September 18, 1942, Tacoma, Washington; Matthew 5:38-42
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”–Matthew 5:38-42.
What builds a mountain? What makes a molehill? You can either build a mountain from your redeemed soul substance, or dig your way through the dirt of self up to the Light. You are supposed to turn the other cheek, give up your cloak and go the extra mile for another only once. Why continue filling your path with mountains of self and molehills of taints?
What you build and where you build it depends on the combined quality and quantity of your efforts. To build well, however, you must bless everything below you and praise everything above you.
To succeed, you need to open a new account with life. Plan what resources you will require, how much and what kind. Remember, you will have to make a down payment with enough redeemed soul substance before you can draw on that new account.
Let Light make little molehills out of your mountains of darkness until the obstacles and pitfalls disappear in the Light. Let your heart be anchored on the inner and your heart’s desires shall be added to the outer.
The Father always sends you the fare to travel to His bank. The quality of your effort determines the time it takes or how long you must wait. Everything is perfect after its degree and kind, and in its own station of life.
Edna Lister outline, November 30, 1942, Buffalo, New York; 2 Peter 3
“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”–2 Peter 3.
What is this heat? Where do you get it? How do you know when it is hot enough? Let’s consider four states of consciousness that are ultimately one “estate.”
First is cold, which can cause frostbite or chilblains. Dry ice, which can burn, is so cold that it acts as heat. Cold includes the scoffers who “walk according to their own lusts,” the “untaught and unstable people.”
Second are the lukewarm and indifferent souls, those who “willfully forget,” and just slide along, getting by. They are so often selfish, greedy and grasping, “being led away with the error of the wicked.”
The third state is boiling hot: “The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” You get results when you boil, but always run the risk of burning up the body.
The fourth state is steam, which is being an ensample of the white Christ Light. Here you know things that are “hard to understand,” for you are “growing in grace and knowledge.” You are perking, alive, fervent, eager and enthusiastic. This is all lovely, but how do you reach this point?
Only one thing will get you there, the white heat of joy. Love can take you to the boiling point, but you can still use or misuse it. Joy is higher than that. When you make joy the pacesetter of your life, it opens all doors and draws everything good to you.
Joy is the accelerator that increases your capacity and opens all the desire, mental, and spiritual body centers. Joy completes your perfected trinity of soul: appetitive soul, embodied rational soul, and Oversoul.
When you are one in joy with the Logos, the Word as the Son, you are like a great cable consisting of many strands. One strand alone can do nothing. Each must be strong and perfect. If a strand is weak, the strain of the pull further weakens it until it tears apart, and having failed, the load falls.
Only by being single-minded can you grow and advance in love unquenchable, faith unconquerable, and joy invincible. Joy is the magical magnet, and forever yours. No one can steal it unless you let them. You have no need to buy it, for joy is yours now.
.
Edna Miriam Lister
1884 – 1971
The original Christian Pioneering Mystic,
Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.
References
The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).
The Oxford English Dictionary: Compact Ed., 2 vols. E.S.C. Weiner, ed., Oxford University Press, 1971.
Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 3rd ed. Springfield, Massachusetts, G. & C. Merriam Co., 1929.