EDGAR CAYCE WORLDWIDE
ECW-2003-03 supplement July 5, 2003
An e-mail bulletin to the friends of Edgar Cayce and the A.R.E. around the world
Very dear friends,
In ECW-2003-02, we mentioned a few quotations from the Edgar Cayce readings on the beauty of giving and manifesting the fruits of the spirit in our daily lives. In ECW-2003-03, we gave a brief report on the 2003 A.R.E. Congress, the theme of which was "Being Joyful in Service." We included a number of reading excerpts on the subject.
Service is an essential notion that appears repeatedly in the Edgar Cayce material. According to the readings, service is the basis of soul growth, and the door to the kingdom of God:
"In service alone may any soul find advancement or development." [721-1]
"You’ll not be in heaven if you’re not leaning on the arm of someone you have helped. You have little hope of getting there unless you do help someone else." [3352-1]
Our purpose should be to become lights unto others, using what we have at hand to help our fellow human beings.
In this supplement, we quote a whole reading, given in 1933 to the Norfolk Study Group #3. This reading should be insightful to all study groups. It contains deep truths to reflect upon, and actually covers many of the spiritual principles from A Search for God.
We also list some inspiring reading excerpts on our responsibility to love and help others. Finally, we indicate a few quotations that contain words of caution and useful advice.
Many more enlightening thoughts on the subject may be found throughout the readings.
If any of you feels drawn to compile gems from the Edgar Cayce material, we would be happy to help you share them with the international community.
In love and oneness,
Alice Bonnefoi
International Outreach
· Edgar Cayce reading 473-1
This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at the home of Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Benthall, 906 Harrington Ave., Norfolk, Va., this 19th day of December, 1933, in accordance with request made by those present.
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno.
Annie Umphlet, A. K. Swartz, O. J. Benthall, Rosario DeMaio, Alice Harris, A. T. Ellington, Mary Swartz, Minnie Williams, Levenia Benthall, Margaret Wilkins, Emma Mast, Josephine White, Nellye Twitty, Elizabeth Perry, Helen Ellington, Frances Y. Morrow, Helen Storey, Esther Wynne, Abbie Kemp, Mildred Mary Davis, and Hugh Lynn Cayce.
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading
8:35 to 9:15 P. M. Eastern Standard Time.
1. GC: You will have before you the Norfolk Study Group #3, members of which are present in this room. You will please at this time give the counsel that it most needs as a group, some things it may hope to accomplish and the purpose for which it was called. You will answer the questions.
2. EC: Yes, we have the Group #3 and those members of same as gathered here. We have them as a group and as individuals.
3. In seeking as individuals in a cooperative manner to show themselves approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly divining the words of truth, should be the purpose, the aim, the desire of each and every individual that associates or affiliates itself with such a group. In presenting in their experience that which may be gained from the study of that prepared as the thought to lead or guide, is the purpose; that each soul would find development for itself to become a better channel, a better servant of the Lord that each seeks to manifest in its individual life. And as a group, present same in such a cooperative way and manner as to make for an influence that may induce or lead others to make THEIR lives as channels for a greater service in His name. Not that any individual would be, should be, compelled or sought - other than they that are called in His name, that they as individuals, as a group, may show forth the Lord's death till he come again.
4. This should be the purpose, the aim, the desire.
5. As to how each may better accomplish this in the experience, it is the development and the enfoldment of a practical, a manifested, an exemplified life in the service of the Master. And, as He has given, "A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another," that ye keep that which is committed unto thee against that day when each must in its own way present that it has builded in its experience as a service unto Him that gave, "If ye love me, keep my commandments, and I will come and abide with thee. I will not leave thee comfortless, but will give that ye ask in my name, believing, for I go to the Father and ye that abide in me abide in the Father also."
6. Ready for questions.
7. (Q) You will please give a message to each in the group, as I call the names, that will help each to better understand its relationship to the work. First, [983]:
(A) He that is called into service does show forth in the life day by day that he has walked close with Him. For, while shadows, doubts and fears arise, the promises are sure that if the fruits of the spirit are shown in thy life the harvest will be the Lord's increase in thine experience.
8. (Q) [478]:
(A) Let thy going in, thine coming out, be in meekness of purpose serving the Lord. For unto him that is given much, much is required at his hand. "If ye love me," as He has given, "feed my lambs. Feed my sheep." For the service is unto thine brethren, and, "Inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these, my little ones, ye do it unto me."
9. (Q) [537]:
(A) Study to show thyself approved unto God, and let thy choice be that, "Others may do as they may, but for me I will serve a living God."
10. (Q) [1236]:
(A) In thine seeking, in thine understanding, make that thou savorest of self to do no more than that required of thine neighbor. Be tolerant, even as thine Master was tolerant - even in HIS walks in life; but keep thine own body, thine own mind, thine own soul, in readiness to serve where the Master leads.
11. (Q) [555]:
(A) The way of the Cross leads those in paths of righteousness. As ye seek to comfort those that are distressed in body or in mind, ye do show forth that love He has asked that His followers NAME in their experience. Be JOYOUS in the service, even as He was joyous in the life that He led as the man.
12. (Q) [603]:
(A) Come, join thyself in meekness of purpose that ye may show forth in thy going in and coming out a service worthy of the Master thou would serve. DARE to do those things that the heart and soul PROMPT thee in His service. For, as this IS done day by day, the next step is GIVEN thee in thy walks before Him.
13. (Q) [289]:
(A) Keep the way thou has set before thyself in the service to thy fellow man. For, the love that is shown in the walks of life is a pattern of that held in the spiritual life of Him ye would serve. Keep, then, the Way. Keep thine SELF holy, being true to thine own inner self; for He will guide those who put their trust in Him. Be not weary in well-doing, for in patience ye come to possess your OWN soul.
14. (Q) [913]:
(A) Come, sing a joyous song unto thy Lord for the good that has been brought into THINE experience through the service that thou renderest in His name. Make a joyous noise unto the Lord, for His ways are the joyous life, making life then more abundant in the experience of those that ye tell and live the wondrous story for. For, ye will go far in bringing life, light and understanding to many in the JOYOUS life.
15. (Q) [845]:
(A) Keep the heart singing. Look not upon the service to Him as being DUTY; rather as the privilege to show forth in thine life, thine experience, the blessings that have been and that may be thine in an OPPORTUNITY of service to thy fellow man. In this manner, in this way, may the greater joys, the greater blessings, come into thine own experience. And know ye that unless the experience is thine own to thine own soul, it is only theory. Yet, as ye live day by day in the opportunities of the service of being a channel of blessing, so may thine own life, thine own experience in the present, be enriched in the Lord.
16. (Q) [513]:
(A) In keeping the ways open for a greater service, the joys of the service lighten the burdens of life. See in those thou meetest day by day the image that is as the spiritual light in EVERY life. For, as the light of His love shines through thine own life, it may guide many a weary soul to a knowledge, an understanding of His love that is shed abroad in a weak and sin-weary world!
17. (Q) [578]:
(A) Keep the ways open that there may come in thine experience more of the joys of a service in His name. For, as ye use that thou understandest today, there is given thee the next step. And as the life and the experiences unfold in the ways that are opened, more joy and less sorrow, more understanding and less contention, wilt thou find in thine own experience. Contend not, but vie with those feelings thou knowest that are a service to thy fellow man.
18. (Q) [636]:
(A) As there comes into thine experience the desire to seek for knowledge, for understanding, and to comprehend more and more how that self may be used in a service to Him, doubt not those promises that have been made. For, He looketh on the heart and not on the outward appearances as man. Then, CLEANSE thine own mind of doubt, of fear, and let the joyous promises that have been given in Him direct thy paths, direct thy ways, in the experiences that come to thee day by day. Thus may the life, thus may the heart, be opened more and more to the beauties of BEING a channel of blessing to someone.
19. (Q) VIRGINIA TWIFORD:
(A) As there comes in thine experience the varied experiences of the approaches that will be made to thee in the mental, in the material, in the spiritual things, TRY ye these influences. For, those that name not the Master are not of the Lord's biddings. For, as He has given, be not led astray by every wind that doth stir, but rather in thine own life show forth in the deeds of the body, in the thoughts of the mind, that love He seeks that ye serve thy fellow man, and THUS bring to self a JOY in thine experience, and more knowledge of the Lord.
20. (Q) [1016]:
(A) In the getting of understanding, temper all with patience and with love, and the joy of the service becomes less irksome in thine daily life. For, while petty conditions arise in thine experience, patience and perseverance will make the understanding and the ways of the Lord plain in thine daily life.
21. (Q) [1834]:
(A) Keep the faith thou has named. Wander not far afield. For, the GLORY of the lord is in DOING the biddings that thou knowest. Not in seeking fanciful ways, nor yet in rote nor in form, but rather in meekness of heart and in trueness of purpose as to serving the living God.
22. (Q) [573]:
(A) Unto him that calls in the name of the Lord and keepeth the heart open will come the answers even as He has promised, and as He has manifested in the experience of those that LIVED the life that made for the experiencing in THEIR lives that the Lord had called them for a purpose. Be WILLING to be that the Lord would HAVE thee do. Thou knowest His ways. Keep them.
23. (Q) ESSIE EDWARDS:
(A) As there is given thee day by day the ways that will make known to thee, in thee and through thee, the knowledge OF the Lord's activity in the earth, then so live that others SEEING THY life may know that thou has walked with the Lord. For HIS ways are not past finding out, if ye are willing to serve.
24. (Q) [290]:
(A) Keep the faith, for only as ye show forth the Lord may His love be crowned in thine experience. FULFILL the vows thou hast made unto thy God. For, He doth not always wink at the loss of self's OWN doing, but rather know - as has been given - "Heavens and earth may pass away, but my word passeth NOT away." And He will demand EVERY WHIT in thine own experience.
25. (Q) [5773]:
(A) As ye draw nigh seeking to know thy Father's face, cleanse thou thine heart from all doubt, all fear, and live the life as He has set, "If ye love me, keep my commandments - for they are not grievous." Rather that, "As ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them."
26. (Q) [413]:
(A) Show forth in thine life, as ye go about, that thou has taken thought of His ways. Fear not to speak oft with thy God. BE on speaking terms with thy Father.
27. (Q) Any message to the teacher? [307]?
(A) As there arises in the experience of each those things that would needs be carried to the Throne of Grace, know that the door is not shut; for He will have mercy upon those who seek and call in His name.
28. (Q) Is there a message to the group as a whole?
(A) As ye come in His name, make known thine wants, thy desires, and as they - thy desires - are righteous and right, it will be shown thee that these may be carried on in thine daily experience. For, the laws of the Lord are perfect - and the way is opened to those that seek. Come! Make a joyous noise in His name, for the Lord is in His holy temple!
29. We are through.
· Reading excerpts on service to others
Know that the purpose for which each soul enters a material experience is that it may be as a light unto others; not as one boastful of self or of self's abilities in any phase of the experience, whether mental or material, but living, being in spirit that which is ideal and not idealistic alone, nor the unattainable.
For, as He hath given — if ye would know the Spirit, or God, search for Him; for happy ye will find Him.
Thus — in that consciousness of daily living and being that which is in keeping with the ideal — life and its problems becomes not a burden, but opportunities — for the greater expressions and expansions of self in knowing that as ye sow daily the fruit of the spirit, ye need not worry nor fret thyself as to its growth. God giveth the increase. Hence be not weary in well-doing.[641-6]
Yet as we look into the infinity of space and time we realize there is then that force, that influence also that is aware of the needs, and there is also that will, that choice given to the souls of men that they may be used, that they may be one, that they may apply same in their own feeble, weak ways perhaps; yet that comes to mean, comes to signify, comes to manifest in the lives of those that have lost their way, that very influence ye seek in the knowledge of God.
For until ye become as a savior, as a help to some soul that has lost hope, lost its way, ye do not fully comprehend the God within, the God without.[1158-14]
For we can, as God, say Yea to this, Nay to that; we can order this or the other in our experience, by the very gifts that have been given or appointed unto our keeping. For we are indeed as laborers, co-laborers in the vineyard of the Lord — or of they that are fearful of His coming.
And we choose each day whom we will serve! And by the records in time and space, as we have moved through the realms of His kingdom, we have left our mark upon same.[1567-2]
To express love in thine activities to thy neighbor is the greater service that a soul may give in this mundane sphere.[499-2]
For, as given, the greatest service to God is service to His creatures.[254-17]
The basic principle of that love manifested by the Son was ever, "Others, Lord, others."[1206-13]
All knowledge is to be used in the manner that will give help and assistance to others, and the desire is that the laws of the Creator be manifested in the physical world.[254-17]
The way of the Cross is not easy, yet it is the tuneful, the rhythmic, the beautiful, the lovely way.[1089-6]
SERVICE is asked of all men, rather than sacrifice. In sacrifice there is penance, but grace doth more greatly abound to him who sheds the love of the Father upon those that the body may contact from day to day.
(Q) How can I use my abilities at the present time to best serve humanity?
(A) By filling to the best possible purpose AND ability that place, that niche the body, mind AND soul occupies; being the BEST husband, the BEST neighbor, the BEST friend to each and every individual the body meets; for would one fail in meeting those obligations that one takes, they become worse THAN the infidel; and as was said, "He that would cause the least of these my little ones to offend, BETTER were it that a millstone be hanged about his neck and he cast in the depts of the sea" - but he that doeth the will of the Father, he that is willing to become as naught that they may SERVE the better in WHATEVER capacity — as a merchant, be the best merchant; as a neighbor, the BEST neighbor; as a friend, the BEST friend.[99-8]
Don't be weary in well-doing. If it requires years, give years - but give a service and a praise continually to God, if ye would have life. For as He gave, and gives to every individual entity who seeks His face, "I came that ye might have life and have it more abundantly."[3684-1]
But do not put off today that which will bring hope and help to the mind of another . . . Those things that make for the putting off become a joy never fulfilled. Use, then, the experiences from day to day as the basis, and these will grow under thine very effort; surprising even to self as to the joy that comes from same, and gradually taking shape to become a joy to self and blessings to others.[877-9]
· Wise advice to ponder on…
Do not be afraid of giving self in a service — if the ideal is correct. If it is for selfish motives, for aggrandizement, for obtaining a hold to be used in an underhand manner, beware. If it is that the glory of truth may be made manifest, spend it all — whether self, mind, body, or the worldly means — whether in labor or in the coin of the realm.[1957-1]
For he that contributes only to his own welfare soon finds little to work for. He that contributes only to the welfare of others soon finds too much of others and has lost the appreciation of self, or of its ideals…
Know that the power or strength for any influence as related to the help of others must come from the universal source and not from self alone. For the individual may sow the seed, the Infinite must give the increase - it must do the multiplying. Man can detract, but he can add little to God's purpose in the earth save through the grace and mercy of God Himself.[3478-2]
And the abilities are here to accomplish whatever the entity would choose to set its mind to, so long as the entity trusts not in the might of self, but in His grace, His power, His might. Be mindful ever of that, in thy understanding, in thy own wisdom, much may be accomplished; but be rather thou the channel through which He, God, the Father, may manifest His power — in whatever may be the chosen activity of the entity.[3183-1]
Keep it [your soul] then in patience, in love, in gentleness, in kindness . . . For these are indeed the fruits of the spirit . . . And remember, a kindness sometimes consists in denying as well as granting those activities in associations with thy fellow man.[5322-1]
To help one to help himself is greater than giving, giving, without the ability of the one receiving to see.1770-2]
Do not try to assist self, but rather smile upon those that are downhearted and sad; lift the load from those that find theirs too heavy to bear, in gentleness, in kindness, in long-suffering, in patience, in mercy, in brotherly love. And as ye show forth these to thy fellow man, the ways and the gates of glory open before thee.[272-8]