Thank you.

Whatever is of human origin, shall fail. Even human love. Whenever I think about this, I practice to replace character defects with the Christ-like character. Every step more spiritual, is leaving behind the false gods that fail.(I Cor.13)

"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything... to worship them" Exodus 20:4
Worshiping graven images, maybe bronze, pottery or even an image lingering in our minds (this days may take the form of a politician), influencing us away from God, good, can only bring despair, sorrow, while having one God over all, the only God of divine Love, unites His children in harmony and peace.
ESPAÑOL
“No te harás imagen, ni ninguna semejanza… No te inclinarás á ellas, ni las honrarás” Éxodo 20:4
Adorar imágenes talladas, tal vez bronce, cerámica, o incluso una imagen que persista en nuestras mentes (en estos días puede tomar la forma de un político) que influya para alejarnos de Dios, el bien, sólo puede traer desesperación, tristeza, mientras que tener un solo Dios por encima de todo, el único Dios de Amor divino, une a Sus hijos en armonía y paz.

Thank you for this wonderfull contrrbution. I never saw it trhat before. Now I do.

Thank you, Evan - The King of Love, my Shepherd is ..therefore. I shall not want nor fear; there will be no resentment, nor hatred, nor envy, for He is my All and I am very grateful to this Father of all, who sets us free, gives perfect liberty, with joy!

Many thanks Evan for this great reminder. Yes. "I will listen for Thy [Love's] voice,/ Lest my footsteps stray;/ I will follow and rejoice/ All the rugged way." (MBE Christian Science Hymnal #304).

Thank you for explaining this very encouraging accomplishment! - and I guess we have to practise it in our immediate surroundings first in order to feel clearly that it relates also to situations like Bashir Assad ec ec ...

Thank You for this reminder that there is only one God.

Oops.... I've been holding the same "graven image" of my neighbor. Thank you for this vital reminder of what the direction and focus of our thought should be!

Thank you for this reminder to see all ( even my pets) are ideas of God and respond to Love.

For me this is a new thought about mental graven images. I have always thought of them as positive, and never realized that we can bow down to a negative mental idol. Guess I have some mental house cleaning to do! Thanks.

thank you Evan, I never looked at it in this way. It makes so much spiritual sense. I have heard things such as one gives their power away( to another person,) if they let a person become overly important in their mind,(paraphrase) but this demonstration of yours truly explains what is actually happening, considering it from a spiritual perspective.
I, had indeed made a graven image of a family member, (more than one) and could see no way away or out of it, suffering much, and undoubtedly causing them pain. You have given me a way to see that God loves them as well as me.
thank you so much

Thanks for this. So helpful to me and I am sure to everyone else, too.

Evan, thanks so very much for the helpful and timly lift. Your thought on "mental graven images" was very insightful, and, very much an "on target" piont of view. We seem to be assualted from every angle by errors of all sorts, trying to gain a foothold in our thoughtgs. We need to re-frame that thought to dispute and dispell any evidence of them having any power.
Thanks again...!

Thanks so much, Evan, for a different perspective on a graven image. I never thought of it as having a negative view of someone. I have certainly done this in the past and will be more alert to not bow down or accept anything but the man, woman or child as created by God in His image and likeness.

I agree, I like to think of the 2nd commandment in line with the second Beatitute, as I work to be more open, less self-justifying, less self-will, allowing compassion for and about others to enter my life, then those graven images soften, bringing me back to one God, and I do feel comforted.

Thank you for these practical ideas on right thinking.

Evan, this reminds me of a mother's counsel to her daughter: "Don't let other people rent space in your head." Right! Keep a clean, pure, loving and lovely view of all God's creation. A law that keeps us happy, healthy, and safe. Thanks to all.

Good perspective.. thank you ! :- )

thank you Evan. i have also been feeling this same way about my boss.I will now see her in Gods image and likeness.no more negativity.

What, I find, I'm getting out of these daily lifts from all the 'practitioners',
is the underlying message that God gives to each of us...when we 'practice' ...ie: obey His Commandments, the ability to hear the "inspired" Word of God."

The more we walk the walk the more we hear Him talk.

I'm more impressed with the practitioners - those that do their homework. Thanks to you all for inspiring me to do my own.

Thank you so much Evan.

Thanks so much for the inspiration of Ten Commandments - One GOD is Divine Love. Love is ALL presence!
Mario Vicencio, Brazil

Hey Evan, this is a wonderful opportunity to go all the way back and correct other graven images I'd allowed in unchallenged and unopposed. I like to think of the "Thou shalt nots. . ." as letting us know that there is no possibility that God would actually consent to us having any other God of sin or sickness or mortal mind, God is such an infinite and eternal God, that it couldn't be possible for another god to stand in front of us, or as us, or as someone else. "Thou shalt not. . . " means God is protecting us, and we know it.
Thank you Nate and the team; the Board of Lectureship and the lecturers; and the DL family.

Wonderful thoughtful podcast. I enjoyed it very much and know that I can make use of this wisdom.

This statement from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, comes to mind:

Dost thou "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all the soul, and with all thy mind"? This command includes much, even the surrender of all merely material sensation, affection and worship. (page 19).

Anything we worship -- our jobs, our wealth or lack of it, an illness --- anything we put on a pedestal, good or bad, and let it have power over us, is an opportunity -- a command -- to put God first instead. This can be a struggle, but it is well worth our efforts to have no image but God's foremost in our thoughts.

Thank you, Evan.

I had thought about this commandment in the light of having too much focus on matter--more than I thought about God--but never about anger. So this was very interesting to consider. Thanks for the new insight! Love is always the answer isn't it?

Thank you Evan, I realized as I was listening that I was holding someone in my thoughts the same way you described. And until I listened to your story, I actually thought I was justified thinking those thoughts, for some silly reason!! Now I'm going to take that image out of my mind, and replace it with loving thoughts, and remember that that person has good loving qualities.

Great lift Evan!! A lot of graven images came to mind after hearing this this morning.... money, house, cars, boats...all material images. Funny how these things are call the "trappings" of life. I too like some of the other commenters turned to Gods love and have been healed of negative thoughts of an individual. I love to see how the world would change if we all just turned to Gods love and followed the commandments. I am constantly reminded throughout the day to keep Gods love foremost in my thought. I love these "Daily Lifts". What an inspiring way to start the day. Thanks to you and the "Lift" team...

Hmmm. Can't envision Evan ever being angry at anyone! Thanks for this reminder.

Thank you Evan. I can add those that seem to judge us without knowing all the facts can make one seem less than God's perfect idea resulting in hurt feelings. When in fact, we are ALL perfect and no one can even think things about themselves or others that is less than perfect ideas of God needing only God seeing them in all His/Her glory. No need to dwell on things thought or spoken that aren't true. Dwelling on untrue thoughts is a personal sense of things destroyed by Love. Spiritual sense is all that is real or worth beholding in our thinking.

thanks for bringing this to the fore-front of thought...it would like to hide in the deep recesses where we can forget it... i don't think i've ever listened to a daily lift and said, well, i didn't get anything out of that :0). Once again, timely, timely, timely. Give a good day, fellow students--indeed we shall.

Thanks, Evan for "no graven images...can take mental forms, too...his image would loom in my thought...like a graven image in my mind...one God over all...have only one God today...a God of Love." Perfect.

Thanks, Evan! Like your new photo, too! Sometimes Human Hurts seem to go so deep - it seems inpossible to heal them - or to let them go. Sometimes the only way we, as Humans, can seemingly assuage our hurts is to lash out at another or to keep another at bay. First, we must ask God to "Heal the Heart" - the places of hurt within us. We can humbly ask God to open these places in our Hearts that we have shut down out of Fear and Defensiveness. Then and only then are we free to see the light or true image of another. God Bless!

Dices bien Evan, no tener imagen, no hacer imagen querer dar forma de alguna manera al divino Ser es perder un poco la Verdad porque es también uno de los mandatos, tan importante como los mandamientos.

Son tan claras y perentorias las Escrituras con relación a evitar no sólo crearnos imagenes sino también a crear figuras humanas dándole una preponderancia que no tienen Cristo dijo: "Yo estoy entre vosotros como el que sirve" Él dijo eso, con el claro concepto de que hay Un solo Ser que proyecta su "imagen" sobre toda la humanidad.
"La Ciencia es fuerza, Vida es luz,
y es Todo Dios"
Himno 160

Muchas gracias Evan, muy feliz de retornar el dialogo

That's really helpful. Thanks!

Thank you for this deep message.

Evan, I thank you for this Lift. I have found just recently that I have been healed of resenting things said that have hurt. I am now seeing that this is not the real man, but a suggestion of a false god. Last night after something was said to me that hurt, I denied that this could come from one of God's blessed children, and found a peace that allowed me to eradicate any type of upset feelings.
I love the commandments, which by the way, are the subject of our Wednesday lessons at church.

A new view is always refreshing and inspiring. I always knew not to worship people or things (although sometimes I didn't always adhere to this) but had never considered a graven image to be negatives ingraved in your thought. What an eye-opener, or should I say 'thought' opener. The daily lift has made me more aware of seeing everyone as God created them, but sometimes those negative thoughts try to creep in. The 2nd. comandment is certainly the right "porter at the door of thought" to keep them out.
Thank you Evan and all the daily lift team. I love the music this week, just beautiful.

Wow, that was so great! First, it cracked me up (made me laugh out loud), which is always good when I'm feeling overly serious and impressed by daily challenges. Absolutely, anger can be an idol and didn't Mrs. Eddy say something about carving out the right thoughts? pg. 248 Science & Health:" We are all sculptors....moulding and chiseling thought."

I always thought about the importance of not bowing down to material idols, like the right house, car, etc. But this is equally important. Thank you Evan!

Thank you.

Evan, what a great lesson for a Sunday School class! Makes this commandment very clear...some good thinking will come out of this one for sure!

Thank you, Evan, for opening my eyes! I knew it makes other gods to magnify things or people too much, but I never looked up dictionary defs. for graven beyond sculptures or engraving. Briefly, graven = sculptured; engraved = "To impress deeply; to infix" = "To implant; instill; inculcate. These mean, in their extended senses, to introduce into the mind. Implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of that learned". Inculcate = "persistent or repeated endeavor to impress on the mind". Instill = "gradual,gentle imparting of knowledge, a sowing, as of ideas, in many minds, so that they spread throughout a class, community, nation, or the like. Infix stresses a deeply implanted or firmly inculcated habit". It's plain we let many "gods" dominate attention. These show graven isn't just things, but includes thoughts that have nothing to do with sculptured idols or engraved printing, like money. I'll have to watch subtle buildup of pleasant or unpleasant thoughts about person, place, or thing. Far from mastering yesterday's Lift, to think more of God than anything else, now I have to inventory and rid what seemed innocent implanting, inculcating, and infixing, when I didn't know I was! Don't know what the next 8 Lifts will bring, but it would be great to print these 10 Lifts to help not just Christian Scientists, who if like me, NEED the ideas, but to share at lectures & Fair booths. Many think we don't believe in the Bible. This clarifies that! #24 Margaret, So true!

Your comments put a different slant on graven images. Thank you for this Lift.

Thank you for this unique perspective on mental graven images. What a helpful insight.We feel so justified when we feel anger toward someone, but if Love is our one God, then repetitive, negative, unkind mental noise is definitely a warning that we're "off" track. To see it as "bowing down" is really interesting to me because when caught up in the emotions we'll actually claim the opposite - "I'm right and won't "bow down" ( "back down" or "give in") I think that irony will help awaken me out of such moments. Hymn 278 "Healed is thy hardness, His love hath dissolved it" echoes #24 Margaret's sharing that Love protects and prevents us from bowing to anything unlike itself. Thank you very much for this Lift and comments.

This is great.
Thanks Evan for this one!
Got to clear out a whole pile of those mental "graven images"

Thank you

I was in a relationship once,that was often very loving and supportive and other times just the opposite and those times would set my thought reeling and thrashing about.This went on for years,but I got to a point where I learned to lean much more on God.Then one day when the same churning of thought began,I simply said " God,you know how long I have prayed about this and I'm not getting into it anymore".That did it.The relationship ended and I was moved on to other events, and people.
No more other gods!
I'm so grateful for your sharing,Evan.

Thank you so much for this wonderful new "take" on the 2nd commandment - you have supplied me with an additional way to explain and discuss this commandment to my 7 and 8 year old Sunday School students that I know they will easily understand. I am loving these daily lifts on the commandments.

You are welcome! So nice to hear from you all. As many of you commented above, it takes consecrated watchfulness to be sure we're bowing down to the one God, a God of Love. But the effort is worth the reward!

Lots of love

This is a very thought provoking Lift. Thank you. #43 gave even more food for thought by looking into the meaning of "graven". The Daily Lift is a great way to start the day.

A great insight into the second commandment that leads us right back to the first one. Very inspiring. Thank you.

If we would stop bowing down to fear all would be fine. Fear is the biggest of all idols

Thank you!

I have to comment on #2, Robert's comment where he writes: "Whatever is of human origin shall fail, even human love." when describing the 2nd Commandment. There is nothing wrong in loving a person, weather it be your spouse, child, relatives etc. if it is based solely and absolutely on their reflecting God's
Image and likeness. It's only wrong if you see them personally. Then it becomes dangerous. It's basing love on a human scale of things which could very easily result in mucho ism, hate, revenge, jealous, and other undesirable traits. To see a loved one as a child of God protects from those traits.

Thanks Evan!

Thank you for this great and inspiring lift, and so true. And thank you #43 JS in Kentucky for sharing the definitions of "graven".

Thanks, Evan, for this expanded way of looking at the 2nd Commandment! It got me thinking about getting rid of other long held negative thoughts such as accepting an image of yourself or someone else as suffering from some condition such as blindness or disease or being overweight, etc. These are also graven images that we carve deeper into our consciousness when we accept them and they are impositions on not only our own thoughts but on those about whom we are bearing those thoughts. Holding on to this way of thinking is an obstacle to healing. This fresh perspective on the 2nd Commandment also seems to go together well with another of the Commandments coming up later this week...not bearing false witness! Thanks again!

Thank you Evan,
I surely am enjoying repeated listens to your lift.
I do need to watch thought-- I sometimes catch myself during the day drifting in thought that is not consistent with our Father Mother God and then I wake up -- and return (it seems) back into my God centered thoughts.
I know that with the Godlike thoughts and reflection of the Divine Mind--- there is a peace.
I long for this sense of peace-- that is I believe
natural to us all-- as expressions of an all loving God.
Thanks again.

Thank you #55 Tobias, your comments helped me . I go to a Christian Bible group and many times I have been able to share our(C.S.) perspective on things. The Glossory in Science and Health is a gold mine in understanding the Bible's spiritual meaning. My prayer today is, Give me o Lord an understanding heart, That I may learn to know myself in Thee, from the hymnal #69. Love to all

Nice twist, and on target. We had a testimony at church about the commandments being promises as well as guidelines, with, for example, "Thou as the precious child of God shall not, cannot, kill." Some time later a member ran over a dog, and the thought came to her, "Thou shalt not kill"--a promise. The dog had a tire track on it but was just fine.

It's always nice to "hear from" a neighbor. Thanks for today's lifting thought.

Thanks Evan, for this simple illustration of what really constitutes graven mental images that counterfeit God's image and likeness. I love the honesty of these Lifts. They help me each find my place within a family of seekers and doers and supporters of one another in my journey to a more spiritualized thought that brings me into a fuller experience of our shared oneness with one heavenly Father Mother.

Hi Evan, Thank you so much for this lift today, it is perfect for a situation I'm facing with a neighbor. I've been endeavoring to pray with the lines from a hymn, "I will listen for Thy voice, lest my footsteps stray, I will follow and rejoice all the rugged way." I'm also knowing that the neighbor can "listen for God's voice, even though his footsteps stray," and that I can follow and rejoice, even thought the way is rugged. The Rule for Motives and Acts is helping me. I really liked your comments about that 2nd commandment, a fresh new way to look at it!

Perfect timing Evan. Just last night a friend out of frustration lashed out at me. I thought I had found peace for both of us. But, this morning the image of her angry face was still in my thought. Your Lift and all the comments have been so helpful. Will save these Lifts on the 10 commandments in a special folder. They will be available whenever I want to listen to them. I am grateful to all.

Thanks Evan for such a helpful and inspiring Lift. Also thanks
for all the comments, which shows as the Bible says in
I. Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" I also like verses 6 and 7 of the same Chapter.

Love and blessings to all.

LOVED YOUR NEW PHOTO....and thanks for your sharing with us an enlightened concept of the 2nd commandment! I really enjoyed all the comments today, too!

For the many who, like me, sometimes listen intently with appreciation and love, but don't respond... THANK YOU!

Wow, Robert(#2), I just came across this passage in S&H! Check out page 234 ( the entire page is great ), line 17, and it goes perfectly w Evans' Lift..

The God of Love is my only God today, everyday. The one divine Mind is my mind and the mind of my fellow man. This Mind is filled with loving, joyful, perfect thoughts about me and all. We reflect this Mind. Nothing else going on. Thanks, Evan. I needed that!

Thanks Evan, this is just what I needed. Sunday when I was talking with relatives about my trip to Turkey, the wife looked at me with such hate in her eyes. I was relating how our Muslim born guide had been exposed to the Bible through the trips with this CS group. She had learned to love the Bible. Now she is an instructor of other tour guides and is exposing them to the Bible. They are loving it too because it is new to them. For several days all I saw were those hating eyes. Your DL showed me that I had made an idol out of the wife's reaction. Thank you so much.

Thanks Evan, excellent point regarding 'graven images', gives us food for thought.

Great analogy, and a message I needed. I am going to replace the worry and concern for my granddaughter with the onlty true image of her --being held in infinite Love, with all that she needs to thrive.

Thank you Evan. I had never seen this Commandment from this perspective. Simply wonderful. Ï´ll make a point of remembering it every time I am faced with this kind of challenges.

Thanks Evan!

Just what I needed to hear, Thanks!

Grateful for this Lift and all the lucid comments. It helps me in getting along/living in the same building with a "bully" (named that by others and perceiving him this way myself for years for what appears good reason), seeing him in a different light as just another child of God: a responsible, helpful, compassionate, cooperative person. Refreshing! Expecting the Christ good being expressed soon as a change of thought is so powerful. Thinking this true image helpful to children who are handling "bullies" in a proactive, decisive way,
putting God, His commandments, and His expression first.

Thank you for wonderful reminder.

Thank you. What a peaceful way to look at any confrontation and handling it immediately with pure love.

Thank you for the right on advice, Evan!

Am in midst of business/family/friend difficulty, with lots of human unhappiness, anger, & regrets, & resulting business & personal hardships. However--am striving daily to reverse human suggestions, human situations, and replace with spiritual truths. I am using Monday's DL a lot. Stop. Think. What am I thinking? Not about God? About God? Yes! Think about God NOW!
This DL is, for me, how to implement Cmdt #1--how to stop the "looming" of person or human unhappy situation, and listen/watch for Truth, for the truth about them/me...about GOD'S child. I respond to God's love, and God cares for them, and for me.
Grateful. Gaining peace.

Hi, Evan! I know it's been a couple of days and commandments ago :-) but your inspired and inspiring Lift has expanded my original comment of "Perfect" to the reason why. This might have even come from an earlier Lift and from another presenter...it's about "ruminating" and "communing." As we go through our various experiences, we have a choice of what effect they have on us. If I "ruminate," I'm getting into that rut of going over again and again the human circumstance, pleasant or unpleasant, until it is "engravened" into my consciousness. Or, I can "commune" with God first and only, which is keeping that first commandment. Ruminating or communing. Our choice. Different outcomes. Communing with God brings optimal outcomes for everyone involved. Thanks again, Evan.

Thank you so much Evan for the instructive lift.

Thank you Evan for your thoughts! I have been struggling for months with almost an axiety over a supervisor that I felt wronged me with several negative consequences that are still following me. Your thoughts have helped put my thinking back on Truth's ideas! I was giving this person more power than God! I never thought of it as breaking a commandment.