Thank you. It is aiways good to speak lovingly to people and pets.

I had done what was required in tonight's lift !.... ! So powerful , and I was filled with gratitude : it certainly is working !

God is love and present in every way ..I has a wonderful healing tonight !

Thank you Elise. Perfect timing . God is good and with that expectany of love, he never fails you ..

Many thanks Elise for this eternal wonder, that "God is Love". Yes."Pray in the name Love." "Precious is the Love that healed us,/ Perfect is the grace that sealed us,/ Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us;/ All, all is well." (Christian Science Hymnal #350).

Thank you for the great lift.

Great piece Elise - and three cheers for Middleborough, Mass!

Reminds me of that bumper sticker that read: "GOD'S LAST NAME IS NOT DAMMIT!"

Thank you Elsie for this reminder that God's name is Love' God's name is Good' let's pray with the expectancy of good. To-day is BIG with blessings.

Thank you Elsie,

That was beautiful. "God is Love" is, like in many other CS Churches, inscribed on one of our walls. As I think about it, for years we have had an issue with the paint peeling off of the walls due to the moisture in the old coral stone walls, but I am not aware of that wall, with the inscription "God is Love" ever peeling.

In Barbados, if you call someone too many times they will jokingly say "hey that is my name...don't wear it out." Sometimes I think of the 3rd Commandment and calling on God in vain, as in taking it to God in prayer but not being prepared to receive the blessing in the form it comes, or in not taking the human footsteps to make it happen.

Many Daily Lifts ago there was a great African Proverb shared that I now share with everyone "When you pray, move your feet"

If I pray for the Church Service, am I taking the human footsteps to have appropriate material available for visitors to help them on their discovery? When I pray for forgiveness, am I demonstrating forgiveness? When I pray about love in a relationship, am I taking the large footsteps to make the demonstration and opening my eyes to see their effort?

The man that wanted to follow Jesus and was told to go sell all he had; went away sad. Mark (10:21) records the event by saying "...Jesus beholding him LOVED him.." even though he knew the guy could not let go of the possessions.

When we pray to God, it must not be in vain, we must be ready & willing to move!

Thanks for your insightful Daily Lift. Since it's available in Spanish, I've forwarded it to a friend whose native language is Spanish. She began the Parents Prayer Team at our children's school, and I think she would like your message.

Thanks!

I liked what you said about strengthening our conviction and expectancy of good from God.

That's what it's all about isn't it! Otherwise, it is vain - without effect.

I pressed "3rd Commandment" at the beginning of today's Lift and it led to translations in 30 different English Bibles. Very interesting to see many applications of obeying this commandment. Thanks!

love this ,, thank you :-)

Thank you very very much!

Thanks for this sweet affirmation of love/Love. You can't have harmony and anger, or peace and anger, at the same time. You get one or the other, but not both. I've long since prayed my way to harmony and peace through refusal to indulge in angry reactions. It's interesting that the use of the Lord's name in conjunction with profanity is often connected to quick moments when something negative occurs that seems harmless so that we might not even identify this form of anger. Thanks for pointing this out.

Also, I love to turn this commandment around a bit and see it in a more positive light. To me it is an assurance that when I call on the name of the Lord, I will never call on Love be in vain. Divine Love is always right where I am to help me.

Thanks! And thanks too, to those who posted some of the comments with such pith! :)

Thank you so much, Elise. And thank you Boston for setting another world example with a swear-free city. It was said people would never stop smoking in public, but by and large they have. Now it will become another step (leap) forward to be able to live in an atmosphere of clean air and quiet. And the world will hurry to follow. No one did swear in public or in plays and movies until the 1970s. In Australia people were fined for swearing in public. Why not set the pace and let's pray about this most desirable healing of the atmosphere. It will take unselfish, dedicated prayer to make the difference.
Thank you Nate and the team, the music has made a big difference this week. Thanks to the BoL and lecturers, and thanks to the Daily Lifters.

God's name is also revelation, All-in-all. Thus if follows that hell is forgetting or neglecting God's name (Psalms 9:17) and the only heaven or social security we have available to us is "finding all in God, good, and needing no other consciousness." Because God is All-in-all, which means infinite, the Infinite expression must include nameless as well as name, as revealed to Jacob (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 264,308-309 and Genesis 32:27.)

Love it, Elise! So simple, pure, good and loving! As we learn in Christian Science, not only is God's name Love, but God is Love itself! On the wall of many Christian Science Churches, usually right on the middle wall in bold letters, is the powerful affirmation: God Is Love. Sitting in church and seeing that every Sunday is so comforting and healing! P.S. I will miss all of you, my early morning Daily Lift Family, as I am leaving on a 10-day trip today and will be "offline". But I can never be "offline" from God's Love! Onward and Upward! Love to All!

Elise, you make it so clear. Thank you.

While thinking about today's Lift, I was lead to an additional thought. Just as we would not thank our neighbor for something they hadn't given us - flowers, food , etc., we need to recognize that we already have that for which we thank God - not thank Him, then think I "need" health, provision, or whatever. "Thanking" followed by "lacking" would be taking God's name in vain. Thank you for daily inspiration.

Nice!!

This is really so helpful, thank you, and Troy too for the delightful remarks - I did not know the African proverb, but I love it! I too really get the concept that to keep the name of the Lord,Love, so precious it magnifies Love in all that we see and do, for God is Love. This has a significant meaning in our daily lives and I am deeply grateful for the insight. Much to think about and be inspired by today.Thank you.

When concidering the 3rd commandment, I often look at the 3rd Beatitude (Matt 5: 5) and what I consider Jesus intruction of how to pray "Meekly" or in humility, obedience, patience, tolerance. The 3rd commandment also tells me that God is willing to love me with a tough Love. Since I feel the commandment is saying more by omission. To love God is to love each other. So I feel to not love what He created is to take the Creators name in vain. I thank God that Jesus provided the example of how to Love.

The contemporary english version of the Bible includes this Footnotes to the 3rd commandment:
Exodus 20:7 misuse my name: Probably includes breaking promises, telling lies after swearing to tell the truth, using the Lord’s name as a curse word or a magic formula, and trying to control the Lord by using his name.

Thank you, Elise and 12 commentors so far. #7 Troy, great reminder to act in accord with our prayers. Thanks #10 Bob for telling us about the translations. This one from the Common English Bible caught my attention - "Do not use the Lord your God’s name as if it were of no significance;" In spite of earthly frustrations & sorrows, divine Love is always significant. Remembering from Bible studies that "name" signified character and the whole nature of a person or, in this case, God, added inspiration came with thinking about each synonyn in this phrase and in pondering "Good is significant." There is power in Truth; protection and joy in the Word - in the command to take seriously and respectfully our declarations to and conversations with God. I spent much more time with this Lift than I expected. Thank you.

So very helpful. Thanks Elise. Thank you for all the comments as well.

Thank you.

Good Morning everyone! Thank you Elise. The wrap up to your lift "Let's pray in the name of God with humility and expectancy of good" is just what I needed to hear today.Thank you Nate and crew for the lovely music too.(=

Thanks Elise!

Thank you, Elise.

God's name:
Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Life, Truth, Love. (Science and Health -- "Recapitulation" and "Glossary" chapters.
'Hallowed be Thy name" -- The Lord's Prayer
Let us honor, respect and love the name(s) of God.
If we pray to God for healing, but are doubtful of the outcome, we are taking the name of the Lord, our God in vain.

Thank you Elise. And God bless us all.

Thank you, Elise, for "God's name is Love...praise God...call on God with gratitude and love...with expectancy of Good..." Your Lift has inspired my thought RE: relationship with God, with self, and with others. In any healthy relationship, abusive language is not okay. "In vain" is akin to "ineffective' or "useless" or "hopeless.” Taking the name of God “in vain” is staying in, even digging into the problem, rather than expecting a solution. A while ago, as I was praying about something, it came to me that if it’s not healing, it doesn’t have to be said. We’re compromised by abusing or negating God, our "very present help." Also, because we’re all in God's image and likeness, our regard or disregard for God is an indication of how we feel about ourselves and others. Whatever our need at the moment, God / Love / Good is our strength and shouldn't be denied; but, respectfully sought after. As we choose praise, gratitude, and love, we find God “very present,” always. Thanks again, Elise.

Thank you so much Elise. God, Love is omnipotent, nurturing and ever-present, for which we all should express much gratitude and praise.

Very true, and a great reminder. How many times have I taken His name in vain, in anger! It's shameful, and disrespectful......thank goodness God is all-forgiving. I will try to be much better....and thank you again Elise!

This is beautiful! Thank you.
I love all the comments above -- many flashlights shining on the 10 Commandments.

Those who curse using God's name is taking God's name in vain. It won't heal the situation. It defininately won't heal the problem. Let's take another road instead of cussing God every time something happens that is disagreeable. Let us think and say out loud, no matter what happens, yell if necessary, GOD IS LOVE, and watch as the disagreeable disappears. I can't think of any thing better than demonstrating the 3rd Commandment.

Thank you Elise for your soothing "Lift." .

Thank you for this reminder of the power of Love in word, thought and deed.

What a beautiful Lift, and I so enjoyed the recent clips from one of your lectures on line. One was about a healing of rheumatoid arthritis. Thank you so very much for the love, that Divine Love which you reflect without measure. I am so grateful for your service to Christian Science, and thus, to the world. The world is hungering for what you have to say. Love to you and love to all.

This made my day. Thank you.

There seems to be a movement afoot against public displays of vulgarity. Food for thought. In the Bible "name" means nature. We honor, give thanks and appreciate God by being His/Her true "namesake".
As God's image and likeness, our true nature is to be inoffensive. This 3rd commandment is our friendly reminder not to use, reflect or express God's nature in vain or disrespectfully, or in ways that may be offensive to God or our neighbors. We are the loveliness of Love, God, and can only be loving.

Thanks so much!

Exactly, #30, I was just pondering the same, and it led me to Mrs Eddy's treatment of Angels, on page 304, of Miscellaneous Writings; calling on God, if we wait "never doubting" we'll have all we need, this is His love, meeting us where we are, this is His nature, His name..
Thank you Elise..

my adult daughter will be undergoing delicate neck surgery tomorrow. and the phrase "expectancy of good" is a thought for me to hold on to. thank you

Thank you, Elise, for a very meaningful message. And thanks to the lifters for the many insightful comments--especially #7 Troy, #10 Bob, #24 Tracy, and #30 pegmich.

There's another inappropriate 'taking' of God's name that is very prevalent these days, and not generally viewed as swearing. It's the all-too-common exclamation "My God!" or "Oh my God!" or the text-speak "OMG!" (How is the text reader to know whether the 'G' stands for God, or for goodness? Perhaps even the writer hasn't given that any thought!) While often intended to convey a positive sentiment, I doubt that most users have 'Our Father' in mind as they exclaim or type. I would love to see a return to a simple "Oh my!" or even just "Wow!"

Thanks again, Elise. And a "big with blessings" day to all.

There is a profound reasoning to understand the commandments as a declaration of principle and they remind me of the power God has given me and when I use my words there is a natural cause and effect. The commandment is reminding me to stay alert to what my thoughts and words are saying because the Law operating through and as me.

God is indeed my good.

Thanks for the "Lift" Elise, and thanks to all who have shared their thoughts and inspiration. It is interesting that a city would ban profanity (a forward step for their town) as so many times 'God' is banned from public ceremonies and celebrations. To me it proves that God can't really be 'banned' and His goodness will prevail! Expressing gratitude for our daily lifts is way overdue--every one of them inspires and heals!

Thank you.

I guess that eliminates OMG from casual discourse, doesn't it! The name of God is the nature of God, so holy that even articulating it must be have a sacred reason. That God is Love makes this sacred experience all the more sweet, a reverential gift in speaking the name and nature of the Almighty ensures that we receive the wisdom of Love that we need to understand Him/Her.

Thank you, Elise, for a strong stand to use God's name respectfully and expectantly. Used to be no one used profanity around children or ladies. Said before, this is my favorite Commandment. It came to my call for help with illness one night. Puzzled (I didn't use profanity, or "By God"), the promise was revealed, which I'd never seen. There are 2 ways to use it, to correct and to give hope. Of the 10, this gives God's promise to us. Calling on Him won't be a vain effort. We can depend on Him. It goes on to tell we're guilty if we abuse this relationship by calling on Him for senseless, wrong reasons, with disrespect, or even to seriously pray, but thinking it will do no good. These are vain attempts. How can we expect His blessings proven when we mention His name to others to introduce them to their Father, or to help those who know Him to be confident He will heal or provide, if from the same mouth at other times we say His name in ugly, disrespectful, joking manners? By God this! Oh, my God! or OMG! (and many worse curses or exclamations) are vain and cheap uses of His name. It is important to expect good to come from talking about Him to others. We need to pay attention to how much good we expect when God is mentioned in any right situation, and never do so without serious, loving joy that we can depend on His promise to us in this Commandment. Thank you, Elise, also, for the wonderful lecture in Louisville, and the prep meeting the night before. MANY above to thank

Excellent lift, Elise. Thank you for the thoughts!

wonderful. So uplifting.Love is everywhere and thats that!

Thank you so much Elise For that lovely lift. Food for thought which will take me through this day.

Thank you. This is so beautiful and a wonderful lift to start the day.

thank you, I sat and listened three times, this morning, as I needed a message to help me, overcome the negative frame of mind I was in. I carried it with me into the day. I especially remembered that God is a present power for good, and God exists. Thank you to all the people who responded also.

Wonderful Elise; great lift...thank you; let's pray in the name of LOVE!!

thanks Elise! :))
I also often like to think of this commandment as meaning that one can never say God's name without it bearing fruit - without seeing the fruitage we expect when we commune with Him.

If God is Love, as John said in the Bible, (1 John 48) then God has to be good, if God is Spirit as the Bible shows throughout, and if we are His/Her image, as said in 1 Genesis: 26, 27, then we are the spiritual image of Love.
What should we fear? what should we lack? what should we have missed in life?
We are complete in God.
Nothing. God is indeed Love.
ESPAÑOL
Si Dios es amor, como dijo Juan en la Biblia, (1 Juan 48) entonces Dios tiene que ser bueno, si Dios es Espíritu, como se muestra através de toda la Biblia, y si somos Su imagen, como dice en Génesis 1: 26, 27, entonces somos la imagen espiritual del Amor.
¿A qué debemos temer? ¿qué nos falta? ¿qué hemos perdido en la vida?
Nada. Estamos completos en Dios.
Por cierto, Dios es Amor.

God is Love, humans are either lovers or haters, in the Garden of Eden we initially had Adam & Eve, in the immortal words of Rodney King can't we all get along? Godspeed means His not Ours,be patient and listen to his guidance! ROBERT 6/20/12

The daily lift is surely a God-governed idea. i appreciate it more and more each day. Thank you claire

Thank you, Elise, for such clarified and encompassing thoughts on our Father-Mother-God. I think so many Lifters have beautifully expressed today that communing with God can never include doubting His ability or the outcome of our prayers to Him. The expectancy of good ties right into His hearing our needs before we call (pray). I have seen over and over again in the last few weeks the wondrous works of God. I have felt joy and happiness - safe in His love, knowing that myself and my loved ones are all included in His protective Love. It is affirming to see His provision at times that seem trying. I am so blessed to have Christian Science in my life and to share each day the totality of His goodness with those in our Lifter family. Thank you to all for making this forum possible and for the sharing of inspirational thoughts through the daily comments.

Thank you so much Elise for the nice lift.

Two weeks later, I am revisiting all of the Daily Lifts covering the Ten Commandments and still getting much insight and inspiration. Thank you to Elise, Nate and the BoL for our "daily bread", feeding the famished affections.

Thank you Elise for your wonderful Lift today! It was berfect and what I need to hear today!!