Hymns and readings for testimony meeting September 4, 2024

Hymns
204, 453, 521

The Holy Bible (New King James)
I Timothy 1:17
Isaiah 33:22
Genesis 41:15, 16, 25, 29–31, 33–40, 48, 49, 53, 54
Romans 13:1–3, 7, 8
I Timothy 2:1–5
Isaiah 9:6, 7
Romans 8:1–4, 28, 31 If

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
295:5–8
106:7
14:9
340:23
130:26
62:27–1
231:21–25
494:10–11, 15 (only)
205:22–7
39:18–27
17:12

At first I thought I'd just overeaten. It was very early in the morning and I was very uncomfortable and couldn't settle. But it gradually became apparent that I was feeling quite unwell.
Because it was so early I was at first more interested in sleeping than praying for healing, but I didn't have a choice. I was too uncomfortable.
A stanza from a hymn came to me, and because it was not a very familiar hymn, I paid attention.
     One thought I have, my ample creed, 
         So deep it is and broad,
      And equal to my every need, - 
          It is the thought of God.
          - Christian Science Hymnal #260
This played in my thought over and over for the next few hours. I stayed with it and let it speak to me. I took it as the necessary thought for my healing.
I liked the idea of an "ample creed" - not something specific or confining, but rather ample for filling the human need. This creed is deep and broad, forever expanding my experience with God. I also liked very much that this creed is indeed "equal to my every need." God, and the thought of God, is always enough to meet my need, which can never truly be lacking, for good health.
I also thought a lot about something I had witnessed when visiting Lynn House, a nursing facility for people relying on Christian Science in Northern Virginia. Prior to the pandemic shutdowns, I went every few weeks to read the Lesson Sermon for people staying there. I always prayed before and during reading for healing of whatever needed healing for the people listening.
One day, as we were starting, a woman came into the room in a bathrobe and threw herself on the sofa. She was clearly in physical discomfort, restless and tossing on the sofa trying to be comfortable. She didn't interact with anyone as she seemed focused on her own situation.
Near the end of the reading, she suddenly sat up, was still, and started staring at me.  She stayed that way, alert and unmoving, for the rest of the reading and while I packed up my books. I introduced myself to her and I don't recall her saying anything in return. (Lynn House has a policy of patient privacy which I respected.)
It seemed clear to me that something that was read had deeply touched her, and some measure of healing had occurred. She had been so restless and then was so still. I'll probably never know any details and that's okay; I could see that something had broken the mesmerism for her. When I went back a few weeks later, she was no longer at Lynn House and I didn't see her again.
As I remembered and pondered that day, I knew that I could have a similar experience. This idea encouraged me.
It came to be time for a scheduled phone meeting between me and the other Reader for our church service the next day. We were to read through the Lesson Sermon together. Honestly, I didn't think I could do it but I knew that I should. I knew it would be a help to me. I made the call and let her know that I was in need of healing and asked that we get right to it.
As we went forward in our reading, I began to feel better. We took time here and there to make comments on what was meaningful to us, and I felt much less rushed to get off the phone than I had at the start.
After our phone meeting, I was thinking more clearly and because that same hymn was still playing away in my consciousness, I once again gave it my attention. This time, I keyed in on "One thought." I reasoned that I had one and only one mode of thinking, and that was to think of God and His goodness. Any other thought, including of illness, was illusion and nothing more. 
Over the next hour or so, all the symptoms faded away and I was entirely well. And so grateful!
A couple of days later I was happy to read an article in The Christian Science Sentinel, "It doesn't depend on you" by John Biggs. In his article John describes a time when he was in a situation that seemed to put him under acute physical and emotional distress. A line from a hymn in came to thought, and he trusted it. Very quickly the situation changed in a very unexpected way, and right away he was free and back to being himself.
He says that he "... let myself be open to the presence of God. I just let the divine power behind the hymn's words carry me." 
I love this because it is a lot like what I did with the hymn that came to me. I didn't fight it, nor did I try to make the words heal me. I didn't have the energy for that. But I allowed its message to stay with me and speak and - gradually - transform my situation. Which it certainly did!
I'm so glad to know that healing can be like this. God is always sending us what we need in thought to know His good power and will always see us through.