This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 8th day of April, 1934, in accordance with request by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Mildred Davis, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Minnie and C. A. Barrett, Esther Wynne, Florence and Edith Edmonds, Frances Y. Morrow, Helen Storey, Helen Ellington, Ruth and Jeanne LeNoir, Alvin Kirk Wheeler, Jr., and L. B. Cayce.

TEXT

1. MD: You will have before you Norfolk Study Group #1, members of which are present in this room, together with their work on the lesson "God, the Father, and His Manifestations in the Earth." Please give us further help that will enable us to complete the lesson so as to be of the best service to others. You will then answer the questions which may be asked.
2. EC: Yes, we have the group gathered here, as a group and as individuals, and their work on the lessons; also that which may be helpful to others.
3. If there is applied in the experience of each that which has been given respecting the present subject, you each will find there may be given by each of you that which will be your contribution to that as is helpful to others.
4. For, unless we use that we know, we may not comprehend or use that which may lead for the next step.
5. For, as has been shown, it should be line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little. We each must apply ourselves in that which we know to be a manifestation of the love of the Father to the sons, the children of men, in our daily experience.
6. Ready for questions.
7. (Q) Please explain, "Be glorious in thine activity, be joyous in thy words."
   (A) Be glorious in thy activity. If the activities of a soul-mind are in that direction of manifesting the love of the Father to others, then it - the activity - must be glorious in the essence of that causing, producing or making for such an activity. So, in such an activity there will indeed be that joy which comes with every soul doing that it knows or has been shown is the acceptable service unto a living God.
   Hence, be glorious in thine activity - joyous in thy service.
8. (Q) What is meant by "The soul must feed upon dead patience that it may grow into an abundant life"?
   (A) For, as given by Him that is the Light, the Life, we become aware of our souls through patience. Then, patience that is crucified of self in service to another is as dead in the sense of the earth's activity, and alive in the knowledge of the Father dwelling IN thine service or thine activity through such experience.
   So, if these be put into practice in the experience of each, they each know well what it means: Be angry and sin not. Be patient. Seven times forgive; yea, seventy times seven. And, being dead, being crucified to the things that pertain to the earth, looking for that ACCEPTABLE day of the Lord.
   This makes a question in the minds of some, as to when is the acceptable day of the Lord. When ye love God better than yourself! Then is it the day, the hour, of the awakening in thine self! to do His service, to do His biddings, to be - as it were - a SACRIFICE in all those things that make for BURNINGS, for LONGINGS for those things that make for the weakening of the flesh; that ye may know that He will have His way with thee. Becoming selfless, becoming conscious of His Spirit, His love, moving in and through thee, prompting thee in thy words, thy activities, thy service.
9. (Q) Please explain Luke 1:35.
   (A) (In undertone: "The Holy Ghost shall make that within thee alive.") This is the body of the mother becoming aware of the spirit of truth being made manifest into materiality, or the spirit of the Father making aware through conscious forces active in material body that the BODY is then moved or acted upon by the Spirit of the Father - or the Holy Spirit active in material force.
10. (Q) Please explain the statement given in II Cor. 5:21, "For he hath made Him to be made sin who knew no sin", etc. Was his sin of His own choosing?
    (A) This may be given in that which follows near, that though He were WITHOUT sin yet He thought it not robbery to make Himself equal with God in MAKING Himself manifest through the power of God; for, as He gave, "I do NOTHING of myself save that GIVEN me by the Father."
    But, as given respecting this same reference, when the spirit brought IN spirit that of condemnation or sin in manifested form in the earth, then the Son came IN manifested form - or in sin - that through Him the earth, or the spirit of man, might have the advocate with the Father and through Him once for all be made free from sin through that activity of the Christ-Spirit in the earth. Hence that given, He became sin - or IN sin, rather should be the translation - that those in sin, or in the earth, or in materiality, might know the Light and have Life, and having Life have it more abundantly - or more often - in Him.
11. (Q) [462]: Please give me a message that will help me at this time.
    (A) Be not overcome of thine self, nor of those things that would make thee weak in those that are the besetting influences in thy experience. Know that the strength to overcome is in Him. Conform thine mind and thine body to the things of the spirit, rather than to the things of the flesh. While in flesh we may make manifested those forces in spirit. But abide in His time. Listen to the voice within thee.
    For, His spirit will bear witness with thy spirit and guide thee in the way that thou shouldst go.
12. (Q) [404]: I would appreciate a message that will enable me to better understand my relationship to the work and my family.
    (A) Study to show thyself approved unto GOD, rather than to any work, any family, ANY relationships. For, oft do personalities and those things that partake of same become stumbling-blocks. But know that thy Redeemer has made the way clear, that if ye will follow in not only His precepts but His example thy LIFE will become as joyous as He has promised in the service for Him and His activities in the earth. For, though the heavens may pass away, though the earth may fail, His promises shall NOT fail. For, all that was made, all that is active in the influences in the earth, are His. What wilt thou do with thine abilities in the present?
13. We are through.

BACKGROUND

1. Subject of 262-59 - "Study Group #1."

Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation