Friday, 12 June 2026

Self-Deception vs Godly Thinking Fresh Manna by Pastor Tim Burt

Fresh Manna with Pastor Tim Burt

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Self-Deception vs Godly Thinking

June 12. 2026

by Timothy Burt

I’ve been thinking more clearly over the last few years about something we all wrestle with at times—self-deception. Not to condemn myself or walk around feeling guilty, but because I’ve realized that self-deception always brings stagnation, setbacks, frustration, and disappointment into our lives. It quietly works against the very desires and goals we hold in our hearts.

Let me give you an example.

For 24 years, I was a long-distance runner. Six miles was my minimum run, and my long runs ranged anywhere from 12 to 22 miles. I usually ran four times a week. During those years, I stayed very lean, could eat almost anything I wanted, and seldom put on weight.

It was also one of the sweetest spiritual seasons of my life because my prayer time often matched the length of my runs. I talked with God while running mile after mile. I felt very close to Him.

Then the Lord changed things.

He began drawing me away from long-distance running and toward spending that time journaling with Him instead. At the time, I didn’t fully realize what He was doing. He was teaching me how to mine Fresh Manna from His Word daily and journal what He was showing me. Little did I know He was preparing me to write devotionals that would one day reach people all over the world.

But physically, it was a major lifestyle change.

I knew that if I simply ate healthy and stayed consistent with a shorter daily workout routine, I would remain fit and healthy. The problem was—I wasn’t doing that consistently.

Every evening after dinner, I had developed a habit of eating snacks before bed. The strange thing was, I usually wasn’t even hungry. It had simply become comforting, enjoyable, and routine.

Slowly but surely, I began gaining weight.

And here’s the honest truth: I knew exactly why.

Not deep down somewhere. Not subconsciously. I knew.

Yet I continued doing it.

That’s when I began thinking more deeply about self-deception. I realized how easy it is to recognize irrational thinking in other people while ignoring it in ourselves. We can often see someone else’s unhealthy habits, excuses, contradictions, or blind spots almost immediately. Yet we can become amazingly skilled at justifying our own.

The truth is, most self-deception doesn’t feel irrational while we’re doing it. It feels reasonable. Comforting. Deserved. Harmless. Temporary.

“That little snack won’t matter.”
“I’ll do better tomorrow.”
“One more time won’t hurt.”

But self-deception always carries a price tag eventually.

And food is only one small example.

People worry endlessly even though worry has never solved a single problem. People spend money they don’t have to impress people they don’t even like. Some feed bitterness while wanting peace. Others neglect prayer and God’s Word while wondering why they feel spiritually dry. Some continually return to unhealthy habits, relationships, or behaviors while hoping life will somehow improve.

One thing I’ve learned is this: lying to ourselves creates far more disappointment and pain than we ever want to admit.

That’s why God’s Word continually calls us to honest thinking and renewed minds.

James 1:22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to see myself honestly and clearly through the light of Your Word. Reveal any area where I’ve been justifying unhealthy thinking, harmful habits, or spiritual compromise. Give me the humility to agree with You and the courage to change. Renew my mind and help me walk in truth instead of self-deception. Thank You for loving me enough to correct me and lead me into freedom. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

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Pastor Tim Burt

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Wednesday, 10 June 2026

How Do I Take Up My Cross? Fresh Manna by Pastor Tim Burt

Fresh Manna with Pastor Tim Burt

How Do I Take Up My Cross?

June 10. 2026

by Timothy Burt

One of the most sobering and life-defining statements Jesus ever made was about taking up our cross and following Him. It’s a phrase many believers are familiar with, yet one that is often misunderstood or softened over time. When Jesus spoke those words, the cross was not a symbol of inconvenience or even general hardship—it was a symbol of death. It represented surrender, the laying down of one’s will, and the yielding of one’s life to another.

In our modern thinking, we can sometimes reduce this to enduring life’s difficulties or carrying personal burdens. But Jesus was calling His followers to something far deeper and more intentional. He was speaking of a life fully surrendered to God—one that is no longer lived for self, but for His purpose.

There is a tension every Christian eventually feels. On one hand, we have freedom in Christ. God gives us room to live, to enjoy life, to make choices, and to walk out our days with personality and uniqueness. But on the other hand, there is a clear call to live with intention—wholeheartedly, without compromise, and aligned with His will. At some point, every believer must come to terms with this truth: this life is ours to live, and yet it ultimately does not belong to us.

The apostle Paul expressed it like this “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That is the picture of what it truly means to take up your cross. It is not about losing your personality, your joy, or your ability to enjoy life—it is about surrendering ownership. It is recognizing that your life now belongs to Christ, and choosing to live in alignment with His will, His purpose, and His ways.

There is a difference between a Christian who believes in God and a Christian who is fully surrendered to Him. One may live trying to build the best and most enjoyable life possible, occasionally asking God to bless it. The other wakes up each day with a different mindset: “Lord, what is Your will today? How can my life serve Your purpose?” That difference may not always be visible outwardly at first, but over time it becomes very clear. One life revolves around self-direction, while the other is marked by intentional surrender.

Taking up your cross is not a one-time decision—it is a daily choice. It’s choosing kindness when your flesh wants to react. It’s choosing integrity when compromise would be easier. It’s choosing obedience when no one is watching. It’s choosing to share your faith, encourage someone, or step into a moment God places in front of you—even when it’s inconvenient. It’s living with the awareness that your life carries eternal purpose.

Jesus made this even clearer when He said:

Luke 9:23 NLT — “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

Notice that word—daily. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about intention. It’s about a heart that continually comes back into alignment with God, even when we fall short.

And here’s the beautiful truth: when we surrender our lives to Him, we don’t lose them—we actually find them. We discover a deeper peace, a clearer purpose, and a life that carries eternal significance. The life lived fully for Christ is not smaller—it is far greater than anything we could build on our own.

Matthew 16:25 NLT — “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for loving us enough to call us into a life of purpose and surrender. Help us to understand what it truly means to take up our cross daily and follow You. Teach us to lay down our own ways and choose Yours, even when it’s difficult. Give us hearts that are intentional, surrendered, and fully devoted to You. Strengthen us to live for Your will, Your glory, and Your purpose in all we do. We trust You with our lives and thank You for leading us into something far greater than we could ever create on our own. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

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Pastor Tim Burt

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Tuesday, 9 June 2026

Imagine that...

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Imagine that...

Myth-Magic

Hazel Archer-Ginsberg

Jun 9

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Singing out from lips to ears, yarning Mythoi voice the living fonts of collective Wisdom – a Social Practice, promoting Initiatory Transformation, Ecological Consciousness, & Psycho-Spiritual Insigh. To re-Myth is to robe in imaginative garb our deep psyche - a floating golden bridge that connects the Divine Archetypes to the earth-skin - the fabric that weaves the old wives tale - which knits us into the blueprint of our highest destiny - & thru it, to Heaven & Earth’s innermost workings, breathing in us as our own encoding.

The Mythic Imagination exposes the unadvertised gateway - thru which the ever-flowing vims of the Cosmos pour into human culture - founding Faiths, Philosophies, Arts, the Social Forms of our primitive & historic humanness – fashioning our dipping & evolving Consciousness - Priming discoveries in Spirit-science & techno-Sophy – Ordering chaos into dreams that blister sleep - boiling up from a future template – dotting & spinning out from the magic ring of Metaphor – The perennial - archetypical aspects of the human questing.

Underlined with feathered eternal themes - The images that story Mythos, are constantly in motion –a chthonic re-sounding - deep rumblings echoing forth - below the level of intellect - vibrating the challenge to test the heroine – that we Re-member – for Mythic-Beings will not stay locked out - or confined to a screen, in a de-sacralized world, run by greed, & software - No - they tiptoe in & break-out - from the margins & ruptures & edges - disguised as symptoms, night-mares, political disorders, & disturbing pseudo-realities – or if you garner grace - moods of clarifying enchantment & honest works of art.

Imagination fills the hungering soul with timeless motifs, nourishing visions, & inspiring narratives - & when properly digested, what we create becomes sustenance for the heart-mind & hand – a practical therapy which removes the obstacles to Divine Intuition –

Imaginative Cognition is the 1^st call – what we build summons us back to the natural terrain from which we originally sprang & to which we shall return…

~hag

Here is the link to the free Recording of Egregore 10:10

Project Thought-Seed - Building the Watch Tower – with ~Hazel Archer-Ginsberg

For the Minneapolis Theosophical Society

Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to Cognitive Ritual: Confessions of a Modern Rosicrucian - with every $ going to support Zinniker Farm

Here’s the link to a compendium of Free Video Presentaions

The Cognitive Ritual is a Free Will Offering to All worlds. Please Share freely

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Greetings Friend, you currently a free subscriber to Cognitive Ritual. Thank you for receiving my workings freely offered. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. ALL donations go to support Zinniker Farm - The oldest Biodynamic Farm in America! Together we can spiritualize the Universe. XOX ~hag

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Monday, 8 June 2026

Egregore 10:10 -Building the Watch Tower

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Egregore 10:10 -Building the Watch Tower

Project Thought-Seed

Hazel Archer-Ginsberg

Jun 8

READ IN APP

“I dwell in possibility.” — Emily Dickinson

“Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” — Dr. Suess

“What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create” – Buddha

Come explore with us tonight* the practical idea that thoughts have the power to manifest reality - sending signals to the Universe - which create subtle changes - that radiate out into the ethers -

It’s like sending a message in a bottle out into the ocean – where it can be received & responded to.

And we know that ‘when 2 or more are gathered’ – our message gets amplified. It only takes the square root of any number of people to create change.

When we send out specific creative thoughts, we bathe the collective mind with beneficent vibrations & energy fields that can transform our outer reality - Accentuating the interconnectedness of all Beings - affecting evolution -

Highlighting our role with Nature – the Plant & Animal Kingdoms, & the Elemental realms - in achieving this spiritual renewal.

Our Spiritual Evolution reflects the idea of humanity’s development towards higher states of consciousness – which we have a role in manifesting.

The Transformation of Earth suggests a future where the Being of Mother Earth & all her children evolve into more enlightened, Sun-like entities - & Humanity has a pivotal role – a responsibility to contribute positively to this transformation

This involves an Integration of Science, Art & Spirituality - a harmonious blend of the Divine insight that Wisdom brings to Love.

Tonight we will explore & learn to manifest the concept of “Earth as the New Jerusalem – a New Sun” - We can strive to understand & participate in the co-creation of the vision of a Spiritually transformed Earth - reflecting Divine ideals that we can employ thru out soul forces of Thinking, Feeling & Willing - Emphasizing the importance of personal inner development contributing to the collective evolution of the Universe.

Recognizing the significance of social harmony – Communion in community - which is embodied in this new paradigm - Living in alignment with the moral principles of right relationship – human & Divine.

Are you ready to contribute to this communion?

~hag

*Egregore 10:10 - Project Thought-Seed - Building the Watch Tower –

with ~Hazel Archer-Ginsberg

For the Minneapolis Theosophical Society

Monday 8 June 7 – 9pm Central Time

We can become Spiritual Warriors, & endeavor to take up the practice of building up an ‘Egregore’ = collective positive imaginations - ‘Thought-Forms’ of Good Will - as a “key-call” to the Spiritual Powers aligned with love & light, to enlist their aid - as a counterforce to the adversarial powers that seek to rule our worlds.