Tag: peace

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Storage Locker for Love & Appreciation

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Every time something happens to us, something traumatic or hurtful, it is stored away in a locker called resentments and grievances.  Those memories keep coming up because that’s the ego’s job, i.e. to continue looping the grievances, hurts and upsets thus keeping love far, far away.

When am I not ruling my mind, the thoughts, feelings, upsets and forgiving which is most of the time, I am listening to the ego.  When something nice occurs, the ego easily dismisses it because “you’re not worthy of love so don’t pay attention to that kindness for Heaven’s sake.”  

The solution:  Have a storage locker for love and appreciation.  Be vigilant for them and replay and then give it away.  When you receive, and give you have!  Appreciate and love yourself, allow it and let it in.  The ego will dismiss but don’t accept that thought.

When we judge, (that thought comes from the ego) it is an attack.  It is an attack on your mind, your identity.  See that and say “No!” I have no need to judge this! “Holy Spirit: What? Help me here.”

The ego doesn’t notice or give any credence to love.  It dismisses kindnesses and hangs on to the grievances or the upsets. 

But you are responsible for all thoughts.  The ego is not your boss!  The mind is healed by love, by embracing Love, noticing Love; letting Love In.

Love heals. Your mind is perfect, complete and whole.  You are the Decision Maker and you have the power to give love to everything your five senses perceive:  see, touch, hear, smell, tastes or thinks of.   

For example the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, if you stand above the battleground and send love to all those who were attacked and those who attacking, you are healing your mind.  We don’t know what things are for.  Everyone in that situation needs love, the whole country needs love.  When you send love you are free and out of the judgment zone.  I can’t say I appreciate the situation but I can appreciate the love I now feel. Whether you agree with the attackers or not, you are free because in are remembering love.   

When we are in fear, angry, depressed, upset, remembering a grievance, we are listening to the ego, the fear and judgment producer.  RECOGNIZE that you don’t want that anymore and ask the Holy Spirit to help you move into the Love column.  That is your power! 

Forgiveness is for bodies!

We remember resentments because we haven’t forgiven the past, the incidents or traumas.  They have a way of sticking because fear and adrenaline is activated and we identify with the body.  We fear for our lives or others.  Maybe it was a “close call” that could have changed lives forever or maybe it did.  Something BIG and important is so disturbing that it is imbedded in our psyche.

There are no accidents as it turns out.  So whatever happened we now have the challenge of accepting, dealing with it and forgiving everyone and everything involved.  We need to see how everything is for our best interests. We don’t always accept this but ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Where is the Love?  Look for the love!  It is there somewhere.

Allow Love and Gratitude to be at the top of your storage locker, the things to remember list.  Love is never a little thing!  Things may seem little but when we appreciate them, the love flows in.

If we develop an “attitude of gratitude” the big traumas won’t seem so big and awful.  They will be superseded by the nice, the quiet; the sweet and touching moments. 

In A Course In Miracles Manual #23. Does Jesus have a special place in healing? Pg. 58. p.4. s. 6. “And gratitude to God becomes the way in which He is remembered, for love cannot be far behind a grateful heart and thankful Mind.” 

What has occurred recently that you forgot to add to your list?  Today I received an appreciation note; it came out of the blue.  The other day a gentleman looked at me and smiled.  I don’t know why I just now remembered it but I do remember noticing his smile and smiling back and now I send appreciation and love back because I have them and I can give. 

A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 236 – I rule my mind, which I alone must rule.

1. I have a kingdom I must rule. ²At times, it does not seem I am its king at all. ³It seems to triumph over me, and tell me what to think, and what to do and feel. ⁴And yet it has been given me to serve whatever purpose I perceive in it. ⁵My mind can only serve. ⁶Today I give its service to the Holy Spirit to employ as He sees fit. ⁷I thus direct my mind, which I alone can rule. ⁸And thus I set it free to do the Will of God.

2. Father, my mind is open to Your Thoughts, and closed today to every thought but Yours. ²I rule my mind, and offer it to You. ³Accept my gift, for it is Yours to me.

(https://acim.org/acim/en/s/649#1:1-2:3 | W-236.1:1–2:3)

God Is!

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Spring Forward into Peace

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Sea Ranch Iris, watercolor. Sally McKirgan

This month we all set our clocks ahead one hour for daylight savings time. I love it. More Light!!! We need more light in our lives. One way to have more light in our lives is look at and let go of the darkness, daily. Actually moment by moment.

If you cannot access peace you may be on “rewind” and replaying hurtful events from the past.  Examine and see if something is bothering you from an hour ago, yesterday or last week?

Are you happy being stuck on automatic thinking about an event, old or new?  Are you replaying blame, pain and guilt?  Was it their fault or yours?  If it was your fault you feel guilty.  If it was theirs, you feel victimized.  Neither are very happy making!

Why is your mind doing the replaying?   Ask Yourself: Do I want peace and joy rather than guilt or victimhood?  If the answer is Peace and Joy, then STOP acknowledging or listening to the replay.

STOP listening to the ego. The ego is the part of the mind that is always on replay, fear, negative, self doubt, envy, grievances, etc. It’s purpose is to keep you from realizing your true innocent Self, to keep you from peace.

You have a Beautiful Holy Mind, a Decider! START to “overlook” the disturbing limiting negative thoughts and instead say:  “I choose to look at this another way for the sake of my own peace.” You do not have to believe your thoughts. They are coming from the insane ego part of your mind. Listen to Holy Spirit, the guide that was given all of us at the point when we separated from God. He was placed there as the alternative to the ego. You can ask for help and choose which part of your mind you will listen to; the voice for peace or the voice for love.

If you are holding a grievance against someone….it is held in your MIND!  You are trapped in the grievance with them.  Are you happy?  Tell them in your mind and include yourself:

“My brother/sister/:  peace and joy I offer you, That I may have God’s peace and joy as mine.” 

See A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson 105.

We don’t realize that if we hold a grudge or a judgement against someone, that we are in effect, denying peace to our Self.  If you hold it in your mind, you are victimizing yourself, causing your own suffering.

Do you think your brother is suffering?  We don’t know but we know you are. Would you say to that brother?

“My brother/sister/myself: misery and suffering I offer you, That I may have misery and suffering as well.

You have a powerful and Holy Mind at your disposal. The Holy Sprit will take your hand and guide you as you look at any and all thoughts. This looking is forgiveness.

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From A Course In Miracles, 1. What Is Forgiveness: p.4.  Forgiveness, on the other hand, is still, and quietly does noth­ing. It offends no aspect of reality, nor seeks to twist it to appear­ances it likes. It merely looks, and waits, and judges not. He who would not forgive must judge, for he must justify his failure to forgive. But he who would forgive himself must learn to welcome truth exactly as it is.

Accept that peace and joy is your inheritance and that you are worth it. Spring FORWARD into PEACE!!

God Bless!

http://www.acim.org | http://www.facim.org | http://www.miraclecenter.org

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Bully or Beauty

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment
McKirgan, Sally. Northern California Clouds, Watercolor.

Bully For you” ….remember that saying.  Like its ok to bully your way through whatever, wherever, whenever, go ahead, push, pull, be bold and assert yourself.  Yes, there are times when thoughtful goal setting may be necessary in this world but that is not bullying as outlined below.  I remember one time when my husband and I pushed our way into a venue to see Barack Obama. Should I call that “soft” bullying?  I don’t think we physically harmed anyone or damaged any psyche.  My friend Jim sent me the below definitions of the bully.  Take a look and do an honest self-assessment.   Share this with your friends, kids and grandkids so they realize the injury it does and assess behaviors or themselves or friends. Remember the saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.”   There are professionals who refuse to read reviews because they know the hurt.   As we grow in our spiritual understanding hopefully we let insults run off and forgive, but younger people and children usually can’t.   

Bullying takes many forms.  We have an “inner” bully” too.  Watch your thoughts to see if you bully yourself or others internally.   What is the thought doing to YOU?  Is it making you happy?   Bottom line is the bully aka everybody, needs love.   See love or the call for love.  Just change your mind and offer kindness and peace to yourself and to anyone else who bullies.  Here are Jim’s definitions.  You may have some to add.

Anyone who is unkind to another person is a bully.

Anyone who points at another person who appears different and shouts or laughs at that person is a bully.

Anyone who belittles another person is a bully.

Anyone who threatens or harasses or intimidates another person is a bully.

Anyone who calls another by a derogatory name is a bully.

Anyone who physically or verbally abuses another person is a bully.

Anyone who coerces another person is a bully.

Anyone who joins with others to “mob” or “gang up” is a bully.

Anyone who tries to dominate another person is a bully.

Anyone who spreads false or malicious rumors is a bully.

Anyone who mocks another person is a bully.

Anyone who taunts another person is a bully.

Anyone who “trolls”, who purposely creates discord or starts arguments, is a bully. (Starts flame wars)

Stealing, shoving, hitting, provoking, and destroying another’s property are signs of a bully.

Being rude to, or insulting, or yelling at someone without justifiable cause is a sign of a bully.

Making fun of a person who is different is a sign of a bully.

Unprovoked yelling at someone is a sign of a bully.

Social exclusion and social aggression can be signs of a bully.

Malicious lies, rumor, innuendo, humiliation, and discrediting are signs of a bully.

We all have the capacity to be a bully, but wouldn’t we be happier if we stopped the bullying and were kind to one another.  

Bullying is a sign of unhappiness and a lack of love. Be the Beauty of the Perfect Mountain; centered, loved, cherished with a Holy Mind connected to and guided by the Love of the Universe.

See A Course In Miracles – http://www.acim.org Lesson 23. I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts. Other ACIM websites are:

http://www.miraclecenter.org

http://www.facim.org

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The Open Door beneath your Mind

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

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During this Covid 19 pandemic it seems everyone is pretty miserable. How are you feeling?   I go in and out of worry and depression but I am always grateful for those who are on the front lines dealing with it.  The only way to side step misery is to be aware of  how you perceive the situation.  Perhaps a change of mind is in order.   What you think and the judgments you make will either make you happy or sad.  The mind is a beautiful thing to change.  It is up to you to change it.  Do you dwell in fear or love.

You are 100% responsible for how you think (judge) understand and perceive.  We have a choice in “how” we judge things and situations.  If we see something as an attack then the ego is in charge.  Are you happy when the ego is in charge?  If we can view what goes on around us with an iota of lenience – just a little- we begin to open the mind to the idea of tolerance.

I’m thinking of wearing masks as I write this but it could be anything that disturbs your peace.  I think everyone should wear a mask.  I don’t like them because they restrict air and I need air but I wear one anyway.  I can understand why someone would choose not to, but I want peace.  So I have to change my mind, on the spot, adding a dash of tolerance and mercy to my thoughts.  Just because I disagree I do not have to allow hatred or anger.  I can see either love or the call for love.  And the call for love is to me, my mind and its need for peace as well as theirs.   The ego does not have to run and ruin my life.  I choose to sideline the dominant ego’s thought system and choose charity and mercy.

When we give mercy and respect to others, we have mercy and respect for ourselves.  We don’t realize how much needless unconscious guilt we pile on our psyche with righteous judgments and opinions feeling certain we are right.  Do I want to be right or happy?  Letting go of my conviction that I know what’s right when in fact I don’t always know, opens the door to mercy.

We like to think that we know it all.  But we don’t know what our soul needs to experience or lessons we have come to learn, until they arrive at our doorstep.  We have all experienced being misunderstood or accused of something we did not intend or been unfairly treated.  When knowing how it feels to be unfairly treated, we refuse to mistreat anyone.  One thing we can always do is offer love and acceptance with our thoughts.  In doing so, we open the door in our mind, leading to understanding, and turn from the ego’s decree of punishment, fire and brimstone.

“Then let them (your judgmental thoughts) go and sink below them to the holy place where they can enter not.  There is a door beneath them in your mind, which you could not completely lock to hide what lies beyond.  Seek for that door and find it.  You cannot fail today.  There walks with you the Spirit Heaven sent you, that you might approach this door some day and through his aid slip effortlessly past it, to the light.”    A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson 131.   No one can fail who seeks to reach the truth.

See A Course In Miracles, Chapter 21. Section II. The Responsibility for Sight, pg. 448

I am responsible for what I see.

I choose the feelings I experience, and I decide

Upon the goal I would achieve.

And everything that seems to happen to me

I ask for, and receive as I have asked.

We are responsible for how we interpret things!   It is the mercy within that will allow a true  perception to come when we ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand.  “Help me see this differently.”  Look through His eyes and you will have peace.  Me too!

God Is

www.miraclecenter.org

www.acim.org

www.facim.org

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Ego Mode = The Virus Blame Game

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

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After listening to a wonderful youtube presentation by Tim Wise and Lyn Corona, see the link below, I realize how addicting the ego voice is.  We are in “ego mode” when we MUST find something or someone to blame.  But the source of inner pain or even bodily pain is from…..listening to the ego…believing this faulty thinking and that I am right in choosing the ego mode.

Right now we have the coronavirus circling the world.  Who are we going to blame? Some foreign people, the military, all the Politian’s?  It is the ego part of our mind doing the blaming and we believe it because we want to!  We need to blame and project onto someone so we can feel better.

The ego is attracted to pain because it means the body is REAL, the world is REAL and we are important.  It keeps us trapped in the dream of being a body in the illusion.  We are a puppet of the ego when that happens.

When we decide we are tired of this blame game because of the pain it causes, we look within and see, according to the Course that our only problem is the separation we feel from God.  That is impossible.  We cannot be separate from God because we are In God at this very moment, but we don’t think we are.

If we choose blame, we are continuing the separation from God because that is what we did to Him when we chose the ego.  Yes, the “tiny mad idea” in the Course tells us we chose the ego to be separate from God.  If we blame ourselves or feel guilty from separating from God we are still listening to the ego mode and in the blame game.

The solution: We take a deep breath, step aside from the ego in your mind, take the hand of Jesus – the Holy Spirit that connects us to God and say:  “I am as God Created Me, help me see this differently.”   See A Course In Miracles, Workbook Lesson 110.

We insist on finding a “bad guy” to blame because we don’t want to take responsibility for the decision to separate from God.  We do it every time we blame someone and make them the guilty one.  We do unto them, what we did unto God.

You are NOT separate from God because that is impossible.  But in this dream we “believe” we are.  To get out of the dream ask Jesus:

“I am stuck, take my hand, help me see the way you do.  Help me let go of this judgment and blame I place on ______ and let go of my projections, believing the ego’s lies.”

The tiny mad idea that we can be separate from God is just that…..a mad idea!  An idea is not real.  You are not a puppet.  You are a Mind, an innocent Son of God with the power in you to follow the loving kindness in your heart, holding the hand of Love and going home to Heaven where you really are and have always been.

Here is the YouTube video with Tim Wise, Lyn Corona and others from the School for A Course in Miracles, discussing the Corona Virus:

 

 

Here is the link to the A Course In Miracles – Workbook Lesson 110:   I am as God Created Me.  https://acim.org/workbook/lesson-110

More Miracles Organizations

http://www.miraclecenter.org

http://www.acim.org

http://www.facim.org

YOU ARE LOVE and YOU ARE LOVED

 

 

 

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Love cannot condemn

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

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Is it possible to really love someone and at the same time judge them?  “He or she’s really great but……” Maybe they are not doing what you would do or want them to do i.e. teens getting home late; partner over spending or not spending on the right things; children, friends acting out and annoying you. There are irritations in our lives but WHO is annoyed and why? Identify the part of your mind that is upset. It is the part that is impatient, judgmental and is angry demanding punishment. Yes parents need to discipline children but it can be done with love, calmly verses anger or blame. The ego mind judges and demands discipline or  punishment but it is not your identity. You are much more than that.

The goal of a peaceful life unfolds when we decide to change our thoughts.  We become  uncomfortable with our current modus operation.  We have a split mind – love and hate.  We finally realize the part of the mind where the ego’s schemes are hatched and how it can disrupt our lives.  The ego is NOT who we are and we no longer heed its urgings.  We gradually awaken to our true identity and accept that we are the love, the Spirit within. The ego tries to cover it up and creates havoc but you take charge and recognize the LOVE within that you are.  That love has been there all along.

If we listen to the ego’s voice we will never love un-conditionally. The ego’s way of loving amount’s to manipulation to get its way or giving in order to get. What’s in it for me? Challenge yourself to watch its gyrations and observe it but don’t follow it or feel guilty.  We all have ego thoughts. Just look and laugh! Even something as innocent as going to lunch or dinner and seeing someone the ego judges as “different,” maybe it’s their annoying clothes, their voice or the way they chew food. It is a judgment and it is from 100% separation. That person could be someone you have longed to meet (a favorite author or a professor of quantum physics) if you only knew! The ego does not know anything. Judgment separates us into lonely boxes. Even a “good” judgment, for example “what beautiful hair she has,” which really means I do not have hair like that and so we are different.  The ego likes to compare.  Love never condemns.  You have a powerful mind that DECIDES; you can choose to listen or dismiss the judgmental thoughts of separation. And if you judge yourself it is the ego trapping you.  Don’t listen!

Imagine what it feels like to be deeply accepted, loved and totally guilt free. Feel that within; give it to yourself and you will give it to others. If you condemn others you are condemning yourself.  Jesus said “Judge not so ye be not judged.”  Condemn and you are a prisoner of guilt; but love and you are guilt free.  Realize how guilty or sorry you feel after you have attacked someone and eventually we know it is not worth it!  Love sweeps all ego beliefs away with a gentle hand of compassion.

Love is within and not found out there in the world. Go within and think of someone who has loved you unconditionally.  Maybe a grand parent, aunt or uncle?  If you cannot identify anyone, then entertain the thought of an all loving Creator; Yahweh; Allah, Jesus; Mohammed; Krishna or God (or your dog) beaming love at you like a laser beam. Feel it – and it is yours.   It is your inheritance. You are no longer lost. Love found you. Hear the inner voice of Spirit telling you that you are LOVE; a loving mind choosing love. Everyone is included in the same identity of Oneness.

Wear that identity of LOVE into the world. There is a blessed relief that washes over us when we realize our Oneness with everyone and all things. All bitter struggles, the distractions and loneliness end when we refuse thoughts of separation. Be a love finder, not a fault finder and pure joy will fill your mind and Peace Prevails.   “When you want only love, you will see nothing else.” A Course In Miracles T. 12. VII. 8. (pg. 231)

https://acim.org/workbook/lesson-92/

Miracles are seen in light, and light and strength are one. Workbook lesson 92. “If we see others as different from ourselves …  we judge and condemn but do not love.”

Click on “arrow” to hear the lesson read to you.

http://www.facim.org

http://www.miraclecenter.org

 

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Good Politics: The Service of Peace

On By SallyIn A Course In Miracles, UncategorizedLeave a comment

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As a student of A Course In Miracles, I respect all messages of peace.  I want to share with you a hopeful message!  I recently watched a video called “Pope Francis, A Man of his Word.” If you need some inspiration I highly recommend it.  The 52nd World Day of Peace was January 1, 2019.  Pope Francis’s message was:

“Good politics is at the service of peace.”

He made several points but the first was “Peace be to this house.” What he was saying was “peace for our family, our house, our communities, our country, our continent and importantly our common home our world.”

Here is the link to his message to paste in your browser:

http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/peace/documents/papa-francesco_20181208_messaggio-52giornatamondiale-pace2019.html

Here is a summary of what he said that was so inspiring for all people of Faith regardless of their religion of spiritual beliefs and especially as our politics take the stage for the next year and we watch the debates and delve into the upcoming election we might keep his thoughtful recommendations in mind.

He expanded on several pertinent points by suggesting that “charity and human virtues along with service of human rights and peace be the basis of politics. He suggested those running for office should recall the “Beatitudes of the Politician” which were proposed by Vietnamese Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyễn Vãn Thuận, who died in 2002.

Here they are:
Blessed be the politician with a lofty sense and deep understanding of his role.
Blessed be the politician who personally exemplifies credibility.
Blessed be the politician who works for the common good and not his or her own interest.
Blessed be the politician who remains consistent.
Blessed be the politician who works for unity.
Blessed be the politician who works to accomplish radical change.
Blessed be the politician who is capable of listening.
Blessed be the politician who is without fear.

He suggests that every election and re-election, and every stage of public life, is an opportunity to return to the original points of reference that inspire justice and law. One thing is certain, “good politics is at the service of peace. It respects and promotes fundamental human rights, which are at the same time mutual obligations, enabling a bond of trust and gratitude to be forged between present and future generations.”
Watching it was like a breath of fresh “political air.” If we look for and vote for those who from all appearances, seem to hold these values we would have leaders that we, the world and future generations deserve.
He also brought up political vices: dishonesty, self-service, corruption, exploitation and denial of rights and plundering of natural resources for the sake of quick profit to name a few. Good politics inspires and promotes participation of the young and trust in others and fosters confidence that we can all work together for the common good. Politics at the service of peace finds expression in the recognition of the gifts and abilities when everyone contributes his or her gifts to help build trust especially in our times marked by mistrust and rooted in fear of strangers. The world has a need for security rather than nationalism and division.
Regarding past wars and the strategy of fear, he says to threaten others is to lower them to the status of objects and deny their dignity. Escalation and uncontrolled proliferation of arms is contrary to morality and politics that blame evil on migrants and deprive the poor of hope is unacceptable. There is a need to reaffirm that peace is based on respect for each person, whatever his or her background.
Lastly he calls for a great project of peace and reminds us of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted after the Second World War: “Man’s awareness of his rights lead to the recognition of duties; the rights are the expression of personal dignity and their recognition and respect by others.” Peace entails a conversion of the heart and soul; it is both interior and communal; and it has three inseparable aspects:
1. Peace with oneself: Rejecting inflexibility, anger and impatience; by showing “a bit of sweetness towards oneself” in order to offer “a bit of sweetness to others”;
2. Peace with others: Family members, friends, strangers, the poor and the suffering, being unafraid to encounter them and listen to what they have to say;
3. Peace with all creation: Rediscovering the grandeur of God’s gift and our individual and shared responsibility as inhabitants of this world, citizens and builders of the future. When any of our brothers and sisters suffers we are all affected. God sees with his heart. Even the atheist shares the same love. Maybe that’s the only common bond we all have, the bond of God’s love. Other than that we are free, even free not to love Him.

Here is more inspiration:

https://acim.org/workbook/lesson-194/

A Course In Miracles Lesson 194 – I Place the Future in the Hands of God

 

 

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Rest in Love, Rest in Truth

On By SallyIn A Course In MiraclesLeave a comment

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You are loved!  Most of us do not allow ourselves to feel it.  Why?  Don’t we believe we are lovable?  You ARE loved, warts, gifts and all!  Give yourself the gift of feeling it.  Really feel it.   Go to a silent place within, close your eyes and feel yourself being held, as if you were a small child again.  Feel yourself being rocked gently and a soft hand stroking your cheek and telling you that you are loved.  Feel the care and sweetness in your heart.  That is how God loves you.  Your spirit is love and as bright, as soft and innocent like this blossom.

I invite you to go to the A Course In Miracles website and listen to Lesson 109, I rest in God, being read to you as you close your eyes.

Here is the link to past in your browser:   https://acim.org/workbook/lesson-109/

The Course offers 365 lessons, one for each day of the year.  We being at lesson number 1 and  read a lesson per day and on the 109th day of the year we learn we can and DO rest in Love, in God and can be at Peace.   We just need to accept it.  At the end of the 365 lessons you will never be lonely again or feel unloved…….when you remember your true identity – God’s Holy Precious Son.

Happy New Year!

 

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Christmas: Giving and Receiving

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

peace

Years ago our youngest son looked inquiringly at his Dad and said “Why Christmas?” It was a perceptive and honest question from his little three year mind. How would you answer that question? It is a good question to pose to our grown up selves. We rush about planning and making lists and drive ourselves crazy or get on the internet and figure out the best deals. We fret over what to give to whom and will they like it, that’s the big question. And then we imagine them opening it up and watching carefully for the expression that comes in that twinkling moment.

Maybe that “instant” is our gift! That shining twinkling moment when we made someone happy, made them smile and gasp with surprise. Then we hear their laughter, hopefully not a groan, and words of thanks or maybe a smooch!

My husband’s father loved Chocolate Covered Cherries. Every year we gave him a box. Finally one year he opened the gift and said, “Oh No, not Cherries again.” That was the last year we gave him cherries! How many of us have opened presents we definitely did NOT like and managed to feign appreciation showing we “love it” and have “always wanted one?”

Back to Why Christmas? Well it is all about Jesus and his Birth right? Look at how we avoid Jesus and his teachings these days. A few years ago I was reading a book about Jesus. The author had put his beautiful face smack on the cover. A gentleman stopped to inquire what I was reading.   I closed the book and showed him the cover. You would have thought I was pointing a machine gun in his face! He was absolutely horrified, shocked! His eyes were big, brows shot up and he looked like someone had hit him with a stun gun. His adverse reaction was palpable. He said “Oh” and hurried away as quickly as he could.

Where does that reaction come from? For over 2,000 years the world has had Jesus to deal with. All faiths have their concepts but where does that “aversion” comes from.

One reason (and I am not a scholar) could be because the Bible claims he is God’s ONLY begotten son. So where does that leave the rest of us and the horrified man? We know of families that have a favorite child whose attributes out shine everyone else; that special child. Could it be collective unconscious jealousy runs through a society feeling resentment and somehow unloved. It can fester over a lifetime and throughout the ages. How many of us, deep down, feel as adored as that baby? The sweet song, ‘Away in the Manager’ always brings tears to my eyes.

If we don’t resent him we may try to out-do him! Climb the highest mountains; make the most money; give the biggest gift; have the biggest house or most expensive car or? We are all looking for love and appreciation. Maybe God (and others) will love us if we do such and such.

And yet we celebrate baby Jesus at Christmas and sing carols to him not knowing that baby is also us, you and me. If we had been students of the spiritual book, A Course In Miracles, at the time our young son asked, we could have told him that baby Jesus was (and still is) loved very much by God and YOU my child, are too! We are all God’s sons, the Christ. God being Eternal Unchanging Love never condemns or rejects anyone. In the First Chapter of the Course Jesus tells us:

“You are a perfect creation, and should experience awe only in the Presence of the Creator of perfection. Equals should not be in awe of one another because awe implies inequality. It is therefore an inappropriate reaction to me. An elder brother is entitled to respect for his greater experience, and obedience for his greater wisdom. He is also entitled to love because he is a brother, and to devotion if he is devoted. It is only my devotion that entitles me to yours. There is nothing about me that you cannot attain. I have nothing that does not come from God. The difference between us now is that I have nothing else. This leaves me in a state which is only potential in you.” ACIM I.II.3.

So….Jesus our elder brother is devoted to us, YOU and ME, everyone! He demonstrates to us our potential. No one is excluded from Love not even a politician. He tells us we are all the same in the ego world because we feel separated from God and our only need is to choose love instead of fear and hatred.  And like Jesus we can offer tolerance, love and yes forgiveness too as we free our spirit from the tight grip of judgment and hatred. For 2,000 years his wisdom has endeavored to open our hearts and minds to the clarity of healing light. We come here to learn lessons, to see through the ego and world programming and to exclude no one from our love. All hate is from the ego; all love is God. When we give Love, we receive love.

That is giving and receiving.

Be like God – Love Every ONE!

Visit http://www.acim.org or http://www.facim.org

To find out more about A Course In Miracles

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In the fox holes of life!

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In the fox holes of life: ‘I Am There.’

Easter and Passover join hands this year!  Passover and Good Friday on March 30 and Easter April 1. Jesus always takes center stage for Easter. For years I had problems with the concept of Jesus until I started studying the spiritual psychological non- dual metaphysical book, ‘A Course In Miracles.’  Maybe since he was proclaimed the CHOOSEN one i.e. the favorite son of God, it made me wonder about the rest of us. Did he (God) care about me or anyone else for that matter? I decided probably not. But Jesus in the Course tells the scribe, Helen Schucman, that yes, he is a Son of God but so are you and I. He is not special. We are equals and all equally loved!

“The miracle is a sign of love among equals. Equals should not be in awe of one another because awe implies inequality. It is therefore an inappropriate reaction to me. An elder brother is entitled to respect for his greater experience, and obedience for his greater wisdom. There is nothing about me that you cannot attain.   I have nothing that does not come from God. The difference between us now is that I have nothing else. This leaves me in a state which is only potential in you.” T.1.II.3.4-12.

He also says that we do need help and He and the Holy Spirit are here for us.

“I go before you because I am beyond the ego. Reach, therefore, for my hand because you want to transcend the ego. My strength will never be wanting, and if you choose to share it you will do so.” T. 8.V.6 7-9.

Hold out your hand i.e. your mind and he is there. Yes, He is the Christ but so are you and I and everyone, whether we accept it or not.

Another wonderful thing about the Course is that since Jesus’s Mind joined with Helen’s we know he is not dead!  He tells us throughout the Course that there is no death.  He did not die on the cross!  His body did but HE did NOT!

I have come to believe that Jesus is really REAL!  Not in the bodily sense but within the fox holes of life where faith holds our hand and trust, the light. God does not need us but we need to know, that HIS love and grace are always here with us – Within.

Recently I learned about the mystical poem ‘I am There’ by James Dillet Freeman. He is sometimes known as “the poet laureate of the moon” because two of his poems are on the moon. ‘I Am There’ was taken by Astronaut, James B. Irwin in 1971 and ‘Prayer for Protection’ by Lunar Commander ‘Buzz’ Aldrin in July 1969. Here are the poems of assurance and a blessed Passover and Easter to all.

I am There

Do you need Me?

I am there.

You cannot see Me, yet I am the light you see by.

You cannot hear Me, yet I speak through your voice.

You cannot feel Me, yet I am the power at work in your hands.

I am at work, though you do not understand My ways.

I am at work, though you do not recognize My works.

I am not strange visions. I am not mysteries.

Only in absolute stillness, beyond self, can you know Me as I am, and then but as a feeling and a faith.

Yet I am there. Yet I hear. Yet I answer.

When you need Me, I am there.

Even if you deny Me, I am there.

Even when you feel most alone, I am there.

Even in your fears, I am there.

Even in your pain, I am there.

I am there when you pray and when you do not pray.

I am in you, and you are in Me.

Only in your mind can you feel separate from Me, for only in your mind are the mists of “yours” and “mine.”

Yet only with your mind can you know Me and experience Me.

Empty your heart of empty fears.

When you get yourself out of the way, I am there.

You can of yourself do nothing, but I can do all.

And I am in all.

Though you may not see the good, good is there, for I am there.

I am there because I have to be, because I am.

Only in Me does the world have meaning; only out of Me does the world take form; only because of Me does the world go forward.

I am the law on which the movement of the stars and the growth of living cells are founded.

I am the love that is the law’s fulfilling. I am assurance. I am peace. I am oneness. I am the law that you can live by. I am the love that you can cling to. I am your assurance. I am your peace. I am one with you. I am.

Though you fail to find Me, I do not fail you.

Though your faith in Me is unsure, My faith in you never wavers, because I know you, because I love you.

Beloved, I am there.

 

The Prayer of Protection

The light of God surrounds us;

The love of God enfolds us;

The power of God protects us;

The presence of God watches over us;

Wherever we are, God is!

Learn more about the history and mystery of ‘I am There’ by James Dillet Freeman at http://www.unity.com.