Graphic by ©Deposit Photos
|
|
67 You will remember everything the instant you
desire it wholly, for if to desire wholly is to create, you will have willed away the separation, returning your mind simultaneously to your Creator and your creations. Knowing
them, you will have no wish to sleep but only the will to waken and be glad. Dreams will be impossible because you will
want only truth, and being at last your will, it will be yours.
|
|
Workbook for Students
Review III
Introduction
|
1 Our third review begins today. We will review two of the last 20 ideas each day until we have reviewed them all. We will observe a special format for these practice periods which you are urged to follow as closely as you can. We understand, of course, that it may be impossible for you to undertake what is suggested here as optimal each day and every hour of the day.
2 Learning will not be hampered when you miss a practice period because it is impossible at the appointed time. Nor is it necessary that you make excessive efforts to be sure that you catch up in terms of numbers. Rituals are not our aim and would defeat our learning goal.
3 But learning will be hampered when you skip a practice period because you are unwilling to devote the time to it which you are asked to give. Do not deceive yourself in this. Unwillingness can be most carefully concealed behind a cloak of situations you cannot control. Learn to distinguish situations which are poorly suited to your practicing from those which you establish to uphold a camouflage for your unwillingness.
4 Those practice periods which you have lost because you did not want to do them for whatever reason should be done as soon as you have changed your mind about your goal. You are unwilling to cooperate in practicing salvation only if it interferes with goals you hold more dear. When you withdraw the value given them, allow your practice periods to be replacements for your litanies to them. They gave you nothing. But your practice periods offer you everything. Accept their offering and be at peace.
5 The format you should use for these reviews is this: devote five minutes twice a day or longer if you would prefer to contemplating the ideas assigned. Read over the ideas and comments which are written first in each day's exercises. Then begin to think about them quietly, letting your mind relate them to your needs, your seeming problems, and all your concerns.
6 Place the ideas within your mind, and let it use them as it chooses. Give it faith that it will use them wisely, being helped in its decisions by the One Who gave the thoughts to you. What can you trust but what is in your mind? Have faith, in these reviews, the means the Holy Spirit uses will not fail. The wisdom of your mind will come to your assistance. Give it direction at the start, then lean back in quiet faith, and let it use the ideas you have given it as they were given you.
7 You have been given them in perfect trust, in perfect confidence that you would use them well, in perfect faith that you would understand their messages and use them for yourself. Offer them to your mind in that same trust and confidence and faith. It will not fail. It is the Holy Spirit's chosen means for your salvation. And with His trust merits yours as well.
8 We emphasize the benefits to you if you devote the first five minutes of the day to your review and also give the last five minutes of your waking day to it. If this cannot be done, at least try to divide them so you undertake one in the morning, and the other in the hour just before you go to sleep.
9 The exercises to be done throughout the day are equally important and perhaps of even greater value. You have been inclined to do the exercises and then go on to other things, without applying what you learned to them. As a result, your learning has had little reinforcement, and you have not given it the opportunity to prove its worth to you.
10 Here is another chance to use it well. In these reviews we stress the need to let your learning not lie idly by between your longer practice periods. Attempt to give your daily two ideas a brief but serious review each hour. Use one on the hour and the other one a half an hour later. You need not give more than just a moment to each one.
11 Repeat it, and allow your mind to rest a little time in silence and in peace. Then turn to other things, but try to keep the thought with you and let it serve to help you keep your peace throughout the day. If you are shaken, think of it again. These practice periods are planned to help you form the habit of applying what you learn each day to everything you do.
12 Do not repeat it and then lay it down. Its usefulness is limitless to you. And it is meant to serve you in all ways, all times and places, and whenever you need help of any kind. Try, then, to take it with you in the business of the day and make it holy, worthy of God's Son, acceptable to God and to your Self.
13 Each day's review assignment will conclude with a restatement of the thought to use each hour and the one to be applied on each half hour as well. Forget them not. This second chance with each of these ideas will bring such large advances that we come from these reviews with learning gains so great that we begin again on solid ground.
14 Do not forget how little you have learned. Do not forget how much you can learn now. Do not forget your Father's need of you as you review these thoughts He gave to you.
Audio, Music, and Video
by CIMS SonShip Radio
|
|
Workbook for Students
Lesson 111
|
1 For morning and evening review:
[91]
Miracles are seen in light.
2
I cannot see in darkness. Let the light of holiness and truth light up my mind,
And let me see the innocence within.
[92]
Miracles are seen in light, and light and strength are one.
3
I see through strength, the gift of God to me. My weakness is the dark His gift dispels by giving me His strength to take its place.
4 On the hour:
5
Miracles are seen in light.
6 On the half hour:
7
Miracles are seen in light, and light and strength are one.
Audio, Music, and Video
by CIMS SonShip Radio
Lesson ARCHIVE
|
|
Course in Miracles
Original Edition
Text
Chapter 9
The Correction of Error
VIII. The Inclusiveness of Creation
par 59-67
[PAUSED FOR WEEKEND]
|
59 Nothing beyond yourself can make you fearful or loving because nothing
is beyond you. Time and eternity are both in your mind and
will conflict until you perceive time solely as a means to
regain eternity. You cannot do this as long as you believe that
anything which happens to you is caused by factors
outside yourself. You must learn that time is solely at
your disposal, and that nothing in the world can take this responsibility from you. You can
violate God's laws in your imagination, but you cannot
escape from them. They were established for your protection and are as inviolate as your safety.
60 God created nothing beside you, and nothing beside you exists, for you are part of Him. What except Him
can exist? Nothing
beyond Him can happen because nothing
except Him is real. Your creations add to Him as
you do, but nothing is added that is different because everything has always
been. What can upset you except the ephemeral, and how can the ephemeral be real if you are God's
only creation, and He created you eternal? Your holy will establishes
everything that happens to you.
Every response you make to
everything you perceive is up to you because your will determines your perception of it.
61 God does not change His Mind about
you, for He is not uncertain of
Himself. And what He knows
can be known because He does not know only for Himself. He created you for Himself, but He gave you the power to create for
your self so you could be like Him. That is
why your will is holy. Can anything exceed the love of God? Can anything, then, exceed
your will? Nothing can reach you from beyond it because, being in God,
you encompass everything. Believe this, and you
will realize how much is up to you. When anything threatens your peace of mind, ask yourself,
62
Has God changed His Mind about me?
63 Then
accept His decision, for it is indeed changeless, and refuse to change your mind about
yourself. God will never decide
against you, or He would be deciding against Himself.
64 The reason you do not know
your creations is simply that you would decide against them as long as your minds are split, and to attack what you have created is impossible. But remember that it is
as impossible for God. The law of creation is that you love your creations as yourself because they
are part of you. Everything that was created is therefore perfectly safe because the laws of God protect it by His Love. Any part of your mind that does not know this has banished itself from knowledge because it has not met its conditions.
65 Who could have done this but you? Recognize this gladly, for in this recognition lies the realization that your banishment is
not of God and therefore does not exist. You are at home in God, dreaming of exile but perfectly capable of awakening to reality. Is it your will to do so? You know from your own experience that what you see in dreams you think is real as long as you are asleep. Yet the instant you waken, you
know that everything that
seemed to happen did not happen at all. You do not think this mysterious, even though all the laws of what you awakened
to were violated while you slept. Is it not possible that you merely shifted from one dream to another, without
really wakening?
66 Would you bother to reconcile what happened in conflicting dreams, or would you dismiss both together if you discovered that reality is in accord with neither? You do not remember being awake. When you hear the Holy Spirit, you merely feel better because loving seems
possible to you, but you do
not remember yet that it once was so. And it is in this remembering that you will know it can be so again. What is possible has not yet been accomplished. Yet what has once been is so
now if it is eternal. When you remember, you will know what you remember
is eternal and therefore
is now.
67 You will remember everything the instant you
desire it wholly, for if to desire wholly is to create, you will have willed away the separation, returning your mind simultaneously to your Creator and your creations. Knowing
them, you will have no wish to sleep but only the will to waken and be glad. Dreams will be impossible because you will
want only truth, and being at last your will, it will be yours.
|
Audio, Music, and Video
by CIMS SonShip Radio
ONLINE
SEARCHABLE Original Edition
Current Schedule of
|
|
ACIM Edmonton
Sarah's Reflections
Lesson 111 ~ Review III
[Review Lessons 91-92]
|
The introduction makes some suggestions that require our attention. First, the importance of not ritualizing our practice periods is stressed
. "Rituals are not our aim, and would defeat our goal."
(W. Review III.IN.2.4) They should not be rote activities,
"Nor is it necessary that you make excessive efforts to be sure that you catch up in terms of numbers
.
"
(W.RIII.IN.2.3) Instead, what is stressed here is willingness. There are many places in the Course that emphasize the importance of being willing. Our learning will not be hampered if we miss a practice because for some reason it is impossible to do what is suggested. However, learning will be hampered if we miss a practice period because we are unwilling to devote the time to it.
This is interesting because Jesus is helping us to see our resistance.
"Yet the wish for other experience will block its accomplishment, because God's Will cannot be forced upon you, being an experience of total willingness
.
"
(T.8.III.2.3) (ACIM OE T.8.IV.17) How important is this journey to peace for you? How devoted are you to your awakening to the truth of who you are? The answer will be reflected in how willing you are to do this practice. How willing are you to give time to it?
"But learning will be hampered when you skip a practice period because you are unwilling to devote the time to it that you are asked to give."
(W.RIII.IN.3.1)
Jesus talks about how we can hide our unwillingness by telling ourselves that it is just not convenient to practice, and sometimes, this
is
the case. There are, however, other times when we lie to ourselves to camouflage our unwillingness. (W.RIII.IN.3.4) This is something we must look at, not only with the practice but in other ways, where we lie to ourselves and rationalize our behavior, which is a form of self-betrayal and self-deception. What we are lying about is that there are goals that we
"hold more dear"
(W.RIII.4.2) when we skip our practice of the Lesson.
Application is the essential part of these Lessons. To be vigilant and diligently do our Lessons is great, but when things come up during the day and we don't apply the Lesson, he says that you
"have not given your learning a fair chance to prove how great are its potential gifts to you
.
"
(W.RIII.IN.9.3) Having said this, Jesus never wants us to feel guilty. On the contrary, he is very gentle and patient with us, as he wants us to be equally gentle with ourselves while still maintaining discipline. He knows how much guilt we continually place on ourselves, as well as the mountain of unconscious guilt we hold in our minds. His goal is not to add to that guilt but only to show us how much he loves us and wants us to have the gifts offered us through this practice. He wants us to experience the benefits so we can see how great are the gifts we receive in applying these Lessons. The reinforcement that we receive when we apply the Lessons throughout the day to situations that confront us, results in more peace. The Lessons are not intended as just an intellectual exercise. Every benefit we receive is in the application.
We do get off course regularly, but it is reassuring to remember that we need not beat ourselves up or get discouraged because once on the path, we can't turn back. In Gary Renard's book,
Disappearance of the Universe,
Pursah says: "You should keep in mind that each of the four major attitudes of learning are long roads in themselves, and you will sometimes bounce around like a ping pong ball between them. The Holy Spirit will correct you along the way and set you back in the right direction. Do not feel bad when you temporarily lose your way. There is no one who has ever walked this earth, including Jesus, who did not give into temptation in some way. The myth of living a perfect life in terms of behavior is self-defeating and unnecessary. All that is necessary is to be willing to receive correction."
Pursah goes on to say: "Just as a navigator or computer constantly corrects the course of a jet airliner along its route, the Holy Spirit is always correcting you, no matter what you may appear to do or on what level of spiritual awareness you may appear to be. It may be possible to ignore Him, but it is never possible to lose Him. The jet airliner is always going off course, but through constant correction, it arrives at its destination. So will you arrive at your destination? It's a done deal. You couldn't screw up if you tried. The real question is, how long do you want to prolong your suffering?"
Whenever I have been willing to look at a grievance that I am holding and have given it over to the Holy Spirit, the miracle has always been present. When we are willing to be very honest with ourselves and look at our intentions, our needs, our expectations, and our motivations in any situation, we are given the correction. We are not responsible for the error, but we are responsible for choosing the correction. How would we ever learn if we weren't motivated to heal our minds when difficult events show up in our lives? Such events provide us with the perfect classroom where the healing can occur, and we have many opportunities throughout the day. Today, I noticed frustration showing up as I tried to respond to what seemed to me to be a long list of demands. I was feeling some resentment; yet when I looked deeper, I recognized these feelings came from my attempt to make myself worthy. The belief was that I needed to serve everyone’s needs if I were to see myself as a good person. This desire to be seen as good comes from a feeling of unworthiness. It was a desire to be the hero of the dream.
Whenever I take this stance, I realize I can never offer anything of value to my brother. Jesus is very firm in this when he says:
"Whenever you consent to suffer pain, to be deprived, unfairly treated or in need of anything, you but accuse your brother of attack upon God’s Son. You hold a picture of crucifixion before his eyes, that he may see his sins are writ in Heaven in your blood and death, and go before him, closing off the gate and damning him to hell."
(T.27.I.3.1-2) (ACIM OE T.27.II.3) It is a stark picture, but as we look at our own behavior when we sigh about all we have to do, we are doing exactly what Jesus describes here. We are the victim and he becomes the victimizer who is seemingly making demands of us. Now he must be made to be guilty and guilt must be punished.
Jesus supports us through all our tribulations, holding our hands and always supporting us on this journey. We will, from time to time, lose faith in the process, especially during turbulent times in our lives; but knowing that we can always bring our thoughts back to truth brings sanity in the midst of the chaos.
I feel deep gratitude in the knowledge that whenever I am open to His presence in my life, miracles abound. I can choose this experience, and I do so by being willing to let go of the obstacles to peace that I hold in my mind. These obstacles show up as judgment, anger, worry, depression, attack, grievances, expectations, feelings of unworthiness, fear, and all manner of self-attack.
Each time I am willing to look at these blocks without judgment from outside the dream (above the battleground), I can smile at the dream figure (the image of Sarah). I have taken all this drama so seriously. Now, grace can flow in, and with each experience, my faith is strengthened. Even in the midst of turmoil, I know I have been given another opportunity to look at the next level coming up for healing. When I accept everything in my life as just a reflection of the thought system I am choosing in my mind, I am motivated to do this work, knowing the power is within me to change how I perceive everything. With willingness and readiness, I can take responsibility for everything that seems to be happening to me, and remind myself that I have chosen it all. I am not the victim of any situation I experience.
Jesus reminds us how to invite the Holy Spirit to use our minds.
"Read over the ideas and comments that are written down for each day's exercise. And then begin to think about them, while letting your mind relate them to your needs, your seeming problems and all your concerns
.
"
(W.RIII.IN.5.2-3) It is important not to let our egos manage this process because the ego will never undo itself. We need the Holy Spirit for that purpose.
"Place the ideas within your mind, and let it use them as it chooses. Give it faith that it will use them wisely, being helped in its decisions by the One Who gave the thoughts to you. What can you trust but what is in your mind?"
(W.RIII.IN.6.1-3) Today, we are asked to step back from the ego and simply try to give the mind over to the Holy Spirit, letting related thoughts come on their own. These are the healing thoughts now in our minds as a result of our work with the Course. We let these thoughts come to mind to address our needs, problems, and concerns.
"The wisdom of your mind will come to your assistance."
(W.RIII.IN.6.5)
I am so grateful this Course is in my life and I have a way to get to peace by bringing my needs, my seeming problems, and all my concerns to His healing light, so I can know the truth of my own innocence and the innocence of others.
I am so grateful I don't need to rely on my own puny strength to try to figure a way through this illusion and all its seeming problems. Instead, God's strength and guidance are available to me. I do not need to be strong to come to the light. I simply bring my weakness to Him. I give him all my murderous, angry, bitter, and despairing thoughts, as well as my beliefs in my specialness, and by releasing them, I gain strength by connecting with the light in me. If I don't like what I feel now, I can use these feelings as a motivation to find my way to peace by applying them:
"Miracles are seen in light,"
(W.91) and
"Miracles are seen in light, and light and strength are one."
(W.92) All these Lessons will only have value by applying them throughout the day and in every distressful situation.
These Lessons are not meant as pretty, inspirational words to be set aside. I know the only way to happiness is by getting in touch with my Self---the purely loving being I am. This is my motivation for doing the Lessons and applying them as often as I can to every situation in my life. Jesus says that if we consistently remember to do these Review Lessons, it is our second chance with each of these ideas and can bring great advances. Our learning gains will be
"so great that we will continue on more solid ground, with firmer footsteps and with stronger faith
.
"
(W.RIII.IN.12.3) We still have much to learn, but we have learned much already. What is important is not to forget that we are needed in God’s plan for salvation.
Love and blessings, Sarah
|
|
Join ACIM Students
on Free Conference Calls
|
|
Through
Tina Louise Spalding
|
|
LISTEN every day to Guidance on the ACIM Lessons from Jesus.
|
|
Course in Miracles Society (@ACIM_Original) | Twitter
Follow us on TWITTER and join the ACIM community. Just use the hashtag #ACIM when you post! Students share Inspirational Quotes, Events, Personal Insights, ACIM News, and more.
Read more
twitter.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
COURSE IN MIRACLES SOCIETY
(non-profit)
Tax-Deductible Donation
|
Presently all CIMS projects are supported by free will gifts of time, talent, and money. If you would like to support any of the activities of the Society in any way, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Because of the international character of CIMS, the internet is our primary means of communicating and collaborating.
To make a Tax-Deductible Donation in support of the Daily Lessons just click
Here.
Also, by means of your will or other estate plan, you can name "
Course in Miracles Society" as the beneficiary of a portion of your estate, or of particular assets in your estate. In this way, you are honoring your loved ones while also providing critical support to the extension of LOVE.
|
|
SHARE THE BLESSING of ACIM!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
