THE GIFTS OF GOD —Sondra Ray and Markus Ray on A Course in Miracles

Let us perceive forgiveness as it is. This Lesson is without a doubt a challenge to apply. It is hard to forgive people we really feel have “done wrong.” Yet we are asked to forgive what is false, not what is true. The false does not exist. But, what about very physical infractions and “crimes” that “demand punishment?” This discussion goes into a deep and pivotal process that is put forth in A Co...

What is valuable? This is the theme of this Lesson. Will our choices lead us to Heaven or to hell? This is the question. Only what lasts forever has value. Only what is good for all has value. Only the innocent has value. This lesson helps us distinguish the valuable from the valueless.

The world is merely a projection of our thoughts we impose upon it. All of its troubles we made up. There is a spiritual reality in which we remove these projections. This is the subject of this Lesson. Can we change our mind and stop projecting our negative thoughts onto the world? This is up to us. It is the only may we can make a fundamental change, and make contact with the “perfect happiness”...

We are all seeking something. This Lesson #131 tells us we cannot fail in our search for the truth. Heaven is here for us when we give up all of the other futile searches for improvement in the places that have not yielded happiness. There is a place within us that is the perfect resolution of this issue of seeking a better world. We can go there in this Lesson.

We cannot see two worlds. We either look through the eyes of the ego, or we look through the eyes of the Holy Spirit that has let go and forgiven the world of the ego. We have a decision to make. Can we make it is the question.

Beyond this world there is a world I want. The Lesson says there is a Light within the darkness of the world that is beyond what the body’s eyes can “see.” Our Divine Connection is the “Light” that does not rely on the thoughts and visions of living in this world we made up. We are asked to make this other connection now, and to not delay in leaving behind the “world” of thoughts the ego has manuf...

What is the “world” according to A Course in Miracles? These next three lessons examine the world and our attachment to it. Can we let go of our interpretation and attachment to our conditioning about the world. It holds nothing that we want, the Lesson says. Can we step outside of this conditioning, is the question?

This Lesson gives us the whole enchilada about Love, its Source, its scope, its full meaning in our Life. 

What I extend I receive. The forgiveness that we give still has the seeds of judgment embedded in it. Therefore, another version of forgiveness is necessary. To see clearly the spotless nature of our True Identity is to render all mistakes meaningless. When we give a vision of absolute innocence and peace, then no mistake can stand in the way of our Holiness. We see the Holiness of our brother [re...

Who is quiet? This is the state of Mind that the Course is leading us to, in order to receive the directions from our Creator. Who can quiet their mind in order to be empty? Into the empty space we can receive. Our job in this lesson is to observe our mind and let go. By letting go we create a space of inner silence. This state is essential in order to receive Divine guidance.

Can we remember we are one with God? What would that mean to us? This Lesson continues in the gifts that God bestows on us when we are cognizant of His Presence in our life. What stops us from paying attention to this important connection? Do we think we already know what we are here to be and express? We are encouraged to make this Divine Connection the most important one in our Life.

Gratitude is the attitude of receiving and giving. The gifts of God are only effective if we receive and give them. They are “grounded in our being,” so to speak. This Lesson make it clear that an inner atmosphere of gratitude is what strengthens our bond to the “gifts of God.” We give thanks for the four months of inner transformations that A Course in Miracles have brought about in us.

Forgiveness offers everything we want. The Gifts of God are profound, and forgiveness offers these to us. Do we value them? Do we want peace? Do we want a sense of worth and beauty that transcends the world? Maybe we have not even considered we can have these gifts. Do we even value them? This Lesson says that forgiveness offers them to us. Do we believe that, or would we rather keep our judgments...

This Lessons begins the deep teaching of ACIM. "Forgiveness is the Key to happiness," and we need help in this process because we have been so used to a mind of "judgments" and "grievances." To imagine a mind without them seems almost impossible. This is why the Lesson says we need to learn to give up these judgments, "but from a Teacher other than yourself, Who represents the other Self in you. T...

These two Lessons put us in peace when it comes to our daily actions. Can we allow God to move in us and through us? "I rest in God." This is the statement that will bring our minds to peace in all that we do. But we have to remember to put our minds in this place of complete letting go. Accepting that we already are as God created us, we can let go and rest in God. Then life takes care of all of...

The truth is, "God's Peace and Joy are mine." Anytime I am not feeling this Peace and Joy, then I am in some thought which is an error. Not to worry, because all "errors" can be corrected. Are we willing to give the truth of  "Peace and Joy" our attention, in order to receive this truth? This is the principle: We can return to God's Peace and Joy easily because we are hard wired with them. Th...

What is the truth? God's peace and joy are ours. And these are absolute—without opposites. The other truth is that we are God's Perfect Son/Daughter. Are we listening to this "truth," or do  have some other conflict or guilt in our life that we are giving too much energy and importance. Perfect happiness does not include conflict or guilt. So why do we allow them? It's time we make a stand to...

We are given gifts by our Creator that are our heritage. This means we are the inheritors of these gifts, without needing to earn them. They are already ours. But we need to let go of the impurities that would prevent us from receiving them—such as attack thoughts, grievances, judgments, doubts, etc. We seek what already belongs to us, and we can end our seeking with this knowledge. We can claim p...

God's will for us is happiness and only happiness. This is what makes it "perfect." Perfect happiness does not vacillate or "revert" to "unhappiness." It is Pure Joy that is constant. Can we align our will with that of God's? It is the only will there is. But we have free will to think otherwise, and to make up scenarios of suffering for ourselves. This is what we have to release. And the Unknown...

What is "salvation?" What are we to be saved from? There is a goal we are given. Nothing short of perfect happiness. Nothing short of the end of all suffering. Nothing short of constant joy. We go through a lot of ups and downs. Salvation is the end of judgments and the acceptance of Pure Joy. Perfect happiness is not only attainable, but it is our function here to realize it. Join Markus and Sond...

Are we limiting ourselves? Most likely we are. The Life Force is Unlimited and we are the Life Force. Why do we think we are limited by a body? God's "plan for salvation" is to liberate us from all thoughts of lack and limitation. We dedicate this day to our liberation. "I am spirit," is a declaration of independence. And we accept our part in this grand plan. 

These are the Lessons in which we end the duality we carry in our pitiful view of our self. We are one Self. And this Self is not conflicted in arguments of "good" versus "bad." The low opinions we have carried in the form of self judgments and grievances have no meaning. We can let them go and embrace our one Self. We are unified in light, joy and peace. These abide strongly in our one Self. We c...

Can we see that we already have what we thought we were seeking? Light and Joy and Peace abide in us already. END of SEEKING. We do, however, need to make contact with this State of Mind that is already in us. We are as God created us in our original Being. Removing our history of conditioning through forgiveness is the only "work" we have to do. Letting go requires not effort, but the ego wants t...

Today begins our 3rd review. "Miracles are seen in light, & Miracles are seen in light, and light and strength are one." The practice is to think of one lesson on the hour, and the other one on the half hour. A Course in Miracles is training our mind to use these new thoughts in our every day life. Can we remember, or do we let "unwillingness" get the better of us? You decide. 

This lesson is powerful. Can we receive this statement of Self Identity? What would we substitute that is full of struggle? The easy path is to accept this thought as the real truth. It can "undo" our images of ourself. Try remembering this and be in the flow. "I am as God created me. HIs Son can suffer nothing, and I am His Son."