A Miracle A Day

UPDATE

2008-01-11T23:28:00.000-06:00

It occurred to me that since this blog will remain open, readers may be interested in starting A Course in Miracles again in 2008. If you'd like to start the course this year, please read from the beginning (January 2007).

If you'd like more information about studying A Course in Miracles, check out Marianne Williamson on Oprah and Friends radio, XM Channel 156.

Day 365 - FINAL ENTRY

2007-12-31T08:11:00.001-06:00

Today's Lesson:

This holy instant would I give to You.
Be You in charge. For I would follow You,
Certain that Your direction gives me peace.

And if I need a word to help me, He will give it to me. If I need a thought, that will He also give. And if I need but stillness and a tranquil, open mind, these are the gifts I will receive of Him. He is in charge by my request. And He will hear and answer me, because He speaks for God my Father and His holy Son.

Miracles I'm noticing - and Reflections on 2007:

This has been an incredible year. When I decided to post the daily lessons from A Course in Miracles, I had no idea what that would mean in my life. One of the things I noticed is that when I put my mind to something, I can accomplish it. The mental discipline it took for me to not only study the lessons each day, but post them here was something I don't think I've ever committed to doing before and now I know I can do whatever I determine I can do.

Watching the miracles that unfolded for the ACIM study group I'm a part of was also a miracle in itself. Peace, parenthood, business ownership, connection to personal authenticity, abundance, love - all of these were characteristics in the lives of the participants this year, and those participants attribute their miraculous lives at least in part to their study of this course.

Today's text reminds us to choose once again if we would take our place among the saviors of the world or would remain in hell, and hold our brothers there. It is really a very simple choice! We always choose between our weakness and the strength of Christ in us. And what we choose is what we think is real. When we choose to bring our weakness to Christ, he will take charge of everything we do. Whenever we make a faulty choice, we get trials which are simply lessons we failed to learn presented again so we can make a better choice.

I watched the documentary "Jesus Camp" last night on A&E and the fear that was instilled in those children was a perfect example of choosing fear over love and calling it God. I have learned so much since I began studying this course, and for me it is the difference between motivation and inspiration. Motivation is man-made - it is external and based on fear. Inspiration is God-created - it is internal and based on love. Motivation is a push from behind, telling me what I should do and using guilt and fear as its motive. Inspiration is a pull from within, lighting me up and inviting me to listen to my heart - the Christ in me - and using love to light that fire.

I was thinking as I was watching this movie last night: what might people do if allowed to listen to their own hearts and do what they think is right instead of being filled with fear? These little 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-year-old kids were told that Harry Potter was evil and if he would have been in the Old Testament he would have been put to death. I realize that this is just one side of the story and depicts one certain evangelical Christian side mixed with politics. I don't need to get caught up in the drama.

So I started really thinking about what we would all be like if we didn't have someone else telling us "how it is" or what we should think. What if we really allowed ourselves to listen to what's inside us. Would we be inherently good or inherently evil? I firmly believe that we are all created in the image and likeness of God and if we just remember that, we really can't go wrong.

Today's text tells us the images we make cannot prevail against what God Himself would have us be. We should never be fearful of temptation, then, but see it as it is; another chance to choose again, and let Christ's strength prevail in every circumstance and every place we raised an image of ourselves before. That's the ego vs. spirit debate.

We are as God created us, and so is every living thing we look upon, regardless of the images we see. What we behold as sickness and as pain, as weakness and as suffering and loss, is but temptation to perceive ourselves defenseless and in hell.

It goes on to say let us be glad that we can walk the world, and find so many chances to perceive another situation where God's gift can once again be recognized as ours! As we fight against things we don't agree with (like some of the scenes in "Jesus Camp"), we simply give more energy to those things that make us upset. And there should be no reason to be upset when we remember who we are (created in the image and likeness of God - along with everyone else we see).

The bottom line is that we are all one, regardless of race, religion, creed, nationality, doctrine, upbringing, wealth, poverty or belief. As I remember that and choose love instead of fear, I really do transform the world. Let there be peace on earth - and let it begin with me.

Thank you for studying with me this past year. Although I won't be reflecting on this blog in 2008, I will be studying again. And I'll be listening to Marianne Williamson on XM Channel 156 as she teaches the daily lessons. Look inside yourself and when you have a choice, choose love over fear - Spirit over ego. Notice what you notice and you will see that your life has become more peaceful, more loving, and happier. And isn't that what miracles are all about?

Much love and light to you and everyone in your world!

Day 364

2007-12-30T19:32:00.000-06:00

Day 363

2007-12-29T09:55:00.001-06:00

Day 362

2007-12-28T08:14:00.000-06:00

Day 361

2007-12-27T06:37:00.000-06:00

FINAL LESSONS

Introduction

Our final lessons will be left as free of words as possible. We use them but at the beginning of our practicing, and only to remind us that we seek to go beyond them. Let us turn to Him Who leads the way and makes our footsteps sure. To Him we leave these lessons, as to Him we give our lives henceforth. For we would not return again to the belief in sin that made the world seem ugly and unsafe, attacking and destroying, dangerous in all its ways, and treacherous beyond the hope of trust and the escape from pain.

His is the only way to find the peace that God has given us. It is His way that everyone must travel in the end, because it is this ending God Himself appointed. In the dream of time it seems to be far off. And yet, in truth, it is already here; already serving us as gracious guidance in the way to go. Let us together follow in the way that truth points out to us. And let us be the leaders of our many brothers who are seeking for the way, but find it not.

And to this purpose let us dedicate our minds, directing all our thoughts to serve the function of salvation. Unto us the aim is given to forgive the world. It is the goal that God has given us. It is His ending to the dream we seek, and not our own. For all that we forgive we will not fail to recognize as part of God Himself. And thus His memory is given back, completely and complete.

It is our function to remember Him on earth, as it is given us to be His Own completion in reality. So let us not forget our goal is God, and points the way to Him and to the Heaven of His peace. And shall we not forgive our brother, who can offer this to us? He is the way, the truth and life that shows the way to us. In him resides salvation, offered us through our forgiveness, given unto him.

We will not end this year without the gift our Father promised to his holy Son. We are forgiven now. And we are saved from all the wrath we thought belonged to God, and found it was a dream. We are restored to sanity, in which we understand that anger is insane, attack is mad, and vengeance merely foolish fantasy. We have been saved from wrath because we learned we were mistaken. Nothing more than that. And is a father angry at his son because he failed to understand the truth?

We come in honesty to God and say we did not understand, and ask Him to help us to learn His lessons, through the Voice of His Own Teacher. Would He hurt His Son? Or would He rush to answer him, and say, "This is My Son, and all I have is his"? Be certain He will answer thus, for these are His Own words to you. And more than that can no one ever have, for in these words is all there is, and all that there will be throughout all time and in eternity.

Today's Lesson:

This holy instant would I give to You.
Be You in charge. For I would follow You,
Certain that Your direction gives me peace.

And if I need a word to help me, He will give it to me. If I need a thought, that will He also give. And if I need but stillness and a tranquil, open mind, these are the gifts I will receive of Him. He is in charge by my request. And He will hear and answer me, because He speaks for God my Father and His holy Son.

Miracles I'm noticing:

This is such an appropriate way to close out this fabulous year of 2007. To reduce our last days of study - and the last days of this blog - to stillness.

I will still notice the miracles all around me, and for the last few days of this year I will let you know what I see. But it is not for my ego - it is simply to point out that through this year of study, we are all able to see the miracles that abound in all our lives. My hope is that you, too, can see in your own lives, all that wonderful beauty God has placed here for us. We may call them coincidences or luck or chance, but deep down we know there are no such things as coincidences. As Wayne Dyer says, and I've said here before, in mathematical terms, coincidental angles are those angles that fit together perfectly. No mistakes, no luck, no chance.

My miracle yesterday was a call I received from a radio host here in town whom I have know for many years. He called to see if I could come in and be on his show this morning to talk about New Years' Resolutions. I spoke about this very topic in Minneapolis on December 6, so I'm well prepared for it, even with very little notice. As we talked on the phone, he mentioned that he has some other dreams for his life that he isn't living out, and he asked if we could meet after the show and talk about some of those. It turns out that his dream is an area of my business that I need help with as well, so there's a strong possibility that we may be able to support each other in growing our dreams through barter, so neither of us has to put out any cash. If that's not something that fits together perfectly, I don't know what is.

Miracles are simply shifts in perception from fear to love. And that's what showed up in my space yesterday, and will show up today and every day that I ask God to help me learn His lessons, through the Voice of the Holy Spirit.

Enter the Peace that surpasses all human understanding, but is perfect in the eyes of Spirit.

Day 360

2007-12-26T08:40:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Peace be to me, the holy Son of God.
Peace to my brother, who is one with me.
Let all the world be blessed with peace through us.

Father, it is Your peace that I would give, receiving it of You. I am Your Son, forever just as You created me, for the Great Rays remain forever still and undisturbed within me. I would reach to them in silence and in certainty, for nowhere else can certainty be found. Peace be to me, and peace to all the world. In holiness were we created, and in holiness do we remain. your Son is like to You in perfect sinlessness. And with this thought we gladly say "Amen."

Miracles I'm noticing:

I notice more all the time how peace has become the theme of this Course in its final days and how I really want to be intentional about making peace a big part of my daily practice in 2008. I know that the way I will go from working on the Course to actually transferring my working to actual living is through peace and meditation.

Today's lesson talks about the Great Rays which remain forever still and undisturbed within me. According to the Glossary of Terms from A Course in Miracles, the Great Rays are "the Rays of light and holiness that shine out from the Christ within each person. These are lit by a spark that God placed in each individual at creations. We begin the journey by seeing our brothers as bodies. Then we at some point begin to see the little spark in them. Then we will see the Great Rays shining out from that spark. We 'see the Great Rays shining from them [our brothers], so unlimited that they [the Rays] reach to God' (T-15.IX.1:1). The body will then fade from our sight and we will give up special relationships for relationships without limit. The body will then disappear and we will again know the light of the Rays in direct knowledge. Note: The Rays are revealed through vision; they are not composed of visible light nor seen through the body's eyes."

If you have access to the text, you can read more about the Great Rays in Chapter 10, Section IV.8 and Chapter 15, Section VI. 4, 6.

The way I interpret the Great Rays in people is more about their energy or their spark. As the definition above says, this is not something you can see visually, but more what you can sense and just Know. It says that these Great Rays are there in everyone and at some point we will be able to "see" them in everyone.

Today's text is called "Recognizing the Spirit," and it says that we either see the flesh or recognize the spirit. "There is no compromise between the two. If one is real the other must be false, for what is real denies its opposite.... Choose the spirit, and all Heaven bends to touch your eyes and bless your holy sight, that you may see the world of flesh no more except to heal and comfort and to bless." That is seeing the Holy Rays.

Today's text also goes into some of what I use in my speeches and training which I learned from my Bob Proctor training and The Secret. Henry Ford actually said this back in the early 1900s when he said "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, either way you are right." Today's text says, as it is speaking of choosing the body or the spirit:

"Only in arrogance could you conceive that you must make the way to Heaven plain. Thee means are given you by which to see the world that will replace the one you made. your will be done! In Heaven as on earth this is forever true. It matters not where you believe you are, nor what you think the truth about yourself must really be. It makes no difference what you look upon, nor what you choose to feel or think or wish. For God Himself has said, 'Your will be done.' And it is done to you accordingly.'"

It also reminds me of something my spiritual teacher has said, and also something I read in Neale Donald Walsch's Conversations With God. All that matters is who I say I am. And every day I am telling people by my actions and my being who I am. I am created in the image and likeness of God, and as I live my life by that Knowledge, I allow others to be who they are as well. For me, the distinction in that statement is Knowing who I am. If I think I am a physical being, I will see the world through those eyes - I will recognize the flesh. But if I think I am a spiritual being having a human experience, then I will recognize the spirit. That is what I choose.

Today's text goes on to say that if we believe we can choose to see the Son of God as we would have him be, we forget that no concept of ourselves will stand against the truth of what we are. We cannot undo truth. But we can change concepts. The truth is that we are created in the image and likeness of God. One vision, clearly seen, that does not fit the picture as it was perceived before will change the world for eyes that learn to see, because the concept of the self has changed.

We will see the world as we see ourselves. And we will always be right about that. If we think the world is evil, we will see that manifest. If we forgive, we will see the world as forgiving. If we see ourselves as bodies, we will perceived the world as treacherous, and out to kill. If we are spirit, deathless, and without the promise of corruption and the stain of sin upon us, then the world will be seen as stable, fully worthy of our trust; a happy place to rest a while, where nothing need be feared, but only loved.

Yesterday I had a minor altercation with my mother (I know I promised I was through with issues with my mother, but apparently I was being tested and I flunked). She was telling me yet again about how I need to be careful so my purse doesn't get stolen. I asked her why she was always so fearful about everything from the weather to burglars. I asked he what had happened in her past that kept her in such fear. I wish I had just sent her a silent blessing and just listened, but I knew that she wouldn't be bringing this up yet again if I didn't have something to heal in myself. Where do I not see her - and myself - as spirit because if that were the case, I would see the world as fully worthy of trust, and so would she. That is an area where I'm still in need of lessons, I guess.

The awareness of that conversation which will lead me to new choices is my miracle for today. Stay tuned for the last week of this Course, which will conclude next Monday, December 31!

Day 359

2007-12-25T07:59:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

God's answer is some form of peace. All pain
Is healed; all misery replaced with joy.
All prison doors are opened. And all sin
Is understood as merely a mistake.

Father, today we will forgive Your world, and let creation be Your Own. We have misunderstood all things. But we have not made sinners of the holy Sons of God. What You created sinless so abides forever and forever. Such are we. And we rejoice to learn that we have made mistakes which have no real effects on us. Sin is impossible, and on this fact forgiveness rests upon a certain base more solid than the shadow world we see. Help us forgive, for we would be redeemed. Help us forgive, for we would be at peace.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I went with my family to church last night and really did notice the distinctions between what I'm studying here and my traditional fundamentalist upbringing. Sin is a big part of that tradition, and that was the part I had the most reaction to. On my way to church, I told myself that I would bring God with me, and that I would participate in the parts that resonated with me, and leave the parts that didn't. I found myself unable to recite the creeds and sing along with some of the hymns that I used to just blindly recite. Everything meant much more to me as I observed and reflected. I realized that I still do appreciate the old Christmas carols and smiled as a young child in the pew across from my family belted them out at the top of her lungs.

I also realized that although I haven't been going to a "church" for the past couple of years, I congregate with my Course group each week, and that has been my opportunity to commune with the Holy Spirit.

I will look forward to beginning again January 1 with my fourth year of this Course and transferring all I'm learning to other parts of my life. I am grateful that I am learning that God's intention is peace and joy - and that all sin is understood as merely a mistake, which can be corrected.

Merry Christmas - and happy holidays.

Day 358

2007-12-24T11:04:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

No call to God can be unheard nor left
Unanswered. And of this I can be sure;
His answer is the one I really want.

You Who remember what I really am alone remember what I really want. You speak for God, and so You speak for me. And what You give me comes from God Himself. Your Voice, my Father, then is mine as well, and all I want is what You offer me, in just the form You choose that it be mine. Let me remember all I do not know, and let my voice be still, remembering. But let me not forget Your Love and care, keeping Your promise to Your Son in my awareness always. Let me not forget myself is nothing, but my Self is all.

Miracles I'm noticing:

This lesson is just so simply profound. There is nothing else I want than what God - through the Holy Spirit - wants for me. I don't need to worry about anything because God only wants what is best for me. The Holy Spirit speaks for God, and so speaks for me. And I know that the Holy Spirit is who I want to speak for me whenever I speak. My job is to be quiet and remember - and to be a conduit for the Holy Spirit.

Today as I prepare to go home to be with my family for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I will remember this lesson. Be quiet and remember. I don't need to get into any squabbles or anything that may come up as I gather with my mother, sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew based on the past. We will all create the future we will be living into with the choices we make when we're together now.

That is surely a miracle!

Day 357

2007-12-23T16:40:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Truth answers every call we make to God,
Responding first with miracles, and then
Returning unto us to be itself.

Forgiveness, truth's reflection, tells me how to offer miracles, and thus escape the prison house in which I think I live. Your holy Son is pointed out to me, first in my brother; then in me. Your Voice instructs me patiently to hear Your Word, and give as I receive. And as I look upon Your Son today, I hear Your Voice instructing me to find the way to You, as You appointed that the way shall be:

"Behold his sinlessness, and be you healed."

Miracles I'm noticing:

Today's lesson is really powerful in its simplicity. I can offer miracles, which means that I can notice everything that God has put in place. Truth is - that's really all I need to know. I can notice God first in my brother if I'm not able to notice Him first in myself. And when I recognize that, there is nothing else I need to worry about because everything will be revealed to me as well.

There is nothing more that needs to be said today. That's the miracle!

Day 356

2007-12-22T08:39:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Sickness is but another name for sin.
Healing is but another name for God.
The miracle is thus a call to Him.

Father, You promised You would never fail to answer any call Your Son might make to You. It does not matter where he is, what seems to be his problem, nor what he believes he has become. He is Your Son, and You will answer him. The miracle reflects Your Love, and thus it answers him. Your Name replaces every thought of sin, and who is sinless cannot suffer pain. Your Name gives answer to Your Son, because to call Your Name is but to call his own.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Today's lesson is a great reminder that God is always present and the Holy Spirit will enter at the slightest invitation. Whatever our past, it has no bearing on the future we are living into if we just change our minds in the present. And that present changes constantly. We can always make a new choice.

As I prepare for my Christmas gatherings with family, it will be a transformed time because of my change of mind. I'm looking forward to being together!

Happy Holidays!

Day 355

2007-12-21T07:56:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

There is no end to all the peace and joy,
And all the miracles that I will give,
When I accept God's Word. Why not today?

Why should I wait, my Father, for the joy you promised me? For You will keep Your Word You gave Your Son in exile. I am sure my treasure waits for me, and I need but reach out my hand to find it. Even now my fingers touch it. It is very close. I need not wait an instant more to be at peace forever. It is You I choose, and my Identity along with You. Your Son would be Himself, and know You as his Father and Creator, and his Love.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Last night I got together with a group of friends - some of whom are studying this course, but mostly it's people from the group studying the book Working With The Law by Raymond Holliwell - and we watched the Louise Hay movie "Heal Your Life." It was wonderful. It was about realizing that maybe what is currently happening in our lives - listening to the voices in our heads and hearing what they are saying and realizing it's negative stuff - isn't working anymore and that it may be time for a change. The movie showed many different people and what was going on in their lives and was wrapped around Louise Hay's life story and how she has worked for 20 years to build Hay House to connect authors and speakers who share the message of changing your thoughts to change your health and your life.

I was just thinking that Louise Hay's message, coupled with today's lesson, is truly a winning combination for taking on the changes we know we want to make in our lives. I really want to get on an exercise program and get into the physical shape I used to be in, but which has been put on hold in my life as I grow my business. Today's lesson says that there is no end to the all the peace and joy and miracles I will GIVE when I accept God's Word. Indeed - why not today?

I never have to worry about being in this alone - I've always got God and Spirit with me (to say nothing about the wonderful friends with whom I study this course, and will be starting again on January 1).

2008 will be GREAT!

Day 354

2007-12-20T05:56:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

We stand together, Christ and I, in peace
And certainty of purpose. And in Him
Is His Creator, as He is in me.

My oneness with the Christ establishes me as Your Son, beyond the reach of time, and wholly free of every law but Yours. I have no self except the Christ in me. I have no purpose but His Own. And He is like His Father. Thus must I be one with You as well as Him. For who is Christ except Your Son as You created Him? And what am I except the Christ in me?

Miracles I'm noticing:

Yesterday I worked with a brand new client in a small manufacturing company delivering personal accountability training. This company hasn't had any training before and this is a pretty hefty topic to take on in the first go-round - or so I thought. But they were ready. This was a perfect example - for me - of how people are hungry for deeper meaning and purpose. This training doesn't have anything to do with their specific company, but it's a topic they can use in their work and personal lives. It allows support for the Gandhi quote: "Be the change you wish to see in the world" because it gives them a tool for asking different questions and being personally accountable for the results.

I don't know what will happen at this company in the future, but I think the transformation they began to see yesterday with the 7 people in the class will have some pretty powerful effects. I don't say this because I - ego Jodee - was there, but because everything I've been studying and learning and transforming in myself can't help but become part of the training. So they got some Proctor and they got some Course in Miracles because it's just who I am. And they were ready.

What this shows me is that there are no accidents in any part of my life. I've got stories from every single stage of my own experience that I can share with the participants because I'm seeing the application to what I'm teaching. And the best thing for me is that I get to teach what I most need to learn.

Today's lesson talks about certainty of purpose and the more I do my work, the more certain I am that my mission is to be a conduit for the Holy Spirit, no matter what I'm doing.

I'll be doing this same training today for another new client and am really looking forward to watching what happens with them. I'm guessing that if I get out of the way, I'll see similar results. That's my miracle for today!

Day 353

2007-12-19T05:04:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

My eyes, my tongue, my hands, my feet today
Have but one purpose; to be give Christ
To use to bless the world with miracles.

Father, I give all that is mine today to Christ, to use in any way that best will serve the purpose that I share with Him. Nothing is mine alone, for He and I have joined in purpose. Thus has learning come almost to its appointed end. A while I work with Him to serve His purpose. Then I lose myself in my Identity, and recognize that Christ is but my Self.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Last night I had the pleasure of meeting with my good college friend Sherri who was in town from Seattle for a meeting. Our getting together has always been amazing because she is the one friend from college who, no matter how much time passes between our visits, we always pick up right where we left off. She is truly a blessing in my life.

Last night, over only one glass of wine(!), we solved all the problems of the world, which, when it came right down to it, was actually quite simple to do. We realized that by changing our own minds, we were actually able to change the world. Of course this is a process that will continue every single day each of us is alive on this earth - and that's the beauty of the conversation we created last night.

Reflecting on our time together, I realize that that is what I love to do most in the world - engage in deep and meaningful conversation with a close and trusted friend (of course, sitting in a cafe in Paris would be a great place to do that, so travel is definitely included in my favorite things to do :) ).

We talked about what I'm learning in this course along with what I'm learning from my Proctor studies and what impacts I'm seeing in my life because of those influences on my business, my audiences, my clients and my friends.

When I read today's lesson, it is my reminder that last night's conversation was no accident - it was the result of who I "be" in the world. The lesson says that when Christ and I have joined in purpose, thus does my learning almost come to an end. I understand that philosophically, but I don't see myself at the end of my learning until my physical life in this incarnation is over (I don't feel anywhere near that!). I do understand the concept of purpose in another light, though. It's no accident that I was drawn to a coaching program four years ago that focused on life purpose. It's also no accident that my work with Bob Proctor focuses on purpose by helping me and my clients concentrate less on the "how" and more on the "why" of their goals. The "why" is the purpose. When I remember that my eyes, my tongue, my hands, my feet have but one purpose and that is to bless the world with miracles through Christ, every task and every activity is completely joy-filled.

That awareness (and my awareness of that awareness) is now and forever the greatest miracle I can imagine!

Reflect for yourself this holiday season - in the midst of the hustle and bustle, the year-end project completion, the baking, cooking, partying, etc. - on all the abundance and joy that you enjoyed in 2007 and make up your mind to notice the miracles all around you and waiting for you in 2008!

Day 352

2007-12-18T07:14:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Judgment and love are opposites. From one
Come all the sorrows of the world. But from
the other comes the peace of God Himself.

Forgiveness looks on sinlessness alone, and judges not. Through this I come to You. Judgment will bind my eyes and make me blind. Yet love, reflected in forgiveness here, reminds me You have given me a way to find Your peace again. i am redeemed when I elect to follow in this way. You have not left me comfortless. I have within me both the memory of You, and One Who leads me to it. Father, I would hear Your Voice and find Your peace today. for I would love my own Identity, and find in It the memory of You.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Getting to the end of the year makes each lesson that much more self-explanatory. I notice that judgment is probably my greatest lesson, and I realize that judgment really is very ego-driven for many reasons. First of all, if I believe that others are judging me, and my own judgment is merely a defense against that "fact," it would be very egotistical of me to believe that others think about me that much. When I notice myself judging others (and there was a time earlier this year when I noticed that more than I do now, which leads me to believe I'm making progress in this area), I remember that there is no peace for a judgmental mind and really have gotten very good at forgiveness in its place.

The peace of God Himself comes from love. Why would I choose anything but love? That is the miracle - to see everything from love's vantage point as opposed to fear's and judgment's. And it's so much simpler to believe the best from and about everyone!

Day 351

2007-12-17T07:10:00.000-06:00

14. What Am I?

I am God's Son, complete and healed and whole, shining in the reflection of His Love. In me is His creation sanctified and guaranteed eternal life. In me is love perfected, fear impossible, and joy established without opposite. I am the holy home of God Himself. I am the Heaven where His Love resides. I am His holy Sinlessness Itself, for in my purity abides His Own.

Our use for words is almost over now. Yet in the final days of this one year we gave to God together, you and I, we found a single purpose that we shared. And thus you joined with me, so what I am are you as well. The truth of what we are is not for words to speak of nor describe. Yet we can realize our function here, and words can speak of this and teach it, too, if we exemplify the words in us.

We are the bringers of salvation. We accept our part as saviors of the world, which through our joint forgiveness is redeemed. And this, our gift, is therefore given us. We look on everyone as a brother, and perceive all things as kindly and as good. We do not seek a function that is past the gate of Heaven. Knowledge will return when we have done our part. We are concerned only with giving welcome to the truth.

Ours are the eyes through which Christ's vision sees a world redeemed from every thought of sin. Ours are the ears that hear the Voice for God proclaim the world as sinless. Ours the minds that join together as we bless the world. And from the oneness that we have attained we call to all our brothers, asking them to share our peace and consummate our joy.

We are the holy messengers of God who speak for Him, and carrying His Word to everyone whom He has sent to us, we learn that it is written on our hearts. And thus our minds are changed about the aim for which we came, and which we seek to serve. We bring glad tidings to the Son of God, who thought he suffered. Now is he redeemed. And as he sees the gate of Heaven stand open before him, he will enter in and disappear into the Heart of God.

Today's Lesson:

My sinless brother is my guide to peace.
My sinful brother is my guide to pain.
And which I choose to see I will behold.

Who is my brother but Your holy Son? And if I see him sinful I proclaim myself a sinner, not a Son of God; alone and friendless in a fearful world. Yet this perception is a choice I make, and can relinquish. I can also see my brother sinless, as Your holy Son. And with this choice I see my sinlessness, my everlasting Comforter and Friend beside me, and my way secure and clear. Choose, then, for me, my Father, through Your Voice. For He alone gives judgment in Your Name.

Miracles I'm noticing:

It occurs to me as I write this this morning that my mother must be the person in this lifetime who was sent to teach me the biggest lessons. Last night I talked to her on the phone and, although some of her comments occurred to me in the moment - as they always do - as fear-based and almost rote, I was not affected negatively by them. My mother is the perfect teacher for me to understand and work through fear. I could have counted the number of times she said things like, "Make sure you watch for deer when you drive," and "you know when you get a personalized license plate you have to pay extra for that each year," and her insistence that I watch my pennies and don't spend too much on Christmas presents or food to bring home for the holiday.

Those comments used to really bug me, and even as I started studying this course three years ago, would draw even more attention to the distinction between love and fear. But last night as I noticed myself not getting drawn into her conversation or being combative or resistant, the entire conversation lightened up and she was the one to notice. In fact, she said, as I was laughing at her "watch for deer" reference, that she realized she was nagging, but that what would I do if she didn't? It was a lighter moment than it used to be and I'll bet when I get that, she'll stop doing it. It's all about my mirrors and teachers and, as my friend Tracy says, she's paid well to teach me my lessons.

I also notice that I have far less need to vocalize the lessons I'm learning or the miracles I'm noticing. It's almost becoming second nature to notice miracles, and I forget to record them here. As a speaker and teacher, I suppose it helps to have examples for my audiences, which is why I like to record my "vignettes," as one of my teachers calls them so I don't forget the details. But it's important to me to recognize when it is ego and when it is sharing spirit. I know that many people in the world still want proof and answers and the best way to do that is to share personal stories. But for me that is much more about sharing spirit than recognizing ego (I think). That is the distinction I will be aware of as I move into 2008 and my fourth year of studying this course.

I watched Esther and Jerry Hicks' DVD "The Secret Behind The Secret" last night and I realized that I would like to be as open to Spirit as Esther is. Esther is a channel for the non-physical being Abraham, and the messages Abraham is bringing to us through Esther are wonderful. Esther says that she is able to be this channel because she is able to clear her mind and she doesn't have preconceived notions or roadblocks that would keep Abraham from coming through. That's another intention for 2008 - to be a conduit for the Holy Spirit. I notice that happening on occasion when I speak now, but I'm going to be much more intentional about that in 2008.

In contemplating what I learned from and about Abraham on that DVD last night, I came across this clip from a talk Esther-Abraham gave about the involvement in The Secret and I think it explains very well what we (those of us studying this course and seeking for knowledge and truth through Spirit rather than through ego) are up to. The Secret is really that we are all extensions of Source energy, and in this clip, Abraham says that the producer of the The Secret didn't believe that everyone was ready to hear that. It is similar to what Jerry Hicks mentioned in the DVD about the message from Napoleon Hill in Think And Grow Rich. The information in the original Think And Grow Rich was edited in the 60s because someone didn't think the world was ready to hear about vibration at that time either. But now it's been edited back in because Ross Cornwell (the editor of the version I'm studying) did believe the world was ready to hear it. That is why we study this version.

So here's the clip - and this is certainly a miracle of awareness!

Day 350

2007-12-16T04:53:00.000-06:00

(NOTE: I am posting Sunday's lesson early because I will be in Minneapolis out of email access tomorrow)

Today's Lesson:

Miracles mirror God's eternal Love.
To offer them is to remember Him,
And through His memory to save the world.

What we forgive becomes a part of us, as we perceive ourselves. The Son of God incorporates all things within himself as You created him. Your memory depends on his forgiveness. What he is, is unaffected by his thoughts. But what he looks upon is their direct result. Therefore, my Father, I would turn to You. Only Your memory will set me free. And only my forgiveness teaches me to let Your memory return to me, and give it to the world in thankfulness.

And as we gather miracles from Him, we will indeed be grateful. For as we remember Him, His Son will be restored to us in the reality of Love.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I will post my thoughts on Monday morning when I get back as they relate to this lesson.

Day 349

2007-12-15T04:44:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Today I let Christ's vision look upon
All things for me and judge them not, but give
Each one a miracle of love instead.

So would I liberate all things I see, and give to them the freedom that I seek. For thus do I obey the law of love, and give what I would find and make my own. It will be given me, because I have chosen it as the gift I want to give. Father, Your gifts are mine. Each one that I accept gives me a miracle to give. And giving as I would receive, I learn Your healing miracles belong to me.

Our Father knows our needs. He gives us grace to meet them all. And so we trust in Him to send us miracles to bless the world, and heal our minds as we return to Him.

Miracles I'm noticing:

It occurs to me as I type this lesson that if I'm in the space and awareness to be studying this course and interpreting it here, that just that very fact - if I really apply what I'm learning - keeps me from harm and provides me comfort and assurance that allows my vibration to remain high. There's a scientific element to the spirituality I feel. I obey the law of love, which corresponds to the book my Friday master mind is reading, "Working With the Law" by Raymond Holliwell. There he defines eleven principles he calls laws, which, in the book, are synonyms for God.

Our Father knows our needs and will give us grace to meet them all. What is there to fear? That space of vibration gives us a much different outcome in our lives and allows us to attract very different energy to us than if we were bound to a constant state of fear and doubt and worry.

So today I'm again grateful for the awareness that allows me to see each day as a miracle - and to see and experience many more miracles than I remember to write here. They really are everywhere!

Day 348

2007-12-14T08:08:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I have no cause for anger or for fear,
For You surround me. And in every need
That I perceive, Your grace suffices me.

Father, let me remember You are here, and I am not alone. Surrounding me is everlasting Love. I have no cause for anything except the perfect peace and joy I share with You. What need have I for anger or for fear? Surrounding me is perfect safety. Can I be afraid, when Your eternal promise goes with me? Surrounding me is perfect sinlessness. What can I fear, when You created me in holiness as perfect as Your Own?

God's grace suffices us in everything that He would have us do. And only that we choose to be our will as well as His.

Miracles I'm noticing:

The first thing I wanted to do after reading this lesson was look up the word "grace" in the glossary from A Course in Miracles. So here is what it says:

Grace

Root meaning: A pure blessing or a state of pure blessing, given by God, which makes no demand on the receiver, which the receiver must do nothing to contribute to or earn.

Christian: An undeserved gift from God that saves or sanctifies us.

ACIM:
1. The heavenly state in which everything is freely given us and there are no difficulties, struggles, guilts, or burdens.
2. The salvation that we receive in the holy instant.
3. The act of God reaching down and giving us the revelation of His Presence, either a) in the form of a temporary experience of divine union, or b) in the form of the final step, in which He permanently awakens us to Heaven.

Something I've been hearing recently reminds me of the course's first definition of grace above. I heard someone say recently that he believes there has to be struggle and guilt because without the fear of God people will do the wrong thing and we need to have that guilt to keep us on the straight and narrow. I really don't agree with that, and maybe it's because I've been studying this course. I don't believe that we need external forces to keep us in check. I believe our ego believes that, and when we can stop identifying with our ego and allow Spirit to guide us, I believe we will experience the grace of God as defined here.

I don't choose my behaviors because if I don't I'll be punished. I choose my behaviors because I am made in the image and likeness of God and I see that in every human being and that calls me to act in a certain way, even though my ego wants to judge and condemn. I am eternally grateful for the awareness which has led me to this course and to the wonderful people who continue to come into my space through my work. I really do have no cause for anger or fear and that awareness is today's miracle!

Day 347

2007-12-13T08:30:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Anger must come from judgment. Judgment is
The weapon I would use against myself,
To keep the miracle away from me.

Father, I want what goes against my will, and do not want what is my will to have. Straighten my mind, my Father. It is sick. But You have offered freedom, and I choose to claim Your gift today. And so I give all judgment to the One You gave to me to judge for me. He sees what I behold, and yet He knows the truth. He looks on pain, and yet He understands it is not real, and in His understanding it is healed. He gives the miracles my dreams would hide from my awareness. Let Him judge today. I do not know my will, but He is sure it is Your Own. And He will speak for me, and call Your miracles to come to me.

Listen today. Be very still, and hear the gentle Voice for God assuring you that He had judged you as the Son He loves.

Miracles I'm noticing:

There is a theme of peace and quiet running through the recent lessons, and I am beginning to understand more and more what one teacher I've been working with means when she talks about how our minds spin ... and also about our monkey mind. My ego is running my subconscious and as I get quiet, I realize that the thoughts that seem to take over automatically have not been from my Higher Self, but from the ego. It's really great to notice that I can tell the difference now and I'm noticing that those ego thoughts are not as prevalent as they used to be.

As I become more aware, it is really fun to notice that when I'm not really paying attention and then suddenly am aware of my thoughts, there are times now when I don't recognize the ego. I'm aware that the Holy Spirit - my Higher Self - is coming through those ego thoughts. I was going to say that the H.S. is beginning to reprogram the ego's subconscious, but I don't think that's how it works. The H.S. is the default - that's what is there and always has been there - it is the ego that has reprogrammed the original subconscious, so I think it's more a matter of remembering than reprogramming.

In one of her lectures Marianne Williamson talks about how sometimes behavior modification is the way we need to work back to Spirit because we "fake it 'til we make it" so we can get used to that "new" way of seeing the world. She says we may not have gotten to the point yet where we don't think those negative thoughts, but at least we can notice that we aren't saying what we're thinking when we think those thoughts, and that's progress.

My other teacher, Isis, says that we really can make up our minds to totally eliminate the ego if that's what we really want. It does take some concerted effort. She says there is no need for the baby steps if we just make up our minds. But I find that being aware of my progress does help me and I am noticing a big difference in my mind, even if people around me don't notice as much (I've been a good faker so people don't always notice my progress).

What I've noticed most for myself is my own authenticity and I think those closest to me notice that, too, because they were the ones to bear the me that came out when the guard came down. It's like when teachers tell parents that their young children are angels at school and the parents are shocked because they are devils at home. That's how I think I've been at times, and that's the progress I can measure.

So if we eliminate judgment - one area I'm still noticing that rears its ugly head at times - then we can eliminate anger. Let's give our judgment - and our anger - to the Holy Spirit so we don't have to worry about that anymore. When we are still and listen, we notice that the Holy Spirit has done the judging for us, and we have been judged as a Son of God. It doesn't get any better than that!

Day 346

2007-12-12T07:42:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Today the peace of God envelops me,
And I forget all things except His Love.

Father, I wake today with miracles correcting my perception of all things. And so begins the day I share with You as I will share eternity, for time has stepped aside today. I do not seek the things of time, and so I will not look upon them. What I seek today transcends all laws of time and things perceived in time. I would forget all things except Your Love. I would abide in You, and know no laws except Your law of love. And I would find the peace which You created for Your Son, forgetting all the foolish toys I made as I behold Your glory and my own.

And when the evening comes today, we will remember nothing but the peace of God. For we will learn today what peace is ours, when we forget all things except God's Love.

Miracles I'm noticing:

What a wonderful lesson for today! Despite everything that happens today, at the end of the day I need only remember the peace of God. What a great way to start every day! There is no need to dwell on anything but God's Love and, really, that is all that is true anyway - everything else is just a story I made up, like the toys I made and believe to be real.

I have read and studied this course so many times over the past three years and sometimes it's funny how it seems to be the first time I've read some of this. Today's lesson makes so much sense to me - it's crazy how my ego tries to hold on to the "reality" it has made.

So no matter what happens today, I will feel the peace of God and remember that only that is real and true.

That's my miracle!

Day 345

2007-12-11T08:26:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I offer only miracles today,
For I would have them be returned to me.

Father, a miracle reflects Your gifts to me, Your Son. And every one I give returns to me, reminding me the law of love is universal. Even here, it takes a form which can be recognized and seen to work. The miracles I give are given back in just the form I need to help me with the problems I perceive. Father, in Heaven it is different, for there, there are no needs. But here on earth, the miracle is closer to Your gifts than any other git that I can give. Then let me give this gift alone today, which, born of true forgiveness, lights the way that I must travel to remember You.

Peace to all seeking hearts today. The light has come to offer miracles to bless the tired world. It will find rest today, for we will offer what we have received.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Just reading today's lesson is a great reminder that when we have problems, it is a great opportunity to replace them with miracles. We would not recognize the miracles if we only had miracles in this life on earth. It is the contrast from the times we are in need that allow us to see the miracles.

I'm finding that as I go through this course for the third time (looking forward to beginning Year 4 on January 1!), miracles become much more common for me - and I realize that I may be overlooking many of them as I hope to report them to you here. It's just become a way of life for me this past few months. I don't really notice the down times as much as I used to, maybe because there aren't as many of them. Or maybe the down times are just on a higher level now, so the mid-point between the highs and lows is raised.

This is a wonderful time of year with all the holiday festivities to remember that it is as blessed to receive as to give, and those of us who are studying this course seem to be getting much better at the giving while we still have some progress to make in the receiving end. That's why I'm excited to join my good friends - and fellow course students - Darcy and Sheila on Thursday for the latest Grateful Goddess gathering where they will be talking about Giving and Receiving. Check out their website for some great holiday gifts. Order today in time for Christmas and you'll be giving a wonderful gift that will return to you many fold.

I got Gratitude Journals for my sister, mom and niece and I'll put the first entry in as I reflect on the gratitude I feel for them in my life.

Peace to everyone at what could be a stressful time of year. Stop and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of this glorious and joyous time, and try to check your guilt and busyness at the door - just for one day. As you feel peace in your own life, you will be able to give it away. Notice what that does for the people in your life. And that's the miracle we can all give this holiday season!

Let there be peace on earth - and let it begin with me!

Day 344

2007-12-10T07:24:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Today I learn the law of love; that what
I give my brother is my gift to me.

This is Your law, my Father, not my own. I have not understood what giving means, and thought to save what I desired for myself alone. And as I looked upon the treasure that I thought I had, I found an empty place where nothing ever was or is or will be. Who can share a dream? And what can an illusion offer me? Yet he whom I forgive will give me gifts beyond the worth of anything on earth. Let my forgiven brothers fill my store with Heaven's treasures, which alone are real. Thus is the law of love fulfilled. And thus Your Son arises and returns to You.

How near we are to one another, as we go to God. How near is He to us. How close the ending of the dream of sin, and the redemption of the Son of God.

Miracles I'm noticing:

As we get close to the end of this year and I reflect on my learning from this past year of studying this course, I can really see my progress toward living today's lesson. I had a minor meltdown yesterday - I reacted to a comment someone made in a way I wish I hadn't and that episode, while not something I'm proud of, really showed me my progress. As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized what that was about - my reaction was showing me how my comments may cause someone else to react because I've said similar things to what the person said who set me off. I immediately forgave myself and the other person, and I'm not dwelling on it - the only reason I even remembered it now is so I could tell about the miracle, which was seeing that entire episode in love instead of in fear.

So that's what I noticed today. I trust that as I encounter each situation today, I will use what I'm learning and get back what I give my brother in love.

That's the miracle for today!

Day 343

2007-12-09T10:06:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I am not asked to make a sacrifice
To find the mercy and the peace of God.

The end of suffering can not be loss. The gift of everything can be but gain. You only give. You never take away. And You created me to be like You, so sacrifice becomes impossible for me as well as You. I, too, must give. And so all things are given unto me forever and forever. As I was created I remain. Your Son can make no sacrifice, for he must be complete, having the function of completing You. I am complete because I am Your Son. I cannot lose, for I can only give, and everything is mine eternally.

The mercy and the peace of God are free. Salvation has no cost. It is a gift that must be freely given and received. And it is this that we would learn today.

Miracles I'm noticing:

My old paradigm tells me - over and over again - that sacrifice means giving up something I really want which will leave me wanting. But today's lesson reminds me that there is only giving - no taking away and leaving without. I think part of the challenge with really getting this lesson is my belief that it is better to give than to receive, which leaves me always feeling I need to give, and to shrug off others' attempts to give to me. But what I realize is that I am depriving others of the opportunity to give when I don't learn to receive gratefully. The gift of salvation is freely given AND received.

What a great time of year to be reminded of this lesson! Enjoy the holidays instead of dreading the hassles and the headaches. It really can be the most wonderful time of the year if we just make up our minds in that way.

Happy and Merry!

Day 342

2007-12-08T06:27:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I let forgiveness rest upon all things,
For thus forgiveness will be given me.

I thank You, Father, for Your plan to save me from the hell I made. I ti s not real. And You have given me the means to prove its unreality to me. The key is in my hand, and I have reached the door beyond which lies the end of dreams. I stand before the gate of Heaven, wondering if I should enter in and be at home. Let me not wait again today. Let me forgive all things, and let creation be as You would have it be and as it is. Let me remember that I am Your Son, and opening the door at last, forget illusions in the blazing light of truth, as memory of You returns to me.

Brother, forgive me now. I come to you to take you home with me. And as we go, the world goes with us on our way to God.

Miracles I'm noticing:

A good friend of mine who just had a baby 2 months ago was informed by her husband that he wants a divorce. It's in times like this that I realize how much this course has meant and continues to mean to me. As I consider today's lesson and my friend's situation, I see that the best way for her to begin to live her own life is to forgive him. That way forgiveness will be given to her. I realize how difficult it must be to see that right now, and her anger and bitterness and upset are what she needs to feel right now. But I'm holding space for her as she figures things out for herself and her new baby.

Today's lesson tells us that we can make the decision to walk through the gate of Heaven right now without delay. We can choose to let creation be as God has it be without trying to make it be something else. And with that choice comes forgiveness and freedom.

Choose that today and see how your outlook on life will change from hell to Heaven. That recognition is the miracle for today!

Day 341

2007-12-07T07:42:00.000-06:00

13. What Is a Miracle?

A miracle is a correction. It does not create, nor really change at all. It merely looks on devastation, and reminds the mind that what it sees is false. It undoes error, but does not attempt to go beyond perception, nor exceed the function of forgiveness. Thus it stays within time's limits. Yet it paves the way for the return of timelessness and love's awakening, for fear must slip away under the gentle remedy it brings.

A miracle contains the gift of grace, for it is given and received as one. And thus it illustrates the law of truth the world does not obey, because it fails entirely to understand its ways. A miracle inverts perception which was upside down before, and thus it ends the strange distortions that were manifest. Now is perception open to the truth. Now is forgiveness seen as justified.

Forgiveness is the home of miracles. The eyes of Christ deliver them to all they look upon in mercy and in love. Perception stands corrected in His sight, and what was meant to curse has come to bless. Each lily of forgiveness offers all the world the silent miracle of love. And each is laid before the Word of God, upon the universal altar to Creator and creation in the light of perfect purity and endless joy.

The miracle is taken first on faith, because to ask for it implies the mind has been made ready to conceive of what it cannot see and does not understand. Yet faith will bring its witnesses to show that what it rested on is really there. And thus the miracle will justify your faith in it, and show it rested on a world more real than what you saw before; a world redeemed from what you thought was there.

Miracles fall like drops of healing rain from Heaven on a dry and dusty world, where starved and thirsty creatures come to die. Now they have water. Now the world is green. And everywhere the signs of life spring up, to show that what is born can never die, for what has life has immortality.

Today's Lesson:

I can attack but my own sinlessness,
And it is only that which keeps me safe.

Father, Your Son is holy. I am he on whom You smile in love and tenderness so dear and deep and still the universe smiles back on You, and shares Your Holiness. How pure, how safe, how holy, then, are we, abiding in Your Smile, with all Your Love bestowed upon us, living one with You, in brotherhood and Fatherhood complete; in sinlessness so perfect that the Lord of Sinlessness conceives us as His Son, a universe of Thought completing Him.

Let us not, then, attack our sinlessness, for it contains the Word of God to us. And in its kind reflection we are saved.

Miracles I'm noticing:

First of all, I love section 13 above. It's so simple to understand miracles as already here in our world to quench our thirst right here today. We just need to open our eyes, our minds, and our hearts to see what is right in front of us. Miracles are everywhere, and always have been - we maybe just haven't been awake to see them. So WAKE UP, everyone!

Yesterday I spoke at the Twin Cities Council for Quality in Minneapolis. The group was smaller than I expected - I was told there would be 75, and I'm guessing about 40 were there. But it was a great group. You know how sometimes it feels like everything is just "on" and you're on a roll? That's how I felt yesterday. I was talking about setting goals for 2008 and why resolutions usually seem to fall flat - because we're not setting resolutions we're passionate about. I did a small amount of subtle selling because I wasn't getting paid for this speech, so I thought I could get some advertising in. Afterwards one person told me she was very impressed with my blend of "selling" and "telling" so that was good.

But the most interesting comment came from one gentleman who stopped by to tell me that everything I said was biblically based. I took that as a compliment, and told him that people really do recognize universal Truth.

That was pretty cool, because I've never been blatant about the spiritual dimension about which I speak. I flashed back to a time a few years ago when my speaking mentor, Bob Ash, said the same thing to me, long before I really "got" that. Call it what you will - biblical, spiritual - it doesn't matter to me. I realized that as I was typing today's lesson. I used to get really defensive whenever I would hear someone speak of God or the Bible or anything religious because I was raised in such a fundamental home that I was turned off by those things.

I realize now that that wasn't God's fault. I shouldn't take out on Him the interpretations of people around me. I sense that He has always been waiting around for me to "get it" and now He's smiling as I speak to corporate audiences all over about goal setting and thinking and results and outcomes, when really He's there guiding what I say, making sure I don't say anything to turn anyone off the way I've been turned off.

That awareness - and recognition by that man in the audience - is my miracle for today!

Day 340

2007-12-06T06:06:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I can be free of suffering today.

Father, I thank You for today, and for the freedom I am certain it will bring. This day is holy, for today Your Son will be redeemed. His suffering is done. For he will hear Your Voice directing him to find Christ's vision through forgiveness, and be free forever from all suffering. Thanks for today, my Father. I was born into this world but to achieve this day, and what it holds in joy and freedom for Your holy Son and for the world he made, which is released along with him today.

Be glad today! Be glad! There is no room for anything but joy and thanks today. Our Father has redeemed His Son this day. Not one of us but will be saved today. Not one who will remain in fear, and none the Father will not gather to Himself, awake in Heaven in the Heart of Love.

Miracles I'm noticing:

What a powerful lesson today! I'm in Minneapolis getting ready to speak for members of the Twin Cities Council for Quality and today's lesson really frees me up to just be a conduit for the Holy Spirit. What a joy! There is no room for anything but joy and thanks!

How would the world look if every day all of us would get up, put our feet on the floor, and think, "I was born into this world but to achieve this day, and what it holds in joy and freedom"? The world can - and does - look that way when each of us decides to see it only through those eyes. In that way the world does change. It's up to each of us.

I'm reminded of a song from John Denver and the Muppets - here it is. It's in Every One Of US!!

Day 339

2007-12-05T08:09:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I will receive whatever I request.

No one desires pain. But he can think that pain is pleasure. No one would avoid his happiness. But he can think that joy is painful, threatening and dangerous. Everyone will receive what he requests. But he can be confused indeed about the things he wants; the state he would attain. What can he then request that he would want when he receives it? He has asked for what will frighten him, and bring him suffering. Let us resolve today to ask for what we really want, and only this, that we may spend this day in fearlessness, without confusing pain with joy, or fear with love.

Father, this is Your day. It is a day in which I would do nothing by myself, but hear Your Voice in everything I do; requesting only what You offer me, accepting only Thoughts You share with me.

Miracles I'm noticing:

This is such a great lesson! What a wonderful thing to remember - that I will do nothing by myself. I can remember a time in my life when I really did feel alone; fortunately, since I've been studying this course and surrounding myself with a posse of wonderful people, I haven't felt that for a long time. But I can imagine what people who don't know this information can feel. I have a friend now who is going through a nasty divorce with a little baby and a big house and I know she's feeling very alone. I'm thinking my best offering is my love and light as she goes through this time. I can't change anyone else and I know she has to be in a space of sorrow and loss and anger and pain right now. I wish I knew how to help her, but maybe my love and light will be the best thing for her right now.

No one desires pain ... I have to keep telling myself that as I see her, and so many others, in pain. It also reminds me of Ho'oponopono: I love you, I'm sorry, thank you, please forgive me. That is another thing I can do to help her right now. I'm going to meditate on that thought and today's lesson: "I will receive whatever I request."

Awareness is a miracle and I'm so blessed and grateful for my awareness!

Day 338

2007-12-04T07:39:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I am affected only by my thoughts.

It needs but this to let salvation come to all the world. For in this single thought is everyone released at last from fear. Now has he learned that no one frightens him, and nothing can endanger him. He has no enemies, and he is safe from all external things. His thoughts can frighten him, but since these thoughts belong to him alone, he has the power to change them and exchange each fear thought for a happy thought of love. He crucified himself. Yet God has planned that His beloved Son will be redeemed.

Your plan is sure, my Father, - only Yours. All other plans will fail.
And I will have thoughts that will frighten me, until I learn that You have
given me the only Thought that leads me to salvation. Mine alone will fail, and
lead me nowhere. But the Thought You gave me promised to lead me home, because
it holds Your promise to Your Son.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Yesterday I had the opportunity to create and deliver a brand new presentation to a client. The presentation was called THINK About It and it was all about changing the way we think to change the results in our lives. We spent two hours introducing about 180 of their employees - in three different shifts - to subconscious conditioning and conscious thought and the impact taking responsibility for your thoughts can have on the results in your life. The CEO sat in on all three presentations and was thrilled with the outcome. His intention was to give his employees something that would challenge them both at work and outside of work, but he wanted something that wouldn't be directly work related. It was such a blast to see all these employees paying such close attention to this new information (to them).

What we learned yesterday was so relevant to today's lesson and I know that's no accident. When those employees (who numbered about 50% of the total employee base - yesterday's session was entirely mandatory so that number was outstanding) together determine that they can affect the entire world just by changing their thoughts, imagine what that huge percentage can do to affect the culture of that organization!

I've heard it said that when one percent of the population of a city practices meditation, they can lower the crime rate in that city. ONE PERCENT! Think about what FIFTY PERCENT of the population of one company can do when they change their minds!

I'm so blessed and grateful to have this opportunity to infuse what I'm learning here with my corporate clients. I know what my role is and I know it's simple when I listen to God's plan for me and not my own! All other plans will fail - so there's no need to try to control or to be right about anything I'm thinking. I just need to let go and let God!

Day 337

2007-12-03T04:33:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

My sinlessness protects me from all harm.

My sinlessness ensures me perfect peace, eternal safety, everlasting love, freedom forever from all thought of loss; complete deliverance from suffering. And only happiness can be my state, for only happiness is given me. What must I do to know all this is mine? I must accept Atonement for myself, and nothing more. God has already done all things that need be done. And I must learn I need do nothing of myself, for I need but accept my Self, my sinlessness, created for me, now already mine, to feel God's Love protecting me from harm, to understand my Father loves His Son; to know I am the Son my Father loves.

You Who created me in sinlessness are not mistaken about what I am. I was mistaken when I thought I sinned, but I accept Atonement for myself. Father, my dream is ended now. Amen.

Miracles I'm noticing:

If everything is in divine order in the entire universe, from the sun rising in the east each morning to its setting in the west each evening and everything in between, there is absolutely no need for me to worry about anything. What do I think I can do about the things I worry about if the big things are already handled? If I seek outside myself for anything, I will always be disappointed. Today's text reminds us that we seek outside ourselves for something more than everything, as if a part of it were separated off and found where all the rest of it is not.

When we believe we can suffer lack, we are setting ourselves up to be unhappy, because, today's text tells us, lack is death. So to believe in our own sinlessness is to see that we are whole, complete and perfect - created in the image and likeness of God. That sets aside all worry and doubt and fear and allows us to be fully self expressed and to live our genius.

That realization will propel me on my way to delivering three sessions of a 2-hour presentation to a client today, knowing that the information comes not from me, but from the Holy Spirit that exists in all of us. I'm merely the conduit to deliver the message that we all know, but just forgot.

Day 336

2007-12-02T10:16:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Forgiveness lets me know that minds are joined.

Forgiveness is the means appointed for perception's ending. Knowledge is restored after perception first is changed, and then gives way entirely to what remains forever past its highest reach. For sights and sounds, at best, can serve but to recall the memory that lies beyond them all. Forgiveness sweeps away distortions, and opens the hidden alter to the truth. Its lilies shine into the mind, and call it to return and look within, to find what it has vainly sought without. For here, and only here, is peace of mind restored, for this the dwelling place of God Himself.

In quiet may forgiveness wipe away my dreams of separation and of sin. Then let me, Father, look within, and find Your promise of my sinlessness is kept; Your Word remains unchanged within my mind, Your Love is still abiding in my heart.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Yesterday we had the most wonderful day of beautiful snow that we've had in several years. The temperature was relatively mild, and the snow fell straight down all day (usually here in North Dakota we get horizontal snow with the wind!). Although I had to shovel the driveway four times (and I still have to go out and finish this morning), it really was beautiful and it reminds me of the winters of my childhood when I couldn't wait for the first snowfall.

Last night, with the Christmas lights on several houses and the snow falling silently in the reflection of the street lights, it was a great reminder of the peace of God which exists all the time, even when we don't realize it behind all our clutter and noise. Forgiveness does sweep away all those distortions and when we can just open our minds and hearts, the peace of God enters in.

That's a great thing to remember at this time of year that can get so crazy. Enjoy the peace that is always present. That's the Present for this season!

Day 335

2007-12-01T06:35:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I choose to see my brother's sinlessness.

Forgiveness is a choice. I never see my brother as he is, for that is far beyond perception. What I see in him is merely what I wish to see, because it stands for what I want to be the truth. It is to this alone that I respond, however much I seem to be impelled by outside happenings. I choose to see what I would look upon, and this I see, and only this. My brother's sinlessness shows me that I would look upon my own. And I will see it, having chosen to behold my brother in its holy light.

What could restore Your memory to me, except to see my brother's sinlessness? His holiness reminds me that he was created one with me, and like myself. In him I find my Self, and in Your Son I find the memory of You as well.

Miracles I'm noticing:

It seems as though I'm not noticing the miracles as much as I used to because I'm getting more and more used to the miracles that surround me. It's becoming second nature for miracles to be everywhere. I'm noticing that I see what I believe and the world is looking much more beautiful to me and that's becoming "normal." I really don't notice the "bad" things as much anymore because I've become much more aware of my brother's sinlessness. Taking a step back and acknowledging that is really cool.

An example is yesterday's master mind studying the book Working With the Law. We spent an hour talking about that book in a very spiritual dimension and when I really stop and think about that, it's probably pretty unusual that 12 people would take an hour out of the middle of their Friday to gather together and talk about Universal Laws in a very spiritual dimension.

There is one man who is new to our group (the rest of us were together studying Think and Grow Rich) and yesterday at the end of the dialogue he said that he wasn't thinking about this information in the same realm we were. He said that we were talking very much more spiritually than he was thinking. He just sees universal laws as the way it is. He grew up with a father who was very into Think and Grow Rich and Tony Robbins and all kinds of works like that, so my theory is that he doesn't have as much to undo as the rest of us might. But it was great to have his perspective. That is what I mean by miracles just being the way it is for me in the way I see things. I'm much more grateful for everything instead of judging it and I really noticed that yesterday.

So, although I'm certainly not "there" by any means, today's miracle is noticing how far I've come on this journey to seeing my brother's sinlessness. Blessed and grateful!

Day 334

2007-11-30T07:09:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Today I claim the gifts forgiveness gives.

I will not wait another day to find the treasures that my Father offers me. Illusions are all vain, and dreams are gone even while they are woven out of thoughts that rest on false perceptions. Let me not accept such meager gifts again today. God's Voice is offering the peace of God to all who hear and choose to follow Him. This is my choice today. And so I go to find the treasures God has given me.

I seek but the eternal. For Your Son can be content with nothing less than this. What, then, can be his solace but what You are offering to his bewildered mind and frightened heart, to give him certainty and bring him peace? Today I would behold my brother sinless. This Your Will for me, for so will I behold my sinlessness.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I wonder how difficult it is for people to step into their sinlessness? Many of us have been so conditioned that we are by nature sinful that it may seem like quite a stretch to see ourselves as whole, complete and perfect, and created in the image and likeness of God. To me, that seems much more peaceful than to be worried all the time about messing up. I'm reminded of when I played basketball in high school and our coach kept reminding us of the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose. Playing to win means taking some chances, trusting in your preparation and practice to bring you the outcome you've prepared for. Playing not to lose is playing it safe, doing things right and hoping the outcome is what you want.

One of my master mind groups is currently reading the book Working With the Law by Raymond Holliwell. Today's reading there was about the Law of Thinking and the Law of Supply. If we have programmed our minds to expect the worst, why should we be surprised when that is what continues to appear in front of us? That is the Law, according to Holliwell. The Law of Supply tells us that there is always plenty of supply when the demand is there. But sometimes we just don't realize what we really need and want. As soon as the demand is realized, the supply will come forward. So if we are existing in the space of not enough, that will also show up as reality for us.

When we get into the mindset of sinlessness we have no need for forgiveness, because we realize there is nothing to forgive. God intends for all of us to achieve full awareness of His reality, which is that we are whole, complete and perfect. It is our ego that keeps us from realizing this, and the ego is very strong. Unless it keeps working to fix its hold on us, it will die away, so it is desperate. Today's text tells us that "This world will bind your feet and tie your hands and kill your body only if you think that it was made to crucify God's Son. For even though it was a dream of death, you need not let it stand for this to you. Let this be changed, and nothing in the world but must be changed as well. For nothing here but is defined as what you see it for.

"How lovely is the world whose purpose is forgiveness of God's Son! How free from fear, how filled with blessing and with happiness! And what a joyous thing it is to dwell a little while in such a happy place! Nor can it be forgot, in such a world, it is a little while till timelessness comes quietly to take the place of time."

Awareness and waking up - those are my miracles for today!

Day 333

2007-11-29T06:33:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Forgiveness ends the dream of conflict here.

Conflict must be resolved. It cannot be evaded, set aside, denied, disguised, seen somewhere else, called by another name, or hidden by deceit of any kind, if it would be escaped. It must be seen exactly as it is, where it is thought to be, in the reality which has been give int, and with the purpose that the mind accorded it. For only then are its defenses lifted, and the truth can shine upon it as it disappears.

Father, forgiveness is the light You chose to shine away all conflict and all doubt, and light the way for our return to You. No light but this can end our evil dream. No light but this can save the world. For this alone will never fail in anything, being Your gift to Your beloved Son.

Miracles I'm noticing:

This lesson is almost urgent in its simplicity. It is necessary and vital that we each decide today to resolve any conflicts we are in or any grudges we are holding onto. I don't think this means that we need to seek out people with whom we have been in conflict, but rather look inside ourselves for the barriers we have placed that impede the peace of God. The truth can shine upon the space created where the conflict used to be.

I've been talking a lot more recently about this Course and the effects that studying it have had upon my life. We talked about it yesterday in my Wednesday master mind group (hi everyone from the Wednesday master mind!) and I also told a friend about this study last night as we got together after work to catch up. I feel profoundly affected by this, my third year of study, and I know that it is up to ME to forgive any conflicts in my world. As I forgive, the world heals.

Today's text challenges us to make a decision, once and for all, about whether we want to live in dreams or the truth. There is no partway to that decision. It says "the choice is not between which dreams to keep, but only if you want to live in dreams or to awaken from them." It goes on to say that "every dream is but a dream of fear, no matter what the form it seems to take. The fear is seen within, without, or both. Or it can be disguised in pleasant form. But never is it absent from the dream, for fear is the material of dreams, from which they all are made."

The crucial point at which we find ourselves today asks us to wake up - to recognize once and for all what really matters in our lives. Until we wake up, we will be living in a dream world. The text goes on to say "Dreams are not wanted more or less. They are desired or not. And each one represents some function that you have assigned; some goal which an event, or body, or a thing should represent, and should achieve for you. If it succeeds, you think you like the dream. If it should fail you think the dream is sad. But whether it succeeds or fails is not its core, but just the flimsy covering."

The thoughts the Holy Spirit gives us are never ones of fear. We can choose right now to change our thoughts so that the future we are creating today is one that is free of conflict and open to the Holy Spirit. Waking up - and knowing consciously that I'm choosing to wake up - is my miracle for today. Sharing what I'm learning allows me to let my light shine so that others may be invited to do the same. Together we will light the world.

What will you choose today? Wake up and forgive. It's as simple as that.

Day 332

2007-11-28T07:21:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Fear binds the world. Forgiveness sets it free.

The ego makes illusions. Truth undoes its evil dreams by shining them away. Truth never makes attack. It merely is. And by its presence is the mind recalled from fantasies, awaking to the real. Forgiveness bids this presence enter in, and take its rightful place within the mind. Without forgiveness is the mind in chains, believing in its own futility. Yet with forgiveness does the light shine through the dream of darkness, offering it hope, and giving it the means to realize the freedom that is its inheritance.

We would not bind the world again today. Fear holds it prisoner. And yet Your Love has given us the means to set it free. Father, we would release it now. For as we offer freedom, it is given us. And we would not remain as prisoners, while You are holding freedom out to us.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I spoke yesterday for a new client, telling them about my book The 100% Factor and giving ideas for living at full capacity instead of existing day to day waiting to achieve their potential. It was fun for me to deliver information to a brand new audience, and to see some of them get it, stay after and visit about the information, and to know that for some, this is simply awareness of a whole new way of thinking about the world. I've always said to myself that if I can touch even one person with my speaking then I've accomplished my dream. I know that happened yesterday. Life is so good!

In considering today's lesson, I go back to when I was waiting for everyone to get into the room yesterday. It was one company, not a public event, and I had never been there before. I didn't have anyone introducing me, so it was just a bit awkward because I didn't have my own introduction prepared. So for the slightest second I had a flutter of what I might call fear show up in my stomach. And I must admit, it took me a couple of minutes to find my groove yesterday. The audience was not responding the way audiences usually do. They weren't laughing at the places most people laugh. They were attentive (for the most part they were with me except for a couple of people who nodded off for a moment - that's a whole other story I can share sometime ...) but they weren't really responding. But something inside of me kicked in and when I relaxed and got rid of the fear, they came with me. It was really an automatic thing - and I just kind of watched. When I feel in the groove as a speaker, that's when I kind of hang back and watch. It's strange to explain, but it's a very cool place to be.

I realize, when I analyze it, that it's letting go of my ego and just being a conduit for the Holy Spirit. One thing I remember telling the audience yesterday was that everything is data. There is no judgment if we can look at everything that seems to happen to us that way. Today's lesson says "Truth never makes attack. It merely is." Freedom is there for us if we just accept it. Forgiveness is what does that for us - the Course's forgiveness, not the traditional view.

As a reminder, I'll go back to my Glossary of Terms from A Course in Miracles by Robert Perry:

Forgiveness
Conventional: Giving up your resentment towards another and your right to punish him, even though you keep the perception that he sinned against you and that you are justified in resenting and punishing him. According to the Course, this forgiveness cannot forgive, for it affirms that the other sinned and thus is worthy of condemnation (yours and his own). It also affirms that you are holier than he, because he sinned and you forgave.

ACIM: Giving up your false perception that another sinned against you and that you are justified in resenting and punishing him. Releasing this perception automatically releases your resentment and desire to punish. Releasing another not from what he did, but from "what he did not do," from your misinterpretation of what he did. This can forgive, for it frees your mind of resentment and release the other from the accusation of sin and guilt.

This is the forgiveness that gives freedom to both people: the forgiver and the forgiven.

And here's another miracle that happened this morning. I had decided that this year I was going to forgo the two Christmas concerts that I always attend (Lorie Line and The Blenders) just to take a break - mostly a financial one - to allow this holiday to be a low stress and low budget one. Earlier this fall a friend's mother asked if I had purchased Lorie Line tickets yet (I always go). When I told her I hadn't, she said she had an extra one and would love me to join her family at the concert. I hadn't even put it out there as an intention, and it just showed up.

So this morning as my clock radio went off, they were announcing that caller #5 would win premium tickets to tomorrow night's Blenders concert. And who do you suppose caller #5 was? Yep ... that's the way this works!

So I'm going to both concerts anyway, and it was low stress and low budget! Be careful what you wish for, so they say. I say, WISH AWAY! The Universe - God - Spirit everything is conspiring on your behalf to give you everything!

What a miracle!

Day 331

2007-11-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

12. What is the Ego?

The ego is idolatry; the sign of limited and separated self, born in a body, doomed to suffer and to end its life in death. It is the "will" that sees the Will of God as enemy, and takes a form in which it is denied. The ego is the "proof" that strength is weak and love is fearful, life is really death, and what opposes God alone is true.

The ego is insane. In fear it stands beyond the Everywhere, apart from All, in separation from the Infinite. In its insanity it thinks it has become a victor over God Himself. And in its terrible autonomy it "sees" the Will of God has been destroyed. It dreams of punishment, and trembles at the figures in its dreams; its enemies, who seek to murder it before it can ensure its safety by attacking them.

The Son of God is egoless. What can he know of madness and the death of God, when he abides in Him? What can he know of sorrow and of suffering, when he lives in eternal joy? What can he know of fear and punishment, of sin and guilt, of hatred and attack, when all there is surrounding him is everlasting peace, forever conflict-free and undisturbed, in deepest silence and tranquility?

To know reality is not to see the ego and its thoughts, its works, its acts, its laws and its beliefs, its dreams, its hopes, its plans for its salvation, and cost belief in it entails. In suffering, the price for faith in it is so immense that crucifixion of the Son of God is offered daily at its darkened shrine, and blood must flow before the altar where its sickly followers prepare to die.

Yet will one lily of forgiveness change the darkness into light; the alter to illusions to the shrine of Life Itself. And peace will be restored forever to the holy minds which God created as His Son, His dwelling place, His joy, His love, completely His, completely one with Him.

Today's Lesson:

There is no conflict, for my will is Yours.

How foolish, Father, to believe Your Son could cause himself to suffer! Could he make a plan for his damnation, and be left without a certain way to his release? You love me, Father. You could never leave me desolate, to die within a world of pain and cruelty. How could I think that Love has left Itself? There is no will except the Will of Love. Fear is a dream, and has no will that can conflict with Yours. Conflict is sleep, and peace awakening. Death is illusion; life, eternal truth. There is no opposition to Your Will. There is no conflict, for my will is Yours.

Forgiveness shows us that God's Will is One, and that we share it. Let us look upon the holy sights forgiveness shows today, that we may find the peace of God. Amen.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Today's lesson reminds me yet again that this entire illusion that we think is so important is just that: an illusion. It's all a game with rules we made up about how it "should" be - how we "should" look, what we "should" do ... and it's all based on something the ego believes is real.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of working with my manufacturing leadership team in our third of three sessions about achieving goals. This session was called "Transformation," and we talked about how they could maintain the learning we've started here so it becomes the way of managing for this company. We spent about an hour creating vision boards and doing a guided visualization of what this company would look and feel like in five years and what their role would be. It was proof positive for me that everyone wants to connect with others, no matter what their title or role in an organization. When I let go of my ego, which tried to tell me that this would never work - that these people would think this was stupid and a waste of time, I was allowing God's Truth to shine through.

We talked yesterday about the shift that has been happening when this team trusts the members enough to create a purpose for the company and allow the vision and the goals to support that vision instead of the other way around where they would traditionally set the goals based on past performance instead. One of the members who has been more pragmatic and methodical about the "hows" said he has found it to be much easier to concentrate on the "why" and not worry about the details. He said he sees that when the team is allowed to operate in the individuals' strength areas, everything flows much more smoothly. He can call it strength areas - I call it allowing the Spirit. Either way, the results are, so far, speaking for themselves.

I notice that when I can be a conduit for the Holy Spirit, I can allow others the same opportunity. As a facilitator and guide, I see my role as a lightbearer, allowing the participants to see their own paths because I've helped light the way, not because I've showed them how or told them what to do. I simply turn on the light and the choices become clearer.

What a miracle as I shift my own thoughts from fear to love!

Day 330

2007-11-26T06:53:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I will not hurt myself again today.

Let us this day accept forgiveness as our only function. Why should we attack our minds, and give them images of pain? Why should we teach them they are powerless, when God holds out His power and His Love, and bids them take what is already theirs? The mind that is made willing to accept God's gifts has been restored to spirit, and extends its freedom and its joy, as is the Will of God united with its own. The Self which God created cannot sin, and therefore cannot suffer. Let us choose today that He be our Identity, and thus escape forever from all things the dream of fear appears to offer us.

Father, Your Son can not be hurt. And if we think we suffer, we but fail to know our one Identity we share with You. We would return to It today, to be made free forever from all our mistakes, and to be saved from what we thought we were.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I spent Thanksgiving Day with my mom - it was just she and I as my sister and her family were on a vacation. We had a very pleasant day putting up her Christmas lights and just spending time together. On Saturday I got a card in the mail from her, thanking me for the time together. She included a $20 bill to pay for the clips I had brought home with me to put up the lights (which she didn't need to do). She also included an article from our local newspaper about identity theft. As I reflect on the card, my initial reaction - and it is that: a reaction from the subconscious, not a response based on conscious thinking - I see myself judging her gesture because it comes from a place of fear. But even as I write this I notice that judgment. I am only writing it here to show how our minds do have a "grace period," if you will where we can alter our thoughts before choosing to think them. I find myself getting better as I catch myself before I dwell on negative and judgmental thoughts. I'm not yet to the point where those thoughts don't come into my head, but I'm not acting on them nearly as much as I used to.

Today's text is from Chapter 29 in A Course in Miracles and is called "The Awakening." The section for today is called "The Closing of the Gap," which is perfect, of course. It starts by saying "There is no time, no place, o state where God is absent. There is nothing to be feared. There is no way in which a gap could be conceived of in the Wholeness that is His." Right there is my miracle. That awareness - that perfection - is exactly how everything should be. Recognition of that statement is the way I choose to live my life and I'm excited for what today has in store!

Day 329

2007-11-25T14:29:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I have already chosen what You will.

Father, I thought I wandered from Your Will, defied it, broke its laws, and interposed a second will more powerful than Yours. Yet what I am in truth is but Your Will, extended and extending. This am I, and this will never change. As You are One, so am I one with You. And this I chose in my creation, where my will become forever one with Yours. That choice was made for all eternity. It cannot change, and be in opposition to itself. Father, my will is Yours. And I am safe, untroubled and serene, in endless joy, because it is Your Will that it be so.

Today we will accept our union with each other and our Source. We have no will apart from His, and all of us are one because His Will is shared by all of us. Through it we recognize that we are one. Through it we find our way at last to God.

Miracles I'm noticing:

There's not much more that needs to be said about today's lesson. There is no way we can fail, if we just remember our Source. We are safe, untroubled and serene, because that is God's Will.

What a miracle!

Day 328

2007-11-24T07:56:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I choose the second place to gain the first.

What seems to be the second place is first, for all things we perceive are upside down until we listen to the Voice for God. It seems that we will gain autonomy but by our striving to be separate, and that our independence from the rest of God's creation is the way in which salvation is obtained. Yet all we find is sickness, suffering and loss and death. This is not what our Father wills for us, nor is there any second to His Will. To join with His is but to find our own. And since our will is His, it is to Him that we must go to recognize our will.

There is no will but Yours. And I am glad that nothing I imagine contradicts what You would have me be. It is Your Will that I be wholly safe, eternally at peace. And happily I share that Will which You, my Father, gave as part of me.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I struggled a bit at first when determining what is the second place in today's text. After thinking about it for a while, I see that the second place is my interpretation of the world - my perception of the way things are. When I was in high school, I remember a longing to be in college - I kept thinking that things would be so much better when I had the autonomy I wanted to just be who I thought I was at the time. Then, when I got to college, I remember feeling like I should be someplace else - this freedom felt so foreign to me. I had some days where I didn't have class until 10 a.m. and other days when I was done with class by 2:00 - I didn't HAVE to be anywhere; heck, I didn't even HAVE to go to class if I didn't want to.

Then there was the time when I was ready to be done with college, looking forward to my first "real" job. And from there, it was on to another job, and lots of times I'd think "if only," and "when I" which prevented me from enjoying the moment I was in. In fact, I still find myself in those positions if I'm not present. My ego wants to keep me from being in the present moment, either by instilling fear or mulling over the past. This is the second place.

I will not find the peace and comfort and love and salvation that I seek by looking at how I can separate myself from everyone and everything. I have the ability to choose differently and by putting my own "will" second, I can accept that God's Will is really mine. It's really all about re-membering (remembering) or coming together again with my Self, which never left God's Will. That is why I must choose the second place to gain the first, or unity with the Will of God.

I came across a great website this morning called Pathways of Light where I found this explanation of today's lesson:

"This world is a distraction from knowing God's Will. This world is the effect of choosing independence from God's Will. The distraction of the body could take up all my time if I let it. This distraction will continue until I change my mind about the purpose of the world. My experience of this false world will continue until I am willing to follow the Holy Spirit's lead."

That understanding and acceptance of the Truth of the Holy Spirit is my miracle for today. As I choose Spirit, I will notice ego slipping away and will experience more glimpses of the first place. I realize that this is a process - enjoying the journey instead of fighting against it will make the process more enjoyable. But not enjoying the journey won't mean I won't reach the destination because the destination is ensured. Since that's the case, I choose the path of enlightenment and joy!

Day 327

2007-11-23T11:09:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I need but call and You will answer me.

I am not asked to take salvation on the basis of an unsupported faith. For God has promised He will hear my call, and answer me Himself. Let me but learn from my experience that this is true, and faith in Him must surely come to me. This is the faith that will endure, and take me farther and still farther on the road that leads to Him. For thus I will be sure that He has not abandoned me and loves me still, awaiting but my call to give me all the help I need to come to Him.

Father, I thank You that Your promised will never fail in my experience, if I but test them out. Let me attempt therefore to try them, and to judge them not. Your Word is one with You. You give the means whereby conviction comes, and surety of Your abiding Love is gained at last.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I spent the day yesterday with my mother, and it was a very pleasant experience. We put Christmas lights on her house, and we were blessed with a beautiful, sunny, crisp fall day here in North Dakota. That was a huge blessing I noticed yesterday!

Today I'm reminded of the Holy Spirit's entering at the slightest invitation. As a transformational business consultant, that is the only "permission" I need to be my authentic self when I work with my business clients. I know the Holy Spirit will be with me and guide me in all my interactions, speeches, presentations, workshops and anything else I do. He is available at my slightest call - and will come into the slightest opening with clients who may not even realize what is happening. That is the beauty of this work - and having the awareness and insight I've gained from this course.

Today's lesson also demonstrates that I have the ability to test these ideas out without judgment to see the results that are produced (and allowed) in my life. I love that! It gives me freedom to choose, but also proves to me that the choice becomes rather obvious as I test out the Holy Spirit and break down my own ego.

What a miracle!

Day 326

2007-11-22T09:20:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I am forever an Effect of God.

Father, I was created in Your Mind, a holy Thought that never left its home. I am forever Your Effect, and You forever and forever are my Cause. As You created me I have remained. Where You established me I still abide. And all Your attributes abide in me, because it is Your Will to have a Son so like his Cause that Cause and Its Effect are indistinguishable. Let me know that I am an Effect of God, and so I have the power to create like You. And as it is in Heaven, so on earth. Your plan I follow here, and at the end I know that You will gather Your effects into the tranquil Heaven of Your Love, where earth will vanish, and all separate thoughts unite in glory as the Son of God.

Let us today behold earth disappear, at first transformed, and then, forgiven, fade entirely into God's holy Will.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Today is Thanksgiving, and a perfect time to remember everything we're grateful for. Top on my list is my own awareness, which allows me to study this course and to learn something every single day. I think about things so differently than I used to, and, given today's lesson, I realize that it is because I am aware that I am forever an Effect of God. Forever. I have the power to create like God - as above, so below.

I am reminded of a Carl Jung quote I heard about on a Wayne Dyer CD. Carl said something like the surest way to be unhappy is to believe in a God outside yourself. It hadn't occurred to me until I heard that quote that my upbringing was a bit of a contradiction when I think about what I remember learning. I remember someone saying that God is everywhere, including in my heart. But I also remember an image of God being in heaven, which to me was in the sky, sitting on a throne, with Jesus at his right hand. He, of course, was the white-bearded guy in a robe (where did we all come up with that image?).

If I believe that God is outside of myself, I will always be subject to Him, and hoping to connect with Him, instead of being an Effect of Him and being part of Him.

That awareness is my thanksgiving thought for the day. How will that change my perception of who I say I am, and, consequently, who I am being?

Day 325

2007-11-21T08:59:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

All things I think I see reflect ideas.

This is salvation's keynote: What I see reflects a process in my mind, which starts with my idea of what I want. From there, the mind makes up an image of the thing the mind desires, judges valuable, and therefore seeks to find. These images are then projected outward, looked upon, esteemed as real and guarded as one's own. From insane wishes comes an insane world. From judgment comes a world condemned. And from forgiving thoughts a gentle world comes forth, with mercy for the holy Son of God, to offer him a kindly home where he can rest a while before he journeys on, and help his brothers walk ahead with him, and find the way to Heaven and to God.

Our Father, Your ideas reflect the truth, and mine apart from Yours but make up dreams. Let me behold what only Yours reflect, for Yours and Yours alone establish truth.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Today's lesson really reflects everything I've been studying over the past 18 months regarding the Law of Attraction and other universal laws. What I see outside myself is simply a reflection of the thoughts and ideas that have created that vision. From insane wishes comes an insane world. But when I can shift my thoughts to those that are loving, forgiving and gentle that is exactly what I will see outside myself. It is really a very simply process. And as we remember that at the end of the day we are always going to be right, there is really nothing to decide. When I just accept the Truth - that every single person was created in the image and likeness of God and we are all mere images of our Father in various disguises, everything makes so much sense.

The challenge I always seem to have is that I have to think it over and decide something instead of just accepting what is and loving it, no matter what. God's ideas are the Truth, and my ideas apart from God's are illusion and dreams. All I have to do is keep my thoughts open to those of God and everything will be beautiful. That seems pretty simple - and that's the miracle. There is no order of difficulty in miracles so let's just accept what's already there!

Truly blessed and duly grateful!

Day 324

2007-11-20T06:57:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I merely follow, for I would not lead.

Father, You are the One Who gave the plan for my salvation to me. You have set the way I am to go, the role to take, and every step in my appointed path. I cannot lose the way. I can but choose to wander off a while, and then return. Your loving Voice will always call me back, and guide my feet aright. My brothers all can follow in the way I lead them. Yet I merely follow in the way to You, as You direct me and would have me go.

So let us follow One Who knows the way. We need not tarry, and we cannot stray except an instant from His loving Hand. We walk together, for we follow Him. And it is He Who makes the ending sure, and guarantees a safe returning home.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Today's lesson is very comforting. I don't need to know what to do or where to go - I simply need to know Who to follow. We walk together, for we are all one. We cannot lose!

As I remember (re-member) this lesson, everything life seems to throw at me becomes manageable and seems less threatening and more a part of a more divine plan. Giving up my own control and trusting that there is no way to mess up is very reassuring.

That awareness is my miracle for today!

Day 323

2007-11-19T08:44:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I gladly make the "sacrifice" of fear.

Here is the only "sacrifice" You ask of Your beloved Son; You ask him to give up all suffering, all sense of loss and sadness, all anxiety and doubt, and freely let Your Love come streaming in to his awareness; healing him of pain, and giving him Your Own eternal joy. Such is the "sacrifice" You ask of me, and one I gladly make; the only "cost" of restoration of Your memory to me, for the salvation of the world.

And as we pay the debt we owe to truth, - a debt that merely is the letting go of self-deceptions and of images we worshipped falsely - truth returns to us in wholeness and in joy. We are deceived no longer. Love has now returned to our awareness. And we are at peace again, for fear has gone and only love remains.

Miracles I'm noticing:

There's really not much more that needs to be said - today's lesson really says it all. As we "sacrifice" fear for love, we will be at peace and will be the salvation of the world. It is not possible for war to come to minds that are open to peace.

I was listening to Dr. Oz on Oprah and Friends XM radio on Saturday night and he was interviewing Dr. Bruce Lipton about his book The Biology of Belief. It was fascinating to learn that our genes do not control our biology; that instead, energy outside of our cells from our thoughts is what really controls our health. This work shows that we change our bodies as we retrain our thoughts. His research is in epigenetics - epi meaning above (as epidermis is above the dermis). Our thoughts control our genetics.

What is so amazing to me is how many different sources are saying this same thing. Here is a medical doctor telling us what I already know is true, based on what I'm studying in this course and on the things I'm learning from my work with Bob Proctor and others. Sometimes it's not enough for us to trust our inner knowing - we need outside sources to help us retrain our minds, too. Dr. Lipton was talking a lot about the subconscious conditioning and how 95% of our behavior comes from that source without us even giving it a thought. He said it's very possible to increase our conscious thoughts way beyond the 5% and to get radically different results in our lives when we do that.

What are you noticing when you're awake to a certain message? How many sources are telling you the same thing? Just notice today how you can gladly make the "sacrifice" of fear and get beyond the results you are currently experiencing in your life. Today is the first day of the rest of your life! What better day to start!

Day 322

2007-11-18T09:08:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I can give up but what was never real.

I sacrifice illusions; nothing more. And as illusions go I find the gifts illusions tried to hid, awaiting me in shining welcome, and in readiness to give God's ancient messages to me. His memory abides in every gift that I receive of Him. And every dream serves only to conceal the Self which is God's only Son, the likeness of Himself, the Holy One Who still abides in Him forever, as He still abides in me.

Father, to You all sacrifice remains forever inconceivable. And so I cannot sacrifice except in dreams. As You created me, I can give up nothing You gave me. What You did not give has no reality. What loss can I anticipate except the loss of fear, and the return of love into my mind?

Miracles I'm noticing:

Today's lesson reminds me of what I'm learning in my studies of Bob Proctor's material. There I'm learning that when we choose to increase our awareness, we need to "sacrifice" things at a lower level of awareness. That means we give up things and ideas which no longer serve us. Today's lesson says that there really is no sacrifice except in dreams. The reality is that we don't have to give up anything at all because those dreams cover up the reality. There is nothing to conceal and nothing to sacrifice. What I notice is that at each level of awareness, there is more to gain than to lose. That awareness is truly a miracle!

Day 321

2007-11-17T07:44:00.000-06:00

11. What is Creation?

Creation is the sum of all God's Thoughts, in number infinite, and everywhere without all limit. Only love creates, and only like itself. There was no time when all that it created was not there. Nor will there be a time when anything that it created suffers any loss. Forever and forever are God's Thoughts exactly as they were and as they are, unchanged through time and after time is done.

God's Thoughts are given all the power that their own Creator has. For He would add to love by its extension. Thus His Son shares in creation, and must therefore share in power to create. What God has willed to be forever One will still be One when time is over; and will not be changed throughout the course of time, remaining as it was before the thought of time began.

Creation is the opposite of all illusions, for creation is the truth. Creation is the holy Son of God, for in creation is His Will complete in every aspect, making every part container of the whole. Its oneness is forever guaranteed inviolate; forever held within His holy Will, beyond all possibility of harm, of separation, imperfection and of any spot upon its sinlessness.

We are creation; we the Sons of God. We seem to be discrete and unaware of our eternal unity with Him. Yet back of all our doubts, past all our fear, there still is certainty. For love remains with all its Thoughts, its sureness being theirs. God's memory is in our holy minds, which know their oneness and their unity with Their Creator. Let our function be only to let this memory return, only to let God's Will be done on earth, only to be restored to sanity, and to be but as God created us.

Our Father calls to us. We hear His Voice, and we forgive creation in the Name of its Creator, Holiness Itself, Whose Holiness His Own creation shares; Whose Holiness is still a part of us.

Today's Lesson:

Father, my freedom is in You alone.

I did not understand what made me free, nor what my freedom is, nor where to look to find it. Father, I have searched in vain until I heard Your Voice directing me. Now I would guide myself no more. For I have neither made nor understood the way to find my freedom. But I truest in you. You Who endowed me with my freedom as Your holy Son will not be lost to me. Your Voice directs me, and the way to You is opening and clear to me at last. Father, my freedom is in You alone. Father, is is my will that I return.

Today we answer for the world, which will be freed along with us. How glad are we to find our freedom through the certain way our Father has established. And how sure is all the world's salvation, when we learn our freedom can be found in God alone.

Miracles I'm noticing:

It's really very simple to be free and to be the salvation of the world if we just remember that we are as God created us. It's all this other stuff we put in the way that makes things so seemingly difficult.

Today I'm at a retreat for my chorus with a choreography coach from Canada. I'm going to concentrate on being the salvation of the world today while I'm working to learn new information. There should be no need to be distracted from being free since I've only got one thing to concentrate on all day.

Being single-minded and on purpose today will be my challenge and my opportunity.

Day 320

2007-11-16T06:54:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

My Father gives all power unto me.

The Son of God is limitless. There are no limits on his strength, his peace, his joy, nor any attributes his Father gave in his creation. What he wills with his Creator and Redeemer must be done. His holy will can never be denied, because his Father shines upon his mind, and lays before it all the strength and love in earth ad Heaven. I am he to whom all this is given. I am he in whom the power of my Father's Will abides.

Your Will can do all things in me, and then extend to all the world as well through me. There is no limit on Your Will. And so all power has been given to Your Son.

Miracles I'm noticing:

It seems as though everyone around me is experiencing miracles and it's so amazing to watch! I'm blessed that I get to be around a transformative group of people every nearly every day through my master mind groups. It's amazing to experience all the great and wonderful things they are noticing in their own lives.

Last night my friends Darcy and Sheila of The Grateful Goddess gave a little workshop on gratitude journaling as one of their Goddess Gatherings. It was so fun to see so many people doing things on purpose and to hear their stories as they notice what gratitude has done in their lives.

I don't think there is any accident that these people are all around me. If my Father gives all power unto me, it would stand to reason that this would be happening to and around me. There are no limits on any of our peace, joy or any other attribute.

I'm so grateful for this awareness and for everything that happened to get me here.

That's today's miracle!

Day 319

2007-11-15T08:25:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I came for the salvation of the world.

Here is a thought form which all arrogance has been removed, and only truth remains. For arrogance opposes truth. But when there is no arrogance the truth will come immediately, and fill up the space the ego left unoccupied by lies. Only the ego can be limited, and therefore it must seek for aims which are curtailed and limiting. The ego thinks that what one gains, totality must lose. And yet it is the Will of God I learn that what one gains is given unto all.

Father, Your Will is total. And the goal which stems from it shares its totality. What aim but the salvation of the world could You have given me? And what but this could be the Will my Self has shared with You?

Miracles I'm noticing:

Today's lesson really strikes a chord with me today. It seems that we struggle with truth so much in our lives. Just one glance at my bookshelf and I see Brad Blanton's book called Radical Honesty, which helps us tell it like it really is; Byron Katie helps us learn what's really true in her "The Work"; Wayne Dyer is guiding us through The Tao in his latest book to help us find "The Way"; and all the time the Truth is inside us, behind the arrogance of our egos. Our egos separate us - they are the parts of us that are scared and broken and judgmental. Our Spirit is one and when we can tap into that, there is no need for that ego. The ego is scared because it is limited and it has to work extra hard to prove that it's not scared by fighting against things. The Spirit stands for things because it doesn't have to prove anything - it just is.

One of the members of one of my master mind groups yesterday was telling about an experience she had last week when she was profoundly moved by the autumn breeze and the color of the sky as she just opened her car window while waiting to pick one of her kids up from school. She said she doesn't really remember ever being in the moment like that when she was just present with what is. I know that feeling - I've been there. But those moments are fleeting if we don't recognize them for what they are. Those are the moments of Truth which are there all the time if we just stop DOING and BE. That's when the defenses come down, the arrogance goes away and Spirit shines through.

God's Will is stronger than ego's. When we tap into that collective consciousness, we hit upon the salvation of the world, if for just an instant. But what more does it take than just that holy instant to see things differently? That's my purpose, I know - to stretch those holy instants into holy seconds and then minutes and then hours and then days. It's really quite simple - in fact, too simple for complicated minds.

Just BE this week, even if only for an instant, and see what shows up for you. It's a great week to experiment, since Thanksgiving is just one week away.

I'm so blessed and grateful for this awareness to see the world as it really is, instead of how my ego thinks it is, even if only for an instant - for now!

Day 318

2007-11-14T07:42:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

In me salvation's means and ends are one.

In me, God's holy Son, are reconciled all parts of Heaven's plan to save the world. What could conflict, when all the parts have but one purpose and one aim? How could there be a single part that stands alone, or one of more or less importance than the rest? I am the means by which God's Son is saved, because salvation's purpose is to find the sinlessness that God has placed in me. I was created as the thing I seek. I am the goal the world is searching for. I am God's Son, His one eternal Love. I am salvation's means and end as well.

Let me today, my Father, take the role You offer me in Your request that I accept Atonement for myself. For thus does what is thereby reconciled in me become as surely reconciled to You.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I had the honor of spending last evening with my master Course in Miracles teacher in Minneapolis and it was a total joy. We talked last night about deciding to make changes in ourselves that will change everything about the way we see the world. We talked about having the courage to do that. Courage comes from the root cour, which means heart, so courage is actually following your heart. We also learned that to really truly be human is to be God in man, since hu- is a word for God. When we are truly honoring our humanity, we are representing God on earth. How might we change our minds about ourselves if we really understood who we are?

We also heard last night that what matters most is who we say we are. If we say we are losers, we live into that label. If we say we are created in the image and likeness of God, then so be it. Who do you say you are?

There was so much more last night but my biggest takeaway was my immense gratitude for the awareness I have to have been in that circle last night. I am so grateful for this teacher and for this Course and for my life! Noticing the miracles has brought me closer than ever to my own humanity, and has given me the courage to follow my heart. Evidence is everywhere that this is who I am - and who I say I am is the image and likeness of God.

Today's lesson reminds us that as we accept the Atonement (at-onement) for ourselves, we become one with God - we step into our humanity. When there is one purpose for my awareness, and that is to save the world, I recognize (re-cognize) that I am who I've been waiting for, I am freed up to be the me God created. There is nothing more or nothing less I can possibly be. As I accept that truth, the world is saved and I become the means as well as the end for the salvation of the world!

Wow - what a miracle!

Day 317

2007-11-13T06:40:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I follow in the way appointed me.

I have a special place to fill; a role for me alone. Salvation waits until I take this part as what I choose to do. Until I make this choice, I am the slave of time and human destiny. But when I willingly and gladly go the way my Father's plan appointed me to go, then will I recognize salvation is already here, already given all my brothers and already mine as well.

Father, Your way is what I choose today. Where it would lead me do I choose to go; what it would have me do I choose to do. Your way is certain, and the end secure. The memory of You awaits me there. And all my sorrows end in Your embrace, which You have promised to Your Son, who thought mistakenly that he had wandered from the sure protection of Your loving Arms.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Authenticity is key to building relationships, whether that's in companies or with clients or anyplace anyone wants to make advances in their lives. That's not rocket science, I know, but when something really makes sense by real-life example, it finally sinks in. Yesterday I had a client presentation and another meeting with a potential client. In the first example it was a new class, and it was the first time I'd presented it. I really wasn't sure what direction to go, but I decided to just gauge my part by what the participants were interested in. It was so much easier than having to decide for the client what I thought was important! They basically created the class based on what they wanted to hear and it was so fun!

With the potential client, I didn't take anything with me - not even a notebook, because I was late in getting there. Usually I have at least a notebook to take notes. We are in the middle of a website redesign, and we will be getting marketing materials, but we don't have anything right now. So I just listened to what the client needed and talked from my heart, and it was perfect. They took lots of notes, so I'm guessing they will have a lot to tell their owner and we'll go from there.

I'm finding that as I get in touch with my Higher Self, I don't have to worry about what to say - that was a lesson here not too long ago. I'm noticing that more all the time. When I get out of the way, my Higher Self - the Holy Spirit (funny, they have the same abbreviation - H.S.) - has a chance to step in. And, after all, that's how we are all connected anyway. When I let the H.S. speak, that's what connects with that part of everyone else, and I seem to hit on a universal truth. It's magic to watch it happen. That's what I recognized as following in the way appointed me. I'm blessed and grateful for the awareness to notice it!

Day 316

2007-11-12T06:07:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

All gifts I give my brothers are my own.

As every gift my brothers give is mine, so every gift I give belongs to me. Each one allows a past mistake to go, and leave no shadow on the holy mind my Father loves. His grace is given me in every gift a brother has received throughout all time, and past all time as well. My treasure house is full, and angels watch its open doors that not one gift is lost, and only more are added. Let me come to where my treasures are, and enter in where I am truly welcome and at home, among the gifts that God has given me.

Father, I would accept Your gifts today. I do not recognize them. Yet I trust that You Who gave them will provide the means by which I can behold them, see their worth, and cherish only them as what I want.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Some days it's more difficult than others to recognize all the miracles. There are just some days that I'm not as up as others. Yesterday was a day like that - for a while. I didn't sleep very well Saturday night, which meant I was very tired on Sunday. I met with my quartet to practice in a town 2 hours away, which meant I had to drive when I was tired. I realized I was not in the best mood, but instead of fighting it, I just let it be what it was. I was well aware of my less than cheery mood, but as the day went on and I was able to just be with my mood, the singing brought me out of it. It's tough to be sad when I'm singing.

What I'm learning is that fighting against anything - even a down mood - produces more of what I'm fighting against. Just allowing whatever is to be what it is seems to be much more beneficial overall. So that's what I noticed yesterday. There is no good or bad - there is just what is. That realization allows for much quicker recovery and realization that the gifts in the world are plentiful and God's grace is bountiful.

May we all recognize those gifts today and trust that God will provide the means by which we can cherish them!

Day 315

2007-11-11T09:15:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

All gifts my brothers give belong to me.

Each day a thousand treasures come to me with every passing moment. I am blessed with gifts throughout the day, in value far beyond all things of which I can conceive. A brother smiles upon another, and my heart is gladdened. Someone speaks a word of gratitude or mercy, and my mind receives this gift and takes it as its own. And everyone who finds the way to God becomes my savior, pointing out the way to me, and giving me his certainty that what he learned is surely mine as well.

I thank You, Father, for the many gifts that come to me today and every day from every Son of God. My brothers are unlimited in all their gifts to me. Now may I offer them my thankfulness, that gratitude to them may lead me on to my Creator and His memory.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Today's lesson really is a reminder we are all one. This has come up in conversation in the past two master mind groups I'm facilitating. On Friday we began a new group reading the book Working With the Law by Raymond Holliwell, which is about universal laws and how it doesn't work to fight against them, but to work with them. Yesterday in our Think and Grow Rich master mind we also talked about oneness and whether or not there is evil in the world to fight against. Both were fascinating conversations and the beauty of the master mind is that even if there are issues with which we disagree, we all still respect each other.

In our Friday group we also talked about mirroring and shadowing, which come up for us when others show us sides of ourselves we either don't like, or don't recognize for ourselves. But when we can see that anything that comes into our awareness really is a gift, that's where the awareness shifts.

In gratitude I recognize the gifts that are all around me - and all for me. What a miracle!

Day 314

2007-11-10T06:48:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I seek a future different from the past.

From new perception of the world there comes a future very different from the past. The future now is recognized as but extension of the present. Past mistakes can cast no shadows on it, so that fear has lost its idols and its images, and being formless, it has no effects. Death will not claim the future now, for life is now its goal, and all the needed means are happily provided. Who can grieve or suffer when the present has been freed, extending its security and peace into a quiet future filled with joy?

Father, we were mistaken in the past, and choose to use the present to be free. Now do we leave the future in Your Hands, leaving behind our past mistakes, and sure that You will keep Your present promises, and guide the future in their holy light.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I remember a day when I used to obsess over having said the "wrong" thing or made a stupid mistake or lived through an embarrassing moment. I had a hard time letting those things go, and I remember defining myself through my past. The only thing that did was keep me in that moment into the future, so that my future really did begin to look a lot like that past where I "screwed up." That was the future I ended up living into and I began to see myself as someone who was never good enough.

Today's lesson reminds us that we can make a new choice right now - in the present - independent of what has happened in the past. That will change everything right now, which means that the future will look completely different from the past.

Make up your mind to change your mind right now about whatever the past has been in your existence. Know that you were merely mistaken in the past ... you just didn't know. But now that you have new awareness, you have new choices to make - and a new future to live into.

That's certainly a miracle!

Day 313

2007-11-09T05:38:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

Now let a new perception come to me.

Father, there is a vision which beholds all things as sinless, so that fear has gone, and where it was is love invited in. And love will come wherever it is asked. This vision is Your gift. The eyes of Christ look on a world forgiven. In His sight are all its sins forgiven, for He sees no sin in anything He looks upon. Now let His true perception come to me, that I may waken from the dream of sin and look within upon my sinlessness, which You have kept completely undefiled upon the altar to Your holy Son, the Self with which I would identify.

Let us today behold each other in the sight of Christ. How beautiful we are! How holy and how loving! Brother, come and join with me today. We save the world when we have joined. For in our vision it becomes as holy as the light in us.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend 90 minutes with our local Chamber of Commerce's Leadership class presenting on the topic of visioning. This leadership program brings together businesspeople in a year-long curriculum highlighting various aspects of community leadership where they spend one day a month on specific topics. Yesterday's was community action and participation. It was so amazing to offer some ideas to this group about possibility thinking and visualizing what our community could look like with each of them living their dream and capitalizing on their unique strengths and talents. It was really an example of how "we save the world when we have joined."

I'm finding more and more often that I'm able to incorporate what I'm learning in this course with my corporate work and it's more rewarding than I ever could have imagined. Feeling that I needed to keep my spiritual self separate from my corporate self was beginning to seem less and less necessary and now it all kind of melds together. Where is there need for fear in the corporate world? How might we all benefit from tapping into the loving part of ourselves instead of the ego part as we build our management teams? How might our corporations be different if people felt free to bring themselves to work - all of themselves, not just the parts that are expected to toe the line?

Guiding the group through an exercise called Future Self, in which they are instructed to see themselves 20 years from now, in their homes and offices, right down to the colors of the walls, I began to see how everything I'm learning can and does affect my audiences in profound ways, just because I am living what I believe. This was evidenced when, during the debrief after the visualization, two separate individuals - one a banker and one an engineer - each mentioned that in their experiences, the color of the walls - and even the infrastructure of the community - 20 years from now was insignificant. What was important was the quality of the relationships they had built with their families and co-workers. What that told each of them was that today they can make decisions that will impact their relationships 2o years from now, which will create - and allow - for more meaningful results both at work and at home.

That was profoundly moving for me because it proved to me that this is not just my theory - this can and does actually work in Corporate America. Following our 90-minute session, the Chamber representative told me that they had been trying this visualization session for the past 5 years and had gotten pretty negative feedback from the participants. She said that this year she was certain the marks would be much higher - that this was exactly what they had hoped to find, but weren't able to articulate it.

I'm beginning to understand that as a conduit for the Holy Spirit, I really have no need to worry about what to say or how to present my material. When I get out of the way, magic happens around me. As my vision is altered to behold all things as sinless, I allow others to do the same. And I'm clear that that's not I - Jodee ... that's the Universal I in which we are all connected.

Awareness is amazing - and I'm blessed and grateful for the miracles that are everywhere!

Day 312

2007-11-08T06:29:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I see all things as I would have them be.

Perception follows judgment. Having judged, we therefore see what we would look upon. For sight can merely serve to offer us what we would have. It is impossible to overlook what we would see, and fail to see what we have chosen to behold. How surely, therefore, must the real world come to greet the holy sight of anyone who take the Holy Spirit's purpose as his goal for seeing. And he cannot fail to look upon what Christ would have him see, and share Christ's Love for what he looks upon.

I have no purpose for today except to look upon a liberated world, set free from all the judgments I have made. Father, this is Your Will for me today, and therefore it must be my goal as well.

Miracles I'm noticing:

It occurred to me today that I used to write about all the things I was noticing in the world that were "coincidental" and I really haven't written about those things lately. I think the reason is because I'm starting to accept those "coincidences" as the way it is instead of something unusual. I might not notice those as miracles like I used to because they happen so frequently now. That's not to say that I don't notice or that they're not happening - it's just that I really do know that miracles are more the norm than the exception.

Yesterday in my master mind group I took a second and looked around the room at the people who were there and really got that the world is changing right before my eyes as each of these people is understanding what we're studying in a new way. Each of the people in each of my 5 master mind groups is changing the world in her/his own way and that's incredibly amazing and rewarding and cool - but it really is just the way it is. My job in this lifetime is to raise awareness and that's what I'm doing ... but it's not of me, it's through me.

The goal I've set for myself in my mastermind group is to be a conduit for the Holy Spirit so that I can live the holy instant every instant and can allow myself to be who I was created to be. In exchange I am surrounded by and working with like-minded people who I am supporting in raising the level of awareness wherever they live and work. It's so great to see that happen all around me.

Today's lesson says that perception follows judgment, so I'm growing in awareness of what is my perception and what just is. If I've judged a person or a situation, then I will see things the way I think they are instead of what really is, which is perfect. Today I'm giving a presentation about visioning for a group of leaders in our community. I'm going to tell them about perception as it relates to their vision for the future of our community. That will allow me to watch their awareness grow, and in turn, allow them to change the future of our community by the way they perceive it.

I'm truly blessed and grateful for the awareness I currently have, and for the learning and growing I will do for the rest of my life.

Day 311

2007-11-07T07:45:00.000-06:00

10. What is the Last Judgment?

Christ's Second Coming gives the Son of God this gift: to hear the Voice for God proclaim that what is false is false, and what is true has never changed. And this the judgment is in which perception ends. At first you see a world that has accepted this as true, projected from a now corrected mind. And with this holy sight, perception gives a silent blessing and then disappears, its goal accomplished and its mission done.

The final judgment on the world contains no condemnation. For it sees the world as totally forgiven, without sin and wholly purposeless. Without a cause, and now without a function in Christ's sight, it merely slips away to nothingness. There it was born, and there it ends as well. And all the figures in the dream in which the world began go with it. Bodies now are useless, and will therefore fade away, because the Son of God is limitless.

You who believed that God's Last Judgment would condemn the world to hell along with you, accept this holy truth: God's Judgment is the gift of the Correction He bestowed on all your errors, freeing you from them, and all effects they ever seemed to have. To fear God's saving grace is but to fear complete release from suffering, return to peace, security and happiness, and union with your own Identity.

God's Final Judgment is as merciful as every step in His appointed plan to bless His Son, and call him to return to the eternal peace He shares with him. Be not afraid of love. For it alone can heal all sorrow, wipe away all tears, and gently waken from his dream of pain the Son whom God acknowledges as His. Be not afraid of this. Salvation asks you give it welcome. And the world awaits your glad acceptance, which will set it free.

This is God's Final Judgment: "You are still My holy Son, forever innocent, forever loving and forever loved, as limitless as your Creator, and completely changeless and forever pure. Therefore awaken and return to Me. I am your Father and you are My Son."

Today's Lesson:

I judge all things as I would have them be.

Judgment was made to be a weapon used against the truth. It separates what it is being used against, and sets it off as if it were a thing apart. And then it makes of it what you would have it be. It judges what it cannot understand, because it cannot see totality and therefore judges falsely. Let us not use it today, but make a gift of it to Him Who has a different use for it. He will relieve us of the agony of all the judgments we have made against ourselves, and re-establish peace of mind by giving us God's Judgment of His Son.

Father, we wait with open mind today, to hear Your Judgment of the Son You love. We do not know him, and we cannot judge. And so we let Your Love decide what he whom You created as Your Son must be.

Miracles I'm noticing:

When I have thought of the word "judge" in the past, it has always had a negative connotation for me. But after reading today's lesson, I see that that is what we have always done with that word - and that's what it was made to be. I notice the distinction between the word "made" and the word "created" as well in this lesson. God creates, man makes. So we have "made" judgment be something negative. Today's lesson is telling us to give up judgment to Him Who has a different use for it. We can let God take care of all the judgments that we have made against ourselves in exchange for peace of mind.

When God decides, He always decides for His Son, so there should be no fear in God's judgment. That creates a new connotation for that word and that entire concept, since we already know what He is going to choose.

So today I will give up my own judgment of other people and situations and accept God's peace in its place. After all, my judgments only show me what I am thinking about myself. That awareness is my miracle for today!

Day 310

2007-11-06T07:34:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

In fearlessness and love I spend today.

This day, my Father, would I spend with You, as You have chosen all my days should be. And what I will experience is not of time at all. The joy that comes to me is not of days nor hours, for it comes from Heaven to Your Son. This day will be Your sweet reminder to remember You, Your gracious calling to Your holy Son, the sign Your grace has come to me, and that it is Your Will I be set free today.

We spend this day together, you and I. And all the world joins with us in our song of thankfulness and joy to Him Who gave salvation to us, and Who set us free. We are restored to peace and holiness. There is no room in us for fear today, for we have welcomed love into our hearts.

Miracles I'm noticing:

What if we all really lived as if there is no room for fear in us? What if we really and truly believed that we are all restored to peace and holiness? Wouldn't that be the reality we would be living in? Would all the references to fighting and upset and sadness escape our vision if we could just exist in that belief for one day? I'm game. Let's all live that way today. It is God's Will we be set free. And I, for one, am all about love and light and happiness and salvation!

Let me know what you notice living today in fearlessness and love. That's a miracle for sure!

Day 309

2007-11-05T06:39:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

I will not fear to look within today.

Within me is eternal innocence, because it is God's Will that it be there forever and forever. I, His Son, whose will is limitless as is His Own, can will no change in this. For to deny my Father's Will is to deny my own. To look within is but to find my will as God created it, and as it is. I fear to look within because I think I made another will that is not true, and made it real. Yet it has no effects. Within me is the Holiness of God. Within me is the memory of Him.

The step I take today, my Father, is my sure release from idle dreams of sin. your altar stands serene and undefiled. It is the holy altar to my Self, and there I find my true identity.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I'm reading the text for today and it goes very well with the lesson. When we go within, we may find that our mind is split, believing one thing which contradicts what is really true. Today's text says that "correction, to a mind so split, must be a way to punish sins you think are yours in someone else. And thus does he become your victim, not your brother, different from you in that he is more guilty, thus in need of your correction, as the one more innocent than he.... Correction you would do must separate, because that is the function given it by you. When you perceive correction is the same as pardon, then you also know the Holy Spirit's Mind and yours are One. And so your own Identity is found."

What that says to me is that when I fail to look within, my focus is on everything I think is wrong with my brother, because I certainly wouldn't want to believe that I need any correction. The focus then is outside myself, and that really manifests separation, not oneness. If I believe that my brother "sins" while I merely am "mistaken" (and that warrants the traditional definition of forgiveness), then I am in denial of what is really true.

The text goes on to say that "correction is the function given both (my "errors" and my brother's "sins"), but neither one alone. And when it is fulfilled as shared, it must correct mistakes in you and him. It cannot leave mistakes in one unhealed and set the other free."

So whenever I see something in someone else I think needs correction, the lesson for me is to look inside myself and see where that is in me. If we are all one, there will be no division, and correction will be provided by the One Who knows correction and forgiveness are the same.

Now that's a miracle!

Day 308

2007-11-04T09:21:00.000-06:00

Today's Lesson:

This instant is the only time there is.

I have conceived of time in such a way that I defeat my aim. If I elect to reach past time to timelessness, I must change my perception of what time is for. Time's purpose cannot be to keep the past and future one. The only interval in which I can be saved from time is now. For in this instant has forgiveness come to set me free. The birth of Christ is now, without a past or future. He has come to give His present blessing to the world, restoring it to timelessness and love. And love is ever-present, here and now.

Thanks for this instant, Father. It is now I am redeemed. This instant is the time You have appointed for Your Son's release, and for salvation of the world in him.

Miracles I'm noticing:

It's interesting that today's lesson comes on the day Daylight Saving Time ends in most of Europe and North America. So theoretically, we get another hour of time and lose that hour in the spring, when we try to add an hour of daylight to our spring.

What a funny concept, when you really think about it. And it used to be that two states, Indiana and Arizona, didn't elect to play by those rules, which proves that this theory of time is just made up.

Today's lesson reminds us that this instant is really the only time we have anyway. We can choose forgiveness in an instant, and theoretically change the future for ourselves. The decisions we make in any given instant, will alter our future, but they will do it NOW, when we make the decision. There is no need to wait for someday - because that someday can begin at any instant.

So today's miracle is the knowledge that I can alter my world in this instant - and this instant constitutes the only time that matters.

Day 307

2007-11-03T07:02:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

Conflicting wishes cannot be my will.

Father, Your Will is mine, and only that. There is no other will for me to have. Let me not try to make another will, for it is senseless and will cause me pain. Your Will alone can bring me happiness, and only Yours exists. If I would have what only You can give, I must accept Your Will for me, and enter into peace where conflict is impossible. your Son is one with You in being and in will, and nothing contradicts the holy truth that I remain as You created me.

And with this prayer we enter silently into a state where conflict cannot come, because we join our holy will with God's, in recognition that they are the same.

Miracles I'm noticing:

People around me continue to delight me with their own discoveries. I went out to dinner last night with some very dear friends, and it was such a pleasure to be in the company of people who just cannot exist in the world of small talk anymore. We talked about some really substantial topics - including religion and politics - which are topics that each can feel safe to add his/her opinions and kick around ideas without any fear of judgment. I know I used to be someone who would be so deathly afraid to share an opinion because I wanted to make sure no one would be upset with me. Now that I'm beginning to realize there is no way conflict can come to a mind that is one with God's, I notice that I find myself in far fewer circumstances that could end up in conflict.

I'm grateful for my growing awareness, and am finding this playing out in my 2008 business plans. As I realize that I'm never in anything alone when I remember that God's Will is mine and that there are no other options, I am truly blessed. I am - and always have been - as God created me. And that is good enough and worthy enough. That's a miracle!

Day 306

2007-11-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

Today's Lesson:

The gift of Christ is all I seek today.

What but Christ's vision would I use today, when it can offer me a day in which I see a world so like to Heaven that an ancient memory returns to me? Today I can forget the world I made. Today I can go past all fear, and be restored to love and holiness and peace. Today I am redeemed, and born anew into a world of mercy and of care; of loving kindness and the peace of God.

And so, our Father, we return to You, remembering we never went away; remembering Your holy gifts to us. In gratitude and thankfulness we come, with empty hands and open hearts and minds, asking but what You give. We cannot make an offering sufficient for Your Son. But in Your Love the gift of Christ is his.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I shouldn't be amazed anymore at the seemingly random coincidences that pop up around me these days. Although there are many that appear in front of me, there are also "coincidences" that come from inside my head as well. For example: back at my former job, before I started my own business, I encountered a boss who, at the time, was really a thorn in my side. I was hired to do leadership development, a "soft-skill," in a manufacturing environment - one that typically measured results in "hard" data - things that are easily measured.

That boss and I really butted heads, because I was having a difficult time convincing him that what I could bring to the table really mattered. That was before I had begun studying this course, and before I had awakened to the unlimited possibilities for myself and my life. I ended up leaving that environment after just a year because I just couldn't take it anymore, the constant struggle to prove myself in an environment which I thought just wanted to trip me up.

But one thing that was huge in my career development there was a certification I earned to teach a course in job relations - helping these manufacturing supervisors relate better to their employees. It was developed in the '40s, so it's not new; but I've added pieces to it and have updated it so it's more current. I'm fortunate to have gotten in with the same manufacturing organization at which I was employed, but in a neighboring state, which is why I've been able to sustain my own business. I'm a subcontractor for this other organization and have learned so much about the manufacturing environment - something I never would have been exposed to if it hadn't been for that boss.

One book he suggested I read while I was employed there was a manufacturing book called The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eliyahu Goldratt. I never finished the book when my boss requested I read it 5 years ago, but I picked it up again earlier this week and haven't been able to put it down. I'm not completely finished with it even as I write this (I'm on page 272 of 351 pages), but I'm blown away by what I'm reading.

Everything I'm learning in this book, which is basically a novel about a manufacturing plant manager who is up against some deadlines and has to ask new questions and challenge the traditional way of doing things in order to save his job, fits perfectly with some other training and certifications I received this summer - and there are even parts of this course that can fit with what I'm reading.

There are certainly no accidents - and I'm more grateful every day for every single step along the way in my career and my life. If it hadn't been for that "problem" boss, I wouldn't have had the connection to the neighboring state's manufacturing organization. I may not have figured out as quickly as I did that the problems I was having with the boss weren't his problem at all - he was simply being a mirror for my own issues. What a great lesson and what a great story!

So today's lesson reminds me that I am able to see - right here and now - a world so like Heaven that an ancient memory returns to me. It's almost like deja vu - I already know this stuff!

Here's a line from The Goal that especially hit home:

"We refer to something as common sense only if it is in line with our own intuition ... it only means that when we recognize something as common sense, it must be that, at least intuitively, we knew it all along" (p. 268).

When I can forget the world I made and just accept the gift of Christ, I see things completely differently. Everything around me - even my manufacturing experience - shows me a piece of Heaven and helps me go past fear and be restored to love and peace.

That awareness today is my miracle!

Day 305

2007-11-01T07:27:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

There is a peace that Christ bestows on us.

Who uses but Christ's vision finds a peace so deep and quiet, undisturbable and wholly changeless, that the world contains no counterpart. Comparisons are still before this peace. And all the world departs in silence as this peace envelops it, and gently carries it to truth, no more to be the home of fear. For love has come, and healed the world by giving it Christ's peace.

Father, the peace of Christ is given us, because it is Your Will that we be saved. Help us today but to accept Your gift, and judge it not. For it has come to us to save us from our judgment on ourselves.

Miracles I'm noticing:

What a wonderful lesson today! There is no need for comparison or competition when we accept the gift of Christ's peace. What could we possibly want to argue about with this as the truth?

I've found myself being much more aware of my own judgment recently and each time I feel a judgment, I am immediately grateful for the awareness. It's funny, because thinking back, I probably would have said things that I would never say now - I'm not quite to the point where I'm not thinking things yet, but it's getting so much better.

I remember what my spiritual teacher said once when I told her I thought I was getting better and that, as a coach, I always tried to help my clients notice their own progress as well. She said that was all well and good if I wanted to play on that level, but that all I needed to do was decide now to stop the incremental improvements and change my mind about ever being judgmental or fearful again. It can happen that quickly that I give up that story completely, she said.

So, if we know that we can give up the story, why don't we do that? What is the comfort we must think we find by holding on to our stories about why we can't make that shift? Is there fear in being completely loving? That seems a little counter-intuitive, but maybe it's true.

Today we are given a definitive statement: There is a peace that Christ bestows on us. That is a declaration, not a question. So what is fearful about accepting that as Truth? I'm reminded of the title of Bill Cosby's new book: Come on People! But would that be judgmental of me to believe that others need to come on board with these beliefs? It's just so much easier to take care of my own thoughts and my own "stuff," which I know will change the world much more thoroughly than if I delay my own awakening by worrying about everyone else.

So my miracle today is the recognition that when I make up my mind to change my mind, I will be doing my part to bring peace to the rest of the world. In fact, I will be doing all that I can do as I make a commitment to that level of being.

So there's my declaration!

Day 304

2007-10-31T07:31:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

Let not my world obscure the sight of Christ.

I can obscure my holy sight, if I intrude my world upon it. Nor can I behold the holy sights Christ looks upon, unless it is His vision that I use. Perception is a mirror, not a fact. And what I look on is my state of mind, reflected outward. I would bless the world by looking on it through the eyes of Christ. And I will look upon the certain signs that all my sins have been forgiven me.

You lead me from the darkness to the light; from sin to holiness. Let me forgive, and thus receive salvation for the world. It is Your gift, my Father, given me to offer to Your holy Son, that he may find again the memory of You, and of Your Son as You created him.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Today's lesson is a great reminder that when I look at the world through my eyes, I will only see what is reflected from my own mind. But when I consciously look at the world through the eyes of Christ, I will see everything differently. When I change the way I look at things, the things I look at really will change. The key is awareness.

As I forgive myself and others, using the course's definition of forgiveness (see Day 297 for more information and a definition of this "new" forgiveness), I really will bring salvation to the world.

I also love that today's lesson says "perception is a mirror, not a fact." Whenever I see something that I don't particularly like - I'm especially working on being non-judgmental - it is comforting to know that what I see is simply my perception and can be switched to the Truth. I think we all know the Truth when we experience it. There is kind of a sigh of recognition, or a deja vu kind of feeling, I think, when we remember those things we already knew at some point. That is what I refer to as Truth - or seeing the world through the eyes of Christ. It is so wonderful to know that we can do all things Christ has done and even more. There are no limits when we connect with that consciousness.

At our course gathering last night, we talked about being in the now and how that is all we ever really have anyway. We spend so much time (which is also just an illusion) planning and worrying and preparing for the future, but all that does is waste the time we have now in the present moment. Yesterday's text said "Future loss is not your fear. But present joining is your dread. Who can feel desolation except now? A future cause as yet has no effects. And therefore must it be that if you fear, there is a present cause. And it is this that needs correction, not a future state (Chapter 26, VIII, 4, 3-8)."

When I got home last night I watched an Oprah episode from the past week that I had recorded. It was all about lessons we can learn from people who have a terminal illness (in this case cancer) and have gotten an entirely different perspective on time. If you haven't seen it yet, here is the entire video of Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture" which he gave to students and faculty at Carnegie-Mellon University on September 18. For Randy, it really may be his last lecture, although the intention for this lecture series at Carnegie-Mellon is, for most other lecturers, a theoretical lecture if it were to be their last. Since he has advanced pancreatic cancer, it may well be true for him. This is a great example of living in the now.

If this is not an example of choosing the miracle, I don't think I'll ever find it. If you don't know what you want in your life, how will anyone - including the Universe or God - know what you want? Let Randy Pausch teach us all to make the changes in our lives now.

Day 303

2007-10-30T07:18:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

The holy Christ is born in me today.

Watch with me, angels, watch with me today. Let all God's holy Thoughts surround me, and be still with me while Heaven's Son is born. Let earthly sounds be quiet, and the sights to which I am accustomed disappear. Let Christ be welcomed where He is at home. And let Him hear the sounds He understands, and see but sights that show His Father's Love. Let Him no longer be a stranger here, for He is born again in me today.

Your Son is welcome, Father. He has come to save me from the evil self I made. He is the Self that You have given me. He is but what I really am in truth. He is the Son You love above all things. He is my Self as You created me. It is not Christ that can be crucified. Safe in Your Arms let me receive Your Son.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I notice more and more each day how fortunate I am to have found this course, and how grateful I am that I get to spend each day with this information. Since my career is built upon studying things like this course, I get a chance to reinforce my own learning as I teach. I spent the morning yesterday with a client teaching a new course on achieving goals. It is so amazing how much of what I'm learning here I'm able to share with corporate clients. I see so much more clearly now how every step along my career path was necessary to get me right where I am today. Every study I've undertaken, every certification and career stop was perfect. Because the holy Christ is born in me today, I am confident that every step I find myself taking now is one more step on the path to the Father. If Christ is in me, then I will hear as He hears, and see as He sees - I just need to be awake enough to realize it.

And that's what this course does for me - it reminds me of what's already there. That's a miracle!

Day 302

2007-10-29T05:55:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

Where darkness was I look upon the light.

Father, our eyes are opening at last. Your holy world awaits us, as our sight is finally restored and we can see. We thought we suffered. Be we had forgot the Son whom You created. Now we see that darkness is our own imagining, and light is there for us to look upon. Christ's vision changes darkness into light, for fear must disappear when love has come. Let me forgive Your holy world today, that I may look upon its holiness and understand it but reflects my own.

Our Love awaits us as we go to Him, and walks beside us showing us the way. He fails in nothing. He the End we seek, and He the Means by which we go to Him.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I've been thinking recently that when we go to flip the switches in our homes, we don't turn on the dark switch - we always turn on the light switch. We bring the light to rid the darkness - we don't bring the dark to the light.

Today's lesson reminds us that there is always light where we think it is dark. There is really no darkness except in our own imaginations. This statement requires faith, because we have gotten so good at believing what our physical eyes see. I love imagining using the words "What if." What if there is more to see than what I've been conditioned to see? What if there is another way to see things? That question immediately opens countless possibilities that I cannot imagine when I believe what I see.

When I shift my vision to the holiness that is in the world, I will reflect my own holiness as well. As Wayne Dyer tells us, when we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. The beautiful thing is that they aren't really changing - they've been in the light all along - we're just waking up to notice them!

Day 301

2007-10-28T08:37:00.000-05:00

9. What is the Second Coming?

Christ's Second Coming, which is sure as God, is merely the correction of mistakes, and the return of sanity. It is a part of the condition that restores the never lost, and re-establishes what is forever and forever true. It is the invitation to God's Word to take illusion's place; the willingness to let forgiveness rest upon all thing without exception and without reserve.

It is the all-inclusive nature of Christ's Second Coming that permits it to embrace the world and hold you safe within its gentle advent, which encompasses all living things with you. There is no end to the release the Second Coming brings, as God's creation must be limitless. Forgiveness lights the Second Coming's way, because it shines on everything as one. And thus is oneness recognized at last.

The Second Coming ends the lessons that the Holy Spirit teaches, making way for the Last Judgment, in which learning ends in one last summary that will extend beyond itself, and reaches up to God. The Second Coming is the time in which all minds are given to the hands of Christ, to be returned to spirit in the name of true creation and the Will of God.

The Second Coming is the one event in time which time itself can not affect. For every one who ever came to die, or yet will come or who is present now, is equally released from what he made. In this equality is Christ restored as one Identity, in which the Sons of God acknowledge that they all are one. And God the Father smiles upon His Son, His one creation and His only joy.

Pray that the Second Coming will be soon, but do not rest with that. It needs your eyes and ears and hands and feet. It needs your voice. And most of all it needs your willingness. Let us rejoice that we can do God's Will, and join together in its holy light. Behold, the Son of God is one in us, and we can reach our Father's Love through Him.

Today's Lesson:

And God Himself shall wipe away all tears.

Father, unless I judge I cannot weep. Nor can I suffer pain, or feel I am abandoned or unneeded in the world. This is my home because I judge it not, and therefore is it only what You will. Let me today behold it uncondemned, through happy eyes forgiveness has released from all distortion. Let me see Your world instead of mine. And all the tears I shed will be forgotten, for their source is gone. Father, I will not judge Your world today.

God's world is happy. Those who look on it can only add their joy to it, and bless it as a cause of further joy in them. We wept because we did not understand. But we have learned the world we saw was false, and we will look upon God's world today.

Miracles I'm noticing:

God's world is happy. If I judge anyone or anything, I bring unhappiness to that world. If I see the world through my own eyes, that is what I will see. But by simply declaring that I see that world not, but see God's world, that brings a new vision to the forefront.

What would happen if everyone who reads this, and who studies today's lesson in A Course in Miracles, collectively decides not to judge God's world today? What would that do for that world? I'm confident that that is what will shift the consciousness for everyone. And it takes 21 days to establish a new habit, from what I understand. So if every day we declare that we will not judge - we will use as our mantra something like "It It As It Is," we can shift the consciousness of the planet! That's pretty exciting.

And what I know to be true is that my decision to not judge the world will change my world. So that's the declaration for today! What a miracle!

Day 300

2007-10-27T06:55:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

Only an instant does this world endure.

This is a thought which can be used to say that death and sorrow are the certain lot of all who come here, for their joys are gone before they are possessed, or even grasped. Yet this is also the idea that lets no false perception keep us in its hold, not represent more than a passing cloud upon a sky eternally serene. And it is this serenity we seek, unclouded, obvious and sure, today.

We seek Your holy world today. For we, Your loving Sons, have lost our way a while. But we have listened to Your Voice, and learned exactly what to do to be restored to Heaven and our true Identity. And we give thanks today the world endures but for an instant. We would go beyond that tiny instant to eternity.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Yesterday on my way back from my last day with my client in central Minnesota, I listened to Gary Renard's talk about his books The Disappearance of the Universe and Your Immortal Reality. He talks a lot about this Course and what he's learned from it. I need to listen to it again, but what I remember is how really simple everything is when we quit making it so difficult. Things become difficult when we struggle to remember what we have learned at some point from a parent, a teacher, a sibling, a class, a boss - instead of just allowing what IS to resonate with us.

Have you ever had an aha! moment or an instant of clarity or a sudden insight? I think that's what happens when we connect with the Truth - or what we Know deep inside us. If we're too caught up in the world we make, we forget that the Truth allows us to be restored to Heaven and our true Identity, which is not what we think it is. It is not only more wonderful than we think it is, it is more wonderful than we can think. Heaven is eternity and this world is just an instant. So where will we choose to focus - on this world of false perception or the world of serenity?

Let that insight be your miracle today!

Day 299

2007-10-26T05:26:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

Eternal holiness abides in me.

My holiness is far beyond my own ability to understand or know. Yet God, my Father, Who created it, acknowledges my holiness as His. Our Will, together, understands it. And Our Will, together, knows that it is so.

Father, my holiness is not of me. It is not mine to be destroyed by sin. It is not mine to suffer from attack. Illusions can obscure it, but can not put out its radiance, or dim its light. It stands forever perfect and untouched. In it are all things healed, for they remain as You created them. And I can know my holiness. For Holiness Itself created me, and I can know my Source because it is Your Will that You be known.

Miracles I'm noticing:

It's really amazing to think back over the past year and reflect on where I am today and where I was then. We did that on Tuesday night at our Course gathering. Each of the people in the group has done such remarkable things in their lives that they never could have imagined just 9 months ago. I talked with another of my friends yesterday who, along with his wife, have each left their jobs and are now creating their own business. They are also creating a demo DVD for a television show.

It is so fun to take today's lesson - "Eternal holiness abides in me" - and really reflect on the wonderful things that are available in each of our lives when we get out of the way. It really is beyond my own ability to understand. As we are reading in Think and Grow Rich, there is a huge element of faith involved in allowing our holiness to shine through. As the prayer for today says, my holiness is not mind to be destroyed by sin, to suffer from attack. It just is.

That recognition helps me get my ego out of the way and allow the love to take over. That's a miracle!

Day 298

2007-10-25T06:34:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

I love You, Father, and I love Your Son.

My gratitude permits my love to be accepted without fear. And thus am I restored to my reality at last. All that intruded on my holy sight forgiveness takes away. And I draw near the end of senseless journeys, mad careers and artificial values. I accept instead what God establishes as mine, sure that in that alone I will be saved; sure that I go through fear to meet my Love.

Father, I come to You today, because I would not follow any way but Yours. You are beside me. Certain is Your way. And I am grateful for Your holy gifts of certain sanctuary, and escape from everything that would obscure my love for God my Father and His holy Son.

Miracles I'm noticing:

God is Love - I learned that in Sunday School from the time I was old enough to talk. So, if God is Love, and Love and fear are opposites, there is no reason to fear God. Love is not to be feared. There is no order of difficulty in miracles, so any shift in perception from fear to love is a miracle. The awareness that what we have been doing or thinking or being isn't serving us in the most positive way leads straight to a miracle and before we know it we are miracle-minded instead of fear-based.

That's what I'm noticing in my life. I am starting to realize that seeing absolutely everything through the eyes of love and getting rid of judgment and fear and jealousy leaves nothing but love. All roads really do lead to Heaven - it's just a matter of what I choose to learn along the way.

Today's text tells us that nothing is ever lost but time, which in the end is meaningless. Yet since we do believe in it, why would we waste it going nowhere, when it can be used to reach a goal as high as learning can achieve? The way to Heaven is not difficult. Nothing we undertake with certain purpose and high resolve and happy confidence is difficult to do.

I'll remember that for my master mind group today as we get together to study the book Think and Grow Rich. "Nothing we undertake with certain purpose and high resolve and happy confidence is difficult to do." We get so caught up in the "how" that we don't really commit to our goals or our wishes or our dreams. And we are stuck wasting the time we consider so precious when really we could be creating and allowing really big things to happen in our lives.

Noticing the beauty and the ease with which my life flows when I get out of the way is my miracle for today. I'm going to pay attention to the ease today!

Day 297

2007-10-24T06:50:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

Forgiveness is the only gift I give.

Forgiveness is the only gift I give, because it is the only gift I want. And everything I give I give myself. This is salvation's simple formula. And I, who would be saved, would make it mine, to be the way I live within a world that needs salvation, and that will be saved as I accept Atonement for myself.

Father, how certain are Your ways; how sure their final outcome, and how faithfully is every step in my salvation set already, and accomplished by Your grace. Thanks be to You for Your eternal gifts, and thanks to You for my Identity.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I listened to a lot of new information yesterday while traveling between my two client destinations. I can't remember which program I was listening to, but it was talking about how in the New Testament, there is no reference to Jesus forgiving anyone. They were talking in particular about Jesus and the prostitute. Now I'm no Biblical scholar, so I can't prove or disprove what I heard, but the way I heard it yesterday was that Jesus had no need to forgive anyone because he never condemned anyone. The only time forgiveness is "needed" is when there is a debt or a transgression to be "repaid." Then forgiveness cancels the debt.

In this lesson, we learn that forgiveness is all I can give because it is all that I want. Since I have condemned and have been condemned by others, I want my debt to be canceled so I don't have to repay it. According to the Glossary of Terms from A Course in Miracles, forgiveness is

"releasing another not from what he did, but ... from your misinterpretation of what he did. This can forgive, for it frees your mind of resentment and releases the other from the accusation of sin and guilt. The rationale behind forgiveness is that sin is not real. It is a wrong perception of attack. Attack has no power to do real harm because what is real (in you and in your 'attacker') cannot be harmed or changed in any way.... Attack, then, has no effects. It is a harmless mistake, a call for love. Thus, what caused you to feel hurt was not the other's attack, but your own misperception of his attack. Forgiveness lets this misperception go. As a result, it heals the other person of guilt, and can even heal his body. It also heals your mind of guilt and fear, for these came from your anger and resentment. It also heals you of your sense of separateness, for it takes away the perception of sinfulness that made you recoil from your brother."

If there were no judgment, no attack, no sin, there would be no need for forgiveness, and we would all be existing in Christ-consciousness. But since we are not there yet, forgiveness is the central theme of this course, and helps us achieve that goal here on earth.

The challenge for us here on earth is to both forgive and forget. Cancel the debt - take it off the books - clear it from our memory.

Today's text talks about choice, and how there is no need for choice if we are talking about oneness. Nothing conflicts with oneness, so what is there to decide? It is only conflict that makes choice possible. The truth is simple; it is one, without an opposite. The truth makes no decisions because there is nothing to decide between. What is everything leaves room for nothing else.

It goes on to say that there is a borderland of thought that stands between this world and Heaven. This is where all thoughts are brought together; where conflicting values meet and all illusions are laid down beside the truth, where they are judged to be untrue. This is where sin is denied and everything that is received instead.

Here is where knowledge and perception are brought together and there is no need for attack. Here there is no conflict because there is no distinction between what is true and what is not true. No sacrifice is possible in the relinquishment of an illusion recognized as such. Where all reality has been withdrawn from what was never true, can it be hard to give it up, and choose what must be true?

Another program I listened to yesterday was Marianne Williamson's show on XM 156. She was interviewing Lama Surya Das, the author of the book Buddha Is As Buddha Does. I learned a lot by listening to this interview. Here is what Amazon says about this book:

"In the process of awakening, the Buddha realized that all of us, deep within, are inherently perfect and whole, with the capacity to overcome suffering and transform ourselves into forces for good. In this book national bestselling author Lama Surya Das, one of the foremost American Buddhist teachers, offers a thorough, tried-and-true map to the richest treasure a human being can find—Buddha's advice for living to your true potential. By following these guidelines, you will enter into a life of greater joy, clarity, peace, and wisdom than you ever thought possible."

I am learning that we really are all one, and we are all in pursuit of higher awareness, whether we are aware of that or not. I ordered this book, so will give a report when I've had a chance to read it.

I'm guessing that allowing instead of controlling, being instead of doing, and accepting instead of judging are going to be part of the teaching and learning of this book. Sounds familiar to students of this course. At the borderland, there are no distinctions - no choices need to be made, and no forgiveness needs to be granted. But until we reach that borderland, we will do what we can and be what are are in pursuit of oneness.

That awareness is my miracle for today!

Day 296

2007-10-23T06:41:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

The Holy Spirit speaks through me today.

The Holy Spirit needs my voice today, that all the world may listen to Your Voice, and hear Your Word through me. I am resolved to let You speak through me, for I would use no words but Yours, and have no thoughts which are apart from Yours, for only Yours are true. I would be savior to the world I made. For having damned it I would set it free, that I may find escape, and hear the Word Your holy Voice will speak to me today.

We teach today what we would learn, and that alone. And so our learning goal becomes an unconflicted one, and possible of easy reach and quick accomplishment. How gladly does the Holy Spirit come to rescue us from hell, when we allow His teaching to persuade the world, through us, to seek and find the easy path to God.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I'm excited to train today because I will consciously be open to becoming a conduit for the Holy Spirit. Even though today's training is rather scripted, I am confident that whatever coaching I can provide for the participants will be from the Holy Spirit. It is very exciting for me to be able to deliver corporate training with the mindset of the Holy Spirit. I know there is a way to combine business with this "new" (well, it feels new to me, even though it's not!) spirituality.

I'm truly blessed to be awake and aware!

Day 295

2007-10-22T05:58:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

The Holy Spirit looks through me today.

Christ asks that He may use my eyes today, and thus redeem the world. He asks this gift that He may offer peace of mind to me, and take away all terror and all pain. And as they are removed from me, the dreams that seemed to settle on the world are gone. Redemption must be one. As I am saved, the world is saved with me. For all of us must be redeemed together. Fear appears in many different forms, but love is one.

My Father, Christ has asked a gift of me, and one I give that it be given me. Help me to use the eyes of Christ today, and thus allow the Holy Spirit's Love to bless all things which I may look upon, that His forgiving Love may rest on me.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I've had a couple people ask me recently if, when we get all this new thinking figured out, we will stop having bad days and down times. I don't think that's the way it will be. I think the world is all about ebbs and flows, and the only meaning anything has is the meaning we give it. If we judge things to be up and down, good and bad, then that is the meaning those things will have. For me, down times are simply the signal that up times are coming.

As I remember today's lesson, I will see everything as if the Holy Spirit were looking through my eyes today. As I give my vision to Christ, I know that He will remove terror and pain from me and replace them with love. And as He does this for me, He will do it for the world, since we all are one.

That's certainly a miracle - and will make today a piece of cake!

Day 294

2007-10-21T09:21:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

My body is a wholly neutral thing.

I am a Son of God. And can I be another thing as well? Did God create the mortal and corruptible? What use has God's beloved Son for what must die? And yet a neutral thing does not see death, for thoughts of fear are not invested there, nor is mockery of love bestowed upon it. Its neutrality protects it while it has a use. And afterwards, without a purpose, it is laid aside. It is not sick nor old nor hurt. It is but functionless, unneeded and cast off. Let me not see it more than this today; of service for a while and fit to serve, to keep its usefulness while it can serve, and then to be replaced for greater good.

My body, Father, cannot be Your Son. And what is not created cannot be sinful nor sinless; neither good nor bad. Let me, then, use this dream to help Your plan that we awaken from all dreams we made.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I struggle just a little bit with what the prayer here says when it says my body is not created. I think the entire process of life and the systems at work in our physical bodies is pretty incredible. It's difficult for me not to see that whole thing as a pretty neat miracle that God created. I understand the point - that it is not about my physical body, but about my spiritual being. But I still think God created us ... we didn't make ourselves, even though it was a physical process that conceived of each of us.

I understand how this is a dream - we make things real in our own minds, when the reality is that the physical body is just a vehicle for learning in this lifetime. If taken literally, today's lesson could imply that the body isn't all that important in this lifetime, so we don't really have to take care of it since it will just be cast off at some point anyway. I don't think that's what is meant here - but maybe that is just my take on what I'm reading, which would be justification for me to be too busy to go to the gym in the mornings! :)

The point I take from the lesson is that the body is neither good nor bad - it just is. And as we learn to accept every "body" as a child of God, there will be no need to judge based on any physical attributes. We are each given some body in this physical existence, because we each have a path to take and a lesson to learn. As Wayne Dyer has said many times, if his purpose in this lifetime is to teach compassion and understanding, what better way for him to be able to do that than to have been born into a family where the alcoholic father abandoned him and his mother and brothers when the three children were under 5 years old? What better way for him to learn compassion than to have been raised in foster care?

Those are the lessons I'm learning. I was fortunate to have been raised in a family which, although not financially prosperous, I didn't lack for anything. I was raised with both parents and both sets of grandparents within 50 miles of my home. I went to a good school, participated in activities, went to a good college, got a good education, got a good job, etc. There are lessons for me in that life, too.

I don't think the point is to find fault with wherever we were born and raised, but to learn the lessons that everything can teach us. There is a bit of dysfunction in every situation unless and until we begin to understand that everything is perfect exactly the way it is because we're on our way to enlightenment and we have lessons to learn.

That awareness is my miracle for today!

Day 293

2007-10-20T06:39:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

All fear is past and only love is here.

All fear is past, because its source is gone, and all its thoughts gone with it. Love remains the only present state, whose Source is here forever and forever. Can the world seem bright and clear and safe and welcoming, with all my past mistakes oppressing it, and showing me distorted forms of fear? Yet in the present love is obvious, and its effects apparent. All the world shines in reflection of its holy light, and I perceive a world forgiven at last.

Father, let not Your holy world escape my sight today. Nor let my ears be deaf to all the hymns of gratitude the world is singing underneath the sounds of fear. There is a real world which the present holds safe from all past mistakes. And I would see only this world before my eyes today.

Miracles I'm noticing:

It struck me as I read today's lesson how many times this course has to keep reminding us that the only things we really have to worry about are choosing love over fear and choosing Spirit over ego. It's really no more difficult than that. Yet we do need to be constantly reminded because the ego is so strong. The past is over ... there is no need to keep remembering all the human aspects of what has already happened - we need only remember our connection to Spirit.

When we are awake to the world of the Creator, we are creative - we see the world of gratitude and blessing and joy and hope, which is always there even when we forget. The sky is never gray - the blue sky is always there under the clouds.

What a miracle!

Day 292

2007-10-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

A happy outcome to all things is sure.

God's promises make no exceptions. And He guarantees that only joy can be the final outcome found for everything. yet it is up to us when this is reached; how long we let an alien will appear to be opposing His. And while we think this will is real, we will not find the end He has appointed as the outcome of all problems we perceive, all trials we see, and every situation that we meet. Yet is the ending certain. For God's Will is done in earth and Heaven. We will seek and we will find according to His Will, which guarantees that our will is done.

We thank You, Father, for Your guarantee of only happy outcomes in the end. Help us not interfere, and so delay the happy endings You have promised us for every problem that we can perceive; for every trial we think we still must meet.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I worked today with a client teaching personal accountability training and what I'm noticing for myself is my willingness to be vulnerable and share my specific learnings with audiences. In the past week I've really decided that life is too short to not be really committed to transformation in the organizations I'm privileged to work with. I've become more passionate - at least on the outside - in my presentations because I sense things shifting in me in the past couple of weeks. It's so wonderful to be awake to recognize those shifts!

I've noticed a couple of specific times - listening to XM radio on my way here today and feeling tears come to my eyes when a woman described her life situation as a 29-year-old single mother whose ex-boyfriend tried to break into her house and ended up killing her 14-year-old nephew who was visiting. Instead of dismissing this as just another piece of bad news and wishing those things would just go away, I was really moved by my empathy with her situation.

I'm not sure what that awareness means, but to me it's an indication that I don't have to try so hard to "get it" - I just get to choose to get it wherever I am.

That's what I see in today's lesson. If a happy outcome to all things is sure, there is nothing I need to do to meddle and control. I really can let go and let God and trust that the outcome is secure.

That's my miracle for today!

Day 291

2007-10-18T06:48:00.000-05:00

8. What is the Real World?

The real world is a symbol, like the rest of what perception offers. yet it stands for what is opposite to what you made. Your world is seen through eyes of fear, and brings the witnesses of terror to your mind. The real world cannot be perceived except through eyes forgiveness blesses, so they see a world where terror is impossible, and witnesses to fear can not be found.

The real world holds a counterpart for each unhappy thought reflected in your world; a sure correction for the sights of fear and sounds of battle which your world contains. The real world shows a world seen differently, through quiet eyes and with a mind at peace. Nothing but rest is there. There are no cries of pain and sorrow heard, for nothing there remains outside forgiveness. And the sights are gentle. Only happy sights and sounds can reach the mind that has forgiven itself.

What need has such a mind for thoughts of death, attack and murder? What can it perceive surrounding it but safety, love and joy? What is there it would choose to be condemned, and what is there that it would judge against? The world it sees arises from a mind at peace within itself. No danger lurks in anything it sees, for it is kind, and only kindness does it look upon.

The real world is the symbol that the dream of sin and guilt is over, and God's Son no longer sleeps. His waking eyes perceive the sure reflection of his Father's Love; the certain promise that he is redeemed. The real world signifies the end of time, for its perception makes time purposeless.

The Holy Spirit has no need of time when it has served His purpose. Now He waits but that one instant more for God to take His final step, and time has disappeared, taking perception with it as it goes, and leaving but the truth to be itself. That instant is our goal, for it contains the memory of God. And as we look upon a world forgiven, it is He Who calls to us and comes to take us home, reminding us of our Identity which our forgiveness has restored to us.

Today's Lesson:

This is a day of stillness and of peace.

Christ's vision looks through me today. His sight shows me all things forgiven and at peace, and offers this same vision to the world. And I accept this vision in its name, both for myself and for the world as well. What loveliness we look upon today! What holiness we see surrounding us! And it is given us to recognize it is a holiness in which we share; it is the Holiness of God Himself.

This day my mind is quiet, to receive the Thoughts You offer me. And I accept what comes from You, instead of from myself. I do not know the way to You. But You are wholly certain. Father, guide Your Son along the quiet path that leads to You. Let my forgiveness be complete, and let the memory of You return to me.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I was awakened at around 3:45 this morning for whatever reason, and couldn't get back to sleep. I'm reminded of something Wayne Dyer says in many of his lectures from one of his favorite poets, Rumi - do not go back to sleep. Here is the entire poem:

The breeze at dawn

Has secrets to tell you

Don't go back to sleep

You must ask

For what you really want

Don't go back to sleep

People are going back and forth

Across the doorsill

Where the two worlds touch

The door is round and open

Do not go back to sleep

So I got up and wrote and thought and meditated and came up with some pretty neat ideas for some new classes and new insights and new actions.

And now, as I get around to reading today's lesson, I have a very deep connection with what is written here - so much so that it brings tears to my eyes.

I've been reading Wayne's new book Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life about his year-long study of the Tao. The main message there is to allow instead of control. I wrote this morning about flow and getting into the groove, examining our thoughts and determining the Truth. And today's lesson says "This day my mind is quiet. ... I do not know the way to You. But You are wholly certain."

Just let go. Let the current - God - carry you. That is certain. We don't have to be pillars of strength and fountains of knowledge. We don't have to be anything - just BE. How much do we really trust? Let today be your experiment.

This is a day of stillness and of peace.

Just ALLOW.

Just BE.

Blessed and grateful.

Day 290

2007-10-17T07:12:00.001-05:00

Today's Lesson:

My present happiness is all I see.

Unless I look upon what is not there, my present happiness is all I see. Eyes that begin to open see at last. And I would have Christ's vision come to me this very day. What I perceive without God's Own Correction for the sight I made is frightening and painful to behold. Yet I would not allow my mind to be deceived by the belief the dream I made is real an instant longer. This the day I seek my present happiness, and look on nothing else except the thing I seek.

With this resolve I come to You, and ask Your strength to hold me up today, while I but seek to do Your Will. You cannot fail to hear me, Father. What I ask have you already given me. And I am sure that I will see my happiness today.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Yesterday I was having coffee with an acquaintance who asked if I would be willing to help him work out some things he is struggling with in his professional life. I don't know him very well - have just met him in the past 3 weeks - so it was really interesting that he would want to meet with me.

He said he is struggling with finding his true purpose, and feels that he's sabotaging his own success because he just doesn't feel his work is fulfilling. He's worried about money, even though he knows all about abundance thinking as opposed to scarcity thinking. He says he finds himself thinking about what he doesn't want instead of what he does want and he wanted to know from me how to change his mind about this.

What I found really interesting about this situation was that he was willing to do something about his situation by calling me. I think that's huge. Awareness is the first step to making any changes. It's what caused this course to be written - the awareness for the writers that there must be a better way in their working relationship.

We learn here that the Holy Spirit will enter at the slightest invitation, and that's what I felt yesterday. As I shared my observations and insights with this guy, things were occurring to me that I didn't plan, but that just showed up when I needed them.

One thing I recalled and shared was my experience at my chorus rehearsal on Monday night when our president was giving the announcements. She said that if anyone was wondering why they might be feeling a little down it's because it has been cloudy and gloomy for 12 of the first 15 days of October. When she said that, I occurred to me that that was the first I'd noticed the weather. As I was sharing that story with this guy, I glanced through the window of the coffee shop where we were and noticed the Lowe's sign across the street. It hadn't occurred to me how very blue that sign is. I told him that I probably wouldn't notice the blue of that sign if the sky behind it had been blue that day. Because it was very white, all the colors really popped in all the signs I saw.

It was a matter of perspective.

We also talked about how he may be sabotaging his results in order to be right about them. But with awareness, everything looks different. He might just notice what he notices and observe what that tells him. If happiness is his goal, it will always elude him, because happiness is not a destination, it's part of the journey. It is only the pursuit of happiness that we are guaranteed in our constitution; the achievement is beyond our grasp when we make that the goal. Again, it's a matter of perspective.

I'm not sure exactly what else we talked about, but he thanked me and told me he felt a lot better. When I was able to consciously be a conduit for the Holy Spirit, I could see his eyes light up and I knew that's exactly what was happening. That was my first miracle.

The second was at our course gathering last night. Although the group was smaller than usual (there's a lot going on in everyone's lives this time of year), those of us who were there really talked about a lot of great things. This course allows each of us to share our questions and struggles, and try out new ideas with support and love, and without judgment. I really noticed last night how very grateful I am to have this amazing support for helping me move beyond my current reality into the mode of creation, where there is no competition.

Today's lesson reminds us that we will see whatever we are looking for. Happiness is all there is - anything else really isn't there at all. Whatever we ask has already been given us. As we look for happiness, that is what we will see.

Blessed and grateful!

Day 289

2007-10-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

The past is over. It can touch me not.

Unless the past is over in my mind, the real world must escape my sight. For I am really looking nowhere; seeing but what is not there. How can I then perceive the world forgiveness offers? This the past was made to hide, for this the world that can be looked on only now. It has no past. For what can be forgiven but the past, and if it is forgiven it is gone.

Father, let me not look upon a past that is not there. For You have offered me Your Own replacement, in a present world the past has left untouched and free of sin. Here is the end of guilt. And here am I made ready for Your final step. Shall I demand that you wait longer for Your Son to find the loveliness You planned to be the end of all his dreams and all his pain?

Miracles I'm noticing:

As I reflect on Dennis' wonderful comment from yesterday's post (thank you Dennis!), I see that focus on the past is really the ego's need to be in control and keep tabs on any progress we could make in our thinking that would edge that ego out. (As I've learned from Wayne Dyer, EGO might be thought of as Edging God Out.)

Today's lesson reminds us that there is no place for guilt in miracle-mindedness. Guilt is entirely focused on the past, and, many times, sets in place justification for fear and non-loving thoughts and actions. If we give up fear and concentrate on love, there really is no need for guilt because that focuses on what is wrong and puts a whole lot of blame on ourselves. If we are mindful and aware, it becomes much easier to focus on love, and eventually that mindset replaces our old habit of past-focus.

I don't really think we focus on the past, being right, and holding onto grudges and guilt on purpose - I just think it's that we aren't aware that there might be a better way. With awareness comes responsibility (the ability to respond rather than to simply react) but that responsibility takes us out of victim thinking and moves us to much higher ground in our thought process and our trust threshold. There really is no place for blame in the world - not for other people or for ourselves.

Coming our of our comfort zones will be, by its very definition, uncomfortable - for a while. It's uncomfortable because it's unfamiliar. But the outcome of pushing through that zone and seeing a whole new world is priceless. Forgiveness is on the other side of the comfort zone - and that forgiveness is different than we might expect.

According to the Glossary of Terms from A Course in Miracles, here is a distinction between the conventional definition of "forgiveness" and what we learn from this course:

Conventional: Giving up your resentment toward another and your right to punish him, even though you keep the perception that he sinned against you and that you are justified in resenting and punishing him. According to the Course, this forgiveness cannot forgive, for it affirms that the other sinned and thus is worthy of condemnation (yours and his own). It also affirms that you are holier than he, because he sinned and you forgave. In Chapter 27 of the Course (Section II, 2:8) we read "Who can say and mean, 'My brother, you have injured me, and yet, because I am the better of the two, I pardon you my hurt.'"

ACIM: Giving up your false perception that another sinned against you and that you are justified in resenting and punishing him. Releasing this perception automatically releases your resentment and desire to punish. Releasing another not from what he did, but from "what he did not do," from your misinterpretation of what he did. This can forgive, for it frees your mind of resentment and releases the other from the accusation of sin and guilt. The rationale behind forgiveness is that sin is not real. It is a wrong perception of attack. Attack has no power to do real harm, because what is real (in you and in your "attacker") cannot be harmed or changed in any way. The ultimate rationale for forgiveness is that "the separation never occurred," that "I am as God created me," that "God's Son is guiltless." Attack, then, has no effects. It is a harmless mistake, a call for love. Thus, what caused you to feel hurt was not the other's attack, but your own misperception f his attack. Forgiveness lets this misperception go. As a result, it heals the other person of guilt, and can even heal his body. It also heals your mind of guilt and fear, for these came from our anger and resentment. It also heals you of your sense of separateness, for it takes away the perception of sinfulness that made you recoil from your brother. Forgiveness is the source of extension and the way to joining. Forgiveness is salvation. It is the central theme of the Course, and (according to the Course) of the Holy Spirit's entire plan for salvation. [Other terms defined in this guide are bolded in this entry.]

So with this awareness, I now am free to choose the thoughts that will lead me to love rather than fear. It makes the choice rather easy, in my mind. Noticing where I choose to hold someone to my past interpretations of him comes back to me as the belief that others are doing that to me. If the past is forgiven, it is gone. There is no need for grudges or long memories. All that is certain is now.

That, for me, is a HUGE miracle!

Day 288

2007-10-15T08:53:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

Let me forget my brother's past today.

This is the thought that leads the way to You, and brings me to my goal. I cannot come to You without my brother. And to know my Source, I first must recognize what You created one with me. My brother's is the hand that leads me on the way to You. His sins are in the past along with mine, and I am saved because the past is gone. Let me not cherish it within my heart, or I will lose the way to walk to You. My brother is my savior. Let me not attack the savior You have given me. But let me honor him who bears Your name, and so remember that It is my own.

Forgive me, then, today. And you will know you have forgiven me if you behold your brother in the light of holiness. He cannot be less holy than can I, and you can not be holier than he.

Miracles I'm noticing:

How simple it is to exist in the now if we can get rid of the past. I see there is a new TV show called Samantha Who? and I think the premise is that this girl has a head injury which causes her to have amnesia, so she has to kind of rebuild her life without a past. In some ways that would make things a whole lot easier.

Have you ever had an argument with someone which causes you to want to hold a grudge, and then forgotten why you were arguing in the first place? It seems funny that we would hold on to those grudges.

It is no coincidence that right now as I am typing this, Christina Applegate is on Good Morning America telling about this new show (I swear this is not planned!). She just said that people who suffer from amnesia know what pizza is, for example, but they don't know what it tastes like. It's a matter of opinion. So Samantha has to learn about what her opinions are and discover who she is. Every day we are brand new. Our skin sheds every day. The show is about what you would do if you could start over right now in this moment.

It brings up an interesting question. If we we are today the sum total of the choices we've made and the experiences we've had up to now, everything we have been has created who we are. How much of that experience do we carry around as baggage? How difficult (or how easy) is it to try to recreate ourselves when others in our lives have long memories about things we may have said or things we may have done that we'd like to forget?

All it means is that we have an opportunity to communicate truthfully and address those questions and situations as they come up. If we are committed to new pathways and new ways of seeing and being, we simply (really, it is simple) need to change our minds and stick to our new mind.

Today's lesson is about forgetting our brother's past. This would definitely help everyone who wants to make a new start because often it's we who keep others stuck in their old ways because of our long memories. Let's work together to hold space for others in our lives wherever they are - and support them in their efforts to be and do whatever they want, not what we want.

That's my goal for today - and that's the miracle!

Day 287

2007-10-14T10:35:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

You are my goal, my Father. Only You.

Where would I go but Heaven? What could be a substitute for happiness? What gift could I prefer before the peace of God? What treasure would I seek and find and keep that can compare with my Identity? And would I rather live with fear than love?

You are my goal, my Father. What but You could I desire to have? What way but that which leads to You could I desire to walk? And what except the memory of You could signify to me the end of dreams and futile substitutions for the truth? You are my only goal. Your Son would be as You created him. What way but this could I expect to recognize my Self, and be at one with my Identity?

Miracles I'm noticing:

Yesterday's master mind group was amazing, as all of them are. Yesterday we talked about the results we want to create in our community. I have shared my dream of a creative meeting space with the group in previous weeks, but this week one of the members of this master mind told me about a conversation he had had with another member of the group in a previous session, and they are really serious about creating an executive retreat center a few miles from Fargo and want my input about my dream and how we could share that through a cooperative or a time sharing setup. How great is that?!?

You just never know what will happen if the dream or burning desire or WHY is big enough. I firmly believe that the HOW will take care of itself if we don't let the dreams die, and if we're not attached to the way it happens. If we have expectations for specifics, we might be disappointed, but if we are committed to the dream, watch out!

I notice that as I study this course, my thinking almost automatically shifts to love from fear. It almost seems like there is no other way to think anymore and that's why it's nice to take a step back every now and then and just notice the way things are happening around me. It's amazing to see how God works in me and through me. I'm truly blessed and grateful!

Day 286

2007-10-13T06:40:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

The hush of Heaven holds my heart today.

Father, how still today! How quietly do all things fall in place! This is the day that has been chosen as the time in which I come to understand the lesson that there is no need that I do anything. In You is every choice already made. In You has every conflict been resolved. In You is everything I hope to find already given me. Your peace is mine. My heart is quiet, and my mind at rest. You Love is Heaven, and Your Love is mine.

The stillness of today will give us hope that we have found the way, and travelled far along it to a wholly certain goal. Today we will not doubt the end which God Himself has promised us. We trust in Him, and in our Self, Who still is one with Him.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Yesterday I worked with a client to help them with a refresher on some personal accountability training I conducted there this past year. I met with three different groups of employees for 2-hour blocks to answer any questions and help them remember some of the principles of the training.

Two of the groups were very positive, saying they had seen changes in the entire workforce since the training - people had become more aware of a shift in attitude, and a reduction in blame. The third group as a whole said they had not seen much difference in the attitudes and that they were upset with management because of a change in the profit sharing which had happened nearly 5 years before.

This group was bitter and resentful and felt as if they were doing all the work in the company and management was taking all the credit. It was a completely different energy than either of the other two groups had. When I mentioned this to them, telling them that the other two groups had seen quite a big shift in the attitudes, they said they were the only honest group then.

Since I don't know much about the details which would have led to this attitude from this group of workers, I was able to be objective in my coaching; however, there came a point where I told the workers that there would be no point in my trying to teach them anything new with the closed minds I was experiencing from them. I surprised myself with my calmness and my commitment to opening their minds. From a bitter and resentful beginning, we were able to move the energy in the room to a little more receptive end.

The lesson for me was a direct and blatant mirror which showed me how I used to be as an employee at my last job. In fact, I was able to tell this group about myself in that situation, which seemed to open them up to me a little bit. I saw myself in their anger and frustration, and that was what allowed me to ask them whether or not they were ready to let down their guard a little bit and listen to some new information.

I think we made some strides, although I sense this group has a long way to go. I can imagine what it must be like to carry that resentment and anger all the time, never letting yourself be vulnerable and open to letting go because it will look like giving in.

The lesson was for me and I'm grateful for the awareness I have which allowed me to see that. That awareness worked to help me as I attended my nephew's football game last night on the way home from the training. I sat between my sister and brother-in-law and that's a vantage point I don't get very often at sporting events.

My first job out of college was a sports editor at a weekly newspaper, so my experience viewing games or matches was on the field or the court, never in the stands. Since then, I've almost always been on the sidelines of live games as a statistician (I do that for 2 men's and 2 women's college teams in my community).

In the stands I was able to notice how nothing the refs or the coaches or the other players did was good enough for my brother-in-law. They didn't throw the ball enough to my nephew, the refs didn't notice all the plays that interfered with my nephew's team, and the coaches just weren't assertive enough. I noticed that my sister would jump up and cheer and dance and laugh and assert herself in a way that earlier in my life would have made me embarrassed. I noticed how neither of their behaviors affected me as they would have a couple of years ago, and I gave a silent blessing to each of them as I relished in my gratitude for my awareness and for who they are in my life.

For me the entire day was a miracle.

What do you notice in your own life?

Day 285

2007-10-12T06:12:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

My holiness shines bright and clear today.

Today I wake with joy, expecting but the happy things of God to come to me. I ask but them to come, and realize my invitation will be answered by the thoughts to which it has been sent by me. And I will ask for only joyous things the instant I accept my holiness. For what would be the use of pain to me, what purpose would my suffering fulfill, and how would grief and loss avail me if insanity departs from me today, and I accept my holiness instead?

Father, my holiness is Yours. Let me rejoice in it, and through forgiveness be restored to sanity. Your Son is still as You created him. My holiness is part of me, and also part of You. And what can alter Holiness Itself?

Miracles I'm noticing:

Even when I'm tired, as I am this morning, and don't really feel like getting up, after having driven from my speech in Minneapolis last night to this hotel room in central Minnesota and getting ready to work with a client all day today, I still have the choice to wake with joy, expecting but the happy things of God to come to me. It is a choice.

What will come to me today as I rejoice in my holiness and welcome whatever will be? That's the miracle today!

Day 284

2007-10-11T08:38:00.001-05:00

Today's Lesson:

I can elect to change all thoughts that hurt.

Loss is not loss when properly perceived. Pain is impossible. There is no grief with any cause at all. And suffering of any kind is nothing but a dream. This is the truth, at first to be but said and then repeated many times; and next to be accepted as but partly true, with many reservations. Then to be considered seriously more ad more, and finally accepted as the truth. I can elect to change all thoughts that hurt. And I would go beyond these words today, and past all reservations, and arrive at full acceptance of the truth in them.

Father, what You have given cannot hurt, so grief and pain must be impossible. Let me not fail to trust in You today, accepting but the joyous as Your gifts; accepting but the joyous as the truth.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Yes, this is the truth. I know in my heart of hearts that I really can elect to change all thoughts that hurt. But sometimes it is just easier to play the victim. I can just hear myself now, trying desperately to justify the pain of loss and suffering I sometimes feel. "But you just don't understand," I can hear myself telling whom - myself? My Higher Self? When I feel the need to justify (which, by the way, doesn't happen nearly as often as it used to), it usually shows up as a thought that starts with "yeah, but ..." in my mind. For me, the word "but" is a sure sign that I'm trying to hold on to my need to be right, even though it may produce an unwanted thought like grief or suffering.

What if this lesson really is true, that I really do have the ability to change the way I think about things? What if pain really is impossible? I love how the lesson doesn't expect us to get it right away. That's too counter to what our ego has been convincing us for our entire lifetime. It allows us to try this new thought on, hold on to our doubt and our fear and our reservations, but keep repeating it to ourselves and see how that really feels.

I've just finished the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and I've learned so much. Not only is her writing style amazing and entertaining, the lessons I learned about myself and about God and food and love are somehow familiar to me. Things are not supposed to be as complicated as our egos want us to believe they are. Let's all work together and pull the mask off the ego we've become so familiar with all this time. What we will see is the Holy Spirit, waiting patiently for us to wake up and be calm, peaceful, happy, healthy and whole.

There is no order of difficulty in miracles. I'm ready to accept this one by just changing my mind about what's true. Join me and let's see what's there waiting.

Day 283

2007-10-10T08:09:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

My true Identity abides in you.

Father, I made an image of myself, and it is this I call the Son of God. Yet is creation as it always was, for Your creation is unchangeable. Let me not worship idols. I am he my Father loves. My holiness remains the light of Heaven and the Love of God. Is not what is beloved of You secure? Is not the light of Heaven infinite? Is not Your Son my true Identity, when You created everything that is?

Now are we one in shared Identity, with God our Father as our only Source, and everything created part of us. And so we offer blessing to all things, uniting lovingly with all the world, which our forgiveness has made one with us.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Last night's course gathering was amazing, as usual. It ended up being a counseling session for me regarding my relationship with my mother, which apparently I needed to hear. That's the beauty of this course and the wonderful people with whom I share my learning. Whenever one of us has something to work through, the rest of us apparently have need of similar lessons in our own lives, and, miraculously, the lesson we are studying applies perfectly.

Here is what I read after I diverted the study to my issue:

"It cannot be that it is hard to do the task that Christ appointed you to do, since it is He Who does it. And in the doing of it will you learn the body merely seems to be the means to do it. For the Mind is His. And so it must be yours. His Holiness directs the body through the mind at one with Him. And you are manifest unto your holy brother [mother], as he to you."

No accidents there.

We learned from our fellow course participants about many miracles in each of our lives, from a possible trip to Indonesia for one of them to a class in past life regression that two of them will be attending in Sedona to a connection one of them has with a long-lost friend in Hong Kong through a friend in Hawaii. Our connections in Fargo, North Dakota are reaching all over the world!

When I got home from course last night, I picked up where I'd been reading in the book Eat, Pray, Love and Liz is now in India studying at an Ashram. In this part of the book she had just been led up to a rooftop where she was handed a list of instructions and told to stay here until she was finished (she was struggling to let go of her baggage in her relationship with her ex-husband). Here is what I not coincidentally read there last night:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FREEDOM

1. Life's metaphors are God's instructions.
2. You have just climbed up and above the roof. There is nothing between you and the Infinite. Now, let go.
3. The day is ending. It's time for something that was beautiful to turn into something else that is beautiful. Now, let go.
4. Your wish for resolution was a prayer. Your being here is God's response. Let go, and watch the stars come out - on the outside and on the inside.
5. With all your heart, ask for grace, and let go.
6. With all your heart, forgive him [her], FORGIVE YOURSELF, and let him [her] go.
7. Let your intention be freedom from useless suffering. Then, let go.
8. Watch the heat of the day pass into the cool night. Let go.
9. When the karma of a relationship is done, only love remains. It's safe. Let go.
10. When the past has passed from you at last, let go. Then climb down and begin the rest of your life. With great joy.

Later in that chapter I read:

"You might just as well hang it up and kiss God good-bye if you really need to keep blaming somebody else for your own life's limitations. So what I asked of God that night on the Ashram roof was - given the reality that I would probably never speak to my ex-husband again - might there be some level upon which we could communicate? Some level on which we could forgive?"

Through Liz's meditation that night on the roof, she realized that she could finish the business herself, from within herself. That's what my coursemates were trying to tell me last night. I need to forgive myself and move on instead of holding resentments and stories as truths in my own mind regarding my mother.

So I'm on the way toward healing and I promise this is the last time you will have to read about my mother! Those are certainly miracles, and I'm blessed and grateful to have friends and fellow spiritual students right here in my life to help guide me through it. Thank you, Posse!

Day 282

2007-10-09T06:29:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

I will not be afraid of love today.

If I could realize but this today, salvation would be reached for all the world. This is the decision not to be insane, and to accept myself as God Himself, my Father and my Source, created me. This the determination not to be asleep in dreams of death, while truth remains forever living in the joy of love. And this the choice to recognize the Self Whom God created as the Son He loves, and Who remains my one Identity.

Father, Your Name is Love and so is mine. Such is the truth. And can the truth be changed by merely giving it another name? The name of fear is simply a mistake. Let me not be afraid of truth today.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Today's lesson is so simple! Love is the truth and everything else is not true. As it says, this simple truth, believed and realized, would mean salvation for all the world. It is what it is.

I'm giving the closing keynote address today at Senator Byron Dorgan's Great Plains Technology Conference here in Fargo. This will officially be my biggest audience ever (they're expecting between 800 and 1,000 people at the conference in the Fargodome). My job is to give people something inspirational to think about as they leave the conference. As I remember that love is the truth, I have nothing to be afraid of. Everyone there wants me to succeed, and wants to be inspired by what I will say. That is exciting, not scary. I've got 17 minutes to call them to action as they go back home after hearing all about the exciting technology that is available to us in our state and in our world.

I accept myself as God Himself, my Father and my Source, created me. That shift in perception is a miracle in itself - and the opportunity I have to speak to this crowd is no accident - it's a miracle, too!

Day 281

2007-10-08T06:34:00.000-05:00

7. What is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit mediates between illusions and the truth. Since He must bridge the gap between reality and dreams, perception leads to knowledge through the grace that God has given Him, to be His gift to everyone who turns to Him for truth. Across the bridge that He provides are dreams all carried to the truth, to be dispelled before the light of knowledge. There are sights and sounds forever laid aside. And where they were perceived before, forgiveness has made possible perception's tranquil end.

The goal the Holy Spirit's teaching sets is just this end of dreams. For sights and sounds must be translated from the witnesses of fear to those of love. And when this is entirely accomplished, learning has achieved the only goal it has in truth. For learning, as the Holy Spirit guides it to the outcome He perceives for it, becomes the means to go beyond itself, to be replaced by the eternal truth.

If you but knew how much your Father yearns to have you recognize your sinlessness, you would not let His Voice appeal in vain, nor turn away from His replacement for the fearful images and dreams you made. The Holy Spirit understands the means you made, by which you would attain what is forever unattainable. And if you offer them to Him, He will employ the means you made for exile to restore your mind to where it truly is at home.

From knowledge, where He has been placed by God, the Holy Spirit calls to you, to let forgiveness rest upon your dreams, and be restored to sanity and peace of mind. Without forgiveness will your dreams remain to terrify you. And the memory of all your Father's Love will not return to signify the end of dreams has come.

Accept your Father's gift. It is a Call from Love to Love, that It be but Itself. The Holy Spirit is His gift, by which the quietness of Heaven is restored to God's beloved Son. Would you refuse to take the function of completing God, when all He wills is that you be complete?

Today's Lesson:

I can be hurt by nothing but my thoughts.

Father, Your Son is perfect. When I think that I am hurt in any way, it is because I have forgotten who I am, and that I am as You created me. Your Thoughts can only bring me happiness. If ever I am sad or hurt or ill, I have forgotten what You think, and put my little meaningless ideas in place of where Your Thoughts belong, and where they are. I can be hurt by nothing but my thoughts. The Thoughts I think with You can only bless. The Thoughts I think with You alone are true.

I will not hurt myself today. For I am far beyond all pain. My Father placed me safe in Heaven, watching over me. And I would not attack the Son He loves, for what He loves is also mine to love.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Wow, there is a lot in today's lesson! When we realize that many times we are believing our own thoughts, which are not the Thoughts we share with God, it becomes much easier to see that we are meant to be happy and healthy. I can choose to hurt myself or not depending upon which thoughts I choose to believe. The Holy Spirit is here, placed by God, to help us recognize our own sinlessness, yet so often we choose the ego over God (EGO - Edging God Out).

When I remember today's lesson, life is so much easier. There is nothing to fear and everything to love. And that banishes stress and dis-ease and clears the way for happiness and health. There is nothing to fear when I know I've got the Holy Spirit on my side. This is a gift from God just waiting for us to accept it.

The awareness of this Truth is certainly a miracle in itself. Now we just need to accept it to begin transforming the world!

Day 280

2007-10-07T09:57:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

What limits can I lay upon God's Son?

Whom God created limitless is free. I can invent imprisonment for him, but only in illusions, not in truth. No Thought of God has left its Father's Mind. No Thought of God is limited at all. No Thought of God but is forever pure. Can I lay limits on the Son of God, whose Father willed that he be limitless, and like Himself in freedom and in love?

Today let me give honor to Your Son, for thus alone I find the way to You. Father, I lay no limits on the Son You love and You created limitless. The honor that I give to him is Yours, and what is Yours belongs to me as well.

Miracles I'm noticing:

There are certainly times when I forget that every human is God's Son, and by limiting my vision of myself or of anyone else, I am limiting the Creator. There is absolutely no limit to what any of us can accomplish. I notice that when I am in the presence of others who are having higher conversations, I am much more free to be who I am comfortable being.

I spoke yesterday about Perception with a group of medical coders and together we created a space where we could be open to new ways of seeing the world. It was just an hour, but I think we were able to allow everyone to think about things a little differently. I notice that when I am confident and remember that I am a child of God, things flow so much more freely.

There are no limits - on me or on anyone. What does that open up and allow in the universe?!?

Day 279

2007-10-06T06:59:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

Creation's freedom promises my own.

The end of dreams is promised me, because God's Son is not abandoned by His Love. Only in dreams is there a time when he appears to be in prison, and awaits a future freedom, if it be at all. Yet in reality his dreams are gone, with truth established in their place. And now is freedom his already. Should I wait in chains which have been severed for release, when God is offering me freedom now?

I will accept Your promises today, and give my faith to them. My Father loves the Son Whom He created as His Own. Would You withhold the gifts You gave to me?

Miracles I'm noticing:

I was just thinking about how much I love studying this course and getting together each Tuesday evening with my group to read and talk about what we're reading. I remember when I was a kid and how much I hated going to church and Sunday School. What is the difference? Why do I love studying now and hated it then? I think there are two reasons.

One is now it's elective. I don't have to do anything but back then I had no choice.

And the second is the joy and love I feel when reading and studying this course. I didn't feel that in Sunday School or church. Maybe it's the whole label thing - I'm starting to realize that my discomfort comes when labels are involved (Christian, Jew; Republican, Democrat; American, Canadian; etc.). There was certainly a right way and a wrong way to worship God in my upbringing. I remember one of the last times I was in church the pastor said something about the Christian God and that was the deal-breaker for me. How can there be a difference in the one God?!?

Today's lesson reminds me that there is freedom in God's Love. We can be free right now, not at some future time when we will be rewarded for our martyrdom on this earth. The chains are released and God promises us His Love and freedom.

That's a miracle to me!

Day 278

2007-10-05T07:26:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

If I am bound, my Father is not free.

If I accept that I am prisoner within a body, in a world in which all things that seem to live appear to die, then is my Father prisoner with me. And this do I believe, when I maintain the laws the world obeys must I obey; the frailties and the sins which I perceive are real, and cannot be escape. If I am bound in any way, I do not know my Father nor my Self. And I am lost to all reality. For truth is free, and what is bound is not a part of truth.

Father, I ask for nothing but the truth. I have had many foolish thoughts about myself and my creation, and have brought a dream of fear into my mind. Today, I would not dream. I choose the way to You instead of madness and instead of fear. For truth is safe, and only love is sure.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I met with a friend last night who was here from out of state and we had a wonderful talk and dinner. I love being with this friend because we can both try out new ideas and get to the truth really quickly. Even though he lives many states away, we can always pick up right where we left off. Last night we talked about each of our experiences with religion and how those preconceptions and early conditioning really did help us get to the place each of us finds ourselves today. He's not really sure whether or not he believes in God, but he knows there is something to be believed in. His experience as a child was of a punishing, rule-making God, so he's not sure that's what he'd choose now. But it's so fun to be able to have conversations about God in a safe space.

Today's lesson really validates our conversation from last night. If I am bound - bound by old conditioning or old habits or things that just don't work anymore - then my Father is not free. Truth is free, and what is bound is not a part of truth.

Realizing that I can choose my thoughts and I can question whether or not those thoughts are true without fear of hellfire and damnation for having those thoughts is very freeing for me. That actually leads me back to the God I perceive within myself and my brothers. And that is where I want to be.

That's the miracle!

Day 277

2007-10-04T07:02:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

Let me not bind Your Son with laws I made.

Your Son is free, my Father. Let me not imagine I have bound him with the laws I made to rule the body. He is not subject to any laws I made by which I try to make the body more secure. He is not changed by what is changeable. He is not slave to any laws of time. He is as You created him, because he knows no law except the law of love.

Let us not worship idols, nor believe in any law idolatry would make to hid the freedom of the Son of God. He is not bound except by his beliefs. Yet what he is, is far beyond his faith in slavery or freedom. He is free because he is his Father's Son. And he cannot be bound unless God's truth can lie, and God can will that He deceive Himself.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I've been talking quite a bit with different groups, especially in my master mind groups studying the book Think and Grow Rich. Yesterday we talked about fear, and what that means to us. We talked about what it is we think we really want, and one person said she really wants security. After we talked more about that, she became aware that she is giving up many opportunities to take risks and reap more rewards because she is so afraid of losing security. The conversation then turned to the real definition of security, and we realized that there really isn't anything that is sure anyway.

When we focus so much on the body, we realize that we are putting our attention on the wrong thing. The "laws" we think make we really believe will keep us safe and will help us do the "right" thing when really the only thing that is secure is the Word of God. We really have all the freedom and security we will ever need when we put our attention on the Truth, which is way beyond what the body can see.

For me, that awareness produced other miracles during the day, including heightened awareness of the responses and reactions from others around me during the meetings and gatherings of which I was a part. When I give up attachment to worldly things and ideals, I am much happier. Maybe that awareness was yesterday's miracle. It's that simple!

Day 276

2007-10-03T07:13:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

The Word of God is given me to speak.

What is the Word of God? My Son is pure and holy as Myself. And thus did God become the Father of the Son He loves, for thus was he created. This the Word His Son did not create with Him, because in this His Son was born. Let us accept His Fatherhood, and all is given us. Deny we were created in His Love and we deny our Self, to be unsure of Who we are, of Who our Father is, and for what purpose we have come. And yet, we need but to acknowledge Him Who gave His Word to us in our creation, to remember Him and so recall our Self.

Father, Your Word is mine. And it is this that I would speak to all my brothers, who are given me to cherish as my own, as I am loved and blessed and saved by You.

Miracles I'm noticing:

This afternoon I will be facilitating a dialogue among a non-profit board in which there are some hard feelings and the future of the organization is unsure. I'm not at all certain what I am going to say or how we are going to proceed with this process. But today's lesson reminds me that the Word of God is given me to speak, so if I remain an open conduit, and have a clear intention to resolve the situation, I am confident that everything will work out exactly as it should.

It is not only in conflict but every single day in every single situation that this is true. At last night's Course gathering we had a very powerful dialogue about specialness and comparison. Specialness always makes comparisons because specialness sees lack in another. Pursuit of specialness is always at the cost of peace. When we can see truth instead of specialness we will not see anyone as special or separate.

I will keep that in mind today as I facilitate this dialogue. If each of us can keep in mind our intention to leave our own specialness outside that place and come together with the intention of being truthful and honest and open, we should be able to allow the outcome to come to us.

Today's text begins with the line: "Forgiveness is the end of specialness." Another great reminder for today's event!

Day 275

2007-10-02T08:05:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

God's healing Voice protects all things today.

Let us today attend the Voice for God, which speaks an ancient lesson, no more true today than any other day. Yet has this day been chosen as the time when we will seek and hear and learn and understand. Join me in hearing. For the Voice for God tells us of things we cannot understand alone, nor learn apart. It is in this that all things are protected. And in this the healing of the Voice for God is found.

Your healing Voice protects all things today, and so I leave all things to You. I need be anxious over nothing. For Your Voice will tell me what to do and where to go; to whom to speak and what to say to him, what thoughts to think, what words to give the world. The safety that I bring is given me. Father, Your Voice protects all things through me.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I'm noticing more and more all the time the confidence I have when I speak about subjects I am really passionate about. My business partner and I had a meeting yesterday with the Minnesota State Chamber of Commerce, and during our presentation yesterday I noticed that when I felt I had to follow "a script" (there is no script, but when I put on the "official" hat, I almost made myself feel like there was) I wasn't as authentic. When I allowed myself to just talk about what it is Bock's Office does, it was much more real and I know the passion showed through. My partner was awesome, as he always is, because I could see and sense the authenticity in everything he says and is. I think I got caught up for a moment in the fact that this was "THE CHAMBER" and I think I reverted to "I've got to do this right" mode.

The miracle was how quickly I remembered, and got out of that old me and let the Spirit speak. Today's lesson is so great for reminding me. "For Your Voice will tell me ... what words to give the world." I love that!!

What are you noticing in your words, actions and thoughts?

Day 274

2007-10-01T15:26:00.000-05:00

Today’s Lesson:

Today belongs to love. Let me not fear.

Father, today I would let all things be as You created them, and give Your Son the honor due his sinlessness; the love of brother to his brother and his Friend. Through this I am redeemed. Through this as well the truth will enter where illusions were, light will replace all darkness, and Your Son will know he is as You created him.

A special blessing comes to us today, from Him Who is our Father. Give this day to Him, and there will be no fear today, because the day is given unto love.

Miracles I'm noticing:

This lesson really sums up the entire course. If we give all our attention to love, there is no place for fear. And if we really stop and think about it, what is the opposite of love but fear? Another way I've heard Marianne Williamson talk about this distinction is love and a crying out for love. There is no other way to see the distinction, in my mind. And that makes the choice pretty simple ... maybe not always easy, but really, pretty simple.

How different the world appears without the cloud of fear!

What are you noticing?

Day 273

2007-09-30T08:26:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

The stillness of the peace of God is mine.

Perhaps we are now ready for a day of undisturbed tranquility. If this is not yet feasible, we are content and even more than satisfied to learn how such a day can be achieved. If we give way to a disturbance, let us learn how to dismiss it and return to peace. We need but tell our minds, with certainty, "The stillness of the peace of God is mine," and nothing can intrude upon the peace the God Himself has given to His Son.

Father, Your peace is mine. What need have I to fear that anything can rob me of what You would have me keep? I cannot lose Your gifts to me. And so the peace You gave Your Son is with me still, in quietness and in my own eternal love for You.

Miracles I'm noticing:

As I read today's lesson, I imagined what a whole day of undisturbed tranquility would be like. I actually had a picture in my mind of biking through the fall leaves somewhere in Minnesota, all alone with nature on a crisp Sunday. Then I thought about what I have scheduled for today and got to the next part of the lesson that said "If this is not yet feasible ..." and realized that that is not possible today. However, when I continued to read, I see that I have the capability of returning my mind to peace, despite what may be happening around me.

So although I need to pack for an overnight trip to Minneapolis (and need to to that and be ready to go in the next 90 minutes) and then drive there and do everything that is scheduled for the trip, I can choose peace and stillness in the midst of everything else.

That's my miracle for today!

Day 272

2007-09-29T07:23:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

How can illusions satisfy God's Son?

Father, the truth belongs to me. My home is set in Heaven by Your Will and mine. Can dreams content me? Can illusions bring me happiness? What but Your memory can satisfy Your Son? I will accept no less than You have given me. I am surrounded by Your Love, forever still, forever gentle and forever safe. God's Son must be as You created him.

Today we pass illusions by. And if we hear temptation call to us to stay and linger in a dream, we turn aside and ask ourselves if we, the Sons of God, could be content with dreams, when Heaven can be chosen just as easily as hell, and love will happily replace all fear.

Miracles I'm noticing:

This course really is about mind re-training. I'm noticing that awareness is the first step. When I become aware of the way I'm thinking and notice the results of that thinking, I then am able to choose a new thought or a new way of thinking. When I become aware of the illusions instead of the truth, I can choose not to be tempted by those illusions. It really comes down to how I feel. I never felt good when limited by religion and the rules and beliefs that were passed down for no reason except "that's the way it is." I feel so much more free to connect with Spirit by studying this course. And the best part is that I am studying it with a group. That's why this is so important to me. I learn what I learn on my own, but then have an opportunity to learn from my friends and fellow students. That's a miracle for me!

Day 271

2007-09-28T08:20:00.000-05:00

6. What Is the Christ?

Christ is God's Son as He created Him. He is the Self we share, uniting us with one another, and with God as well. He is the Thought which still abides within the Mind that is His Source. He has not left His holy home, nor lost the innocence in which He was created. He abides unchanged forever in the Mind of God.

Christ is the link that keeps you one with God, and guarantees that separation is no more than an illusion of despair, for hope forever will abide in Him. Your mind is part of His, and His of yours. He is the part in which God's Answer lies; where all decisions are already made, and dreams are over. He remains untouched by anything the body's eyes perceive. For though in Him His Father placed the means for your salvation, yet does He remain the Self Who, like His Father, knows no sin.

Home of the Holy Spirit, and at home in God alone, does Christ remain at peace within the Heaven of your holy mind. This is the only part of you that has reality in truth. The rest is dreams. Yet will these dreams be given unto Christ, to fade before His glory and reveal your holy Self, the Christ to you at last.

The Holy Spirit reaches from the Christ in you to all your dreams, ad bids them come to Him, to be translated into truth. He will exchange them for the final dream which God appointed as the end of dreams. For when forgiveness rests upon the world and peace has come to every Son of God, what could there be to keep things separate, for what remains to see except Christ's face?

And how long will this holy face be seen, when it is but the symbol that the time for learning now is over, and the goal of the Atonement has been reached at last? So therefore let us seek to find Christ's face and look on nothing else. As we behold His glory, will we know we have no need of learning or perception or of time, or anything except the holy Self, the Christ Whom God created as His Son.

Today's Lesson:

Christ's is the vision I will use today.

Each day, each hour, every instant, I am choosing what I want to look upon, the sounds I want to hear, the witnesses to what I want to be the truth for me. Today I choose to look upon what Christ would have me see, to listen to God's Voice, and seek the witnesses to what is true in God's creation. In Christ's sight, the world and God's creation meet, and as they come together all perception disappears. His kindly sight redeems the world from death, for nothing that He looks on but must live, remembering the Father and the Son; Creator and creation unified.

Father, Christ's vision is the way to You. What He beholds invites Your memory to be restored to me. And this I choose, to be what I would look upon today.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I attended a 25th anniversary celebration last night for one of my clients' business - what a total blast! As I looked around the room it occurred to me how very fortunate I am to have clients like I do is a blessing - and to consider them friends (and their friends my friends) is a double blessing.

I think back to the me I was before I began to study this course and I don't think I would have been as confident as I am today. I would have looked around that room and questioned my worthiness to be in the company of such wonderful people. But I had such a great time with everyone I talked to and the new people I met.

We are all worthy - because we can choose to see through Christ's vision. What a miracle! And it was there all the time!

Day 270

2007-09-27T05:54:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

I will not use the body's eyes today.

Father, Christ's vision is Your gift to me, and it has power to translate all that the body's eyes behold into the sight of a forgiven world. How glorious and gracious is this world! Yet how much more will I perceive in it than sight can give. The world forgiven signifies Your Son acknowledges his Father, lets his dreams be brought to truth, and waits expectantly the one remaining instant more of time which ends forever, as Your memory returns to him. And now his will is one with Yours. His function now is but Your Own, and every thought except Your Own is gone.

The quiet of today will bless our hearts, and through them peace will come to everyone. Christ is our eyes today. And through His sight we offer healing to the world through Him, the holy Son whom God created whole; the holy Son whom God created one.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I love the idea of today's lesson. What if there were only the eyes of Christ and not the body's eyes? What if that were all I could see with? How much more (and how much less) would I actually see? I'd love to see more good, more beauty, more justice, more peace, more happiness and less prejudice, less upset, less hatred, less jealousy, less anger. What if that is possible now? I do have other eyes through which to see everything. What if I consciously used that filter through which to see what my physical eyes see?

Yesterday during the class I was teaching, one of the participants came up to me during a break and told me she felt she needed to know me better. I felt the same way based on some of her comments during the class and also her answers to some of the prework she turned in before the class. She was writing about intention, and she was the only one in the class who had seen The Secret. When I asked, her answer was, "of course."

So she and my business partner and the person who lined up the training went out for dinner last night and had a very deep and meaningful conversation about mirroring, oneness, accountability and Gandhi ("you must be the change your wish to see in the world.").

There are no coincidences. It was a fabulous conversation and I know I've made a new friend. She and her husband own a vacation home in Maine, and I fully intend to take advantage of her offer to use it sometime.

I'm excited to see what I'll see today on my drive home from Pierre, SD to Fargo (about 6 hours) as I consciously choose not to use my body's eyes. Where will I see the miracles?

Day 269

2007-09-26T05:30:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

My sight goes forth to look upon Christ's face.

I ask Your blessing on my sight today. It is the means which You have chosen to become the way to show me my mistakes, and look beyond them. It is given me to find a new perception through the Guide You gave to me, and through His lessons to surpass perception and return to truth. I ask for the illusion which transcends all those I made. Today I choose to see a world forgiven, in which everyone shows me the face of Christ, and teaches me that what I look upon belongs to me; that nothing is, except Your holy Son.

Today our sight is blessed indeed. We share one vision, as we look upon the face of Him Whose Self is ours. We are one because of Him Who is the Son of God; of Him Who is our own Identity.

Miracles I'm noticing:

There really are miracles all around, who are there to show me the face of Him Whose Self is ours. I'm going to be teaching creativity and innovation today, which allows me to see with new eyes. Today's prayer asks to surpass perception and return to truth. According to this course, perception is only what I think I see - it is seeing through the body's eyes and may not really be the truth. So today I will ask to see beyond my physical sight and see the truth as I'm teaching.

I trust I will see all kinds of miracles in the students I'll be teaching. I need only open the eyes of my heart.

Day 268

2007-09-25T05:39:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

Let all things be exactly as they are.

Let me not be Your critic, Lord, today, and judge against You. Let me not attempt to interfere with Your creation, and distort it into sickly forms. Let me be willing to withdraw my wishes from its unity, and thus to let it be as You created it. For thus will I be able, too, to recognize my Self as You created me. In love was I created, and in love will I remain forever. What can frighten me, when I let all things be exactly as they are?

Let not our sight be blasphemous today, nor let our ears attend to lying tongues. Only reality is free of pain. Only reality is free of loss. only reality is wholly safe. And it is only this we seek today.

Miracles I'm noticing:

Wow this lesson really hits home. It reminds me of Byron Katie's "The Work" again (I suppose it should be no surprise that that would be at the forefront of my awareness since I listen to it at least once a week on CD). She asks the question there "Who needs God when you have your opinion?" If we are believing our thoughts, we are not open to what is because we've made something completely false act like the truth. She says more than once, "It is what it is, until it's not - that's the way of it."

If we don't even know what we don't know, it's probably because we're believing our thoughts. And if our thoughts are not producing joy and love and peace, they're not true thoughts because, as today's lesson reminds us, "Only reality is free of pain. Only reality is free of loss. Only reality is wholly safe."

If we aren't able to let all things be exactly as they are in all their perfect imperfection, then we are judging. Mother Teresa once said she worked with the poorest of the poor because in them she saw Jesus Christ in all his distressing disguises. She was a person who didn't fight against things the way they were, she believed that standing for something was much more powerful.

I notice my own judgments all the time, even though I want to believe I don't have prejudices. Awareness is the first step to artful action, which is mindful and deliberate and focused. Artful action then leads to transformation, which is when we really begin living what we're learning here in this Course.

Blessed and grateful!

Day 267

2007-09-24T05:47:00.000-05:00

Today's Lesson:

My heart is beating in the peace of God.

Surrounding me is all the life that God created in His Love. It calls to me in every heartbeat and in every breath; in every action and in every thought. Peace fills my heart, and floods my body with the purpose of forgiveness. Now my mind is healed, and all I need to save the world is given me. Each heartbeat brings me peace; each breath infuses me with strength. I am a messenger of God, directed by His Voice, sustained by Him in love, and held forever quiet and at peace within His loving Arms. Each heartbeat calls His Name, and every one is answered by His Voice, assuring me I am at home in Him.

Let me attend Your Answer, not my own. Father, my heart is beating in the peace of the Heart of Love created. It is there and only there that I can be at home.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I definitely have my moments of peace; but there are still those moments of worry and doubt, which remind me that I am still on the journey and haven't reached the destination yet. It is in those moments of worry and doubt that today's lesson is so necessary for me.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to ride with a friend to a small town about 90 minutes away and the ride was quite peaceful, simply because I didn't have to drive. The leaves are turning color, and the day was sunny and hot. However, it was very windy, which caused my friend to have to really hold on to the wheel more tightly than normal. I knew this because of the big gusts that would grab the car and try to throw it off course. Although had all the makings of a peaceful drive for me, I found myself being just the slightest bit nervous because I wasn't in control of the car. I found myself at least once doing the mom gasp (I call it that because my mom did that all the time when she would ride with me - gasp and grab the dash when a car in front of us put on its brake lights or for many other reasons which were mostly unknown to me as the driver) and then catching myself and remembering that she is perfectly capable of driving safely.

When I remember that I don't have to be a back seat driver in my own life, I know that God's love calls to me in every heartbeat and every breath and peace fills my heart. My mind is healed, and all I need to save the world is given me.

This is a great reminder to me to just notice the miracles all around, because they're there all the time.

I'll be on my way to Pierre, SD in a couple of hours, and as I'm driving, I will keep today's lesson in mind. I'm sure I'll see many opportunities to notice my heart beating in the peace of God.

What are you noticing??