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

Can we remember that our goal in life is to be happy? Happiness comes in may forms. And there are times when we "feel bad," not happy at all. Yes, everything that comes to us we "asked for." Maybe not consciously, but subconsciously. Now we are even aligning our subconscious with Pure Joy. We put aside all conflicting goals but this one. This is our Holy Purpose. Teach only Love and Joy, for that is what we are. 

Forgiveness in the world of "separation" is the only means back to the remembrance of God, and of our true Self that is certain of its connection to Source. Had we not imagined the "separation," forgiveness would not be needed. But we did imagine it. Therefore, we need a means to "undo" that mistake. This is the means back—forgive yourself and everyone else. NOW. Not by first making errors real, then letting yourself "off the hook," but by seeing with the eyes of your True Self that sees no error. 

Our choice is what we attend to. Will we give our attention to perfect peace throughout our day? How will we spend it? This Lesson shows us that Heaven is always here, within us, but we can distract ourselves with pain, suffering, and sorrow. This is a matter of decision. "Heaven is the decision I must make." (Lesson #138). Therefore, it is the only decision that requires our undivided attention. Giving attention to spend our day in perfect peace is the equivalent of deciding for Heaven. Will we, is the question, especially in the midst of challenges? 

To whom are we listening? We have to step out of the torrential flow of thought. The mind free of thought loves silence. In this quiet place of stillness, it is possible to receive. And what we hear, when we truly have disengaged from our ego's mind of problems, judgments, projections, and plans, is something from the Holy Spirit. It begins with Silence. What we "hear" in this awareness is the Voice for God. It will come on its own when we are truly with it. Our only "job" is to silence our thought. Then our will and God's Will become united. This is the ultimate Yoga. 

How vast is our true Self, Who has made its will one with God's Will. Everything that happens to us we have called for it. Therefore, what is the lesson in an emotionally upsetting and charged exchange? These incidents in our life did not just happen on their own. We called them forth. We are the rulers of our Destiny. With the Holy Spirit and Christ leading us, we return to the Heaven state which is God's Will for us. 

Who we are is revealed in this simple Lesson. We are the Sons of God in our true Self. Nothing that we have made has any consequences that would negate this fact. Today we can say to God— I may waken to the truth in You, and know that Heaven is restored to me. Knowing who we are as God created us restores our sanity.  We are sinless. We are beloved of God. His light shines upon us and in us. The light we shine is likened to God's light. Heaven is restored to us in our awareness of this Light. 

What is our truth? We are Divine Beings, created in Joy and Truth. Truth is Joy and Joy is Truth. We are in need of nothing but the Truth. We are Children of God and that is a fact, and God's will for us is perfect happiness. Are we willing to stay in that vibration of the Truth. Joy is all around us. Will we accept this truth for ourselves right now? There is no better time than now. 

How do we limit ourselves? Judgments of ourselves and others? Attack thoughts shot out at certain people and situations? Cutting people off who offend us? Seeing ourselves as "good" and others as "evil?" There are many ways in which we limit the effulgence of our spirit. Yet, the glory of God awaits us any moment. We can apply this lesson throughout the day when any limiting belief contradicts our Constant Joy!

Forgiveness is the "master erase." There are stages to real forgiveness. I admit "I was wrong because perfect happiness was interrupted. I ask for the inner correction needed. I allow the Holy Spirit the space to undo all the consequences I do not want. I want to be corrected."  This is the essence of forgiveness as the Course teaches us. These are the steps that give us a Love of inner correction that forgiveness is.

This Lesson makes it clear that all pain, suffering, and grief are not part of our true SELF. Therefore, we have to transmute them to Peace. The Peace of God is our inheritance, and this implies we need to undo and process out any fear, anger, or guilt that may be contributing to our suffering. The key in this lesson is to see that we have caused our own suffering, and with the help of the Holy Spirit in this Lesson, we can end it as well.