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

Lesson #176 is a review of giving blessings to our brothers. It is also in seeing the holiness of our brothers so we can see it in ourself. Without this exchange the grace of God cannot descend upon us. Blessing is a sure sign that the separation has ended in our mind, and we have something to give and receive. 

This Review V brackets every two Lessons (151-170) with this statement: "God is but Love, and therefore so am I." Love is our Home. Fear is a stranger here. LOVE is who we are. Fear is a distraction of our ego, our false self, to usurp the home of Love.  But the miracles will always undo this fear, and show us the ways of Love. This is our home, and we give the miracles we have received. This restores our minds to Love.  

Can we enter into Christ's Presence? What would that look like to us? We explore this. 

Who leads us? Will we step back? What does that mean? Can we make ourselves empty, and allow the Divine to fill us? Can we be "guided by God?" Most of the time we are trying to "figure it out." We think we must manage everything. Can we just completely let go? Life will take care when we completely let go. Will we though? These Lessons help us. 

What defenses do we have? Anger? Judgment? Control? We are asked to give up "defenses." We are also asked to "be among the ministers of God." These are tall orders. Can we rise to meet them? Love is the vibration of no defenses. Love is Truth, and Truth needs no explanation or defense. It is what it is. It is as certain as the sun rising. We are being asked to accept the Truth. Can we? 

We are asked to walk with the Christ now, and give Him our hands and feet and whole being for sharing the truth of our unification. Love is who we are as God created us. Would we identify with anything short of that? These reviews are asking for our co-operation to be in the Strength of our Divine connection. 

Fear causes us to defend ourself. Defenses attract attack, then we feel justified in our counter attacks. This Lesson points out this "cruel dynamic." We project this justification for attack onto God—now we have an idol—a "god of vengeance." What if God has none of this. There is no "god of vengeance." This is a construct of our imagined guilt and separation. This is a return to sanity. Our brothers are not "out to get us." Attack is never justified. Forgiveness is what is needed, not attack and "cruelty." 

Grace is an absolute state of mind. Can we rise above dualism, the level of thought itself, to enter into this state of grace? This is the challenge put forth in this Lesson, and in this talk given on Lesson #169. Markus explores grace, even within the challenges of physical ailments and problems. Can we rise above problems and be in a different dimension of Grace? Join Markus in this essential human question. 

Grace is the gift of God in our life so certainly present that we can relax and let go into perfect care and safety. Wouldn't this be the goal of miraculous thinking? The "last step" is up to God bestowing upon us, when we have forgiven ourselves and everyone else completely. The grace of God is given. Can we claim it fully? This Lesson holds out the certainty that God will provide everything we need, and more. 

This Lesson establishes us in the ONE LIFE we share with our Creator. This is an Immortal Life. This is a spiritual paradigm in which there is no death. We come to a complete shift in this Lesson with identification with the Spirit. Will we make a stand today to be the Christ or remain our "personality" we made up? We have a choice to make—a decision for Heaven or hell; Eternal Life or death. It seems like this choice should not be hard to make. Why not?