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

What are the Gifts of God? They would have to be the most valuable things in Life, yes? LIFE and GOD are ONE. So they could also be called the Gifts of Life. What if we were taught as soon as we could talk these are the most important acquisitions a person can have? We might have saved a lot of struggle, strife, and inner confusion. This is a beautiful Lesson to master. In the mastery we are entrusted more and more with the gifts. But we have to practice them and give them away to master them. What better thing do we have to do in life than to master the Gifts of God?  

There is a Thought of God that underlies all the illusions of strife and struggle that seem to permeate our world. This is nothing short of Heaven. Through a decision, we are told in Lesson #138, we can enter into this divine realm. The problem is pointed out in this Lesson--we are in denial of our Divine Connection. Consciously or unconsciously we do not think we can achieve perfection, because we have not fully forgiven everyone and everything. It is through the power of the Christ in us that we are able to do this. and we need His help to make this decision. In that, there is no "denial." 

We are connected to our Source, but are we fully aware of this connection? It has to be total, in order to be One with it. We may be experiencing emotional states that "separate us" from this whole Awareness—anger, fear or guilt. What would help us undo these? Christ's Vision is talked about. What is it? Are we interested in seeing through Christ's Vision? This is what would undo our anger, fear and guilt. And this is necessary before the Oneness with our Source can be recognized and realized. 

How do you feel to be told there is no death? Also, that "sadness, fear, anxiety, doubt, anger, faithlessness and lack of trust, concern for bodies, and envy" are all "forms of death?" We are Spirit. In this perfect state of the Love of God which is timeless, there is no death. Therefore, we are immortal. This is the true essence of our Being. It is who we are as God created us. Can we get our heads around this? It's a huge leap in human evolution. 

This lesson, held firmly in the mind, will liberate us from death. This is Jesus's promise. Will we have trust that His words are true? This is one Lesson which is repeated three times in the Workbook of ACIM. It would have to be a key lesson for it to be given three times. "I am as God created me." What have we "made up" to be our self? This we have to relinquish in order to make contact with our true, God created Self. Victory over death is held out to us. We need but accept it. 

“Give me your blessing.” This is quite a request. When we see with the eyes of Christ, without any judgment or attack, we are entitled to that energy of forgiveness coming back to us. This Lesson is about extending Christ’s vision so we can have it as our own. Giving blessing and asking for it in return is the action of the Christ in our actual life.

Fear or Love? Which do we choose to be our home? These are the only two "options" we have. One is generated from our True Self. The other is self-imposed by a made up self, in separation from our Source—Love. If Fear is real, then Love would be diminished and rendered partial, losing its power of all pervasiveness. If Love is real, fear cannot exist. This Lesson helps us ponder the nature of our Self. Love can "cast out" the fear, the "stranger," if we allow it. The Holy Spirit of the Christ can help us do that. 

We give what we have. And, we also realize, we have what we give. In the realm of the miraculous, when we give something away we increase it in ourselves. More LOVE given away brings the giver more LOVE. The more we forgive others, by giving forgiveness away, the more we have forgiveness for ourselves. Christ's vision is one of a forgiven world in which the step into Heaven is very short. Beauty abounds, and forgiveness rests upon all things. Truly these are the miracles we have received as students of ACIM. 

Are we receiving and giving Christ's vision here? What is it? Love holds no grievances. Forgiveness is complete. And we have accepted the Atonement for ourselves. Then we look upon a "forgiven world." Are we doing this? This is the challenge and the gift. 

Into His Presence would we enter now. What is this Presence? Are we ready to enter into it? The Christ’s Presence is very real, and available to us, yet it is only through our pure intent that we will approach it and enter into it. It is not attained through “learning,” but rather through grace and the surrender of our ego’s attempts. The Presence is there when we show up empty handed, and with the faith that we will receive this divine connection.