Lesson 71

Some of the lessons I follow in the ACIM

 

Lesson 71

Only God's plan for salvation will work.

You may not realize that the ego has set up a plan for salvation in opposition to God's. It is this plan in which you believe. Since it is the opposite of God's, you also believe that to accept God's plan in place of the ego's is to be damned. This sounds preposterous, of course. Yet after we have considered just what the ego's plan is, perhaps you will realize that, however preposterous it may be, you do believe in it.
The ego's plan for salvation centers around holding grievances. It maintains that, if someone else spoke or acted differently, if some external circumstance or event were changed, you would be saved. Thus, the source of salvation is constantly perceived as outside yourself. Each grievance you hold is a declaration, and an assertion in which you believe, that says, "If this were different, I would be saved." The change of mind necessary for salvation is thus demanded of everyone and everything except yourself.
The role assigned to your own mind in this plan, then, is simply to determine what, other than itself, must change if you are to be saved. According to this insane plan, any perceived source of salvation is acceptable provided that it will not work. This ensures that the fruitless search will continue, for the illusion persists that, although this hope has always failed, there is still grounds for hope in other places and in other things. Another person will yet serve better; another situation will yet offer success.
Such is the ego's plan for your salvation. Surely you can see how it is in strict accord with the ego's basic doctrine, "Seek but do not find." For what could more surely guarantee that you will not find salvation than to channelize all your efforts in searching for it where it is not?
God's plan for salvation works simply because, by following His direction, you seek for salvation where it is. But if you are to succeed, as God promises you will, you must be willing to seek there only. Otherwise, your purpose is divided and you will attempt to follow two plans for salvation that are diametrically opposed in all ways. The result can only bring confusion, misery and a deep sense of failure and despair.
How can you escape all this? Very simply. The idea for today is the answer. Only God's plan for salvation will work. There can be no real conflict about this, because there is no possible alternative to God's plan that will save you. His is the only plan that is certain in its outcome. His is the only plan that must succeed.
Let us practice recognizing this certainty today. And let us rejoice that there is an answer to what seems to be a conflict with no resolution possible. All things are possible to God. Salvation must be yours because of His plan, which cannot fail.
Begin the two longer practice periods for today by thinking about today's idea, and realizing that it contains two parts, each making equal contribution to the whole. God's plan for your salvation will work, and other plans will not. Do not allow yourself to become depressed or angry at the second part; it is inherent in the first. And in the first is your full release from all your own insane attempts and mad proposals to free yourself. They have led to depression and anger; but God's plan will succeed. It will lead to release and joy.
Remembering this, let us devote the remainder of the extended practice periods to asking God to reveal His plan to us. Ask Him very specifically:

What would You have me do?
Where would You have me go?
What would You have me say, and to whom?

Give Him full charge of the rest of the practice period, and let Him tell you what needs to be done by you in His plan for your salvation. He will answer in proportion to your willingness to hear His Voice. Refuse not to hear. The very fact that you are doing the exercises proves that you have some willingness to listen. This is enough to establish your claim to God's answer.
In the shorter practice periods, tell yourself often that God's plan for salvation, and only His, will work. Be alert to all temptation to hold grievances today, and respond to them with this form of today's idea:

Holding grievances is the opposite of God's plan
for salvation. And only His plan will work.

Try to remember today's idea some six or seven times an hour. There could be no better way to spend a half minute or less than to remember the Source of your salvation, and to see It where It is.



From John: When I'm feeling the spirit, when I'm in the "zone", when it feels just right.  These words mean so much to me....

When I'm not...LOL "How the hell am I going to pay that damed gas bill?"  "Is Fred going to keep "being good ?"  "Will they lay me off from work?"  "Why didn't she smile back at me today?"

What he said, what she said, what they thought, why am I, why am I not.

So many things we confuse ourselves with.  When all we've need to remember is what is real, what is concreate.  What does not change in our world of change.

Holding grievances is the opposite of God's plan 

And my Plan as well I think.  To seperate myslef from my grievances (I.E. My petty thoughts of self importance).  I must let go the world, all of it.  And then let the Holy Spirit refill and renew my the vessel of my mind.

Then, I get just a wee bit closer to understanding.  ACIM tells me I'm the salvation of the world.  LOL  If this is true the world is in deep, deep trouble. 

But, perhaps I may well save a piece of the world and therefore spread the lagesee of that to others who will do the same.

As always, just my thoughts.

John.

Jail Time

I'm just sort of wondering what would happen to folks in prison for serious crimes if the law was altered.

If one person is harmed inside the walls of the prison, then all within are held equally guilty of the crime.

Aside from psychopaths, I can't see how this would not be able to improve their lives within.  Work together or suffer the same fate as the next guy.

Just a thought.  I've been watching NCIS if you can't tell. :)

Not exactly a spiritual thought I know.  But it's what's in my mind at the moment. 

John.

Creation

In meditating today I came to a new thought.  Didn't much like it at first as it contradicts one of my older thoughts and we do humans have never been big supporters of change. 

But I looked and looked at it and could not find a way to refute it. 

I've thought for years that we are creators created in the image of God who is our creator.  I was wro...wrou...

You know that word the means not Right!  Ok. I can say it.  Just give me a moment. 

I ...was....wrong. 

There!  I've said it and we shall never speak of this again. LOL

So anyway, it came to me that God created and it was One creation.  The creation encompassed all things in all times in all ways.

What we do is not to create, but to see, to glimpse or maybe just perceive different parts of his creation at what are for us different times.  I guess it's like the string theory the scientists tells us about.  Multiple universes and the like.

When we pray in faith we can see things differently, different outcomes which we sometimes see as amazing or even divine.  Which they are.

But it's not God's creation that has changed, but our seeing of his creation that has expanded.

God and his creation is perfect, complete, whole and holy.  Our perception is not.  When we see something different we think it's a WOW moment.  It is, but only for us.  God and his creation have not changed.  We have changed to enable us to see more of what is really there in the light that God created.

Ok, done popping off.

Just my thoughts.

Easter

Easter has always been a bit confusing to me as for most folks it seems more a celebration of the crucifixion of Christ than of the resurrection.  Died for our sins.  Yes indeed.  But he did so much more than that.

For me it's always been about the resurrection and the ascension than anything else.  We always see the cross on christian things.  Bibles and Churches and necklaces and rings and what not.

What symbol do we have for the resurrection?

I myself wear a ring with a cross on it all the time.  A hollow cross that reminds me that the cross is an empty thing and a doorway to other things.

I think Christ did not come to show us how to die, but how to live and live well.  To remind us that we are not of this earth, just passing through it via the body.  He showed us, right up personal and direct that there is no death. 

"Fear not"  What a great lesson!  Which we have a great tendancy to ignore whenever possible.  Most of us spend our lives fearing everything and in so doing show our lack of faith.  We worry over the job, the relationship, retirement, the kids, the boss, the car, what does he or she think of me.  And on and on.

We are to bring All things to God in prayer.  And then leave them there!


Fear not.  A simple lesson that takes all of our attention to actually learn to do.  Must be why we were also told to keep our minds stayed on God and to pray constantly. 

Bodies do not have souls.  They are simply vessels for souls.


We are the children of the living God.  Not just bodies.  Souls using bodies to interact with other souls also using bodies.

We call him the Messiah, the Teacher.  And that's just what he did.  We so very often seem to miss the lessons though.  At least I know I do.

And where the hell did that damned bunny come in?  Eggs?  Candy? 

We really do come up with some rather bizarre ideas we do.

Incidentally if you've never had it.  Fried rabbit is great!  It really does taste just like chicken.

Just my thoughts.

John.

How we think is how we live.

Recently I got a short pay check.  Too short for me to pay my rent on my time.  I always pay on the 15th or there about when it's not due till the last day of the month. 

Just a habit I've picked up as a cushion.  Well.  It didn't work this time around, so I'll be eating bread and cheese for a while till I get things back on track.

I prayed.  "There is always more than enough, I know this is true, as it has always been true.  The Father will not give a stone to a child who asks bread."

Next day, there it was.  A check from some Government agency I've never heard of for 410$ andsome change.

And I can pay the rent on my time once again. :)

Coincidence?  I don't think so!

Create well this day my friends.

John.

AARP on the move

Wow!  I got a letter form AARP today asking me to join up. 

Geez, I'm only 49 years old!  They want me half in the grave already. 

What they think life ends at 50?  My Dad is 70 something I think, and still going strong. 

While I'm ready to leave this world, and at times more than ready to do so.  It's not due to my age.

I'll go when I'm damned good and ready! 

Silly people!  I'm going to live forever.  This is God's word to me.  Now where I choose to live...that is up to me.

Be well all,

Create as if there is no tomorrow, because there's not one.

John.

How strange this life is

Today I've been reading blogs from my family and friends and am seeing a theam going on.

Prayer.  What does it do?  What does it accomplish?  Why bother with it?

These are my thoughts on the matter.

Prayer is not the speaking of the words "Thank you father for this food" is not a prayer unless you actually mean it.  Prayer is a feeling, a purpose, a commune with God.  A time of talking with God within and without.  For he is in our inside lives as well as our outside lives.

The Bible tells us to pray constantly and what better way to spend a life than to do just that?

I of course don't, or I'd most likely have moved on from this place before.

So...I give it a shot now and again.  But I'm lazy and the Father is patience.

What to say?  In your mind, see things as you would have them be for Yourself!  Doing so for others is a chancy thing as they are praying also and you don't know for what.

No matter what they say out loud you won't know their heart.  That's God's job.  And people lie.  Even to themselves.

Life is a prayer.  How we live is how we pray.  Seems a lot of folks don't believe that.  Yet how else would God be always in our lives, in our heads and with us always?

When it's all done and done and your at your lowest.  Is that not when God steps up and takes care of things?

He has for me at least.

And so often it's not an external thing that changes.  It's inside me, the way I see something, the way I do something, the way I think of something.  Behold!  There is God.

Again and again.  And I have to wonder if the worries of the world come to me or do I attract them to me.

If I can do that, I can be rid of them as easily.

God created us to be creators.  Don't settle for being small.  Be large!  Truly live as if there's no tomorrow.

Heck from what folks tell me the world will end in 2012.  According to the Aztec calendar.

Personally I wonder if the Aztecs just figured that they had done enough and let future generations do their own math.

Be well all and know you are loved.

Create a great day.

John.