Someone asked a question about Haiti on our ACIM Practical Application YahooGroup.

The following was my response:

For me, I look at it this way. Yes, ACIM says that the world is an illusion, yet, I don’t really experience it as an illusion. I’m typing this for example. If it was an illusion then I would have no need, right?

With Haiti, I can hold the truth for everyone, yet I can be compassionate and I accept what is triggering me about what occurred and offer that to Holy Spirit. In offering it to Holy Spirit, I can then ask Him how would He guide me to respond. Would I respond? Would I send money? Would I go there if I was in the medical profession? Would I do nothing in “form” but pray in truth?

In everything for me, it is stepping back and working with the Holy Spirit.

After leaving my yoga class just now I saw this on a church sign:

Revealing the Feeling is the Beginning of Healing.

I loved that statement because it is so true. It’s not that I pretend that I do not see the suffering in Haiti. It is that if I am not at peace at what is occurring that I reveal that to the Holy Spirit. I do not hide what I am feeling from His sight. I share with Him, accepting it as what is occurring now and then the miracle can occur.

So bottom line for me, I join with HS in EVERYTHING.

Love,
Rev Deb

Rev. Paul and I also shared a little about Haiti during our Sunday Service this morning, the audio podcast should be available within the next 24 hours.

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I was thinking about this week’s reading again this morning as I reflected on our other groups that met this week. We have a Madison study group that meets here on Monday nights where we discussed the same reading. The podcast is from our Sunday gathering which also was the same reading as you probably experienced if you have listen to it.

On Wednesday mornings and Thursday nights we host Tele-conference study classes. Those classes are working with the theme of “Body Image vs. Self-Image.”

Wednesday’s class, the reading that we focused on was from Ch. 4, Section V. The Ego-Body Illusion. At the end of this section, we find:

In all these diversionary tactics, however, the one question that is never asked by those who pursue them is, “What for?” This is the question that [you] must learn to ask in connection with everything. What is the purpose? Whatever it is, it will direct your efforts automatically. When you make a decision of purpose, then, you have made a decision about your future effort; a decision that will remain in effect unless you change your mind.

So it was presented once again with this idea of “What is my purpose in what I am about to do?” “What is my motivation?”

Outstanding for sure!

Then in our Thursday night group we started to read “The Body as a Means of Communication”. We found ourselves talking about the idea of service. What does it mean to be “of service”? Service to God? Service to our brothers? Being the conduit for the Holy Spirit?

As some of you may know, the idea of “service” has been a longstanding one for us here at MiraclesOne. It is really the basis of what we do. Most of my own professional career has been spent working in non-profit organizations and in ministry situations. It is something that comes natural to me. Our philosophy here is one that is called “servant-leadership” that was coined by Robert Greenleaf in the 70s and has been a part of my life prior to finding the Course in 1994. (There’s more on that topic on our website, look under the “About MiraclesOne” menu for “Our Philosophy”)

Coming from this standpoint of servant-leadership it is one of seeing the equality with our brothers here. In seeing my brothers here as my equals, then my motivations can be made pure. I am not here to “win friends and influence people” or to be put on a pedestal. I am here simply to step back, to forgive, to awaken, to remember God, to join with the Sonship. It is a unselfish giving. And as we see in the Course, “to give and to receive are one in truth.” This is why Rev. Paul and I share so honestly about our personal experiences. We are no different and we do not try to be. We make mistakes yet, we give those mistakes to the Holy Spirit to be transformed.

I’m finding that these two themes come together perfectly if we want to consider practical application in the world. Of course we know that our purpose and our function is forgiveness and the Atonement. That is the big picture yet how it is done is also by our everyday relationships. Let’s look at this a little more here.

In thinking about this, what I first receive from Holy Spirit, is to join with Holy Spirit in everything that I do. I had taken a break here from writing this piece to have an advisory session with one of our ministerial students and to run a few errands. In that time away from the computer, I thought a little more. Yes, it really is joining with Holy Spirit in everything that I do.

In one of my conversations today, we talked about allowing others to be exactly where they are. That is freedom. That is what God does with us. If I set a purpose that I want to try and change someone or if I even have the wish that someone would be different, there enters control by the ego into my mind. I want to be right rather than happy.

Paul has been sharing with several people once again on the Rules for Decision, found at the beginning of Chapter 30. “Today I will make NO decisions by myself.” So in looking at this idea of making no decisions by myself coupled with setting goals, I can see pretty clearly here that I need to stop and be in tune with the Holy Spirit. Even if it is a simple acknowledgement in the moment at the beginning of a phone call or an encounter with someone. The simple act of invitation is an acceptance that Holy Spirit is present in my mind and that I would like to proceed in partnership with Him and not alone.

This also goes to “I am here only to be truly helpful,” found on page 28 (2nd/3rd Foundation of Inner Peace ACIM versions). My purpose then is to be only truly helpful. I want peace so then I take the ego “I” out of the equation. I allow myself to be a conduit or vessel for Holy Spirit. Use my feet, my hands and my words today, Holy Spirit, in service to my Father then can be my prayer.

In this I am setting peace as my one goal. For in doing God’s Will, I will always be happy and at peace. I allow Him to direct and I merely follow His Holy Script. I find that this is an easier way of life. It is removing judgment from my life, Ok, yes, judgment can still occur as I still “think” I am here in the world. YET, it is not as it was earlier in my life. I live a much more peaceful and happier life going with the flow instead of limiting the flow with the “I gotta have’s!” or having life’s remote control in my hand.

Look at a remote control for a TV. How many families do you know of fight over who gets to hold the remote? The one who has the remote supposedly has the power. If I have the remote, I can make the decisions. But are the decisions good for the whole?

I do have the control within my own mind for my thoughts before I choose to push the button on the remote. Will I make the decision with the Holy Spirit? If I do, I may not have to go through many channels of pain before getting to the channel of happiness. He will lead me right to it.

What is my purpose? Peace? Then, peace shall be mine when I let go and let God.

This is something I will remember today and everyday in every situation.

Namaste,

Rev. Deb

*****
Co-Sponsors & Presenters for the 2011 ACIM Conference
http://www.miraclesone.org/world-wide-events/acim-2011-conference.html

MiraclesOne Foundation
MiraclesOne Light University
“Living the Spirit-Led Life
Through Practical Application of A Course in Miracles”

Revs. Paul & Deborah Phelps

Web: www.miraclesone.org
Toll-Free: 1-877-881-1433
Madison, WI: 608-541-8000Share

You can be anywhere in the world to participate with us and so we invite you to join us in the way you can!

Join with us as we set the intention for the year 2010, to make it truly a year of healing and peace through the miracle of forgiveness.  We will do this through the practical application of the concepts and principles that we study in the spiritual text, A Course in Miracles.

For this year of dedication, we have designed monthly themes that include weekly readings from A Course in Miracles. These themes will also include a monthly meditation for you to download and listen to at your leisure. (See below for our initial guided meditation and directions for setting your intention for the year.)

The weekly readings will be discussed in our Madison, WI study groups, through internet streaming audio, and through email exchange on our ACIM Practical Application forum.  You can be anywhere in the world to participate with us and so we invite you to join us in the way you can. See below how you can participate with us.

Each day, each moment we are given an opportunity to heal our minds through the power of the miracle. Give yourself a gift and be the happy learner that you are and allow the miracles to unfold in every aspect of your life. You’ll be so glad you did!

Many Blessings on Your Awakening Journey,

Revs. Paul & Deborah Phelps

MiraclesOne Foundation

To receive the monthly themes and meditations and the weekly reading schedule, sign up on our group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ACIMPracticalApplication/

Receive a hard copy, by emailing us at revs@miraclesone.org

Make a Donation to support the work of the MiraclesOne Foundation.

How You Can Participate with Us
www.miraclesone.org

In Madison, WI

Sundays at 10 am

Meditation, Teaching & Study
Mondays at 7 pm

Meditation & Study

MiraclesOne
1949 Sachtjen St.
Madison, WI 53704
608-541-8000

World-Wide Web

Sundays at 10 am Central Time
Weekly Live Internet Teaching on www.miraclesone.org
Also Recorded for Podcast
Download through iTunes or listen directly on our website

Anytime
Sharing & Discussion with Others on our
ACIM Practical Application Email Group
Join the email group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ACIMPracticalApplication/

Deciding for Peace and Our Shared Purpose

We begin very simply by setting our intention in quiet with Holy Spirit.

This quiet time spent with the Holy Spirit gives us an opportunity to join with Him in quiet listening for His Guidance. We then make a commitment to continue to work with Him on a regular basis and apply  His gentle awakening lessons in our daily lives.

Use the 20 minute guided meditation that can be downloaded from our website to assist you with the Holy Spirit connection process.

The guided meditation uses quotes from A Course in Miracles that incorporate the ideas of deciding for peace and
defining our purpose.

You may download this meditation from iTunes or directly downloaded from our website.

Direct link: http://www.miraclescircle.org/mm/itunes/PeaceandMiracles2010.mp3

As you work on making your commitment and setting your intention for the year, we encourage you to journal your insights and experiences with Holy Spirit to deepen your healing experience.

Examples of possible commitments:

I will do the Workbook Lessons daily.
I will take time for silent communion with the Holy Spirit.

I will join with the Holy Spirit immediately when I feel
anything that is not of peace.

I will replace fear thoughts with love.
I will participate in a Study Group on a consistent basis.

I will be vigilant of my mind.
I will find a Workbook partner and make regular contact
with my partner.

I will share my miracles and my challenges with others and
with ease, knowing it is for the benefit of everyone.

I will be loving & gentle with myself when I make mistakes.

I will acknowledge my holy encounters and see my brothers
as myself.

I will share my insights and messages received from Holy
Spirit on the ACIM Practical Application email
group on a regular basis.

I will make no decisions by myself.

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A YEAR OF PEACE AND MIRACLES with Revs. Paul Deb Phelps and MiraclesOne.

COMPLETE DETAILS AT THIS LINK

In 2010, we will step aside from our current weekly activities to dedicate the year to peace and miracles through a focused study of A Course in Miracles.

This free program is provided for all students of A Course in Miracles. Donations are always welcome.
A YEAR OF PEACE AND MIRACLES PROGRAM

Monthly Themes with Prayer Thought for the Month
Weekly Readings

Participate World-Wide
Weekly Sunday Live Internet Meditation, Teaching and Study at 10 am Central Time
http://www.miraclesone.org/world-wide-events/sunday-service-live-broadcast.html (Also Recorded for Podcast)

Sharing and Discussion with Others on our ACIM Practical Application YahooGroup
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ACIMPracticalApplication/

SIGN UP ON THE YAHOOGROUP TO STAY TUNED IN TO THE WEEKLY READINGS AND THE MONTHLY THEMES.

Participate in Madison, WI

Meditation, Teaching and Study on Sundays at 10 am

Meditation and Study on Mondays at 7 pm

Students may also choose to begin the Lessons in the Workbook for Students. In doing this, it is recommended to either partner with another or join our YahooGroup and share your experiences with others on the email forum.

We share from the heart and not so much from the mind. The Course in action is what we are all about. Discussing, analyzing and theorizing the Course principles can be helpful but it really is in applying these principles that we awaken to the Truth of Who we really are. It is practicing the forgiveness and extending the love in every opportunity that is the gift.

Namaste,
Revs. Deb and Paul Phelps
MiraclesOne Website: http://www.miraclesone.org

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TEXT, CHAPTER 13, XI. THE PEACE OF HEAVEN

Our ACIM Study Group in Madison studied this passage last night ~

“You will not remember change and shift in Heaven. You have need of contrast only here. Contrast and differences are necessary teaching aids, for by them you learn what to avoid and what to seek. When you have learned this, you will find the answer that makes the need for any differences disappear.”

Contrasts and differences. How else can I tell peaceful from unpeaceful, silent from chatter, light from dark? All are very elementary but am I not a child here, playing with dangerous toys? Soon I will put them all away and need not the distraction of change.

I will come to peace and know nothing but peace. There will not be an opposite because in Heaven there is only peace. An opposite is only imagined and certainly not real.v

Holy Spirit shows me this each day. Each day I spend in quiet and devotion to mind healing flows along peacefully. Each day I react and become irritated to show me where forgiveness if needed.

He only wants for my success. And it is assured because it is already done. The Will of God is that I be in Heaven with Him and not in the world. I can attempt to shield myself from Him with my wildest imaginings but “they will not prevail against the peace God wills” for me.

Why keep fighting the peace?

I can have it now.

It is mine to have.

I shall reconcile with truth and know that is where Heaven lies.

What I would add to this is that we opened with Lesson 138 – Heaven is the decision I must make. After we read the lesson, we took this into our meditation period. There was some confusion at first in this idea of a decision and some were stuck on certain paragraphs, however, one member brought up the idea of reading the first sentence of each paragraph, and voila! it was much clearer. So here it is, here is the first sentence of each paragraph:

1.         In this world Heaven is a choice, because here we believe there are alternatives to choose between.

2.         Creation knows no opposite.

3.         Choice is the obvious escape from what appears as opposites.

4.         You need to be reminded that you think a thousand choices are confronting you, when there is really only one to make.

5.         Choosing depends on learning.

6.         In this insanely complicated world, Heaven appears to take the form of choice, rather than merely being what it is.

7.         So we begin today considering the choice that time was made to help us make.

8.         These mad beliefs can gain unconscious hold of great intensity, and grip the mind with terror and anxiety so strong that it will not relinquish its ideas about its own protection.

9.         Heaven is chosen consciously.

10.        The conscious choice of Heaven is as sure as is the ending of the fear of hell, when it is raised from its protective shield of unawareness, and is brought to light.

11.        We make the choice for Heaven as we wake, and spend five minutes making sure that we have made the one decision that is sane.

12.        Before we close our eyes in sleep tonight, we reaffirm the choice that we have made each hour in between.

And finally, the crux of the lesson: Heaven is the decision I must make. I make it now, and will not change my mind, because it is the only thing I want.

So clearly, Heaven, to us here, SEEMS to be a choice only because of what we learn in the idea of contrasts and differences as our Text reading says. We need to make this decision here in the world, but when we look at what the TRUTH is, we do not need to make a decision at all because there is only Truth and that is, Heaven. Now I just need to wipe away with Holy Spirit’s help, everything that is not of Heaven so I may experience it and that is what Forgiveness is for.

Love,
Rev. Deb

*****
Co-Sponsors & Presenters for the 2011 ACIM Conference
http://www.miraclesone.org/world-wide-events/acim-2011-conference.html

MiraclesOne Foundation
MiraclesOne Light University
“Living the Spirit-Led Life
Through Practical Application of A Course in Miracles”

Revs. Paul & Deborah Phelps

Web: www.miraclesone.org
Toll-Free: 1-877-881-1433
Madison, WI: 608-541-8000Share