Heaven in a Wildflower

photo credit: Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #179

Central Theme: "God is but love and therefore so am I."

Review of: #167 "There is one life, and that I share with God." #168 "Your grace is given me. I claim it now."

There are many definitions given in the dictionary for the word grace. It is a noun, a verb, and an adverb, so it covers a lot of ground. The definition which best suits our review today would be this: "Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people." This grace which is ours shows itself in many ways. Perhaps it is seen in our kindness to others, and in theirs to us. Grace us emerging in the synchronicities we see in daily life. Perhaps it is demonstrated in an apology, or an act of benevolence, a charitable deed, or an acceptance of someone's opinion which is opposite of ours. Grace is mine today, simply by acknowledging its presence. To quote William Blake:

“To see the world in a grain of sand,

And heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.”

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Grace and Truth are potent beyond all other means and methods.”

Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 67:23-24

Graceful Living

photo credit: Judy Kavan

ACIM Workbook Lesson #179

Central Theme: "God is but love and therefore so am I."

Review of: #167 "There is one life, and that I share with God." #168 "Your grace is given me. I claim it now."

There are many definitions given in the dictionary for the word grace. It is a noun, a verb, and an adverb, so it covers a lot of ground. The definition which best suits our review today would be this: "Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people." This grace which is ours shows itself in many ways. Perhaps it is seen in our kindness to others, and in them to us. It is emerging in the synchronicities we see in daily life. It is active when everything works together to bring order to our activities. Perhaps it is demonstrated in an apology, or an act of benevolence, a charitable deed, or an acceptance of someone's opinion which is opposite of ours. Grace is mine today, simply for the knowing of it. To quote William Blake:

“To see the world in a grain of sand,

And heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.”

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Grace and Truth are potent beyond all other means and methods.”

Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures Page 67:23-24

June 17, 2013 - Grace is Mine

"Illinois Sunset"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #168
“Your grace is given me. I claim it now.”

Today's topic sent me to Webster's in search of definitions for "grace". The one which seems to fit best is this: Divine Love and protection bestowed freely on people. I urge you to listen to and/or read the ACIM lesson in its entirety at www.acimessentials.com. Accepting the grace which is ours involves giving it at every opportunity. Mary Baker Eddy’s spiritual interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer includes this correlation to "Give us this day our daily bread": "Give us Grace for today, feed the famished affections." It seems everywhere we look, we see these "famished affections". By practicing kindness when faced with hardness of heart, meekness when those around us are aggressive, loving those who seem unlovable, and paying it forward in every action, we prepare ourselves to acknowledge the God-given Grace which is our true heritage. And we learn what it feels like, not just what it means.


Mary Baker Eddy quote: “What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds. To keep the commandments of our Master [Jesus] and follow his example, is our proper debt to him and the only worthy evidence of our gratitude for all that he has done. Outward worship is not of itself sufficient to express loyal and heartfelt gratitude, since he has said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." [Those commandments being: Love God above all else and your neighbor as yourself.]

Science & Health Page 4:3-10

June 28, 2012 - Grace for All

A Course in Miracles Lesson Review #179

Central Theme: "God is but love and therefore so am I."

Review of:

(167) "There is one life, and that I share with God."

(168) "Your grace is given me. I claim it now."

"Wildflower"
photo by Aaron Springston

There are many definitions given in the dictionary for grace. It is a noun, a verb, and an adverb, so it covers a lot of ground. The definition which best suits our review today would be this: "Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people." This grace which is ours shows itself in many ways. Perhaps it is seen in our kindness to others, and them to us. It is emerging in the synchronicities we see in daily life. It is active when everything works together to bring order to our activities. Perhaps it is demonstrated in an apology, or an act of benevolence, a charitable deed, or an acceptance of someone's opinion which is opposite of ours. Grace is mine today, simply for the knowing of it. To quote William Blake:

“To see the world in a grain of sand,

And heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.”

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Throughout all generations both before and after the Christian era, the Christ, as the spiritual idea,--the reflection of God,--has come with some measure of power and grace to all prepared to receive Christ, Truth. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and the prophets caught glorious glimpses of the Messiah, or Christ, which baptized these seers in the divine nature, the essence of Love. The divine image, idea, or Christ was, is, and ever will be inseparable from the divine Principle, God. Jesus referred to this unity of his spiritual identity thus: "Before Abraham was, I am;" "I and my Father are one;" "My Father is greater than I." The one Spirit includes all identities.” 

Science & Health Page 333:19-

June 18, 2012 - Grace

ACIM Lesson #169

“By grace I live. By grace I am released.”

"To the top of the Mountain in Mongolia"
photo by Aaron Springston

We are taught today that grace cannot be learned, although it is the goal of learning. We are told that grace is laid at the prepared table, and this preparation is what we are doing in these metaphysically divine studies. It takes an open mind to be willing to wake up from the material existence we have accepted as reality. Through the total recognition that our only will is that which is one with God's, we ready ourselves for the revelations of Truth. It is often said that we need not strive for an understanding of God. You know the words: Let go and let God!  And this is certainly true. So what makes this simple, but not easy? I think it's because of the constant cacophony from physical senses, bombarding us every moment with how things are supposed to be.  Once again, we look for ways to tune in to Truth, God, and turn off these constant bombardments. And how else but through these studies which allow a clean slate to occasionally appear?  We feel the Presence and want it more and more. Mary Baker Eddy states, “Desire is prayer". So through our desire for this rest with God, the blissful quiet which has no purpose other than communion with the One, we live by grace and are released from the seeming reality around us, into our true Being as a reflection of God.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The fading forms of matter, the mortal body and material earth, are the fleeting concepts of the human mind. They have their day before the permanent facts and their perfection in Spirit appear. The crude creations of mortal thought must finally give place to the glorious forms which we sometimes behold in the camera of divine Mind, when the mental picture is spiritual and eternal. Mortals must look beyond fading, finite forms, if they would gain the true sense of things. Where shall the gaze rest but in the unsearchable realm of Mind? We must look where we would walk, and we must act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being.”

Science & Health Page 263:32-9