Changes

==Session==

==Session==

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Teacher Uteah: “Greetings Dear Students, You are all dearly loved and cared for by [[Universal Father|the Creator Father]]. By His [[grace]] do you have [[life]] and are you given the opportunity to live [[eternally]] — to ‘become [[perfect]] as he is perfect.’ His [[love]] for you and all others is without condition and He is no respecter of persons. For some this is a [[confusing]] statement that is sometimes misinterpreted. Many [[believe]] that if they are to [[become]] perfected they must gain Father’s [[favor]] and will spend their time doing [[good]] deeds as a way to ‘[[prove’]] that they are [[worthy]] of Father’s [[blessings]]. Many also believe that [[prosperity]] is [[proof]] that they are in Father’s favor. Although doing good is a part of Father’s will, it is the [[intention]] behind the [[act]] that determines its eternal [[value]] to you and others.  

Teacher Uteah: “Greetings Dear Students, You are all dearly loved and cared for by [[Universal Father|the Creator Father]]. By His [[grace]] do you have [[life]] and are you given the opportunity to live [[eternally]] — to ‘become [[perfect]] as he is perfect.’ His [[love]] for you and all others is without condition and He is no respecter of persons. For some this is a [[confusing]] statement that is sometimes misinterpreted. Many [[believe]] that if they are to [[become]] perfected they must gain Father’s [[favor]] and will spend their time doing [[good]] deeds as a way to ‘[[prove]]' that they are [[worthy]] of Father’s [[blessings]]. Many also believe that [[prosperity]] is [[proof]] that they are in Father’s favor. Although doing good is a part of Father’s will, it is the [[intention]] behind the [[act]] that determines its eternal [[value]] to you and others.  

“Doing good as a way to secure ‘favor’ with [[the Father]] could be seen as a [[positive]] act that promotes goodwill. Although it ‘appears’ to serve others through the act itself, it is really intended to give the ‘doer’ a preferred [[status]] where they [[expect]] that they will be blessed for the doing of the ‘good.’ This [[thinking]] of being ‘preferred’ is just another form of [[separation]] and division from your fellows. It is a form of righteousness through [[sacrifice]]. It says, ‘Look at me, Father, for I do these good deeds for You — my sacrifice (my time and resources) proves that I am doing your will — can you now [[bless]] me above all others?’ ‘See how I help these poor unfortunate [[souls]] — see how much greater I am than they are for the doing of this [[service]]?’  

“Doing good as a way to secure ‘favor’ with [[the Father]] could be seen as a [[positive]] act that promotes goodwill. Although it ‘appears’ to serve others through the act itself, it is really intended to give the ‘doer’ a preferred [[status]] where they [[expect]] that they will be blessed for the doing of the ‘good.’ This [[thinking]] of being ‘preferred’ is just another form of [[separation]] and division from your fellows. It is a form of righteousness through [[sacrifice]]. It says, ‘Look at me, Father, for I do these good deeds for You — my sacrifice (my time and resources) proves that I am doing your will — can you now [[bless]] me above all others?’ ‘See how I help these poor unfortunate [[souls]] — see how much greater I am than they are for the doing of this [[service]]?’  

“[[Jesus]] admonished his [[disciples]] to ‘Do your good works in [[secret]] — don’t let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.’ He would point out that some religious [[leaders]] would go out into the market place and blow a horn to draw [[attention]] to themselves and then throw [[money]] into the [[alms]] basket to display their [[piety]] above all others. Jesus warned that their only reward was from their own sense of self-importance. To truly serve and [[do Father’s will]] is to be [[selfless]]’ in service to your fellows — that in serving others you are doing something that will help make your world a better place for all or will relieve some form of [[suffering]]. The [[Great Plan]] requires that ‘all souls’ become [[perfected]], not just ‘some souls.’ Giving of yourself in service to others is a [[reflection]] of Father’s [[love]] in you — it [[demonstrates]] to those poorer in [[spirit]] that Father’s love is real and it can become the very thing that gives them the [[courage]] to do good unto others. These are acts of the [[soul]] (from the [[heart]]) — not from a mind that [[expects]] something in return.

“[[Jesus]] admonished his [[disciples]] to ‘Do your good works in [[secret]] — don’t let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.’ He would point out that some religious [[leaders]] would go out into the market place and blow a horn to draw [[attention]] to themselves and then throw [[money]] into the [[alms]] basket to display their [[piety]] above all others. Jesus warned that their only reward was from their own sense of self-importance. To truly serve and [[do Father’s will]] is to be [[selfless]]’ in service to your fellows — that in serving others you are doing something that will help make your world a better place for all or will relieve some form of [[suffering]]. The [[Great Plan]] requires that ‘all souls’ become [[perfected]], not just ‘some souls.’ Giving of yourself in service to others is a [[reflection]] of Father’s [[love]] in you — it [[demonstrates]] to those poorer in [[spirit]] that Father’s love is real and it can become the very thing that gives them the [[courage]] to do good unto others. These are acts of the [[soul]] (from the [[heart]]) — not from a mind that [[expects]] something in return.

“You may ask, ‘Does [[the Father]] [[bless]] those who do good deeds?’ The better questions to ask is, ‘Does my good work benefit the Great Plan?’ ‘Am I doing my good work for Father’s favor; or to be seen by others as being [[great]]; or am I doing this good work for the benefit of my fellows — to [[demonstrate]] Father’s love?’ When you are engaged in benevolent [[service]] to enrich [[the soul]]s of others, your own soul is blessed. Those that have the courage to demonstrate Father’s love are given more ________(fill in the blank) so that they may be of greater [[service]]. This is not favor, but a wider [[channel]] to accomplish the goals of the [[Great Plan]]. Where a way opens to bring [[love]] and [[light]] into the world, Father, by [[providence]], will use that channel as an instrument of His will.  

“You may ask, ‘Does [[the Father]] [[bless]] those who do good deeds?’ The better questions to ask is, ‘Does my good work benefit the Great Plan?’ ‘Am I doing my good work for Father’s favor; or to be seen by others as being [[great]]; or am I doing this good work for the benefit of my fellows — to [[demonstrate]] Father’s love?’ When you are engaged in benevolent [[service]] to enrich [[the soul]]s of others, your own soul is blessed. Those that have the courage to demonstrate Father’s love are given more ________(fill in the blank) so that they may be of greater [[service]]. This is not favor, but a wider [[channel]] to accomplish the goals of the [[Great Plan]]. Where a way opens to bring [[love]] and [[light]] into the world, Father, by [[providence]], will use that channel as an instrument of His will.

 

===Closing===

===Closing===

“Do you want to be an instrument of Father’s will? Be [[courageous]] and [[Open Heart|open your heart]] to the [[love]] of [[the Father]] and be a [[reflection]] of that love by outpouring that love into the world. The wider you open the channel, the more love will pour through you. Staying [[dedicated]] in [[service]] is to become like a vessel of Father’s love. Vessels are meant to fill the cups of those who [[thirst]]. See that you are filling the cups of your fellows and Father will see that your vessel is always replenished. That, my dear students, is a true blessing.  

“Do you want to be an instrument of Father’s will? Be [[courageous]] and [[Open Heart|open your heart]] to the [[love]] of [[the Father]] and be a [[reflection]] of that love by outpouring that love into the world. The wider you open the channel, the more love will pour through you. Staying [[dedicated]] in [[service]] is to become like a vessel of Father’s love. Vessels are meant to fill the cups of those who [[thirst]]. See that you are filling the cups of your fellows and Father will see that your vessel is always replenished. That, my dear students, is a true blessing.