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===Atonement and Miracles===

===Atonement and Miracles===

'Heaven and earth shall pass away' means that they will not continue to exist as separate states. My word, which is the resurrection and the life, shall not pass away because life is eternal. You are the work of God, and His work is wholly loveable and wholly loving. This is how a man must think of himself in his heart, because this is what he is.

I am in charge of the [[process]] of [[Atonement]], which I undertook to begin. When you offer a [[miracle]] to any of my brothers, you do it to ''yourself'' and me. The reason you come before me is that I do not need miracles for my own Atonement, but I stand at the end in case you fail temporarily. My part in the Atonement is the cancelling out of all [[errors]] that you could not otherwise [[correct]]. When you have been restored to the [[recognition]] of your original state, you naturally [[become]] part of the Atonement yourself. As you [[share]] my unwillingness to [[accept]] error in yourself and others, you must join the great [[crusade]] to correct it; [[listen]] to my voice, learn to undo error and act to correct it. The [[power]] to work miracles belongs to you. I will provide the [[opportunities]] to do them, but you must be ready and willing. Doing them will bring [[conviction]] in the ability, because conviction comes through accomplishment. The ability is the [[potential]], the [[achievement]] is its [[expression]], and the Atonement, which is the natural [[profession]] of the [[children of God]], is the [[purpose]].

The forgiven are the means of the Atonement. Being filled with spirit, they forgive in return. Those who are released must join in releasing their brothers, for this is the plan of the Atonement. Miracles are the way in which minds that serve the Holy Spirit unite with me for the salvation or release of all of God's creations.

'[[Heaven]] and [[earth]] shall pass away' means that they will not continue to exist as [[separate]] states. My word, which is the [[resurrection]] and the [[life]], shall not pass away because life is [[eternal]]. You are the work of God, and His work is wholly loveable and wholly loving. This is how a man must [[think]] of himself in his [[heart]], because this is what he is.

I am the only one who can perform miracles indiscriminately, because I am the Atonement. You have a role in the Atonement which I will dictate to you. Ask me which miracles you should perform. This spares you needless effort, because you will be acting under direct communication. The impersonal nature of the miracle is an essential ingredient, because it enables me to direct its application, and under my guidance miracles lead to the highly personal experience of revelation. A guide does not control but he does direct, leaving it up to you to follow. 'Lead us not into temptation' means 'Recognise your errors and choose to abandon them by following my guidance'.

The forgiven are the means of the [[Atonement]]. Being filled with [[spirit]], they forgive in return. Those who are released must join in releasing their brothers, for this is the plan of the Atonement. [[Miracles]] are the way in which minds that serve the [[Holy Spirit]] unite with me for the [[salvation]] or release of all of God's creations.

Error cannot really threaten truth, which can always withstand it. Only the error is actually vulnerable. You are free to establish your kingdom where you see fit, but the right choice is inevitable if you remember this:

I am the only one who can perform [[miracles]] indiscriminately, because I am the [[Atonement]]. You have a role in the Atonement which I will [[dictate]] to you. Ask me which miracles you should [[perform]]. This spares you needless [[effort]], because you will be acting under direct [[communication]]. The [[impersonal]] nature of the miracle is an essential ingredient, because it enables me to direct its [[application]], and under my [[guidance]] miracles lead to the highly [[personal]] [[experience]] of [[revelation]]. A guide does not [[control]] but he does direct, leaving it up to you to follow. 'Lead us not into [[temptation]]' means 'Recognise your errors and choose to [[abandon]] them by following my [[guidance]]'.

Spirit is in a state of grace forever.

[[Error]] cannot really threaten [[truth]], which can always withstand it. Only the error is actually [[vulnerable]]. You are free to establish your kingdom where you see fit, but the right [[choice]] is [[inevitable]] if you remember this:

Your reality is only spirit.

Therefore you are in a state of grace forever.

Atonement undoes all errors in this respect, and thus uproots the source of fear. Whenever you experience God's reassurances as threat, it is always because you are defending misplaced or misdirected loyalty. When you project this to others you imprison them, but only to the extent to which you reinforce errors they have already made. This makes them vulnerable to the distortions of others, since their own perception of themselves is distorted. The miracle worker can only bless them, and this undoes their distortions and frees them from prison.

:[[Spirit]] is in a state of [[grace]] forever.

:Your [[reality]] is only spirit.

:Therefore you are in a state of grace forever.

You respond to what you perceive, and as you perceive so shall you behave. The Golden Rule asks you to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This means that the perception of both must be accurate. The Golden Rule is the rule for appropriate behaviour. You cannot behave appropriately unless you perceive correctly. Since you and your neighbour are equal members of one family, as you perceive both so you will do to both. You should look out from the perception of your own holiness to the holiness of others.

[[Atonement]] undoes all errors in this respect, and thus uproots the [[source]] of [[fear]]. Whenever you [[experience]] God's reassurances as threat, it is always because you are defending misplaced or misdirected [[loyalty]]. When you [[project]] this to others you imprison them, but only to the extent to which you reinforce errors they have already made. This makes them vulnerable to the [[distortions]] of others, since their own [[perception]] of themselves is distorted. The miracle worker can only [[bless]] them, and this undoes their distortions and frees them from [[prison]].

Miracles arise from a mind that is ready for them. By being united this mind goes out to everyone, even without the awareness of the miracle worker himself. The impersonal nature of miracles is because the Atonement itself is one, uniting all creations with their Creator. As an expression of what you truly are, the miracle places the mind in a state of grace. The mind then naturally welcomes the Host within and the stranger without. When you bring in the stranger, he becomes your brother.

You respond to what you [[perceive]], and as you perceive so shall you [[behave]]. The [[Golden Rule]] asks you to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This means that the [[perception]] of both must be [[accurate]]. The Golden Rule is the rule for appropriate [[behaviour]]. You cannot behave appropriately unless you [[perceive]] correctly. Since you and your [[neighbour]] are [[equal]] members of one [[family]], as you perceive both so you will do to both. You should look out from the perception of your own [[holiness]] to the holiness of others.

That the miracle may have effects on your brothers that you may not recognise is not your concern. The miracle will always bless you. Miracles you are not asked to perform have not lost their value. They are still expressions of your own state of grace, but the action aspect of the miracle should be controlled by me because of my complete awareness of the whole plan. The impersonal nature of miracle-mindedness ensures your grace, but only I am in a position to know where they can be bestowed.

[[Miracles]] arise from a mind that is ready for them. By being united this mind goes out to everyone, even without the [[awareness]] of the miracle worker himself. The [[impersonal]] nature of miracles is because the [[Atonement]] itself is one, uniting all creations with their [[Creator]]. As an [[expression]] of what you truly are, the miracle places the mind in a state of [[grace]]. The mind then naturally [[welcomes]] the Host within and the [[stranger]] without. When you bring in the stranger, he [[becomes]] your brother.

Miracles are selective only in the sense that they are directed towards those who can use them for themselves. Since this makes it inevitable that they will extend them to others, a strong chain of Atonement is welded. However, this selectivity takes no account of the magnitude of the miracle itself, because the concept of size exists on a plane that is itself unreal. Since the miracle aims at restoring the awareness of reality, it would not be useful if it were bound by laws that govern the error it aims to correct.

 

Miracles are selective only in the sense that they are directed towards those who can use them for themselves. Since this makes it [[inevitable]] that they will extend them to others, a strong chain of [[Atonement]] is welded. However, this selectivity takes no account of the [[magnitude]] of the miracle itself, because the concept of size exists on a plane that is itself unreal. Since the miracle aims at restoring the [[awareness]] of [[reality]], it would not be useful if it were bound by [[laws]] that govern the [[error]] it aims to correct.

===The Escape from Darkness===

===The Escape from Darkness===