Changes

Feb. 24, 1994

Feb. 24, 1994

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Now, we turn our attention to a lesson on mercy. “Mercy falleth like the rain.” How often this symbol of mercy flowing down upon our lives is used. This an appropriate image, for God’s mercy showers down upon us unannounced, just as the spring rains refresh the flowers. This nourishment of His Love, indeed, increases our growth. Mercy comes as a part of the natural pattern of growth, just as the rains nourish the flowers. The turmoil, the challenge, the difficulties of life, are like the winds of March which buffet the new growth of spring. After these winds, come the gentle rains, which cause blossoming to occur. We also recover from the experience of defeat, demoralization, and thoughts of failure, by the reviving energy of God’s love, which strengthens our resolve to continue on in life. This mercy from the Father allows for change in our lives, which opens up new possibilities of choice and direction. The waters flowing from the sky are indeed an image of this merciful love flowing down upon the events of life, causing new growth to come forth in our souls with this infusion of changed opportunities. Mercy alters attitudes, feelings, and beliefs also. When the cold winds of life’s difficulties buffet and sweep us into attitudes of fear and defensive protection, again the rains of God’s mercy soften the earth and allow for new growth to move through our beings, opening our minds to changed direction, new goals, and safe possibilities. This, then, defines mercy as the power of change, the possibility of forgiveness of yourself and others, the possibility of trust rising anew in your soul, the attitude of hopefulness and resolve to attempt again those things which have thus far meant defeat. Mercy provides forbearance in your emotional make-up. It is God’s way of allowing transformation to continue in your lives when you would otherwise feel defeated. Mercy may be passed on from God, through you, to others. You become a means by which His mercy can manifest itself in others’ lives. These times when you feel moved to mercy in your attitude toward others, never doubt that this is the Father working through you. Make yourself available to him as a conduit for this beautiful possibility of merciful change!

Now, we turn our [[attention]] to a lesson on [[mercy]]. “Mercy falleth like the rain.” How often this [[symbol]] of mercy [[flowing]] down upon our lives is used. This an appropriate [[image]], for [[God]]’s [[mercy]] showers down upon us unannounced, just as the [[spring]] rains refresh the flowers. This nourishment of His [[Love]], indeed, increases our [[growth]]. [[Mercy]] comes as a part of the [[natural]] [[pattern]] of growth, just as the rains nourish the flowers. The [[turmoil]], the [[challenge]], the difficulties of [[life]], are like the [[winds]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March March] which buffet the new [[growth]] of spring. After these [[winds]], come the gentle rains, which cause blossoming to occur. We also recover from the [[experience]] of [[defeat]], demoralization, and [[thoughts]] of [[failure]], by the reviving [[energy]] of [[God]]’s love, which [[strengthens]] our resolve to continue on in [[life]]. This [[mercy]] from the Father allows for [[change]] in our lives, which opens up new [[possibilities]] of [[choice]] and [[direction]]. The [[waters]] [[flowing]] from the [[sky]] are indeed an [[image]] of this [[merciful]] love flowing down upon the [[events]] of life, causing new [[growth]] to come forth in our [[souls]] with this [[infusion]] of changed [[opportunities]]. Mercy alters [[attitudes]], [[feelings]], and [[beliefs]] also. When the cold winds of life’s [[difficulties]] buffet and sweep us into attitudes of [[fear]] and defensive [[protection]], again the rains of God’s [[mercy]] soften the [[earth]] and allow for new [[growth]] to move through our [[beings]], opening our [[minds]] to changed [[direction]], new [[goals]], and safe [[possibilities]]. This, then, defines [[mercy]] as the power of [[change]], the possibility of [[forgiveness]] of yourself and [[others]], the possibility of [[trust]] rising anew in your [[soul]], the [[attitude]] of hopefulness and resolve to attempt again those things which have thus far meant [[defeat]]. Mercy provides forbearance in your [[emotional]] make-up. It is [[God]]’s way of allowing [[transformation]] to continue in your lives when you would otherwise [[feel]] [[defeated]]. Mercy may be passed on from [[God]], through you, to others. You become a means by which His [[mercy]] can [[manifest]] itself in others’ lives. These times when you feel moved to [[mercy]] in your [[attitude]] toward others, never [[doubt]] that this is [[the Father]] working through you. Make yourself available to him as a conduit for this [[beautiful]] [[possibility]] of merciful [[change]]!

 

==Session 10==

==Session 10==

Apr. 3, 1994

Apr. 3, 1994