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− | God's peace and joy are mine. | + | [[God]]'s [[peace]] and [[joy]] are mine. |
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− | God's peace and joy are yours. Today we will accept them, knowing they | + | God's peace and joy are yours. Today we will [[accept]] them, knowing they |
| belong to us. And we will try to understand these gifts increase as we | | belong to us. And we will try to understand these gifts increase as we |
− | receive them. They are not like to the gifts the world can give, in which the | + | [[receive]] them. They are not like to the gifts the world can give, in which the |
| giver loses as he gives the gift; the taker is the richer by his loss. Such are | | giver loses as he gives the gift; the taker is the richer by his loss. Such are |
− | not gifts, but bargains made with guilt. The truly given gift entails no loss. It | + | not gifts, but [[bargains]] made with [[guilt]]. The truly given gift entails no loss. It |
| is impossible that one can gain because another loses. This implies a limit | | is impossible that one can gain because another loses. This implies a limit |
| and an insufficiency. | | and an insufficiency. |
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| No gift is given thus. Such "gifts" are but a bid for a more valuable return; a | | No gift is given thus. Such "gifts" are but a bid for a more valuable return; a |
− | loan with interest to be paid in full; a temporary lending, meant to be a | + | [[loan]] with interest to be paid in full; a temporary lending, meant to be a |
− | pledge of debt to be repaid with more than was received by him who took | + | pledge of [[debt]] to be repaid with more than was received by him who took |
− | the gift. This strange distortion of what giving means pervades all levels of | + | the gift. This strange [[distortion]] of what giving means pervades all levels of |
− | the world you see. It strips all meaning from the gifts you give, and leaves | + | the world you see. It strips all [[meaning]] from the gifts you give, and leaves |
| you nothing in the ones you take. | | you nothing in the ones you take. |
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− | A major learning goal this course has set is to reverse your view of giving, | + | A major [[learning]] [[goal]] [[ACIM|this course]] has set is to [[reverse]] your view of giving, |
− | so you can receive. For giving has become a source of fear, and so you | + | so you can receive. For giving has become a [[source]] of [[fear]], and so you |
− | would avoid the only means by which you can receive. Accept God's peace | + | would avoid the only means by which you can [[receive]]. Accept God's peace |
− | and joy, and you will learn a different way of looking at a gift. God's gifts | + | and joy, and you will learn a [[different]] way of looking at a gift. God's gifts |
| will never lessen when they are given away. They but increase thereby. | | will never lessen when they are given away. They but increase thereby. |
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− | As Heaven's peace and joy intensify when you accept them as God's gift to | + | As [[Heaven]]'s [[peace]] and [[joy]] intensify when you accept them as God's gift to |
− | you, so does the joy of your Creator grow when you accept His joy and | + | you, so does the [[joy]] of your [[Creator]] grow when you accept His joy and |
− | peace as yours. True giving is creation. It extends the limitless to the | + | peace as yours. True giving is [[creation]]. It extends the limitless to the |
− | unlimited, eternity to timelessness, and love unto itself. It adds to all that is | + | unlimited, [[eternity]] to timelessness, and [[love]] unto itself. It adds to all that is |
− | complete already, not in simple terms of adding more, for that implies that it | + | complete already, not in [[simple]] terms of adding more, for that implies that it |
| was less before. It adds by letting what cannot contain itself fulfill its aim of | | was less before. It adds by letting what cannot contain itself fulfill its aim of |
− | giving everything it has away, securing it forever for itself. | + | giving [[everything]] it has away, securing it forever for itself. |
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− | Today accept God's peace and joy as yours. Let Him complete Himself as | + | Today [[accept]] God's [[peace]] and joy as yours. Let Him complete Himself as |
− | He defines completion. You will understand that what completes Him must | + | He defines completion. You will [[understand]] that what completes Him must |
| complete His Son as well. He cannot give through loss. No more can you. | | complete His Son as well. He cannot give through loss. No more can you. |
− | Receive His gift of joy and peace today, and He will thank you for your gift | + | [[Receive]] His gift of joy and peace today, and He will thank you for your gift |
| to Him. | | to Him. |
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− | Today our practice periods will start a little differently. Begin today by | + | Today our [[practice]] periods will start a little differently. Begin today by |
− | thinking of those brothers who have been denied by you the peace and joy | + | [[thinking]] of those brothers who have been [[denied]] by you the peace and joy |
− | that are their right under the equal laws of God. Here you denied them to | + | that are their right under the equal [[laws of God]]. Here you denied them to |
| yourself. And here you must return to claim them as your own. | | yourself. And here you must return to claim them as your own. |
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− | Think of your "enemies" a little while, and tell each one, as he occurs to you: | + | Think of your "[[enemies]]" a little while, and tell each one, as he occurs to you: |
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| <center>''My brother, peace and joy I offer you,''</center> | | <center>''My brother, peace and joy I offer you,''</center> |
| <center>''That I may have God's peace and joy as mine.''</center> | | <center>''That I may have God's peace and joy as mine.''</center> |
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− | Thus you prepare yourself to recognize God's gifts to you, and let your | + | Thus you [[prepare]] yourself to recognize God's gifts to you, and let your |
− | mind be free of all that would prevent success today. Now are you ready to | + | [[mind]] be free of all that would prevent success today. Now are you ready to |
| accept the gift of peace and joy that God has given you. Now are you ready | | accept the gift of peace and joy that God has given you. Now are you ready |
− | to experience the joy and peace you have denied yourself. Now you can say, | + | to [[experience]] the joy and peace you have denied yourself. Now you can say, |
| "God's peace and joy are mine," for you have given what you would | | "God's peace and joy are mine," for you have given what you would |
| receive. | | receive. |
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− | You must succeed today, if you prepare your mind as we suggest. For you | + | You must succeed today, if you prepare [[your mind]] as we suggest. For you |
| have let all bars to peace and joy be lifted up, and what is yours can come to | | have let all bars to peace and joy be lifted up, and what is yours can come to |
| you at last. So tell yourself, "God's peace and joy are mine," and close your | | you at last. So tell yourself, "God's peace and joy are mine," and close your |
− | eyes a while, and let His Voice assure you that the words you speak are | + | eyes a while, and let His [[Voice]] assure you that the words you speak are |
| true. | | true. |
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| think that less is worthless when you cannot give Him more. At least | | think that less is worthless when you cannot give Him more. At least |
| remember hourly to say the words which call to Him to give you what He | | remember hourly to say the words which call to Him to give you what He |
− | wills to give, and wills you to receive. Determine not to interfere today with | + | wills to give, and wills you to receive. Determine not to [[interfere]] today with |
− | what He wills. And if a brother seems to tempt you to deny God's gift to | + | what He wills. And if a brother seems to [[tempt]] you to deny God's gift to |
− | | + | him, see it as but another [[chance]] to let yourself receive the gifts of God as |
− | him, see it as but another chance to let yourself receive the gifts of God as | |
| yours. Then bless your brother thankfully, and say: | | yours. Then bless your brother thankfully, and say: |
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