Hi,
I'm Teresa Hubbard.
Welcome back to our continued reading of the text to A Course in Miracles.
We begin today with the introduction to Chapter 10,
The Idols of Sickness.
To summarize my takeaways,
In the introduction to Chapter 10,
We are reminded that God created us as part of Him and gave us the power to create for ourselves.
This is why our minds are holy.
Our holy mind establishes everything that happens to us.
Every response we make to everything we perceive is up to us,
Because our mind determines our perception of it.
God does not change His mind about us,
For He is not uncertain of Himself.
Therefore we must know that God will never decide against us,
For He would be deciding against Himself.
If only we can believe this,
We will realize how much is up to us.
We must recognize that nothing beyond ourself can make us fearful or loving,
Because nothing is beyond us.
I invite you to keep a few things in mind as you listen to the reading.
The Course uses male pronouns,
Yet this is simply a way of pointing to the spiritual being,
Having no gender.
The Course is written in first person,
And although not introduced directly to the reader,
It becomes clear that the words are from Jesus,
Often quoting from the Bible.
The Course uses traditional Christian terms in a non-traditional manner.
These words are simply pointers to truth,
Nothing more.
A few terms you will hear within this reading.
God,
The Creator,
The Source of all being or life.
God's essence is Spirit,
Which is shared with all creation.
Yet the Word God can be limiting,
Since universal energy and life are infinitely vast and cannot be contained in a word.
Creation – the extension of God's being or Spirit.
We are creators created in the likeness of our Creator,
And our creations are either true,
Sourced from love,
Or untrue,
Sourced from fear.
And now,
On to the reading.
A Course in Miracles Chapter 10 – The Idols of Sickness Introduction Nothing beyond yourself can make you fearful or loving,
Because nothing is beyond you.
Time and eternity are both in your mind and will conflict until you perceive time solely as a means to regain eternity.
You cannot do this as long as you believe that anything happening to you is caused by factors outside yourself.
You must learn that time is solely at your disposal and that nothing in the world can take this responsibility from you.
You can violate God's laws in your imagination,
But you cannot escape from them.
They were established for your protection and are as inviolate as your safety.
God created nothing beside you,
And nothing beside you exists,
For you are part of Him.
What except Him can exist.
Nothing beyond Him can happen,
Because nothing except Him is real.
Your creations add to Him as you do,
But nothing is added that is different because everything has always been.
What can upset you except the ephemeral?
And how can the ephemeral be real if you are God's only creation and He created you eternal?
Your holy mind establishes everything that happens to you.
Every response you make to everything you perceive is up to you,
Because your mind determines your perception of it.
God does not change His mind about you,
For He is not uncertain of Himself.
And what He knows can be known,
Because He does not know it only for Himself.
He created you for Himself,
But He gave you the power to create for yourself,
So you would be like Him.
This is why your mind is holy.
Can anything exceed the love of God?
Can anything then exceed your will?
Nothing can reach you from beyond it,
Because being in God,
You encompass everything.
Believe this,
And you will realize how much is up to you.
When anything threatens your peace of mind,
Ask yourself,
Has God changed His mind about me?
Then accept His decision,
For it is indeed changeless,
And refuse to change your mind about yourself.
God will never decide against you,
Or He would be deciding against Himself.
