Subscribe
Notify of
26 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Honor Tremain
Honor Tremain
4 years ago

4932. For those who are in the truth of faith from good are in the power of the Lord because they attribute all power to Him, and none to themselves; and the more they attribute none to themselves- not with the lips, but with the heart – the more they are in power. From this the angels are called potencies and powers. Task: I have two tasks here; to sit with and try to understand faith a little more deeply. And to acknowledge how easily we forget how little we actually do from ourselves, so to remember the Lord does… Read more »

Judy & Len Robinson
Judy & Len Robinson
4 years ago

ACV6S41-Len
# 4943. “In the lower earth, under the feet and the soles of the feet, are also those who have placed merit in good deeds and in work”…..also
” the desire to merit salvation is not spiritual;…”
Task: To see if I , too, place merit in good deeds and in works.

Judy & Len Robinson
Judy & Len Robinson
Reply to  Judy & Len Robinson
4 years ago

Observations: This idea of merit for the things I do has been floating around with me for a long time. I understand it’s a waste of time to think this way, but I’m aware that I still fall for it. Also the past week or so has brought into focus the negative thinking I do and at one point I was unable to see my way out of he selfish stuff I was thinking. I had to compel myself to change what I was doing. I knew in my mind I couldn’t be good but I know it’s possible to… Read more »

Mary Smuts
Mary Smuts
Reply to  Judy & Len Robinson
3 years ago

An instrument of the Lord

Erika Brown
Erika Brown
4 years ago

“Powers are meant by the arms and hands…” ” By their arm every morning.” Isaiah 33:2 Task: As I work in the natural world ( with my arms), maintain awareness of the Grand man, and being part of it. Guiding principle being: Spirits are more real than I, and good ones acknowledge their power to work comes from the Lord. This task stayed fairly even keeled, nothing shocking, but I did have a very consistent awareness of the types of spirits that surrounded me. I was surprised by how often I could watch myself consciously choose evil spirits as companions.… Read more »

Kirsten Schoenberger
Kirsten Schoenberger
4 years ago

AC 4953
“…But I answered that they could not know these things because self-love and love of the world, also external interests, had occupied their entire thought and will.”

task: notice when these three things (self-love, love of the world, and external interests) occupy my thought and will

I made a sticky note with these three things on it and put it on the dash board of my car. I had lots of time to consider this task because I drove on several long trips this past two week period.

Judy & Len Robinson
Judy & Len Robinson
4 years ago

ACV6S41-Judy
#4933……”Cursed is he that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm (Jer 17:5)
Task: Observe my thoughts when I meditate on this. Can I notice when I am identified with trusting man, self, rather than the Lord and His Divine Providence????

Judy & Len Robinson
Judy & Len Robinson
Reply to  Judy & Len Robinson
4 years ago

Observations: I have come to realise that the power is indeed the Lord’s and to acknowledge that with my whole being is to have a clarity of mind that allows the proprium to be identified and seen for what it really is at ever deepening levels of existence. I find that I can only experience this momentarily as I’m too identified with the proprium still and asleep to its’ subtle ways most of the time. When I am awake I find it is extremely liberating. yours Judy

Michael Chester
4 years ago

I was drawn to reading Worcester’s ‘God’s explanation of Bible symbolism’ Chapter 8, Hands and Feet, to complement this fortnight’s reading. As part of this reading the following caught my eye: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart.” (Psalms: 24. 3, 4) That is, they whose deeds are good, inspired by heavenly feeling and thought. Task: Use the following verses as a mantra. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in his holy place? He… Read more »

John Talbot
John Talbot
4 years ago

4948 Those however who during their lifetime thought about and desired within themselves nothing but that which was selfish and worldly shut off from themselves every path or infux from heaven ; for self love and love of the world are the opposite of heavenly love. Those of them who at the same time immersed themselves in pleasures or else luxurious living coupled with inner deceitfuness are beneath the sole oft he right foot…. 4946 So I was allowed to tell them that thinking the way they did they had shut out from themselves countless things which could have come… Read more »

Janna King
Janna King
4 years ago

4952. Some of those who are natural have said that they know not what to believe, because a lot awaits everyone according to his life, and also according to his thoughts from confirmed principles; but it was answered them that it would have sufficed if they had believed that it is God who governs all things, and that there is a life after death; and especially if they had lived not as a wild beast, but as a man, that is, in love to God and in charity toward the neighbor; Task: “and especially if they had lived not as… Read more »

Gray Glenn
Gray Glenn
Reply to  Janna King
4 years ago

I recently had an amazing chat with a nine year old (who has very violent outbursts) on the difference between being angry and being mean (cruel). I wish I had a recording of what he said. However, the upshot was this observation: we get angry when we feel we have no power (that all the power is on the other side); being mean is when we feel we have power, perceive the other has none, and taunt from power. It is interesting to plug “proprium” into where it says “we”. Thank you for that.

David Moffat
David Moffat
4 years ago

FOCUS PASSAGE 4931. “The Lord is the all in all of heaven.” I note, reading the later section (4940 & ff), the great variety of spiritual problems – pick a sin, any sin. But this one phrase seems to summarise the basic principle being taught here, and the solution to every one of these issues. 4952. Some of those who are natural have said that they know not what to believe, because a lot awaits everyone according to his life, and also according to his thoughts from confirmed principles. (SOUNDS PRETTY CLOSE!!) But … it would have sufficed if they… Read more »

David Moffat
David Moffat
Reply to  David Moffat
4 years ago

I am reminded of Jesus’ words, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6) My first observation is the ease with which I am distracted from this task. There is so much which takes my attention, and seems so very important. Remembering the Lord happens infrequently and with some difficulty, often only when difficulty emerges on my path. During a sleepless night (Monday), I come to an important realisation: I am my own worst enemy and biggest obstacle. Not the first time that’s emerged, but I took it a step further. That feels very negative to… Read more »

Sarah Walker
Sarah Walker
4 years ago

AC 4951. Under the heel, somewhat farther back, is a hell at a great depth, the intermediate space appearing empty. In this hell are the most malicious, who secretly explore minds for the purpose of doing harm, and secretly lay snares in order to destroy, this having been the delight of their life. I have frequently observed them; they pour out the poison of their malice to those who are in the world of spirits, and stir them up by various wiles. They are interiorly malicious. They appear as it were in cloaks, and sometimes otherwise. They are often punished,… Read more »

Sarah Walker
Sarah Walker
Reply to  Sarah Walker
4 years ago

Submission: When states present that make us feel unsettled it is a useful thing to remember that it means that there is an increased opening in our ability to receive His love. Turning our face to His light to receive it allows us to receive it into our hearts and minds and so then into His will with us. It then becomes a delight to take the wisdom we are offered and express it. It is rare to be able to recognise this expression as the Lord’s love but when we do it’s gentleness and beauty draws us in even… Read more »

Mary Smuts
Mary Smuts
4 years ago

4931 ….. and if through the truths of faith he suffers himself to be brought into the good of love ……. he is born again. …… the good of charity rules

Task : be aware of thinking , feeling and acting charitably in daily life

Mary Smuts
Mary Smuts
Reply to  Mary Smuts
4 years ago

Observations : I have made an effort to regard all others as people to be loved and that we “are all one “ in the Lord ‘s love and under His Divine Providence If people behave or talk in a manner that distresses my spirit I remain quiet and try to withdraw myself from the unclean , blasphemous jokes or words and wait for the state amongst the group to change to re engage And tell myself how fortunate I am to have access to the writings which give me closeness to the Lord It is still sad and disappointing… Read more »

Fred Braakman
Fred Braakman
4 years ago

Chosen text: 4931 [3] While man is an embryo, or while he is yet in the womb, he is in the kingdom of the heart; but when he has come forth from the womb, he comes into the kingdom of the lungs; and if through the truths of faith he suffers himself to be brought into the good of love, he then returns from the kingdom of the lungs into the kingdom of the heart in the Grand Man; for he thus comes a second time into the womb and is born again. Then also these two kingdoms are conjoined… Read more »

Ruth Duckworth
4 years ago

4944. They who come out of the world from Christendom, and who have led a good moral life, and have had something of charity toward the neighbor, but have had little concern about spiritual things, are for the most part sent into the places under the feet and the soles of the feet; and are kept there until they put off the natural things in which they have been, and become imbued with spiritual and heavenly things insofar as they can be in accordance with their life; and when they have become imbued with these, they are elevated thence to… Read more »

Ruth Duckworth
Reply to  Ruth Duckworth
4 years ago

I think I get stuck under the feet of the Grand Man whenever I get stuck in time and place and don’t see the bigger picture behind every day events. I also get wrapped up in doing things and forget to think about the spiritual life of what I am doing. The reason why I want to try and do the right thing. I need to go a lot less on ‘auto-pilot’ and really think about why I think it is important to do or say something. I also think I am definitely stuck under the feet when I am… Read more »

Ian Keal
4 years ago

AC 4931 [3] While man is an embryo, or while he is yet in the womb, he is in the kingdom of the heart; but when he has come forth from the womb, he comes into the kingdom of the lungs; and if through the truths of faith he suffers himself to be brought into the good of love, he then returns from the kingdom of the lungs into the kingdom of the heart in the Grand Man; … From our Third Round with David Millar this last weekend: What makes an Angel an Angel is that they can see… Read more »

Ian Keal
Reply to  Ian Keal
4 years ago

This was a useful task, albeit fraught with constant failures to recognize the sneaky ways in which the spirits from the heel, and below, are able to to twist and corrupt even the best of intentions. Saying “I don’t want this” out loud really helped chase them away, …for a while. I know that I don’t have to listen to them, and their persistance is a bit discouraging. It was also useful to say the Lord’s Prayer out loud after each episode. In my dealings with others, I did notice times when I was critical, or even annoyed at what… Read more »

Liz Coggins
Liz Coggins
4 years ago

4931[3] when a man comes forth from the womb he comes into the kingdom of the lungs, and if through the truths of faith he suffers himself to be brought into the good of love, he then returns from the kingdom of the lungs into the kingdom of the heart of the grand man, for he thus comes a second time into the womb and is born again.

Task: In quiet moments during the day watch my breath and listen to my heart, and know they are the Lords truth and good with me. Let love for Him flow through.

Siri Hurst
Siri Hurst
4 years ago

No 4925 “That behold his brother came out.” The subject here treated of is the primogeniture of those being reborn or regenerated by the Lord. Which is the firstborn – good which is of charity or truth which is of faith? Good does not appear while we are being reborn but conceals itself in our interiors…whereas truth makes itself manifest because it enters through the senses. For this reason many people have fallen into the error that truth is firstborn.

The task asks that I become aware of truths that have been perverted because separated from good.

Judy & Len Robinson
Judy & Len Robinson
4 years ago

#4925.-2…..”faith without charity, or truth without good, teaches a person nothing; and the more it departs from good, the more foolish it makes him. For good is what the Lord flows into and through which He flows, imparting intelligence and wisdom and consequently a superior ability to see, and also perception whether something is really true or not.” #4926-4…”‘repairing the breach’ denotes amending the falsities which have crept in by the separation of good and truth, every falsity being from this source;….” Task: Can I spot falsities (in me) by trying to see the separation between good and truth (in… Read more »