Souls That Smile. - May 2

To conquer adverse circumstances, first conquer yourselves. The answer to the desire of My Disciples to follow Me was "Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father Who is in Heaven is perfect."

To accomplish much, be much. In all cases the doing, to be well-doing, must be the mere unconscious expression of the being.

Fear not, fear not, all is well. Let the day be full of little prayers to Me, little turnings towards Me. The smiles of the soul at one it loves.

Men call the Father the First Cause. Yes! See Him as the First Cause of every warm ray, every colour in the sunset, every gleam on the water, every beautiful flower, every planned enjoyment.

Kill Self Now. - May 3

'Self' dethroned - that is the lesson, but in its place put Love for Me, knowledge of Me.

'Self', not only dethroned, but dead. A dead 'Self' is not an imprisoned 'Self'. An imprisoned 'Self' is more potent to harm. In all training - (in Mine of you, and in yours of others) - let 'Self' die.

But for each blow to the life of 'Self' you must at the same time embrace and hold fast the New Life, Life with Me.

It is not a dead 'Self' that men have to fear, but a thwarted, captive, imprisoned 'Self'. That 'Self' is infinitely more 'Self'-centered than the 'Self' allowed full play. But to you My children, I teach a higher science-Law than even freedom of the 'Self'. I teach death to the 'Self'. No repressions, just death. Petty 'Self'-life exchanged for Divine Life.

And now I can make more clear to you what I would say about forgiveness of injuries. It is one of My Commands that as you seek My forgiveness, so you must forgive.

But what you do not see is that you, the 'Self' in you, can never forgive injuries. The very thought of them means 'Self' in the foreground, then the injury, instead of appearing less, appears greater.

No, My children, as all true Love is of God, and is God, so all true forgiveness is of God and is God. The 'Self' cannot forgive. Kill 'Self'.

Cease trying to forgive those who fretted or wronged you. It is a mistake to think about it. Aim at killing the 'Self' now - in your daily life, and then, and not until then, will you find there is nothing that even remembers injury, because the only one injured, the "Self", is dead.

As long as it recurs to your mind you deceive yourself if you think it forgiven. Forgiving injuries can be one way of feeding a 'Self'-life.

Many deceive themselves in this.

Share With Me. - May 4

Delight in My Love. Live in the rapture of The Kingdom.

Claim big things. Claim great things. Claim Joy and Peace and freedom from care. Joy in Me.

I am your Lord, your Creator. Remember, too, that I am the same yesterday, today and for ever. Your Creator, when My thought about the world called it into being - your Creator as much, too, today, when I can, by loving thought for you, call into being all you need on the material plane.

Joy in Me, trust in Me, share all life with Me, see Me in everything, rejoice in Me. Share all with Me as a child shares its pains and cuts and griefs and new-found treasures and joys and little work with its mother.

And give Me the Joy of sharing all with you.

Let Me Choose. - May 5

My loved ones. Yes, with the heart, not the head, men should think of Me, and then worship would be instinctive.

Breathe-in My very Spirit in pure air and fervent desire.

Keep the eye of your spirit ever upon Me, the window of your soul open towards Me. You have ever to know that all things are yours - that what is lovely I delight to give you.

Empty your mind of all that limits. Whatever is beautiful you can have. Leave more and more the choice to Me. You will have no regrets.

Sublime Audacity. - May 6

The way is long and weary. It is a weary world. So many today are weary. "Come unto Me and I will give you rest."

My children, who range yourselves under My flag, you must see that on it are inscribed those words, "The Son of Man."

Whatever the world is feeling, I must feel, I - The Son of Man. You are My followers - so the weariness of man today must be shared by you - the weary and heavy-laden must come to you, and find that rest that you found in Me.

My children, My followers must be prepared not to sit on My right hand and on My left, but to drink of the cup (of sorrow) that I drink of.

Poor world - teach it that there is only one cure for all its ills - Union with Me. Dare to suffer, dare to conquer, be filled with My sublime audacity. Remember that. Claim the unclaimable.

Just what the world would think impossible can always be yours. Remember, My children, sublime audacity.

Against The Tide. - May 7

The oarsman, trusting in Me, does not lean on his oars and drift with the tide, trusting to the current.

Nay, more often - once I have shown The Way - it is against the tide you must direct all your effort. And even when difficulties come, it is by your effort that they will be surmounted. But always strength (the Force) and the Joy in the doing you can have through Me.

My fisherman-disciples did not find the fishes ready on the shore in their nets. I take man's effort and bless that. I require man's effort - he needs My blessing. This partnership it is that means success.

The Rest of God. - May 8

I lead you. The way is clear. Go forward unafraid. I am beside you. Listen, listen, listen to My Voice. My Hand is controlling all.

Remember that I can work through you better when you are at rest. Go very slowly, very quietly from one duty to the next - taking time to rest and pray between.

Do not be too busy. Take all in order (of priority) as I say. The Rest of God is in a realm beyond all man's activities. Venture there often, and you will indeed find Peace and Joy.

All work that results from resting with God is miracle-work. Claim the power (the Force) to work miracles, both of you.

Know that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Nay, more, know that you can do all things through Christ who rests you.

Harmony Within. - May 9

Follow My Guidance. Be afraid to venture on your own as a child fears to leave its mother's side. Doubt of your own wisdom, and reliance on Mine will teach you humility.

Humility is not the belittling of the 'Self'. It is forgetting the 'Self'. Nay, more, forgetting the 'Self', because you are remembering Me.

You must not expect to live in a world where all is harmony. You must not expect to live where others are in unbroken accord with you. It is your task to maintain your own heart peace in adverse circumstances. Harmony is always yours when you strain your ear to catch Heaven's Music.

Doubt always your power or wisdom to put things right, ask Me to right all as you leave it to Me and go on your way loving and laughing. I am Wisdom. Only My Wisdom can rightly decide anything - settle any problem. So rely on Me. All is well.

Calm - Not Speed. - May 10

All agitation is destructive of good. All calm is constructive of good, and at the same time destructive of evil.

When man wants evil destroyed so often he rushes to action. It is wrong. First be still and know that I am God. Then act only as I tell you. Always calm with God. Calm is trust in action. Only trust, perfect trust can keep one calm.

Never be afraid of any circumstances or difficulties that help you to cultivate this calm. As the world, to attain, has to learn speed, you, to attain, have to learn calm. All great work for Me is done first in the individual soul of the worker.

The Divine Third. - May 11

When I have led you through these storms there will be other words for you, other messages - other guidance.

So deep is your friendship and so great your desire to love and follow and serve Me, that soon, when this time of difficulty is over, to be alone together will always mean to be shut in with Me.

There are few friendships in the world like that and yet I taught, when on earth, as I have taught you both, the power of the two together.

And now tonight I have more to say to you. I say that the time is coming, is even now here, when those who visit you two together, will know that I am the Divine Third in your friendship.

Thrill of Protection. - May 12

Turn out all thoughts of doubt and of trouble. Never tolerate them even for one second. Bar the windows and doors of your souls against them as you would bar your home against a thief who would steal in to take your treasures.

What greater treasures can you have than Peace and Rest and Joy? And these are all stolen from you by doubt and fear and despair.

Face each day with Love and Laughter. Face the storm.

Joy, Peace, Love, My great gifts. Follow Me to find all three. I want you to feel the thrill of protection and safety, now. Any soul can feel this in a harbour, but real joy and victory come only to those alone who sense these when they ride a storm.

Say "All is well." Say it not as a vain repetition. Use it as you use a healing balm for cut or wound, until the poison is drawn out; then, until the sore is healed; then until the thrill of fresh Life floods your Being.

All is well.

Never Judge. - May 13

What Joy follows 'Self'-conquest! You cannot conquer and control others, either of you, until you have completely conquered your 'Self'. He who conquers his 'Self' is far greater than he who defeats a thousand armies.

Can you see yourselves absolutely unmoved? Think of Me before the mocking soldiers, being struck, spat upon, and answering never a word - never a word. Try to see that as Divine Power. Remember by that Power of perfect silence, perfect self-control, you can alone prove your right to govern.

Never judge. The heart of man is so delicate, so complex, only its Maker can know it. Each heart is so different, actuated by different motives, controlled by different circumstances, influenced by different sufferings.

How can one judge of another? Leave to Me the unraveling of the puzzles of life. Leave to Me the teaching of Understanding. Bring each heart to Me, its Maker, and leave it with Me. Secure in the certainty that all that is wrong I can set right.

The Love of a Lover. - May 14

Remember that a loving Master delights in the intimacy of demands made, as much as He desires His followers and friends to delight in the tender intimacy of His demands.

The wonder of family life is expressed in the freedom with which a child politely makes demands and claims, quite as much as in the loving demands the parent makes upon all the Love and Joy of the children. Only as the result of frequent converse with Me, of much prayer to Me, of listening to and obedience to My behests comes that intimacy that makes My followers dare to approach Me as friend to friend.

Yield in all things to My tender insistence but remember I yield, too, to yours. Ask not only the big things I have told you, but ask the little tender signs of Love. Remember that I came as the world's Great Lover. Never think of My love as only a tender compassion and forgiveness. It is that, but it is also the Love of a Lover, who shows His Love by countless words and actions and by tender thought.

In each of you too, remember there is God. That God I reverence and submit to, though I and My Father are as one. So as man grows more and more like My Father in Heaven I bring to our friendship a reverent, tender Love. I see as no man can see the God in you.

It is always given to man to see in his fellow man those aspirations and qualities he himself possesses. So only I, being really God, can recognize the God in man. Remember this, too, in your relation to others.

Your motives and aspirations can only be understood by those who have attained the same spiritual level. So do not vainly, foolishly, expect understanding from others. Do not misjudge them for not giving it. Yours is a foreign language to them.

First The Spiritual. - May 15

What can I say to you? Your heart is torn. Then remember "He bindeth up the broken hearts." Just feel the tenderness of My hands as I bind up your wounds.

You are very privileged, both of you. I share My plans and secrets with you and make known to you My Purposes, while so many have to grope on.

Strive to rest on these words, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Then strive not for them but, untiringly, for the things of My Kingdom.

It is so strange to you mortals, you would think the material things first and then grow into the knowledge of Spiritual things. Not so in My Kingdom. It is Spiritual things first and then material. So to attain the material redouble your efforts to acquire the Spiritual.

Prayer and Praise. - May 16

I will be much entreated because I know that only in that earnest supplication, and the calm trust that results, does man learn strength and gain peace. Therefore I have laid that incessant, persistent pleading as a duty upon My disciples.

Never weary in prayer. When one day man sees how marvellously his prayer has been answered, then he will deeply, so deeply, regret that he prayed so little.

Prayer changes all. Prayer re-creates. Prayer is irresistible. So pray, literally, without ceasing.

Pray until you almost cease to pray, because trust has become so rock-like, and then pray on because it has become so much a habit that you cannot resist it.

And always pray until Prayer merges into Praise. That is the only note on which true prayer should end. It is the Love and Laughter of your attitude towards man, interpreted in the Pray and Praise of your attitude towards God.

Sorrow to Joy. - May 17

"Sorrow may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

My bravest are those who can anticipate the morning and feel in the night of sorrow that underlying Joy that tells of confident expectation of the morning.

New and Vital Power. - May 18

"Look unto Me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth." Not for merit was salvation, the promise was to all who looked.

To look is surely within the power of everyone. One look suffices. Salvation follows.

Look, and you are saved from despair. Look, and you are saved from care. Look, and you are saved from worry. Look, and into you there flows a peace beyond all understanding - a Power (Force) new and vital, a Joy wonderful indeed.

Look, and keep looking. Doubt flees, Joy reigns and Hope conquers.

Life, Eternal Life, is yours - revitalizing, renewing. But beware that you never look back, after having put your hand to the plough.

Rescued and Guided. - May 19

Rest knowing all is so safe in My Hands. Rest is Trust. Ceaseless activity is distrust. Without the knowledge that I am working for you, you do not rest. Inaction then would be the outcome of despair.

"My Hand is not shortened that it cannot save." Know that, repeat it, rely on it, welcome the knowledge, delight in it. Such a Truth is as a rope flung to a drowning man. Every repetition of it is one pull nearer shore and safety.

Let that illustration teach you a great truth. Lay hold of the truth, pray it, affirm it, hold on to the rope. How foolish are your attempts to save yourself, one hand on the rope, and one making efforts to swim ashore! You may relinquish your hold of the rope and hinder the rescuer - who has to act with the greater caution lest he lose you.

The storms and tempests are not all of life. The Psalmist who said, "All Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me," wrote also, "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings."

Meditate upon that wonder-truth, the three steps - safety, security, guidance. (1) "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit" - Safety. (2) "He set my feet upon a rock" - Security. (3) "He established my goings" - Guidance. No. 3 is the final stage when the saved soul trusts Me so entirely it seeks no more its own way but leaves all future plans to Me, its Rescuer.

Win Me - Win All. - May 20

You will conquer. The conquering spirit is never crushed. Keep a brave and trusting heart. Face all your difficulties in the spirit of Conquest.

Rise to greater heights than you have known before. Remember where I am is Victory. Forces of evil, within and without you, flee at My Presence.

Win Me and all is won. All.

Fling it at My Feet. - May 21

To see Me you must bring Me your cares and show Me your heart of Trust. Then, as you leave your cares, you become conscious of My Presence.

This consciousness persisted-in brings its rewards of Me. Through a mist of care no man may see My Face. Only when the burden is flung at My Feet do you pass on to consciousness and spiritual sight.

Remember obedience, obedience, obedience - The Straight and Narrow Way into the Kingdom. Not of you must it be said, even in lovingly tender reproach - "Why call ye Me 'Lord, Lord' and do not the things that I say."

Character is chiselled into Beauty by the daily discipline and daily duties done. For, in many ways, My disciples must work out their own salvation, though this is not possible without My Strength and Help, and without converse with Me.

Even for the Spiritual Life the training is different for different spirits. The man who would fain live a life of prayer and meditation is thrust into the busy ways of life, and the busy man is bidden to rest and wait patiently for Me. O joy, O rest, and in the busy ways be ever at peace.

Command Your Lord. - May 22

Yes! claim, be constantly claiming. There is a trust that waits long, and a trust that brooks no delay - that once convinced of the right of a course, once sure of God's Guidance, says with all the persistence of a child, "Now." "Make no long tarrying, oh, my God."

You are no longer servants but friends. A friend can command his friend - can know that all the friend, the true friend, has is his by right. That does not mean an idle living at the expense of a friend, but the claiming the friend's means: name, time, all that he has, when your supply is exhausted.

Friendship - true friendship, implies the right to appropriate. And in God's service is perfect freedom. Heirs of God - you are joint heirs with Me in the inheritance. We share The Father's property. You have the same right to use and claim as I have. Use your right. A beggar supplicates. A son, a daughter, appropriates.

Small wonder when I see My children sitting before My House supplicating and waiting - that I leave them there until they realize how foolish such action, when they have only to walk into their Home and take.

This cannot be the attitude of all. There must be first a definite realization of sonship.

Little Frets. - May 23

Your lack of control is not due to the big burdens, but to your permitting the little frets and cares and burdens to accumulate.

If anything vex you, deal with that and get that righted with Me before you allow yourself to speak to, or meet anybody, or to undertake any new duty.

Look upon yourself more as performing My errands, and coming back quickly to Me to tell Me that message is delivered, that task done.

Then, with no feeling of responsibility as to result (your only responsibility was to see the duty done), go out again, rejoicing at still more to do for My Sake.

Abundance. - May 24

How unseeing the world goes on! How unknowing of your heartaches and troubles; your battles won; your conquests; your difficulties.

But be thankful, both of you, that there is One Who knows, One Who marks every crisis; every effort; every heartache.

For you both, who are not idle hearers, you must know that every troubled soul I tell you of, is one for you to help. You must help all you can. You do not help enough. As you help, help will flow back and your circle of helpfulness will widen more and more, ever more and more.

Just feel that you are two of My disciples, present at the feeding of the five thousand, and that to you I hand out the food, and you pass it on, and ever more and more. You can always say with so few loaves and fishes, "We have only enough for our own needs." It was not only My blessing, but the Passing-on of the disciples that worked the miracle.

Get a feeling of bounteous giving into your Beings. They were "all filled." There was a supply over.

I give with a large Hand and Heart. Note the draught of fishes. The net brake, the boat began to sink with the lavishness of My Gift. Lose sight of all limitations.

Abundance is God's Supply. Turn out all limited thoughts. Receive showers and in your turn - shower.

Accomplish Anything. - May 25

There will be no limit to what you can accomplish. Realize that. Never relinquish any task or give up the thought of any task because it seems beyond your power, only if you see it is not My Will for you. This I command you.

Think of the tiny snowdrop-shoot in the hard ground. No certainty even that when it has forced its weary way up, sunlight and warmth will greet it.

What a task beyond its power that must seem. But the inner urge of Life within the seed compelling it, it carries out that task. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto this.

Claim More. - May 26

You are doing your claiming as I have said, and soon you will see the result. You cannot do this long without it being seen in the material. It is an undying Law.

You are at present children practising a new lesson. Practise - practise - soon you will be able to do it so readily.

You see others manifesting so easily, so readily demonstrating My Power. But you have not seen the discipline that went before. Discipline absolutely necessary before this Power is given to My disciples. It is a further initiation.

You are feeling you have learnt so much that life cannot be a failure. That is right, but others have to wait to see the outward manifestation in your lives before they realize this Spiritual Truth.

Roots and Fruits. - May 27

Remember the lesson of the seed, too, in its sending a shoot down so that it may be rooted and grounded, while at the same time it sends a shoot up to be the plant and flower that shall gladden the world.

The two growths are necessary. Without the strong root it would soon wither, as much activity fails for lack of growth in Me. The higher the growth up, the deeper must be the enrooting.

Many forget this, and thus their work ceases to be permanent for Me. Beware of the leaves and flowers without the strong root.

Test Your Love. - May 28

A great love knows that in every difficulty, every trial, every failure, the presence of the loved one suffices. Test your love for Me by this.

Just to be with Me, just to know I am beside you - does that bring you Joy and Peace? If not, then your love for Me, and your realization of My Love, are at fault.

Then, if this be so, pray for more Love.

Forget. - May 29

Regret nothing. Not even the sins and failures. When a man views Earth's wonders from some mountain height he does not spend his time in dwelling on the stones and stumbles, the faints and failures, that marked his upward path.

So with you. Breathe-in the rich blessings of each new day - forget all that lies behind you.

Man is so made that he can carry the weight of twenty-four hours - no more. Directly he weighs down with the years behind, and the days ahead, his back breaks. I have promised to help you with the burden of today only, the past I have taken from you, and if you, foolish hearts, choose to gather again the burden and bear it, then, indeed, you mock Me to expect Me to share it.

For weal or woe each day is ended. What remains to be lived, the coming twenty-four hours, you must face as you awake.

A man on a march on earth carries only what he needs for that march. Would you pity him if you saw him bearing too the overwhelming weight of the worn-out shoes and uniforms of past marches and years? And yet, in the mental and spiritual life, man does these things. Small wonder My poor world is heartsick and weary.

Not so must you act.

The Devil's Death Knell. - May 30

Praise is the devil's death knell. Resignation, acceptance of My Will, obedience to it, have not the power to vanquish evil that praise has.

The joyful heart is My best weapon against all evil. Oh! Pray and praise.

You are learning your lesson. You are being led out into a large place. Go with songs of rejoicing. Rejoice evermore. Happy indeed if each day has its thrill of Joy.

Talk to Me during the day. Look up into My Face - a look of Love, a feeling of security, a thrill of Joy at the sense of the nearness of My Presence - these are your best prayers.

Let these smooth the day's work, then fear will vanish, and fear is the grim figure that turns aside success.

Pray Without Words. - May 31

Listen and I answer. Spend much time in prayer. Prayer is of many kinds, but of whatever kind, prayer is the linking up of the soul and mind and heart to God.

So that if it is only a glance of faith, a look or word of Love, or confidence, and no supplication is expressed, it yet follows that supply and all necessary are secured.

Because the soul, being linked to God, united to Him, receives in and through Him all things. And the soul, when in human form, needs too the things belonging to its habitation.