[tmtranscripts] Ham on the strengthening of faith

[David G. Schlundt, Ph.D.]

07/11/2004

Ham: Greetings, my friends, I am Ham and I am happy that we have this 
discussion time together each week. You are each firmly settled upon the 
spiritual path. You have each had testing and trials that have 
challenged your steadfastness. You have had temptation to challenge your 
determination and you have experienced disappointment to challenge your 
dedication to the Father's will. This life is designed in order that 
your faith will be strengthened through the experience of living through 
so much uncertainty.

This life is not structured that you should simply leap from triumph to 
triumph without challenge, without questioning. No, this existence, this 
mortal world, was meant to be a test of faith from beginning to end and 
when you emerge on the mansion worlds, your faith will be tested, 
tempered, and true. You will be entrusted with some of the most 
sensitive assignments the universe has to offer. You will be chosen for 
assignments which require steadfast courage and unwavering commitment.

In many ways, your world is an experiment. On this world, the Master is 
demonstrating how advanced truth can be revealed in such a way through 
his mission, through his life, that this truth will then reverberate, 
grow, and live through the lives of his children down through the ages. 
He is demonstrating, for all the universe to see, how his living spirit 
is enough to guide, direct, and foster life more abundantly in his 
children. The Master is demonstrating how those who believe without 
seeing can develop the greatest, strongest, and most sublime faith in 
existence on his evolutionary worlds. The Master continues to send his 
spirit in greater measure so that those who can receive, do receive. 
And, each of you are among those in the forefront of receiving his 
spirit in the greatest measure possible. Through your faith, my 
children, through the hard tests, through the demonstration of your 
purpose, does the Master live again upon your world.

Your lives are gradually but certainly becoming demonstrations of his 
service through your actions and through your words are you brining 
forth the Master's spirit upon this thirsting world. You have tasted his 
living water. You have given forth his living water. You are becoming 
living founts of truth in a world filled with confusion, doubt, and 
uncertainty. As you come to embody the Master's spirit in ever 
increasing measure, be assured you will be tested at every new level of 
being for always must you become in the habit of turning over your will 
to the Father and turning over your will to the Master.

This is a great responsibility to carry. You have each come forward out 
of much turmoil and confusion and gradually but surely you have honed 
your faith, you have strengthened your convictions, you have come to 
understand yourselves and you have come to understand God's love in ever 
increasing measure. My children, you have been called forth in love and 
you are becoming increasingly love-dominated. Love is your motivation, 
love is your goal and this is the mark of true faith.

The love of God is not weak, it is not boastful out of uncertainty, it 
is not wavering or changing. It is not arrogant, it is not ever 
frightened. The love of life is not the same as a fear of death. Love of 
life grows out of a decrease in fear, including fear of death. Love of 
life and love of creation is part of the rejection of fear. Fear and the 
quest for some measure of certainty in personal religion drives fanaticism.

Love, born of the certainty of love, anchors the truth perception of 
personal spiritual experience. Love and truth are also two sides of the 
same coin. The certainty that comes from the marriage of love and truth 
creates that peace which passes understanding. When you reach through 
truth and love that place of peace, then are you capable of leading 
others into truth and love. Without that peaceful certainty, that calm 
abandon of your own will, you will find your efforts limited. But with 
that peace, and the love and the truth create that peace, you will have 
unbounded potential.

Each person must conquer fear in his or her own life before that person 
can be of real service to others. Fear can never conquer love, but fear 
can effectively blot it out of a heart temporarily. Fear can create 
conditions in which lies are elevated and hatred is exalted. Fear always 
tends to breed evil, error, and iniquity. Love always tends to breed 
righteousness, health, and service. If you would follow the Master and 
serve your fellows, you must first love them, you must first abandon 
your own will to love, you must first conquer your own fears. Only then 
can you find true purpose in serving God.

It has been a great mistake that the churches representing Christ should 
have introduced fear as a motivating factor for the Master himself never 
did this. His admonition to his disciples was constantly, let not your 
hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. It is, indeed, for this 
generation to be examples of fearless love. It is, indeed, for this 
generation to begin the process of weaning the world's religions away 
from fear. It is, indeed, for this generation to demonstrate the 
possibility of the Master living anew within your hearts and your lives, 
your words and your actions.

The Master was free of those things that show fear in the personality. 
He was free of pretense. He was always superbly and uniquely genuine and 
as his spirit lives within your hearts, so will you also be superbly 
unique and genuine and free of affectation or pretense. The chains of 
fear are subtle. The fear of shame and embarrassment is acute, but is 
this not also fear that must be conquered? The Master stood openly, 
nakedly exposed to the world at all times. He stood vulnerable to evil, 
but unafraid of it. Always did the Master expose the weakness of the 
fear-driven religion he was born into. And, always was he understanding, 
lenient, forgiving, and tolerant of the fear in others. Never did he 
condemn a person for being afraid. But he did try to strengthen their 
faith through his love.

Peter denounced the Master three times out of fear, an uncontrollable 
impulse. And in forgiving this, as the Master walked with Peter in his 
risen form, he asked him three times, "Peter do you love me" and each 
time when Peter answered in the affirmative, he lost that fear and was 
freed of those chains. After the Master strengthened his faith through 
his love, Peter never again shrank from physical challenge or ridicule.

Think on this through the coming week. Redeem your own fears, your own 
weaknesses through affirming your love of the Master and the Father. 
Allow this love to break the chains of fear which still may bind you in 
some way. We will discuss this again in the future. But for now, let us 
proceed with the questions.

Q: Could I have a message please Ham?

Ham: Of course my son. My son, you do very well. Indeed, these weeks 
have been a time of reorientation of your soul, a time when you are 
coming to reject fear and to reject fear of the unknown especially. In 
addressing the fear of the unknown, it is imperative that you come to 
more fully trust the one who knows the future, the one who holds your 
destiny in his hand, the one who has mapped out your path and knows what 
is the very best thing that should happen next and after that and after 
that. As you release your anxiety and grow in trust of God, you will 
find the day to day coping very much easier and your burdens greatly 
lightened. Do not succumb to the temptation of adding to your burdens. 
Human beings are vulnerable to this impulse because of guilt. But the 
Master does not mean for you to carry this guilt nor does he mean for 
you to pile on the added burdens guilt requires. In any situation where 
there is a choice, choose love. In this way, your path will be certain 
and your fortunes assured.

Q: I was wondering if I had a teacher and if so what is the mode of contact?

Ham: Yes, of course my son, you have a teacher. He contacts you through 
your creativity, through your writing. It might behoove you now to set a 
time when he can write to you, directly, where you do not conceive of 
the word until it is given and it is written. This skill will develop. 
Do not expect a long dissertation, but a few words, then a sentence, 
then a few sentences. Let it develop slowly without pressure.

Q: Do you have a name?

Ham: Let him give it to you.

Q: Yes Ham, may I have a personal message please?

Ham: Of course my son, at this time you are showing great courage and 
great steadfastness of faith. You are coming into an ever greater 
realization of love and an acceptance of peace. Do not be afraid of 
truth, do not be afraid of reality the way it is. For all these things, 
even this prolonged illness, is part of God's purpose, part of your 
life's testing. No more, but no less either. Find gratitude in your 
heart and develop this attitude, this feeling, this emotion. For you are 
one truly blessed in many areas through many channels and directions. 
Truly my son, even in this difficult time, you will find an increased 
level of happiness, serenity, and peace and these things are more 
permanent than they ever were before. Come to accept each day as a 
blessing. Come to love more and more completely. Come to surrender your 
soul to love in ever greater measure and this illness will have achieved 
a great purpose. Banish fear. Banish fear of illness and fear of death. 
Grow instead in love, the love which transcends life, love which creates 
all things, including happiness and contentment. And above all, my son, 
accept the Master's great love for you personally. Not love in the 
abstract, but person to person love, strong and true. And know that this 
real experience of the Master's great love will be part of you 
throughout eternity. As you confront and go through the trials ahead, 
allow each one to create the condition of ever greater surrender to 
love. It is said when you seek God, you seek after everything and when 
you have found God, you have found everything. Truly realize, my son, 
you have found everything.

Q: Do you have anything for Rebecca?

Ham: Of course. My daughter, you have before you ever greater tests and 
trials. You will be equal to each one so long as you cleave ever more 
closely to the Master and his love. Allow his love to completely enfold, 
guide, and direct your life in its entirety. Put forth everything and 
you will be given everything. Abandon all, and you will have all. 
Surrender self, and you will become ever more truly a manifestation of 
your greater self. Be at ease, my friends, all that is required will be 
available to you so long as you continually abandon your will for the 
will of God. Nothing less will suffice. It is time now to grow into a 
greater level of functioning, a greater level of wisdom and calm purpose.

Q: Jarad?

Ham: My son Jarad, you are also entering into a time of crossing a 
threshold when you will be stripped of your old reliable props and 
supports. It is a time for you to realize they are unnecessary and a 
burden. It is time now for you to begin inhabiting a larger house. It is 
time to expand who you are and how you feel toward life and other human 
beings in general. It is time to release the last vestige of fear that 
tethers you to the old realities. Allow your life to be a spontaneous 
expression of the Master's great love. Allow yourself to be happy and 
release the old chains of self-doubt which is fear, which is born of 
fear and embrace instead all those things born of love, which is true 
confidence, greater courage, spontaneous self-expression, and 
spontaneous love. Grow and expand in this greater house, this greater 
level you have reached. Find what is there, explore what you have now my 
son and be fearless, calm, single minded in your determination and 
completely genuinely in love with God. Allow him to lead you, allow him 
to carry every burden, every burden! Allow yourself to be free.

Q: From Zura: HAM, DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FOR ME?

Ham: My daughter, have faith. The great challenge of your life is coming 
swiftly upon you and you are equal to it. You faith is great, greater 
than you know. It is time now to continually choose faith and love over 
fear and despair. Even now you are attended by a mighty angel. His wings 
protect you and the Father's love enfolds you. Have no fear. Rather, be 
at peace. In faith, put your hand in the hand of Jesus. Accept his love 
and all will be well.

Q: Personal message for Marije.

Ham: Yes. My dear, you do very well. You must also continue to exercise 
your faith. Allow your love to grow in increasing abundance. Accept the 
blessings from the Master's hand and do not be inhibited from expressing 
your faith. As you move forward in life, know for certain the Master 
himself walks with you and is there for you at every turn. Let his 
spirit enter your heart more and more. You are doing very well in all 
things. Be at peace, my dear.

Q: Two questions from Hal's friend: 1) Are the teachings of Gene Scott 
on the money? 2) Is my wife true to me?

Ham: Yes, let us take the first question first. My son, you are doing 
very well. The teachings of this man or any other man will have a place 
in your life for a time, but it is not meant that you should sit at the 
feet of any man, rather as you grow in the spirit, will you certainly 
come into ever greater personal contact with the Master's very spirit. 
It is he himself who will whisper in your ear. Pay heed to this. Do not 
pay heed to that. For it is his truth you are seeking and he himself 
will lead you into all truth, as is his promise. As to question number 
two, it is always best to trust those who are closest to you and when 
this trust is broken, then to have understanding and forgiveness. The 
human heart itself, as the Master said, is capable of great deceit. And 
it is very difficult to put out the fires of doubt and jealousy and 
suspicion once they are kindled. The Master never employed suspicion 
against anyone. Even when betrayed, the Master was forgiving. He asked 
that Judas not take the final step that he knew was coming. But even 
then, he was careful to let the choice be his. And now, it is important 
that you not push a situation forward into something more severe and 
concrete than it needs to be. Be careful to show forth loving 
confidence, even as the Master did. Pull back and do not push. Let 
things be a little bit. Let things calm. And, now let me move on a 
little bit in my addressing of this man. My son, you are beginning to 
walk in an ever more spiritual path. This path may take you many places 
and as you progress, you will leave behind those things which do not 
serve you and you will take up increasingly those things which do serve 
you well. Be calm and have patience with yourself. Do not be surprised 
at your humanness or the humanness of others. Practice forgiveness, but 
practice it first with yourself. See yourself through the loving eyes of 
the Master and forgive your youthful excesses as the Master would and as 
the Master does. Release all your requirements towards self-condemnation 
and self-sabotage. Simply accept the great unchallengeable fact of your 
sonship with God. As you return to his house after wondering in the 
wilderness of selfishness and self-indulgence, accept his welcoming 
love, accept his mantle upon your shoulders, accept his delight with 
your soul. And above all things, accept his love for it is infinite, 
complete, secure, and unfathomable. Steady yourself on the strength of 
his love. Strengthen your faith as you reach out to him in increasing 
measure and increasing completeness. Consecrate you will with his will, 
your purpose with his purpose, and your being with his being. Then, 
accept his love as a child, accept his comfort, and the security of his 
everlasting arms. Do all this with the faith and trust of a child and 
you will be carried on his shoulder the rest of the way home. Have no 
fear. Grow in love and in loving certainty of his presence. All else 
will be added unto you.

Q: Do you have a personal message for Charlie B?

Ham: Of course. My son, it is important that you continue to closely 
heed the Master's spirit. Let there be no time in which you grow apart 
from this or allow yourself to wander away from his loving presence. 
Continue to fine tune your skills of the spirit so that you are brought 
ever closer and more firmly under the Master's guiding arm allowing him 
to show you, "this way my son, follow me". Do not falter, nor grow weak 
in your commitment. Allow each challenge to strengthen your faith and 
make firmer your purpose.

Q: Do you have any feedback for me this week?

Ham: Yes, my son, of course. My son, it is true that increasing 
happiness is coming into your life as you ever more closely cleave to 
the Master's spirit. Over most of your life, and from a young age, you 
were convinced that somehow you were unworthy of happiness and complete 
contentment. But, in recent times you have come through some 
difficulties and only by cleaving closely to the Master did you find 
your way. This is as it should be. Allow yourself to be happy in the now 
and allow this increasing happiness to invade every aspect of your life. 
No longer do you strive in isolated loneliness. No, rather now are you 
joined with the Master and all his angels and all his helpers. 
Increasingly, you are allowing them to take over the burdens of the 
moment and instead you are brining in the master's spirit rather than 
pushing it away. This is a big step forward for from a young age you 
were prone to suffering in silence and you have been reluctant to 
relinquish this deep inner burden until now. There are indeed few men as 
certain and as comfortable with their faith as you are. Continue to grow 
in this comfort and continue to grow in happiness. Your way is assured, 
simply believe, trust and obey to the best of your ability. All else is 
taken care of. Rejoice then. Embrace happiness and feel yourself to be 
truly deserving of your place at the table.

My love and prayers are with you until next week. Farewell.

 

-- 
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
David G. Schlundt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology
Vanderbilt University
301 Wilson Hall
Nashville, TN  37203

Phone: (615)322-7800
Fax: (615) 343-8449
Email: David.Schlundt at Vanderbilt.edu
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
To science God is a possibility, to psychology
a desirability, to philosopy a probability, to
religion a certainty, an actuality of religious
experience

The Urantia Book, page 1125
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