Message of 3-25-09
Published: Mon, 03/23/09
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Once I knew what it was to rest upon the rock of God's promises,
and it was indeed a precious resting place, but now I rest in His
grace. He is teaching me that the bosom of His love is a far
sweeter resting-place than even the rock of His promises.
- Hannah Whitall Smith
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Is 7:10-14; 8:10; Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11; Heb 10:4-10;
Lk 1:26-38
R. (8a and 9a) Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know.
Your justice I kept not hid within my heart;
your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth
in the vast assembly.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
From "Daily Bread"
- http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the
nether world, or high as the sky!"
God shows up in the circumstances of our lives, the beauty of our
world, and the people we encounter every day. The Lord wants very
much for us to see the signs of his marvelous love, goodness and
presence. And yet, like Ahaz, we may not be open to God's
self-revelation. We may even feel unworthy of God's assurances. If
so, we should note that God finds this attitude wearisome. Rather
than weary our Lord, let us make it our habit to look and listen
for him constantly and with joyful expectation.
"For the grace to recognize and rejoice in God, we pray."
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Meister Eckhart's Sermons"
How can a person abide in love, when he does not keep God's
commands which issue forth from love? How can the inner person be
born in God, when the outer abides not in the following of Christ,
in self-mortification and in suffering, for there is no being born
of God, except through Christ. Love is the fulfilling of all
commands; therefore however much one strives to reach this freedom,
the body can never quite attain thereto, and must be ever in
conflict. Seeing that good works are the witness of the Holy Ghost,
one can never do without them. The aim of life is not outward
holiness by works, but life in God, yet this last expresses itself
in works of love.
- #7, Outward and Inward Morality
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REVIEW OF DAY
- from, "Handbook for Spiritual Directees"
http://shalomplace.com/view/hndbk-lite.pdf
Here is a practice used by many at the end of the day to see what
lessons can be learned and how God was present and active through
the day. Set aside fifteen to twenty minutes at the end of the
day for prayer and review of your day. A suggested format is
described below:.
1. Take a few moments of quiet. Breathe deeply. Ask God to help you
see yourself as you truly were during the day.
2. Look back over your day - not to see what you did wrong but to
honestly acknowledge what was going on with you and others.
* What happened? What did I do today?
* How did I feel? Why did I feel that way?
* Were my expectations and beliefs reasonable?
3. Affirm the healthy things you recognize.
4. Admit to yourself and God the unhealthy things. Ask God's
forgiveness, believe it is yours, then decide if you need to
apologize or make amends.
5. Use creative visualization to grow stronger. Honestly
acknowledge the troubling situations of the day. See and feel
yourself acting honestly and lovingly in these situations. Ask God
for the grace to help you act in this new way.
6. Close with simple awareness of the sights and sounds around you,
grateful for the good things in your life.
This process can be undertaken as a daily journal exercise or by
prayerfully reviewing your day in your own mind. I like to take a
walk before bedtime for examen. The important thing is to do it. It
is a discipline, to be sure, but a very important one.
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SHALOM PLACE PREMIUM GROUPS
- Life-long learning and formation in Christian spirituality.
Groups now open include the following:
A. Psychological Types and Spirituality
B. The Way of Christian Spirituality
C. Freedom from Codependency
D. Christian Spirituality Resources
E. Wonderfully Made (Christian Metaphysics)
F. Growing in Christ
G. Spiral Dynamics®
H. Discerning God's Will
I. Dark Night of the Soul
J. Silence, Solitude and Sabbath
K. Alpha Group -- includes all the above and all to come.
- see http://shalomplace.org/groups.html
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