Message of 5-13-09
Published: Mon, 05/11/09
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
"Prayer is so simple. It is like quietly opening a door and slipping
into the very presence of God. There, in the stillness, to listen to
His voice, perhaps in petition or only to listen. It matters not.
Just
to be there in His presence is prayer."
- Author unknown
(As the old saying goes: God doesn't want our presents, but our
presence.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Acts 15:1-6; Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5; Jn 15:1-8
R. (see 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
From "Daily Bread"
- http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you."
Jesus' word is the tool the Father uses to prune us. It strips away
the deadwood of old, useless ambitions that are contrary to the
Father's will. It cuts off the "suckers," all those pernicious
little worries and distractions that drain us of the energy we
ought to channel into good works. It is the necessary means by
which the disciple's potential develops and flourishes, whereby
believers become beautiful and productive proof of God's love and
goodness. As we remain in Jesus, accepting and cherishing his
life-giving word, we find our own will aligned with that of the
Father, who supplies our every need.
"For unity with our God -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- through
Jesus' holy word, we pray."
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NOTES FROM A CLASSICAL WORK
- "Meister Eckhart's Sermons"
The moral task of man is a process of spiritualization. All
creatures are go-betweens, and we are placed in time that by
diligence in spiritual business we may grow liker and nearer to
God. The aim of man is beyond the temporal--in the serene region of
the everlasting Present.
- #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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