Message of 7-1-09
Published: Mon, 06/29/09
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Culltivate your own capabilities, your own style. Appreciate the
members of your family for who they are, even though their outlook
or style may be miles different from yours. Rabbits don't fly.
Eagles don't swim. Ducks look funny trying to climb. Squirrels
don't have feathers. Stop comparing. There's plenty of room in the
forest.
- Charles (Chuck) Swindoll
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Gn 21:5, 8-20a; Ps 34:7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Mt 8:28-34
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Fear the LORD, you his holy ones,
for nought is lacking to those who fear him.
The great grow poor and hungry;
but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.
Come, children, hear me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Which of you desires life,
and takes delight in prosperous days?
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
From "Daily Bread"
- http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"I will make a great nation of him also, since he too is your
offspring."
Jews, Christians and Muslims are all spiritual descendants of
Abraham and children of the One God. We sometimes act as though we
deserve this honor, and we forget that God bestows the gift of
grace for free. God chose Israel to live in his covenant and
ultimately bring forth his Son according to the flesh, but the
descendants of Ishmael -- forerunners of the people of Islam -- also
received God's blessing. Religious prejudice is ungodly behavior.
We do not act like children of God when we treat others as inferior
persons. God is Lord of all.
"Lord, teach us to love all people as you love them."
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GOD, SELF AND EGO: Meanings and Discernments
by Philip St. Romain© (doctoral project manuscript)
- see http://shalomplace.com/view/godselfego.html
The ministry of spiritual direction has as its primary goal a
deepening of the experience of union between the directee and God.
Among the many issues addressed by the director and directee is,
discerning God's will. Generally, the director helps to
facilitate the Spirit-directee relationship by listening to and
validating experiences, challenging unreasonable beliefs and
attachments, recommending prayer exercises and reading materials,
and
co-discerning the leadings of the Spirit. In all of these roles,
however, the director's own assumptions about human nature and
divine
union figure significantly. Some directors, for example, consider
almost every kind of Ego-transcending experience to be an encounter
with God. Others recognize a variety of psychological and unitive
experiences. The purpose of this doctoral project is to establish
terminology and criteria pertaining to the experiences of God, Self,
and Ego and the manner in which these entities participate in union
with each other.
- Part 1 of 15 -
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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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