Message of 10-7-09
Published: Fri, 09/25/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Anyone can lead a "prayer-life"--that is, the sort of reasonable
devotional life to which each is called by God. This only involves
making a suitable rule and making up your mind to keep it however
boring this may be.
- Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941), "The Letters of Evelyn Underhill"
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Jon 4:1-11; Ps 86:3-4, 5-6, 9-10; Lk 11:1-4
R. (15) Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O Lord,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
From "Daily Bread"
- http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"He was praying in a certain place."
Jesus models prayer and teaches his disciples how to pray. Most of
us can recall someone of significance guiding us in our prayer
lives through both example and instruction. For many, this model of
prayer is their mother, and for all of us it can be the mother of
our Savior, a model we follow through our devotion to the rosary.
The memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary reminds us of the gift
experienced through this beautiful prayer. While the feast has its
roots in seeking recourse through devotion to the rosary in dire
situations, any occasion on which we meditate on the mysteries of
Christ is a time of grace.
"In thanksgiving for the gift of the rosary and the power of
prayer, we pray."
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WHAT IS CHRISTIAN LOVE?
by Philip St. Romain©
Adapted from "Freedom from Codependency: A Christian Response"
http://shalomplace.com/view/codep.html
Sometimes, we learn more about something by contrasting it with
another reality. In this mini-series, I will be contrasting
Christian love (agape) with the kind of giving characterized in
codependent relationships. We're probably all a little
codependent--looking to others for a sense of approval and
worth--and it's likely that our understanding of God and love has
been affected by this conditioning. I hope you will find it so.
Let us begin, then, by noting that Christianity has much to say
about love. In fact, the essence of our religion is love. As 1
John 4:16 puts it, "We have come to know and to believe in the love
God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains
in God and God in him." Jesus teaches that love of God, neighbor,
and self fulfills the law and the prophets. (See Matthew 7:12.) In
an ideal world, the Church would be a community in which recovering
codependents could learn about healthy love.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. One of the saddest
things I have seen through the years is the disappointment many
recovering codependents find in the Church. Some have gone so far
as to tell me that the Church actually teaches codependency. In
"Co-Dependence: Misunderstood-Mistreated, Anne Wilson Schaef
writes," 'The dishonesty in the church is perhaps the most
devastating institutionalization of dishonesty in our society,
because it takes place within the realm of the spirit -- the very
essence of our being. The church teaches so many forms of
dishonesty that I find it difficult to know where to start.' She
then goes on to give examples of narrow-minded teachings concerning
God and relationships.
While I agree with Schaef and others that many distortions about
love are propounded from Christian pulpits and classrooms, I
maintain that the true Christian teachings about love lead to
healthy relationships. This series will explore the differences
between sick love, or codependency, and healthy Christian love.
(Part 1 of 12 part series)
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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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Amazon.com gift cards - good for any occasion
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu
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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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