Message of 11-25-09
Published: Fri, 11/20/09
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Every moment is crammed with infinite riches which are given us
according to the extent of our faith and love.
- Jean-Pierre de Caussade
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28; Daniel 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67;
Lk 21:12-19
R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
"Stars of heaven, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
"Every shower and dew, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
"All you winds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
"Fire and heat, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
"Cold and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
From "Daily Bread"
- http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"... For I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking."
Many Christians, despite a firm belief in God, dismiss their
personal role in evangelization. They fear their own limited grasp
of theology or their lack of experience talking in front of others.
Indeed, one of the greatest fears among adults is public speaking --
adds to that the often private and very personal topic of speaking
of faith, and most quickly and quietly shrinks into the background.
Thus we begin to view the task of professing God's word as the sole
domain of those called to religious vocations. While there are many
excellent preachers, we all have a story of faith and trust in the
Lord's role in our lives that can be of hope or inspiration to
others. Profess the Lord's goodness. You never know how God will
speak through your voice.
"Lord, open our hearts and our mouths to profess your greatness
before all, 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
- The Nature of Christian Love -
While we may be unable to define love or pin it down, this does not
mean that we are ignorant of its ways. Jesus of Nazareth shows us,
in human form, how love thinks and acts. He reveals the inner
nature of God. By reading in Scripture about his life, we come to
a better understanding of the meaning of love. The best way to
learn to love is to follow the example of Christ.
In reflecting on the life of Christ, we learn several important
lessons about love. The first is that God's love is unconditional;
there is nothing we can do to earn God's love. The terms for our
relationship with God are not like those in dysfunctional families.
We do not have to do good works and act perfectly to earn God's
approval. God loves us exactly as we are because God is love. God
can do nothing but love because that is who God is. The
realization that God already loves us regardless of what we do is
the key to entering eternal life. There is nowhere to go and
nothing to do to earn this love.
(Part 8 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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