Message of 6-9-10
Published: Sat, 06/05/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Many people seek a sympathetic ear and do not find it among
Christians, because these Christians are talking where they should
be listening. But he who can no longer listen to one another will
soon no longer be listening to God either; they will always be
talking even in the presence of God. This is the beginning of the
death of the spiritual life, and in the end there will be nothing
left but spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in
pious words ... never really speaking to others.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), "Life Together"
(Listen!)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
1 Kgs 18:20-39; Ps 16:1b-2ab, 4, 5ab and 8, 11; Mt 5:17-19
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
They multiply their sorrows
who court other gods.
Blood libations to them I will not pour out,
nor will I take their names upon my lips.
O LORD, my allotted portion and cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"I have come not to abolish but to fulfill."
The Law given to the Israelites could almost seem a restrictive
thing designed primarily to keep God's people in line. But in Jesus
we realize the full implications and true intent of the Law. In
restricting us from doing whatever we might like to do, the Law
frees us to become more fully who we are intended to be: fully
human, fully alive for God and others. When the chains of sin no
longer bind us, we begin living the blessedness of the beatitudes,
going beyond the minimal requirements of the Law so that we are
living its essence, offering ourselves as conduits of God's love to
all people.
"For the grace to love as God loves, we pray."
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AT THE MASTER'S FEET
- by Sadhu Sundar Singh
The Disciple: "Master, it is clear to almost everyone that to
disobey God and to cease to worship Him is sin, and the deadly
result is seen in the present state of the world. But what sin
really is is not absolutely clear. In the very presence of Almighty
God, and in opposition to His will, and in His own world, how did
sin come to be?"
2. You ask how this dark state of sin came to be in the very
presence of the Lord of creation. It arose because Satan and
humans, of their own motion in an unlawful and wrong way, sought to
carry out their own desires. And if you ask why God did not make
man in such a way that he could not fall into such a state, the
answer is that if he had been constructed like a machine he could
never have attained to that state of happiness which is reached
only by action in accordance with one's own choice. Adam and Eve
fell into the wiles and deceit of Satan because in their sinless
state they did not know there were such things as lies and deceit.
Before this, Satan himself did not know of the existence of that
pride by reason of which he was cast out of heaven, for before him
no such thing as pride existed. And although both in men and Satan
this state of sin came to be, God by His almighty power has given
that state a new aspect, so that even from it He has brought forth
the noblest results.
- Part II, Section 1
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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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