Message of 1-21-11
Published: Wed, 01/12/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- - -
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
The truth of the matter is, we all come to prayer with a tangled
mass of motives altruistic and selfish, merciful and hateful,
loving and bitter. Frankly, this side of eternity we will never
unravel the good from the bad, the pure from the impure. God is big
enough to receive us with all our mixture. That is what grace
means, and not only are we saved by it, we live by it as well. And
we pray by it.
- Richard J. Foster
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Heb 8:6-13; Ps 85:8 and 10, 11-12, 13-14; Mk 3:13-19
R. (11a) Kindness and truth shall meet.
Show us, O LORD, your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MEDITATION ON THE SCRIPTURES
- from
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
What demons would Jesus be driving out today? Whom would he be
healing? With whom would he be eating? About what would he be
preaching? What authorities would think he was mentally ill,
threatening, or evil? Would I have the courage and faith to follow
such a man when he called?
Of course, Jesus is calling each of us every day. We need to
discern in our lives what that call is and if we are truly willing
to accept it. Jesus' call looks different in different people's
lives, but I believe that one way or another it involves dining
with and caring for the poor and marginalized, loving, forgiving,
healing, welcoming the stranger and the migrant, and tirelessly
working for peace and justice.
Jesus, help us to hear your call. Grant us the courage to accept
your invitation to join you in your mission despite the potential
danger and controversy.
- by Ken Reed-Bouley
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SPIRITUAL READING
- Fenelon's "Maxims of the Saints"
The appearance of absolute continuity and unity in this blessed
state (contemplation) is increased perhaps by the entire freedom of
the mind from all eager, anxious, unquiet acts. The soul is not
only at unity with itself in the respects which have been
mentioned, but it has also a unity of rest.
This state of continuous faith and of consequent repose in God is
sometimes denominated the passive state. The soul, at such times,
ceases to originate acts which precede the grace of God. The
decisions of her consecrated judgment, are the voice of the Holy
Ghost in the soul. But if she first listens passively, it is
subsequently her business to yield an active and effective
cooperation in the line of duty which they indicate. The more
pliant and supple the soul is to the Divine suggestions, the more
real and efficacious is her own action, though without any excited
and troubled movement. The more a soul receives from God, the more
she ought to restore to Him of what she has from Him. This ebbing
and flowing, if one may so express it, this communication on the
part of God and the correspondent action on the part of man,
constitute the order of grace on the one hand, and the action and
fidelity of the creature on the other.
- Artilce 29
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Amazon.com gift cards - good for any occasion
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu
- - - -
Please help support Heartland Center's Internet ministries:
- For more info on tax-deductible donations, see
http://shalomplace.com/seed/donations.html.
Thanks for your consideration!
______________________________
* Web Archive: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?dailyseed
* RSS: http://www.aweber.com/z/rss/?dailyseed