Message of 5-19-15

Published: Tue, 05/19/15

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Tuesday: May 19, 2015
Webinar: How the New Testament Came to Be

May 20, 2015: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Presented by Jerry Truex, Ph.D.
More information and registration link.​
Message of the Day

Experience has taught me that the Shepherd is far more willing to show His sheep the path than the sheep are to follow. He is endlessly merciful, patient, tender, and loving. If we, His stupid and wayward sheep, really want to be led, we will without fail be led. Of that I am sure.
- Elisabeth Elliot

(Do you want to be led? Ask Spirit to teach you how to follow.)
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Daily Readings
 
ACTS 20:17-27;    PS 68:10-11, 20-21;    JN 17:1-11

R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;
you restored the land when it languished;
Your flock settled in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.

Blessed day by day be the Lord,
who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.
God is a saving God for us;
the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death. 

USCCB Lectionary
 Reflection on the Scriptures

“I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.” 

Jesus says these words shortly before He was betrayed by Judas and arrested by the guards.  He is separating His earthly calling from His forthcoming return to God following His resurrection and ascension.  He knows the impact He has had on the disciples, on US vicariously, and He asks God to protect we who remain in the world (especially from the “evil one” as a subsequent verse states).

Paul is talking about being martyred, and Jesus is talking of separating Himself from worldly concerns to eternal existence.  Their time is short, and they realize it.  Both are sending almost last messages to their listeners.  So what should we make of these messages?

What is the work that God has given me?  Given you?  Is this the right career, the right person to be with, the right place to live?  How do I/you know if this work right now is the work God intends?  How do I balance all the competing voices clamoring for me at this point in time and know which is the one that God is asking me to answer?  How do I/we know when we have accomplished our life work?  Tough questions, not with great or easily confirmed answers.

- by Tom Purcell
 

Creighton Online Ministries

SPIRITUAL READING


On Spiritual Direction
- by Philip St. Romain, M.S., D. Min.
     Excerpted from Handbook for Spiritual Directees

     http://shalomplace.com/view/handbook.html

   
Spiritual Direction and Psychotherapy (Part 3)

Finally, we note that psychotherapists generally meet with their clients once a week or more.  Such frequent meetings are necessary to process the many feelings and attitudinal changes going on in the personÕs life.  Spiritual directors, on the other hand, seldom meet with directees more than once every two weeks in the beginning of the relationship.  After a while, once a month is usually sufficient.

see http://shalomplace.com/direction for more info about spiritual direction.


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