Archive for August, 2008

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thankful for Your endless grace and mercy, humbled by my lacking and judgment, joyful in the simplicity of Your Kingdom, vigilant to finding my lost innocence and remembering I am nothing without Jesus

August 16, 2008

When: Saturday, August 16, 2008 6:00 AM-6:30 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."  And he laid his hands on them and went away.
Matthew 19: 13 – 15
 
If something uncharitable is said in your presence, either speak in favor of the absent, or withdraw, or if possible stop the conversation.
— St. John Vianney
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, thankful for Your endless grace and mercy, humbled by my lacking and judgment, joyful in the simplicity of Your Kingdom, vigilant to finding my lost innocence and remembering I am nothing without Jesus in whom I am present with You through the Spirit and am. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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See then that you keep Him company right after receiving Him. He who is your master will not fail to teach you, though you understand it not; but if you immediately fix your thoughts on something else… then complain of no one but yourself…

August 15, 2008

When: Friday, August 15, 2008 12:00 AM to Saturday, August 16, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
While the soldiers were doing this, Jesus’ mother was standing near the cross with her sister, and with them Mary, the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by her side, and said to her, "Look, there is your son!" And then he said to the disciple, "And there is your mother!" And from that time the disciple took Mary into his own home.
John 19:25-27
 
See then that you keep Him company right after receiving Him. He who is your master will not fail to teach you, though you understand it not; but if you immediately fix your thoughts on something else and do not esteem Him who is within you, then complain of no one but yourself for making little progress.
— St. Teresa of Avila
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, thankful, humble and open I come to You; open to Your Word, open to Your truths, open to Jesus who in and through the Spirit teaches how to overcome and run the race that St. Paul so often talked about, open to others with Jesus’ help as He open to me. For it is only with an open heart, mind and spirit that I can stay connected to You my source of source, my Lord, my God; how simple it is this time with You, yet how complicated I make it as I walk under the sun, therefore this I know, it is only by Your grace and mercy that I walk. O that You would bless me and mine indeed, that Your hand would protect, heal and keep us from evil and causing any pain. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.  
 
39  In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,  40  and she entered the house of Zechari’ah and greeted Elizabeth.  41  And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit  42  and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  43  And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  44  For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.  45  And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."  46  And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,  47  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,  48  for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;  9  for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.  50  And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.  51  He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,  52  he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree;  53  he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.  54  He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,  55  as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."  56  And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict.

August 14, 2008

When: Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:00 AM to Friday, August 15, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another.
John 15: 12 – 17
 
No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hecatombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we ourselves are defeated in our innermost personal selves?
— St. Maximillian Kolbe
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, humble, thankful, in and with love I come to You today; and I am rewarded again with the power of Your truths and I sing the words of the Psalmist ‘ I kept my faith, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted";   I said in my consternation, "Men are all a vain hope."  What shall I render to the LORD for all his bounty to me?  I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, O LORD, I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast loosed my bonds.  I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.’ As the Psalms is wrapped between the readings of 1 John and the Gospel of John, so I seek to wrap  myself in these words I feel as truths, and as St. Maximillian states ‘no one can change the truth. What we can do and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it.‘ Thus ‘The real conflict is the inner conflict‘ which begins once we feel, really feel truth, feeling that the truth is in me (us) and I am (we are) in the truth one can only begin the slow and struggle of dying to what we have been to walk and live as what we are and ‘am’ friends and disciple of Jesus and then we will be able to answer St. Maximillian questions – ‘what use are the victories on the battlefield if we ourselves are defeated in our innermost personal selves?‘ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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My Jesus, You are everything to me!

August 13, 2008

When: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:00 AM to Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Matthew 18: 15 – 20 
 
When we have the Lord in our lives we can weather any storm. Blessed is he who can say whole-heartedly; My Jesus, You are everything to me!
— St. Alphonsus Liguori
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, humbled, thankful, I cry out My Jesus, You are everything to me! Help me to walk with Your Word on my lips, Your teachings guiding my thoughts, and a heart likened to Yours.  In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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Listen! Think of the way you were loved when you were obstinate to grace and not lovable. Because you have been loved first, you have been worthy of being loved.

August 13, 2008

When: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:00 AM to Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.  What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.  So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18: 1 – 5, 10, 12 – 14  
 
Listen! Think of the way you were loved when you were obstinate to grace and not lovable. Because you have been loved first, you have been worthy of being loved.
— St. Augustine
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, thankful, humbled I lay myself at the foot of the Cross asking for Your continued grace and mercy; and that You would bless me and mine indeed, enlarge our territory and lay Your hand upon each of us as only You know our unique individual  wants and needs, our heart, keep us from evil and from causing pain. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
Ezekiel 2 – 8  "But you, son of man, hear what I say to you; be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth, and eat what I give you."  9  And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and, lo, a written scroll was in it;  10  and he spread it before me; and it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. 
Ezekiel 3 – 1  And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel."  2  So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.  3  And he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it." Then I ate it; and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.  4  And he said to me, "Son of man, go, get you to the house of Israel, and speak with my words to them. 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.

August 11, 2008

When: Monday, August 11, 2008 12:00 AM to Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
John 15: 4 – 10
 
They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?
— St. Clare of Assisi
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, humbled, thankful and aware that You hear my prayers, thoughts and every heart beat; as in today’s readings from Corinthians where St. Paul writes:
‘ For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;  always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.‘
I seek to feel each word without understanding or knowing, but by faith feel, and in feeling find hope, and in hope I feel the love of Jesus and the connection to Him through the Spirit as He describes in today’s Gospel. Not that it is easy for me to walk connected, but yet I know that when and if I do, I can do and handle anything. O Lord God that You would bless me and mine indeed, laying Your hand upon us to protect, heal and keep us from evil and from causing any pain. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.  
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to have one’s feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father’s right hand,…

August 10, 2008

When: Sunday, August 10, 2008 12:00 AM to Monday, August 11, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
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Words written in red; Words of Jesus
And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and kneeling before him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me."  And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you."
Matthew 17: 14 – 20
 
To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to have one’s feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father’s right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and ceaselessly sing the praises of God with the choirs of angels — this is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth.
— St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
 
Abba, Father, Lord God, thankful, humble, yet perplexed, seeking answers and guidance for often with everything I learn I seem to have more questions. I look fight not to look back and questions what I should have and not to look ahead to what I could, but stay present with You and only look at want You want me to do. However I look for how You want me to use what happened, and how You want me to prepare for what will happen, using each moment with You to repent, rejoice and share with others what I have and learn in my conscious moments with You. For while I feel and try to understand it is natural to share my joy, and protect mine from the errors of my ways; as with spreading the Gospel, I must walk it, to show it, live it, for others to see it, and trust You for the rest. O Lord my heavenly Father, in Jesus name through the Spirit, I ask You to bless me and mine indeed, enlarge our territory and lay Your hand upon us to protect, heal and keep us from evil, while helping us not to cause any pain. This I ask in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
 
Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:
When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances (Unabridged) By: Carol Kent Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say, "Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22, thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This audio book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing the news that forever changed their lives.
Becoming a Person of Influence By: John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan "You can immediately [sense a] spark when you hear John Maxwell and Jim Dornan talk about leadership. Their understanding of influence is like mine for guitars; it’s woven into the fabric of their being." – (Bob Taylor, President, Taylor Guitars). With influence, you can achieve success at home, work, and in every other area of life.
 

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