My Daily Prayers and Readings for 3/24/2011
< >< My Prayer >< >
The moment I decided to move from just believing to following You taught me there would always have to be less of me and more of You if I was to grow in faith, hope and love – You would have to increase and I would I have to keep dying to myself so I would decrease if I was to keep my eyes, heart and mind on discipleship. This isn’t always easy in the heat of the moment, and doesn’t get easier even after the moment, but a humble spirit is key to welcoming death to self in all things with all people, over and over realizing I am not where I want to be, but remembering I am no longer what I was. For now I am in Christ Jesus and He in me!
Abba Father in the name of Christ Jesus who lives within me through the Holy Spirit I pray that You create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me, for my one walk in and with Jesus today. Asking that You bless me and mine in fulfillment of Your will and keep us from evil and pain; and if we get nothing else done this day, let us spend it loving You and others as You love us. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
< >< My Utmost for His Highest >< >
DECREASING INTO HIS PURPOSE
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
If you become a necessity to a soul, you are out of God’s order. As a worker, your great responsibility is to be a friend of the Bridegroom. When once you see a soul in sight of the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been in the right direction, and instead of putting out a hand to prevent the throes, pray that they grow ten times stronger until there is no power on earth or in hell that can hold that soul away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we become amateur providences, we come in and prevent God; and say – “This and that must not be.” Instead of proving friends of the Bridegroom, we put our sympathy in the way, and the soul will one day say – “That one was a thief, he stole my affections from Jesus, and I lost my vision of Him.”
Beware of rejoicing with a soul in the wrong thing, but see that you do rejoice in the right thing. “The friend of the Bridegroom . . . rejoiceth greatly because of the Bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” This is spoken with joy and not with sadness – at last they are to see the Bridegroom! And John says this is his joy. It is the absolute effacement of the worker, he is never thought of again.
Watch for all you are worth until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another. Never mind what havoc it brings, what upsets, what crumblings of health, rejoice with divine hilarity when once His voice is heard. You may often see Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it. (Cf. Matt. 10:34.)
< >< Today in the Word Devotion >< >
All the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” They bowed down and worshiped the LORD. Nehemiah 8:6
We might not associate a “sacred day” with joy and celebration and feasting, but Nehemiah declared that “the joy of the LORD is your strength” (v. 10)! Take time for an intentional meal of celebration with family and friends, and rejoice in the goodness of God. With hectic schedules and cultural notions of “perfect” entertaining, we can easily let the habit of gathering to share together slip by. As part of your celebration, you could volunteer at a soup kitchen or food pantry together to extend help to others.
< >< Today’s Mass Readings >< >
Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1:1-4, 6
Luke 16:19-31
< >< Today’s Video Reflection >< >
In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death. — Byzantine Liturgy, Troparion, Feast of the Dormition, August 15th
< >< Today in the Word >< >
End Times: Divine Judgment – Part 2 – Listen now
Dr. Sweeting concludes his thoughts on God’s divine judgment and how that should affects us – Program Notes & Quotes
< >< Online Sources for Devotion Scripture References & Daily Mass Readings >< >
Link to Devotion Scriptures unless noted from New International Version BibleGateway.com
Links for today’s readings from USCCB using the New American Bible or
Links for today’s readings from EWTN using the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
For audio link to today’s readings from USCCB using the New American Bible click:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/11_03_24.mp3
For link to today’s video Reflection http://www.usccb.org/video/reflections.shtml
< >< Bible Online >< >
< >< Other sources of inspiration on God’s Word >< >
Christianity – Faith in God and Jesus Christ
Light Source – Christian Video Broadcasts and Ministry Television Online
Moody Ministries – From the Word to Life
Today in the Word Radio Online
< >< One Walk – Continuity in Change >< >
See what I’m thinking, listening and reading visit www.RichardAngulo.com follow me on Twitter @richardangulo
See what I’m doing, visit www.raagroup.com follow me on Twitter @raagroup
One Walk 