One Walk

When: Thursday, January 17, 2008 9:00 AM-9:30 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you."

And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus.

And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight."

And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

Mark 10:47-52

We must neither doubt nor hesitate with respect to the words of the Lord; rather, we must be fully persuaded that every word of God is true and possible, even if our nature should rebel against the idea; for in this lies the test of faith. – St. Basil the Great

Abba, Father, Lord God, aware I am here, standing on my toes to see above the busyness of the world and all its perishing priorities that should be as unimportant now as they will be immediately after it passes. For the only lasting effect I can hope to accomplish is to touch someone for Jesus. So I ask and pray that You will not hold my transgressions against me, for You know my heart, and that I am after Your heart, asking in all supplication that You liken my heart to Jesus. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1 Samuel 4:1-11<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Sam&ch=4&bv1=1&ev1=11>

1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines; they encamped at Ebene'zer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who slew about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3 And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD put us to rout today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that he may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies." 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin'ehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 When the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, "What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid; for they said, "A god has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 9 Take courage, and acquit yourselves like men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; acquit yourselves like men and fight." 10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home; and there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 And the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin'ehas, were slain.

Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=44&bv1=10&ev1=11&bv2=14&ev2=15&bv3=24&ev3=25>

10 Thou hast made us turn back from the foe; and our enemies have gotten spoil. 11 Thou hast made us like sheep for slaughter, and hast scattered us among the nations. 14 Thou hast made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples. 15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face, 24 Why dost thou hide thy face? Why dost thou forget our affliction and oppression? 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our body cleaves to the ground.

Mark 1:40-45<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=Mark&ch=1&bv1=40&ev1=45>

40 And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I will; be clean." 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people." 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html

When: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:00 AM to Thursday, January 17, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

"I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

John 17:20-21

God has deemed it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit evil at all. — St. Augustine

Abba, Father, Lord God, thank you for today this day a chance to forgive, forget, love, hope, help and give. Days like this are truly a gift from You; days when we feel good enough about ourselves to think of others first and in doing so reflect the image of Jesus. O how I pray that through Jesus in the Spirit You would help me see, know and make everyday like today. St. Augustine's quote today reminds me of Joseph and how he spoke to his brothers about how they meant to harm him, but You meant it for good. And while the hardships Joseph endured were severe, You were with Him always and he in You. Today's readings also speak of the fact of faith; if we are to believe and practice that belief we can expect no more than that which all who have believed and practiced before, for when we believe we know that we are not of this world and cannot look to any man for counsel for as man in human form we are all plagued with the same flaws, but in You and through Christ Jesus we can find all we need to walk under the sun. And if we keep seeking, keep asking and keep praying we will have days like today and they will grow in number no matter what our state and condition. Thank You Lord God, thank You Jesus; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit I give thanks and pray – have mercy on us and on the whole world, Amen.

1 Corinthians 4:9-13</vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Cor&ch=4&bv1=9&ev1=13>

9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off scouring of all things.

Psalm 126:1-6</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=126&bv1=1&ev1=6>

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." 3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. 4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb! 5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! 6 He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Matthew 10:16-22</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Matt&ch=10&bv1=16&ev1=22>

16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html

When: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:00 AM to Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise.

For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man."

"I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me."

John 5:19, 26-27, 30

No mother could snatch her child from a burning building more swiftly than God is constrained to succor a penitent soul.

— St. Henry Suso

Abba, Father, Lord God, today You remind me how important attitude is, through those I believe have mastered the use of Your Word in fight the demons we create within ourselves; John Maxwell and Joyce Meyers. Then in Samuel You show me how Hannah despite her state continued to turn to You in faith, and how that faith grew strong in her attitude of complete supplication in prayer and trust in Your will, content in what ever You willed, yet confident in that she would be heard. And You show how Jesus gave Himself completely to Your will and Purpose, and through prayer and oneness with You reflected in all He did the authority of that oneness and purpose in all He saw, said and did. Clearly I too, have known some of these things, but have failed to maintain the attitude to fulfill. O Lord God through Jesus Words help me to practice Thy presence in the Spirit in all I see, say and do today. And if I get nothing else done, let me spend this day conscious of Your presence. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1 Samuel 1:9-20<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Sam&ch=1&bv1=9&ev1=20>

9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy maidservant, and remember me, and not forget thy maidservant, but wilt give to thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head." 12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard; therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine from you." 15 But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman sorely troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. 16 Do not regard your maidservant as a base woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation." 17 Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have made to him." 18 And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her countenance was no longer sad. 19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elka'nah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her; 20 and in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the LORD."

(Ps) 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Sam&ch=2&bv1=1&ev1=1&bv2=4&ev2=8>

1 Hannah also prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation. 4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. 6 The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. 8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and on them he has set the world.

Mark 1:21-28<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=Mark&ch=1&bv1=21&ev1=28>

21 And they went into Caper'na-um; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; 24 and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html

When: Monday, January 14, 2008 12:00 AM to Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.

Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Matthew 5:1-15

The Devil never runs upon a man to seize him with his claws until he sees him on the ground, already having fallen by his own will. – St. Thomas More

Abba, Father, Lord God, today the Word's of Jesus to Simon and Andrew lift me up, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men." O how I seek to be a light on the hill, to be an example, to be a light that draws others to You; and in doing so help them to also seek to understand and know how blessed we are. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1 Samuel 1:1-8</vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Sam&ch=1&bv1=1&ev1=8>

1 There was a certain man of Ramatha'im-zo'phim of the hill country of E'phraim, whose name was Elka'nah the son of Jero'ham, son of Eli'hu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an E'phraimite. 2 He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Penin'nah. And Penin'nah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin'ehas, were priests of the LORD. 4 On the day when Elka'nah sacrificed, he would give portions to Penin'nah his wife and to all her sons and daughters; 5 and, although he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, because the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her sorely, to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elka'nah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"

Psalm 116:12-19</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=116&bv1=12&ev1=19>

12 What shall I render to the LORD for all his bounty to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, 14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 16 O LORD, I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. 18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!

Mark 1:14-20</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Mark&ch=1&bv1=14&ev1=20>

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." 16 And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb'edee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html