Morning Devotions - My Sacred Center - Evening Devotions
Daily
Devotions
November 2 – November 6, 2009
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down to see previous daily devotions.
Friday
Nov 6
Today in our prayers we remember John and Pat Remias. |
Scripture Reading: Psalm 111:1
Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
I’ve been reading a book by Dallas Willard about spiritual practices, and I
was glad to see that he includes “celebration” as prime Christian
discipline. Willard says that heartfelt celebration of God’s goodness is a
great antidote to despair. If we become a people of celebration, he says,
we will find that it makes us joyful and strong.
Do you and your families have special celebrations? How do you celebrate
personal milestones and important family events? How do you celebrate the
great Christian festivals? How do you celebrate your faith and your
relationship with God?
I know from personal experience that when I lay aside my worries to
celebrate God’s goodness, I find that my hope is renewed and I have new
strength to go on. I’ve learned that if I go to worship after taking time
to list all the ways God has been good to me, it changes my whole worship
experience.
Let’s take advantage of all the opportunities to celebrate God’s
faithfulness. It will make us more joyful, but even more importantly; it
will bring great pleasure to God.
God’s blessings of strength and joy be yours,
Pastor Ana
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Thursday
Nov 5
Today in our prayers we remember George and Kathleen Rehorn. |
Dear Friends,
Jesus used a strong word when he warned us against greed. He used the term
“idolatry” - a term that brings to mind the Old Testament prophets who
thundered against graven images. But, for Jesus, the truth is that greed of
any kind can make a “god” out of things that are not God.
Someone once said that, when we buy things, we get a lot of printed
materials with instructions and warnings. He said, “Maybe they should put
one more instruction page in every box. It could say something like, ‘You
are fortunate to own this fine product. Remember to share what you have.’
And I think that maybe they should put a big red letter label on the side
somewhere, saying, “WARNING: this thing could be serious for your spiritual
health.”
Jesus reminds us that we are not what we have; we are children of God, and
our hearts will be where our treasure is. So let’s be rich in God and
invest our hearts in his Kingdom of fullness and joy.
In Christ’s’ peace,
Pastor Ana
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Wednesday
Nov 4
Today in our prayers we remember Debbie Reeder. |
This morning for our devotion I would like to share with you a meditation by
Brother Roger, of the Taizé Community of France.
Lord Christ, you take us
with our hearts just as they are.
Why should we wait for our hearts to be changes,
in order to go to you?
You change them, day by day,
without our knowing how.
You have all that is needed to heal us:
prayer, hymns, forgiveness,
and the springtime of reconciliation.
Praised be the living God
for the multitude of women, men, and children
who throughout the world
are searching, striving, and giving their lives
in order to be bearers of reconciliation.
Through the repentance of our hearts,
and the spirit of simplicity of the Beatitudes,
you clothe us with forgives, as with a garment.
Enable us to welcome the realities of the Gospel
with a child-like heart,
and to discover your will
which is love and nothing else.
Blessings of strength and joy,
Pastor Ana
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Tuesday
Nov 3
Today in our prayers we remember Dan and Cheri Reed. |
Dear friends,
Here is another poem on the theme of hope from the collection of Fr. Pedro
Santana.
Psalm for a drop of dew
Like a gently falling dew,
The freshness of the love you bring
Is meant for every heart.
Becoming our companion, you
Soaked the earth with your love.
In the long days of summer,
You were the dew of love.
You came down so humbly to our homes,
To fill them with light and warmth.
Splashing everything with imagination,
You came down to be with us in
Our times of bitterness,
To gift us with more and more of yourself.
You made yourself like one of our own family,
Bonding with us in a bond
As hard as crystal.
You came overflowing with love,
To give us life in the midst
Of all our sorrows.
Humbly you came,
And our earth received you
As a dew drop.
Your suitcase was filled with
Just one word: hope.
Amen.
Pedro Santana, translated from his collection “Salmos de la Esperanza.”
God’s blessings of strength and joy be yours,
Pastor Ana
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Monday
Nov 2
Today in our prayers we remember Ron and Rita Rawlinson.
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Dear Friends,
Today I would like to share with you a poem on the theme of hope, written by
a popular poet and priest from Spain.
Yes, he’ll come to us,
Like the snow that comes again at Christmas,
Like the bird that returns to her nest,
And like fresh rain falling,
The Lord will come again.
He’ll go up and down the streets of
Our cities, and cross the lanes
Of countryside and towns, until
Each of his frightened brothers
And all of his lonely sisters
Are accounted for and safe.
Yes, love will come,
Because love doesn’t die,
And love never gives up.
Love is stronger than death.
The Lord will come to us as
A fresh dawn to our existence.
He’ll take our drooping arms in his,
And lift them up with a resounding
“yes!”
Yes, of course he’ll come.
He’ll come to dress the heavens
With stars and clouds,
And he’ll tell us that everything
Has a purpose,
And he’ll speak the language of love,
And babes in arms will be the first
To understand it.
Pedro Santan, translated from his collection, “Salmos de la Esperanza.”
God’s blessings of joy and strength be yours,
Pastor Ana
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