Daily Meditations
Hope is some extraordinary spiritual grace that God gives us to control our fears, not oust them.-———————Vincent McNabb
Hope is one of the most precious things that God has given us. We need hope to get up each day. We use it to start a new project or a new job. We have hope. Thank God for it.
God of compassion, thank you for the gift of hope. AMEN
There is no way to peace. Peace is the way. ———-A.J. Muste
The people who have taught us the truth of this statement come to mind quite easily. Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. It is obvious that they understood this. All of them changed the world in amazing ways by following the path of peace. It should be obvious to us that walking the path of peace changes things for the better. We should do the same.
Loving God, your son showed us the path of peace. Others followed his example. Help us to do so too. AMEN
Kindness has converted more people than zeal,science, or eloquence. ———Mother Teresa
In church we often hear the word evangelism. There are those who call it the E word and run whenever someone whats them to go out and do it. We are thinking of this word in the wrong way. To go out and tell people about our faith is fine but to live out that faith speaks volumes. We need to live so that people ask “why are they so kind and loving?” This is what will draw people to Christ.
Lord Jesus, you showed us how to live. You drew people by your works. Help us to do the same. AMEN
Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all. ————William Shakespeare
It is so easy for us to judge others. Gossip is usually some form of judgement. Often the things we are quickest to judge in others is the one we don’t see in ourselves. We have not walked in another person’s shoes. We don’t know the whole story. No judgement!
Forgiving God, remind us that we too are often wrong and quick to judge. Help us to walk with compassion and love. AMEN
At its best, Christian community nourishes the alternative life of centering in God, and instill at passion for compassion and justice for the whole creation.———-Marcus Borg
To be the Christian we are called to be we need to be in community. We need others to share our “God moments” and to hear theirs. We need the support of the community when we are in crisis and should be ready to help when others face problems. If you have not found your community keep looking!
Compassionate God, help us to find that place where we can nurture others and be nurtured. AMEN
Touch is important for our life. God created us to live together. He did not leave Adam alone. We need the Christian community. Sharing the peace, the touch of hands in healing are so important. God intended us to be touched.
Lord God, you created us together, help us to find the touch of your healing community. AMEN
We hunger for a kind of group association in which, through being ourselves, we may get to something greater than ourselves. We long to touch the transcendent, and, furthermore, to do it in the company of others who, by sharing our experiences, verify and confirm them. —————-Milton J. Rosenberg
I am one of the people who feel that it is hard to be Christian without a community of faith. We need others to confirm our beliefs. We need them to be with us during our trials and we with them during theirs. We need a family of faith. If you don’t have one search until you find one.
Loving God, help us to find a community that can become our extended family AMEN
see more on this subject on https://wordpress.com/post/worrylessjourney.com/2827
Difference of rite ought not to involve differences of faith-———Christopher Dawson
Sometimes I think that we spend as much or more time pointing out the flaws of other denominations that we do about other religions. Some feel that their path is the only one and want to be sure that everyone else is wrong.
God is so far beyond out understanding that none of us can claim to have the only truth. Don’t waste time putting down others.
Psalm 51: 10-12
10 create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right[b] spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing[c] spirit.
This is one of my favorite Psalms. I frequently think that my heart needs cleaning out. I have let too many unkind thoughts sneak in. Sometimes my mind is made up about someone and I see them through dark glasses. That opinion might have come from gossip or a too quick judgement on my part. My opinion colors my relationship with them. I need a new and right spirit.
Loving God, help me to clean out my heart of wrong thinking and unfair ideas. Put your spirit within me. AMEN
How much time do we spend caring for others? Do we spend most of our time thinking about ourselves? We all need care. We need kind words, hugs, phone calls, lunch dates, visits and many other things. Those things nourish us and help to grow and be fruitful. When we flourish we can pass on to others the care given to us.
Keep the path open between your house and your friends.
Loving God, you show your love for us in so many ways. Help us to do the same for others. AMEN
Hear God in Other Voices 