S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~Matthew 6:20-21
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
The world wonders when it sees a person who can unexpectedly draw large and
unsuspected sums from the bank for some emergency. But what the world has
not seen is the countless small sums paid into that bank, earned by faithful
work over a long time. And so it is with the bank of the spirit. The world
sees the person of faith make a demand on God's stores of power and the
demand is met. The world does not see what that person has been putting in,
in thanks and praise, in prayer and communion, in small good deeds done
faithfully, steadily over the years.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may keep making deposits in God's bank. I pray that I may
always remember the reserve I have built up and the willingness of God to
give me all that I need.
Who Am I?
Only a short while ago the Lord's friends gathered around to hear Him
speak of great and wonderful things. The things of God, eternal things. We
hung on every word, savoring it, digesting it. Now, they are gone and I
alone remain, sitting at His feet. Like a delicate fragrance, the sound of
His voice seems to linger in the air. I breath in the essence of His
presence and sigh. It's good that I should be here; I want to stay forever.
For a moment He shuffles in His seat and I fear that my Lord is going to
leave. My heart sinks until I realize He is leaning forward and reaching out
His hands to me. All at once the child in me comes alive as Jesus lifts me
to His lap and cradles me in His arms. Tears of joy fill my eyes and
overflow, cascading down my cheeks. I weep softly and bury my face in the
folds of His robe as His strong arms close around me.
Who am I that the Lord should hold me so tenderly? Did He hear my
anguished cry for more of Him? Had He peered into the depths of my heart and
dug through the sin and deeply rooted pride and greed and actually found
some good buried there? Is there any good in me? I am still so slow to
learn, so quick to fall. My reasoning weaves a maze through my mind as I try
to comprehend. As Jesus draws me closer to Himself, a thread of gold enters
the woven maze in my mind and I understand. Jesus holds me not because of my
goodness, but His; not because of my love for Him, but rather, because of
His great love for me. My thoughts become a blur, struggling to grasp what
is unimaginable for the human mind. He is able to do exceedingly and
abundantly more than I think or imagine. My Lord and my God loves me. I
savor this delicious morsel of truth as He gently cradles me
in His strong arms like a dear beloved child, and holds me close to His chest.
A favorite Scripture from Isaiah comes to mind:
"You are mine, you are precious in my sight and I
love you." I ponder this, these words meant for me as well.
As I listened to the Savior's heartbeat, He also was listening to mine.
What I couldn't put into words He heard from the cry of my heart. My desire
for Him. My love for Him. My longing to be with Him. And the heartbreaking
sorrow I felt for ever having done anything that put a distance between my
beloved Jesus and I. For a moment He stops rocking me and I can feel His
warm breath on my forehead. He tenderly says, child, look at me. I am
reluctant to look up because I know that my eyes will meet His. What I have
longed for, now suddenly fills me with dread. I fear what He will see in the
face of this unworthy child. His fingers are beneath my chin and He raises
my head until my eyes meet His. What I see is more beautiful than words can
express. In His eyes there is an ocean of love, deeper, wider, and higher
than all the world can contain. His eyes are the color of mercy.
For a moment I feel as if I am
little more than an ant at the foot of the cross, just beginning to
comprehend His love and sacrifice. The King of all the universe is gazing
into my eyes and communicating His love to me.
Jesus' hand is warm against my face. He cups my cheek and wipes away my
tears with His thumb. God's thumb, wiping away my tears. He holds my face
firmly for a moment and looks deep into my eyes as if to say, this is
important, listen to Me. His eyes seem to plead with me as He speaks. He
wants me to understand and believe it. As His eyes fill with tears, He says,
"This is why I did it; so I could hold you and love you for eternity."
My Day In Court
After living a "decent" life my time on earth came to an end. The first
thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought
to be a courthouse. The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and
have a seat by the defense table. As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor,"
he was a villainous looking gent who snarled, as he stared at me. He
definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen. I sat down and looked
to my left and there sat my lawyer, a kind and gentle looking man whose
appearance seemed very familiar to me. The corner door flew open and there
appeared the judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence
as he moved across the room, and I couldn't take my eyes off him. As he took
his seat behind the bench, he said "Let us begin."
The prosecutor rose and said "My name is Satan, and I am here to show you
why this man belongs in hell." He proceeded to tell of lies that I told,
things that I stole and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of
other horrible perversions that were once in my life, and the more he spoke
the further down in my seat I sank. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't
look at anyone, even my own lawyer, as the Devil told of sins that even I
had completely forgotten about.
As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was
equally upset at my representative who sat there silently not offering any
form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had
done some good in my life -- couldn't that at least equal out part of the
harm I've done. Satan finished with a fury and said "This man belongs in
hell. he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who
can prove otherwise. Justice will finally be served this day."
When it was his turn, my lawyer first asked if he might approach the bench.
The judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan and beckoned him
to come forward. As he got up and started walking I was able to see him now
in his full splendor and majesty. Now I realized why he seemed so familiar.
his was Jesus representing me; my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the
bench and softly said to the judge, "Hi Dad," and then He turned to address
the court.
"Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned. I won't deny any of
these allegations. And yes the wages of sins is death and this man deserves
to be punished". Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with
outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this
person might have eternal life, and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he
is mine." My Lord continued with "His name is written in the book of life
and no one can snatch him from Me. Satan still does not understand yet, this
man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy."
As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at his Father and replied,
"There is nothing else that needs to be done, I've done it all."
The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down, and the
following words bellowed from His lips -- "This man is free -- the penalty
for him has already been paid in full, case dismissed."
As my Lord led me away I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give
up, I'll win the next one." I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions
where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?"
Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to me and asked Me
to represent them has received the same verdict as you, Paid in Full."
God´s Hands
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God…Psalm 123:2 NKJV
Today is in God’s hands and so are you.
His hands are strong and will uphold you;
His hands are great and will enfold you;
His hands are gentle and will embrace you;
His hands are protective and will cover you;
His hands are reassuring and will quiet you;
His hands are powerful and will defend you;
His hands are parental and will train you;
His hands are masterful and will conform you;
His hands are compassionate and will care for you;
His hands are healing and will renew you;
His hands are calming and will comfort you;
His hands are giving and will bless you.
The hands that hold you will never let you down.
TO EACH HIS OWN
-- Author Unknown
I cannot change the way I am,
I never really try,
God made me different and unique,
I never ask him why.
If I appear peculiar,
There's nothing I can do,
You must accept me as I am,
As I've accepted you.
God made a casting of each life,
Then threw the mold away,
Each child is different from the rest,
Unlike as night from day.
So often we will criticize,
The things that others do,
But, do you know, they do not think,
The same as me and you.
So God in all his wisdom,
Who knows us all by name,
He didn't want us to be bored,
That's why we're not the same
Trust in GodInto Thy Hands, O Lord, and into the hands of Thy holy Angels, I commit and entrust this day my soul, my relatives, my benefactors, my friends and enemies, and all Thy Catholic people. Keep us, O Lord, through the day, by the merits and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all Thy Saints, from all vicious and unruly desires, from all sins and temptations of the devil, and from sudden and unprovided death and the pains of hell. Enlighten my heart with the grace of Thy Holy Spirit; grant that I may always be obedient to Thy commandments; suffer me not to be separated from Thee, O God, who livest and reignest with God the Father and the same Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.
St. Edmund
July 4
- Jesus Calling
WHEN YOU WORSHIP ME in spirit and truth, you join with choirs of angels who are continually before My throne. Though you cannot hear their voices, your praise and thanksgiving are distinctly audible in heaven. Your petitions are also heard, but it is your gratitude that clears the way to My Heart. With the way between us wide open, My blessings fall upon you in rich abundance. The greatest blessing is nearness to Me – abundant Joy and Peace in My Presence. Practice praising and thanking Me continually throughout this day.
John 4: 23-24 – “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Psalm 100:4 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
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