Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Isaiah 40:1-11 When arguments, biases, judgments, and passions are voiced, stones or even boulders are often thrown down along the paths and highways of our lives. These aggressive ways of communicating make it very difficult for Jesus to enter my life, and the lives of others. The Prophet says to make smooth and straight the pathways of God. I make his paths smooth and straight when I turn anger away with soft answers, forgive others their trespasses, listen with prayer and patience, and see every relationship, every interaction, as a lesson in the school of merciful love. Am I smoothing and straightening the paths for Jesus to come into our lives? Holy Spirit of God help me make smooth and straight the way for Jesus. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. (Psalm 96:2) Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee. Emily S. Elliot, 1864 See My Heart Christ’s Home by Robert Boyd Munger in PDF here: https://www.usna.edu/Navigators/_files/documents/MHCH.pdf www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
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Romans 15:4-9 “You’re welcome,” rolls off my tongue far too easily, often despite hidden resentments –because of time lost from the day’s agenda, an interruption of an otherwise peaceful day, or the introduction of ‘negativity’ into an otherwise blissfully happy day . To truly welcome in the sense of Christ Jesus’ welcome is to open my heart to not ‘the other’, but to another child of God by the Grace and Truth of God’s Holy Spirit. To truly welcome another man, woman or child is to honestly say in my heart, “You have well come into my life at this moment! I acknowledge the good and holy gift that you are by the truth and grace of God that dwells in you. I am thankful that our paths have crossed.” When someone knocks at my door, calls at an inconvenient time, approaches me at church or in the street, asks me for an awkward favour, or simply acknowledges me with their eyes, will I voice a flippant ‘You’re welcome,’ but harbour sentiments of indifference or resentment? Or will I truly give thanks for each individual who crosses my path and whole heartedly say, “You are well-come,” because they are gift for me, as perhaps I am for them? Holy Spirit help me truly welcome others. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear... Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loin. (Is 11:3,5) Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee. Emily S. Elliot, 1864 See My Heart Christ’s Home by Robert Boyd Munger in PDF here: https://www.usna.edu/Navigators/_files/documents/MHCH.pdf www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Matthew 9:27-31 In my mind’s eye, I can picture the two blind men, sworn chums because of their mutual dark affliction, following along on the edges of the group travelling around the Capernaum area with Jesus that day. Their bravado and underlying hesitancy remind me of my many young-men nephews, who similarly desire healing but are unsure how to ask for it; they also remind me of myself, when I deeply desire healing but feel too awkward or too unsure of myself to even ask Jesus for this favour. Like the two blind (young?) men, I need to follow Jesus into the privacy of his house in order to gather the courage and muster the faith to ask him to (bother to) heal me of specific ‘blindness-es’, or dark places, in my being. When I do make the effort to follow Jesus into the recesses of his nearer presence, he asks me, as he asked the two blind men, “Do you believe that I am able to do this healing for you?” When I can answer, like them, a full-hearted ‘Yes, Lord,’ then Jesus touches that infirmity that I have exposed to him, and says to me, “According to your faith let it be done to you,” and he heals me. Where in my being am I blind, and need to have my ‘eyes opened’, to be healed? I come to you, Lord Jesus, to ask for healing. Holy Spirit of God, help me follow Jesus into his house and ask for healing. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom (or what) shall I fear? (Is 27:1) Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee. Emily S. Elliot, 1864 See My Heart Christ’s Home by Robert Boyd Munger in PDF here: https://www.usna.edu/Navigators/_files/documents/MHCH.pdf www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Matthew 7:21-27 Sometimes I wonder how wonderful it might have been to cradle Jesus, the holy infant, the Word of God, the night of his birth some 2020 years ago. Yet today and every day, I have opportunity to be-hold the words of Jesus, the Word, the true vestiges of his holy essence that remain intact in the Bible for us his followers in the here and now of the 21st century. The teachings, the consolations and the counsels, of Christ Jesus, recorded as they are in scripture, are mine, are ours, to read and hold close in heart, mind, soul and strength, each minute of each day. Jesus advised us to ‘hear’ his words, and to build our lives on them, so that no matter what storms come our way, we might remain firmly grounded in God’s will, strong in the grace and truth of God. Today will I behold the Word-s of Jesus, just as willingly as I might have visited and held the Holy Infant in Bethlehem? Come Word of the Father, come into my life that I might be-hold You. Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me hear your words and build on them. Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace – in peace because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3) Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee. Emily S. Elliot, 1864 See My Heart Christ’s Home by Robert Boyd Munger in PDF here: https://www.usna.edu/Navigators/_files/documents/MHCH.pdf www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei Gospel Mystery of the Day Monday, December 2, 2019
Good Morning! Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119) Isaiah 11:1-10 & Luke 10:21-24 When I read the Word, that is, some scriptures, first thing in the morning, I am able to savour the flavour of the Holy Spirit of Jesus all day long. As much as I don’t pollute my being with other passions, problems and ego projects, I am able to enjoy the fullness of breath of the Word continuing to penetrate my heart, mind, soul and strength throughout the day, transforming darkness into light, bitterness into compassion and chaos into order. Then I notice that as I walk and talk and sing and dance, or even weep and work my way through the day, the deep joy and peace of God flowing from his Word has an effect on others as I converse or cross paths with them, no matter how briefly. Today, will I allow the Word of God to flow freely into, and through, me? Come Word of God, into my being. Lord God, I rejoice in your Word flowing into, and through, me. What I say to you in darkness, speak in the light, says the Lord. (Matthew 10:27) Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee. Emily S. Elliot,, 1864 See My Heart Christ’s Home by Robert Boyd Munger in PDF here: https://www.usna.edu/Navigators/_files/documents/MHCH.pdf www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei |
AuthorBeverly Illauq lives in Kemptville, Ontario, where she greets each morning by seeking the Gospel Mystery of the Day - the Word of the Lord for direct and practical application to the specific challenges & joys of the day. Archives
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