Ok, so here's the deal for the morning
1. You pray the Sign of the Cross
2. You offer God your day
This just means that you tell Him everything that's coming up that you know
of, then you say "take all that I think, do, and say and I unite it all with
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass." So this way your small sacrifices are being
united to His all-powerful and saving sacrifice on Calvary.
3. You read the Bible Passage. Then pause for like a minute or two.
4. Ask yourself 2 Questions:
a. What is the keyword or theme of this passage?
b. What does this have to do with me?
DANIEL 15
"My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths and they have not
harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you,
O king, I have committed no crime."
Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up
out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever
was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously
accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children and their wives into the
lions' den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions
overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
At the end of the day, before you go to bed.
Ask yourself 2 Questions:
1. How did God love me today?
2. How did I love God today?
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3 comments:
The message I keep getting from these readings, even from the first day is about TRUST. God must have known that this would be one of the hardest parts for us (well, for me at least). There is no question on God's part though - He doesn't hold back anything from us, nothing. He has no fear of commiting to us - He even goes beyond commitment to complete enveloping of our souls with every single mistake we make and pain we experience. Yet it's still so difficult to trust. There are countless stories and reassurances that trusting in God (thereby listening, following and doing God's will) is actually not something to be afraid of. Daniel didn't even come out with an injury, as if facing a grueling death hadn't occured. How many times do I face so much less than being mauled by lions, and yet continue to hold back from full commitment?
I love the line from Jeremiah the other day about God saying that we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart. "I will be found by you." I don't know that God can be any more reassuring that His plans are the BEST PLANS POSSBILE...why is it still so scary?
Great thoughts, Nora. Trust can be a very difficult thing to do. For me... it's a daily challenge. Even if I feel like I can trust God completely one day, I'll go to sleep, wake up, and feel the exact opposite the next day!! :)
This passage also shows how important it is for we women to pick a good husband!! If we pick a loser, we might just get thrown into the Lion's Den along with him... ;)
Wow Nora... I like you thoughts! Somehow ... it's the past hurts in our lives that cause miss trust. I tend to say "how could you let this happen when I was trying to do your will?" He does so much for Me -- but then .... it seems those hurts are so over whelming I worry and worry --- and mistrust. How can God allow bad things to happen to me ... But, He allowed a bad thing to happen to Daniel -- Daniel was given to the lions for doing what was right. It's Daniel's unwavering even in bad things that gave him the ability to live and be who God needed him to be --- and be strong enough to do what God asked of him knowing what bad could happen -- but trusting that His Will and Love -- and honoring HIM ALONE was best and not ceasing in this despite the decree ... GOd stusatined him through the bad time in the den -- and then honored him. Sometimes when He allows bad stuff to happen ... though He doesn't will it --- He loves you through it and honors you for honoring Him. We rejoice then ... but when it comes to trusting again ... we remember the fear and loniliness of the den -- the pain -- not the miricales during/after --- so we are scared to trust.... if only i can learn to praise at all times - and see the grace that has been given to me admist the bad stuff (like Daniel's angel closing the mouth of the lion) --- if I could focus on the angel and not the lion's roar .... trust would be so much easier .... less scary....
You know God knew we would be scared and alone --- that's why the very last words Jesus said before he asscended was "And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age" ...
Mt 28:20
even knowing this ... I still feel alone and scared .... it's still hard! But that's why it's called Faith and not Feelings. They are not the same. Just cuase you can't see or feel ... doesn't mean He's not there. Sometimes we can't see his presence --- but in the end know that he must have been there cuase we know we couldn't make it on our own.
I always use to be mad at God for being so alone.... I sue to say "I need you here with me .. I need you in the flesh - a person - I need a person - I need a someone! I use to be so angry cuase I thought He never came since I was alone and going through everything alone. ONe day a t mass --- several years ago after I graduated from college .... I was whining at God again about this very same thing ... and even telling Him that he lied -- he said he'd be here and he's not! Then it came time for concecration .... and for the first time .... I conected the 2. He didn't lie, He was here.... and He was even here in the flesh - a person just like I asked! I am not alone. And I started to think ... 2000 yrs ago He knew I would need Him to be here with me --- not a sustitute -- not just "out there" but Here with me in the flesh -- letting me touch/hold Him, wanting to be one with me in communion through the Eucharist. He was here --- He has always been here ... and He always will be here ... He opened my eyes to this. I alwasy believed the eucharist was Jesus ... my never realized it was My Jesus in the flesh that I had been yellling at him I needed ... but all along .... He was here ... just waiting for me to turn to Him and allow HIm to truely be here for me - to embrace Him in the flesh.
And He is always there -- always here for me when I need Him. amazing!
sorry for the tangent ... one thing just lead to another ....
peace
kath
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