Devotion
Pour out your soul before the Lord
David Jacobs
One of my best friends' growing up had a series of tragedies occur to him: his father died in a plane crash, one year later his mother died of cancer, and a few months after that his mother-in-law committed suicide, unable to bear with the grief. My friend was plunged into the harsh waters of reality, and he coped with it by drinking and doing drugs. After a few years, he realized that his actions were only making him feel worse, and started going to church again. Within a few months, he turned back into one of the most positive people I've ever met. He told me that for years he felt that he was drowning, but he soon realized that it was his own actions that held him underwater. Once he went to God, he felt that he could swim again.
Hannah is unable to bear children, which is a hardship made her sad and perhaps feel inadequate. The inability to have children at that time also made your life far more difficult, because you did not have anyone to take care of you or your property as you grew older. Her sorrow was holding her back just like the example of my friend. She refused to eat, which probably made her less healthy and less able to get pregnant, and in turn, more sad.
After talking with Eli, some of the sadness is lifted. She leaves Eli feeling more positive, eating, and shedding her sad disposition. Not long after, she finally gets pregnant, with a son named Samuel.
Life can sometimes make you feel hopeless: death, disease, misfortune. No matter what happens in your life, there is hope. God is there, and if you do as Hannah did, pouring out your soul for the Lord, God will hear your prayers. He heard Hannah's; He heard my friend's.
Prayer
Patient Shepherd, loving Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer. Lord, I know that I have strayed from you when times have been difficult for me. I pray today hoping that you will remind me, O Lord, that it is in these times that I most need your loving embrace. Remind me also to hug those around me that are at their low points. I will go from this place to love you, love people, serve you, and serve people. Amen.
Devotion
A Young Witness
Frances Taylor
Paul is giving Timothy both encouragement and instruction. Timothy is obviously young, but he has been chosen to preach. He is told, however, to be a good example of Christianity. Paul knows that the people will be watching him. He is also told to study as well as to encourage and to teach. We have been called to be disciples because of our Baptism. We too must be good examples of the Christianity we proclaim. It doesn't matter if we are young or old, we are expected to imitate Christ in our way of life, in how we show love to one another and by our moral choices. We are also expected to grow in our knowledge of the faith by reading the Scriptures, and to encourage others to be faithful and to teach others by word and example. We should never stop learning! I'm constantly amazed by how much I have forgotten of what I have read. And I am also surprised that a passage I have read many times before now has a different meaning to me. That's because ...
Morning Prayer
An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
Inspiration
Pride is one of the so called 'seven deadly sins', and with good reason. Arrogance in ones own importance over others is vain, and angers God. There is nothing that may rival Gods heights and power, and yet, he shows no arrogance. No nation, no group, no person is 'number one'. With true faith and love in ones heart, all are equal in the eyes of our Lord.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love for all of us. I know you have made me in your image, so allow me not to choose falsely and fall into arrogance or vanity, but rather seek humility in all I do and may accomplish with your guidance. For all I have and all I will ever do, I know is so only because it is granted by you. O Heavenly Father, hallowed by your name. Amen.
Night Prayer
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Inspiration
Often, we speak before we have to opportunity to think about our words. In the heat of the moment, we immediately express negative feelings without analyzing the situation first. We jump to conclusions when directing meetings and speak in haste with our children before evaluating all sides. As leaders in any setting, we must be tactful and make decisions by weighing all details. Instead of expressing emotions with our authority, we must seek to mediate justly and reflect the mercy of God with our decision-making.
Prayer
Dear Lord, Please forgive us when we jump to conclusions and fail to lead with mercy and grace. Guide us to reflect Your character when You place us in a position of authority. In Jesus' name, Amen.
