Devotion
Wonder and Awe
Frances Taylor
Moses stood in awe and wonder when he saw a bush burning yet not being destroyed. When have you stood in wonder and awe? From the power and beauty of God's creation, to profound experiences of life and death, we have so many opportunities. For myself, I remember watching the waves pound the sea wall during a blizzard. I watched shingles flying by my window in another blizzard and felt as though I was in the Wizard of Oz, little knowing that they were my shingles! I have seen the beauty of a rose and the majesty of Mt. McKinley. I have also had the privilege of being awake when my own children were born and also to be present at my daughter's side when my grandson was born. I was also able to be with my sister as she took her last breath. I have seen the faces of the newly baptized glow with the joy as they emerged from the pool and the light in the eyes of children on a Christmas morning. Wonder and Awe in God's presence is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Yet, it is a gift that even the youngest among us seem to have even if they do not recognize that it is from God. Watch a child walking in a yard stopping at the wonder of an ant, or a dandelion. It's no wonder that Jesus tells us that we need to be more like children! The reality is, once we become aware of this world that God has created for us and the mysteries it holds, the more we stand in awe and wonder of God. Let us take the time today to appreciate and give thanks for all of God's gifts.
Prayer
Good and gracious Lord, soon we will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. You have already gifted us with this precious gift at our Baptism. We stand in awe of your majesty and power. Help us to remember that you alone are God. Give us the grace to always do your will. Amen.
Night Prayer
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Inspiration
Sin rules our lives until we accept Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. When we invite Him into our lives, our old sinful heart dies, and God creates within us a new one, where sin no longer rules our life; God does! Our thoughts and actions begin to change because we no longer desire a sinful lifestyle. We joyfully devote our lives to serving Him and inviting others to understand His promise of salvation.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we are sinners born again and recreated to live according to Your will. We are grateful for Your love and the peace we experience by abolishing our old sinful self. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
Satan Has Been Defeated
Frances Taylor
Salvation and power have come with Christ and Satan has been defeated. Sin and death have been conquered by the actions of one man, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, both human and divine who came into the world to bring the Good News of salvation by living, dying and rising for us. As Christians we claim to believe this but our actions sometimes deny it. Unfortunately, people seem to resurrect Satan all the time. We allow him to lead us away from God, forgetting the way to the Father that is love, and giving in to Satan's path of hatred, anger, pride, lust, chaos and destruction.
Satan, of course, doesn't present these as bad things, he makes them seem attractive. He presents sin as goods to be desired, as things to make us happy or give us pleasure. It can be hard to stay on the path that leads to God when the world seems to be crowding us and pushing us off of it. How easy it is to forget the sacrifice that bought our freedom! Which of us ...
Morning Prayer
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Inspiration
It is right for us to defer to others and to rejoice with others when they have cause to rejoice over some blessing in their life, instead of sorrowing before them over some problem in our life. It is right also to weep with those who weep, showing compassion and feeling for them in their grief instead of "dancing joyfully before those who mourn" as if insensitive to their sorrow.
Prayer
Give me a discerning spirit, Lord, to know when to rejoice and when to weep. Let me show concern for others and their situation and life events instead of just focusing only on my own. Let me show true compassion and genuine joy in the right way and time to others. Amen.
