They Know Best

From www.facebook.com/pages/Parent-Lectures-Whats-the-point

Children, obey your parents for this is right.  Honor your father and your mother.  And this is the first commandment that has promise:  that you may be happy and enjoy long life in the land.  And you, fathers, do not make rebels of your children, but educate them by correction and instruction which the Lord may aspire.

Servants, obey your masters of this world with fear and respect, with simplicity of heart, as if obeying Christ.  Do not serve only when you are watched or in order to please others, but become servants of Christ who do God's will with all your heart.  Work willingly, for the Lord and not for humans, mindful that the good each one has done, whether servant or free, will be rewarded by the Lord.

And you, masters, deal with your servants in the same way, and do not threaten them, since you know that they and you have the same Lord who is in heaven, and he treats all fairly.

Ephesians 6:1-9

"Lord, forgive me for the times I've been disobedient to You and to those You've placed above me."

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Love And Respect

Let all kinds of submission to one another become obedience to Christ.  So wives to their husbands:  as to the Lord.

The husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head of the Church, his body, of whom he is also the Savior.  And as the Church submits to Christ, so let a wife submit in everything to her husband.

As for you, husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her.  He washed her and made her holy by baptism in the Word.  As he wanted a radiant Church without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless, he himself had to prepare and present her to himself.

In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies.  He who loves his wife loves himself.  And no one has ever hated his body, he feeds and takes care of it.  That is just what Christ does for the Church, because we are members of his body.

Scripture says:  Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother to be united with his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  This is a very great mystery, and I refer to Christ and the Church.  As for you, let each one love his wife as himself, and let the wife respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:21-33

"Lord Jesus, grant me the maturity to understand the needs of my spouse and to respond according to Your Word.  Amen."

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I Love And Forgive You

From www.sodahead.com

Be good and understanding,  mutually forgiving one another as God forgave you in Christ.

As most beloved children of God, strive to imitate him.  Follow the way of love, the example of Christ who loved you.  He gave himself up for us an became the offering and sacrificial victim whose fragrance rises to God.  And since your are holy, there must not be among you even a hint of sexual immorality or greed, or any kind of impurity; these should not be named among you.  So too for scandalous words, nonsense and foolishness, which are not fitting; instead offer thanksgiving to God.

Know this:  no depraved, impure or covetous person who serves the god 'Money' shall have part in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for these are the sins which God is about to condemn in people who do not obey.  Do not associate with such people.  You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Behave as children of light.

Ephesians 4:32-5:8

"Make me slow to anger, Lord.  Teach me to humble myself before men, to love the sinner and hate the sin."

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God's Instruments

From ssnet.org

Every High Priest is taken from among mortals and appointed to be their representative before God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin.  He is able to understand the ignorant and erring for he himself is subject to weakness.  This is why he is bound to offer sacrifices for his sins as well as for the sins of the people.  Besides, one does not presume to take this dignity, but takes it only when called by God, as Aaronw as.

Nor did Christ become High Priesy in taking upon himself this dignity, but it was given to him by the One who says:  You are my son, I have begotten you today.

Hebrews 5:1-6

"Father, remind us always to love our neighbors as much as You love us and to stay humble at all times as You use us as Your instruments."

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Fruitful In The Lord

From stpaulsmilton.com

One day some people told Jesus what had occurred in the Temple:  Pilate had had Galileans killed, and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.  Jesus asked them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this?  No, I tell you.  But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did.

And those eighteen persons in Siloah, who were crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem?  I tell you:  no.  But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did."

And Jesus continued with this story, "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but found none.  Then he said to the gardener, 'Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree, and I have found none.  Cut it down, why should it use up the ground?'  The gardener replied, 'Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer;  perhaps it will bear fruit from now on.  But if it doesn't, you can cut it down.'"

Luke 13:1-9

"Lord, forgive me for the times that I have failed to use Your gifts or have abused them apart from Your purpose.  Help me bear fruit in Your kingdom by teaching me to take on the right attitude and to become humble in my ways.  Amen."

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The Power To Decide

From www.econ.ucsb.edu

Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming';  and so it happens.  And when the wind blows from the south, you say, 'It will be hot';  and so it is.  You superficial people!  You understand the signs of the arth and the sky, but you don't understand the present times.  And why do you not judge for yourselves what is fit?  When you go with your accuser before the court, try to settle the case on the way, lest he drag you before the judge, and the judge deliver you to the jailer, and the jailer throw you into prison.  I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny."

Luke 12:54-59

"Lord, give me the strength and patience to always put others' needs before my own."

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A Witness At Home

From catholic.net

I have come to bring fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!  But I have a baptism to undergo, and what anguish I feel until it is over!

Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth?  No, I tell you, but rather division.  From now on, in one house five will be divided:  three against two, and two against three.  They will be divided, father against son and son against father;  mother against daughter and daughter against mother;  mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

Luke 12:49-53

"I life up to You my family.  You love them more than I ever can.  Make me a channel, Lord, to bring them always to You."

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Let's Go Taglish

You may have heard of the graces God bestowed on me for your sake.  By a revelation he gave me the knowledge of his mysterious design, as I have explained in a few words.  On reading them you will have some idea of how I understand the mystery of Christ.

This mystery was not made known to past generations but only now, through revelations given to holy apostles and prophets.  Now the non-Jewish people share the inheritance; in Christ Jesus the non-Jews are incorporated and are to enjoy the Promise.

This is the Good News of which I have become minister by a gift of God, a grace he gave me, when his power worked in me.

This grace was given to me, the least among all the holy ones:  to announce to the pagan nations the immesaruable riches of Christ and to make clear to all how the mystery hidden from the beginning in God the Creator of all things is to be fulfilled.

Even the heavenly forces and powers will now discover through the Church the wisdom of God in its manifold expression, as the plan is being fulfilled which God designed from the beginning in Christ Jesus, our Lord.  In him we receive boldness and confidence to approach God.

Ephesians 3:2-12

"Lord, fill us with Your Spirit that we may have boldness, joy and humility towards others."

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Building Temples

At that time you were without Christ, you did not belong to the community of Israel,  the covenants of God and his promises were not for you;  you had no hope and were without God in this world.  But now, in Christ Jesus and by his blood, you who were once far off have come near.

For Christ is our peace, he who has made the two peoples one, destroying in his own flesh the wall--the hatred--which separated us.  He abolished the Law with its commands and precepts.  He made peace in uniting the two peoples in him, creating out of the two one New Man.  He destroyed hatred and reconciled us both to God through the cross, making the two one body.

He came to proclaim peace; peace to you who were far off, peace to the Jews who were near.  Through him we--the two peoples--approach the Father in one Spirit.

Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people:  you are of the household of God.  You are the house whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstones is Christ Jesus.  In him the whole structure is joined together and rises to be a holy temple in the Lord.  In him you too are being built to become the spiritual sanctuary of God.

Ephesians 2:12-22

"Jesus, You are my firm foundation!  Help me to build my life to become a worthy oblation to God."

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God's Grace

You were dead through the faults and sins.  Once you lived through them according to this world and followed the Sovereign Ruler who reigns between heaven and earth and who goes on working in those who resist the faith.  All of us belonged to them at one time and we followed human greed;  we obeyed the urges of our human nature and consented to its desires.  By ourselves, we went straight to the judgment like the rest of humankind.

But God, who is rich in mercy, revealed his immense love.  As we were dead through our sins, he gave us life with Christ.  By grace you have been saved!  And he raised us to life with Christ, giving us a place with him in heaven.

In showing us such kindness in Christ Jesus, God willed to reveal and unfold in the coming ages the extraordinary riches of his grace.  By the grace of God you have been save through faith.  This has not come from you;  it is God's gift.  This was not the result of your works, so you are not to feel proud.  What we are is God's work.  He has created us in Christ Jesus for the good works he has prepared that we should devote ourselves to them.

Ephesians 2:1-10

"Dear Lord, let me never forget how great and sacrificial Your love is for us.  Let me repay with a life dedicated to loving You by serving others."

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No Reservations

From justinviteme.wordpress.com

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Master, we want you to grant us what we are going to ask of you."  And he said, "What do you want me to do for you?"  They answered, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, when you come in your glory."

But Jesus said to them, "You don't know what your are asking.  Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized in the way I am baptzied?"  They answered, "We can."  And Jesus told them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and you will be baptized in the way that I am baptized;  but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant.  It has been prepared for others."

On hearing this, the other ten were angry with James and John.  Jesus then called them to him and said, "As you know, the so-called rulers of the nations act as tyrants, and their great ones oppress them.  But it shall not be so among you;  whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you shall make himself salve of all.  Think of the Son of Man, who has not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life to redeem many."

Mark 10:35-45

"O God, my God, for You I long.  My soul thirsts for You, my flesh faints for You.  Forever to You I belong.  My You bring me home to be with You in heaven."

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The Helper

From hopchurch.org

I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.  But the one who denies me before othes will be denied before the angels of God.

There will be pardon for the one who criticizes the Son of Man, but there will be no pardon for the one who slanders the Holy Spirit.

When you are brought before the synagogues, and before governors and rulers, don't worry about how you will defend yourself, or what to say;  for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you have to say.

Luke 12:8-12

"Father, fill me with the gifts of the Holy Spirit that I may honor Jesus with courage, conviction and effectiveness.  In Jesus' name.  Amen."

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Sshhhh... It's A Secret

From yourdivinedivorce.com

Meanwhile, such a numerous crowd had gathered taht they crushed one another.  Then Jesus spoke to his disciples in this way,

"Beware fo the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  Nothing is covered that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not be made known.  Whatever you have said in darkness will be heard in daylight and what you have whispered in hidden places, will be proclaimed from housetops.

I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who put to death the body and after that, can do no more.  But I will tell you whom to fear:  Fear the one who after killing you is able to throw you into hell.  This one you must fear.  Don't you buy five sparrows for two pennies?  Yet not one of them has been forgotten by God.  Even the hairs of your head have been numbered.  Don't be afraid!  Are you less worthy in the eys of God than many sparrows?"

Luke 12:1-7

"Lord, grant me the grace that through my thoughts, words and deeds, You shall be revealed."

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Servants Wanted

From www.activ8careers.com

After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples, and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place, where he himself was to go.  And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest.  Courage!  I am sending you like lams among wolves.  Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know.

Whatever house you enter, first bless them, saying:  'Peace to this house!'  If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person.  But if not, the blessing will return to you.  Stay in that house, eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid.  Do not move from house to house.

When they welcome you to any town, eat what they offer you.  Heal the sick who are there, and say to them:  'The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.'

Luke 10:1-9

"If You can use anything, Lord, You can use me."

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Led By The Spirit

From http://theologyconversation.blogspot.com

But when you are led by the Spirit you are not under the Law.

You know what comes form the flesh:  fornication, impurity and shamelessness, idol worship and sorcery, hatred, jealousy and violence, anger, ambition, division, factions, and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like.  I again,s ay to you what I have already said:  those who do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy and peace, patience, understanding of others, kindness and fidelity, gentleness and self-control  For such things there is no Law or punishment. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its vices and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us live in a spiritual way.

Galatians 5:18-25

"Come, Holy Spirit, we need You. Come with Your strength and Your power.  Come in Your own special way."

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Human-Divine

As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to have a meal with him.  So he went and sat at table.  The Pharisee then wondered why Jesus did not first wash his hands before dinner.  But the Lord said to him, "So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves you are full of greed and evil.  Fools!  He who made the outside, also made the inside.  But according to you, by the mere giving of alms everything is made clean.

Luke 11:37-41

"Dear God, help me to be a law-abiding citizen.  But above all, remind me that I shall be a citizen of heaven forever whose law of love I embrace now.  Amen."

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Substance Of The Unseen

It says that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman, the other by the free woman, his wife.  The son of the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of God's promise.

Here we have an allegory and the figures of two covenants.  The first is the one from Mount Sinai, represented through Hagar; her children have slavery for their lot.

But the Jerusalem above, who is our mother, is free.  And Scripture says of her:  Rejoice, barren woman without children, break forth in shouts of joy, you who do not know the pains of childbirth, for many shall be the children of the forsaken mother, more than of the married woman.

Brethren, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Christ freed us to make us really free.  So remain firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

Galatians 4:22-24,26-27,31-5:1

"Lord, let me live my life in faith."

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Food Pusher

Just as Jesus was setting out on his journey again, a amn ran up, knelt before him and asked, "Good Master, what must I do to have eternal life?"

Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good?  No one is good but God alone.  You know the commandments:  Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat, honor your father and mother."  The man replied, "I have obeyed all these commandments since my childhood."

Then Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him and he said, "For you, one thing is lacking.  Go, sell what you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven.  Then come and follow me."  On hearing these words, his face fell and he went away sorrowful, fo rhe was a man of great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"  The disciples were shocked at these words, but Jesus insisted, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

They were more astonished tan ever and wondered, "Who then, can be saved?"  Jesus looked steadily at them and said, "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God; all things are possible with God."

"Peter spoke up and said, "We have given up everything to follow you."  Jesus answered, "Truly, there is no one who has left house, or brothers or sisters, of father or mother, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive his reward.  I say to you:  even in the midst of persecution, he will receive a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands in the present time, and in the world to come eternal life."

Mark 10:17-30

"Lord, help me let go of material things in my life and embrace Your kingdom more fully."

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Full-Fledged Preacher

As Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to him, "Blessed is the one who gave you birth and nursed you!"  Jesus replied, "Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it as well."

Luke 11:27-28

""Lord, let me be ready to preach the Word, in season and out of season."

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In Our Stead

Understand then that those who follow the way of faith are sons and daughters of Abraham.

The Scripture foresaw that by the way of faith, God would give true righteousness to the non-Jewish nations.  For God's promise to Abraham was this:  In you shall all the nations be blessed.  So now those who take the way of faith receive the same blessing as Abraham who believed;  but those who rely on the practice of the Law are under a curse, for it is written:  Cursed is everyone who does not always fulfill everything written in the Law.

It is plainly written that no one becomes righteous, in God's way, by the Law;  by faith the righteous shall live.  Yet the Law gives no place to faith, for according to it;  the one who fulfills the commandments shall have life through them.

Now Christ rescued us from the curse of the Law by becoming cursed himself for our sake, as it is written:  there is a curse on everyone who is hanged on a tree.

Galatians 3:7-14

"All thanks to You, Lord Jesus, for Your great love for me.  May I honor You every day with my life."

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Nothing Too Trivial

By Albrecht Durer

Jesus said to them, "suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to his house in the middle of the night and says, 'Frind, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine who is traveling has just arrived, and I have nothing to offer him.'  Maybe your friend will answer from inside, 'Don't bother me now; the door is locked, and my children and I are in bed, so I can't get up and give you anything.'  But I tell you, even though he will not get up and attend to you because you are a friend, yet he will get up because you are a bother to him, and he will give you all you need.

And so I say to you, 'Ask, and it will be given to you;  seek, and you will find;  knock, and it will be opened to you.  For the one who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened.

If your child asks for a fish, will you give him a snake instead?  And if your child asks for an egg, will you give him a scorpion?  If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

Luke 11:5-13

"Forgive me, Lord, for being too proud to ask from You.  Grant me the humility to present all my concerns to You."

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A Delightful Meal

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."  And Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say this:

Father, may our name be held hold,
may your kingdom come;
give us each day the kind of bread we need,
and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive all who do us wrong;
and do not bring us to the test."

Luke 11:1-4

"Thank You so much for allowing me to enjoy all the good things You provide.  You are my Great Supplier."

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First Duty

From theyogadailydose.com

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he entered a village, and a woman called Martha welcomed him to her house.  She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet to listen to his words.  Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving, and finally she said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work?  Tell her to help me!"

But the Lord answered, "Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things, whereas only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:38-42

"Jesus, draw me to listen to You more that I may love and serve you more.  Also, help me make time and muster courage to listen to the one I love.  Amen."

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At Your Service, Lord!

I am surprised at how quickly you have abandoned God who called you according to the grace of Christ, and have gone to another gospel.  Indeed, there is no other gospel, but some people who are sowing confusion among you want to turn the Gospel of Christ upsdie down.

But even if we ourselves were giving you another gospel different from the one we preached to you, or if it were an angel from heaven, I would say:  let God's curse be on him!  As I have said I now say again:  if anyone preaches the Gospel in a way other than you received it, fire that one.  Are we to please humans or obey God?  Do you think that I try to please people?  If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, that hte Gospel we preached to you is not a human message, nor did I receive it from anyone, I was not taught of it but it came to me as a revelation from Christ Jesus.

Galatians 1:6-12

"Lord Jesus, help me remember that Your approval is more important than men's approval."

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Difficult To Love

Yahweh God said, "It is not good for Man to be alone;  I will give him a helper who will be like him."  Then Yahweh God formed from the earth all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air and brought them to Man to see what he would call them;  and whatever Man called every living creature, that was its name.

So Man gave names to all the cattle, the birds of the air and to every beast of the field.  But he did not find among them a helper like himself.  Then Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to come over Man and he fell asleep.  He took one of his ribs and filled its place with flesh.  The rib which Yahweh God had taken from Man he formed into a woman and brought her to the man.  The man then said, "Now this is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.  She shall be called woman because she was taken from man."  That is why man leaves his father and mother and is attached to his wife, and with her becomes one flesh.

Genesis 2:18-24

"Lord, allow me to love others as You loved us and live my life according to Your words so that I may allow others to love me."

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God-Right-Here

By Joey Velasco

This was the answer Job gave to Yahweh:
I know that you are all powerful;  no plan of yours can be thwarted.
I spoke of things I did not understand,
too wonderful for me to know.
My ears had heard of you,
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I retract all I have said and in dust and ashes I repent.

Yahweh blessed Job's latter days much more than his earlier ones.  He came to own fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-donkeys.  He was also blessed with seven sons and three daughters.  The first daughter he named Dove, the second Cinnamon, and the third Bottle of Perfume.  Nowhere in the land was there found any woman who could compare in beauty with Job's daughers.  Their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

Job lived a hundred and forty years;  he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.

Job 42:1-3,5-6,12-16

"Let me know You, Jesus.  Reveal Yourself to me."

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Lost And Found

From nomadicjoe.blogspot.com

Then Yahweh answered Job out of the storm:

Have you ever commanded the morning,

or shown the dawn its place,

that it might grasp the earth by its edges

and shake the wicked out of it,

when it takes a clay color

and changes its tint like a garment;

when the wicked are denied their won light,

and their proud arm si shattered?

Have you journeyed to where the sea begins

or walked in its deepest recesses?

Have the gates of death been shown to you?

Have you seen the gates of Shadow?

Have you an idea of the breadth of the earth?

Tell me, if you know all this.

Where is the way to the home of light,

and where does darkness dwell?

Can you take them to their won regions,

and set them on their homeward paths?

You know, for you were born before them,

and great is the number of your years!

Job said:
How can I reply, unworth as I am!
All I can do is put my hand over my mouth.
I have spoken once, now I will not answer;
oh, yes, twice, but I will do no further.

Job 38:1,12-21;40:3-5

"Lord, please guide and direct my path.  For I know that even in darkness You are with me.  Amen."

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A Bag From Mother Mary

From www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Virgin-Mother

Have pity my friends, have pity,

for God's hand has struck me!

Why do you hound me as God does?

Will you never have enough of my flesh?

Oh, that my words were written,

or recorded on bronze

with an iron tool, a chisel

or engraved forever on rock!

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

and he, the last, will take his stand on earth.

I will be there behind my skin,

and in my flesh I shall see God.

With my own eyes I shall see him--

I and not another.  How my heart yearns!

Job 19:21-27

"Lord, open my eyes that I might see You and cling to Your promise amid my troubles."

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Half-Hearted

From golem2.wordpress.com

As they went on their way, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."  Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests;  but the Son fo Man has nowhere to lay his head."

To another Jesus said, "Follow me!"  But he answered, "Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father."  And Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their dead;  as for you, leave them, and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Another said to him, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family."  And Jesus said to him, "Whoever has put his hand to the plow, and looks back, is not fit for the kingdom of God."

Luke 9:57-62

"Dear Jesus, grant me the grace not to hold back in my decision to follow You.  I pour out everything I am in loving You.  Amen."

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Kukurtz

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples, and said, "I assure you that, unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever receives such a child in my name receives me.

See that you do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you:  their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father.

Matthew 18:1-5,10

"Teach us, Lord, to look at the world with the eyes of a child."

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The Last Humiliation

One day the desciples were arguing about which of them was the most important.  But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he took a little child and stood him by his side.  Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name, welcomes me;  and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me.  And listen:  the one who is found to be the least among you all, is the one who is the greatest."

Then John spoke up, "Master, we saw someone who drives out demons by calling upon your name, and we tried to forbid him, because he doesn't follow you with us."  But Jesus said, "Don't forbid him.  He who is not against you is for you."

Luke 9:46-50

"Lord, grant me the grace of a pure heart."

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