A Daily Spiritual Seed

Monday, February 10, 2014

Message of 2-10-14

A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- blogcast from http://dailyspiritualseed.blogspot.com (comments option open)

Message of the Day

The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion, but, on the contrary, of its liberality and humanity. It is shorter to state the things forbidden than the things permitted: precisely because most things are permitted, and only a few things are forbidden.
- Gilbert Keith G. K. Chesterton

("Sin not, and do as you wish," goes an old saying. Enjoy the freedom of a child of God this day.)

Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed

A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- blogcast from http://dailyspiritualseed.blogspot.com (comments option open)

Contents:
- Book/Resource of the Week
- Weekend Readings
- Spiritual Guidance
- Saint of the Week
- Affiliate Web Sites
- Theology Note of the Week
- Discussion Board
- Joke of the Week
- Advertising and Archives
- Subscribe/Unsubscribe links. Attributions.

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Book/Resource of the Week

Grave Injustice: Unearthing Wrongful Executions, by Richard A. Stack. Potomac Books, 2013.
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/1612341624/?tag=christianspiritu

It is most probably true that United States has executed a number of innocent persons. This author aims to expose the main defects in the capital punishment system in vogue in the States by showing that the death penalty is carried out by flawed humans, and that this irreversible punishment has no place in an imperfect system. By naming the case of Troy Davis who spent twenty years in prison and was then executed for a crime he most likely did not commit, sets the stage for introducing many others whose fate was similar. Stack puts a human face on the tragedy of capital punishment.

Message of 2-7-14

A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- blogcast from http://dailyspiritualseed.blogspot.com (comments option open)

Message of the Day

I have learned that much of my spiritual progress does not come directly from God, but through my ability to humble myself and hear Him speak through imperfect people. In fact, I have discovered that it pleases Him to hide His manifold wisdom in a variety of people and denominational perspectives. I know that the more I humble myself to others, the broader my understanding of God has actually become.
- Francis Frangipane

(Be open to God communicating with you through other people and creation this day.)

Message of 2-6-14

A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- blogcast from http://dailyspiritualseed.blogspot.com (comments option open)

Message of the Day

How do you convince a world that God is alive? By His aliveness in your life, by His work in producing reality in your experience.
- Howard G. Hendricks

(Be fully alive in God this day.)

Message of 2-4-14

A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- blogcast from http://dailyspiritualseed.blogspot.com (comments option open)

Message of the Day

Make it a rule, and pray to God to help you to keep it, never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say: "I have made one human being at least a little wiser, or a little happier, or at least a little better this day."
- Charles Kingsley

(A good resolution for today.)

2 SM 18:9-10, 14B, 24-25A, 30-19:3; PS 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; MK 5:21-43

R. Listen, Lord, and answer me.

Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me,
for I am afflicted and poor.
Keep my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God.

Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.

Reflection on the Scriptures
- http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

There are not too many biblical stories that bring out the raw emotions of the people involved more than today’s first reading. David is the great king of Israel. However, like many of us, he made mistakes with his children. A number of mistakes with Absalom led to a life that spiraled out of control. Eventually, Absalom led a rebellion against his own father. What a difficult position for David to be in. He loved his son and wanted him to live so that there could be reconciliation between them but he was not prepared to give up the kingdom. So, he sent Joab, the commander of his armies, to battle against the rebels but gave him strict orders to spare Absalom’s life. Joab defeated the rebel armies but proved to be untrustworthy. He explicitly disobeyed the king’s order and personally killed a defenseless Absalom. What a beautiful but heart wrenching picture of a father weeping for his son. “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” That is truly “a man after God’s own heart.” If only I had died instead of you. . .

David trusted Joab and he failed David in one of the most important episodes of his life. Jairus trusted Jesus and saw Death flee from the presence of He who is Life. The heading for Psalm 86 is “A prayer of David.” We do not know when in his life he prayed this prayer. We only know that, by now, he knows what Jairus knew. He knew that it makes a difference where you place your trust. He declares: You are my God. I trust in you.

- by George Butterfield

Spiritual Reading

Selected Quotes from St. John of the Cross on the Journey of the Soul to God by Contemplation - from Living Flame of Love
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602064296/?tag=christianspiritu

Stanza 1. #6. This soul is so near to God that it is transformed in the ﬂames of love, wherein Father, Son and Holy Spirit communicate Themselves to it. The effect of the living ﬂames is to make the soul live spiritually in God, and experience the life of God.

#8. Love is ever throwing out sparks; the effect is to wound, that it may enkindle with love and cause delight.

- compiled by James and Tyra Arraj

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Amazon Gift Cards: Good for any occasion.
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu

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- http://heartlandspirituality.org/support.html

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Monday, February 3, 2014

Message of 2-5-14

A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- blogcast from http://dailyspiritualseed.blogspot.com (comments option open)

Message of the Day

Dare to love and to be a real friend. The love you give and receive is a reality that will lead you closer and closer to God as well as those whom God has given you to love.
- Henri J. M. Nouwen

(Sometimes it's good to remember that the core practice is love. Let this your focus today.)

Message of 2-3-14

A Daily Spiritual Seed
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
- blogcast from http://dailyspiritualseed.blogspot.com (comments option open)

Message of the Day

Character is not built by battling and excitement alone. The harvest is not ripened by the thunderous forces of nature, but by the secret silent invisible forces. So the best qualities of our spiritual lives are matured by quietness, silence and commonplace.
- A. P. Gouthey

(Only in silence can we discover our deeper thoughts and feelings, and sense that still small voice of the Spirit. Reduce the unnecessary noise in your life. Make silence a priority.)