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Prayerful Morsels
Tidbits of Inspiration & Information
October 9, 2009 |
Morsels From the Editor
Welcome to this issue of Prayerful Morsels. In Personal Pondering, I reflect on Jesus' presence in our hearts and His desire for us to let down the walls and let him in! Then I write about Fruit of the Spirit. How do we know if we are really praying and not just going through the motions? Do not forget to check out the Gratitude Journal and submit one of your own blessings for the next issue! You can read past issues by going to my archive page for Prayerful Morsels.Happy Fall! Any comments or suggestions, be sure to write a Letter to the Editor. |
Prayerful Quote
The only way to measure growth in prayer is by a qualitative change in one's life.
- Dom John Main,(1926-82), in conversation
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Personal Pondering
by Colleen Spiro
"The great gift that all of us have been given to believe in Jesus Christ, to believe in his presence in our hearts... We have to learn to respond to it gradually, gently ... we cannot understand the magnificence and wonder of it." (Dom John Main, Community of Love)
John Main was right. We cannot possibly understand the magnificence of the gift that is Jesus Christ, the gift of Jesus dwelling within our very own hearts. I mean, what do we do with this information?
Faith tells us it is so. Scripture tells us it is so. But what about out hearts? I mean, what do we do with this?
My problem is that I have built up pretty thick walls around my heart. I did this to protect myself from letting people getting too close. Trust is not my strong suit.
Unfortunately, I try to keep Jesus out, too. I let him in and then I lock him out. I let him in and then I lock him out. Intimacy with Jesus is very frightening to me. I mean, what if he doesn't like what he sees?
These days I am reading Ken Gire's book, Divine Embrace. I cannot get through a chapter without getting weepy. It is about Jesus inviting us to a dance of intimacy with him. It is about falling in love with him.
It is about the wonder and the magnificence of God's eternal and abiding love for us.
I am beginning to sense that call to that closer relationship. I am surprised that I am not being frightened by it. A little nervous, maybe. But I cannot seem to ignore the call, the call that comes from within my own heart.
And so I will respond, gently like John Main said. Gently and gradually, I will respond to this great gift.
Will you? |
Fruit of the Spirit
by Colleen Spiro
"...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." Gal 5:22-23
There is a very popular story that I have seen online. A
woman goes into a marketplace and sees the sign, God's Fruit Stand. She
goes inside and asks for a perfect cantaloupe and a perfect peach.
God is standing behind the counter and he tells her, "I'm sorry. I sell
only seeds."
So many times we want instant perfection. Pray and feel peace. Pray and feel joy. Pray and get an instant answer.
But our spiritual life is a journey. We
are all works in progress, hopefully growing from the seeds God plants
within our hearts.
But how do we know if we are growing? How do we know if our prayer and our relationship with God is really authentic?
I remember asking my spiritual director, how do I know if I am really praying? Look for the fruit in your life, he told me.
About three months after starting
centering prayer, a great change came over me. It seemed like it was
overnight, but it probably wasn't.
I noticed that I was much more patient. I did not yell as much at my children. I was not as much of a perfectionist. Others noticed it, too, especially my children.
Patience, self-control, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness. Fruits of the Spirit. I was definitely changed. I'd experienced conversion.
Am I perfect? No, far from it. Do I still struggle with impatience? Absolutely. Struggling with our sins and imperfections is part of the journey. But so is growth. So is conversion. We need to be open to it.
Conversion is not something that happens once and for all. It is ongoing. We need to constantly "guard our hearts", and be open to God's seeds in our lives.
Who knows? We may bear fruit. |
A Gratitude Journal
"If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thank you, it will be enough." Meister Eckhart
My heart bursts with
gratitude for the Lord giving me a second Great Grandson - Christian James
McGirr. How blessed I am to be able to live to see them and feel Him
beating in their tiny but powerful hearts. - Jeanne McGirr
I'm thankful that my
husband Jim is slowly getting better. I know it's all the prayers he's
receiving. Of course, that's just one of the many many things I have to thank
God for. - Cathy
What are you grateful for today??? Is there something that you would like to thank God for and would like to share? Write to the Editor and put in the subject line - Gratitude. | |
Want to read more of Colleen's reflections?
Go check out her blogs:
Thoughts on Grace
Simple Reflections
Surviving By Grace
AND if you enjoy reading this ezine or find it helpful to your prayer life, please forward it to someone you think might find it interesting!! Click on link below (down below at the bottom of this newsletter) that says Forward to a friend.
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 Colleen's memoir about surviving child sexual abuse, The Third Floor Window, A True Story of Secrets, Survival and Hope, is on sale at:
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| Prayerful Morsels
Copyright 2009 Colleen Spiro - All Rights Reserved |
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