Let us be doers of the word and not only hearers.: January 2008

There are things we have to be reminded of

On the last day, Jesus will say to those on His right hand, "Come, enter the Kingdom. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was sick and you visited me." Then Jesus will turn to those on His left hand and say, "Depart from me because I was hungry and you did not feed me, I was thirsty and you did not give me to drink, I was sick and you did not visit me." These will ask Him, "When did we see You hungry, or thirsty or sick and did not come to Your help?" And Jesus will answer them, "Whatever you neglected to do unto one of these least of these, you neglected to do unto Me!"

Bless us all ,oh my Lord

Our Father, who art in heaven
hallowed be thy Name
thy kingdom come
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom
and the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not control his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble,help the ones who are suffering and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:22-27)

It hurt Jesus to love us. We have been created in his image for greater things, to love and to be loved. We must "put on Christ," as Scripture tells us. And so we have been created to love as he loves us. Jesus makes himself the hungry one, the naked one, the homeless one, the unwanted one, and he says, "You did it to me." On the last day he will say to those on his right, "whatever you did to the least of these, you did to me," and he will also say to those on his left, "whatever you neglected to do for the least of these,
you neglected to do it for me."Mother teresa from Calcuta"
__________*_____________________

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s

Sermon on the mount

The Beatitudes

1
Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
2
and He began to teach them, saying:
3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Salt and Light
13
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Teaching About the Law
17
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
19
Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Teaching About Anger
21
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'
22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raqa, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
25
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
26
I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Teaching About Adultery
27
"You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.'
28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30
And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Teaching About Divorce
31
"It has been said, `Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'
32
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
Teaching About Oaths
33
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'
34
But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne;
35
or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.
36
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.
37
Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your `No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Teaching About Revenge
38
"You have heard that it was said, `Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'
39
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
41
If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love of Enemies
43
"You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
47
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Chapter 6
Giving to the Needy

1
"Be careful not to do your `acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
3
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4
so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Teaching About Prayer
5
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
8
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9
"This, then, is how you should pray: "`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11
Give us today our daily bread.
12
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '
14
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15
But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Teaching About Fasting
16
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
17
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
18
so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Treasures in Heaven
19
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also
The Light of the Body
22
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
23
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
God and Money
24
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Depend on God
25
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
28
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31
So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'
32
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Chapter 7
Judging Others

1
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
2
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4
How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Pearls Before Swine
6
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

The Answer to Prayers
7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
8
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
11
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!
The Golden Rule
12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
False Prophets
15
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
16
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17
Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
The True Disciple
21
"Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.
22
Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
23
Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!'
The Two Foundations
24
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
26
But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
27
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
28
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching,
29
because He taught as One who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Friday, January 25, 2008