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BEING 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 underfoot. (Matt. 5:13, NIV) A disciple of the kingdom who does not LIVE like a disciple of the kingdom is worth about as much as…
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To remain… to abide… to bear fruit
I have been in the habit of reading through a daily lectionary reading the past several months. It is a joyous journey that keeps me faithfully reading the broad scope of the biblical story. But then there are passages that sweep into my spirit with a fresh wind and I am held there for a bit of time. It messes…
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Vices… when seeking good goes bad
All the vices are distorted or excessive attachments to good things. Wrath is ostensibly born of concern for justice and honor, greed regards sufficient possessions, gluttony is about food, vainglory seeks the approval of others. Vice happens when our pursuit of these good things gets twisted, that is, when we try to make them fill gaps and needs in our…
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What angers Jesus?
Glittering Vices by Rebecca DeYoung is worth your time. I am working my way through this book with the Renovare Book Club. DeYoung has us wrestle with the issues of life that can truly trip us up. One of the vices is anger. How do we deal with anger in our lives?
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Become the flame
I am going through the Renovare Book Club this season and the next few weeks is a journey through Glittering Vices: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Remedies, by Rebecca DeYoung.This particular week is on “vainglory”.
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Smallness of Soul
Your ten dollar word for the day is: pusillanimity.
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Reading Holy Scripture
If you will profit by reading Scripture, read humbly, simply, and faithfully, and never desire to gain by your reading the name of the learned. Ask gladly and heed humbly the saying of saints, and do not disdain the parables of the ancient Fathers, for they were not spoken without great cause. — Thomas A’ Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
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On Living Well
Well-ordered living is not to be belittled, for it is good and comes from God, but a clean conscience and a virtuous life are much better and more to be desired. Because some men study to have learning rather than to live well, they err many times, and bring forth little good fruit or none. — Thomas A’ Kempis, The Imitation…
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Lead me into deeper self-examination, Lord
“Oh, how we need a deeper musing on our perennial knack for disobedience and God’s unbounded habit of mercy. Oh, how we need a richer contemplation on that Life that is life indeed and that shows us the way so we may follow in his steps. Oh, how we need a fuller meditation on that death that sets us free.…
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Lord let me know your word
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,…
Tag: Spiritual Formation
