Baptism in the Spirit and Contemplation

[DBT]

InLight247:

The problem is I don’t think I can have the time for the LOTH. Starting work at 8:00 and get off at 5:00, my job is pretty demanding. I just don’t see how to accommodate the requirement.

And . . .

At the same time, any suggestions?

I certainly know what you’re talking about and we do need to prioritize the devotions we choose to practice.

I’m a business owner with 15 employees and I have 4 kids at home so time is always of the essence But “somehow” the LOTH has always worked for me despite the constant busyness. Since our prayer temperments seem so similar, here’s some “hints” should you ever desire to pursue it

• I pray Morning Prayer before anyone else in the house rises.
• After dropping the kids off in carpool at school, I “squeeze in” 20 minutes or so of Lectio/mental prayer prior to Mass. I still get to the office by 8:30am or so.
• If all goes well, my lunch hour is spent at adoration at a Church near my office. Most often I’ll do Midday Prayer here and this is also my primary time for mental prayer.
• Driving home after work, I stop by the chapel at our parish for Evening Prayer. Praying it before I get home is important since dinner time is so hectic. I want to be fully “there” for my family at that time and not feel like I need to run off for prayer the minute I walk in the front door.
• When things slow down latter in the evening and all the kid activities/homework are done, I’ll try to grab a few minutes for some spiritual reading. I usually don’t pray the full Office of Readings but this is usually a good time to read at least the 2nd reading. What a wonderful way to be introduced to our Saints!
• After every one goes to sleep at night, I end my day with Night Prayer . . . if I don’t fall asleep first

This general schedule tends to work for me . . . allowing me to devote time to prayer while still emphasizing my primary obligation as husband/father and worker. Balance is important in all this.

Sometimes I think people get scared by the term Liturgy of the Hours - for they think it is just that: Hours. Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer are the two “hinge” prayers so they are probably the most important. 10-15 minutes should easily be enough time for these. Daytime and Night Prayer are even shorter. And there’s no “requirement” to it unless obligated as a Priest/religious or third order.

If you ever feel drawn to it, just do what you can. For me at least, the LOTH has been absolutely wonderful to help me see my life and the days activities through “contemplative eyes.” This prayer, more than other devotions, helps me more easily slip into the interior silence that is so important for fostering contemplation.

Dave

 

[InLight247]

What if one has been united because of intervention, then as the trials of the seven heads of the beast happen as an attack, in which the one who was once united gets their butt kicked because of lack of formation or lack of solid foundation. What are they to do? Do they start over on firmer ground? Can they ever expect to reach that union again or is that once powerful union to sustain them the rest of their lives. I’m reminded that the dove stayed with Jesus, but did not for others in the Jordan. Can that dove stay with us? Thanks, Tim

Tim, Joysong’s analogy of the engagement ring is very good. Since such mountain top experience is totally given by God, no one knows if it will be granted again or not. But such splendor of memory indeed can last for a life time, as the light in darkness and encouragement in distress.

For whoever feels lack of solid foundation on spiritual journey, the only solution is to move forward by making efforts to build.

As for the attack from the evil one, constantly hide yourself in the Lord’s holy wound, cover yourself with Jesus’ mighty blood. Get close to God almighty, seek His protection and the evil will flee.

So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shoed in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:14-17)

In other words, you can cover yourself with the whole armor of God with this prayer:

Put on the helmet of salvation.
Put on the breastplate of righteousness.
Put on the belt of truth.
Put on the gospel shoes of peace.
Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Take up the shield of faith.
Clothed in God’s full armor every day.

 

[InLight247]

Thanks Dave for your sharing.

I’ll have to re-read your post after coming back from CCD teaching.

Later.

 

[TOP]

Thanks for your answers. Tim

 

[Gabrielis]

Tim wrote:

What if one has been united because of intervention, then as the trials of the seven heads of the beast happen as an attack, in which the one who was once united gets their butt kicked because of lack of formation or lack of solid foundation. What are they to do? Do they start over on firmer ground? Can they ever expect to reach that union again or is that once powerful union to sustain them the rest of their lives. I’m reminded that the dove stayed with Jesus, but did not for others in the Jordan. Can that dove stay with us?

FWIW, Tim, I think it is possible to reach that union again, no matter how many times we get our butts kicked. It may help to find a compatible spiritual director if you don’t yet have one and perhaps seek out a group of like-minded people, if not in some kind of third order, then in a prayer group of some kind, or an association within your parish such as the Legion of Mary, Blue Army or any number of others that are out there, depending on your tastes. It may also be good for you, and indeed for all of us, to remind ourselves that the way of contemplation is not one of having good “feelings” and consolations. Indeed it is when these feelings are absent that God may be closest to the soul–He removes His felt presence in order to help the soul grow up, so to speak.

This is the night of faith, which is in fact what the Dark Night of the Soul is all about. Those God calls to closer union with Him He eventually weans from reliance on the sensations of joy, even of spiritual joy, which is what the drawing of The Ascent of Mount Carmel by St John of the Cross tries to convey, the not this, nor this, nor this, not earthly joys, nor spiritual joys, the “nada, nada, nada, nada” until one comes to the summit of Carmel, and the soul is willing to give up all for love of God. “Here,” as St John says, “there is no longer any way because for the just man there is no law, he is a law unto himself.”

The question we must ask is how much do we want this union, and what is the price we are willing to pay in order to attain it?

Here’s one bit of advice for those who are determined to press on:

“They must have a great and very resolute detemination to persevere until reaching the end, come what may, happen what may, whatever work is involved, whatever criticism arises, whether they arrive or whether they die on the road, or even if they don’t have courage for the trials that are met, or if the whole world collapses.” – St Teresa of Jesus

 

[InLight247]

Originally by DBT
If you ever feel drawn to it, just do what you can.

Actually I have been thinking about it since last spring.
I think to “do what I can” should be my starting point.

You are so fortunate to attend daily Mass. I don’t know how you can send kids to school, go to early morning Mass and still get to office by 8:30. Wow!! All I have to do in the morning is to get myself ready and still it is so rush for me.

I usually say a rosary before getting out of bed. When I drive to work, sometimes I do my mental prayer, sometimes I just think of my Lord and remain in Him, sometimes I pray for my priest or something else. If I didn’t pray my rosary before getting up, then I would do it while driving to work.

Daily Bible reading, other rosaries and the Saint Bridget’s prayer will be squeezed in throughout the day. I stop at the church on my way home. If I finish all of my devotions by the time I get to church, I’ll do the Station of Cross, then do my “being with”. Otherwise, I’ll finish my daily devotion in front of the tabernacle.

How I wish there are more hours per day so I may have more time for devotion, mental prayers, and just sitting with the Lord in silence. I used to feel reluctant to go to bed every night, because there are always more books to read, more “being with” in my desire. But then I realize lack of sleep is a bad thing for health. So I finally get rid of that nightly reluctance.

Thursday is my flex day. I go to 9:00 am Mass, and work from 10:00 to 4:00. It is also the day of exposed adoration. My committed time is from 6:00 to 7:00, but I can stay with the Lord as long as I am able to. Saturday is also a good day. I usually spend more hours in front of the tabernacle and there is an evening Mass to attend. Sunday morning we go to Mass, but since there is CCD to teach in the evening, I have to prepare so it is not that free to devote extra time in front of the tabernacle.

I think it is most likely for me to start with evening and night prayers first. Actually, I think I’ll make this the “take up” of my Lent promise. Hopefully it can help me develop a habit and go from there. Thanks for your encouragement. And by chatting with you, I just figured out what I am going to do for this Lent. Wow!

 

[Joysong]

I just found this good link today for those who are considering the benefits of plenary indulgences and wanted more information.

ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/plenary.htm

 

[InLight247]

Dear Joysong, thanks for the link that is a very complete.

I glanced over the whole writing including the attached links. I don’t want to sound ignorant, but please help me understand it correctly.

It says reciting rosary with meditation on mysteries in a church obtains a plenary indulgence for the person. Are the conditions of confession within 2 weeks, communion on that particular day, and prayers for Pope’s intention still required? Or does the single fact of praying Rosary in front of the tabernacle suffice?

Since we are looking at the plenary indulgence, it is good to thoroughly understand it once and for all. Rosary takes major part of my daily prayers. I should always save at least one mystery to say it in the church then.

 

[Joysong]

ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/norms.htm#plenary%20conditions

1. The three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the prescribed work; it is, however, fitting that Communion be received and the prayer for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff be said on the same day the work is performed.
2. A single sacramental confession suffices for gaining several plenary indulgences; but Communion must be received and prayer for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff must be recited for the gaining of each plenary indulgence.

My understanding is that if you wanted to gain a daily plenary, then yes, communion would be necessary. However, if you only go to Mass on Sunday, but say the rosary in Church on another day, you would only gain that single plenary indulgence. Another one could not be gained until the following week after going again to Sunday Mass. Even if you recited the rosary every day in Church, the missing requirement of communion is not there.

Suppose you go to adoration in the middle of the week. It would count as the indulgenced work flowing from your holy communion on Sunday. You couldn’t gain a second plenary by saying the rosary at adoration, both of which are indulgenced works, but since there is only one holy communion, I read it that only one plenary is obtained. One would then gain the added benefit of a partial indulgence for saying the rosary, while the visit at adoration would receive the plenary — or vice versa.

 

[TOP]

Tim wrote:

FWIW, Tim, I think it is possible to reach that union again, no matter how many times we get our butts kicked. It may help to find a compatible spiritual director if you don’t yet have one and perhaps seek out a group of like-minded people, if not in some kind of third order, then in a prayer group of some kind, or an association within your parish such as the Legion of Mary, Blue Army or any number of others that are out there, depending on your tastes. It may also be good for you, and indeed for all of us, to remind ourselves that the way of contemplation is not one of having good “feelings” and consolations. Indeed it is when these feelings are absent that God may be closest to the soul–He removes His felt presence in order to help the soul grow up, so to speak.

This is the night of faith, which is in fact what the Dark Night of the Soul is all about. Those God calls to closer union with Him He eventually weans from reliance on the sensations of joy, even of spiritual joy, which is what the drawing of The Ascent of Mount Carmel by St John of the Cross tries to convey, the not this, nor this, nor this, not earthly joys, nor spiritual joys, the “nada, nada, nada, nada” until one comes to the summit of Carmel, and the soul is willing to give up all for love of God. “Here,” as St John says, “there is no longer any way because for the just man there is no law, he is a law unto himself.”

The question we must ask is how much do we want this union, and what is the price we are willing to pay in order to attain it?

Here’s one bit of advice for those who are determined to press on:

Thanks for your inspiring words. I live in a very small parish and we don’t have any groups you mentioned at church. I’ll keep searching though. As for the price to pay, anyone devoted to be a soldier for Jesus Christ must expect battle for souls even unto death. The enemy does not give up ground easily. Tim

 

[InLight247]

Believe it or not, I have managed to pray the Morning prayers, evening prayers and night prayers. The morning prayers are so beautiful I just cannot let it go by. Hopefully I can, and will continue to pray them all daily.

I was flipping my Bible tonight and see different highlighted parts along with my writings beside them with the word “contemplation”.

Here are a few to share:

One thing I ask of the Lord this I seek:
To dwell in the Lord’s house
all the days of my life,
To gaze on the Lord’s beauty,
to visit his temple. (Psalm 27:4)

Look to God that you may be radiant with joy. (Psalm 34:6)

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My being thirsts for God, the living God.
When can I go and see the face of God? (Psalm 42:2-3)

**How lovely your dwelling,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and flesh cry out
for the living God. ** (Psalm 84:2-3)

Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved,
Ah, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves! (Song of Songs 1:15)

**As an apple tree among the trees of the woods,
So is my lover among men.
I delight to rest in his shadow,
And his fruit is sweet to my mouth. ** (Song of Songs 2:3)

**My lover belongs to me and I to him;
He browses among the lilies. ** (Song of Songs 6:3)

**Who is this that comes forth like the dawn,
Beautiful as the moon, as resplendent as the sun,
As awe-inspiring as bannered troops? **(Song of Songs 6:10)

Ah!

 

[GemmaRose]

Hi Everybody!

I haven’t posted in a few days, but was trying to “soak up” all of your wonderful posts.

I was thinking after reading the last post with the quote from Psalm 42, that the spiritual life is on the one hand as simple as thirsting for God as the deer thirsts for water, and on other hand it can be complicated, especially when getting one’s butt kicked!

Whenever we try to move closer to God, we wave a red flag in the face of that vicious bull - the devil - and he sends our way anything he can think of which could “kick our butt” and try to steer us away from prayer. Then, God Himself has a hand in it (a) by allowing such testing to come our way, and (b) by testing us Himself. He plays a “cat and mouse” game, withdrawing… seeing if we will continue to search after Him. Sometimes He tests us just a little; sometimes, He seems to test us ALOT. He knows just how far to go because only He truly knows and understands just how far we’ve come.

The most wonderful thing is that no matter what happens, the reuniting is always deeper. Whether we retreat ourselves into sin, the coming back with repentance is the sweeter. When we’ve had our butts kicked in every way, then when He swoops down to our rescue, it is all the more victorious. When we’re exhausted with calling out to Him and have come to the point of laying in the dust of our nothingness, He returns in a way so deep that we would never have been able to tolerate it before.

And the world wonders why we love Him so much!!!

“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” - St. Gemma Galgani

 

[DBT]

the spiritual life is on the one hand as simple as thirsting for God as the deer thirsts for water, and on other hand it can be complicated, especially when getting one’s butt kicked!

I was looking for this one last night to respond to Inlights recent post on the Psalms . . . Thanks!

Here’s another nugget from the 1st Psalm of today’s morning prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours:

They feast on the riches of your house;
they drink from the stream of your delight.
In you is the source of life
and in your light we see light. (Psalm 36)

And in a good example of the painful longing of the arid type of contemplation discussed earlier in this thread we have this example from Sunday Week 1 morning prayer:

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory. (Psalm 63)

And a favorite of mine of the “butt kicking” variety that happens to show up in evening prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours today:

O Lord, hear my voice when I call;
have mercy and answer.
Of you my heart has spoken;
Seek his face.

It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face.
Dismiss not your servant in anger;
you have been my help.

Do not abandon or forsake me,
O God my help! (Psalm 27)

When we think back to the discussion in Posts #92 & #93 that discussed the need for ongoing interior silence, brief scriptural passages like this (“Seek his face”) are ideal as a means of active recollection to drive away all the unwanted thoughts that come our way each day and to return to God’s presence.

Repeatedly praying short passages like this throughout the day is a wonderful way to enter into the world described by Brother Lawrence and the author of “The Cloud of Unknowing.” This is what I mean by using the LOTH to see life through “contemplative eyes.”

And of course the need for seeking interior silence is wonderfully conveyed in the 1st reading from todays Mass:

During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.

One day Eli was asleep in his usual place.
His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see.
The lamp of God was not yet extinguished,
and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.

The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”
Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”
“I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.”
So he went back to sleep.

Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
“Here I am,” he said. “You called me.”
But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”
At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am.
You called me.”

Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So Eli said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’”
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba
came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD(1 SM 3:1-10,19-20)

And, of course, how many times do we see passages like this from today’s Gospel:

Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed (MK 1)

The contemplative dimension can be found throughout scripture!
Dave

 

[InLight247]

Originally by DBT
When we think back to the discussion in Posts #92 & #93 that discussed the need for ongoing interior silence, brief scriptural passages like this (“Seek his face”) are ideal as a means of active recollection to drive away all the unwanted thoughts that come our way each day and to return to God’s presence.

I re-read your Breviary Prayer Card and the following words of Brother Lawrence stand out:

*** I keep myself recollected in Him in the depth and center of my soul as much as possible.**

An image of a soaked sponge came to my mind. If I make my whole being as a sponge and soak myself in God’s Word and His presence, then no matter what I do or where I go, the substance of God is in me and with me; therefore, I may be in recollection of my Lord in the depth and center of my soul almost constantly. Wouldn’t that be nice? Need to work on that.

Originally by** DBT**
Repeatedly praying short passages like this throughout the day is a wonderful way to enter into the world described by Brother Lawrence and the author of “The Cloud of Unknowing.” This is what I mean by using the LOTH to see life through “contemplative eyes.”

Yes, LOTH is great. I really enjoy my Morning Prayer so far and I forward the last part of “Prayers and Intercessions” to my family so they can at least pray that short part.

I was at first concerned if there is time for Morning Prayer. But, actually, there is a will, there is a way. It is time of taking up some new routines for me. Thanks Dave, for asking in post # 176.

Originally by GemmaRose……. He plays a “cat and mouse” game, withdrawing… seeing if we will continue to search after Him.

I was thinking about it while driving to work this morning. Our God likes to play hide and seek, doesn’t He? All good things worth of pursuing have a price to pay. For the ultimate good, we pay ultimate price. What you said in your post are so true. Yes, the world wonders why we love Him so much.

 

[TOP]

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” used to be constantly on my mind. It was my favorite short prayer. Thanks for remindeing me DBT. Tim

 

[DBT]

An image of a soaked sponge came to my mind. If I make my whole being as a sponge and soak myself in God’s Word and His presence, then no matter what I do or where I go, the substance of God is in me and with me; therefore, I may be in recollection of my Lord in the depth and center of my soul almost constantly. Wouldn’t that be nice?

That about sums it all up

InLight247:

Need to work on that.

Don’t we all There’s probably no such thing as “perfection” in this work . . . always room for improvement.

Tim- Glad the quotes helped!

Dave

 

[GemmaRose]

If you want to read some really great stuff on interior silence, read the letters of St. Paul of the Cross (founder of the Passionist Congregation). St. POC directed a lot of people via letter, and some of my favorite letters are those to Agnes Grazi. This collection of letters are about all different topics, some short and non-devotional, but most of them are gems. You can find them at passionist.org/prc/paul_of_the_cross’_letters.

The wording of the letters can be a bit flowery and old-fashioned (they were written nearly 300 years ago), but if that doesn’t distract, you can find are treasure, such as:

“…(in) holy freedom… do as the Holy Spirit inspires you… once you have called to memory the suffering of Jesus, that you continue your loving repose in God, a holy, loving silence, all lost in God, adoring him in spirit and in truth…”

~Paul of the Cross’ letter to Agness Grazi 9th letter on March 17, 1734 (Vol. 1 - Paul’s Letter #70)

“…leave your soul free to follow the loving attraction of the Holy Spirit… to make prayer not in our way, but in God’s way… when the soul feels… all alone with God with a pure, holy, and sweet attention to God in pure and living faith… in a sacred silence of love, where the soul speaks to God with this sacred silence more than if she used words… remain so… For God, at such a time, holds (the soul)… in his loving arms…”

~Paul of the Cross’ letter to Agnes Grazi 11th letter on August 4, 1734 (Vol. 1 - Paul’s Letter #73)

“…Divine solitude, which is within you in your essence, in the intimacy of your soul, be reborn in the Divine Word to a new life of love. God reposes in you. God penetrates you ompletely and you are completely in God, all transformed in his love…”

~Paul of the Cross to Lucy Burlini 3rd letter on May 25, 1751 in Volume 2 – Paul’s Letter #752)

“…Every time your spirit centers once more in God… it is certain that then your soul is reborn in the Divine Word to a new life of love and grace. It is not necessary to be curious about such a divine birth since it is effected by the Highest God in the deepest essence of the soul… These are deepest secrets, and you need nothing beyond purity of heart, fidelity in virtue, remaining in one’s own nothingness, and giving all the glory to God by becoming a victim of love, sacrificed as a holocaust in the flames of divine love in continual thanksgiving for the gifts of the Lord…”

~Paul of the Cross to Colomba Gertude Gandolfi 20th letter on March 22, 1755 in Volume 2 – Paul’s Letter #946)

“…(In your) holy interior solitude… When your occupations distract you a bit from this divine solitude, arouse your faith sweetly, and peacefully concentrate your attention on God in your interior kingdom… Every time you do this, you will be reborn to a new life of love in the Divine Word, Jesus Christ…”

~Paul of the Cross to Thomas Fossi 41st letter on June, 1751 in Volume 2 – Paul’s Letter #762)

Okay. I have to stop quoting now. I can go on forever!

“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” - St. Gemma Galgani

 

[DBT]

As a side note to this particular turn in this thread, another Forum member showed me a very simplified way of doing Lectio in a small group. Once a week or so I do this with my wife and 4 kids.

Part of this process is to learn to listen to that still small voice to pick up on a “word” from scripture (i.e. Seek His Face) that you can carry with you throught the day. The goal is to learn to ponder in your heart always, just as Mary and all the Saints did.

At the end of these brief Lectio readings we go around the room and everyone says what their “word” was. It never ceases to amaze me how the Spirit often touches the 6 of us in 6 different ways from a single scripture passage!

Dave

 

[DBT]

If you want to read some really great stuff on interior silence, read the letters of St. Paul of the Cross (founder of the Passionist Congregation).

Someday when I get more time, I’d love to read more by St. Paul of the Cross.

The first time I got a “taste” of him was a few months ago when the new book about Mother Teresa of Calcutta came out. St. Paul of the Cross was used as the example to describe the extreme night of the spirit Mother Teresa endured all those years. Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange called this the “reparatory night.”

Evidently this “reparatory night” is an intensification of the night of the spirit. But no longer is the soul being purified of it’s own weaknesses and imperfections . . . now the already “perfected” soul endures extreme interior trials for the sake of others.

The trial of faith endured by St. Therese of Liseaux in her last days when sinners mocked her that her hope of heaven was lost was also cited by Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange as another example of this “reparatory night.” The duration was different, though. In St. Therese’s case a few months; with Mother Teresa and St. Paul of the Cross it lasted decades.

The way Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange explained it, St. Paul of the Cross endured extreme interior trials and desolation over many years for the sake of those who would follow him in the order he founded. Evidently this type of night often occurs in founders.

Thanks for the heads-up!
Dave

 

[Pani_Rose]

One of my favorite Scriptures to meditate upon and realize God’s love for us is from Zephaniah 3:
14 Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. 16 On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! 17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, 18 as one sings at festivals. I will remove disaster from among you, so that none may recount your disgrace. 19 Yes, at that time I will deal with all who oppress you; I will save the lame, and assemble the outcasts; I will give them praise and renown in all the earth, when I bring about their restoration. 20 At that time I will bring you home, and at that time I will gather you; For I will give you renown and praise, among all the peoples of the earth, When I bring about your restoration before your very eyes, says the LORD.