Daily Office
We recommend being with the Lord for a quiet time of Scripture, prayer and reflection once in the morning and then another time sometime in the afternoon or evening. There are two mailings but both mailings contain the same readings: one in the morning and one in the afternoon/evening. The challenge in our busy culture is to stop, be silent, engage the Word and listen to the Spirit.
Daily Examen
A new addition to the Daily Office is the Daily Examen. At the end of the day you are invited to spend time prayerfully reviewing your day. This five step prayer and reflection time is frequently done just prior to going to sleep. It is presented below.
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Prayer For The Week
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My sin-oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!-
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Amen
- Horatio Stafford
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Weekly Memory Verse
John 14:9
Jesus answered:
"Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Thought For The Week
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Be silent for one minute before you read.
Psalm 112:1 - 5
1 Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
What do you hear God speaking to you in this Psalm? How does it apply to your life?
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Be silent for one minute before you read.
Genesis 50:15 - 17
What do you hear God speaking to you in these verses?
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?"
16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died:
17 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father. " When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
Be silent for one more minute.
The Lord's Prayer
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 trespesses against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
Forever.
Amen.
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Be silent for one minute before you read.
Psalm 111: 6 - 9
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
What do you hear God speaking to you in this Psalm? How does it apply to your life?
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Be silent for one minute before you read.
Revelation 2: 12 - 17
12 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
13 I know where you live-where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-where Satan lives.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.
15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
Be silent for one minute before you conclude.
Glory to God the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now and evermore shall be
World without end.
Amen.
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Daily Examen
Be silent for one minute before you pray.
Prayerfully Review Your Day
The Daily Examen
Part of the rich tradition of the Jesuit order is recognizing the need to reflect on the day's activities-to remember God's invitation and our response or lack of response. Saint Ignatius of Loyola developed a simple method by which you can review each day in a way that will help you grow in self-understanding and free you to follow God's will. This practice is often called the Daily Examen. Many people choose to practice this prayerful review of their day before going to bed at night by following the five steps below. (Taken from Loyola Press:
www.loyolapress.com)
1
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Ask God For Light:
Become aware of God's presence.
2. Review The Day With Gratitude. Call to mind any and all things you had to be thankful for this day. If it helps, keep a
running log..
3. Pay Attention To Your E
motions. Think over your full range of emotions. Recall what events/circumstances preceded your emotional responses and how you experienced your emotions
following each event.
4.
Face Your Shortcomings:
Choose one feature of the day where you have fallen short , felt distant from God or missed the mark. Confess and receive God's grace.
5. Look Toward The Day To Come. With anticipation pray about how you and God will face the new day together.
Plan to have a great day walking in step with the Holy Spirit.
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