E&W 12-22-13

Sacred Story

Encouragements & Wisdom: December 22, 2013

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Encouragements and Wisdom: December 22, 2013 (PDF).

E & W reflections are additional helps for your Sacred Story prayer journey. Reflect on them at week’s beginning or outside of your 15-minute prayer periods.

The Affirmations

The insights and graces I need to move forward in life’s journey
unfold at the right time.

 
The American pop artist Andy Warhol said in 1985 that “in the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” Of course, the pop artist was speaking about the disposability of modern life and the ease of which anyone can capture the attention of the world for short-lived fame.

How different is the focus in Scripture where in 1 John 2:17 we hear: “Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.” It is easy to lose site of the truth that our holy actions—of love, forgiveness, charity, kindness, patience, long-suffering, and self-sacrifice that can appear so unimportant to the world, are the only actions that will endure to eternity.

Taking time to pray daily and open our hearts to God can feel like a waste of time and appear insignificant in the face of all the pressures and responsibilities of life. Yet when we open to Christ daily in a prayer we will “produce results” that endure to eternity. We must recover a sense of this holy delayed gratification and realize our true treasure lies in the world to come, and so love one another as Christ has loved us. In this we will be famous in the kingdom of the Father and eternally cherished by Christ Jesus our brother and Lord.

Lord Jesus, help us to judge wisely the things of this earth
and to place our hope in the true gifts of the kingdom to come so we can praise you in
Creation, Presence, Memory, Mercy and Eternity.

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.

(Psalm 24: 1-2)

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