1 Kings 3:5

1 Kings 3:5

Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask what you want me to give you."

My Beloved, I ask that You take my will and give me Your will in order that I may model my life on that of my Mama Mary.  I want Your will in order to act on my desire to respond in all the circumstances of my life like she did.  I want to be available, obedient, submissive, humble, loving, gentle, kind, patient, giving, open, pliant, wise with the wisdom of God.  I want to live my life as she did - in Your Presence.  She bore You in her soul long before You were conceived in her womb and You continue to remain in her soul.  All she did, she did for love of You.  When You call me home, I will see for myself how imperfectly I tried, the times I fell and failed - but Your joy and mine will be in the fact that I tried with every  ounce of my being in cooperation with Your grace. Amen.

Sirach 47:8-10, Mark 6:19-20

Sirach 47:8-10

8 In all that David did he gave thanks to the Most High, and showed his love for his Maker by singing with all his heart. 9 He placed singers accompanied by harps before the altar to make beautiful music; 10 he gave splendor to feasts and even greater magnificence to the more solemn occasions, exalting the holy Name of the Lord and having the sanctuary ring with his praises from early morning.

My Beloved, give me a true love and appreciation for our Church.  Her feasts and celebrations, her life and her liturgies bring heaven to earth. David showed his love for You and His awareness of all that You did and his heart sang his thanksgiving to You.  Grant O Lord to Your people the grace to truly enter into the very life and heart of the Church in all her seasons and celebrations and allow ourselves to have the same heart as hers that beats with love, praise, thanksgiving and gratitude for our awesome God who delights in men and makes His home with us.

Mark 6:19-20

19 So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not 20 because Herod respected John. He knew John to be an upright and holy man and kept him safe. And he liked listening to him, although he became very disturbed whenever he heard him.

There are many like Herod.  They hear about You, their hearts are stirred, there is a longing, a desire  - but it is stifled in order to give in to momentary pleasure.  They are not prepared to give up the present pleasure of self-indulgence and selfish greed.  They flirt with the truth but are not prepared to accept it and when they have to make a choice they are too  weak willed to make the choice they know to be right.  They would rather satisfy men than please You my God.

Mark 6:17, 2 Samuel 24:14, Psalm 32:6-11

Mark 6:17
Jesus Himself was astounded at their unbelief.

2 Samuel 24:14
“I am greatly troubled. Let me fall into the hands of Yahweh whose mercy is abundant; but let me not fall into human hands.”

Psalm 32:1-11
6 So let the faithful ones pray
to you in time of distress;
the overflowing waters will not reach them.
7 You are my refuge;
you protect me from distress
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will teach you,
I will show you the way to follow.
I will watch over you and give you counsel.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule –
senseless and led by bit and bridle.
10 Many woes befall the wicked,
but the Lord’s mercy enfolds those who trust in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord, and be glad,
you who are upright;
sing and shout for joy,
you who are clean of heart.

My Beloved are You astounded at my unbelief. I have known You all my life. I am aware of all that You have done for me. I have experienced Your power and I know that You are a God of love, mercy and compassion and that I can trust You completely. Yet, in the last few days I am lamenting as one who has no hope, like one who does not know You. Forgive me my Lord, I am a weak and sinful creature and in my shame I would say, 'Lord, depart from me for I am a sinner". But if You did depart from me what would become of me? I need You as I need air to breathe. Stay with me my Lord for without You I may as well be dead. Stay with me my God. Thank You.

Malachi 3:1-4

Malachi 3:1-4

1 Now I am sending my messenger ahead of me to clear the way; then suddenly the Lord for whom you long will enter the sanctuary. The envoy of the covenant which you so greatly desire already comes, says Yahweh of hosts. 2 Who can bear the day of his coming and remain standing when he appears? For he will be like fire in the foundry and like the lye used for bleaching.  3 He will be as a refiner or a fuller. He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. So Yahweh will have priests who will present the offering as it should be. 4 Then Yahweh will accept with pleasure the offering of Judah and Jerusalem, as in former days.

My Beloved, the suffering we experience is Your messenger, Your herald that prepares the way for You to enter Your sanctuary. You are the One we long for, we pine for You.  In the crucible of suffering You plunge us into the heart of the fire of Your love and there You burn away all resistance to You.  There we become fluid and pure and You can shape an dmould us in any way that pleases You. 

Open the gateways of my being most Holy Spirit that the King of Glory may enter and take up residence in me.  Amen

Psalm 3:2-7

My Beloved, how simple it is to lie down, to give in and let anguish and grief crush me.  I would like to get into my bed, draw the covers over me and sleep the sleep of sorrow and exhaustion.  It takes courage that only You can give to lift my head high, to know that I can do nothing in this battle but lay myself at Your feet and allow You to fight on my behalf. 

Psalm 3:2-7
The Psalmist says it well,

2 O Lord, how great in number are my foes!
How numerous are they who rise against me!
3 How many are they who say of my soul:
“There is no help for him in God!”
4 But you are my shield, O Lord,
my glory, you lift up my head.
5 Aloud I cry to the Lord,
and from his holy hill he answers me.
6 If I lie down to sleep,
again I awake, for the Lord supports me;
7 no fear of the thousands standing against me.

You are always ministering to us.  You are always working on our behalf, setting us free, wiping away our tears, strengthening us, healing us and feeding us with food for the body and for the soul.  Thank You.