God is within each of us.  This is a difficult concept to trust most of the time.  We do not see ourselves as worthy of God’s presence.  But, he made us, and what He makes is good and worthy of his love.  He made each of us uniquely and he knows us better than we know ourselves.  What a truly awesome idea that is to be so loved by our creator.

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Acts 20:17-27

Ps 68:10-11, 20-21

J ohn 17:1-11 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, (2) since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. (3) And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (4) I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; (5) and now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made. (6) "I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; they were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. (7) Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; (8) for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. (9) I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours; (10) all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. (11) And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

Meditation by Susan Tinley

T he scene in today’s gospel provides a view of Jesus shortly before His Ascension. Jesus is preparing to leave his disciples and addressing His words to God the Father.   He is telling the Father and, in so doing, also telling the disciples and us that He has completed his purpose for taking on a human nature he talks of how he has given glory to the father and the father has glorified him.  This circular discourse seems to be for the benefit of the apostles and for us more so than for God the Father. Jesus goes on to tell the Father that he prays for the ones God has given him and that he has been glorified in those the Father has given him.  That includes us. 

How can Jesus be glorified in us?

God is within each of us.  This is a difficult concept to trust most of the time.  We do not see ourselves as worthy of God’s presence.  But, he made us, and what He makes is good and worthy of his love.  He made each of us uniquely and he knows us better than we know ourselves.  What a truly awesome idea that is to be so loved by our creator.

He has given each of us specific talents. It is through the use of those talents that we are able to return the glory he has given us through our creation. So the circular discourse with God the Father is applicable to us also.  It makes me wonder how I can ever be so terribly foolish to take this circular relationship for granted, to ignore the love that is given totally freely, to fail to recognize the greatest fortune that anyone can have. However, the times I do recognize it are cherished times of joy.

Supplementary Reading

He Collects Your Tears

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book—Psalm 56:8

Do you know how important you are to God? He cares so much about every detail of your life. He cares about your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In fact, what you are going through is so important to Him that He records every sorrow and collects every tear you've shed. Why would God record your sorrows and collect your tears? Because He loves you so much, and He is your Vindicator. He's keeping account of every wrong that's ever been done to you so that He can make up for every single one of them. He wants to restore everything that has ever been stolen. He wants to heal every single hurt and pain. He sees the longings and desires of your heart, and you can rest knowing that He is working things out for your good!

So today, know that you are precious to Him. He has your best interest at heart. He is working to bring restoration and peace to you. Keep standing, keep believing, and keep doing the right thing because the One who collects your tears will restore every broken place in your life!

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and setting me free. Thank You for being my Vindicator. I choose to release every hurt, pain and sorrow, knowing that You will make all things new in Your time. In Jesus' Name, Amen.—Joel & Victoria Osteen

For archive of previous Daily Meditation postings, please visit http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/

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GOD BLESS US ALL!
O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.