When I reached the first bead of the second decade on my prayer-circlet yesterday morning, I suddenly saw the word Jesus, in bold lettering. It was shining just above a dark shape I was looking towards. I don’t know what the dark shape was, because my eyes were closed and my inner space was very dimly lit.
Christ’s name was spelled out in golden light, and curved like a rainbow. The letters partially encircled the dark object, though they did not touch it. The effect was rather like a halo. Unfortunately I can’t represent their curved shape in my picture above.
Instantly, I thought how fantastic it would be to see Jesus’ name like this wherever I look, always reminding me of his constant presence in everyone and everything.
Then today’s prayer burst out so fast that I could barely keep pace with the words as I hurried to note them down:
God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9; NIV).
Everywhere I look today:
May I see your name shine out,
Lord Jesus.
Everyone I meet today:
May I see your face in theirs,
Lord Jesus.
Every thought I have today:
May it be like one of yours,
Lord Jesus.
Every word I speak today:
May it be as if your own,
Lord Jesus.
Everything I do today:
May I do it all for you,
Lord Jesus.
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:49; NIV).
References
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:5; NLT).
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT).
I will see you face to face and be satisfied (Psalm 17:15; NLT).
We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; NLT).
Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17; NLT).
Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31; NLT).
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people (James 2:12; NLT).
Reading: Philippians 2:5-11; NIV.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Rosary Hospital
A very welcome influx of fresh materials today included a strong magnetic clasp, so I was able to enjoy experimenting with a shorter prayer circlet that opens and closes, to be worn around the neck. I had to make it twice, as the first time I used larger beads than usual, which made the cross hang too low on my chest. NB: I particularly like the cross on these circlets to rest as close as possible to my heart.
Whilst trying out different approaches to this task, I stumbled on the possibility of making rosaries in a completely new way. I was too tired to take this idea any further at the time, but hope to try creating a rosary with the new approach tomorrow.
Meanwhile, here is the second prayer-circlet I made yesterday, which I am already wearing. It’s very easy to put on and take off, as it doesn’t need to be pulled over the head:
