Dailiness: Discovering the Sacredness in the Ordinary

Blessed be the Lord,
Who daily loads us with benefits,
The God of our salvation!
(Ps 68:19)

Carpe diem is a Latin aphorism, usually translated “seize the day”, taken from book 1 of the Roman poet Horace’s work Odes (23 BC).
In Horace, the phrase is part of the longer carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero, which can be translated as “Seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow (the future)”. The ode says that the future is unforeseen and that one should not leave to chance future happenings, but rather one should do all one can today to make one’s future better. This phrase is usually understood against Horace’s Epicurean background.[6] The meaning of carpe diem as used by Horace is not to ignore the future, but rather not to trust that everything is going to fall into place for you and taking action for the future today.[7]

“Remember that you are mortal, so seize the day.”

enjoy the moment.
“enjoy, seize, use, make use of”

Hebrew[edit]
The phrase ?ואם לא עכשיו, אימתי ‘And if not now, then when?’ (Pirkei Avoth 1:14)

n the 1989 movie Dead Poets Society, the English teacher John Keating, played by Robin Williams, famously says: “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” Later, this line was voted as the 95th greatest movie quote by the American Film Institute.[9] The television series Community later satirized the movie with the recurring character of Professor Whitman, a comedically eccentric version of Williams’ character who uses “Carpe diem” as his guiding philosophy.

The ability to fast-forward music and movies tempts us to think that we can fast-forward through the parts of our lives that seem boring or too difficult to face. But we really can’t.

Joan Chittister once said, “Dailiness, routine, sameness frees the heart to traffic in more important matters.”

As mens swaar kry, begin mens automaties fokus op, dag vir dag.

“Moet julle daarom nie oor môre bekommer nie. Môre sal sy eie bekommernisse bring. Vandag se moeilikhede is vir een dag heeltemal genoeg.” Die Bybel, Nuwe Lewende Vertaling. (2006). (Mt 6:34). Christelike Uitgewersmaatskappy.

Moet julle dan nie vandag al oor more se probleme kwel nie. As more gekom het, kan julle daaroor dink. Elke dag het genoeg van sy eie probleme.” Die Lewende Bybel. (1982). (Mt 6:34). Roodepoort: Christelike Uitgewersmaatskappy.

In the dailiness of our lives the holy meets the ordinary. Glory intersects with ruin. The sacred meets the routine. The lifelong journey to heaven is often marked with ordinary days where we simply do our work and serve God the best way we believe we can.

Exo 16:4 Manna elke dag

“Gee ons vandag ons daaglikse brood” Luk 11:3

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

Indian philosopher, cultural reformer, and spiritual leader Gandhi was right when he said, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.”

the Lord’s mercies “are new every morning” (Lam. 3: 23 NIV),

The incarnation of God helps us rethink the myth that we need more. When God became flesh, every ordinary human life was validated as sacred. The fact that God became human and spent most of His life in obscurity as a carpenter in a small village called Nazareth gives us perspective. Through the incarnation, we learn that every life has dignity and significance; every ordinary life matters. The mystery of the incarnation helps us remember that an ordinary life is, in fact, a life worth living or else God would have chosen a different life, a different town, and perhaps a more “relevant” time, like right now.

DIE DAILY

The abundant life is not based on position or stature. It is not based on the heroic and epic. The abundant life is an ordinary life transformed by the power of God through Jesus Christ living in us. He said that following Him is a daily task, as is bearing His cross “daily” (Luke 9: 23 NIV).  Self is our biggest enemy. By choosing to die daily, and continuing to do exactly what he command, it simplifies things. This is our reasonable service. (Rom 12:1) We recon ourselves dead (Rom 6:11) and live to see Christ resurrected daily in us. (Phil 3:10)

DAILY CHURCH

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2: 46–47 NIV) (2 Cor 11:28) (Acts 19:9; Luk 19:47) (Acts 16:5)  Bother Lawrence “I believe in the … communion of saints” Now with social media, the website, the Mobile app, and the daily radio programs we as a church are meeting and gathering together daily.  There is much protection and safety in keeping close ties with the Body of Christ. (Eph 4:16) It provides nutrients, and growth to all the parts.

WORSHIP DAILY

The psalmist clearly said, “Seven times a day I praise you” (Ps. 119: 164 NIV). So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows. (Ps 61:8) Praise is part of our ordinary daily routine, altering our focus to remain constantly on God. (Heb 12:2) Praise focus our attention not on what has happened, but on what has not happened. It helps you to keep your focus and have a godly perspective about life.  Praise and thanksgiving humbles us, and keep your mood and attitude in the divine.

PRAY DAILY

Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers. (1 Tim. 4: 8) In the Catholic orthodox faith the traditional fixed hours for prayer are 6: 00 a.m., 9: 00 a.m., noon, 3: 00 p.m., 6: 00 p.m., 9: 00 p.m., and midnight.  This means that there are always someone praying at the same time all over the world. Jesus lived a daily prayer life, making time for separating Himself for times of prayer and reflection.

DAILY MIRACLES

Dr Brain Adams believes in – “Expecting everyday Miracles” Having an expectation to see God work the supernatural in every day, causes you to think, speak and live right! God does not confirm the person, He confirms His word. The word of our testimony. Declaring the gospel of salvation stirs faith for people to get saved, in the same way declaring God is present to heal, stirs faith for healing. Believe that signs and wonders follows you.

Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.
Acts 4:29-30 grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
Heb. 2:4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
You cannot theorise the work of the supernatural. If you never have done it, you have no right to even an opinion.

The Kingdom is not in words only but power 1 Cor 4:20; 2:4 but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.  If their is thus no signs and wonders, no miraculous, people put their faith in vain in the wisdom of man.

DAILY WORK

Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, (Pr 8:30).  May your good works glorify your father in heaven (Mat 5:16). Do all to the Glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV). Brother Lawrence “Practising the presence of God” – “That he had always been governed by love, without selfish views; and that having resolved to make the love of GOD the end of all his actions, he had found reasons to be well satisfied with his method. That he was pleased when he could take up a straw from the ground for the love of GOD, seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His gifts.”

When love motivates our daily work, our work becomes a testament of His love!

DAILY GIVING (SERVING)

Because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Acts 6:1 This means the church were active in providing for the poor daily. This is why Deacons were chosen to serve the tables. (Acts 6) Giving and finding ways to serve is the heart and core of Kingdom living.  Jesus came to serve. (Phil 2:1-5) Serving another, doing the little ordinary things for another, is an act of love! (Joh 13:5)

DAILY REST

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, (Heb 4:11) In other words: make work of finding rest.  Living in rest, means also to live without any offence. Scripture demands that we encourage one another to be at peace, lest sin enters in, and disable you walk before God.  After you made peace with God. (Rom 5:1) Follow after peace with all men (Heb 12:14) See the emphasis on ‘daily’ and ‘today’ in the following scripture: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Heb 3:12–15)

DAILY STUDY

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Ac 17:11) Plan your day, to make time for the Word. Personal Bible Study is the foundation of a spiritual life exercise regime.  You can only grow spiritually to the measure your understanding has been enlightened by the Word, through the Spirit.  Moreover, making the Word the first priority in your thoughts is vital, so that you’ll learn to base your thoughts and emotions on the Word. When facing a crisis, go to the Word first! Before analysing and confronting the problem! We should always instinctively turn to the scriptures first, when facing and dealing with life.

Sieze Christ within the hope of Glory, and see Him manifest Himself though your life!

Some of the notes comes from: The Jesus Life: Eight Ways to Recover Authentic Christianity
by Stephen W. Smith