I am generally pretty negative about the impact of social media on our culture—and on me, personally—but there are times I am forced to grudgingly admit its value. So, the other day, just because I ran across her social media account, I learned of a young single woman in my town who fosters teen girls. Her account is a helpful and illuminating series of posts explaining why she does this, the way she tries to help the girls feel at home, the struggles and the great rewards.
How many others like her are there around me? Countless, known and unknown, opening their lives, giving of themselves, sharing cups of water to drink with those who thirst for peace, belonging and hope.
Praying for all the people involved in the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian, both the Ukrainians and the Russians!!! Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace!" *** What does Bible say about war? https://www.gotquestions.org/war-Bible.html *** Do you know we are at war right here in US and else where in the world? I am fighting for the students to know the Truth, Jesus, so they can stand firm for themselves when they go to public schools (elementary, middle, high schools and colleges) and not be swallowed by the world and its culture! *** May God be the glory as You drew Your people to Yourself through difficult situations especially wars, funerals, pandemics, natural disasters and broken relationships even when we don't quite understand it! Because You are God and I am not...I believe, help my unbelief!!! I now see and understand the Good News of Jesus dying on the cross...how wrong that looked from human perspectives! I can hear You saying, "Do you want peace or do you want PEACE, Salina?" Yes, I want Your PEACE! Lord Jesus :-) ******* John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; mM peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid!" Amen!
Wow, are we supposed to cut off our hands/feet and pluck our eys out if they cause us to sin and stumble? Let's look at the passages... *** Mark 9:43b, 45b, 47b-48, "It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out...It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell...It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where“‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’" *** Matthew 5:30b, "It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell!" *** Matthew 18:8b, 9b, "It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire...It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell!" ******* I do not think Jesus meant literally, but hyperbolically, to emphasize the seriousness and heinous nature of sin!!! Here is the Good News that there is the alternative to cutting my hands/feet and plucking out my eyes *** 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness!" *** James 5:16, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective!" *** Acts 3:19, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord!" ******* What does sin look like in my life? Psalm 49:14-15a, "This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning)." *** I have to tell people who are worshiping other gods (faiths) about Jesus, for they are like sheep leading to the slaughter no matter how much I want peace with them and the world :-(peace with them and the world are temporary, life with Jesus is eternal : -) I can hear Jesus saying in Matthew 9:5, "Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?" Spiritual healing (being) is so much more important than physical healing (doing)!!!
Amy, your devotion today inspired me to tell the story of a friend of mine who is adopting 4 teenaged siblings. These kids were living with their grandmother because their parents are in prison. The grandmother died and my friend stepped in to help the kids, even though she has 4 boys of her own! Later this year the adoption will be final!! This is a story of faith and trust in the Lord, and of knowing truly what God's will is for you. Please pray for my friend and know that I am praying for all of the LFF.
What a beautiful lady! I will pray my rosary this morning for her and her family that Our Mother will watch over her and all 8 boys! I pray that the house is full of love and laughter and prayers. God Bless this family.
This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Prayers for courage, guidance, grace and mercy for your friend.
Pray, pray, pray for the people in the Ukraine and for our troops being sent over there. War is always a horrible thing.
Amy thank you for your honest and heartfelt comments. In such a troubled world it's nice to hear some positive. May God hold his people on his hands and protect them. Prayers to Ukraine for their safety and for a heavenly earth someday!
Amen,
Amen! Thank you Holy Father for this beautiful day and for this Gospel today. Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for my faith, my life and for my family. Thank you Holy Father, most of all, for the opportunity of forgiveness and reconciliation. Please Lord Jesus Christ have mercy. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen Holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask that you release your warrior angels and heavenly hosts. We decry and declare that they would take us off the enemies' radar and scramble the enemies' frequencies (airwaves). Your Kingdom must come now. Your will must e done right now, as in the heavens, also on earth. Amen Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Hosts- by the power of God - Cast into hell satan and all evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen '
Yes Christie…Amy is a bit of a LFF rockstar. She is able to connect to the human experience so well. Thank you AMY!!! You have shared cups of water with all of us and helped quench our spiritual thirst. Our lives are that much because of you. Prayers for the people of Ukraine. Lord, shine Your light on those making global impact decisions. Let the water givers be known and plentiful.
How kind of you to say this! Thank you!
I find it truly amazing that when I read the introduction to the daily mass readings, somehow I know it's your comments. I don't feel that way about the other writers. I do not understand it. I would read then tell myself it's Amy and true enough, your name will be at the bottom. I began reading Living Faith in 1995. I have read about you missing your husband, your older children, you and your younger son on his birthday trip, your trips, your young daughter. You have left an indelible impression and Ihave a good memory. Bizarre, isn't it? I guess your writing style and content connect well with me. Thank you!
Oh my goodness, you are both so sweet! Living Faith readers are the best!!
Amen. Hi Christie, I do the same thing! Amy Welborn's reflections are so uplifting and when we share personal experiences we make a lasting connection with each other :)
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Wonderful reflection, today, Amy. As Mister Rogers reminds us... 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' Special prayers for the people of Ukraine and Russia who will suffer needlessly in the coming weeks.