Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, so many fears have been added to those already experienced in the lives of most of us. What had been normal activities now might add a risk of exposure to the virus. Someone I know was hospitalized with the coronavirus. Worse than struggling to breathe for days, the aftermath struggle with ongoing symptoms—known as long COVID—is causing depression and severe anxiety in her. Only one thing gets her through the waves of fear: “seeking the Lord” in that present moment. To truly experience it—to “Taste and see how good the Lord is”—she is mindful of goodness: slowly sipping coffee, listening to special music, hugging a loved one, watching a sunset. In those mindful moments, she is delivered from her fears.
Dear LFF- I have been happily and gratefully preoccupied with the planning of our daughters wedding in June! We live in NJ, but the wedding is in Duxbury MA, so I’m busily doing the best I can from afar. I’ve been keeping up with the daily readings, but notice so many cries for prayers that I don’t want to ignore. For all my LFF who asked for prayers on the prayer wall and in the comments…O Loving Jesus, You responded to the needs of the sick with a generous and compassionate heart. Be with those that are ill, and stay by their side when faced with infirmity. Help them to experience Your great healing power in mind, body and soul. Amen. Blessed day to all. Kathy J
Lord grant me the grace to be aware of your love for me this day
Kathy, thank you for mentioning a Prayer Wall or Center on LFF. I didn't realize there was such a resource but found it . Will return to lift up these prayer requests to the Lord.
Patricia want a special series of thoughts. Being aware of the goodness of God. Thanks I always enjoy your comments and reflections. Living faith family this morning we had snow what a beautiful sight all the bushes and trees were coated. I appreciate the fact that we can enjoy the sight. Please keep praying for the souls in purgatory and the the people in Ukraine. Jane sometime it takes a specific event to bring us back to how good our Lord is. Ken
The fears that we experience each day can cripple us with not listening to the Holy Spirit. Lord please guide us with your Holy Spirit. Send peace and calmness to your people. Jesus I Trust in you! Enjoyed a beautiful trip to visit my father whom I haven't seen in 10 years and wouldn't of done anything different except had more fun and less caretaking mode. But it was so enjoyable to see my nephew and his family enjoy their trip. They have been through so much in the past 4 months, loosing his mother, loosing their 12 week old twins and prior year another miscarriage, then his fiancee' loosing her favorite Uncle Roy to a car accident. But good news, they plan to wed in September and now will be in wedding mode. Please pray for them, my Dad, my husband and his double hernia recovery and me. Thank you! God BLESS all of the LF family!
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 your great sacrifice and 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, King of Endless Glory. 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 be 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
I am so excited to learn and see the work of the Holy Spirit as I share this Bible lesson with our studnts during our BSF class time this morning :-) 04/27/22 BSF Student Bible Lesson Matthew 28 * Students responses and discussion *** Jesus’ Crucifixion and Burial *** God’s Attribute: Love *** Aim: To learn Jesus willingly died to meet mankind’s greatest need! *** Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to truly understand why You have to die on the cross for our sins and let that head knowledge drop 12 inches from our heads to our hearts! In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen! *** Introduction • Let me ask you this question: What do you need right now? Is it animal, vegetable or mineral? Is it physical, mental or spiritual? Is your need hopeful or hopeless * Do you know we have even a greater need than what we have mentioned and discussed? • Our greatest need is to be saved from the penalty of our sins and to have our relationship with God restored and renewed! Our aim this week is to learn Jesus willingly died to meet mankind’s greatest need! • So let’s open our Bible to Matthew 27 starting in V32. We are doing the Interactive Bible Lesson a little differently today. We will watch the Scripture unfolds on the screen this morning as we study the passage together! Last week we learned that Jesus was being led away to be crucified. Let’s watch what happens next… *** A. Jesus Crucifixion – Matthew 27:32-56 • (Pass out the paper for them to write on) I want you to put yourself there at the scene. As you watch the video, think about and write down your responses to these questions: What are you thinking? What are you feeling? What are you doing? * (https://youtu.be/9HTMvpq1r3A) Play 0.00-4:47 minutes • What was going on when Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” * For the first time, Jesus experienced separation from His Father! He was voicing His terrible feeling of being separated from His Father! • Why didn’t Jesus come down from the cross when people said they would believe in Him if He did? (Q3 L3) * What does Jesus’ death on the cross say to you about the seriousness of sin? (Q3 L5) * Share what you are thinking as you consider the sacrifice Jesus made for you on the cross? (Q4 L5) * • What is the significant of V51, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”? * This curtain was 60 ft by 20 ft and as thick as a man’s palm. It was used to separate the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple and from the people. No one was allowed to be in the Most Holy Place except once a year on the Day of Atonement by the high priest. Now the Most Holy Place was opened for all to come to God. Jesus’ death opened the way into God’s presence! *** First Principle Truth: Jesus’ death on the cross provides Salvation for all who believe in Him! • By paying for the sin of the world (my sins and your sins) on the cross, Jesus offers us escape form God’s just punishment, freedom from the guilt sin brings, and freedom from the power of sin! Questions? * *** B. Jesus’ Burial – Matthew 27:57-66 • Let’s watch what happens after Jesus died… Play 4:48-6:20 minutes • Who put Jesus’ body in his own tomb? (Q5 L3) * What stands out to you about Jesus’ burial? (Q5 L5) * • What did the chief priests and Pharisees remember? (Q6 L3) * Why did Jesus’ enemies want His tomb to be guarded? (Q6 L5) * What two things did the chief priests and Pharisees do to keep Jesus’ body in the tomb? (Q7 L3) * The official seal on the tomb would show whether it has been opened or not. • What a sad ending to chapter 27! So now back to this day… What are you thinking? What are you feeling? What are you doing? * *** Second Principle Truth: Jesus’ death looked like defeat, but it was not the end of the story! • Do you know there is a website called, “What’s after the credit?” You can find out if a movie has any additional scenes during the credits or after the credits to show you more about the movie. • So come back next week because His story does not end there! His death and burial fulfilled God’s plan. Sin and death do not get to have the last word! The sealed tomb and the watchful guards simply set the scene for the victory soon to come!!! *** Conclusion – Jesus allowed Himself to be tormented and murdered by the very people He loved and came to save! The love that sent Jesus to the cross, the obedience that kept Him there, and the victory that He would soon deliver should amaze us to the point where we want to live differently for Him! Let’s pray, “Oh, Lord Jesus! I am going to borrow a song’s lyrics as my prayer and praise: Amazing love how can it be? That my King should die for me! Amazing love I know it’s true! It's my joy to honor You in all I do I honor You! Amen!”
AMEN!!!
Thanks Patricia for grounding us. My brother has heart testing this week and he is anxious and scared. May he be grounded in the Lord’s presence in the present. Beautiful quote from my Cardinal Sheen reflections: A smile is laughter’s whisper and has its roots in the soul. Sending all a smile today.
Continued prayers here for the Ukraine and the conversion of Mr. Putin. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in Ukraine. Please protect and send aid to those in Ukraine and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace – we pray for all who are working towards it and for all who are in danger from this conflict. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God, please help those in most need of thy mercy. Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us! Saint Joseph, Protector of Mary, Jesus and the Church, pray for us! Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, may your kingdom reign in Ukraine and all the world.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever shall believe in Him might not perish but might have eternal life." Repent, believe, and be saved!
Amen Marko!
Have always loved this Marko. Thanks for posting with your reflection!
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Do you know there are 365 "DO NOT FEAR" verses in the Bible? *** To me fear means I don't trust what God is doing in my life when I don't feel He loves me enough in 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love!" *** When I don't feel His love because I am not listening to the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:14-15, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.” *** What can I do (not really what I can do, but who I can turn to) in Hebrews 13:6, "So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”" ******* Love this verse in Matthew 6:34, "So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today!" :-) *** This is a good article, "What Does the Bible Say about Fear?" https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-does-the-bible-say-about-fear.html *** Fear is a Liar by Zach Williams https://youtu.be/sQTnREEtuNk *** Confidence by Santus Real https://youtu.be/AcdHGzI_kHM