The garage door had been repaired a couple of weeks ago. I don’t usually keep the car in the garage unless it’s cold outside, so I hadn’t opened or closed it during that time. I thought maybe I should test it out, so I pushed the button.
The door raised a few inches then “crack!” and it stopped. What in the world? I lowered it then pushed the button again, expecting the worst. Another loud series of cracks, but it kept moving this time. By then, I realized I’d also had the doors painted. Unused and unmoving, the panels had become stiff and stuck, bound by paint.
The Easter Season is almost over. Pentecost is a few days away. I’ve been refreshed, repaired and renewed. I’m being sent out into the world now. Am I going to get going and keep moving—or am I going remain where I was before and get stiff and stuck in place?
Novena Prayer for Pentecost -- 2022 (May 27 through June 4)************************ Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with your love. Set our lives aflame with your gifts. Grant us wisdom to choose what is good and true; understanding to embrace your plan of salvation; right judgment to act according to your will; courage to share our faith with others; knowledge to live as disciples of Jesus Christ; reverence to respond faithfully to your grace each day; and wonder and awe in your presence. Inspire us with enthusiasm for our Catholic faith. Grant us boldness to proclaim the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, and help us to bring the transforming power of the gospel to our world. We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord. AMEN.********OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE, SIGN OF THE CROSS
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 – Understanding Comes through the Spirit*********************** We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. 1 Corinthians 2: 12
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 Host - by the power of God - Cast into hell satan and all evil spirits that prowl about the earth seeking the ruin of souls. Amen
Sometimes the Spirit is calling me to step outside my comfort zone and respond to a call to serve. But, often, like the garage doors, I am stuck in my worldly endeavors and must tear myself away to answer the call.
Another great reflection, Amy! Applicable in all parts of life. Bringing to mind that the Holy Spirit is always there to give us that little shove that we so desperately need.
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.
Amen.
Amy, again thank you for the great reflection. It is like exercising after a long (or sometimes not so long) hiatus. Stiff, stuck in place, not wanting to restart. Have to get going, keep moving, keep moving forward - towards God. Time to share His love. Amen.
How do you prevent the paint surfaces from sticking together? Spray oil? In a spiritual sense, we need the Holy Spirit every single moment to lead and guide us!!! *** Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17:15, 17, “I do not ask that You take them out of the world but that You keep them from the Evil One. Consecrate them in the truth. Your Word is truth!” *** Jesus asked God the Father to (1) not take us out of the world (2) keep us from the evil one and (3) consecrate us in the Truth, His Word! *** Jesus left with us His Holy Spirit to teach us everything so we won’t get stuck in John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” ******* So I cannot be stuck if I go to the Word everyday under the guidance of the Holy Spirit!!! Consecrate means to set aside for and to delicate to a sacred purpose. I am consecrated in the Truth, Jesus Himself and His Word through His Holy Spirit :-) Amen!
*** Deuteronomy 6:5-9, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." *** Deuteronomy 11:19-21, "Teach them (God's W0rd) to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth." *** Colossians 3:16, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." ******* Word of God Speak by Mercy Me https://youtu.be/JTY-UKgLlXs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awana “Awana is a world-wide nonprofit ministry focused on providing Bible-based evangelism and discipleship solutions for ages 2-18. As the global leader in child and youth discipleship, Awana gives children the opportunity to know, love and serve Jesus, no matter their background.” https://www.awana.org/us-curriculum/
Amen.
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What a coincidence! Today my garage door also had a problem. The spring mechanism got stuck after the automatic garage door opened. If it wasn't for my neighbor, it would have stayed stuck. I am grateful for the people like my neighbor God has placed in my life.