September 16, 2023
Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian
How Grace Flows
He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor.
Psalm 113:7

How does God raise up the lowly and the poor? Half of the time, I think I am the lowly and poor. I feel weak and tired. My faith and hope feel shaky; my confidence and trust in God feel shallow. Yet, I know I have a purpose, a mission: I am meant to serve, to share Christ’s light and love, and so I show up and give again. God receives me and my offerings, no matter how I feel. Then, amazingly, Christ creates a catalyst for liberation out of me: I cook a meal and share it with others; I offer a word of encouragement; I listen to the stranger put in my path. I am open and present and grace flows. And along the way, through many ordinary acts, people are raised up—myself included.

We are lowly, poor, broken and tired, and we are at your service. Lift us up, Lord.

- Sr. Julia Walsh, F.S.P.A.

1 Timothy 1:15-17 • Psalm 113:1-7 • Luke 6:43-49
Slippers on the old wooden bridge across the lake. Kae Dam, Thailand. Photo by ArrowSmith2 | Adobe Stock
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Comments

September 16, 2023 at 09:03 PM

I was lowly and in such darkness but My Father in Heaven found me and lifted me to peace in His arms, I love You Father in Heaven so much Amen Amen Amen

September 16, 2023 at 04:12 PM

Amen. :)

September 16, 2023 at 10:19 AM

So beautiful, Sr Julia. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and subsequent actions that help make things a little better for those we encounter, and yes, ourselves as well. Sending love and prayers to all the LFF and more prayers for all in need at this time.

September 16, 2023 at 09:09 AM

Amen!

September 16, 2023 at 08:57 AM

HOLY GOD We thank you for the gracious gift of faith, with the apostles before us we ask that you open our hearts to the power of your word and increase our faith. That we may be bold followers and joyful witnesses to the message and mission of your son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Blessings to the LFF and all those in need.

September 16, 2023 at 08:13 AM

Thank you for your pure honesty. Yes, some how through it all God finds a way! Amen

September 16, 2023 at 07:43 AM

I love the theme of “GRACE” lately!!! God’s Redemption At Christ Expense!!! How does grace throw? It does not flow until I receive Him myself and believe In His Name!!! John 1:10-13, “The Word was in the world. And the world was made through Him. But the world did not recognize Him. He came to what was His own. But His own people did not accept Him. Some people did accept Him and did believe in His Name. He gave them the right to become children of God. To be a child of God has nothing to do with human parents. Children of God are not born because of human choice or because a husband wants them to be born. They are born because of what God does.” Amen!!!

September 16, 2023 at 07:32 AM

Pray with me… Salina Smith Prayer Request 9/19/23 • Students – Pray that the Holy Spirit teaches the students to comprehend that Jesus is fully God and fully man for He became a man to give eternal life to those who believe in Him! John 1:1-2, 14, “In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning... The Word became a human being. He made His home with us. We have seen His glory. It is the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father. And the Word was full of grace and truth. • Salina – Pray that I yield to the Holy Spirit with my schedule and commitments! May the Emmaus Walk 9/21-9/24 be renewing, reclaiming and ratifying for me! Philippians 1:6, “God began a good work in you. And I am sure that He will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns.” *** P.S. Jessi (my daughter, a third year medical student) found out her insurance won’t cover the Christian counseling and the sessions are $100 each :-( So she plans to go back to her school counseling in Memphis on Zoom which she started two years ago when she was faced with her discovery of PTSD resulting from a gunshot suicide in her presence during her service as an EMT at Penn State. I trust that God knows what He is doing in, for and through Jessi! I pray that they will continue the treatment of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy to retrain her thought process pathway! I pray that His joy will fill her with hope and peace in Romans 15:13, “May the God Who gives hope fill you (Jessi) with great joy. May you (Jessi) have perfect peace as you (Jessi) trust in Him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you (Jessi) with hope.”

Pam
September 16, 2023 at 09:56 AM

Oh Salina, yes - you have my prayers for your students, for you and for sweet Jessi. With you as Jessi’s mother, spiritual guide and chief “Pray-er”, Jessi is surrounded by all of God’s very best blessings to see her through. God Bless Us All And All Who We Love ❣️

September 16, 2023 at 07:09 AM

Thank you Sr. Julia for describing the ebb and flow of our energies towards in life towards so many things…faith, work, school, chores. We are constantly in need of God’s renewal and as you called it - the liberation. God’s grace that lifts us up from our own dung hills and out of our personal valleys of despair to be instruments of his love and peace. May others feel that coming from me today. Continuing to lift our community here and all their needs. Bill L and Ken, I am starting to feel like a robot since I have to answer that I am not - sooooooo many times. Happy Saturday all.

Bill L
September 16, 2023 at 03:30 PM

Thanks, Jane. Nice to hear Ken and I are not the only ones who have to take tests to post!

Kjc
September 16, 2023 at 10:47 AM

Jane and Bill you guys are surely not robots, they could never provide the living faith family such profound advice and heartfelt prayers. Terry is doing better I brought her some people from our parish over the last two days. It was special seeing their reactions. Please keep her and Carl and Maryanne in your prayers although Maryanne is no longer a client of Feedmore, she moved. She has my number but I have not heard from her for two weeks. Prayers for Ukraine and the families affected by the natural disasters. Still not a robot. Ken

September 16, 2023 at 07:00 AM

Sending light to all those in Libya and Morocco, may they rescue those who are stranded and console those remain. Continued prayers for the Ukraine, those suffering in Russia and the Sudan, and also for the strength, courage and resilience of our brothers and sisters all over the world who are suffering after natural disasters. 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, Russia and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. 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. Amen.

September 16, 2023 at 04:39 AM

Beautiful Sr. Julia. Thank you

Terry
September 16, 2023 at 05:23 AM

Yes, beautiful words of grace …your thoughts will carry with me through today, and I am lifted up by Grace…thank you!

Slippers on the old wooden bridge across the lake. Kae Dam, Thailand. Photo by ArrowSmith2 | Adobe Stock
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