God is love. He is total self-gift. God first loved Creation into being and then continued to empty himself by entering our world as one of us. Christ Jesus taught and commanded us to love as God does. That love is our highest calling, our purpose here on Earth. It is how we were created and why: to be like God. It is our very identity, the command we carry as baptized children of God. Loving one another, though, is not merely a feeling. It is not something we are swept up in or fall into. It is a choice, an active verb. It is an action—a thousand actions, chosen repeatedly in obedience and faith, knowing we are our truest selves when we live in love as God created and Christ called us to do.
Love these love verses!!! *** 1 John 4:15-17, "God lives in anyone who agrees that Jesus is the Son of God. This kind of person remains joined to God. So we know that God loves us. We depend on it. God is love. Anyone who leads a life of love is joined to God. And God is joined to them. Suppose love is fulfilled among us. Then we can be without fear on the day God judges the world. Love is fulfilled among us when in this world we are like Jesus." *** 1 John 4:8-10, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. Here is how God showed His love among us. He sent His one and only Son into the world. He sent Him so we could receive life through Him. Here is what love is. It is not that we loved God. It is that He loved us and sent His Son to give His life to pay for our sins." *** Romans 5:8, "But here is how God has shown His love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." ******* John 3:16-18, "God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son. Anyone who believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world. He sent His Son to save the world through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not judged. But anyone who does not believe is judged already. They have not believed in the Name of God’s One and only Son!" ✝️
Salina Smith Prayer Request 10/24/23 * Students – Pray that the students will learn about Jesus and His power! They will hear the Good News of Jesus for themselves in the stories of the Samaritans and the healing of the official’s son and they will believe Jesus is the Savior of the world through the power of the Holy Spirit! John 4:42, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man (Jesus) is the Savior of the world!” Amen! * Salina – Pray that I continue to submit to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and serve with a joyful heart not to be distracted by my feelings but to focus on the faithfulness and goodness of my God. May You give me a joyful presence to encourage and edify my friend, Denise, in Atlanta this coming week. May You heal her unreasonable fear and overwhelmed her with Your perfect love! 1 John 4:18a, “There is no fear in love. Instead, perfect love drives away fear.” Amen!
Good morning LFF and friends! And thank you Karla for your beautiful message on the action of Jesus’ Love for all! My husband Rick and I picked up our little 3 year old grandson at his Speech class this morning and oh my goodness, what a beautiful example of Love in action! From the parents picking their children up to the kindness of the Teachers, paras, bus drivers, playground staff, it was a Love filled experience! It almost brought me to tears of joy just realizing that there’s so much Love out there and we grandparents were blessed to be right in it. Dear Lord Jesus, please keep showing us how to love, It is truly our delight!
This brought a smile to my face. What a wonderful experience. Your grandson and the rest of your family is truly blessed.
Good morning, Living Faith family. I have been retired for a few years now, but before Covid, I worked in an office and the first thing I would do before I started working, was to go to the daily devotional. I had the link in my calendar. I enjoyed checking back later to see if A Sinner posted his/her prayer, yet. I check in now from time to time but I did notice someone asking A Sinner to respond, so I hope you got a response. If not, I do hope this person knows they brightened a lot of people’s days. And looking back, I noticed somebody posted the prayer again, so I have copied and pasted it for myself, and hope to get into the habit of reading it daily again. Keeping you all in my prayers. I had requested prayers for a friend Debbie last year. Unfortunately she did pass in March. I believe she is safe with the Lord and no longer suffering. Unfortunately, our prayers aren’t always answered in the way that we would like. Sometimes I find it hard to understand why a person who worked so hard her whole life and just retired, got ill so quickly and passed away. I don’t know the answers, but I have to have faith that God knows what He’s doing. Something similar happened to my husband several years ago, and he hadn’t even had a chance to retire, yet. It was sudden. One of my sons’ comments when he was memorializing his dad was that he worked harder than anyone he knew, and he didn’t even get to enjoy his retirement. I have to believe he’s enjoying an amazing retirement in Heaven, just selfishly wish he was here. <3
Thank you Karla may we share God's love with others through a smile, a kind work or an act. Pray for all those struggling with situations in their lives to remember to lean on Jesus. Continued prayers for all the LFF requests and for my daughter, Cass, as she begins 6 months of chemo. Have a blessed day!
Sending prayers for Cass and for a successful treatment program.
I have no doubt that this is what Good is calling me to do. The question marks were supposed to be praying hands.
“To love as God does …that is our highest calling and purpose here on earth.” Beautiful words for reflection Karla. And each day brings its own opportunity to do so, not usually in profound ways but often in simple acts of kindness - a smile, a touch, an offer of help, etc. We can ignore or pass on the chance which could go unnoticed by the other or we can choose to reflect God’s love that might make a difference in someone’s day. Lord, help me to be aware of the Spirit’s promptings each day and to respond in love as you would. ????????
FOR A HOLY HEART Lord grant me a holy heart that is always fine and pure and not frightened at the sight of sin but creates order wherever it goes. Grant me a heart that knows nothing of boredom, weeping and sighing. Let me not be too concerned with the bothersome thing I call “myself.” Lord give me a sense of humor and I will find happiness in life and profit for others.
Love this, Stormy. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Karla for choosing to be that good person. Yes may we all choose to make those caring, loving, positive actions to reflect the love of God throughout the world. I wish we could just sprinkle some pixie (love of God) dust on all those evil doers out there to make them feel Gods goodness. Blessings to all the LFF, especially those with special requests and needs right now. May those near you find those 5 minutes and choose the actions needed to share the love of God with you. LFF may we spread the love of God each and everyday. LFF what an amazing group of people you are.
Thank you and God bless you all I hope and pray we all love as Jesus did.
“To do your will is my delight.” A delight? It is a struggle most times. Yet, Paul reminded me “We do not lose heart”. These troubles are temporary. “I am with you.”
Karla, thanks for the great devotion to start my day and guide my actions. May my next 1000 actions be guided by the Lord. Praying for all those feeling alone, alienated or forgotten. Good morning Vincent!
Lord, please hear our continued prayers for those in the Ukraine and the Middle East and all those suffering around the world - also for their strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. 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 the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan 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.
Thank you Karla. Beautiful reflection. Lord Jesus make us vessels of your love and compassion in a chaotic and dramatic world. Help us we plead! Amen. Praying for the souls in purgurtory and for all with special needs and intentions. Tuesday blessings Living Faith Family.
Thank you Karla for a special message and all the reflections and comments you have given us. If there were more love in the world it surely would be a better place. Friday I went to mass and one of the parrishioners asked me how Terry was doing I told her I was going there this morning would she like to come. No I have something to do. Okay I said I only spend 5 or 10 minutes. She said I will come. Terry was elated and the parishioner said I will bring soup to you. This morning she came to mass with the soup. Being the devil that I am I asked her " will you check if I brought the soup to Terry " She hugged me and told me you are always making us laugh. I related our conversation to Terry and she also laughed. If my blessed wife was here she would roll her eyes and say " Ken you are such an a.." Rambling again. Living faith family please keep praying for the Poor Souls in Ukraine and the middle east. And the souls in purgatory and those who have no one to pray for them. Ken
Ken you're a good person. Even 5 minutes can make or break a person! Sharing goodness for 5 minutes can give a person so much more strength.
Thanks for amplifying the Word with your actions Ken. Love your sharing. So glad the parishioner came with you!
Thank You Keeping it simple and blunt ..with action !
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I love you Father in Heaven. I am sorry for the times today when I did not lead my words with love. Help me please to care only about what You want me to be and less about what others think about me. In Jesus Name I pray. I love You Father in Heaven Amen Amen Amen