We all have days under clouds of suffering. Doubts and fears rise up, threatening to consume our hope in a moment of despair. Like the Israelites, we often have short memories. But on previous occasions, when we thought all was lost, didn’t we begin to see a new path ahead carved by God’s hand?
Wisdom teaches us to remember God’s mercy, to pray and to watch for the signs of new life emerging before us. Each of us has seen this glimmer of new life for others: offering a loving word, promising to pray and sitting in silence with someone struggling under a cloud of sorrow. Let us share our stories of how the Red Sea of misery, mourning and distress parted to reveal the path ahead into a fertile future.
God will clear the way to my path on earth if I give myself to Him and His ways for my life Amen Amen Amen Please help me on my path in Jesus Name I pray Amen Amen Amen
Sharing with you this past Wednesday lesson with the BSF students (7-9 years old) ***BSF Lesson 9 The Bread of Life, Part 1...GAME *** Gospel Connection - Only Jesus can give us eternal life! *** Attribute of God - God is Gracious! *** Main Truth - Only Jesus, the Bread of Life, can satisfy our spiritual hunger! *** Engagement - John 6:35, “Then Jesus declared, “I AM the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty!” *** I was leading the "Live Differently" section/activity of the lesson :-) *** Instructions - Create a “recipe” for the good gifts Jesus, the Bread of Life, gives His people. Remember, “Only Jesus, the Bread of Life, can satisfy our spiritual hunger!” 1. Write down creative ingredients for the good gift, the Bread of Life, such as belief, forgiveness, love…(think of Jesus’ attributes/characteristics/person: one ingredient on each small paper) 2. Create the steps to make the “recipe” using ingredients written down. 3. Use action words such as add, mix in, blend, heat, cool, sprinkle… 4. Select a person to write the steps and present the “recipe” and the steps! Here are the two recipes... ******* Gather the ingredients, stir Eternal Life and Incomprehensible, combine Faith and Love, roll Perfect and Omnipotent and Savior, bake Helper and Just. Take it out of the oven, sprinkle Trust and Forgiveness, icing Belief, Goodness, Sovereignty, Holiness ✝️ *******Jesus’ Love and add some Joy, mix more Love, sprinkle some Forgiveness, heat up some Gracious, blend even more Love, add some Peace, put in some Faith, and put in oven. Bake for 20 min. And eat Forever ✝️ ******* I love these recipes ✝️
I for one am very thankful and grateful for the days under the clouds of suffering and the moments of despair! Why? Becasue without those days, I wouldn't know His heart! *** Scars by I Am They https://youtu.be/It1XzDf-pFo?si=qLRDcuWSCiPwk_WJ *** His love in Lamentations 3:19-24, "I remember how I suffered and wandered. I remember how bitter my life was. I remember it very well. My spirit is very sad deep down inside me. But here is something else I remember. And it gives me hope. The Lord loves us very much. So we haven’t been completely destroyed. His loving concern never fails. His great love is new every morning. Lord, how faithful you are! I say to myself, “The Lord is everything I will ever need. So I will put my hope in Him.” *** His faithfulness in 2 Timothy 2:11-13, "Here is a saying you can trust. If we died with Him, we will also live with Him. If we don’t give up, we will also rule with Him. If we say we don’t know Him, He will also say he doesn’t know us. Even if we are not faithful, He remains faithful. He must be true to Himself!" ******* As I have mentioned in the past, this is the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year when He calls most of His saints home...my good friend's Mom passed away Thursday being in the hospital for one day and moved to hospice the next day and within 24 hours she was received into eternity! *** Remember we do not know the day or the time, but the day is coming for each of us and our God is faithful! 1 John 1:8-10, "If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His Word has no place in our hearts!"
Oh Stormy, I know that all of us have felt at some point in our lives a sad loneliness that just seems to overwhelm us and we can't see past it. Yet, when we look back we see the hand of God that consoled us through family, friends...and our Living Faith Family! Please, I hope you find comfort in knowing that we have you lifted in hope filled prayer. Hope you're not afraid of heights, because your LFF's prayers will soon have you soaring!!! God Bless Us All And All Who We Love.
Dear Stormy, you’ve been through a lot of pain these last few months, and I can understand why you’re feeling alone. I hope you know that all of us in the LFF care about you and send hugs and prayers for you every day. We’re gonna make it! We’ve got God on our side.
EN, praying for your son but also for his wife/partner and children. Every part of one life touches the life of others to some degree. I pray for you too as a mom it is hard to see the mistakes of a child no matter their age —-as Catholics I am so very thankful we have Mary as God’s gift to relate to the maternal feelings we experience in our children. Jane safe travels to you and your family—how exciting and enjoy every moment even the rough airport delays or long line. They are the backdrop that makes all the wonder filled time God is giving you even brighter! Ken—-you and Pam and Stormy—-it feels like we’ve been together for such a long time here, you warm my heart letting me know that sharing my words with others makes a difference!! I feel a rah rah for you when you talk about your 2nd graders and your time spent serving meals and loving others especially your children and grandchildren because you do the things I want to do and don’t have grandchildren to cuddle and love. Thank you for taking time to write that—-a few words can mean so much to someone. I’m feeling more thankful year than ever this year—-thank you all for the everyday encouragement you share as well as the quiet prayers behind the scenes. Blessed weekend everyone!
Hi VickiG, no, you’re not going crazy! That was me who sent the response to you. So sorry for any confusion.
Good morning VickyG, just letting you know that for me, it’s you who give us the courage to face each day with humor and grace. Your life has been both short of challenge to say the least, and yet you continue to bring joy with your encouraging words for all of us. Thankful for you, a beautiful flower in our LFF.
Stormy, it's understandable to be grieving and feeling alone with the lost of Shiloh and Ginny in such a short period of time! Give yourself permission to be sad, to cry, to feel alone and missing those who are close to you for so long!!! listen to K-Love on your radio, on your phone or on your computer...let songs of others miniser to you! Most of all let God's Word fill your heart with love, peace and hope because God is Good!!! *** When We Fall Apart by Ryan Stevenson (feat. Vince Gill & Amy Grant) https://youtu.be/nOtOmhgu3bs?si=194G95GVsXh8U-tm *** Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed!" *** John 16:22, "That’s the way it is with you. Now it’s your time to be sad. But I will see you again. Then you will be full of joy. And no one will take away your joy!" ******* Praying my favorite song over you, Stormy, in Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need. He lets me lie down in fields of green grass. He leads me beside quiet waters. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths for the honor of His Name. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid. You are with me. Your shepherd’s rod and staff comfort me. You prepare a feast for me right in front of my enemies. You pour oil on my head. My cup runs over. I am sure that your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever!" Amen ✝️ Psalm 23 by Phil Wickham feat Tiffany Hudson https://youtu.be/8RzGnpvUFFw?si=iyd2oOPgO-f--AlY
Vicky G wow thank you for your words today. Spot on! I am a very lost soul right now and feel all alone but just one little mention of caring from you shines a light on hope.
Stormy know that I am praying for you right now. I will keep you in my prayers tomorrow during my holy hour. Stormy you're a special part of the living faith family. Ken
Stormy, please know that you are not alone. I pray that you feel all of us here on LFF giving you a virtual hug.
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Dear LFF, here I paste a prayer I copied from one of VickyG's comments some time ago. I loved it at the time - and still do. Somehow, it seems appropriate to today's reflection. May it help all of us who need it now. Thank you for it, VickyG. "Find your quiet secluded mountain, do not be afraid of what God wants to reveal there, and take that with you on the path God chooses for you alone….because you are not alone, He is right there with you!" May God bless all of you always and all ways. Ria