This Pauline letter to the Ephesians describes the unity of the Church of Christ that had come about for both the Jews and the Gentiles—united in Christ Jesus as the capstone.
I am moved by how true this is today. Through Jesus, “…the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord” (v. 21). This includes all of us “being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (v. 22).
I especially think of my parish, where, in a preparation for Pentecost, it was discovered that our parishioners speak more than twenty different languages. No one is a stranger or sojourner. All are members of the household of God, a temple sacred to the Lord.
My friend Salina, you are there, right alongside Jessi and Jesus. I thank you.
My heart is heavy!!! Asking you, my prayer warriors to pray for Jessi ✝️ I am not sure what or how to pray :-( I had a heart wrenching conversation with Jessi last night, all I could do was to tell her I hear her, I love her, I pray for her and I cried with her :-( She shared with me that she feels her cup is so empty. She had two friends (one guy and one girl) who called her yesterday that they have broken up with their girl/boy friends respectively. She comforted them and brought back feelings of her breakup 15 months ago. She doesn’t understand why she still feels the sadness, the heart break and still cries all the time? She keeps talking and crying out to God to fill her cup and it seems like God doesn’t do anything for her to take those feelings away and fill her cup? It seems like she is hanging by a thread even with all the encouragement she receives from work…(she sent me another excellent feedback from a resident :-) Her 14 hours days really drains her where she has no time to exercise and eats fast food :-( I pray that the Holy Spirit will convict her heart to follow her head in understanding and wisdom of God and His ways ✝️ She told me that she feels like a fraud when she knows the answers to all her Bible studies and yet she cannot say she has experienced any of God’s promises in the study as His witness! She was so empty and so tired last night, but she told me she has to finish BSF lesson 7 and starting the CBS Daniel study after finishing the Job study which she has registered me to be in the same online class. I said you don’t have to do the questions to be in discussion! She told me that doing these Bible studies are her only life line even when she can’t feel or experience it!!! Continue to pray with me for God’s mercy and grace upon us all and praise Him for His continued love that never fails and His faithful care that never ends for Jessi ✝️ Lord Jesus, You are the Truth, the Way and the Life and there is no other ♥️ I pray in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “I do live in the world. But I don’t fight my battles the way the people of the world do. The weapons I fight with are not the weapons the world uses. In fact, it is just the opposite. My weapons have the power of God to destroy the camps of the enemy. I destroy every claim and every reason that keeps people from knowing God. I keep every thought under control in order to make it obey Christ!” Amen! The Truth by Megan Woods https://youtu.be/85I6HI2E4AA?si=Gby0fD_gn18lEc-b
Dear Lord, our sister Salina is feeling so empty right now. Please shine your light on her to sweep away the darkness and fill her with hope and joy. Allow her to experience your love and know that she is being cared for, nurtured and prayed for by many. Please make sure her gaurdian angel is close during the day and night. Amen.
I will keep you and Jessi in my prayers. May God send encouragement to her as she is going through the dark valley. God is preparing her for a future filled with blessings! May God continue to use you to support her when she is down. Blessings to all the LFF.
Just returned from Rome. Could not get near the Vatican at all! The crowds are horrendous and the construction for the Jubilee in 2025 took away from the sights. But I am glad I took the trip with my family and knew Gods presence was there. Bless us all.
Beautiful reflection Pat! Thank You Lord that together, we are all part of the household of God. Thank you for that sense of belonging. Help us to continue living, not as strangers, but as legitimate sons and daughters of God Our Father.
Patricia, thank you so much for this reflection. When I think of you discovering all the different languages spoken in your parish it reminds me that the fabric of our communities is a patchwork of all these languages and cultures together. May God continue to strengthen that fabric through our seen and unseen diversity. Lord be with our communities through the coming days in our country to guide us peacefully. Amen.
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those experiencing natural disasters, as well as those in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur, the Sudan, in addition to all those suffering around the world - also for their strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Send them your light. 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 Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur 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.
Amen and Amen! Together we belong and in unity, there is strength. Thus, we continue to pray for each other.
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This gives me blesssed assurance and hope in these days...Ephesians 2:20b-22, "And the Cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself. We are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through Him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit!" Only Jesus and there is no other! Amen!!!