We Christians are in Advent while, all around us, the culture has already jumped to Christmas. The Church says, Don’t be in such a hurry! Advent is for waiting, for preparing, for building, not for slinging “Season’s Greetings” just to show off our faith in the “Lord, Lord!” As Jesus in today’s Gospel parable says, we must not only listen to his words; we must act on them.
Like building a house, says Jesus, you build on rock—and I might add, try rocks like service, justice, charity, love. For there’s nothing more solid than love! Let loving your enemy and serving your neighbor in concrete acts of kindness be the lights that adorn your life in this season. For while the storms will come, says Jesus, the winds will blow, the floods will rise, but our house of love stays warm and cozy, ready for any guest that shows up! God has been building this house for thousands of years thanks to his holy Word laying the foundation.
Dear Community, Help ! In the last few-months I have lost hope ! I doubt a Jesus who is in anyway personal, involved or interested in my life despite all the promises and texts that say he is ! Job cried to God, but at least he believed !. I shouldnt seek personal assurance or experience of Jesus 'many have not seen and believe' as Jesus said to doubting Thomas ! What to do ?
Ray, sending you God’s light for the path to clear the darkness, so you can hear his direction and feel his presence in your life as you had before. May you open yourself to God’s grace and presence in the quiet of this season to feel loved. Lord, please find your child Ray in a different way over the next few weeks and allow him to know you are with him. Amen.
Ask God for you to become a child of God, Ray, in *** Acts 2:37-38, “Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!” *** John 1:12, “But to all who believed Him (Jesus) and accepted Him, Hegave the right to become children of God!” *** Ephesians 2:8-10, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago!” ******* I pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon you, Ray, that your hope is in Who and not what ✝️ https://youtu.be/txN9dEiF2WE
Ray I agree with Bill you need to try to stop, find a quiet place, or take a walk, and listen. Remember that you are a child of God, he will provide you with answer or at least acceptance of where you are at. You must give him a chance listen to his voice. This requires lots of patience. I try deep breaths and then waiting. It doesn't always work but when I am done I feel much more at peace with myself. Nevertheless I will pray for you right now. Ken
Welcome, Ray. I can offer up prayers and petitions but that's not what you seem to be looking for. Rather than saying rote or printed prayers we learned through our life it might be better to find a quiet place and just talk to God one on one. But there is another part to this. Sit back and listen. You may not hear Him as Job did but He may just fill you with a loving Presence that directs you towards what you are seeking.
In the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, when we are in desolation, we should stay faithful to the practices of prayer/Mass/bible reading, etc. that were efficacious in the past. So while it may seem hypocritical to keep on keeping on when we are having doubts or negative feelings about faith, keeping our feet on the path is the way through. Don't give the devil a way in to distract or disturb you. Our faith is not based on feelings. God loves us. God loves you in particular. You are his child. Half the 'battle' of prayer is just sitting there and understanding that we are in his gazes. And that he looks at us with love. God is right there where we are. From there we can pour out our hearts. Even if we are having a hard time in that moment. I'll pray for you. And may others do the same.
Grace: "God can no more withhold His grace from a soul prepared to receive it than the sun can fail to shine through an open window." St. John Fisher
God bless you Jane as you enter a new phase of your life. From my own experience, I was concerned that I might get bored after retirement. But when we speak those thoughts to the Lord He leads us to many opportunities to continue to build his city on the strong foundation of His love and charity.
Miguel thank you for encouragement to be all that we can be. I work everyday to make the pebbles of foundation in my life into rocks of a solid basis. A work in progress :} Blessings to all the LFF. Special prayers for those with extra needs these days and may our rock foundations give us the road and strength to spread the love of God through all the world.
Amen!
AMEN!
Thank you Miguel. How will I be a woman of action today? May I keep that in mind as I enter the final days at the office. I am so excited to finish, and finish strong. Yesterday my group gave me a large bouquet of deep red roses. Very emotional. Lots of quality farewells in small groups that I have truly cherished. Thank you God for giving me the gift of meaningful work, connection with many, continued learning/challenge and feeling your light along the way. Please keep Garrett and Jane’s mum in your healing comfort. Amen.
Congrats, jane, on your next chapter. I can almost smell the fresh baked goods from here!
Congratulations, Jane, as you enter a new phase of your life! It is exciting to see what new doors will be opening for you! The transition from work to retirement took me awhile, but I thoroughly enjoy it now. May the Lord be with you every step of the way!
Jane! You're just about to finish the "race"! And by the sound of your colleagues acknowledgements to you in these last days before your retirement...you have been a good and faithful servant! Happy Trails!
I am keeping you in my prayers Jane it is a blessing to have a wonderful career. I hope your next endeavor will be just as rewarding Ken
Congratulations jane. Doors are opening to a new adventure with God. Take a day at a time. Blessings to you!
Praying for you Jane as you make this transition. Reminders will come of what you left behind and a life past, may many happy, fruitful doors be opened to you to serve and enjoy a God filled future!
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
*** True disciples are those who do the Father’s will enter the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do what my Father in heaven wants will enter!” *** False disciples are those who do their own will rejected by Jesus in Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord! Lord! Didn’t we prophesy in Your Name? Didn’t we drive out demons in Your Name? Didn’t we do many miracles in Your Name?’ Then I will tell them clearly, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who do evil!” *** Building my house on the Rock (Jesus) in Matthew 7:24, “So then, everyone who hears My Words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. He builds his house on the Rock!” ******* First, know His Words and then put His Words into actions all by the power of the Holy Spirit and not by my own strength bringing glory to myself!!! The horse (The Rock Jesus and His Words) before the cart (good work)! *** Our good work does not save us to enter the Kingdom of heaven! *** Our good work is an outward expression of the inward gratitude of Jesus’ completed work on the cross! *** Ephesians 2:8-10, “God’s grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your salvation doesn’t come from anything you do. It is God’s gift. It is not based on anything you have done. No one can brag about earning it. We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do!”
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Please pray for my mum. Today was a bad day… Prayer to St. Jude for Physical Healing St. Jude, you witnessed the healing power of our Lord Jesus. You saw His compassion for the sick and dying. You yourself touched the sick, shared the sorrows of the mournful, and encouraged the despairing. You received this authority and healing power to work wonders, to cure the incurable, to make people whole. We ask you to intercede with our brother, Jesus, to send His saving grace to heal the sickness and suffering of __________________, to uplift his/her despondent spirit, and to instill hope in his/her heart. Amen.