Today is the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. So, what’s in a name anyway?
The mention of another’s name brings to mind various aspects of their personality and identity but in a limited way, for we can never know another person completely, even ourselves. What a mystery we all are.
The name of Jesus evokes images of a child, a dying man, our strength and our comfort, our Risen Lord. We know him, yes, but only in part. In the mystery and shadows of this life on earth, this Holy Name brings hope for the time outside of time and all other limits when, knowing and perfectly known, we will see him as he is.
Amen
Good Morning on this cold, rainy day in Sacramento. Happy New Year 2025. We made it this far. Thank you to God for All His Grace, Glory, Mercy & Favor. We've had four Cousins pass away since the last two months. We have had 3 Funeral services so far. My Cousin Patsy C passed away over one week ago. So we are waiting for the Services for Her ...Please Lord this is Not a good way for All of our Family to see one another All the time. And we have a huge Family. My Mama R.I.P. had 16 siblings 5 brothers & 11 sisters. We Al l support one another, as we should. It's just so very sad... I'm writing this because, I'm trying to say, enough Lord. Cancer is the culprit in most cases, taking our Cousin who was only 39. My Eldest Son Stephen passed away from cancer at the Young age of 28 in 2009 and my Eldest Nephew Paul passed away from cancer at the Young age of 37, also in 2009. Our immediate Family has been through pure devastation and heartbreaking loss.
"The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day." St. Gianna Molla
Thank you Amy for your wonderful reflection and words to grow on. I have spent my life being a hopeless "hoper" LOL it has hurt me immensely many a time but I can't help hoping for all people to bring out the good in themselves that God intended. I'm just smarter now and learned to pray for those that haven't found that good at a distance :) Your words remind of a time when I spoke with a homeless person with full intentions of giving him some money. After a great conversation and he is a wonderful man, I found that living on the streets with a grocery cart full of his belongings is his choice. He worked, has a retirement and this is all he wants. Needless to say I didn't give him more money but will pray for God to guide him and keep him safe. Ah, May we all see and feel the good that lies beneath each soul out there. Bill S. thank you I listened to the story "Mary's dream for Christmas." How true that is and how society has forgotten. Maybe we need a Grinch to steal Christmas eh? lol Blessings to all the LFF, may God hold those with extra needs in his hands and may we all go out and spread his love through all the world.
Dearhearts! Happy Year Ahead! I missed not being “connected”, but did love the solemnity of it. Ken…loved the video and song! What harmony the Brothers Four had, and so melodic, it took me back in time as I “tried to remember”!! Have been anxious to hear how everyone fared through the Holidaze! God Bless Us All And All Who We Love!❣️
AMEN!
Reminds me of one of my favorite songs by Hillsong Worship : What a Beautiful Name It Is.
Want to know God more completely? I recommend Know Him: A Year of Daily Bible Readings on the Character of God. Published by Our Daily Bread and available on their website odbm.com. I’m reading it for the third time in 2025.
Amy, I love the line about thinking of a name and different attributes of people come to mind. It reminded me of selecting names for the children and avoiding some beautiful names simply because we knew folks that had that name and didn’t want that constant connection to them. Thank you to those who mentioned there was a notice that comments were turned off during the octave of Christmas. I did not see that! While I appreciated the break during this whirlwind time period, I missed hearing from others. Sending warm thoughts for today. Amen.
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those who have been hurt, killed and impbacted by terrorist attacks. Come to the side of those experiencing violence in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur, and the Sudan. Please hear the pleas of all those suffering around the world - and give them 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
You have heard that argument, "All religions are the same - many people believe that all religions promote good values and essentially worship the same God with different names!" Don't believe that lie!!! Because Christianity has only one Name, the Name of Jesus and there is no other!!! *** 1 Kings 18:21, "Elijah went there and stood in front of the people. He said, “How long will it take you to make up your minds? If the Lord is the One and only God, worship Him. But if Baal is the one and only God, worship him.” *** 1 John 4:1-3, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see if they belong to God. Many false prophets have gone out into the world. Here is how you can recognize the Spirit of God. Every spirit agreeing that Jesus Christ came in a human body belongs to God. But every spirit that doesn’t agree with this does not belong to God. You have heard that the spirit of the great enemy of Christ is coming. Even now it is already in the world!" *** John 14:6, "Jesus answered, “I AM the Way and the Truth and the lLfe. No one comes to the Father except through Me (Jesus)!" ******* Acts 4:11-12, "Scripture says that Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders did not accept. But it has become the most important stone of all.’ (Psalm 118:22) You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.” *** Philippians 2:9-11, "So God lifted hHim up to the highest place. God gave Him the Name that is above every name. When the Name of Jesus is spoken, everyone will kneel down to worship Him. Everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will kneel down to worship Him. Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord. And God the Father will receive the glory!" *** Luke 10:17, "The 72 returned with joy. They said, “Lord (Jesus), even the demons obey us when we speak in Your Name.” *** Romans 10:9-13, "Say with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord.” Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. Then you will be saved. With your heart you believe and are made right with God. With your mouth you say what you believe. And so you are saved. Scripture says, “The one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” (Isaiah 28:16) There is no difference between those who are Jews and those who are not. The same Lord is Lord of all. He richly blesses everyone who calls on Him. Scripture says, “Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord (Jesus) will be saved.” (Joel 2:32)"
Amen!
Amen
12/31/24 *** Do you know the Truth? Follow Jesus and study God’s Word in John 8:31-32, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” *** How do you know the Truth? Jesus is the Truth and God’s Word is the Truth in John 1:1-2, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth!” *** Do you recognize the lies if you know the Truth? Only if you have the indwelling Holy Spirit in 1 John 2:20-21, “You have received the Spirit from the Holy One. And all of you know the Truth. I’m not writing to you because you don’t know the Truth. I’m writing because you do know it. I’m writing to you because no lie comes from the Truth!” ******* We, humans, (including Jesus in human flesh) are made a little lower than the angels in Hebrews 2:5-9, “God has not put angels in charge of the world that is going to come. We are talking about that world. There is a place where someone has spoken about this. He said, “What are human beings that You think about them? What is a Son of Man that You take care of Him? You made them a little lower than the angels. You placed on them a crown of glory and honor. You have put everything under their control. (Psalm 8:4–6) So God has put everything under His Son. Everything is under His control. We do not now see everything under His control. But we do see Jesus already given a crown of glory and honor. He was made lower than the angels for a little while. He suffered death. By the grace of God, He tasted death for everyone. That is why He was given His crown!” *** John 14:6, “Jesus answered, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me!” *** John 17:17, “Use the Truth to make them holy. Your Word is Truth!” *** John 16:12-14, “I (Jesus) have much more to say to you. It is more than you can handle right now. But when the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own. He will speak only what He hears. And He will tell you what is still going to happen. He will bring Me glory. That’s because what He receives from Me He will show to you!”
Amen.
Blessings to all celebrating birthdays/anniversaries for this month of January. Offering up a long-time contributor's prayer 'A sinner's' prayer for this month... Amen! Thank you, Holy Father, for this beautiful day and for this Gospel today. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for my faith, my life and for my family. Thank you, Holy Father, most of all, for your great sacrifice and for the opportunity of forgiveness and reconciliation. Please Lord Jesus Christ have mercy. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, King of Endless Glory. Amen Holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask that you release your warrior angels and heavenly hosts. We decry and declare that they would take us off the enemies' radar and scramble the enemies' frequencies (airwaves). Your Kingdom must come now. Your will must be done right now, as in the heavens, also on earth. Amen Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host - by the power of God - Cast into hell satan and all evil spirits that prowl about the earth seeking the ruin of souls. Amen
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Amen