I think we often vastly underestimate who we are called to be. In Jesus’ Baptism, the Holy Spirit descends upon him. Similarly, by the grace of our own Baptisms, the Spirit descends upon us, thus we become temples of the Holy Spirit. Do we actually treat ourselves, and others, as such?
I do not think it would be an exaggeration to bow before another person, acknowledging the Holy Spirit dwelling therein. And there ought to be no place in us for self-hatred or self-destructive behavior. We ought to honor the Spirit within and its temple.
This divine calling is Jesus’ gift to us. Treasure this gift. Honor the indwelling Spirit. Let us never stain so great a Presence.
Amen ✝️
Please pray for my teenage daughter Katie. She has been having trouble with making friends and harming herself. She is suffering from anxiety and sadness. She is getting help and I teach her to surrender everything to Jesus and He will help her though. Please pray that she is healed and that I am given the wisdom dying the Holy Spirit to help her. Thank you in advance for your prayers. I am blessed to be part of the LFF community. God bless all of you.
KLT I will pray for you and your daughter at holy hour today. Teenage years are not easy for many, support and try to touch base with her every day. As a high school teacher and Dean I dealt with many troubled children. Attention and smiles worked great for me. Ken
The Truth by Megan Woods https://youtu.be/5fSVWVYkh2A?si=n_F69kJoiG1w_s6e
Amen!
Acts 10:25,26 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. Yet truly, Peter, lifting him up, said: “Rise up, for I also am only a man.” Let us make sure we do not worship the man.
Bowing (nodding your head as a sign of respect) and falling down to worship are two different things!!! No idolatry, worship of men or other gods or angels for sure!!! Revelation 22:8-9, “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. After that, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel. He is the one who had been showing me these things. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I serve God, just as you do. I am God’s servant, just like the other prophets. And I serve God along with all who obey the Words of this book. Worship God!”
How different the world would be if we all acknowledged the Spirit within us, and thus practiced forgiveness for ourselves and each other. Let us remember 1John 4:4 and realize the Spirit within us is greater than the spirit of this world! Prayers to those suffering in CA, and strength to the heroes helping them.
A great devotional today, Msgr. Rossetti. I'm sure I've tarnished my temple a time or two. I know in dealing with the Asian culture no matter what the circumstance is they always begin and end with a bow. Prayers again to our California neighbors in their struggle to figure out how to survive this devastation.
How do you know who or if you have the Holy Spirit? *** When one believes in Jesus the Christ in Ephesians 1:13, "You also became believers in Christ. That happened when you heard the message of truth. It was the Good News about how you could be saved. When you believed, He stamped you with an official mark. That official mark is the Holy Spirit that He promised!" *** When one tells others about the Good News of Jesus Christ in Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Then you will tell people about Me (Jesus) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria. And you will even tell other people about Me from one end of the earth to the other.” *** When one is born again in the Spirit in Titus 3:5, "He saved us. It wasn’t because of the good things we had done. It was because of His mercy. He saved us by washing away our sins. We were born again. The Holy Spirit gave us new life!" ******* That's why speakimg against (without) the Holy Spirit is unforgivable/unpardonable! *** Matthew 12:31-32, Mrk 3:28-29, Luke 12:10, "Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven!" *** Because John 3:18, "Whoever believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the Name of God’s One and only Son!" *** No Jesus, no Holy Spirit...no peace :-( Know Jesus, indwelling Holy Spirit...know peace!!!
01/11/25 Emphasis and repeat of yesterday lesson! It is interesting to read in 1 John 5:17, “Every wrong thing we do is sin. But there are sins that do not lead to death.” So every wrong thing is sin but only certain sins lead to death? So I can sin that does not lead to death? What are the sins that don’t lead to death? *** The key is to ‘believe’ *** The key is I am a child of God in 1 John 5:11-12, “Here is what God says about the Son. God has given us eternal life. And this life is found in His Son. Whoever belongs to the Son has life. Whoever doesn’t belong to the Son of God doesn’t have life.” *** The key is repentance in 1 John 1:8-10, “Suppose we claim we are without sin. Then we are fooling ourselves. The truth is not in us. But God is faithful and fair. If we confess our sins, He will forgive our sins. He will forgive every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar. His Word (Jesus) is not in us. ******* The sins that don’t lead to death are ALL the sins committed by a child of God who believes in the Name (Christ, Savior, Lord, etc) of Jesus, is given the indwelling Holy Spirit and is prompted by the Holy Spirit to repent of ALL the sins!!! *** Matthew 12:31-32, “So here is what I (Jesus) tell you. Every kind of sin and every evil word spoken against God will be forgiven. But speaking evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. A person like that won’t be forgiven either now or in days to come” *** Mark 3:28-29, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Everyone’s sins and evil words against God will be forgiven. But whoever speaks evil things against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. Their guilt will last forever.” *** Luke 12:10, “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” ******* So what is the unforgivable/unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit? It is the sin of not believing in Jesus Christ! That is why there is only ONE WAY to God and it is through Jesus Christ, not any other names! *** Other names in religions 1 John 5:21, “Dear children, keep away from statues of gods.” *** Without believing in Jesus Christ, there is no indwelling Holy Spirit! Without the indwelling Holy Spirit, there is no Jesus Christ! Without Jesus Christ, there is no forgiveness! *** Believers and unbelievers in John 3:18, “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the Name of God’s one and only Son!”
Thank you msgr Stephen for your reflection today. I often ask the holy spirit to guide my thoughts and calm my mind. Back on line again I miss you guys. Padre Pio's saying Yesterday's was" the person who does not meditate acts as one who never looks into a mirror and so does not bother to put himself in order since it can be dirty without knowing it" Today's is "The person who meditates and turns his thoughts to God who is the mirror of his soul, seeks to know his defects and tries to correct them, moderates himself in his impulses and puts his conscience in order." Please pray for my youngest son Chris his red blood cell are very Low and requires iron infusions for the next 3 weeks. Thanks for people's concern about not hearing from me. Pam mentioned it to me . Please Continue to pray for Stephanie and Christine, Anna and her mom Debbie, Sal who is recovering from open heart surgery. Late tonight hopefully my typing is not too weird. Ken
Good to hear from you Praying for all of your intentions
Good to hear from you, Ken. I'm sure your plate has been quite full lately. Praying for all your intentions this last day of the Christmas season.
Good to hear from you, Ken :-)
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My prayer "Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and with the fire of your love and goodness. May I always find joy and delight in seeking to please you in doing your will just as you have delighted in the joy of pleasing your Father and doing his will."