I started learning about God and Jesus when I was about four. At Sunday school, we sat in a circle and sang “Jesus Loves Me.” I didn’t understand much about the invisible, great, all-seeing God that I kept hearing about, but I knew that Jesus loved me.
It has always been Jesus who points the way to God’s heart for me. God knows that we weak little humans (of any age) need more than a name like “God” for something as big as God. We need someone who looked like us and walked around and got dirty like us. We need someone who can open a door for us and make introductions. We need Jesus, his arms stretched wide on the Cross, saying: “Do you want to know how much God loves you? God loves you this much.”
Keeping Joanne and your family in my prayers today Bill. May the Lord guide the hands of her medical team and assist in her healing .
Peace in Christ: "Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you; all things are passing; God never changes." St. Teresa of Avila
Steve, as always your words are inspiring. It's soothing to be reminded that we are still loved through all our faults. jane sounds like hard work but really fun. Have a great time and be safe. Blessings to all the LFF, especially Brenda through her biopsy, Susan continued recovery, Garrett's continued recovery and ll those with extra needs these days. May God hold all in his hands with love, guidance and comfort. May we all spread his love through all the world everyday.
Amen.
Amen!
Love the Jesus Loves Me song! Here is the refrain, "Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so!" What else does the Bible tell me this day? *** We come and pray to God only through Jesus in Hebrews 7:25, "People now come to God through Him (Jesus). And He is able to save them completely and for all time. Jesus lives forever. He prays for them (us)!" *** Jesus is the ultimate High Priest in Hebrews 7:26-27a, "A high priest like that really meets our need. He is holy, pure and without blame. He isn’t like other people. He does not sin. He is lifted high above the heavens. He isn’t like the other (earthly human) high priests." *** Sacrifices and penaces necessary for earthly human high priests in Hebrews 7:27b, "They need to offer sacrifices day after day. First they bring offerings for their own sins. Then they do it for the sins of the people!" ******* The ultimate perfect sacrifice and penance is complete in what Jesus has done in Hebrews 7:27c-28, "But Jesus gave one sacrifice for the sins of the people. He gave it once and for all time. He did it by offering Himself. The law appoints as high priests men who are weak. But God’s promise came after the law. By His promise the Son was appointed. The Son has been made perfect forever!" *** Once and for all Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice and penance for me in Hebrews 9:25-28a, "The high priest enters the Most Holy Room every year. He enters with blood that is not his own. But Christ did not enter heaven to offer Himself again and again. If He had, He would have had to suffer many times since the world was created. But He has appeared once and for all time. He has come at the time when God’s work is being completed. He has come to do away with sin by offering Himself. People have to die once. After that, God will judge them. In the same way, Christ was offered up once. He took away the sins of many people!" *** Earthly and human sacrifices and penances do not take away sins in Hebrews 10:11-12, "Day after day every priest stands and does his special duties. He offers the same sacrifices again and again. But they can never take away sins. Jesus our priest offered one sacrifice for sins for all time. Then he sat down at the right hand of God!" *** Confession to our Lord and God? Yes in 1 John 1:9-10, " 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 is not in us!"
Do you know why the curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (where the human high priest went in only once a year) was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died ✝️ *** Matthew 27:50-51, “After Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, He died. At that moment the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook. The rocks split.” *** Mark 15:37-38, “With a loud cry, Jesus took his last breath. The temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom!” *** Luke 23:44-46, “It was now about noon. Then darkness covered the whole land until three o’clock. The sun had stopped shining. The temple curtain was torn in two. Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit my life.” After He said this, He took His last breath!” ******* We have direct access to the Most Holy Place and come to God directly for my confession of sins when Jesus died once and for all!!!
Steve, thank you for reminding us that Jesus shows us the way to God through his love and constantly outstretched arms. Sending extra prayers for my friend Brenda who is going in for a double biopsy today (breast and armpit). Learning so much in Italy. Today was our first kind of exam. I think I did okay, but one of the chef’s found a bone in my fish. Booo….first time I ever deboned a fish. I humbly need to practice more. It’s been wonderful…a bit homesick, eating to much and trying to make it up in miles walked (morning and evening). Susan is doing so very well in her recovery. You’d probably never know she was sick, except her stamina is not where it needs to be. Also, part of my exam today was making 5 dishes in 3 hours. Was very fun and I know I will be making carbonara at home…the right way. Lifting Joanne and all those souls in purgatory who need our prayers. Lastly, asking for continued prayers for Garrett as his hand heals, that he continues his therapy and persistence! Amen.
Hi All. Reposting the humility litany. Our chef instructor reminds us we need to be humble in our learning. Litany of Humility: O Jesus! Meek and humble of heart, Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being loved, From the desire of being extolled, From the desire of being honored, From the desire of being praised, From the desire of being preferred to others, From the desire of being consulted, “ From the desire of being approved, From the fear of being humiliated, From the fear of being despised, “ From the fear of suffering rebukes, From the fear of being calumniated, From the fear of being forgotten, “ From the fear of being ridiculed, From the fear of being wronged, “ From the fear of being suspected, That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. Amen.
AMEN!!
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those who have been hurt, killed and impacted 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
AMEN!
Amen! Thanks Steve for this heart warming reflection. Truly Jesus loves us when he poured out everything for us, everyone of us, on the wood of that cross. Every sinner has been accounted for, thank You Lord. The hymn "Sweet Heart of Jesus" keeps ringing in my head as I ponder on this reflection and so I continue to call on Jesus in those words of the hymn: Sweet Heart of Jesus, fount of love and mercy, today we come, thy blessings to implore. O touch our hearts, so cold and so ungrateful, and make them Lord, thine own for evermore. Sweet Heart of Jesus, we implore. O make us love thee more and more! All Jesus wants from us is to love Him in return and to love one another. Help us Lord and draw our focus, pointing us every moment to the ways of God, Amen. Prayers and blessings for all with special intentions and needs today. Peace and love Living Faith Family.
Prayers for Joanne. Also for you and your family Bill.
To the LF family, asking for your prayers for Joanne, a family member. She was admitted to the hospital with very serious breathing problems. Thank you, Bill
Adding my prayers tonight.
Bill L...Yes, please know I am praying for Joanne to find relief and comfort.
Bill, lifting Joanne up to our Lord to take care of her.
Bill L. prayers for Joanne to heal soon and guide her medical team.
Praying
Will keep Joanne in my prayers today that God may calm her fears as He provides healing for her body.
Bill, sorry to hear this. Lifting Joanne today!
Bill I will pray for you and Joanne her family right now. Ken
Prayers for Joanne and your entire family Bill. God is still in control!
Amen.
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I marvel how a simple song could make such an impact!