“I feel like God’s opening a door,” my husband said.
“Are you nuts? Give up a perfectly good job to go find another?”
We’d spent most of our young-adult lives within military communities. It’s what we knew. It’s what our kids knew—where we lived, shopped, worked and worshiped. Suddenly, our world turned upside down with an opportunity my husband believed God ordained. So, like Abraham, we stepped out in faith. Mid-career change, without the safety net of a paying job, we held a celebration Mass. And we chose today’s passage from Hebrews for our first reading—a time when we went out, not knowing where to go.
Perhaps you’ve been there too? God calls us all to faith-stepping at times. We may not know the way. But he does.
Love this Stormi. Thank you for being there for that gentle animal.
Isn't it fun, Stormi, to see God's hand as He sends His special messengers into our lives? I love that you see with the eyes of your heart. Sounds like you bless God's creatures as much as they bless you. St. Francis pray for us.
AMEN!!
Amen. :)
*** The definition of faith: The blessed assurance of hope in our our Lord Jesus Christ and not in the worldly tangibles! Hebrews 11:1, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being sure of what we do not see!" *** Abraham's faith examples... (1) Hebrews 11:8, "Abraham had faith. So he obeyed God. God called him to go to a place he would later receive as his own. So he went. He did it even though he didn’t know where he was going!" (2) Hebrews 11:12, "Abraham was past the time when he could have children. But many children came from that one man. They were as many as the stars in the sky. They were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one could count them!" (3) Hebrews 11:17-18, "Abraham had faith. So when God tested him, Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham had held on tightly to the promises. But he was about to offer his one and only son. God had said to him, “Your family line will continue through Isaac.” (Genesis 21:12) Even so, Abraham was going to offer him (Isaac) up!" *** Abraham may be a man of faith, but do you know how many mistakes he made were recorded in Genesis...go look them up!!! ******* Only God's GRACE through FAITH in 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!" Amen ❤️✝️❤️ *** Jesus asked His disciples back then and us this day in Mark 4:40, "He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Don’t you have any faith at all yet?”" in light of all the plane crashes and the fears broadcasted by some on the freezing of government funds!!! *** Yes, where is my faith? Luke 8:25, "Where is your faith?” He (Jesus) asked His disciples!" *** Faith over fears!!!
Thank you Salina for your message and Danny Gokeys song(he's one of my top favorites) I too will stand in faith!
Stand In Faith by Danny Gokey https://youtu.be/ZIREaGBN4Jw?si=Lamh8tov1AlctsGp
My love "Lord Jesus, increase my faith in your redeeming love and power that I may always recognize your abiding presence with me. And give me courage to do your will in all circumstances."
Amen!
Yes, by faith, I asked Matt to volunteer for severance package in summer of 2015 when Katie was going to be a freshman in college and Jessi a senior in high school. He asked why because he didn’t expect to be laid off??? I said I didn’t know, so he talked to his boss and his boss wouldn’t say anything. But during the staff meeting, he was not assigned any new project and saw the writing on the wall :-) (yes, it’s a smiley face) *** God has prepared my spirit and heart to prepare my husband for the reality and our financial situation! *** Without a job change, we wouldn’t be able to afford to put our girls through college debt free since we didn’t save enough for the most expensive state college in the country, Penn State! *** So he volunteered for the severance package with 6 months salary and his previous company in TN “happened” to have an opening! ******* His bonuses from the TN company was enough to put both girls through college debt free! So the 6 months severance package for us covered Katie’s first year college and the bonuses of the TN company we received by faith covered the rest when both were in college ✝️ Yea, we didn’t know how or where when Matt accepted the volunteer severance package especially knowing the girls would start college!!! I did assure Matt that I would look for a job too since God has already shown me I could always go back to work if I wanted to :-) I had a 9 month work ‘sting’ after 7 years staying home just a few years before this offer of severance package! *** Ephesians 3:20-21, “God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by His power that is working in us. Give Him glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. Give Him glory through all time and for ever and ever. Amen!” ✝️
Yes, Salina. It's amazing when we pray and truly listen to the Holy Spirit what it can mean to step out in faith. Praise the Lord for His vision so much greater than ours. And for trusting husbands who place their actions in Bigger Hands than ours
Our family has moved several times in our lives. My husband would come home from work and say that an opportunity has come up at work for a move and I feel God has had a hand in it. So off we would go based on his and our faith. We have been where we were supposed to be according to our faith.
How wonderful, Sandy, that both your trust in God and your faith-stepping has yielded such fruit. Thanks for listening and for sharing.
Thanks Kathleen, a thoughtful reflection! God sure works in ways we can't perceive. When we really do not know the way, he does! We take chances in life, cluelessly. God remains faithful as we walk through the waters of life. He promised never to allow us to sink beneath the waves. There is so much hope in His promise that we can never lose track of surrendering to him. Have faith and God will carry us through even when we know not, where or what He is calling us to. Prayers and blessings for all with special intentions and needs today. Peace and love Living Faith Family.
Absolutely, I love that our Lord sees the big picture in our lives. And yes, prayers for all our LF family. His blessings.
Ken and jane, you guys are up at my time. Hope your surgery went well Ken and jane you must be cooking up a storm. Once again, I offer up prayers and best wishes to all the February birthdays (hand raised!) and anniversaries. May you enjoy your special day.....Also Remembering A sinner's prayer; 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
Happy Feb birthday Bill! Yes, cooking lots of different things! This next week will be menu planning. Up at your time b/c I’m in Italy :-).
Great sharing story, Kathleen. Had a similar experience with a job that I had. I miss read a start time for my job and came in late. 1st time I ever got fired from work. Went to another job site and was hired immediately. This was a Friday. Sunday came and I found out my previous job laid off over 300. God had a different plan for me. Never looked back from there.
Thank you, Bill. Wow! Your immediate hire after an unexpected firing, sounds like a true God-send. I love hearing of His provision for you. Such a blessing in disguise. Thanks for sharing.
Kathleen, thank you for this. Stepping out and taking risks can be scary. Feeling secure in hearing God’s call requires us to be steadfast in our faith. This can be so challenging and fill us with doubts. Lord, help my unbelief. Asking for continued prayers for my son Cooper, that his way becomes clear. Off for a big hike here today. Amen.
Certainly, Jane. For me, I'm learning afresh to lean into TRUST--my word of the year--seeing how often God has sent His messengers or asked us to reach beyond our comfort zone. Prayers for son, Cooper. Hoping the big hike was invigorating.
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those who have been hurt, killed and impacted by terrorist attacks, unnecessary violence and accidents. 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.
Kathleen thank you for your contributions to this site. Taking a chance and responding to the Lords direction must have been difficult. Living faith family I am troubled and distraught about the airline tragedy in Washington, and Philadelphia. The reason is on February 12th 2009 there was a plane crash in Clarence Center New York, just outside of Buffalo it was Flight 3407 This occurred 3 miles from my house. If the plane was in the air 1 to 2 minutes longer Kathy and our family would have been involved. We were lucky but unhurt. The Lord was watching over us. Fast forward to last Saturday. Being a homeowner it is my responsibility to keep this house running safely and economically. Before vigil Mass I decided to check the furnace filter in my basement (I do this once a month). While down there I smelled smoke. Sure enough there was a fire inside the motor of pump under my sink. I put out fire using water ( never put water on electrical fire). Then called fire department who checked things out, disconnected pump and cleared smoke. Between both averted tragedies I credit my guardian angel and the holyspirit with saving us. Ken's rambling but I wanted to share this. Please Continue to keep Terry and her niece Amy in yor prayers she is in pain after her surgery. Also continue to pray for Debbie and her daughter Anna Dennis and Shelly. My youngest son Chris whose blood count is very low in iron, and needs weekly infusions, Christine who caring for her mom alone and is causing her considerable stress. As always keep the souls in purgatory and those souls who have no one to pray for them. Ken
Thank you, Ken. And God bless you. Understand how today's tragic news can trigger past traumas or relief/survivor guilt at those near misses. (Certainly, our Lord has eyes and purpose far beyond our own visions.) Thank and praise God, Ken, for leading you to that furnace. (The Holy Spirit, His angels and saints guide us so amazingly when we have ears to hear and act upon those messages!) Prayers for you and all our Living Faith Family.
Ken...Divine Redirection!!! Thanx to God, your Guardian Angel ~ and Kathy! I vividly remember the Clarence Center plane crash. These air tragedies are heart breaking and also leave me feeling out of sorts with the details and the emotions they evoke. Living in Moscow when 911 happened was surreal and anxiety crept in and stayed for a long time. I continue to find myself saying throughout the day when more news comes on "Lord please have Mercy".
✝️ Glad that the prompting of Holy Spirit sent you to check your basement ✝️ All glory and honor to our Lord God, forever and ever! Amen ✝️
Praise God your Guardian Angel led you to your basement, Ken....may the Lord grant strength to the families of the persons in the two plane crashes and helicopter
KEN!!! Thank you for sharing this and yes, your guardian angel was most definitely with you in checking your furnace. Thank you for listening closely to them. Hoping you are healed from your oral surgery. The plane crashes are just devastating and praying that as the facts become clearer we can learn and better empower our airways with safety. Sending light to the heartbroken families of so many. Also, lifting Terry, Amy, Debbie, Dennis, Shelly, Chris, Christine and Stephanie that they may feel God’s comforting presence in their journey. Lord, praying for all those in purgatory and those who feel alone and scared. Amen.
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Kathleen your words revive many many memories of the times when my guardian angel was there for me. I had a career that could sometimes place me in unsafe positions and believe me I could write a book about how many times my guardian angel protected me. :) Please bear with me with another animal story I am currently living. Those who have been here awhile know that the four-legged friends are very special in my life. Currently I have a horse that I inherited 6 years ago. A friend of mine passed away and in her will she wanted all her animals put down with her. The family just couldn't do that to viable beings. One of those animals is a horse. He has many medical issues and was older when I got him. But he was happy and energetic at the time of her passing so the family asked me to please take him, no money no nothing, but this would keep him alive. He came to me with many many medical issues and all of believed I would be giving comfort fo about the next 2 years or so. HAH! 6 years later here we are and he is an amazing spiritual soul. I have introduced him so so many people that are afraid of horses and all of them and I mean all of them walked away loving this guy and a whole new outlook on horses. Back to today, he is now 35 years old and life is catching up with him especially in the colder weather. The short version of the story is that with his arthritis he is having a wee bit of a hard time getting up. Many a time we have had to help him. Many a time I have thought this was it. EACH TIME I have prayed to St. Francis for guidance and so every time..........The horse pops up and looks at me like "so what's the problem?" LOL Long way of saying our guardian angels come in many ways. eh? Blessings to all the LFF, especially those with extra needs these days and may we all spread and live the love of God through all the world everyday.