Today’s world might consider Hosea to be a doormat. At God’s command, the prophet marries a woman who has prostituted herself, and after they have three children, she leaves him to return to her old life. Does Hosea write her off and move on? No, he finds her and reunites with her, a beautiful metaphor for the Almighty’s desire to reunite with the people of Israel.
Fasting and abstinence from earthly food is a pillar of our Lenten journey. But that pillar is also about abstaining from judging others on their worthiness for redemption. It’s about fasting from that voice that tells us our own sins are unpardonable. It’s about the belief that while we all are flawed, if we repent, there’s plenty of forgiveness and love to go around.
****** Starting a 40-day prayer journal specifically for my daughter, Katie, the self proclaim agnostic to come back and walk with Jesus, her Savior and soon to be Lord ✝️ *** Day Nineteen - Dear Jesus, You have torn the veil! You have conquered death and made a way for Katie to have a relationship with You! Remind her that You are eager to forgive and help her to let go of the world and cling to You! *** 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, “So we are Christ’s official messengers. It is as if God were making His appeal through us. Here is what Christ wants us to beg you to do. Come back to God! Christ didn’t have any sin. But God made Him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us!” Amen ✝️ *** Teach me, oh Lord, to be Your ambassador on this earth! ✝️
Big Forgiveness = God's Mercy: "There is no saint without a past and no sinner without a future." St. Augustine
Melanie your words are spot on for me today. My lenten giving this year was to do just that, have more patience with someone in my life whom I bicker with a great deal. I find myself asking for forgiveness a wee bit too often this lent season but will keep trying. :{ Blessings to all the LFF, may this lenten season fill you with health happiness and love. To all those with extra needs these days may your path be smooth and your life surrounded with love and God everyday. I will continue to pray for the president, his staff and all that work for/with him to lead this country under God in all the caring and right ways with one of the main commandments to be followed: treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. Jane have a safe and healthy rest of your trip. It sounds like so much fun!
AMEN!
Thank you for this Melanie. I needed to hear this today. “…that pillar is also about abstaining from judging others on their worthiness for redemption. It’s about fasting from that voice that tells us our own sins are unpardonable. It’s about the belief that while we all are flawed, if we repent, there’s plenty of forgiveness and love to go around.” I continue to think about Kristin Armstrong’s one month challenge to pray for those who I’m judging or holding a grudge against. I’m not sure I’m doing all I can there! Stormi, I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved horse. You gave him such a wonderful life. I know you are at peace and I am so happy he was able to wave to you and let you know he’s travelled to a beautiful resting place. Continued healing to Vijay and praying that the Dr. will find an accurate diagnosis. Scoop and I are almost at the end of our trip and it has been fantastic. Bologna, Modena and Parma with wonderful meals and fantastic tours of wineries, as well as fascinating visits/tours to production facilities of Parmesan cheese and Priosciutto. Saw the beautiful basilica in Modena yesterday. And am hoping to make it to the old town in Parma this afternoon to see the cathedral. Thank you God for this wonderful trip. Scoop is feeling okay. He has some discomfort with walking and is resting a lot. Glad he could make the trip! Continued blessings to the LFF and their Lenten journeys. Amen.
Thank you for a beautiful reflection today, Melanie. I love the part about abstaining from deciding the worthiness of others in regards to salvation. We are all God’s children, beautifully made and cared for. Our Lord will make that decision. Dear Lord, thank you for my life and may I strive to be a mirror of your unconditional love to all my earthly brothers and sisters. Amen
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those in need. 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.
Dear sweet Lord a big Thank you for the good results of my medical. That’s one down three more to go. I need you and all the Saints for the remainder of these tests please? I am sorry that I have been distant it is because I am not feeling well and don’t mean to be like this. Thank you for All that you do.
AD, may the Lord keep you in His loving arms and may you feel his love for you. HE has this.
AD prayers for everything to turn out well. God understands you and knows you will be there as you can..
Amen.
Amen.
Amen!
Praying for the Pope. Praying for immigrants, for workers losing their jobs, and for the poor, hungry and sick across the world who are in need of food and medical aid. Praying for Ukraine and its people.
Amen.
Lifting all those who need financial, emotional and physical support right now from all these issues. Lord, please hear our prayers.
Thank you so much, Frank. Amen.
Thoughtful words indeed. Thank you Melanie.☮️
Thanks, Bob. Wrapping our minds around forgiveness can be so difficult.
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*** This is my God in Hosea 14:4-6, “Then the Lord will answer, “My people always wander away from me. But I will put an end to that. My anger has turned away from them. Now I will love them freely. I will be like the dew to Israel. They will bloom like a lily. They will send their roots down deep like a cedar tree in Lebanon. They will spread out like new branches. They will be as beautiful as an olive tree. They will smell as sweet as the cedar trees in Lebanon!” *** This is me depending on the worldly good deeds to save me, trusting in my abilities as my gods, and acting upon my evil desires in Hosea 14:3, “Assyria can’t save us. We won’t trust in our war horses. Our own hands have made statues of gods. But we will never call them our gods again. We are like children whose fathers have died. But You show us your tender love.” *** This is what I need to do in Hosea 14:1-2, “Israel, return to the Lord your God. Your sins have destroyed you! Tell the Lord you are turning away from your sins. Return to Him. Say to Him, “Forgive us for all our sins. Please be kind to us. Welcome us back to you. Then our lips will offer You our praise!” ******* When I repent and turn to God, this is my reality in Hosea 14:7-9, “Once again Ny people will live in the safety of My shade. They will grow like grain. They will bloom like vines. And Israel will be as famous as wine from Lebanon. Ephraim will have nothing more to do with other gods. I will answer the prayers of My people. I will take good care of them. I will be like a healthy juniper tree to them. All the fruit they bear will come from Me.” If someone is wise, they will realize that what I’ve said is true. If they have understanding, they will know what it means. The ways of the Lord are right. People who are right with God live the way He wants them to. But those who refuse to obey Him trip and fall!”