JESUS IS LORD. ALWAYS!

Saturday, December 08, 2012

Mary is highly favored!


"And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”  (Luke 1: 28)

Mary is preeminently favored by God.  She is in fact full of grace.  What does this tell us about God's plan for Mary?  Mary is endowed with such abundance of grace that it pleased God to give her a higher role in salvation history.  She is the Mother of the Son.  In the Communion of Saints, every saint can intercede and obtain favor for us.  But Mary is supremely powerful as an intercessor, as a mediator.  This is why Church tradition has called her the Mediatrix of all grace.  Every grace we receive from her Son Jesus passes through Mary to us.  How does the Church know this?  The Holy Spirit taught the Church this truth through the Magisterium of the Church.  Magisterium is the supreme teaching authority of the Church conferred on her by Christ, Himself.

The angel also greeted Mary as "The Lord is with you."  The Lord is with all Christians in the state of grace.  But as St. Augustine teaches, the Lord is with Mary more than He is with me or you.  If you are closer to the President of the United States than I am, if I need a special favor from the President, it makes sense to come to you to speak for me.

Mary is a powerful, faithful and merciful intercessor.  The honor done to her is not for her but for her children.  Us!

Friday, December 07, 2012

I wait for you O Lord!


"Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!"  (Psalm 27: 14)

Wait! - 122108
I wait for the Lord with confident expectation.  I wait in the full awareness that hope never fails.  I wait for you O Lord.  I am bold in my expectation.

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Keep me O Lord in constant and perfect peace


"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."  (Isaiah 26: 3 - NIV)

I like the expanded Amplified Bible version of the same scripture:
"You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."

I extracted the delightful commentary of Matthew Henry on Isaiah 26: 3:

" This is here the matter of a promise (v. 3): Thou wilt keep him in peace, peace, in perfect peace, inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, peace at all times, under all events; this peace shall he be put into, and kept in the possession of, whose mind is stayed upon God, because it trusts in him. It is the character of every good man that he trusts in God, puts himself under his guidance and government, and depends upon him that it shall be greatly to his advantage to do so. Those that trust in God must have their minds stayed upon him, must trust him at all times, under all events, must firmly and faithfully adhere to him, with an entire satisfaction in him; and such as do so God will keep in perpetual peace, and that peace shall keep them. When evil tidings are abroad those shall calmly expect the event, and not be disturbed by frightful apprehensions arising from them, whose hearts are fixed, trusting in the Lord, Ps. 112:7 . It is the matter of a precept (v. 4): "Let us make ourselves easy by trusting in the Lord for ever; since God has promised peace to those that stay themselves upon him, let us not lose the benefit of that promise, but repose an entire confidence in him. Trust in him for ever, at all times, when you have nothing else to trust to; trust in him for that peace, that portion, which will be for ever.’’ Whatever we trust to the world for, it will be but for a moment: all we expect from it is confined within the limits of time. But what we trust in God for will last as long as we shall last. For in the Lord Jehovah-Jah, Jehovah, in him who was, and is, and is to come, there is a rock of ages, a firm and lasting foundation for faith and hope to build upon; and the house built on that rock will stand in a storm. Those that trust in God shall not only find in him, but receive from him, everlasting strength, strength that will carry them to everlasting life, to that blessedness which is for ever; and therefore let them trust in him for ever, and never cast away nor change their confidence."

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Goodness and mercy will pursue me


"Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days."  (Psalm 23: 6)

Thank you Lord for this sweet promise.  I claim it.  Now protect me from all evil so that I can enjoy your continual presence in your Church.

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Christ Jesus is a just Judge


"From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance."  (2 Timothy 4: 8)

We are called to serve a just Judge, Christ Jesus.  Have no fear or doubt of your reward.  It is guaranteed.

Monday, December 03, 2012

May your face shine upon us and be gracious to us


"O God, restore us;
light up your face and we shall be saved."  (Psalm 80: 4)

"The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!" (Numbers 6: 25 - 26)

Sunday, December 02, 2012

My God, in you I trust and you have not failed me


"To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul,
my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be disgraced;
do not let my enemies gloat over me.
No one is disgraced who waits for you,
but only those who are treacherous without cause."  (Psalm 25: 1 - 3)

I trust in you my God.  I shall not be put to shame.  I trust in you to pardon my sins and blot out my guilt.  I trust in you to provide me the peace and power that I need to live a victorious life day by day.  I rely on you to protect me every moment and every step of my life.  I rely on you to provide  all my needs.  One thing I ask for from you, O Lord.  This one thing I trust  you for:  to enjoy your constant presence all the days of my life.  You created me with a purpose.  I trust in you to lead and guide me to this purpose.

I believe in your word.  I have trusted you in the past and you have  vindicated me.  I will wait for you joyfully till the time of fulfillment comes.  Thank you Lord.