Even if the fig tree does not blossom

"For though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit appears on the vine, Though the yield of the olive fails and the terraces produce no nourishment, Though the flocks disappear from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the LORD and exult in my saving God. GOD, my Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet swift as those of deer and enables me to tread upon the heights" (Habakkuk 3: 17 - 19)

When I came across the above scripture 16 years ago, I understood immediately what it means.  I was awe-struck by the lofty thought.  Often our relationship with God is predicated by what God provides.  But here is a man who says that whether God provides or not, he will always worship and love Him.  O how I wish this attitude is mine.  I still find myself elated when things go well and anxious when they don’t.

I found similar scriptures to Habakkuk 3: 17 – 19 and had even blogged on it as shown below:

“If our God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, Your Majesty, he will save us; and even if  he does not, then you must know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have set up.”  (Daniel 3:17 – 18)

A good paraphrase of the above scripture which I like is this:  “If we live, we live; if we perish, we perish.”

“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”  (Matthew 26: 39)  Again, we can paraphrase Christ’s sentiments thus:  “If I live, I live; if I die, I die.”

“For though the fig tree blossom not | nor fruit be on the vines, |Though the yield of the olive fail| and the terraces produce no nourishment, | Though the flock disappear from the fold | and there be no heard in the stalls, | Yet will I rejoice in the Lord |and exult in my saving God. (Habakkuk 3: 17 – 18)  Prophet Habakkuk’s word can me summarized with - “If we live, we live; if we perish, we perish.”

“If you make my word your home |you will indeed be my disciples; | you will come to know the truth, | and the truth will make you free.”  (John 8: 31 – 32) 

When we are faithful to the teachings of Jesus, we will have the faith and courage to appropriate the above scriptures.  We will know that God is faithful come what may.

“For if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.”  (Romans 14:8)

I know well the plans I have in mind for you

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope." (Jeremiah 29: 11)

In the early years of the return of the Prodigal, the above scripture meant so much to me.  I read and reread this promise.  I devoured all the commentaries I could find on it.  It was as if these words were spoken personally to me.  After 15 years of living these plans, I am more sober when I reflect on the meaning of this promise for my life.  For one thing I discovered that the accomplishment of this plan is not like a quick surgical operation.   Did you note that Jeremiah speaks of “Plans” and not “Plan.”  That’s right.  God has rolling plans for our lives.  A series of interconnected plans spanning from childhood to old age.  When we deviate from this plan, there is a correction.  Very much like the GPS that helps you to get from one point to another and corrects you if you make a wrong turn. 

God’s plans for my welfare are complete.  They encompass the following:  Pardon, Peace, Power, Purpose, Protection and Provision.  I call these the 6 P’s of God’s promises.  How do we enter into these promises?  God prepares for every individual a grand strategy.  I call mine the 7-Way plan made up of these items:  Prayer, Word of God, Eucharist, Penance, Examen, Ministry and Spiritual Reading.  By employing these strategies, not only are we able to enjoy the 6 P’s but we grow at the same time in the 7 fruits of: Faith, Patience, Wisdom, Humility, Courage, Peace and Contentment.  With all these going for us, we feel adequate to fight and win our daily spiritual warfare in these war zones:  Health, Family, Money, Job, Tools, Food and Future.

Perhaps the best way to see these plans at work is to observe them one day at a time.  David in the Psalms say, “In the morning, I pray and then I wait.”  Early in the morning, David prays for God’s favor for the entire day.  Then he watches to see how his prayer is answered.  One day at a time, he observes how faithful God is.

Continual Guidance3

"Then the LORD will guide you always and satisfy your thirst in parched places, will give strength to your bones And you shall be like a watered garden, like a flowing spring whose waters never fail" (Isaiah 58: 11)

Every day I yearn and pray for continual guidance.  Yet, this is already promised in the PL scriptures as seen from Isaiah 58: 11.  Why don’t I believe this?   I focus on circumstances and not on the word of God.  As I walk on the water, all is well as far as there is no turbulence in the sea and as I focus on Jesus.   Once the sea gets furious, I tend to glance about me and when I do so, I take my eyes off Jesus.  I become panicky and start to sink. 

The Enterprise is a journey to the PL.  It is also a journey through the desert where there are many parched places.  The bones would be weary.  Isaiah 58: 11 promises that the Lord will provide continual guidance, protection and provision. 

Lord I believe.  Help my unbelief!

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With joy you will draw water from the fountains of salvation

"On that day, you will say: I give you thanks, O LORD; though you have been angry with me, your anger has abated, and you have consoled me. God indeed is my salvation; I am confident and unafraid. For the LORD is my strength and my might, and he has been my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the fountains of salvation. And you will say on that day: give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; Among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. Sing praise to the LORD for he has done glorious things; let this be known throughout all the earth. .Shout with exultation, City of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!" (Isaiah 12: 1-6)

This is one of my earliest PL scriptures. It was given to me in 1995 by a man of God. He said to me, “I was inspired to give you this scripture.” At the time, I was not familiar with the idea that certain scriptures represent word of knowledge for the individual. Wnen I read Isaiah 12, liked the message and appropriated it. The fact that in 2011 I still remember this word of knowledge is a sign to me that this scripture has a particular significance for my life.

What I like most about Isaiah 12 is verse 3 which promises that “With joy you will draw water from the fountains of salvation”

What are the fountains of salvation for me?

The Holy Spirit
The Eucharist
The Blessed Sacrament

I draw water from these fountains on a daily basis. These are by no means the only fountains I have direct and constant access to. I also draw water from the fountains of:

Prayer
Word of God
Penance
Examen
Ministry
Spiritual Reading

I wonder whether this is why the promise alludes to “fountains of salvation” and not just “fountain of salvation.” There are many fountains but there is also a hierarchy of fountains. In Ephesians 6, St. Paul talks of putting on the full armor. The warfare we are engaged in is not with flesh and blood. We contend with evil and powerful spirits. If you are not fully armored, you will fall even before the battle gets under way. So, if the Lord offers me to drink from the “fountains of salvation,” that is exactly what I do.

Forget not all His gifts

"Bless the LORD, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts, Who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills, Who redeems your life from the pit, a and crowns you with mercy and compassion, Who fills your days with good things, so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." (Psalm 103: 2-5)

O My God, how can I forget all your gifts?  Every day I thank you that the Holy Spirit reminds me constantly of these gifts.  Your favors are always before my eyes.  I remembered the years when I was laid low by sickness.  You stretched out your hand and healed me.  Not only did you heal me but you gave me your Son Jesus as my Doctor.  I will never exchange Him for all the world’s best doctors.  Father, what I cherish continually about your gift of health is this:  You removed the fear of sickness from me.  Thank you for these gifts Holy Father.

Generous Father, your favors extended to all areas of my life.  When I was thrown into the pit by my former company, laid low by sickness and reduced to abject poverty, you redeemed my life from the pit.  You threw open the door of the Enterprise for me and crowned me with mercy and compassion and fill my days with good things.

Ya, you have renewed my youth and purpose like the eagle’s.  For all these benefits dear Father, I will continually sing your praises. Amen!

The gift and the call

"In your love you led the people you redeemed; in your strength you guided them to your holy dwelling." (Exodus 15: 13)

This is one of the PL scriptures. The message to me is clear. God redeemed me from the harsh slavery in Egypt. In His almighty and powerful providence, he led and guided me to the Sanctuary. Praise be God.

"For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable." (Romans 11: 29)

You are my only good

"Keep me safe, O God; in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, you are my Lord, you are my only good. As for the holy ones who are in the land, they are noble, in whom is all my delight. They multiply their sorrows who court other gods. Blood libations to them I will not pour out, nor will I take their names upon my lips. LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you have made my destiny secure. Pleasant places were measured out for me; fair to me indeed is my inheritance. I bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my heart exhorts me. I keep the LORD always before me; with him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure, For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor let your devout one see the pit. You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever"

This is one of my favorite Psalms. Below are some of my favorite phrases in this Psalm:

• You are my Lord.
• You are my only good.
• They multiply their sorrows who court other gods.
• Nor will I take their names upon my lips.
• Lord, my allotted portion and my cup.
• You have made my destiny secure.
• Pleasant places were measured out for me.
• Fair to me indeed is my inheritance.
• I bless the Lord who counsels me.
• Even at night my heart exhorts me.
• I keep the Lord always before me.
• With the Lord at my right hand, I shall never be shaken.
• You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence.

Psalm 16 is a very special Psalm filled with sweet promises.

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

Why is it so difficult to trust in the Lord with all our heart when we see His providence everywhere and at all times?  This is a problem that baffles me.  I see God’s providence working in my life every day.  I recognize His providential actions thank the Lord for them.  Then the next moment, I am anxious and fearful of circumstances.  Peter was walking towards Jesus on the water.  He was doing very well until he took his gaze off Jesus and focused it on the raging storms.  Then he began to sink.  Whenever I take my eyes off Jesus and focus it on the prevailing circumstances, the result is fear, worry or doubt.

How can I have my gaze focused on Jesus at all times in every circumstance?  I believe the answer to this is constant prayer.  Prayer shows our dependence on God.  When we pray, we are saying:  “Lord help me in this situation.  I cannot make it without you.”  Proverbs 3: 5-6 says that if we make this a habit in all our ways, we are assured that the Lord will make straight our paths.  

The battle is not yours

"and he said: “Pay attention, all of Judah, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! The LORD says to you: Do not fear or be dismayed at the sight of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. You will not have to fight in this encounter. Take your places, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD; he will be with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed. Tomorrow go out to meet them, and the LORD will be with you.”

What a sublime promise!  Each person is confronted with challenges in one or more of these areas:

Health

Family

Money

Job

Tools

Food

Future

They form constant source of worry.  What if we are to surrender each and all of the above to God and pray thus:  “Lord, you promise that the battle is not mine but yours.  I surrender the present health crisis to you to fight for me as your word promises.  Thank you Lord.”  Then after the prayer, you stand firm and watch to see the salvation of the Lord.  

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Remain faithful with your whole heart

"When the time of David's death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon: "I am going the way of all mankind. Take courage and be a man. Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn, and the LORD may fulfill the promise he made on my behalf when he said, 'If your sons so conduct themselves that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart and with their whole soul, you shall always have someone of your line on the throne of Israel.' " (1 Kings 2: 1 - 4)

The above scripture reminds me of Joshua 1: 1 – 8.

"After Moses, the servant of the LORD, had died, the LORD said to Moses' aide Joshua, son of Nun: "My servant Moses is dead. So prepare to cross the Jordan here, with all the people into the land I will give the Israelites. As I promised Moses, I will deliver to you every place where you set foot. 1 Your domain is to be all the land of the Hittites, from the desert and from Lebanon east to the great river Euphrates and west to the Great Sea. No one can withstand you while you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses: I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be firm and steadfast, so that you may give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers I would give them. Above all, be firm and steadfast, taking care to observe the entire law which my servant Moses enjoined on you. Do not swerve from it either to the right or to the left, that you may succeed wherever you go. Keep this book of the law on your lips. Recite it by day and by night, that you may observe carefully all that is written in it; then you will successfully attain your goal. " (Joshua 1: 1 - 8)

The key to success is to listen to God and remain faithful to Him with one’s whole heart.

Man does not live by bread alone

“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”  (Matthew 4: 4)

First, consider the context of the above saying by Jesus.  He had just finished 40 days of fasting in the desert and was famished.  The devil came along and suggested that Jesus turned stones into bread.  Jesus answered him that man does not live by bread alone.  The word of God provides life to man.  Bread could be a synonym for life or money.   What is the one thing that we need for all our necessities as human being?  Faith in the word of God gives us access to everything we need in life.  Everything we need in life can be summarized as the 6 promises of God to man.  I call this the 6 P’s, viz:

1.       Pardon

2.       Peace

3.       Power

4.       Purpose

5.       Protection

6.       Provision

When one places his whole trust in God’s promises, he has access to all the above as and when needed. 

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The Lord is my portion

“Then the LORD said to Aaron, "You shall not have any heritage in the land of the Israelites nor hold any portion among them; I will be your portion and your heritage among them." (Numbers 18: 20)

This is one of the 51 Promised Land scriptures.  I will welcome the message with joy.   The Lord Himself is my portion and my heritage.  In the course of the USP, I have had to reflect on this scripture several times.  I have done this more in the past one year.  As I struggle to understand God’s plan for my life with regard to job and finance, my mind goes to the above scripture again and again

 All my life, I have had very little interest in money.  Reviewing my entire life with regard to money, I notice a pattern that is consistent through the years.  I always have just enough of what I need at the point of need.  I rarely have surplus to play with.  A lot of goods I purchased I made on faith.  It seems that the credit card system was created for me.  I purchase what I need believing that God will always provide for the payment in due time.  And so it has been for years.  God never fails!   I have a top credit score and I know it is God’s doing.

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Hope

"We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified." (Romans 8: 28 - 30)

“We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere "to the end" and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God's eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ. In hope, the Church prays for "all men to be saved." She longs to be united with Christ, her Bridegroom, in the glory of heaven:

Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one. Dream that the more you struggle, the more you prove the love that you bear your God, and the more you will rejoice one day with your Beloved, in a happiness and rapture that can never end. “ (CCC 1821)

Key to success

" When the time of David's death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon: "I am going the way of all mankind. Take courage and be a man. Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn, and the LORD may fulfill the promise he made on my behalf when he said, 'If your sons so conduct themselves that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart and with their whole soul, you shall always have someone of your line on the throne of Israel.' “(1 Kings 2: 1 - 4)

At the end of David’s life, he gave the most important advice to his son and heir, Solomon.  He reveals to him the key to success:

·         Obey God in everything

·         Obey God at all times

If Solomon does this, then he will succeed in whatever he does and wherever he goes.

Where did David learn the secret from?

·         Word of God

·         Life experiences

David is highly qualified to give this advice because:

·         He lived to be 70 years.

·         He reigned for 40 years.

·         He experienced much success.

·         He failed and learned from his failure.

·         He was rooted in the word of God.

Jesus Christ revealed to the twelve apostles at a very important point in their mission key to success in evangelization:

·         Obedience to His instructions in everything

·         Life of evangelical simplicity

Christ made provisions in all the cities they are to visit.  What did he provide for them?

·         People to give them hospitality

He wanted them to depend on their host for all their material needs.  He wanted them to travel light so that they can prove God’s providence.  If they travel with heavy luggage, they would travel more slowly and there would be the irresistible temptation to look to their luggage for provision.

Are there parallels in the Journey?  Plenty.   The first three years of the Journey MIU provided hospitality and all the basic needs, viz:

·         Food, shelter, water, clothing

This is the 4-item plan.  It is Christ’s instruction at the beginning of the Journey.  Temptation to ask for more has been constant.  Today marks 5500^th day of the USP.  I affirm that Christ is faithful.  I commit to obey Him in everything and at all times so that I can succeed completely in this Journey.    I will use all the word of knowledge and word of wisdom that Christ taught me since the Desert Experience.

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Given for the general good

“There are many different gifts, but it is always the same Spirit….. The particular manifestation of the Spirit granted to each one is to be used for the general good.  To one is given from the Spirit the gift of utterance expressing knowledge…. But at work in all there is one and the same Spirit, distinguishing them at will to each individual.”  (1 Corinthians 12: 4 – 11)

Every good gift and every talent is bestowed on us by the Holy Spirit.   It is possible to use our Spirit given gifts for the common good without being aware that we are doing so.  We become more effective when we identify our gifts, accept them gratefully and work to develop them.  Then we can use the gifts in a purposeful manner.  Since we receive the gifts from the Spirit, we ask the same Spirit to reveal to us what our gifts are.  Just as prayer demands effort, the task of uncovering our gifts could call for a sustained effort.  This is a task that is highly rewarding at the end.

Jesus is Lord !

“About the gifts of the Spirit, brothers, I want you to be quite certain.  You remember that, when you were pagans, you were irresistibly drawn to inarticulate hidden gods.  Because of that, I want to make it quite clear to you that no one who says ‘A curse on Jesus’ can be speaking in the Spirit of God, and nobody is able to say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.”  (1 Corinthians 12: 1-3)

We see clearly from the above scripture a principle of discernment of spirits.  Where do you stand in relation to Jesus?  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven,” says Jesus in Matthew 7:21.  In other to identify the good spirit with point blank certainty, we combine 1Corinthians 12: 1-3 and Matthew 7:21.

You acknowledge Jesus as Lord with your mouth.  You do the will of the Father as taught by Jesus, the Lord.  Scripture cannot contradict itself.

God's Greatest Gifts

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”  (Romans 8: 32)

“If we have received God’s greatest gifts, we may well trust him for the rest. “  (Pulpit Commentary)

God gave us the Holy Spirit.  He gave us the Eucharist.  We can confidently trust Him to provide us all our daily needs.

Keep way from sexual immorality

“Keep away from sexual immorality.  All other sins that someone may commit are done outside the body; but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.  Do you not realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you and whom you received from God?  You are not your own property, then; you have been bought at a price.  So use your body for the glory of God.”  (1 Corinthians 6: 18-20)

We are urged in the above scripture to keep away from sexual sins.  This warning is repeated in many places in the New Testament.  Considering the prevalence of sexual immorality in the society today and everywhere, it may come as a surprise to many that the word of God makes so much of what the word of man regards as next to nothing.  Why this apparent and total disconnect between the will of God and action of man in this one commandment?  The answer may well be found in 1 Corinthians 6: 18-20, the scripture under consideration.  The devil, the arch enemy of mankind who is also the father of lies scores his highest point in this one area of the Decalogue.  While the word of God urges man to reserve sex for marriage, the devil urges in the strongest terms immediate gratification.  The evil one then goes on to contradict every word of God with its lies, for example:  “You own your body.  Therefore you can use it the way you like.  There is nothing at all wrong with sexual pleasure.  See, everybody is doing it.  Get on with it.”

We know the importance of a biblical truth by the many times it is repeated in the Bible.  “Keep away from sexual immorality” is a truth that is repeated many times in the Bible.  The wages of every sin is death.  But sexual sin exacts its peculiar price.

Drunkards and Swindlers

“Do you not realize that people who do evil will never inherit the kingdom of God?  Make no mistake – the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, misers, drunkards, slanderers and swindlers, none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.  Some of you used to be of that kind:  but you have been washed clean, you have been sanctified, and you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and through the Spirit of our God.”  (1 Corinthians 6: 9-11)

The following class of people belongs to the people who do evil:  sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, self-indulgent, sodomites, misers, thieves, drunkards, slanderers and swindlers.  In Revelation 21:8, we see an almost similar list: 

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.”  (Revelations 21:8)

For those who belong to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit washes them clean, sanctifies and justifies them.

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The truth about numbers

“I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.”  (Psalm 3: 6)

Numbers are powerful.  Ask any politician.  Here are some of the numbers that frighten us:

• ·         Bills
• ·         Taxes
• ·         Bank statements
• ·         Vital statistics
• ·         Polling results

How do you handle the fear?  There was a time in my life when I opened my bank statements with trepidation.  I dreaded the unsavory but necessary task.  One day, it occurred to me that I could apply the law of prayer to it.  And so I did.  Before I opened my bank statement or any correspondence, I asked God to help me not to be afraid but rather to trust Him.  Your situation might be different.  It could be that message from your doctor or maybe your boss.  Whatever the numbers, the same law of prayer will work for you. 

Lex Orandi

Lex Orandi, lex credendi, lex Vivendi.

As we pray, so we believe, so we live.

“If you pray well, you live well; if you live well, you die well.  If you die well, all is well.” – St. Augustine.

Our Most Welcome Guest

" Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy." (1 Corinthians 3: 16 – 17)

I discern the presence of the Holy Spirit in me and I rejoice in His indwelling.  The Holy Spirit is the soul’s most welcome guest.  The beautiful Sequence in the Mass of Pentecost Sunday shows the many attributes of Man’s best Friend.

Come, Holy Ghost, send down those beams,
which sweetly flow in silent streams
from Thy bright throne above.

O come, Thou Father of the poor;
O come, Thou source of all our store,
come, fill our hearts with love.

O Thou, of comforters the best,
O Thou, the soul's delightful guest,
the pilgrim's sweet relief.

Rest art Thou in our toil, most sweet
refreshment in the noonday heat;
and solace in our grief.

O blessed Light of life Thou art;
fill with Thy light the inmost heart
of those who hope in Thee.

Without Thy Godhead nothing can,
have any price or worth in man,
nothing can harmless be.

Lord, wash our sinful stains away,
refresh from heaven our barren clay,
our wounds and bruises heal.

To Thy sweet yoke our stiff necks bow,
warm with Thy fire our hearts of snow,
our wandering feet recall.

Grant to Thy faithful, dearest Lord,
whose only hope is Thy sure word,
the sevenfold gifts of grace.

Grant us in life Thy grace that we,
in peace may die and ever be,
in joy before Thy face. Amen. Alleluia.

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Seekfirstweb-Podcast: The Spirit of God and the spirit of the world: "'This God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Among human beings, who k..."

The Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ

“And we know for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.   And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”  (Romans 8: 28 – 30)

God is the author and finisher of the Enterprise.  There is no end without a beginning.  He who picks up one end of the stick picks up the other.  There is no beginning that does not anticipate an end.  The Christian consciousness always hinges on this “now but not yet”, that is, the Now and the Pleroma.  The interim between the Now and the Pleroma creates a crisis of hope.  The unpredictability of the Pleroma necessitates acute vigilance.  “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is.”  (Mark 13: 33)

The indwelling Spirit is the pledge of our hope.  The Spirit of Christ is always there to bless, console and whet the appetite for those waiting for the appointed time.  The Spirit sustains our intention, assuring us of its wisdom and strengthening our determination.

Seekfirstweb-Podcast: Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit

Seekfirstweb-Podcast: Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit: "“So I can be proud, in Christ Jesus, of what I have done for God. Of course I can dare to speak only of the things which Christ has don..."

Some Holy Spirit themes

“For it is not eating and drinking that make the kingdom of God, but the saving justice, the peace and the joy brought by the Holy Spirit.”  (Romans 14: 17)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in your faith, so that in the power of the Holy you may be rich in hope.” (Romans 15: 13)

“I was given grace to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the gentiles, dedicated to offer them the gospel of God, so that gentiles might be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15: 16)

In the above scriptures from Romans, we see the centrality of the Holy Spirit in the work of the Church.  There can be no saving justice without the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the principle of holiness.  His action in our soul makes us righteous and holy.  He is the Spirit of peace and joy.  Any peace and joy that are sought in the flesh is futile.   The Holy Spirit makes us rich in hope.  Sometimes in our prayer, we cry out to God, “O Lord, how long?”  The Holy Spirit causes us to persevere until we get our answer.  Finally, no Holy Spirit no mission.  The Holy Spirit is the power behind evangelization. 

Spirit and Prayer

The Holy Spirit teaches us to love.
The Holy Spirit helps us to be courageous in bearing witness to Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit teaches us how to pray.

Gesu

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The Holy Spirit is the first fruits

“And not only that: we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we are groaning within ourselves, waiting with eagerness for our bodies to be set free. In hope, we already have salvation; in hope, not visibly present, or we should not be hoping – nobody goes on hoping for something which he can already see. But having this hope for what we cannot yet see, we are able to wait for it with preserving confidence.” (8: 23 -25) (NJB)
The gift of the Holy Spirit is the first fruits of the blessings to come. When we possess this incredible gift of the Holy Spirit, we know for certain that God will fulfill all His promises to us. We can wait with persevering confidence for heaven to be our permanent residence.

By the Spirit or by Natural Inclinations

“You, however, live not by your natural inclinations, but by the Spirit, since the Spirit of God has made a home in you. Indeed, anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But when Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin but the spirit is alive because you have been justified; and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead has made his home in you, then he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
So then, my brothers, we have no obligation to human nature to be dominated by it. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the habits originating in the body, you shall live.” (Romans 8: 9 – 13)
To live by the Spirit is the opposite of living by the flesh or by human inclinations. The flesh is served by 5 senses: eye, ear, nose, tongue and touch. Living by the Spirit means walking by faith and not by the evidence of the 5 senses. Sometime ago, I watched on 20/20 the case of a Californian man who spent 10 years in jail based on the visual evidence of a rape victim. DNA evidence later exonerated him. There are many such cases of wrongful imprisonment based on physical evidence. The certainty of the jury in passing sentence never suggested any shade of doubt that they might be wrong. It reminds me of the trial and imprisonment of Joseph in Egypt.
To live by the Spirit is to live by faith. The above scripture says with certitude that the Spirit of God has made his home in us. Praise God.

Storms of life

“Then it began to blow a great gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped.” (Mark 4: 37)
Expect storms: big storms, big trials, big troubles. They are the fact of life. One of the truths I learned some years ago after going to a life-changing retreat is that often after the mountaintop experience comes the valley. Expect it. I am just back from another life-changing retreat. As we filled the questionnaire after the retreat, one of the questions was: What would you like to see improved in the retreat. I lacked the inspiration to note that the organizers need to warm the participants of the mountaintop/valley experience. It is crucial.
“But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep.” (Mark 4: 38)
Whatever the trial, trouble or temptation, as soon as I notice the presence of Jesus, I become calm. No wonder why visits to the Blessed Sacrament in the period of deep stress ALWAYS has great calming effect on me. Many people witnessed to this too. The storm may be furious. But Christ is in control. Do not panic.
“Master, do you not care? We are lost!” (Mark 4: 39)
Power of prayer. In a crisis, the key is prayer. Remember Gethsemane? It is a model of prayer in a life-threatening situation. “Father, I am drowning. You can save me. But do so only if it is your perfect will. I know your will for my life is always excellent.”
“Quiet now! Be calm!” (Mark 4: 31)
Jesus calms the storm. No matter whatever the crisis, Christ has absolute power to subdue it.
“Why are you so frightened? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4: 40)
Faith in Jesus Christ gives us access to his promises of: pardon, peace, power, purpose, protection and provision. You can call these, the 6 P’s of God’s promises.
The world says: “seeing is believing.” But the apostles have seen plenty of what Christ can do? After they received the Holy Spirit, their eyes opened to what Jesus had taught by word and example for three years: Believing is seeing. I believe therefore I will see.