Given to the simple

Matthew 11:25
25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;"

The wise and prudent spend money in costly books and libraries and learn little that helps their eternal destiny.
This knowledge is given by God to the simple and little children.

Isaiah 55:1-2

55:1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money,come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food."

The best things in life are not things.
Everything is grace.

Luke 1:53
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent away empty."

Gift of Friendship

" Faithful friends are beyond price, no amount can balance their worth. Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; those who fear God will find them. Those who fear the Lord enjoy stable friendship, for as they are, so will their neighbors be. (Sirach 6 :15 - 17)

Lord Jesus thank you for the friends you have given me. One thing is though very certain: You are my best Friend.

The word of God is compared to a mirror

"And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe."  (1 Thessalonians 2: 13)

How is the word of God at work in us who believe?  First, you hear or read the word through preaching, teaching or bible study.  James in his Letter compares the word of God to a mirror:
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like."  (James 1: 22 - 23)
A mirror is a necessary tool we use to ensure that all is well with our  appearance before we we head to the door. But if a mirror shows a smear on the cheek and you do nothing about it before going out, you have not helped yourself.

The word of God becomes effectual in us when we hear the word, understands it and adjusts our life in line with what the word reveals.

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."  ( John 13: 17)
Change happens not because of what you know but because of what you do daily.

Secret of Profound Peace

"Lovers of your law have much peace;
for them there is no stumbling block"  (Psalm 119: 165)

I share a beautiful commentary on the above verse from Matthew Henry Complete Bible Commentary below:

"Verse 165 Here is an account of the happiness of good men, who are governed by a principle of love to the word of God, who make it their rule and are ruled by it. 2. They are easy, and have a holy serenity; none enjoy themselves more than they do: Great peace have those that love thy law, abundant satisfaction in doing their duty and pleasure in reflecting upon it. The work of righteousness is peace (Isa. 32:17 ), such peace as the world can neither give nor take away. They may be in great troubles without and yet enjoy great peace within, sat lucis intus—abundance of internal light. Those that love the world have great vexation, for it does not answer their expectation; those that love God’s word have great peace, for it outdoes their expectation, and in it they have sure footing. 2. They are safe, and have a holy security: Nothing shall offend them; nothing shall be a scandal, snare, or stumbling-block, to them, to entangle them either in guilt or grief. No event of providence shall be either an invincible temptation or an intolerable affliction to them, but their love to the word of God shall enable them both to hold fast their integrity and to preserve their tranquility. They will make the best of that which is, and not quarrel with any thing that God does. Nothing shall offend or hurt them, for every thing shall work for good to them, and therefore shall please them, and they shall reconcile themselves to it. Those in whom this holy love reigns will not be apt to perplex themselves with needless scruples, nor to take offence at their brethren, 1 Co. 13:6, 1 Co. 13:7 .

The missing ingredient

"Cast your care upon the LORD,
who will give you support.
He will never allow
the righteous to stumble."  (Psalm 55: 23)

This is Pentecost.  For 50 days of the Easter Season, I prepared for the feast with the Church with great expectation.  I know in my heart that things must be different for me from now going forward.  I have prayed.  I have listened to the word.  I have done everything I can think of in order to gain the Freedom that will launch my purpose.

All that remains is faith.  Do I have the faith to make this quantum leap?  Today,I heard these words from Jesus from the Gospel of the day:  "Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” I understood the one thing that I lack, the missing ingredient!  Miracle producing faith that will enable me to cross over. How do I get this faith?

Following an inspiration from the same Gospel, I cry out, "“I do believe, help my unbelief!”"  And then I cast all my care with confidence upon the Lord who will support me and will never allow me to stumble. (Psalm 55: 23 NABRE) 

• I believe in prayer
• I believe in the word of God
• I believe in miracle
• I leave the rest to God

All that I need now is to leave the rest to God, to cast all my care upon the Lord and wait.
If I live, I live.  If I die, I die.

Holy Spirit and Memory

"The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you."  (John 14: 26)

The Holy Spirit also reminds me of the good things that God is doing in my life.  This remembrance keeps me constantly grateful to God.

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."  (Psalm 16: 1 - 2)

I have nothing in this world apart from You, O Lord, my God.

Consecrate me in the truth

"Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth."  (John 17: 17)
Lord Jesus, consecrate me in the truth.  Your word is not only true but you are Truth itself.

You have a Mission in life

John Henry Newman (1801-1890) wrote: "God has created me to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission – I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for nothing. Therefore, I will trust him. Whatever, wherever I am. I cannot be thrown away."

Do you trust in God and in his call and purpose for your life?
(Don Schwager)

Publish the Good News

"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you." (John 15: 16)

"I will bear witness to you in the world, O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers,alleluia!"  ( Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)

You will receive power from the Holy Spirit

"I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last."  (John 15: 16, 19)

"But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you,g and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8)

"I will bear a witness to you in the world, O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, alleluia!"  (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)

Trust completely in Jesus

Deuteronomy 31:6,  8

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Psalm 27:1-3

27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

Isaiah 41:10
10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 46:1-3
God Is Our Fortress
46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Habakkuk 3:17-19
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,nor fruit be on the vines,the produce of the olive failand the fields yield no food,the flock be cut off from the foldand there be no herd in the stalls,18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;I will take joy in the God of my salvation.19 God, the Lord, is my strength;he makes my feet like the deer's;he makes me tread on my high places.To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

" Let nothing trouble you,
let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing;
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who possesses God lacks nothing:
God alone suffices."  (St Teresa of Avila)

He is trustworthy

"Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy."  (Hebrews 10: 23)

Jesus says to me, "I am the evergreen cypress tree.  Because of me you are faithful."  (Hosea 14: 9)  I say to Jesus, "Thank you my Lord.  I place my complete trust in you.  My hope for salvation is entirely on your goodness and mercy.  I have nothing of my own to rely upon.  Always protect me from the evil one.  I know for sure you are trustworthy."

No fear No worry No doubt

" Let nothing trouble you,
let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing;
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who possesses God lacks nothing:
God alone suffices."  (St Teresa of Avila)

Whatever you ask the Father

"On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete."  (John 16: 23 - 24)

Lord for the past two weeks or so, I have heard you say through the daily Mass readings, "whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you."  I believe your promise.  One week before Pentecost, I am moved to ask you for a really very big gift.  I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit and His gifts.  I ask that you make me surrender completely to Him so that He will transform me into your image.  I want you to be from today the Lord of my life governing every aspect of it, viz: health, family, finances, job, property and tools, food and future.

Thank you Jesus!!

The Persistent Missionary

" One night in a vision the Lord said to Paul, “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city.”  (Acts 18: 9 - 10)

"Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching."  (2 Timothy 4: 2)

"Every soul with Christ is a missionary; every soul without Christ is a mission field."  (Our Daily Bread)

Every missionary of Christ should possess the same skills and  intense motivation as an insurance sales man.  In business, persistence and ability to accept No often clinches the sale. Why should it be different with the missionary salesman?  

I am with you always

"And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28: 20)

Jesus promises to be with us always, everywhere in all circumstances.  What a great promise, O Lord my God.  Help me to believe it.  Teach me to mix this word with faith.  As I go about my affairs this day, I will try to remember and rejoice in this great word.  In challenging circumstances, I will use your precious name, JESUS to call this promise of your constant presence to  mind.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen!

Believe in the Lord Jesus

"Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.”  (Acts 16: 30 - 31)

What must I do to be saved from fears, worries and doubts?
“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.”   (Acts 16: 31)

What does it mean for me to believe in the Lord Jesus?  It means that just as Jesus is Lord of times and seasons, He is also Lord over my health, family, finances, job, property and tools, food and future.  It means that I believe too this oracle:  "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."   The plans that Jesus has for me with regard to my health, family, finances, job, property and tools, food and future are good.

I walk by faith and not by sight or circumstances.  Thank you Jesus.  I will trust you today always and everywhere.

You too will bear witness

"And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning."  (John 15: 27)

Let us witness for you about your:
Person, doctrines, works, all you did and all you suffered.  May we never miss any opportunity to testify to you.

Christ is our Peace

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."  (John 14: 27)

Lord Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace.  You are our peace.  I cannot grab  peace.  I cannot work for it.  Your peace comes to me from you as a gift.  Lord, flood my life with your peace.  Let me experience your deep peace in my health, family, finances, job, property and tools, food and future.

My soul, rejoice for Christ is your peace.
No fear, No worry, No doubt.