"May the favor of the Lord our God be ours.
Prosper the work of our hands!
Prosper the work of our hands!" (Psalm 90: 17 NABRE)
If the Lord does not build the house, the career, the marriage, they labor in vain who try. (Cf Psalm 127: 1)
Promotion does not come from the East or West but from God. (Psalm 75: 6)
Give us success in all we do, O Lord!
"What do you have that you did not receive?" (1 Corinthians 4: 7)
God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. (James 1: 17)
Today is the Memorial of St Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church.
"Meditate daily on the words of your Creator. Learn the Heart of God in the words of God, that your soul may be enkindled with greater longing for heavenly joys."
- (St Gregory the Great)
"People should think of us as servants of Christ, ·the ones God has trusted with his [and stewards/household managers of God’s] ·secrets [mysteries]." (1 Corinthians 4: 1 EXB)
Are you a trustworthy steward? Is Jesus the Lord of your time, talent and treasure? If not yet, the Journey of Faith is not a sprint. Be patient. Commit to Jesus your ways. Trust in His Mercy and He will see you through.
“Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5: 5 NKJV)
What is the "Obedience of Faith"? It means that Faith has direct and tangible consequence. "Stand up and walk" from Jesus, you stand up and start walking. With Faith all things are possible. Without Faith, you labor in frustration with the feeble and useless energy of the flesh. Choose Faith and live fully.
"At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them." (Luke 4: 40 NIV)
Healing the sick is core to the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is the desire of Jesus that healing ministry continues today.
Why are Christians not healing the sick? The distress of illness is opportunity for Jesus.
Has the problem of UNBELIEF anything to do with lack of healings today?
"But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2: 16)
Who has the mind of Christ?
The Church, the Family of God entrusted with the Holy Scriptures. The Christian whose mind and spirit is one with the teaching authority of the Church. He has the mind of Christ who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and does not compromise with the spirit of the world.
“Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” (Mark 6: 22 NIV)
What will you ask for if Jesus spoke the above words to you today?
Jesus Himself gave us the clue to the right answer:
"So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." (Luke 11: 13 NLT)
“Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” (Mark 6: 22 NIV)
What will you ask for if Jesus spoke the above words to you today?
Jesus Himself gave us the clue to the right answer:
"So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." (Luke 11: 13 NLT)
"Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long.
O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of mercy to all who call to you." (Cf Psalm 86: 3, 5 RM)
It is great to know that God is good and merciful. I found myself in a distressing situation at work this afternoon. Then I glanced at the image of Divine Mercy and cried out, "Have mercy on me Jesus." I sensed these words in my heart: "Be merciful yourself." "Lord, whom will I be merciful to?" "The person sharing this work with you." OK. I agreed. At this point, I completely trusted Jesus for mercy and peace flooded my heart. NEVER FORGET THE ABC OF MERCY.
"He chose what the world thinks is ·unimportant [insignificant; lowly] and what the world ·looks down on [despises] and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is ·important [something special]. God did this so that no one can ·brag [boast] in his presence." (1 Corinthians 1: 28 - 29 EXB)
God's ways are not our ways. God is mindful of the humble state of His servant. (Luke 1: 48). He brings down rulers from their thrones and lifts up the humble. (Luke 1: 52).
If you consider yourself unimportant and insignificant, rejoice. God can use you.
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"Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep." (Matthew 25: 5 NABRE)
The Second Coming of Jesus is delayed on purpose so that many will be saved. The End of the age will come suddenly without warning. Delaying putting your house in order is a severe risk. A word is enough for the wise.
"Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come." (Matthew 24: 42 NABRE)
Let us stay awake through daily prayer and feeding on the word of God. Stay awake through regular fellowship with the Household of God especially on Sundays.
Do not postpone building up your most sacred faith by saying "My master is long delayed." The Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.
“Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” (Revelation 21: 9 NIV)
Who is the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb? It is the Church which is becoming for all the nations the Sacrament of Salvation. As we proclaim the salvation of God day by day and tell people His great glory, we participate actively in ushering the Kingdom of God.
Don’t be left behind.
"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, encourage you and strengthen you to always do and say what is good." (2 Thessalonians 2: 16 - 17 GNT)
How do Jesus and Abba Father strengthen and encourage us?
First, we are given the word to live by every day. Secondly, we enjoy peace of heart and mind. Last but not the least, we have the solid knowledge that our destiny lies in His hands. Therefore nothing can ever shake us. See that you stand firm on these truths.
"We ought always to thank God for you,brothers and sisters,[b] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing." (2 Thessalonians 1: 3 - 4 NIV)
Today is the feast of the Queenship of Mary. Why should God crown Mary as Queen and Mother? Because He is God and can do anything. Mary is the Queen Mother of the Son of God. If Solomon can crown his mother Bethsheba Queen Mother, why not God? (1 Kings 2: 19)
"Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline?" (Hebrews 12: 7 NABRE)
Scripture says that the Lord disciplines every son He loves and every son He acknowledges He scourges so that he will be strong and wise, know how to fight and win. Then discipline me Abba Father. Only have mercy on me.
"You have one Father in heaven;
you have but one master, the Christ." (Matthew 23: 9b RM)
We have one Father. I love to call Him Abba Father. Father, I believe that You are a Father to me at every moment of my life. I believe that I am Your child and that You love me with an infinite love. Teach me to surrender myself to You like a baby in its mother’s arms. Amen!
"Son of man, can these bones come back to life?" (Ezekiel 37: 3 NABRE)
Whatever your life situation, whatever your distress, God invites you to first count all your dried bones and then fire up your faith and prophesy over them one by one. With faith, no hope is ever lost.
Lord Jesus, grant us the faith that revives our dried bones into flesh and spirit.
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." (Psalm 51: 16 - 17 NIV)
What are sacrifices? Fasting, almsgiving, self-denials, etc. What does God prefer we offer?
The ABC OF MERCY:
1. ASK JESUS FOR MERCY.
2. BE MERCIFUL.
3. COMPLETELY TRUST JESUS FOR MERCY.
Simple? Apparently.
Challenging? Definitely.
"‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’" (Matthew 20: 6-7 NIV)
There is no unemployment in the Kingdom. There is so much to do and work for everyone. Everyone is qualified. Jesus Himself promises: "I will pay you what is just." (Matthew 20: 4)
Do you trust Jesus?
