God is training you.

"Remember how for these forty years the Lord, your God, has directed all your journeying in the wilderness, so as to test you by affliction, to know what was in your heart: to keep his commandments, or not.  He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger."  (Deuteronomy 8: 2-3 NABRE).

God is training us as His children.

"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  (James 1: 2-3).

" You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons:
“My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.”  (Hebrews 12: 5 - 6).

Seekfirstcommunity.com

Have you had a heart replacement?

"So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come."  (2 Corinthians 5: 17 NABRE).

Do you feel like a new creation?
There are two creations.  The first is from below, from nature.  The natural woman or man who has not been born again belongs to this group. The second creation is from above, from the Holy Spirit. The Bible calls this man or woman a new creation. What makes this person new? This person has a new heart, a new mind and a totally new outlook on life.  Let us consider the qualities of this new person:

1. Charity
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Generosity
8. Gentleness
9. Faithfulness
10. Modesty
11. Self-control
12. Chastity

O Holy Spirit of Light and Love, may our lives faithfully imitate the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him with the Father and You, Divine Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.

Seekfirstcommunity.com

We have this treasure in clay vessel.

"But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves."  (2 Corinthians 4: 7 AMP).

We are chosen, called and qualified by God as messengers of the Gospel not because of our pedigree, education, wealth or any earthly attribute but exactly because of the opposite.  God chose to use the weak in order to protect His glory.

O Lord our God, be always our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer and our saving Strength.  Amen.

Seekfirstcommunity.com

How are you aware of the love of Jesus? A little or great?

"I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 5: 20 NABRE).

Are you a minimalist or one who lives Magis in everything. Magis simply means More. It an attitude of the heart and mind that goes for More in everything and never for the least or minimum.  This is a core principle of St Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

In Matthew 5: 20, Jesus says that the Minimum will never get you into Heaven.  A Church law states that you must receive Holy Communion "at least" once a year. The minimalist rejoices and says to himself:  "This is great. I can do this."

"Dearest Lord, 
teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for reward
save that of knowing I am doing Your Will."  (St Ignatius Loyola).

Seekfirstcommunity.com

God Himself chose, called and qualified us. Therefore No fear. No worry. No doubt.

"Our qualification comes from God,  who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3: 5 - 6 NABRE).

By our Baptism, we are chosen, called and qualified as messengers of God's mighty word. "If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8 : 31).

"O God, from whom all good things come, grant that we, who call on you in our need, may at your prompting discern what is right, and by your guidance do it.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son."  (Collect: Wednesday, June 14, 10th Week in Ordinary Time).

Seekfirstcommunity.com

Jesus Christ is our Yes and Amen.

"As God is faithful,  our word to you is not “yes” and “no.”  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him." (2 Corinthians 1: 18 - 19 NABRE).

The Scripture teaches that faithfulness is the very essence God.  If you are still a Christian today, it is thanks to this truth. Because of your faithfulness O Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, the One Holy, Triune and Undivided Unity, the children whom You redeemed through the precious Blood of Your Son will worship You forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus Christ is our Yes and Amen.
How about us?
"Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one."  (Matthew 5: 37 NLT).

Lord Jesus, help us to shine our lights before others that they may see the good deeds you inspire and glorify Your heavenly Father. Amen.
(Cf Matthew 5: 16).

Seekfirstcommunity.com

Our Father is God of compassion and all encouragement.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God."  (2 Corinthians 1: 3 - 5 NABRE).

If you seek consolation in the Scriptures, the above is one of the best.  To reap 100% of the fruit, read the entire gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church today:  2 Corinthians 1: 1 - 7.

Note and understand that in God's grand plan for our salvation, consolation alternates with desolation or suffering.  Do not panic.  Remember this word of encouragement:
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  (Jeremiah 29: 11).

May we always trust and rejoice in Your Divine Providence for us, for it Never Fails. Amen.

Seekfirstcommunity.com