Don't play games with me, Lord.

"Elisha said to her, “This time next year you’re going to be nursing an infant son.”
“O my master, O Holy Man,” she said, “don’t play games with me, teasing me with such fantasies!”  (2 Kings 4: 16 MSG).

"God said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh saying, ‘Me? Have a baby? An old woman like me?’ Is anything too hard for God? I’ll be back about this time next year and Sarah will have a baby.”  (Genesis 18:  14 MSG).

"The promises of the LORD I will sing forever, through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness."  (Psalm 89:  2 - 3 NABRE).

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The Almighty has done great things for me.

"Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son.”  (Genesis 18: 14).

"And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;  for nothing will be impossible for God.”  (Luke 1: 36 - 37).

The Almighty has done great things for Sarah and Mary.  In every generation, God shows His mercy on those who revere and worship Him.

Thank you Abba Father for Your mercies and faithfulness.

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Yes I want to heal you. Be healed.

“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”  He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately." (Matthew 8: 2 - 3).

Notice here one of the key conditions for answered prayer in the Gospel. The supplicant [the leper in this case] approaches Jesus with humility, kneels and worships Him and then asks for the favor with faith. “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”

Jesus' response was breathtaking. He could have said:  Ya, be healed. But  "He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately." (Matthew 8: 2 - 3).

Lord Jesus, grant us the faith that trust You in all our needs. Help us to approach You with humility knowing that you are Lord and God. We ask for this in Your Name Jesus. Amen.

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You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.

June 29th, today, is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. This feast is of ancient origin. It is a public holiday in some countries.  Why honor Saints Peter and Paul with a Solemnity? Because the most important accomplishment of Jesus Christ in His mission on earth is the CHURCH! The Church is the Sacrament and Instrument of Salvation.   Scripture teaches that the Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. (Cf Ephesians 2: 20). Peter and Paul are joint managing directors of the institution, (Church) in a manner of speaking.

"You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it."  (Matthew 16: 18)

Peter was made the head of the Church by Jesus Christ Himself.  At the same time, he was given the power of the keys.  (Matthew 16: 13-19)

"Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin.  For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ."  (Galatians 1: 11 - 12).

We may call Paul the 13th Apostle, even a super Apostle.

"O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul
give us the noble and holy joy of this day, grant, we pray, that your Church may in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she received the beginnings of right religion.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son."  (Collect on the Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul).

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When you remain in Me and I remain in you, you bear much fruit.

"Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit."  (John 15: 14, 15 RM).

Jesus speaks constantly of bearing fruits: much fruits, abundant fruits, fruits that will last.
How do we bear rich and abiding fruits? The 2 people in the Bible who bore such fruits are Abraham and Mary.

What they did: "Abram put his faith in the Lord, who attributed it to him as an act of righteousness."  (Genesis 15: 6).

"Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." (Luke 1: 38).

Fruitfulness is not addiction to activity.  It is believing God. It is knowing the will of God for you and doing it. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. He will accomplish the work.

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The Broadway leads to destruction.

"But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it."  (Matthew 7: 14 CEV).

What is the Narrow Way?
It the way of daily communion with God in Prayer and His Word.  It is the path of daily faithfulness to Jesus in everything.  The reward even in this life is huge:
Peace, assurance of mercy and pardon, a strong sense of your purpose in life.  You enjoy the presence of Jesus day and night. It is a taste of the goodness of God in lavish provision of what you need and step by step direction and moment to moment provisions.

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention."  (Matthew 7: 13 - 14 MSG).

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God provides all our necessities.

"The eyes of all look to you, Lord,
and you give them their food in due season."  (Psalm 145: 15).

From the window of my bedroom, I often watch birds and squirrels feeding side by side on the grass in the yard.  The Scripture teaches that even the powerful young lion depends on God for its food. Amazing! You should have thought that since it is young and so powerful, catching its prey is no challenge.  (Psalm 104: 21). It is analogous to thinking that a young bright Ivy league MBA will have no problem getting whatever he wants. Not so, says Holy Scriptures.
"The eyes of all look to you, Lord,
and you give them their food in due season."  (Psalm 145: 15).

"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).

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