A grain of wheat must die

Lord prune us to bear more fruit in your Vineyard.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."  (John 12:24 NKJV)

"I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.   Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit."   (John 15: 1-2 AMP)

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My God is my Rock and my Strength

Fear God and deeply respect Him.

“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.  And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength."  (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NLT)

"Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name."  (Deuteronomy 6:13 NIV)

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The Eucharist is food for the Journey

The Eucharist is food for the Journey and the medicine of immortality.

"He got up, ate, and drank;
then strengthened by that food,
he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb." (2 Kings 19: 8)

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;
whoever eats this bread will live forever."  (John 6: 51)

"The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in Him."  (Psalm 34: 8 - 9)

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Way of the Cross leads to Life

The down payment of the cost of discipleship has been made by Jesus.  Do not be afraid!

"Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat I am. Don't run from suffering, embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself;  your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?"
(Matthew 16:24 - 26 MSG)

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The Message is Reliable

Don't be scandalized by the compromised messenger.  The Message is utterly Reliable.

"Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."
(2 Peter 1: 16, 19 NABRE)

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A Woman of Great Faith

God shows His very best to those who trust Him.

"Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”  (Matthew 15: 22 RM)

"Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment."
(Matthew 15:28 NIV)

"No unbelief or distrust made Abraham waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God. "
(Romans 4:20 AMP)

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Beware of criticizing God's servants

Today it appears smart to criticize our religious leaders.  They may appear stupid in our opinion but remember who is their Boss:  How do you know you are listening to Jesus?  (Luke 10: 16)

"I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the LORD as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?”   (Numbers 12:8 NLT)

"Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.   Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.   For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night."  (Psalm 51:1-3 NLT)

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They ate and were satisfied but forgot

Jesus fed 5000.  The people had their fill but soon forgot the miracle.

"Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people.  They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers."
(Matthew 14:19-20 NLT)

"But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
(Matt 4:4 NLT)

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Jesus is truly the Bread of Life

God who knows exactly what we need, created us for Himself.  Nothing in this world will ever satisfy us but God Himself.  (St Augustine)

"Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time)."
(John 6:35 AMP)

"But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."
(Matthew 4:4 AMP)

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Are you ready for persecution?

No servant is greater than his Lord.  If they persecuted Jesus, what do you expect?  Don't be afraid!

"Herod had John beheaded; John’s disciples came and told Jesus."  (Matthew 14: 10, 12 RM)

"Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!"
(Matthew 5:10 AMP)

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The Carpenter’s Son

For much of 30 years, Jesus worked as a carpenter.  First as an apprentice then as self-employed carpenter.  His humility was evident to all.

"Where did this Man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? 
Is not this the carpenter’s Son? Is not His mother called Mary?"
(Matthew 13: 54 - 55 AMP)

Jesus the carpenter was a self-employed business man.  He knew first hand the joys and frustrations of self-employment.

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Worship the Lord is His Sanctuary

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

"Blessed they who dwell in your house!
   continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength."

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

"I had rather one day in your courts
   than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
   than dwell in the tents of the wicked."
(Psalm 84: 4 - 5, 10 RM)

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The hidden treasure in your backyard

What do you do if you find by chance a hidden treasure?  The Gospel is the hidden treasure in your backyard.

"God's kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field."  (Matthew 13:44 MSG)

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The Lord is kind and merciful to all

God reveals Himself to us so that as we get to know Him better, we may come to trust that He really cares for us.

“Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.  I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.”
(Exodus 34:6-7 NLT)

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Mary the Virgin

The statue of Mary the Virgin with the Infant Jesus

The small beginning of the work of grace in the soul

The work of grace in the soul follows the principle of the mustard seed.  Small steps.  Small beginnings.  Silently.  Steady progress.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.  Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”   (Matt 13:31-32 NIV)

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See how He provides all our needs

The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

"When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do."  (John 6:5  -  6 MSG)

"The eyes of all wait for You [looking, watching, and expecting] and You give them their food in due season."   (Psalm 145:15 AMP)

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Give us a servant-spirit dear Jesus

Do not become like Pharaoh

"You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.

That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage."
(Matthew 20:25 -  28  MSG)

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Observe the Sunday Rest Scrupulously

The Sunday Rest is a Rehearsal for Eternal Rest

"Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don't do any work—not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town.

For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them he rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day he set it apart as a holy day."
(Exodus 20: 8 -  11 MSG)

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Eyes that see the works of Jesus.

Eyes that see the work of salvation.  Ears 👂 that hear the word of God

"I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it."
(Matthew 13:17 NLT)

"[This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit."
(Ephesians 3:5 AMP)

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