I have made you this day a pillar of iron!

"The word of the Lord came to me: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you."  (Jeremiah 1: 4-5 NABRE)

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence.  He is like a tree planted along a riverbank, with its roots reaching deep into the water—a tree not bothered by the heat nor worried by long months of drought. Its leaves stay green, and it goes right on producing all its luscious fruit."  (Jeremiah 17: 7 - 8 TLB)

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I have sinned against the Lord.

“As theLord lives, the man who has done this deserves death!" (2 Samuel 12: 5 NABRE)

 "Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man!"  (2 Samuel 12:7 NABRE)

"Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”  (2 Samuel 12: 13 NABRE)

"Nathan answered David: “For his part, theLord has removed your sin. You shall not die."  (2 Samuel 12 :13 NABRE)

"A clean heart create for me, God;
 renew within me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your Holy Spirit."  (Psalm 51: 12 - 13 NABRE)

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The little ones start with baby steps in the Kingdom of God.

What do you think of small beginnings?

"The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.  But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” (Mark 4: 31-32  NABRE)

 "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 1: 6  NABRE)

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-all,  but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."
(Matthew 11:25-26 MSG)

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For the Lord has chosen Zion. He prefers her for His dwelling.

"The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.  The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip."   (Psalm 37:30-31 NIV)

“And now, LORD God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised,  so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight."
(2 Samuel 7:25-26 NIV)

"The Lord swore an oath to David in truth, he will never turn back from it:
“Your own offspring I will set upon your throne."  (Psalm 132: 11 NABRE)

Happy Feast Day St Thomas Aquinas.

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The seeds on rich soil heard the word and accepted it and produced rich harvest.

The Seed is the word of God, Christ is the Sower ; all who come to him will live forever.

“You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom — you know how it works. But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight."  (Mark 4: 11  MSG)

From mysteries to sacraments..

"Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain."
(Mark 4:7 NLT)

"The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word,  but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced."
(Mark 4:18-19 NLT)

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Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Use your gifts or lose them.

"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you."  (2 Timothy 1:6 NLT)

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well- balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
(2Tim 1:7 AMP)

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Brother Paul, you are to be the witness of the Righteous One

"Ananias came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him!   “Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak.  For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.

What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’"
(Acts 22:13-16 NLT)

"I chose you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord." (Cf John 15:16  RM)

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Jesus fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament.

"A narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us"  according to  (Luke 1:1 NKJV)

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,   and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”
(Luke 4:18-19 NLT)

"Jesus said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4: 21 NABRE)

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Open our hearts and minds as you speak Your Word to us

"As Lydia listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed!"   (Acts 16:13 MSG)

Open our minds and hearts to listen to the words of Your Son.

"And we will never stop thanking God for this: that when we preached to you, you didn’t think of the words we spoke as being just our own, but you accepted what we said as the very Word of God—which, of course, it was—and it changed your lives when you believed it."  (1 Thessalonians 2: 3 TLB)

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We have come to know that God is merciful, kind and generous to us.

"We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.   God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them."  (1John 4:16 NLT)

"Love is never tired of waiting; love is kind; love has no envy; love has no high opinion of itself, love has no pride."  (1 Corinthians 13:4 BBE)

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I place all my trust in God fearing nothing.

In God I trust, I shall not fear.

"But when I am afraid, I will put my confidence in you. Yes, I will trust the promises of God. And since I am trusting him, what can mere man do to me?  They are always twisting what I say. All their thoughts are how to harm me."  (Psalm 56: 3-5 TLB)

"My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side.  I praise God for what he has promised;  yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.  I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?  What can mere mortals do to me?"  (Psalm 56: 9-11 NLT)

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The Lord trains me to fight.

"The Lord who saved me from the claws and teeth of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!”

Saul finally consented, “All right, go ahead,” he said, “and may the Lord be with you!”  (1 Samuel 17:37 TLB)

" David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."
(1 Samuel 17:45 NLT)

"And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
(1 Samuel 17:47 NLT)

"So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword."
(1 Samuel 17:50 NLT)

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On a champion I have placed a crown.

I have found David my servant.

"But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
(1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)

"Arise, anoint him; this is he.  Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward."
(1Sam 16:12-13 AMP)

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Obedience and Submission more pleasing to God than Sacrifice!

Obedience Not Sacrifice!

"The Lord anointed you king of Israel and sent you on a mission." (1 Samuel 15: 17 - 18 NABRE)

"Why then have you disobeyed the Lord? You have pounced on the spoil, thus doing what was evil in the Lord’s  sight.”   Saul explained to Samuel: “I did indeed obey the Lord and fulfill the mission on which the Lord sent me." (1 Samuel 15: 19-20 NABRE)

"Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord in turn has rejected you as king.”  (1 Samuel 15: 23 NABRE)

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The Best is yet to come. Wait for it.

The Best is yet to come.  God's ways are not our ways!

“This is wonderful stuff!” he said. “You’re different from most. Usually a host uses the best wine first, and afterwards, when everyone is full and doesn’t care, then he brings out the less expensive brands. But you have kept the best for the last!”  (John 2: 10  TLB)

"The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”   But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”   (John 2:3-5 NLT)

"You have prepared a table before me, and how precious is the chalice that quenches my thirst." (Cf Psalm 23: 5 RM)

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Why does He dance with those people?

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free. "   (Luke 4:18 NLT)

" When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”   (Mark 2:17 NLT)

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Child, your sins are forgiven

Jesus is our full security for health, family peace, money, job and all our needs.

"Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”   (Mark 2:5 NLT)

“Why do you question this in your hearts?  Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?  So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.”
(Mark 2:8-10 NLT)

“I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 
(Mark 2:11 NKJV)

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Heal us Lord because of Your mercy

Lord Jesus, as we adore and worship You, may we find favor with You.

"A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
(Mark 1:40-41 NLT)

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I chose you and I appointed you

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."   (John 15:16 NIV)

"I will bear a witness to You in the world O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers and sisters."  (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23 RM)

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Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is.

What do you know about God and about how He works?

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“The LORD puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he humbles, he also exalts.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.”

(1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd RM)

Eternal life is knowing You the One True God and Jesus Christ Your Son.

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