Prayer Requests and Gratitudes

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Scraps

~~~Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time~~~
~~~Isaiah 56:1, 6-7~~~ Psalm 67 ~~~ 
~~~ Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 ~~~ Matthew 15:21-28 ~~~

Jesus believes that what comes from your mouth
 originates first in the heart.
(Matthew 15:18)

A Canaanite woman approaches Jesus knowing
 that she would most likely be turned away 
or at least ignored.
But still she calls out to Jesus.
The apostles wanted her calls
 to fall on deaf ears, but Jesus clearly hears her. 

“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! 
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”

This brave woman came to encounter Jesus on a personal level.
This desperate woman was not seeking favor for herself.
This strong woman sought healing for her child, 
whom she loved dearly.


Imagine how surprised she was when Jesus initially tells her "No".

Has Jesus ever given you a similar answer?

Not only does Jesus deny her request
he compares her to the dogs.
How demeaning and humiliating
 to be one with the dogs.

This woman exhibited greater faith in Jesus
than did his own disciples.

She came alone to plead her case
 for the healing of her daughter.
She wasted no time being afraid or feeling unworthy.

She refused to give up...
she believed that even the scraps,
whatever they would look like,
would be more than enough
 to heal her daughter.

Oh, that we should have such faith!

Faith as small as a mustard seed 
can indeed move mountains.

Would you pass the faith test?
Pray for a deeper faith...
a faith capable of overcoming
insurmountable obstacles.

We know who Jesus is...
Do you believe he can do all things?

Soon after this encounter Jesus 
takes a few 'scraps'
and feeds the crowd of thousands.

~~~Peace~~~
Dear Lord, please increase our Faith.
Amen.

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Never Doubt...

~~~ Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

~~~1 Kings 19:9A, 11-13A ~~~ 
~~~Psalm 85 ~~~ Romans 9:1-5 ~~~ Matthew 14:22-33 ~~~

...the LORD said to him (Elijah),
"Go outside and stand on the mountain...
the LORD will be passing by."

Elijah trusted in the Lord, but he was frustrated 
because everywhere he looked the Lord was not there.

Elijah looked for the Lord in the strong 
and heavy wind crushing rocks, but he was not there.

Next the ground began to violently shake 
in an earthquake, but he was not there.

Soon Elijah sees a raging fire nearby,
but he was not there either as he had been for Moses.

Finally it was a tiny whisper that caused Elijah
to come to the entrance of the cave...
this was indeed the Lord, quietly passing by.


The Lord instructed Elijah to stand on the mountain.
Promising there he would see the Lord.

How many times we long to see the Lord, 
but we give up just before he arrives.

When the disciples saw him walking 
on the sea they were terrified. 
"It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. 

Even though Peter was afraid he quickly hops 
out of the boat heading toward Jesus.

Peter does not hesitate
 until it hits him that he was doing the impossible...
he was literally walking on liquid...water...the sea.

No one can walk on top of water 
unless...it is Jesus who calls you to "Come".

Jesus always invites us to "Come"
toward him. He will never send us away.
He will never scold us for wanting to be with him...
to be in his presence.
There is safety in his presence.
We must approach Jesus with confidence in our hearts.

Never doubt...Jesus 
invites you to be with him.

Never question...Jesus 
completely supports you.

The more often we 
get out of the boat... 
and walk towards Jesus
the deeper and stronger 
our trust in the Lord will become.

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD — for he proclaims peace.

Fear is squelched by trusting
 in the peace of the Lord.

~~~Profound Peace~~~

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Adorned in Glory

~~~ Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord ~~~

~~ Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 ~~ Psalm 97 ~~
~~~ 2 Peter 1:16-19 ~~~ Matthew 17:1-9 ~~~

"This is my beloved Son, with whom
 I am well pleased;
listen to him."

Both times recorded in the Bible where God
 speaks words about Jesus we have witnesses.

During this mountain top transfiguration
Jesus brought three of his most trusted followers.
Peter, James, and John, they walked beside Jesus...
They were witnesses to his public ministry of healing.

They knew first hand of the power he had at his disposal...
power he shared in with God the Father.
The same God who spoke to Moses
on the mountain.

The same God who gave Moses the stone tablets.
The same God who spoke through the prophets.
The same God who called Moses to lead
his chosen people to the land of milk and honey.


God brought Moses down to stand with Jesus
on the mountain to witness the transfigured glory of Jesus.

Moses and Elijah were given the privilege
to hear God speak about his Son, Jesus.

They did not have the opportunity to witness
God's power demonstrated on earth
through Jesus like the disciples present had.

In a way God was saying to Moses and Elijah...
now you see why your work was so critical.

Simultaneously God was saying to Peter, James and John...
now you have even more proof that your work must continue.

This Transfigured Glory of Jesus
transcends all time.

"Do not tell the vision to anyone 
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

We are not first hand witnesses,
but this incredible event has been passed down
to us so that we can pass it on to others.

Seeing this Glory of Jesus
is what we believe Heaven has in store for us.
Jesus touches his disciples and dissolves their fears.

But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
"Rise, and do not be afraid."

I hope to have this experience one day
 as I lay on my death bed.

Seeing the Glory and hearing the voice of God
can indeed be frightening
unless you trust that Jesus will come to
calm you with his touch of peace.

May the Transfigured Glory of Jesus
bring peace into the depths of your soul.

~~~Peace~~~

Thursday, July 20, 2017

"I Am Who Am"

~~~ Exodus 3:13-20 ~~~ Psalm 105 ~~~ 
~~~ Matthew 11:28-30 ~~~

Standing with shoes removed,
 before a burning bush that is not consumed,
Moses hears the voice of the Lord say...

"I am who am."

God reveals to Moses and to all generations
his very existence...an existence that is timeless.

God is the same past, present and in the future.
God speaks of himself in the present tense.

He expresses to Moses concern for his people.

I am concerned about you
and about the way you are being treated...

Lest you ever question whether or not 
God cares about you record this verse
 in your prayer journal.

Commit this verse to memory...
Take this verse to your prayer time.
What does it mean to you personally
to hear God saying those very words to you?


Can you accept that God is concerned about you?

"I am who am."

God is clearly stating I am here with you...
I am here with you in the dark times.
I am here with you in the times of joy.
I am here with you when 
fear and sorrow torment your spirit.

There is nothing hidden about God.
God cannot not exist.

God cannot contradict who he is...
not who he was when he created the world...
not who he was when he spoke from the burning bush...
not who he was when Jesus died on the cross...
not who he is today.

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

He is the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob...
who always keeps his promises to care for his people.

A God who is so concerned for us 
that he is willing to carry all of our burdens for us.

He invites us to let him be more present
during our deepest struggles.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest..."

The I AM who loves you 
is present at this very moment.
You are never alone.

~~~Peace~~~

Thursday, July 13, 2017

The Kingdom of Heaven

~~~ Genesis 44:18-21, 23B-29; 45:1-5 ~~~ Psalm 105 ~~~
~~~ Matthew 10:7-15 ~~~

'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

Kick the dust off your feet...keep moving forward...
spreading footprints of peace.

If you have been baptized
you have been commissioned to bring
 the eternal message of peace.

Are you carrying out that mission?
There is no need to wait for those called
 to missionary work to speak on our behalf.


In order to continue to spread peace
it is necessary for us to leave the past behind...
to kick the dust off our feet.

Peace must come from the purity of heart.
It does not come up from the dust of our feet.

Have we become numb to hearing
 that the 'kingdom is at hand'?

What does it mean for something 
to be 'at hand'?

Do you have anything that you keep at hand?

Could the Kingdom already be here?
Did Jesus leave it here when he was raised from the dead?

If we are living in the Kingdom of God now
what does that mean for you?
Is there anything in your life that you need to adjust?

What if 'kingdom' is not a place, as we believe,
but rather an action as defined in the Hebrew language.

In Hebrew 'Kingdom' is active. It is action.
It is God active in the lives of men and women.
Those who have surrendered their lives to God.

'Kingdom' refers to those who are keeping God's
 word alive and living within them.
The apostles that Jesus called joined him
 in becoming the 'kingdom' and we can too.

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

How adept are you at kicking off the dust from your feet?
Is it difficult for you to move forward?

Where do you go to restore your inner peace?

Who inspires you to seek greater 
peace in your own life?

So many times in the Bible peace 
is reached through the door of forgiveness.

Joseph forgives his brothers years after
 they sold him into slavery.
 His peace comes in being reunited with his father again.

Joseph, the Apostles, and us...
we are all the Kingdom of Heaven.

~~~Peace~~~

Monday, July 10, 2017

'Blind Spot' and Faith

~~~ Genesis 28:10-22A ~~~ Psalm 91 ~~~ Matthew 9:18-26 ~~~

"Truly, the LORD is in this spot, although
 I did not know it!"

Could it be that when we question the presence of God 
he is really just obscured in our 'blind spot'?

There is a scientific explanation of our 'blind spot',
maybe it can help explain our spiritual challenge to see God.

Science tells us it is the physical structure
 of the eye that creates this precise spot 
where we cannot see.

We are not aware of this 'blind spot' because 
our brain automatically fills in the missing information.
The brain fills in with information that is known and available.


In things of the spiritual nature 
it is our faith that fills in the missing parts.

Even when we cannot 'see' the presence of God
we believe he is present by our faith.

A woman suffering 
hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him
and touched the tassel on his cloak.

This woman believed that she could seek healing
 from Jesus from behind him.

She believed that eye to eye contact
 with Jesus was not even necessary.

She believed that her cure was not dependent 
on her words...on even her verbal request.

Jesus had to stop and turn around to see
 this desperate woman.
He did not allow her to remain obscure.

Jesus wanted to see the woman
 who displayed such great faith and hope.

"Courage, daughter! 
Your faith has saved you."

Jesus fills in our spiritual 'blind spot'
with blessings of greater faith.

Allow your trust in the goodness of the Lord
fill in the missing parts.

Say to the LORD,
 "My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

Perhaps one day we will learn that 
heaven is near just hidden in our 
spiritual 'blind spot'.

Pay attention to what may be hidden 
within your 'blind spot'.

He is always near to you.

~~~Peace~~~

Sunday, July 9, 2017

The Burdens of Life

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
~~~ Zechariah 9:9-10 ~~~ Psalm 145 ~~~ 
~~~ Romans 8:9, 11-13 ~~~ Matthew 11:25-30 ~~~


"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves. 
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

There are a few scripture passages
 that most people either know or at least recognize; 
today we hear one of those.

What are your 'heavy burdens'...
are they physical...are they mental...emotional...
or are they spiritual?

We each have some sort of burden.
 Jesus invites us to surrender it to him.

Why is this such a difficult concept to grasp?

Are we just too hard headed and stubborn
to let go of our burdens?

Are we afraid that God will let us down?


Sometimes our burdens make us want to crumble
 to the ground in a tangled heap.

God reaches out to us.
He says you are not alone.
He says I am here to help lighten the load.
He says let me be the one who relieves your pain.

...the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.

It is this very Spirit that comes to give us rest...
this very Spirit that will carry our burdens.

The meek and humble of heart...the little ones;
they know God will be there to carry their burdens.

The little ones admit that they cannot
carry their burdens alone.

If we trust in the Lord 
it is through grace that we can 
surrender our burdens to him.

Come to the Lord.
He will give you rest.

~~~Peace~~~