Prayer Requests and Gratitudes

Showing posts with label Peace be with you. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peace be with you. Show all posts

Thursday, April 24, 2014

What is the Mix?

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 3:11-26 ~~~ Psalm 8 ~~~ Luke 24: 35-48 ~~~

The Apostles were in such shock at all they had experienced.
Jesus washed their feet, shared his own body and blood, was arrested,
mocked, scourged, nailed to a cross.
They were so overwhelmed. Their faith could have been in jeopardy.
In his great love, Jesus helped them make the transition.
He used his human body to support his resurrection.
He was not a ghost he appeared to them in his flesh...his human form. 

"Peace be with you."

He did not want them to be fearful or sad.
He wanted them to understand all that the prophets had foretold.
He wanted their hearts to be opened to the fullness of the prophecies.

 “Why are you troubled?
And why do questions arise in your hearts?

The questions arising in their hearts were coming from
 their doubts and dis-beliefs.
We know oil and water do not mix.
The oil floats on the top, even after it has been mixed into the water.
So it is with doubt; doubt is like the oil.
We can always convince ourselves that we have reason to doubt...
Sometimes this doubt get mixed into our reservoir of faith.
We must trust that the Peace of God
will keep our doubts from mixing into our faith.


Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Jesus used his appearances after the resurrection to reveal himself.
He gives disciples the reassurances they needed.
He had truly been raised from the dead on the third day
 just as the Scriptures had said.

They had no reason to doubt; his appearances confirmed his resurrection.
He spoke with them, he ate with them, he let them
touch his resurrected body.

He opened their hearts and their faith increased;
leaving less room for the prior doubts.

Jesus wants to bless us more completely each day.
Allow his presence to remove your doubts.
Allow this season of Easter to increase your faith.

It is His peace that we must give to one another.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

His Peace Given to Us

 
~~~ Second Sunday of Easter ~~~
~~Divine Mercy~~
~~Acts 5:12-16~~Psalm 118~~Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 ~~John 20:19-31~~
 
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
 
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
 
It seems that giving us his peace and dispelling our fears
is a vital part of the Resurrection.
When we reside in peace we can function much better.
When we can live without fears we are better prepared
to live the gospel message of love. 
 
Because of the peace given to Peter he was able
to walk the streets healing even by his shadow.
Consider for a moment the concept of a shadow.
A shadow is created by something blocking the available light.
The power of the Holy Spirit is capable of acting
even in the shadows...
 
Many signs and wonders were done among the people
at the hands of the apostles.
 
 
"...Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
 
We are those who believe without seeing with our own eyes.
It is time to come out of the upper room of locked doors.
It is time to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is time to put our fears aside.
It is time to live in the peace and mercy of God.
 
This is the day the Lord has made for us to rejoice.
We rejoice at all he has done for us.
His mercy endures forever.
Easter Blessings!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Now Do You Believe?

 
~~~ Acts of the Apostles 3:11-26 ~~~ Psalm 8 ~~~ Luke 24:35-48 ~~~
 
Jesus calms the fears of his apostles
 as they try to wrap their minds around what they are witnessing.
He truly is risen and he is there with them in the present.
 
This was more than any human could grasp.
They believed in the reality while remaining in their state of disbelief...
The awe of the whole event has left them at a loss for words.
 
...he stood in their midst and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
 
 
 
So Jesus connects to them through things with which they are familiar.
He breaks bread with them.
He eats fish with these fisherman he had personally called to join him.
He gives them his own words of peace.
He allows them to inspect his wounded hands and feet.
 
As if to say...now do you believe?
It is really me.
I am here with you just as I promised I would be.
 
He opens their minds to all that had been written about him in the scriptures.
 
I invite you to ask for this same grace to be given to you...
so that every time you are interacting with The Word
your mind and heart is opened in a new way.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Come Holy Spirit, Renew the Face of the Earth!
Acts 2:1-11~~~Psalm 104~~~Cor. 12:3b-7,12-13~~~John 20:19-23

The Holy Spirit (he) will glorify me (Jesus) because he will take
what is mine and declare it to you.
Whatever comes to us from the Holy Spirit comes from the Father,
because they are all one in the same.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of us, your faithful,
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
The Spirit comes as tongues of fire, the breath of Jesus, and strong driving wind.
The Spirit comes with the unseen
power of God the Father and the undying love of the Son.
The Spirit brings spiritual gifts to each individual for some benefit.

Do you know your gifts?
Are you using your gifts to benefit someone else? 
Are you denying your gifts?
Are you misusing your gifts?

If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
If we live in the Spirit we too bear the fruit of the Spirit...
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience,
Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness,
Gentleness, and Self-Control.

Even though we are many we are one body, just as a body is one
though it has many parts. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.
We were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Locked doors cannot keep the Holy Spirit from entering, but a closed locked heart
can deflect the realization of the gifts of the Spirit.
May the embers in the bottom of your heart be fanned into vibrant
flames for the Lord today. We are anointed in the Spirit today and sent forth...
We cannot stay behind closed locked doors.

Come Holy Spirit renew the face of the earth.
Instill in our hearts the desire to make visible the fruit of your Spirit.
Always giving credit to the one who sends down the Spirit.

Though many we are one body in Christ and we come to do your will.
Receive the Holy Spirit...
Peace be with you!