Your Full Potential

~~~ Romans 12:5-16AB ~~~ Psalm 131 ~~~ Luke 14:15-24 ~~~

...we have gifts that differ

 according to the grace given to us...

We though many, are one Body in Christ.

Each of us is an important part 

of the living functional Body of Christ.

God did not just randomly give you a special gift or talent.

He fashioned your gift exactly for you.

Then along with that gift he infused 

you with his grace.

It is this grace that allows you to succeed best 

when you are exercising your gift.

It is the grace that drives you to be 

convinced of your gifts.

It is the grace that encourages you to be 

the best that you can be in your field.

It is the grace that gives you the courage to give 

one hundred percent to your career.

Be the best that you can be;

it is possible through his grace.

Let love be sincere;

hate what is evil,

hold on to what is good;

love one another with mutual affection;

anticipate one another in showing honor.

Use your gifts to make the world a better place.

Use you gifts to spread the joy of salvation.

Use your gifts where it is difficult...when 

you would rather be passive.

Rejoice in hope...

Persevere in prayer...

Do not grow slack in zeal.

You cannot be part of the Body of Christ

if you are like a hang nail.

The Body of Christ is to be the source of all grace

The source of all spiritual energy.

The Body of Christ is where we learn

 to love one another with mutual affection.

Since we are all part of the Body of Christ 

it is there where we can find true rest and peace.

God's grace reflects among all of us 

when we exercise our gifts.

When we exercise our gifts the Body

 becomes more brilliant.

The more brilliant the better 

we can hold on to what is good.

Blessings of grace to develop

 your gifts to their full potential,

~~~Peace~~~

Dress Rehearsal

~~~ Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist ~~~

~~~Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ Mathew 9:9-13 ~~~

Their message goes out through all the earth.

The message for us is to live in a manner worthy to the call.

This is a good time to pause for a spiritual check up.

The season of Fall is here...a time when nature begins to slow down...

a time when the leaves on the trees begin to display their fire colors.

I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

Part of the message we are called to embrace is one of mercy.

Not just mercy when our heart is moved,

but mercy in every situation.

Soon the Pope will proclaim the year of mercy.

We can begin the dress rehearsal today.

Make the conscious effort to practice mercy in your daily life.

 ...grace was given to each of us

according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 

Through the power of grace 

you can make mercy a vital component of how you

use your personal gifts given to you from God.

Mercy...  

kindness or help given to an unfortunate person.

Help given to an unfortunate person...

Who is an unfortunate person?

...for building up the Body of Christ

As a living part of the Body of Christ

you are called to act with mercy...

In using your gifts you are urged 

to make mercy part of your actions.

If you are an active participant in the Body of Christ

you must support helping those who are

unfortunate.

Blessings will fill your heart as mercy grows stronger.

The time is now to take note of how the colors

 of your heart is changing.

~~~Peace~~~

Be Yourself

~~~ Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs ~~~

~~~ 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31A ~~~ Psalm 10 ~~~ Luke 7:11-17 ~~~

Now you are Christ’s Body, and individually parts of it.

We are each created in the image and likeness of God.
We are each created unique in every way.
We each have been given our special gifts by God.

That being established; stop trying to be someone else...
someone other than what God
created you to be...YOU.

No one can be you. No one can replace you.
No one can play your part in God's Divine plan.
You do not have an understudy.
You either show up or something does not get done...
something does not get started...
something does not get completed...
Some one does not receive your blessing.

“God has visited his people.”

Ever since God sent down the Son to be one of us
we became one with him.

We are his people, we are part of his flock.

We are part of his body here on Earth.
We have a specific role to play in this body;
just as each part of our body has a specific part
 in the proper functioning of the whole.

Sometimes a part of the body gets out of sync.
 When this occurs help may be needed to restore proper function
 in balance with the whole body.

If you are healthy; your body is functioning as it was designed.
If one part of your body is not working properly
 it effects the whole body.

It is your responsibility to keep yourself in good repair
so you contribute to the health of the whole body.
The brain is good at conserving energy and cells.
If a part of the brain is not being used eventually
the brain snips off some of those cells.

Do you want to be snipped off or do you want to be
a thriving part of the Living Body of Christ?

What part of the body do you want to be?
Do you want to be a fingernail routinely filed shorter
or do you want to be part of the heart pumping
 the blood to all of the body?

It is up to you.
You can decide just how vital you are
to the rest of the Body of Christ.
Maybe God shifts the parts around
depending on where you are needed the most.

Whatever part of the Body you are Blessed to be there.
You are a unique part of the Body of Christ.
Be the best part you can be
 by being all that you can be
being yourself.

~~~ Peace ~~~

The Cup of Blessing

~~~ Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church ~~~

~~~1 Corinthians 10:14-22 ~~~ Psalm 116 ~~~  Luke 6:43-49 ~~~

The cup of blessing that we bless,

is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?

The bread that we break,

is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?

What is the cup of blessing?

How do we get one of our own? Where can we find one?

Does Amazon carry a cup just for blessings?

Does something special happen to us when 

we drink from this cup of blessing?

Is the blessing from this cup filled with vitamins?

All kidding aside.

This cup we drink from is filled with his saving blood.

The very blood he shed to save us from eternal loss.

The breaking of the bread is our participation in his very body.

The body that was broken and beaten for our sins

 and those of the whole world.

...though many, are one Body...

We come together as one within our small church community,

while at the same time belonging to the great 

community of the Body of Christ.

He has drawn us to himself to be a part of his mystical body.

Here we find the wealth of his blessings.

We come together...we come to participate in the divine mystery.

The mystery of blessings which we long to receive.

We cling to His broken, wounded, bleeding body.

We participate because we believe in his love.

 ...from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

Whatever words come forth from our mouths

 were first found deep inside our hearts.

If you want to speak words of love 

put words of love into your heart.

If you want to speak words of compassion 

put words of compassion into your heart.

If you want to speak words of forgiveness

put words of forgiveness into your heart.

If you want to speak the words of Jesus

put his words into your heart.

Read the Bible daily.

Guard your heart for whatever you let in does eventually come out.

Let only words and images of beauty, grace, and love reside within.

If you can accomplish this

 your words will always be a joy to receive.

Blessings of love in words steeped within my heart.

~~~ Peace ~~~

Drink of the One Spirit

~~~ 1 Cor 12:2-14, 27-31a ~~~ Psalm 100 ~~~Luke 7: 11-17 ~~~

 

"...in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body...

....all given to drink of one Spirit...
...Now the body is not a single part, but many..."

God has blessed us in a special way.

The Body of Christ would not be whole without each of us.

We are each a vital part of the Body of Christ.

Through Baptism we were welcomed into the whole body.

 

We have been given gifts as God see fit for us.

If he knows each hair upon our head;

then certainly he will bestow on us our unique gifts.

The body functions much more efficiently

when all the parts a working as they were designed.

 

Just as each ingredient of a recipe contributes to the tasty dish.

It does not matter if you are the main ingredient or the dash of salt;

you are an essential part for the dish.

 

Paul goes on to talk about those who are the apostles,

the prophets, the teachers,

and those blessed with the gifts of healing,

assistance, administration, and speaking in tongues.

 

Paul offers these words of encouragement...

"...Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts."

 

While you will always be an essential part of the Body of Christ;

the unique part you are may change over time.

If there is a spiritual gift you desire;

 ask for it

during your prayer time.

 

If you are not given the specific gift you want;

 God may just give you new insight.

 He may help you see how to better use the gifts

 he has already given to you.

 

 

Being a part of the Body of Christ we can sing with the psalmist today...

"We are his people: the sheep of his flock."

 

His kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness forever.

 

He cares about us so much that he raises the only son of a grieving mother.

He tells this widowed woman 'Do not weep.'

 

Being a part of the Body of Christ we have value.

Being a part of the Body of Christ we are loved and cared for

by Christ himself.

 

Being a part of the Body of Christ we share in the same Spirit.

Know that whatever part you have within this Body

you are essential...

you are a unique part.

May we look upon those we meet as a member of the

same body...the Body of Christ.