Prayer in the name of Jesus

Jesus said to his disciples: "if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses even to listen to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."

Consideration: Jesus speaks to disciples about forgiveness, and community prayer. The power of praying together as a group reaches the heavenly Father; promising to grant our request.

Amazing Peace

 

The days there are no clouds in the sky, and the sunshine is magnificent and bright; not one ripple on the lake; the seashore takes your breath away.

The air is clean, crisp and fresh; the river flows with tenderness; the wind is calm, resting for a time; you realize how wonderful, and beautiful, is life.

Just for a time, it all goes away; mother nature in all its splendor on display; everything seems right; there is peace and quiet; birds in playful delight. 

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings of the day; magnificent in every way; this is how it was meant to be; today, your blessings glorify all things. 

In this moment, heaven is very near; everything perfectly clear; in an instant everything can change; that’s OK; now, and forever, we give you praise…thank you Lord, for another day of life; and this amazing peace!

Greatest in the Kingdom

The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me." "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go search for the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than the ninety-nine that did not go astray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost."

Consideration: To be childlike is truly a grace. The adult life brings many challenges and difficulties. Prayer is the way to maintain a close relationship with the Lord. When you talk with humility, you love; and when you love, you maintain the childlike qualities that are required to enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Amen.

The Hand of a Fisherman

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were overwhelmed with grief. When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes," he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, "What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?" When he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you." 

Consideration: Jesus is told by Simon that it was the foreigners who were to pay the census tax. So, Jesus, not wanting to offend the tax collectors, tells Simon where he would find the coin to satisfy the sum for Simon and himself. Of all places, in the mouth of a fish; to the hand of a fisherman.

Glory, Honor, and Praise!

Awesomeness of the Father; Glory of His Son; fullness of the Spirit of Life; the Triune God is One.

 

Majesty, honor and praise; blessed be Thy Holy Name; all that is and will forever be; for all of eternity. 

When time is no more; your children are home; the last tear has been cried; infused with your love.

 

Thy will be done; Thy Kingdom come; together in Paradise...Glory of Peace!

The voices of Angels; ageless melodies; glory, honor, and praise; joyous things fulfilled and revealed.

Divine exaltation; all things will and forever be; as was intended…Glory and Peace!

Awesomeness of the Father; Glory of His Son; fullness of the Spirit of Life; the Triune God is One.

 

Majesty, honor and praise; blessed be Thy Holy Name; all that is and will forever be…Glory and Peace!

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the Triune God is One; awesomeness of Paradise...Glory, Honor, and Peace!!!

I Search My Soul

 

 The many roads I’ve traveled,

Days and nights thinking of you,

My restless mind was unsettled,

From the pain I put you through,

 There’s one thing I want you to know,

There’s a feeling deep inside me,

That keeps me from losing control,

When I’m down on bended knees,

 I search my soul for answers,

When questions fill up my heart,

Away from all life’s romancers,

That’ve caused us to drift apart,

 At times I need to gather my senses,

To live out the truth inside of me,

Cast away all my defenses,

So I’ll be free, with eyes to see,

 I search my soul for answers,

Looking deep within my heart,

Away from all life’s romancers,

Nothing could ever keep us apart,

 I search my soul and find you,

From selfish ambitions I’m set free,

 Nothing is impossible to get through,

With you in my soul… am I… truly free!

Walking on the Sea

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was, he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

Consideration: When the storms of life cast us to and fro, do we panic, lose faith and trust in the Lord? Or do we call upon the name of the Lord, to come to our aid and assist us in our time of need? The Lord is the true Shepherd; never will he abandon us when we are in need or have lost our way. Amen.