Bless The Lord Oh My Soul

Psalm 103 KJV; Bless the Lord for all that He has done.

By Faith We Move Forward

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."

                                                                                   (Heb 11:6-8 KJV)

Fear can easily coerce us into doing absolutely nothing or running in the opposite direction. Yet, Noah and Abraham, as well as many others who trusted God before us, moved forward. They did what God asked of them because they trusted Him. 

Believing an unseen God and building an ark so that he and his family might live was a major change in Noah's life. It may have seemed foolish to the world around him. But, the results proved that it was not.

Abraham left his birth family; his home country, to be led by God through the wilderness to a land promised to him and his descendants was a major undertaking. It all rested on his trust in God. 

Moses, too, believed the words of God and led the Israelites out of captivity to journey to a promised land. The journey was long and hard, made harder by the many trust issues along the way among the Israelites. Moses actually never got to enter that promised land; but, he was able to lead the people of God to it because he trusted in the Lord and followed Him.

Hardships are encountered daily by the human race. There are wars and rumors of wars. There are natural disasters and diseases that threaten to take us down. But, fear should never be allowed to keep us from moving forward to receive the promises of God. If fear can do anything positive, it should move us to hear the word of the Lord and listen attentively to it so that we might know the way in which to go.

Faith overcomes fear of things that might stand in our way of moving forward. Remember, the promises of the Lord and keep in mind what St. Paul wrote to the Romans: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:28) Walk in faith. God has a good purpose for you. Do not let the fear that permeates the world around you stop you from receiving the good plans He has for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Fear Is Not Loving Or Healing

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Mal 4:2 KJV)

There are a whole lot of people suffering from illnesses in the world today; many besides those who have contracted the Corona Virus. As the world panics over this virus, I cannot help but wonder why we do not have cures for some of them. Why no cure for cancer, yet? It has been around for a long time. Why no cure for the influenza that comes and goes or the more permanent diseases like multiple sclerosis or cystic fibrosis or the many other diseases that afflict the human race? It is a sad thing that so many suffer. All of our scientists and specialists have not been able to figure out how to cure these diseases. What is left for us to do; but, to depend on the Lord our God to see us through?

The faithful trust him to see us through our illnesses until the day he brings us home. There is suffering in this world. But the children of God know that the Son of God has risen and we shall go forth growing in faith and trust that in him all things are for the good of those who love him.

While Jesus walked the earth he instructed his followers to have no fear. Listen to him! Fear will stop a person in their tracks. It will destroy the love that we ought to have for one another and for God. It will destroy our concerns for those in greater need than ourselves. 

With the panic over the Corona Virus, I cannot help but wonder about the people who live paycheck to paycheck to put food on their families' tables. The grocery store shelves were empty in so many stores yesterday due to people stockpiling and hoarding. When payday comes and those who can only afford to purchase food when their check comes and there is no food in the grocery stores to purchase what happens to them? How many have thought of the homeless and hungry when they overfill their carts? Love of God and for our neighbors seems to have gone out the window....!!! Will greed and self-preservation send our neighbors home hungry?

There is nothing to fear for in the end the God whom we love and who loves us has come and is here with us even now. 

My daily morning prayers always include this prayer of affirmation against all fears. Either we believe it or we don't. As for me, I prefer to believe it and trust in the Lord.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

(Psalm 23)

Fear does not bring love. It brings devastation. Trust the Lord and be His helping hand. Feed his sheep even if it is in such a little thing like not emptying the shelves in the grocery story so that your neighbors can also purchase sustenance for their families. Consider your neighbors and do all that you can to help them, for in them your Lord abides. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Be Kind

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. (Col 3:12 NRSV) 

As the saying goes, "if you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem." There is enough natural trouble in the world without adding to it. There is much suffering due to incurable diseases. Multitudes are homeless. Natural disasters are common and when they happen people often find that they have lost everything that they own.

Most of us feel empathy towards those who are suffering. What do we do about it? Do we look away? Do we continue to cause more suffering with divisions and strife over trifling things? Do we insist on our own way even when that way is damaging to others as well as the world around us?

If we can't get along well enough to be part of the solution; then we are a part of the problem. 

Be compassionate and kind, serving one another with humility. That might be a good start to having less suffering in the world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

In The Beginning....

By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible." (Hebrews 11:3 NRSV)
Science has provided us with some amazing things: vaccines for diseases that may have long ago destroyed humankind; conveniences to make our lives more pleasant (even if some of them are destructive to the earth); instant communication with people around the world; the list goes on. But, science is not all-knowing.

There is only One who knows all things. He is the One who created all things in the heavens and on the earth. He is the first Word and the last Word. We live by faith in that first and last Word. We live by faith in the Alpha and the Omega.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people."  (John 1:1-3)

May God grant us all faith to live by faith in His Word, who is Jesus the Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J