The Holy Spirit inspired our blog.
Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:
“Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,
and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
except the son of destruction,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you.
I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth.
Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them,
so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”
Emphasis mine Jn 17:17b, 17a
You wouldn’t know this, but from Wednesday last week to today, we haven’t worked on our blogs in any form. This is strange because when we sat down this morning, I was unsure where we would go until the Holy Spirit pointed out this reading.
We mention this because, if we aren’t careful, it is easy to lose good habits and adopt bad ones.
We do not belong in this world because, hopefully, you have adopted and are adopting habits that will let you live in the “Spirit World” and be shielded from all the “world” has to offer.
We keep getting requests for the prayers we have discussed since the start of our blogs, and this fills us with Joy.
Readers are changing because they let The Holy Spirit into their lives and love the new “me,” no we should say us.
An example of this is:
Thank you, Fred. It is a good reminder that true joy and peace only come from listening to the Holy Spirit. On a side note. I have read Military Edition Psalm 91, and it is life-changing. We are snowbirds traveling from Ohio to Florida in an RV during the winter months. I pray this psalm daily and can tell you that I have felt God’s protection during stressful times on the road, fighting traffic, wind, rain, and avoiding accidents. I thank God that He got us home safely and believe it is the power of praying Psalm 91. I have told others about this book. Thank you for sharing. Anonymous
When you fully realize that God your Father has your back, life takes on a new meaning: Joy and Peace.
Then, you will recognize and celebrate that YOU don’t belong TO this “world.”
Join Team Jesus:
We suggest starting every day, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”
Sidebar:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. [And] he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ 9 When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? [Or] am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Mt 20: 1-16
Friday, a friend jumped on the Hallajua train and went home to Jesus.
We are writing about this because he was born a Catholic but was not a practicing Catholic. His wife received our blogs by email, which he read, and he asked if I would include him on the email list, which we were more than happy to do.
He became interested and submitted pictures (participated in making our blog more meaningful to you). He was diagnosed with cancer and fought cancer as hard as he could.
During Lent, he asked if we could send him the prayers we had discussed, and we did.
He emailed me that because of the chemo, he had an anger problem, but by learning the “Nine” and saying the “Nine,” he noticed he experienced Peace. He didn’t say it, but I also believe he experienced Joy in being in Peace.
We placed the New Testament reading at the top to remind everyone that God is a God of the present, “I AM,” not the past or the future. The men and women who work in the fields work NOW, some for a long time, some for a short time. All received the same payment; only a God of Outrageous Love would even consider such a beautiful outcome.
Working in the field is Fantastic!
Picture:
Sunrise, Lantana Beach, Florida Picture by Terri Becker
Please keep Snapping!
If you want a copy of the prayers we discussed, email me.
fprince101@gmail.com
Remember, if you want to submit a picture, no people, please, because we have to get permission from that person to use their photograph.
By submitting a picture, you agree to let us include it in our next God Thoughts 2024 book.
