Air Line State Park Trail Ct. Picture Gail Prince
Our blog is inspired by The Holy Spirit.
After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.
Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
She got up immediately and waited on them. Luke 4: 38-39
As we have written these blogs, I seem to say this is a favorite verse of mine. Today’s verse is another favorite of mine, and it was made even more special when I saw it on The Chosen season 1, episode 8.
In The Chosen, Peter is concerned with his mother-in-law’s health; she is sick in bed. Jesus knows of Peter’s concern and sends Peter home; later, Jesus goes to Peter’s house, enters her bedroom, and cures her.
She sits straight up, looks at Jesus, and says, “Who are you?” What a great line, who are you? She gets up and gets busy being the proper hostess by waiting on them.
This is an amazing scene because I believe many times in our life, God helps us, and our response is, “who are you.”
How many times before I started to recognize the Triune God in my life did I say, “That was lucky.” or “I did a great job with this project,” or “I’m glad I exercise and eat well for my good health, or, “My doctor is the best.”
Some personal examples:
“That was lucky;” I said this for many years whenever something positive happened in my life, especially when an event could have caused me harm. The problem with this statement is it doesn’t recognize God ACTIVE in my, now our, life, and most importantly, I don’t grow in Joy because I don’t know how to increase luck.
“I did a great job with this project:” Pride is a sin! After I fell in love with God, I twice tried doing a project on my own, and God put me in my place instantly.
The first was a communion service. I wanted to share information that I thought people would like to learn. My problem was God didn’t want me to speak about this. God shut me up! My mind went blank! I never want to experience this again.
The second time in jail, I decided I would present a program I felt the men would enjoy. It ended up being the longest hour I ever spent in Jail.
Saying I, I, I, leaves out God. I didn’t even like typing the last four paragraphs.
“I’m glad I exercise and eat well for my good health:” Exercise and eating well are important, but I believe being filled with Love, Joy, and Peace are more important. I just typed into the search bar Joy will heal, and the first three replies are; Joy will heal you if you let it – The Practice. Co, Happiness and Joy will lead to health and healing – Huffpost, Why Joy is important in healing developmental trauma – Tiny Buddha.
The great part of living in Love, Joy, and Peace is that it’s easy.
Just pray for an increase of Love, Joy, and Peace.
Easy!
My doctor is the best: I have been blessed with excellent Doctors! But, I have been healed through prayer many more times than doctors have healed me. I love it when God heals me; sometimes, it happens quickly; sometimes, the healing takes months, and in one case, years.
More importantly, when I am healed, it continues to build my relationship with God, filling me with Joy and Peace.
As we have said many times, and I pray that you will think back on your life and agree with our statement, God HAS taken care of me, God IS taking care of me, and therefore it only makes sense that God WILL take care of me.
So,
I don’t get up or spend any part of the day asking, “Who are you?” when God interacts in my, now our, life.
“The nine” We pray you will grow in the Love, Joy, and Peace of the Holy Spirit by growing in Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
Sidebar:
Last week we wrote, If you want to walk on the water, you have got to get out of the boat by John Ortberg.
Many of you may have experienced and maybe didn’t realize this is a powerful concept.
I know several people who have climbed out of the boat of alcoholism, and drug abuse, to mention two addictions, and the security of the addiction, changed their life, and now live a new life walking on the water of sobriety.
Some failed initially but kept climbing back out of the boat towards sobriety.
The important thing is they keep trying.
Men and women have reoriented their lives to do what God called them to do. One example I found in the book Centered by Jason Brown. God called him to give up his Football carrier and a thirty-six million dollar paycheck and grow food to feed the poor in North Carolina. Jason climbed out of the Boat of football success and discovered a greater life walking on the water of Joy and Peace, doing the will of God.
Men and women who have left the “world “ to serve as priests and religious so we might learn more about God and walk on the water of living in the “Spirit World.”
All the volunteers at the many churches that dot our country climbed out of the boat of letting someone else do it and walked on the water to express their faith through their involvement in their church. I was a Cantor for years and would arrive at Church just as it was opening and was moved by all the people who did something to set up the Church and the Mass for those who would show up later.
The old saying is still valid; Many hands make the load light.
I don’t know about you, but I tend to beat myself up with the sins I had committed but do not always recognize when I was doing God’s will and climbing out of the boat to walk on the water of a new journey in our life.
Great news!!
I am sure you all know I am a great fan of The Chosen. Our priest was on vacation, so Gail and I watched Mass on The Catholic Television Network. I was waiting for Gail and scrolled down to see what else was available on the network, and The Chosen came up first under Entertainment, and I found out it had a short commentary at the end of the episode. The commentary is excellent!
I am excited because this is genuinely Ecumenical.
I have ROKU, and this is where I found The Catholic Television Network.
Picture:
The Air Line State Park Trail is approximately fifty-five miles. The Trail is rated five stars by Rails to Trails. Gail and I enjoyed our rides. Great views, easy ride/walk.
Below is a link to The Trail.
www.traillink.com/trail/air-line-state-park-trail
