Wednesday, June 21, they have received their reward. 1

Sunrise Palm Beach, Florida   Picture by Terri Becker

The Holy Spirit inspired our blog.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Take care not to perform righteous deeds

in order that people may see them;

otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,

as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets

to win the praise of others.

Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you give alms,

do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,

so that your almsgiving may be secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,

who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners

so that others may see them.

Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,

and pray to your Father in secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.

They neglect their appearance,

so that they may appear to others to be fasting.

Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,

except to your Father who is hidden.

And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Emphasis mine Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

The past four weeks have been very interesting.  Because of all that would happen in our family, we would write the past four weeks’ blogs in two weeks to allow us time to enjoy our family.

Great idea,

But, 

I missed during the two weeks we didn’t write the blogs working with the Holy Spirit on our blogs.

Today I’m back to the Joy of writing our blog.

The above reading is very familiar to many of us, as it is read on Ash Wednesday every year.

What jumped out at me was they have received their reward.

Think of our society today.  How many are giving very large or small amounts of money and are making sure they are recognized for their generosity, who do public prayer and want to be recognized for their prayer, and who give up something and want to be recognized for their fasts?

The “world” tells us this is what we are to do.

The “Spirit World” tells us just the opposite.

This, for me, is another reason to live in the “Spirit World,” it’s a different world, and the result of living in the “Spirit World is, of course, Joy.

As we stated at the beginning of our blog, I missed working with the Holy Spirit for the past two weeks.  This, for me, was a surprise because I didn’t fully appreciate how much I would miss our daily working together.

I am mentioning this because we are a year and a half into writing our blogs, and what I thought would be a “job – chore – or too time-consuming” has proven to be a time filled with Joy and a time when I, yes I, appreciate our growing relationship.

Yes, I have received a reward NOW,

But, 

A much greater reward awaits me when I jump on the Hallelujah train home because the man on the Middle Cross said I could come.

If you want to join Team Jesus, try praying.   “This is the day the lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”

Sidebar:

As you know, this year, I have encountered some medical issues.  My heart, lungs, and kidneys are all back to normal. Thank you Father.

I have a semi-blocked bladder and have been on a catheter since April 17.  The good news is I don’t feel anything.  Thank you Father.

My routine now is filled with Doctor’s appointments; for the past eighty-two years, I only had an annual physical.  Thank you, Father, for the great Doctors and Nurses.

Some may think, “So I guess God is not taking care of you now, and all the prayers you have told us to say are phony.”

NOT TRUE

God is very active in my life, and I have had other healings in the past six weeks.

Two quick examples:  

The bottom of my right foot hurt a little.  I was encouraged Holy Spirit to get new sneakers and socks, and four weeks later, I noticed the pain was gone.

God working in my life.  Thank you Father.

I have been overweight for years.  My weight is now down fourteen pounds and has been down since a week after I left the hospital.  The difference is I have been at this lower weight for more than six weeks, and now I am making a real effort to keep the weight off because I enJoy being lighter.   Thank you Father.

Why are we talking about this?

We are starting a new quarter, and we changed the prayer for becoming a member of Team Jesus.

I have made a real effort to say this prayer every day when I put my legs over the side of the bed to get up, and I am finding it starts the day on a positive note because I bring God into my life from the start of the day.

and,

Speaking of bringing God into your life.  If you are looking for two books to read this summer, we recommend:

It’s Never Too Late by Kathie Lee Gifford. I couldn’t stop reading it. I gave Mike a copy, and he couldn’t put it down.

Kathie Lee also wrote with Nicole C. Mullen a twelve-minute oratorio telling the story of Hagar, Ruth, David, and Mary and God’s promise to them,  The God Who Sees.  It is beautiful! The link to the song is below.

Arctic Homestead by Norma Cobb and Charles Sasser.  This is the same type of story but a whole different setting.   Norma was the last woman to file a claim as a Homesteader in Alaska.  What she, her husband, and her family went through to build a home and survive in the harsh elements, nature, and people, is a book I couldn’t and haven’t put down.

Both books relate to how God is active in their lives.

This, for me, is Theology at its best.  They are not talking about theory; they are talking about God being active in their lives, as we have in our blogs, and how Joyful God being in their lives is for them.

We are mentioning these books because I have had people tell me I am different; God isn’t in their life as God is in mine.

Our only suggestion is CHANGE.

Start the morning rejoicing,  

Ask your Father for everything and expect God will take care of you, and thank God the Father for everything that you have this day, food, shelter, good health, family, and the list is long.

And,

Lastly, thank your Father for the Difficulities He allows in your life until you smile.

The Joy you will receive and grow in will make you wonder why you waited so long.  

I know I was there.

We pray you will join Kathie, Norma, and me and enjoy a life you never thought possible.

Picture:

Sunrise Palm Beach, Florida   Picture by Terri Becker

Please keep Snapping!

Several people from foreign countries have asked for my email address, but I am still waiting to hear back. We decided to include my email for your convenience.

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 sending your picture, you consent to allow us to reprint that picture in our next book, God Thoughts 2023, with your name and any comments in the Blog.

About the Author

My name is Frederick Prince, nicknames, Fred, Ted, and Tedfred. My wife Gail and I have been married for fifty-seven short years. We have three married sons and five grandchildren. Gail and I attend St. John Paul II Parish located in Scarborough Maine. I graduated from Stonehill College with a BSBA in Management in 1963. I joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Pine Island, a seaplane tender, for two years. I am a Vietnam Veteran and am proud of my service. Gail and I moved to Maine in 1966, and we now reside in Scarborough Maine. Gail and I have been active in our Church and our community. We have written five books: A Journey with The Holy Spirit - Revised Edition, I Believe... Revised edition, A Lion Dead to The Lord - Revised Edition, God Thoughts 2022, and God thoughts 2023 E-books and Paperback copies are available at Amazon, Hardcovers with jacket at Barnes and Noble. Being selected to write the Wednesday blog has filled me with Joy. Being 83 I believe gives me a different perspective. Where you are going I have been, and I pray my twenty-seven years working with the men in the Cumberland County Jail brings a very different outlook to the table.

Author Archive Page

16 Comments

  1. Thank you for your posts! grateful for your continued healing. I must say I was worried something happened to you when I didn’t see your work. God bless you each moment of the day.

  2. Thank you Fred and I too would like to thank the Lord for all the great doctors and nurses. They work so hard every day to save lives.

  3. Thank you for the reflection. It teaches us not to be boastful but to be humble & be thankful about what the Lord has given us. May the Lord continue healing you🙏

  4. Keep it going Mr Prince. You give us much needed encouragement. Praying, thanking and smiling. Amazing work of a Christian man. Thank you Mr Fantastic Fred and peace be with you and your new 👟’s.

  5. Really thank you fred. For your reflection. It from the heart, how our giving should be. The God who sees from the heart will always bless Us. God continue to give you good health. AMEN

  6. AND – when you demonstrate Joy, it makes me feel joyful; a multiplier effect.
    Cynics say we are exaggerating for attention or deluding ourselves. They are wrong: their loss.
    As we age our bodies fail: 10 years behind you I have 3 chronic ailments; but I do not let them drag me down (well … mostly) or stop me living well. I am fortunate I live post mid 20C and not earlier when we did not have good medics. Keep going, Fred.

  7. Jen, Thank you for your healing prayer, it seems to be going well. Peace Fred

  8. Cath, I couldn’t agree more. The Doctors and Nurses really do work hard, and are a blessing. Peace Fred

  9. Jeri, Thank you for your concern, blessings and prayer for healing. Peace Fred

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