Evil is real

Evil is real

Take complete responsibility for your own thoughts and actions. Decide that no one makes you do or think anything. It is all your own choice. We have been given free will. 

By the grace of God, you can refuse evil thoughts of blame and anger and decide to choose correctly. 

Blaming and lies are from the evil one not of God. Choose to judge rightly. Knowing sin and calling it out keeps you safe. Pray for others no need to confront if you are not responsible. But seeing it and judging it for what it is is not harmful. Be wise as serpents but innocent as doves. Discernment is from God. TRUTH is freeing, not harmful. Evil is real. It takes courage to speak truth in love and yes it could lead to pain or even martyrdom. Look at all the apostles and especially Jesus. Eradicate first the evil within by taking responsibility of your own person, bringing your evil thoughts and actions to Jesus, ask for cleansing and power to do the next right step. Do not fear bringing your evil self before him, Only He is the Remedy! Only He is the Healer! Pray pray pray! 

Only Humility and Submission can save… Humble admit the deep truth of self and submit to His ways of living. Be transformed by grace!

Evil is real

Evil is real

Take complete responsibility for your own thoughts and actions. Decide that no one makes you do or think anything. It is all your own choice. We have been given free will. 

By the grace of God, you can refuse evil thoughts of blame and anger and decide to choose correctly. 

Blaming and lies are from the evil one not of God. Choose to judge rightly. Knowing sin and calling it out keeps you safe. Pray for others no need to confront if you are not responsible. But seeing it and judging it for what it is is not harmful. Be wise as serpents but innocent as doves. Discernment is from God. TRUTH is freeing, not harmful. Evil is real. It takes courage to speak truth in love and yes it could lead to pain or even martyrdom. Look at all the apostles and especially Jesus. Eradicate first the evil within by taking responsibility of your own person, bringing your evil thoughts and actions to Jesus, ask for cleansing and power to do the next right step. Do not fear bringing your evil self before him, Only He is the Remedy! Only He is the Healer! Pray pray pray! 

Only Humility and Submission can save… Humble admit the deep truth of self and submit to His ways of living. Be transformed by grace!

What Jesus Taught Me

Trust God

He Reigns over ALL creation

His Will, will be done

 

Everyday - Every Moment Enjoy being with Him

I am never alone

God is all I need

Only God Satisfies

 

Trust God

He Loves Me

He Wants to take care of me

His ways are higher than our ways

 

God Knows the Way

Don’t Worry

Don't Figure

Don't Think (too much)

 

Rest In Him

Focus on Jesus

Stay in His arms - He carries me

He Takes care of everything

 

Let the Spirit Be In Control

His power not mine

Mind, mouth, heart, soul, and  body are His

I do not change things, Only GOD changes things.

Kill your flesh.

 

God is working everything together for my good

Journey - He is not in a hurry

Embrace my cross, this too shall pass

Cross makes you stronger and brings glory to God

 

Go with the Flow

Let Go and Let God

God IS in Control

Others are working out their own salvation with Him

What's it to you? - You follow Me.

 

Don't Give up Peace, Joy, or Hope

Refocus: God loves me and takes care of me

I am in Christ: by his sacrifice not by my works.

I am seen as righteous, justified, complete and whole

I have Peace with God, he sees me in Jesus

I have Joy, God is taking care of my needs

I have Hope, my life's journey is getting better and better

Don’t let go of your Peace, it passes understanding.

 

My Heart

Broken

Submissive

Humble

Dependent

 

My Attitude

Trust Him

Accept Circumstances

Deposit myself

 

Pray for

Strength

Courage

Peace

 

In Convenant

Won't Change

I am crucified

Jesus lives through me

 

LIFE IS A GIFT, THE GIFT IS GOD HIMSELF.

What Jesus Taught Me

Trust God

He Reigns over ALL creation

His Will, will be done

 

Everyday - Every Moment Enjoy being with Him

I am never alone

God is all I need

Only God Satisfies

 

Trust God

He Loves Me

He Wants to take care of me

His ways are higher than our ways

 

God Knows the Way

Don’t Worry

Don't Figure

Don't Think (too much)

 

Rest In Him

Focus on Jesus

Stay in His arms - He carries me

He Takes care of everything

 

Let the Spirit Be In Control

His power not mine

Mind, mouth, heart, soul, and  body are His

I do not change things, Only GOD changes things.

Kill your flesh.

 

God is working everything together for my good

Journey - He is not in a hurry

Embrace my cross, this too shall pass

Cross makes you stronger and brings glory to God

 

Go with the Flow

Let Go and Let God

God IS in Control

Others are working out their own salvation with Him

What's it to you? - You follow Me.

 

Don't Give up Peace, Joy, or Hope

Refocus: God loves me and takes care of me

I am in Christ: by his sacrifice not by my works.

I am seen as righteous, justified, complete and whole

I have Peace with God, he sees me in Jesus

I have Joy, God is taking care of my needs

I have Hope, my life's journey is getting better and better

Don’t let go of your Peace, it passes understanding.

 

My Heart

Broken

Submissive

Humble

Dependent

 

My Attitude

Trust Him

Accept Circumstances

Deposit myself

 

Pray for

Strength

Courage

Peace

 

In Convenant

Won't Change

I am crucified

Jesus lives through me

 

LIFE IS A GIFT, THE GIFT IS GOD HIMSELF.

Psalm 65:2–5 (NKJV):  O You who hear prayer,

To You all flesh will come.

3 Iniquities prevail against me;

As for our transgressions,

You will provide atonement for them.

4 Blessed is the man You choose,

And cause to approach You,

That he may dwell in Your courts.

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,

Of Your holy temple.

5 By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us,

Oh Jesus you hear my prayer. Though I transgress you have provided atonement with your own blood sacrifice. Please wash me clean. Thank you for calling me to you and providing me a way to approach and dwell with you. Please help me stay in you and hear you answer me. Amen. 

Psalm 65:2–5 (NKJV):  O You who hear prayer,

To You all flesh will come.

3 Iniquities prevail against me;

As for our transgressions,

You will provide atonement for them.

4 Blessed is the man You choose,

And cause to approach You,

That he may dwell in Your courts.

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,

Of Your holy temple.

5 By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us,

Oh Jesus you hear my prayer. Though I transgress you have provided atonement with your own blood sacrifice. Please wash me clean. Thank you for calling me to you and providing me a way to approach and dwell with you. Please help me stay in you and hear you answer me. Amen. 

Psalm 62:5–8 (NKJV): My soul, wait silently for God alone,

For my expectation is from Him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory;

The rock of my strength,

And my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Wait in silence

All you need comes from Him 

He ONLY is my rock, salvation, my glory, my strength, my defense, and my refuge. 

I shall not be moved! 

Trust Him at ALL times

Pour out your heart to Him!

Amen

Psalm 62:5–8 (NKJV): My soul, wait silently for God alone,

For my expectation is from Him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory;

The rock of my strength,

And my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Wait in silence

All you need comes from Him 

He ONLY is my rock, salvation, my glory, my strength, my defense, and my refuge. 

I shall not be moved! 

Trust Him at ALL times

Pour out your heart to Him!

Amen

Nothing but God

True love overcomes every obstacle, accepts every situation, makes any sacrifice to unite itself with him whom it loves. 

If we wish to be united to God, we must do exactly what the Word did to become united to human nature: he followed a path of prodigious self-abasement, of infinite humanity. Here these open before us the path of total abnegation, “the way of the nothing.” “All, nothing, all, nothing!” is the lullaby that St. John of the Cross sings to his God made man. “To come to possess all , desire the possession of nothing . . . Because if you desire to have something . . . your treasure in God is not purely your all” (Asc 1, 13:11-12). 

God will be our everything, the soul’s only treasure, when the soul, in order to possess him, is able to renounce every earthly good, even itself, in a perfect spirit of poverty and humility. Compared to the annihilation of the eternal Word, this program should not appear to us too austere and exacting. For anyone who loves Jesus, there can be nothing more spontaneous and desirable than to follow him and adapt oneself to him. 

To repay his infinite love, to prove our love for him, let us resolve to strip ourselves above all of selfishness, pride, vanity, all our righteous pretensions. What a striking contrast between these vain pretensions of self and the touching humility of the incarnate Word! St. Paul repeats: “Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God . . . emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” (Phil 2:5-7). Who would not love him who loves us so much?

Nothing but God

True love overcomes every obstacle, accepts every situation, makes any sacrifice to unite itself with him whom it loves. 

If we wish to be united to God, we must do exactly what the Word did to become united to human nature: he followed a path of prodigious self-abasement, of infinite humanity. Here these open before us the path of total abnegation, “the way of the nothing.” “All, nothing, all, nothing!” is the lullaby that St. John of the Cross sings to his God made man. “To come to possess all , desire the possession of nothing . . . Because if you desire to have something . . . your treasure in God is not purely your all” (Asc 1, 13:11-12). 

God will be our everything, the soul’s only treasure, when the soul, in order to possess him, is able to renounce every earthly good, even itself, in a perfect spirit of poverty and humility. Compared to the annihilation of the eternal Word, this program should not appear to us too austere and exacting. For anyone who loves Jesus, there can be nothing more spontaneous and desirable than to follow him and adapt oneself to him. 

To repay his infinite love, to prove our love for him, let us resolve to strip ourselves above all of selfishness, pride, vanity, all our righteous pretensions. What a striking contrast between these vain pretensions of self and the touching humility of the incarnate Word! St. Paul repeats: “Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God . . . emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” (Phil 2:5-7). Who would not love him who loves us so much?

Psalm 61:2–5 (ESV): when my heart is faint. 

  Lead me to the rock 

that is higher than I, 

 3  for you have been my refuge, 

a strong tower against the enemy. 

 4  Let me dwell in your tent forever! 

Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah 

 5  For you, O God, have heard my vows; 

you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 

Psalm 61:8 (ESV): So will I ever sing praises to your name, 

as I perform my vows day after day. 

God, lead me to You,my Rock, higher than I am. Be my refuge and tower against people who are opposed to me. I want to be with you all the time and hide in you shelter. I have a heritage of those who fear you-thank you for that! Help me sing your praises as I do my duties you have seen fit to give me this and everyday of my life. Amen!

Psalm 61:2–5 (ESV): when my heart is faint. 

  Lead me to the rock 

that is higher than I, 

 3  for you have been my refuge, 

a strong tower against the enemy. 

 4  Let me dwell in your tent forever! 

Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah 

 5  For you, O God, have heard my vows; 

you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 

Psalm 61:8 (ESV): So will I ever sing praises to your name, 

as I perform my vows day after day. 

God, lead me to You,my Rock, higher than I am. Be my refuge and tower against people who are opposed to me. I want to be with you all the time and hide in you shelter. I have a heritage of those who fear you-thank you for that! Help me sing your praises as I do my duties you have seen fit to give me this and everyday of my life. Amen!

Co-Dependecy

Co-dependency is when a person's need for approval or validation from others allows them to be controlled or manipulated, or that person might even attempt to do the same to someone else. Here are a few characteristics:

- Assuming responsibility for other's feelings and behaviors.

- Having difficulty identifying or expressing your own feelings

- Worrying about how others might respond to your feelings, opinions, or behaviors.

- Over-functioning to be needed, valued, or loved.

- Overly caring for others at the expense of your own needs.

- Being extremely loyal to the point of remaining in harmful situations too long.

- Tolerating and justifying abuse from others.

Set boundaries, accept Jesus as your Master, and realize that you are not responsible for how others may think or feel about you. 

Co-Dependecy

Co-dependency is when a person's need for approval or validation from others allows them to be controlled or manipulated, or that person might even attempt to do the same to someone else. Here are a few characteristics:

- Assuming responsibility for other's feelings and behaviors.

- Having difficulty identifying or expressing your own feelings

- Worrying about how others might respond to your feelings, opinions, or behaviors.

- Over-functioning to be needed, valued, or loved.

- Overly caring for others at the expense of your own needs.

- Being extremely loyal to the point of remaining in harmful situations too long.

- Tolerating and justifying abuse from others.

Set boundaries, accept Jesus as your Master, and realize that you are not responsible for how others may think or feel about you. 

Fight by Hiding

The tempter, satan, is real, but he is no one to fear.  You should pay no attention to him.  You should not engage his ideas.  You should not bargain with him.  In the face of temptations you should have courage, trust in the Mercy of God, and hope.  

Do not become curious about the sins of others, do not talk about them, do not be upset when mistreated, and do not complain.  

Seek wise counsel from others when confused and listen to their advice, as long as it leaves you at peace and is from the Lord.  Have strong convictions and do not worry about the battles of this world.  Keep your mind and heart on Jesus and let Him defend you. 

When you feel the oppression of the evil one, how do you react?  Do you allow your feelings to take over and enter into anger, despair and doubt?  

When a spiritual battle rages within, there is one defense.  Put your eyes on Jesus and not on the temptations or evils.  Seek out His peace and remain sheltered in His Mercy.  Reflect upon how well you do this.  If you struggle, then resolve to pray, pray and pray some more.

Lord, You and You alone can fight off the temptations of the evil one.  Give me the grace to keep my eyes on You and to trust in Your abundant Mercy.  Give me Your peace in times of adversity and courage to face all that I may endure.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Fight by Hiding

The tempter, satan, is real, but he is no one to fear.  You should pay no attention to him.  You should not engage his ideas.  You should not bargain with him.  In the face of temptations you should have courage, trust in the Mercy of God, and hope.  

Do not become curious about the sins of others, do not talk about them, do not be upset when mistreated, and do not complain.  

Seek wise counsel from others when confused and listen to their advice, as long as it leaves you at peace and is from the Lord.  Have strong convictions and do not worry about the battles of this world.  Keep your mind and heart on Jesus and let Him defend you. 

When you feel the oppression of the evil one, how do you react?  Do you allow your feelings to take over and enter into anger, despair and doubt?  

When a spiritual battle rages within, there is one defense.  Put your eyes on Jesus and not on the temptations or evils.  Seek out His peace and remain sheltered in His Mercy.  Reflect upon how well you do this.  If you struggle, then resolve to pray, pray and pray some more.

Lord, You and You alone can fight off the temptations of the evil one.  Give me the grace to keep my eyes on You and to trust in Your abundant Mercy.  Give me Your peace in times of adversity and courage to face all that I may endure.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Despite this they went on sinning;
they had no faith in his wonders:
so he ended their days like a breath
and their years in sudden ruin.

When he slew them then they would seek him,
return and seek him in earnest.
They would remember that God was their rock,
God the Most High their redeemer.

But the words they spoke were mere flattery;
they lied to him with their lips.
For their hearts were not truly with him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.

Yet he who is full of compassion
forgave them their sin and spared them.
So often he held back his anger
when he might have stirred up his rage.

He remembered they were only men,
a breath that passes never to return.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
— as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Despite this they went on sinning;
they had no faith in his wonders:
so he ended their days like a breath
and their years in sudden ruin.

When he slew them then they would seek him,
return and seek him in earnest.
They would remember that God was their rock,
God the Most High their redeemer.

But the words they spoke were mere flattery;
they lied to him with their lips.
For their hearts were not truly with him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.

Yet he who is full of compassion
forgave them their sin and spared them.
So often he held back his anger
when he might have stirred up his rage.

He remembered they were only men,
a breath that passes never to return.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
— as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

From a treatise against the heresy of Noetus by Saint Hippolytus, priest
The manifestation of the hidden mystery

There is only one God, brethren, and we learn about him only from sacred Scripture. It is therefore our duty to become acquainted with what Scripture proclaims and to investigate its teachings thoroughly. We should believe them in the sense that the Father wills, thinking of the Son in the way the Father wills, and accepting the teaching he wills to give us with regard to the Holy Spirit. Sacred Scripture is God’s gift to us and it should be understood in the way that he intends: we should not do violence to it by interpreting it according to our own preconceived ideas. 

God was all alone and nothing existed but himself when he determined to create the world. He thought of it, willed it, spoke the word and so made it. It came into being instantaneously, exactly as he had willed. It is enough then for us to be aware of a single fact: nothing is coeternal with God. Apart from God there was simply nothing else. Yet although he was alone, he was manifold because he lacked neither reason, wisdom, power, nor counsel. All things were in him and he himself was all. At a moment of his own choosing and in a manner determined by himself, God manifested his Word, and through him he made the whole universe. 

When the Word was hidden within God himself he was invisible to the created world, but God made him visible. First God gave utterance to his voice, engendering light from light, and then he sent his own mind into the world as its Lord. Visible before to God alone and not to the world, God made him visible so that the world could be saved by seeing him. This mind that entered our world was made known as the Son of God. All things came into being through him; but he alone is begotten by the Father. 

The Son gave us the law and the prophets, and he filled the prophets with the Holy Spirit to compel them to speak out. Inspired by the Father’s power, they were to proclaim the Father’s purpose and his will. 

So the Word was made manifest, as Saint John declares when, summing up all the sayings of the prophets, he announces that this is the Word through whom the whole universe was made. He says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through him all things came into being; not one thing was created without him. And further on he adds: The world was made through him, and yet the world did not know him. He entered his own creation, and his own did not receive him.

From a treatise against the heresy of Noetus by Saint Hippolytus, priest
The manifestation of the hidden mystery

There is only one God, brethren, and we learn about him only from sacred Scripture. It is therefore our duty to become acquainted with what Scripture proclaims and to investigate its teachings thoroughly. We should believe them in the sense that the Father wills, thinking of the Son in the way the Father wills, and accepting the teaching he wills to give us with regard to the Holy Spirit. Sacred Scripture is God’s gift to us and it should be understood in the way that he intends: we should not do violence to it by interpreting it according to our own preconceived ideas. 

God was all alone and nothing existed but himself when he determined to create the world. He thought of it, willed it, spoke the word and so made it. It came into being instantaneously, exactly as he had willed. It is enough then for us to be aware of a single fact: nothing is coeternal with God. Apart from God there was simply nothing else. Yet although he was alone, he was manifold because he lacked neither reason, wisdom, power, nor counsel. All things were in him and he himself was all. At a moment of his own choosing and in a manner determined by himself, God manifested his Word, and through him he made the whole universe. 

When the Word was hidden within God himself he was invisible to the created world, but God made him visible. First God gave utterance to his voice, engendering light from light, and then he sent his own mind into the world as its Lord. Visible before to God alone and not to the world, God made him visible so that the world could be saved by seeing him. This mind that entered our world was made known as the Son of God. All things came into being through him; but he alone is begotten by the Father. 

The Son gave us the law and the prophets, and he filled the prophets with the Holy Spirit to compel them to speak out. Inspired by the Father’s power, they were to proclaim the Father’s purpose and his will. 

So the Word was made manifest, as Saint John declares when, summing up all the sayings of the prophets, he announces that this is the Word through whom the whole universe was made. He says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through him all things came into being; not one thing was created without him. And further on he adds: The world was made through him, and yet the world did not know him. He entered his own creation, and his own did not receive him.

Today's Meditation “An excellent method of preserving interior silence is to keep exterior silence. . . even in the world, each one of us can make his own solitude, a boundary beyond which nothing can force its way unperceived. It is not noise in itself that is the difficulty, but noise that is pointless; it is not every conversation, but useless conversations; not all kinds of occupation, but aimless occupations. In point of fact, everything that does not serve some good purpose is harmful. It is foolish, nay, more, it is a betrayal to devote to a useless objective powers that can be given to what is essential. There are two ways of separating ourselves from almighty God, quite different from one another but both disastrous, although for different reasons: mortal sin and voluntary distractions—mortal sin, which objectively breaks off our union with God, and voluntary distractions, which subjectively interrupt or hinder our union from being as close as it ought to be. We should speak only when it is preferable not to keep silence. The Gospel does not say merely that we shall have to give an account of every evil word, but of every idle thought.” — St. Alphonsus Liguori, p. 44

Today's Meditation “An excellent method of preserving interior silence is to keep exterior silence. . . even in the world, each one of us can make his own solitude, a boundary beyond which nothing can force its way unperceived. It is not noise in itself that is the difficulty, but noise that is pointless; it is not every conversation, but useless conversations; not all kinds of occupation, but aimless occupations. In point of fact, everything that does not serve some good purpose is harmful. It is foolish, nay, more, it is a betrayal to devote to a useless objective powers that can be given to what is essential. There are two ways of separating ourselves from almighty God, quite different from one another but both disastrous, although for different reasons: mortal sin and voluntary distractions—mortal sin, which objectively breaks off our union with God, and voluntary distractions, which subjectively interrupt or hinder our union from being as close as it ought to be. We should speak only when it is preferable not to keep silence. The Gospel does not say merely that we shall have to give an account of every evil word, but of every idle thought.” — St. Alphonsus Liguori, p. 44

Daily Lectio Prayers

Daily Lectio Prayer

God
Isaiah 30:15 (ESV): In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.

I give myself to you GOD, to be with you and rest in you.

I consent to your presence and action within me.

Father
Matthew 6:6 (ESV): But when you pray, go into your room, and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

I go into the room of my soul, close the door, and pray with you in secret. Please renew my union with you and transform my heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

Son
Matthew 11:28 (ESV): Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

I come to you Jesus tired and heavy laden for rest in, with, and through you.

Cover me with your blood so I can be in your presence.

Holy Spirit
Romans 8:26 (ESV): The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Holy Spirit, I ask you to please help me rest and pray. 

Only you know what I need and how to pray for it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE WORD gives Spirit, Life, & Transformation 

James 1:21 (ESV): receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 

Humbly receive the word and implant it in your heart, soul, and mind and then obey it. 

John 6:63 (ESV): It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life

The Spirit is what gives me life and that is found in the WORD of God!

Romans 12:2 (ESV): Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

To be transformed you have to renew your mind. To renew your mind you have to use your thoughts. And you gave to use your thoughts on the WORD which gives spirit and life. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What is the Lord saying to you in these scriptures?

What can you say to the Lord in a response to His Word?

What conversion of Mind, Heart, and Life is the Lord asking of you today?

Spend a few moments in silence resting in the presence of the Lord. 

Nourished, by Gods Word, what is one specific way you can go forth and make your life a gift for others?

Rejoice always 

Pray without ceasing 

Give thanks in all circumstances 

This is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you