1 Corinthians 1:29-31

That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, 

who of God is made unto us 

wisdom, and righteousness, 

and sanctification, and redemption: 

That, according as it is written, 

He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

There is a Reason for Everything

God’s Providence Rules over ALL

Choice to respond to Grace-Everyone has a choice

Choose to Surrender and Accept-be empowered 

Peace - Resting in God knowing he’s worked it all out. 

Nothing in the world exists without a reason nor happens by chance; everything is part of the magnificent plan of divine providence. 

St. Augustine, says: “The all-powerful God would not let any evil get into his works, if he were not so powerful and good that he can draw good even from evil” (Enchiria. 11).

We need to be firmly convinced of this so as not to be scandalized by trials, nor harbor any doubts about divine providence. We can distrust ourselves, our goodness, and our faithfulness, but not God’s, for his goodness is above the heavens, his fidelity beyond the clouds, his fatherly providence guides everything (Ps 108:5; Wis 14:3).

God’s providence is so immense that, while it embraces the whole universe, it takes care of each individual creature in a special way. 

By loving us God calls us to life, infuses grace in us, invites us to holiness, draws us to himself, and gives us a share in his eternal happiness. Everything we are and have is the gift of his infinite love. As Vatican II affirms: “Man would not exist were he not created by God’s love and constantly preserved by it. And he cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and devotes himself to his Creator”

Are you wondering if the Gospel is for u?

YES!!

Luke 6:35b

for he is kind unto 

the unthankful 

and to the evil.

Revelation 22:17

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. 

And let him that heareth say, Come. 

And let him that is athirst come. 

And whosoever will, 

let him take the water of life freely.

Spiritual Adultery

BY JILL BRISCOE | JBU FOUNDER  

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”  ~ Deuteronomy 6:5

“You shall have no other gods before me.”  ~ Exodus 20:3-5

“Having a heart for God” means choosing to acquiesce to the will of God, not the dictums of the world. Anyone else who proposes a better set of rules to live by than God’s is an imposter and is of their father, the devil. God is love, but His heart was broken by the people He created.

The book of Genesis tells us that when God looked down into a world full of carnal people munching on forbidden fruit He was grieved. Humankind had chosen to become unfaithful and independent. As C.S. Lewis puts it, “The Great Divorce had happened and God was the injured party.” Men and women chose to love the world more than God who made it, chose to worship the creature rather than the Creator of all creatures! “Their foolish hearts were darkened;” they had ceased to be wise and had in fact become fools (Rom. 1:21-22).

Inclining one’s thoughts toward “only evil all the time” (Gen. 6:5) means having a basic mindset of self-interest rather than God-interest, buying into the wisdom and ways of the world. This could be described as spiritual adultery. 

When we place anything or anyone above God, we have committed spiritual adultery. What things in your life are you putting before God—loving more than Him? Do business with God today and ask Him to refocus your heart to love and keep Him first. 

Lord, my heart is broken to realize that I have been unfaithful to You, but I have. Forgive me for grieving Your heart in the ways that I have followed the world and my carnal self instead of You. Oh how I desire to bring joy and pleasure to Your heart. Strip away the things in my life that have taken the place of You. Give me eyes to see those things and the strength to remove them so You can take first place again. Refocus my heart and may Your Spirit help me to guard the affections of my heart. Amen.

A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit

I acknowledge my transgression, says David. If I admit my fault, then you will pardon it. Let us never assume that if we live good lives we will be without sin; our lives should be praised only when we continue to beg for pardon. But men are hopeless creatures, and the less they concentrate on their own sins, the more interested they become in the sins of others. They seek to criticize, not to correct. Unable to excuse themselves, they are ready to accuse others. This was not the way that David showed us how to pray and make amends to God, when he said: I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before me. He did not concentrate on others’ sins; he turned his thoughts on himself. He did not merely stroke the surface, but he plunged inside and went deep down within himself. He did not spare himself, and therefore was not impudent in asking to be spared.

Do you want God to be appeased? Learn what you are to do that God may be pleased with you. Consider the psalm again: If you wanted sacrifice, I would indeed have given it; in burnt offerings you will take no delight. Are you then to be without sacrifice? Are you to offer nothing? Will you please God without an offering? Consider what you read in the same psalm: If you wanted sacrifice, I would indeed have given it; in burnt offerings you will take no delight. But continue to listen, and say with David: A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; God does not despise a contrite and humble heart.Cast aside your former offerings, for now you have found out what you are to offer. In the days of your fathers you would have made offerings of cattle—these were the sacrifices. If you wanted sacrifice, I would indeed have given it.These then, Lord, you do not want, and yet you do want sacrifice.

You will take no delight in burnt offerings, David says. If you will not take delight in burnt offerings, will you remain without sacrifice? Not at all. A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; God does not despise a contrite and humble heart.

You now have the offering you are to make. No need to examine the herd, no need to outfit ships and travel to the most remote provinces in search of incense. Search within your heart for what is pleasing to God. Your heart must be crushed. Are you afraid that it might perish so? You have the reply: Create a clean heart in me, O God. For a clean heart to be created, the unclean one must be crushed.

We should be displeased with ourselves when we commit sin, for sin is displeasing to God. Sinful though we are, let us at least be like God in this, that we are displeased at what displeases him. In some measure then you will be in harmony with God’s will, because you find displeasing in yourself what is abhorrent to your Creator.

“Hear, O Israel”—Scripture repeats—“the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might” (Dt 6:4-5). This total subjection and adherence to God elevates rather than demeans us; it emancipates us from all earthly slavery, and enables us to find in “Him who is” that consistency, stability and unity which we would seek in vain in ourselves or in other created things.