PARADOXICAL
The faith chroniclesFriday, October 11, 2024
Francis Kong: "The Unbreakables"
"...[L]ook at the UNBREAKABLES. Adversity only makes them stronger. Ted W. Engstrom says: Cripple him and you have a Sir Walter Scott. Lock him in a prison cell and you have a John Bunyan. Bury him in the snows of Valley Forge and you have a George Washington. Raise him in abject poverty and you have an Abraham Lincoln. Strike him down in infantile paralysis and he becomes Franklin Roosevelt. Deafen him and you have a Ludwig van Beethoven. Have them born black in a society filled with racial discrimination and you have a Booker T. Washington, a Marian Anderson, a George Washington Carver. Call him a slow learner, “retarded,” and write him off as an uneducable and you have an Albert Einstein."
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Copy-pasted: Funny African proverbs
Villegas's Theology of Sickness
Villegas's Theology of Sickness
"My cancer (sarcoma) was caused by stress," Dr. Willie Ong recently said in one of his latest viral videos.
Not to demean his work or person or anything (I watch his videos now and then, and of course I join everyone in praying for his healing -- and candidacy), but the remark was so controversial, to me and many others, that I had to sit back and think through what I believe about sickness (and human suffering in general).
It is controversial because Dr. Ong practically concludes that mental stress causes cancer. If that is true, then all of the constantly stressed people we know, and there are so many of them, should also have cancer by now. It also comes from the presumption that disease -- literally the absence of ease -- is always (emphasis on always) the result of something bad that you did or others did to you.
Fortunately, other medical doctors quickly debunked the claim, though we can say stress may indeed be a contributory factor or may worsen it.
Anyway, the remark made me think once again about what causes sickness apart from the medical perspective. And in this regard, we may turn to the theology of sickness by one esteemed authority on the subject, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, who has already done the difficult task -- thank you -- of explaining it in a way that I happen to subscribe to. All I have to do is be quote-happy using YouTube videos of his homilies on the subject. I just hope I am not in any way putting words into his mouth.
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[START OF QUOTE] "THERE are sicknesses that get healed...at once. There are sicknesses that get healed but take time to heal. Then there are sicknesses that don't ever get healed (or sicknesses that have no cure).
'Why is God like that?
'Why do we get sick?'
Indeed, why are there people who are good but get sick? Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? 'If God loves me, why this?'
I don't know the answer. I don't have an answer. Sickness is essentially a mystery. ...Just like life is a mystery. ...Love, death is a mystery.
But even though we don't know the answer, I will stand by my belief that God will be with us in our suffering. God walks with us in the valley of darkness.
The poor, the sick, the handicapped... they represent the hardship of Jesus. They are, therefore, our Lord(s). An encounter with the sick (and oppressed) is an encounter with Jesus, the God who suffers.
Why is there sickness? I can only hazard a guess:
First of all, we should accept that physical sickness is not a punishment from God. You don't get sick because you committed a sin.
I would rather believe that sickness is a teacher, a lesson. There are lessons in life that only sickness, or death, or loneliness will be able to reveal to us, not success, not wealth, not fame, nor physical strength.
God allows sickness, not because He is uncaring, but because He wants us to teach a lesson. Sickness is a very good teacher.
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Second: Sickness is a reminder that we are not superheroes. Everybody gets sick. Again, you don't get sick because you are bad or being punished for what you did.
Sickness is a reminder that you are not God; you are human. And because you are human, you have a weakness.
Sickness is part of being human. It is a part of life. It is a reminder that all of us will get sick and will die.
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Third: Sickness is not only a reminder that we will all die, but also a reminder that there is life after death. There is a second life after this life, and that life is better than the first one, as it is life without end. No more chemotherapy, injections, vaccines, operations, implants. ...Where life is lived to the full, no more pain, nor hurt, nor hunger, nor lack.
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Fourth: Another reminder of illness is that you are not alone. When you are ill, you feel like you are alone in your illness and everyone must be mindful of it. But you are not the only one who is ill.
And if you are sick, you can still love. To choose to love even when you are in pain is the mission of all of us.
If it is the nature of the scorpion to sting, then it is our nature as humans to love (no matter the circumstances).
Pain is inevitable, but love is also our mission. That is how pain is part of the road to holiness.
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When you are sick, you can pray, 'Lord, heal me.'
If you get healed, thank God. If you didn't get healed, it is not because God didn't hear your prayer, but because he is teaching you something that you wouldn't learn if you are healthy.
If you didn't get healed, I hope you have some lessons learned.
In any case, a better life is waiting for you." [END OF QUOTE]
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If I may intrude into his meditation with some little rejoinders....
1. Indeed, what if sickness...heals? What if there is actually 'healing' in sickness, that is, psycho-spiritual healing? As somebody else put it, "We are sometimes so engrossed with being physically healed that we tend to forget that sickness itself can be a way to get healed, spiritually speaking, that is. ... Didn't Jesus himself go through pain and suffering? Didn't he, too, bleed that we might get healed?"
But...did Jesus ever get sick? I don't think so, for he was constantly the deliverer of maladies. But if he was indeed truly human, he would have had come down with a headache or flu at some point.
Anyway, the point is well taken. Jesus at least went through physical pain and discomfort, even of the worst kind: physical-emotional-psychological torture.
2. But certainly, sickness is not ideal. I will never prefer it. Like hell, sickness is not part of God's original plan. After all, it is Adam and Eve's fall from grace (and the rebellious angels, now devils, that tempted them) that brought it upon us, not God. Illness is inherently bad.
3. As for sickness per se, actually, there are sicknesses that are self-inflicted like lifestyle diseases, drug addiction, incidents due to carelessness, etc. And it is probably in this limited area where the wellness movement operates.
Friday, September 27, 2024
Wellness: A Movement, a Lifestyle
Wellness: A Movement, a Lifestyle
Wellness is a big word. It emerged in mainstream use in the past few decades as a kind of catch-all that deserves other big words when defined. For indeed when discussed as an umbrella term, it cuts across disciplinary lines and, like other complex concepts, there is difficulty in capturing it its entirety it in one sitting.What exactly is wellness? In broad strokes, it is understood today as the state of being well in body, mind, and spirit. It is, in this sense, almost synonymous to the concept of wholeness.
But to physicians, it used to be just an innocuous word meaning “the state of having a clean bill of health.” Psychologists, in their own rarefied view, naturally referred to it as being mentally sound. The religious would, of course, regard it on a higher plane: it means having a soul in a state of purity.
But things eventually changed such that these disparate fields were shaken from their position of self-assurance, forcing them to acknowledge aspects of wellness they hardly ever considered before, pleading incapacity. From the Age of Specialization or Differentiation, there was a notable shift to the Age of Integration.
Suddenly, the lines blurred, and at least to my eyes, a kind of comedy ensued, as food became medicine, kitchen comestibles turned into cosmetics, and physicians sounded like psychologists and pastors and vice-versa. The “non-overlapping magisteria” that are science and religion, as Stephen Jay Gould put it, suddenly stopped being parallel lines and start intersecting with each other.
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The winds of paradigmatic change were practically blowing in all directions, as a result. The comparatively rigid field of medicine especially was not spared the upheaval, which came largely unanticipated. What was once laughable, because shrouded in superstition, was now given some scientific consideration. And what was once suspiciously called “alternative” was now being touted as “complementary” or even “supportive,” if not “integrative.” A “holistic” approach to medicine emerged, based on the concept that the mind, the body, and the spirit are intricately connected, such that a disconnect in one realm instantaneously affects the others. Now, there is talk about the "gut-brain axis."
But as in any major changes, there were always the holdouts. Many M.D.s today remain contemptuous of the new modalities of treatment, convinced that Western medicine is the only orthodox path to healing. Still, they cannot discount the fact that not a few of their fellow practitioners are giving complementary medicine a second look. Dr. Sigfried Galang of The Farm at San Benito is one such doctor. He is among those who believe that “health is the perfect balance between the physical, mental, and spiritual body of an individual,” taking his cue from Dr. Dennis Gersten’s aphorism: “Holistic approach means recognizing that the mind and spirit have a direct powerful effect on how the body functions.”
For Dr. Galang, however, the holistic approach inherent in the wellness movement is more about disease prevention than cure, as for example, in the various detoxification processes he advocates at The Farm. Their most popular therapy, he says, is colon hydrotherapy, specifically “colema” or coffee enema (Dr. Gerson therapy), which is touted to detoxify the liver. Apart from colonics, this particular Lipa City resort offers a very long list of “integrated medical services,” including “nutritional microscopy,” acupuncture, art therapy, “miracle science,” and “biorhythm analysis.”
Perhaps even more tellingly, popular and specialized medical websites such as WebMD, PubMed/NCBI, and FirstConsult now devote space to herbal and Chinese medicine, not as an afterthought, but with uncharacteristic attentiveness. On the other hand, ordinary folks – mouthing their weariness over synthetic drugs’ exorbitant price and perceived side effects, and scared of going through invasive surgery and pain – are having the same reconsideration on their own. They are prodded, no doubt, by a host of TV and AM radio shows devoted to alternative medicine.
By the ’90s, the Philippine government itself had no choice but to adjust. In 1992, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary, Dr. Juan M. Flavier, launched the Traditional Medicine Program. In 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law Republic Act 8423 or the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act, from which sprouted the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care or PITAHC. Another well-known doctor, Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, openly advocated herbal medicine at the risk of being laughed at by peers. By the 2010s, 10 traditional medicinal plants would be “endorsed by the DOH as herbal medicine.” Flavier would be known as the “father of alternative medicine” in the Philippines, and Galvez Tan an “integrative doctor.” Eventually, another batch of herbals would be added to the endorsed list.
However, Dr. Irene Peñamante, a naturopath, says that in the Philippine context, what is regarded as new today is, in fact, rooted in ancient practices. She said wellness has a long, checkered but interesting history, from quack doctors of pre-conquest era peddling what passed for as their version of snake oil, followed by the so-called mananambal, magtatawas, and albularyo (from herbolario) who resorted to the “tapal-tapal” (application of fire-heated leaves) method of healing. Western medicine, she continued, was introduced during the American era, and with it came the introduction of synthetic drugs. Completing the picture was the popularity of the hilot (a sort of massage therapist), the medico (who mixed Western medicine, or allopathy, with indigenous practices), and the faith healer. It would take several decades more before the concept of using health food, particularly herbs, to regain health would again take center stage. Naturopathy, an American-European concept, is currently undergoing certification in the country.
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When the wellness concept inevitably invaded the hospitality industry, it was in this melded form: part-medicine, part-psychology, part-spirituality. Newspaper columnist Cory Quirino was no longer just a beauty expert but a health and fitness connoisseur as well, not to mention a spiritual guru. In the traditional trimedia, now called “legacy media,” there was suddenly an explosion of ads pushing as beauty-enhancing agents what used to be exclusively known as food ingredients. Hotels and resorts began offering gourmet food not only for the flesh but also for the soul. Organic produce, meaning nutritious food produced without pesticides, as well as food labels certifying fair trade and sustainable practices, became sought-after. Farm-to-table and locavorism were among the new concepts being bandied about, as were herb-infused bath products and biodegradable packaging. Being green and socially responsible was suddenly cool in the hospitality industry.
Then one day, everybody who’s anybody in the business was offering a host of massage techniques and spa treatments. In their 2007 book, Wellness on the Islands: The Philippine Spa Experience, Luca Invernizzi Tettoni and Elizabeth V. Reyes focus on the spa as the vortex of the wellness enterprise, but the inside pages reveal a fuller extent of what this "spa experience" means. This old travel and lifestyle writer thought he has tried it all (name it – from shiatsu, Thai, Swedish, ventosa, cranial massage with lavender oil, to foot spa and even dagdagay, the Cordillera foot massage using sticks, with the exception of maybe the kawa bath in Antique), but this book shows he still doesn't know half of it. There is also apparently the use of hot stones, herbal pouches, mud and clay, seawater and seaweed, coffee and sugar, rice, salt and sand, banana leaves to diagnose problematic body parts, berries and lemongrass, hair spa, hand spa, and honey and bee sting therapy. And these are all often mentioned in the same breath as yoga, tai chi and qigong.
Notably, part of this development was the resurrection, and modernization, of the hilot, together with a cachet of native terminology: suob, baños, hampol, kalawag… An unthinkable prospect became a fad too: juicing as a cleansing strategy, i.e., the use of vegetable and fruit juice as a way, supposedly, to get rid of food-borne toxins in the body such as pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and preservatives.
The field of psychology, for its part, became replete with practitioners who espoused the eclectic psychospiritual approach to counseling and therapy, merging two supposedly separate branches of knowledge and praxis. Would the development of the subfield of nutritional psychology be far behind?
With high-end hospitals striving to look like hotels and resorts, further blurring the lines, it would not take too long before religious retreat houses started reengineering their meals too to resemble “cleansing diets” and “spa cuisine,” their facilities upgraded to include therapeutic massages, and their rooms refurbished to look like luxurious vacation houses that anticipate paradise by approximating it on earth. Then again, the mind-body-spirit dictum has already extended its long tentacles to the spiritual realm, if we go by priests and nuns openly connecting bodily ailment and soul disease in case we are still missing the point. It’s anybody’s guess where this continuous merging of formerly disparate consciousness will lead us.
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Now if the foregoing sounds like we have taken the concept too far, that’s because that is how far indeed the mammoth wellness train has traveled: from being all about physical fitness to being an entire movement, if not lifestyle, and as such, one that is poised to become a mainstay of the future.
Tuesday, September 03, 2024
Why Act So Surprised?
"We shouldn't be surprised when others commit sin." This quote from a saint I encountered somewhere convicted me lately. I remember how, in conversations, I would sometimes react like I am so surprised that someone could be capable of committing this and that infraction or crime, implying it is something I would never expect because out of character.
Then I am suddenly reminded of what a noted psychologist once said: "All of us, without exception, are capable of anything, anything at all, under the right circumstances." I am humbled by this thought, as I remember the many lows in character that I proved to myself to be capable of, especially in my younger years. If I picture Jesus' handwritings, whether on the wall or on the ground, to remind me of my past sins, as in those pertinent Biblical passages, I won't be able to deny the truth in that psychologist's statement.
This singular statement is now a constant guide for me. It is a sure guard, I realize, against spiritual pride and any sense of moral superiority hiding inside me or I am prone to.
I can now appreciate better the Latin saying, "Nihil humanum, mihi alienum." ("Nothing human is alien to me.") Since I am human, fallen nature and all, I have the capacity in me to understand anything involving humanity, whatever it may be. I can put on a criminal's mind at will -- or a sinner's posture, if you will -- and find some sort of communion there, just because I too am mere human. I can't possibly play pretend. I have it in me to transcend my weaknesses, yes, but that's not the point. I can't even be proud that I am able to do good; in fact, I am only able to do good i so far as I am open to this mysterious force called divine grace. Absent of grace, I am a mixed bag -- perhaps largely good, as consistent with human nature, and definitely, partly hopelessly evil.
With the constant reminder of never underestimating our dark shadow, it is very hard to be judgmental towards other people, and it is impossible to be judgmental without feeling hypocritical.
Saturday, August 24, 2024
Notes on Mental Health
Notes on Mental Health
Years ago, mere mention of the words "mental health" would conjure wild thoughts in the mind of most people. "Mental" was such a freighted word or a loaded expression in conversations, pregnant with such negative connotations.
In fact, among Filipinos, "mental" is synonymous with "crazy" or "psycho." It is also unfortunately associated with the National Mental Hospital, now called the National Center for Mental Health. The City of Mandaluyong in Metro Manila where it is located has this singular misfortune of being made synonymous with "mental = crazy." "Naku, itinakbo siya sa Mental." "Ikulong na yan sa Mandaluyong."
These days, things seem to have winded down a bit. Common people have become a lot more informed especially after they themselves experienced a variety of mental health conditions at the height of the covid pandemic. Apparently, a lot of people have realized that no one is exempt or immune from mental health issues, even people who come off as emotionally strong. After all, who hasn't experienced anxiety, panic attack, sleeplessness or insomnia, nightmares, loss of appetite, lack of drive, weird phobias, low self-esteem? Who has not met someone who was raped, experienced incest, attempted or committed suicide, was into drugs, or in a codependent or toxic relationship?
Hopefully, time will come when the words "mental health" or even "mental illness" would have far less stigma than before, no different from, say, physical ailment.
It is indeed good that it is now being discussed out in the open, instead of in hushed tones, and among the greater public instead of being restricted to academics and mental health professionals. But I think the public conversation is just getting started. Awareness of the issue, while a giant step in itself, is only just the beginning of a good thing, just "a first step in a journey of a thousand miles," to quote Lao Tzu or something.
This is because mental health is a complicated topic. Part of the reason is that it is just like medicine at large: it has such a big scope, and there are so many competing theories underlying the field, and worse, the debate is ongoing. The development of knowledge in the field is so fast that if you don't take time to read up on it, you won't be able to keep abreast of it.
Nevertheless, it is hoped that people will continue to study the subject on their own in each of their own search for mental health or overall wellbeing or wholeness, in their own search for finding meaning in life, finding fulfillment, and other such serious pursuits. After all, healing takes a lot of time and conscious effort. You can't possibly resolve any mental concern overnight.
Today, I'd like to share some of the mental health therapies and wellness modalities I have learned through the years of delving on the subject as a layman and writer-researcher.
Basic Communication Study
One of the basic things to watch out in mental wellness is self-awareness. Why? Because denial is such a big thing when one goes through some disturbing issues that lead to personality complexes; it is part of the natural instinct to protect one's fragile ego, but to one's own detriment in the long run. Studying the different levels of communication is thus essential in sorting out the kind of person you are in terms of how you communicate your thoughts and feelings.
Study of Defense Mechanisms
Another essential matter is the study of defense mechanisms. Here, the individual is made aware of himself/herself on a deeper level. Being made self-aware of how one copes up with life in an unhealthy way through distorted views of reality is being on the road to mental wellbeing.
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Those with really serious issues like addictions, obsessions, compulsions, unexplained and intense sadness, fear, anger, shame, or any irrational because excessive emotion that indicates some compensatory behavioral strategy, etc. need to resort to other various modes of therapy.
Inner Child Retreat
If one truly wants healing, one needs to go out of his/her way to find it. One must be willing to undergo "psychological archaeology" to help resolve issues. Otherwise, forces beyond one's awareness and comprehension will be the one dictating one's behavior. And we all know that bad behavior of course impinges on one's sense of self and relationships.
An inner child retreat allows you to delve into how the things you experienced as a child shaped you to who you are today. You can trace the undesirable parts of yourself to your upbringing and how you reacted to it, and once made aware, you can start to reassess yourself in the face of this reality.
Counseling
Whether in individual or group sessions, talk therapy is beneficial in sorting out the issues you are unable to process alone. Contrary to others' views, this is not a selfish act nor is it an indication that you are going crazy, but a necessity towards your journey to mental wellbeing.
Journaling
Keeping track of your thought life through a journal or diary is helpful in sorting out your thoughts and feelings and making sense of them.
Use of Genogram
Many of the things we are unaware of about ourselves are directly inherited from both sides of our family. In our confusion, it is eye-opening to know which traits and tendencies come from. This is not to put the blame on anyone from our past or to find fault in ourselves, but to know oneself several notches better towards clarity. It pays to know how genetics and epigenetics have such a large role to play in who we are as a person. Knowledge of this reality will help us transcend or sublimate our personal realities toward to the kind of person we want to be.
Bibliotherapy
Reading emotionally evocative and thought-provoking books and novels, watching quality plays, musicals, and movies, and even watching such autobiographical TV shows as "Maalaala Mo Kaya" and "Magpakailanman" are helpful in keeping in touch with our own thoughts and emotions. No matter the story, each life story, after all, imparts important lessons to many people. You never know how someone's story will resonate with your own in a way that is mind-blowing or life-changing. In the realm of psychotherapy, an encounter with stories that resonate with the individual helps lower the person's defenses.
Empty Chair Technique
A specific method to wellness is revisiting portions of your past that are unsettling or lacking in closure and allowing yourself to be able to say the things you were unable to say just to find closure.
Trauma Therapy, Including EMDR and Hypnosis
EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a method of re-establishing connections between the right part of the brain with the left part of the brain, based on the assumption that a traumatic experience severs such a connection, resulting in unexpressed emotions like anger and grief and un-processed 'material' in the mind.
Hypnosis may be resorted to with the help of a licensed professional, of course, as it endeavors to venture into the subconscious and unconscious, particularly memories of traumatic experiences buried so deep in the psyche, in the hope of shedding light on the present and resolving disturbing issues that cannot be easily resolved through usual means.
Reframing
After reaching a high level of self-awareness, you are now ready to reframe the past by looking at it far more objectively than when you are being controlled by it. This releases you from the shackles of the past, liberating you from the way your "automatic mental scripts" control you subconsciously or unconsciously. This can only be an exhilarating experience, of course, as you emerge feeling exorcised from the evil that has been bugging you for so long.
Gratitude Therapy/Positive Psychology
If you are experiencing intense sadness due to a negative life event, and supposing there is no issue with unexpressed emotions, it could help to take an inventory of what is there instead of getting stuck with what is missing in your life. You'd be surprised to find a lot of blessings, many of which may have been hidden from your memory all along.
Neurolinguistic Programming
I have been hearing this for so long, but I am unable to wrap my head around it so far, so I can't comment on it for now.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT is a form of therapy that focuses on symptoms of psychological distress by examining the interconnections between your behavior and automatic thoughts, core beliefs, as well as cognitive distortions in order to challenge these thought processes and changing them towards desired thoughts and behaviors.
Gestalt Therapy
Based on the belief that 'broken' individuals have disjointed thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations (in contrast to 'whole' individuals) as a result of trauma of some sort, Gestalt therapy focuses on "present-moment awareness and the integration of fragmented aspects of the self" using "experiential techniques such as role-playing, empty chair dialogue, and mindfulness exercises to facilitate self-discovery and promote personal growth." "Instead of focusing solely on symptom reduction, it encourages exploration of unresolved issues and unfinished business, fostering greater self-awareness and authenticity."
Dream Analysis
Recurrent dreams are significant; they have something to tell us -- they often reflect back unprocessed, unconscious material to our consciousness, so it is best to pay attention.
Medications
Of course, in severe cases, the intervention of psychiatric prescriptions is necessary.
Religion/Spirituality/Retreats
While it is true that you cannot just pray away your mental health problems, you can never discount the value of prayer and spiritual approaches, including intercessory prayers. If all else fails, this could be your only hope.
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Other Practical 'Therapies'
Depending on the issue, one can resort to a host of other therapies: physical exercise, massage, aromatherapy, breathing exercises, vagus nerve exercises, acupuncture, communing with nature, joining a support group/group therapy, enjoying some hobbies, etc.
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Precautions: Psychotherapy vis-a-vis Christian POV, Etc.
Beware of the pitfalls of the secular application of psychological concepts, as it tends to get you stuck at a self-centered position, in contrast to contextualizing therapies in the broader context of spiritual healing and wholeness. After all, the journey towards mental wellbeing is not much different from the pursuit of spiritual wholeness -- in other words, holiness.
Then there's the danger of abusing the use of psychological terms and psychiatric diagnoses to refer to normal negative behaviors or mere character weakness or to rationalize bad choices in life, e.g., saying you are depressed when in fact you are merely sad. Personally, I find the use the word 'abuse' much abused with overuse, especially since it's a term with unclear and inexact meaning and thus prone to misinterpretation.
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Having said all these, it is unfortunate that, even though the need for help among many sufferers is quite pressing, our society is ill equipped at addressing their concerns. There are just not enough counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists, especially in the countryside, and if they are available at all, counseling and psychotherapeutic sessions cost an arm and leg, way out of reach of most people. In Metro Manila, the only institutions I know that render pro bono work are church-based. One is the Redemptorist church (Our Lady of Perpetual Help national shrine's St. Gerard Family Life Center) in Baclaran and the other is the Psycho-Trauma Clinic in St. Aquinas Research Complex, UST, Sampaloc.
Thursday, July 25, 2024
God's word of the day to me
" Bask in the luxury of being fully understood and unconditionally loved. Dare to see yourself as I see you : radiant in My righteousness, cleansed by My blood. I view you as the one I created you to be, the one you will be in actuality when heaven becomes home. It is My Life within you that is changing you from glory to glory. Rejoice in this mysterious miracle! Thank Me continually for the amazing gift of My Spirit within you. "
" Try to depend on the help of the Spirit as you go through this day of life. Pause briefly from time to time so you can consult with this Holy One inside you. He will not force you to do his bidding, but He will guide you as you give Him space in your life. Walk along this wondrous way of collaboration with My Spirit. "
" You will always face trouble in this life. But more importantly, you will always have Me with you, helping you to handle whatever you encounter. Approach problems with a light touch by viewing them in My revealing Light."
" Let My Presence override everything you experience. Like a luminous veil of Light, I hover over you and everything around you. I am training you to stay conscious of Me in each situation you encounter. "
" When you feel distance from Me, say, " Surely the Lord is in this place!" Then ask Me to give you awareness of My Presence. This is a prayer that I delight to answer. "
" Your needs and My riches are a perfect fit. I never meant for you to be self-sufficient. Instead, I designed you to need Me not only for daily bread but also for fulfillment of deep yearnings. I carefully crafted your longings and feelings of incompleteness to point you to Me. Therefore, do not try to bury or deny these feelings. Beware also of trying to pacify these longings with lesser gods: people, possessions, power. "
" Come to Me in all your neediness, with defenses down and with desire to be blessed. As you spend time in My Presence, your deepest longings are fulfilled. Rejoice in your neediness, which enables you to find intimate completion in Me. "
" I am working on your behalf. Bring me all your concerns, including your dreams. Talk with Me about everything, letting the Light of My Presence shine on your hopes and plans. Spend time allowing My Light to infuse your dreams with life, gradually transforming them into reality. This is a very practical way of collaborating with me. I, the Creator of the universe, have deigned to cocreate with you. "
" Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses. "
" I am taking care of you. Feel the warmth and security of being enveloped in My loving Presence. Every detail of your life is under My control. Moreover, everything fits into a pattern for good, to those who love Me and are called according to My design and purpose. Because the world is in an abnormal, fallen condition, people tend to think that chance governs the universe. Events may seem to occur randomly, with little or no meaning. People who view the world this way have overlooked one basic fact: the limitations of human understanding. "
" If you could only see how close I am to you and how constantly I work on your behalf, you would never again doubt that I am wonderfully caring for you. This is why you must live by faith, not by sight, trusting in My mysterious, majestic Presence. "
" Still let us all be John the Baptist who will continue to carry out the mission of preparing for the way of the Lord. He has already come but He will come again. There maybe many obstacles as we do this mission but nothing can stop us. The Christ in us is alive and He is our strength, not only for this moment but the rest of our life. "
" Let us be the the voice crying out in the desert proclaiming the Good News of salvation. "
" Do not be weighed down by the clutter in your life. Remember that your ultimate goal is living close to Me, being responsive to My initiatives. I can communicate with you most readily when your mind is uncluttered and turned toward Me. Seek My Face continually throughout this day. Let My Presence bring order to your thoughts, infusing Peace into your entire being. "
" Softly I announce My Presence. Shimmering hues of radiance tap gently at your consciousness, seeking entrance. Though I have all Power in heaven and on earth, I am infinitely tender with you. The weaker you are, the more gently I approach you. Let your weakness be a door to My Presence. Whenever you feel inadequate, remember that I am your ever-present Help. "
" Hope in Me, and you will be protected from depression and self-pity. Hope is like a golden cord connecting you to heaven. The more you cling to this cord, the more I bear the weight of your burdens; thus, you are lightened. Heaviness is not of My kingdom. Cling to hope, and My rays of Light will reach you through the darkness. " Amen🙏🙏🙏
January 10
Jan 10, 2024, 9:30 AM
Alan
Alan Yabyabin
" I am with you and for you. When you decide on a course of action that is in line with My will, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop you. You may encounter many obstacles as you move toward your goal, but don't be discouraged----never give up! With My help, you can overcome any obstacle. Do not expect an easy path as you journey hand in hand with Me, but do remember that I, your very-present Helper, am omnipotent. "
" Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come. One of the main ways I assert My sovereignty is in the timing of events. If you want to stay close to Me and do things My way, ask Me to show you the path forward moment by moment. Instead of dashing headlong toward your goal, let Me set the pace. Slow down and enjoy the journey in My Presence. " Amen🙏🙏🙏
January 11
Jan 11, 2024, 7:01 AM
Alan
Alan Yabyabin
Amen🙏Thank you Lord! Without you, I am nothing. I love you Lord!
St. Rita (Saint of the impossible) devotional group
January 12
Jan 12, 2024, 12:21 AM
Alan
Alan Yabyabin
Amen🙏Lord, you are the center in my life! Your kingdom is everlasting! Your ways are perfect!
St. Rita (Saint of the impossible) devotional group
Amen
January 12
Jan 12, 2024, 8:18 AM
Alan
Alan Yabyabin
" Trust Me by relinquishing control into My hands. Let go, and recognize that I am God. This is My world: I made it and I control it. Yours is a responsive part in the litany of Love. I search among My children for receptivity to Me. Guard well this gift that I have planted in your heart. Nurture it with the Light of My Presence. "
" When you bring Me prayer requests, lay out your concerns before Me. Speak to Me candidly; pour out your heart. Then thank Me for the answers that I have set into motion long before you can discern results. When you thank Me for how I am answering your prayers, your mind-set becomes much more positive. Thankful prayers keep your focus on My Presence and My Promises. "
Amen🙏🙏🙏
January 13
Jan 13, 2024, 9:37 AM
Alan
Alan Yabyabin
" Let Me prepare you for the day that stretches out before you. I know exactly what this day will contain, whereas you have only vague ideas about it. You would like to see a map, showing all the twists and turns of your journey. You'd feel more prepared if you could somehow visualize what is on the road ahead. However, there is a better way to be prepared for whatever you will encounter today. Spend quality time with Me. "
" I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey. My living presence is your Companion each step of the way. Stay to continual communication with Me, whispering My Name whenever you need to redirect your thoughts. Thus, you can walk through this day with your focus on Me. My abiding Presence is the best road map available. " Amen🙏🙏🙏
January 14
Jan 14, 2024, 3:34 PM
Alan
Alan Yabyabin
" Try to view each day as an adventure, carefully planned out by your Guide. Instead of staring into the day that is ahead of you, attempting to program it according to your will, be attentive to Me and to all I have prepared for you. Thank Me for this day of life, recognizing that it is a precious , unrepeatable gift. Trust that I am with you each moment, whether you sense My Presence or not. A thankful, trusting attitude helps you to see events in your life from My perspective. "
" A life lived close to Me will never be dull or predictable. Expect each day to contain surprises! Resist your tendency to search for the easiest route through the day. Be willing to follow wherever I lead. No matter how steep or treacherous the path before you, the safest place to be is by My side. " Amen🙏🙏🙏
January 14
Jan 14, 2024, 10:13 PM
Alan
Alan Yabyabin
Amazing old movie and cast!
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Kinulayang mga larawan ng nakaraan
The cast of the 1954 Sampaguita movie “Dalagang Ilocana” includes: other cast
1. Gloria Romero as Lilibeth
2. Ric Rodrigo as Tony
3. Tony Santos Sr. as Don Julian
4. Ben Perez as Don Manuel
5. Carol Varga as Nena
6. Bella Flores as Doña Juliana
7. Etang Discher as Doña Consuelo
8. Fred Montilla as Don Jose
9. Aruray as Neneng
10. Dely Atay-Atayan as Doña Marie
11.rodolfo quizon dolpy
12. Rudy Francisco
Colorized by legit digital colorist Homer Fernandez
#PhilippineCinema #classicfilm #GloriaRomero #dolphy #rudyfrancisco #ricorodrigo #classicfilms
#philippinefilmhistory #sampaguitapictures
Kinulayang mga larawan ng nakaraan
#filipinodigitalArtsInternational
#Philippines
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January 15
Jan 15, 2024, 6:20 AM
Alan
Alan Yabyabin
" Let Me bless you with My grace and Peace. Open your heart and mind to receive all that I have for you. Do not be ashamed of your emptiness. Instead, view it as the optimal condition for being filled with My Peace. "
" It is easy to touch up your outward appearance, to look as if you have it all together. Your attempts to look good can fool most people. But I see straight through you, into the depths of your being. There is no place for pretense in your relationship with Me. Rejoice in the relief of being fully understood. Talk with Me about your struggles and feelings of inadequacy. Little by little, I will transform your weaknesses into strengths. Remember your relationship with Me is saturated in grace. Therefore, nothing that you do or don't do can separate you from My Presence. " Amen🙏🙏🙏
January 16
Jan 16, 2024, 7:19 AM
Alan
Alan Yabyabin
" My Face is shining upon you, beaming out Peace that transcends understanding. You are surrounded by a sea of problems, but you are face-to-face with Me, your Peace. As long you are focus on Me, you are safe. If you gaze too long at the myriad problems around you, you will sink under the weight of your burdens. When you start to sink, simply call out, " Help me, Jesus! " and I will lift you up. "
" The closer you live to Me, the safer you are. Circumstances around you are undulating, and there are treacherous-looking waves in the distance. Fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes. By the time those waves reach you, they will have shrunk to proportions of My design. I am always beside you, helping you face today's waves. The future is a phantom, seeking to spook you. Laugh at the future! Stay close to Me. " Amen🙏🙏🙏
January 17
Jan 17, 2024, 12:23 PM
Alan
Alan Yabyabin
" Come to Me, and rest in My loving Presence. You know that this day will bring difficulties, and you are trying to think your way through those trials. As you anticipate what is ahead of you, you forget that I am with you----now and always. Rehearsing your troubles results in experiencing them many times, whereas you are meant to go through them only when they actually occur. Do not multiply your suffering in this way! Instead, come to Me, and relax in My Peace. I will strengthen you and prepare you for this day, transforming your fear into confident trust. " Amen🙏🙏🙏
January 18
Jan 18, 2024, 8:17 AM
Alan
Alan Yabyabin
" Come to Me with a thankful heart so that you can enjoy My Presence. This is the day that I have made. I want you to rejoice today, refusing to worry about tomorrow. Search for all that I have prepared for you, anticipating abundant blessings and accepting difficulties as they come. I can weave miracles into the most mundane day if you keep your focus on Me. "
" Come to Me with all your needs, knowing that My glorious riches are a more-than-adequate supply. Stay in continual communication with Me so that you can live above your circumstances even while you are in the midst of them. Present your requests to Me with thanksgiving, and My Peace, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your heart and mind. "
Lord, you are the center in my life! Without you I am nothing. I love you Lord! Be done to me according to your divine will and plan!
" I am leading you along the high road, but there are descents as well as ascents. In the distance you see snow-covered peaks glistening in brilliant sunlight. Your longing to reach those peaks is good, but you must not take shortcuts. Your assignment is to follow Me, allowing Me to direct your path. Let the heights beckon you onward, but stay close to Me. "
" Learn to trust Me when things go " wrong ". Disruptions to your rourine highlight your dependence on Me. Trusting acceptance of trials brings blessings that far outweigh them all. Walk hand in hand with Me through this day. I have lovingly planned every inch of the way. Trust does not falter when the path becomes rocky and steep. Breathe deep draughts of My Presence, and hold tightly to My hand. Together we can make it! "
" Seek My Face, and you will find more than you ever dreamed possible. Let Me displace worry at the center of your being. I am like a supersaturated cloud, showering Peace into the pool of your mind. My nature is to bless. Your nature is to receive with thanksgiving. This is a true fit, designed before the foundation of the world. Glorify Me by receiving My blessings gratefully. "
" I am the goal of all your searching. When you seek Me, you find Me and are satisfied. When lesser goals capture your attention. I fade into the background of your life. I am still there, watching and waiting, but you function as if you were alone. Actually, My Light shines on every situation you will ever face. Live radiantly by expanding your focus to include Me in all your moments. Let nothing dampen your search for Me. "
" Approach this day with awareness of Who is Boss. As you make plans for the day, remember that it is I who orchestrates the events of your life. On days when things go smoothly, according to your plans, you may be unaware of My sovereign Presence. On days when your plans are thwarted, be on the lookout for Me! I may be doing something important in your life, something quite different from what you expected. It is essential at such times to stay in communication with Me, accepting My way as better than yours. Don't try to figure out what is happening. Simply trust Me and thank Me in advance for the good that will come out of it all. I know the plans I have for you, and they are good. "
" I want you to be all Mine. I am weaning you from other dependencies. Your security rests in Me alone----not in other people, not in circumstances. Depending only on Me may feel like walking on a tightrope, but there is a safety net underneath: the everlasting arms. So don't be afraid of falling. Instead, look ahead to Me. I am always before you, beckoning you on----one step at a time. Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, can separate you from My loving Presence. "
You are Lord of Lords and King of Kings! My Lord and Personal Savior! Without you, I am nothing. Jesus, I trust in you!🙏
" Strive to trust Me in more and more areas of your life. Anything that tends to make you anxious is a growth opportunity. Instead of running away from these challenges, embrace them, eager to gain all the blessings I have hidden in the difficulties. If you believe that I am sovereign over every aspect of your life, it is possible to trust Me in all situations. Don't waste energy regretting the way things are or thinking about what might have been. Start at the present moments---accepting things exactly as they are----and search for My way in the midst of those circumstances. "
" Trust is like a staff you can lean on as you journey uphill with Me. If you are trusting in Me consistently, the staff will bear as much of your weight as needed. Lean on, trust, and be confident in Me with all your heart and mind. "
" It's all right to be human. When your mind wanders while you are praying, don't be surprised or upset. Simply return your attention to Me. Rejoice in My Love for you, which has no limits or conditions. Whisper My Name in loving contentment, assured that I will never leave or forsake you. Intersperse these peaceful interludes abundantly throughout day. This practice will enable you to attain a quiet and gentle spirit, which is pleasing to Me. "
" As you live in close contact with Me, the Light of My Presence filters through you to bless others. Your weakness and woundedness are the openings through which the Light of the knowledge of My Glory shines forth. My strength and power show themselves most effective in your weakness. "
" My Peace is the treasure of treasures: the pearl of great price. It is an exquisitely costly gift, both for the giver and the receiver. I purchased this Peace for you with My blood. You receive this gift by trusting Me in the midst of life's storms. If you have the world's peace----everything going your way----you don't seek My unfathomable Peace. Thank Me when things do not go your way, because spiritual blessings come wrapped in trials. Adverse circumstances are normal in a fallen world. Expect them each day. Rejoice in the face of hardship, for I have overcome the world. "
" Let My Love enfold you in the radiance of My Glory. Sit still in the Light of My Presence, an>o⁹d receive My Peace. These quiet moments with Me transcend time, accomplishing far more than you can imagine. Bring Me the sacrifice of your time, and watch to see how abundantly I bless you and your loved ones. "
" Through the intimacy of our relationship, you are being transformed from the inside out. As you keep your focus on Me, I form you into the one I desire you to be. Your part is to yield on My creative work in you, neither resisting it nor trying to speed it up. Enjoy the tempo of a God-breathed life by letting Me set the pace. Hold My hand in childlike trust, and the way before you will open up step by step. "
" Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem-free life. Part of you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties. This is a false hope! As I told My disciples, in the world you will have trouble. Link your hope not to problem solving in this life but to the promise of an eternity of problem-free life in heaven. Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world, pour your energy into seeking Me: the Perfect One. "
" It is possible to enjoy Me and glorify Me in the midst of adverse circumstances. Infact, My Light shines most brightly through believers who trust Me in the dark. That kind of trust is supernatural: a production of My indwelling Spirit. When things seem all wrong, trust Me anyway. I am much less interested in right circumstances than in right responses to whatever comes your way. "
" Trust is a golden pathway to heaven. When you walk on this path, you live above your circumstances. My glorious Light shines more brightly on those who follow this path of Life. Dare to walk on the high road with Me, for it is the most direct route to heaven. The low road is circuitous: twisting and turning in agonizing knots. There the air hangs heavy----and dark, ominous clouds predominate. Relying on your own understanding will weigh you down. Trust in Me absolutely, and I will make your path straight. "
" I am with you always. I spoke these words to My disciples after My resurrection. I continue to proclaim this promise to all who will listen. People respond to My continual Presence in various ways. Most Christians accept this teaching as truth but ignore it in their daily living. Some ill-taught or wounded believers fear (and may even resent). My awareness of all they do, say, and think. A few people center their lives around this glorious promise and find themselves blessed beyond all expectations. "
" When My Presence is the focal point of your consciousness, all the pieces of your life fall into place. As you gaze at Me through the eyes of your heart, you can see the world around you from My perspective. The fact that I am with you makes every moment of your life meaningful. "
" Keep your focus on Me. I have gifted you with amazing freedom, including the ability to choose the focal point of your mind. Only the crown of My creation has such remarkable capability; this is a sign of being made in My image. "
' Let the goal of this day be to bring every thought captive to Me. Whenever your mind wanders, lasso those thoughts and bring them into My Presence. In My radiant Light, anxious thoughts shrink and shrivel away. Judgmental thoughts are unmasked as you bask in My unconditional Love. Confused ideas are untangled while you rest in the simplicity of My Peace. "
" I will guard you and keep you in Constant Peace, as you focus your mind on Me. "
" Worship Me only. Whatever occupies your mind the most becomes your god. Worries, if indulged, develop into idols. Anxiety gains a life of its own, parasitically infesting your mind. Break free from this bondage by affirming your trust in Me and refreshing yourself in My Presence. What goes on in your mind is invisible, undetectable to other people. But I read your thoughts continually, searching for evidence of trust in Me. I rejoice when your mind turns toward Me. Guard your thoughts diligently; good thought-choices will keep close to Me. "
" I am your Strength and Shield. I plan out each day and have it ready for you long before you arise from bed. I also provide the strength you need each step of the way. Instead of assessing your energy level and wondering about what's on the road ahead, concentrate on staying in touch with Me. My Power flows freely into you through our open communication. Refuse to waste energy worrying, and you will have strength to spare.
" Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am your Shield. But unlike inanimate armor, I am always alert and active. My Presence watches over you continually, protecting you from both known and unknown dangers. Entrust yourself to My watchcare, which is the best security system available. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. "
" Follow Me one step at a time. That is all I require of you. In fact, that is the only way to move through this space/time world. You see huge mountains looming, and you start wondering how you're going to scale those heights. There may be an easier way up the mountains than is visible from this distance. If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb. I will even give My angels charge over you, to preserve you in all your ways. "
" Keep your mind on the present journey, enjoying My Presence. Walk by faith, not by sight, trusting Me to open up the way before you. "
" I am renewing your mind. When your thoughts flow freely, they tend to move toward problems. Your focus gets snagged on a given problem, circling round and round it in attempts to gain mastery. Your energy is drained away from other matters through this negative focus. Worst of all, you lose sight of Me. "
" A renewed mind is Presence-focused. Train your mind to seek Me in every moment, every situation. Sometimes you can find Me in your surroundings: a lilting birdsong, a loved one's smile, golden sunlight. At other times, you must draw inward to find Me. I am always present in your spirit. Seek My Face, speak to Me, and I will light up your mind. "
" I am with you and for you. You face nothing alone----nothing! When you feel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world and leaving me out of the picture. The remedy is simple: Fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. Verbalize your trust in Me, the Living One who sees you always. I will get you safely through this day and all your days. But you can find Me only in the presen. Each day is a precious gift from My Father. How ridiculous to grasp for future gifts when today's is set before you! Receive today's gift gratefully. unwrapping it tenderly and delving into its deprhs. Aa you savor this gift, you find Me. "
" Bring Me your weakness, and receive My Peace. Accept yourself and your circumstances just as they are, remembering that that I am sovereign over everything. Do not wear yourself out with analyzing and planning. Instead, let thankfulness and trust be your guides through this day; they will keep you close to Me. As you live in the radiance of My Presence, My Peace shines upon you. You will cease to notice how weak or strong you feel because you will be focusing on Me. The best way to get through this day is step by step with Me. Continue this intimate journey, trusting that the path you are following is headed for heaven. "
" Seek My Face, and you will find not only My Presence but also My Peace. To receive My Peace, you must change your grasping, controlling stance to one of openness and trust. The only thing you can grasp without damaging your soul is My hand. Ask My Spirit within you to order your day and control your thoughts, for the mind controlled by the Spirit is Life and Peace. "
" You can have as much of Me and My Peace as you want, through thousands of correct choices each day. The most persistent choice you face is whether to trust Me or to worry. You will never run out of things to worry about, but you can choose to trust Me no matter what. I am an ever-present help in trouble. Trust Me, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. "
" Come to Me and rest. I am all around you, to bless and restore. Breathe Me in with each breath. The way just ahead of you is very steep. Slow down and cling tightly to My hand. I am teaching you a difficult lesson, learned only by hardship. "
" Lift up empty hands of faith to receive My precious Presence. Light, Life, Joy, and Peace flow freely through this gift. When your focus turns away from Me, you grasp for other things. You drop the glowing gift of My Presence as you reach for lifeless ashes. Return to Me; regain My Presence. "
" Come to Me for rest and refreshment. The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life. "
" Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good, including the things you wish were different. Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intend you to be. You will get through today one step, one moment at a time. Your main responsibility is to remain attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your pathway. "
" Your desire to live in My Presence goes against the grain of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Much of your weariness results from your constant battle against these opponents. However, you are on the path of My choosing, so do not give up! Hope in Me, for you will again praise Me for the help of My Presence. "
" I am above all things: your problems, your pain, and the swirling events in this ever-changjmg world. When you behold My Face, you rise above circumstances and rest with Me in heavenly realms. This is the way of Peace, living in the Light of My Presence. I guarantee that you will always have problems in this life, but they must not become your focus. When you feel yourself sinking in the sea of circumstances, say, " Help me, Jesus! " and I will draw you back to Me. If you have to say that thousands of times daily, don't be diacouraged. I know your weakness, and I meet you in that very place. "
" Seek My Face more and more. You are really just beginning your journey of intimacy with Me. It is not an easy road, but it is delightful and privileged way: a treasure hunt. I am the Treasure, and the Glory of My Presence glistens and shimmers along the way. Hardships are part of the journey too. I mete them out ever so carefully, in just the right dosage, with a tenderness you can hardly imagine. Do nor recoil from afflictions, since they are among My most favored gifts. Trust Me and don't be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song. "
" Trust Me enough to spend ample time with Me, pushing back the demands of the day. Refuse to feel guilty about something that is so pleasing to Me, the king of the universe. Because I am omnipotent, I am able to bend time and events in your favor. You will find that you can accomplish more in less time after you have given yourself to Me in rich communication. "
Don't fall into the trap of being constantly on the go. Many, many things people do in My Name have no value in My kingdom. To avoid doing meaningless works, stay in continual communication with Me. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. "
" My Peace is like a shaft of golden Light shining on you continuously. During days of bright sunshine, it may blend in with your surroundings. On darker days, My Peace stands out in sharp contrast to your circumstances. See times of darkness as opportunities for My Light to shine in transcendent splendor. I am training you to practice Peace that overpowers darkness. Collaborate with Me in this training. Do not grow weary and lose heart. "
" I am ever so near you, hovering over your shoulder, reading every thought. People think that thoughts are fleeting and worthless, but yours are precious to Me, I smile when you think lovingly of Me. My Spirit who lives within you, helps you to think My thoughts. As yout thinking goes, so goes your entire being. "
" Let Me be your positive Focus. When you look to Me, knowing Me as God with you, you experience Joy. Advertising capitalizes on the longing of people for a positive focus in their lives. I planted that longing in human souls, knowing that only I could fully satisfy it. Delight yourself in Me; let Me become the Desire of your heart. "
" Peace Be With You! Ever since the resurrection, this has been My watchword to those who yearn for Me. As you sit quietly, let My Peace settle over you and enfold you in My loving Presence. To provide this radiant Peace for you, I died a criminal's death. Receive My Peace abundantly and thankfully. It is a rare treasure, dazzling in delicate beauty. yet strong enough to withstand all onslaughts. Wear My Peace with regal dignity. It will keep your heart and mind close to Mine. "
" Give yourself fully to the adventure of today. Walk boldly along the path of Life, relying on your ever-present Companion. You have every reason to be confident because My Presence accompanies you all the days of your life---and onward into eternity. "
" Do not give in to fear or worry, those robbers of abundant living. Trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfecter of your faith, and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am holding you by your right hand. Nothing can separate you from My Presence! "
" Come to Me with all your weaknesses: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Rest in the comfort of My Presence, remembering that nothing is impossible with Me. "
" Pry your mind away from your problems so you can focus your attention on Me. Recall that I am able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine. Instead of trying to direct Me to do this and that, seek to attune yourself to what I am already doing. "
" When anxiety attempts to wedge its way into your thoughts, remind yourself that I am your Shepherd. The bottom line is that I am taking care of you therefore, you needn't be afraid of anything. Rather than trying to maintain control over your life, abandon yourself to My will. Though this may feel frightening----even dangerous-----the safest place to be is in My will. "
" Thank Me for the conditions that are requiring you to be still. Do not spoil these quiet hours by wishing them away, waiting impatiently to be active again. Some of the greatest works in My kingdom have been done from sickbeds and prison cells. Instead of resenting the limitations of a weakened body, search for My way in the midst of these very circumstances. Limitations can be liberating when your strongest desire is living close to Me. "
" Quietness and trust enhance your awareness of My Presence with you. Do not despise these simple ways of serving Me. Although you feel cut off from the activity of the world, your quiet trust makes a powerful statement in spiritual realms. My Strength and Power show themselves most effective in weakness. "
" Life has taught me I am not always in control. Life is full of experiences, lessons, heartbreak and pain. But it has also shown me love, beauty, possibility, and new beginnings. Embrace it all. It makes us who we are, and after every storm comes a clear sky. "
" I am with you. These four words are like a safety net, protecting you from falling into despair. Because you are human, you will always have ups and downs in your life experience. But the promise of My Presence limits how far down you can go. Sometimes you may feel as if you are in a free fall, when people or things you had counted on let you down. Yet as soon as you remember that I am with you, your perspective changes radically. Instead of bemoaning your circumstances, you can look to Me for help. You recall that not only am I with you; I am holding you by your right hand, I guide you with My counsel, and afterward I will take you into Glory. This is exactly the perspective you need : the reassurance of My Presence and the glorious hope of heaven. "
" No one talks about how hard it is to walk faithfully with God. It's easy to post the verses and cute Bible notes but there 's a lifetime of spiritual warfare, losing friendship and being tested constantly throughout everyday. It's not easy to be separated from the world, but to man it's so worth it. "
" The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. "
" Learn to live from your true Center in Me. I reside in the deepest depths of your being, in eternal union with your spirit. It is at this deep level that My Peace reigns continually. You will not find lasting peace in the world around you, in circumstances, or in human relationships. The external world is always in flux----under the curse of death and decay. But there is a gold mine of Peace deep with you, waiting to be tapped. Take time to delve into the riches of My residing Presence. I want you to live increasingly from your real Center, where My Love has an eternal grip on you, I am Christ in you, the hope of Glory. "
" Trust and Thankfulness will ger you safely through this day. Trust protects you from worrying and obsessing. Thankfulness keeps you from criticizing and complaining: those " sister sins " that so easily entangle you. "
" Keeping your eyes on Me is the same thing as trusting Me. It is a free choice that you must make thousands of times daily. The more you choose to trust Me, the easier it becomes. Thought patterns of trust become etched into your brain. Relegate troubles to the periphery of your mind so that I can be central in your thoughts. Thus, you focus on Me, entrusting your concerns into My care. "
" You need Me every moment. Your awareness of your constant need for Me is your greatest strength. Your neediness , properly handled, is a link to My Presence. However, there are pitfalls that you must be on guard against: self-pity, self-preoccupation, giving up. Your inadequacy presents you with a continual choice----deep dependence on Me or despair. The emptiness you feel within will be filled either with problems or with My Presence. Make Me central in your consciousness by praying continually: simple, short prayers flowing out of the present moment. Use My name liberally, to remind you of My Presence. "
" Keep on asking and you will receive, so that your gladness may be full and complete. "
" Be on guard against the pit of self-pity. When you are weary or unwell, this demonic trap is the greatest danger you face. Don't even go near the edge of the pit. Its edges crumble easily, and before you know it, you are on the way down. It is ever so much harder to get out of the pit than to keep a safe distance from it. That is why I tell you to be on guard. "
" There are several ways to protect yourself from self-pity. When you are occupied with praising and thanking Me, it is impossible to feel sorry for yourself. Also, the closer you live to Me, the more distance there is between you and the pit. Live in the Light of My Presence by fixing your eyes on Me. Then you will be able to run with endurance the race that is set before you, without stumbling or falling. "
" Be still in the Light of My Presence while I communicate Love to you. There is no force in the universe as powerful as My Love. You are constantly aware of limitations: your own and others'. But there is no limit to My Love; it fills all of space, time, and eternity. "
" Now you see through a glass, darkly, but someday you will see Me face to face. Then you will be able to experience fully how wide and long and high and deep is My Love for you. If you were to experience that now, you would be overwhelned to the point of feeling crushed But you have an eternity ahead of you, absolutely guaranteed, during which you can enjoy My Presence in unrestricted ecstacy. For now, the knowledge of My loving Presence is sufficient to carry you through each day. "
" Rest in My Presence, allowing Me to take charge of this day. Do not bolt into the day like a racehorse suddenly released. Instead, walk purposefully with Me, letting Me direct your course one step at a time. Thank for each blessing along the way; this brings joy to both you and Me. A grateful heart protects you from negative thinking. Thankfulness enables you to see the abundance I shower upon you daily. Your prayers and petitions are winged into heaven's throne room when they are permeated with thanksgiving. In everything give thanks, for this is My will for you. "
" I am leading you, step by step through your life. Hold My hand in trusting dependence, letting Me guide you through this day. Your future looks uncertain and feels flimsy---even precarious. That is how it should be. Secret things belongs to the Lord, and future things are secret things. When you try to figure out the future, you are grasping at things that are Mine. This, like all forms of worry, is an act of rebellion: doubting My promises to care for you. "
" Whenever you find yourself worrying about the future, repent and return to Me. I will show you the next step forward, and the one after that, and the after that. Relax and enjoy the journey in My Presence, trusting Me to open up the way before you as you go. "
" Keep your eyes on Me! Waves of adversity are washing over you, and you feel tempted to give up. As your circumstances consume more and more of your attention, you are losing sight of Me. Yet I am with you always, holding you by your right hand. I am fully-aware of your situation, and I will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear. "
" Your gravest danger is worrying about tomorrow. If you try to carry tomorrow's burden today, you will stagger under the load and eventually fall flat. You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today. It is in the present moment that I walk close to you, helping you carry your burdens. Keep your focus on My Presence in the present. "
" Stop judging and evaluating yourself, for this is not your role. Above all, stop comparing yourself with other people. This produces feelings of pride or inferiority, sometimes a mixture of both. I lead each of My children along a path that is uniquely tailor-made for him or her. Comparing is not only wrong; it is also meaningless. "
" Don't look for affirmation in the wrong places: your own evaluations or those of other people. The only source of real affirmation is My unconditional Love. Immerse yourself in My loving Presence. Be receptive to My affirmation, which flows continually from the throne of grace. "
Get it right with God before it's too late. Repent right away!
Priscilla Shirer - God Said
" You are on the right path. Listen more to Me and less to your doubts. I am leading you along the way I designed just for you. Therefore, it is a lonely way, humanly speaking. But I go before you as well as alongside you, so you are never alone. Do not expect anyone to understand fully My ways with you, anymore than you can comprehend My dealings with others. I am revealing to you the path of Life, day by day and moment by moment. As I said to My disciple Peter, so I repeat to you: Follow Me. "
" When something in your life or thoughts makes you anxious , come to Me and talk about it. Bring Me your prayer and petition with thanksgiving, saying, " Thank you, Jesus, for this opportunity, saying, " Thank You, Jesus, for this opportunity to trust you more. " Through the lessons of trust that I send to you come wrapped in difficulties, the benefits far outweigh the cost. "
" Well-developed trust will bring you many blessings, not the least of which is My Peace. I have promised to keep you in perfect Peace to the extent that you trust in Me. The world has it backwards, teaching that peace is the result of having enough money, possessions, insurance, and security systems. My peace, however, is such an all-emcompassing gift that it is independent of all circumstances. Though you lose everything else, if you gain My Peace you are rich indeed. "
" I am the Resurrection and the Life; all lasting Life emanates from Me. People search for life in many wrong ways: chasing after fleeting pleasures, accumulating possessions and wealth, trying to deny the inevitable effects of aging. Meanwhile, I freely offer abundant Life to everyone who turns toward Me. As you come to Me and take My yoke upon you, I fill you with My very Life. This is how I choose to live in the world and accomplish My purposes. This is also how I bless you with Joy unpeakable and full of Glory. The Joy is Mine, and the Glory is Mine; but I bestow them on you as you live in My Presence, inviting Me to live fully in you. "
" God understand the cries of our heart, even when they're too deep for words. "
" God will give you strength for every battle, wisdom for every decision, courage for every difficult situation. All you have to do is ask. "
" Now this is eternal life that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. "
" I delight to do your will O My God; your Law is within My heart. "
" The Lord carried my sin. I received eternal life. "
" Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my Spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. "
" The blessing that God has for you is so great, that you will not have enough space to contain. "
" Refuse to worry! In this world there will always be something enticing you to worry. That is the nature of a fallen, fractured planet: Things are not as they should be. So the temptation to be anxious is constantly with you, trying to worm its way into your mind. The best defense is continual communication with Me, richly seasoned with thanksgiving. Awareness of My Presence fills your mind with Light and Peace, leaving no room for fear. This awareness lifts you up above your circumstances, enabling you to see problems from My perspective. Live close to Me! Together we can keep the wolves of worry at bay. "
" See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called, " Children of God! " And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know God the Father. "
" A bad mood is never an excuse to use cruel words. Moods pass, but cruel words wound the soul. "
" And we are living in the Last of the Last Days! Woe unto them call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! "
" Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrow, it empties today of strength. "
" Continue on this Path with Me, enjoying My Presence ever in adversity. I am always before you, as well as alongside you. See Me beckoning to you: " Come! Follow Me. " The One who goes ahead of you, openi ng up the way, is the same One who stays close and never let go of your hand. I am not subject to limitations of time of time or space. I am everywhere at every time, ceaselessly working on your behalf. That is why your best efforts are trusting Me and living close to Me. "
" Let Me help you through this day. The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone. You are keenly aware of your helplessness in the scheme of events you face. This awareness opens up a choice: to doggedly go it alone or to walk with Me in humble steps of dependence. Actually, this choice is continually before you, but of difficulties highlight the decision-making process. So consider it all joy whenever you are enveloped in various trials. These are gifts from Me, reminding you to rely on Me alone. "
" Save your best striving for seeking My Face. I am constantly communicating with you. To find Me and hear My voice, you must seek Me above all else. Anything that you desire more than Me becomes an idol. When you are determined to get your own way, you blot Me out of your consciousness. Instead of single-mindedly pursuing some goal, talk with Me about it. Let the Light of My Presence shine on this pursuit so that you can see it from My perspective. If the goal fits into My plans for you, I will help you reach it. If it is contrary to My will for you, I will gradually change the desire of your heart. Seek Me first and foremost; then the rest of your life will fall into place, piece by piece. "
" If you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear. "
" Whenever you feel unloved, unimportant or insecure, remember to whom you belong. "
" Rest in My radiant Presence. The world around you seems to spin faster and faster, till everything is a blur. Yet there is a cushion of calm at the center of your life, where you live in union with Me. Return to this soothing Center as often as you can, for this is where you are energized: filled with My Love, Joy, and Peace. "
" The world is a needy place; do not go there for sustenance. Instead, come to Me. Learn to depend on Me alone, and your weakness will become saturated with My Power. When you find your completeness in Me, you can help other people without using them to meet your own needs. Live in the Light of My Presence, and your light will shine brightly into the lives of others. "
" Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord, your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. "
" Don't worry. God has gone before you and prepared the way. " Keep Walking. "
" Keep your roots deep in Jesus and have your lives built on Him. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught. And always be thankful. Jesus, we pray! "
" You are Mine for all time---and beyond time, into eternity. No power can deny you--your inheritance in heaven. I want you to realize how utterly secure you are! Even if you falter as journey through life, I will never let go of your hand. This sounds easy, but it requires a deep level of trust, based on the knowledge that My way is perfect. "
" Walk by Faith, not by Sight. As you take steps of faith, depending on Me, I will show you how much I can do you. If you live your life too safely, you will never know the thrill of seeing Me work through you. When I gave you My Spirit, I empowered you to live beyond your natural ability and strength. That's why it is so wrong to measure your energy level against the challenges ahead of you. The issue is not your strength but Mine, which is limitless. By walking close to Me, you can accomplish My purposes in My strength. "
" Waiting, trusting, and hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain. Trusting is the central strand because it is the response from My children that I desire the most. Waiting and hoping embellish the central strand and strengthen the chain that connects you to Me. Waiting for Me to work, with your eyes on Me, is evidence that you really do trust Me. If you mouth the words " I trust You " while anxiously trying to make things go your way, your words ring hollow. Hoping is future-directed, connecting you to your inheritance in heaven. However, the benefits of hope fall fully on you in the present. "
" Because you are Mine, you don't just pass time in your waiting. You can wait expectantly, in hopeful trust. Keep your " antennae " out to pick up even the faintest glimmer of My Presence. "
" Learn to live above your circumstances. This requires focused time with Me, the One who overcame the world. Trouble and distress are woven into the very fabric of this perishing world. Only My Life in you can empower you to face this endless flow of problems with good cheer. "
" As you sit quietly in My Presence, I shine Peace into your troubled mind and heart. Little by little, you are freed from earthly shackles and lifted up above your circumstances. You gain My perspective on your life, enabling you to distinguish between what is important and what is not. Rest in My Presence, receiving Joy that no one can take away from you. "
MOST MERCIFUL LORD, with a contrite heart and penitent spirit I bow down before Thy divine Majesty. I adore Thee as my supreme Lord and Master. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee above all things. I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, my only and supreme God. I firmly resolve to amend my life; and although I am unworthy to obtain mercy, yet looking upon Thy holy Cross I am filled with peace and consolation. I will, therefore, meditate on Thy sufferings, and visit the Stations in company with Thy sorrowful Mother and my holy Guardian Angel, to promote Thy honor and to save my soul. I desire to gain all indulgences granted to this holy exercise for myself and for the souls in Purgatory.
O LOVING JESUS, inflame my cold heart with Thy love, that I may perform this devotion as perfectly as possible, and that I may live and die in union with Thee. Amen.
FIRST STATION - Jesus Is Condemned to Death
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Jesus, the most innocent of beings, is condemned to death, yes, to the shameful death of the cross. In order to remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivers Jesus into the hands of His enemies. O fearful crime, to condemn Innocence to death and to displease God in order to please men.
O INNOCENT JESUS, I have sinned and I am guilty of eternal death; but that I may Live, Thou dost gladly accept the unjust sentence of death. For whom then shall I henceforth live if not for Thee, my Lord? If I desire to please men, I can not be Thy servant. Let me, therefore, rather displease the whole world than not please Thee, O Jesus! Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
SECOND STATION - Jesus Carries His Cross
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
When our divine Redeemer beheld the Cross, He most willingly reached out to it with His bleeding arms. He embraced it lovingly, kissed it tenderly, took it on His bruised shoulders, and, exhausted as He was, He carried it joyfully.
O MY JESUS, I can not be Thy friend and follower if I refuse to carry my cross. O beloved cross, I embrace Thee, I kiss Thee, I joyfully accept Thee from the hand of my God. Far be it from me to glory in anything save in the Cross of my Lord and Redeemer. By it the world shall be crucified to me, and I to the world, that I may be Thine forever... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
THIRD STATION - Jesus Falls the First Time
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Carrying the Cross, our dear Savior was so weakened with its heavy weight that He fell exhausted to the ground. The Cross was light and sweet to Him, but our sins made it so heavy and hard to carry.
Beloved Jesus, * Thou didst carry the burden and the heavy weight of my sins. * Should I then not bear in union with Thee * my light burden of suffering, * and accept the sweet yoke of Thy commandments? * Thy yoke is sweet and Thy burden is light. * I willingly accept it. * I will take up my cross and follow Thee... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
FOURTH STATION - Jesus Meets His Blessed Mother
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
How sad and how painful must it have been for Mary to behold her beloved Son laden with the Cross, covered with wounds and blood, and driven through the streets by savage executioners! What unspeakable pangs her most tender heart must have experienced! How earnestly did she desire to die instead of Jesus, or at least with Him!
O JESUS, O MARY, I am the cause of the pains that pierced your hearts. Would that my heart might experience some of your sufferings. O Mother, let me share in thy sufferings and those of they Son, that I may obtain the grace of a happy death... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
FIFTH STATION - Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Simon of Cyrene was forced to help our exhausted Savior carry His Cross. How pleased would Jesus have been, had Simon offered his services of his own accord. However, Simon was not invited by Christ as you are. He says: "Take up your cross and follow Me." Nevertheless you recoil, and carry it grudgingly.
O JESUS, whosoever does not take up his cross and follow Thee, is not worthy of Thee. Behold, I cheerfully join Thee on the way of the cross. I desire to carry it with all patience until death, that I may prove worthy of Thee... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
SIXTH STATION - Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Moved by compassion, Veronica presents her veil to Jesus, to wipe His disfigured face. He imprints on it His holy countenance, and returns it to her as a recompense. Shall Christ reward you in like manner? Then you too must do Him a service. But you do a service to Christ every time you perform a work of mercy towards your neighbor: for He says: "What you have done to the least of My brethren, you have done to Me."
DEAREST JESUS, what return shall I make Thee for all Thy benefits? Behold, I consecrate myself entirely to Thy service. My whole heart I give to Thee; stamp on it Thy holy image, that I may never forget Thee... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
SEVENTH STATION - Jesus Falls the Second Time
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Overwhelmed by the weight of the Cross, Jesus falls again to the ground. But the cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment. With thrusts and blows they urge Him onward. With what cruelty Jesus in treated and trampled under foot! Remember, compassionate soul, that your sins caused Jesus this painful fall.
HAVE MERCY ON ME, O JESUS, and help me never to fall into my former sins. From this moment I will strive sincerely never to sin again. But Thou, O Jesus, strengthen me with Thy grace, that I may faithfully carry out my resolution... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
EIGHT STATION - Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Moved by compassion, these devoted women weep over our suffering Savior. But He turns to them and says: "Weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Weep for your sins and those of your children; for they are the cause of My suffering." You also must weep over your sins, for there is nothing more pleasing to our Lord and more useful to yourself than the tears you shed out of contrition for your sins.
O LORD JESUS, Who shall give my eyes a torrent of tears, that I may day and night weep over my sins? I beseech Thee by Thy bitter and bloody tears to move my heart, so that tears may flow in abundance from my eyes, and that I may weep over Thy sufferings and over my sins until death... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
NINTH STATION - Jesus Falls the Third Time
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Exhausted at the foot of Calvary, Jesus falls for the third time to the ground. How painfully must have been reopened all the wounds of His tender body by these repeated falls. And how enormous must my sins be, to cause Jesus to fall so painfully. Had not Jesus taken my sins upon Himself, they would have plunged me into the abyss of Hell.
MOST MERCIFUL JESUS, I return Thee a thousand thanks for not permitting me to die in my sins and fall into the abyss of Hell, as I have deserved so often. Enkindle in me a sincere desire to amend my life. Let me never again fall into sin, but grant me the grace of final perseverance... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
TENTH STATION - Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Arriving on Calvary, Jesus was cruelly deprived of His garments. How painful the stripping must have been, because the garments adhered to His mangled body, so that in removing them parts of the flesh were torn away. Jesus is deprived of His garments that He may die possessed of nothing. How happy shall not I die after laying aside my evil habits and tendencies!
HELP ME, O JESUS, to amend my life. Let it be renewed according to Thy will and desire. However painful the correction may be to me, I will not spare myself. With the assistance of Thy grace, I will refrain from all sinful pleasure and vain amusement, that I may die happy and live forever... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
ELEVENTH STATION - Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Stripped of His garments, Jesus is violently thrown down on the Cross. His hands and His feet are nailed to it in the most cruel way. Jesus remains silent, because it so pleases His heavenly Father. He suffers patiently, because He suffers for you. How do you act in sufferings and trials? How fretful and impatient, how full of complaints are you!
O JESUS, meek and patient Lamb, I renounce forever my impatience. Crucify, O Lord, my flesh, with its evil desires and vices. Punish and afflict me in this life, but spare me in the next. I resign myself altogether to Thy holy will. May it be done in all things... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
TWELFTH STATION - Jesus Dies on the Cross
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Behold Jesus crucified! Behold His wounds received for love of you! His whole appearance betokens love. His head is bent to kiss you. His arms are extended to embrace you. His heart is open to receive you. Oh what love! Jesus dies on the Cross, to preserve you from eternal death.
MOST LOVABLE JESUS, who will grant that I may die for love of Thee? I will endeavor to die to the world and its vanities when I behold Thee on the Cross covered with wounds and crowned with thorns. Merciful Jesus, take me into Thy wounded heart, that I may despise all perishable things, to live and die for Thee alone... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
THIRTEENTH STATION - Jesus Is Taken Down From the Cross
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Jesus did not descend from the Cross, but remained on it till His death. When taken down, He rested on the bosom of His beloved Mother as He had so often done in life. Persevere in your good resolutions, and do not flee from the cross. For he who perseveres till the end shall be saved. Consider, moreover, how pure the heart should be that receives the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the adorable Sacrament of the Altar.
O LORD JESUS CRUCIFIED! I most earnestly entreat Thee: Help me do what is right and let me not be separated from Thy Cross, for on it I desire to live and to die. Create in me, O Lord, a clean heart, that I may worthily receive Thee in Holy Communion, and that Thou mayest remain in me, and I in Thee, for all eternity... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
FOURTEENTH STATION - Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
The body of Jesus is laid in a stranger’s tomb. He Who in this world had not whereon to rest His head, would have no grave of His own after death. You whose heart is still attached to this world, despise it that you may not perish with it.
O JESUS, Thou hast singled me out from the world, what then shall I seek in it? Thou hast created me for Heaven, what then shall I desire upon earth? Depart from me, deceitful world, with thy vanities! Henceforth I will walk the way of the Cross traced out for me by my Redeemer, and journey onward to my heavenly home, where my rest and my joy shall be forever... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
" Do not hesitate to receive Joy from Me, for I bestow it on you abundantly. The more you rest in My Presence, the more freely My blessings flow into you. In the Light of My Love, you are gradually transformed from glory to glory. It is through spending time with Me that you realize how wide and long and high and deep is My Love for you. "
" Sometimes the relationship I offer you seems too good to be true. I pour My very Life into you, and all you have to do is receive Me. In a world characterized by working and taking, the admonition to rest and receive seems too easy. There is a close connection between receiving and believing. As you trust Me more and more, you are able to receive Me and My blessings abundantly. Be still, and know that I am God. "
" When I cannot feel the faith of assurance, I live by the fact of God's Faithfulness. "
" Cast yourself into the arms of Christ, and if you perish, perish there! "
" Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. "
" I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is in the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. "
" I cannot bear to live without God, for He is the source of my strength. "
" It is good that you recognize your weakness. That keeps you looking to Me, your Strength. Abundant life is not necessarily health and wealth; it is living in continual dependence on Me. Instead of trying to fit this day into a preconceived mold, relax and be on the lookout for what I am doing. This mind-set will free you to enjoy Me and find what I have planned for you to do. This is far better than trying to make things go according to your own plan. "
" Don't take yourself so seriously. Lighten up and laugh with Me. You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about? I can equip you to do absolutely anything, as long as it is My will. The more difficult your day, the more I yearn to help you. Anxiety wraps you up in yourself, trapping you in your own thoughts. When you look to Me and whisper My Name, you break free and receive My help. Focus on Me, and you will find peace in My Presence. "
" Come to Me for understanding since I know you far better than you know yourself. I comprehend you in all your complexity; no detail of your life is hidden from Me. I view you through eyes of grace, so don't be afraid of My intimate awareness. Allow the Light of My healing Presence to shine into the deepest recesses of your being----cleansing, healing, refreshing, and renewing you. Trust Me enough to accept the full forgiveness that I offer you continually. This great gift, which cost Me My Life, is yours for all eternity. Forgiveness is at the very core of My abiding Presence. I will never leave you or forsake you. '
" When no one else seems to understand you, simply draw closer to Me. Rejoice in the One who understands you completely and loves you perfectly. As I fill you with My Love, you become a reservoir of love, overflowing into the lives of other people. "
" Trust Me one day at a time. This keeps you close to Me, responsive to My will. Trust is not a natural response, especially for those who have been deeply wounded. My Spirit within you is your resident Tutor, helping you in this supernatural endeavor. Yield to His gentle touch; be sensitive to His prompting. "
" Exert your will to trust Me in all circumstances. Don't let your need to understand distract you from My Presence. I will equip you to get through this day victoriously as you live in deep dependence on Me. Tomorrow is busy worrying about itself; don't get tangled up in its worry-webs. Trust Me one day at a time. "
" Trust Me one day at a time. This keeps you close to Me, responsive to My will. Trust is not a natural response, especially for those who have been deeply wounded. My Spirit within you is your resident Tutor, helping you in this supernatural endeavor. Yield to His gentle touch; be sensitive to His prompting. "
" Exert your will to trust Me in all circumstances. Don't let your need to understand distract you from My Presence. I will equip you to get through this day victoriously as you live in deep dependence on Me. Tomorrow is busy worrying about itself; don't get tangled up in its worry-webs. Trust Me one day at a time. "
" I speak to you from the depths of your being. Hear Me saying soothing words of Peace, assuring you of My Love. Do not listen to voices of accusation, for they are not from Me. I speak to you in love-tones, lifting you up. My Spirit convicts cleanly, without crushing words of shame. Let the Spirit take charge of your mind, combing out tangles of deception. Be transformed by the truth that I live within you. "
" The Light of My Presence is shining upon you, in benedictions of Peace. Let My Light shine in you; don't dim it with worries or fears. Holiness is letting Me live through you. Since I dwell in you, you are fully equipped to be holy. Pause before responding to people or situations, giving My Spirit space to act through you. Hasty words and actions leave no room for Me; this is atheistic living. I want to inhabit all your moments----gracing your thoughts, words, and behavior. "
" Thank Me for the glorious gift of My Spirit. This is like priming the pump of a well. As you bring Me the sacrifice of thanksgiving, regardless of your feelings, My Spirit is able to work more freely within you. This produces more thankfulness and more freedom, until you are overflowing with gratitude. "
" I shower blessings on you daily, but sometimes you don't perceive them. When your mind is stuck on a negative focus, you see neither Me nor My gifts. In faith, thank Me for whatever is preoccupying your mind. This will clear the blockage so that you can find Me. "
" Trust Me and don't be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song. Think what it means to have Me as your Strength. I spoke the universe into existence; My Power is absolutely unlimited! Human weakness, consecrated to Me, is like a magnet, drawing My Power into your neediness. However, fear can block the flow of My Strength into you. Instead of trying to fight your fears, concentrate on trusting Me. When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you. "
" Remenber that I am also your Song. I want you to share My Joy, living in conscious awareness of My Presence. Rejoice as we journey together toward heaven; join Me in singing My Song. "
" Rejoice and be thankful! As you walk with Me through this day, practice trusting and thanking Me all along the way. Trust is the channel through which My Peace flows into you. Thankfulness lifts you up above your circumstances. "
" I do My greatest works through people with grateful, trusting hearts. Rather than planning and evaluating, practice trusting and thanking Me continually. This is a paradigm shift that will revolutionize your life. "
" I am a God of both intricate detail and overflowing abundance. When you entrust the details of your life to Me, you are surprised by how thoroughly I answer your petitions. I take pleasure in hearing your prayers, so feel free to bring Me all your requests. The more you pray, the more answers you can receive. Best of all, your faith is strengthened as you see how precisely I respond to your specific prayers. "
" Because I am infinite in all My ways, you need not fear that I will run out of resources. Abundance is at the very heart of who I am. Come to Me in joyful expectation of receiving all you need----and sometimes much more! I delight in showering blessings on My beloved children. Come to Me with open hands and heart, ready to receive all I have for you. "
The " do what makes you happy " culture is so toxic for Christians. We are not called to do what makes us happy. We are called to do what glorifies God. Christianity isn't always sunshine and happiness. It is hard work and dedication to him, not us. Do what glorifies God. "
" My life is a ministry. I chose to glorify God with the way I live. "
" I put my armor on and set my sights on God...and vowed to finish my race in victory. "
" Wait on the Lord: be of good courage and he shall strengthen my heart: Wait, I say on the Lord. "
" But of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. "
" Love still wins. "
" Prayer still works. "
" God is still able. "
" Let thankfulness temper all your thoughts. A thankful mind-set keeps you in touch with Me. I hate it when my children grumble, casually despising My sovereignty. Thankfulness is a safeguard against this deadly sin. Furthermore, a grateful attitude becomes a grid through which you perceive life. Gratitude enables you to see the Light of My Presence shining on all your circumstances. Cultivate a thankful heart, for this glorifies Me and fills you with Joy. "
" Waiting on Me means directing your attention to Me in hopeful anticipation of what I will do. It entails trusting Me with every fiber of your being instead of trying to figure things out yourself. Waiting on Me is the way I designed you to live: all day, everyday. I created you to stay conscious of Me as you go about your daily duties. "
" I have promised many blessings to those who wait on Me: renewed strength, living above one's circumstances, resurgence of hope, awareness of My continual Presence. Waiting on Me enables you to glorify Me by living in deep dependence on Me, ready to do My will. It also helps you to enjoy Me; in My Presence is fulness of Joy. "
" Be still in My Presence even though countless tasks clamor for your attention. Nothing is as important as spending time with Me. While you wait in My Presence, I do my best work within you, transforming you by the renewing of your mind. "
" Do not seek Me primarily for what I can give you. Remember that I, the Giver, am infinitely greater than any gift I might impart to you. I am the ultimate Desire of your heart, you are safe from the danger of idolatry. As you wait in My Presence, enjoy the greatest gift of all: Christ in you, the hope of Glory! "
" I am a God who gives and gives and gives. When I died for you on the cross, I held back nothing; I poured out My Life like a drink offering. Because giving is inherent in My nature, I search for people who are able to receive in full measure. To increase your intimacy with Me, the two traits you need the most are receptivity and attentiveness. Receptivity is opening your innermost being to be filled with My abundant riches. Attentiveness is directing your gaze to Me, searching for Me in all your moments. It is possible to stay your mind on Me, as the prophet Isaiah wrote. " Through such attentiveness you receive a glorious gift: My perfect Peace. "
" Stop trying to work things out before their times have come. Accept the limitations of living one day at a time. When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today's agenda. If it isn't, release it into My care and go on about today's duties. When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life: a time for everything, and everything in its time. "
" A life lived close to Me is not complicated or cluttered. When your focus is on My Presence, many things that once troubled you lose their power over you. Though the world around you is messy and confusing, remember that I have overcome the world. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have Peace. "
" I am taking care of you. Trust Me at all times. Trust Me in all circumstances. Trust Me with all your heart. When you are weary and everything seems to be going wrong, you can still utter these four words: " I trust You, Jesus. " By doing so, you release matters into My control, and you fall back into the security of My everlasting arms. "
" Before you arise from your bed in the morning, I have already arranged the events of your day. Everyday provides many opportunities for you to learn My ways and grow closer to Me. Signs of My Presence brighten even the dullest day when you have eyes that really see. Search for Me as for hidden treasure. I will be found by you. "
" Taste and see that I am good. The more intimately you experience Me, the more convinced you become of My goodness. I am the Living One who sees you and longs to participate in your life. I am training you to find Me in each moment and to be a channel of My loving Presence. "
" Thank Me for the gift of My Peace, a gift of such immense proportions that you cannot fathom its depth or breadth. I also speak Peace to you, for I know your anxious thoughts. Listen to Me! Tune out other voices so that you can hear Me more clearly. I designed you to dwell in Peace all day, everyday. Draw near to Me; receive My Peace. "
" I am calling you to a life of constant communion with Me. Accept each day just as it comes, and find Me in the midst of it all. Talk with Me about every aspect of your day, including your feelings. Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you; it is to keep communing with Me. A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me, even if many things undone at the end of the day. Do not let your to-do list (written or mental) become an idol directing your life. Instead, ask My Spirit to guide you moment by moment. He will keep you close to Me. "
" I have promised to meet all your needs according to My glorious riches. Your deepest, most constant need is for My Peace. I have planted Peace in the garden of your heart, where I live, but there are weeds growing there too. pride, worry, selfishness, unbelief. I am the Gardener, and I am working to rid your heart of those weeds. I do my work in various ways. When you sit quietly with Me, I shine the Light of My Presence directly into your heart. In this heavenly Light, Peace grows abundantly and weeds shrivel up. I also send trials into your life. When you trust Me in the midst of trouble. Peace flourishes and weeds die away. Thank Me for troublesome situations; the Peace they can produce far outweighs the trials you endure. "
" Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them. "
" In Me you have everything. In Me you are complete. Your capacity to experience Me is increasing through My removal of debris and clutter from your heart. As your yearning for Me increases, other desires are gradually lessening. Since I am infinite and abundantly accessible to you, desiring Me above all else is the best way to live. "
" It is impossible for you to have a need that I cannot meet. After all, I created you and everything that is. The world is still at My beck and call, though it often appears otherwise. Do not be fooled by appearances. Things that are visible are brief and fleeting, while things that are invisible are everlasting. "
" It wasn't the nails that held Jesus to the cross. It was His love for you. "
" I meet you in the stillness of your soul. It is there that I seek to commune with you. A person who is open to My Presence is exceedingly precious to Me. My eyes search to and fro throughout the earth, looking for one whose heart is seeking Me. I see you trying to find Me; our mutual search results in joyful fulfillment. "
" Stillness of soul is increasingly rare in this world addicted to noise and speed. I am pleased with your desire to create a quiet space where you and I can meet. Don't be discouraged by the difficulty of achieving this goal. I monitor all your efforts and am blessed by each of your attempts to seek My Face. "
" Let Me fill you with My Love, Joy, and Peace. These are Glory-gifts, flowing from my living Presence. Though you are an earthen vessel, I designed you to be filled with heavenly contents. Your weakness is not a deterrent to being filled with My Spirit; on the contrary, it provides an opportunity for My Power to shine forth more brightly. "
" As you go through this day, trust Me to provide the strength you need moment by moment. Don't waste energy wondering whether you are adequate for today's journey. My Spirit within you is more than than sufficient to handle whatever this day may bring. That is the basis for your confidence! In quietness (spending time alone with Me) and confident trust (relying on My sufficiency) is your strength. "
" Bring Me the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Take nothing for granted, not even the rising of the sun. "
" When you approach Me with thanksgiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through. Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving. "
" I am the Potter; you are My clay. I designed you before the foundation of the world. I arrange the events of each day to form you into this preconceived pattern. My everlasting Love is at work in every event of your life. On some days your will and Mine flow smoothly together. You tend to feel in control of your life when our wills are in harmony. On other days you feel as if you are swimming upstream, against the current of My purposes. When that happens, stop and seek My Face. The opposition you feel maybe from Me, or it maybe from the evil one. '
" Talk with Me about what you are experiencing. Let My Spirit guide you through treacherous waters. As you move through the turbulent streams with Me, let circumstances mold you into the one I desire you to be. Say yes to your Potter as you go through this day. "
" I am with you and for you, your constant Companion and Provider. The question is whether you are with Me and for Me. Though I never you, you can essentially " leave " Me by ignoring Me: thinking or acting as If I am not with you. When you feel distance in our relationship you know where the problem lies. My Love for you is constant; I am the same yesterday, today, and forever. It is you who change like shifting sand, letting circumstances toss you this way and that. "
" When you feel far from Me, whisper My Name. This simple act, done in childlike faith, opens your heart to My Presence. Speak to Me in love-tones; prepare to receive My Love, which flows eternally from the cross. I am delighted when you open yourself to My loving Presence. "
" You are Mine for all time; nothing can separate you from My Love. Since I have invested My very Life in you, be well assured that I will also take care of you. When your mind goes into neutral and your thoughts flow freely, you tend to feel anxious and alone. Your focus becomes problem solving. To get your mind back into gear, just turn toward Me, bringing yourself and your problems into My Presence. "
" Many problems vanish instantly in the Light of My Love because you realize you are never alone. Other problems may remain, but they become secondary to knowing Me and rejoicing in the relationship I so freely offer you. Each moment you can choose to practice My Presence or to practice the presence of problems. "
Trust Me in every detail of your life. Nothing is random in My kingdom. Everything that happens fits into a pattern for good, to those who love Me. Instead of trying to analyze the intricacies of the pattern, focus your energy on trusting Me and thanking Me at all times. Nothing is wasted when you walk close to Me. Even your mistakes and sins can be recycled into something good through My transforming grace. "
" While you were still living in darkness, I began to shine the Light of My Presence into your sin-stained life. Finally, I lifted you up of the mire into My marvelous Light. Having sacrificed My very Life for you, I can be trusted in every facet of your life. "
" Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace. "
" Trusting Me is a moment-by-moment choice. Stay on the path of Life with Me, enjoying My Presence. Choose to trust Me in all circumstances. "
" We must give up the vain idea of trying to please everybody. That is impossible and the attempt is a mere waste of time. We must be content in Christ's steps, and let the world say what it likes. "
" Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, " I am Christ; and shall deceive many! "
" When I give you no special guidance, stay where you are. Concentrate on doing your everyday tasks in awareness of My Presence with you. The Joy of My Presence will shine on you, as you do everything for Me. Thus you invite Me into every aspect of your life. Through collaborating with Me in all things, you allow My Life to merge with yours. This is the secret of not only joyful living but of victorious living. I designed you to depend on Me moment by moment, recognizing that apart from Me you can do nothing. "
" Be thankful for quiet days when nothing special seems to be happening. Instead of being bored by the lack of action, use times of routine to seek My Face. Although this is an invisible transaction, it speaks volumes in spiritual realms. Moreover, you are richly blessed when you walk trustingly with Me through the routines of your day. "
" In Him there is no darkness at all. "
" Out of all the people on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be His treasured possession. "
" Heaven is both present and future. As you walk along your life-path holding My hand, you are already in touch with the essence of heaven: nearness to Me. You can also find many hints of heaven along your pathway because the earth is radiantly alive with My Presence. Shimmering sunshine awakens your heart, gently reminding you of My brilliant Light. Birds and flowers , trees and skies evoke praises to My holy Name. Keep your eyes and ears fully open as you journey with Me. "
" At the end of your life-path is an entrance to heaven. Only I know when you will reach that destination, but I am preparing you for it each step of the way. The absolute certainty of your heavenly home gives you peace and Joy to help you along your journey. You know that you will reach your home in My perfect timing: not one moment too soon or too late. Let the hope of heaven encourage you as you walk along the path of Life with Me. "
" Trust Me, and don't be afraid. Many things feel out of control. Your routines are not running smoothly. You tend to feel more secure when your life is predictable. Let Me lead you to the rock that is higher than you and your circumstances. Take refuge in the shelter of My wings, where you are absolutely secure. "
" When you are shaken out of your comfortable routines, grip My hand tightly and look for growth opportunities. Instead of bemoaning the loss of your comfort, accept the challenge of something new. I lead you on from glory to glory, making you fit for My kingdom. Say yes to the ways I work in your life. Trust Me, and don't be afraid. "
" I am calling you to a life of thankfulness. I want all your moments to be punctuated with thanksgiving. The basis for your gratitude is My sovereignty. I am the Creator and Controller of the universe. Heaven and earth are filled with My glorious Presence. "
" When you criticize or complain, you are acting as if you think you could run the world better than I do. From your limited human perspective, it may look as if I'm mismanaging things. But you don't know what I know or see what I see. If I pulled back the curtain to allow you to view heavenly realms, you would understand much more. However, I have designed you to live by faith, not by sight. I lovingly shield you from the future or seeing into the spirit world. Acknowledge My sovereignty by giving thanks in all circumstances. "
" I am training you in steadiness. Too many things interrupt your awareness of Me. I know that you live in a world of sight and sound, but you must not be a slave to those stimuli. Awareness of Me can continue in all circumstances, no matter what happens. This is the steadiness I desire for you. "
" Don't let unexpected events throw you off course. Rather, respond calmly and confidently, remembering that I am with you. As soon as something grabs your attention, talk to Me about it. Thus, I share your joys and your problems; I help you cope with whatever is before you. This is how I live in you and work through you. This is the way of Peace. "
" Peace is My continual gift to you. It flows abundantly from My throne of grace. Similarly, I give you sufficient Peace for the present when you come to Me by prayer and petition with thanksgiving. If I gave you permanent Peace, independent of My Presence, you might fall into the trap of self-sufficiency. May that never be! "
" I have designed you to need Me moment by moment. As your awareness of your neediness increases, so does your realization of My abundant sufficiency. I can meet everyone of your needs without draining My resources at all. Approach My throne of grace with hold confidence, receiving My Peace with a thankful heart. "
" I love you regardless of how well you are performing. I love you with an everlasting Love that flows out from eternity without limits or conditions. I have clothed you in My robe of righteousness, and this is an eternal transaction: Nothing and no one can reverse it. Therefore, your accomplishment as a Christian has no bearing on My Love for you. Even your ability to access how well you are doing on a given day is flawed. Your limited human perspective and the condition of your body, with its mercurial variations, distort your evaluations. "
" Bring your performance anxiety to Me, and receive in its place My unfailing Love. Try to stay conscious of My loving Presence with you in all that do, and I will direct your steps. "
" Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Hear Me saying, " Peace, be still, " to your restless heart. No matter what happens, I will never leave you or forsake you. Let this assurance soak into your mind and heart until you overflow with Joy. Though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, you need not fear. "
" Let Scriprure saturate your mind and heart, and you will walk steadily along the path of Life. Even though you don't know what will happen tomorrow, you can be absolutely sure of your ultimate destination. I hold you by your right hand, and afterward I will take you into Glory. "
" Let Me control your mind. The mind is the most restless, unruly part of mankind. Long after you have learned the discipline of holding your tongue, your thoughts defy your will and set themselves up against Me. Man is the pinnacle of My creation, and the human mind is wondrously complex. I risked all by granting you freedom to think for yourself. This is godlike privilege, forever setting you apart from animals and robots. I made you in My image, precariously close to deity. "
Though My blood has fully redeemed you, your mind is the last bastion of rebellion. Open yourself to My radiant Presence, letting My Light permeate your thinking. When My Spirit is controlling your mind, you are filled with Life and Peace. "
" Listen to Me continually. I have much to communicate to you, so many people and situations in need of prayer. I am training you to set your mind on Me more and more, tuning out distractions through the help of My Spirit. "
" Walk with Me in holy trust, responding to My initiatives rather than trying to make things fit your plans. I died to set you free, and that includes freedom from compulsive planning. When your mind spins with a multitude of thoughts, you cannot hear My voice. A mind preoccupied with planning pays homage to the idol of control. Turn from this idolatry back to Me. Listen to Me and live abundantly! "
" Keep your eyes on Me, not only for direction but also for empowerment. I never lead you to do something without equipping you for the task. That is why it's so important to seek My will in everything you do. There are many burned-out Christians who think more is always better, who deem it unspiritual to say no. "
" In order to know My will, you must spend time with Me---enjoying My Presence. This is not an onerous task but a delightful privilege. I will show you the path of Life; in My Presence is fullness of Joy; at My right hand there are pleasures forevermore. "
" Rest in the stillness of My Presence while I prepare you for this day. Let the radiance of My Glory shine upon you as you wait on Me in confident trust. Be still, and know that I am God. There is both a passive and an active side to trusting Me. As you rest in My Presence, focusing on Me, I quietly build bonds of trust between us. When you respond to the circumstances of your life with affirmations of trust, you actively participate in this process. "
" I am always with you, so you have no reason to be afraid. Your fear often manifests itself in excessive planning. Your mind is so accustomed to this pattern of thinking that you are only now becoming aware of how pervasive it is and how much it hinders your intimacy with Me. Repent of this tendency and resist it whenever you realize you are wandering down this well-worn path. Return to My Presence, which always awaits you in the present moment. I accept you back with no condemnation. "
" Make Me your focal point as you move through this day. Just as a spinning ballerina must keep returning her eyes to a given point to maintain her balance, so you must keep returning to your focus on Me. Circumstances are in flux, and the world seems to be whirling around you. The only way to keep your balance is to fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes. If you gaze too long at your circumstances, you will become dizzy and confused. Look to Me, refreshing yourself in My Presence, and your steps will be steady and sure. "
" Welcome problems as perspective-lifters. My children tend to sleepwalk through their days until they bump into an obstacle that stymies them. "
" If you encounter a problem with no immediate solution, your response to that situation will take you either up or down. You can lash out at the difficulty, resenting it and feeling sorry for yourself. This will take you down into a pit of self-pity. Alternatively, the problem can be a ladder, enabling you to climb up and see your life from My perspective. Viewed from above, the obstacle that frustrated you is only a light and momentary trouble. Once your perspective has been heightened, you can look away from the problem altogether. Turn toward Me, and see the Light of My Presence shining upon you. "
" Come to Me with empty hands and an open heart, ready to receive abundant blessings. I know the depth and breadth of your neediness. Your life-path has been difficult, draining your strength. Come to Me for nurture. Let Me fill you up with My Presence: I in you, and you in Me. "
" My Power flows most freely into weak ones aware of their need for Me. Faltering steps of dependence are not lack of faith; they are links to My Presence. "
" The deepest level of worship is praising God inspite of the pain, thanking God during the trials, trusting Him when we're tempted to lose Hope and loving Him when He seems so distant and far away.
At my lowest, God is my hope. At my darkest, God is my light. At my weakest, God is my strength. At my saddest, God is comforter. "
------God's reward------
" I never want to be the kind of Christian who portrays themselves as perfect. I have flaws and I have struggles. That's why I need Jesus. "
" Peace is not the absence of trouble. It's the presence of Christ. "
" When pride comes, then comes shame. But with the humble is wisdom. "
" Let Me teach you thankfulness. Begin by acknowledging that everything----all your possessions and all that you are-----belongs to Me. The dawning of each new day is a gift from Me, not to be taken for granted. The earth is vibrantly alive with My blessings, giving vivid testimony to My Presence. If you slow down your pace of life, you can find Me anywhere. "
" The secret of being thankful is learning to see everything from My perspective. My world is your classroom. My Word is a lamp to your feet and a light for your path. "
" When some basic need is lacking-----time, energy, money----consider yourself blessed. Your very lack is an opportunity to latch onto Me in unashamed dependence. When you begin a day with inadequate resources, you must concentrate your efforts on the present moment. This is where you are meant to live---in the present. It is the place where I always await you. Awareness of your inadequacy is a rich blessing, training you to rely wholeheartedly on Me. "
" The truth is that self-sufficiency is a myth perpetuated by pride and temporary success. Health and wealth can disappear instantly, as can life itself. Rejoice in your insufficiency, knowing that My Power is made perfect in weakness. "
" You are on the Path of My choosing. There is no randomness about your life. "
" Every moment is alive with My glorious Presence, to those whose hearts are intimately connected with Mine. As you give yourself more and more to a life of constant communion with Me, you will find that you simply have no time for worry. Thus, you are freed to let My Spirit direct your steps, enabling you to walk along the path of Peace. "
" Living in dependence on Me is the way to enjoy abundant life. You are learning to appreciate tough times because they amplify your awareness of My Presence. Tasks that you need to dread are becoming rich opportunities to enjoy My closeness. When you feel tired, you remember that I am your Strength, you take pleasure in leaning on Me. I am pleased by your tendency to turn to Me more and more frequently, especially when you are alone. "
" When you are with other people, you often lose sight of My Presence. Your fear of displeasing people puts you in bondage to them, and they become your primary focus. When you realize this has happened, whisper My Name: this tiny act of trust brings Me to the forefront of your consciousness, where I belong. As you bask in the blessing of My nearness, My life can flow through you to others. This is abundant life! "
" You cannot serve two masters. If I am truly your Master, you will desire to please Me above all others. If pleasing people is your goal, you will be enslaved to them. People can be harsh taskmasters when you give them this power over you. "
" If I am the Master of your life, I will also be your First Love. Your serving Me is rooted and grounded in My vast, unconditional Love for you. The lower you bow down before Me, the higher I lift you up into intimate relationship with Me. The Joy of living in My Presence outshines all other pleasures. I want you to reflect My joyous Light by living in increasing intimacy with Me. "
" Meet Me in morning stillness, while the earth is fresh with the dew of My Presence. Worship Me in the beauty of holiness. Sing love songs to My holy Name. As you give yourself to Me, My Spirit swells within you till you are flooded with divine Presence. "
" The world's way of pursuing riches is grasping and hoarding. You attain My riches by letting go and giving. The more you give yourself to Me and My ways, the more I fill you with inexpressible, heavenly Joy. "
" Come to Me for all that you need. Come into My Presence with thanksgiving, for thankfulness opens the door to My treasures. When you are thankful, you affirm the central truth that I am Good. I am Light, in whom there is no darkness at all. The assurance that I am entirely Good meets your basic need for security. Your life is not subject to the whims of a sin-stained deity. "
" Relax in the knowledge that the One who controls your life is totally trustworthy. Come to Me with confident expectation. There is nothing you need that I cannot provide. "
" Do not search for security in the world you inhabit. You tend to mental checklists of things you need to do in order to gain control of your life. If only you could check everything off your list, you could relax and be at peace. But the more you work to accomplish that goal, the more things crop up on your list. The harder you try, the more frustrated you become. "
" There is a better way to find security in this life. Instead of scrutinizing your checklist, focus your attention on My Presence with you. This continual contact with Me will keep you in My Peace. Moreover, I will help sort out what is important and what is not, what needs to be done now and what does not. Fix your eyes not on what is seen (your circumstances), but on what is unseen (My Presence).
" If you learn to trust Me---really trust Me----with your whole being, then nothing can separate you from My Peace. Everything you endure can be put to good use by allowing it to train you in trusting Me. This is how you foil the works of evil, growing in grace through the very adversity that was meant to harm you. Joseph was a prime example of this divine reversal, declaring to his brothers: " You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. "
Do not fear what this day, or any day, may bring your way. Concentrate on trusting Me and on doing what needs to be done. Relax in My sovereignty, remembering that I go before you, as well as with you, into each day. Fear no evil, for I can bring good out of every situation you will ever encounter. "
" Do not long for the absence of problems in your life. That is an unrealistic goal since in this world you will have trouble. You have an eternity of problem-free living reserved for you in heaven. Rejoice in that inheritance, which no one can take away from you, but do not seek your heaven on earth. "
" Begin each day anticipating problems, asking Me to equip you for whatever difficulties you will encounter. The best equipping is My living Presence, My hand that never lets go of yours. Discuss everything with Me. Take a lighthearted view of trouble, seeing it as a challenge that you and I together can handle. Remember that I am on your side, and I have overcome the world. "
" Don't be so hard on yourself. I can bring good even out of your mistakes. Your finite mind tends to look backward, longing to undo decisions you have come to regret. This is a waste of time and energy, leading only to frustration. Instead of floundering in the past, release your mistakes to Me. Look to Me in trust, anticipating that My infinite creativity can weave both good choices and bad into a lovely design. "
" Because you are human, you will continue to make mistakes. Thinking that you should live an error-free life is symptomatic of pride.Your failures can be a source of blessing, humbling you and giving you empathy for other people in their weaknesses. Best of all, failure highlights your dependence on Me. I am able to bring beauty out of the morass of your mistakes. Trust Me, and watch to see what I will do. "
" When you turn your worry in worship, God will turn your battles into blessing. "
" When God blesses you financially, don't raise your standard of living but raise your standard of giving. "
" Do not resist or run from the difficulties in your life. These problems are not random mistakes; they are hand-tailored blessings designed for your benefit and growth. Embrace all the circumstances that I allow in your life, trusting Me to bring good out of them. View problems as opportunities to rely more fully on Me. "
When you start to feel stressed, let those feelings alert you to your need for Me. Thus, your needs become doorways to deep dependence on Me and increasing intimacy between us. Although self-sufficiency is acclaimed in the world, reliance on Me produces abundant living in My kingdom. Thank Me for the difficulties in your life since they provide protection from the idolatry of self-reliance. "
King James Version
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Titus 2:11-14
King James Version
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
" Thank Me for your problems. As soon as your mind gets snagged on a difficulty, bring it to Me with thanksgiving. Then ask Me to show you My way to handle the situation. The very act of thanking Me releases your mind from its negative focus. As you turn your attention to Me, the problem fades in significance and loses its power to trip you up. Together we can deal with the situation, either facing it head-on or putting it aside for later consideration. "
" Most of the situations that entangle your mind are not today's concerns; you have borrowed them from tomorrow. In this case, I lift the problems out of today and deposit it in the future, where it is veiled from your eyes. In its place I give you My Peace, which flows freely from My Presence. "
" Learn to relate to others through My Love rather than yours. Your human love is ever so limited, full of flaws and manipulation. My loving Presence, which always enfolds you, is available to bless others as well you. Instead of trying harder to help people through your own paltry supplies, become aware of My unlimited supply, which is accessible to you continually. Let My Love envelop your outreach to other people. "
" Take time to rest in the Love -Light of My Presence. I will gradually restore to you the energy that you have lost over the years. Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and you will find rest for your souls. "
" Thank Me in the midst of the crucible. When things seem all wrong, look for growth opportunities. Especially look for areas where you need to let go, leaving your cares in My able hands. Do you trust Me to orchestrate your life events as I choose, or are you still trying to make things according to your will? If you keep trying to carry out your intentions while I am leading you in another direction, you deify your desires. "
" Be on the lookout for what I am doing in your life. Worship Me by living close to Me, thanking Me in all circumstances. "
" I am a Mighty God. Nothing is too difficult for Me. I have chosen to use weak ones like you to accomplish My purposes. Your weakness is designed to open you up to My Power. Therefore, do not fear your limitations or measure the day's demands against your strength. What I require of you is to stay connected to Me, living in trusting dependence on My limitless resources. When you face unexpected demands, there is no need to panic. Remember that I am with you. Talk to Me, and listen while I talk to you through each challenging situation. "
" I am not a careless God. When I allow difficulties to come into your life, I equip you fully to handle them. Relax in My Presence, trusting in My Strength. "
" Spending time alone with Me is essential for your well-being. It is not a luxury or an option; it is a necessity. Therefore, do not feel guilty about taking time to be with Me. Remember that Satan is the accuser of believers. He delights in heaping guilt feelings upon you, especially when you are enjoying My Presence. When you feel Satan's arrows of accusation, you are probably on the right track. Use your shield of faith to protect yourself from him. Talk with Me about what you are experiencing, and ask Me to show you the way forward. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to Me, and I will come near to you. "
" You might not be able to see where you're headed, but I assure you, the Lord can. And he's holding your hand. He's breathing life into every aspect of your present and future. He's shining His light even in the darkest corners of your mind. So hold tight to Him. Hold tight to His love, knowing that He will never leave you or forsake you and because of Jesus, you are in His grip forever. No uncertainty, no broken dreams, and no fear of the future can keep you from Him. He is with you in all of these. Trust Him and Believe. And let Him gracefully lead you where you need to be. "
" As you sit quietly in My Presence, remember that I am a God of abundance. I will never run out of resources; My capacity to bless you is unlimited. You live in a world of supply and demand, where necessary things are often scarce. Even if you personally have enough, you see poverty in the world around you. It is impossible for you to comprehend the lavishness of My provisions: the fulness of My glorious riches. "
" Though spending time in My Presence, you gain glimpses of My overflowing vastness. Their glimpses are tiny foretastes of what you will experience eternally in heaven. Even now you have access to as much of Me as you have faith to receive. Rejoice in My abundance---living by faith, not by sight. "
" Come to Me with your plans held in abeyance. Worship Me in spirit and in truth, allowing My Glory to permeate your entire being. Trust Me enough to let Me guide you through this day, accomplishing My purposes in My timing. Subordinate your myriad plans to My Master Plan. I am sovereign over every aspect of your life! "
" The challenge continually before you is to trust Me and search for My way through each day. Do not blindly follow your habitual route, or you will miss what I have prepared for you. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. "
" I want to know how safe and secure you are in My Presence. That is a fact, totally independent of your feelings. You are on your way to heaven; nothing can prevent you from reaching that destination.There you will see Me face-to-Face, and your Joy will be off the charts by any earthly standards. Even now, you are never separated from Me, though you must see Me through eyes of faith. I will walk with you till the end of time and onward into eternity. "
" Although My Presence is a guaranteed promise, that does not necessarily change your feelings. When you forget I am with you, you may experience loneliness or fear. It is through awareness of My Presence that Peace displaces negative feelings. Practice the discipline of walking consciously with Me through each day. "
" When your sins weigh heavily upon you, come to Me. Confess your wrongdoing, which I know all about before you say a word. Stay in the Light of My Presence, receiving forgiveness, cleansing, and healing. Remember that I have clothed you in My righteousness, so nothing can separate you from Me. Whenever you stumble or fall, I am there to help you up. "
" Man's tendency is to hide from his sin, seeking refuge in the darkness. There he indulges in self-pity, denial, self-righteousness, blaming, and hatred. But I am the Light of the world, and My illumination decimates the darkness. Come close to Me and let My Light envelop you, driving out darkness and permeating you with Peace. "
" I, the Creator of the Universe, am with you and for you. What more could you need? When you feel some lack, it is because you are not connecting with Me at a deep level. I offer abundant Life; your part is to trust Me, refusing to worry about anything. "
" It is not so much adverse events that make you anxious as it is your thoughts about those events. Your mind engages in efforts to take control of a situation, to bring about the result you desire. Your thoughts close in on the problem like ravenous wolves. Determined to make things go your way, you forget that I am in charge of your life. The only remedy is to switch your focus from the problem to My Presence. Stop all your striving, and watch to see what I will do. I am the Lord! "
" When things don't go as you would like, accept the situation immediately. If you indulge in feelings of regret, they can easily spill over the line into resentment. Remember that I am sovereign over your circumstances, and humble yourself under My mighty hand. Rejoice in what I am doing in your life, even though it is beyond your understanding. "
" I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Me you have everything you need, both for this life and for the life yet to come. Don't let the impact of the world shatter your thinking or draw you away from focusing on Me. The ultimate challenge is to keep fixing your eyes on Me, no matter what is going on around you. When I am central in your thinking, you are able to view circumstances from My perspective. "
" Approach each new day with desire to find Me. Before you get out of bed, I have already been working to prepare the path that will get you through this day. There are hidden treasures strategically placed along the way. Some of the trials, designed to shake you free from earth-shackles. Others are blessings that reveal My Presence. I have not abandoned this sin-wracked world; I am still richly present in it. "
" Search for deep treasure as you go through this day. You will find Me all along the way. "
" Bring Me your mind for rest and renewal. Let Me infuse My Presence into your thoughts. As your mind stops racing, your body relaxes and you regain awareness of Me. This awareness is vital to your spiritual well-being; it is your lifeline, spiritually speaking. "
" There are actually more than four dimensions in this world where you live. In addition to the three dimensions of space and the one of time, there is the dimension of openness to My Presence. This dimension transcends the others, giving you glimpses of heaven while you still reside on earth. This was part of My original design for mankind. Adam and Eve used to walk with Me in the garden, before their expulsion from Eden. I want you to walk with Me in the garden of your heart, where I have taken up permanent residence. "
" The world is too much with you, My child. Your mind leaps from problem to problem to problem, tangling your thoughts in anxious knots. When you think like that, you leave Me of your worldview and your mind becomes darkened. Though I yearn to help, I will not violate your freedom. I stand silently in the background of your mind, waiting for you to remember that I am with you. "
" When you turn from your priblems to My Presence, your load is immediately lighter. Circumstances may not have changed, but we carry your burdens together. Your compulsion to " fix " everything gives way to deep, satisfying connection with Me. Together we can handle whatever this day brings. "
" In a world of unrelenting changes, I am the One who never changes, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Find in Me the stability for which you have yearned. "
" I created a beautifully ordered world: one that reflects My perfection. Now, however, the world is under the bondage of sin and evil. Every person on the planet faces gaping jaws of uncertainty. The only antidote to this poisonous threat is drawing closer to Me. In My Presence you can face uncertainty with perfect Peace. "
" Seek My Face at the beginning of your day. This practice enables you to " put Me on " and " wear Me
" throughout the day. Most people put on clothes soon after arising from bed. Similarly, the sooner you " put Me on " by communicating with Me, the better prepared you are for whatever comes your way. "
To " wear Me " is essentially to have My mind: to think My thoughts. Ask the Holy Spirit to control your thinking be transformed by this renewal within you. Thus you are well-equipped to face whatever people and situations I bring your way. Clothing your mind in Me is your best preparation for each day. This discipline brings Joy and Peace to you and those around you. "
" Let Me anoint you with My Presence. I am King of kings and Lord of lords, dwelling in unapproachable Light. When you draw near to Me, I respond by coming closer to you. As My Presence envelops you, you may feel overwhelmed by My Power and Glory. This is a form of worship: sensing your smallness in comparison to My Greatness. "
" Man has tended to make himself the measure of all things. But man's measure is too tiny to comprehend My majestic vastness. That is why most people do not see Me at all, even though they live and move and have their being in Me. "
" Enjoy the radiant beauty of My Presence. Declare My Glorious Being to the world! "
" I am with you, watching over you constantly. I am Immanuel (God with you); My Presence enfolds you in radiant Love. Nothing, including the brightest blessings and the darkest trials, can separate you from Me. "
" I know precisely what you need to draw nearer to Me. Go through each day looking for what I have prepared for you. Accept every event as My hand-tailored provision for your needs. When you view your life this way, the most reasonable response is to be thankful. Do not reject any of My gifts; find Me in every situation. "
" I am renewing your mind. When your thoughts flow freely, they tend to move toward problems. Your focus gets snagged on a given problem, circling round and round it in attempts to gain mastery. Your energy is drained away from other matters through this negative focus. Worst of all, you lose sight of Me. "
" A renewed mind is Presence-focused. Train your mind to seek Me in every moment, every situation. Sometimes you can find Me in your surroundings: a lilting birdsong, a loved one's smile, golden sunlight. At other times, you must draw inward to find Me. I am always present in your spirit. Seek My Face, speak to Me, and I will light up your mind. "
" I am with you and for you. You face nothing alone----nothing! When you feel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world and leaving me out of the picture. The remedy is simple: Fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. Verbalize your trust in Me, the Living One who sees you always. I will get you safely through this day and all your days. But you can find Me only in the presen. Each day is a precious gift from My Father. How ridiculous to grasp for future gifts when today's is set before you! Receive today's gift gratefully. unwrapping it tenderly and delving into its deprhs. Aa you savor this gift, you find Me. "
" Bring Me your weakness, and receive My Peace. Accept yourself and your circumstances just as they are, remembering that that I am sovereign over everything. Do not wear yourself out with analyzing and planning. Instead, let thankfulness and trust be your guides through this day; they will keep you close to Me. As you live in the radiance of My Presence, My Peace shines upon you. You will cease to notice how weak or strong you feel because you will be focusing on Me. The best way to get through this day is step by step with Me. Continue this intimate journey, trusting that the path you are following is headed for heaven. "
" Seek My Face, and you will find not only My Presence but also My Peace. To receive My Peace, you must change your grasping, controlling stance to one of openness and trust. The only thing you can grasp without damaging your soul is My hand. Ask My Spirit within you to order your day and control your thoughts, for the mind controlled by the Spirit is Life and Peace. "
" You can have as much of Me and My Peace as you want, through thousands of correct choices each day. The most persistent choice you face is whether to trust Me or to worry. You will never run out of things to worry about, but you can choose to trust Me no matter what. I am an ever-present help in trouble. Trust Me, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. "
" Come to Me and rest. I am all around you, to bless and restore. Breathe Me in with each breath. The way just ahead of you is very steep. Slow down and cling tightly to My hand. I am teaching you a difficult lesson, learned only by hardship. "
" Lift up empty hands of faith to receive My precious Presence. Light, Life, Joy, and Peace flow freely through this gift. When your focus turns away from Me, you grasp for other things. You drop the glowing gift of My Presence as you reach for lifeless ashes. Return to Me; regain My Presence. "
" Come to Me for rest and refreshment. The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life. "
" Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good, including the things you wish were different. Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intend you to be. You will get through today one step, one moment at a time. Your main responsibility is to remain attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your pathway. "
" Your desire to live in My Presence goes against the grain of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Much of your weariness results from your constant battle against these opponents. However, you are on the path of My choosing, so do not give up! Hope in Me, for you will again praise Me for the help of My Presence. "
" I am above all things: your problems, your pain, and the swirling events in this ever-changjmg world. When you behold My Face, you rise above circumstances and rest with Me in heavenly realms. This is the way of Peace, living in the Light of My Presence. I guarantee that you will always have problems in this life, but they must not become your focus. When you feel yourself sinking in the sea of circumstances, say, " Help me, Jesus! " and I will draw you back to Me. If you have to say that thousands of times daily, don't be discouraged. I know your weakness, and I meet you in that very place. "
" Seek My Face more and more. You are really just beginning your journey of intimacy with Me. It is not an easy road, but it is delightful and privileged way: a treasure hunt. I am the Treasure, and the Glory of My Presence glistens and shimmers along the way. Hardships are part of the journey too. I mete them out ever so carefully, in just the right dosage, with a tenderness you can hardly imagine. Do nor recoil from afflictions, since they are among My most favored gifts. Trust Me and don't be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song. "
" Trust Me enough to spend ample time with Me, pushing back the demands of the day. Refuse to feel guilty about something that is so pleasing to Me, the king of the universe. Because I am omnipotent, I am able to bend time and events in your favor. You will find that you can accomplish more in less time after you have given yourself to Me in rich communication. "
Don't fall into the trap of being constantly on the go. Many, many things people do in My Name have no value in My kingdom. To avoid doing meaningless works, stay in continual communication with Me. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. "
" My Peace is like a shaft of golden Light shining on you continuously. During days of bright sunshine, it may blend in with your surroundings. On darker days, My Peace stands out in sharp contrast to your circumstances. See times of darkness as opportunities for My Light to shine in transcendent splendor. I am training you to practice Peace that overpowers darkness. Collaborate with Me in this training. Do not grow weary and lose heart. "
" I am ever so near you, hovering over your shoulder, reading every thought. People think that thoughts are fleeting and worthless, but yours are precious to Me, I smile when you think lovingly of Me. My Spirit who lives within you, helps you to think My thoughts. As yout thinking goes, so goes your entire being. "
" Let Me be your positive Focus. When you look to Me, knowing Me as God with you, you experience Joy. Advertising capitalizes on the longing of people for a positive focus in their lives. I planted that longing in human souls, knowing that only I could fully satisfy it. Delight yourself in Me; let Me become the Desire of your heart. "
" Peace Be With You! Ever since the resurrection, this has been My watchword to those who yearn for Me. As you sit quietly, let My Peace settle over you and enfold you in My loving Presence. To provide this radiant Peace for you, I died a criminal's death. Receive My Peace abundantly and thankfully. It is a rare treasure, dazzling in delicate beauty. yet strong enough to withstand all onslaughts. Wear My Peace with regal dignity. It will keep your heart and mind close to Mine. "
" Give yourself fully to the adventure of today. Walk boldly along the path of Life, relying on your ever-present Companion. You have every reason to be confident because My Presence accompanies you all the days of your life---and onward into eternity. "
" Do not give in to fear or worry, those robbers of abundant living. Trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfecter of your faith, and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am holding you by your right hand. Nothing can separate you from My Presence! "
" Come to Me with all your weaknesses: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Rest in the comfort of My Presence, remembering that nothing is impossible with Me. "
" Pry your mind away from your problems so you can focus your attention on Me. Recall that I am able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine. Instead of trying to direct Me to do this and that, seek to attune yourself to what I am already doing. "
" When anxiety attempts to wedge its way into your thoughts, remind yourself that I am your Shepherd. The bottom line is that I am taking care of you therefore, you needn't be afraid of anything. Rather than trying to maintain control over your life, abandon yourself to My will. Though this may feel frightening----even dangerous-----the safest place to be is in My will. "
" Thank Me for the conditions that are requiring you to be still. Do not spoil these quiet hours by wishing them away, waiting impatiently to be active again. Some of the greatest works in My kingdom have been done from sickbeds and prison cells. Instead of resenting the limitations of a weakened body, search for My way in the midst of these very circumstances. Limitations can be liberating when your strongest desire is living close to Me. "
" Quietness and trust enhance your awareness of My Presence with you. Do not despise these simple ways of serving Me. Although you feel cut off from the activity of the world, your quiet trust makes a powerful statement in spiritual realms. My Strength and Power show themselves most effective in weakness. "
" Life has taught me I am not always in control. Life is full of experiences, lessons, heartbreak and pain. But it has also shown me love, beauty, possibility, and new beginnings. Embrace it all. It makes us who we are, and after every storm comes a clear sky. "
" I am with you. These four words are like a safety net, protecting you from falling into despair. Because you are human, you will always have ups and downs in your life experience. But the promise of My Presence limits how far down you can go. Sometimes you may feel as if you are in a free fall, when people or things you had counted on let you down. Yet as soon as you remember that I am with you, your perspective changes radically. Instead of bemoaning your circumstances, you can look to Me for help. You recall that not only am I with you; I am holding you by your right hand, I guide you with My counsel, and afterward I will take you into Glory. This is exactly the perspective you need : the reassurance of My Presence and the glorious hope of heaven. "
" No one talks about how hard it is to walk faithfully with God. It's easy to post the verses and cute Bible notes but there 's a lifetime of spiritual warfare, losing friendship and being tested constantly throughout everyday. It's not easy to be separated from the world, but to man it's so worth it. "
" The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. "
" Learn to live from your true Center in Me. I reside in the deepest depths of your being, in eternal union with your spirit. It is at this deep level that My Peace reigns continually. You will not find lasting peace in the world around you, in circumstances, or in human relationships. The external world is always in flux----under the curse of death and decay. But there is a gold mine of Peace deep with you, waiting to be tapped. Take time to delve into the riches of My residing Presence. I want you to live increasingly from your real Center, where My Love has an eternal grip on you, I am Christ in you, the hope of Glory. "
" Trust and Thankfulness will get you safely through this day. Trust protects you from worrying and obsessing. Thankfulness keeps you from criticizing and complaining: those " sister sins " that so easily entangle you. "
" Keeping your eyes on Me is the same thing as trusting Me. It is a free choice that you must make thousands of times daily. The more you choose to trust Me, the easier it becomes. Thought patterns of trust become etched into your brain. Relegate troubles to the periphery of your mind so that I can be central in your thoughts. Thus, you focus on Me, entrusting your concerns into My care. "
" You need Me every moment. Your awareness of your constant need for Me is your greatest strength. Your neediness , properly handled, is a link to My Presence. However, there are pitfalls that you must be on guard against: self-pity, self-preoccupation, giving up. Your inadequacy presents you with a continual choice----deep dependence on Me or despair. The emptiness you feel within will be filled either with problems or with My Presence. Make Me central in your consciousness by praying continually: simple, short prayers flowing out of the present moment. Use My name liberally, to remind you of My Presence. "
" Keep on asking and you will receive, so that your gladness may be full and complete. "
" Be on guard against the pit of self-pity. When you are weary or unwell, this demonic trap is the greatest danger you face. Don't even go near the edge of the pit. Its edges crumble easily, and before you know it, you are on the way down. It is ever so much harder to get out of the pit than to keep a safe distance from it. That is why I tell you to be on guard. "
" There are several ways to protect yourself from self-pity. When you are occupied with praising and thanking Me, it is impossible to feel sorry for yourself. Also, the closer you live to Me, the more distance there is between you and the pit. Live in the Light of My Presence by fixing your eyes on Me. Then you will be able to run with endurance the race that is set before you, without stumbling or falling. "
" Be still in the Light of My Presence while I communicate Love to you. There is no force in the universe as powerful as My Love. You are constantly aware of limitations: your own and others'. But there is no limit to My Love; it fills all of space, time, and eternity. "
" Now you see through a glass, darkly, but someday you will see Me face to face. Then you will be able to experience fully how wide and long and high and deep is My Love for you. If you were to experience that now, you would be overwhelned to the point of feeling crushed But you have an eternity ahead of you, absolutely guaranteed, during which you can enjoy My Presence in unrestricted ecstacy. For now, the knowledge of My loving Presence is sufficient to carry you through each day. "
" Rest in My Presence, allowing Me to take charge of this day. Do not bolt into the day like a racehorse suddenly released. Instead, walk purposefully with Me, letting Me direct your course one step at a time. Thank for each blessing along the way; this brings joy to both you and Me. A grateful heart protects you from negative thinking. Thankfulness enables you to see the abundance I shower upon you daily. Your prayers and petitions are winged into heaven's throne room when they are permeated with thanksgiving. In everything give thanks, for this is My will for you. "
" I am leading you, step by step through your life. Hold My hand in trusting dependence, letting Me guide you through this day. Your future looks uncertain and feels flimsy---even precarious. That is how it should be. Secret things belongs to the Lord, and future things are secret things. When you try to figure out the future, you are grasping at things that are Mine. This, like all forms of worry, is an act of rebellion: doubting My promises to care for you. "
" Whenever you find yourself worrying about the future, repent and return to Me. I will show you the next step forward, and the one after that, and the after that. Relax and enjoy the journey in My Presence, trusting Me to open up the way before you as you go. "
" Keep your eyes on Me! Waves of adversity are washing over you, and you feel tempted to give up. As your circumstances consume more and more of your attention, you are losing sight of Me. Yet I am with you always, holding you by your right hand. I am fully-aware of your situation, and I will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear. "
" Your gravest danger is worrying about tomorrow. If you try to carry tomorrow's burden today, you will stagger under the load and eventually fall flat. You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today. It is in the present moment that I walk close to you, helping you carry your burdens. Keep your focus on My Presence in the present. "
" Stop judging and evaluating yourself, for this is not your role. Above all, stop comparing yourself with other people. This produces feelings of pride or inferiority, sometimes a mixture of both. I lead each of My children along a path that is uniquely tailor-made for him or her. Comparing is not only wrong; it is also meaningless. "
" Don't look for affirmation in the wrong places: your own evaluations or those of other people. The only source of real affirmation is My unconditional Love. Immerse yourself in My loving Presence. Be receptive to My affirmation, which flows continually from the throne of grace. "
" You are on the right path. Listen more to Me and less to your doubts. I am leading you along the way I designed just for you. Therefore, it is a lonely way, humanly speaking. But I go before you as well as alongside you, so you are never alone. Do not expect anyone to understand fully My ways with you, anymore than you can comprehend My dealings with others. I am revealing to you the path of Life, day by day and moment by moment. As I said to My disciple Peter, so I repeat to you: Follow Me. "
" When something in your life or thoughts makes you anxious , come to Me and talk about it. Bring Me your prayer and petition with thanksgiving, saying, " Thank you, Jesus, for this opportunity, saying, " Thank You, Jesus, for this opportunity to trust you more. " Through the lessons of trust that I send to you come wrapped in difficulties, the benefits far outweigh the cost. "
" Well-developed trust will bring you many blessings, not the least of which is My Peace. I have promised to keep you in perfect Peace to the extent that you trust in Me. The world has it backwards, teaching that peace is the result of having enough money, possessions, insurance, and security systems. My peace, however, is such an all-emcompassing gift that it is independent of all circumstances. Though you lose everything else, if you gain My Peace you are rich indeed. "
" I am the Resurrection and the Life; all lasting Life emanates from Me. People search for life in many wrong ways: chasing after fleeting pleasures, accumulating possessions and wealth, trying to deny the inevitable effects of aging. Meanwhile, I freely offer abundant Life to everyone who turns toward Me. As you come to Me and take My yoke upon you, I fill you with My very Life. This is how I choose to live in the world and accomplish My purposes. This is also how I bless you with Joy unpeakable and full of Glory. The Joy is Mine, and the Glory is Mine; but I bestow them on you as you live in My Presence, inviting Me to live fully in you. "
" God understand the cries of our heart, even when they're too deep for words. "
" God will give you strength for every battle, wisdom for every decision, courage for every difficult situation. All you have to do is ask. "
" Now this is eternal life that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. "
" I delight to do your will O My God; your Law is within My heart. "
" The Lord carried my sin. I received eternal life. "
" Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my Spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. "
" The blessing that God has for you is so great, that you will not have enough space to contain. "
" Refuse to worry! In this world there will always be something enticing you to worry. That is the nature of a fallen, fractured planet: Things are not as they should be. So the temptation to be anxious is constantly with you, trying to worm its way into your mind. The best defense is continual communication with Me, richly seasoned with thanksgiving. Awareness of My Presence fills your mind with Light and Peace, leaving no room for fear. This awareness lifts you up above your circumstances, enabling you to see problems from My perspective. Live close to Me! Together we can keep the wolves of worry at bay. "
" See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called, " Children of God! " And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know God the Father. "
" A bad mood is never an excuse to use cruel words. Moods pass, but cruel words wound the soul. "
" And we are living in the Last of the Last Days! Woe unto them call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! "
" Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrow, it empties today of strength. "
" Continue on this Path with Me, enjoying My Presence ever in adversity. I am always before you, as well as alongside you. See Me beckoning to you: " Come! Follow Me. " The One who goes ahead of you, openi ng up the way, is the same One who stays close and never let go of your hand. I am not subject to limitations of time of time or space. I am everywhere at every time, ceaselessly working on your behalf. That is why your best efforts are trusting Me and living close to Me. "
" Let Me help you through this day. The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone. You are keenly aware of your helplessness in the scheme of events you face. This awareness opens up a choice: to doggedly go it alone or to walk with Me in humble steps of dependence. Actually, this choice is continually before you, but of difficulties highlight the decision-making process. So consider it all joy whenever you are enveloped in various trials. These are gifts from Me, reminding you to rely on Me alone. "
" Save your best striving for seeking My Face. I am constantly communicating with you. To find Me and hear My voice, you must seek Me above all else. Anything that you desire more than Me becomes an idol. When you are determined to get your own way, you blot Me out of your consciousness. Instead of single-mindedly pursuing some goal, talk with Me about it. Let the Light of My Presence shine on this pursuit so that you can see it from My perspective. If the goal fits into My plans for you, I will help you reach it. If it is contrary to My will for you, I will gradually change the desire of your heart. Seek Me first and foremost; then the rest of your life will fall into place, piece by piece. "
" If you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear. "
" Whenever you feel unloved, unimportant or insecure, remember to whom you belong. "
" Rest in My radiant Presence. The world around you seems to spin faster and faster, till everything is a blur. Yet there is a cushion of calm at the center of your life, where you live in union with Me. Return to this soothing Center as often as you can, for this is where you are energized: filled with My Love, Joy, and Peace. "
" The world is a needy place; do not go there for sustenance. Instead, come to Me. Learn to depend on Me alone, and your weakness will become saturated with My Power. When you find your completeness in Me, you can help other people without using them to meet your own needs. Live in the Light of My Presence, and your light will shine brightly into the lives of others. "
" Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord, your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. "
" Don't worry. God has gone before you and prepared the way. " Keep Walking. "
" Keep your roots deep in Jesus and have your lives built on Him. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught. And always be thankful. Jesus, we pray! "
" You are Mine for all time---and beyond time, into eternity. No power can deny you--your inheritance in heaven. I want you to realize how utterly secure you are! Even if you falter as journey through life, I will never let go of your hand. This sounds easy, but it requires a deep level of trust, based on the knowledge that My way is perfect. "
" Walk by Faith, not by Sight. As you take steps of faith, depending on Me, I will show you how much I can do you. If you live your life too safely, you will never know the thrill of seeing Me work through you. When I gave you My Spirit, I empowered you to live beyond your natural ability and strength. That's why it is so wrong to measure your energy level against the challenges ahead of you. The issue is not your strength but Mine, which is limitless. By walking close to Me, you can accomplish My purposes in My strength. "
" Waiting, trusting, and hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain. Trusting is the central strand because it is the response from My children that I desire the most. Waiting and hoping embellish the central strand and strengthen the chain that connects you to Me. Waiting for Me to work, with your eyes on Me, is evidence that you really do trust Me. If you mouth the words " I trust You " while anxiously trying to make things go your way, your words ring hollow. Hoping is future-directed, connecting you to your inheritance in heaven. However, the benefits of hope fall fully on you in the present. "
" Because you are Mine, you don't just pass time in your waiting. You can wait expectantly, in hopeful trust. Keep your " antennae " out to pick up even the faintest glimmer of My Presence. "
" Learn to live above your circumstances. This requires focused time with Me, the One who overcame the world. Trouble and distress are woven into the very fabric of this perishing world. Only My Life in you can empower you to face this endless flow of problems with good cheer. "
" As you sit quietly in My Presence, I shine Peace into your troubled mind and heart. Little by little, you are freed from earthly shackles and lifted up above your circumstances. You gain My perspective on your life, enabling you to distinguish between what is important and what is not. Rest in My Presence, receiving Joy that no one can take away from you. "
MOST MERCIFUL LORD, with a contrite heart and penitent spirit I bow down before Thy divine Majesty. I adore Thee as my supreme Lord and Master. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee above all things. I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, my only and supreme God. I firmly resolve to amend my life; and although I am unworthy to obtain mercy, yet looking upon Thy holy Cross I am filled with peace and consolation. I will, therefore, meditate on Thy sufferings, and visit the Stations in company with Thy sorrowful Mother and my holy Guardian Angel, to promote Thy honor and to save my soul. I desire to gain all indulgences granted to this holy exercise for myself and for the souls in Purgatory.
O LOVING JESUS, inflame my cold heart with Thy love, that I may perform this devotion as perfectly as possible, and that I may live and die in union with Thee. Amen.
FIRST STATION - Jesus Is Condemned to Death
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Jesus, the most innocent of beings, is condemned to death, yes, to the shameful death of the cross. In order to remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivers Jesus into the hands of His enemies. O fearful crime, to condemn Innocence to death and to displease God in order to please men.
O INNOCENT JESUS, I have sinned and I am guilty of eternal death; but that I may Live, Thou dost gladly accept the unjust sentence of death. For whom then shall I henceforth live if not for Thee, my Lord? If I desire to please men, I can not be Thy servant. Let me, therefore, rather displease the whole world than not please Thee, O Jesus! Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
SECOND STATION - Jesus Carries His Cross
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
When our divine Redeemer beheld the Cross, He most willingly reached out to it with His bleeding arms. He embraced it lovingly, kissed it tenderly, took it on His bruised shoulders, and, exhausted as He was, He carried it joyfully.
O MY JESUS, I can not be Thy friend and follower if I refuse to carry my cross. O beloved cross, I embrace Thee, I kiss Thee, I joyfully accept Thee from the hand of my God. Far be it from me to glory in anything save in the Cross of my Lord and Redeemer. By it the world shall be crucified to me, and I to the world, that I may be Thine forever... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
THIRD STATION - Jesus Falls the First Time
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Carrying the Cross, our dear Savior was so weakened with its heavy weight that He fell exhausted to the ground. The Cross was light and sweet to Him, but our sins made it so heavy and hard to carry.
Beloved Jesus, * Thou didst carry the burden and the heavy weight of my sins. * Should I then not bear in union with Thee * my light burden of suffering, * and accept the sweet yoke of Thy commandments? * Thy yoke is sweet and Thy burden is light. * I willingly accept it. * I will take up my cross and follow Thee... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
FOURTH STATION - Jesus Meets His Blessed Mother
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
How sad and how painful must it have been for Mary to behold her beloved Son laden with the Cross, covered with wounds and blood, and driven through the streets by savage executioners! What unspeakable pangs her most tender heart must have experienced! How earnestly did she desire to die instead of Jesus, or at least with Him!
O JESUS, O MARY, I am the cause of the pains that pierced your hearts. Would that my heart might experience some of your sufferings. O Mother, let me share in thy sufferings and those of they Son, that I may obtain the grace of a happy death... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
FIFTH STATION - Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Simon of Cyrene was forced to help our exhausted Savior carry His Cross. How pleased would Jesus have been, had Simon offered his services of his own accord. However, Simon was not invited by Christ as you are. He says: "Take up your cross and follow Me." Nevertheless you recoil, and carry it grudgingly.
O JESUS, whosoever does not take up his cross and follow Thee, is not worthy of Thee. Behold, I cheerfully join Thee on the way of the cross. I desire to carry it with all patience until death, that I may prove worthy of Thee... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
SIXTH STATION - Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Moved by compassion, Veronica presents her veil to Jesus, to wipe His disfigured face. He imprints on it His holy countenance, and returns it to her as a recompense. Shall Christ reward you in like manner? Then you too must do Him a service. But you do a service to Christ every time you perform a work of mercy towards your neighbor: for He says: "What you have done to the least of My brethren, you have done to Me."
DEAREST JESUS, what return shall I make Thee for all Thy benefits? Behold, I consecrate myself entirely to Thy service. My whole heart I give to Thee; stamp on it Thy holy image, that I may never forget Thee... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
SEVENTH STATION - Jesus Falls the Second Time
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Overwhelmed by the weight of the Cross, Jesus falls again to the ground. But the cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment. With thrusts and blows they urge Him onward. With what cruelty Jesus in treated and trampled under foot! Remember, compassionate soul, that your sins caused Jesus this painful fall.
HAVE MERCY ON ME, O JESUS, and help me never to fall into my former sins. From this moment I will strive sincerely never to sin again. But Thou, O Jesus, strengthen me with Thy grace, that I may faithfully carry out my resolution... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
EIGHT STATION - Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Moved by compassion, these devoted women weep over our suffering Savior. But He turns to them and says: "Weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Weep for your sins and those of your children; for they are the cause of My suffering." You also must weep over your sins, for there is nothing more pleasing to our Lord and more useful to yourself than the tears you shed out of contrition for your sins.
O LORD JESUS, Who shall give my eyes a torrent of tears, that I may day and night weep over my sins? I beseech Thee by Thy bitter and bloody tears to move my heart, so that tears may flow in abundance from my eyes, and that I may weep over Thy sufferings and over my sins until death... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
NINTH STATION - Jesus Falls the Third Time
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Exhausted at the foot of Calvary, Jesus falls for the third time to the ground. How painfully must have been reopened all the wounds of His tender body by these repeated falls. And how enormous must my sins be, to cause Jesus to fall so painfully. Had not Jesus taken my sins upon Himself, they would have plunged me into the abyss of Hell.
MOST MERCIFUL JESUS, I return Thee a thousand thanks for not permitting me to die in my sins and fall into the abyss of Hell, as I have deserved so often. Enkindle in me a sincere desire to amend my life. Let me never again fall into sin, but grant me the grace of final perseverance... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
TENTH STATION - Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Arriving on Calvary, Jesus was cruelly deprived of His garments. How painful the stripping must have been, because the garments adhered to His mangled body, so that in removing them parts of the flesh were torn away. Jesus is deprived of His garments that He may die possessed of nothing. How happy shall not I die after laying aside my evil habits and tendencies!
HELP ME, O JESUS, to amend my life. Let it be renewed according to Thy will and desire. However painful the correction may be to me, I will not spare myself. With the assistance of Thy grace, I will refrain from all sinful pleasure and vain amusement, that I may die happy and live forever... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
ELEVENTH STATION - Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Stripped of His garments, Jesus is violently thrown down on the Cross. His hands and His feet are nailed to it in the most cruel way. Jesus remains silent, because it so pleases His heavenly Father. He suffers patiently, because He suffers for you. How do you act in sufferings and trials? How fretful and impatient, how full of complaints are you!
O JESUS, meek and patient Lamb, I renounce forever my impatience. Crucify, O Lord, my flesh, with its evil desires and vices. Punish and afflict me in this life, but spare me in the next. I resign myself altogether to Thy holy will. May it be done in all things... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
TWELFTH STATION - Jesus Dies on the Cross
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Behold Jesus crucified! Behold His wounds received for love of you! His whole appearance betokens love. His head is bent to kiss you. His arms are extended to embrace you. His heart is open to receive you. Oh what love! Jesus dies on the Cross, to preserve you from eternal death.
MOST LOVABLE JESUS, who will grant that I may die for love of Thee? I will endeavor to die to the world and its vanities when I behold Thee on the Cross covered with wounds and crowned with thorns. Merciful Jesus, take me into Thy wounded heart, that I may despise all perishable things, to live and die for Thee alone... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
THIRTEENTH STATION - Jesus Is Taken Down From the Cross
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Jesus did not descend from the Cross, but remained on it till His death. When taken down, He rested on the bosom of His beloved Mother as He had so often done in life. Persevere in your good resolutions, and do not flee from the cross. For he who perseveres till the end shall be saved. Consider, moreover, how pure the heart should be that receives the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the adorable Sacrament of the Altar.
O LORD JESUS CRUCIFIED! I most earnestly entreat Thee: Help me do what is right and let me not be separated from Thy Cross, for on it I desire to live and to die. Create in me, O Lord, a clean heart, that I may worthily receive Thee in Holy Communion, and that Thou mayest remain in me, and I in Thee, for all eternity... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
FOURTEENTH STATION - Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
The body of Jesus is laid in a stranger’s tomb. He Who in this world had not whereon to rest His head, would have no grave of His own after death. You whose heart is still attached to this world, despise it that you may not perish with it.
O JESUS, Thou hast singled me out from the world, what then shall I seek in it? Thou hast created me for Heaven, what then shall I desire upon earth? Depart from me, deceitful world, with thy vanities! Henceforth I will walk the way of the Cross traced out for me by my Redeemer, and journey onward to my heavenly home, where my rest and my joy shall be forever... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
" Do not hesitate to receive Joy from Me, for I bestow it on you abundantly. The more you rest in My Presence, the more freely My blessings flow into you. In the Light of My Love, you are gradually transformed from glory to glory. It is through spending time with Me that you realize how wide and long and high and deep is My Love for you. "
" Sometimes the relationship I offer you seems too good to be true. I pour My very Life into you, and all you have to do is receive Me. In a world characterized by working and taking, the admonition to rest and receive seems too easy. There is a close connection between receiving and believing. As you trust Me more and more, you are able to receive Me and My blessings abundantly. Be still, and know that I am God. "
" When I cannot feel the faith of assurance, I live by the fact of God's Faithfulness. "
" Cast yourself into the arms of Christ, and if you perish, perish there! "
" Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. "
" I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is in the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. "
" I cannot bear to live without God, for He is the source of my strength. "
" It is good that you recognize your weakness. That keeps you looking to Me, your Strength. Abundant life is not necessarily health and wealth; it is living in continual dependence on Me. Instead of trying to fit this day into a preconceived mold, relax and be on the lookout for what I am doing. This mind-set will free you to enjoy Me and find what I have planned for you to do. This is far better than trying to make things go according to your own plan. "
" Don't take yourself so seriously. Lighten up and laugh with Me. You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about? I can equip you to do absolutely anything, as long as it is My will. The more difficult your day, the more I yearn to help you. Anxiety wraps you up in yourself, trapping you in your own thoughts. When you look to Me and whisper My Name, you break free and receive My help. Focus on Me, and you will find peace in My Presence. "
" Come to Me for understanding since I know you far better than you know yourself. I comprehend you in all your complexity; no detail of your life is hidden from Me. I view you through eyes of grace, so don't be afraid of My intimate awareness. Allow the Light of My healing Presence to shine into the deepest recesses of your being----cleansing, healing, refreshing, and renewing you. Trust Me enough to accept the full forgiveness that I offer you continually. This great gift, which cost Me My Life, is yours for all eternity. Forgiveness is at the very core of My abiding Presence. I will never leave you or forsake you. '
" When no one else seems to understand you, simply draw closer to Me. Rejoice in the One who understands you completely and loves you perfectly. As I fill you with My Love, you become a reservoir of love, overflowing into the lives of other people. "
" Trust Me one day at a time. This keeps you close to Me, responsive to My will. Trust is not a natural response, especially for those who have been deeply wounded. My Spirit within you is your resident Tutor, helping you in this supernatural endeavor. Yield to His gentle touch; be sensitive to His prompting. "
" Exert your will to trust Me in all circumstances. Don't let your need to understand distract you from My Presence. I will equip you to get through this day victoriously as you live in deep dependence on Me. Tomorrow is busy worrying about itself; don't get tangled up in its worry-webs. Trust Me one day at a time. "
" Trust Me one day at a time. This keeps you close to Me, responsive to My will. Trust is not a natural response, especially for those who have been deeply wounded. My Spirit within you is your resident Tutor, helping you in this supernatural endeavor. Yield to His gentle touch; be sensitive to His prompting. "
" Exert your will to trust Me in all circumstances. Don't let your need to understand distract you from My Presence. I will equip you to get through this day victoriously as you live in deep dependence on Me. Tomorrow is busy worrying about itself; don't get tangled up in its worry-webs. Trust Me one day at a time. "
" I speak to you from the depths of your being. Hear Me saying soothing words of Peace, assuring you of My Love. Do not listen to voices of accusation, for they are not from Me. I speak to you in love-tones, lifting you up. My Spirit convicts cleanly, without crushing words of shame. Let the Spirit take charge of your mind, combing out tangles of deception. Be transformed by the truth that I live within you. "
" The Light of My Presence is shining upon you, in benedictions of Peace. Let My Light shine in you; don't dim it with worries or fears. Holiness is letting Me live through you. Since I dwell in you, you are fully equipped to be holy. Pause before responding to people or situations, giving My Spirit space to act through you. Hasty words and actions leave no room for Me; this is atheistic living. I want to inhabit all your moments----gracing your thoughts, words, and behavior. "
" Thank Me for the glorious gift of My Spirit. This is like priming the pump of a well. As you bring Me the sacrifice of thanksgiving, regardless of your feelings, My Spirit is able to work more freely within you. This produces more thankfulness and more freedom, until you are overflowing with gratitude. "
" I shower blessings on you daily, but sometimes you don't perceive them. When your mind is stuck on a negative focus, you see neither Me nor My gifts. In faith, thank Me for whatever is preoccupying your mind. This will clear the blockage so that you can find Me. "
" Trust Me and don't be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song. Think what it means to have Me as your Strength. I spoke the universe into existence; My Power is absolutely unlimited! Human weakness, consecrated to Me, is like a magnet, drawing My Power into your neediness. However, fear can block the flow of My Strength into you. Instead of trying to fight your fears, concentrate on trusting Me. When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you. "
" Remenber that I am also your Song. I want you to share My Joy, living in conscious awareness of My Presence. Rejoice as we journey together toward heaven; join Me in singing My Song. "
" Rejoice and be thankful! As you walk with Me through this day, practice trusting and thanking Me all along the way. Trust is the channel through which My Peace flows into you. Thankfulness lifts you up above your circumstances. "
" I do My greatest works through people with grateful, trusting hearts. Rather than planning and evaluating, practice trusting and thanking Me continually. This is a paradigm shift that will revolutionize your life. "
" I am a God of both intricate detail and overflowing abundance. When you entrust the details of your life to Me, you are surprised by how thoroughly I answer your petitions. I take pleasure in hearing your prayers, so feel free to bring Me all your requests. The more you pray, the more answers you can receive. Best of all, your faith is strengthened as you see how precisely I respond to your specific prayers. "
" Because I am infinite in all My ways, you need not fear that I will run out of resources. Abundance is at the very heart of who I am. Come to Me in joyful expectation of receiving all you need----and sometimes much more! I delight in showering blessings on My beloved children. Come to Me with open hands and heart, ready to receive all I have for you. "
The " do what makes you happy " culture is so toxic for Christians. We are not called to do what makes us happy. We are called to do what glorifies God. Christianity isn't always sunshine and happiness. It is hard work and dedication to him, not us. Do what glorifies God. "
" My life is a ministry. I chose to glorify God with the way I live. "
" I put my armor on and set my sights on God...and vowed to finish my race in victory. "
" Wait on the Lord: be of good courage and he shall strengthen my heart: Wait, I say on the Lord. "
" But of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. "
" Love still wins. "
" Prayer still works. "
" God is still able. "
" Let thankfulness temper all your thoughts. A thankful mind-set keeps you in touch with Me. I hate it when my children grumble, casually despising My sovereignty. Thankfulness is a safeguard against this deadly sin. Furthermore, a grateful attitude becomes a grid through which you perceive life. Gratitude enables you to see the Light of My Presence shining on all your circumstances. Cultivate a thankful heart, for this glorifies Me and fills you with Joy. "
" Waiting on Me means directing your attention to Me in hopeful anticipation of what I will do. It entails trusting Me with every fiber of your being instead of trying to figure things out yourself. Waiting on Me is the way I designed you to live: all day, everyday. I created you to stay conscious of Me as you go about your daily duties. "
" I have promised many blessings to those who wait on Me: renewed strength, living above one's circumstances, resurgence of hope, awareness of My continual Presence. Waiting on Me enables you to glorify Me by living in deep dependence on Me, ready to do My will. It also helps you to enjoy Me; in My Presence is fulness of Joy. "
" Be still in My Presence even though countless tasks clamor for your attention. Nothing is as important as spending time with Me. While you wait in My Presence, I do my best work within you, transforming you by the renewing of your mind. "
" Do not seek Me primarily for what I can give you. Remember that I, the Giver, am infinitely greater than any gift I might impart to you. I am the ultimate Desire of your heart, you are safe from the danger of idolatry. As you wait in My Presence, enjoy the greatest gift of all: Christ in you, the hope of Glory! "
" I am a God who gives and gives and gives. When I died for you on the cross, I held back nothing; I poured out My Life like a drink offering. Because giving is inherent in My nature, I search for people who are able to receive in full measure. To increase your intimacy with Me, the two traits you need the most are receptivity and attentiveness. Receptivity is opening your innermost being to be filled with My abundant riches. Attentiveness is directing your gaze to Me, searching for Me in all your moments. It is possible to stay your mind on Me, as the prophet Isaiah wrote. " Through such attentiveness you receive a glorious gift: My perfect Peace. "
" Stop trying to work things out before their times have come. Accept the limitations of living one day at a time. When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today's agenda. If it isn't, release it into My care and go on about today's duties. When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life: a time for everything, and everything in its time. "
" A life lived close to Me is not complicated or cluttered. When your focus is on My Presence, many things that once troubled you lose their power over you. Though the world around you is messy and confusing, remember that I have overcome the world. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have Peace. "
" I am taking care of you. Trust Me at all times. Trust Me in all circumstances. Trust Me with all your heart. When you are weary and everything seems to be going wrong, you can still utter these four words: " I trust You, Jesus. " By doing so, you release matters into My control, and you fall back into the security of My everlasting arms. "
" Before you arise from your bed in the morning, I have already arranged the events of your day. Everyday provides many opportunities for you to learn My ways and grow closer to Me. Signs of My Presence brighten even the dullest day when you have eyes that really see. Search for Me as for hidden treasure. I will be found by you. "
" Taste and see that I am good. The more intimately you experience Me, the more convinced you become of My goodness. I am the Living One who sees you and longs to participate in your life. I am training you to find Me in each moment and to be a channel of My loving Presence. "
" Thank Me for the gift of My Peace, a gift of such immense proportions that you cannot fathom its depth or breadth. I also speak Peace to you, for I know your anxious thoughts. Listen to Me! Tune out other voices so that you can hear Me more clearly. I designed you to dwell in Peace all day, everyday. Draw near to Me; receive My Peace. "
" I am calling you to a life of constant communion with Me. Accept each day just as it comes, and find Me in the midst of it all. Talk with Me about every aspect of your day, including your feelings. Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you; it is to keep communing with Me. A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me, even if many things undone at the end of the day. Do not let your to-do list (written or mental) become an idol directing your life. Instead, ask My Spirit to guide you moment by moment. He will keep you close to Me. "
" I have promised to meet all your needs according to My glorious riches. Your deepest, most constant need is for My Peace. I have planted Peace in the garden of your heart, where I live, but there are weeds growing there too. pride, worry, selfishness, unbelief. I am the Gardener, and I am working to rid your heart of those weeds. I do my work in various ways. When you sit quietly with Me, I shine the Light of My Presence directly into your heart. In this heavenly Light, Peace grows abundantly and weeds shrivel up. I also send trials into your life. When you trust Me in the midst of trouble. Peace flourishes and weeds die away. Thank Me for troublesome situations; the Peace they can produce far outweighs the trials you endure. "
" Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them. "
" In Me you have everything. In Me you are complete. Your capacity to experience Me is increasing through My removal of debris and clutter from your heart. As your yearning for Me increases, other desires are gradually lessening. Since I am infinite and abundantly accessible to you, desiring Me above all else is the best way to live. "
" It is impossible for you to have a need that I cannot meet. After all, I created you and everything that is. The world is still at My beck and call, though it often appears otherwise. Do not be fooled by appearances. Things that are visible are brief and fleeting, while things that are invisible are everlasting. "
" It wasn't the nails that held Jesus to the cross. It was His love for you. "
" I meet you in the stillness of your soul. It is there that I seek to commune with you. A person who is open to My Presence is exceedingly precious to Me. My eyes search to and fro throughout the earth, looking for one whose heart is seeking Me. I see you trying to find Me; our mutual search results in joyful fulfillment. "
" Stillness of soul is increasingly rare in this world addicted to noise and speed. I am pleased with your desire to create a quiet space where you and I can meet. Don't be discouraged by the difficulty of achieving this goal. I monitor all your efforts and am blessed by each of your attempts to seek My Face. "
" Let Me fill you with My Love, Joy, and Peace. These are Glory-gifts, flowing from my living Presence. Though you are an earthen vessel, I designed you to be filled with heavenly contents. Your weakness is not a deterrent to being filled with My Spirit; on the contrary, it provides an opportunity for My Power to shine forth more brightly. "
" As you go through this day, trust Me to provide the strength you need moment by moment. Don't waste energy wondering whether you are adequate for today's journey. My Spirit within you is more than than sufficient to handle whatever this day may bring. That is the basis for your confidence! In quietness (spending time alone with Me) and confident trust (relying on My sufficiency) is your strength. "
" Bring Me the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Take nothing for granted, not even the rising of the sun. "
" When you approach Me with thanksgiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through. Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving. "
" I am the Potter; you are My clay. I designed you before the foundation of the world. I arrange the events of each day to form you into this preconceived pattern. My everlasting Love is at work in every event of your life. On some days your will and Mine flow smoothly together. You tend to feel in control of your life when our wills are in harmony. On other days you feel as if you are swimming upstream, against the current of My purposes. When that happens, stop and seek My Face. The opposition you feel maybe from Me, or it maybe from the evil one. '
" Talk with Me about what you are experiencing. Let My Spirit guide you through treacherous waters. As you move through the turbulent streams with Me, let circumstances mold you into the one I desire you to be. Say yes to your Potter as you go through this day. "
" I am with you and for you, your constant Companion and Provider. The question is whether you are with Me and for Me. Though I never you, you can essentially " leave " Me by ignoring Me: thinking or acting as If I am not with you. When you feel distance in our relationship you know where the problem lies. My Love for you is constant; I am the same yesterday, today, and forever. It is you who change like shifting sand, letting circumstances toss you this way and that. "
" When you feel far from Me, whisper My Name. This simple act, done in childlike faith, opens your heart to My Presence. Speak to Me in love-tones; prepare to receive My Love, which flows eternally from the cross. I am delighted when you open yourself to My loving Presence. "
" You are Mine for all time; nothing can separate you from My Love. Since I have invested My very Life in you, be well assured that I will also take care of you. When your mind goes into neutral and your thoughts flow freely, you tend to feel anxious and alone. Your focus becomes problem solving. To get your mind back into gear, just turn toward Me, bringing yourself and your problems into My Presence. "
" Many problems vanish instantly in the Light of My Love because you realize you are never alone. Other problems may remain, but they become secondary to knowing Me and rejoicing in the relationship I so freely offer you. Each moment you can choose to practice My Presence or to practice the presence of problems. "
Trust Me in every detail of your life. Nothing is random in My kingdom. Everything that happens fits into a pattern for good, to those who love Me. Instead of trying to analyze the intricacies of the pattern, focus your energy on trusting Me and thanking Me at all times. Nothing is wasted when you walk close to Me. Even your mistakes and sins can be recycled into something good through My transforming grace. "
" While you were still living in darkness, I began to shine the Light of My Presence into your sin-stained life. Finally, I lifted you up of the mire into My marvelous Light. Having sacrificed My very Life for you, I can be trusted in every facet of your life. "
" Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace. "
" Trusting Me is a moment-by-moment choice. Stay on the path of Life with Me, enjoying My Presence. Choose to trust Me in all circumstances. "
" We must give up the vain idea of trying to please everybody. That is impossible and the attempt is a mere waste of time. We must be content in Christ's steps, and let the world say what it likes. "
" Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, " I am Christ; and shall deceive many! "
" When I give you no special guidance, stay where you are. Concentrate on doing your everyday tasks in awareness of My Presence with you. The Joy of My Presence will shine on you, as you do everything for Me. Thus you invite Me into every aspect of your life. Through collaborating with Me in all things, you allow My Life to merge with yours. This is the secret of not only joyful living but of victorious living. I designed you to depend on Me moment by moment, recognizing that apart from Me you can do nothing. "
" Be thankful for quiet days when nothing special seems to be happening. Instead of being bored by the lack of action, use times of routine to seek My Face. Although this is an invisible transaction, it speaks volumes in spiritual realms. Moreover, you are richly blessed when you walk trustingly with Me through the routines of your day. "
" In Him there is no darkness at all. "
" Out of all the people on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be His treasured possession. "
" Heaven is both present and future. As you walk along your life-path holding My hand, you are already in touch with the essence of heaven: nearness to Me. You can also find many hints of heaven along your pathway because the earth is radiantly alive with My Presence. Shimmering sunshine awakens your heart, gently reminding you of My brilliant Light. Birds and flowers , trees and skies evoke praises to My holy Name. Keep your eyes and ears fully open as you journey with Me. "
" At the end of your life-path is an entrance to heaven. Only I know when you will reach that destination, but I am preparing you for it each step of the way. The absolute certainty of your heavenly home gives you peace and Joy to help you along your journey. You know that you will reach your home in My perfect timing: not one moment too soon or too late. Let the hope of heaven encourage you as you walk along the path of Life with Me. "
" Trust Me, and don't be afraid. Many things feel out of control. Your routines are not running smoothly. You tend to feel more secure when your life is predictable. Let Me lead you to the rock that is higher than you and your circumstances. Take refuge in the shelter of My wings, where you are absolutely secure. "
" When you are shaken out of your comfortable routines, grip My hand tightly and look for growth opportunities. Instead of bemoaning the loss of your comfort, accept the challenge of something new. I lead you on from glory to glory, making you fit for My kingdom. Say yes to the ways I work in your life. Trust Me, and don't be afraid. "
" I am calling you to a life of thankfulness. I want all your moments to be punctuated with thanksgiving. The basis for your gratitude is My sovereignty. I am the Creator and Controller of the universe. Heaven and earth are filled with My glorious Presence. "
" When you criticize or complain, you are acting as if you think you could run the world better than I do. From your limited human perspective, it may look as if I'm mismanaging things. But you don't know what I know or see what I see. If I pulled back the curtain to allow you to view heavenly realms, you would understand much more. However, I have designed you to live by faith, not by sight. I lovingly shield you from the future or seeing into the spirit world. Acknowledge My sovereignty by giving thanks in all circumstances. "
" I am training you in steadiness. Too many things interrupt your awareness of Me. I know that you live in a world of sight and sound, but you must not be a slave to those stimuli. Awareness of Me can continue in all circumstances, no matter what happens. This is the steadiness I desire for you. "
" Don't let unexpected events throw you off course. Rather, respond calmly and confidently, remembering that I am with you. As soon as something grabs your attention, talk to Me about it. Thus, I share your joys and your problems; I help you cope with whatever is before you. This is how I live in you and work through you. This is the way of Peace. "
" Peace is My continual gift to you. It flows abundantly from My throne of grace. Similarly, I give you sufficient Peace for the present when you come to Me by prayer and petition with thanksgiving. If I gave you permanent Peace, independent of My Presence, you might fall into the trap of self-sufficiency. May that never be! "
" I have designed you to need Me moment by moment. As your awareness of your neediness increases, so does your realization of My abundant sufficiency. I can meet everyone of your needs without draining My resources at all. Approach My throne of grace with hold confidence, receiving My Peace with a thankful heart. "
" I love you regardless of how well you are performing. I love you with an everlasting Love that flows out from eternity without limits or conditions. I have clothed you in My robe of righteousness, and this is an eternal transaction: Nothing and no one can reverse it. Therefore, your accomplishment as a Christian has no bearing on My Love for you. Even your ability to access how well you are doing on a given day is flawed. Your limited human perspective and the condition of your body, with its mercurial variations, distort your evaluations. "
" Bring your performance anxiety to Me, and receive in its place My unfailing Love. Try to stay conscious of My loving Presence with you in all that do, and I will direct your steps. "
" Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Hear Me saying, " Peace, be still, " to your restless heart. No matter what happens, I will never leave you or forsake you. Let this assurance soak into your mind and heart until you overflow with Joy. Though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, you need not fear. "
" Let Scripture saturate your mind and heart, and you will walk steadily along the path of Life. Even though you don't know what will happen tomorrow, you can be absolutely sure of your ultimate destination. I hold you by your right hand, and afterward I will take you into Glory. "
" Let Me control your mind. The mind is the most restless, unruly part of mankind. Long after you have learned the discipline of holding your tongue, your thoughts defy your will and set themselves up against Me. Man is the pinnacle of My creation, and the human mind is wondrously complex. I risked all by granting you freedom to think for yourself. This is godlike privilege, forever setting you apart from animals and robots. I made you in My image, precariously close to deity. "
Though My blood has fully redeemed you, your mind is the last bastion of rebellion. Open yourself to My radiant Presence, letting My Light permeate your thinking. When My Spirit is controlling your mind, you are filled with Life and Peace. "
" Listen to Me continually. I have much to communicate to you, so many people and situations in need of prayer. I am training you to set your mind on Me more and more, tuning out distractions through the help of My Spirit. "
" Walk with Me in holy trust, responding to My initiatives rather than trying to make things fit your plans. I died to set you free, and that includes freedom from compulsive planning. When your mind spins with a multitude of thoughts, you cannot hear My voice. A mind preoccupied with planning pays homage to the idol of control. Turn from this idolatry back to Me. Listen to Me and live abundantly! "
" Keep your eyes on Me, not only for direction but also for empowerment. I never lead you to do something without equipping you for the task. That is why it's so important to seek My will in everything you do. There are many burned-out Christians who think more is always better, who deem it unspiritual to say no. "
" In order to know My will, you must spend time with Me---enjoying My Presence. This is not an onerous task but a delightful privilege. I will show you the path of Life; in My Presence is fullness of Joy; at My right hand there are pleasures forevermore. "
" Rest in the stillness of My Presence while I prepare you for this day. Let the radiance of My Glory shine upon you as you wait on Me in confident trust. Be still, and know that I am God. There is both a passive and an active side to trusting Me. As you rest in My Presence, focusing on Me, I quietly build bonds of trust between us. When you respond to the circumstances of your life with affirmations of trust, you actively participate in this process. "
" I am always with you, so you have no reason to be afraid. Your fear often manifests itself in excessive planning. Your mind is so accustomed to this pattern of thinking that you are only now becoming aware of how pervasive it is and how much it hinders your intimacy with Me. Repent of this tendency and resist it whenever you realize you are wandering down this well-worn path. Return to My Presence, which always awaits you in the present moment. I accept you back with no condemnation. "
" Make Me your focal point as you move through this day. Just as a spinning ballerina must keep returning her eyes to a given point to maintain her balance, so you must keep returning to your focus on Me. Circumstances are in flux, and the world seems to be whirling around you. The only way to keep your balance is to fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes. If you gaze too long at your circumstances, you will become dizzy and confused. Look to Me, refreshing yourself in My Presence, and your steps will be steady and sure. "
" Welcome problems as perspective-lifters. My children tend to sleepwalk through their days until they bump into an obstacle that stymies them. "
" If you encounter a problem with no immediate solution, your response to that situation will take you either up or down. You can lash out at the difficulty, resenting it and feeling sorry for yourself. This will take you down into a pit of self-pity. Alternatively, the problem can be a ladder, enabling you to climb up and see your life from My perspective. Viewed from above, the obstacle that frustrated you is only a light and momentary trouble. Once your perspective has been heightened, you can look away from the problem altogether. Turn toward Me, and see the Light of My Presence shining upon you. "
" Come to Me with empty hands and an open heart, ready to receive abundant blessings. I know the depth and breadth of your neediness. Your life-path has been difficult, draining your strength. Come to Me for nurture. Let Me fill you up with My Presence: I in you, and you in Me. "
" My Power flows most freely into weak ones aware of their need for Me. Faltering steps of dependence are not lack of faith; they are links to My Presence. "
" The deepest level of worship is praising God inspite of the pain, thanking God during the trials, trusting Him when we're tempted to lose Hope and loving Him when He seems so distant and far away.
At my lowest, God is my hope. At my darkest, God is my light. At my weakest, God is my strength. At my saddest, God is comforter. "
------God's reward------
" I never want to be the kind of Christian who portrays themselves as perfect. I have flaws and I have struggles. That's why I need Jesus. "
" Peace is not the absence of trouble. It's the presence of Christ. "
" When pride comes, then comes shame. But with the humble is wisdom. "
" Let Me teach you thankfulness. Begin by acknowledging that everything----all your possessions and all that you are-----belongs to Me. The dawning of each new day is a gift from Me, not to be taken for granted. The earth is vibrantly alive with My blessings, giving vivid testimony to My Presence. If you slow down your pace of life, you can find Me anywhere. "
" The secret of being thankful is learning to see everything from My perspective. My world is your classroom. My Word is a lamp to your feet and a light for your path. "
" When some basic need is lacking-----time, energy, money----consider yourself blessed. Your very lack is an opportunity to latch onto Me in unashamed dependence. When you begin a day with inadequate resources, you must concentrate your efforts on the present moment. This is where you are meant to live---in the present. It is the place where I always await you. Awareness of your inadequacy is a rich blessing, training you to rely wholeheartedly on Me. "
" The truth is that self-sufficiency is a myth perpetuated by pride and temporary success. Health and wealth can disappear instantly, as can life itself. Rejoice in your insufficiency, knowing that My Power is made perfect in weakness. "
" You are on the Path of My choosing. There is no randomness about your life. "
" Every moment is alive with My glorious Presence, to those whose hearts are intimately connected with Mine. As you give yourself more and more to a life of constant communion with Me, you will find that you simply have no time for worry. Thus, you are freed to let My Spirit direct your steps, enabling you to walk along the path of Peace. "
" Living in dependence on Me is the way to enjoy abundant life. You are learning to appreciate tough times because they amplify your awareness of My Presence. Tasks that you need to dread are becoming rich opportunities to enjoy My closeness. When you feel tired, you remember that I am your Strength, you take pleasure in leaning on Me. I am pleased by your tendency to turn to Me more and more frequently, especially when you are alone. "
" When you are with other people, you often lose sight of My Presence. Your fear of displeasing people puts you in bondage to them, and they become your primary focus. When you realize this has happened, whisper My Name: this tiny act of trust brings Me to the forefront of your consciousness, where I belong. As you bask in the blessing of My nearness, My life can flow through you to others. This is abundant life! "
" You cannot serve two masters. If I am truly your Master, you will desire to please Me above all others. If pleasing people is your goal, you will be enslaved to them. People can be harsh taskmasters when you give them this power over you. "
" If I am the Master of your life, I will also be your First Love. Your serving Me is rooted and grounded in My vast, unconditional Love for you. The lower you bow down before Me, the higher I lift you up into intimate relationship with Me. The Joy of living in My Presence outshines all other pleasures. I want you to reflect My joyous Light by living in increasing intimacy with Me. "
" Meet Me in morning stillness, while the earth is fresh with the dew of My Presence. Worship Me in the beauty of holiness. Sing love songs to My holy Name. As you give yourself to Me, My Spirit swells within you till you are flooded with divine Presence. "
" The world's way of pursuing riches is grasping and hoarding. You attain My riches by letting go and giving. The more you give yourself to Me and My ways, the more I fill you with inexpressible, heavenly Joy. "
" Come to Me for all that you need. Come into My Presence with thanksgiving, for thankfulness opens the door to My treasures. When you are thankful, you affirm the central truth that I am Good. I am Light, in whom there is no darkness at all. The assurance that I am entirely Good meets your basic need for security. Your life is not subject to the whims of a sin-stained deity. "
" Relax in the knowledge that the One who controls your life is totally trustworthy. Come to Me with confident expectation. There is nothing you need that I cannot provide. "
" Do not search for security in the world you inhabit. You tend to mental checklists of things you need to do in order to gain control of your life. If only you could check everything off your list, you could relax and be at peace. But the more you work to accomplish that goal, the more things crop up on your list. The harder you try, the more frustrated you become. "
" There is a better way to find security in this life. Instead of scrutinizing your checklist, focus your attention on My Presence with you. This continual contact with Me will keep you in My Peace. Moreover, I will help sort out what is important and what is not, what needs to be done now and what does not. Fix your eyes not on what is seen (your circumstances), but on what is unseen (My Presence).
" If you learn to trust Me---really trust Me----with your whole being, then nothing can separate you from My Peace. Everything you endure can be put to good use by allowing it to train you in trusting Me. This is how you foil the works of evil, growing in grace through the very adversity that was meant to harm you. Joseph was a prime example of this divine reversal, declaring to his brothers: " You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. "
Do not fear what this day, or any day, may bring your way. Concentrate on trusting Me and on doing what needs to be done. Relax in My sovereignty, remembering that I go before you, as well as with you, into each day. Fear no evil, for I can bring good out of every situation you will ever encounter. "
" Do not long for the absence of problems in your life. That is an unrealistic goal since in this world you will have trouble. You have an eternity of problem-free living reserved for you in heaven. Rejoice in that inheritance, which no one can take away from you, but do not seek your heaven on earth. "
" Begin each day anticipating problems, asking Me to equip you for whatever difficulties you will encounter. The best equipping is My living Presence, My hand that never lets go of yours. Discuss everything with Me. Take a lighthearted view of trouble, seeing it as a challenge that you and I together can handle. Remember that I am on your side, and I have overcome the world. "
" Don't be so hard on yourself. I can bring good even out of your mistakes. Your finite mind tends to look backward, longing to undo decisions you have come to regret. This is a waste of time and energy, leading only to frustration. Instead of floundering in the past, release your mistakes to Me. Look to Me in trust, anticipating that My infinite creativity can weave both good choices and bad into a lovely design. "
" Because you are human, you will continue to make mistakes. Thinking that you should live an error-free life is symptomatic of pride.Your failures can be a source of blessing, humbling you and giving you empathy for other people in their weaknesses. Best of all, failure highlights your dependence on Me. I am able to bring beauty out of the morass of your mistakes. Trust Me, and watch to see what I will do. "
" When you turn your worry in worship, God will turn your battles into blessing. "
" When God blesses you financially, don't raise your standard of living but raise your standard of giving. "
" Do not resist or run from the difficulties in your life. These problems are not random mistakes; they are hand-tailored blessings designed for your benefit and growth. Embrace all the circumstances that I allow in your life, trusting Me to bring good out of them. View problems as opportunities to rely more fully on Me. "
When you start to feel stressed, let those feelings alert you to your need for Me. Thus, your needs become doorways to deep dependence on Me and increasing intimacy between us. Although self-sufficiency is acclaimed in the world, reliance on Me produces abundant living in My kingdom. Thank Me for the difficulties in your life since they provide protection from the idolatry of self-reliance. "
Acts 4:12
King James Version
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Titus 2:11-14
King James Version
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
" Thank Me for your problems. As soon as your mind gets snagged on a difficulty, bring it to Me with thanksgiving. Then ask Me to show you My way to handle the situation. The very act of thanking Me releases your mind from its negative focus. As you turn your attention to Me, the problem fades in significance and loses its power to trip you up. Together we can deal with the situation, either facing it head-on or putting it aside for later consideration. "
" Most of the situations that entangle your mind are not today's concerns; you have borrowed them from tomorrow. In this case, I lift the problems out of today and deposit it in the future, where it is veiled from your eyes. In its place I give you My Peace, which flows freely from My Presence. "
" Learn to relate to others through My Love rather than yours. Your human love is ever so limited, full of flaws and manipulation. My loving Presence, which always enfolds you, is available to bless others as well you. Instead of trying harder to help people through your own paltry supplies, become aware of My unlimited supply, which is accessible to you continually. Let My Love envelop your outreach to other people. "
" Take time to rest in the Love -Light of My Presence. I will gradually restore to you the energy that you have lost over the years. Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and you will find rest for your souls. "
" Thank Me in the midst of the crucible. When things seem all wrong, look for growth opportunities. Especially look for areas where you need to let go, leaving your cares in My able hands. Do you trust Me to orchestrate your life events as I choose, or are you still trying to make things according to your will? If you keep trying to carry out your intentions while I am leading you in another direction, you deify your desires. "
" Be on the lookout for what I am doing in your life. Worship Me by living close to Me, thanking Me in all circumstances. "
" I am a Mighty God. Nothing is too difficult for Me. I have chosen to use weak ones like you to accomplish My purposes. Your weakness is designed to open you up to My Power. Therefore, do not fear your limitations or measure the day's demands against your strength. What I require of you is to stay connected to Me, living in trusting dependence on My limitless resources. When you face unexpected demands, there is no need to panic. Remember that I am with you. Talk to Me, and listen while I talk to you through each challenging situation. "
" I am not a careless God. When I allow difficulties to come into your life, I equip you fully to handle them. Relax in My Presence, trusting in My Strength. "
" Spending time alone with Me is essential for your well-being. It is not a luxury or an option; it is a necessity. Therefore, do not feel guilty about taking time to be with Me. Remember that Satan is the accuser of believers. He delights in heaping guilt feelings upon you, especially when you are enjoying My Presence. When you feel Satan's arrows of accusation, you are probably on the right track. Use your shield of faith to protect yourself from him. Talk with Me about what you are experiencing, and ask Me to show you the way forward. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to Me, and I will come near to you. "
" You might not be able to see where you're headed, but I assure you, the Lord can. And he's holding your hand. He's breathing life into every aspect of your present and future. He's shining His light even in the darkest corners of your mind. So hold tight to Him. Hold tight to His love, knowing that He will never leave you or forsake you and because of Jesus, you are in His grip forever. No uncertainty, no broken dreams, and no fear of the future can keep you from Him. He is with you in all of these. Trust Him and Believe. And let Him gracefully lead you where you need to be. "
" As you sit quietly in My Presence, remember that I am a God of abundance. I will never run out of resources; My capacity to bless you is unlimited. You live in a world of supply and demand, where necessary things are often scarce. Even if you personally have enough, you see poverty in the world around you. It is impossible for you to comprehend the lavishness of My provisions: the fulness of My glorious riches. "
" Though spending time in My Presence, you gain glimpses of My overflowing vastness. Their glimpses are tiny foretastes of what you will experience eternally in heaven. Even now you have access to as much of Me as you have faith to receive. Rejoice in My abundance---living by faith, not by sight. "
" Come to Me with your plans held in abeyance. Worship Me in spirit and in truth, allowing My Glory to permeate your entire being. Trust Me enough to let Me guide you through this day, accomplishing My purposes in My timing. Subordinate your myriad plans to My Master Plan. I am sovereign over every aspect of your life! "
" The challenge continually before you is to trust Me and search for My way through each day. Do not blindly follow your habitual route, or you will miss what I have prepared for you. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. "
" I want to know how safe and secure you are in My Presence. That is a fact, totally independent of your feelings. You are on your way to heaven; nothing can prevent you from reaching that destination.There you will see Me face-to-Face, and your Joy will be off the charts by any earthly standards. Even now, you are never separated from Me, though you must see Me through eyes of faith. I will walk with you till the end of time and onward into eternity. "
" Although My Presence is a guaranteed promise, that does not necessarily change your feelings. When you forget I am with you, you may experience loneliness or fear. It is through awareness of My Presence that Peace displaces negative feelings. Practice the discipline of walking consciously with Me through each day. "
" When your sins weigh heavily upon you, come to Me. Confess your wrongdoing, which I know all about before you say a word. Stay in the Light of My Presence, receiving forgiveness, cleansing, and healing. Remember that I have clothed you in My righteousness, so nothing can separate you from Me. Whenever you stumble or fall, I am there to help you up. "
" Man's tendency is to hide from his sin, seeking refuge in the darkness. There he indulges in self-pity, denial, self-righteousness, blaming, and hatred. But I am the Light of the world, and My illumination decimates the darkness. Come close to Me and let My Light envelop you, driving out darkness and permeating you with Peace. "
" I, the Creator of the Universe, am with you and for you. What more could you need? When you feel some lack, it is because you are not connecting with Me at a deep level. I offer abundant Life; your part is to trust Me, refusing to worry about anything. "
" It is not so much adverse events that make you anxious as it is your thoughts about those events. Your mind engages in efforts to take control of a situation, to bring about the result you desire. Your thoughts close in on the problem like ravenous wolves. Determined to make things go your way, you forget that I am in charge of your life. The only remedy is to switch your focus from the problem to My Presence. Stop all your striving, and watch to see what I will do. I am the Lord! "
" When things don't go as you would like, accept the situation immediately. If you indulge in feelings of regret, they can easily spill over the line into resentment. Remember that I am sovereign over your circumstances, and humble yourself under My mighty hand. Rejoice in what I am doing in your life, even though it is beyond your understanding. "
" I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Me you have everything you need, both for this life and for the life yet to come. Don't let the impact of the world shatter your thinking or draw you away from focusing on Me. The ultimate challenge is to keep fixing your eyes on Me, no matter what is going on around you. When I am central in your thinking, you are able to view circumstances from My perspective. "
" Approach each new day with desire to find Me. Before you get out of bed, I have already been working to prepare the path that will get you through this day. There are hidden treasures strategically placed along the way. Some of the trials, designed to shake you free from earth-shackles. Others are blessings that reveal My Presence. I have not abandoned this sin-wracked world; I am still richly present in it. "
" Search for deep treasure as you go through this day. You will find Me all along the way. "
" Bring Me your mind for rest and renewal. Let Me infuse My Presence into your thoughts. As your mind stops racing, your body relaxes and you regain awareness of Me. This awareness is vital to your spiritual well-being; it is your lifeline, spiritually speaking. "
" There are actually more than four dimensions in this world where you live. In addition to the three dimensions of space and the one of time, there is the dimension of openness to My Presence. This dimension transcends the others, giving you glimpses of heaven while you still reside on earth. This was part of My original design for mankind. Adam and Eve used to walk with Me in the garden, before their expulsion from Eden. I want you to walk with Me in the garden of your heart, where I have taken up permanent residence. "
" The world is too much with you, My child. Your mind leaps from problem to problem to problem, tangling your thoughts in anxious knots. When you think like that, you leave Me of your worldview and your mind becomes darkened. Though I yearn to help, I will not violate your freedom. I stand silently in the background of your mind, waiting for you to remember that I am with you. "
" When you turn from your priblems to My Presence, your load is immediately lighter. Circumstances may not have changed, but we carry your burdens together. Your compulsion to " fix " everything gives way to deep, satisfying connection with Me. Together we can handle whatever this day brings. "
" In a world of unrelenting changes, I am the One who never changes, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Find in Me the stability for which you have yearned. "
" I created a beautifully ordered world: one that reflects My perfection. Now, however, the world is under the bondage of sin and evil. Every person on the planet faces gaping jaws of uncertainty. The only antidote to this poisonous threat is drawing closer to Me. In My Presence you can face uncertainty with perfect Peace. "
" Seek My Face at the beginning of your day. This practice enables you to " put Me on " and " wear Me
" throughout the day. Most people put on clothes soon after arising from bed. Similarly, the sooner you " put Me on " by communicating with Me, the better prepared you are for whatever comes your way. "
To " wear Me " is essentially to have My mind: to think My thoughts. Ask the Holy Spirit to control your thinking be transformed by this renewal within you. Thus you are well-equipped to face whatever people and situations I bring your way. Clothing your mind in Me is your best preparation for each day. This discipline brings Joy and Peace to you and those around you. "
" Let Me anoint you with My Presence. I am King of kings and Lord of lords, dwelling in unapproachable Light. When you draw near to Me, I respond by coming closer to you. As My Presence envelops you, you may feel overwhelmed by My Power and Glory. This is a form of worship: sensing your smallness in comparison to My Greatness. "
" Man has tended to make himself the measure of all things. But man's measure is too tiny to comprehend My majestic vastness. That is why most people do not see Me at all, even though they live and move and have their being in Me. "
" Enjoy the radiant beauty of My Presence. Declare My Glorious Being to the world! "
" I am with you, watching over you constantly. I am Immanuel (God with you); My Presence enfolds you in radiant Love. Nothing, including the brightest blessings and the darkest trials, can separate you from Me. "
" I know precisely what you need to draw nearer to Me. Go through each day looking for what I have prepared for you. Accept every event as My hand-tailored provision for your needs. When you view your life this way, the most reasonable response is to be thankful. Do not reject any of My gifts; find Me in every situation. "
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