John 3:16 God's Love... Our Faithfulness

Good morning Abba, good morning Jesus, good morning Holy Spirit,

For God so loved the world

that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him

should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

With God all things... that includes my thoughts... actions... and what I speak into being.  Wow, how do we make a change from what the world is always telling us (commercials-songs-books-tv-movies)? How to we silence the negative that we were taught?

In church I was pondering what His mercy, grace, and His Son means to me. Once dedicated to His will... once committed to His calling... once in love with Him... why is being caught in a negative mind set so easy? Then I saw this prayer...

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Yes my Lord, here I am... help me to be yours!

Body of Christ, save me.

My Lord forgive me for I am sinner, forgive me for grieving you!

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

I thirst for your forgiveness, your will in my life, your joy in my soul!

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Make me yours, so that I might bring a smile to Abba's face!

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

Let me walk out in remembrance of you, guide my steps my Lord!

           O good Jesus, hear me.

Holy Spirit let me not be a noisome sound unto my Lord!

Within your wounds hide me.

Shelter me from that which threatens and deceives me for I belong to you my Lord!

Separated from you let me never be.

I give you my life, do something good with it... for I praise you all of my days.

From the malignant enemy, defend me.

I trust in you, my Lord, you are diligent in your watch over me and mine.

At the hour of my death, call me.

Into your loving hands, I commend my mind, my heart, my spirit, and my soul!

And close to you bid me.

Now and forever!

That with your saints I may be praising you, for all eternity!

Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Here I am Lord... I am Yours!

Amen... Amen... Hallelujah!  

Anima Christi = Soul of Christ

The Anima Christi dates back to the 14th century and was popular enough that it turned up in prayer books way before St. Ignatius featured it in his classic work Spiritual Exercises in the 16th century.

Christ’s body is the bread of life essential for our Salvation, as He himself said in John’s Gospel (6:51-59).

The line about Christ’s blood, which we also receive in communion, brings to mind the account of the birth of the Church at Pentecost. Some people thought that Jesus’ disciples were “drunk on new wine” (Acts 2:13) as they proclaimed the wonderful works of God and were heard in languages other than their own. Yet the Spirit filling the disciples was Holy, not distilled!

The Anima Christi also reminds us of the moving Gospel account of our Lord’s Crucifixion in which “one of the soldiers with a spear opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water” (John 19:34).

We who were immersed in the water of baptism when we came into the faith are now immersed here in the water from His Passion to cleanse us of our sins!

Meditating on Christ’s Passion itself can strengthen our spirits when we think of how much He endured for our sake. Remember, He is always there to help us cope when we unite our sufferings with His on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and for our salvation.
Thinking of our Lord’s wounds along these lines reminds us that “with his stripes we are healed,” as the prophet Isaiah put it (Is 53:5).

As the Anima Christi continues, we ask Christ to keep us close to him. Being “separated” from Him could cost us His love and our salvation, making our souls an inviting target for Satan. This flows right into the line about the “malignant enemy,” which brings to mind that verse in the Lord’s Prayer, “deliver us from evil,” where we ask God to keep us safe from the clutches of the Evil One!

Along this line, the reference to “the hour of my death” points out how important it is for us to persevere in prayer and good works in order to reach Heaven. Just as no one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s Second Coming, neither do we know our day or hour when we will pass away.

Will Jesus say to us at that point “Come, blessed of my Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you” (Matt 25:34) or, tragically, “I never knew you: depart from me” (Matt 7: 23)? The Anima Christi can help us stay focused on attaining Eternal Life in a world filled with not-so-divine distractions.

St. Paul has said of Heaven “Eye has not seen nor ear heard…what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9). Can you imagine anything sweeter than being in the company of our Lord and His saints “forever and ever”? May we all be in Heaven with Him to sing His praises for all Eternity!

Taken from the Our Catholic Prayers website on 1/25/2015           

John 10:10 Out of... and In To

Good morning Abba, Good morning Jesus, Good morning Holy Spirit:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

 I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10 

God is good all of the time... Since Christmas I have had those blessed moments in which our Lord showers me with confirmations that He is diligent in His watch over me and mine. You know those moments, when everything seems like a burden. When there are so many needs for those you love and there doesn't seem to be the strength to endure. Those on your knees in prayer moments. Those hours of reminding yourself that you gave the burdens of your heart to Him who will see all things through to completion... and it will be Good!

Many of you know that I begin my day with the Word of God. Many of those mornings I listen to a daily broadcast from KCM. These moments are so filled with a gracious teaching, a gentleness that guides me as I walk out my day. Morning Bible time is one of the areas in my life where I can focus on God's will, my relationship with Him, and how to self-talk (protect) my mind, heart, and soul from the spiritual attacks of this world (a battle that can be ongoing and quite exhausting).

Over the past few weeks, God's hand has been at work (whether I saw it or not). Knowing that His perfect number is three, I was overjoyed at His messages in response to my cries:

1. My nightly devotional (God Calling) has provided strength and renewal with Isaiah 40:31, every evening for 14 days (not the usual format). With actions about reaching out with love, resting on Him, refusing to fear, God helps...fights...and wins, taking no thought for tomorrow, heed not what the world says, God cares and His plans will unfold... an overflow of perfected messages.
2. With my morning devotional (Abraham Lincoln's Daily Devotional) I was reminded that "He sweetens every humble groan, He recommends each broken prayer; Recline thy hope on Him alone, Whose power and love forbid despair." 
3. Finally, with my KCM bible study of John 10:10 I have been learning how to proclaim the phrase... "Out of__________ and In to _________." For it is written in John 10:10 that our Lord Jesus Christ is taking us: 

Out of lack and into abundance.

Out of sickness and into healing.

Out of fear and into the light.

Out of loneliness and into love.

Out of oppression and into His freedom.

Out of despair and into joy!

With all of us proclaiming His victory, His perfect Will, and His saving Grace... we are walking out His promises together!

Each word or thought of yours can be like a pearl that you drop into the secret place of another heart,

and in some hour of need, lo!

the recipient finds the treasure and realizes for the first time its value.

Gods Calling January 7