EVERLASTING JOY

Isaiah 35: 8-10

A highway will be there,
called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
nor fools go astray on it.
No lion will be there,
nor beast of prey go up to be met
upon it.
It is for those with a journey to make.
and on it the redeemed will walk.
Those who the Lord has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy:
They will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.


On this Mountain of the Lord

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY !

The Five Finger prayer

This is beautiful - and it is surely worth making the 5 finger prayer a part of our lives.

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.


Blessings to you all this St. Patrick's Day !

'On Ya' - ma

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him…

Mark 1: 12-15

Today’s Gospel tells us how Satan initiated an all-out attack on Jesus during his forty-day fast in the wilderness. He used every trick he could think of as he tried to lead Jesus into sin. Jesus simply would not give in

In the 70s, when Mark is writing, as the Christians read this description of the beginning of the Good News, they also looked into the mirror of their own lives. The desert, temptations, prison, these were things with which they were familiar. Nevertheless, like Jesus, they tried to proclaim the Good News of God

Let’s make it our goal this Lent to try to limit the devil’s inroads in our minds. It may be impossible to destroy his little voice until Jesus comes again, but we can minimize his impact. Lent should be a time for deeper meditation on the word of God, which will lead to conversion and to concrete acts of charity

We can ask Jesus for his help each morning.

Nothing disarms the devil more than reliance on God’s grace and the gift of humble, honest repentance.

With every battle that we win, our confidence will grow.

May we all come to know the sweet taste of victory!

These are bits and pieces taken from several different devotionals today – the First Sunday of Lent

‘On Ya’ - ma