blank'/> SHARING THE REAL TRUTH: September 2009

Monday, September 14, 2009

BUILD UP YOUR FAITH !

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Taking the shield of faith. Ephesians 6:16

A Roman soldier's shield protected him from head to toe. It was made of iron, upholstered in thick layers of fabric, and saturated in water when going to battle. Consequently the flaming arrows of the enemy fizzled on contact. Getting the idea? Paul writes, 'Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one' (NIV). Satan can't penetrate a heart that's pure, saturated in Scripture and fortified by faith. That's why Jesus told Peter, 'I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail' (Luke 22:32 NKJV). It's your faith that's under attack; it's your faith that needs to be fed and nurtured; it's your faith that sustains you in life's battles! Jesus said, 'Have faith in God' (Mark 11:22). Note, He didn't just say, 'Have faith in something bigger than yourself.' No, He said, 'Have faith in God.' If you're under attack today claim this promise: 'He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint' (Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV). God gives each of us a 'measure of faith' (Romans 12:3 NKJV). But Jude says you must develop it by 'building yourselves up on your most holy faith' (Jude 20 NIV). Faith under attack is faith under construction. It's in the battles of life that you discover whether you have nurtured faith or neglected faith!

UCB Word For Today (14th Sept 09)







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Sunday, September 06, 2009

MARY, OUR LADY OF SURPRISES, TAKE OVER !



WHEN THINGS DON'T GO WELL, TRY LETTING GO -- AND INVOKING 'OUR LADY OF SURPRISES'



There are a lot of names for the Blessed Mother, but how about "Our Lady of Surprises"? There's actually a prayer invoking her help under this title (see below), and why not? God often works most powerfully through surprises.

Haven't you experienced this? You want something and you want something and you want it -- you pray endlessly -- and nothing occurs. When you let go, a bunch of surprises fall upon you.

Look at the surprise of Jesus multiplying the loaves or cleansing men of disease or the surprise of the first disciples at Lake Gennesaret. After a hard night of fishing, Jesus was suddenly there out of the blue to tell them where they should cast their nets. (They listened to what He said -- leading to an astonishing catch.)

He does this with us all. He sheds grace when we least expect it. When we're faithful and don't complain and don't try to tell God the way everything in our lives should go, He often responds with a flurry of the unexpected!

In meteorology there's a phenomenon of lightning known as the "blue giant." This is when a bolt travels dozens of miles, often striking a place even when there doesn't seem to be a cloud in the sky. It's literally a bolt from the blue. God's gifts can be like that -- when we allow Him.

It's another of those spiritual laws, that letting go lets God. We can actually inhibit the answer to a prayer by wanting something too much. That can tend toward lust, and God doesn't respect that. Or, it can signal a lack of faith. When we pray and then watch everything that transpires with a microscope -- waiting and biting our nails, doubting it will come -- the prayer often goes unanswered (or at least is delayed). It's like watching for the water to boil. It takes forever.

Instead we're called to pray from the heart and then believe that the prayer will work if it's in God's greater plan for us. Be patient. When something isn't happening, let go of it. If it is not in God's Will, the yearning for it -- the obsession -- will soon fade, granting us peace. If it is in God's Will, He now has the room to operate.

A Christian author once said that in the afterlife we will see all the presents God had in store for us and how many never came because we didn't know how to ask for them!

The key word is "release." Release your desires to the Lord. Release all that is causing you anxiety. In prayer, go through everything that may be causing you angst -- and hand it over to Christ. Release your desire. Release all your fears. This is very powerful in communicating with the Almighty One. Invite God to surprise you every day and no day will bore you!

And remember the Blessed Mother:

"O Mary, my mother and Our Lady of Surprises, what a happy joy you caused the wedding guests, when you asked your Divine Son to work the miracle of water into wine. What a happy surprise for them since they thought the wine had run dry. I, too, Mary, love surprises and as your child, may I ask you to favour me with one today? I ask this only because you are my ever caring mother."

Try it. Say that one from the heart.

You may be amazed -- surprised -- at what she brings you.

from:- Spirit Daily - Daily spiritual news from around the world