In the last week or so, my eyes and heart have been more fully opened to the daily struggles that oftentimes hinder joy, happiness and an intimate relationship with Jesus. In fact, many times the circumstances of life are proclaimed as the reason for lack of faith…souls in despair and darkness choose to blame God for their plight instead of inviting God into their lives and submitting their sins, struggle, and pain to Him. Through that choice…made in stubbornness, fear, pride, or through the pain and deception of the evil one, darkness overtakes the life and very soul, leading to a life devoid of true love and joy.
These struggling souls do not need our condemnation. What they need is prayer, that the Holy Spirit may cover them with love and peace, and that their hearts are opened to the intense love, mercy, and saving grace that only Jesus can provide. They hunger for us to be strong enough in our relationship with Christ, that we can overlook the darkness and look for the spark of Jesus in their hearts. They need our faith to be strong enough to be a light in their darkness…that we love and not judge.
We have no idea how these souls arrived at the place where they are suffering and ‘stuck.’ They may or may not know. However, the Holy Spirit knows the depth of each and every soul, and knows the root causes of choices made and the events that led to the damage in their hearts.
All of us have experienced pain, despair and darkness at different times in our lives. It is only the saving grace of Jesus that set us free. It is only the divine mercy and love of Jesus that fills our hearts and beings with an indescribable joy and peace.
This is the essence of Christianity…the desire to share this amazing love with as many hearts as we can.
Let’s take this day to offer our prayers to the Lord for someone in our lives that is suffering and in darkness. Maybe we have tried to share Jesus with them, and they scoff or close their hearts. They may even show intense anger when the name of Jesus is spoken. Maybe we have provided for their needs, and given what we thought they needed, in love. However, those things are not their true need.
We must remember that their souls are crying out for the healing love of Jesus, even when they proclaim the opposite.
Let’s never forget where the TRUE SOURCE of love resides…
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
March 13, 2015 at 9:31 am
Thanks for the nice message. It was a great way to start my day. ~Rita
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March 13, 2015 at 9:45 am
Rita,
Thanks for dropping by and for the kind words. I look forward to reading more of your posts…and I LOVE your paintings. You truly have a gift to share with the world:-)
Love and blessings,
Bernadette
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March 13, 2015 at 5:39 pm
Thank you so much for such a nice compliment. I feel closest to God when I paint. 🙂
~Rita
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March 13, 2015 at 9:57 am
It is a daily prayer of mine that God will soften my heart and allow me to love as he does. Thank you for sharing this message and reminder. I really enjoy your writing!
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March 13, 2015 at 10:08 am
What a beautiful prayer! Thank you for reading and for your thoughts and edifying words:-)
Have a blessed day,
Bernadette
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March 13, 2015 at 11:02 am
My dear friend in Christ,
You have captured both the foundational message of Pope Francis AND the Bible.
There are darn few things in life that can not be made better by charity; by LOVE!
Continued Blessings on you and your’s,
Patrick
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March 13, 2015 at 3:15 pm
Blessings to you too, Patrick!
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March 13, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Very good.. Very Food! A wonderful way to start a day reading this post.
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March 13, 2015 at 3:16 pm
Thank you so much! Hope you are having a great, blessed day:-)
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March 13, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Everyday I have a blessed day.. God gives me what I need…
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March 13, 2015 at 5:35 pm
I substitute at a high school and sometimes the student’s behavior frustrates me. I had to remind myself last week that it’s easy to love the students that behave. However, I need to pray for the rowdy, ungodly students. And I can only love them if I’m relying on the Source of Love.
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March 14, 2015 at 10:44 am
So true:-) May God continue to bless you and the students the Lord places in your care.
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March 13, 2015 at 9:31 pm
What an excellent post! What a powerful and true realization – that those who are lost in the darkness of this world are depending and desperate for us to be strong enough in our faith that we may help them bear their burdens. As we come alongside them, they will learn of the true love of Christ. Christ was not afraid of sin and darkness – he came to deliver people from it. I think it is so true that it is our own fears that restrain us from helping others. Another thought-provoking post – thank you! Love you.
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March 14, 2015 at 10:53 am
Tina…I keep thinking of “Love covers a multitude of sins.” We are all here for each other…to each fill a unique thread in the tapestry of God’s Kingdom. We never know where a person’s weakness comes from…even the most lost. Those people especially need the Divine Mercy of Jesus the most.
Have you ever seen the movie “Mother Teresa” with Olivia Hussey?
http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Teresa-Olivia-Hussey/dp/B000EXDS52
I never knew a lot about her life or what she accomplished through the love of Christ. This movie is AWESOME…you and your family would love it. My husband already watched it twice and wants to watch again:-)
Sending love and blessings your way…especially today,
Bernadette
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