Name of flower unknown by Jerry Picture by Jerry Torres
Our Blog is Inspired by The Holy Spirit
Optional Memorial of Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
Emphasis mine, John 12: 24-26
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
I, yes I, until today had always thought of the word dies meant a Physical Death. Jesus died, and because He died, he rose from Death and established a new world, that being life in the Spirit of Truth.
We are also asked to die, and that death started at Baptism when we received The Holy Spirit and were given the power to change our lives and live in the Fruit of Love, Joy, and Peace. And we are asked I believe each day to continue this path of life through death to our passions, to doing the will of our Father just as Jesus did.
When I was younger, before age seventy, I believed (satan) that doing the Father’s will, by listening to the whisper of The Holy Spirit was 1. Impossible, and 2. lacked Joy. I know this may sound hard to believe but it was true. As we have said many times I did the will of my and Your Father when I agreed with doing His will.
Gail and I just returned from a five-day cruise from New York to Bermuda with our sons and their wives. Gail and I have taken six cruises before this cruise, and this cruise was by far the best we were ever on.
Why?
The only rule we had was we had to have dinner each night as a family.
I wore the blue baseball hat John our youngest gave me three years ago that said NAVY on the front because it is a conversation starter. Sure enough, people were thanking me for my service and were surprised when I thanked them for my Social Security Check, which by the way, I also thank all of you working readers, for my check.
Anyway, they would laugh, and many times I was urged, (Holy Spirit) to ask if they would like more Joy and Peace in their life. NO ONE and we mean NO ONE said no or refused the card, and I was filled with Joy.
An example.
Mike, our oldest, and I entered the elevator on the fourteenth deck heading to the sixth deck (Navy term). A man stepped in with us on the fourteenth deck with a gold Cross filled with diamonds.
I said, “I like your Cross.” He said, “I wear it for protection, in case we sink,” Mike said, “Dad and I pray Psalm 91 and know we’re fine,” I said, “How would you like more Joy and Peace in your life?” He said, “I would,” I gave him the card and pointed out the Fruit of the Spirit that leads to an increase of Love, Joy, and Peace. The door opened and we all walked out, and who knows, this entire conversation could be a life changer for him.
But,
Mike and I were changed because we met a man who was fearful of sinking and maybe we started the process of getting God into his life not as a good luck charm, but as one who fully believed in the power of the Triune God.
Mike and I died to our personal selves (of not saying anything – satan) and in the time it took to go eight decks maybe we started a new thought process in this man’s life.
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
Prayer:
If you want to grow in Love, Joy, and Peace this is a result of growth in Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
Sidebar:
Recently I met a person who is a recent convert to the Catholic Faith, and he told me that he had a fear (satan) of going to Confession.
We put satan in brackets because any fear you have you have to ask yourself, “Who is responsible for my fear,” he didn’t, and a second question, “Why are you having this fear,” once again, he didn’t know.
So let’s ask these questions:
Who promotes the fear? Answer: “satan!”
Why, because when he goes to confession, his sins will be forgiven, and he will be one with his Father, Brother, and The Holy Spirit.
And
He will know this because of Joy.
Well, he finally went.
I have always gone to confession thinking the priest will not absolve my sins, now I know who doesn’t want me to go, and I go the first chance I can, not on any scheduled time, like once a month, but when The Holy Sp[irit indicates I need to go.
A recent example.
The cards we were giving out had the Nine Fruit of The Holy Spirit on one side and a pitch for A Journey with The Holy Spirit on the other side. Gail and I went to see The Chosen Season Five in the theater, the only time I have seen The Chosen in a movie theater, and as I watched the eighth episode I fully realized Judas loved Jesus because of what Jesus could do IF His power was redirected to getting rid of the Romans, and giving the power back to the Jewish people which they enJoyed under Kings David and Solomon, and because Judas forced Jesus’ hand by turning Jesus over to the Sanhedrin he, Judas, would be in a seat of power because he, Judas forced this change upon Jesus.
In short, Judas was not interested in what God wanted, but what Judas wanted.
I realized (Holy Spirit) at that moment I had been convicted for not wanting to do God’s will but my will in selling books. I came home threw, away the cards, and we designed the card you see below and my life changed again.
Why?
The card we are now giving out is only about God. If you’re a participant, we, you and I, get nothing and that’s great. We met one man on the cruise who said the world is full of hate and anger, we agreed with him and asked him, “If more people lived in Joy and Peace would the world would be a better place?” He said, ”Yes.”
We can’t control anyone else but ourselves, BUT we can encourage others to change and die to themselves and LIVE in the Fruit of The Holy Spirit.
I didn’t want to go to confession, (satan) but the first day confessions were offered I was there and came out filled with Joy. I am tired of people telling me I don’t know what life is like. We are all in a fight and the only losers are those who don’t realize they are in a fight.
In a past blog, we wrote about a book about Near Death Experiences. The last story blew me away and we decided to share the title of the book and a few facts about the last chapter.
Title: Heaven is Beyond Your Wildest Expectations by Sid Roth.
The last Chapter is about Richard Eby MD. Dr. Eby was dead for ten hours.
He was dead!
He met and asked Jesus a few questions which Jesus asked Dr. Eby, “Did you read my book?” Twice this happened.
And
I recalled the day The Holy Spirit planted in my mind the question, “What will be your response to the question, did you read my book?”
At that time my answer was no, BUT I changed, and haven’t stopped reading the Bible for the past thirty years. NEVER FORGET I started on day one and never stopped, (because I also realize this is exactly what satan doesn’t want, my reading the Bible daily) just as I have never stopped praying the “Nine,” and all of the other prayers we have recommended, and I give full credit to The Holy Spirit for not letting me change out of this powerful habit.
Dr. Eby also reported that Jesus allowed Dr. Eby to stay in a holding tank for hell for two minutes, and then bring him out. Dr. Eby NEVER wanted to experience this again, words can’t describe how awful it was.
We made one last change in the card. See if you can pick it out.
Picture:
I wish I knew what kind of flower it is. (Maybe one of your readers can help identify.)
To me the blooms on either side resemble angels singing their praises to God.
Luke 12:27 – Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Picture by Jerry Torres
Please keep Snapping!
And if you want the ten calling cards shown above, email me and I will send you my address, send me a STAMPED self-addressed envelope and I will send you ten cards.
Email me if you want a copy of the prayers we discussed.
fprince101@gmail.com
Remember, if you want to submit a picture, please do not include people. We have to get permission from that person to use their photograph.
