01/01/2017—Unto Us a New Year Has Been Given
"Remove the Stones, Untie Them, Let Them Go!"
Photo By: Flickr/Randen Pederson
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He said to him, “Lazarus, come out!” Before then He spoke more IMPORTANT WORDS to the PEOPLE. Words He speaks to us.
"Remove the stone," and then later--"untie him and let him go"--speaking of the burial cloths binding Lazarus up. *John 11 vs 39-44
Remove the stones. What stones block your heart from knowing love, knowing our Lord? What stones block any heart, of any person living in confusion, doubt and despair.
Anger from being rejected, hurt and abused. Fear from experiencing great pain from events or people in our lives. Hate that comes from experiencing what others have done unto us. Unforgiveness toward anyone who hurt us. Disbelief that comes when we cannot understand why there is anger, hate, fear and injustice in all of our lives and the people we love. So, another bigger stone will block our hearts--Cynicism, doubt and Pride as we build a wall to keep hurt, pain, hate and anger from coming into our lives. But instead of protecting us ---those stones, that wall has imprisoned us. We do not see Light, we do not feel Love and we do not Live.
We are told to remove the stones. Start first with yourself, for unless you are free to love, unbound of what is burying you alive--we cannot love others as our selves--can we?
Seek God, He has all the answers to help us remove any stone. "Love as I have loved. Forgive as I have forgiven you." Understand, why evil has come into this world, so Wisdom can give us the Knowledge of Discerning Why. In His 'other Words'---"you must be born of the Spirit," so stay in Jerusalem (Adoration/Prayer/Quiet/Desert) until the Holy Spirit comes into your life--giving you NEW Life empowered by God. Opening up your heart to all that the Holy Spirit can teach and give you of His Gifts. He will lead you and enable you then to have the virtues to REMOVE THE STONES from others.
Little simple acts of kindness. Little words of love, hope and encouragement. Showing mercy and forgivenss. Doing for others as you wish it would be done unto you. Little loving acts that slowly, carefully chip away what blocks the hearts of those we love, and the stranger too. They will know God's love by our love. They then, will know God and believe in Him and be resurrected from the dead. "You too, can do what I do, IF YOU BELIEVE."
In ALL the WORDS that Jesus spoke in our Gospels, He GAVE us simple directions to follow His WAY. Live the TRUTH so we can and will bring LIGHT into this dark world. You will bring Life again into hearts that are hardened, and dark, blocked by stone walls built by us, by how we reacted to life.
They will be alive!! Resurrected from the tomb they are living in, because you chose to obey and live His Words of Life.
Remove the stones. What stones block your heart from knowing love, knowing our Lord? What stones block any heart, of any person living in confusion, doubt and despair.
Anger from being rejected, hurt and abused. Fear from experiencing great pain from events or people in our lives. Hate that comes from experiencing what others have done unto us. Unforgiveness toward anyone who hurt us. Disbelief that comes when we cannot understand why there is anger, hate, fear and injustice in all of our lives and the people we love. So, another bigger stone will block our hearts--Cynicism, doubt and Pride as we build a wall to keep hurt, pain, hate and anger from coming into our lives. But instead of protecting us ---those stones, that wall has imprisoned us. We do not see Light, we do not feel Love and we do not Live.
We are told to remove the stones. Start first with yourself, for unless you are free to love, unbound of what is burying you alive--we cannot love others as our selves--can we?
Seek God, He has all the answers to help us remove any stone. "Love as I have loved. Forgive as I have forgiven you." Understand, why evil has come into this world, so Wisdom can give us the Knowledge of Discerning Why. In His 'other Words'---"you must be born of the Spirit," so stay in Jerusalem (Adoration/Prayer/Quiet/Desert) until the Holy Spirit comes into your life--giving you NEW Life empowered by God. Opening up your heart to all that the Holy Spirit can teach and give you of His Gifts. He will lead you and enable you then to have the virtues to REMOVE THE STONES from others.
Little simple acts of kindness. Little words of love, hope and encouragement. Showing mercy and forgivenss. Doing for others as you wish it would be done unto you. Little loving acts that slowly, carefully chip away what blocks the hearts of those we love, and the stranger too. They will know God's love by our love. They then, will know God and believe in Him and be resurrected from the dead. "You too, can do what I do, IF YOU BELIEVE."
In ALL the WORDS that Jesus spoke in our Gospels, He GAVE us simple directions to follow His WAY. Live the TRUTH so we can and will bring LIGHT into this dark world. You will bring Life again into hearts that are hardened, and dark, blocked by stone walls built by us, by how we reacted to life.
They will be alive!! Resurrected from the tomb they are living in, because you chose to obey and live His Words of Life.
Get Going, Get God and Get out of His Way--as He Moves in your Life. Surrender to His Love, and His Will--say Yes! There is harvesting to do and the laborers are few!. God needs you and you need God to do what Jesus did and even more--if you believe.
About the Author
Born the youngest of nine children, raised VERY Catholic across the street from our church and school—Mom and Dad led by example and word their FAITH in God and saw to it that I was given 12 years of Catholic Education. (Mount St. Mary’s Academy/1965)
But, most importantly, because of my parents’ spiritual renewal after attending Cursillo Weekends, I too went on a retreat at our beloved Subiaco Abbey in Arkansas and there, at age 20, gave my life totally, surrendering all to my Lord and best Friend. This was my “Pentecostal” event that left me, like all the early Christians, on fire with God’s love and forever changed.
My husband Robert and I have been married for 50 this year in a marriage arranged by God. We have 8 children, two in heaven, 24 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. The story of our life together can be found in a book titled “My Journey, My Cross-As the Journals End,” published by Westbow Press . Our life together has been one awesome up and down roller coaster ride which enriched my heart with so many of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I have found that the only way, Wisdom, Understanding, Words of Knowledge, Discernment, and Healing can be received is first by experiencing in your life the hurts of others. (and you yourself a sword will pierce)* so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2 v 35.
God has blessed me also many other talents and skills--but sometimes, blessings/gifts can and have caused problems or conflict in my life, as I am human and all too quickly that part of me shows up. Thank You God that You also show up!
Because of the many ways that He has rescued me, and taught me through my trials and tribulations and continuous cries for “Help”--- a weekly podcast radio show called “It’s Me, God” can still be found on www.radiotitans.com
