Cristy Li

God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts
to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies
with one another. –Romans 1:24
Image: Ros Asquith

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave Thanks to Him but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images to look like a mortal human being, birds, animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever praised! Amen!

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.  –Romans 1:18-32

You May Know they Joy of Forgiveness and Eternal Life in Heaven Today, Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

Related: Fatima Visionary, Sister Lucia dos Santos: Final Battle will be Over Marriage and the Family — ChurchPop

The Word of the Lord is upright
and all His work is done in faithfulness. –Psalm 33:4 (NRSVCE)

The Greatness and Goodness of God

The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. (Psalm 33:5B)

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
Praise befits the upright.
Praise the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

For the Word of the Lord is upright
and all His work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the steadfast of the Lord.

By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made
and all their host by the breath of His mouth.
He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
He put the deeps in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
For He spoke and it came to be;
He commanded and it stood firm.

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the thoughts of His heart to all generations.
Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom He has chosen as His heritage.

The Lord looks down from Heaven,
He sees all humankind.
From where He sits enthroned He watches
all the inhabitants of the earth —
He who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
A king is not saved by his great army,
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a vain hope for victory
and by its great might it cannot save.

Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
on those who hope in His steadfast love,
to deliver their soul from death
and to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and shield.
Our heart is glad in Him
because we trust in His Holy Name!

Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in You! –Psalm 33:1-22

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mother of Jesus,
Protector of the Unborn,
Please Pray For Us! — Image Courtesy: Gospel Messages

You My God, created every part of me; You put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because You are to be feared; All You do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart. When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother’s womb, when I was growing there in secret, You knew that I was there — you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in Your book before any of them ever began. –Psalm 139:13-16

The Guilt of Mankind

God’s anger is revealed from Heaven against all the sin and evil of the people whose evil ways prevent the truth from being known. God punishes them because what can be known about God is plain to them, for God Himself made it plain. Ever since God created the world, His invisible qualities, both His eternal power and His Divine nature have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all! They know God but they do not give Him the honor that belongs to Him, nor do they thank Him. Instead their thoughts have become completely nonsense and their empty minds are filled with darkness. They say they are wise but they are fools. Instead of worshiping the immortal God they worship images made to look like mortals or birds or animals or reptiles.

So God has given those people over to do the filthy things their hearts desire and they do shameful things with each other. They exchange the Truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator Himself, who is to be praised forever! Amen!

Because those people refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God, He has given them over to corrupted minds, so that they do the things that they should not do. They are filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed and vice; they are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deceit and malice. They gossip and speak evil of one another; they are hateful to God, insolent, proud and boastful; they think of more ways to do evil; they disobey their parents; they have no conscience; they do not keep their promises and they show no kindness or pity for others. They know that God’s Law says that people who live in this way deserve death. Yet, not only do they continue to do these very things but they even approve of others who do them. –Romans 1:18-32

Jesus is Coming Again!
You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life in Heaven Today, Through The Good News
of Christ Jesus!

Related: Fatima Visionary, Sister Lucia dos Santos: Final Battle will be over Marriage and the Family — ChurchPop

I treasure Your Word in my heart so that I may not sin against You — I delight in the way of Your Decrees as much as in all riches. –Psalm 119:11;14 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: I Love Jesus & Mary

Whoever fears the Lord will do this and whoever holds to the Law will obtain wisdom. She will come to meet him like a mother and like a young bride she will welcome him. She will feed him with bread of learning and give him the water of wisdom to drink. He will lean on her and not fall and he will rely on her and not be put to shame. She will exalt him above his neighbors and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly. He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing and will inherit an everlasting name. The foolish will not obtain her and sinners will not see her. She is far from arrogance and liars will never think of her. Praise is unseemly on the lips of a sinner, for it has not been sent from the Lord. For in wisdom must praise be uttered and the Lord will make it prosper.

Freedom of Choice

Do not say, ‘It was the Lord’s doing that I fell away,’ for He does not do what He hates. Do not say, ‘It was He who led me astray,’ for He has no need of the sinful. The Lord hates all abominations; such things are not loved by those who fear Him. It was He who created humankind in the beginning and He left them in the power of their own free choice. If you choose, you can keep the Commandments and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.

He has placed before you fire and water; stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.

Before each person are life and death and whichever one chooses will be given. For great is the wisdom of the Lord, He is mighty in power and sees everything; His eyes are on those who fear Him and He knows every human action. He has not commanded anyone to be wicked and He has not given anyone permission to sin. –Sirach 15:1-20

The Glories of God’s Law

Happy are those whose way is blameless who walk in the Law of the Lord!

Happy are those who keep His decrees, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong but walk in His ways.

Happy are those whose way is blameless who walk in the Law of the Lord! (Psalm 119:1)

You have commanded Your precepts to be kept diligently. O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your Statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all Your Commandments. I will praise You with an upright heart, when I learn Your righteous

ordinances. I will observe Your Statutes; Do not utterly forsake me. How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to Your Word. With my whole heart I seek You; Do not let me stray from Your Commandments. I treasure Your Word in my heart, so that I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I declare all the ordinances of Your mouth. I delight in the way of Your Decrees as much as in all riches. I will mediate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes, I will not forget Your Word.

Happy are those whose way is blameless who walk in the Law of the Lord. (Psalm 119:1)

Deal bountifully with Your servant so that I may live and observe Your Word. Open my eyes so that I may behold wondrous things out of Your Law. I live as an alien in the land; Do not hide Your Commandments from me. My soul is consumed with longing for Your Ordinances at all times. You rebuke me the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from Your Commandments; Take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept Your Decrees. Even though princes sit plotting against me, Your servant will meditate on Your Statutes. Your Decrees are my delight, they are my counselors. My soul clings to the dust, revive me according to Your Word. When I told of my ways, You answered me. Happy are those whose way is blameless who walk in the Law of the Lord. (Psalm 119:1)

Teach me Your Statutes. Make me understand the way of Your Precepts and I will mediate on Your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; Strengthen me according to Your Word.

Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me Your Law. I have chosen the way of faithfulness. I set Your Ordinances before me. I cling to Your Decrees, O Lord; Let me not be put to shame. I run the way of Your Commandments, for You enlarge my understanding. Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your Statutes and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep Your Law and observe it with my whole heart. Happy are those whose way is blameless who walk in the way of the Lord! (Psalm 119:1)

–Psalm 119:1-34

• You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life
  Today Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

If You Died Today, Would You Be Prepared To Meet God?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through Him. –John 3:16-17

• Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled
  and the Kingdom of God has come near;
  Repent and Believe in The Good News!” –Mark 1:15
• You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life Today
  Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

Train children in the right way and when old,
they will not stray. –Proverbs 22:6 (NRSVCE)

The Glories of God’s Law

How can young people keep their way pure?
By guarding it according to Your Word. –Psalm 119:9

Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the Law of the Lord.

Happy are those who keep His Decrees, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong but walk in His ways.

Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the Lord. (Psalm 119:1)

You have commanded Your Precepts to be kept diligently.

O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your Statutes!

Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the Law of the Lord. (Psalm 119:1)

Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on Your Commandments.

Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the Law of the Lord. (Psalm 119:1)

I will praise You with an upright heart, when I learn Your righteous Ordinances.

I will observe Your Statutes; Do not utterly forsake me.

Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the Law of the Lord. (Psalm 119:1)

How can young people keep their way pure?
By guarding it according to Your Word.

With my whole heart I seek You;
Do not let me stray from Your Commandments.

I treasure Your Word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against You!

Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your Statutes. With my lips I declare all the Ordinances of Your mouth. I delight in the way of Your Decrees as much as in all riches. I will mediate on Your Precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your Statutes;

I will not forget Your Word.

Deal bountifully with Your servant so that I may live and observe Your Word! Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of Your Law. I live an an alien in the land; Do not hide Your Commandments from me. My soul is consumed with longing for Your Ordinances at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from Your Commandments; Take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept Your Decrees. Even though princes sit plotting against me, Your servant will mediate on Your Statutes. Your Decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.

My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your Word. When I told of my ways, You answered me; Teach me Your Statutes. Make me understand the way of Your Precepts and I will meditate on Your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; Strengthen me according to Your Word. Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me Your Law. I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set Your Ordinances before me. I cling to Your Decrees, O Lord, let me not be put to shame. I run the way of Your Commandments, for You enlarge my understanding. Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your Statutes and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep Your Law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of Your Commandments, for I delight in it. Turn my heart to Your Decrees and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; Give mt life in Your ways! Confirm to Your servant Your Promise which is for those who fear You. Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for Your Ordinances are good. See, I have longed for Your Precepts;

In Your righteousness give me life.

Let Your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to Your Promise. Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me, For I trust in Your Word!

Do not take the Word of Truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in Your Ordinances. I will keep Your Law continually, forever and ever. I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought Your Precepts. I will also speak of Your Decrees before kings and shall not be put to shame.

I find my delight in Your Commandments because I love them. I revere Your Commandments, which I love and I will meditate on Your Statutes. Remember Your Word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope. This is my comfort in my distress, that Your Promise gives me life. The arrogant utterly deride me but I do not turn away from Your Law. When I think of Your Ordinances from of old, I take comfort, O Lord! Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, those who forsake Your Law. Your Statutes have been my songs wherever I make my home. I remember Your Name in the night, O Lord and keep Your Law. This blessing has fallen to me, for I have kept Your Precepts.

The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep Your Words!

I implore Your favor with all my heart; Be gracious to me according to Your Promise. When I think of Your ways, I turn my feet to Your Decrees. I hurry and do not delay to keep Your Commandments. Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget Your Law. At midnight I rise to praise You because of Your righteous Ordinances. I am a companion of all who fear You, of those who keep Your Precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of Your steadfast love; Teach me Your Statutes.

You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your Word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your Commandments. Before I was humbled I went astray but now I keep Your Word!

You are good and do good; Teach me Your Statutes. The arrogant smear me with lies but with my whole heart I keep Your Precepts. Their hearts are fat and gross but I delight in Your Law.

It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I may learn Your Statutes. The Law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Your hands have made and fashioned me; Give me understanding that I may learn Your Commandments. Those who fear You shall see me and rejoice because I have hoped in Your Word. I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right and that in faithfulness You have humbled me. Let Your steadfast love become my comfort according to Your Promise to Your servant. Let Your mercy come to me, that I may live; For Your Law is my delight. Let the arrogant be put to shame because they have subverted me with guile; As for me, I will mediate on Your Precepts. Let those who fear You turn to me, so that they may know Your Decrees. May my heart be blameless in Your Statutes, so that I may not be put to shame.

My soul languishes for Your Salvation; I hope in Your Word!

My eyes fail with watching for Your Promise; I ask, ‘When will You comfort me?’ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten Your Statutes. How long must Your servant endure? When will You judge those who persecute me? The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me; They flout Your Law. All Your Commandments are enduring; I am persecuted without cause; Help me! They have almost made an end of me on earth but I have not forsaken Your Precepts. In Your steadfast love spare my life, so that I may keep the Decrees of Your mouth.

The Lord exists forever!
Your Word is firmly fixed in Heaven.

Your faithfulness endures to all generations;

You have established the earth and it stands fast. By Your appointment they stand today, for all things are Your servants.

If Your Law had not been my delight, I would have perished in misery. I will never forget Your Precepts, for by them You have given me life. I am Yours; Save me, for I have sought Your Precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me but I consider Your Decrees. I have seen a limit to all perfection but Your Commandment is exceedingly broad.

Oh, how I love Your Law!
It is my meditation all day long.

Your Commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for It is always with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your Decrees are my mediation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep Your Precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep Your Word. I do not turn away from Your Ordinances, for You have taught me. How sweet are Your Words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your Precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Your Word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path!

I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe Your righteous Ordinances. I am severely afflicted; Give me life, O Lord, according to Your Word. Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord and teach me Your Ordinances. I hold my life in my hand continually but I do not forget Your Law. The wicked have laid a snare for me but I do not stray from Your Precepts. Your Decrees are my heritage forever; They are joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform Your Statutes forever, to the end!

I hate the double-minded but I love Your Law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word. Go away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the Commandments of My God!

Uphold me according to Your Promise, that I may live and let me not be put to shame in my hope. Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for Your Statutes continually. You spurn all who go astray from Your Statutes; For their cunning is in vain. All the wicked of the earth you count as dross (worthless; rubbish) therefore I love Your decrees. My flesh trembles for fear of You and I am afraid of Your judgments.

I have done what is just and right; Do not leave me to my oppressors. Guarantee Your servant’s well-being; Do not let the godless oppress me. My eyes fail from watching for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous Promise. Deal with Your servant according to Your steadfast love and teach me Your Statutes. I am Your servant; Give me understanding, so that I may know Your Decrees.

It is time for the Lord to act,
for Your Law has been broken.

Truly I love Your Commandments, more than gold, more than fine gold. Truly I direct my steps by all Your Precepts; I hate every false way.

Your Decrees are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of Your Words gives light; It imparts understanding to the simple. With open mouth I pant because I long for Your Commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your custom toward those who love Your name. Keep my steps steady according to Your Promise and never let iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep Your Precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant and teach me Your Statutes.

My eyes shed streams of tears
because Your Law is not kept.

You are righteous, O Lord, and Your judgments are right. You have appointed Your Decrees in righteousness and in all faithfulness. My zeal consumes me because my foes forget Your Words. Your Promise is well tried and Your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your Precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and Your Law is the Truth!

Trouble and anguish have come upon me but Your Commandments are my delight. Your Decrees are righteous forever! Give me understanding that I may live.

With my whole heart I cry; Answer me, O Lord. I will keep Your Statutes. I cry to you; Save me, that I may observe Your Decrees. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I put my hope in Your Words. My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, that I may meditate on Your Promise. In Your steadfast love hear my voice; O Lord, in Your justice preserve my life. Those who persecute me with evil purpose draw near; They are far from Your Law.

You are near, O Lord
and all Your Commandments are true!

Long ago I learned from Your Decrees that You have established them forever!

Look on my misery and rescue me, for I do not forget Your Law.

Plead my cause and redeem me, give me life according to Your Promise.

Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your Statutes.

Great is Your mercy, O Lord; Give me life according to Your justice.

Many are my persecutors and my adversaries yet I do not swerve from Your Decrees. I look at the faithless with disgust because they do not keep Your Commands. Consider how I love Your Precepts; Preserve my life according to Your steadfast love.

The sum of Your Word is Truth
and every one of Your righteous Ordinances endures forever!

Princes persecute me without cause but my heart stands in awe of Your Words.

I rejoice at Your Word like one who finds great spoil.

I hate and abhor falsehood but I love Your Law. Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous Ordinances. Great peace have those who love Your Law; Nothing can make them stumble. I hope for Your Salvation, O Lord and I fulfill Your Commandments. My soul keeps Your Decrees, I love them exceedingly! I keep Your Precepts and Decrees, for all my ways are before You.

Let my cry come before You, O Lord; Give me understanding according to Your Word. Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your Promise. My lips will pour forth praise because You teach me Your Statutes.

My tongue will sing of Your Promise,
for all Your Commandments are right!

Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your Precepts. I long for Your Salvation, O Lord and Your Law is my delight. Let me live that I may praise You and let Your Ordinances help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; (See also: Isaiah 53:6) Seek out Your servant, for I do not forget Your Commandments. –Psalm 119:1-176

• Now is the acceptable time;
  See, now is the day of Salvation! –2 Corinthians 6:2B
  (See also: Isaiah 49:8; Matthew 4:17)

• You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life
  TodayThrough The Good News of Christ Jesus!

Princess St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Patron Saint of the Poor and Homeless, Please Pray For Us!
-Image Courtesy: St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

• If you close your ear to the cry of the poor,
  you will cry out and not be heard. –Proverbs 21:13

Faith Without Works Is Dead

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?

Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat your fill,” yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works is dead.

Someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is One; You do well.

Even the demons believe and shudder. (See: Matthew 8:29-31; Luke 4:31-37;  Luke 11:14-23)

Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren?

Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Issac on the alter?

You see that faith was active along with his works and faith was brought to completion by the works. Thus the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him in righteousness (Genesis 15:6) he was called the friend of God! (2 Chronicles 20:7)

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? (Joshua 6:22-25) For just as the body without the (Holy) Spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. –James 2:14-26

• You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life in Heaven Today Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB

God is not unjust; He will not forget your work
and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. –Hebrews 6:10
Image Courtesy: Mission For The Homeless

Do to others as you would have them do to you. –Luke 6:31

Blessings of the Righteous Who Fear the Lord

Praise the Lord!

They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor. Their righteousness endures forever; Their horn is exalted. (Psalm 112:9)

Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in His Commandments. Their descendants will be mighty in the land, the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses and their righteousness endures forever. They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; They are gracious, merciful and righteous. It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; They will be remembered forever. They are not afraid of evil tidings, their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid, in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; Their righteousness endures forever, their horn is exalted in honor. The wicked see it and are angry, they gnash their teeth and melt away; The desire of the wicked comes to nothing (shall perish). –Psalm 112:1-10

• You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life
  Today, Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!