Cristy Li

Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud to those who go astray after false gods…I delight to do Your will, O My God! Your Law is within my heart. –Psalm 40:4;8 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word

Thanksgiving For Deliverance and Prayer For Help

I waited patiently for the Lord, He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the

desolate pit, out of the miry bog and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a

new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust

in the Lord. Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to

those who go astray after false gods. You have multiplied, O Lord My God, Your wondrous

deeds and Your thoughts toward us; None can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell

them, they would be more than can be counted. Sacrifice and offering You do not desire but

You have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering, You have not required. Then I

said, “Here I am; In the Scroll of the Book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O My

God! Your Law is within my heart.” I have told The Glad (Good) News of deliverance in the

great congregation; See I have not restrained my lips as You know, O Lord. I have not hidden

Your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have

not concealed Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness keep me safe forever. For evils have

encompassed me without number, my iniquities have overtaken me until I cannot see; They are

more than the hairs of my head and my heart fails me. Be pleased O Lord, to deliver me; O

Lord, make haste to help me. Let all those be put to shame and confusion who seek to snatch

away my life; Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire my hurt. Let those

be appalled because of their shame who say to me, ‘Aha, Aha!’ May all who seek You rejoice and

be glad in You; May those who love Your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” As for

me, I am poor and needy but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer;

Do not delay, O My God. –Psalm 40:1-17

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

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the Glory about to be revealed to us. — We know that All Things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. –Romans 8:18; 28   Image Courtesy: Susana Rosende

O Lord, what are human beings that You regard them or mortals that You think of them?

They are like a breath; their days are like a passing shadow.  –Psalm 144:3-4

Boasting About Tomorrow

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a

year there, doing business and making money.” Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will

bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 

–James 4:13-14

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

Future Glory

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the Glory

about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the

children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility not of its own will but by the will of

the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to

decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole

creation has been groaning in labor pains until now and not only the creation but we ourselves,

who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the

redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For

who hopes for what is seen? If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought but

that very (Holy) Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. God, who searches the heart

knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the (Holy) Spirit intercedes for the Saints

according to the will of God.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called

according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed

to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn within a large family and those

who He predestined He also called; those He called He also justified and those whom He

justified He also glorified!  –Romans 8:18-30

The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; It is able to judge the thoughts
and intentions of the heart. –Hebrews 4:12

The Power of the Gospel

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel;

It is the power of God for Salvation

to everyone who has faith,

to the Jew and also to the Greek (Gentile).

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith:

As it is written:

‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’ (See: Habakkuk 2:4)  –Romans 1:16-17

 

The Guilt of Humankind

For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven

against all ungodliness and wickedness of those

who by their wickedness suppress the truth.

For what can be known about God is plain to them

because God has shown it to them.

Ever since the creation of the world, His eternal power

and Divine Nature, invisible though they are,

have been understood and seen through the things

He has made! So they are without excuse;

For though they knew God, they did not honor Him

as God or give thanks to Him but they became futile

in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened.

Claiming to be wise, they became fools

and they exchanged the glory of the Immortal God

for images resembling a mortal human being or birds

or four-footed animals or reptiles.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts

to the degrading of their bodies among themselves

because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie

and worshiped and served the creature (Satan)

rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions.

Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural

and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse

with women, were consumed with passion for one another.

Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their

own persons the due penalty for their error.

Since they did not see fit to acknowledge God,

God gave them up to a debased mind and to

things that should not be done.

They were filled with every kind of wickedness,

evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder,

strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, slanderers,

God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil,

rebellious toward parents, foolish, faithless, heartless,

ruthless. They know God’s decree, that those who practice

such things deserve to die — yet they not only do them

but even applaud others who practice them. –Romans 1:16-32

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

“Make Someone’s Day – Do a Random Act of Kindness.”  -Image Courtesy: Franciscan Sisters

• Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained Angels
  without knowing it. –Hebrews 13:2

• Jesus taught, “In everything — treat people the same way you want them to treat you,
  for this is the Law of the Prophets.” (See: Leviticus 19:18)  –Matthew 7:12

Faith Without Works Is Dead

What good is it my brothers or 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: Luke:4:34)

Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith without works is barren?

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

(See: Genesis 22:1-11) 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 as righteousness,” (See: Genesis 15:6) he was called the friend of

God.  (See: 2 Chronicles 20:7;  Isaiah 41:8)  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? (See: Joshua 2:1-24)

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. 

James 2:14-26

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

Jesus ministered, “Then they (mankind) will see The ‘Son of Man Coming in a Cloud’
with power and great glory.” –Luke 21:27

The Widow’s Offering

Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; He also saw a poor widow put in

two small copper coins. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them;

For all of them have contributed out of their abundance but she out of her poverty

has put in all she had to live on.”

The Destruction of the Temple Foretold

When some were speaking about the Temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts

dedicated to God, Jesus said, “As for these things that you will see, the days will come

when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”

Signs and Persecution

They asked Jesus, ‘Teacher, when will this be and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’

Jesus said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in My name and say, ‘I am he’

and ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them. When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be

terrified for these things must take place first but the end will not follow immediately” Then Jesus said to

them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; then there will be great

earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues and there will be dreadful portents

and great signs from Heaven. Before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you,

they will hand you over to the Synagogues and prisons and you will be brought before kings

and governors because of My name. This will give you an opportunity to testify.

So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and wisdom

that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents

and brothers, by relatives and friends, they will put some of you to death.

You will be hated by all because of My name but not a hair of your head will perish.

By your endurance you will gain your souls.”

The Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold

Jesus continued, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has

come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains and those inside the City must leave it and

those out of the country must not enter it; For these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is

written. (See: Daniel 9:26-27) Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants

in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people;

they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations

and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

The Coming of the Son of Man

Jesus continued, “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, the stars and on earth distress among nations

confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding (sense of

impending doom) of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then

they will see ‘The Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things

begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

Jesus then told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. As soon as they sprout leaves you

can see for yourselves and know that Summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking

place, you know that the Kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away

until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away but My Words will not pass away.”

Exhortation to Watch

Jesus continued, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation,

drunkenness and the worries of this life and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap.

For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you

may have strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man!”

Every day Jesus was teaching in the Temple and at night He would go out and spend the night on

the Mount of Olives as it was called and all the people would get up early in the morning

to listen to Jesus in the Temple.  –Luke 21:1-38

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

For God will command His Angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. –Psalm 91:11
Image Courtesy: I Love Jesus & Mary

Song of Trust in God Alone – A Song of David

For You (God) repay to all according to their work. (See: Psalm 62:12)

For God alone my soul waits in silence;

From Him comes my Salvation,

my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

How long will you assail a person (plan destruction to man? –Tehillim 62:4)

Will you batter your victim, all of you,

as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence.

They take pleasure in falsehood;

they bless with their mouths

but inwardly they curse.

For God alone my soul waits in silence,

for my hope is from Him.

He alone is my Rock and my Salvation,

my Fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my deliverance and my honor;

my Mighty Rock, my refuge is in God!

Trust in Him at all times, O people!

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Those of low estate are but a breath,

those of high estate are a delusion,

in the balances they go up,

they are together lighter than a breath.

Put no confidence in extortion

and set no vain hopes on robbery;

If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

Once God has spoken;

twice have I heard this:

That power belongs to God

and steadfast love belongs to You, O Lord!

For You repay to all

according to their work.  –Psalm 62:1-12

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.

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 Isaac on the alter?

You see that faith was active along with his works

and faith was brought to completion by the works.

This the Scripture was fulfilled that says:

“Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” (See: Genesis 15:6)

he was called the friend of God. (See: 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 2:1-7)

For just as the body without the spirit is dead,

so faith without works is also dead.  –James 2:14-26

Related: Pope Saint John Paul, II: Champion of the Poor  -USCCB Blog

Feeding the Hungry: Giving the Poor What is Justly Theirs -Natl Catholic Register