FollowingJesusUS.com

The Bridge

“For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities:”-Isaiah 59:12

This Monday, we prepare for Easter, the most Holy Day of the year. But before Easter, comes Good Friday, when Jesus took all of our sins on Himself to Save us. And perhaps, this Monday, we need to take some time to think about what those actual sins are and tell God just how sorry we are for them-in Jesus’ Name.

It isn’t just the sins we commit. But how many acts of kindness have we failed to do? How many times have we been self-centered? How many times have we chosen to act for our own pleasure rather than God’s Will? How many times have we seen a person in need, but kept walking?

And how many times have we failed to love God or our fellow man as we should?

We all fall short, that’s one reason why Jesus’ Gift of Salvation is so incredibly important. We could never build a relationship with God on our own. And we could never make it to Heaven on our own.

Jesus is the Bridge.

Mary’s Message Of Hope

During the 16th and 17th centuries, our Blessed Mother Mary appeared in Ecuador to a little known Spanish nun. She gave both a warning and hope for the future. Mary predicted a “spiritual catastrophe” that would occur in the Catholic church, beginning sometime after the mid 1900’s and spread.

One thing that Mary shared was that many would be unable to receive the Sacraments (Holy Communion, Confession, Baptism…). And did this not occur during Covid? While Walmart was deemed “essential”, church was not!

Mary also warned that the Sacrament of Marriage would be attacked. And has it not been? Less and less young people are even getting married. Gay marriage seems to be the law of the land, despite the fact that it is clearly displeasing to God! And in spite of the fact that during the Sacrament of Marriage, we pledge before God to love another person until death due us part, divorce has grown by leaps and bounds.

Does God forgive us if we ask in Jesus’ Name and repent? Of course! God forgives all of those who truly repent though His Son Jesus Christ. But the increase of men and woman breaking the vows that they made before God is concerning. Is Marriage under attack? Yes!

There will, for a variety of reasons, be a decrease in Priestly and Religious vocations. And that is important, for who will teach us? And who will help to hold us accountable? Who will lead the effort to continue the faith?

Many of the sick will not receive the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. In other Christian Churches, this is simply called a Prayer for the Sick. And it’s also important. For those prayers sometimes bring healing and always bring comfort.

Mary also told us that priests who truly serve the Lord would be attacked. Have they not been? Both priests and ministers who truly serve the Lord ARE being attacked. And their message, found in God’s Word, ARE under attack as well!

Mary also said that many of the Faithful would be Blinded. Truly unable to see what is happening around them and to them, and truly unable to see what God requires of them! Will they be lost?

Mary also said even more people will fall into sin! Too many will pick and choose among God’s Word, seeking to justify their sinful choices, but there will be no justification before God!

“Widespread moral corruption, Profanation of the Sacraments of Matrimony, Depraved Priests, Unbridled Lust, Loss of Innocence and Lack of Priestly and Religious Vocations” are just a few of the evils that Mary warned us would happen.

This will be a time of punishment. But Mary said, ” I will always be there ready to listen to their cries and soothe their pain. Tell them that they should always run to their Mother with confidence and love…”

And Mary also said, “But when evil finally seems to triumph over all, when all seems lost, Complete Restoration of the Church will begin and the Church will finally reawaken.” Because God loves us 🙂

We need to pray daily, both for the courage we will need and that our Faith will grow-despite the difficult challenges we will face. And God WILL answer, because He loves us 🙂

Jesus Is The Promise Kept :)

I saw Jesus covered in Rainbows. He wore a long robe and His entire robe and His face were covered in Rainbows 🙂

We have always known that the Rainbow is a sign of God’s Promises Kept! 🙂

It’s not a symbol of any organization here on earth, because the Rainbow belongs to God. It always has and it always will, because God created it! The Rainbow will always be a symbol of God’s Promises Kept! 🙂

Jesus is the Greatest Promise Kept. Despite the horrific suffering, both for Jesus and all who loved Him, we are Saved by God’s Great Sacrifice and Love!

May we learn to love as much as G0d does 🙂

Prepare, Pray and Be Ready!

Faith Without Works Is Dead!

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”-James 2:17

” For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”- Ephesians 2:8-9

When I was younger, these verses seemed as if they were in contrast to one another, but as I grew older, I realized they were in harmony. I am Saved by God alone, but IF I am Truly Saved, there will be “works” in my life.

And they will be “works” I want to do 🙂

Living my faith all week instead of just Sunday, helping an older person carry groceries, smiling at a stranger, reaching out to encourage another, a phone call to brighten s friend’s day, reading the Bible each day and sharing it, attending church and focusing on what we can give, rather than just what we can take…These can be all intentional “works”.

I am sure that there are plenty more “works” available to choose from, each person can choose whatever “works” for them 🙂 .

I lived next door to a friend of mine for 15 years. Everytime someone moved into the neighborhood, she brought them dinner. A kindness most never forgot. And wouldn’t you know, we ended up attending her church, and so did many of our neighbors 🙂

A last word. Doing “works” has always brought me far more joy than I ever felt I gave. It almost seemed an act of selfishness, because it made me so happy! But that is how it is when you are living in the Will of God. The Happiness and Peace we receive surpasses all understanding 🙂

Make Every Day Count!

In Psalm 90:12 it says, “So teach us to number our days”

We don’t often think about that, in fact, some of us actively avoid thinking about it, lol. But the truth is each one of us has only so many days on this earth.

So we only have so many days to share God’s Love & Mercy. To share the Good News about Jesus Christ! And to share our knowledge of how to get to Heaven and just how important that is!

Because make no mistake, Jesus is the Hope for our world, today and everyday, and we are all looking for that 🙂

Make Every Day Count!

Be the Light :⁾

Becoming Friends With Jesus Christ

It’s when Jesus seems far away that we need to pray the most. Because although Jesus never leaves us, sometimes we leave Him

We convince ourselves we are too busy to talk with Jesus, or if we are being honest, perhaps too lazy. But if we want to have a real friendship with Jesus, we need to do what we would do with any other friend, we need to spend time with Him; we need to share with Him, and we need to be honest and open with Jesus. Because that is the only way we are going to become “real friends”.

So share the happiness and worries of your day. Pray for those in need and those you love. Ask Jesus what His Will is for you, because Jesus loves you and knows best what will bring you the most happiness. Ask Jesus every day to forgive your sins, grant you faith and be your Savior and Friend.

For if we do so every day, our trust in Jesus will grow and our faith will flourish.

And before we know it, Jesus who once seemed so very far away, will be our closest, most trusted, best friend, and Savior 🙂

May Jesus Bless Us All,

Following Jesus

Follow Jesus And The Feelings Will Come

It can be so difficult to “know” what to do, which path to choose. But sometimes the answers are easier than we think. For those who have been “sitting on the fence”, when it comes to putting their faith in Jesus Christ, now might be a good time to choose.

So many think that in order to follow Christ, one must “believe”, which many of us equate with our “feelings”. But to begin following Christ, one need only ask Jesus to be their Savior, to forgive their sins– and start following Him.

Feelings just are.

But Faith in Jesus is not about how we feel on any given day, it’s about who we choose to follow every single day.

May Jesus Bless us all, each and every one.

Following Jesus

Jesus is the Bridge.

Be the Light :)

Be the Light :⁾