Author Archives: Paula Rose Parish - The Hope. Faith. Love Community

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How Joy Gives Us Strength for Living

The Psalms are full of positive affirmations and praise to God, like the following—

 The Lord is my strength and praise, who has become my salvation. You will draw water with gladness from the fountains of the Saviour. Among you is the great and holy one of Israel. Confess the Lord and invoke his Name. Make his plans known among the people. Remember that his Name is exalted. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

 Sing to the Lord. For He acted magnificently. Announce it to the whole world and rejoice and give praise. O habitation of Zion. The Great One, the Holy One of Israel, is in your midst. Among you is the Great and Holy One of Israel.

Holy Scripture is Food for our Living in Joy

When we analyse Luke 1:39-56, we find that Mary rising, travelled quickly into the hill country to the city of Judah; Mary entered the House of Zechariah. There, Mary is greeted by pregnant Elizabeth. Then an amazing thing happened! When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leapt into her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit!! Amazing or What!

Elizabeth immediately reacted, crying loudly, saying, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb”!

When you read this passage, have you ever wondered how this story may concern you personally?

For this passage to concern you personally, it is worth thinking about How we cultivate the spiritual gift of joy in your life and turn our attention to how God has blessed you, even in difficult times.

Elizabeth is Mary’s Cousin. Elizabeth is elderly, and her husband Zechariah, for whatever reason, they have never been able to have children. Finally, however, God has worked a miracle, and Elizabeth has conceived a child. Their child will grow up to be John the Baptist, whose role in life is to prepare Israel and the Gentiles for the ministry of Jesus Christ. So the story starts when Mary travels into the hill country to the city of Judah, where she visits the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth.

As she enters their home, Mary greets Elizabeth, and as she hears the greeting, the infant leapt within her womb, and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth then cried loudly and said, “Blessed are you among women, and bless it is the fruit of your womb”. Luke 1. 39 to 42.

This beautiful story depicts two miraculous pregnancies. One is brought about by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, while the other is the miraculous conception in the womb of a woman who was advanced in years.

Mary had travelled a long distance to be with her cousin for the last few months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, and upon greeting Elizabeth, another miraculous event occurred. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb is St. John, the Baptist, who leapt for joy. So even before his birth, John began to fulfil his unique mission of preparing the way for the Lord – awe-inspiring!!

Within the womb of Mary, John began his ministry at that moment by inspiring his Mother, Elizabeth, when he perceived the divine presence of the Saviour of the world.

Consider especially the conversations these two holy women would have shared during their months together.

Even though we are given only a little insight into their initial conversation from the scriptures, we can only imagine the sharing of good news and joy between them.

True Lasting Joy Can Be Yours

Their conversations would have mutually shared the spiritual gift of joy. 

It is essential to point out that Joy is more than an emotion. It is spiritual in nature. Therefore, deep joy is not only an experience of something fun but also the experience of realising the action of God in your life.

God works in beautiful ways, leading to gratitude and rejoicing. This joy produces strength and energy that is contagious and uplifting. We must all strive to see the hand of God at work in our lives by focusing on God’s divine actions.

Joy Give Us Strength for Living

We need to be strengthened by this gift so that we will be encouraged and strengthened. As we daily strive to fulfil God’s will, reflect upon the witness of joy that these two holy women give us. The great news is that you are called to share the same joy as you humbly turn your attention to how God has blessed you.

If you find that you lack joy in life, then consider where you allow your mind to wander throughout the day in an undeclined way.

To find out if your mind is undisciplined or not, ask yourself –

  • Do I mull over and over past problems and hurts?
  • Do I worry about things that I am experiencing right now?
  • Do I fret about what tomorrow might bring?

These questions and more help determine if your mind is under your control or if your mind is in control of you.

 If you can do some or all of these questions, your thoughts will certainly eventually lead to depression and possibly even despair.

Try to turn your mind to God’s loving, positive actions in your life.

Count the many blessings you have been given because of those divine actions. If you do this and make a habit of it, you to rejoice with Saint Elizabeth and our blessed Mother. And your joy will be complete and everlasting.

Let us Pray.

My Jesus, as you dwelt in the sacred womb of your own, dear Mother, Your presence caused much rejoicing in her heart and in the hearts of Elizabeth and John.

Please help me see your presence in our world and my life so that I, too, will be filled with the joy of you constantly coming to me. Jesus, I trust in you? Amen.

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Just Shut Up & Listen!

Even beyond what has been recorded in the gospels is only a glimpse of what Jesus actually did.

John 21.25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.


Now the easter season is ending, and Pentecost is beginning, we look back and see that John’s Gospel has been a central focus throughout the Easter season.

The Gospel of Saint John differs significantly from the other three synoptic gospels. John’s language is mystical and symbolic. John presents the seven miracles as signs that reveal Jesus’ Divinity.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus is identified as I AM, the Son of the Father, the Divine Presence, and The Bread of Life. Jesus is the light of the world, the Eternal Word and more. John points to the crucifixion as Jesus’ hour of glory, in which he takes up his cross-throne for the world’s salvation.

So You May Believe


Saint John states that he wrote his Gospel so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that, through this belief, you may have life in his name.

John loved our Lord and understood him through personal experiences while Jesus was alive on earth and through a profound level of Prayer he practised.

We learn from John that deep Prayer is this depth of understanding and mystical knowledge.

The Gospel is communicated so the reader is quickly drawn into John’s prayerful understanding. As John concludes his testimony about Jesus, he states something worth pondering. He states that Jesus did so many things not recorded by him or others. If they were all written down, the whole world would not contain the books that would be written.

First of all, everything that was written down is the source of prayerful study for a lifetime. You could never be exhausted by the meaning we find in John’s Gospel alone.

What Jesus did within every mind and heart He touched is truly indescribable. How Jesus transformed lives, volumes upon volumes, could not thoroughly describe the miracle of it.

Jesus’ divine action of saving souls, rescuing people from sin and death, and pointing them to eternal life is more than our feeble minds can fully comprehend.


As we conclude this Easter season and our reading of John’s Gospel, allow yourself to sit in awe of the infinite activity of our Divine Lord in the lives of those who have turned to him. Consider every movement of Grace in your that has been accomplished with such care and love by our Lord.

Reflect upon the fact that one day, you will contemplate the eternal Word made flesh for eternity. The Messiah, the Great, I Am the Son of the Father and every other name given to him. Who is our God and King forever? You will be face to face, beholding his beauty and actually fellowshipping with Him- Amazing!

Prayer Connects Us

Saint John loved our Lord and understood him deeply because he spent his life prayerfully pondering all that Jesus did. Contemplative Prayer is silent Prayer allowing our whole being to engage with God. It is about mulling over or contemplating what the Lord shows our souls and minds.

Just Shut Up & Listen!


When we stop the chatter, our souls can express the cries of our hearts to God and receive what God has to say to us.

Even Jesus, Himself, committed Himself to this holy pondering. Therefore, if you make contemplative Prayer a daily habit, you will be drawn more deeply into the fellowship of the Holy Trinity.

Let Us Pray.

Come |Holy Spirit, Fill our hearts and Kindle in us the power of your love. Jesus Messiah, you are truly beyond comprehension in your beauty. You are God from God, Light from Light, The Light of the world.

You are the great I am, and all the books worldwide could never describe the depth of your greatness and love. Fill my mind and heart with the gift of deep spiritual insight so that I may see you more clearly. Love your more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day.
Jesus, I Trust In You.
Amen

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

To be notified whenever I post new content by subscribing using the banner as you come onto the site.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love

Paula Rose Parish💕

🖤Want to help support me as an author?

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 & other losses.

 📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times.

The Coptic martyr recognised by the Vatican.

I have connections with Our Lady of Margam near where I live. I have attended the Mass and received their newsletter, click here if you are interested in taking a look at their website. SEE HERE.

What I found in the Margum Newsletter

An article was posted in the Our Lady of Margum newsletter, which caught my attention. The article was all about recognising the non-catholic martyr of the 21st Century.

I appreciate the idea of celebrating and recognising 21st-century martyrs and saints. In the Free protestant Church, which I am a part of, does not regularly acknowledge those who give their lives for Jesus Christ.

For those of you who don’t know, the Free Church is all Protestant Churches and traditions apart from the Anglians, commonly known as The Church of England. However, the Anglians do routinely celebrate martyrs and saints, but the Free Church usually does not. Free Protestant Church does not regularly celebrate passed martyrs or Saints within their official liturgy either.

As a Protestant Free Church minister of word and sacrament, I have never seen any official liturgy acknowledging those executed because they refuse to deny Christ. I think this is such a loss to the Church. Acknowledging such people brings us the absolute seriousness of keeping the faith and the possible consequences of doing so.

In modernity, Protestant Christians of all sorts are watering down the Gospel to the point that it has lost its power to save a soul from the power of sin and death. SEE HERE. and HERE.

In my own life and ministry, I am examining this very thing and revisiting the nature of my Church tradition and my call to ministry. The Holy Spirit is challenging me regarding the ‘fluffy’ or ‘woolly’ theology, which is a steady diet of modern protestant Christianity, particularly in the charismatic and liberal camps, and please note that I have lived and worked in both.

I have seen for the longest time that, sadly, Christianity has become no more than a ‘spiritual’ community-based organisation that seeks to put bums on seats and fails to concern itself with the grave matter of sin and the salvation of souls. Recognising the martyrs and Saints’ past and present brings home to each of us how important it is to learn what sin is and its dire consequences. I will write more about this in future posts and how this thinking challenges me SEE HERE.

Below is an excerpt from an article from the Catholic Pillar about a modern-day martyr who is not Catholic.  Matthew Ayariga is one of only 21 people officially recognised as 21st-century martyrs by the Coptic Orthodox Church (which is not Catholic) and the Catholic Church. 

For the very first time, Pope Francis has joined with the Coptic Orthodox in this recognition, and I speculate that it maybe because of the doctrine of Divine Mercy- I don’t know- to learn more about Divine Mercy, click & SEE HERE.

Now, dear Christian, at this point, you may be thinking, ‘What on earth does all this have to do with me?’ Well, the death of a brother or sister in Christ profoundly affects us all, even if we have never met them- SEE HERE.

Today, I challenge you in love, as the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, has been and still is challenging me to work out our salvation with fear and trembling seriously, SEE HERE. 

An EXERT FROM The PILLAR

With his inscription in the Roman Martyrology, Matthew Ayariga will be listed among the saints and blessed recognized by the Catholic Church. The feast day of the 21 martyrs is expected to be Feb. 15, the day they are remembered in the Coptic Orthodox Church.

A gruesome propaganda video released by Islamic State in February 2015 showed Ayariga and his colleagues dressed in identical orange jumpsuits as they were led along a beach by towering black-clad figures.

The 21 were lined up facing away from the waves, each with an Islamic State member behind them. As they were forced to their knees, the camera panned across them, showing Ayariga kneeling serenely in front of the leader, the only one of the terrorists not dressed in black. 

The workers — many of whom were clearly praying in their final moments — were then simultaneously beheaded. 

The five-minute video depicting their murder described the 21 as “people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian church.”

It was said that the militants had questioned Ayariga about his faith before his death, no doubt wondering what linked him to a group of Egyptian Christians. Ayariga reportedly told them simply that “their God is my God.”

After the Islamic State was driven out of Sirte, local authorities said they had located the construction workers’ bodies. DNA tests confirmed that the remains were indeed those of the martyrs.

Twenty of the bodies were flown on May 15, 2018, to Egypt, where they were greeted with the nationwide ringing of church bells. They were laid to rest in a shrine dedicated to their memory. 

But Ayariga’s body remained in Libya. 

In 2019, a delegation requested that Ayariga “be joined with his Coptic brothers in their final resting place.” The Libyan government agreed, and his remains were transferred to Egypt in September 2020. The martyrs’ families were quoted as saying: “Our joy is complete.”

If this excerpt has caught your interest, click HERE to read the full article.

May God bless you all and keep you safe

in your witness for Christ our Lord and saviour.

Prayer for Christian Martyrs

Lord, so great is our love for you
That even though we walk in a world
where speaking your name can mean certain death
Your faithful still speak it
And speak it all the louder.
 

Help us work for a world where all may speak their creeds
And pray their prayers
Without fear of violence.
 

Hear the prayers of those who abide with you
in dangerous times
and in dark valleys,
And who die with your name on their lips.
Draw them quickly to your side
Where they might know eternal peace.
 

AMEN

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

To be notified whenever I post new content by subscribing using the banner as you come onto the site.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love

Paula Rose Parish💕

🖤Want to help support me as an author?

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 & other losses.

 📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times.

Confusion is Part of the Learning Process

 John 16  New International Version 

 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” 

The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy 

16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” 

17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” 

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. 

25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” 

29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” 

31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. 

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

 

What About You? 

Are you familiar with the meaning of Jesus’ teachings? While smugness may attempt to claim that you fully grasp everything, Jesus points out that we all are likely be in a similar state of confusion as the disciples in our scripture passage. It’s OK, confusion is not necessarily an unfavourable position to be in. 

First and foremost, the disciple’s confusion demonstrates that they took Jesus seriously. A good thing to do is to admit you don’t know it all because it enables you to be open to learning.

I am a learner. I studied for my master’s degree in my late 50s and then began a PhD in my 60s. I also study the Bible under various Teachers of different Church traditions to glean an overview of interpretation.  

I know a secret; the more I learn about the Bible, the more I learn about myself. Take a look at 2 Timothy 3:16 ESV. 

‘All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. ‘

 The Disciples weren’t indifferent or apathetic. On the contrary, they genuinely cared about and desired to understand His teaching. They must have possessed some level of faith in Jesus. Otherwise, they would have disregarded him. But they didn’t. They actively listened, sought to understand, and engaged in discussions about his teachings. They hung around Jesus, asking Him questions and strove to understand the meanings behind His words. 

Confusion is a part of learning. Before we actually ‘get it,’ we need clarification as we struggle with meaning. Interestingly, Jesus doesn’t criticise their confusion. Instead, he errs towards the positive by recognising their efforts and acknowledging their faith. Even though the disciples are perplexed, Jesus continues to communicate using figurative language; he does not give up on them. 

 Instead of straightforward and clear explanations, the message is mystical because what he imparts is profound. The mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven are deep, as the book of Revelation points out to us- Revelation 2:29Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

Reflection. 

How can you cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of the mysteries of life and faith? Also, what steps can I take to humbly admit my confusion and seek the gift of faith from our Lord? 

Then some of his disciples asked us what he was saying to us?  

‘A little while, and you will not see me. And again, in a little while, you will see me. And for I am going to the Father, and they said, what is this that he is saying a little while? We need to understand what he is saying. John 16:17 to 18. 

This passage seems confusing to the disciples, who did not realise that Jesus would die, rise, and ascend to heaven.  

Read with Your Faith 

Because Jesus’ teachings are so vastly profound, and mystical, we cannot begin to comprehend them with our cerebral minds. To fully understand what is happening, we must first approach Jesus’ teachings through her faith. Faith only implies a partial understanding of some things. Instead, it is a supernatural gift that allows one to believe without foresight and comprehension. Faith is simply trusting without the need for explanation.  

Faith in God stems from God, not from one’s reasoning abilities. However, faith always leads to a deeper understanding, so as the disciples express their faith, they also come to understand. Ultimately, despite Jesus’ figurative language, the disciples believe anyway. 

John 16:30  New Living Translation 
Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.” 

The Remedy for Confusion 

If you find yourself confused about matters of faith, God, morality, or other mysteries of life, don’t be afraid to acknowledge your confusion. We all need clarification. It’s a part of being human, particularly a part of learning.  

Admitting confusion is a humble recognition of the truth, and this humility serves as a crucial step toward receiving the gift of faith.  

Today, take a moment to reflect on whether you struggle with indifference toward Jesus teaching or something else. Commit yourself to imitate the disciples who intentionally grappled with all that Jesus taught, no matter your struggles. Don’t hesitate to confess your confusion, lay it before the Lord, and ask for His help. Strive to receive the gift of faith and let that flicker of faith become the pathway to a deeper understanding of life’s mysteries. 

 Let’s Pray.  

Lord my God, you are so profound and unfathomable that no one can ever fully grasp the debt, breath, of you. 

My mysterious Lord you open the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven to us who believe. Open my mind to a deeper understanding of you so I may profess my faith in you and all you have chosen to reveal.  

I do believe. I believe, my God, Help me in my moments of confusion and doubt.  

Jesus, I trust in you- Amen. 

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

To be notified whenever I post new content by subscribing using the banner as you come onto the site.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love

Paula Rose Parish💕

🖤Want to help support me as an author?

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 & other losses.

 📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times

The Importance of the Ten Commandments

Psalm 23 Verse 3b-he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

I was living in Oklahoma, USA, when Dan, my husband and father of four children, announced he was leaving our family without warning.

After speaking to the children privately, I found out he slandered me to them, telling them it was my fault I was leaving.

To my dismay, he grabbed everything and crammed what he could into the family car. With panic and terror in my heart and voice, I cried out-you can’t leave us with no money! (he had exclusive access to our bank account). With a smile, he slowly reached into his pocket and drew out a single dollar. As he gave it to me, he said, don’t let anybody tell you that I never left you with any money and then disappeared into the night. I was devastated and suffered a breakdown.

That was in 1994; from then on, neither I nor the children have seen him again. Dan did not explain his reasoning for leaving; we were terrified, not knowing what the future would bring.

The letter that changed everything

  A year later, the week of my 40th birthday, the children and I lived in the UK. To my surprise, my youngest son, who was six then, received a letter from Dan, his father. The letter was bizarre, not at all one that should be written to a six-year-old. 

However, through this letter, we learned why he abandoned us. The letter stated that he left us to start a new life with another woman. This woman, he explained, was younger, prettier, and smarter than me and had no children to hold him back. He wrote that God told him to leave because the burden of his wife and children hindered him from God’s perfect will. To his absolute shame, he used God to justify his actions. The reality was, unbeknown to me that he had committed adultery for some time even though he professed to be led by God.

The truth is that our Shepherd- God, only leads us in the path of righteousness, not into paths of the unrighteousness of sin. My now ex-husband was on an unrighteous path leading to nowhere-land and blamed the children and me instead of taking culpability himself. He put the onus on God and us to avoid any responsibility. The story that God told him to leave was, of course, fabricated.

Dan did this so he could be free from blame and the judgement of others. Sadly, some people believed his lies for a time because he was so convincing, a typical narcissist personality. 

My husband’s behaviour has nothing to do with God’s love revealed to us in the Bible. However, such behaviour is typical of the influence of a false god of one’s own making. 

Dan created his own God with his own values to suit his lusts. This God was created by his selfishness, delusion, and sin. In the shock of our sudden loss, we grieved and felt the loss deeply; our lives were never the same again, nor was our relationship with each other .

Be Wise in What You Do

 Decision-making, when we are distressed is tricky. It is tempting to make unwise choices as Dan did without fully considering the consequences.

Be careful who you follow because we can be fooled into thinking that so-called well-meaning folk have our welfare at heart. Some scammers make offers we may interpret as an answer to prayer, but we must be alert and discerning. If the paths they offer do not lead to righteousness, they will lead us to sin.

Be watchful; if something does not benefit you, your family, your future, or anyone else, do not do it! One great rule is- if in doubt- don’t! If you smell something fishy, trash it immediately. When the red flags come up, notice them because God only leads us on the path of righteousness. Satan appears as an angel of light but is really our foe. Satan’s job is to cause us to detour onto the unrighteous path, bringing us to eventual destruction.

The opportunity you’ve been offered may look incredible, far too good to be missed; it appears as an angel of light. It may be an opportunity for a new relationship, more money, a new job or something illegal. Whatever it may be, we can be fooled into believing this is a good thing, eventually only to find it is nothing but ashes. The best person in the world can be tricked and fall for the promises of a persuasive individual. So what are we to do?

The paths that God has chosen for us are clearly marked out for us in God’s Word. No path of righteousness, for example, will ever pass through the field of extramarital sex.

No path of righteousness will ever travel over gluttony, adultery, slander, dishonesty, unloving behaviour, or engage with anything illegal. The righteous path will not lead us away from the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 20 NIV

The Ten Commandments

And God said these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt and the land of slavery.

1 “You shall have no other gods before me.

2. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath, or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

3. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

4. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labour and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

5. “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

6. “You shall not murder.

7.”You shall not commit adultery.

8. “You shall not steal.

9. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.

10 “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.”

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

To be notified whenever I post new content by subscribing using the banner as you come onto the site.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love

Paula Rose Parish💕

🖤Want to help support me as an author?

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to Recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 & other losses.

 📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times.

My Thoughts about the Coronation of the King and Queen

Here in the United Kingdom, we recently witnessed the Coronation of King Charles the Third and the crowing of Queen Camila.

I would have loved to go to London, join the crowds, and be part of the celebration. However, I had arranged to watch the Coronation on the big screen with friends at my local and attend a street party afterwards. But unfortunately, I could not do that because I have a knee operation coming up and need to be shielded to prevent catching COVID. Because if I get positive for COVID, the operation will be cancelled. I’ve been waiting for this operation since 2017, so I don’t want anything to go wrong this time.

So, instead, I had an early lunch with a glass of Champagne and watched the Coronation celebrated on my TV. And it was lovely because I watched it on television; I could see and experience things that I wouldn’t be able to if I were physically there. So, it worked out OK.

And then Sunday night, I enjoyed watching the Coronation concert, which was quite impressive. I marvelled at how all that incredible light display was achieved. Absolutely amazing what can be done these days; it is undoubtedly genius!

And as I watched the Coronation live on TV, my heart became overwhelmed and tearful at one stage. Confused, I said, ‘Lord, why am I feeling like this?’ Then the strong thought came to me that one day I’ll be at the marriage supper of the Lamb where I’ll see my Jesus Christ face to face. So Jesus Christ is crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords Forever and Ever.

What we experience about our Kings and Queens in this life is just a mere shadow of what we will be experiencing in eternity, when Jesus Christ redeems all things to himself and calls his bride to sit down at His supper and to celebrate the consummation of the Bride of Christ with the Bridegroom.

And then a Psalm came to me that was a cry from the heart of King David of Old. David wrote the Psalm. It said, my heart yearns for the courts of the Lord. David writes, ‘My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. You are my King and my God.

Psalm 84

For the director of music. According to Gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young– a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever praising you. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion. Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. SelahLook upon our shield, O God; look with favour on your anointed one. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

The King of My Life

During the Coronation service, there was an opportunity to pledge faithfulness and support to the Crown. I didn’t pledge allegiance to the Crown because I’ve already pledged allegiance to Jesus Christ, my Saviour, Lord, and King.

 Jesus is the King of my life. Jesus didn’t receive a jewelled crown as Charles 3rd did, but a terrible crown of thorns for the redeeming of our souls.

And no matter what mistakes I make or what hurts. I experience whatever achievements and joys I may achieve. And it’s all because of the guidance of my King and the King who reigns in me by the Holy Spirit. So when I became quite emotional about the Coronation, I realised that it reflected my heart on how I feel about King Jesus.

Nothing can compare in this life; nothing can ever replace what is prepared for those who love God through Jesus Christ.

The Coronation concert was spectacular. The singing in the Abbey was terrific, putting tingles up one’s spine. But the singing in heaven, well- It will be unimaginable. And the light display will be – unprecedented because Christ is the light who will shine throughout all eternity.

And in that place, there will be no more night, and there will be no sun. The sun will not be needed because Jesus will rule, reign, and emulate all the lights we need. 

Isaiah 60.19 

 ‘The sun will no longer be your light by day, nor will the moon’s brightness shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.’

Our unimaginable, absolutely amazing. The warmth of the glow of God’s Love and Grace and Mercy poured forth from the throne forever and ever- Amazing- can’t wait!!

 And it is there for any of us freely in faith through Jesus Christ and then living a life of service and love.

And that’s one thing that came through loud and strong at the Coronation of King Charles, and indeed Queen Camilla is the King’s prayer for God to enable him to serve, not to be served.

And Jesus calls us all. To serve and not to be served.

And sometimes, I do not get it right. 

Of course, I don’t, and you don’t either. We’re human beings, we fall, but then we pick ourselves up and have another go. If our motivation is correct, if our hearts are right, God can forgive the rest. We must live a life of honour, love and consecration to God, filled with repentance and forgiveness.

As the Nicene Creed points out – see below- we must not forget to honour our ancient church traditions that have been in place for 2000 years that are Apostolic and Catholic.

We honour God in all we do and say to the best of our ability, And love others the same way we love ourselves. 

Then we can kneel before Jesus our King. With no shame, but in love and adoration as we meet him face to face because He took our shame away upon that cross. 

Because of the blood of Jesus, who died upon the cross for you and me, we no longer live a life of shame but of love and victory over the power of sin and death. Because of Jesus, we can live a free and triumphant life – if we choose it!

 Jesus Christ lives, rules, and reigns in heaven and in our hearts as a king of Kings. And the Lord of Lords Glory to his name forever.

A Prayer for King Charles & Queen Camilla

O God, to whom every human power is subject, grant to your servant our sovereign Charles success in the exercise of his high office so that, always revering you and striving to please you, and may he may constantly secure and preserve for the people entrusted to his care, the freedom from civil peace and that your servant Charles, our King, who, by your providence, has received the governance of this realm, may continue to grow in every virtue, that, imbued with your heavenly grace, he may be preserved from all that is harmful and evil and, being blessed with your favour, may, with his consort and the royal family, come at last into your presence, through Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life and who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, forever and ever.

Amen

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful. Also, to be notified whenever I post new content by subscribing using the banner as you come onto the site.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love

Paula Rose Parish💕

🖤Want to help support me as an author?

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust; 

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How to Keep the Joy of The Lord

Joy is a Foretaste of Heaven

John 14:21-26 NKJV

He who has My commandments and keeps them; he loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us and not the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; the word you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.‘

When you go for a burger, you order the main thing. Then you may order ‘fries on the side’, and other extras may take your fancy. Burger places offer so many options it is often hard to choose.

Sometimes as believers, we think that joy is an optional extra. You may buy into the salvation by grace but think that the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ and joy being one of them, are extra somehow and will come later.

 This view is a distorted view of what salvation does for you. Like all the 5 fruits (Galatians 5), the fruit of joy is a by-product of your inner change and not an ‘extra thing. 

Joy Un-Speakable

Joy is not an optional extra but is evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Joy is not a side order but an essential ingredient of the main course.

During our most painful losses and sufferings, we discover just how deep the supply of Christian joy is. Such joy is not thin, frivolous, and empty but thick, substantive, and complete.

The joy of the Lord is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1: 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.

The joy of the Lord may be peculiar to those who don’t have it. But, for the believer in Christ, the joy of the Lord comes as naturally as grapes on a vine. So, as we abide in Christ, who the True Vine is full of His strength and vitality, the fruit we produce, including joy, is His doing John 15:5.

Keep Joy Alive in You

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Philippians 4:4-7 

Always be joyful in the Lord! I’ll repeat it: Be joyful! Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. Never worry about anything. But in every situation, let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.

You have the joy as a result of salvation- so allow it to grow, and nurture it to keep it alive. 

Acts 8: 34-39

In this passage, the Ethiopian Eunuch heard, understood and believed the gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ, so they wanted to be baptised and asked Philip to baptise him. However, when they came out of the water, the Holy Spirit caught Philip away, and he disappeared; even so, the Eunuch rejoiced. (39). This is the Joy of Salvation.

The Joy of Salvation: What Is It?

Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is an experience that brings deliverance, restoration, and preservation, and as a result, you are filled with joy.

It is a deliverance from the grip of Satan, a restoration from eternal shame and a U-turn from the pit of hell. Salvation and the joy of salvation are closely connected though separable. Joy is the natural fruit of salvation, which you open yourself up to, so you experience it. 

Joy is a foretaste of heaven (1 Pet. 1:8). Unfortunately, not many people have this joy, including those who attend Church services regularly.

This is because they don’t nurture the joy they have but neglect it and allow it to dry up. 

Spiritual dryness is one of the worst things to happen to a believer. Joy is the water that will bring your life. Joy results from infilling the Holy Spirit, the Living Water Revelation 21. 

Preserving Your Joy 

What steps can you take to be more open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

How can you ensure that you remember the lessons of faith that you have learned in the past?

John 14 verses 25 to 26. I have told you this while I am with you. The advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name. He will teach you everything and remind you of everything I told you. 

Sometimes we forget all that God has spoken to us. For example, we may have some clear experience of God’s presence in our lives, such as a powerful spiritual insight gained through prayer.

Hear His Voice

The deep conviction of his voice speaking through a sermon, the transforming freedom encountered through the sacrament of reconciliation, or some form of unmistakable clarity imparted through the reading of the Holy Scriptures. 

When God speaks to us, imparting his truth, strength, forgiveness, joy, and every other form of grace is yours. We are spiritually consoled as we are sent his closeness. However, moments of clarity can be easily lost when trouble comes our way.

Each time they encountered the power of God at work, they would have grown in their conviction that Jesus was the Messiah. The disciples would have had many instructive experiences during the three years of Jesus’ public ministry. They marvelled at the spiritual authority they encountered in his ministry as the son of God, the world’s saviour.

The Power of the Holy Spirit

The disciples heard sermons, witnessed countless miracles, looked at sinners who were set free, saw Jesus transfigured in glory and watched our Lord enter deeply into prayer with the Father. Yet, the same disciples would soon have their faith in Christ deeply shaken. As they looked on from a distance in fear, as Jesus was arrested, beaten and killed, they would start to forget all they had previously experienced. Fear can cause confusion; tier joy is gone.

When Jesus knew that his disciples would soon fall into the trap of confusion, Jesus spoke the words of love and comfort to his disciples. He promised them that the Holy Spirit would soon come upon them. The Holy Spirit would teach them everything and remind them all that he told them, and their joy would be complete.

How nice it would be if every lesson we learned from God remained front and centre of our lives. How nice it would be if we never allowed fear to confuse us and cause us to forget all that God has spoken to us in varied ways, just as. Jesus knew the disciples would need the help of the Holy Spirit to remember.

The Guidance of the Holy Spirit

Jesus knows that we need help from the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the word spoken to the disciples is also spoken to us. The advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of everything I told you.

What faith lessons have you learned in the past that you need to be reminded of? It is the role of the Holy Spirit to bring those lessons to mind whenever we need them. Therefore, as we move closer to the glorious celebration of Pentecost, it is an excellent time to pray to the Holy Spirit and ask for the gift of remembering the many ways God has revealed himself to us.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working perfect harmony with each other. But each has a distinct role in our lives. The Holy Spirit’s role is to lead us daily into fulfilling the Father’s will to perfectly conform to the person of Christ Jesus.

Reflect

Reflect today upon our Lord’s powerful promise to his disciples and us. Pray to the Holy Spirit. Open yourself to the Spirit’s ongoing direction in your life. And never allow fear to lead to confusion instead but leads to joy. Allow God to dispel all confusion and remind you of all he has spoken to you throughout your life.

Let Us Pray.

Most glorious Lord Jesus, you promised the disciples and all your people. The Holy Spirit would remind us of all you have revealed.

 Holy Spirit, please continuously empower me.

Teach me and guide me. Please help me never forget the many lessons I have been taught so that I will never let fear lead to confusion but maintain my joy.

Jesus, I trust in you.

Amen

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.To be notified whenever I post new content by subscribing using the banner as you come onto the site.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love

Paula Rose Parish💕

🖤Want to help support me as an author?

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to Recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 & other losses.

 📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times.

How to Overcome Betrayal and Sin.

JOHN14.1-12

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am, you may also be. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas told him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip told him, “Lord, show us the Father; it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus told him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and more excellent works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Have You Been Betrayed?

Have you been betrayed? If you’ve lived on this planet for a significant amount of time, the chances are that you would have been betrayed by a friend, an acquaintance or somebody close to you. I have been betrayed many times by various people and a few times by the same people. Betrayal leaves you in total shock when you discover the truth about it. And it can affect you physically; for me, it was like a physical feeling of a knife entering my heart.

Betrayal is one of the worst things somebody can do to another person, and it has consequences, not only for the person being betrayed but for the betrayer, as we see in today’s story.

The Betrayal

Jesus told his disciples, ‘Do not let your heart be troubled. You have faith in God, her faith also in me. In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places there; if there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? John 14 verses 1-2. ‘ 

These consoling and encouraging words were spoken by Jesus to the Apostles at the last supper. Immediately after the supper, Judah’s left to betray Jesus. Jesus turned to Peter in the presence of the others and told him that he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed- New Living Translation.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

By now, the disciples must have been discouraged. 

So, likewise, Peter must have been discouraged from being accused of a future betrayal.

What a fantastic supper they enjoyed, full of hope and promise, then at the end, it became shrouded by discouragement, doubt and fear. The Apostle’s bubble burst when Judas walked out, and then Peter was singled out by Jesus as a betrayer. Imagine the heartbreak for Jesus that two of his beloved disciples turned away from him in different ways. The repercussions varied; Judas would hang himself with overwhelming guilt, and Peter, repenting and receiving God’s forgiveness, would become the first Pope- who can know the mind of God?

In the upper room, Jesus sensed his follower’s despair and possibly feared in their hearts, so Jesus, who loved them all, said, ‘Do not let your heart be troubled.’

 Peter was told that he would soon betray Jesus, and when he did, Peter wept bitterly. Weeping can be a sign of repentance because as he wept, he realised the gravity of his actions. Thinking about it, I wonder if he recalled Jesus’ words -‘ do not let your heart be troubled.’

We Can be Tempted

 Being tempted to engage in sin can be discouraging, but that is a good sign. Because if we are not affected by our sins, it shows we lack genuine love for God. And if we give into those temptations and fail to experience sorrow, this is even worse. So to truly repent, we must sincerely apologise for our sins.

However, discouragement over our sins cannot remain. It must turn into its opposite, the virtue of hope. Hope will result from seeing only when we hear. And understand Jesus’ promises. Jesus not only tells the disciples not to be troubled, but he also tells them why. Jesus promises them he will prepare a place for them in heaven. And will come to take them to that place in his Father’s house, despite their failings.

 Do You Get Discouraged by Your Sin?

By believing in what Jesus said, Peter and the other Apostles will be able to dispel the initial discouragement they feel over their failings and turn back to God with the anticipation of heaven. So Peter overcame his sin and later became Pope – but Judas allowed his sin to overcome him. 

Do you get discouraged by your sin? If you do, begin by calling to mind any sin you regularly struggle with. Habitual sin, especially, will lead to sorrow, repentance and hope. The problem is that all discouragement ends in despair and the abandonment of virtue. 

Like Saint Peter, we must strive to weep bitterly over our sins. However, we must not let our sins and temptation lead us toward despair, like Judas, instead like Peter, motivate us to seek forgiveness and regain hope, courage and determination.

Jesus Forgives Sin

Jesus was betrayed by those closest to him, and yet he forgave.  To regain hope, courage, and determination will only be possible if we always hear Jesus tell us, do not let your heart be troubled. Instead, we must sense his compassion and tenderness and allow that love to fill us with confidence. 

We will one day overcome all sin and be welcomed into the Father’s house. 

Reflection

Do you allow your sins, temptations, and the testing of this life to discourage you from Jesus’ promises of redemption and eternal hope? Do you allow your sins and the temptation to drive you to despair, or do you use them as a motivation to regain hope? Finally, do you find the courage and determination to trust in Jesus’ promise of redemption and eternal life? 

Reflect today upon any sin with which you regularly struggle. As you do, consider whether your discouragement leads to despair or hope. Hope does not come from your ability to overcome sin on your own. It comes from the compassion of our Lord and his promise to redeem you. That is good if you have a troubled heart; it is the starting point for hope. So, may Jesus lift your troubled heart and point your eyes to heaven.

Let us pray.

Most compassionate Lord, though I am a sinner, you speak to me with tenderness and call me to repent and seek forgiveness so I will always have hope in heaven. 

Please give me a feeling of true and holy sorrow for my sins, and help me to always turn back to you. So that you will one day lead me to the fullness of the Father’s house.

 Jesus, I Trust in You. 

Amen.

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

To be notified whenever I post new content by subscribing using the banner as you come onto the site.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love

Paula Rose Parish💕

🖤Want to help support me as an author?

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 & other losses.

 📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times.

Let Not Your Heart be Troubled!

John 14. 1-6

What steps can you take to overcome the fear & anxieties that keep your away from a deeper relationship with God?  

Jesus told His disciples, ‘ Don’t let your heart be troubled; you have faith in God, so have faith in me also’. 

Chapters 14-17 in John’s Gospel present to us what is known as the Last Supper Discourses, also known as the  Final Discourses.  

These discourses are a series of homilies our Lord gave to the disciples the night he was arrested, full of symbolic imagery. 

Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit, the advocate, the vine and branches and concludes with Jesus’ High priestly prayer.  

In these homilies, Jesus addressed coming persecutions and troubles, so he exhorted them to not let their hearts be troubled; in other words- don’t allow themselves to be fearful. 

When Jesus said, ‘Let not your heart be troubled’, and looking a little closer, we find that it is not a request but a gentle command. Our Lord knew his disciples would soon see him arrested, falsely accused, mocked, beaten, and finally killed. Jesus knew to witness all would stress his followers becoming overwhelmed by fear that they too may suffer such treatment. The disciples’ vision and hope of a better world through Jesus would come crashing down in disillusionment.  

The Many Faces of Fear 

Fear can come to us from many different sources. Some fear can be helpful to us and protects us from harm. However, there is another fear that is just plain unhelpful or highly destructive to us.  

The fear that Jesus pointed out if the disciples succumbed to it would cause them to make irrational decisions, confusion,  hopelessness and despair. 

 Jesus loved his followers and wanted them to succeed in spreading the Good News, and fear would cause them to withdraw from their calling and mission. Therefore he commands them not to be fearful.  

What causes you to fear at times?  

Many people struggle with anxiety, worry and fear for many different reasons. If you struggle with this, allowing Jesus’ words to resonate within your mind and soul is vital.  

Trusting in Jesus is the Cure for Fear 

The best way to overcome fear is to deal with it at its source. Hear Jesus say to you,  listen to his command, ‘Let not your heart be troubled’. ‘ You have faith in God and also have faith in me’. When we have faith, we put ourselves under God’s control. We hear his voice clearly, which settles our hearts and calms our fears.  

It is God’s truth that comforts us and helps us to overcome the difficulties we are facing. Fear can lead us to irrational thinking.  Irrational thinking can lead us deeper into confusion. Confusion will lead us to fear. It’s a never-ending cycle of destruction designed to rob and destroy our faith in Christ. 

Reflection

Reflect today about what causes you to worry, fear and be anxious and deal with it at its core. Allow Jesus to call you to faith in Him through the scriptures and holy sacraments. When you have faith in God, you’ll be amazed at what difficult things you can endure. The disciples eventually endure their crosses.  

Allow Jesus to speak to your heart so you can endure and overcome whatever is troubling your heart today. 

 

Let’s Pray

 My loving shepherd, you know all things. Give me the courage to face every temptation and trial so I may not fear but have complete confidence in you. Bring clarity to my mind and peace to my troubled heart. I love you Lord….

Jesus, I trust in you. Amen  

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful. 

To be notified whenever I post new content by subscribing using the banner as you come onto the site.  

  Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post! 

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love 

Paula Rose Parish💕 

🖤Want to help support me as an author? 

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;  

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to Recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 & other losses. 

 📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times.  

What Is True Greatness?

John 13:12-20 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition  

12 When he had washed their feet, taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another’s feet.   

For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[a] is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.   

I am not speaking of you all; I know whom I have chosen; it is that the scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 

  I tell you this now, before it takes place, that you may believe that I am he when it does take place. But, honestly, truly, I say to you, he who receives anyone I send receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.”  

How can you actively cultivate a spirit of humility in your daily life?  

What fears do you need to overcome to serve as Jesus did? 

Are You Blessed?  

The Thursday before Good Friday, Jesus spent His final evening of freedom with his disciples. Jesus said you are blessed if you understand and do what He taught.  

So what did Jesus teach? Jesus shows his teaching through His actions by taking the role of an enslaved person and washing the disciple’s feet. His action is louder than words. The disciples were humbled by this act, and Peter initially refused it. 

Jesus lowered himself in this humble act of service and made a powerful impression upon His disciples. 

Our cultural view of greatness differs from Jesus washing the disciple’s feet. In our world today, to be great is to elevate oneself. Striving for recognition or approval by praising and boasting about one’s self to others seems to be an accepted way to be ‘someone’ in the eyes of others. People are impressed with this rhetoric and deem the person ‘great’. 

But this worldly, superficial greatness is a far cry from True Greatness. 

Often worldly greatness can be driven by fear of not being accepted or a fear of others’ opinions of you, and maybe a desire to be honoured and adored by all.  

True Greatness  

Jesus made it clear that true greatness happens when we serve the good of others from the depth and sincerity of our hearts. We must put others before ourselves and humble our will to the Father. In serving others, we are showing them the love and kindness of God with deep respect.  

Humility can be difficult for us to understand. This is why Jesus demonstrated to us what being humble should look like. Jesus realised that His disciples, as well as all of us, do struggle to understand what true humility really is.  

By washing the disciple’s feet, Jesus showed the natural way to Godly greatness that will last and find rewards for all eternity. 

Jesus invites us to live by His example, Jesus invites us to humble ourselves before his mighty hand, and he will lift us up on that great day- James 4.10 

Humility and Blessing 

According to our story today, living a humble life will bring us great blessings. You will not be blessed in the eyes of the world, but you indeed will be blessed in the eyes of God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

When we overcome our fears by purifying ourselves of the desire for honour and prestige, God’s desires become ours, and in serving and blessing others, we serve God. Seek to eliminate every selfish desire you struggle with. I have found that this is a daily struggle, but we are victors nonetheless. Understand the gift of humility and live it; only then will you be truly blessed. 

Reflection 

Reflect today upon this humble act of the Son of God lowering himself before those he led and taught the mysteries of the kingdom. He enslaved himself to serve. He denied himself for the blessing of others. Try to imagine yourself doing this for others.  

In this coming week, How can you bless others?  

Let’s Pray

My humble lord, you set a simple yet profound example for us. Please help me to understand this beautiful virtue and to live it each day. Free me from selfishness and fear so I may love freely, and you love us all. 

Jesus, I trust in you- Amen. 

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  Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post! 

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love 

Paula Rose Parish💕 

🖤Want to help support me as an author? 

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;  

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to Recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 and other losses. 

 📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times.  

Are You Hearing God’s Voice?

HOW CAN I DEEPEN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND LEARN HOW TO LISTEN TO HIS LANGUAGE IN PRAYER? 

 JOHN 10.22-30 

Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[ no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

Why is it that these people didn’t know that Jesus was the Christ? 

They wanted Jesus to speak plainly so they could understand and surprise them by telling them that he already answered their question.  

This gospel continues the teaching that Jesus is the good shepherd. Interestingly, these people want Jesus to speak clearly about whether or not he is Christ. He answered them, yet they did not believe. They did not believe for the simple fact that they were not listening. They completely missed what he said,  

One thing that this story teaches us is that God speaks to us in how own way. His way is not ours and is not always how we want Him to speak to us.

Through the mouthpiece of Jesus, God speaks the mystical, profound, gentle and often hidden language. He only reveals His most profound mystery to those with an ear to what the spirit is saying… Revelation 

But for those who do not have an ear- in other words, honest seeking and genuine heart-felt interest, God’s words can be confusing and difficult to understand. 

If you find yourself confused in life or about the plan God has for you, then maybe it is time to examine how carefully you listen to God’s words. Of course, we could beg God day and night to ‘speak plainly’ to us, but How will he only speak in the way he has always spoken. So, how does He speak? What is the language?? 

On the deepest level, it’s the language of love-infused faithful Prayer.  

This kind of Prayer, of course, is a lot different than just ‘saying’ prayers.  

Infused Prayer

Infused Prayer is different from just ‘saying’ prayers. Infused Prayer is born from a loving relationship with God the Father through Christ. To develop such a relationship, it takes commitment, time and effort on your part. Father is ready to meet you- are you ready to meet Him? 

A prayer is an act of God within our soul by which God invites us to love, believe and follow Him.  

This invitation is continually offered to us, but far too often, we fail to hear it because we fail to connect with God in Prayer. 

Hear with Your Soul

Much of John’s gospel mystically speaks to us. Therefore, it is only possible to fully comprehend what Jesus is saying to us at a glance or a quick read. No, we must diligently propose to learn and understand, which means we must commit to studying the Bible in its context.  

Jesus’ teaching must be ‘heard’ in your soul, touching the deepest part of your humanity. This approach will open the ears of your heart to the freedom from doubt to the voice of God. 

Reflect

Reflect today upon the mysterious ways in which God speaks to you. That is a good starting point if you need help understanding how He speaks. 

Spend time in the gospel, prayerfully pondering it. Meditate upon the words of Jesus, listening for His voice as you read the Gospels.

f reading is a problem for you, you can download audio Bibles cheaply off the internet. Being a dyslexic, I use my audio Bible often and find it a great help to me to learn Jesus’ words. Learn His language through silent Prayer and allow Jesus’s holy word to draw you to Himself. 

Let’s Pray

My Lord and God, you speak to me day and night and continually reveal your love. Help me learn to listen to you so I may grow deep in faith and genuinely become your follower in every way.  

Jesus, I trust in you- Amen.  

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful. 

Please subscribe using the banner as you come onto the site. Also, please follow this blog, and you’ll find a button on the bottom right and leave a comment with any questions or prayer requests. 

  Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post! 

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love 

Paula Rose Parish💕 

🖤Want to help support me as an author? 

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;  

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to Recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 & other losses. 

 📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times.  

Your Body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit – Look after it!

Defining Wellness

There are a variety of reasons that not all of us are healthy. However, good health is a good goal for us to go for. We may be struggling with a disability, frailty of years, an injury or something else. However, we can endeavour to care for and nourish ourselves through it all.

It’s a daily effort to ensure we stay healthy through nutrition, lowering stress levels, and many other ways. The Bible tells us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so we are responsible for looking after ourselves to the best of our knowledge. I enjoy increasing my knowledge and perpetually learning how my mind, body, and soul works and how best to nourish them.

To understand the significance of wellness, it’s important to understand how it’s linked to health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as..

“being a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to holistic health.

 Wellness is an individual pursuit—we have self-responsibility for our choices, behaviours, and lifestyles—but it is also significantly influenced by our physical, social, and cultural environments. Wellness is a series of positive daily choices to live your life to the fullest! 

I want to support you in making the right daily choices for your wellness. I do this through coaching, counselling, speaking publicly, and writing.

Wellness is a modern word with ancient roots. The fundamental tenets of wellness as preventive and holistic can be traced back to ancient civilizations from India, China, Greece, and Rome. 

Various intellectual, religious, and medical movements developed as conventional medicine developed. However, focusing on holistic and natural approaches, self-healing and preventive care, these movements have provided a firm foundation for wellness practices.

The idea of wellness is broadly defined, but each has several similar components. I am interested in wellness for your soul as well. Faith in Christ will aid the wellness of your mind and body, which should not be overlooked.

To be able to maintain wellness, it is something that you desire and choose to pursue. It’s a choice you make in life that requires constant effort to achieve.

While associated with a healthy lifestyle, wellness goes beyond the confines of general health. It encompasses a positive outlook on your mind, body, and soul and is something we often have more control over than health.

Wellness has various dimensions and can be viewed as a quality, state, or process.

At face value, the idea of wellness may appear complex- but it need not be.

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this short post was helpful. 

Please subscribe using the banner as you come onto the site. Also, please follow this blog, and you’ll find a button on the bottom right and leave a comment with any questions or prayer requests. 

  

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post! 

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love 

Paula Rose Parish💕 

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful.

To be notified whenever I post new content by subscribing using the banner as you come onto the site.

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love

Paula Rose Parish💕

🖤Want to help support me as an author?

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to Recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 & other losses.

 📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times.

Who Do You Follow?

Psalm 23 —–John 10. 1-10    Acts 2:14 a & 36-41

Who do you Follow? Do you follow someone on social media? What about a famous celebrity? Maybe you follow one of your peers or someone close to you?

I share with you in this article below following the One who leads and guides us through life IF we allow Him to. That person’s name is Jesus Christ, who is the Good Shepherd. If you want to know more— read on.

What does it mean to know the voice of the shepherd? 

 And how can faithfulness to the one true Church, which is Catholic and apostolic, make a difference in your life? How can we navigate the competing voices we encounter in our lives?

The people of Jesus’ time would have easily understood this story. It was common practice for shepherds to talk to their sheep throughout the day so the sheep could become familiar with the shepherd’s voice as he led them through various grazing pastures.

At night several shepherds would bring their sheep together within secured gates for safety. IN the morning, each shepherd would then call his sheep- they would hear his voice and follow him. The sheep knew his shepherd’s voice and distinguished it from the others.

The first question to ask ourselves is, ‘Do I know the shepherd’s voice’?

Have I become so familiar with my shepherd’s voice that I can clearly distinguish it from all the others?

Try to imagine several shepherds calling their sheep at once. Would you know which one was your shepherd?

The question remains, is there only one voice we follow, and is it the voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour? God come to earth in a man to be like us so we can be like Him. God in Christ invites us to follow- how do we respond?

Do you know His voice? Or do you need clarification with the many voices in our world today? Do you need clarification with the many impulses, desires and attractions that flood our living rooms daily through the media and internet? 

What about the voices of well-meaning People?

The voices of family, friends and others often compete for our attention and draw us away from following Jesus in a pure and holy way.

There is only one voice to hear and obey—

Jesus continued his teaching, saying, He is not only the Shepherds whose voice is known by the sheep, but He is also the GATE. ‘I am the Gate; whoever enters through me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture’.

What does our Lord mean when he calls himself the Gate?

As the Gate, Jesus is the Word of God revealed to us through the Holy Scriptures. Fidelity to the Word of God is one of the surest ways to a life of grace. He is the Word of Truth as it is handed down from the ancient Church Fathers- the authority of the Church. Fidelity to the authentic teaching of the Church fathers SHOULD speak in union with all Church leaders-

 I wonder if many Church leaders even consider the traditions of the Church fathers. The writings and teachings of the Church fathers help us to navigate the many errors of our age. Jesus is made present with us through the Holy Sacraments, which are the door to His grace and the entryway to the food for our spiritual lives.

Any time the Lord comes to us through the preaching of the Word, the witness and preaching of the saints and the life of prayer through the Church or in any other way, er enter the Gate and are admitted to his sheepfold. He then leads us to green pastures, and we find rest.

Jesus is the Gate, not only for the sheep but for each of the shepherds who lead the sheep in Jesus’ name. |These are the Pastores of the Church who have been entrusted with the mission of Chris to lead God’s people.

Today, if a shepherd of the Church fails to preach Jesus Christ and him Crucified and resurrected, then that shepherd only comes to steal and spiritually slaughter the sheep- destroying the sheepfold. 

Pastors of the Church must listen very carefully to these words so that they never fail to shepherd God’s people by leading them through eh Gate- Which is Christ Himself. They must all be faithful to the traditions of the Church- which St Paul admonishes in —– and not deviate from the pure deposit of faith.

They are not true shepherds if they preach their private gospel or are negligent or misleading in their preaching. Therefore, God’s true sheep will not recognise them. But if they are faithful to all that Jesu taught, they will lead the sheep with the heart of the Good Shepherd.

Reflect today- upon the image of Christ the Good Shepherd, calling us in various ways. First, we must learn his voice through being in the scriptures and praying in faith. Then once w hear His voice, we will more easily discover Him ministering to us, inspiring us, and calling us into a life of grace and mercy.

Let’s pray- 

Good Shepherd, you speak to me continuously, revealing your presence and guidance. May I become so familiar with your heavenly voice that I will always recognise it? Lead me to yourself, the glorious Gate to the life of grace, and transform me into a faithful and obedient sheep. 

Jesus, my Good Shepherd, I Trust in You.

Amen 

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful. 

Please subscribe using the banner as you come onto the site. Also, please follow this blog, and you’ll find a button on the bottom right and leave a comment with any questions or prayer requests. 

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post! 

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love 

Paula Rose Parish💕 

🖤Want to help support me as an author?

 ✔BOOKS BY PAULA available at AMAZON in the UK, USA, Aust;

📚Nothing Good about Grief: Path to Recovery with Psalm 23 after COVID-19 & other losses.

 📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in difficult times.

  

We Rise as Easter People

As a Pastor/Minister, working with different denominations is not always easy because they are different.

There are different ways of working, rules and regulations, and ways of thinking. However, one common thing across all three denominations that came across loud and clear was to get back to basics, worship Jesus Christ from our heart, and know why we are doing it. Once a pagan festival celebrating fertility, Easter is now exclusively a celebrating God in the flesh freeing us from the dark bondages of this world,

Sometimes we can go along merrily in our Christian life, thinking and doing the same old things we’ve always done, not understanding why we think or do them.

Once in a while, it’s good to allow the Word of God to challenge us, causing us to reflect upon our own spirituality.

We are now coming out of the season of Lent, which has given us space to reflect upon our faith. Lent has given us space to be challenged, helping us face what we believe, don’t, and why.

We are approaching Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter/ Resurrection Sunday. Between Palm Sunday and Easter, Saturday is a holy week to reflect upon such questions again. By the time we all get to Easter Sunday, we see the revealing of the answer to what life is all about.

Easter is not all about Easter eggs; it’s time we hear Jesus saying to us, ‘what do you believe?’

Why do you believe the things you do? Do you believe in me being God in the flesh? So Jesus challenged people by asking them, ‘who do you say I am?

In modern terms, I guess it’s about being honest with ourselves and God. On Good Friday, we reflect upon the cross coming face-to-face with the ugliness of sin and what it means to be saved by grace. We reflect upon how Christ took upon our sinful nature and nailed it to the cross and laid it in a tomb, and left it there.

Finally, on Easter Sunday, we rejoice because Christ has risen and is victorious over the power of sin and death. Jesus didn’t do this for himself but for you, me, and the whole world.

I invite you to use the Holy Week to reflect upon the last part of Christ’s journey to the cross and your relationship to that journey.

We rise as Easter people in the light of God, free from sin, assured that our relationship with the Father God is solid and sure.

So the next time you look at an Easter egg, think about the new life that an egg produces; new life for you is the Easter story.

I hope you all will be a very happy Easter, and may God richly bless you.

God Loves YOU!

The important thing is that God loves you so much and sent his Holy Spirit to help you through each day. When we consciously rely on the Spirit’s help, God strengthens and holds us. One thing is for sure I cannot do without the Holy Spirit’s workings in my life.

I refer to Romans chapter 15: 13 which reads.. ‘the God of hope will fill you with all joy and peace in believing, and that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. ‘

The power of the Holy Spirit manifests in three ways.

One – the outward and visible display of power.

Two – the inward and spiritual manifestation of power.

Third – the Holy Spirit’s work and power in the future.

I pray the Lord will speak to your heart of his love during Lent.

A LENT PRAYER

Lord God, you who breathed the spirit of life within me. Draw out of me the light and life you created. Help me to find my way back to you. Help me to use my life to reflect your glory and to serve others as your son Jesus did. AMEN

Please read the gifts in Isaiah 11:2-3 –here

Wisdom: Also, the gift of wisdom, we see God at work in our lives and the world. For the wise person, the wonders of nature, historical events, and the ups and downs of our lives take on a deeper meaning. The matters of judgment about the truth and being able to see the whole image of God. We see God as our Father and other people with dignity. Lastly, being able to see God in everyone and everything everywhere.

Understanding: The gift of understanding, helps us to comprehend how we need to live as a follower of Christ. A person with understanding is not confused by all the conflicting messages in our culture about the right way to live. The gift of understanding perfects a person’s speculative reason in the apprehension of truth. It is the gift whereby self-evident principles are known.

Counsel (Right Judgment): With the gift of counsel/correct judgment, we know the difference between right and wrong and choose to do what is right. A person with the proper judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught by Jesus. The gift of truth allows the person to respond prudently and be happy to believe in our Christ the Lord.

Fortitude (Courage): With the gift of fortitude/courage, we overcome our fear and are willing to take risks as a follower of Jesus Christ. A courageous person is willing to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or even physical harm and death. The gift of courage allows people the firmness of mind required both in doing good and enduring evil, just like Joan of Arc did.

Knowledge: With the gift of knowledge, we understand the meaning of God for us each day. The gift of knowledge is more than an accumulation of facts. It knows God himself and his will.

Piety (Reverence): With the gift of reverence, sometimes called piety, we deeply respect God and the church. A person with reverence recognizes a total reliance on God and comes before God with humility, trust, and love. Piety is the gift given at the Holy Spirit’s instigation. We pay worship and duty to God as our Father.

Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe): With the gift of fear of the Lord, we are aware of the glory and majesty of God. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and perfect love. This gift is described by Aquinas as a fear of separating oneself from God. He describes the gift as a “filial fear,” like a child’s fear of offending his father, rather than a “servile fear,” a fear of punishment.

Also known as knowing God is all-powerful. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7) because it puts our mindset in its correct location concerning God: we are finite, dependent creatures, and He is the infinite, all-powerful Creator.

The important thing is that God loves you so much that he not only provides your salvation through Christ, but provides gifts for you to live a happy and meaningful life.

Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful. 

Please subscribe using the banner as you come onto the site. Also, please follow this blog, and you’ll find a button on the lower bottom right and leave a comment with any questions or prayer requests. 

  

Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post! 

Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love 

Paula Rose Parish💕