FAITHFUL AND TRUE

       We have gotten to the letter E in our book of Titles for Jesus by Fr. Mike Scanlan. I was reading a book on Things Jesus Did and it was parallel to this book. I wish I had more time to write my blog but my day is filled with great stuff witnessing for Him and right now working on The Trinity Times, a newsletter that is being revived at my church, Most Holy Trinity. I will share progress we are making in that area later.

 

          ETERNAL LIFE: Scripture 1 John 5:20 This is the true God and eternal life. Key Thought: Our relationships with others can enhance our life, but only one, Jesus Christ is eternal life. My Thought: Something that is temporary disappears in a second. I have a friend who smokes often in my presence and I try to avoid the smell yet it clings to my clothes and hair. I have smelled the sweetness of Our Lord and Our Lady when I have been in prayer or often when I am taking hosts from the Tabernacle at St, Mary's Hospital Chapel to bring to the patients. Difficult to explain. Do you wonder what the flowers in Heaven will be like? 

 

          FAITHFUL AND TRUE:  Scripture: Revelations 19:11 I saw the Heavens opened, and I beheld a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. Key Thought: In our lives we deal constantly with our failure to be faithful to our commitments. We wrestle with our compromises, our exaggerations, and our misleadings. Jesus, however, was totaly faithful to the Father and absolutely filled with truth in all He said and did. My Thought: May I be totally faithful to my spiritual life that occupies my time 24/7.

 

             FAITHFUL WITNESS: Scripture: Revelations 1:4-5  Grace to you and peace from Him Who IS and Who WAS and Who IS to come, and from the seven spirits before His Throne, and from Jesus Christ, Who IS the faithful witness.  Key Thought: Jesus gave witness to Who God is and to God's plan for our salvation. He is absolutely faithful in what He witnesses and He is totally trustworthy. We can stake our lives on these truths. My Thought: You can bet I was the one who put so many caps on all those words that mean Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They rule my life!!

ETERNAL LIFE

        We are at the letter E of Fr. Scanlan's book on Titles of Jesus. I love the word eternal because it means we will have the Trinity with us forever.

 

ETERNAL LIFE: Scripture: 1 John 5:20  This is the true God and eternal life. Key Thought: Our  relationships with others can enhance our life, but only one, Jesus Christ, is eternal life for us. My Thought: Eternal means Their love will never end no matter how many times we mess up. We are forgiven.

 

FAITHFUL AND TRUE: Scripture: Revelations 19:11 I saw the heavens opened and, I beheld a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. Key Thought: In our lives we deal constantly with our failure to our commitments. We wrestle with our compromises, our exagerations, and our misleadings. Jesus, however, was totally faithful to the Father and absolutely filled with truth in all He said or did. My Thought: Fr. Jim Hobert at Sacred Heart Church did a wonderful bible study on Revelations. He made me picture all the visions in the book. I can still see that image of Jesus sitting on that white horse.

 

FAITHFUL WITNESS: Scripture: Revelations 1:4-5 Grace to you and peace from Him Who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne, and from Jesus Christ , who is the faithful witness.  Key Thought: Jesus gave witness to who God is and to God's plan for our salvation. He is absolutely faithful in what He witnesses and He is totally trustworthy. My Thought: Who can I witness to today who needs a spiritual revival in her/his life?

DAYSTAR

      Still pulling names from Fr. Scanlan's book Titles of Jesus.

 

       DAYSTAR: Scripture: 2 Peter 1:19 We have the prophetic word made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the daystar rises in your hearts.  Key Thought: Matthew 2:2 tells us that the magi saw "His star in the East and have come to worship Him." The star of Jesus led them to our guiding star to lead us as children of the light.  My Thought: In the last house I had, my bed was situated so the morning sun came up and I watched many a sunrise. Our Lord and I had glorious conversations there. Several of them are in  my book Small White Hearts.

 

      DELIVERER: Scripture: Romans 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved as it is written: "The Deliverer will come from Zion. He will banish godlessness from Jacob."  Key Thought: We were in bondage to sin having no merit of our own. Jesus delivered us from this bondage.  My Thought: A deliverer comes to our rescue, he saves us and redeems us. We are then liberated and can more easily surrender. Jesus is our salvation.

 

     EMMANUEL: Scripture: Matthew 1:23 The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Emmanuel, a name which means God is with us.  Key Thought: Our security should not depend on our having money, job, reputation or influential friends, but rather on having God with us. He who is with God triumphs and lives forever in God's glory.  My Thought: I have seen that shekinah glory many times when I get into really deep prayer. It is powerful. Ask for it.

CHIEF SHEPHERD

More titles of Our Beautiful Lord!!!

     CHIEF CORNERSTONE: Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-21 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone. Key Thought: Christians are not to be drifters following this or that person in this or that place. We are part of God's family, God's household, which is firmly placed and rooted in Christ Jesus as the cornerstone upon which everything is built. My Thought: A beautiful song by the title of I Lay in Zion a Foundation of Stone is running through my head. Catchy lyrics.

       CHIEF SHEPHERD: Scripture: 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of Glory. Key Thought: Many are called to pastor and shepherd God's people but above all is the Chief Shepherd who guides the pastors in their care for His people. My Thought: I love the many pastors who have guided me and prodded me along in my journey of faith. Who are yours? Which one stands out most? Where is he now?

        CHRIST: Scripture: John 1:41 Andrew first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah," which means the Christ. Key Thought: Christ means "the anointed one". Andrew concludes that Jesus is the anointed one of God, anointed to save the people. He boldly announces this good news of discovery. My Thought: At prayer meetings we use blessed oil to anoint people when praying over them. This is not a sacramental oil but people feel strong healing waves go over them as we pray.



 

BREAD OF LIFE

        This is a continuation of the last blog on the Titles of Jesus, a book written by Fr. Mike Scanlan. He is a priest who has spoken at many conferences that I have attended. His talks are always Holy Spirit filled.

 

         BLESSED AND ONLY RULER: Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:14-16 I charge you to keep this commandment unstained and blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in His own time. God, the blessed and only ruler, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords alone is immortal and lives in unapproachable light, Jesus, whom no one has seen or can see. To Him be honor and might forever. Amen  Key Thought: Jesus has been given all authority. He is, over all the rulers of the earth, blessed by God's authority. He can come and take full dominion at any time. My Thought: When we were studying Genesis, the sacrifice Abraham had to make was a lamb pure, unblemished, holy, perfect like our Lamb Jesus.

 

        BREAD OF LIFE: Scripture: John 6:35 Then Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life." Key Thought: If we are to be spiritually alive, we are to be nourished by Jesus and His Word. My Thought: If this was written in my book, I would have capitalized all those words and the AM because He is the one and only.

 

          CAPTAIN OF SALVATION: Scripture: Hebrews 2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God for whom and through whom everything exists, to perfect through suffering the captain of their salvation. Key Thought: Jesus not only won salvation for us but is the captain of all who follow as His disciples. He has led the way and continues to intercede at the right hand of the Father for all His followers. My Thought: Who did I bring a word of salvation to this week? Who needed to hear the Word?

 

         When I went to the hospital last Saturday to volunteer as Eucharistic Minister, a man was sitting in the chapel near the Tabernacle. I put my hosts into my pyx then asked him if he would like to receive Communion. He said yes and we said an Our Father. Then I gave him Communion. When I finished my rounds, he was still sitting in the chapel and I acknowledged his presence. We had mass after that but the man did not stay for it. When I left the hospital, he was sitting outside so I started a conversation with him. He wanted to get a cup of coffee in the cafeteria. I gave him a free coupon that was given to me for volunteering. I also gave him $3.00 to get something to eat. I asked his name and he said Jose. Of course, I knew that was his name because Our Lord always puts me in connection with someone by that name so I can pray for my favorite priest, Fr. Joe. I told him I have many relatives by the name Jose. He told me I was very kind to him. Just doing what Jesus asks us to do!!! My blessing as well as his and His! 

        

AUTHOR OF LIFE

       Last blog, I was talking about a book by Fr. Mike Scanlan called Titles of Jesus. Here is a  continuation of a few more. The name is given then the scripture verse then a key thought followed by my thoughts.

 

        AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH: Scripture Hebrews 12:2  Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith Who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Key Thought: We would never be Christians with Christian faith but for Jesus Who first lived as the Father calls us to live. He showed us how to start and how to finish our life with God. My Thought: I mentioned in my book Small White Hearts, page 131, how I often feel Jesus holding my left hand - often during the Our Father during mass - and someone else holding my right hand.

 

         AUTHOR OF LIFE: Scripture Acts 3:15 You killed the Author of Life but God raised Him from the dead. To this we are witnesses. Key Thought: An author brings something into existence. Jesus, as Author of Life, brings into existence for us eternal life with God. He frees us from the sentence of death and offers us life. My Thought: Did I as an author bring Jesus as a living being to my readers inside their hearts?

 

          THE BEGINNING AND THE END (The Alpha and the Omega/The First and the Last): Scripture Revelations 22:13 I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Key Thought: All good begins and ends with Jesus. "In the beginning was the Word" (John 1:1). The final action in the history of the world will be Jesus handing the Kingdom over to the Father. In the history of our personal lives, salvation begins with Jesus and ends with our standing before Him Who is our judge. My Thought: Fr. Joe Rodrigues in a retreat he gave in Globe, Arizona, said that the word history means His Story, how true. 

TITLES OF JESUS

      David, our music minister at Monday night Prayer Group often asks us to call out what our favorite names of Our Lord is. Mine are Wonderful and Counselor. I found a super book about the names of Our Lord Jesus by Fr. Mike Scanlan, from the Franciscan University at Steubenville. Father has fifty-two names, of which my favorites are not included because he is using the New Testament only. In the next few blogs, I'll cover some of them alphabetically as Fr. Mike does.
 

       ADVOCATE: Scripture 1John 2:1 If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One. Key Thought: Jesus takes our case, represents us before the Father, pays the price for our redemption from sin, and intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. My Thought: The Holy Spirit is an Advocate also.

       the AMEN: Scripture Revelations 3:14 These things say the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Key Thought: Jesus was the Amen, the yes to the Father's plan. He willingly became man, suffered and died on the Cross because that was the Father's will for Him. My Thought:  I am a better person because I understand what the Cross means to me.

     APOSTLE OF OUR PROFESSION: Scripture Hebrews 3:1 Therefore holy brethren who share in the heavenly calling, consider Jesus the High Priest and Apostle of our Profession. Key Thought: Jesus first gave His life as the Son of His Father, professing His faith, trusting all things from the Father's hands. He showed us the way and earned us the power and right to profess our faith as He did. My Thought: May I always say yes to His requests.