The Baptism Of Repentance For The Remission Of Sins

ST. LUKE 3:2-18
...The word of God came unto John (the baptist) the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptised of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bring not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked him, saying, what shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

ST. LUKE 4:17-19
...And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias (Elijah). And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is the scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Almighty God, our great creator and loving Father, you provide us the truth to prepare our hearts, minds and souls for the baptism of repentance and remission of sins. You commanded Abraham to set Isaac, his beloved son, upon the alter for a sacrifice to demonstrated how you would later give unto us, your earthly children, the life of your beloved Son, Lord Christ; the greatest sacrifice of all. And you continue to teach us and prepare us, that all generation know the truth and the way.

It is Lord Christ who heals us, delivers us from evil, gives us strength and sets us straight upon the path of righteousness and grace. Praise you Father, for your love is immeasurable. Praise you Lord Christ, for you are greatest in Earth and Heaven. Praise you Holy Spirit, for your good works never fail God or Lord Christ. I pray that all with goodness in their heart repent and turn from sin, that they be cleansed and made whole; in the name and Spirit of Lord Christ, for God's glory. Amen

Be Not Afraid, Only Believe

ST. MATTHEW 16:24-28
Then Jesus said unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and loses his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Although I am blessed indeed and loved beyond measure, I am not without vulnerability. Satan knows the weakness of my flesh, and solicits/tempts according to which is most distracting/luring away from our Lord, Father and Holy Spirit. I dare not trust myself, lest I fail; rather believe in our Lord Christ, who serves as our great defender, having conquered evil behind and before us. Praise Lord Christ! Praise Father! Praise Holy Spirit! I pray for others to look not unto themselves for your wisdom, strength and glory. Amen

ST. MARK 5:25-34
And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace...

Unto our Father, Lord Christ and Holy Spirit I pray that others Be not afraid, only believe (ST. MARK 5:36). Thank you Father. Thank you Lord Christ. Thank you Holy Spirit. Praise Father! Praise Lord Christ! Praise Holy Spirit! I love you Father. I love you Lord Christ. I love you Holy Spirit. Forevermore! Amen

Truly Blessed Are Those Who Have Been Healed

ST. MATTHEW 12:43-45
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

ST. MATTHEW 13:15-16
...For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Oh great Lord Christ, I love you openly and wholly. I praise you for your patience, wisdom, grace, righteousness, strength, comfort and LOVE. You are greatest above all men; you are our mighty King. I thank you for all that you have accomplished on my behalf, and on behalf of all God's good creation. There is still much goodness mixed among our corrupt/corruption, and you continue to LOVE and guide us.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your LOVE; your LOVE is immeasurable. Thank you for sending your beloved son to be our Savior and King. It is he, our Lord Christ, who brings you eternal glory and joy. I love you Father forevermore. I praise you most excellent God above!

Holy Spirit, I praise you for filling my life with God's LOVE and goodness. Your awesome works are God's command; from which you are obedient, righteous and pure. I thank you for being the best part within me, where LOVE and goodness unwaveringly reside. I love you Holy Spirit.

We Are Judged By Our Deeds

ST. MATTHEW 12:30-37
And Jesus said... He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That ever idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

I thank you Lord Christ for being with me every moment, for you speak the truth and you are the guiding light. You've healed my corrupt heart, mind and soul, and I now have favor in our Father's sight. Yet, I need you more and more, for I grow weary of the corruption all around me. I dare not trust in any man but you Oh great Lord. I pray that I remain obedient and loving toward you forevermore; that you remain with me and I with you. Praise you Lord Christ, our mighty Savior and King! Amen