August 28, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“You are not alone and you never will be. God is with you every step of the way. Where the path leads. He is lighting lamps to guide you.
And if you ever do feel for a second that He is not right there beside you, it is only because He has gone ahead for a moment or two to build a bridge that will keep you safe from harm and that will lead you on toward the light shining through.”- Alin Austin
God is with us each step of the way. It is amazing that our God is with us…no matter what we go through.
during these difficult times remember God is always with us

August 27, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“ May every day of your life bring you fresh hopes for tomorrow – because hope gives all of us our reason for trying. May each new day bring a feeling of excitement, joy and a wonderful sense of expectation. Expect the best, and you’ll get it. May you find peace in simple things, because those are the ones that will always be there.
May you remember the good times and forget the sorrow and pain, for the good times will remind you of how special your life has been. May you always feel secure and loved and know you are the best. May you experience all the good things in life – the happiness of realizing your dreams, the joy of feeling worthwhile, and the satisfaction of knowing you’ve succeeded. May you find warmth in others, expressions of love and kindness, smiles that encourage you, and friends who are loyal and honest. May you realize the importance of patience and accept others for what they are. With understanding and love, you’ll find the good in every heart. May you have faith in others and the ability to be vulnerable. Open your heart and really share the miracle of love and intimacy. Above all, may you always have positive thoughts.” – Regina Hill
Some days it is very easy to be positive but there are other days when it just doesn’t seem possible.
That’s when we need to really reach out to Jesus and ask for his grace to get us through whatever trial we are going through.
Again, it is much easier said than done.?

August 26, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today continues from Fresh Bread:
“ Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them ‘Peace be with you.’ John 20:19

Jesus, you stand before me.
I feel it in my heart.
I sense you saying to me:
Peace be with you,
 in your pressing days.
amid your fragmentation.
within your loneliness.
with your concern of others.
among those you care for.
around your many questions.
peace, peace be with you,
for I am here. I am with you.
I offer you peace, my peace.
believe in me and my offer.
I will take you far beyond
all the fears, all the worries.
I will sink your spirit in calm,
In quiet, in truth, in me.
rest in me. rest in me.
peace be with you.” – Joyce Rupp

With all the struggles that are going on in our lives and in our world, the only one that can bring total peace is our God.
The word peace is used 429 times in the Bible.
I guess God is trying to tell us some thing.
Now let us ask Jesus to bring peace into our lives and into our hearts.
May the peace of Christ remain in our hearts and in our homes.?

August 24, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today continues from Fresh Bread:

“ We will learn how to deal with our fears if we allow ourselves to believe more totally in God’s power working in us and through us. We have the example of Jesus to encourage us in this belief:
‘ You have known him not as a weakling, but as a power among you. Yes, but he was crucified through weakness, and still he lives now through the power of God. So then, we are weak, as he was, but we shall live with him, through the power of God…’ (2 Cor. 13:3-4)
Jesus did not give into his fears. He knew the father was living in him, was doing the work, and that by himself he could do nothing(John 5:30;14:10).”  – Joyce Rupp
Again, we are challenged to believe that God is present even in our worst fears.
It is always easier to tell someone else but more difficult to take it into our hearts.
We can believe it in our head but we need to let it sink deep into our hearts.
Like Thomas said, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.

August 23, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today continues from Fresh Bread:
“God will not always take away our difficult situations because they are often a natural part of our earthly life, but we do know that this loving presence will always hold onto us, support us and strengthen us. We have this promise constantly in the Scriptures. All we need to do is reach out in faith and trust. We will lessen our worry only if we believe more completely that God’s fidelity and love will support and comfort us no matter what painful, difficult or fearful situations come to us.” – Joyce Rupp
This was written 25 years ago and it is still fitting today.
The challenge is that we believe that God’s fidelity and love will support us during our difficult times.
We may not always feel God‘s presence but I believe that God is always present with us.

August 22, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today continues from Fresh Bread:
“ After we recognize our fears, we must then see them in the light of God‘s love. Many people in Scripture who met God or who were called on to do something with their gifts express their fear of doing so. They often protested their call because of these fears. They doubted that God could care that much for them, or they doubted their own ability to accept God‘s great love for them. Abraham feared the unknown land before him; Moses was scared that he would not say the right things; Samuel was afraid that Eli wouldn’t believe him; Jacob awoke alarmed from his meeting with God; Zachary was overcome with fear when his prayer was heard; Mary feared the angels greeting; the shepherds were alarmed when the glory of God shown around them; Joseph grew afraid of what God spoke to him in his dreams; Peter and his companions were frightened when their catch a fish was so great. Time and again the word of the Lord came to people who were fearful: ‘Do not be afraid.  Have no fear. I am with you. I am your strength. I will support you. You have no need to be afraid.’” –  Joyce Rupp

Isn’t it amazing how understanding our God is for each one of us….All throughout history people were afraid and God was there through it all. And so it is with our lives, in spite of our fears, God still walks with us and says, “Do not be afraid for I am with you.”?

August 20, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection continues from Fresh Bread:
“We have many fears – fears of the unknown, of our limitations, of failure, of pain, of growing old or of dying. Some people fear not being loved or being unlovable. All are sources of the constant worry that surfaces in our days.
It is important to recognize our fears and not to ignore them. When we recognize them we can begin to deal with them. We can look our fears in the eye and know they do not control us. We do not need to give into the worrying voices within us. The more we deal with our hidden fears the freer we will be to live in peace and to share our gifts.” – Joyce Rupp
I find these words very helpful but as they say easier said than done.
Some days it is easy to put our worries aside and trust God …other days it is tough. …especially with all the unknowns today about Covid.
Let us remember one another in prayer!

August 19, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection continues from Fresh Bread:
“Another major cause of worry is being afraid of the consequences of our ‘what if’s’ and ‘maybes’. Fear can paralyze us just like a stroke can paralyze the body. I remember visiting a woman in her mid-50s in a rehabilitation center. I was appalled and saddened to see what a stroke did to a once alert and independent person. It took so much effort for her to reach a stiff, thin arm up to wipe the tears clinging to the corner of her eye. It took all her energy to try to pronounce just one word. I stood by her side, trying to interpret her slurred whispers and I wept for her and that terrible frustration and powerlessness. I thought of how tragic and alone she was in her paralysis, yearning to communicate but unable to do so.
Like physical paralysis, interior paralysis can be just as traumatic and painful. Sometimes we are unable to act or are immobilized in energizing our lives because we have given in to deep fears. They keep us from being free, from having peace in our hearts. They hold us back from joy and from giving our best selves to others. Fears box us in, hold others out, and most of all keep us from knowing the beautiful, tender and good within us.” – Joyce Rupp
What struck me today was that fear keeps us from knowing the beautiful, tender and good within us.
Fear stops us from receiving the power and love from God.

August 18, 2020

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today is from Fresh Bread:
“ A good question to ask is ‘ Why do I worry?’ and ‘What do I worry about?’ The many reasons why we give in to this chronic disorder of the spirit include:
-A lack of belief in how much God deeply and personally cares for us.
-A persistent attitude that says we can do it all by ourselves, without God’s power at work in us. This is a response to life which emphasizes. ‘I’ll manage it by myself’ instead of a gospel response of ‘Let what you have said be done to me’ (Luke 1:38)
-A difficulty in accepting the reality that not all of life will be positive, that life bears the marks and smudges of our own and others’ human weaknesses, a Pollyanna approach which insists that life must always be fair, comfortable and serene.
-A poor memory which often or quickly forgets that growth can happen through both success and failure.” – Joyce Rupp
I find Joyce’s words challenging yet so needed especially during this pandemic.
I don’t know about you, but I find it is so much easier to find God in our lives when everything is going well.
It is harder to find God when we are anxious or worried about things.
Let us ask God to give us the grace to put our cares and concerns in the palm of God‘s hand.