Let not the wise boast of their wisdom...

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)

23 This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom

    or the strong boast of their strength

    or the rich boast of their riches,

24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:

    that they have the understanding to know me,

that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,

    justice and righteousness on earth,

    for in these I delight,”

declares the Lord.

Obeying Christ!

2 Corinthians 10:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 We demolish arguments

 and 

every pretension 

that sets itself up

 against the knowledge of God,

 and 

we take captive

 every thought

 to make it obedient to Christ.

Dear friends, I hope that you are having a lovely day. It's very hot here in Civray (Vienne) as the forecast announced it. We've just had lunch and about to go for a walk at our friends'house to water their garden while they are away in Portugal. 

You may wonder why I have highlighted this verse in 2 Corinthians 10:5. Though I've had to check where it belonged, I keep my 'sanity' thanks to that verse. In effect, among the thousands thoughts that invade our conscious mind every day, quite a few are annoying and we must not dwell on them for fear or being dragged to the bottom of a pit. This verse gives us authority to counteract the plan of the evil one so we can stay on the narrow path and listen to the Holy Spirt without being either distracted or dejected. Does it happen to you sometimes? We must be ready to 'analyse' 'every thought' and decide it they are contrary to the will of God and get rid of them with the help of the Holy Spirit who is by our side! All glory to our Lord who cares for us and whose love is unfathomable! 

No other name...

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men in which we must be saved.

 Acts 4: 12

17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Romans 5:17

Franciscan prayer of discomfort

May God bless you with discomfort at eay answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless  you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed  for those who suffer with rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference  in the world so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
And the blessing of God who creates, redeems and sanctified be upon you and and all you love and pray for, this day and for ever.
In the name of Jesus Amen!