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Post by Normandt on Dec 10, 2020 21:07:58 GMT
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Post by Normandt on Dec 11, 2020 11:47:46 GMT
174. Walking In the book of Isaiah we read: “The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.” Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 1 God calls all people, without exception, to a unique vocation and mission. Yet not all people respond to the invitation. Many people don’t know it or ignore it or worse yet, refuse to believe it and slow themselves down. Yet it’s when we’re on the move that we discover the potential of faith that we receive from God. We are called to a vocation and a mission from our conception. However, we have the freedom to answer yes or no: “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 6 Jesus is the Light of the nations and we need his Light to enlighten our faith and to understand the mission. Let’s ask him his Light constantly to live well the mission in which he wishes to send us. Let’s walk with the Light of Christ, walk with Christ, walk for Christ, live in Christ and in his Light every day, so that the mission has meaning and fits in God’s will. Not my will, but your will, Jesus. It is you, Jesus, who makes us capable of such a beautiful, exciting and wonderful mission. Book: The Fruit that lasts Normand Thomas
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Post by Normandt on Dec 11, 2020 21:28:33 GMT
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Post by Normandt on Dec 12, 2020 11:46:05 GMT
175. The danger It must have been so difficult for the people who know Jesus to recognize him in his new mission. Jesus changed according to their eyes. From one day to the next, Jesus is on a mission and he must be very different before them. He says and he does what others can’t do. They perceive here and there fragments of what Jesus realizes and it’s difficult to place the few pieces of the puzzle in a frame, especially when there are many missing pieces. In addition, they may receive conflicting messages of what they hear about Jesus. Even today, the ambient message about Jesus, in general, in the world, is sometimes discordant. But it’s sometimes easy to trust the fears, rather than what Jesus tells us and realizes. The people from his home, watching him go, came to seize him because they said: “He is out of his mind.” Mark, chapter 3, verse 21 They want to protect their idea of Jesus. They can’t imagine for a moment that Jesus entered another stage of his life. It’s a bit like that when a person causes problems in an environment. If people don’t check the foundation of a person’s mission, fear may be taking hold of some people and it may further harm the mission, instead of helping to build a more just, better world, merciful and true. If we begin, in the immediate future, a mission in the name of Jesus, there is a good chance that our surroundings will find us different. It’s also possible that some people won’t recognize who we are, since we’re experiencing a transformation by following Jesus. It is a sign that we’re moving forward and a testimony of our faith to them. Let’s give them some time to join us and understand, in faith. Let’s pray that they will also discover Jesus in their hearts. Let’s give them time to adjust to this novelty. It’s then necessary to meet with other people who have faith in Jesus, to truly enter the mission that allows us to live and achieve goodness. Let’s listen, discern, then encourage and help those who evangelize honestly in the name of Christ, with Christ. Book: The Fruit that lasts Normand Thomas
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Post by Normandt on Dec 12, 2020 22:50:02 GMT
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Post by Normandt on Dec 13, 2020 11:16:46 GMT
176. The judgment Paul is right: “The kindness of God would lead you to repentance.” Romans, chapter 2, verse 4 … To conversion. By and large, Paul invites us to patience, and to receive from people their kindness and generosity. We discover God’s goodness in them. The goodness of God overcomes reluctance and attracts to conversion. The call that God sends us is related to his kindness. He also talks to us about this: “By the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things.” Romans, chapter 2, verse 1 It must be said that we tend to mix judgment about others with what is a constructive judgment. Judging others about whom they are at first sight, without really knowing them, is a judgment. But, to observe the actions of another person in order to help, even if we have the same difficulty as this person, can still help. We must not wait to be perfect to evangelize and help others. Otherwise, nothing would be possible for the world. Book: The Fruit that lasts Normand Thomas
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Post by Normandt on Dec 14, 2020 15:21:22 GMT
177. Your perfect! And this phrase said by some people sometimes blocks us: “Ah, and you, you are perfect!” In fact, the person may not want our help. We still can pray for him. Let’s face it, nobody’s perfect. It would be a shame not to be able to help the people considering that we’re also imperfect. Where would charity unfold in such circumstances? It would be like telling a doctor who has cancer that because of that he cannot heal us. We would tell him to heal himself before thinking of healing us. Yet, helping helps to improve who we are. We help each other to help each other, and so on. Jesus seems to be leading the idea further, when he says to the pharisees: “You pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.” Luke, chapter 11, verse 42 That’s the basis. A testimony must encourage good deeds. And Jesus brings us back to reality, respectfully. In fact, we’re not perfect, and it’s clear that our actions and words are not always the best. What Paul wants us to understand, mostly, is that we cannot evangelize if we’re not connected with Jesus. Jesus abounds here, in the same sense. We are invited to deeply convert if we want to evangelize others, but let’s not wait to be perfect. It would be illusory, in spite of our difficulties, not to evangelize when we have received so much, received all from the Lord. Let’s trust and evangelize, according to our resources and abilities, according to the openness of our heart. May we remember that it isn’t we who evangelize, but Jesus through us. By improving our life of faith with Jesus, we’re on the move. By helping others to improve their lives of faith, we will come closer to Jesus together. Let’s destroy our illusions and let God Love us, and through us, let him Love others. Book: The Fruit that lasts Normand Thomas
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Post by Normandt on Dec 14, 2020 22:10:12 GMT
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Post by Normandt on Dec 15, 2020 12:09:24 GMT
178. All we achieve All that we say, all that we achieve will be to lead us and draw people to salvation in the Lord’s life. Let’s read a few times what Peter says in this little text and we will have a synthesis of the purpose of our faith: “That the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter, chapter 1, verses 7 to 9 All that we say, all that we realize will be to lead us and lead people to salvation in the kingdom of God. As soon as we direct our life to make it pleasing to God, we also help our neighbour to discover the purpose of life. We walk on the path of holiness. This passage from Peter is revealing: “As you attain the goal of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls”. The salvation of souls is the goal of our faith. It is the will of God and “genuineness of our faith”. As soon as a few people come together in the name of Jesus Christ, there will be other people interested in discovering the reality of their faith, and in doing so fulfilling the Lord’s mission. Book: The Fruit that lasts Normand Thomas
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Post by Normandt on Dec 16, 2020 2:08:04 GMT
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Post by Normandt on Dec 16, 2020 12:16:12 GMT
179. Going beyond The Church is on the move. We are in the world and we’re invited to share what we have received from Jesus. We already carry everything in our heart. We will pass on what we receive in abundance. Jesus, through us, will come to listen, to watch, to console, to heal people of the great lack of missing out on Love. Going beyond our capabilities doesn’t require greater effort. It requires above all living in faith, to let Jesus by and to be conscientious to what others are going through. In reality, we don’t need to go beyond our capacities. We discover what is essential in us, what God has placed. It creates balance. We don’t need more. We already have what’s necessary. As a guitar player retreats alone to practice his pieces of music, before making them available to the public, we’ll retreat in a favorable environment and pay attention, in a place of prayer, hear and discover what lives in us, of what God gives us, bound to his Love. Then, as the musician, we will be able to join others and create a harmony of talents that we have received, practiced and developed. We’ll go to places where people recognize our style, our music, what is natural and what is of God for us and for them. Book: Up! Let's go! Normand Thomas
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Post by Normandt on Dec 16, 2020 21:28:53 GMT
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Post by Normandt on Dec 17, 2020 11:25:03 GMT
180. Welcome Jesus The basis of evangelization begins with this: “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” Matthew, chapter 10, verse 40 It would be interesting to ask ourselves these questions: “Who is the person who seems interested in knowing Jesus, but doesn’t seem to dare move forward?” “Who welcomes our faith in Jesus? “Who shows signs of faith by their words, by their gestures?” “In whom do we welcome Jesus?” We need to create a dialogue of faith with someone close to us. Logically, in the world, there are many people who seek meaning in their lives, who wish to see more values spread, who are thirsty for a good word, who struggle for the lack of the presence of believing and convinced people. These people may welcome us already. But did we suggest they discover the richness in their heart, which is of God, by telling them of the talents he wants to reveal in them? It may be the glass of water we can offer: “Whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple - amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” Matthew, chapter 10, verse 42 In the smallest daily gestures, with words of encouragement, simple words that Jesus himself would say in the current context, we can reach the people around us. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to prepare the hearts of the people we visit. May the Holy Spirit come to meet us and put a balm of Love on these people and especially in their hearts. Let's take the opportunity to make the same request for us. Book: Up! Let's go! Normand Thomas
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Post by Normandt on Dec 17, 2020 20:50:10 GMT
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Post by Normandt on Dec 18, 2020 12:04:09 GMT
181. Charity Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, invites us to charity. To evangelize today, let's develop charity towards people. Here is one of his famous passages: “If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. Love is patient, love is kind (...) rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians, chapter 13, verses 1, 4 and 6 to 7 Anchored in Jesus’ Heart, we’re on the move (mission) and we’re joyful militants (evangelization) so that the world finds what is still current in biblical values; free the captives, feed the hungry, visit the lonely, evangelize people far from Church, from God. Book: Up! Let's go! Normand Thomas
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