“A Conference of Faith, Hope, and Healing”

This year’s annual Mid-South Regional Catholic Charismatic Conference is scheduled for July 20-21, 2012 at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church, 601 Bell Rd., Antioch, TN 37013. It is going to be an exciting time for us as we look to the future; a future of hope for us and for the Renewal.

The man said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Then Jesus put his hands on Him again and the man’s sight was completely restored. Mark 8:28

How often do we live our life, observing the world with faulty or altered eye-sight, making of this vision a guiding principle in moving forward? Maybe this distorting tendency may be the after-effects of a falsehood or bogus criticism we were urged to accept as a truth.

Not me? Sounds absurd? Perhaps– yet many of us walk through life perception-challenged, a variety of contorted vision, which forces us to focus on the negativity in our lives; pain, fear, sadness and every lack or loss imaginable. However, in so doing we fail to realize that in patronizing this culture of discontent and depravation we allow ourselves to be shackled. This entrapment sequesters our Christian freedom, preventing us from going forward.

The evangelical account of the Divine encounter of the man born blind imparts an important lesson and message centered on overcoming any uncertainty or hesitancy to beg Jesus for help in finding light through the fog. Just as He restored sight and authenticity to the man’s contorted vision, He will give you clarity in all things.  The time had come. It was not only the man’s season to receive the gift of sight, but the right moment for all who needed to be witnesses to the miracle to be present: the disciples.

Are you willing to settle for a fudged or misconstrued vision of reality? Then why procrastinate in asking for your miracle? Be ready to look to Jesus. Be prepared to ask Him to assemble all who need to be where they have to be, so your miracle can have not only life, but witness too.

O, how much I am hurt by a soul’s distrust! Such a soul professes that I am Holy and Just, but does not believe that I am Mercy and does not trust in my goodness. Even the devils glorify My justice but do not believe in my Goodness.

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Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.

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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

1 Peter 3:4

Every new assignment has a birthing, and in giving birth, labor pains are suffered. Today on this great feast of the Mercy of God, the power of the love of God is set in motion.  In a new springtime of growing deeper and transforming life patterns, we are asked to cast off the shame associated with our past. Why?—Because it is not the intention of God to look back and fill us with shame. Instead, He calls us to come forward, to walk into His Love.

Divine Mercy Sunday is one of the great feasts celebrating pardon and renewal. But to receive it we must trust in the goodness of the Lord as Saint Faustina did. Let us heed His call to discard the old, embrace the new and move forward.

How can we accomplish this? We can start by altering our lifestyle, by making healthy spiritual commitments to amend our ways. The Lord has died! The Lord has resurrected. Mankind has been redeemed. We have been saved by the blood of the Lamb of God. Now it’s time to live a purified existence, drenching ourselves in Jesus’ Mercy.  Although we have been forgiven we often stumble back into doubt, questioning our Savior. Be wary– this is not of God!  This is “the accuser” scheming to coerce us away from God’s destiny for us. Even though more often than not we grow weary and impatient for the plan of God to unfold, we must not question the Mercy of God, but accept His Will as the further purification of the selfish desires governing our appetites.

It is through the “new hope” and through an unwavering trust in God’s Mercy that we will find the strength to embrace His Plan for us. His Design for our life comes with the grace and power to fulfill the Destiny.

The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Luke 1:48

One of the most challenging prayer-related tasks is to encourage people to transition from petition prayer to one of gratefulness and gratitude, especially when it seems as if requests have fallen on deaf ears or there is just not much reason for thanks. Let us look to Mary for inspiration. Her song of praise while preparing for the mission to be the Mother of the Messiah is enlivening. Instead of questioning or lamenting, she rejoices. How would we react to a life-defining mission?  In the depths of our pain, do we pray in faith and in anticipation of the Lords favor, or do we pay rent to a consuming misery, pushing us further into doubt and fear? It is rather easy to grumble away from God’s favor and into the realm of uncertainty and mistrust. However, we have our Mother Mary, guardian and role model who shows us how to rejoice in faith even in the midst of our darkest days. Lovingly she teaches us to exult and delight in the great things her Son has in store for us. Are you ready to praise the Lord just like Mary? Are you willing to step into the fire of the Immaculate Heart of our Eternal Life Coach in the name of Jesus?

For more information, please read the Workshop Schedule flier or the Transportation and Fees Information Sheet.

Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in Him.
Sirach 2:6

In today’s mainstream culture of fear, trust is a major issue. Consequently, the operative mode is operation mistrust, i.e., anticipating the worst, preparing for the end, and implanting spores of doubt into peoples’ minds. However, always vigilant, God summons His army of believers, asking them to trust in His name. His wish is for mankind to up-root the grains of doubt, and inseminate instead with the seeds of faith, He intends to nurture to greatness. Moreover, the Lord encourages us to pray for the expansion and fortification of our faith. It is time to rebuke the lie. It is time to defend and let prosper our faith in the One who suffered agonies and died to free us from the ravages of sin. It is time to walk in the triumphant power of the Precious Blood shed in payment for our freedom. It is time to demystify the deceit, stand in faith and pray for doors of opportunity to come unhinged.  In accepting the invitation to cross the threshold of every open door, the buds of belief, trust and conviction will grow permitting you to witness the conversion of your life into a transmitter of faith in the name of Jesus.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

How are you dressed today? Many of us prioritize wardrobe selections for professional meetings, weddings, job interviews and social activities. In exaggerating, we squander vital energy stressing ourselves over the rather unsubstantial aspects of life, while neglecting our responsibilities as stewards of the gifts, and talents imparted to us in the Breath of God. We drag ourselves kicking and screaming into the world of pain, misery and depression, refuting unconsciously or otherwise the much desired life taking form in our dreams. When we allow the world to define us, we empower others to dress us as they see fit in lieu of how the Lord wishes us clothed. He knows who we are and how we should be attired for our special missions. Let us not be cast as characters in the world’s nightmare. Don’t you deserve better? Were you not born for victory, bred of the Precious Blood splattered on the cross to redeem us from the label of Satan’s victims? It doesn’t sound very enlightening –does it?  Well this is the day to dress in the garment God has chosen for you; the apparel of joy in the Lord, a most appropriate selection to celebrate the day He has given you. Be ready—The Lord will inquire how you plan to utilize your stewardship of His gifts today to advance the name of Jesus.

“I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matt 17:20

One of the most challenging goals to undertake is the actual walk in faith, especially when focused on reclaiming land from the enemy, we are moving into new territory.   Difficult? Perhaps!  Impossible? Certainly Not! If we are willing to modify our mind-set, the initial step to a lifestyle shift, we can succeed. After all it is precisely this culture of change, that which will move us to seek the grace of God in all things. In this new found zeal for the Lord, we will more often than not feel compelled to increase our prayers; a strategy we believe will help us gain the Lord’s attention albeit we know He is fully aware of “the desires of our heart” reported in Ps 37. Nonetheless, it is necessary to re-focus on the greater call for unconditional trust in the Lord.  Often this translates to editing the focal point of our prayer when addressing God for increased faith to fit the challenge—the mission He designed for us.  The question is: Are you ready today to make a commitment to move it out, thus allowing the Lord to amplify your faith to effectively undertake the magnitude of the mission He has planned for you? Now is the time to move it out in faith.