“… the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

God has known each of us before the beginning of time, he helped to form us in our mother’s womb, he has been with us since the moment we began to crawl, walk, and run, through each bump and bruise, challenge and victory, and continues to be with us now.

God invites us to continue to walk with him. As we continue to open our hearts and minds to him he continues to work in and through us, to transform, forgive, heal, and empower us. His love is so amazing and is the most transformative power ever or ever will be known or experienced not only in this life but ongoing into the next. His breath can bring those places we thought dead in ourselves to life, his care and tenderness can melt our sorrow and pain, the Holy Spirit can pierce our darkness with his light, and Jesus makes his love known to us in concrete and simple ways.

We can see how God is indeed at work within us when we make time each day to be grateful. Looking back over the past twenty-four hours, reviewing where he has been with us, helped us, and make the effort thank him for each moment. As we call to mind each the wonderful ways God is with us, we will feel more of his peace, joy, and love.

Also, during times of desolation, when we all may feel a bit down, does not mean God has left us and it does not necessarily mean we have done anything wrong. As we open our heart and mind to God, the enemy is not happy and will attempt to pick at our weaknesses and insecurities and twist them against us. In these times, we just need to stand our ground and place our hope and trust and Jesus, continue to turn to him no matter what we are facing, no matter how strong the winds and waves are in our life, stay firm in our practices of prayer, turning to his word, and not only will God bring about a greater good, we will grow and mature in our trust, we will be lifted above all of the lies that the father of lies throws at us, and we will be stronger and grow in our ability to discern distinction between the voice of evil, our voice, and God’s voice.

Today is the day that the Lord has made for each and every one of us. We are invited to breathe, rest, receive and abide in the assurance of his love! His word is working in us, loving us, transforming, and leading us to experience the fullness of who he has created us to be. No power is strong enough to pull and separate us from his infinite and loving embrace. No matter what arises, God is stronger than the forces of nature and any trial or tribulation we are going or will ever go through.

Let us keep the people in the Gulf Coast from Tampa to Tallahassee, Florida in our prayers as they recover from Hurricane Idalia.

God’s word continues to work in and through us as we grow in our trust, faith, and belief. What God has begun in us he will bring to completion!

Photo: After Mass at St. Mark Catholic Church in Venice Beach, CA with my daughter, Christy, on August 13, 2023. God has been doing a lot in both of our lives over this past year!

Link for the Mass readings for today, Wednesday, August 29, 2023