Heavenly Jesus, as we begin the disipline of Lent, open up
our hearts, souls, and minds, to really do this Lent, what
would best draw us into a real relationship with You.
Jesus, help us to see that You love us with a love that
can't really be understood.
Yet Lord, You want us to let go, and let You be the real
Lord of our lives.
Let us also see that You are constantly willing to forgive
us, and make us alive with life.
Let us not understand, but rather just trust You, that You
have a plan for our lives that will work out as You want it to.
Jesus, help us to love all in our lives, and help us to be
truly Christed to all around us.
Let us be light to the world and let us draw others to You
through our love and help to others.
Let us do Lent in peace and joy of heart. Amen and Amen.
Thank you Lord, for loving us totally.
________________________________________________
For more on the teachings of Father Al Lauer see the home
page of Presentation Ministries? Please take a look.
http://presentationministries.com/home/home.asp
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One Bread, One Body
This weeks readings and reflections
Sunday A TEST DRIVE
http://presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp?d=3/1/2009
"The Spirit sent Him out toward the desert." —Mark 1:12
The Greek word translated as "sent" in Mark 1:12 is "ekballo,"
a word which means to cast out or throw out. The word has a
connotation of violent compulsion; the same Greek word is
used in John 2:15 to describe Jesus' act of driving the sheep
and oxen out of the temple area. It's not easy to imagine the
Holy Spirit driving Jesus into the desert to be tested.
However, look at the interaction between Jesus and the Holy
Spirit which occurred just prior to this. The Holy Spirit had
been sent from the Father to descend on Jesus like a dove.
The Father told Jesus that He was His beloved, favored
Son (Mk 1:11). Before the Spirit threw Jesus out into the
desert, He rested on Jesus and assured Him of the Father's
special love.
If the Holy Spirit, Who is Lord (2 Cor 3:17-18), can drive
Jesus into the desert to battle Satan, He will certainly drive
us into battle, for we are disciples of Jesus. During the heat
of the spiritual battles, temptations, and testing of Lent, we
must always remember that first the Holy Spirit is poured
out in our hearts so we will know God's love (Rm 5:5) and
be confirmed in it (2 Cor 1:21-22).
If Jesus goes into the Lenten desert, so do we. We follow
in His steps (Lk 9:23) toward every test God has for us.
"No test has been sent" to us that hasn't come to Jesus or
others (1 Cor 10:13). The Spirit "will not let [us] be tested
beyond [our] strength " (1 Cor 10:13). Therefore, "let us
follow the Spirit's lead" (Gal 5:25) and His drivings.
Monday DEADBEATS?
http://presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp?d=3/2/2009
"...nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor's life is
at stake." —Leviticus 19:16
Tuesday THE ULTIMATE PRAYER BOOK
http://presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp?d=3/3/2009
"This is how you are to pray." —Matthew 6:9
For more readings and inspiration from Presentation Ministries,
check us out at
http://presentationministries.com/home/home.asp
Share an OBOB e-mail with a friend today! It's easy and
quick and it will make Jesus smile!
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obobDriveEmail.asp
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Brochures
" Over 90 Biblically based brochures. Many on topics you
don't usually hear addressed."
This Week's Featured Brochures
http://presentationministries.com/brochures/HowToRead.asp
· A Prophetic Lent
http://presentationministries.com/brochures/APropheticLent.asp
· The Secret of Confession
http://presentationministries.com/brochures/SecretConfession.asp
WHY DO I HAVE TO CONFESS MY SINS TO A PRIEST?
"Any forgiving I have done has been for your sakes, and,
before Christ, to prevent Satan -- whose guile we know too
well -- from outwitting us."(2 Corinthians 2:10-11)
We confess our sins to a priest simply because Jesus said
so. He gave the apostles authority to forgive sins in His name.
(Jn 20:23) God, of course, does all the forgiving and all the
healing, teaching, counseling, feeding, etc. Everything good
is done by God's power, but He often works through people,
members of the body of Christ, and He has decided to use
people as His instruments in teaching, feeding, counseling,
etc., and even in forgiving. We are open to God using a
person to feed us but when it comes to forgiveness, we are
reluctant to involve other people and think we should talk to
God alone. But God commands: "Declare your sins to one
another, and pray for one another, that you may find
healing." (Jas 5:16)
So, Biblically, we are to confess our sins not only to God
but also to other human beings. But why a priest? A priest
represents the family of God, our community, the local body
of Christ. We confess our sins to a representative of the
Christian family because our sins hurt others in the family,
and to be reconciled fully we must ask forgiveness not only
of God Whom we have disobeyed and those immediately
affected by .......................................
· The Secret of Fasting
http://presentationministries.com/brochures/SecretFasting.asp
FASTING AND DELIVERANCE
Pope John Paul II has taught: "Jesus Himself has shown us
by His own example that prayer and fasting are the first and
most effective weapons against the forces of evil (cf. Mt 4:1-11).
As He taught His disciples, some demons cannot be driven
out except in this way (cf. Mk 9:29)" (Gospel of Life, 100).
Fasting sets us free (Is 58:6). Even Ahab, the worst sinner
in the world, was temporarily freed from destruction by turning
to fasting (1 Kg 21:25-29). The Ninevites were also freed from
imminent destruction through fasting (Jon 3:5-10). Esther's
fasting helped free the Jewish nation from extermination
(Est 4:16). Joel announced the same call (Jl 2:15). All these
people knew the secret. Fasting frees us from the most
impossible circumstances, even from Satan.
For example, in our fight for life and against abortion, we are
in humanly impossible circumstances. The pro-death forces
dominate the government, business, entertainment,
education, and mass media. We are like David
fighting ........................................
· Scriptural Stations of the Cross
http://presentationministries.com/brochures/ScripStat.asp
· Lent and the Renewal of Our Baptismal Promises
http://presentationministries.com/brochures/LentRenewal.asp
Brochures by Topic
http://presentationministries.com/brochures/brochures.asp
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PM Internet Prayer Requests
http://www.presentationministries.com/prayer/prayer.asp
Please pray for my boyfriend who is being falsely accused.
He has court hearing set for March 09, 2009 if found guilty
he will be sentenced life in prison. I also want a prayer said
for the accuser & the person's family that they are not
afraid to tell the truth. Keep my boyfriend's lawyers, the
prosecutor, the judge and the jury that will be selected &
Who ever else is involved in this case in your prayers that
they may spare my boyfriends life.
(C., Banquete, Texas, United States, 2/27/2009 11:16:29 AM)
Please continue praying for my co-worker; she is still in ICU.
I really miss her; she was my lunch partner. please pray for
my finances. thank you. God Bless
(M., Texas, 2/27/2009 9:56:02 AM)
Jesus, I need You, please show me Your way. And let Your
will be done in my life. Please protect my soul and my heart.
If this love comes from You, let it grows in our hearts, but if
not, then You know the best for us. Father I trust my life in
Your hand. Holy Spirit please guide my way with Your Divine
mercy. Mother Mary please pray for me.
(Anonymous, 2/27/2009 9:06:05 AM)
Let us pray for the "Gift of Hope", amen
(Anonymous, 2/27/2009 8:29:49 AM)
Let us pray that Jesus, Mary, Joesph and St. Michael will
break the power of the 'gang of three' and their conspiritors
who wage war against the unborn. Let us also pray for the
'Judas' in their mist to convert back to the 'true faith'. By
betraying unborn souls they betray Jesus and their own
soul. Back slapping demons are not your friends. Jesus
and the Community of Saints are only friends, amen.
(Anonymous, 2/27/2009 8:22:14 AM)
Pray that Des come to her senses and realize that moving
in with a young man is not the christian thing to do- no
matter the mothers agree with this. Pray the Lord open
their eyes and let them see things as they are and should
be- at 16 she needs to concentrate on her education, not
moving in with her boyfriend and his mother.
(Concerned Grandmother, North Caroline, 2/27/2009 7:52:12 AM)
Please follow link to additional prayer intentions.
http://www.presentationministries.com/prayer/prayer.asp
________________________________________________
MP3 4 You
The internet ministry for PM is highlighting our downloadable
tapes online. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
are featured as are The Acts of the Apostles Part 1 thru 4, 1
Corinthians Part 1 & 2, and Romans Parts 1-3. Also available,
many MP3 formatted Audio tapes of most epistles in the
bible and numerous 15 minute Bible studies by Fr. Al Lauer.
Take a moment and check the link below
http://presentationministries.com/tapes/tape.asp?pubID=269
________________________________________________
Small Christian Communities
We believe the Lord is calling us to build hundreds of more
communities by raising up leaders who will form communities
PM's Small Christian Community Network
Learn about the Communities in our Network
http://presentationministries.com/community/hbcNetwork.asp
Small Christian Community Resources
Introduction to Small Christian Community
http://presentationministries.com/brochures/IntroCommunity.asp
"Unless the Lord Build the House..." — Psalm 127:
http://presentationministries.com/brochures/UnlessTheLordBuild.asp
Building Small Christian Communities (Team Manual)
http://presentationministries.com/brochures/CommunityManual.asp
Building Small Christian Communities (Guide Book)
http://presentationministries.com/brochures/CommunityGuidebook.asp
For more information contact: community@presentationministries.com
________________________________________________
Bible Telephone Line
Atlanta 770 521-8570
Cleveland 440 572-4366
Cincinnati 859 291-7000
Columbus 614 470-0020
Dayton 937 640-2740
Indianapolis 317 767-5413
Long Island 631 574-2413
Los Angeles 213 455-0872
Miami 305 356-7638
________________________________________________
Listen Online!
Inspired teaching on the daily Scripture readings of the
Catholic Church by Fr. Al Lauer
Best of Daily Bread Radio Program
http://www.presentationministries.com/dbread/dbread.asp
________________________________________________
Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth
Notable quotations from Pope Benedict XVI and official
teachings of the Roman Catholic Church
LENT AND FASTING
"SATISFY THE DEEPEST HUNGER"
Denying material food ... nurtures an interior disposition to
listen to Christ and be fed by His saving word. Through
fasting and praying, we allow Him to come and satisfy the
deepest hunger that we experience in the depths of our
being: the hunger and thirst for God.
OPEN YOUR EYES
At the same time, fasting is an aid to open our eyes to
the situation in which so many of our brothers and sisters
live...Voluntary fasting enables us to grow in the spirit of
the Good Samaritan, who bends low and goes to the help
of his suffering brother....
"COMPLETE GIFT OF SELF"
The ultimate goal of fasting is to help each one of us ...
to make the complete gift of self to God.
(Source: Message for Lent, dated 12/11/2008)
http://presentationministries.com/BST/bst2009-02.asp?navlink=latest
________________________________________________
PM Ministry List
" The Lord works through PM in many different ways. Below
you can find information about some of our ministries.
Bible Institute
http://presentationministries.com/bibleinst/bi2005Home.asp
Word Gifts Ministry
http://presentationministries.com/general/prophecies.asp
________________________________________________
2009 RETREATS
Online Registration
2009 RETREATS
· Women's Retreat (Mar 28)
· "Living in Reality" (Apr 17-18)
http://presentationministries.com/pjdc/retreatSchedule.asp
________________________________________________
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