romans 3: "all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus"

Well, then, are we better off? Not entirely, for we have already brought the charge against Jews and Greeks alike that they are all under the domination of sin, as it is written:

“There is no one just, not one,
there is no one who understands,
there is no one who seeks God.
All have gone astray; all alike are worthless;
there is not one who does good,
[not] even one.
Their throats are open graves;
they deceive with their tongues;
the venom of asps is on their lips;

their mouths are full of bitter cursing.

Their feet are quick to shed blood;

ruin and misery are in their ways,
and the way of peace they know not.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Now we know that what the law says is addressed to those under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world stand accountable to God, since no human being will be justified in his sight by observing the law; for through the law comes consciousness of sin.

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood, to prove his righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed, through the forbearance of God—to prove his righteousness in the present time, that he might be righteous and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out. On what principle, that of works? No, rather on the principle of faith. For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles, too? Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.Are we then annulling the law by this faith? Of course not! On the contrary, we are supporting the law. 

romans 3: 9-31 

God is Just 

Romans 3:22-24 | tlccreates | Flickr

talking during worship services in church

• why is there so little respect for God and worshipers in our churches? 
• why do some adults carry on frivolous conversations with other adults before, after and during worship services? 
• why is the behavior of some in church no different than if they were in a public park, a shopping mall or a fast-food restaurant?
• why has disrespect for God and worshipers become an epidemic in our places of worship?

sadly, this problem is not new. the following prayer came from Fatima, Portugal in 1916:

"Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I adore You profoundly, and I offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He, Himself is offended. And I draw upon the infinite merits of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that You might convert poor sinners."

Circumstances and Dialogue of the 1916 Apparitions 

the only conversations that should occur in church before, after or during worship services are with God. 

I was baptized in the catholic church 72+ years ago. I graduated from catholic grade school, high school and college. 

in school I heard that we must defend ourselves against attacks on our faith--communists, etc. I believed that attacks on our faith would come from those outside the church.

today, I believe differently. the scandal of clergy sexually abusing children and higher-ups covering it up. the disrespect that is occurring in the sanctuaries of churches when people talk out loud about friends, golf, shopping, etc. before, during and after mass.

there isn't much that we can do as lay persons about the scandal of clergy sexually abusing children and higher-ups covering it up--other than praying and speaking out individually. many are, but the problem persists.

I am resolved that when people in front or behind me are talking out loud during mass in the future that I'm going to turn to them and say: "do you know where you are?" (answer: in the sanctuary of a church.) do you know Who is here? (answer: I am Who am.) please be quiet."

Satan is a formidable enemy

Cosmic Conflict: The Origin of Evil - YouTube 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guido_Reni_031.jpg

Guido Reni [Public domain]

How Great Thou Art with lyrics performed by chris rice - YouTube

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love

love, John 15, "love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.This I command you: love one another."

John 15 1:17

Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector and army medic, saved 75 men during the Battle for Okinawa during World War II. He was awarded our nation's highest award for valor, the medal of honor. 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DossDesmondT_USArmy.jpg

[Public domain]

"This is my commandment: 

love one another as I love you. 

No one has greater love than this, 

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

You are my friends if you do what I command you." 

John 15: 12-14 

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love

psalm 1: "the law of the LORD is his joy; and on his law he meditates day and night."

I

Blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
nor sit in company with scoffers.

Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy;

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

planted near streams of water,
that yields its fruit in season;
Its leaves never wither;
whatever he does prospers.

II

But not so are the wicked, not so!
They are like chaff driven by the wind.

Therefore the wicked will not arise at the judgment,
nor will sinners in the assembly of the just.

Because the LORD knows the way of the just,

but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.

psalm 1

Night Prayer | © Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk | Catholic Church England and Wales | Flickr

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love

gospel

"We often describe God’s gracious offer of Salvation as 'good news', and while this makes sense, given the magnitude of God’s gift to us, there are actually good etymological reasons for describing Salvation in this way. The word 'Gospel' is derived from an Anglo-Saxon word, 'godspel', or 'good story' and was substituted for the original Greek word 'euaggelion' which first signified 'a present given to one who brought good tidings', or 'a sacrifice offered in thanksgiving for such good tidings having come'. In later Greek uses, it was employed for the good tidings themselves. That’s exactly what God is offering us with the Gospel; 'good news' about what he did for us through Jesus Christ.

Paul devoted his life to sharing what he believed to be very 'good news'. He thought it was good news because he understood God was giving us a free gift only He could offer: the gift of Salvation, given freely as an act of grace (unmerited favor).

'However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.'
Acts 20:24"
What Does "Gospel" Really Mean? | Cold Case Christianity

"In short, 'the Gospel' is the sum total of the saving truth as God has communicated it to lost humanity as it is revealed in the person of His Son and in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible."

What is the Gospel? | Bible.org

image by Martin LaBar

Gospel acrostic in John 3:16 | Computer pioneer Donald Knuth… | Flickr

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love

what is life?

"what is life?" it's a question that has perplexed many since the beginning of time.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lifef.gif

Unuplusunu [Public domain]

perhaps life is just one big test--of each person's faith, hope and love.

the bible is one of history's oldest books. it contains many "books", an old testament and a new testament, many stories, many characters, many teachings, many successes and failures, and many lessons.  

during my life I have experienced many tests of my faith, hope and love. like many of those in the bible, I've failed many of these tests. 

I know this: if my life after this one is determined by my performance in this one, then I'm doomed. I've failed in faith, hope and love many times. I'm guilty. I deserve punishment for my failures.

but if my life after this one is a good one, then it will only be because of the saving blood of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb, Who took the punishment for my sins.

image by Thomas Hawk

Jesus Saves | United Artists Theatre 933 S. Broadway Los Ang… | Flickr

Christ Be Our Light by Bernadette Farrell - YouTube

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love

hope, jeremiah 29: 4-14: "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope."

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their fruits. Take wives and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters. Increase there; do not decrease. Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you; pray for it to the LORD, for upon its welfare your own depends. For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners who are among you; do not listen to those among you who dream dreams, for they prophesy lies to you in my name; I did not send them—oracle of the LORD.

For thus says the LORD: Only after seventy years have elapsed for Babylon will I deal with you and fulfill for you my promise to bring you back to this place. For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me—oracle of the LORD—and I will change your lot; I will gather you together from all the nations and all the places to which I have banished you—oracle of the LORD—and bring you back to the place from which I have exiled you. 

jeremiah 29: 4-12

image by Tito & Eva Marie Balangue

18: Daily Inspirational Bible Verse | Jeremiah 29:11 -------… | Flickr

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love

false witness

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Exodus 20:16

"You shall not repeat a false report. Do not join your hand with the wicked to be a witness supporting violence. You shall not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When testifying in a lawsuit, you shall not follow the crowd in perverting justice. You shall not favor the poor in a lawsuit. 

When you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, you must see to it that it is returned. When you notice the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you should not desert him; you must help him with it. 

You shall not pervert justice for the needy among you in a lawsuit. You shall keep away from anything dishonest. The innocent and the just you shall not put to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. Never take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and distorts the words of the just."  

Exodus 23: 1-8

"Now someone approached him and said, 'Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?' He answered him, 'Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.' He asked him, 'Which ones?' And Jesus replied, ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 19: 16-19

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:06376jfMalabon_City_Churches_Roads_Landmarksfvf_45.jpg

Judgefloro [CC0], from Wikimedia Commons

judgment: prostrate before God

"Meanwhile Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock beyond the wilderness, he came to the mountain of God, Horeb. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him as fire flaming out of a bush. When he looked, although the bush was on fire, it was not being consumed. So Moses decided, “I must turn aside to look at this remarkable sight. Why does the bush not burn up?” When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to look, God called out to him from the bush: Moses! Moses! He answered, “Here I am.” God said: Do not come near! Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your father, he continued, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God." 

Exodus 3: 1-6

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moses_and_the_Burning_Bush_MET_DP800423.jpg

Metropolitan Museum of Art [CC0]

God, I prostrate myself before You. 

I am a guilty sinner, 

unworthy to be in Your Presence. 

I deserve punishment for my sins.

if You spare me from the just punishment that I deserve, 

then it will only be because of Your divine love and mercy,
and that of Your Son, Jesus, The Spotless Lamb,
Who suffered the just punishment that I deserve. 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:13th-century_painters_-_St_Dominic_Prostrating_Himself_-_WGA15965.jpg

Vatican Library [Public domain]

Matthew 7: 15-28, beware of false prophets

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them. 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ 

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” 

Matthew 7: 15-28 

image by Ricardo Pardi

🎈Bible verses🎈 | Now we believe in the Lord Jesus, and suf… | Flickr