February 19, 2022

For you this week:

• Reflection for Saturday: Words That Make a Difference
• Inside the Ministry: “Be Made Whole” – a Lenten course
• This week’s WordBytes faith-builder: “Be not afraid” to speak the truth
• Footsteps to Heaven podcast: Coming this Lent!

This week’s Trivia Challenge: How many books are in the New Testament?
(Check your answer at the end of this newsletter.)

Saturday February 19, 2022

James 3:1-10
Psalm 12:2-5, 7-8
Mark 9:2-13
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021922.cfm
Podcast:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2022-02-19

Saints Calendar:
gnm.org/saints-find/saints-calendar

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this need not be so. (From Saturday’s first reading)

Reflection for Saturday: Words That Make a Difference

My first spiritual director, Irene Huber, frequently taught that “what you say is what you get.” She wanted everyone to pay attention to the words we use, because our choice of words can impact us emotionally and spiritually. In her healing ministry, she had discovered that when people came to her saying, “I’m sick,” they were less likely to receive a miracle than if they said, “I’ve been diagnosed with or have the symptoms of a sickness.”

We can either own the illness or take ownership of God’s concern and compassion for us in our illness. By choosing our words carefully as we describe what we’re seeking from him, our focus shifts from the limitations of the illness to the potential of the healing.

To say, “I have ___,” is to admit ownership of it. Which is truer for you? “I have faith” or “I have fear”? Do you have a fear that if your prayers are not answered, disaster will strike? Do you have a fear of God disappointing you? Or any other fear that’s based on a misconception about God?

I’m sure you want to say, “I have faith,” but when you react to situations that challenge your trust in God, reacting so spontaneously that you don’t have time to choose your words carefully, what comes out of your mouth? For example: “I’m feeling very worried about this situation. I’m afraid it’s going to get worse.” This does not mean you have no faith. It simply means that you’re routing out a misconception that’s been controlling you.

Write a letter to Father God. Name your toughest prayer request—that situation that has been going on for far too long. Include: “I trust You, Father, but I wish You would ____.” Write it fast, unfiltered. Be honest. Be brutally honest. Describe your feelings. Don’t hold anything back.

Then read it looking for what you’re taking ownership of. For example: “I have fear that this terrible situation will last forever.” Turn any negatives into holy words. For example: “I have faith that You care, Father God. I have faith that You want to intervene in this situation. I have faith that You can intervene. I have faith that You are already intervening.”

If necessary, use your holy words as a mantra, stating them repeatedly and daily until fear is completely gone and old, negative thinking has been replaced by inner peace.

This article is an excerpt from my book The Father’s Heart (https://gnm.org/30days).

Inside the Ministry: “Be Made Whole” – a Lenten course

Lent is soon upon us. It’s time to think about what we’re going to do this Lent that will make a difference. Do you want to be holy? Then choose a discipline that will actually increase your holiness.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who allow it to train them. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Smooth out the paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled. Instead, be made whole.” (Hebrews 12:11-13)

Is your faith lame? Perhaps in one particular area, your faith-walk is weak. Identify it. Let’s work together on it! I’ll be producing podcast episodes during the 5 weeks of Lent that will focus on how to overcome our weaknesses. Jesus wants to walk through this season with you. He wants to strengthen whatever has been feeble in your spiritual life.

Do you want to be made whole? That’s the question he’s asking!

We’re going to discover what it means to be WHOLE. W is for weeping, H is for healing, O is for oneness with God, L is for Love, and E stands for evangelization. Watch for notifications about each of these 5 episodes.

This week’s recommended faith-builder:
“Be not afraid” to speak the truth

Jesus tells us to “be not afraid” of speaking the truth. Even when there might be repercussions, we need not be afraid. If we have the attitude of, “Yes, I’m willing”, the Holy Spirit gives us the words and the supernatural, joyful peace that makes it easy. Fear gets overtaken by the Holy Spirit every time.

This happened to me (this is one example of many) when I overheard a friend listening to a meditation video that was dangerous to her soul.

For more on this, visit wordbytes.org/holyspirit/be-not-afraid-to-speak-the-truth/.

WordBytes is a library of Catholic faith-building articles by Good News Ministries. Come on in and explore! Visit WordBytes.org today.

“Be Made Whole” (coming this Lent!)

Are you subscribed to the Footsteps to Heaven podcast show? If not, sign up now for our Lenten series:

Audio podcasts @ footstepstoheaven.com/subscribe

Video @ gnm-media.org

By text message @ t.me/footsteps_to_heaven

Answer to this week’s Trivia Challenge:
There are 27 books are in the New Testament. See them @ bible.usccb.org/bible.

God bless you!

Every morning, I lift up in prayer everyone who helps Good News Ministries in any way (donors, volunteers, prayer supporters, etc.) and all the prayer requests posted on our site. What can I cover in prayer for you? Post your prayer request.

How else can the team and I serve you today? Visit our homepage.

Thank you for reading this newsletter.

Your servant in Christ,
Terry Modica, Executive Director
Good News Ministries
gnm.org

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