Matthew 17 in our POWERful Bible journaling begins with a familiar story, the Transfiguration. After our Lord is clearly seen in a heavenly glory, He goes back to business as usual; healing, preaching and teaching. But back to the Transfiguration, can you even imagine? Can you image first, seeing a couple of Old Testament prophets who were/are dead? Second, seeing Jesus in all His glory? And third, actually hearing the voice of God? That was some trip up the mountain for a couple of Apostles!
Here is a beautiful quote on this chapter in Matthew taken from the book A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture, “Prayer raises and ennobles a man, and makes him heavenly minded, filling him with peace and conformity to God’s will. He who prays devoutly feels himself raised and filled with joy.” I can only image the joy Peter and the other Apostles must have felt on that day. They were in the presence of Moses and Elijah and then the Lord God. Please God, someday..someday.
POWERful Bible Journaling: Matthew 17
P –Lord help me to love the little things. More often than not, actually almost all of the time, You come in the still small voice, not the heavenly cloud. I don’t want to miss you. And I also don’t want to leave You. I want to feel the way Peter did and offer to set up a tent so we can stay together longer.
O –Jesus’ transfiguration happened when He removed Himself from most of the noise, activity and people…not talking on the phone, texting, browsing Facebook or pinning on Pinterest.
W —vs 7…But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.”
E –If I lived a life without fear, how much more effective could I be for the Kingdom of God?
R –Lord, make me unafraid. Not for or because of me, but because I want to share You. I want a bold faith that shares You and Your Church in a world that sorely needs it. So what if I am made fun of for: not making fun of or criticizing my husband, having so many children, homeschooling, being considered a “strict parent,” saying “no” to things so we can live debt free, not following the world. Let them make fun if it will bring souls to You; even if just out of curiosity.
Please share your POWERful reflections in the comments.
deb00 says
P- Good morning Lord. Thank You for the blessing of a new day……for gentle breezes, lapping water along the shore, beautiful sunshine, sunrises and sunsets and the chirping of the varmits. Help me to use all my senses to soak in the beauty of Your creation and Your love.
O-Jesus again points out how the Gentiles have greater Faith than the chosen people, Israel. How many protestants have greater Faith than us Catholics who were given the fullness of the Faith. We have the great blessing of the Eucharist and yet I heard this weekend that 70% of Catholics don’t believe in the real presence!!!! How sad!!! How many of us that do believe, at times don’t show that in our actions??? Like a protestant once said….if Catholics truly believed they would be crawling on their knees into His presence. It saddens me to see how His presence in our Churches has become so taken for granted? forgotten? become unimportant? dismissed? I miss the days of my childhood when everyone’s whole demeanor changed when walking into His presence in the Church….reverent quiet.
W- Mt 17:20 Amen I say to you if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain ‘move from here to there” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
E- How many times I am like the disciples, questioning why? or questioning what is happening?
R- Lord give me the Faith of a mustard seed and let it blossom to a full grown tree!
Michelle says
Oh Faith, by whence do you come? Asking God for an increase in the gift of faith that was prelude to so many miracles.