Stretch out your hand to bring healing and enable signs and wonders to be performed through the name of Jesus, your holy servant.” After they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking God’s word with confidence. ~Acts 4:30-31 (CEB)
You see, I’ve done a lot of work for the Church- I’m aware of it. It has been my only thought, my only care. I have raced hard and covered as many miles as the most committed missionary. At a certain point it occurred to me that what the Church lacked was not work, activity, the building of projects or commitment to bring in souls. What was missing, or at least was scarce, was the element of prayer, mediation, self-giving, intimacy with God, fidelity to the Holy Spirit and the conviction that [Christ] was the real builder of the Church: in a word, the supernatural element. Let me make myself clear; people of action are needed in the Church but we have to be very careful that their action does not smother the more delicate but much more important element of prayer.
If action is missing and there is prayer, the Church lives on, it keeps on breathing, but if prayer is missing and there is only action, the Church withers and dies.” ~From Letters to Dolcidia: 1954-1983 by Carlo Carretto
Almighty God, by the power of Your Holy Spirit open my eyes, ears, hearts, and very life to Your presence so that today I many worship and serve you in faithfulness, be blessing and healing reminders of Your love to all whose lives I touch. In Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Pieces of the Puzzle 