January Devotional

Week 1

“Call upon me in your day of trouble and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

I believe we have a God who loves us individually and uniquely, a God who calls us each by name and One who is a God of Miracles! I believe God heard my cry, “Oh, God, please take this pain away!” I was living with severe pain 24 hours a day and the doctors said the disease was incurable.

A dear friend of mine, Gram Duray, asked me to take her to Los Angeles to see a priest, Fr. Aloysius, who prayed for people to be healed. When I took Gram up to the front of the hall to be prayed for, the priest made the Sign of the Cross on her forehead and prayed. He then turned toward the next person but stopped, looked at me and said, “And you?” I felt nothing but a little embarrassment, but the day was a success because Gram was happy for the day out and I was happy to be with her.

I was soon to find out that God had touched me through Fr. Aloysius. A few days later, the pain stopped! The pain returned after a few minutes, but as time progressed there were only a few minutes of pain a day, and then the pain was completely gone after about six months. God changed my life when He touched me in my need, and I will never be the same.

-Angie Lake

Week 2

“For by grace are you saved through faith, and not that of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

After God had healed me of an incurable disease, I wanted to do something for God. I began by taking a Basic Catechist Course to be able to teach CCD. I also had a desire to study the Bible. I began attending an interdenominational bible study and came across the above scripture one day. I was shocked when I read this scripture! I thought I had to earn my way to Heaven!

Then I read in Isaiah that my good works are like filthy rags before the Lord, and that the only good work in me is the work of God’s Holy Spirit in me! At this same time in our study we were asked to read Revelation 3:21, which says: “Look, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone will open the door I will come in a sup with him and he with me.”

I realized that Jesus wanted to have a relationship with me, and so I said a prayer inviting Jesus to come into my heart. At that moment I realized the grace and mercy of God for me even though I was unworthy! I went around all day singing “Amazing Grace” and said: “Now I know why that guy wrote that song!”

-Angie Lake

Week 3

“The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for Yahweh has anointed me, He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken.” Isaiah 61:1

In October 1979 I went to a Mission at St. John’s Catholic Church in Encinitas, California. On the last day of the Mission, the priest spoke these words: “You must get together and pray and study God’s Word!” These words were like an arrow piercing my heart, and I knew God was speaking to me. I felt as if this was a personal call from god to me.

As soon as I returned home, I went to all the houses on my street, knocked on the doors and invited all the women on my block to come to my house on Monday morning for coffee, prayer and scripture sharing. I wasn’t sure what to do, but I trusted God would guide me. That was the beginning of Women’s Christian Fellowship.

As we began to increase in numbers, Msgr. Fred Florek invited us to meet at our church, St. Elizabeth Seton, in La Costa. We continue to meet each week for prayer and bible study and are in our 20th anniversary year. To God be all honor and glory for His love and faithfulness to women who want to know more about Him, and follow in His way.

-Angie Lake

Week 4

“He has taken us out of the power of darkness and created a place for us in the kingdom of the Son that He loves, and in Him we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.” Colossians 1:13

My alcoholism was destroying my health, my family and my friendships. I went to daily Mass and did many things; like volunteering to help at the Church; visit the sick; take senior citizens shopping and to visit the doctor. I tried to help others in every way I could.

I was always doing craft projects. I believe I made every kind of craft flower there is, using burlap, feathers to egg cartons! I kept thinking that if I stayed busy I wouldn’t have time to drink. Wrong! I needed help! I tried everything I could think of, and then one day I was so scared and sick and tired of drinking, I got down on my knees and prayed to God from the depths of my heart.

I asked God to please help me keep from overindulging in alcohol. I heard God speak these words to my heart: “My daughter, I will remove the obsession of alcohol from you.” Praise God, He did! He brought me out of darkness into His wonderful light.

-Florence Grubb