God's love is found at the cross of Calvary!

Dear Friend,

Good Friday is the most somber day in the Church, as Christians observe the Crucifixion of Jesus and his death on Calvary. Today, Catholics fast in mourning to accompany our Lord in his suffering on the cross. On this solemn Friday, tradition calls for a day of prayer and reflection.

Today is the only day of the year when the Church does not celebrate Mass and tabernacles are empty of the Eucharist throughout the world. The faithful adore and contemplate the cross, and many pray the Stations of the Cross. We invite you to learn more about following in the footsteps of Jesus on his way to Calvary. Click here to watch Bishop Barron’s reflections on the Stations of the Cross.

We pray God will give us the grace to take up the crosses of our own lives with joy and unite our suffering to that of our Savior. As we meditate on Christ’s Passion today, we are also reminded of the vital need to continue proclaiming Christ in the culture. May Jesus and the power of his cross give us the courage to share the message of our redemption with all those in our lives who need to hear it.

God bless you,

The Word on Fire Team

I AM a Bondage Breaker! - Journaling by Malachi Talabi

Malachi Talabi writes: I woke up at 3am and heard the word FREE! Later in the day a text message from a work mate said “freedom.” How random? I was driving in my car and two vans in front of me hand the logo Freedom written in HUGE writing.I had to go and journal and see what God was saying. Here’s what I picked up...

A MESSAGE FROM THE BONDAGE BREAKER
Blow the trumpet for MY people coming out of the pit. Do you really believe in my freedom? This isn’t about a change of habit; it’s about a change of heart. I am going to change hearts. You see, people have tried to get free from things that I’ve been assigned to free them from.

I have an assignment to bring freedom into your life in every area of bondage and oppression. I am the one who is meant to deal with that. You see, the doctor isn’t a bondage breaker, although He can help. It's my anointing that breaks the yoke. I have a specific anointing to set captives free. You might say, "But Jesus, You did that on Calvary”. Yes, but you have to bring freedom into your reality.

On this journey, sometimes you fall into pits, traps and you can get side-tracked, soul-ties, bondages and addictions. These things can happen. Sometimes one little mistake can give birth to years of addiction. I am here to set people free. Some are addicted to pornography and they’ve tried, they've pleaded, they've tried, they’ve prayed, but I tell you, tell them that “I am a bondage breaker.” Some are addicted to lying and I will sanctify their mouths. Some are addicted to food, and they’ve given up thinking that the bondage breaker isn’t strong enough to help them.
I said in My word that “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” The truth is, I can break any addiction and any bondage with a willing heart. You don’t need willpower; I just need a willing heart - just a willing heart.

Once you know the truth, you’ll experience irreversible freedom. Once and for all you’ll never go back. This is the type of freedom I am talking about: total transformation. I can do it, and I will do it.
This is a season of freedom. Things won’t be the same again.

People have got so used to living in prison that they don’t know that they are bound, but they are meant to be free.
• Emotionally free
• Financially free
• Physically free
But they have sought Me so many times that they don’t think freedom is possible. It is possible and it’s happening. I CAME TO SET CAPTIVES FREE from any prison, and every prison. I came to deal with every type of affliction, every infirmity and every addiction. Now it’s time to come to Me for deliverance. This is a time of freedom. I pray that Jesus sets you free in any area that you need freedom.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed (Isaiah 61:1)!

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What Is in a Gift?
By Billy Graham • December 23


For unto us a child is born . . . and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
—Isaiah 9:6
To Christians the joy of Christmas is not limited to His birth. It is built even more on the triumph of His death and resurrection—that gave meaning to His birth. The mysterious spirit of generosity which possesses us at Christmas is the afterglow of Calvary. The fact of the cross illuminates this day and hallows it. As we exchange our gifts, let us remember that they are symbolic of the unspeakable gift of God’s love.

I do not believe that Christians should be giving expensive gifts to each other. We should quietly give simple little gifts that are expressions of our love and devotion to the recipients. These gifts become symbolic of the gift of God’s love. How much money could be saved and invested in the Kingdom of God by thousands of Christian families every year if the true meaning of Christmas was observed.

Prayer for the day
Loving God, my heavenly Father, in Your gift of Jesus I see Your immeasurable love reaching out to all mankind. How I praise You and adore You! Amen.

Somebody’s Got to Care
NOVEMBER 22, 2023

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:6, NIV

Recommended Reading: Romans 5:1-8
Army Pfc. Garfield McConnell Langhorn, twenty, a devout Christian, was trapped by enemy soldiers in Vietnam. When an enemy grenade landed in front of him and several wounded men, Langhorn didn’t hesitate. He said, “Someone’s got to care!” and he threw himself on the explosive device, absorbing the blast and saving his follow soldiers. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor.1

The Bible says, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7-8, NIV).

In the Old Testament, Jesus occasionally showed up as the Angel of the Lord, but the New Testament begins with Him actually becoming human, that He might die for us. Think of how you’d feel if you were one of those saved by Pfc. Langhorn’s sacrifice. We should surely feel something akin to that kind of gratitude when we remember what Christ did for us because He cares for us so much.

In love, the Son of God literally gave Himself for me. This puts in personal terms the great transaction of Calvary.
J. Oswald Sanders

Katie Lange, “Medal of Honor Monday: Army Pfc. Garfield Langhorn,” DOD News, January 16, 2023.