Undo What I've Become

God’s blessings and His design made me who I am. He is the Everlasting Artist. God is my Creator. And when He made me I believe He made something beautiful – because of who God is.
Throughout the years of my life, however, I’ve managed to transform His creation of me into someone not as beautiful or as full of grace as He created. I’ve sinned. I’ve taken on bad habits. I’ve created patterns of behavior for myself.
In prayer I ask God to undo what I’ve become. (Change me back, please to the simple grace-filled version of me that You initially created.) I need a daily re-conversion thru prayer so that I may return to my Source and be renewed. During that special time together I am who I really am, the person God created me to be. Face to face with Him in candid and open communication I can be nothing less if I want to have an honest relationship with Him. The challenge is to remain that person throughout the day. For that I need to be conscious of His presence. That presence is not only within me but in everyone and every situation around me thru-out the day. When I learn to recognize Him I know I am closer to my Source and my real self, i.e. a person of integrity and grace.
I praise and thank you God for your mercy and love.

The Song I’m referring to is great. Check it out!
Artist- Rush of Fools
Song Name - Undo What I’ve Become
Verse 1
I've been here before
now here I am again
Standing at the door
praying You'll let me back in
To label me a prodigal would be
Only Scratching the surface
of who I've been known to be

CHORUS
Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
YOU'RE the only one who can undo
What I've become

Verse 2
I focused on the score, but I could never win
Trying to ignore, a life of hiding my sin
To label me a hypocrite would be
ONLY Scratching the surface
of who I've been known to be

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE
Make every step lead me back to
The sovereign way that You

What They Taught Me

What They Taught Me About Jesus
* The Blessed Mother taught me faithfulness in spite of trial and to stand by Christ when everyone else disappears
* St Therese of Liseaux taught me to think of Jesus before I think of my own needs and how to live virtues to an heroic degree
* My best friend taught me to be more public about God and the value of prayers
* My mother taught me extreme giving in God’s name, poverty, selflessness and detachment
* My former religious community taught me the potential of depth prayer can reach
* My siblings taught me by their example how to endure suffering but remain faithful to God; to search for fulfillment in Him
* The Catholic Church taught me how to perfect my search for God; the comfort of rituals; what Christian community is
* My Spiritual director and retreat directors taught me how to perfect my search for God and how to be less of a perfectionist while being more gentle with myself and others
* The Friends that I admire most taught me simplicity, humility, the gift of tears and spiritual intimacy; different approaches to a personal relationship with God; honesty in prayer; how to live a life that evidences God as my priority
* My Enemies taught me humility, endurance and faithfulness to prayer
* My “Jesus Women” Prayer Group taught me the value of community and spiritual support /encouragement; the definition of spiritual strength, especially in family.
* My job taught me about the corporal works of mercy; what *PRAXIS means and how blessed I am.

I look back at all the people who’ve contributed to my spiritual formation and I stand grateful.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praxis_(word)

change is a good thing

http://pascalcampion.com/web/233.jpg

c o u r a g e

i choose how i behave

my life can change and so can i

i can be a better person than i am now
i am free to live differently

Hope for the homeless homepage image

hope
patterns of behavior don't need to tie me down
routines don't need to be prisons

THE BIBLE ACCORDING TO KIDS

(The jewels found below are said to be written by actual students and are genuine, authentic, and unretouched. Compiled by Richard Lederer. They appear in the 12/31/95 issue of National Review.)

"Solomon, one of David’s sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.”

“When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the
Magna Carta”
“A Christian should have only one spouse. This is called
monotony.”
"Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the Apostles.”

It's the Last Day of May...

...Mary's month. So don't forget to

Prayer is a Hunger

"Ages pass, and still thou pourest,

and still there is room to fill."
Gitanjali

http://www.flickr.com/photos/papersculptures/503443118/

I marvel at you Lord God. I hunger for you and you fill me with your Eucharist. I ache for you and you send me your Word in Scripture. I thirst for you and I am sated by your graces and fellowship with others.
You continue to give. But I am living proof Lord, that our hearts will remain restless until they ultimately rest in You.

AS IS but loved

Did you ever go to IKEA, the furniture store? There's a section marked " AS IS". The store's rejects are brought there. You may see a chair with a stain on it or a table with a wobbly leg. People who visit the AS IS section don't expect to pay full price because they know this furniture isn't first quality. The standards are lower there. The furniture is usable and fixable, but not worth full price.

In the furniture store of life, that's where I belong. I daily tell God how very much I love Him and how I want to live a virtuous life to an heroic degree but I mess up. I'm like the chair with the wobbly leg - good design but imperfect. I'm old enough now to be willing to accept the reality of my weaknesses. I haven't given up by a long shot. I do want to please God with all my heart and soul, but like St. Paul "I do the very things that I hate." (Rms 7:15) It's amazing how easy it is for me to slip into selfishness or laziness no matter how fervent my prayer that morning might have been. I'm disappointing to myself. I'm a great design with imperfections. As Is. Not special enough for the showroom floor.

Unlike the wobbly legged table at the furniture store though, I am worth full price! Jesus Christ thinks I'm really special. He believes in His design. Jesus believes His creation has wonderful potential and He loves me. I celebrate Jesus' unconditional love and mercy. I rejoice in His tender care and protection of me. It's all about Him. I can't get depressed about my own behavior because the focus would be on me. Wouldn't satan love that? I'm not giving him that chance. No way. Instead I offer my praise and thanks to a merciful generous God. Even though I'm AS IS God thought I was worth the death of His only Son. That's full price. Jesus thinks I'm worth His daily graces. He gifts me with His word and with Eucharist. That's Full Price for sure. How blessed I am to be fully and completely loved AS IS.

Praise and thanks to you, God!

God Gifts

God calls the end times the “renewal of all things” in Mathew 19:28
“Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that time of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19

What appears to be pain and sorrow has frequently in my life been the predecessor of intimacy with God. The Gospel even calls the end times a renewal. What can I endure with the knowledge of God’s presence within me and his protection surrounding me?

Don’t we get excited when we know we’ve bought or made the perfect gift for someone? We wrap it carefully and well, decorating our emotional wish to please a loved one. We present it with a smile being that sure the recipient will be pleased. If it really is as perfect the gift we thought it to be, that mutual happiness of the moment adds joy and intimacy to the relationship. Wasn’t that the purpose of the gift in the first place?

God’s packages to us aren’t always pleasantly wrapped. His gifts aren’t always fun. But gifts they are. Pain, be it emotional, physical or spiritual can sometimes be a gift depending on the way we see and appreciate it. We must accept gifts gracefully and acknowledge the Giver. Simply being a participant on this globe, of course, can impose pain. Even that pain though, is a gift and can be transformed.

So God gifts us or allows us to experience sorrow. Is it to test us? To prove us? Or like many gifts does it depend on our spirit of understanding and acceptance? Do we rebel asking such questions as “why me?” citing our honest attempts to live a decent life? Reading the lives of the saints helps me in this area the most.

St Joan of Arc
Blessed Mary of Australia
St. Louis Marie De Montfort

They were misunderstood, judged to be insane and persecuted for their Godly lives. What made them saints is their heroic degree of virtue. And Joan, Mary and St. Louis Marie De Montfort were simple human beings like us. Their prayer life, i.e. their intimacy with God in the face of trial gave them strength and courage.

Renewal of all things.
Times of refreshing from the Lord.

It does require time spent in the Lord’s presence to be able to translate pain and sorrow into renewal and refreshing. It’s barely human to be able to do that at all. Spiritual intimacy with the one who was persecuted for our sins is the only way for me.

Prayer: Jesus you know how much I really mean that. I come to you be to repaired and made whole. Re-paired that is, to be paired up with you again. Your example and your love is my strength. Thank you for ALWAYS being there.
THE SAINTS CLUB

If Sin Had An Odor

St. Bridget of Sweden could SMELL sin as it had an odor to her and caused a bad taste in her mouth. If sin could be smelled~

*Buy stock in Renuzit, personal deodorants and perfume companies
*People would try to pretend the smell was coming from someone else
*What would a reconciliation service smell like before and after
*Would different sins have different odors so that each person’s sin would be recognizable? Pride would smell like onions; a lie would smell like a skunk…
*Saturday afternoon lines in Church would be longer than the lines in the mall stores.

Your ideas?

http://members.dodo.com.au/~teresaa/stbridget.html

Spiritual Intimacy

What is spiritual intimacy? (aka Prayer)

• to share the deep seated fears and anxieties that I don't share with others
• to admit that I am known and understood more fully by Someone Else
• to let myself be loved completely and wholly by a Perfect God
• to offer protestations of undying devotion and complete adherence to His will - then to fall on my face tripping over my own words. At the same time spiritual intimacy has the audacity to look at God right in the eyes after that experience.
• to be completely and comfortably quiet with nothing to say for long periods of time

It is hunger for more information about Him whom I love. It is the revelation of knowledge and insight He shares with me thru reflection on Scripture and quiet time together. It is the confidence God has in me that encourages and challenges me to grow.

Enduring Joy

Endurance: the ability to make it to the end. To plow thru all the little things that get in the way precisely because of the value of the goal. To examine a goal, determine it to be worth any price and work toward its achievement accepting any sacrifice.

Enduring Joy: not just when the spring pastel colors arrive on the scene, nor the chocolate and butterflies. Words like constancy, loyalty and faithfulness come to mind. Joy that comes from Christ is that which endures, i.e, rises to the surface in the face of any obstacle. It is not to say that human emotions disappear or should be denied. While on the cross Jesus did say "My God why have you abandoned me?" Rather enduring joy give us strength to go beyond the natural human reaction~ in time~ and move to a place of peace with God. The gift of joy comes from the knowledge that God is love and that He chose you and me to be the object of His love despite our unworthiness. When I accept the gift of joy from God I commit to daily being faithful to Him and to His relationship with me until the end, overcoming any obstacle.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Rms 8:18
"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil3:4
also see Phil 4: 4-7

I wish you joy.

Rejoicing in the Relationship

You have blessed me Lord! You've guided me and protected me all thru my life. You keep promises you make and you are faithful regardless of my faithfulness and sometimes despite me. You are full of surprises, like rising from the dead! I know of the goodness of all your ways. I know of your mercy and patience. You forgive me and believe in me. You also work thru and challenge me.
I rejoice in our relationship. I rejoice that you chose me. I appreciate you not as you deserve but as much as I can. I worship you and you alone for you are my Risen Lord. Amen. Alleluia!

http://www.christart.com/clipart

Easter Father & Son

If my son was killed ~ even if I knew it was going to happen and had to happen for the greater good~ I cannot imagine how I'd feel. Like the story of the man whose job it was to switch the railroad track not far from his home. One morning his young son ran out of the house to go see his dad. His son ran across the field smiling and reaching out his arms toward his father. The father had already switched the track as his young son neared it...and it was too late. The father had to make a decision.....
If after that, I had to opportunity to see my resurrected son...well, just imagine that Easter Hug between God the Father and His Resurrected Son, Jesus!

I believe

A Catholic Mom in Hawaii: 2nd Anniversary of the Death of Our Beloved John Paul II

A Catholic Mom in Hawaii: 2nd Anniversary of the Death of Our Beloved John Paul II

a sign worth seeing

WTAT

Words tickle. Actions thunder.
(St Francis of Assisi)
Wasn't St Francis a smart man? Anyone can talk. But very few can walk the walk. I'm conflicted while writing all these words, as what is really important is living them. That will be my focus this Holy Week.

God Invited Me Into His Home

“Jesus please take me home to see your Father. I want to meet your Dad.” We’re walking along the beach and Jesus asks me if I want to get cleaned up first. “ Yes, of course!” is my reply. I know I’m not worthy of this blessing. I know my sins and weaknesses. But my hand is in Jesus’ and I know He’s the only way I can access the Father. Jesus and I walk toward the water and I
kneel in the ocean facing him. With my face held in his two hands Jesus speaks. “My friend I know of your sinfulness and I know the shame you bear b/c of it. I’m the only one who knows it all, who sees it all. I see your
soul and I know your life. As I pour this water over your head see your shame fall away. Watch your sins drown in the ocean and get pulled away from us by the tide. Let them go. Do not concentrate on them, but look at me instead.” I look in to Jesus’ eyes and feel sorry that I ever hurt him by these sins. I can feel them tumbling out of my head, my heart, my hands.
They fall down into the ocean with every handful of water Jesus pours onto my head. They float around me for a short while before they disappear into the tide. The next wave encircles me and washes away all the remnants as Jesus continues to look into my tear filled eyes. “I am so very sorry Jesus. I’ve been weak many times and selfish. Please forgive me.” Jesus replied;
“I forgave you a very long time ago my daughter. I forgave you on the cross long before you even knew me. As I walked along Golgatha I remembered
you. When they nailed my hands and feet I was thinking of you. ‘I can do this,’ I thought. ‘ I can do this for her. She’s worth it all. I love my friend!’ Did you know you were on my mind then?

As sorrow for my sinfulness and weakness overwhelms me Jesus takes my two hands and tells me to stand. Its time to meet his Father! Jesus is so happy that it’s contagious. We’re both smiling as we walk along the beach toward a small cottage further down the road. I’m full of anticipation. It’s a mixture of nervousness and excitement. Jesus is jumping up and down all around me while he talks, “ Just wait, you’re going to love him. He already loves you. I’ve told him so much about you! He’s looking forward to talking with the person I care so very much about. He’s just like me but even better.
I learned every thing I know from Him. I can’t wait for you to meet Him.” I can’t help but absorb Jesus’ joy and I find myself grinning from ear to ear. With each word we get closer to the beach cottage. It’s a small but friendly looking home. I can see a porch with a 2-seated swing and plants lined up on the railing. The house is white and there’s a pathway and a welcome mat
leading to the front door.
Jesus looks at me and his eyes are wide with anticipation, ‘Here we are’ he says. ‘Are you ready?’ Feeling encouraged by Jesus’ happiness I say yes. I’m also very anxious to meet his Father. Jesus never stops talking about him. He’s so proud of he’s Abba- that’s the nickname Jesus uses. I’ve never experienced a Father-Son relationship like this one before. They are
definitely very close. And Jesus says he’s the spitting image of his Father so he must be a great man. With an ever so slight shaking of my knees I say, “Yes Jesus. I really want to meet your Father. Let’s go in.”
Jesus opens the front door for me and while walking into the living room he says, “ Abba this is my friend. She’s the person I was telling you about. I really love her and I’m very proud of her so I wanted her to meet you.” Then he turned to me and said, “This is my Father.”
Immediately God the Father walks over and greets me with a strong voice and a welcoming hug. “My son Jesus has not stopped talking about you. I’m so happy we can be together now and get to know each other a little better. Come in and sit down. Put your feet up. We’ll have supper together a little later.” And God directs me toward a soft armchair in front of the
fireplace. He and Jesus sit on the sofa to my right after they’ve hugged and given each other loud pats on the back. It’s a warm and friendly atmosphere to be sure, but I’m still a little nervous. Experience taught me that the best way to get over yourself is to focus on others. I comment on the quaintness of this simple home and its charm. Pictures line the mantle and adorn the walls. Jesus and me, Jesus and His mom, Jesus and His friends – the apostles. There’s a framed picture of Jesus and Peter, the first Pope, on a side table. On the shelf under that table is a photo album through which I browsed later and saw photos of some of their special friends: Mother Teresa, Pope John XXIII, my grandmother, St Francis and many others.

Sharing a cup of tea together we begin to chat about how Jesus and I first met and how our relationship has grown over the years. I realize while hearing myself speak that throughout all that time Jesus was much more attentive to me than I was to him. As a matter of fact I was surprised about the degree of pride Jesus had in our relationship. He felt he could let it all out. He kept smiling and his eyes were dancing. I was embarrassed frankly by this outpouring of attention and tried to return the favor. “I’m sure He’s told you about the time I read all those books about saints because I wanted to be a better person for Him, but then I couldn’t put it all into practice. Well, Jesus turned right around and blessed me with graces to live my daily life to the best of my ability and accept that with humility. He always knows how to make people feel better about themselves.”

God the Father replied, “Oh for sure I know that about my Son. He spent his whole life doing that. I told him it would be hard and that people might not accept him but he was determined not to let that stop him. He’s a great Son and always has been. We’re very close, my Son Jesus and I, and I’d like to include you in that relationship too if you’re willing.” “That’s why I’m here,” I answer, I’m not as good nor anywhere near as
holy as Jesus is for sure but I’m willing to work on it.” Jesus says, “You misunderstand. My Father wants you just as you are. He loves you because he sees the potential you have, your eagerness your simplicity. He’s just affording you the opportunity to be more of a participant than a spectator.” With a pat on Jesus’ back God chimes in, ‘I couldn’t have said it better myself Jesus! That’s what I mean. So what do you say? Are you interested in becoming more intimately involved in our family?”
Well what would that mean?” I ask. My heart is pacing with nervousness and anticipation. Can I do this? What if I fail? Will they be disappointed in
me? My thoughts were interrupted by God’s words “ Only more times together like this. My Son and I could let your see circumstances and people as we do. We’d introduce you to some of our friends and spend more time with Jesus’ Mother. We could talk things over together. What do you say? Do you want to join us? My nervousness had melted away with the sound of
God’s voice. It was replaced with a kind of awe and embarrassment. They just wanted me to hang out with them. It was much simple than I thought. It always is with Jesus. Everything is much more peaceful when He’s with me. Without Him I get full of myself and cocky, eventually tripping over my own feet. I could tell that being with Jesus and His Father could do nothing
but make me a better person. Why wouldn’t I want that? “I’d love to if you’ll have me,” I answer. God and His Son look at each other and smile. As one unit, they engulf me with a double hug “Thank you” says Jesus, “Thank you for believing in us we’ll never let you down.”
God the Father directed us over to the table where supper was waiting “Wait till you taste the Bread,” he says. “It’s especially delicious.

what a team!

You are the sand that everyone enjoys
We’re all different seashells –decoration, extra

You are the picture people admire
We’re the frame allowing them to focus on you.

You are the water people drink when they’re thirsty
We’re the glass, helping them to hold on to you.

You are the dish of my favorite flavor of ice cream.
We’re the spoons that help others connect to you.

You are the Creator we are the clay. Potter and earthen vessel.
What a team!

Through the Eyes of God the Father part 4

Looking at the drops of real blood coming through Jesus’ forehead like perspiration you wanted to say, “Let’s forget this. No, Son you don’t have to go through this. Stop it right now.” You wanted to wipe his face, hug him, pat him on the back and say, “It’s OK. We don’t have to do this.” But as your only Son begged for help you remained silent. You did not rescue him. It was your agony too. Father and Son both suffering in that garden because of my sins. Because you loved me more than I deserve to be loved. Because you knew it was the only was for sins to be forgiven and eternal happiness to be available to all.
God I cannot fathom that much love. I can only respond in silent awe, humility and gratitude.
End.

Through the Eyes of God the Father part 3

As the supper neared the end Jesus asked his three good friends to go with him to the olive garden. You knew then that soon you’d be able to comfort your Son whose own heart was beginning to feel very heavy. Jesus told the three to pray while he moved to a more solitary place. That’s when you heard your Son’s struggle. He talked with you for hours. He finally realized the physical pain his human body would have to endure. He knew the torture he’d have to go through and the rejection by his own people. Foreseeing all of that of course he’d go to his Father. His real Father. He’d go to the One who could actually do something about it. He’d go to the One who truly loved him, who was a part of him. Your Son went to you God and asked for mercy. He begged over and over again. “Please don’t make me have to do this. If you say I have to then, of course, I will. Please tell me it isn’t necessary, Father.” You, the Perfect Dad, look at Jesus, the Perfect Son. You know what will happen. You know how much pain your own child will have to endure. It must have been agony for you God! Understanding this had to happen was not as painful in the planning stage.
…to be continued

Through the Eyes of God the Father part 2

I believe you began to show him how it would all unfold. You both knew what was coming. And, too soon, it did. You understood Judas’ actions as part of the plan. You watched as Judas went to the authorities and betrayed your Son. You heard him arrange for 30 pieces of silver. Your Son- sold. Then your Son gathered them together for their Last Supper. Jesus sent Judas on his way. It was all beginning to unfold. Your heart began to ache as you watched your Son memorialize the offering of His body and blood in bread and wine. It would represent him because his life on earth would be coming to an end soon. Your Son learned humility from you and his Mother and foster father. Your heart must have been moved as he washed his disciples’ feet. I guess you memorized his every movement, thinking “we need to talk. We need to spend some time together soon.
…to be continued

Through the Eyes of God the Father part 1

God our Father, you gave us the life of your only child, you own Son. You must have been happy at his birth. You didn’t want him to be born in a castle, I’m sure. So you celebrated with angels, a drummer boy and kings. We got that part of your message easily because it’s a gift for us. I like gifts, especially one so special. Your precious Son obeyed his parents and served them until he was finally baptized by John. At that point you just HAD to burst forth! You had been quiet the whole time. “He everyone, this is my Son!” How fatherly an act. How proud of him you were at that moment. Then you watched him go about performing miracles and preaching about you. You two shared hours of prayer together, quietly communicating during the middle of the night.
…to be continued.

Turn to God, others, and self

During Lent we might want to reflect on Teshuva (Hebrew for repentance, from shuvah, “to turn”). Each of us is given the chance, again and again to turn toward God and Lent is a good time to look at our lives and make decisions about how we might once again turn toward God, toward self and turn toward others. We can take some time for reflection and thought about each of these elements and how we might turn. “How will I turn toward myself during Lent?” I wouldn't normally think about that question. “How will I turn toward others?” “Who are the others and how can I turn toward them?” In thinking about the “other”, we think of people who may irritate us, or a boss or co-worker who is difficult to get along with. What can we do to turn toward them?

"We should have only one ambition: that people see that we, despite our limits, are people who really love the Lord, who are in love with him and who do not create an abyss between that which we say and that which we really are," Cardinal Ce told the pope and Vatican officials early in a retreat. To me that means we live our lives as people of integrity.

Plain Ole Blog

I'm kinda new to the whole world of Blogs and blogging ~ as evidenced in my own. Not wise to all that shines, clicks and rattles. Have no idea how to do all that...must have been absent that day. The recent blog awards caused me to search around in Blog world and I'm duly impressed! The Ironic Catholic, Curt Jester and a few others really WOW me.
My own blog is....well, its design is boring. Someday I'll learn blog-ese and that will be great. In the meantime I appreciate the readers' patience with my Plain Ole Blog. Yet, somehow, it speaks of simplicity to me. Not an excuse, really. It's just an example of how my mind works I guess. I only want to share my personal prayer and thoughts with anyone who chooses to read it...and perhaps they might share their own. That's what it's like to be a part of a spiritual family.
But I admit it would be nice if the reader was visually pleased, too! Kudos to all you Super Bloggers!

Someday we'll be home.

Dear Friend
“Someday we’ll be home.”
God challenges you and me to live in the opposite way this world lives; counter culture. What others value, we don’t. What others have as their goals, we don’t. And I know you are as OK with that as I am. We’re different and that just has to be ok. This life is just a journey in which we’re supposed to touch as many lives as we can and show them a good example of God’s love by the way we live. It’s a difficult journey sometimes and sometimes it feels long. Remember the saying “He ain’t heavy. He’s my brother.” That’s what this journey is like. We can do this because of whose we are.
And someday we’ll be home. And it will all be worth it. And you and I will be together there and it will be HOME. Home is where you feel like you belong. You’re with the people you love and they all love you. There’s an abundance of kindness and patience, depth and sincerity. But beyond all that, it’s where we’ll finally see Jesus face to face (I can hardly write those words comfortably because I know I am not worthy).
For now tho, it’s all about the waiting and how we’ll do that. I’ll pray for your waiting and you pray for mine.
Thank you.

Praise Prayer

I praise you Creator of the universe! Wonder Maker! Artist Divine! Your works are beautiful. The human body, birth, the changing of seasons, human’s ability to connect with the Supernatural thru prayer, miraculous healing, humans who can live virtue to an heroic degree. Impressive work, my God! You show your divinity best thru simplicity. Your greatness is displayed in humility. Your power in pure faith. There are no others like you, my Lord.
You teach us how to be at peace by trusting in you. You gave the example in Gethsemane. “Your will be done, Father.” After that surrendering prayer you remained calm. You didn’t struggle or resist. You allowed those whom you created to torture you because you needed to show us how much you love us. There is so much to learn from the example you gave us. The world cannot contain your goodness. We humans do a poor job of being your reflection. I thank you for your Word, which instructs us, and to which we can always turn for guidance. So generous of you to leave us with something we can pour over and reflect on.
I thank you too my very giving Lord for allowing us to connect with you so imtimately by consuming your very Body and Blood. How much closer could you allow us to be? So simple these gifts are but so immensely profound an act – to eat your Body and Blood in bread and wine; thereby becoming one with you. Divinity and humanity co-mingling. Is that allowed? Can it be done? Do Kings share their lives with paupers? Only in You, my God. You are glorious and worthy of all praise and thanks.

1 Cor 13

Not long ago Sunday’s Gospel was 1 Cor 13. “Love is patient, love is kind…” You know the one that’s read at every wedding. But it reminded me of the definition of who I must be. “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If I can speak in tongues but don’t love I’m only noise. If I’m smart enough to know everything, that wouldn’t matter. All knowledge is useless when Jesus finally comes. No one will need information. It will be useless.
“When perfection comes the imperfect passes away.” If I have faith enough to move mountains I am absolutely nothing if there’s no love with that. Scripture doesn’t say I’m good for a short while. Nor does it say I could be of a little help in one specific case. Paul says I am nothing. All the information in the world and all the faith/spirituality I can dig up from within me is nothing. Nothing I do, say or think is worthwhile if I am not at the same time patient, kind, humble and persevering.
I could be a martyr (“surrender my body to the flames”) or live in complete simplicity and poverty (“give all I possess to the poor”) and that would mean nothing if I wasn’t gentle and peaceful during my life.
It’s all about who I am not what I do or have or think or believe. The big hurdle I’d have to overcome is the 18” distance between my head and my heart.

wish I knew how to put this on the sidebar....this will have to do for now.

Holy Family in Egypt

After the three Kings left and the Presentation in the temple, Lk 2:39 reads “When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him. “
The Gospel of Matthew explains that because of Herod, Joseph had to take his little family to Egypt where they live until Herod died. So they may have returned to Nazereth in Galilee when Jesus was about 5 yrs old.
Jesus as a toddler in Egypt….So he learned to walk and talk there. His first steps and his first words happened somewhere in Egypt. They traveled south across Palestine to escape Herod’s threats. No cell phones or land lines then so His grandparents probably had no ideas where they were or why. Joseph and Mary began their married life together in Egypt, alone with Jesus.
Finally one day they learn that Herod is dead and they begin their long journey to Nazareth. No doubt Jesus’ grandparents were all thrilled to finally meet him!
What was that reunion like?

Image Prayer: Jesus’ infancy

Their story began with an immaculate conception to a virgin out of wedlock. The fiancée is instructed to marry her anyway. Political situations require that they leave their support system and travel for days on a donkey. When they finally arrived the holy family found no room to rent in Bethlehem. They shepherds, angels and wise men come to adore Jesus. They learn that Herod is trying to kill Jesus and escape to Egypt while the Holy Innocents were murdered. From anxiety to exultation to fear, their emotions ran. In Egypt they became a “normal” family raising a baby son. That’s an awful lot of stress for a newly married couple with a baby when the mom is only about 15!

Mary visits Elizabeth

The Annunciation to Mary was your date of conception, virginally. So God our Father had made the decision to have you come to earth the way every child does except for your virginal conception. God chose an average girl in an average town. So Mary, the young girl is pregnant with you and soon after she tells her parents and fiancée. You, Jesus, were still very tiny in utero at this point with your body still being formed.
Soon afterwards, Mary travels to visit her cousin who is also pregnant. (You traveled a lot while still in the womb!) She probably came by donkey with others. After several days journey she gets off the donkey and approaches Elizabeth’s house. Mary’s cousin was pregnant too. Her baby picked up on her excitement and your cousin John moved all around in his mother’s womb. Elizabeth says this to Mary who responds by praising God, their heavenly Father for all the miracles He has performed. John was born first, but Mary had returned home by then. God’s mystery was beginning to unfold but the children’s parents didn’t know how that would happen. John would be raised by Elizabeth and Zechariah. Zechariah told everyone that John was going to prepare the way for the Lord – and that he did!

Simeon, the man

Jesus was circumcised and then taken to the Temple by his parents for the purification. They met Simeon.
Simeon, Luke calls you righteous and devout; the Holy Spirit was with you. What were you like? You must have really been hungry for the coming of the Lord. You were so hungry and prayerful that God filled you. He had promised you’d see Jesus. . What a faithful, holy prayerful man you must have been. Hungry yet patient. You lived such a good obedient life that God promised you Jesus. You were one of God’s extra ordinary people, Simeon. You made God smile. You must have persevered in your prayer -or maybe you were just stubborn. Or were you just so simple, good and faithful that God offered you this gift? How excited you must have been when you sensed Jesus was coming.
It might have happened before – you thought he was coming but it wasn’t really him. This time the urging is stronger. You get excited and hopeful. Is this the One? Is this really Him? You went to the Temple, prayed and waited. How long did you wait? Did it feel like forever? Did you feel unworthy? Did you straighten up the Temple, fix your hair and robes and then finally calm down and wait?
As soon as Mary and Joseph brought the baby in, you knew! I bet they hardly got one sentence out. Did they look like you thought they’d look? Poorer than you’d imagined? Simpler? Younger? You reached for the baby Jesus. You reached and Mary handed Him to you. You must have been elated. You knew, really knew this was Jesus. I imagine you lifting Him up to God, His Father. Your heart must have been singing. You were finally holding Jesus, the Savior! Did it confuse you that He was just a normal baby? Or did this miracle just fall in line with other ways God worked in your life. Finally you hold the baby near to your heart. What a sacred moment. All your hunger fulfilled. All your longings met. All your fears calmed. What a picture that must have been. Simeon holding the baby Jesus, the Savior of the world. Jesus may have looked like a normal baby at that moment, but Simeon, how your eyes must have danced! Your body was elated. What a precious sacred sight. No words here in Scripture, only an intimate union of hearts.Then you pray, “Now Lord you can dismiss your servant in peace.”

Run then Rest

“Let the little children come to Me for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Mth 19:14

If my 4 yr old niece had a problem she’d get upset and run to her mom or dad with it. I’ve seen it happen many times. “Mom, Alissa (her 1 yr old sister) took my doll and won’t give it back.” Or “Dad, can you fix the computer?” She hardly gives her problem a thought other than to run to a parent. Once that’s done, she rests calmly.
My niece Margie knows her mom will somehow manage to get her doll back and keep Alissa smiling at the same time. She also knows with complete confidence that her parents have the ability to fix whatever is wrong. She has no doubt that she just has to tell her dad about the computer and it’s as good as done. He may not fix it right away but he will get to it.
So after running to a parent, I’ve seen Margie just sit down and wait calmly for the results. In time her doll will be returned to her or the computer will be available again. What does she do while she’s waiting? Margie is usually very calm and confident. It’s as though she put that need aside. She may then go and draw a picture or get something to eat. She did all she had to do, i.e., tell her parents. She knows they love her and want her to be happy so she’s sure they’ll fix what’s wrong. And they do. In time. Margie’s work is done. She can feel relieved and return to a peaceful state because her parents will take care of her.
She didn’t ask for anything bad.
She hadn’t done anything wrong.
It was a just a fair request.
Her experience shows her that they’ve always helped her in the past and that they keep telling her how much they love her. She gets daily hugs and kisses, treats and smiles. So she keeps drawing until her request is fulfilled. She’s calm, happy and patient. Sure enough, at a point when she’d almost forgotten the urgency of her need, her doll is returned. The computer is fine. She smiles and may or may not remember to say thank you. Life is good.
“Let the little children come to Me for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
So the reverse means if you are not like little Margie the kingdom of heaven may not be your home. But Lord, that’s where I want to be – home with You! So, I must be as trusting as a little child.
When the bills are high – as long as I’m working as diligently as I can and my spending is just and fair – I can run to you for help and then forget about it.
When my family is arguing I can pray for Your peace and then rest in You.
When work is overwhelming I can turn my gaze to You and work an honest day’s labor calmly.
When illness strikes a loved one, I can run to You for answers and just wait in confidence. It will be done in Your time. “Do not hinder the little children from coming to Me”, You said. So, here I come running Father God. I have a long list! I am Your weakest follower and I find myself stressed out or tired. I must be doing this all wrong. I’m not resting in You or waiting with confidence.
Little Margie will distract herself while she waits for mom or dad to address her need.
“The Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” So I need to learn from her. I need to put aside my complex thinking process and analytical skills. They don’t belong here. My restlessness and anxiety aren’t congruent with child-like simplicity either. After I run to You Father God I should do what the 4 yr old does, rest in You. Run, then rest.
Drop the subject, distract myself with other things and let go. Once I tell my tale I should release my anxiety even if nothing seems to have changed right away. I know from my own life story that You do love me, God. Things have always eventually worked out, differently perhaps from my plan, but they have worked out. And if the worry comes back I look to You and let it go again. If I need to do a moment of releasing through imagery prayer or breathing or exercise then that’s what I should do in order to let God be God.
If the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these then that’s who I want to be because that’s where I want to be. With You, my Lord.

In spiritual training

Jesus seems to work on a "need to know" basis with me. I can't handle it all so He feeds me spiritual milk slowly until I handle more.

A Technological Nativity

On Christmas Eve, while waiting for the children’s Mass to begin and during the choir’s caroling I took the 4 yr old and 1 yr old out of Church to walk around the property. The 4yr old girl had received a toy stuffed horse and was carrying it around with her. I asked the 4 yr old to pretend she was Mary and that her horse was a donkey. She insisted it was a horse and I encouraged her to just pretend it was the donkey. She agreed reluctantly. I hid around the corner with the younger child and tried to get “Mary” to put herself in the Blessed Mother’s position wanting her to recall the star that led the shepherds to Bethlehem. I called out, “But Mary, how will we find you?” After a moment of silence “Mary” said, “Pretend I sent you an email and told you there was going to be a star in the sky to follow.”

~

Later I took the one year old to the side altar to show her that the baby was now in the manger. Being so tiny her head barely reached high enough to see the hay strewn along the floor of the stable. She did reach to pet the sheep nearest to her saying, “ah ah, nice baby.” I tried to direct her sights towards the Infant but she had to stretch around the sheep to see Him. Her first response was to hide back by the sheep, reach out to see the Baby Jesus and say, “ Peek A Boo!”

The Manger Story

This was Pope John Paul II's Christmas Card for 2004

Mary descends from the donkey – not an easy task when you’re due any minute. Joseph stopped looking for a place for them to stay partly because everyplace was full but also because his new wife was beginning to feel labor pains and they both knew it was almost time. Mary, helped by her husband, stands on wobbly legs. She tries to adjust her large body to be able to walk into their temporary home. Two would enter but three would emerge from the stable. Both parents knew the new addition to their little family was to be the world’s – and their – Messiah. But for right now they could only deal with the situation at hand. Joseph looks around to see how he would arrange the new accommodations. There are cows, goats, a couple of horses and camels with a few sheep loitering near the doorway. Joseph sees a pile of hay, a manger and a woolen blanket draped on a mail…but that’s all. He removes his cloak and covers the hay he has smoothed into a place for Mary to lie down upon. He helps her walk slowly and carefully to the makeshift bed, the throne upon which the Savior, the long awaited Messiah would emerge.
Mary felt momentary relief from the long donkey ride but the contractions began almost as soon as Joseph gently placed the woolen blanket over her distended body. Mary couldn’t help but wonder what her first-born would look like. So far it had all been normal –except for his conception of course. Mary had back pain, fatigue, cravings and now the intermittent spasms of pain. As one contraction relaxed she heard Joseph say he was going inside the inn to look for help. Mary tried to stay calm and glanced around. The cows and horses were stirring and making sounds she hadn’t expected to hear while her child was being delivered. They were confused by all the commotion and about their new resident companions. They must sense something, Mary thought.
Joseph returned with a maid from the inn who saw Mary and realized her delivery was imminent…Mary’s deliverance and ours.
A few moments later – between the maiden’s last words of encouragement, Mary’s groans, between the baas of the sheep and the bleats of the goats, and Joseph’s ‘oh my, oh my’
He arrived.
He: the King of Kings.
The Savior of the world.
The Redeemer and Messiah.
Arrived: came forth from Mary needing to be wiped clean and uttering tiny cries.
Maiden and father, who had been kneeling beside Mary, sat back on their legs and stared at the infant. Like us, the maiden did not recognize Jesus to be other than an innocent little newborn with good strong lungs. Joseph, however, was utterly amazed. His smiling face moved from Mary to the baby boy and back again. Mary was smiling too, finally, once she saw her baby.
The long awaited Messiah was cleaned up. Our King of Kings was wrapped in a blanket brought along on the long journey from Nazareth specifically for him. His grandmother made it for him while Mary was visiting her cousin Elizabeth. And now the Savior of the world was warm and quiet lying with Mary. The helpful maiden now slipped away from the family, promising to return later to check on them.
Alone now in a stable Mary and Joseph kissed and held their tiny son. The animals were quiet again so Joseph’s prayer over his new wife and foster son could be heard.
“O Holy God, I thank you for the good health of our new son. He is a beautiful son – a gift to Mary and me from You, the God of the universe. As You instructed his name will be Jesus and his mother and I will love him, protect him and care for him everyday of our lives. This is a miracle O God; my wife and I can barely utter this prayer of praise and thanks to You. But we want to please You in all ways. Our baby Jesus will get the best I can offer him. I will work hard to provide for him and for Mary. We pray Father God only for your continued blessings.” Joseph then reached over to hold the baby. Still on his knees, Joseph raised Jesus high in the air. Through this gesture he offered the child to His real Father. “Look at your Son! Bless him and us. Amen.”

Silent all this while, a single tear fell from Mary’s eye along the side of her face. “Amen” she said.

Newsboys

l I love the Newsboys new album: Go
Everywhere We Go, Like a Child, and I Dunno are 3 GREAT songs.

I Feel Chosen and Special

A dumb animal they call me.
They mock and use my name as a curse.
But I was the one grazing in the field that day when Joseph came.
He traded a carpentry tool for me and we began our long journey.
They were very kind to me on that trip to Bethlehem.
I didn't realize who the child in Mary's womb was.
But I felt chosen and so very special.

Three walls and a simple roof were all I had to offer.
No heat, no light, not even a door to protect them from the cold
But they seemed to be glad to find me and to rest here.
And I felt chosen and so very special.

All I really am is a container for food.
My name means "to eat".
Cows, horses, lambs - their mouths push into my center while they eat.
I wasn't clean. And I'm not very sturdy.
I had never carried so precious a bundle!
People were calling the baby boy an Infant King.
And I was his first throne: a manger.
I felt chosen and so very special.

None of them felt as unworthy as I.
I am the hay -course, cold and damp.
I am only good for animals to eat.
I was not the soft pillow or bed that a baby should have.
This infant has a rough beginning.
I wish I was softer, more supple and I smelled sweeter.
But I was the closest to his skin.
I felt chosen and so very special

He could have chosen a smarter, more faithful person.
He could have chosen a wiser, calmer, more loving soul than mine.
But I am the one he calls the apple of his eye.
I am the one he holds in the palm of his hand.
I am the reason that his last throne was a crucifix.
I feel chosen and so very special.

Love is Born

A cold world you enter
The coldest time: December
At this time you’re needed
Her Lord’s voice Mary heeded
And so Love is born!

Loneliness, pain and sorrow
They’ll all be gone tomorrow
Our lives feeling lost
You came – at great cost
And then Love is born!

Who can stand in the face of such love?
How will peace come? Only from above
Little child please show us
That you love us and know us
That’s how Love is born!

Jesus, Messiah, the Holy One
Prince of Peace. God’s only Son
I invite you into my heart
I promise my life will start to show
Love is born!

Psalm Of An Emerging Emmanuel

O Come O Come Emmanuel
I pray with upraised eyes.
Drop down, O Dew of Heaven,
that God might walk and talk on earth
might heal and feed our sin-soaked world.

O Come O Come Emmanuel
my prayers like searchlights
comb the starry winter skies.
Descend from the black hole of some neighboring galaxy
to green with your grace
our barren earth.

Such an Advent waiting prayer
can be a lifelong profession of patient longing
unless I know, with all my heart
that Emmanuel not only comes down
but also comes forth and emerges.

O Come O Come Emmanuel
come forth from deep within me
with Christmas luminous beauty.
For my heart has become the sacred crib,
the birthing place of God-among us.

Peace on earth and justice for all
will only become manifest in our lives
when enough of your sons and daughters
awaken to your divine design
that has made each of us
and emerging Emmanuel.

Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim by Ed Hays. copyright 1988. Forest of Peace Books, Inc. Route one Box 248 Easton Kansas 66020

You're Welcome! from Jesus

So today I shall give you flowers
and tomorrow just for you -
I will bend and bow the fields of wheat
and waltz the daisies across the meadows.
I will tickle the bubbling brook
to make it laugh, and float sunbeams
across the waters to make them dance.
I will gently touch each blade of grass
with dew and whisper secrets
to each leaf upon the tree.
I shall throw stars across the sky
and drape darkness over the hillsides
and then at night...
just before you close your eyes...
I will smile as I hear your loving prayer
of thanks
And I will say quietly so that only you will hear -
"You are very welcome."
copyright 1996 S. Patricia Proctor, OSC

...what she said....

I see more Pharisees among Christians than there were around Pilate.
– St. Margaret of Cortona

A Thank You Card to God

I’m bound by human words but they are so limited and useless for expressing thanks to You, my Savior. Lord I’ve used many of those words before like a 4 yr old who doesn’t grasp the degree of sacrificial parental love. That child will go into the garden her mother planted, break off a beautiful blooming rose and present it to her parent along with a big smile.
But it wasn’t the child’s work that produced the rose. And mom may even have preferred it to remain exactly where it was planted. Like that child I use your gift of speech and give it back to you. Thank you God, I say repeatedly. I praise you God. While a nice gesture, better thanks would be more active: a life of love, an attitude of gratitude. In all humility and with apprehension about my own ability to follow through I say simply, “Watch me. I’ll show you my thanks. “

Parable of the Talents cont'd

God knows what talents and potential He gave you.

• what are those talents/gifts ?(please don't deny them!) He gave me faith, family and friends. A healthy body and good mind and a decent income. He gave me staff to work with and an agency to help grow.
• how can you increase what God blessed you with? I can improve the quality of my relationship with Him and help others to do the same. I can develop the potential I see in my staff and complete the work done in our non profit agency to the best of my ability, expanding it where possible.
• what will the effect of that increase look like? I will praise and thank God more for His generosity. I understand that God, rightfully, expects a just return on His gifts. I will try to be more detached and less possessive appreciating that I am completely dependent on God.

To whom much is given, much is expected. The lazy servant only returned back to the Master what was given to him. For that the servant was condemned. What will your choice be?

Parable of the Talents

Reflect on this as a means to prepare to offer appropriate thanks to God on Thanksgiving Day!

Parable of the Talents
The Parable of the Talents is a parable of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew Matthew 25:14-30
The parable is apparently the origin of the use of the word "talent" to use a skill or ability, from the common interpretation of the story to teach that we are under a moral obligation to use our abilities rather than bury them.
1. The real point of the Bible Study is to recognize that we are renters and not owners of anything we have. God gave us gifts to use for HIS purpose. Based on that reflect on the the loss of each of the following:
+ Your reputation is not your own. Imagine it’s loss.
+ Your parents and/or kids are not your own.
+ Your mental health
+ Your physical health
+ Your friends
+ Scripture
+ Eucharist
+ Your financial security
+ What if God decided not to offer Reconciliation and mercy
+ What if God’s love was conditional
What do you think God wants back from you out of all the talents and gifts He gave you?
2. God was not required to give us anything at all be He gave us all of the above listed items simply out of His generosity. How do you plan to show God your gratitude in the future?

God's Garden

St. Therese of Lisieux said that in God’s garden everyone can’t be a rose. That would simply be boring. For God to be truly delighted with His creations variety is needed. Some are beautiful roses while others are pure lilies. Yet some are like fragrant violets while others have the simplicity of the daisy.

Daisies can’t wish themselves into roses. First, that’s impossible to do and second, the wasted effort would eventually wear down and destroy the daisy.

The Little Flower also said that perfection doesn’t come in doing God’s will but in being God’s will.

So, if I am only a tiny buttercup or a mum that is what I must joyfully be to the best of my ability. Sure I can see the beauty of the regal rose but all the wishing in the world will not make me that. For my own salvation and humility God allowed me to be the lowly buttercup. Neither must I become a weed in God’s garden, giving bad example and destroying others in my path with my negativity. Dandelions trick the eye into thinking it has seen a flower when in truth it too is a weed. I cannot deceive others into believing I am (or the truth is) different from what I am. To give God true joy ~ and I’ve just defined that as my life’s purpose~ I must be the buttercup that reflects it’s beauty back to the Creator.

Why Me

Trace Balin is a Christian singer and she wrote and sang a song in 1989 called “Why Me.” I was reflecting on that song and wondered why the Lord would indeed choose to watch over, bless and save me. I’ve done nothing to deserve that. I’m average and the Book of Revelations says, “ I wish you were either hot or cold but you are not. You are lukewarm and therefore I vomit you from my mouth.” I’ve prayed a lot of words about my desire to do better and to please God. I’ve talked, written and sung about it. But the truth is I’ve lived an adequate life only. I’m not the saint I wanted to be. I haven’t saved hundreds of souls. I can’t even keep 10 Commandments. I’ve begged for forgiveness and promised the Lord I’ll try harder – which I do temporarily. But over time He can’t count on my. I’ll return to average. My life is about me and my schedule and my needs rather than living a life of reflective gratitude. And I do that over and over again. So the question remains. Why me?
I’m old enough now to know that the answer has nothing to do with me. It’s all about you, Jesus. 1Cor 13 says God is Love. You can’t be resentful or angry with me. I know you are a just God and you expect back the fruits of the seeds you’ve sown in me and everyone else. I know I’m only a tenant on this earth. You are the Owner and Creator of it all.
But I know b/c of the way your eyes beheld the widow who gave her last dime that you are Love. I know b/c you cried when your friend Lazarus died. I know b/c you lived with and helped your Mother Mary for 30 years before your public ministry. I also know you are kind and merciful b/c of my own life experiences. When I was very sick you provided the right doctors. When I lost my job You provided the contacts to get me a new one. When I attend Mass you more than generously share Your Body and Blood to feed me.
So I don’t need to focus on the question Why Me. I only need to focus on and praise you for the answer~ God Is Love.

To You from Jesus as you prepare to pray together

This is something Jesus wants to say to you as you prepare to spend time together with Him in prayer and reflection~

Before you were born, I knew we would be sharing this time together. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time and I am so happy that it is finally happening. There are so many things I have wanted to tell you about my love for you. I needed this moment to gather you all together so I could have your full attention. Please listen to what I have to say to you. I have asked my Father, the Holy Spirit and many of my angels to be in this room with me to help you understand my message. I want to speak to your heart and to your heart alone. I am waiting at the entrance to your heart. I am at the door. It is up to you to let Me in.
Can you remember the time you took your first two steps? I can because I was with you. Oh, you were scared all right. With your baby way of thinking it was much safer to crawl than to try to walk. It was a lot faster, too. When you crawled, you could visit every room in your house. But trying to get to one place from another on just two legs...how could you manage such a stupendous achievement? And what if you fall down and break your nose? And what if your family laughs at your clumsiness? And what if you never learn to do it right? Such was the beginning of your fears, remember? Even so--even with all those anxieties hovering over you--you set your face steadfastly toward the arms that were waiting for you and you mastered the most difficult art of walking on your own two legs. See how well it turned out! You still know how to do it! Aren't you glad you trusted life? Aren't you glad you tried--even though you were frightened at the same time?
Then came other challenges. Can you remember how you met them? Do you remember the people I sent into your life to help you? Think about all of the good things that have happened to you. It is the story of your life at its best.
There were other times too. No one in all of creation has ever said life would be fair. I know and I understand and I still feel what it's like when your world turns against you. In the Garden of Gethsemane, everyone turned against me that night. Everyone. All of my followers left me and ran away. Peter did exactly what he said he wouldn't do. I called Judas, friend, when he approached Me.
That night, I looked to my friends, and my friends did not look back. Where there is opportunity for love, there is opportunity for hurt. I know you have been hurt. That's why I so deeply desire to speak to your heart. I love you more than you will ever understand on this earth. Your mind and your heart cannot contain the depth of my love for you. Please believe me, I love you. I chose to die for you because I love you. I was surrounded by enemies and betrayed by friends, because I love you. I was abandoned on this earth because I love you. Are you slowly beginning to understand when I say to you, I love you? All I ask is that you love me too. I want you to keep your eyes on me when all of earth begins to turn against you. My father's loyalty to me is my Father's loyalty to you. When all of earth turns against you, all of heaven turns toward you. You are not walking alone. I promised you that I would always be with you. Stand on that promise. I have given you myself in the Eucharist. Please allow me to enter your heart. I left you my body and my blood. It is my most precious gift to you. Please do not reject me again. I want to live within you and help you to trust me and have confidence in me. You cannot do that on your own. I am here to help you. I am begging you to love me. There is nothing more that I can do. It is your choice to put me first in your life. And until you make that decision, I will wait and I will wait. And my friend, I will never stop loving you...
Jesus

Book of Job

“Tomorrow, if all literature was to be destroyed and it was left to me to retain one work only, I should save Job.” (Victor Hugo)
I copied this section from the Internet….
While Job’s questions and complaints often come close to charging God with wrong, he never crosses the line and humbly submits to God when told that the answers to his questions are beyond his ability to understand. Thus the book shows us how the righteous should bear up under suffering (“You have heard of the perseverance of Job” - Ja 5:11).

Man is unable to subject the painful experiences of human existence to a
meaningful analysis - God’s workings are beyond man’s ability to fathom. Man simply cannot tie all the “loose ends” of the Lord’s purposes together. We must learn to trust in God, no matter the circumstances.

Suffering may be allowed as a compliment to one’s spirituality - God allowed Job to suffer to prove to Satan what kind of man he really was. What confidence God had in Job!

Why did I choose this Book?
1. We will learn more about God’s omnipotence and artistry so we can offer an awed and grateful response
2. We can examine the relationship between God and Job as insight into our own relationship with God.
3. We can understand our need for humility when considering how we fit into Gods’ Big Picture

Relationship Issues Job was a sound and honest man who revered God and shunned evil. He had 7 sons and 3 daughters. When his kids had parties Job would get them up at dawn the next day and pray for their purification and then offer up a sacrifice.

God really believed Job would never turn on Him and that Job would continue to lead a good life no matter how he was tempted. God bragged about Job. He felt so strongly about it that God allowed Satan to test Job.
Would God have as much confidence in your faithfulness? Would you like God to brag about you? What would you like Him to say? What can He truthfully say now?

In Job 42:7 God gets really angry with Job because He thought Job knew better. God saw Job’s potential and believed in him.
What could your potential produce?

In the beginning of the story (2:10) Job says: “If we accept happiness from God’s hand must we not take sorrow too? Job uttered no sinful word.” Then by Chapter 3 vs 1, Job curses the day of his birth.
Job is 42 chapters long and much of that is filled with complaints and arguments from Job. What percentage of your life have complaints been?
Job had a choice and responded by moaning with his friends and answering God back saying things like: “Not for nothing, but…” and “ With all due respect…”
Job thought he could speak as honestly as he wanted with God… and did. Job’s complaining was described as “long-winded blustering” in 8:2. Would you want God to describe your conversations with Him that way? Have you ever been this honest in your conversations with God? What’s your normal choice about how to deal with extreme frustration or suffering?

(Ch 7 vs 20) Job moans to God: “What have I done to you, you tireless watcher of humanity? Can’t you overlook my fault?” and in Ch 10 vs 1 Job goes on, “I will let my embittered soul speak out and say to God ‘Is it right for You to injure me? You know very well that I am innocent.’ “
When did you ever doubt God’s actions and question Him about it?
The people of the times thought that suffering was punishment for guilt.
(Ch 13:15) “I have no other hope but to justify my conduct in God’s eyes.”
Do you perform this practice? Does it work for you? (It didn’t seem to do so well for poor ole Job.)
Job pushes on in 16: 12 “I was at peace until God shattered me. He took me by the neck and tore me to pieces. He made me a target for His archery and shot arrows at me from every direction.”
Are you thinking:
That’s right Job! Speak on the issue! Right is right!
OR
Ooooohhhh you’re gonna be in soooo much trouble! You’d better shuttup Job and take it like a man!

True friends aren’t necessarily people who moan with you (as Job discovered). Give an example from your own life.

God’s Creative Artistry as Described in Book of Job
1. He shakes the earth and moves mountains (Job 9:6)
2. The sun rises at His command. (9:7)
3. He set the stars and stretched out the skies (9:8)
4. God keeps the raindrops back from spilling over in floods onto humankind. (36:27)
5. The nations are filled with food. (36:31)
6. His thunder gives warning of the lightening in His hands. (36:33)
7. He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth.” (37:6)
8. God breathes and ice is there. (37:10)
9. He Himself directs the seasonal changes. (37:12)
10. God says “Who decided the dimensions of the earth?” (38:5)
11. What pillars support the earth? (38:6)
12. Who keeps the sea pent up behind closed doors? (37:8)
13. Have you ever given orders to the morning? (37:12)
14. Have you an inkling of the extent of the world? (37:18)
15. From which direction does lightening fork when it scatters sparks over the earth? (37:24)
16. Have you seen where snow is kept or hail is stored up? (37:22)
17. Can you guide the morning star season by season and show the Bear and its cubs which way to go? (37:32)
18. Is the wild ox willing to serve you or spend a night beside your manger? (39:9)
19. Are you the one who made the horse so brave and covered his back with flowing hair? (39:19)
20. Does the eagle soar at your command? (39:27)
21. Has your arm the strength of God’s? Can your voice thunder? (40:4)


6. Are you committing cosmic plagiarism, i.e., taking responsibility and accepting thanks for work God did through you during the day? How can you rectify that? (or do you want a repeat of Job Ch 38 that starts out with God saying “Who is this obscuring my designs with his empty headed words?”)

7. Spend some reflection time appreciating God’s artistry. List your favorites from among all of God’s creative marvels.

8. What things has God done in your life or the lives of your immediate family that show his omnipotence?

9. A grateful heart is a heart that is humble and can say WOW. It can be awed at the wonders beyond itself. From all that you know about the person of God, what gives you awe?

10. What did Job teach you?

For more info on the Book Of Job~ (very easy reading)
http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/job/job_sg.pdf

Are You Awed?

A grateful heart is a humble heart. It's a heart that can say WOW! It can be awed at the wonders beyond itself. Of all God's wonders what gives me awe?

• His unconditional love despite my ingratitude
• His constant mercy
• His hope and confidence in each of us
• His Body and Blood in Eucharist.

What makes you say "WOW, God! Great work" ?

Mary and Cinderella

If God had asked me to be the Mother of God (I'm just making a comparison between my own weaknesses and Mary's fiat) it would have gone something like the story of Cinderella and her mean, ugly stepsisters. Mary is Cinderella, of course. She is the quiet gentle one whom the Prince of Eternal Life embraced. She is hidden, humble and self sacrificing.
I, like the stepsisters, am selfish. I am concerned about my own needs and wishes. Example: I'd not have settled in giving birth to God's Son in a manger for animals. I'd have pushed Joseph to find something more befitting. But that would have been more about my desire to do a good job than acquiescing to God's will. God wanted the manger so as to display Jesus' glory and co-inciding humility.
In every Bible story Mary responds gently and gracefully. Indeed she was gracefilled. Like Cinderella she was obedient and willing to let her own will go. And in the end she lived with the Prince of Eternal Life happily ever after.
I have much to learn if I'm ever going to change from my self-appointed role....

Surrender and be at peace

My heart is pained and shriveled. It is dry and crusty. I feel like I've been walked over by hiking boots. Emptiness within except for the heaviness of my heart. To work is a struggle. To smile is great effort. Calm and peacefulness seem like far away dreams. I accept that sometimes life on earth is hard. So I go to my Jesus for strength.

Lord, I need to be infused with your grace. I need to be surrounded with your protection. Like a child's toy tossed around in the ocean I feel lost and useless. Jesus, I know you love me and that you see my pain. I've tried to heal myself. I've tried to control and not be so needy. But I recognize finally that I am nothing on my own. I am useless and empty without your love and grace. It's OK to be dependent on You. And so at this moment, my Lord Jesus I surrender. I submit my all to you.

Jesus responds: When you submit you allow me to help you and you offer no resistance. My daughter I want to love you and hold you in my protective arms. Can you believe that? I really want to support you. So rest here daughter. Just put your head on my shoulder and rest peacefully. I promised my unconditional love when we began our relationship and I will keep my promise. Let me do that for you. Surrender and find your rest in Me.

An Astonishing Offer

I quiet myself and relax in the presence of God.
I declare my dependency on God.
Grace:
I ask for the gift of experiencing God's care, goodness, kindness and faithfulness to me.
Method:
"God called me before I was born. From my mother's womb God pronounced my name." (Isa 49:1)

• I reflect how, in my life history, I have been carried and sustained by the love I have received.
• I recall the many ways in which this love was made visible e.g. thru provision for my physical needs, thru supportive relationships, thru the enjoyment of life and a sense of purpose.
• I become aware that these gifts have been a part of God's plan for me. I allow myself to experience the security and freedom of God's particular care and choice of me.
• In light of this experience of all God has done for me, I imagine and record in my journal how the contract/commitment God has offered to me might appear if written
  

I, God, as your creator, do hereby agree to love you ____ unconditionally. I will manifest this love within the circumstances and reality of your life.

I will support you by ________________.

I will nourish you __________________.

I will give you ____________________.

I will __________________________.

The conditions of this commitment have been effective from the moment of my first thought of you. This offer is exempt from ever being terminated.

Love, God.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I ____________ as your creature and beloved, do promise to respond to your love and generosity. I will manifest this generosity to you within the circumstances and reality of my life.

I will support you by _____________________.

I will nourish you ______________________.

I will give you ________________________.

I will _____________________________.

The conditions of this commitment are totally dependent upon your grace in my life. This commitment is conditioned by the discernment of Your will in my life.

Signed _________________________

From Jesus on the day you were born

On the day I breathed life into you, when you first began, I smiled. You were special, I knew. You were mine. The seed of my love was planted in your heart tho you may not have known. There was a stirring in my heart that sychronized with your own on the day you were born. And I have never left you.
I remain within your heart at this moment. Today I renew my love for you and celebrate you. I am in the breath you take. Become aware of my presence surrounding you. Feel your own heartbeat. I am there in your center. I am within you. I am a part of you. We share your breath, your heart and your soul.
We are one.
(dedicated to Barbara on her birthday)

by Teilhard

We are impatient of being on the way to something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made
by passing throuh some stages of instability
and that may take a very long time.

Our ideas mature gradually~ let them grow.
Let them shape themselves without undue haste.
Don't try to force them on, as though you could be today
what time will make you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you
will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that His hand is leading you
surely
through the obscurity and the becoming;
and accept for love of Him
the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.

Know your activity has to be far reaching,
it must emanate from a heart that has suffered...
We must offer our existence to God, who makes use better than
we could ever anticipate,
of the struggle in which we are enveloped.

What Every Mother Wants

The Hidden Life of Our Lord as told to Gianna Sullivan and as reprinted by the Foundation of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary

Some of my reflection on the above:

Every mother wants her child to be loved and respected in the minimum. If they could, moms would absorb every ache and pain. There'd be no illness or accidents in the world that moms design for their babies. Little Johnny or Susie would be well and happy every day of their lives. Their friends would always be good influences, their neighbors would form a welcoming community. To a mom, they'd want teachers to give only good example, dads to be good parents and the world in general to be kind to their precious newborn infant.

Mary was just like every one of those moms. God asked her to be the mother of the world's Savior, so of course she wanted to be the best mom God's baby could have. Everything was fine until that trip to Jerusalem when he was 12. She'd never forget his exact words when they finally found him. "Didn't you know I had to be about my Father's business?" That sentence was like a shock to her system. "This is the beginning," she thought and she recalled Simeon's prophetic words.

When he told her at age 30 that he was leaving the family house she

hadn't been so surprised. After 30 years of living together she sensed his time was coming. She could only be grateful for all the years they did spend together. Jesus had lived physically in her body for 9 months and in her home for 30 years. No one else in the recorded history of the world would be able to say that.

But then, of course, came his arrest, torture, death and burial. Like other moms she had wanted to take his place. She knew he'd be the Savior since she was 14 years old but did it have to be like this?

"In her humility she bowed her head in silence." (ibid) Mary didn't make this about her but silently and painfully held in her own feelings. In "The Passion of the Christ" movie we see Mary wiping up Jesus' blood from the floor where his scourging took place. Her reverent action was a symbol of her respect for her precious Son and for his body. It was the body she had carried within her. At the foot of the Cross she held him one last time. The first time was in Bethlehem's manger. The last time on Calvery's hill.

"In her humility she bowed her head in silence."

The Hidden Life

I'm amazed, Jesus, that you chose to spend 30 years hidden, from a total of 33 years on earth.
(I worry about my work product being cost effective and time efficient.)
88% of your life on earth has nothing written about it in the Scripture. NOTHING. What you did in 3 years people are talking about 2000 years later. But for 30 years you remained quiet...hidden…average. No one noticed you. No one recorded the words you spoke or where you went.
(I have a cell phone just in case someone needs me)
There's something to be said for being "little" and silent in your heart. I have so much to learn yet, my Lord!

Mary's thoughts on the Glorious Mysteries

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
1.The Resurrection

Mary felt a close bond with her Son Jesus after being the only person on earth to live with him for 30 years. They had an intimate bond.
"I held him tenderly when they took him off the cross. I guess I knew he was dead, but I didn't want to hurt him. When they took him from my arms and laid him in the tomb, I thought my heart just stopped beating. I tried to believe and to understand but I was his mother first. I was angry, grieving and empty, all at the same time. Then we waited. It seemed like forever, but they tell me it was 3 days. I was devastated, I don't remember those days clearly. It's all just a blur. But then, I had an opportunity no other mother will have.
My Son came back from the dead. I had hoped for it and prayed for it, but I didn't allow myself to really expect it. Then, one day I went for a walk. I reached the farthest well by the trees beyond the buildings.
As I pulled up the water, I felt a hand on my shoulder. But it wasn't a stranger's touch. I recognized it. I was almost too afraid to turn around because I didn't want to be disappointed. But then He said my name, "Mary". My Son called me by my name. and that's when I realized He was different. He was alive. He was smiling. He wasn't in pain. He was GLORIOUS. It was GLORIOUS to see him. All of a sudden, the whole day was Glorious. Life was Glorious! He said my name again. Mary. That's when my Son became my God and all the pieces of the puzzle came together in my mind. Here is my Son. He is alive. Here is my God. He is glorious. And he hugged me.

2.The Ascension

The time finally came when Jesus had to move on. He had to return to his real Father in heaven. I sensed it was coming. He was going to leave us again. But I wasn't as sad this time. He was safe and well and happy. Yes, I sensed He was really happy to be going. Selfishly, I wanted to hold on to him, but I knew, like every mother, I eventually had to let go.
He taught us about the Holy Spirit during these last few days and he kept saying we would never be alone. That was the hard part between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I felt desperately alone. But not this time. I believed Jesus. He had filled me up with hope and convinced me he would always be with me.
And, as his Mother, I wanted him to be happy. I had to let go so he could return to his real Father. I had to humbly remember that I was only the vessel God used to bring his Son to earth and so I let go.
"Get going", Jesus told us. "Go where I send you and tell the people about eternal life and confidence and hope. And remember," said my Son and these were the last words He ever spoke,"remember I am with you always, until the end of the world."

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit

After Jesus returned to his true Father and his true home in heaven, the Apostles and I gathered for daily prayer together. We met in the room where Jesus appeared to us after his death. We met there and prayed and tried to figure out what each of us would do. So one day we were in that room praying and asking for instructions. I guess we should have known what to do next, but to be honest, we were unsure. Jesus had always led us. Since he told us to remember that He'd always be with us, we were hopeful and we waited. We were confident God would hear our prayers, but we never expected what happened next.
We all stopped whatever we were doing because someone thought they heard something. In the quiet, I felt a sense of presence..someone was there with us. Anticipation grew within me and my eyes widened. When the angel came to me to say I was with child I had felt the same anticipation. My heart raced. It seemed like a great silence overcame us and I fell to my knees. The disciples all did the same. An energy filled the air - a divine energy. It filled the space in that room and it filled me. I wasn't afraid at all. I haven't been afraid since Jesus rose from the dead. I was eager. What was God going to do with this humble group now? And then the energy seemed to brighten the entire room. I felt like I was aflame. It felt like power. Power from heaven had come over us. It covered us and filled us. I tried to be open. I tried to receive and be filled. Whatever my God was offering me, I wanted to receive it. The sacred power seemed to overcome us all and I remembered to last words my Son said to me,"Remember I am with you always." I knew it was Him. He shared his power with us so we would not be alone. He gave us his own Holy Spirit.

4. The Assumption
At the foot of the Cross John promised my Son he would care for me and he did that for many years. I got very tired as the years moved on and one day I passed from this life in my sleep during an afternoon nap. I thought I was dreaming. I felt like I was floating on a cloud, yet being transported somehow. I can't honestly say I know how it happened, but I came here to this Sacred Place. I'm living in Heaven now, totally and perfectly. What I mean is, I am here soul and body. Everyone else here only has a soul,for now. They will experience the resurrection of their body one day soon. I've also been able to see Jesus and to hold him tight like I used to. But the most wonderful blessing of all is that I see God! HE is the One for whom I lived my life. I see God who is the person I dedicated my self and every single action I performed on earth. I carried his Son and raised him. I did it all for God and now I can enjoy everlasting happiness here with him and with Jesus! Can you imagine my joy?
There is one more thing you must know. Since I am here in heaven I get the chance to meet your loved ones who have died. I know you miss them and I remember what that feels like. But I must assure you, they are in peace! It is beyond the peace that you know on earth and I probably cannot explain it well. You need not worry for them. On the contrary they look after you. They intercede for you and they are very proud of you. They are all happy. Everyone here is happy and we look forward to the day when we will all be here together.

5. The Coronation
When I was a young girl, the Lord sent an angel to speak to me. The Angel said, "Rejoice, O highly favored. The Lord is with you." Truthfully there were hard times for me on earth during which those words comforted me. They made me feel very special and loved. But my God is even more generous than that. They call me the Queen of Heaven, now. God gave me everything I needed to fulfill His Plan on earth. All I did was to remain faithful. Yet they call me the Queen. I do, indeed, feel like a Queen, surrounded by God and angels and saints in eternal joy and with no needs or wants. I am richer and more blessed than any person I know. My God is a very generous and loving God. I am not worthy of this title or his extreme generosity. All I did was listen for His word and remain faithful to it.
I beg you to do the same. I'd love you to be with us one day so you can share in our joy. The words that gave me strength can help you, too. "Rejoice. The Lord is with you."

Have you visited this site yet?

http://www.fathersloveletter.com/