Lord, Have Mercy.

Christ, Have Mercy.

Lord, Have Mercy.

7 Quick Takes: Thoughts on Love

Say this, and He will...

"Lord, I am Yours.  Lead me where You want.  I come to do Your will.  Let me be Your eyes.  Let me be Your mouth.  Let me Your Hands.  Let me be Your Feet.  I am here.  I come to do Your Will."

When the Divine touches you.

You will never be the same.

You will go to places you never dreamed you'd go.

You'll do things you never dreamed you could do.

You'll sail seas you never dreamed you'd sail.

You will walk in His Footsteps.

He will heal you.

 He will take You.

He will lead You.

He has chosen You.

He has carved you on the palms of His Sacred Hands.

Grasp His Hands and go!

Does it Really Matter?

In this age of instant communication and in this time of exposure to knowledge that years ago, we might never have been able to see,

many people are jumping on the bandwagon of 

THE END OF TIMES!

 They truly believe that we are there now.

The end of times is coming very shortly.

A Catholic forum I used to belong to had a membership of people who were fanatical about the end of times.

They thrived on "signs" of  and how they felt they were indicators of the days to come.

I left the group that had been dedicated to the Mother of God

because the group did not honor her, but thrived on the sensationalism,  rather than living a life dedicated to sanctity and love.

That aside, remember, even Jesus said,

"But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Matthew 24:36 

ONLY THE FATHER KNOWS!

With this knowledge, that "only the Father knows," when the end of times will be, should we worry or be upset?

Absolutely NOT! 

We are born to die.

We are born to live.

We are born to know God, to love God, to serve God in this world and in the next. 

We are called to live our lives to the fullest,

no matter what.

Every person who has died has lived.

They reached their end of times.

All of the people who walked the streets and hills and valleys with Jesus are now dead.

They reached their end of times long before we were even conceived in our mothers' wombs.

We were made to live our lives each day to the fullest

loving God and our neighbors.

Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow.

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

Matthew 6:34 

If that's not true, I don't know what is!

Jesus had quite a sense of humor!

  

The hope is in His Peace.

 ^"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

John 14: 27

Begin each day in prayer.

If you say no other prayer at the start of the day, begin your day with the

OUR FATHER! 

Jesus taught us this prayer.

Think of the words as you pray.

You Will be at Peace!

Does it Matter if we are living in the end of times?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! 

Not if we live our lives dedicated to the 

Love of God

Love of Neighbor

and the 

Sanctification of our Souls.

End of times?

Who cares?

We have God and that's all we need.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Formula for Prayer

Praise God.

Adore God.

Acknowledge Him as your Creator.

Thank God.

Love God.

Talk to God.

Rest in the presence of God.

Sing to God.

Love God.

Adore God.

Praise God.

Thank God.

Remember.
He is more than a "higher power."

He is Father.
He is Son.
He is the Holy Spirit.
He is the Trinity.
He is God.

Answering the Call to Prayer

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”  He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.
    Your kingdom come.
     Give us each day our daily bread.
     And forgive us our sins,
     for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.     And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
Luke 11: 1-5

Jesus prayed.  He would often go up to a mountain and pray through the night.  He would  leave His Apostles and disciples to find a quiet place to pray.  When the crowds pressed Him on all sides, He would go out in the boat with His chosen friends to pray.  He regained His strength in prayer.   He kept His Balance through prayer.  He handled tough situations with prayer.  When He was baptized by John, a dove came to rest on His head.   The Great I AM spoke. 

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3: 17

In the Garden, Jesus sought consolation and peace as He faced the grim reality of  His torture and death.  On the cross, Jesus prayed for those who sought to kill Him.

“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23-34 
Jesus prayed without ceasing.  The Apostles saw this.  They saw His closeness with the Father, the great I AM who had revealed Himself to the peoples of the ancient world, and even though Jesus said,

“The Father and I are one.”
John 10:30

Jesus prayed to the Father. 

Now, we have been called to renew our commitment to prayer.  Prayer moves us closer to a place of holiness and a union with God.  Through prayer we unite ourselves to God.  God moves closer to His Beloved children.  His graces pour down on the earth.  We gain the peace that the world cannot give.  We gain the peace of God. 

Mother Teresa said, “The fruit of silence is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is love; the fruit of love is service; the fruit of service
is peace.”

If, through prayer, peace reigns in your heart, that same peace will go with you into the world.  Bit by bit, peace will begin to spread from one person to another.  If we imitate Jesus in prayer, we will begin to live in a world where there is more peace and love than hatred and war.  God’s love will spread from one person to another, as we each awaken to the fact that God loves us beyond all things.  We will truly be children of God and united to Him forever.

Let’s begin to pray and encourage others to pray.  Let’s keep holy the Sabbath through prayer.  We have heaven to gain, and hell to loose. 

Peace!

When was the last time you prayed?

"Father, teach me to pray!"

Message of January 25, 2015 to the Visionary Marija - A Call to Prayer

She said it again.

She is calling us to prayer, only this time, she called us, 

 "to live our vocation in prayer."

What is a vocation?

We are particularly suited to prayer.

We are the Father's beloved children.

We were made to know the Father.

We know the Father through prayer.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being  in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."

John 1: 1-5 

Our Mother wants us to renew our commitment to holiness.  

She asks us to 

"Pray! Pray! Pray!"

Also, as part of our

"vocation,"

The Father calls us to

"His Immeasurable Love for which we were made."

  

The 4th Commandment states,

"Honor your Father and your Mother."

By praying to and adoring the Father, we honor our Mother.

"Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  Amen!"

  

Prayer

Pope Francis

True Joy:: A Noun and A Verb:: Thoughts

A noun is a person, place or thing.

A verb is an action word.

In God, there is joy.

He is the source of all that is good.

God is love.

God is Joy.

God is all that is good.

He is our Shepherd.

He protects us from the evil one.

If we let Him, He leads us on the right paths.

Joy is in the hearts of the believers

because

Jesus Christ is Lord!

We are both loved and lovable,

a verb and a noun.

If we seek forgiveness,

We are forgiven.

If we repent,

we are forgiven.

His Love is unconditional.

He rejoices in us.

We are carved in the palm of His Hand.

He knows us and loves us.

We can fly on the wings of joy.

We can cling to the love in His Sacred Heart.

We are tested in His Love

so that in times of adversity, we are strong and know we are loved.

Psalm 93

The Divine Shepherd

a psalm of David, 

a psalm of joy

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

     He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;

    he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
    for his name’s sake.

 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
    I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff—
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows. 

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    my whole life long.

 

Purgatory

Pray for the Souls in Purgatory!

Eternal Father,

I offer You the most precious blood of your Divine Son, Jesus,

In union with all of the Masses said throughout the world,

in reparation for sins,

for the holy souls in Purgatory,

for sinners in the universal church,

those within my own home

and

within my family.

Amen.

(St. Gertrude Prayer, said to release 1,000 souls would be released each time it is prayed.)

All praise and honor be to the Precious Blood of Jesus, for it wrought our salvation and our redemption.

Amen.

March for Life 2015

On the calendar::

March for Life

in Washington DC.

January 22

Day of Prayer

for the

Legal Protection 

of

UNBORN

CHILDREN.

Join the call of our Bishops

for prayer today,

all day.

Beg God for the

"full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion."

Pray as often as you can through the day.

Offer your prayers, works, joys and sufferings for this intention.

Fast.

Remember,

each

HAIL MARY

counts.

Pray the Rosary.

Love your children.

Forgive.

Pray for women to realize that their children are a blessing and not a curse.

Pray for the mothers.

Pray for the fathers.

Pray for the unborn children.

Pray for families.

 

God will hear your prayers.

 

Finding God in the Everyday....

The blessings and gifts flow from God.  All we have to do is be aware so that we can thank the Holy One for His kindnesses towards us.

As a Father, God seeks to take care of His Children.

As an older brother, the Son suffered and died so that we could be His friends, no longer a slave to sin.

The older brother won heaven for us.

As the Spirit, He is the leader, the counselor, the guide.

He leads us where we never thought we would go.  He blesses us and seeks to keep us on the right path.

As the Mother of God has spoken,

"Holy is His Name."

Miracles, such as instantaneous healings from diseases such as cancer, do happen, but they are rare.  Some people are blessed with gifts such as bilocation and the ability to read souls, but these people are rare.  Yet, everyday, miracles do happen.  God reaches down from heaven and touches our souls, but we have to be aware of the Divine in our everyday lives.

When the Divine touches you, you will never be the same.  Trust me, it is impossible.

 

How has the Divine God touched your life today?

What are the gifts you have received?

Did your children say, "I love you!"

Did your cat let you pet her today?

Did your dog give you kisses?

(The Divine touched your life.)

Did you have lunch today?

Did you have food in your refrigerator?

Did you have shoes to wear to work?

Did you find that perfect outfit for work?

(The Divine touched your life?)

Was the sun shining, even if it was behind clouds?
Was the air clean that you breathed?

Did your computer work?

Did your spouse smile that special smile for you?

(The Divine touched your life?)

How did you sleep?

Do you feel rested?

Are you looking forward to a nap?

(The Divine touched your life.)

What about the things we didn't see or know?

We'll never know how God intervened and we were spared.

And

Holy is His Name!

God so Loved the World...

My Gift to you!

Feel free to copy these and share with others!

Are you Ready to Step out of the Boat?

The night was tremulous.  The boat, which should have been a comfortable nest for the men in it, was creaking and groaning as it was battered about by waves.  Several of the men were bailing water from the boat.  The boat seemed to fill up as quickly as they bailed. The other men were trying to steer the boat into calmer waters, but the storm was stronger than they were.  They were exhausted and lost.  Their skin was sliced by the sea spray that slapped their faces like whips on bare backs .  They were cold and soaked.  They were all terrified as the boat shifted and groaned.  The youngest sailor threw up.  The leader grabbed him before he went overboard.  He was pale and shivering.

In the distance, these men saw a dim light.  One of them shouted, "The shore, a light on the shore."  They turned to see the light growing brighter and moving closer to them.  Then, one of the men yelled, "A ghost!" They were all seized with fear and terror as the figure came closer to them. Fear seized their hearts. 

"Take heart, it is I.  Do not be afraid."  said The Lord.  The Divine had come to the Apostles.

Peter gasped when He saw The Lord walking on the water.  "Lord," Peter said, "if it is You,  command me to come to You on the water."  Peter thought he saw the Master shake His Head, but he looked at Peter and said, "Come."

Fearfully, Peter stepped out on the water.  The water was wet, but he walked as though on dry land.  He took his eyes off of Jesus for a moment, and feeling the wind whip his face, Peter ’s terror encased him, and Peter began to sink, quickly. 

Peter cried out in fear, "Lord, save me!"  Peter felt the Hand of God clutching his.  The hand of Jesus was stronger than the wind and the storm.  He was safe.   Jesus looked at Peter and said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"  Peter felt ashamed as he warmed up in the arms of the Master.  Jesus rebuked the wind and the rain.  The storm ended.  They were safe in the boat.  The Apostles knelt in adoration of the Master, "Truly you are the Son of God!”

They looked around.  The Master stood at the helm gazing out on the water. The sea was calm.  The night was clear.  The Apostles sweat as they rowed toward the shore.  There was talk of casting out nets, but the Master wanted to reach the shore.  He was tired, but He planned to rise early for prayer.  The moon was bright.  The Master seemed to glow in the night. 

The Divine had touched these men.  They could never be the same.   Whatever the Master requested, they would do.  Peter had vowed to his brothers in the boat that he would die for the Master.  Jesus seemed to sigh, but He smiled at this rowdy group of men.  He knew they would follow Him, but He also knew that they would stumble and fall.  They weren’t ready yet, but they would be. 

Jesus could hear His Mother praying.  He spoke to her silently in His heart.  He could feel her smile in His Heart.  He left His friends to dock the boat.  He needed to join with His Father in prayer.  He was proud of Peter for stepping out of the boat.  He knew that one day, Peter would die for him, but Peter’s time was not now.  He needed to grow to be the leader of His Church, this man who would deny the God-Man three times, would lead the new Church.  Jesus knew He had chosen well.  He also knew that there would be many to follow who, without ever seeing Him, hearing Him,  or touching Him, would step out of that boar in faith and love, to do as He asked them to do.  The harvest, well, the harvest needed workers.  He would plant the seeds.  The seeds would die and through future generations, new workers would arrive to gather the harvest.  The Divine would touch them, too.  They would never be same.

Are you ready to step out of the boat? 

“Do what ever He tells you, “ His Mother had said.

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;  therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 9: 35-38

Pope Francis on the Theology of Women

St. Augustine! Was he a reluctant Saint?

7 Quick Takes This Week:: Blessings

--- 1 ---

The value of a  true friend, even one you've never met in person,

is priceless. 

Deb Batten took this photo and compared it to our friendship.

We've never met in person,

but we've been friends for almost 10 years.

She is the most kind and compassionate person I have ever met.

When I asked God for a friend I would never forget or regret,

Deb came into my life.

We've been friends with our ups and downs,

but I'm a better person because I know her.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.  I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father." John 15: 12-15

--- 2 ---

 This cake in a mug was 

THE

BEST

comfort food on the coldest day and night this year.

It was 

AMAZING!

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10: 31 

  

--- 3 ---

Everyday,

there is more light.

This picture was taken at 5 PM.

Last month at 5 PM,

it was dark.

"The people who sat in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
    light has dawned.” 

Matthew 4: 16 

 --- 4 ---

New boots!

I love finding shoes.

I especially love finding them on sale.

That was great!

 "But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”  And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.  Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God."

Acts 3: 6-8

--- 5 ---

I was born into an amazing family!

They are insane, but I learned to laugh and to love in that family.

I was loved unconditionally.

I miss these people!

"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

--- 6 ---

 I am amazed that all of this will fit in my purse!

There's not a lot to put in there, but everything I put in there is big and needed.

I think I need a bigger purse!

This is heavy to carry!

Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galations: 6:2 

  --- 7 ---

He's the Patron Saint of Diabetics!

Saint JoseMaria Escriba!

 Please Pray for us,

Saint JoseMaria.

Surely he has borne our infirmities
    and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
    struck down by God, and afflicted. 

 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
    crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
    and by his bruises we are healed.

Isaiah 53: 4-5

30 Words, more or Less for me, Thursday:: John Lennon

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."
John 14: 27

Inviting the Holy Spirit Into Your Life...

I asked myself today,

"Do I understand the Holy Spirit?"

No, I don't, but here's what I have learned in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity,

equal to the Father and Son.

He is called::

Paraclete,

Advocate,

Counselor.

He is also called::

Spirit of Truth,

Spirit of Promise,

Spirit of adoption, 

Spirit of Christ,

Spirit of the Lord, 

Spirit of God.

He is Holy.

He anoints.

He Heals.

He Transforms.

He writes on the human heart.

He teaches.

He lives.

He gives strength in our weakness.

He brings us into communion with God.

If you invite the Third Person of the Trinity into your life, I promise you this, 

YOUR LIFE

WILL

NEVER

BE

THE 

SAME!

As with Jesus who challenges us to live as His disciple, 

the Holy Spirit loves a welcoming heart.

He will guide us.

He will inspire us.

He will help us to understand truth.

He will shake up your life.

You will do what you never imagined you could do!

He is God.

God can do anything.

Pray and invite the Holy Spirit into your life.

Then wait. 

You will be loved as you have never felt love before.

 Be ready.

Through the fire of His love you will be transformed.

Holy Spirit,

I give you my life.

I offer myself to You.

Come into my heart.

Change my heart.

Purify my soul.

Inspire me to live, as You would have me live.

Send me where I will serve.

Inspire me to love more than I thought I could.

Transform me with Your Love and set my soul on fire.

Holy Spirit,

Come.

Shake up my life.

Set me free.

I am Yours.

Let my conversion be only for

The Greater Honor and Glory of God.

Use me.

My heart belongs to You.

Amen.  

 

I Found Him!!! The Patron Saint of Diabetics:: St. JoseMaria Escriva:: Founder of Opus Dei

He was canonized

October 6, 2002

by 

St. John Paul II.

This saint had founded and nurtured 

Opus Dei

which teaches that

everyone is called to 

holiness

and that by living an ordinary life,

 we can walk the path of sanctity.

He is also known as 

the patron saint of diabetics

since he fell into an 

anaphylactic shock

after begin given long acting insulin.

It was the feast of Our Lady of Montserrat.

His whole life played before him, but he recovered from this, and he was cured of his diabetes.  

Click 

HERE

for a prayer card of this saint.  

St. JoseMaria Escriva,

pray for us!

 

Meditation on a Crucifix

I see the tree cradling Your Body as You are delivered from its wood.  Oh, Blessed Tree to be blessed to hold Our Savior's body!  Shreds of flesh and blood absorbed in its fibers; deep, thunderous stains of heaven in the wood.  Iron nails, hardened and tempered in the fire, by the metal smith who pounded them, not knowing the nails would  be blessed to hold You prisoner on the Cross.  Blood stained, the nails are cast off to the side.  The crown, the crown You wore on the cross, the crown saturated with the storm of blood, hair, and flesh ripped from Your skull lays next to the nails.  King of the Jews!  King of All!

Your Mother holds Your body and weeps in silence.   Her tears clean your face.  The storm is silent and past.  Your Mother gently wipes Your Sacred Contenance with her veil.  She carries Your Blood in her heart and on her hands.  Angels surround You both.  They worship and adore their Lord.  They give strength to Your Mother, the first Tabernacle of Your Body.  Her faith is tested as she holds You,  her divine Son, in her arms. Cold flesh. Blue flesh. No breath in Your Body.  Eyes that no longer see.  Hands that no longer heal.  Feet that no longer walk.  Lips that no long sing the blessings of the Father.  A heart that is still and a heart that is shattered.  The sorrow cannot be contained.  The world weeps with Your Mother.

She is supported by those around her, or she could not stand.  Her arms reach out to You, but time demands that she let You go so that you may rest in Your tomb before sunset, as stated in the law.  John holds her close as they walk behind those carrying Your Body.  The angels weep and surround the small group as they follow the road to the Tomb.  The Tomb is cold.  There is an altar, a shelf, for Your Body.  Your are wrapped in burial cloths and covered with Aloes.  The angels guard your body at Your Head, at Your Feet, and at Your sides.  The candles flicker, and then are silently blown out.  The light is gone.

The soldiers wait at  the mouth of the open tomb.  They have been given orders to seal Your tomb with a rock that will not easily move into place, even with so many men working.  Their heads hang in shame as Your Sorrowing Mother walks past.  She reaches out to them with arms of love.  One of them catches her eye and touches her hand.  Beautiful Mother, you bring souls to Jesus!  John pulls her closer.  She weeps.  Her hands touch the soldier before he puts his arms to the rock.  Their eyes meet and she prays.  His eyes fill with tears as he sees this sorrowful mother.

She hears the stone being rolled into place.  How they will finish the burial, she does not know, but she only knows that God will take care of His Son.  The angels walk with them as John takes her home.  His Mother now, our Mother, too.  Sadness beyond knowing.  Tears of sorrow. 

Blessed Mother of God,
Pray for us!  May we join you in bringing souls to your Son.
Praised be Jesus!
Amen.