The New Year Awaits! Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

Writing this is natural.

As the year seeps to it's close,

reflection is easier.

What happened last year?

So many challenges, a gift from God?

 

Why did these things happen?

I have no answers to that question.

I only know that 2014 was a very difficult year.

I was challenged

mentally,

spiritually,

physically,

and

emotionally.

The challenges were some of the most difficult that I have ever faced.

Most of the year, I felt beaten up by circumstance.

Every time I rose, I felt the blows of life beating me back down, without mercy.

Even when I tried to crawl to a safe corner,

 there was no safety, only chaos.

There was no place to recover and restore my spirit.

Life does seek a balance.

Seek is the key word.

All was not lost.  I was not forsaken.  There were good times to celebrate.

There were times of joy, 

blessings from God,

that might not have always been visible to my inexperienced eye.

I found more strength than I could have ever imagined.

I found that good friends shared their love and their strength with me,

even when I was at my lowest, most fragile, most brittle,

and there were many of these days,

 I drew strength from these dear friends.

In the midst of the chaos and storms,

I felt the blessing of the cleansing waters cover me, nearly drowning me,

washing away my sorrows

even as the sharp, pointed drops pelted my body,

leaving me numb.

Sweet blessings poured over me.

The unexpected greeting from a small child in the form of a hug.

The kindness of a stranger helping me pick up what I had dropped.

The quiet of a friend who let me talk until I was exhausted.

Tears of joy and tears of peace.

Coaxed into laughter by those who cared, 

helping me to forget, momentarily,

the challenges.

When I stood, I stood strong.

When I wept, I wept without remorse.

The journey of 2014 was a journey I gladly leave behind me.

The good I take with me.

I don't know why.

I don't know how.

I only know that

I 

 Survived!

The path ahead is unknown,

 no matter,

that I welcome that which comes next.

Welcome,

2015!

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 

 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up; 

 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 

 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 

 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 

 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiasates 3:1-8

Message of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Visionary Marija on October 25, 2014

“Dear children! 

Pray in this time of grace and 

seek the intercession of all the saints who are 

already in the light. From day to day may they be  
an example and encouragement to you on the 

way of your conversion.  Little children, be 

aware  that your life is short and passing. 

Therefore,  

yearn for eternity and keep preparing your 

hearts in prayer. I am with you and intercede 

before my Son for each of you, especially for 

those who have consecrated themselves to me 

and to my Son. Thank you for having responded 

to my call.”

Message to the World from Our Lady of Medjugorje October 25, 2014

Message from Our Lady of Medjugorje to Mirjana Soldo, October 2, 2014

"Dear children! With motherly love I implore you, love one another. May there be in you hearts, as my Son desired from the very beginning, love for the Heavenly Father and for your neighbor in the first place - above everything of this world. My dear children, do you not recognize the signs of the times? Do you not recognize that all of this that is around you, all that is happening, is because there is no love? Comprehend that salvation is in true values. Accept the might of the Heavenly Father, love Him and honor Him. Walk in the footsteps of my Son.


You, my children, my dear apostles, you are always gathering around me anew, because you are thirsty. You thirst for peace, love and happiness. Drink out of my hands. My hands are offering to you my Son who is the spring of clear water. He will bring your faith back to life and purify your hearts, because my Son loves pure hearts and pure hearts love my Son. Only pure hearts are humble and have firm faith. I ask for such hearts of you, my children. My Son told me that I am the mother of the entire world. I ask of those of you who accept me as such to help me, with your life, prayer and sacrifice, for all of my children to accept me as a mother - so that I may lead them to the spring of the clear water. Thank you.
My dear children, as your shepherds offer you the Body of my Son with their blessed hands, always in your hearts give thanks to my Son for the sacrifice and for the shepherds that He always gives you anew."

Looking Forward to 2014

Lord, 
Knowing that nothing good is accomplished without Your Love and Your Help, I ask You to bless us, to bless me, as we look forward to the year 2014.  Father, You are the God of all creation.  It was a gift of Your Love, that Jesus came to earth as a tiny babe.  As a Man, Jesus would come to save our world from sin.  Holy Spirit, You were sent to us by  the Father and Jesus to guide us in our earthly sojourn.  You fill us with Your gifts and graces that will lead us to the Father, the Son, and to You, Mighty Spirit of God who live and reign forever and ever.  Amen.

Praise be to You, Mighty God and Father.
Praise be to You, Jesus, the Son of God and our brother.
Praise be to You, Holy Spirit, giver of gifts and graces, Counselor.

In 2014, I ask for these graces.

I ask for the gift of reverence for Jesus in the Eucharist.  I ask this for me and for all.  I ask that we learn to adore and worship Jesus as He should be worshiped.  He is Our King of Kings!  The great High Priest.

 The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, my savior! Psalm 18:47

"You who fear the LORD, give praise! All descendants of Jacob, give honor; show reverence, all descendants of Israel!" Psalm 22:24

All who sleep in the earth will bow low before God; All who have gone down into the dust will kneel in homage. Psalm 22:30

Give to the LORD the glory due God's name. Bow down before the LORD'S holy splendor! Psalm 29:2

I ask for the gift of prayer. 

“Beloved, pray for us.”  1Thessalonians 5: 25

“Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-17


I ask for the gift of a closer relationship with our God!

“O God, you are my God, I seek you,
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1


I ask for the gift of kindness, not only to others, but to myself.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”  Matthew 7:12

I ask for the gift of patience, not only to others, but to myself.

“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: 4-8

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3: 12-14

I ask for the gift of love, not only for others, but for myself.

“Love never ends.” 1 Corinthians 13: 9

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

I ask that I learn to be less, and, You, Sweetest Lord, be more.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. “ Jeremiah 29:11

I ask for the gift of selflessness.

“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.”  Luke 6:35

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15: 12-14


I ask for the gift of trust in You.

“My soul clings to you;
    your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63: 8

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.”  Proverbs 3: 5-6

Thank You, Father.  Thank You, brother Jesus.  Thank You, Holy Spirit.

Amen.

In 2013, I learned...

 That without God in my life, I have nothing.  I am nothing.                                                   

John 15: 5  I Am the vine, you are the branches.  Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit because apart from Me you can do nothing. 

That even when I walk my path, if I am walking the path that God has chosen for me, I am at peace.

Job 22: 21 Agree with God and be at Peace.  In this way good will come to you. 

That when life is difficult, if I rely on God, in spite of the difficulties, I am safe.

Psalm 23: 1-4 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;
That If I sin and turn away from God, the confessional is the means for forgiveness and reconciliation.

James 5: 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

That although not easy, forgiveness is meant for everyone from the driver who goes well under the speed limit, driving me insane on the road,to the one who has destroyed our trust.

Mathew 5: 43-47  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

That prayer is like eating.  It is our spiritual nourishment.  It is our connection to God.

Matthew 7: 7  “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you

Sirach 35: 16-17: He whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted, and his prayer will reach to the clouds. The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and he will not be consoled until it reaches the Lord; he will not desist until the Most High visits him, and does justice for the righteous, and executes judgment.
James 1: 6-8: But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.

Romans 12:12:  Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.


7) That when we turn away from  our fellow human beings who are suffering, we turn away from Jesus.

Proverbs 21:13: He who closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself cry out and not be heard.

Deuteronomy 15:11 Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.”

Mathew 25: 31-46“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,  and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.  Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?  And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’  And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;  for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’  Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life
That sin has grave consequences for our souls, even if the sins are not mortal sins.

Isaiah 59:2: but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you so that he does not hear.


That God never forces Himself on us.  He is there waiting for us to hear His invitation to Love.

Kings 19: 11-13 And he said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And when Eli′jah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Eli′jah?”
That God loves all.  He is Love embodied. 

 John 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 4:7-21: Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his own Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love.  We love, because he first loved us.  If any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also