Preparing to Prepare the Way of the Lord

Huh?

(Insert the sound of a record player scratching the record.)

No, we don't have to prepare to prepare,

but I have found that with most things, 

if there is spiritual preparation,

things tend to go better than expected.

The Holy Season of 

Advent begins this coming Sunday,

November 29.

During the season of Advent we begin preparations for 

Christmas, 

but,

unlike secular preparations, we prepare spiritually to receive the Newborn Babe 

into our hearts on

Christmas Day.

We change our way of looking at Christmas.

Instead of only being a day of presents, activities, families, friends, foods, parties,

we look at Christmas as day in which we can celebrate

the birth of our Divine Lord and Savior,

Jesus, the Christ.

Now, I know you're holding your breath already at the thought of something else to do.

Stop!

Breathe and let go of the tension.

What good will it do you?

Will you enjoy Christmas on any level if you are stressed beyond words?

I don't think so.

If you slow down, breathe, and choose your activities wisely,

you will enjoy the celebration of Christmas on many more levels than you can imagine.

What can we do to prepare to prepare?

1) Stop.

That's right, stop.

Breathe.

For five minutes think about the story of the Birth of Jesus.

If you don't remember, pick up your Bible and read

Luke 2: 1-20

This tells the story of the birth of Jesus.

How great is that?  Angels, Shepherds, Wisemen.

Wow!

Amazing!

2) Say a minimum of 1 Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to God each day.

Ideally, if your could say a Rosary each day, that would be best, but praying, even if it's less than a Rosary, is good.

3) Write down three things each day that are spiritual about the celebration of Christmas.

These don't have to be long, just three thoughts about Christmas.

4) Praise God for three things in your life.

5) Thank God for three things in your life.

6) Make sure you attend Mass this weekend.

7) Congratulate yourself.  You are preparing to prepare the Way of the Lord!

 

Are You Ready to Prepare for the Coming fo Jesus?

A week from today Advent begins.

Take a deep breath.

Advent is a season of preparation for His coming.

Did you forget about that?

That's what Advent is really about.

It's a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus.

I'm sure you're like me when you realized how close we are to Christmas.

When am I going to have the time to "Prepare" for the coming of Jesus 

when I have to think about the presents, the celebrations, who's coming over for dinner, will everyone get along this year?

Yes, I know.

This is a part of Xmas, but the true preparation for

Christmas means that we are spiritually preparing for the coming of the Christ Child.

GULP!

We have to do that, too?

Yes.

More importantly than worrying about Xmas dinner, gifts, and parties,

it is essential that we take the time to prepare spiritually for 

Christmas.

I can hear the scream now,

"I don't have time!"

Believe it or not, you do.

I'm not saying that this will be easy, but preparing, with your family, brings you closer to God and reminds us that we have a God who loves us so much,

"...He gave His only Begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."

John 3:16 

Breathe and think for a moment about that.

God. Gave. Us. His. Only. Begotten. Son. 

so that we might have,

Eternal life.

When we die, we aren't going to take with us

the presents we received,

the lists we wrote,

the food we prepared.

We are only going to take with us the love we showed others and the merits of our actions on earth.

 No one lives forever.

Take the time now, while you are graced with life, to prepare for the Heavenly Kingdom.

We'll discuss ways to prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child.

In that, alone, there is hope.

Prepare the way of the Lord.  

Bishop Sheen

Moments with God

I found the ginkgo tree, actually, not one tree, but two trees.  I found the first tree at the end of the block.  I knew it had to be near because I found the first leaves in that area when I was most despondent.  The leaves are great consolations to me.  The trees are a sign of prosperity and hope in Japan.  After the nuclear attack on Hiroshima, to end World War II, at point zero, where the bomb exploded, a ginkgo tree survived the impact and remained standing, intact, with its leaves on the tree.  I found the second tree, literally, in front of my nose.  I knew it had to be near, but I never thought it would be directly across the street.  I know God smiled with me when I saw it.  He lead me here.

Ending the Week in Praise and Thanksgiving

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

 

The end of National Bible Week is near, but here are 3 verses dedicated to praise and thanksgiving.

 

 

1) "Give thanks to the Lord, who is good,
    whose love endures forever;"

1 Chronicles 16:34

 

 

 

2) "And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:17

 

3)  ^"In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

 

Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above the Heavenly Host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!!!!

 

 

 

 

National Bible Week: My Top Ten Favorite Bible Verses

"Jesus Wept."

John 11:35

 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."

John 3:16

"See, upon the palms of my hands I have engraved you;
    your walls are ever before me."

Isaiah 49:16

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I dedicated you,
    a prophet to the nations I appointed you."

Jeremiah 1:5 

"We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you"

Colossians 1:3

"Then the Lord said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord—but the Lord was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the Lord was not in the earthquake;  after the earthquake, fire—but the Lord was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, Why are you here, Elijah?"

1 Kings 19: 11-13 

 ^"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated,  it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

"There is an appointed time for everything,
    and a time for every affair under the heavens. 

 A time to give birth, and a time to die;
    a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. 

 A time to kill, and a time to heal;
    a time to tear down, and a time to build. 

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

 A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
    a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. 

 A time to seek, and a time to lose;
    a time to keep, and a time to cast away. 

 A time to rend, and a time to sew;
    a time to be silent, and a time to speak. 

 A time to love, and a time to hate;
    a time of war, and a time of peace. 

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?  Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?  Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’  All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness^, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil. "

Matthew 6: 25-34

 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."

John 14:27 

 

Worth Repeating: 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.