PIETY IS SANITY!!! Silence those other voices!

i have learned in my life that one can never know what God may use to touch us.  i have seen music, art, movies, books that i would never want any person/child to participate in and watch, yet saw God use it for their good....a spiritual message in spite of the dark content.  Ideally we wont need those things that promote much of the world's darker side, but still Our God "meets people where they are"...as we should also...a quote a young priest shared with me in Confession.

My son loves comic books.  One day he came to me quoting a line from a Batman Azrael comic book and i was pleasantly surprised.  The quote was Truth and Powerful.  Then the deep dialogue began.  This has happened many times before with comic books, movie quotes and themes, music etc. God used a comic book to reinforce something we often don't think of.  It said,

'People think the greatest achievement for satan is to trick humans into thinking he does not exist, but his real trick is making people think Piety is insanity'

Wow!  what a word!  The first part is still true.  Our world does not realize the forces we fight day in and day out.  The Scriptures are so clear on this Ephesians 6:12
12"For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens."

If we don't believe there is an enemy, we cannot fight him and therefore evil presides.

But the second part is what shot off the page for me.  This affects the lives of all believers who take seriously the Gospel.  Anyone who lives, eats and breathes for God is mocked by family and friends alike.  For me this started from childhood. Some abandon us because of our convictions.  Many run to us mostly in times of need for our prayer and encouraging help often never asking how we are, but behind our backs, the gossip and jokes they make cut deeply and sadly often derail a person from their calling.  St. Augustine has a famous quote,

"“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”   

This quote is so very true.  i often share a story of a children's music/Christian teaching program called "The Donut Repair Shop".  The man's name is The Donut Man....and they use a donut to easily explain to (children and adults alike) "life without Jesus is like a donut...there's a hole in the middle of your heart!"  These are the words of the cute song he uses for every show. This is the video from when he first started.  enjoy...it is cute and brings us to days past.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSN90GLg6ag

 Without God there is a void in our heart/soul nothing can fill.....only HIM!  We try to fill it with many worldly things...relationships, alcohol, noise, drugs, all types of sexual involvement that opposes God's Way which teaches sex in marriage between a man and woman and being open to children is His Way, all types of  things, ...the list is endless...Yet with all we search and buy and involve ourselves in, we never become fulfilled or happy or satisfied because all of the best life has to offer put together can NEVER fill what is meant for God!  

And so the evil one just has to have the majority of people in our lives mock us for our prayer time, our choices, our devotion, our being different and that will cause many to walk away from their true selves for at least a time and most of them sadly for good.  i remember the deep interior struggles i had thinking i was wrong, or off, or confused, when in reality those trying to pull me away from a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ are the one's who need Him the most!  It is very hard when we are different than most in our family circle.....when our families don't understand and cannot accept and nurture what they do not have themselves,  i just thank God He continues to knock at the door of our hearts....waiting and hoping we will open the door and let Him in!  Here is the traditional picture of Jesus knocking at the door of our hearts...and notice there is no doorknob for Him to open it...we must open it from the inside...it is our choice and free will to do so, or not.  Praise Him for His Grace supplied so we can, like a football player pushing thru the line, we can push thru all the unacceptance, ridicule and mockery from people.  Just because people are older than we are does not mean they are wiser.  

www.matthewfsheehan.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/500x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/j/o/john-brandi_art-work_A44_200-2402_34.jpg 

Let's start with ourselves....let's continue to chase God...and not change for any person...only for what God leads us to grow and evolve so we can become the saint we were created to be.  Let's be true to our consciences...and the Voice of the Living God.....Let's watch how we treat all people especially children when they have a calling in them...not to snuff it out...Let's stop ridiculing those who are aiming to be more and more like Jesus in all they do....unconditional Love sadly can only be given by those who experience it daily from the God Who made us,  so don't expect those far from God to support you and surely do NOT even entertain their thoughts and opinions .  We are God's and we have to talk to God  and discern things one on One with Him alone.  He then will show us if we will need someone to support our calling/ministry/life and will give us the one/ones meant to do that.  We can always consider someone's suggestion nomatter who they are, but it must be taken to God to see if it is Truth or the world's lie.

And let's forgive all those who have injured us....mocked us....those who continue to look down on us and treat us inappropriately because we are God Loving Obedient People willing to do all and give all for Our Savior Jesus Christ!  To Him Alone be the Glory and Honor and Praise for the Grace He has given us to always know deep down that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that our calling, conviction and fervor is Real and coincides with all those Saints who walked before us. :

13You formed my inmost being;

you knit me in my mother’s womb.

14I praise you, because I am wonderfully made;

wonderful are your works! PSALM 139:13-14...  

Let's remember, it takes a lifetime to grow into our best....a lifetime...and so we must have patience with others and others should also be patient with us and the same love and kindness and acceptance we should expect and desire from others, we should always give the same.  For our calling at this moment makes us no better than anyone else...it is just our time...and our prayer is that everyone will eventually experience all the Love and Mercy and Acceptance and Growth in God as we have and more.....

Praised be Jesus Christ Now and Forever!    til next time....

Thank you St. Joseph's of the Palisades!

Tonight was a privilege to give a night of Reflection to the congregation of St. Joseph's in West New York, NJ...Special thanks to Fr. Nelson who orchestrated everything.  It really was a beautiful night of healing and deep intimacy with God.  i pray everyone in attendance will become God Chasers..the saints we are all called to be.....and therefore encourage many more to do the same.  To God Alone be all the Glory and Power and Honor and Praise .....i will give all the Scripture Verses i used during the retreat in my next post....here is One for now....It was used to open my talk...and then again later on in the night....if you or your group or parish would like for me to come and speak/sing....you can scroll down on this page and leave me a comment with your contact info...name, phone,church and location of the church and i will get back to you.  All comments will only be read by me unless i decide to post them.  thanks....til next time...

Zephanaih3:17-18A

17The LORD, your God, is in your midst,

a mighty savior,

Who will rejoice over you with gladness,

and renew you in his love,

Who will sing joyfully because of you,

18as on festival days.

Приветствую моих русских друзей! Welcome my Russian Friends!

Какая радость видеть 19 человек из России, читающих мой блог сегодня. Хвала Иисусу Христу! Спасибо, что присоединились к нам. Будьте уверены в моих молитвах за вас и всех тех, кого вы любите. Мир! angie

What a joy to see 19 people from Russia reading my blog today.  Praised be Jesus Christ!  Thank you for joining us.  Be assured of my prayers for you and all those you love.  Peace! angie

Join me March 31st in West New York, NJ

Unsure why the picture of the flyer is gone....so

Friday, March 31st...7-9....St Joseph's Upper Church 65th and Palisade Ave. West New York, NJ
Night of Reflection...Music and Talk by me.....hope you can attend...

Just Love on Him!

i have found God loves when we are like little children trusting Our Daddy to already know what we need and what we want.  i often just sit with Jesus and let Him do His Work on me.... allowing Him to Love me and i love Him back...trusting He is Perfect and wants and knows what is best for me and all those i love.  i am not in charge...God does not have to do things my way because His Way is always better.  This is a growing up in the spiritual life.  It is not a give me this ...give me that...relationship.  It must grow from that childish attitude of God being like Santa Clause... there just to give me anything i ask for, to a mature loving relationship....deep intimate..The old way is obsessive compulsive...thinking our repetition of requests will force Him to do as we want.  There is nothing wrong with asking God for specific needs, but that cannot be our only prayer life...and should never be the first...Loving Him...and Him loving us should always be first  This is the lesson in growth spiritually.  His Perfect Will and the courage to carry it out.  Let's just love on Him...and trust He will take Perfect Care of all the rest!  Peace

Praise Jesus!

til next time....

Discerning The Voice of God...

As a simple follow up to my last blog...remember...God plays no favorites...The saints had nothing over us...learning to discern Gods Input in our lives and have confirmations clarifying things for us are for everyone...not just a select few...God loves all of us equally........but He comes to those who chase Him and those who continue to want to spend time with Him, know Him and obey Him....He does not force Himself on anyone...He is a Gentleman ...the picture of Jesus standing at the door of our heart knocking has no handle for Jesus to open the door.  We have to open it from the inside...free will...our choice....

the funny thing is i have always spoken for many years the phrase ,"God play no favorites" privately when giving spiritual direction....publicly at retreats and choir practises...i use this phrase often....and only recently i heard this phrase read from the Holy Bible...What a confirmation for me...wow...God gives The Same Wisdom to His People...and they sound similar ....those from the year 100....1000....or 2017....The Same God continues to grow His People up teaching us His Ways....i had no idea this was a Scriptural Comment on favorites....i just felt led to always say this word that i knew in my heart was Truth....and God many years later confirmed that it was His Word...not mine...

Keep chasing God...."the more you chase Him the more you catch Him!" Maimonides

til next time....Deuteronomy 10:17

17"For the LORD, your God, is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes,...."

How God works....Discernment

God is Wonderful and for those of us walking close to Him it becomes more and more evident of His Workings in our lives.  Two days ago i was inspired to write the last blog on His Mercy....With no agenda or notes, or reference materials, i prayed and then wrote what came to my heart to share.  Nothing magical, nothing greatly intellectual....just heart...and i quoted Is 1:18

18"Come now, let us set things right,

says the LORD:

Though your sins be like scarlet,

they may become white as snow;

Though they be red like crimson,

they may become white as wool."

Today, in this blizzard, i got up and knew the only thing i wanted to do today was go to Mass....to encounter Jesus in His Holy Word and receive Him in The Eucharist....to ask forgiveness of my sins...and pray for the world at large.....off i went.  The roads were silent and still...everyone still warm sleeping and i was the only parishioner that made it there.  Obviously it was an Ordained Moment by God Himself.  The priest asked for me to read the Scripture Reading and Psalm.  And then there was my wink from God....the weaving He does in the lives of His Children....The first reading was from the Book of Isaiah verse 10 and 16-20...

Reading 1   IS 1:10, 16-20

Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!

Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.

Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!

When we doubt whether what we are doing is from Him....when we are not clear in how to discern things of God...He, in His Mercy, shows up with a sign....two days later, the same chapter and message  i wrote about  is right on the page before me to read at Mass.  Praise His Holy Name!   And so the message for all of us from God Himself is Is 1.....

Let us stay sincerely close to God...seeking Him...chasing Him...for then He, in His Great Love for us, will continue to inspire His Children with Dreams, Inspirations, Goals and will confirm them to help us know we are hearing from Him and that these thoughts and ideas are not our own.  This is Discernment...we don't have to literally hear from God although many of the great saints did, He will confirm things inch by inch...one situation at a time...to His simple humble people who really really Love Him!

til next time...be safe in the snow for those affected by it....and be assured of my continued prayers...ang

Sin..Acknowlegement..ask forgiveness, & then MERCY!!!

Second Sunday of Lent....

Sin....a topic no one likes to talk about.  We are all sinners and yet most people keep saying, i am a good person, i don't do anything wrong.  What scale are they using to measure?...Romans 3:23 says
23"all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God"

The very first step to improvement is recognizing our weakness and admitting them...confessing them and asking for forgiveness.  Jesus was very clear...when speaking about murder in the Ten Commandments, in Matthew 5:21-22  He said,
21“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’22 But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna."(The Jews used Raqa as a word of contempt. It is derived from a root meaning "to spit.")


Jesus makes it clear that even the smallest letter of the law will be held in Mt 5:18-19

18"Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

So the above is clear and strong and strict and justice ....but with this comes another side of God that always shows Mercy to be One of His Greatest Attributes.  The criteria for forgiveness is evaluating the act, listening to our conscience, confessing and admitting we have done wrong and then asking for forgiveness.  If we do this, Mercy wins as stated in Is 1:18

18"Come now, let us set things right,

says the LORD:

Though your sins be like scarlet,

they may become white as snow;

Though they be red like crimson,

they may become white as wool."

Psalm 103:12

12"As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our sins from us."

God's Mercy is Endless when we are truly sorry.  At Mass on EWTN, The Catholic Television Network, a young priest spoke well this week when he said we do not just become deep in sin in one instant, but we slip one little mistake at a time...it is a slipping.......little by little we allow things and we slide and slide until we are very far from God and His Ways.  This priest quoted Emily Dickinson's poem, Crumbling is not an instant's Act. 

Crumbling is not an instant's Act

A fundamental pause

Dilapidation's processes (to cause or allow (our soul) to fall into a state of disrepair, as by misuse or neglect )

Are organized Decays —

'Tis first a Cobweb on the Soul

A Cuticle of Dust

A Borer in the Axis (something that makes a hole)

An Elemental Rust —

Ruin is formal — Devil's work

Consecutive and slow —

Fail in an instant, no man did

Slipping — is Crashe's law —(law of physics...what brings on a crash)

---------------

So it is time to reflect....can i easily admit i do make mistakes and do things that are wrong?...do i feel God deserves my best and in order to receive forgiveness, i must ask for it?...do i want to grow and improve day by day to become,  as Matthew Kelly the Catholic Author says,"The Best Version of Myself'?  

Then i must look at my life daily...examine my conscience each night to see if there are any cobwebs on my soul...any cuticle of dust so as to root it out before each slip leads to an emptiness and distance between me and my Creator.  Don't be afraid to read the entire chapter of the Scriptures i quoted above.  

Above everything else, pray...because only God has a way of gently giving True Understanding to these Truths in our minds, bodies and souls.  And then little by little we will evolve into the saint we were created to be.  All takes time and is a deep and slow process...be patient with yourself...and God will help us balance between shame and guilt when we do something that is wrong (which is gotten rid of upon confession and asking forgiveness)...and being shamed and guilty as a human being.....He will help balance being scrupulous (being too concerned with minute details with our sins in an unhealthy way)...and thinking we do nothing wrong....

He loves us....He loves you and me...What more do we need...Til next time...keep chasing Him!!!!

Lamentations 3....Our Greatest Hope!  Be encouraged!

20Remembering it (sin) over and over,

my soul is downcast.

21But this I will call to mind;

therefore I will hope:

22The LORD’s acts of mercy are not exhausted,

his compassion is not spent;

23They are renewed each morning—

great is your faithfulness!

orang menyambut Indonesia!

apa indah kejutan untuk memiliki pengunjung dari Indonesia. SELAMAT DATANG! Ini merupakan suatu kehormatan untuk memiliki Anda mengunjungi blog saya. saya berharap kata-kata di sini mendorong Anda untuk terus melakukan perjalanan untuk mencari Allah yang Hidup! Tuhan memberkati! angie

(Welcome to people from Indonesia) what a lovely surprise to have visitors from Indonesia.  Welcome!  It is a privilege to have you visiting my blog.  i hope the words here encourage you to continue journeying to finding the Living God!  God bless!  angie

(

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Spread the word!

If everyone who reads this blog and finds it a help passes it on to a few others we have the chance of touching many more lives.  This was the reason i started this blog.....Please consider doing this in your own circle of family and friends...1678 pageviews since Nov 15th....which means so far approximately 419 people are on the site every month.... people from  Poland, Australia, Germany ,Spain and the US are active. Let's continue to pray for each other and chase God together!  thanks, angie

angierotella-suarez.blogspot.com

Bienvenidos a la gente de España!

Estoy muy feliz de ver gente de España leyendo mi blog. Estudié mi último semestre de universidad en la Universidad de Sevilla. Que fue una experiencia maravillosa que nunca olvidaré. Espero y rezo este blog ayudará a todos los que visiten esta página a estar más cerca de Dios. Que Dios los bendiga y les agradezca por unirse a nosotros.

(a welcome to those from Spain who have joined us)

i am so happy to see people from Spain reading my blog. i studied my last semester of College in the University of Seville. That was a wonderful experience i will never forget. i hope and pray this blog will help all those who visit this page become closer to God. God bless you and thank you for joining us.

One week of Lent past...how did we do?

We have just completed one week during this most Holy Season of Lent.  Let's take time to review how we did in our spiritual journey this week.

1.  Prayer Life....the central most important part of our day....this is the fertilizer to the ground for all we look to accomplish.....it is our Prayer Life that plugs us in to God....it fills our cup....it soothes and heals as only Our Creator can......it clarifies what is important to do that day...it is joy giving....strengthening....correcting....teaching....loving....healing....life giving....the list is endless...so let's look at the first and most important part of any moment in our lives....prayer...including things like...spiritual reading...talking to God...Bible....Mass....silence....a good book on the life of a saint...the Divine Office...Confession....Worship music....the list goes on and on....take some time to look at this today, so the next week can get even better....

2.  Actions:  This is a direct result of number one.  We can make a list of things to do in a day...but if we pray first...that list might be very different....God's will for us differs from our own...He will surely include self care, reaching to those in need, motivation, and very creative things we might not have done or thought of on our own.  We are all here for a purpose...we may understand some of the purpose, but logically we cannot understand it all.  God, who made us...has something very important for us to do while here on this earth.  So let's really re-evaluate our Lenten Journey with Him...seeking His Counsel, His Guidance, His Wisdom, His Perfect Will, and have courage to follow that counsel and do life His Way!

These are the two....prayer life coincides with Jesus' Words, "Love the Lord Your God"...and Actions with "Love your neighbor as yourself"....

till next time....let's read this Scripture and apply it to our lives...Mark 12:28-34

a very fruitful and blessed Lent to all of us! (click on one post subject line....ck below, something new.....there is a comment box at the end of each blog if you are interested..i have to preview and approve any comments, before they are published... and if you scroll all the way down, you can subscribe to this blog on your email by putting your email address in the box at the bottom of the page...you will be notified every time i write...God bless!)

28  One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”

29Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!30You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’31The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”32The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’33And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”34And when Jesus saw that [he] answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Welcome Australia!

Just a note of welcome to all readers from Australia!  i have a special love for your country because my Father served in WWII in New Guinea.  Maybe someday i can visit in his memory!

God bless! ang

Lent....what will i do differently

The Church in Her Wisdom gave us two seasons of repentance, change....  Advent and Lent....because left on our own we would never be too serious about introspection...looking within and finding those things that are contrary to a life of Love and trying to change.  i love to think of Lent as possibly my last time celebrating this season ....a final time i will have to really grow and change and leave my mark in this world and prepare myself to meet God and be able to truly say, "i tried my best!".  What peace comes when we know we are trying to get closer to God....closer to becoming more like Jesus.  There is a song called, "I wanna be just like You!"...it refers to parents wanting to be like Jesus because our little children often want to be like us or just inherit our habits both good and bad...but this can surely be applied to us wanting to be like Jesus so others in the world might be able to see Him and want to journey to find Christ for themselves... sometimes for the very first time.  Give a listen....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z8bXcBRIU0

Mohatma Gandhi said ,

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”  i am sure if he met Mother Teresa he would say she was very much like Christ!

We have to seriously look within ....to take time to think every night and every day how am i doing...examine our consciences to see where we need to grow....to ask God to make us more like Jesus and show us what needs change and how to do it.  There are so many resources for this Holy Season of Lent.  Go to a Catholic/Christian Bookstore and find what resonates with your soul...everyone is different so find your personal prescription for Lent.  It is fine to give up things, but better yet to do new things...visit a relative who is alone, find someone who suffers mental illness and love on them...go find the elderly in your family and neighborhood and make soup and visit and eat together....be Christ to others in every possible way ....learn to Love more deeply and you will be transformed to become more beautiful than you have ever been..., not just those you serve.  We have 3 days left....put time aside for the Most Important Work....Soul searching, God chasing and Life Growth and Change.  

Let's ask God that this will be our best Lent so far.  Let's set the alarm earlier to pray....go to our rooms earlier at night to be with God and listen....stop in a church during the day ...find some special Bible Study, Prayer Group, Stations of the Cross, Rosary, Catechesis....maybe daily mass....search and fill your time with more Holy and Beautiful God Focused things and people....them when Easter arrives we will feel like truly rejoicing....and better understand Jesus' Life, Death and Resurrection!

May Our Lent be fruitful with all the changes God wants us to make...don't just clean the house for Spring Cleaning....let's clean our hearts first....let's not just buy new Easter Clothes, but first clean and dress our souls...our hearts, our minds in Jesus Christ.  Remember Prayer, Fasting and Alms giving make a knot that does not break and brings miracles when applied all together.  

May everyone we meet say they like us because we are just like Our Lord and Savior, Jesus!  A Blessed and Fruitful and Life Changing Lent to us all!

til next time.....read this...Is 58:14...the entire chapter

1Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,

lift up your voice like a trumpet blast;

Proclaim to my people their transgression,

to the house of Jacob their sins.

2They seek me day after day,

and desire to know my ways,

Like a nation that has done what is just

and not abandoned the judgment of their God;

They ask of me just judgments,

they desire to draw near to God.

3“Why do we fast, but you do not see it?

afflict ourselves, but you take no note?”

See, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits,

and drive all your laborers.

4See, you fast only to quarrel and fight

and to strike with a wicked fist!

Do not fast as you do today

to make your voice heard on high!

5Is this the manner of fasting I would choose,

a day to afflict oneself?

To bow one’s head like a reed,

and lie upon sackcloth and ashes?

Is this what you call a fast,

a day acceptable to the LORD?

AUTHENTIC FASTING THAT LEADS TO BLESSING

6Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose:

releasing those bound unjustly,

untying the thongs of the yoke;

Setting free the oppressed,

breaking off every yoke?

7Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,

bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;

Clothing the naked when you see them,

and not turning your back on your own flesh?

8Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

and your wound shall quickly be healed;

Your vindication shall go before you,

and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

9Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,

you shall cry for help, and he will say: “Here I am!”

If you remove the yoke from among you,

the accusing finger, and malicious speech;

10If you lavish your food on the hungry

and satisfy the afflicted;

Then your light shall rise in the darkness,

and your gloom shall become like midday;

11Then the LORD will guide you always

and satisfy your thirst in parched places,

will give strength to your bones

And you shall be like a watered garden,

like a flowing spring whose waters never fail.

12Your people shall rebuild the ancient ruins;

the foundations from ages past you shall raise up;

“Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you,

“Restorer of ruined dwellings.”

AUTHENTIC SABBATH OBSERVANCE THAT LEADS TO BLESSING

13If you refrain from trampling the sabbath,

from following your own pursuits on my holy day;

If you call the sabbath a delight,

the LORD’s holy day glorious;

If you glorify it by not following your ways,

seeking your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs—

14Then you shall delight in the LORD,

and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth;

I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father,

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken

Men/Women's conferences NJ in March

March 4 and 11 are the Men's and Women's Conferences in the Archdiocese of Newark.  Please pass this info on to those in the Northeast who might be interested in attending.  What a great way to start lent.  Ck it out.

http://www.rcan.org/offices-and-ministries/evangelization/calendar-events

Bienvenue aux Canadiens!

Merci aux Canadiens d'avoir lu mon blog. Je voulais vous envoyer une note de bienvenue pour vous joindre à nous. Que Dieu continue à vous bénir. Loué soit Jésus-Christ! Maintenant et pour toujours!

(a welcome note in French to Canadians who are following my blog)  My family i first met in Italy live in Canada!  i have visited twice and hope to visit again someday!  God bless!  ang

Gott segne unsere deutschen Leser!

Wie gesegnet bin ich, Leute aus Deutschland zu lesen, die diesen Blog lesen. Ich danke Ihnen und wollte Sie in Ihrer eigenen Sprache begrüßen. Ich hoffe und bete, dass Google translate einen guten Job bei der Übersetzung meiner Notiz von Englisch auf Deutsch gemacht hat. Bitte geh weiter mit Christus und bringe das Licht zu deinem Volk. Gelobt sei Jesus Christus! Jetzt und für immer!

(A greeting to my readers from Germany in their own lanuage)   Frank, a friend from high school, his father was from Germany.  His mother became a dear friend of mine after she lost her husband.  They were very holy people.  i had the privilege of ministering musically at both their funerals  The family gave me their blue recliner after they both passed.  Now that is my "prayer chair"  :)

Thank you Sisters in Spirit!

A very special thanks to the Sisters in Spirit Prayer Group in St. Francis Church Ridgefield Park, NJ.  It was a privilege to be with you this week and what a lovely time of deep prayer, teaching and worship we had with Jesus!  Keep shining!  OH HOW HE LOVES YOU!

til next time....watch "How He Loves Us" by David Crowder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxTOsQ3LDE4

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Let's go to the Mountain to pray!

How very urgent it is for us to get away from life as we know it here on this earth to pray....to be still...to enter into silence to hear from God.  Retreat....we must find places of retreat, both quick ways to pull away during a day and longer times to be away for a few days at least.  We want to know God, but we often do not invest the time to really find Him and get to know Him for ourselves.  Before the Holy Season of Lent, let's find time to be with God One on one in solitude.  The Fruit is 'Out of this World'!  Jesus Himself set the example.  til next time....meditate on these few verses ...there are many more that refer to when Jesus went off to pray....

Mark 1:35

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Matthew 14:23

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.

 Luke 6:12

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Mark 6:46 
After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

Luke 5:16

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray

None of us deserve....

As a follow up to the last post, just a reminder....none of us deserve Love...we often have behaved and said things that hurt, but we choose to Love as believers because God requires that of us not because someone deserves it.  And in doing what He asks, the benefits are 'out of this world!'

The Mass Readings today all point in this direction.  Take time on This Sabbath to rest, be restored and pray.  Please limit your work.  A Jewish dear friend of mine told me Sabbath is like experiencing a piece of Heaven while on earth.  We Christians have to get better at this.  It is something i am working on.

til next time, read these Mass readings slowly and with deep intent to understand.  Praised be Jesus Christ!  Now and Forever!

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021217.cfm