Always Hope awaiting Jesus Return!

Look for the Whole Truth to bring Light to every situation...God will give that to us if we seek it sincerely...
two things i believe may be gd for us to work on in all our relationships:  never assume we no why someone does something...that is judgement an only God knows others' entire situation an make up an reasons for doing things. We must ALWAYS GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT!!!  ALWAYS if we want to become saints.  ....  and we need to work on forgiving our enemies....we need to forgive if we want to continue to find True Peace an become more an more like Christ.

 This week was the feast of St Peter and Paul ...two examples of the worst of sinners.. 1 who killed Christians because they believed in Jesus Christ and lived the different way and the other who denied him three times after being with him day and night ..night and day and who when he walked on the water had so little faith he fell beneath the waves with Christ right in front of him. This example shows us that no person is beyond Redemption and that there's always hope and we're supposed to believe and Hope because that's what Love does from 1st Corinthians... it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, Love never fails.  If we are foolish then God will reveal it to us ... we understand better the sinfulness an the brokenness and the ugliness and the demonic influence everywhere it is to be found by God's Grace we know but we cannot abandon people who have come to us and so we love on them hoping beyond hope.. praying ,fasting and giving arms that they can be saved in whatever capacity God Himself will do it in whatever way He knows how ..little by little, inch by inch our job is to just continue to have Compassion and Love on His people speaking truth ..gently ,gingerly and continuing to point them towards Gods Altar !

The woman who brings me Holy Communion every day because I cannot get to Mass daily with caring for my Mom at home ... she was going for some tests today at the hospital and I asked her how do you do this and not be really anxious and nervous ?and her answer was delightful:
" Angie I don't care ...I'm just waiting for the Big Guy" and she pointed up toward Heaven...she had a smile ear-to-ear ...an then my reply... "me too Debbie me too" ..I so look forward to seeing Our Lord...just like the words we say at every mass "as we wait in Joyful Hope for the coming of Our Savior Jesus Christ!"  ..an in the Light of that...all this stuff in this world is trivial!!!  Lets chew on those words from ur elder women in faith...delightful...just delightful!!

Til next time...lets  look up toward Heaven this week...an wink at Jesus ...letting Him know we cant wait to finally see Him Face to face one day...not wishing for death but waiting on our appointed time to finally go Home...remember we r pilgrims...just passing thru...sojourners...on our way Home.....MARANATHA !!  COME LORD JESUS, COME!!!

I love you all and I'm deeply proud of your hard work with the Lord and your interior work. Keep going ...Eyes On Jesus!!... let nothing distract you to the left or to the right. So proud to call you my true brothers an sisters!  And remember ,we want no one to burn in hell forever and hell Is Real and if we can separate and detach, especially from our family, and recognize that they are not just blood relation, but they are daughters and sons of God... true brothers and sisters in the Lord ...we can look at them differently... treat them differently, especially when they are in serious sin.  Even if we have been very hurt by them and this be a painful process , be at peace. God may need others to minister to them ...we go forward but remember we must forgive. Lets work on that... Forgiving those who injure us...an forgive me for being so straightforward but our job is to become Saints and that's hard work...BECOME THE SAINT GOD CREATED U TO BE!!!  Til next time...God Bless!

a few thougts....

Just a few thoughts....

1.  Padre Pio was a priest who has been made a saint by the Catholic Church....he suffered the stigmata (wounds of Christ)....had gifts like bi location....healing...reading of souls...the list goes on and on...He promised he would not enter heaven until all his spiritual children arrived...i often visit his statue at a Benedictine Monastery where i go weekly to pray and i wink and remind him, please don't enter until i get there...i asked him to adopt me as one of his spiritual children a long time ago..He is a marvelous father figure....go to this site to learn more about him...He lived during our lifetime...

https://www.ewtn.com/padrepio/

2.  We often worry about what we would do if someone we love dies...one that supports and cares for us....remember ..God is the Only One we have to have...others are helpful, but God is the Only One we can't live without....He is a Faithful Shield and Buckler....and Ever Present Help in times of trouble...Let's Trust God more...

3.  Listen to one of my favorite songs,"How can i keep from singing" by Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman.  The ending of the video has powerful words that i luv...enjoy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh_8rTBpvRU

4.  Listen to The Father's Love Letter....Words from the Bible...a letter from God to us...enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJvqmhGs1Y8

Let's continue to stay very close to God....to chase Him...reviewing  some of the older blogs and renew our commitment to keeping Him in First Place in our lives....my time is very limited to be able to blog...so wen i catch a moment...i write...forgive me that it is short and not too deep...caring for my 94 yr old Mom takes all my time...plz pray for us....and i promise to continue praying for you daily. 

til next time...ang

Long time no blog....

i am very sorry....i have not been available to write....My 94 yr old Mom was in the hospital and rehab again and is now home and requires much of my time and attention.  But i was able to sneak away for a bit to share some things with you...

First i wanted to share information about the Daily TV Mass every day on the computer...this is a half hour Mass each day that we can listen to and pray with.  just google Daily TV Mass....This past Monday they had a sermon that was unbelievable on judgment...... go to 8 minutes in and you can listen to just the sermone on the link below...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pV9dIHWUys

i also wanted to share with you about One Bread, One Body(OBOB)...a daily devotional...one page to read for each day of the yr.  They have a hard copy to read that can be mailed to you in booklet form every 3 months or you can sign up to read it online...below is a reading that touched me deeply so i included it for us to review and on that same link you can find info on ordering these resources which i highly recommend.

http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

Watch this song......"Grace God You" by Mercy Me...i expect we all will be singing and dancing with it by the 3rd time we watch it...enjoy!!!

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

Do not worry about anything.....read this...
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp?lang=en&d=6/23/2018

Try to read from Give Us This Day...Monday June 25, 2008 reflection...'Consider the Merits'

https://giveusthisday.org/Preview

Sirach 30:21-25
DO NOT GIVE IN TO SADNESS, OR TORMENT YOURSELF DELIBERATELY.  GLADNESS OF HEART IS THE VERY LIFE OF A PERSON AND CHEERFULNESS PROLONGS HIS DAYS.  DISTRACT YOURSELF AND RENEW YOUR COURAGE, DRIVE RESENTMENT FAR AWAY FROM YOU; for GRIEF HAS KILLED MANY, AND NOTHING IS TO BE GAINED  FROM RESENTMENT.  ENVY AND ANGER SHORTEN ONE'S DAYS AND ANXIETY BRINGS ON PREMATURE OLD AGE.  THOSE WHO ARE CHEERFUL AND MERRY AT TABLE BENEFIT FROM THEIR FOOD.

Well these are a few things God has given me over these weeks....hope they help....til next time....prayers...ang

prayer request...

Plz join me in keeping my oldest brother in prayer, fasting and alms giving....he is having a heart procedure tomorrow.  thanks....

til next time let us read Is 53 in its entirety...focusing on
"By His Stripes we were healed!"

"BY JESUS' PRECIOUS STRIPES MY BROTHER IS HEALED AND MADE WHOLE..."

"Your King does not sleep or slumber!"

i wrote a few texts today...and thought i would share some of the words with you in the hope that it may be just what you might need at this time in your life.  i ask your forgiveness in not being consistent in my writing on this blog.  i have brought my 94 yr. old Mom home from a 4 and a half month run with hospital and rehabs.  My hands are very full in service at this time.  Plz keep us in prayer and i promise to continue to keep you in mine.  Don't be afraid to go back and start from the first blog and re-read them.  There are lots of good writings and information and hopefully as things slow down a bit, i will be able to write more often and more regularly. 

"My heart and my deepest prayers r with u all at his most difficult time in your lives. Plz try to remember that you are very strong and courageous individuals an have endured many many trials in the past and have always come thru.  Though your knees may feel weak at times remember that the same blood that brought your parents thru many trials runs thru your own veins too.  You are warriors whose armors may be dented and scratched by life's wear, but are totally uncompromised and perfectly intact to again protect you thru this all.  And greater than that is:   your King does not sleep or slumber.  Again God calls you to honor and serve your parents...the only commandment that comes with a great promise.  Kindness to a parent will not go unrewarded.  Plz try to be peaceful and strong for them and extremely patient with yourself.  Yet it may be your turn to be served and cared for.  If so, give others that opportunity because as you know from your own life experience, Service is a beautiful school that teaches all of us things we could never learn from a teacher or from a book.  i promise you my deepest prayers trusting in the simplest of prayers:  Jesus be your Doctor, Mary be your nurse and Good St. Joseph hold your hand now and always.  And may Our Lady keep you and your families tucked tightly in her Motherly Mantel warm and safe...strong and prayerful now and always as only a Good Mother would.   And if you are the primary caregiver, take very good care of yourself.  If i can help you in any way, plz don't hesitate to send me a note.  "

til next time...lets re-read an older blog from this site....ang

a quick note....

i recently was sharing with someone....and thought i should post this:

Nothing worthwhile happens overnight.  Much brokenness needs alot of time to heal in us and in others.  All our prayers are being answered regardless if you do not see them, understand them, or if they do not turn out exactly as we thought.  God truly knows best!  Those of us chasing God r already far on our journey and though our body belongs here on earth...our heart belongs to Jesus!!!...we just need to keep walking with Him...chasing Him...never looking left or rt...eyes on Christ alone...Jesus...then all is and will continue to be well...And remember we  r safe and no one will ever be able to hurt us like in the past ever again because of the deep God Work you have begun. All Praise goes only to Him.

hoping some word or two may be of help to you today....til next time....let's read psalm 121...be assured of my continued prayers....and plz remember me in yours!  ang

HE IS ALIVE!

Billy Graham passed away recently.  In an interview many years ago he said,
     "One day the newspapers will have a headline which will read,'Billy Graham is dead'. 
     Don't you believe it!  At that moment i will be more alive at that moment than
     ever before in my life here on earth!"

This is what we are celebrating.....Jesus' Resurrection from the dead...Any man could have died....but to rise again?....that is the proof we needed that Jesus was Who He said He was!...

As we remember all those who have died....remember Billy's words....remember Christ....for even though one should die....they will live forever!  Heaven is real...God is Love and Mercy beyond our wildest imagining.   Trust in Him....

Blessed Easter....if time allows i will ellaborate more on this Holy Resurrection Event.....til next time....sit at the tomb and await His Resurrection!...hugs, ang

The Greatest Love Affair....

This week....This Holy Week is the story of The Greatest Love Affair known to man.  It is a dance...a meditation....a deep interior ecstasy that exceeds all others.  Many preach on the existence of Heaven and Hell this week....but i am so moved to go way beyond that reality....This is the week that reminds us of the Love beyond all Loves....beyond all passionate loves in this world...spousal love....sibling love...parental love....fraternal love....take all the loving for all time among people...add to it the most beautiful, most passionate, delicious, joyful, happy things and experiences in this world that ever happened, multiply it by a billion and it does not touch the Love God has for YOU.....the Love God has for me!  You see God sent Jesus to take on our sins....to offer Himself as a Sacrifice that Heaven's Doors might be open to all who choose to walk with Him and aspire to be like Him.  Do not let this week slide by like the others....it is good for us to walk this week in deep holiness and prayer.  The Catholic Church has marvelous Masses and Services all week long that help us to journey thru this week.  Easter is not about food....it is not about family gatherings...it is not about a bunny....Easter is God....Jesus Christ....Who really loves us!....give more time to God this week than any other preparation....than all the shopping....than all the people....There is no sin in the other things....and most are very wholesome....but if they are the focus of this week, then yes there is sin....because God deserves our undivided attention....and then we can bring Him to all the other things we do this week.

Sunday was Palm Sunday....we celebrated the Triumphant entrance of Christ into Jerusalem...then solemnly readed the Passion of Our Lord to begin the Solemn Week....Last night at all Catholic Churches the Holy Thursday celebration of The Lord's Last Supper was celebrated.  Three gifts were given on Holy Thursday....The Gift of Jesus washing the feet of His Followers....teaching us that Service and Love need to be the center of our lives following His Example....become the servant of all!...Second is the gift of His Body and Blood in Holy Communion, also referred to as The Eucharist.  Without reception of Holy Communion one cannot Love fully...every time we take in Jesus in This Gift, we become a little more like Him...We need this Divine Food to continue to grow and go Higher......At the end of Mass was a procession with the Consecrated Hosts and they are brought to another altar, beautifully decorated that we might adore Him til midnight.  All Catholic Churches were opened for prayer til midnight last night.  and finally is the gift of Priesthood...."Do this in remembrance of me!"...a command...a calling forth  of Apostolic Succession....meaning to be a priest is not to be an administrator, although he may be good at that, or a counselor....and he still might be good at that....many have forgotten that without the priest, we cannot have Holy Communion...This is the primary role, focus, value of a Priest's Life...TO BRING US JESUS....IN THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR!  We must pray for priests...those who have ministered sacraments to us, those who have spiritually directed us, those who have prayed for us, those who have no one to pray for them, those who have lost their first Love, those who are lost, those who have died, those who are sick, those who have been so very faithful....every last one of them past, present and future....The symbolism this week at our Masses and Services are beyond compare.  Incense, colors of vestments and altar cloths, covers on statues, candles, crosses, processions, ...wow...the list is endless....and each year it becomes more beautiful as we grow and understand and notice things we missed the years before. It is during this week that the Mass of Chrism, when the Bishop meets with all His Priests and they bless all the Sacred Oils....Oil of Baptism, Oil of Confirmation...Oil of the Sick...Oil for Ordination....and then all the  Oils are then sent to all the parishes for use on the faithful in the coming year.  a Glorious Week....of Holy Events.

For those who have missed up til now....Wake up!!!...Start now....get to a Good Friday Service today...it is the only day we do not have Mass.  The Hosts that were Consecrated last night will be distributed in Holy Communion today...and today we will venerate...kiss, bow, kneel before the Cross remembering what Jesus did for each one of us....More important than bowing with our bodies is to bow deep in the recesses of our being....bow to our Maker...bow....show reverence,,,Love ....Respect....Adoration....Gratitude....get to a service today...and pay close attention to all the details....i won't share more on today's service....you must go to see for yourself!

Remember if you cannot attend due to illness or care giving, or another legitimate reason, put on EWTN....on the TV...or look online and find when they will have their services...and watch and pray from home if necessary.  This is a gift to the sick and home bound....but remember it surely does not equal the experience of  being there in attendance live....experiencing the sights and sounds and fragrances in the church.

i pray we all will have the best Holy Week of our lives...i pray we will devote great time and attention...prayer and deep meditation to God....Jesus His Son....We never know...this may be our last Holy Week...surely if we won't have this opportunity again, we would want this week to be our best ever.

Be assured of my continued prayers....please pray for me.  Take note i have brought my 94 yrs. old Mom home after a 4 and a half month run in hospitals and rehab and as her care giver, my hands are full right now.  i therefore do not have much time to write...please forgive me...and know i will try to write more often ....til next time...celebrate these days in church...celebrate them differently than ever before....hugs, ang

A HOLY AND FRUITFUL LIFE CHANGING HOLY WEEK TO ALL OF US!

"A PRICELESS DIGNITY AND VALUE"

"IF WE HAD THE VISION OF FAITH, WE WOULD SEE BENEATH EVERY BEHAVIOR--NO MATTER HOW REPULSIVE--BENEATH EVERY BODILY APPEARANCE--NO MATTER HOW DIRTY OR DEFORMED--A PRICELESS DIGNITY AND VALUE THAT MAKES ALL MATERIAL FACTS AND SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGIES FADE INTO INSIGNIFICANCE.
                                                                   
                                                            ---FR. DANIEL EGAN

nothing to add to such a powerful statement...til next time....we meditate on Fr. Daniel's quote and hopefully allow it to bring deep interior change to our lives and the way we live!  ang

"POSITIVELY PRECIOUS!"

i started to read a women's devotional to my Mom tonight and the title says it all....POSITIVELY PRECIOUS!....that is what each of us are in the Eyes of God...a Treasure....positively precious!...not much to add to those great words...

Take time to absorb this concept...everyone in this world gives us limited acceptance and love...it is all we know.....but God Himself says something different...you and i are POSITIVELY PRECIOUS...

That does not give us freedom to live and continue to do wrong....to continue in sinful ways without consequence...but it is the absolute starting point for a deep intimate relationship with God...to know that He really just Loves us...and thinks we are really someone special!

Let's take some time to read some of these Scriptures and soak them in...maybe one a day....and as we learn our value, we then will look and treat everyone we meet with that same look of Love and Preciousness we have received.  ...even those who are masked in  illness...hatred....anger....grumpiness...complaining...etc.  There is only one way the world will change...when i start with myself....learning my own value and soaking in the Love of God and then being able to share that Treasure with others.  Be transformed and you will help transform others...especially those in your own circle who are broken....lost....ill....young or old....clear minded or tormented....and remember....We never give up on anyone..Never......Scripture says.." never give up on your own..."....no matter how tired you get.... no matter how much you sacrifice....it is always worth doing the right things....and investing in your own relationship with God that then others may find God for themselves...may every soul experience "THE GLANCE OF GOD" that they may then pass on that Look of Love to everyone they come in contact with.  Praised be Jesus Christ Now and Forever!"  FRUITFUL AND LIFE CHANGING LENT TO ALL OF US!  stay prayerful....ang

1. Isaiah 43:1-2
2. Isaiah 49:16
3. John 3:16
4. Ephesians 2:10
5. Jeremiah 31:3
6. Psalm 139:13-16
7. Psalm 100
8. Romans 5:8
9. 1 John 3:1a
10. Zephaniah 3:17

Welcome India and Netherlands!

Welcome to India and the Netherlands...thank you for joining us on this blog...Please invite all your family and friends to join us...be assured of our prayers....ang

Don't be afraid to lay down your life...

The calling to do something great is always a scary thing to discern.  But remember that God is never in confusion or fear.  When in doubt ,always stand still and wait.  i promise you, if you sincerely are seeking God's Perfect Will for your life ,He will clarify things for you like never before.  You will awake and know without a shadow of a doubt of the Mission before you and you will have the courage necessary to accomplish It.  The only way to stay true is to stay on your knees in prayer....stay in very close contact with God....follow your conscience, not what you want or "have to do" as viewed by others or society....and in forgetting yourself and your own desires, keep God's Perfect Will as your only Aim or Goal.  We don't neglect ourselves, we put God First and our self care second so to be able to serve others and not run out of strength mid stream, but we always keep before our eyes the Truth of the Gospel, "NO GREATER LOVE HATH ANY MAN THAN TO LAY DOWN HIS/HER LIFE FOR A FRIEND!" John 15:13

If we are true believers, we march by A Different Drum than all the world.  No one will understand our decisions and sacrifices unless they know God's Beat fully.  We will often be looked at as failures...people with great potential who never achieved what they could have done.  Little do they know that the Choice ....the Heroic Choice and Courage we have made and been generously given by God to do, is the Exact Thing that will bring Innumerable Graces and Miracles into our lives and all the lives that we touch....because all the Credit and Honor goes to Him and Him Alone because the Call and Our Yes all come from Him!!

Look at your life...pray and ask God What is His Perfect Will for you and before you tell me...education, health, money, homes, cars, prestige are first....look around you at your circle of family and friends and insure that you are not missing the Calling to, as The Scriptures say clearly..."Don't turn your back on your own!" Is 58:7...It starts at home....It starts with people...souls...lives....invest yourself...be willing to die to some of your desires that others might live...It is very easy to send a check to a  mission....much harder to be the missionary in your own home, family, neighborhood.

i pray that the world changes...that each of us takes seriously our Lenten Walk...and tries to become more and more like Christ...."What does it matter if we gain the whole world and lose our soul in the process!" Mark 8:36...Follow your conscience...be willing to go so deep with God that all those around you are touched by your words, example and even your meer presence because of your holiness.  Be a God Chaser....and become the saint you were created to be!

a fruitful and life changing Lent to all of us!

til next time...find the charity in your own "home" and family that you can tithe to...  in your time, talent and treasure....don't be afraid to be generous....sacrificial....and deeply passionate in your giving.  you will never regret it!

All the countries visiting this blog!

AUSTRALIA, ROMANIA, MACAO, MOROCCO, US VIRGIN ISLES, UKRAINE QATAR, KYRGYZSTAN, SINGAPORE, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, UNITED KINGDOM, RUSSIA, MEXICO, CAMBODIA, THAILAND, TAIWAN, CHILE, PORTUGAL, S. AFRICA, INDONESIA, SPAIN, SERBIA, TURKMENISTAN, PAKISTAN, BRAZIL, FRANCE, ECUADOR, HONDURAS, GREECE,CANADA, GERMANY, POLAND, KENYA, USA,

Let us celebrate the Love of God that reaches all over the world....the newsroom will never cover a story like this.  A simple woman starts a simple blog to encourage people to chase God....to look for The Glance of God ....to become the saints we were created to be.....and without pomp....art....pictures....without having computer knowledge...it reaches all these countries....that is God!...it is Only Him!  That is how Big Our God is!  Imagine what a wonderful time it is to live when we can post something about God and it can go all over the world in seconds...

Invite some friends and family to visit....God bless...Fruitful and life changing Lent to all of us!  ang

Welcome Honduras! Bienvenido Honduras!

Welcome Honduras!  Thank you for joining us!  Invite your family and friends to visit our blog!  May God be praised, adored and loved!


Bienvenido Honduras! ¡Gracias por estar con nosotros! ¡Invita a tus familiares y amigos a visitar nuestro blog! ¡Que Dios sea alabado, adorado y amado!

Welcome Greece! Καλωσορίστε την Ελλάδα Kalosoríste tin Elláda

Our God never ceases to amaze me.  Greece is all the way around the world and you join us on our blog!  Welcome...and please invite all your family and friends to join us!  Praised be Jesus Christ!

Ο Θεός μας δεν παύει ποτέ να με εκπλήσσει. Η Ελλάδα είναι όλος ο κόσμος και μπείτε μαζί μας στο blog μας! Καλώς ήρθατε ... και παρακαλώ καλέστε όλη την οικογένεια και τους φίλους σας να έρθουν μαζί μας! Εξυπηρέθηκε ο Ιησούς Χριστός!

O Theós mas den pávei poté na me ekplíssei. I Elláda eínai ólos o kósmos kai beíte mazí mas sto blog mas! Kalós írthate ... kai parakaló kaléste óli tin oikogéneia kai tous fílous sas na érthoun mazí mas! Exypiréthike o Iisoús Christós!

His Gaze...

His Gaze....Gazing goes in two directions....Silence allows us to experience the Marvelous Gaze of God....His Looking upon us in a Love never experienced on this earth....not even from the accumulation of all those who love us most in this world ...nothing can come close to This....When one has experienced God's Unconditional Love....meaning...Love we do nothing to deserve....and it does not matter where we are in our walk...His Love just is...period!  Never stops....never diminishes...

And then our gaze on Him....to just take in His Majesty....Our Creator...Our Love.......

And when we sit in His Gaze and are gazing.....it is a time of adoring....Loving....thanking....digesting....Receiving....giving...dancing...singing...Healing....
Understanding...Growing.......(the list is endless.....take time to add your own to this list)

til next time....meditate on His Gaze....The Glance of God....and stay with It .....and like St. Mary His Mother, ponder....ponder....soak It All in...and gaze back on The One and Only!!! and you will  be changed forever....

be patient with the evolving process....it takes a long time for growing deeply....change and new things are never easy...but ,"WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THRU CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US!"....

be assured of my prayers....and let's join in praying for all who are part of this blog....ang

Welcome Kenya! "Karibu Kenya!

What a blessing to have you join us from Kenya.  Oh how beautiful it is when brethren dwell in unity!  Please invite your family and friends to join us here also.  All are welcome!  Be assured of my continued prayers!  angie

Ni baraka gani wewe kujiunga na sisi kutoka Kenya. Oo ni nzuri sana wakati ndugu wanaishi katika umoja! Tafadhali waalike familia yako na marafiki kujiunga nasi pia. Wote wanakaribishwa! Uwe na uhakika wa maombi yangu ya kuendelea! angie

Do Not Judge...

We must never judge.....a very hard thing to put into practice....the Word of God is clear in Mt 7:1-5:

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.2For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.3Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?5You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.
1
i was watching a religious show last night and they had an author talking about her book about clutter.  They labeled people who clutter with so many sins it was very sad.  

As i have journeyed, i have learned much and supported many.  How easy it is to say or imply with looks of disgrace and shame to someone who has clutter that there is no reason for that.  Let me give you just a few reasons i have found over the yrs....homelessness, marriage problems, domestic violence, caring for elderly parents, abuse, disabled children, financial difficulties, job issues, divorce or separation, illness, disabilities, death...etc....the list is endless and we all fall into a catagory.  i use this example because most of us have experienced this with ourselves to some degree or others.  

The Love of Jesus Christ is beyond anything we could ever imagine.  Healing....Growth....Evolving happens slowly over an entire lifetime and just because we may not understand or know the whys behind someone's behavior, we better be cautious in listening to our own opinions about others, for we never know what someone is living with until we have lived it ourselves.  

This show cut deep and made me very sad to know that people in my own religion had such legalistic approaches to life.  Yes someone with clutter might have an opportunity to grow with time management....being less materialistic....sharing what they have....or even asking others for help, but we have no right to tell another there is a weak area of sin when we never have the full picture.  God will mercifully reach out and help them discover over time whatever they need to know and how to promote their own healing.  All we need to do is pray....and God will show up in a Big Way...and also send His Workers who really know how to Love someone thru to assist.  

Maybe next time we see a mess, we can easily ask how we can serve....if visiting and they are washing their dishes, pick up the towel and dry....if they are folding laundry, offer a hand....if they are alone, offer to baby sit....bring a meal....i have been very fortunate to have a dear friend for many years who taught me first hand what it is to Love someone thru without judgment ...Her name is Estelle.  Estelle served me, my son and my parents with the Love of Jesus Christ for many years after my husband left.  More than any family or friend, this woman reached out and nurtured us thru the hardest of times.  

Our prayer is that we could become an Estelle for someone else.  That we might look for extraordinary ways to Love everyone and help them thru.  We all need someone to help us at various times of our lives.

til next time....let's look for someone we have judged as less than and reach out a Loving helping hand instead....eventually we will all realize that we are all the same....we change this world one soul...one person at a time and it starts with me!  

FRUITFUL AND LIFE CHANGING LENT TO ALL!  ang

Lent: STOP, BE SILENT AND LISTEN

Mt 6:6

"But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you."

Today we begin the beautiful new season of Lent.  A time to grow....a time to spend in the Warm and Replenishing Light of Jesus in prayer...The Lord gave his Disciples instruction to go out to all the world and that is our calling, but we must first learn at the Feet of the Master...and so this time....we must walk with Jesus thru His Teachings...Miracles...Prayer...and watch, listen and learn from Him.  We can never go out to teach...or talk...or do ...unless we have learned...loved...listened...and spent time with Jesus alone.  And so prayer is the place to start....not with our demands...requests and everything we deem important, but in silence with gratitude....silence to listen and learn....Fr. Isaiah Powers recommends we sit for 15 minutes in silence reminding ourselves if we get distracted that, "This is God's Time".  This is deep heart and soul work....to let His Majesty lead us....instead of us doing the leading....to stop thinking with our limited resources and let God do the thinking, arranging, instructing, healing and leading in us...and thru us He will be able to do great things...but first we stop....be silent and listen...

i pray we all have a fruitful,  life changing Lent....and may it begin like all things should start, in deep silence with Our Creator....listening and learning from the Best!  Then and only then will we be ready to hear the Commission  in Mark 16:15 at Easter time....and be able to act on it!

  “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature."

til next time....Here are some resources to help us go deeper....
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https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/category/seasons/lent/40-day-challenge/?inf_contact_key=6b15c313f2657834b5218f2610e55de6207d1570e9af13dd050ff171616f8622

https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/season-of-lent-40-ideas-to-get-the-most-out-of-it/?inf_contact_key=25d4b2d34f398c04b474664986c0ad10cdf3f9d1b006fb304e39c1e8aa3328d6

http://thereasonforourhope.org/

https://breadforspirit.wordpress.com/2017/09/13/chapter-33-necessary-care-of-oneself/

https://dynamiccatholic.com/bestlentever

A Beautiful Experience in a different church!

This week i was asked to sing at the cemetery for the burial of my dear Greek neighbors' Mother.  i had the awesome privilege to attend the service at the local Greek Orthodox Church.  As everyone entered there was alot of talking by the normal parishioners.  They had become very accustomed to their environment as in every church, but for me, it was a deeply Heavenly Experience.  i was speechless and wanted to be silent and take it all in.  The Artwork and Icons were so gorgeous ...the environment invited one to a deep religious experience.  Their traditions and use of Icons and Incense and the beautiful chanting of the entire service was breathtaking.  It is important for us to take in the visual at churches and experience other Praying Spaces so that when we are in our own, we won't take it all for granted.  Who knew that going to serve my friends i would be so deeply touched.  This experience reminded me of everything i believe in....the Mystery  and Majesty behind Our God.  If you have never visited a Catholic Orthodox Church...they exist...they do the Eastern Rite but are under the Pope.  Look up Melkite Catholic Church....Coptic Catholic Church....Eastern Rite Catholic Church......you will find one close to you....and go and visit .  i guarantee the environment will be very conducive to deep meditative prayer....it will be a very beautiful addition to your collection of Beautiful Images of God and His Saints that can be very helpful in trying to raise your heart, mind and soul to God in prayer...Also find out if you have any local monasteries that you can visit and pray in.... Nurture your soul....chase God....and let all the senses be reminded that HE IS REAL...AND HE LOVES US!

til next time....visit a new church or monastery....and let your faith experience rise higher...an bring back the New Spark you experience to your own congregation....ang